Lactation efficiency as a result of body composition dynamics and feed intake in sows

Through genetic selection and improvement of environment, litter size of sows increases. Increased energy requirement during lactation, increases the risk of excessive mobilization from body stores, with detrimental effects on reproductive performance. Feed intake capacity tends to decrease due to selection towards leaner pigs with a lower feed conversion ratio. However, to facilitate sows to wean large litters extra feed intake, or even better, a higher feed efficiency during lactation would be favourable. The objective of the present study was to describe the dynamics of body composition of sows and piglets during lactation, and to relate these traits to a newly introduced trait called “lactation efficiency”. Energy metabolism of lactating sows was described, based on on-farm observations of weight and backfat of sows before parturition and at weaning, weight of piglets at birth and at weaning and feed intake of sows during lactation. “Lactation efficiency” was defined as energy efficiency of sows, and calculated for individual sows at two different farms. The average lactation efficiency was 68% and 65% for both farms; meaning that 68 and 65% of the metabolisable energy through feed intake or mobilization from body stores, above maintenance of the sow (input), was used for piglet growth and piglet maintenance (output). The association between lactation efficiency and other reproductive traits was studied by estimating the correlations within farms. Sows with a higher lactation efficiency showed lower feed intake (r = − 0.27 and r = − 0.35 for both farms respectively) and smaller fat losses (r = − 0.34 and r = − 0.29, respectively). The energy output of efficient sows was slightly higher (r = 0.23 and r = 0.30). The more efficient sows were the better mothers, as mortality of their piglets was lower (r = − 0.12 and r = − 0.16), piglet growth rate was higher (r = 0.16 and r = 0.23), and at weaning their litters were less variable (r = − 0.08; only available at one farm). Results were remarkably similar for the two farms, despite different feeding strategies. Extra input, by means of feed intake or mobilization from body stores generated extra output by means of litter weight at weaning. This experiment demonstrated that an accurate recording of energy metabolism and relevant reproduction traits with little intervention is possible on commercial farms.     

Growth, slaughter performance and feeding behaviour of young bulls belonging to three native cattle breeds raised in the Alps

Most studies on lactation curves only consider milk yield and describe a standard lactation curve of dairy cows, showing a peak or maximum daily yield occurring between 4 and 8 weeks after calving, followed by a daily decrease in milk yield until the cow is dried off. Wood's model is a widely used lactation curve function. Wood's model was fitted to test-day records of 95,405 lactations of parities lower than 5. Milk traits were milk yield (MY), fat percentage (F%), protein percentage (P%), fat yield (FY) and protein yield (PY), and the lactation curve was individually considered as a cluster of five linked curves. Milk trait and parity influence the goodness of fit of Wood's model. In 19.3% of the lactations, the shape of the MY, FY and PY curves follows the standard lactation curve while F% and P% have the reversed standard shape. The initial phase of lactation with the FY and PY curves contributes to the high variability of shapes.     

高光谱遥感在草原监测中的应用

阐述了高光谱遥感在植被研究中经常用到的重要处理方法,评价了近期有关高光谱遥感在植被应用方面的进展,总结了高光谱遥感在草地上各个方面的作用,重点介绍高光谱遥感在草地生物量估算、草地物种识别与分类、生物化学成分估测等方面的应用,并探讨了高光谱草地遥感的前景及发展趋势,随着各种新技术的不断引入,包括数字摄影技术、GPS的引入及各种数据处理方法运用等.利用高光谱遥感进行草原定量分析、动态监测的精度将进一步提高,高光谱遥感将发挥更大的作用.     

黄河源区藏嵩草沼泽化草甸地上生物量及营养季节动态研究

采用野外调查和室内分析方法,对黄河源区广泛分布的藏嵩草Kobresia tibetica沼泽化草甸在禁牧封育和自由放牧利用状态下的草地地上生物量和营养的季节动态进行分析。结果表明：禁牧封育草甸和放牧草甸从8月-翌年4月地上生物量均呈下降趋势,其自然损失率分别为46.2%和49.6%。封育草甸的生产力1-4月、4-5月的自然损失率分别为5.1%和5.9%;草甸进入放牧利用后,放牧草甸牧草相对于封育草甸牧草的实际利用量约占4月草地地上现存量的48.4%,约占8月草地地上生物量的24.4%。放牧草甸牧草营养成分从8月到翌年1月粗蛋白、粗脂肪含量降低,粗纤维含量增加。该草甸在夏季属“氮碳”（NC）营养型,在冬季属“碳”（C）营养型。     

科尔沁沙地不同恢复年限退化植被的物种多样性

 研究了科尔沁沙地封育０年的流动沙丘、封育１１年的沙丘（流动、半流动和半固定沙丘）和封育２０年的沙丘（流动、半流动、半固定和固定沙丘）的群落组成及其物种多样性变化。结果表明,随着沙丘的固定和封育年限的增加,植被丰富度、盖度和物种多样性逐渐增加,优势度逐渐减小。沙地退化植被恢复演替模式为：先锋植物沙蓬为主的一年生植物群落（流动沙丘阶段）→灌木差巴嘎蒿和一、二年生草本植物为主的群落（半流动和半固定沙丘阶段）→一、二年生草本和多年生草本为主的杂草群落（固定沙丘阶段）。在沙地退化植被恢复过程中,群落物种组成结构存在递进性和渐变性;禾本科植物和多年生草本逐渐增加,植物群落结构趋于复杂、草本质量明显改善。     

Effects of treating rice straw with urea or urea and calcium hydroxide upon intake, digestibility, rumen fermentation and milk yield of dairy cows

Three, multiparous Holstein crossbred dairy cows with initial body weight of 385 ± 19 kg were randomly allocated to 3 treatments of rice straw (T1 = untreated rice straw; T2 = 5.5% urea-treated rice straw (5 g urea in 100 ml water to 100 g air-dry (91% DM) straw); T3 = 2.2% urea + 2.2% calcium hydroxide treated rice straw (2.0 g urea and 2.0 g Ca(OH)₂ in 100 ml to 100 g air-dry (91% DM) straw) according to a 3 × 3 Latin square design. Each period lasted for 21 days in which feed, feces and rumen fluid were collected during the last 7 days for chemical analyses. The findings revealed significant improvements in dry matter intake and digestibility by using 5.5% urea-treated rice straw and 2.2% urea + 2.2% calcium hydroxide treated rice straw. Ruminal pH and NH₃-N were found higher (P < 0.05) as compared with urea-treated rice straw fed group, while blood urea nitrogen and milk urea nitrogen were in normal ranges. Volatile fatty acid concentrations especially those of acetic acid were decreased (P < 0.05) and those of propionic acid were increased (P < 0.05), thus acetic acid:propionic acid was subsequently lowered (P < 0.05) in cows fed with 5.5% urea-treated rice straw and 2.2% urea + 2.2% calcium hydroxide treated rice straw, respectively. Moreover, ruminal viable and cellulolytic bacterial counts were enhanced by urea and calcium hydroxide treatments. Milk protein and fat concentrations were additionally increased by respective treatments while 3.5% fat-corrected milk was highest; ranking from 2.2% urea + 2.2% calcium hydroxide treated rice straw, 5.5% urea-treated rice straw and urea-treated rice straw fed groups. Based on this study, implications could be made that using 2.2% urea + 2.2% calcium hydroxide treated rice straw for straw treatment could be an alternative treatment to 5.5% urea treatment with regards to its effectiveness and treatment cost for lactating dairy cows.     

Intake, live animal scores/measurements and carcass composition and value of late-maturing beef and dairy breeds

The objectives of this study were to compare the progeny of 1) late-maturing beef with dairy breeds and 2) Charolais (CH), Limousin (LM), Simmental (SM) and Belgian Blue (BB) sires bred to beef suckler dams, for feed intake, blood hormones and metabolites, live animal measurements, carcass traits and carcass value in bull and steer production systems. The bull system included 50 late-maturing beef breeds and 22 Holsteins (HO) slaughtered at approximately 15 months of age, whereas the steer system consisted of 56 late-maturing beef breeds and 23 British Friesians (FR) slaughtered at approximately 24 months of age. Beef breeds were suckled until approximately 8 months of age, while dairy breeds were artificially reared until weaning at approximately 3 months of age. All animals were finished on an ad libitum concentrate diet. Mean live weight, live weight gain, carcass gain and feed efficiency were greater (P < 0.05) in beef than dairy breeds in both systems during the finishing period when offered concentrates. Although there was no difference in feed intake between beef and dairy breeds, intake expressed relative to live weight was lower (P < 0.001) in beef breeds in both systems. At 10 months of age and pre-slaughter, beef breeds had higher (P < 0.001) muscularity scores and greater scanned muscle depth (P < 0.001) than their dairy contemporaries. Carcass weight, kill-out proportion, carcass conformation score, meat proportion and value were greater (P < 0.001) and carcass fat and bone proportions were lower (P < 0.05) in beef than dairy breeds in both systems. Insulin concentrations were lower (P < 0.001) in beef than dairy breeds, whereas there was no difference in blood metabolites or IGF-1 concentrations. Feed intake expressed relative to live weight or feed efficiency did not differ between CH, LM, SM or BB sired progeny. Muscularity scores were greater (P < 0.05) in BB than SM, whereas skeletal scores were lower (P < 0.05) in LM than SM. Limousin had lower (P < 0.05) carcass gain per day of age than CH and SM, whereas SM had a lower (P < 0.05) carcass conformation score than BB and CH and a higher (P < 0.05) carcass fat score than CH. Simmental had a lower (P < 0.05) carcass meat proportion and a higher (P < 0.05) carcass fat proportion than CH, LM and BB, which were similar (P > 0.05). The improvement obtained for beef over dairy breeds in live weight gain was 12%, while the improvements in carcass gain and meat produced was 24% and 33%, respectively. This demonstrates that the importance of carcass data contributing to breed comparison studies cannot be over-emphasised.     

Evaluation of estimated genetic merit for carcass weight in beef cattle: Blood metabolites, carcass measurements, carcass composition and selected non-carcass components

In Ireland, a new beef genetic index has been developed. Growth rate is expressed as expected progeny difference for carcass weight (EPD_CWT) and is estimated on an across-breed basis. Cross-breeding of dairy cows with both Aberdeen Angus and Belgian Blue beef sires is widely practised. The objective of this study was to compare blood metabolites, slaughter traits and carcass composition of progeny from Holstein–Friesian dairy cows and Aberdeen Angus (AA), Belgian Blue (BB), Friesian (FR) and Holstein (HO) sires. The AA and BB sires were selected, within breed, to be of either high (H) or low (L) estimated genetic merit for carcass weight. A total of 170 male progeny from spring-calving cows and 42 sires (10 AA, 13 BB, 7 FR and 12 HO) were artificially reared indoors and managed together until the end of their second grazing season when they were assigned to either a Light (560 kg) or Heavy (620 kg) slaughter weight. Blood metabolite concentrations were measured six times throughout life and feed intake was recorded during the first and second winter. Carcass measurements and selected non-carcass components were recorded after slaughter and the right side of each carcass was dissected into lean, fat and bone. Differences in blood metabolite concentrations amongst genetic groups were negligible although there were some effects of the prevailing level of nutrition. M. longissimus area scaled for carcass weight was 0.220, 0.221, 0.260, 0.255, 0.212 and 0.208 (SE 0.004) cm²/kg for AAH, AAL, BBH, BBL, FR and HO, respectively. Carcass measurements scaled for carcass weight were greater for L, AA, HO and the dairy strains than for H, BB, FR and the beef breeds, respectively. There was no effect of estimated genetic merit for carcass weight on carcass composition. Statistically significant interactions between genetic merit and beef breed existed for some traits with the genetic merit effect largely evident for AA only. BB and the beef breeds had more lean, less fat and more high value lean in the carcass than AA and the dairy strains, respectively. It is concluded that genetic group had little effect on blood metabolite concentrations but there were some feeding level effects. Estimated genetic merit for carcass weight affected carcass weight, m. longissimus area and carcass measurements scaled for carcass weight but the effects were confined to AA. There were large effects of beef breed and dairy strain on carcass composition.     

东江中上游3种造林树种的光合-光响应特征

 以东江中上游6年生的山乌桕、枫香和南酸枣为材料,采用LI-COR公司L i-6400光合作用测定系统测定光合、蒸腾、水分利用效率等生理参数及其光响应过程,探讨3树种在自然生境条件下的光合-光响应特征。结果表明:3树种光合-光响应曲线均符合非直角双曲线模型(R2>0.98)和指数模型(R2>0.98);3树种表观量子效率和暗呼吸速率均表现为山乌桕>南酸枣>枫香,山乌桕在弱光下光合能力要高于枫香和南酸枣,但对光合产物消耗大;山乌桕最大净光合速率与枫香、南酸枣间差异显著(0.05);3树种介于阴生植物和阳生植物之间,山乌桕对强光的适应能力较好,对光照强度表现出一定的适应性和可塑性,具有较宽的光照生态幅,对弱光与强光的利用能力较高;3树种净光合速率光响应均值表现为山乌桕>南酸枣>枫香,耗水能力表现为山乌桕>南酸枣>枫香,而水分利用效率表现为枫香>山乌桕>南酸枣。     

太湖银鱼和主要鱼类渔获量间的相关分析

根据太湖1973-2002年连续30年的鱼类渔获量统计资料,研究了太湖银鱼和主要鱼类渔获量间的相关关系.并根据2004-2005年的食性调查初步结果对相互关系的机制进行了分析.简单相关分析表明,太湖银鱼和鲌鱼、鲢鳙鱼渔获量间的正相关关系均达到极显著水平;偏相关分析表明,太湖银鱼和鲌鱼渔获量间的正相关关系达到极显著水平,和其它鱼类渔获量间的正相关关系达到显著水平,和鲢鳙鱼渔获量间的正相关关系虽然没有达到显著水平,但有一致趋势;简单相关和偏相关分析均表明,太湖银鱼和和鲚鱼渔获量间的相关关系均没有达到显著水平.分析认为:太湖银鱼渔获量的变化除受捕捞强度及环境理化等因素影响外,鲌鱼通过捕食调节,可能降低了鲚鱼和银鱼的食物竞争强度,从而有利银鱼增加;鲢、鳙鱼通过和鲚鱼的食物竞争,从而间接促进了银鱼种群数量发展.