Herbage intake of dairy cows in mixed sequential grazing with breeding ewes as followers

This study aimed to evaluate the hypothesis that mixed sequential grazing of dairy cows and breeding ewes is beneficial. During the seasons of spring–summer 2013 and autumn–winter 2013–2014, 12 (spring–summer) and 16 (autumn–winter) Holstein Friesian cows and 24 gestating (spring–summer) and lactating (autumn–winter) Pelibuey ewes grazed on six (spring–summer) and nine (autumn–winter) paddocks of alfalfa and orchard grass mixed pastures. The treatments “single species cow grazing” (CowG) and “mixed sequential grazing with ewes as followers of cows” (MixG) were evaluated, under a completely randomized design with two replicates per paddock. Herbage mass on offer (HO) and residual herbage mass (RH) were estimated by cutting samples. The estimate of herbage intake (HI) of cows was based on the use of internal and external markers; the apparent HI of ewes was calculated as the difference between HO (RH of cows) and RH. Even though HO was higher in CowG, the HI of cows was higher in MixG during spring–summer and similar in both treatments during autumn–winter, implying that in MixG the effects on the cows HI of higher alfalfa proportion and herbage accumulation rate evolving from lower residual herbage mass in the previous cycle counteracted that of a higher HO in CowG. The HI of ewes was sufficient to enable satisfactory performance as breeding ewes. Thus, the benefits of mixed sequential grazing arose from higher herbage accumulation, positive changes in botanical composition, and the achievement of sheep production without negative effects on the herbage intake of cows.     

Virulence traits of avian pathogenic (APEC) and fecal (AFEC) <Emphasis Type="Italic">E. coli</Emphasis> isolated from broiler chickens in Algeria

Avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) is the etiologic agent of avian colibacillosis, the most common disease responsible for chicken morbidity in the world. Although multiple virulence-associated factors were identified, their prevalence in Algeria is still poorly known. In the present research, 92 avian pathogenic E. coli (APEC) isolates were recovered from broilers with clinical signs and lesions of colibacillosis. In addition, 32 E. coli isolates collected from feces of healthy birds (AFEC) were included for comparison. All isolates were investigated by PCR for the presence of a total of 11 virulence-associated genes described for avian pathogenic (iroN, ompT, hlyF, iss, iutA, and fimC) and diarrheagenic E. coli (eae, stx, elt/est, ipaH, and aggR). The sensitivity of 39 APEC isolates to 16 antibiotics was also determined using antimicrobial pretreated microplates. Here, we report that 98% of the examined isolates host at least one of the tested virulence factors. The most prevalent genes in APEC were iutA (90.6%), ompT (86.9%), and iss (85.8%); whereas, iutA (78.1%), fimC (78.1%), and iroN (68.7%) were the highest prevalent genes in AFEC. Our data showed that none of the AFEC isolates harbor any of the tested diarrheagenic genes. Moreover, only elt/est (5.4%), stx (2.1%), and ipaH (2.1%) genes were carried by APEC isolates. We further established that ceftazodime, ceftiofur, mequindox, amoxicillin/clavulanic acid, and meropenem were the most efficient antibiotics against the analyzed APEC isolates. Overall, our findings provide more insights about APEC and AFEC virulence potential in Algeria which could participate in the fight against colibacillosis.     

Feeding behavior of feedlot lambs fed diets containing levels of cassava wastewater

In this study, we evaluated the effects of including cassava wastewater in the diet on the feeding behavior of feedlot lambs in 35 male uncastrated Santa Inês × Dorper crossbred lambs at an approximate age of 3 months, with an average live weight of 20.0?±?3.4 kg. Diets were formulated with hay of cassava shoots (roughage) and a concentrate based on corn and soybean, with a roughage:concentrate ratio of 50:50, plus inclusion of cassava wastewater at the levels of 0, 12, 24, 36, or 48 g/kg of the total diet. Feeding behavior was evaluated between the 46th and 52nd days of the experiment. Increasing cassava wastewater levels in the diet reduced (P?<?0.05) the intakes (kg/day) of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber as well as the efficiency of rumination (g/cud and g/h) of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber. The other behavioral parameters were not affected by wastewater inclusion in the diet. Therefore, the inclusion of up to 48 g/kg of cassava wastewater on fresh matter of diets is not recommended for feedlot lambs.     

Prevalence and risk factors of mycobacterial infections in farm and trade cattle in southwestern Nigeria

We evaluated the prevalence of mycobacterial infections (i.e., Mycobacterium bovis and non-tuberculous mycobacteria [NTM]) and their associated risk factors among cattle herds and trade cattle in southwestern Nigeria. Through cross-sectional study design, cattle herds from three locations were screened using the single intradermal comparative cervical tuberculin test based on two diagnostic standards; more than 4 mm (? 4 mm) and more than 2 mm (? 2 mm) cut-off points. Abattoir study involved screening trade cattle for tuberculous lesions. Overall, 515 cattle from 45 herds were screened. Using >?4 mm, animal level and herd prevalence of 11.7 and 46.7% were recorded, respectively. Applying the ? 2 mm cut-off, animal level and herd prevalence increased to 31.1 and 60.0%, respectively. Significantly, using the ? 2 mm cut-off, cattle in medium size herds/extensive management system (OR?=?1.6; 95% CI 1.1–2.5) and Sokoto Gudali (OR?=?2.3; 95% CI 1.4–3.8) were more at risk of being positive reactors, while Rahaji (OR?=?0.3; 95% CI 0.1–0.7) breeds of cattle and cows in the peri-urban area (OR?=?0.4; 95% CI 0.2–0.9) were less at risk of being positive reactors. Again, M. avium reactor of 21.7% was observed. In the abattoir, 1797 cattle were examined with 126 lesions suggestive of tuberculosis (TB). Culture/molecular analyses confirmed 2.2% M. bovis and 0.9% NTM infections. Risk factors associated with bovine TB among trade cattle were sex (OR?=?4.0; 95% CI 1.2–13.5) and age (OR?=?0.3; 95% CI 0.1–0.9). We confirm 11.7% prevalence of mycobacterial infections among populations of cattle screened with breed and herd size being major risk factors.     

旱、盐胁迫下黄芪种子萌发及其对水杨酸的响应

通过测定不同浓度聚乙二醇(PEG)和NaCl胁迫下膜荚黄芪(Astragalus membranaceus)和蒙古黄芪(A.membranaceus var.mongholicus)种子的最终发芽率、发芽势、简化活力指数、苗长、根长、苗干重、根干重等指标,以及不同施用方式和浓度的水杨酸(SA)对重度PEG和NaCl胁迫下两种黄芪种子最终发芽率的影响,旨在研究两种黄芪种子对PEG和NaCl胁迫响应方式的异同及SA对两种黄芪种子在重度PEG和NaCl胁迫下保护效果的差异。结果表明,低浓度PEG和NaCl只能促进膜荚黄芪种子萌发。在-0.5 MPa PEG和-0.7 MPa NaCl处理下,蒙古黄芪种子的活力指数显著优于膜荚黄芪种子(P0.05)。SA浸种能促进重度PEG和NaCl胁迫下两种黄芪种子的最终发芽率。蒙古黄芪种子的耐胁迫性高于膜荚黄芪种子。两种黄芪种子对SA的响应方式有区别。SA浸种处理优于拌种处理。     

黄花苜蓿花药培养再生体系的建立与单倍体鉴定

花药组织培养再生体系的构建是单倍体育种的重要途径之一。本研究对呼伦贝尔黄花苜蓿(Medicago falcate‘Hulunbeier’)进行了花药组织培养研究并建立了花药组培再生体系。结果显示,液体悬浮培养基比固体培养基更适合呼伦贝尔黄花苜蓿花药愈伤组织的培养,其愈伤形成的培养条件为B5培养基+0.5 mg·L~(-1) 2,4-D+0.25 mg·L~(-1) 6-BA+0.4mg·L~(-1) NAA+3.0mg·L~(-1) KT;分化培养基为MS+1.0mg·L~(-1) 2,4-D+0.5mg·L~(-1) 6-BA+2%蔗糖+0.7%琼脂;生根培养基为1/2MS+0.1mg·L~(-1) NAA+2%蔗糖+0.7%琼脂;获得的再生植株经流式细胞仪鉴定,其单倍体比例高达27%。     

紫花苜蓿细胞质雄性不育恢复基因的初步定位

以紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)不育系MS-GN-1A为母本,恢复系MS178为父本组合构建BSA分离群体,获得的F1代均表现为雄性可育,在大田种植了221株F2代群体单株,盛花期将花粉颗粒染色后,显微镜下观察统计出,不育的F2代株数为57,可育F2代株数164,并没有观察到半不育植株。将所有植株划分为可育和不育两组,并构建可育和不育DNA混池,混池DNA从可育和不育植株组DNA中各随机抽取20个样品,以此对恢复基因定位。随机挑选160对已知的四倍体苜蓿SSR引物扩增基因池DNA,获得2个具有多态性的分子标记,分别是Mt2c12、AW166,初步定位Rf基因在类群Composite5上。将类群Composite5上的所有引物进行合成,进一步进行引物筛选,最终获得4个具有多态性的标记BI68、Mt2c12、BG267和AW776153,遗传距离分别为19.0、20.9、44.6和72.1cM。     

犊牛魏氏梭菌的分离鉴定及致病性研究

2017年1月,山东省某规模化奶牛场10～20日龄犊牛出现腹泻、拉血便、呼吸困难等症状,部分犊牛突然死亡。通过流行病学调查和尸体剖检,初步怀疑为魏氏梭菌感染。采集病料进行病理组织学检查、细菌分离鉴定、生化试验、16S及毒素基因检测等,证明疫情由A型魏氏梭菌所致。对死亡犊牛的肠内容物及分离菌株进行致病性研究,发现肠内容物及分离菌株具有较强的致病性。药敏试验结果显示,该菌对青霉素、头孢噻呋、恩诺沙星等表现极敏感。根据病原确诊情况及药敏试验结果,指导临床用药,及时控制了牛场疫情。     

公共图书馆针对空巢老人特色服务的几点思考

我国人口日益老龄化催生着更多空巢老人的产生,空巢老人的养老问题已成为当今社会必须解决好的深刻社会问题.本文充分结合空巢老人的现状和公共图书馆可利用的资源和条件,提出了三种可以针对空巢老人的特色服务.如果这些特色服务得以实施,必将使公共图书馆更好地发挥服务于社会特殊群体的功效,也必将全面推进和丰富公共图书馆的特色服务事业.     

丁酸钠对犊牛胃肠道发育的研究进展

丁酸钠是一种绿色新型饲料添加剂，目前在动物饲料中应用广泛，且效果良好。作者主要介绍了丁酸钠的生物学功能、对犊牛胃肠道发育的影响及其在犊牛日粮中的应用效果。重点总结了丁酸钠促进犊牛胃肠道发育的影响机制，包括作为胃肠道组织的能量来源调控激素和生长因子的分泌，提高消化和吸收相关酶的分泌及活性，提高肠道免疫细胞保护性蛋白的分泌等。现有研究表明，日粮干物质中添加0.3%丁酸钠就能达到促进犊牛生长和胃肠道发育的效果，但具体添加水平、添加阶段和方式等尚不明确。此外，日粮粗饲料水平、精料发酵所产生的内源丁酸对外源丁酸钠的作用效果是否有影响也鲜有报道，有待进一步开展研究。