Accurate prediction of nutritional value of sorghum grain using image analysis

1. This study evaluated the application of L (lightness)*a (redness) and *b (blueness) colour analysis and chemical compositions to predict the nutritional value of sorghum grain.

2. A total of 12 varieties of sorghum grain were analysed for L*a*b colours, chemical composition, energy and total and digestible amino acid content. Regression models based on the linear, non-linear and the interaction effects of inputs were applied to predict the nutritional value of sorghum grains either using L*a*b colour or chemical composition, as the model inputs.

3. The results illustrated a significant relationship between a*b and/or chemical compositions with energy content in the samples of sorghum grain. The provided estimation equations presented high goodness of fit in terms of R²_adj ranging from 0.744 to 0.999.

4. Total and digestible amino acids of sorghum grain were estimated based on a*b and chemical compositions data with the goodness of fit ranging from 0.641 to 0.999 (R²_adj).

5. In conclusion, the L*a*b colour analysis may be used for developing equations to predict nutritional value of sorghum grain as an alternative approach to the conventional time-consuming and costly chemical and bioassay methods.     

Pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular failure in broiler chickens reared at high altitude is affected by dietary source of n‐6 and n‐3 fatty acids

The present study evaluated the development of pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular failure in broiler chickens reared at high altitude (2100 m) as affected by dietary intake of n‐3 and n‐6 fatty acid sources. Flax oil and soy oil were used as sources of n‐3 and n‐6 fatty acids, respectively, either with or without α‐tocopheryl acetate. A total of 192 day‐old broiler chicks (Ross 308) were used in a completely randomized design using isoenergetic and isonitrogenous experimental diets. Results showed that dietary flax oil significantly (p < 0.05) improved feed conversion ratio during 21–42 days of age. However, body weight gain did not significantly differ among the experimental groups in entire trial. Birds received flax oil had significantly higher serum concentration of nitric oxide (NO) but they had lower serum concentration of malondialdehyde when compared with their counterparts fed with soy oil. Liver and abdominal fat weights were significantly (p < 0.05) reduced by substitution of soy oil for flax oil. The right‐to‐total ventricle weight ratio (RV/TV) and mortality from pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in birds that received flax oil. In conclusion, n‐3 fatty acids could significantly reduce RV:TV and PAH mortality in birds by increasing circulatory level of NO and suppressing hepatic lipogenesis.     

An appraisal of moulting on post-moult egg production and egg weight distribution in white layer hens; meta-analysis

1. The aim of this study was to establish how different moulting methods and body weight losses influenced post-moult performance and USDA egg weight distribution.

2. Data on 5 laying flocks (#34–38) of the North Carolina Layer Performance and Management Test were used in this meta-analysis.

3. The moulting methods were non-fasted moulted (NF), short feed restricted (SF), 13-d feed restricted (FR), non-anorexic moult programme (NA), non-anorexic moult programme with low sodium (NALS) as well as non-moulting programme as control treatment. The percentages of targeted body weight loss during the moulting period were 20, 24, 25 and 30% of body weight at the end of the first egg production cycle.

4. Post-moult egg production and egg mass were influenced by all moulting methods. Maximum increase in post-moult egg production rate and egg mass occurred with FR and NF programmes, respectively, at 30% of body weight loss, compared to non-moulted hens. Non-fasting methods reduced mortality rate more effectively than fasting methods.

5. Moulting resulted in increases in percentage of grade A and decreases in percentage of grade B eggs. Non-fasting methods increased percentage of grade A eggs more effectively than fasting methods. Percentage of cracked eggs decreased in moulted rather than non-moulted hens and the lowest rate was associated with the NA programme.

6. Post-moult egg weight was not significantly influenced by moulting methods. However, percentage of body weight reduction affected egg weight. The optimum increment in egg weight was achieved by 24% body weight reduction.

7. Overall, non-fasting methods resulted in similar egg production compared with fasting methods. Considering post-moult mortality and USDA egg weight distribution, non-fasting methods, especially NF and NA programmes, performed much better than fasting methods, indicating that non-fasting moulting methods, which are better for animal welfare, are effective alternatives to fasting methods.     

The effects of dietary calcium iodate on productive performance,egg quality and iodine accumulation in eggs of laying hens

The aim of this study was to examine the effects of various levels of supplemental calcium iodate (CI) on productive performance, egg quality, blood indices and iodine (I) accumulation in the eggs in commercial laying hens. A total of 240 White Leghorn layers (Hy‐line W36) were divided through a completely randomized design into six treatments with five replicates and eight hens per each at 32 weeks of age. This experiment lasted for 12 weeks. Concentrations of I in the mash diets were 0.74, 3.13, 5.57, 8.11, 10.65 and 12.94 mg I/kg of feed in treatments 1–6 respectively. The added doses of CI were included 0.0 (control), 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, 10.0 and 12.5 mg/kg of diet for treatments 1–6 respectively. There were no significant differences in productive performance among the treatments. The highest eggshell strength was observed in group fed diet containing 3.13 mg I/kg (p = .014). The highest percentage of calcium and lowest percentage of phosphorus in eggshell were observed in group fed diet containing 12.94 mg I/kg (p = .0001). Feeding hens with diet containing 12.94 mg I/kg increased serum triiodothyronine‐to‐thyroxine ratio (p = .0001). Serum alanine aminotransferase activity in hens fed diet containing 12.94 mg I/kg was significantly more than control (p = .041). Blood Serum triglycerides in hens fed diet containing 8.11 mg I/kg were significantly higher than control (p = .0001). Edible fraction of the eggs of birds fed diet containing 12.94 mg I/kg was enriched by I almost 3 times more than those fed diet containing 0.74 mg I/kg. The results suggested that egg production, egg mass, feed intake and feed conversion ratio were not significantly affected by dietary I levels. Iodine accumulation in the eggs were increased by increasing dietary I levels and the level of 10 mg/kg CI could supply I enrichment of the eggs.     

Construction of a genetic linkage map with SSR,AFLP and morphological markers to locate QTLs controlling pathotype-specific powdery mildew resistance in diploid roses

Disease resistance is a sought-after trait in plant breeding programmes. One strategy to make resistance more durable is to increase the number of resistance genes, thereby increasing the number of pathotypes withstood. One of the most important diseases on roses is powdery mildew (PM) (Podosphaera pannosa). Recent studies show that pathotypes of PM and different types of resistances in roses exist. The results of this study aim to contribute to PM resistance in roses by the development of pathotype-specific markers on a genetic map. A diploid rose population (90 genotypes) derived from a cross between Rosa wichurana and Rosa ‘Yesterday’ was used to construct a genetic linkage map encompassing 20 AFLP primer combinations, 43 SSR, and 2 morphological markers. By applying the F1 pseudo test cross population strategy, two parental linkage maps were constructed (parent ‘Yesterday’ 536 cM; parent R. wichurana 526 cM). Both parental maps consisted of seven linkage groups with an average length of 70 cM (Kosambi) corresponding to the seven haploid rose chromosomes. These new maps were used to identify QTLs controlling disease resistance. The offspring population was screened for resistance to two PM pathotypes, R–E and R–P. QTLs for controlling pathotype-specific disease resistance were mapped by applying Kruskal–Wallis rank-sum tests and simple interval mapping. With two pathotypes analysed, nine QTL loci were detected on linkage groups 2, 3, 5 and 6, explaining 15–73% of the phenotypic variance for pathotype-specific disease response. The genetic maps developed here will be useful for future rose breeding, pathotype-specific resistance research and development of a consensus map for roses.     

Description of the Infection Status in a Norwegian Cattle Herd Naturally Infected by Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis

The Norwegian surveillance and control programme for paratuberculosis revealed 8 seroreactors in a single dairy cattle herd that had no clinical signs of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (M. a. paratuberculosis) infection. Paratuberculosis had been a clinical problem in goats several years previously in this herd. All 45 cattle were culled and a thorough investigation of the infection status was conducted by the use of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) immunoassay, measurement of antibodies, and pathological and bacteriological examination.In the IFN-γ immunoassay, 9 animals gave positive results, and 13 were weakly positive, while 19 animals were negative. In the serological test,10 animals showed positive reactions, and 5 were doubtful, while 30 animals gave negative reactions. There appeared to be a weak trend toward younger animals having raised IFN-γ and older animals having raised serological tests. Histopathological lesions compatible with paratuberculosis were diagnosed in 4 animals aged between 4 and 9 years. Three of these animals had positive serological reaction and one animal gave also positive results in the IFN-γ immunoassay. Infection was confirmed by isolation of M. a. paratuberculosis from 2 of these 4 animals. One single bacterial isolate examined by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP) had the same profile, B-C1, as a strain that had been isolated from a goat at the same farm several years previously.Despite many animals being positive in one or both of the immunological tests, indicative of a heavily infected herd, none of the animals showed clinical signs and only one cow was shown to be shedding bacteria. A cross-reaction with other mycobacteria might have caused some of the immunoreactions in these animals. It is also possible that the Norwegian red cattle breed is resistant to clinical infection with M. a. paratuberculosis.     

Studies on correlations among parasitaemia and some hemolytic indices in two tropical diseases (theileriosis and anaplasmosis) in Fars province of Iran

This study was carried out in two observational clinical studies. Study 1 comprised 50 adult crossbred cattle naturally infected by Theileria annulata. Infected animals were divided into 4 subgroups with different parasitaemia (<1%, 1–3%, 3–5% and >5%). Study 2 comprised 20 adult crossbred cattle naturally infected by Anaplasma marginale. Infected animals were divided into 3 subgroups with different parasitaemia (<10%, 10–20% and 20–30%). In study 1, a significant negative correlation (P < 0.001) was observed between parasitaemia and superoxide dismutase (SOD). Positive correlations (P < 0.001) were observed between parasitaemia and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) and mean corpuscular fragility (MCF). In study 2 positive correlations (P < 0.05) were observed among parasitaemia and MCF and LDH activity. SOD activity had a negative correlation with parasitaemia in cattle with parasitaemia lower than 10% but no significant correlation (P > 0.05) was observed between SOD activity and parasitaemia in cattle with 10–20 and 20–30% parasitaemia. In comparison of both studies we came to the conclusion that in theileriosis as the severity of disease increased the anaemia, MCF and LDH activity increased and SOD activity decreased at any parasitaemia, but in anaplasmosis the anaemia, MCF and LDH activity increased at any parasitaemia but SOD activity decreased only in early but not in advanced stages of disease.     

Modeling the Exchanges of Energy, Water, and Carbon Between Continents and the Atmosphere

Atmospheric general circulation models used for climate simulation and weather forecasting require the fluxes of radiation, heat, water vapor, and momentum across the land-atmosphere interface to be specified. These fluxes are calculated by submodels called land surface parameterizations. Over the last 20 years, these parameterizations have evolved from simple, unrealistic schemes into credible representations of the global soil-vegetation-atmosphere transfer system as advances in plant physiological and hydrological research, advances in satellite data interpretation, and the results of large-scale field experiments have been exploited. Some modern schemes incorporate biogeochemical and ecological knowledge and, when coupled with advanced climate and ocean models, will be capable of modeling the biological and physical responses of the Earth system to global change, for example, increasing atmospheric carbon dioxide.     

The effect of in planta TIBA and proline treatment on somatic embryogenesis of sugar beet (Beta vulgaris L.)

The effect of in planta TIBA and L-proline onin vitro seedlings and cell culture of sugar beet was investigated. Sterilized seeds were grownin vitro on 1/2 MS medium supplemented with 0 or3 mg/l TIBA. Calli obtained on young leaves cultured on MS medium containing 1 mg/l BAP, were used for the initiation of cell suspension cultures using MS basal composition supplemented with 0 or 50 mM proline. Aliquots of 1 ml from cell suspension culture were inoculated onto the first somatic embryo induction MS medium containing TIBA 0.5 mg/l, BAP 1.0 mg/l, and proline at 0 or 50 mM. After three weeks of culture, embryogenic calli were transferred to the second embryo induction medium supplemented with NAA and BAP at 0.2 and 0.5 mg/l, respectively. The frequency of somatic embryos of calli obtained from in plantaTIBA together with proline treatments on average was20 which was higher than that of the other treatments. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.