Effect of changing energy prices on commodity prices and farm income

Tatonnement programming is used to examine the effect of energy prices on commodity prices and farm income. This method uses a national interregional linear programming model in conjunction with demand equations for feedgrains, soybeans and wheat. This spatial programming model is solved iteratively with these demand functions using an algorithm based upon the Walrasian tatonnement process. While the model is static in nature, it indicates that once adjustment to a doubling of energy prices occurs returns to land will increase by 10·8%. Commodity prices will increase 24·1, 18·7 and 9·9% for feedgrains, wheat and soybean, respectively, and demand will decrease 2·2, 1·9, and 0·9% for these same three commodities.     

Factors affecting the weight and water status of the chick at hatch

1. Variation in chick weight at the moment of escape from the shell is accounted for by the fresh weight of the egg, the weight lost from the egg during the incubation period and the weight of the shell and residues at hatch.

2. Over 97% of the variation in chick weight at hatch can be explained by two factors, fresh egg weight and weight loss during incubation. These two factors still account for a high (87%) proportion of the variation in chick weight at 21 d after setting when chicks would normally be removed from the hatcher.

3. The water content of the true chick and the residual yolk sac are both affected by water loss from the egg during incubation and account for the differences in the weight of the whole chick at hatch from eggs of the same size.

4. When the fluid reserves within the egg become exhausted in the few days before hatch, the water: dry weight ratio of the yolk rather than embryo is maintained despite variation in water losses between eggs.     

Effect of access time to food on broilers fed on diets of differing nutrient concentration

1. In the two experiments on restricted feeding of broilers there were no interactions between dietary nutrient concentration and access time to food on either performance or carcass characteristics.

2. In the first experiment (winter), food denial for 8 h/d improved food conversion efficiency and increased dressing percentage. Increasing nutrient concentration increased growth rate; decreased food intake; and improved conversion efficiency.

3. In the second experiment (summer), food denial for 8 h/d tended to increase growth rate and to improve conversion efficiency, but not significantly. Increasing nutrient concentration had the same effect as in experiment 1.

4. It is concluded that restricted access to food generally improves food efficiency.     

Prevalence and associations between bacterial isolates from dry mammary glands of dairy cows

To assess the prevalence and patterns of bacterial isolates, cultures were made from the dry mammary glands of dairy cows in six commercial dairy herds in the UK. Milk samples were taken from all four quarters of 480 cows at drying off and at weekly intervals from 14 days before to seven days after calving. A major mastitis pathogen was isolated from at least one quarter of 220 (45.8 per cent) of the cows and from more than one quarter of 90 (18.8 per cent) of them. During the late dry to calving period, of the 957 quarters with three culture results, a major mastitis pathogen was cultured from 236 (24.7 per cent) quarters of 186 (38.8 [corrected] per cent) cows. The most commonly isolated major pathogen was Escherichia coli, followed by Streptococcus uberis and coagulase-positive staphylococci. There were significant differences between the patterns of isolates from different farms and in different calving months, suggesting that the rate of infection was partially dependent on external conditions. The isolation of E. coli, S. uberis or coagulase-positive staphylococci from a cow during the late dry/periparturient period was associated with an increased risk of that cow being culled in the next lactation. Bayesian general linear mixed models were used to assess the associations between the different bacterial species. The probability of isolating either E. coli or S. uberis was significantly greater when the other organism was cultured in a milk sample; this was also true of coagulase-positive staphylococci and S. uberis. When Corynebacterium species were isolated from a milk sample, the probability of isolating coagulase-positive staphylococci or S. uberis decreased significantly, and when coagulase-negative staphylococci were isolated the probability of isolating coagulase-positive staphylococci was reduced.     

Malignant adrenal neuroblastoma in a young dog

A 1.5-year-old dog was evaluated for abnormal mentation, collapse, and weight loss. Radiographs and ultrasonographs revealed soft tissue masses in the mid abdomen. Ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspirates provided a diagnosis of malignant epithelial or round cell neoplasia. Histopathologic and immunohistochemical findings on the tumors were consistent with a primitive neuroblastoma.     

Western Equine Encephalitis in Saskatchewan Reptiles and Amphibians, 1961-1963

Western equine encephalitis (WEE) antibodies were found in blood samples from garter snakes and leopard frogs collected in Saskatchewan but WEE virus was not recovered from any of the specimens. Evidence of natural WEE infection in snakes was found in 8 different localities while in frogs in two only. Experimentally, garter snakes were readily infected and developed a high, relatively sustained viremia without signs of disease. After experimental exposure, viremia persisted regularly for 10 to 12 days, while the longest observed duration of viremia was 30 days. Anamnestic responses were elicited in snakes as a result of second inoculations of virus after the antibody levels from first exposures had fallen. Newborn snakes were observed to be more sensitive to infection than adults. The possibility of virus and antibody transmission from infected pregnant garter snakes to their offspring was investigated. Snakes and frogs were both susceptible to infection by the oral route. Two bull snakes collected at Steveville, Alberta, were found to have antibody for St. Louis Encephalitis virus.     

Experiments on the use of alcohol vapours to suppress the sprouting of stored potatoes

Summary The suppression of sprouting in stored potatoes by ventilating them with growth inhibiting vapours offers several advantages over the usual dusting methods. It is essential that the rate of ventilation with the air stream containing the vapour should be sufficiently rapid to prevent excessive dilution of the vapour with convective air. A rate of 100 to 150 litres per minute per 1000 kg of potatoes is suggested. To increase the rate above 150 litres per minute per 1000 kg is wasteful. Nonyl alcohol vapour at a concentration of 0.05 to 0.12 mg per litre of ventilating air has prevented sprout growth in bulks up to 165 metric tons without impairing the cooking quality of the potatoes. The total cost of such a method in commercial use would be about 4 shillings (English money) per 1000 kg. It is essential that the treatment should be started as soon as the first signs of bud enlargement are observed on the potatoes on the top of the stack. Delay until the sprouts are an appreciable size may result in damage to the tubers with a potential danger of rotting.

---

Zusammenfassung Die Keimungsunterdrückung gelagerter Kartoffeln durch Ventilierung mit wachstumshemmenden gasf?rmigen Stoffen zeigt verschiedene Vorteile im Vergleich zu den üblichen St?ubemethoden. Es ist wesentlich, dass die Geschwindigkeit des Ventilationsstromes, der die Gase enth?lt, gross genug ist, um überm?ssige Verdünnung dieser Gase mit Konvektionsluft zu verhindern. Eine Geschwindigkeit von 100 bis 150 l je Minute je 1000 kg is wünschenswert. Eine Erh?hung dieser Geschwindigkeit über 150 l je Minute je 1000 kg ist Verschwendung. Nonylalkohol-D?mpfe in Konzentrationen von 0.05 bis 0.12 mg je Liter Ventilationsluft verhindern Sprossung in Lagerungen bis zu 165 Tonnen ohne Verminderung der Kochqualit?t der Kartoffeln. Die Gesamtkosten einer solchen Behandlung auf kommerzieller Basis w?ren bei den zurzeit geltenden Preisen ungef?hr 4 Shillinge (Englisches Geld) je 1000 kg. Es ist wesentlich, mit der Behandlung zu beginnen sobald die ersten Anzeichen von Knospenschwellung an den Kartoffeln zu oberst im Lagervorrat beobachtet werden. Eine Verz?gerung der Behandlung, bis die Sprossen eine ansehnliche Gr?sse erreicht haben, kann zur Besch?digung der Knollen führen und bringt die Gefahr der F?ule mit sich.

---

Résumé La répression de la germination de pommes de terre entreposécs par aération à l'aide de retardateurs de croissance gazeux présente plusieurs avantages en comparaison des méthodes àb ase de poudre généralement appliquécs. Il importe que la rapidité du courant d'aération dans lequel sont contenus les gaz, soit assez grande afin d'éviter une dilution excessive de ces gaz avec des courants de convection. Une rapidité de 100 à 150 litres par minute par 1000 kg para?t recommandable. Une augmentation de cette vitesse dépassant les 150 litres par minute par 1000 kg serait du gaspillage pur. Des vapeurs d'alcool nonylique, introduits en concentrations de 0,05 à 0,12 mg par litre d'air d'aération empêchent la formation de pousses dans des unités de stockage de 165 tonnes au maximum, sans détorier la qualité culinaire des pommes de terre à la cuisson. Le total des frais d'un traitement pareil à base commerciale se chiffrait devant les prix actuellement en vigueur à environ 4 sh (monnaie anglaise) par 1000 kg. Les stocks doivent être traités, sit?t que s'annoncent les premiers indices de grossissement des boutons des pommes de terre logées dans les couches supérieures du tas. Lorsqu'on traite les pousses au moment où elles ont déjà atteint une grossuer appréciable, on risque d'avarier les tubercules, ce qui rendra le danger du pourriture beaucoup plus grave.

---

---

Received for publication 7 Dec. 1957.     

Peritoneal fluid values and collection technique in young,normal calves

Peritoneal fluid from 10 healthy young male Holstein calves was analyzed three times (2 to 3 days, 12 to 15 days and 27 to 30 days) during the first month of life. A new technique for collection of peritoneal fluid from calves positioned in left lateral recumbency was developed. The technique was found to be reliable and without noticeable complications. Mean peritoneal fluid nucleated cell counts, red blood cell counts, and absolute counts for mononuclear cells, lymphocytes and eosinophils did not change significantly (P 相似文献