体外生产的牛胚胎在不同发育期的性比率

本研究旨在证实牛体外培养的雄性胚胎生长发育是否快于雌性胚胎。胚胎的性别鉴定采用多聚酶链式反应（ＰＣＲ）技术。在体外受精的第５天，胚胎根据发育期划分为三个组：１６细胞期，多于１６细胞期和桑椹期。在３个组中，雄性胚胎所占百分率分别是３２％，５３％和６３％。在体外受精的第７天，胚胎根据发育期划分为４个组：桑椹期、早期囊胚期、囊胚期和扩张囊胚期。在性别鉴定后，４个组中雄性胚胎所占百分率分别是２８％，３８％，６０％和７０％。结果表明：牛早期胚胎在体外培养条件下，雄性发育快于雌性。     

Physiological Predictors in Calves of Dairy Breeds: Part 1. Genetic Parameters of Basal and Induced Growth Hormone Secretion

Abstract

Genetic variation in plasma growth hormone (GH) concentration before and after GRF (growth hormone releasing factor) stimulation was studied in young bulls (N=284) and heifers (N=212), the progeny of 53 sires of four dairy and dual-purpose breeds (Danish Jersey, Red Dane, Danish Friesian and Danish Red and White). Male and female calves were reared, fed and tested on separate experimental stations; thus sex, station and feeding were completely confounded effects. The animals were tested at about 9 months of age, after a 24 h fast. GH concentration was measured in serial plasma samples collected for 1 h before and 1 h following intravenous administration of 2.0 ug synthetic GRF(1–29)NH₂/kg live weight^>0.75. Prior to statistical analysis, concentrations were log_e-transformed. Response variables were BASELINE (mean GH in -15, -5 and 0 min samples) and PEAK (mean GH in 10, 15 and 20 min samples). A statistical model taking at least three generations of ancestral relationships into account was used to estimate variance and covariance components for traits in male and female calves by use of restricted maximum likelihood methods.

Heritability of BASELINE was low (0.04 ± 0.12) in males but high in females (0.60 ± 0.16). The heritability of PEAK was high in both sexes (males, 0.42 ± 0.16; females, 0.60 ± 0.16). Genetic correlations between the same trait measured in males and females were low for BASELINE (r _g = 0.32±0.55) but high for PEAK (r _g = 0.82±0.15). Within sex, BASELINE and PEAK were both highly genetically correlated (males, r _g=0.62 ± 0.40; females, r _g= 1.00 ± 0.07).

We conclude that growth hormone concentration is a highly heritable trait in juvenile cattle of both sexes, and that GRF stimulation is benificial to the uncovering of genetic differences among animals.     

Crossbreeding experiment with beef and dual-purpose sire breeds on Danish dairy cows III. Daily gain,feed conversion and carcass quality of intensively fed young bulls

Beef production characteristics of 254 intensively fed young bulls are described. The results are part of a beef × dairy crossbreeding experiment, where sires of eight European beef and dual-purpose breeds were used on cows of RDM (Danish Red Cattle) and SDM (Black Pied Danish Cattle).Daily gain and feed conversion were influenced by the sire breeds. Charolais, Blonde d'Aquitaine and Simmental crosses showed the highest daily gain, followed by Romagnola, Danish Red and White, Chianina, Limousin and Hereford crosses.Carcass composition and carcass conformation were strongly influenced by sire breed with Blonde d'Aquitaine and Limousin crosses producing the most valuable carcasses followed by Chianina, Charolais, Romagnola, Simmental, Danish Red and White and Hereford crosses in descending order.The analysis showed a sire breed × weight/age interaction in carcass composition traits, due to sire breed differences in maturity. That demonstrates the importance of serial slaughtering in breed comparison experiments. Hereford and Limousin produced the earliest maturing crosses and Danish Red and White and Blonde d'Aquitaine the latest maturing crosses.     

Nitrogen fertilization of strawberries: Nmin,leaf dry matter,and leaf sap analyses as control methods

In a three‐year survey several control methods of nitrogen (N) supply in strawberry were investigated. It was found that N_min analysis could be used as a measurement of control from the beginning of the season, indicating the need of additional N supply. Leaf dry matter analysis, taken during flowering, could be used as an indicator thus making it possible to make corrections within the season, if needed. When leaf dry matter analysis was compared to leaf sap analysis, correlations were evident for the majority of nutrients, N being an important exception. It was concluded that the use of N_min‐ and leaf dry matter analyses combined might make corrections in N fertilization within the same year possible.     

Crossbreeding experiment with beef and dual-purpose sire breeds on Danish dairy cows

The experimental design and objectives are outlined for a crossbreeding experiment with European beef breeds as sire breeds and RDM (Danish Red), SDM (Black Pied Danish) and Danish Jersey as dam breeds.Results from a calving survey of 1006 single calvings are presented. Gestation length, birth weight and calving performance were strongly influenced by breed of sire, breed of dam and sex of calf. The variation in gestation length seemed to have only a slight effect on birth weight. The variation in birth weight had a strong effect on calving performance.The ranking of the sire breeds in descending order according to the frequency of unasisted calvings (which varied from 70 to 26 percent) was as follows: Hereford, Limousin, Danish Red and White Cattle, Simmental, Blonde d'Aquitaine, Chianina, Charolais and Romagnola.     

Linear body measurements and muscle distribution in F1 Holstein x Friesian intact males

Influence of sire, dietary regimen and slaughter weight on wither height, body depth, heart girth, hip width and percentage of total muscle in each of nine commercial cuts of F1 Holstein X Friesian bulls (N = 260) was studied. Sires were full-blooded or percentage Holstein; dams were commercial and purebred Danish Friesians. The young bulls received 100, 75, 50 or 25% concentrates, with the remainder of the diet provided in the form of silage. Animals were serial-slaughtered at 340, 470 or 600 kg. Sire was a significant source of variation in many of the body measurements and muscle distributional variables that were evaluated. It was noted, however, that sire differences in percentage of total dissected muscle in Group III cuts (rib + loin + round + hindshank) of intact male progeny were of the order of 1% or less. Sire X diet and sire X slaughter weight interactions were statistically significant in some analyses. Muscular development in the neck region was more pronounced when bulls were fed a low-concentrate diet, rather than high levels of concentrates. Percentages of total muscle in the forequarter were highest (P less than .01) for the 470- and 600-kg bulls. Thus feeding bulls to heavier weights had an adverse effect (P less than .01) on percentage of total muscle in Group III cuts. Dietary influence on linear body measurements and muscle distribution in young, Holstein-cross bulls was negligible.     

Crossbreeding experiment with beef and dual-purpose sire breeds on Danish dairy cows IV. Physical,chemical and palatability characteristics of longissimus dorsi and semitendinosus muscles from crossbred young bulls

The results presented are part of a beef × dairy cross breeding experiment in which Simmental, Charolais, Danish Red and White Cattle (DRK), Romagnola, Chianina, Hereford, Blonde d'Aquitaine and Limousin bulls are crossbred with cows of Danish Red Cattle (RDM) and Black Pied Danish Cattle (SDM).Young bulls were slaughtered at 300 kg ($\text{7}\text{1}\text{2}$ months of age on average), 12 months and 15 months of age. Samples of m. longissimus dorsi and m. semitendinosus from 305 animals were examined by a taste panel, by chemical analysis and measurements of colour, by shear force, and by adhesion measurements.Sire breed had a significant influence on chemical composition and colour in both muscles. Taste panel scores and shear force values showed that all sire breeds gave tender meat in the longissimus dorsi. Significant differences in tenderness between sire breeds were found only for the semitendinosus, where Hereford crossbreeds obtained the lowest scores, and Limousin and Blonde d'Aquitaine crossbreeds the highest. Corresponding differences between sire breeds were found for adhesion value, collagen content and solubility of collagen in semitendinosus.Meat quality differences are discussed in relation to early and late maturing breeds.