Metabolic milieu and localization of ovarian leptin and receptor in queens under different reproduction phases

Veterinary Research Communications - Metabolic profile and leptin presence and expression of receptor in the ovary of 8 queens were analyzed. All queens were assessed for nutritional state and...     

生长激素在雌性动物生殖中的作用

1生长激素(GH)与性成熟正常初情期的到来往往需要GH,缺乏GH会使初情期推迟。对猴子和缺乏GH儿童的研究发现,注射GH可加快性成熟。GH的这一功能是通过激活LHRH波动发生器或增强雄激素的功能来实现的。对猪的研究也表明,GH对性成熟的影响与其作用时间有关。同时在人上也发现,当垂体促性腺激素分泌模式建立后,GH才能增加其性成熟的比例。对小母鼠的研究发现,GH免疫会推延初情期的到来。2生长激素对卵巢的作用2.1生长激素对卵巢机能的影响体内研究表明GH可作用于卵巢以影响配子的形成和类固醇的生成,然而体内注射GH会导致血液循环中…     

Electrophoretic serum protein fraction profile during the different physiological phases in Comisana ewes

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of different physiological phases on serum total proteins and their fractions of ten Comisana ewes housed in Mediterranean area. From each animal, blood samples were collected at different physiological phases: late pregnancy, post-partum, early, mid-, end lactation and dry period. On all samples serum total proteins were determined by the biuret method, and albumin, α-globulins, β(1) -globulins, β(2) -globulins and γ-globulins concentrations were assessed using an automated system. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance was applied to determine the significant effect of different physiological phases on the parameters studied. During the late pregnancy and post-partum, total proteins, β1- and β2-globulins and γ-globulins showed the highest values. Starting from post-partum, α-globulins increased to reach their peaks in mid-lactation. Early lactation was characterized by low γ-globulins values. The increase in serum albumin concentration and the drop in some globulin fractions determined the significant increase in albumin/globulin ratio. The obtained results contributed to improve the knowledge on electrophoretic profile during the different physiological phases in ewes, confirming that pregnancy and lactation periods affect the protein metabolism. Particularly, serum protein fractions pattern could give information about dehydration, plasma volume expansion and hepatic function, which occur during the different physiological phases. Dynamics of the protein profile - from pregnancy to dry period - which are provided by our results, could be considered as guidelines for the management strategies to guarantee the nutritional needs of these animals during the different physiological phases and to avoid a decline of productive performance and consequently an economic loss.     

Ascorbic acid levels in the bronchopneumonia of calves]

The level of ascorbic acid in the blood plasma of 59 calves was determined. The age of the calves ranged between two and three months and the samples of blood were collected in January. The first group of calves included 30 animals displaying no clinical symptoms of disease: the average ascorbic acid level was 0.50 +/- 0.18 mg per 100 ml. In the second group, consisting of 19 calves, the blood of the animals was collected three weeks after the termination of the acute stage of bronchopneumonia; the average value of ascorbic acid was 0.30 +/- 0.14 mg per 100 ml. The lowest average value of ascorbic acid was obtained in the calves at an acute stage of bronchopneumonia, reaching 0.18 +/- 0.11 mg per 100 ml. The differences of results between groups I and II and between groups I and III were found to be statistically significant. A conspicuous drop of ascorbic acid level was ascertained in calves suffering from bronchopneumonia-this problem needs deeper scrutiny, owing to the fact that bronchopneumonia is responsible for considerable economic losses in large-capacity calf houses.     

A survey of sexual behaviour and reproduction of female cats

Details of reproductive activity among 168 breeding queens were obtained from a survey of specific information supplied by cat breeders. Puberty was reached, on average, at 9–10 months of age. The gestation period was calculated to average 65 days. Almost half the queens in the survey showed cyclic occurrence of oestrus throughout the year. Cycles were usually 21 days long. When a non-breeding season was present it generally occurred between September and the end of January, its average duration being 4 months. The data obtained from the survey are examined and discussed, and are considered to illuminate usefully a scantily reported topic.     

The current status of antibiotic use in equine reproduction

Antibiotics are infused into the uterine lumen, added to semen extenders and given systemically for infections of the reproductive tract of the mare and stallion. Evidence‐based guidelines for determining treatment length and route of administration are limited and use is frequently based on convenience or tradition. Current recommended antibiotic use for the treatment of bacterial and fungal endometritis, placentitis and metritis in the mare and genital infections of the stallion are presented. Antibiotic classes used for reproductive problems are also reviewed.     

Aspects of reproduction in female Bos indicus cattle: a review

SUMMARY Differences occur between female Bos indicus and Bos taurus cattle in various aspects of reproductive physiology and behaviour. These may be associated with different natural and human selection pressures, compounded by strong genotype-environment interactions. B indicus cattle are better adapted for tropical environments (despite overall poor cattle reproductive rates in these regions) which tend to be more stressful for B taurus genotypes. Conversely, B taurus cattle generally show superior reproductive and productive traits under more favoured, temperate conditions. Despite genotype-environment effects, B indicus females are generally considered to take longer to achieve puberty and to have longer gestation lengths, exhibit prolonged postpartum anoestrus, show greater seasonality of reproductive traits (tending to be long-day breeders), display a shorter, less overt oestrus as well as less tendency to allow riding behaviour by subordinate females. Some groups appear to have increased losses both during pregnancy and in the neonatal period. On the positive side, B indicus females respond well to managerial and nutritional interventions, tend to have greater reproductive longevity and they generally exhibit strong maternal traits. Culling of infertile females and selection for greater male scrotal circumference and sex-drive, in conjunction with the use of target weights, body condition scoring and weaning stratagems can improve reproductive rates in B indicus females.     

提高母羊产雌羔比例试验研究

新疆畜牧科学院研制生产的育肥素是一种内源激素和酶系统,对家畜进行生理调控,除了使畜体能快速增重外,还能提高牲畜胎儿的雌性比例.本研究课题正是利用育肥素这一综合功能开展对羔羊性别的研究. 1 目的及内容 适龄生产母畜在畜群中比例的高低是畜牧业能否快速发展的决定因素,因此大量增加母畜、提高适龄生产母畜的比例成为当前畜牧业快速发展的重要课题和途径之一.     

Genome-wide association studies of female reproduction in tropically adapted beef cattle

The genetics of reproduction is poorly understood because the heritabilities of traits currently recorded are low. To elucidate the genetics underlying reproduction in beef cattle, we performed a genome-wide association study using the bovine SNP50 chip in 2 tropically adapted beef cattle breeds, Brahman and Tropical Composite. Here we present the results for 3 female reproduction traits: 1) age at puberty, defined as age in days at first observed corpus luteum (CL) after frequent ovarian ultrasound scans (AGECL); 2) the postpartum anestrous interval, measured as the number of days from calving to first ovulation postpartum (first rebreeding interval, PPAI); and 3) the occurrence of the first postpartum ovulation before weaning in the first rebreeding period (PW), defined from PPAI. In addition, correlated traits such as BW, height, serum IGF1 concentration, condition score, and fatness were also examined. In the Brahman and Tropical Composite cattle, 169 [false positive rate (FPR) = 0.262] and 84 (FPR = 0.581) SNP, respectively, were significant (P < 0.001) for AGECL. In Brahman, 41% of these significant markers mapped to a single chromosomal region on BTA14. In Tropical Composites, 16% of these significant markers were located on BTA5. For PPAI, 66 (FPR = 0.67) and 113 (FPR = 0.432) SNP were significant (P < 0.001) in Brahman and Tropical Composite, respectively, whereas for PW, 68 (FPR = 0.64) and 113 (FPR = 0.432) SNP were significant (P < 0.01). In Tropical Composites, the largest concentration of PPAI markers were located on BTA5 [19% (PPAI) and 23% (PW)], and BTA16 [17% (PPAI) and 18% (PW)]. In Brahman cattle, the largest concentration of markers for postpartum anestrus was located on BTA3 (14% for PPAI and PW) and BTA14 (17% PPAI). Very few of the significant markers for female reproduction traits for the Brahman and Tropical Composite breeds were located in the same chromosomal regions. However, fatness and BW traits as well as serum IGF1 concentration were found to be associated with similar genome regions within and between breeds. Clusters of SNP associated with multiple traits were located on BTA14 in Brahman and BTA5 in Tropical Composites.     

Ascorbic acid as suspected cause of oxalate nephrotoxicosis in a goat

Oxalate nephrotoxicosis was determined, by renal biopsy, to be the cause of azotemia in a goat. The origin of the oxalate was determined to be a high concentration of ascorbic acid that had been administered parenterally to the goat. Ascorbic acid has been documented as a cause of oxalate nephrotoxicosis in human beings.     

不同饲料营养添加剂对种鹅繁殖性能的影响

采用700只种鹅随机分成A(自配添加剂组)、B(加中草药组)、C(购预混料组)、D(加活性肽组)、E(稻谷加米糠-传统饲养组)5组,每组分成4个重复,每个重复35只。进行了不同饲料及添加剂的饲养试验。结果表明:饲料质量影响种鹅繁殖性能,饲喂配合饲料组产蛋率、种蛋合格率、受精率、孵化率、健雏率均高于传统的稻谷加米糠组。繁殖性能综合评定(总健雏率)分别提高59.40%、38.10%、45.32%、33.67%;不同的饲料添加剂对鹅孵化健雏率有极显著差异(P<0.01)。加入饲料添加剂的A、B、C、D组健雏率极显著地高于E组(P<0.01),A、C、D组显著高于B组健雏率(P<0.05)。经济效益A、B、C、D组比E组分别多盈利1780.92元、1004.21元、954.90元、896.78元,平均每只母鹅多盈利15.90元、8.97元、8.53元、8.01元。     

成乳牛各阶段的饲养要点

我国地域疗阔,地理复杂,饲养条件和饲料资源不同,造成我国目前饲养模式不一;目前做适合我国奶牛饲养标准等基础研究工作的也比较薄弱,理论与生产实践有些脱节,大多数据是出自实验室和借鉴国外标准,而不是从规模化试验场和生产实践中得出;另外我国对现有一些比较成熟的饲养管理技术的推广也不太理想;所以我国目前的饲养模式总体比较落后,饲养管理水平低下。去年笔者对我国数百个规模不一牛场的日粮进行了分析,普遍存在对饲料的营养成分分析不到位(应每批次粗精料检测);奶牛日采食量不清;重精料,轻粗料;重蛋白,轻能量;重大宗,轻微量;重概念,轻…     

不同日粮结构对母猪繁殖性能的影响

在工厂化、集约化养猪生产中,主要通过提高母猪的繁殖来增加经济效益。为避免母猪妊娠期过肥带来的难产、弱仔、死胎和哺乳期泌乳力降低等弊端,通常在母猪妊娠期都采取限饲的方法,大幅度降低采食量。限饲情况下的采食量只相当于母猪自由采食量的50%～60%,因此母猪从妊娠到产前,一直处于饥饿或半饥饿状态,母猪常表现为易惊、不安、活动量加大,体耗增多。本试验的目的,是通过改变日粮结构,扩大日粮体积和增大喂量,在提供与妊娠母猪常规限饲日粮相同营养水平的条件下,研究其对提高母猪的繁殖性能的影响。1　材料与方法11　试验动物与试验设计　…     

Evaluation of sexual behavior of housed male camels (Camelus dromedarius) through female parades: correlation with climatic parameters

Camels are seasonal breeders, and their sexual behavior is influenced by environmental conditions, but the relationship between climatic factors and sexual behavior has been poorly described in the available literature. Nowadays, the male camel living habit is shifting towards captivity; thus, this study was carried out to evaluate the sexual behavior of housed male dromedary camel through female’s parades and to correlate it with climatic parameters. Four housed sires, reared for semen collection, and one dam were used and the trial lasted 8 weeks, considering the first week as control. Six days per week and during evenings, the female was brought near each males’ boxes, while two observers filled a behavioral sampling ethogram and scored the male sexual behavior. After this parade, blood samples were taken from the female to evaluate the estradiol concentration. In addition, the following meteorological parameters were recorded, everyday, at 9:00 a.m. and 19:00 p.m.: pressure, wind, temperature, humidity, and H-index. The correlation between sexual behavioral score and female estradiol concentration and climate parameters was analyzed. All the behavioral parameters showed a significant upward trend; female estradiol concentration varied during the period and picked at week 5. Male sexual behavior was negatively correlated with morning H-index, wind, and temperature, and positively correlated with pressure and evening humidity, whereas it was not correlated with estrogen. In conclusion, female parade was a successful method to evaluate and stimulate the occurrence of housed male dromedary camel sexual activity that resulted to be negatively affected by hot temperature, warm wind, and lack of rain.     

The effects of different photoperiods on reproduction in the sow

Three groups of Yorkshire sows (total of 106) were exposed to photoperiods of light:dark (LD) 24:0, 12:12 and 0:24, respectively, from d 1 postweaning to 24 h postestrus. The onset and duration of estrus, conception rate, farrowing rate and litter size were recorded. Serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen and progesterone were measured. Sows in the LD 24:0 exhibited behavioral estrus for a longer period (P less than .0001) than those in LD 12:12 (4.0 vs 2.7 d). The number of days to estrus from d 1 postweaning (5.4, 4.5 and 4.7 d, respectively), conception rate (60, 67 and 73%, respectively), farrowing rate (60, 67 and 73%, respectively) and litter size (10.6, 10.2 and 10.8, respectively) were not different (P greater than .05) for the three light regimens of 24:0, 12:12 and 0:24. Maximum serum levels of LH (5.4, 5.0 and 4.5 ng/ml, respectively) and estrogen (71.8, 63.3 and 60.4 pg/ml, respectively) were not different, nor were progesterone profile means (P greater than .05) for the sows in LD 24:0, 12:12 and 0:24. These data suggest that long photoperiods prolong manifestations of behavioral estrus in the sow.