THE ECONOMIC EFFICIENCY OF PRODUCTION OF A TRITICALE HYBRID GENETIC LINE AT DIFFERENT LEVELS OF INTENSITY

The aim of the study was to evaluate the economic efficiency of production of a hybrid genetic line of winter triticale in comparison with a short-straw form, at different intensity levels under cereal crop rotation conditions. Calculations were made based on three-year (2017-2019) field trial results. The analysis included tillage methods (traditional and simplified), differentiated nitrogen fertilization (0,90 and 120 kg N/ha) and two forms of triticale: The rotondo variety and the hybrid genetic line – BOH 2415. The gross margin was taken as a measure of economic efficiency. The economic effectiveness of cultivation of both forms of winter triticale was assessed from the perspective of utilizing one of the basic production factors, i.e., land. The gross profitability index for particular variants of the experiment was also calculated as the relation of production value to direct costs. The analysis of production and economic indices showed that the more favorable variant of winter triticale cultivation was hybrid form cultivation technology with the use of traditional tillage (plough) and a nitrogen fertilization rate at a level of 120 kg N/ha. The level of the obtained gross margin was more influenced by the level of the obtained yield and the purchase price of triticale than by the level of incurred direct costs depending on the soil tillage method.

Dandelion Taraxacum officinale L. As a Promising Tool for Bio-Diagnostics of the State of the Urban Environment

The need to expand the list of organisms used in environmental biodiagnostics arises from the variety of pollutants and types of man-made effects on the biosphere. The choice of available test organism should be based on easily detectable and differentiable sensitivity to factors, high reproducibility of seed material, alignment of the genetic line used by the gene pool and phenotype. The paper presents the results of the soil contamination of urban agglomeration study by the bioindication and biotesting method using a dandelion as a bioindicator plant and a test organism. Within the study, the generation of dandelion was obtained and investigated for applicability in biotesting. During the first stage of the study, soil samples were taken in the influence zone of VOAO Khimprom and near the 2nd Prodol’naya avenue of Volgograd. Germination of dandelion seeds showed noticeable differences in growth rates both in comparison with control and in comparison, of prototypes with each other. At the end of the first stage, numerous apomictic seed offspring were obtained to excrete the aligned genetic lineage of test organisms. The expansion of the list of contaminated locations by counting the territories adjacent to the VMK Krasnyi Oktyabr’ showed the detected differentiated physiological reaction of test organisms grown in experimental soil samples. The results of the study confirm the postulate on soil contamination of urban locations with physiologically active pollutants and also characterize the used plant as a sensitive and easily reproducible test organism under artificial conditions. During the two-year experiment the possibility of selecting the genetic lineage Taraxacum officinale with predictable and monotonous properties was proved due to the tendency of this species to apomixis.

Study of Some Physiological and Genetic Changes Using the Soybean (Glicine max (L) MEER) Test System

Anthropogenic pressure on the biosphere has become a common process of the 21st century. Among substances synthesized by humans, genotoxic agents which include pesticides are considered to be particularly dangerous. The number of pesticides used in agriculture is gradually increasing, accumulating and circulating in the biosphere. The use of pesticides is accompanied by their involvement in food chains and accumulation in individuals. They are characterized by a fairly high stress index and cause genetic changes in living organisms. Various test methods have been developed to study these issues. B. Wig and Al. Podok suggested a genetic line for soybean containing a mutation of the chlorophyll-synthesizing gene. The genetic line is characterized by a phenotypic effect. Indicator, genetic line owner soybean, diploid, heterozygous, give three phenotypically different sprouts: green (genotype Y11 Y11), lettuce-color (genotype Y11 y11) and yellow (genotype y11 y11). 1: 2: 1 ratio is observed between the sprouts. This type of ratio is typical for incomplete dominance. Through the spots detected on the leaves it is possible to study the recombinogenic and mutagenic activity in soybean induced by chemical and physical factors and to record the induced changes in somatic cell. Using these systems, we first studied the effects of pesticides karate and Bordeaux on plant growth and sprouting processes and the genetic changes induced by their influence. Both pesticides had an inhibitory effect on physiological processes, also, the frequency of direct mutations was determined by the "dose-effect" phenomenon.

Aquaculture Reuse Water, Genetic Line, and Vaccination Affect Rainbow Trout (Oncorhynchus mykiss) Disease Susceptibility and Infection Dynamics

Infectious hematopoietic necrosis virus (IHNV) and Flavobacterium psychrophilum are major pathogens of farmed rainbow trout. Improved control strategies are desired but the influence of on-farm environmental factors that lead to disease outbreaks remain poorly understood. Water reuse is an important environmental factor affecting disease. Prior studies have established a replicated outdoor-tank system capable of varying the exposure to reuse water by controlling water flow from commercial trout production raceways. The goal of this research was to evaluate the effect of constant or pulsed reuse water exposure on survival, pathogen prevalence, and pathogen load. Herein, we compared two commercial lines of rainbow trout, Clear Springs Food (CSF) and Troutex (Tx) that were either vaccinated against IHNV with a DNA vaccine or sham vaccinated. Over a 27-day experimental period in constant reuse water, all fish from both lines and treatments, died while mortality in control fish in spring water was <1%. Water reuse exposure, genetic line, vaccination, and the interaction between genetic line and water exposure affected survival (P<0.05). Compared to all other water sources, fish exposed to constant reuse water had 46- to 710-fold greater risk of death (P<0.0001). Tx fish had a 2.7-fold greater risk of death compared to CSF fish in constant reuse water (P ≤ 0.001), while risk of death did not differ in spring water (P=0.98). Sham-vaccinated fish had 2.1-fold greater risk of death compared to vaccinated fish (P=0.02). Both IHNV prevalence and load were lower in vaccinated fish compared to sham-vaccinated fish, and unexpectedly, F. psychrophilum load associated with fin/gill tissues from live-sampled fish was lower in vaccinated fish compared to sham-vaccinated fish. As a result, up to forty-five percent of unvaccinated fish were naturally co-infected with F. psychrophilum and IHNV and the coinfected fish exhibited the highest IHNV loads. Under laboratory challenge conditions, co-infection with F. psychrophilum and IHNV overwhelmed IHNV vaccine-induced protection. In summary, we demonstrate that exposure to reuse water or multi-pathogen challenge can initiate complex disease dynamics that can overwhelm both vaccination and host genetic resistance.

The Effect of Egg Laying on Feather and Plasma Corticosterone Concentrations in Turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) Hens

Phenological differences in energy demand (i.e., reproductive status) might influence the measurement of corticosterone. The objective of this study was to compare corticosterone concentrations in feathers (FCORT) and plasma (PCORT) for turkey hens before and during egg laying. Secondary feathers 1 and 3, and a plasma sample were collected from 50 hens at 30 weeks (before egg laying) from two purebred lines. The hens were reexamined during lay (45 weeks) to collect regrown feathers and plasma samples. Corticosterone concentrations were measured using an ELISA. Linear mixed models were used to assess the effect of genetic line (A vs. B) and period (pre-lay vs. lay) on FCORT and PCORT levels. An increase in FCORT during lay was detected for line B (p < 0.0001), but not line A (p = 0.3076). An increase in FCORT during lay was detectable in both feather types, but there was a difference between secondary 1 and 3 in FCORT concentration within each line studied. Conversely, PCORT decreased between the pre-lay and lay periods for both lines, although the decrease was more substantial for line A (p < 0.0001). Differences in metabolic investment in egg production between the two genetic lines may explain the different FCORT response during lay. The results from this study provide insight into how periods of high energy demand may influence corticosterone which should be considered when interpreting results.

Excretion of Histomonas meleagridis following experimental co-infection of distinct chicken lines with Heterakis gallinarum and Ascaridia galli

Background Histomonosis is a severe re-emerging disease of poultry caused by Histomonas meleagridis, a protozoan parasite which survives in the environment via the cecal worm Heterakis gallinarum. Following infection, the parasites reside in the ceca and are excreted via host feces. In the present work, male birds of conventional broiler (Ross 308, R), layer (Lohmann Brown Plus, LB) and a dual-purpose (Lohmann Dual, LD) chicken line were infected with 250 embryonated eggs of Ascaridia galli and Heterakis gallinarum, respectively, with the latter nematode harboring Histomonas meleagridis, to investigate a co-infection of nematodes with the protozoan parasite in different host lines. Methods In weekly intervals, from 2 to 9 weeks post infection (wpi), individual fecal samples (n = 234) from the chickens were collected to quantify the excretion of H. meleagridis by real-time PCR and to determine the number of nematode eggs per gram (EPG) in order to elucidate excretion dynamics of the flagellate and the nematodes. This was further investigated by indirect detection using plasma samples of the birds to detect antibodies specific for H. meleagridis and worms by ELISA. The infection with H. meleagridis was confirmed by histopathology and immunohistochemistry to detect the flagellate in the cecum of representing birds. Results The excretion of H. meleagridis could already be observed from the 2nd wpi in some birds and increased to 100% in the last week of the experiment in all groups independent of the genetic line. This increase could be confirmed by ELISA, even though the number of excreted H. meleagridis per bird was generally low. Overall, histomonads were detected in 60% to 78% of birds with temporary differences between the different genetic lines, which also showed variations in the EPG and worm burden of both nematodes. Conclusions The infection with H. gallinarum eggs contaminated with H. meleagridis led to a permanent excretion of the flagellate in host feces. Differences in the excretion of H. meleagridis in the feces of genetically different host lines occurred intermittently. The excretion of the protozoan or its vector H. gallinarum was mostly exclusive, showing a negative interaction between the two parasites in the same host. Graphic abstract

Impact of Sow Transition Diet and Genetic Line on Sow Reproduction Under Heat Stress Conditions

The objective was to evaluate a sow transition diet and genetic line for farrowing duration and sow lactation characteristics. One batch of second parity sows (n = 78) were farrowed at the NCDA Tidewater Research Station in July. Sows consisted of two genetic lines, one selected since 2012 for young age at puberty and the other selected for old age at puberty. From day 109 of gestation until day 3 of lactation, sows were fed either 2.73 kg of a corn-soy lactation diet (3322 Kcal ME/kg, 0.99% SID lysine) once per day or 1.36 kg twice per day of a transition diet (3489 Kcal/kg, 0.71 SID lysine). The transition diet contained 45% wheat middlings, 8% added soybean oil, 3000 FTU/kg of phytase and 500 ppm zinc sulfate. Continuous traits and categorical traits were analyzed in SAS using linear models and chi-square tests, respectively. Results showed sows fed the transition diet farrowed numerically faster (P = 0.18) than those receiving the lactation diet (3:04 vs. 3:47). Transition diet fed sows tended (P = 0.10) to have a shorter wean-to-estrus interval than sows fed the lactation diet (5.27 vs. 5.69 days). Sows from the young puberty genetic line tended (P = 0.07) to have a greater average daily feed intake during lactation when compared to old puberty line females (4.92 vs. 4.71 kg). Young puberty sows also had a greater (P = 0.03) percentage of females exhibiting estrus by day 7 after weaning when compared to the old puberty genetic line (80 vs. 57%). No differences (P = 0.39 to 0.87) were detected between diets or genetic lines for stillborn piglet percentage, average piglet birth weight, average piglet weaning weight or litter size at weaning. Results suggest young puberty sows are more likely to return to estrus under the conditions of this study.

Selection for feed efficiency elicits different postprandial plasma metabolite profiles in response to poor hygiene of housing conditions in growing pigs

This study was conducted to compare postprandial plasma concentrations of insulin, energy-related metabolites, and amino acids measured after a 6-week challenge consisting of exposure to good or poor hygiene of housing conditions of 24 growing pigs divergently selected for low-RFI (LRFI) and high-RFI (HRFI). Blood indicators of immune responses were assessed from samples collected before 0 (W0), and 3 (W3), and 6 weeks (W6) after pigs transfer to their respective hygiene of housing conditions. Plasma haptoglobin concentrations and blood neutrophil granulocyte numbers were greater in poor than in good hygiene of housing conditions at W3. Plasma concentrations of total immunoglobulin G were greater (p = 0.04) in poor than in good hygiene of housing conditions at W6. At W6, pigs were fitted with an intravenous catheter for serial blood samplings. Low-RFI pigs had greater insulin (p < 0.001) and lower triglyceride (p = 0.04) average plasma concentrations than HRFI pigs in both conditions. In poor hygiene of housing conditions, the peaks of insulin and glucose were observed earlier and that of insulin was greater in LRFI than in HRFI pigs. Irrespective of genetic line, average plasma concentrations of histidine, isoleucine, leucine, methionine, threonine, valine, and alanine were greater in poor compared with good hygiene of housing conditions. Only HRFI pigs had greater lysine, asparagine, proline, and tyrosine plasma concentrations in poor than in good hygiene of housing conditions. Conversely, arginine, tryptophan, proline, and tyrosine plasma concentrations were lower only for LRFI pigs housed in poor hygiene conditions. Our results suggest that, contrary to HRFI, LRFI pigs increase or maintain their utilization of tryptophan, arginine, and lysine when housed in poor hygiene conditions. This indicates that this difference may contribute to the better capacity of LRFI to cope with poor hygiene of housing conditions.

Genetic Parameters of Effort and Recovery in Sport Horses Assessed with Infrared Thermography

The way a horse activates (effort phase-EP) and recovers (recovery phase-RP) during a sport event can affect its sport performance. The aim of this manuscript was to test horses’ adaptation to sport performance and its genetic basis, using eye temperature assessed with infrared thermography. EP and RP were measured in 495 Spanish Sport Horses, during a performance test, considering sex (2) and genetic lines (5) as fixed effects. The ranking position obtained on an official sport competition was also collected. Differences in variables due to genetic line and sex effects were found, showing that, regardless of the genetic line, stallions tended to recover better than mares after the sport test developed. High positive intra-class correlations (p < 0.001) were found between EP and RP for both fixed effects, so that the higher the EP, the higher the RP. However, for the ranking position, a low negative correlation (p < 0.01) was found, so that the higher the eye temperature increase, the better the position. Heritabilities showed medium–high values with a medium positive genetic correlation between them. Thus, breed origins and sex influence horses’ effort and recovery during sport performance, showing a genetic basis adequate for selection.

Caecal Microbiota Composition of Experimental Laying Hens Differs According to Genetic Line and Vaccination to IBV

BackgroundInteractions between the gut microbiota and the immune system may be involved in the vaccine response. In the present study, we studied the correlations between caecal microbiota composition and the immune response in six experimental laying hen lines harboring different haplotypes at the Major Histocompatibility complex (MHC), 7 weeks after their first vaccination against the infectious bronchitis virus (IBV). Two lines were previously considered as high responders (HR) to IBV vaccination and two other ones as low responders (LR). We explored to what extent the gut microbiota could be related to this variability through the characterization of caecal bacterial communities with a 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing approach, one week after an IBV infectious challenge. ResultsWe observed significant effects of both the vaccination and the genetic line on the microbiota, with lower bacterial richness in vaccinated chickens, especially in the Ruminococcaceae family. We also observed dissimilar caecal communities among the different MHC lines, and among the vaccinated and non-vaccinated animals. The effect of vaccination was similar in all the lines, with a reduced abundance of OTUs from the Ruminococcacea UCG-014 and Faecalibacterium genera, and an increased abundance of OTUs from the Eisenbergiella genus. The main association between the microbiota and the immune phenotypes implied TCRϒδ expression on TCRϒδ+ T cells, which especially shared negative associations with OTUs from the Escherichia-Shigella genus. Finally, opposing the HR and LR groups, we identified 3 OTUs more abundant in the HR group, from the Tyzzeralla family, the Angelakisella genus, and to a lower extent the Flavonifractor family. Conversely, an OTU from the CAG-352 genus was more abundant in the LR group. ConclusionsWe assessed that the caecal microbiota composition is associated with the IBV vaccine response in laying chickens, and that TCRϒδ expression on TCRϒδ+ T cells appears as one of the main components potentially involved in this interaction.