Effect of delaying the time of insemination with sex-sorted semen on pregnancy rate in Holstein heifers

The objective of the study was to evaluate the interval from onset of oestrus to time of artificial insemination (AI) to obtain the optimum pregnancy rate with sex-sorted semen in Holstein heifers. Heifers in oestrus were detected and inseminated only by using heat–rumination neck collar comprised electronic identification tag at the age of 13–14 months. Heifers (n = 283) were randomly assigned to one of three groups according to the timing of insemination at 12–16 hr (G1, n = 97), at 16.1–20 hr (G2, n = 94) and at 20.1–24 hr (G3, n = 92) after reaching the activity threshold. The mean duration of oestrus was 18.6 ± 0.1 hr, and mean peak activity was found at 7.5 ± 0.1 hr after activity threshold. The mean interval from activity threshold to ovulation was 29.4 ± 0.4 hr. The overall pregnancy per AI (P/AI) was 53.0% at 29–35 days and 50.9% at 60–66 days after AI. There was a significant reduction between G1 (13.8 ± 1.4 hr) and G3 (7.9 ± 1.4 hr) related to the intervals from AI to ovulation time. Sex-sorted semen resulted in significantly higher P/AI at 29–35 days when heifers inseminated in G3 (60.9%) after oestrus than those inseminated in G1 (49.5%) and G2 (48.9%). In terms of fertility, when the temperature–humidity index (THI) was below the threshold value (THI ≤65) at the time of AI, there was a tendency (≤65; 57.2% vs. > 65; 47.1%) for high pregnancy rate. There was no effect of sire on P/AI. In addition, the interaction of the technician with the time of AI was found significant, and three-way interaction of technician, sire and time of AI was tended to be significant on pregnancy rate. Thus, in addition to delaying the time of insemination (between 20.1 and 24 hr) after oestrous detection, THI and experienced technician were also found to be critical factors in increasing fertility with the use of sex-sorted semen in Holstein heifers.     

Pharmacokinetics of thymoquinone in layer chickens following oral and intravenous administration

Thymoquinone (TQ) is the major constituent of Nigella sativa and known to possess a variety of pharmacological effects. This study was designed to evaluate the pharmacokinetic profile of TQ following oral (PO) and intravenous (IV) administration in layer chickens. The layer chickens were equally divided into two groups (six chickens in each group, total 12 chickens), and TQ was administered via PO and IV routes. For PO route, the dose was 20 mg/kg b.w. and for IV route, 5 mg/kg b.w. was administered, respectively. A sensitive and accurate High‐Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) technique was validated for the quantification of TQ from plasma. The limit of detection (LOD) and limit of quantification (LOQ) were 0.02 µg/ml and 0.05 µg/ml, respectively with >80% recovery. Maximum plasma concentration (C_max) following PO and IV administration was 8.805 and 4.497 µg/ml, respectively, while time to reach at maximum concentration (T_max) was 1 and 0.1 hr, respectively. The elimination half‐lives were recorded as 1.02 and 0.978 hr, whereas the mean residence times were 1.79 and 1.036 hr following both PO and IV administration, respectively. The 85% PO bioavailability was indicative that TQ could be used for various therapeutic purposes in layer chickens.     

Pseudomonas putida improved soil enzyme activity and growth of kasumbha under low input of mineral fertilizers

Effective management of the nutrients and enzyme activity in the soil is necessary for maximum crop growth and productivity. However, the excessive use of chemical fertilizers (CFs) not only adversely affects the soil nutrient status and soil physicochemical properties but also aids pollution to the ecosystem. The objective of present study was to investigate the effect of single as well as combined applications of phosphate-solubilizing bacteria and agrochemicals on important soil enzyme activities and their impact on the growth of kasumbha (safflower). Pseudomonas putida (P. putida;10⁶ cells/mL) was applied as seed inoculation prior to sowing, and CFs were applied as full, half, and quarter doses during sowing to modulate the growth of kasumbha host plants. P. putida in combination with half dose of CFs (PH) increased the soil urease and phosphatase activities, while P. putida combined with quarter dose of CFs (PQ) augmented the soil invertase activities. Moreover, the PQ treatment exhibited the maximum colony-forming units of P. putida. Leaf chlorophyll, carotenoids, protein contents, and root lengths were increased by PH treatment. Whereas, shoot length and leaf area were improved by PH and PQ treatments, respectively. Leaf protease activity was enhanced by P. putida in combination with full dose of CFs and PQ treatments, while leaf phosphate contents were significantly improved by PQ treatment. It can be concluded that P. putida in combination with half as well as quarter doses of CFs is a promising approach for the improvement of soil enzyme activities and growth of kasumbha and replacing 50% of the use of CFs.     

Monitoring Nitrogen Dioxide Levels in Urban Areas in Rawalpindi, Pakistan

Nitrogen dioxide is an important gaseous air pollutant. It plays a major role in atmospheric chemistry, particularly in the formation of secondary air pollutants, and contributes to environmental acidification. A comprehensive assessment of NO₂ levels in the atmosphere is required for developing effective strategies for control of air pollution and air quality improvement. Air pollution is a serious problem in all major cities of Pakistan and needs to be addressed to minimize detrimental effects on human health and urban vegetation. In this research, we focused on the monitoring of NO₂ levels in the urban environment of Rawalpindi city. Because of the lack of expensive continuous sampling devices and to get a good spatial coverage of the NO₂ concentrations in the study area, NO₂ passive samplers were exposed at 42 different sites within the city limits of Rawalpindi from January to December, 2008. Samplers were exchanged every 10 days and the associated meteorological conditions like temperature, wind speed, rainfall and relative humidity were also monitored. The average NO₂ concentration was found to be 27.46?±?0.32 ppb. The highest values of NO₂ were measured near to main roads and educational institutions due to intense flow of road vehicles. Moreover, the study showed that the values obtained for NO₂ for all sampling points exceeded the annual limit value set by World Health Organization. So, this is very important to take different steps to control this before it becomes a serious hazard for people living in those areas.     

Erratum to: Monitoring Nitrogen Dioxide Levels in Urban Areas in Rawalpindi,Pakistan

Water, Air, &; Soil Pollution -     

Sero-epidemiological survey of tropical theileriosis in Morocco

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Theileria annulata infection (tropical theileriosis) is a disease of serious economic importance in Morocco. Epidemiological and vaccination studies have...     

基于国家品种区域试验数据的中国糜子品种产量和性状变化

【目的】整理分析近17年间全国糜子品种区域试验参试品种的产量和农艺性状变化,探讨中国糜子品种改良进展和育种水平变化,为未来中国糜子的遗传改良提供依据。【方法】利用多元回归、相关分析和聚类分析等方法,分析1998—2014年国家糜子品种区域试验参试品种不同年份主要性状的变异,比较主要育种单位选育糜子品种性状的差异。【结果】1998—2014年糜子参试品种性状变异显著。随年份推进,粳性糜子品种产量和单株粒重以及糯性糜子品种产量、单株粒重和穗长持续增加。17年间粳性和糯性糜子产量分别增加了50%和21%,单株粒重分别增加了90%和7%,穗长分别增加了19%和29%,生育期长度、株高、主茎节数量和千粒重等性状变化不明显。来自黑龙江、吉林、辽宁、内蒙古、河北、山西、陕西、甘肃和宁夏等9个糜子主产省(区)的17家育种单位提供了65个糜子区域试验品种,其中7家同时提供了粳性和糯性糜子品种,2家只提供了粳性糜子品种,8家只提供糯性糜子品种。来自内蒙古、甘肃和宁夏的3家育种单位贡献了参试品种的55.4%。近6年来自这3家单位的品种产量表现优异,是中国糜子育种的中坚力量。多元回归分析表明,粳性糜子的生育期长度、主茎节数量和单株粒重决定了产量82.8%的变异,糯性糜子的主茎节数量和单株粒重决定了产量78.6%的变异。相关性分析表明,粳性和糯性糜子的主穗长和单株粒重均与单株产量显著正相关,而其他性状间相关性在粳性和糯性糜子中均有所不同。聚类分析结果表明,粳性糜子育成品种分为2类,糯性糜子育成品种分为3类。【结论】1998—2014年,国家区试中粳性和糯性糜子参试品种产量稳步增加,表明中国糜子育种水平有了一定提高。但育种手段相对单一,育种方法多样性程度较低。糜子区试对产量相关性状和品质性状的关注不够,培育高产、优质、适口性好、蒸煮品质优良、抗性淀粉含量高、耐落粒、适合机械化的糜子品种是未来糜子育种的发展方向。强化杂交、远缘杂交、诱变育种、双单倍体以及多倍体育种等传统技术的应用,充分利用基因组学和分子育种学研究方法,加强传统育种技术与现代生物技术结合,是系统提升糜子育种技术水平的重要途径。