卧床垫料中牛粪与稻壳比例对奶牛趴卧行为、消化性能和泌乳性能的影响

本试验旨在研究舍饲散栏奶牛舍卧床垫料中牛粪与稻壳比例对奶牛趴卧行为、消化性能和泌乳性能的影响。选择体重、泌乳天数、产奶量相近的健康奶牛200头,随机分为4组,即全牛粪组(TM组,卧床垫料为全牛粪)、6牛粪∶4稻壳组(6M∶4RH组,卧床垫料中牛粪与稻壳比例为6∶4)、4牛粪∶6稻壳组(4M∶6RH组,卧床垫料中牛粪与稻壳比例为4∶6)和全稻壳组(TRH组,卧床垫料为全稻壳),每组50头,各组奶牛采食相同的全混合日粮(TMR),饲养期为42 d。结果显示:1) TRH组的奶牛趴卧比率、卧床垫料中细菌数量和乳体细胞数均高于其他各组,其中卧床垫料中细菌数量与TM组的差异达到显著水平,乳体细胞数(第42天)与TM组和6M∶4RH组的差异达到显著水平(P<0.05)。2)第42天时,6M∶4RH组的产奶量显著高于其他各组(P<0.05)。3)各组干物质、粗蛋白质、粗脂肪、中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维、钙、磷表观消化率以及乳蛋白率、乳脂率均未表现出显著差异(P>0.05)。综合所测的各项指标,建议奶牛场选择牛粪与稻壳比例为6∶4的卧床垫料。     

Bedding hygiene,cleanliness and lying behaviour for heifers housed on wood chip or straw deep bedding

The aim of this project was to compare the hygienic quality of the bedding, as well as the parasitic load, cleanliness and lying behaviour in heifers kept on either straw or wood chip deep bedding. Fourteen heifers kept in two pens were housed on straw or wood chip bedding for 43 days, after which the bedding material was switched for 43 additional days. Significantly more mould was found in wood chip than in straw and there was a tendency towards less yeast in wood chip. The heifers had a low faecal parasitic load. The results indicate that the wood chip treatment resulted in somewhat cleaner animals. The heifers had a significantly longer total lying time when kept on straw. In conclusion, wood chip deep bedding could be an option as bedding material, but the impact on hygiene of bedding material and lying behaviour needs to be further investigated.     

Effects of Different Bedding Materials on the Behavior of Horses Housed in Single Stalls

The effects of three different bedding materials (straw, wood shavings, and straw pellets) on the behavior of six warmblood horses (four mares, two of them with foals) housed in single stalls were analyzed. Each material was used for 2 weeks in three consecutive runs. The behavior of the horses was videotaped and analyzed on the first and last 3 days for each bedding alternative in the last of the three runs. The time budgets for the behaviors including standing, eating, lying, occupation with bedding material, and other were generated. Compared with straw pellets and wood shavings, the application of straw bedding led to a significantly higher frequency and longer duration of occupation with bedding material and in turn, shorter fractions of standing and other behaviors. The total duration of lying was significantly longer on straw than on straw pellets. Straw pellets resulted in the least mean recumbency duration per occurrence of this behavior. Because occupation is one of the important functions that bedding material is supposed to fulfill, we concluded that in regard to horse behavior, straw bedding was the best among the three materials analyzed. Further investigations with a more homogeneous group of probands are necessary to verify the observed behavioral reactions.     

Lying behavior in horses in relation to box size

To analyze if horses' lying behavior is influenced by the size of their lying area, 8 horses were kept, first, in a large box—(2.5 × height of the horse)²m²—and then in a small box—(1.5 × height of the horse)²m²—or vice versa. After a 5-day adaptation period, the lying behavior (frequency and duration of sternal and lateral recumbency, rotating behavior just before lying down, and rolling behavior just before getting up) was observed from video recordings on 3 consecutive nights. The results showed that the duration of sternal recumbency was significantly longer in the large boxes than in the small boxes (P = .002). Furthermore, box size exerted an influence on the frequency of the rolling behavior shown before getting up, but box size was not the only factor affecting this behavior. We conclude that observations of the resting behavior of horses are necessary to make recommendations for the minimal size of stalls for horses.     

The Use of Cardboard Bedding Material as Part of an Environmental Control Regime for Heaves-affected Horses: In Vitro Assessment of Airborne Dust and Aeroallergen Concentration and In Vivo Effects on Lung Function

This study aimed to test whether shredded cardboard is an appropriate minimum-dust bedding material for heaves-affected horses. Results of standardized in vitro measurement of airborne dust and aeroallergen concentrations of cardboard bedding were significantly lower than those of common bedding materials. Six heaves-affected horses in clinical remission after pasturing were stabled for two months on cardboard bedding and fed grass silage. Pulmonary function tests (PFT: ventilatory mechanics, arterial blood gases, airway inflammation scoring, bronchoalveolar cytology) were performed before, during and after this period and after stabling the horses in poor hygienic conditions. PFT values measured during and after the stabling period on cardboard bedding were not significantly different from those recorded after the period at pasture or from those of healthy horses, but were significantly different from those recorded in poor hygienic conditions. On basis of the in vitro and in vivo results it can be concluded that cardboard bedding, used in conjunction with low-dust forage, may be appropriate in the provision of minimum-dust management of heaves-affected horses.     

Effects of Intermittent Positive Pressure Ventilation on Cardiopulmonary Function in Horses Anesthetized with Total Intravenous Anesthesia Using Combination of Medetomidine,Lidocaine, Butorphanol and Propofol (MLBP-TIVA)

Effects of intermittent positive pressure ventilation (IPPV) on cardiopulmonary function were evaluated in horses anesthetized with total intravenous anesthesia using constant rate infusions of medetomidine (3.5 µg/kg/hr), lidocaine (3 mg/kg/hr), butorphanol (24 µg/kg/hr) and propofol (0.1 mg/kg/min) (MLBP-TIVA). Five horses were anesthetized twice using MLBP-TIVA with or without IPPV at 4-week interval (crossover study). In each occasion, the horses breathed 100% oxygen with spontaneous ventilation (SB-group, n=5) or with IPPV (CV-group, n=5), and changes in cardiopulmonary parameters were observed for 120 min. In the SB-group, cardiovascular parameters were maintained within acceptable ranges (heart rate: 33–35 beats/min, cardiac output: 27–30 l/min, mean arterial blood pressure [MABP]: 114–123 mmHg, mean pulmonary arterial pressure [MPAP]: 28–29 mmHg and mean right atrial pressure [MRAP]: 19–21 mmHg), but severe hypercapnea and insufficient oxygenation were observed (arterial CO₂ pressure [PaCO₂]: 84–103 mmHg and arterial O₂ pressure [PaO₂]: 155–172 mmHg). In the CV-group, normocapnea (PaCO₂: 42–50 mmHg) and good oxygenation (PaO₂: 395–419 mmHg) were achieved by the IPPV without apparent cardiovascular depression (heart rate: 29–31 beats/min, cardiac output: 17–21 l /min, MABP: 111–123 mmHg, MPAP: 27–30 mmHg and MRAP: 15–16 mmHg). MLBP-TIVA preserved cardiovascular function even in horses artificially ventilated.     

Response of Biochemical Markers of Bone Metabolism to Exercise Intensity in Thoroughbred Horses

We studied the response of biochemical markers of bone metabolism to exercise intensity in horses. Four horses were walked on a mechanical walker for one week (pre-exercise). Then they performed low-speed exercise on a high-speed treadmill in the first week and medium-speed exercise in the second week and high-speed exercise in the third week of training. We measured two indices of bone resorption, serum hydroxyproline concentration and the urinary deoxypyridinoline/creatinine ratio, and serum osteocalcin (OC) concentration as an index of bone formation. Both indices of bone resorption gradually decreased during the experiment. Serum OC concentration did not change in the first week but was significantly lower in the second and the third weeks compared to in the pre-exercise period and in the first week. These results suggest that the low-speed exercise decreased bone resorption but did not affect bone formation, which possibly results in increasing bone mineral content and strengthening of bones. The high-speed exercise decreased bone formation and bone resorption, i.e., bone turnover was suppressed. The low-speed exercise may be preferable for increasing bone mineral content.     

包被苯甲酸对肉鸡腿部健康和垫料理化性质的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮添加包被苯甲酸对肉鸡腿部健康和垫料理化性质的影响。选取2 400只1日龄爱拔益加肉仔鸡,随机分为2组,每组12个重复,每个重复100只(公母各占1/2)。对照组饲喂基础饲粮(颗粒料),试验组在对照组的基础上添加500 g/t包被苯甲酸。试验期为35 d。35日龄时每个重复随机抓取10只肉鸡进行脚垫和跗关节评估;收集各个重复垫料样品进行垫料湿度、p H和总氮含量的测定。结果表明:饲粮添加500 g/t包被苯甲酸显著降低了肉鸡的脚垫和跗关节损伤程度(P0.05),同时显著降低了垫料的p H和总氮含量(P0.05),对垫料湿度没有显著影响(P0.05)。由此可见,饲粮添加包被苯甲酸可降低肉鸡脚垫和跗关节损伤,同时改善垫料的理化性质,提高肉鸡饲养过程中的福利水平。     

Is Snow a sufficient Source of Water for Horses kept Outdoors in Winter? A Case Report

Due to extreme weather conditions, a flock of outwintered Icelandic horses had to manage for several days on snow as the source of free water. They were fed grass silage ad lib, and any change in feed consumption was not observed. After nine days, blood samples were taken and analysed for plasma osmolality, they were subjected to a simple clinical examination, and offered drinking water. Osmolality levels were within normal limits and mean value did not differ significantly from samples which previously were taken of the same individuals. The general condition of the horses was normal, with no signs of clinical dehydration or disease. The horses showed very little interest for the offered drinking water. This suggests that in cold winter weather, horses being fed grass silage and adjusted to eat snow, can manage for several days with snow substituting liquid water without their physiology and welfare being challenged.     

Effects of ozonated autohemotherapy on the antioxidant capacity of Thoroughbred horses

The performance of horses undergoing regular intense exercise is adversely affected by oxidative stress. Thus, it is important to increase antioxidant production in horses in order to reduce oxidative stress. Ozonated autohemotherapy (OAHT) reportedly promotes antioxidant production. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of OAHT on antioxidant capacity. Ten Thoroughbred horses were used in this study. After the OAHT, we collected serum samples and measured biological antioxidant potential (BAP). We found that BAP began to increase after the OAHT and was significantly higher in the OAHT group than at 3 (P<0.01) and 7 days (P<0.05) after OAHT than in the control group at 3 and 7 days after starting collection of blood samples. Therefore, it was shown that OAHT improved the antioxidant capacity of the horses.     

奶牛场“大通铺”卧床技术模式探讨

本文简述了牛场大通铺卧床的含义及国内外应用情况,并通过牛场实例较为详细地介绍了大通铺卧床的建设、管理及使用效果,总结了这种卧床的优点及应用限制条件,为奶牛场从源头减少粪污量提供一种思路。     

Effects of low-dose G-CSF formulation on hematology in healthy horses after long-distance transportation

The present study evaluated the effects of single-dose filgrastim on hematology in 16 healthy horses after long-distance transportation. Horses were assigned to receive filgrastim (0.23 µg/kg, SC, once; G-CSF group; n=8) or saline (0.9% NaCl) solution (0.3 ml, SC, once; control group; n=8) ≤ 1 hr before transportation. Horses were transported 2,530 km using commercial vans over the course of approximately 44 hr. Clinical examinations and hematologic analyses were performed on all horses before and after transportation. Because the post-transportation white blood cell counts and bacillary neutrophil to segmented neutrophil ratio were significantly higher in the G-CSF group, filgrastim may have promoted the mobilization of neutrophils from marrow. Filgrastim deserves a further study for efficacy in preventing horse shipping fever.     

Breed Differences in Dopamine Receptor D4 Gene (DRD4) in Horses

Genetic polymorphisms in genes related to neurotransmitters or hormones affect personality or behavioral traits in many animal species including humans. In domestic animals, the allele frequency of such genes has been reported to be different among breeds and it may account for breed differences in behavior. In this study, we investigated breed differences in horses in the dopamine receptor D4 gene (DRD4), which has been reported to affect horse personality. We collected samples from seven horse breeds including those native to Japan and Korea, and compared the sequence of the DRD4 exon3 region among these breeds. We found that there were two types of polymorphisms (VNTR and SNPs) in the exon3 region, and some of them seemed to be breed-specific. In addition, we found that the allele frequency of G292A, reported to be associated with horse personality, differed greatly between native Japanese horses and Thoroughbred horses. The frequency of the A allele which is associated with low curiosity and high vigilance, was much lower in native Japanese horses (Hokkaido, 0.03; Taishu, 0.08) than in Thoroughbreds (0.62). This difference may account for breed differences in personality or behavioral traits. Further studies of the function of these polymorphisms and their effect on behavior are indicated.     

运输对伊犁马肌肉损伤和氧化应激的影响

试验旨在研究运输对伊犁马肌肉损伤和氧化应激的影响。选取体重相近的5匹24月龄的伊犁母马,环境适应7 d后开展运输试验,其运输过程中禁食禁水,运输总路程约为400 km,运输时间为8 h。分别于运输0（T1）、4（T2）、8（T3）和卸车后12 h （T4）采集马颈静脉血,分离血清,进行相关生理生化指标的测定。结果显示,与T1相比,肌肉损伤生化标志物肌红蛋白（MYO）和肌钙蛋白（cTnT）在T2时刻显著上升（P<0.05）,T3和T4时刻极显著上升（P<0.01）;乳酸脱氢酶（LDH）在T3时刻显著上升（P<0.05）;炎症反应生化标志物C反应蛋白（CRP）和白细胞介素-6（IL-6）在T2、T3和T4时刻极显著上升（P<0.01）;皮质醇（COR）在T2和T3时刻极显著上升（P<0.01）,在T4时刻显著上升（P<0.05）;总抗氧化能力（T-AOC）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）和超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）在T2、T3和T4时刻极显著下降（P<0.01）;过氧化氢酶（CAT）在T3和T4时刻显著下降（P<0.05）;活性氧（ROS）在T2和T4时刻显著上升（P<0.05）,在T3时刻极显著上升（P<0.01）;丙二醛（MDA）在T3和T4时刻极显著上升（P<0.01）。因此,运输8 h导致了伊犁马肌肉损伤和氧化应激反应的发生,其不良影响在卸车后12 h内不能消除。     

Changes in lying behavior after abrupt cessation of milking and regrouping at dry-off in freestall-housed cows: A case study

The objectives of this case study were to evaluate differences between primiparous and multiparous cows in milk production over the last 10 days before abrupt cessation of routine milking to end lactation and to assess the effect of parity and milk production on changes in lying behavior around the routine on-farm practice of abrupt cessation of milking and regrouping in 1 freestall herd in Ontario (Canada). Lying behavior and milk production were monitored in 33 primiparous and 75 multiparous cows. Cows were dried-off abruptly (i.e., no longer milked) after the afternoon milking, regrouped with dry cows, and switched to high-forage diet. At the time of dry-off, cows were producing more than 20 kg/day on average. However, there was great variability across cows, with some cows producing over 35 kg/day on the day before dry-off. After removing 3 outliers, there was no difference between parities in the slope of the milk decrease over the last 10 days before dry-off. There was a negative association between the milk produced on the day before dry-off and lying time on the day of dry-off (coefficient estimate = −11.6 ± 4.7 minute/day) in primiparous cows only. Multiparous cows increased their daily lying time after dry-off; this increase leveled off 2 days after dry-off (lying time [minute/day] = 750.6 + 47.8 day − 9.9 day²). In contrast, primiparous cows decreased their daily lying time on the day of dry-off; however, daily lying time then increased until day 3 after dry-off (lying time [minute/day] = 641.6 − 11.9 day + 19.9 day²). Overall, the frequency of lying bouts increased on the day of dry-off, decreasing over the next days (lying bouts/day = 9.7 + 0.5 day − 0.3 day²). Although average lying bout duration decreased on the day of dry-off and increased over the subsequent days for all cows, the initial decrease was greater in primiparous cows (lying bout duration [minute] = 82.5 − 0.7 day + 1.8 day² and 68.0 − 3.2 day + 3.6 day² for multiparous and primiparous cows, respectively). The lying behavior diurnal patterns illustrated a decrease in lying time associated with each milking session on the 2 days before dry-off. Interestingly, similar patterns persisted after dry-off, although the magnitude of the decrease in lying time associated with each omitted milking was lower. Given that lying is a high-priority behavior in dairy cattle, these results suggest that the welfare of cows around the routine on-farm practice of abrupt cessation of milking and regrouping at dry-off, particularly after their first lactation, may be compromised.     

A preliminary report on estimating the pressures exerted by a crank noseband in the horse

The pressures applied to horses via restrictive nosebands are of growing concern to equitation scientists and horse sport administrators. They prevent the expression of normal behavior, may compromise blood flow, and even damage bone. This report describes an approach to estimate in vivo pressures applied to the dorsal and ventral aspects of a horse's nose via a so-called crank noseband. A load cell calibrated over a load range of 0-100 N was integrated into a commercially available crank noseband. These force values were combined with anatomical curvature data to estimate the pressure applied by the noseband to the underlying tissue at any point along the internal surface of the noseband using Laplace's law. Partial profiles of both dorsal and ventral aspects of the horse's nose, at a position corresponding to that of the noseband, were taken by contouring a flexible curve ruler to the nose. The ruler was stiff enough to retain the profile when removed from the nose, thereby allowing faithful transfer of the profile to paper for digitization. Once digitized, straightforward mathematical algorithms were used to provide an analytical expression describing each profile, to calculate profile curvature point by point, and, using measured noseband force values, to transform the curvature into a corresponding sub-noseband pressure profile. This process was used to study pressures applied when the horse chewed hay, chewed concentrate mix, and when it was cued to step backward. The calculated pressures ranged from 200 to 400 mm Hg; pressures that, in humans, are associated with nerve damage and other complications. As such, these preliminary data strongly suggest the need for more research in this domain. The current approach should inform some of the welfare concerns in ridden horses but should also be of use in studies of oral behaviors around foraging as well as crib biting and wind sucking.     

A Study on the Presence of Ferritin-binding Proteins in Fetal Horse Plasma

In mammal circulation, ferritin-binding proteins (FBPs) are thought to be involved in clearance of circulating ferritin after complex formation with it through receptor-mediated uptake. However, there is no report on fetal FBP in fetal circulation. Although iron concentrations of fetal horse plasma were higher than those of adult horse plasma, plasma ferritin concentrations and ferritin-binding activities were found to be significantly lower in fetus than in adult. FBPs were purified from fetal or adult horse plasma on horse spleen ferritin-Sepharose 4B affinity column. Partially affinity-purified fetal horse plasma FBPs were mainly separated into 65 and 41 kDa bands in addition to minor bands with higher molecular masses ranged from 102 to 140 kDa on SDS-PAGE under reducing condition. The adult horse plasma FBPs were separated into 74, 54 and 28 kDa bands, and the 74 and 54 kDa bands reacted with antibodies specific for horse IgM and IgG heavy chains, respectively, by immunoblotting analyses. On the other hand, no antibodies to horse immunoglobulin classes detected any bands in fetal horse plasma FBPs. The affinity-purified adult and fetal horse plasma FBPs did not contain fibrinogen as a plasma specific FBP, probably due to its lower affinity to the ligand ferritin. These results demonstrate the presence of FBPs which are different from adult horse plasma FBPs including anti-ferritin autoantibodies in fetal plasma.     

Changes in Serum Antibody Levels after Vaccination for Strangles and after Intranasal Challenge with Streptococcus equi subsp. equi in Horses

In this study, to evaluate the influence of strangles vaccination on serological test results, we investigated the changes in strangles serum antibody levels in horses after vaccination and subsequent intranasal challenge with S. equi. The horses were vaccinated for strangles with either a component vaccine (Group C) or a live vaccine (Group L). We measured changes in strangles serum antibody levels weekly for 20 weeks after vaccinating horses twice for strangles over a 3-week interval, and for 7 weeks after intranasal challenge with S. equi in the same horses. Serum antibody responses to the proline-glutamic acid-proline-lysine (PEPK) antigen with five repetitions (PEPK-5R) were higher at all times (up to 2.4-fold) following vaccination in Group C than in Group L, and the value peaked at 2.9-fold above the initial value after the second vaccination in Group C horses. However, the value was lower than that in horses infected with S. equi, and it gradually decreased, reaching the initial (week 0) value by the 15th week. Serum antibody responses to PEPK-5R after challenge with S. equi increased in both groups of horses, but the value tended to be lower than that reported for unvaccinated horses. In addition, the average value in Group C was 2.6-fold higher than that of Group L. These results suggest the serum antibody responses of horses infected with S. equi varies according to the type of vaccine with which they have been vaccinated. Although the serological diagnostic test for strangles in which PEPK-5R is used as an antigen is effective for the investigation of serum antibodies to strangles in vaccinated horses, the present data suggest it is necessary to consider the vaccination history when interpreting the results.