Nitrogen in global animal production and management options for improving nitrogen use efficiency

Animal production systems convert plant protein into animal protein. Depending on animal species, ration and management, between 5% and 45 % of the nitrogen (N) in plant protein is converted to and deposited in animal protein. The other 55%-95% is excreted via urine and feces, and can be used as nutrient source for plant (= often animal feed) production. The estimated global amount of N voided by animals ranges between 80 and 130 Tg N per year, and is as large as or larger than the global annual N fertilizer consumption. Cattle (60%), sheep (12%) and pigs (6%) have the largest share in animal manure N production. The conversion of plant N into animal N is on average more efficient in poultry and pork production than in dairy production, which is higher than in beef and sheep production. However, differences within a type of animal production system can be as large as differences between types of animal production systems, due to large effects of the genetic potential of animals, animal feed and management. The management of animals and animal feed, together with the genetic potential of the animals, are key factors to a high efficiency of conversion of plant protein into animal protein. The efficiency of the conversion of N from animal manure, following application to land, into plant protein ranges between 0 and 60%, while the estimated global mean is about 15%. The other 40%-100% is lost to the wider environment via NH3 volatilization, denitrification, leaching and run-off in pastures or during storage and/or following application of the animal manure to land. On a global scale, only 40%-50% of the amount of N voided is collected in barns, stables and paddocks, and only half of this amount is recycled to crop land. The N losses from animal manure collected in barns, stables and paddocks depend on the animal manure management system. Relative large losses occur in confined animal feeding operations, as these often lack the land base to utilize the N from animal manure effectively. Losses will be relatively low when all manure are collected rapidly in water-tight and covered basins, and when they are subsequently applied to the land in proper amounts and at the proper time, and using the proper method (low-emission techniques). There is opportunity for improving the N conversion in animal production systems by improving the genetic production potential of the herd, the composition of the animal feed, and the management of the animal manure. Coupling of crop and animal production systems, at least at a regional scale, is one way to high N use efficiency in the whole system. Clustering of confined animal production systems with other intensive agricultural production systems on the basis of concepts from industrial ecology with manure processing is another possible way to improve N use efficiency.     

Evaluation of the Inheritance of the Complex Vertebral Malformation Syndrome by Breeding Studies

To investigate the congenital complex vertebral malformation syndrome (CVM) in Holstein calves, two breeding studies were performed including 262 and 363 cows, respectively. Cows were selected from the Danish Cattle Database based on pedigree and insemination records. Selected cows were progeny of sires with an established heterozygous CVM genotype and pregnant after insemination with semen from another sire with heterozygous CVM genotype. Following calving the breeders should state, if the calf was normal and was requested to submit dead calves for necropsy. In both studies, significantly fewer CVM affected calves than expected were obtained; a finding probably reflecting extensive intrauterine mortality in CVM affected foetuses. The findings illustrate increased intrauterine mortality as a major potential bias in observational studies of inherited disorders.     

Annual cycles of apoptosis, DNA strand breaks, heat shock proteins, and metallothionen isoforms in dab (Limanda limanda): influences of natural factors and consequences for biological effect monitoring

The present study was undertaken to investigate the influence of natural and anthropogenic stressors on the induction of apoptosis, metallothionein (MT) isoforms, heat shock proteins and DNA strand breaks in the marine flatfish dab (Limbanda limanda) Seasonal changes and possible physiological influences were evaluated over a 1-year period at a fixed location northwest of Helgoland in the German Bight. These results were compared with data from sampling sites in the North Sea and the Baltic Sea. Annual cycles could be observed for all parameters except for Cd. The data revealed that changes in biomarker are not only linked to physiological processes related to reproduction but also to factors like water temperature changes, lipid content and zinc content. Cd and organochlorines had no influence on biomarkers whereas an influence of Cd on MT levels revealed in the regional observations was possibly masked by the major changes in Zn content during the annual cycle. Due to different abiotic factors we supposed that the annual cycles at each sampling site in the North and the Baltic Sea might be shifted temporally and therefore measurements at different locations during a small time window of a few weeks may lead to misinterpretation in biomarker research.     

Oestrone Sulphate Measurements for the Prediction of Small or Large Litters in Pigs

Serum from 88 pregnant sows and gilts was sampled 24 and 28 days after their first insemination or mating day. The oestrone sulphate (E1S) concentration in the samples was assessed with a commercially available radioimmunoassay kit modified for use with swine serum. The first aim was to test whether it was possible to predict litters of total number <10 piglets at term. The second aim was to compare the use of day 24 or day 28 samples, or of both, in this prediction.     

Physiological indicators of nutrient deficiency in phytoplankton in southern Chilean lakes

We assessed the nutrient status of phytoplankton in 28 lakes in southern Chile using two types of physiological indicators: specific alkaline phosphatase activity, and the elemental composition (carbon, nitrogen, and phosphorus) of seston. Alkaline phosphatase activity ranged from 0.001 to 0.11 mol P g chl^–1 h^–1, with P-deficiency indicated in about one-half the study lakes. C:N ranged from 3.9 to 24, C:P ranged from 86 to 919, and N:P ranged from 8.7 to 99. C:P and N:P ratios greater than the Redfield ratio were common, suggesting P deficiency in many of the lakes. C:N ratios were not generally indicative of N deficiency. Previous studies have suggested N may be the primary limiting nutrient in southern Chilean lakes, but our results indicate that P should not be discounted as a limiting nutrient.     

Peroxidase-dependent cross-linking reactions of p-hydroxycinnamates in plant cell walls

Peroxidases are heavily implicated in plant cell wall cross-linking reactions, altering the properties of the wall and impacting its utilization. Polysaccharide-polysaccharide cross-linking in grasses is achieved by dehydrodimerization of hydroxycinnamate-polysaccharide esters; a complex array of hydroxycinnamic acid dehydrodimers are released by saponification. Ferulates are the major cross-linking agents, but sinapate-ferulate cross-products have been discovered implicating sinapates in a similar role. New dehydrodimers have been authenticated, expanding our knowledge of the chemistry, role, and extent of cross-linking reactions. Ferulate dehydrotrimers have been discovered; whether these trimers truly cross-link three independent polysaccharide chains or only two remains to be determined. Hydroxycinnamates and their dehydrodimers also undergo radical coupling reactions with lignin monomers and possibly oligomers, resulting in lignin-polysaccharide cross-linking in the wall. Both polysaccharide-polysaccharide and lignin-polysaccharide cross-links inhibit the enzymatic hydrolysis of cell walls. The cross-linking process has particular relevance to plant physiology, human and animal nutrition and health, and food technology. Abbreviations: CW – cell wall; DFA – dehydrodiferulic acid (or dehydrodiferulate in context); DSA – dehydrodisinapic acid; TFA – dehydrotriferulic acid; SA – sinapic acid (1 S); TA – thomasidioic acid (5C3 SS); IDF – insoluble dietary fiber; SDF – soluble dietary fiber; GC-MS – gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; NMR – nuclear magnetic resonance (spectroscopy).     

Relationship between clinical signs and postmortem test status in cattle experimentally infected with the bovine spongiform encephalopathy agent

Background  

Various clinical protocols have been developed to aid in the clinical diagnosis of classical bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE), which is confirmed by postmortem examinations based on vacuolation and accumulation of disease-associated prion protein (PrP^d) in the brain. The present study investigated the occurrence and progression of sixty selected clinical signs and behaviour combinations in 513 experimentally exposed cattle subsequently categorised postmortem as confirmed or unconfirmed BSE cases. Appropriate undosed or saline inoculated controls were examined similarly and the data analysed to explore the possible occurrence of BSE-specific clinical expression in animals unconfirmed by postmortem examinations.     

Ageing is associated with a decline in peripheral blood CD56bright NK cells

Background  

Natural killer (NK) cells are cytotoxic lymphocytes that lack CD3 and express variable levels of CD16, CD56 and CD57. In recent years NK cells have been categorised into two major groups based on the level of CD56 expression. This phenotypic classification correlates with functional activity as CD56^bright NK cells are the major cytokine producing subset whereas CD56^dim NK cells exhibit greater cytotoxic activity. Previous studies have revealed a reduction in total NK cell numbers in association with ageing and this study sought to determine the potential influence of ageing on the number of NK cell subsets within peripheral blood.     

Rapid determination of trans-fatty acids in human adipose tissue: Comparison of attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy and gas chromatography

A rapid attenuated total reflection (ATR) infrared (IR) spectroscopy procedure was used for quantitating the levels of total trans-fatty acid methyl ester (FAME) derivatives in neat (without solvent) test samples isolated from human adipose tissue. This procedure requires no weighing of the laboratory sample. The single-beam spectrum of the trans-containing FAMEs was ‘ratioed' against that of a reference material having only cis double bonds in order to obtain a symmetric absorption band at 966 cm⁻¹ on a horizontal background. A single-reflection ATR diamond cell that requires only about 1 μl of neat FAMEs was used. The average level of trans-fatty acids in human adipose tissue found by ATR (3.07±0.27%) was generally higher than that obtained by gas chromatography (2.59±0.20%). Reasons for such a difference are discussed.