Longitudinal identification of Enterocytozoon bieneusi in dairy calves on a farm in Southern Xinjiang,China

Enterocytozoon bieneusi is the most common species responsible for human and animals microsporidiasis. A total of 250 samples were collected weekly from 25 newborn dairy calves of a farm in Southern Xinjiang, China at one to ten weeks of age. Enterocytozoon bieneusi was identified and genotyped by nested PCR amplification and sequencing of internal transcribed spacer (ITS) region.The cumulative prevalence of E. bieneusi infection was 100% (25/25), and the average infection was 52.0% (130/250). The highest infection rate was recorded at six weeks of age (92.0%, 23/25), and no infection was observed at one and two weeks of age. Sequencing analysis showed nine E. bieneusi genotypes (J, EbpC, PigEBITS5, CHV4, CHC3, CS-9, KIN-1, CH5, and CAM5) were identified. The highest genetic polymorphism was observed at ten weeks of age. Genotype J was the predominant E. bieneusi genotype. Phylogenetic analysis clustered genotype J into Group 2 and other eight genotypes (EbpC, PigEBITS5, CHV4, CHC3, CS-9, KIN-1, CH5, and CAM5), detected in 22 (16.9%, 22/130) samples, into Group 1. Among the genotypes, EbpC, KIN-1, and J have been identified in humans. The highest E. bieneusi infection rate (57.9%, 124/214) was observed in fecal samples with formed feces with no diarrhea (p < 0.01), and high genetic polymorphism was observed in class I fecal samples. The presence of zoonotic E. bieneusi genotypes in dairy calves suggests the possibility of transmitting zoonotic infections to humans. It provides the basic data on dynamic change of E. bieneusi in calves.     

遮阳网对西北地区夏季围栏牛场环境和肉牛生理特征的影响

为了研究遮阳网在中国西北地区应用于围栏育肥牛场以缓解夏季肉牛热应激的效果,该试验对现场环境指标进行实测,同时对肉牛的皮肤温度、呼吸频率进行了记录,通过数据分析,对不同时段牛场的温热环境进行了评价。结果表明:遮阳网在各个时段都能改善肉牛生长环境,在午时可减少87%的太阳辐射,使温度降低3.95℃,黑球温度降低19.9%,从而将环境从严重热应激状态转变为中度热应激状态;中午肉牛的躺卧行为百分比从14.21%升高至59.9%(P0.01),而站立行为的百分比从64.5%降至29.7%(P0.01),且各个时段肉牛饮水行为占比较低;非遮蔽区的黑球温度与肉牛皮温和呼吸频率的相关性最高,相关系数分别为0.53和0.20。以上结果通过环境和肉牛生理特征的变化,反映了遮阳网主要通过减少太阳辐射来降低肉牛热应激水平,改善肉牛的生长环境,从而在维持其生产性能的同时提高了动物福利。该研究可为遮阳网在中国肉牛行业中的应用效果提供参考。     

Effects of dietary forage to concentrate ratio and wildrye length on nutrient intake,digestibility, plasma metabolites,ruminal fermentation and fecal microflora of male Chinese Holstein calves

Twenty-eight male, weaned Chinese Holstein calves((156.8±33.4) kg) were used to investigate the effects of dietary forage to concentrate ratio(F:C) and forage length on nutrient digestibility, plasma metabolites, ruminal fermentation, and fecal microflora. Animals were randomly allocated to four treatments in a 2×2 factorial arrangement: whole-length forage(WL) with low F:C(50:50); WL with high F:C(65:35); short-length forage(SL) with high F:C(65:35); and SL with low F:C(50:50). Chinese wildrye was used as the only forage source in this trial. The grass in the SL treatments was chopped using a chaff cutter to achieve small particle size(~50% particles 19 mm). Dry matter intake(DMI) and organic matter(OM) intake was increased by increasing both F:C(P0.01) and forage length(FL)(P0.05), while acid detergent fiber(ADF) and neutral detergent fiber(NDF) intakes were only increased by increasing the F:C(P0.01). The digestibility of NDF was increased as the FL increased(P0.01), and it was also affected by interaction between F:C and FL(P0.05). Cholesterol(CHO)(P0.01), leptin(LP)(P0.05), and growth hormone(GH)(P0.01) concentrations in plasma were increased as dietary F:C increased. A significant increase in plasma triglyceride(TG)(P0.01), insulin(INS)(P0.05), and GH(P0.01) levels was observed with decreasing dietary FL. Ruminal p H values of calves fed with low F:C diets were significantly lower than those in high F:C treatment(P0.05). Increasing the F:C enhanced ruminal acetic acid(P0.05) and acetic acid/propionic acid(P0.01). Fecal Lactobacillus content was significantly higher, while Escherichia coli and Salmonella contents were significantly lower in WL and high F:C groups(P0.05). Lower fecal scores(higher diarrhea rate) were observed in calves fed with SL hay compared to WL hay(P0.05). Denatured gradient gel electrophoresis(DGGE) bands and richness index(S) were significantly affected by the interaction between F:C and FL(P0.05), under high F:C, band numbers and richness index from WL group were higher than that from SL group(P0.05), whereas there were no differences between WL andSL groups under low F:C(P0.05). Microflora similarity was 50–73% among the different treatments. It is concluded that the WL with high F:C(65:35) diet is suitable for weaned calves.     

Effects of dietary supplementing tannic acid in the ration of beef cattle on rumen fermentation,methane emission,microbial flora and nutrient digestibility

Four adult Simmental male cattle (376 ± 9.0 kg initial BW), fitted with permanent rumen cannulas, were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to investigate the effects of dietary supplementing tannic acid (TA) on rumen fermentation, methane (CH₄) production, rumen microbes, nutrient digestibility and plasma biochemical parameters. Four levels of TA, that is 0, 6.5, 13.0 or 26.0 g/kg dry matter (DM), were added to the basal ration (composed of corn silage and concentrate mixture) as experimental treatments respectively. Each experimental period consisted of a 12‐day adaptation phase followed by a 3‐day sampling phase. The results showed that supplementing TA at 26.0 g/kg DM decreased the relative abundance of protozoa, methanogens and Ruminococcus albus to the total ruminal bacterial 16S rDNA in beef cattle (p < 0.05). The results also showed that supplementing TA at 6.5, 13.0 or 26.0 g/kg DM decreased (p < 0.01) the CH₄ production (l/kg DM intake) by 11.1%, 14.7% and 33.6% respectively. Supplementing TA at 13.0 or 26.0 g/kg DM decreased the ratio of acetate to propionate and ammonia nitrogen (NH₃–N) (p < 0.05) and tended to decrease the total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration of rumen fluid (p = 0.07). Supplementing TA at 26.0 g/kg DM decreased DM and organic matter (OM) digestibility (p < 0.05), supplementing TA at 6.5, 13.0 or 26.0 g/kg DM decreased (p < 0.01) crude protein (CP) digestibility by 5.0%, 8.6% and 15.7%, respectively, and supplementing TA at 6.5, 13.0 or 26.0 g/kg DM increased (p < 0.05) the plasma total antioxidant capability. It was concluded that supplementing TA in the ration of beef cattle decreased the CH₄ production and digestibility of CP of beef cattle. Supplementing TA could be an effective option to mitigate CH₄ emission form cattle, further research is necessary to study the effects of TA on the performance of cattle.     

不同蛋白质水平代乳粉对牦犊牛体重及血清生化指标的影响

为探究西藏地区牦牛代乳粉哺育犊牛的适宜蛋白质水平,本试验以藏区高山牦牛为研究对象,研究不同蛋白水平对哺乳期牦犊牛的体重和血清学指标的影响,以筛选出蛋白质水平最佳的代乳粉。选取40头新生当雄县牦犊牛,随机分为4组(n=10):对照组犊牛随母牦牛哺乳(CON),试验组犊牛分别饲喂蛋白水平为21.95%低蛋白组(LP)、24.28%中蛋白组(MP)和26.11%高蛋白组(HP)3种牦牛代乳品。饲喂时间为犊牛30～90d日龄,期间跟踪测定犊牛体重,并分别在30、60和90d日龄采集血清进行分析。结果表明:饲喂3种代乳粉的犊牛体重均显著高于对照组(P0.001),120d日龄时HP组犊牛体重达到最高值;3种代乳粉对犊牛血清抗氧化指标和免疫指标产生一定的影响,其中HP组谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶活性有高于LP组的趋势(0.05P0.1),且HP组丙二醛含量及肿瘤坏死因子a较其他3组低,而免疫球蛋白(IgG、IgM)及谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶、丙氨酸氨基转移酶、天冬氨酸氨基转移酶活性均较其他3组高。综合分析显示在西藏地区蛋白水平为26%的牦牛代乳粉饲喂哺乳期牦犊牛的效果较好。     

2个与HSP70基因连锁的微卫星座位与牛运输应激性状的关联分析

试验探讨了2个与HSP70基因连锁的微卫星座位与牛运输应激性状的关联分析。选择120头12月龄、体重250 kg左右的健康西门塔尔杂种肉牛进行运输应激试验，并根据牛基因组遗传图谱，选择23号染色体上与HSP70基因连锁的微卫星座位BMS468和BM1258检测其在西门塔尔杂种肉牛样本群体中的多态性，采用最小二乘拟合一般线性模型分析微卫星座位与运输应激性状部分指标之间的关联效应。结果显示：微卫星座位BMS468共检测到5个等位基因（128、134、140、146、154 bp），优势等位基因为128和134 bp，有效等位基因数（Ne）、多态信息含量（PIC）和遗传杂合度（He）分别为3.66、0.68和0.73，遗传多态性较高，关联分析显示与运输后7 d平均日增重和发病率显著相关，其中128/128 bp基因型个体的运输后7 d平均日增重最大（P < 0.05），134/128 bp基因型个体的发病率最低（P < 0.05）；微卫星座位BM1258座位共检测到6个等位基因（99、101、103、113、117、119 bp），优势基因为101 bp，Ne、PIC和He分别为4.30、0.73和0.77，遗传多态性较丰富，关联分析显示，其与发病率显著相关，其中99/99 bp基因型个体的发病率最低（P < 0.05）。综上所述，2个微卫星座位可作为牛运输应激性状的潜在遗传标记，为开展牛抗运输应激性状的标记辅助选择提供科学依据。     

不同海拔高度牛宰后牛肉AMPK活性及能量代谢研究

为了研究不同海拔高度生长的牛宰后牛肉一磷酸腺苷活化蛋白激酶(AMPK)活性与糖酵解指标,以探讨宰后肌肉生理机理,测定了玉树牦牛(海拔4 500 m)、甘南牦牛(海拔3 000 m)和西门塔尔杂交肉牛(海拔1 500 m)宰后成熟过程中牛肉AMPK活性、AMPK基因(PRKAA1、PRKAA2)mRNA表达量、糖酵解和能量代谢的变化。结果表明,12~168 h时间内,AMPK活性从小到大依次为西门塔尔杂交牛、甘南牦牛、玉树牦牛;西门塔尔杂交牛PRKAA1基因的表达量比甘南牦牛和玉树牦牛略低;西门塔尔杂交牛PRKAA2基因表达量显著小于甘南牦牛和玉树牦牛(P0.05);72~168 h时间内,乳酸含量和游离葡萄糖含量从小到大依次为西门塔尔杂交牛、甘南牦牛、玉树牦牛,p H值、肌糖原含量从大到小依次为西门塔尔杂交牛、甘南牦牛、玉树牦牛;成熟前期ATP、ADP、AMP含量从大到小依次为西门塔尔杂交牛、甘南牦牛、玉树牦牛。高海拔品种牛肉机体PRKAA1和PRKAA2基因表达量高时,AMPK被激活从而活性增加,ATP的浓度水平降低,AMP生成量增加,加速组织内的糖酵解,增加肌肉乳酸含量,降低p H值,进而影响牛肉品质。     

草地植物添加剂对肉牛生长性能的影响

通过对草地植物添加剂的最佳配方、最适量以及肉牛的最佳育肥方式对肉牛日增重、屠宰率、净肉率以及肉品质和风味的影响进行研究,旨在分析草地植物添加剂对肉牛生长性能的影响。结果表明,草地植物添加剂能促进肉牛的快速生长,提高肉牛的日增重,其中对于犊牛(C)、架子牛(S)和基础母牛(B)日增重效果最明显的分别是草地植物添加剂C3(44%松针+24%艾叶+12%黄芪+8%微量元素)(P0.01)、S3(48%松针+16%艾叶+8%大蒜+10%黄芪+18%微量元素)(P0.01)和B3(36%松针+14%艾叶+10%大蒜+12%黄芪+28%微量元素)(P0.01);草地植物添加剂的最适量的筛选试验表明,各年龄段的肉牛的草地植物添加剂的添加量占日粮的3.5%育肥效果最明显(P0.01);在北方冷季最佳的育肥方式为舍饲育肥。综上,在北方的寒冷季节养殖肉牛以占日粮3.5%的第3类(C3、S3、B3)草地植物添加剂配合舍饲增肥效果最明显。     

基于深度学习的牛肉大理石花纹等级手机评价系统

大理石花纹是影响牛肉品质等级的重要指标,目前中国牛肉加工企业对大理石花纹的评价是由专业分级人员参照标准图谱完成,具有主观性强、耗费人工的缺点。针对上述问题,该研究提出了基于深度学习的智能分级方法,设计一种具有4层卷积的神经网络结构,实现了大理石花纹特征的自动提取,并基于智能手机开发了牛肉大理石花纹检测软件。该研究共采集样本图像1 800张,按3:1:1分为校正集、验证集和测试集。为进一步验证模型,将该方法与传统机器视觉方法进行了比较,提取了牛肉大理石花纹的大、中、小脂肪颗粒个数,脂肪总面积和脂肪分布均匀度5个参数,并建立了多元线性回归模型。试验结果表明,该研究所用方法大理石花纹检测准确率更高,验证集检测正确率为97.67%。最后编写了手机软件,将模型移植入Android手机,在手机平台上调用模型进行大理石花纹检测。试验表明,该软件对测试集样本的检测准确率为95.56%,单张检测时间低于0.5 s。该研究结合卷积神经网络分类能力强和智能手机运行速度快等优点,开发了牛肉大理石花纹的手机评价系统,具有较好的实用性和便携性,可提高牛肉大理石花纹检测效率,有助于提高农畜产品检测的智能化水平。