Effects of Stocking Sac-Fry and Hatchery-Fed Fry on Production of Fingerling Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus

Abstract.— Channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus fry are typically held under hatchery conditions for 7 to 14 d after hatching to allow feeding and growth before they are stocked into nursery ponds to produce fingerling catfish. In an attempt to reduce hatchery operating costs, several catfish fingerling producers in Louisiana presently stock fry within 2 d after hatching before yolk absorption is complete. Fry at this stage of development are commonly referred to as "sac-fry." Although research has shown that fry can be stocked at the onset of yolk absorption with no detrimental effects on subsequent fingerling production, stocking sac-fry has been reported to result in reduced fingerling survival. To further investigate this topic, production trials were conducted in experimental outdoor pools over the course of two growing seasons to evaluate the effect of stocking fry of three different ages (2-, 7-, and 14-d post-hatch, DPH) on survival, growth (weight and length), condition factor (K), yield, feed consumption, and feed conversion ratio (FCR) of fingerling catfish. Results from both trials indicated that the age at which fry were stocked had no effect on production characteristics with the exception of growth. Specifically, fingerlings reared from fry stocked at 2 and 7 DPH were significantly larger than fingerlings reared from fry stocked at an age of 14 DPH. These findings suggest that the practice of stocking sac-fry may be a suitable alternative to the traditional procedure of holding and feeding fry under hatchery conditions prior to stocking. However, in order to fully evaluate the effects of early-age stocking of catfish fry on fingerling production, additional studies must be conducted under pond conditions. Furthermore, these studies must be coupled with a rigorous economic analysis before the practice of stocking sac-fry can be recommended to the catfish industry.     

Liming and reacidification reactions of a forest lake ecosystem,lake Lysevatten,in SW Sweden

Long-term monitoring, 1973 to 1987, of reactions to liming and reacidification of a forest lake ecosystem near the Swedish west coast is reported in this study. Treatment of Lake Lysevatten with a slag product of limestone in 1974 resulted in neutralization and a positive alkalinity. Prolonged dissolution proceeded for about 7 yr whereby 86% dissolved. During 1984–86 Lake Lysevatten approached maximum reacidification with high Al concentrations and an affected biota. Asellus aquaticus L. decreased and dominance within chironomid groups approached preliming conditions. However, the most obvious biological change was the development of the filamentous algal genus Mougeotia and increased growth of Sphagnum. Populations of both plants increased notably when pH declined to about 5. Our study suggests that extensive reacidification (pH < 6.0) of limed lakes should be avoided by successive treatments to prevent development of destabilized lake ecosystems.     

Metal fluxes to Swedis forest lakes

Data on atmospheric deposition, transport via run-off water and contents in soil were used to estimate the fluxes of Zn, Cd, Cu, Pb, and Hg to Swedish forest lakes. The calculations refer to a hypothetical lake with a surface area of about 9% of the total catchment area. There are clear differences in the pathways and transport mechanisms for the different elements. The dominating pathway for the input of Zn and Cd to lakes is via run-off from the drainage area. About 60 to 95% of the total load comes from run-off, highest in the acidified areas. The acidification status of the soil is by far the most important factor regulating the mobility of these elements. The amounts of Hg and Pb deposited on the drainage area are mainly accumulating in the surficial soil layers. The transport of these elements is primarily associated with humic substances. About 30 to 50% of the total load of Pb and 25 to 75% of the total load of Hg to lakes originates from run-off. The transport mechanisms for Cu are similar to those of Pb and Hg, but due to the lower anthropogenic airborne load, the direct deposition is of less importance.     

Strategic Planning of Sustainable Development on the Estate Level – Contributions from Forest Growth and Yield Science

Zusammenfassung:   Die Nachhaltigkeit richtete sich in der Gründerzeit der planmäßigen Forstwirtschaft auf die Holzproduktion (v. Carlowitz 1713, Cotta 1828, Hartig 1804, Hundeshagen 1826). In der Folgezeit wurde ein zunehmend breiteres Spektrum von Leistungen des Waldes in die Planung mit einbezogen (v. Hagen, 1867; Dieterich, 1957). Das heutige Verständnis von multifunktionaler Forstwirtschaft spiegelt sich in den sechs gesamteuropäischen Kriterien und Indikatoren für nachhaltige Forstwirtschaft wider (McPfe, 2000). Vorliegender Aufsatz umreißt, wie diese gesamteuropäischen Kriterien und Indikatoren für den Nachweis und die strategische Planung von Nachhaltigkeit auf Forstbetriebsebene eingesetzt werden können und was die Waldwachstumsforschung dazu beitragen kann. An einer Reihe von Beispielen wird ausgeführt, dass die Forstwirtschaft über eine solide Datenbasis für die Ableitung von Nachhaltigkeitskriterien und Indikatoren verfügt. Diese kann für das Monitoring der Waldentwicklung genutzt werden. Gestalterische Kraft entwickeln die Kriterien und Indikatoren aber erst, wenn sie auch in die strategische Planung einfließen. Für die strategische Planung stehen der Forstwirtschaft Wuchsmodelle, Betriebssimulatoren und Entscheidungsstützungssysteme zur Verfügung. Sofern diese die genannten Kriterien und Indikatoren berücksichtigen, ermöglichen sie Szenariorechungen auf Betriebsebene und eine umfassende Bewertung von Handlungsalternativen. Konzepte und Werkzeuge für den Übergang zu einer multifunktionalen strategischen Nachhaltsplanung sind weit entwickelt (v. Gadow 2003, Hanewinkel 2001, Pretzsch et al. 1998, Spellmann et al. 2001); ihre Einführung in die Forstplanung könnte einen beträchtlichen Innovationsstau beseitigen.     

Managerial and environmental determinants of clinical mastitis in Danish dairy herds

Background

Several management and environmental factors are known as contributory causes of clinical mastitis in dairy herd. The study objectives were to describe the structure of herd-specific mastitis management and environmental factors and to assess the relevance of these herd-specific indicators to mastitis incidence rate.

Methods

Disease reports from the Danish Cattle Data Base and a management questionnaire from 2,146 herds in three Danish regions were analyzed to identify and characterize risk factors of clinical mastitis. A total of 94 (18 continuous and 76 discrete) management and production variables were screened in separate bivariate regression models. Variables associated with mastitis incidence rate at a p-value < 0.10 were examined with a factor analysis to assess the construct of data. Separately, a multivariable regression model was used to estimate the association of management variables with herd mastitis rate.

Results

Three latent factors (quality of labor, region of Denmark and claw trimming, and quality of outdoor holding area) were identified from 14 variables. Daily milk production per cow, claw disease, quality of labor and region of Denmark were found to be significantly associated with mastitis incidence rate. A common multiple regression analysis with backward and forward selection procedures indicated there were 9 herd-specific risk factors.

Conclusion

Though risk factors ascertained by farmer-completed surveys explained a small percentage of the among-herd variability in crude herd-specific mastitis rates, the study suggested that farmer attitudes toward mastitis and lameness treatment were important determinants for mastitis incidence rate. Our factor analysis identified one significant latent factor, which was related to labor quality on the farm.