Herd management and welfare assessment of dairy goat farms in Northern Cyprus by using breeding,health, reproduction,and biosecurity indicators

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study describes the results of a farm-based welfare assessment, herd management, and some yield indicators in Northern Cyprus dairy goat farms. Out of...     

Application of Exogenous Sodium Nitroprussid Alleviates Boron Toxicity in Wheat Seedlings: Investigation of Thiol Compounds,Macro/Micronutrient,and Polyamine Contents

High boron (B) levels in the soil reduce plant growth and yield production in crop plants. Nitric oxide (NO) is a highly reactive signaling molecule involved in stress response in plants. The aim of the study was to investigate the role of sodium nitroprussid (SNP), a NO donor, in alleviating the B-induced toxicity in two wheat cultivars. Both cultivars were treated with 10 mM B, 10 mM B + 0.1 mM SNP, 10 mM B + 0.2 mM SNP, and 10 mM B + 0.5 mM SNP. The nutrient contents were investigated via inductively coupled plasma mass-spectrometry. Contents of polyamines and thiol compounds were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography. The B toxicity caused a significant decrease in nutrient contents and thiol compounds, but increased polyamine contents. However, exogenous application of 0.2 mM SNP increased nutrient contents and thiol compounds, but lowered polyamine contents. The study clearly revealed that exogenous SNP can overcome the toxic effects of B on wheat seedlings.     

Effect of Different Nitrogen Doses on Dry Matter Ratio,Chlorophyll and Macro/Micro Nutrient Content in Sweet Herb (Stevia rebaudiana Bertoni)

With this study, the effect of different nitrogen (N) doses applied to sweet herb (0, 50, 100, 150 and 200 N kg ha^?1) on the macro/micro nutrient element content, dry matter ratio and on the chlorophyll amount in the plant leaves is examined. The research was carried out in the research and trial field of Faculty of Agriculture Agronomy department, Akdeniz University, during the 2012–2013 growing season under field conditions for 2 years with four replications according to the randomized block trial design. Chlorophyll amounts were determined and the average was obtained with three readings from each leaf by a chlorophyll meter when the plants were in the beginning of flowering. Post-harvest macro and micro nutrient elements of the sweet herb were also investigated. According to the obtained data, while the highest chlorophyll and N amounts in the leaf for both the first and second years were determined as 46.97 SPAD (Minolta Corp, NJ, USA) and 1.34 N% 44.9 SPAD, 1.42 N%, respectively, under 200 kg ha^?1 N application, the lowest chlorophyll and N amounts were determined in the control group. In addition, N application in different doses for both years increased the phosphorus (P) and potassium (K) contents and increased the microelement contents, especially in the second year. At the same time, a correlation between the chlorophyll content in the plant leaves and the N amount was determined and a linear increase was observed in the chlorophyll amount with the increased green part.     

Magnetic field-induced oxidative stress and DNA damage in Mediterranean flour moth Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) larvae

Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae) is cosmopolitan pest of stored products. The effect of strong magnetic fields (MFs) on DNA damage and oxidative stress on larvae stage of E. kuehniella was assessed. Antioxidant enzyme systems, which include superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), glutathione S-transferase (GST), and malondialdehyde (MDA), the end product of lipid peroxidation as a result of strong MF intoxication that might occur in the larvae tissue, were evaluated. A simple technique of single-cell gel electrophoresis (DNA comet assay) enabled a quick detection of MF treatment on larvae. The larvae were exposed in a 1.4-Tesla (T) MF from a DC power supply at 50 Hz for different time periods (3, 6, 12, 24, 48, and 72 h). MFs caused increasing DNA damage and demonstrated using the comet assay with its parameters including tail DNA%, tail length and tail moment. DNA damage at increasing exposure times were significantly larger than the control group (p < 0.05). These parameters were detected using BS 200 ProP with image analysis software. SOD, CAT, GPx, and GST activities decreased and MDA level increased in the MF-treated group in larvae tissue compared to control group for increasing exposure times at 1.4 T (p < 0.05). In our investigation, we showed that MFs caused oxidative stress and proved to be DNA damage as revealed by the comet assay. MFs may be used to determine potential toxic effects as a control agent against E. kuehniella larvae.     

Breed-related plasma disposition of ivermectin following subcutaneous administration in Kilis and Damascus goats

Many factors related with drug and animals affect the plasma disposition of endectocides including ivermectin (IVM). The aim of the present study was to investigate the breed differences in pharmacokinetics of IVM in goats following subcutaneous administration. Two different goat breeds (Kilis and Damascus goats) were allocated into two treatment groups with respect to breed. The injectable formulation of IVM was administered subcutaneously at a dose rate of 0.2 mg/kg bodyweight. Blood samples were collected before treatment and at various times between 1 h and 40 days after treatment and the plasma samples were analysed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using fluorescence detection. The results indicated that the plasma disposition of IVM was substantially affected by breed differences following subcutaneous administration in goats. The last detectable plasma concentration (t_last) of IVM was significantly later in Kilis goats (38.33 days) compared with Damascus goats (22.50 days). Although, there were no significant differences on C_max (10.83 ng/ml vs. 10.15 ng/ml) and t_max (2.75 days vs. 2.33 days) values; the area under the concentration–time curve-AUC (110.26 ng.d/ml vs. 73.38 ng.d/ml) the terminal half-life-t_1/2λz (5.65 days vs. 3.81 days) and the mean plasma residence time-MRT (9.31 days vs. 6.35 days) were significantly different in Kilis goats compared with Damascus goats, respectively. The breed-related difference observed on the plasma disposition of IVM between Kilis and Damascus goats could be attributable to different excretion pattern or specific anatomical and/or physiological characteristics such as body fat composition of each breed.     

Correlation of Rutin Accumulation with 3-O-Glucosyl Transferase and Phenylalanine Ammonia-lyase Activities During the Ripening of Tomato Fruit

In tomato, the predominant flavonoid is quercetin-3-rutinoside (rutin). In this study, we aim to investigate the phenylalanine ammonia-lyase (PAL) and the quercetin-3-O-glucosyl transferase (3-GT) reactions in the formation of rutin during tomato fruit ripening. Tomatoes of the Moneymaker variety at different development stages (green, breaker, turning, pink, red, and deep red) were divided into flesh and peel fractions. In each sample, both the content of rutin and the enzymatic activities for PAL and 3-GT were recorded. The highest activities of PAL were recorded in the peel of turning fruit (3,000 μkat/mg fresh weight). In fruit flesh, maximal activity was observed in red fruit (917.3 μkat/mg). For both tissues, PAL activity strongly decreased at the final (deep red) fruit stage. The activity of 3-GT in peel peaked in the turning fruit stage (50.7 pkat/mg), while in flesh maximal activity (33.4 pkat/mg) was observed in green fruit, which rapidly declined at the turning stage. Higher levels of rutin were detected in the tomato peel compared to the flesh part with the highest level being found at the green stage. The relation of PAL and 3-GT activities to rutin content is also evaluated.     

Limbal pseudotumor in a Cob Pony

A tumor-like tissue mass of lateral-limbal site in the right eye of a 12-year-old Cob Pony mare was presented for surgical removal. The mass, covering the lateral limbus, bulbar conjunctiva and part of the cornea, was surgically removed, and the corneal defect repaired with a pedicle bulbar conjunctival graft. The mass was inflammatory in nature containing mononuclear cells. No recurrence or complication occurred at 6- and 12-month follow-up examination.     

Assessment of Arsenic and Selenium Concentration with Chlorophyll Contents of Sugar Beet (Beta vulgaris var.saccharifera) and Wheat (Triticum aestivum) Exposed to Municipal Sewage Sludge Doses

The present study was conducted to assess the suitability of sewage sludge amendment in soil for Beta vulgaris var. saccharifera (sugar beet) and Triticum aestivum (wheat) by evaluating the arsenic and selenium accumulation and physiological responses of plants grown at 10%, 25%, and 50% sewage sludge amendment rate. Sewage sludge amendment was modified by the physicochemical properties of soil, thus increasing the availability of heavy metals in the soil and consequently with higher accumulation in plant parts. The chlorophyll contents increased after the sewage sludge treatments except for 50%. The sewage sludge amendment led to a significant increase in arsenic and selenium concentrations of the soil. The heavy metal accumulation in the soil after the treatments did not exceed the limits for the land application of sewage sludge recommended by the US Environmental Protection Agency. The increased concentration of heavy metals in the soil due to the sewage sludge amendment led to increases in heavy metal uptake in the leaves and root concentrations of arsenic and selenium in plants as compared to those grown on unamended soil. Accumulation was more in roots than shoots and leaves for most of the heavy metals. Concentrations of arsenic and selenium were more than the permissible limits of national standards in the edible portion of sugar beet and wheat grown on different sewage sludge amendments ratios. The study concludes that the sewage sludge amendment in the soil for growing sugar beet and wheat may not be a good option due to risk of contamination of arsenic and selenium.     

Potential Utilization of Mixolab for Quality Evaluation of Bread Wheat Genotypes

The aim of this study was to determine the possibility of using Mixolab to assess the quality of different wheat genotypes. Mixolab data were compared with various flour quality characteristics and bread volume. The samples were chosen to represent a wide range in terms of grain and rheological properties and baking quality. There are eight paramaters used to evaluate a Mixolab curve. C1 and C2 are related to protein quality, whereas C3, C4 and C5 are related to the starch characteristics. Slopes α, β, γ are the indicators of protein weakening, starching speed, and enzymatic degradation. There were significant correlations between two Mixolab parameters (Stability and C2) and Zeleny sedimentation and Alveograph W values (P < 0.01). Some of the Mixolab parameters (C3, C4, C5) were correlated with Alveograph G and P/L value (P < 0.01). Mixolab values are generally in agreement with Farinograph values. There were significant negative correlations between most of the Mixolab parameters (Stability, C2, C3, C4) and Farinograph softening degree. Stability and C2 parameters of Mixolab were also significantly correlated with Farinograph stability values (P < 0.01). The correlation between Mixolab stability and Farinograph stability was considerably high (r = 0.907, P < 0.001). The Mixolab parameters C3, C4, and C5 were significantly correlated with bread volume. Significant correlations were observed between slope α and Zeleny sedimentation (P < 0.05), Alveograph W (P < 0.01), Farinograph softening degree (P < 0.001), and stability (P < 0.001) values.