Follicular fluid concentrations of estradiol-17 beta and progesterone and secretory patterns of LH and FSH in prepubertal gilts reared in confinement or outdoor lots

One-hundred-twenty crossbred gilts from two experiments were assigned randomly to a 2 X 5 factorial experiment. Gilts were reared in two environments (confinement or outside) and assigned to be slaughtered at 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8 mo of age. Beginning at 6 mo of age, blood samples were taken at weekly intervals from each gilt via venipuncture. Serum concentrations of progesterone were analyzed to determine when gilts attained puberty. On the day prior to slaughter, six pigs within a treatment group were cannulated and blood samples were taken at 20-min intervals for 4 h. At slaughter, follicular fluid (FF) was aspirated and the volume determined from those follicles having a diameter of at least 4 mm. No effect of environment was found on the proportion of gilts that attained puberty by 8 mo of age. For the 12 gilts that reached puberty during the study, the age at puberty for gilts reared in outdoor lots (202 +/- 5 d) was less (P less than .05) than those reared in confinement (224 +/- 8 d). Mean concentrations of serum luteinizing hormone (LH; P = 98) and number of secretory spikes of LH (P = .76) were similar between gilts reared in confinement and those reared in outdoor lots. No differences in average serum concentrations of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH) or number of secretory spikes of FSH were found between gilts subjected to these environments (P = .95). Concentrations of estradiol-17 beta in FF were not affected by environment or age (P greater than .25).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Early leaf harvest reduces yield but not protein concentration of cowpea seeds

Five greenhouse-grown cowpea [Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp] cultivars were tested in a generalized random complete-block design to determine the effect of early leaf harvest on dry weight and protein concentration of plant parts at maturity. The most recent, fully expanded leaves on each branch from one group of plants were harvested at 5 and 7 weeks after planting. On the other groups of plants, no early leaf harvest was performed. Dry weight and protein concentration (dry weight basis) were determined for leaves, stems, and seeds at maturity and for leaves harvested early. Weight and protein concentration of seeds, leaves, and stems differed significantly between cultivars; protein concentration of leaves harvested at 5 or 7 weeks did not. Dry weight of leaves harvested at 5 vs. 7 weeks did not differ significantly, but leaf protein concentration was significantly higher at 5 weeks compared to 7 weeks. Across all cultivars, early leaf harvest had no significant effect on leaf or stem weight per plant at maturity. However, there was a significant decrease in seed weight when leaves were harvested early. Results suggest that even limited leaf harvest at 5 and 7 weeks has detrimental effects on yield, but not on protein concentration, of cowpea seeds harvested at maturity.     

Gastrointestinal parasite egg excretion in young calves in periurban livestock production in Mali

To acquire the information needed to improve parasite control in periurban cattle production in Mali, repeated sampling of faeces of 694 calves kept around Bamako was done in 2003/2004. The effects of season, age, breed, management type, parasite control and presence of sheep on egg and oocyst counts were determined. A Bayesian model was used with a negative binomial distribution and herd and individual effects, to account for the clustering of calves in herds and the repeated sampling. Interviews were conducted to report the current control strategies. We found eggs of Strongyloides papillosus (Age class 0-1 month: prevalence 39%, 2-3 months: 59%, 5-6 months: 42%), strongyles (14%, 24%, 36%), coccidian oocysts (37%, 68%, 64%) and at low prevalence eggs of Toxocara vitulorum, Moniezia sp., Trichuris sp. and Paramphistomum sp. Season and age effects occurred. Reported utilisation of parasite control was high (92%) but monthly recorded use was significantly lower (61%).     

Biocontainment, biosecurity, and security practices in beef feedyards

OBJECTIVE: To determine the biocontainment, biosecurity, and security practices at beef feedyards in the Central Plains of the United States. DESIGN: Survey. SAMPLE POPULATION: Managers of feedyards in Colorado, Kansas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, and Texas that feed beef cattle for finish before slaughter; feedyards had to have an active concentrated animal feeding operation permit with a 1-time capacity of >or= 1,000 cattle. PROCEDURES: A voluntary survey of feedyard personnel was conducted. Identified feedyard personnel were interviewed and responses regarding facility design, security, employees, disease preparedness, feedstuffs, hospital or treatment systems, sanitation, cattle sources, handling of sick cattle, and disposal of carcasses were collected in a database questionnaire. RESULTS: The survey was conducted for 106 feedyards with a 1-time capacity that ranged from 1,300 to 125,000 cattle. Feedyards in general did not have high implementation of biocontainment, biosecurity, or security practices. Smaller feedyards were, in general, less likely to use good practices than were larger feedyards. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Results of the survey provided standard practices for biocontainment, biosecurity, and security in feedyards located in Central Plains states. Information gained from the survey results can be used by consulting veterinarians and feedyard managers as a basis for discussion and to target training efforts.     

A standardized procedure for surveillance and monitoring European habitats and provision of spatial data

Both science and policy require a practical, transmissible, and reproducible procedure for surveillance and monitoring of European habitats, which can produce statistics integrated at the landscape level. Over the last 30 years, landscape ecology has developed rapidly, and many studies now require spatial data on habitats. Without rigorous rules, changes from baseline records cannot be separated reliably from background noise. A procedure is described that satisfies these requirements and can provide consistent data for Europe, to support a range of policy initiatives and scientific projects. The methodology is based on classical plant life forms, used in biogeography since the nineteenth century, and on their statistical correlation with the primary environmental gradient. Further categories can therefore be identified for other continents to assist large scale comparisons and modelling. The model has been validated statistically and the recording procedure tested in the field throughout Europe. A total of 130 General Habitat Categories (GHCs) is defined. These are enhanced by recording environmental, site and management qualifiers to enable flexible database interrogation. The same categories are applied to areal, linear and point features to assist recording and subsequent interpretation at the landscape level. The distribution and change of landscape ecological parameters, such as connectivity and fragmentation, can then be derived and their significance interpreted.     

德国安格斯肉牛和西门塔尔肉牛分娩后的母体保护行为及其与生产性状的关系

试验选用390头德国安格斯牛（阿伯丁安格斯牛X德国兼用牛）和西门塔尔母牛,进行了连续7年的试验（2000～2006年）,在其犊牛打耳标时通过母牛分类保护反应测定母体保护行为。试验在母牛分娩后的24h内由固定人员进行。母体保护行为评分（MBS）的差异分析采用以品种、胎次、产犊月份为固定效应的模型以及品种和胎次的互作进行。母牛作为随机效应被参照。品种、胎次以及品种与胎次的互作很大程度上影响母体保护行为评分。德国安格斯牛的评分高于西门塔尔牛,并且相对于年轻母牛而言,经产胎次高的牛评分高。在整个关联母体下测定遗传力,德国安格斯牛为0．14（标准误0．08）,西门塔尔牛为0．42（标准误0．05）。评分重复力分别为德国安格斯牛0．24（标准误0．04）和西门塔尔牛0．42（标准误0．05）。断奶重和犊牛的平均日增重与母体保护行为评分不相关。     

Classification of geomorphological effects downstream of dams

The effects of dams on downstream geomorphology are reviewed and a typology is devised, consisting of nine cases. The classification can be seen as a further development of Lane's balance between water discharge, sediment load, grain size, and river slope. Depending on changes in released water flow and changes in released sediment load, relative to the transport capacity of the flow, it is possible to estimate resulting cross-sectional geomorphology. The longitudinal extent of changes and their variability with time, and the tributary response to altered mainstream cross-section changes, are also discussed.