C and N dynamics of a range of biogas slurries as a function of application rate and soil texture: a laboratory experiment

Digestates vary in composition and studies regarding their impact on C and N dynamics in soils are scarce. The objective was to analyse the C and N dynamics of digestates originating from various substrates applied to a sandy Cambisol and a silty Anthrosol. In three laboratory experiments (4–6 weeks), the effects of digestate properties, N rate and water content were tested. Averaged over both soils, 21% of the C supplied was emitted as CO₂. Potential NH₃ emissions during the first week ranged between 6% and 12% of NH₄⁺ present in the digestates. The emission factors in the sandy Cambisol were on average 1.2 and 2 times higher for CO₂ and potential NH₃, respectively, compared to the silty Anthrosol. Similarly, net nitrogen mineralization in the sandy Cambisol was approximately twice the N mineralized in the silty Anthrosol. Net nitrification was not influenced by soil texture or different digestates, but increased with increasing application rates and had highest values at 75% of water holding capacity. Our results indicate that the type of substrate input for anaerobic digestion influences the properties of the digestate and therefore the dynamics of C and N. However, soil texture can affect these dynamics markedly.     

Screening of field performance of entomopathogenic fungi and nematodes against cabbage root flies (Delia radicum l. and d. floralis (fall.); Diptera,Anthomyiidae)

Finnish isolates of Beauveria bassiana (8 isolates), Metarhizium anisopliae (7), Tolypocladium sp. (2), Paecilomyces farinosus (2), P. fumosoroseus (1), Steinernema feltiae (3) and Bacillus thuringiensis ('Muscabac') were tested for efficacy against mixed populations of Delia radicum and D. floralis under field conditions in 1986–90. All pathogens were applied preventatively, the fungi as aqueous conidial or mycelial suspensions, dry conidia or dry mycelial powder. In only two of the nine experiments did B. bassiana or M. anisopliae give some control. In 1986, B. bassiana SF85–2 and Tolypocladium sp. SF85–4 (both at rate 1.2 x 10⁹ conidia plant‐ 1), and ‘Muscabac’ (25 g 1^?1, 1 dl plant^?1) reduced the number of pupae by 80%, 60% and 50%, respectively, as compared with untreated and chemical (isophenphos) controls. In 1990, M. anisopliae SF86–39 at rate 1.6 x 10⁹conidia plant^?1 and 1.5 x 10⁸ CFU plant^?1 and S. feltiae SFS‐22 (35000 plant^?1), increased the yield of cauliflower 2.2, 1.8, and 2.3‐fold, respectively, as compared with the untreated control, but these yields were only 19%, 15% and 19% of those of the chemical (diazinon) control. Paecilomyces isolates were ineffective in the 1986 experiment in which they were included. Our results suggest that it is difficult to find efficient control agents among the fungal and nematode species tested for use as biopesticides against cabbage root flies, but that the potential of M. anisopliae against these pests deserves further study.     

Veterinary epidemiology--a key to sustainable pig production in Switzerland

Sustainable animal production requires a healthy production system including healthy animals producing wholesome products. Epidemiology as a discipline is concerned with the occurrence of disease or disease indicators in populations as well as with factors influencing disease occurrence. By providing this information, epidemiology contributes significantly to the development and maintenance of healthy livestock. This is illustrated with the example of the enzootic pneumonia (EP) eradication programme of Switzerland. A series of observational studies were conducted in order to obtain the necessary knowledge to implement an area-wide EP eradication programme. The issues of economical eradication strategies at the herd level and the risk of re-infections were addressed. Simulation modelling and economical analysis were also applied. These research projects led to the successful start of a national eradication programme. The example of the EP eradication programme illustrates that applied epidemiological research provides critical information for the planning, implementation and evaluation of disease control programmes and is thus a key tool in developing sustainable animal production.     

Questionnaire assessment of the welfare of pigs

A questionnaire study was performed involving 76 farms with a total of 380,207 pigs to assess the welfare of pigs kept in Hungary based on the animal welfare legislation of the European Union. Most significant deficiencies were found in the fulfillment of the provisions relating to space requirements, the stall microclimate and the behavioural needs of the animals.     

The surgical technique and the age of the horse both influence the outcome of mosaicplasty in a cadaver equine stifle model

Six pieces of grafts, 6.5 mm in diameter, 20 mm in length, were taken from each of 170 cadaver hindlimbs, using the cranial surface of the medial femoral trochlea for harvesting. The age of the horses varied between 4 months and 23 years. 30 limbs under the age of 12 years were selected for transplantation. Three of six grafts were transplanted into the medial femoral condyle using different combinations of tunnel depth and dilation. With ageing, a significant decline in transplantability was detected. In general, mosaicplasty cannot be recommended in horses above 11 years. Based on a previous clinical case (Bodó et al., 2000), a good surface alignment was indeed achieved with a combination of graft length drilling and dilation in most cases. However, the occasional entrapment of cartilage debris under the graft prevented perfect alignment in the present cadaver study in 27% of the grafts transplanted in this manner. Since the protrusion of grafts never exceeded 1.5 mm, we conclude that drilling 3-5 mm deeper than graft length with graft length deep dilation can avoid disadvantageous protrusion of the transplanted hyaline cartilage caps, achieving bone decompression at the same time.     

Ultrasonography and surgery of canine biliary diseases

Findings of hepatic and gallbladder ultrasonography were analyzed in 12 dogs with gallbladder and/or extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction and compared with the results of exploratory laparotomy. Hepatic ultrasonography demonstrated normal liver in 2 dogs and hepatic abnormalities in 10 animals. The following ultrasonographic diagnoses were established compared to surgical findings: gallbladder obstruction caused by bile sludge (correct/incorrect: 1/2, surgical diagnosis: choleliths in one case), gallbladder obstruction caused by neoplasm (0/1, surgical diagnosis: mucocele), gallbladder and extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction due to choleliths (3/3), extrahepatic biliary tract obstruction caused by pancreatic mass (1/1) and small intestinal volvulus (1/1). Bile peritonitis caused by gallbladder rupture (4/4) was correctly diagnosed by ultrasound, aided with ultrasonographically-guided abdominocentesis and peritoneal fluid analysis. Rupture of the gallbladder should be suspected in the presence of a small, echogenic gallbladder or in the absence of the organ together with free abdominal fluid during ultrasonography. Laparotomy was correctly indicated by ultrasonography in all cases. However, the direct cause of obstruction could not be determined in 2 of the 12 dogs by ultrasonography alone.     

Significant contagious diseases which spread primarily through livestock trade and products of animal origin

Against the background of the certification system based on trust, an overview is given of the risk potential posed by the introduction of major animal diseases using tables setting out live animals and livestock products moved and/or imported into Germany as well as maps on the global occurrence of selected diseases figuring on List A of O.I.E.     

MMP-9 as a marker of inflammation in tracheal epithelial lining fluid (TELF) and in bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF) of COPD horses

Gelatinolytic activity was analysed to study whether elevated activity previously found at the tracheal level of the respiratory tract of horses with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) could also be found at the lower part of the respiratory tract. Furthermore, presence and significance of the gelatinolytic matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) MMP-2 and MMP-9 in respiratory secretions of healthy and COPD horses were determined. Elevated gelatinolytic matrix metalloproteinases were detected in bronchoalveolar and tracheobronchial secretions from COPD horses. The main pathologically elevated MMP was characterised to be MMP-9. Significantly increased MMP-9 activities as measured by gelatin zymography and Western blotting were found in all the respiratory samples from COPD horses compared to healthy horses. Elevation of active MMP-9 paralleled with increased gelatinase-associated lipocalin levels. Bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) epithelial cells, macrophages, neutrophils and lymphocytes expressed MMP-9 immunoreactivity demonstrated by immunocytochemistry and MMP-9 mRNA was expressed by bronchial epithelial cells of lung tissue section shown by in situ hybridisation. MMP-2 seems not to play a major role in chronic lung inflammation. No clear differences in MMP-2 or MMP-14 (a potent MMP-2 activator) levels were found when comparing the samples from COPD or healthy horses. These results suggests that MMP-9 could serve as a potential diagnostic marker for the active ongoing tissue remodelling in the acute phase of equine COPD. Increased gelatinolytic activity could be found at both tested respiratory tract levels. Therefore, tracheal epithelial lining fluid (TELF) samples can usefully serve as diagnostic material for detection of increased levels of the main gelatinolytic MMP, MMP-9, representing the entire diseased lung.