Performance of New Zealand White and Californian male weaned rabbits in the subtropical environment of Egypt

The New Zealand White (NZW) was superior significantly ( P  < 0.05) to the Californian (Cal) breed in final body weight, final total body solids and preslaughter weight. In contrast, Cal showed greater plasma creatinine ( P  < 0.001) than the NZW. The differences in the other traits were not significant. NZW also showed higher dressing percentage and Cal showed higher mortality percentage. The Temperature-humidity Index (THI) values indicated absence of heat stress in the first period (mild period) and exposure to moderate (very close to severe) heat stress in the second one (hot period). The heat stress conditions caused significant ( P  < 0.001, 0.01 or 0.05) decreases in each of final body weight, daily body gain, daily feed intake, final total body solids, solids daily gain, plasma total protein, albumin, globulin, total lipids, glucose, thyroid hormone T3, sodium, potassium, calcium, magnesium and phosphorus and preslaughter weight. At the same time, significant ( P  < 0.001 or 0.01) increases occurred in each of water intake, water/feed ratio, total body water (mL/100 g body solids), blood urea-N, creatinine, respiration rate and rectal, skin and ear temperatures. The interaction of breed x period effects was significant ( P  < 0.01 or 0.05) on plasma creatinine and hind-limb cut. Estimations of 'adaptability' to the subtropical environment of Egypt were found to be 83.1% for NZW and 82.6% for Cal breeds.     

木瓜粉对新西兰白兔繁殖性能及泌乳性能的影响

选取前2胎产仔数相近、体况一致的新西兰白兔妊娠母兔48只,随机分成3组,探讨木瓜粉对母兔繁殖性能、泌乳量及血清激素等指标的影响。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ组分别在基础日粮中添加5％、10％木瓜粉。妊娠18天时试验开始至仔兔30日龄断奶时结束,为期42天。结果显示：与对照组相比．试验组仔兔初生窝重、21天窝重、断奶窝重显著提高（P〈0．05）,产仔数、活仔数、断奶数等差异不显著（P〉0．05）．两试验组间差异不显著（P〉0．05）;木瓜粉显著提高母兔7、14、21天的泌乳量（P〈0．05）,提高21天血清E2、PRL水平（P〈0．05）。结果表明添加木瓜粉可提高母兔的繁殖性能和泌乳性能。     

Pharmacokinetics of ketamine following a short intravenous infusion to isoflurane-anesthetized New Zealand White rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

ObjectiveTo describe the pharmacokinetics of ketamine following a short intravenous (IV) infusion to isoflurane-anesthetized rabbits.Study designProspective experimental study.AnimalsA total of six adult healthy female New Zealand White rabbits.MethodsAnesthesia was induced with isoflurane in oxygen. Following determination of isoflurane minimum alveolar concentration (MAC), the isoflurane concentration was reduced to 0.75 MAC and ketamine hydrochloride (5 mg kg^–1) was administered IV over 5 minutes. Blood samples were collected before and at 2, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13, 17, 21, 35, 65, 125, 215 and 305 minutes after initiating the ketamine infusion. Samples were processed immediately and the plasma separated and stored at –80 °C until analyzed for ketamine and norketamine concentrations using liquid chromatography–mass spectrometry. Compartment models were fitted to the concentration–time data for ketamine and for ketamine plus norketamine using nonlinear mixed-effects (population) modeling.ResultsA three- and five-compartment model best fitted the plasma concentration–time data for ketamine and for ketamine plus norketamine, respectively. For the ketamine only model, the volume of distribution at steady state (Vss) was 3217 mL kg^–1, metabolic clearance was 88 mL minute^–1 kg^–1 and the terminal half-life was 59 minutes. For the model including both ketamine and norketamine, Vss were 3224 and 2073 mL kg^–1, total metabolic clearance was 107 and 52 mL minute^–1 kg^–1 and terminal half-lives were 52 and 55 minutes for the parent drug and its metabolite, respectively.Conclusions and clinical relevanceThis study characterized the pharmacokinetics of ketamine and norketamine in isoflurane-anesthetized New Zealand White rabbits following short IV infusion. The results obtained herein will be useful to determine ketamine infusion regimens in isoflurane-anesthetized rabbits.     

植物小肽对断奶至2月龄新西兰兔生长发育、免疫性能及血液生化指标的影响

为了研究植物小肽对断奶肉兔生长发育、免疫性能及血液生化指标的影响,将150只断奶新西兰兔,随机分为5组,设对照组和4个试验组。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ组分别饲喂基础日粮中植物小肽添加量为0.30%、0.60%、0.90%、1.20%的试验日粮。结果表明:日粮添加植物小肽对试兔平均日增重和料重比影响显著(P<0.05),添加量为0.60%时,试兔平均日增重比对照组提高29.85%,料重比降低24.59%;对试兔胸腺指数、下颌淋巴结指数产生显著影响(P<0.05),但脾脏指数和腹股沟淋巴结指数变化不显著(P>0.05),随着植物小肽添加水平的增加,血清ⅠgG出现先升高后降低的趋势(P<0.05);植物小肽对试兔血总蛋白和胆固醇也产生显著影响(P<0.05)。综合以上结果:日粮中添加植物小肽可以增强断奶～2月龄新西兰兔的生长发育和免疫性能,添加量以0.60%为宜。     

Histological and morphometric evaluation of the urethra and penis in male New Zealand White rabbits

This stereudy aimed at performing a histological and morphometric evaluation of the urethra and penis of male rabbits. Seven male New Zealand White rabbits weighing 2.1–3 kg were used in the study. The whole urethra, from the urinary bladder to the external urethral orifice, was dissected from the rabbits, and the tissue was sliced into sections at an interval of 2 mm. The sections were stained with haematoxylin–eosin, Masson–Goldner trichrome stain, Van Gieson's stain and Movat–Russell modified pentachrome stain. A detailed evaluation of the morphology and morphometry was performed. The parameters assessed were the type and height of epithelium, thickness and composition of connective tissue, and thickness and structure of muscularis. The histological structure of the rabbit urethra was found to be similar to humans. However, although the rabbits were found to have the same type of penis as the humans, the internal structure of the corpora cavernosa, the relative thickness of the tunica albuginea and the rudimentary glands of the penis were found to differ in these animals. The results of the present study may be useful in the designing of implants, drug testing or surgical procedures on the physiological and pathological urethra.     

Evaluation of animal models to explore the influence of maternal genetic and maternal permanent environment effect on reproductive performance of Jersey crossbred cattle

The present study was conducted on 1,002 reproductive records of 430 Jersey crossbred cattle, descended from 57 sires and 198 dams, maintained at the Eastern Regional Station of ICAR-National Dairy Research Institute, Kalyani, Nadia, West Bengal, India to investigate the influence of direct genetic, maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental effect on three most important reproductive traits viz., number of service per conception (NSPC), days open (DO) and calving interval (CI) of Jersey crossbred cattle. Six single-trait animal models (including or excluding maternal genetic or permanent environmental effects) were fitted to analyse these traits, and the best model was chosen after testing the significant increase in the log-likelihood values when additional parameters were added in the model. Direct heritability estimates for NSPC, DO and CI from the best model were 0.10, 0.14 and 0.20, respectively. The maternal permanent environmental (c²) effects on reproductive traits accounted for almost negligible fraction of the total phenotypic variance in this study. The maternal genetic effects (m²) also contributed very little (0%–3%) to the total phenotypic variance except for CI where it was important and accounted for 20% of phenotypic variance. A significantly large negative genetic correlation was observed between direct and maternal genetic effects for all traits, suggesting the presence of antagonistic relationship between dam's direct additive component and daughter's additive genetic component. Results suggest that both direct and maternal effects were important only for CI but not for other traits. Therefore, both direct additive effects and maternal genetic effect need to be considered for improving this trait by selection.     

半乳甘露寡糖对肉兔生长性能、屠宰性能和胃肠道pH值的影响

选择健康的50日龄新西兰肉兔30只,向肉兔日粮中分别添加半乳甘露寡糖(GMOS)和抗生素,经过20d的饲养试验,在肉兔70日龄时进行屠宰,通过测定肉兔各项生长指标,比较GMOS和抗生素对肉兔生长、屠宰指标及胃肠道pH值的影响效果。试验研究结果表明:试验组的兔存活率比对照组有所提高(P>0.05),料重比、腹泻率则比对照组相对降低(P>0.05),而在屠宰率及胃肠道pH值方面试验组与对照组相比差异不显著(P>0.05),说明GMOS在替代抗生素方面有可行性。     

Effect of lactic acid bacteria‐treated King grass silage on the performance traits and serum metabolites in New Zealand white rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

This study examined the effects of Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici‐treated silage of King grass (Pennisetum purpureophoides) on the productive traits and blood biochemistry of New Zealand white (NZW) rabbits. King grass was ensiled without or with L. plantarum (T1), P. acidilactici (T2) and P. acidilactici + L. plantarum (T3). A total of 72 male NZW rabbits (6 weeks) of similar weight and appearance were housed in groups in metallic cages in a completely randomized design. The performance traits, daily feed intake, body weight gain and feed convention ratio were not affected by the silage treatment. Triglyceride and alanine aminotransferase (ALT) concentration was increased (p < .05) in T2 (0.92 mmol/L) compared to the other treatments. The superoxide dismutase (SOD), phosphorous (P) and magnesium (Mg) increased (p < .05) in T1 (658.01 nmol/ml, 5.1 mg/kg and 2.43 mg/kg, respectively) compared to the control and other experimental groups. Cu and Mn decreased (p < .05), while Zn increased (p < .05) in the treated groups compared to the control. The CP decreased (p < .05) in the treatment groups compared to the control. Neutral detergent fibre (NDF) increased (p < .05) in T2 (54.40%) compared to the other treatments. The inoculation of lactic acid bacteria‐treated King grass silage supplementation positively affected rabbit performance and improved blood cholesterol profile, antioxidant status and improve nutrients digestibility.     

五龄饷食时间与盛熟时间及茧产量的关系

对四龄止桑后的同批蚕进行早、中、晚三种饷食时问的比较，其四鼠就鼠时间分别为30、36、48小时。以此探讨五龄饷食迟早与盛熟时间及茧产量的关系。结果晚上饷食区的盛热时间比早上、中午饷雷区晚，但盛熟均在白昼。产茧量随饷食对间的推迟有下降的趋势。     

Portal Website of the MLR Represented by the New Created Model at the Information Services of Government Around the Media Activities ＂Miles Steps Down to the Rehabilitation of Rural Land＂

本文分析了部门户网站围绕＂万里行＂宣传活动创新政府网站信息服务模式的有关问题,旨在为我国政府网站建设积累有益经验。