Perspectives for livestock on grazinglands

There is growing concern about the negative environmental impact of livestock production. Recent studies funded by major donor institutions indicate a dramatic increase in demand for livestock products in the future, suggesting that the development potential of intensive livestock systems will be commensurate with the expected demand increases, with no negative consequences for food security of the poor and the environment. However, an analysis of technology options, current research policies in livestock production science and resource monitoring and protection technology supports the conclusion that output increases required to meet expected livestock product demand increases are unlikely to be achieved without negative environmental effects. If research and development policies are not adjusted, either environmental conservation or food security of the poor may be affected

Critical Assessment of Analytical Methods for the Harmonized and Cost-Efficient Analysis of Microplastics

Microplastics are of major concerns for society and is currently in the focus of legislators and administrations. A small number of measures to reduce or remove primary sources of microplastics to the environment are currently coming into effect. At the moment, they have not yet tackled important topics such as food safety. However, recent developments such as the 2018 bill in California are requesting the analysis of microplastics in drinking water by standardized operational protocols. Administrations and analytical labs are facing an emerging field of methods for sampling, extraction, and analysis of microplastics, which complicate the establishment of standardized operational protocols. In this review, the state of the currently applied identification and quantification tools for microplastics are evaluated providing a harmonized guideline for future standardized operational protocols to cover these types of bills. The main focus is on the naked eye detection, general optical microscopy, the application of dye staining, flow cytometry, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-Ir) and microscopy, Raman spectroscopy and microscopy, thermal degradation by pyrolysis–gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (py-GC-MS) as well as thermo-extraction and desorption gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (TED-GC-MS). Additional techniques are highlighted as well as the combined application of the analytical techniques suggested. An outlook is given on the emerging aspect of nanoplastic analysis. In all cases, the methods were screened for limitations, field work abilities and, if possible, estimated costs and summarized into a recommendation for a workflow covering the demands of society, legislation, and administration in cost efficient but still detailed manner

Prävalenz und Charakteristika von Kindern und Jugendlichen mit speziellem Versorgungsbedarf im Kinder- und Jugendgesundheitssurvey (KiGGS) in Deutschland

Um zu bevölkerungsrepräsentativen Einschätzungen der Prävalenz und der Charakteristika von Kindern und Jugendlichen mit gesundheitsbedingtem Versorgungsbedarf zu gelangen, sind Screening-Instrumente entwickelt worden. Diese zielen auf eine Erfassung von Konsequenzen körperlicher, seelischer und verhaltensbedingter Störungen ab, unabhängig von den zugrunde liegenden medizinischen Diagnosen. Eines der bestuntersuchten und unter Machbarkeitsaspekten bewährtesten Instrumente, der CSHCN-(Children with Special Health Care Needs)Screener, wurde in den Elternfragebogen des Kinder- und Jugendgesundheitssurveys (KiGGS) in Deutschland integriert. Die gewichtete Gesamtprävalenz von Kindern und Jugendlichen mit speziellem Versorgungsbedarf betrug 16,0% für Jungen und 11,4% für Mädchen. Bei Kindern im Vorschul- und Schulalter lag nach den Befragungsergebnissen ein spezieller Versorgungsbedarf 2- bis 3-mal häufiger vor als bei Kleinkindern. Bis zu einem Alter von 14 Jahren war ein deutlich höherer Versorgungsbedarf bei Jungen als bei Mädchen für alle Altersgruppen ersichtlich. Am deutlichsten ausgeprägt war der Geschlechtsunterschied bei den 3- bis 10-Jährigen. Kinder und Jugendliche mit Migrationshintergrund wiesen einen signifikant niedrigeren Versorgungsbedarf auf als Kinder ohne Migrationshintergrund. Dies traf insbesondere auf die Jungen (8,0% vs. 17,1%) zu. Signifikante Unterschiede im Versorgungsbedarf nach Sozialstatus, Größe des Wohnortes oder Zugehörigkeit des Wohnortes zu den alten oder neuen Ländern wurden nicht beobachtet. Mit Ausnahme eines fehlenden Zusammenhangs zwischen Versorgungsbedarf und sozioökonomischem Status zeigen die hier berichteten Ergebnisse gute Übereinstimmung mit Beobachtungen im US-amerikanischen National Survey of CSHCN.In order to arrive at population-based estimates on the prevalence and characteristics of children and adolescents with specific health care needs (CSHCN), screening instruments focussing on the consequences of physical, mental and behavioral problems rather than on medical diagnoses have been developed. One of the most feasible and widely tested instruments, the CSHCN screener was added to the self-administered questionnaire for parents of children participating in the German Health Interview and Examination Survey for Children and Adolescents (KiGGS). The overall weighted prevalence of CSHCN was 16.0% among boys and 11.4% among girls. Children at kindergarten or school age were more than 2-3 times more likely to screen positive compared to toddlers. Up to 14 years, the sex difference persisted through all age groups and was most pronounced between the ages of 3 and 10 years. Children with a migrant background had significantly lower rates of CSHCN compared to non-migrants. This was particularly true for boys (8.0% vs. 17.1%). CSHCN status was not related to social status, urbanization or residence in former West vs. former East Germany. Except for the lack of association with social status, these results are in good accordance with observations from the US National Survey of CSHCN

Replacement of wheat bran with spineless cactus in sugarcane-based diets for steers

ABSTRACT The effect of replacing wheat bran with spineless cactus (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%) in sugar cane-based diets on the intake of nutrients, feeding behavior, and rumen digestibility of steers was assessed using digested samples collected from the omasum. Five crossbred steers (1/2 Holstein-Zebu) were fitted with cannulas in the rumen and then assigned to a 5 × 5 Latin square design. Samples of omasal digesta were collected for three days. Rumen was evacuated via the rumen cannula to determine the rumen pool of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), indigestible NDF (iNDF), intake (ki), passage (kp) and degradation (NDF) rates, and the passage of iNDF (kpi). Nutrient intake displayed a quadratic effect, with maximum intakes of DM (5.73 kg d−1), non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC, 4.63 kg d−1), and digestible organic matter (DOM, 3.45 kg d−1) estimated at the replacement levels of 54.63, 60.00, and 43.17%, respectively. The replacement levels showed no effect on feeding, rumination, or idle times. There was a linear increase in the total apparent and ruminal digestibility of CP as the spineless cactus content in the diet was increased. There was no effect on total and partial digestibilities of OM and NDF or on intestinal digestibility of CP. No effect was observed on the rumen pool of DM, NDF, or iNDF. Furthermore, ki, kp, NDF degradation, and iNDF passage rates displayed a quadratic effect, with higher concentrations estimated for replacement levels of 56.07, 56.12, 59.00, and 55.20%, respectively. Replacing 55% wheat bran with spineless cactus in sugar cane-based diets is recommended

A meta-analysis of dry matter intake in Nellore and Zebu-crosses cattle

The study was carried out to develop and to evaluate new equations to predict dry matter intake (DMI) of Nellore and Zebu-crosses cattle using meta-analysis procedure. The data used to estimate the parameters were collected from independent performance experiments using growing and fattening Nellore and Zebu-crosses cattle, and they were compiled from 561 experimental units. Before proposing an equation to predict DMI, it was observed that the genetic group was a source of statisticaly significant variation. Therefore, equations to predict dry matter intake in the Zebu-Crosses and Nellore cattle were independently developed. The regression equations for Zebu-crosses cattle were: DMI = -2.6098 + 0.08844BW0.75 + 4.4672ADG - 1.3579ADG2 and DMI = -1.0094 + 0.01608BW + 4.4363ADG -1.2548ADG2. The regression equations for Nellore cattle were: DMI = -2.7878 + 0.08789BW0.75 + 5.0487ADG - 1.6835ADG2 and DMI = -1.3559 + 0.0159BW + 5.6397ADG - 1.8494ADG2. In order to evaluate fitted equations, it was utilized data from independent experiments published from 2005 to 2008 in the Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia. The equations (DMI) for Nellore overpredicted dry matter intake for estimates lower than 7 and higher than 10 kg·d-1. For Zebu-crosses cattle, dispersions of 3 kg d-1 were observed when extreme intakes were evaluated, however, when the equation included BW 0.75, the intercept did not differ from zero and the slope did not differ from 1. It is not possible to fit only one equation for preditcting DMI for beef cattle in tropical conditions, because there are differences between Zebu and Zebu-crosses. Fitted equations that include ADG and BW 0.75 should be used as an alternative method to predict dry matter intake of Zebu-crosses and Nellore beef cattle in tropical conditions.Objetivou-se desenvolver e avaliar novas equações para predição do consumo de matéria seca (CMS) em bovinos Nelore e mestiço, utilizando-se meta-análise. Os dados utilizados para estimar os parâmetros foram coletados em experimentos de desempenho independentes com bovinos Nelore e mestiço nas fases de recria e engorda, compilados a partir de 561 unidades experimentais. Antes de propor uma equação para predizer o CMS, observou-se que o grupo genético foi uma fonte de variação estatisticamente significativa. Neste sentido, equações para predizer o CMS em bovinos Nelores e mestiços foram desenvolvidas de forma independente. As equações de regressão para bovinos mestiços foram: CMS = -2,6098 + 0,08844PV0,75 + 4,4672GMD - 1,3579GMD2 e CMS = -1,0094 + 0,01608PV + 4,4363GMD -1.2548GMD2. As equações de regressão para bovinos Nelore foram: CMS = -2,7878 + 0,08789PV0,75 + 5,0487GMD - 1,6835GMD2 e CMS = -1,3559 +,0159PV + 5,6397GMD - 1,8494GMD2. Para avaliar as equações ajustadas, utilizaram-se dados de experimentos independentes publicados entre 2005 e 2008 na Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia. As equações (CMS) para Nelore superestimaram o CMS para estimativas menores que 7 e maiores que 10 kg d-1. Para bovinos mestiços, as dispersões de 3 kg·d-1 foram observadas quando pontos extremos foram avaliados, no entanto, quando a equação incluiu PV0,75, o intercepto não diferiu de zero e a inclinação não diferiu de 1. Não é possível ajustar uma única equação para predizer o CMS para bovinos de corte em condições tropicais, porque há diferenças entre Nelores e mestiços. Equações ajustadas que incluem GMD e PV0,75 devem ser usadas como um método alternativo para predizer o CMS em bovinos Nelores e mestiços em condições tropicais

Environmental-Friendly Fluorine Mixture for Cvd Cleaning Processes to Replace C2f6 and Nf3 under Industrial Conditions

During the climate conference in Paris a binding and universal climate target was established. It was agreed to limit the temperature increase to a maximum of 2 C° until 2100 [1]. The most relevant climate gas is CO2, considered as a primary greenhouse gas with a significant impact on global warming.</jats:p