Untersuchungen zur entwicklung von stoffgehalten im aufwuchs von niedermoorstandweiden in abhängigkeit vom vegetationsverlauf: Investigations about development of stuff contents in growth of lowland moor large units pasture in dependence from vegetation progress

Der geringe Bestand an Rindern in den neuen Bundesländern lässt auch den Einsatz von Schafen zur Offenhaltung des Niedermoorgrünlandes erforderlich werden. Die hohe Selektivität bei der Futteraufnahme macht Maßnahmen des Weidemanagements erforderlich, die über die reine Standweide hinausgehen. Der Verlauf der TS-Gehalte im Aufwuchs zeigt ein deutliches Maximum im Juni. Durchwuchs junger Triebe im Sommer lässt die Gehalte im Mittel zwar absinken, der Bestand bleibt aber sehr unausgeglichen. Bei Einschaltung einer Mähnutzung werden wichtige Parameter im Sinne von Futterqualität und Verzehrleistung positiv beeinflusst (TS-Gehalt, Rohfaser, Rohprotein). Die späte Mahd ist kaum wirkungsvoll und kann auf biologisch aktiven Weideflächen durch Verteilung von Erdaufhäufungen zur Verschmutzung des Futters beitragen.     

Wasser‐ und nahrstoffbilanzen einiger niederungsböden ‐lysimeterergebnisse

Nährstoff‐ und Wasserbilanzen unterschiedlicher hydromorpher Böden wurden bei Gras‐ und Maisnutzung mittels Grundwasserlysimetern geprüft. Die Kalium‐, Stickstoff‐ und Phosphorbilanzen waren besonders von den Ernteentzügen geprägt. Gras entzog dem Boden wesentlich mehr Nährstoffe als Mais, obwohl der Mais höhere Erträge lieferte. Die Böden mit den größten Nährstoffvorräten lieferten der Vegetation auch über die Düngermengen hinaus die meisten Nährstoffe nach. In der Kaliumbilanz trifft das besonders für den Boden (Eutric Fluvisol) aus der Elbaue zu und in den Stickstoffteilbilanzen für die Niedermoore (Eutric Histosols).

In den Wasserbilanzen konnten keine bodentypischen Unterschiede festgestellt werden.     

Zu anbaueignung und Qualitätsparame‐tern nachwachsender Rohstoffpflanzen auf Grundwasserbeeinflussten Niederungsstandorten

Niederungsgrünland ist für den Anbau von Gräsern als nachwachsende Rohstoffpflanzen zur Biomasseproduktion prinzipiell geeignet.

Auf Niedermoorstandorten erwies sich Phalaris arundinacea als leistungsfähige und technologisch vorteilhafte Art. Auf Sand‐Humus‐Gley brachte Miscanthus sinensis günstige Ergebnisse hinsichtlich Ertragsleistung und Wasserverwertung.

Umwelbelastungen durch Nährstoffaustrag ins Grundwasser ergaben sich nur bei mangelhafter Entwicklung der Pflanzenbestände (z. B. Nichteignung von Miscanthus für Niedermoor) bzw. überhöhter Düngung.

Hauptverwendungszweck der geprüften Gräser dürfte auf dem Energiesektor liegen. Brennstoff‐ und Ascheparameter sind mit denen des Getreidestrohs vergleichbar. Die Biomasse könnte aufgrund der ermittelten Qualitätsparameter auch zur Herstellung von Papier und Verpackungsmaterial verwendet werden.     

Lack of an effect of a commercial vaccine adjuvant on the development of postweaning multisystemic wasting syndrome (PMWS) in porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) experimentally infected conventional pigs

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of a commercial vaccine adjuvant on the clinical and pathological outcome of PCV2 experimentally infected 8 to 9-week-old conventional pigs. Forty-four pigs were divided into four groups: non-infected control pigs, pigs that received a vaccine adjuvant, pigs inoculated with PCV2, and pigs inoculated with PCV2 together with the vaccine adjuvant. Infection was monitored until 69 days post-inoculation (PI). Some PCV2 inoculated pigs had hyperthermia, but no other clinical signs were recorded. No characteristic PMWS gross or microscopic lesions were observed in any of the pigs. PCV2 DNA was detected in lymphoid tissues by in situ hybridisation in 6 PCV2 inoculated pigs on day 69 PI. All PCV2 inoculated pigs seroconverted between days 21 and 49 PI, shortly after viremia detection. Moreover, viremia was detected between days 7 and 69 PI using PCR. A peak of the virus load was detected by real-time quantitative PCR between days 14 and 21 PI. There were no significant differences in the proportion of PCV2 positive serum and in the viral load between PCV2 and PCV2 + adjuvant inoculated pigs. Although PMWS was not reproduced in neither PCV2 nor PCV2 + adjuvant inoculated pigs, viremia detection and seroconversion indicated that all PCV2 inoculated pigs developed a chronic long-term asymptomatic infection. An increase of PCV2 replication was not observed in pigs inoculated with the adjuvant. These results indicate that the principle of immunostimulation may not be applicable under the experimental conditions used, suggesting that not all adjuvants used in commercial vaccines are capable of triggering mechanisms for PMWS development.     

“In vitro” capacitation and further progesterone‐induced acrosome exocytosis are linked to specific changes in the expression and location of threonine phosphorylation of boar spermatozoa

The aim of this study was to determine if the achievement of the “in vitro” capacitation (IVC) status and subsequent progesterone‐induced “in vitro” acrosome exocytosis (IVAE) was accompanied with overall changes in threonine phosphorylation (pThre) of boar spermatozoa. For this purpose, mono‐ and bi‐dimensional Western blot analyses as well as immunocytochemistry studies against pThre were performed in boar sperm subjected to IVC and subsequent IVAE. Mono‐dimensional Western blot in non‐capacitated samples showed that launching of IVC did induce an overall increase in signal intensity in all observed bands that was followed by a subsequent decrease afterwards. Bi‐dimensional Western blot analysis showed the presence of four main signal protein clusters. The attainment of IVC induced an overall decrease in the number and intensity of spots of Clusters A, B and C and a concomitant increase in the intensity of spots of Cluster D. The IVAE launching caused a rapid increase in the intensity of spots of Clusters B, C and D, which was followed by a subsequent decrease of the intensity together with a concomitant pI displacement of Cluster C. Finally, immunocytochemistry showed that the pThre signal of non‐capacitated cells was located at the whole sperm. The IVC did not induce prominent changes in this location. In contrast, the induction of IVAE caused the appearance of an additional an intense acrosome and tail pThre signal that subsequently decreased. In conclusion, our results indicate that IVC and further IVAE induced specific changes in the intensity and appearance of pThre protein phosphorylation which were linked to changes of specific protein characteristics as pI. These results support, thus, the existence of a specific role of pThre in IVC/IVAE of boar sperm.     

Effects of the butyric acid‐producing strain Clostridium butyricum MIYAIRI 588 on broiler and piglet zootechnical performance and prevention of necrotic enteritis

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of a probiotic strain Clostridium butyricumMIYAIRI 588 (CBM588) on broiler and weaned piglet health and zootechnical performance. Five field studies were carried out in broilers and five in weaned piglets under European feed additive guidelines. Each study followed a randomized blocked design with two treatments: Control (basal diet) and CBM588 supplemented groups. The zootechnical performance parameters selected were body weight, daily gain, feed intake and feed efficiency (feed:gain). Broilers fed diets with CBM588 gained significantly more weight (+2%, p < .001) and exhibited significantly better feed efficiency (?1.6%, p < .001) in comparison with Controls. Similarly, analysis of pooled data of weaned piglet trials showed that CBM588‐fed piglets were significantly heavier than Controls (+2.6%, p = .014), exhibited significantly higher mean daily gain (+4.7%; p = .004), and significantly improved feed efficiency (?4.2%, p = .001). In addition to the zootechnical efficacy studies, the preventive effect of CBM588 on necrotic enteritis (NE) was assessed in a natural challenge model in broilers where CBM588 reduced the incidence and severity of NE lesions. These data indicate the potential of CBM588 to improve broiler and weaned piglet zootechnical performance, and to make a positive contribution to animal health.     

Regeneration and genetic transformation of Spanish rice cultivars using mature embryos

To establish a plant regeneration system from embryogenic callus derived from mature rice embryos, the addition of aminoacids and the effect of two macronutrient solutions MSD and N6D to the basal callus induction medium was tested in three Spanish varieties, Senia, Tebre and Bahia. Aminoacids enhanced the production of embryogenic callus in Tebre and Senia whereas in the case of Bahia, embryogenic callus, which gave rise to a high rate of differentiated shoots, was induced without aminoacids. The macronutrient solution had also to be adjusted for each variety. Pre-regeneration treatment with ABA significantly improved the regeneration rate in all media tested, independently of the media in which the embryogenic callus were induced. In a comparison of growth regulators, BA yielded more shoots than Kin in all varieties whereas the effect of the auxins NAA or IAA was dependent on the variety. Transgenic plants from the three varieties were obtained via an Agrobacterium tumefaciens transformation system, using the optimised culture media. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

Effects of low temperature plasma on wool and wool/nylon blend dyed fabrics

Knitted wool and wool/nylon blend dyed fabrics were treated with low temperature plasma (LTP) to achieve optimum shrink-resistance without impairing surface topography, colour or fastness to washing of the fabrics. As LTP tends to impair handle of the fabrics, both wool and wool/nylon blend fabrics were submitted to industrial softening and/or biopolymer treatments after LTP treatment, leading to hydrophilic wool and wool/nylon blend fabrics with improved shrink-resistance without any colour changes and good fastness to washing. The results obtained were compared with those obtained by an industrial shrink-resist treatment.