Effect of orally administered furazolidone on volume and sperm concentration of dwarf and non-dwarf cock semen

2 groups of 20 cocks each were selected at random from non-dwarf White Leghorn (28 weeks post-hatch) and dwarf Krishna-J (38 weeks post-hatch) genotypes. The treated groups comprised 10 White Leghorn and 10 Krishna-J cocks. The remaining birds served as controls. 8 weeks prior to furazolidone treatment, semen was collected from both control groups at regular 4-day intervals, for 4 weeks. Cocks of the treated groups of both genotypes were administered furazolidone (0.14 g/bird/day) for 7 consecutive days. Semen was collected from all cocks at regular 4-day intervals for 4 weeks. Semen from the cocks of the same group was pooled. The pooled ejaculate volume and sperm density did not differ significantly in the 2 genotypes. The semen output as well as sperm density increased along with progressive attainment of sexual maturity. Furazolidone treatment caused significant reduction in semen volume as well as sperm concentration in either genotype.     

Soil mixing in the East Anglian fens

Abstract. Experiments were started in 1967 to investigate the effects of soil mixing on fen peat soil. Peaty topsoil was mixed with mineral subsoil to a maximum depth of 80 cm at two sites, one with a clay subsoil, the other sand. Mixing was done on a commercial scale with a range of implements. After initial increases, yields of arable crops on both mixed soils were subsequently similar to those on unmixed soil. Residual herbicide activity was enhanced on mixed soils, and evidence of peat conservation was obtained at one site. The practice has not been taken up commercially because of the high capital cost of mixing and lack of serious problems which had been predicted following peat wastage.     

A simple method for the quantitative determination of sperm aggregation

Described in this paper are 2 methodological variants for photometric recording of sperm aggregation. Heparin was used to induce aggregation. One of the working principles was related to aggregation-associated alteration of turbidity in an agitated cell suspension, measured by the KZM-1 coagulation-time meter, in analogy to measurement of thrombocyte aggregation. The 2nd variant was based on variation of cloudiness due to sedimentation of aggregates in a non-agitated suspension. Both methods provided equally valid information. They characterised both intensity of aggregation as a combined effect of the number and size of aggregates as well as the rate of aggregation. Photometric recording has proved to be an objectivated method for quantitative assessment of aggregation. Its use is proposed for studies into capacitation or immunological response of spermatozoa.     

Effect of Nitrogen Rate and Stubble Height on Dry Matter Yield,Crude Protein Content and Crude Protein Yield of a Sorghum–Sudangrass Hybrid[Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench × Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf.] in the Three‐Cutting System

In this study, the effects of nitrogen (N) rate (60, 120, 180 and 240 kg N ha^?1 applied in three equal dressings at seeding and after the first and second cuttings) and stubble height (7, 14 and 21 cm) on the dry matter (DM) yield, crude protein (CP) content, and CP yield of a sorghum–sudangrass hybrid [Sorghum bicolor (L.) Moench × Sorghum sudanense (Piper) Stapf., cv. Pioneer 988] in the three‐cut system was investigated. The N rate had no significant effect in the first and third cuttings, but in the second cutting DM yields increased significantly with increase in N rate. The highest yield of 9.1 t ha^?1 was obtained with 80 kg N ha^?1 for the average of 2 years at the second cutting, but no significant difference was found among the 40, 60 and 80 kg N ha^?1 rates. CP content and yield were not significantly affected by N rate at the first and third cuttings, but CP content and yield were significantly affected by application of N at the second cutting. Stubble height had a significant effect on CP content at the third cutting. However, it had no significant effect on CP content at the first and second cuttings. Stubble height had a significant effect on the CP yield at the first cutting, but no significant effect on CP yield at the second and third cuttings.