Targeted transcript mapping for agronomic traits in potato.

A combination of cDNA-amplified fragment length polymorphism (AFLP) and bulked segregant analysis (BSA) was used to identify genes co-segregating with earliness of tuberization in a diploid potato population. This approach identified 37 transcript-derived fragments with a polymorphic segregation pattern between early and late tuberizing bulks. Most of the identified transcripts mapped to chromosomes 5 (19 markers) and 12 (eight markers) of the paternal map.

Risk factors for digital dermatitis in dairy cows kept in cubicle houses in The Netherlands.

The presence of digital dermatitis (DD) in dairy cows has increased considerably over the last 10 years in The Netherlands, resulting in a current prevalence of approximately 30% in cows kept in cubicle houses. Our objective was to evaluate a diversified sample of cow- and herd-related risk factors for DD in dairy cows housed in cubicle houses with different flooring systems. Associations were analysed in random-effects logistic-regression models using 2,134 cows (37 herds) and 2,892 cows (47 herds) in the pasture and housing studies, respectively.

Risk factors for interdigital dermatitis and heel erosion in dairy cows kept in cubicle houses in The Netherlands.

Risk factors concerning both the pasture and housing seasons for interdigital dermatitis and heel-horn erosion (IDHE) were studied in dairy cows in a cross-sectional study in The Netherlands. The study population included 2,326 cows (41 herds) and 2,751 cows (46 herds) for the pasture and housing seasons, respectively. Of these animals, 545 (23%) showed serious lesions of IDHE (stages 2 and 3) at the end of the pasture season and 1,269 (46%) during housing.

Cultivation of high-rate sulfate reducing sludge by pH-based electron donor dosage.

A novel self-regulating bioreactor concept for sulfate reduction is proposed aiming for high biomass concentrations and treatment capacities. The system consists of a cell suspension of sulfate reducing bacteria in a continuous stirred tank reactor (30 degrees C) fed with a mixture of both electron donor and electron acceptor (formic acid and sulfuric acid, respectively), nutrients and phosphate buffer via a pH controller. The pH rise due to sulfate reduction is balanced with dosage of the sulfate reducing substrates as acids.

Development of claw traits and claw lesions in dairy cows kept on different floor systems.

Several claw shape measurements, horn hardness, and horn growth and wear were recorded monthly at 12 dairy farms to investigate the effect of floor type and changes in these traits over time. Herds were either housed on a slatted floor (SL), solid concrete floor (SC), grooved floor (GR), or on a straw yard (SY). Twenty cows per farm were selected and stratified by parity.