Local chicken production system in Malawi: Household flock structure,dynamics, management and health

Household flocks of scavenging chickens were monitored from August 2002 to August 2003 in 27 villages in Lilongwe, Malawi. The objective was to evaluate the local chicken production system by investigating flock structure, utilization, management and constraints. Farmers and researchers jointly obtained data on household flocks. Mean flock size was 12.9, with a range of 1–61 chickens. The flock dynamics of chickens over 8 weeks old constituted 91% migrating out of flocks and 9% into the flocks. Primary functions based on flock dynamics were, in order of importance, household consumption, participation in socio-cultural ceremonies, selling, exchanging breeding stock and gifts. Of the flock exits, 43.9% were due to losses from diseases, predation and theft. Most flocks (85%) were housed in human dwelling units. Scavenging was the main source of feed. The majority (77.6%) of farmers supplemented their chickens erratically with energy-rich feeds, mostly maize bran. Most supplementation took place during the cold-dry season. Village chicken production offers diverse functional outputs but faces animal health (diseases, parasites, predation) and management (feeding) constraints, which require an integrated intervention approach at community and household level.     

运用数学优选法筛选藏羊最佳畜群结构

运用数学优选法,根据果洛州藏羊生产性能和组群实际情况,通过屠宰阉羊羔和和２岁羯羊筛选藏羊的最佳畜群结构。以当前生产力为基础,砂增加存栏的情况下,提高出栏率。通过对不同年龄羊群铁经济效益分析,找出羊群中最佳的母畜比例为６６％,建议果洛州藏羊畜群结构应以６６％米进行调整。这样既有利于畜草矛盾的逐步解决,可使草地得到合理利用,又可大幅度地增另经济收入。     

畜群结构与效益的研究

建立了畜群结构满足的方程组,通过解方程组得到畜群结构与畜群出栏率,进一步分析得出畜群出栏率与出栏畜龄P和母畜产羔率r有关.指出提高畜群的经济效益,必须提高畜群出栏率,降低出栏畜龄和提高母畜产羔率.     

广东惠州生猪养殖现状调查及分析

惠州地处广东省珠江三角洲,近10多年城市化进程速度加快,城市人口增长迅速,随着人们生活水平不断提高,猪肉消费急速上升.同时,惠州也是广东省猪场最为集中的地区,是广东重要的肉猪、种猪生产基地.惠州地区规模生猪养殖发展之路更是广东省生猪养殖的一个缩影和风向标.通过深入基层调查,走访养殖户、屠宰场、大型养殖企业等,通过座谈交流、问卷调查和查阅生产记录的方式,对惠州不同规模生猪养殖发展现状及面临的主要问题进行了调查和分析.通过分析发现,中等规模的生猪养殖场（存栏500-2 999头）具有生产效益明显、环境容量合适、调整生产快、抗风险高和适合精细饲养等特点,比较适合目前惠州的生猪养殖发展.针对惠州面临的产业结构调整、划定动物禁养区等现实问题,本文提出应结合人文发展,完善行业标准,大力发展现代都市养殖模式-绿色生态园区的建议.     

歇武乡藏羊最优畜群结构的选择

根据数学优选法原理，结合歇武乡示范户藏羊生产实况，对羊群结构进行分析，找出藏羊的最优畜群结构方案，分析、计算歇武乡示范户藏羊最优畜群结构。     

Skin Injuries on the Body and Thigh of Dairy Cows: Associations with Season,Claw Health,Disease Treatment,and other Cow Characteristics

An epidemiological study was conducted in 18 dairy herds with the objective to characterize those groups of cows where skin injuries to the body and thighs occurred most frequently. Data were analyzed with multivariable logistic regression. The epidemiologic patterns were different in first and later lactations. In first lactation some degree of injury occurred among 7.7% of 1793 cows. For most cows occurrence of sole ulcer was positively associated with injury while occurrence of heel horn erosion was negatively associated with injury. The association between injury and body weight differed depending on month of calving (significant interaction). Injuries occurred most frequently among high yielding cows. Severe reproductive, metabolic, and/or infectious diseases were associated with injuries. In later lactations some degree of injury occurred among 13.4% of 832 cows in lactations 2 to 9 where severity of injury increased with lactation number. Injuries occurred least frequently at examinations made in the January to March. They occurred most frequently among cows with sole ulcers. Calving in March through October was associated with injuries especially if the cows were treated for limb disorders. Most cases of injuries occurred early or late in lactation or among high or very low yielding cows in lactations 2 to 9.     

国内外兼用牛现状及育种理论研究进展

兼用牛亦称乳肉兼用牛,是兼具较高产奶性能和优秀产肉性能的牛品种.本文就国内外兼用牛的发展现状、育种体系和育种规划方法的研究进展做简要综述,为制定我国兼用牛育种规划提供参考.     

我国DHI测定现状及存在的问题

DHI即奶牛群改良计划或生产性能记录体系,DHI测定因能显著提高奶牛场经济效益及牛群品质而被世界各国纷纷采用.本文综述了我国DHI测定的现状及DHI报告的应用,指出DHI测定存在的问题,这些问题也是限制我国DHI测定推广的因素.同时提出了解决问题的措施并预测了DHI在我国奶牛业中的推广应用前景.     

Detection of Salmonella in Finishing Pigs on Farm and at Slaughter in Piedmont,Italy

Salmonella is one of the most common causes of human gastroenteritis often associated with pork consumption. The aims of this cross‐sectional study were to collect preliminary data on the presence of Salmonella enterica in pigs in Piedmont (Italy), through sampling on farm and at slaughter and to gather pilot data on serotypes and phagetypes present in the sampled area and distribution of anti‐microbial resistance among isolated strains. Salmonella was detected through culture and identified with Salmonella spp. and Salmonella Typhimurium PCR; positive samples were serotyped, phagetyped and tested for antibiotic susceptibility. Positive samples (from 9% of faeces up to 29% of tonsils) were found in 64% of the herds. Salmonella spp. was retrieved also from scalding water. Most of the isolates were Salmonella Derby, Salmonella Typhimurium and Salmonella 4,5,12:i:‐. The results of Salmonella Typhimurium specific PCR suggested that Salmonella 4,5,12:i:‐ might be unrecognized by serotyping. Anti‐microbial resistance was recorded in 75–100% of the isolates. Phagetyping allowed the identification of DT104B and DT46A strains. These results set the bases for further research studies that would aim to estimate the real herd prevalence in Piedmont and the diffusion of serotypes and anti‐microbial resistant strains within the same region.     

中国苜蓿育种的历史、现状与发展趋势

介绍了中国苜蓿育种的历史、现状,阐述了苜蓿育种的方法和目前中国苜蓿育种中存在的问题,提出了今后苜蓿育种发展的方向与目标.     

Transmission of some species of internal parasites in horses born in 1993, 1994, and 1995 on the same pasture on a farm in central Kentucky

Data are presented on the last 3 years of a 7-year study (1989–1995) on transmission of natural infections of internal parasites in horse foals (n = 27) born in 1993, 1994, and 1995 on the same pasture on a farm in central Kentucky. The foals were in a closed breeding herd of horses. Research on the first 4 years (1989–1992) of the study was published earlier (Lyons et al., 1991, 1994). Thirty-five species of endoparasites were identified, including 24 species of small strongyles. Monthly, seasonal, and host-age transmission patterns were elucidated for the parasites. Comparison of data between the first 4 years and last 3 years of the study indicates similarities, but also differences, including an increase in prevalence and numbers of Thelazia lacrymalis and Anoplocephala perfoliata.     

Random within-herd variation in financial performance and time to financial steady-state following management changes in dairy herd

Abstract

The manager of a dairy herd and the affiliated consultants constantly need to judge whether financial performance of the production system is satisfactory and whether financial performance relates to real (systematic) effects of changes in management. This is no easy task because the dairy herd is a very complex system. Thus, it is difficult to obtain empirical data that allows a valid estimation of the random (within-herd) variation in financial performance corrected for management changes. Thus, simulation seems to be the only option. This study suggests that much caution must be recommended when claming effect of changes in herd management because the link between management changes (cause) and effect (measured as improvement of gross margin per cow year) is extensively blurred by a large within-herd variation in available real life accounting data and differences between herds in time to steady state following management changes.     

Performance of camels (Camelus dromedrius) kept by pastoralists with different degrees of experience in camel keeping in Borana, Southern Ethiopia

The aim of the present study was to investigate the performances of camels kept by pastoralists with different degrees of experience in camel production. The study was conducted on 60 selected camel herds twice a year; during wet and dry seasons of 2003 and 2004 in Borana, Southern Ethiopia. The average ages at first parturition and calving intervals of breeding females were 68.1 ± 0.5 and 25.5 ± 0.4 months (LSMean ± SE), respectively. Age at first parturition was significantly reduced by use of veterinary services, while variation was not observed among Borana, Guji, Gabra and Somali herds. Calving intervals were significantly shorter (P < 0.05) in Borana (24.8 ± 0.6) and Guji (24.5 ± 1.5) than Somali herds (27.0 ± 0.5). Calving intervals were also prolonged (P < 0.05) by fixing breeding time. Annual calving, abortion and calf mortality rates were similar for the four populations and averaged 37.3%, 9.3%, 20.3% in 2003, and 41.3%, 8.2%, 14.9% in 2004, respectively. The overall mortality rate was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in Borana (10.0 ± 2.1) than in Gabra herds (4.2 ± 0.8). However, mortality was not statistically different for use of veterinary services and other managemental practices. The study showed an increase in annual herd growth by 5.7% in 2003 and 11.6% in 2004 with similarity of herd dynamics between the two years. Daily milk yield differed significantly (P < 0.05) depending on veterinary services, watering frequency and the season (7.6 L during wet and 4.3 L during dry season). Similarly, milk yield was significantly higher (P < 0.01) in Somali herds than in Borana and Gabra herds. In conclusion, the study revealed that some production and reproduction performances in camel herds have showed significant variation with varying levels of herding experience and veterinary services. This may suggest performance in pastoral camels can be enhanced with learning more about and using traditional management practices as well as improving animal health service delivery.     

Village chicken production in Turkey: Tokat province example

The aim of this work was to reveal the current form of village chicken production in Tokat province of Turkey. A survey was applied to 153 randomly selected farmers of 5 subdistricts in Tokat province. The ratios of domestic fowls in the survey region were as follows: hen 98.83%, goose 0.65%, turkey 0.29% and duck 0.16% (P < 0.01). Feather colours of laying hens were white (2.76%), brown (8.63%) and mixed color (88.60%). The hen farms in this region consisted of native breeds (91.42%), commercial breeds (5.71%) and their crosses (2.85%). The mean egg weight of the village hens was between 30 and 40 g. Wheat (65.73%) and mixed (wheat, barley, maize and kitchen refuse) feed (34.22%) were used to supplement the hens (P < 0.01). For producing natural chicks, the hens were brooded between 1.10 and 1.46 times/year, 1.31 on average. For each brooding, the number of placed eggs under the broody hens was between 11.39 and 12.42 (P < 0.05).     

Selenium supplementation of young red deer (Cervus elaphus)

Abstract

Two selenium (Se) supplementation trials were conducted in successive years involving a total of 70 red deer calves 3–15 months of age grazing pasture containing 30–57 ppb of Se on a dry matter basis. The trials compared growth rate, whole blood Se and glutathione peroxidase (GSHpx) concentrations of calves which received periodic doses of oral Se or a single injection of barium selenate (equivalent to 50 mg Se) or no Se supplementation. There were no significant weight gain differences between treated and untreated groups in either trial. Whole blood GSHpx levels were strongly correlated with blood Se levels (r = 0.9278) and produced the following regression equation: GSHpx 0.0155 Se ? 2.292.

In both years the 3 month old calves had GSHpx levels of 6–9 kU/l which probably derived from maternal transfer of Se. The GSHpx levels in unsupplemented calves declined from these levels to a minimum in winter (group means ? 2.6) and then progressively rose the following spring and summer.

Periodical oral dosing with Se or a single injection of barium selenate significantly elevated blood Se and GSHpx levels throughout the trials.     

Screening for ketosis using multiple logistic regression based on milk yield and composition

Multiple logistic regression was applied to milk yield and composition data for 632 records of healthy cows and 61 records of ketotic cows in Hokkaido, Japan. The purpose was to diagnose ketosis based on milk yield and composition, simultaneously. The cows were divided into two groups: (1) multiparous, including 314 healthy cows and 45 ketotic cows and (2) primiparous, including 318 healthy cows and 16 ketotic cows, since nutritional status, milk yield and composition are affected by parity. Multiple logistic regression was applied to these groups separately. For multiparous cows, milk yield (kg/day/cow) and protein-to-fat (P/F) ratio in milk were significant factors (P<0.05) for the diagnosis of ketosis. For primiparous cows, lactose content (%), solid not fat (SNF) content (%) and milk urea nitrogen (MUN) content (mg/dl) were significantly associated with ketosis (P<0.01). A diagnostic rule was constructed for each group of cows: (1) 9.978 × P/F ratio + 0.085 × milk yield <10 and (2) 2.327 × SNF − 2.703 × lactose + 0.225 × MUN <10. The sensitivity, specificity and the area under the curve (AUC) of the diagnostic rules were (1) 0.800, 0.729 and 0.811; (2) 0.813, 0.730 and 0.787, respectively. The P/F ratio, which is a widely used measure of ketosis, provided the sensitivity, specificity and AUC values of (1) 0.711, 0.726 and 0.781; and (2) 0.678, 0.767 and 0.738, respectively.     

The Problem Mare: Management Philosophy,Diagnostic Procedures,and Therapeutic Options

Problem mares are a commonly encountered challenge in brood mare practice. The first step in management of a mare with a reproductive issue is to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Components of a systematic diagnostic evaluation are discussed. The optimal treatment strategy should be based on results of the diagnostic tests. Successful interactions with problem mares are usually contingent upon a committed and detail-oriented approach to diagnostics, therapeutics, and breeding management.     

生物技术育种在家畜育种教学中的探讨

笔者重点提出了生物技术育种在家畜育种学课程教学过程中存在的问题并从教师知识结构、互动式教学、多媒体教学、注重实践等环节对其教学方法进行了综述。