Effects of Feeding Management on the Equine Cecal Microbiota

The effects of meal size and frequency on equine cecal microbiota are not well documented. We hypothesized that changes in feeding management (including differing meal size and frequency) would alter the equine cecal microbiota. Cecally cannulated horses (n = 6) were utilized in a 3 × 3 Latin square where they received group pasture turnout daily and were stalled overnight in box stalls (3 × 4 m). Treatment diets consisted of Strategy^® concentrate and were as follows: A = one meal, 2.72 kg, 6 AM; B = two meals, 1.36 kg/meal, 6 AM and 4 PM; and C = three meals, 0.91 kg/meal, 6 AM, 12 PM, and 4 PM. Treatment periods consisted of 8 days of acclimation followed by 3 days of collection. All horses received ad libitum access to water, a white salt block, and 3 kg of mixed alfalfa/grass hay offered overnight. Cecal samples were sequenced using 16S rRNA gene-based Illumina technology. Data were analyzed using QIIME 1.8.0 and Proc MIXED of SAS. Weighted principal coordinates analysis values indicated that feeding management impacted cecal microbiota composition with horses fed one large meal having different microbial community than those fed three smaller meals throughout the day (P = .028). Furthermore, treatment affected (P < .05) Prevotella, YRC22, Lactobacillus, Streptococcus, Coprococcus, and Phascolarctobacterium. These data demonstrate that feeding a single large bolus meal affects both abundance and composition of the cecal microbiota. Further research is necessary to understand the metabolic and/or health implications related to changes the equine cecal microbiota.     

Dietary and Manure Management Practices on Equine Farms in Two New Jersey Watersheds

Equine farms are increasing in number in Northeast and Mid-Atlantic states. These farms may influence environmental quality owing to manure collection, storage, spreading, and disposal practices. A manure management survey was mailed to 700 New Jersey equine farms during the winter of 2009-2010 (these farms were located in two watersheds). Two hundred forty-two surveys were returned; 10% were training or performance farms, whereas the remainder (90%) were breeding, boarding, or pleasure farms. There were differences between the two watersheds in turnout time, pasture acreage, use of drag harrows, and income. Respondents answered questions about diet and environmental management on farms. Seventy-eight percent had bunk management plans. Forty-seven percent disposed of waste feed in a manure pile, 35% left it on fields or paddocks, and 18% put it in a dumpster. Twenty-six percent engage a professional for feeding advice (21% veterinarians, 2% extension, 3% nutrition consultants). Most respondents did not have a regular feed management plan. Sixty-two percent of all farms spread manure on-farm. Of those who spread, 29% have >8.09 hectares (20 acres) for spreading. Ninety-six percent of respondents stored manure >100 ft from water or wetlands. Comparison of cross-tabulations indicates a strong relationship (P < .01) between rotational grazing and the use of a sacrifice or exercise area. Eighty-eight percent of respondents using sacrifice areas also rotationally graze. Results indicate future outreach programs should focus on feed management, manure storage location, rotational grazing, and the use of sacrifice areas as part of a pasture management program.     

The Feeding Practices and Estimated Workload in a Cohort of New Zealand Competition Horses

Data on the feeding, management, and training schedules during the week before the competition were collected via a face-to-face survey of riders competing in dressage, show jumping, or eventing at 1* and 3* level competitions. Data were collected using a pro forma recording sheet, and measurements of horse height, weight, and body condition score (BCS) were also obtained. A total of 158 of 582 riders (and horses) were surveyed, providing a response rate of 27%. The mean height, weight, and median BCS of the horses were 162 ± 1 cm, 533 ± 5 kg, and 6 (interquartile range [IQR], 5–7), respectively. The majority of horses were at pasture, most (68%, 107 of 158) 24 hr/d and fed supplementary feed either once (42%, 67 of 158) or twice daily (54%, 86 of 158). The supplementary feed was predominately a commercial premix feed (90%, 142 of 157) with additional alfalfa chaff or ensiled chopped alfalfa. The horses were offered approximately 60 MJ digestible energy (DE)/d (33–86 MJ DE/d) from supplementary feed. The horses worked for a median of 6 d/wk (IQR, 5–6 d/wk) with one rest day. The median total time trained during the week was 200 minutes (135–265 minutes), which consisted of eight separate training activities. There was no difference in time spent on different activities between the disciplines. Individual training activities were 30–40 minutes, and the median number of competitions per month was 2 (IQR, 2–3). Training workload and pattern of work were similar to reports from other countries, with the exception that many riders regularly added a “hack out” after training.     

Equine Herpesvirus-I Infection in Horses: Recent Updates on its Pathogenicity,Vaccination, and Preventive Management Strategies

Equine herpesvirus-1 (EHV-1) is one of the most common and ubiquitous viral pathogens infecting equines, particularly horses worldwide. The EHV-1 is known to induce not only humoral but also cellular immune responses in horses. Respiratory distress, abortion in pregnant mares, neurological disorders, and neonatal foal deaths represent EHV-1 infection. Despite the limited success of inactivated, subunit, live, and DNA vaccines, over the past few decades, vaccination remains the prime preventive option to combat EHV-1 infection in horses. However, current vaccines lack the potentiality to protect the neurological form of infections in horses. There is desperate necessity to search effectual EHV-1 vaccines that may stimulate not only mucosal and systemic cellular immunity but also humoral immunity in the horses. This review highlights the state of knowledge regarding EHV-1 biology, EHV-1 pathogenesis, and disparate vaccines studied in the past to prevent EHV-1 infection. The review also underlines the best management strategies which certainly need to be adopted by veterinarians in order to avoid and prevent EHV-1 infection and outbreak in horses in the future.     

浅谈后备肉用种兔的选留及饲养管理技术

种兔是商品肉兔生产的基础,每年必须补充新的后备种兔进入繁殖群,以保障较高的生产水平与经济效益。介绍了后备兔的引进、选留及饲养管理,以期为我国养兔生产提供一定的参考。     

甘南牦牛杂交改良综合饲养管理模式初探

[目的]为了提高甘南牦牛的个体生产性能,研究放牧条件下甘南牦牛的饲养管理模式,[方法]本课题通过引进大通牦牛,加强种公牛、母牦牛的饲养管理,对杂种犊牛进行全哺乳暖棚育肥试验,[结果]表明,甘南牦牛的发情率、受胎率、繁殖成活率都显著升高,流产率和犊牛死亡率下降明显.所产犊牛的初生重大,生长发育快.经全哺乳培育和暖棚育肥的犊牛,初生重和体尺与对照组相差不大,到6月龄断奶和12月龄体重都显著高于对照组.[结论]通过试验研究总结出一套适宜甘南牦牛杂交改良的综合饲养管理模式,从而指导甘南牦牛的生产.     

长颈鹿饲养管理和日粮养分估算

介绍了长颈鹿的一些生物学特征：分类、生理特性、天敌和食性。根据太原动物园多年饲养经验,长颈鹿日粮包含精料、蔬菜、水果、树叶、稀饭、补充营养等。估算了长颈鹿精料（颗粒料）营养成分和所有日粮营养成分。长颈鹿所有日粮养分含量估算结果如下：能量3.20MJ/kg,粗蛋白质13.69%,粗脂肪3.83%,粗纤维8.95%,碳水化合物34.31%,灰分4.31%,钙1.53%,总磷0.12%。提出了饲养管理中的一些建议：日常饲喂中要禁止饲喂发霉变质饲料,要留意拣出草料中的绳索、塑料袋、金属等异物,防止对动物造成不必要的损伤。根据季节、气候调整日粮,西瓜、黄瓜、绿豆只在夏季提供。长颈鹿属反刍动物,日常饲喂要以树叶为主,槐树叶营养丰富,是优良的长颈鹿饲料。大葱可能对长颈鹿有特殊作用。     

种公牛饲养管理中易被疏忽的几项细节管理

种公牛在养牛环节中具有非常关键的作用,本文就种公牛饲养管理中易被疏忽的几项细节进行了论述,在管理上应引起足够重视.     

圈养金丝猴饲养管理刍议

迁地保护是挽救濒危野生动物的重要手段，加强圈养金丝猴饲养管理，对扩大种群和拯救这个物种有着重要意义。本文对成都动物园金丝猴的饲养管理进行了阐述，旨在改进圈养金丝猴的饲养管理和改善生活条件，加强保护。     

The Effect of Feeding Two or Three Meals Per Day of Either Low or High Nonstructural Carbohydrate Concentrates on Postprandial Glucose and Insulin Concentrations in Horses

Eight mature idle gelding horses (mean body weight [BW], 558 ± 45 kg) were used in a replicated 2 × 2 Latin square design study. Horses received either two or three meals per day (MPD) for 7 days, of either a high (H; 43%; 215 g/100 kg BW) or low (L; 18%; 90 g/100 kg BW) nonstructural carbohydrate (NSC) concentrate feed to achieve four treatment groups: low NSC in two MPD (L2), low NSC in three MPD (L3), high NSC in two MPD (H2), and high NSC in three MPD (H3). On day 7 of the treatments, blood was collected before (baseline) and for 5 hours after feeding the morning meal (10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240, 270, and 300 minutes after feeding). Baseline insulin concentrations tended (P = .093) to be higher for horses fed high NSC than low NSC, and horses fed two MPD tended (P = .092) to have higher baseline insulin concentrations than horses fed three MPD. In addition, baseline glucose-to-insulin ratio (GIR) was higher in horses fed high NSC compared with low NSC (P < .001). Horses fed high NSC had higher area under the curve of insulin and higher peak insulin after feeding than those fed low NSC. These findings suggest that NSC content of a concentrate feed has an impact on baseline insulin and GIRs and on postprandial insulin concentrations. Meanwhile, the number (and therefore size) of MPD had fewer impacts on glucose metabolism.     

Variation of Hematochemical Profile and Vitamin E Status in Feral Giara Horses From Free Grazing in the Wild to Hay Feeding During Captivity

Wildlife protection and management are important priorities for landscape identity and biodiversity preservation. Feeding practices of fauna confined in facilities during temporary captivity are fundamental to support animal health and natural behavior. Appropriate provision of feedstuffs appears to be necessary to support the best practices in respect of animal species-specific natural diet. This investigation explored the variation of the metabolic profile by means of selected metabolite and respective circulating levels in a group feral Giara horses undergoing the change of the diet, moving from natural free grazing in the wild to temporary captivity. Six Giara horses (4 mares and 2 stallions; estimated age: 2.5–3 years; body weight: 163–170 kg) were captured to monitor the serological reaction to equine infectious anemia (EIA; screening at Coggins test). Animals were sheltered in a wildlife rescue center for a duration of 4 weeks, and all received the same hay-based diet (ad libitum). On 0 and 28 days of captivity, blood serum alpha-tocopherol (α-TOH) concentration was determined alongside selected metabolites (liver enzymes, total protein and fractions, cholesterol, triglycerides, and macrominerals and trace elements). Comparative feces quality and composition were also assessed. Both serum samples (0 vs. 28 days) displayed α-TOH levels below (<2 μg/mL) adequacy established for the domestic horse. Initial levels markedly (P = .020) decreased after the 4 weeks of captivity (Δ = −32.5%). Vitamin E status and ALT levels varied significantly, but serum protein fractions did not point to significant variations before and after captivity. All horses tested negative to EIA. Monitoring of vitamin E status of wild and feral herbivores may be recommendable in the context of adequate feeding practices during captivity to prevent potential deficiency or excessive depletion.     

猪的行为特征探讨与饲养管理的改善

猪的行为是猪的本质特征的外在表现，在很大程度上影响着养猪工艺的发展和养猪业的效益。本文概括的分析了猪一般的行为特点和在饲养管理过程中的利用与改善措施。并对相关遗传特征进行了探讨。随着人们对猪的行为性状重要性认识的不断深入，猪的行为特征将在科学和生产过程中得到更加广泛的利用。     

Use of Best Management Practices and Pasture and Soil Quality on Maryland Horse Farms

Agricultural operations, including horse farms, can contribute nonpoint source (NPS) pollution to surface water. The use of best management practices (BMPs) is the most effective way to prevent the movement of pollutants to surface water from nonpoint source pollution. Previous mailed survey studies have assessed the use of BMPs at the county and state level, but a visual assessment of horse farms is necessary to validate survey results. An observational field study was conducted to assess BMP use and soil and pasture quality and to create a model to predict soil erosion on Maryland horse farms. Fifty-one farms were selected based on stocking density (acres per horse [ac horse^-1]), farm use, and presence of water on property. All farms were visited from September through November 2009. In each pasture with grazing horses, the correct use of BMPs was assessed, grass height and vegetative cover were measured, and composite soil samples were collected. Less than half of the 18 assessed BMPs were being used by participants. Although most participants maintained the recommended vegetative cover and grass height, soil erosion was a major problem in pastures. Most farms had optimum soil nutrient concentrations (Ca, K, and P), excessive Mg values, and basic soil pH. Vegetative cover and grass height measurements were positively correlated with stocking density (r = 0.345, P < .0001; and r = 0.291, P < .0001, respectively). Farm use was the only variable that predicted soil erosion on farms (P = .006). Farms used for pleasure were least likely to have soil erosion, whereas farms used for breeding were more likely to have soil erosion (P = .0058). Despite the low-to-moderate adoption of BMPs, the maintenance of recommended vegetative cover and grass height as well as optimum values of soil nutrients indicated participating Maryland horse farms have a low potential for nutrient movement and NPS pollution.     

农牧交错区奶牛的饲养管理与疾病防治技术

由于内蒙古部分农牧交错区科学饲养管理与疾病防治技术缺乏,导致在生产中奶牛常见疾病的发病率较高,造成很大的经济损失,因此本文针对这些奶牛养殖区饲养管理和疾病防治技术的需要,综述了“养”和“防”两大关键技术。一是根据奶牛各饲养阶段对营养需要的不同进行科学合理的饲料搭配与管理;二是根据目前奶牛常发的四大疾病提出了具体的防制措施;运用上述两大技术不仅提高了整体养殖水平,而且带来了很大的经济效益。     

饲养管理方式对甘南牦牛繁殖力及杂交后代影响的研究

[目的]为了研究加强种公牛和母牦牛的饲养管理对母牦牛的繁殖效果和杂交后代生长发育的影响.[方法]本试验用大通牦牛和其冻精杂交甘南牦牛,通过对试验组的种公牛、母牦牛和杂交后代进行补饲、延长放牧时间和提前断奶等措施,研究了203头母牦牛的繁殖效果和其杂交后代的生长发育情况.[结果]表明,自然交配试验组发情率、受胎率、繁殖成活率分别比对照组提高9.19%、11.03%、14.10%,流产率和犊牛死亡率降低3.3%、3.87%;人工授精组发情率、受胎率、繁殖成活率分别提高6.74%、5.48%、10.52%,流产率和犊牛死亡率降低4.07%、4.62%.加强母牦牛的饲养管理,所产犊牛的初生重比传统饲养管理条件下母牦牛所产的犊牛初生重公母分别增加2.92 kg和2.07 kg,提高19.80%和14.22%.6月龄体重分别增加12.82 kg和12.23 kg,提高17.45%和16.88%.[结论] 用大通牦牛改良甘南牦牛,采用人工授精和自然交配都有良好的效果,加强种公牛、母牦牛饲养管理是提高牛群繁殖力的有效方法,对后代生长发育影响明显.     

Ownership Pattern and Management Practices of Cattle Herds in The Gambia: Implications for a Breeding Programme

A questionnaire and a census were carried out in 1998/99 on 201 cattle herds in 44 villages located in three different areas of The Gambia, in order to obtain information about the ownership pattern, management and breeding practices for optimizing and extending a pure breeding scheme for indigenous N'Dama cattle. The herds had an average of 58.5 head, of which 39.3% were cows, and most of them were multiowner herds, having on average 5.5 owners. Overall, women represented 38.3% of the owners, but they owned only 15.9% of the cattle. Some of the senior herdsmen received no payment, as they were family members, but most of them received payment in kind, i.e. milk off-take from the herd. Payment in cash only or cash as well as milk was rare. In larger herds it was quite common for additional herdsmen to be hired throughout the year, their payment shifting towards cash only or cash and milk. Many small herds had no older bulls or breeding bull and almost all breeding bulls were born within the herd. In most cases, it was the herd owner who was responsible for the selection of the breeding bull. Traits related to the growth and milk production of the dam were considered as most important for a good breeding bull. The results are discussed with respect to the extension of a pure breeding scheme for N'Dama cattle.     

我国灌木类饲用植物资源及其可持续利用对策

论述了灌木类饲用植物特性，分析了灌木类饲用植物在我国畜牧业发展中的开发前景和存在的问题。在对当前我国灌木类饲用植物资源开发利用状况总结的基础上，探讨了灌木类饲用植物的饲用价值和生产加工技术，针对我国资源的状况，提出了挖掘资源、综合开发、加强科研的发展战略。