Mitigation of N2O emissions from grassland by nitrification inhibitor and Actilith F2 applied with fertilizer and cattle slurry

Abstract. Nitrous oxide (N₂O) is involved in both ozone destruction and global warming. In agricultural soils it is produced by nitrification and denitrification mainly after fertilization. Nitrification inhibitors have been proposed as one of the management tools for the reduction of the potential hazards of fertilizer-derived N₂O. Addition of nitrification inhibitors to fertilizers maintains soil N in ammonium form, thereby gaseous N losses by nitrification and denitrification are less likely to occur and there is increased N utilization by the sward. We present a study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of the nitrification inhibitor dicyandiamide (DCD) and of the slurry additive Actilith F2 on N₂O emissions following application of calcium ammonium nitrate or cattle slurry to a mixed clover/ryegrass sward in the Basque Country. The results indicate that large differences in N₂O emission occur depending on fertilizer type and the presence or absence of a nitrification inhibitor. There is considerable scope for immediate reduction of emissions by applying DCD with calcium ammonium nitrate or cattle slurry. DCD, applied at 25 kg ha^–1, reduced the amount of N lost as N₂O by 60% and 42% when applied with cattle slurry and calcium ammonium nitrate, respectively. Actilith F2 did not reduce N₂O emissions and it produced a long lasting mineralization of previously immobilized added N.     

Cumulus Oophorus Expansion of Bovine Oocytes Cultured in vitro: A SEM and TEM Study

Bovine cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were aspirated from antral follicles (3–6 mm in diameter). COCs with a compact multilayered cumulus investment were cultured for 9, 13 and 24 hours, respectively, and processed for scanning or transmission electron microscopy after different periods of culture including a 0 hour control group. In all 0 hour control COCs initial formation of cumulus cell projections, blebs and microvilli were observed. The start of cumulus-oocyte disconnection in cattle was observed after 9 hours of in vitro culture. These connections were almost completely discrupted after 13 hours, when a continuous production of extracellular matrix was observed. The full expansion of corona radiata cells was not observed even after 24 hours. Some cumulus oophorus cells were bound together with junctions of the zonula adherens type after 24 hours when extracellular matrix was found only in deeper layers. The full expansion of corona radiata cells was not the prerequisite for disconnection of cumulus-oocyte complex. Inhalt: Kumulus oophorus Expansion von in vitro kultivierten Rinderoozyten: Eine SEM und TEM Untersuchung Kumulus-Oozyten-Komplexe (COC) von Rindern wurden aus antralen Follikeln aspiriert (Durchmesser 3–6 mm). COC's mit kompakten mehrschichtigen Kumulus wurden für 9, 13 und 24 Stunden kultiviert und für die Scanner- oder Transmissionselektronenmikroskopie vorbereitet. Verschiedene Kulturzeiten incl. einer 0-Stundengruppe als Kontrolle wurden untersucht. In allen Kontroll COC's wurden beginnende Formationen yon Kumuluszellprojektionen, Bläschen und Mikrovilli beobachtet. Nach 9-stündiger in vitro Kultur begann die Lösung zwischen Kumulus und Oozyte. Die Verbindungen waren nach 13 Stunden vollständig unterbrochen, wobei eine kontinuierliche Produktion extrazellulärer Matrix beobachtet wurde. Eine vollständige Expansion der Corona radiata Zellen wurde auch nicht nach 24 Stunden beobachtet. Nach 24 Stunden waren einige Cumulus Oophorus Zellen über Verbindungen des Zonula adherens Typs verknüpft, wobei extrazelluläre Matrix nur in den tieferen Zellschichten gefunden wurde. Eine vollständige Kumulusexpansion ist keine Voraussetzung für die Auflösung des Kumulus-Oozyten-Komplexes.     

散养成乳牛舍环境测定

以一栋散养成乳牛舍为对象，系统地测定了舍内外的气温、气湿、风速、辐射强度、黑体温度及屋顶热流量。结果表明：从６月１日—９月１０日，舍内旬均气温都在２３．４３℃以上，舍内１４：００气温旬均值都在２８℃以上，舍内旬均ＴＨＩ都超过７１．７１；屋顶热流量曲线的斜率很大、峰值出现于１４：００，并且与舍外黑体温度呈高度的正相关；舍内与舍外的黑体温度、辐射强度分别呈中等以上的正相关；冬季舍内寒冷，同时受舍外气流影响大。笔者认为，通过增加牛舍高度、先用高热阻屋面材料和冬季防风可望改进此类牛舍的环境。     

肉牛添加剂的研究与应用

用本课题组研制的肉牛添加剂育肥体重230kg、330kg、400kg和530kg的肉牛，可使日增重分别提高25．5％、7．3％、25．4％和16.7％，效果显著（P＜0．05），可使饲料报酬最多提高25．8％（P＜0.05）；投入产出比最大为1：8，用该添加剂育肥高档肉牛时屠宰率可达57.2％，眼肌面积43cm2、皮下脂肪覆盖面积为优级，大理石状评分为优级。     

利木赞牛改良互助本地黄牛的效果

为了研究利木赞牛对互助黄牛的改良效果,本试验测定了初生、6月龄和1岁利本F1代的体尺、体重,并与本地黄牛进行了比较。结果表明,利本F1代牛的各项被检指标均比本地黄牛有明显的提高(P<0.01)。     

工厂化猪场不同猪群死亡率与季节的关系初探

通过对哺乳仔猪群、保育群、育成群各月死亡率的统计分析发现,冬季低温对哺乳仔猪群、保育群死亡率的影响远远大于夏季高温的影响。冬季低温对保育群的死亡率影响最大,而对育成群几乎没有影响。夏季高温对不同猪群的死亡率有不同程度的影响力。不同猪群对温度反应的快慢、强度及持续期各不相同。     

Effect of Heat‐treatment on Accuracy of Infrared Spectroscopy and Digital and Optical Brix Refractometers for Measuring Immunoglobulin G Concentration in Bovine Colostrum

Background

Heat‐treatment of colostrum is a method developed to reduce calf exposure to pathogens. Infrared (IR) spectroscopy and Brix refractometers can be used for measuring colostral IgG concentration and assessing colostrum quality.

Objectives

To determine the impact of heat‐treatment on accuracy of IR spectroscopy and Brix refractometers for measuring colostral IgG concentration and assessing colostrum quality before and after heat‐treatment.

Animals

A total of 60 Holstein dairy cows on 8 commercial dairy farms.

Methods

A cross‐sectional study was designed to determine the effect of heat‐treatment at 60°C and 63°C each for 30 and 60 minutes duration on colostral IgG concentration measured by the reference radial immunodiffusion (RID) assay, IR spectroscopy, and digital and optical refractometers.

Results

Colostrum IgG concentration significantly decreased after heat‐treatment at 63°C for 30 or 60 minutes as measured by RID, but the IgG values remained unchanged when measured by IR spectroscopy and refractometers. The lowest correlation coefficient found between IR spectroscopy (r = 0.70) and RID results was in colostrum heat‐treated at 63°C for 60 minutes. For digital (r = 0.48) and optical (r = 0.50) refractometers, the lowest correlation coefficient was at 63°C for 30 minutes when compared to RID. The accuracy of the IR spectroscopy, digital and optical Brix refractometers was decreased from 91.7 to 80%, 81.7 to 45%, and 80 to 45%, respectively, when colostrum heat‐treated at 63°C for 60 minutes.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Radial immunodiffusion, IR spectroscopy, and Brix refractometers exhibit utility for measuring IgG concentration when colostrum heat‐treated at 60°C but does not detect decrease IgG concentrations when heat‐treated at 63°C.     

Noninferiority trial investigating the efficacy of a nonantibiotic intramammary therapy in the treatment of mild‐to‐moderate clinical mastitis in dairy cows with longer lasting udder diseases

A nonblinded, positively controlled, noninferiority trial was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of an alternative, nonantibiotic therapy with Masti Veyxym^® to reduce ineffective antibiotic usage in the treatment of nonsevere clinical mastitis (CM) in cows with longer lasting udder diseases. The solely intramammary treatment with Masti Veyxym^® (three applications, 12 hr apart) and the combined treatment with Masti Veyxym^® and antibiotics as usual on the farm according to label of the respective product were compared with the reference treatment of solely antibiotic therapy. The matched field study was conducted on eight free‐stall dairy farms located in Eastern Germany. Cases of mild‐to‐moderate CM in cows with longer lasting high somatic cell counts in preceding dairy herd improvement test days and with previous CM cases in current lactation were randomly allocated to one of the three treatment groups. A foremilk sample of the affected quarter was taken before treatment and again approximately 14 days and 21 days after the end of therapy for cyto‐bacteriological examination. Primary outcomes were clinical cure (CC) and no CM recurrence within 60 days after the end of treatment (no R60). Bacteriological cure (BC) and quarter somatic cell count (QSCC) cure were chosen as secondary outcomes although low probabilities of BC and QSCC cure for selected cows were expected. The study resulted in the following findings: the pathogens mostly cultured from pretreatment samples were Streptococcus uberis, followed by Staphylococcus aureus and coagulase‐negative staphylococci. There were no significant differences between the two test treatments in comparison with the reference treatment regarding all outcome variables. The sole therapy with Masti Veyxym^® resulted in a numerically lower likelihood of BC without significant differences to the reference treatment. The combined therapy group showed a numerically higher nonrecurrence rate than the two other treatment groups and noninferiority compared to the reference treatment was proven. Having regard to the selection criteria of cows in this study, the findings indicated that sole treatment with Masti Veyxym^® in nonsevere CM cases may constitute an alternative therapy to reduce antibiotics. However, noninferiority evaluations were mostly inconclusive. Further investigations with a larger sample size are required to confirm the results and to make a clear statement on noninferiority.