Problems and possibilities into the next decade involving beef cattle breeding research in the southern region: cooperator herds.

When resources are limited, use of cattle owned and maintained by cooperators to conduct beef cattle breeding research in the Southern Region can be a feasible alternative to the traditional policy of using experiment station cattle. Former students, former experiment station employees, extension personnel, institutional personnel, or tribal personnel can serve as suitable cooperators or can aid in locating potential cooperators. Several problems can be associated with cooperative work; however, the two most obvious are 1) only a limited number of researchable questions can be addressed and 2) complete experimental control over the cattle is seldom achieved. The procedure has the primary advantage that in most cases all or at least the greatest portion of the expense of owning and maintaining the cow herd is borne by the cooperator.     

Evaluation of hemagglutinin subtype 1 swine influenza viruses from the United States

Swine influenza viruses (SIV) of the hemagglutinin subtype 1 (H1) isolated from the United States (U.S.) have not been well-characterized in the natural host. An increase in the rate of mutation and reassortment has occurred in SIV isolates from the U.S. since 1998, including viruses belonging to the H1 subtype. Two independent animal studies were done to evaluate and compare the pathogenesis of 10 SIV isolates dating from 1930 to currently circulating isolates. In addition, the hemagglutinin and neuraminidase genes of each isolate were sequenced for genetic comparison, and serological cross-reactivity was evaluated using all sera and virus combinations in hemagglutination inhibition and serum neutralization assays. Statistically significant differences in percentage of pneumonia and virus titers in the lung were detected between isolates, with modern isolates tending to produce more severe disease, have more virus shedding and higher viral titers. However, nasal shedding and virus titers in the lung were not always correlated with one another or lung lesions. Serologically, the classic historical H1N1 viruses tended to have better cross-reaction between historical sera and antigens, with moderate to good cross-reactivity with modern viral antigens. However, the modern sera were less reactive with historical viruses. Modern viruses tended to have less consistent cross-reactivity within the modern group. Overall, H1 isolates collected over the last 75 years from the U.S. pig population exhibit considerable variability in pathogenicity. There appears to be an increase in genetic and antigenic diversity coincident with the emergence of the swine triple reassortant H3N2 in 1998.     

Abattoir surveillance: the U.S. experience

Abattoir, or slaughter, surveillance has been an important component of bovine tuberculosis control and eradication programs in the U.S., and has adapted to changes in the livestock market from farm to table, and the threat of bovine tuberculosis from a wildlife reservoir. The purpose of this overview was to describe the current goals of U.S. bovine tuberculosis slaughter surveillance, describe the elements of slaughter surveillance in the U.S., describe enhancements to the slaughter surveillance system, and discuss future challenges for the U.S. bovine tuberculosis surveillance program. Government regulations and the scientific literature were examined to provide information for this paper. The control and eradication of bovine tuberculosis in livestock falls to the United States Department of Agriculture and two agencies within the Department: the Food Safety and Inspection Service (FSIS) and the Animal and Plant Health Inspection Service (APHIS). FSIS conducts routine slaughter surveillance for disease or conditions that render carcasses unsuitable for human consumption, while APHIS is involved in antemortem bovine tuberculosis testing, and necropsy and investigation of bovine tuberculosis cases identified through slaughter surveillance or antemortem testing. Results from the previous 5 years of surveillance are presented. Enhancements have been added to the current surveillance system to improve its performance. An incentive program has been used to increase the numbers of tissues submitted for laboratory examination, the state of Michigan is implementing electronic animal identification under a pilot program, and expansions to the current system are being developed to accommodate new livestock industries. The success of these programs and challenges for the future are discussed.     

Cubicle housing systems for cattle: Comfort of dairy cows depends on cubicle adjustment

Housing is important for the welfare of cows. Although recommendations have been proposed, abnormal movements and injury problems are still observed in cubicle houses. We conducted a survey on 70 French dairy farms that used cubicles. We examined the design of the cubicles, and the behavior, injuries, and cleanliness of the cows. Most of the cubicles did not comply with the recommendations, often being too narrow and/or too short. Difficulties in lying behavior and injuries were more common when the neck rail was high. No improvement was noted when cubicles of a recent design were used ("U.S." cubicles), apparently because these cubicles were most often cantilevered on a double head rail rather than fixed on freestanding posts. An experiment was conducted, making similar measurements, on 84 cows to compare two configurations for U.S. cubicles (cantilevered on a double head rail as observed in the survey with a high and rear neck rail vs. fixed on freestanding posts as recommended) and another recent cubicle type (Euroconfort, cantilevered on head rails, but with a large space between the rails and fixed as recommended), with and without a brisket board. In U.S. cubicles on rails, cows spent more time lying and less time fully standing inside the cubicles than in the other cubicles (percentage of time: lying, 53.9 vs. 51.5; fully standing, 7.3 vs. 8.5); in Euroconfort cubicles, they hit bars more often when getting up than in U.S. Cubicles (percentage of observations: 42.4 vs. 26.4. Without a brisket board, cows lay down more often in a fore position in U.S. cubicles than in Euroconfort ones. Somatic cell counts increased with time in U.S. cubicles on rails and decreased in the other cubicles. It is suggested that the position of the neck rail in U.S. cubicles cantilevered on rails did not leave enough space for the cow to stand inside the cubicle, thereby encouraging the cow to lie down. This could in turn favor udder contamination and/or inflammation. It is concluded that the positioning of the neck rail is of prime importance, that U.S. cubicles should be used with a brisket board and with correct positioning of the neck rail (even when a head rail is used), and that leaving a large space between head rails does not offer an adequate remedial solution for keeping a free head space in front of the cubicle.     

肠膜明串珠菌对奶牛产奶量和乳品质的影响

肠膜明串珠菌是美国食品药物管理局认为安全的40种益生菌菌种之一,它有改善机体肠道环境,增强机体免疫力等功能。试验将肠膜明串珠菌发酵液应用于奶牛饲料中,作为奶牛饲料的一种益生菌添加剂,观察肠膜明串珠菌发酵液对奶牛奶产量及其品质的影响。结果表明,试验期实验组奶牛平均日产奶量比实验前期提高了12.03%(P0.01),奶中乳蛋白质量分数、乳糖质量分数及干物质质量分数显著提高(P0.01),分别提高了1.76%、1.23%和0.76%,而乳脂率没有明显变化(P0.05)。     

生产性能测定站对生长猪生产性能和行为的影响

本试验旨在研究生产性能测定站对猪生产性能和行为的影响。选用平均体重为28.2 kg的大白猪122头,公、母各半,按圈随机分成3组,分别为试验1组(普通料槽15头组)、试验2组(测定站15头组)及试验3组(测定站8头组),试验1、2组各3个重复,试验3组4个重复,试验期44 d。试验前对测定站精准性进行评价;试验期间测定猪生产性能和皮肤损伤,并对猪行为进行录像。结果表明,测定站料槽和体重称量秤精准性符合其技术参数;3组之间猪生产性能均无显著差异(P>0.05),试验3组猪的末重变异系数呈下降趋势(44.48%),试验1组猪的末重、平均日增重和平均日采食量略高于试验2组;测定站极显著增加了猪的皮肤损伤评分(P<0.01),极显著增加了试验2组第1天时的攻击行为(P<0.01),极显著降低了第7天的攻击行为(P<0.01),但采食猪所占比例相对较低,试验2组显著(P<0.05)或极显著(P<0.01)提高了猪的圈友操纵行为。     

Occurrence of different strains of Dichelobacter nodosus in new clinical lesions in sheep exposed to footrot associated with multi-strain infections

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the occurrence of S1, U1 and T strains of Dichelobacter nodosus in new clinical lesions in sheep exposed to footrot associated with multi-strain infections. DESIGN: Seventy-seven donor sheep were grazed with 84 recipients for 33 weeks. The donor sheep were Merinos with a history of clinically virulent footrot associated with protease type S1, U1 and T strains of D nodosus that hybridised with gene sequences pJIR314B, pJIR318 and/or pB645-335. The recipient sheep were Merinos with no history of footrot. PROCEDURE: Each fortnight, all feet were examined, their lesion scores were recorded and samples of lesion material were taken for laboratory tests. RESULTS: Eighty-nine percent (299 of 336) of feet of recipient sheep developed new clinical lesions. S1, U1 and T strains of D nodosus were recovered from 58%, 22% and 18%, respectively, of these lesions at a ratio that remained constant during two apparent peaks in footrot transmission. Gene sequences homologous to pJIR314B and pB645-335 were detected in 56% (93 of 166) and 29% (48 of 166), respectively, of S1 strains of D nodosus at a ratio that was not constant during the experiment. CONCLUSIONS: S1 was the dominant protease type of D nodosus in new clinical lesions. The occurrence of S1 strains did not increase relative to U1 and T strains of D nodosus during the experiment. S1, U1 and T strains of D nodosus remained in equilibrium despite changes in environment, genetic types in the population of S1 strains, and host resistance to footrot.     

中美牧草种子生产比较

牧草种子在草原植被恢复和草牧业生产中发挥着重要作用。中美都是国土辽阔的大国，本文通过对比近十年内中美2国牧草种子生产的相关数据，分析中美草种业在牧草种子生产规模、专业化生产的地域性、新品种选育、产业化与机械化以及生产技术研究上的差异。结果表明：尽管我国在牧草种子专业化生产的地域性方面取得了长足进步，但是种植面积和单产仍然低于美国，每年仍需进口大量牧草种子来满足生态建设和草产业发展的迫切需求；与美国相比，我国牧草种子生产在育种、产业化、机械化和专业化等方面存在巨大的潜力，而且我国牧草种子产业亟需培育大型龙头企业。基于中美在牧草种子生产体系上的差异，本文比较分析了中美两国在牧草种子生产方面的差异和我国的发展潜力，并提出了当前我国牧草种子产业发展需要集中努力的方向和建议，希望能为推动我国草种业快速健康发展提供参考。     

Experiences with integrated concepts for the control of Haemonchus contortus in sheep and goats in the United States

The generally warm, moist environmental conditions in the southern United States (U.S.) are ideal for survival and growth of the egg and larval stages of Haemonchus contortus and other gastrointestinal nematodes (GIN) of sheep and goats. Consequently, infection with GIN is the greatest threat to economic small ruminant production in this region. With anthelmintic resistance now reaching epidemic proportions in small ruminants in the U.S., non-chemical control alternatives are critically needed. The Southern Consortium for Small Ruminant Parasite Control (SCSRPC) was formed in response to this crisis and over the last decade has successfully validated the use of several novel control technologies, including FAMACHA(?) for the implementation of targeted selective treatments (TST), copper oxide wire particles (COWP), nematode-trapping fungi, and grazing or feeding hay of the high-tannin perennial legume sericea lespedeza [Lespedeza cuneata (Dum.-Cours. G. Don)]. Producer attitudes toward GIN control in the U.S. have been shifting away from exclusive dependence upon anthelmintics toward more sustainable, integrated systems of parasite control. Some novel control technologies have been readily adopted by producers in combination with appropriate diagnostic tools, such as FAMACHA(?). Others techniques are still being developed, and will be available for producer use as they are validated. Although new drugs will likely be available to U.S. goat and sheep producers in the future, these will also be subject to development of anthelmintic resistance. Therefore, the adoption and implementation of sustainable GIN control principles will remain important. With emerging markets for grass-fed or organic livestock, there will continue to be a critical need for research and outreach on development and on-farm application of integrated GIN control systems for small ruminants in the U.S. for the foreseeable future.     

不同秋眠等级苜蓿在贵州的生长性能研究

从德国、加拿大、丹麦和美国等国家引进不同秋眠等级苜蓿品种,进行株高、株鲜重、分枝数等项目指标的 测定,试验结果表明秋眠级数高的苜蓿品种具有较高的生物量,并用回归分析统计建立起子叶至真叶的节间距离与秋 眠等级的回归方程、株高与鲜重的回归方程、分枝数与鲜重的回归方程。     

红三叶AFLP体系的建立及优化

采用正交设计和单因素试验相结合的方法,以红三叶(Trifolium pratense)高感白粉病品种岷山红三叶与抗白粉病新品系(甘农PR1)杂交产生F1代作为试验材料,对红三叶AFLP反应中7个因素(DNA浓度,酶切时间,两酶(EcoRI,MseI)浓度,预扩增产物稀释倍数,2×PCR Master Mix用量,引物组合)进行优化试验。建立了适合红三叶稳定且多态性高的最佳AFLP反应体系:90ng/μL DNA模板、5h酶切、8UEcoRI、6UMseI、30倍稀释预扩增产物、10μL 2×PCR Master Mix。优化的AFLP反应体系在红三叶的验证中表现出良好的稳定性和重复性,为进一步进行红三叶种质鉴定、遗传图谱构建、基因定位和遗传多样性的分析奠定了技术基础。     

Some overseas developments in sheep and beef production

Extract

Comment will be made on the sheep and cattle production scene as seen during a visit to the U.S.A. and Britain last year. Naturally this will be a personal interpretation of what a practising veterinarian from New Zealand was able to assimilate during visits to research organizations, commercial properties, and universities and by listening and talking to a variety of people interested in animal production. The problems associated with animal production are much the same the world over — efficiency of production, seeking the breeds suited to the environment, nutrition, diseases, reproductive ability and orderly marketing of the product. While the problems are the same the emphasis varies and the relative importance of any one will be different in different countries.     

Gene mapping in the river buffalo (Bubalus bubalis L.): five syntenic groups

SUMMARY: Forty-five somatic buffalo-hamster hybrid clones were analysed for the presence or absence of PCR products of 10 primers. Five syntenic groups were identified: CGA-D9S1; CD18-D1S4; OXT-PRNP; LDLR-D7S3; BSPN-D14S2. These same syntenic groups were reported to be syntenic in cattle and were assigned to U2 (BTA 9), U10 (BTA 1), U11 (BTA 13), U22 (BTA 7), and U24 (BTA 14), respectively. Based on chromosomal homology between cattle and river buffalo chromosomes, these syntenic groups are expected to be assigned to buffalo chromosomes BBU 10, BBU 1q, BBU 14, BBU 9, and BBU 15, respectively. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Genkartierung beim Flu?büffel (Bubalis bubalis L.): Fünf Synt?niegruppen Fünfundvierzig somatische Büffel-Hamster Hygrid Klone wurden bezüglich An-oder Abwesenheit von PCR Produkten von 10 primern analysiert. Es wurden 5 Synt?niegruppen identifiziert: CGA-D9S1; CD18-D1S4; OXT-PRNP; LDLR-D7S3; BSPN-D14S2. Dieselben Synt?niegruppen wurden in Rindern gfunden und zugeordnet zu U2(BTA 9), U10(BTA 1), U11(BTA 13), U22(BTA 7) und U24(BTA 14). Auf grund chromosomaler Homolgie zwischen beiden Arten sollten die Synt?niegruppen auf den Büffelchromosomen BBU 10, BBU 1q, BBU 14, BBU 9, und BBU 15 liegen.     

The raising of pigs--modern and fair to the animals

A sow can cope better with a husbandry system if a new situation is in accordance with her expectations and if she has been prepared sufficiently for the social and technical problems, she will have to face. In relation with applied ethology this means, that a sow should be prepared adequately for a group-housing system of pregnant sows, by a previous establishment of the social hierarchy in her (sub)group; a previous training in operating the feeding station; providing a part of the house where she is safe for aggressive other sows; providing two simultaneous and undisturbed meals of roughage per day for all sows; providing appropriate possibilities for locomotory and for exploratory behaviour. For a farrowing house are the following provisions required: the lying places (farrowing nest) shall be clearly distinguishable for the sows; sufficient long straw for allowing satisfactory nest building shall be present in the nests; a sow shall be able to turn around in the farrowing nest; the sows shall be able to ly in a position with their heads close together; the feeding station shall be in the nearest proximity; the piglets shall be able to mix gradually after their first week of life.     

Isolation of Staphylococcus species from the tonsils of healthy cattle and phage patterns of isolates

Staphylococci were found in the tonsils of 121 (75.2%) of 161 cattle. There were 15 different species, 10 belonging to novobiocin-sensitive species. The most predominant species was S. simulans (79.3% of the 121 carriers), followed by S. aureus (20.7%), S. chromogenes (10.7%) and S. epidermidis (8.3%). The other 11 species were present in 0.8 to 5.8%. Twenty-six unidentifiable isolates were isolated from 26 (21.5%) carriers. Sixty-two (51.2%) of the 121 carriers yielded two to five Staphylococcus species together while only one species could be found in each of the other 59 (48.8%). Combinations of S. simulans and other species were most frequently encountered in 50 (41.3%) of the 121 carriers. Twenty-four (96.0%) out of 25 S. aureus isolates, 3 (42.9%) of 7 S. hyicus isolates and 45 (25.4%) of 177 coagulase-negative staphylococci (13 species and unidentifiable isolates) isolates were phage typable. Most of S. aureus isolates were lysed by bovine phages 119 (n = 16) or 116 (n = 5). Thirty-three (25.4%) of 45 coagulase-negative staphylococci typable isolates with Pulverer's phage set showed the phage pattern ph5/ph9/ph10/ph12/ph13/U4/U14/U16/++ +U20/U46. The tonsils of cattle thus appear to be a suitable environment for Staphylococcus species, particularly novobiocin-sensitive species.     

黑熊四川亚种线粒体DNA cytb基因的克隆及全序列分析

采用PCR克隆技术对黑熊四川亚种线粒体DNA cytb基因进行克隆、测序。黑熊四川亚种线粒体DNA cytb基因的全序列为1140 bp,CG含量为46.23％。与AB020910和U23558两个黑熊cytb序列的变异共有61处.其中T-C转换共有36处.A—G转换共有23处。仅有2处发生T-A颠抉,碱基突变率为5.35％.其中转换率96.72％,颠换率为3.28％。密码子第3个碱基发生变异的有48个。     

山生柳SSR-PCR反应体系优化

本研究以祁连山4个海拔梯度的山生柳（Salix oritrepha）为材料,采用L9(34)正交试验设计和单因子试验,分析山生柳SSR技术中PCR体系的主要成分对扩增结果的影响,并对引物SHUK123的适宜退火温度进行优化。结果表明,PCR反应体系的最佳条件:20 μL体系中2.0 mmol·L-1 Mg2+ 1 μL,0.10 mmol·L-1 dNTPs 1.5 μL,0.5 U Taq酶用量为1 μL,20 ng·μL-1 DNA模板1 μL, 0.5 μmol·L-1的上下游引物各2 μL,10× Taq Buffer 2 μL,ddH2O加至20 μL。扩增反应程序：94 ℃高温预变性时间3 min,94 ℃变性45 s,Tm(不同退火温度)退火时间45 s,72 ℃延伸30 s,循环数30个,最后72 ℃后延伸时间5 min,4 ℃保温。适宜退火温度为56 ℃。以上结果表明,此反应体系在山生柳PCR扩增中的稳定性和可重复性较好。     

Chronic udder oedema: Clinical aspects of the syndrome and its connection with hypomagnesaemia and anaemia

Extract

Chronic udder oedema (C.U.O.), also known as “leatherbag”, “rubber bag” and “caked udder”, is a disease of dairy cows occurring in a number of areas in the North Island. The condition has been observed to be associated with hypomagnesaemia and a fading syndrome involving anaemia (J. Ker and D. Cordes, pers. comm.). This syndrome, also known as “Taranaki anaemia”, is described herein as Spring Anaemia (S.A.). No mention of these diseases in veterinary literature has been found. For this reason, clinical aspects of C.U.O. and S.A. as they occur within a 30 km radius of Eltham, Taranaki, are described and discussed. Results are presented of a survey undertaken in the same area to determine the association of C.U.O. with hypomagnesaemia and anaemia.     

饲用酶制剂对生长猪营养物质消化利用率的影响

选择８头体重１７ｋｇ,在回肠末端安装改进“Ｔ”型瘘管的断奶公仔猪,随机分为两组,分别饲喂添加复合酶和对照日粮,进行两次重复代谢试验和回肠末端食糜消化酶活性测定。试验结果表明,酶制剂可使饲料中主要营养物质、氨基酸的消化利用率和回肠末端食糜中蛋白酶类的活性略有提高,但与对照日粮无显著差异。试验组对饲料干物质、有机物、粗蛋白质、粗灰分的消化率和消化能的转化率平均分别为８４．１６％,８８．７７％,８４．９２％,５４．０４％和８２．８１％。食糜和粪中的氨基酸平均消化率分别为８５．９％和７９．５％,两者差异极显著（Ｐ＜０．０１）。加酶组与对照组的淀粉酶、蛋白酶、胰蛋白酶、胰凝乳蛋白酶的活性分别为９２８１．３Ｕ／ｇ和９８９１．５Ｕ／ｇ,３４７．２Ｕ／ｇ和３０４．８Ｕ／ｇ,１０１７．６和７３７．８Ｕ／ｇ,２３．６Ｕ／ｇ和１６．８Ｕ／ｇ。     

A review of toxoplasmosis of animals in the U.S.S.R

Information on the serologic and parasitologic prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii infection in domestic and wild animals of the U.S.S.R. is reviewed. Although complement-fixing antibodies to T. gondii were widely prevalent in animals, little information is available on the presence of viable T. gondii in tissues of animals. Reports of epizootics in which T. gondii was suspected to be the causative agent of toxoplasmosis are summarized. Also, the strict economic impact of toxoplasmosis on agriculture in the U.S.S.R. needs evaluation.