Genetic variation in dairy cattle claw health traits recorded by claw trimmers

Claw health has been recorded by claw trimmers at trimming in Sweden since 1996, but data was then captured at each AI association. From 2003 data was captured by central scanning and entered directly to the national cow data base at the Swedish Dairy Association (SDA). This reporting was introduced because SDA wanted to be able to use these records to improve dairy cow claw health by breeding. It is desirable with cows that have healthy claws, because poor claw health can contribute to impaired production and fertility. The claw health report begins with some information about herd, claw trimmer, date et cetera and continues with the part where the claw health is recorded. Here the ID of each cow is filled in and on the same row the conditions for dermatitis, heel horn erosion, sole haemorrhage and sole ulcer are recorded as no lesion (blank), slight lesion (/) or severe lesion (X). The aim of this study was to estimate genetic parameters and repeatabilities between lactations for dermatitis, heel horn erosion, sole haemorrhage and sole ulcer from the reported claw health records. Data collected between 2003 and June 2007 for Swedish Holstein (SH)and Swedish Red dairy cattle (SR) were used in the study. The edited data sets consisted of 65 816 records from first and 24 121 records from second lactation of SH, and of 58 457 records from first and 22 282 records from second lactation of SR. Results show that heritabilities for the claw diseases were relatively low. For SH, heritabilities in first lactation were between 0.035 (sole ulcer) and 0.079 (dermatitis) and in second lactation between 0.032 (sole ulcer) and 0.079 (sole haemorrhage). For SR they were between 0.038 (sole ulcer) and 0.059 (sole haemorrhage) in first lactation and between 0.028 (sole ulcer) and 0.085 (heel horn erosion)in second lactation. Correlations between the claw diseases were estimated and showed highest correlations between dermatitis and heel horn erosion (0.86 for SR and 0.64 for SH)and also between sole haemorrhage and sole ulcer (0.70 for SR and 0.72 for SH). The genetic correlation for the same disease between lactations was high (0.84 and higher). The conclusions of this study are that the claw health reports are very useful. Heritabilities was relatively low but were sufficient enough to be possible to improve claw health through breeding. Correlations were very high within disease between lactations and also high between dermatitis and heel horn erosion as well as between sole haemorrhage and sole ulcer.Klövhälsan har sedan 1997 registrerats av klövverkare i Sverige i samband med klövverkning. Data har sedan rapporterats in till Svensk Mjölk. Denna rapportering introducerades på grund av en önskan att kunna använda registreringarna för att förbättra klövhälsan hos mjölkkor genom avel. Det är önskvärt med kor som har friska klövar då försämrad klövhälsa kan bidra till försämrad produktion och nedsatt fertilitet. Klövrapporterna börjar med information om gård, lövverkare, datum etc. och fortsätter med delen där klövhälsan fylls i. Här skrivs djurets ID-nummer upp och på samma rad fylls bedömningen för klöveksem, klövröta och sulblödning i, som ingen skada (tom ruta), lättare skada (/) eller svårare skada (X). Syftet med denna studie var att skatta genetiska parametrar och upprepbarhet för klöveksem, klövröta, sulblödning och klövsulesår utifrån de inrapporterade klövrapporterna. Data insamlade mellan 2003 och juni 2007 för både SH och SRB användes i studien. Efter editering bestod data setet av 65 816 resp. 24 121 observationer från 1:a och 2:a laktationen för SH, och 58 457 resp. 22 282 observationer från 1:a och 2:a laktationen för SRB Resultaten visade att arvbarheten för de olika klövsjukdomarna var relativt låg, för SRB låg de mellan 0,038 (klövsulesår)och 0,059 (sulblödning) i laktation ett och i laktation två mellan 0,028 (klövsulesår) och 0,085 (klövröta). För SH låg arvbarheterna i laktation ett mellan 0,035 (klövsulesår) och 0,079 (klöveksem) och i laktation två mellan 0,032 (klövsulesår) och 0,079 (sulblödning). Korrelationerna mellan de olika sjukdomarna skattades och var högst mellan eksem och röta (0,86 för SRB och 0,64 för SH) och mellan sulblödning och klövsulesår (0,70 för SRB och 0,72 för SH). Genetiska korrelationer mellan laktation 1 och 2 för en och samma sjukdom var höga (0,84 och högre). Slutsatsen av studien var att klövhälsorapporterna är mycket användbara. Arvbarheterna för klövsjukdomarna i studien var relativt låga men tillräckliga för att kunna förbättra klövhälsa genom avel. Korrelationerna var höga inom sjukdom mellan laktationer och dessutom höga mellan eksem och klövröta likväl som mellan sulblödning och klövsulesår

Different attitudes during breastfeeding consultations when infant formula was given: a phenomenographic approach

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>WHO and UNICEF believe that both antenatal and maternity care organizations are in an excellent position to protect and, if necessary, reinstate a culture that promotes breastfeeding, and that they are responsible for doing so. In Sweden, the number of breastfeeding women has been decreasing annually since 1996. Thus the aim of this study is to identify, describe and analyze the attitude midwives have towards the mother, child and breastfeeding when infant formula is given.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>From the theoretical standpoint of Buber's I-Thou and I-It concept, the different attitudes during breastfeeding consultations are interpreted. By using a phenomenographic approach based on 101 accounts of varying lengths from 39 midwives, different attitudes or approaches were identified.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Four different approaches are distinguished in the breastfeeding consultation. The first is the family as a whole, the second is mother and child as separate and equal, the third views the mother as superior and the fourth views the child as superior.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>The approach of the midwife is related to how she defines the overall perspective of the mother-child relationship and how she looks upon her relationship to the mother-child dyad. Her approach varies depending on whether she meets the mother and child as a subject, similar to herself, or whether she sees one of them as an object. A midwife may also take an outside position, as an object, thus excluding a genuine relationship with the mother. The results also indicate that health care professionals focus on parts of the whole instead of maintaining a holistic perspective.</p

A Search for Extraplanar Dust in Nearby Edge-On Spirals

We present high resolution BV images of 12 edge-on spiral galaxies observed with the WIYN 3.5-m telescope. These images were obtained to search for extraplanar (|z| > 0.4 kpc) absorbing dust structures similar to those previously found in NGC 891 (Howk & Savage 1997). Our imaged galaxies include a sample of seven massive L_*-like spiral galaxies within D<25 Mpc that have inclinations i > 87 deg from the plane of the sky. We find that five of these seven systems show extraplanar dust, visible as highly-structured absorbing clouds against the background stellar light of the galaxies. The more prominent structures are estimated to have associated gas masses >10^5 M_sun; the implied potential energies are > 10^(52) ergs. All of the galaxies in our sample that show detectable halpha emission at large z also show extraplanar dust structures. None of those galaxies for which extraplanar halpha searches were negative show evidence for extensive high-z dust. The existence of extraplanar dust is a common property of massive spiral galaxies. We discuss several mechanisms for shaping the observed dust features, emphasizing the possibility that these dusty clouds represent the dense phase of a multiphase medium at high-z in spiral galaxies. The correlation between high-z dust and extraplanar Halpha emission may simply suggest that both trace the high-z interstellar medium in its various forms (or phases), the existence of which may ultimately be driven by vigorous star formation in the underlying disk. (Abstract abridged)Comment: 26 pages; 15 jpeg figures. To appear in The Astronomical Journal, May 1999. Gzipped tar files of high-resolution figures in postscript and jpeg formats are available at http://www.astro.wisc.edu/~howk/Papers/papers.html#surve

Think new, think sustainable

Der Schwedische Umweltrat wurde von der Regierung beauftragt, mit verschiedenen Branchen in einen Dialog über ihre Bemühungen im Punkto nachhaltige Entwicklung zu treten. Die Ergebnisse sind viel versprechend

The Impact of Stellar Migration on Disk Outskirts

Stellar migration, whether due to trapping by transient spirals (churning), or to scattering by non-axisymmetric perturbations, has been proposed to explain the presence of stars in outer disks. After a review of the basic theory, we present compelling, but not yet conclusive, evidence that churning has been important in the outer disks of galaxies with type II (down-bending) profiles, while scattering has produced the outer disks of type III (up-bending) galaxies. In contrast, field galaxies with type I (pure exponential) profiles appear to not have experienced substantial migration. We conclude by suggesting work that would improve our understanding of the origin of outer disks.Comment: Invited review, Book chapter in "Outskirts of Galaxies", Eds. J. H. Knapen, J. C. Lee and A. Gil de Paz, Astrophysics and Space Science Library, Springer, in press 39 pages, 15 figure

Dispersal-mediated trophic interactions can generate apparent patterns of dispersal limitation in aquatic metacommunities

Dispersal is a major organising force in metacommunities, which may facilitate compositional responses of local communities to environmental change and affect ecosystem function. Organism groups differ widely in their dispersal abilities and their communities are therefore expected to have different adaptive abilities. In mesocosms, we studied the simultaneous compositional response of three plankton communities (zoo-, phyto- and bacterioplankton) to a primary productivity gradient and evaluated how this response was mediated by dispersal intensity. Dispersal enhanced responses in all three planktonic groups, which also affected ecosystem functioning. Yet, variation partitioning analyses indicated that responses in phytoplankton and bacterial communities were not only controlled by dispersal directly but also indirectly through complex trophic interactions. Our results indicate that metacommunity patterns emerging from dispersal can cascade through the food web and generate patterns of apparent dispersal limitation in organisms at other trophic levels.

Strategies of cultivation on organic soils : a study on decision making among farmers certified by KRAV

This study examines how farmers certified by KRAV face proposed regulations on organic soils put forward by KRAV economic association among others, and how they are affected economically. These soils are, from an environmental perspective, interesting as a target for production regulations as they cause greenhouse gas emissions through decomposition of organic material when cultivated. The regulations advocate that organic soils should be grown with pasture where soil cultivation is only allowed every fith year which implies that possible adjustments of cultivation have to be made in order to fulfill the regualtions. Collection of data have been made through a questionnaire sent out to 574 farmers certified by KRAV. The answers have been analysed using a decision making model and statistical findings suggest that proportion of organic soils, type of production, economic conditions and farmers' goals and values have an influence on whether the regulations and potential cultivation adjustments have been considered or not. This implies that farmers who operate their farms as a business and whose income from production on organic soils is significant, have taken a standpoint towards the regulations. As the regulations have not yet been implemented, the outcome of their decision is yet to be seen.Den här studien undersöker hur KRAV-anslutna lantbrukare ställer sig till, och påverkas ekonomiskt, av utvecklade regler för produktion på organogena jordar. Reglerna har utvecklats för projektet ”Klimatmärkning för mat” som drivs av bland annat KRAV. Organogena jordar är mycket intressanta att reglera ur miljöhänseende, då de genom markbearbetning bortodlas och orsakar växthusgasemissioner. De utvecklade reglerna förespråkar att organogena jordar ska vara bevuxna med vall och att jorden får bearbetas i syfte att förnya vallen högst vart femte år, vilket innebär att en eventuell odlingsanpassning kan vara nödvändig för regeluppfyllelse. Insamling av data har skett genom ett enkätutskick till 574 KRAV-anslutna lantbrukare. Data har analyserats med en beslutsmodell och statistiska analyser visar att andelen organogen jord i lantbruket, typ av produktion, ekonomiska förutsättningar och lantbrukarnas värderingar påverkar beslutsprocessen och huruvida lantbrukare har utvecklat anpassningsstrategier. Resultatet tyder på att lantbrukare som driver jordbruk företagsmässigt och vars inkomst från produktion på organogena jordar är betydelsefull, har tagit ställning till det utvecklade regelverket. Då reglerna ännu inte har implementerats återstår det att se hur lantbrukarna väljer att agera

Biodiversity in a complex world: consolidation and progress in functional biodiversity research

The global decline of biodiversity caused by human domination of ecosystems worldwide is supposed to alter important process rates and state variables in these ecosystems. However, there is considerable debate on the prevalence and importance of biodiversity effects on ecosystem function (BDEF). Here, we argue that much of the debate stems from two major shortcomings. First, most studies do not directly link the traits leading to increased or decreased function to the traits needed for species coexistence and dominance. We argue that implementing a trait-based approach and broadening the perception of diversity to include trait dissimilarity or trait divergence will result in more realistic predictions on the consequences of altered biodiversity. Second, the empirical and theoretical studies do not reflect the complexity of natural ecosystems, which makes it difficult to transfer the results to natural situations of species loss. We review how different aspects of complexity (trophic structure, multifunctionality, spatial or temporal heterogeneity, and spatial population dynamics) alter our perception of BDEF. We propose future research avenues concisely testing whether acknowledging this complexity will strengthen the observed biodiversity effects. Finally, we propose that a major future task is to disentangle biodiversity effects on ecosystem function from direct changes in function due to human alterations of abiotic constraints