no UMB http://www.umb.no Ruminants have the amazing ability to convert plant matter without nutritional value for humans to highly valued foods such as meat and milk. The vast majority of Norway's farmland is only suitable for grass production. We are usually not aware of how dependent we are on the rumen, with its bacteria, protozoa and fungi all working hard to utilise nutrients in the ingested plant matter. Sat, 03 Nov 2007 06:54:39 +0100 http://www.umb.no/?viewID=23995 liv-lonne.dille@umb.no (Liv Lønne Dille) In a recent PhD thesis at the Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences, Merha Zerabruk from Ethiopia mapped and described the genetic diversity of several Ethiopian cattle breeds. Some of the breeds, originating from a region of Ethiopia with little-known genetic resources, have previously not been described in the literature. Merha Zerabruk's work aimed to describe these breeds as important genetic resources for the development of livestock husbandry in Northern Ethiopia. Mon, 24 Sep 2007 11:34:03 +0200 http://www.umb.no/?viewID=23520 liv-lonne.dille@umb.no (Liv Lønne Dille) Although Animal-Assisted Therapy (AAT) for humans with mental disorders has been well documented with pets, there is almost a complete lack of controlled studies of farm animals as therapeutic agents for psychiatric patients. The main aim of this doctoral project was to examine effects on self-efficacy, coping ability, quality of life, anxiety and depression of a three-month intervention with farm animals among adult psychiatric patients. The results indicate that animal-assisted therapy had beneficial effects when used as a supplement to ordinary therapeutical treatment, especially for patients with affective disorders. Mon, 27 Aug 2007 13:54:41 +0200 http://www.umb.no/?viewID=23190 liv-lonne.dille@umb.no (Liv Lønne Dille) In addition to starch, barley contains complex carbohydrates assumed to be beneficial to human and perhaps also livestock health. The Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences (IHA) / Aquaculture Protein Centre (APC) will cooperate with Matforsk and the Department of Chemistry, Biotechnology and Food Science (IKBM) to study how different barley fractions and processing methods affect the nutritional value and the health status (intestinal health) in monogastric animals. Mon, 13 Aug 2007 12:04:44 +0200 http://www.umb.no/?viewID=23119 liv-lonne.dille@umb.no (Liv Lønne Dille) During her Sabbatical Year, Associate Professor Anna Haug spent some time at two Australian universities that are well-known for their work in the field of food, nutrition and human health. Wed, 13 Jun 2007 11:02:24 +0200 http://www.umb.no/?viewID=22793 liv-lonne.dille@umb.no (Liv Lønne Dille) In autumn 2005, the Department of Animal and Aquacultural Sciences was asked by the National Pollution Control Authority to improve the data basis for calculating methane emissions from cattle in Norway. This work was intended as a basis for calculating the Norwegian CO2 quota in connection with the Kyoto Protocol. According to the Protocol, industrialised countries have to reduce their greenhouse gas emissions in the period 2008-2012 by an average of 5.2 % below their 1990 levels. Mon, 21 May 2007 10:53:13 +0200 http://www.umb.no/?viewID=22562 liv-lonne.dille@umb.no (Liv Lønne Dille) Broad genetic variation for breeding traits is necessary to ensure the success of fish breeding programmes. Simulations show that using fish from at least four sub-populations provides the greatest genetic gain. Tue, 01 May 2007 18:17:32 +0200 http://www.umb.no/?viewID=22389 liv-lonne.dille@umb.no (Liv Lønne Dille) Since 2004 it is no longer permitted to build tie-stall barns in Norway, and from 1 January 2024 it will no longer be permitted to even use existing ones. This situation has thus led to widespread construction of new dairy cattle barns. Prior to the 2024 deadline, it is expected that nearly 5000 loose housing facilities will be constructed. Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:55:20 +0100 http://www.umb.no/?viewID=21815 liv-lonne.dille@umb.no (Liv Lønne Dille) New methods for the treatment of agricultural by-products in Vietnam and Laos will significantly benefit livestock production in Indochina. Mon, 12 Mar 2007 07:55:12 +0100 http://www.umb.no/?viewID=21814 liv-lonne.dille@umb.no (Liv Lønne Dille) The Storting (Norwegian parliament) has decided to ban the castration of pigs in Norway. The production of entire male pigs will be more efficient than raising castrates, but a considerable problem is the risk of a strong off-flavour/odour, the so-called boar taint. Boar taint is to a large degree linked to the compounds skatol and androstenon. In this study we have examined if the addition of organic acids to the feed could help to reduce the occurrence of boar taint. Mon, 05 Mar 2007 10:52:46 +0100 http://www.umb.no/?viewID=21734 liv-lonne.dille@umb.no (Liv Lønne Dille)