Effect of the nutrition level and sex on the energy maintenance requirement of broilers and rats

In 3 experiments young broiler chickens were supplied on various feeding levels in the growth range between 200 and 2500 g live weight (2.8 and 2.0 in experiment 1, 2.8, 2.3 and 1.8 in experiments 2 and 4, maintenance = feeding level 1.0). In experiments 1 and 2 short-time measurings (30 min) of heat production by means of gas exchange were made at 500, 1000, 1500 and 2000 g live weight in the post-absorptive state and on the maintenance level of feeding. In experiment 1 the heat production of the restrictively fed chickens was in 3 out of the 4 stages of development studied significantly lower by 10-14% than that of the intensively fed ones. In experiment 2 such an effect could not be observed. Fed on the level of energy maintenance, broilers weighing approximately 2000 g (experiment 3) did not show a significant influence of the sex on heat production as a result of 30-minute gas exchange measurings in the post-absorptive state. In experiment 4 24-hour measurings of the energy metabolism were carried out in the growth development in periods of feeding on the maintenance level by means of indirect calorimetry. In the live weight range between 0.9 and 1.3 kg there was only a low, non-significant decrease of the energy maintenance requirement of 4-6% of the highly restrictively fed chickens in comparison to the intensively fed ones. After continued feed restriction (live weight range 1.7-2.2 kg) an energy maintenance requirement reduced by 17% was measured. In an analogously arranged experiment with 24-hour energy metabolism measurings (experiment 5) male Wistar rats in the growth range between 70 and 280 g were supplied on the feeding levels 1.8 and 1.4 resp. In all three periods studied on the feeding level maintenance--beginning at 140-150 g live weight--the highly restrictively fed animals showed a slightly reduced energy maintenance requirement by 8%, 3% (non-significant) and 6% in comparison with the intensively fed animals.     

N2O-Freisetzung auf gemähtem Dauergrünland in Abhängigkeit von Standort und N-Düngung

N₂O Emissions from True Meadows Dependent on Location and N Fertilization Agricultural production is thought to be a main anthropogenic emitter of nitrous oxide (N₂O), which contributes to global warming and the destruction of the ozone layer. There is still considerable uncertainty about the amount of N₂O emission, and the site‐specific parameters that affect N₂O emission. From October 1995 until March 1998 experiments were conducted at established field plots (true meadows) at three different sites, i.e. low mountain range (Eifel), lowland (Niederrhein), and moist meadows (Münsterland). Plots were fertilized with calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) at nitrogen equivalents ranging from 0 to 360 kg N ha^–1. N₂O fluxes were measured throughout the whole year using the closed‐chamber method. In addition, data on temperature, water‐filled pore space and precipitation were collected. N₂O emission rates (mg N₂O‐N ha^–1 h^–1) were highest either after fertilizer application or in winter during frost, depending on the experimental site and N dosage. The annual amount of N losses due to N₂O emission was dependent on the experimental site and the type and dosage of fertilizer. Disregarding the 360 kg N ha^–1 level of the CAN treatments, the N losses in this experiment were less than 1.5 kg N₂O‐N ha^–1 yr^–1. At low fertilizer dosage there was no reliable correlation between the amount of N that was applied and the amount of N₂O that was emitted. However, with high fertilizer levels the N₂O emissions increased gradually. Finally, N₂O emissions were more influenced by the amount of CAN than by the site.     

Clinical and patho-morphological investigation of spontaneously occurring Seriodontal isease in dogs

Diagnostic evaluation of, and treatment planning for, different periodontal diseases of dogs are a common problem in veterinary dentistry. Therefore the aim of the present study was to propose a classification for inflammatory periodontal disease. One hundred and twenty-three male and female poodles (from two to over 12 years) were used for the clinical investigations; 120 periodontitis teeth were analysed for pathomorphological signs of inflammation. The recorded data made it possible to differentiate five forms of gingivitis (gingivitis simplex, hyperplastica, ulcerosa, granulomatosa and desquamativa) and three forms of periodontitis (juvenile, rapidly progressive adult and chronic adult periodontitis). The pathomorphological investigations allowed a differentiation between acute progressive inflammation, chronic nonprogressive inflammation, chronic proliferative inflammation and chronic resorptive inflammation. It is concluded that standardised diagnoses as well as the pathomorphological background may be helpful tools for providing effective treatment strategies.     

Energy requirements of pregnant and lactating sows

The energy requirement of pregnant and lactating sows is derived on the basis of extensive experimental studies of the energy metabolism (indirect calorimetry, slaughtering) according to the factorial method. For the first reproduction cycle (RC) 0.41 MJ metabolizable energy (ME) or 0.29 MJ net energy fat, pig (NEFpig) resp. were necessary for energy maintenance requirement for pregnant and lactating sows and, depending on age, 0.44 MJ ME or 0.31 MJNEFpig in the second or third RC and 0.47 MJ ME/kg LW0.75.d or 0.33 MJ NEFpig/kg LW0.75.d in the 4th-8th RC. A linear increase of up to 6% of the energy requirement caused by pregnancy between the 85th and 115th day of pregnancy is taken into consideration. Energy requirement per 1 MJ retention both in pregnancy and lactation is 1.45 MJ ME or 1.03 MJ NEFpig, per 1 MJ milk yield it is 1.33 MJ ME or 0.91 MJ NEFpig. 1 MJ body energy for milk yield corresponds to 1.20 MJ ME or 0.82 MJ NEFpig. Equations describing energy retention in the products of conception, uterus and udder are established as well as equations characterizing the connections between live weight gain or loss and energy content of the gain or loss.     

Solute Accumulation as a Cause for Quality Losses in Sugar Beet Submitted to Continuous and Temporary Drought Stress

Adaptation to low water availability in sugar beet includes the accumulation of solutes relevant for the technical quality of the beet. Two sugar beet genotypes were grown in pot experiments under drought stress of different severity to study effects on taproot composition and concentration of solutes relevant for technical quality, reversibility of drought effects after re‐watering and genotypic differences in drought response. Differences in stress sensitivity between the genotypes were not observed as reductions in taproot and leaf dry weight and white sugar yield were the same. Increasing dry matter concentration with decreasing water supply could, in part, be attributed to an increase in the concentration of cell wall components. The major solutes in the taproot were sucrose, potassium, amino N (the sum of amino acids) and betaine. Sucrose concentration decreased considerably under drought, indicating limited availability of assimilates. In contrast, all further solutes increased in concentration with increasing severity of stress. However, the response of individual solutes varied largely. Changes in amino N and nitrate were most pronounced and probably reflect accumulation of non‐utilized metabolites under limited growth. The drought‐induced accumulation of taproot solutes implicates a considerable decrease in the technical quality of the beet. It was only in part reversible by re‐watering. Genotypic variability for solute accumulation under water deficiency was observed but was not linked to drought tolerance.     

A Self-Learing Chinese Character Recognition System

A method using possibility theory and fuzzy logic is introduced. Possibility functions of each feature are determined during training. Methods of fuzzy logic are used to combine the possibility of different features. This Chinese character recognition system consists of a pre-classifier and a two-level fine classifier. In order to handle deviations of the characters,a fuzzification of features is introduced. This method is used to develop single-font classifiers. The whole system consists of a font-classifiers and four single-font-classifiers.     

Chromosomal location of genes for resistance to powdery mildew in common wheat (Triticum aestivum L. em Thell.). 9. Gene MlZec1 from the Triticum dicoccoides-derived wheat line Zecoi-1

The Triticum dicoccoides-derived wheat line Zecoi-1 provides effective protection against powdery mildew. F₃ segregation analysis of Chinese Spring × Zecoi-1 hybrids showed that resistance in line Zecoi-1 is controlled by a single dominant gene. Amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) analysis of bulked segregants from F₃s showing the homozygous resistant and susceptible phenotypes identified eight markers, of which four were associated with the resistance allele in repulsion phase. Following the assignment of these four repulsion phase AFLP markers to wheat chromosome 2B with the aid of Chinese Spring nulli-tetrasomic lines, they were physically mapped in the terminal breakpoint interval 0.89 (2BL-6)–1.00 (telomere) of chromosome 2BL. Genetic and physical mapping of simple sequence repeat markers from the distal half of chromosome 2BL located the wild emmer-derived powdery mildew resistance gene distal of breakpoint 0.89 in deletion line 2BL-6. Based on disease response patterns, genomic origin and chromosomal location the resistance gene in Zecoi-1 is temporarily designated MlZec1.     

Nitrogen mineralization in loamy arable soils after increasing the ploughing depth and ploughing grasslands

Abstract. Increasing the ploughing depth and ploughing in grassland has been common in Germany during the past 20 years. Incubation studies were conducted with topsoils from luvisols and gleysols at different times after change of management in order to assess its influence on nitrogen mineralization and its kinetic parameters.
The results show that deep ploughing slows the mineralization of nitrogen. The difference between earlier (1967–72) and more recently (1980–82) deepened topsoil has become smaller after a further three years of cultivation, however. The preceding crops (wheat or sugar beet), the amount of N fertilizer as well as clay and nitrogen contents cause a variation in N mineralization. The results indicate a continuing approach of an'equilibrium'organic matter and nitrogen content. The enrichment capacity of intensively managed soils may be replenished within 10 years.
Gleysols formerly under grass mineralize more nitrogen than'traditionally'ploughed soils, even 27 years after the ploughing-in. While nitrogen from easily decomposable materials decreases within the first 10 years, the resistant fraction is a long-lasting determinant for N mineralization. Both processes need to be considered when applying fertilizer to minimize nitrate leaching.