The effect of dietary supplementation with Aurantiochytrium limacinum on lactating dairy cows in terms of animal health,productivity and milk composition

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA )‐rich microalgae, Aurantiochytrium limacinum (AURA ), on a variety of health and productivity parameters in lactating cows. Twenty‐four cows were blocked by parity and number of days in milk and then randomly assigned to a control (CON ; n  = 12) group with no algal supplementation, or a treatment group (AURA ; n  = 12) provided with 100 g AURA  cow^?1 day^?1 or 16 g DHA  cow^?1 day^?1. A variety of health and productivity measurements were taken, and results indicated that supplementation had no negative effects on animal health in terms of somatic cell count, haematological and biochemical blood parameters, while body condition was marginally improved by algal supplementation. No differences were found for the various production parameters measured; however, a tendency towards increased milk production was observed for the AURA group during the final stage of the study (+4.5 kg cow^?1 day^?1, day 78–84). The fatty acid profile of milk was improved by supplementation, with significantly lower saturated fatty acids, significantly higher omega‐3 fatty acids and an improved omega‐3/omega‐6 ratio observed when compared to the control group. The amount of DHA in the milk of cows provided 105 g AURA  head^?1 day^?1 was 4.7 mg/100 g milk with a peak transfer efficiency from feed to milk at day 49 of 8.3%. These results indicate that supplementation with 105 g AURA  head^?1 day^?1 resulted in the successful enrichment of milk with DHA without negatively impacting the health or productivity of the animals.     

Gas and short‐chain fatty acid production from feeds commonly fed to red deer (Cervus elaphus L.) and incubated with rumen inoculum from red deer and sheep

Efficient red deer supplementary feeding depends on estimations of the nutritive value of offered feeds, frequently estimated with the use of equations derived from domestic ruminants. The aim of this study was to compare the 24‐hour in vitro true dry matter degradability (ivTD₂₄), in vitro gas production (GP) kinetic parameters, GP in 24 hr of incubation (GAS₂₄) and short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA) and microbial biomass (MBS) produced after 24‐hour incubation of feeds in inoculum prepared from sheep and red deer rumen fluid. Eleven feeds, frequently consumed by red deer in Slovenia, which occur either naturally (two fresh grasses, chestnut fruits and common and sessile oak acorns) or are fed as winter supplemental feeds (two grass hays, two grass silages, apple pomace, fresh sugar beetroot), were investigated. The in vitro GP kinetic parameters, GAS₂₄ and ivTD₂₄, did not differ between animal species. Amounts of SCFAs were greater (p < 0.05) when feeds were incubated in sheep inoculum, while molar proportions of acetic and propionic acids did not differ. Molar proportions of butyric acid produced during incubation of high fibre feeds did not differ between animal species, but were higher (p < 0.05) when feeds high in starch or sugar were incubated in red deer inoculum. Greater production of SCFA by sheep rumen microbes suggests better coverage of host animal with energy precursors, while greater production of MBS by red deer rumen microbes suggests better coverage of host animal with protein. Results also suggest that rumens of sheep and red deer are inhabited by different microbial communities, which did not affect the extent of in vitro GP and degradation of feeds used in the present experiment. However, the possibility exists that the divergent nutrient use could be a consequence of different priming by different feeds of the donor animal diets.     

More evidence that anaerobic oxidation of methane is prevalent in soils: Is it time to upgrade our biogeochemical models?

Estimating future fluxes of CH₄ between land and atmosphere requires well-conceived process-based biogeochemical models. Current models do not represent the anaerobic oxidation of methane (AOM) in land surface soils, in spite of increasing evidence that this process is widespread. Our objective was to determine whether AOM, or potential AOM, commonly occurs in 20 hydromorphic soils spanning a wide range of chemical properties. Bulk soil samples were collected under shallow water near the shoreline of 15 recently drained fish ponds in southern Bohemia (Czech Republic), as well as from below the water table at 3 peatland locations in northeast Scotland and 2 acid sulfate soils on the southern coast of Finland. Each soil slurry was incubated under both oxic and anoxic conditions, with or without the addition of alternative electron acceptors (SO₄²⁻ and NO₃⁻) or H₂PO₄⁻. Here, “oxic” and “anoxic” conditions refer to anoxic soil respectively incubated in a headspace containing air or argon. Using the isotope dilution method, we determined the gross production and oxidation rates of CH₄ after 2 days incubation under oxic headspace conditions, and after 2, 21 and 60 days incubation under anoxic conditions. Large differences in net CH₄ fluxes were observed between soil types and between incubation conditions. AOM was detected in each of the 20 bulk soil samples, which spanned >6 pH units and 2 orders of magnitude in organic C content. Significant positive relationships were found between AOM and gross CH₄ production rates under anoxic conditions, resulting in AOM rates that were sometimes higher than CH₄ oxidation rates under oxic headspace conditions. There was no relationship between net and gross CH₄ production rates, such that 2 soil types could display similar low net rates, yet conceal very large differences in gross rates. The effects of alternative electron acceptors on AOM were idiosyncratic and resulted in no net trend. We did find, however, a negative effect of SO₄²⁻ and H₂PO₄⁻ on gross CH₄ production rates under anoxic and oxic conditions respectively. Under oxic headspace conditions, CH₄ oxidation was related to soil organic C content. Taken collectively, our results suggest that AOM, or potential AOM, is prevalent over a wide range of soil types, that AOM may contribute substantially to CH₄ oxidation in soils, and that AOM in soils should be integrated to current process-based CH₄ cycling models.     

地理探测器与Tobit模型在粤西地区粮食生产效率及影响因子分析中的比较应用

为明晰粤西地区粮食生产效率及其关键影响因子，实现优化资源配置效率和推进粮食生产转型升级，基于1999—2018年粤西地区茂名、阳江、湛江3市粮食生产数据，采用交叉效率DEA模型测算区域粮食生产效率，揭示近20年粮食生产效率的时空变化特征，并利用Tobit模型和地理探测器模型比较分析粮食生产效率的关键影响因子。结果表明：粤西地区粮食生产效率平均值为0.77，其中，茂名市粮食生产效率最高（0.88），阳江市次之（0.78），湛江市最低（0.65）。Tobit模型和地理探测器测算粤西地区粮食生产效率影响力（贡献力）最大的投入因子是农业机械总动力，分别为-1.082和0.942。Tobit模型测得的7个投入因子仅化肥施用量（0.015）与粮食生产效率呈显著正相关，有效灌溉面积、粮食播种面积、农药使用量3个因子与粮食生产效率相关性不显著，农用塑料薄膜使用量、从业人口、农业机械总动力3个因子呈显著负相关。而地理探测器测得所有因子均对粮食生产效率产生显著影响。阳江市投入因子贡献力与粤西地区大致相同，但化肥施用量贡献力高出有效灌溉面积0.008。湛江市与茂名市化肥和农药投入的贡献力仅次于农业机械总动力，有效灌溉面积贡献力均最低。但茂名市粮食播种面积的贡献力依次大于从业人口和农用塑料薄膜使用量，湛江市则相反。研究表明，20年来粤西地区粮食生产效率不高，整体呈中等效率水平，粮食生产效率先降后升的变化趋势显著；地理探测器测度结果无不显著因子存在，探测因子影响力比Tobit模型所得结果更稳定且偏误小；农业机械总动力是影响粤西3市粮食生产效率的主导因子，但不同城市粮食生产效率的因子贡献力差异较大，湛江和茂名对化肥、农药等污染较大的生产要素依赖性更强。     

Estimated Breeding Value in Iranian Buffaloes

This study was conducted from 1992-2002 on 65,534 individual milk records and fat percentage in 473 herds, in six provinces of Khuzestan, Mazndaran, W. Azerbaijan, E. Azerbaijan, Ardabil and Gilan. The data was analyzed by SAS sotfware using GLM procedure. The heritability and breeding value of 1,195 animals were calculated by DFRML procedure. The average milk yield per lactation, days of lactation, fat percentage and LSM of fat percentage were 1,513 kg, 202 days, 5.04 and 6.77, respectively. The estimated heritability of milk was 0.16. The LSM of average milk production in the provinces of Gilan, Mazandaran, E. Azerbaijan, W. Azerbaijan, Khuzestan and Ardabil were： 1,452, 1,586, 1,382, 1,183, 2,135 and 1,189 kg, respectively. These results indicated that Khuzestan province has the highest potential in the field of milk production. The top five highest breeding value bulls have been introduced to artificial insemination＇s station in the city of Uremia.     

The Situation for Quinoa and Its Production in Southern Bolivia: From Economic Success to Environmental Disaster

In Bolivia, one of the world’s most important centres of plant domestication, there is growing awareness of the value of native Andean crops, both for domestic consumption and for market sale – notably the virtually boom‐like consumer demand for quinoa around the world. The southern altiplano of Bolivia, south of Oruro, relies almost purely on the production of quinoa and breeding of llamas, which have also been selected as the two commodities of priority to the government to increase the income of the country. Presently, however, quinoa is facing increasing problems in production, owing to its increasing export market and price. The flat areas around the salt desert of the southern altiplano, previously characterized by natural vegetation fed by the llamas, are being increasingly sown with quinoa, hence transformed into deserts, because intensive cultivation methods make the soil loose its fertility. Possible solutions to these problems will require extensive efforts in the south, in addition to various strategies, which also include other parts of the Bolivian altiplano and a strengthened focus on other Andean crops.     

12份燕麦品种在阿鲁科尔沁旗地区的生产性能研究

【目的】筛选适宜内蒙阿鲁科尔沁旗地区种植的燕麦品种。【方法】对12份燕麦(Avena sativa)品种的生育期、草产量、茎叶比、营养特性等进行测定和分析,并运用灰色关联度分析法对各品种的生产性能进行综合评价。【结果】12份供试燕麦品种均能在阿鲁科尔沁旗地区完成整个生育期,表现出较好的适应性,生育期为83～94 d,其中枪手的生育期最短(83 d),爱沃的生育期最长(94 d)。贝勒二代和牧王的株高均达到100 cm以上。枪手、贝勒二代和牧王的干草产量较高,分别为9.99,8.69和8.59 t/hm~2。贝勒二代的茎叶比最低(1.12),适口性最好;美达的茎叶比最高(3.19)。爱沃和贝勒二代的粗蛋白含量(质量分数)较高,分别为12.20%和11.90%;太阳神、贝勒二代和领袖的中性洗涤纤维及酸性洗涤纤维含量较低,领袖和贝勒二代的相对饲喂价值较高。灰色关联度分析表明,综合评价排在前2位的燕麦品种为贝勒二代和牧王,其加权关联度分别为0.838 2和0.799 1。【结论】燕麦品种贝勒二代和牧王综合表现最好,适宜在阿鲁科尔沁旗地区推广种植。     

文冠果枝叶生长与叶幕微气候的关系研究

【目的】探索叶幕微气候因子对文冠果枝条生长发育和光合同化能力的影响,为文冠果树体的整形修剪提供理论依据。【方法】在山东东营选择20株6年生文冠果树,调查其冠层内东西南北4个方向,每方向上层和下层、外侧和内侧4个区域,共16个小区域的温度、湿度、光照等微气候因子,再分别测定各区域文冠果枝叶量及叶片光合色素、光合产物和氮含量,并将其与微气候因子进行相关性分析。【结果】文冠果叶幕内不同区域温度和湿度均无显著差异,但不同区域光照强度差异显著,除北向上层外侧光照强度略低于下层外侧外,其余各方向均有上层外侧最高、下层内侧最低的现象,两区域差异达260.0%。树冠东、南方向1年生枝条数量、长度、基径均大于西、北方向;树冠上层1年生枝条数量少于下层,而上层1年生枝条长度、基径均大于下层;树冠外侧新枝数量和叶片数量均多于内侧,下层叶片数量多于上层,但上下层新枝数量无明显差异。5月为树冠内新枝数量和叶面积增长最快的时段,树冠上层新枝数量和叶面积增长快且明显大于下层,与光照强度增长规律一致。树冠内叶片叶绿素和类胡萝卜素含量均有西、北方向高于东、南方向的规律;可溶性糖含量、淀粉含量和碳氮比均有外侧大于内侧,东、南方向大于西、北方向,且东、南方向各区域差异较大的规律。光照与文冠果树冠枝、叶生长指标和叶片生理指标相关性较大,且与多数树体枝、叶生长指标和叶片生理指标均呈显著正相关关系,但与光合色素含量无显著相关性。【结论】适当对东、南方向和上层、外侧的枝条加以疏除,可以增强透光性,能使树体生长更为均匀,为文冠果产量提高奠定基础。     

反刍家畜胃肠道甲烷排放与减排策略

反刍家畜胃肠道甲烷排放是重要的温室气体排放源,减少反刍家畜胃肠道甲烷排放有助于缓解全球温室效应和提高家畜饲养效率。本论文从中国反刍家畜胃肠道甲烷排放现状、瘤胃甲烷生成机制、甲烷生成的日粮营养影响因子和甲烷减排策略与潜力4个方面系统综述反刍家畜胃肠道甲烷排放的研究进展。目前,中国反刍家畜甲烷总排放量超过10 Tg,占全球胃肠道甲烷排放的比例超过15%。反刍家畜胃肠道甲烷排放主要来自瘤胃和后肠道,其中瘤胃甲烷占胃肠道甲烷生成总量的80%以上。二氧化碳还原路径利用瘤胃内的氢和二氧化碳合成甲烷,是瘤胃内生成甲烷的主要路径。瘤胃内的氢还可被相关微生物利用,合成挥发性脂肪酸和微生物蛋白等代谢产物,进而被机体利用。减少反刍家畜胃肠道甲烷排放的关键在于促进瘤胃内氢的利用,以及阻断瘤胃内的氢被甲烷菌利用合成甲烷。甲烷减排的日粮营养调控策略包括优化日粮组成、改善饲料品质、提高瘤胃流通速率、添加氢池和甲烷抑制剂等。大多数营养调控策略的甲烷减排效果小于40%,最新研制的3-NOP抑制剂的甲烷减排效果最高可达80%。但是,一些减排策略的产业化应用还受添加剂残留、抗生素禁用、食品安全、产品价格和消费者喜好等因素影响。牧场管理和遗传选育也是降低甲烷排放量的重要手段,过去100年来已实现每千克标准乳的甲烷排放量减排效果为57%。未来反刍家畜胃肠道甲烷研究将主要集中在低排放品种的遗传选育、不同营养调控策略间的组合效果、甲烷减排的经济效益和可持续性、家畜生长性能与健康、食品安全、消费者喜好等方面。