Evaluation and mapping of soil erosion susceptibility: an example from Kenya

Abstract. The erosion susceptibility of the Erosion Research Farm at Kabete Campus was mapped using a qualitative parametric method. A grid soil survey of the 4 ha farm was combined with a map of slope gradients, slope segments being delineated by breaks in slope. Rainfall erosivity and soil erodibility were also measured. Areas with the greatest erosion susceptibility according to this method were those occupying convex slope positions and slopes of more than 30%. Field observations and soil loss measurements generally supported the erosion susceptibility rating map produced by this method. The soil and erosion susceptibility maps were useful for planning erosion control measures and for selecting suitable sites for runoff plot experiments.     

农村产业结构的评价与分析

根据农村产业结构调整的目标和评价指标，对河南省农村产业结构进行了评价和分析。结果表明，农村产业结构经过１０ａ的调整，发生了质的变化，但是，农村劳力转移速度和农民收入增长速度远滞后于农村产业结构调整的速度。作者针对存在问题，提出了进一步调整的建议。     

Resistance of Capsicum species to tobacco,tomato and pepper strains of tobacco mosaic virus

A number ofCapsicum accessions including nine species were tested for resistance to TMV based on hypersensitivity. The tobacco strain MA and the tomato strain SPS, which were both isolated from tomato, and two pathogenically distinct pepper strains P 11 and P 8, were used. Of the 73Capsicum accessions tested 58 were resistant to MA and SPS, 31 were resistant to P 11 and five were resistant to P 8.Samenvatting Om verschillen in pathogeniteit tussen twee in Nederland voorkomende paprikastammen van het TMV nader vast te stellen, werd een aantalCapsicum-herkomsten, waaronder negen soorten, op resistentie getoetst. Hierbij werden de representatieve paprika-isolaten P 11 en P 8 vergeleken met de uit tomaat afkomstige isolaten MA en SPS als vertegenwoordigers van respectievelijk de tabaks- en tomatestam van het TMV. Bij het beoordelen van de symptomen duidden lokale, necrotische vlekken en afvallen van geïnoculeerde bladeren op resistentie, systemische necrosen of mozaïeksymptomen op vatbaarheid. In deze symptomen kwamen tussen de gebruikte stammen verschillen in virulentie tot uitdrukking. Er werden echter vooral verschillen in agressiviteit waargenomen met betrekking tot zowel afzonderlijke, voor resistentie uitsplitsende,Capsicum-herkomsten als het totale aantal getoetste herkomsten. Van de ruim 73 herkomsten waren er 58 resistent tegen MA en SPS, 31 daarvan tegen P 11, maar slechts vijf daarvan tegen P 8. Deze resistentie tegen P 8 werd gevonden inC. chinense.     

猪肉品质的评价指标及其影响因素

本文对猪肉品质的评价指标及其影响因素进行探讨。     

农牧交错区枯草期绵羊对补饲物采食行为研究

东北农牧交错区与牧区畜牧业生产不同,其中一个重要的不同点就是农牧交错区具有多种农副产品,这些农副产品在枯草期成为家畜丰富的干物质来源。而这些农副产品由于所含蛋白、纤维、口感等存在很大差异,因而家畜对其有不同的采食行为。对10种东北农牧交错区枯草期最主要的补饲物进行家畜采食行为的试验,为家畜的日常补饲及管理提供参考资料。结果表明:绿豆秸秆、葵盘、葵叶、羊草、玉米叶为补饲物的首选。     

Comparison of heat tolerance of feedlot heifers of different breeds

Heat stress in cattle causes decreases in feed intake and feed efficiency; in extreme cases, it can cause death. These losses amount to millions of dollars each year. A study was designed to determine severity of heat stress among four breeds of cattle. Throughout two summers, 256 feedlot heifers of four different breeds were observed. Respiration rates, panting scores, and surface temperatures were taken twice each day on 10 animals/breed for several weeks during the summers of 2002 and 2003. Twenty-four-hour behavior measurements were recorded for four heat-stress and four thermoneutral days. Results showed during the afternoon, Angus cattle (black) had the highest respiration rates, panting scores, and surface temperatures, followed by the MARC III (dark red), Gelbvieh (tan), and Charolais (white). Behavior data showed that heat stress increased drinking and standing behavior, and decreased eating, lying, and agonistic behaviors, and that dark-hided cattle adjusted their behavior more than light-hided cattle. Overall, it was found that breed of cattle with dark-hides were more affected by temperature changes and at peak temperatures than breeds of cattle with light-hides.     

Heat stress risk factors of feedlot heifers

Heat stress in cattle results in millions of dollars in lost revenue each year due to production losses, and in extreme cases, death. Death losses are more likely to result from animals vulnerable to heat stress. A study was conducted to determine risk factors for heat stress in feedlot heifers. Over two consecutive summers, a total of 256 feedlot heifers (32/ breed/ year) of four breeds were observed. As a measure of stress, respiration rates and panting scores were taken twice daily (morning and afternoon) on a random sample of 10 heifers/ breed. Weights, condition scores, and temperament scores were taken on 28-day intervals during the experiment. Health history from birth to slaughter was available for every animal used in this study. It was found that at temperatures above 25 °C, dark-hided animals were 25% more stressed than light-colored; a history of respiratory pneumonia increased stress level by 10.5%; each level of fatness increased stress level by approximately 10%; and excitable animals had a 3.2% higher stress level than calm animals. Not only did the stress level increase with these risk factors, but average daily gain was reduced. The Charolais cattle gained significantly more than all other breeds of cattle tested. Calm cattle gained 5% more than excitable cattle. Finally, cattle treated for pneumonia gained approximately 8% slower than non-treated cattle. The results of this study have not only revealed heat stress risk factors of breed (color), condition score (fatness), temperament, and health history (treated or not treated for pneumonia), but have also shown the effectiveness of using respiration rate as an indicator of heat stress.     

Effects of chilled drinking water on the performance of lactating sows and their litters during high ambient temperatures under farm conditions

Heat stress has detrimental effects on lactating sows and their litters, including decreased feed intake and milk production in sows and decreased weight gain in their offspring. It also increases respiration rate, rectal temperature, and weaning to estrus interval in sows. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of chilled water (CW) on the performance of lactating sows and their litters exposed to high ambient temperatures for 21 days. Ninety multiparous sows (Yorkshire × Landrace; parity range: 2 to 5) and their litters (Yorkshire × Landrace × Duroc) were divided into 3 blocks (30 each). Sows and their litters within each block were randomly assigned to one of the three treatment groups (n = 10 each). Each group was provided with drinking water at 10, 15, or 22 °C (control) under farm conditions where ambient temperature above 25 °C was consistent during the experimental period. Sows on CW (both 10 and 15 °C) consumed more feed and water than did control (P < 0.01) and higher estimated milk production compared with control (P < 0.01), but had lower rectal temperature and respiration rate compared with control (P < 0.01). Mean weaning weight (P < 0.01) and average daily gain (P < 0.01) of litters in CW groups were higher than those in control group. There were no differences in the measured variables, with the exception of the respiration rates, between the two CW treatment groups. These results suggest that CW may improve the performance of sows and their litters exposed to high ambient temperatures and the 15 °C water, from an energy viewpoint, may be more effective.     

Utility of on- and off-farm weather records for studies in genetics of heat tolerance

Utility of weather information from on-farm and weather stations was evaluated for the application in studies on the genetics of heat stress. Daily milk yield of 31 primiparous Holstein cows was collected at Tifton, GA, from April 28 to July 19, 1993. Weather information was recorded on-farm and was available from weather stations in Georgia. Analyses used daily average of temperature–humidity index (THI). Effects of threshold of heat stress and the rate of decline in milk after the threshold were estimated. With on-farm weather data, threshold was at THI = 22 and rate of decline was − 1.12 kg of milk per unit of THI measured 2 days before milking. At the Tifton weather station, 3 km away from the farm, the threshold was THI = 20 and the rate was the same. With data from Macon, Columbus, Atlanta, and Athens stations, the threshold was at 20, 21, 20, and 20, respectively, and the rate of decline with a 2 day lag was − 0.88, − 1.02, − 0.90, and − 0.97 kg of milk per unit of THI. Subsequent analysis included 2260 test day records from the same farm from 1993 to 2003 and weather data from Tifton station. The highest rate of decline on milk yield of − 0.22 kg per unit of THI occurred at the threshold of 20 and no lag. For data restricted to 1999–2003, the threshold increased to 22 and the rate to − 0.46 kg per THI unit. Public stations provide satisfactory information for national genetic evaluation for heat stress. Critical parts in such an evaluation are modeling of test days and accounting for changes among farms and weather stations over time.     

Effect of floor cooling on performance of lactating sows during summer

Forty Landrace × Large White lactating sows were used to evaluate the effects of cooling of the floor when maintained under high temperature conditions during summer on their productive and reproductive performance. The sows were allocated in a completely randomized design with two treatments with 20 replicates according to parity number and body weight, with each animal being considered an experimental unit. The treatments consisted of cooling of the floor under the sow with water circulation at about 17 °C and no cooling. The resulting temperatures of the floor were 27.6 and 35.8 °C for the cooled and the control treatments, respectively. The sows from both treatments were exposed to average maximum and minimum environmental temperatures of 26.9 and 20.8 °C, respectively. Sows maintained on a cooled floor had a higher feed intake (6.47 vs. 5.61 kg/day; P < 0.01). Despite this higher intake, sows maintained on a cooled floor had higher body weight and body protein losses during the lactation period (P < 0.01) in connection with a higher milk yield and subsequent growth of the litter (2280 vs. 1798 g/day; P < 0.01). There was an effect of treatment on rectal temperature, surface temperatures and respiratory rate (P < 0.01) with lower values in sows submitted to floor cooling. It is concluded that floor cooling under the lactating sow improves its productive and reproductive performance, as well as the performance of its litter.