Scrotal circumference, bodyweight and serum testosterone concentration of Red Sokoto weaner bucks as influenced by dry season crop-residue supplementation

The effect of dry season supplementation with crop‐residue‐based rations on bodyweight, scrotal circumference and serum testosterone concentrations in Red Sokoto weaner bucks at 5, 6 and 7 months of age was investigated in the present study. There were 7 treatment groups which were fed a positive control ration (conventional concentrate) fed at 1 and 2% of the bucks’ bodyweights (Rations 1A and 2A), two crop‐residue‐based test rations each fed at 1 and 2% of bodyweight (1B, 2B, 1C and 2C), and a negative control that was unsupplemented (Ration D). All treatment groups had ad libitum access to natural pastures and Digitaria smutsii hay as a basal diet. Bodyweight and scrotal circumference of the bucks significantly increased (P < 0.05) with age from 5.9 kg to 10.2 kg, and 4.40 cm to 6.95 cm, at 5 and 7 months of age, respectively. Bucks on Ration D (unsupplemented group) had the lowest bodyweight and scrotal circumference. Bucks on Ration 2A showed a significant increase in basal testosterone concentration from 0.32 ng/mL at 5 months of age to 0.65 ng/mL at 7 months of age. Peak testosterone concentration also increased from 1.0 ng/mL at 5 months to 2.8 ng/mL at 7 months of age. Bucks on test Ration 2C had higher bodyweights (6.75, 8.00 and 10.00 kg at 5, 6 and 7 months of age, respectively) than bucks on the other test Ration B (6.20, 7.20 and 8.50 kg, respectively). There were no significant differences between the two test rations with regard to scrotal circumferences of the bucks at all ages. However, at 7 months of age, bucks on test Ration 2C had significantly higher peak testosterone concentration (1.80 ng/mL) than their counterparts on test Ration 2B (1.30 ng/mL). The secretory patterns of testosterone were episodic and pulsatile in nature. It was concluded that crop‐residue supplementation in prepubertal Red Sokoto bucks has a significant influence on their bodyweight, scrotal circumference and testosterone production. Test Ration C was a cheap, affordable and better crop‐residue‐based ration for optimal reproductive performance than test Ration B.     

Effect of induced body condition score differences on sexual behavior,scrotal measurements,semen attributes and endocrine responses in Malpura rams under hot semi‐arid environment

The study was conducted for a period of 45 days to assess the influence of body condition scoring (BCS) on reproductive efficiency of Malpura rams in terms of sexual behaviour, scrotal measurements, semen attributes and endocrine responses. The rams were randomly divided into three groups as group I (BCS = 2.5; n = 7), group II (BCS = 3.0; n = 7) and group III (BCS = 4.0; n = 7). Apart from grazing for 8 h a day, the rams were provided with concentrate mixture at the rate of 100, 300 and 500 g to groups I, II and III respectively to attain their respective BCS. Under these differential feeding regimes, sexual behaviour scrotal measurements, semen characteristics and endocrine parameters were studied at 15‐days interval. Sexual behaviour, scrotal volume, scrotal circumference, testicular width, testicular length and scrotal skin thickness differed significantly (p < 0.05) between lower BCS group (group I) and higher BCS groups (groups II and III). The semen volume, mass motility and progressive sperm motility were recorded significantly (p < 0.05) higher in group II and lowest in group I. However, the sperm concentration did not differ significantly between the groups. The mean plasma testosterone concentration differed significantly (p < 0.05) between lower BCS group (group I) and higher BCS groups (groups II and III). Circulating plasma hormone concentrations were influenced due to the BCS. Plasma cortisol, T₃ and T₄ increased as the BCS improved from lower to higher. In conclusion, better reproductive efficiency of rams of moderate BCS (3.0 and 3.5) than rams of lower (2.5) and higher BCS (4.0) indicates the importance of maintaining optimum body condition of breeding rams under hot semi‐arid environment.     

Analysis of Related Factors in Semen Quality of Italian Buffaloes

This study was aimed to investigate the factors affecting semen quality by analyzing the semen quality of Italian buffaloes,measuring the circumference of the testis,the level of oxidative stress in seminal plasma and the expression of genes related to sperm motility.In this study,the sperm vitality,deformity rate and semen collection of 6 Italian buffaloes were tested,and the correlation analysis was carried out after measuring scrotal circumference.The oxidative stress level of seminal plasma in Italian buffaloes was tested,including malondialdehyde (MDA),total superoxide dismutase (T-SOD) and glutathione peroxidation (GSH-Px).The expression of β-tublin-2c (TUBB2C),outer dense fibres 2 (ODF2),tektin-2 (TEKT2),tektin-4 (TEKT4) genes and their correlation with sperm in Italian buffaloes were analyzed.The results showed that the correlation between scrotal circumference and semen yield,vigor and deformity rate was found,the coefficients were 0.423 (P>0.05),0.750 (P<0.01) and -0.827 (P<0.01),which showed a significant positive correlation between scrotal circumference and sperm motility,and a significant negative correlation with the deformity rate.The oxidative stress level in seminal plasma of Italian buffaloes was tested,the correlation coefficients of MDA,T-SOD and GSH-Px with sperm motility were -0.522 (P<0.05),0.333 (P>0.05) and 0.474 (P<0.05),respectively.There was a significant negative correlation between sperm motility and MDA content,a significant positive correlation between GSH-Px activity and sperm motility,no significant correlation with T-SOD activity.The correlation coefficients between sperm motility and TUBB2C,ODF2,TEKT2 and TEKT4 genes were 0.930 (P<0.01),0.726 (P<0.01),0.924(P<0.01) and 0.839 (P<0.01),respectively.There was a significant positive correlation between sperm motility and the expression of four genes.The results provided a reference for understanding the factors affecting the semen quality of Italian buffaloes,and also provided a theoretical basis for the selection of Italian bull.     

影响意大利水牛精液品质的相关因素分析

本研究旨在通过对意大利水牛精液品质分析、睾丸周径测量、精浆中的氧化应激水平检测和精子活力相关基因表达情况来探究影响精液质量的相关因素。试验检测了6头意大利水牛精液的活力、畸形率、采精量,并在测量其阴囊周径后进行相关性分析;检测了意大利水牛精浆中氧化应激水平指标（丙二醛（MDA）、总超氧化物歧化酶（T-SOD）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px））并进行了相关性分析;分析了意大利水牛精子β-微管蛋白-2c（TUBB2C）、外周致密纤维2（ODF2）、筑丝蛋白2（TEKT2）、筑丝蛋白4（TEKT4）基因的表达定量及相关性。结果显示,意大利水牛阴囊周径与精液产量、活力、畸形率之间相关系数分别为0.423（P>0.05）、0.750（P<0.01）、-0.827（P<0.01）,即阴囊周径与精子活力呈显著正相关关系、与畸形率呈显著负相关关系;意大利水牛精子活力与MDA、T-SOD、GSH-Px指标之间相关系数分别为-0.522（P<0.05）、0.333（P>0.05）、0.474（P<0.05）,即精子活力与MDA含量之间存在显著负相关关系,与GSH-Px活性之间存在显著正相关关系,与T-SOD活性相关性不显著;意大利水牛精子活力与TUBB2C、ODF2、TEKT2、TEKT4基因指标之间相关系数分别为0.930（P<0.01）、0.726（P<0.01）、0.924（P<0.01）、0.839（P<0.01）,即精子活力与以上基因表达量存在显著正相关关系。本研究结果为了解影响意大利水牛精液质量的因素提供参考,也为意大利种公水牛的筛选提供理论依据。     

饲喂维生素E对种公牛鲜精活力的影响

为了研究维生素E对种公牛精液品质影响,本试验对青海省家畜改良中心一头性欲差、一头精液品质低下的两头荷斯坦种公牛饲喂维生素E胶囊(100mg/粒)。牛20粒/d。一个月为一疗程,连续饲喂两个疗程。研究表明:维生素E与牛精液品质有着密切关系。日粮中添加适量维生素E有助于提高种公牛性欲、精液密度及鲜精活力来改善其精液品质。     

Estimation of genetic parameters and genome scan for 15 semen characteristics traits of Holstein bulls

A QTL detection experiment was performed in French dairy cattle to search for QTL related to male fertility. Ten families, involving a total of 515 bulls, were phenotyped for ejaculated volume and sperm concentration, number of spermatozoa, motility, velocity, percentage of motile spermatozoa after thawing and abnormal spermatozoa. A set of 148 microsatellite markers were used to realize a genome scan. First, genetic parameters were estimated for all traits. Semen production traits were found to have moderate heritabilities (from 0.15 to 0.30) while some of the semen quality traits such as motility had high heritabilities (close to 0.60). Genetic correlations among traits showed negative relationships between volume and concentration and between volume and most quality traits such as motility or abnormal sperm while correlations between concentration and these traits were rather favourable. Percentages of abnormal sperm were negatively related to quality traits, especially with motility and velocity of spermatozoa. Three QTL related to abnormal sperm frequencies were significant at p < 0.01. In total, 11 QTL (p < 0.05) were detected. However, the number of QTL detected was within the range of expected false positives. Because of the lack of power to find QTL in this design further analyses are required to confirm these QTL.     

牛睾丸差异表达基因Septin10的筛选、鉴定及组织表达研究

本研究旨在筛选出决定或影响公牛睾丸周长(SC)的基因片段,并研究其功能和表达特征,为今后种公牛的选育提供理论基础。用mRNA差异显示技术从睾丸周长极显著差异(P0.01)的睾丸组织中筛选差异表达的基因片段,并用反Northern杂交及荧光定量的方法鉴定筛选的结果,研究筛选出基因的组织表达谱。结果,筛选出1条差异表达片段A71,经测序和BLAST分析发现该片段与牛Septin10基因高度同源(99%),且该基因在肝脏等9个组织中都有表达,在2组睾丸组织中相对表达量差异显著(P0.05)。分析结果表明,Septin10基因是牛睾丸差异表达基因,可作为一个研究牛繁殖性状的候选基因。     

SPERMATIC GRANULOMA IN THE RAM: DIAGNOSIS BY ULTRASONOGRAPHY AND SEMEN CHARACTERISTICS

Ultrasonographic appearance of the testis and epididymis, and seminal characteristics, with regard to localization of spermatic granuloma were studied. In rams with spermatic granuloma (n = 9), diagnosed by clinical or ultrasonographic examinations before histopathological confirmation, localization of each lesion was recorded. Epididymal granulomas, caput and cauda, were seen as anechoic or hyperechoic areas with a distinct margin with or without a hyperechoic capsule. Granulomas in the testis were microscopic and, therefore, could not be detected by ultrasonography. Enlargement in the mediastinum testis was detected in all rams when there were granulomas in the caput. Heterogeneous testis parenchyma invaded by numerous hyperechoic foci, representing testicular degeneration, was associated with granulomas both in the epididymis and testis. Ultrasonographic appearance of the lesions did not differ with regard to season. Seminal characteristics varied between rams. It was concluded that ultrasonographic evaluation may give valuable information in the diagnosis of sperm granuloma in the ram.     

荷斯坦公牛泌乳量育种值的BLUP评价及分析

以公牛女儿数大于10头为限制因子,建立线性模型yijk=μ hi sj eijk,对安徽荷斯坦公牛泌乳量的育种值进行BLUP评定。分析结果表明：估计育种值排序在前的公牛女儿数并不是最多的,在泌乳量这一生产性状的选择育种上表现优秀的种公牛并没有得到充分利用;对部分种公牛在泌乳量估计育种值中排序与其在体型评定中排序进行比较,有一定的不一致性。     

Farmer estimation of live bodyweight of cattle: implications for veterinary drug dosing in East Africa

The ability of smallholder farmers and animal health workers to estimate live bodyweight can critically affect the likelihood of under- or over-dosing of veterinary compounds in decentralised systems where farmers administer a significant proportion of the veterinary treatments. A survey of 324 cattle owned by 170 farmers was conducted in Busia District, Kenya. Cattle were weighed on a standard calibrated scale and owners were asked to estimate the live weight of their animals. Weights were also estimated by a weigh-band and by local animal health workers.Cattle owners consistently underestimated the weights of their cattle; 85.7% of the cattle had their bodyweights underestimated by an average of 46.9% of their true weight. Furthermore, very few cattle (19.0%) had their weights estimated accurately to within ±20% of their true weight by these farmers, an accuracy range important for drug dosing. This finding raises concerns of widespread under-dosing of cattle with trypanocidal and other veterinary drugs. Animal health workers were better at estimating live bodyweight of cattle; 76.6% of cattle were estimated accurately to within ±20% of their true weight.It is possible to improve farmers’ and animal health workers’ ability to estimate accurately live bodyweight of cattle with appropriate training. Evidence of this was provided by animal health workers whose estimates improved over time as they received feedback of the true weights of different sizes of cattle from the standard scale.     

不同品种猪精液品质的季节性变化规律研究

在不同季节采集56头大白、长白、杜洛克公猪的精液,对精液品质进行了评定和分析。结果表明:在一年内,杜洛克和大白公猪的精液品质均以秋季最好,春季次之,夏季最差,而长白公猪的精液品质以春季最好、夏季最差;精液量有显著(P<0.05)的品种间差异,长白猪、大白猪、杜洛克猪依次降低;精子活率表现为杜洛克猪、大白猪、长白猪依次降低但差异不显著(P>0.05);精子畸形率以长白猪为最高,而在各品种间差异也不显著(P>0.05)。经综合评定,在受试的3个品种公猪中,杜洛克猪的精液品质较好,而且在夏季也优于其他2个猪种。     

不同体重的夏南牛育肥效果试验研究

[目的]为了指导广大养牛场(小区)正确选择不同体重的架子牛进行育肥,提高养牛场效益,[方法]选择5个不同体重段的100头夏南牛,对其在同等饲养管理条件下,达到相同体重时出栏的育肥效益进行比较.[结果]表明购买时架子牛体重越大,育肥效益越好.[结论]说明架子牛的选择是影响育肥效果的关键环节.