bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Melatonin Treatment of Donor and Recipient Ewes in an Embryo Transfer Programme: Effects on Ovulation Rate and Embryo Survival During Normal Seasonal Anoestrus
Authors: Robinson J.J. , McEvoy T.G. , Aitken R.P. , Robertson I.
Published: January 2018

Conception rates and litter sizes in ewes are often higher during the peak of the breeding season than at the beginning or end. How much of this is due to seasonal differences in ovulation rate (Montgomery et al 1988) and ram fertility (Colas, 1983) is uncertain. Using laparoscopic intrauterine insemination which virtually eliminates fertilization failure, Aitken et al (1990) obtained estimates of embryo survival for Greyface ewes induced to ovulate in mid-June (mid anoestrus) that were 25, 19 and 13% below the expected values for 2, 3 and 4 ovulations respectively. While this implies that embryos transferred to recipient ewes at an induced oestrus during seasonal anoestrus may have sub-optimal survival rates, it does not identify whether the cause lies solely with the embryo or with the uterine environment or with both. The present study employs reciprocal embryo transfer in conjunction with melatonin treatment to identify the influence of seasonality on the inherent viability of the embryos and the ability of the uterine environment to sustain pregnancy.
Influence of age of donor ewe on MOET in Texel sheep
Authors: Wolf B.T. , Mylne M.J.A.
Published: January 2018

Smith (1986) identified the theoretical potential of multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) to increase the rate of genetic improvement within nucleus sheep breeding flocks by upto 100%. The likely genetic benefits of MOET arise from the potential to overcome limits to female reproduction thus allowing increased selection intensity and reduced generation intervals among females. The present study was conducted to evaluate the potential for MOET from 18 month-old maiden ewes (gimmers) in comparison with aged donor ewes.

In October 1991, a group of twenty 18-month old ewes and twenty aged ewes (3.5 year-old) were synchronised into oestrus using intravaginal pessaries containing 45 mg Cronolone (Chronogest, Intervet Laboratories Ltd.) inserted for 12 days. Superovulation was achieved using 20 i.u. of ovine follicle stimulating hormone (Ovagen, Immuno-Chemical Products N.Z. Ltd) given in eight equal doses at 12-hourly intervals starting 58 hours before progestagen pessary withdrawal.
Multiple Ovulation and Embryo Transfer in Hill Ewes
Authors: Haresign W. , Merrell B. , Richards R.I.W.A.
Published: January 2018

A breed improvement programme has been initiated at both ADAS Redesdale (Scottish Blackface) and ADAS Pwllpeiran (Welsh Mountain) to improve carcass conformation of hill ewes. From a base population of 1100 Welsh Mountain and 1600 Scottish Blackface ewes, nucleus flocks of 60 ewes have been established. Selection of ewes into the nucleus flock at each site has been based on their ability to consistently produce wether lambs crops with good conformation and above average carcass weights when selected for slaughter at a fat class 2/3L. The next objective is to replicate these ewes through multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) since theoretical studies (Smith, 1986) indicate that this can substantially increase the rates of genetic improvement through the female line. However, to date little work has been conducted to determine whether this technology can be successfully applied to hill sheep maintained in harsh hill environments in the UK, and this formed the basis of the current study.
Use of the rumen simulation technique (rusitec) to provide micro-organisms for assessing forage rate-of-fermentationin vitro:effect of solid food input to rusitec
Authors: Barbi J H T , Owen E , Theodorou M K
Published: January 2018

In a previous experiment (Barbi, Owen & Theodorou, 1993) effluent fluid from thein vitrorumen simulation technique (RUSITEC - Czerkawski & Breckenridge, 1977) was used as a source of inoculum when fermenting forage in the Pressure Transducer Technique (PTT - Theodorou, Williams, Brooks, Dhanoa, McAllan & Gill, 1993). The main objective was to replace rumen fistulated animals for assessing the fermentation kinetics of forages. However, low microbial activity in RUSITEC effluent-fluid affected the results, such that fermentation profiles were lower than those in controls inoculated with rumen liquor (Barbiet al,1993).

In the present study, in an attempt to increase the microbial cellulolytic activity in the effluent fluid, we altered the particle size and increased the amount of substrate added daily to the RUSITEC vessels. Two particle sizes were examined in an attempt to enhance microbial activity and growth by increasing the availability of colonization surfaces.
The Effect of Yeast Culture Addition to Diets of Grass and Grass Silage on Rumen Bacterial Numbers
Authors: El Hassan S.M. , Newbold C.J. , Wallace R.J.
Published: January 2018

It has been suggested that the mechanism by which yeast cultures (YC), based on Saccharomyces cerevisiae, improve ruminant production is by stimulating rumen fibre digestion and microbial protein flow from the rumen. Both of these effects have in turn been related to the increases in bacterial growth in the rumen observed when YC is added to the diet. However, although it is has been shown that the effectiveness of YC in improving productivity is influenced by the composition of the diet fed (Williams and Newbold, 1990), little is known about how the ability of YC to stimulate bacterial numbers in the rumen is affected by diet composition.

The effect of diet on the stimulation of bacterial numbers in the rumen by YC was investigated in the rumen simulation technique (Rusitec). Grass silage was prepared from a sward of perennial rye-grass, without the use of a preservative. Fresh grass was collected from the sward prior to ensilage and stored at -20°C. Grass (5.96 g dry matter (DM) /day) and grass silage (6.54 g DM/ day) were compared alone or supplemented with 500 mg / day YC (Yea-sacc, Alltech), in triplicate, in an experiment lasting 21 days.

Four rumen cannulated sheep, allowed ad lib access to grass silage, were used to investigate further the effects of YC on bacterial numbers in the rumen in vivo. The effects of YC (4 g/ day) were investigated in a 2 × 2 factorial design with 28 day periods.
The dry matter and nitrogen degradation of whole crop wheat cut at three stages of crop maturity
Authors: Hill J. , Leaver J.D. , Givens D.I.
Published: January 2018

The in sacco degradability technique (Paine, Crawshaw and Barber (1982)) is a useful method to evaluate the dry matter and nitrogen degradation characteristics of a forage in the rumen. Little information is available on the DM and N degradability of whole crop wheat. In a previous paper substantial variations in the nutritive composition of fermented and urea treated whole crop wheat forages were observed with increasing crop maturity. These variations were ascribed to changes in botanical composition of the forage with increasing maturity, for example the increasing contribution of grain in the dry matter elevated the starch content of the forage (Hill and Leaver (1991)). Givens, Moss and Adamson (1993) stated that whole crop cereals comprised of a cell wall rich straw fraction and a starch rich grain fraction. Therefore it could be suggested that variation in the relative proportions of these fractions would influence the fractional rate of degradation of the forage. Evidence to support this hypothesis was presented in Givens, Moss, Adamson and Reeve (1992) by incubating each fraction individually. The experiment reported was designed to compare the effect of stage of crop maturity, ensiling and urea treatment on the degradability of DM and N of whole crop wheat forages incubated as a total forage.

An autumn sown crop of wheat (var. fortress) was cut at three stages of maturity being; growth stage 49 (boot), 71 (early milk) and 89 (hard dough) and three treatments were applied to the harvested forage. The treatments were fresh forage as harvested, ensiled and urea treatment with 40 kg/tonne DM. Six mature sheep (mean liveweight 76.9 kg), each fitted with a rumen cannula were used in the degradation trial.
Intake and Production Responses by Holstein-Friesian Cows to the Level and Pattern of Crude Protein Supplied in a Fixed Concentrate Diet given with Grass Silage ad Libitum
Authors: Aston K. , Fisher W.J. , McAllan A.B.
Published: January 2018

Recent trials with cows fed grass silage have shown significant increases in intake and in yields of milk and milk solids when the crude protein (CP) concentration in a supplementary concentrate was raised. Giving additional CP in the concentrate was a more effective strategy for improving yields of milk and milk protein than giving extra energy (Aston et al 1992). The objective of this trial was to examine the influence of changes to the amount and pattern of distribution of CP supplied in a fixed concentrate ration given with grass silage ad libitum.

Fifty-five Holstein-Friesian cows in their second and subsequent lactations were given a standard diet for two weeks from calving and then were used in a continuous feeding trial from weeks 4 to 21. The cows received 5 kg of fresh concentrate daily containing 156 (LP), 245 (MP) or 338 (HP) g CP per kg dry matter (DM), MP comprised equal amounts of LP and HP. Concentrate carbohydrate sources were cereals and digestible fibre and CP was increased by a mixture of 3:1 soya:fish meals. Grass silage contained 253 g toluene DM/kg, 162 g CP/kg DM, D value in vivo 0.723, pH 3.7, fermentation acids 135 g/kg DM of which 0.85 was lactic acid and NH3-N 91 g/kg total N.
Finishing Performance of Hill Lambs Fed Clover-Rich Baled Silage to Ukrofs Standards
Authors: Keatinge R , Murray W A
Published: January 2018

Within conventional silage finishing systems, forage quality is critical to lamb performance and some concentrate feeding is generally required (Fitzgerald, 1987). Rate of finish may also be manipulated by increasing the concentrate component of the diet, particularly in the latter stages of the finishing period. For organic production however, the United Kingdom Register of Organic Food Standards (UKROFS) limit concentrate supplementation to 40% of daily dry matter intake, and a flatter pattern of concentrate allocation is generally required. Where diets containing a high proportion of clover (more likely under an organic or low nitrogen system) are fed, improvements in lamb performance have been shown in grazing animals (Clark, 1988) and following ensiling (Vipond et al, 1992). The aim of this experiment was to assess the potential of high clover silage to finish hill lambs from the organic unit at ADAS Redesdale.

One hundred and forty four approximately six month old Scottish Blackface wether lambs (mean liveweight 30.0 kg, se = 0.24) were housed off silage aftermath and assigned (in pens of twelve) to one of three treatments - grass silage plus 400 g concentrate (GH), high clover silage plus 400 g concentrate (CH) or high clover silage plus 200 g of mineralised barley (CL).
Cut-and-Carry Feeding of Indigenous Grass in Indonesian Sheep Production: Effect of Amounts of Grass and Rice Bran Offered on Grass Intake and on Yield of Compost Made From Refusals and Excreta
Authors: Tanner J C , Owen E , Winugroho H M , Gill M
Published: January 2018

West Java sheep are permanently housed and offered manually-harvested grass at 50-60 g dry matter [DM] per kg live weight [M] daily [d]. Flocks (ca. 5 head) are housed on slats, with excreta and feed refusals composted underneath.

In a previous experiment (Tanner, Owen, Winugroho & Gill, 1993) with 18-month old Javanese Thin-Tailed rams, intake of cut-and-carried, indigenous grass increased as the amount offered was increased (25, 50 or 75 g DM offered/kg M.d; intakes were 22.1, 31.7 and 34.9 g DM/kg M.d respectively). Output of compost also increased with increasing amount of grass offered.

Cutting and carrying grass is labour demanding and therefore expensive. Substituting some of the grass with a readily available by-product such as rice bran could reduce feed costs.

In the present experiment, cut-and-carried grass was supplemented with rice bran and the effect upon intake of grass and output of compost measured.
A dual purpose cattle system combining milk and beef production
Authors: Boden R.F. , Leaver J.D.
Published: January 2018

In tropical countries it is common practice to milk cows once daily and additionally maintain a suckled calf. Such a system in Europe could have relevance on small farms where part-time work was necessary to maintain the farm business.

The objective of this study was to examine the cow and calf performance on such a system in comparison to a conventional twice daily milking system.

Sixteen Holstein Friesian cows (12) and Brown Swiss x Holstein Friesian cows (4) were allocated at random to control or suckled groups. They calved in June/July 1992 with beef bred calves (Simmental and Limousin sires). Calves were removed from the control cows at 24 h after birth.

They were grazed until October as two separate groups and buffer fed with maize silage. The control group were milked twice daily and the suckled group were milked in the morning only. The calves were put with the suckled group after morning milking and were removed from their dams 7-8 h later and housed overnight. After full housing in October, the calves were allowed to suckle for up to 30 minutes after morning milking and for a further 30 minutes in late afternoon.
Effects of rape-seed meal at different incorporation rates on food intakes and digestibility in a diet for growing fattening bulls
Authors: Mayombo A.P. , Dufrasne I. , Gielen H. , Van Eenaeme C. , Istasse L.
Published: January 2018

Rape-seed production increased over the last years for industrial purposes such as production of diester. Small plants were set up both for oil extraction from the seed and oil processing. The oil is extracted by pressure so that the ether extract content of rape-seed meal is quite high at about 8%.

The study was designed to compare the effects of different incorporation rates of rape-seed meal in a fattening diet on food intakes and digestibility of the diet.

A total of eight bulls of the Belgian Blue breed-dual purpose type-were used in two 4x4 latin squares design. They were kept in metabolism stalls. There were 4 differents diets (table 1). The control diet was made of sugar-beet pulp, cereals, middlings, soja-bean meal, linseed meal, molasses and mineral mixture. In the three other diets, one third, two thirds and three thirds of the amount of protein from soja-bean meal and linseed meal were substituted by protein from the rape-seed meal. When offered to the bulls, the concentrate was mixed in a mixer trailler with straw at a rate of 90% concentrate and 10% straw. Food intakes were close to ad libitum by daily adjustments. Each period of the latin square lasted for six weeks on the end of which apparent digestibility was measured by total collection of the feces
Consequences of diet fed ad Libitum to the Farrowing and Lactating Crated Sow
Authors: Rudd A.R. , Simmins P.H.
Published: January 2018

Ad libitum feeding of lactating sows might ease the feeding management of group and individually housed sows. In this study a commercial feeding regime was compared with diet fed ad libitum to sows crated during the farrowing and lactating period. It was part of a larger project examining alternative farrowing systems.

In separate experiments, two feeding regimes were compared. The experimental building contained 5 farrowing crates. The first 10 sows were fed at commercial levels (2.2 kg/day before farrowing & 5.7 kg/day for litter size n=10, ± 0.4 kg per piglet). This was split between meals at 0700 and 1530 daily, fed via a trough at the front of the crate. For the following 30 sows the five farrowing crates were modified by the addition of an ad libitum hopper to the front of the farrowing crate. All animals received an identical lactating diet (DE=13.2MJ/kg, CP=17.9%) throughout the study. Sows entered the farrowing accommodation at day 110±4 of gestation. They remained crated throughout the experiment until weaning at 24±4 days post-partum. Measurements of sow entry and weaning weights were taken, together with records of sow feed intake and individual piglet weights at birth and weaning.
Evaluation of an enzymatically treated soya protein in the diet of weaned pigs
Authors: Weeks C A , Miller BG , Green L , Rizvi S , Beck C , Sissons J , Jagger S
Published: January 2018

Soya proteins can provoke an immune response and cause diarrhoea in pigs weaned at 3 weeks of age. An enzymatically treated soya protein isolate (NURISH protein) did not have these effects in isolator reared experimental pigs (Miller et al 1992). A blind trial on 4 commercial farms was set up to evaluate NURISH as an alternative to conventional protein sources.

On each farm 120 pigs (in 2 or 3 replicates) were fed either a typical commercial weaner diet containing cereals, fishmeal, milk proteins and full fat soya (the control) or a test diet matched for protein (22% CP), lysine (1.6%) and energy (DE 15.1 MJ/kg) with NURISH as the main protein source. Prophylactic antibiotics were not used.
The Effect Of Phytase And Dietary Phosphorus intake on Bone Strength and Total Body Phosphorus of Young Pigs
Authors: Khan Naheeda , Cole D.J.A.
Published: January 2018

The dietary phosphorus requirement of young pigs is not well established. Values of a net requirement estimated by the ARC (1981) extend from 2.7 g/day for 5kg pigs to 4.6 g/day for 25kg pigs but current literature suggests that the actual requirement may be lower than this. Although maximum bone mineralization is not necessary for optimum growth, later bone development should not be impaired by a deficiency of phosphorus.

Use of phytase in piglet diets has resulted in increased rate and efficiency of gain (Beers and Jongbloed,1992) and increased metatarsal phosphorus (Young et al, 1993). The enzyme hydrolyzes phytate, releasing phosphorus into the gut, and could thus be used in place of expensive inorganic phosphates. Quantification of phytase/phosphorus substitution is as yet undetermined. Therefore this experiment was conducted to look at the phosphorus requirement for growth and bone development and to assess the effect of phytase on dietary phosphorus requirement.
Comparison of proteolytic enzyme levels in lamb, pig, rabbit and chicken muscle: role in meat tenderization post mortem
Authors: Blanchard P J , Mantle D , Chadwick J P
Published: January 2018

Although the improvement in tenderness resulting from post mortem refrigerated storage of carcasses is of considerable commercial importance, the mechanism(s) by which this process occurs is unknown, although it has been suggested that intramuscular protein catabolizing proteolytic enzymes may play a key role (Etherington, 1984). In order to develop a clearer understanding of the biochemical mechanisms underlying meat tenderization, the objective of this work was therefore to compare the proteolytic capacity of muscle from species known to differ markedly in rate of meat tenderization (approximate time shown in parenthesis): chicken (2days), lamb (4 days), pig (5 days) and rabbit (8 days).

Two methods were used to quantify muscle proteolytic capacity: (i) at point of slaughter, a comprehensive range of cytoplasmic and lysosomal protease types were determined using specific fluorimetric procedures; (ii) in vitro, using tissue homogenate based time course assays to measure (via analytical electrophoresis) the rate of structural protein degradation by endogenous or lysosomal proteases.
Evaluation of three strawflow® systems as alternatives to traditional flatdeck accommodation in pigs
Authors: Hardiman R. , van der Steen H.A.M.
Published: January 2018

The strawflow® system is designed to provide pigs with free access to straw without the operational and agricultural constraints of a deep bedded system and could provide an alternative type of weaning accommodation. A trial was conducted to evaluate the potential of three different strawflow® systems. These differed only in means of heating and ventilation.

Two trials were conducted consisting of twenty four and twelve weekly groups of pigs. Eighty pigs were split sex weaned into four strawflow® pens in the same room, on a weekly basis, and remained in the system for forty days. All other pigs to be weaned that week were weaned into the flatdecks. (8827 pigs total)

An average weaning weight was recorded for each batch of piglets moved into the strawflow® and flatdecks and each pig was individually weighed on leaving a system. Feeding regime was the same in each system with a creep feed for approximately one week post weaning before moving onto a grower ration for the remainder of the trial. All food given to a flatdeck room and one side of a room in the strawflow® building was recorded.
Effects of early environment on the subsequent behaviour of the pig
Authors: Beattie V.E. , Walker N. , Sneddon I.A.
Published: January 2018

Seitz (1954) claimed the infant animal is more susceptible to the long-range effects of experience than the adult animal. The effects of infantile experience has been observed in the pig. Wood-Gush and Beilharz (1983) found that pigs reared in a bare environment did not use substrate, that was provided in later life, to the same extent as pigs which always had access to it. Schouten (1991) found that pigs which had spent the first few weeks of life in a barren environment were more restless in the growing and fattening periods than pigs which had spent their early life in enriched environments.

This study investigated the effects of the housing environment in the first six weeks of life on the behaviour of pigs in the growing and fattening stages.

In a cross-over study, which examined the effect of change of environment at weaning, 96 piglets in 16 groups each of six littermates were allocated to a 2 x 2 factorial experiment. There were two environments (barren and enriched) and two growth periods, birth to weaning at six weeks and weaning to slaughter at 20 weeks. Intensive husbandry conditions were defined as barren environments. The enriched environment changed at weaning.
A review of sow group-housing systems in germany and holland with respect to animals welfare - braude scholarship 1993
Authors: Hodgkiss Nicola
Published: January 2018

As a result of welfare legislation introduced in recent years, systems in which dry sows are confined are no longer considered acceptable practice and will be phased out entirely in Europe by 2005. Consequently, there is a need to research and develop alternative housing systems before this deadline is reached.

To review the present day developments in this area and to observe different approaches to solving the question of how to improve the welfare of the group-housed sow without compromising productivity, a number of farms and research institutes were visited in Germany andHolland. The aims of the trip were as follows:
Grazing of barley stubble by sheep in Syria: effects of stocking rate and supplementation on selective intake of stubble fractions
Authors: Rihawi S , Goodchild A V , Owen E , Termanini A , Treacher T T
Published: January 2018

Stubble grazing is the main source of nutrients for small ruminants in the Middle Bast for 3-5 months after cereal harvesting in late May or June. As the flocks are usually mated during this period, poor nutrition may affect the prolificacy of the flocks and limit the productivity of the system for the rest of the year. There have been few studies of the process of grazing stubble that have defined the nutrient intakes and the effects of supplementation. At last years's Winter Meeting, we described the patterns of removal of stubble fractions and the intakes of nutrients by unsupplemented sheep at three stocking rates Rihawi et al, (1993). The second experiment of the series was carried out from June to September 1992, using a 2 x 3 factorial design to examine the removal of different stubble fractions from areas of stubble grazed at stocking rates (SR) of 20 and 40 ewes/ha for 3 successive periods of 28 days, during which the ewes were fed either 200 g of cotton seed cake (C), which supplied 1.68 MJ of metabolisable energy (ME) and 73 g of crude protein (cp), or 200 g of barley (B) daily, which supplied 2.36 MJ of ME and 22 g of cp, or were given no supplement (U). The treatments were replicated three times by using three successive measurement periods.
Prediction of body fat from body condition score and live body weight in adult churra ewes
Authors: Frutos P. , Mantecón A.R. , Revesado P.R. , González J.S.
Published: January 2018

Most sheep production systems under arid or semiarid conditions are dependent on the ability of animal to retain and movilize body fat.

The sucess of body condition score (BCS) method (Russel et al., 1969) and live body weight (LBW) as mesures of body reserves is in function of body fat depots distribution, and the sheep genotype could determine this distribution (Taylor et al., 1989).

The aim of this work is to predict body fat depots of adult Churra ewes, from BCS and/or LBW.

A total of 36 adult Churra ewes, with a range of body condition score between 1.25 and 4.00 and live body weight between 30.3 and 52.6 kg were used.

At slaugther, internal fat depots (IF; omental:OF, mesenteric:MF and perirenal:PF) were removed and weighed. Chemical fat of carcass (CF) and non-carcass (NCF) were also estimated.
Intramuscular fat analysis of intensively and commercially reared British Angora goats
Authors: Kirk J. A. , Russell-Dawe V. S. A. , Austin S.
Published: January 2018

The Angora goat herd in the UK primarily produces mohair but must, as an enterprise, maximise the return from animals that are surplus to requirement. It has been suggested that the Uk producer should be aiming for fourty percent of financial output from meat and sixty percent from mohair (Thirwell 1988). Compared to cattle and sheep, knowledge of yield and quality of goat meat reared under UK conditions is limited. The role of nutrition and stage of maturity in determining levels and distribution of fat are poorly understood (Warmington and Kirton 1990).

The male castrate Angora goat was selected since this constitutes the major source of meat, being generally redundant after two years of age when fibre quality begins to decline. Animals were sequentialy slaughtered at the predetermined ages of six,12, 18 and 24 months to coincide with the commercial practice of shearing Angora goats at six monthly intervals. Fourty animals, typical of those kept for commercial mohair production in the Uk, were reared under a commercial or intensive rearing system. Twenty goats were fed on a grass based, commercial system, representing that fovouring quality fibre production. The remaining twenty were reared intensively on an ad lib. pelleted complete diet containing 8.9 MJ/kg dry matter and 11.4 percent crude protein. Five goats from each diet were slaughtered at the predetermined times. After slaughter the carcases were jointed and then dissected inio lean, fat and bone. The quantity and composition of the intramuscular fat in the longissimus dorsi was determined using the Food and Research Association (1987) method and by use of gas chromatography.
Response of Fall-Seeded Tall Fescue (Festuca arundinacea) to Spring-Applied Herbicides
Authors: Johnson B. Jack , Murphy Tim R.
Published: January 2018

Preemergence herbicides were applied on February 28 at the recommended and three times the normal rate to determine the tolerance of tall fescue that was seeded in September, October and November of the preceding year. Fall seeding date of tall fescue significantly affected its tolerance to spring-applied preemergence herbicides. Generally, preemergence herbicides at normal rates were safe to apply to September- or October-seeded tall fescue. No herbicide was completely safe to apply to November-seeded tall fescue. The density of November-seeded tall fescue was generally reduced less with benefin, bensulide, dithiopyr, oxadiazon G and WP than with benefin plus oryzalin, oryzalin, or pendimethalin.
Barnyardgrass (Echinochloa crus-galli) and Bearded Sprangletop (Leptochloa fascicularis) Control in Rice (Oryza sativa)
Authors: Stauber Larry G. , Nastasi Paolo , Smith Roy J. , Baltazar Aurora M. , Talbert Ronald E.
Published: January 2018

Field experiments were conducted to compare efficacy of BAS 514, bromoxynil, fenoxaprop, sethoxydim, and triclopyr with standard herbicides for barnyardgrass and bearded sprangletop control in rice at four locations. Sequential applications of BAS 514 and fenoxaprop, or propanil and sethoxydim consistently controlled barnyardgrass and bearded sprangletop as well as or better than standard treatments of propanil, thiobencarb, or pendimethalin alone or combined; and rice so treated produced high yields. BAS 514 applied postemergence alone, BAS 514 applied sequentially with sethoxydim, or BAS 514 tank mixed with propanil controlled barnyardgrass but not bearded sprangletop. Bromoxynil or triclopyr tank mixed with fenoxaprop or sethoxydim antagonized activity on barnyardgrass and bearded sprangletop. Combinations of fenoxaprop with BAS 514 or propanil consistently provided barnyardgrass and bearded sprangletop control and high yields.
Canada Thistle (Cirsium arvense) Control in Sugarbeet with Clopyralid
Authors: Renner Karen A.
Published: January 2018

Sugarbeet tolerance to and Canada thistle control from tank mixtures of clopyralid plus other postemergence herbicides and/or petroleum oil adjuvant applied at various times were determined. Herbicides were applied to 5 to 20 or 20 to 70-cm tall Canada thistle. Clopyralid at 0.14 and 0.21 kg ai ha-1alone or with petroleum oil adjuvant did not injure sugarbeet. Tank mixing clopyralid with desmedipham/phenmedipham plus endothall injured sugarbeet 7 d after application in 2 of 3 yr but not when observed 14 d after application. Herbicides applied early postemergence in 1987 and late postemergence in 1988 controlled Canada thistle poorly due to rainfall 1 h after application and drought conditions, respectively. The addition of petroleum oil adjuvant enhanced control of Canada thistle by clopyralid at 0.14 kg ha-1, and control equaled that of clopyralid at 0.21 kg ha-1alone. Addition of desmedipham/phenmedipham plus endothall to clopyralid did not reduce Canada thistle control. Petroleum oil adjuvant added to clopyralid at 0.14 kg ha-1increased Canada thistle control to that achieved by clopyralid at 0.21 kg ha-1plus desmedipham/phenmedipham plus endothall.
Use of AC 263,222 for Sicklepod (Cassia obtusifolia) Control in Soybean (Glycine max)
Authors: Wixson Marshall B. , Shaw David R.
Published: January 2018

Field experiments were established in 1989 and 1990 to determine the effects of application rate and timing on sicklepod control and soybean tolerance to POST applications of AC 263,222 and chlorimuron. When applied to 3-, 6-, or 10-leaf sicklepod, 35 g ai ha-1or more AC 263,222 controlled more than 85% of sicklepod early in the season, and season-long when applied to 3- or 6-leaf sicklepod. At all timings, 70 g ha-1or more AC 263,222 resulted in better control than a PRE application of 420 g ai ha-1metribuzin followed by 9 g ai ha-1chlorimuron applied POST. At 35 g ha-1or more AC 263,222, application timing did not affect sicklepod control. However, control was reduced with 18 g ha-1when applications were delayed from 3- or 6-leaf to 10-leaf sicklepod. At the 10-leaf sicklepod growth stage, a PRE application of imazaquin increased both sicklepod control and soybean yield with 35 g ha-1AC 263,222 as compared with AC 263,222 applied alone. Soybean injury and height reductions with AC 263,222 at 35 g ha-1and above were greater than with chlorimuron; however, increased soybean injury or height reduction was not reflected in pod numbers or yield.
Did Ground Cover Change Over Geologic Time?
Authors: LePage Ben A. , Pfefferkorn Hermann W.
Published: January 2018

When one hears the term “ground cover,” one immediately thinks of “grasses.” This perception is so deep-seated that paleobotanists even have been overheard to proclaim that “there was no ground cover before grasses.” Today grasses are so predominant in many environments that this perception is perpetuated easily. On the other hand, it is difficult to imagine the absence or lack of ground cover prior to the mid-Tertiary. We tested the hypothesis that different forms of ground cover existed in the past against examples from the Recent and the fossil record (Table 1). The Recent data were obtained from a large number of sources including those in the ecological, horticultural, and microbiological literature. Other data were derived from our knowledge of Precambrian life, sedimentology and paleosols, and the plant fossil record, especiallyin situfloras and fossil “monocultures.” Some of the data are original observations, but many others are from the literature. A detailed account of these results will be presented elsewhere (Pfefferkorn and LePage,in preparation).
The enactment stage of end-of-life decision-making for children
Authors: Sullivan Jane Elizabeth , Gillam Lynn Heather , Monagle Paul Terence
Published: January 2018

Objectives

Typically pediatric end-of-life decision-making studies have examined the decision-making process, factors, and doctors’ and parents’ roles. Less attention has focussed on what happens after an end-of-life decision is made; that is, decision enactment and its outcome. This study explored the views and experiences of bereaved parents in end-of-life decision-making for their child. Findings reported relate to parents’ experiences of acting on their decision. It is argued that this is one significant stage of the decision-making process.

Methods

A qualitative methodology was used. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with bereaved parents, who had discussed end-of-life decisions for their child who had a life-limiting condition and who had died. Data were thematically analysed.

Results

Twenty-five bereaved parents participated. Findings indicate that, despite differences in context, including the child’s condition and age, end-of-life decision-making did not end when an end-of-life decision was made. Enacting the decision was the next stage in a process. Time intervals between stages and enactment pathways varied, but the enactment was always distinguishable as a separate stage. Decision enactment involved making further decisions - parents needed to discern the appropriate time to implement their decision to withdraw or withhold life-sustaining medical treatment. Unexpected events, including other people’s actions, impacted on parents enacting their decision in the way they had planned. Several parents had to re-implement decisions when their child recovered from serious health issues without medical intervention.

Significance of results

A novel, critical finding was that parents experienced end-of-life decision-making as a sequence of interconnected stages, the final stage being enactment. The enactment stage involved further decision-making. End-of-life decision-making is better understood as a process rather than a discrete once-off event. The enactment stage has particular emotional and practical implications for parents. Greater understanding of this stage can improve clinician’s support for parents as they care for their child.
Thermally-controlled color gradient for fossils and associated sediments: implications for paleoecology
Authors: Baird Gordon C. , Lyons Timothy W. , Brett Carlton E.
Published: January 2018

Regional study of Middle-Late Ordovician and Middle-Late Devonian carbonate and siliciclastic deposits in the northern Appalachian foreland basin reveals a prominent pattern of eastward-darkening of marine mudrocks and associated fossils. Exoskeletons of certain trilobite genera transform from a saddle brown coloration in southern Ontario exposures to black and near-black in central and eastern New York. Similar eastward darkening of mudstones and argillaceous carbonate units is observed to be covariant with conodont color alteration (C.A.I.) values across this same region. This pattern is coupled with other lines of evidence for eastward increases in heat-of-burial for strata across New York State, indicating that the darkening is linked to this control. Laboratory heating of thermally “cold”, light-colored samples shows that this process can be simulated under controlled conditions. The darkening of fossils and mudrocks probably occurs due to thermal maturation of organic matter within these materials.

Darkening of certain fossiliferous mudrock facies from color values as high as N 7.5 at a C.A.I. of 1.0 to those of N 2.5 at C.A.I. of 3.5 has important implications for paleoecological interpretations. Where obvious fossil-rich beds are absent and field work cursory, it might be tempting to infer a shelf-to-basin transition in the uprank direction where none exists. Where skeletal packstone and grainstone beds are common in thermally mature deposits it is possible that intervening dark-colored shales may be erroneously interpreted as basinal, organicrich (black) shales and the grain-supported beds as turbidites, when, in fact, such beds are shallow-shelf tempestites. We believe that similar value gradients should be present wherever local or regional heat-flow anomalies or differential burial patterns are developed. Foreland basins bordering orogens should contain such gradients and workers must be alert to this illusory color effect when working on complex facies in such settings. It is probable that many paleoenvironmental judgments may have been colored by misinterpretations of this type.
The thermal physiology of the Dinosauria: direct evidence from oxygen isotopes
Authors: Barrick Reese E. , Showers William J. , Fischer Alfred G. , Genna Bernard
Published: January 2018

The thermal physiology of extinct reptiles has been a hotly debated topic for the last two decades, with no direct evidence available to help solve the debate. Oxygen isotopes are fractionated with respect to temperature between an animal's body water and bone phosphate, thus providing avenues for deriving the first direct evidence of dinosaur thermal physiology.

Multiple samples from both cortical and cancellous areas from individual bones were sampled in order to determine the heterogeneity of δ18O values within single bones. Bones from both the body core (ribs and vertebrae) and the extremities (limbs and caudal vertebrae) of known individual dinosaurs were sampled in this method. This allows for a comparison of isotopic heterogeneity from bones of all body regions. In ectothermic heterotherms or mass homeotherms the δ18O values from the extremities are expected to generally be heavier than those from ribs or dorsal vertebrae. It is also expected that there would be a greater degree of heterogeneity of δ18O values from bones in the extremities than those in the body core for these individuals. This relationship would result from the greater degree of heat loss from the extremities than body cores due to greater surface areas and distance from the heart. This relationship has been seen in analyses on bones from the modern Varanus komodoensis. On the other hand, true endothermic homeotherms should show a very narrow range of hetergeneity of δ18O values both within individual bones and between bones within single individuals as seen in modern mammals.

Dinosaurs analyzed indicate isotopic heterogeneities within individual bones intermediate between modern mammals and Varanus, with the Tyrannosaurus showing the greatest isotopic variability. However, this isotopic heterogeneity is relatively small and is not significantly different for bones from the body core and extremities. This indicates that heterogeneity of the δ18O values is most likely the result of variations in drinking water δ18O values throughout an individual's lifetime rather than daily or seasonal variations in body temperatures.
The early development of tetrapod herbivory
Authors: Beerbower Richard , Olson Everett C. , Hotton Nicholas
Published: January 2018

Herbivorous tetrapods make their first appearance in Upper Carboniferous fossil assemblages but only become abundant and diverse in Upper Permian ones. During the Late Carboniferous-Early Permian interval, herbivory appeared independently at least five times: in diadectids, bolosaurids, captorhinids, edaphosaurids and caseids. These animals ranged from small forms with aptitudes for collection and processing of low-fiber plant tissues (as well as terrestrial invertebrates) to giants particularly apt for utilization of high-fiber tissues. Our report focuses on the latter group since the development of high-fiber herbivory has had a critical impact on evolution of terrestrial plants and animals as well as on the organization of terrestrial ecosystems.

The low abundance and diversity of early, high-fiber herbivores reflect on one hand, sampling biases toward habitats suboptimal for herbivory, and on the other, the limited ecological capabilities of the animals themselves. Most of the Permo-Carboniferous assemblages derive from wet-land swamp and forest ecosystems where plant tissues would have been relatively rare and/or inaccessible and predation relatively intense. The likely herbivores appear apt for life in wet-land ecosystems; there they probably utilized localized patchs of productive shrub and herb along rivers and around lakes as refuges from disturbance (desiccation, temperature extremes and predation) as well as sources of food. Their low metabolic levels and growth rates minimized nutritional requirements but along with large size provided adequately for adult maintenance and for reproduction. High adult survivorship and production of a large number of eggs through a long adult lifespan would have offset high egg and juvenile mortality.

Only a few Late Carboniferous and Early Permian assemblages sample drier woodland and shrub habitats where conditions would have been more favorable for high-fiber herbivory, but by Late Permian such assemblages occur in much greater numbers and diversity. The high-fiber herbivores in these dry-land ecosystems had ecological aptitudes comparable to wet-land forms but were relatively more abundant and diverse, reflecting both a greater abundance and extent of shrubby vegetation and a lower incidence of predation.
Assemblage turnovers in Mesozoic calcareous nannofossils: periodicity and distinction from the terminal Cretaceous event
Authors: Bergen James
Published: January 2018

Long-term cycles are evident in the stratigraphic distribution(appearances/extinctions) and dominance changes of Mesozoic calcareous nannofossils. These assemblage turnovers correspond to major episodes of biological extinction recognized in inverterbrate genera and families. The identified Mesozoic nannofossil assemblage turnovers are gradual, in contrast to the well-documented and geologically instantaneous terminal Cretaceous event. Such continuity indicates a non-catatrophic cause and suggests that these turnovers are unrelated to the terminal Cretaceous “accident”. Their timing instead corresponds to interpreted sea level trends and paleoceanographic changes in the sections studied.

Current evidence is based on a limited number of sections spanning the Pliensbachian to Cenomanian, although published literature and a thorough analysis of the Cenomanian show that these turnovers can be recognized over a wide geographic area. These preliminary conclusions are based on detailed sample analyses of marine sections selected for their nannofossil content. This has eliminated any taxonomic or preservational bias and problems related to compiled literature ranges.

Major dominance changes are recorded in the Pliensbachian, Bajocian, Tithonian, and Aptian. The Pliensbachian turnover is evident at the family and ordinal level, whereas the younger dominance changes occur at the generic level. A major diversification during the Pliensbachian resulted in the replacement of the Jurassic Family Crepidolithaceae by the important Jurassic placolith families. The Bajocian and Tithonian turnovers were initiated by dominance changes within the common imbricate placolith family, Ellipsagelosphaeraceae. The Tithonian turnover was most dramatic including: (1) a major diversification near the Jurassic/Cretaceous boundary; (2) the extinction of several genera; and (3) the establishment of a dominant low latitude assemblage (Nannoconus, Conusphaera, Micrantholithus). Species appearances and extinctions characterize the Cretaceous turnovers. There was an increase in species extinctions during the Hauterivian, Aptian, and Cenomanian. The Aptian also includes the extinction of the aforementioned low latitude assemblage and the subsequent diversification and radiation of more cosmopolitan floras, which continued until the end of the Albian. The highest number of nannofossil species extinctions within any Mesozoic stage (except for the terminal Cretaceous) are recorded in the Cenomanian. Although several of these species extinctions are associated with the Cenomanian/Turonian boundary anoxic event, most preceeded this event.
Underprints of vertebrate and invertebrate trackways in the Coconino Sandstone (Permian) in northern Arizona
Authors: Brand Leonard R. , Kramer Jon
Published: January 2018

The Coconino Sandstone is a Permian deposit of cross-bedded sandstone which is distributed over much of northern Arizona. Vertebrate fossil trackways are abundant in the Coconino Sandstone, and invertebrate trackways are present but less abundant. No other fossils have been found in this formation.

A number of papers dealing with the systematics and paleoecology of these tracks have been published, but underprints have not previously been reported from the Coconino Sandstone. A slab from north of Seligman, Arizona bears intersecting trackways of an invertebrate and two tetrapods. A portion of the slab contains the surface on which the animals were walking. On the remainder of the slab a thin layer bearing that upper surface has broken away to reveal another surface with well preserved underprints of both invertebrates and tetrapods (systematic and behavioral aspects of these trackways will be described in a separate paper).

The underprints are very distinct, deep depressions with uniformly rounded edges, while the original tracks are shallower and much less distinct because some sand slumped into them. It appears that as the animal lifted its foot out of a track the sand partly filled in the depression, but in underlying laminae the contour of the underprint was protected by the sand pushed down from above by the animal's foot.

Comparison of this slab with other fossil trackways from the Coconino Sandstone suggests that a number of these trackways may be underprints. Evidence favoring that interpretation are the clarity and depth of the footprints and their uniformly rounded edges. This interpretation also suggests an explanation for some footprints that are so deep that the sand on the front edge of the track overhangs the footprint impression. The Coconino Sandstone is composed of fine sand and does not show evidence of clays or other material that could provide the cohesion to retain such steep, even overhanging, surfaces. If these footprints are underprints, the deep, undercut impressions may have been preserved by the continuity of the overlying laminae while the surface depressions were partly filled by slumping sand.

It might be expected that underprints would be less distinct and detailed than the actual print. That may be true for tracks made in a substrate with an ideal consistency for preserving the tracks, but in pure, fine sand slumping of sand at the surface can apparently obliterate footprint details that are preserved in the underprints.