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- ItemAssessment of continuous vaginal logger-based temperature monitoring in fever-induced gilts(Dubai : Science Publications, 2013) Schmidt, Mariana; Ammon, Christian; Schon, Peter; Manteuffel, Christian; Hoffmann, GundulaThe aim of this study was to identify a low risk method to induce fever in gilts and to evaluate vaginal sensors for temperature monitoring. Therefore, a rhinitis atrophicans vaccine was used to induce fever to evaluate sensors and behavioral patterns. During 11 trials, two of four animals were injected with 2 mL of the vaccine Porcilis AR-T DF (Intervet) and the other two animals were treated with 2 mL of 0.9% NaCl as controls. A temperature logger (TRIX-8, LogTag Recorders, Auckland, New Zealand) was used to continuously monitor the vaginal temperature. Additionally, rectal temperatures were measured four times daily. The water consumption, food intake and locomotion behaviors of the animals were analysed one day before treatment and during the day of the treatment. The vaccine induced fever in all gilts, which occurred approximately 5.87 h after vaccination. The vaginal logger temperatures and the rectal temperatures showed a linear correlation in 21 vaccinated gilts (r = 0.86; p<0.0001) and 22 non-vaccinated gilts (r = 0.65; P<0.0001). The vaginal logger can be continuously used to measure the core temperature. Water intake decreased (p<0.0001) in the gilts with fever, whereas food intake did not change (p = 0.9411). The vaccinated gilts spent 79±16 more minutes per day lying after the vaccination (p<0.001) in comparison to the day before the vaccination. Treatment with this vaccine provides the opportunity to induce fever over a short time period (5.13 h) and mild sickness behavior in gilts to investigate disease indicators.
- ItemWater footprint analysis for the assessment of milk production in Brandenburg (Germany)(München : European Geopyhsical Union, 2010) Drastig, K.; Prochnow, A.; Kraatz, S.; Klauss, H.; Plöchl, M.The working group "Adaptation to Climate Change" at the Leibniz-Institute for Agricultural Engineering Potsdam-Bornim (ATB) is introduced. This group calculates the water footprint for agricultural processes and farms, distinguished into green water footprint, blue water footprint, and dilution water footprint. The green and blue water demand of a dairy farm plays a pivotal role in the regional water balance. Considering already existing and forthcoming climate change effects there is a need to determine the water cycle in the field and in housing for process chain optimisation for the adaptation to an expected increasing water scarcity. Resulting investments to boost water productivity and to improve water use efficiency in milk production are two pathways to adapt to climate change effects. In this paper the calculation of blue water demand for dairy farming in Brandenburg (Germany) is presented. The water used for feeding, milk processing, and servicing of cows over the time period of ten years was assessed in our study. The preliminary results of the calculation of the direct blue water footprint shows a decreasing water demand in the dairy production from the year 1999 with 5.98×109 L/yr to a water demand of 5.00×109 L/yr in the year 2008 in Brandenburg because of decreasing animal numbers and an improved average milk yield per cow. Improved feeding practices and shifted breeding to greater-volume producing Holstein-Friesian cow allow the production of milk in a more water sustainable way. The mean blue water consumption for the production of 1 kg milk in the time period between 1999 to 2008 was 3.94±0.29 L. The main part of the consumed water seems to stem from indirect used green water for the production of feed for the cows.
- ItemHydrothermal carbonization (HTC): Near infrared spectroscopy and partial least-squares regression for determination of selective components in HTC solid and liquid products derived from maize silage(Amsterdam : Elsevier, 2014) Reza, M. Toufiq; Becker, Wolfgang; Sachsenheimer, Kerstin; Mumme, JanNear-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy was evaluated as a rapid method of predicting fiber components (hemicellulose, cellulose, lignin, and ash) and selective compounds of hydrochar and corresponding process liquor produced by hydrothermal carbonization (HTC) of maize silage. Several HTC reaction times and temperatures were applied and NIR spectra of both HTC solids and liquids were obtained and correlated with concentration determined from van-Soest fiber analysis, IC, and UHPLC. Partial least-squares regression was applied to calculate models for the prediction of selective substances. The model developed with the spectra had the best performance in 3–7 factors with a correlation coefficient, which varied between 0.9275–0.9880 and 0.9364–0.9957 for compounds in solid and liquid, respectively. Calculated root mean square errors of prediction (RMSEP) were 0.42–5.06 mg/kg. The preliminary results indicate that NIR, a widely applied technique, might be applied to determine chemical compounds in HTC solid and liquid.
- ItemField inter-comparison of eleven atmospheric ammonia measurement techniques(München : European Geopyhsical Union, 2010) von Bobrutzki, K.; Braban, C.F.; Famulari, D.; Jones, S.K.; Blackall, T.; Smith, T.E.L.; Blom, M.; Coe, H.; Gallagher, M.; Ghalaieny, M.; McGillen, M.R.; Percival, C.J.; Whitehead, J.D.; Ellis, R.; Murphy, J.; Mohacsi, A.; Pogany, A.; Junninen, H.; Rantanen, S.; Sutton, M.A.; Nemitz, E.Eleven instruments for the measurement of ambient concentrations of atmospheric ammonia gas (NH3), based on eight different measurement methods were inter-compared above an intensively managed agricultural field in late summer 2008 in Southern Scotland. To test the instruments over a wide range of concentrations, the field was fertilised with urea midway through the experiment, leading to an increase in the average concentration from 10 to 100 ppbv. The instruments deployed included three wet-chemistry systems, one with offline analysis (annular rotating batch denuder, RBD) and two with online-analysis (Annular Denuder sampling with online Analysis, AMANDA; AiRRmonia), two Quantum Cascade Laser Absorption Spectrometers (a large-cell dual system; DUAL-QCLAS, and a compact system; c-QCLAS), two photo-acoustic spectrometers (WaSul-Flux; Nitrolux-100), a Cavity Ring Down Spectrosmeter (CRDS), a Chemical Ionisation Mass Spectrometer (CIMS), an ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) and an Open-Path Fourier Transform Infra-Red (OP-FTIR) Spectrometer. The instruments were compared with each other and with the average concentration of all instruments. An overall good agreement of hourly average concentrations between the instruments (R2>0.84), was observed for NH3 concentrations at the field of up to 120 ppbv with the slopes against the average ranging from 0.67 (DUAL-QCLAS) to 1.13 (AiRRmonia) with intercepts of −0.74 ppbv (RBD) to +2.69 ppbv (CIMS). More variability was found for performance for lower concentrations (<10 ppbv). Here the main factors affecting measurement precision are (a) the inlet design, (b) the state of inlet filters (where applicable), and (c) the quality of gas-phase standards (where applicable). By reference to the fast (1 Hz) instruments deployed during the study, it was possible to characterize the response times of the slower instruments.
- ItemQuantification of nitrogen balance components in a commercial broiler barn(Prague : ČSAZV, 2013) von Bobrutzki, K.; Ammon, S.; Berg, W.; Fiedler, M.Characterizing the respective nitrogen (N) use efficiency requires understanding the N flow of inputs and outputs from a commercial broiler barn. In this study, an N mass balance was performed for one entire growing cycle. The objectives were to quantify, sample, and analyze all N components entering and leaving the barn. The N from feed, chickens, and bedding material was considered as inputs, the outputs included the N accretion in mature broilers, the total N emissions (NTNE), the N accumulation in litter, and the N of mortality. Of particular relevance was the determination of an appropriate method to mirror the heterogenic texture of the litter. Litter samples were collected weekly according to a defined procedure. The major N input was feed N, accounting for 99% of the total N input. After the 36-day growing cycle, the N outputs were portioned as follows: 59% (1741.3 kg N) in mature broilers, 37% (1121.3 kg N) accumulated in litter, and 4% in NTNE (114.3 kg N). The N accumulations in broiler tissue and litter agree well with other studies. The measured emissions were consistently lower compared to other references, due to the fact that these references were mainly based on studies where broilers were raised on built-up litter. In contrast to in situ quantified N emissions in this study, other published values were assumed to be the difference of N between inputs and outputs. This study illustrates that extensive sampling of litter is a prerequisite for calculating litter masses. The accurate specification of the litter texture proved to be crucial within the mass balance approach. With this information, the feasible improvements within management practices can be identified.
- ItemAgricultural Water Management in Brandenburg(Berlin : Gesellschaft für Erdkunde, 2011) Drastig, Katrin; Prochnow, Annette; Baumecker, Michael; Berg, Werner; Brunsch, ReinerThe present study explores whether regional water resources can be used more efficiently by Brandenburg’s agricultural systems. A systematic analysis of measures to raise the water efficiency follows the description of agriculture in Brandenburg today. Brandenburg’s agricultural systems are separated into three sections: soils, plant production and livestock farming. Within these sections measures to increase water efficiency are listed and analysed with reference to five objective criteria for raising water use efficiency. In the soil section the measures soil tillage and humus conservation management are assigned to the criteria. The following fields in the plant production section are similarly investigated: breeding, seeding, fertilisation, tactically chosen crops, avoidance of competition by herbicide use and efficient irrigation practices as well as watersaving storage and cleaning of field crops. In livestock farming the supply of drinking water and cleaning and cooling processes are analysed. In view of the complexity of the agricultural farming systems in Brandenburg, general measures to raise water use efficiency could not be derived. Sitespecific tillage practices and crop patterns adjusted to the recent weather conditions may reflect the specific diversity of Brandenburg more efficiently.
- ItemPlasma-oxidative degradation of polyphenolics – Influence of non-thermal gas discharges with respect to fresh produce processing(Prague : ČSAZV, 2009) Grzegorzewski, F.; Schlüter, O.; Ehlbeck, J.; Weltmann, K.-D.; Geyer, M.; Kroh, L.W.; Rohn, S.Non-thermal plasma treatment is a promising technology to enhance the shelf-life of fresh or minimaly processed food. An efficient inactivation of microorganisms comes along with a moderate heating of the treated surface. To elucidate the influence of highly reactive plasma-immanent species on the stability and chemical behaviour of phytochemicals, several polyphenolics were exposed to an atmospheric pressure plasma jet (APPJ). The selected flavonoids are ideal target compounds due to their antioxidant activity protecting cells against the damaging effects of reactive oxygen species such as singlet oxygen, superoxide, peroxyl radicals, hydroxyl radicals and peroxynitrite. Reactions were carried out at various radio-frequency voltages, using Ar as a feeding gas. Degradation was followed by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography.
- ItemMonitoring der methanbildenden Mikroflora in Praxis-Biogasanlagen im ländlichen Raum : Analyse des Ist-Zustandes und Entwicklung eines quantitativen Nachweissystems(Hannover : Technische Informationsbibliothek, 2009) Klocke, Michael; Nettmann, Edith; Bergmann, IngoDie Produktion von Biogas aus landwirtschaftlichen Primärprodukten oder Reststoffen stellt einen wesentlichen Beitrag zur Reduktion des Co2-Ausstoßes sowie zur Entwicklung einer nachhaltigen Landbewirtschaftung dar. Im Rahmen dieses Projektes soll daher die Artenzusammensetzung der methanogenen Mikroflora in ausgewählten Praxis-Biogasanlagen anhand ihrer 16S rDNA analysisert werden.
- ItemDevelopment of a flow-fluorescence in situhybridization protocol for the analysis of microbial communities in anaerobic fermentation liquor(London : BioMed Central, 2013) Nettmann, Edith; Fröhling, Antje; Heeg, Kathrin; Klocke, Michael; Schlüter, Oliver; Mumme, JanBackground: The production of bio-methane from renewable raw material is of high interest because of the increasing scarcity of fossil fuels. The process of biomethanation is based on the inter- and intraspecific metabolic activity of a highly diverse and dynamic microbial community. The community structure of the microbial biocenosis varies between different biogas reactors and the knowledge about these microbial communities is still fragmentary. However, up to now no approaches are available allowing a fast and reliable access to the microbial community structure. Hence, the aim of this study was to originate a Flow-FISH protocol, namely a combination of flow cytometry and fluorescence in situ hybridization, for the analysis of the metabolically active microorganisms in biogas reactor samples. With respect to the heterogenic texture of biogas reactor samples and to collect all cells including those of cell aggregates and biofilms the development of a preceding purification procedure was indispensable. Results: Six different purification procedures with in total 29 modifications were tested. The optimized purification procedure combines the use of the detergent sodium hexametaphosphate with ultrasonic treatment and a final filtration step. By this treatment, the detachment of microbial cells from particles as well as the disbandment of cell aggregates was obtained at minimized cell loss. A Flow-FISH protocol was developed avoiding dehydration and minimizing centrifugation steps. In the exemplary application of this protocol on pure cultures as well as biogas reactor samples high hybridization rates were achieved for commonly established domain specific oligonucleotide probes enabling the specific detection of metabolically active bacteria and archaea. Cross hybridization and autofluorescence effects could be excluded by the use of a nonsense probe and negative controls, respectively. Conclusions: The approach described in this study enables for the first time the analysis of the metabolically active fraction of the microbial communities within biogas reactors by Flow-FISH.
- ItemRationalisierungen im Melkstall – Chancen und Risiken(Darmstadt : KTBL, 2012) Jakob, Martina; Thinius, MaxiSteigende Herdengrößen haben den Arbeitsplatz im Melkstall verändert. Typische Folgen von Rationalisierung wie die arbeitsteilige Produktionsorganisation, hohe Durchsatzleistungen und Schichtarbeit lasten das Personal voll aus. Gleichzeitig ist eine hohe Rate an Beschwerden im Bereich des Muskel-Skelett-Systems bei den im Melkstall Beschäftigten zu verzeichnen. Frauen sind davon überdurchschnittlich betroffen. Eine genaue Analyse des Arbeitsplatzes gibt Hinweise auf notwendige Anpassungen der Arbeitsumgebung um die Gesundheitssituation der Beschäftigten langfristig zu verbessern.