Reproductive performance of crossbred and purebred male rabbits

The effect of buck genetic type and crossbreeding parameters on fertility and prolificacy were estimated using two rabbit sire lines and their reciprocal crosses. The relationship between the reproductive performance of inseminated multiparous does and several semen quality traits was also investigated. The semen characteristics evaluated were: pH (pH), mass and individual motility (MM, IM), percentage of viable spermatozoa (Vi), spermatozoa with normal apical ridge (NAR), normal spermatozoa (NSP), spermatozoa with morphological abnormalities of head (HAP), neck-midpiece (NAP), and tail (TAP), spermatozoa with the presence of proximal (PD) and distal (DD) cytoplasmic droplets.

Fertility was analysed as a continuous trait (kindling rate) or as a binary trait (success or failure of kindling). In the first case, the analysis was performed using GLM procedures of SAS v.8 according to a model that included the fixed factors of buck genetic type, number of ejaculates per pool and week of insemination. In the second case, fertility was analysed using GENMOD procedures of SAS v.8 according to a mixed model including the same fixed factors as before plus the physiological status of the does and the permanent random effect of female. Number of kits born alive and number of stillborn were analysed with MIXED procedures of SAS v.8 with the same model used for the analysis of fertility as a binary trait. Estimates of the estimable functions of crossbreeding genetic parameters of the lines were obtained from the solutions of the corresponding models by generalized least squares using GLM, GENMOD and MIXED procedures. Crossbreeding parameters were estimated according to the model of Dickerson. A linear regression was used to determine the relationship between fertility and litter size and the semen characteristics evaluated.

Significant differences in fertility were observed among buck genetic types, which were favourable to type R. Differences between lines in maternal genetic effects were relevant and favourable to type R for fertility. Individual heterosis was important but unfavourable for fertility.

A slight correlation was obtained between all semen quality traits and fertility and prolificacy. Two multiple models were found for fertility, including NAP, IM, NSP, buck genetic type and Vi in one model or NAR in other model. Individual motility had an important positive effect, while NAP had a small negative effect. When MM, TAP and buck genetic type were included in a multiple model for the number of kits born alive, both MM and TAP had significant small effects. Individual motility and DD appeared to be related to number of kits stillborn, but only DD had a significant although negligible effect.     

Responses in carcass lean pH at 24 hours post-mortem in lines of Large White pigs selected for growth rate on a fixed ration over a set time

A restricted maximum likelihood analysis applied to an animal model showed no significant differences (P > 0.05) in pH value of the longissimus dorsi measured at 24 h post-mortem (pH24) between high and low lines of Large White pigs selected over 4 years for post-weaning growth rate on restricted feeding. Genetic and phenotypic correlations between pH24 and production and carcass traits were estimated using all performance testing records combined with the pH24 measurements (5.05–7.02) on slaughtered animals. The estimate of heritability for pH24 was moderate (0.29 ± 0.18). Genetic correlations between pH24 and production or carcass composition traits, except for ultrasonic backfat (UBF), were not significantly different from zero. UBF had a moderate, positive genetic correlation with pH24 (0.24 ± 0.33). These estimates of genetic correlations affirmed that selection for increased growth rate on restricted feeding is likely to result in limited changes in pH24 and pork quality since the selection does not put a high emphasis on reduced fatness.     

Genetic analysis of racing performance in Irish greyhounds

The aim of this study was to analyse racing performance data in Irish greyhounds with regard to genetic and environmental variation. Estimation of heritabilities for racing time (RT) and ranking, and the prediction of breeding values for all greyhounds in the investigated data were carried out. Data from 42,785 races in Ireland in the years 2000-2003 were available. These results were obtained from 42,880 greyhounds on 20 race tracks over a distance of 480 m. Three traits were analysed, RT, ranking and a scaled logarithmic function for RT (ART), which was used to adjust racing time to be normally distributed. The data were analysed with a bivariate animal model. The estimated heritabilities were moderate for RT (0.31) and ART (0.38), but very low for ranking (0.10). The repeatabilities were 0.56 (RT), 0.51 (ART) and 0.13 (ranking). The genetic correlations were very high, 0.99 (RT-ranking) and 0.96 (ART-ranking), while the phenotypic correlation was lower, 0.60 (RT-ranking) and 0.62 (ART-ranking). The genetic trend for the traits as well as the phenotypic change of the average RT was positive.     

Physiological responses of transported goats treated with ascorbic acid during the hot-dry season

The aim of the present study was to determine the physiological responses of transported Red Sokoto goats (RSG) treated with ascorbic acid (AA). Ten RSG treated orally with ascorbic acid served as experimental subjects, while seven goats treated with sterile water served as the control. The goats were transported for 8 h. The ambient temperature and relative humidity during the study period fluctuated between 21 and 38°C and 51 and 91%, respectively, which indicated that the season was thermally stressful and did not favor transportation of goats. The rectal temperature obtained in the control goats was significantly higher (P < 0.01) than the value in the experimental goats after transportation. There was a significant decrease (P < 0.05) in eosinophil counts and an increase (P < 0.01) in neutrophil counts and neutrophil : lymphocyte ratio recorded in the control goats after transportation, which suggested that the control goats were physically and emotionally stressed. The control goats lost 11.9% of their initial liveweight, while the experimental goats lost only 1.04% after transportation. Multiple stresses, including extreme meteorological factors, acted upon the transported goats and impaired their homeostatic mechanism. In conclusion, AA administration in goats reduced the adverse effects of road transportation stress.     

恒河猴血液细胞、生化和凝血功能正常参考指标的测定

测定分析人工饲养及在非麻醉(清醒)状态下108只健康成年恒河猴的血常规、血液生化及血小板和凝血功能正常值,并分析各项检测数据的性别差异。血常规测定值17项,其中,雌猴较雄猴极显著高(P<0·01)的项目为红细胞分布宽度(RDW)。血液生化测定值17项,其中,雌猴比雄猴显著低(P<0·05)的项目有丙氨酸转氨酶(ALT),显著高(P<0·05)的项目有碱性磷酸酶(ALP)。血小板和凝血功能测定值9项,其中,雌猴比雄猴明显高(P<0·05)的项目为活化部分凝血活酶时间(APTT),极显著高(P<0.01)的项目为凝血酶时间(TT)。建立了人工饲养条件下健康成年恒河猴的血常规、血液生化、血小板和凝血功能正常参考值指标,丰富和完善了恒河猴动物实验和疾病诊断中血液分析的基础知识。     

二氢杨梅素对肉仔鸡生长性能、免疫器官指数及血液生化指标的影响

1日龄AA肉公雏300只,随机分为5个组,每组6个重复,每个重复10只鸡。试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ组在基础日粮中分别添加0%、0.025%、0.05%、0.1%和0.25%的二氢杨梅素(DMY),研究DMY对肉仔鸡生长性能、免疫器官指数及血液常规理化指标等影响。结果表明:1)日粮中添加不同剂量的DMY对肉仔鸡日增重有提高的趋势,0.05%的DMY显著提高肉仔鸡饲料转化率(P<0.01);试验期间,各组试验鸡生长发育正常,各组织器官未见异常。2)0.05%DMY显著提高21d肉仔鸡法氏囊指数(P<0.05);3)0.25%DMY组显著降低21d肉仔鸡血清总蛋白、白蛋白含量,对球蛋白无显著影响;4)0.025%、0.05%DMY显著降低21d肉鸡血清谷丙转氨酶(GPT)活性(P<0.05,P<0.01),0.025%～0.1%剂量的DMY能显著降低42d肉鸡血清GOT活性(P<0.05);5)各剂量的DMY对21、42d肉鸡血清谷草转氨酶(GOT)无显著影响。     

不同锌水平对荷斯坦种公牛血液理化指标的影响

本文旨在研究不同水平的锌对荷斯坦种公牛血液理化指标的影响。试验选取30头荷斯坦种公牛,随机分为5组,单因子饲养试验设计,分别饲喂不同锌水平的日粮,A为对照组,饲喂基础日粮,B、C、D、E组锌的添加水平分别为50、80、110和200 mg/kg(按日粮干物质计),试验期为8个月。结果表明:(1)不同锌水平对荷斯坦种公牛血清中谷草转氨酶(GOT)和谷丙转氨酶(GPT)酶活性影响极显著(P<0.01),对碱性磷酸酶(AKP)和乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)活性无显著影响(P>0.05);(2)不同锌水平对荷斯坦种公牛血清中睾酮含量影响极显著(P<0.01),对血清锌影响不显著(P>0.0 5)。综合分析不同锌水平试验牛生理生化指标的变化得出,锌的适宜添加量为1 1 0 mg/kg日粮干物质。     

不同类型小肽产品对断奶仔猪生产性能及血液生化指标的影响

试验研究了3种不同类型的小肽产品等蛋白取代喷雾干燥血浆蛋白粉对21d断奶仔猪的生产性能和血液生化指标的影响。选用体重近似的192头(21±1)d断奶的皮杜长大四元杂交仔猪,随机分为4个处理,每个处理6个重复,每个重复栏8头猪。4个处理日粮分别为:添加2%喷雾干燥血浆蛋白粉的对照组和分别添加2%小肽产品A、B和C等蛋白取代血浆蛋白粉的T1、T2和T3试验组。试验期为21d。试验结果表明,添加3种不同肽产品等蛋白取代血浆蛋白粉对断奶仔猪的生产性能和血液生化指标均无显著影响(P>0.05),小肽产品可以部分等蛋白取代断奶仔猪日粮中的血浆蛋白粉。     

干旱区杨树用材林土壤特性和林木生长对供水的响应

经过4年试验,结果表明,(1)供水对土壤水分调控作用明显,土壤各项含水指标均随供水量的增加而增加;(2)通过灌溉可改善土壤的三相比结构和土壤容重;灌溉对总孔隙度影响不明显;(3)灌溉对地下水位的影响显著,灌水前林地地下水埋深为3.46m,而灌水期内地下水埋深在2.36~2.87m之间,在7500m3/hm2.a灌溉定额以下时,不会造成土地次生盐渍化;(4)不同供水量对林木生长的效应是不同的,随灌溉量增加而造成不同程度的正增长;(5)人工林的蒸腾耗水量随供水量的增加而增加;(6)河套灌区杨树速生丰产林的合理灌溉量为7500m3/hm2.a。     

不同光增方式和周期对蛋鸡蛋品质和血液生化指标的影响

研究光增方式和光照周期对蛋鸡蛋品质和血液生化指标的影响。将20周龄海兰褐商品蛋鸡320只,随机分为8组,每组4个重复,每个重复10只鸡。试验光照周期采用渐增和骤增2种,光周期设11L∶13D、13L∶11D、15L∶9D、17L∶7D4个水平。结果表明:①不同光增方式对蛋形指数和哈氏单位有显著影响(P<0.05),以渐增条件下较好。不同光增方式对血液生化指标没有显著影响(P>0.05)。②不同光照周期对蛋黄颜色有显著影响(P<0.05),以15L∶9D处理组蛋黄颜色最好。不同光照周期对血液生化指标有一定影响,以13L∶11D处理组较好。