Serosurvey for viruses associated with reproductive failure in newly introduced gilts and in multiparous sows in Belgian sow herds

A serosurvey for viruses associated with reproductive disorders was conducted in 25 conventional Belgian farms. Serum antibody titers for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), porcine parvovirus (PPV), porcine enteroviruses (PEV) and swine influenza viruses (SIV) were determined in gilts and sows. All the animals were seropositive for PCV2 and >95% were seropositive for all 4 embryopathogenic PEV serotypes. Consequently, special preventive measures appear to be unnecessary for these viruses. In I farm, non-vaccinated gilts were found to run a risk of developing PPV-induced reproductive disorders. Vaccination against PPV could exclude this risk. In 10 farms, gilts seronegative for one or more specific SIV subtypes were introduced into a herd that had previously been infected with the same subtypes. Vaccination of gilts against SIV may prevent reproductive disorders in gilts and respiratory problems in their offspring. In I farm, newly purchased gilts that were possibly shedding PRRSV were introduced into a PRRSV seronegative sow herd. Serological screening prior to purchase or vaccination of the sows could have resolved this dangerous situation

Calculation on the impacts of forestation, afforestation and reforestation on the C-sequestration potential in Belgian forests ecosystems. COST E21 Workshop. Contribution of forests and forestry to mitigate greenhouse effects. Joensuu (Finland). 28-30 Sep 2000

The Belgian climate policy is formulated at the federal level, requiring cooperation between regional and federal administrations. Around a fifth of the total area of Belgium is covered by forests. Around 80/ of the productive forests are in the Walloon region. Reported values for land use change and forestry categories give a potential of 2,057 kt eq. CO2 per year. Given the existing regional forest inventories (RFI): RFI1 for 1984 and RFI2 for 1999, an estimate has been made to consolidate reported data. Afforestation, deforestation and reforestation activities are calculated according the Intergovernemental Panel on Climate Change special report on land use, land use change and forestry

Measurements of heat, water vapour and CO2 fluxes above a mixed forest

peer reviewe

Ammonia, nitrous oxide, methane, carbon dioxide and water vapour emissions in a fattening pig house on deep litter: levels of production and correlation with pigs activity

During a 4-month fattening period, emissions of NH3, N2O, CH4, CO2 and H2O from a pig house with fattening pigs on deep litter was measured once a month during four days (one measurement every 30 min). The activity rate of the animals was also measured hourly as the mean proportion of standing animals observed each two minutes. The mean daily emissions of gas, calculated per pig, were 9,5 g NH3, 3,2 g N2O, 4,8 g CH4, 1,3 kg CO2 and 3,3 kg water vapour. Emissions increased during the fattening period, the values observed at the end being 50%, 50%, 680% and 1000% higher than those at the beginning, for CO2, H2O, CH4 and NH3 respectively. Emissions of N2O were however higher at the beginning than at the end of the fattening period. The activity rate of the pigs followed a circadian rhythm, pigs being observed in a standing position much more frequently during the day than during the night, especially in the morning, at the end of the afternoon and at the beginning of the evening. The activity rate decreased continuously during the fattening period, from 22,6 +/- 4,1% to 8,8 +/- 0,5%. Within each monthly observation period, the hourly emissions of NH3, CO2 and H2O were positively correlated with the pigs' activity rate, the mean correlation coefficients being 0,61 for NH3, 0,71 for CO2 and 0,75 for water vapour. The correlation coefficients were not significant for N2O and CH4 in periods 2 et 3 but significant in periods 1 and 4 with mean values of -0,55 for N2O and +0,26 for CH4

Modelling short-term CO2 fluxes and long-term tree growth in temperate forests with ASPECTS.

peer reviewedThe net ecosystem exchange (NEE) Of CO2 between temperate forests and the atmosphere governs both carbon removal from the atmosphere and forest growth. In recent years, many experiments have been conducted to determine temperate forest NEE. These data have been used by forest modellers to better understand the processes that govern CO, fluxes, and estimate the evolution of these fluxes under changing environmental conditions. Nevertheless, it is not clear whether models capable of handling short-term processes, which are mostly source-driven, can provide an accurate estimate of long-term forest growth, which is potentially more influenced by sink- and phenology-related processes. To analyse the interactions between short- and long-term processes, we developed the ASPECTS model, which predicts long-term forest growth by integrating, over time, hourly NEE estimates. Validation data consisting of measurements of NEE by eddy-covariance and forest carbon reservoir estimates were obtained from mixed deciduous and evergreen experimental forests located in Belgium. ASPECTS accurately estimated both: (1) the NEE fluxes for several years of data; and (2) the amount of carbon contained in stems, branches, leaves, fine and coarse roots. Our simulations demonstrated that: (1) NEE measurements in Belgian forests are compatible with forest growth over the course of the 20th century, and (2) that forest history and long-term processes need to be considered for accurate simulation of short-term CO2 fluxes

dierenfaculteit_NR06_2009:Dierenfaculteit

ABSTRACT A serosurvey for viruses associated with reproductive disorders was conducted in 25 conventional Belgian farms. Serum antibody titers for porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV), porcine circovirus type 2 (PCV2), porcine parvovirus (PPV), porcine enteroviruses (PEV) and swine influenza viruses (SIV) were determined in gilts and sows. All the animals were seropositive for PCV2 and >95% were seropositive for all 4 embryopathogenic PEV serotypes. Consequently, special preventive measures appear to be unnecessary for these viruses. In 1 farm, non-vaccinated gilts were found to run a risk of developing PPVinduced reproductive disorders. Vaccination against PPV could exclude this risk. In 10 farms, gilts seronegative for one or more specific SIV subtypes were introduced into a herd that had previously been infected with the same subtypes. Vaccination of gilts against SIV may prevent reproductive disorders in gilts and respiratory problems in their offspring. In 1 farm, newly purchased gilts that were possibly shedding PRRSV were introduced into a PRRSV seronegative sow herd. Serological screening prior to purchase or vaccination of the sows could have resolved this dangerous situation

Influence of sugar beet pulp on feeding behavior, growth performance, carcass quality and gut health of fattening pigs

Description of the subject. Dietary fiber is largely used in pig production but some contradictions appear in the literature regarding the effects on performance and health. Objectives. This paper aims to contribute to the clarification of the effects of a diet rich in sugar beet pulp on animal behavior, growth performance, carcass quality and gut health of fattening pigs. Method. Two successive batches of 24 fattening pigs were each divided into two groups fed ad libitum either a standard diet based on cereals (STD, 19% NSP [non-starch-polysaccharides]) or a fibrous diet based on 23% sugar beet pulp (HFD, 31% NSP). Results. Pigs activity rate and feeder occupancy duration were increased by 57% and 165% for group fed HFD, respectively (P < 0.05). The fecal bacteria counts showed increases with HFD for Lactobacillus (10.21 vs 9.84 log10 of cfu·g-1 of feces dry matter, P < 0.05) and Bifidobacterium (9.49 vs 8.88, P < 0.01) but decreases for Enterobacteriaceae (4.85 vs 5.97, P < 0.001). Reductions of the average daily gain (788 vs 876 g per day, P < 0.001) and the dressing percentage (75.7 vs 78.9%, P < 0.001) were observed with HFD. Gastric lesion score was decreased with HFD (0.82 vs 1.55, P < 0.05). For pigs fed HFD, the proportion of surface area occupied by goblet cells was increased in the jejunum (10.06 vs 7.99%, P < 0.01) and the number of CD3 lymphocytes was increased in the colon (1.24 vs 0.90·mm-², P < 0.05). Conclusions. HFD contributes to strengthen the gut health of fattening pigs, but it impairs growth performance and carcass traits