White clover (Trifolium repens L.) is well adapted to the cool moist climate of Atlantic Canada, where it improves digestibility and protein content in pastures, but little is known about its role in pasture stockpiled for autumn grazing in this region. The objectives of this study were to determine the effect of autumn harvest dates on dry matter yield and clover content in herbage mixtures. Two experiments conducted in Nova Scotia between 1985 and 1991 on two different soil types showed that the effects of autumn harvest dates were inconsistent from year to year. Herbage growth rates ranged from 11 to 41 kg/ha per day between early September and mid-October. Clover content was generally lower in August–early September than in November harvests and declined in subsequent years irrespective of harvest date or forage species. Kersey White and Sonja white clovers were the highest yielding cultivars. Crude protein declined in late autumn harvests whereas acid detergent fibre tended to increase, and there were differences between years. Forage quality was significantly better in tall fescue (Festuca arundinacea Schreb.) than orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L.)/white clover mixtures.

The voluntary digestible organic matter intake (DOMI) of mature barley crops (Hordeum spp.) for sheep depends largely on straw quality. Direct measurement of DOMI is laborious; consequently, the research reported here evaluated indicator traits for improving barley straw DOMI by crop breeding. It hypothesized that some indicator traits for straw quality are heritable, facilitate genetic gain in DOMI, and reveal straw properties that constrain genetic gain. In 4 years, 32 genotypes of barley were grown at ICARDA, northern Syria, with no fertilizer in one year and supplementary irrigation in another. Indicator traits for predicting DOMI included in situ straw dry matter losses (DML) at nine incubation times (0–120 h), four parameters of the DML curve, seven laboratory tests, grain yield and straw yield. Heritability (h2) was highest for traits associated with indigestible cell wall constituents, including potential DML (h2 = 0.61), DML at 48–120 h of incubation (h2 = 0.48–0.58), and acid detergent fibre (ADF) (h2 = 0.41). Heritability was lower for DOMI itself (h2 = 0.24), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) (h2 = 0.20), and total Kjeldahl nitrogen (h2 = 0.17), and was lowest for DML at 6–18 h (h2 = 0.08–0.09) and the in situ parameters Lag and relative loss rate of slowly degradable DM (h2 ≤ 0.03). Correlations between indicator traits and DOMI tended to increase with heritability. Grain and straw yields were not correlated with DOMI; of these, only grain yield was heritable. In conclusion, genetic gain in barley straw nutritive value can be achieved by crop breeding under diverse growing conditions, using indicator traits associated with indigestible cell wall constituents.

Seventeen samples of pasture collected from May to December, 1929, have been analysed for mineral constituents.

1. The results show that drought conditions seriously affect the mineral composition of pastures.

2. The calcium content showed a slight fall during the months of drought, and a more marked fall in the months of heavy rain from October to December.

3. The phosphorus content fell during the drought period and rose rapidly at the end of the year.

Nineteen ecotypes from northern Britain and selected genotypes of a cultivar of L. perenne were assessed in controlled environments for shoot growth at low temperature and irradiance and also short daylengths. The ecotypes were collected from a range of altitudes at sites experiencing estimated mean monthly temperatures in the coldest month between -0·1 and + 4·2 °C.

A clinal relationship between low temperature growth and the winter temperature at the place of origin of the ecotypes could not be found in these experiments. Low temperature growth was not generally associated with altitude of origin of the plants, but in this study some of the plants collected from mid-altitude were exceptional in leaf growth produced at 5 °C. Types of L. perenne which extended leaves quickly also produced heavier shoot weights than other types less able to show rapid leaf extension at low temperature. The exceptional ecotypes may provide useful basic plant material for breeding cultivars of L. perenne to grow at low temperatures, and irradiances and short daylengths. Several possible explanations are discussed for the differences in shoot growth found between L. perenne ecotypes at low temperature.

1. The precipitation of calcium, magnesium, phytate phosphorus, and non-phytate (chiefly phosphate) phosphorus has been determined in ‘hydrolysed’ and ‘unhydrolysed’ bran, with varying amounts of added calcium as calcium carbonate.

2. It was found that calcium phytate was precipitated before non-phytate (chiefly phosphate), whatever level of calcium carbonate was added.

3. Precipitation began and was more complete under more acid conditions when calcium and Ca: P ratio were high.

4. Similar experiments have been carried out using salt solutions containing calcium and phytate, calcium and phosphate, and calcium, phytate, and phosphate. The results were similar in most cases to those of corresponding bran mixtures.

5. The above results have been considered in relation to the precipitations which are likely to occur in the small intestine, and the possible effects of these precipitations on absorption are discussed.

Three hundred and eighty-two Fayomi pullets were available from different hatches throughout the year. The age and body weight, as well as the weight of first eggs at sexual maturity in relation to growth curves, were recorded. The fertilizability and hatchability of the first eggs laid at sexual maturity were also examined from one hundred pullets hatched during the months of November and August.

1. (a) The winter hatches (December, January and February) reached sexual maturity at 183 days and at a body weight of 1093 g. The weight of the first ten eggs was 31·8 g., while the period from first to the tenth egg was 26 days. Summer hatches (June, July and August) reached sexual maturity at 165 days and at a body weight of 1124 g., while the weight of the first ten eggs was 32·4 g. and the period from first to tenth egg was 31 days. Autumn hatches (September, October and November) reached sexual maturity at 159 days and at a body weight of 1023 g., while the weight of the first ten eggs was 31·4 g. and the period from first to tenth egg was 23 days.

(b) Summer and winter hatches attained sexual maturity at an older age and heavier body weight, and laid heavier first ten eggs in a longer period than autumn hatches.

2. The growth curves were higher for the summer hatches than for the spring (March, April and May) ones. Winter and autumn hatches were intermediate. Summer hatches attained sexual maturity at a higher relative growth rate than autumn and winter hatches. In Egypt (30° N.), the effect of temperature seems to override that of daylength in respect to growth and sexual maturity.

3. Yearly differences in the attainment of sexual maturity were significant, mainly in December hatches. Individual differences were minimized during summer hatches.

4. (a) The first egg laid can be fertilizable and even hatchable. When sexual maturity was attained at an old age or a heavy body weight, the first eggs laid had a greater chance of being fertilizable and hatchable. This is due to the weight of first eggs laid and to the season at which sexual maturity is attained.

(b) The attainment of sexual maturity as measured by the fertilizability and hatchability of first eggs, seems to be a gradual phenomenon.

Water-use efficiency and forage yield of irrigated oats depend to a large extent on water application during initial growth. Root distribution, growth and fodder yield of oats as influenced by time and amount of first irrigation were studied in the field for 2 years. Root-weight density of each layer, profile-root-weight density and yields decreased progressively when the first irrigation was delayed. Application of a small amount of irrigation (20 mm) at day 25 proved to be better than applications of 50 or 70 mm at later stages.

Cotton (Gossypium hirsutum L.) yield and quality is affected by altered fruiting patterns with progress in season. The present study was conducted to analyse normal and altered (abnormal) boll (fruit) development at maturation phase. Both normal and abnormal bolls of the same age groups were analysed for growth in terms of dry weight, water content and endogenous abscisic acid (ABA) content of fibre and seed. Endogenous level of ABA was estimated by using antibodies raised against ABA–protein conjugate. To amplify the reaction, indirect ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immuno Sorbent Assay) was performed. A marked decrease in dry matter accumulation (DMA) of seed and fibre was observed in abnormal bolls as the season progressed. Fibre from the abnormal bolls showed marked variation in endogenous ABA content, however, in abnormal seeds water content and endogenous abscisic acid content showed significant variation compared to that of normal bolls. From the results, it is concluded that a marked decrease in seed dry weight may be because of a decrease in water content and accumulation of higher endogenous abscisic acid content, whereas, the major reason for reduced fibre weight may be due to accumulation of endogenous abscisic acid.

Bracken cut in June was ensiled in various ways, and some of the products were examined for chemical composition, digestibility and palatability. The main findings were:

1. Overheated silage was moderately palatable to sheep and cattle, but its digestibility was low and it approximated to wheat or barley straw in feeding value.

2. Silage subjected to less heat was unpalatable, and in some cases was absolutely refused by sheep. The ensiled stems were preferred to the leaves. The digestibility was low but slightly better than that of the overheated silage.

3. Ensiling seriously affects the digestibility of bracken protein. In two silages none of the true protein was digestible, and in one the digestibility of this constituent was only 12·9%.

It is concluded that the ensiling of bracken is unlikely to prove profitable.

Aluminium (Al) toxicity is the major factor-limiting crop productivity in acid soils. In the present study, physiological and transcriptional responses of broad bean leaves to Al stress were investigated. Malondialdehyde (MDA) content, H2O2 content and protein carbonyls (PC) level in leaves were increased after 100 μm AlCl3 stress treatment, whereas the total protein content was decreased, compared with the plants without Al treatment. Stomatal closure in leaves of broad bean was increased after Al stress, suggesting that the photosynthesis rate might be affected by Al stress. The relative citrate secretion in leaves was decreased after Al treatment for 24 h according to the 13C-NMR analysis, indicating that citrate in leaves might be transported to the root to chelate Al3+. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of Al toxicity in leaves of broad bean, a suppression subtractive hybridization (SSH) library was constructed to identify up-regulated genes: cDNA from leaves subjected to 12, 24, 48 and 72 h of 50 and 100 μm AlCl3 stress were used as testers and cDNA from leaves subjected to 0 μm AlCl3 treatment for the same lengths of time as above were used as a driver. The SSH analysis identified 156 non-redundant putative Al stress-responsive expressed sequence tags (ESTs) out of 960 clones. The ESTs were categorized into ten functional groups, which were involved in metabolism (0·21), protein synthesis and protein fate (0·10), photosynthesis and chloroplast structure (0·09), transporter (0·08), cell wall related (0·06), signal transduction (0·05), defence, stress and cell death (0·05), energy (0·03), transcription factor (0·03) and unknown proteins (0·30). The effect of Al treatment on expression of 15 selected genes was investigated by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT–PCR), confirming induction by Al stress. The results indicated that genes involved in organic acid metabolism, transport, photosynthesis and chloroplast structure, defence, stress and cell death might play important roles under Al stress.

The current study investigated associations between variation in the bovine perilipin-2 gene (PLIN2) and milk traits (milk fat content, milk protein content, milk yield and milk fatty acid (FA) component levels) in 409 New Zealand pasture-grazed Holstein-Friesian × Jersey-cross (HF × J-cross or Kiwicross™) cows. Five nucleotide sequence variants were found in three regions of the gene, including c.17C>T in exon 2, c.53A>G in exon 3, c.595+23G>A and c.595+104_595+108del in intron 5, and c.*302T>C in the 3′-untranslated region. The c.*302T>C substitution produces two nucleotide sequence variants (A5 and B5), and this variation was associated with variation in milk protein content and milkfat composition for C10:0, C11:0, C12:0, C13:0 and C16:0 FA and medium-chain fatty acid (MCFA) and long-chain fatty acid (LCFA) groups. After correcting for the effect of variation in the diacylglycerol acyl-CoA acyltransferase 1 gene (DGAT1) that results in the amino acid substitution p.K232A, variation in the FA binding protein 4 gene (FABP4) and variation in the stearoyl-CoA desaturase (Δ-9-desaturase) gene (SCD) that results in the amino acids substitution p.A293V, significant differences between A5A5 and B5B5 cows were found for C10:0, C11:0, C12:0, C13:0, C16:0, and the MCFA, LCFA, total saturated FA and C10:1 index groups. This suggests that nucleotide sequence variation in PLIN2 may be affecting milk FA component levels.

In a randomized block 3x2 factorial experiment 72 Large White type weaner pigs were individually and restrictedly fed, from 501b (22–7 kg) to approximately 1601b (72–7 kg) live weight, iso-nitrogenous (16% crude protein) maize-based diets (as wet mashes with 2:1 ratios of water to dry food) containing 0–15%, 0–22% or 0–29% tryptophan and either 0–85% or 0–97% lysine. Overall, for the period in its entirety and in the period from the start to 110 lb (50–0 kg) live weight, the diets containing 0–22% and 0–29% tryptophan gave a similar performance. Together they gave a significantly superior performance compared with that obtained from the diets containing 0–15 % tryptophan. Pigs fed the diets containing 0–85 % lysine converted their food better and grew faster than pigs fed the diets containing 0–97 % lysine. These differences were significant (P <0–05) for both parameters in the period from 110 lb (50–0 kg) live weight to the finish of the experiment at 1601b (72–5 kg) live weight and significant (P <0–05) for efficiency of food conversion in the overall experimental period.

The classification of land usage in mountain grassland bovine areas is important for the management of forage production and grazing in grass-based livestock systems. The present paper proposes a novel, hierarchical neural network-based approach towards the classification of land usage in these areas. A survey of 72 farms was conducted in the Massif Central (France). Information was gathered on geographical characteristics and cutting and/or grazing practices on three general groups of fields: cut only, cut and grazed and grazed only fields. To classify land usage, the data were clustered and visualized in a hierarchical fashion. This was done by using a novel method for the analysis and classification of data based on growing hierarchical self-organizing maps (GHSOM). Self-organizing maps (SOM) have been shown to be successful for the analysis of highly dimensional input data in data mining applications as well as for data visualization. Moreover, the hierarchical architecture of the GHSOM is more flexible than a single SOM in the adaptation process to input data, capturing inherent hierarchical relationships among them. Experimental results show the utility of this approach.

In a series of field experiments over four seasons, in the north-west region of Tasmania, poppy (Papaver somniferum L.) capsules were harvested at various intervals after dry maturity (12% moisture in capsules). Reductions in the relative morphine concentration of capsules were closely associated with rainfall after dry maturity. These values ranged from a reduction of 0·92 to 0·82% over 5 weeks with 13 mm of rain to a reduction of 0·95 to 0·31% over 6 weeks with 79 mm of rain.

In a simulated leaching experiment ground capsules were leached with 50 mm of water. Morphine was detected in the leachate and after being held for 10 days the morphine concentration of the ground capsules had decreased from 0·56 to 0·22%.

Intact capsules from glasshouse grown plants were harvested at 2 weeks (T1, 4 weeks (T2), and 6 weeks (dry maturity T3) after full bloom. At each time of harvest they were immersed in distilled water for four different lengths of immersion time: zero (L0), 6·7 min (L1, 44·8 min (L2), and 300 min (L3). After immersion both the immersion water and the capsules were analysed for morphine. Morphine was readily detected in the immersion water with more at T3 than T2 and the amount of morphine increased as the length of immersion time increased. This latter process was greater at T3 than T2. At both T2 and T3 here was a trend for capsule morphine to decrease as immersion time increased.

Medicinal plants with high phytochemical values are critical for enhancing the productivity of livestock systems, while reducing their environmental impact. This study investigated the influence of graded levels of Cassia fistula leaf powder (CFLP) on in vitro ruminal fermentation parameters, gas production and degradability of diets for ruminants. Five concentrate diets were formulated to contain varying levels of CFLP (0, 15, 30, 45 and 60 mg/g dry matter (DM), denoted CF0, CF15, CF30, CF45 and CF60, respectively). The concentrate diets combined with guinea grass hay at the ratio of 4 : 6 (concentrate : forage) served as a substrate for the study. In vitro gas production test was performed by incubating 200 mg DM of the substrate for 48 h. At the end of the incubation period, the total gas and methane production, nutrient digestibility, in vitro fermentation and post-incubation parameters were evaluated. Results revealed a linear decrease (P < 0.001) in gas and methane production across the treatment groups with an increase in CFLP levels. The amount of methane produced varied from 9.3 ml/200 mg DM in the CF60 diet to 20 ml/200 mg DM in the control diet. Nutrient digestibility was highest in the control diet and lowest in the CF60 diet. There was a linear decrease in ammonia-nitrogen and total volatile fatty acid (TVFA) concentration with an increase in the CFLP level. Inclusion of CFLP up to 30 mg/g DM ruminant diet was found to reduce methane production and ammonia-nitrogen concentration with minimal effects on nutrient degradation and TVFA concentration.

Interest in organic agriculture worldwide is growing and is mainly supported by a strong consumer interest. In the literature, a lot of attention has been paid to comparing organic and conventional systems, on studying the yield gap between the two systems and, how to reduce it. In the present work, based on the results from Polish organic and conventional series of field trials carried out in 2019–2021, organic and conventional systems were compared in terms of potato tuber yield. Moreover, we propose a Bayesian approach to the variety × environment × system data set and describe Bayesian counterparts of two stability measures. Using this methodology, we identify the most stable and highest tuber yielding varieties in the Polish potato organic and conventional series of field trials. It is shown that the tuber yield in the organic system was approx. 44% lower than the tuber yield in the conventional system. Moreover, varieties Tajfun and Otolia were the most stable and highest yielding varieties in the organic system, whereas in the conventional system, the variety Jurek was the most stable and highest yielding variety among the tested varieties. In the present work, the use of the Bayesian approach allowed us to calculate the probability that the mean of a given variety in given system exceeds the mean of control varieties in that system.

Magnesium deficiency has been recognized to occur on acid (pH 5·5 or lower), sandy and highly leached soils or in soils whioh have received heavy application of fertilizers especially with materials which are lacking in magnesium or high in potassium (Berger, 1962; Foy & Barber, 1958). In addition to absolute deficiencies, induced forms can also occur, especially when K:Mg ratio in the soil exceeds 5:1 (Caldwell, Hooper & Little, 1968).

The triple test cross analysis (Kearsey & Jinks, 1968; Jinks & Perkins, 1970) was used to detect and estimate the additive, dominance and epistatic components of genetic variation for four metric traits, namely, final plant height, number of spikelets per spike, 100-kernel weight and yield per plant, in the first backcross populations of four wheat crosses (Norteno 67 α Moti, Sonalika α Moti, Kalyan Sona α Sonalika and Kalyan Sona × NP 876). Epistasis was a more important component of variation for final plant height and yield per plant than for number of spikelets per spike and 100-kernel weight. On the other hand, the additive component was highly significant for all four characters in all eight backcrosses.

Migration of pedigree Ayrshire cattle in the British Isles is estimated for 1927 and 1946 from samples of herd-book registrations. Most migration is from Scotland, particularly Ayrshire, to England, but considerable numbers were also transferred between regions within Scotland or England. A larger proportion of bulls than of cows was moved in this way. Only a small proportion of animals had two parents bred in the same herd as themselves. If the males and females registered from England in 1946 were the sole parents of the next generation, the latter would still have more than half Scottish blood.

The amount of movement of Ayrshire cattle shown by these data virtually precludes genetic differences between regions, but not perhaps between herds. Other implications of movement are discussed.

Growth curves fitted to factorial data can be modelled using an extrinsic time variate or using the mean responses within the levels of a subset of factors. Where factors can be partitioned into a set of ‘treatment’ factors and a set of ‘environment’ factors, fitting growth curves to the mean effects of environments allows the effects of treatments to be assessed relative to a uniform background growth rate. This leads to a test of a null hypothesis of equal treatment effects in all environments, given that the mean growth rate and stage of development in all environments is equal. The approach is exemplified using data from a glasshouse tomato crop experiment testing variety, nutrient and sowing date factors. Variety and nutrient treatment effects were of direct interest but sowing dates were intended to generalize results by providing a range of growing environments. Treatment effects are analysed by modelling running cumulative yield totals by growth curves and regressing variety and nutrient growth variates on the mean growth variate within each sowing date. In the discussion the case of more than one environmental factor is considered.