A new method of administering local anesthesia for calf disbudding: Findings from a comparative on-farm study in New Zealand

Ewe wastage is the combination of on-farm mortality and premature culling. Internationally, there is limited research on actual wastage incidence and causes in commercial sheep flocks. To the authors’ knowledge, this is the first study that reports both lifetime wastage and detailed annual wastage in a sample of commercial New Zealand flocks. This study utilized data collected from 13,142 ewes from four cohorts on three commercial New Zealand farms (Farm A 2010-born, Farm A 2011-born, Farm B, Farm C), during the period 2011–2017, as they aged from replacement hoggets to 6-year-old ewes (Farm A and Farm B) or 3-year-old ewes (Farm C). Data collection visits occurred at three or four key management times each year, namely pre-mating, pregnancy diagnosis, pre-lambing and weaning. At each visit, body condition score (BCS) was assessed and any ewes that were culled or had died on farm were recorded. As this was a lifetime study, each ewe was assigned an outcome and corresponding ‘exit age’. By the end of the study, all ewes that had exited their respective flocks, were classified as either prematurely culled, or dead/missing, or if still in the flock, as censored, and either the exact date or interval in which they exited the flock was recorded. Semi-parametric competing risk (premature culling vs. dead/missing), interval-censored survival models were developed to: 1. describe the association between hogget reproductive outcomes and risk of subsequent wastage, and 2. assess pre-mating BCS as a predictor of wastage in that production year. Of the 13,142 enrolled ewes, 50.4% exited their respective flocks due to premature culling and 40.0% due to on-farm dead/missing, giving a total of 90.4% that exited due to wastage. Annual mortality incidence ranged from 3.5 to 40.2%. As a hogget, wastage incidence ranged from 7.6 to 45.4%. Pregnancy or rearing a lamb as a hogget did not increase risk of subsequent wastage. In all years, pre-mating BCS was a predictor of ewe wastage, with odds of wastage lower with increasing BCS. Therefore, farmers should focus on improving pre-mating BCS to 3.5/5.0 by assessing ewe BCS at weaning, allowing poorer-BCS ewes to be managed to gain BCS before re-breeding.

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The Carbon Footprint of Energy Consumption in Pastoral and Barn Dairy Farming Systems: A Case Study from Canterbury, New Zealand

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11174809 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (17) ◽

pp. 4809 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Hafiz Muhammad Abrar Ilyas ◽

Majeed Safa ◽

Alison Bailey ◽

Sara Rauf ◽

Marvin Pangborn

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Carbon Footprint ◽

Dairy Farming ◽

Carbon Footprints ◽

Energy Inputs ◽

Study Results ◽

Feed Supplements ◽

Dairy Systems ◽

Milk Solids ◽

On Farm

Dairy farming is constantly evolving to more intensive systems of management, which involve more consumption of energy inputs. The consumption of these energy inputs in dairy farming contributes to climate change both with on-farm emissions from the combustion of fossil fuels, and by off-farm emissions due to production of farm inputs (such as fertilizer, feed supplements). The main purpose of this research study was to evaluate energy-related carbon dioxide emissions, the carbon footprint, of pastoral and barn dairy systems located in Canterbury, New Zealand. The carbon footprints were estimated based on direct and indirect energy sources. The study results showed that, on average, the carbon footprints of pastoral and barn dairy systems were 2857 kgCO2 ha−1 and 3379 kgCO2 ha−1, respectively. For the production of one tonne of milk solids, the carbon footprint was 1920 kgCO2 tMS−1 and 2129 kgCO2 tMS−1, respectively. The carbon emission difference between the two systems indicates that the barn system has 18% and 11% higher carbon footprint than the pastoral system, both per hectare of farm area and per tonne of milk solids, respectively. The greater carbon footprint of the barn system was due to more use of imported feed supplements, machinery usage and fossil fuel (diesel and petrol) consumption for on-farm activities.

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Simplified methods for on-farm prediction of yield potential of grazed lucerne crops in New Zealand

New Zealand Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1080/00288233.2021.1909078 ◽

2021 ◽

pp. 1-19

Author(s):

Derrick J. Moot ◽

Xiumei Yang ◽

Hung T. Ta ◽

Hamish E. Brown ◽

Edmar I. Teixeira ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Yield Potential ◽

On Farm

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First person – Natalí Delorme and Leonardo Zamora

Biology Open ◽

10.1242/bio.059175 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (12) ◽

Keyword(s):

Oxidative Stress ◽

Life Cycle ◽

New Zealand ◽

Stress Response ◽

Marine Invertebrates ◽

Early Career ◽

New Method ◽

First Person ◽

Early Career Researchers ◽

Selection Of

ABSTRACT First Person is a series of interviews with the first authors of a selection of papers published in Biology Open, helping early-career researchers promote themselves alongside their papers. Natalí Delorme and Leonardo Zamora are co-first authors on ‘ A new method to localise and quantify oxidative stress in live juvenile mussels’, published in BiO. They are both researchers in the laboratory of Serean Adams at the Cawthron Institute, Nelson, New Zealand. Natalí's research interests centre around ecophysiology of marine invertebrates, particularly on the organisms' stress response. Leonardo is investigating the biology of commercially, ecologically and culturally relevant marine invertebrates throughout their life cycle.

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287: A New Method for Local Anesthesia by Hysteroscope

Journal of Minimally Invasive Gynecology ◽

10.1016/j.jmig.2007.08.163 ◽

2007 ◽

Vol 14 (6) ◽

pp. S104-S105

Author(s):

M.P.H. Vleugels

Keyword(s):

Local Anesthesia ◽

New Method

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Extraction of Lipid-Soluble Marine Biotoxins

Journal of AOAC International ◽

10.1093/jaoac/78.2.480 ◽

1995 ◽

Vol 78 (2) ◽

pp. 480-482 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Donald J Hannah ◽

Desmond G Till ◽

Terry Deverall ◽

Paul D Jones ◽

Joanne M Fry

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Saline Solution ◽

Extraction Methods ◽

New Method ◽

Mouse Bioassay ◽

Shellfish Poisoning ◽

Constant Weight ◽

Lipophilic Compounds ◽

Safe Method ◽

Marine Biotoxins

Abstract A recent extensive outbreak of toxic shellfish poisoning (TSP) in New Zealand, with at least 4 types of toxicities present, required the development of a new method for detecting lipid-soluble marine biotoxins. The complexity of studying this outbreak, requiring large sample numbers, dictated the development of a robust and safe method for extracting lipid-soluble toxins. The new method is based on extraction of lipophilic compounds with acetone followed by partitioning into dichloromethane. The dichloromethane extract is evaporated to constant weight and suspended in a detergent–saline solution for use in a mouse bioassay. The new method produces an extract of superior quality, is quicker and more sensitive compared with extraction methods currently used.

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Developing an Animal Welfare Assessment Protocol for Cows in Extensive Beef Cow–Calf Systems in New Zealand. Part 1: Assessing the Feasibility of Identified Animal Welfare Assessment Measures

Animals ◽

10.3390/ani10091597 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (9) ◽

pp. 1597 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Y. Baby Kaurivi ◽

Richard Laven ◽

Rebecca Hickson ◽

Tim Parkinson ◽

Kevin Stafford

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Animal Welfare ◽

Welfare Assessment ◽

Assessment Protocol ◽

Beef Cow ◽

Cattle Management ◽

Assessment Measures ◽

Animal Welfare Assessment ◽

Cow Calf ◽

On Farm

Potential measures suitable for assessing welfare in pasture-based beef cow–calf systems in New Zealand were identified from Welfare Quality and UC Davis Cow-Calf protocols. These were trialled on a single farm and a potential protocol of 50 measures created. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility of the measures included in this protocol on multiple farms in order, to develop a credible animal welfare assessment protocol for pasture-based cow–calf farms systems in New Zealand. The assessment protocol was trialled on 25 farms over two visits and took a total of 2.5 h over both visits for a 100-cow herd. The first visit in autumn included an animal welfare assessment of 3366 cows during pregnancy scanning, while the second visit in winter included a questionnaire-guided interview to assess cattle management and health, and a farm resource evaluation. Through a process of eliminating unsuitable measures, adjustments of modifiable measures and retaining feasible measures, a protocol with 32 measures was created. The application of the protocol on the farms showed that not all measures are feasible for on-farm assessment, and categorisation of identified animal welfare measures into scores that indicate a threshold of acceptable and non-acceptable welfare standards is necessary.

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A New Method to Quantify the Impact of Soil Carbon Management on Biophysical Soil Properties: The Example of Two Apple Orchard Systems in New Zealand

Journal of Environmental Quality ◽

10.2134/jeq2007.0508 ◽

2008 ◽

Vol 37 (3) ◽

pp. 915-924 ◽

Cited By ~ 13

Author(s):

Markus Deurer ◽

Siva Sivakumaran ◽

Stefanie Ralle ◽

Iris Vogeler ◽

Ian McIvor ◽

...

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Soil Properties ◽

Soil Carbon ◽

Apple Orchard ◽

New Method ◽

Carbon Management ◽

The Impact

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A new method for partial breast reconstruction: 3-year New Zealand experience.

Journal of Clinical Oncology ◽

10.1200/jco.2015.33.28_suppl.89 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 33 (28_suppl) ◽

pp. 89-89

Author(s):

Stan Govender ◽

John Harman ◽

Gail Lebovic ◽

John Simpson ◽

Benji Benjamin

Keyword(s):

New Zealand ◽

Breast Reconstruction ◽

Tumor Resection ◽

New Method ◽

Healthcare Sector ◽

Partial Mastectomy ◽

Radiotherapy Planning ◽

Public Healthcare ◽

Tissue Flaps

89 Background: Most women in New Zealand undergo partial mastectomy (PM) and 6 weeks of whole breast irradiation for early breast cancer. Oncoplastic surgery (OPS) is common, however, reconstruction of the breast during partial mastectomy presents challenges for radiation targeting since tissues have been extensively rearranged. Further complicating matters, the seroma cavity is often absent, and many patients travel to different cities for radiation without much communication between the surgeon and radiation oncologist prior to treatment. Throughout the country there is interest in promoting hypofractionated or accelerated radiotherapy, however, these techniques cannot be popularized without accurate targeting to minimize complications. In this series of patients we studied a new method of breast reconstruction using a bioabsorbable implant that serves as a surgical site marker as well. Methods: Following informed consent, 15 women were studied in a prospective manner. The bioabsorbable implant was sutured into the tumor resection site, and tissue flaps were directly attached. Radiation treatment protocols followed ASTRO guidelines. Results: The implant provided volume replacement and acted as a scaffolding for the breast tissue flaps providing local reconstruction. Cosmetic outcomes were excellent in all patients, no device related or radiation complications occurred. One patient had a post-operative hematoma that resolved without intervention, there were no post-operative infections. 3 year follow up shows no tumor recurrences, and no untoward effects. When compared to conventional radiation targeting, use of the implant showed a > 50% reduction in treatment volume is possible. 3 year mammograms show normal regrowth of tissue without artifact and with minimal fibrosis. Conclusions: Three year follow-up shows this "mini" breast implant assists with oncoplastic breast reconstruction, while at the same time clearly marks the surgical site of tumor excision. Patients tolerated it well, and radiotherapy planning, positioning and treatment were all facilitated by the implant. Excellent patient outcomes in this pilot study have resulted in a national evaluation of this method in the public healthcare sector.

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