不同能量水平饲粮对7~10月龄荷斯坦育成牛生长性能和血清指标的影响

本试验旨在研究不同能量水平饲粮对7~10月龄育成牛生长性能和血清指标的影响。选取(200±3)日龄中国荷斯坦育成母牛24头,随机分为A、B和C 3个处理,对应饲喂产奶净能分别为5.40、5.90和6.40 MJ/kg 的试验饲粮,每个处理8个重复,每个重复1头牛。预试期10 d,正试期90 d。于210、240、270和300日龄清晨空腹测定生长性能指标(体重、体高、体斜长、胸围、腹围、腰角宽、乳头长度、体况评分),并采集血液样品用于血清指标(甘油三酯、尿素氮、雌激素、雌二醇、瘦素、生长激素和胰岛素样生长因子-1)分析。结果表明：1)在210~300日龄,A、B、C组育成牛平均日增重分别为0.69、0.81、0.96 kg/d,C组显著高于 A 组( P<0.05)。2)在240日龄,A组左后乳头长度均显著高于C组( P<0.05);240和270日龄,A、B组右后乳头长度显著高于C组( P<0.05)。3)在240日龄,A和B组血清甘油三酯( TG)含量显著低于C组(P<0.05)。4)在300日龄,A组血清雌二醇(E2)含量显著高于B组(P<0.05),极显著高于C组(P<0.01)。综合以上,在本试验条件下,饲粮产奶净能为5.90 MJ/kg时,能维持育成牛体型和乳腺的正常发育。     

The effect of concentrate level and concentrate composition on the performance of growing dairy heifers reared and finished for beef production

Abstract

The objectives of the study with growing dairy heifers were to determine the effects on animal performance of (1) concentrate level and (2) the concentrate composition in the grass silage-based diet. Animals (30 heifers) were randomly assigned to three feeding treatments: (1) low level (1.75 kg dry matter (DM)/d) of rolled barley (LB); (2) low level (1.75 kg DM/d) of commercial pelleted concentrate (LC); and (3) medium level (3.5 kg DM/d) of commercial pelleted concentrate (MC). All animals were also offered grass silage and hay. The commercial concentrate contained more crude protein than barley grain (135 g/kg DM vs. 205 g/kg DM). The data were analysed using analysis of variance and differences between the treatments were tested by orthogonal contrasts: LC vs. MC and LB vs. LC. The growth of the heifers increased and carcass conformation improved with increasing concentrate level. Commercial concentrate did not improve animal performance compared with barley grain.     

青年奶牛同期发情和同期排卵－定时输精试验

试验旨在研究同期发情和同期排卵－定时输精技术在青年奶牛中的应用。选择1046头澳大利亚进口荷斯坦青年奶牛,随机分为两组:一组自然发情人工授精配种(对照组);另一组采用前列腺素F_2α(PGF_2α)诱导母牛发情或按照同期排卵－定时输精程序(Ovsynch或Ovsynch+CIDR法)处理母牛后人工授精配种(试验组),统计同期发情率、不返情率、第一次人工授精妊娠率和21d妊娠率等繁殖指标。结果表明,试验组青年奶牛人工授精后不返情率和第一次人工授精妊娠率与对照组间无显著差异(P>0.05),但21d妊娠率显著高于对照组(53.1%和35.3%,P<0.05)。试验组中,1次PG法、间隔7d2次PG法和间隔11d2次PG法的同期发情率分别为76.1%、81.7%和84.6%,差异均不显著(P>0.05);同期排卵－定时输精组中,Ovsynch法(GPG)和Ovsynch+CIDR法(GPG+CIDR)的不返情率、第一次人工授精妊娠率和21d妊娠率间无显著差异(P>0.05)。不同输精人员可显著影响青年奶牛的第一次人工授精妊娠率(P<0.05),而不同公牛常规冷冻精液对青年奶牛第一次人工授精妊娠率无显著影响(P>0.05)。同期发情及同期排卵－定时输精技术可使青年奶牛集中发情,提高参配率,从而提高21d妊娠率,有效加快青年奶牛人工授精效率,降低饲养成本。     

Technical note: using an automated head chamber system to administer an external marker to estimate fecal output by grazing beef cattle

The objective of this experiment was to determine if titanium dioxide (TiO₂) dosed through an automated head chamber system (GreenFeed; C-Lock Inc., Rapid City, SD, USA) is an acceptable method to measure fecal output. The GreenFeed used on this experiment had a 2-hopper bait dispensing system, where hopper 1 contained alfalfa pellets marked with 1% titanium dioxide (TiO₂) and hopper 2 contained unmarked alfalfa pellets. Eleven heifers (BW = 394 ± 18.7 kg) grazing a common pasture were stratified by BW and then randomized to either 1) dosed with TiO₂-marked pellets by hand feeding (HFD; n = 6) or 2) dosed with TiO₂-marked pellets by the GreenFeed (GFFD; n = 5) for 19 d. During the morning (0800), all heifers were offered a pelleted, high-CP supplement at 0.25% of BW in individual feeding stanchions. The HFD heifers also received 32 g of TiO₂-marked pellets at morning feeding, whereas the GFFD heifers received 32 g of unmarked pellets. The GFFD heifers received a single aliquot (32 ± 1.6 g; mean ± SD) of marked pellets at their first visit to the GreenFeed each day with all subsequent 32-g aliquots providing unmarked pellets; HFD heifers received only unmarked pellets. Starting on d 15, fecal samples were collected via rectal grab at feeding and every 12 h for 5 d. A two-one sided t-test method was used to determine agreement and it was determined that the fecal output estimates by HFD and GFFD methods were similar (P = 0.04). There was a difference (P < 0.01; Bartlett’s test for homogenous variances) in variability between the dosing methods for HFD and GFFD (SD = 0.1 and 0.7, respectively). This difference in fecal output variability may have been due to variability of dosing times-of-day for the GFFD heifers (0615 ± 6.2 h) relative to the constant dosing time-of-day for HFD and constant 0800 and 2000 sampling times-of-day for all animals. This research has highlighted the potential for dosing cattle with an external marker through a GreenFeed configured with two (or more) feed hoppers because estimated fecal output means were similar; however, consideration of the increased variability of the fecal output estimates is needed for future experimental designs.     

青年母牛在发情周期中卵泡发育波变化规律的研究

为揭示青年母牛卵泡生长发育的动态模式,作者利用B-型超声波诊断仪,对青年母牛在发情周期中卵泡生长发育的过程进行了连续观察。结果表明,卵巢上小卵泡(1~4 mm)、中卵泡(5~7 mm)和大卵泡(≥8 mm)的数量和直径均呈动态变化。大、中、小卵泡的数量、卵泡的发育要经历征集期、选择期、优势化、成熟期和闭锁退化的过程。青年母牛在整个发情周期中,优势卵泡的平均直径为13.6 mm,成熟卵泡的平均直径为13.80 mm,一个发情周期有3~4个卵泡发育波,其中有3个卵泡发育波的为多数(71.43%),有4个的为28.57%。     

Failure to use cubicles and concentrate dispenser by heifers after transfer from rearing accommodation to milking herd.

Thirty-three dairy farms in the Norwegian counties of Østfold and Akershus in which cubicle sheds had been in use for at least one year and with a herd size of less than 60 cows, were contacted and asked to participate in a study. The study focused on heifers'' use of cubicles and concentrate dispenser just after being transferred from rearing accommodation to the milking herd. For each heifer, the farmer recorded cubicle use once nightly between 9 and 11 pm. The daily amount of concentrate released in the dispenser and the allotted daily ration were also recorded. The recording period was 15 consecutive days for cubicle use and 7 days for concentrate dispenser use. Cubicle refusal behaviour, i.e. lying outside the cubicles, was analysed by logistic regression using rearing accommodation of heifers, herd size, heifer age, and housing layout as independent variables, and herd as a clustering variable. On Day 2 after transfer, 34% of the heifers were showing cubicle refusal behaviour (N = 340). By Day 15 this percentage had dropped to 23. Cubicle refusal was lower throughout the whole period among heifers which used the cubicles on the 3 first days after transfer compared to those which did not. This tendency could also be detected several months later. The analysis showed cubicle refusal to be significantly associated with rearing accommodation (OR = 6.1, c.i._95%OR = 1.5–24.3, P = 0.01) and cubicle layout in the shed (OR = 0.2, c.i._95%OR = 0.0–0.7, P = 0.01). None of the tested variables were found to be significant for failure to use the concentrate dispenser, a behaviour which was less frequent than cubicle refusal. However, 8 percent of the heifers did not visit the dispenser at all throughout the 7 days of observation.     

Temperament influences mitochondrial capacity in skeletal muscle from 8 through 18 mo of age in Brahman heifers

Temperamental cattle tend to yield carcasses of poorer quality, and Brahman cattle are reportedly more temperamental than non-indicus cattle breeds. A potential link between temperament and product quality may be mitochondrial activity. We hypothesized that mitochondrial measures would be greater in temperamental compared with calm heifers and that the relationships between temperament and mitochondria would persist as heifers age. Serum cortisol and skeletal muscle (longissimus thoracis [LT] and trapezius [TRAP]) mitochondrial profiles and antioxidant activities were quantified from the same calm (n = 6) and temperamental (n = 6) Brahman heifers at 8, 12, and 18 mo of age. Data were analyzed using a mixed model ANOVA in SAS (9.4) with repeated measures. Serum cortisol was greater in temperamental compared with calm heifers throughout the study (P = 0.02). Mitochondrial volume density (citrate synthase [CS] activity) increased over time (P < 0.0001) but was similar between temperament and muscle groups. Mitochondrial function (cytochrome c oxidase activity) was greatest in the temperamental LT at 8 mo of age (P ≤ 0.0006), greatest in the temperamental TRAP at 18 mo of age (P ≤ 0.003), and did not differ by temperament at 12 mo of age. Integrative (relative to tissue wet weight) mitochondrial oxidative phosphorylation capacity with complex I substrates (P_CI), P_CI plus complex II substrate (P_CI+II), noncoupled electron transfer system capacity (E_CI+II), and E with functional complex II only (E_CII) were greater in the TRAP than LT for calm heifers at all ages (P ≤ 0.002), but were similar between muscle groups in temperamental heifers. Overall, calm heifers tended to have greater intrinsic (relative to CS activity) P_CI and flux control of P_CI+II (P ≤ 0.1) than temperamental heifers, indicating greater utilization of complex I paired with greater coupling efficiency in calm heifers. Within the LT, integrative P_CI+II was greater (P = 0.05) and E_CI+II tended to be greater (P = 0.06) in temperamental compared with calm heifers. From 8- to 18-mo old, glutathione peroxidase (GPx) activity decreased (P < 0.0001) and superoxide dismutase activity increased (P = 0.02), and both were similar between muscle groups. The activity of GPx was greater in temperamental compared with calm heifers at 8 (P = 0.004) but not at 12 or 18 mo of age. These results detail divergent skeletal muscle mitochondrial characteristics of live Brahman heifers according to temperament, which should be further investigated as a potential link between temperament and product quality.     

Behaviour and cleanliness of replacement dairy heifers housed in group pens with combined feeding–resting stalls

Abstract

This study was carried out in two commercial Norwegian dairy herds where the replacement heifers were kept in groups of 10 in pens with 6 conventional free-stalls and 5 combined stalls at the feed bunk. The stall cleanliness was better in the free-stalls than in the combined stalls (P?<?.01). Time spent lying was not affected by number of animals in the group (P?=?.20), but feeding synchrony (P?=?.05) and lying synchrony (<.001) were higher when there were six animals in the group. The heifers showed a clear preference for lying in the standard free-stalls and this was not affected by number of animals in the pen (P?=?.83). The results of this initial study indicate that a pen system with combined lying/feeding stalls and free-stalls offers a satisfactory lying comfort, apparently minimal competition over lying space and acceptable animal cleanliness.     

Airborne dust and aeroallergen concentrations in different sources of feed and bedding for horses

Summary

Standardized methods were used to make quantitative and qualitative assessments of respirable dust and aeroallergens in feed and bedding for horses. Concentrations of airborne dust were measured by using a Rion particle counter, and levels of major aeroallergens implicated in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease were measured by using an Andersen sampler. Laboratory conditions allowed comparison of the different sources of forage, supplements, and bedding without external influences such as ventilation, external temperature and horse activity affecting the result. Crass silages of approximately 50 % dry matter and alfalfa pellets appeared to be very good sources of forage with low levels of dust and aeroallergens. The studied good quality straw was significantly less dusty with fewer allergens than the wood shavings. Supplements, such as whole grains and molassed concentrates, contained many respirable particles and aeroallergens. Rolled grains were significantly more dusty than good hay.