德州驴生产性能的初步研究

德州驴是优秀的皮肉兼用驴,包括“三粉驴”和“乌头驴”两个品系,但是关于德州驴的研究较少。为了向驴产业提供可靠的德州驴生产性能数据,该研究以40头三粉驴和9头乌头驴为研究对象,系统研究了德州驴的体尺性状、屠宰性能、脏器系数及胸腰椎数等性状特点。结果表明,三粉驴的屠宰率为54.02%,净肉率为42.43%,净皮率为8.12%;乌头驴的屠宰率为53.71%,净肉率为40.32%,净皮率为9.41%。表明三粉驴更适合于向肉用驴品系进行培育,乌头驴更适合于向皮用驴品系进行培育。与乌头驴相比,三粉驴的肝脏系数较高,并且小肠、盲肠显著较长(P<0.01),说明三粉驴具有更加优良的消化及代谢能力,可能是其具有更优异产肉性能的原因之一。调查发现,德州驴群体内存在胸腰椎数的变异,胸椎数为17~19个,腰椎数为5~6个;胸椎数与腰椎数存在不同形式的组合,18胸椎5腰椎占比为73.47%,18胸椎6腰椎占比为12.24%,19胸椎5腰椎占比为2.04%,17胸椎6腰椎占比为12.24%。统计发现,多一个胸椎或者腰椎可使驴皮产量增加。该试验结果可为德州驴产业健康可持续发展提供重要理论支撑,为品种及新品系培育提供数据支持。     

绵羊SPP1和PLCB3基因多态性与产羔数的关联分析

试验旨在探究SPP1基因g.36651870T>C位点多态性、PLCB3基因g.41871219T>C位点多态性与绵羊产羔数之间的关系,以期寻找绵羊产羔数性状相关的分子标记。利用全基因组重测序结合Sequenom MassARRAY誖SNP技术对多羔羊(小尾寒羊、湖羊、策勒黑羊)和单羔羊(滩羊、苏尼特羊、萨福克羊和草原型藏羊)7个绵羊品种SPP1、PLCB3基因的2个位点进行多态性检测,并与小尾寒羊产羔数进行关联分析。结果表明:2个位点均存在TT、TC和CC三种基因型。SPP1基因g.36651870T>C位点的基因型频率和等位基因频率在两类绵羊品种间差异极显著(P<0.01);PLCB3基因g.41871219T>C位点基因型频率在两类绵羊品种间差异不显著(P>0.05),等位基因频率差异显著(P<0.05)。群体遗传学分析表明,SPP1基因g.36651870T>C位点在小尾寒羊、苏尼特羊、萨福克羊和湖羊中均表现为中度多态(0.25≤PIC<0.5),在滩羊、策勒黑羊和草原型藏羊中表现为低度多态(PIC<0.25);PLCB3基因g.41871219T>C位点在滩羊中表现为中度多态(0.25≤PIC<0.5),在其余6个绵羊品种中均表现为低度多态(PIC<0.25)。卡方适合性检验表明,SPP1基因g.36651870T>C位点在7个绵羊品种中均处于哈代-温伯格平衡状态(P>0.05);PLCB3基因g.41871219T>C位点在小尾寒羊、滩羊、苏尼特羊、策勒黑羊、草原型藏羊5个品种中处于哈代-温伯格平衡状态(P>0.05)。关联分析表明,PLCB3基因g.41871219T>C位点多态性与小尾寒羊第1胎产羔数有显著关联(P<0.05),TT基因型个体产羔数显著高于CC基因型个体;SPP1基因g.36651870T>C位点多态性与小尾寒羊不同胎次产羔数之间无显著关联(P>0.05)。综上,PLCB3基因g.41871219T>C位点对小尾寒羊产羔数性状选育具有一定的参考意义,SPP1基因g.36651870T>C位点不适用于小尾寒羊产羔数性状选育。     

Starch digestion rates in multiple samples of commonly used feed grains in diets for broiler chickens

In this study the starch digestion rates in broiler chickens from 18 samples of 5 commonly used feed grains (sorghum, wheat, maize, barley, triticale) were determined. The methodology to determine starch digestion rates in poultry is detailed herein. Starch digestion rates were not significantly different (P = 0.128) across the 18 feed grains, which reflects the wide variations that were observed within a given feedstuff. Nevertheless, starch digestion rates in broiler chickens offered wheat-based diets were significantly more rapid by 56.0% (0.117 versus 0.075 min⁻¹; P = 0.012) than their sorghum-based counterparts on the basis of a pair-wise comparison. In descending order, the following starch digestion rates were observed: wheat (0.117 min⁻¹), barley (0.104 min⁻¹), triticale (0.093 min⁻¹), maize (0.086 min⁻¹), sorghum (0.075 min⁻¹). The implications of these findings are discussed as they almost certainly have implications for poultry nutrition and the development of reduced crude protein diets for broiler chickens.     

稻谷籽粒的压缩特性与含水率关系的实验研究

通过Brookfield质构仪测定了不同含水率的稻谷籽粒(含水率为10.63%、12.25%、13.71%、15.18%、16.53%w.b.)在Z轴(短轴)方向上的压缩特性(破坏力、破坏能、表观接触弹性模量、最大接触应力、破坏应变),得出含水率对稻谷压缩特性的影响规律。实验结果表明:随着压缩形变的增加,稻谷籽粒受到的压力逐渐增加,当到达破裂点时达到最大值,随之急剧减小。随着含水率的增加,稻谷籽粒的压缩破坏力、破坏能、表观接触弹性模量、破坏应力逐渐减小,压缩破坏应变逐渐增加。     

Impact of variation in structure of condensed tannins from sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) on in vitro ruminal methane production and fermentation characteristics

Our study investigated the effects of condensed tannins (CT) on rumen in vitro methane (CH₄) production and fermentation characteristics by incubating lucerne in buffered rumen fluid in combination with different CT extracts at 0 (control), 40, 80 and 120 g CT/kg of substrate DM. Condensed tannins were extracted from four sainfoin accessions: Rees ‘A’, CPI63763, Cotswold Common and CPI63767. Gas production (GP) was measured using a fully automated GP apparatus with CH₄ measured at distinct time points. Condensed tannins differed substantially in terms of polymer size and varied from 13 (Rees ‘A’) to 73 (CPI63767) mean degree of polymerization, but had relatively similar characteristics in terms of CT content, procyanidin: prodelphinidin (PC: PD) and cis:trans ratios. Compared to control, addition of CT from CPI63767 and CPI63763 at 80 and 120 g CT/kg of substrate DM reduced CH₄ by 43% and 65%, and by 23% and 57%, respectively, after 24‐h incubation. Similarly, CT from Rees ‘A’ and Cotswold Common reduced CH₄ by 26% and 46%, and by 28% and 46% respectively. Addition of increasing level of CT linearly reduced the maximum rates of GP and CH₄ production, and the estimated in vitro organic matter digestibility. There was a negative linear and quadratic (p < 0.01) relation between CT concentration and total volatile fatty acid (VFA) production. Inclusion of 80 and 120 g CT/kg of substrate DM reduced (p < 0.001) branched‐chain VFA production and acetate: propionate ratio and was lowest for CPI63767. A decrease in proteolytic activity as indirectly shown by a change in VFA composition favouring a shift towards propionate and reduction in branched‐chain VFA production varied with type of CT and was highest for CPI63767. In conclusion, these results suggest that tannin polymer size is an important factor affecting in vitro CH₄ production which may be linked to the CT interaction with dietary substrate or microbial cells.     

A review of factors influencing litter size in Irish sows

Many factors influence litter size. These include genetics, gilt management, lactation length, parity distribution, disease, stress and boar fertility. In the past 20 years, litter size in Irish sows has increased by only one pig. Born alive figures now average at 11.2 pigs per litter. In this regard, Ireland is falling behind our European competitors who have made significant advances over this time. Denmark, for example, has an average figure of 12.7 pigs born alive per litter and France an average of 12.5. The single area that could be improved immediately is sow feeding. It is important that sows are fed correctly throughout pregnancy. If over-fed during pregnancy, sows will have depressed appetite during lactation. If underfed in pregnancy, sows will be too thin at farrowing. The correct way to feed a pregnant sow is to match her feed allocation to her requirement for maintenance, body growth and growth of her developing foetuses. During lactation, sows should be given as much feed as they can eat to prevent excessive loss of body condition. Liquid-feed curves should be such that lactating sows are provided with a minimum mean daily feed supply of 6.2 kg. A small proportion of sows will eat more and this could be given as supplementary dry feed. Where dry feeding is practised in the farrowing house, it is difficult to hand-feed sows to match their appetite. Ideally ad libitum wet/dry feeders should be used. From weaning to service, sows should once again be fed ad libitum. If liquid feeding, this means giving at least 60 MJ DE (digestible energy) per day during this period. If dry feeding, at least 4 kg of lactation diet should be fed daily. The effort spent perfecting sow feeding management on units should yield high dividends in the form of increased pigs born alive per litter.     

Effects of Alternative Molting Programs and Population on Layer Performance: Results of the Thirty-Fifth North Carolina Layer Performance and Management Test

A study involving 7 white-egg and 3 brown-egg commercial layer strains was conducted at the North Carolina Piedmont Research Station to assess the effects cage population 3-bird vs. 4-bird cages and alternative molt programs on performance through 113 wk of age (791 d). The flock was divided into 3 groups; not molted (NM), maintained in continuous production; molted using feed restriction (FR), an industry-type 14-d feed withdrawal molting program initiated at 463 d of age; and molted using a nonfasted/anorexic program (NF), in which an ad libitum supply of a low protein, low energy molt feed was provided. Productivity, egg size, and egg quality were monitored at 28-d periods throughout the test providing the performance data for the white-egg and brown-egg strains with regard to these management factors. Detailed results by strain are available on the following Web site: http://www.ces.ncsu.edu/depts/poulsci/tech_info.html#layer. The performance for the 3-bird or 4-bird cage groups for either type of layer was similar, except that birds in 4-bird cages had higher feed consumption in the first production phase than did the birds in 3-bird cages. In the same time period the white-egg birds in the 3-bird cages had a greater percentage of cracked eggs and a smaller percentage of Grade A large eggs than those in 4-bird cages. No differences were observed in egg income for the 2 population sizes for either type of layer. However, due to their higher feed consumption, the white egg birds in the 4-bird cages had higher feed cost per hen for the first cycle, which was offset by the egg income component due to their increased production rate. The molted layers outperformed the nonmolted layers for both types of layers in terms of overall income over feed costs. The FR molted hens, under a program that has traditionally been used by commercial producers, outperformed NF-molted hens, indicating that further refinements are needed to make the NF program economically competitive with the FR molting program.     

覆盖方式对旱地小麦花后旗叶抗氧化生理及粒重形成的影响

于2017—2018年和2018—2019年,在西北中部旱作雨养农业区以冬小麦‘康庄974’为试验材料,设秸秆带状覆盖(SM)、地膜覆盖(PM)和无覆盖对照(CK)共3个栽培处理,分析不同覆盖方式对小麦灌浆期土壤水分和温度及抗氧化能力的影响,探讨花后干物质积累量和粒重形成的关系。结果表明,随生育期推进,花后旗叶相对含水量(RWC)逐渐降低,丙二醛(MDA)含量逐渐升高,且PM较SM降、升幅度明显。与CK相比,覆盖显著提高花后旗叶抗氧化酶活性,增加渗透调节物质含量;开花时间越长,SM抗氧化酶活性升高的幅度越大,而PM主要提高花后7 d旗叶抗氧化能力。SM和PM的粒重分别较CK增加14.3%和19.1%(P<0.05)。相关分析表明,土壤水分(SW)是影响旗叶生理活性的关键因子,提高SW,有利于增加RWC(r=0.84^**),从而提高旗叶抗氧化能力,其中RWC和抗坏血酸酶(ASA)活性呈极显著正相关关系(r=0.82^**);ASA活性和脯氨酸(Pro)含量呈极显著正相关关系(r=0.94^**),和MDA含量呈极显著负相...     

赤霉素和磷肥配合施用对胡麻光合酶活性及其产量形成的影响

为探究赤霉素和磷肥配合施用对胡麻叶片光合酶活性以及籽粒产量的影响,以‘轮选2号’为材料,采用田间二因素裂区试验设计,研究了不同磷肥用量水平(P₀:0 kg·hm^-2 P₂O₅,P₁:67.5 kg·hm^-2 P₂O₅,P₂:135 kg·hm^-2 P₂O₅)和赤霉素(Gibberellin acid, GA₃)喷施浓度(G₀:0 mg L^-1,G₁:15 mg·L^-1,G₂:30 mg·L^-1)对胡麻光合同化酶活性、干物质积累量及籽粒产量的影响。结果表明：施磷和喷施赤霉素均显著提高了胡麻叶片RuBP(Ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate)、PEP(Phospho...