Effects of dietary calcium and phosphorus regimen on growth performance, bone strength and carcass quality and yield of large white tom turkeys

An experiment was conducted to estimate the calcium (Ca) and nonphytate phosphorus (npP) levels needed for toms in the starter (ST) (3-9 wk of age) and the grower/finisher (G/F) (9-15/15-17 wk of age) periods to support growth performance, bone breaking strength and carcass parameters. After 3 wk of group brooding, poults (B.U.T.) were divided into treatment (trt) pens and fed pellets containing Ca and npP at approximately NRC requirements (3 wk interval basis) or at typical industry (IND) levels (breeder recommendations). At 9 wk of age, birds from each ST trt were fed either a low npP (75% of NRC requirement) diet, the NRC recommended level, or an IND level of npP (Ca:npP=2:1 for all trts) until marketed at 17 wk of age. The birds were weighed every 3 wks and at 17 wk of age. Feed intake was estimated by feed disappearance to calculate feed efficiency. There were 15 pens of 31 birds/pen for each trt in the ST period and 5 pens for each of the 6 trt combinations during the G/F period. Three toms/pen were selected at 15 and 17 wk for bone and component yield measurements. All birds from 3 pens/trt were judged for a walking score (range 1-5, 5 best) during the 17th wk. There was no difference in body weight or feed intake in the ST period. Body weight was decreased when the NRC ST-low npP G/F trt was fed relative to the products in this experiment, especially, for FTM. There was an average moisture reduction of 2.4% for both PBMs and FTMs used in this experiment

Evolution of flower morphology and a natural re-arrangement of Calyceraceae

Calyceraceae is a small South American family sister to Asteraceae. Previous phylogenetic analyses revealed that Calyceraceae genera are para- or polyphyletic. Fruit and inflorescence characters used historically as diagnostic in Calyceraceae taxonomy have proven unreliable in defining natural groups. Surprisingly, flower morphology does not appear in diagnoses of Calyceraceae genera, and its diversity and evolution has remained unstudied before now. Based on phylogenetic analyses using six molecular markers and an almost complete sampling of the family (43 of 46 species), we propose a taxonomic re-arrangement of Calyceraceae. In the search for diagnostic morphological characters, we studied flower structure diversity and optimized 12 discrete characters by maximum parsimony and maximum likelihood to reconstruct floral evolution in the family. Calyceraceae species are arranged in eight genera (three monotypic, five with 6 to 13 species). Two genera are new (Anachoretes, Asynthema), one is reinstated (Leucocera), with the remaining five emended (Acicarpha, Boopis, Calycera, Gamocarpha, Moschopsis). Flower morphology is notably diverse but provides only a few diagnostic features. Many floral attributes likely reflect selection for pollination or fruit dispersal rather than phylogenetic affinity. In the context of this taxonomic revision, we include a key to genera, new and emended diagnoses, and new combinations.Fil: Pozner, Raúl Ernesto. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion; ArgentinaFil: Johnson, Leigh. University Brigham Young; Estados UnidosFil: Denham, Silvia Suyai. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion. Academia Nacional de Ciencias Exactas, Físicas y Naturales. Instituto de Botánica Darwinion; Argentina. Universidad Nacional de La Plata. Facultad de Ciencias Naturales y Museo; Argentin