圈养东北虎育幼期行为观察

2017年3月19日昆明动物园1头雌性东北虎产下3只幼仔。本项研究通过监控视频,使用瞬时扫描法,记录了雌虎及幼虎在此日后30 d内的行为并进行了整理和分析;观察结果显示,雌虎在哺乳初期的行为以休息和哺乳为主,分别占到了行为总频率的55.13%和19.21%,而幼虎在哺乳初期的行为以休息和吮乳为主,分别占到了71.25%和12.98%。不同时期雌虎出现的休息、哺乳、亲幼虎行为差异显著(P<0.05),移动、进食和其他行为的差异极显著(P<0.01);幼虎表现出的休息、吮乳、拱拔、张望、玩耍和其他行为在6个时期都呈现极显著差异(P<0.01),亲雌虎行为差异显著(P<0.05),而移动行为在不同时期的差异不显著;幼虎在哺乳初期还有新的行为发育出现。     

人工育幼白化孟加拉虎的探究

白化孟加拉虎是孟加拉虎的一种变种,具有较好的展出效果。由于各种原因,人工圈养情况下,母虎生产后弃养行为极易发生。2021年6月4日,唐山动物园繁殖白化孟加拉虎4只,分娩后第2日母虎弃养。以此为例,开始使用老虎代乳粉和红狗猫用代母乳羊奶粉对幼虎进行人工饲养。通过人工育幼的方法,可极大提高幼虎的成活率,对保护孟加拉白虎和种群数量壮大意义重大。     

幼龄东北虎的人工饲养

人工饲养条件的雌性东北虎因为没有哺育幼仔的经验或其母性不强等原因,往往呈现弃仔行为。因此,对幼龄东北虎进行人工饲养是提高东北虎幼仔成活率的重要手段。针对三明动物园被母虎遗弃的2只幼龄雌性东北虎采用进口品牌雀巢能恩金盾系列人用乳粉进行人工饲养,为幼虎创造适宜的生存环境,制定科学的饲养方法和严格的操作流程,幼虎发育良好,成活率为百分之百。     

东北虎的人工哺育

无论是人工哺乳,还是自然哺乳。东北虎幼仔的成活率都是亟待解决的问题。特别是野生东北虎已濒临灭绝的今天。研究如何提高人工哺乳技术,合理的配合日粮,加快东北虎园养繁殖的数量,更具有非常重要的现实意义。我们在总结国内人工哺乳经验的基础上,对人工哺育东北虎幼虎的日粮配方进行了初步的探讨。首先,应用了母牛初乳代替母虎的初乳,以奶牛厂纯质牛奶,代替市场上的零售袋奶。并在哺乳的全过程中,注重了日粮的全价配比,特别是多种维生素和矿物质的添加,收到了明显的效果,使人工哺乳的三只幼虎全部健康成长,成活率达到百分之百。现将材料总结如下。     

华南虎的人工育幼

华南虎是最为濒危的虎亚种,目前存在于中国动物园中的人工种群是拯救华南虎的唯一基础.但是华南虎近交衰退严重,幼仔死亡率接近46％.对于遗弃的幼虎进行人工育幼是减少死亡率的重要手段.传统的华南虎人工育幼多采用母犬代哺或用牛奶哺育,成功率比较低.洛阳动物园采用美国PetAG初生幼犬营养奶粉(Dog milk replacerEsbilac@powder)哺育幼虎,用婴儿培养箱为初生幼虎创造适宜的生存环境,制定严密科学的哺育护理措施和规程,使3只华南虎幼仔顺利成活,发育良好.     

华南虎幼虎肺部感染的诊断和治疗

对幼虎肺炎诊断和治疗进行了研究。2009年10月韶关华南虎繁育研究基地繁殖的2只华南虎幼虎相继出现胃肠道和肺部感染。出生号102号幼虎由母虎哺乳,8日龄患病,从产房取出发现身体瘦弱,呼吸困难,经抢救无效死亡,幼虎死亡后进行了器官切片和病理分析,结果为大叶性肺炎。出生号101号幼虎由人工哺乳,18日龄发病,虎崽发病时进行了X光检查、血样分析和细菌培养,确诊为病毒合并细菌感染性肺炎。经药物治疗1周后,病情得到控制,2周后病情痊愈。     

印度黑羚羊产仔哺乳行为研究

以广州动物园圈养的印度黑羚羊种群为研究对象,从2006年1月1日起,至2009年12月31日止,经过4a时间对印度黑羚羊产仔哺乳行为进行观察。在观察中发现印度黑羚羊分娩前有选择分娩地点行为,但提前离群行为不明显;产仔后有较强的母性,表现为有明显的护仔行为、主动授乳行为和念亲行为;在受惊吓和不安的情况下,会出现弃仔行为。     

人工哺育长颈鹿的研究

本研究采用牛奶、奶糊或羊奶分别哺育未吃到母乳的5头黑羚羊和1头长颈鹿初生幼仔。同时对比国内3地动物园用牛奶人工哺育长颈鹿幼仔的情况,通过进行替代乳和长颈鹿母乳成份和特性的对比分析,选择和配制人工育幼的乳汁;通过进行哺乳方式的试验与分析,确定人工哺乳方式、方法,并特制出人工哺育工具,营造适宜的人工哺育环境;通过渐进式断奶结合成兽带教幼仔采食饲料等,取得了国内人工哺育长颈鹿的首例成功。     

羊的母性行为与适应能力

<正>1母性行为产前几天,母羊离开羊群,如果放牧,则寻找某些掩体;舍饲时,则寻找角落。分娩前60~90分钟,舍饲母羊变得不安,绕圈,刨地,采食和反刍停止。母羊年龄越大,从不安到分娩开始的时间越短。20%的母羊在分娩前就对其他羔羊表现母性行为,这导致偷羔。舔舐。羔羊产出后,母羊就开始舔舐羔羊,同时发出特殊的分娩呼叫,有时在分娩前就发出这种声音。羔羊刚产出时,母羊舔其头部,甚至用前肢阻止     

分娩限位栏经历对母猪血液指标及产仔哺育性能的影响

为了探索前期分娩限位栏经历次数对母猪血液指标和产仔哺育性能的影响,试验选用144头具有0～5次分娩限位栏经历的大白母猪,将不同限位栏经历次数的母猪划分为未经历(初产)、经历1～3次和经历4次或5次3种类型,分别于产前第5天、产前第3天、产仔当天、产后第3天、产后第5天的上午空腹采集前腔静脉血样,测定内分泌指标[皮质醇(COR)、促肾上腺皮质激素(ACTH)、雌二醇(E2)、胰岛素(INS)、孕酮(PROG)、甲状旁腺激素(PTH)]和生化指标[血糖(GLU)、乳酸脱氢酶(LDH)、肌酸激酶(CK)、免疫球蛋白G(IgG)、免疫球蛋白M(IgM)],并持续跟踪测定母猪的产程、窝产死仔数、仔猪21日龄窝重和哺乳成活率4项产仔哺育性能。结果表明：随着前期分娩限位栏分娩经历次数的增加,再次进入分娩限位栏的母猪血液中INS活性逐渐上升,GLU含量逐渐下降,COR含量和LDH活性逐渐降低,ACTH含量在产前第5天至产后第3天也逐渐减少;母猪产程缩短,窝产死仔数减少,仔猪21日龄窝重和哺乳成活率提高。说明前期分娩限位栏经历次数的增加不仅有助于母猪血液内分泌指标的调控,从而更好地适应陌生分娩环境;而且...     

Energy intake and milk production in mink (Mustela vison)--effect of litter size.

Energy intake and milk production were measured in 12 mink dams raising litters of 3, 6 and 9 kits one to four weeks post partum by means of balance experiments and measurements of milk intake of the kits by the water isotope dilution technique. The dams were fed ad libitum on a conventional wet mink diet (DM: 323 g/kg; CP: 173 g/kg; ME: 4.4 MJ/kg). Milk samples collected from dams with corresponding litter sizes and lactation weeks, and body composition of kits nursed by these dams, were analysed for content of DM, ash, N and fat. The ME and drinking water consumption were higher in dams nursing 9 kits than in dams nursing 3 kits. The N and water balances as well as the live weight of dams were not affected by litter size. Daily milk production was higher in dams nursing 9 kits than in dams nursing 3 kits. The DM, N and fat content of the milk increased during lactation, but were not affected by litter size. Individual kit live weight was higher in litters of 3 than in litters of 6 and 9 kits four weeks post partum. The DM and fat content of the kits were lowest in kits from litters of 9 kits, whereas these kits had the highest protein content. Daily ME for maintenance of kits and the efficiency of utilisation of ME in milk for body gain were estimated to 356 kJ/kg0.75, kp approximately 0.53 and kf approximately 0.71, respectively. In conclusion, daily milk production increased with increasing litter size, but not in proportion to the number of kits, indicating that milk production limits the growth rate of the young. In the fourth week of lactation, milk production was not different between dams nursing 6 or 9 kits, indicating a maximum capacity.     

Influence of birth weight and nutrient supply before and after weaning on the performance of rabbit does to age of the first mating

The objective of the study was to determine the effect of birth weight and the influence of nutrient supply during nursing and after weaning on the performance of suckling and growing rabbits (n = 182). The experiment was set-up using a 3 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Newborn female rabbits were divided on the basis of their birth weight in 3 classes: low /L/ = 35–45 g, medium /M/ = 53–58 g and high /H/ = 65–70 g. Half of the litters were nursed by one (O) doe and the other half by two does (T). Kits were weaned at 3 weeks of age. From the age of 4 weeks half of the rabbits were fed ad libitum (AL), while the other half were reared on a restricted feeding regime (R) corresponding to 80–85% of the ad libitum feed intake level.Birth weight had a significant effect on the body weight up to the end of the experiment (18 weeks of age). H kits attained higher body weight at all ages (3772 g at 18 weeks of age compared to 3565 g and 3373 g for L and M rabbits, respectively). Significant differences were found in feed intake between 3 and 15 weeks of age, in feed conversion between 9 and 12 weeks of age and in weight gain between 3 and 4 and 12 and 15 weeks of age, in the majority of cases in favour of the H rabbits.Nursing by one or two does exerted the most pronounced effect on the body weight. T kits had significantly higher body weight than O kits up to 15 weeks of age (3306 vs. 3108 g). Differences in feed intake, feed conversion and body weight were only periodically demonstrable between the groups O and T.The feeding regime exerted a significant influence on the feed intake, weight gain and body weight of kits. Significant differences in the feed conversion were found, however, only between 15 and 18 weeks of age. Although AL rabbits achieved better feed conversion at all ages except the period between 9 and 12 weeks of age.It seems that the three factors (birth weight, number of nursing does and feeding regime), especially the feed restriction, could influence the production of does.     

A successful attempt to raise goat kids free of infection with caprine arthritis encephalitis virus in an endemically infected goat herd

Goat kids from a herd endemically infected with caprine arthritis encephalitis (CAE) virus were raised according to 3 methods. One group of ten goat kids was removed from infected does at birth before suckling or licking by the doe could occur (snatch birth technique). Kids were fed on goat colostrum, which had been heated to 57 degrees C for ten minutes and then held in a thermos flask for one hour. Subsequently the kids were fed reconstituted spray dried cows' milk powder. They were raised apart from infected goats with separation maintained by a wire fence. Contact occurred across-the-fence. Passively acquired serum antibody to CAE virus was detected in some kids at two to three months of age. Nine of the ten goats were negative for serum antibody to CAE virus when tested at 5-6, 9 and 12 months of age. One goat was positive at three and nine months of age but was negative when tested at 12 months of age. A second group of four kids was removed at birth and fed heat-treated goat colostrum, followed by milk from CAE virus-infected does. All four kids became infected with CAE virus; they developed serum antibody to CAE virus between 5-6 and 9 months of age. A third group of two kids was not removed from their infected dams. Both kids were infected at 5-6 and 9 months of age.     

Effect of withholding macromolecules on the duration of intestinal permeability to colostral IgG in foals

OBJECTIVE: To quantify absorption of colostral IgG by healthy neonatal foals and to test the hypothesis that delayed ingestion of macromolecules prolongs the duration of intestinal permeability to immunoglobulins (Ig) in newborn foals. ANIMALS: Thirteen mixed breed foals. PROCEDURE: Foals were randomly assigned to two treatment groups, which were fed either a glucose-electrolyte solution or a commercial milk replacer for 12 h after birth, before being fed a known amount of colostral IgG. A control group was fed a known amount of colostral IgG from birth. The efficiency of IgG absorption was calculated following determination of plasma IgG concentration for each foal. RESULTS: Foals given colostrum immediately after birth transferred approximately 51% of ingested IgG into their vascular space. Delayed colostral ingestion significantly reduced the amount of IgG absorbed by foals. Withholding macromolecules for 12 h had no effect on the subsequent efficiency of IgG absorption. CONCLUSIONS: Colostrum should be supplied to foals within 12 h of birth for best uptake of Ig. The type of fluid administered to foals before the ingestion of colostrum does not influence subsequent absorption of Ig, suggesting that the process of gut closure in foals is not mediated by a finite capacity for macromolecular uptake.     

Effects of dietary glucose level during late gestation on litter performance and glucose concentration in sows

The effects of feeding glucose during the 5 days before parturition on litter performance and on glucose concentration in sows were studied. At day 100 of gestation, 130 multiparous sows were assigned to the treatments. Late gestating sows were fed 0 g, 150 g, 250 g, 350 g and 450 g of glucose a day, respectively. During lactation, all sows were given free access to the same lactation diet (without glucose). One day before parturition, blood samples were collected from 30 sows (6 sows per treatment) at 10 before and 20, 40, 60 and 80 min after the meal. The supply of additional dietary glucose increased piglet birth weight ( P  < 0.05). Feed intake in week 1 and week 1–4 of lactation was greatest in sows fed the 0% glucose diet, least by sows fed the 18% glucose diet, and intermediate by sows fed the 6, 10, 14% glucose diets ( P  < 0.05). Basal glucose concentration and time of maximum glucose concentration after glucose intake were not affected by dietary treatment in the last 5 days of gestation. The sows fed the 14 and 18% glucose diets had greater maximum increase in glucose concentration than sows fed diet without glucose ( P  < 0.05). In conclusion, feeding glucose to sows during 5 days before parturition increased birth weight of live-born piglet and decreased sows feed intake during lactation, but did not affect the performance of sows and piglets.     

Approachability and contact behavior of commercial dairy calves to humans

Calves (n = 106) on four dairy farms were observed for their approachability to humans. All calves experienced similar rearing conditions: Beginning individual pen, after birth until weaning at about 2 months, where they were housed individually and fed milk and a milk replacement; Late individual pen, after weaning until grouping at about 3.5 months, where they were housed individually and fed hay, silage and concentrate feed; Beginning group pen, after grouping until 5 months, where they were housed in groups of 2–5 animals and fed hay, silage and concentrate feed; later group pen, from 5 to 7 months. The number of calves that contacted an experimenter who stood in front of their pens for 10 min was recorded on 6 separate days over 3 months. Latency to touch and time spent in activities during touching such as sucking, licking, biting and rubbing were also measured. There were no significant differences in the latency to touch and the ratio of touch to non‐touch calves between the rearing conditions and the farms. The time spent touching was significantly affected by the interaction between the rearing condition and the farm (P < 0.01). In detail, the time spent sucking (P < 0.001) and licking (P < 0.01) was different between the rearing condition × farm variables. The proportion of calves that approached and touched the experimenter tended to be higher in the farms in which a stockperson worked longer inside and outside their pens (both ρ = 0.95, P = 0.051). These results were interpreted according to the perspectives of early positive reinforcement with food and the habituation process to humans existing nearby.     

A first estimate of the amino acid requirement for milk production of the high-producing female mink (Mustela vison)

Thirty mink dams nursing litters of six kits were assigned to one of three dietary treatments [high protein (HP), medium protein (MP) and low protein (LP)], fed ad libitum for 4 week from parturition, to investigate the effects of protein supply on milk yield and milk composition in order to estimate the amino acid requirement of the lactating mink. Twelve dams were held in an intensive care unit and subjected to balance experiments and the kits were injected with deuterium oxide to determine water kinetics and milk yield. Eighteen dams were kept under normal farm conditions but with feed intake of dams and live weight gain of kits being determined and milk samples collected. The ME intake was higher (p < 0.05) in dams fed the LP and MP diets than in dams fed the HP diet, whereas the amino acid intake (g/day) was lowest (p < 0.05) in dams fed the LP diet. In the third and fourth weeks of lactation milk yield was higher (p < 0.05) in dams fed the LP and MP diets than in dams fed the HP diet. Chemical composition of milk was not affected (p > 0.05) by dietary treatment. However, protein content tended (p = 0.06) to be lower in dams fed the LP diet. Amino acid content (g/16 g N) of milk was higher (p < 0.05) in dams fed the LP and MP diets than in dams fed the HP diet. This resulted in the highest (p < 0.05) amino acid intake and highest (p < 0.001) live weights of kits nursed by dams fed the LP and MP diets, which may be explained by a combined effect of higher ME intake and reduced energetic costs for glucose production through less amino acids being used in gluconeogenesis. In conclusion, the improved performance of dams fed the LP diet suggested that their requirement of essential amino acids and non-specific N were covered, and the requirement of digestible amino acids of lactating mink (kg(0.75)) was, thereby, estimated by use of a factorial approach including the amino acid excretion in milk of LP dams.     

Effects of Carbohydrate-free Diets on the Performance of Lactating Mink (Mustela vison) and the Growth Performance of Suckling Kits

The effects of carbohydrate-free diets on body weight changes, feed consumption, and plasma concentrations of nutrients, metabolites, and hormones in lactating mink and on growth performance in kits were investigated in a total of 108 litters during the lactation period of seven weeks. The litters were distributed in three experimental groups fed different ratios of metabolisable energy (ME) derived from protein and fat (61:38; 47:52; 33:66). The females and kits were weighed at parturition and 2, 3, 4, and 7 weeks after parturition. Blood samples were collected from females in the second, fourth, and sixth week of the lactation period. Carbohydrate-free diets fed to lactating mink can in principle support normal performance, health of the females, and growth performance of the kits. However, mink need a sufficient supply of available gluconeogenic precursors in the form of amino acids. In the present experiment, the diet with 33% of ME from protein contained insufficient amounts of gluconeogenic precursors for lactating mink, and three weeks post partum this group was excluded from the experiment. The differences in dietary protein level (61% and 47% of ME) and fat level (38% and 52% of ME) influenced the plasma concentrations of free fatty acids (FFA) and urea, but had minimal influence on plasma concentrations of other nutrients, metabolites, and hormones.