Effects of road transportation on metabolic and immunological responses in Holstein heifers

This study examined the effects of road transportation on metabolic and immunological responses in dairy heifers. Twenty Holstein heifers in early pregnancy were divided into non‐transported (NT; n = 7) and transported (T; n = 13) groups. Blood was collected before transportation (BT), immediately after transportation for 100 km (T1) and 200 km (T2), and 24 h after transportation (AT). The T heifers had higher (P < 0.05) blood cortisol and non‐esterified fatty acid concentrations after T1 and T2 than did NT heifers. By contrast, the T heifers had lower (P < 0.05) serum triglyceride concentrations after T1 and T2 than had the NT heifers. The serum cortisol and triglyceride concentrations returned (P > 0.05) to the BT concentrations at 24 h AT in the T heifers. The granulocyte‐to‐lymphocyte ratio and the percentage of monocytes were higher (P < 0.05) after T2 in the T heifers than in the NT heifers, suggesting that transportation stress increased the numbers of innate immune cells. T heifers had higher (P < 0.01) plasma haptoglobin concentrations than NT heifers 24 h AT. In conclusion, transportation increased cortisol secretion and was correlated with increased metabolic responses and up‐regulation of peripheral innate immune cells in dairy heifers.     

生乳储运条件对品质影响的探究

菌落总数是衡量生乳品质的重要指标之一.生乳中菌落总数基数越大,其品质越不稳定.但因为奶源产地等原因,生乳必须经过一段时间运输才能到达乳品企业进行生产,运输过程可能由于微生物繁殖导致生乳品质下降.试验选取菌落总数基数不同的两批生乳,通过在2～6℃和10～15℃条件下存放,模拟生乳在冷藏储运和脱冷储运状态下,分别储存24 ...     

高速公路边坡防护体系的建植养护

在对广东省普惠高速公路边坡生物防治体系——护坡草皮的建植和养护过程中，就草种选择、建植方式和质量监控等问题进行了讨论并提出建议，旨在提高我国高速公路边坡防护体系草皮的建植和养护水平。     

两种运输车对驴运输应激的影响

本试验旨在研究改造运输车对缓解驴运输应激的效果。选取28头健康德州公驴,随机分为2组,从北京密云县运输至聊城市东阿县东阿黑毛驴研究所,路程约500 km,历时18 h。试验使用9.6 m长单层货车为运输车,对试验组(T)运输车进行改造,即加装顶层和双侧篷布、底部加装草帘和中部加装隔栏,对照组(C)不作处理。运输前后测定驴血液生化和激素指标,统计体重变化和发病驴数量。结果表明,与运输前相比,普通车组驴在落地当天检测到血清皮质醇(COR)、白蛋白(ALB)水平均显著升高(P<0.05),总蛋白(TP)、谷草转氨酶(AST)、热休克蛋白-90(HSP90)和肌酸激酶(CK)指标极显著升高(P<0.01),钙(Ca)浓度显著降低(P<0.05)。改造车组驴血液指标TP、AST和CK的变化范围低于普通车组。两组驴落地后血糖(GLU)水平均比运输前升高,但差异均不显著(P<0.05)。与运输前相比,改造车组驴落地后的体重减少低于普通车组;改造车组驴在落地后第10天平均体重接近运输前,而普通车组驴的平均体重在落地后第20天才基本恢复至运输前水平,即使用改造运输车辆可以尽早恢复体重。普通车组驴发病率为21.4%,改造车组为7.1%;两组均无死亡。综合上述结果,改造运输车可有效降低驴的运输应激,有利于提高动物运输福利,减少经济损失;本试验结果可为动物运输应激提供参考。     

Short-term transportation in a small vehicle affects the physiological state and subsequent water consumption in goats

We investigated the physiological effects on goats of transportation for one hour in a small truck. We also investigated food and water consumption after transportation. Eight adult goats (four castrated males and four ovariectomized females) were used. Plasma levels of cortisol, glucose and free fatty acids increased significantly within 15 min of the start of transportation, and these higher levels were maintained throughout transportation. These results indicate that transportation in a small truck activates the hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis and the sympathetic nervous system in goats. Despite activation of the sympathetic nervous system, heart rate (HR) in subjected animals during transportation did not differ from during the control animals, which were housed in their usual pen. However, after the transportation had ended and the goats started to eat fodder, HR increased significantly. There was no difference in the amount of food consumption between the control and transported goats. Water consumption in the first three hours after transportation was significantly lower in the transported goats than in the controls for the equivalent period. In the subsequent three hours, however, the transported goats consumed more water than the controls. Consequently, the total water consumption of the transported goats did not differ from that of the controls during the six hours after transportation. In conclusion, short-term transportation with a small vehicle activated the HPA axis and the sympathetic nervous system in goats. HR was not increased during transportation, but after the transportation had ended HR in transported goats was higher than that in control goats. After transportation, goats had consumed the same amount of food as control goats, but water consumption during three hours after the transportation was lower than that of control goats.     

放牧和模拟降水对短花针茅荒漠草原植物功能群多样性的影响

为探究放牧和降水变化对植物功能群的影响,本文以内蒙古短花针茅(Stipa breviflora)荒漠草原为研究对象,开展了野外控制试验。试验设置围封和适度放牧,分别进行模拟降水处理(减少降水量50%、自然降水、增加降水量50%、增加降水量100%),并在每年8月观测植物群落组成。结果表明：减水会降低植物功能群多样性、生物量和物种数量,增水有利于植物功能群多样性的提高。多年生丛生禾草多样性随降水量的增加而升高。同时,对降水梯度和功能群多样性进行拟合分析发现,降水量低于年降水量16%则不利于除灌木、半灌木外其他功能群植物的生长。围封草地增水67%～79%时,功能群的Simpson指数、Shannon-Wiener指数、Pielou指数值均较高,功能群多样性较高;由于放牧提高了植物的水分利用效率,放牧地各指数在增水26%～50%时较高,功能群多样性较高。综上,适度的放牧及水分补充有利于提高植物功能群多样性。     

Excitability scores of goats administered ascorbic acid and transported during hot-dry conditions

In this study, we investigated the effect of ascorbic acid (AA) administration on goat excitability due to transportation. Ten goats administered AA (p.o.) at 100 mg/kg of body weight before transportation served as the experimental group, and seven goats administered only 10ml/kg of sterile water (p.o.) served as controls. Excitability scores were recorded for each goat; when weighed, before, immediately after, and 3 h after 8 h of transportation. A score of one to four was allocated to each goat; higher scores represent greater excitability. Immediately after transportation, excitability scores decreased significantly, especially those of control goats (p < 0.001). At 3 h post-transportation, the excitability scores of animals in the experimental group were not significantly (p>0.05) different from their pre-transportation normal values, whereas those of control goats were significantly lower (p < 0.01). The correlation i.e. the relationship between excitability score values and percent excitability (percentage of goat with particular excitability score) for different excitability score group 3 h post-transportation was positive and highly significant (p < 0.001), in both experimental and control goats. Our results indicate that road transportation induces considerable stress (depression) in goats as evidenced by a lower excitability score post-transportation. Moreover, the administration of AA pre-transportation facilitated the transition from a state of depression to excitation. In conclusion, AA administration to animals prior to transportation may ameliorate the depression often encountered after road transportation.     

祁连山东段高寒草甸模拟放牧下的坡面土壤水蚀特征

本研究在祁连山东段高寒草甸草原采用人工模拟降雨和模拟放牧测定其坡面产流产沙过程,旨在为高寒草甸的水源涵养功能评价及以防止水土流失为前提的草地合理利用提供基础资料。结果表明：从未放牧到重度放牧径流出现的时间逐渐缩短;相较于未放牧,从轻度放牧到重度放牧的高寒草甸平均径流量分别增加150.00%,600.00%,2 200.00%,平均产沙量分别增加170.59%,535.29%,694.12%,且降雨强度对径流量的影响高于对产沙量的影响;相较于重度放牧,未放牧、轻度放牧和中度放牧3种放牧强度的平均保水效益分别为67.06%,46.04%,28.08%;固土效益分别为88.54%,70.23%,38.73%;高寒草甸的减水减沙效益与雨型具有密切关系,相关系数分别为0.967和0.961,保水效益和固土效益间有极显著的相关性,相关系数为0.995。从维持水源涵养功能的角度来说,中度以下的放牧强度是相对安全的。     

Physiological responses of transported goats treated with ascorbic acid during the hot-dry season

The aim of the present study was to determine the physiological responses of transported Red Sokoto goats (RSG) treated with ascorbic acid (AA). Ten RSG treated orally with ascorbic acid served as experimental subjects, while seven goats treated with sterile water served as the control. The goats were transported for 8 h. The ambient temperature and relative humidity during the study period fluctuated between 21 and 38°C and 51 and 91%, respectively, which indicated that the season was thermally stressful and did not favor transportation of goats. The rectal temperature obtained in the control goats was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than the value in the experimental goats after transportation. There was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in eosinophil counts and an increase (P < 0.01) in neutrophil counts and neutrophil : lymphocyte ratio recorded in the control goats after transportation, which suggested that the control goats were physically and emotionally stressed. The control goats lost 11.9% of their initial liveweight, while the experimental goats lost only 1.04% after transportation. Multiple stresses, including extreme meteorological factors, acted upon the transported goats and impaired their homeostatic mechanism. In conclusion, AA administration in goats reduced the adverse effects of road transportation stress.