Comparing different techniques to assess the risk of dust drift from pesticide-coated seeds.

Background: Although considered as a safe pesticide application method, treated seeds can pose environmental risks when abraded pesticide-laden seed particles are expelled during sowing. This dust drift risk is clearly linked with seed coating quality. Seed coating quality is traditionally assessed with Heubach dust meters, and guidelines are established in terms of the 'Heubach value'.

Characteristics of dust particles abraded from pesticide treated seeds: 2. Density, porosity and chemical content.

Background: Apart from particle size, drift of abraded seed particles during sowing is mainly affected by two other physical properties, viz. particle shape and envelope density. The impact of these abraded seed particles on the environment is highly dependable on their active ingredient content.

Characteristics of dust particles abraded from pesticide treated seeds: 1. Size distribution using different measuring techniques.

Background: Particle size is one of the most important properties affecting the driftability and behaviour of dust particles abraded from pesticide dressed seeds during sowing. Three particle sizing techniques were used determine the particle size distribution of dust abraded from seeds from six different species.

Results: Important differences in dust particle size distribution between species were observed with the finest dust for rapeseed and the coarsest dust for barley.

Assessment of the abrasion potential of pesticide-treated seeds using the Heubach test.

During sowing of pesticide-treated seeds, pesticide-laden dust and abraded seed particles may be emitted to the environment, possibly leading to environmental contamination and posing health risks. In many countries there is currently no legislation concerning the acceptable amount of dust of treated seeds. This study aimed to gain insight in the abrasion potential of available pesticide-treated seeds and its associated factors.

Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci Controlling Root and Shoot Traits Associated with Drought Tolerance in a Lentil (Lens culinaris Medik.) Recombinant Inbred Line Population.

Drought is one of the major abiotic stresses limiting lentil productivity in rainfed production systems. Specific rooting patterns can be associated with drought avoidance mechanisms that can be used in lentil breeding programs. In all, 252 co-dominant and dominant markers were used for Quantitative Trait Loci (QTL) analysis on 132 lentil recombinant inbred lines based on greenhouse experiments for root and shoot traits during two seasons under progressive drought-stressed conditions.

Development and implementation of a laboratory spray device and rainfall simulator for retention research using small amounts of agroformulations.

Background: Rainfall greatly affects the retention of foliar-applied agroformulations. Improving their resistance to wash-off is therefore of great importance in spray applications. When developing such formulations, small-scale laboratory assays are generally required.

Spray Droplet Characterization from a Single Nozzle by High Speed Image Analysis Using an In-Focus Droplet Criterion.

Accurate spray characterization helps to better understand the pesticide spray application process. The goal of this research was to present the proof of principle of a droplet size and velocity measuring technique for different types of hydraulic spray nozzles using a high speed backlight image acquisition and analysis system. As only part of the drops of an agricultural spray can be in focus at any given moment, an in-focus criterion based on the gray level gradient was proposed to decide whether a given droplet is in focus or not.

Development, validation and application of an ultra high performance liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric method for the simultaneous detection and quantification of five different classes of veterinary antibiotics in swine manure.

In this study, a fast, simple and selective ultra high performance liquid chromatographic-tandem mass spectrometric (UHPLC-MS/MS) method for the simultaneous detection and quantification of colistin, sulfadiazine, trimethoprim, doxycycline, oxytetracycline and ceftiofur and for the detection of tylosin A in swine manure was developed and validated. First, a simple extraction procedure with acetonitrile and 6% trichloroacetic acid was carried out. Second, the supernatant was evaporated and the pellet was reconstituted in 1 ml of water/acetonitrile (80/20) and 0.

Lameness Detection in Dairy Cows: Part 1. How to Distinguish between Non-Lame and Lame Cows Based on Differences in Locomotion or Behavior.

Due to its detrimental effect on cow welfare, health and production, lameness in dairy cows has received quite a lot of attention in the last few decades-not only in terms of prevention and treatment of lameness but also in terms of detection, as early treatment might decrease the number of severely lame cows in the herds as well as decrease the direct and indirect costs associated with lameness cases. Generally, lame cows are detected by the herdsman, hoof trimmer or veterinarian based on abnormal locomotion, abnormal behavior or the presence of hoof lesions during routine trimming. In the scientific literature, several guidelines are proposed to detect lame cows based on visual interpretation of the locomotion of individual cows (i.

A multiresidue liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric method for the detection and quantitation of 15 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in bovine meat and milk.

This study concerns a validated liquid chromatographic/tandem mass spectrometric (LC-MS/MS) multiresidue method for the simultaneous detection, identification, and quantitation of 15 nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in bovine meat and milk. The NSAIDs considered are carprofen, diclofenac, flufenamic acid, flunixin (5-hydroxyflunixin as marker metabolite in milk), ketoprofen, mefenamic acid, meloxicam, 4-methylaminoantipyrine (marker metabolite of metamizole in meat and milk), naproxen, niflumic acid, phenylbutazone (and metabolite oxyphenbutazone), ramifenazone, salicylic acid, and tolfenamic acid. These compounds were chosen as representatives of different chemical subclasses of NSAIDs.

Validation of a lateral flow test (MRLAFMQ) for the detection of aflatoxin M₁ at 50 ng l⁻¹ in raw commingled milk.

Aflatoxin M₁ contamination in dairy products is a risk when feedstuff contaminated with aflatoxin B₁ produced by moulds is consumed by milk-producing animals. Milk can be screened for aflatoxin M₁ at the European Union maximum limit of 50 ng l⁻¹ by a lateral flow test, the MRLAFMQ (Aflatoxin M1) Test. The method takes 15 min with no milk dilution or a sample preparation step.

Thermodynamics of greenhouse systems for the northern latitudes: analysis, evaluation and prospects for primary energy saving.

In Flanders and the Netherlands greenhouse production systems produce economically important quantities of vegetables, fruit and ornamentals. Indoor environmental control has resulted in high primary energy use. Until now, the research on saving primary energy in greenhouse systems has been mainly based on analysis of energy balances.

Short communication: Associations between teat dimensions and milking-induced changes in teat dimensions and quarter milk somatic cell counts in dairy cows.

Although many studies have examined the relation between a wide range of factors and quarter milk somatic cell count (qSCC), including physical characteristics of the teat and changes in teat tissue due to milking, the effect of short-term, milking-induced changes in teat dimensions on somatic cell count has not yet been investigated. To identify teat dimensions and milking-induced changes in teat dimensions associated with qSCC, we conducted a longitudinal study (n(herds)=6, n(cows)=72, n(measurements)=12). Parity, stage of lactation, teat barrel diameter, and changes in teat barrel diameter during milking were identified as factors associated with qSCC.

Short communication: Intraoperator repeatability and interoperator reproducibility of devices measuring teat dimensions in dairy cows.

Various methods have been applied to measure teat dimensions. However, the accuracy and precision needed to obtain reliable results are often poor or have not yet been investigated. To determine the precision of the ruler, the caliper, and a recently developed 2-dimensional (2D) vision-based measuring device under field conditions, for respectively teat length, teat diameter, and both teat length and diameter, 2 experiments were conducted in which the consistency of measurements within operators (repeatability) and between operators (reproducibility) was tested.

Variance components of teat dimensions in dairy cows and associated factors.

Traditionally, all cows within a herd are milked with the same teat cup liner, although it is hypothesized that considerable variation in teat dimensions exists between cows and quarters within cows. To study at which level (herd, cow, or quarter) most variation in teat dimensions resides, and to identify factors explaining (part of) this variation, both a cross-sectional (n=2,715) and a longitudinal study (n=8,678) were conducted. Using an objective and easy-to-use measuring device, teat length and teat diameters were determined.

Double Muscling in Cattle: Genes, Husbandry, Carcasses and Meat.

Molecular biology has enabled the identification of the mechanisms whereby inactive myostatin increases skeletal muscle growth in double-muscled (DM) animals. Myostatin is a secreted growth differentiation factor belonging to the transforming growth factor-β superfamily. Mutations make the myostatin gene inactive, resulting in muscle hypertrophy.