The Survival,Growth and Carcase Characteristics of Crossbred Beef Cattle in Tanzania

Sires of seven Bos taurus beef breeds were mated with Bos indicus Boran cows at two sites, one near sea level and the other at about 1000 m altitude, and over three years. Purebred Boran calves provided controls for comparisons between sire breeds for growth to 4 years of age, mortality and carcase characteristics in a range environment where all the animals were kept under a similar management regime. Numerous sire breed×site, sire breed×year of birth and site×year of birth interactions were established. Mortality was high, but there was no significant sire breed effect, although purebred Borans had a higher survival than crossbred calves. There was no significant difference between genotypes in birth weight. Generally, Bos taurus cross steers achieved greater live weight gains and heavier carcase weights at 4 years of age than did purebred Borans. Limousin-cross steers had significantly (p<0.05) less fat in the tenth rib sample joint than any of the other genotypes. A productivity index that combined calf survival and carcase weight indicated that the Chianina crosses were more productive than any other genotype at either site. Purebred Borans were more productive than all the Bos taurus crossbreds with the exception of the Chianina crosses at site 1, but were only superior to the Limousin crosses at site 2, which was at the higher altitude. When lean meat yield was introduced into the productivity index, the Boran purebreds were the least productive at site 2.     

Effect of Restricted Suckling of Calves on the Productivity of Crossbred Dairy Cattle

An experiment on restricted suckling of crossbred dairy cows was conducted at the Livestock Research Centre, Tanga in north-east Tanzania. The objective of the experiment was to evaluate the comparative productivity of Bos taurus×Bos indicus cows of medium and high levels of Bos taurus inheritance, whose calves were either bucket-reared or suckled residual milk. Lactation milk yield, length and persistency were 1563 L, 289 days, and 1.0, respectively, for the bucket-reared and 1592 L, 289 days and 1.4, respectively, for the suckling group. Days to observed oestrus, first insemination and conception for cows whose calves were bucket-reared were 47, 74 and 115 days, respectively, and 57, 81 and 126 days, respectively, for the suckling cows. The calf weights were similar at 1 year of age. The productivity of the cows, measured as the annual milk offtake, was not significantly higher for those that suckled their calves than for those whose calves were bucket-reared.     

Morbidity and mortality associated with Arcanobacterium pyogenes in a group of captive blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra).

Arcanobacterium pyogenes was associated with necrotizing pneumonia; mandibular osteomyelitis; peritonitis; and hepatic, pulmonary, renal, and subcutaneous abscessation in a group of captive blackbuck (Antilope cervicapra). Males were more frequently (73.3%) affected than females. Infection with A. pyogenes was fatal or necessitated euthanasia in 15 of 16 (93.7%) cases. Deaths associated with A. pyogenes occurred most frequently (60%) during winter.     

Prevalence and determinants of Cryptosporidium spp. infection in smallholder dairy cattle in Iringa and Tanga Regions of Tanzania

The prevalence of Cryptosporidium spp. infection in a cross-sectional study of dairy cattle, from two contrasting dairying regions in Tanzania, were determined by staining smears of faecal samples with the modified Ziehl-Neelsen technique. Of the 1 126 faecal samples screened, 19.7% were positive for Cryptosporidium spp. The prevalence was lower in Tanga Region than in Iringa Region. The prevalence of affected farms was 20% in Tanga and 21% in Iringa. In both regions, the probability of detecting Cryptosporidium oocysts in faeces varied with animal class, but these were not consistent in both regions. In Tanga Region, Cryptosporidium oocysts were significantly more likely to be found in the faeces of milking cows. In Iringa Region, the likelihood that cattle had Cryptosporidium-positive faeces declined with age, and milking cattle were significantly less likely to have Cryptosporidium-positive faeces. In this region, 7% of cattle were housed within the family house at night, and this was marginally associated with a higher likelihood that animals had Cryptosporidium-positive faeces. Our study suggests that even though herd sizes are small, Cryptosporidium spp. are endemic on many Tanzanian smallholder dairy farms. These protozoa may impact on animal health and production, but also on human health, given the close associations between the cattle and their keepers. Further studies are required to assess these risks in more detail, and understand the epidemiology of Cryptosporidium spp. in this management system.     

Factors affecting bleedthrough of phenolic resin adhesive in hardwood plywood

Summary Some variables affecting the bleedthrough of phenolic resin adhesives in hardwood plywood were studied quantitatively. Variables included resin age, age of adhesive mix, extender/water ratio, amount of glue spread, aseembly time, veneer moisture content, species differences, grain angle, platen pressure, pressure cycle, platen temperature and rate of temperature rise.A technique was developed for evaluating bleedthrough numerically. This permitted the use of statistical analysis in a series of two- and three-factor experiments that resulted in some conclusions about the important interactions of variables, the combinatinos of which affect the amount of bleedthrough. Generally those combinations of variables that result in a high volume of glue in the glueline at the time of pressing, with a minimum of penetration into the veneer surfaces, permitted the phenolic adhesive to move through open vessel segments, that were inclined to the panel surface during the period of highest fluidity, when a pronounced lowering of viscosity is caused by the temperature rise in the glueline. These results generally confirmed other research on bleedthrough where urea resin adhesives were used as well as a different evaluating technique. A general concept of the mechanism of glue bond development in the manufacture of plywood is proposed in the light of the experimental results.

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Zusammenfassung Verschiedene Faktoren, die das Durchschlagen von Phenolharzleimen bei der Herstellung von Sperrholz aus Laubhölzern verursachen, wurden quantitativ untersucht. Sie betrafen das Alter des Harzes, das Alter der Leimmischung, das Verhältnis Streckmittel zu Wasser, die Menge des Leimauftrages, die Zeit zwischen Leimauftrag und Erreichen des Preßdruckes, den Feuchtigkeitsgehalt des Furniers, die Unterschiede zwischen den verschiedenen Holzarten, den Faserrichtungswinkel, den Preßdruck, den Preßzyklus, die Preßplattentemperatur und die Temperatur-Anstiegsgeschwindigkeit. Ein Verfahren zur numerischen Bewertung des Durchschlages wurde entwickelt. Dadurch konnte eine statistische Analyse bei einer Reihe von Versuchen mit zwei oder drei Einflußgrößen angewendet werden, die Stärke des Durchschlagens Wechselwirkungen zwischen Faktoren gaben, die gemeinsam die Stärke des Durchschlagens bestimmen. Im allgemeinen ließen jene Faktoren-Kombinationen, die durch eine große Leimmenge kurz vor dem Verpressen, bei gliechzeitig verhältnismäßig geringer Leimeindringung in die Furnieroberfläche gekennzeichnet waren, den Phenolharzleim durch die schräg durch das Furnier hindurchlaufenden, angeschnittenen Gefäße hindurchtreten. Dies geschah zum Zeitpunkt der höchsten Leim-Verflüssigung, d. h. dann, wenn die Leim-Viskosität durch die erhöhte Temperatur in der Leimfuge am niedrigsten war. Diese Ergebnisse bestätigten andere Forschungsergebnisse, bie denen Harnstoffharzleime, aber auch ein anderes Bewertungsschema verwendet wurden. Aufgrund der experimentellen Ergebnisse wird eine allgemeine Hypothese über die Entstehung der Leimverbindung bei der Sperrholzerzeugung aufgestellt.

     

Candidatus Chloracidobacterium thermophilum: an aerobic phototrophic Acidobacterium

Only five bacterial phyla with members capable of chlorophyll (Chl)-based phototrophy are presently known. Metagenomic data from the phototrophic microbial mats of alkaline siliceous hot springs in Yellowstone National Park revealed the existence of a distinctive bacteriochlorophyll (BChl)-synthesizing, phototrophic bacterium. A highly enriched culture of this bacterium grew photoheterotrophically, synthesized BChls a and c under oxic conditions, and had chlorosomes and type 1 reaction centers. "Candidatus Chloracidobacterium thermophilum" is a BChl-producing member of the poorly characterized phylum Acidobacteria.