Evaluation of smallholder pig production systems in North Vietnam: Pig production management and pig performances

This study investigated the productive adaptability of pig breeds under different smallholder production conditions in Vietnam, comparing an indigenous with a Vietnamese improved breed. Fieldwork was conducted in four villages with different remoteness in North Vietnam from 2001 to 2002, in 64 households keeping the improved Mong Cai or indigenous Ban as sow breeds and progeny for fattening. Four visits per farm yielded 234 structured interviews. Reproductive performances were derived from 135 litters. Individual weights of pigs (n = 755) were obtained. Data were analysed by regression, linear and generalised linear, especially loglinear models.

Two distinct pig production systems were identified, that differed in remoteness, market access, resource availability, distribution of pig breeds and pig production intensity. Higher performances of 1.4 and 1.5 litters year^− 1, 8.4 and 8.4 piglets weaned litter^− 1, 66.6 and 93.0 kg piglets weaned sow^− 1 year^− 1, and 136 and 177 g day^− 1 ADG were found in two villages near town with semi-intensive production conditions and a high rate of improved Mong Cai sows and MC and LW × MC offspring in the observed population. Lower performances of 1.1 and 1.1 litters year^− 1, 4.6 and 5.5 piglets weaned litter^− 1, 20.5 and 30.9 kg piglets weaned sow^− 1 year^− 1, and 66 and 85 g day^− 1 ADG were observed in parallel to higher incidences of indigenous Ban pigs away from town under extensive conditions. Total live weight offtake per household per year was higher near town and in one village distant to town. MC and LW × MC remained even under demand-driven conditions below the performance potential reported for improved genotypes. Under resource-driven conditions with a saving-oriented production pattern, the higher-yielding but more demanding Mong Cai might not be an efficient production alternative as a further performance reduction can be assumed. A considerable live weight output was observed under resource-driven conditions and with a higher percentage of crossbred LW × Ban offspring in the population, possibly representing a promising production alternative. Factors influencing the performance expression of pigs, and the suitability of different methods for the assessment of performance parameters on-farm are discussed.     

Veterinary cancer registries in companion animal cancer: a review

Current and prior veterinary cancer registries are few in number and scattered. Different inclusion criteria, dissimilar collection methods and variable reference population estimation methods pose obstacles in the comparisons between veterinary and human cancer registries. Veterinary cancer registries have yielded information on the risk and incidence of different cancer types in certain breeds and geographical regions, as well as provided information on genetic and environmental risk factors in some cancers. The objective of this article is to review the prior and current veterinary cancer registries, the information they have contributed and to discuss different issues relating to their structure including inclusion criteria, study populations, reference populations utilized in evaluations, recorded variables and the outcome from these.     

利用广义线性模型预测家畜离散性状育种值

将广义线性混合模型(GLMM)引入动物离散性状的遗传分析及个体的遗传评定,初步比较了GLMM方法与一般线性方法(LM)的估计效果。模拟研究的性状为单阈值二项分类性状,选用的连接函数为对数连接μi=eη/(1+eη),方差函数为V(μi)=μ(i1-μi)/n,试验设计为全同胞-半同胞混合家系,参数估计采用Fisher迹法。结果表明:GLMM方法能较准确地估计公畜的个体育种值,在个体的遗传评定效果方面要明显优于常规的线性方法,其预测的育种值排序结果与真实育种值的排序之间存在极显著的相关性(P<0.001)。     

应用可拓学原理评价黄瓜根分泌物的化感潜势

 对黄瓜组培根分泌物的化感潜势进行可拓评价, 得出黄瓜组培根分泌物对菜豆幼苗生长有显著促进作用, 而对其它3种作物有明显的毒害作用, 毒害程度为黄瓜>甜瓜>番茄。同时, 建立了黄瓜组培根分泌液的化感效应的数学模型R_E = [ k₁R_p0 / ( k₂ - k₁ ) ] ( e^{- k1t} - e^{- k2t} ) ( e- ^k1a - e^{- k2a} ) , 说明了黄瓜组培根分泌液的化感效应与组培根培养时间( t) 以及根分泌液浓度( a) 显著相关。黄瓜根分泌物对4种受体作物显示出显著的化学干扰差异, 论证了植物种内(间) 发生的干扰作用与植物的品种(系) 有关, 从理论上得出菜豆可以作为黄瓜的间套作物或下茬作物。     

荔枝果皮褐变程度的数学模型研究(英文)

为了明确荔枝采后果皮褐变的程度,为生产上的分级和研究中定量果皮的褐变程度提供依据,以淮枝、糯米糍、桂味为材料,研究了采后其果皮颜色变化过程中亮度(L*)、色饱和度(C*)、色度角(h)值及a*值和b*值的变化规律,探讨这些指标与褐变程度的关系,并推导出褐变与这些指标变化相关的方程式。结果表明,色度指标L*,a*,b*和C*值的变化均可用于衡量荔枝果皮的褐变程度,其中以C*值的相关性最高,并确定了3个品种荔枝C*值与褐变程度的对应关系,将荔枝果皮褐变程度数量化,建立荔枝果皮褐变程度的数学模型。     

落叶果树需冷量及其估算模型研究进展

落叶果树的需冷量得到满足,才能顺利完成自然休眠,进行下一个生长发育循环(尤其是正常开花结果),否则其他环境条件再适宜,果树也不萌芽开花,即使萌芽也不整齐,生长结果不良,达不到促成栽培的目的[1].因此,对落叶果树需冷量及其估算的研究至关重要,成为落叶果树设施栽培成败的关键.本文仅就需冷量估算模型进行介绍,以期为设施栽培和更完善的需冷量估算提供理论依据.……     

Neutral models for testing landscape hypotheses

Neutral landscape models were originally developed to test the hypothesis that human-induced fragmentation produces patterns distinctly different from those associated with random processes. Other uses for neutral models have become apparent, including the development and testing of landscape metrics to characterize landscape pattern. Although metric development proved to be significant, the focus on metrics obscured the need for iterative hypothesis testing fundamental to the advancement of the discipline. We present here an example of an alternative neutral model and hypothesis designed to relate the process of landscape change to observed landscape patterns. The methods and program, QRULE, are described and options for statistical testing outlined. The results show that human fragmentation of landscapes results in a non-random association of land-cover types that can be describe by simple statistical methods. Options for additional landscape studies are discussed and access to QRULE described in the hope that these methods will be employed to advance our understanding of the processes that affect the structure and function in human dominated landscapes.     

Testing assumptions of cost surface analysis—a tool for invasive species management

Applied ecology could benefit from new tools that identify potential movement pathways of invasive species, particularly where data are sparse. Cost surface analysis (CSA) estimates the permeability (friction) across a landscape and can be applied to dispersal modelling. Increasingly used in a diversity of applications, several fundamental assumptions that might influence the outputs of CSA (cost surfaces and least-cost pathways) have yet to be systematically examined. Thus, we explore two issues: the presumed relationship between habitat preferences and dispersal behaviour as well as the degree of landscape fragmentation through which an organism moves by modelling a total of 18 sensitivity and dispersal scenarios. We explored the effect of fragmentation by altering the friction values (generally assigned using expert opinion) associated with patch and linear features. We compared these sensitivity scenarios in two sites that differed in fragmentation. We also used eastern grey squirrels (Sciurus carolinensis) as an example invading species and compared diffusion models and two contrasting cost surface dispersal scenarios. The diffusion model underestimated spread because squirrels did not move randomly through the landscape. Despite contrasting assumptions regarding dispersal behaviour, the two cost surfaces were strikingly similar while the least-cost paths differed. Furthermore, while the cost surfaces were insensitive to changes in friction values for linear features, they were sensitive to assumptions made for patch features. Our results suggest that movement in fragmented landscapes may be more sensitive to assumptions regarding friction values than contiguous landscapes. Thus, the reliability of CSA may depend not only on the range of friction values used for patches but also the degree of contiguity in the landscape.     

应用草坪生态系统于城市生态建设的思考

通过对作为生态城市的重要子系统--草坪生态系统的含义及其生态效益的认识,提出一些有利城市生态建设的种草新模式,并对应用草坪生态系统于城市生态建设过程中存在的一些问题进行探讨.     

不同退耕模式林草初夏小气候效应

通过对安塞县几种不同类型退耕还林还草模式,如混交林、人工灌木林、野生灌木林及林中革地进行了小气候观测,分析了不同退耕模式林草配置下的主要小气候特征,采用平行对比观测法定点定时观测了空气温湿度,土壤温度,水面蒸发并与对照裸地进行了对比.结果表明4种不同退耕模式林草配置在6月高温时期能显著降低空气温度和地表温度的日均值,提高空气湿度和土壤湿度,减少水面蒸发等,具有明显的调节功能.4种不同退耕模式日平均空气温度变化呈不对称的单峰曲线,较对照裸地可以降低0.41℃～1.2℃;0～20 cm各深度的土壤温度基本都是混交林＜人工灌木林＜野生灌木林＜林中草地＜对照裸地,混交林内地面最高温度为34.78℃,明显比对照裸地42.54℃低;空气相对湿度日动态呈"U"型变化,其中对照裸地相对温度日均值最低,混交林日均值最大,为55.2%,比对照裸地高3.95%;水面蒸发量为裸地最大,混交林及灌木林能有效减少水面蒸发,减少量较对照裸地可达50.54%和55.20%.