Invertebrates on cut weed removed during weed-cutting operations along an English river, the River Frome, Dorset

Abstract. During weed-cutting operations on the River Frome, Dorset, England, cut weed (800t), together with associated macroinvertebrates, was removed at five boom sites down the river. The mean density of macroinvertebrates removed was 30 individuals per g dry weight of cut weed which was equivalent to 6mg dry weight per g of cut weed, ca. 4900 individuals per square metre of river bed, or 0.9g dry wt/m² of river bed.
The cut weed removed was populated chiefly by larvae of Chironomidae and Simuliidae although the numbers and biomass of Ephemerella ignita Poda and Brachycentrus subnubilus Curtis were a significant part of the total macroinvertebrate population.
Macroinvertebrates removed on cut weed were estimated as ca. 20% by number and ca. 12% by biomass of the total population from published values. The river (50km) was difficult to sample immediately prior to weed cutting because of rapid changes in the density and position of invertebrate populations, the immense sampling effort required and the non-synchronous system of cutting.     

The effects of induced parturition on the incidence of clinical disease and mortality in dairy cows from commercial herds in south-western Victoria

SUMMARY The effects of induced parturition on clinical disease and mortality of cows were studied in 51 winter-calving, pasture-fed, dairy herds in south-western Victoria. Parturition was induced when most cows were between 27 and 35 weeks of pregnancy. Control groups were selected from herdmates that were not induced to calve. The incidence of retained placenta was much greater among induced cows of all ages. The proportion of cows affected by any clinical disease other than retained placenta, and the incidence of mortality were much greater after induction among cows aged over 6 years but not among cows aged 3 to 6 years.