Evolution of Fructosaminaemia and Glucaemia during the Growth of Unweaned and Early Weaned Half-bred Zebu Calves

The purposes of the study were to obtain the confidence intervalsfor serum fructosamine concentrations in unweaned and early weaned calves, to verify the changes in this glycated protein during growth, when glucaemia declines, and to assess the changes in both parameters attributable to stress or alarm. Sixty out of 120 suckling half-bred zebu calves (60–75 days old) were weaned at day 0 and then received a commercial balanced diet, while the remainder continued to suck. Blood samples were taken at 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 60, 90 and 120 days and the serum fructosamine and glucose concentrations were measured by conventional methods. Both biochemical parameters declined with time, but there were no statistical differences between the unweaned and weaned calves. The fall in fructosamine concentration correlated significantly with the decline in glucose concentrations in both groups. The confidence interval for fructosamine concentration decreased with age, from 294–303 mol/L at 2 months old to 215–232 mol/L at 6 months old. At the same time, glucaemia declined from 7.5–8.6 mmol/L to 4.8–5.3 mmol/L. Acute elevations in glucaemia, especially in the younger calves, were attributed to alarms, such as those caused by handling and blood extraction. The absence of resultant increases in fructosamine concentration discounts the existence of prolonged hyperglucaemias (stress) in early weaned calves.     

Cropping systems for the management of phytonematodes

Damage caused by nematodes is one of the limiting factors in crop production. Traditional nematode management is based on the use of crop rotations, resistant cultivars, nematicides, or combinations of these methods. For a crop like peanut (Arachis hypogaea), cultivars resistant to root-knot nematodes are not available. There are soybean (Glycine max) cultivars resistant to some of the species of root-knot nematodes (Meloidogyne spp.); however, most fields have nematode infestations composed of mixtures of species. Research at Auburn has shown that tropical crops can be used effectively in rotation to manage nematode problems. Rotations with American jointvetch (Aeschynomene americana), castor (Ricinus communis), hairy indigo (Indigofera hirsuta), partridge pea (Cassia fasciculata), sesame (Sesamum indicum), and velvetbean (Mucuna deeringiana) have resulted in good nematode control and increased yields of peanut and soybean. Some crops (castor, sesame) are considered ‘active’ in that they produce compounds that are nematicidal, whereas others (e.g. corn, sorghum) are simply non-host, that is, ‘passive’.     

稻棉轮作对棉红蜘蛛控制作用的研究

稻棉轮作棉田因轮种水稻使红蜘蛛越冬的土壤和寄主杂草环境受到严重破坏，减少了红蜘蛛的越冬基数及早春活动繁殖场所，推迟了进入棉田为害的时间，并促进棉田中天敌数量的增加。从而有效地控制了轮作棉田红蜘蛛的发生危害，减少了防治棉田红蜘蛛的用药次数。     

不同断奶日龄仔猪消化道酸度和胃蛋白酶活性的动态变化

将12窝同日龄新生仔猪随机分成4组，每组3窝，每窝为一个重复组，分别采取17、21、28和35日龄断奶，在断奶后12h、1周、2周和3周从每个重复组中随机抽取1头屠宰，共测定了54头仔猪胃、十二指肠、空肠和回肠食糜pH值及胃食糜中胃蛋白酶的活性。结果发现断奶后12h胃食糜pH值均高于同龄哺乳仔猪，并且达该组整个试验期间的最高，随后逐渐降低。4组仔猪在断奶后胃pH值回复到3.5所需的时间分别为3、2、1和1周，这表明断奶日龄越早，胃中pH值回复到3.5所需要的时间越长。 除十二指肠外，空肠和回肠食糜pH值基本上不受日龄和断奶的影响。哺乳仔猪从18－36日龄胃蛋白酶相对活性（U/ml胃液）和比活（U/mg蛋白质）增加10倍以上。不同断奶日龄仔猪各组在断奶后12h胃蛋白酶的相对活性和比活均聚然升高，达到该日龄铒猪阶段正常值的2倍左右，特别是小日龄断奶仔猪为明显，随后在3周内逐渐降低，至50日龄时稳定在一个较低水平。     

The effects of low doses of Senna occidentalis seeds on broiler chickens

The effects of 0.5%, 0.3% and 0.1% w/w concentrations of Senna occidentalis (So) seed mixed with commercial ration were studied in 18 groups of 32 broiler chicks each, from 1 day to 49 days of age. Three groups were fed one of the rations throughout their lives (TL). Three other groups were fed one of the rations from the 1st to the 28th day of life (starter phase, SP), and the final 3 groups were fed one of the rations from the 29th to 49th day (finisher phase, FP). Each experimental group was matched by a control group fed the same diet over the same period but without the inclusion of So. All the animals were killed at 49 days of age, and blood was collected from 10 birds in each group for biochemical studies (ALT, AST, GGT, LDH, UA). A complete necropsy was performed on 3 birds from each group. No significant differences in the biochemical parameters in the serum were found between the control and experimental chicks, but animals treated with 0.5% So in groups FP and TL, gained less weight and chicks that received 0.3% So or 0.5% So in the ration throughout life (TL) had a larger feed conversion ratio. Besides this, degenerative changes were found in the striated skeletal muscle in the chest, in the myocardium and in the liver in the animals that received the higher concentrations of So seeds.     

An Outbreak of Diarrhoea in One-week-old Piglets Caused by Group A Rotavirus Genotypes P[7],G3 and P[7],G5

Thirty-two group A isolates of rotavirus detected in faecal samples from diarrhoeic piglets, were selected for P and G genotyping using a Multiplex RT-PCR. Ten isolates, from animals less than 8 days old, characterized an outbreak of diarrhoea caused by group A rotavirus in animals. P[7],G3 (CRW8-like) and P[7],G5 (OSU-like) genotypes were detected in 5 animals each. Isolates of a group A rotavirus of genotypes compatible with the OSU prototype were those most frequently identified in single infections in older animals (20/32 strains). In addition to these, 20 isolates from piglets with diarrhoea caused by group A rotavirus, collected between May 1998 and June 1999, but not from the outbreak month, were analysed. These isolates were used to compare the types observed on the farm outside the outbreak in May 1999 and the CRW8-like genotype was found in none of these faecal samples. P[7],G5 was the most frequent genotype (10/20 strains). No outbreak of diarrhoea caused by rotavirus in 1-week-old piglets was found in any other period during the 13 months of this study.     

Prevalence of Bovine Dermatophilosis in a Tropical Highland Region of Ethiopia

A study was made of bovine dermatophilosis on 540 animals at a high altitude (2400–2500 m above sea level) in Ethiopia. Eighty-two (15.4%) of the animals were affected by the disease which was more prevalent in local animals than was previously assumed. There was a significant (p<0.05) difference in the prevalence among different age groups. However, the difference in the prevalence of the disease between males and females was not significant (p>0.05). Associated risk factors included the relatively high average annual rainfall and humidity, tick infestation (76%) and management, related to the mixed crop-livestock production system. The possible impact of the disease on Ethiopian agriculture is indicated.     

Immune Responses to Intermediate Strain IBD Vaccine at Different Levels of Maternal Antibody in Broiler Chickens

Tropical Animal Health and Production -     

七星瓢虫对两种麦蚜控制作用的模拟研究

应用二次回归旋转组合设计方法研究了七星瓢虫成虫、幼虫与两种麦蚜共存系统中瓢虫对麦长管蚜和禾谷缢管蚜的捕食量模型。结果表明七星瓢虫对两种麦蚜的捕食量随着瓢虫密度的增加而减少．随着该种麦蚜密度的增加而增加．且七星瓢虫无选择性。七星瓢虫不同个体间的干扰作用对其捕食麦长管蚜数量有显著影响,两种麦蚜数交互作用对七星瓢虫捕食禾谷缢管蚜数量影响显著。该模型可用来预测田间蚜虫的变化．指导麦田蚜虫防治。