Selective and on-demand drenching of lambs: Impact on parasite populations and performance of lambs

AIM: To determine whether drenching regimes for lambs by which a proportion (10%) of the heaviest animals was selectively left untreated, or animals are only drenched ‘on demand’ when faecal nematode egg counts (FEC) exceeded a threshold level, would result in measurable increases in parasite larval challenge in the autumn and/or decreases in the performance of lambs.

METHODS: A replicated study compared three drenching strategies in which mobs of lambs (n=360 in total) received either: a five-drench preventive programme, administered to all animals (Treatment 1); a five-drench preventive programme, but the 10% heaviest animals left untreated each time (Treatment 2); or drench treatments administered only when FEC exceeded 500 eggs per gram of faeces (epg) (Treatment 3). After the five-drench programme, animals in Treatments 1 and 2 were treated according to FEC as for Treatment 3. A triple-combination drench containing ivermectin, oxfendazole and levamisole, administered orally, was used for all treatments. There were nine farmlets, allowing three replicates of each treatment, in a completely randomised design. Parasite infestations on pasture were measured in autumn by pasture plucks, and worm burdens were monitored in tracer lambs, while the performance of lambs was assessed by liveweight gains, fleece weights, and body condition and dag scores.

RESULTS: Increased numbers of Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis larvae on pasture were found in the autumn on farmlets treating selectively or on-demand (Treatments 2 and 3). No differences were detected in other parasite species. Mean liveweight gains did not differ between treatments but some differences were detected between drenched and undrenched lambs in Treatment 2. Mean body condition and mean dag scores of lambs in Treatment 3 tended to be lower and higher, respectively, than those of lambs in Treatment 1; Treatment 2 was generally intermediate.

CONCLUSIONS: Drenching strategies for lambs designed to slow the development of anthelmintic resistance, by increasing the pool of susceptible worms available to dilute resistant survivors after treatment, resulted in increased numbers of H. contortus and T. colubriformis but not other species of parasite on pasture. The increased parasite challenge to lambs in the autumn was associated with small production losses, which may be acceptable to farmers wishing to implement such strategies. It is clear that further work is required on the interaction between management practices and the population dynamics of parasites, especially with regard to creating pools of susceptible genotypes to slow the development of drench resistance.     

荷兰农药登记及应用情况

本文概述了荷兰农药登记的基本情况,应用中存在的一些问题,荷兰政府为解决问题而采取的具体措施等.荷兰的农药登记与管理由CTB负责,农药登记和应用均以保护环境为根本目的,荷兰政府采取各种行之有效的措施降低农药环境污染的风险.     

Spatial distribution of weeds in arable crops: are current sampling and analytical methods appropriate?

This paper reviews the literature concerning the spatial distribution of weeds; highlighting the limitations of our current sampling and analytical methodologies, and suggesting how these inadequacies can be addressed. Most research studies have used discrete sampling, i.e. weeds are counted within a quadrat, on a grid basis. Few have mapped weeds at a whole-field scale, either with a resolution appropriate to spraying operations or key ecological processes. Statistical analyses used to describe the data can be divided into two main types, spatially implicit (also at the scale of the sampling unit) or spatially explicit, in which the location of individuals is included in the analyses. Spatially implicit methods can be strongly affected by quadrat size and mean density and are of doubtful benefit. More attention is required to address sampling resolution issues for spatially explicit methods. Our understanding of the formation and dynamics of spatial pattern, as well as predicting the consequences of site-specific management, can be improved with models. Unfortunately, most models consider only newly expanding patches and appear incapable of predicting spatial distributions when an area has been fully invaded. More detailed biological information is required if models are to become more realistic and informative. We also need to ensure that we understand the spatial processes in the context of the whole field environment, to optimize the success of site-specific weed management in the longer term.     

稻秆潜蝇综合防治技术研究

稻秆潜蝇是浙南山区水稻生产的重要害虫.通过推广薄膜育秧、绿肥田除草、选用抗性品种、实行健身栽培、生态控制等一系列综合防治技术,可达到经济有效的防治效果.在水稻整个生长期可减少用药1～2次,稻秆潜蝇穗被害率减轻41.03%,病虫害损失控制在3.6%以内,稻谷增产9.2%,稻田害虫天敌蜘蛛和黑肩绿盲蝽分别增加38.1%和26.3%,获得了明显的生态、经济效益.     

Asset Management of Irrigation Infrastructure – The Approach of Goulburn-Murray Water, Australia

This paper presents a case study of Goulburn-Murray Water's approach to the development and implementation of its asset management program for irrigation infrastructure. The success and effectiveness of asset management is not a matter of technical aspects only, rather it depends on an integrated package of institutional, organisational, technical and financial aspects.     

陕西省乡村旅游可持续发展的适应性管理研究

以陕西省10市1区乡村旅游发展目的地为对象,以旅游地生命周期理论、适应性管理理论、可持续发展理论为指导,以陕西省各市、区及不同人文自然条件区域为空间分布单元展开实地调研,架构了各市及不同人文自然条件区域的适应性管理框架,以推动陕西省乡村旅游全面、健康、持续发展。     

Management of nematodes and a stalk borer by increasing within-field sugarcane cultivar diversity

The aim of this study was to determine whether an increase in plant diversity could modify the structure of the nematode community in favour of less pathogenic species and whether it affected the lepidopteran stalk borer, Eldana saccharina . Four sugarcane cultivars were planted either singly or as a mixture in the furrow. Nematodes were enumerated when the crops were 6 months old for five successive 10 to 13 month old crop cycles. Results showed that the mixture of cultivars had little significant impact on the overall abundance of the plant-parasitic or free-living nematodes. However, the nematode community structure within the mixture was slightly different to that observed on any single cultivar planted on its own and there was a higher than expected proportion of Helicotylenchus dihystera during the first three crops. With successive crops and in all treatments, there was an overall trend of increasing proportions of Meloidogyne javanica in the nematode community. However, the way that the change in the species-balance occurred in the mixed cultivar plots suggested a resistance to the evolving dominance of M. javanica . These results showed that sugarcane cultivars interacted within the rhizosphere when planted in a mixture because the observed nematode community in the mixture differed from that expected. The level of damage caused by E. saccharina was slightly lower in the mixture than expected from the actual cultivar composition.     

基于GIS的三江源地区物种多样性保护优先性分析

根据我们的多次科考调查和青海省对野生动物的调查结果等有关资料图件,对三江源地区的物种多样性和人类干扰因素等进行了分析和评估。选择9种鸟类、15种哺乳动物、20种植物作为本研究的指示物种,利用GIS制作了主要的珍稀濒危野生动植物分布图。选择放牧、人口、居民点、公路等因素作为生物多样性的主要干扰因素,制作出三江源地区干扰强度空间分布图。然后根据物种的丰富度和特有性、脆弱性和干扰程度等指标分析了三江源地区物种多样性保护优先性地区,做出了物种多样性保护优先地区空间分布图。     

Quantitative impact assessment of spray coverage and pest behavior on contact pesticide performance

BACKGROUND: Standard procedures for evaluation of pesticide performance do not take into account pest behavioral response or incomplete spray coverage. In this study, a series of laboratory experiments was conducted with two non‐systemic miticides (propargite and hexythiazox) applied to cotyledon cotton plants, which were subsequently infested with spider mites. The results of these laboratory experiments are discussed through a comprehensive pest population dynamics model. RESULTS: When cotton leaves were submerged in miticide solutions, both miticides provided effective control of spider mites. In a two‐choice test it was demonstrated that propargite was repellent to spider mites, but not hexythiazox. Finally, the spray coverage on cotton plants was varied, and, for both miticides, significantly positive relationships between spray coverage and spider mite mortality were shown. However, propargite required higher spray coverage (20%) than hexythiazox (10%) to control spider mites. A theoretical model showed that, without repellency, the pesticide performance is positively correlated with target pest mobility. If the pesticide is repellent, the probability of exposure decreases, especially for a less mobile pest. CONCLUSION: With an experimental and theoretical modeling approach, it was demonstrated how the combination of behavioral avoidance and low spray coverage can markedly reduce pesticide performance. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry     

我国农药禁限用政策实施情况及建议

本文研究了农药禁限用政策历史沿革、颁布实施情况、运行成效以及所面临问题的评价,提出了加强农药管理的意见与建议。