Livestock heat stress risk in response to the extreme heat event (heatwave) of July 2022 in the UK

On the 18th and 19th of July 2022, the UK experienced a record-breaking extreme heat event. For the first time, temperatures exceeding 40C were recorded. Whilst this may seem exceptional or unprecedented, the progression of climate change is expected to increase both the likelihood and severity of such events. Livestock are vulnerable to heat stress, which manifests as losses to health and welfare, productivity, and sustainability. Here, we characterize the heatwave of July 2022 in the context of livestock heat-stress risk, with a focus on cattle. Meteorological data was obtained from 85 weather stations and the Comprehensive Climate Index (CCI) was calculated, hourly, for each station. The CCI was mapped across the UK for 18/07/22 and 19/07/22 and compared against heat stress risk thresholds. Across both days, >25% of sites experienced 'severe' heat stress risk. On 19/07/22 there was an 'extreme' risk across >5% of sites. The site that experienced the highest risk was near Rugby, in the West Midlands. Across all sites, night-time temperatures fell below risk thresholds and may have mitigated some of the heat stress risk. Whilst there was some evidence of productivity losses, this was not conclusive. The impacts of this event on livestock were not just direct, but indirect through negative impacts on water and forage availability. The heatwave of July 2022 must serve as a warning for the UK livestock industry and these results may act as a case study of what the sector may be increasingly likely to experience in the future

Source energy spectra from demodulation of solar particle data by interplanetary and coronal transport

The data on source energy spectra of solar cosmic rays (SCR), i.e. the data on the spectrum form and on the absolute SCR are of interest for three reasons: (1) the SCR contain the energy comparable to the total energy of electromagnetic flare radiation (less than or equal to 10 to the 32nd power ergs); (2) the source spectrum form indicates a possible acceleration mechanism (or mechanism); and (3) the accelerated particles are efficiently involved in nuclear electromagnetic and plasma processes in the solar atmosphere. Therefore, the data on SCR source spectra are necessary for a theoretical description of the processes mentioned and for the formulation of the consistent flare model. Below it is attempted to sound solar particle sources by means of SCR energy spectrum obtained near the Sun, at the level of the roots of the interplanetary field lines in the upper solar corona. Data from approx. 60 solar proton events (SPE) between 1956-1981. These data were obtained mainly by the interplanetary demodulation of observed fluxes near the Earth. Further, a model of coronal azimuthal transport is used to demodulate those spectra, and to obtain the source energy spectra

Interplay between the magnetic anisotropy contributions of Cobalt nanowires

We report on the magnetic properties and the crystallographic structure of the cobalt nanowire arrays as a function of their nanoscale dimensions. X-ray diffraction measurements show the appearance of an in-plane HCP-Co phase for nanowires with 50 nm diameter, suggesting a partial reorientation of the magnetocrystalline anisotropy axis along the membrane plane with increasing pore diameter. No significant changes in the magnetic behavior of the nanowire system are observed with decreasing temperature, indicating that the effective magnetoelastic anisotropy does not play a dominant role in the remagnetization processes of individual nanowires. An enhancement of the total magnetic anisotropy is found at room temperature with a decreasing nanowire diameter-to-length ratio (d/L), a result that is quantitatively analyzed on the basis of a simplified shape anisotropy model.Comment: 8 pages, 4 figure

The case for grazing dairy cows

The case for grazing dairy cows at pasture is reviewed in six categories: i) Optimal land use for food production; ii) Soil carbon sequestration; iii) Carbon footprint; iv) Animal health and welfare; v) Effects on human health of milk produced from grazed pasture; vi) Consumer demand for milk from grazed cows. Land best-suited to grazing is uncultivatable peaty soil receiving relatively low levels of fertilisation. With soil carbon sequestration, carbon footprint is lower for grazing than for other systems of milk production. Some indices of animal health and welfare (e.g. lameness, status of hock integument) are influenced positively by extent of grazing. Benefits to human health may accrue from higher levels of essential amino acids, carotenoids, omega-3 fatty acids and conjugated linoleic acid in milk from cows given pasture compared to diets based on silage and concentrates. Milk producers, processors and supermarkets are responding to consumer demand for milk and milk products from cows given access to pasture during the grazing season. The major constraint to milk production from grazing is energy intake. Research opportunities to address this constraint include application of remote sensing and artificial intelligence to grazing managemen

Wetting pattern of cow urine patch in an Andisol assessed through bromide concentration distribution: A pilot study

Cow urine is a rich source of mobile nutrients such as nitrate (NO3−) and potassium (K+). The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the wetting pattern distribution through soil profile of cow urine patch in an andisol. Two field experiments across two consecutive years were carried out to compare cow urine patches in relation to initial wetting pattern and volume of soil affected. Bromide (Br−) has successfully been used as an inert hydrologic tracer to indicate the movement of NO3− and K+ in soil–water systems. The distribution of Br− (used as a urine tracer) on the soil surface and down the profile was irregular in all the patches. Cow urine patches covered a surface area of 0.27 and 0.35 m2, respectively, and penetrated to a depth of 70 cm. The rapid downward movement of urine occurred through macropore flow but even so, between 27% and 40% of the applied Br- was detected in the 0–5 cm soil layer. Br− showed concentrations greater than 1500 mg kg−1 and up to 3000 mg kg−1, and as the concentration of Br− decreases, the frequency and depth of affected layers increases. Despite the differences in moisture and in the distribution of the Br− concentration in both years, the concentration frequency of 500 to 1500 mg kg−1 represented around 37% of the affected volume of soil (bulb of urine) in both years. Up to 40% of the bulb represented N equivalent rates between 187 and 975 kg N ha−1. These values can potentially be emitted in gases such as NH3, N2O, and N2. It is suggested that the presence of N in the volume of affected soil could vary due to the moisture content of the soil, and that in andisols of southern Chile under permanent grasslands there are a large number of macropores that would induce preferential flows

Evaluation of two commercially available rumen buffers derived from calcified seaweed for grazing dairy cows: Pilot trial in commercial farms

Los productos a base de algas marinas calcificadas (CS) se han propuesto como un tampón de pH ruminal alternativo al bicarbonato de sodio. Se ha reportado que el magnesio puede ayudar en el control del pH ruminal, especialmente las formas naturales marinas. Evaluamos la capacidad amortiguadora del pH del rumen y la producción y composición de la leche de dos CS: Acid Buf (AB) y M12 (un CS natural enriquecido con magnesio marino), en vacas lecheras en pastoreo en un diseño de cuadrado latino replicado que involucró 2 granjas con rebaños lecheros en buen estado sanitario y de salud, 2 suplementos y 4 periodos de evaluación de un mes cada uno. Vacas lecheras Holstein Friesian se alimentaron con una ración parcial mixta (PMR) y se suplementaron durante cuatro períodos de 30 días cada uno con AB o M12. Se midió la producción total y la composición de la leche en cada granja y cinco vacas en cada rebaño recibieron bolos ruminales para monitorear el pH ruminal, permitiéndonos identificar y monitorear eventos de acidosis ruminal subaguda total (SARA) (es decir = 2 h con pH < 5.8). El pH promedio durante el período experimental fue 2% mayor (p < 0,05) y el número de eventos SARA por vaca fue menor (p = 0,007) para vacas suplementadas con M12 en comparación con AB. Considerando solo las vacas que desarrollaron eventos SARA, M12 tendió (p = 0,068) a reducir el número de eventos de SARA y su duración en comparación con aquellas vacas suplementadas con AB. La producción y composición de la leche fueron similares entre ambos tampones ruminales en todos los períodos

Analysis of the readiness to buy cultural tourism online by means of latent variable models

The offer of tourism products online has increased considerably in recent years. The degree of acceptance of this new form of purchasing tourism products and services on the demand side is influenced by variables of different nature. While today's tourists routinely use online consultation for any particular destination, online booking is not as common as might have been expected, and actually purchasing online is decidedly uncommon. The aim of this study was to determine which aspects most affect the readiness to buy tourism products online. To this end, the data from a survey were used as input to different latent models with errors of measurement to segment demand in terms of attitude towards online purchases of tourism products and services

Inclusion of Secale cereale and Pentosanases in the Ration of Laying Hens: Exploring its Effect on Egg Production and Concentrate Intake and Searching the Optimal Combination in a Diet

Background and Objective: Antinutritional factors are usually found in cereals, these correspond to molecular complexes structured by carbohydrates present in the grains, which increase the viscosity of the food bolus, resulting in diminished organic matter digestibility, food intake and egg production. These polymers are known as soluble non-starch polysaccharides (NSPs). The objective of this experiment was to assess the effect of incorporating Secale cereale (SEc) and pentosanases (EEp) in the diets of laying hens (Lohmann LSL hybrid) on their egg production (EP) and concentrate consumption (CC), optimal combination between the main factors was estimated for EP and CC. Materials and Methods: The trial was carried out on a commercial egg-producing poultry farm (Valparaíso Region, Chile). A completely randomized experimental design was used, with a 4×5 factorial arrangement of two factors (four levels for SEc and five levels for EEp). Ten repetitions were used per treatment, where each experimental unit corresponded to one cage with five hens. A contour curvature analysis was carried out to determine the optimal level of inclusion of SEc with EEp. The experimental period lasted 84 days. Results: There was an interaction effect of SEc and EEp on EP and CC. The optimum level of inclusion for EP was 200 g kg–1 SEc and 1 g kg–1 EEp, with average production of 396 units, for CC, the optimum value observed corresponded to 200 g kg–1 SEc with 0.5 g kg–1 EEp (47.56 kg). The lowest EP and CC responses, regardless of the EEp level in the diet, was observed with the inclusion of 600 g kg–1 SEc. The contour area curvature analysis for EP gave a high response curve zone between 130-390 g kg–1 SEc and 0.38-1.57 g kg–1 EEp, the highest response levels for CC were 120-350 g kg–1 SEc and 0.43-1.75 g kg–1 EEp. Conclusion: In this research it was possible to establish that high level of SEc inclusion in the diet affects negatively eggs production and concentrate intake. However, when pentosanases are included in the diet improve these variables. These results suggest possible antinutritional factors of SEc that could have caused negative effects on the hens' physiological response

Regional differences in nitrogen balance and nitrogen use efficiency in the rice–livestock system of Uruguay

The reintegration of crops with livestock systems is proposed as a way of improving the environmental impacts of food production globally, particularly the impact involving nitrogen (N). A detailed understanding of processes governing N fluxes and budgets is needed to design productive and efficient crop–livestock systems. This study aimed to investigate regional differences in N balance (NBAL, defined as all N inputs minus outputs), N use efficiency (NUE, defined as N outputs/inputs × 100), and N surplus (NSURP, defined as all N inputs minus only outputs in food products) in the rice–livestock system of Uruguay. Three regions across Uruguay are distinguished based on soil fertility and length of pasture rotation. The northern region has high soil fertility and short length of rotation (HFSR); the central region has medium soil fertility and medium length of rotation (MFMR); the eastern region has low fertility and long pasture rotation (LFLR). Results for the last 18 years show a very high NUE (90%) for the rice component in all rotations, associated with negative NBALs ranging from −35 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in HFSR to −3 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in LFLR. However, the livestock component, which overall had low animal productivity (<2 kg N ha−1 yr−1), had low NUE (<10%) but positive NBALs in all the rotations, sustaining N supply in the rice component. At the system level, NUE was high (60%) and NBAL was slightly positive in all rotations (from +2.8 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in HFSR to +8.5 kg N ha−1 yr−1 in LFLR). Because of a recent increase in the N fertilizer dose in rice, NSURP for the overall system was intermediate (40 kg N ha−1 yr−1) and should be monitored in the future. Efforts to improve the system's efficiency should focus on the livestock component

Hhttp://www.rinace.net/reice/numeros/arts/vol8num5/art2.pdf

Para que los procesos de mejora puedan desarrollarse efectivamente deben darse ciertas condiciones según ha puesto de manifiesto la investigación sobre eficacia y mejora de instituciones educativas. Ainscow y colaboradores han identificado seis condiciones institucionales para la mejora. Se trata de procesos que suelen estar presentes antes y durante el desarrollo de los esfuerzos de mejora. Para explorar la presencia o ausencia de dichos procesos aplicamos un cuestionario al profesorado de los 45 centros participantes en el Plan de Evaluación de Centros Docentes de Canarias que incluía la escala de Ainscow y col. (2001), así como una ficha de recogida de información sobre los planes de mejora. Los centros presentan situaciones muy diversas respecto a las condiciones para la mejora pero hubo centros en los que estaban presentes todas las condiciones. La coordinación docente, y la formulación de preguntas y reflexión fueron las condiciones más presentes en los centros según el profesorado mientras que la participación y la formación permanente fueron las condiciones menos frecuentes. Además, el liderazgo pedagógico, condición clave, la reúnen aquellos centros con cuatro o más condiciones para la mejora. En conclusión, las seis condiciones institucionales para la mejora señaladas pueden considerarse parte del inventario de procesos que intervienen en la mejora de instituciones educativas aunque algunas parezcan estar más presentes que otras en los centros analizado