Effects of long-term dietary supplementation with clinoptilolite on incidence of parturient paresis and serum concentrations of total calcium, phosphate, magnesium, potassium, and sodium in dairy cows

OBJECTIVE: To determine whether dietary supplementation with clinoptilolite affects the incidence of parturient paresis and serum concentrations of total calcium (tCa), inorganic phosphorus (PO(4) (2)), magnesium (Mg2+), potassium (K+), and sodium (Na+) in dairy cattle. ANIMALS: 52 dairy cows. Procedure-Cows were placed into 3 groups. The first 2 groups (group A [n = 17] and group B [17]) were offered a concentrate supplemented with 1.25% and 2.5% clinoptilolite, respectively. The third (group C [n = 18]) served as a control and was offered the concentrate alone. The experiment started 1 month before parturition and lasted until the beginning of the next nonlactating period. Around the time of calving, all cows were monitored for the development of parturient paresis. Blood samples were taken at the commencement of the experiment, on the day of calving, and thereafter at monthly intervals to measure serum tCa, PO(4) (2), Mg2+, K+, and Na+ concentrations. Results-The incidence of parturient paresis in group B cows was significantly lower, compared with group C cows. However, serum concentrations of tCa, P(O4) (2), Mg2+, K+, and Na+ were not significantly affected by long-term supplementation with clinoptilolite. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In the context of this experiment, clinoptilolite supplementation at 2.5% appeared to have reduced the incidence of parturient paresis in dairy cows, suggesting that its effectiveness depends on the amount incorporated in the ration of cows. Addition of clinoptilolite in the concentrate of dairy cows during the nonlactating period could be used as a cost-effective preventive treatment for parturient paresis.     

EFFECT OF NITROGEN APPLICATION ON GROWTH PARAMETERS,YIELD AND LEAF NITRATE CONTENT OF GREENHOUSE LETTUCE CULTIVATED DURING THREE SEASONS

Lettuce (Lactuca sativa L., cv. ‘Parris Island’) was grown hydroponically in autumn, winter and spring under five levels of nitrogen (N) fertilization. Plant biomass was highest in spring and lowest in autumn at N rates of 200 and 260 mg L^?1, respectively. Increasing N application correlated positively with rates of photosynthesis, transpiration, stomatal carbon dioxide (CO₂) conductance and leaf chlorophyll concentration. Photosynthetic rate, stomatal CO₂ conductance, and chlorophyll a/b ratio were higher in spring than in autumn or winter. Nitrate concentrations within the leaves increased with increasing N application in all seasons. It is concluded that lettuce growth and yield is higher in spring than in winter or autumn due to enhanced photosynthesis thanks to increasingly favorable photoperiod. Regardless of season, high N rates promote yield but increase leaf nitrate concentrations. Therefore, for the production of healthy produce the recommended N rate should be based not just on yield but also on the nitrate content.     

Repeated application of diluted olive mill wastewater induces changes in the structure of the soil microbial community

Repeated application of diluted olive mill wastewater (OMW) is a common disposal method which allows the application of large amounts of OMW and improves the organic matter and nutrient status of Mediterranean soils. However, there is lack of information regarding the effects of this practice on the soil microbial community. A study was carried out to investigate these effects on the structure of the bacterial and fungal community of a loamy sand (LS) and a sandy loam (SL) soil, using denaturating gradient gel electrophoresis (DGGE) fingerprinting. OMW was daily applied as aqueous solutions of 0, 2 and 4%, in the presence or absence of nitrogen fertilization, for a three-month period. Multivariate analysis of the DGGE profiles showed that OMW applications resulted in marked changes in the fungal community in both soils, while nitrogen fertilization diminished these effects. Small effects were evident for the bacteria only in the LS soil and this was attributed to the higher availability of OMW-derived phenolics in this soil which resulted in a direct impact on bacteria. Nitrogen fertilization alleviated the effects of OMW on the bacterial community. We suggest that the impact of OMW on the structure of the soil microbial communities was mostly a result of its indirect effect on the soil nutritional status, which becomes enriched in organic substrates and poor in available nitrogen.     

Agronomic techniques to controlLobesia botrana

The grapevine mothLobesia botrana (Denis & Schiffermüller) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae) is a key pest of grapevines in Greece. As part of a broader study on integrated pest management, the effects were investigated of different cultural methods on the establishment and survival ofL. botrana, specifically: application of different nitrogen levels (30 and 100 units of ammonium sulfate or 70 units of Agrobiosol); summer leaf and shoot pruning; application of growth regulators (Regalis, prohexadione-calcium; or Falgro, gibberellic acid). There were significant differences among the three levels of N application. The lowestL. botrana infestation rates were found in plots treated with 30 units of (NH₄)₂SO₄ and plots that received some summer pruning. Following the application of plant growth regulators, the lowestL. botrana infestation levels occurred in the plots treated with Regalis or Falgro at the manufacturers’ recommended concentrations. On vines where growth regulators had been applied, the clusters had fewer berries than those not treated with growth regulators. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting June 11, 2008.     

Common carp (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Cyprinus carpio</Emphasis>) response to two pieces of music (“Eine Kleine Nachtmusik” and “Romanza”) combined with light intensity,using recirculating water system

The objective of this study was to further investigate the effects of music on fish physiology, bearing in mind available information regarding the involvement of endogenous and exogenous factors in fish farming. Therefore, Cyprinus carpio (50.5 ± 0.36 g) were reared in a recirculating water system under 80 and 200 lux and subjected to no music at all (control, ambient noise only), 4 h of Mozart’s “Eine Kleine Nachtmusik”, or 4 h of anonymous “Romanza-Jeux Interdits” for 106 days. Both music treatments resulted in increased growth performance at both light intensities, with Romanza treatment at 200 lux resulting in better growth performance than Mozart treatment. Furthermore, feed efficiency for the Romanza groups was significantly better than for the control. Although no significant music effect was apparent for brain neurotransmitters, lower anterior intestine alkaline protease levels were detected for both music treatments. Taking into consideration the numerous advantages of recirculating water systems, it should be emphasised that fish response to music expresses the results of various physiological and biochemical processes, especially when fish notably respond differently when subjected to two different pieces of music.     

Spontaneous urethral catheter kinking or knotting in male dogs: four cases

Four dogs were diagnosed with urethral catheter malfunction. The catheter was kinked in three dogs and knotted in one dog. In two dogs, kinking of the catheter was associated with presence of urethroliths in the perineal urethra. Diagnosis was based on the difficulty encountered retrieving the catheter in all dogs and swelling in the scrotal or perineal area in two dogs. Diagnosis of catheter kinking or knotting was confirmed after catheter retrieval. Catheter removal was achieved in two dogs after traction under anesthesia, whereas scrotal or perineal urethrotomy were used in the other two dogs. No complications associated with urination were reported in any of the dogs after 7 to 12 mo.     

Biophenols in table olives

Unprocessed olives are well-known sources of phenolic antioxidants with important biological properties. Processing methods to prepare table olives may cause a reduction of valuable phenols and may deprive the food of precious biological functions. The present work was undertaken to evaluate table olives produced in Greece as sources of biophenols. Commercially available olives were analyzed for their total phenol content by using the Folin-Ciocalteu reagent and for individual phenols by RP-HPLC. Samples were Spanish-style green olives in brine, Greek-style naturally black olives in brine, and Kalamata olives in brine. Most of the types of olives analyzed were found to be good sources of phenols. Hydroxytyrosol, tyrosol, and luteolin were the prevailing phenols in almost all of the samples examined. High levels of hydroxytyrosol were determined mainly in Kalamata olives and Spanish-style green olives, cultivar Chalkidiki (250-760 mg/kg).     

Genetic diversity and thermotolerance in Holstein cows: Pathway analysis and marker development using whole-genome sequencing

Heat stress causes extensive losses in the dairy sector, due to negative effects on milk production and reproduction. Cows have evolved a series of protective mechanisms, (physiological, biochemical, behavioural) to cope with the thermostressing environments, which have allowed the preservation of productive and reproductive potential of specific animals during summer; these animals are considered thermotolerant and could be used to design programs of selective breeding. These programs, targeting the generations of a population of heat-resistant animals, would increase the frequency of the desired phenotypes, tackling the financial losses on one hand and reducing the carbon footprints of the dairy sector on the other. The development of genomics techniques has enabled genome wide variant calling, to detect SNPs associated with the desired phenotypes. In this study, we used a comparative genomics approach to detect genetic variation associated with thermotolerance and to design molecular markers for characterizing the animals as tolerant/sensitive. A total of 40 cows from each group were split in four sequencing pools and a whole-genome sequencing approach was used. Results and conclusion: Genome-wide genetic variation between groups was characterized and enrichment analysis revealed specific pathways which participate in the adaptive mechanisms of thermotolerance, implicated into systemic and cellular responses, including the immune system functionality, Heat Stress and Unfolded Protein Response. The markers made a promising set of results, as specific SNPs in five genes encoding for Heat Shock Proteins were significantly associated with thermotolerance.     

Effect of citric acid and glycine addition on acrylamide and flavor in a potato model system

Acrylamide levels in cooked/processed food can be reduced by treatment with citric acid or glycine. In a potato model system cooked at 180 degrees C for 10-60 min, these treatments affected the volatile profiles. Strecker aldehydes and alkylpyrazines, key flavor compounds of cooked potato, were monitored. Citric acid limited the generation of volatiles, particularly the alkylpyrazines. Glycine increased the total volatile yield by promoting the formation of certain alkylpyrazines, namely, 2,3-dimethylpyrazine, trimethylpyrazine, 2-ethyl-3,5-dimethylpyrazine, tetramethylpyrazine, and 2,5-diethyl-3-methylpyrazine. However, the formation of other pyrazines and Strecker aldehydes was suppressed. It was proposed that the opposing effects of these treatments on total volatile yield may be used to best advantage by employing a combined treatment at lower concentrations, especially as both treatments were found to have an additive effect in reducing acrylamide. This would minimize the impact on flavor but still achieve the desired reduction in acrylamide levels.