新疆牧区超载过牧对草地退化影响分析

新疆草地退化现象严重，已成为制约草原畜牧业发展的主要障碍。通过建立一套草原退化影响因素评价指标体系，运用灰色相关分析方法，得出草地退化的最主要因素是草地放牧率，牧民的超载放牧行为是导致草原生态环境恶化的主要原因，为制定保护草地政策提供一定的现实依据。     

草地畜牧业生产方式调整和生态环境治理对策

以锡林郭勒典型草原为例，描述了草原区的自然环境特征、社会经济情况和生态环境退化现状。从系统物流平衡、环境气候变化，以及人类活动对草地生态系统的影响等方面探讨了草原生态环境劣变的原因。分析结果表明，放牧畜牧业是草原地区的主要土地利用形式，家畜是生态系统中植被的主要控制者，系统内物流(以N为例)的出入失调和季节性的草一畜供求失衡是引起草地生态系统迅速退化的主要因素。而其它因素(如气候变化、垦荒、挖药材等)对系统的劣变起了推波助澜的作用。为此，增加向系统内的物质投入，调整四季放牧的自然畜牧业生产方式，积极引种入牧，缓解草地春季敏感期放牧压力等，是治理和维护该地区草地生态系统健康，保证草原畜牧业可持续发展的有效措施。     

草地畜牧业生产方式调整和生态环境治理对策

以锡林郭勒典型草原为例，描述了草原区的自然环境特征、社会经济情况和生态环境退化现状。从系统物流平衡、环境气候变化，以及人类活动对草地生态系统的影响等方面探讨了草原生态环境劣变的原因。分析结果表明，放牧畜牧业是草原地区的主要土利利用形式，家畜是生态系统中植被的主要控制者，系统内物流（以N为例）的出入失调和季节性的草-畜供求失衡是引起草地生态系统迅速退化的主要因素。而其它因素（如气候变化、垦荒、挖药材等）对系统的劣变起了推波助澜的作用。为此，增加向系统内的物质投入，调整四季放牧的自然畜牧业生产方式，积极引种入牧，缓解草地春季敏感期放牧压力等，是治理和维护该地区草地生态系统健康，保证草原畜牧业可持续发展的有效措施。     

川西北高寒草原退化沙化成因分析——以红原县为例

川西北高寒草原是全国5大牧区之一,同时作为长江黄河两大水系的发源地,也具有着十分重要的生态作用。但草原退化沙化现象严重,以川西北的红原县为例,采用3S技术结合实地调查和室内分析的方法,研究了在高寒湿润条件下草原的退化、沙化的主要成因。结果表明:草原的退化、沙化是自然成因和人为成因共同作用的结果。自然成因包括地形地貌和水文母质因素、气候因素;人为成因包括过渡放牧,滥垦乱挖和疏干沼泽等因素。其中,自然成因是造成研究区沙化的基础性因素,人为不合理的经济活动,在一定程度上引发和大大加速了草原的沙化;而人为因素是造成由沼泽草甸-草原草甸-草原草地-退化草地退化的主要成因,其中以过度放牧最为普遍和严重。     

青藏高原草地退化原因述评

导致青藏高原草地退化的因子很多,主要有气候、野生动物和人类活动等。在气候因素中以气温和降水的影响为主,短期内气候的变化不会成为草地退化的主导因素,从长期来看,气候变化与草地退化之间的相互作用可引起草地生态系统的退化;野生动物因素中主要以植食性小哺乳动物的影响为主,其危害程度取决于其种群数量的高低,同时大型野生草食动物对草地退化的影响也不容忽视;人类活动因素中主要以家畜过度放牧为主,在一定程度上,家畜放牧强度的高低直接决定草地的退化程度;草地退化是多种因素综合作用的结果。不同地区导致草地退化的主要因素不尽相同,导致青藏高原草地退化最主要的因子是过度放牧和植食性小哺乳动物种群爆发。针对退化的原因,提出了青藏高原退化草地恢复与管理过程中应注意的事项。     

中国河西走廊草地农业的基本格局和它的系统相悖─—草原退化的机理初探─—

河西走廊的草地资源位于西北荒漠的大背景中，由山地、荒漠和绿洲三个子系统构成，其中荒漠子系统居主导地位，具有先天的脆弱性。它们在人为干预下，在自然生态系统的农业化过程中，发生了山地一绿洲一荒漠组成的耦合农业系统。由于耦合不够完善，它所固有的相悖因素未能有效控制，形成涵有系列相悖因子群的系统相悖。主要表现为时间相悖，空间相悖和种间相悖。三者互相影响，但时间相悖起主导作用，使系统的生态危机加剧。它通常表现为草原退化。对草地农业生态系统的自由能的调控，保持自由能的积累和输出基本相当，是防止草原退化的根本出路。草原退化是草地对于草食动物压迫的对策系统和动物对于草地负荷行为的对策系统的综合反映。放牧程度可以作为草原退化过程的向量系统，但不是草原退化的本质。     

祁连县央隆草原退化成因

海北祁连县西端的央隆草原是高寒干旱气候区,以纯牧业为生产方式,近年来草地退化严重。通过分析,草地退化的原因是:过度放牧,不合理的利用土地,破坏了草原的生物多样性,导致草地退化;其次是气候变化影响和风蚀作用致使草地进一步退化乃致沙化。     

新疆牧区超载过牧对草地退化影响分析

新疆草地退化现象严重,已成为制约草地畜牧业发展的主要障碍。通过建立一套草地退化影响因素评价指标体系,运用灰色相关分析方法,得出草地退化的最主要因素是草地放牧率,牧民的超载放牧行为是导致草地生态环境恶化的主要原因,为制定保护草地政策提供一定的现实依据。     

美国草原管理法律法规发展概况

草地资源的立法管理是各国管理草地资源防止草地退化的主要人为调控手段。美国草原立法开始早,立法体系完善,对美国公共草地合理管理做出了巨大贡献。美国草地立法经历了3个阶段:首先是草原立法和管理主要在各州层面上,对公共草地管理作用不大,使西部公共草地处于无序利用状态,草地退化严重;第二是《泰勒放牧法》颁布后,开始了公共草地管理,建立了有照放牧和放牧收费制度;第三是美国草地的多用途管理,出台了与草地资源管理相关的一系列法律,主要是《环境政策法》和《联邦土地政策管理法》,草地资源相关价值受到高度重视。在国家立法规定下,对草地资源的价值进行评估。研究美国草地立法过程和立法思想,对于合理管理中国草地资源具有重要指导意义。     

天水市草地资源现状与对策

我市水草资源丰富,形成良好的放牧条件,但因过度放牧、垦荒等因素造成草原严重退化,环境遭到破坏,为能合理保护利用草原,实现绿色环保的生态环境,本文针对我市草地存在的问题进行思考分析,提出建议措施。     

Phase I evaluation of CCNU (lomustine) in tumor-bearing cats

1-(2-Chloroethyl)3-cyclohexyl-1-nitrosourea (CCNU) is an alkylating agent in the nitrosourea subclass. A prospective evaluation of CCNU was done to determine the maximally tolerated dosage of CCNU in tumor-bearing cats. Response data were obtained when available. Twenty-five cats were treated with CCNU at a dosage of 50-60 mg/m3 body surface area. Complete hematologic data were available for 13 cats. Neutropenia was the acute dose-limiting toxicity. The median neutrophil count at the nadir was 1,000 cells/microL (mean, 2,433 cells/microL; range, 0-9,694 cells/microL). The time of neutrophil nadir was variable, occurring 7-28 days after treatment, and counts sometimes did not return to normal for up to 14 days after the nadir. Based on these findings, a 6-week dosing interval and weekly hematologic monitoring after the 1st treatment with CCNU are recommended. The nadir of the platelet count may occur 14-21 days after treatment. The median platelet count at the nadir was 43,500 cells/microL. No gastrointestinal, renal, or hepatic toxicities were observed after a single CCNU treatment, and additional studies to evaluate the potential for cumulative toxicity should be performed. Five cats with lymphoma and 1 cat with mast cell tumor had measurable responses to CCNU. Phase II studies to evaluate antitumor activity should be completed with a dosing regimen of 50-60 mg/m3 every 6 weeks.     

Furosemide continuous rate infusion in the horse: evaluation of enhanced efficacy and reduced side effects

Continuous rate infusion (CRI) of furosemide in humans is considered superior to intermittent administration (IA). This study examined whether furosemide CRI, compared with IA, would increase diuretic efficacy with decreased fluid and electrolyte fluctuations and activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) in the horse. Five mares were used in a crossover-design study. During a 24-hour period, each horse received a total of 3 mg/kg furosemide by either CRI (0.12 mg/kg/h preceded by a loading dose of 0.12 mg/kg IV) or IA (1 mg/kg IV q8h). There was not a statistically significant difference in urine volume over 24 hours between methods; however, urine volume was significantly greater after CRI compared with IA during the first 8 hours ([median 25th percentile, 75th percentile]: 9.6 L [8.9, 14.4] for CRI versus 5.9 L [5.3, 6.0] for IA). CRI produced a more uniform urine flow, decreased fluctuations in plasma volume, and suppressed renal concentrating ability throughout the infusion period. Potassium, Ca, and Cl excretion was greater during CRI than IA (1,133 mmol [1.110, 1,229] versus 764 mmol [709, 904], 102.7 mmol [96.0, 117.2] versus 73.3 mmol [65.0, 73.5], and 1,776 mmol [1,657, 2.378] versus 1,596 mmol [1,457, 1,767], respectively). Elimination half-lives of furosemide were 1.35 and 0.47 hours for CRI and IA, respectively. The area under the excretion rate curve was 1,285.7 and 184.2 mL x mg/mL for CRI and IA, respectively. Furosemide CRI (0.12 mg/kg/h) for 8 hours, preceded by a loading dose (0.12 mg/kg), is recommended when profound diuresis is needed acutely in horses.     

Prevalence of gastric lesions in racing Alaskan sled dogs

Human and equine athletes are reported to have a high prevalence of gastric disease, and anecdotal evidence suggests a similar phenomenon applies to racing sled dogs. To investigate the prevalence of gastric disease in racing sled dogs, we conducted 2 gastroscopy studies on dogs competing in the annual Iditarod Sled Dog Race. A pilot study of dogs that were either dropped from the 2000 Iditarod Sled Dog Race because of illness or that finished the race indicated that, approximately 5 days after competing, 10 of 28 dogs (35%) had endoscopic evidence of gastric ulceration, erosion, or hemorrhage. The next year, an endoscopic study of 73 dogs participating in the 2001 Iditarod race was performed in order to evaluate a larger population of dogs. Data from 70 of these dogs could be used; 34 (48.5%) had ulceration, erosion, gastric hemorrhage, or some combination of these findings. When this group of 70 dogs was compared retrospectively to a control group of 87 dogs presented to the Texas A&M University (TAMU) Veterinary Medical Teaching Hospital, the Iditarod sled dogs had a significantly higher prevalence (P = .049) of gastric lesions. These findings suggest that, similar to athletes of other species, elite canine athletes have an increased prevalence of gastric disease compared to the canine population at large.     

Internal Parasites and Haematological Values in Cattle Slaughtered in Buea Subdivision of Cameroon

Tropical Animal Health and Production -     

The Epidemiology of Gastrointestinal Nematodes of Dairy Cattle in Central Kenya

The epidemiology of H. placei and of other gastrointestinal nematodes in yearling dairy cattle was examined on two farms in Kiambu District, central Kenya during each of 13 one-month periods from April 1993 to April 1994. On each farm, 32 newly weaned dairy calves were given a single dose of albendazole and then placed on experimental pastures. Twelve of the animals were designated for bi-monthly slaughter (n = 2) and analysis of worm population characteristics and 20 were designated for blood and faecal collection and for weighing. Two parasite-free tracer calves were grazed alongside the weaner calves each month throughout the study period and were also slaughtered for analysis of worm populations. Faecal egg counts, haematological and serum pepsinogen determinations, herbage larval counts, and animal live weight changes were recorded monthly. The study revealed that Haemonchus placei, Trichostrongylus axei, Cooperia spp. and Oesophagostomum radiatum were responsible for parasitic gastroenteritis and that H. placei was the predominant nematode present in the young cattle on both farms. Faecal egg counts from resident cattle and necropsy worm counts revealed that pasture larval levels were directly related to the amount of rainfall. The total worm burdens in the animals were highest during the rainy season (March–June and October–December) and lowest during the dry seasons (July–September and January–February). The very low recovery of immature larvae of H. placei from the tracer calves indicated that arrested development is not a feature of the life cycle of this parasite in central Kenya. The maintenance of the parasite population depended on continuous cycling of infection between the host and the pasture. The agroclimatic conditions of the study area were such that, in general, favourable weather conditions for the development and survival of the free-living stages of gastrointestinal nematodes existed all year round.     

Diversity of Ectoparasites in Sheep Flocks in Sa~o Paulo,Brazil

The occurrence of ectoparasites in sheep flocks is frequently reported but seldom quantified. Sheep production used to be a predominantly family activity in the state of Sa~o Paulo (Brazil), but it began to become a commercial activity in the past decade. Thus, information about the ectoparasites existing in sheep flocks has become necessary. The present data were obtained by means of questionnaires sent to all sheep breeders belonging to the `Associaça~o Paulista de Criadores de Ovinos' (ASPACO; Sa~o Paulo State Association of Sheep Breeders). Response reliability was tested by means of random visits paid to 10.6% of the respondents. Most of the properties (89.5%) reported the presence of one or more ectoparasites. Screw-worm (Cochliomyia hominivorax) was the most frequent ectoparasite (72.5%), followed by bot fly larvae (Dermatobia hominis, 45.0%), ticks (Amblyomma cajennense) and Boophilus microplus, 31.3%) and finally lice (Damalinia ovis, 13.8%). Combined infestations also occurred, the most common one being screw-worm with bot fly larvae (36.0%) followed by bot fly larvae with ticks (13.9%), screw-worm with ticks (9.3%), bot fly larvae with lice (6.9%), and ticks with lice (5.0%). The most common triple combination was screw-worm, bot fly larvae and ticks (12.8%). Breeds raised for meat or wool were attacked by bot fly larvae and ticks more often than other breeds. Lice were only absent from animals of indigenous breeds. The relationships among these ectoparasites are discussed in terms of sheep breeds, flock size, seasonality and the ectoparasitic combinations on the host.     

Chemotaxis of macrophage in inflammation

Our particular attention in this article was given to natural mediators for macrophages isolated from the sites of tissue injury. A number of chemotactic factors, which may satisfy many criteria making them acceptable as inflammatory leucocyte chemotactic factors, has been separated. Among them, our laboratory has isolated three macrophage (monocyte) chemotactic factors (MCF-a, -b and -c). Their purification, characterization and functional specificity are discussed.     

Evaluation of biohydrogenation rate of canola vs. soya bean seeds as unsaturated fatty acids sources for ruminants in situ

An experiment was conducted to study disappearance of C14 to C18 fatty acids, lag times and biohydrogenation (BH) rates of C18 fatty acids of ground soya bean and canola seeds in situ. Three ruminally fistulated Dallagh sheep were used to determine ruminal BH of unsaturated fatty acids (UFAs). Differences in the disappearance of fatty acids through the bags and lag times were observed between the oilseeds. We saw that the longer the incubation time of the oilseeds in the rumen, the lower the content of C18:2 and C18:3. Significantly higher lag times for both C18:2 and C18:3 were observed in ground canola compared to ground soya bean. BH rates of C18:2 and C18:3 fatty acids in soya bean were three times higher than those of canola. These results suggest that the fatty acid profile of fat source can affect the BH of UFAs by rumen micro‐organisms. So that UFAs of canola had higher ability to escape from ruminal BH. It seems that fatty acid profile of ruminant products is more affected by canola seed compared to soya bean seed.     

Serum biochemical values and mineral element contents of tissues in yaks

Serum biochemical values and the wet weight to dry weight ratios of tissues were determined in yaks in Shandan county of Gansu province. The liver, kidney, heart and muscle contents of seven elements in yaks were also analysed. Most serum biochemical values were similar to those of cattle, camels and sheep, but the calcium concentration was considerably above the normal range for other ruminants. The liver contained the highest concentrations of copper, manganese and cobalt and the kidney of selenium, iron and calcium.Abbreviations Alb albumin - ALT alanine aminotransferase - AST aspartate aminotransferase - BUN blood urea nitrogen - Chol cholesterol - Glob globulin - -GT -glutamyl transpeptidase - IP inorganic phosphorus - TP total protein