Different ambient management intervention techniques and their effect on milk production and physiological parameters of lactating NiliRavi buffaloes during hot dry summer of subtropical region

Tropical Animal Health and Production - In tropical countries, one of the major threats for diary animal production is climate change. Ambient management interventions are beneficial and are the...     

Biological and biochemical characteristics of male reproductive system,serum metabolites and carcass quality of Japanese quails by the supplementation of Pinus ponderosa leaves and α‐tocopherol acetate

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of Pinus ponderosa leaves ( pine leaves) and α‐tocopherol acetate (vitamin E) powder on male reproductive system, serum metabolites and carcass characteristics of Japanese quails. A total of 360‐day‐old male quails were purchased from the open market and kept at poultry shed for ninety‐four days. After ten days of adaptation, all quails were randomly assigned into 4 groups, control (IC); supplemented with α‐tocopherol acetate (IE) at the rate of 150 mg/L; Pinus ponderosa leaves (IP) at the rate of 150 mg/L; and 70 mg α‐tocopherol acetate and 70 mg Pinus ponderosa leaves (IEP). Pinus ponderosa leaves and α‐tocopherol acetate supplementation had not significantly (p > .05) effected on final body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of quails. The high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) and total cholesterol (TC) were significantly (p > .05) affected by IE and IP groups as compared to IC and IEP groups. Triglyceride (TG), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and superoxide dismutase (SOD) significantly (p < .05) increased in all treatment groups except for the IC group. Aspartate transaminase (AST) significantly (p > .05) decreased in treatment groups as compared to control group. Overall, the mineral levels significantly (p < .05) increased in treatment groups as compared to control. Cloacal gland index values, the quantity of foam production and testis weight were significantly (p < .05) increased in treatment groups. It was concluded that the supplementation of Pinus ponderosa leaves and α‐tocopherol acetate improved the testis weight, foam production, serum antioxidant enzymes and mineral level especially zinc in Japanese quail considered an indicative characteristic of higher sperm production rate and improved sexual activity. Further, higher gametogenesis rate, sperm production or reproductive behaviour including different hormonal level will be analysed in future study.     

Endocrinological characterization of an ovarian sex cord–stromal tumor with a Sertoli cell pattern in a Japanese Black cow

A Japanese Black cow was evaluated for prolonged post‐partum anestrus and enlargement of the right ovary. Transrectal ultrasonography revealed that the right ovary was markedly enlarged and had a solid appearance, while the left ovary was small and inactive. The presumptive diagnosis was directed towards granulosa‐theca cell tumour (GTCT) which was supported by markedly elevated plasma anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH; 332.0 ng/ml), oestradiol (E₂; 103.3 pg/ml) and immunoreactive inhibin (ir‐INH; 2.1 ng/ml) in comparison with the diagnostic cut‐off points for bovine GTCTs. Since the cow had been infertile and had swelling of the udder, slaughter was chosen. Histopathological examination revealed that the tumour was an ovarian sex cord–stromal tumour (SCST) with a Sertoli cell pattern. These findings suggest that plasma AMH, ir‐INH and E₂ could be possible biomarkers for bovine ovarian SCST with a Sertoli cell pattern, whereas this case could not be distinguished from GTCTs based on endocrinological profile.     

Heritability estimates and genetic correlations of various production and reproductive traits of different grades of dairy cattle reared under subtropical condition

Inheritance of economic traits and their genetic correlation was studied in different breeds and their various grades (crossbred’s cattle) under the subtropical condition. Data on principal parameters comprising 10 years, that is 2004–2014, were utilized for the present study. Different grades of dairy cows comprising Holstein Friesian (HF), Sahiwal x Friesian (SxHF), Jersey (J), Jersey x Achai (JxAC) and Achai (AC) were included in the study. Heritability estimates and genetic correlations of some important productive and reproductive traits were worked out. Heritability estimates of certain economic traits were found to be: birthweight, 0.32 ± 0.181; age at maturity, 0.11 ± 0.136; age at first calving, 0.19 ± 0.162; days open, 0.09 ± 0.121; calving interval, 0.14 ± 0.211; dry period, 0.11 ± 0.124; lactation length, 0.04 ± 0.212 and lactation yield, 0.46 ± 0.206. Genetic correlation showed that body weight was significantly and positively correlated with lactation length (0.30) and lactation yield (0.81), while negatively correlated with age at maturity, age at first calving, days open, calving interval and dry period (?0.09, ?0.07, ?0.16, ?0.34 and ?0.002, respectively). Calving interval was positively and significantly correlated with the dry period (0.56), lactation length (0.72) and lactation yield (0.37). Moderate to higher heritability estimates with adequate genetic variance was found for body weight and lactation yield. The moderate to higher heritability estimates of birthweight in the present study revealed that this important trait might be considered in selection criteria.     

Evaluation of Salinity Tolerance of Some Selected Almond Genotypes Budded on GF677 Rootstock

ABSTRACT

In order to evaluate the tolerance of some almond genotypes to salinity, a factorial experiment was carried out based on completely randomized design (CRD), with two factors: genotypes in 11 levels (Tuono, Nonparaeil, Mamaie, Shokoufeh, Sahand, ‘Ferragnès,’ 1–16, 1–25, A₂₀₀, 13–40 budded on GF₆₇₇ rootstock, and GF₆₇₇ (without budding)) and irrigation water salinity in five levels (0, 1.2, 2.4, 3.6, and 4.8 g/l of natural salt (equal electrical conductivity 0.5, 2.5, 4.9, 7.3, and 9.8 dS/m, respectively) and with 4 replication for each treatment in research greenhouse of Seed and Plant Institute in years 2013 and 2014. The results showed that with increasing salinity concentration, growth indicators include the branch height, branch diameter, number of total leaves, percentage of green leaves, leaf density on the main branch, leaf area and leaf area ratio, relative humidity content, chlorophyll index, chlorophylls a, b, total, scion fresh and dry weight, root fresh and dry weight have been reduced in the all genotypes studied, but percentage of necrotic leaves, percentage of downfall leaves, root fresh and dry weight ratio to scion fresh and dry weight, relative ionic percentage, and cell membrane injury percentage of leaves were increased. The results of chlorophyll fluorescence showed that salinity stress affected on the young trees by increasing the amount of minimum fluorescence (F_O) and decreasing the maximum fluorescence (F_m) and reduced variable fluorescence (F_v) in the plants and reduced variable fluorescence ratio to maximum fluorescence of 0.83 in the control plants to 0.72 in Sahand cultivar and GF₆₇₇ rootstock. The result showed that type of scion was affected in obstruction of Na⁺ absorption by the roots and their transported to leaves, as well as was affected in increasing uptake of K⁺ by the roots and their transported to leaves. In this research, GF₆₇₇ is well tolerated to water salinity to 4.9 dS/m but with higher range of salinity showed stress effects. The result showed that type of genotypes budded on GF₆₇₇ rootstock was very effective in tolerant to salinity. Overall, ‘Ferragnès’ was recognized as the most tolerant cultivar to salinity stress. This cultivar could tolerate salinity 3.6 g/l (Ec: 7.3 dS/m). Also, Sahand was recognized as the most sensitive cultivar to salinity stress.     

Analyzing land use change to identify migration corridors of African elephants (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Loxodonta africana</Emphasis>) in the Kenyan-Tanzanian borderlands

Context

East African ecosystems are characterized by the migrations of large herbivores that are highly vulnerable to the recent development of anthropogenic land use change.

Objectives

We analyzed land cover changes in the Kenyan-Tanzanian borderlands of the greater Amboseli ecosystem to evaluate landscape connectivity using African elephants as an indicator species.

Methods

We used multi-temporal Landsat imagery and a post classification approach to monitor land cover changes over a 43-year period. GIS based methods were accompanied by a literature review for spatial data on land cover changes and elephant migrations.

Results

Land cover changed considerably between 1975 and 2017. Wood- and bushlands declined by 16.3% while open grasslands increased throughout the study region (+?10.3%). Agricultural expansion was observed (+?12.2%) occupying important wildlife habitats and narrowing migration corridors. This development has led to the isolation of Nairobi National Park which was previously part of a large contiguous ecosystem. Eight migration corridors were identified of which only one is formally protected. Two others are almost completely blocked by agriculture and three are expected to become endangered under continuing land use changes.

Conclusions

Landscape connectivity is still viable for this ecosystem (except for Nairobi National Park). However, the current situation is very fragile as anthropogenic land use changes are threatening most of the identified large mammal migration corridors. Sustainable land use planning with regard to important wildlife habitats and connecting corridors is a crucial task for further conservation work to safeguard a viable future for wildlife populations in the Kenyan-Tanzanian borderlands.

     

Sustainable Mitigation of Alkaline Stress in Grapevine Rootstocks (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vitis</Emphasis> spp.) by Plant Growth-Promoting Rhizobacteria

Practical use of plant growth-promoting rhizobacteria (PGPR) on plants under stress conditions remains elusive because most of the studies focused on merely evaluating the plant growth-promoting effects on non-stressed plants. This study focused on the effect of root inoculation of different PGPRs on the growth and physiology of grapevine rootstocks 41 B, 99?R and 140 Ru grown in soilless culture with elevated pH. The rootstocks in pots under glasshouse condition were inoculated with Agrobacterium rubi A18 and Bacillus subtilis OSU 142 bacteria in early spring. To increase the pH of growth medium, the plants were watered with 250?mL plant^?1 bicarbonate solution (840?g L^?1 NaHCO₃) four times (beginning at 3–4?cm shoot growth) with one-month interval during the vegetation. Along with the bicarbonate supplementation to growth medium, root rhizosphere pH increased from an initial value 7.76 to the final values between 8.10 and 8.26. Although the bacteria population decreased progressively, they were able to alleviate the negative effects of high pH by improving vegetative growth, leaf physiology and nutrient acquisition in many cases. The bacteria strains employed in this study can be recommended to support grapevine growth and physiology under alkaline conditions for a sustainable and environment-friendly viticulture.     

Assessment of Genetic Variability in Pistachio (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pistacia vera</Emphasis> L.) with Nuclear SSR Molecular Markers

Pistachio (Pistacia vera L.) is considered to be the most widely cultivated species in the genus Pistacia and regarded as the most probable ancestral species within the genus. As one of the oldest nut crops in human history, pistachio nuts have a high nutritional value and are commercially important. In the present study, the genetic variation of pistachio genotypes was investigated by nuclear SSR markers. The transferability of the SSR markers was high across genotypes, thus, flanking regions of the SSRs are conserved in the studied genotypes. High level of polymorphism was detected among the studied genotypes. The seven SSR primer pairs generated a total of 18 alleles that 13 of them were polymorphic among the genotypes. The range of the polymorphic alleles was 1 (for Ptms9, Ptms40, Ptms41, and Ptms42) to 5 (for Ptms7 locus) with an average of 2.57. The amplified allele sizes ranged from 120 to 250?bp. Pair-wise genetic similarity coefficients varied from 0.20 to 0.75. The UPGMA dendrogram differentiated the genotypes into two major clusters. The present results may be used for the conservation, core collection and future breeding of the pistachio.     

Localization of the motor neuron somata of geniohyoid muscle in rat: A horseradish peroxidase study

The aim of the study was to investigate the location of motor neuron somata of geniohyoid muscle in rat. Nine Sprague‐Dawley rats were used in this study. Operations were performed under general anaesthesia. Nembutal sodium, 40 mg per kg intraperitoneally was used for anaesthesia. 0.02 to 0.05 ml of 30% horseradish peroxidase (Sigma Type VI) solution in normal saline was injected into the exposed right geniohyoid muscle. After 48 hr, the animals were fixed by perfusion through left ventricle of heart, first by 100 ml normal saline and then with 500 ml of 1.25% glutaraldehyde and 1% paraformaldehyde in 0.1 M phosphate buffer, pH 7.4, at room temperature, and finally with 500 ml of 10% sucrose in the same buffer at 4°C. The medulla oblongata and first cervical segment of spinal cord were removed, kept in 10% sucrose in above phosphate buffer at 4°C for 24 hr. Thereafter, their serial transverse sections were cut in a cryostat at a thickness of 60 μm. The sections were treated according to tetramethyl benzidine (TMB)‐horseradish peroxidase (HRP) method. HRP‐labelled neuron somata were observed at the following sites: (a) In ventral part of right main hypoglossal nucleus in upper two‐thirds of the closed part of medulla oblongata. (b) In ventrolateral subnucleus of hypoglossal nucleus in lower third of closed part of medulla oblongata. (c) At spinomedullary junction, they were located in dorsomedial part of right ventral grey column; a few were also seen here scattered on right side of central canal and among corticospinal fibres.     

Effects of incorporating environmental cost and risk aversion on economic values of pig breeding goal traits

Economic values (EVs) of traits, accounting for environmental impacts and risk preferences of farmers, are required to design breeding goals that contribute to both economic and environmental sustainability. The objective of this study was to assess the effects of incorporating environmental costs and the risk preferences of farmers on the EVs of pig breeding goal traits. A breeding goal consisting of both sow efficiency and production traits was defined for a typical Brazilian farrow‐to‐finish pig farm with 1,500 productive sows. A mean‐variance utility function was employed for deriving the EVs at finishing pig level assuming fixed slaughter weight. The inclusion of risk and risk aversion reduces the economic weights of sow efficiency traits (17%) while increasing the importance of production traits (7%). For a risk‐neutral producer, inclusion of environmental cost reduces the economic importance of sow efficiency traits (3%) while increasing the importance of production traits (1%). Genetic changes of breeding goal traits by their genetic standard deviations reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, and excretions of nitrogen and phosphorus per finished pig by up to 6% while increasing farm profit. The estimated EVs could be used to improve selection criteria and thereby contribute to the sustainability of pig production systems.