A survey on the use of rugs in Australian horses

The practice of horse rugging has important implications for horse welfare and performance, but in Australia, rugging practices have not been properly documented. The objective of this study was to obtain an understanding of Australian horse rugging practices. An online survey reviewed the management of 2659 Australian horses over 12 months. Of the reported horses a total of 84.8% were rugged, although most owners (69.5%) indicated that they were unsure whether horses needed to be rugged at all. Rugging was felt by 59.8% of owners to be a requirement for horses in competition. Riding and competition were significantly associated with the use of rugs. Nearly all respondents (89.0%) felt that ‘over-rugging’ was a concern. However, 4.8% of owners would use up to 4 rugs at any one time on their horse and 21.4% of horses were still rugged in temperatures above 20°C in Australia. Many Australian horse owners (42.8%) also believe that horses feel cold if they are not rugged. Anthropomorphism when it comes to rugging horses cannot be justified as the horse has a much wider thermoneutral zone (TNZ) than humans. Australian climate, owner opinions, equestrian discipline and whether a horse is used for riding influence Australian horse rugging practices. However, current practices are based on limited available research and are not necessarily to the benefit of the horse. The major limitation was that the survey likely attracted respondents who are interested in the topic creating a self-selection bias.     

小麦饲料中添加木聚糖酶对高原型藏羊胃肠道发育的影响

旨在分析小麦粉中添加木聚糖酶(xylanase, Xyl)对藏羊羔羊胃肠道发育的影响。选择同质性良好的2～3月龄高原型藏羊公羔60只,随机分为两组,每组30只,各组内设置5个重复。对照组(Control group)饲喂不含木聚糖酶的日粮,试验组(Test group)饲喂含0.2%木聚糖酶的日粮,试验分为预饲期10 d和正试期90 d。饲养试验结束时,两组各随机选取5只羔羊进行屠宰,采集消化道组织置于多聚甲醛固定,并收集血液、瘤胃和空肠内容物。结果显示：1)与对照组相比,试验组瘤胃的角质层厚度、颗粒层厚度,瓣胃的乳头长度、乳头宽度、角质层厚度、颗粒层厚度,皱胃的黏膜厚度以及十二指肠的肌层厚度,空肠的绒毛高度、黏膜厚度,回肠的肌层厚度显著提高(P<0.05);2)对照组瘤胃和血清的LPS含量显著高于试验组(P<0.05);3)相较于对照组,试验组瘤胃的糜蛋白酶、胰蛋白酶、脂肪酶活性以及空肠的糜蛋白酶、α-淀粉酶活性显著提高(P<0.05);4)试验组瘤胃的总抗氧化能力水平、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶及过氧化氢酶活性以及空肠的总抗氧化能力水平、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶、超氧化物歧化酶...     

The effect of remifentanil infusion on sevoflurane minimum alveolar concentration–no movement (MACNM) and bispectral index in dogs

ObjectiveTo determine the effect of remifentanil infusion on the minimum alveolar concentration of sevoflurane preventing movement (SEVOMAC_NM) and bispectral index (BIS) in dogs.Study designProspective, unmasked study.AnimalsA total of 10 adult Beagle dogs weighing 9.0 ± 1.1 kg.MethodsDogs were anesthetized with sevoflurane and baseline SEVOMAC_NM was determined. Remifentanil was infused at 5, 10 and 20 μg kg^–1 hour^–1, in sequence, with 20 minutes washout between infusions. Variables monitored throughout anesthesia included heart rate (HR), oscillometric blood pressure, end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide, end-tidal sevoflurane concentration (Fe′Sevo) and BIS. SEVOMAC_NM after remifentanil infusion (SEVOMAC_NM-REMI) determination started 20 minutes after the start of each infusion. Venous blood samples were collected for plasma remifentanil concentration determination at baseline, SEVOMAC_NM-REMI determination time points, and 20 minutes after each infusion was stopped. A mixed model analysis was used to determine the effect of remifentanil infusion on response variables. The relationships between BIS and Fe′Sevo, plasma remifentanil concentrations and the percentage decrease in baseline SEVOMAC_NM were evaluated (p < 0.05).ResultsThe overall SEVOMAC_NM at baseline was 2.47 ± 0.11%. Addition of remifentanil at all infusion rates significantly decreased SEVOMAC_NM, but the medium and high doses resulted in significantly greater decreases in SEVOMAC_NM than the lower dose. There was no difference in SEVOMAC_NM percentage change between infusions 10 and 20 μg kg^–1 hour^–1. Plasma remifentanil concentrations were significantly different in all infusion rates. Baseline BIS value was 70 ± 1 and was lower than the BIS values recorded during all remifentanil infusions. BIS values were not significantly different among infusion rates. HR was lower and mean arterial pressure was higher during remifentanil infusions than at baseline.Conclusions and clinical relevanceAll remifentanil infusions decreased SEVOMAC_NM in dogs. Remifentanil infusion at any rate studied did not reduce BIS values.     

甘肃省“121”雨水集流工程经济

甘肃中东部地区地处黄土高原，气候干旱，水资源缺乏，农村人畜饮水困难。“121”雨水集流工程的实施，有效地解决了这些地区的人畜饮水困难。为了客观评价“121”雨水集流工程的经济效益和作用，利用建设项目后评价理论与方法，对工程的经济效益进行了科学评价，国民经济评价结果可行，其结果可用于指导全省雨水利用工程的规划、设计，加强雨水利用工作的决策、管理。     

河川基流分割法在山丘区地下水资源量评价中的运用

山丘区河川基流分割方法很多，采用不同方法的分割成果不尽相同。在地下水资源评价中，根据云南省自然地理独特，气候复杂多样，降水量丰沛，洪水频繁，河川径流过程线普遍呈连续多峰型的特性，寻求一种既能满足水资源综合规划要求，又符合云南实际分割河川基流量的方法，是地下水资源评价中的重要内容。采用适宜水均衡法和直线斜割法的径流资料分割河川基流量，求出两种方法之间的换算系数，修正水均衡法的分割成果，一是达到了以直线斜割法统一分割河川基流量的目的；二是提高了山丘区地下水资源量评价的精度，为探索山丘区地下水资源量及时空分布规律提供技术支撑。     

关于做好农业和农村节水工作的几点思考

农业用水占我国用水总量的 70 % ,开展和推进农业节水 ,是建立节水型社会的关键 ,也是实现我国水资源可持续利用的内在要求。要做好农业和农村节水工作 ,应当十分重视“预测预报、水资源保障、城乡供水、水污染防治、防洪减灾、计量监测、技术推广、投融资、抗旱服务、政策法规”等十大体系的建立和建设     

生物慢滤技术在宜昌农村饮水安全

生物慢滤技术适用于农村小型分散式饮水处理技术。通过五峰、秭归等地的实践，阐述了生物慢滤工艺的技术特点及净水原理，指出慢滤是一种不用任何机械动力和化学药剂的水处理方法。通过生物慢滤技术，水质满足饮用水要求，与同等规模的水处理设施比较，投资节省达90%，施工方便。慢滤池结构简单，运行管理方便，自耗水量少，出水水质好，在农村饮水工程中具有广泛的应用前景。     

农业灌溉用水价格改革探讨

目前我国农业用水存在诸多问题，水资源供需矛盾十分突出。为此，通过我国水价变革情况、水价实施种类的分析，提出了农业灌溉用水价格调整的原则，以促进水资源的可持续开发和利用。     

海河二道闸和防潮闸优化调度研究

汛期为腾空海河河道并保证二道闸下咸水不致上溯，二道闸闸下水位应控制在1.0m左右。利用一维非恒定流模型对海河自西河闸至入海口河段进行数值模拟，研究了西河闸分流量为80、100、120m3/s3种情况下，海河防潮闸和二道闸优化调度结果。     

群井开采条件下承压含水层渗流动态模拟

根据有限差分方法 ,编制了承压含水层渗流模拟软件。对某水源地在群井开采情况下地下水渗流动态进行数值模拟。模拟结果显示 ,位于高渗区的井 ,压降漏斗较其它井大 ,压力下降快。当地层中存在裂隙时 ,平行裂隙方向压力下降比垂直裂隙方向要快得多。抽水初期 ,地层压力下降很快 ,以后 ,压力下降逐渐变缓 ,位于低渗透区的井逐渐不能满足流量要求。因此做好地下水资源规划十分重要