Outcrossing Rates of Experimental Populations of Cuphea lanceolate

Outcrossing rates of Cuphea lanceolata Ait., a new Dilseed crop, have not been estimated; however, this species is known to be insect-pollinated, self-compatible, and autosterile. We used five allozyme loci and the mixed mating model to estimate the outcrossing rates of experimental populations of Cuphea lanceolata Ait. grown at Corvallis, Oregon in 1987 and 1988. Populations were grown using densities of one and 27 plants m^?2. Multilocus out-crossing rate estimates of populations grown at low and high density ranged from 0.61 to 0.85 and 0.93 to 0.94, respectively. Density caused differences may be caused by differences in pollinator movement. In open plantings, e.g., space-plant nurseries, selfing rates are increased by increased within plant pollination by bumblebees, the primary pollinators of C. lanceolata in temperate zones. The movement of pollinators between plants is enforced in dense plantings. We found C. lanceolata is predominantly al-logamous, but selfing rates as great as 39.0 % were observed among space-plants; thus, the progeny of an open-pollinated individual plant grown in this type of nursery is a mixed half-sib and S₁ family. Maximum outcrossing can be achieved by using dense plantings.     

Maternal breed of sire effects on postweaning performance of first-cross heifers and production characteristics of 2-year-old heifers.

Postweaning growth rates from weaning to 18 mo, fall condition score, pregnancy rates, and production to 2 yr of age were evaluated in a study of Angus (A)-, Pinzgauer (P)-, Red Poll (R)-, Simmental (S)-, and Tarentaise (T)-sired females from Hereford dams. First-cross heifers from the different sire breeds did not differ (P greater than .10) in initial weight. During a 140-d feed test, S gained 98.6 kg, exceeding (P less than .05) gains of P, 92.3; A, 91.4; and R, 87.3 kg but not T, 94.1 kg. Red Poll-sired heifers weighed less at the end of the 140-d test (P less than .05) than the other crosses, which did not significantly differ from each other. No breed of sire differences were found in gain from 140 d to fall weight. Simmental-sired heifers weighed more (P less than .05) than A- and R-sired heifers at 18 mo. Breed of sire and year interacted to affect pregnancy rate of the yearling heifers when mated to Shorthorn sires for 45 d. Percentage of dystocia varied from a low of 26.3 and 28.9% for T- and A-sired heifers, respectively, to 54.4 and 60.8% for P- and S-sired heifers, respectively (P less than .05). Age of dam of heifers affected (P less than .05) weight at the different period end points but not gains after weaning. Age of dam also affected incidence of dystocia. Two-year-old heifers from young dams had more dystocia than heifers from older dams. Shorthorn-sired calves from 2-yr-old heifers with different sire breeds differed in birth weight (P less than .05) but not survival from birth to weaning, ADG from birth to weaning, weaning age, or weaning condition score. Average 200-d weight of calves from P-, S- and T-sired heifers exceeded those from A- and R-sired heifers by 10.7 kg, or 5.7%.     

Effect of collection time and exercise restriction on the prediction of urine protein excretion, using urine protein/creatinine ratio in dogs

Nonproteinuric and proteinuric dogs were studied to determine whether the urine protein/creatinine ratio from a 24-hour urine sample could be used to predict urine protein excretion. Urine protein/creatinine ratios estimated from urine produced during daylight hours and from that produced during nighttime hours were compared to determine whether time of sample collection influenced the prediction of the urine protein excretion value. Urine protein/creatinine ratios in urine from male dogs were compared with those from female dogs to determine whether sex had an influence on the value. Hospitalized and nonhospitalized dogs were used to determine the effect of exercise restriction. The urine protein/creatinine ratio varied significantly between healthy and proteinuric dogs (P = 0.0001). It was not influenced by collection period or sex. Animals not confined to hospital cages had a significantly lower urine protein/creatinine ratio than did hospitalized animals confined to a cage (P = 0.003).     

The structure and regulation of the Irish equine industries: Links to considerations of equine welfare

The equine industries in Ireland are vibrant and growing. They are broadly classified into two sectors: Thoroughbred racing, and sports and leisure. This paper describes these sectors in terms of governance, education and training in equine welfare, and available data concerning horse numbers, identification, traceability and disposal. Animal welfare, and specifically equine welfare, has received increasing attention internationally. There is general acceptance of concepts such as animal needs and persons' responsibilities toward animals in their care, as expressed in the 'Five Freedoms'. As yet, little has been published on standards of equine welfare pertaining to Ireland, or on measures to address welfare issues here. This paper highlights the central role of horse identification and legal registration of ownership to safeguard the health and welfare of horses.     

Tuberculosis in alpaca (Lama pacos) on a farm in Ireland. 2. Results of an epidemiological investigation

Tuberculosis (TB), due to infection with Mycobacterium bovis was diagnosed in a flock of alpaca in Ireland in 2004. An epidemiological investigation was conducted to identify the risk of TB for farmed alpaca where TB is endemic, the origin of the infection, the potential for alpaca-to-alpaca transmission and appropriate control measures. The investigation focused on the alpaca flock (including the farm, animal movements and breeding, feeding and flock health practice), the disease episode (including animal disease events and subsequent control measures) and TB infection risk in the locality. The TB risk to alpaca is high in areas where infection is endemic in cattle and badgers and where biosecurity is inadequate. It is most likely that the source of infection for the alpaca was a local strain of M. bovis, present in cattle in this area since at least 2001. Genotyping of isolates identified a single variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) profile in both cattle and alpaca in this region. Although a tuberculous badger was also removed from the vicinity, bacterial isolation was not attempted. On this farm, infection in alpaca was probably derived from a common source. Alpaca-to-alpaca transmission seems unlikely. Two broad control strategies were implemented, aimed at the rapid removal of infected (and potentially infectious) animals and the implementation of measures to limit transmission. Tests that proved useful in detecting potentially-infected animals included measurement of the albumin-to-globulin ratio and regular body condition scoring. Skin testing was time consuming and unproductive, and early detection of infected animals remains a challenge. The flock was managed as a series of separate groupings, based on perceived infection risk. No further TB cases have been detected.