Dairy Farming Innovations for Productivity Enhancement

Dairy farming innovations’ implementation at every farmer’s farm is the present day need; during the era of scarce natural resources coupled with population explosion, putting obvious pressure for more food production. Milk, produced from every single farm at micro level, is contributing to global economy at macro level. Dairy sector is facing the challenge of low animal productivity due to ineffective and poor farm management. This provides a big window for different innovations application to enhance animal productivity in developing nations where majority dairy farms are small scale and managed on traditional practices. Farm innovations are the novel practices/products/techniques suitable for particular area, physiological stage of animals and economically viable option to enhance the animals’ per diem yield. Despite the prevalence of innovations, the scenario for its applicability is very dismal, majority of them are yet to reach masses at root level. Farmers’ demographic, social and economic characteristics including adoption behavior, act as major impeding factors affecting impact of innovations. In this chapter, information on low cost and user friendly dairy farming innovations suitable for all kinds of farms, maintained under rural conditions existing in different tropical countries have been detailed for enhancing the animal productivity and henceforth farmers’ socio-economic welfare.

Spread of Xanthomonas vasicola pv. musacearum within banana mats: implications for Xanthomonas wilt management

Xanthomonas wilt (XW) of banana caused by Xanthomonas vasicola pv. musacearum (Xvm) does not spread to all plants physically interconnected through the rhizome when one or a few are diseased. However, the factors behind this incomplete systemic spread of Xvm are not fully known yet could inform XW management. This study explored the effect of Xvm inoculum amounts, number and size of suckers, sucker positioning on mother plant corms and other mother plant corm attributes on sucker colonization. A shorter (p <0.05) incubation period (17.9 vs 21.1 days) and higher (p<.001) cumulative number of symptomatic leaves (5.2 vs 1.6 leaves) was observed when all (high inoculum) compared to two leaves (low inoculum) were inoculated. Xvm was recovered in corms at 29 days post inoculation (dpi) in both treatments with no differences (p >0.05) in proportions of corms with Xvm between the treatments. However, Xvm was recovered earlier and at a higher frequency in suckers when all leaves were inoculated. Lower Xvm recoveries occurred in the lower corm sections to which most suckers were attached relative to the middle and upper corm sections. Xvm incidence in corms increased with the number of attached maiden suckers, and the dpi while it declined with increasing mother plant and corm height. Thus, Xvm spread within mats is influenced by the amount of inoculum and the physiological stage (e.g., height) of the plant and attached suckers. The position of suckers, predominantly at the bottom of corms also protects them from infection. Measures that reduce Xvm inoculum build-up in mats are thus crucial for minimizing within mat XW spread.

Effects of the donor factors and freezing protocols on the bovine embryonic lipid profile

Embryo lipid profile is affected by in vitro culture conditions, that lead to an increase in lipids. Efforts have been made to optimize embryo lipid composition as it is associated with their quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the diet supplementation of donor cows (n-3 or n-6 PUFA), or the slow freezing protocols (ethylene glycol sucrose EG-S vs. glycerol trehalose GLY-TRE), or the physiological stage of the donor (nulliparous heifers vs. primiparous lactating cows) may impact the bovine embryo lipid profile. Lipid extracts of 97 embryos were individually analysed by liquid chromatography-high resolution mass spectrometry, highlighting 246 lipids including 85% being overabundant in cow embryos compared to heifer embryos. Among 105 differential lipids, 72 were overabundant after EG-S protocol, including a single glycerophosphate PA(32:1) representing 27.3% of the significantly modulated lipids, suggesting that it is degraded when GLY-TRE is used. No lipids were different according to the n-3 or n-6 supplementation of the donor cows. In conclusion, the embryonic lipid profile was mainly affected by the physiological stage of the donors and the slow freezing protocols. The overabundance of lipids in lactating cow embryos and the resulting lower quality of these embryos is consistent with the lower pregnancy rate observed in cows compared to heifers. Unlike GLY-TRE protocol, EG-S freezing allowed to preserve glycerophospholipids potentially improving the slow freezing of in vitro-produced embryos. Further studies are required to modulate embryo quality and freezability by modulating the lipidome and integrating all stages of embryonic production.

Associations Between Clinical Outcomes and a Recently Proposed Adult Congenital Heart Disease Anatomic and Physiological Classification System

Background American Heart Association and American College of Cardiology consensus guidelines introduce an adult congenital heart disease anatomic and physiological (AP) classification system. We assessed the association between AP classification and clinical outcomes. Methods and Results Data were collected for 1000 outpatients with ACHD prospectively enrolled between 2012 and 2019. AP classification was assigned based on consensus definitions. Primary outcomes were (1) all‐cause mortality and (2) a composite of all‐cause mortality or nonelective cardiovascular hospitalization. Cox regression models were developed for AP classification, each component variable, and additional clinical models. Discrimination was assessed using the Harrell C statistic. Over a median follow‐up of 2.5 years (1.4–3.9 years), the composite outcome occurred in 185 participants, including 49 deaths. Moderately or severely complex anatomic class (class II/III) and severe physiological stage (stage D) had increased risk of the composite outcome (AP class IID and IIID hazard ratio, 4.46 and 3.73, respectively, versus IIC). AP classification discriminated moderately between patients who did and did not suffer the composite outcome (C statistic, 0.69 [95% CI, 0.67–0.71]), similar to New York Heart Association functional class and NT‐proBNP (N‐terminal pro‐B‐type natriuretic peptide); it was more strongly associated with mortality (C statistic, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.78–0.84]), as were NT‐proBNP and functional class. A model with AP class and NT‐proBNP provided the strongest discrimination for the composite outcome (C statistic, 0.73 [95% CI, 0.71–0.75]) and mortality (C statistic, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.82–0.88]). Conclusions The addition of physiological stage modestly improves the discriminative ability of a purely anatomic classification, but simpler approaches offer equivalent prognostic information. The AP system may be improved by addition of key variables, such as circulating biomarkers, and by avoiding categorization of continuous variables.

Seasonal patterns of forage quality in six native forb species

The forage value of native forbs is rarely considered in pasture mixtures, even though such species can make up a substantial proportion of the diet of cattle on native rangelands. Incorporating non-leguminous forbs into pasture grazing systems can provide additional ecosystem services such as pollination habitat, and ideally those forbs would also provide some forage value. We therefore assessed the seasonal variation in protein and fiber (NDF and ADF) content of six common Western Canadian native forb and sub-shrub species: yarrow (Achillea millefolium), smooth aster (Symphyotricum laeve), prairie crocus (Pulsatilla patens), prairie rose (Rosa arkansana), Canada goldenrod (Solidago canadensis), and American vetch (Vicia americana). The legume V. americana displayed the highest protein followed by S. canadensis and S. laeve. V. americana also has the highest fiber concentration through the growing season. S. canadensis and S. laeve had lower fiber content; thus, making them a good choice for addition in seed mixes to meet the energy and nutrient requirements of cattle. Forb protein and fiber content showed opposite trends during the growing season. Crude protein decreased while NDF and ADF increased as a general pattern tied to physiological stage and degree of senescence. The promising nutritional profile of some forb species suggests that these species should be considered in pasture mixes.

Predicting Physiological Growth Period based on Cumulative Climatic Suitability of Spring Maize

The growth period prediction at the various physiological stage of spring maize is an essential component in agricultural management decisions. An Improved Climate Suitability (ICS) model was established by integrating temperature, precipitation, sunshine and soil moisture and setting individual weight coefficient in each subordinate function according to the observation data of spring maize growth and meteorological factors of 14 agrometeorological stations in the Liaoning Province of northeast China from 1981 to 2010. The predicted value (Bjk) and reference value (Bk) of the cumulative climatic suitability index were calculated by the ICS model for arranging farming activities in advance when the Bjk > Bk at the various physiological growth stage of spring maize. The ICS model was further verified by the observation data at the whole and various physiological stages of spring maize. The result showed that the Bjk was linearly correlated with the observed days at each physiological growth stage of spring maize with R² of 0.75-0.88, P<0.001, Thus, the Bjk can be used to determine the growth period of the various physiological stage of spring maize. The prediction days were significantly correlated with the observed days at the whole and each physiological growth stage of spring maize (R² of 0.57-0.98, P<0.001) with the absolute error (ABSE) of 1.1-4.1 d. Thus, the precision of the ICS model is acceptable for forecasting the growth period and arranging farming activities in advance. Thus, the ICS model should be promoted further in the management of spring maize plantation.

Nuclear Magnetic Resonance-Based Metabolomic Analysis Reveals Physiological Stage, Breed, and Diet Effects on the Intramuscular Metabolism of Amino Acids and Related Nutrients in Pigs

Skeletal muscle is a complex tissue that exhibits considerable plasticity in response to nutrients, animal, or its growth stage, but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of physiological stage, breed, and diet on the metabolome of the skeletal muscle of pigs. Ninety-six barrows, including 48 purebred Bama mini-pigs, representing the fat type, and 48 Landrace pigs, representing the lean type, were randomly assigned to either a low- or adequate-protein diet (n = 24 per group). The experimental period commenced at 5 weeks of age and extended to the finishing period. Psoas major muscles (PMMs) were collected at the nursery, growing, and finishing stages; and the contents of amino acids (AAs), fatty acids (FAs), and metabolites were analyzed using a nuclear magnetic resonance-based approach. Results showed that most AAs and monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs; including C16:1 and C18:1) contents were increased (p &lt; 0.05) gradually, while those of polyunsaturated FAs (including C18:2, C20:4n−6, C20:5n−3, and C22:6n−3) were decreased (p &lt; 0.05) in the PMM with increasing age. Compared with Landrace pigs, Bama mini-pigs had higher (p &lt; 0.05) contents of flavor-related AAs (including methionine, phenylalanine, tyrosine, leucine, and serine) in the nursery and growing stages and higher (p &lt; 0.05) percentages of saturated FAs and MUFAs throughout the trial. Dietary protein levels affected the muscular profiles of AAs and FAs in an age-dependent manner. In addition, the adequate-protein diet increased (p &lt; 0.05) the muscular contents of α-ketoglutarate in the two breeds. These findings indicate that the dynamic profiles of AAs, FAs, and metabolites in pig muscle tissues are regulated by breed, diet, and physiological stage.

The Relevance of a Physiological-Stage Approach Study of the Molecular and Environmental Factors Regulating Seed Germination in Wild Plants

Germination represents the culmination of the seed developmental program and is affected by the conditions prevailing during seed maturation in the mother plant. During maturation, the dormancy condition and tolerance to dehydration are established. These characteristics are modulated by the environment to which they are subjected, having an important impact on wild species. In this work, a review was made of the molecular bases of the maturation, the processes of dormancy imposition and loss, as well as the germination process in different wild species with different life histories, and from diverse habitats. It is also specified which of these species present a certain type of management. The impact that the domestication process has had on certain characteristics of the seed is discussed, as well as the importance of determining physiological stages based on morphological characteristics, to face the complexities of the study of these species and preserve their genetic diversity and physiological responses.

Active Rumen Bacterial and Protozoal Communities Revealed by RNA-Based Amplicon Sequencing on Dairy Cows Fed Different Diets at Three Physiological Stages

Seven Italian Simmental cows were monitored during three different physiological stages, namely late lactation (LL), dry period (DP), and postpartum (PP), to evaluate modifications in their metabolically-active rumen bacterial and protozoal communities using the RNA-based amplicon sequencing method. The bacterial community was dominated by seven phyla: Proteobacteria, Bacteroidetes, Firmicutes, Spirochaetes, Fibrobacteres, Verrucomicrobia, and Tenericutes. The relative abundance of the phylum Proteobacteria decreased from 47.60 to 28.15% from LL to DP and then increased to 33.24% in PP. An opposite pattern in LL, DP, and PP stages was observed for phyla Verrucomicrobia (from 0.96 to 4.30 to 1.69%), Elusimicrobia (from 0.32 to 2.84 to 0.25%), and SR1 (from 0.50 to 2.08 to 0.79%). The relative abundance of families Succinivibrionaceae and Prevotellaceae decreased in the DP, while Ruminococcaceae increased. Bacterial genera Prevotella and Treponema were least abundant in the DP as compared to LL and PP, while Ruminobacter and Succinimonas were most abundant in the DP. The rumen eukaryotic community was dominated by protozoal phylum Ciliophora, which showed a significant decrease in relative abundance from 97.6 to 93.9 to 92.6 in LL, DP, and PP, respectively. In conclusion, the physiological stage-dependent dietary changes resulted in a clear shift in metabolically-active rumen microbial communities.