Monthly model for genetic evaluation of laying hens 1. Fixed regression.

1. This paper addresses the possibility of using a monthly model for the genetic evaluation of laying hens, based on the definition of a test day model with fixed regression as used in dairy cattle, in which monthly records were treated as repeated measurements of the same trait. 2. Production records of 6450 hens, daughters of 180 sires and 1335 dams were analysed using an animal model with restricted maximum likelihood (REML). The traits considered were individual monthly egg production and cumulative egg production in 11 months. Four different models were fitted to various combinations of monthly and cumulative records. The covariates were derived from the regression of Ali and Schaeffer (1987). 3. Spearman rank correlations were computed to compare breeding values from different models. Two types of correlations were computed: between individual breeding values and between sire breeding values based on subsets of full-sib records. 4. The results indicated that a monthly model with nested covariates produced higher heritability and permanent environmental variance than the models with non-nested or without covariates. The estimates of heritability obtained from monthly model were lower than the estimates from the cumulative model. The monthly model resulted in higher correlations of sire breeding values between two subsets of full-sib records than those from cumulative models. 5. In conclusion, the monthly model with nested covariates appears to be better than the model with non-nested covariates or without covariate. Although the heritability estimates obtained from the monthly model were lower, the monthly model with nested covariates could be better than the cumulative model for genetic evaluation of laying hens in the 1st cycle of laying period when using either full or part records. The use of information from odd months of production could be of interest for the evaluation of full records.     

Genetic diversity and historic introgression in German Angler and Red Dual Purpose cattle and possibilities to reverse introgression

Recovering native uniqueness has major importance for breeds with historic introgression. The aim of the study was to estimate population genetic parameters for two local red cattle breeds from Northern Germany and to study possibilities to reverse introgression. Genealogical information consisted of 90,783 individuals for German Angler and 187,255 individuals for Red Dual-Purpose cattle breed, with additional information on sex, born, breed, status, and conventional breeding values. It is concluded that the native genetic contribution could be included as an additional trait in the total merit index in order to recover a part of the native genetic background. Native contributions should be estimated in the long term from marker data in order to account for Mendelian sampling. The maintenance of a sufficient genetic diversity of native alleles can be achieved by an advanced OCS with appropriate constraints.     

Histology of corpuscles of Stannius in Lake Van fish (Alburnus tarichi Güldenstädt, 1814) (Cyprinidae)

In the present study, the location, histology and number of corpuscles of Stannius (Sc), which are endocrine glands associated with the kidneys of teleost fish, were investigated for the first time in Lake Van fish (Alburnus tarichi), an anadromous and endemic inhabiting Turkey's Lake Van Basin. The Sc, which were ovoid or spheroid and white or cream in colour, were found to vary in number between three and five among the examined fish. The glands were located in the caudal part of the kidney, and either partially or completely embedded, and found to be present on both the ventral and dorsal surface of either side of the caudal part of the kidney. The Sc were surrounded by a connective tissue capsule that penetrated and divided the gland into incomplete lobules. Two types of cells were determined in the parenchyma of the gland. Type-I cells were predominant throughout the parenchyma and larger than the second (type-II). In the type-I cells, the cytoplasm was observed as weakly or moderately eosinophilic with haematoxylin and eosin staining and weakly or moderately acidophilic with Mallory's triple staining. In the type-I cells, the cytoplasm exhibited weak to moderate periodic acid-Schiff staining and slight or uniform staining with aldehyde fuchsin. The type-II cells were round, had a darkly stained spherical nucleus and were dispersed among the type-I cells. They displayed no cytoplasmic staining with the abovementioned stains.     

Replacing Wheat Flour with Debittered and Fermented Lupin: Effects on Bread’s Physical and Nutritional Features

Plant Foods for Human Nutrition - In this study the breadmaking potential of lupin flour from L. mutabilis after being debittered (DLF) and solid state fermented (FLF) was evaluated in lupin-wheat...     

Crop rotation sequencing to minimize yield losses of summer-irrigated lowland rice in Myanmar caused by the rice root-knot nematode Meloidogyne graminicola

Abstract

The effect of different rice-based crop rotation sequences on the population densities of Meloidogyne graminicola and on the yield of rice was evaluated in a microplot experiment under lowland rice field conditions. Ten treatments of cropping sequences were grown in four successive growing seasons: continuous growing of the susceptible rice cultivar Thihtatyin (rice-rice-rice-rice), four treatments of 1- season crop rotation sequences (rice-rice-chickpea-rice, rice-rice-black gram-rice, rice-rice-soybean-rice, rice-rice-cowpea-rice), and five treatments of 2-season crop rotation sequences (groundnut-rice-chickpea-rice, green gram-rice-black gram-rice, cowpea-rice-soybean-rice, sesame-rice-cowpea-rice, sunflower-rice-sesame-rice). Population densities of M. graminicola recovered from the rice plants and the nematode multiplication factors (Mf) in the soil in the continuous rice cropping sequence (rice-rice-rice-rice) was the highest among the ten cropping sequences. Lowest nematode Mf in the soil was observed in the 2-season crop rotation sequence sunflower-rice-sesame-rice and the highest was observed in the 1-season crop rotation sequence rice-rice-cowpea-rice among the nine crop rotation sequences. Highest rice yield was obtained in the 2-season crop rotation sequences green gram-rice-black gram-rice, sesame-rice-cowpea-rice and sunflower-rice-sesame-rice, which were about 2 times higher compared with the 1-season crop rotation sequences and about 3 times higher compared with the continuous rice cropping sequence.     

Relation between soil organic matter and yield levels of nonlegume crops in organic and conventional farming systems

The aim of this study was to evaluate the interaction between yield levels of nonleguminous crops and soil organic matter (SOM) under the specific conditions of organic and conventional farming, respectively, and to identify implications for SOM management in arable farming considering the farming system (organic vs. conventional). For that purpose, correlations between yield levels of nonlegume crops and actual SOM level (C_org, N_t, C_hwe, N_hwe) as well as SOM‐level development were examined including primary data from selected treatments of seven long‐term field experiments in Germany and Switzerland. Yield levels of nonlegume crops were positively correlated with SOM levels, but the correlation was significant only under conditions of organic farming, and not with conventional farming treatments. While absolute SOM levels had a positive impact on yield levels of nonlegumes, the yield levels of nonlegumes and SOM‐level development over time correlated negatively. Due to an increased demand of N from SOM mineralization, higher yield levels of nonlegumes obviously indicate an increased demand for OM supply to maintain SOM levels. Since this observation is highly significant for farming without mineral‐N fertilization but not for farming with such fertilization, we conclude that the demand of SOM‐level maintenance or enhancement and thus adequate SOM management is highly relevant for crop production in organic farming both from an agronomical and ecological point of view. Under conventional management, the agronomic relevance of SOM with regard to nutrient supply is much lower than under organic management. However, it has to be considered that we excluded other possible benefits of SOM in our survey that may be highly relevant for conventional farming as well.     

Using the soil gas radon as an indicator for ground contamination by non-aqueous phase-liquids

1 The Problem  One of the major problems facing risk assessment at polluted industrial sites and military bases is subsurface contamination by non-aqueous phase-liquids (NAPLs), since tracing the extent of a NAPL plume using conventional methods (drive point profiling) is usually associated with difficulties. In an effort to trace subsurface contamination as precisely as possible, monitoring points are placed in the area that might be affected by contaminants, and groundwater and soil samples are taken to the laboratory for analysis. However, the final number of monitoring points is hardly ever sufficient for distinctive contamination mapping, and this may ultimately result in an unsuitable remediation action being taken. 2 Objectives  To obtain a more detailed image of a subsurface NAPL plume and, hence, to facilitate remediation measures that are best suited for the site in question, a denser network of monitoring points is desirable. The aim of the investigation described in this paper was therefore to develop a new detection method for subsurface NAPL contamination, which is based on an easily accessibleindicator for NAPLs rather than on the analysis of soil and groundwater samples taken at the site. Based on the good solubility of radon in NAPLs, the idea was put forward that subsurface NAPL contamination should have an influence on the natural radon concentration of the soil gas. Provided this effect is significant, it would be possible to carry out a straightforward radon survey on an appropriate sampling grid covering the suspected site and thus enabling the NAPL contamination to be detected by the localization of anomalous low radon concentrations in the soil. The overall aim of the investigation was to assess the general suitability of the soil-gas radon concentration as an indirect tracer for NAPL contamination in the ground. 3 Methods  The partitioning coefficient K_NAPL/air is one of the most influential parameters governing the decrease of the radon concentration in the soil gas in the presence of a subsurface NAPL contamination. Since NAPL mixtures such as gasoline, diesel fuel and paraffin are among the most important NAPLs regarding remediation activities, laboratory experiments were performed to determine the radon-partitioning coefficient for these three NAPL mixtures. Field experiments were carried out as well. The aim of the field experiments was to test the use of the soil-gas radon concentration as a tracer for NAPL contamination on-site. For the field experiments, each site was covered with a suitable grid of soil gas sampling points. Finally, the lateral radon distribution pattern achieved on each of the sites was compared to the respective findings of the earlier research performed by conventional means. 4 Results and Discussion  The results of the laboratory experiments clearly show a very strong affinity of radon to the NAPL mixtures examined. The partitioning coefficients achieved correspond to those published for pure NAPLs (Clever 1979) and are thus in the expected range. The results of the field experiments showed that the minimum radon concentrations detected match the respective NAPL plumes traced previously. 5 Conclusions  Both the results of the lab experiments and the on-site findings demonstrate that the soil-gas radon concentration can be used as an indicator for subsurface NAPL contamination. The investigation showed that NAPL-contaminated soil volumes give rise to anomalous low soil-gas radon concentrations in the close vicinity of the contamination. The reason for this decrease in the soil-gas radon concentration is the good solubility of radon in NAPLs, which enables the NAPLs to accumulate and ‘trap’ part of the radon available in the soil pores. 6 Recommendations and Outlook  Further research is required into contamination with rather volatile NAPLs such as BTEX. Further research is also needed to examine whether it is possible to not only localize a NAPL plume, but also to obtain some quantitative information about the subsurface NAPL contamination. The authors also believe that additional investigations should be carried out to study the ability of the method to not just localize a NAPL contamination, but also to monitor on-site, clean-up measures.