Effect of winter feeding systems on soil nutrients

Non-Peer Reviewe

Evaluation of Forage Yield and Quality of Low-Lignin Alfalfa in Monoculture and Binary Mixtures in the Dark Brown Soil Zone of Saskatchewan

Non-Peer ReviewedThe objective of this study was to compare low-lignin Hi-Gest® 360 alfalfa to a conventional legume in both monoculture and binary mixtures. Two varieties of alfalfa (monoculture) [Medicago sativa L. cv. AC Grazeland (Grazeland) and Hi-Gest 360 (Hi-Gest] or in mixture (binary) with AC Success hybrid bromegrass (HB) (Grazeland+HB and Hi-Gest+HB) were grown at a Dark Brown soil zone site (52o07′ N, 106o 38′ W) in Saskatchewan and harvested at 3 maturity stages (stage) of alfalfa [1 = 10% bloom; 2 = 40% bloom; and 3 = 100% bloom)] over 2 yr. Forage was harvested on June 21, June 25, and June 29 2018, and July 8, July 12, and July 16 2019. All plots were established in a randomized complete block design with four replications using forages as treatments. Plot size was 6.2 m × 1.2 m (7.44 m2) with 4 rows and total of 48 plots. Dry matter yield (DMY; 2-yr) and nutritive value (1-yr) of forages were determined. Results indicate that monoculture Hi-Gest alfalfa had greater (P 0.05) for forage quantity and quality. However, forages at maturity stage 3 had greater DMY (1058 vs. 783 kg), but lower CP (17.6 vs. 19.6%) and IVNDFD48 (37.1 vs. 42.3%) than those at maturity stage 1. The sugar content of forages linearly increased (P 0.05) observed between AC Grazeland+HB and Hi-Gest+HB mixtures for DMY or quality profiles. Monoculture had greater CP (18.5 vs. 12.0 %), ADFCP (2.5 vs. 1.5%), lignin (6.9 vs. 4.7%), fat (3.0 vs. 2.6%), RFV (174.8 vs. 91.8), NEm (1.6 vs. 1.3 Mcal/kg), NEg (0.96 vs. 0.77 Mcal/kg), but lower DMY (920 vs. 3343 kg/ha), ADF (27.4 vs. 35.9%), NDF (36.3 vs. 61.9%), starch (0.41 vs. 0.82%), and IVNDFD48 (39.2 vs. 50.7%), compared to binary mixtures. Results suggest that Hi-Gest alfalfa as a monoculture yielded less than AC Grazeland, however Hi-Gest monoculture had higher nutritive value than AC Grazeland, but was similar for yield and quality in mixture, suggesting Hi-Gest 360 alfalfa is a viable alternative legume for Dark Brown soil zone of Saskatchewan

Forage yield and quality, cattle grazing capacity, cost of production and soil carbon in an annual polycrop mixture versus barley swath grazing

Non-Peer ReviewedThe extensive swath grazing systems of barley (Hordeum vulgare) and an annual polycrop mixture were evaluated for forage yield, forage quality, cattle grazing capacity, and cost of production in 2017 and 2018. A 13.2 ha site located at Livestock and Forage Centre of Excellence Termuende Research Ranch was seeded in June and grazing commenced in November of each year. The annual polycrop mixture was Union Forage Ultimate Annual Blend with the addition of 40-10 forage peas (Pisum sativa). The Ultimate Annual Blend included the following species: hairy vetch (Vicia villosa), crimson clover (Trifolium incarnatum), Italian ryegrass (Lolium multiflorum), sorghum (Sorghum bicolor), Winfred forage brassica (Brassica napus ssp. biennis), Hunter Brassica (Brassica rapa syn.B campestris), and Graza Forage Brassica forage brassica (Raphanus sativa ssp. maritimus). The barley cultivar was CDC Maverick barley

Legume based pasture rejuvenation for greenhouse gas outcomes

Non-Peer ReviewedIncorporating legumes into a grass based pasture system has multiple benefits. A grass/legume blend increases the dietary protein of foraging cattle over grass alone. Furthermore, symbiotic biological nitrogen fixation introduces additional nitrogen to the pasture system thereby potentially lessening the need for synthetic fertilizers. However, over time, pastures initially seeded with a blend of grasses and legumes will tend towards increasing grass dominance such that the presence and benefits of legumes diminishes. Reestablishing legumes on a mature pasture can restore these important functions. By improving ruminant diet and therefore feed conversion ratios as well as decreasing nitrogen fertilizer applications, pasture rejuvenation, through the introduction of legumes, is expected to lower the greenhouse gas cost of grazing livestock on a per output basis. However, disturbance of soils, which can be part of various rejuvenation techniques, can result in losses of soil carbon thereby offsetting potential at least some of the greenhouse gas benefits. Sod-seeding may be an effective strategy to establish legumes in a mature pasture thereby incurring benefits without heavily disrupting soils and incurring soil carbon loss. To test this, a multiyear experiment, including cattle, vegetation (specifically the incorporation of non-bloat legumes: cicer milkvetch and sainfoin), soils and microbiota, was established near Lanigan, SK to examine the impact of sod-seeded legume pasture rejuvenation on greenhouse gases

Low-Lignin Alfalfa Evaluated in the Black Soil Zone

Non-Peer ReviewedA small-plot study was conducted at Lanigan (lat 51°51´N, long 105°02´W) SK, in the Black soil zone, to compare low-lignin Hi-Gest®360 alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.) to a conventional alfalfa (AC Grazeland, check cultivar). Each cultivar was seeded in August 2017 as both a monoculture and binary mixture (binary) with AC Success hybrid bromegrass (HB). Plants were sampled in 2019 at 3 different maturity stages of alfalfa (1 = 10% bloom; 2 = 40% bloom or commercial harvest stage; and 3 = 100% bloom). Forage was harvested 27 June, and 8 and 29 July, 2019 for stage 1, stage 2 (11 d after stage 1), and stage 3 (21 d after stage 2), respectively. Treatments were replicated 4 times, a total of 48 plots with plot size of 6.2 — 1.2 m. Forage — maturity stage interaction was not observed (P > 0.05) for all measured parameters. AC Grazeland and Hi-Gest exhibited similar (P > 0.05) DMY (2978 ± 405 kg/ha). Likewise, AC Grazeland+HB and Hi-Gest+HB did not vary (P = 0.62; 9120 ± 647 kg /ha) in DMY. There was little difference between Hi-Gest and AC Grazeland (P > 0.05) in nutrient profile. As alfalfa maturity advanced, DMY increased (P 0.05) were observed between AC Grazeland+HB and Hi-Gest+HB for nutrient profiles. The ADL concentration of Hi-Gest + HB was 106.3%, 93.7%, and 90.9% of (avg. 96.7%) AC Grazeland+HB, for the stage 1, stage 2, and stage 3, respectively. Hi-Gest alfalfa had greater (P 0.05) greater EDCP (8.2% more; 370 vs. 342 g/kg CP), but had similar EDDM (388.4 g/kg DM) and EDNDF (250 g/ kg NDF) relative to AC Grazeland+HB. In both mono- and binary systems, as the maturity advanced, EDDM, EDCP, and EDNDF declined (P Hi-Gest+HB > Hi-Gest > AC Grazeland. Compared to conventional alfalfa (AC Grazeland) that was harvested at the commercial harvest stage (stage 2; 40% bloom), Hi-Gest alfalfa harvested at stage 3 (100% bloom) had $169.23/ha and$143.57/ha greater market value in mono- and binary system, respectively. Preliminary results suggest that Hi-Gest alfalfa (in both monoculture and binary systems) did not differ in DMY and nutrient profiles, but was greater in rumen degradation potential relative to AC Grazeland, suggesting Hi-Gest 360 alfalfa is a viable alternative legume in both monoculture and binary systems for the Black soil zone of Saskatchewan

Photographic Validation of Target Versus Nontarget Take of Brown Treesnake Baits

Use of toxic baits or other tools for managing nuisance species must ensure that the species of interest is adequately targeted while exposure to nontarget species is minimized. Nontarget takes of acetaminophen‐laced baits for control of invasive brown treesnakes (Boiga irregularis) on Guam may put those animals at risk of lethal intoxication and render the bait unavailable to the intended target species. We used wildlife cameras to identify species removing toxic and nontoxic baits from brown treesnake bait stations designed to exclude nontarget taxa in 2015 and 2016. Throughout various sites and habitat types, and balanced by season (wet vs. dry), we monitored 512 bait stations. From those, 140 of the baits were taken and the species taking the bait was successfully identified. Brown treesnakes took 124 (88.6%) of the baits, 13 (9.3%) were taken by small coconut crabs (Birgus latro), and 3 (2.1%) were taken by monitor lizards (Varanus indicus). The greatest incidence of nontarget bait takes was by small coconut crabs at 2 adjacent sites atop the same cliff line during a single season; 96.9% of bait takes at all other sites were by brown treesnakes. Bait takes by brown treesnakes were particularly infrequent (2.3%) at sites associated with endangered swiftlet (Aerodramus bartschi) caves where intensive snake control was employed. Although the majority of baits in bait stations are taken by brown treesnakes, local and temporal pulses in nontarget species activity, particularly by crabs, may bias results, which would not be accounted for without supplemental validation by cameras

Successful awake proning is associated with improved clinical outcomes in patients with COVID-19: single-centre high-dependency unit experience

The SARS-CoV-2 can lead to severe illness with COVID-19. Outcomes of patients requiring mechanical ventilation are poor. Awake proning in COVID-19 improves oxygenation, but on data clinical outcomes is limited. This single-centre retrospective study aimed to assess whether successful awake proning of patients with COVID-19, requiring respiratory support (continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) or high-flow nasal oxygen (HFNO)) on a respiratory high-dependency unit (HDU), is associated with improved outcomes. HDU care included awake proning by respiratory physiotherapists. Of 565 patients admitted with COVID-19, 71 (12.6%) were managed on the respiratory HDU, with 48 of these (67.6%) requiring respiratory support. Patients managed with CPAP alone 22/48 (45.8%) were significantly less likely to die than patients who required transfer onto HFNO 26/48 (54.2%): CPAP mortality 36.4%; HFNO mortality 69.2%, (p=0.023); however, multivariate analysis demonstrated that increasing age and the inability to awake prone were the only independent predictors of COVID-19 mortality. The mortality of patients with COVID-19 requiring respiratory support is considerable. Data from our cohort managed on HDU show that CPAP and awake proning are possible in a selected population of COVID-19, and may be useful. Further prospective studies are required

Adapting a communication coaching intervention for obstetric sonographers delivering unexpected news: A qualitative study

Introduction: Despite widespread recognition that communicating unexpected news during obstetric ultrasound examinations is challenging, there is a dearth of research investigating how to teach evidence-based communication to sonographers. Communication Coaching is a supportive, positive method that has previously been associated with improvements in communication, patient satisfaction, and reduced burnout in clinicians. However, to date, no study has coached sonographers. This study explored stakeholders’ views on a proposed Communication Coaching intervention and used these data to adapt the intervention for use with qualified obstetric sonographers. Methods: Semi-structured interviews were conducted with people who have a vested interest in unexpected news delivery and thematic analysis was conducted on the data. Eight sonographers, six people with lived experience of receiving unexpected news and six representatives from third-sector organisations who support expectant parents were recruited (18 women; 2 men, aged between 21 and 75 years). Results: Participants viewed the planned Communication Coaching intervention favourably and suggested adaptations. The two main themes were (1) the practicalities of coaching, and (2) content. The first theme had four subthemes: (a) brief and flexible structure, (b) online modality, (c) sensitive and positive coach and (d) organisational awareness. The second theme had three subthemes: (a) specific language and behaviour recommendations, (b) adaptable to different service-users and situations and (c) confer relevant emotional skills and techniques. Conclusions: Communication Coaching could be a feasible and acceptable intervention for qualified sonographers if specific, limited adaptations are made as recommended by the stakeholders. Further evaluation of the intervention in practice is necessary

Evidence for niche differentiation in the environmental responses of co-occurring mucoromycotinian fine root endophytes and glomeromycotinian arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi

Fine root endophytes (FRE) were traditionally considered a morphotype of arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF), but recent genetic studies demonstrate that FRE belong within the subphylum Mucoromycotina, rather than in the subphylum Glomeromycotina with the AMF. These findings prompt enquiry into the fundamental ecology of FRE and AMF. We sampled FRE and AMF in roots of Trifolium subterraneum from 58 sites across temperate southern Australia. We investigated the environmental drivers of composition, richness, and root colonization of FRE and AMF by using structural equation modelling and canonical correspondence analyses. Root colonization by FRE increased with increasing temperature and rainfall but decreased with increasing phosphorus (P). Root colonization by AMF increased with increasing soil organic carbon but decreased with increasing P. Richness of FRE decreased with increasing temperature and soil pH. Richness of AMF increased with increasing temperature and rainfall but decreased with increasing soil aluminium (Al) and pH. Aluminium, soil pH, and rainfall were, in decreasing order, the strongest drivers of community composition of FRE; they were also important drivers of community composition of AMF, along with temperature, in decreasing order: rainfall, Al, temperature, and soil pH. Thus, FRE and AMF showed the same responses to some (e.g. soil P, soil pH) and different responses to other (e.g. temperature) key environmental factors. Overall, our data are evidence for niche differentiation among these co-occurring mycorrhizal associates