Soil quality assessments in integrated crop–livestock–forest systems: A review

Integrated crop–livestock–forest is a promising strategy to improve soil quality. It comprises four different integrated farming systems: crop–livestock, crop–forest, forest–livestock and crop–livestock–forest. This work systematically reviewed studies about integrated crop–livestock–forest systems and soil quality. A total of 92 papers were retrieved from the Web of Science—Clarivate Analytics platform, and the following information was analysed: publication year, institution, region of the studied site, type of integrated system, soil type, tillage system, maximum soil depth and the soil quality indicators assessed. Most studies were published in the second half of the 2010s. Brazil is a prominent focus of research about soil quality and integrated crop–livestock–forest systems, with significant contribution from its central and southern regions. The Embrapa was the main publishing institution, present in over one‐third of the studies. Crop–livestock was the most common integrated system, Ferralsols was the most common soil group, and most of the studied soils were clayey. No tillage was the main tillage system. Most studies focused on the topsoil, assessing physical and/or chemical soil quality indicators. More emphasis on biological indicators of soil quality is required, as well as assessments integrating biological, physical and chemical indicators of soil quality. Future works should compare different integrated systems, including assessments deeper in the soil profile, especially in systems with the forest component, and also in sandy and silty soils. Soil quality indicators that have been rarely used should be further tested. Novel indicators should be added to better understand the promotion of soil quality by integrated crop–livestock–forest systems.     

Biochemical evaluation of mitochondrial respiratory chain enzymes in canine skeletal muscle

OBJECTIVE: To perform respiratory chain enzymatic activity assays on canine skeletal muscle biopsy specimens and establish reference range values of skeletal muscle enzyme activities for dogs. SAMPLE POPULATION: Biopsy specimens from the vastus lateralis muscle were obtained from 24 dogs (8 sexually intact males and 14 sexually intact females) ranging from 15 months to 6 years of age. PROCEDURE: Mean values of citrate synthase, cytochrome-c oxidase, succinate dehydrogenase, succinate dehydrogenase-cytochrome-c reductase, nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase, and NADH dehydrogenase-cytochrome-c reductase activities were established by use of 6 standard spectrophotometric assays for respiratory chain enzyme analysis. RESULTS: Compared with published data for skeletal muscle enzyme activities in humans, skeletal muscle enzyme activities in dogs were 2- to 4-fold higher. Additionally, citrate synthase activity, a marker for mitochondrial volume, was positively correlated with age in dogs, suggesting that mitochondrial volume increases with age, although no apparent change in respiratory chain enzymatic activity with an increase in age was found. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Reference range values for skeletal muscle enzyme activities of dogs are needed to accurately interpret results of respiratory chain enzymatic activity assays. During investigation of metabolic myopathies, if skeletal muscle biopsy specimens are evaluated for respiratory chain enzyme kinetics, they should be performed and evaluated in concert with skeletal muscle biopsy specimens from clinically normal animals of the same species.     

Effects of gonadotropin treatment on ovarian follicle growth and granulosal cell aromatase activity in prepuberal gilts

This experiment was conducted to compare the ability of USDA porcine FSH-B-1 (pFSH), USDA porcine LH-B-1 (pLH), and pregnant mare's serum gonadotropin (PMSG) to grow large follicles and induce granulosal cell aromatase activity in prepuberal gilts. Twenty-four gilts (164 d old) received one of four treatments by i.m. injection: 1) saline once, n = 8; 2) pFSH (8 micrograms/kg BW, nine times at 8-h intervals), n = 5; 3) pLH (2 micrograms/kg BW, nine times at 8-h intervals), n = 6; or 4) PMSG (15 IU/kg BW, once), n = 5. At slaughter, 72 h after the first injection, the ovaries to saline-treated gilts contained an average of 104 surface antral follicles 1 to 3 mm in diameter. compared to treatment with saline, pFSH increased (P less than .05) the number of follicles 46%, whereas pLH or PMSG decreased (P less than .05) the number by 70 and 84%, respectively. Compared with saline, treatment with PMSG or pLH induced growth of large follicles (7 to 9 mm) (10.8 and 4.8 follicles/gilt, respectively), increased plasma estrogen, increased granulosal cell aromatase activity, and decreased plasma FSH by 51 and 69%; treatment with pFSH had no significant effect on these traits. Results indicate that injected pFSH did not cause growth of large follicles or induce granulosal cell aromatase activity in prepuberal gilts. In contrast, LH initiated growth and increased granulosal cell aromatase activity in a small number of follicles and accelerated atresia among the remaining follicles.     

In-Laboratory Diffraction-Enhanced X-Ray Imaging of an Equine Hoof

We describe and demonstrate the first application of a laboratory-based diffraction-enhanced X-ray imaging instrument for noninvasive equine imaging. A formalin-preserved disarticulated forelimb from a near-term aborted miniature horse fetus was imaged with diffraction-enhanced X-ray imaging. The resultant calculated images—absorption, extinction, refraction, and scattering—are presented, and soft-tissues such as the dorsal digital extensor tendon, articular cartilage, as well as various joint, tendon sheath, and bursa recesses are observed in simultaneous registration with the adjacent dense bone tissue. Radiation dose calculations were performed and a calculated surface dose of 0.6 mGy for the soft muscular tissue was determined for the imaging experiment.     

Safety and efficacy of clavulanate-potentiated amoxycillin in pigeons (Columba livia)

Pigeons treated orally with 125 mg clavulanate-potentiated amoxycillin for seven days showed no adverse reactions. The drug had a marked depressive effect on the faecal flora but this had returned to normal 10 days after cessation of treatment. When administered to pigeons with an experimental Staphylococcus aureus infection of the feet no clinical response was apparent and there was no evidence of a diminution in the inflammatory process.