Effect of feeding intensity and milking system on nutritionally relevant milk components in dairy farming systems in the North East of England

There is increasing concern that the intensification of dairy production reduces the concentrations of nutritionally desirable compounds in milk. This study therefore compared important quality parameters (protein and fatty acid profiles; α-tocopherol and carotenoid concentrations) in milk from four dairy systems with contrasting production intensities (in terms of feeding regimens and milking systems). The concentrations of several nutritionally desirable compounds (β-lactoglobulin, omega-3 fatty acids, omega-3/omega-6 ratio, conjugated linoleic acid c9t11, and/or carotenoids) decreased with increasing feeding intensity (organic outdoor ≥ conventional outdoor ≥ conventional indoors). Milking system intensification (use of robotic milking parlors) had a more limited effect on milk composition, but increased mastitis incidence. Multivariate analyses indicated that differences in milk quality were mainly linked to contrasting feeding regimens and that milking system and breed choice also contributed to differences in milk composition between production systems.     

Internet sales of plants for planting – an increasing trend and threat?1

The sale of plants for planting on the Internet and by other direct marketing methods (e.g. newspaper offers) has increased dramatically in recent years. Some companies are specialist suppliers in this area and typically with this trade small quantities of plants are sent by mail to a very large number of amateur growers scattered throughout the UK. It is often difficult for the NPPO to keep track of this activity especially when the supplier is located outside its jurisdiction. Also if problems arise with plants sold in this way, taking effective official eradicatory action can be problematic. To demonstrate the issues and problems involved, two examples that occurred in the UK in 2008 are described.     

A classification and evaluation of Irish water beetle assemblages

1. Modern records of 165 species of wetland beetle (Haliplidae, Hygrobiidae, Noteridae, Dytiscidae, Gyrinidae, Georissidae, Hydrochidae, Helophoridae, Hydrophilidae, Hydraenidae, Scirtidae, Dryopidae, Elmidae, Chrysomelidae, Curculionidae) were assembled for analysis. 2. Two hundred and eighty nine modern lists of seven or more species of water beetle from sites in Ireland were subjected to multivariate analysis. 3. Ten assemblage types were identified using TWINSPAN. Habitats typical of these assemblages are: A. deep rivers; B. rivers with riffles; C. puddles; D. canals and lakes with rich vegetation; E. ponds and ditches; F. turloughs; G. natural, minerotrophic fens; H. base-flushed cutover bogs; I. peat bogs; J. montane flushes. The distribution of these types is discussed. 4. Ordination of site data by DECORANA indicated that the important environmental variables dictating water beetle assemblage type in Ireland were: flow; water permanence; exposure; type of substratum. Acidity could not be isolated as a determinant, except within the analysis of assemblage types conducted using TWINSPAN. DECORANA isolated one brackish site as an outlier but salinity was not otherwise a major factor, probably because few brackish sites were included in the analysis. 5. The number of modern records for each species was used to provide a provisional set of species-quality scores. A simple rationale was devised to weight these scores in favour of relict species and against elusive species, species with short-lived adults and species primarily associated with man-made habitats. 6. The average species-quality score per site and the number of species recorded were used to rank sites within each TWINSPAN end-group. The most diverse sites with the highest quality were some turloughs, rich fens and base-flushed peat cutting complexes. Some montane lakes and flushes with relatively few species had high species-quality scores.     

Crop sequence,crop protection and fertility management effects on weed cover in an organic/conventional farm management trial

A survey of 128 plots, in 2008, of a trial where the effects of crop protection can be separated from those of fertility management, generated weed cover data within six crops (winter wheat, winter barley, spring barley, potatoes, cabbages and a grass/clover ley). The effects of the 2008 crop types, of the two preceding crops and of organic and conventional crop protection and fertility management, were assessed using mixed-effects models and constrained ordination. Cover data for 22 weed species and for monocotyledon, dicotyledon, annual, perennial and total weed cover were used. Cover of 15 weed species, and of the five weed groups, was significantly affected by 2008 crops, with cover highest in spring beans and cabbage. Nine and four weed species 2008 cover were significantly related to crops grown in 2007 and 2006 respectively, as were dicotyledon, annual and total weed cover, but not monocotyledon or perennial cover. Cover of 15 species, and the five groups, was significantly higher in plots with organic crop protection, but only eight species and annuals were significantly affected by fertility management. Crop:crop protection produced the most significant interactions with most cover in organically managed plots. Five species, perennials and total weed cover produced significant three-factor models. The greatest weed cover was in organic crop protected but conventionally fertilised spring barley and the least in totally conventional winter barley. Other factors such as crop density and mechanical weeding also affected 2008 weed cover. The ordination indicated that most of the 22 species were strongly associated with crops from all three years. The sequence of crops in the rotation had a profound effect on weed cover. Where three spring-sown, difficult to weed, crops were grown in sequence (spring beans, potatoes and vegetables, spring barley) weed cover increased. However, cover was limited in grass/clover and some cereal plots with different preceding crops. Models predicting weed cover may need to take into account crop sequences within crop rotations, as well as the more usual management inputs.     

Altered spontaneous and histamine-induced in vitro suppressor-cell function in dogs with atopic dermatitis.

Spontaneous, histamine-induced and Concanavalin A (Con A)-induced suppression of Con A mitogenesis of autologous responder cells was studied in normal dogs and in dogs with atopic dermatitis. Histamine-induced suppression was significantly decreased in the atopic dogs, as was the Con A-induced suppression, at supraoptimal concentration of Con A, to a lesser extent. Total numbers of histamine type 1 or type 2 receptors were not different for cells from atopic or normal dogs. The spontaneous suppression was significantly greater for the atopic dogs and this was not accounted for by the effect of non-specific dermatitis, increased macrophage-induced suppression or increased induction by mitogenic factors in the culture medium. Some possible mechanisms for these results are discussed, and the similarities to suppressor cell function in humans with atopic disease are noted.