Digital Commons Network^™

Recent Developments In Higher Plant Toxin Research Of Relevance To Animal Production, A A. Seawright, M P. Hegarty

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Advances have been achieved in the diagnosis of chronic intoxications caused by poisonous plants in which the pathological changes present In the affected animals are not definitive, by the chemical identification of toxin adducts in their tissues. This has been demonstrated for pyrrolizidine alkaloids which are of global significance as plant poisons and has resulted on occasion in more determined efforts in eliminating the plants responsible. Many plant toxins need to be metabolised for toxicity within the animal's tissues in order to result in disease, and the furanoterpenes found mainly in myoporaceous plants are e,rnmples, Dietary regimes that lend lo …

Invertebrate Pests, Plant Pathogens And Beneficial Organisms Of Improved Temperate Pastures, R P. Pottinger, M J. Barbeiti, T J. Ridsdill-Smith

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The role of pests, pathogens and beneficial organisms in temperate pasture and animal production is highlighted. Significant differences between pests and. the severity of their infestations exists between the Northern and Southern Hemispheres, because both pasture and pest species and their natural enemies have been carried by colonists to the New World countries in the Southern Hemisphere, Pests and pathogens place significant constraints on the sustainability and productivity of pastoral agriculture. Acquisition of basic databases and development of a wider range of controls has occurred over the past 25 years, but the effort has been disjointed. Knowledge of the more …

Invertebrate Pests, Plant Pathogens, And Beneficial Organisms In Extensive Natural Grassland, J G. Watts, L W. Burgess, E W. Huddleston

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

After many decades of research on their control, insects and weeds still arc a major factor in semi-arid grassland ranching. Much has been learned concerning their biology, habits and chemical control but penetrating study of the microbial world surrounding them is quite recent. Plant pathogens are credited with little damage to semi­arid grasslands. Potentially, their most important role may be one of toxigensis among grazing animals after unusual weather that promotes exceptional increase of any one or a combination of several indigenous toxigenic fungi on senescing grasses. Objective cost-benefit consideration of pest and disease control was limited in past decades …

A Multivariate Approach To Assessing Landscape Structure Effects On Wildlife Crossing Structure Use, Thomas J. Yamashita, Humberto L. Perotto-Baldivieso, David B. Wester, Kevin W. Ryer, Richard J. Kline, Michael E. Tewes, John H. Young Jr., Jason V. Lombardi

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Background

Complexity in landscape structure is often assessed using individual metrics related to ecological processes. However, this rarely incorporates important relationships among metrics and may miss landscape structure effects. Multivariate statistics provide techniques for assessing overall landscape structure effects. We assessed how multivariate statistics could be used to connect landscape structure with an ecological process [bobcat (Lynx rufus) wildlife crossing structure (WCS) use]. We tested how landscape structure at WCS sites compared to the surrounding landscape and how structure affected detections at WCS sites. Our study was conducted in Cameron County, Texas, USA where WCSs are in various …

Festival Of Research Abstracts, Fall 2024, College Of Science And Mathematics, Wright State University

Festival of Research

The collection of abstracts accepted for the Fall 2024 Festival of Research hosted by the Wright State University College of Science and Mathematics.

Isolating Microbes From The Surface Of An Introductory Laboratory Halite Hand Sample, Kesley G. Banks, Michael A. Gibson, Matthew A. Pritchett

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

Introductory geology labs stress simple physical testing (luster, hardness, etc.) to identify common minerals, using mineral charts to eliminate minerals not exhibiting a particular property. Special properties (magnetism, specific gravity, taste, etc.) for specific minerals narrows mineral identity. Students often express safety concerns about licking minerals, especially when they realize others have previously licked the specimen. As an exercise in medical geology, we cultured microbes from a halite sample used for nearly 25 years and licked by numerous students over that time span (Sample 1), a commercially purchased unused and freshly exposed surface of halite licked by one person (Sample …

Stable Isotope Analysis Of Antipatharian Diets From The Northwestern Gulf Of Mexico, Keir J. Macartney, Victoria Salinas, Zachary Rivera, David Hicks

School of Earth, Environmental, & Marine Sciences Faculty Publications

Antipatharians, or black corals, form a key component of the benthic fauna found throughout the Gulf of Mexico (GOM). In the northwestern GOM, they are a common member of the communities found on the natural relic coral—algal banks known as the South Texas Banks as well as on artificial reefs. They are known to provide important habitat for many ecologically and economically important species in the area but are relatively understudied. Here we present a study on their trophic ecology using stable isotope analysis of carbon and nitrogen from 2 species, Antipathes atlantica and Stichopathes luetkeni from a mesophotic artificial …

Sigma Gamma Epsilon Student Research Poster Session, Geological Society Of America Annual Meeting 2023, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Usa, Scott Beason

The Compass: Earth Science Journal of Sigma Gamma Epsilon

The Society of Sigma Gamma Epsilon sponsors an annual poster session at every Annual Meeting of the Geological Society of America. The 35th Sigma Gamma Epsilon undergraduate research poster session took place during the 2023 Geological Society of America Annual Meeting in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA, on Monday, October 16, 2022. Sixty-three (63) posters were presented in Exhibit Hall B at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center between 8:00 AM and 5:30 PM at the poster session. Titles, authors (italics for the presenting author), affiliations, and abstracts for each poster are listed in this report.

Feral Goat, Department Of Primary Industries And Regional Development, Western Australia

Biosecurity factsheets

The goat (Capra hircus) was one of the first animals to be domesticated, 8 to 10 thousand years ago. Archaeological work indicates the earliest attempts at domestication were in dry hills surrounding the Mediterranean basin. The ability of goats to utilise the coarse browse of mountainous areas made them suitable for domestication, in preference to sheep. With large-scale domestication of goats throughout the world, goats escaped and established feral goat herds on most continents. Overgrazing by goats has caused severe environmental damage, worldwide.

Goats arrived in Australia with the first fleet. They were introduced to many areas by early settlers …

Development Of Intensive Grassland Systems: From Science To Practice, D G. Mccall, G W. Sheath

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Level of nnimal production from grassland is determined by the amount of pasture grown, pasture utilisation and animal conversion efficiency. The key components affecting production are pasture growth and animal conversion efficiency. These arc mainly influenced by environment, genetics and through inputs to maintain soil fertility or animal health. Systems development aims to link pasture growth and animal conversion through efficient strategies for pasture utilisation. The means of influencing pasture utilisation is through adjustments to animal feed demand, feed supply or grazing management. Stock policies that adjust the pattern and level of feed demand are of greatest significance in developing …

The Ecology Of Grazing Management, R K. Heitschmidt

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The broad objective of this paper is to review the fundamental principles of grazing management as a means of assessing the inherent value of intensive and extensive grazing systems. Conceptual analyses of intensive and extensive grazing systems reveal that the fundamental differences between intensive and extensive grazing systems are related to differences in non-grazing rather than grazing tactics. Intensive grazing systems employ a wide array of non-grazing tactics in an attempt to overcome the inherent ecological constraints that limit secondary (i.e., livestock) productivity in extensively grazed systems. Moreover, analyses of the ecological or true efficiency of various agricultural production systems …

Intensive Grazing Of Alfalfa By Beef Steers, M Rasnake, W R. Burris, G D. Lacefield, J Randolph, N Gay, L Davis

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

In the temperate region of North America, high temperature and moisture deficit cause low forage growth during the summer of most years, making it difficult to grow beef (Bos taurus), calves through summer grazing. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa), offers some potential to provide high dry matter production during summer if an effective system of grazing can be developed. The objective of this study was to test a system of intensive grazing of beef steers on alfalfa to maximise live-weight gains/ha and maintain plant population. Alfalfa was no-till seeded into a 6.5 ha field in autumn 1988 after …

Use Of Brassica Forage Crops To Extend The Grazing Season In The North-East Usa, G A. Jung, H W. Harpster, M G. Lambert, K T. Leath, R A. Byers

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Forage turnip (Brassica rapa L,) can be made available for animal utilisation in late summer or In late autumn-early winter, when cool­season grass pastures have a low animal carrying capacity. field trials were conducted to identify and quantify factors that influence turnip yield in December or January and to determine whether these factors affect turnip cultivars similarly. Different levels of production in late autumn-winter were attributed to summer drought, foliar diseases, freezing temperatures and rate of leaf senescence. In all instances, the effects of these factors varied with turnip cultivar. However, cultivar ranking generally was the same whether mean …

Interactions Of Rotational And Continuous Grazing With Stocking Rate On Warm And Cool-Season Pastures, David I. Bransby

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

With more intense commercialisation of electric fencing many production and economic advantages have been claimed for rotational grazing compared with continuous grazing. However, very little research data are available from the south-eastern USA to verify these claims, Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate animal performance under conditions of continuous and IO-paddock rotational grazing on cool- and warm-season pastures commonly used in this region. Three 2-year grazing experiments were conducted, one each on a mixed rye-annual ryegrass (Secale cereale-Lolium multiflorum) pasture, Coastal bermudagrass ( Cynodon hybrid) and Pensacola bahiagrass (Paspalum notatum). In each experiment continuous …

Photosynthesis And Water Relations Of Two Savanna Grasses As Influenced By Shade And Water Stress, M J. Trlica, J I. Kinyamario

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Net CO2 assimilation and plant water relations of the African savanna grasses Panicum maximum Jacq. and Tliemeda triandra Porrsk. were measured under controlled conditions. We hypothesised that 1; triandra would be better adapted to higher light and temperature conditions and could withstand greater moisture stress than could P. maximum, as T. tria11dra is commonly found in open areas, whereas P. maximum dominates in the shade of trees. Plants of both species were transplanted into a common soil in large pots and placed under shade (approximately 150 µrnoVm1/s photon flux density (PFD)) or high light (approximately 1200 µmoVm1/s PFD) conditions, with …

Defoliation Of Young Branch And Parent Stolons Of White Clover In Rotationally Grazed Pastures, M.J M. Hay, M Kim, R W. Mclean, A Gonzalez-Rodriguez

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

This study was undertaken to examine the relative severity of defoliation of young branches (those comprising <4 nodes) and parent stolons of white clover (Trifolium repens L.) in rotationally grazed pastures stocked al either 2.5, 5.0 or 7.5 bulls/ha. On 7 occasions over a year, the defoliation of expanded leaves of parenl and branch stolons was assessed using tagged stolons. Petiole length of leaves ,vas measured before grazing. Leaves of young branch stolons (43% of the total number of leaves defoliated) were less severely defoliated than leaves of parent stolons (64%). Defoliation of branch stolon leaves was relatively greater at the higher stocking rates which had lower residual …

Improving Germination And Seedling Establishment Of Chicory, S N. Hur, W F. Hunt

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Chicory (Cichorium intybus L.) seeds were treated before sowing with polyethylene glycol (PEG 6000) under different PEG concentrations, treatment period and temperatures, and tested for uniformity of germination, establishment and drought tolerance. Suitable seed coating materials were found that improved emergence, establishment and seedling growth when surface sown on established swards. The best primed or coated seeds in germination tests were surface sown in growth cabinet and field.Osmotic priming with PEG accelerated germination of chicory and significantly reduced time taken for germination compared with coated seeds in Petri-dishes, but not in the field. In contrast, coated seeds germinated more slowly …

Growth Of Temperate Perennial Legumes Over Three Cycles Of Defoliation At Different Temperatures, M A.P Duarsa, M J. Hill, J V. Lovett

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Summer-active legumes such as big trefoil (Lollis ped11nc11lat11s), birdsfool trefoil (Lot11s comic11la111s), crownvelch (Coronilla varia) and cicer milkvetch (Astraga/11s cicer) are needed for summer rainfall areas of the perennial pasture zone in eastern Australia where soil conditions and grazing management do not suit lucerne (Medicago sativa). The growth of these species was compared at 4 temperatures regimens (14/10, 18/14, 22/18, 26/22°C, 12:12 h) for 3 cycles of regrowth where soil moisture was serially changed from field capacity (FC) to 50% PC and back to PC in a growth cabinet pot experiment. Growth rates in lucerne always exceeded those of the …

Nutrient Cycling In Semi-Arid Grasslands And Savannas: Its Influence On Pattern, Productivity And Stability, Robert J. Scholes

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The grazing animal carrying capacity of tropical semi-arid rangelands is largely controlled by rainfall, but above about 500 mm per annum, soil nutrient status has an overriding role. On low-nutrient soils, which cover vast areas of the ancient land surfaces of Africa, South America and Australia, it is the amount of grass eaten and digested that controls animal production, not the amount produced. On nutrient­poor soils (particularly those deficient in nitrogen and phosphorus) the primary production continues to increase with increasing rainfall, but the acceptability of the forage to ruminants declines, On the nutrient-rich soils of younger land surfaces, both …

Soil Characteristics And Processes Critical To The Sustainable Use Of Grasslands In Arid, Semi-Arid, And Seasonally Dry Environments, John Williams, Keith R. Helyar, Richard S.B Greene, Rosemary A. Hook

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The focus of this paper is a framework for determining the soil and land properties and processes which are critical to managing grasslands in an ecologically sustainable manner. Essential to the discussion is the development of concepts which allow description of the stability, resilience and sustainability of the agroecosystem as a whole as well as the land resource base. The regions of Australia with arid, semi-arid and seasonally dry environments are defined and related to the dry environments of the world. This provides a background for a brief consideration of major vegetation types and soils within the dry environments of …

Soil Animal Composition And Distribution In The Leymus Chinensis Grassland Region In Central Part Of North-East Of China, Yin Xiuqin, Li Jiandong, Zhu Tingcheng

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Since 1990, we have investigated the soil animal composition and distribution in the Leymus chinensis (Aneuro chinensis) grassland region in central part of north-east of Chinn. Soil animals were studied in 20 plant communities in 4 habitats. A total of 15 797 soil animals belonging to 4 phyla, 6 classes, 28 orders and 86 families were obtained. Among them, 26 families and 22 species were new records in norlh-easl of China. The dominant groups were Formicidne, Actinedida, Oribatidn, lsotomidne, Rhnbditidae, Dorylainidae. Sparse woods of Ulmus, and the most animal groups (40) and Puccinellia chinapoesis and Heleochalis intersiIa …

Intensive Grazing Systems And Methods For Beef Cattle, V G. Allen, J P. Fontenot, M A. Cochran, A Brock, W Mcclure, J Wilkins

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Three experiments were conducted to determine effects of grazing systems and methods on beef production. In experiment 1, cows, calves and stockers grazed tall fescue-clover (Festuca arundinacea-Trifolium repens) in a l 6-paddock system using rotational stocking or a 3-paddock system using continuous stocking as grazing methods. In experiment 2, stocker steers grazed orchardgrass-clover (Dactylis glomerata-Trifolium pratense) using buffer grazing with continuous stocking or a 14-paddock rotational stocking method. In experiment 3, 4 grazing systems were compared using sequence grazing combinations of cool-and warm­seasoo perennial and annual forages. In experiments l and 2, there were no differences in …

Selection Pattern Of Holstein-Zebu Cows Grazing Stoloniferous And Tufted Type Tropical Grasses In A Cafeteria Type Trial, Francise E. Davis

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Seven stoloniferous and 7 tufted grasses are being evaluated in a long­term trial on an acid ultisol in Trinidad in duplicate 3x3 m plots. The grasses were cut at five weekly intervals and nitrogen at 40 kg/ha applied after every harvest. A basal dressing of 125 kg P20��, and 100 kg '½O and a trace element mix was applied twice annually. After culling in May 4 milking cows were allowed to graze the area. There was no significant difference in dry matter yield between the stoloniferous and tufted grasses, but there were significant differences within each type of grass in …

Effect Of Percentages Calluna Vulgaris Cover And Cow And Ewe Physiological Status On Animal Production On Mountain Pastures, K Osoro, R Celaya, Mamen Olivan

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The effect percentage cover of Calluna vulgaris (30 or 70%) on performance of dry and lactating ewes and cows with their lambs and calves was studied during 1990 and 1991. Lactating cows had greater body weight losses than dry ones, the difference being 0.3 and 0.S kg/day for 1990 and 1991 respectively. Percentage C.vulgaris cover (30 or 70%) caused differences in body-weight losses· similar to those caused by physiological status. Milk production from the cows, and therefore calf live-weight gain, were significantly higher in the group grazing on the plot with 30% Calluna (0.62 and 0.71 kg/day for 1990 …

Adaptation Of Some Grass Species To Grazing, Marc Ghesquiere, J C. Emile, X Charrier, R Traineau

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

To examine the grazing behaviour of some grass species, 2 linked trials were set up in Lusignan (France), Dry matter yields of 10 species were recorded by frequent mechanical cuts (every 15 days) and compared with the ability to feed sheep under continuous grazing management. The dry matter yield of the genotypes ranged from 5600 to 8600 kg DM/ha and the grazing yield from 86 to 183 days x animal. The well-known species, such as Bromus siIchensis L., 8. caIhar1ic11s L. and Dactylis glomerata L. usually used in farms allowed high dry matter and grazing yields, but some secondary species …

Crop Processing And Fractionation As A Commercial Proposition To Forage-Based Animal Systems, H T. Ostrowski-Meissner

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

The paper outlines crop processing and fractionation technology as it applies to an intensive forage-based operation with beef cattle, The benefits of forage processing prior to its feeding to cattle are described with an emphasis not only on the uniformity of the nutritive quality of the processed product but also on the extra financial benefits resulting from the wet fractionation process. The value-added primary products from the fractionation process ensure extra return to the. forage producers, crop processing installation and the feedlot operation. The characteristics of the fractionation products derived from lucerne and other crops are described.

Integrated Grazing Of Goats With Sheep Or Cattle On Continuously Grazed Pasture, A M. Nicol, A.J F. Russel, I A. Wright

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Oroups of ewes (10) and their twin lambs were grazed on sown ryegrass• white clover (Lolium perenne L.-Trifollum repens L.) pastures maintained at a sward surface height of 4 or 8 cm and a further group grazed with yearling goats (in a proportion of 1/3 ewe plus lamb live weight) also at fi cm. A second concurrent experiment consisted of 3 similar treatments using young cattle with sward surface heights of 8 and 12 cm. Results over the 140-day grazing period showed that allhough the diet selected by sheep and cattle grazed with goats contained more green grass …

Herbage And Animal Production From Tall Fescue- And Ryegrass-Based Pastures In A Summer-Dry Environment, D E. Hume, R.J M. Hay, T B. Lyons

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Herbage production and animal performance were measured over 3 years In Hawkes Bay, a summer-dry region of New Z'.ealand. Tall rescue (Festuca arundinacea) (3 cultivars, all endophyte free) was compared with high endophyte perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne). All pastures were sown with white clover (Trifolium repens). Herbage production and composition were determined for all seasons while cattle were monitored for live-weight gains from spring through to autumn. Tall fescue pastures produced 27% more total dry matter/ year than the ryegrass pasture, primarily in autumn. In summer­autumn, ryegrass pastures had up to 76% dead matter …

Climate Change: Adapting Tropical And Subtropical Grasslands, G M. Mckeon, S M. Howden, N.O J. Abel, J M. King

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Climate change as a result of increasing greenhouse gas concentrations or lhe repetition of historical climale variability will affect the management and production of tropical and subtropical grasslands that support about half the world's domestic herbivores. Previous studies of the regional impact of climate change and climate variability on intensive agriculture have shown lhat such evaluation should include the known and expected abilities of managers and governments to respond by reducing the negative impacts and taking advantage of positive opportunities, A high priority for grassland scientists is the development of similar evaluation capabilities for grassland systems, which are more complex …

Methane Production By New Zealand Ruminants, K Betteridge, M J. Ulyatt, J Knapp, R L. Baldwin

IGC Proceedings (1977-2023)

Methane production by ruminants in New Zealand was estimated using a ma1hema1ical model of rumen digestion interfaced with census livestock numbers. New Zealand was divided into 4 climatic regions with each classified into improved, unimproved and tussock grasslands, and livestock were allocated to each class at appropriate stocking rates. Models of changing livestock numbers within n year were developed for each animal and land class. Food dry matter intake for each class of livestock was calculated from estimates of feed requirements and diet quality. Total methane production was estimated to be 1.50 Tg per year: 58.4% sheep, 20.7%, beef cattle, …