Stress parameters and immune response of layers under different cage floor and density conditions

The aim of the experiment was to investigate the effects of cage floor and cage density on stress parameters of laying hens. A total of 162 brown laying hens (Hyline Brown), aged 34 weeks, were used in the experiment. Compact-type battery cages, with three floors, were used. Hens were allocated as one, three or five hens in each of 18 cages to obtain three different cage density groups of 1968, 656 and 393.8 cm² floor area per hen, respectively. The same number of cages with different cage density were allocated to three different battery floors (first floor=top, second=middle, third=bottom) systematically. Values for body weight, mortality rate, egg weight, egg production, egg quality characteristics, egg yolk cholesterol content, the levels of blood plasma corticosterone, serum glucose, total cholesterol and triglycerides, the ratio of heterophils to lymphocytes (H-L ratio), antibody titers, claw length score, foot health score, plumage score and throat skin injuries were taken as indicators of stress. The values for egg weight (P<0.01) at the first floor were greater than the other floor levels. The group with five hens per cage had significantly lower mean estimates (P<0.01) than other groups with respects to body weight (P<0.001), egg production (P<0.001), egg weight (P<0.001) and plumage score (P<0.01), while significantly higher mean estimates for egg albumen index (P<0.01), Haugh unit (P<0.01), serum glucose (P<0.001), and H-L ratio (P<0.001). Serum cholesterol was higher in cages with one hen than that with five hens, whereas plasma corticosterone was lower. Antibody titers in cages with one hen was similar to that with three or five hens; however, those with three hens had higher titers than those with five hens. Values for egg breaking strength, yolk index, egg cholesterol content, and foot health score were not affected by cage density or floor. The results suggest that the allocation of three hens per cage had no measurable effect on health and welfare.     

大豆黄酮对奶牛血清钙、磷及葡萄糖水平的影响

本研究选用40头胎次、产奶量、泌乳期相近的中国荷斯坦奶牛随机分成4组(n=10),试验组奶牛日粮中分别添加45、60和75mg/kg大豆黄酮,在试验前及试验开始后第10天、第20天和第30天颈静脉采血,测定4组奶牛血清钙、磷和葡萄糖水平。结果表明:与对照组相比较,试验1组中血清钙、磷和葡萄糖变化均不显著(P>0.05);试验2组仅血清钙在第30天时显著高于对照组(P<0.05);试验3组第10天和20天时血清钙水平显著高于对照组(P<0.05),第30天时血清钙水平极显著高于对照组(P<0.01),而血糖水平仅第30天显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。     

不同能量水平日粮对肉仔鸡生长及屠宰性能指标的影响研究

选择3周龄健康、无病、体重无显著差异的肉仔鸡96只,随机分为3组,每组设4 个重复,每个重复8只。分别饲喂蛋白质水平(19．5％)相同而能量水平不同(3．0 Mcal／kg、 3．08 Mcal／kg、3．16Mcal／kg)的3种饲粮。试验结果表明:前两周饲料转化(采食／增重)均以 中能量组(3．08 Mcal／kg)最好,为1．4416±0．1199,但三种不同能量水平对肉仔鸡平均日增 重、平均日耗料、饲料转化率均差异不显著(P>0．05);后两周饲料转化仍以中能量组最好,为 1．6362±0．1346,且显著优于高能量组(P<0．05),而与低能组和中能组之间差异不显著,各 能量处理组蛋白质、粗纤维、钙的代谢率均差异不显著(P>0．05),而磷的代谢率却存在显著 差异(P<0．05),其中,以中等能量组的磷代谢率最高,平均为90．73％;3种能量水平下肉仔鸡 半净膛率、全净膛率均差异不显著(P>0．05),表明能量水平并不影响肉仔鸡屠宰性能。     

破壁蜂花粉对蛋鸡免疫功能及肠道菌群的影响

试验将槐花蜂花粉进行振动磨超微粉碎破壁,分别按1 g/kg、5 g/kg、10 g/kg三个不同剂量混到蛋鸡饲料中,从7日龄开始饲喂至50日龄,每个剂量分两个试验,试验一用新城疫Ⅳ系疫苗免疫雏鸡,利用β-微量法监测血清中的血凝抑制抗体效价的动态变化;试验二用大肠杆菌油乳苗免疫雏鸡,利用间接血凝法监测血清中大肠杆菌抗体效价的动态变化。分别定期称重捕杀取脾、胸腺、法氏囊,计算免疫器官指数,取肠道内容物计数大肠杆菌和乳酸菌,测定肠道内pH值。结果表明,不同剂量的破壁蜂花粉均能不同程度地提高病毒抗原性抗体效价和菌体抗原性抗体效价,对雏鸡免疫器官的发育以及肠道内环境、菌群的平衡也有一定影响。     

Growth response of Ficus benjamina to limited soil volume and soil dilution in a skeletal soil container study

The interactive effects of rooting volume and nutrient availability in a skeletal soil medium designed to meet street tree and pavement needs were observed in a containerized experiment. Benjamin fig (Ficus benjamina L.) was grown in a stone-soil blended skeletal soil material (CU-Soil™) and compared to a loam soil. The same topsoil used as the soil component in the skeletal soil material was used as the sole component in the comparison soil-only treatment.Plants grown in the skeletal soil material had reduced leaf tissue N content and depressed growth compared with plants grown in non-diluted soil. No other mineral deficiencies were found. Leaf number, chlorophyll concentration, shoot weight, and root characteristics were all affected.Reduced growth from soil dilution could be offset by the provision of an enlarged rooting volume for root development. Large containers of skeletal soil were observed to have smaller root systems compared to equivalent net volumes of loam soil at the first two harvest dates of the study. By the end of the study, the large containers of skeletal soil were observed to have developed larger root systems compared to equivalent net volumes of loam soil; resulting in comparable leaf N levels and total plant dry matter. Plants in skeletal soil had lower shoot: root ratios at the end of the study. Investing resources to further root growth in times of nutrient shortages is a probable plant reaction as evidenced by differences in specific root length between treatments. The study allowed a method for directly partitioning the containerization effect by having equivalent amounts of soil over two volumes.     

土壤中氮营养斑研究进展

由于自然和人为因素,营养斑(nutrient patch)在土壤中是普遍存在的。从70年代以来,国外就通过各种模拟方式对土壤中营养斑进行了大量的研究,尤其以对氮营养斑研究居多。研究表明:氮营养斑对新生根系的繁殖影响较为明显,但不同植物反应不一样,影响机理还不很清楚。营养斑也是生物活性较强、种群数量较多区域,在养分循环体系中起着特殊作用。营养斑对土壤的理化性质和生物性质可能有很大的影响,但这方面的研究很欠缺。本文主要对土壤中氮营养班的研究进展做一综述。     

西北干旱灾害及其气候趋势研究

利用西北五省1950～2000年降水、温度和农作物旱灾面积资料,用降水的Z指标法,农作物受旱成灾率确定了西北干旱指标和旱灾等级,分析了西北旱灾特征及气候变化趋势。表明西北农业旱灾以70、90年代最严重,而且呈增加趋势,气温在升高,降水在减少。根据预测21世纪前十年西北干旱有所减轻。     

Changes of urinary albumin and N-acetyl-beta-glucosaminidase in high altitude polycythemia at different altitudes and its mechanism

AIM:To study the changes of excretive amount of albumin(ALB), N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase(NAG) in patients with high altitude polycythemia(HAPC) at different altitude and its mechanism.METHODS:Urinary ALB, NAG, activity of red blood cell superoxide dismutase(RBC-SOD), malonyldialdehyde(MDA) and erythrocyte filtration index(EFI) of 231 healthy subjects and 86 patients with HAPC at different altitude were detected.RESULTS:Excretive amount of urinary ALB, NAG, and plasma MDA, EFI were higher, and RBC-SOD was lower in patients with HAPC than those in healthy subjects, the changes were significantly obvious, with increasing altitude. Urinary ALB and NAG were negatively correlates to EFI, and no correlated to the content of MDA and RBC-SOD.CONCLUSIONS:EFI exertes an independent influence on urinary ALB and NAG. The decrease in erythrocyte deformability caused by the increase of peroxidation of lipids might participate in the pathogenesis and progress of the increase of excretive amount of ALB and NAG in HAPC.     

沙漠化过程土壤种子库特征的研究

采用野外定点取样与室内萌发实验相结合的方法 ,研究了 4种不同类型退化沙地土壤种子库特征 ,主要结论是 :(1)土壤种子库密度随沙漠化程度的增加而下降 ,不同沙漠化发展阶段下降速率不同 ,从固定到半固定沙地是种子库密度衰减最快的时期 ;(2 )土壤种子库植物种数从固定到半流动沙地变化很小 ,半流动到流动沙地衰减速度明显加快 ,是种子库植物种数衰减最快的时期 ;(3) 4种类型退化沙地土壤种子库的种类组成以 1、2年生草本植物为主 ,所占比例 79%～ 88% ,多年生草本和灌木所占比例很小 ;(4 )土壤种子库物种多样性指数并非随着沙漠化程度的增加而下降 ,其中半流动沙地的物种多样性指数最小 ;(5 ) 4种类型退化沙地土壤种子库组成上的相似性系数变化范围为 0 .82 9～ 1.0 0 0 ,表现出较小的空间异质性。     

发菜形态特征及其与环境因子的关系

通过野外调查和室内观察分析 ,天然发菜原植体的形态主要有柱状和带状两种 ;群体形态有单丝体、团块状、辫状、束状和网状。原植体的形态特征受环境湿度的影响较大 ,在降水量较大的地区 ,发菜原植体增粗 ,直径在 0 .0 5～ 0 .2 5 mm之间 ,带状发菜的比例较大 ,占 30～ 60 % ,吸水后藻体的颜色一般呈棕褐色 ;在降水量较小或极端干旱地区 ,发菜以细丝状为主 ,直径在 0 .0 2～ 0 .2 2 mm之间 ,带状发菜的比例不足 2 5 % ,吸水后藻体的颜色呈绿色或浅棕褐色。发菜群体形态的形成和发育与自身的生长特性有关外 ,主要与环境因子特别是降雨量、地形及自然外力 (地面径流和空气流动 )有关。