3709 research outputs found
Sort by
Herbicide Efficacy Evaluation
No full textEnd of Project ReportThe objective of this series of trials was to determine if recently introduced herbicide formulations give better weed control in cereals and grassland than those presently in use. Effect on crop yield and quality was also examined where appropriate. In 1995, field trials were carried out with a new diflufenican/flurtamone formulation, Bacara, in winter wheat and barley. In both cases, the results showed that this new formulation gave commercially acceptable weed control of a wide range of annual weeds and grasses, when applied at doses between 260 and 350 g a.i. per hectare. None of the products tested had any adverse effects on crop yield or quality. Between 1996 and 1998 a number of new sulfonylurea herbicides, based on carfentrazone and flupyrsulfuron methyl (Lexus series), were tested at trial sites in Carlow and Clonmel. Most of the formulations gave weed control similar to Cougar, which was included in all these trials as standard comparison treatment, without affecting crop yield or quality.
New herbicide trials for the control of broad and curled leaf dock (Rumex spp.) in pasture were carried out. Most of the herbicides investigated gave better overall control of both species than the standard dicamba/mecoprop based products. One of the sulfonylyurea-based herbicides controlled broad leaf dock only, and occasionally retarded grass development, but had no effect on clover. Fluroxypyr-based products gave long term control of both dock species without any effect on the grass, but eliminated clover present in the sward. In all trials some dock regrowth was evident one year after treatment
Temporal trends in biosecurity in Irish pig herds using a standardized scoring system
Full text linkAbstract Background Biosecurity measures are crucial to the introduction and spread of pathogens both within and between farms. External biosecurity focuses on preventing pathogens from entering or leaving the farm, while internal biosecurity aims to limit or stop the spread of pathogens within the farm. Implementing biosecurity measures not only protects animals from disease but also has positive effects on productivity, welfare and farm profitability. By reducing the need for antimicrobials, biosecurity measures also contribute to combating antimicrobial resistance. To assess and improve biosecurity, tools like Biocheck.UGent have been developed. In Ireland, the Biocheck.UGent tool has been widely used in pig farms since 2018. The aims of this study were firstly to assess temporal trends on biosecurity scores in Irish pig farms from 2018 to 2023 using the Biocheck.UGent tool and secondly to identify areas for improvement. Results There was an increase in the number of annual assessments over the study period, with the majority of farms being assessed multiple times. Overall, external biosecurity scores were higher than internal scores. Improvements in the scores were observed over time for most of the subcategories for external and internal biosecurity and across the different farm types. Analysis of the subcategories within the scoring system revealed areas with lower scores, including disease management, cleaning and disinfection, and measures between compartments. Weaner-to-finisher farms tended to have lower scores compared to other farm types. Conclusions While external biosecurity in Irish pig farms is generally high, there is room for improvement in internal biosecurity. This study highlights the importance of continuous efforts to improve biosecurity. The data obtained will aid in estimating the cost–benefit of implementing biosecurity measures, crucial for decision-making and better returns on investments
Detection of resistance in Phytophthora infestans to the carboxylic acid amide (CAA) fungicides using digital droplet PCR
No full textBACKGROUND
Potato late blight caused by Phytophthora infestans remains the greatest biotic threat to potato production globally. In northern Europe to prevent the disease and associated yield losses fungicides are heavily relied upon, with multiple applications required during the potato growing season. Unfortunately, such intensive fungicide usage has the potential to compromise control efficacy as it puts in place immense selective pressure for the emergence and spread of fungicide resistant strains of P. infestans. In recent years this scenario has been realized, with the emergence of strains resistant to the carboxylic acid amide (CAA) fungicides. As resistance to the CAA fungicides in P. infestans has been confirmed to result from changes in the pathogen's cellulose synthase A3 gene (CesA3), specifically at amino acid position 1105, it opens the possibility to develop molecular tools to rapidly monitor populations of the pathogen for the resistance allele.
RESULTS
Using the Stilla naica® 3-colour system a droplet digital PCR (ddPCR) was successfully developed to simultaneously detect the P. infestans CesA3 gene irrespective of its CAA sensitivity status, and either the CAA wild-type sequence for position 1105 or that conferring the resistant allele G1105S. Using a ‘drop-off’ in ratio of positive droplets for either the wild-type or G1105S alleles relative to those positive for the general P. infestans CesA3 it was also possible to demonstrate that using the assay other potential alterations known to confer resistance that may occur at this position (e.g. G1105V) can be detected. The assay was validated using DNA extracted from P. infestans cultures or infected leaves preserved on FTA cards.
CONCLUSIONS
The assay developed will allow for the accurate and sensitive detection of CAA resistance conferred by alterations at amino acid position 1105 in the CesA3 gene in P. infestans. The capacity to use the assay with multiple DNA sources and potential to adapt the ‘drop-off’ approach to different ddPCR platforms will ensure its applicability to the wider P. infestans community in monitoring the continued use of CAA-based fungicides for P. infestans management. © 2025 The Author(s). Pest Management Science published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd on behalf of Society of Chemical Industry
Correction: Sowing seeds of awareness: a cross-sectional analysis of mental health literacy and help-seeking in Irish farmers
No full textAntimicrobial use in pig herds in Ireland: analysis of a national database (2019–2023)
Full text linkAbstract Background Antimicrobial resistance (AMR) in human and animal pathogens remains a global One-Health threat. The associations between antimicrobial use (AMU) and the evolution and dissemination of AMR bacteria, and their resistance genes, highlight the importance of monitoring and regulating AMU. Here, we present an analysis of national monitoring data of AMU in pig facilities in Ireland from 2019 to 2023 via the recently established National AMU Database. AMU was measured using two metrics (mg per corrected population units (mg/PCU) and defined daily dose (DDDvet/PCU)). Temporal trend models were fit using regression models with population average effects given there were multiple observations per herd, while controlling for herd type and size. Results Linear spline models revealed no significant change in overall usage from Q1-2019 until mid-2020, followed by a significant decrease in usage until mid-2022. There was evidence of increases in usage from mid-2022 until the end of the time series; the exact timing of the changes in trends varied by the AMU metric. A multinomial logit regression model suggested that there was a significantly decreased probability of premix use relative to oral administration from Q3-2021 through Q4-2023 (OR: 0.70 − 0.58; P < 0.03). The predicted probability that a high priority critically important antimicrobial (HPCIA) was used in a herd during a year-quarter declined by an average of 9% per quarter (OR: 0.91; 95% CI: 0.90–0.92; p < 0.001) over the study period. The mean decline in use of cephalosporin (3rd /4th generation), fluoroquinolone and macrolide (a former HPCIA) per quarter were estimated to be -12% (95% CI: -8– -15%), -9% (95% CI: -8– -10%) and − 4% (95% CI: -2– -4%), respectively. Conclusions This exploration of AMU in pigs in Ireland revealed significant changes in overall usage, with both decreases and increases. There were declines in usage of HPCIA agents. Additionally, there was evidence of a significant decline in the use of oral premixes, coinciding with policy change. Further monitoring of AMU is essential to understand how the pig farming sector is responding to policy changes (e.g., increasing AMU in response to zinc oxide bans)
Information access, governance support and operational flexibility are needed to drive adaptation of European forests to global change
No full textMany forest owners and professionals recognize global change and increasing forest disturbances as pressing challenges but have yet to implement adaptation options to counteract the impacts on their forests. The ecological effectiveness of these options is context-dependent, influenced by site conditions and the quality of implementation. In addition, the socio-economic context can support or impede the implementation of adaptation options. To assess the relevance of implementation barriers and how they are perceived, we surveyed over 800 forest owners and professionals across Europe. Adaptation options that were perceived as effective were also more likely to be applied. Owing to its low evidence of effectiveness and conflicts with other management objectives, non-management was largely regarded as a non-viable adaptation option. Overall, respondents rated the importance of most implementation barriers as low to moderate. However, for certain adaptation options, specific barriers were perceived as particularly relevant. Forest owners and professionals with experience in practicing forest adaptation regarded potential barriers as less constraining than other groups of participants. More timber production-oriented owners and professionals identified economic issues as particularly constraining. To facilitate implementation of adaptation, participants suggested improved communication, more education, more flexible legislation and simpler access to financial support. Different specific site and management contexts complicate the development of general recommendations. Therefore, local science-practice collaborations and platforms to share experiences regarding adaptation options could promote the adaptive capacity of forest owners and professionals
Understanding the barriers and enablers to agroforestry adoption in Ireland through an innovation systems approach
Full text linkThe innovation of agroforestry is relatively new in Ireland, with uptake lagging behind targets. This study aimed to identify the reasoning behind this and identify the main barriers to the uptake of agroforestry. The Innovation Systems Approach was used as the analytical framework to the study whereby a structural-functional analysis was used to identify the main barriers/blocking mechanisms. Thirty-three interviews across all four domains of the innovation system (research, intermediary, enterprise and influencing) were undertaken with actors from the wider agricultural and forestry sectors networks. The results demonstrate the following key failures of the current Irish Agroforestry Innovation system: a low level of knowledge of agroforestry; a lack of research undertaken and capacity; a lack of interaction between actors; policy issues; and a lack of goals within actor organisations in supporting and promoting agroforestry. The paper provides a number of recommendations aimed at reducing the identified failures laid out as a set of goals
Food microstructure and protein digestion in the human gastrointestinal tract: an ileostomy study focusing on interindividual variability in gluten digestibility
No full textPeer-ReviewedThe degree of digestion of gluten proteins is thought to be directly linked to their capacity to elicit immune-mediated responses in predisposed individuals. Levels and timing of detection of gluten epitopes in stool samples exhibit high interindividual variability. However, the reasons behind this variability remain unclear and existing data do not allow distinctions between the effects of the upper gastrointestinal tract and colonic fermentation. This ileostomy study aimed to analyse the structural and biochemical degradation of a gluten-containing meal in the terminal ileum and to investigate interindividual variability. Eleven participants consumed the test meal (oat porridge and a wheat breakfast cereal) and ileal effluent was collected once every hour over eight hours for quantification of soluble protein, free amines, potentially immunogenic gliadin fragments, and insoluble nitrogen. The molecular weight distribution of soluble proteins was assessed by SEC-HPLC. Microstructural features were studied using scanning electron and confocal laser scanning microscopy. Total ileal effluent output exhibited a relatively high interindividual coefficient of variation (CV) (40.2%, range: 169.4 to 553.1 g), similar to protein and free amines (46.0% and 40.2%, respectively). The ratios of protein to ileal effluent and of free amines to protein exhibited lower CVs (26.9% and 18.6%, respectively). In contrast, potentially immunogenic gliadin fractions exhibited markedly higher variability (CV = 69.4%, range: 3.1 to 65.7 mg of gliadin equivalents), even after normalization by the gliadin-to-soluble-protein ratio (CV = 63.1%, range: 0.8 to 15.1 mg g−1 of protein). Amino acid sequences recognized by the R5 antibody were detected in both 60% ethanol and aqueous extracts, with water-soluble components dominating gliadin output for almost all participants. The disproportionately higher variability in gliadin excretion compared to total nitrogen, protein, and free amines, suggests that interindividual differences in gluten hydrolysis originate primarily in the upper gastrointestinal tract, indicating that individual characteristics likely modulate the specific capacity to degrade gluten proteins
Observational study: effect of varying transport durations and feed withdrawal on the physiological status and health of dairy calves
Full text linkAbstract Long-distance transport and associated fasting of unweaned calves have the potential to compromise the animals’ welfare. This observational study aimed to determine how transport and fasting durations impacted the physiology and health of 115 transported calves in three transport groups; IRE (n = 20, mean age 29.8d; short road transport (~ 29 h incl. resting time) and short feed deprivation (~ 11 h)), INT (n = 65, mean age 24.9d; long road/ferry transport (~ 79 h incl. resting times) and long feed deprivation (~ 28 h and 25 h)), and NLD (n = 30, mean age 17.7d; short road transport (~ 28 h incl. resting time) and long feed deprivation (> 18 h)). All calves travelled through an assembly centre. Each calf was blood sampled (arrival at destination farm, 1-week and 3-weeks post-arrival), health scored (arrival, 1, 3, 7, 8, 20d post-arrival) and weighed (farm/mart of origin [IRE and INT only], arrival, and 3-weeks post-arrival). (Generalised) linear mixed models were used to analyse differences in blood variables, weight, and health scores on arrival and during recovery (all other timepoints). Despite differing transport durations, both INT and NLD calves exhibited glucose, beta-hydroxy-butyrate, non-esterified-fatty-acids and sodium levels outside reference limits upon arrival, which were different from values observed in IRE calves (p < 0.05). Lactate and potassium were above reference range for INT calves on arrival, and higher than in IRE and NLD groups (p < 0.05). One- and three-weeks post arrival, most variables returned to within reference ranges, and differences between groups were minimal and not clearly associated with either transport duration or fasting during transport. Health scores did not differ between transport groups at arrival, and differences were minimal during the three-week recovery period. INT calves lost more weight during the journey than IRE calves (p < 0.01), while INT and NLD calves gained similar weight in the 3-weeks post-arrival, but less than IRE calves (both p < 0.01). Overall, changes in the physiological status of calves post transport appeared to relate more to the duration of feed deprivation than to the duration of transport, except for potassium and lactate (muscle fatigue), which were impacted more for INT calves. Most variables showed clear signs of recovery to within reference levels for all groups within three weeks. Minimizing the duration of feed deprivation during transport should be a key consideration for the dairy industry to reduce the impact of transport on calf welfare