Research note: Evaluation of the reliability of local farmer knowledge in Namaqualand,South Africa     

H.H. Hendricks  F. van der Heyden 《African Journal of Range and Forage Science》2013,30(1-2):64-67

Abstract

Local farmer knowledge of species distribution patterns and plant palatability in Namaqualand, South Africa, was assessed using Participatory Rural Appraisal techniques. These findings were compared with the results obtained using phytosociological techniques (species distribution), and with palatability indices published in the literature. It was found that farmers were knowledgeable of species distribution close to the settlement, but less so further away from the settlement. Farmer plant palatability rankings did not correlate well with the palatability indices found in the published literature, which suggests that palatability in semi‐arid regions are locality specific.  相似文献   

Factors affecting the voluntary feed intake of sheep grazing Pennisetum clandestinum (kikuyu) pastures: Observations from forage analysis     

J.P. Henaar  N.M. Tainton  J.B.J. van Ryssen 《African Journal of Range and Forage Science》2013,30(3):140-144

Abstract

Sheep were used in two investigations to study factors which could limit voluntary intake of Pennisetum clandestinum (kikuyu) pasture. Possible reasons for the low intakes were found in the high soluble nitrogen and nitrate content of the pasture, its high oxalate content, and its considerable potential for foaming, the latter suggesting the presence of sapbnins. The high fibre content of the material could also have limited intake in wilted, dry or stemmy kikuyu. The relative importance of these factors appears to change with growth stage, the amount of nitrogen fertilizer applied, stocking rate and moisture supply. The factors which are detrimental to forage quality such as oxalates and nitrates are higher in the young and actively growing material than in older material, while the in vitro production of foam seems unrelated to forage quality and remained high, despite changes in other factors which detrimentally affected forage quality.  相似文献   

RADIOGRAPHIC FEATURES OF PRIMARY AND CONCOMITANT FLEXOR ENTHESOPATHY IN THE CANINE ELBOW     

Evelien de Bakker  Jimmy H. Saunders  Henri van Bree  Ingrid Gielen  Bernadette Van Ryssen 《Veterinary radiology & ultrasound》2013,54(2):107-113

Primary flexor enthesopathy is a recently recognized elbow disorder and should be considered in the differential diagnosis of elbow lameness. For treatment planning purposes, it is important to make a distinction between primary and concomitant forms of the disease. The purpose of this prospective study was to compare radiographic findings for dogs with primary flexor enthesopathy (n = 17), concomitant flexor enthesopathy (n = 24), elbow dysplasia (n = 13), and normal dogs (n = 7). All dogs underwent a complete radiographic examination and each radiographic image was evaluated for the presence or absence of following characteristics: irregular medial humeral epicondyle, spur and calcified body. Additionally, the presence or absence of other elbow disorders (medial coronoid process disease, osteochondritis dissecans, ununited anconeal process, incongruity, subtrochlear sclerosis, and osteoarthritis) was recorded. Radiographic characteristics of flexor enthesopathy were found in 86% of painful joints in the primary flexor enthesopathy group and in 100% of painful joints in the concomitant flexor enthesopathy group. Radiographic characteristics of flexor enthesopathy were not found in sound elbow and elbow dysplasia groups. Frequencies and details of individual radiographic characteristics did not differ between primary and concomitant flexor enthesopathy groups. Findings support the use of radiography as a first screening method for detection of flexor enthesopathy, but not as a technique for distinguishing primary vs. concomitant forms.  相似文献   

Risk factors for insect bite hypersensitivity in Friesian horses and Shetland ponies in The Netherlands     

Anouk Schurink  Sabrina C. Podesta  Bart J. Ducro  Johan A.M. van Arendonk  Klaas Frankena 《Veterinary journal (London, England : 1997)》2013,195(3):382-384

Insect bite hypersensitivity (IBH) is an equine skin allergy caused by bites of Culicoides spp. and impacts on the welfare of affected horses. The aim of this study was to identify and quantify risk factors for IBH. Data from 3453 Friesian horse mares and 7074 Shetland pony mares scored for IBH by inspectors during obligatory foal inspections were analysed using breed-specific multivariable logistic regression models. The combined effect of month and year of scoring, Province and inspector were significantly associated with IBH in both breeds. In Shetland pony mares, withers height and coat colour were also significantly associated with IBH, while body condition had a nearly significant effect. The outcomes from this study on risk factors might contribute to the development of more efficient measures to reduce the prevalence of IBH.  相似文献   

Serotype- and serogroup-specific detection of African horsesickness virus using phage displayed chicken scFvs for indirect double antibody sandwich ELISAs     

Wouter van Wyngaardt  Cordelia Mashau  Isabel Wright  Jeanni Fehrsen 《Journal of veterinary science (Suw?n-si, Korea)》2013,14(1):95-98

There is an ongoing need for standardized, easily renewable immunoreagents for detecting African horsesickness virus (AHSV). Two phage displayed single-chain variable fragment (scFv) antibodies, selected from a semi-synthetic chicken antibody library, were used to develop double antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays (DAS-ELISAs) to detect AHSV. In the DAS-ELISAs, the scFv previously selected with directly immobilized AHSV-3 functioned as a serotype-specific reagent that recognized only AHSV-3. In contrast, the one selected with AHSV-8 captured by IgG against AHSV-3 recognized all nine AHSV serotypes but not the Bryanston strain of equine encephalosis virus. Serving as evidence for its serogroup-specificity. These two scFvs can help to rapidly confirm the presence of AHSV while additional serotype-specific scFvs may simplify AHSV serotyping.  相似文献   

Forensic aspects of equine abnormal behavior and vices     

M.M. Sloet van Oldruitenborgh-Oosterbaan  H. Blok 《Journal of Veterinary Behavior: Clinical Applications and Research》2013,8(2):e21-e22

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Annual reproductive pattern in the dassie Procavia capensis     

M. van der Merwe  J.D. Skinner 《African Zoology》2013,48(3):130-135

Proximate factors influencing the reproductive pattern and rate in dassies are examined in an area subject to marked seasonal climatic variation. The influence of photoperiod is confirmed with no modifying influence by either temperature or rainfull during the period of the study. Testicular and ovarian activity was related, showing a peak in ovulation and fertilization between the period mid-March and mid-April. Of 49 pregnant females collected between June and December, 83% had either two or three embryos/fetuses. Growth curves for differing litter sizes have been calculated. Failure to increase litter size appears to be related more to a conservative ovulation rate than to ova not fertilized or fetal wastage, although ova loss increased with increasing ovulation rate.  相似文献   

Fetal development of the bat Miniopterus schreibersi natalensis     

M. van der Merwe 《African Zoology》2013,48(3):172-182

Prenatal development in the fetus of Miniopterus schreibersi natalensis is discussed. Due to the long period of delayed implantation in this subspecies, the age of even the smallest fetuses, where the fore-limb buds just become visible will be around 150 days. The most reliable criterion for age determination proved to be body mass, and all fetal ages were estimated by using the equation t = W^1/3/0,0145 + 144.  相似文献   

Studies on the Motility and Cryopreservation of Rainbow Trout (Salmo Gairdneri) Spermatozoa     

G. van der Horst  H.M. Dott  G.C. Foster 《African Zoology》2013,48(4):275-279

The very short duration of vigorous movement (1 1/2 to 7 min) in fresh water and physiological solutions make trout spermatozoa difficult subjects for cryopreservation studies. Solutions consisting of 250 to 280 mmol sucrose and 5 to 12% dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) (4 parts) did not activate trout spermatozoa (1 part), but after dilution with fresh water vigorous motility could be fully restored. These sucrose-DMSO solutions were employed in cryopreservation studies. Using straws and a fast freezing — fast thawing procedure, post-thaw dilution with fresh water resulted in 25%-60% of spermatozoa becoming motile, all with vigorous forward progression. Some existing methods for the cryopreservation of other freshwater fish spermatozoa were repeated on trout without success.  相似文献   

Intestinal Protozoa of the African Elephant Loxodonta Africana (Blumenbach)     

K. Eloff Anette  W. van Hoven 《African Zoology》2013,48(2):83-90

The digestive tract of 15 elephants from South Africa and two from Zaïre were sampled in order to determine the identity, density and population composition of the intestinal protozoa. The following orders were represented: Gymnostomatida, Trichostomatida and Entodiniomorphida. Altogether 17 species were identified, of which three are new. The new species as well as a new genus are described.  相似文献