Improving the Reproductive Efficiency by Zoo-Technical Methods at a Dairy Farm

This trial was conducted on a Hungarian dairy farm between July 2001 and December 2004. The objective of this work was to improve the reproductive efficiency with relatively high milk production. At the beginning of this trial blood and fodder samples were taken for checking the metabolic status of the animals in order to determine their health condition. The nutritive value of the daily ration for all groups met with the requirements of the Hungarian National Standard and almost all serum metabolic parameters differed between the milking and pregnant animals. Early pregnancy detection (by ultrasound) and ovulation synchronizing methods were introduced to optimize reproductive performance. The oestrus cycle was also checked by ultrasound and open cows were treated by the appropriate method in order to inseminate them as soon as possible. Efficiency of artificial insemination (AI) followed by a single prostaglandin F2alpha (PGF2alpha) and Ovsynch treatment was similar (30.8% and 29%) and less effective than AI after natural heat detection (37.1%). Provsynch (Pre-synch followed by Ovsynch) was the most effective ovulation synchronization method (conception rate=42.6%; p<0.01). Although milk production increased between 2002 and 2004 by approximately 600 kg per cow, the calving period decreased by 20 days and the number of AIs per pregnancy was also improved (0.8 AI per conception). These findings are really beneficial economically because the decrease in the calving interval returns profit for the dairy farms; one open day costs euro2.5/cow. Economical analysis showed a high profit ratio from the reproductive 'investment' on this farm. Every invested euro yielded approximately euro10.     

Contribution of the seed microbiome to weed management

Seed‐attacking microorganisms have an undefined potential for management of the weed seedbank, either directly through inundative inoculation of soils with effective pathogenic strains, or indirectly by managing soils in a manner that promotes native seed‐decaying microorganisms. However, research in this area is still limited and not consistently successful because of technological limitations in identifying the pathogens involved and their efficacy. We suggest that these limitations can now be overcome through application of new molecular techniques to identify the microorganisms interacting with weed seeds and to decipher their functionality. However, an interdisciplinary weed management approach that includes weed scientists, microbiologists, soil ecologists and molecular biologists is required to provide new insights into physical and chemical interactions between different seed species and microorganisms. Such insight is a prerequisite to identify the best candidate organisms to consider for seedbank management and to find ways to increase weed seed suppressive soil communities.     

Tissue-Specific Variations of Esterase Activities in the Tadpoles and Adults of Pseudis paradoxa (Anura: Hylidae)

Water, Air, &; Soil Pollution - We determined basal levels of cholinesterase (ChE) and carboxylesterase (CbEs; two substrates: α-naphthyl acetate and 4-nitrophenylvalerate) in different...     

Surface Displacement of the 17 May 1993 Eureka Valley, California, Earthquake Observed by SAR Interferometry

Satellite synthetic aperture radar (SAR) interferometry shows that the magnitude 6.1 Eureka Valley earthquake of 17 May 1993 produced an elongated subsidence basin oriented north-northwest, parallel to the trend defined by the aftershock distribution, whereas the source mechanism of the earthquake implies a north-northeast-striking normal fault. The +/-3-millimeter accuracy of the radar-observed displacement map over short spatial scales allowed identification of the main surface rupture associated with the event. These observations suggest that the rupture began at depth and propagated diagonally upward and southward on a west-dipping, north-northeast fault plane, reactivating the largest escarpment in the Saline Range.