Estimation of a reliable evapotranspiration model and crop coefficient in red gram ( Cajanus cajan L .) for semi-arid environments in India

The study aims to compute the reference evapotranspiration (ETo) by six standard methods such as Penman Monteith, Modified Penman, Hargreaves, Radiation Balance, Blaney Criddle and Pan Evaporation by using the meteorological data of the All India Coordinated Research Project on Water Management at Rahuri, India (long. 74° 18′, lat. 19° 45′). These methods were compared with lysimeter crop evapotranspiration (ETc) by statistical tools. The results revealed that the total lysimeter ETc of red gram in 132 days' growing period (sowing to harvest) was 494?mm and the ETo in the above-mentioned models were 485.2, 486.9, 544.6, 547.6, 563.9 and 485.2?mm, respectively. Out of six models, ETo of Modified Penman and Pan Evaporation methods were very much close to lysimeter ETc, but the coefficient of variation was very high, i.e., 43.05% and 23.91%, respectively. But in the Hargreaves and Blaney Criddle methods, the coefficient of variation was low, i.e., 15.97% and 12.6%, respectively. Besides low coefficient of variation, these two methods require limited meteorological parameters such as minimum and maximum temperature, radiation. For generating these parameters even at regional level, minimum expenditure is involved. The crop coefficient (Kc) estimated by Hargreaves (Kc 0.90) and the Blaney Criddle (0.87) model for the entire growing season was very much close to the Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) 56 model, and this can be used for estimating the irrigation requirement of red gram.     

The laboratory network in Australia and New Zealand – an evolving system

This paper discusses the network of government, private and university veterinary laboratories in Australia and New Zealand and how it is adapting and evolving to meet the challenges it faces. It includes the mechanisms for standardisation of procedures, quality assurance, and the role of national reference laboratories hosted by state government laboratories. It also highlights the crisis in supply of veterinary diagnosticians, especially the declining numbers of veterinary pathologists. Recent positive changes include the setting up of the National Animal Health Laboratory Strategy and an initiative to empower State and Territory government laboratories to test for exotic diseases. The ideal outcome for Australia and New Zealand is a laboratory service that remains the gold standard around the world.     

Inherited progressive spinal myelinopathy in Murray Grey cattle

In a breeding experiment conducted to determine the mode of inheritance of progressive spinal myelinopathy, semen from a Murray Grey bull which had previously sired affected calves was used to inseminate 120 cows. Female progeny were then inseminated with semen from the same bull. Of the 51 calves born, six (11.8%) had spinal cord lesions consistent with progressive spinal myelinopathy. From analysis of pedigrees and the results of the breeding experiment it was concluded that the condition was inherited as an autosomal recessive condition in Murray Grey cattle.     

A cross-sectional study to show Eperythrozoon ovis infection is prevalent in Western Australian sheep farms

A serological survey and risk factor study was conducted to estimate the prevalence of Eperythrozoon ovis infection in Western Australian weaner sheep, the prevalence of farms with infected sheep, and to identify factors affecting initiation and maintenance of infection on the farm. The study was conducted on 91 farms, purposively chosen from 41 randomly selected regional shires stratified by sheep number and rainfall zones. Twenty sheep were selected systematically from a mixed-sex flock on each farm and tested for serum antibody to E ovis using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Information on putative risk factors was collected using an interview questionnaire. Antibody to E ovis was detected in 4.5% of sheep on 47% of the farms sampled. The prevalence of E ovis infection in sheep was estimated at the 95% confidence level to be between 3.6 and 5.5%, and the prevalence of farms with infected sheep was estimated to be between 37.5 and 56.5%. Most farms with serological evidence of infection occurred in the Great Southern agricultural region (79.5%), south-east of Perth through to Albany (latitude 32 to 34 degrees S, longitude 116 to 120 degrees E), and in the Northern region (12.8%) surrounding Geraldton (latitude 29 degrees S, longitude 114 degrees E). There were significantly more farms (P less than 0.05) with evidence of infection in the Great Southern region compared to the Central region between Geraldton and Perth, and on farms in the region south compared to north of latitude 32 degrees S. None of the putative risk factors examined in the questionnaire were associated with serological evidence of infection on the farm.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

A severity score for spontaneous canine acute pancreatitis

Objective To derive a severity score for spontaneous canine acute pancreatitis applicable to general practice.
Design Cohort study of canine pancreatitis cases.
Procedure Cases (n = 68) of spontaneous canine acute pancreatitis presented to general practitioners were identified among accessions to Veterinary Pathology Services Brisbane. The primary veterinarian was surveyed by telephone to ascertain the outcome of each case. Scores were assigned for extent of hyperamylasaemia, hyperlipasaemia and number of organ systems other than the pancreas compromised. The probability of mortality with each score of each analyte was calculated. The strength of interaction between scores for each analyte and mortality rate was assessed by chi-square analysis where appropriate. Relationships between the organ system score, other physiological variables and likelihood of euthanasia were analysed.
Results Scores derived mathematically from analysis of enzyme activities had poor abilities to predict mortality. The score based upon the number of organ systems compromised showed good ability to predict mortality and the interaction between the organ system score and mortality rate was significant by chi-square analysis (P < 0.01). Distribution of data within the amylase and lipase scores was not compatible with chi-square analysis.
Conclusion Assessment of severity of spontaneous canine acute pancreatitis using pancreatic enzyme activities is potentially inaccurate. The use of a severity score based upon organ system compromise was more accurate in determining the likelihood of mortality in spontaneous canine acute pancreatitis. This is compatible with the hypothesis that severe canine acute pancreatitis is a multiple organ failure syndrome.     

Comparison of two methods of seminal plasma removal on buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) sperm cryopreservation

Cryopreservation causes damage to spermatozoa, and methods minimizing this damage are therefore needed. Although much discussed, seminal plasma removal has become an alternative to improve sperm quality and viability after freezing and has been applied to different species in attempt to obtain good results. The objective of this study was to evaluate semen quality in buffaloes submitted to two methods for seminal plasma removal (filtration and centrifugation). Semen samples were collected from seven Murrah buffalo bulls (Bubalus bubalis) once a week for 8 weeks. Each ejaculate was divided into three groups: control (presence of seminal plasma), centrifugation and filtration. Sperm kinetics was evaluated with the computer‐assisted sperm analysis (CASA) system. Plasmalemma and acrosomal membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species (ROS) were measured by flow cytometry, and lipid peroxidation was evaluated by the thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) assay. Seminal plasma removal did not improve sperm kinetics compared to the control group. Centrifugation increased the number of cells with damaged acrosomal membranes (0.77 ± 0.05) and filtration caused greater plasmalemma and acrosomal membrane damage (22.18 ± 1.07). No difference in the mitochondrial membrane potential was observed between groups. In contrast, ROS production was higher in the centrifugation group compared to the control and filtration groups, although no differences in TBARS formation were detected. In conclusion, seminal plasma removal did not improve the quality of thawed buffalo semen compared to control in terms of sperm kinetics, membrane integrity, mitochondrial membrane potential or lipid peroxidation.