Growth performance of Black Bengal,Saanen, and their crossbred F1 as affected by sex,litter size,and season of kidding

The objective of the present study was to determine the factors that influenced growth performance of the goat kids of Black Bengal (BB), Saanen (SA), and their crossbred F1 (male Bengal × female Saanen [BBSA] and male Saanen × female Black Bengal [SABB]). Data for 674 kids were analyzed from 316 litters and 134 does. All kids were weekly measured on their characteristics (body weight, length, height at the withers, and chest girth) from birth to 11 weeks old. The kid’s breed and sex, litter size, and season of kidding influenced birth weight and other characteristics through the experiment. The SA and BBSA kids showed similar performance, which were higher than BB and SABB kids. Male kids had higher performance than female kids, and kids from a single litter showed the highest performance. Kids born during rainy season showed lower performance than those born in hot and cool seasons. In conclusion, the crossbred BBSA is superior to SABB or BB to raise in tropical climate Moreover, sex, litter size, and kidding season also affected growth performance during the preweaning period up to 11 weeks old.     

不同类型日粮饲喂幼龄山羊的效果研究

在精料用量相同、定量采食的条件下,研究不同粗料配合、不同加工方法对幼龄波尔羊生产性能的影响,并分析其经济效益。结果表明:粗料为35%稻秆粉、15%砻糠的 号全混合颗粒料在本次试验中的效果最为突出。与粗料为青草的日粮1相比,试羊日增重、饲料转化率分别提高48.4%(P<0.05)和27.9%,且每千克增重饲料费用降低41.5%;与粗料为稻秸散料的日粮2相比,试羊日增重、饲料转化率分别提高了53.3%(P<0.05)和26.9%,且每千克增重饲料费用降低30.9%。经济效益明显。     

Finding best exotic breed proportion in crossbred lactating sheep kept under farmers’ conditions in Ethiopia determined by use of nested Legendre polynomials with limited data

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to estimate milk production performance and fit lactation curves for groups of ewes of Local and of Awassi crosses, with a variable blood level, reared under farmer’s environment. The Weigh-Suckle-Weigh method plus hand milking was used to estimate milk yield for ewes. A total of 466 observations from 115 ewes were used. Estimated least-squares adjusted means for the milk production over 120 days were 0.56?kg day^?1 (Local), 0.67 (<30% Awassi), 0.86 (30–50% Awassi), and 0.96 (>50% Awassi). Groups with 30–50% Awassi and >50% Awassi ewes produced significantly (p?<?0.05) more milk than Local ewes. Significant differences were observed between <30% Awassi and >50% Awassi crossbred groups. The best crosses (>50% Awassi) produced over 70% more milk than the local ewes which demonstrates the potential that exists in increasing milk production through the initiated crossbreeding programme with sheep in Ethiopia.     

Bacterial community analysis of purulent material from liver abscesses of crossbred cattle and Holstein steers fed finishing diets with or without tylosin

Liver abscesses in feedlot cattle are polymicrobial infections. Culture-based studies have identified Fusobacterium necrophorum as the primary causative agent, but a number of other bacterial species are frequently isolated. The incidence of liver abscesses is highly variable and is affected by a number of factors, including cattle type. Holstein steers raised for beef production have a higher incidence than crossbred feedlot cattle. Tylosin is the commonly used antimicrobial feed additive to reduce the incidence of liver abscesses. The objective of this study was to utilize 16S ribosomal RNA amplicon sequence analyses to analyze the bacterial community composition of purulent material of liver abscesses of crossbred cattle (n = 24) and Holstein steers (n = 24), each fed finishing diet with or without tylosin. DNA was extracted and the V3 and V4 regions of the 16S rRNA gene were amplified, sequenced, and analyzed. The minimum, mean, and maximum sequence reads per sample were 996, 177,070, and 877,770, respectively, across all the liver abscess samples. Sequence analyses identified 5 phyla, 14 families, 98 genera, and 102 amplicon sequence variants (ASV) in the 4 treatment groups. The dominant phyla identified were Fusobacteria (52% of total reads) and Proteobacteria (33%). Of the top 25 genera identified, 17 genera were Gram negative and 8 were Gram positive. The top 3 genera, which accounted for 75% of the total reads, in the order of abundance, were Fusobacterium, Pseudomonas, and Bacteroides. The relative abundance, expressed as percent of total reads, of phyla, family, and genera did not differ (P > 0.05) between the 4 treatment groups. Generic richness and evenness, determined by Shannon–Weiner and Simpson’s diversity indices, respectively, did not differ between the groups. The UniFrac distance matrices data revealed no clustering of the ASV indicating variance between the samples within each treatment group. Co-occurrence network analysis at the genus level indicated a strong association of Fusobacterium with 15 other genera, and not all of them have been previously isolated from liver abscesses. In conclusion, the culture-independent method identified the bacterial composition of liver abscesses as predominantly Gram negative and Fusobacterium as the dominant genus, followed by Pseudomonas. The bacterial community composition did not differ between crossbred and Holstein steers fed finishing diets with or without tylosin.     

复合双歧杆菌制剂对肉羊生长性能、养分表观消化率及血液生化指标的影响

为研究复合双歧杆菌制剂对肉羊生长性能、养分表观消化率及血液生化指标的影响,试验选择健康、体重相近的杜寒杂交肉羊60只随机分成4组,每组15个重复,每个重复1只,1组为对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验2、3、4组分别在基础日粮中添加2.5%、5.0%、10%的复合双歧杆菌制剂,预试验7 d,试验期56 d。结果表明:(1)试验3、4组的平均日增重较1组比分别提高13.5%、9.3%(P<0.05),料重比较1组比分别降低10.3%、9.4%(P<0.05),试验2、3、4组的干物质采食量均高于1组(P>0.05);(2)试验2、3、4组的干物质、钙、磷、酸性洗涤纤维表观消化率均高于1组(P>0.05),试验3、4组的粗蛋白质、中性洗涤纤维消化率较1组比分别提高17.2%、15.3%、12.5%、9.1%(P<0.05);(3)试验3、4组血清中的总蛋白(TP)含量较1组比分别提高16.0%、12.9%(P<0.05),试验2、3、4组血清中的白蛋白(ALB)含量均高于1组(P>0.05),试验2、3、4组血清中谷丙转氨酶(GPT)、谷草转氨酶(GOT)含量均低于1组(P>0.05),试验3、4组血清中尿素氮(BUN)含量较1组比分别降低15.4%、13.8%(P<0.05)。综上,不同水平的复合双歧杆菌制剂可以提高肉羊生长性能、养分表观消化率,且对血液生化指标无明显影响,以5.0%添加为适宜。     

Mycoplasma pneumonia of swine (MPS) resistance and immune characteristics of pig lines generated by crossing an MPS pulmonary lesion selected Landrace line and a highly immune capacity selected Large White line

To understand the influence of crossbreeding on Mycoplasma pneumonia of swine (MPS) resistance and immune characteristics, two crossbred lines were characterized. One crossbred line, LaWa, was generated by crossing the MPS pulmonary lesion selected Landrace line (La) and the highly immune‐selected Large White line (Wa). The second crossbred line, LaWb, was generated by crossing the La line and the nonselected Large White line (Wb). The crossbred LbWb line (nonselected Landrace line × nonselected Large White line) and the La line were used as controls. The LaWa and LaWb lines had an intermediate level of MPS lung lesions between La and LbWb lines, although the difference was not statistically significant. After stimulation with sheep red blood cells (SRBCs), the LaWb and LaWa lines showed immune characteristics similar to that of the La line; the number of monocytes in peripheral blood increased, while B cells, T cells, secretion of SRBC‐specific immunoglobulin G, and interleukin (IL)‐13 decreased. Additionally, the number of natural killer (NK) cells and the expression of IL‐4 and IL‐17 were significantly higher in the LaWb and LaWa lines, respectively. These data suggested that crossbreeding of La and Wa lines resulted in the inheritance of some of the selected immune responses.     

经济绿肥覆盖对西双版纳胶园土壤性状的综合影响

论述了经济绿肥覆盖对提高土壤肥力、改善土壤物理性状、水土保持、提高抗病性、增加收入等方面的作用和重要意义。阐明了经济绿肥覆盖在西双版纳胶园的应用前景，它将实现经济效益和生态效益并重的胶园可持续发展。同时提出了在胶林行间特别是保护带陡坡地种植绿肥覆盖物的发展思路及相应措施，即完成胶园经济绿肥良种的筛选、经济效益和生态效益评价、及配套栽培技术试验示范。     

肉用西门塔尔牛改良云南黄牛的效果初报

对云南黄牛、西门塔尔与云南黄牛的杂交牛（西本杂）体尺体重进行了测定,结果西本牛与本地牛体尺体重都有了显著提高（P＜0．01）。西本杂牛的初生、6、12、18、24月龄体重比同龄本地牛分别高出82％、18％、69％、50％、78％。     

Reproductive Performance of Crossbred Dairy Cows in Different Production Systems in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia

The study was conducted to examine the fertility status of crossbred dairy cows in mixed crop-livestock production (MCLP), market-oriented specialized dairy production (MSDP) and urban dairy production (UDP) systems, including the Holetta Agricultural Research Center (HARC). Data on general farm management variables and reproductive histories were collected from study farms by questionnaire and from individual cow records. Age at first service and age at first calving were 29.58 months (n = 424) and 40.6 months (n = 348), respectively. Cows managed under UDP were younger at first service and at first calving (p<0.05). The mean intervals from calving to first service and to conception were 141.98 days (n = 284) and 185.02 days (n = 219), respectively. The mean calving interval for cows was 551.82 days (n = 258). Cows in MCLP had longer intervals from calving to first service and to conception and longer calving intervals than those managed under MSDP, UDP and HARC. First service conception rate (43.42%), number of services per conception (1.75) and pregnancy rate (79.29%) did not differ significantly between production systems. Reproductive performance was best in UDP followed by HARC and MSDP. The difference between MCLP and the rest points to particular difficulties in that system. To improve reproductive performance and economic benefit, there should be conservative stocking rate, sensible year-round feeding, a herd health plan, and sustainable extension service.     

Evolution of farm management, nitrogen efficiency and economic performance on Dutch dairy farms reducing external inputs

The implementation of the statutory Mineral Accounting System (MINAS) in the Netherlands in the period 1998–2003 required large reductions in nutrient inputs of dairy farms. Patterns in farm management adjustments throughout 6 years and their effectiveness in terms of nitrogen use efficiency (NUE) and economic performance were evaluated for 45 commercial farms participating in a regional nutrient management project.

Six groups of farms were identified that differed in initial NUE and the change therein. Three groups of farms that were able to rapidly reduce fertilizer N input and establish a consistent farm management strategy were most successful in improving NUE. These farms had a higher gross margin per 100 kg milk than farms without a consistent strategy. The three effective strategies were primarily characterized by (i) continuous, gradual adjustment of the integrated farm management combined with a slight reduction in milk production per ha (re-balancing) versus increasing productivity per animal, thereby reducing maintenance N requirements, while (ii) maintaining or (iii) increasing the production intensity per ha. It was concluded that different approaches to improve NUE can be successful, also in economic terms, although a direct relationship between NUE and gross margin was not observed. The probably implicit choice for adoption of a strategy may be governed by farm endowment and the farmer's skills and objectives.