Scotland's Rural College

Articular presentation of Mycobacterium avium ssp. avium infection in a golden eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos ) on the Isle of Lewis, Scotland

Summary A wild golden eagle ( Aquila chrysaetos) was found dead in poor body condition. On gross examination, the bird was emaciated, with damaged feathers and an enlarged right tibiofemoral joint due to multiple pale, smooth, nodular and plaque‐like masses. High numbers of acid‐...

Nonlinear network inference reveals two independent axes of ecological organisation in the rumen microbiome

Background The rumen microbiome is shaped by numerous external factors such as diet and host genetics, but these drivers act through internal microbial dynamics, including cross-feeding, substrate competition, and threshold-driven community shifts that give rise to non-linear int...

Hydrocarbon Contamination Contributes to Increases in Soil Organic Carbon: Impacts on Risk Assessments of Contaminated Land in the UK

In the UK, contaminated land risk assessments using the Contaminated Land Exposure Assessment (CLEA) model rely on soil organic matter (SOM) values to determine acceptable thresholds for contamination caused by anthropogenic pollution for human health. Soil organic carbon (SOC),...

Deciphering the genomic signatures of climate vulnerability across 77 sheep breeds

Abstract Among domesticated species, sheep ( Ovis aries ) have achieved a wide geographic distribution due to their mobility, rusticity and ability to adapt to diverse environments and climatic conditions. Here, we characterise the genome-wide diversity of >1,000 sheep representi...

How Do Scottish Farmers Approach Change and What Does This Mean for Future Decisions?

Abstract Understanding farmers’ orientation toward change can inform policies supporting adaptation and sustainability. This study examines Scottish farmers’ self-reported orientation toward change and its associations with farmer characteristics, stated intentions and engagement...

Short-term leys and mineral fertilisation increase potential nitrogen mineralisation rate and stable carbon and reduce bulk density

Inclusion of short-term leys in rotations has been shown to reduce soil organic matter losses and increase yields at lower nitrogen (N) inputs. However, it remains unclear how grass-only or grass-legume leys, in the absence of manure, affect topsoil potential N mineralisation rat...

Cross‐domain sustainability preferences in clothing and food: Evidence from environmental attitudes, stated confidence in producers claims and willingness‐to‐pay measures

Abstract Background Sustainability attributes increasingly feature in consumer products, but it remains unclear whether environmental and ethical preferences are consistent across clothing and food choices. Aims This study examines how environmental attitudes, stated choices and...

Quantifying welfare impairment from respiratory disease in fattening pigs using adaptive conjoint analysis

Abstract Respiratory disease remains highly prevalent in pig production and constitutes a major health and welfare challenge worldwide. However, most studies assessing pig welfare impairment from respiratory disease rely on isolated animal-based indicators, limiting integration a...

Molecular investigation of Campula oblonga (Cobbold, 1858) reveals complex evolutionary history of parasites within the family Brachycladiidae (Odhner, 1905), parasites of wild cetaceans.

Speciation in parasites of marine mammals represents an important yet relatively understudied facet of marine research.Evolutionary and ecological interactions between the trematode family Brachycladiidae and their cetacean definitive hosts have previously been investigated at fa...

Faecal IgA but not salivary IgA is associated with canine atopic dermatitis

Objectives To characterise immunoglobulin A (IgA) levels in the faeces and saliva of dogs with canine atopic dermatitis (CAD) and healthy breed matched controls. Materials and Methods Dogs with canine atopic dermatitis were recruited based on history, clinical examination and dia...