A study of the growth rate of F2 and F3 Africander cross, Brahman cross and British cross cattle from birth to 18 months in a tropical environment

1971 ◽  
Vol 11 (53) ◽  
pp. 593 ◽  
Author(s):  
JF Kennedy ◽  
GIK Chirchir

The mean birthweights and weaning weights of approximately 1200 male and female calves of the F2 and F3 generations of Africander cross (AX), Brahman cross (BX) and Shorthorn X Hereford cross (SH) cattle, together with the weights at four months, and nine months post weaning for approximately 500 of the females, for the years 1964-1968, are presented. BX calves (29.7 kg) were lighter at birth than AX (31.0 kg) or SH (31.8 kg), but at weaning (eight-nine months) they were 13.7 kg heavier than the AX, and 28.9 kg heavier than the SH. In the first four months postweaning, at the end of the dry-season, female AX gained 21.5 kg, BX gained 18.5 kg, and the SH 11.7 kg, and in the next five months, which included the wet-season, AX gained 78.6 kg, BX 83.1 kg, and SH 63.2 kg. At approximately eighteen months old the AX weighed 282.8 kg, BX 294.8 kg, and SH 244.2 kg. There were substantial differences between years but the rank order of the breeds at each growth period did not change.

1984 ◽  
Vol 38 (3) ◽  
pp. 417-427 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. G. Turner

ABSTRACTRectal temperatures of cattle grazed near the tropic of Capricorn in central Queensland were studied. The cattle were of Bos indicus, B. taurus and crossbred lines, and were represented by over 200 growing heifers in each of 2 years and some supplementary groups.Rectal temperatures were loge normally distributed when they were expressed as deviations from a basal temperature of 38°C. They were significantly repeatable, but were more highly repeatable when herd mean temperature was above 39·5°C. The heritability estimate was 0·33 (P < 0·01).The mean phenotypic regression of growth rate on rectal temperature, within breed groups, was 0·04 (s.e. 0·006) kg/day per °C (r = 0·3, P < 0·01) over the entire growth period from birth to 18 months of age but greater during warmer seasons. The estimated genetic correlation was insignificant in one group of heifers but −0·86 (s.e. 0·17) in the other.The evidence of favourable and possible unfavourable responses to selection of cattle for low rectal temperature in warm environments is discussed.


2021 ◽  
Vol 25 (5) ◽  
pp. 841-845
Author(s):  
C.A.E. Ibhadode ◽  
I.R. Ilaboya

Groundwater pollution by heavy metals such as lead, copper, nickel and iron is one of the major environmental issues of concern which has developed into a widely studied area. In this study, attempt was made to investigate the level of heavy metals in selected boreholes around the vicinity of cemeteries in Benin City. Seventy-two (72) samples of groundwater were taken from boreholes in 9 stations around the three cemeteries in Benin City on monthly basis. The samples were analysed for 7 heavy metals, in accordance with standard procedures. The heavy metals include; Zinc, Lead Iron, Copper, Cadmium, Nickel and Mercury. From the results of the study, a variation in the mean concentration of zinc was observed. The mean concentration of zinc in site 1 was 0.450mg/l, for site 2, it was 0.140mg/l and for site 3, it was 1.0533mg/l. For iron, mean concentration was 0.072mg/l in site 1. For site 2, mean concentration of iron was 2.140mg/l and for site 3, mean concentration of iron was 0.560mg/l. It was further revealed based on the results that mean value of heavy metals in groundwater around cemeteries in Benin City were generally lower during dry season compared to wet season. In addition, result of computed pollution index (Pi) revealed that the heavy metal with the highest potential to pollute groundwater is Cadmium, with Pi of 0.5333 and 0.400 representing dry season and wet season respectively.


1966 ◽  
Vol 66 (1) ◽  
pp. 97-100 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. C. M. Trail ◽  
G. D. Sacker

1. The effects of birth weight, sex, twinning, parity of dam and dry season on mortality rates of lambs were studied between birth and weaning at 20 weeks in a flock of East African Blackheaded sheep.2. The mean birth weights of non-surviving lambs were lower than those of surviving lambs. Singles from gimmers and twins from ewes were 0.5 and 1.0 lb., respectively, lighter at birth, and had higher mortality rates than singles from ewes. The overall mortality rate of singles from ewes was 16%, singles from gimmers 20% and twins from ewes 28%. Male and female lambs born alive had similar mortality rates (18%).


2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (14) ◽  
pp. 10773-10797 ◽  
Author(s):  
John E. Shilling ◽  
Mikhail S. Pekour ◽  
Edward C. Fortner ◽  
Paulo Artaxo ◽  
Suzane de Sá ◽  
...  

Abstract. The Green Ocean Amazon (GoAmazon 2014/5) campaign, conducted from January 2014 to December 2015 in the vicinity of Manaus, Brazil, was designed to study the aerosol life cycle and aerosol–cloud interactions in both pristine and anthropogenically influenced conditions. As part of this campaign, the U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) Gulfstream 1 (G-1) research aircraft was deployed from 17 February to 25 March 2014 (wet season) and 6 September to 5 October 2014 (dry season) to investigate aerosol and cloud properties aloft. Here, we present results from the G-1 deployments focusing on measurements of the aerosol chemical composition and secondary organic aerosol (SOA) formation and aging. In the first portion of the paper, we provide an overview of the data and compare and contrast the data from the wet and dry season. Organic aerosol (OA) dominates the deployment-averaged chemical composition, comprising 80 % of the non-refractory PM1 aerosol mass, with sulfate comprising 14 %, nitrate 2 %, and ammonium 4 %. This product distribution was unchanged between seasons, despite the fact that total aerosol loading was significantly higher in the dry season and that regional and local biomass burning was a significant source of OA mass in the dry, but not wet, season. However, the OA was more oxidized in the dry season, with the median of the mean carbon oxidation state increasing from −0.45 in the wet season to −0.02 in the dry season. In the second portion of the paper, we discuss the evolution of the Manaus plume, focusing on 13 March 2014, one of the exemplary days in the wet season. On this flight, we observe a clear increase in OA concentrations in the Manaus plume relative to the background. As the plume is transported downwind and ages, we observe dynamic changes in the OA. The mean carbon oxidation state of the OA increases from −0.6 to −0.45 during the 4–5 h of photochemical aging. Hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol (HOA) mass is lost, with ΔHOA∕ΔCO values decreasing from 17.6 µg m−3 ppmv−1 over Manaus to 10.6 µg m−3 ppmv−1 95 km downwind. Loss of HOA is balanced out by formation of oxygenated organic aerosol (OOA), with ΔOOA∕ΔCO increasing from 9.2 to 23.1 µg m−3 ppmv−1. Because hydrocarbon-like organic aerosol (HOA) loss is balanced by OOA formation, we observe little change in the net Δorg∕ΔCO values; Δorg∕ΔCO averages 31 µg m−3 ppmv−1 and does not increase with aging. Analysis of the Manaus plume evolution using data from two additional flights in the wet season showed similar trends in Δorg∕ΔCO to the 13 March flight; Δorg∕ΔCO values averaged 34 µg m−3 ppmv−1 and showed little change over 4–6.5 h of aging. Our observation of constant Δorg∕ΔCO are in contrast to literature studies of the outflow of several North American cities, which report significant increases in Δorg∕ΔCO for the first day of plume aging. These observations suggest that SOA formation in the Manaus plume occurs, at least in part, by a different mechanism than observed in urban outflow plumes in most other literature studies. Constant Δorg∕ΔCO with plume aging has been observed in many biomass burning plumes, but we are unaware of reports of fresh urban emissions aging in this manner. These observations show that urban pollution emitted from Manaus in the wet season forms less particulate downwind as it ages than urban pollution emitted from North American cities.


2016 ◽  
Author(s):  
Diego A. Gouveia ◽  
Boris Barja ◽  
Henrique M. J. Barbosa ◽  
Theotônio Pauliquevis ◽  
Paulo Artaxo

Abstract. For one year, from July 2011 to June 2012, a ground-based raman lidar provided atmospheric observations north of Manaus, Brazil, at an experimental site (2.89° S and 59.97° W) for long-term aerosol and cloud measurements. Upper tropospheric cirrus clouds were observed more frequently than previous reports in tropical regions. The frequency of occurrence was found to be as high as 82 % during the wet season and not lower than 55 % during the dry season. The diurnal cycle shows a minimum around local noon and maximum during late afternoon, associated with the diurnal cycle precipitation. Optical and geometrical characteristics of these cirrus clouds were derived. The mean values were 14.4 ± 2.0 km (top), 12.7 ± 2.3 km (base), 1.7 ± 1.5 km (thickness), and 0.36 ± 1.20 (cloud optical depth). Cirrus clouds were found at temperatures down to –90 °C and 7 % were above the tropopause base. The vertical distribution was not uniform and two cloud types were identified: (1) cloud base > 14 km and optical depth ~0.02, and (2) cloud base < 14 km and optical depth ~0.2. A third type, not previously reported, was identified during the wet season, between 16 and 18 km with optical depth ~0.005. The mean lidar ratio was 20.2 ± 7.0 sr, indicating a mixture of thick plates and long columns. However, the clouds above 14 km have a bimodal distribution during the dry season with a secondary peak at about 40 sr suggesting that thin plates are a major habit. A dependence of the lidar ratio with cloud temperature (altitude) was not found, thus indicating they are well mixed in the vertical. Cirrus clouds classified as subvisible (τ < 0.03) were 40 %, whilst 37.7 % were thin cirrus (0.03 < τ < 0.3) and 22.3 % opaque cirrus (τ > 0.3). Hence, not only does the central Amazon have a high frequency of cirrus clouds, but a large fraction of subvisible cirrus clouds as well. This high frequency of subvisible cirrus clouds may contaminate aerosol optical depth measured by sun-photometers and satellite sensors to an unknown extent.


1962 ◽  
Vol 58 (2) ◽  
pp. 257-264 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. N. Wilson ◽  
M. A. Barratt ◽  
M. H. Butterworth

1. The water intakes of ten Holstein × Zebu milking cows, yielding between one and two gallons of milk a day, were analysed on the basis of (a) freewater drunk, and (b) feed-water consumed with the herbage. Trials took place during a 10-day period in both the wet season, 1959 and the dry season, 1960. During both seasons the cows were rotationally grazed on Pangola grass pastures.2. The results showed a difference of only 24% in total water intake between seasons. However, the mean intake of free water increased from 18·5 lb. per cow in the wet season to 81·5 lb. per cow per day in the dry season, and the intake of feed water decreased from 94·9 to 59·2 lb. per cow per day, respectively. The between cow coefficients of variation were 9·7 and 8·7%, respectively.3. Results are presented for the drinking habits of Holstein × Zebu cattle grazing Pangola grass pastures. For 567 observed cow-days in the wet season, the cattle were found to drink water on average 0·8 times per day from troughs present in the pastures. For 332 observed cow-days in the dry season, the cattle increased their drinking habits to a mean figure of 1·4 times each day.


1934 ◽  
Vol 17 (6) ◽  
pp. 763-781 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thomas I. Edwards ◽  
Raymond Pearl ◽  
Sophia A. Gould

Daily measurements of hypocotyl length were made on Celosia cristata seedlings cultured in darkness under aseptic conditions at six constant temperatures between 14.5° and 40.5°C. At 40.5° roots did not penetrate the agar and only the hypocotyls that were supported by the wall of the test tube could be measured. The growth curves were of the generalized logistic type, but of different degrees of skewness. The degree of symmetry of the growth curves was influenced by temperature. At the lower temperatures the maximal growth rate came relatively late in the grand period of growth; at successively higher temperatures it came progressively earlier. The mean total time rate of growth (millimeter per diem) was found to be a parabolic function of the temperature. The maximum rate of growth was found from the curve to be at 30.48°C. The maximum observed rate of growth, and the maximum yield, were found to be at 30°C. At all temperatures above 14.5° the maximum growth activity fell in the second quarter of the whole growth period. At all temperatures tested other than 30°, and at all parts of the growth cycle, the growth yield as measured by height of hypocotyl at any given equivalent point was less than at 30°. The total duration of life of the seedlings, and the duration of life after the end of the growth period (intermediate period) were inversely proportional to the mean total growth rate. The observations on Celosia cristata seedlings are thus in accord with the "rate of living" theory of life duration. The optimal temperature for life duration is the minimum temperature, within the range of these observations.


1967 ◽  
Vol 18 (2) ◽  
pp. 259 ◽  
Author(s):  
WR Stern

Evapotranspiration (Et) from irrigated cotton was determined on a sequence of plantings covering a whole year. Averaged over the year, evapotranspiration directly after irrigation (Et1) was greater than the Penman estimate of potential evaporation (E) but less than the evaporation from a standard Australian tank (Etank). The mean annual ratios were 1.2 for Et1/E and 0.9 for Et1/Etank. The rate of evapotranspiration was a function of soil moisture, declining rapidly as the available moisture fell below 60 %. Because of the high variability in the estimates of evapotranspiration it was not possible to evaluate precisely the influence of growth stage on evapotranspiration. Although there was evidence that evapotranspiration varied with the stage of growth, meteorological factors were a dominant influence because of the high watering regime. Overall, a crop planted in the wet season used little more water than a crop planted in the dry season. After the maximum leaf area index (LAI) had been reached, evapotranspiration in the wet season crop declined more rapidly and fell to a lower value than evapotranspiration during the corresponding period in the dry season crop. Water was used more efficiently by the wet season crop than by the dry season crop. The conclusion was reached that in this environment advection of energy persisted for most of the year, and that during periods of rapid height increases, particularly when ground cover was incomplete, crop surface roughness enhanced evapotranspiration. The possible interactions of some of the factors influencing evapotranspiration in a crop in the field are discussed.


1989 ◽  
Vol 29 (5) ◽  
pp. 631 ◽  
Author(s):  
WH Winter ◽  
JJ Mott ◽  
RW McLean

The effect of killing trees upon the production and quality of native perennial grasses, Themeda triandra, Chrysopogon fallax, Sehima nervosum, and Sorghum plumosum, and oversown legumes from the genus Stylosanthes, was studied over 4 years at Katherine, in the semi-arid tropics of northwestern Australia. The pastures were either unfertilised or received low inputs of superphosphate, and for each fertility level were grazed at 3 stocking rates. At no time were legume yields affected by killing the trees but, in the first 3 years, the amount of grass was approximately twice as much when the trees were killed. During this period the mean grass yields declined 4-5 fold from about 2.2 t/ha. By the fourth year the advantage from tree killing upon grass yield was apparent only at the lowest stocking rates at each fertility level. Nitrogen concentrations of the grasses and legumes, with the exception of S. hamata, were increased 7 and 10% respectively above the mean annual values of 0.89 and 1.75% where the trees were killed, while the phosphorus and sulfur concentrations were not affected. Tree killing had no effect upon wet season liveweight gains during the last 2 years of the experiment. However, there were some benefits during the dry season when weight losses were lower for most treatments during the early dry season (June-September) and also lower for the lowest stocking rate treatment without fertiliser during the late dry season (October-November).


2015 ◽  
Vol 26 (2) ◽  
pp. 136-146
Author(s):  
K Fatima ◽  
MK Hossain ◽  
MA Islam

The study was carried out to assess the water quality of the Jamuna river affected by effluents discharged from the nearby Jamuna Fertilizer Company Limited and its temporal change over wet and dry seasons due to change of the physico-chemical parameters. Effluents of the factories and water samples were collected from four different selected stations during the period of June to August 2014 and January to March 2015.The results further revealed that the water samples showed a remarkable variation in physico-chemical parameters during the wet and dry season. In wet season the mean value of temperature, pH, EC, TDS, TSS, DO, BOD, ammonium, nitrite, nitrate and chloride were28.63± 3.79 °C, 8.10± 0.85, 664.41± 599.54µscm-1, 370.91± 111.38 ppm, 74.49± 25.90 ppm, 6.11 ± 1.28 ppm, 75.39 ± 140.86 ppm 296.74± 303.03 ppm, 12.31±21.38 ppm,  15.19±24.49 ppm and 15.23±8.72 ppm, respectively In the dry season the mean value of temperature, pH, EC, TDS, TSS, DO, BOD, ammonium, nitrite, nitrate and chloride were31.69 ±3.18°C, 8.44± 0.66, 786.25±551.18µscm1, 338.37± 94.70 ppm, 72.08± 58.83 ppm, 5.45 ± 0.95 ppm, 86.93 ± 159.82 ppm, 347.91± 291.60 ppm, 13.68±23.1 ppm, 18.34± 24.92 ppm and 18.3±9.32 ppm, respectively. The comparative study showed that most of the effluent and water quality parameters were higher in dry season than those of the wet season because in dry season less quantity of water remains in the river and in wet season more water remains in river that has great dilution capacity. For existence and conservation of aquatic resources, it is essential to investigate the water quality and surrounding environment of the river.Progressive Agriculture 26 (2): 136-146, 2015


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