Building a picture: Prioritisation of exotic diseases for the pig industry in Australia using multi-criteria decision analysis

Diseases that are exotic to the pig industry in Australia were prioritised using a multi-criteria decision analysis framework that incorporated weights of importance for a range of criteria important to industry stakeholders. Measurements were collected for each disease for nine criteria that described potential disease impacts. A total score was calculated for each disease using a weighted sum value function that aggregated the nine disease criterion measurements and weights of importance for the criteria that were previously elicited from two groups of industry stakeholders. One stakeholder group placed most value on the impacts of disease on livestock, and one group placed more value on the zoonotic impacts of diseases. Prioritisation lists ordered by disease score were produced for both of these groups. Vesicular diseases were found to have the highest priority for the group valuing disease impacts on livestock, followed by acute forms of African and classical swine fever, then highly pathogenic porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome. The group who valued zoonotic disease impacts prioritised rabies, followed by Japanese encephalitis, Eastern equine encephalitis and Nipah virus, interspersed with vesicular diseases. The multi-criteria framework used in this study systematically prioritised diseases using a multi-attribute theory based technique that provided transparency and repeatability in the process. Flexibility of the framework was demonstrated by aggregating the criterion weights from more than one stakeholder group with the disease measurements for the criteria. This technique allowed industry stakeholders to be active in resource allocation for their industry without the need to be disease experts. We believe it is the first prioritisation of livestock diseases using values provided by industry stakeholders. The prioritisation lists will be used by industry stakeholders to identify diseases for further risk analysis and disease spread modelling to understand biosecurity risks to this industry.     

Rabies in the Dutch East Indies a century ago – A spatio-temporal case study in disease emergence

Rabies continues to spread through the Indonesian archipelago. During the past 20 years, several islands – including Flores, Ambon and Bali – that had historically been free of rabies have become infected. However, the Dutch East Indies (a Dutch colony that became modern Indonesia following World War II) had been infected since the 1880s. The spread of rabies is a lesson in the emergence of an infectious disease.     

Residual marine protected areas five years on: Are we still favouring ease of establishment over need for protection?

• 1. Marine protected areas (MPAs) are today's cornerstone of many marine conservation strategies. Our 2015 study (Devillers et al., 2015) and others have shown, however, that the placement of MPAs is ‘residual’ to commercial uses and biased towards areas of lower economic value or interest.
• 2. In this paper, we explored the impact of our study on marine science, policy and management practice.
• 3. We reviewed the papers citing our work and compiled expert opinions on some of the impacts of our study.
• 4. Results indicate a strong general uptake in the scientific community but more uneven impacts on policy and management in different contexts, with a likely smaller impact of the research on conservation practice.

     

A two-chambered trap reduces within-trap predation by octopus on rock lobsters in aquarium trials

A two-chambered lobster trap was developed that in aquarium trials significantly (p < 0.01) reduced octopus predation on trap-caught spiny lobster. The trap was designed using information gained from an investigation of the behavioural interactions of the maori octopus (Octopus maorum) with traps used in the South Australian commercial lobster (Jasus edwardsii) fishery. This study showed that octopuses were primarily attracted to traps by the presence of bait as opposed to lobsters and that octopus entry into traps was ‘fortuitous’ and mediated by speculative exploration. The outer chamber of the modified trap contained bait and allowed entry by octopuses but not lobster and the inner chamber allowed access to both animals. The trap worked on the principle that octopuses would enter the outer chamber containing bait via a side entrance in preference to entry to the inner chamber containing lobsters via the neck. This was found to be the case and lobster mortality was 70% lower in the two-chambered trap than a standard trap. Successful adaptation of this trap design to commercial fishing conditions could significantly reduce rates of octopus predation on rock lobsters in several important southern hemisphere fisheries for spiny lobsters.     

Effects of genotype and environment on the contents of betaine, choline, and trigonelline in cereal grains

This study examined the environmental and genetic variation in methyl donor contents and compositions of 200 cereal genotypes. Glycine betaine, choline, and trigonelline contents were determined by (1)H NMR, and significant differences were observed between cereal types (G) and across harvesting years and growing locations (E). Glycine betaine was the most abundant methyl donor in all of the 200 lines grown on a single site, and concentrations ranged from 0.43 ± 0.09 mg/g dm in oats to 2.57 ± 0.25 mg/g dm in diploid Einkorn varieties. In bread wheat genotypes there was a 3-fold difference in glycine betaine content. Choline contents, in the same lines, were substantially lower, and mean concentrations ranged from 0.17 mg/g dm in oats to 0.27 mg/g dm in durum wheat. Trigonelline was by far the least abundant of the methyl donors studied. Despite this, however, there were large differences between cereal types. Twenty-six wheat genotypes were grown in additional years at four European locations. The average glycine betaine content was highest in grains grown in Hungary and lowest in those grown in the United Kingdom. Across the six environments, there was a 3.8-fold difference in glycine betaine content. Glycine betaine levels, although moderately heritable (0.36), were found to be the most susceptible to the environmental conditions. Free choline concentrations were less variable across genotypes, but heritability of this component was the lowest of all methyl donor components (0.25) and showed a high G × E interaction. Trigonelline showed the most variation due to genotype. Heritability of this metabolite was the highest (0.59), but given that it is at a very low concentration in wheat, it is probably not attractive to plant breeders.     

Role of Sperm Velocity Variables Associated with Poultry Breed in ‘Last Male Precedence’

It is well known that when a hen mates with multiple roosters, it is the sperm of the last male that usually fertilizes most of the eggs (‘last male precedence’). Sperm quality varies between males within a breed, but also between breeds, and thus, sperm competitiveness after mating may depend on the breeds of the roosters involved. The aim of the present work was to identify differences in sperm competitiveness between breeds, especially with respect to motility. A multibreed mating model was used. Blue Andaluza (BA) and Black Castellana (BC) hens left for 21 days with BA and BC roosters, respectively, were then left with Black‐barred Andaluza (Bb) roosters for another 21 days (experimental groups hBA‐rBC‐rBb and hBC‐rBA‐rBb). Bb roosters (as the second breed replacing the first) fertilized the majority of eggs in both the hBC‐rBA‐rBb and hBA‐rBC‐rBb groups. The percentage of offspring sired by BA roosters (8.0%) was higher (p < 0.05) than the percentage of chicks sired by BC roosters (2.1%). The fertility of the BC hens in the hBC‐rBA‐rBb group was higher (p < 0.01) than that of the BA hens in the hBA‐rBC‐rBb group. No difference in sperm concentration was seen between the breeds. Within the rapid sperm subpopulation (sperm velocity, >50 μm/s), Bb sperm showed a higher straight‐line velocity (VSL) and average path velocity (VAP) (p < 0.05) than BC sperm. The VSL and VAP values for Bb and BA sperm were similar. In conclusion, the present results show that the sperm of the BA breed, traditionally regarded as of moderate fertility, compensates for this drawback via sperm movement characteristics that afford it an advantage in competition scenarios involving males of other breeds. The VSL and VAP of the rapid sperm subpopulation may play the most important role in securing last male precedence.     

A fatal disease outbreak in sheep associated with Salmonella enteritidis ser Havana

A disease outbreak with a mortality rate of 50% in a mob of wether lambs is described. Salmonella enteritidis ser Havana and pathogenic levels of Trichostrongylus sp. were implicated as causal agents.     

Effects of a local anaesthetic and a non-steroidal anti-inflammatlory analgesic on the behavioural responses of calves to dehorning

Aims. To evaluate the use of local anaesthesia and systemic analgesia for alleviating the distress associated with dehorning by monitoring stimulated behaviours in calves.

Methods. Eight behaviours were monitored in 3-4 month-old calves dehorned with and without local anaesthesia and/or a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, from 2 hours after treatment.

Results. Four of the behaviours, lying, grazing or ruminating, tail shaking and ear flicking, were significantly different during the first 4-6 hours of observation in control calves, which were not dehorned, compared to calves dehorned without anaesthesia or analgesia, which suggests that these behaviours are useful indices of the acute pain experienced by calves after dehorning. The behaviour of calves dehorned after both a local anaesthetic and a non-steroidal anti- inflammatory agent had been administered was similar to control calves. The behaviour of calves given only local anaesthesia or systemic analgesia prior to dehorning was similar to that of calves dehorned without any pain relief.

Conclusion. These results suggest that calves should be given both a local anaesthetic and a systemic analgesic before dehorning to alleviate the pain associated with this procedure.     

Influence of calf genotype on dam lactation and calf growth in farmed red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Multiparous red deer (Cervus elaphus scoticus) hinds (n=17) were either mated to a red deer stag or artificially inseminated with semen from a wapiti bull (C.e. nelsoni) to produce red deer or F₁ crossbred (C.e. scoticus × C.e. nelsoni) calves to test the hypotheses that (1) red deer hinds rearing crossbred calves will produce significantly more milk to support calf growth than hinds rearing red deer calves, and (2) hind live weight and body condition may suffer as a result. Hinds and calves were grazed on ryegrass and white clover pastures and supplemented with pasture silage and barley grain when pasture supply was inadequate. Calves were left with their mothers until 9–10 months of age when lactation had terminated naturally. Mean body condition score (BCS) loss was greater in hinds rearing F₁ calves than in hinds rearing red calves in the period from late gestation to mid-lactation (September–March, P<0.05). F₁ calves grew significantly faster than red deer calves and were heavier at all ages. From February onwards there was a consistent decline in milk intake, and by the latest measurement (22 July) milk production was negligible, and most hinds had ceased lactating. Milk intake by the F₁ calves was significantly greater until day 114, after which the measured milk intake was not significantly different. Pasture intake of the F₁ calves was significantly greater at day 114 but not at other times (P<0.05). The average hind pasture intake was also not significantly affected by calf genotype when adjusted for post calving hind live weight. The results support the hypothesis that a red deer hind rearing an F₁ calf produces significantly more milk than a hind rearing a red deer calf, suggesting that the growth of a red deer calf is limited by its milk demand rather than milk supply by the hind. The study also supported the second hypothesis. Hinds rearing F₁ calves exhibited greater losses of body condition score relative to the hinds rearing red deer calves, indicating that the hinds rearing F₁ calves were in a greater negative energy balance that hinds rearing red deer calves. This highlights the additional energetic demands on a hind from feeding an F₁ calf and in a farmed context the need to ensure that adequate nutrition is provided.