A survey of northern Victorian dairy farmers to investigate dairy calf management: colostrum feeding and management

Objectives

To describe colostrum management practices carried out in northern Victorian dairy herds and to identify weaknesses in these areas that may affect calf health and welfare by comparing the results with the current industry recommendations

Methods

A questionnaire to obtain information about colostrum management and calf‐rearing practices was sent to commercial dairy farming clients of Rochester Veterinary Practice between June and September 2013. The questionnaire consisted of a general herd overview and colostrum harvesting practices.

Results

The response rate was 39% (58/150). Many dairy producers were not meeting the current industry recommendations in the following areas: (1) time of removal calf from the dam, (2) relying on calf suckling colostrum from the dam to achieve adequate passive transfer, (3) failing to supplement calves with colostrum, (4) feeding inadequate volumes of colostrum, (5) delayed colostrum harvesting, (6) pooling of colostrum, (7) failing to objectively assess colostrum quality or relying on visual assessment and (8) storing colostrum for a prolonged periods of time at ambient temperatures.

Conclusion

The results from this survey highlight the need for greater awareness of industry standards for colostrum management and feeding hygiene.

     

Improved milk production through PG–PL system by provision of in‐house shelter management in lactating Murrah buffaloes during winter season

Comprehensive information on the role of β‐casein and plasminogen–plasmin (PG–PL) system in milk secretion of Murrah buffaloes during winter season is lacking, although effects of cold stress can be ameliorated to an extent by altering microclimate at farm level. Hence, this study was aimed to determine the changes in productivity along with PG–PL system of milk, plasma hormones and metabolites of buffaloes during winter (December–January) season under two different management systems. Average minimum temperature and wind chill index during this season were 7.02 and 12.74 °C respectively. Buffaloes were divided in two groups of six animals each: control and treatment, where treatment group animals were placed in‐house with floor bedding of paddy straw and the control group animals in loose housing system without straw bedding. Physiological responses were recorded, and milk and blood samples were collected at weekly intervals for six‐week experimental period. Under in‐house management system, buffaloes experienced better comfort by alleviating environmental stress as their physiological responses such as respiration rate and pulse rate were significantly reduced (p < 0.01) as compared to the control, which subsequently resulted higher milk yield by 9.92% (p < 0.05). Analysis of milk samples revealed higher concentration of plasminogen (10.6 vs. 8.05 μg/ml; p < 0.01) and β‐casein (p < 0.05), and lower plasmin level (0.299 vs. 0.321 μg/ml; p < 0.05) in buffaloes under treatment group. It was also found that plasma cortisol, glucose and non‐esterified fatty acids levels were higher (p < 0.01) in control group as compared to the treatment animals by 13.6%, 8.14% and 12.6% respectively. However, milk composition, growth hormone, epinephrine and norepinephrine level in plasma were similar in both the groups. Hence, it may be concluded that provision of in‐house shelter management with floor bedding of paddy straw during winter was effective to minimize environmental stress and improved milk production through manipulation of PG–PL system in buffaloes.     

Effects of oral supplementation of probiotic strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Enterococcus faecium on diarrhoea events of foals in their first weeks of life

Foal first diarrhoea is one of the most prominent problems in the early life of horses. Probiotics might have the potency to prevent or at least diminish neonatal diarrhoea. We hypothesised that the treatment of foals with probiotic strains of Lactobacillus rhamnosus and Enterococcus faecium starting early after birth and then daily over 2 weeks would prevent or mitigate foal heat diarrhoea. The influence of this probiotic treatment on diarrhoea incidence and growth and health performance of young foals was investigated. Thirty‐four foals were randomly allocated to two groups. From day 1 to 14 of life, the foals received either placebo (PG, n = 16) or the probiotic treatment (TG, n = 18). Clinical examination was performed, and the faeces consistency score (FCS, 1–5; with diarrhoea defined by ≤3) was recorded once per day in weeks 1 and 2 and once weekly in weeks 3–8 of life (WL). The body height was measured at birth and after two and eight WL. Diarrhoea occurred in the 1st WL in 19% and 61% of PG and TG foals respectively. In the 1st WL, diarrhoea lasted 0.3 ± 0.8 and 1.6 ± 1.4 days in PG and TG foals respectively. In the 2nd WL, diarrhoea occurred in 94% and 84% of PG and TG foals, respectively, and lasted for 3.0 ± 1.5 and 3.7 ± 1.6 days respectively. At least two periods of diarrhoea developed in 33% and 65% of PG and TG foals respectively. The TG foals grew slightly slower than the PG foals. The results indicated that the probiotic treatment of neonatal foals as performed in this study was not suitable to reduce diarrhoea within the first two WL, because contrary to the hypothesis, the TG foals suffered more frequently and for longer periods from diarrhoea than the PG foals.     

热带海岸次生林群落主要乔木的种间关联分析

对热带海岸次生林群落主要乔木种群的重要值、方差比率、χ~2统计量和Ochiai(OI)指数等种间联结性指标进行测定,旨在揭示该群落优势种群之间相互作用的内在关联及种对间关联性的内在规律。结果表明:香蒲桃是热带海岸次生林群落的主要建群种;热带海岸次生林群落19个主要种群总体关联性表现为不显著正关联,反映了该群落尚未达到稳定的演替阶段;χ~2检验结果显示该群落优势种群正关联种对与负关联种对数量相当,无关联种对数较少,分别占总对数的42.7%、43.3%和14.0%,显著正关联种对数为1对,极显著和显著负关联种对数为2对;Ochiai(OI)指数显示66对种对的OI值落在[0.6,1],反映出热带海岸次生林主要种对间关联程度较为紧密。综上所述,热带海岸次生林群落优势种群种对间种间关联明显,物种之间存在一定的独立性,整体趋向稳定发展,实践中为加快热带次生林演替的进程,应重点保护正联结性较强的树种。     

高校心理健康教育网络课程模式的构建与实例分析

计算机多媒体技术和网络技术日新月异的发展,教育信息化的推进,为努力实现高校心理健康教育课程教学内容、教学手段和教学方法的全面创新,本文以《心理健康教育》网络课程为例,尝试剖析其在模式构建、教学设计、交互安排、教学应用等方面的特征,以期为开辟高校心理健康教育课程的新模式提供思路。     

Response of labile organic C and N pools to plastic film removal from semiarid farmland soil

To examine the effects of plastic film removal on grain yield and soil organic matter (SOM), a spring maize (Zea may L.) field experiment was conducted for 5 yr at Changwu Agricultural and Ecological Experimental Station of Northwest China. Compared with traditional plastic film mulching during entire growing stages (FM), plastic film removal at the silking stage (RM) resulted in a 6.3% higher average maize yield. Under the RM treatment, soil organic carbon and total nitrogen significantly increased after the 5‐yr cultivation in the 0‐ to 20‐cm layer. Significant increases in extractable organic C (EOC), KMnO₄‐oxidizable C (KMnO₄‐C) and C management index (CMI) in the 0‐ to 20‐cm layer, and light fraction organic C and EOC in the 20‐ to 40‐cm layer were observed in response to plastic film removal after the 1‐yr treatment; the responses were more significant after 5 yr. Under the RM treatment, significant increases in microbial biomass C, light fraction organic N, extractable organic N, KMnO₄‐C and CMI were also observed after five years in the 20‐ to 40‐cm layer. Moreover, KMnO₄‐C and EOC were much more sensitive than other labile SOM fractions to the application of RM, even after only 1 yr of cultivation. Therefore, compared with mulching for the whole growing season, plastic film removal at the maize silking stage is an effective option for increasing yields and enhancing SOM concentration and soil sustainability in the regions with semiarid monsoon climates that have sufficient rainfall during maize reproductive stages.     

滇东北4种典型筇竹林凋落物的持水性

以滇东北4种典型筇竹林为研究对象，对比分析不同类型筇竹林凋落物储量及持水性能，从而为滇东北筇竹林生态可持续经营提供理论依据和实践指导。研究结果表明，凋落物储量为人工筇竹-黄皮树混交林（7.61 t/hm²） > 天然筇竹-人工黄皮树混交林（6.61 t/hm²） > 天然筇竹-人工厚朴混交林（5.73 t/hm²） > 天然筇竹纯林（5.23 t/hm²）。凋落物最大持水量为天然筇竹-人工厚朴混交林（3.45 t/hm²） > 人工筇竹-黄皮树混交林（3.22 t/hm²） > 天然筇竹-人工黄皮树混交林（2.89 t/hm²） > 天然筇竹纯林（2.69 t/hm²）。4种类型筇竹林凋落物吸水速率均随着浸泡时间延长而逐渐趋于一致，筇竹混交林凋落物吸水速率高于筇竹纯林。凋落物的总有效拦蓄量为人工筇竹-黄皮树混交林（9.74 t/hm²） > 天然筇竹-人工厚朴混交林（8.95 t/hm²） > 天然筇竹-人工黄皮树混交林（7.73 t/hm²） > 天然筇竹纯林（6.23 t/hm²）。     

校园网络舆情视域下高职院校学生党员教育管理体系构建研究

高职院校学生党员思想培养是校园党务工作者的重要任务。随着互联网的快速发展,高职院校学生党员成为网络阵地的新生力量。新媒体下网络舆情因其自由性、隐秘性、多样性等特点,因此党务工作也应与时俱进,重视校园网络舆情,构建合理的管理体系,进而强化对学生党员的教育管理工作。