土壤入渗传输函数输入变量分析

依据土壤水分入渗参数与其相关土壤理化参数之间的相关性,从土壤学的角度用物理的方法分析应县土壤常规土壤理化参数对土壤入渗传输函数影响程度,进一步确定其土壤入渗传输函数的输入变量。并用大田耕作土壤水分入渗参数及其土壤理化参数的实测资料,建立土壤入渗传输函数进行验证。     

Effect of Weaning Stress on Blood Physiology and Biochemistry Indexes and Immune Function in Dairy Buffalo Calves

To study the effect of weaning stress on dairy buffalo calves,5 healthy calves were chosen and weaned,and the blood samples were collected at 1 day before weaning,and 1,14 and 21 days after weaning to analysis blood physiology and biochemistry indexes and immune function.The results showed that the count of white blood cell,lymphocyte,erythrocyte,monocytes and hematocrit,aspartate aminotransferase activity,blood glucose,cortisol and immunoglobulin G contents of dairy buffalo calves were no significant difference between before and after weaning treatments (P > 0.05).The count of neutrophils at 21 d after weaning were significantly lower than that of 1 d before weaning of dairy buffalo calves (P < 0.05).However,lactate dehydrogenase and alanine aminotransferase activity in weaned treatments were significantly higher than those of animals in the treatment before weaning (P < 0.05).The serum urea nitrogen of dairy buffalo calves at 21 d after weaning was significantly higher than that of 1 d before weaning (P < 0.05) and hemoglobin content at 21 d after weaning was significantly lower than that at 1 day before weaning (P < 0.05).It indicated that the physiological and immunity function of dairy buffalo calves were challenged under weaning stress.     

Effects of Dietary Crude Protein Levels on Growth Performance,Digestion and Metabolism,and Serum Biochemical Indexes of Super Merino Lamb

The experiment aimed to find out the effects of dietary crude protein levels on growth performance, digestion and metabolism and serum biochemical indexes of Super Merino lamb after weaning.According to the dietary crude protein level, 64 Super Merino weaned lambs were divided into four groups, which the crude protein levels were 13.25%(group Ⅰ), 14.33%(group Ⅱ), 15.53%(group Ⅲ) and 16.60%(group Ⅳ), respectively.The experiment lasted for 60 days, 30 days for the early stage and 30 days for the later stage;And on the 30th and 60th day, blood samples were collected from one head sheep chosen from each replication, and at the end of the feeding test, 3 lambs were randomly selected from each experiment group for a 15 days digestion and metabolism experiment.The results showed that ADFI and ADG in the early and total trial period were significant differences(P<0.05), ADFI and ADG of group Ⅲ were higher than others.The apparent digestibility of nutrients and ME/DE were not significantly changed(P>0.05).In the detection of serum biochemical indexes, there was no significant difference in the earlier stage(P>0.05);At the end of the test, PK and CK showed significant difference between groups(P<0.05).PK presented a rising trend as the protein level improved, CK of group Ⅰ was higher than other groups.In Super Merino lamb early weaning diet, 15.53% protein level in the diet could significantly improve ADG, the apparent digestibility of nutrients, metabolic energy digestibility.At the end of the test, PK and CK were affected by dietary crude protein level significantly.     

Relationship between serum cortisol levels and some physiological parameters following reining training session in horse

The changes of cortisol, red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin (Hb), hematocrit (Hct), heart rate (HR), respiratory rate (RR) and rectal temperature (RT) were evaluated after a reining training session in eight Quarter Horses. All parameters were measured before exercise (T0), immediately after exercise (T1), 1 h after exercise (T2), 2 h after exercise (T3) and 24 h after exercise (T4). One‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures, followed Bonferroni's post hoc test, showed a significant effect of the reining training session (P < 0.0001) on cortisol, RBC, Hb, Hct, HR, RR and RT. Simple linear regression analysis showed the positive correlation (P < 0.05) between cortisol changes and variations of studied parameters in T1, T3 and T4. Exercise‐induced cortisol concentrations reflect the physiological response of reining training, suggesting that the changes observed are useful to assess the performance in reining horses and their reining training adaptability.     

Effect of micronized pea seeds (Pisum sativum L.) as a substitute of soybean meal on tissue fatty acid composition and quality of broiler chicken meat

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of micronized pea seeds introduced into feed mixes for broilers on the slaughter yield, blood lipid parameters, content of fatty acids in selected tissues, and meat quality. The studies involved 150 1‐day‐old Ross 308 chicks split into three groups (for 42 days). The feed rations differed in terms of the source of proteins: in the control group (C), it was post‐extraction soybean meal (SBM) 100%; in group I, SBM 50% and micronized peas 50%; and in group II, micronized peas only, 100%. Irradiated pea seeds added to the feed ration for chicks reduced the fattening grade of carcasses (P < 0.05). Additionally, significant improvement of blood lipid indices was recorded. The share of the irradiated pea seeds in feed mixes decreased the share of saturated fatty acids in the muscles and abdominal fat and had a positive effect on the n‐6/n‐3 ratio, hypocholesterolemic / hypercholesterolemic ratio, as well as the atherogenic and thrombogenic indices (P < 0.05).     

Update on Canine and Feline Blood Donor Screening for Blood‐Borne Pathogens

An update on the 2005 American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine (ACVIM) Consensus Statement on blood donor infectious disease screening was presented at the 2015 ACVIM Forum in Indianapolis, Indiana, followed by panel and audience discussion. The updated consensus statement is presented below. The consensus statement aims to provide guidance on appropriate blood‐borne pathogen testing for canine and feline blood donors in North America.     

Incorporation of sunflower oil or linseed oil in equine compound feedstuff: 1 Effects on haematology and on fatty acids profiles in the red blood cells membranes

Eight trained horses (6 mares – 2 geldings, 6 Selle Français, 2 Trotteur Français, 12 ± 5.8 years old, 538 ± 72.5 kg) were offered three diets to potentially affect haematology and the fatty acids (FA) profiles in red blood cells (RBC) membranes. The control diet was composed of 50% hay and 50% concentrate containing mainly rolled barley (48%) and whole spelt (48%). In the case of sunflower oil diet, sunflower oil (62.0% of α‐linoleic acid, LA) was incorporated at a rate of 8% and substituted by an equal proportion of barley. In the linseed oil diet, first cold‐pressed linseed oil (56.0% of α‐linolenic acid, ALA) was utilised at a similar incorporation rate of 8%. The experimental design consisted of three 3 × 3 latin squares with one being incomplete. Each period lasted 8 weeks. On average, the total feed intake (straw excluded) was 6.2 kg/day and the oil intake 0.278 kg/day. The oils significantly increased the concentrations of RBC, haemoglobin and haematocrit. The oils had no significant impact on the haematology profiles except that platelets tended to decrease in both oil‐based diets. The most abundant FA in the RBC membranes of the control diet samples were in the decreasing order LA, C18:1n9‐7, C18:0, C16:0 and the arachidonic acid (ARA) respectively. The sunflower oil supplementation slightly increased the amount of LA (36.23 vs. 34.72 mg/dl, p = 0.55) and C22:4n‐6 (0.21 vs. 0.09 mg/dl, p = 0.22), while the decrease was observed in case of other FA (C16:1n‐7, 1.08 vs. 1.42 mg/dl, p = 0.03), C20:3n‐6 (0.22 vs. 0.31 mg/dl, p = 0.02), and ARA (1.17 vs. 1.63 mg/dl, p = 0.08). Linseed oil induced similar effects in the n‐6 series FA profiles. In the context of practical applications, our results show that linseed oil incorporation in the diet could improve the haematology and the n‐3 FA profiles potentially leading to an increased performance.     

The suitability of some blood gas and biochemical parameters as diagnostic tools or early indicators of ascites syndrome in broiler sire lines

In recent few years, there have been some attempts to find a reliable indicator trait as a selection criterion against susceptibility to ascites syndrome (AS). Blood parameters were of great interest as they could be measured in live animals without implementing an ascites‐inducing challenge (AIC). In this work, the suitability of some blood parameters was evaluated for diagnosing AS‐susceptible chicks in later steps of the disease in trial 1 as well as their early predictive ability in trial 2. In the first trial, one hundred 1‐day‐old chicks from two pure broiler lines namely S₁ and S₂ and, in the second trial, 226 1‐day‐old chicks from line S₂ were subjected to AIC. Saline drinking water (1200 mg/l) and lower‐than‐standard ambient temperatures were the implemented AICs in trials 1 and 2 respectively. The blood parameters including pH, partial pressure of O₂ (pO₂), partial pressure of CO₂ (pCO₂), bicarbonate ion concentration (BIC), percentage of haematocrit (HCT) and saturated haemoglobin (SaO₂) were measured twice per each bird at days 28 and 35 in trial 1 and once in trial 2 at day 21. The results of the first trial revealed that in line S₂ some of the blood parameters differed significantly between the ascitic and non‐ascitic groups following exposure to AIC. In this line, the incidence of AS was accompanied by a lower pO₂, SaO₂ and BIC, while with higher pCO₂ and HCT values. In the second trial, however, although almost all of the parameters showed meaningful differences between the ascitic and non‐ascitic broilers, only mean difference of BIC parameter was statistically significant. The general conclusion of this study is that the blood parameters can somewhat have diagnostic ability in the condition in which the AIC is already present, whereas the results did not approve their usefulness as early predictors of AS.