Prepartum supplementation effects on growth and fertility in Bos indicus-cross cows

Three experiments were conducted in the dry tropics of north Australia using Bos indicus-cross cows. Cows in mid–late pregnancy were either unsupplemented during the late dry season or offered ad libitum (2 kg/day) molasses with 7.4% urea (w/w) (M8U) or cottonseed meal (1 kg/day) for up to 54 days commencing 2 months before the start of the calving season. Supplementation reduced weight loss in experiments 1 and 2 (P<0.05), but had no significant effect on weight or body condition in experiment 3. Supplementation had no effect on subsequent calf growth or cow lactation yields. Following early wet season rains in experiment 1, 9 and 49% of cows were ovulating 40 and 80 days post-partum, respectively, with no effect of supplementation. In experiment 2, 10 and 100% of cows had ovulated by 60 and 200 days post-partum, respectively. At any time between 80 and 180 days post-partum, supplemented cows were more likely to be cycling (P<0.05), independent of supplementation effects on weight or body condition. The average post-partum interval to oestrus was 30 days less in cows supplemented for 42 days (P = 0.08). In experiment 3, pregnancy rates in 1/2 and 3/4 Brahmans supplemented with M8U for 54 days (MU54) or whose calves were weaned at 2–3 months of age (WEAN) were 14% higher in the latter 2 months of mating than in cows supplemented for less than 40 days. Good seasonal conditions resulted in high pregnancy rates in all mature 5/8 Brahmans; when not weaned early, their average calving to conception interval (CCI) was 54 days (s.e. = 8.5 days). Pregnancy rates of first-lactation 5/8 Brahmans (average CCI of 125 days) supplemented for 39 days or less and weaned when calves averaged 6 months of age were 14–32% lower between 2 and 9 months post-partum than in contemporaries in the MU54 or WEAN treatment groups. It was concluded that dry-season supplementation of mid- to late-pregnant Bos indicus-cross cows with an energy concentrate for 42–54 days (‘spike’ feeding) may reduce post-partum anoestrus intervals via a mechanism which is not dependent on the effects on weight or body condition

Teaching our grandchildren to suck eggs?: Introducing the study of communication technologies to the 'Digital generation'

It has been argued that age-related and generational differences in communication technology use and more generally in learning style and mindset increasingly divide lecturers from students. This paper reports an investigation of one cohort of level 1 students’ current communication practices and learning styles conducted in order to adapt a module in direct response to student need. A small scale survey of communication and web use was undertaken and students completed the Kolb learning style inventory. The results demonstrate that the sweeping generalizations of generational or age related difference are not a firm foundation for pedagogy. For example, familiarity and use of Web2.0 technologies was patchy and students seemed to prefer to be consumers not producers, though they did show a preference for immediate communication. This reinforced our sense of the need to teach students about many Web2.0 technologies, especially the content creation aspects. Students had diverse learning styles and their preferences did not suggest a radical change from the past. The need continues to be to offer a variety of learning opportunities for a diverse student body. The paper demonstrates the value of systematic data collection about students’ existing knowledge and practices and of assessed reflective activities to stimulate students to be more active in negotiating a successful learning experience for themselves