Innovative layer genetics to handle global challenges in egg production

1. In commercial layer breeding, extensive gene pools are tested and selected for market requirements which must be anticipated at least 5 years ahead. Field results confirm a continuous positive genetic trend in egg output and better feed efficiency which can be converted into land savings.

2. Animal welfare and cage-free housing dominate future needs of the market. Nesting behaviour and minimal tendency to develop feather-pecking or cannibalism without beak treatment are key trait complexes. Stronger shells for longer production cycles without moulting have to be combined with better bones.

3. No single big gene effect can be expected to control the multifactorial problem of feather-pecking. Adjusting the shape of the beak, with a heritability of .10–.25, can contribute to reducing the risk of severe cannibalism.

4. For better skeletal integrity, the assessment of bone quality in pedigree birds housed in enriched cages is done by keel bone palpation or ultrasound measurement of the humerus. Both traits show similar heritabilities in the range of .15–.30 and can be included in a balanced selection approach for performance, quality and welfare traits.

5. The combination of performance testing and genome-wide DNA marker analysis is a promising tool to generate more progress for a balanced performance and behaviour profile.     

Male-to-female aggression in cage-housed common pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) during the breeding season was not related to male plasma testosterone level

1. The aim of this study was to investigate if male-to-female aggression of common pheasants in the course of the breeding season was related to the concentration of plasma testosterone and/or other biochemical plasma indicators in male pheasants housed in breeding cages. The influence of season on the concentration of testosterone and biochemical indicators was also investigated.

2. Males were divided into non-aggressive and aggressive groups during the breeding season based on ethological evaluation. At the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the breeding season, a blood sample was taken from all males on the same day and the concentration of selected biochemical indicators and the total circulating testosterone in the plasma were determined.

3. Male-to-female aggression during the breeding season of pheasants was not influenced by the total plasma testosterone of males.

4. The concentration of total plasma testosterone in males decreased gradually during the breeding season.

5. Male-to-female aggression of pheasants did not have a significant effect on any of the assessed biochemical indicators.

6. The influence of the breeding season affected the activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase as well as the concentrations of glucose, magnesium, potassium and chloride in the blood plasma of cage-housed male pheasants.     

Polyphenols in Eucalyptus leaves improved the egg and meat qualities and protected against ethanol‐induced oxidative damage in laying hens

Polyphenols in Eucalyptus leaves (PE) were value resources due to various pharmacological activities, but data on the effect on laying hens are very scare. This study was conducted to determine the effect of PE on the laying performance, egg traits, meat quality, antioxidant status and liver tissues of laying hens. One hundred and twenty 256‐day‐old Yueqinhuang laying hens were randomly assigned to four treatment groups (different levels of PE at 0, 0.5, 0.8 and 1.2 g/kg diet) for 63 days with 15 replicates per group. Addition of 0.8 g/kg PE not only improved the egg trait by increasing the eggshell thickness and decreasing MDA production and cholesterol content in the egg yolk, but also significantly enhanced meat quality of hens, as suggested by the increase pH_45 min (p < .01) and a* value, and decrease drip loss rate (p < .01). Meanwhile, under acute ethanol‐induced oxidative damage condition, supplementation of 0.8 g/kg PE enhanced the serum antioxidant status by increasing enzymatic activities (GSH‐PX, T‐SOD, T‐AOC), inhibited oxidative damage and provided protective effect to liver tissue. In conclusion, addition of 0.8 g/kg PE not only improved the egg traits and meat quality without obvious adverse effects, but also increased the serum antioxidant status of the hens and protected their liver tissue from ethanol‐induced oxidative damage. This study indicated that PE could be utilized as an effective feed additive for laying hens to improve health performance and egg traits.     

The use of ultrasonography in the reproductive evaluation of boars

The objective was to study the use of ultrasound as a complementary test in the breeding soundness evaluation in male pigs and study the pattern of echogenicity of the testicular parenchyma in boars of different racial groups. Twenty‐six adult boars from four different racial groups were used, 10 from the Piau breed (group 1), four from the commercial and finishing group (group 2), six Pietrain breed (group 3) and six from the Duroc breed (group 4). All animals were evaluated for breeding soundness evaluation and the ultrasound examination of the testicles. The groups of animals that were evaluated showed no difference in the main semen parameters that were evaluated, except for the sperm volume, concentration of the ejaculated sperm and the supravital staining; the lowest figures were for the animals from the Piau breed (group 1). In relation to the testicular biometrics, Duroc animals (group 4) had a greater scrotal width compared to the other groups. But when we assessed the intensity of pixels of the testicles, there was a difference between groups. The groups 2 (finishing animals), 3 (Pietrain) and 4 had no difference between themselves. Group 3 had greater pixel intensity in relation to group 1. Of the 26 animals studied, five showed an abnormality during ultrasound evaluation, like hydrocele, hyperechoic mass in the testicular parenchyma, cyst in the head of the epididymis and the presence of fluid in the head and tail of the epididymis. The various animal groups studied did not differ in the principal reproductive parameters evaluated, showing that despite the great variability of reproductive traits between breeds and within the same breed, the breeding soundness evaluation, the more complete it is, is essential for the selection of breeders and the ultrasonography of the reproductive system becomes an important addition in this examination.     

芒属植物叶绿体InDel标记的开发与应用

研究利用芒属植物(芒02381和荻04005)叶绿体全基因组测序的结果,开发12对InDel标记。采用正交设计法优化cpInDelPCR体系,得到模板DNA、dNTPs、Mg2+、引物、TaqDNA聚合酶5个关键因素在体系中的最佳组合。12对InDel标记对43份芒属和2份甘蔗材料进行扩增,共扩增出538条条带,其中3对引物扩增出13条多态性条带,占总数的2.4%。将所有位点读带转化为数值矩阵并用UPGMA法聚类,在遗传相似系数1.4的水平上,和南荻聚为一类,而芒和与五节芒、双药芒、红山茅、尼泊尔芒、甘蔗聚为一类,4个具有杂交种特征的材料单独聚为一类。试验开发的芒属植物cpInDel标记可用于芒与荻的区分,指导芒属植物的杂交育种。     

浅谈二种生活用具在棉花自交与杂交中的应用

棉花在栽培过程中,为了获得好性状的棉珠,利用自交与杂交技术进行育种,本文论述小铁夹和吸汽水管方法的精髓及注意事项。     

生态养猪技术要点及未来发展趋势

猪肉作为主要的食物来源之一,传统的自然养殖已不能填补人们对品质的要求。有机养猪作为此类食品的主要新型品种之一,最重要的特点是生态性、绿色性和安全性。该文主要分析生态养猪技术的要点及其未来发展形势。     

施氮对蜀恢498及其突变体株型和物质生产特性的影响

【目的】分析不同施氮量处理下水稻株型、物质生产以及产量的变化规律,为水稻新品种的选育和栽培管理提供参考。【方法】2015-2016年,以蜀恢498(R498)及其突变体sg1和sg2为材料,采用两因素裂区设计,其中施氮量为主因素(0,90,180 kg/hm~2以下简称为CK,N90,N180),水稻材料为副因素,分析了不同施氮处理下蜀恢498及其突变体节间长度、叶部特征、叶面积指数、高效叶面积率、粒叶比、干物质量、产量及其构成因素的变化。【结果】(1)施氮对R498及其突变体sg1和sg2上部N_1～N_5节间长度均有一定影响,其中N_1、N_2和N_3的节间长度均表现为R498sg1sg2,差异达到显著水平,N_4和N_5节间长度无明显变化规律。在同一节间下,低氮处理(N90)的节间长度与高氮处理(N180)的差异不显著。与CK相比,施氮增加了水稻叶片长度和宽度、单叶面积以及叶面积指数,降低了2016年高效叶面积率。(2)随着施氮量的增加,粒叶比呈降低趋势;3个材料中,sg1的粒叶比最大,比R498和sg2分别高14.97%和34.83%。(3)干物质量随施氮量的增加而增大,N90与N180处理间差异较小。2015-2016年,水稻的产量均表现为R498sg1sg2。R498、sg1和sg2产量均随施氮量的增加而增大。2015和2016年,R498、sg1和sg2 N90处理的产量比N180处理分别减少了14.96%,14.45%,23.77%和2.23%,6.25%,8.66%。有效穗数和千粒质量均表现为R498sg1sg2,而颖花数和着粒密度则表现为sg2sg1R498;施氮对有效穗数影响最大,N90与N180处理间差异总体达到显著水平。(4)2015和2016年,N90处理氮肥偏生产力处理显著高于N180处理。氮肥农学利用率表现为sg2sg1R498,氮肥偏生产力表现为R498sg1sg2。【结论】突变体sg1对氮响应较慢,在水稻育种中有很大的应用价值。在杂交品种选育中,可通过观测不同材料在不同供氮水平下的表现,从而选育出稳产增产的水稻新品种,更好地实现减氮稳产增效。     

番茄萼片形态性状遗传分析

【目的】探索番茄萼片形态性状的遗传规律,为番茄新品种选育过程中萼片形态性状选择提供依据。【方法】以萼片包被(TI1101-1,P_1)和萼片上卷番茄(J53,P_2)材料为亲本,构建4个世代P_1、P_2、F_1和F_2遗传群体,用游标卡尺对4个世代番茄萼片形态及其形态性状(萼片长度、宽度、厚度、面积、上翘度、卷曲度)进行测量和统计,从而对番茄萼片形态性状的遗传规律、中亲优势、遗传模型进行分析。【结果】番茄F_1代正反交萼片形态一致,均为基平,说明萼片形态的遗传属于细胞核遗传。在F_2代分离群体中,萼片形态包被、基平、上翘、上卷的分离比为1∶34.4∶9∶1.6,即不符合孟德尔遗传规律,属于数量性状。萼片长度、宽度、厚度、面积、上翘度、卷曲度的中亲优势率分别为3.55%,-6.77%,-9.90%,0.51%,-32.42%,-62.02%。同时,运用植物数量性状主基因+多基因遗传分析法对6个萼片形态性状测量值的分析得出:萼片长符合2对等加性主基因+加性-显性多基因遗传模型(MX2-EAED-AD),萼片厚度、面积、卷曲度符合2对加性-主基因+加性-显性多基因遗传模型(MX2-ADI-AD),萼片宽度、上翘度符合2对加性-显性-上位性主基因+加性-显性-上位性多基因遗传模型(MX2-ADI-ADI)。萼片长度、宽度、厚度、面积、上翘度、卷曲度的主基因遗传率为42.59%～77.15%,多基因遗传率为0%～39.89%。【结论】该组合6个番茄萼片形态性状均受2对主基因控制,且主基因遗传率大于多基因遗传率,以主基因遗传为主。