Characteristics of Livestock Husbandry and Management Practice in the Central Dry Zone of Myanmar

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The central dry zone of Myanmar is the area with the highest density of small-scale livestock farmers under harsh environmental condition. In this study, we...     

Effects of free‐air CO2 enrichment and drought on root growth of field grown maize and sorghum

Increasing CO₂ concentration ([CO₂]) is thought to induce climate change and thereby increase air temperatures and the risk of drought stress, the latter impairing crop growth. The objective of this study was to investigate the effects of elevated [CO₂] and drought stress on root growth of one maize genotype (Zea mays cv. Simao) and two sorghum genotypes (Sorghum bicolor cv. Bulldozer and Sorghum bicolor × Sorghum sudanense cv. Inka) under the cool moderate climate of Central Europe. It was hypothesized that root growth stimulation due to elevated [CO₂] compensates for a reduced root growth under drought stress. Therefore, we established an experiment within a f ree‐a ir c arbon dioxide e nrichment system (FACE) in 2010 and 2011. Sorghum and maize genotypes were grown under ambient [CO₂] (385 ppm CO₂) and elevated [CO₂] (600 ppm CO₂) and in combination with restricted and sufficient water supply. Elevated [CO₂] decreased root length density (RLD) in the upper soil layers for all genotypes, but increased it in deeper layers. Higher [CO₂] enhanced specific root length (SRL) of “Simao” and “Bulldozer,” however, did not affect that of “Inka.” “Simao” achieved a higher SRL than the sorghum genotypes, indicating an efficient investment in root dry matter. Although elevated [CO₂] affected the root growth, no interaction with the water treatment and, consequently, no compensatory effect of elevated [CO₂] could be identified.     

The Global Fur Industry： Trends,Globalization and Specialization

The fur industry and the entire fur cluster are in many ways an interesting and instructive example from which many lessons can be learned. Up to now, the international fur industry has not been thoroughly described or analyzed. A major reason is the rather limited availability of national and international statistics about the fur sector. This article analyzes the production and international trade in fur based on information from official statistics, trade associations, companies, scientific papers and reports, interviews with experts, etc.. Markets and market conditions play a very important role with regards to the fur sector, and the price of fur is volatile in the short and long run. A new world trade pattern and international specialization have emerged in recent years. The comparative advantages of the fur sector change along the fur value chain, while China＇s position on the global fur market has changed significantly.     

Using ultrasound measurements to predict body composition of yearling bulls

Carcass traits have been successfully used to determine body composition of steers. Body composition, in turn, has been used to predict energy content of ADG to compute feed requirements of individual animals fed in groups. This information is used in the Cornell value discovery system (CVDS) to predict DM required (DMR) for the observed animal performance. In this experiment, the prediction of individual DMR for the observed performance of group-fed yearling bulls was evaluated using energy content of gain, which was based on ultrasound measurements to estimate carcass traits and energy content of ADG. One hundred eighteen spring-born purebred and crossbred bulls (BW = 288 +/- 4.3 kg) were sorted visually into 3 marketing groups based on estimated days to reach USDA low Choice quality grade. The bulls were fed a common high-concentrate diet in 12 slatted-floor pens (9 to 10 head/pen). Ultrasound measurements including back-fat (uBF), rump fat, LM area (uLMA), and intramuscular fat were taken at approximately 1 yr of age. Carcass measurements including HCW, backfat over the 12th to 13th rib (BF), marbling score (MRB), and LM area (LMA) were collected for comparison with ultrasound data for predicting carcass composition. The 9th to 11th-rib section was removed and dissected into soft tissue and bone for determination of chemical composition, which was used to predict carcass fat and empty body fat (EBF). The predicted EBF averaged 23.7 +/- 4.0%. Multiple regression analysis indicated that carcass traits explained 72% of the variation in predicted EBF (EBF = 16.0583 + 5.6352 x BF + 0.01781 x HCW + 1.0486 x MRB - 0.1239 x LMA). Because carcass traits are not available on bulls intended for use as herd sires, another equation using predicted HCW (pHCW) and ultrasound measurements was developed (EBF = 39.9535 x uBF - 0.1384 x uLMA + 0.0867 x pHCW - 0.0897 x uBF x pHCW - 1.3690). This equation accounted for 62% of the variation in EBF. The use of an equation to predict EBF developed with steer composition data overpredicted the EBF predicted in these experiments (28.7 vs. 23.7%, respectively). In a validation study with 37 individually fed bulls, the use of the ultrasound-based equation in the CVDS to predict energy content of gain accounted for 60% of the variation in the observed efficiency of gain, with 1.5% bias, and identified 3 of the 4 most efficient bulls.     

Radical surgical resection of locally invasive oro-cutaneous tumors in the buccal region of 2 horses

OBJECTIVE: To report treatment and wound healing after radical surgical mass excision in the equine buccal region. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical case reports. ANIMALS: An 11-year-old Warmblood gelding and a 9-year-old Norwegian Trotter gelding. METHODS: Large tumoral masses were removed from the buccal region by radical electrosurgery, creating large defects into the oral cavity. Wound ultimately healed by second intention. RESULTS: Buccal defects in both horses healed well by second intention without tumor recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Locally invasive tumors involving the cheek region of the horse can be successfully treated by radical electroexcision alone, creating transmural defects up to 14 cm length x 8 cm height. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Large transmural defects in the cheek region of the horse, formed by radical surgery can heal satisfactorily by second intention healing without undue discomfort to the patient or major complications.     

Effect of intratesticular injection of lidocaine on cardiovascular responses to castration in isoflurane-anesthetized stallions

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the effect of intratesticular administration of lidocaine on cardiovascular responses and cremaster muscle tension during castration of isoflurane-anesthetized stallions. ANIMALS: 28 healthy stallions (mean +/- SD age, 4.2 +/- 2.8 years) with no testicular abnormalities that were scheduled for castration. PROCEDURE: Each horse was given acepromazine (20 microg/kg, IM), romifidine (50 microg/kg, IV), and butorphanol (20 microg/kg, IV). Anesthesia was induced with ketamine (2.5 mg/kg, IV) and midazolam (50 microg/kg, IV) and maintained with isoflurane (1.7% end-tidal concentration). After 10 minutes at a stable anesthetic plane, a needle was placed in each testicle and either no fluid or 15 mL of 2% lidocaine was injected; 10 minutes after needle placement, surgery was commenced. Pulse rate and arterial blood pressures were measured invasively at intervals from 5 minutes prior to castration (baseline) until 5 minutes after the left spermatic cord was clamped. The surgeon subjectively scored the degree of cremaster muscle tension. In 2 horses, lidocaine labeled with radioactive carbon (C(14)) was used and testicular autoradiograms were obtained. RESULTS: Compared with baseline values, castration significantly increased blood pressure measurements; intratesticular injection of lidocaine decreased this blood pressure response and cremaster muscle tension. In 2 horses, autoradiography revealed diffuse distribution of lidocaine into the spermatic cord but poor distribution into the cremaster muscle. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In isoflurane-anesthetized stallions, intratesticular injection of lidocaine prior to castration appeared to decrease intraoperative blood pressure responses and cremaster muscle tension and may be a beneficial supplement to isoflurane anesthesia.     

Quantitative genetic analysis of erect glandular trichome density in diploid alfalfa

The presence of glandular trichomes may protect alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) against certain stem-, leaf-, and fruit-eating insect pests. In order to determine appropriate breeding methods to select for this trait, this study characterized quantitative genetic parameters of erect glandular trichome density in `KS94GH6' diploid (2n=2x=16) alfalfa. Eight female and five male plants were crossed in a Design II mating to produce 40 full-sib families. Glandular trichome density was determined on these families under replicated greenhouse conditions in Las Cruces and Los Lunas, New Mexico, U.S.A. The effect of males was significant (p 0.10) across the two environments. Variation among females was not significant within either location or across locations. The dominance genetic variance (<sup>2</sup> <sub>D</sub> = 0.210) was greater than the additive genetic variance (<sup>2</sup> <sub>A</sub> = 0.111). The average degree of dominance exceeded a value of `1' indicating that erect glandular trichome density in KS94GH6 may be influenced by digenic epistasis, and/or repulsion phase linkage disequilibrium. The large contribution of non-additiveeffects was reflected by a low narrow-sense heritability estimate (h ² _n = 0.25). The results indicate that further improvements in erect glandular trichome density in KS94GH6 alfalfa will require replicated progeny testing. Approaches to introgress this trait into cultivated tetraploid alfalfa are discussed.     

Zur relativen Bedeutung von Massenfluß und Diffusion beim Nitrattransport zur Wurzel

Relative contribution of mass flow and diffusion to nitrate transport towards roots Experimental data from a field experiment with oats and faba beans were used to quantify the contribution of mass flow to nitrate transport towards roots. Two different approaches were used. The first was the calculation of apparent mass flow from average nitrate concentration and water uptake rate. The second was the computation of the increase of nitrate transport rate caused by mass flow. This was done using a mathematical model for nutrient transport. A comparison was made for a reference situation of transport by diffusion only. Calculation of apparent mass flow resulted in a nitrate transport to faba bean roots of 88 and 42 kg N-ha^?1 in 1982 and 1983, respectively. This accounted for 27 and 16% of total N accumulation of the faba bean shoots. For oats a transport of 38 and 23 kg N-ha^?1 by mass flow was calculated. These values correspond to 30 and 16% of total N uptake of oats in both years. The model calculations, however, showed that apparent mass flow overestimated the contribution of mass flow drastically when the nitrate concentration at the root surface is much lower than the average nitrate concentration of the soil solution as was found for faba beans in the soil layer 40–60 cm depth. In that case apparent mass flow overestimated the real increase of nitrate transport to roots by mass flow by a factor of 2.7. Under the given conditions diffusion was the more important process involved in the nitrate transport towards roots. The increase in maximum nitrate transport rate towards roots is much lower than apparent mass flow.