Effects of main cereal type and feed form on production performance,egg quality and egg sanitary indices of laying hens

ABSTRACT

1. The experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of cereal types (maize or wheat) and feed forms (pelleted or mash feed) on production performance, egg quality and egg sanitary indices in laying hens.

2. Three hundred and sixty hens (Jinghong No. 1) at 18 weeks of age were randomly assigned to four treatments with six replicates of 15 hens per replicate according to a 2 × 2 factorial design with two cereal types (maize or wheat) and two feed forms (pelleted or mash feed).

3. Compared with the wheat-based diet, the maize-based diet improved (P < 0.05) average egg weight of laying hens. Yolk colour of hens fed with the maize-based diet was higher (P < 0.05) in comparison to those fed the wheat-based diet, while Haugh units were lower (P < 0.05) for the maize-based treatment. Egg mass and average daily feed intake of hens fed the pelleted diet were higher (P < 0.05) than of those fed the mash diet. However, the mash diet improved (P < 0.05) yolk colour compared with the pelleted diet. The percentage of dirty eggs for the wheat-based diet was higher (P < 0.05) than for the maize-based diet. The percentage of dirty eggs was higher (P < 0.05) in birds fed the pelleted diet compared with those fed the mash diet. There were interactions (P < 0.05) between cereal type and feed form, with regard to average egg weight and shell thickness.

4. In conclusion, dietary cereal type affected average egg weight, yolk colour and Haugh units in eggs, while feed form influenced egg mass, average daily feed intake and yolk colour.     

Identification of potential genomic regions for egg weight by a haplotype-based genome-wide association study using Bayesian methods

ABSTRACT

1. Theoretically, haplotype blocks might be a more suitable alternative to SNP genotypes as they are usually better at capturing multi-allelic QTL effects, compared to individual SNP genotypes in genome-wide association studies. The objectives of this study were to identify genomic regions related to egg weight traits by Bayesian methods (BayesA, BayesB, and BayesN) that fit fixed-length haplotypes using GenSel software.

2. Genotypes at 294,705 SNPs, that were common on a 600K Affymetrix chip, were phased for an egg-laying hen population of 1,063 birds. Recorded traits included first egg weight (FEW) and average egg weight at 28, 36, 56, 66, 72 and 80 weeks of age.

2. Fitting 1Mb haplotypes from BayesB resulted in the highest proportion of genetic variance explained for the egg weight traits. Based on the trait, the genetic variance explained by each marker ranged from 27% to 76%.

3. Different haplotype windows associated with egg weight traits only explained a small percentage of the genetic variance.

4. The top one 1-Mb window on GGA1 explained approximately 4.05% of total genetic variance for the FEW. Candidate genes, including PRKAR2B, HMGA2, LEMD3, GRIP1, EHBP1, MAP3K7, and MYH were identified for egg weight traits.

5. Several genomic regions, potentially associated with egg weight traits, were identified, some of which overlapped with known genes and previously reported QTL regions for egg production traits.     

Silage and haylage as forage in slow and fast-growing broilers – effects on performance in Campylobacter jejuni infected birds

ABSTRACT

1. This study investigated the effects of daily intake of silage or haylage on broiler production performance and organ development. Furthermore, effects of daily intake of Lactobacillus plantarum either via silage or by supplemented drinking water, on Campylobacter jejuni loads in faeces were studied.

2. To test this, a 42-d experiment using Ross 308 and a 63-d experiment with Rowan Rangers hybrids, were performed. Silage inoculated with L. plantarum strain 256 and haylage were fed in total mixed rations with mixtures of 85% of pellets and 15% of respective forage (DM-based weight). Feed intake (FI), forage intake, body weight (BW) and feed conversion ration (FCR) were monitored weekly. Mortality was recorded daily, and organ weights were registered at slaughter. Quantification of C. jejuni was performed by colony counts from faecal samples after culture on agar plates.

3. There was a negative effect of haylage on BW and FI in the fast-growing Ross 308 hybrid. Silage had a negative effect on BW only on week four and six. Water inoculated with L. plantarum 256 increased BW in the starter period. Interestingly, no significant adverse effect of forage inclusion was observed in the Rowan Ranger birds.

4. Relative weight of the emptied gizzard was higher in both Ross 308 and Rowan Ranger birds fed haylage and silage than in the control group. In Ross 308 birds, both forages significantly reased the relative weight of gizzard with digestive content when compared to birds fed solely pellets.

5. In both studies, higher consumption of silage than haylage was observed.

6. In conclusion, daily intake of L. plantarum 256 either via silage or supplemented in drinking water, was not effective in reducing the shedding of C. jejuni in either Ross 308 or Rowan Ranger hybrids at the end of the rearing period.     

九连山国家森林公园负氧离子浓度时空变化及影响要素研究

负氧离子不仅对空气质量具有改善作用，而且对人体健康起到重要的影响。通过连续观测九连山国家森林公园空气负氧离子浓度，分析负氧离子浓度的时空变化规律及与各气象要素之间的相互关系。结果表明，九连山国家森林公园负氧离子浓度水平达到Ⅰ级标准，对人体健康极有利。原始阔叶林中负氧离子浓度明显高于人工林中负氧离子的浓度，且原始阔叶林和人工林中负氧离子浓度都呈现夏秋高于冬春，夏季最高，冬季最低；早晚浓度明显高于白天浓度的规律。因此九连山国家森林公园适合出游时间为夏秋季，且上午或傍晚最佳。此外，负氧离子的浓度与空气温度、湿度以及降水量都有明显的相关性，同时也受其他气象因素的影响。这些结果可以为推进森林旅游业的建设提供科学支持，特别是自然保护区内负氧离子资源和旅游产品的开发。     

不同饲养水平对瑶山鸡生产性能和胴体品质的影响

文章旨在研究不同饲养水平对瑶山鸡生产性能和胴体特征的影响。试验将400只平均体重一致的1日龄瑶山鸡随机分为2组,每组4个重复,每个重复50只。2组分别饲喂代谢能水平为3155 Kcal/kg、粗蛋白质水平为225 g/kg的高能高蛋白日粮和代谢能水平为2965 Kcal/kg、粗蛋白质水平为195 g/kg的低能低蛋白日粮。试验共开展10 w。同时将240只产蛋高峰期瑶山鸡随机分为2组,每组4个重复,每个重复30只,饲喂上述日粮4 w,试验结束后收集受精蛋进行孵化。结果:高能高蛋白组种鸡在8和10 w的体重和采食量均显著高于低能低蛋白组(P<0.05),而料重比显著降低(P<0.05)。高能高蛋白组种鸡受精率和孵化率显著高于低能低蛋白组(P<0.05),而残次率、胚胎死亡率和出壳前死亡率显著降低(P<0.05)。1~10 w时高能高蛋白组种鸡体重均显著高于低能低蛋白组(P<0.05),与低能低蛋白组相比,高能高蛋白组屠体重、可食用部分显著升高(P<0.05),腿肌占比显著降低(P<0.05)。结论:中等生长速度的瑶山肉种鸡可以更有效地利用高能量高蛋白(代谢能:3155 Kcal/kg,粗蛋白质:225 g/kg)饲料。     

红河州凝冻天气预报预警系统

通过实地考察、历史统计等确定凝冻天气多发易发点,然后进行区划分级,分别建立预报方程,做出凝冻天气预报。包括以下几个方面的内容:确定凝冻天气多发易发点,并进行区划;找出不同凝冻天气等级的温度临界值;选取凝冻天气预报因子,建立预报方程;在实践中检验,对预报方程作进一步的订正;建立基本信息数据库以及凝冻天气预报预警发布平台。     

不同培养基继代培养蜡蚧轮枝菌对产孢量和烟粉虱毒力的影响

为了探究不同培养基继代培养的蜡蚧轮枝菌对烟粉虱的作用效果,通过继代培养方法测定JMC-01、JMC-02菌株的产孢量、对烟粉虱的毒力及其几丁质酶活性。结果表明,JMC-01、JMC-02菌株在添加蝉蜕和烟粉虱的PDA培养基中连续培养5代的产孢量、对烟粉虱的毒力、几丁质酶活性均高于无添加的PDA培养基,且JMC-01菌株的各项参数均高于JMC-02菌株。JMC-01菌株在添加蝉蜕的PDA培养基中T_1和T_3代的产孢量最大,均为1.279×10~7个/mL,T_3代对烟粉虱的毒力最大,为88.33%,T_5代的几丁质酶活最高,为0.268 3 U/mL;在添加烟粉虱的PDA培养基中,JMC-01菌株的最大产孢量、对烟粉虱的最高毒力和最高几丁质酶活分别出现在S_2、S_4和S_5代,分别为1.270×10~7个/mL、88.33%和0.325 4 U/mL。回归分析结果显示,JMC-01、JMC-02菌株几丁质酶活性与烟粉虱校正死亡率呈显著的正相关,且拟合优度较好。本试验表明JMC-01、JMC-02菌株均对烟粉虱具有较强的毒力,添加蝉蜕和烟粉虱的培养基可以维持菌株生长特性、增加产孢量、延缓菌株退化、增强菌株的几丁质酶活性,为烟粉虱的生物防治提供了新的菌种资源。     

四甲基戊二酸对夏玉米光合生产特征的调控效应

为研究四甲基戊二酸(TGA)对夏玉米光合特征和产量的调控效应, 2018、2019年在中国农业科学院新乡试验基地开展大田试验,以中单909 (ZD909)和京农科728 (JNK728)为试验材料,设置5个TGA施用梯度(0、75、150、225和300 g hm~(–2))。结果表明,适宜剂量的TGA处理可提高玉米产量、延缓玉米生育期内功能叶的衰老速率,增强灌浆期的净光合速率,试验条件下TGA的最佳施用量为150 g hm~(–2)。在TGA最佳施用量下, ZD909和JNK728的产量相比对照2年平均分别增加8.7%和11.7%。2个品种玉米生育期内叶绿素含量、可溶性蛋白含量和光合势相比对照平均分别增加14.3%和19.7%、18.7%和22.7%、10.9%和16.9%;而叶片衰老速率相比对照平均降低了55.9%和56.5%;灌浆期的净光合速率相比对照平均分别增加44.0%和58.4%。相关性分析表明,玉米产量与生育期内叶片衰老速率呈显著负相关,而与灌浆期净光合速率呈显著正相关。综上, TGA处理能够提高叶片叶绿素和可溶性蛋白含量,延缓玉米叶片衰老速率,并提高了灌浆期净光合速率,进而实现玉米增产。