Litter impaction of the lower intestinal tract in male broiler breeders

Increased mortality occurred among males in a house of 26-wk-old broiler breeders. A severe impaction of the lower intestinal tract, because of litter, was found on necropsy in two of three recently dead cockerels. Litter could be seen in the markedly distended vent of the most affected bird. This bird also had feces and litter in the body cavity because of a ruptured small intestine. Both birds had extensive urate and fecal soiling of feathers around the vent. Other visceral organs were normal except for lack of fat around the base of the heart and decreased myocardial tone. Impaction of the lower intestinal tract in these birds most likely resulted from eating litter because of a change in feeding regimen, which caused confusion and feed competition among male birds.     

Effects of the β-Adrenergic Agonist Cimaterol on Growth and Carcass Quality of Monozygotic Friesian Young Bulls at Three Developmental Stages

The objective was to investigate the effects of the β-adrenergic agonist cimaterol (CIM) on growth and carcass quality of Friesian young bulls at different developmental stages. The study comprised three liveweight groups (WG) each of four pairs of monozygotic twins. The average initial liveweight (LW) of the animals in WG 1, 2, and 3 was 162, 299 and 407 kg, respectively. One animal of each pair was fed 0.056 mg CIM per kg LW for 90 days, while the other served as a control (C). The animals were fed concentrate and barley straw according to LW and restricted to 80-90% of the ad libitum level of intake. The animals were slaughtered on day 90 of the treatment period. Without affecting feed intake, CIM treatment increased average daily gain (ADG) by 19% (P<0.001) and thus improved feed efficiency (P<0.001). Dressing percentage, carcass gain, EUROP conformation and longissimus dorsi area were all increased (P<0.001) after CIM treatment. Carcass length (P<0.01), backfat thickness (P<0.05), and internal fat (P<0.001) were reduced after CIM treatment, whereas organ weights were only marginally reduced. Weights of all of 14 different commercial cuts were increased (P<0.002), the increase was largest in cuts from the hind region of the carcass. The percentage of carcass saleable meat increased (P<0.001) in CIM-treated animals. The effects of cimaterol were evident in all three WG. The results show that cimaterol is effective in stimulating overall growth performance and improving carcass leanness of young bulls at different developmental stages, and concomitantly reducing fat deposition in general.     

Smoke-derived taint in wine: effect of postharvest smoke exposure of grapes on the chemical composition and sensory characteristics of wine

Although smoke exposure has been associated with the development of smoke taint in grapes and subsequently in wine, to date there have been no studies that have demonstrated a direct link. In this study, postharvest smoke exposure of grapes was utilized to demonstrate that smoke significantly influences the chemical composition and sensory characteristics of wine and causes an apparent 'smoke taint'. Verdelho grapes were exposed to straw-derived smoke for 1 h and then fermented according to two different winemaking treatments. Control wines were made by fermenting unsmoked grapes. Sensory studies established a perceivable difference between smoked and unsmoked wines; smoked wines were described as exhibiting 'smoky', 'dirty', 'earthy', 'burnt' and 'smoked meat' characteristics. Quantitative analysis, by means of gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, identified guaiacol, 4-methylguaiacol, 4-ethylguaiacol, 4-ethylphenol, eugenol, and furfural in each of the wines made from smoked grapes. However, these compounds were not detected in the unsmoked wines, and their origin is therefore attributed to the application of smoke. Increased ethanol concentrations and browning were also observed in wines made from grapes exposed to smoke.     

The lack of effect of isoflavones on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol concentrations in adolescent boys: a 6-week randomised trial

BACKGROUND: A substantial fall in high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) during puberty in boys, but not girls, has been reported in Western populations. The fall in boys is believed to be due to hormonal changes - androgens have been shown to be associated with lower HDL-C, whereas oestrogens are associated with higher HDL-C. The fall in HDL-C during puberty was not observed, however, in a study of Moslem boys in Israel, nor in a group of Japanese boys. A diet high in phyto-oestrogens may account for the lack of a fall in HDL-C in these populations. OBJECTIVE: To examine the effect of dietary supplementation with phyto-oestrogens on the HDL-C concentration of adolescent boys from a Western population. We hypothesised that dietary supplementation of 50 mg of the isoflavones daidzein and genistein would produce a 12% higher HDL-C concentration than in controls at the end of a 6-week intervention period. DESIGN: A randomised controlled trial. SETTING: Hellyer College in Burnie (Tasmania, Australia). SUBJECTS: Adolescent boys (aged 16-18 years) were recruited through a letter sent to parents. A total of 132 eligible participants enrolled and five subjects withdrew from the trial. RESULTS: No significant increase in HDL-C was observed in the treatment group (-0.02 mmol l-1, standard error (SE)=0.03, P = 0.53) or the placebo group (0.05 mmol l-1, SE = 0.03, P = 0.11). CONCLUSIONS: Factors other than isolated dietary isoflavones may be responsible for the lack of fall in HDL-C during puberty in Japanese and Moslem boys.     

The effects of captive experience on reintroduction survival in carnivores: A review and analysis

This review focuses on the success and survivorship of captive-born versus wild-caught carnivores used in reintroductions. Previous reviews have suggested that reintroduction projects using captive-born animals are less likely to be successful than projects translocating wild-caught animals. The purpose of this paper is to examine this statistically and investigate how captivity may affect the survival of reintroduced carnivores. We examined results published in previous reviews, and found evidence to support that reintroduction projects using wild-caught animals are significantly more likely to succeed than projects using captive-born animals. We further compiled our own review of 45 case studies in carnivore reintroduction projects (in 17 species across 5 families) to investigate survival rates rather than overall project ‘success’. We found that (1) wild-caught carnivores are significantly more likely to survive than captive-born carnivores in reintroductions; (2) that humans were the direct cause of death in over 50% of all fatalities and (3) that reintroduced captive-born carnivores are particularly susceptible to starvation, unsuccessful predator/competitor avoidance and disease.     

Intervarietal Differences of Winter Wheat in Conditions of the Southeastern Volga-Vyatka Region

The article makes an effort to assess ten varieties of winter wheat and select the ones most adapted to the conditions of the study region, which would combine a significant yield potential with high quality grains and possess a complex of important economic traits. It has been determined that yield performance of the studied varieties ranges from of 4.78 t/ha in variety Pamyati Fedina to 6.02 t/ha in variety Nemchinovskaya 57. Varieties Nemchinovskaya 17 and Nemchinovskaya 57 have been found to produce a significantly higher yield than standard variety Moskovskaya 39, that is, by 1.03 and 1.16 t/ha or 21.2 and 23.9%, respectively. Protein content varies within the range from 15.2 in variety Pamyati Fedina to 19.1% in variety Moskovskaya 40. This indicator is 17.5% in the standard variety. Moskovskaya 40 is also significantly distinguished by gluten content of 35.9%. In addition, the above-noted varieties reveal a significant winter survival and resistance to leaf and rot diseases. Thus, it can be concluded that Nemchinovskaya 57, Nemchinovskaya 17, and Moskovskaya 40 are the most remarkable among the varieties in the context of important economic traits, that is, yield performance, protein and gluten content, components of yield structure, and resistance to diseases.     

Interior wood use: linking user perceptions to physical properties

Focus groups were carried out in Austria, Finland, France, Norway, and Sweden to understand building professional’s and laypeople’s perceptions of building materials and well-being in indoor environments. Focus groups asked participants to share their opinions and experiences related to seven main topics: choosing interior materials, naturalness, naturalness for building materials, well-being in the indoor environment, wood materials, cleanabililty, and ethics and environment. The main objective of the focus groups was to explore how the use of wood is perceived in the interior environment and suggest opportunities for use of wood in the built environment. Participants’ responses can be linked to the physical properties of wood: density/hardness, grain, thermal conductivity, moisture content, chemical composition, color, and natural origin. Based on the discussion, these physical properties can be related more closely to the perception of wood as a natural material with respect to intended use, such as visual and tactile products. Based on the findings, it is also possible to alter product properties to enhance users’ experience of wood in the interior built environment. The results also indicate that the relevance and trustworthiness of the current schemes for documenting sustainable forestry practices, is questionable.     

Responses of Wetland Plant <Emphasis Type="Italic">Carex vulpina</Emphasis> to Copper and Iron Nanoparticles

Currently, the use of nanotechnologies is in rapid expansion, which entails increasing risks of environmental contamination by nanoparticles. Many studies describe the toxic effects on human cells, but little is known about the possible adverse effects on plants. Currently, various nanoparticles are often detected in streams, wastewater, and sewage due to widespread nanoparticle uses. We studied the accumulation and the effect of metal oxide nanoparticles together with their bulk counter particles and soluble metal salts on the growth of a wetland plant species true fox-sedge (Carex vulpina L.). The concentration 100 mg/l of copper nanoparticles significantly affected the growth of the plants, roots characteristics, and content of the photosynthetic pigments in leaves, while the same concentration of iron nanoparticles did not reduced any of the measured items. Using the bulk materials, the effect was very similar.