Effect of multi-enzymes in combination with a direct-fed microbial on performance and welfare parameters in broilers under commercial production settings

The objective of this study was to determine the response of broilers to the combination of multi-enzymes and direct-fed microbial (DFM) under commercial production settings. A total of 7,000 1-day-old male broilers (Ross 308) were distributed over 10 pens (700 broilers/pen). Two dietary treatments were tested using complete randomized design, including a control diet and a test diet with addition of multi-enzymes (xylanase, amylase, and protease (XAP)] and DFM (a combination of spores from 3 strains ofBacillus amyloliquefaciens). Pelleted diets were offered ad libitum in 3 phases and water was freely available. During starter and grower phases (0 to 21 d), the enzyme and DFM combination resulted in improved FE (P < 0.05). During the finisher phase, higher feed intake and BW gain (P < 0.05) were observed for the test group. Overall, there were significantly higher feed intake, BW gain, and lower water-to-feed ratio in test group compared to the control group. This was related to improved (P < 0.05) modified production efficiency factor which was calculated based on final BW, survival rate, feeding period, and mortality-weight-corrected FCR. The test group had improved litter quality and a reduced foot-pad lesion score compared to the control. In addition, there was a tendency (P < 0.1) of reducingClostridium perfringens population in cecal digesta and higher lactic acid content in the ileal digesta, when expressed on an as-is basis, in the test group. In this study, we demonstrated that using a multi-enzymes and DFM combination in the diet for broilers can result in improved FE in starter/grower phases and animal welfare parameters, and lead to improved production efficiency under commercial settings.     

Effects of Parity of Dam and Breeding Date on the Litter Size of Inner Mongolia White Cashmere Goats

The article through the analysis and research to the effects of parity of dam and breeding date on the litter size of Inner Mongolia White cashmere goats,determine the optimal mating time of Inner Mongolia White cashmere goats,in order to improve the efficiency of reproductive.Data used were 1998 to 2013 reproductive performance records collected from the Arbas stock farm in Inner Mongolia,China.The GLM procedure of SAS 9.0 software was used to determine the significant effect of the parity of dam and breeding date,the results showed that the parity of dam and breeding date had significant effect on litter size (P< 0.01).Litter size was the lowest in 1st parity does (1.37),the significantly increase in litter size with advance in parity and decline after six parity;Mating cycles for September 29th to October 16th had the highest litter size (1.76),and the estrous months and estrus peak time mainly concentrated in October,so this stage in production could be used as breeding period of Inner Mongolia White cashmere goats.     

Effective population size and inbreeding depression on litter size in rabbits. A case study

The purpose of this study is to use demographic and litter size data on four Spanish maternal lines of rabbits (A, V, H and LP), as a case study, in order to: (i) estimate the effective population size of the lines, as a measure of the rate of increase of inbreeding, and (ii) study whether the inbreeding effect on litter size traits depends on the pattern of its accumulation over time. The lines are being selected for litter size at weaning and are kept closed at the same selection nucleus under the same selection and management programme. The study considered 47 794 l and a pedigree of 14 622 animals. Some practices in mating and selection management allow an increase of the inbreeding coefficient lower than 0.01 per generation in these lines of around 25 males and 125 females. Their effective population size (Ne) was around 57.3, showing that the effect of selection, increasing the inbreeding, was counterbalanced by the management practices, intended to reduce the rate of inbreeding increase. The inbreeding of each individual was broken down into three components: old, intermediate and new inbreeding. The coefficients of regression of the old, intermediate and new inbreeding on total born (TB), number born alive (NBA) and number weaned (NW) per litter showed a decreasing trend from positive to negative values. Regression coefficients significantly different from zero were those for the old inbreeding on TB (6.79 ± 2.37) and NBA (5.92 ± 2.37). The contrast between the coefficients of regression between the old and new inbreeding were significant for the three litter size traits: 7.57 ± 1.72 for TB; 6.66 ± 1.73 for NBA and 5.13 ± 1.67 for NW. These results have been interpreted as the combined action of purging unfavourable genes and artificial selection favoured by the inbreeding throughout the generations of selection.     

Genetic parameters for litter size,piglet growth and sow's early growth and body composition in the Chinese–European line Tai Zumu

Genetics of piglet growth in association with sow's early growth and body composition were estimated in the Tai Zumu line. Piglet and sow's litter growth traits were calculated from individual weights collected at birth and at 3 weeks of age. Sow's litter traits included the number of piglets born alive (NBA), the mean piglet weight (MW) and the standard deviation of weights within the litter (SDW). Sow's early growth was measured by the age at 100 kg (A₁₀₀), and body composition included backfat thickness (BF₁₀₀). A main objective of this study was to estimate separately the direct genetic effect (d) and the maternal genetic effect (m) on piglet weight and daily weight gain during lactation. Variance components were estimated using the restricted maximum likelihood methodology based on animal models. The heritability estimates were 0.19 for NBA, 0.15 and 0.26 for SDW and MW at 3 weeks and 0.42 and 0.70 for A₁₀₀ and BF₁₀₀. The NBA was almost independent from SDW. Conversely, the A₁₀₀ and BF₁₀₀ were correlated unfavourably with SDW (r_g<−0.24, SE<0.12). A stronger selection for litter size should have little effect on litter homogeneity in weights. Selection for lean growth rate tends to favour heterogeneity in weights. The direct effect on piglet weight at birth and daily weight gain accounted for 12% (h² (d) = 0.02) and 50% (h² (d) = 0.11) of the genetic variance, respectively. The association between d and m for piglet weight was not different from zero at birth (r_g = 0.19, SE = 0.27), but a strong antagonism between d and m for daily weight gain from birth to 3 weeks was found (r_g = −0.41, SE = 0.17). Substantial direct and maternal genetic effects influenced piglet growth until weaning in opposite way.     

长白种猪优化选配减少近交畸形的研究

以华南某1 500头规模种猪场2009年到2010年1 502窝长白猪分娩信息进行优化、选配减少近交畸形的研究,结果显示血缘选配优化时将近交系数控制在1%比3%效果明显,平均产活仔数从10.39头/窝提高到10.46头/窝(P＞0.05),畸形率从10.30%下降到4.79%(P＜0.01);对其中402窝出现畸形仔猪...     

Systematic evaluation of in-house broiler litter windrowing effects on production benefits and environmental impact

In-house windrowing of broiler litter between flocks has been adopted by producers to reduce pathogens and improve litter quality before chick placement. In this study, 5 consecutive windrow trials were conducted in commercial broiler houses for their effect on litter bacterial populations, organic matter stabilization, cumulative ammonia emissions, and nutrient transformation and compared with litter conditioning (tilling) in adjacent houses. No significant reduction ofClostridium spp. andEscherichia coli populations was found in windrowed litter from d 0 to 7. No significant difference of 7-d mortality was found between windrow and nonwindrow houses. The windrowed house resulted in better foot quality than the nonwindrowed house from 1 of 3 scored flocks. Water-soluble phosphorus increased in both windrowed and nonwindrowed litter; therefore, appreciable biotic and abiotic activity occurred in litter with both treatments after flocks were removed. Overall, no negative effect of windrow treatments on litter quality for agronomic applications was observed. Both the control and windrow treatments resulted in a decrease in litter moisture content (2 to 5%) likely beneficial to bird health conditions. High ammonia emissions persisted after windrow spreading; therefore, a need may exist for an extended period of ventilation or a litter amendment as crucial before chick placement. Litter amendment at a low dose was effective in lowering ammonia concentrations after windrowing and was more economical comparing to operating fans in winter conditions.     

宁夏盐池草地典型群落枯落物与土壤和水热的关系

摘要：利用原位观测法及分解袋埋放法对宁夏盐池县草地生态系统典型群落枯落物进行研究,得到以下结果,1）试验地冰草（Agropyron cristatum）、甘草（Glycyrrhiza uralensis）、沙蒿(Artemisia desertorum)、赖草(Leymus secalinus)枯落物蓄积月动态与月降水量、均温没有显著相关性,4种枯落物蓄积量10月达最大值,且月波动变异系数较高,为71.77%~107.91%;2）各典型群落枯落物含水量与土壤含水量呈显著正相关（P<0.05）;3）各典型群落枯落物的分解能引起土壤有机质、全氮、碱解氮、速效磷、速效钾的变化,但是对土壤全磷、全钾的影响不明显。     

Variation in the chemical composition of green leaves and leaf litters from three deciduous tree species growing on different soil types

The chemical composition of green leaves and leaf litters of sweet chestnut (Castanea sativa), oak (Quercus robur) and beech (Fagus sylvatica) were determined for 26 sites grouped into high fertility (HF) and low fertility (LF) soils according to base saturation and N-mineralization potentials. Measurements were made of total carbon, acid detergent fibre (ADF), Klason lignin, holo-cellulose, sugar constituents of hemicellulose and phenylpropanoid derivatives of lignin, and nutrient concentrations (N, Ca, P, Mg, K and Mn). Leaf and litter constituents varied within and between species according to soil groups, but beech showed contrasting responses to oak and chestnut. Beech leaves had lower ADF, lignin and cellulose on HF soils than LF soils, whereas oak and chestnut leaves had higher ADF, lignin and cellulose on HF than the LF soils. Conversely, the same constituents in beech leaf litter were higher on HF soils than LF soils, but lower in oak and chestnut leaf litter on HF soils than LF soils. The phenylpropanoid derivatives of lignin and sugar constituents of hemicellulose also showed similar variations in relation to soil groups with contrasting patterns for in leaves and litters. Re-absorption of N from leaves before litter fall was negatively correlated with soil N mineralization potential for beech (highest on LF soils) but showed an unexpected, positive relationship for oak and chestnut (highest on HF soils). These intra-specific differences of leaf and litter chemistry in relation to soil fertility status are unprecedented and largely unexplained. The observed patterns reflect phenotypic responses to soil type that result in continuum of litter quality, within and between tree species, that have been shown in related studies to significantly influence litter decomposition rates.     

Spectrophotometrical characteristics in the near infrared region in beech (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Fagus crenata</Emphasis>) and pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus densiflora</Emphasis>) litters at the various decomposing stages

We examined the relationships between the absorptional characteristics in the near infrared region and the chemical changes of decomposing beech (Fagus crenata) and pine (Pinus densiflora) litters. Spectra as well as the concentrations of chemical substances approached each other and converged with decomposition, although both initial characteristics differed markedly between beech and pine. This indicated that the fundamental chemical structures were almost the same, although their organochemical composition differed. Specific absorption bands for lignin, polysaccharide, and protein were identified at 2,140 and 1,670 nm, 2,270, 1,720, 1,590, and 1,216 nm, and 2,350 nm, respectively. Absorbance at 1,670 nm, peculiar band of aromatics, showed a positive correlation with lignin concentration, which suggested the relative increment of aromatics due to condensed lignin in decomposing litters. Absorbance at 2,140 nm, characterized as the C–H bond in HRC = CHR, showed a negative correlation with lignin concentration, which suggested the decrements of some structures such as side-chains in lignin polymers unrelated to aromatics. Absorbance at 2,270, 1,720, and 1,216 nm, specified to O–H/C–O/C–H bonds in saccharide, might reflect the change of polysaccharide during decomposition because they showed a positive correlation to polysaccharide concentration. In the same way, absorbance at 2,350 nm, identified to the C–H/CH₂ bonds in protein, showed a negative correlation to nitrogen concentration in decomposing litters, which might indicate that the C–H/CH₂ bonds in protein decreased with decomposition due to microbial consumption of carbon in protein. Our findings suggested the possibility that the spectral changes indicate the litter digestibility during decomposition and that also explain the compositional change in decomposing litters.