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The paper presents the influence of the use of supplementary feedings on the development of bee colonies and venom production. We evaluated the venom production during harvests of rapeseed, acacia and sunflower. The research was carried out in the apiary of the Faculty of Bioengineering of Animal Resources within the ULST. The biological material was represented by 40 colonies of bees (Apis mellifera carpatica), divided into 8 experimental groups, each group consisting of 5 colonies with equal strength and a queen of the same age. During the spring, bee colonies were fed sugar syrup into which we introduced probiotic products and/or essential oils. Counting of brood cells was performed at 7, 14 and 21 days during supplementary feeding. At the end of the additional feeding period, as well as during rapeseed, acacia and sunflower harvests, venom was collected using the BeeWhisper v.5.1 venom collector, model 2016. Regarding venom production, the best results were observed in the case of additional feedings with the products used. Batches using Colobiotic (2.2 g venom), Oregano essential oil (2.1 g venom) and Lacium (2.1 g venom) had the highest amounts of venom. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This conceptual discourse interrogates the contributions and challenges faced by parents in supporting the supplementary feeding programme at the Early Childhood Development (ECD) level in rural Southern Africa. This conceptual paper is a literature review study that relies on secondary data to draw the findings. The research hinges on Maslow's hierarchy of needs and Epstein's theory of overlapping spheres of influence. The study notes that parents play an important role in supporting the programme through activities such as the construction of cooking sheds, providing relish, fetching firewood, cleaning, and serving meals. Factors such as lack of knowledge, financial constraints, lack of cooperation, poor communication, and time constraints hinder their ability to make a sustained and effective contribution to the programme. The study recommends that parents be educated about the benefits of the supplementary feeding programme, empowered with various projects to improve their economic status, and encouraged to contribute to the programme. Another recommendation is that the school should build strong relationships with the corporate world, government, and non-governmental organisations so that they can work with parents to participate fully in the programme. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increased seasonal climatic variability is a major contributor to uncertainty in livestock-based livelihoods across Southern Africa. Erratic rainfall patterns and prolonged droughts have resulted in the region being identified as a climate 'vulnerability hotspot'. Based on fieldwork conducted in the dry seasons in a semiarid region of South Africa, we present an interdisciplinary approach to assess the differential effects of drought on two types of livestock systems. Organic matter digestibility, faecal crude protein, C/N ratio and the natural abundance of faecal 15N and 13C isotopes were used as ecophysiological feed quality indicators between smallholder and semicommercial systems. These measurements were complemented with qualitative surveys. In a novel approach, we tested the potential of the isotopic signature to predict feed quality and present a significant relationship between organic matter digestibility and isotopic ratios. Indicators assessed smallholder feed quality to be significantly higher than semicommercial feed. However, animals from semicommercial farms were in significantly better condition than those from smallholding farms. Differential access to feed resources suggests that a complex feed–water–land nexus pushes smallholders into high reliance on off-farm supplements to bridge drought-induced feed deficits. The paper thus offers a contribution to intersectional work on drought effects on livestock keepers of semiarid South Africa and illustrates how ecophysiological indicators mirror socioeconomic differences. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Multiple specialized nutritious food options are programmed for supplementation in humanitarian and development settings. However, comparative cost-effectiveness evidence is lacking, let alone incorporation of perspectives from uncompensated stakeholders. A Burkina Faso trial evaluated the cost-effectiveness of Corn Soy Blend Plus w/ oil (CSB+ w/oil, reference arm), Corn Soy Whey Blend w/oil (CSWB w/oil), Super Cereal Plus (SC+), and Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food (RUSF) in reducing stunting and wasting among children 6-23 months old. This paper presents cost-effectiveness findings from multiple stakeholders' perspectives, including caregivers and program volunteers.Methods: An activity-based costing with ingredients approach was used to summarize cost of the 18-month-long blanket supplementary feeding for each enrolled child (in 2018 USD). Time data were collected using self-reported and observational instruments. Cost-effectiveness relative to CSB+ w/oil assessed incremental cost per enrolled child against incremental outcomes: prevalence of stunting at 23 months of age and number of months of wasting. Two combined perspectives were compared: program (donor, implementer, and volunteer) versus program and caregiver (adding caregiver).Results: A total of 6112 children were enrolled. While similar effectiveness was found in three arms (CSWB w/oil was less effective), costs differed. Product cost and caregiver time to prepare study foods were major drivers of cross-arm cost differences from the respective combined perspective. The two major drivers were used to construct uncertainty ranges of cost per enrolled child from program and caregiver perspective: $317 ($279- $355) in CSB+ w/oil, $350 ($327- $373) in CSWB w/oil, $387 ($371- $403) in RUSF, and $434 ($365- $503) in SC+. Cost from program and caregiver perspective was a substantial increase from program perspective. CSB+ w/oil was most cost-effective in reducing stunting and wasting, and this main finding was robust to changing perspectives and all corresponding sensitivity analyses when uncompensated time was valued at minimum wage ($0.36/h). The break-even point for uncompensated time valuation is >$0.84/h, where RUSF became the most cost-effective from the program and caregiver perspective. Relative cost-effectiveness rankings among the other three arms depended on choice of perspectives, and were sensitive to values assigned to product cost, international freight cost, opportunity cost of time, and outcomes of a hypothetical control. Volunteer opportunity cost did not affect arm comparisons, but lack of compensation resulted in negative financial consequences for caregivers.Conclusions: Evaluating cost-effectiveness by incorporating uncompensated stakeholders provided crucial implementation insights around nutrition products and programming.Trial Registration: Trial registration number: NCT02071563. Name of registry: ClinicalTrials.gov URL of registry: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02071563?type=Intr&cond=Malnutrition&cntry=BF&draw=2&rank=9 Date of registration: February 26, 2014. Date of enrollment of first participant: July 2014. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Brasileira de Ciências do Envelhecimento Humano is the property of Universidade de Passo Fundo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Simple Summary: This study investigated the effects of feed-on-offer (FOO) and supplementation with concentrates during late pregnancy and lambing on the survival of triplet-bearing ewes and their lambs in Australia. High and low levels of FOO and concentrate supplementation during late pregnancy and lambing were tested on 10 commercial farms between 2019 and 2021 using 1772 triplet-bearing Maternal ewes. Lamb survival and ewe mortality were estimated at lamb marking. Survival of triplet-born lambs was not impacted by levels of FOO or supplementation. Triplet-bearing ewes receiving high levels of supplementation had a 40% decrease in mortality to marking compared with those receiving lower levels of supplementation. These findings suggest no additional benefits to survival of triplet-bearing ewes when FOO levels exceed 1200 kg DM/ha during late pregnancy and lambing, but increased supplementation with concentrates can reduce ewe mortality. Low survival of triplet-bearing ewes and their lambs represents lost production and a welfare issue. The effects of feed-on-offer (FOO; low: 1205 vs. high: 1980 kg DM/ha) and concentrate supplementation (low: 50 vs. high: 300+ g/ewe/day) levels during late pregnancy and lambing on the survival of triplet-bearing ewes and their lambs were investigated on 10 commercial farms using 1772 triplet-bearing Maternal ewes. Ewe and lamb survival were estimated at marking, and ewe body condition score (BCS) was recorded in late pregnancy and at marking. Although FOO treatment had no effect on triplet-bearing ewe mortality, receiving higher supplementation decreased mortality by 40% and increased BCS at marking by 0.14 compared with a lower supplementation (p < 0.05). Supplementation, FOO treatments, weather conditions during lambing and shelter availability had no effect on triplet-lamb survival. These findings suggest no additional benefit to triplet-bearing ewe survival when FOO levels exceed 1200 kg DM/ha during late pregnancy and lambing, but increased supplementation can reduce ewe mortality. Further research is required to determine the response to the supplementation level at lower FOO levels on triplet-bearing Merino ewes and their lambs and establish whether supplementation of triplet-bearing ewes during late pregnancy and lambing with higher levels of concentrates would be cost-effective. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over time, studies have shown that the natural methods used in the control and spread of bee diseases are effective, which develops a continuous interest in discovering new alternatives in this regard. Essential oils have been tested in bee colonies for the purpose of preventing or combating pathogens. The inhibitory effect of the essential oils is given by the content in citral and geraniol, as well as the benzene content in the composition of the essential oil of cinnamon. Recent findings show that the use of essential oils can improve the health of bee families. Essential oils include a series of antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic compounds from plants that play a role in reducing bacterial resistance. Natural antibiotics based on essential oils can be alternatives to chemically synthesized antibiotics, as they do not contaminate the bee products.

The purpose of the paper is to track the production of honey, its chemical analysis and determination of the economic efficiency of supplementary feeding of bee families during the fall, winter and spring. Chemical analysis of honey indicated in most cases according to its characteristics, supplementary trace evidence of industrial products and is noticeable only at the four experimental batches, where they found traces of industrial glucose. Although experimental batches recorded higher output compared to the control batch, however, due to expenses related to supplementation, only 3 groups, namely those who received Apiinvert, Melisol and glucose-fructose syrup recorded higher profits of 9%, respectively 31.6% compared to the control batch, retrieving other lower profits, the lowest value being noticeable in the experimental batch that was used as a semisolid food supplement, which had a deficit of 11.52% compared to the control batch. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Over time, studies have shown that the natural methods used in the control and spread of bee diseases are effective, which develops a continuous interest in discovering new alternatives in this regard. Essential oils have been tested in bee colonies for the purpose of preventing or combating pathogens. The inhibitory effect of the essential oils is given by the content in citral and geraniol, as well as the benzene content in the composition of the essential oil of cinnamon. Recent findings show that the use of essential oils can improve the health of bee families. Essential oils include a series of antimicrobial, antibacterial, antifungal, antiparasitic compounds from plants that play a role in reducing bacterial resistance. Natural antibiotics based on essential oils can be alternatives to chemically synthesized antibiotics, as they do not contaminate the bee products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Provision of additional food supplements for the purpose of biological conservation in ecosystems has of late been intensely researched by agriculturalists, biologists and mathematicians. The study of these ecosystems is usually done using the predator-prey systems. In these ecological studies it has been observed that the quality and quantity of additional food supplements provided play a crucial role in the growth of the predators and thereby influence the eventual state of the ecosystem. Also, in some of the ecological experiments it has been observed that predators exhibit non-optimal foraging behaviour in the presence of additional food. Findings also show that the predators exhibit a Holling type II response towards a target prey with predation highest at low prey densities. The results suggest that predation by predators is unlikely to stabilize low density prey populations. This can be attributed to the prey detectability independent nature of the type II response. In nature, sigmoidal functional responses such as the Holling type III response, have been documented in organisms from various taxa. In this kind of type III response the predators exhibit low detectability nature at low prey densities. Due to this the ecosystem tends to get stabilized at low prey densities avoiding the oscillations encountered in type II response. Motivated by these studies, in this paper, we consider a predator-prey system provided with additional food where the predator is assumed to exhibit Holling type III functional response towards the available food and the additional food supplements provided are assumed to be of constant density. We also assume that the predators are not optimal foragers. The model is analyzed in the control parameter space using the control parameters, quality and quantity of additional food. It is observed that the system exhibits apparent competition only when the predators are provided with high quality additional food supplements. Further, it has been shown that the ecosystem tends to get stabilized at low prey densities and the system can be steered to a desired state by a suitable choice of additional food supplements. Provision of low quality additional food supplements can result in completely opposite results to the expected ones. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Aim The early years of life are the most critical stage in the growth and development of children. While the optimal development of children depends on a complex set of factors, the pattern of breastfeeding and complementary feeding of infants is of undeniable importance. Therefore, the present study conducted to investigate the factors related to the feeding patterns of one-year-old children referred to healthcare centers in Rafsanjan city. Methods & Materials his descriptive study was performed on 600 mothers with one-year-old children under the auspices of healthcare centers in Rafsanjan city in 2017. Volunteered mothers with active health records were selected randomly. The required information was collected through a questionnaire containing demographic characteristics and questions related to the feeding of children and was analyzed by SPSS software, version 18. Ethical Considerations The Ethics Committee of Rafsanjan University of Medical Sciences (RUMS) approved the present study (Code: IR.RUMS.REC.1396.179). Results About 95% of mothers participating in this study started breastfeeding their children up to one hour after delivery, but 56.7% of them completed breastfeeding by one year of age. The results show that most mothers had started supplemental feeding with two or three spoons in each meal, and about 90% of them followed the health worker's advice. Also, the most important reasons for feeding children with powdered milk are disorders in the child's development (34%), inadequate breast milk (17%), maternal disease (14%), do not take the mother's breast (11%) and children being twins (8%). Conclusion Despite face-to-face training for mothers in health care centers for feeding their children, still there are some difficulties in commencing complementary feeding and its continuation. Therefore, need for more health and nutrition education regarding the best ways for feeding children to mothers by personnel of Rafsanjan health care centers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutrition is critical to the health of the elderly, since most of them have a deficiency in key nutrient. The use of whey protein may be a food strategy to increase protein intake. The objective of this work was to evaluate the ingestion of whey protein for the elderly and the association with physical performance and clinical outcomes. A systematic review was conducted in order to find papers that shed some light in the correlation between whey protein and the elderly. Inclusion criteria: population: elderly; intervention: use of whey protein when compared to control group; outcome: related to health, nutrition, or quality of life. Database: PubMed, with papers published in the last 5 years. Search strategy: (elder OR senior OR elderly OR aging OR aged OR old OR older) AND (whey OR "whey protein"). 35 papers were selected of which 22 had a physical performance outcome and 13 had clinical outcomes. Studies indicate that whey protein supplements promote protein synthesis in the elderly, improving muscle performance and aerobic capacity, protecting against sarcopenia and reducing the risk for falls. In the papers studied, the age group considered to be elderly was ≥65 years in 27 papers and ≥60 years in the other 8 papers. Whey protein also appears to contribute to improved health, recovery from disease, prevention of cardiovascular and metabolic risks, and hepatic steatosis complications. Data suggest that whey protein supplements may be promising for the health improvement of the elderly. • The use of whey protein may be a food strategy to increase protein intake. • Whey protein can prevent cardiovascular, metabolic risks and hepatic steatosis complications. • Whey protein supplements may be promising for the health improvement of the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Improved understanding of the drivers of human–predator conflict may assist in reducing such conflicts. We collated available human–dingo interaction reports from K'gari (Fraser Island) since 1990, and provide an analysis of these interactions. We show where food or access to food has influenced dingo behaviour, and identify any changes in the rate of food-related interactions over time, thereby determining if management actions are achieving their intended goals or having unintended consequences. Our results support the view that food provisioning can influence the behaviour of canid predators in relatively intact ecosystems and that nonlethal management actions that seek to prevent access to anthropogenic food can produce measurable reductions in food-related interactions over time. Humans and dingoes (Canis familiaris (dingo)) share the environment of K'gari, and conflict inevitably occurs between the two species, particularly over food. Dingo attacks on humans have occurred, and some have been serious and even fatal in outcome. Wildlife feeding may cause animals to develop unnatural and potentially dangerous behaviours towards conspecifics and humans on a relatively frequent basis. Food-based attraction has been implicated in the development of human-directed aggression in the dingo population of K'gari. Supplemental feeding, whether intentional or accidental, alters wildlife foraging behaviours and may have consequences at the population and ecosystem levels. Management strategies such as education programs, prohibition of inappropriate human behaviours (compliance) and fencing of garbage dumps have each been implemented to stop the intentional or inadvertent feeding of dingoes by people. However, there has been no formal assessment of the effectiveness of these interventions at reducing food-related dingo–human incidents over time. We collated and analysed 7791 unique reports of dingo–human interactions on K'gari between 1990 and 2020, inclusive of 1307 food-related reports, including the severity of these interactions. These data showed clear seasonal peaks in the percentage of food-related dingo–human interactions, corresponding with biologically significant breeding periods in autumn and weaning and dispersing in spring. Trends in serious food-related incidents remained stable overtime. Less serious food-related incidents declined, suggesting that management efforts were successful. However, these efforts appear to have reached the limits of their effectiveness. Further innovations are required to reduce serious incidents involving the relatively few dingoes and people still experiencing conflict, and thereby provide protection to both species on K'gari. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article explores although vulture feeding stations are a widely used tool for vulture conservation in many regions worldwide, there has been some confusion about their functions and this is reflected in the range of terminology used. The origin of food supply at provisioning sites (both for in situ and ex situ situations) and the goals of feeding station managers (ranging from purely conservation of vultures to the necessity for carcass disposal).

Copyright of Revista da Faculdade de Odontologia is the property of UFRGS-Faculdade de Odontologia and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Abstract Background Multiple specialized nutritious food options are programmed for supplementation in humanitarian and development settings. However, comparative cost-effectiveness evidence is lacking, let alone incorporation of perspectives from uncompensated stakeholders. A Burkina Faso trial evaluated the cost-effectiveness of Corn Soy Blend Plus w/ oil (CSB+ w/oil, reference arm), Corn Soy Whey Blend w/oil (CSWB w/oil), Super Cereal Plus (SC+), and Ready-to-Use Supplementary Food (RUSF) in reducing stunting and wasting among children 6–23 months old. This paper presents cost-effectiveness findings from multiple stakeholders’ perspectives, including caregivers and program volunteers. Methods An activity-based costing with ingredients approach was used to summarize cost of the 18-month-long blanket supplementary feeding for each enrolled child (in 2018 USD). Time data were collected using self-reported and observational instruments. Cost-effectiveness relative to CSB+ w/oil assessed incremental cost per enrolled child against incremental outcomes: prevalence of stunting at 23 months of age and number of months of wasting. Two combined perspectives were compared: program (donor, implementer, and volunteer) versus program and caregiver (adding caregiver). Results A total of 6112 children were enrolled. While similar effectiveness was found in three arms (CSWB w/oil was less effective), costs differed. Product cost and caregiver time to prepare study foods were major drivers of cross-arm cost differences from the respective combined perspective. The two major drivers were used to construct uncertainty ranges of cost per enrolled child from program and caregiver perspective: $317 ($279- $355) in CSB+ w/oil, $350 ($327- $373) in CSWB w/oil, $387 ($371- $403) in RUSF, and $434 ($365- $503) in SC+. Cost from program and caregiver perspective was a substantial increase from program perspective. CSB+ w/oil was most cost-effective in reducing stunting and wasting, and this main finding was robust to changing perspectives and all corresponding sensitivity analyses when uncompensated time was valued at minimum wage ($0.36/h). The break-even point for uncompensated time valuation is >$0.84/h, where RUSF became the most cost-effective from the program and caregiver perspective. Relative cost-effectiveness rankings among the other three arms depended on choice of perspectives, and were sensitive to values assigned to product cost, international freight cost, opportunity cost of time, and outcomes of a hypothetical control. Volunteer opportunity cost did not affect arm comparisons, but lack of compensation resulted in negative financial consequences for caregivers. Conclusions Evaluating cost-effectiveness by incorporating uncompensated stakeholders provided crucial implementation insights around nutrition products and programming. Trial registration Trial registration number: NCT02071563 . Name of registry: ClinicalTrials.gov URL of registry: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT02071563?type=Intr&cond=Malnutrition&cntry=BF&draw=2&rank=9 Date of registration: February 26, 2014. Date of enrollment of first participant: July 2014.

Human activities shape resources available to wild animals, impacting diet and probably altering their microbiota and overall health. We examined drivers shaping microbiota profiles of common cranes (Grus grus) in agricultural habitats by comparing gut microbiota and crane movement patterns (GPS‐tracking) over three periods of their migratory cycle, and by analysing the effect of artificially supplemented food provided as part of a crane‐agriculture management programme. We sampled faecal droppings in Russia (nonsupplemented, premigration) and in Israel in late autumn (nonsupplemented, postmigration) and winter (supplemented and nonsupplemented, wintering). As supplemented food is typically homogenous, we predicted lower microbiota diversity and different composition in birds relying on supplementary feeding. We did not observe changes in microbial diversity with food supplementation, as diversity differed only in samples from nonsupplemented wintering sites. However, both food supplementation and season affected bacterial community composition and led to increased abundance of specific genera (mostly Firmicutes). Cranes from the nonsupplemented groups spent most of their time in agricultural fields, probably feeding on residual grain when available, while food‐supplemented cranes spent most of their time at the feeding station. Thus, nonsupplemented and food‐supplemented diets probably diverge only in winter, when crop rotation and depletion of anthropogenic resources may lead to a more variable diet in nonsupplemented sites. Our results support the role of diet in structuring bacterial communities and show that they undergo both seasonal and human‐induced shifts. Movement analyses provide important clues regarding host diet and behaviour towards understanding how human‐induced changes shape the gut microbiota in wild animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Lipid‐based nutritional supplements (LNS) and fortified blended flours (FBF) are widely used to increase the nutrient density of children's diets and improve their health, but their effectiveness could be modified by displacement of other foods. We reanalysed data from a cost‐effectiveness trial comparing impacts on anthropometry of three FBFs (Corn Soy Blend Plus [CSB+], Corn Soy Whey Blend [CSWB], SuperCereal Plus [SC+]) and one LNS (Ready‐to‐use Supplementary Food [RUSF]) among infants aged 7–23 months in Burkina Faso. Using dietary diversity data from a single 24‐h recall period (n = 1,591 children, observed once over 18‐month study period), we fit logistic regression models to estimate differences in intake of each food group making up the infant and young child minimum dietary diversity score and linear models to test for differences in dietary diversity score among children in each supplement arm. We tested for differences in breastfeeding time using the subsample for which breastfeeding was observed (n = 176). Children who consumed one of the three FBFs had lower odds of consuming household grains, roots and tubers compared with the LNS consumers (odds ratios [ORs] = 0.35–0.47; 95% confidence intervals [CIs]: 0.20–1.05). Consumption of other foods, dietary diversity and breastfeeding did not differ significantly at the 5% significance level. FBFs displaced the household's own cereals more than LNS, with no difference in the child's consumption of other more nutrient‐rich family foods. Given limited stomach capacity and feeding time, providing fortified cereals may help improve children's overall diet quality in settings where children would otherwise be fed nutrient‐poor root crops or cereal grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This review examines 128 items of primary and other literature to provide an insight into current knowledge of the effects of pheasant and red-legged partridge releasing and associated management for shooting on habitats and wildlife in the UK. It summarizes key findings and uses them to define sub-topic sections for which the effects are classified as positive, neutral or negative. This forms the basis of a numerical synthesis of effects and some overall conclusions. Fifty-four directly related studies were identified, which defined 25 sub-topics or effects. A mix of positive, neutral and negative ecological consequences of releasing are described, for which the corresponding number of sub-topics approximately balance each other. Positive effects are usually a consequence of gamebird management activities, most negative effects are caused by the released birds themselves. The different spatial scales at which effects are likely to operate are identified, for example effects on generalist predators or of gamecrops occur at the landscape scale, while many habitat effects have a local impact. Some local negative effects have relatively straightforward management solutions for example, by identifying and avoiding especially sensitive sites when locating release pens. The synthesis identifies seven negative effects associated with the increasing scale of releasing. Several positive effects are linked to economic considerations and are more likely to have greater impact at larger shoots. Pheasants released into woodland have more direct local effects than partridge releases on farmland. The framework of sub-sections could be used as the basis for a more complex synthesis or weighted analysis for a particular set of ecological priorities. The review findings should be interpreted as representing a median type of shoot in terms of size and adherence to good practice over recent decades. They increase the awareness of potential conflicts, highlighting the need for best practice and what factors to consider for mitigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Spatial ecology of red deer Cervus elaphus is shaped by both natural and anthropogenic factors. We used radio telemetry to investigate factors affecting habitat selection on two spatial scales, home range sizes and migratory behaviour of red deer (N = 8 individuals) in two mountain ranges of the western Carpathians in 2004–2007. The two study areas differed in terms of environmental conditions: Beskid Sądecki had higher altitudes, higher human population and road density and milder winters than Beskid Niski. Red deer in both areas selected forests and avoided agricultural habitats on both spatial scales. Elevation affected site selection only in Beskid Sądecki: deer selected higher altitudes for their home ranges, but lower altitudes within them. Deer avoided major roads when selecting their home ranges in both sites, but only in Beskid Sądecki, they also avoided roads within their home ranges. Deer in both study sites selected locations closer to supplementary feeding sites in winter. In years with more severe winters, deer in Beskid Niski displayed seasonal migration to south-facing slopes. Deer in Beskid Sadecki showed short-distance altitudinal movements from low elevations in winter to high elevations in summer, and a short-term descent to low elevations in August–September. Our results fit the general concept that climatic conditions and human-related factors shape spatial behaviour in ungulates, and that snow conditions are particularly important for migration. Climate change will likely contribute to diminishing migration in red deer in the Carpathians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Many mammal species have been extensively impacted by human interventions in the past. It was especially important for endangered or key species such as European bison Bison bonasus, which has a long history of human interventions and is currently a refugee species confined by anthropogenic activities to suboptimal forest habitats. Using archival information (1795–1915) on bison population dynamics and management practices in Eastern Poland's Białowieża Primeval Forest (BPF) in three periods (1795–1860, 1861–1888, 1889–1915) differing in management goals, we identify the main factors affecting bison numbers and discuss implications of this knowledge for modern conservation of the species. Mean annual increase rate of bison population varied between 3.03% in the first, − 3.04% in the second, and 2.69% in the third period. The most important drivers of European bison population dynamics were the increasing supplementary feeding and anthropogenic offtake (annual number of individuals hunted, live-captured and poached), along with opening of the forest by different traditional activities. Although this management was solely directed at hunting goals, relatively low intensity of animal removal and counteracting effect of supplementary feeding secured the survival of the species. However, management practices applied in all three periods acted against natural selection and increased animal dependence on human support. Collected historical data presents a unique long-term assessment of management practices and their effectiveness and allows to draw conclusions for the current management of the species. Historical management was not based on evidence. The general principles of traditional bison management were adapted by the twentieth-century management of reinstated population. To avoid repeating the same mistakes, the contemporary management model needs revaluation and changes to conform to up-to-date knowledge on the species habitat selection and forage requirements. Continuation of traditional management practices will sustain species refugee status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A six-month-long trial was conducted to assess the supplementation of 30% protein (F2) and 35% protein feed (F3) compared with conventional rice bran+mustard oil cake feeding (F1) on the growth responses of endangered Indian butter catfish, Ompok bimaculatus (pabda) stocked at 15% with 40% catla, 30% rohu and 15% mrigal in polyculture in stocking density of 4000 fingerlings/ha. Water and soil quality parameters were assessed on monthly intervals which showed normal variation among the treatments. The weight of the pabda during harvest was higher in F2 and F3 than F1; as a result, growth rate was higher in F2 and F3 than F1. Survival was highest in F2. The growth of carps was significantly improved in F2 and F3 except for mrigal in F2. Feed conversion ratio significantly lower in F2 and F3 when compared with F1. Benefit-cost ratio was lowest in F3. Overall, the pabda production was increased by 16.2% with F2 and 19.5% with F3. The study concluded that pabda perform better in polyculture with carps when feed supplemented with 30% protein feed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: The Tasmanian devil (Sarcophilus harrisii) is the world's largest extant marsupial carnivore. Since the emergence of devil facial tumour disease in 1996, the species has undergone a severe population decline. The insurance population (IP) was established in 2006 to build a disease‐free captive population to maintain 95% of the wild Tasmanian devil genetic diversity for 50 years. Captive and semi‐wild Tasmanian devils are fed with possum and wallaby meat provided by local hunters, who use lead ammunition. Lead ingestion can cause acute toxicity, including ataxia, coma and death, or chronic subclinical deleterious effects including decreased fertility. Methods: We determined blood lead concentrations in 26 captive and 133 wild Tasmanian devils from various sites across Tasmania. Results: Captive Tasmanian devils showed significantly higher blood lead concentrations than their conspecifics in the wild. In captivity, older animals had higher blood lead concentrations than young animals, which suggested regular exposure, as lead can accumulate in a living organism in the blood, soft tissues and bones. After a response measure was implemented by removing the heads and wounds containing lead from the diet, blood concentrations significantly decreased in animals at one of the captive study sites, supporting the suspicion of food as the source of lead. Conclusion: This study highlights the need to ensure meat fed to captive carnivores is not contaminated by lead, especially in the context of a conservation program breeding individuals in captivity, as for Tasmanian devils. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This analysis assessed whether caregivers’ reports about the amount of oil added to corn soy blend (CSB) porridge were consistent with lab analysis and whether reported sharing of CSB porridge was consistent with direct observation. This was a secondary analysis of a feasibility study assessing 2 programmatic changes in a supplementary feeding program for treatment of moderate acute malnutrition (MAM) in southern Malawi. Intervention groups received standard monthly rations of CSB with increased oil along with social behavior change communication (SBCC) to increase the amount of oil added to CSB porridge and reduce sharing. A control group received the standard CSB and oil ration. Self-reported data collected through structured interviews with caregivers were compared with laboratory analysis of CSB porridge samples and in-home observation over a 5-day period. On average, participants overreported the amount of oil used in prepared CSB porridge; self-report tended to be closer than the lab-assessed values to the amount recommended in the SBCC. Self-reported and observed sharing appeared consistent across groups. Overall, the self-reported and direct measures showed the same relationships among the groups. Self-report and objective measures were inconsistent but conveyed the same overall message. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Anthropogenic food provisioning of wildlife can alter the frequency of contacts among hosts and between hosts and environmental sources of pathogens. Despite the popularity of garden bird feeding, few studies have addressed how feeders influence host contact rates and disease dynamics. We experimentally manipulated feeder density in replicate aviaries containing captive, pathogen-naive, groups of house finches (Haemorhous mexicanus) and continuously tracked behaviours at feeders using radio-frequency identification devices. We then inoculated one bird per group with Mycoplasma gallisepticum (Mg), a common bacterial pathogen for which feeders are fomites of transmission, and assessed effects of feeder density on house finch behaviour and pathogen transmission.We found that pathogen transmission was significantly higher in groups with the highest density of bird feeders, despite a significantly lower rate of intraspecific aggressive interactions relative to the low feeder density groups. Conversely, among naive group members that never showed signs of disease, we saw significantly higher concentrations of Mg-specific antibodies in low feeder density groups, suggesting that birds in low feeder density treatments had exposure to subclinical doses of Mg. We discuss ways in which the density of garden bird feeders could play an important role in mediating the intensity of Mg epidemics. This article is part of the theme issue 'Anthropogenic resource subsidies and host--parasite dynamics in wildlife'. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Copyright of Revista Nutrición Clínica y Dietética Hospitalaria is the property of Sociedad Espanola de Dietetica y Ciencias de la Alimentacion and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

Copyright of Revista Paulista de Pediatria is the property of Assocoacao de Pediatria de Sao Paulo and its content may not be copied or emailed to multiple sites or posted to a listserv without the copyright holder's express written permission. However, users may print, download, or email articles for individual use. This abstract may be abridged. No warranty is given about the accuracy of the copy. Users should refer to the original published version of the material for the full abstract. (Copyright applies to all Abstracts.)

The effect of different supplementary feeding rates for grazing cattle on high-altitude pastures dynamics was evaluated. A field experiment was carried out during three years in a subalpine pasture area of the Eastern Alps. The investigated pasture area was 40 ha, located between 1820 and 2230 m a.s.l. Two paddocks were chosen in the experiment and two herds of 12 cattle each were kept in the two enclosures for 5 weeks. For the first herd (HS), the supplementary feeding rate was 4.8 kg OM head−1per day, while for the second herd (LS), the rate was 1.6 kg OM head−1per day. The amount of herbage consumed by each cattle was determined using the n-alkane technique. To monitor the pasture vegetation dynamics, eight metal exclusion cages were placed in each paddock to determine herbage growth, utilization rates, vegetation composition and animal grazing selectivity. Grazing behaviour of dairy cattle, in terms of herbage intake and species selection was affected by the different feeding rates. Cattle grazing Paddock HS consumed 1.9 kg OM day−1of herbage less than Paddock LS. In the LS paddock, cattle grazed higher phytomass rates. When the animals were fed by higher concentrate rates, a more selective grazing seemed to significantly increase the pasture necromass component. The lower grazing selectivity favoured the development of species asNardus strictaandDeschampsia caespitosa, which are well known for their low palatability. Distinct vegetation dynamic patterns were observed, with a reduction of hair grass and an increase of legumes in the Paddock LS. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Feeding behaviors have an important impact on children's nutritional status and are essential to consider when implementing nutrition programs. The objective of this study was to explore and compare feeding behaviors related to supplementary feeding with corn-soy blends (CSB) and lipid-based nutrient supplements (LNS) based on best practice feeding behaviors. The study was conducted as part of a randomized controlled trial assessing the effectiveness of new formulations of CSB and LNS and comprised 1,546 children from 6 to 23 months. The study included a mixed methods approach using questionnaires, focus group discussions and home visits and interviews with a subsample of 20 caretakers of trial participants. We found that LNS, compared to CSB, were more likely to be mixed into other foods (OR [95% CI] 1.7 [1.3-2.2], p = <.001), served with a meal (OR [95% CI] 1.6 [1.1-2.3], p = <.018)or between meals (OR [95% CI] 1.5 [1.1-1.9], p = <.005), and fed using an encouraging feeding style (mean difference in percentage points [95% CI] 23% [6%:40%], p = .01). CSB were more likely to be fed using a forced feeding style (mean difference in percentage points [95% CI] 18% [3%:33%], p = .02) and were often observed to be served unprepared. The main differences in feeding behaviors between the two diet groups were linked to how and when supplements were served. Educational instructions should therefore be adapted according to the supplement provided; when providing CSB, efforts should be made to promote an encouraging feeding style, and emphasis should be made to ensure preparations are made according to recommendations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Grazing immature cereal crops, particularly different varieties of wheat, has become widely adopted in the high rainfall areas of southern Australia. Recently, there has been growing interest in applying this technology in drier parts of the mixed farming zones of Western Australia. A modelling study was conducted to examine farm business returns with or without the grazing of immature wheat (winter and spring varieties) in different locations of Western Australia (Merredin, Wickepin and Kojonup), representing the low to high rainfall (319-528 mm) cropping regions, respectively. A combination of APSIM (crop simulation model) and GrassGro (pasture and livestock simulation model), were used to evaluate the changes in farm gross margins with the grazing of cereal crops at three locations of Western Australia. The results of the study showed that grazing the two wheat varieties (dual-purpose winter and spring) at the high rainfall location increased the profitability of the livestock enterprise by 2.5 times more than grazing crops at both low rainfall locations (P < 0.05). Across all years and sites, the average supplementary feeding costs were reduced by the inclusion of grazed winter (12%) and spring (2%) wheat crops in the lamb production system. The comparative reduction in the cost of supplementary feeding varied between locations and by crop variety within locations, due to both the frequency and average duration of the grazing of wheat crops in these regions, and the farm-stocking rate that was chosen. Both wheat varieties were grazed frequently at the lowest rainfall site (68% and30%of years for winter and spring wheat varieties respectively), whereas grazing spring wheat was less frequent at the higher rainfall location and averaged 16% of years due to a greater difference in the relative availability of wheat crops versus pasture for grazing among regions. The grazing model assumed that there were abundant productive mixed ryegrass and subterranean clover pasture in the farming system. Overall, this study suggests that both winter and spring wheat crops are likely to supply green feed during the winter feed shortage (April-July) and reduce supplementary feed requirements for a short period of time in some seasons. The value of grazing crops is likely to be higher on farms with poorer soils and less productive pastures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reintroduction programmes need regular assessments of their achievements and cost-efficiency so as to adapt management strategy. Ferrer et al. argue that the reintroduction of the bearded vulture, which has so far relied upon the release of captive-reared chicks, could instead use the extra number of young produced by supplementary feeding on poor-quality territories in the Pyrenees. They argue that this strategy would not affect the donor population while being much cheaper than a captive breeding programme. We question this assertion based on several grounds., Ferrer et al. used incorrect data when estimating the effects of supplementary feeding on the production of young. Our reanalyses using the same data source but corrected for missing values show effect sizes of low magnitude and with substantial uncertainty, questioning any positive effect of supplementary feeding on productivity. Moreover, Ferrer et al.'s experiment actually lacks a genuine statistical control due to weak temporal stability in territory quality: we demonstrate that average productivity of territories of low-quality during the baseline period (2001-2006) might actually have been increasing during the 'treatment' period (2007-2010) even without food supplementation due to a possible regression to the mean effect., Our demographic reanalysis furthermore suggests that the donor population would not be that resilient to the extraction of young, resulting in trajectories far less optimistic (53-56 pairs in a time horizon of 50 years) than the 70 pairs reported. We also suggest that the costs of a captive breeding programme are substantially lower than suggested by Ferrer et al., Synthesis and applications. The management recommendations proposed by Ferrer et al. appear unjustified. We thus urge governmental agencies to avoid making strategic political decisions and deploying conservation action on such a flawed base. We do not question here the utility of experimental approaches in reintroduction biology, but advocate independent assessment of study designs, data handling and quantitative analyses, notably when extraction of individuals from endangered populations is proposed as the best alternative option. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]