Ileal amino acid and phosphorus digestibility responses of pigs to microbial phytase supplementation of high-phytin diets

The hypothesis that increase in dietary phytin amplifies phytin binding to protein thereby reducing protein digestion, which is alleviated by phytase, was tested. A 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of dietary treatments was used to investigate the response of growing pigs to supplemental phytase (0, or 1200 units/kg) in low- or high-phytin P diets (2.2 or 3.9 g/kg). Eight crossbred barrows (28–30 kg) were canulated and assigned to crates using a double, 4 × 4 Latin Square design. Pigs were fed each of the 4 diets at 3 times metabolic BW (0.09  BW kg ^0.75) for 7 d. Ileal digesta was collected for 12 h on d 6 and d 7 by attaching plastic bags to the cannula. Feed and ileal digesta were analyzed for N, energy and P. Phytase had no effect on apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of N or AAs. The AID of some AAs was higher in the high-phytin diet, which contradicts the hypothesis that higher phytin content would have a negative impact. In contrast, the AID of P was depressed by high dietary phytin (P < 0.01) and increased by phytase (P < 0.01) more so at the higher dietary phytin resulting in a phytin × phytase interaction (P < 0.01).     

Impact of controlled fermentation and steeping of high moisture corn on its nutritional value for pigs

High moisture corn (HMC) can undergo fermentation during storage that may improve its nutritional value for pigs. Stored HMC used in this study contained (n = 4) 75% dry matter (DM), and, on a DM basis, 63.8% starch, 0.5% mono and disaccharides, 9.9% protein, 19 mM acetic acid, 18 mM lactic acid (LA), 1.25 × 10⁷ cfu g^− 1 of LA producing bacteria, 2.88 g kg^− 1 total phosphorus (P), and 1.26 g kg^− 1 soluble P. The soluble P content was higher than in freshly harvested HMC (0.27 g kg^− 1 DM) and indicates P release during storage. Studies were aimed at altering the nutritional value of stored HMC by controlled fermentation or steeping. Changes in LA content were not affected (P > 0.05) by addition of exogenous Lactobacillus and Bacillus bacteria. Steeping of HMC with phytase (Ronozyme) was examined at four inclusion levels (0, 500, 750, 1000 FTU kg^− 1) and at either 21 °C or 37 °C. At 37 °C added phytase released virtually all phytate P within 6 h irrespective of the level (levels increased by 1.44 g P kg^− 1 DM); at 21 °C, the increase was maximized at 1.2 g P kg^− 1 DM after 24 h. The feeding value of HMC for pigs can be altered by steeping with exogenous phytase and does not appear to require microbial inoculants.     

内蒙古典型草原区植被动态与植被恢复——以锡林郭勒盟典型草原区为例

内蒙古草原植被是一个极脆弱的生态系统,易受干旱等自然灾害影响。自1999年以来,全区大部分地区连续三年干旱和虫害(蝗灾),造成严重的草原退化和沙化。2002年后,内蒙古天然植被整体上有不同程度好转,草原生态环境有所改善。本文以锡林郭勒1999至2004年MODIS和TM影象数据和地面样点数据为依据,从宏观和微观两方面揭示了锡林郭勒草地植被动态规律和变化趋势,并系统分析了草地植被发生的变化原因、驱动因素和机理,阐明了锡林郭勒盟典型区草地所面临的问题,以期为我区草原植被恢复应采取的对策和措施提供依据。     

Electro-acupuncture and Chinese herbs for treatment of cervical intervertebral disk disease in a dog

A non-ambulatory dog with tetraparesis following a pain episode that had evolved over 2 months was submitted for medical treatment and diagnosed with intervertebral disk disease at C3-C4 and dorsal extradural compression at C1-C2 and C3-C4 using myelography and computed tomography. The dog experienced ambulation recovery after 15 days of treatment with only electroacupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine, with marked improvement occurring after only 10 treatments. Six months of follow-up demonstrated that the dog was stable and had no recurrence of symptoms. Therefore, it was concluded that the combination of electroacupuncture and Chinese herbal medicine was responsible for motor rehabilitation.     

THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN RETRACTED Exergy as an ecological application used in the recovery process of benthic communities

Exergy, the thermodynamic function that represents the distance of an open system from equilibrium, is proposed as an ecological indicator for summarizing the complex dynamics occurring in a disturbed community during its recovery processes. These complex dynamics can be difficult to capture by using classical indices. In this study, we sampled macrobenthos using the BACI scheme (before versus after; control versus impact) in tidal wetlands of west Chongming Island, China, an area that has been disturbed by ecological engineering measures. Exergy storage is estimated for benthic communities. The control area is proposed as dynamic reference for estimating local exergy storage of the benthic community. Three different methods were used for estimating exergy on the basis of coefficients: (a) taken for taxa groups; (b) estimated from coding genes given for broad taxonomic groups; and (c) estimated from genome size taken as close as possible to the taxonomic level of the species, providing a basis for inferring similarities. We found a decrease of local exergy content in the disturbed area 9 days after the disturbance. Subsequently, the reference exergy of the benthic community increased (i.e. in the surrounding control area) in accordance with the proposed hypothesis regarding the dynamics of exergy storage during a system's development. Estimates of local exergy arrived at using the three methods provided comparable results. Based on this, we then discuss the feasibility of using the more readily available genome size data for estimating exergy. This result may have important implications for broader application of this indicator to biological systems. Moreover, the adjacent control samples seem to represent an appropriate dynamic reference for estimating the local exergy of disturbed communities. We found that exergy was a useful indicator that integrates the processes underlying the recovery of the benthic community after disturbance.     

Exogenous eFSH, follicle coasting, and hCG as a novel superovulation regimen in mares

The objective of this study was to evaluate various equine follicle-stimulating hormone (eFSH) treatment protocols and the effect of “follicle coasting” on ovulation and embryo recovery rates in mares. Cycling mares (n = 40) were randomly assigned to one of four groups 7 days after ovulation: (1) 12.5 mg eFSH twice daily until follicles were 35 mm or larger; (2) 12.5 mg eFSH twice daily until follicles were 32 mm or larger; (3) 12.5 mg eFSH twice daily for 3.5 days followed by 12.5 mg eFSH enriched with luteinizing hormone (LH) twice daily until follicles were 35 mm or larger; and (4) 25 mg eFSH once daily until follicles were 32 mm or larger. Mares in groups 1 and 3 were injected with human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) (2500 IU intravenously) at the end of eFSH treatment, whereas mares in groups 2 and 4 were given hCG approximately 42 and 54 hours, respectively, after the last eFSH treatment (“follicle coasting”). Nonsurgical embryo collection was performed 6.5 to 7.5 days after ovulation. Each mare experienced a nontreated estrous cycle before being reassigned to a second treatment. Ovulation rates for mares in treatment groups 1 to 4 were 3.3 ± 0.4, 4.1 ± 0.4, 3.5 ± 0.4, and 2.8 ± 0.4 (mean ± SEM; P < .05), respectively. One or more embryos were recovered from more than 80% of mares in each treatment group, and embryo recovery rate per flush was similar among treatment groups (1.9 ± 0.3, 2.6 ± 0.3, 1.9 ± 0.3 and 1.9 ± 0.3, respectively; P > .05). The overall embryo recovery rate was 2.1 ± 1.5 embryos per flush. In summary, ovulation rate was higher for mares treated with eFSH (3.4 ± 0.4) compared with non-treated controls (1.1 ± 0.2). Ovulation rate in mares in which hCG was delayed (follicle coasting) was higher (P < .05) when treatments were given twice per day versus once per day. Administration of equine luteinizing hormone (eLH) in conjunction with eFSH did not have an advantage over mares treated only with eFSH.     

N、P、K肥配施对杂交甜高梁草产量及效益的影响

应用D-最优化设计研究N、P、K肥配施与杂交甜高粱品种甜格雷兹饲草产量及效益的关系，结果表明：N肥对草产量和效益影响最大；在较高N水平下，P、K间交互效应均利于甜格雷兹的增产增收；其最优施肥方案为N150．53kg／hm^2、P20550．82kg／hm^2、K2075．71kg／hm^2，草产量为112．09t／hm^2，获得效益20．902×10^3元／hm^2。     

饲料中苏丹红染料的测定

建立用Agilent1100高效液相色谱法(HPLC)检测饲料样品中苏丹红含量的方法。采用C18柱(250mm×4.6mmi.d.,5μm),以乙腈和水的混合溶液为流动相,对比采用不同处理方法后,苏丹红Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ相应的平均回收率。结果表明,在0.1、0.2、0.5、1.0、2.0mg/kg5种添加浓度下,苏丹红Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ和Ⅳ相应的回收率均高于90%。说明该方法具有较好的准确性。     

多重线性回归法测定猪内源磷排泄量及饲料磷真消化率的研究

本研究旨在采用多重线性回归法测定生长猪内源磷排泄量及高粱和豆粕中磷的真消化率。试验选用6头健康大白×长白阉公猪为消化试验动物,平均体重为(23.6±1.23)kg。采用6×6拉丁方设计,设6个磷水平(0.08%、0.15%、0.23%、0.30%、0.38%、0.53%),以豆粕、葡萄糖、玉米淀粉等为基础,以高粱和豆粕为磷唯一来源,配制半纯合试验饲粮。饲粮中添加0.35%Cr2O3作为外源指示剂。试验分6个试验期,每期8d,其中6d适应期,2d收粪期。饲粮中磷表观消化率受饲粮中磷水平的影响(P<0.05),并随饲粮中磷水平的提高由14.88%增大至34.88%。在以g/kgDMI为计量单位条件下,生长猪粪磷的排出量与饲粮磷的摄入量呈线性关系(P=0.0001)。结果表明,多重线性回归法可用于生长猪内源磷排泄量和植物性饲料磷真消化率的测定;以豆粕-高粱型模型饲粮测定出生长猪内源磷排泄量为0.2940g/kgDMI,高粱中磷的真消化率为56.05%,豆粕中磷的真消化率为39.41%。     

Linking Land-use, Water Body Type and Water Quality in Southern New Zealand

Land-use and vegetation cover have been linked to the nutrient levels (nitrogen, phosphorus) of surface waters in several countries. However, the links generally relate to streams and rivers, or to specific types of standing water, for example shallow lakes in a geologically defined region. We measured physical variables and nutrient chemistry of 45 water bodies representative of the wide range of lentic wetland environments (swamps, riverine wetlands, estuaries, reservoirs, shallow lakes, deep lakes) in Otago, New Zealand, and related these to catchment variables and land-use in order to assess the potential influence of catchment modification on water quality of these diverse wetlands. Catchment boundaries and land cover were derived from maps using ArcView GIS software. Our predictions that concentrations of nutrients and other components of water quality would correlate positively with the nature and intensity of catchment modification were confirmed in multivariate analyses. Physical and chemical measures were positively related to the extent of modification in the catchment (percentage of the catchment in pasture, planted forest, scrub and urban areas), and negatively related to lack of catchment modification (more of the catchment in bare ground, tussock grassland and indigenous forest). The strong negative correlations between nutrient concentrations, suspended sediment, water colour and the percentage of tussock cover in the catchment imply that increased conversion of the␣native tussock grassland to pastoral farming in␣Otago will increase nutrient concentrations and␣reduce water quality of the diverse lentic ecosystems.