scholarly journals Spatial distribution of dairy heifers’ dung in silvopastoral systems

2019 ◽  
Vol 49 (10) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roberta Aparecida Carnevalli ◽  
Andrea Cristina Tavares de Mello ◽  
Luciano Shozo ◽  
Steben Crestani ◽  
Admar Junior Coletti ◽  
...  

ABSTRACT: Ruminants vary their walking trajectory according to the positioning of the trees in integrated systems, which can determine the concentration of dung deposition at certain locations. The aim of this study was to map the distribution of feces and the behavior of dairy heifers in sunny and shaded areas. This experiment was carried out in Mato Grosso, Brazil, where the main grazing conditioner is shade due to the presence of trees in the pastures. Shading levels used were: full sunlight (control), moderate shade (338 trees ha−1) and intensive shade (714 trees ha−1) in randomized complete blocks. The experimental period was divided into three evaluation periods based on rainfall distribution: rainy period = December 2012; transition period = March 2013 and dry period = June 2013. Animal behavior assessments and dung distribution mapping were performed. The full sunlight system displayed a higher concentration of feces patches at sites near the gate, cow drinkers and fences opposite the gate. Heifers picked shaded places for ruminating and idleness. The major concentration was reported in the central area and under trees, in shaded systems. There were places with greater feces concentrations, but when the pasture had trees, deposition did not only happen underneath trees but also in places under their influence. The distribution was more homogeneous when trees were present in large quantities. The shaded area available in pastures affects spatial distribution of dung, stimulating uniformity.

Author(s):  
Rafael G. Barragán G ◽  
Amparo Canosa ◽  
Juan P. Niño

Marine bacterioplankton abundance, biomass, biovolume and shape were quantied in three stations within Gaira Bay at the Colombian Caribbean coast over three periods dened for this study as: “rainy” (July, August, 2003), “transition” (April, October 2004) and “dry” (February, March, 2004). Bacterioplankton samples were collected from 0.5 and 42 m depths, ltered onto 0.22 μm polycarbonate lters and quantied using epi!uorescence microscopy with Acridine Orange staining and image analysis. Average bacterial abundance ranged between 1.3 x 105-2.9 x 106 cells mL-1 during the rainy period, 8.8 x 104-2.2 x 106 cells mL-1 during the transition period and 6.7 x 104-3.9 x 105 cell mL-1 at the dry period, with a mean abundance of 4.4 x 105 cells mL-1. The differences in abundance were statistically signicant between sampling periods, stations and depths, the differences in biovolume were statistically signicant between sampling periods and stations, nally, the differences in biomass were statistically signicant between stations and water depths (ANOVA, p<0.05). Most of the cells had a coccoid shape and a small biovolume (0.01-0.08 μm3 cell-1). Over the sampling period, the mean bacterial biomass ranged between 0.88 and 32.1 μg C L-1, with the maximum observed during the rainy period. The results suggest that bacterial biomass increases during the rainy period, probably as a consequence of increased water discharge originating from the Gaira River and the Ciénaga Grande de Santa Marta lagoon. We hypothesize that the temporal dynamics of bacterial communities in Gaira Bay are being driven by the availability of organic nutrients (DOC).


2001 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 233 ◽  
Author(s):  
MAURO PAROLIN ◽  
JOSÉ CÂNDIDO STEVAUX

Holocene sandy deposits interpreted as of eolian origin were studied at Taquaruçu, MS (22º30’ S / 53º20’ W). That area is constituted of hills with 5 to 12 m of height over the regional surface, with lightly asymmetric profile, which, morphologically remind eolian dunes quite dissipated, covered by scattered shrub-arboreal vegetation. The deposits are mainly composed of fine to very fine (35 and 54%), medium quartzose sand (7%), with rare granules in the basal interval and clay (4%). Sediment is almost totally massive, probably, by intensive root bioturbation. Structures generated by dissipation and fluidization were also identified. The studied profiles are very similar and presented a temporal hiatus between 3,3 and 3,7 ka BP. The curve of magnetic susceptibility also displays a coincident inflection with the identified discontinuity in the age curve. It was possible to conclude that the area was submitted to a drier climate than the current during the Middle Holocene. Under this climate there was reduction in the vegetable covering and the consequent mobilization of the sand generating an erosive surface and the formation of small dune field. This dry period at the end of Middle Holocene is also identified in other localities such as in SE and Central area of Brazil, and in NE of Argentina. However, this is the first time that eolian processes of such intensity were described in the studied area, and a revision in the definition of aridity intensity of the short dry period of the Holocene is suggested.


FLORESTA ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (1) ◽  
pp. 220
Author(s):  
Maicon Marinho Vieira Araujo ◽  
Francisco Almeida Lobo

The objective of this study is to describe the reproductive and vegetative phenological patterns of individuals of Copernicia alba, popularly known as "carandá", present in a flooded and non-flooded environment and to test the relations between vegetative and reproductive phenophasesand climatic seasonality. The phenological aspects of the carandá were obtained through a biweekly observation of 22 individuals from two areas of the Pantanal of Mato Grosso between August 2015 and August 2017. The carandá population presented a perennial behavior, flowering during the dry season and a greater leaf intensity in the transition period to the rainy season. Budding, although continuous, was intense in the rainy season, and the leaf deciduous pattern had a direct interference from the absence of rainfalls in the dry period. The incidence of floral buds occurred in the dry period, and the flowering occurred between the dry and rainy periods. The fruiting period occurred in the rainy season, indicating a high synchronism of phenophases.


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ellie J. Putz ◽  
Austin M. Putz ◽  
Hyeongseon Jeon ◽  
John D. Lippolis ◽  
Hao Ma ◽  
...  

AbstractIn dairy cows, the period from the end of lactation through the dry period and into the transition period, requires vast physiological and immunological changes critical to mammary health. The dry period is important to the success of the next lactation and intramammary infections during the dry period will adversely alter mammary function, health and milk production for the subsequent lactation. MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small non-coding RNAs that can post transcriptionally regulate gene expression. We sought to characterize the miRNA profile in dry secretions from the last day of lactation to 3, 10, and 21 days post dry-off. We identified 816 known and 80 novel miRNAs. We found 46 miRNAs whose expression significantly changed (q-value < 0.05) over the first three weeks of dry-off. Additionally, we examined the slopes of random regression models of log transformed normalized counts and cross analyzed the 46 significantly upregulated and downregulated miRNAs. These miRNAs were found to be associated with important components of pregnancy, lactation, as well as inflammation and disease. Detailing the miRNA profile of dry secretions through the dry-off period provides insight into the biology at work, possible means of regulation, components of resistance and/or susceptibility, and outlets for targeted therapy development.


2019 ◽  
Vol 118 ◽  
pp. 04027
Author(s):  
Hongjin Tong ◽  
Sha Liu ◽  
Ruixue Liao ◽  
Xiaomei Wei ◽  
Kangli Che ◽  
...  

The previous characteristics researches of air pollution were almost based on data from national environmental monitoring stations in 2015. The temporal variation curves of air pollutants and the ArcGIS grid interpolation method were used to analyze the spatial-temporal variation of air pollutants in five cities of Chengdu economic region. In 2015, the monthly change trends of PM2.5, PM10, CO, NO2 and NO of air pollutants in Chengdu economic region were basically the same. The maximum monthly average concentration was in January or December, and the minimum was in May to September. The temporal variation of SO2 was characterized by little fluctuation of monthly concentration. The temporal variation characteristics of O3 were opposite to other pollutants. The spatial distribution of PM10 and PM2.5 was characterized by the largest concentration in Chengdu and the southwest of Meishan, in which they were mainly concentrated in the central area of Chengdu in winter. The average concentration of CO in Chengdu was the largest, followed by Deyang and Mianyang, and Meishan and Ziyang was the smallest. The concentrations of NO2 and NO in Chengdu were the largest, while those in Ziyang were the smallest. The spatial distribution characteristics of O3 were different from other pollutants. The areas with the largest concentration of O3 were Ziyang and a small part of west in Chengdu. The spatial distribution of SO2 was characterized by the largest concentration of SO2 in Ziyang, the lowest concentration in Mianyang and Deyang.


2021 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Maria Soonberg ◽  
Marko Kass ◽  
Tanel Kaart ◽  
Rosie Barraclough ◽  
Marie J. Haskell ◽  
...  

Abstract Regrouping dairy cows is a common feature of dairy farm management. Cows are grouped based on lactation stage, age, milk yield and other factors. Regrouping cows during the dry period (from far-off area to close up area and from close up area to the main herd) brings new challenges. This is especially true for heifers who, after being confirmed gravid, may be grouped into a new pen with dried off cows. The aims of this study were to determine how grouping affects activity, nearest neighbour relationships and aggression, and how heifers’ acclimatization to a new group differs from cows. Therefore, the hypotheses were that regrouping cows has less of an effect on older cows compared to heifers, and cows' individuality affects acclimatization to a new group. Aggression data were recorded using a video camera that was directed at the feed bunk, and activity was recorded with activity monitors that were attached around the right hind leg. Synchrony and distance to nearest neighbour were recorded, as was the cows' location on the first 3 d from the day they returned to the main herd. Motion index, mean number of steps and number of lying bouts were significantly higher after calving compared to the week before calving and the difference was higher amongst heifers compared to cows (P < 0.001). Both cows and heifers lay down more in the strawyard compared to cubicle housing (P < 0.01) and cows were more aggressive than heifers in both housing systems (P < 0.001 and P < 0.05, respectively). As hypothesized, heifers were more affected by regrouping and cows with more experience settled quicker to their new environment.


2016 ◽  
Vol 77 (3) ◽  
pp. 495-505 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. S. Cordeiro ◽  
J. E. L. Barbosa ◽  
G. Q. Lima Filho ◽  
L. G. Barbosa

Abstract The hydrological periods drive the structure and organization of aquatic communities in semiarid regions. We hypothesize that a decrease of the precipitation during the dry period will favor the development of the periphytic algal community, leading to higher richness and density in this period. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the changes in the periphytic algal community structure in three shallow and eutrophic ecosystems of the Brazilian semiarid. The sampling was performed between 2007 and 2010 at two-mensal intervals. The sampling of periphytic algal was performed in aquatic macrophytes and rocks. The abiotic variables were analyzed simultaneously. Dominance in diatoms, cyanobacteria and chlorophytes, respectively, was observed in two periods. In the dry period, waters were alkaline and had high concentrations of nitrate and total phosphorus associated with the highest densities of Bacillariophyceae. In the rainy period the water was warmer, oxygenated and high concentrations of ammonia and soluble reactive phosphorus with diatoms remained dominant but with reduced density, while cyanobacteria and chlorophytes increased. Overall, periphytic algal community composition no responded to changes in the hydrological periods. However, the hydrological periods altered the dynamics of periphytic algal community, supported by the alternation of the most representative classes (diatoms and cyanobacteria) between the hydrologic periods. Our data suggest that the morphometric and chemical and physical characteristics of lentic aquatic ecosystems studied were more important in the dynamics of periphytic algal community than the hydrological periods and types of substrates.


2007 ◽  
Vol 21 (3) ◽  
pp. 641-648 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ariadne do Nascimento Moura ◽  
Maria do Carmo Bittencourt-Oliveira ◽  
Ênio Wocyli Dantas ◽  
João Dias de Toledo Arruda Neto

The aim of this study was to characterize phytoplankton associations, as well as discuss controlling factors determining algal dominance in a eutrophic tropical reservoir, Mundaú, Pernambuco, Brazil. Water samples were collected during the dry period (January/2005) and the rainy period (June/2005). The samples were collected from both limnetic and littoral regions, and the phytoplankton assemblages identified from current literature after preservation in formaldehyde 4%. At the same time as sampling was done, in situ measurements of water temperature, transparency, dissolved oxygen, and pH were also taken. Total phosphorus, total nitrogen concentration and the Trophic State Index were subsequently determined in the laboratory. Phytoplankton density (ind. L-1) was estimated using an inverted Zeiss microscope. Grouping of the phytoplankton associations was carried out using the Reynolds phytosociological classification. During the dry period, reservoir water showed low dissolved oxygen concentrations, alkaline pH and was relatively turbid compared to the situation during the rainy season. Reservoir water is limited by nitrogen during both seasonal periods. The Trophic State Index is classified as determining eutrophic conditions. Phytoplankton was represented by 70 infrageneric taxa grouped in 16 functional associations, with the majority typical of eutrophic systems. This fact is supported by quantitative analysis, which shows the dominance of S associations comprising exclusively R-strategist cyanobacteria.


2005 ◽  
Vol 48 (6) ◽  
pp. 983-996 ◽  
Author(s):  
Michael Goulart ◽  
Marcos Callisto

The objectives of this study were to evaluate spatial and seasonal distribution, assemblage structure and substrate associations of mayfly nymphs in five lotic ecosystems in the headwaters of the Doce River and São Francisco River watersheds, Brazil. Samples were taken in 24 sampling stations during rainy and dry seasons in 1998. In total, 7,066 organisms were collected, belonging to 27 genera and 6 families of Ephemeroptera. The dominant taxa were Americabaetis, Paracloeodes, Leptohyphes and Hagenulus. During the rainy period, the São Francisco River watershed showed higher taxonomic richness, diversity and evenness, while in the dry period, the taxonomic richness was higher in Doce River watershed. No significant differences were found in the taxonomic richness, diversity, evenness and density of mayfly assemblages between the two studied sampling periods. The results suggested that the diversity of the mayfly assemblages in tropical headwaters of Serra do Cipó would be probably due to ecosystem and watershed characteristics.


Author(s):  
А.М. Френк ◽  
Е.М. Гриневская ◽  
А.И. Фролов ◽  
А.Н. Бетин ◽  
Н.И. Маслова

В условиях научно-производственного опыта исследована эффективность введения кормовой добавки «Абиотоник» в рацион высокопродуктивных голштинизированных симментальских коров (в транзитный период и на раздое). «Абиотоник» представляет собой усовершенствованный аналог известного импортного препарата «Чиктоник», отличаясь от иностранного аналога многократно увеличенной концентрацией пептона и наличием высокодефицитных микроэлементов (селена и элементоорганического соединения йода). Наши исследования показали, что скармливание препарата «Абиотоник» в дозе 150 мл/гол. способствовало росту продуктивности коров на 5,84%, улучшило физико-химические свойства молока и повысило его пищевую ценность. Применение кормовой добавки способствовало также профилактике желудочно-кишечных заболеваний у коров, повышению их резистентности, о чём свидетельствовали показатели крови и бактериологического исследования кала. Заболеваемость коров в опытной группе не наблюдалась. Использование препарата «Абиотоник» коровам в заключительной стадии сухостойного периода и в начале лактации привело к сокращению времени отделения плаценты у коров после отёла на 6,54%, или на 0,4 часа, повышению живой массы новорождённого молодняка на 1,6% и сокращению сервис-периода у опытных коров на 8 дней по сравнению с контрольными. Использование кормовой добавки «Абиотоник» способствовало получению дополнительного дохода от реализации молока в размере 1152 руб./гол. Полученные экспериментальные данные позволяют рекомендовать использование отечественной импортозамещающей кормовой добавки «Абиотоник» в рационах коров транзитного периода и на раздое в дозе 150 мл/гол. ежедневно в последней фазе сухостоя и через день в течение 40 суток после отёла. Under the conditions of scientific and farm scale trial the efficiency of introduction of the feed additive "Abiotonic" into the diet of highly productive Holsteinized Simmental cows (during the transition period and for days in milk) was studied. "Abiotonic" is an improved analogue of the known imported preparation "Chiktonik" differing from the foreign analogue by its manifoldly increased peptone concentration and the presence of highly deficient microelements (selenium and organo-element compounds of iodine). Our researches have shown that feeding the preparation "Abiotonic" at a dose of 150 ml / head contributed to an increase in cow productivity by 5.84%, improved the physicochemical properties of milk and increased its nutritional value. The use of a feed additive also contributed to the prevention of gastrointestinal diseases in cows, an increase in their resistance as evidenced by haematological parameters and bacteriological feces analysis. The incidence of cows in the experimental group was not observed. The use of the preparation "Abiotonic" for cows in the final stage of the dry period and at the beginning of lactation reduced the time for separation of the placenta in cows after calving by 6.54% or 0.4 hours, increased the live weight of newborn young stock by 1.6% and reduced the service period of experienced cows by 8 days compared with the control ones. The use of the "Abiotonic" feed additive contributed to the receipt of additional income from the sale of milk in the amount of 1152 rubles / head. The obtained experimental data allow us to recommend the use of domestic import-substituting feed additive "Abiotonic" in the diets of cows in the transition period and for days in milk at a dose of 150 ml / head daily in the last phase of dry period and every other day for 40 days after calving.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document