ORCID Profile
0000-0002-1958-3942
Current Organisations
University of Melbourne
,
University of Adelaide
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Research Topics
In Research Link Australia (RLA), "Research Topics" refer to ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes. These topics are either sourced from ANZSRC FOR and SEO codes listed in researchers' related grants or generated by a large language model (LLM) based on their publications.
Top 5 Research Topics
ANZSRC Field of Research (FoR)
Characterisation of Biological Macromolecules | Medicinal and Biomolecular Chemistry | Biologically Active Molecules | Optical Properties of Materials | Organic Chemical Synthesis | Nanophotonics | Optical Physics not elsewhere classified | Functional Materials | Nanotechnology | Structural Chemistry | Optical Physics | Macromolecular and Materials Chemistry | Characterisation Of Macromolecules | Physical Chemistry (Incl. Structural) | Chemical Characterisation of Materials | Structural Chemistry and Spectroscopy | Nanomanufacturing | Gene Expression (incl. Microarray and other genome-wide approaches) | Proteomics and Intermolecular Interactions (excl. Medical Proteomics) | Medical Biotechnology | Analytical Biochemistry | Medical Biotechnology Diagnostics (incl. Biosensors) | Photonics, Optoelectronics and Optical Communications | Nonlinear Optics and Spectroscopy | Nanobiotechnology | Nanofabrication, Growth and Self Assembly
ANZSRC Socio-Economic Objective (SEO)
Expanding Knowledge in the Medical and Health Sciences | Expanding Knowledge in the Chemical Sciences | Expanding Knowledge in the Biological Sciences | Expanding Knowledge in the Physical Sciences | Expanding Knowledge in Technology | Reproductive System and Disorders | Human Diagnostics | National Security | Biological sciences | Chemical sciences | Diagnostic Methods | Expanding Knowledge in Engineering | Scientific Instruments | Expanding Knowledge in the Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences | Treatments (e.g. chemicals, antibiotics) |
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Publications
The Effects of Cashmere Attributes on the Efficiency of Dehairing and Dehaired Cashmere Length
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 06-2008
Abstract: This study investigated the effects of raw cashmere attributes on the efficiency of dehairing and on dehaired cashmere length. The results show that the following attributes of raw cashmere were associated with more efficient processing and/or the production of longer cashmere: white color longer raw cashmere greater fiber curvature lower vegetable matter normal length guard hair absence of visible cotting. Raw cashmere with a higher cashmere content and higher fiber diameter processed less efficiently than raw cashmere with a lower cashmere content and finer fiber diameter. This work identifies the value of using raw cashmere staple length and cashmere fiber curvature measurements, and shows that the variation explained by known attributes on cashmere processing efficiency was high. These results are applicable to cashmere classing, breeding, processing, and the value of the final product.
The relationship of the incidence of medullated fibres to the dimensional properties of mohair over the lifetime of Angora goats
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2013
The effect of trough space and floor space on feeding and welfare of lambs in an intensive finishing system
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2017
Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) Persistence Remains Unchanged under Variable Cutting Regimes
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 13-06-2020
Abstract: Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) persistence is important for farming systems in south east Australia. Defoliation of lucerne that is too frequent (arguably more than once every six weeks) reduces yield and accelerates stand decline. Three experiments were conducted in south east Australia (Burraja, New South Wales Rutherglen and Hamilton, Victoria) to investigate different cutting regimes on lucerne persistence. At Burraja lucerne was cut 16 (lax) or 33 (severe) times over three years at different plant densities. At Rutherglen and Hamilton lucerne was cut every 21 days (short rotation), every 42 days (long rotation), when new shoots (2.5 cm long) emerged (new shoots) or cutting when new shoots emerged but allowing the lucerne to flower in autumn (new shoots flowering). It was hypothesised that the frequent cutting of lucerne would result in lower plant densities. At Burraja there was little difference between treatments at any density or assessment. At Hamilton, apart from the assessment in June 2016, there was no difference (p 0.1) between treatments. At Rutherglen, there was no difference (p 0.1) between treatments at any assessment although plant numbers declined in 2016 from waterlogging. The results provide evidence that lucerne has intrinsic mechanisms that protect it from cutting, often at short intervals, thus promoting its persistence over three to four-year periods.
Biogeographical comparison of the emergent macrophyte, Sagittaria platyphylla in its native and introduced ranges
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2017
The allometric relationship between mean fibre diameter of mohair and the fleece-free liveweight of Angora goats over their lifetime
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2012
DOI: 10.1071/AN11086
Abstract: As mean fibre diameter (MFD) is the primary determinant of mohair price we aimed to quantify the lifetime changes in mohair MFD as Angora goats aged and grew. Measurements were made over 12 shearing periods on a population of Angora goats representing the current range and ersity of genetic origins including South African, Texan and interbred admixtures of these and Australian sources. Records of sire, dam, birthweight, birth parity, liveweight, fleece growth and fleece quality were taken for does and castrated males (wethers) (n = 267 animals). Fleece-free liveweights (FFLwt) were determined for each goat at shearing time by subtracting the greasy fleece weight from the liveweight recorded immediately before shearing. A restricted maximum likelihood growth curve model was developed for relating MFD to FFLwt, age and other measurements. A simple way of describing the results is: MFD = κ (FFLwt)β E where κ is a parameter that can vary in a systematic way with shearing(age), breed, weaning weight, sire, dam and in idual β is a parameter that is the same for nearly the whole study and E are independent errors from a log-normal distribution. The analysis shows that = 0.34, with s.e. () = 0.021. Thus, mohair MFD was allometrically related to the cube root of FFLwt over the lifetime of Angora goats. However, the allometric proportionality constant differed in a systematic way with age at shearing, genetic strain, weaning weight, sire, dam and in idual. For Texan-breed goats, MFD decreased as weaning weight increased (P = 0.00016). The findings indicate that management factors that affect liveweight and weaning weight have lifetime effects on mohair fibre diameter and therefore the value of mohair and the profitability of the mohair enterprise.
The Effect of Age, Stocking Density and Flooring during Transport on Welfare of Young Dairy Calves in Australia
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 11-04-2014
DOI: 10.3390/ANI4020184
Essential oil products have both a direct and a fumigant effect on reducing serrated tussock seed germination
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-10-2015
Joint contribution of individual plant attributes to seed yield of cowpea (Vigna unguiculata L.) in small plots
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 1983
The short-term behavioural response of sows, but not gilts, to a social stimulus is related to sow aggressiveness in groups
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2017
The Human-Animal Relationship in Australian Caged Laying Hens
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 02-05-2019
DOI: 10.3390/ANI9050211
Abstract: Studies on farm animals have shown relationships between stockperson attitudes and behaviour and farm animal fear, stress and productivity. This study investigated how the avoidance behaviour of Australian commercial caged laying hens may be related to stockperson behaviour, albumen corticosterone, and the number of weeks producing within 5% of peak egg production. Nineteen laying houses were assessed over 3 days. Fear of humans in hens, based on their avoidance response to an unfamiliar human, was assessed using two behavioural tests. Albumen corticosterone concentrations were measured from egg s les collected immediately prior to behavioural testing. Stockperson attitudes were assessed using a questionnaire and stockperson behaviour was observed over 2 days. Productivity records for each laying house were also obtained. The duration of peak production was negatively related to both noise made by the stockperson and hen avoidance. No relationship between stockperson behaviour or attitudes and hen avoidance was found, but stockpeople with negative attitudes made more noise. In conclusion, this study could not confirm a relationship between stockperson behaviour and hen avoidance behaviour for Australian caged laying hens. However, this study did confirm a relationship between hen avoidance behaviour, albumen corticosterone concentration, and the duration of peak egg production.
Rational Design of a 310‐Helical PIP‐Box Mimetic Targeting PCNA, the Human Sliding Clamp
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-07-2018
Abstract: The human sliding cl (PCNA) controls access to DNA for many proteins involved in DNA replication and repair. Proteins are recruited to the PCNA surface by means of a short, conserved peptide motif known as the PCNA-interacting protein box (PIP-box). Inhibitors of these essential protein-protein interactions may be useful as cancer therapeutics by disrupting DNA replication and repair in these highly proliferative cells. PIP-box peptide mimetics have been identified as a potentially rapid route to potent PCNA inhibitors. Here we describe the rational design and synthesis of the first PCNA peptidomimetic ligands, based on the high affinity PIP-box sequence from the natural PCNA inhibitor p21. These mimetics incorporate covalent i,i+4 side-chain/side-chain lactam linkages of different lengths, designed to constrain the peptides into the 3
Impacts of visitor number on Kangaroos housed in free-range exhibits
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 02-06-2015
DOI: 10.1002/ZOO.21226
Abstract: Free range exhibits are becoming increasingly popular in zoos as a means to enhance interaction between visitors and animals. However very little research exists on the impacts of visitors on animal behaviour and stress in free range exhibits. We investigated the effects of visitor number on the behaviour and stress physiology of Kangaroo Island (KI) Kangaroos, Macropus fuliginosus fuliginosus, and Red Kangaroos, Macropus rufus, housed in two free range exhibits in Australian zoos. Behavioural observations were conducted on in idual kangaroos at each site using instantaneous scan s ling to record activity (e.g., vigilance, foraging, resting) and distance from the visitor pathway. In idually identifiable faecal s les were collected at the end of each study day and analysed for faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (FGM) concentration. When visitor number increased, both KI Kangaroos and Red Kangaroos increased the time spent engaged in visitor-directed vigilance and KI Kangaroos also increased the time spent engaged in locomotion and decreased the time spent resting. There was no effect of visitor number on the distance kangaroos positioned themselves from the visitor pathway or FGM concentration in either species. While there are limitations in interpreting these results in terms of fear of visitors, there was no evidence of adverse effects animal welfare in these study groups based on avoidance behaviour or stress physiology under the range of visitor numbers that we studied.
A multi-enclosure study investigating the behavioural response of meerkats to zoo visitors
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2014
Approaches to Introduce Helical Structure in Cysteine‐Containing Peptides with a Bimane Group
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-06-2021
Abstract: An i−i +4 or i−i +3 bimane‐containing linker was introduced into a peptide known to target Estrogen Receptor alpha (ERα), in order to stabilise an α‐helical geometry. These macrocycles were studied by CD and NMR to reveal the i−i +4 constrained peptide adopts a 3 10 ‐helical structure in solution, and an α‐helical conformation on interaction with the ERα coactivator recruitment surface in silico . An acyclic bimane‐modified peptide is also helical, when it includes a tryptophan or tyrosine residue but is significantly less helical with a phenylalanine or alanine residue, which indicates such a bimane modification influences peptide structure in a sequence dependent manner. The fluorescence intensity of the bimane appears influenced by peptide conformation, where helical peptides displayed a fluorescence increase when TFE was added to phosphate buffer, compared to a decrease for less helical peptides. This study presents the bimane as a useful modification to influence peptide structure as an acyclic peptide modification, or as a side‐chain constraint to give a macrocycle.
A call for action that cannot go to voicemail: Research activism to urgently improve Indigenous perinatal health and wellbeing
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2021
Effects of the presence of zoo visitors on zoo-housed little penguins (Eudyptula minor)
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 19-03-2021
Influence of soil type on Heteropogon contortus-Bothriochloa bladhii dominant native pasture in south-eastern Queensland
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 1988
DOI: 10.1071/EA9880587
Abstract: The effects of soil type on presentation dry matter yields and nutrient concentrations of a native pasture in south-eastern Queensland were investigated within a 160 ha area over 5 years. The soil types ranged from a shallow sand (Ug 2.12 Northcote 1971 classification) to deep self-mulching clays (Ug 5.15). Soil type had a major influence on above-ground yield (range 2700-8700 kg/ha), but a limited influence on root yield at 15 cm (range 3200-3800 kg/ha) and on nutrient concentrations of above-ground matter and of roots, (ranges for tops and roots: nitrogen 0.51-0.63 and 0.83-1.22%, phosphorus 0.09-0.14 and 0.08-0.10%, potassium 0.40-056 and 0.23-0.46%, and sulfur 0.05 and 0.05-0.06%). This suggests that soil type has only a limited effect on the liveweight gains per animal which can be attained on native pasture, but a major effect on sustainable stocking rate.
Does introducing a dedicated early labour area improve birth outcomes? A pre-post intervention study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.WOMBI.2019.05.001
Abstract: Women increasingly present to hospital in early labour, but admission before active labour contributes to overuse of interventions, poorer clinical and psychological outcomes, and higher healthcare costs. Innovative models of early labour care have so far not improved birth outcomes. To examine if reconfiguring the early labour service in a large Australian maternity service improved (1) the birth outcomes of women who presented in early labour and (2) alleviated bed blockages by decreasing length of stay in the Pregnancy Assessment and Observation Unit. Pre-post intervention design, using routinely collected clinical data before and after the implementation of the reconfigured early labour service. There were 527 women in pre-intervention cohort and 747 in the post-intervention cohort. The two groups were similar in age, body mass index, marital status, education level and gestation at birth. Post intervention, epidural use did not change significantly, but rates of amniotomy (35.7% vs. 49.9%, p = <0.001), meconium-stained liquor (20.1% vs 26.1%, p = 0.04), and neonatal nursery admission (2.7% vs. 5.8% p = 0.01) increased. The proportion of women staying in the Assessment unit more than two hours decreased, but not significantly. Changing the location and model of early labour care did not influence epidural use, nor improve women's birth outcomes. For women in early labour, admission to any location within the hospital may be as problematic as admission to birth suite specifically.
Variation of mean fibre diameter across mohair fleeces: Implications for within flock animal selection, genetic selection, fleece classing and objective sale lot building
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2008
Direct effects of induced parturition on subsequent reproductive performance of dairy cows from commercial herds in south‐western Victoria
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-1995
DOI: 10.1111/J.1751-0813.1995.TB03557.X
Abstract: Reproductive performance was compared between cows whose previous parturition was induced and non-induced cows with similar calving dates, in 49 winter-calving, pasture-fed, commercial dairy herds in south-western Victoria. Parturition was induced in winter when most cows were between 27 and 35 weeks of pregnancy. Reproductive performance was assessed during the next mating period after induction which was mainly in spring of the same year. Percentages of cows in induced and untreated groups that were not pregnant after the mating period (9.0% and 7.2%, respectively) did not differ significantly. Induction tended to increase the percentage of cows of unknown pregnancy status. Mean percentages for induced and untreated groups were 11.5% and 7.9%, respectively. Induced and untreated groups calved at similar intervals after the planned start of calving in the following year, and the percentages of groups that required induction in that year did not differ significantly. The direct effects of induced parturition on reproduction were therefore concluded to be minimal. In seasonal calving herds, improvements in reproductive performance could be expected among cows whose calving dates were altered substantially by induction, due to increased intervals from calving to mating start date.
Contribution of objective and subjective attributes to the variation in commercial value of Australian mohair: implications for mohair production, genetic improvement, and mohair marketing
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2004
DOI: 10.1071/AR04107
Abstract: A database collected in the years 1998–01, from 2 mohair-selling agents in Australia, was analysed using multiple regression analysis to determine the effect on commercial sale prices of year, selling season within year, agent, mean fibre diameter (MFD), coefficient of variation of fibre diameter [CV(D)], vegetable matter base (VM), Schlumberger dry yield, visually assessed staple length, visually assessed fibre style, incidence of kemp, other faults, and interactions of these effects. The database consisted of 557 objectively measured lots. The weighted means ± s.d. of attributes analysed were: MFD, 30.9 ± 3.7 μm CV(D), 29.1 ± 2.6% VM, 1.0 ± 1.0% Schlumberger dry yield, 84.0 ± 2.7% lot weight, 1186 ± 938 kg. The final model for the price of greasy mohair had fixed terms involving a combination of selling agent, selling period, MFD, VM, and visual classing grades. This model accounted for 98% of the variation of the logarithm of greasy mohair price. Agent and selling period combinations accounted for 22% of the variation. Terms involving MFD accounted for 59% of the variation not accounted for by agent and period combinations. Although the response of greasy mohair price to MFD differed greatly with period, in the second quarter of 1999 the maximum relative price of greasy mohair was reached at a MFD of about 25 μm. The relative price typically declined to about 50% of the maximum at 30 μm and to a price of 10% of the maximum at 36 μm. The increase in relative value from poor to superior style mohair was about 43%. There were large discounts for length (up to 48%), kemp (up to 87%), and light stained mohair (70%). Deviations due to length differ with time and MFD. The discount for fault lines was proportionally higher when MFD was low, and proportionally less serious when the mohair MFD was high. The discount was proportionally greater the more serious the fault. There was a curvilinear response to the presence of VM in mohair and an interaction of VM with MFD, but these terms only accounted for the last 0.5% of the variation. After allowing for the effects of selling, agent, visual attributes, MFD, and VM, neither Schlumberger dry yield nor CV(D) was related to greasy mohair price. CV(D) was related to length, kemp, fault, and MFD. Apart from the current practice of price reporting on a greasy basis, the information supplied by agents provides transparency in mohair transactions as the current objective measurements and visual appraisal explain 97% of the variation not explained by agent and period of sale.
A Silk‐Based Functionalization Architecture for Single Fiber Imaging and Sensing
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-03-2022
Abstract: A new fiber functionalization architecture for single‐fiber imaging and sensing is presented. 5(6)Carboxy‐seminaphthorhodafluor‐2 (a fluorescent pH sensor) is attached to a silk‐binding peptide and the complex added to aqueous silk fibroin protein. These bind with a K d of 36 µM as determined by a fluorescence polarization assay. The fiber is dip‐coated into the silk and peptide mixture, and scanning electron microscopy images reveal a uniform silk coating on the fiber tip. The coating is stable to repeated washes and does not affect the imaging light emitted from the fiber, which allows concurrent optical coherence tomography (OCT) imaging and pH sensing. Oocytes are metabolically stimulated with CoCl 2 to produce lactic acid, and a pH reduction of 0.04 is measured using the probe. The distance between fiber tip and oocyte is monitored by simultaneous OCT acquisitions to precisely position the probe. Lastly, OCT imaging of an ovary revealed the presence/absence of an oocyte within a follicle, an important step toward improving patient outcomes during in vitro fertilization, by limiting the number of invasive follicle punctures required. These results demonstrate the utility of this new coating to enable simultaneous OCT imaging and sensing, which provides significant insight into complex biological systems.
The relationship of adult morphology and early social signalling of the domestic dog (Canis familiaris)
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2009
DOI: 10.1016/J.BEPROC.2009.03.019
Abstract: Most research on dog communication has focused on either the use of lupine signals during intra-specific interactions or has studied single-breed groups, with little regard to the effects of morphological change in the dog on their communication. This oversight ignores the fact that most modern dog breeds do not resemble the wolf and thus they have lost the ability to send some signals and may encounter communication problems. Using puppies in 40 litters from 32 breeds, we investigated the relationship between the frequencies of behaviours (social signals), and the adult morphology of these dogs. Despite a high level of precision, no statistically significant relationships were found between the deviation of the adult morphology from the ancestral lupine morphotype and early social signalling in the dog. We concluded that any communication loss due to morphological deviation, is not compensated for by increasing the frequency of signalling behaviours at this age.
Bias when predicting crude protein, dry matter digestibility and voluntary intake of tropical grasses by near-infrared reflectance
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-1983
Management of aquatic alligator weed (Alternanthera philoxeroides) in an early stage of invasion
Publisher: Regional Euro-Asian Biological Invasions Centre Oy (REABIC)
Date: 11-2014
The effects of floor space and nest box access on the physiology and behavior of caged laying hens
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2019
DOI: 10.3382/PS/PEY378
Photopharmacological Control of Cyclic Antimicrobial Peptides
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-11-2018
Abstract: Gramicidin S is a naturally occurring antimicrobial cyclic peptide. Herein, we present a series of cyclic peptides based on gramicidin S that contain an azobenzene photoswitch to reversibly control secondary structure and, hence, antimicrobial activity.
Self-Reported Comprehension Ratings of Dog Behavior by Puppy Owners
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 06-2009
Structural Engineering of the Barrier Oxide Layer of Nanoporous Anodic Alumina for Iontronic Sensing
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 29-04-2022
Abstract: The hemispherical barrier oxide layer (BOL) closing the bottom tips of hexagonally distributed arrays of cylindrical nanochannels in nanoporous anodic alumina (NAA) membranes is structurally engineered by anodizing aluminum substrates in three distinct acid electrolytes at their corresponding self-ordering anodizing potentials. These nanochannels display a characteristic ionic current rectification (ICR) signal between high and low ionic conduction states, which is determined by the thickness and chemical composition of the BOL and the pH of the ionic electrolyte solution. The rectification efficiency of the ionic current associated with the flow of ions across the anodic BOL increases with its thickness, under optimal pH conditions. The inner surface of the nanopores in NAA membranes was chemically modified with thiol-terminated functional molecules. The resultant NAA-based iontronic system provides a model platform to selectively detect gold metal ions (Au
Variation of mohair staple length across Angora goat fleeces: implications for animal selection and fleece evaluation
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 16-04-2009
DOI: 10.1017/S0021859609008703
Abstract: The present study aimed to determine how the average mohair staple length (SL) differences between nine s ling sites vary between sex and flock, to identify differences in SL variability between s ling sites as a result of between-animal and between-sire variability and to determine SL correlations between s ling sites in between-animal and between-sire variability. Australian Angora goats ( n =301) from two farms in southern Australia were s led at 12 and 18 months of age at nine sites (mid side, belly, brisket, hind flank, hip, hock, mid back, neck and shoulder). Staples were taken prior to shearing at skin level and stretched SL determined. For each shearing, differences in SL between s ling sites, how these differences were affected by farm, sex and sire, and the covariance between sites for sire and in idual animal effects were investigated by restricted maximum likelihood (REML) analyses. The median mid-side SL at 12 and 18 months of age was 110 and 130 mm, respectively, but the actual range in mid-side SL was 65–165 mm. There was an anterior–posterior decline in SL with the hock being particularly short. There was no evidence that the between-site correlation of the sire effects differed from 1, indicating that genetic selection for SL at one site will be reflected in SL over the whole fleece. However, low heritabilities of SL at the hock, belly and brisket or at any site at 12 months of age were obtained. There was more variability between sites than between sires, but the between-animal variation was greater. The hip and mid-back sites can be recommended for within-flock (culling) and genetic selection for SL due to their low s ling variability, moderate heritability and ease of location.
Sulfonamide-Based Inhibitors of Biotin Protein Ligase as New Antibiotic Leads
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 13-08-2019
DOI: 10.1021/ACSCHEMBIO.9B00463
Abstract: Here, we report the design, synthesis, and evaluation of a series of inhibitors of
Coarser wool is not a necessary consequence of sheep aging: allometric relationship between fibre diameter and fleece-free liveweight of Saxon Merino sheep
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2016
Effects of mulesing and alternative procedures to mulesing on the behaviour and physiology of lambs
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2009
Reducing preterm birth amongst Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander babies: A prospective cohort study, Brisbane, Australia
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2019
Determinants of cashmere production: The contribution of fleece measurements and animal growth on farms
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2008
The effects of induced parturition in dairy cows on the incidence of mortality in calves from commercial herds in south‐western Victoria
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 1995
DOI: 10.1111/J.1751-0813.1995.TB03466.X
Abstract: The effects of induced parturition on calf mortality rates were studied in 24 winter-calving, pasture-fed, dairy herds in south-western Victoria. Parturition was induced when most cows were between 27 and 35 weeks of pregnancy. Control groups were selected from cows in the same herds in which calving was not induced. The incidence of mortality within 7 days of birth was much higher among calves from cows in induced groups relative to those in control groups (estimated median herd mortality incidence 72% and 7%, respectively). The incidence of calf mortality was high among groups induced at all stages of pregnancy that were investigated. However, differences in calf mortality incidence, relative to controls, were increased among groups induced at earlier stages of pregnancy.
A biophotonic approach to measure pH in small volumes in vitro: Quantifiable differences in metabolic flux around the cumulus‐oocyte‐complex (COC)
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-12-2019
Abstract: Unfertilised eggs (oocytes) release chemical biomarkers into the medium surrounding them. This provides an opportunity to monitor cell health and development during assisted reproductive processes if detected in a non-invasive manner. Here we report the measurement of pH using an optical fibre probe, OFP1, in 5 μL drops of culture medium containing single mouse cumulus oocyte complexes (COCs). This allowed for the detection of statistically significant differences in pH between COCs in culture medium with no additives and those incubated with either a chemical (cobalt chloride) or hormonal treatment (follicle stimulating hormone) both of which serve to induce the release of lactic acid into the medium immediately surrounding the COC. Importantly, OFP1 was shown to be cell-safe with no inherent cell toxicity or light-induced phototoxicity indicated by negative DNA damage staining. Pre-measurement photobleaching of the probe reduced fluorescence signal variability, providing improved measurement precision (0.01-0.05 pH units) compared to previous studies. This optical technology presents a promising platform for the measurement of pH and the detection of other extracellular biomarkers to assess cell health during assisted reproduction.
Maximising lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) production with fixed‐length recovery intervals after defoliation in mild winter environments
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-09-2018
DOI: 10.1111/JAC.12300
The effects of induced parturition on the incidence of clinical disease and mortality in dairy cows from commercial herds in south‐western Victoria
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 1995
DOI: 10.1111/J.1751-0813.1995.TB03465.X
Abstract: The effects of induced parturition on clinical disease and mortality of cows were studied in 51 winter-calving, pasture-fed, dairy herds in south-western Victoria. Parturition was induced when most cows were between 27 and 35 weeks of pregnancy. Control groups were selected from herdmates that were not induced to calve. The incidence of retained placenta was much greater among induced cows of all ages. The proportion of cows affected by any clinical disease other than retained placenta, and the incidence of mortality were much greater after induction among cows aged over 6 years but not among cows aged 3 to 6 years.
A long-term study in Merino sheep experimentally infected with subsp. : clinical disease, faecal culture and immunological studies
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-12-2004
DOI: 10.1016/J.VETMIC.2004.09.007
Abstract: Two longitudinal experiments involving Merino sheep challenged with either bovine or ovine strains of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) have been conducted over a period of 54 and 35 months, respectively. Blood s les for the interferon-gamma test, the absorbed ELISA and faecal s les for bacteriological culture were taken pre-challenge and monthly post-challenge. Infections were induced with either a bovine or ovine strain of Map in separate experiments with infections being more easily established, in terms of faecal bacterial shedding and clinical disease when the challenge inoculum was prepared from gut mucosal tissue than cultured bacteria. The patterns of response for shedding and clinical disease were similar. Cell-mediated immune responses were proportionally elevated by at least an order of magnitude in all sheep dosed with either a bovine or ovine strain of Map. Conversely, antibody responses were only elevated in a relatively small proportion of infected sheep. Neither of the clinically affected tissue challenged sheep developed an antibody response despite the presence of persistent shedding and the development and decline in cell-mediated immunity. The results indicated that for sheep the interferon-gamma test may be useful for determining if a flock has been exposed to ovine Johne's disease.
Fortuitousin vitrocompound degradation produces a tractable hit againstMycobacterium tuberculosisdethiobiotin synthetase: a cautionary tale of what goes in, does not always come out
Publisher: Cold Spring Harbor Laboratory
Date: 27-03-2023
DOI: 10.1101/2023.03.26.531482
Abstract: We previously reported potent ligands and inhibitors of Mycobacterium tuberculosis dethiobiotin synthetase ( Mt DTBS), a promising target for antituberculosis drug development (Schumann et al., ACS Chem Biol. 2021, 16, 2339-2347) here the unconventional origin of the fragment compound they were derived from is described for the first time. Compound 1 (9b-hydroxy-6b,7,8,9,9a,9b-hexahydrocyclopenta[3,4]cyclobuta[1,2-c]chromen-6(6a H )-one), identified by in silico fragment screen, was subsequently shown by surface plasmon resonance to have dose-responsive binding ( K D 0.6 mM). Clear electron density was revealed in the DAPA substrate binding pocket, when 1 was soaked into Mt DTBS crystals, but the density was inconsistent with the structure of 1 . Here we show the lactone of 1 hydrolyses to carboxylic acid 2 under basic conditions, including those of the crystallography soak, with subsequent ring-opening of the component cyclobutane ring to form cyclopentylacetic acid 3 . Crystals soaked directly with authentic 3 produced electron density that matched that of crystals soaked with presumed 1 , confirming the identity of the bound ligand. The synthetic utility of fortuitously formed 3 enabled subsequent compound development into nanomolar inhibitors. Our findings represent an ex le of chemical modification within drug discovery assays and demonstrate the value of high-resolution structural data in the fragment hit validation process. A molecule flagged in an in silico docking screen against Mt DTBS, was inadvertently hydrolysed in the crystal conditions used for hit validation. The resulting fragment-sized molecule bound to the DAPA substrate binding pocket of the target enzyme ( Mt DTBS) with millimolar affinity, as measured by surface plasmon resonance, but was later modified to a highly potent (nanomolar) ligand and promising lead for the development of novel tuberculosis treatments.
Indices for cashmere fleece competition and across farm comparisons: The role of staple length in identifying goats of higher cashmere production
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2014
The allometric relationship between clean mohair growth and the fleece-free liveweight of Angora goats is affected by liveweight change
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2013
DOI: 10.1071/AN12070
Abstract: Clean fleece weight (CFWt) is affected by liveweight and change in liveweight in Merino sheep, Angora and cashmere goats. However, how these relationships progress as animals age has not been elucidated. Measurements were made over 12 shearing periods on a population of Angora goats representing the current range and ersity of genetic origins including South African, Texan and interbred admixtures of these and Australian sources. Records of breed, sire, dam, date of birth, dam age, birthweight, birth parity, weaning weight, liveweight, fleece growth and fleece quality were taken for does and castrated males (wethers) (n = 267 animals). Fleece-free liveweights (FFLwt) were determined for each goat at shearing time by subtracting the greasy fleece weight from the liveweight recorded immediately before shearing. The average of the FFLwt at the start of the period and the FFLWt at the end of the period was calculated (AvFFLwt). Liveweight change (LwtCh) was the change in FFLwt over the period between shearings. A restricted maximum likelihood model was developed for CFWt, after log10 transformation, which allowed the observations of the same animal at different ages to be correlated in an unstructured manner. A simple way of describing the results is: CFWt = κ (AvFFLwt)β, where κ is a parameter that can vary in a systematic way with shearing age, shearing treatment and LwtCh and β is an allometric coefficient that only varies with LwtCh. CFWt was proportional to FFLwt0.67 but only when liveweight was lost at the rate of 5–10 kg during a shearing interval of 6 months. The allometric coefficient declined to 0.3 as LwtCh increased from 10 kg loss to 20 kg gain during a shearing interval. A consequence is that, within an age group of Angora goats, the largest animals will be the least efficient in converting improved nutrition to mohair.
Health beneficial long chain omega-3 fatty acid levels in Australian lamb managed under extensive finishing systems
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2014
Could enemy release explain invasion success of Sagittaria platyphylla in Australia and South Africa?
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2019
The effects of kennel size and exercise on the behaviour and stress physiology of individually-housed greyhounds
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2018
PPARγ Corepression Involves Alternate Ligand Conformation and Inflation of H12 Ensembles
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 05-05-2023
Survival of cabomba (Cabomba caroliniana) during lake drawdown within mounds of stranded vegetation
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 03-2013
A long-term bacteriological and immunological study in Holstein-Friesian cattle experimentally infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis and necropsy culture results for Holstein-Friesian cattle, Merino sheep and Angora goats
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 16-05-2007
DOI: 10.1016/J.VETMIC.2006.12.030
Abstract: The aims were to longitudinally evaluate the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) test in comparison to faecal culture and the absorbed ELISA in a cattle infection model for Johne's disease and to determine the adult infection status, by necropsy and tissue culture, of sheep, goats and cattle infected as young animals. Clinical disease, faecal culture results and immunological responses for Merino sheep [Stewart, D.J., Vaughan, J.A., Stiles, P.L., Noske, P.J., Tizard, M.L.V., Prowse, S.J., Michalski, W.P., Butler, K.L., Jones, S.L., 2004. A long-term study in Merino sheep experimentally infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis: clinical disease, faecal culture and immunological studies. Vet. Microbiol. 104, 165-178] and Angora goats [Stewart, D.J., Vaughan, J.A., Stiles, P.L., Noske, P.J., Tizard, M.L.V., Prowse, S.J., Michalski, W.P., Butler, K.L., Jones, S.L., 2006. A long-term study in Angora goats experimentally infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis: clinical disease, faecal culture and immunological studies. Vet. Microbiol. 113, 13-24], in the same experiments as the Holstein-Friesian cattle, have been described. Two longitudinal experiments involving Holstein-Friesian cattle challenged with either bovine or ovine strains of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (Map) have been conducted over a period of 54 and 35 months, respectively. Blood s les for the IFN-gamma test and the absorbed ELISA and faecal s les for bacteriological culture were taken pre-challenge and monthly post-challenge. Cell-mediated (CMI) responses were substantially higher for the bovine Map strain during the 42-month period following dosing but then declined in the remaining 12 months. However, for the ovine Map challenge and control groups, CMI responses were not significantly different from each other. None of the cattle developed clinical disease and only one of the cattle in the bovine Map gut mucosal tissue challenged group was a persistent faecal shedder and also an ELISA antibody responder which developed after shedding commenced. Culture of tissues, following necropsy at the completion of the experiments, showed no evidence of infection in any of the challenged cattle and sheep for either the bovine or ovine Map strain in contrast to positive cultures for challenged goats in the same experiments. The tissues from the control cattle, sheep and goats were culture negative. The cattle were less susceptible to the bovine and ovine Map strains than goats and sheep with the goats being the least naturally resistant.
Ease of moving young calves at different ages
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-12-2012
DOI: 10.1111/AVJ.12014
Abstract: Young ('bobby') calves transported to the abattoir in their first week of life have not yet developed natural herding behaviour. The calves are still in a 'hider' phase and naturally spend most of their time lying and sleeping. Anecdotally, calves are easier to handle as they get older, although it is unclear if they are inherently more responsive to a handler. This study examined the ease of moving 3-, 5- and 9-11-day-old calves in idually through an obstacle course involving a 12° incline, a 11° decline and two 90° turns. There was a significant effect of age on both the total time taken to move through the course (99 vs 86 vs 72s for 3-, 5- and 9-11-day-old calves, respectively P < 0.05) and the number of interventions by the handler (8.4 vs 7.3 vs 4.8 interventions per calf for 3-, 5- and 9-11-day-old calves, respectively P < 0.05). Ease of herding bobby calves improved with age, although in idually handled calves were relatively easy to move regardless of age.
Understanding the impact of sire lean meat yield breeding value on carcass composition, meat quality, nutrient and mineral content of Australian lamb
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2020
Nanoporous anodic alumina-based iontronics: fundamentals and applications
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2023
DOI: 10.1039/D3TC01735D
Abstract: An overview of structural, chemical, and iontronic properties of nanoporous anodic alumina (NAA) with proof-of-principle demonstrations of state-of-the-art iontronic applications such as ionic diodes, sensors, and osmotic energy generators.
Effects of breed, season of lambing and fecundity level on production per ewe and per hectare
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 1991
DOI: 10.1071/EA9910015
Abstract: Production per ewe and output per hectare were measured from the ewes of self-replacing, wool sheep flocks, stocked at 500 kg liveweight/ha on mixed annual-perennial pasture species in a temperate zone with 700 mm annual winter rainfall, near Hamilton in Victoria. Ewes of 2 breeds, a small body-sized, fine wool (20 pm) Merino and a larger body-sized, medium wool (23 pm) comeback, were compared at 2 lambing seasons (May or August) and at 2 levels of fecundity (natural or enhanced) from 1982 to 1985. Supplements were fed to prevent nutritional stress. Comeback ewes were about 10% heavier (P .01), produced 0.8 kg more (P .001) wool and reared more (P .01) lambs (0.93 v. 0.77) than Merinos, however, output per hectare was similar for both breeds. Ewes lambing in August required less (P .05) feed supplement than those lambing in May to produce similar wool and lamb output per hectare. Treatments to induce extra ovulations increased lambing rate in both ewe breeds. The mean change was from 1.06 to 1.23 lambs/ewe (P .01), but due to the high mortality of twins, lamb weaning rate and weight per hectare were not increased. When combined with the results from other studies, we conclude that the mean flock wool weight/ha is closely correlated to the mean ewe mating liveweight/ha across a range of wool sheep which differ in size and wool production because of either genotype or environment.
The relationship between the incidence of medullated fibres in mohair and live weight over the lifetime of Angora goats
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2013
Lifetime and fleece quality traits associated with the occurrence of entangled mohair staples
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2014
Relationship of weaning weight to the mature liveweight of cashmere does on Australian farms
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2010
DOI: 10.1071/AN09220
Abstract: Median weaning weight and its relationship with the median mature liveweight of does was quantified for four commercial Australian cashmere farms in various parts of Australia. In idual liveweights, of does of all ages at the time of weaning in December, ranged from 9 to 61 kg. In idual farm means of adult does ( year old) ranged from 24.6 to 38.8 kg. The model for the logarithm of liveweight was: log10(liveweight) = a + br(Age + 0.6) where a, b and r are parameters that are different for each farm. The result that the r parameter differs with farm was statistically significant (P = 9.4 × 10−6). The percentage variance accounted for was 84.4% and the residual standard deviation was 0.042. Farms differed greatly in the median mature liveweight with some farms reaching ~44 kg and others only 31 kg. Median weaning weight was 14.1 kg (range 11.4–16.8 kg). Median weaning weight as a percentage of median mature doe liveweight on a particular farm varied from 32 to 42%. These weaning weights appear low in absolute and relative terms and thus are likely to incur production penalties.
Factors affecting the concentration of short branched-chain fatty acids in sheep fat
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2007
DOI: 10.1071/EA07037
Abstract: The concentration of short branched-chain fatty acids, specifically 4-methyloctanoic acid (MOA) and 4-methylnonanoic acid (MNA), in subcutaneous fat were determined in five genotypes (Poll Dorset × Border Leicester Merino, Poll Dorset × Merino, Poll Dorsetmuscling × Merino, Merino × Merino, Border Leicester × Merino) of Australian sheep. In total, 264 ewes and wethers, either 8 or 22 months of age, were selected for genotype, age and gender. These animals were sired by 16 rams that were selected for growth based on estimated breeding values (EBVs), except for one group (Poll Dorsetmuscling × Merino), which was selected for muscling based on EBVs. There was a strong relationship between the concentration of MOA and MNA at 8 and 22 months of age. There were no differences between lambs sired by Poll Dorset rams selected for muscling or growth. The 8- and 22-month-old Poll Dorset × Merino sheep had higher levels of MOA and MNA compared with the other genotypes (P 0.001). At 8 months of age, the wethers had higher levels of MOA and MNA (P 0.001) than the ewes of the same genotype. There was a strong relationship (P 0.001) between MOA and MNA and the fat and lean percentage for 22-month-old ewes. Effects of sire, dam and slaughter day (at the same slaughter age) on MOA and MNA were also found. The results suggest that there is good feasibility for selection against animals at risk of possessing higher levels of short branched-chain fatty acids.
Accuracy of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry, weight, longissimus lumborum muscle depth and GR fat depth to predict half carcass composition in sheep
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2007
DOI: 10.1071/EA07039
Abstract: A Hologic QDR4500W dual energy X-ray absorptiometer (DXA) was used to measure body composition in 60 sheep half carcasses ranging from 8 to 28 kg. Half carcasses were from ewes and wethers of mixed genetics. Values determined by DXA, including total tissue mass (TTM), lean tissue mass (LTM), fat tissue mass (FTM) and bone mineral content (BMC), for the half carcass were evaluated by comparison with chemically determined composition. In the case of BMC, the relationship was with chemically determined ash content. Liveweight and chemically determined lean, fat and ash were strongly related to DXA-derived values for TTM, LTM, FTM and BMC, respectively (R2 = 0.999, 0.986, 0.989 and 0.920, respectively). However, because DXA estimates were different from chemically determined values in this s le of carcasses, they needed to be adjusted with the use of appropriate regression equations to correct the in-built algorithms. These data demonstrate the efficacy of DXA as a non-destructive method for determining the composition of the sheep half carcass.
Mycobacterium tuberculosis Dethiobiotin Synthetase Facilitates Nucleoside Triphosphate Promiscuity through Alternate Binding Modes
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 09-10-2018
Calculation of the heritability of spinning fineness from phenotypic and genetic parameters of the mean and CV of fibre diameter
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 1992
DOI: 10.1071/AR9921441
Abstract: In sheep selection programmes where fibre diameter distribution measurements are available, such as when using the FDA method of assessing fibre diameter, spinning fineness (as defined by Anderson, S.L. (1976), J. Text. Inst., 67, 175-80) might be preferable to using mean fibre diameter as a sheep selection criteria. This paper uses a Taylor's expansion to obtain an approximation to the heritability of spinning fineness when the phenotypic and genetic parameters of only the mean and the coefficient of variation of fibre diameter are available. The approximation assumes that the mean and coefficient of variation of fibre diameter are both phenotypically and genetically independent. Approximations are also obtained for the genetic correlation between spinning fineness and mean fibre diameter, and between spinning fineness and coefficient of variation. Using the approximations, estimates of heritability of spinning fineness and of the two genetic correlations are calculated for published studies.
Effects of stage of gestation at mixing on aggression, injuries and stress in sows
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2015
Reducing the level of nutrition of twin-bearing ewes during mid to late pregnancy produces leaner prime lambs at slaughter
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2020
Predicting the realised host-range of Leptinotarsa texana with open-field experiments
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 02-07-2023
An analysis of variability and genotype × environment interaction in mung bean (Vigna radiata) in south-eastern Queensland
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 1982
DOI: 10.1071/AR9820523
Abstract: Thirty mung bean (Vigna radiata) accessions were grown in replicated hill plots at two sites in each of 2 years. Plant height, days to flower and to harvest, and seed yield were recorded for each plot. In an analysis of variance most main effects and interactions were statistically significant. Estimated variance due to environment exceeded that due to genotypes for all characters. Broad sense heritability of seed yield was 0.07. The linear regression of seed yield on plant height was statistically significant, and there was a significant quadratic effect of yield on days to flower. It was concluded that environmental effects on the duration of growth phases were likely to be mainly due to the effect of different sowing dates on photoperiod-sensitive accessions, while rainfall variability most likely contributed to yield variance. Emphasis in an evaluation program should be on s ling years rather than locations.
Assessing the fundamental host-range of Leptinotarsa texana Schaeffer as an essential precursor to biological control risk analysis
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2020
Interrelationships between dietary lysine, sex, and porcine somatotropin administration on growth performance and protein deposition in pigs between 80 and 120 kg live weight.
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 2000
Abstract: Sixty male and 60 female crossbred pigs were allocated to an experiment to investigate the effects of porcine somatotropin (pST) administration (0 or 6 mg/d) and dietary lysine content on growth performance, tissue deposition, and carcass characteristics over the live weight range of 80 to 120 kg. Pigs receiving pST were given diets containing 6.9, 7.8, 8.8, 9.7, 10.6, or 11.5 g lysine/kg, whereas control pigs received diets containing 4.8, 5.8, 6.9, 7.8, 8.8 or 9.7 g lysine/kg. These dietary levels ranged from 0.40 to 0.70 g available lysine/MJ of DE for pST-treated pigs and from 0.28 to 0.58 g available lysine/MJ of DE for control pigs. Pigs were in idually housed in pens, and there were five replicates of each treatment. All diets contained 14.5 MJ of DE/kg and were offered for ad libitum consumption to pigs between 80 and 120 kg live weight. Growth rate increased exponentially and food conversion ratio (FCR) decreased exponentially with increasing levels of lysine. In addition, there was a significant sex x pST interaction such that pST reduced the sex difference in FCR. Growth rate was faster in boars than in gilts and was increased by pST at the higher levels of dietary lysine. Similarly, FCR was lower for boars than for gilts and was decreased by pST at the higher dietary lysine levels. The optimum growth rate and FCR were defined as the lysine level at which growth rate and FCR were 95% and 105%, respectively, of the lysine plateau. The optimum growth rate and FCR were achieved at similar dietary lysine contents and were approximately 0.35 and 0.52 g available lysine/MJ of DE for control and pST-treated pigs, respectively. Protein deposition in the carcass increased exponentially with increasing dietary lysine level, was higher in boars than in gilts, and was increased by pST at the higher dietary lysine contents. Sex had no effect on dietary lysine required to maximize protein deposition. The dietary lysine contents required to ensure 95% of plateau protein deposition of 104 and 153 g/d were 0.39 and 0.55 g available lysine/MJ of DE for control and pST-treated pigs, respectively. The increase in lysine requirement with pST seems to be commensurate with the increase in protein deposition.
Sources of variation in fibre diameter attributes of Australian alpacas and implications for fleece evaluation and animal selection
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2004
DOI: 10.1071/AR03073
Abstract: Sources of variation in fibre diameter attributes of Australian alpacas and implications for fleece evaluation and animal selection were investigated using data collected in the years 1994–97, from 6 properties in southern Australia. Data were analysed using REML (multiple regression analysis) to determine the effect on mean fibre diameter (MFD) and coefficient of variation of MFD (CV(FD)) of age, origin (property), sex (entire male, female), breed (Huacaya, Suri), liveweight, fibre colour, in idual, and interactions of these effects. The mean (n = 100) age (range) was 4.2 years (0.1–11.9), liveweight 72.0 kg (12.0–134 kg), MFD 29.1 μm (17.7–46.6 μm), CV(FD) 24.33% (15.0–36.7%). A number of variables affected MFD and CV(FD). MFD increased to 7.5 years of age, and correlations between MFD at 1.5 and 2 years of age with the MFD at older ages were much higher than correlations at younger ages. Fibre diameter 'blowout' (increase with age) was positively correlated with the actual MFD at ages 2 years and older. There were important effects of farm, and these effects differed with year and shearing age. Suris were coarser than Huacayas with the effect reducing with increased liveweight there was no effect of sex. Fleeces of light shade were 1 μm finer than dark fleeces. CV(FD) declined rapidly between birth and 2 years of age, reaching a minimum at about 4 years of age and then increasing however, CV(FD) measurements on young animals were very poor predictors of CV(FD) at older ages, and the response of CV(FD) to age differed with farm and year. Suris had a higher CV(FD) than Huacayas on most properties, and MFD, liveweight, and sex did not affect CV(FD). Fleeces of dark shade had higher CV(FD) than fleeces of light shade in 2 of the years. It is concluded that there are large opportunities to improve the MFD and CV(FD) of alpaca fibre through selection and breeding. The potential benefit is greatest from reducing the MFD and CV(FD) of fibre from older alpacas, through reducing the between-animal variation in MFD and CV(FD). S ling alpacas at ages years is likely to substantially decrease selection efficiency for lifetime fibre diameter attributes.
The influence of dietary energy intake on growth performance and tissue deposition in pigs between 80 and 120 kg liveweight
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2004
DOI: 10.1071/AR04041
Abstract: Eighty crossbred pigs of a composite genotype were allocated at 80 kg liveweight to a 2 × 5 factorial experiment involving 2 sexes (boars and gilts) and 5 levels of dietary energy intake ranging from about 55% estimated ad libitum up to 100% ad libitum intake. The diet was formulated to be protein-adequate and contained 14.4 MJ DE/kg and 0.55 g available lysine/MJ DE and the pigs were slaughtered at approximately 120 kg liveweight. Growth rate and food conversion efficiency increased linearly, in response to increasing digestible energy (DE) intake, with boars consistently out-performing gilts at each level of DE intake. Protein deposition rate in the whole empty body of pigs was consistently higher in boars than in gilts and linearly related to DE intake in both sexes, with no evidence of a plateau at high energy intakes, suggesting no intrinsic limit to protein deposition in these pigs up to 120 kg liveweight. When pigs were offered the protein-adequate diet ad libitum between 80 and 120 kg liveweight, boars and gilts consumed 47.7 and 40.9 MJ DE/day, respectively, and protein deposition rates in the whole empty body of pigs reached 247 and 182 g/day, respectively. Maintenance energy requirements were estimated to be 351 kJ DE/kg0.75.day for both boars and gilts [maximal model including nominal DE level (treated as a 5-level factor), actual DE intake (treated as a continuous variable), and sex (treated as a 2-level factor)] or 506 and 566 kJ DE/kg0.75.day for boars and gilts, respectively [reduced model including actual DE intake (treated as a continuous variable) and sex (treated as a 2-level factor)]. Statistical analyses show that the maximal model reflects the data more closely than the minimal model, suggesting that the lower maintenance estimate of 351 kJ DE/kg0.75.day could reflect reality better. In conclusion, genetically improved boars, and to a lesser extent gilts, have a high capacity for lean growth, and their upper limit to protein retention might not be reached below about 120 kg liveweight.
Multi-coloured fluorescent sensing toolbox for selective detection of nitroxyl in vitro and ex vivo
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2022
DOI: 10.1039/D2SD00006G
Abstract: Methods for the endogenous detection of nitroxyl (azanone HNO), the reduced and protonated derivative of nitric oxide (NO), are required to define its cardiovascular function and its key role in chronic pain.
The value of visual fleece assessment in addition to objective measurements in identifying Angora goats of greater clean mohair production
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2014
Implications to fleece evaluation derived from sources of variation contributing to cashmere fibre curvature
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2009
Hydrodynamic exposure and time since application influence endothall amine potency against submersed aquatic plants
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2019
Spinning Fineness for Wool
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 1995
The effects of a perch, dust bath, and nest box, either alone or in combination as used in furnished cages, on the welfare of laying hens
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2009
Abstract: This experiment examined the welfare-related effects of in idual furniture items alone or in combination in a factorial experiment using Hy-Line Brown hens housed in 8-bird furnished cages. Welfare was assessed during two 8-wk s ling periods commencing at 29 and 59 wk of age. Measurement of stress, immunology, feather, foot and claw condition, and behavior were taken, and bone strength was measured at the end of the experiment. With the exception of the positive effects of a perch on bone strength, any effects of furniture items were relatively small, even though the furniture was extensively used. Although there were changes in behavior and small changes in feather, foot, and claw condition, it is unclear whether these changes have any meaningful implications for welfare. In this experiment there were 2 additional external control treatments for a small study that examined the effects of increasing space per bird (8 birds in single- and double-width cages) and the effects of group size (8 and 16 birds in double-width cages) using similar methodologies, these treatments showed differences in egg corticosterone concentrations and evidence of immunosuppression. Together, these data suggest that although furniture when present was well-used, any effects of furniture on hen welfare measured by physical and physiological traits, other than the benefit of a perch on bone strength, were smaller than effects of group size and space allowance.
Little penguins, Eudyptula minor, show increased avoidance, aggression and vigilance in response to zoo visitors
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2015
Behavioural responses of lambs to plastic clips as an alternative procedure to mulesing
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-08-2012
DOI: 10.1111/J.1751-0813.2012.00977.X
Abstract: Compare the effects on the behaviour of lambs of applying occlusive plastic clips, as an alternative procedure to surgical mulesing, with tail docking, surgical mulesing and a control treatment. We allocated 48 6-7-week-old Merino lambs to four treatment groups: plastic clips (Clip) surgical mulesing (Mules) tail docking with a rubber ring (Tail ring) no treatment (Control). For each posture and behaviour observed on each of the 4 days post-treatment, a Dunnett's multiple comparison test was used to simultaneously compare the Clip treatment with each of the comparator treatments (Control, Tail ring and Mules treatments). Most of the significant differences (P < 0.05) detected between the comparator treatments occurred on day 1. For four of these measurements, the Clip treatment differed (P < 0.01) from the Mules treatment, but from not the Control and Tail ring treatments: the Clip lambs spent less time standing immobile not interacting with ground, hay or feeder, less time standing immobile head down not interacting with ground, hay or feeder, more time walking and more time interacting with ground, hay or feeder. These behavioural results, together with previous behavioural and physiological research, indicate that the effect on lamb welfare of applying occlusive clips is less than that of surgical mulesing.
Exploring the Impact of a Dual Occupancy Neonatal Intensive Care Unit on Staff Workflow, Activity, and Their Perceptions
Publisher: SAGE Publications
Date: 20-06-2018
Abstract: In 2012, a tertiary neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) transitioned from an open plan (OP) to a dual occupancy (DO) NICU. The DO design aimed to provide a developmental appropriate, family-centered environment for neonates and their families. During planning, staff questioned the impact DO would have on staff workflow and activity. To explore the impact of changing from an OP to a DO NICU, a prospective longitudinal study was undertaken from 2011 to 2014, using observational, time and motion, and surveys methods. Main outcome measures included distance walked by staff, minutes of staff activity, and staff perceptions of the DO design. Results highlighted no significant difference in the distances clinical nurses walked nor time spent providing direct clinical care, whereas technical support staff walked further than other staff in both designs. Staff perceived the DO design created a developmentally appropriate, family-centered environment that facilitated communication and collaboration between staff and families. Staff described the main challenges of the DO design such as effective staff communication, gaining educational opportunities, and the isolation of staff and families compared to the OP design. Our study provides new evidence that DO provides an improved developmentally environment and has similar positive benefits to single-family room for neonates and families. Such design may reduce the larger floor plan’s impact on staff walking distance and work practices. Challenges of staff transition can be minimized by planning and leadership throughout the development and move to a new design.
Live-weight gains on leucaena and native grass pastures after dosing cattle with rumen bacteria capable of degrading DHP, a ruminal metabolite from leucaena
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 08-1988
DOI: 10.1017/S0021859600082976
Abstract: The effect on live-weight gain from dosing cattle with rumen bacteria capable of degrading 3-hydroxy-4(l H)-pyridone (DHP) was measured on cattle grazing leucaena and native grass pastures in south-east Queensland. Dosing increased the growth rate of cattle grazing only leucaena pasture: from 0·52 kg/head per day when not dosed, to 1·03 kg/head per day when dosed, in the period 6·19 weeks after treatment. Dosing did not affect the growth rate of cattle either grazing leucaena with native pasture, or grazing only native pasture. The introduced bacteria spread naturally to untreated cattle after 19 weeks post-dosing. The response to dosing occurred when untreated cattle grazing only leucaena pasture had high urinary concentrations of DHP (maximum 0·28%) and low concentrations of serum thyroxine ( 30 nmol/1). The results show that DHP-induced depressions in growth rate may occur in this environment when cattle graze mainly on leucaena-based pasture. Dosing with DHP-degrading bacteria will overcome this problem.
Serological analysis of Chlamydophila abortus in Australian sheep and implications for the rejection of breeder sheep for export
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2010
DOI: 10.1111/J.1751-0813.2009.00536.X
Abstract: Objective To examine the incidence of positive results in a complement fixation test (CFT) and enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for Chlamydophila abortus in Australian sheep and how this incidence differs with state of origin, age, sex, breed and property. To examine the consequences in relation to rejection of breeder sheep for export. Design Collection of blood s les from 891 sheep on 109 properties in southern Australia. All s les had a unique, coded property identification. Procedure The s les were tested using the Institut Pourquier Chlamydophila abortus antibody ELISA (rELISA) and a CFT. Residual maximum likelihood analyses of the s le to positive ratio of the corrected optical density for the rELISA and generalised linear mixed model analyses of the CFT outcomes were carried out. Results The s le to positive ratio of the corrected optical density values of the rELISA did not differ between sex, age, breed or state of origin, but differed greatly between properties. The CFT outcome did not differ between age, breed or state of origin, but differed greatly between properties and was more often positive with rams than with ewes. Conclusion Positive outcomes to C. abortus antibody tests are very common in Australia. Rams have a particularly high incidence of positive results with the CFT. Rejection of sheep and property consignments is likely to be very common with all tests and situations examined except for the CFT (at 1:32 dilution) in ewes.
Harvest interval affects lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) taproot total yield, starch, nitrogen and water‐soluble carbohydrates
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 21-02-2020
DOI: 10.1111/JAC.12397
Self-Reported Comprehension Ratings of Dog Behavior by Owners of Adult Dogs
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 03-2013
Front Cover: Rational Design of a 310‐Helical PIP‐Box Mimetic Targeting PCNA, the Human Sliding Clamp (Chem. Eur. J. 44/2018)
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 19-07-2018
Relationship of body condition score, live weight, stocking rate and grazing system to the mortality of Angora goats from hypothermia and their use in the assessment of welfare risks
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2008
DOI: 10.1111/J.1751-0813.2007.00249.X
Abstract: Body condition scoring is widely used for sheep and cattle but the practice is included in only one Code of Practice for the welfare of goats in Australia. There is no published scientific evidence to support or defend its use in the assessment of welfare risks to farmed goats. Procedure The significance of stocking rate, grazing system, body condition score (CS) and live weight were investigated in explaining the risk of mortality of in idual and flocks of grazing Angora goats from hypothermia following a severe weather event in April. This event occurred 5 weeks after shearing the goats. Angora goats and Saxon Merino sheep were grazed alone, or mixed together in equal numbers at each of three stocking rates. Results There was no mortality amongst Angora goats provided they grazed at the lowest stocking rate even when their CS was ≤ 2.0. Mortality in flocks of Angora goats was most related to the CS reached during the preceding 2 months. For flocks of Angora goats there was no mortality at CS ≥ 2.5 and mortality increased sharply at mean CS 2.0. For in idual Angora goats, mortality increased as CS declined and stocking rate and grazing combinations were additive in effect on mortality. Grazing with sheep increased mortality of Angora goats at higher stocking rates. The in idual goat mortality rate was not dependent on in idual plot effects suggesting that these results are applicable widely. Live weight loss was not related to mortality rates of goats once CS had been accounted for. Conclusion It was concluded that CS and stocking rate were highly significant determinants of welfare risk in Angora goats.
The relationships between morphological features and social signalling behaviours in juvenile dogs: The effect of early experience with dogs of different morphotypes
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2010
DOI: 10.1016/J.BEPROC.2010.05.006
Abstract: Research on dog communication has tended to focus on breed differences and the use of lupine signals by the domestic dog. However, the relationship between morphological change and communication has received little empirical study. The link between morphology and behavioural selection in a canid undergoing domestication, the silver fox (Vulpes vulpes), has been well documented. Therefore, it is reasonable to propose a similar link may be present in another canid species that has undergone domestication, namely the domestic dog (Canis familiaris). Inter-morphotype interactions (587 interactions) of 115 juvenile dogs aged 8-20 weeks from over 30 breeds and various hybrids, enrolled in veterinary "Puppy Socialisation Classes", were video taped. Each signal that could be sent, was recorded, and the sending and the intended receiving dog identified. The frequencies with which a dog sent each category of signal, and the frequency with which each category of signal was directed at the dog (elicited), were calculated. The relationship between these frequencies and the morphology of the dog was then studied using generalized linear models. Overall morphology of the dog was not related to either the sending or eliciting of any social signaling behaviours (social signals). However, snout length was related to both the signals sent by a dog, and especially the signals that were directed to a dog (elicited). Relationships to eye cover and coat length were also found. Possible explanations for the results are discussed, and avenues for further research are indicated.
Implementing Birthing on Country services for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families: RISE Framework
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.WOMBI.2019.06.013
Abstract: Birthing on Country is an international movement to return maternity services to First Nations communities and community control for improved health and wellbeing. How can we implement Birthing on Country services for Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander families across Australia? We have developed a framework from theoretical, policy and research literature on Birthing on Country Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander voices from across Australia reviews exploring programs that have improved outcomes for Indigenous mothers and infants and the retrospective synthesis of learnings from two empirical studies that have redesigned maternal infant health services and improved outcomes for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families. The RISE Framework has four pillars to drive important reform: (1) Redesign the health service (2) Invest in the workforce (3) Strengthen families and, (4) Embed Aboriginal and/or Torres Strait Islander community governance and control. We present the evidence base for each pillar and practical ex les of moving from the standard 'western' model of maternity care towards Birthing on Country services. Application of the RISE framework to plan, develop and monitor Birthing on Country services is likely to result in short and long-term health gains for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander families.
Decline in plant and animal production from ageing pastures of green panic (Panicum maximum var. trichoglume)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 04-1987
DOI: 10.1017/S0021859600079442
Abstract: The impact of age on the productivity of sown pastures of green panic ( Panicum maximum var. trichoglume cv. Petrie) growing on black earth soil in south-east Queensland was measured from 1976 to 1981. During winter and spring, weaner steers grazed at 2·4 animals/ha on summer-spelled pastures which, in each year, were 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 years old. Pastures were given 58 kg N/ha as urea each year. Live-weight gain averaged 74 kg/head on 1-year-old pasture but only 35 kg/head on 5-year-old pasture, with most of the reduction in weight gain in winter (June to August) occurring up to age 3 years, and with most of the reduction in spring (September to November) occurring for pastures older than 3 years. The decline in animal production was not caused by changes in species composition of the pasture. Rather, weight gain on older pastures was restricted by pasture quality in winter and by reduced pasture growth in spring, but not by presentation dry-matter yield. The decrease in pasture productivity seemed to be primarily due to reductions in available soil mineral N with age, since the N concentration of plant shoots decreased as a pasture aged. Tt is postulated that the immobilization of N in decomposing grass litter is a primary cause of productivity decline in ageing pastures.
Inhibition of Mycobacterium tuberculosis Dethiobiotin Synthase (MtDTBS): Toward Next-Generation Antituberculosis Agents
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 17-09-2021
Halogenation of Biotin Protein Ligase Inhibitors Improves Whole Cell Activity against Staphylococcus aureus
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 16-11-2018
DOI: 10.1021/ACSINFECDIS.7B00134
Abstract: We report the synthesis and evaluation of 5-halogenated-1,2,3-triazoles as inhibitors of biotin protein ligase from Staphylococcus aureus. The halogenated compounds exhibit significantly improved antibacterial activity over their nonhalogenated counterparts. Importantly, the 5-fluoro-1,2,3-triazole compound 4c displays antibacterial activity against S. aureus ATCC49775 with a minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 8 μg/mL.
The effect of milk quantity and feeding frequency on calf growth and behaviour
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.1071/AN19049
Abstract: Context Calves left with their dam to suckle will consume ~7–12 L/day however, the amount of milk provided to dairy young calves removed from their dams may often be as low as 4 L/day, or 10% of their bodyweight. Aims This study compared once and twice daily feeding, as well as feeding levels of 10 and 20% of bodyweight and studied the effect on behaviour and metabolic indicators indicative of hunger. Methods Forty-six male dairy calves were allocated to one of three treatments from 3 to 8 days of age: (i) 10% of bodyweight offered daily as one meal (1 × 10%, n = 16) (ii) 10% of bodyweight offered daily over two meals (2 × 5%, n = 15) or (iii) 20% of bodyweight offered over two meals (2 × 10%, n = 15). Behaviour during and after feeding was observed by video, and blood s les taken on selected days were analysed for glucose, nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA), cortisol and packed-cell volume. Key results Milk intake on Days 3 and 4 was lower in those calves fed once daily compared with calves fed twice daily. Calves fed at 20% bodyweight had higher milk intake compared with calves fed at 10% bodyweight on all days other than Day 3 and growth was higher in those calves. Non-nutritive sucking was mainly associated with feeding times and it was highest in calves fed 10% bodyweight over two meals, with a suckling pattern that suggested that feeding at 10% bodyweight satisfied feeding motivation less than feeding at 20% bodyweight. Play behaviour was reduced in calves fed once daily, suggesting hunger and reduced welfare. There were significant effects on physiological indicators of metabolic state. NEFA concentrations were significantly higher in calves fed once daily and calves fed 10% of bodyweight at certain time points, indicating a lower energy balance. Conclusions Feeding twice daily offers benefits to calves up to Day 4 of life whereas feeding 20% of bodyweight was beneficial after Day 4 to increase satisfaction of feeding motivation and nutrition for growth. Although metabolic variables were within normal physiological range for all treatments, the effects on feed intake, growth and non-nutrient sucking suggest marked effects on hunger when calves are fed the lower milk allowance. Implications The fairly common practice of feeding dairy calves 10% of bodyweight, in one or two daily meals may leave calves hungry, and an increase in milk allowance should be considered.
Effect of Covering a Visitor Viewing Area Window on the Behaviour of Zoo-Housed Little Penguins (Eudyptula minor)
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 18-07-2020
DOI: 10.3390/ANI10071224
Abstract: Studies on the effects of visitors on zoo animals have shown mixed findings and as a result, the manner in which visitors affect zoo animals remains unclear for many species, including a rarely studied taxa such as penguins. Penguins are a common zoo-housed species and have been shown to display huddling, vigilance and avoidance towards zoo visitors which can be indicative of fear. Here, we examined the effects of covering one visitor viewing area window, out of four, on little penguin (Eudyptula minor) behaviours that may be indicative of fear. Two treatments were randomly imposed on different days: (1) The main visitor viewing area window, where most visitor-penguin interactions occurred, was uncovered (‘Main window uncovered’) and (2) The main visitor viewing area window was covered (‘Main window covered’). Penguin numbers and behaviour were recorded near the main visitor viewing area window and the three other visitor viewing area windows, as well as one area not visible to visitors (‘Corner’ area). Furthermore, visitor numbers and visitor behaviour were recorded at all four visitor viewing area windows. Covering the main visitor viewing area window reduced the proportion of visitors present at this window by about 85% (p 0.001) and reduced potentially threatening visitor behaviours at this window such as tactile contact with the window, loud vocalisations and sudden movement (p 0.05). When the main visitor viewing area window was covered, the proportion of penguins present increased by about 25% (p 0.05), the proportion of visible penguins preening in the water increased by about 180% (p 0.05) and the proportion of visible penguins vigilant decreased by about 70% (p 0.05) in the area near this main window. A preference for the Corner area was also found whereby 59% and 49% of penguins were present in this area when the main window was uncovered and covered, respectively. These results provide limited evidence that the little penguins in this exhibit showed an aversion to the area near the main visitor viewing area window when it was uncovered based on the increased avoidance and vigilance and decreased preening in the water in this area. This suggests visitors may be fear-provoking for these little penguins. However, it is unclear whether visual contact with visitors per se or other aspects of visitor contact, such as visitor-induced sounds and vibrations, were responsible for this apparent aversion when this window was uncovered.
Sediment Facilitates Microbial Degradation of the Herbicides Endothall Monoamine Salt and Endothall Dipotassium Salt in an Aquatic Environment
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 15-10-2018
Abstract: Endothall dipotassium salt and monoamine salt are herbicide formulations used for controlling submerged aquatic macrophytes and algae in aquatic ecosystems. Microbial activity is the primary degradation pathway for endothall. To better understand what influences endothall degradation, we conducted a mesocosm experiment to (1) evaluate the effects of different water and sediment sources on degradation, and (2) determine if degradation was faster in the presence of a microbial community previously exposed to endothall. Endothall residues were determined with LC-MS at intervals to 21 days after endothall application. Two endothall isomers were detected. Isomer-1 was abundant in both endothall formulations, while isomer-2 was only abundant in the monoamine endothall formulation and was more persistent. Degradation did not occur in the absence of sediment. In the presence of sediment, degradation of isomer-1 began after a lag phase of 5–11 days and was almost complete by 14 days. Onset of degradation occurred 2–4 days sooner when the microbial population was previously exposed to endothall. We provide direct evidence that the presence and characteristics of sediment are of key importance in the degradation of endothall in an aquatic environment, and that monoamine endothall has two separate isomers that have different degradation characteristics.
Efficacy of a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA) for estimating prevalence of immunity to rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) in populations of Australian wild rabbits (Orycto
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2002
DOI: 10.1071/WR00114
Abstract: This study examines the efficacy of a cELISA in estimating the prevalence of immunity to rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) in wild rabbits in Australia. Rabbits (n = 343) captured from six locations in Victoria and Queensland were experimentally challenged with a lethal oral dose (1500 50%-lethal doses, LD50) of RHDV. Death or survival to challenge was used to determine the performance characteristics of the test. The diagnostic specificity, sensitivity and accuracy were highly variable between sites, making it difficult to select a representative cut-off value for all sites that achieved a reasonable level of accuracy for the prediction of surviving and non-surviving rabbits. Estimates of prevalence of immunity were biased owing to effects of site of capture (time of capture) and age structure of the population. Using predictive equations, the best estimates of survival were ±10% but these results came from a limited range of sites, all of which had survival in the range 49–70%. The cELISA will determine whether the RHDV is present in rabbit populations but it should be used with caution when estimating the prevalence of immunity to RHDV. The cELISA may thus be limited in its application for examining the epidemiology of RHDV in Australian rabbit populations.
Polyunsaturated fats in meat from Merino, first- and second-cross sheep slaughtered as yearlings
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2009
DOI: 10.1016/J.MEATSCI.2009.05.018
Abstract: This study examined the level of long chain omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fats, the ratio of polyunsaturated fat to saturated fat (PUFA/SFA) and the ratio of omega-6 to omega-3 (n-6/n-3) fat in sheep grown under grazing conditions in Australia. The sheep genotypes used were Poll Dorset(growth)×Border Leicester Merino (PDg×BLM), Poll Dorset(growth)×Merino (PDg×M), Poll Dorset(muscling)×Merino (PDm×M), Border Leicester×Merino (BL×M) and Merino×Merino (M×M). Loin muscles (Longissimus lumborum) collected from 40 ewe and wether sheep slaughtered at 14months of age were processed for fatty acid determination. After frozen storage, 20g s les were minced and a 7g homogenate was processed for muscle lipid extraction using a chloroform:methanol (2:1) procedure. There was an increase in PUFA/SFA as the proportion of Merino genetics increased in the progeny (second-cross<first-cross<Merino), but this was not shown in the n-6/n-3 ratio. The PUFA/SFA trend appeared to be associated with an increase in the level of total polyunsaturated fats, but not a decrease in the level of total saturated fats. The results demonstrate that there is a need to improve the PUFA/SFA content in first- and second-cross animals which are mainly used for meat production in Australia so as to maintain the healthy lipids in meat. Nutritional manipulation through feeding systems or selection of sires for greater heritability of omega-3 fat deposition may be suitable pathways to elevate the ratio of polyunsaturated fatty acids, and in particular omega-3.
Structure–Activity Relationship of 2,4-Dichloro-N-(3,5-dichloro-4-(quinolin-3-yloxy)phenyl)benzenesulfonamide (INT131) Analogs for PPARγ-Targeted Antidiabetics
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 22-05-2017
Associations of mature live weight of Australian cashmere goats with farm of origin and age
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2010
Comparison of ELISA and CFT assays for Chlamydophila abortus antibodies in ovine sera
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 08-2007
DOI: 10.1111/J.1751-0813.2007.00189.X
Abstract: To compare the sensitivity and specificity of Chlamydophila abortus antibody assays, to find a suitable serological assay for testing sheep for export. Comparison of results from known positive and negative sheep populations. Fifty-five positive and fifty negative sera were analysed by four enzyme linked immunosorbent assays (ELISA), three using recombinant antigens based on the chlamydial polymorphic outer membrane proteins (POMP90-3, POMP90-4, POMP80-90) and one using a synthetic peptide based on chlamydial major outer membrane proteins (MOMP-P). They were also analysed by complement fixation tests (CFT) using crude antigens from chlamydia isolated from an Australian sheep, a Californian parakeet and a Texan turkey. Assay sensitivity and specificity were expressed as point estimates and 95% confidence intervals. Results were compared using McNemar's test for paired s les. ELISA sensitivity ranged from 70 to 98% and complement fixation test sensitivity from 60 to 96% with POMP90-3 > POMP90-4 > CFT (parakeet) > CFT (turkey) > POMP80-90 > MOMP-P > CFT (sheep). There was no significant difference from POMP90-3 to POMP80-90 (P > 0.05). ELISA specificity ranged from 88 to 100% and CFT specificity was 100% for all three antigens with CFT and POMP90-4 > MOMP-P > POMP80-90 > POMP90-3. There was no significant difference from CFT to POMP80-90 (P > 0.05). Changing the CFT cut-off from 1:32 to 1:4 substantially reduced the specificity with little improvement in sensitivity. Assays using POMP90-4, POMP80-90, CFT (parakeet) and CFT (turkey) had equivalent sensitivity and specificity none of the ELISAs were more specific than any CFT. The POMP80-90 ELISA is recommended as an alternative to CFT (parakeet) but as its specificity is not ideal the search for a more specific assay should continue.
Using plant growth regulators to limit herbicide-induced stem fragmentation of aquatic alligatorweed (Alternanthera philoxeroides)
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 03-2012
Abstract: Alligatorweed is subject to an eradication program in Victoria, Australia. In aquatic situations, the herbicides glyphosate and metsulfuron are used. Alligatorweed has been shown to break up soon after the application of these herbicides, resulting in the production of many stem fragments that are viable and capable of downstream colonization, compromising the effectiveness of the eradication program. This paper reports on an experiment to investigate the usefulness of commercially available plant growth regulators (PGRs) in reducing the number of viable propagules produced post-herbicide application. Three herbicide treatments (no herbicide, glyphosate, and metsulfuron) and four PGR treatments (no PGR, aviglycine [AVG], naphthalene acetic acid [NAA], and 2,4-D) were investigated in a factorial experiment. Chemicals were applied to alligatorweed growing in separate aquaria, the resulting stem fragments were collected and counted, and a subset was tested for viability. There was no evidence of PGRs having any effect on the total number of viable stem fragments produced. However, AVG reduced the total number of fragments produced. PGRs in combination with herbicide treatment had an antagonistic effect on the efficacy of the herbicides. PGRs increased belowground biomass of alligatorweed, as well as the number of apical growing tips present. Results indicate that although PGRs, particularly AVG, may be of benefit in reducing the number of alligatorweed propagules produced post-herbicide application, at the application rates tested here there would be no benefit from incorporating them into herbicide control programs for alligatorweed.
Rhizobium strain evaluation of Glycine max cv. Davis, Vigna mungo cv. Regur and V. unguiculata cv. Caloona for three soils in glasshouse and field experiments
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 1983
DOI: 10.1071/EA9830043
Abstract: The need for inoculation of soybean (Glycine max cv. Davis), gram (Vigna mungo cv. Regur) and cowpea (V. unguiculata cv. Caloona) with six appropriate strains of Rhizobium in two grain legume, clay soil growing areas (Narayen and Emerald, central Queensland) and a Rhizobium free (to sparse) soil (Beerwah, in south-eastern Queensland) was investigated in glasshouse and field experiments. Inoculated plants generally had vegetative and grain yields which were between those of the nitrogen and nil nitrogen uninoculated controls, although for the freely nodulating Vigna species the nil nitrogen control plants were sometimes as large as those in the inoculated treatments. The strains of Rhizobium CB1015 and CB1243 performed well on cowpea and gram as did most strains used as inoculum on soybean. Strain USDA94 was often poor on soybean. In the two heavy clay soils tested, plants inoculated with CB756 and the streptomycin-resistant mutant CB756str developed nitrogen deficiency symptoms in their leaves, suggesting that the strains were not suited to those soil types. There was not a close relationship between the glasshouse and field means due to large residual errors in the field.
Acute effects of mulesing and alternative procedures to mulesing on lamb behaviour
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2011
The behaviour of Labrador retrievers in suburban backyards: The relationships between the backyard environment and dog behaviour
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2007
Residues and Dissipation of the Herbicide Imazapyr after Operational Use in Irrigation Water
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 02-04-2020
Abstract: Imazapyr is a herbicide that can be used in irrigation canals to control a range of aquatic weed species, however, its residual nature, combined with its phytotoxicity to crops at low concentrations, means that the water in canals must be carefully managed following imazapyr application. Residues of the herbicide imazapyr (isopropylamine salt) in irrigation water were analysed and modelled after application to irrigation canals in south-eastern Australia. A treatment program to control delta arrowhead (sagittaria Sagittaria platyphylla (Engelm.) J.G. Sm.) in over 400 km of irrigation canals was enacted by applying imazapyr to dewatered canals during winter. Following imazapyr application, canals were left dewatered for a period (up to eight weeks) and then refilled. After refilling, canals were ponded for a period (up to 28 days) to allow degradation of imazapyr in the water via photolysis. Upon refilling canals, ~650 water s les containing imazapyr were collected across the treatment area and data modelled to measure the extent of water contamination and to guide efforts to reduce the subsequent irrigation hazard to crops. Modelled data demonstrates that imazapyr behaviour in irrigation water following canal refilling was predictable when 1) amount of imazapyr applied, 2) the dewatered period following herbicide application, 3) the water ponding period, and 4) solar exposure during water ponding were taken into account. Minimising the amount applied (g imazapyr per km of canal) and maximising the time between spraying and refilling (dewatered period) reduced the initial concentration in the water following canal refilling. The amount of imazapyr in the canal water following refilling was reduced by half for every 16 days (confidence interval = 10–38 days) that the canal remained dewatered after imazapyr application. Imazapyr dissipation during the ponding period following canal refilling occurred at a rate that depended on solar exposure. Dissipation did not occur when solar exposure was .5 MJ m−2. However, when solar exposure was MJ m−2, imazapyr concentration in the water reduced by half for every 4.4 days of ponding period (confidence interval = 2.9–9.5 days). Our two models, combined with local climate data on solar exposure, can be used by canal managers to determine the optimal time to refill canals so that imazapyr dissipation is maximised, and thus risk of damaging irrigated crops is minimised.
Lasing from Narrow Bandwidth Light-Emitting One-Dimensional Nanoporous Photonic Crystals
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 09-03-2022
Characterisation of Shy-feeding and Feeding lambs in the first week in a feedlot
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2016
Longitudinal DXA measurements demonstrate lifetime differences in lean and fat tissue deposition between boars and barrows under individual and group-penned systems
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2006
DOI: 10.1071/AR04266
Abstract: Thirty-two Large White × Landrace male pigs were used to determine the relationships between the rates of tissue deposition and age, in boars and barrows under 2 housing systems. A 2 × 2 factorial design was used, with the respective treatments being sex (boar or barrow) and housing condition (in idually penned system or group-penned system). Surgical castration was performed at 7 days of age. In idually housed pigs were used to provide an estimate of potential growth and were weaned at 10 days into in idual cages and provided with supplemental fermented skim milk for 2 weeks. Group-housed pigs were weaned at 24 days of age and reared in group pens of boars and castrates typical for commercial production. Conventional weaner, grower, and finisher diets were provided ad libitum to all pigs from weaning onwards. A Hologic QDR4500A dual-energy X-ray absorptiometer (DXA) was used to determine lean, fat, and bone composition at 4-weekly intervals from 10 until 150 days of age. Over the 20 weeks of the study, boars deposited less fat than barrows (136 v. 179 g/day, s.e.d. = 6.49, P 0.001). Over the same time frame, boars deposited more lean tissue than barrows when in idually penned (490 v. 444 g/day, s.e.d. = 14.4, P 0.05) but there was no difference in group-penned pigs (464 v. 443 g/day, s.e.d. = 14.4, P 0.1). This was more pronounced in the final 4 weeks of growth when in idually penned boars deposited 200 g/day more lean than barrows (P 0.001), with no increase in group-penned animals. However, during this growth phase, group penning further increased the fat deposition margin between boars and barrows where boars deposited 90 g/day less fat when in idually penned (P 0.001), but 140 g/day less fat (P 0.001) when group penned. The results show that the advantages of boars in terms of growth and lean tissue composition are substantially reduced in group-penned situations. However, because of fat deposition, boars retain some advantage over barrows in group-penned systems at liveweights over about 50 kg. These data may aid in the accurate prediction of the nutrient requirements and optimum slaughter weight for barrows.
Engineering the Slow Photon Effect in Photoactive Nanoporous Anodic Alumina Gradient-Index Filters for Photocatalysis
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 25-06-2018
Abstract: In this study, we explore for the first time the capabilities of nanoporous anodic alumina gradient-index filters (NAA-GIFs) functionalized with titanium dioxide (TiO
Rational Management of Photons for Enhanced Photocatalysis in Structurally-Colored Nanoporous Anodic Alumina Photonic Crystals
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 08-01-2019
The relationship between permanent incisor wear and mohair production and attributes in grazing adult Angora goats
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2011
Frequency of shearing increases growth of fibre and changes objective and subjective attributes of Angora goat fleeces
Publisher: Cambridge University Press (CUP)
Date: 17-12-2007
DOI: 10.1017/S0021859607007599
Abstract: The impact of genotype and of frequency and timing of shearing, on mohair attributes and production of modern Angora goats was studied. Goats in the southern hemisphere grazed pastures between February 2004 and 2006. There were seven shearing treatments by three genetic strains with four or eight replicates of in idual goats. Treatments were: three different 6-month shearing intervals and two of 12-month shearing intervals with different months of shearing, a 7-month winter shearing interval and a 3-month shearing interval. Genetic strain was based on sire line: 1·0 South African 1·0 Texan and Mixed 0·5 South African and 0·5 Texan. Annual greasy mohair production was 5·08 kg, and average clean fleece production was 4·37 kg. The Angora goats produced an annual clean fleece equivalent to 0·122 of their mean fleece-free live weight which was equal to 0·34 g/kg/day. Measurements were analysed over the period of spring 2004 shearing to spring 2005 shearing, excluding the June–December shearing treatment. Increased frequency of shearing increased fleece growth and affected 13 objective and subjective attributes of mohair that were evaluated including clean washing yield, fibre diameter and fibre diameter variation, incidence of medullated fibres, staple length, fibre curvature, crimp frequency, style, staple definition, staple fibre entanglement and staple tip shape. The direction of these effects were generally favourable and for most attributes the magnitude of the response was linear and commercially important. Each additional shearing resulted in an additional 149 g of clean mohair representing 0·034 of the annual clean mohair production. This increase was associated with a 0·6 cm increase in staple length and 0·32 μm increase in mean fibre diameter. In conclusion, Angora goats shorn less frequently grew less mohair that was more likely to be entangled in spring. Managers of Angora goats should take note of these findings.
Genotype and age effects on sheep meat production. 5. Lean meat and fat content in the carcasses of Australian sheep genotypes at 20-, 30- and 40-kg carcass weights
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2008
DOI: 10.1071/EA08054
Abstract: Lean meat and fat content of Australian sheep genotypes were compared at 20-, 30- and 40-kg carcass weights. Sheep comprised Poll Dorsetgrowth × Border Leicester Merino (PDg × BLM), Poll Dorsetgrowth × Merino (PDg × M), Poll Dorsetmuscling × Merino (PDm × M), Border Leicester × Merino (BL × M) and Merino × Merino (M × M) genotypes. Lambs were raised as a mixed flock under grazing and slaughtered at 4, 8, 14 and 22 months of age with each slaughter time involving ~150 mixed sex animals. At 24 h after slaughter, chilled carcasses were halved along the backbone and the right sides were used for determination of lean, fat and ash percentages using dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Within a particular age group and genotype, animals growing at faster rates and reaching heavier carcass weights had lower carcass lean meat content than slower growing animals. Merino carcasses weighing 20 and 30 kg had similar levels of lean meat to PD × M genotypes, which was greater than that from the BL × M genotype. Second-cross PD × BLM carcasses weighing 20 kg at 4 months and 30 kg at 8 months had similar carcass fat and lean percentages to 20-kg Merino carcasses at 8 months and first-cross PD × M carcasses weighing 30 kg at 14 months, respectively. At 40-kg carcass weight, 22-month-old Merinos had similar levels of leanness to carcasses from 22-month-old PD × M animals and carcasses from 14-month-old second-cross PD × BLM animals. Carcass lean meat content decreased with increasing carcass weight and first- cross BL × M animals had the lowest carcass lean across all weight categories. There was a major acceleration in carcass fatness between 14 and 22 months associated with a reduction in muscle deposition. Results indicate that age of the animal should be taken into account when carcass lean and fat contents are compared at a particular carcass weight. Merinos will achieve weight/composition specifications at least equally well to crossbreds but will take longer with a likely increase in production costs.
Lipid Oxidation and Colour Stability of Lamb and Yearling Meat (Muscle longissimus lumborum) from Sheep Supplemented with Camelina-Based Diets after Short-, Medium-, and Long-Term Storage
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 22-01-2021
Abstract: This study investigated the impact of feeding pelleted diets containing camelina (Camelina sativa L. Crantz) hay (CAHP) or camelina meal (CAMP) as a supplement compared with a control pellet (CONP) diet, without vitamin E fortification. The fatty acid profile, retail colour, and lipid oxidative stability of lamb and yearling meat (m. longissimus lumborum) stored for short-, medium-, or long-periods (2 days (fresh), 45 days and 90 days) under chilled to semi-frozen conditions were determined. The CAMP diet altered key fatty acids (p 0.05) in a nutritionally beneficial manner for human health compared to the other diets, with increased total omega-3, decreased omega-6 fatty acids and decreased omega-6/omega-3 ratio of muscle. Muscle vitamin E concentration was lower (p 0.05) for both camelina diets (CAMP and CAHP) when compared with the CONP diet, with the average concentrations less than 1 mg/kg muscle for all three treatments. Animal type and storage length were factors that all affected (p 0.05) colour and lipid oxidative stability of meat. These results emphasise the importance of vitamin E concentration in meat stored for extended periods under semi-frozen conditions to maintain desirable meat colour during retail display, and to avoid off-flavour development of the cooked meat.
Targeting PCNA with Peptide Mimetics for Therapeutic Purposes
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 15-10-2020
Abstract: Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) is an excellent inhibition target to shut down highly proliferative cells and thereby develop a broad-spectrum cancer therapeutic. It interacts with a wide variety of proteins through a conserved motif referred to as the PCNA-interacting protein (PIP) box. There is large sequence ersity between high-affinity PCNA binding partners, but with conservation of the binding structure-a well-defined 3
Assessment of management options for Chilean needle grass in sheep-grazing systems
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 29-12-2014
DOI: 10.1111/GFS.12026
Survival of a submerged aquatic weed (Egeria densa) during lake drawdown within mounds of stranded vegetation
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 06-2012
Genotype and age effects on sheep meat production. 2. Carcass quality traits
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2007
DOI: 10.1071/EA07001
Abstract: The present study examines carcass quality traits in different genotypes of Australian sheep slaughtered at 4, 8, 14 and 22 months of age. Poll Dorsetgrowth × Border Leicester Merino (PDg × BLM), Poll Dorsetgrowth × Merino (PDg × M), Poll Dorsetmuscling × Merino (PDm × M), Merino × Merino (M × M) and Border Leicester × Merino (BL × M) genotypes were compared. Sires were selected on the basis of growth (PDg, M and BL) and muscle (PDm) using estimated breeding values (EBVs). Approximately 150 mixed sex animals were slaughtered at each age (595 in total for the four slaughters) and carcass quality traits, including hot carcass weight, loin and semitendinosus (ST) muscle weights, GR fat, fat C, rump fat depth and eye muscle area (EMA), were determined at 45 min to 3 days postslaughter. With age, all carcass quality traits increased in magnitude. Merinos produced the lightest and leanest carcasses (P 0.01) with lowest values in nearly all the carcass quality traits. At 4 and 8 months of age carcass and loin weights, EMA and GR fat measures were greater (P 0.01) in second-cross PDg × BLM sheep than all other genotypes. However, traits related to muscle content were similar between first- and second-cross Poll Dorset genotypes at 14 and 22 months of age. The BL × M genotype had lower values than the PD × M genotypes for these traits, at all ages. Traits related to carcass fatness showed that sheep with Border Leicester genetics tend to deposit more fat (P 0.001) in the carcass than those with Merino or Poll Dorset genetics from 14 months of age onwards. Most carcass quality traits did not differ (P 0.05) between first-cross Poll Dorset genotypes selected for growth or muscling (PDg × M v. PDm × M). Sires with high muscling EBVs are associated more with shorter carcass length than low muscling EBVs. From ~8 months of age, wethers had greater values (P 0.05) than ewes of the same age for most carcass quality traits related to size and muscle development, but no effect was present for carcass quality traits that were related to fat deposition. It was clear that the carcass weight of M × M at 8 and 14 months were similar to that observed in PDg × BLM at 4 and 8 months, respectively. Loin weights of M × M and BL × M at 13 and 8 months were similar to that weights observed in PDg × BLM at 8 and 4 months of age, respectively. Animals slaughtered to a muscle weight specification will reach the target at a younger age when they have more Poll Dorset than Border Leicester background genetics. Alternatively animals slaughtered at a specified fat score (using fat C or rump fat depth) will reach the specification at a younger age when they have more Border Leicester than Poll Dorset genetics.
A long-term study in Angora goats experimentally infected with Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis: Clinical disease, faecal culture and immunological studies
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2006
DOI: 10.1016/J.VETMIC.2005.09.015
Abstract: Two longitudinal experiments involving Angora goats challenged with either bovine or ovine strains of Mycobacterium avium subspecies paratuberculosis (Map) have been conducted over a period of 54 and 35 months, respectively. Blood s les for the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) test and the absorbed ELISA and faecal s les for bacteriological culture were taken pre-challenge and monthly post-challenge. Persistent shedding, IFN-gamma production, seroconversion and clinical disease occurred earlier with the bovine Map gut mucosal tissue challenge inoculum than with cultured bacteria. The IFN-gamma responses of the gut mucosal tissue and bacterial challenge groups were substantially and consistently higher than those of the control group. The in vivo and cultured cattle strains were much more pathogenic for goats than the sheep strains with persistent faecal shedding, seroconversion and clinical disease occurring in the majority of bovine Map challenged goats. With the ovine Map, 3 goats developed persistent antibody responses but only one of these goats developed persistent faecal shedding and clinical disease. However, there was no significant difference between the IFN-gamma responses of the tissue challenged, bacterial challenged and control groups. Compared with sheep, the ELISA appeared to have higher sensitivity and the IFN-gamma test lower specificity.
Determinants of permanent first incisor eruption in grazing Australian Angora goats
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 21-11-2011
DOI: 10.1111/J.1751-0813.2011.00842.X
Abstract: To investigate the effects of live weight, sex and other factors on deciduous (first incisor) loss and permanent first incisor development in Angora goats. Goats were part of a pen study on the effects of energy intake in Angora does during pregnancy and lactation on kid growth and development. The design was three levels of nutrition in mid-pregnancy × two levels of postnatal nutrition in 17 randomised blocks. Conception times were calculated by using artificial insemination, with ultrasound examination 43 days after insemination. Does were fed different amounts of a formulated diet in their pens. After weaning, goats were grazed in sex groups. Deciduous first incisor loss and permanent first incisor development were recorded at 11 time points from 14 to 20 months of age. For each sex, the time for visible eruption and full development of permanent first incisor declined linearly with increased live weight by 5.9 and 5.4 days/kg live weight, respectively. The time to reach similar development stages for first permanent incisors eruption was 3 months longer for the lightest animals compared with the heaviest animals. Date of birth, birth weight, doe age, growth rates, mid-pregnancy and postnatal nutrition, parity, day of weaning and weaning weight had no detectable effect. The results explain much of the substantial range in reported first permanent incisor eruption dates for small ruminants and have application in ageing of goats, marketing of kids for meat, in the selection of animals for breeding flocks and in educational material.
Effects of stall dimensions on the welfare of pregnant sows
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2011
DOI: 10.1071/EA07124
Abstract: The welfare of sows in gestation accommodation, and in particular the use of gestation stalls, is a major issue of concern among the animal-welfare community and pig producers. The objective of the present experiment was to investigate the effects of width (0.6 m v. 0.75 m) and length (2.0 m v. 2.2 m v. 2.4 m) of gestation stalls, plus a tether-stall negative-control treatment, on sow welfare measured via parameters of behaviour, stress physiology, immunology and gait score. The research involved 56 multiparous sows, housed alongside 56 non-experimental sows that were included to facilitate measurement of social behaviour. Posture and social behaviour were recorded after 7 weeks in treatment and animals were surgically catheterised in Week 8 for blood s ling, to measure daytime profiles of cortisol concentrations and responses to an adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) challenge. The cell-mediated immune response to a bean extract was examined in Week 9. Sows spent more time standing during 2 h in the morning in 0.75-m- than 0.6-m-wide stalls (P 0.05). This effect was greatest in 2.0-m-long stalls. Although the angle of head turn by sows was greater in 0.75-m- than 0.6-m-wide stalls (P 0.001), social interactions were unaffected by stall dimensions. Sows in 0.6-m-wide stalls had lower total (P 0.01) and free (P 0.001) cortisol concentrations, reduced responsiveness to ACTH (P 0.05) and increased immunoresponsiveness (P 0.05) than did the sows housed in 0.75-m-wide stalls. There was no effect of stall length on total cortisol concentrations however, free cortisol concentrations were greater in 2.4-m than in both 2.0- and 2.2-m treatments (P 0.05). Sows in 2.2-m-long stalls showed significantly lower responsiveness to ACTH (P 0.01), and greater immunoresponsiveness (P 0.05) than did the sows in 2.0- and 2.4-m-long stalls. There were no interactions between stall width and length. The results indicated lower stress responses in both 0.6-m-wide and to some extent in 2.2-m-long stalls. Although these effects are not intuitively obvious, it is suggested that within the stall dimensions studied, 0.6 m × 2.2 m stalls will minimise stress effects. The opportunity was taken in the present experiment to test the scientific validity of these welfare measures by examining how well the measures predict the welfare status of the animal. Tethers and stalls are expected to provide variation in the welfare status of sows due to variation in the level of restriction and it was found that for four of the six biological variables (basal free and total cortisol concentrations, cortisol response following ACTH injection and deteriorated gait), expected differences were detected for sows housed in stalls (0.6-m width, 2.0-m length) and tethers.
Time-dependent behavioural plasticity influences oviposition latency in no-choice host-specificity trials for a candidate weed biocontrol agent
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2023
Nanoporous photonic crystals with tailored surface chemistry for ionic copper sensing
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2019
DOI: 10.1039/C9TC04438H
Abstract: We present a study on optical and surface chemistry engineering of nanoporous photonic crystals as sensing platforms for detection of ionic copper.
Effects of flupropanate application on bare ground and broadleaf weeds when used to control Chilean needle grass in introduced pastures
Publisher: Informa UK Limited
Date: 03-04-2014
Genotype and age effects on sheep meat production 4. Carcass composition predicted by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2007
DOI: 10.1071/EA07008
Abstract: This study compares the carcass composition of different genotypes of Australian sheep slaughtered at four ages (110, 236, 412 and 662 days of age, or 4, 8, 14 and 22 months of age). The genotypes used were Poll Dorsetgrowth × Border Leicester Merino (PDg × BLM), Poll Dorsetgrowth × Merino (PDg × M), Poll Dorsetmuscling × Merino (PDm × M), Merino × Merino (M × M) and Border Leicester × Merino (BL × M). Approximately 150 mixed sex animals were slaughtered at each age and the right sides (half carcass) were scanned by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) for chemical lean, fat and bone mineral percentages of the carcass. Carcass lean percentage decreased (P 0.001) across sire groups from Merino to Poll Dorset to Border Leicester at each age, while fatness increased (P 0.001) in the opposite direction. With age, the magnitude of difference between genotypes for fatness became greater. There was a marked increase (P 0.01) in ash mineral percentages in M × M and PDg × M genotypes relative to other genotypes in the 14- and 22-month groups. There were no differences (P 0.1) between PDg × M and PDm × M in either chemical lean or fat percentages at any age but ash mineral percentage was higher in the PDg × M genotype at older ages (P 0.05). This in turn led to differences in chemical lean : ash mineral content at later ages between PDg × M and PDm × M. Wethers had higher chemical lean (P 0.05) and lower fat (P 0.05) percentages in the carcass than ewes at all ages but ash mineral and chemical lean : ash mineral content did not differ between sexes. It was clear that the level of chemical lean or fat or ash mineral composition reached by some genotypes at one age was equivalent to that reached by other genotypes at the next measurement age. Those genotypes that reach a specification at younger ages will be more productive for meat production. Purebred Merino genetics will always be less productive in terms of carcass weight and muscle related productive traits (loin weight, semitendinosus muscle weight, eye muscle area) than BL and PD genetics, but the relative productivity of PD and BL genetics will depend on the traits used in the specification [see also Ponn alam EN, Hopkins DL, Butler KL, Dunshea FR, Warner RD (2007) Genotype and age effects on sheep meat production. 2. Carcass quality traits. Australian Journal of Experimental Agriculure 47, 1147–1154]. The results suggest that selection for muscling had a greater impact on reducing ash mineral content associated with bone mineral mass than on increasing lean mass in the carcass.
Illness behaviour and outcome following survived myocardial infarction: A prospective study
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 1981
Effects of Regulating Visitor Viewing Proximity and the Intensity of Visitor Behaviour on Little Penguin (Eudyptula minor) Behaviour and Welfare
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 28-05-2019
DOI: 10.3390/ANI9060285
Abstract: We examined the effects of regulating the viewing proximity of visitors and the intensity of visitor behaviour on behaviours indicative of fear and stress physiology of 15 zoo-housed little penguins (Eudyptula minor). A 2 × 2 factorial fully randomised design was used to examine the effects of regulating: (1) the viewing proximity of visitors to enclosure, ‘normal viewing distance’ and ’increased viewing distance’ (using a physical barrier set up 2 m away from the enclosure), and (2) the intensity of visitor behaviour, ‘unregulated visitor behaviour’ and ‘regulated visitor behaviour’ (using signage and uniformed personnel). In addition, a treatment consisting of closing the enclosure to visitors was included. Penguin behaviour, visitor numbers and visitor behaviour were recorded by CCTV video recordings and direct observations, respectively. Penguin faecal glucocorticoid metabolites were also analysed as a measure of stress physiology. We found that increased viewing distance reduced (p 0.05) all visitor behaviours except for loud vocalisations and tactile contact with penguins. However, there were no direct effects of signage and uniformed personnel on visitor behaviour (p 0.05). As the regulation of viewing proximity increased from a closed exhibit to an open exhibit with increased viewing distance, and then to an open exhibit with normal viewing distance, this increased the proportion of penguins huddling (p = 0.0011), vigilant (p = 0.0060) and retreating (p = 0.00013), and decreased the proportion of penguins within 1 m of the visitor viewing area (p = 0.00066), surface swimming (p = 0.00091) and preening in the water (p = 0.042). There were also limited effects of regulating visitor behaviour on penguin behaviour. No treatment effects were found on faecal glucocorticoid metabolites (p 0.05). These results indicate that regulating visitor viewing proximity affects penguin behaviours indicative of fear and visitor behaviour. This suggests that close visitor contact can be fear-provoking for little penguins but increasing the distance between visitors and penguins can reduce fear responses of penguins by regulating both viewing proximity and visitor behaviour. However, it is unclear whether these changes in penguin behaviour are due to the increased separation between visitors and penguins and/or specific visitor behaviours associated with close viewing proximity to the enclosure, such as leaning over the enclosure or tactile contact with the pool, which are impeded when visitors are further away.
Cashmere production and fleece attributes associated with farm of origin, age and sex of goat in Australia
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2008
DOI: 10.1071/EA06308
Abstract: Differences in cashmere production and fleece attributes associated with farm of origin, age and sex were quantified for commercial Australian cashmere goat enterprises. From 11 farms in four states, 1147 does and 97 wethers were monitored, representing 1- to 13-year-old goats. In idual clean cashmere production ranged from 21 to 389 g, with a mean ± standard deviation value of 134 ± 62 g. The mean cashmere production of 2-year-old does from different farms varied from 69 to 225 g and averaged 141 g. Mean ± s.d. greasy fleece weight was 394 ± 123 g, clean washing yield was 90.8 ± 4.1%, clean cashmere yield 33.4 ± 9.4%, cashmere fibre diameter 16.4 ± 1.6 µm, fibre curvature 48 ± 8.7 degrees/mm and staple length 8.7 ± 2.1 cm. There were large, commercially significant differences between farms for clean cashmere weight, mean fibre diameter and other attributes of cashmere. These were much larger than the effects of age and sex. Farm and age accounted for 42 to 67% of the variation in clean cashmere production, mean fibre diameter, fibre curvature, staple length and clean washing yield. Farm of origin affected clean cashmere yield, accounting for 24% of the variation. Sex of the goats had only a minor effect on the staple length of cashmere. The responses to age of clean cashmere weight, mean fibre diameter and the inverse of fibre curvature are very similar. Generally, cashmere production and mean fibre diameter increased with age. For the majority of farms, cashmere fibre curvature declined in a curvilinear manner with increases in age of goat. There were large differences in cashmere staple length from different farms, with means ranging from 7 to 12 cm. Between 1 and 2 years of age, the staple length of cashmere demonstrated a constant proportional increase. At ages older than 2 years, staple length either declined or increased by less than 1 cm with age, depending on the farm of origin. This study demonstrates that there are large gains in productivity that can be achieved from Australian cashmere goats. A better understanding of on-farm factors that influence cashmere production would enable all producers to optimise their production systems.
Relationship between muscle antioxidant status, forms of iron, polyunsaturated fatty acids and functionality (retail colour) of meat in lambs
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2012
DOI: 10.1016/J.MEATSCI.2011.07.014
Abstract: The relationship between muscle vitamin E, forms of iron, polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and the redness of meat (retail display) at days 3 to 4 post slaughter from lambs offered 2 different diets was examined. Meat redness was positively related to vitamin E and heme iron and negatively related to total n-3, total n-6 and total PUFA content. However, after adjusting for the effects of vitamin E and heme iron content, there was no indication of any residual relationship between redness at days 3-4 of retail display and total n-3, total n-6 or total PUFA. This indicates that the relationship between PUFA and redness in meat is mediated through the effects of heme iron and vitamin E in the muscle. It appears that the level of highly oxidisable PUFAs in muscle tissues do not play a major role in maintenance of redness at days 3-4 of retail display, but the level of vitamin E and heme iron content are important.
Herbicide efficacy for aquatic Alternanthera philoxeroides management in an early stage of invasion: integrating above-ground biomass, below-ground biomass and viable stem fragmentation
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 06-07-2017
DOI: 10.1111/WRE.12257
Tailor-engineered plasmonic single-lattices: harnessing localized surface plasmon resonances for visible-NIR light-enhanced photocatalysis
Publisher: Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC)
Date: 2020
DOI: 10.1039/C9CY02561H
Abstract: A platform material composed of 2D gold (Au) nanodot plasmonic single-lattices (Au-nD-PSLs) featuring tailor-engineered geometric features for visible-NIR light-driven enhanced photocatalysis is presented.
Sources of variation of health claimable long chain omega-3 fatty acids in meat from Australian lamb slaughtered at similar weights
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2014
Sediment Facilitates Microbial Degradation of The Herbicides Endothall Monoamine Salt and Endothall Dipotassium Salt in an Aquatic Environment
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 29-08-2018
DOI: 10.20944/PREPRINTS201808.0486.V1
Abstract: Endothall dipotassium salt and monoamine salt are herbicide formulations used for controlling submerged aquatic macrophytes and algae in aquatic ecosystems. Microbial activity is the primary degradation pathway for endothall. To better understand what influences endothall degradation, we conducted a mesocosm experiment to 1) evaluate the effects of different water and sediment sources on degradation, and 2) determine if degradation was faster in the presence of a microbial community previously exposed to endothall. Endothall residues were determined with LC-MS at intervals to 21 days after endothall application. Two endothall isomers were detected. Isomer-1 was abundant in both endothall formulations, while isomer-2 was only abundant in the monoamine endothall formulation and was more persistent. Degradation did not occur in the absence of sediment. In the presence of sediment degradation if isomer-1 began after a lag phase of 5-11 days and was almost complete by 14 days. Onset of degradation occurred 2-4 days sooner when the microbial population was previously exposed to endothall. We provide direct evidence that the presence and characteristics of sediment are of key importance in the degradation of endothall in an aquatic environment, and that monoamine endothall has two separate isomers that have different degradation characteristics.
Enhancing Forbidden Light Propagation in Nanoporous Anodic Alumina Gradient-Index Filters by Alcohol Additives
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 08-12-2020
Filling the out of season gaps for lamb and hogget production: Diet and genetic influence on carcass yield, carcass composition and retail value of meat
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 02-2019
Long-term impact of coordinated warren ripping programmes on rabbit populations
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2010
DOI: 10.1071/WR09103
Abstract: Context. It is important to examine the long-term effectiveness of rabbit management programmes based on warren destruction using modern warren ripping machinery, at a time when the continuing impacts of both myxomatosis and rabbit haemorrhagic disease (RHD) may have reduced the capacity of rabbit populations to recover. Aims. To determine the long-term effectiveness of coordinated warren ripping programmes in reducing rabbit densities and maintaining these low densities. Methods. Commencing in 1998, 14 sites with coordinated warren ripping programmes and three sites without rabbit control were monitored within Victoria. Spotlight counts of rabbit numbers recorded before the spread of RHD and warren ripping were compared with numbers recorded from 2005 to 2008. The efficacy of coordinated warren ripping programmes was assessed in relation to the machinery used, the manner in which the warrens were ripped, the characteristics of the ripped areas and the impact of follow-up control. Key results. Warren ripping programmes were very successful in reducing rabbit numbers for up to 10 years, whereas rabbit populations that were not managed returned to pre-RHD densities. The most effective warren ripping programmes, which reduced populations to 97% of the pre-RHD densities and maintained them at this level, used heavy, powerful ripping machinery to rip all warrens within 12 months. There was no evidence that the relationship between rabbit population decline and warren ripping was affected by the characteristics of the ripped areas or the follow-up control effort. Conclusions. Following the spread of RHD in areas where warren ripping is practicable, well-managed ripping programmes provide an immediate solution for achieving and sustaining low rabbit populations. Implications. The efficacy of RHD in regulating rabbit populations has diminished. The improvement of existing or the development of new biological control agents could take decades. In contrast, coordinated warren ripping programmes provide more predictable long-term reductions in rabbit populations.
Variation of fibre diameter coefficient of variation and fibre curvature across mohair fleeces: Implications for animal selection, genetic selection and fleece evaluation
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2009
Antibody status and survival of Australian wild rabbits challenged with rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2009
DOI: 10.1071/WR08137
Abstract: In Australia, the epidemiology of rabbit haemorrhagic disease virus (RHDV) is complicated by non-pathogenic forms of calicivirus (bCV) co-circulating with RHDV and providing variable protection from RHDV. Currently no bCV virus-specific antibody tests exist however, a series of four ELISAs used to detect antibodies to RHDV provided an indirect means to detect antibodies to bCV, enabling antibody categories of seronegative, maternal RHDV, RHDV or bCV to be determined. Rabbits (188) from four locations were challenged with RHDV and logistic regression models determined that, for rabbits months old, survival was dependent on antibody titres alone and the relationship did not vary with age, capture site, gender, liveweight or reproductive status. All rabbits survived challenge after reaching 15 months of age, irrespective of their antibody titres. Where bCV antibodies were prevalent in young rabbits, the bCV category did not adequately summarise all information about rabbit survival that can be obtained from antibody titres. Within antibody categories, 95% of rabbits with RHDV, 33% with bCV, 40% with maternal RHDV and 22% with seronegative antibodies survived. The high survival rate of adults implies that natural outbreaks or controlled releases of RHDV will have little impact on adult breeding rabbits. Therefore, where RHDV and bCV are endemic, conventional rabbit-control programs targeting the immune breeding populations should provide the most predictable outcome for long-term maintenance of low rabbit populations.
Effects of varying floor space on aggressive behavior and cortisol concentrations in group-housed sows1
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 11-2016
Abstract: Floor space is an important determinant of aggression and stress in group-housed sows, and the aim of the present experiment was to comprehensively examine the effects of floor space in the range of 1.45 to 2.90 m/sow from mixing until 27 d after insemination on aggression, stress, and reproduction of group-housed sows. A previous experiment on the effects of floor space indicated spatial variability across and along the research facility in both sow aggression and stress. To minimize this spatial variability within the research facility, similar-sized pens but with varying groups sizes (10-20) in 4 separate blocks of 3 contiguous pens within each of 9 time replicates (180 sows/replicate) were used to examine 6 space allowances (1.45-2.9 m/sow). Space treatments were appropriately randomized to pens. Although it may be argued that space allowance is confounded with group size in this design, there was no evidence in our previous experiment of group size effects, for pens of 10 to 80 sows, or appreciable interactions between space and group size on aggression, stress, and reproduction. In the present experiment, sows were introduced to treatments within 4 d of insemination and were floor fed 4 times per day (2.5 kg/sow per d). On both Days 2 and 26 after mixing, aggressive behavior (bites and knocks) at feeding and plasma cortisol concentrations were measured. Restricted maximum likelihood mixed model analyses were used to examine the treatment effect after accounting for replicate and random spatial location effects within replicate. There was a consistent linear effect of floor space allowance on aggression at feeding at Day 2 ( < 0.0001) and plasma cortisol concentrations at Day 2 ( = 0.0003), with aggression and stress declining with increasing space. However, there were no effects of space allowance on aggression and stress at Day 26 ( = 0.14 and = 0.79, respectively). These results show that increased floor space in the immediate post-mixing period reduces aggression and stress and that sows may adapt to reduced floor space over time. A strategy of staged-gestation penning, with more space immediately after mixing and less space later in gestation, may address both animal welfare and economic considerations, but this clearly requires further examination.
Effects of group size and floor space allowance on grouped sows: Aggression, stress, skin injuries, and reproductive performance1
Publisher: Oxford University Press (OUP)
Date: 10-2013
Abstract: A total of 3,120 sows, in 4 time replicates, were used to determine the effects of group size and floor space on sow welfare using behavioral, physiological, health, and fitness variables. Within 1 to 7 d postinsemination, sows were assigned randomly to treatments of a 3 by 6 factorial arrangement, with 3 group sizes (10, 30, or 80 sows en) and 6 floor space allowances (1.4, 1.8, 2.0, 2.2, 2.4, or 3.0 m(2)/sow). Sows were housed on partially slatted concrete floors, and overhead feeders delivered 4 times/day to provide a total of 2.5 kg of feed/sow. As pen space increased from 1.4 to 3.0 m(2)/sow, aggression at feeding decreased from about 9 to 7 bouts/sow (linear, P = 0.029) and plasma cortisol concentrations decreased from about 28 to 21 ng/mL (linear, P = 0.0089) at 2 d. Although the results are in accord with a linear decline from 1.4 to 3 m(2)/sow, the results are also in accord with a decline in these measurements from 1.4 to 1.8 m(2)/sow and no further decline greater than 1.8 m(2)/sow. Farrowing rate (percentage of inseminated sows that farrowed) also increased from about 60 to 75% as space increased from 1.4 to 3.0 m(2)/sow (linear, P = 0.012). Group size was related to skin injuries on d 9 (P = 0.0017), 23 (P = 0.0046), and 51 (P = 0.0006), with groups of 10 consistently having the lowest number of total injuries over this period. Based on the aggression and cortisol results, it is credible to judge that, within the range of floor space allowances studied, sow welfare improves with increased space. However, from a sow welfare perspective, the experiment had insufficient precision to determine what is an adequate space allowance for sows. Thus, although the results definitely support a space allowance of 1.4 m(2)/sow being too small, it is not possible to give guidance on an actual space allowance at mixing that is adequate.
Understanding the action of muscle iron concentration on dark cutting: An important aspect affecting consumer confidence of purchasing meat
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 09-2020
Effect of partial covering of the visitor viewing area window on positioning and orientation of zoo orangutans: A preference test
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-02-2015
DOI: 10.1002/ZOO.21207
Accuracy of dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA), weight and P2 back fat to predict whole body and carcass composition in pigs within and across experiments
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 12-2003
The effect of rabbit population control programmes on the impact of rabbit haemorrhagic disease in south‐eastern Australia
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 04-08-2010
Indices for the identification of biologically productive cashmere goats within farms
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 08-2015
The effects of immuno- and surgical-castration on the behaviour and consequently growth of group-housed, male finisher pigs
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 04-2003
Relationships between temperament, feeding behaviour, social interactions, and stress in lambs adapting to a feedlot environment
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2016
Measurement of corticosterone in the plasma, eggs and faeces of laying hens
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 26-04-2022
DOI: 10.1071/AN21535
Abstract: Context Stress responses in chickens are commonly assessed from measurements of corticosterone in blood, but there is an increasing research effort to develop non-blood means of assessing the activity of the hypothalamo–pituitary (HPA) axis. It is common to measure corticosterone in the eggs and faeces. Aims We extended previous work by undertaking a study of caged laying hens comparing basal concentrations of corticosterone in plasma, faeces, egg albumen and egg yolk on a between-cage basis. We tested the hypothesis that there are positive relationships between corticosterone in plasma and corticosterone in each of the other matrices. Methods Blood s les were collected from each bird at a single point in time. In Experiment 1, these comparisons (between plasma concentrations of corticosterone on Day 1 and egg albumen, egg yolk and faecal concentrations of corticosterone on Days 1, 3 and 4 of the study) were made for hens of two ages under basal conditions, whereas, in Experiment 2, the comparisons (between plasma concentrations of corticosterone on Day 3 and egg albumen, egg yolk and faecal concentrations of corticosterone on Days 1 and 2 of the study) were made for hens housed at different space allowances with and without access to a nest box. The birds without a nest box had not had experience with a nest box prior to s ling. Key results There was a statistically significant (P = 0.012), but limited, positive relationship between plasma and egg albumen concentrations of corticosterone under basal conditions in Experiment 2. There were no other statistically significant (P 0.05) relationships in either experiment. These results suggest that measures of corticosterone in the albumen, yolk and faeces of laying hens are unlikely to be robust predictors of basal concentrations of corticosterone in the blood. Conclusions Although there was some indication that concentrations of corticosterone in albumen may be related to concentrations in blood under basal conditions, based on all the results, this suggestion is made cautiously. Implications More comprehensive research is required to establish if measures of corticosterone in egg components and faeces are related to chronic basal activity of the hypothalamo–pituitary axis in laying hens. There is also a need to understand the impact of corticosterone on production, reproduction and welfare in hens from measures in both blood and non-blood matrices.
Reductions in milk production after induced parturition in dairy cows from commercial herds in south‐western Victoria
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 07-1995
DOI: 10.1111/J.1751-0813.1995.TB03535.X
Abstract: The milk production of cows after induced parturition was compared with that of non-induced cows with similar calving dates, in 37 winter-calving, pasture-fed, commercial dairy herds in south-western Victoria. Parturition was induced when most cows were between 27 and 35 weeks of pregnancy. Milk production was compared for the lactation that commenced immediately after induction. The percentage of cows whose lactations were terminated less than 120 days after calving was increased by induction. Mean percentages for untreated and induced groups were 3.0% and 5.4%, respectively. For cows with lactations of at least 120 days duration, lactation length was not affected by the prior induction of parturition. However, milk production during the subsequent lactation was 9.0% less in induced groups. Fat and protein concentrations were not substantially affected. The reduction in milk production was not affected by stage of pregnancy when cows were induced, but tended to be greater in herds that delayed milking of induced cows.
Sources of sampling variation in saliva cortisol in dogs
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 10-2003
DOI: 10.1016/S0034-5288(03)00080-8
Abstract: The main advantage of collecting saliva cortisol as opposed to plasma cortisol is that it is non-invasive and therefore it is now widely used in stress measurement studies on farm animals and dogs. Although a plasma cortisol response to handling associated with blood collection generally occurs at 3 min from the commencement of handling, there is no information in the literature on the time course of the response of salivary cortisol concentration to handling. The aims of these experiments were to (1). determine if there is a response to up to 4 min handling that affects cortisol concentration in saliva and (2). determine the main causes of variation in saliva cortisol in dogs over time. In experiment 1, saliva was collected from six Kelpies at 0 min then 2, 3 or 4 min after the commencement of restraint. There was no handling effect found in up to 4 min s ling time. In experiment 2, saliva was collected from six Labrador Retrievers five times in 2 h (14:00-16:00), three days a week for four weeks. Some of the sources of variation in saliva cortisol over time included between dog variation that varied over a period of days and variation between occasions that affected the group of dogs as a whole.
Rational Design of a 310 -Helical PIP-Box Mimetic Targeting PCNA, the Human Sliding Clamp
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 23-07-2018
Variation in mohair staple length over the lifetime of Angora goats
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2013
DOI: 10.1071/AN12288
Abstract: Previous work has shown that, within an Angora goat flock, clean fleece weight is proportional to fleece-free liveweight (FFLwt)2/3 and for goats of the same age and cohort, the mean mohair fibre diameter is proportional to FFLwt1/3. This indicates that fibre length might not be related to the size of animals. This study examines how mohair staple length (SL) is related to FFLwt of Angora goats of different genetic origins over their lifetime and how the relationship varies with other lifetime factors. Measurements were made over 11 shearing periods on a population of Angora goats representing the current range and ersity of genetic origins in Australia, including South African, Texan and interbred admixtures of these and Australian sources. Records of breed, sire, dam, date of birth, dam age, birthweight, birth parity, weaning weight, liveweight, fleece growth and fleece quality were taken for castrated males (wethers) (n = 94 animals). FFLwt were determined for each goat at shearing time by subtracting the greasy fleece weight from the liveweight recorded immediately before shearing. The average of the FFLwt at the start of the period and the FFLWt at the end of the period was calculated. Liveweight change (LwtCh) was the change in FFLwt over the period between shearings. A restricted maximum likelihood model was developed for SL, which allowed the observations of the same animal at different ages to be correlated in an unstructured manner. Average SL differed from ~12.0 to ~14.5 cm, depending on age. There were no consistent effects of season. At any age, an increase of 10 kg LwtCh between animals results in about a 0.34 (s.e. = 0.087) cm increase in SL. There was no evidence of an effect of FFLwt on SL. The results confirm our hypothesis that within a single age cohort of Angora goats, there is very little, if any, relationship between the liveweight and SL of in idual animals. This implies that the biological determinants of size of fibres related to cross-sectional area are substantially different to the size determinants of fibre length.
Seasonal growth of lucerne (Medicago sativa) under rainfed conditions in south east Australia: Variation of experimental and commercial cultivars sourced from Australia and China
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 03-2022
Effects of visual contact with zoo visitors on black-capped capuchin welfare
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2015
Phenotypic associations with fibre curvature standard deviation in cashmere
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 07-2010
The effects of providing sawdust to pre-parturient sows in farrowing crates on sow behaviour, the duration of parturition and the occurrence of intra-partum stillborn piglets
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-1993
Mammalian browsing impact on regenerating Eucalyptus seedlings in a large commercially managed native forest estate
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 02-12-2008
The effect of shade on sheep grazing pasture during summer conditions
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 06-2023
Reduced space allowance for adult sheep in lairage for 24hours limits lying behaviour but not drinking behaviour
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2008
DOI: 10.1071/EA08039
Abstract: The key lairage requirements for livestock include sufficient space to lie down, sufficient time to allow recovery from travel, and access to water to allow recovery from dehydration. Current recommendations for lairage of adult sheep include that holding pens should provide no less space than 0.6 m2 per sheep. Particularly during periods when large numbers of sheep are culled, space allowances may be limited to 0.3 m2 or less, which may reduce the ability of in idual sheep to lie down or access water. Adult Merino-cross sheep were allocated to one of four space allowance treatments during unloading from commercial transport vehicles at a commercial abattoir after an average transport time of 3 h. The treatments were 0.3, 0.45, 0.6 and 1.0 m2/sheep and each pen measured 18 m2. Differences in space allowance were achieved by varying the number of sheep per pen, with pens holding 18 (1 m2), 30 (0.6 m2), 40 (0.45 m2) and 60 (0.3 m2) animals. In each pen, eight focal sheep were randomly selected and marked on the back for identification on video records. The sheep remained in the lairage treatments for 24 h and were continuously recorded on video using low light cameras. The data were subsequently analysed for both lying and drinking behaviours after 8 and 24 h in lairage. There were five replicates of all treatments over a 3-week period. A space allowance of 0.3 m2/sheep reduced the time sheep spent lying and the proportion of sheep that lay down at least once, compared with greater space allowances. Space allowances between 0.3 and 1 m2/sheep showed a linear relationship with the time sheep spent lying during the first 24 h. Optimal space allowance may be greater than 1 m2, based on lying behaviour. Drinking behaviour was not affected by space allowance in a 24 h period in lairage although overall 20% of sheep were not observed to drink after 24 h in lairage.
Spiropyran‐Based Nanocarrier: A New Zn2+‐Responsive Delivery System with Real‐Time Intracellular Sensing Capabilities
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 13-12-2019
Abstract: A new spiropyran-based stimuli-responsive delivery system is fabricated. It encapsulates and then releases an extraneous compound in response to elevated levels of Zn
Rationally Designed Probe for Reversible Sensing of Zinc and Application in Cells
Publisher: American Chemical Society (ACS)
Date: 27-09-2017
Sensitivity of Winter-Active Lucerne (Medicago sativa L.) to Different Grazing Regimes
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 19-07-2018
Abstract: Lucerne (alfalfa Medicago sativa L.) is the key forage for grazing in dryland temperate regions around the world. While rotational grazing of lucerne is recommended, in southern Australia the intervals between grazing events are often chosen in an opportunistic manner, to meet livestock production targets and utilise excessive spring and summer growth. To assess whether the persistence of lucerne is sensitive to variations in rotational grazing management practice, we report on an experiment with four sheep grazing treatments that was conducted for 2.5 years, including three summers, in southern New South Wales. The grazing management treatments were a crash-grazing control, frequent grazing, feed-based rotational grazing and time-based rotational grazing, replicated four times. The number of grazing events, percentage of time under grazing, lucerne top dry matter (DM) at the beginning and end of grazing periods and plant density were measured. The results relating to number of grazing events, percentage of time grazing and DM removed during grazing indicated that four grazing practices had been achieved. The treatments all had significant periods of rest for at least 73% of time and were empirically different in their approach but resulted in similar grazing pressures, in terms of overall pasture removed during grazing. Nevertheless, there was little difference in lucerne densities between grazing treatments over the life of the experiment. We conclude that there is flexibility in the rotational management of grazed lucerne provided adequate rest periods are part of the management program.
Eruption of first permanent incisors and live weight gain in grazing yearling A ngora goats
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 25-04-2013
DOI: 10.1111/AVJ.12040
Abstract: To investigate the effects of the timing and duration of eruption of the first permanent incisors, live weight, sex and other factors on contemporaneous live weight gain in Angora goats. Goats were previously part of a pen study on the effects of energy intake of Angora does during pregnancy and lactation on kid development. The design was 3 levels of nutrition in mid-pregnancy by 2 levels of postnatal nutrition in 17 randomised blocks. Artificial insemination, ultrasound examination and feeding does in pens enabled accurate conduct of the study. After weaning, goats were grazed in sex groups. Live weight change between 14 and 20 months of age was related to deciduous first incisor loss and permanent first incisor development and other attributes assessed before the study. Live weight change was related to the elapsed time for first permanent incisors to commence eruption and to the length of time for first permanent incisors to erupt. This response was affected by sex. Over summer and autumn, entire males with short eruption intervals gained 2-3 kg more than entire males with long eruption intervals. Females that reached first permanent incisor eruption by mid-summer had a live weight gain of 3 kg more than those that reached the same development 3 months later. Live weight change in yearling Angora goats was associated with the process of first permanent incisor eruption. In females, live weight gain was greater when first permanent incisor eruption was earlier. In males, live weight gain was greater when first permanent incisor eruption was faster.
Effects of Positive Human Contact during Gestation on the Behaviour, Physiology and Reproductive Performance of Sows
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 16-01-2021
DOI: 10.3390/ANI11010214
Abstract: Previous positive interactions with humans may ameliorate the stress response of farm animals to aversive routine practices such as painful or stressful procedures, particularly those associated with stockpeople. We studied the effects of positive handling by providing younger (parity 1–2) and older (parity 3–8) sows housed in pens of fifteen (n = 24 pens in total) with either positive human contact (+HC) or routine human contact (control) during gestation. The +HC treatment involved a familiar stockperson patting and scratching sows and was imposed at a pen-level for 2 min daily. Measurements studied included behavioural, physiological and productivity variables. The +HC sows showed reduced avoidance of the stockperson conducting pregnancy testing and vaccination in the home pens, however the behavioural and cortisol responses of sows in a standard unfamiliar human approach test did not differ. There were no effects of +HC on aggression between sows, serum cortisol or serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor concentrations during gestation, or on the behavioural and cortisol response to being moved to farrowing crates. There were also no effects of +HC on the maternal responsiveness of sows, farrowing rate or the number of piglets born alive, stillborn or weaned. Sows in the +HC pens reduced their physical interaction with the stockpeople imposing the treatment after 2 weeks, which suggests the sows may have habituated to the novel or possible rewarding elements of the handling treatment. This experiment shows that regular positive interaction with stockpeople does reduce sows’ fear of stockpeople, but does not always confer stress resilence.
Wear of permanent incisors with age on commercial Australian Angora goat farms
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 2015
DOI: 10.1111/AVJ.12280
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