Digital Commons Network^™

Reproductive Performance For Four Breeds Of Swine: Crossbred Females And Purebred And Crossbred Boars, D. S. Buchanan, R. K. Johnson

Department of Animal Science: Faculty Publications

Matings and litters were studied involving all three-breed crosses (sired by purebred boars) and four-breed crosses (sired by crossbred boars) from the Duroc, Yorkshire, Landrace and Spotted breeds. There were 764 female mating records and 161 boars used over five sequential breeding seasons. A sample of pregnant gilts was slaughtered each season and the remainder were allowed to carry their litters to term so that 493 litters resulted. Crossbred and purebred boars and crossbred females were evaluated for their contributions to conception rate (first service and over an 8-wk breeding season), number of services/ conception, litter size and weight at …

The Taxonomic Status Of Echinococcus Cruzi Brumpt And Joyeux, 1924 (Cestoda: Taeniidae) From An Agouti (Rodentia: Dasyproctidae) In Brazil, Robert L. Rausch, A. D'Alessandro, M. Ohbayashi

Harold W. Manter Laboratory of Parasitology: Faculty Publications

Paratype material of Echinococcus cruzi Brumpt and Joyeux, 1924, described from an agouti, Dasyprocta leporina (L.), in Brazil, was compared with Echinococcus oligarthrus (Diesing, 1863), of which the larval stage occurs also in agoutis and other rodents in South America and Central America. Comparisons of the larval cestodes (metacestodes) showed that the rostellar hooks from protoscolices of the two taxa corresponded in form, and their slightly greater lengths in E. cruzi were considered to be of no taxonomic significance. They agreed as well in other morphological characteristics. Echinococcus cruzi was compared also with the other neotropical species, E. vogeli Rausch …

Efficacy Test Protocols For Evaluation Of Ultrasonic Rodent Repellent Devices, Stephen A. Schumake, G. Keith Lavoie, Kenneth Crane

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

Controlled laboratory and field test protocols were developed to assess the repellent efficacies of six commercially manufactured ultrasonic rodent repellent devices. The laboratory test structure (68.7 m²) was divided into two rooms (32.5 m² each) with a central harborage area (3.5 m²) containing a colony of 12 wild Norway rats (Rattus norvegicus). For each test, a single ultrasonic device was attached to the far end of one room and rat activity measures (oat consumption, packet damage, photocell counts) were taken during 1-week baseline and 2-1/2-week test periods. Field test structures varied in floor …

Eleventh Vertebrate Pest Conference

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

Contents

Current Status Of Research On The Blackbird-Sunflower Problem In North Dakota, Joseph L. Guarino

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

Since 1979, the Denver Wildlife Research Center, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, has conducted an accelerated research program on the blackbird-sunflower problem which occurs annually in the Dakotas and Minnesota. The objective is to develop effective, cost beneficial and environmentally safe methods for reducing blackbird damage to ripening sunflower. A multidisciplinary approach involving interrelated studies of problem definition, ecology, and control methods development is being used. Preliminary results are presented from several studies involving: state- and county-wide estimates of damage; frequency distribution and timing of damage; compensatory growth in early damaged sunflower heads; breeding male blackbird censuses; mass-marking migratory red-winged …

Biological Rationale For 1080 As A Predacide, Walter E. Howard, Robert H. Schmidt

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

Compound 1080 (sodium monofluoroacetate) is a uniquely selective predacide for controlling coyotes, compared to other predacides. In addition to discussing the biological aspects of 1080, the reasons for the current emotional-political status of 1080 are also reviewed because the biological rationale concerning 1080 has been largely determined by a conspiracy orchestrated in 1972 by an individual of the Council on Environmental Quality but assisted by others from the U.S. Department of the Interior and the Environmental Protection Agency. Many of the distortions about 1080 can also be traced to environmental organizations which still use 1080 as an issue which they …

Strobe Light And Siren Devices For Protecting Fenced-Pasture And Range Sheep From Coyote Predation, Samuel B. Linhart

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

The effectiveness of frightening devices for reducing coyote predation on domestic sheep has not been adequately studied. Portable, battery-operated strobe light/siren devices protected pastured sheep from coyotes for a mean of 53 nights (10 trials) and 91 nights (5 trials). Results of ongoing tests of the devices for reducing predation on herded sheep on summer range in western Colorado have so far been encouraging. Future research needs are outlined.

Resistance To The Second-Generation Anticoagulant Rodenticides, Mogens Lund

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

The second-generation anticoagulants, difenacoum, bromadiolone and brodifacoum, have taken over a considerable part of the rodenticidal market during the last six to eight years. This is partly due to the higher efficiency against a larger spectrum of rodent pest species and partly to the increasing problem of physiological resistance to the older anticoagulants. Resistance of practical importance has, however, now been encountered to difenacoum and bromadiolone in Europe, i.e., UK and Scandinavia. Brodifacoum, in spite of the evidence of a somewhat increased tolerance in some commensal rodent populations, still must be considered a highly effective rodenticide against almost all important …

Cholecalciferol: A Unique Toxicant For Rodent Control, Edward F. Marshall

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

Cholecalciferol is an acute (single-feeding) and/or chronic (multiple-feeding) rodenticide toxicant with unique activity for controlling commensal rodents including anticoagulant-resistant rats. Cholecalciferol differs from conventional acute rodenticides in that no bait shyness is associated with consumption and time to death is delayed, with first dead rodents appearing 3-4 days after treatment.

Feral Equine Management At The Naval Weapons Center, Thomas J. Mcgill

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

Feral equines present a unique management problem for federal land managers. Although feral burros are an invader species introduced onto the North American Continent by 16th Century Spanish explorers, they have both State and Federal protection. Under the umbrella of this protection, feral burro populations exploded in the 1970s. By 1979 the Naval Weapons Center, China Lake, California, was being overrun by burros. Burros were destroying the desert environment and creating very real hazards to aircraft, vehicles and personnel. The Naval Weapons Center in an unprecedented move implemented an interim emergency removal program. A total of 1513 burros was removed …

The Treatment Of Accidental Anticoagulant Toxicity In The Canine, James G. Miller

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

Anticoagulant poisoning is only one of several causes of hemorrhage in dogs. Hemophilia, von Willebrand's disease, liver diseases, and infections are cited as additional causes of hemorrhage. The duration of anticoagulant activity determines the treatment protocol. The half-life of warfarin is 19 hours; diphacinone, 30 days; brodifacoum, 180 days. The treatment of anticoagulant poisoning re-quires doses of vitamin K1, at the rate of 5 mg/kg, initially intramuscularly, then orally. Warfarin intoxication is treated for 4 days; diphacinone and brodifacoum for 30 days. Where hemorrhage is present, the prognosis is guarded, and fresh whole blood transfusions are indicated.

Research On Winter Roosting Blackbirds And Starlings In The Southeastern United States, Donald F. Mott

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

Each winter, more than 300 million blackbirds and starlings congregate in hundreds of roosting sites in the southeastern United States. In addition to nuisance problems involving odor and property damage from fecal material, and potential airport hazards, research studies to date suggest that the major problems with these birds and their roosts involve grain losses in feedlots, latent disease transmission to livestock, and public health concerns with histoplasmosis. Control methods development studies have shown the utility of Starlicide and nonchemical control methods in reducing starling feedlot problems. A sprinkler-irrigation delivery system for the surfactant, PA-14, has been developed that enhances …

Efficacy Of A Number Of Toxic Baits And Batting Against The Voles, Microtus Agrestis And Arvicola Terrestris , Marvo Myllymaki

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

The results from two series of control experiments against the voles, Microtus agrestis and Arvicola terrestris, are reported. In a series of field experiments in the 1970s, three acute toxicants (zinc phosphide, crimidine and difluorpropanol) were tested against Microtus. Difluorpropanol (Gliftor) was found to be the most effective, but no ready-made bait containing it was available. The performance of the crimidine bait (Kastrix) was good enough to fulfill the registration requirements, while the zinc phosphide bait (Myrax) failed to give acceptable results. In the second series (early 1980s) a brodi-facoum bait (Klerat) was found to be as efficacious …

An Innovative Approach To Pocket Gopher Fumigation, Lloyd F. Plesse

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

The Botta's or Valley pocket gopher (Thomomys bottae), except possibly for the California ground squirrel, is the most damaging rodent to agricultural crops, ornamental plantings, turf, alfalfa, etc., in California. It is a solitary, antisocial animal that occupies its underground burrow system alone t during mating periods and before the juveniles leave the maternal nest at about 5 to 6 weeks of They disperse nocturnally to establish new tunnel systems or take over abandoned ones. In planted and irrigated areas where there is an abundant supply of desirable vegetation, there are two litters per year. Research indicates that …

An Introductory Overview To California Ground Squirrel Control, Terrell P. Salmon, Robert H. Schmidt

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

Techniques for controlling California ground squirrels (Spermophilus beecheyi) include trapping, shooting, acute toxicants, anticoagulants, and fumigants. These techniques are described and compared and the available information on their efficacy and economics is discussed. This kind of analysis is essential if growers are to make logical decisions regarding the various control options.

Impact Of The Belding’S Ground Squirrel, Spermophilus Beldingi, On Alfalfa Production In Northeastern California, Warren C. Sauer

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

Throughout the history of agriculture, man has competed with various animal species for the fruits of his labors. During the past 60 years, many research papers have dealt with the impact of field rodents and lagomorphs on agriculture. Damage has been estimated in various ways, from dollar values to cattle unit losses. In an early study, Shaw (1921) attempted to measure the amount of winter wheat loss due to Columbia ground squirrel. Grinnel and Dixon (1918) related ground squirrel damage to forage loss and cattle production.

Several rodent enclosure and exclosure studies have been conducted in an attempt to measure …

Toxic Characteristics Of Fluorocitrate, The Toxic Metabolite Of Compound 1080 , Peter J. Savarie

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

This paper reviews toxicological research involving fluorocitrate, the toxic metabolite of sodium monofluoroacetate (fluoroacetate), which is the active ingredient in the pesticide Compound 1080. Many toxicological studies have been done with fluoroacetate and the results obtained are actually due to the fluorocitrate because it has been definitely proved that, from a biochemical perspective, fluoroacetate is not toxic but fluorocitrate is. The classical explanation of the toxic action of fluorocitrate is that it inhibits the enzyme aconitase in the tricarboxylic acid cycle. Deactivation of aconitase results in decreased energy production by cells and ultimately death of the organism. However, the more …

Efficacy Of Brodifacoum (Talon) Bait Against Three Rodent Species , Y. Saxena, R.K. Sharma

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

Brodifacoum was fed to three rodent species, viz., M. hurrianae, R. rattus and F. pennanti, using a no-choice feeding trial for 7 days at various concentrations--0.005%, 0.0025% and 0.00125%. The compound was found effective, palatable, developed no sign of poison bait-shyness but indicated a slight aversion of poison. The death of the animals was due to pulmonary distress and hemorrhage.

Potential Primary And Secondary Hazards Of Avicides, E.W. Schafer Jr.

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

There are six chemicals or groups of chemicals that are currently registered as avicides that can be used in some or all of the U.S. Most of these chemicals, because of their diverse chemical composition and innate toxicological effects, present somewhat different primary and secondary hazards to avian and mammalian predators and scavengers. Of the chemicals reviewed, all appear to present some degree of primary hazard to non-target birds and mammals; however, PA-14, the Starlicide family of chemicals and fenthion appear to be the least hazardous when used according to use directions. 4-Aminopyridine, endrin and strychnine, because of their high …

A Weather-Resistant Tracking Board, D.S. Shepherd, J.H. Greaves

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

The main practical limitation of tracking boards for the study of small mammals is that the sensitive surface is very vulnerable to damage by rain or dew. A tracking board is described that is easily prepared for use in the field, is resistant to rain and running water, and is sensitive enough to record the footprints of mice. The literature on tracking board techniques is reviewed briefly.

The Use Of Wild Carnivore Serology In Determining Patterns Of Plague Activity In Rodents In California, Charles R. Smith, Bernard C. Nelson, Allan M. Barnes

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

Carnivores obtain plague infection through ingestion of infected rodents or rabbits or via flea bite. Most are resistant to infection, show little or no symptoms, and produce antibodies to Yersinia pestis which may persist for several months. Consequently, carnivores can be used as serological plague sentinels using the specific passive or indirect hemagglutination test in the laboratory. A carnivore serology program for plague detection began in California in 1974. The program is a cooperative effort incorporating state and federal vector-borne disease units and state and federal predator animal control personnel. The program has proven to be an important tool in …

Aldehyde Volatiles For Use As Coyote Attractants, Jerry H. Scrivner, Walter E. Howard, Roy Teranishi

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

This study was designed to evaluate the attractiveness of eight aldehyde volatiles (octanal, nonanal, decanal, undecanal, dodecanal, tridecanal, tetradecanal, and hexadecanal) found in sheep liver extract and coyote (Canis latrans) estrous urine to determine their potential for use as odor attractants in predator control. The odors were presented to captive coyotes at the Hopland Field Station and the length of time coyotes responded to the odors was recorded. Octanal, nonanal, decanal, and undecanal all elicited as much sniffing and rub-rolling as did a known coyote attractant, trimethylammo-nium decanoate (TMAD). Generally male and female coyotes were equally attracted to …

A New Concept In Pocket Gopher Control, Allen D. Tunberg, Walter E. Howard, Rex E. Marsh

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

A new concept in pocket gopher control is advanced which relies on two behavioral traits common to pocket gophers: 1) gophers are quick to invade unoccupied burrow systems when the previous occupant has been killed by a rodenticide; and 2) the invading animal will use existing food stores (i.e., baits) left by the previous gopher. With long-lasting (i.e., durable) baits containing sufficient toxicant, several pocket gophers can be controlled by a single baiting. This new approach assists in improving gopher control, for control is extended beyond the initial baiting results. Pocket gophers missed in the original treatment or gophers invading …

The White-Eyes Eradication Effort In California, Valerie Van Way

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

Upon discovery in 1980 in the San Diego area of a feral population of Indian White-eyes (Zosterops palpebrosa palpebrosa), a prohibited species in California, an eradication program was begun by the California Department of Food and Agriculture (CDFA). Mist-netting and shooting proved to be the most successful of the capture methods explored. After three and one-half seasons of retrieval effort and 330 birds taken, fewer than a dozen birds now have been detected in the wild. Within the remainder of the fiscal year, CDFA is conducting intense survey and retrieval. Whether eradication is feasible and applicable to other …

History And Status Of Predator Control In Texas, Dale A. Wade, Donald W. Hawthorne, Gary L. Nunley, Milton Caroline

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

A historical review of predatory animal damage and the development of the Texas animal damage control (ADC) program is provided, including a discussion of predator species, methods of control and limitations caused by laws, regulations and policies. Recommendations are made for improvements to permit a more comprehensive program with adequate funding, personnel and control methods.

Rodent Control In China, Deng Zhi, Wang Cheng-Xin

Vertebrate Pest Conference Proceedings: 11th (1984)

Rodent pest problems and their control in China are reviewed. Three commensal species, Rattus norvegicus, R. flavipectus and Mus musculus, are important pests both in urban and rural regions. Mus musculus is the most widely distributed species in China. Its population density is cyclic, unique for a commensal species in being found in the arid Xinjiang (Sinkiang) Autonomous Region in Northwest China. In South China, R. losea and Bandicota indica are serious problems in rice and cane fields. Many different genera of field rodents are considered pests to agriculture and/or are reservoirs of rodent-borne diseases. These include Citellus, Marmota, …

Agricultural Experiment Station News March 1984

Agricultural Research Division: News and Annual Reports

CONTENTS:
GRANT PROPOSAL DEADLINES
EMPLOYEE SALARY INCREASES
LEAVE REQUEST DEADLINE
SHATTERCANE CONFERENCE
FACULTY DEVELOPMENT LEAVES
SOIL-WATER-PLANT WORKSHOP
INCREASED EMPHASIS ON BIOTECHNOLOGY
NEBRASKA RESEARCH EMPHASIS
DNA SEQUENCING WORKSHOP
COMPREHENSIVE REVIEWS OF DISTRICT STATIONS
VISITING SCIENTIST
DID YOU KNOW THAT
FEDERAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH BUDGET
NEW RESEARCH STAFF
NEW ADMINISTRATIVE STAFF
NEBRASKA'S AGRICULTURAL RANKINGS FOR 1983
RESEARCH GRANTS AND CONTRACTS RECEIVED
NEBRASKA'S AGRICULTURAL RANKINGS FOR 1983

"1983 Christmas Count," From Nebraska Bird Review (March 1984) 52(1)

Nebraska Bird Review

Ninety-two species (nine less than last year) were reported on the 1983 Christmas Count, and three species (compared to one last year) were reported as present during the count period but not recorded on the count day on any count. The same eight localities reported both years. Two additional races (a Harlan's Hawk on the Tri-state count is not shown separately) were reported, the same as last year. Thirteen species were reported on all the counts this year, compared to sixteen last year. The total individual count this year was 43,652; in 1982 it was

1983 (Twenty-Sixth) Fall Occurrence Report, From Nebraska Bird Review (March 1984) 52(1)

Nebraska Bird Review

1983 (TWENTY -SIXTH) FALL OCCURRENCE REPORT

Two hundred sixty-two species, from 10 locations, are listed in this report. Comparable figures for previous years are 269 species from 10 localities in 1982, 277 species from 14 localities in 1981, and 218 (and a possible Veery) from 12 localities in 1980.

The information is presented in a rough west (left) to east (right) order, with locations of about the same longitude listed with the northernmost first. Two dates indicate the first and last records for the period. The symbols are:

JI, Au, Sp, Ot, No, and Dm for the months.

P to …

Masthead From Nebraska Bird Review (March 1984) 52(1)

Nebraska Bird Review

Published quarterly in March, June, September, and December by the Nebraska Ornithologists' Union, Inc. as its official journal and sent free to all members who are not in arrears for dues. Subscriptions (on calendar year basis only) are $7.00 per year in the United States and $9.00 per year in all other countries, payable in advance. Single copies are $2.25 each, postpaid.