Effects of daily herbage allowance and stage of lactation on the intake and performance of dairy cows in early summer

peer-reviewedThis research was part-funded by European Union Structural Funds (EAGGF).The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between daily herbage allowance (DHA) and the performance of dairy cows at two stages of lactation. Spring-calving (n=42, mean calving date 17 February) and autumn-calving (n=42, mean calving date 22 September) Friesian cows were divided into three equal groups and assigned to three levels of DHA (above a cutting height of 35 mm), 17 (L), 20 (M) and 23 (H) kg of dry matter (DM) per head, from late April to late June, 1996. The spring-calving cows grazed to sward heights (mm) of 47, 56 and 65 (s.e. 0.6) and residual herbage organic matter (OM) masses (above 35 mm) of 294, 408 and 528 (s.e. 12.1) kg/ha for L, M and H, respectively. The autumn-calving cows grazed to corresponding sward heights of 51, 60 and 69 (s.e. 1.1) mm and leftresidual herbage OM masses of 364, 445 and 555 (s.e. 12.9) kg/ha for L, M and H, respectively. Pastures were mechanically topped post grazing. Spring-calving cows consumed 13.3, 14.7 and 15.5 kg OM (s.e. 0.47) per day, and autumn-calving cows consumed 13.3, 13.8 and 14.9 kg OM (s.e. 0.43) per day for L, M and H, respectively. Mean daily solids-corrected milk yield was 23.1, 23.8 and 24.8 (s.e. 0.34) kg for the spring-calving cows, and 17.5, 18.4 and 18.7 (s.e. 0.35) kg for the autumncalving cows, for L, M and H, respectively. Milk yield could be predicted from preexperimental yield (PMY) and daily herbage organic matter allowance (DOMA, kg) according to the following equation: y = −1.13 + 0.76 (s.e. 0.030) PMY + 0.22 (s.e. 0.057) DOMA (r.s.d. 1.32, R2 0.89). The results indicate that high individual cow and herd production levels can be achieved from high quality herbage alone during early summer at a DHA of 23 kg DM for spring-calving cows and 20 kg DM for autumn-calving cows.European Unio

The cost effectiveness of integrated care for people living with HIV including antiretroviral treatment in a primary health care centre in Bujumbura, Burundi

The incremental cost effectiveness of an integrated care package (i.e., medical care including antiretroviral therapy (ART) and other services such as psychological and social support) for people living with HIV/AIDS was calculated in a not-for-profit primary health care centre in Bujumbura run by Society of Women against AIDS-Burundi (SWAA-Burundi), an African non-governmental organisation (NGO). Results are expressed as cost-effectiveness ratio 2007, constant US$per disability-adjusted life year (DALY) averted. Unit costs are estimated from the NGO's accounting data and activity reports, healthcare utilisation is estimated from the medical records of a cohort of 149 patients. Effectiveness is modelled on the survival of this cohort, using standard calculation methods. The incremental cost of integrated care for people living with HIV/AIDS in the Bujumbura health centre of SWAA-Burundi is 258 US$ per DALY averted. The package of care provided by SWAA-Burundi is therefore a very cost-effective intervention in comparison with other interventions against HIV/AIDS that include ART. It is however, less cost effective than other types of interventions against HIV/AIDS, such as preventive activities

In situ syntheses of semiconducting nanoparticles in conjugated polymer matrices and their application in photovoltaics

Hybrid solar cells based on conjugated polymers and inorganic semiconducting nanoparticles combine beneficial properties of organic and inorganic semiconductors and are, therefore, an exciting alternative to pure organic or inorganic solar cell technologies. Several approaches for the fabrication of hybrid solar cells are already elaborated and explored. In the last years routes have emerged, where the nanoparticles are prepared directly in the matrix of the conjugated polymer. Here, the conjugated polymer prevents the nanoparticles from excessive growth and thereby makes additional capping agents obsolete. This review focuses on in situ preparation methods of inorganic semiconducting nanoparticles in conjugated polymers in view of applications in hybrid solar cells. The details, advantages and disadvantages of the different in situ methods are critically examined and put in comparison to the classical route where pre-synthesized nanoparticles are used. Various key factors influencing the solar cell performance as well as future strategies for increasing the overall efficiency of hybrid solar cells prepared via in situ routes are discussed

User fees, transport costs, and the ethics of exemption: how free is free ART?

The Southern African HIV Clinicians Society initiated an online discussion forum on ‘HIV Ethics and Policy' in 2007. The case study below concerns the ‘hidden' costs associated with access to antiretroviral therapy (ART), and discusses a number of proposed solutions to the problems faced by indigent patients with HIV/AIDS (to read the entire debate, see http://groups. google.com/group/policy-ethics/topics?start=10&sa=N). Southern African Journal of HIV Medicine Vol. 8 (2) 2007: pp. 52-5

Studies on the inheritance of leaf blast resistance in rice

Studies on the inheritance of leaf blast resistance in seven differential varieties of rice tested against two Indian isolates of the international races IA-11 add ID-1 of Pyricularia oryzae Cav. under standardized experimental conditions revealed the presence of three dominant genes, one each in Zenith. Tetep and Ginga conferring resistance to IA-11 and two, one each in Zenith and Tetep, to the race ID-1. The genes of Zenith were independent of those of Tetep. C.l. 5309 possessed inhibitory genes inhibiting the resistance of Zenith but not of Telep. Mode of segregation of resistance o Norin 20 to the race IA-11 was found to be anamolous. Studies on the crosses among susecptible varieties showed the existence of dominant genes conferring susceptibility, two each in P.I. 180061 and Yakeiko. This is a new feature of the present studies and its utility in evolving homozygous recessive resistant varieties have been pointed out