Fascioloides magna: Occurrence in Saskatchewan and Distribution in Canada

Infection with Fascioloides magna, the large American liver fluke, was diagnosed in two moose (Alces alces) and six wapiti (Cervus elaphus) from central Saskatchewan. This is believed to be the first record of the parasite in the province. Fecal samples collected from wild wapiti at five sites in the commercial forest zone in Saskatchewan contained eggs believed to be those of F. magna. Trematode eggs were not found in feces from five captive herds of wapiti in the province, nor in samples from wild wapiti in Moose Mountain Provincial Park. Operculate eggs were found in feces of wild wapiti from Cypress Hills, but these were believed to be from trematodes other than F. magna. The distribution and significance of F. magna in Canada, based partially on responses to a mail questionnaire, are reviewed.     

Behaviour of roaster chickens towards an automatic weighing perch

1. Automatic weighing equipment was tested on a flock of 752 roaster chickens reared on litter to 10 weeks of age.

2. Mean body weights obtained automatically were lower than those obtained manually, mainly because of birds perching on the automatic weighing perch with part of their body in contact with the floor.

3. Birds observed on the weighing perch on one day of the week were 3–5 times more likely to use the perch again on the following 2 d than expected on the basis of random perch use by flock members. These birds were also more likely to be seen in the area immediately surrounding the perch than in similar areas elsewhere in the pen.     

Variation of canine and feline frontal-plane QRS axes with lead choice and augmentation ratio

The intraindividual variability in mean electric axis referable to choice of ECG leads and augmentation ratio was investigated by means of a digital computer program. Although, in theory, the choice of leads for determining the QRS axis should make no difference, the maximum intraindividual variation in axis angle was about 50 degrees for canine and feline subjects. The angle conputed for the lead combinations I and III and I and aVF will usually fall within 5 to 10 degrees of the mean of all lead combinations, but larger variations are seen at time. The application of an "augmentation ratio" for the augmented unipolar leads was most helpful when it was individually computed. Further methods of lead-vector improvement are discussed.     

INTERACTIONS BETWEEN FIRST AND SECOND APPLICATIONS OF FERTILIZER NITROGEN AND IMPLICATIONS IN EFFICIENCY OF NITROGEN USE

DM yield and N uptake data are presented from primary growth and two successive regrowths of perennial ryegrass treated with combinations of three N treatments for the primary growth viz. 0, 50 and 100 kg N/ha (PN) and four N treatments applied for the second growths, viz. 0, 33, 66 and 100 kg N/ha (SN). Primary growth gave a response of 24·2 kg DM/kg applied N to PN50 with only a further l±0 kg DM/kg applied N from the second PN increment. A significant interaction between PN and SN treatments was shown in second growth. The residual DM response to PN was highest at SN0 and reduced as the level of SN was raised. Substantially greater residual responses to PN treatments were shown in the third growth. Third growth DM responses to SN treatments were high. High apparent recovery of fertilizer N reached 111% of primary N where SN66 followed PN50. High available soil N is partly responsible for both high apparent recovery of N and high DM response. The latter appears to be associated with inclusion of growths given no fertilizer N so that the full residual effects of fertilizer N and ‘priming’ of available soil N can be realised.     

STUDIES OF RESPONSE TO FERTILIZER NITROGEN

The effects of 59, 118 or 177 kg N/ha were measured on 7 occasions from 8 to 57 days after application to a perennial ryegrass sward in terms of changes in composition. The first increase Dt of N significantly raised percentages of CP, non-protein N, K, P, Ca, Na and Mg and significantly depressed percentages of DM, OM and OM digestihility. The second increment of N resulted in a further rise in the percentages of CP, true protein, non-protein N, K, P, Ca, Na and Mg; the percentages of DM and OM were further depressed but OM digestihility was not significantly depressed. Percentages of P and Na showed increased responses for the more mature herbage; while percentage non-protein N showed a more marked response in younger herbage. As herbage matured percentages of OM and Na rose, the latter only from days 16 to 45. All other attributes showed falling percentages to levels which could be inadequate for a 500 kg dairy cow yielding 15 kg milk. CP percentage reached this critical level (1.4% N) at days 37, 45 or 56 given 59, 118 or 177 kg N/ha; P percentage became critically low (< 0.36%) at days 27, 35 or 38, respectively; Mg percentage fell to the critical level (0.12%) at days 23, 35 and 46. Na percentage showed the reverse trend, being deficient (< 0.13%) in the earliest samples and becoming satisfactory from days 23 or 27 at 118 and 177 kg N/ha but it remained inadequate at 59 kg N/ba.     

STUDIES OF RESPONSE TO FERTILIZER NITROGEN

Fifteen out of 36 possible combinations of 3 cutting dates for hay, 3 rates of N application and 4 intervals between N application and cutting date were compared to study the effects of pre-harvest application of N on the N, P, K, Mg and Ca contents of the aftermath and the effectiveness of utilization of these elements. According to the method of calculation given by ARC (1), the control haycrop harvested on 16 June was deficient in N, Ca, P and Mg, and the aftermath which was given no further N after harvest was of low bulk, but adequate in mineral content. Earlier harvesting improved the quality of the hay, and increased the bulk and reduced the mineral content of the aftermaths. Applying 125.6 kg N/ha after harvest resulted in a satisfactory increase in bulk, plus an improved mineral content in the aftermath. Applying N before harvest resulted in increased uptake of N, K, Ca, P and Mg in the hay and in the increased percentage of N, K, and Ca in the DM of the hay. Very early application of pre-harvest N increased the percentage of Mg. The general effect of pre-harvest N on the aftermath was to reduce yield and uptake of N, K, Ca, P and Mg. Doubling the pre-harvest N raised the mineral uptake. Very early pre-harvest application resulted in low mineral uptake in the aftermath. The percentage of N, K and P in the aftermath was reduced by pre-harvest N applied at both levels and on both dates. Deferring the application of fertilizer N until 4 days after harvesting the hay crop produced the highest mineral contents in the aftermath, without reducing its bulk. Mineral uptake in the regrowths was linearly related to N uptake at 1.43 kg K, 0.34 kg Ca, 0.157 kg P, 0.006 kg Mg/kg N uptake.     

Mental health in the veterinary profession: an individual or organisational focus?

The veterinary profession is experiencing a shortage of veterinarians, with attrition recognised as a substantial contributor. Research has also indicated increased levels of mental ill health and alarming suicide rates in practitioners. The primary aim of this study was to investigate the impact of eleven modifiable workplace factors on mental health outcomes, job appreciation and intention to leave the veterinary profession. The second aim was to ascertain whether workplace factors influence mental health outcomes after controlling for individual resilience. An online survey was completed by 73 practising Australian veterinarians. Unfavourable workplace factors correlated with adverse outcomes including depression, stress, reduced job appreciation and increased likelihood of leaving both the role and the profession. Workplace factors remained linked with the outcomes of job appreciation, depression and stress whilst controlling for practitioner resilience. Job appreciation was a significant predictor of intention to leave both the current role and the profession. Via multiple linear regression, two categories were identified as associated with improved psychological outcomes and job appreciation. These were workplace factors that represent breaks from workload and control or decision latitude in the workplace. Whilst resilience represents a key area for intervention, workplace factors potentially represent an easier-to-modify area for intervention.     

“Laterite profiles” and “lateritic ironstones” on the hawkesbury sandstone,Australia

Laterite profiles in the Sydney area are generally regarded as fossil soils, formed during the Miocene, on a peneplain, under a tropical climate. It is also held that subsequent uplift and dissection destroyed much of this surface together with the laterite profiles. These views are poorly established yet widely accepted. This study demonstrates that there is a very close mineralogic and stratigraphic relationship between the “laterite profiles” and the Triassic Hawkesbury Sandstone, such that the profiles are best regarded as iron rich sandstone units undergoing contemporary near-surface alteration including the mobilization of iron minerals as crystalline solids.     

Historical Trace Metal Accumulation in the Sediments of an Urbanized Region of the Lake Champlain Watershed, Burlington, Vermont

This study documents the history ofpollution inputs in the Burlington region of LakeChamplain, Vermont using measurements of anthropogenicmetals (Cu, Zn, Cr, Pb, Cd, and Ag) in four age-datedsediment cores. Sediments record a history ofcontamination in a region and can be used to assessthe changing threat to biota over time and to evaluatethe effectiveness of discharge regulations onanthropogenic inputs.Grain size, magnetic susceptibility, radiometricdating and pollen stratigraphy were combined withtrace metal data to provide an assessment of thehistory of contamination over the last 350 yr inthe Burlington region of Lake Champlain. Magneticsusceptibility was initially used to identify land-usehistory for each site because it is a proxy indicatorof soil erosion. Historical trends in metal inputs inthe Burlington region from the seventeenth through thetwentieth centuries are reflected in downcorevariations in metal concentrations and accumulationrates. Metal concentrations increase above backgroundvalues in the early to mid nineteenth century. Themetal input rate to the sediments increases around1920 and maximum concentrations and accumulation ratesare observed in the late 1960s. Decreases inconcentration and accumulation rate between 1970 andthe present are observed for most metals. Theobserved trends are primarily a function of variationsin anthropogenic inputs and not variations in sedimentgrain size. Grain size data were used to removetexture variations from the metal profiles and resultsshow trends in the anthropogenic metal signals remain. Radiometric dating and pollen stratigraphy providewell-constrained dates for the sediments therebyallowing the metal profiles to be interpreted in termsof land-use history.