To understand the vegetative spatial heterogeneity and ecological characteristics of Inner Mongolia, China, we surveyed and analyzed the vegetation, which was composed of coniferous-broadleaf deciduous forest, shrub, grassland, and desert on an east-west gradient. We established 1,122 large quadrats (L-quadrats), 2×2cm on a map (actual field dimensions : 30×30km), across an area of approximately 1,180,000km^2. Each L-quadrat was further divided into four small quadrats (S-quadrats), 1×1cm (15×15km). The frequency of occurrence of each vegetation type was recorded in each small quadrat. In the survey, we based the vegetation analysis on a beta-binomial distribution to describe the frequency of occurrence and spatial heterogeneity of each vegetation type. The weighted average heterogeneity of all vegetation composing the landscape provides a measure of landscape-level heterogeneity, which determines the spatial intricateness of the vegetation. Vegetation was classified into 99 types. The maximum spatial heterogeneity (p) of the vegetation was recorded in Larix forests (V_1), which dominated the cold and moist northeast. The minimum spatial heterogeneity was recorded in meadows of Sphora alopecuroides-Glycyrrhiza uralensis (V_<90>) and Caragana leucophloea (V_<77>), which exhibited low heterogeneity and frequency near zero. These are rare patches that warrant protection : V_<90> comprised two patches in the east, and V_<77> was a single "island" in the west. The maximum frequency of vegetation was P_<98>=0.1838, measured in unirrigated cropland (V_<98>), which covers 4.77% of the land surface of Inner Mongolia ; this measurement did not include water coverage. Higher occurrences of natural vegetation were recorded in grasslands of Stipa grandis (V_<25>) and salt meadows of Achnatherum splendens (V_<89>), which are distributed in central and southern Inner Mongolia and are characteristic of Inner Mongolian vesretation. The maximum soatial heter ogeneity of grassland vegetation was measured in sandlands with Artemisia ordosica (V_<49>), which is distributed throughout southern Inner Mongolia. Based on the weighted average heterogeneity and Shannon-Wiener's diversity index, the macro-vegetation of Inner Mongolia was characterized as grassland and desert.

View full abstract

The species composition of the small mammal fauna in pastures and its relationship with pasture characteristics were investigated in the northern part of Tochigi, Japan. Small mammals were captured using the Sherman trap in the spring, summer, and autumn of 2001. Sixty-seven animals of 6 species (Apodemus speciosus, Micromys minutus. Microtus montebelli, Crocidura dsinezumi, Urotrichus talpoides, and A. argenteus) and 466 animals of 6 species were caught at pastures and woodlands. The number of captured animals in woodlands was seven times larger than that in pastures. Species richness is high in tall-grass pastures and shows significantly negative correlations with grazing intensity. In order to raise livestock in pastures while sustaining high species richness of small mammal fauna, it is important that grazing management is designed in consideration of the wood-land-pasture combination and tall-grass type pasture maintained by partial grazing regulations.

View full abstract

Johne's disease is transmitted occurs through the grazing of cattle in pastures contaminated with feces of paratuberculous animals. Since the ultraviolet (UV) rays included in sunlight have been considered an effective disinfectant factor in pastures, in the present study we investigated the influence of 210-320 nm UV (UV-B) irradiation on the viability of Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP). BBM2201 and ATCC19851 strains suspended in distilled water or diluted slurry were instilled on a slide glass and exposed to UV-B irradiation. Irrespective of drying the samples, the number of viable MAP in distilled water was reduced starting at irradiation levels of 1.0kJ/m^2, and decreased to an undetectable level at about 8.5 kJ/m^2. With Y and X indicating the log (10) of viable MAP cells in distilled water and the amount of UV-B irradiation respectively, calculations were made for Y=-0.8X+6.49 (R^2=0.96) under dried conditions and Y=-0.7X+6.08 (R^2=0.97) under conditions of lacking drying. However, MAP in slurry survived under irradiation that is equivalent to sunlight of several months. 99.6-98.5% of irradiated UV-B could not penetrate through a thin layer of slurry. No measurable of UV-B was found to penetrate the grass leaves. These results indicate that MAP in feces or behind grass leaves may survive for along period even under exposure to sunlight.

View full abstract

A model to predict daily milk yield and body weight change was built based on a metabolizable energy (ME) system. The data needed for using the model are the daily DM intake and energy concentration (TDN or ME) of the feed consumed by cows, and body weight at calving. A key assumption of the model is the potential production in calorie bases for milk (pM) and growth (pG) proposed by Bruce et al. (1984), but includes some modifications. The real production in calorie bases for milk (rM) and growth (rG) were related to the potential production ; (pM-rM)/(pG-rG)=a constant. And to modify the daily potential milk production (pM) expressed in Wood's lactation curve, a parameter (p(t), t=days from calving) was assumed to be affected by a shortage of daily energy intake (p(t)=-d∫(pM-rM) dt, where d was a constant and P(0)=1.0). When the model was applied to two different experimental data obtained by high-producing cows, one was overestimated in milk yields, and the other was overestimated in body weight changes. For grazing cows with supplementary feed, the model outputs in milk yield showed good agreement with the experiment, but did not simulate the great fluctuation in body weight changes observed. The constant value of a converting factor from TDN toME and/or the constant value of gross energy concentration without consideration for the feed composition may cause a discrepancy between model outputs and experimerits. Another possibility is the value that converts energy gain to live weight gain because of large variation in the proportion of gut contents to live weight gain.

View full abstract

We experimentally examined whether the sub-group of female cattle could be separated from its large group and be guided differently by each of two kinds of music. SixJapanese Black breeding female cattle divided into two groups (three animals each), were trained to be guided by the one of two different music using concentrate feed as reward. As a result, auditory guidance was conducted successfully under the both training conditions ; 1) each group was trained independently, and 2) two groups were mixed and trained together using each different correct answer corresponding to each of two different music. At the latter condition, however, many trials (140-240 trial) was needed for its success, and the interruption of the subordinate's access to feed bunk by the dominant was observed. The further research on auditory discrimination guidance such as using negative reinforcement seems to be necessary for applying the result to practical situations.

View full abstract

A field experiment was carried out to evaluate the yield and feeding value of festulolium (cv. Evergreen) for using as meadow in the northeastern area of Japan. Dry matter (DM) yield, chemical composition and TDN content of Evergreen were determined at various points for fifty days before and after heading stage from 1997 to 2000 and to compared with those of orchardgrass (Dactylis glomerata L., cv. Kitamidori). On the field experiment, the year yields of Evergreen were similar to those of Kitamidori which stand passed five years from seeding. The contents of water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) of Evergreen were higher than those of Kitamidori after heading stage, and were maintained 13.2% DM even at the flowering stage. After heading stage, the WSC and TDN contents were decreasing in both species. The rates of decreasing in Evergreen were lower than those of Kitamidori. From these results, Evergreen is considered to adapt in northeastern part of Japan and is accessible cultivar even if harvesting time is late.

View full abstract

This experiment was carried out to clarify the possibility of pumpkin and carrot juice residue as feeds. The contents of crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) were, respectively, 9.4% and 25.1% in pumpkin, and 7.7% and 31.0% in carrot juice residue. Dry matter (DM) and CP in pumpkin and carrot juice residue showed higher ruminal disappearance than beet pulp at early incubation times. In order to investigate the digestibility and nutritive value of pumpkin and carrot juice residue, four Japanese native goats were fed diets consisting of pumpkin and alfalfa hay cube (35.5 : 64.5 on dry matter basis ; AP feed), carrot juice residue and alfalfa hay cube (35.0 : 65.0 on dry matter basis ; AC feed) and alfalfa hay cube only (A feed). It was estimated that total digestible nutrients, digestible energy, and metabolizable energy were, respectively, 97.3%/DM, 16.90MJ/DMkg and 14.81MJ/DMkg for pumpkin, and 93.0%/DM, 15.66MJ/DMkg and 14.11MJ/DMkg for carrot juice residue. It is suer crested that pumpkin and carrot juice residue are promising new energy feed resources.

View full abstract