Presence Of Cattle Research Articles

A scoping review of the testing of bulk tank milk to detect nonbacterial pathogens or herd exposure to nonbacterial pathogens in dairy cattle

In this scoping review, we characterized the literature reporting on the testing of bulk milk samples to detect microorganisms other than bacteria that can cause diseases in dairy cattle, including viruses, helminths, algae, and protozoa. A search strategy was completed by screening databases, conference proceedings, animal health agency websites, disease surveillance program websites, and handbooks of cattle-related diagnostic tests for potentially relevant articles. Two reviewers independently screened articles in English, Portuguese, or Spanish; original studies reporting on the testing of farm-level, unprocessed bulk milk samples for presence of pathogens or specific antibodies against agents other than bacteria that can cause diseases in cows were retained. From all studies, we used spreadsheets to extract relevant information, including pathogen screened, test used, and country of origin of bulk milk samples. Additionally, for studies reporting sufficient data to estimate test characteristics, we extracted detailed information about herd eligibility, testing protocol, and herd-level infection definition. A total of 8,829 records were identified, from which 1,592 were retained and assessed for eligibility, and 306 were included. Bovine viral diarrhea virus, Fasciola hepatica, Ostertagia ostertagi, and bovine herpesvirus 1 were the most frequently screened agents, reported from 107, 45, 45, and 33 studies, respectively. Sensitivity of bulk milk ELISA to detect herds with animals infected by bovine herpesvirus 1 ranged from 2 to 100%, and was affected mostly by antigen selection, cut-off adopted, herd vaccination status, and seroprevalence of lactating cows. Bulk milk ELISA had very high specificity to detect herds free of bovine leukemia virus, and varying sensitivity to detect herds with infected animals, which depended on the within-herd seroprevalence of lactating cattle. As for bovine viral diarrhea virus, in general, the sensitivity of bulk milk ELISA was moderate to high (>80%) when infection status was defined based on presence of persistently infected cattle or a high proportion of seropositive lactating cattle. Nevertheless, bulk milk ELISA was not able to distinguish infected and noninfected herds based on presence of seropositive unvaccinated weanlings. The PCR or quantitative PCR protocols employed had very low sensitivities (<40%) and very high specificities (>95%) to classify bovine viral diarrhea virus infection status of dairy herds. Sensitivity and specificity of bulk milk ELISA to classify herds with regards to presence of F. hepatica- or O. ostertagi-parasitized cattle were generally high and driven mostly by the definition of herd infection status. Conversely, bulk milk ELISA demonstrated varying characteristics to detect herds with or without Dictyocaulus viviparus-parasitized cattle, depending primarily on the antigen selected and presence of cattle with clinical signs of lungworm infection.

Serological Prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis in Wild Boars (Sus scrofa) Hunted in a Highly Anthropized Area in Italy.

Due to the increasing expansion into urban and rural areas, wild boars represent a potential source of infection with zoonotic and animal-specific parasites for both humans and animals. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the serological prevalence to Toxoplasma gondii, Neospora caninum, and Sarcoptes scabiei var. suis in blood samples from wild boars (Sus scrofa) hunted in an anthropized area in Italy. Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) tests were used to detect antibodies anti-T. gondii and anti-S. scabiei and an immunofluorescence antibody test (IFAT) for antibodies anti-N. caninum. 81 out of 128 wild boars (P = 63.3%) resulted positive for at least one of the three parasites. 68 of them were seropositive to T. gondii (P = 53.1%) and 14 to N. caninum (P = 10.9%). 9 wild boars resulted seropositive to S. scabiei var. suis (P = 7.0%). Sampling season was the only significant risk factor related to S. scabiei var. suis seroprevalence (OR = 7.8). The high occurrence of T. gondii supports the role of this species as a source of infection for other animals and humans. Furthermore, the serological prevalence of N. caninum and S. scabiei var. suis in wild boars from the study area characterized by the presence of numerous dairy cattle and pig farms is relevant to demonstrate its suitability for the circulation of these parasites both in domestic and wild species.

Biocompacting livestock accelerate drowning of tidal salt marshes with sea level rise

A global concern for coastal ecosystems is the predicted rise in sea-level for which salt marshes must keep pace by increasing in surface elevation sufficiently. Variables that control this elevation change need to be identified to predict the adaptability of marshes to future sea-level rise. Many European marshes are grazed by livestock and these heavy grazers can biocompact the soil, a process often underestimated in studies assessing the long-term survival of marshes. We measured elevation changes for thirteen years in the field in grazed and non-grazed marshes. With a statistical model the most important factors controlling rates of surface elevation change were identified and provided the input for a mathematical model to study future elevation change of grazed and non-grazed salt marshes up to 2100 under three Sea Level Rise and sediment supply scenarios. We found that trampling by grazing cattle significantly reduced the annual rates of elevation gain from 11.9 mm yr-1 in the non-grazed marsh to 3.6 mm yr-1 in the grazed marsh. Next to biocompaction by livestock, precipitation deficit and extreme drought resulted in extra compaction. Our model results showed that cattle presence had a negative impact on the future adaptability of salt marshes to grow vertically for rising sea levels. Biocompaction reduced the total elevation change by 42% if the current linear SLR does not accelerate. For an accelerating and high SLR to 109 cm +NAP in 2100, biocompaction reduced elevation changes by 12% and the grazed marsh can no longer outcompete the rise in sea level from around 2050 onwards, compared to the non-grazed marsh. The grazed marsh will slowly drown but this will not lead to a significant change in vegetation composition yet. For an extreme SLR to 195 cm +NAP in 2100 the elevation changes in both the grazed and non-grazed marshes cannot keep pace with the rise in sea level and the marsh vegetation is expected to show regression to plants typical for a low marsh. A reduction in sediment supply will aggravate the effects of SLR and may result in highly increasing inundation frequencies and subsequent disappearance of the marsh vegetation.

Influence of Cattle Grazing on the Spatiotemporal Activity of Wildlife

Cattle (Bos taurus) grazing on public lands is widespread across the globe. Public rangelands are managed for multiple purposes, including preservation of wildlife populations; therefore, to manage public rangelands, it is imperative to understand how cattle grazing affects wildlife. Despite this, there is mixed evidence for the impacts of cattle on wildlife and few studies investigate both spatial and temporal aspects of wildlife activity. To improve understanding of how cattle grazing impacts spatiotemporal wildlife activity, we analyzed camera data from three California Department of Fish and Wildlife properties in California, the United States from 2019 to 2021. We recorded 2 863 detections of cattle across all properties and the most abundant wildlife were coyotes (Canis latrans, 572 detections) and mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus; 1 415 detections). We used generalized linear mixed models and daily activity estimates to quantify cattle, coyote, and mule deer spatial and temporal activity and compared activity during grazing and nongrazing periods (properties were grazed 3−6 mo per year) and between sites with higher and lower cattle use. Mule deer spatial activity changed seasonally and at one property decreased during grazing seasons, but there were no overall significant effects of cattle detections on mule deer spatial activity. However, deer were more nocturnal at sites with higher cattle use, indicating that they may have been partitioning areas temporally with cattle. This shift in activity also increased deer overlap with more nocturnal species, like coyotes. Coyotes increased use of sites with higher activity of their prey and increased use of times with higher cattle activity. Our study suggests that low to moderate cattle grazing does not result in significant spatial displacement of common large mammals; however, shifts in temporal activity patterns of wildlife due to cattle presence may impact predator-prey interactions and wildlife energy expenditure and needs further monitoring.

SHIFT OF THE HUMAN LEPTOSPIROSIS RISK FACTORS IN SOUTH ANDAMAN ISLAND, INDIA

Introduction: Leptospirosis is a zoonosis, endemic in south Andaman with 12.9% prevalence rate for rural population. Objective: identify the changes in environmental and behavioral risk factors associated with leptospirosis, which will help in the prevention and control strategies design. Cross-sectional study design with Methods: a universal sampling of laboratory-positive cases of 385 and 360 controls. Multilogistic regression analysis with 21 signicant variabl Results: es revealed, that leptospirosis positivity is signicantly associated with the presence of cats (OR 3.774, P &lt; 0.05, CI 316, 6.151), rodents (OR 2.041, P &lt; 0.05, CI 1.270, 3.282) and cattle's (OR 6.350 P &lt; 0.05, CI 3.789, 10.640) and animal handling, bathing in the pond and working in the eld and open defecation (OR 4.128, P &lt; 0.05, CI 2.270, 7.508). Our results emphasize the importance of creating awareness about leptospi Conclusion: rosis, many identied risk factors can be easily controlled by proper sanitation, proper drainage system and easy access to personal protective equipment

Activity patterns of the marsh deer: Effects of proxies of human movement, cattle presence, and moon phases on its behavior

AbstractActivity is an important aspect of animal behavior. Intrinsic and extrinsic factors can shape species activity patterns, which can alter and reshape several ecological aspects of the species. Human disturbance is known to modify the activity patterns of various species. The Marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus) is the largest Neotropical cervid, and has its southernmost distribution located in the wetlands of the lower Delta of the Paraná river, an area characterized by forestry plantations. We studied how the activity patterns of the marsh deer are affected by proxies of human movement, cattle presence, and moon phases in Argentina. We found that marsh deer presented activity peaks during crepuscular hours and moderate levels of activity during the entire night period. The majority of the independent camera‐trapping events of marsh deer occurred during the first quarter and last quarter phases, and the species was more active on sites far from rivers, which could infer an avoidance of human disturbances. In order to comprehend more deeply the variable effects on the activity patterns of marsh deer in this area, further analyses are needed, particularly using movement data of marked individuals.

The Origin of Cattle in China from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age. Chong Yu. Oxford: BAR Publishing, 2020. 108 pp., 20 figures, 13 tables. Paperback £31, ISBN: 9781407316871.

Asian Perspectives, Vol. 62, No. 2 © 2023 by the University of Hawai‘i Press. The Origin of Cattle in China from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age. Chong Yu. Oxford: BAR Publishing, 2020. 108 pp., 20 figures, 13 tables. Paperback £31, ISBN: 9781407316871. Reviewed by Noel AMANO, Max Planck Institute of Geoanthropology The domestication of cattle (Bos taurus) from extinct Eurasian aurochs (Bos primigenius) around 10,500 years ago somewhere in the Upper Euphrates and Tigris basins of the Fertile Crescent marks one of the defining moments of the Neolithic Period (Helmer et al. 2005; Peters et al. 2005). Genetic evidence hints that this process started out in a restricted area, constrained by difficulty in managing and sustaining herds, with just around 80 female aurochs estimated to be initially domesticated (Bollongino et al. 2012). Valued for their meat, in addition to secondary products such as milk, hide, blood, and dung, and services including use for traction, domestic cattle were soon present in Cyprus by the end of the eleventh millennium B.P. (Vigne et al. 2000) and almost all throughout the Near East by the eighth to seventh millennium B.P. (Arbuckle and Kassebaum 2021; Helmer et al. 2005; Peters et al. 2005; Vigne et al. 2011). But as with any history of animal domestication, that of cattle is complex and not straightforward. Genetic studies of early cattle outside the Fertile Crescent have revealed multiple introgressions of wild aurochs to domestic populations. Some researchers argue that pre-domestic cattle management, as well as early “morphologically” domestic cattle, originated in multiple centers in Southwest Asia, rather than in just a single center in the Upper Euphrates Valley (Arbuckle and Kassebaum 2021). In addition, a separate domestication event occurred in the Indian subcontinent with the domestication of the Zebu cattle (Bos indicus) (Park et al. 2015). By around 4200 B.P., genetic evidence shows zebu cattle introgression to Southwest and Central Asia, which is hypothesized as linked to the introduction of arid-adapted zebu bulls to enhance herd survival during a widespread, multi-century drought (Verdugo et al. 2019). In the archaeological record, evidence of early cattle domestication and herding at sites in the Levant (e.g., Dja’de al-Mughara, Tell Hallula, Mureybet) and Anatolia (e.g., Çayönü Tepesi, Göbekli Tepe, Çatalhöyük) was detected by looking at a range of attributes including size diminution, reduction in sexual dimorphism, shift in age of individuals exploited as shown by kill-off patterns, and change in diet as revealed by stable isotope analyses, not to mention relative increase in the frequencies of cattle bones at the archaeological sites. In China, genetic and archaeological evidence points to cattle being introduced, presumably from West Asia, sometime between 5600 and 4000 years ago at sites such as Shantaisi and Pingliantai (Lu et al. 2017; Yuan 2010). However, based mostly on the presence of aurochs remains at some Late Pleistocene sites, Chinese scholars have also proposed the possibility of local domestication or at least management of cattle in China. Zhang and colleagues (2013) reported a conjoining mandible directly dated to 10,700 B.P. that showed hyper-attrition. This was taken as evidence for oral stereotypy, which they then interpreted as evidence for Early Holocene cattle management in northern China. Other scholars have proposed the presence of cattle in other Early Neolithic assemblages in northern China, although the evidence remains inconclusive. This complex history of human-cattle interaction is the background for Chong Yu’s The Origin of Cattle in China from the Neolithic to the Early Bronze Age, published in 2020 by BAR Publishing as the second volume in its Archaeology of East Asia Series. In the book’s abstract, Yu spelled out the publication’s goal: [To] bring together biometrical information of Bos bones from Early Neolithic to early Bronze Age (10,000 to 3600 BP), in order to gain a better understanding of the morphological variation of this animal in a biological point of view- the main indicator for tracing domestication (both locally and imported elsewhere). (p. xi) Early online release of article in press. This slim volume accomplished that goal in my opinion, and in the process demonstrated the...

'Here is a table’

This special issue of The Journal of Public Space on “Public Space and Placemaking in African Cities” raises awareness and articulates the importance and value of urban public space in the context of the African continent. A key contemporary driver of such issues is the context of Africa's urbanisation, which is exponentially faster than comparable processes in the Global North. A vibrant, diverse and supportive public life in these contexts will increasingly become a critical public good, which will depend on the conceptualisation, design, development, process and maintenance of public space.Already the continent’s vast diversity of communities and cultures is visible in the utilization of public open spaces such as streets and markets and the congestion of pedestrian activities therein. The so-called ‘informality’ of many of these urban conditions is indicative of the increasing imperatives of public space. Such spaces are often faced with extraordinary demands, not easily visible in cities of the Global North. They are often expected – or forced – to accommodate extensive forms of cultural diversity, from street markets and food and drink, to outdoor gyms and children’s playgrounds, to dance and ceremonies, and even the urban presence of cattle and livestock. Yet a lack of appropriate planning can also lead to conflict and an exacerbation of incidences of urban insecurity.

Axiological content of phraseological units

The article is dedicated to the analysis of the axiological content of phraseological units expressing the value of Happiness in the Russian and Kazakh languages. The value system is associated with paremias and phraseological units, therefore, axiology is reflected in phraseology. An “axiological phraseological dyad” is distinguished when studying phraseological units within the axiological aspect, and this includes phraseological units with the semantics interconnected with the values accepted and the same with the semantics correlating with the anti-values accepted. Russian paremiology mostly reflects the negative aspects of understanding the Happiness, not conditioned etymologically but traditional for the ordinary Russian mentality, which is largely determined by extralinguistic factors and features of Russian cultural and historical development. In common Russian consciousness, there are deeply rooted views on Happiness as a condition (or synonym) for wealth, luck and a certain privilege, the result of labor, personal merits of a person. At the same time, Russian common self-awareness is characterized by the perception of Happiness as a kind of unpredictable, unreliable element that causes negative feelings. Happiness for the Kazakh language is fate, luck and family happiness, unity and health. It is measured with the courage, the courage of a man, his fame, the presence of cattle and its quantity. The value of “happiness/счастье/bakyt” in the language has a constantly developing vector within the process of expanding the associative perception of a person and the sphere of contextual connections and the field of sem.

AVIAN DIVERSITY AND ABUNDANCE IN RELATION TO SEASON, LIVESTOCK PRESENCE AND VEGETATION COVER IN A MEDITERRANEAN COASTAL WETLAND

Coastal wetlands are considered as systems of high avian diversity and are usually used for livestock production throughout the world. In this study, the diversity and seasonal abundance of avian species were monitored for two years on a monthly basis in a coastal grazing land in Evros Delta (Greece). The effects of livestock (cattle) presence and different classes of vegetation cover on the number of bird species were also investigated. A total of 96 bird species belonging to 29 families were recorded. The most commonly encountered species was the Eurasian skylark Alauda arvensis. The cattle presence was not significantly correlated (p&gt;0.05) with the abundance of recorded bird species. On the contrary, patches with vegetation cover 25.1 - 50.0% and 50.1 - 75.0 % were used by more bird species in relation to patches with cover ≤25.0% or &gt;75.0%. We concluded that the use of livestock grazing to preserve the desired vegetation cover (25 – 75%) is a promising management tool.

Native and no-native herbivorous relationships have mutual benefit: Lepus flavigularis case

Lepus flavigularis is an endemic leporid from southeastern Oaxaca, México, listed as “endangered” under Mexican law and the IUCN Red List. The main threat to the species is severe habitat fragmentation due to human activities. The jackrabbit shares the grasslands with cattle (Bos taurus), but the trophic interaction between these herbivores is unknown. This study aimed to determine the seasonal diet of Lepus flavigularis and cattle, to identify the possible dietary overlap between these mammals. The study zone covers an area around the locality of Santa María del Mar in Oaxaca, southern México. Plant species were identified using linear transects, and vegetation cover was also estimated using circular plots. Throughout the study fresh L. flavigularis and B. taurus fecal samples were collected, which were processed using the microhistological technique to determine the seasonal botanical composition of diets from the two species. Twenty-three plant species were recorded in the diet of L. flavigularis and 29 species in the diet of B. taurus. Both herbivores fed primarily on Poaceae species throughout the year (L. flavigularis: dry season (ds) = 79.79 %, wet season (ws) = 91.54 %; B. taurus: ds = 78.02 %, ws = 84.63 %) despite the significant difference in the availability of plant species between seasons. No significant differences were found in the seasonal composition of the diet between the two species. Twelve plant species were consumed by both herbivores during the two seasons. The dietary overlap between the two species was high for both seasons (ds Ojk = 0.7311, ws Ojk = 0.8459). Trophic niche breadth was low for both species, with a high dietary overlap. We recorded low seasonal use values for L. flavigularis and B. taurus when compared to forage availability. Low trophic niche breadth and high dietary overlap between the two herbivores suggest forage resources competition. However, we expect that jackrabbits benefit from cattle presence, as long as the stocking rate does not increase. Furthermore, B. taurus grazing reduces height, cover, and density of vegetation, which could help L. flavigularis to avoid predators.

How are arthropod communities structured in a modified wetland under different productive activities?

Wetlands are among the most threatened ecosystems around the world due to changes in land use. Particularly, in the Lower Parana River Delta the main productive activities with economic impact in the region are planted forest and silvopastoral systems. To carry out these productive activities, natural hydrology of this wetland has been deeply modified and different management practices are implemented. Ground-dwelling arthropods are among the most sensitive taxa to environmental changes, so they are good bioindicators of the effect of these changes on biodiversity. In this context, we compare the structure and composition of ground-dwelling arthropod communities and their seasonal variations in the planted forest and silvopastoral systems of the Lower Parana River Delta, to characterize these land use associated with different management practices. We recorded a total of 73 families using pitfall traps (N = 1728). We observed that communities in intensive-managed planted forests were less rich and more evenness, while communities in less-managed planted forests were richer and less evenness. Also, we observed that warm seasons presented more arthropod family richness than cold seasons. The intensity of management practices, the presence of cattle and seasonality are factors that significantly decrease ground-dwelling arthropod richness. So, Silvopastoral systems negatively affect ground-dwelling arthropod communities compared to planted forest. A decrease in the intensity of management practices favors the understory growth, offering more resources for the arthropod families already established and facilitating the establishment of new ones. This increase in arthropod diversity promotes the presence of benefic species and the conservation of biodiversity in this modified wetland ecosystem.

Apicomplexans in Goat: Prevalence of Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium spp., Eimeria spp. and Risk Factors in Farms from Ecuador.

Simple SummaryNeospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium and Eimeria species are parasites of phylum Apicomplexa, which includes several protozoa affecting animals and humans. In Ecuador, the maintenance of goat health is a matter of utmost importance because it affects the economic welfare of the breeders. N. caninum and T. gondii cause reproductive problems in goats, leading to abortions or weak offspring. Severe diarrhea in kids and delays in growth are due to the Cryptosporidium and Eimeria species. Moreover, T. gondii and Cryptosporidium are zoonotic parasites with serious consequences for human health. The aim of this work was to determine, by serological and parasitological tests, the prevalence of these parasites and the risk factors for goat populations in Southern Ecuador. On some farms, the prevalence of N. caninum and T. gondii reached more than 50%; up to 17% of the kids were positive for Cryptosporidium and 90% of the goats were positive for the Eimeria species. The analysis of risk factors revealed differences according to the parasite species. Considering the zoonotic significance of these results, control and prevention measures are essential and constitute a warning to veterinarians and governmental institutions.Neospora caninum, Toxoplasma gondii, Cryptosporidium and Eimeria cause severe impacts on the productivity of goat herds. The objectives of the present study were to establish the prevalence of these apicomplexans in goat farms from Ecuador; to evaluate a rapid test for Cryptosporidium diagnosis and to identify the risk factors associated with the infections. A questionnaire was designed to obtain information from 24 goat farms from Zapotillo, Garza Real, Cazaderos, Limones and Paletillas parishes in Ecuador. Blood (n = 388) and feces (n = 391) samples were collected. Indirect ELISA and standard parasitological assays were carried out to evaluate the seroprevalence of N. caninum and T. gondii and to detect oocysts of Cryptosporidium and Eimeria. The overall prevalence values of N. caninum and T. gondii were 12.11% and 18.20%, Cryptosporidium spp. and Eimeria spp. oocysts were detected in 10.49% and 89.51% of the total samples. A low correlation value was found between the results obtained by Ziehl-Nielsen and the rapid test. The multinomial logistic regression analysis revealed that vitamin supplementation, age of diarrhea, frequency of deworming, pasture area, presence of artiodactyls, domestic fowl, administration of sulfas, age group, body condition, abortions, type of pastures and the presence of cattle were risk factors according to the parasite species.

Wildfire Incidence throughout the Brazilian Pantanal Is Driven by Local Climate Rather Than Bovine Stocking Density

The Pantanal is the world’s largest and most biodiverse continental sheet-flow wetland. Recently, vast tracts of the Pantanal have succumbed to the occurrence of fires, raising serious concerns over the future integrity of the biodiversity and ecosystem services of this biome, including revenues from ecotourism. These wildfires degrade the baseline of natural ecosystems and the ecotourism economy across the region. Local residents (“Pantaneiros”) anecdotally state that extensive cattle herbivory can solve the contemporary flammability problem of the Pantanal by controlling vegetation biomass, thereby preventing or reducing both fuel loads and fires across the region. Here, we examine the covariation between the presence and density of cattle and the incidence of fires across the Brazilian Pantanal. Variables assessed included bovine cattle density, SPI (Standardized Precipitation Index), GPP (Gross Primary Productivity)/biomass estimate, and fire foci along a 19-year time series (2001 to 2019). Our findings show that fire foci across the Pantanal biome are related to climatic variables, such as lower annual precipitation and higher annual drought indices (SPI) rather than to cattle stocking rates. Therefore, the notion of “cattle firefighting”, a popular concept often discussed in some academic circles, cannot be validated because cattle numbers are unrelated to aboveground phytomass. Gross primary productivity further invalidated the “cattle herbivory” hypothesis because GPP was found to be strongly correlated with cattle density but not with the spatial distribution of fires. Fires throughout the Pantanal are currently aggravated by the presence of livestock and result from a combination of extreme weather events and outdated agricultural practices.

Camera traps reveal the natural corridors used by mammalian species in eastern Mexico

BackgroundHabitat loss and fragmentation in the Sierra Madre Oriental (SMO) ecological corridor have negative impacts on the movement and distribution of mammalian species that are of great ecological and evolutionary importance. Part of the SMO ecological corridor that is located in the state of Hidalgo is less studied despite being a potential dispersal route for mammals. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the presence and activity of terrestrial mammals in the riparian and non-riparian zones of SMO.ResultsCamera traps detected 15 mammalian species (i.e., 14 native and 1 domestic) in the non-riparian zone, and 12 mammalian species in the riparian zone (i.e., 10 wild and 2 domestic). The riparian corridor was mainly used by opportunistic medium-sized carnivores, while large carnivores and their potential prey were more frequent in the non-riparian zone.ConclusionsOur findings suggest terrestrial mammals avoid the use of natural corridors due to the presence of domestic dogs, cattle and humans and look for new dispersal routes to move through their habitat and find the resources they need to survive. Even though some species can use disturbed corridors to move and find resources, they will change their activity patterns to avoid contact with humans and potential threats like dogs. It is, therefore, crucial to identify not one, but several corridors that must be preserved to improve the connectivity of terrestrial mammals in disturbed landscapes.

Ongole Crossbreeds conservation with the existence value approach and the willingness to pay farmers in Yogyakarta Indonesia

&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Objective: &lt;/strong&gt;The objective of the research was to identify and measure the value of existence, thus to analyze Willingness To Pay of farmer to keep the existence of Ongole Crossbreeds.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Methods:&lt;/strong&gt; The research was conducted in the Independent Taruna Group, Ngemplak District, Sleman Regency with the consideration that it is a PO cattle group that has the largest number of members in Sleman Regency. Determination of respondents by census as many as 40 farmers. Data was collected through interviews using a questionnaire as a research instrument. The identification of the existence of the business includes the availability of inputs, the development of outputs and the accessibility of supporting PO cattle using a Likert scale. Testing the consistency of statement items is tested for validity and reliability. The Contingent Valuation method is used to estimate the Willingness to Pay of farmers in maintaining their business.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Results:&lt;/strong&gt; The value of business sustainability from the existence of input (0.896), output (0.985), and support (0.885) is in the high category. The largest WTP value is the purchase of young female cattle with an average value of IDR 14.500.000/head, followed by waste treatment of IDR. 11,509,000/year and parent insurance of IDR. 40,000/head/year. The aggregate value of the group's WTP is IDR. 1,350,000,000/year.&lt;/p&gt;&lt;p&gt;&lt;strong&gt;Conclusions&lt;/strong&gt;: Livestock groups can maintain the existence of PO cattle because of the support of business existence, utilization of dung waste to increase income, and Willingness To Pay farmers. On the other hand, government support to provide subsidies and Siwab or its extension Mandatory cattle breeding is maintained to maintain the presence of PO cattle&lt;/p&gt;

EVALUATION OF EARLY SEASON MAPPING OF INTEGRATED CROP LIVESTOCK SYSTEMS USING SENTINEL-2 DATA

Abstract. Various approaches were developed considering the need to increase agricultural productivity in cultivated areas without more deforestation, such as the Integrated Crop livestock systems (ICLS). The ICLS could be composed of annual crops followed by pastureland with the presence of cattle. Due to the high temporal dynamic of rotation between crops over the season, monitoring these areas is a big challenge. Also, agricultural organizations worldwide highlight the need for early-season maps for this kind of work. In this context, this study evaluated the potential of open data (Sentinel-2) data to map ICLS areas. The performance of two classifiers was evaluated: one of Machine Learning (random forest) and the other of Deep Learning (LSTM). Three different time windows of data were tested (Entire season, 180 days, and 120 days). Using the RF classifier, it was possible to achieve satisfactory results (Overall accuracy higher than 80%) for the early season (180 days). However, further studies are needed to explain better the lower(when compared to Random Forest) accuracy achieved by LSTM net (0.79 % for 180 days) and compare the results achieved here with results for a study area with different rates of cloud cover.

​Biogas Technology Practices and Opportunities in Selected Districts of Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Background: Rural households in Ethiopia are dependent on biomass for their energy needs and this exacerbates deforestation. Therefore, building small-scale biogas is one of the abating means of these challenges. The objective of this study was to assess the practices and opportunities of small-scale biogas technology in selected Districts’ Hadiya zone, southern Ethiopia. Methods: To achieve this objective, fifty-six informants were selected from the seven districts of Hadiya Zone, semi-structured questionnaires and field observations were used as the instruments to collect the data. Result: This survey revealed that small-scale biogas technology in the study area is recent and it needs certain requirements for its construction and due to the stopped feeding, most of the biogas plants were non-functional. Despite this, the presence of many cattle and optimum climate are among the essential opportunities to expand biogas distribution in the study area. Therefore, farmers and the concerned stakeholders should use the available opportunity to maximize the distribution of biogas technology in the study area.

Mini assessment of small-scale biogas technology practices, opportunities, and challenges in Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Rural households in Ethiopia are dependent on biomass for their energy needs, and this exacerbates deforestation. Therefore, building small-scale biogas is one of the means of abating these challenges. The objective of this study was to assess the practices, opportunities, and challenges of small-scale biogas technology dissemination in the Hadiya Zone, Southern Ethiopia. To achieve this objective, fifty-six informants were selected from the seven districts of Hadiya Zone, and semi-structured questionnaires and field observations were used as the instruments to collect the data. This survey revealed that small-scale biogas technology in the study area is recent, and it needs certain requirements. Additionally, due to the stopped feeding, most of the biogas plants were non-functional. Likewise, analysis of variance indicated that there was a significant difference (p < 0.05) (p = 0.009) between the challenges that hinder the distribution of small-scale biogas technology. As a result, the high installation cost was taken as the main factor that affected its distribution. In addition, the presence of many cattle and optimum climate are among the important opportunities to expand biogas distribution in the study area. Therefore, farmers should use the available opportunity and minimize the challenges to increase the distribution of biogas technology in the study area.

The seroepidemiology of pestivirus infection in sheep in Afyonkarahisar province of Turkey and the analysis of associated risk factors

Border disease virus (BDV) is a pestivirus that causes considerable economic losses in the sheep industry due to its effect on breeding and health. This study's goal was to determine the seroprevalence of pestivirus infection, the ratio of persistently infected (PI) animals, and risk factors associated with the disease in sheep flocks between 2019-2020. To this end, 460 blood serum samples collected from eight sheep flocks were examined using commercial Enzyme-Linked Immuno-Sorbent Assay (ELISA) test kits to determine the presence of antibodies (Ab) and antigens (Ag) against pestiviruses (bovine viral diarrhea virus, border disease virus). Risk factors associated with pestivirus infection were statistically evaluated in terms of significance in the logistic regression model according to epidemiological data and information obtained from flock owners. Individual seropositivity was analyzed by Generalized Estimating Equations (GEEs) for associated responses. The overall apparent animal level seroprevalence was estimated to be 24.57% (95% CI: 20.85-28.7). The overall true seroprevalence was calculated to be 25.51% (95% CI: 21.65-29.60). The rate of positive sheep in each flock varied between 8.33-57.14%. The ratio of PI sheep among the 460 animals tested was found to be 0.43%. The relationship between the age groups was statistically significant (p-value:0.0002&lt;0.05; χ2:13.15). Management type, age, the presence of cattle in the farm, landscape and the status of other clinical diseases were identified as important risk factors associated with individual pestivirus seropositivity. The results of this study indicate that it will contribute to the creation of national control eradication and monitoring plans and the development of strategies and that the potential risk of sheep as a pestivirus reservoir, especially for cattle that use common pastures, should be considered in future studies.