Analysis of trypsin inhibitors and lectins in white kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, var. Processor) in a combined method.

Buffered saline extraction, affinity chromatography, and Folin-BSA protein assay were used consecutively to provide a combined method for analysis of trypsin inhibitors and lectins in white kidney beans (Phaseolus vulgaris, var. Processor). The method was tested by following the decrease of both antinutritional factors by germination of the beans for 7 days at 20 degrees C. Repeatability coefficients of variation were 2-7.4% for the trypsin inhibitors and 2.2-10% for the lectins. After 7 days of germination, trypsin inhibitors and lectins were reduced by 72 and 92%, respectively.     

Survival of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis in amitraz cattle dip fluid

OBJECTIVE: To determine the survival time of Mycobacterium avium subsp paratuberculosis in amitraz-based cattle dip fluid derived from an active dip site in northern New South Wales. PROCEDURE: Following inoculation of triplicate 5 L containers with faeces (0.5 g/L) from a clinical case of bovine paratuberculosis, samples collected up to 8 weeks after inoculation were examined by conventional and radiometric culture. M a paratuberculosis colonies were enumerated on solid media. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: M a paratuberculosis survived in amitraz cattle dip fluid for up to 2 weeks, but not 3 weeks. Where 1% of solids in dip fluid is derived from a clinical case of paratuberculosis, dip fluid may contain viable M a paratuberculosis for at least 2 weeks. These findings have implications for the management of cattle dip sites.     

Are pre‐spraying growing conditions a major determinant of herbicide efficacy?

To evaluate the effect of pre‐spraying growing conditions on herbicide efficacy, two years of experimentation were conducted in which Persicaria maculosa plants were exposed to different light intensities for 1–4 days before metribuzin treatment. Specific leaf area, rather than plant growth rate or plant size, was the only parameter that correlated well with herbicide efficacy in both years of experimentation. The negative relationship between the ED₅₀ and the specific leaf area indicates that leaf characteristics might be an important determinant of herbicide efficacy, for instance through an effect on herbicide uptake. In the third year of experimentation this hypothesis was further investigated by raising six cohorts of weed plants at a 1‐week interval and thus exposing them to a range of weather conditions. Clear relationships between uptake and herbicide efficacy were found for a combination of four plant species (Solanum nigrum, Senecio vulgaris, Chenopodium album and Brassica napus) and two herbicides (phenmedipham and bentazone). For phenmedipham, uptake was negatively correlated with global radiation and positively correlated with relative humidity. For the herbicide bentazone the opposite was found. These results were not species‐specific. This study shows the importance of the sensitivity of herbicide × species combinations and indicates that pre‐spraying weather information is relevant for the development of reduced dose rate recommendations.     

Association of Fertility with Numbers of Antral Follicles within a Follicular Wave During the Oestrous Cycle in Beef Cattle

The association between conception rate at first service and numbers of follicles developed during a follicular wave was examined in 102 suckled beef cows and 14 heifers. Follicular development was monitored using ultrasonography for either two (trial 1) or three (trial 2) consecutive oestrous cycles (pre-breeding, breeding and post-breeding equivalent). Animals were examined on alternate days from day 6 after first oestrus (day 0) until ovulation and from day 6 after insemination until next ovulation or day 24 of pregnancy and were observed for oestrus twice daily and inseminated artificially at either the second (trial 1) or third oestrus (trial 2). Cows were classified as having two or three waves of follicular development for each oestrous cycle. Numbers of follicles >or=4 mm per wave were determined, and based on the maximum diameter they attained, were classified as small (4-6 mm), medium (7-10 mm) or large (>or=11 mm) follicles. Total numbers of follicles, and primarily numbers of small and medium follicles, were affected by trial and within trial by cow, oestrous cycle and follicular wave. Heifers had more small and total numbers of follicles, but fewer large follicles than cows in trial 1 (p < 0.05). The average number of antral follicles per wave in the breeding cycle or post-breeding period did not affect conception rates, which averaged 84%. Repeatability of the total numbers of antral follicles between and among oestrous cycles and follicular waves ranged from 0.01 to 0.97. In conclusion, fertility was not affected by the numbers of antral follicles >or=4 mm in diameter in a single follicular wave.     

Pasteurella multocida septicaemia in fallow deer (Dama dama)

Thirteen of 100 fallow deer, aged between 6 months and 10 years, died over a 5 week period. The deaths occurred in 2 outbreaks 3 weeks apart. Both outbreaks were preceded by at least 3 days of cold wet and windy weather, and were associated with water-logged pastures. Affected animals were usually found dead, with a frothy blood-stained nasal discharge. In the 8 deer necropsied, gross lesions included widespread subserosal petechial haemorrhages, severe pulmonary congestion and oedema with froth-filled airways, and fibrinous pneumonia and pleurisy in 4 deer. Two deer, also, had extensive subcutaneous petechial and ecchymotic haemorrhages and oedema of skeletal musculature. Histologically, the most significant lesions were present in the lungs. Moderate to severe pulmonary congestion and oedema, with fibrinous exudation into alveoli and septal oedema, were present in all deer. In some deer these changes were accompanied by a diffuse infiltration with polymorphonuclear leucocytes. Pasteurella multocida was isolated from a range of tissues from 7 of 8 deer examined. The remaining animal had been treated with antibiotics 8 hours before death. The isolates had identical polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis patterns and were of the same antigenic type-Carter group A, Heddleston type 3,4.     

Observations of soil water and salt movement under drip and flood irrigation in an apple orchard

Part of a mature apple orchard, previously flood irrigated, was converted to drip irrigation in August 1971 and maintained until May 1975. The remainder of the orchard was irrigated as before.Annual estimates were made of moisture, total soluble salts and chloride content of soil samples and of growth, leaf chloride and yield of trees from the two irrigation treatments. Soil moisture was also monitored with a neutron moisture meter.Very high salt concentrations were observed in the various soil layers in the drip irrigation treatment. The flood irrigation treatment had lower and less variable concentrations of salts.Yields and chloride content of leaves sampled each January did not differ significantly between treatments. Tree girths were smaller under drip irrigation.The drip system, using a low pressure head, filtered water and outlets wrapped in fibreglass, operated satisfactorily for the period of the trial.     

Middle-latency auditory-evoked potential in acepromazine-sedated dogs

The middle-latency auditory-evoked potential (MLAEP) has been investigated as means of monitoring anesthesia in dogs. The goals of this study were to develop a technique to record MLAEPs in awake dogs and to determine the effects of sedation. The MLAEP was recorded in 12 dogs with and without sedation with acepromazine. Three needle electrodes were inserted SC. Click stimuli were delivered biaurally. Signal acquisition, averaging, and analysis were performed by software developed in-house. Signals were recorded for 128 milliseconds, and the responses to 1,024 stimuli were averaged. The waveforms from 10 recordings were averaged, and the amplitudes and latencies of peaks that could be consistently identified were measured. Data measured were compared by means of a paired 2-sided Student's t-test. Interpretable MLAEPs were recorded in 10 of the 12 dogs. Three peaks were consistently identified (Pa, Nb, and Pb). The latencies of these peaks were significantly (P = .032, .035, and .028, respectively) shorter in awake (mean +/- SD milliseconds) (Pa = 18.85 +/- 1.36, Nb = 30.50 +/- 3.55, and Pb = 47.70 +/- 5.53) than in sedated (Pa = 22.40 +/- 3.88, Nb = 35.75 +/- 6.77, and Pb = 55.30 +/- 10.55) dogs. The Pb amplitude was not significantly different (2.51 +/- 1.30 microV awake and 2.19 +/- 1.10 microV sedated). This study demonstrates that acepromazine sedation causes changes in MLAEP.     

Ring-level models for predicting wood and fibre properties of Abies balsamea

Wood and fibre properties such as wood density, microfibril angle, and modulus of elasticity are industrially relevant factors in determining the mechanical properties of wood. Radial ring-level predictive models of these properties were developed using balsam fir data from a long-term trial in New Brunswick (Canada), where precommercial thinning was applied 8 years after the site was harvested. The mixed effects models developed accounted for most of the variability in wood density (68 %), microfibril angle (94 %), and modulus of elasticity (77 %) with low RMSE. This study shows that balsam fir wood and fibre properties are strongly related to distance from the pith, particularly in the first 20 mm, and much less to annual ring width. Disk height and selected weather variables related to air temperature during the growing season significantly improved the models, whereas the effect of precommercial thinning was not significant. These equations can be incorporated into computer models, such as Optitek, that simulate mill recovery and wood properties to obtain accurate information on wood products. The unexplained variation in these models is likely related in part to between-tree genetic variation, which is unknown in this study.