Adapting Livestock Production Systems to Climate Change in Nepal: Challenges and Opportunities

To assess climate change impacts and identify challenges and opportunities for livestock climate change adaption, we conducted a comprehensive study in the Thulokhola watershed of Nuwakot district in Nepal from June 1, 2011 to January 31, 2013. We established nine community livestock groups (CLGs) consisting of 51 members and trained the CLG members in daily livestock record keeping and monitoring surface water quality. Monthly fecal samples from 50 cattle, 50 goats, and 50 buffaloes were collected for the determination of gastrointestinal parasites. Soil and fodder samples were also collected and analyzed. Group discussions, Participatory Rural Appraisals, and full-fledged household survey of 97 households were done. A survey of 41 water sources in the watershed was also conducted. While 85.3 % of the water sources have either dried up or decreased in flow in recent years, drought conditions had great toll on agricultural production. Prevalence rates of helminthes on goats, cattle, and buffalo was 53.8%, 31.32%, and 23.52%, respectively, and animal deaths were remarkably high. Declining pregnancy rates on livestock along with waning supply of fodder and forages and poor soil quality were additional major problems. Although local communities have undertaken several measures including adding new breed, destocking, purchasing fodder and forages, and planting grasses for livestock climate change adaptation, the problems of animal health, breeding conditions, soil fertility, forest degradation, increasing women workload, and water shortages were largely unaddressed. Opportunities for livestock climate change adaptation in Nepal include agroforestry intervention, groundwater utilization, rainwater harvesting, enhancing feed efficiency, and community capacity-building

Microbial Fuel Cells and Microbial Ecology: Applications in Ruminant Health and Production Research

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) systems employ the catalytic activity of microbes to produce electricity from the oxidation of organic, and in some cases inorganic, substrates. MFC systems have been primarily explored for their use in bioremediation and bioenergy applications; however, these systems also offer a unique strategy for the cultivation of synergistic microbial communities. It has been hypothesized that the mechanism(s) of microbial electron transfer that enable electricity production in MFCs may be a cooperative strategy within mixed microbial consortia that is associated with, or is an alternative to, interspecies hydrogen (H2) transfer. Microbial fermentation processes and methanogenesis in ruminant animals are highly dependent on the consumption and production of H2in the rumen. Given the crucial role that H2 plays in ruminant digestion, it is desirable to understand the microbial relationships that control H2 partial pressures within the rumen; MFCs may serve as unique tools for studying this complex ecological system. Further, MFC systems offer a novel approach to studying biofilms that form under different redox conditions and may be applied to achieve a greater understanding of how microbial biofilms impact animal health. Here, we present a brief summary of the efforts made towards understanding rumen microbial ecology, microbial biofilms related to animal health, and how MFCs may be further applied in ruminant research

Comparison of Beef Cattle Grazing Management Practices and their Effects on Runoff Water Quality in Louisiana

Management-intensive grazing (MIG) allows better use of grazed forage crops with short-duration grazing in small paddocks and with this study; the water quality was compared for two grazing management methods. Year-round grazing with MIG and continuous stocking (CS) were compared. Four 0.81-ha plots for two replications of the grazing systems were established. Twenty 0.04 ha (0.1 ac) paddocks, established with power fencing, allowed daily cattle rotation in MIG system. Continuous grazing and MIG used the same stocking rate on each experimental plot (0.81 ha). Each year, two crossbredbeef (Bos taurus) heifers (390 kg ± 12 kg; 12-14 mo at start) were maintained on each plot year-around for 3 yr, with additional yearling heifers added to maintain similarforage availability between stocking methods. Common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L] Pers.) was grazed in summer and annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) was over-seeded into the sod during October for winter and spring grazing. Forage mass was determined monthly and available forage dry matter (DM) was maintained at approximately 1120 kg DM ha-1 Runoff water samples were collected during 42 rainfall events from May 2001 through March 2004. No significant treatment differences (P > 0.10) were found in most of the water quality parameters. Runoff as a percentage of the 3-yr average annual rainfall of 1869 mm was 34% for MIG and 42% CS. The average flow-weightedconcentrations of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) varied from 5.08 mg P L–1 (ppm) to 8.22 mg P L–1 (ppm) while the NH+4–N ranged from 1.07 mg N L–1 (ppm) in year one to 10.11 mg N L–1 (ppm) for the second year (P < 0.05) for year effect. Total annual average forage production was greater (P < 0.05) in the MIG compared to CS with19,796 kg ha-1 for MIG vs. 16,964 kg ha-1 for CS. Beef production also increased with the MIG system with an annual total beef gain from MIG at 422 kg ha-1 y-1 vs. CS at 330 kg ha-1 yr-1.

Comparison of Beef Cattle Grazing Management Practices and their Effects on Runoff Water Quality in Louisiana

Management-intensive grazing (MIG) allows better use of grazed forage crops with short-duration grazing in small paddocks and with this study; the water quality was compared for two grazing management methods. Year-round grazing with MIG and continuous stocking (CS) were compared. Four 0.81-ha plots for two replications of the grazing systems were established. Twenty 0.04 ha (0.1 ac) paddocks, established with power fencing, allowed daily cattle rotation in MIG system. Continuous grazing and MIG used the same stocking rate on each experimental plot (0.81 ha). Each year, two crossbredbeef (Bos taurus) heifers (390 kg ± 12 kg; 12-14 mo at start) were maintained on each plot year-around for 3 yr, with additional yearling heifers added to maintain similarforage availability between stocking methods. Common bermudagrass (Cynodon dactylon [L] Pers.) was grazed in summer and annual ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum Lam.) was over-seeded into the sod during October for winter and spring grazing. Forage mass was determined monthly and available forage dry matter (DM) was maintained at approximately 1120 kg DM ha-1 Runoff water samples were collected during 42 rainfall events from May 2001 through March 2004. No significant treatment differences (P > 0.10) were found in most of the water quality parameters. Runoff as a percentage of the 3-yr average annual rainfall of 1869 mm was 34% for MIG and 42% CS. The average flow-weightedconcentrations of soluble reactive phosphorus (SRP) varied from 5.08 mg P L–1 (ppm) to 8.22 mg P L–1 (ppm) while the NH+4–N ranged from 1.07 mg N L–1 (ppm) in year one to 10.11 mg N L–1 (ppm) for the second year (P < 0.05) for year effect. Total annual average forage production was greater (P < 0.05) in the MIG compared to CS with19,796 kg ha-1 for MIG vs. 16,964 kg ha-1 for CS. Beef production also increased with the MIG system with an annual total beef gain from MIG at 422 kg ha-1 y-1 vs. CS at 330 kg ha-1 yr-1.

The impact of X-chromosome loss on brain structure and function in infancy

Session 12 - The X chromosome in neurodevelopmental disordersMany childhood-onset behavioral disorders are male-biased, including autism spectrum disorders, attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder, and early onset persistent antisocial behavior. It has been hypothesized that these differences result from sex chromosome effects on the development of brain structure and function. Behavioral and neuroimaging studies of individuals with partial or complete X monosomy (Turner Syndrome or TS) provide an unparalleled opportunity to test this hypothesis. However, all studies of TS to date have been carried out in adults and older children. The study presented here is the first to test whether brain structure and function is altered in infants with TS. Our central hypothesis was that infants with TS would show altered gray matter volumes, anatomical connectivity, and functional connectivity in the neural circuits for social cognition and executive function. High-resolution structural magnetic resonance imaging revealed that infants with TS had decreased gray matter volumes in parietal cortex and increased gray matter volumes in insular cortex compared to XX females. Findings are highly similar to neuroanatomical studies of older children with TS, suggesting a stable phenotype with origins in the prenatal or early postnatal period. Diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) revealed that infants with TS did not exhibit the extensive reductions in FA seen in older children, but did show focal reductions in FA in several regions, suggesting that global reductions in FA arise after two years of age. Resting state functional connectivity analyses suggested reduced fronto-parietal connectivity in infants with TS, a lack of typical connectivity between caudate and frontal lobe, and increased connectivity with the insula. Results provide new insight into the impact of X-chromosome loss on neurodevelopment in early life

Age-related network connectivity pattern changes are associated with risk for psychosis

Psychosis onset typically occurs during adolescence or early adulthood, coinciding with the latest stage of brain maturation. Alterations in brain functional connectivity (FC) accompany the emergence of psychiatric symptoms and cognitive impairments. Thus, age-related FC changes may be informative regarding psychosis onset