What is the evidence of human-wildlife interactions with wild mesocarnivores in Africa? A systematic map protocol

Mesocarnivores are small and mid-sized carnivores with a body mass of <15kg (Roemer et al., 2009). A large and taxonomically diverse group, they play an important role in the ecosystem (Curveira-Santos et al., 2021). Despite this, they are understudied (Marneweck et al., 2022) and scientists have identified Africa, where ~30% of mesocarnivores are experiencing decreasing population trends (San et al., 2013), as an area where further research on mesocarnivores is particularly needed (San et al., 2022). Conflict with humans is one significant reason for the decline in mesocarnivore populations (Marneweck et al., 2022). They are persecuted by humans for real or perceived damage to anthropogenic resources such as livestock, crops and valuable game species (Streicher et al., 2021) and for their potential to transmit disease (Roemer et al., 2009). Although the literature has predominantly focused on human-wildlife conflict (Konig et al., 2020), human-wildlife interactions (HWIs) may also include neutral or positive interactions (Redpath et al., 2015). Positive HWIs may result from the cultural significance attached to the species (Bhatia et al., 2020) or the ecosystem services provided by them, such as waste removal, seed dispersal and pest control (Marneweck et al., 2022). Whilst HWIs with large carnivores have been well researched, much less scientific attention has been paid to mesocarnivores (Lozano et al., 2019). Almost one third of mesocarnivores are threatened with extinction (Marneweck et al., 2021). With the increasing frequency of HWIs due to changes in land use (Streicher et al., 2021), research is required to better understand HWIs with mesocarnivores in order to develop strategies to mitigate human-wildlife conflict and safeguard mesocarnivores. This systematic map will provide an overview of the existing research on HWIs with African mesocarnivores. The map is designed to inform future research to support landowners, conservation professionals and other decision-makers involved in mesocarnivore management

ManyZoos: A New Collaborative Approach to Multi‐Institution Research in Zoos

Open science and big data approaches (i.e., approaches which enable the development of large and complex data sets) facilitate comparative analyses and thus more robust, evidence‐based decision‐making. Whilst there has been an increase in published research arising from zoological institutions over several decades, most research has arisen from small‐scale case studies, often involving one or two zoos from a small geographical radius. Data from several zoos can be combined and compared retrospectively, but this is difficult when studies adopt different methods. The benefit of wider, simultaneous multi‐institution research was recently demonstrated when researchers assessed the impact of zoo closures during the COVID‐19 pandemic. In this paper, we introduce a new consortium initiative called ManyZoos, which aims to address the critical need for zoo science to expand even further geographically while incorporating additional institutions and disciplines. Like other “Many X” initiatives (e.g., ManyPrimates, ManyDogs), ManyZoos aims to foster more productive research collaborations between zoological collections and other animal collections, academia, government, and nongovernment organizations. In doing so, ManyZoos will address several current limitations of zoo research including small sample sizes and siloed expertise. ManyZoos embeds collaboration at every stage of research, from study conception to dissemination of results, producing large open data sets with transparent protocols. ManyZoos has the potential to lead to more robust, evidence‐based decision‐making for zoo animal management and conservation

Utilising on-farm risk assessment data for the management of Johne’s disease in dairy cattle in Northern Ireland

Johne’s disease (JD) causes weight loss, diarrhoea, and reduced milk yields in clinically infected cattle. In 2020, Animal Health and Welfare Northern Ireland (AHWNI) launched a voluntary JD control programme (JDCP) which focuses on bio-exclusion, biocontainment and market reassurance. Authorised veterinary practitioners (AVPs) conduct a Veterinary Risk Assessment and Management Plan (VRAMP) and use this information to make up to three recommendations. Between August 2022 and January 2024, 2274 herds enrolled in the NI JDCP and conducted up to three VRAMPs. This study characterised the JD-related risks and veterinary recommendations, identified the risks related to confirmed cases of JD and assessed if farmers changed their practices in response to AVP recommendations. AVPs assigned risk scores to management practices. Practices related to the calving area, particularly an absence of or delayed snatch calving, demonstrated the highest average risk score. Thematic analysis highlighted five main themes within AVP recommendations, including the use of diagnostic testing and management of calving areas. Multivariable binomial logistic regression identified five management practices which significantly increased the likelihood of herds having had a confirmed case of JD, including the segregation of clinically infected or test-positive cows from the rest of the herd in the calving area. Analysis of the risk scores and responses to closed questions from 278 herds which conducted first and second VRAMPs suggested that farmers had not changed their JD-related management practices in response to AVP recommendations. These findings simultaneously outline the challenges in JD control, reinforce the use of VRAMPs in identifying JD-related risks, demonstrate the harmonisation in AVP recommendation themes and provide data which can be considered by industry and policy makers

Nutritional value of field bean-containing diets for broilers without and with phytase, xylanase and protease enzymes, alone or in a combination

The effects of exogenous phytase (PHY), xylanase (XYL) and protease (PRO) alone and in a combination, when supplemented to diets based on three field bean cultivar samples with different chemical composition, on dietary metabolisable energy (ME), nutrient digestibility, gastrointestinal tract (GIT) development, feed intake (FI), weigh gain (WG) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) were studied. Diets based on beans with lower phytic acid and fibre content had higher ME, fat (p  0.05). The changes observed in different GIT segments are unlikely to have biological significance

Potato plant phenotyping and characterisation utilising machine learning techniques: A state-of-the-art review and current trends

Globally, potatoes are the fourth most produced food crop, and in the United Kingdom alone, they generated approximately £705 million in 2022. However, to achieve the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDG), potato farmers need to sustainably increase yields to address the growing demand for both food and land. Crop yield can be affected by various factors, including disease, pests, and nutrient deficiencies. To tackle these challenges and optimise yields, researchers have leveraged remote sensing platforms for high-throughput non-destructive phenotyping. Data collected from these platforms can be used to develop machine learning (ML) models aimed at addressing the aforementioned issues. To summarise recent developments in ML models applied to potato plant phenotyping, a systematic review of journal articles from the last seven years was conducted. This review underscored the advantages of Deep Learning (DL) approaches and the rising trend of Convolutional Neural Network (CNN)-based architectures, while also noting the limited availability of data for training these models. This review is intended to benefit researchers and farmers by providing an up-to-date review of ML models in potato plant phenotyping

Exploring calling to farming careers in the United Kingdom: a scoping review

Through a UK lens, this scoping review explores whether farming careers can be considered as a calling, and thus better understood through Work as Calling Theory. A methodological approach aligned to Arksey and O’Malley’s five-stage framework generated limited “calling” focused literature in this space. However, studies meeting the inclusion criteria,which related to career choices, career motivation and/or career development in farming, display evidence of behaviours aligned to perceiving and living a calling: the discovery of meaning and purpose through work, passion, a sense of identity tied to work, barriers and challenges, and in some cases, a sense of burden related to living a calling. The authors suggest this is an area that warrants attention internationally to further investigate the need for practical and inclusive approaches to careers education, information, advice and guidance to facilitate the fulfilment of personal calling to farming careers

Optimized grazing management enhances multiple ecosystem services by maintaining plant diversity and dominance in grasslands

Effective ecosystem management seeks to optimize multiple services, including cultural, provisioning, regulating, and supporting. Grasslands, providing animal products for 1 billion people via grazing, are vulnerable to global change, which makes improved management crucial. While enhanced grazing practices could improve ecosystem services, there remain challenges for optimizing trade-offs between food production and environmental benefits, such as carbon sequestration. Our global meta-analysis found incorporating ‘‘rest’’ into grazing regimes improved multiple ecosystem functions, particularly those linked to regulating service. A long-term field experiment in northern China showed that rest during peak growing season, coupled with flexible grazing intensity, enhanced multiple services, thereby improving grassland multifunctionality through increasing plant diversity and preserving the dominance of keystone species. Compared to traditional continuous grazing and grazing exclusion, this practice mitigates trade-offs between services. Our findings provide valuable insights for optimizing grassland management under climate change, while outlining ways to reduce stakeholder conflicts

Empowering professional identity and positive outcomes through Third Space collaboration: A subject lecturer and EAP practitioner case study

English for Academic Purposes (EAP) staff frequently find themselves sidelined in higher education (HE), where they can be perceived as operating on the edge of academia, or even outside of it. Proactively claiming a role in the third space (Whitchurch, 2008) potentially supports recognition of their professional identity, value, and contribution. This case study reflects on a collaboration between a Lecturer with a professional services background, and an EAP Practitioner, incorporating perspectives from both staff members. The collaboration took place at all three levels identified by Dudley-Evans and St John (1998) for this type of shared work: cooperation, collaboration, and then team teaching. The third level of team teaching was achieved through a co-delivered assessment workshop. This was designed to allow the EAP Practitioner’s expertise to scaffold the students towards asking clear questions of the Lecturer, in a safe space, supporting understanding and assessment performance, while minimising concerns about inappropriate challenge or loss of face. Both staff members benefitted from this third space collaboration, building professional confidence, with the EAP Practitioner feeling empowered in their expertise and practice, which can be challenging for third-space professionals with previous negative experiences of attempted collaboration. The student outcomes appeared positive, and this collaboration led to other activities that further cemented the collaborative working relationship and demonstrated the value of activity within the third space

An agroecological assessment of uncrewed aerial vehicle spraying in Greek viticulture

Spraying pesticides with uncrewed aerial vehicles (UAVs) in European viticulture is currently only allowed when there are no viable alternatives or if it provides environmental and human health benefits. Using Greece as a case study, this analysis investigated the agroecological performance of UAV spraying in comparison with land-based pesticide application. A multi-objective linear programming model assessed farmer preferences for spraying pesticides with ground equipment or a UAV. Farmers concerned with non-economic goals preferred UAV targeted pesticide application, while production-orientated farmers favoured ground spraying. Depending on disease pressure, UAV spraying generated annual savings of €278–377 ha-1 on a flat vineyard compared to a trailed vine sprayer and €367–538 ha-1 on a steep-slope vineyard compared to a backpack sprayer. However, the estimated costs of custom-hiring UAVs in Greece made UAV spraying less profitable except in conditions of simultaneous extreme labour scarcity and high disease pressure on the steep-slope vineyard. UAV aerial broadcast had an environmental impact comparable to ground spraying, but UAV spot-spraying mitigated ecotoxicological risks of pesticide use by 46–50 %. Both UAV spraying methods substantially reduced human exposure to pesticides. In current regulation, UAV aerial broadcast would only be allowed in steep-slope viticulture if seasonal labour was unavailable. UAV spot-spraying could be permitted on both vineyards, but it would be economically feasible if hiring fees were €43–49 ha-1. The study concludes with recommendations to promote UAV spraying adoption among European farmers thereby contributing to the EU objectives to halve pesticide use and risk while potentially resolving labour availability challenges on abandonment-prone vineyards

Performance, metabolism and nitrogen use efficiency in dairy cows fed low protein, legume silage-based diets: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The primary focus of low CP diets and the inclusion of legume silages for dairy cows is to decrease feed costs and mitigate the environmental impact of milk production. This systematic review and meta-analysis were conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary CP level on the performance, metabolism, and N use efficiency (NUE; g milk N output/kg N intake) of dairy cows fed legume-based rations. A total of 36 production trials with 102 treatment means were included, and the effect of dietary CP level was estimated using the raw-mean difference between control (high CP) and low CP diets. Publication bias was examined using Begg’s and Egger’s tests. Meta-regression and subgroup analyses were performed to explore the heterogeneity of the response variables. Reducing dietary CP from 171 g/kg DM to 145 g/kg DM in forage legume-based diets resulted in decreased DM intake (−0.62 kg/d), milk yield (−1.41 kg/d), milk protein (−0.22 g/kg), milk urea N (MUN; −3.47 mg/dL), plasma urea N (−1.85 mmol/L) and condition score (−0.03) in dairy cows. Similarly, nutrient intake, diet digestibility, total urine output, N excretion through milk, urine and faeces, urine N/total N intake, rumen ammonia-N and molar proportion of butyrate were decreased (P < 0.05) in cows receiving low CP diets compared with those fed the control. In contrast, low CP diets increased (P < 0.05) the faecal N/total N intake, NUE, and plasma content of non-esterified fatty acids. Subgroup analyses revealed that the effect size of DM intake, milk yield, MUN, urinary N excretion and rumen ammonia-N content had less of a negative impact (P < 0.05) when cows received dietary CP levels of 140–155 g/kg DM than < 140 g/kg DM. The inclusion of rumen-protected methionine in low CP diets increased (P = 0.04) DM intake and tended to improve (P = 0.08) the milk protein content of dairy cows. Feeding lucerne silage-based low CP diets showed an improvement (P < 0.05) in apparent diet digestibility but reduced milk yield (−1.46 kg/d) relative to red clover silage-based rations. The inclusion rate of legume silages in low-CP diets beyond 40% of the forage DM reduced (P < 0.01) DM intake and milk protein content. We conclude that legume silage-based low CP diets enhance NUE but have adverse effects on dairy cow performance that can partially be mitigated by including rumen-protected methionine and limiting their proportion in the forage component of the diet