Interaction between the sequence of feeding of hay and concentrate,and boiling of barley on feed intake,the activity of hydrolytic enzymes and fermentation in the hindgut of Arabian mares

The interaction between the sequence of feeding of hay and concentrate and the hydrothermal processing of barley in alleviating concentrate effects on intake, and hindgut fermentation in horses was tested. Six Arabian mares (4–10 years of age, 410 ± 35 kg body weight) were used to evaluate the effects of feeding sequence (FS) and type of barley (TB) on intake, and faecal volatile fatty acids (VFA), activities of α‐amylase (AA: EC 3.2.1.1), carboxymethyl cellulase (CMCase: EC 3.2.1.4), microcrystalline cellulase (MCCase: EC 3.2.1.91) and general filter paper degrading activity (FPD). Mares were offered a ration of air‐dried alfalfa and concentrate (70:30 as‐fed) in four subsequent periods of 14 days including 8 days of adaptation and 6 days of sampling. In each period and each meal, mares received concentrate either 30 min after (HC) or 30 min before (CH) alfalfa hay. Barley was either milled or boiled in water. Rectal samples were grabbed directly from rectum once per period. Mares subjected to CH had higher dry matter intakes than mares under HC regime. The acetate:propionate ratio (A:P ratio) in rectal content was higher with CH than HC. The AA activity was higher under CH than under HC. Mares fed boiled barley had lower rectal concentrations of VFA and propionate and a higher A:P ratio than mares fed milled barley. Furthermore, the rectal content showed a higher MCCase activity but a lower AA activity when mares were fed boiled compared with milled barley. Interactions between FS and TB were observed with respect to CMCase activity, and concentrations of propionate and valerate. In conclusion, the present results suggest that both, feeding concentrate before hay and boiling the barley, might improve the hindgut environment in Arabian mares, and that the two measures were mostly additive and sometimes even synergistic.     

Effects of smoke,ash and heat shock on seed germination of seven species from Central Zagros rangelands in the semi-arid region of Iran

Fire products have been widely identified as germination cues for a number of species from both fire-prone and fire-free ecosystems. However, there is uncertainty about the effects of fire products on seed germination of semi-arid rangeland species. We examined the germination of seven dominant species from Central Zagros rangelands in the semi-arid region of Iran under various heat shock (60, 80 and 120 °C), aerosol smoke, ash and control treatments. Our findings showed that fire products could enhance, inhibit or not affect the seed germination of rangeland species in this area. The germination percentage of Astragalus adscendens increased following 60 °C heat treatment in comparison with the control. The germination of Astragalus verus, Bromus tectorum, B. tomentellus and Phlomis olivieri were increased significantly using smoke treatment (P<0.0001). The seed germination of B. tomentellus and B. tectorum was promoted by ash treatment, whereas the other species exhibited no response or were inhibited by fire products. In addition, smoke treatment shortened the overall germination time of B. tectorum. These findings suggest that fire products affect the germination of several species and can serve as potential tools for understanding the vegetation dynamics and restoration of disturbed semi-arid rangelands.     

The Applicability of Wildlife Value Orientations Scales to a Muslim Student Sample in Malaysia

This article addresses the applicability of quantitative wildlife value orientation scales in Muslim students in Malaysia. As Malaysian culture is deeply influenced by Islam ideology, this article presents a case for addressing the cross-cultural applicability of the scales. The current wildlife value orientation scales were reliable—all Cronbach’s alphas ≥ .65—and had predictive validity—8 to 14% of variance of acceptability of lethal control was explained. Yet, both reliability and predictive validity were of lesser magnitude than figures in previous Western studies. Especially the hunting beliefs scale did not reflect basic thinking about wildlife in our sample, and our data suggest two different hunting dimensions—consequences of hunting for wildlife and human opportunities for hunting. For future cross-cultural comparisons of wildlife value orientations, amendment of the scales to better reflect salient beliefs in non-Western nations is recommended.     

Optimising cutting method and timing for the control of Abutilon theophrasti seed production

Abutilon theophrasti (velvetleaf) is a widespread and problematic annual weed. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different cutting methods on the viability of A. theophrasti seeds. Three cutting methods were assessed: (1) Entire plant cut and dried (EPD)—plants were cut at soil level and dried with capsules attached on the greenhouse bench or soil surface for 4 weeks; (2) capsules detached and dried (CD)—capsules were removed from plants and dried for 4 weeks; and (3) capsules detached and tested while fresh (CF)—a control treatment. Before drying, the developmental stage (stage one, dark green; stage two, light green; stage three, yellowish-green; or stage four, black with the slightly open capsule) and age (days after flowering, DAF) of each capsule was recorded. Seed viability was measured immediately in the CF treatment and after the 4-week drying period in the EPD and CD treatments. No seeds in the EPD and CD treatments were viable when harvested at the first developmental stage (1–8 DAF) in either experiment, but 100% of seeds in the CF treatment in the field were viable when harvested at 8 DAF. In both greenhouse and field experiments, seeds attained full viability at earlier harvest ages in CF than in EPD or CD treatments, suggesting that seeds might become viable relatively early in development but lose viability if allowed to dry. These findings could be applied to optimise late-season mechanical control of A. theophrasti.     

Shortening the generation cycle in faba bean (Vicia faba) by application of cytokinin and cold stress to assist speed breeding

The aim of this study was to reduce the length of the breeding cycle for faba bean by accelerating seed setting. We examined the mode and time of exogenous 6-benzylaminopurine (BAP) (cytokinin) application, and cold treatments and their combinations in two faba bean genotypes. Acropetal node number of pod and seed set and pollen viability were recorded during the experiments. Application of BAP improved pollen germination. The application of 10^–5 M BAP 4 days after flowering increased seed set at the lower nodes. Cold treatment (8/4°C day/night for 2 days) after the onset of flowering induced the formation of more pods and faster pod set compared to the non-cold treatment. The time to first seed was significantly reduced, and pollen viability was increased in plants exposed to cold treatment. Increased pollen viability also showed a significant positive correlation with seed setting. The combinations of 10^–5 BAP and cold treatment together had similar and independent effects. These results will accelerate plant breeding in faba bean by providing additional tools for reducing generation time.     

Marketing mix for the promotion of biological control among small-scale paddy farmers

Understanding farmers’ decision process on the adoption of biological control (BC) may help in promoting adoption. This study explored for the first time the impact of marketing mix elements (product, price, promotion, and place) on bolstering BC for the management of rice stem borer (Chilo suppressalis Walker) among rice farmers in Fuman County in northern Iran. Farmers using BC were familiar with this method primarily via village councils and rural municipality organizations (Dehyaris) and then via distributors of trichocards. Almost half of the farmers (48.3%) had weak to moderate level of contact with distributors of trichocards. All four elements (4Ps) of marketing mix (product, place, price, and promotion) were effective on the marketing of BC agents. Place (distribution) mix, followed by price mix, were the most important factors in marketing trichocards in farmers’ views. According to the sensitivity to 4Ps of marketing mix, most farmers were grouped as semi-sensitive (45.6%) and sensitive (39.4%). Overall, the availability of biological agent products in the market, the affordable price of the products, and the strong relationship of rural people with village councils and rural municipality organizations (Dehyaris) are crucial factors for BC promotion in paddy fields of Fuman.     

Effects of emulsified versus saline administration of GnRHa on induction of ovulation in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss

The effects of saline-dissolved or Freund's incomplete adjuvant (FIA)-emulsified GnRHa treatment on the induction of ovulation in rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss, were examined. The FIA-emulsified GnRHa was first diluted in 0.25 ml physiological saline and then mixed with an equal volume of FIA. Fish were selected in the beginning of the spawning season and were allocated into four groups and were treated intraperitoneally with (a) 0.5 ml of emulsified GnRHa (GnRHa–FIA), (b) 0.5 ml saline-dissolved GnRHa in a single injection (GnRHa-1), (c) 0.5 ml saline-dissolved GnRHa in two injections spaced 1 d apart (GnRHa-2) and (d) 0.5 ml of saline (Control). The GnRHa dose in all hormone treatments was 25 µg kg^− 1. All fish in the FIA–GnRHa and GnRHa-2 groups ovulated within 10 and 11 d after treatment, respectively. In contrast, only 75% in the Control fish and 60% of the fish in the GnRHa-1 group ovulated within 36 d after treatment. None of the treatments caused any pre- or post-spawning mortality in the broodstock. Fertilization, eyeing and hatching percentages of the produced progeny were normal in all the treatment groups and did not differ significantly among them. In conclusion, FIA-emulsified GnRHa can be effective in advancing the onset of and synchronizing the ovulation of rainbow trout within a two-week period, thus shortening the egg collection period, without affecting broodstock survival and egg quality.