Percentage Of Culls Research Articles

Development and Preliminary Evaluation of a New Apple Harvest Assist and In-Field Sorting Machine

HighlightsA new, improved apple harvest assist and in-field sorting (HAIS) machine was developed.The HAIS machine has several major innovations for enhanced harvesting and infield sorting efficiencies.Laboratory tests showed superior performance in fruit grading and sorting and bin filling and handling.Field tests showed only 0.4% of harvested fruit downgraded due to harvest-induced bruising.Abstract. Apples are still manually harvested in the U.S. and other countries, which contributes to high labor and production costs. Currently, no presorting is performed at harvest or in the field, which could incur significant postharvest costs or even economic loss to growers, when a high percentage of culls are present in harvested apples. Hence, technologies that integrate harvest assist and in-field sorting (HAIS) functionalities would be greatly beneficial to the apple industry by enhancing both harvest efficiency and postharvest cost savings. A new apple HAIS prototype machine was recently developed, which includes adjustable picking platforms with fruit receiving conveyors covering the entire height of trees, a computer vision-based grading and sorting system that is capable of sorting apples for color and size at a speed of up to 12 apples s-1, an automatic bin filling system for discharging graded fruit to bins, and a computer-controlled hydraulic system for automatic handling of empty and full bins. Inhouse developed operating software is fully integrated with the HAIS machine for automatic control of fruit grading and sorting and bin filling and handling. Laboratory tests showed superior performance of the machine in fruit grading and sorting and bin filling and handling. Field tests and demonstration (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=21SB9FJjf2M) conducted in a commercial apple orchard in 2019 harvest season, showed that only 0.4% of harvested fruit were downgraded due to bruising, which exceeded the industry’s requirement for harvest-induced apple bruising. With further improvements, the HAIS machine can be commercially used for harvesting and infield presorting of apples. Keywords: Apple, Bin filling, Bruise evaluation, Bin handling, Computer vision, Harvest, In-field sorting.

Причины выбытия коров в зависимости от происхождения

Abstract. Purpose. Study of the reasons for culling cows from the herd depending on belonging to Holstein lines. Methods. Materials of breeding and zootechnical accounting of the Selex database and breeding cards of cows were used for research. Results. The farm breeds animals that belong to the following genealogical lines: Vis Back Idial 1013485, Reflection Sovering 198998, Montwick Chieftain 95679, Pabst Governor 882933 and Annas Adema 30587. The cull was 92 heads or 14.3 %, including lines: 21, 33, 25, 6, 7 heads or 10,0; 18.9; 12.3; 15.8; 41.2 % accordingly. Analysis of the reasons for culling by groups of cows of different lines showed that among the culled cows of the Vis Back Idial line 1013485 there were more than in other groups with pathology of the musculoskeletal system – 37.5 %; the Reflection Sovering line 198998 – accidents and injuries – 34.6 %; in the group of cows of the Montwick Chieftain line 95679, a significant number of cases of breast pathology – 27.2 % and in general, the main reasons for culling on the farm are injuries and surgical diseases – 33.7 %; pathology of the breast – 21.7 % and pathology of the reproductive system and barrenness – on 16.3 %. Despite the fact that the farm has created quite good conditions for ensuring the normal life of cows, including a balanced feeding diet, which is indicated by a low percentage of culls associated with metabolic pathology, cases of poisoning were detected – 8.7 %. Existing violations of the content are confirmed by a significant number of injuries, accidents, and limb diseases. The scientific novelty of the work lies in the fact that the influence of origin (belonging to the line) on the level of culling of breeding stock for one reason or another has been proved, which allows through breeding work to have a positive impact on increasing the duration of productive use.

The milking frequency of primiparous cows in their early stage of lactation and its impact on milking performance

An automatic milking system allows cows to present their full production capability by not limiting them to a specific time when the milking occurs or a fix number of milkings per day. The beginning of the first lactation is a key point in terms of subsequent milk production. The aim of the present study was to indicate the relationship between the milking frequency of primiparous cows during the first month of lactation and their subsequent milk performance. Material of the study consisted of 25 Polish herds of Holstein–Friesian dairy cattle. All cows were milked with the use of an automatic milking system. Animals were divided into five groups, depending on the milking frequency in the first month after calving (MFF). The collected data were statistically processed using the multifactorial ANOVA. The best milk and milking parameters characterised primiparous cows, for which the average number of milkings per day was at the level of 3–3.5 or above, this group did not have a preferred time for their milking. This group of cows milked more frequently during the first month of lactation (MFF5) and had the highest milk yield (MY) and milking duration. The highest culling percentage (57.77%) was noted within the group of primiparous cows with the lowest milking frequency during the first month of lactation (MFF1). MFF5 animals maintained better milk and milking parameters in all months of lactation than did those in the other groups. Older animals, that calved after the 28th month of life, and those that calved during warmer seasons, showed the tendency to have a lower milking frequency and poorer milk and milking parameters. The findings obtained in the present study are interesting in terms of their potential use, because they show that frequent milking during the first month after calving corresponds to a better overall MY during that lactation. Hopefully, by promoting frequent milkings at the beginning of lactation, farmer may increase the overall lactation MY.

Structural characterization of piglet producing farms and their sow removal patterns in Finland

BackgroundThe main objectives of this observational, cross-sectional study were to characterize piglet producing farms in Finland and to investigate how farm profiles are associated with sow culling and mortality.The study was conducted on 43 farms during 2014. A questionnaire survey was administered in-person and supplemented with observations in the housing facilities. Annual removal figures and average monthly sow inventories were retrieved from a centralized animal data recording system (National Swine Registry) administered by the Finnish Food Authority. Multiple correspondence analysis and hierarchical clustering were used to explore the complex underlying data-driven patterns.ResultsSow removal varied markedly between farms with an overall average culling percentage of 38.0% (95% CI 34.1–42.0) and a relatively high average mortality percentage 9.7% (95% CI 7.9–11.5). We identified three farm clusters, which differed both in their typologies and removal patterns. Cluster 1 included farms with features indicative of a semi-intensive or intensive kind of farming, such as larger herd and room sizes, higher stocking density and more sows per caretaker. Most of the cluster 1 farms exceeded the investigated cut-off levels for culling and mortality. Cluster 2 farms were estimated to have the best animal welfare among the sample farms based on a combination of environmental indicators (e.g. amount of bedding, rooting and nesting materials, space allowance, pen cleanliness) and the lowest level of sow mortality as an animal-based indicator. Cluster 3 farms followed a strategy of a rather non-intensified system based on the predominance of smaller herd size, lower stocking density and less sows per caretaker, combined breeding and gestation rooms and rare use of farrowing induction. This cluster showed the lowest culling levels within the sample.ConclusionsThis study captures the diversity among Finnish sow farms and provides a baseline assessment of their practices and facilities. Our results support the notion that farm typologies are associated with sow culling and mortality. In summary, the control of suboptimal sow removal cannot be based on single improvements only, because of other limitations within the individual farm resources.

Maximizing Use of an Extension Beef Cattle Data Set: Part 2—Reproductive Rates

Previously, we described CHAPS20Y, a historical data set, and trends in CHAPS20Y calving distributions. In this article, we describe reproductive rates, including total females exposed to bull(s), pregnancy, pregnancy loss, calving, calf death loss, weaning, culling, and replacement percentages. Yearly mean exposed females increased from 1994 through 2013, consistent with a greater replacement percentage versus culling percentage. Yearly mean reproductive percentages varied over time. Factors such as weather, body condition, temperament, nutrition, and health likely contributed to this variation. CHAPS20Y is a tool Extension professionals can use to understand beef reproductive rates and help producers set and achieve their herd management goals.

Risk factors of postpartum uterine infection and its subsequent effect on fertility of crossbred dairy cows in Bangladesh

Postpartum uterine infection is extremely important in dairy cattle. It is both common and detrimental to reproductive performance. The present study was conducted to investigate the factors responsible for postpartum uterine infection and its subsequent effect on fertility of crossbred dairy cows in Chatmohar Upazila, Pabna District. A total of 317 cows were selected and registered and then follow up them in postpartum period. Reproductive histories and data of the studied cows were assessed by direct interviewing and from record book of the owners and nearby government veterinary hospital. Totally 33 cows were found uterine infected (10.41%) in postpartum period. The case of pyometra was substantially higher in present study in contrast to others. The incidence of uterine infection puerperal metritis, pyometra and endometritis were 1.89%, 5.99% and 2.52% respectively. Dairy cattle calving season and parity reflected greatly on the incidence of uterine infection. Potentially significant (p<0.05) and higher incidence of uterine infection were associated with poor management system where minimum complications were found with good management practice (3.20%) compared to poor management farms. The dairy cows suffering from endometritis significantly showed prolonged days to first estrus interval, days open and number of services per conception and calving interval values (68.5±0.05 days; 115.4±0.4 days , 4.75±0.50, and 398±6 respectively) than normal healthy cows. Further researches in the near future must be directed for prevention of uterine infection, as most of effective treatments don’t prevent the negative impacts of such disease upon dairy, reproduction and culling percentage within dairy herd.International Journal of Natural Sciences (2015), 5(2) 107-111

EFFECT OF PLANT POPULATION AND DISTRIBUTION IN TWO STRAWBERRY CULTIVARS

Plant population and distribution are factors which can affect yield and quality in a strawberry crop. Considering this information a trial was established in January 2003 at the experimental station of INIA, Chillan, Chile (36°32'S; 71°55'W) to evaluate two plant populations (44444 and 66666 plants/ha) distributed on 25 cm raised beds with two and four rows of plants respectively, using two strawberry cultivars, 'Camarosa' and 'Aromas'. The experimental design was a randomized complete block, arranged as split plot with 4 replications, being the bed width the main plot and the strawberry cultivar the subplot. There was no interaction between the studied factors in any of the evaluated parameters during the two harvest seasons. Both cumulated total and marketable yield were higher (P≤0.05) with the biggest plant population (66666 plants/ha) reaching an average of 179.9 t/ha and 122.9 t/ha, respectively. 'Aromas' produced a total and marketable yield significantly higher than 'Camarosa'. No effect of plant population was observed on the fruit size and on the percentage of rejected fruits and its causes. 'Aromas' had a higher percentage of big fruits (> 32 mm in diameter), and a smaller percentage of small fruits (< 22 mm in diameter), showing no differences with 'Camarosa' in the percentage of medium size fruits (22-32 mm in diameter). 'Aromas' presented a higher percentage of culls, having a big proportion of catface fruits.

Effects of porcine circovirus type 2 and mycoplasma hyopneumoniae vaccination strategy, birth weight, and gender on postweaning performance of growing-finishing pigs reared in a commercial environment (2009)

A total of 1,995 pigs were used to evaluate the effects of two porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2) and Mycoplasma hyopneumoniae (Mhyo) vaccination strategies and birth weight on pig performance and carcass characteristics. The first vaccination strategy (BI) was a single full dose of CircoFLEX-MycoFLEX (Boehringer Ingelheim, St. Joseph, MO) at weaning. The second strategy (Intervet) was a full dose of Circumvent and MYCOSILENCER (Intervet/Schering-Plough Animal Health, Millsboro, DE) at weaning and again 22 d later. At a commercial sow farm, all pigs born alive for 22 consecutive days were identified individually at birth with a numbered ear tag. The dam, gender, and birth weight were recorded and used to randomly allot pigs at weaning (d 0) to the PCV2/Mhyo vaccination treatments. The pigs were weaned into 4 consecutive nursery rooms of approximately 500 pigs each on 6 occasions during a 19-d period. Pigs from each vaccination treatment were comingled in pens within rooms throughout the study. Pigs were moved to a finishing barn on d 74. Pigs were individually weighed on d 0, 22, 44, 74, and 156 to measure growth rate. Carcass data were obtained from a subsample of 420 pigs harvested on a single day (d 167). For data analysis, individual birth weight was used to assign pigs to 7 birth weight categories, each containing a similar number of observations. Therefore, data were analyzed as a 2 × 2 × 7 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design with main effects of vaccine strategy, gender, and weight category. As birth weight category increased, ADG increased (P < 0.01) during each weight period and overall. Percentage of culls and light weight pigs at market also were reduced (P < 0.01) as weight category increased. Overall, ADG, final BW, HCW, and backfat depth of barrows were increased (P < 0.0001) compared with gilts, whereas the percentage of culls and pigs < 215 lb and fat-free lean were reduced (P < 0.0001) compared with gilts.

Potassium Application and Leaf Sufficiency Level for Fresh-market Tomatoes Grown on a Midwestern United States Fine-textured Soil

Tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum) response to potassium (K) fertilization on a well-drained, central Iowa loam soil testing low in exchangeable K was evaluated over a 3-year period. Each year the experimental design was a factorial, split-plot randomized complete block with K rate as the whole unit (0 to 332 lb/acre). The subunit was cultivar, either `Mountain Spring' (determinate growth habit) or `Jet Star' (indeterminate growth habit). Fruit harvest began the first week of August and continued weekly for 5 to 8 weeks. For all years there was a significant K rate and cultivar effect for all parameters, but no interaction except for marketable fruit size and unmarketable fruit produced. Increasing the K rate to 103 lb/acre increased fruit size of both cultivars to a maximum of 8.9 oz, but year accounted for greater fruit size difference than the choice of cultivar. Maximum marketable yield for both cultivars occurred at 220 lb/acre K with `Jet Star' producing 13% more fruit than `Mountain Spring', 359 vs. 319 cwt/acre, respectively. Cullage was high, mostly as a result of blotchy ripening disorders, with `Jet Star' consistently producing more culls than `Mountain Spring'. Increasing K rate did not reduce the percentage of culls, which remained constant at about 29% of total yield. Whole-leaf K and leaf petiole sap K levels linearly increased with additional K rate for the two sample periods at flowering and mid-harvest. The whole-leaf K sufficiency level for both cultivars at the flowering stage of growth was determined to be 3.15% and dropped to 1.30% K by mid-harvest. Critical petiole leaf sap K values (using a dilution of 1:1 sap to water) could not be determined at flowering, but at mid-harvest the critical value was about 2200 to 2800 ppm K.

Valores econômicos para habilidade de permanência e probabilidade de prenhez aos 14 meses em bovinos de corte

Estimaram-se os valores econômicos para as características reprodutivas de probabilidade de prenhez aos 14 meses (PP14) e habilidade de permanência (HP). Foram simulados dados de uma propriedade pecuária de corte, especializada na fase de cria para aplicação de modelagem bioeconômica. A PP14 foi avaliada considerando taxas percentuais crescentes de prenhez de novilhas aos 14 meses de idade, e a HP foi avaliada a partir da diminuição da taxa de descarte de vacas. O valor econômico da PP14 foi estimado em R$695,97 por unidade percentual de prenhez de novilhas aos 14 meses, avaliada para o sistema produtivo, enquanto o valor econômico da HP variou em função do custo de compra da novilha de reposição. Os valores, avaliados por unidade percentual de diminuição na taxa de descarte de vacas, foram de R$-2.140,00, R$-140,00 e R$2.860,00 para o custo de compra da novilha de R$500,00, R$700,00 e R$1.000,00, respectivamente. Os valores econômicos negativos para HP indicaram que o valor de descarte da vaca superou o custo de compra da novilha. Quanto maior for o valor investido na reposição de novilhas maior será a importância econômica do HP.

Effect of pathogen-specific clinical mastitis on herd life in two New York State dairy herds

The objective of this study was to estimate the effects of clinical mastitis (CM) (both with and without specific pathogen identification) occurring in different stages of lactation on length of herd life in two New York State dairy farms. The 2697 cows in the study were followed for one lactation (the first-occurring one on or after 1 October 1999), until it ended because of a new lactation, culling, or end of study (31 March 2001 in one farm; 31 July 2001 in the other). A Cox proportional hazards model with time-dependent covariates, in SAS ®, was used to measure, within a lactation, the effect of the first occurrence of CM (without specific pathogen identification) occurring 1–7, 8–66, 67–100, 101–225, or ≥226 days in milk (DIM), on how long cows remained in the herd. For the first occurrence of CM due to Streptococcus spp., Staphylococcus aureus, Staphylococcus spp., Escherichia coli, Klebsiella spp., and ‘no pathogen isolated’, the intervals were before and after the median DIM of first occurrence of each pathogen. There were too few cases due to Arcanobacterium pyogenes, and ‘other pathogens grouped together’ to split into intervals, so they were modeled as binary variables, i.e. as they occurred. CM was modeled using time-dependent covariates, to account for its differing effects throughout lactation on culling. Other variables controlled for were herd, parity, calving season, and other significant diseases. In the dataset, the lactational incidence risk of the first occurrence of CM was 18.2%; 20.0% of the cows did not survive the lactation that was studied. The overall annual culling percentage for both herds during the study period (including all cows, whether eligible for the study or not) was 35.6%. For cows with CM without pathogen identification, their highest hazard ratio (HR) of culling occurred from 67 to 100 DIM. All of the pathogens modeled markedly reduced herd life. On average over the entire lactation, cows with Staphylococcus spp. CM had the highest HRs for culling, although there were no significant differences among pathogens (at p = 0.0018 (reflecting 28 pairwise comparisons)). For early-occurring (before median DIM of first occurrence) S. aureus CM, the daily rate of change of the HR of culling increased over time. The HRs for culling were particularly high for late-occurring (after median DIM of first occurrence) E. coli and Klebsiella spp. CM early in the interval, but the daily rate of change of the hazard of culling for these two pathogens decreased sharply over time. Treating CM as time-dependent therefore allowed us to measure in greater detail, its varying effects (of when it occurred) on herd life.

(218) Optimum Soil K Application and Sufficient Leaf K concentration for Fresh Market Tomatoes Grown on a Midwest Fine Textured Soil

Tomato transplants were set mid-May 1998, 1999, and 2001, with black plastic mulch and a single line source drip irrigation system. The soil type was a well-drained, central Iowa loam (prairie developed on glacial till) with 2.4% organic matter, 13.1 CEC, and a pH of 6.8. The soil test level of 89 kg·ha-1 of K was considered low for field corn and would require 121 kg·ha-1 of K for optimum yield. The experimental design was a factorial, split-plot, randomized complete block with four replications. The whole unit was K rates (0 to 372 kg·ha-1 of K as KCl). The subunit was cultivar, either `Mtn. Spring' (a determinate) or `Jet Star' (an indeterminate). Fruit harvest began the first week of August and continued weekly for 5 to 8 weeks. As expected, `Jet Star' produced from 12% to 35% more total fruit than `Mtn. Spring'. The K response was best described by a quadratic function. Total maximum yield occurred from 325 to 372 kg·ha-1 of K, depending on the production year. Cullage was high, mostly as a result of ripening disorders, and `Jet Star' consistently produced more culls than `Mtn. Spring', 10% to 11%. Increasing soil K rate did not reduce the percentage of culls. For 2001, increasing K rate to 300 kg·ha-1 of K enhanced `Mtn. Spring' marketable fruit size 18%, from 258 g to 305 g each, but not `Jet Star', which remained at 258 g. There was a difference (P&lt; 0.01) between the varieties for leaf K; `Mtn. Spring' consistently had higher K concentrations, from 0.2% to 0.4%. The leaf K sufficiency range at the rapid flowering and vegetative growth stage was determined to be 3.10% to 3.25% with the corresponding petiole leaf sap K (using a dilution of 1 sap: 1 water) of 5000 mg·kg-1, for the same time period. The correlation between the Cardy meter petiole sap K values and whole leaf K was r= 0.83.

Yield and Nutrient Uptake of Peppers (Capsicum annuum) Grown with Dairy Manure Compost and Fertigated Nitrogen

The use of compost as an organic source of nutrients and soil improvement may help to increase the sustainability of intensively managed vegetables. Bell pepper (Capsicum annuum L.) transplants were planted into silver-colored polyethylene mulched beds in a sandy loam soil amended with 0 or 22.4 Mg·ha–1 dairy manure compost. Preplant P was added to all beds at 78 kg·ha–1. During the season, N (as NH4NO3) was added about every 10 days. Total N rates for the season were: 0, 32, 65, or 96 kg·ha–1. Percent of N in pepper leaf tissue increased from a low of 2.7% without N to3.8% at the high N rate. Leaf P concentrations were higher in 0 N plots than in other rates. Compost resulted in higher leaf concentrations of Ca. There was an interaction of compost and N rates for percent of culls. Compost increased percentage of culls with 0 or 32 kg·ha–1 N, but decreased or did not affect cull percentage at 65, or 96 kg·ha–1 N. Compost did not affect other yield parameters measured. Marketable yields increased from 11 Mg·ha–1 with 0 N to 18 Mg·ha–1 with high N, although the regression was not significant, due to extreme variability within the field.

Effects of Eggshell Quality and Broiler Breeder Age on Hatchability

The effects of eggshell quality and breeder age were assessed on egg weight loss during incubation, fertility, hatchability, and embryonic mortality. The trials involved hatching eggs from three commercial broiler breeder flocks of the same strain but of different ages. The eggs were divided according to specific gravity into two groups, thin-shelled (≤ 1.080) and thick-shelled (> 1.080). Thin-shelled eggs displayed a greater increase in weight with breeder age and greater weight loss during incubation. Thick-shelled eggs showed an increased hatchability as a result of greater fertility and lower intermediate and late embryonic mortalities. Percentage of culls, pips, and rots were not related to shell thickness. Eggs from the younger flock had a higher weight loss during incubation irrespective of shell thickness. Hatchability and viability (hatchability of fertile eggs) were lower in the younger flock due to increased early and late embryonic mortalities. Fertility, culls, and pips were not affected by breeder age. The data may indicate the extent to which recent innovations in breeder management and in incubation technology have changed patterns of fertility and embryonic mortality.

Feasibility of Improving Cucumber Yield without Chemical Control in Soils Susceptible to Nematode Buildup

Studies were conducted for 2 years in root-knot-nematode-infested soils to determine growth and yield response of `Dasher II' cucumbers (Cucumis sativus L.) to double-cropping with nematode-resistant tomatoes (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.), using nematode-free cucumber transplants and preplant treatment with ethoprop nematicide. Cucumbers grown following the nematode-resistant `Celebrity' tomato during the same season produced significantly more plant dry weight, more fruit per plant, and higher premium and total yields than did cucumbers double-cropped with the nematode-susceptible `Heatwave' tomato in both years. The cucumber produced longer stems in 1992 and fewer culls in 1993 following resistant tomatoes. Cucumber plants raised in nematode-free soilless mix for 3 weeks before transplanting produced significantly longer stems and more plant dry weight than did direct-seeded cucumbers in 1992, but not in 1993; however, they produced significantly higher premium yield in both years, and higher total yield, more fruit per plant, and fewer culls in 1993. Preplant treatment with ethoprop significantly increased cucumber stem length, dry weight, premium and total yield, and number of fruit per plant in 1992 but not in 1993. Ethoprop treatment had no effect on the percentage of culls in either year. Chemical name used: O-ethyl S,S-dipropyl phosphorodithioate (ethoprop).

Path Analysis of Tomato Yield Components in Relation to Competition with Black and Eastern Black Nightshade

Path analysis is a statistical method for determining the magnitude and direction of multiple effects on a complex process. We used path analysis to assess 1) the impact of black nightshade(Solarium nigrum L.) or eastern black nightshade(Solarium ptycanthum Dun.) competition on the yield components of `Heinz 6004' processing tomato (Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.) and 2) the relationship between tomato yield components and total and marketable yield. Either black or eastern black nightshade was interplanted with tomatoes at population densities from 0 to 4.8/m2. Path analysis revealed that increasing weed population density led directly to fewer green and total fruit per plant, two components of marketable yield. However, the percentage of culls per plant and fruit weight were not affected by nightshade population density. Using correlation coefficients alone would have lead to the erroneous conclusion that the percentage of culls did not affect marketable yield; our path analysis demonstrated that decreasing the percentage of culls through breeding or cultural practices will strongly affect marketable yield. The total number of fruit was the most important yield component in determining total and marketable yields per plant. Breeding and management practices that maximize fruit set, increase maturity at harvest, and decrease the percentage of culls would be expected to increase marketable yield.

DOUBLE-CROPPING CUCUMBER AND TOMATOES TO REDUCE THE COST OF STAKING CUCUMBER

Cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) double-cropped with tomato (Lycoperscum esculentum Mill.) and staked with the double-cropping system needed less than half the man-hours to stake than the standard system. Tomato rods and tomato plants were not removed which could result in further cost reduction. Glyphosate [N-(phosphonomethly) glycine] was used to kill all the vegetation at a cost of $45-$50/acre. Double-cropped cucumber produced comparable yields of high quality fruits to cucumber staked by the standard system. The standard system produced more No. 2 fruits resulting in more marketable yield. The 2 systems produced an equal percentage of culls or rots. In-row spacing of 22.5 or 30 cm appeared to be the best choice when cucumber was staked by the double-cropping system. The side of the row where cucumber was planted did not affect the yield significantly. However, planting cucumber on both sides gave the highest yield. It appears that there was enough residual fertilizer left over after tomatoes to produce the cucumber crop.

Convergent-Divergent Selection for Cucumber Fruit Yield

Abstract A heterogeneous cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) population (mostly gynoecious) was evaluated at five locations for single-plant fruit yield at the mature-fruit stage in 1981. Seeds from the highest-yielding plants were then harvested, combined, and partitioned into five lots. Seeds were combined such that each location received only the superior genotypes from the other four locations. This procedure was continued for an additional four cycles using two types of selection: single-plant selection for fruit number at the mature-fruit stage (1981–82) and half-sib family selection at the once-over harvest stage (1983–84). In 1985, yield improvement from selection was measured by compositing the seeds of the selected plants or families from each of the four cycles and five locations and planting them at the five locations. No progress was made for total, marketable, or early yield. Percentage of culls was reduced an average of 0.7% per cycle. Genotype by environment interaction among the diverse locations may have prevented progress for yield.

Use of Dairy Herd Improvement Testing Programs by Dairy Farmers1,2

A questionnaire designed to characterize how farmers use their dairy records was sent to 1178 Ohio dairy farmers who had been on test from 1976 through December 1983. Results from 660 (56%) usable returns were compared with herd performance measures and management information from the monthly herd reports. Monthly progress reports were the most important reason for dairy farmers’ participation in a testing program. Records were particularly important for use in sales and advertising to owners of purebred cattle and for those with higher herd averages. Farmers who used records for feeding decisions had higher herd averages, services per conception, and percent days in milk and lower age of cow at last calving and days at first service. Farmers who used records as a guide to culling had lower average age at last calving, days at first service, and calving interval and higher services per cow and culling percentage. Herds in which somatic cell count information was used had lower ages at first and last calving, higher services per conception, and higher percentage of cows with low somatic cell counts. In general, farmers making greater use of the information had higher production per cow and above average herd performance measures.

Estimates of Heritabilities and Genetic Variances of Three Yield and Five Quality Traits in Three Fresh-market Cucumber Populations

Abstract Variance components for 3 fruit yield and 5 fruit quality traits in 3 cucumber (Cucumis sativus L.) populations were estimated using a North Carolina Design I analysis. Three populations were studied (elite, medium base, and wide base), having been formed by intercrossing lines to produce 3 levels of genetic diversity. Families were evaluated in 1.5 × 1.5 m plots using once-over harvest at the stage of 15% oversized fruits. Heritabilities based on full-sib family selection for fruit yield ranged from 0.03 to 0.25, and for the fruit quality traits 0.00 to 0.30. The wide base population would be best for long-term selection for the traits studied, because it had the highest predicted means for all traits except percentage of culls, fruit shape, and overall performance after 15 cycles of full-sib family selection.