Use of early conception factor test for determining pregnancy and embryonic mortality status of dairy cows

The aim of this study was to evaluate the accuracy of the ECF test for detecting the pregnancy status and embryonic mortality and to compare the reliability of ECF test from among ultrasonography and serum progesterone level. In this study, two groups were designed: the study group (n = 15) and control group (n = 9). All cows were observed for estrus activity four times daily. Cows in the study group were inseminated. After insemination, at the 7, 20, 30 and 45th days ECF test and ultrasonographic examination were applied to check the pregnancy status. Cows in the control group were not inseminated and examination procedure was performed like in the study group. Twenty days after insemination, pregnant positive cows that had been determined by ultrasonography were designated the study group. Twenty days after insemination, ECF test were applied and progesterone levels were determined in the serum samples obtained from pregnant positive cows. Fifteen cows in the study group were checked 20 days after insemination and determined pregnant. Their pregnancy status was confirmed 20 days after insemination by using ultrasonography. In the 30 th and 45th days ultrasonography was repeated, after which 13 cows were determined pregnant. In the serum of these two cows progesterone levels fell under 2 ng/ml. However, in the 20th day these cows' progesterone levels was higher than 2 ng/ml, in two cows embryonic death occurred. In cows which were determined as pregnant by ultrasonography at the 20th day, the ECF test was applied at the 7th day and 10 cows from this group had a positive reaction (66.7%). Test specificity, PPV and NPV results were 44.4%, 66.7% and 44.4% respectively; at the 20th day the ECF test was positive for 9 cows (60%), specificity, PPV and NPV results were 33.3%, 60.0% and 33.3%; at the 30th day, the ECF test was positive for 12 cows (92.3%), test specificity, PPV and NPV results were 45.5%, 66.7% and 83.3%; at the 45th day, 10 cows (76.9%), test specificity, PPV and NPV results were 54.5%, 66.7% and 66.7% respectively. Between the study groups, the ECF test accuracy at the 7th and 20th days were found lower than at the other days. The test's accuracy was determined the highest at the 30th day (70.8%), and the lowest at the 20th day (50%). The results show that ECF test is an unreliable method for pregnancy diagnosis and for determining embryonic death in dairy cows and these data indicate that the current ECF test cannot accurately identify the nonpregnant cows

Efeito da linhagem e do nível de lisina da dieta sobre a qualidade da carne do peito de frangos de corte Effect of strain and dietary lysine level on breast meat quality of broiler chickens

O experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da linhagem e do nível de lisina da dieta sobre o rendimento e a qualidade da carne de peito de frangos de corte. Foram utilizados 2250 pintos não sexados, de três linhagens comerciais, identificadas como A, B e C, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 3x3 (linhagens e níveis de lisina), com cinco repetições de 50 aves. As aves receberam ração à vontade, à base de milho e farelo de soja, suplementadas com 1,18; 1,24 e 1,30% de lisina nas rações pré-iniciais (1 a 7 dias); 1,10; 1,16 e 1,22% nas rações iniciais (7 a 21 dias); 1,0; 1,06 e 1,12% nas rações de crescimento (21 a 35 dias) e 0,85; 0,91 e 0,97% nas rações de terminação (35 a 42 dias). Foram avaliadas as características de rendimento de peito e carne de peito e as medidas de espessura, largura, comprimento, pH, perda de peso por cozimento e força de cisalhamento da carne de peito. Para o rendimento de peito não foram observadas diferenças significativas, enquanto para rendimento de carne de peito houve efeito significativo da linhagem, em que a linhagem A apresentou o maior rendimento e a linhagem B, o menor. Para as medidas físicas da carne do peito, foram encontradas diferenças significativas entre as linhagens para comprimento de peito, com a linhagem C apresentando o maior resultado. O pH da carne diferiu significativamente para linhagens e níveis de lisina. As linhagens tiveram efeito sobre o rendimento, comprimento e pH da carne de peito, em que a linhagem A apresentou maiores valores para rendimento e pH e a linhagem C para comprimento.<br>The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the effect of broiler strain and dietary lysine level on breast meat yield and quality. Two thousand two hundred and fifty day old straightrun chicks from commercial strains named A, B and C were reared in a factorial 3x3 arrangement (strain and dietary lysine level) with five replicates of 50 birds per pen. The broiler chikens were feed ad libitun with a corn and soybean diet withing the following lysine levels: 1.18, 1.24 and 1.30% in pre-starter diets (1-7 days); 1.10, 1.16 and 1.22% in starter diets (7-21 days); 1.00, 1.06 and 1.12 % in grower diets (21-35 days) and .85, .91 and .97% in finishing diets (35-42 days). Total breast yield, breast meat yield, pH, breast measures (high, width and lenght), weight cooking loss, and breast meat shear force were evaluated. There were no effect of strain and diet on breast yield. Related to breast meat yield, strain A presented higher values than strain B. Strain C presented the highest breast lenght. There were effects of lysine level only for pH. pH was affected by strain and dietary lisine level. It was concluded that lysine level affected only pH value. Strain affected breast meat yield, lenght and pH, where strain A showed the highest values for yield and pH and strain C for breast lenght

On-site and in situ remediation technologies applicable to petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated sites in the Antarctic and Arctic

Petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated sites, associated with the contemporary and legacy effects of human activities, remain a serious environmental problem in the Antarctic and Arctic. The management of contaminated sites in these regions is often confounded by the logistical, environmental, legislative and financial challenges associated with operating in polar environments. In response to the need for efficient and safe methods for managing contaminated sites, several technologies have been adapted for on-site or in situ application in these regions. This article reviews six technologies which are currently being adapted or developed for the remediation of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated sites in the Antarctic and Arctic. Bioremediation, landfarming, biopiles, phytoremediation, electrokinetic remediation and permeable reactive barriers are reviewed and discussed with respect to their advantages, limitations and potential for the long-term management of soil and groundwater contaminated with petroleum hydrocarbons in the Antarctic and Arctic. Although these technologies demonstrate potential for application in the Antarctic and Arctic, their effectiveness is dependent on site-specific factors including terrain, soil moisture and temperature, freeze–thaw processes and the indigenous microbial population. The importance of detailed site assessment prior to on-site or in situ implementation is emphasized, and it is argued that coupling of technologies represents one strategy for effective, long-term management of petroleum hydrocarbon contaminated sites in the Antarctic and Arctic