Predicting nitrogen availability and losses following application of organic manures to arable land: MANNER

Abstract. A decision support system to predict the plant availability of nitrogen (N) following organic manure applications to land has been developed, drawing together the latest UK research information on factors affecting manure N availability and losses. The ADAS MAN ure N itrogen E valuation R outine (MANNER) accounts for manure N analysis, ammonia volatilization, nitrate leaching and mineralization of manure organic N. Only a few easily available inputs are required to predict the amount of N volatilized or leached, and the fertilizer N value for the next crop grown. Predictions from MANNER have been evaluated by comparison with independently collected data from a range of experimental studies where pig, cattle and poultry manures were applied to arable crops. Good agreement was found ( r ² 60–79%, P <0.001), confirming that MANNER can provide a reliable estimate of the fertilizer N value of farm manures spread to arable land under a range of conditions.     

Effects of preadoption counseling for owners on house-training success among dogs acquired from shelters

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effect of preadoption counseling for owners on house-training success among dogs acquired from shelters. DESIGN: Prospective study. SAMPLE POPULATION: 113 dog owners. PROCEDURES: Participants were randomly assigned to a treatment (n = 54) or a control (59) group. Dog owners in the treatment group received counseling (5 minutes' duration) regarding house-training. Owners in the control group did not receive counseling, but all other adoption procedures were otherwise identical to those applied to the treatment group. All participants were contacted by telephone 1 month after adoption of a dog for assessment of house-training status and related issues by use of a standardized survey method; data were compared between groups. RESULTS: Most shelter dogs were considered successfully house-trained by their owners 1 month after adoption. Furthermore, dogs were considered house-trained by significantly more owners who received preadoption counseling than control group owners (98.1% vs 86.4%). Owners who received counseling used verbal punishment on their dogs during house-training less frequently and applied enzymatic cleaners to urine- or feces-soiled areas more frequently than owners in the control group. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results have suggested that brief preadoption counseling for owners enhances successful house-training of dogs adopted from shelters. Counseling owners at the time of pet acquisition may thus have beneficial effects in the prevention of inappropriate elimination behaviors. Veterinarians and animal care staff should be encouraged to devote time to counsel new pet owners on successful house-training, as well as other healthcare and behavioral needs.     

Genome of the host-cell transforming parasite Theileria annulata compared with T. parva

Theileria annulata and T. parva are closely related protozoan parasites that cause lymphoproliferative diseases of cattle. We sequenced the genome of T. annulata and compared it with that of T. parva to understand the mechanisms underlying transformation and tropism. Despite high conservation of gene sequences and synteny, the analysis reveals unequally expanded gene families and species-specific genes. We also identify divergent families of putative secreted polypeptides that may reduce immune recognition, candidate regulators of host-cell transformation, and a Theileria-specific protein domain [frequently associated in Theileria (FAINT)] present in a large number of secreted proteins.     

Congestive heart failure in two pet rabbits

This case report describes congestive heart failure with pleural effusion in two middle-aged, pet house rabbits. Both had a history of acute onset dyspnoea, weakness and weight loss. Bi-atrial enlargement was seen on echocardiography in both rabbits. One rabbit had atrial fibrillation and ventricular premature complexes identified on electrocardiography. There was a radiographically evident pleural effusion in both rabbits and thoracocentesis was undertaken in one rabbit. These findings were confirmed on post-mortem examination. The aetiology for the underlying heart disease was not found, but the potential types of cardiomyopathies are discussed.     

Economic impacts of adoption and fundraising strategies in animal shelters

The adoption strategies used in animal shelters can have a large impact on the total number of adoptions and donations that take place. Reducing adoption fees during peak kitten or puppy season is one way to reduce inventories and increase the number of open spaces to save more lives, but does not necessarily increase the financial well-being of the shelter if the per-animal costs exceed the revenues generated. We developed a stochastic model to simulate the expected costs, revenues, and net income of a hypothetical animal shelter for various alternative management strategies, based on US conditions. A total of 8 scenarios were developed and compared to the base-case scenario (BC).     

EFFECTS OF HYDRATION ON SCINTIGRAPHIC GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE MEASURED USING INTEGRAL AND PLASMA VOLUME METHODS IN DOGS WITH SUSPECTED RENAL DISEASE

The current standard scintigraphic method for estimating glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in dogs is the integral method, which normalizes renal GFR to body weight. The plasma volume method, that is normalizing GFR to plasma volume, has been reported to be more physiologically correct. The aim of this prospective study was to test the effect of hydration status on GFR measured by these two methods in a group of dogs with suspected renal disease. Eleven dogs were recruited. All dogs underwent standardized scintigraphic examinations before and after 15 ml/kg of fluid was administered intravenously at 5–7 ml/kg/min. Individual kidney GFR estimates (n = 22) were calculated using both methods and a consensus of two observers who were unaware of clinical findings. Individual kidney GFR increased significantly (P = 0.0008) after fluid administration using the integral method and individual kidney GFR using the plasma volume method remained constant. Percentage differences for individual kidney GFR before and after fluid administration were 31.4 ± 58.1% (change ± 95% CI) for the integral method and 0.1 ± 70% (change ± 95% CI) for the plasma volume method. Intravenously administered fluid increased individual kidney GFR from low to normal in 10 of 22 kidneys using the integral method and in 1 of 22 kidneys using the plasma volume method. Findings supported the use of the plasma volume method for scintigraphic calculation of GFR in dogs with suspected renal disease and indicated that errors of kidney status classification may more likely occur when the integral method is used.     

An enhanced software tool to support better use of manure nutrients: MANNER‐NPK

MANNER‐NPK (MANure Nutrient Evaluation Routine) is a decision support tool for quantifying manure (and other organic material) crop available nutrient supply. The user‐friendly design of an earlier version of MANNER was retained, but in response to user and stakeholder feedback, additional functionality was included to underpin new and revised nitrogen (N) transformation/loss modules (covering ammonia volatilization, nitrate leaching and nitrous oxide/di‐nitrogen emissions, and organic N mineralization) and also to estimate manure phosphorus (as P₂O₅), potassium (as K₂O), sulphur (as SO₃) and magnesium (as MgO) supply. Notably, MANNER‐NPK provides N availability estimates for following crops through the mineralization of organic N. Validation of the crop available N supply estimates was undertaken by comparing predicted values with data from more than 200 field experimental measurements. For cattle, pig and poultry manures, there was good agreement (P < 0.001) between predicted and measured fertilizer N replacement values, indicating that MANNER‐NPK provides robust estimates of manure crop available N supply and N losses to the wider environment.