Effects of vitamin and mineral premix withdrawal from diets on carcass and meat quality of feedlot steers

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The primary objective of the present study was to assess the effects of vitamin and mineral premix (VMP) withdrawal from the diets 30 and 60 days...     

Essential oil composition of Pentzia incana (Asteraceae), an important natural pasture plant in the Karoo region of South Africa

Pentzia incana is one of the most important of all natural pasture plants in the dry interior (Karoo) region of South Africa. This highly aromatic shrub is thought to be responsible for the distinctive flavour of Karoo lamb (a registered geographical indication), yet the essential oil is here characterised for the first time. Leafy twigs are traditionally chewed for relief of stomach ache. Essential oil is associated with numerous small, multicellu- lar glands. Gas chromatography and gas chromatography/mass spectrometry analysis of 17 essential oil samples from five populations showed considerable variation in both yield (0.12% to 0.88% dry weight) and composition. Of interest was the presence of one major biosynthetic group comprising yomogi alcohol (to 38.9%), artemisia alcohol (to 26.1%), artemisia ketone (to 35.0%) and artemisyl acetate (to 9.4%). High levels of fragranol (26.9%) and fragranyl acetate (27.1%) were observed only in a single specimen. Other main compounds were 1,8-cineole (to 16.7%), santolina alcohol (to 11.3%), camphor (to 47.9%), linalyl acetate (to 17.4%) and bicyclogermacrene (to 11.8%). Six of the 10 major compounds were isolated and their identities confirmed by nuclear magnetic resonance. The volatile compounds may possibly be linked to the medicinal use of P. incana, as well as the flavour profile of Karoo lamb.     

The Effects of Fermentation Process with Acid and Lactic Acid Bacteria Strains on the Biogenic Amine Formation of Wet and Spray-Dried Fish Silages of Discards

The impacts of fermentation process with acid and lactic acid bacteria strains (Lactobacillus plantarum, Lactobacillus brevis, Pediococcus acidilactici, Enterococcus gallinarum, and Streptococcus spp.) on the biogenic amine formation of wet and spray-dried fish silage obtained from whole gibel carp (Carassius gibelio, freshwater discard), whole ponyfish (Equulites klunzingeri, seawater discard), and processing by-products of seabass (Dicentrarchus labrax) were investigated. The results showed that among biogenic amines, cadaverine, putrescine, spermidine, spermine, serotonin, dopamine, and agmatine were predominant in all groups. Significant differences (p < 0.05) in biogenic amine concentrations of wet and spray-dried fish silage were observed. Raw fish and wet silages contained histamine level lower than the allowable limit of 50mg/kg, indicating the use of raw fish material with low microbial counts. In addition, no histamine was detected in spray-dried fish silage, except for seabass by-products with a trace quantity of histamine (<0.04mg/100g). The starter culture used for silage preparation did not effectively retard formation of biogenic amines compared to acid silage. It can be concluded that there is potential use of fermented fish silage as a protein source and possibly as a probiotic ingredient for animal feed in both wet and dry form.     

Erratum: Chemical composition of cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) grown on acid sulfate soils

The purpose of this study was to investigate the influence of soil geochemistry on the concentrations of Ca, K, Mg, P, Co, Ni, Zn, Mn, Cu, and Fe in cabbage (Brassica oleracea L. var. capitata) grown on acid sulfate (AS) soils in Western Finland. A total of 11 topsoil (0–20 cm) and corresponding cabbage samples and three whole‐soil profiles (≈ 0–260 cm) were collected on three agricultural fields. The concentrations of Co and Zn in cabbage were correlated with the NH₄Ac‐extractable (easily available) concentrations in the topsoil, indicating that the uptake of these elements in cabbage is largely governed by soil geochemistry. Yet, the concentrations of Co and Zn in cabbage were not in general elevated relative to that of Finnish average values, although some AS soils showed enriched concentrations of these metals in the soil and cabbage. Significant geochemical differences (e.g., oxidation depth, organic‐matter and S content, pH) were observed among the studied AS soils, while, on the other hand, the concentrations of Ca, K, Mg, P, Ni, Mn, Cu, and Fe in cabbage were relatively similar. The hydroxylamine‐extractable concentrations of these elements in the topsoil were not correlated to those in cabbage, suggesting that uptake is not governed by the oxide‐bound fraction of these elements in the soil. Similarly, the easily available concentrations of Ca, P, Ni, Mn, Cu, and Fe in the topsoil were not correlated to those in cabbage, indicating that uptake is independent of the easily available concentrations in the soil. Hence, it is suggested that cabbage can regulate and thus optimize its concentrations of Ca, P, Ni, Mn, Cu, and Fe. Oxidation depth affected neither the easily available concentrations of Co, Ni, Zn, and Mn in the topsoil nor the concentrations in cabbage. However, the subsoil with a lower oxidation depth, which is to a smaller extent affected by leaching, may partly be enriched in these metals. Nevertheless, these showed no increased concentrations in cabbage. Based on these findings, it is suggested that the large amounts of metals mobilized in AS soils are easily lost to drains, subsequently contaminating nearby waterways and estuaries whereas they are only partly enriched in cabbage and other previously studied crops (oat).     

The potential of microdialysis to monitor organic and inorganic nitrogen compounds in soil

Plant nitrogen (N) acquisition is strongly controlled by the concentration of available inorganic and organic N in the soil solution and by biogeochemical processes in the rhizosphere. However, until now it was hardly possible to reliably estimate plant-available N in soil microsites. Here, a novel microdialysis approach based on passive diffusion sampling is presented and compared qualitatively and quantitatively with lysimeter and soil extraction techniques when analyzing two contrasting boreal soils. Further, preliminary dialysis membrane calibration issues for sampling plant-available N compounds are discussed. Due to its miniaturized design microdialysis was shown to be a suitable tool for continuous sampling of ammonium, nitrate and free amino acids from the soil solution with only minimal disturbance of the soil structure. Microdialysis proved to be outstanding regarding the possible spatial (<0.5 mm) and temporal (<30 min) resolution of soil solution N chemistry. The different methods for soil N sampling resulted in significantly different results. In lysimeter and soil extraction samples, nitrate and ammonium were found at the highest concentrations, while results from microdialysis revealed that the pool of plant-available amino acids was contributing most to the total N pool tested. Application of a standard N solution to the tested soils led to an immediate peak of recovery via the microdialysis probes followed by a rapid decrease due to the formation of a depletion zone at the probe surfaces. Therefore, this relatively new technique will not only provide essential data on diffusion rates of a variety of N compounds in the soil but might be used for monitoring quantitative and qualitative changes in plant-available N in soil microsites such as the rhizosphere.     

A new pest on soybean in Turkey: Melanagromyza sojae Zehntner (Diptera: Agromyzidae)

Melanagromyza sojae Zehntner (Hemiptera: Agromyzidae) is known as a pest of several leguminous plants, especially Glycine max, soybean, in several countries worldwide. As a result of an alert raised by soybean producers in the province of Adana, which has a large share of soybean production in Turkey, plant samples in which pupae were observed were collected from two soybean fields in Çukurova in the production season in 2018. The samples were kept in the laboratory and the emerging adults were identified morphologically as M. sojae. Observations made in soybean fields in Turkey are presented. A review of the situation for this pest and its control methods are is presented. This is the first report of M. sojae in Turkey. It is therefore recommended to perform a close monitoring of this pest to investigate more in detail the extent of the damage caused by this pest in soybean crops in Turkey, to identify its variety preferences, other other hosts, natural enemies and control methods to be used.     

Contribution to the knowledge of the families apionidae and nanophyidae (Coleoptera: Curculionoidea) from Turkey, with new records

Data are presented on the occurrence of 43 species of the family Apionidae and two species of the family Nanophyidae in Turkey based on the material obtained mainly by beating stone-fruit trees in NE Turkey. The identity and information about the three species of Apionidae —Squamapion sp.cf.bifarium (Balfour-Browne),Protapion sp.cf.ruficrus (Germar),Catapion sp.cf.seniculus (Kirby) — must be revised. The faunistic data in the present paper on almost all species add to prior knowledge on their distribution in Turkey.Hypophyes aphyllae (Peyerímhoff),Ceratapion kasbekianum (Gerstaecker),Squamapion ottonis (Wagner),S. samarense (Faust),S. phocopus (Eppelsheim),Taeniapion rufulum (Wencker),Pseudoprotapion astragali (Paykull),P. ergenense (Becker),Stenopterapion intermedium (Eppelsheim) andOxystoma fausti (Desbrochers) are reported for the first time in the Turkish fauna. http://www.phytoparasitica.org posting Nov. 8, 2001.     

Effect of dietary n-3 series fatty acids on sperm production in the freshwater crayfish, Astacus leptodactylus (Eschscholtz) (Astacidae)

The objective of the present work was to evaluate the effects of three different rates of long chain n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid (LC n-3 PUFA) on the sperm number of Astacus leptodactylus. The experiment was carried out with the four following treatments: control group (not supplemented LC n-3 PUFA), D1 (1 %), D2 (2 %) and D3 (3 %). The sperm number of A. leptodactylus was counted; the reproductive system was weighted; and the macroscopical analysis of the testes and vasa deferentia (DVD) were conducted. In addition, gonado-somatic index (GI) and testes index (TI) were also calculated. The results showed that there was a significant difference between the crayfish fed LC n-3 PUFA supplemented diets (D1, D2, D3) and control in mean sperm number (P < 0.05). The highest sperm number was found for the crayfish fed D3 (6.27 ± 0.14 × 10⁸ sperm/distal vas deferens section). The results also showed that the reproductive system of the crayfish fed D3 and D2 was significantly heavier than that of the crayfish fed the control and D1 (P < 0.05). On the other hand, there was not a significant difference in the testes weight and vasa deferentia weight between the crayfish fed the control and D1, and between the crayfish fed D2 and D3 (P < 0.05). GI of the crayfish fed D3 and D2 was significantly higher than that of the crayfish fed control and D1 (P > 0.05), but there was not a significant difference in the TI of the crayfish fed control, D1, D2 and D3 (P > 0.05). In conclusion, diets containing different levels of LC n-3 PUFA significantly increase the sperm number of A. leptodactylus, and they are crucial for the production of higher number of sperm in this species.     

Antibodies to Schmallenberg virus in domestic livestock in Turkey

This, partly retrospective study, was designed to determine the seroprevalence of Schmallenberg virus (SBV), a new Orthobunyavirus first reported in Germany in late 2011, in domestic ruminants from the Middle Black Sea, West, and Southeast regions of Turkey. An indirect enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was used to screen serum samples collected from slaughterhouse animals between 2006 and 2013. The overall seroprevalence was 335/1,362 (24.5 %) with 325/816 (39.8 %), 5/307 (1.6 %), 3/109 (2.8 %), and 2/130 (1.5 %) recorded in cattle, sheep, goats, and Anatolian water buffalo, respectively. This is the first study to demonstrate the presence of antibodies to SBV in Turkish ruminants; it indicates that cattle are more susceptible to infection than sheep, goats, or buffalo and that exposure of domestic ruminants to SBV in Turkey may have occurred up to 5 years prior to the first recorded outbreak of the disease in 2011.