The onset of puberty in Cameroon Dwarf goats kept as pets in northwestern Croatia

The aim of this study was to determine onset of puberty in Cameroon Dwarf goats (CDGs) kept as pets in northwestern Croatia by determining progesterone (PGS) and insulin‐like growth factor‐I (IGF‐I) levels in the blood by RIA methods. The first cyclic ovarian activity was estimated according to hormone profiles as determined in CDG in a moderate climate environment. Sixteen female CDG kids were kept in stables with access to pasture which provided space for exercise. The goat kids born in winter (December–January–February), spring (March–April–May), summer (June–July–August) and autumn (September–October–November) were assigned into four groups according to the season of the year of birth (n = 4 in each group). At 75 days of age at the initiation of the study, they weighed between 3.2 and 5.1 kg (4.24 ± 0.53 kg). The onset of ovulatory activity was determined by PGS and IGF‐I serum concentrations every 10 days starting from 75 days to 155 days of age. The onset of puberty in CDG kids occurred on average at 141.15 ± 2.66 days of age, but varied depending on the season of birth. All CDG kids born during summer were in heat by 155 days of age. In the other groups (kids born in autumn, winter or spring), one goat in each group was not in heat. Changes in blood serum PGS and IGF‐I concentrations during prepubertal and pubertal periods could aid in the evaluation of reproductive status and determination of the onset of puberty in CDG during all seasons of the year in a moderate climate region.     

季节对内蒙古白绒山羊采食牧草及粪便特性的影响

试验分别在春、夏、秋、冬季对内蒙古3种类型白绒山羊成年母羊群所采食主要牧草进行了营养成分分析,并采集粪便以测定其粪便特性,旨在研究季节因素对内蒙古白绒山羊采食牧草及粪便特性的影响,从而为内蒙古白绒山羊粪便的利用提供理论依据。结果表明,内蒙古鄂尔多斯市、阿拉善盟、巴彦淖尔市的牧草DM含量在春季、夏季、秋季、冬季分别为39．60％。53．21％、40.39％～48．81％、64．55％～94．50％、92．00％～95．00％;牧草NDF含量表现为秋、冬季较高,春、夏季较低;牧草CP含量,冬季最低（4．68％～6．17％）,春季最高（14．65％～17．44％）。春夏秋冬四季粪便磷浓度平均为1．10％、0．75％、0．71％、0．59％,3种类型内蒙古白绒山羊粪便磷含量季节间差异显著（P〈0．05）,春夏两季大于秋冬两季;粪便氮浓度在春夏秋冬四季平均为1．99％、1．7l％、1．61％、1．44％,季节因素对粪便氮含量影响差异显著（P〈0．05）,且春季最高,然后呈现逐渐降低的趋势;季节对内蒙古白绒山羊粪便干物质影响较大,阿尔巴斯型白绒山羊季节间表现为差异显著（P〈0．05）,二狼山型白绒山羊季节间表现为差异极显著（P〈0．01）,阿拉善型白绒山羊季节间表现为差异不显著（P〉0．05）,粪便中干物质平均含量春夏秋冬四季依次为72．56％、79．60％、65．52％、95．87％,其中。冬季最高、秋季最低。     

Effect of semen and donor factors on multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) in sheep

Multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) is an important tool in the sheep industry for increasing numbers of genetically superior individuals. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of semen source (frozen or fresh), the number of embryo collection procedures for each donor (NECP), the season in which embryo transfer and collection was performed, and the age and breed of the donor, on the number of recovered embryos and pregnancy rates after embryo transfer. The Alamos Genetics’ flushing station database was used. This consisted of 140 embryo collection procedures, from 53 Dorper and White Dorper sheep donors, aged between one and eight years, totalling 1,200 collected embryos. Neither the number of retrieved embryos nor the pregnancy rate was affected by the semen preservation method (fresh or frozen), NECP or the age and breed of donor. The season did not affect the number of collected embryos but had a significant effect (p < 0.05) on the recipient pregnancy rate, with higher pregnancy rates reported in the winter (65.57% ± 25.33%) compared with spring (37.11% ± 33.27%), summer (29.95% ± 28.33%) or autumn (35.03% ± 31.66%). There is an estimated increase of 98.4% and 71.5% of embryos recovered in the spring and summer seasons, respectively, when winter is used as reference. The survival of embryos is significantly higher when implanted during the breeding season, more specifically in winter. Embryo collection can be carried out throughout the year in sheep, but there may be a marginal advantage in the use of superovulation and fresh embryo transfer programmes in the autumn and winter.     

Seasonal variation in selenium status of different classes of grazing goats in a semi-arid region of Pakistan

The selenium status of three different classes of goats ((i) female lactating, (ii) female non-lactating, and (iii) male goats) grazing semi-arid pasture in the southern part of the Punjab province, Pakistan and that of selenium concentration of soil and dietary sources, ingested by those animals were investigated during two different seasons of the year (winter and summer). Soil, forage, feed, water from the pasture and blood plasma, urine, faeces, and (if applicable) milk from these goats were collected fortnightly. The samples were analyzed for selenium concentrations. Soil selenium showed both seasonal and sampling periods effect on its concentration while forage selenium was affected only by the seasonal changes. No significant effect of seasons or fortnights on feed selenium level was observed. In fecal samples selenium concentration in lactating and non-lactating and plasma of male goats were affected by sampling periods. While fecal selenium in male goats showed significant effect on its concentration both seasonal and within fortnights. Severe deficient level of soil selenium during both seasons and marginal deficient level of forage selenium during summer were observed. Selenium concentrations in feed slightly exceeded the requirements of ruminants in feed during both seasons of the year. Plasma selenium concentrations in all goat classes were higher in winter than that in summer showing no seasonal or fortnight variation and its concentration was slightly lower in lactating goats as compared to other classes. On the bases of these results, it is concluded that overall selenium status of the goats based on plasma selenium concentration may be considered adequate mainly due to the mineral supplement provided all over the year, since soil and forage selenium concentrations were low to deficient.     

Steer stress levels during long distance transport throughout the year in Japan

The objective of this study was to investigate transportation conditions and behavioral and physiological responses of beef steers to long distance commercial transport throughout the year Japan. Japanese Black × Holstein steers (7.9 ± 0.6 months of age; 320.0 ± 19.0 kg) were transported by truck in spring (n = 8), summer (n = 5), autumn (n = 8) and winter (n = 5). Transport distances (time) were 1020.6 km (25 h including lairage periods): 615.4 km (6.4 h) on expressways, 163.2 km (3.7 h) on arterial roads and 242.0 km (10.5 h) by ferry. The space allowance of the truck was about 1.6 m²/head in all seasons. Internal temperatures of the truck were 14.7 ± 4.7°C in spring, 27.9 ± 2.6°C in summer, 24.4 ± 2.8°C in autumn and 9.2 ± 4.3°C in winter. Although internal noise and airflow velocity of the truck were louder and greater while moving on expressways (101.1 ± 8.3 dB and 1.50 ± 1.50 m/s) than on arterial roads (92.0 ± 15.2 dB and 1.32 ± 1.41 m/s) (both P < 0.05), more steers lay down while moving on expressways (P < 0.001). Blood glucose, plasma cortisol, and serum triiodothyronine (T3) concentrations and ALT activity were higher in spring (all P < 0.05). This could be explained by that vibration acceleration (m/s²) of the truck in the longitudinal direction was greater in spring (?0.19 ± 0.43) than in the other seasons (?0.14 ± 0.09 in summer, ?0.15 ± 0.20 in autumn and ?0.15 ± 0.13 in winter) (all P < 0.05). Heart rate, serum concentrations of T₃, total cholesterol, total protein, and AST and ALT activities were higher just after transport than 1 week after transport (all P < 0.05). However, transport stress should be not severe, since no difference between before and after transport was shown on concentrations of plasma cortisol, blood lactate and serum NEFA, serum triglyceride and serum pH and liveweight.     

牦牛夏秋季和冬季各草场牧食行为的研究

2004年8、9和11月份在青海省三角城种羊场夏、秋、冬三季牧场研究了牦牛的昼牧食行为。结果表明:牦牛在夏季草场的昼采食时间最长,平均为(337.45±39.96)min,在秋季和冬季草场的平均昼采食时间分别为(301.82±27.91)min和(304.57±12.24)min。另外,在夏季草场没有观测到牦牛的昼卧息和反刍行为。其主要原因是在夏季草场牛羊放牧压力过大,草地不能为牦牛提供足够的饲草,故牦牛延长采食时间以获取最大量的饲草,因此用于其他行为的时间相对减少。牦牛在秋冬季草场的昼反刍时间分别为(86.22±14.24)min和(53.84±13.93)min,秋季草场高于冬季草场。牦牛在秋季草场的昼站立和游走时间也高于夏季草场和冬季草场。其主要原因是由于秋季草场草产量丰富,质量较好。由于冬季草场气候寒冷,牧草枯黄,质量降低,牦牛的昼卧息时间最长。     

The Effect of Season on Spermatozoa Motility,Plasma Membrane and Acrosome Integrity in Fresh and Frozen–Thawed Semen from Xinong Saanen Bucks

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the season of ejaculate collection influences seminal quality parameters of pre‐ and post‐freeze–thawing in Xinong Saanen bucks. Ejaculates were collected from eight bucks throughout the four seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter) in a 12 months’ time period, identified in the Northern Hemisphere. Semen samples were evaluated by the combinations of conventional and Computer‐Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) when fresh and after frozen–thawed, respectively. The results clearly demonstrated that season of ejaculate collection influenced (p < 0.05) fresh semen quality. Highest semen quality was observed during autumn. On the contrary, undesirable indices (significantly lower, p < 0.05) were observed in winter as compared with the other remaining seasons. CASA has clearly shown the influences of seasonal variations on semen motility parameters. Furthermore, season of ejaculate collection was also found to influence sperm freezability. Semen characteristics after frozen–thawed followed a similar pattern with that of fresh ejaculate except in spring. The results revealed that sperm quality was higher (p < 0.01) in summer and autumn than in spring and winter. In conclusion, seasonal variation influences semen quality in Xinong Saanen bucks. In addition to summer and autumn, fresh ejaculates in spring can also be successfully used for AI. Sperm from ejaculates collected during summer and autumn are more suitable for cryopreservation. Hence, it is possible to increase the efficiency of goat breeding by manipulating the seasonal variations of semen quality for immediate AI and/or cryopreservation.     

松嫩平原人工羊草草地放牧绒山羊牧食行为

选取6只2.5岁体重相近而且健康的内蒙古白绒山羊(羯羊、母羊各3只),置于1hrm2人工羊草草地围栏内放牧以观察春、夏、秋、冬四季放牧山羊的行为节律、牧食行为,并计算每天干物质采食量.结果表明:抽穗期羊优先采食草穗,春季过后穗的残余率仅有4.4％;采食速度表现为夏季＞秋季＞春、冬季(P＜0.05);采食时间占方面时间的比例表现为春、秋＞冬、夏季.每口采食量的季节变化趋势大体为春、夏、冬＞秋季(P＜0.05);夏季羊的日采食量最高,其次为春、秋,冬季采食量最低(P＜0.05);同一季节内羯羊的日采食量始终高于母羊(P＜0.05);春、夏、秋季放牧山羊均有3个进食高峰,分别发生在出牧后约0.5h、午后约0.5h、归牧前2h左右,上午采食量低于下午(P＜0.05).冬季一般上午、下午各一个采食高峰;本试验未发现放牧绒山羊扒食草根的现象,但在卧倒休息或反刍前有扒草、扒土整理休息地的习性,未发现放牧山羊行为节律和采食速度的性别差异.     

Seasonal habitat requirements of Lemon Dove (Aplopelia larvata) in coastal forest: camera-trap surveys of a reclusive species

The modification of natural habitats requires behavioural plasticity, which may be challenging for ‘specialist’ species. Quantifying habitat requirements and behavioural responses of specialists to landscape transformation is thus a priority for baseline data to inform conservation practices. Using camera-trap surveys of the forest-dependent Lemon Dove Aplopelia larvata in conjunction with detailed microhabitat-scale covariates, we assessed habitat use during two periods in the year: autumn–winter and spring–summer (which largely encompassed peak breeding). We used occupancy modelling of forest-structural covariates to produce models of the probability of occupancy and detection of Lemon Doves in patches of the Indian Ocean Coastal Belt Forest of South Africa. The average occupancy and detection probability as indicated by the top-performing models was 0.39 ± 0.08 and 0.26 ± 0.05, respectively, during autumn–winter, and 0.37 ± 0.08 and 0.25 ± 0.04, respectively, during spring–summer. Although occupancy and probability of detection remained relatively constant between seasons, there was seasonal variation in the influence of individual covariates for both measures. The overall trend of positive influences on Lemon Dove occupancy was that of complex and diverse habitat structures and high plant species richness. The specific covariates that influenced occupancy positively during spring–summer may reflect the ecological requirements for nestling provisioning for both dietary needs and an avoidance of potential disturbance. Thus, while Lemon Doves may be less habitat-specific during autumn–winter, conservation management plans for safeguarding the breeding success of the species are advised to ensure adequate protection of large forest patches with complex and diverse interior structures and minimal disturbance.     

Habitat use and home range of black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) on farmlands in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal,South Africa

Black-backed jackals (Canis mesomelas) are an abundant mesopredator on farmlands (croplands and rangelands) across South Africa. Given their adaptability in a changing anthropogenic landscape, knowledge of spatial movements can provide important ecological information on the species. We captured, collared and monitored five black-backed jackals in the Midlands of KwaZulu-Natal to determine their home range and habitat use in farmlands. The 95% fixed kernel (95% FK) home range sizes were large, showing a marked seasonal variation in movement. One adult male dispersed 150?km over two seasons (winter and spring) and thereafter settled into a home range that it maintained. Transient home ranges of males and juveniles were larger than resident home ranges. The mean resident home ranges (95% FK) across seasons for adult males, adult female and juvenile males were 11.4 ± 4.3 km², 5.6 ± 0.36?km² and 2.15 ± 0.45?km², respectively. The mean transient home ranges (95% FK) of all the seasons for adult and juvenile males were 1 181.93 ± 575.81 km² and 104.27 ± 35.64?km², respectively. Adult jackal preferred croplands in spring, summer and autumn but avoided croplands in winter. Variable habitat use and large home ranges in our study confirmed the species’ ability to adapt to agricultural areas.     

Feeding behavior of finishing goats fed diets containing detoxified castor meal,co-product of the biodiesel industry

An investigation was made into the feeding behavior of goats to evaluate the effects of a detoxified castor bean meal in the diet of goats. Thirty-six ½ crossbred Boer goats were used, with an average weight of 20?±?3.2 kg. A completely randomized design was used with four treatments (diets with of 0, 100, 200, and 300 g detoxified castor bean meals/kg dry matter) and nine replicates. Castor bean meal was detoxified using calcium oxide. Diets were formulated to be isonitrogenous, and the forage:concentrate ratio was 50:50. The feeding behavior was observed on the 17th, 45th, and 70th days of the experiment. For the evaluation of feeding behavior (feeding, idle, and rumination times), the animals were observed in 5-min intervals for 24 h. The addition of detoxified castor bean meal did not change (P?>?0.05) the evaluated behavioral variables. Linear reduction was observed (P?<?0.05) in the efficiencies of feeding and rumination, expressed in g dry matter/h. The variables related to the time series discretization of the feeding behavior of goats did not change (P?>?0.05) with the inclusion of detoxified castor bean meal. The inclusion of detoxified castor bean meal in growing goats’ diets does not change the feeding, rumination, and idle times, however, decreases intake, feeding, and rumination efficiencies of dry matter.

     

Seasonal changes in digestibility, passage rate and rumen fermentation of alfalfa hay in sika deer (Cervus nippon) under restricted feeding

To investigate seasonal variations in the digestive functions of sika deer, five female sika deer were provided with an amount of alfalfa hay cubes equivalent to voluntary food intake during winter. We measured the rate at which the food passed through the digestive tract, digestibility and rumen fermentation during the summer (August), autumn (November), winter (February) and spring (May). Total mean retention time in the digestive tract during summer and autumn was numerically longer than that in winter and spring, but the difference did not reach significance. Organic matter and fiber were less digestible in summer and autumn than in winter and spring (P < 0.05), whereas the digestibility of the dry matter tended to vary with the seasons (P < 0.1). Ruminal pH values seasonally changed (P < 0.01), and were the lowest in autumn. The concentration of ruminal ammonia‐nitrogen differed significantly among the seasons (P < 0.05), increasing in winter and decreasing during spring and summer. The numbers of protozoa changed significantly among the seasons (P < 0.05), being higher in autumn than in winter and spring, and intermediate in summer. The concentration of total volatile fatty acids was not seasonally affected, but the molar percentages of propionic acid and butyric acid significantly changed according to season (P < 0.05 and P < 0.01, respectively), and the ratio of acetic to propionic acid tended to change with the seasons (P < 0.1). The results of this study suggested that the digestive functions in sika deer, fed a commercial diet at a restricted level, differed notably among the seasons and these variations might partially be due to environmental effects.     

不同季节绒山羊同期发情效果研究

 试验旨在研究不同季节绒山羊同期发情处理效果,为绒山羊胚胎移植和绒山羊养殖采用新繁殖技术实现集约化、工厂化生产管理提供配套技术。在2007~2008两年期间的四个季节,利用孕激素阴道栓（CIDR）+孕马血清（PMSG）方法,对766只绒山羊进行同期发情处理,48 h内有730只羊发情,发情羊第7 d在进行绒山羊胚胎移植时观察卵巢卵泡发育及排卵情况。结果表明：春、夏、秋、冬季绒山羊的同期发情率分别为94.08%、90.59%、97.54%、92.68%,平均为95.30%。经X2检验,秋季与夏季绒山羊的同期发情率（P＜0.01）存在显著差异,其它季节绒山羊的同期发情率（P＞0.05）差异不大。春、夏、秋、冬季发情绒山羊的排卵率分别为92.31%、90.91%、95.20%、91.23%,平均为93.56%。经X2检验,四个季节发情绒山羊的排卵率（P＞0.05）没多大差异。试验结果表明在四个季节对绒山羊采用的CIDR+ PMSG同期发情处理方法可行,发情率和排卵率均在90%以上,效果好且稳定。季节虽然对绒山羊同期发情率有一定影响,但对发情绒山羊排卵率影响不大。     

On farm evaluation of sun-dried Ziziphus spina-christi leaves substitution for natural pasture hay on feed intake and body weight change of Bati goat breeds in Ethiopia

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding different levels of sun-dried Ziziphus spina-christi (ZC) leaves on feed intake and live weight gain of local male goats. Twenty-five male local breed of goats at 1 year of age (body weight; BW?=?20.7?±?0.72 kg) were randomly allocated to five treatments and five replications. Treatments were as follows: T1 (grass hay only; control group); T2 (75% grass hay + 25% ZC leaves); T3 (50% grass hay + 50% ZC leaves); T4 (25% grass hay + 75% ZC leaves), and T5 (100% ZC leaves). The study lasted for 90 days. During this period, feed intake, BW change, and average daily gain were evaluated. There was a significant difference in total dry matter intake of goats fed on different levels of ZC leaves compared with the control group. Mixing of the pasture grass hay diet improved (P?<?0.05) goats feed intake from 440 to 592 g/head/day at the minimum proportion of 25% ZC and natural pasture mixture. However, there was no significant difference (P?>?0.05) in feed intake among the supplemented groups (T2–T5) as ZC leaves proportion increased. Goats in the control group and in the 25% ZC treatment diet gained 31.4 and 46.7 g, which was not different (P?>?0.05). The highest average daily BW was gained (P?<?0.05) in goats supplemented with the highest level (100%) of ZC leaves. T5 (100% ZC leaves supplementation) showed a significant increment (P?<?0.05) in body weight gain of goats over other treatments and the control. Feed conversion ratio was increased (P?<?0.05) with increased inclusion level of ZC leaves. Goats on supplemented treatments 1 and 2; treatments 4 and 5 had no significant difference (P?>?0.05) in feed conversion efficiency while there was a significant (P?<?0.05) difference between treatments 2 and 3 diets which had higher (P?<?0.05) feed conversion ratio than the control groups. Generally, the results of the current study showed that supplementation of goats with above 50% level of dried ZC leaves in their diet significantly increased feed intake and body weight gain by improving feed conversion efficiency of goats.

     

Characterization of the village goat production systems in the rural communities of the Eastern Cape,KwaZulu-Natal,Limpopo and North West Provinces of South Africa

Expansion of goat improvement programs requires exploration of the factors that influence the production system and breeding initiatives. Characterization of goat breeds or populations is crucial in providing information on prevalent goat types and their attributes and may suffice as a guideline on conservation, development, and selection for improved productivity. This study investigated the existing village goat production system and phenotypic diversity of the different village populations from four South African provinces. The study further investigated the use of phenotypic attributes to classify goats to breeds or populations. Data was collected from 142 households in 26 villages of the Eastern Cape (n?=?2 villages), KwaZulu-Natal (n?=?6 villages), Limpopo (n?=?13 villages), and North West (n?=?5 villages) provinces through a survey. Individual interviews and focus group discussions revealed that the mean goat herd size per household was least in Limpopo at 13.2?±?12.40 and highest in Eastern Cape (34.18?±?28.36). Flocks had more (p?<?0.05) adults than kids, and the distribution of breeding animals was biased towards does and less bucks. Goats were kept mainly for meat, for selling, and for ritual ceremonies. The goat production system was mainly scavenging. Goat health was a major challenge across households and villages. Qualitative traits such coat, horn, ears, and wattle characteristics were recorded for populations of village goats (n?=?319) and a feral Tankwa breed (n?=?50). The dominant coat pattern was plain (74.53%) with black as the most common coat color (31.98%). Across breeds, a majority (88.08%) of the goats had horns, and 7.59% had wattles while 56.64% had beard. Adult goats (<3 years; n?=?398) were further analyzed for five quantitative traits of chest girth, height, length, and pin bone and there were significant (p?<?0.05) breed differences in all. A stepwise discriminatory procedure was used to rank the quantitative traits according to their discriminatory power to separate breeds or populations. Significant traits were then subjected to canonical discriminant analysis for principle component analysis. Based on the quantitative traits, the Tankwa, Xhosa, and Tswana goats formed their own cluster separated from commercial meat type breeds and the Venda and Zulu ecotypes. The discriminant function analysis correctly classified 90.41% of the Zulu goats and 82.93% of the Xhosa village populations. None of the Savanna goats were correctly classified. The study demonstrated diversity in village goat populations and production systems, which would allow for within population selection in genetic improvement programs. The heterogeneity in the phenotypic traits in the village goats is reflective of the role of village production systems in the maintenance of animal diversity in local populations.     

Oats (Avena strigosa) as winter forage for dairy cows in Vietnam: an on-farm study

In North Vietnam, during winter, alternative forage resources are needed to balance the feed ration of dairy cows. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of oat forage as a component of traditional winter roughage diets on feed intake, milk production and feeding cost in dairy cows. The study was conducted on-farm using 24 mid-lactation Holstein–Friesian cows. The feeding experiment consisted of two successive periods and two dietary treatments per period. Traditional basal diets included fresh tropical grasses, maize silage and hay. The oat forage had no effect on the dry matter intake of the basal diet, but the total crude protein intake was higher in cows fed with oat diets than in those fed with control diets. The yield of butterfat-corrected milk (FCM) was not significantly different between diets during period 1, but there was a trend (P?=?0.078) of higher FCM yields in cows fed with the oat diet compared to those with control diet during period 2 (17.3 vs. 16.3 kg/day). The decline rate in milk yield was significantly higher (P?<?0.001) in cows fed with control diets than in those fed with oat diets in both experimental periods. The total feeding cost of cows fed with oat diets was on average 12 % lower than those fed with control diets (P?<?0.01). So, the oat forage is an important winter resource for cows in North Vietnam allowing higher milk yield whilst reducing feeding cost, compared to traditional roughage diets.     

Seasonal variation in forage quality and mimosine contents of two varieties of Leucaena leucocephala

Seasonal variation in forage quality and mimosine contents of two varieties (cultivars Cunningham and Spectra) of Leucaena leucocepha/a were evaluated. Cultivar (cv.) Cunningham was available throughout summer, autumn, winter and spring seasons while cv. Spectra was available during summer, winter and spring seasons. Differences in crude protein (CP) and mimosine contents of young Cunningham and Spectra leaves were not significant. Also, difference in mimosine contents of mature leaves of both cultivars were not significantly different. But mean CP content of mature Spectra leaves was significantly higher (24.9 vs 18.7%, p = 0.023) than that of leaves of mature Cunningham. Mean P content of young Spectra leaves was significantly higher (1.6 vs 2.10gkg^?1, p = 0.046) than that of young Cunningham leaves but mean Cu content of young Cunningham leaves was higher (10.5 vs 9.0mgkg^?1, p = 0.06) than that of young Spectra leaves. Mature leaves of cv. Spectra also had higher P content (2.3 vs 1.6gkg^?1, p = 0.06), but lower Ca (20.8 vs 30.5gkg^?1, p = 0.06) and Mg (5.6 vs 7.6gkg^?1, p = 0.06) contents than those of mature Cunningham leaves, Apart from CP, fat and mimosine, other analysed constituents increased with plant maturity.     

不同季节虎尾草对绵羊采食量和养分消化率的影响

研究不同季节草地牧草的饲喂价值动态变化规律,对于改善和调控家畜的营养状况具有重要的意义。虎尾草（Chloris virgata）作为松嫩草地一种耐旱、耐盐碱的优势饲草,是放牧家畜重要的饲草来源。但目前有关虎尾草的饲喂价值数据有限。因此,本试验选择乌珠穆沁公羊12只,平均体重为27.37±2.20 kg,随机分为4个处理,每个处理3个重复。分别饲喂春、夏、秋、冬四季的虎尾草干草,试验绵羊采取单笼饲养,采用全收粪法进行消化代谢试验。结果表明,春、夏、秋、冬四季绵羊每公斤代谢体重虎尾草干物质采食量分别为73.48,30.01,29.80和34.33 g·kg^-1LW^0.75,春季显著高于其他季节（P<0.05）;不同季节的虎尾草对绵羊干物质消化率、中性洗涤纤维消化率、以及碳、氮采食和排泄均有显著影响（P<0.05）,表现为春季最高,并且春季氮代谢处于正平衡,氮的摄入量可以满足部分增重的需要。     

Seasonal prevalence of coccidiosis in industrial broiler chickens in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan

The present paper reports the prevalence of coccidiosis in industrial broiler chickens in Faisalabad, Punjab, Pakistan to determine the occurrence of different species of Eimeria in the area and to assess their correlation with the environmental conditions including temperature, humidity and rainfall. The study was conducted from January 2009 to December 2010. Examination of chicken guts revealed 43.89% (n = 3,283/7,480) prevalence of coccidiosis. The highest prevalence (27.04%) was recorded of Eimeria tenella followed by Eimeria maxima (22.42%), Eimeria acervulina (19.89%) and Eimeria necatrix (4.02%). The prevalence of disease was significantly higher (P < 0.05) in autumn (60.02 ± 4.38) followed by summer (47.42 ± 2.92), spring (36.92 ± 2.27) and winter (29.89 ± 3.43). Likewise, prevalence of different species of Eimeria also varied (P < 0.05) in different seasons of the year except that of E. necatrix. A strong correlation (P < 0.05) of environmental conditions with the overall and species-wise prevalence of coccidiosis was recorded except E. necatrix.