Assessment of progesterone profiles and postpartum onset of luteal activity in spring calving Hereford beef suckler cattle

BACKGROUND: Reproduction is the single greatest factor limiting beef cattle production. Previous research on beef suckler luteal activity has largely focused on the mechanisms, and duration, of postpartum anoestrus. However, the temporal pattern of luteal activity after resumption of post-partum ovarian activity, and the impact of pattern type on days open (DO) in purebred beef suckler cows, are unknown. METHODS: Progesterone concentration was measured in milk samples taken thrice weekly from 120 lactations, in 87 animals, on 3 farms, over two years. Onset of luteal activity (OLA) was defined as the first day milk progesterone concentration exceeded 3 ng/ml for two successive measurements, or exceeded 5 ng/ml once. It was defined as delayed if it occurred more than 61 days postpartum. A short initial luteal phase consisted of progesterone concentrations which exceeded 3 ng/ml for fewer than 4 sequential measurements. Temporal progesterone patterns were classified as: 1) Normal cyclicity; 2) Cessation of luteal activity; 3) Prolonged luteal activity; 4) Erratic phase: failure to conform to 1, 2 or 3. Data concerning parity, previous calving interval, breeding values, calf birth and 200-d weight were obtained from the Norwegian Beef Cattle Recording System database. RESULTS: The mean (SD) OLA was 41 d (20). Parity and calf birth weight were inversely correlated with OLA. Delayed OLA occurred in 14.4% of lactations. A short first luteal phase occurred in 61.5% of lactations, but this was unrelated to irregular luteal phase occurrence, pregnancy or DO. Irregular luteal phases occurred in 22% of lactations. The irregularities were: prolonged luteal phase (11%); cessation of luteal activity (5%); erratic luteal activity (6%). Early OLA was associated with prolonged luteal phases. DO was positively correlated with irregular luteal phases and negatively correlated with calf 200-d weight. CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrates that irregular luteal phases negatively affect reproductive performance in purebred beef suckler cattle. A moderate incidence of irregular luteal phases was seen in the study population. Whilst a positive relationship was seen between OLA and DO, unfavourable associations between early OLA and incidence of irregular luteal phases should be considered when developing breeding programmes

Impact of two myostatin (MSTN) mutations on weight gain and lamb carcass classification in Norwegian White Sheep (Ovis aries)

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Our aim was to estimate the effect of two <it>myostatin </it>(<it>MSTN</it>) mutations in Norwegian White Sheep, one of which is close to fixation in the Texel breed.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The impact of two known <it>MSTN </it>mutations was examined in a field experiment with Norwegian White Sheep. The joint effect of the two <it>MSTN </it>mutations on live weight gain and weaning weight was studied on 644 lambs. Carcass weight gain from birth to slaughter, carcass weight, carcass conformation and carcass fat classes were calculated in a subset of 508 lambs. All analyses were carried out with a univariate linear animal model.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The most significant impact of both mutations was on conformation and fat classes. The largest difference between the genotype groups was between the wild type for both mutations and the homozygotes for the c.960delG mutation. Compared to the wild types, these mutants obtained a conformation score 5.1 classes higher and a fat score 3.0 classes lower, both on a 15-point scale.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Both mutations reduced fatness and increased muscle mass, although the effect of the frameshift mutation (c.960delG) was more important as compared to the 3'-UTR mutation (c.2360G>A). Lambs homozygous for the c.960delG mutation grew more slowly than those with other <it>MSTN </it>genotypes, but had the least fat and the largest muscle mass. Only c.960delG showed dominance effects.</p

The impact of a minimal smoking cessation intervention for pregnant women and their partners on perinatal smoking behaviour in primary health care: A real-life controlled study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>There is a demand for strategies to promote smoking cessation in high-risk populations like smoking pregnant women and their partners. The objectives of this study were to investigate parental smoking behaviour during pregnancy after introduction of a prenatal, structured, multi-disciplinary smoking cessation programme in primary care, and to compare smoking behaviour among pregnant women in the city of Trondheim with Bergen and Norway.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Sequential birth cohorts were established to evaluate the intervention programme from September 2000 to December 2004 in primary care as a part of the Prevention of Allergy among Children in Trondheim study (PACT). The primary outcome variables were self reported smoking behaviour at inclusion and six weeks postnatal. Data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway (MBR) were used to describe smoking cessation during pregnancy in Trondheim, Bergen and Norway 1999–2004.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Maternal smoking prevalence at inclusion during pregnancy were 5% (CI 95% 4–6) in the intervention cohort compared to 7% (CI 95% 6–9), p = 0.03, in the control cohort. Of the pre-pregnancy maternal smokers 25% (CI 95% 20–31) and 32% (CI 95% 26–38), p = 0.17, were still smoking at inclusion in the intervention and control cohorts, respectively. Six weeks postnatal 72% (CI 95% 59–83) and 68% (CI 95% 57–77), p = 0.34 of the maternal smokers at inclusion still smoked. No significant difference in paternal smoking between the cohorts was found after the intervention period. Data from the MBR showed a significantly higher proportion of women who stopped smoking during pregnancy in Trondheim than in Bergen in 2003 and 2004, p = 0.03 and < 0.001, respectively.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>No impact on parental smoking behaviour between the cohorts was observed after the smoking intervention programme. Of the women who stopped smoking during pregnancy most of them stopped smoking before the intervention. However, we observed a significantly higher quitting rate in Trondheim than in Bergen in 2003 and 2004 which may have been facilitated by the supplemental attention on smoking behaviour the PACT study initiated.</p

Claw and limb disorders in 12 Norwegian beef-cow herds

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The main aim of the study was to assess the prevalence of claw and limb disorders in Norwegian beef-cow herds.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Twenty-six herds with ≥15 cow-years were selected by computerized systematic assignment from the three most beef cattle-dense regions of Norway. The study population consisted of 12 herds with 28 heifers and 334 cows. The animals were trimmed and examined once by claw trimmers during the late winter and spring of 2003. The seven claw trimmers had been taught diagnosing and recording of claw lesions. Environment, feeding and management routines, age and breed, culling and carcass characteristics were also recorded.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Lameness was recorded in 1.1% of the animals, and only in hind claws. Pericarpal swellings were recorded in one animal and peritarsal lesions in none. In total, claw and limb disorders including lameness were recorded in 29.6% of the animals, 4.1% with front and 28.2% with hind limb disorders, respectively. Most lesions were mild. Laminitis-related claw lesions were recorded in 18.0% of the animals and infectious lesions in 16.6%. The average claw length was 84 mm in front claws and 89 mm in hind claw. Both laminitis-related and infectious claw lesions were more prevalent with increasing age. Carcasses from animals with claw and limb disorders were on average 34 kg heavier than carcasses from animals without such disorders (p = 0.02). Our results also indicate association between some management factors and claw lesions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The study shows that the prevalence of lameness was low in 12 Norwegian beef-cow herds compared to beef-cattle herds in other countries and also that there were less claw and limb disorders in these herds compared to foreign dairy-cattle herds. The prevalence of lameness and white-line fissures was approximately the same as in Norwegian dairy herds whereas less dermatitis, heel-horn erosions, haemorrhages of the sole and the white line and sole ulcers were recorded.</p

Telepolitikk i Europa

Denne rapporten består av to deler. Den første delen er skrevet av professor Kåre P. Hagen ved Norges Handelshøyskole. Hagen viser at et av de viktigste dilemmaene man står overfor i telepolitikken er hensynet til på kort sikt å legge til rette for en effektiv utnytting av eksisterende infrastruktur og overføringskapasitet i telenettet, og på lengre sikt å gi insentiver til en optimal teknologi- og tjenesteutvikling. Disse to hensynene kan ikke ivaretas uavhengig av hverandre, slik at en optimal politikk vil måtte baseres på en avveining. I rapporten drøftes effektivitet både i statisk og dynamisk sammenheng og forholdet mellom prisregulering og priskonkurranse på kort sikt og insentiver til teknologiutvikling og innovasjonskonkurranse på lengre sikt. Den andre delen er en komparativ analyse av telepolitikken i et utvalg europeiske land, utført av ECON. Et spørsmål som stilles er om Norge har en strengere reguleringspraksis enn andre land, i den forstand at en prioriterer konkurranse på kort sikt på bekostning av langsiktig teknologi- og tjenesteutvikling. På generelt grunnlag er det vanskelig å si at Norge har strengere regulering enn mange andre land i EU. ECON-rapporten viser imidlertid at Norge har vektlagt statisk konkurranse i større grad enn det som er vanlig i de andre landene, noe som indikerer en sterkere grad av ”strenghet” enn de andre landene

Comparison of flock characteristics, journey duration and pathology between flocks with a normal and a high percentage of broilers 'dead-on-arrival' at abattoirs

acceptedVersio

Økologisk selvrekrutterende storfekjøttproduksjon − kort innføring

I økologisk landbruk er det et mål at drifta skal basere seg mest mulig på gårdens egne, lokale og fornybare ressurser. Fôret dyrkes uten lettløselig kunstgjødsel og kjemiske sprøytemidler. I husdyrholdet skal det legges stor vekt på god dyrevelferd gjennom rett fôring, forebyggende helsearbeid og mulighet til å utføre naturlig atferd. Selvrekrutterende storfekjøttproduksjon bygger tradis¬jonelt på lokale ressurser som ulike typer beite, surfôr og høy. Kravet til konsentrerte fôrmidler er fleksibelt, avhengig av ønsket driftsopplegg på den enkelte gård. Selvrekrutterende storfekjøttproduksjon er derfor en husdyrproduksjon som er velegnet til økologisk drift. Det er også en mulighet til å få inn husdyr på husdyr¬løse bruk, slik at husdyrgjødsla kan nyttes til økologisk planteproduksjon for salg, og eng kan inngå som en del av vekstskiftet. Reglene for økologisk husdyrhold omfatter innførsel av dyr, reproduksjon, fôr og fôring, forebygging og behandling av sjukdom, krav til uteareal og husdyrrom og transport av dyr.publishedVersio

Effektvurdering av store statlige investeringsprosjekter: Impact evaluation of large governmental investments

Denne rapporten beskriver eksisterende metoder og praksis for effektvurdering av offentlige prosjekter, med hovedvekt på metoder for evaluering i ettertid (ex post-effektvurderinger). Basert på gjennomgangen av eksisterende metoder og praksis presenteres et forslag til metodikk for ex post-evaluering av store offentlige investeringsprosjekter i Norge. Fokus er rettet mot prosjektenes samfunnsmessige effekter, dvs. det som betegnes som prosjektenes eksterne effektivitet. Dette i motsetning til en vurdering av hvorvidt resursene i selve prosjektet er brukt effektivt (intern effektivitet). Den anbefalte metoden illustreres med eksempler på mulig bruk i evaluering av ulike typer prosjekte