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The southern corn rootworm, Diabrotica undecimpunctata howardi Barber, is native to the US where it is a pest of peanut, Arachis hypogaea. The banded cucumber beetle, Diabrotica balteata LeConte, is native to the neotropics, but its range has expanded and currently includes most of the US peanut production area. The purpose of this study was to: (i) define seasonal variation in adult rootworm populations in peanut fields, and (ii) determine the effect(s) of proximity to a putative early season host (i.e. corn, Zea mays) and the presence of irrigation on rootworm infestation and pod injury in peanut. Seasonal abundance of adult rootworms in commercial peanut fields in Georgia was monitored in 2021 and 2022 using plant volatile lures attached to yellow sticky traps. Traps were located at 45, 90, and 180 m from the field edge in irrigated and nonirrigated peanut fields with and without a corn border. Two peaks in abundance were observed for both species in each year. Though peak abundance for the two species occurred nearly simultaneously, D. balteata was more abundant than D. u. howardi. Beetle abundance was highest in fields bordered by corn, but presence of irrigation was not as important for D. balteata as it was for D. u. howardi. Pod injury was greater in fields bordered by corn in both years, but there was no difference in pod injury between irrigated and nonirrigated fields. The number of beetles captured and incidence of pod injury within a field did not differ with distance from the field border. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Oceanographic fronts are strong discontinuities in water mass properties and can result in differences in biota over short horizontal distances. The vertical structuring of epipelagic euphausiids was investigated across an ephemeral thermohaline front between Leeuwin Current Water (LCW) and Sub Tropical Surface Water (STSW) in the south-east Indian Ocean. Vertical ontogenetic layering was evident and euphausiid larvae were most abundant in the 0–50 m stratum in both water masses. Differences in assemblages between water masses were mostly driven by the numerical abundance of shared species; most species were in greater abundance in LCW. LCW was characterized by a uniform water column and no significant structuring of assemblages with depth. Structuring was, however, evident in STSW and analyses indicated this was a result of stratification of temperature, salinity and dissolved oxygen. Higher chlorophyll a concentrations and zooplankton settled volumes were evident in LCW, as well as the upper 100 m of STSW. Decreases in temperature and salinity were correlated with the variation in assemblages at >100 m depth in STSW. This is the first study to examine vertical structuring and environmental correlations of euphausiid life stages and assemblages across a thermohaline front in the south-east Indian Ocean. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of water-delivered, direct-fed microbials (DFM) or organic acids on intestinal morphology and active nutrient absorption in weanling pigs after deliberate Salmonella infection. Pigs (n = 88) were weaned at 19 ± 2 d of age and assigned to 1 of the following treatments, which were administered for 14 d: 1) control diet; 2) control diet + DFM {Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus licheniformis) in drinking water at 109 cfu/L for each strain of bacteria; 3) control diet + organic acid-based blend (predominantly propionic, acetic, and benzoic acids) in drinking water at 2.58 mL/L; and 4) control diet + 55 mg/kg carbadox. Pigs were challenged with 1010 cfu Salmonella entérica var Typhimurium 6 d after commencement of treatments. Pigs (n = 22/d) were harvested before Salmonella challenge and on d 2, 4, and 8 after challenge. Duodenal, jejunal, and ileal mucosal tissues were sampled for measurement of villus height and crypt depth. Jejunal tissue was sampled for determination of active nutrient absorption in modified Ussing chambers Duodenal villus height was greater in pigs fed in-feed antibiotic before infection (P < 0.05). Jejunal crypts were deeper in DFM- and acid-treated pigs on d 4 after infection compared with all other treatments (P < 0.05). Salmonella infection resulted in a linear decrease in phosphorus (P < 0.001) and glucose (P < 0.05) active transport, and an increase (P < 0.001) in glutamine uptake immediately after challenge. Salmonella infection reduced basal short-circuit current (Isc); however, water-delivered DFM or organic acid treatments caused greater basal Isc on d 2 after challenge than did carbadox. Carbachol-induced chloride ion secretion was greatest in negative control pigs before infection (P < 0.01) and DFM-treated pigs (P < 0.05) after infection. In conclusion, both the DFM and acidification treatments induced increases in basal active ion movement and jejunal crypt depth, which could be interpreted as responses consistent with increased Salmonella pathology, but none of the additives markedly affected intestinal absorptive and secretory function in response to Salmonella challenge. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Pigs (n = 88) weaned at 19 ± 2 d of age were used in a 14-d study to evaluate the effects of water-delivered direct-fed microbials (DFM) or organic acids on growth, immune status, Salmonella infection and shedding, and intestinal microbial populations after intranasal inoculation of Salmonella Typhimurium (1010 cfu/pig). Pigs were challenged with Salmonella 6 d after commencement of water treatments. Treatments were 1) control diet; 2) control diet + DFM (Enterococcus faecium, Bacillus subtilis, and Bacillus licheniformis) in drinking water at 109 cfu/L for each strain of bacteria; 3) control diet + an organic acid-based blend (predominantly propionic, acetic, and benzoic acid) in drinking water at 2.58 mL/L; and 4) control diet + 55 mg/kg of carbadox. Serum samples were taken on d 6, 8, 10, and 14 for determination of tumor necrosis factor α (TNFα) concentrations. Fecal samples were taken on d 0, 5, 7, and 11 for determination of Salmonella shedding and enumeration of coliforms. Pigs were euthanized on d 6, 8, 10, and 14. Intestinal and cecal tissue and digesta and mesenteric lymph nodes were sampled and analyzed for Salmonella. Duodenal, jejunal, and ileal mucosal scrapings were sampled for measurement of mucosal TNFα concentrations. Water delivery of DFM prevented a decline in ADG on d 2 to 6 postchallenge compared with the negative control (P < 0.05). Coliform counts tended to be greater (P = 0.09) in the cecum of the DFM treatment group on d 2 postinfection compared with the negative control and acid treatment groups. However, Salmonella prevalence in the feces, gastrointestinal tract, or lymph nodes was not affected by water delivery of acids or DFM. Serum and mucosal TNFα concentrations were not affected by treatment throughout the study with the exception of ileal concentrations on d 4 postchallenge, which were greater in the negative control group compared with all other treatments (P < 0.05). The in-feed antibiotic was the only treatment that reduced Salmonella prevalence and this was localized to the cecum on d 8 postinfection. In conclusion, the DFM and organic acid treatments used in this study offered little or no benefits to pigs infected with Salmonella and should not be considered under the constraints of this study as viable alternatives to in-feed antibiotics in a pathogen challenge situation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The main objective of the present investigation was to study the impact of fermentation of cereals on the degradation of polysaccharides and other macronutrients in the small intestine and total tract of growing pigs. Eight pigs (initial BW, 34.5 ± 0.9 kg) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design. Pigs were cannulated and housed individually in metabolism pens during sample collection. The 4 cereal-based diets were nonfermented liquid barley (NFLB), nonfermented liquid wheat (NFLW), fermented liquid barley (FLB), and fermented liquid wheat (FLW). The fermented feeds were prepared by storing the dietary cereals (barley and wheat) and water [1:2.75 (wt/wt)] in a closed tank at 25°C for 2 d, after which 50% of the volume was removed and replaced with an equal amount of fresh cereals and water after each afternoon meal. At the time of feeding (0730 and 1430 h), the remaining dietary ingredients were added. Water was added to the dry nonfermented feeds [1:1 (wt/wt)] immediately before feeding. The fermentation process reduced the amount of DM in both cereals (P < 0.001), whereas the amount of DM was similar (P = 0.626) between the fermented cereals. There was an interaction of cereal and treatment for ileal flow of DM (P = 0.014), OM (P = 0.013), and protein (P = 0.006), which were less in pigs fed the NFLB than the FLB diets, but unchanged in pigs fed the NFLW and FLW diets. Conversely, the ileal flow of protein was similar (P = 0.605) in pigs fed the barley diets (average, 47.5 ± 1.7 g/kg of DMI) and increased with the FLW diet compared with the NFLW diet (43 vs. 35 g/kg of DMI, respectively). Ileal fat and CH2O digestibilities were 7.6 (P = 0.002) and 8.9% (P < 0.001) greater, respectively, when pigs were fed wheat compared with the barley-based diets, and the ileal digestibility of CH2O was greater when pigs were fed the fermented than nonfermented diets (86.5 vs. 84.5%, respectively; P < 0.001). Fermentation reduced (P < 0.0001) the fecal excretion of DM, OM, and protein in pigs fed the barley diet, but not when fed the wheat-based diet (P = 0.305). Fermentation had no effect (P = 0.243) on the fecal digestibility of nonstarch polysaccharides in either of the cereals but their digestibility was 10.0% greater (P < 0.001) in pigs fed wheat than the barley-based diets. In conclusion, fermentation of cereal before feeding altered the dietary composition and influenced flow and composition of polysaccharides and other macronutrients at the ileum and in feces to a larger extent for barley than wheat. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Plasmodium falciparum entered into the Peruvian Amazon in 1994, sparking an epidemic between 1995 and 1998. Since 2000, there has been sustained low P. falciparum transmission. The Malaria Immunology and Genetics in the Amazon project has longitudinally followed members of the community of Zungarococha (N = 1,945, 4 villages) with active household and health center-based visits each year since 2003. We examined parasite population structure and traced the parasite genetic diversity temporally and spatially. We genotyped infections over 5 years (2003–2007) using 14 microsatellite (MS) markers scattered across ten different chromosomes. Despite low transmission, there was considerable genetic diversity, which we compared with other geographic regions. We detected 182 different haplotypes from 302 parasites in 217 infections. Structure v2.2 identified five clusters (subpopulations) of phylogenetically related clones. To consider genetic diversity on a more detailed level, we defined haplotype families (hapfams) by grouping haplotypes with three or less loci differences. We identified 34 different hapfams identified. The Fst statistic and heterozygosity analysis showed the five clusters were maintained in each village throughout this time. A minimum spanning network (MSN), stratified by the year of detection, showed that haplotypes within hapfams had allele differences and haplotypes within a cluster definition were more separated in the later years (2006–2007). We modeled hapfam detection and loss, accounting for sample size and stochastic fluctuations in frequencies overtime. Principle component analysis of genetic variation revealed patterns of genetic structure with time rather than village. The population structure, genetic diversity, appearance/disappearance of the different haplotypes from 2003 to 2007 provides a genome-wide “real-time” perspective of P. falciparum parasites in a low transmission region. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Forty-eight grower pigs were used to evaluate the effects of feeding low phytic acid (LPA) corn, LPA soybean meal, normal corn (NC), normal soybean meal (NSBM), and phytase on nutrient digestibility and excretion. Barrows were blocked by BW (initial BW = 45.3 ± 1.6 kg) and randomly assigned to 1 of 8 dietary treatments in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (6 pigs/treatment). Pigs were fed twice daily (0700 and 1700 h) at 3 times the ME requirement for maintenance. Phytase was added to the diet at 510 phytase units/kg of feed (where 1 phytase unit is the quantity of enzyme that liberates 1 ~imol of inorganic P/mm from 0.005 mol/L of sodium phytate at pH 5.5 and 37°C), at the expense of corn starch, and all diets were formulated to provide 0.39% total P, 0.50% Ca, and 1.0% lysine with no supplemental inorganic P. Pigs were adapted to metabolism crates and dietary treatments for 7 d, followed by a 3-d total collection of urine and feces. Total fecal DM excreted, percentage of DM of feces, and percentage of DM digested were not different (P > 0.53) among treatments. Fecal P excretion was reduced for pigs fed LPA corn vs. NC (2.85 vs. 3.24 ± 0.119 g/d; P = 0.024), for pigs fed LPA soybean meal vs. NSBM (2.79 vs. 3.30 + 0.119 g/d; P = 0.007), for pigs fed phytase vs. nonphytase diets (2.80 vs. 3.29 ± 0.119 g/d; P = 0.009), and for pigs fed LPA corn, LPA soybean meal, and phytase vs. NC and NSBM without phytase (2.16 vs. 3.70 ± 0.237 g/d; P < 0.001). Phosphorus digestibility was increased for pigs fed diets containing LPA corn vs. NC (48.4 vs. 39.9 + 2.27%; P = 0.012), for pigs fed phytase vs. nonphytase diets (48.4 vs. 39.9 ± 2.27%; P = 0.019), and for pigs fed the LPA corn, LPA soybean meal, and phytase diet vs. the NC and soybean meal diet (60.1 vs. 34.1 + 4.5%; P < 0.001) and tended to be increased for pigs fed LPA soybean meal vs. NSBM (47.2 vs. 41.1 ± 2.27%; P = 0.075). Corn type and soybean meal type had no effect (P> 0.11) on water-soluble P excretion. However, pigs fed diets containing phytase tended to excrete less total water-soluble P than those without phytase inclusion (1.99 vs. 2.27 + 0.099 g/d; P < 0.066). This study demonstrates that feeding any combination of LPA corn, LPA soybean meal, and phytase was additive, significantly improving P digestibility and dramatically decreasing P excretion to reduce the potential impacts of P from pig manure on the environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding a corn- and soybean meal- based diet (control) or a low nutrient excretion (LNE) diet, formulated with reduced dietary CP and additional synthetic AA, low phytic acid corn, and phytase, on pig growth performance during the grower (BW 32 to 77 kg) and finisher (BW = 78 to 126 kg) periods and on carcass and bone characteristics at slaughter. Pigs (32 + 1.3 kg of BW, Exp. 1; 6.7 ± 0.27 kg of BW, Exp. 2) were blocked by sex and BW and randomly allotted to a control or LNE diet. Pigs were housed in 4 rooms during the nursery period and in 2 rooms during the grower and finisher periods, with individual and identical ventilation systems. Pigs were phase fed 3 nursery diets for 5 wk (Exp. 2) and phase fed 2 grower and 2 finisher diets for 16 wk (Exp. 1 and 2). Pigs were housed 4 or 5 pigs/pen with 9 pens·sex-1 ·treatment-1 during the nursery period and 4 or 5 pigs/pen with 5 pens·sex-1 ·treatment-1 in the grower phase and 2 or 3 pigs/pen in the finisher phase. Individual BW and pen feed disappearance were recorded weekly in the nursery period and every 2 wk in the grower-finisher period. Pigs were scanned ultrasonically at d 34 of the nursery period and wk 8 and 16 of the grower-finisher period to determine backfat depths and LM area. Ten pigs~sex'~treatment' were slaughtered at wk 16 of each experiment to determine carcass characteristics. Overall growth performance was not different during each experiment. However, nursery G:F (control = 0.65; LNE = 0.60), grower ADG (Exp. 1 and 2), and grower G:F (Exp. 2) were reduced (P < 0.05) when the LNE diets were fed. Diet had no effect on 10th-rib carcass data in either experiment. Metatarsal bone ash percentage was reduced (P < 0.05) when the LNE diets were consumed in both experiments. Feeding LNE diets resulted in the maintenance of overall growth performailce, bone variables, and carcass characteristics. However, further refinements are still required in the nursery and grower phases of pig production to optimize LNE diet use by the swine industry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Two 5-wk experiments were conducted to determine the effects of water and diet acidification with and without antibiotics on weanling pig growth performance and microbial shedding. In Exp. 1, 204 pigs (19.2 d of age) were used in a 3 × 2 factorial, with 3 dietary treatments fed with or without water acidification (2.58 mL/L of a propionic acid blend; KEM SAN, Kemin Americas, Des Moines, IA). Dietary treatments were: 1) control, 2) control + 55 ppm of carbadox (CB), and 3) dietary acid IDA; control + 0.4% organic acid-based blend (fumaric, lactate, citric, propionic, and benzoic acids; Kemin Americas)] on d 0 to 7 followed by 0.2% inorganic acid-based blend (phosphoric, fumaric, lactic, and citric acids; Kemin Americas) on d 7 to 34. In Exp. 2, 210 pigs (average 18.3 d of age) were fed 1 of 3 dietary treatments: 1) control, 2) control + 55 ppm of CB, and 3) control + 38.6 ppm of tiamulin + 441 ppm of chlortetracycline on d 0 to 7 followed by 110 ppm of chlortetracycline on d 7 to 35 (TC) with or without dietary acidification (same as Exp. 1) in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. For both experiments, the pigs were allotted based on genetics, sex, and initial BW [5.5 kg (Exp. 1) or 5.6 kg (Exp. 2)]. Pigs were housed at 6 or 7 (Exp. 1) and 7 (Exp. 2) pigs/pen. Treatments were fed in 3 phases: d 0 to 7, 7 to 21, and 21 to 35 (34 d, Exp. 1). Fecal grab samples were collected from 3 pigs/pen on d 6, 20, and 33 for measurement of pH and Escherichia coli. During phase 3 and overall in Exp. 1, pigs fed CB had greater (P < 0.001) ADG (overall ADG, 389 vs. 348, and 348 g/d, respectively), ADFI (P < 0.007, 608 vs. 559, and 554 g/d, respectively), and d 34 BW (P < 0.001, 18.8 vs. 17.3, and 17.3 kg, respectively) than pigs fed NC and DA. Phase 3 ADG was improved (P < 0.01) by water acidification across all diets. In Exp. 2, pigs fed CB and TC had greater ADG (P < 0.004; 315 and 303 vs. 270 g/d, respectively), ADFI (P < 0.01), and d 35 BW (P < 0.002; 16.7 and 16.2 vs. 15.1 kg, respectively) than pigs fed NC. There was a tendency (P < 0.08) for an improvement in ADG when DA was added to the NC or TC, but decreased ADG when DA was added to CB. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Weanhing pigs with mean initial BW of 6.04 kg (Exp.1) and 5.65 kg (Exp. 2) and mean age at weaning of 18.2 d (Exp. 1) and 17.7 d (Exp. 2) were used in two 5-wk experiments (Exp. 1, n = 180; Exp. 2, n = 300) to evaluate the effects of an organic acid blend (Acid LAC, Kemin Americas Inc., Des Moines, IA) and an inorganic/organic acid blend (Kem-Gest, Kemin Americas Inc.) on weanling pig growth performance and microbial shedding. In Exp. 1, the 5 dietary treatments were 1) negative control, 2) diet 1 + 55 ppm carbadox, 3) diet 1 + 0.4% Acid LAC, 4) diet 1 + 0.2% Kem-Gest, 5) diet 1 + 0.4% Acid LAC and 0.2% Kem-Gest. In Exp. 2, the 6 dietary treatments were diets 1 through 4 cor- responding to Exp. 1, plus 5) sequence 1: 0.4% Acid LAC for 7 d followed by 0.2% Kem-Gest for 28 d, and 6) sequence 2: 0.2% Kem-Gest for 7 d followed by 0.4% Acid LAC for 28 d. Pigs were housed at 6 (Exp. 1) or 10 (Exp. 2) pigs/pen. Treatments were fed throughout the experiment in 3 phases: d 0 to 7, d 7 to 21, and d 21 to 35. In Exp. 1, there were no differences (P > 0.05) in AIDG, ADFI, or G:F among the dietary treatments at any time during the study. In Exp. 2, throughout the study, pigs fed carbadox (diet 2) and sequence 1 (diet 5) diets had the greatest AIJG (d 0 to 35; 262, 294, 257, 257, 292, and 261 g/d, diets 1 through 6, respectively; P < 0.05), greater AIDFI than all other acid treatments (P < 0.05), and tended to have greater ADFI than diet 1 (P < 0.10). Fecal pH, Escherichia coli concentrations, and Salmonella presence were determined at d 6, 20, and 34 for Exp. 1, and on d 32 for Exp. 2. For both experiments, there was no effect of treatment on the presence of fecal Salmonella (P > 0.10) at any sampling time. In Exp. 1, fecal E. coli concentrations for pigs fed the carbadox (P < 0.05) diet were greater than for pigs fed the combination diet with 0.4% Acid LAC and 0.2% Kem-Gest on d 34, and the pigs fed the negative control diet tended (P < 0.10) to have greater fecal E. coli concentrations than those fed the combination diet on d 34. In Exp. 2, fecal pH of pigs fed sequence 1 tended to be greater than fecal pH of pigs fed diet 1, diet 4, or sequence 2 (P < 0.10), but there was no dietary effect on fecal E. coli. In Exp. 1, growth performance of pigs fed the Acid LAC and Kem-Gest diets was similar to each other and to that of the carbadox-fed pigs. Adding the combination of 0.4% Acid LAC and 0.2% Kern-Gest to nursery pig diets reduced ADFI and pig growth rate. In Exp. 2, pigs fed the acid sequence of Acid LAC-Kern-Gest had similar growth performance to pigs fed carbadox, and this novel dietary acid sequence may have merit as a replacement for antibiotics in the nursery phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A survey has been carried out in Leeds, England, in the west Yorkshire industrial heartland, and in neighboring York, surrounded by agriculture, of melanic frequency in the moth species Biston betularia, Odontoptera bidentata, and Apamea crenata. All show a decline in melanics in the postindustrial environment, the first over almost the full range from nearly 100% to less that 10%, the others to smaller extents. Changes in several species over as great a magnitude and as wide an area must result from selection. The results are compared with others along a transect through northern England. The onset of response is progressively later from west to east. The rate of decline is lower at the extremes of the transect to west and east than it is in the center. We still do not have a clear picture of the causes of the changes. One major factor is likely to be selective predation, which is shown to be critically dependent on predation rate. As a consequence, differences in settling behavior between the species could account for different responses even if the species are attacked by the same predators. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a study on the implication of screening for abdominal aortic aneurysms on surgical workload. Consideration of the vascular surgeon for elective surgery; Rate of screening dictates the surgical workload generated; Determination of the intensive care costs and theater time.

Background: The Portsmouth Physiological and Operative Severity Score for enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity (P-POSSUM) equation permits comparative audit that allows for differences in case mix. The methodology has previously been shown accurately to model general surgical and vascular surgical patients. Patients with a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are, however, very different from elective patients and it may be hypothesized that they require their own specific risk model. Methods: POSSUM data on 444 (213 emergency, 231 elective) admissions for AAA surgery between August 1993 and July 2000 were analysed using the P-POSSUM equation for general surgery and the P-POSSUM equations developed for vascular surgery. Results: All equations successfully modelled the elective aneurysms but failed to fit the emergency aneurysms, and the elective and emergency aneurysms combined. This suggested that admission method (not a POSSUM data item) is an important factor for patients with AAA. However, with these data it was not possible to generate a model, including admission method, that successfully modelled the combined elective and emergency data. The 213 emergency aneurysm repairs were divided into two groups by operation date. The first 106 (training set) were used to form logistic regression models following the P-POSSUM methodology. These models were found successfully to fit the remaining 107 records (test set) on prospective application (χ2 = 4·50, 4 d.f., P = 0·345). Conclusion: Ruptured AAAs appear to be different from elective AAAs and other vascular cases and require their own risk model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Discusses the abstract of a study demonstrating the success of subintimal angioplasty for leg ischemia. Patient characteristics; Correlation of success rate and length of occlusion; Mortality.

Discusses the abstract of a study analyzing the applicability of the Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity (POSSUM) for abdominal aortic aneurysm surgery (AAA). Importance of admission method in emergency AAA; Failure of model to fit into emergency admissions.

Discusses the abstract of a study of a comparative audit of carotid endarterectomy (CEA) of the Physiological and Operative Severity Score for the enUmeration of Mortality and morbidity (P-POSSUM) and V-POSSUM for vascular surgery model for predicting death. Unsuitability of P-POSSUM and V-POSSUM for the comparative audit of CEA.

Presents the summary of a research on the potential impacts of diet modification to reduce odor production from swine manure. Information about the production of odorous compounds; Data analysis; Results.

The article presents an obituary for toxicologist James Hervi Sterner.

Several effective methods exist for the control of malignant pleural effusion: the most effective is iodized talc poudrage, but the relatively short survival times associated with malignant effusions from bronchogenic carcinomas make less elaborate methods more appropriate. 70-80% of malignant effusions can be controlled by intrapleural instillation of Mustine or the antimalarial drug quinactine. Preliminary removal of as much fluid as possible is an important contributory factor to success. Radioactive colloidal gold is obsolete in pleural effusions. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Sixteen manure pits (30 pigs/pit) were sampled monthly during a wean-finish trial (22 wks) to compare the effects of sampling method on estimates of manure DM and ash. Eight pits were emptied monthly in a pull plug/recharge (PP) system, and 8 were kept as a deep pit (DP) system. Manure pits were sampled using: 1) mechanical core sampler (Coswala); 2) vacuum core sampler (vacuum); 3) cup sampler; and 4) agitated slurrystore sample (control, CTL). For core sampling, manure was obtained from 12 locations/pit and pooled. Cup samples were taken from 6 locations/pit and pooled. All data were analyzed using the GLM procedure of SAS. Within the PP system (40 obs/method), manure DM was 14.8% higher (P<0.05) for vacuum samples compared to CTL samples, while DM was 30.3 and 44.5% lower (P<0.05) for Coswala and cup samples, respectively, compared to CTL samples. Manure ash content was 12.5% higher (P<0.10) for vacuum samples and 19.8% lower (P<0.05) for cup samples compared to CTL samples. Ash content of Coswala samples was 10.4% less than CTL samples, although statistically similar. Within the DP system (wk 22, 8 obs/method), manure DM was 28.6% lower (P<0.10) for cup samples compared to CTL samples. Manure DM was 7.7% higher for vacuum samples and 16.7% lower for Coswala samples compared to CTL samples, but neither were statistically different from the CTL. Numerically, DP system manure ash followed the same pattern, but no significant differences (P>0.10) were observed among sampling methods. From wk 8-22, manure DM from Coswala and cup samples increased from 53 to 79% and 47 to 71%, respectively, relative to vacuum samples in the DP system. Relative estimates of manure ash followed a similar pattern, although initial estimates were closer (67%) to vacuum samples. Outcomes of this trial demonstrate that manure sampling method can significantly influence manure composition, potentially impacting land application. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2003, the US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) released new guidelines for Concentrated Animal Feeding Operations (CAFO). Under the new guidelines, permitted CAFOs will be required to develop a Nutrient Management Plan (NMP). In most cases, with minor additions, a USDA, Natural Resources Conservation Service (NRCS) Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan (CNMP) will satisfy the requirements of an NMP. One of the Core Elements of the CNMP is feed management. In 2005, a national feed management education project was funded by the NRCS Conservation Innovation Grant program (CIG). The project will develop, test, and implement a National Feed Management Education Program and Assessment Tools into a Comprehensive Nutrient Management Plan. The goal of the project is to increase the understanding of feed management to agricultural professionals, with an emphasis on environmental and financial sustainability of livestock and poultry operations. A team consisting of consulting animal nutritionists, technical service providers (TSPs), Extension Specialists, and research scientists will accomplish the following program objectives: 1) develop and evaluate a two-tier tool for assessing the impacts of feed management practices on whole farm nutrient balance for animal nutritionists, NRCS staff and TSP advisors, 2) develop the content of a Feed Management chapter for the NRCS Agricultural Waste Management Field Handbook (AWMFH), and 3) develop and implement an education program targeting integration of feed management into a CNMP. Specific outcomes are: 1) develop educational materials that are applicable at the national level, 2) provide training for NRCS staff, agricultural professionals, and TSPs in feed management concepts and practices that minimize import of nutrients to the farm, 3) provide training in the use of computer models and software for strategic ration balancing, whole farm nutrient balance, and nutrient excretion estimates based upon feed and animal performance inputs, and 4) develop a chapter for the NRCS AWMFH on Feed Management. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]