The future role of improved pastures for beef cattle

No Abstrac

Risk profiles and one-year outcomes of patients with newly diagnosed atrial fibrillation in India: Insights from the GARFIELD-AF Registry.

BACKGROUND: The Global Anticoagulant Registry in the FIELD-Atrial Fibrillation (GARFIELD-AF) is an ongoing prospective noninterventional registry, which is providing important information on the baseline characteristics, treatment patterns, and 1-year outcomes in patients with newly diagnosed non-valvular atrial fibrillation (NVAF). This report describes data from Indian patients recruited in this registry. METHODS AND RESULTS: A total of 52,014 patients with newly diagnosed AF were enrolled globally; of these, 1388 patients were recruited from 26 sites within India (2012-2016). In India, the mean age was 65.8 years at diagnosis of NVAF. Hypertension was the most prevalent risk factor for AF, present in 68.5% of patients from India and in 76.3% of patients globally (P < 0.001). Diabetes and coronary artery disease (CAD) were prevalent in 36.2% and 28.1% of patients as compared with global prevalence of 22.2% and 21.6%, respectively (P < 0.001 for both). Antiplatelet therapy was the most common antithrombotic treatment in India. With increasing stroke risk, however, patients were more likely to receive oral anticoagulant therapy [mainly vitamin K antagonist (VKA)], but average international normalized ratio (INR) was lower among Indian patients [median INR value 1.6 (interquartile range {IQR}: 1.3-2.3) versus 2.3 (IQR 1.8-2.8) (P < 0.001)]. Compared with other countries, patients from India had markedly higher rates of all-cause mortality [7.68 per 100 person-years (95% confidence interval 6.32-9.35) vs 4.34 (4.16-4.53), P < 0.0001], while rates of stroke/systemic embolism and major bleeding were lower after 1 year of follow-up. CONCLUSION: Compared to previously published registries from India, the GARFIELD-AF registry describes clinical profiles and outcomes in Indian patients with AF of a different etiology. The registry data show that compared to the rest of the world, Indian AF patients are younger in age and have more diabetes and CAD. Patients with a higher stroke risk are more likely to receive anticoagulation therapy with VKA but are underdosed compared with the global average in the GARFIELD-AF. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION-URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01090362

Notes on the performance of Acroceras macrum Stapf. cv. Cedara select in Natal.

An indication is given of the potential of Acroceras macrum (Nile grass) cv. Cedara select as a pasture grass in Natal. The results of several experiments in which the performance of this grass, relative to that of other grasses which are commonly grown in Natal, are examined. Details are given of effective methods of establishment and management and of the performance of beef cattle weaners and yearlings when grazed on mono-specific Nile grass pasture.Keywords: acroceras macrum; beef cattle; cattle; cedara; establishment; grass; grasses; management; natal; nile grass; pasture; pasture grasses; performance; south afric

Notes on the performance of Coastcross 2 (K11) Bermudagrass in Natal.

An indication in given of the potential of Coastcross 2 Bermudagrass (K11) as a grazing grass in Natal. The results of several experiments have indicated that this grass has a high yield potential (26 tonnes dry matter per hectare) and an equally high grazing capacity (8 mature livestock units per hectare over 288 days) when grown under irrigation in the subtropical riverine and interior lowland of Natal.Keywords: bermudagrass; botany; dry matter; grasses; grazing; grazing capacity; irrigation; livestock; natal; performance; south africa; yiel

Techniques for fertilizing, oversowing and sod seeding veld.

The paper describes the techniques used to increase production from veld in the eastern high rainfall areas of South Africa by fertilizing (using mainly N and P) and oversowing with a selected grass species, and then fortifying with legumes. The improver grass is best oversown into fertilized veld in the second season. After the introduced grass has become established legumes can be sown in rows using a sod seeder or pasture seeding implement.A few examples are given of the production which was obtained.Keywords: botany; fertilization; grasses; legumes; oversowing; pasture; production; rainfall; seeding; sod seeding; south africa; technique; vel