Incorporation of sunflower oil or linseed oil in equine compound feedstuff: 1 Effects on haematology and on fatty acids profiles in the red blood cells membranes

Eight trained horses (6 mares – 2 geldings, 6 Selle Français, 2 Trotteur Français, 12 ± 5.8 years old, 538 ± 72.5 kg) were offered three diets to potentially affect haematology and the fatty acids (FA) profiles in red blood cells (RBC) membranes. The control diet was composed of 50% hay and 50% concentrate containing mainly rolled barley (48%) and whole spelt (48%). In the case of sunflower oil diet, sunflower oil (62.0% of α‐linoleic acid, LA) was incorporated at a rate of 8% and substituted by an equal proportion of barley. In the linseed oil diet, first cold‐pressed linseed oil (56.0% of α‐linolenic acid, ALA) was utilised at a similar incorporation rate of 8%. The experimental design consisted of three 3 × 3 latin squares with one being incomplete. Each period lasted 8 weeks. On average, the total feed intake (straw excluded) was 6.2 kg/day and the oil intake 0.278 kg/day. The oils significantly increased the concentrations of RBC, haemoglobin and haematocrit. The oils had no significant impact on the haematology profiles except that platelets tended to decrease in both oil‐based diets. The most abundant FA in the RBC membranes of the control diet samples were in the decreasing order LA, C18:1n9‐7, C18:0, C16:0 and the arachidonic acid (ARA) respectively. The sunflower oil supplementation slightly increased the amount of LA (36.23 vs. 34.72 mg/dl, p = 0.55) and C22:4n‐6 (0.21 vs. 0.09 mg/dl, p = 0.22), while the decrease was observed in case of other FA (C16:1n‐7, 1.08 vs. 1.42 mg/dl, p = 0.03), C20:3n‐6 (0.22 vs. 0.31 mg/dl, p = 0.02), and ARA (1.17 vs. 1.63 mg/dl, p = 0.08). Linseed oil induced similar effects in the n‐6 series FA profiles. In the context of practical applications, our results show that linseed oil incorporation in the diet could improve the haematology and the n‐3 FA profiles potentially leading to an increased performance.     

The suitability of some blood gas and biochemical parameters as diagnostic tools or early indicators of ascites syndrome in broiler sire lines

In recent few years, there have been some attempts to find a reliable indicator trait as a selection criterion against susceptibility to ascites syndrome (AS). Blood parameters were of great interest as they could be measured in live animals without implementing an ascites‐inducing challenge (AIC). In this work, the suitability of some blood parameters was evaluated for diagnosing AS‐susceptible chicks in later steps of the disease in trial 1 as well as their early predictive ability in trial 2. In the first trial, one hundred 1‐day‐old chicks from two pure broiler lines namely S₁ and S₂ and, in the second trial, 226 1‐day‐old chicks from line S₂ were subjected to AIC. Saline drinking water (1200 mg/l) and lower‐than‐standard ambient temperatures were the implemented AICs in trials 1 and 2 respectively. The blood parameters including pH, partial pressure of O₂ (pO₂), partial pressure of CO₂ (pCO₂), bicarbonate ion concentration (BIC), percentage of haematocrit (HCT) and saturated haemoglobin (SaO₂) were measured twice per each bird at days 28 and 35 in trial 1 and once in trial 2 at day 21. The results of the first trial revealed that in line S₂ some of the blood parameters differed significantly between the ascitic and non‐ascitic groups following exposure to AIC. In this line, the incidence of AS was accompanied by a lower pO₂, SaO₂ and BIC, while with higher pCO₂ and HCT values. In the second trial, however, although almost all of the parameters showed meaningful differences between the ascitic and non‐ascitic broilers, only mean difference of BIC parameter was statistically significant. The general conclusion of this study is that the blood parameters can somewhat have diagnostic ability in the condition in which the AIC is already present, whereas the results did not approve their usefulness as early predictors of AS.     

The influences of ambient temperature and crude protein levels on performance and serum biochemical parameters in broilers

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of ambient temperature, crude protein levels and their interaction on performance and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. A total of 216 Arbor Acre broiler chickens (108 males and 108 females) were used in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement and randomly reared at two temperatures (normal temperature: 23 °C; daily cyclic high temperature: 28–32 °C) and fed on three diets with different crude protein levels (153.3, 183.3 or 213.3 g/kg, with constant essential amino acids) from 28 to 42 days of age. Daily cyclic high ambient temperature decreased final body weight, average daily weight gain, average daily feed intake and serum total protein contents (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.008 respectively), but increased feed/gain, mortality, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, serum uric acid contents and serum creatine kinase activity (p = 0.008, p = 0.003, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p = 0.003 respectively), irrespective of crude protein levels. At the ambient temperature, reducing crude protein levels resulted in an increase in feed/gain (p < 0.001), but a decrease in serum total protein and uric acid contents. Only serum creatine kinase activity in broiler chickens was interacted by daily cyclic high ambient temperature and dietary crude protein levels (p = 0.003). These results indicated that daily cyclic high ambient temperature had a great effect on performance and serum biochemical parameters in broiler chickens, whereas dietary crude protein levels affected them partially.     

水分胁迫对紫花苜蓿根系吸水与光合特性的影响

变水条件下(利用PEG-6000模拟水分胁迫48 h,ψs=0.2MPa,之后复水48 h),测定紫花苜蓿(Medicago sattva L,品种阿尔冈金和陇东苜蓿)幼苗根系水力学导度与光合参数变化规律,旨在研究变水条件下紫花苜蓿光合作用的响应机制、植株水分吸收能力的变化规律及地上与地下部可能的相关关系.结果表明:干旱胁迫使得紫花苜蓿根系水力学导度(Lpr)受到显著影响.随着水分胁迫时间的延长,根系吸水能力呈现快速--缓慢下降趋势,即根系水力学导度逐渐下降,气孔导度(Gs)、蒸腾速率(Tr)、净光合速率(Pn)和叶片水势亦随之而显著降低,胞间二氧化碳浓度(Ci)先随之降低但最终上升而累积.复水后,根系水导呈现缓慢--慢速的恢复趋势,Pn、Gs、Tr、叶片水势随着根系水导速率的增加而逐渐恢复;Ci则随复水时间的延长而逐渐下降.但各参数除Ci外,均没有恢复到胁迫前水平.紫花苜蓿根系水导与光合参数在复水后的恢复程度说明,紫花苜蓿对干旱逆境的抵御与适应能力相对较弱,但陇东苜蓿对水分胁迫的忍耐能力强于阿尔冈金.     

水分胁迫和复水对紫花苜蓿幼苗叶绿素荧光特性的影响

利用PEG-6000模拟水分胁迫(ψs=-0.2MPa,胁迫时间:48 h,复水48 h),研究了紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa L)品种陇东苜蓿和阿尔冈金叶片叶绿素荧光特性和光合色素含量的变化,旨在探讨紫花苜蓿水分胁迫条件下的光合反应机制.结果表明:光化学淬灭系数(qP)和PSII线性电子传递的有效量子产额(YIELD)以及非光化学淬灭系数(qN)和表观光合电子传递效率(ETR)在胁迫前后随光合有效辐射(PAR)的变化规律分别可用公式:Y=aLn(X) b(Y:qP或YIELD,X:PAR,X≠0)和Y=aX2 bX c(Y:qN或ETR,X:PAR)来表示;在受到干旱胁迫后,PSII最大光能转化效率(Fv/Fm)、PSII潜在活性(Fv/Fo)和光合色素含量均明显低于对照,在任意光强下的qP、YIELD和ETR值也极显著低于对照的相应值,qN值则极显著高于对照的相应值;同时,和对照相比,qN和ETR光响应曲线顶点所对应的光强值在受到胁迫后亦明显下降,表明光抑制初始点的降低和最大光保护能力的减弱,甚至光抑制的提前到来.干旱胁迫使得PSⅡ反应中心结构和功能遭到破坏而部分关闭,光合电子传递受阻,光能利用与光化学转化与能力下降,吸收的光能更多的以热能形式耗散.复水后,虽然有光保护机制的存在,但除陇东苜蓿光合色素含量及阿尔冈金类胡萝卜素外,各参数均未能恢复到对照水平,因此旱后复水不能完全解除干旱对PSII反应中心所带来的伤害.紫花苜蓿幼苗对干旱胁迫较为敏感.供试品种相比,陇东苜蓿耐旱性优于阿尔冈金.     

薄壳山核桃疮痂病菌TaqMan荧光定量PCR检测方法的建立及应用

疮痂病是薄壳山核桃上最具毁灭性的病害,带菌植物材料是传播疮痂病的重要来源。准确、灵敏、快速的检测方法可为该病害流行规律调查和防控提供有力的依据。本文通过比较薄壳山核桃疮痂病菌Venturia effusa及其近似种之间的ITS序列差异,设计了特异性引物和TaqMan探针,建立了薄壳山核桃疮痂病菌的荧光定量PCR检测方法。特异性检测结果表明,该方法可以检测不同地区的薄壳山核桃疮痂病菌菌株,而对其近似种以及薄壳山核桃上的其他真菌均没有信号。本研究建立的检测方法对薄壳山核桃疮痂病菌DNA的最低检测限可达0.5 pg/μL。该方法用于田间样品检测时,检测时间仅需1 h,远快于常规的分离培养法。本研究建立的基于TaqMan探针的荧光定量PCR检测方法为薄壳山核桃疮痂病菌的快速检测和监测提供了有力工具。     

短期高温下6个品种甜樱桃幼苗耐热性比较

为对不同品种甜樱桃耐热性进行比较,以6个品种甜樱桃幼苗为试材,通过模拟高温,探究高温胁迫下其叶片生理、叶绿素荧光指标变化,结合相关性分析、主成分分析等对其耐热性综合评价,并通过逐步回归模型的建立筛选出甜樱桃耐热生理评价指标。结果表明,6个品种甜樱桃幼苗在高温胁迫后抗氧化酶、渗透调节物质等生理指标变化有所不同,叶绿素荧光参数PSⅡ 最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、PSⅡ潜在活性(Fv/Fo)、表观电子传递速率(ETR)3个参数值均显著下降,除4号甜樱桃品种NPQ值显著升高外,其余品种NPQ 值均呈下降趋势。6个品种甜樱桃幼苗的耐热综合性排名为 ‘红蜜’＞‘桑提娜’＞‘早大果’＞‘雷尼’＞‘拉宾斯’＞‘布鲁克斯’,基于多元回归模型建立筛选出过氧化物酶(POD)活性、超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)活性、脯氨酸含量、Fv/Fo 4个指标可高效、准确地对甜樱桃耐热性进行评价。本研究为甜樱桃耐热性评价体系建立及耐热性品种选育提供参考,为今后南方地区甜樱桃耐高温品种（系）进一步育种工作奠定理论基础。     

Effects of Compound Plant Nutrients on Rumen Fermentation Parameters,Rumen Microbiota and Fatty Acid Composition of Longissimus dorsi Muscle in Finishing Small Tail Han Sheep北大核心CSCD

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of compound p1ant nutrients (CPN) on rumen fermentation parameters, rumen microbiota and fatty acid composition of longissimus dorsi musc1e in finishing sma11 tai1 Han sheep. Sixteen 4-month-o1d finishing sma11 tai1 Han sheep with an initia1 body weight (BW) of (24.18±0.31) kg were random1y divided into two groups, name1y, with 8 rep1icates per group and 1 sheep per rep1icate. The sheep in the contro1 group were fed a basa1 diet, whereas the sheep of the contro1 group (CPN group) was fed the basa1 diet supp1ementation with 3‰ CPN. The experiment 1asted for 97 days after 7 days adaption. The resu1ts showed as fo11ows: compared with the contro1 group, 1) adding CPN decreased the concentration of ammonia nitrogen (NH3-N) (P<0.05); 2) CPN supp1ementation affected beta diversity of rumen microbiota; 3) the re1ative abundance of Acidobacteriota, Erysipe1otrichaceae_UCG-002, Lactobacillus, and Megasphaera were enhanced by adding CPN (P<0.05), whereas, the re1ative abundance of Bacteroidetes and Prevotella was 1ower (P<0.05); 4) the supp1ementation of CPN had no significant effect on fatty acid composition of longissimus dorsi musc1e of fattening sma11-tai1ed Han sheep (P>0.05); 5) the contents of tota1 MUFA, C18:1n9c, C14:1, C16:1, C18:2n6c, C18:3n3 and n-3PUFA in the longissimus dorsi musc1e were corre1ated with the re1ative abundance of Megasphaera, Erysipe1otrichaceae_UCG-002, Succiniclasticum and Ruminococcus (P<0.05). In conc1usion, CPN can regu1ate the rumen microbiota structure and reduce the rumen NH3-N concentration of fattening sma11-tai1ed Han sheep. In production practice, CPN can be used as a rumen eco1ogica1 regu1ator. © 2023 Authors. All rights reserved.     

Genetic and non-genetic factors influencing KLH binding natural antibodies and specific antibody response to Newcastle disease in Kenyan chicken populations

This study aimed at investigating the influence of genetic and non-genetic factors on immune traits to inform on possibilities of genetic improvement of disease resistance traits in local chicken of Kenya. Immune traits such as natural and specific antibodies are considered suitable indicators of an individual's health status and consequently, used as indicator traits of disease resistance. In this study, natural antibodies binding to Keyhole Limpet Hemocyanin (KLH-NAbs) was used to measure general disease resistance. Specific antibodies binding to Newcastle disease virus (NDV-IgG) post vaccination was used to measure specific disease resistance. Titers of KLH-NAbs isotypes (KLH-IgM, KLH-IgG and KLH-IgA) and NDV-IgG were measured in 1,540 chickens of different ages ranging from 12 to 56 weeks. A general linear model was fitted to determine the effect of sex, generation, population type, phylogenetic cluster, line, genotype and age on the antibody traits. A multivariate animal mixed model was fitted to estimate heritability and genetic correlations among the antibody traits. The model constituted of non-genetic factors found to have a significant influence on the antibody traits as fixed effects, and animal and residual effects as random variables. Overall mean (±SE) concentration levels for KLH-IgM, KLH-IgG, KLH-IgA and NDV-IgG were 10.33 ± 0.04, 9.08 ± 0.02, 6.00 ± 0.02 and 10.12 ± 0.03, respectively. Sex, generation and age (linear covariate) significantly (p < 0.05) influenced variation across all the antibody traits. Genotype effects (p < 0.05) were present in all antibody traits, apart from KLH-IgA. Interaction between generation and line was significant (p < 0.05) in KLH-IgM and NDV-IgG while nesting phylogenetic cluster within population significantly (p < 0.05) influenced all antibody traits, apart from KLH-IgA. Heritability estimates for KLH-IgM, KLH-IgG, KLH-IgA and NDV-IgG were 0.28 ± 0.08, 0.14 ± 0.06, 0.07 ± 0.04 and 0.31 ± 0.06, respectively. There were positive genetic correlations (0.40–0.61) among the KLH-NAbs while negative genetic correlations (−0.26 to −0.98) were observed between the KLH-NAbs and NDV-IgG. Results from this study indicate that non-genetic effects due to biological and environmental factors influence natural and specific antibodies and should be accounted for to reduce bias and improve accuracy when evaluating the traits. Subsequently, the moderate heritability estimates in KLH-IgM and NDV-IgG suggest selection possibilities for genetic improvement of general and specific immunity, respectively, and consequently disease resistance. However, the negative correlations between KLH-NAbs and NDV-IgG indicate the need to consider a suitable approach that can optimally combine both traits in a multiple trait selection strategies.     

钼对小白菜叶绿素和抗坏血酸含量以及硝酸盐累积的影响

研究了钼对盆栽小白菜叶绿素、抗坏血酸含量以及硝酸盐累积的影响。试验分为3组,对照组(CK),未施钼;试验1组(Mo1)施钼0.15mg/kg;试验2组(Mo2)施钼0.30mg/kg。盆栽3周后对小白菜取样,分别测定其硝酸盐、叶绿素和抗坏血酸的含量。结果表明,随着施钼量的增加,小白菜中硝酸盐的含量显著降低,叶绿素显著增加,且各组间差异极显著(p<0.01)。与CK相比,施钼后小白菜中抗坏血酸含量的增加幅度更大,其中Mo1组和Mo2组与对照组间差异极显著(p<0.01),而Mo1组和Mo2组之间差异显著(p<0.05)。钼可以显著改善小白菜的品质,有效防止其硝酸盐的累积。