Lipogenesis and pancreatic insulin release in fetal pigs

Body composition, liver and adipose lipogenesis, and pancreatic insulin release were examined in intact and decapitated fetal pigs on d 110 of gestation. Decapitation was on d 45 of gestation. Decapitated fetuses deposited more body lipid and less body ash compared with intact fetuses. Body weight, water, dry matter and protein remained similar in intact and decapitated fetuses. Hepatic fatty acid esterification and synthesis were two- and threefold greater, respectively, in decapitated than in intact fetuses. Fatty acid synthesis in subcutaneous adipose tissue of decapitated fetuses was three times greater than values obtained in intact fetuses. The data supported the concept that substrate availability from the dam was not the rate-limiting step in fetal pig lipid synthesis and storage. High growth hormone levels in normal fetal pigs may be responsible for inhibiting lipogenesis, while fetal decapitation would remove this inhibition and be associated with greater lipid deposition. However, pancreatic insulin release was greater in decapitated than in intact fetuses; an indication that elevated lipid deposition may also be due to greater fetal insulin secretion.     

Changes in the Peritoneum during the Development of the Testis, Epididymis and Ductus Deferens in the Pig

The development of the peritoneal folds of the testis, epididymis and ductus deferens of the pig prior to testicular descent was studied in 18 to 82 days-old embryos/fetuses. The parietal attachment of the mesonephros, mesonephric and paramesonephric ducts and gubernaculum constituted the urogenital mesentery. This could be divided in a cranial and a caudal part. The first fixed the mesonephros and had a mesogonad as a secondary fold. The second had two branches, one laterally to the umbilical artery belonging to the gubernaculum (Plica gubemacularis) and the medial to the artery contained the meso- and paramesonephric ducts. The mesogonad was related caudally with Plica gubemacularis. The fold of the meso- and paramesonephric ducts could also be divided in two parts. The caudal was a primary component of the urogenital mesentery, while the cranial was first ventral and later lateral to the mesogonad (mesorchium) and appeared as a secondary fold of the urogenital mesentery (cranial part). A vascular fold contributed to separate the suspensory ligament of the testis from the developing mesorchium. The proposed meaning of the terms used might be useful for comparative studies.     

Returns from small ruminant production in South West Nigeria

Dwarf goats and sheep are ubiquitous in the humid zone of West Africa, although only as a supplement to cash and food crop production. This paper presents estimates of the returns obtained from these small ruminants under traditional production systems. Returns are, on average, high, but variable, especially in view of disease risks. Apart from disease control measures to reduce mortality, improved nutrition is needed for intensifying production. At current levels of management neither pasture production nor housing and hand-feeding are likely to yield increased returns. Alley farming, a system of intercropping with shrub species and the feeding of shrub trimmings to small ruminants, seems a promising alternative.     

Drivers of forest fire occurrence in the cultural landscape of Central Europe

Context

Wildfires in temperate Central Europe have traditionally been perceived as a mere consequence of human activity without any relevance to natural forest development, despite their documented frequent occurrence. As a result, knowledge about local fire ecology and patterns of wildfire occurrence in the landscape is lacking.

Objectives

We aimed to reveal the factors influencing the spatial distribution of forest fires in the Czech Republic as a model area for the broader region. Specifically, we aimed to (1) find out which factors influence the occurrence and frequency of the forest fires at the country scale and in a selected fire-prone region; (2) examine the relationship of lightning strikes and their polarity with wildfire incidence; (3) identify the conditions determining areas with naturally driven fire-prone conditions.

Methods

We took data on 15,985 wildfire records and explored their spatial distribution using GIS layers of human, topographic, climatic and vegetation composition factors. We analysed the data using GLM and hierarchical partitioning methods.

Results

Wildfire occurrence was controlled mostly by environmental factors whereas wildfire frequency was strongly driven by human factors. In the selected fire-prone region, the effect of environmental factors was even more pronounced and wildfire frequency was also driven, albeit marginally, by lightning strikes of positive polarity.

Conclusion

The pattern of wildfire occurrence in the Czech Republic was similar also to those from regions where wildfire is considered a natural part of local ecosystems. We identified the areas with natural fire-prone conditions which probably led to the development of local fire-adapted ecosystems.

     

Aetiology and prevalence of subclinical mastitis in dairy herds in peri-urban areas of Kigali in Rwanda

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The aim of this cross-sectional study was to evaluate the prevalence of subclinical mastitis (SCM) and associated risk factors in dairy cows in peri-urban...     

Virucidal efficacy of nine commercial disinfectants against porcine circovirus type 2

A number of commercially available disinfectants are commonly used on pig breeding farms and are authorised by the French Agricultural Ministry. However, the efficacy of these disinfectants is unknown with regard to the emergent porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2). The virucidal efficacy of nine disinfectants was evaluated by testing a suspension of PCV2 isolated in France. The assays were performed at 20 degrees C and the efficacy determined after 30 min contact time between virus and disinfectant. After this time, the mixture was passed through a detoxification column and then diluted to remove compounds toxic to the virus and the porcine kidney cell line. The filtrate was serially diluted and inoculated onto cell culture. The infectivity of PCV2 was determined by an immunoperoxidase monolayer assay. No reduction in PCV2 titre was demonstrated with iodine and phenolic products. Significant PCV2 titre reductions (1.61 log(10)) were noted for the seven other products. For five disinfectants, namely a product composed of potassium monopersulfate, two products comprising a quaternary ammonium with one or three aldehyde(s), sodium hypochlorite, and sodium hydroxide, the concentration that significantly reduced the PCV2 titre was equal or 1.5-4 times lower than the authorised use concentration. Only two disinfectants, one composed of potassium monopersulfate, the other containing peracetic acid with hydrogen peroxide, reduced the PCV2 titre with a product concentration at best equal or two times higher than the authorised use concentration.     

Cattle stunning with a penetrative captive bolt device: A review

The captive bolt device has been used for stunning cattle at abattoirs for more than 100 years and is now one of the stunning devices used most widely. The aim of this review article was to assess the effects that are decisive during cattle slaughter on the quality of stunning with the use of a captive bolt stunning device. The basis of effective stunning is the use of a suitable type of device, with the speed of the bolt and the kinetic energy corresponding to the anatomical parameters of the slaughtered animal. The importance of the regular cleaning and maintenance of stunning devices and monitoring of the effectiveness of stunning goes without saying. The immediate loss of sensibility in the animal must occur after the first shot. The effectiveness of the stunning process can be quantified by regular monitoring of the behavior of animals after stunning with an emphasis on the loss of reflexes (corneal reflex, regular breathing, attempts to regain physiological posture) and checks on the shot location on the skulls of slaughtered animals.     

Levels of resistance of Erysiphe graminis f.sp. hordei to the systemic fungicide triadimenol

A random sample of conidiospores ofErysiphe graminis f.sp.hordei was obtained from the atmosphere above Cambridge, England, by incubating them on barley seedlings exposed on three dates in 1985. The asexual progeny of each spore was tested for its response to a range of doses of a systemic triazole fungicide, triademenol. Principal components analysis of the data revealed that the majority of isolates had a distinct level of response to triadimenol, being resistant to triadimenol at the rate apoplied to seed commercially. The remaining isolates appeared either to be sensitive to the lowest dose of triadimenol used, or to have one of two intermediate levels of resistance. There was a significant increase in the frequency of isolates with higher levels of resistance to triadimenol during 1985. This is likely to have been a response to the continuing widespread use of demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides by British farmers.