Spanish Journal of Agricultural Research
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Growth rate, scrotal circumference, sperm characteristics, and sexual behavior of mixed-breed goat bucks fed three leguminous trees
No full textAim of study: To investigate the effect of feeding foliage of leguminous trees on growth rate, semen characteristics, and sexual behavior of bucks.
Area of study: Northeastern Mexico (23°44' N, 99°8' W).
Material and methods: Twenty-two young goat bucks were randomly allocated to one of four treatment groups: 33% alfalfa hay (dry matter basis), 33%; Acacia farnesiana; Leucaena leucocephala; or Prosopis laevigata foliage (n=4 for alfalfa; n=6 for the rest of groups).
Main results: Average daily gain (ADG) did not differ between bucks fed alfalfa, A. farnesiana, or L. leucocephala (120 ± 26, 134 ± 37, and 103 ± 29 g/d, respectively), but ADG of bucks offered P. laevigata was the lowest (72 ± 8 g; p<0.05). Bucks fed alfalfa had the highest feed efficiency (6.59 ± 1.25 kg of feed consumed/kg of gain; p<0.05) and bucks offered leguminous trees had the lowest (average 9.85 ± 2.3). Bucks offered alfalfa, and A. farnesiana had increased (p<0.05) scrotal circumference (26.6 ± 0.4 and 25.8 ± 1.5 cm) than bucks fed L. leucocephala, or P. laevigata (24.3 ± 1.2 and 24.1 ± 2.0 cm). Mean ejaculate volume was two-fold higher in alfalfa-fed bucks than all other dietary treatments. Sexual behavior did not differ among bucks fed the different legumes.
Research highlights: Foliage of both A. farnesiana and L. leucocephala could totally replace alfalfa hay for rearing growing goat bucks in confinement without affecting daily weight gain, most semen characteristics, and copulation ability. P. laevigata reduced body weight and reproductive function
Tillage effects on soil properties, crop responses and root density of sweet pepper (Capsicum annuum)
No full textAim of study: Soil compaction causes an increase in bulk density, resistance to penetration, low diffusion of oxygen and water in the soil. Tillage is one of the techniques to alleviate compaction. The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of tillage on sweet pepper grown in greenhouse soil.Area of study: The experimental work was conducted in a plastic greenhouse at the Experimental Station of the University of Almería (SE Spain).Material and methods: The soil was ploughed with a single pass with ripper to 15 cm depth and with rotavator to 10 cm depth. The control treatment was soil untilled. Crop dry matter production and root length growth and density of sweet pepper were evaluated, in addition to soil characteristics such as bulk density, resistance to penetration and soil matric potential.Main results: Tillage reduced soil bulk density from 1.70 to 1.60 kg L-1 in the 10-40 cm of soil depth. There was a notable reduction in irrigation (12%), total N applied (13%), drainage (91%) and N leaching (95%) in the tillage treatment. However, tillage did not improve significantly crop dry matter production and yield. The absence of tillage effect is possible due to a slight reduction in the bulk density of the soil.Research highlights: The tillage treatment produced a notable reduction in irrigation, total N applied, drainage and N leaching when compared to the control
Gaseous nitrogen losses from pig slurry fertilisation: can they be reduced with additives in a wheat crop?
No full textAim of the study: The use of pig slurry as fertiliser is associated with gaseous nitrogen (N) losses, especially ammonia (NH3) and nitrous oxide (N2O), leading to environmental problems and a reduction of its fertiliser value. This study evaluates, in an irrigated wheat crop, the effect of different additives mixed with pig slurry to decrease NH3 and N2O losses.Area of study: Middle Ebro valley, SpainMaterials and methods: The treatments were: i) non-N-fertilised control, ii) pig slurry (PS), iii) pig slurry with the urease inhibitor monocarbamide dihydrogen sulphate (PS-UI), iv) pig slurry with a microbial activator in development (PS-A), and v) pig slurry with the nitrification inhibitor 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate (PS-NI). Pig slurry was applied at a target rate of 120 kg NH4+-N ha-1. Ammonia volatilisation was measured using semi-opened static chambers after treatments application at presowing 2016 and side-dressing 2017. Nitrous oxide emissions were measured using static closed chambers after treatments application at the 2017 and 2018 side-dressing.Main results: Ammonia volatilisation was estimated to be 7-9% and 19-23% of NH4+-N applied after presowing and side-dressing applications, respectively. Additives were not able to reduce NH3 emissions in any application moment. PS-NI was the only treatment being effective in reducing N2O emissions, 70% respect to those in PS treatment. Crop yield parameters were not affected by the application of the additives because of the no effect of additives controlling NH3 losses and the low contribution of N2O losses to the N balance (<1 kg N2O-N ha-1).Research highlights: The use of 3,4-dimethylpyrazole phosphate would be recommended from an environmental perspective, although without grain yield benefits
Short communication: Effect of pre-activated Saccharomyces cerevisiae or malate salts on fermentation of ground barley grain under in vitro conditions simulating intensive ruminant feeding
No full textAim of study: To determine the dose response of Saccharomyces cerevisiae on rumen fermentation of concentrates, and to compare it with the effect of malate salts.Material and methods: S. cerevisiae (0.7, 1.4 and 2.1 mg/g) and malic acid salts (4, 8 or 12 mg/g) were added to barley and compared with barley alone (CTL), in three 24 h in vitro incubation series, using rumen inocula from beef cattle receiving a high concentrate diet. Yeasts were pre-activated by aerobic incubation for 24 h at 30ºC. Incubation pH was recorded at 8 and 24 h and volatile fatty acids (VFA) and lactate at 8 h were analysed.Main results: Gas produced with S. cerevisiae was higher than malate (p<0.001). Yeast addition linearly (p<0.01) and quadratically (p<0.05 at 4 h and from 10 to 18 h) increased gas production, but no dose response to malate levels was observed. Dry matter disappearance at 24 h was not affected by S. cerevisiae but increased linearly with malate. Microbial mass linearly increased with the level of yeast (p<0.01) and malate (p=0.09). Adding yeasts did not affect 8 h total VFA concentration compared with CTL, but linear valerate (p<0.01) and butyrate (p=0.092) increases, and a decrease of acetate (p=0.064) were detected. Malate salts linearly increased (p<0.05) total VFA concentration but did not affect VFA proportions.Research highlights: Addition of active yeasts linearly increased barley fermentation and microbial synthesis, whereas the effect of malate salts was of minor magnitude.
Classification of hazelnut varieties by using artificial neural network and discriminant analysis
No full textAim of study: This study was conducted to classify hazelnut (Corylus avellana L.) varieties by using artificial neural network and discriminant analysis.
Area of study: Samsun Province, Turkey.
Material and methods: The physical, mechanical and optical properties of 11 hazelnut varieties were determined for three major axes. The parameters of physical, mechanical and optical properties were included as independent variables, while hazelnut varieties were included as dependent variables. Models were created for each of the three axes to classify hazelnut varieties.
Main results: Classification success rates with Artificial Neural Networks (ANN) and Discriminant Analysis (DA) were found as 89.1% and 92.7% for X axis, as 92.7% and 92.7% for Y axis and as 86.8% and 88.7% for Z axis, respectively. The classification results of ANN and DA models were found to be very close to each other. Both models can be used in the classification of hazelnut varieties.
Research highlights: The results obtained for the identification and classification of hazelnut varieties show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed models
Potential of VIS/NIR spectroscopy to detect and predict bitter pit in ‘Golden Smoothee’ apples
No full textAim of study: A portable VIS/NIR spectrometer and chemometric techniques were combined to identify bitter pit (BP) in Golden apples.Area of study: WorldwideMaterial and methods: Three different classification algorithms – linear discriminant analysis (LDA), quadratic discriminant analysis (QDA) and support-vector machine (SVM) –were used in two experiments. In experiment #1, VIS/NIR measurements were carried out at postharvest on apples previously classified according to 3 classes (class 1: non-BP; class 2: slight symptoms; class 3: severe symptoms). In experiment #2, VIS/NIR measurements were carried out on healthy apples collected before harvest to determinate the capacity of the classification algorithms for detecting BP prior to the appearance of symptoms.Main results: In the experiement #1, VIS/NIR spectroscopy showed great potential in pitted apples detection with visibly symptoms (accuracies of 75–81%). The linear classifier LDA performed better than the multivariate non-linear QDA and SVM classifiers in discriminating between healthy and bitter pitted apples. In the experiment #2, the accuracy to predict bitter pit prior to the appearance of visible symptoms decreased to 44–57%.Research highlights: The identification of apples with bitter pit through VIS/NIR spectroscopy may be due to chlorophyll degradation and/or changes in intercellular water in fruit tissue
Characterization of cowpea to harvest rainwater for wheat in semiarid conditions
No full textAim of study: A field experiment was executed, under rainfed conditions from 2014-15 to 2017-18, to study the role of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) in rainwater harvesting to enhance the wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) yield.Area of study: Rain-fed area of Pothwar region, Punjab, Pakistan.Material and methods: We designed three treatments (T1: control; T2: cowpea grown after conventional tillage and incorporated into soil to act as “green manure”; and T3: grown without any tillage practice, cut with sickle and spread as “mulch”). The effect of these treatments on soil moisture conservation was studied against conventional farmer’s practice, wherein no host crop is grown before wheat sowing.Main results: Available soil water remained highest in T2 during first three years when sufficient rainfall was received contrary to fourth year with low rainfall. The results revealed that cowpea biomass of 15.2 t/ha and 13.72 t/ha, from T2 and T3 respectively, were produced during 2015 corresponding to 213 mm rainfall. Whereas, these quantities increased to 25.69 t/ha and 24.29 t/ha during 2017 with 387 mm of rainfall. The study revealed that net income from wheat crop under T2 was Rs 13000 and Rs 9000 per hectare higher than that of control during the first two years respectively. Contrarily, net income from T2 was found negative and benefit-cost ratio reduced to 0.79 when very low rainfall was received during the last year.Research highlights: Use of cowpea as green manure gave maximum net return if sufficient rainfall is received during decomposition of cowpea and hence recommended for in-situ rainwater harvesting
Forage source (alfalfa hay vs wheat straw) and rumen undegradable to degradable protein ratio: Effects on growth performance, microbial protein yield, digestibility, blood metabolites, and behavior of Holstein dairy calves
No full textAim of the study: The effects of forage source (alfalfa hay; AH vs. wheat straw; WS) with rumen undegradable to degradable protein ratio [low ratio (LR) = 28:72; high ratio (HR) = 36:64] were evaluated in young dairy calves.Area of study: Arak, Iran.Material and methods: Forty-eight 3-d old female Holstein dairy calves (44.5 kg of BW) were allocated in four treatments: (1) AH with low dietary RUP:RDP ratio (AH-LR); (2) AH with high dietary RUP:RDP ratio (AH-HR); (3) WS with low dietary RUP:RDP ratio (WS-LR); and (4) WS with high dietary RUP:RDP ratio (WS-HR), being RDP and RUP rumen degradable and undegradable proteins, respectively. The calves weaned on d 53 of the experiment and remained in the study until d 73 of age.Main results: The average daily gain and feed efficiency were improved in dairy calves receiving HR diets compared to LR diets during the post-weaning period (p<0.05). The fecal score (p=0.03) and neutral detergent fiber digestibility (p=0.04) were improved when calves fed WS diets compared to AH diets. Feeding HR diets increased allantoin (p=0.04) and microbial protein yield, and reduced blood urea nitrogen concentration (p=0.03) compared to LR diets. Assessing the interaction effects of the experimental factors resulted that the greatest BW, wither height, and blood beta-hydroxybutyrate, and the lowest urinary N concentration were observed in the WS-HR treatment (p<0.05).Research highlights: Feeding WS with high RUP:RDP ratio is recommendable in dairy calves due to the improvement in gain and N efficiency
Factors affecting rearing practices and health of calves on family farms
No full textAim of the study: Calf rearing practices vary in different countries and may be affected by many factors. Poor management is related to diseases outbreak and death in calves. This study aimed to analyze practices in calf rearing and the occurrence of common calf diseases on family farms in two European countries and to examine the characteristics of a farmer and his farm as factors that may affect the way of performing practices related to calves’ health.Area of study: Slovenia and Serbia.Material and methods: For collecting data, the same questionnaire-based survey was distributed among cattle farm owners in Slovenia and Serbia.Main results: The following factors showed a significant influence (p<0.05) on certain rearing practices: farm size (on time for checking calves, milk reheating, and providing rehydration fluids to the calf with diarrhea in Slovenia), specialization of the production (on preventive antiparasitic treatments and restriction of drinking water for calves with diarrhea in Slovenia, and the time for checking calves in Serbia), breeder’s age (on colostrum quality checking in Slovenia), and breeder’s education (on time for checking calves and checking colostrum quality in Serbia). The results pointed out the rearing practices to be improved in both countries, Slovenia and Serbia, such as colostrum management and prevention strategies of calf diseases.Research highlights: Characteristics of the farmer and his farm may affect many aspects of calves’ rearing. Continuous education of farmers and appropriate production planning can contribute to better farm productivity and better health and welfare of calves
The timing of pasture allocation and grass silage supplementation affect pasture intake, milk production and nitrogen partitioning of dairy cows
No full textAim of study: To evaluate the effect of time of pasture allocation (PA) and grass silage allocation on dry matter (DM) intake, grazing behaviour, milk production, rumen function and N partitioning of grazing dairy cows.Area of study: Valdivia, ChileMaterial and methods: Forty-five Holstein-Friesian cows were selected from the Austral Agricultural Research Station at the Universidad Austral de Chile. Cows were allocated to one of three treatments: MPA: 75% of PA and 25% of the silage allowance allocated in the morning; BPA: 50% of PA and silage allowance allocated in the morning; APA: 25% of the PA and 75% of the silage allowance allocated in the morning. All treatments received the complement of pasture and silage allowance in the afternoon. Cows received a daily PA of 21 kg dry DM, 3 kg DM of grass silage and 3.5 kg DM of concentrate.Main results: Grazing time was not affected by treatments, however, grazing time between afternoon-morning milking was longer for APA. DM intake and milk production were not modified by treatments, averaging 15.6 kg DM/cow and 22.7 kg milk/d, respectively. Rumen propionate was greater for BPA than APA (18.8 and 17.7 mmol/100 mol, respectively). N intake and N excretion throughout milk, urine and feces were not modified by treatments, averaging 458, 119, 195 and 144 g N/d, respectively.Research highlights: The combination of time of pasture and grass silage allocation is not an adequate strategy to modify pasture intake, milk production and N excretion in dairy cows