Hasil untuk "Cattle"

Yves Emendack, Jacobo Sanchez, Haydee Laza

Dhurrin is a cyanogenic glucoside found in all vegetative tissues of Sorghum bicolor, functioning as a herbivore repellent, antifungal agent, osmoprotectant, and nitrogen (N) storage. Dhurrin concentration is usually highest in young seedlings, where it rapidly accumulates following germination, after which its biosynthesis decreases and its turnover increases as the seedling ages. To avoid prussic acid poisoning from dhurrin catabolism in cattle grazing or foraging on sorghum, numerous research studies now focus on breeding for dhurrin-free or acyanogenic sorghum using EMS (Ethyl methanesulfonate) mutants with a non-functional dhurrin biosynthetic pathway. However, there has been limited and conflicting research investigating the role dhurrin plays as a potential nitrogen source in sorghum’s early seedling growth, especially under N deficiency. It is plausible that the presence of background mutations in dhurrin-free sorghum mutants could mask or confound how the absence of dhurrin affects early seedling growth. Using a naturally occurring (non-mutant) ultra-low dhurrin genotype and known low and high dhurrin genotypes, the current research investigated the importance of dhurrin as a potential endogenous nitrogen source for early seedling growth in simulated non-marginal (N-available) and marginal (N-deficient) media. Dhurrin was implicated to be an N source for seedling growth from 8 to 13 days after planting under deficient N conditions. In N-deficient media at 13 days after planting, high-dhurrin-level genotypes accumulated more seedling fresh shoot biomass than low-dhurrin-level genotypes. Thus, while acyanogenic sorghum will be beneficial in expanding sorghum’s economic value, the use of dhurrin knock-out mutants can prove problematic since the complete lack of dhurrin may affect field germination and stand establishment, particularly under N-deficient or low-N-input conditions.

Sikandar Ali, Abdullah Saghir Ahmad, Kamran Ashraf et al.

Background and Aim: Anaplasma marginale is an obligate intraerythrocytic rickettsial parasite that infects cattle in tropical and subtropical regions. There is no evidence that A. marginale inoculation can be used to culture Rhipicephalus annulatus in rabbits. This study aimed to determine the molting of R. annulatus larvae, nymphs, and adults on rabbits as well as nymphs and adults of R. annulatus on calves with or without A. marginale. Transstadial, horizontal, and transovarial transmissions of A. marginale in R. annulatus reared on rabbits and calves were evaluated. Materials and Methods: Engorged female ticks were collected from field samples of A. marginale-infected and non-infected cattle. We divided the eight rabbits into two groups: A and B. Group A rabbits were infected with A. marginale through parenteral inoculation, whereas Group B rabbits were kept as a control. The “clean rabbits” in Group B were observed for tick rearing without A. marginale. Polymerase chain reaction was used to screen A. marginale in rabbits and stages of tick. The complete life cycle of R. annulatus with or without A. marginale was observed on rabbits. Results: A 6.5-day longer life cycle was observed in ticks harboring A. marginale than in ticks without A. marginale. To observe transstadial transmission, transstadial, horizontal, and transovarial transmissions of A. marginale in R. annulatus ticks were experimentally observed in one clean calf fed separately with infected nymphs and female adult ticks. Conclusion: We experimentally observed transovarian, transstadial, and transovarial transmission of A. marginale in R. annulatus ticks as a biological vector reared on calves and rabbits. We used rabbits as a model animal for rearing R. annulatus ticks and culture of A. marginale. Keywords: Anaplasma marginale, horizontal, rabbits, Rhipicephalus annulatus, transovarial, transstadial.

Federico Capra, Diego Abalos, Stefania Codruta Maris et al.

Abstract Digestate, a by‐product of biogas production, is widely recognized as a promising renewable nitrogen (N) source with high potential to replace synthetic fertilizers. Yet, inefficient digestate use can lead to pollutant N losses as ammonia (NH3) volatilization, nitrous oxide (N2O) emissions and nitrate (NO3−) leaching. Cover crops (CCs) may reduce some of these losses and recycle the N back into the soil after incorporation, but the effect on the N balance depends on the CC species. In a one‐year field study, we tested two application methods (i.e., surface broadcasting, BDC; and shallow injection, INJ) of the liquid fraction of separated co‐digested cattle slurry (digestate liquid fraction [DLF]), combined with different winter cover crop (CC) options (i.e., rye, white mustard or bare fallow), as starter fertilizer for maize. Later, side‐dressing with urea was required to fulfil maize N‐requirements. We tested treatment effects on yield, N‐uptake, N‐use efficiency parameters, and N‐losses in the form of N2O emissions and NO3− leaching. CC development and biomass production were strongly affected by their contrasting frost tolerance, with spring‐regrowth for rye, while mustard was winter killed. After the CCs, injection of DLF increased N2O emissions significantly compared with BDC (emission factor of 2.69% vs. 1.66%). Nitrous oxide emissions accounted for a small part (11%–13%) of the overall yield‐scaled N losses (0.46–0.97 kg N Mg grain−1). The adoption of CCs reduced fall NO3− leaching, being 51% and 64% lower for mustard and rye than under bare soil. In addition, rye reduced NO3− leaching during spring and summer after termination by promoting N immobilization, thus leading to −57% lower annual leaching losses compared with mustard. DLF application method modified N‐loss pathways, but not the cumulative yield‐scaled N losses. Overall, these insights contribute to inform an evidence‐based design of cropping systems in which nutrients are recycled more efficiently.

Irina Sycheva, Evgeniya Latynina, Azer Mamedov et al.

Background and Aim: Enhancing the nutritional and biological value of meat obtained from young surplus replacement animals of dual-purpose breeds is a critical objective in the livestock industry. This study aimed to investigate the impact of thyroglobulin (TG5, c. −422C > T) and leptin (LEP, c. 239C > T) polymorphisms on the productivity, chemical composition, and fatty acid (FA) profile of meat from Simmental bulls. Materials and Methods: A total of 26 Simmental bulls were genotyped for TG5 (c. −422C > T) and LEP (c. 239C > T) polymorphisms and reared under the same fattening conditions. Controlled slaughter was conducted at 18 months of age. Subsequently, the experimental animals were evaluated to determine their slaughter traits and the chemical and FA composition of ground beef and the longissimus dorsi muscle. Results: The results showed that the TG5 (c. −422C > T) polymorphism significantly (p < 0.05) affected the differentiation of bulls in terms of the synthesis of stearic acid, linolenic acid, and total polyunsaturated FAs, as well as the fat and dry matter content in the longissimus dorsi muscle. Conversely, the presence of the T allele in the LEP (c. 239C > T) polymorphism was associated with increased dry matter and fat in ground beef, carcass weight, and internal fat weight. Conclusion: The analysis of slaughter traits and the chemical and FA composition of meat from the Simmental bulls genotyped for the TG5 and LEP genes revealed a genetic basis for the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of meat productivity. Thus, the genetic variability of bulls regarding the LEP and TG5 genes can be used to improve the quantitative and qualitative indicators of meat productivity in Simmental cattle through marker-assisted selection.

Fangtao Li, Yan Li, Jianrong Ma et al.

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) is highly contagious and affects the economy of many countries worldwide. Serotype O is the most prevalent and is present in many regions of Asia. Lineages O/SEA/Mya-98, O/Middle East-South Asia (ME-SA)/PanAsia, O/Cathay and O/ME-SA/Ind-2001 have been circulating in Asian countries. Low antigenic matching between O/Cathay strains and current vaccine strains makes the disease difficult to control, therefore, analyzing the molecular evolution, diversity, and host tropisms of FMDV Serotype O in Asia may be helpful. Our results indicate that Cathay, ME-SA, and SEA are the predominant topotypes of FMDV serotype O circulating in Asia in recent years. Cathay topotype FMDV evolves at a higher rate compared with ME-SA and SEA topotypes. From 2011 onwards, the genetic diversity of the Cathay topotype has increased substantially, while large reductions were found in the genetic diversity of both ME-SA and SEA topotypes, suggesting a trend that infections sustained by the Cathay topotype were becoming a more severe epidemic in recent years. Analyzing the distributions of host species through time in the dataset, we found that the O/Cathay topotype was characterized by a highly swine-adapted tropism in contrast with a distinct host preference for O/ME-SA. The O/SEA topotype strains identified in Asia were isolated mainly from cattle until 2010. It is worth noting that there may be a fine-tuned tropism of the SEA topotype viruses for host species. To further explore the potential molecular mechanism of host tropism divergence, we analyzed the distribution of structure variations on the whole genome. Our findings suggest that deletions in the PK region may reflect a common pattern of altering the host range of serotype O FMDVs. In addition, the divergence of host tropism may be due to accumulated structural variations across the viral genome, rather than a single indel mutation.

Fahad Al-Asmari, Siddig H. Hamad, Salah A. Al Hashedi

Enterobacteriaceae can contaminate meat during various processing stages, including slaughter, evisceration, and b utchering, potentially causing foodborne illnesses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the prevalence of Enterobacteriaceae in carcass samples obtained from slaughterhouses and meat cuts collected from butcher shops. A total of 120 samples of camel, cattle, and sheep meat were analyzed for microbial contamination and isolates were identified using the PCR test. Total viable count ranged from 4.91 to 5.37 Log₁₀ CFU/g in slaughterhouses and butcher shops. <i>E. coli</i> dominated, with 84 out of the 120 samples (70%) contaminated, where contamination was highest in camel meat and lowest in sheep meat with 100% and 30% of contaminated samples, respectively. Salmonella was confirmed in 40% of camel, 47.5% of cattle, and 32.5% of sheep samples. In addition, twenty-five Enterobacteriaceae strains belonging to 19 different genera were detected in the meat samples. The highest occurrence was in the sheep samples with 15 different genera followed by the camels and the cattle samples with 14 different genera each. The presence of Enterobacteriaceae in camel, cattle, and sheep carcasses raises significant concerns regarding food safety. Adherence to good hygiene practices throughout animal slaughtering is crucial to minimize the risk of infection and transmission and ensure food safety.

Wakjira BS, Jorga E, Lakew M et al.

Bayeta Senbata Wakjira,1 Edilu Jorga,2 Matios Lakew,1 Abebe Olani,1 Biniam Tadesse,1 Getachew Tuli,1 Redeat Belaineh,1 Shubisa Abera,1 Getachew Kinfe,1 Solomon Gebre1 1Animal Health Institute, Sebeta, Ethiopia; 2Ambo University, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, Ambo, EthiopiaCorrespondence: Bayeta Senbata Wakjira, Email didigabruma@gmail.comIntroduction: Brucellosis is a neglected bacterial zoonosis with serious veterinary and public health importance throughout the world. A cross-sectional study on animal brucellosis was conducted aiming to estimate seroprevalence and molecular detection.Methods: Blood samples were collected from a total of 4274 individual animals (cattle, small ruminants and camel) from 241 herds/flocks for serology and PCR. Serum samples were tested using multispecies I-ELISA. Blood clots from seropositive animals were also tested for brucellosis via PCR. Additionally, 13 vaginal swab samples were collected from animals (2 from bovine and 11 from small ruminants) with recent abortion history for bacterial isolation and molecular detection.Results: The overall individual animal and herd level seroprevalence was 3.95% (169/4274) and 18.26% (44/241) respectively. The animal level seroprevalence at species level was 1.58% (47/2982), 8.89% (97/1091) and 12.44% (25/201) in bovine, small ruminants (sheep and goat) and camel, respectively. Herd level seroprevalence were 5.43% (10/184), 52.08% (25/48) and 100% (9/9) in bovine, small ruminant and camel, respectively. The animal level seroprevalence of bovine from intensive and extensive systems was 1.10% (31/2808) and 2.87% (5/174) respectively. Blood clots tested for brucellosis via PCR were negative by RT-PCR. Brucella species was isolated from 6/13 (46.15%) vaginal swab samples cultured on Brucella selective agar, and shown to be B. melitensis using Real-Time PCR.Conclusion: Overall, seropositivity for camels was higher than what has been reported previously. Also, there was a notable difference in this study in cattle seroprevalence when comparing extensive with intensive systems, with the extensive system having much greater seropositivity.Keywords: Brucella melitensis, neglected bacterial diseases, camel, zoonosis

Ngongo Yohanis, Basuki Tony, Abola Miqdoth S. et al.

Maize constitute dominant food crop in upland semi-arid region of East Nusa Tenggara (ENT) and as a main staple for majority of rural farmers. This paper examines Provincial Government programs to increase maize production and to reform maize production orientation. Data and information being used from the recent program: “Maize Planting, Cattle Harvest (MPCH)”. The survey was conducted in all villages in Districts of Timor and Sumba Island as pilot project. The study showed that: 1). Maize farmers keen to change production orientation from subsistence to semi and fully commercial as long as there are surplus production and better access to the market, 2). Average maize productivity of farmers under program (5 – 8 ton/ha) higher than traditional practices (1 – 2 ton/ha), 3). Most farmers under the program have access to have own cattle 1- 2 head/household from surplus production of maize sold with contract price IDR 3,200/kg. This result implies that incorporated farmer into the market from the beginning of the program, technical assistance to apply appropriate innovations, organized farmers groups to enhance business scale and government support to minimize production cost lead farmers to adopt new innovation, increase maize production and change maize production orientation (commercial).

Babatunde Agbeniga, Edward Webb

This study investigates the influence of timing and duration of low-voltage electrical stimulation (ES) as well as carcass weight, which are important factors affecting muscle glycolysis and meat color attributes. Longissimus samples from 147 cattle, representative of typical South African feedlot cattle, were assigned to 10 treatment groups according to the combination of carcass weight (small or heavy), time of ES (early [7 min] or late [45 min] postmortem), and duration of ES (30 or 60 s). Early ES and longer ES duration (60 s) produced the highest (P &lt; 0.05) meat lightness (L*). The combination of early ES and heavier carcasses produced the highest (P &lt; 0.05) chroma (C*) 2 d postmortem (butchery period). These results were corroborated by the energy metabolites, such that early stimulation produced the highest amount (P &lt; 0.05) of muscle lactate, glucose, and glucose-6-phosphate, as well as the lowest glycogen, creatine phosphate, and adenosine triphosphate early postmortem. This shows that the application of low-voltage ES on heavier carcass is advantageous in terms of meat color, but the advantages diminish as ageing progressed from 2 to 14 d postmortem.

Martiña Morantes, Pablo Herrera, Omar Colmenares et al.

RESUMEN Los sistemas de producción con rumiantes en Venezuela se caracterizan por el manejo de los animales a pastoreo, donde se han incorporado ovinos y bovinos de forma simultánea o alterna, lo cual se ha realizado sin información científica de base que respalde las decisiones de manejo a nivel de fincas. Con la finalidad de determinar la selección de herbáceas por ovinos y bovinos en pastoreo mixto continuo, se realizó un experimento en las sabanas bien drenadas de Venezuela, durante la época de transición lluvia–sequía. El área experimental estuvo constituida por un potrero de 20 hectáreas. Se determinó la frecuencia y densidad relativa de las especies vegetales. El recurso animal estuvo constituido por dos mautes mestizos Brahman (peso vivo) (PV) 140,05 ± 0,78 kilogramos (kg)) y 6 borregos West African (PV 23,60 ± 0,37 kg). La selección de herbáceas se determinó con la técnica de análisis microhistólogico, en muestreos semanales de heces durante cuatro semanas. Se determinaron las frecuencias relativas de las especies vegetales identificadas en las heces, y se analizaron a través de la prueba de Kruskal-Wallis, en un diseño completamente aleatorizado. La densidad relativa mostró una mayor participación numérica del Trachypogon spicatus (L.f.) Kuntze (17,62 %) y del Trachypogon vestitus Andersson (17,33 %), y una mayor frecuencia relativa del Trachypogon vestitus Andersson (9,85 %) y del Trachypogon spicatus (L.f. ) Kuntze (8,68 %). Se encontró diferencia (P<0,01) en la selección de herbáceas entre especies animales, con una mayor frecuencia de aparición de leguminosas en las heces de ovinos, predominando Desmodium spp. y Mimosa albida Willd, y de gramíneas para bovinos, como Trachypogon vestitus Nees y Axonopus spp. Estas diferencias indican que el pastoreo mixto, continuo y con una relación de carga ovino: bovino de 1:1, puede conducir a una utilización integral del recurso forrajero en sabanas bien drenadas. ABSTRACT The production systems with ruminants in Venezuela are characterized by the management of grazing animals, where sheep and cattle have been incorporated simultaneously or alternately, which has been done without basic scientific information to support management decisions at the level of farms. Animal resource was conformed by crossbreed Brahman weaned calves (live weight (LW) 140.05 ± 0.78 kilograms (kg)) and 6 West African lambs (LW 23.60 ± 0.37 kg). The selection of herbaceous was determined by microhistologycal analysis, in samples of feces weekly, during four weeks. The relative frequencies of the botanical species identified in feces were analyzed by Kruskal-Wallis test, as a completely randomized design. Relative density showed a higher numerical participation of Trachypogon spicatus (L.f.) Kuntze (17.62 %) and Trachypogon vestitus Andersson (17.33 %), and the highest relative frequencies for Trachypogon vestitus Andersson (9.85 %) and Trachypogon spicatus (L.f.) Kuntze (8.68 %). Selection of herbaceous was different (P<0.01) between animal species, with a high frequency of legumes in ovine feces, with Desmodium spp. and Mimosa albida Willd. as predominant species. Herbaceous species had the highest frequency in bovines, with Trachypogon vestitus Nees and Axonopus spp. as predominant. Differences indicate that mixed and continuous grazing, with a ratio of 1:1 (ovine: bovine) can contribute to an integral selection of forage native in well drained savannas.

Yuliia Aleskerova, Tetiana Mulyk, Lidiia Fedoryshyna

The purpose of the article is to improve the methodology for analysing credit support for the reproduction of fixed assets of agrarian enterprises. Various techniques have been developed to analyse the effectiveness of the formation of fixed assets and the process of their reproduction. Among them, the application of such types of analysis as horizontal and vertical (quantitative analysis of the structure of fixed assets and its changes), analysis of return on assets, capital intensity and profitability, indicators of extensive and intensive loading are widespread. Less applicable are calculations of various coefficients, such as the rate of retirement, renewal, increase in fixed assets.). Methodology. There are several approaches to analysing the effectiveness of the process of reproduction of fixed assets. A number of domestic scholars distribute such indicators to groups: natural and valuable. Natural includes all the technical and economic performance of engines, machines, performance indicators of cattle, etc. Among the highlights are indicators of economic, sectoral efficiency, and indicators of economic efficiency. Results. Determining the efficiency of the loan support for the reproduction process involves the creation of a system of indicators that, by the structure and in aggregate, reflect the degree of efficiency of the use of the loan. Indicators that are used today to assess the effectiveness of using credit support, have fundamental disadvantages, which makes it problematic for their practical application. Practical implications. Thus, some of them do not have a sufficiently significant theoretical justification, the same indicators have different names, are unsuccessful from the logical point of view, do not adequately reflect the needs of industry practices, others – when testing in the current accounting information, it is expedient to improve them. Value/originality. The application of the analysis of reproduction of fixed assets will allow receiving growth of economic indicators of activity of agricultural enterprises on the basis of ensuring the continuous process of financing production by economically grounded sources of working capital formation, one of which is short-term bank credit.

Osvaldo Emanuel Muñoz

Las especies de Amaranthus cultivadas están aumentando sus posibilidades de consumo y cultivo debido al valor nutritivo y a la plasticidad agronómica que poseen. La competencia con la maleza es uno de los inconvenientes vinculados a los costos y calidad del producto. El presente trabajo tuvo como objetivo evaluar en tres cultivares de amaranto, las malezas, la arquitectura de la planta, debido a que ésta presenta problemas en la cosecha mecánica. Estos parámetros deben ser analizados a los efectos de obtener un grano en condiciones de ser utilizado sea para su consumo o para futuras siembras. Para ello se sembraron 3 franjas de 75 m de largo que contenían 13 surcos separados a 0,70 m, en la Facultad de Agronomía UNLPam. La siembra de Amaranthus hypochondriacus L. cv Artasa 9122; Amaranthus cruentus cv Don Guien y Amaranthus mantegazzianus Pass. cv Don Juan, se realizó el 30 de noviembre de 2009 y se resembró Amaranthus hypochondriacus el 31 de diciembre de 2009, con una sembradora de cuerpos separados a una densidad de 3,6 kg.ha-1 Para controlar las malezas se realizó aporque y escardillado en dos oportunidades. En A. cru la población de plantas disminuyó de 98.000 plantas/hectárea (pl. ha-1) antes del 1er aporque a 66.000 pl.ha-1  Antes de efectuar el 2º aporque se contabilizó un total de 60.000 pl. ha-1y después del mismo el stand fue de 40.000 llegando a cosecha con 32.000 pl.ha-1  . El espaciamiento entre líneas y entre plantas, unido a las características genéticas de la esta especie hizo que la inflorescencia sea coposa, bi y trifurcada con buen índice de cosecha y profundos daños de corte y muerte de plantas en cada aporque. Amaranthus mantegazzianus presentó un IC de 0,17 mientras que en Amaranthus cruentus y Amaranthus hypochondriacus fue de 0,22 y 0,21; por lo que aquellos germoplasmas con IC bajo, serán más aptos para la producción hortícola y forrajera. Respecto a las perdidas de cosecha para Amaranthus cruentus y Amaranthus hypochondriacus, las pérdidas por cola fueron de 232 kg.ha-1 respectivamente y los rindes de 320 kg.ha-1 en Amaranthus hypochondriacus y 350 en Amaranthus cruentus. En Amaranthus mantegazzianus, se cortaron las panojas manualmente y posteriormente se trillaron con la cosechadora, debido a la excesiva altura de las plantas y la presencia de hojas. En este caso el rinde fue de 865 kg.ha-1 La cosechadora de parcelas nueva no se pudo regular correctamente y se deberá readecuar para lograr un buen funcionamiento. No se evaluaron perdidas de pre cosecha.

Josélia Fontenele Batista, Ana Maria Muratori, Maranei Rohers Penha

The main objective of this paper is to approach how the economic impulses of livestock have influenced the stretch along the BR-429 and noticeable aspects of this influence the landscape. The research methodology involved literature and field research, for the landscape reading, using GPS, adapting the methodology for classification of land use, proposed by the IBGE (2006). Procedures generate points for interpolation and regionalization of activity, besides existing infrastructure survey. Cattle ranching in Rondônia has emerged as major economic development activity, projecting the state abroad, in terms of meat exporting. This situation not only mobilizes large investments, as well as large areas, since it occurs in the country a reallocation of this activity before more connected to the south and midwest, to less desirable areas of the Amazon. This spatial reorganization has been followed by transforming activities such as fridges and tanning, which combined with the government agencies, are setting and / or resetting the landscape, by the insertion of new technical objects and the refunctionalisation of the preexisting ones.

D. A. Iyai, A. Yaku

Pembangunan peternakan yang moderen membutuhkan kejelasan dan ketegasan batasan, corak dan dinamika produksinya. Penelitian eksploratif dengan metode survei melalui pendekatan Participative Rural Appraisal selama satu bulan dilakukan untuk mencatat sumberdaya yang dimiliki oleh para peternak berdasarkan kawasan agro-ekologi di Manokwari, yang meliputi Manokwari Utara, Manokwari Selatan, Warmare, Prafi, Masni, Oransbari, Ransiki, Anggi dan Minyambouw. Karakteristik agroekologi dibuat dengan software Microsoft Office VISIO. Matriks sederhana digunakan untuk pengelompokan kriteria komoditi ternak, komoditi pertanian, dan komoditi perikanan dan indikator BioFisik. Sistim peternakan terpadu yang dapat diidentifikasi pada wilayah agroekologi pesisir adalah sistim peternakan sapi berbasis tanaman kelapa (cocobeef) dan tanaman pertanian (crops livestock farming system) serta backyard poultry farming system. Pada daerah dataran rendah sistim yang dikembangkan adalah cattle-palm farming system, pig palm farming system, goat faming system, poultry farming system dan Crops livestock farming system. Pada kawasan Agroekologi Dataran Tinggi, Crop Pig Farming System, Poultry Farming System dan Backyard Cattle farming system sudah dikembangkan.

Mehretie Belay, Woldeamlak Bewket

Rural livelihoods (RLs) in highland Ethiopia is critically threatened by increasing degradation of land and water resources (LWRs) and lack of sufficient livelihood assets. In response, farmers adapted diverse indigenous land and water management (LWM) technologies and livelihood strategies. This paper describes farmers’ methods of soil erosion identification and the practices of managing LWRs to enhance RLs. It presents the results of studies focusing on assessment of soil erosion indicators, farmers’ in-built sustainable land and water management practices (LWMPs) and RLs in Dangila woreda (district) in the northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. Data were gathered from May 2010 to October 2013 through participatory transect walks, field observation, formal and informal discussions with farmers, examination of office documents and from a survey of 201 rural households. Descriptive statistics and the livelihood strategy diversification index (LSDI) were used to analyze the data. Results indicated that farmers employ around 13 indicators to identify soil erosion on their farmlands. Over 79% of the farmers indicated the occurrence of soil erosion on their farm fields and some 59% reported the trend was increasing for twenty years, 1991-2011. More than 174 km soil-bunds and greater than 4 km stone-bunds were constructed on farmlands and on grazing fields through farmer participatory watershed development campaigns. Some 34 gullies were stabilized using check-dams and vegetative measures. Almost 72% of the households applied cattle manure on about of their 75 ha lands to improve soil fertility. A total of 44 diversion canals and 34 water committees were established to facilitate the irrigation practice of 33% rural households. Over 20% farmers obtained results ranging from moderate to excellent by combining manure with chemical fertilizers in the same field. Nevertheless, introduced methods such as improved seeds and fertilizers were commented for unaffordable prices and short-range services. Farmers utilized over eight livelihood strategies but the mixed crop-livestock farming was their main source of income. Sharecropping contracts were the ways of stabilizing the land demands of the studied households. It is concluded that integrated use of technologies (i.e. structural & vegetative plus indigenous & introduced measures) and participatory research & planning should be promoted to improve farmers’ LWMPs and livelihoods. Increased effort should be made by concerned agencies to help farmers own assets (e.g. farm land) and diversify their livelihoods strategies. Special focus should be also given to farmers’ inbuilt LWMPs and livelihood strategies.

Tatenda R. Motsi, Shadreck C. Tichiwangana, Gift Matope et al.

A retrospective serosurvey was carried out between 2009 and 2012 to detect antibodies to Brucella spp. in free-ranging African wildlife ungulates from five selected game parks in Zimbabwe. Samples were drawn from wildlife-livestock interface and non-interface areas in Zimbabwe. A total of 270 serum samples from four different species, namely African buffalo (Syncerus caffer) (n=106), impala (Aepyceros melampus) (n = 72), black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) (n= 45) and white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) (n = 47), were tested. The percentage of positive samples was 17.0% in buffalo (18/106; 95% CI: 9.72% – 24.1%) and 1.4% in impala (1/72; 95% CI: 0% – 4.2%). No antibodies to Brucella spp. were detected in the two rhinoceros species. The difference in the percentage of seropositive cases between buffalo and impala was significant (p< 0.05). Seropositivity to Brucella spp. was higher (19.1%) in adult buffalo compared with juveniles and sub-adults younger than six years (5.9%). Further, seropositivity was marginally higher (20.4%) in animals from wildlife-livestock interface areas than in those from non-interface areas (13.45%; OR = 1.45) although the difference was not statistically significant. The study showed that brucellosis could be more widespread in buffalo and may circulate in this species independently in the absence of contact with cattle, whilst rhinoceros may be considered less susceptible to brucellosis. The role of the wildlife-livestock interface in the epidemiology of brucellosis in wildlife and livestock is probably overstated but needs to be explored further.

Elessandra da Rosa Zavareze, Kessiane Silva de Moraes, Nathalie Goulart Souza Leite et al.

O trabalho teve como objetivo utilizar soro de leite in natura, concentrado e desidratado na formulação de pão e avaliar a influência deste ingrediente nas características tecnológicas e sensoriais do produto, assim como o aumento no teor protéico. Os resultados foram avaliados por análise de variância e as médias comparadas por teste de Tukey (p < 0,05). Os dados foram submetidos à correlação de Pearson. Os pães com soro de leite apresentaram maior teor protéico e notas tecnológicas superiores ao pão padrão, com exceção do pão com soro desidratado que apresentou menor volume específico. Na avaliação sensorial, os pães com adição de soro não apresentaram diferença significativa em relação ao pão padrão.

Humberto Angelo, Silvio Pedreira Pereira de Sá

The process of occupation in Amazon stimulated lots of factors that induced deforestation. These factors are cattle ranching and agriculture, logging, settlement projects, the opening of new roads, land property rights, populational growth, land speculation, economic growth, and others. This study had the objective of evaluating the influence of many social-economics factors in the deforestation process in Brazilian Amazon, during 1980 and 1999. The variables of the model are deforestation in the Northern region of Brazil, price of cattle meat, cattle heerd in Northern region, production of round wood from native forest, production of timber industry, extension of roads in the Northern region, PIB, IGP, population, rural credit and benefits, average of land prices, average of land prices for agriculture, average of land prices for pasture. The data set was submitted to some statistical analysis, like correlation analysis, main components analysis and linear regression analysis. Results showed that the major factor affecting deforestation is the production of round wood, but the origin of the timber had not been identified, if it’s legal or not, from clearing forest or sustainable management. After this, considering the order of importance population growth, productions of sawn wood, roads and cattle herd.

Santa-Rita Pedro, Pereira Filipe, Pereira Luísa et al.

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The picture of dog mtDNA diversity, as obtained from geographically wide samplings but from a small number of individuals per region or breed, has revealed weak geographic correlation and high degree of haplotype sharing between very distant breeds. We aimed at a more detailed picture through extensive sampling (n = 143) of four Portuguese autochthonous breeds – Castro Laboreiro Dog, Serra da Estrela Mountain Dog, Portuguese Sheepdog and Azores Cattle Dog-and comparatively reanalysing published worldwide data.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fifteen haplotypes belonging to four major haplogroups were found in these breeds, of which five are newly reported. The Castro Laboreiro Dog presented a 95% frequency of a new A haplotype, while all other breeds contained a diverse pool of existing lineages. The Serra da Estrela Mountain Dog, the most heterogeneous of the four Portuguese breeds, shared haplotypes with the other mainland breeds, while Azores Cattle Dog shared no haplotypes with the other Portuguese breeds.</p> <p>A review of mtDNA haplotypes in dogs across the world revealed that: (a) breeds tend to display haplotypes belonging to different haplogroups; (b) haplogroup A is present in all breeds, and even uncommon haplogroups are highly dispersed among breeds and continental areas; (c) haplotype sharing between breeds of the same region is lower than between breeds of different regions and (d) genetic distances between breeds do not correlate with geography.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>MtDNA haplotype sharing occurred between Serra da Estrela Mountain dogs (with putative origin in the centre of Portugal) and two breeds in the north and south of the country-with the Castro Laboreiro Dog (which behaves, at the mtDNA level, as a sub-sample of the Serra da Estrela Mountain Dog) and the southern Portuguese Sheepdog. In contrast, the Azores Cattle Dog did not share any haplotypes with the other Portuguese breeds, but with dogs sampled in Northern Europe. This suggested that the Azores Cattle Dog descended maternally from Northern European dogs rather than Portuguese mainland dogs. A review of published mtDNA haplotypes identified thirteen non-Portuguese breeds with sufficient data for comparison. Comparisons between these thirteen breeds, and the four Portuguese breeds, demonstrated widespread haplotype sharing, with the greatest diversity among Asian dogs, in accordance with the central role of Asia in canine domestication.</p>

M Arbabi, H Hooshyar

Hydatidosis is one of the major zoonotic diseases that cause considerable economic losses and public health problems worldwide. The present study was conducted to determine the prevalence of E. granulosus in domestic and wild carnivores and the infection rate of hydatid cyst in slaughtered animals and people in Kashan area, central Iran. A total of 142 carnivores including 70 stray dogs, 40 jackals, 22 red foxes, and 10 wolves were examined for the presence of E. granulosus, as well as, 170510 slaughtered sheep, 162665 goats and 13059 cattle for hydatid cyst infection. In addition, 500 inhabitants in rural areas were examined for antibodies to hydatid cyst. Results indicated that 43.7% of carnivores were infected with E. granulosus. Infection rate in slaughtered animals was 2.7%. Overall, the seroprevalence rate in human cases was 2.4%. Eighty-five patients including 47 females and 38 males were hospitalized. The mean annual incidence rate of hydatidosis in human was three cases per 100 000 populations. In general, the situation of the hydatidosis in the livestock and human and echinococcosis in the carnivores of the Kashan is similar to the other zones in Iran.