Ostrich (Struthio camelus) embryonic development from 7 to 42 days of incubation

1. Hatching success of ostrich eggs is poor (50–60% of fertile eggs). The current study was designed to identify the timing of key stages in the development of the ostrich embryo.

2. Growth of both embryo and wing length during 42 d of incubation was comparable and approximately linear, with a more or less weekly doubling in size up to 35 d of incubation.

3. The embryo eye size increased more rapidly than beak length and reached a maximum of ~16.2 mm by 28 d of incubation, whereas beak length increased continuously until hatching at 42 d.

4. Linear regression equations were derived from morphometric measurements of embryos between 7 and 42 d.

5. Information stemming from these results can be used to estimate the age of dead-in-shell embryos in an attempt to identify timing of incubation problems that potentially result in low hatchability of fertile eggs.     

基于角质颚形态的东海2种常见乌贼类的种类判别

为了尝试利用角质颚对东海2种常见乌贼类种类进行判别,根据2015年采集的47尾虎斑乌贼和87尾神户乌贼的角质颚,采用主成分分析、逐步判别分析等方法对两种乌贼进行种类判别。结果表明,在所有12个形态参数的比较中,除了下头盖长/胴长,虎斑乌贼和神户乌贼都存在极显著差异(P0.01),虎斑乌贼和神户乌贼角质颚在雌雄群体间均不存在显著差异(P0.05)。采用逐步判别分析法对两种乌贼进行分类,虎斑乌贼判别正确率为95.7%,神户乌贼为94.3%,总判别正确率为94.8%。根据主成分分析结果,以两种乌贼主成分特征值大于1的因子中,负载值最高的形态参数比例指标构建判别函数,虎斑乌贼的判别正确率为83.0%,神户乌贼为83.9%,总判别正确率为83.6%。分雌雄对两种乌贼进行分类判别,雄性的总判别正确率为93.8%,雌性为96.6%。研究认为,乌贼类角质颚形态同样可用于种类判别。     

Effects of light intensity and beak trimming on preventing aggression in laying hens

This study aimed to investigate the effects of decreased light intensity and beak trimming on aggression prevention in laying hens. In total, 181 White Leghorns were used. At 17 weeks of age, 36 birds were allocated to battery cages (three birds/cage), 36 birds to furnished cages (four birds/cage), and 109 birds were transferred to an aviary. Since aggression increased in the birds from 23 weeks of age (from 0.3% to 6.0%) especially in the furnished cages, , the light intensity during the daytime was decreased to about one‐tenth (from 680 lux to 70 lux) at 28 weeks of age. The birds in the furnished cages then had their beaks re‐trimmed lightly by using a debeaker at 29 weeks of age. Behavioral observations using scanning techniques at 10 min intervals were conducted. Feed intake, bodyweight and feather score were also measured. There was no significant difference in aggression before and after decreasing the light in all three housing systems. On the other hand, the proportion of birds showing aggression decreased significantly just after trimming and four weeks after beak trimming in the furnished cages (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively). The aggression also became similar to the proportions observed in the battery cages and in the aviary. In proportion to the decreased aggression, the proportion of birds eating significantly decreased (P < 0.05). However, their feed intake and bodyweight did not decrease significantly. Against this decreased aggression, the proportion of birds preening significantly increased (P < 0.05). Aggression was observed more frequently at the dust bath in the furnished cages and at the litter floor in the aviary (both P < 0.001). The total feather score for all body parts in the birds in furnished cages increased significantly (P < 0.01) from 25 to 29 weeks of age (at beak trimming), but did not increase significantly from 29 to 33 weeks of age. The increments of neck, breast and tail feather scores in the furnished cages were smaller. In conclusion, there was no significant difference in aggression between just before and after decreasing the light in any housing system. However, aggression in the furnished cages was reduced not only by decreasing the light intensity, but by additional beak trimming. Aggravation of feather conditions – especially at the neck, breast and back – was prevented by the treatment.     

Layers in aviary system: Effects of beak trimming and alternative feed formulation on technical results and egg quality

Although the transition from cage housing to alternative systems commenced more than 20 yr ago, there is still an ongoing need for information supporting system understanding, system development, and genetic selection. Cannibalism remains one of the largest problems in these housing systems. Furthermore, recent developments in feed prices have increased the price of animal feed, raising production costs of eggs. Replacing feedstuffs with cheaper self-grown crops might be a possible solution to lower feed costs. In Belgium, and more specifically, in the Kempen region, corn is a widely grown crop that is usually used for feeding dairy cows, yet a ground mix of dry corn grains and a small part of the cob, known as corn cob mix (CCM), can also be used as poultry feed. In this paper the effect of the fibrous feed CCM on the prevalence of cannibalism on hens with trimmed and untrimmed beaks is investigated. The results show a positive effect of CCM on mortality; nevertheless, the mortality in the groups of untrimmed hens was very high, indicating the importance of beak trimming. Furthermore, a positive effect of CCM on egg weight was observed.     

短蛸繁殖行为及胚胎发育过程东海火枪乌贼角质颚的形态特征

根据2010年9月及2011年5月东海渔业资源底拖网调查资料,测定了火枪乌贼(Loligo beka)的胴长、角质颚形态指标等参数,阐述了火枪乌贼角质颚的形态特征及其长度的相对稳定性指标。结果表明,火枪乌贼角质颚的喙长(RL)、头盖长(HL)、脊突长(CL)、翼长(WL)、翼宽(WW)等长度上、下颚差异较大,其中,上、下颚HL相对于RL均存在着等速生长现象(P>0.05);CL相对于RL均存在着显著的异速生长现象(P<0.05);而WL、WW相对于RL则呈现极显著的异速生长现象(P<0.001)。上、下颚各长度指标均受生长的影响,均随胴长的增长呈极显著的线性增长趋势。RL/HL、RL/CL、HL/CL的比值非常稳定,不随胴长、体质量的变化而显著变化,可作为火枪乌贼角质颚形态特征的稳定性指标。     

北太平洋柔鱼角质颚形态及生长年间差异

根据2010年、2015年和2016年在北太平洋海域所采集的柔鱼样本,分析其胴长、体质量及角质颚形态的年间差异和性别差异,并计算角质颚的月平均生长率,结合不同年份各月索饵场海表面温度(sea surface temperature,SST)和叶绿素a浓度(chlorophyll a,Chl.a)的分布,研究环境对角质颚形态和生长的影响。研究发现,3年的个体胴长和体质量均存在显著差异(P0.01),2016年的个体和角质颚的形态值最大,2015年的个体和角质颚形态值最小。不同年份间角质颚的各项参数均存在显著差异(P0.01)。分析角质颚形态值与胴长的关系发现,2010年生长参数b最大,2015年则最低。不同年份的角质颚月生长率中,2010年角质颚在8—9月有着较高的生长率,而2015年同期的生长率则最低。分析渔汛期索饵场SST和Chl.a的变化发现:2015年8—9月的SST相对其他年份较低,而2010年8—9月索饵场的Chl.a值较为分散,但高浓度(0.7 mg/m~3)所占比例较高;2016年由于适宜的SST和适宜的Chl.a,使得其个体有着形态较大的角质颚,同时个体也相对较大。不同年份间角质颚形态存在一定的差异,同时8—9月的SST和Chl.a的变化是影响该年度个体角质颚形态的主要因素之一。     

鸭短喙侏儒综合征精制蛋黄抗体的制备及应用效果评价

为了有效预防鸭短喙侏儒综合征,采用新型鸭细小病毒毒株（SD03株）制备了一种鸭短喙侏儒综合征精制蛋黄抗体。采用琼脂扩散试验和中和试验进行蛋黄抗体效价的测定,分析蛋黄抗体的消长规律,确定最佳免疫程序、收蛋时间和临床应用效价标准,并对制备的3批供试品进行临床应用效果评价。结果表明：该研究成功制备了一种鸭短喙侏儒综合征精制蛋黄抗体,该抗体琼扩效价和中和效价均在三免15 d达到高峰,分别为1∶64和1∶640,由此确定高免蛋收集时间为三免15 d;基础免疫完成后,最佳加强免疫时间为每隔30 d进行一次加强免疫,可使抗体效价一直维持在较高水平;确定了抗体琼扩效价≥1∶32或中和效价≥1∶320为临床应用效价标准。3批供试品临床应用试验结果表明,该鸭短喙侏儒综合征精制蛋黄抗体安全性好,对鸭短喙侏儒综合征有良好的预防和紧急预防效果。     

基于人工神经网络的日本海舍氏贝乌贼角质颚色素沉积特性分析

根据中国鱿钓船于2018年12月在日本海采集的303个舍氏贝乌贼样本,进行基础生物学分析,对其角质颚色素沉积等级进行划分和判定,利用人工神经网络模型分析色素沉积等级与胴长、体质量、性腺成熟度、角质颚形态参数和胃级的关系,并对各生长因子的中位数进行线性拟合。结果显示,胴长对角质颚色素沉积的贡献率最大,为22.90%,其次分别为下头盖长、性腺成熟度、体质量、下喙长和下翼长,贡献率分别为16.50%、14.40%、11.90%、11.70%和11.60%,下侧壁长和胃级对角质颚色素沉积的贡献率较小,分别为6.30%和4.70%。舍氏贝乌贼角质颚的色素沉积与胴长、体质量、性腺成熟度和胃级这4项生长因子的关系均不存在性别间显著性差异。角质颚色素沉积等级与胴长、体质量和角质颚外部形态参数均呈正相关,并随着性腺成熟度的增加而增加,但与胃级的线性关系不明显。研究表明,日本海舍氏贝乌贼角质颚色素沉积等级与胴长、性腺成熟度、体质量和角质颚形态参数均呈正相关关系,可以利用胴长、性腺成熟度、体质量和角质颚形态参数预估色素沉积等级。     

头足类角质颚的研究进展

随着世界传统经济渔业资源的衰退，头足类资源的开发和利用得到各国的普遍重视，对其资源状况、生物学等方面的研究得到不断地开展。角质颚是头足类的主要捕食器官和硬质组织之一，具有结构稳定、耐腐蚀、储存信息良好等特点，可作为分类和生物学研究等的重要材料。本文根据国内外学者对其研究的成果，系统描述了角质颚的形态特征，对其在头足类生物学和分类地位、资源量估算、捕食动物的食性分析等方面的应用研究做了综述。分析认为，尽管角质颚在头足类研究中已取得一定的进展，但其在年龄鉴定和资源评估等方面还面临着一些问题，需要在以后的研究过程中加以解决。     

不同断喙方式对蛋雏鸡生长性能和免疫功能的影响

为研究不同断喙方式对雏鸡生长性能和免疫功能的影响,将720只1日龄蛋雏鸡随机分为不断喙、红外线断喙和热刀断喙组。测量不同时间雏鸡喙长度、体重、采食量和饲料浪费量,计数血液中异嗜性粒细胞和淋巴细胞数,通过生化分析和ELISA试剂盒检测血浆中蛋白和细胞因子含量。致死雏鸡后,采集脾和法氏囊并称重,对脾进行组织学和Real-time PCR检测。结果显示,断喙显著降低雏鸡喙长度,且红外线断喙效果更明显;断喙显著减少饲料浪费量,但不影响采食量;红外线断喙组4日龄雏鸡体重显著低于不断喙组;红外线断喙组29日龄雏鸡传染性法氏囊病毒抗体滴度极显著低于其他组;断喙对鸡血液中异嗜性粒细胞和淋巴细胞数、血浆中的蛋白、T细胞分化簇和细胞炎性因子的含量、脾和法氏囊器官指数、脾显微结构及其炎性因子和凋亡因子表达无显著影响。结果表明,断喙可显著减少饲料浪费,且红外线断喙比热刀断喙可更有效地保证断喙效果;红外线断喙可暂时性地引起雏鸡体重降低,但对后期体重无显著影响;1日龄时雏鸡在红外线断喙后又进行疫苗接种,可能会缩短疫苗对雏鸡的保护时间。