Identification of the core rumen bacterial taxa and their population dynamics during the fattening period in Japanese Black cattle

The rumen microbiota comprises a vast range of bacterial taxa, which may affect the production of high-quality meat in Japanese Black cattle. The aim of this study was to identify core rumen microbiota in rumen fluid samples collected from 74 Japanese Black cattle raised under different dietary conditions using 16S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing. In the rumen of fattening Japanese Black cattle, 10 bacterial taxa, showing >1% average relative abundance and >95% prevalence, irrespective of the dietary conditions and the fattening periods, were identified as the core rumen bacterial taxa, which accounted for approximately 80% of the rumen microbiota in Japanese Black cattle. Additionally, population dynamics of the core rumen bacterial taxa revealed two distinct patterns: Prevotella spp. and unclassified Bacteroidales decreased in the mid-fattening period, whereas unclassified Clostridiales, unclassified Ruminococcaceae, Ruminococcus spp., and unclassified Christensenellaceae increased during the same period. Therefore, the present study reports the wide distribution of the core rumen bacterial taxa in Japanese Black cattle, and the complementary nature of the population dynamics of these core taxa, which may ensure stable rumen fermentation during the fattening period.     

Left displacement of the abomasum in a reticulated giraffe bull in managed care

A 10-y-old giraffe (Giraffa camelopardalis reticulata) bull developed colic after a 3-mo history of reduced feed consumption. Physical examination and management were performed with 2 standing sedations. The giraffe developed metabolic alkalosis and progressive pre-renal azotemia followed by compensatory respiratory acidosis and paradoxical aciduria. A metallic “ping” sound was auscultated on the left side near ribs 10–12. The giraffe was euthanized given the grave prognosis, and postmortem examination confirmed left displacement of the abomasum (LDA) with fluid sequestration (150–190 L [40–50 gal]) within the rumen. Dental disease was evident at postmortem examination and perimortem skull computed tomography. To ensure cases of LDA are not overlooked, the position of the abomasum must be noted during postmortem examination prior to removal of the gastrointestinal tract. The risk factors for the development of LDA in giraffes are not known, and associations such as those of dairy cattle (hypocalcemia, high-concentrate low-fiber diet, and indoor housing) remain to be elucidated.     

2019年肉牛饲料与营养评价的国外研究进展

文章旨在了解饲料与营养对肉牛生产性能、消化性能、瘤胃发酵以及甲烷(CH₄)排放的影响。文章综述了2019年国外的相关文献报道,主要从精饲料、粗饲料及饲养营养综合评价3个方面进行综述。精饲料集中于各种蛋白质饲料和能量饲料的研究。粗饲料研究侧重于粗饲料品种和加工方式对不同生理阶段肉牛生产性能、消化性能和CH₄产生的影响。饲料营养综合评价主要侧重于犊牛期研究,并对育肥期和放牧期肉牛的饲料营养进行评价,以根据肉牛的生理阶段特点,选择适宜的饲料原料,并合理搭配和调制日粮以改善瘤胃菌群结构,充分提高养分利用率。     

Methaphylactic effect of tulathromycin treatment on rumen fluid parameters in feedlot beef cattle

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of tulathromycin as a bovine respiratory disease (BRD) metaphylactic treatment on rumen fluid parameters in feedlot cattle in an intensive livestock production farm. One hundred beef cattle, immediately after housing, were divided in 2 equal groups: 50 animals with metaphylactic treatment against BRD (treated group; tulathromycin at 2.5 mg/kg BW) and 50 animals with placebo treatment (control group). Rumen fluid samples were collected from each animal by rumenocentesis in 3 periods: 1 d (T1), 8 d (T8), and 15 d (T15) after treatment. Rumen pH was determined by ruminal fluid using portable pH meter. Total volatile fatty acids (total VFA) were evaluated by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). All animals were singularly weighed at T1 and T15. Two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) was applied to determine significant effects of treatment (treated group versus control group) and period (T1, T8, and T15) on rumen fluid parameters and body weight. No clinical signs of BRD or other related diseases were recorded during the periods of study from any animal. Statistically significant differences (P < 0.05) were found between treated group and control group for mean values of ruminal pH (6.02 versus 5.89) and total VFA (5.84 versus 5.13) at 8 d after treatment. The weight gain (Δ) showed an average increase of 8.6 kg in treated group (P < 0.05). The trends of ruminal pH and VFA values suggest an effect of tulathromycin as BRD metaphylactic treatment on the modulation of rumen fermentation, particularly 8 d after administration.     

不同肉牛育肥的牛肉产品生产对饲料粮消耗比较分析

在对繁殖母牛、哺乳犊牛和架子牛进行饲养试验及调查的基础上,结合所进行的架子牛育肥试验和犊牛直线育肥试验,参考肉牛饲养标准和已发表的肉牛育肥试验数据,并根据目前我国牛肉产品提供状况和肉用牛育肥的饲料资源情况,分别比较不同肉牛育肥牛肉产品生产所需要的粮食。结果表明,为获得等同重量的肉牛产品,直线育肥技术比后期集中育肥要消耗较少的粮食,而高档牛肉生产（高端肉产品生产）需要消耗更多的饲料粮。     

异地育肥肉牛的饲养管理技术

肉牛“异地育肥”已成为我国肉牛生产的一种主要模式。购入架子牛后,首先应注意减少运输应激的影响,做好过渡期的饲养管理,按体重大小、体质强弱、采食饲料快慢进行分群合栏。对于体重小于200kg的小架子牛来讲,饲养的重点是促进骨骼、内脏、肌肉的生长,使其消化器官得到锻炼,要求日粮提供优质蛋白质饲料,并供给适量的钙、磷、矿物质、维生素;体重为200~250kg的牛源,要求日粮的蛋白质含量高,可以提供充裕的粗饲料以促进其瘤胃发育;250~300kg体重阶段的架子牛,日粮以粗料为主,以精料为辅;体重达350kg的大架子牛其日粮的营养需要是前期蛋白质含量应高一些、后期能量水平要高些。牛的出栏体重越大,饲料利用率就越低,因此应根据肉牛育肥目的,适当育肥,适时出栏。     

Prediction of digestibility and energy concentration of winter pasture forage and herbage of low-input grassland--a comparison of methods.

Regarding the estimation of the energy concentration or digestibility of herb-dominated forage and plant samples from winter pastures, it could be expected that the estimation is only reliable when in vitro methods with rumen fluid as inoculum (= gas production techniques) are used. For the verification of this thesis based on logical reflections, an in vitro-method with rumen fluid added as inoculum, as well as chemical, and enzymatic methods were applied under consideration of existing estimating functions. As a possible reason for the observed divergence of the methods, effects of fungal infections or, respectively, secondary compounds in herbs are discussed. At the present state of knowledge, it is adequate to estimate the energy concentration in vitro by gas tests, as far as fattening types like suckler cows and beef cattle are concerned, maybe in contrast to the forage evaluation for dairy cows.     

奶公牛犊与育肥牛的屠宰性能及肉品质比较分析

选择6月龄育肥奶公牛犊和成年育肥杂交改良肉牛各四头,通过屠宰性能和肉品质比较,研究育肥奶公犊与杂交改良育肥肉牛的产肉性能和牛肉品质差异,为肉牛屠宰企业开发犊牛肉市场提供技术参数。结果表明,屠宰率为55．38％的犊牛胴体较屠宰率56．38％的育肥牛胴体,出肉率低6．25个百分点;骨骼占胴体比例高4．45个百分点;高档部位出品率高O．35个百分点;后臀腿部位肉出品率高1．67个百分点。犊牛肉水分含量、蛋白质含量分别较育肥牛高2．73、1．20个百分点,脂肪含量较育肥牛低1．22个百分点。胴体成熟72h、96h后分割的犊牛肉（外脊）剪切力值与育肥牛肉剪切力值差异极显著（P〈O．01）。成熟72h的犊牛肉（外脊）肉色值a值、L值分别较育肥牛低3．88、高6．55,差异极显著（P〈O．01）;系水力指标中滴水损失的差异显著（P〈O．05）,熟肉率指标差异不显著（P〉O．05）。由此可以看出,在产肉性能方面,育肥犊牛较成年育肥牛产肉率低,保水性低,但在肉质方面,具有细嫩、多汁、高蛋白低脂肪、肉色浅红等优点。     

Maternal periconceptual nutrition,early pregnancy,and developmental outcomes in beef cattle

The focus of this review is maternal nutrition during the periconceptual period and offspring developmental outcomes in beef cattle, with an emphasis on the first 50 d of gestation, which represents the embryonic period. Animal agriculture in general, and specifically the beef cattle industry, currently faces immense challenges. The world needs to significantly increase its output of animal food products by 2050 and beyond to meet the food security and agricultural sustainability needs of the rapidly growing human population. Consequently, efficient and sustainable approaches to livestock production are essential. Maternal nutritional status is a major factor that leads to developmental programming of offspring outcomes. Developmental programming refers to the influence of pre-and postnatal factors, such as inappropriate maternal nutrition, that affect growth and development and result in long-term consequences for health and productivity of the offspring. In this review, we discuss recent studies in which we and others have addressed the questions, “Is development programmed periconceptually?” and, if so, “Does it matter practically to the offspring in production settings?” The reviewed studies have demonstrated that the periconceptual period is important not only for pregnancy establishment but also may be a critical period during which fetal, placental, and potentially postnatal development and function are programmed. The evidence for fetal and placental programming during the periconceptual period is strong and implies that research efforts to mitigate the negative and foster the positive benefits of developmental programming need to include robust investigative efforts during the periconceptual period to better understand the implications for life-long health and productivity.     

Flight Distance and Avoidance Score in Thoroughbred Foals and Yearlings and the Relationship with Handling Frequency in the Young Ages

Flight and avoidance reactions from human were examined using 168 postweaning Thoroughbred foals in 22 breeding farms. Further 114 yearlings of 168 foals were tested in the following summer. The foal handlings by the stabler were asked in questionnaire. The relationship between the behavioural reactions and the foal handling frequencies was analyzed. The flight reaction was estimated as the distance from the animal to a stranger when the animal began to flight away from his approach. The avoidance scores were set up from (1) (not resistant) to (5) (touch rejection) from human touching. In the stabler questionnaire, handling frequencies of “body brushing”, “rectal temperature measurement”, “hoof cleaning”, and “stall cleaning” in the early nursing period were asked. The handling frequencies were scored from (1) (not done) to (5) (every day). In the preliminary test, a measurement reliability of the flight distance and the avoidance score was confirmed. The mean flight distances were 0.56 m and 0.27 m in the postweaning foals and the yearlings, respectively. Touch-avoidance scores of the highest frequency were (3) and (2) in the postweaning foals and the yearlings, respectively. As the results of Spearman’s rank-correlation analysis, “body brushing” showed highly negative relationships with “flight distance” (ρ=–0.31, P<0.001) and “avoidance score” (ρ=–0.37, P<0.001) in the postweaning foals. In the yearlings, “hoof cleaning” also showed significantly negative relationships with these behavioural indices (ρ=–0.24, P<0.01; ρ=–0.22, P<0.01, respectively).     

隐性代谢性酸中毒对肉牛育肥效果的影响

反刍动物过量采食精料会引起瘤胃内乳酸蓄积,使体内酸碱平衡失调、体液pH值下降,重者可导致死亡,轻者影响生长发育。本试验选用育肥期日龄、体重差异不显著的肉牛40头,随机分成4组,按不同日饲喂精料量分组喂养,通过检测生理指标、调整日饲喂精料量,论证长期隐性代谢性酸中毒(瘤胃液pH值在5～5.52、尿液pH值在5.05～5.61之间)对肉牛育肥效果的影响。结果显示在育肥过程中隐性代谢性酸中毒牛群与健康牛群相比增重比低了11.61个百分点。     

肉牛TMR日粮粒度和饲料消化率分析

[目的]分析肉牛场不同牛群全混合日粮(TMR)的粒度和饲料消化率。[方法]在固原市瑞科丰农牧科技有限公司选取西门塔尔牛犊牛、母牛、育肥牛各120头作为试验牛群,对照组和试验组各60头,试验组日粮中添加酵母培养物AYC-X6,对照组未添加。[结果]结果表明,断奶犊牛和育肥牛TMR日粮粒度第2层比例最高分别为51.60%,52.9%。母牛第1,2,3层比例基本相同,在20.30%～21.85%之间。犊牛日粮中添加酵母培养物AYC-X6后第1,2层筛上物合计35%,比例下降,说明犊牛消化程度增加,消化率提高。育肥牛日粮第1,2层筛上物合计分别为64%,48%,分别比对照组降低8%,24%。[结论]肉牛TMR日粮粒度越大,粗饲料越长,过瘤胃速度越慢;育肥前期粗饲料长度为2.5 cm,育肥后期粗饲料长度3.5 cm。断奶犊牛和育肥牛日粮中添加酵母培养物AYC-X6提高了饲料消化率。     

定西市安定区引进育肥肉牛注意事项浅析

为了降低育肥肉牛引进的风险,提高育肥肉牛养殖户养殖效益,本文从育肥肉牛的引进、装车前的准备、运输途中注意事项及引进后的注意事项几个方面对育肥肉牛引进做了详细论述,以期为育肥肉牛引进提供决策参考。     

The recent prevalence of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection among Japanese cattle

A seroepidemiological survey of bovine leukemia virus (BLV) infection was conducted in Japan in 2007 using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and an agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test. A total of 5420 cattle (dairy, 3966; breeding beef, 797; fattening beef, 657) from 209 farms in seven prefectures in Japan were tested. The overall prevalence of BLV infection was 28.6%. The prevalence of BLV infection in dairy cattle (34.7%) was higher than for both fattening beef cattle (7.9%) and breeding beef cattle (16.3%). Age-specific prevalence showed that BLV prevalence increased with age in all types of cattle and was notably different between dairy and beef cattle under 1 year of age. Among 207 farms, 141 herds (68.1%) had one or more positive animals. The proportion of these positive farms was significantly higher among dairy farms (79.1%) than among beef breeding farms (39.5%) and beef fattening farms (51.9%) (P < 0.001). Dairy farms (40.5%) also showed a significantly higher within-herd prevalence than beef breeding (27.4%) and fattening (14.9%) farms (P = 0.001). This study indicated that BLV is more widely spread in dairy cattle than in beef breeding cattle in Japan. Given the prevalence of BLV infection in dairy and beef cattle was 8- and 1.7-fold higher, respectively, than rates previously found in 1980–1982, BLV appears to be spreading particularly among the dairy cattle population during the last two decades. Further investigation is required to determine the risk factors necessary to control BLV infection that take into account the different farming practices that exist between dairy and beef sectors.     

郏县红牛生产高档牛肉育肥技术创新

郏县红牛是中国八大地方良种黄牛品种之一。为解决保种困境,充分发挥郏县红牛种质资源优势,经不断探索发现,郏县红牛经科学育肥至28月龄左右,其肌间脂肪沉积优秀,能形成可媲美日本和牛肉的大理石花纹,具有生产高档牛肉的潜力。本文就郏县红牛生产高档牛肉的育肥原理、育肥牛选择、育肥阶段及营养标准、日粮原料调制和管理等几个方面进行了论述。     

Gas Chromatographic Determination of Volatile Fatty Acids in Aqueous Media its use in Bovine Rumen Fluid and in Silage

A rapid quantitative method for the gas chromatographic determination of volatile fatty acids in aqueous media is described. It includes the use of formic acid for the elimination of “ghost peaks” and of iso-valeric acid as an internal standard. The method has been used for the examination of bovine rumen fluid and of silage.Statistical treatment of the result shows that the fluid from lactating cows has a significantly higher content of butyric acid than has the fluid from dry cows; such a difference could not be demonstrated as to acetic, propionic and valeric acid.Some experience from the determination of the volatile fatty acids in silage is also reported.     

育肥牛低精料日粮配合方案饲喂效果分析

根据肉牛不同发育阶段的生理特点和补偿代谢机制,采用分阶段低精料日粮设计方案,育肥前期以粗饲料为主,适当补充蛋白饲料,育肥后期以高能量饲料为主,粗饲料作为调节适量饲喂。通过与持续精料日粮方案对比可知,低精料日粮方案育肥牛平均日增重1．57kg,较持续精料日增重相对提高了15．9％;低精料日粮方案节约精饲料用量、降低育肥成本,饲养成本较持续精料日粮方案降低了22．7％。试验结果表明,分阶段低精料日粮设计方案可减轻持续饲喂精料对育肥牛瘤胃造成的伤害,进而保证了育肥牛的健康生长。     

Efficacy of statistical process control procedures to identify deviations in continuously measured physiological and behavioral variables in beef heifers resulting from an experimentally combined viral–bacterial challenge

The objective of this experiment was to determine if statistical process control (SPC) procedures coupled with remote continuous data collection could accurately differentiate between animals experimentally inoculated with a viral–bacterial (VB) challenge or phosphate buffer solution (PBS). Crossbred heifers (N = 38; BW = 230 ± 16.4 kg) were randomly assigned to treatments by initial weight, average daily gain (ADG), bovine herpes virus 1, and Mannheimia haemolytica serum titers. Feeding behavior, dry matter intake (DMI), animal activity, and rumen temperature were continuously monitored remotely prior to and following VB challenge. VB-challenged heifers exhibited decreased (P < 0.01) ADG and DMI, as well as increased (P < 0.01) neutrophils and rumen temperature consistent with a bovine respiratory disease (BRD) infection. However, none of the heifers displayed overt clinical signs of disease. Shewhart and cumulative summation (CUSUM) charts were evaluated, with sensitivity and specificity computed on the VB-challenged heifers (n = 19) and PBS-challenged heifers (n = 19), respectively, and the accuracy was determined as the average of sensitivity and specificity. To address the diurnal nature of rumen temperature responses, summary statistics (mean, minimum, and maximum) were computed for daily quartiles (6-h intervals), and these quartile temperature models were evaluated separately. In the Shewhart analysis, DMI was the most accurate (95%) at deciphering between PBS- and VB-challenged heifers, followed by rumen temperature (94%) collected in the 2nd and 3rd quartiles. Rest was most the accurate accelerometer-based traits (89%), and meal duration (87%) and bunk visit (BV) frequency (82%) were the most accurate feeding behavior traits. Rumen temperature collected in the 3rd quartile signaled the earliest (2.5 d) of all the variables monitored with the Shewhart, followed by BV frequency (2.8 d), meal duration (2.8 d), DMI (3.0 d), and rest (4.0 d). Rumen temperature and DMI remained the most accurate variables in the CUSUM at 80% and 79%, respectively. Meal duration (58%), BV frequency (71%), and rest (74%) were less accurate when monitored with the CUSUM analysis. Furthermore, signal day was greater for DMI, rumen temperature, and meal duration (4.4, 5.0, and 3.7 d, respectively) in the CUSUM compared to Shewhart analysis. These results indicate that Shewhart and CUSUM charts can effectively identify deviations in feeding behavior, activity, and rumen temperature patterns for the purpose of detecting sub-clinical BRD in beef cattle.     

A Review of the Lesions in Shipping Fever of Cattle

A review of literature concerning the information published on the macroscopic and microscopic lung lesions in “shipping fever” of cattle is presented as reported in naturally occurring cases as well as the experimental disease.     

影响肉牛育肥效果的因素及其提升措施

文章叙述了肉牛育肥的原理以及影响肉牛育肥效果的因素,在此基础上分析了提高肉牛育肥效果的有效方法。