Characteristics of robust animals for grass-based production systems

A characterisation of dairy, beef and sheep breeds and/or strains best suited to profitable/sustainable production within the context of European [semi] intensive pasture-based systems is presented. To deliver optimal performance, pasture must be managed effectively, but pasture-based systems are less energy intensive, are climate sensitive and induce challenges and constraints not normally posed to animals in intensive feeding environments. This emphasises the importance of animal traits associated with robustness and adaptive abilities. A survey of French dairy farmers concluded that a robust cow is an “invisible” cow with a long lifetime. The traits common to both indoor and grazing systems include: efficient converters of feed to human edible products, functionality, being healthy, reproductively fit and exhibiting longevity. Unique to successful grazing is the capability to achieve large intakes of forage to meet productive potential, an ability to adapt to fluctuating feed supply and, in seasonal systems, the ability to conceive and give birth at the appropriate time each year, usually within 365 d. The breed or strain of choice may differ based on local management constraints and objectives; however, general principles apply, and ideally should be guided by a suitable selection index combining all of the economically important traits appropriate to the local conditions and systems.

The Impact of Selenium on the Rhizosphere Microbiome of a Hyperaccumulation Plant Cardamine Violifolia

Cardamine violifolia is the only selenium hyperaccumulation plant found in China. It has been developed as a source of medicinal and edible products for selenium supplementation of human. It is essential to increase selenium content of C. violifolia for nutrient biofortification and many planting approaches have been developed to achieve this aim. However, the contribution of rhizosphere microbes of C. violifolia to the selenium enrichment has not been investigated. In this study, four types of selenium, i.e., selenate, selenite, nanoparticles element selenium from Bacillus subtilis, and organic selenium from yeast, was added to the soil for the growth of C. violifolia, respectively. Selenate had the highest accumulation in C. violifolia, following by selenite, B. subtilis-Se, and yeast-Se. Except for yeast-Se, the concentration of selenium in C. violifolia is positively correlated with the amount of selenium added in the soil. Furthermore, different exogenous selenium exhibited distinct effects on the rhizosphere microbiome of C. violifolia. Both Alpha diversity and Beta diversity analyses displayed that rhizosphere microbiome were more obviously affected by selenium from B. subtilis and yeast than that of selenate and selenite. Different microbial species were enriched in the rhizosphere of C. violifolia under various exogenous selenium treatments. B. subtilis-Se application enhanced the abundance of Leucobacter, Sporosarcina, Patulibacter, and Denitrobacter, and Yeast-Se application enriched the abundance of Singulishaera, Lactobacillus, Bdellovirio, and Bosea. Bosea and the taxon belonging to the order of Solirubrobacterales was enriched in the samples with selenite and selenite addition, respectively, and their abundance was linearly related to the concentration of selenate and selenite application in the rhizosphere of C. violifolia. In summary, this study revealed the response of the rhizosphere microbiome of C. violifolia to exogenous selenium and it is of help to develop suitable selenium fertilizers to increase selenium hyperaccumulation level of this plant.

Cockle Shell as Mixing Ingredient in Concrete: A Review

The demand for the population is boosting the production of edible and non-edible products that produce by-products that result in emissions being thrown as waste. The successful cockle trade also creates vestiges of cockle shell that are thrown away as waste. Despite the effects of climate change, industrial activity including calcareous and granite mining to satisfy the need for cement and concrete production, respectively, cannot be prevented as more structures are developed worldwide. The mechanical properties of concrete containing crushed cockle shell as partial fine aggregate, coarse aggregate and cement replacement were examined and reported in this paper. Cockle shell powder was used as cement replacement up to 75%. To sum up, the use of cockle shell is an appealing option for the construction industry and sustainable green climate.