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Spatial distribution and damage frequency of remaining trees after first thinning with “ghost trails” : a comparison of two methods in SCA´s thinning operations
Get PDFGallring är en viktig skoglig åtgärd som påverkar beståndets utveckling, trädens kvalitet och den framtida avkastningen. För att gallringen ska bli effektiv och hållbar krävs det att arbetet utförs med god precision och planering. SCA Skog har utvecklat en metod för gallring med slingerstråk, som de rekommenderar att alla gallringslag använder sig av, men det finns variation i hur den tillämpas. För den rekommenderade metoden placeras slingerstråket mellan två parallella stickvägar och det gallrade virket läggs vid de två befintliga stickvägarna. Den andra metoden innebär att slingerstråket placeras parallellt med en stickväg och virket läggs endast vid den stickvägen. Studien omfattade en analys av samtliga gallringslag inom ett förutbestämt område, totalt inventerades 24 bestånd fördelade mellan de två gallringsmetoderna. Syftet var att undersöka och jämföra hur den rumsliga fördelningen och stamskador på kvarvarande träd skiljer sig åt efter gallring utifrån vilken gallringsmetod som tillämpats. Resultatet visade en stor variation vid tillämpning av olika gallringsmetoder och visade att den rekommenderade metoden gav en jämnare fördelning av gallringsuttaget vid jämförelse med den andra metoden av slingerkörning, som visade större variation. Skadefrekvensen på kvarvarande träd påverkades inte av gallringsmetod, däremot fanns det en högre risk för skador i grandominerade bestånd än i tallbestånd. De kvarvarande trädens fördelning visade tydligt att de påverkas av slingerstråkets placering mellan stickvägarna snarare än enbart metodval. Resultaten kan användas som underlag för framtida beslutstöd, planering och utbildning, främst inom företagets gallringsverksamhet.Thinning is a key silviculture treatment that influences stand development, timber quality, and future revenue. To be effective and sustainable, thinning operations require careful planning and high operational precision. SCA Forestry has developed a recommended method for thinning using strip roads, yet the degree of implementation varies in practice. For the recommended method, the “ghost trail” is placed between two parallel strip roads, and the harvested timber is piles alongside both strip roads. The alternative method involves placing the “ghost trail” parallel to a single trip road, with the harvested timber piled only alongside that strip road. The study analyzed all thinning units within a predetermined area, with a total of 24 stands inventoried and divided between the two thinning methods. The aim was to investigate and compare how the spatial distribution and damage frequency of residuals trees differ depending on the thinning method applied. The results revealed considerable variation in outcomes depending on the thinning method. The recommended method produced a more uniform distribution of harvested trees, while the alternative method showed greater variability. Stem damage frequency was not affected by thinning methods, but the risk of damage was higher in spruce-dominated stands than in pine-dominated ones. Furthermore, the distribution of remaining trees was more clearly influenced by the placement of the “ghost trail” road between the strip roads than by the method itself. The findings can inform the development of future decision support tools, planning practices, and training initiates, particularly within the company´s thinning operations
Uncertainty factors in forest planning : a path toward improved precision and decision support
Get PDFSyftet med studien var att undersöka traktplanerarnas bedömning av nyckelfaktorerna total stående volym, volym per sortiment, vägklass och traktens bärighet samt hur bedömningarna stödjer produktionsledarnas arbete med att skapa de operativa avverkningsplanerna. Studien gjordes som
en fallstudie på Holmen Skogs Region Nord. Tio kvalitativa semistrukturerade intervjuer med både traktplanerare och produktionsledare och en kvantitativ dataanalys av 878
slutavverkningstrakter genomfördes. Resultatet visar att bedömningarna av totalvolym håller en bra kvalitet och stämmer bra över ett år. Volym per sortiment varierar betydligt mer. Vägklass är den svåraste nyckelfaktorn att bedöma, det anser speciellt traktplanerare med mindre erfarenhet. Traktens bärighet bedöms med större säkerhet tack vare bra hjälpmedel så som en jordsond. Produktionsledarnas arbetssätt varierar mellan dem, hur avverkningsplanerna läggs beror till stor del på erfarenhet och lokalkännedom. Samarbetet mellan traktplanerarna och produktionsledarna fungerar bra och bidrar till att produktionsledarna lyckas. Studien identifierar ett behov av bättre beslutsstöd, tydligare instruktioner och fortsatt gemensamt lärande för att minska de osäkerheter som finns i planeringsarbetet för att i sin tur kunna skapa bättre förutsättningar för den operativa planeringen.The aim of the study was to examine how forest planners assess the key factors of total standing volume, volume per assortment, road classification, and site bearing capacity, and how these assessments support production managers in creating operational harvesting plans. The study was conducted as a case study in Holmen Skog’s northern region. Ten qualitative semi-structured interviews with both forest planners and production managers were conducted, along with a quantitative data analysis of 878 final felling sites. The results show that the assessments of total volume are of good quality and align well over the course of a year. However, volume per assortment varies significantly. Road classification is the most difficult key factor to assess, it considers forest planners with shorter experience. Site bearing capacity is assessed with greater confidence due to effective tools. The working methods of production managers vary, and the planning of harvest operations largely depends on experience and local knowledge. The collaboration between planners and production managers is strong and contributes to the success of operational planning. The study identifies a need for improved decision support, clearer instructions, and continued mutual learning in order to reduce uncertainties in the planning process and thereby create better conditions for operational planning
Seams in the mist : Population differentiation along environmental gradients in four Dipterocarpaceae blume species, and their extended foliar phenotypes
Get PDFTumbuh-tumbuhan hutan hujan tropika menunjukkan perbezaan genetik molekular yang ketara merentasi skala ruang yang agak kecil secara relatif. Walau bagaimanapun, implikasi perkara ini terhadap ekologi fungsian masih kurang difahami. Bagi mengisi kekosongan ini, buah-buahan daripada progeni liar empat spesies Dipterocarpaceae Blume telah dikumpul dan ditanam sebagai anak pokok di sebuah kebun am di Sabah, Malaysia. Selepas kira-kira dua setengah tahun, ciri-ciri fungsian dan komuniti daun yang berkaitan telah diinventori, dan pengaruh genetik dan persekitaran telah diteliti.
Ketinggian pokok induk dan tanah mempengaruhi ciri-ciri anak pokok dalam keempat-empat spesies. Secara khususnya, pertumbuhan ketinggian dan diameter, jumlah dan keluasan daun spesifik, serta kandungan klorofil, P, dan K pada daun ditentukan secara genetik. Semua ekspresi ciri ini turut dipengaruhi oleh persekitaran, yang secara amnya, memberikan pengaruh yang lebih besar daripada warisan genetik.
Tambahan pula, variasi dalam struktur komuniti daun ditentukan secara genetik dalam satu spesies: Shorea johorensis Foxw. Ini adalah penemuan baharu yang meluaskan kajian fenotip lanjutan ke kawasan tropika lembap. Tambahan, dalam keempat-empat spesies terdapat kekangan ciri yang bererti terhadap struktur komuniti, yang ekspresinya ditentukan secara genetik dalam tiga daripadanya. Laluan penuh pengaruh genetik terhadap ekspresi ciri anak pokok dan struktur komuniti daun, kepada pengaruh-ciri terhadap komuniti tersebut diperhatikan dalam S. johorensis.
Penemuan ini penting untuk operasi pemulihan hutan yang bergantung pada penempatan dan pemilihan anak pokok, tetapi juga untuk pemuliharaan kepelbagaian genetik di hutan hujan tropika, memandangkan ancaman baharu semakin meningkat. Pemilihan anak pokok secara pra-penyesuaian yang menunjukkan kombinasi ciri yang menguntungkan mungkin mengehadkan kehilangan kecergasan berkaitan dengan perubahan iklim, baik dalam populasi dipterokarpa mahupun komuniti daunnya. Oleh itu, output pengurusan dapat ditingkatkan.Tropical rainforest trees show strong molecular genetic differentiation across relatively small spatial scales. The implications of this for functional ecology are poorly understood however. In order to fill this vacancy, fruits from wild progeny of four species of Dipterocarpaceae Blume were collected and planted as seedlings in a common garden in Sabah, Malaysia. After approximately two and a half years, functional traits and associated foliar communities were inventoried, and genetic and environmental influences investigated.
Mother tree elevation and soil influenced seedling traits in all four species. Specifically, height and diameter growth, total and specific leaf areas, and foliar chlorophyll, P, and K contents were genetically determined. And all these trait-expressions were additionally conditioned by the environment, which, generally, exercised greater influence than genetic heritage.
Furthermore, variation in foliar community structure was genetically determined in one species: Shorea johorensis Foxw. This is a novel discovery expanding the study of extended phenotypes to the humid tropics. In all four species, additionally, there were significant trait-constraints on community structure, whose expressions were genetically determined in three of them. Full pathways from genetic influence on seedling trait expression and foliar community structure, to trait-influence on these communities was observed in S. johorensis.
These findings are significant for restoration operations relying on seedling deployment and selection, but also for the conservation of genetic diversity in tropical rainforests, as novel threats amplify. Pre-adaptively selecting seedlings expressing favorable trait-combinations might limit fitness-loss related to climate change, both in dipterocarp populations and their foliar communities. Therefore improving management outputs
The role of fact sheets in hamster welfare : a review of pet stores’ fact sheets in relation to L80 and current research
Get PDFHamsters have long been popular as pets, yet their welfare remains a significant concern. A key challenge is the insufficient consideration of their natural behavioral needs, particularly in terms of space, bedding depth and environmental enrichment. Pet stores play a huge central role in shaping how hamsters are cared for, as they are the primary source from which many people acquire hamsters. Pet stores have a high level of responsibility in promoting proper welfare through accurate information. According to Swedish animal welfare legislation, when animals are sold to customers, a fact sheet must be provided to the new owner. This sheet is legally required to include at least fifteen points of information regarding the animal. The aim of this study was to examine the fact sheets to determine whether they meet current legal requirements and to assess whether the content is supported by scientific knowledge about hamsters. Furthermore, the study evaluated how the quality of this information may affect the overall well-being of hamsters. A total of five different pet stores were visited and managed to collect fact sheets from. These included information on both dwarf hamsters and golden hamsters (also called the Syrian hamster).
The results showed that none of the fact sheets fulfilled all fifteen legal requirements. Certain points were consistently missing across all five stores. While some of the information was in line with scientific recommendation, many key aspects were either omitted or presented in a vague or misleading manner. Although pet stores can provide more comprehensive information that would contribute positively to hamster welfare, they often choose not to do so. The information that is distributed is generally brief and, in some cases, contains inaccurate information that could impact a hamster’s wellbeing. During this study, a lack of scientifically based information was also identified, which also plays a crucial role in understanding hamsters’ natural behavior and what is required to provide them with to ensure a good quality of life for them
Kvarter Kontinuum : a residential courtyard design integrating cultivation in Djurgården, Linköping
No full textDetta examensarbete tar avstamp i det växande fritidsintresset för odling och den stadsutveckling som pågår i Djurgården, Linköping. Målet med arbetet är att gestalta en bostadsgård med odlingsmöjligheter som är attraktiv och funktionell för olika användargrupper, samtidigt som den uppfyller kommunens övriga visioner och krav.
Arbetet består av tre delar: en förstudie som omfattar dokument- och litteraturstudier, platsbesök och platsanalys, ett gestaltningsförslag samt reflektioner över resultatet och processen. Litteraturstudien behandlar odlingens värden, odling i gemenskap och bostadsgårdens multifunktionella roll. Platsanalysen omfattar projektplatsens fysiska förutsättningar, inklusive markanvändning och ljusförhållanden.
Gestaltningsförslaget namn, Kvarter Kontinuum, utgår från teman som kontinuitet, succession och återanvändning. Dessa teman återspeglas i den rumsliga strukturen, materialvalen och visionen om en plats som kan utvecklas över tid – både i användning och uttryck. Förslaget innehåller bland annat ett modulärt, växtstödjande staket och en större sammanhängande odlingsbädd med varierade växtplatser. Dagvattenhantering har integrerats på gården och genom multifunktionella regnbäddar längs kvartersmarkens genomfartsstråk. Bostadsgårdens design främjar både gemensam odling och social samvaro, med flexibilitet för framtida förändringar.
Arbetet visar att odling kan skapa mervärden även för de boende som inte själva odlar och syftar till att inspirera till lösningar som förenar odling, gemenskap och hållbar stadsutveckling.This master’s thesis is based on the growing public interest in gardening and the urban development planned for Djurgården, Linköping. The aim of the project is to design a residential courtyard that includes gardening opportunities which are both attractive and functional for different user groups, while also meeting the municipality’s broader visions and requirements.
The project consists of three parts: a pre-study including document and literature reviews, site visits and site analysis; a design proposal; and reflections on the results and the design process. The literature study addresses the values of gardening, communal gardening, and the multifunctional role of residential courtyards. The site analysis examines the site’s physical conditions, including land use and sunlight exposure.
The design proposals title, Kvarter Kontinuum (Block Continuum), reflects themes of continuity, succession, and reuse. These ideas are expressed in the spatial structure, the choice of materials, and a vision for a space that can evolve over time – both in use and in expression. The proposal includes a modular, plant-supporting trellis fence and a large, continuous planting bed offering a variety of growing conditions. Stormwater management is integrated in the courtyard and through multifunctional rain gardens located along the courtyard’s main circulation route. The courtyard design promotes both communal gardening and social interaction, while allowing for future adaptability.
The thesis demonstrates that gardening can provide added value even for residents who do not actively garden and aims to inspire solutions that combine gardening, community, and sustainable urban development
Utilization of fodder stands by game in Western Poland
Get PDFDamage caused by cervids is one of the main issues in forest management in Europe nowadays. Reduction of cervid population density to reduce damage to timber production stands is not always enough. Landowners in Europe practice multiple additional methods to reduce the browsing pressure on their production forests, e.g. by establishing fodder stands. Fodder stands provide woody fodder (trees) for the cervids instead of other methods like supplementary feeding where the forage provided normally consists of hay, root vegetables and other crops.
In my study I aimed to analyze utilization of fodder stands by wild ungulates managed in two Forest Districts in Western Poland: Głusko and Drawsko. I collected the data in five fodder stands and five timber production stands nearby (control stands), to determine differences in utilization by the wild ungulates. Data were collected from camera trap inventory during three weeks (12th March to 3rd April). After that I conducted an inventory of browsing intensity in the stands and collected tree shape data including total height and crown width to assess how the trees respond to browsing. All of that data were compared between stands and their management purpose.
Camera trap inventory did not show any reliable evidence of more extend utilization of fodder stand in comparison with control stand. Most of the photos triggered by the ungulates was taken the control stands. However, overall number of photos with the ungulates was relatively low. The browsing intensity inventory showed that fodder stands were browsed twice as intensive (average 42% of trees were browsed) as the control stands (21%). Similar patterns were observed in Głusko and Drawsko Forest District, although the browsing intensity as much higher in Drawsko. Data from tree shape analysis also suggest that trees in response to intense browsing in the fodder stands formed a cage structure to a greater extent than in production stands. Cage structure is estimated as a ratio between crown width to tree total height. A low ratio means trees are more slender and invest more in height growth rather than development of crown, while a high ratio indicates a cage structure typically induced by intensive browsing. Also species preferences of cervids on these plantations were analyzed with use of Jacobs Preference Index. Results shows that broadleaf species such as beech, linden and hornbeam are preferred by the local cervids. I did not find any strong relationships between camera trap observations and browsing intensity, which could be due to relatively short observation period and big areas of observed stands, however it is still interesting method in long term inventory of fodder stand utilization.
This study showed that cervid utilize fodder stands as intended, and there are as such good reasons to practice this type of management . However, this topic still need long term research with wider spectrum of fodder and control stands
Säkerhet som hållbarhet? : en kritisk diskursanalys om hur affärsmedia legitimerar vapenindustrin
Get PDFDenna uppsats analyserar hur svensk affärspress – med fokus på Dagens Industri – konstruerar och legitimerar diskurser om investeringar i vapenindustrin, samt hur dessa diskurser relaterar till hållbar utveckling enligt Agenda 2030. Studien utgår från Norman Faircloughs kritiska diskursanalys (CDA) och kompletteras med intressentteori som teoretiskt ramverk.
Empirin består av 25 artiklar publicerade under mars och maj månader år 2025, en period präglad av geopolitisk oro och ökad europeisk upprustning. Genom tematisk analys identifieras två dominerande diskurser: en som framhåller militär upprustning som en garant för säkerhet och social stabilitet, en som legitimerar vapenindustrin utifrån dess påstådda ekonomiska nytta. Studien visar hur dessa diskurser ofta approprierar hållbarhets begreppet och tystar kritiska perspektiv såsom miljöhänsyn, civilsamhällets röster och framtida generationers intressen.
Resultaten synliggör hur språk kan fungera som ett maktmedel genom att forma vilka intressen och aktörer som får tolkningsföreträde. Genom att kombinera CDA med intressentteori visar uppsatsen hur affärsmedia både speglar och reproducerar ojämlika maktförhållanden. Därigenom bidrar studien till en kritisk förståelse av hur hållbarhets begreppet kommuniceras i kontroversiella branscher, samt vilken roll media spelar i att normalisera investeringar som potentiellt står i konflikt med globala hållbarhetsmål.This thesis examines how Swedish business media—specifically Dagens Industri—constructs and legitimizes discourses surrounding investments in the defense industry, and how these discourses relate to the principles of sustainable development as outlined in Agenda 2030. The study applies Norman Fairclough’s Critical Discourse Analysis (CDA) and integrates stakeholder theory as a complementary analytical framework.
The empirical material consists of 25 articles published between March and May 2025, a period marked by geopolitical tension and increased European militarization. Through thematic analysis, two dominant discourses were identified: one portraying military build-up as a safeguard for security and social stability, another justifying the defense sector based on its purported economic benefits. The findings reveal how these discourses frequently appropriate the language of sustainability while silencing critical perspectives—such as environmental concerns, voices from civil society, and the interests of future generations.
The study highlights how language operates as a vehicle of power, shaping which actors and interests gain discursive authority. By combining CDA with stakeholder theory, the thesis illustrates how business media both reflects and reinforces unequal power structures. It thus contributes to a critical understanding of how sustainability is communicated in controversial industries and the role of media in normalizing investments that may contradict global sustainability goals
Pre-commercial thinning regimes in Norway spruce stands on former agricultural lands in Latvia
Get PDFThis study evaluated the effects of varying intensities and spatial patterns of precommercial thinning on stand structure and economic outcomes in Norway spruce
(Picea abies) plantations established on former agricultural land in eastern Latvia. It was hypothesized that increased thinning intensity and spatial heterogeneity would lead
to improved stand structural diversity and enhanced long-term economic returns.
We hypothesized that :
· Thinning regimes with lower intensity (e.g., retaining 1500 trees ha⁻¹) will produce higher total stand volume and long-term economic return, whereas higher intensity thinning (e.g., 500 trees ha⁻¹) will promote faster diameter growth but lead to lower cumulative yield and reduced profitability.
· Selective thinning that retains the 1,000 largest-diameter trees per hectare (1,000 U) will result in greater total stand volume and higher long-term economic return at rotation age compared to uniform thinning with evenly spaced trees (1,000 E), due to the enhanced growth potential of larger, more vigorous trees.
To test these hypotheses, four silvicultural treatments were implemented using a randomized complete block design across 20 × 20 m plots:
· 1500 E – 1500 trees per hectare were retained with even spacing between them.
· 1000 E – 1000 trees per hectare were retained, also evenly spaced.
· 1000 U – 1000 trees per hectare were left, but these were selected based on having the largest diameters, not spaced evenly.
· 500 E – 500 trees per hectare remained, evenly distributed across the area.
Over 17 years, tree diameter at breast height (DBH) and height were measured, and stem volume was calculated using species-specific height–diameter and volume functions to fill in data gaps. Stand attributes were statistically compared using oneway ANOVA followed by Tukey’s Honest Significant Difference (HSD) test. Economic performance was evaluated through single-rotation net present value (NPV) and Faustmann’s land expectation value (LEV), applying a 2.5 % discount rate and accounting for establishment costs, reforestation subsidies, pre-commercial thinning revenues, and final harvest income.
Our results confirm that wider spacing (500 E) accelerates diameter growth but reduces total stand volume. Contrary to our second hypothesis, the 1000 U treatment did not outperform 1000 E Both intermediate density regimes yielded similar outcomes in terms of volume, basal area, and economic returns. This similarity is likely attributable to competition among the largest retained trees within the plots. Although these trees initially had a size advantage, their proximity may have intensified competition for light and resources, limiting their subsequent growth.
The economic analysis indicates that, although the 500 E treatment achieves harvestable dimensions earlier, it results in lower net present value (NPV) and land expectation value (LEV) compared to other treatments. In contrast, the 1500 E regime delivers the highest long-term profitability due to greater total volume production, which compensates for its higher establishment costs. While risks such as pests, windthrow, and market fluctuations may lead some managers to prefer lower initial densities for reduced exposure, our findings suggest that even spacing at 1500 trees ha⁻
Invånarnas miljöpsykologi i Riyadh : upplevda sensoriska dimensioner i ”Boulevard City ”
Get PDFRiyadh’s outdoor environment is undergoing a significant transformation, driven by rapid urban development and the challenges of a harsh desert climate. In response, new public spaces such as Boulevard City have emerged, aiming to promote physical activity, social interaction, and overall well-being. This study applies the Perceived Sensory Dimensions (PSDs) framework to evaluate how users experience this urban outdoor environment. It explores which sensory qualities are most strongly perceived and examines whether these perceptions vary across individual factors such as gender and age, as well as based on the language selected within the survey.
A mixed-methods approach was employed, using a single, bilingual survey instrument available in both Arabic and English to gather quantitative and qualitative data from visitors. The survey captured user experiences related to PSDs as natural, cultural, open, Social, cohesive, diverse, sheltered and serene. The results provide a comprehensive assessment of the PSDs at Boulevard City, revealing correlations between the different dimensions and highlighting the sensory qualities that contribute most to users' experiences. Additionally, the study provides a descriptive analysis of the area, offering valuable insights that can inform future development and planning. These findings could be used to enhance the design and richness of outdoor spaces in "Boulevard City ", also contributing to the improvement of outdoor environments across the Riyadh city
Evaluation of antibody responses against epitopes on the prefusion F protein of bovine respiratory syncytial virus in calves with maternal antibodies
No full textBovine respiratory syncytial virus (BRSV) is one of the main pathogens in the bovine respiratory disease complex and has strong negative impact on animal welfare, farm production and economy. Vaccines against BRSV have been on the market since the 1970s but there are still challenges regarding vaccine efficacy, especially in presence of maternally derived antibodies (MDA) that inhibit immune responses to vaccine antigens in calves.
The aim of this master thesis was to evaluate the inhibitory effect of MDA on antibody responses against different mimotopes of the prefusion form of the BRSV fusion protein (Pre F) in calves. Four different vaccines that contained the BRSV nucleoprotein (N) as nanorings and either the whole Pre F (Pre F Full + N) or different compositions of F protein mimotopes 2, 4 and 5, an-chored on N (Pre F 2/4/5 + N, Pre F 2 + N and Pre F 5 + N), were evaluated in 24 calves with BRSV-specific MDA from a farm with previous BRSV outbreaks. The calves were divided in 4 groups of six calves, as equal as possible in terms of age and passive immunity (maternally de-rived BRSV-specific IgG in serum). The calves were vaccinated twice with 30 days interval (day 0 and 30). Serum samples were collected at -14, 0, 21, 30, 44 and 184 days pre-/post- first vaccina-tion. The humoral responses were evaluated through enzyme linked immunosorbent assays and serum neutralising tests (SN-test) for quantification of BRSV-, Pre F-, N- and Pre F mimotope 2 peptide-specific IgG in serum and the virus neutralising ability of the antibodies induced by the different vaccines. Attempts were made to measure Pre F mimotope 4- and 5-peptide specific IgG but the results were discarded due to unspecific binding.
The Pre F Full + N vaccine induced a significant increase in BRSV-specific IgG in serum after the second vaccination (between day 30 and day 44) and significantly higher titres of BRSV-specific IgG and serum neutralising antibodies compared to all the other vaccines on day 44. There was no significant decrease among any of the vaccinated calves in BRSV-specific IgG in serum after first vaccination and the IgG responses to BRSV N did not differ significantly between calves vaccina-ted with the different vaccines. The calves vaccinated with Pre F 2 + N had no significant increase BRSV-specific IgG antibody titre in serum after second vaccination and a significant decrease in SN-titres between day 44 and day 184.
The results suggest that all vaccines in the study were immunogenic and that the whole Pre F protein was superior in terms of inducing BRSV-specific and serum neutralising antibodies in the presence of MDA compared to the vaccines that contained F protein mimotopes 2, 4 and/or 5. This may be due to the wider variety of mimotopes in pre F Full compared to in the other vaccines, to a specific mimotope not present in any of the other vaccines or due to problems with the conforma-tion of mimotopes. Similar to other reports, antibodies targeting the N-protein and mimotope 2 of Pre F did not seem to have strong virus neutralising capability. Vaccines containing N protein + mimotopes 2, 4 and/or 5 elicited similar amounts of BRSV-specific IgG suggesting that MDA interfered with the antigens in these vaccines to a similar extent.
The Pre F subunit vaccine is an interesting candidate for vaccination of calves with passive im-munity. Further research on the humoral response in calves to BRSV pre F epitopes are relevant for the generation of further knowledge in this area