Welfare and environmental benefits of integrating commercially viable free-range broiler chickens into newly planted woodland: A UK case study

The commercial, welfare and environmental impacts of rearing small colonies of free-range chickens in newly planted woodland at two sites in the UK, during the first 2 years of the enterprise, were investigated. Newly planted rather than established trees were used so that commercially viable species could be planted in a way that would suit the management of the chicken enterprise, and small colonies were used so that farmers wishing to diversify could buy into the system progressively. It was anticipated that marketing a high specification product would provide an immediate income, whilst waiting for the future investment in trees to grow.     

Candidate genes underlying QTL for flowering time and their interactions in a wide spring barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) cross

Response to vernalization and photoperiod are the main determinants controlling the time to flowering in temperate cereals. While the individual genes that dete...     

Back-calculation method shows that within-flock transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (H7N7) virus in the Netherlands is not influenced by housing risk factors

To optimize control of an avian influenza outbreak knowledge of within-flock transmission is needed. This study used field data to estimate the transmission rate parameter (β) and the influence of risk factors on within-flock transmission of highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) H7N7 virus in the 2003 epidemic in The Netherlands. The estimation is based on back-calculation of daily mortality data to fit a susceptible-infectious-dead format, and these data were analysed with a generalized linear model. This back-calculation method took into account the uncertainty of the length of the latent period, the survival of an infection by some birds and the influence of farm characteristics. After analysing the fit of the different databases created by back-calculation, it could be concluded that an absence of the latency period provided the best fit. The transmission rate parameter (β) from these field data was estimated at 4.50 per infectious chicken per day (95% CI: 2.68–7.57), which was lower than what was reported from experimental data. In contrast to general belief, none of the studied risk factors (housing system, flock size, species, age of the birds in weeks and date of depopulation) had significant influence on the estimated β.     

Oxidant-antioxidant imbalance in horses infected with equine infectious anaemia virus

This study assesses the impact of equine infectious anaemia virus (EIAV) infection on the oxidant/antioxidant equilibrium of horses. Blood samples from 96 Romanian horses aged 1-25 years, were divided into different groups according to their EIAV-infection status, age, and time post-seroconversion. The effect of infection on oxidative stress was estimated by measuring enzymatic antioxidants (superoxide dismutase [SOD], glutathione peroxidase [GPx] and catalase), non-enzymatic antioxidants (uric acid and carotenoids), and lipid peroxidation (malondialdehyde [MDA]). Infection modified the oxidant/antioxidant equilibrium in the horses, influencing GPx and uric acid levels (P<0.05). Time post-seroconversion also contributed to oxidative stress imbalance, exhibiting a significant influence on both SOD and MDA concentrations in the blood (P<0.05). Animal age did not have a significant influence on oxidative stress. Recently infected horses (<1 year following seroconversion), and horses >5 years old, represented the most vulnerable category in terms of oxidative stress, followed by recently infected animals <5 years old. The results of this study are novel in implicating EIAV infection in the development of oxidative stress in horses.     

Beach Litter Sourcing in the Bristol Channel and Wales,U.K.

Principal component analysis (PCA) and cluster analysis werecarried out on beach litter found primarily along theBristol Channel, U.K., together with beaches located aroundthe Principality of Wales. Both techniques indicated threebeach survey sites as outliers, with distinctive beachlitter profiles. PCA distinguished between riverine, sewagerelated, fishing and shipping sourced items, but did notproduce a coherent grouping for beach user litter. This wasattributed to a difference in modes of transport. Beachesfrom mid and north Wales, which had small litter amounts,were not differentiated from the central grouping. Thewestern edge of the Channel was more heavily influenced byshipping and fishing inputs than was the eastern portion.Cluster analysis showed a discrete group of beaches locatedmainly on the southern side of the Bristol Channel.     

Priorities in the cage size and flooring preferences of domestic hens

1. Battery‐kept hens (Sykes Tints) showed a preference for a large (0.76 x 0.86 m) over a small (0.38 x 0.43 m) cage, but preferred the smaller cage when this had a litter floor to the one 4 times larger with a wire floor.

2. The hens still showed a preference for litter when they could obtain access to it only by entering an even smaller cage (0.38 x 0.215 m) in which they could hardly turn round. This cage gave far less space than that recommended by the UK Welfare Codes (1971).

3. The experiments described demonstrate that hens prefer larger to smaller cages and litter floors to wire ones, but that they give highest priority to flooring. Increasing the space allowed to battery‐kept hens may not therefore be as “valuable” to them as giving them access to litter.     

Evidence for long-term prevalence of cucumber vein yellowing virus in Sudan and genetic variation of the virus in Sudan and the Mediterranean Basin

Cucumber vein yellowing virus (CVYV) is emerging throughout the Mediterranean Basin, where it causes significant damage to cucumber and melon crops. It has been suggested that CVYV originated from the Middle East and has spread only recently to other areas. In this work, an isolate from Sudan was characterized, and surveys performed in that country between 1992 and 2012 revealed a long-term presence of CVYV with a high molecular variability, showing that the virus has long been endemic in sub-Saharan Africa. Comparison of the full-length sequences of 11 CVYV isolates from different geographic origins revealed recombination events in CVYV populations from the Mediterranean Basin and the Middle East, and evidence for different selection pressures along the genome. These results shed a new light on the evolution of CVYV.     

An assessment of the value of plant growth regulators and herbicides for crops grown for the processed food industries

The use of growth regulators to induce specific modifications in the growth of crops produced for processing is discussed. Increases in yield may be obtained by some treatments but more important effects on uniformity, quality, ease of harvesting and short-term storage may also be achieved. The results of experiments on stem extension of calabrese, chemical stopping and defoliation of Brussels sprouts, root/shoot ratio modification of root crops and short-term storage of green vegetables are presented. It is concluded that although so far, few commercial applications have been discovered, the requirements for growth regulation justify the search for new, more reliable synthetic growth regulators by improving screening tests and more efficient field trials. The use of herbicides on crops grown for processing is also discussed briefly and it is concluded that the prime requirement is for more efficient post-emergence herbicides.