Similar Management Conditions Research Articles

Sunflower Growth and Grain Yield under Different Tillage Systems and Sources of Organic Manure on Contrasting Soil Types in Limpopo Province of South Africa

A field study was conducted to assess the effect of tillage systems (TSs) and manure rates (MRs) on sunflower growth and yield at the University of Limpopo Experimental Farm (Syferkuil) which is on sandy loam soils and University of Venda Experimental Farm (UNIVEN) clayey soils, both located in Limpopo Province of South Africa for 2021/2022 and 2022/2023 cropping seasons. The experimental design was a split plot with three replications. The main plot was the tillage treatments: conventional (CON) and in-field rainwater harvesting (IRWH), while the subplots were the manure treatments: viz. poultry and cattle manures at rates of 20 and 35 t ha−10, plus a control (no manure application). The IRWH is a tillage technique that collects rainwater on a 2 m wide runoff strip into the 1 m wide basin where it infiltrates deep into the soil beyond the evaporation zone but is available for crop use. The results revealed that at Syferkuil IRWH had a significant increase (p < 0.05) on grain yield, head diameter, head dry matter and aboveground dry matter yield in both cropping seasons, whereas at UNIVEN, the significant increase was obtained on grain yield, head diameter, aboveground dry matter, plant height and stem girth during both cropping seasons. The effect of manure rate significantly increased with the application rate, with poultry manure at the highest rate of 35 t ha−1 significantly recording high mean values of grain yield, head diameter, head dry matter, aboveground dry matter, plant height and stem girth at both sites during the two cropping seasons. The increase in leaf area index and 100 seed weight by IRWH and manure rate application varied across the growing stages and cropping seasons with no consistent trend. At Syferkuil, TS and MR interaction was significant on head diameter and on aboveground dry matter at flowering stage in the first cropping season, whereas at UNIVEN, it was significant on head diameter in the first cropping season. Therefore, these results suggest that IRWH combined with poultry manure (35 t ha−1) can be adopted to improve sunflower crop yield under similar management and environmental conditions. In the absence of poultry manure, farmers may opt to use cattle manure at a rate of 35 t ha−1 for better improved yield.

The “Naked neck” gene and the adaptability of the native chicken to heat stress on station in Cameroon

The rational use of the native chicken genetic resource is seen a viable option for sustainably improving poultry meat production in Cameroon. This study aimed at assessing the potential of the Na gene for resilience under acute heat stress. The study was done in two trials. Firstly, a total of 180 young roosters reared in similar management conditions from the 1st to the 8th week of age were randomly distributed per genotype according to a 3 x 2 factorial design including two treatments (acute and moderate ambient temperatures) of 90 birds each and three genotypes (Na*Na, na*na and Na*na) of 30 birds per treatment. Treatments consisted of moderate and acute ambient temperatures of 25-27°C and 39 - 42°C respectively for 5 hours/day from 8 to 12 weeks of age. The genotypes within and between the treatments were compared for body weight (BW), average daily weight gain (ADG), water consumption (WC), feed consumption (FC), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Results showed that the na*na and Na*na were statistically comparable but superior to the Na*Na genotype under moderate temperature. The three genotypes were significantly affected (P<0.05) by the heat stress. However, the Na*na was less affected and maintained the highest ADG and lowest FCR. For the second trial, 90 birds including 30 birds randomly sampled per genotype were compared for the feathering intensity and five carcass characteristics and giblets at 24-week-old. The results revealed an association of the “Na” gene with 21 to 50 % feather reduction in heterozygote and homozygote respectively whereas heterozygote naked neck had greater body and carcass weight as well as giblet and head weights (P<0.05). The animal model equation could clearly quantify the genotype effect. The phenotypic advantage evidenced for the Na gene is confirmed as an adaptation to heat stress whereas the significant superiority of heterozygote Na*na for most of the traits opens a window for the valorisation of potential overdominance effects for poultry breeding in hot climates.

Fate of herbicides in cropped lysimeters: 1. Influence of different processes and model structure on vadose zone flow

AbstractUnderstanding transport and fate processes in the subsurface is of fundamental importance to identify the leaching potentials of herbicides or other compounds to groundwater resources. HYDRUS‐1D was used to simulate water flow and solute transport in arable land lysimeters. Simulations were compared to observed drainage rates and stable water isotopes (δ18O) in the drainage. Four different model setups were investigated and statistically evaluated for their model performance to identify dominant processes for water flow characterization in the vadose zone under similar cultivation management and climatic conditions. The studied lysimeters contain soil cores dominated by sandy gravel (Ly1) and clayey sandy silt (Ly2), both cropped with maize located in Wielenbach, Germany. First, a single‐porosity setup was chosen. For Ly1, modeling results were satisfactory, but for Ly2, the damping observed in the isotope signature of the drainage could not be fully covered. By considering immobile water with a dual‐porosity setup for Ly2, model performance improved. This could be due to a higher fraction of fine pores in Ly2 available for water storage, leading to mixing processes of isotopically enriched summer precipitation and lighter winter water. Accounting for isotopic evaporation fractionation processes in both model setups did not lead to improved model performance. Consequentially, the difference in soil hydraulic properties between the two lysimeters seems to impact water flow processes. Knowledge of such differences is crucial to prevent contamination and mitigate potential risks to soil and groundwater.

Study of Certain Biochemical Attributes of Pantja Buck Semen

The current study was conducted to study biochemical attributes of Pantja Buck semen. For this  purpose six mature healthy bucks were selected from the Goat Unit maintained at Department of  Livestock Production Management, College of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Pantnagar,  Uttarakhand (India). All the experimental bucks were kept under similar feeding and management  conditions. Semen collection was done early morning by artificial vagina method. Total 36 semen  samples were collected for a period of 3 months. Immediately after the collection, samples were  examined for biochemical attributes. Overall mean value of pH was found (6.61 ± 0.02) independent  of buck age. Resazurin and Methylene blue reduction time were noted higher for younger bucks and  minimum for older bucks with overall value 3.15 ± 0.25 and 6.04±0.36 min. respectively. Mean values  of HOST and Millovanov’s resistance test were recorded as 36.10 ± 1.17 % and 5216.70 ± 1.94  respectively. 16.76 ± 0.86 % sperms were found resistance to cold shock.  

Estimates of genetic and phenotypic parameters for feeding behaviour and feed efficiency-related traits in Nelore cattle.

The objective of this study was to obtain (co)variance components, heritability, and genetic and phenotypic correlation estimates for feed efficiency and feed behaviour-related indicator traits. Further, it aimed to predict the direct and correlated responses for feed efficiency traits when selection was applied for feeding behaviour-related traits in Nelore cattle. Phenotypic records (n=4840) from 125 feed efficiency tests (RFI: Residual feed intake and DMI: Dry matter intake) carried out between 2011 and 2018 were considered in this study. Animals belonged to five farms located in two Brazilian geographical regions (Midwest and Southeast). Animals under similar management and environmental conditions in the feedlot were evaluated when they attained an average of 13.5± 4.15 months of age. Feed behaviour-related traits were also obtained, including meal criteria (MC), meal frequency (MF), average meal duration (AMD), meal duration (MD), average consumption per meal (ACM), and consumption rate (CR) through the GrowSafe System® electronic bunk system. The contemporary groups for all traits were composed of farm, management group, feed efficiency test, sex, and birth year. The (co)variance components were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood method considering a multi-trait (n=8) animal model. The heritability estimates for RFI (0.23± 0.02), DMI (0.31± 0.02), MF (0.65± 0.02), AMD (0.29± 0.02), ACM (0.24± 0.02), MD (0.41± 0.02), MC (0.48± 0.02), and CR (0.42± 0.02) were moderate to high. The highest genetic correlation was obtained between CR and MD (-0.91 ± 0.04), MD and AMD (0.73± 0.03), CR and AMD (-0.68± 0.04), and RFI and DMI (0.81± 0.02). The highest phenotypic correlation was between ACM and AMD (0.76 ± 0.02), DMI and MD (0.77± 0.02), and DMI and RFI (0.77± 0.02). Genetic improvement for feed efficiency and feeding behaviour-related traits is feasible and the results obtained herein provided valuable information regarding the genetic background of Nelore feeding behaviour-related traits. The genetic association between feeding behaviour and feed efficiency-related traits suggested that animals spending less time feeding at a low feeding rate also had lower DMI and higher feed efficiency (RFI), and likely had lower energy maintenance requirements. The relative efficiency of selection showed that feeding behaviour-related traits were not adequate indicator traits to improve RFI and DMI. The DMI might be an effective selection criterion to improve RFI and reduce the herd's maintenance requirements.

Detailed comparison between organic and conventional milk from Holstein-Friesian dairy herds in Italy

Several studies have reported gross composition differences between organic and conventional milk; however, most studies have not considered other factors such as breed and diet ingredients, which are known to influence milk composition. Thus, this study aimed to provide a detailed characterization of Holstein-Friesian cow milk from organic (ORG) and conventional (CONV) herds with similar diet ingredients and in the same geographic area. Bulk milk samples (n = 225) of 12 ORG and 12 CONV farms were collected from September 2019 to August 2020. Farms were located in Northern Italy, included corn (meal, silage, or both) in the lactating diets, and had similar management conditions, but ORG herds spent a period on pasture. Factors affecting milk composition were tested using a linear mixed model, which included calendar month, farming system (ORG and CONV), and their interactions as fixed effects, and farm nested within farming system as random effect. Results showed that total fat, lactose, vitamin E, and AA did not significantly differ between farming systems. Total protein and casein contents were significantly lower in ORG than CONV herds, and somatic cell score (SCS) was greater in ORG than CONV. Among minerals, differences were observed for Fe, K, Mg, and S in some months, being lower in ORG than CONV for K, Mg, and S and greater or lower for Fe depending on the month. Among fatty acid (FA) groups, index, and ratios, only polyunsaturated FA and n-3 FA tended to be greater in ORG than CONV, and cis-FA were greater in ORG than CONV during October. Among the most abundant individual FA, only C16:1n-9 differed, being lower in ORG than CONV. The calendar month (and hence seasonal feed ration) was significant for milk gross composition, SCS, vitamin E, mineral profile (except for Mo, Sr, and Zn), AA profile, FA groups (except for medium-chain FA), FA index and ratios, and individual FA (except C16:0). We conclude that the overall milk composition was quite similar between the 2 farming systems. This could be related to the similarity of the selected farms, the Holstein-Friesian breed, and generally high level of intensity in both farming systems.

An attempt to valorize the only black meat chicken breed of India by delineating superior functional attributes of its meat

Kadaknath, the only black chicken indigenous to India, faces the threat of extinction due to declining numbers. Its meat is used in tribal medicine for invigorating and health-promoting properties. Expectations of immune-boosting and therapeutic properties in its meat are creating a buzz these days. Thus, Kadaknath meat was explored and further compared with the commercial Cobb 400 broiler (Cobb) for the functional traits that might be contributing towards proclaimed pharmacological benefits. Birds (n = 20/ group) were raised under similar management conditions and the two primal chicken meat cuts (breast and thigh) were collected at the marketing age. Kadaknath meat was found to be an enriched source of functional biomolecules (carnosine, anserine, creatine). Its breast meat carnosine content was more than double of the Cobb broiler, 6.10 ± 0.13 and 2.73 ± 0.1 mg/ g of wet tissue, respectively. Similarly, the thigh meat of Kadaknath was a significantly (P < 0.05) richer source of carnosine. The genetic background was a key determinant for muscle carnosine content as a significant abundance of CARNS1 and SLC36A1 expression was identified in the Kadaknath breast. The superior functional property of Kadaknath meat was established by the antioxidant capacity established by the Oxygen radical absorbance capacity assay and a stronger ability to inhibit the formation of advanced glycation end products (AGEs). The identification of fairly unknown nutritional and functional advantages of Kadaknath meat could potentially change the paradigm with its meat consumption. It will help in developing a brand name for Kadaknath products that will propel an increase in its market share and ultimately conservation of this unique but endangered poultry germplasm.

The relationship between equine pastern dermatitis, meteorological factors, and the skin microbiota.

BackgroundEquine pastern dermatitis (EPD) is a multifactorial syndrome, with prolonged exposure to moisture assumed to be a predisposing or primary factor.Hypothesis/ObjectivesTo examine the course of EPD lesion severity, changes in bacterial skin microbiota, and the influence of meteorological factors.AnimalsProspective, longitudinal cohort study over a one‐year period, with six Franches‐Montagnes stallions, four affected by EPD and two unaffected, that were kept under the same conditions.Methods and materialsPasterns were scored for lesion severity and sampled once a month for 12 consecutive months. Lesion severity, the skin microbiota and meteorological factors were examined for associations.ResultsEPD lesions tended to worsen in autumn and at the beginning of spring. The relationship between lesion severity and the meteorological factor precipitation was not clearly evident; high scores were preceded by both low or high rates of precipitation. Microbiota in affected pasterns appeared to have experienced a reduction in alpha diversity. Beta diversity analyses demonstrated that bacterial community structures were altered in affected versus unaffected pasterns, and that alterations were more pronounced with higher EPD scores (P = 0.005). Meteorological factors also had considerable influences on the bacterial composition, whereby these influences appeared to be more marked in the affected pasterns (P = 0.001, F = 3.19) than in unaffected ones (P = 0.005, F = 1.83).Conclusions and clinical relevanceOur study provides preliminary observations of the relationships between lesion severity, meteorological factors and cutaneous bacteria. The population was too small to draw firm conclusions, and further studies on environmental factors and the involvement of bacteria in this multifactorial disease are needed.

The composition of the lipid, protein and mineral fractions of quail breast meat obtained from wild and farmed specimens of Common quail (Coturnix coturnix) and farmed Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica domestica)

The present study was intended to answer 2 scientific hypotheses: 1) the quail species has a significant influence in quail breast meat composition; 2) the wild quail's meat presents healthier composition than their farmed counterparts.An analysis of the pectoral muscles of wild and captive common quails (Coturnix coturnix) and domestic quails (Coturnix japonica domestica) was performed. The content of fatty acids (FA), amino acids, total cholesterol, and vitamin E, some basic macro- and microminerals in the pectoral muscles of the 2 species of the genus Coturnix were analyzed.Regarding the quail species influence on meat composition, Japanese Quail (JQ) revealed better lipid composition, characterized by lower saturated FA (SFA; less 3.17 g/100 g of total fatty acids), higher polyunsaturated FA contents (PUFA; more 5.5 g/100 g of total fatty acids) and healthier polyunsaturated FA/saturated FA (P/S) and n-6/n-3 ratios and TI value (1.08, 9.54 and 0.60 vs. 0.76, 12.58, and 0.75, correspondingly). The absence of differences observed on amino acids partial sums and ratios reveals equality between species on protein nutritional quality. On the other hand, Common Quail (CQ) proved to be a better source of copper (0.181 mg/100 g of meat), iron (2.757 mg/100 g of meat), manganese (0.020 mg/100 g of meat), and zinc (0.093 mg/100 g of meat) than JQ.The comparison of farmed and wild specimens within CQ, showed that wild birds presented lower total cholesterol (less 8.32 mg/g of fresh meat) and total PUFA (less 4.26 g/100 g of total fatty acids), and higher n-3 PUFA contents (more 1.53 g/100 g of total fatty acids), which contributed to healthier P/S and n-6/n-3 ratios, but worst PI (1.60, 8.08, and 113.1 vs. 0.76, 12.58, and 100.8, respectively). The wild species revealed higher α-tocopherol content (2.40 vs. 1.49 µg/g of fresh meat. Differences observed on their mineral composition counterbalance each other.Under intensive production system and similar feeding and management conditions, the CQ develops better nutritional qualities than JQ. The comparison of wild and farmed species within CQ reveals more similarities than differences. Quail´s meat presents good nutritional quality and introduces variability to human's diet, which is much valued by consumers.

Thyroid and Lipidic Profiles in Nicastrese Goats (Capra hircus) during Pregnancy and Postpartum Period.

Simple SummaryThis study aimed to provide data about thyroid and lipid profiles in 30 Nicastrese goats along different physiological periods: before mating, during pregnancy, and in early lactation. Total triiodothyronine and thyroxine were lower in pregnant and milking goats, while BCS was lower in pregnant ones only, and total cholesterol, triglyceride, and very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol were in milking goats only. During pregnancy and lactation, total triiodothyronine was positively correlated with free triiodothyronine and total thyroxine. These results show that under similar environmental, nutrition, and management conditions, different physiological phases play a significant role in the thyroid and lipid profiles in Nicastrese goats. These endocrine and metabolic resources could contribute to the knowledge useful for the salvage of this endangered, local, native breed.This study aimed to determine the thyroid and lipid profiles in 30 Nicastrese goats, along different physiological periods: before mating (nonpregnant goats), during the whole pregnancy (pregnant goats), and during postpartum and early lactation (milking goats). Blood samples were collected monthly from March 2020 to January 2021. Serum thyroid-stimulating hormone (TSH), total and free triiodothyronine (T3, fT3), and thyroxine (T4, fT4) concentrations were measured using immunoenzymatic assay kits and serum lipid panels (triglyceride (TG) and total cholesterol (tCho)) by enzymatic colorimetric method; very-low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (VLDL Cho) was calculated. Pregnant and milking goats showed the lower T3 (p < 0.0002) and T4 (p < 0.0005) concentrations, with lower BCS (p < 0.001) only in pregnant ones. Milking goats showed tCho (p < 0.006) concentrations lower than nonpregnant ones, and TG and VLDL Cho (p < 0.001) lower than both pregnant and nonpregnant goats. T4:T3 and T3:fT3 were significantly and positively correlated in both pregnancy and lactation. Under similar environmental, nutrition, and management conditions, different physiological phases play a significant role in the thyroid and lipid profiles in Nicastrese goats. These endocrine and metabolic resources could contribute to the knowledge useful for the salvage of this endangered, local, native breed.

Comparison of lots of pea seeds produced in northwest of Paraná

The establishment of the crop demands the use of seeds that allow the plants to perform better in adverse conditions. The study aimed to compare lots of pea seeds produced in the northwestern region of Parana. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with seven seed lots and four replications. The seeds were obtained in field production, with similar management conditions. The determination of the weight of a thousand seeds, water content, electrical conductivity, percentage of germination, fresh and dry mass of the aerial part and root of the seedlings performed. The data were subjected to analysis of variance and the means compared by the Tukey test with 5% significance. The physiological potential not directly related to the seed mass; of the pea lots produced under adverse conditions, lots L3 and L4 showed superior quality. The physiological tests of electrical conductivity and germination differentiated the quality of the seeds. According to the selection criteria, the seeds of four pea lots showed germination higher than 85%, being the seeds of the lot L3 and L4 presented superior quality.

The Effect of Herbage Availability, Pregnancy Stage and Rank on the Rate of Liveweight Loss during Fasting in Ewes

Sheep liveweight and liveweight change are vital tools both for commercial and research farm management. However, they can be unreliable when collection procedures are not standardized or when there are varying time delays between sheep removal from grazing and weighing. This study had two stages with different objectives: (1) A liveweight loss study to determine the effect of herbage availability (Low and High) on the rate of liveweight loss of ewes at different pregnancy stages (approximately 100 days of pregnancy: P100 and 130 days: P130) and ranks (single and twin); (2) A follow-up liveweight loss study to develop and validate correction equations for delayed liveweights by applying them to data sets collected under commercial conditions. Results from each stage showed that the rate of liveweight loss varied by herbage availability and stage of pregnancy (p &lt; 0.05) but not pregnancy-rank (p &gt; 0.05). Further, the rate of liveweight loss differed by farm (p &lt; 0.05). Applying liveweight correction equations increased the accuracy of without delay liveweight estimates in P100 ewes by 56% and 45% for single-bearing and twin-bearing ewes, respectively, when offered the Low-level diet. In ewes offered the High-level diet, accuracies of without delay liveweight estimates were increased by 53% and 67% for single-bearing and twin-bearing ewes, respectively. Among P130 ewes, accuracy was increased by 43% and 37% for single-bearing and twin-bearing ewes, respectively, when offered the Low herbage level and by 60% and 50% for single-bearing and twin-bearing ewes, respectively, when offered the High herbage level. In conclusion, a short-term delay of up to 8 hours prior to weighing, which is commonly associated with practical handling operations, significantly reduced the liveweight recorded for individual sheep. Using delayed liveweights on commercial farms and in research can have consequences for management practices and research results; thus, liveweight data should be collected without delay. However, when this is not feasible, delayed ewe liveweights should be corrected and, in the absence of locally devised correction equations, the ones generated in the current study could be applied on farms with similar management conditions and herbage type.

The productive performance in broilers fed diets supplemented with new animal-derived protein additives

The efficiency of new dietary protein additives based on the wastes and by-products of the slaughter and primary processing of poultry was studied on four treatments of broilers (cross “Smena-8”, 1-38 days of age; 3 replicates per treatment, 35 birds per replicate) reared in similar conditions of management and nutrition. Control treatment 1 was fed vegetable diets without animal-derived ingredients; control treatment 2 was fed diets supplemented with fishmeal; in diets for treatments 3 and 4 fishmeal was substituted by two new protein additives produced by the fermentation of the preliminary hydrolyzed slaughter wastes (feathers, intestines, blood, meat-bone residues, etc.) by proteolytic enzymes in different conditions (2 hours at 55°C for treatment 3; 1.5 minutes at 160°C for treatment 4). The best productive performance in broilers was found in treatment 3: average live bodyweight at 38 days of age in this treatment was significantly higher by 8.47% in compare to control and by 4.57% in compare to treatment 2 (p≤0.05); feed conversion ratio was lower by 2.96 and 1.80%, respectively. In treatment 4 these parameters were slightly worse in compare to treatment 3 though better than in treatments 1 and 2. Treatments 3 and 4 also featured higher meat yield and better sensory characteristics of cooked meat and broth.

Early sex determination of Turkey by observation of differences in body weight between male and female

The present study was conducted to determine the early sex in turkeys by observation of the differences in body weight between male and female birds. A total of 30-day old black color unsexed poults having almost similar body weight at hatching were considered for the experimentation and housed at the Poultry Farm of Bangladesh Agricultural University, Mymensingh-2202, Bangladesh. All birds were reared up to 12 weeks of age under intensive management with supplementation of commercial broiler starter and grower feeds. Birds were reared under similar management conditions. Significantly higher (p&lt;0.01) body weight was attained in male poults (104g/bird) than the female (90g/bird) at the end of 1st week of age. Similarly, at the end of 2nd week of age higher (p&lt;0.01) body weight attained by male poults (198.31g/bird) than the female (162.13g/bird). At the end of 3rd weeks of age male poults attained higher (p&lt;0.01) body weight (307.23g/bird) than the female (251.33g/bird). After 4 weeks of rearing, male turkeys attained significantly higher (p&lt;0.01) live body weight (424.46g/bird) than the female turkeys (347.87g/bird). The weekly average body weight gains of male and female birds were 94.18g/bird and 76.5g/bird, respectively. Thus, the male and female birds were successfully identified on the basis of differences in their body weight. Weekly feed intake for both the male and female birds was also increased with their age. Up to 4 weeks of age, both the male and female poults consumed same amount of feed (753.46g/bird). The FCR of male and female poults differed non-significantly in 1st, 3rd and 4th week. On the contrary, in 2nd week of age the FCR of male poults (1.60) was significantly lower (p&lt;0.01) than female (2.11). Survivability was 100% up to 4th week of age irrespective of sex of the poults. The birds were reared up to 12 weeks of age until to confirm their sex by observation of the phenotypic appearance. Results of the phenotypic observation of male and female birds correspondence hundred percent accuracy with the results obtained in body weight based differences between male and female birds. It is therefore concluded that farmers can identify male or female poults as early as first week of age on the basis of body weight differences.&#x0D; Progressive Agriculture 31 (3): 218-226, 2020

Effect of microclimatic variables in different flooring systems of pig sty

The influence of the flooring pattern on the thermal comfort of Large White Yorkshire weaned pigs was investigated in three different flooring systems. Three different flooring systems in conventional pig farming viz., solid concrete floor (T1), raised slatted concrete floor (T2) and raised slatted polypropylene floor (T3) formed the experimental housing design and three sty of equal sizes measuring 3.50 m x 2.90 m were taken. Pigs in the different housing systems are maintained in standard floor space of 0.8-1.0 m2 with similar feeding practices and management conditions. Under each treatment, 10 numbers (5 males and 5 females in each treatment) of weaned large white Yorkshire pigs are allotted with average body weight of 16.50±0.50 kg respectively. Microclimatic variables include air temperature, relative humidity, air velocity were recorded daily and statistically there was significantly (P

Risk factors for gastric ulceration in nursery pigs

Pars oesophageal gastric ulceration is a prevalent condition in swine production and often observed in finisher pigs at slaughter, with reported prevalence ranging from 32 % to 65 %. Although feeding practices in nursery and finisher pigs are similar, little is known about the prevalence and risk factors associated with this condition in nursery pigs.This prospective cohort study aimed to identify risk factors for gastric ulceration in nursery pigs. The objectives were: (1) to estimate the association of inherent pig characteristics (birth weight, sex, parity of sow, litter size, and pen fouling behavior) and management characteristics (antibiotic treatment during suckling and post weaning, piglet rotation during lactation, weaning age and weight) with pars oesophageal lesions; (2) to assess differences in gastric dry matter content, pH, and percentage of solid particles in the sediment in relation to pars oesophageal lesions.A total of 58 piglets tracked from birth to 20 days of age and 210 nursery pigs from birth to 10 weeks of age were euthanized and assessed for pars oesophageal gastric lesions. All nursery pigs were fed finely ground pelleted feed ad libitum. Based on a macroscopic assessment, the pigs’ stomachs were categorized as either LPO “lesions in the Pars oesophagea” or NLPO “no lesions in the Pars oesophagea”.We observed an overall prevalence of 26.2 % (CI 95 % 0.67 – 0.79) for LPO in nursery pigs at 10 weeks of age, while no lesion were observed in piglets at 20 days of age. A mixed multivariable logistic regression model showed that piglets with a birthweight ≤ 1.11 kg had a 2.11 times higher odds of LPO (CI 95 % 1.02–4.37, p = 0.04) than their heavier counterparts. There was a weak association of LPO in nursery pigs from pens with pen fouling with a 2.14 times higher odds (CI 95 % 0.97–4.72 p = 0.05). Nursery pigs with LPO presented an increased gastric content fluidity with a reduced (p ≤ 0.01) gastric dry matter content (18.7 %), solid phase (74.7 %), and pH (3.22) compared to NLPO nursery pigs (20.5 %, 85.09 %, 3.56, respectively).We have demonstrated that LPO are present in nursery pigs as early as 10 weeks of age. We observed that low birth weight is associated with higher odds for LPO in nursery pigs. These observations might help explain differences between individual pigs in terms of LPO development when groups are exposed to similar environments, management, and feeding conditions.

MIR and Vis/NIR spectroscopy cannot authenticate organic bulk milk

This study aimed to evaluate the feasibility of mid-infrared (MIR; 5000–900 cm−1) and visible/near-infrared (Vis/NIR; 400–2500 nm) spectroscopy to discriminate organic (ORG) from conventional (CONV) bulk milk. Samples (n = 225) from 24 farms (ORG, n = 12; CONV, n = 12) located in the same area, mainly rearing Holstein-Friesian cows, under similar management conditions, except for ORG livestock spending a period of time on pasture, were collected from September 2019 to August 2020. Chemical composition of the lactation ration was similar between groups. Mid-infrared and Vis/NIR spectrum of each sample were collected. Principal component analysis (PCA) and partial least squares-discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were done using R software. For the PLS-DA, records were divided in a train set (8 farms/group) and a test set (4 farms/group), and only wavelengths with VIP >1 were retained. The PCA was not able to discriminate both groups. The PLS-DA revealed an accuracy of the model in the test set of 54.1% and 62.9%, for MIR and Vis/NIR, respectively. In conclusion, both infrared regions performed similarly, and the moderate accuracy of the PLS-DA could be related to the similarity of the selected farms between both categories. Highlights Infrared spectra from bulk milk samples of organic and conventional farms were similar. Low accuracy using partial least squares-discriminant analysis. Both MIR and Vis/NIR infrared regions performed similarly.

Yield Performance and Response to High Plant Densities of Dry Bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) Cultivars under Semi-Arid Conditions

To identify eco-efficient bean cultivars that can be planted at high densities for sustainable bean production under climate change, this study analyzed the performance of ten dry bean (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) cultivars grown at 90,000, 145,000 and 260,000 plants ha−1 under rainfed semi-arid conditions in Mexico. The study compared the yield and yield components (leaf area index (LAI), pods per plant, and hundred seed weight) of the cultivars. We also analyzed the dry matter distribution (DMD), growth rate (GR), radiation use efficiency (RUE), and harvest index (HI) of the best performing cultivars to determine how they respond to higher densities. The cultivars were established under similar planting and management conditions during two growing seasons. The precipitation for the first and second seasons were 175 and 492 mm, respectively, representing 57% and 160% of the mean precipitation in the area during the July–October growing period. Pinto Saltillo, a drought-tolerant indeterminate semi-prostrate cultivar, and Azufrado 2, a determinate shrub cultivar, performed best at high densities under low-precipitation conditions (175 mm). Both cultivars responded to the highest density (260,000 plants ha−1) with increases of 54% to 69% (0.7 to 1.1) in LAI and 21% to 86% (0.32–0.81 Mg ha−1) in yield. The two cultivars responded to increasing plant density with a modification in their fraction of DMD over plant parts and a change in their GR from 0.23–0.25 at low density to 0.96–1.74 gr m−2 day−1 at high density. The two cultivars had an RUE of 3.8 to 4.4 g MJ−1 and HI of 0.31 to 0.36 at high planting density. Farmers’ use of these commercially available cultivars proven to have high yields and the ability to respond favorably to high densities under rainfed conditions can be a viable short-term strategy to increase dry bean production for sustainable agriculture in semi-arid temperate regions.

EFFECT OF DIETARY SUPPLEMENTATION WITH SOME ORGANIC ACIDS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BROILER CHICKENS

A total number of 120, 1d old unsexed chicks were randomly distributed and divided equally into 4 dietary treatment groups with 3 replicates each.  All broiler chickens were kept under similar management conditions. Basal starter and finisher diets were supplemented with two types of organic acids as follows: T1: basal diet (control, without supplementation), T2: basal diet + 2% citric acid (CA), T3: basal diet + 1% acetic acid (AC) and T4: basal diet + 1% citric acid + 0.5% acetic acid. Two corn-soybean based basal diets were formulated to be fed during starter (1 to 21 d, 22.13% CP and 3088 Kcal ME/ kg diet) and finisher (22 to 42 d, 19.82% CP and 3154 Kcal/ kg diet) periods.  Growth performance parameters, feed conversion ratio, some carcass characteristics and some lymphoid organs were estimated. Some blood parameters (total protein, albumin, total cholesterol, creatinine, ALT and AST) and histomorphological samples and parameters were determined at 42 day. European productive and economic efficiency were calculated, also. Results indicated that; chicks fed diets supplemented with a mixture of citric acid (1%) and acetic acid (0.5%,T4)  had significantly (P ≤ 0.05) the highest values of body weight, body weight gain and the best feed conversion ratio, while recorded the lowest feed intake compared to the other treatments. Moreover, using mixture of citric acid and acetic acid supplementation significantly (P ≤ 0.05) improved performance index (PI) in comparison with the control treatment. A highly significant (P ≤ 0.05)  beneficial effects of citric acid and acetic acid or their mixture as feed supplementation on dressing, giblets and some immune organs percentages at 42 days of age compared to the control group. Citric acid with acetic acid supplementation significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased some serum biochemical constituents (total protein, albumin, globulin and liver enzyme; ALT), while, total lipids and cholesterol concentrations were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) decreased. Histomorphological sections of the small intestine revealed that villi height, width and villi height and villi widths were significantly (P ≤ 0.05) increased with the supplementation of organic acid alone or in their mixture compared to the control group.  Also, the mixture of 1% CA + 0.5% AC supplementation had beneficial effects on economical efficiency. In conclusion, based on the obtained experimental results reported herein and from the nutritional and economical point of view, there are some beneficial effects of using a mixture of citric acid and acetic acid (1% citric acid + 0.5% acetic acid) in the diets of chicks characterized by the best productive performance, carcass traits, some serum biochemical constituents, intestinal histological parameters and better economic efficiency without any adverse effects on health under experimental conditions.

Plant Community Assembly in Invaded Recipient Californian Grasslands and Putative Donor Grasslands in Spain

The introduction of exotic species to new regions offers opportunities to test fundamental questions in ecology, such as the context-dependency of community structure and assembly. Annual grasslands provide a model system of a major unidirectional introduction of plant species from Europe to North America. We compared the community structure of grasslands in two Mediterranean regions by surveying plots in Spain and in California with similar environmental and management conditions. All species found in Spanish grasslands were native to Spain, and over half of them (74 of 139 species) are known to have colonized California. In contrast, in California, over half of the species (52 of 95 species) were exotic species, all of them native to Spain. Nineteen species were found in multiple plots in both regions (i.e., shared species). The abundance of shared species in California was either similar to (13 species) or greater than (6 species) in Spain. In California, plants considered pests were more likely than non-pest species to have higher abundance. Co-occurring shared species tended to maintain their relative abundance in native and introduced communities, which indicates that pools of exotic species might assemble similarly at home and away. These findings provide interesting insights into community assembly in novel ecosystems. They also highlight an example of startling global and local floristic homogenization.