Bayesian comparison of test-day models under different assumptions of heterogeneity for the residual variance: the change point technique versus arbitrary intervals

Test‐day milk yields from Spanish Holstein cows were analysed with two random regression models based on Legendre polynomials under two different assumptions of heterogeneity of residual variance which aim to describe the variability of temporary measurement errors along days in milk with a reduced number of parameters, such as (i) the change point identification technique with two unknown change points and (ii) using 10 arbitrary intervals of residual variance. Both implementations were based on a previous study where the trajectory of the residual variance was estimated using 30 intervals. The change point technique has been previously implemented in the analysis of the heterogeneity of the residual variance in the Spanish population, yet no comparisons with other methods have been reported so far. This study aims to compare the change point technique identification versus the use of arbitrary intervals as two possible techniques to deal with the characterization of the residual variance in random regression test‐day models. The Bayes factor and the cross‐validation predictive densities were employed for the model assessment. The two model‐selecting tools revealed a strong consistency between them. Both specifications for the residual variance were close to each other. The 10 intervals modelling showed a slightly better performance probably because the change point function overestimates the residual variance values at the very early lactation.     

利用血液蛋白及酶多态性分析技术鉴定山羊亲缘关系的研究

选择血红蛋白(Hb)、运铁蛋白(Tf)、亮氨酸胺肽酶(LAP)、前白蛋白3(Pa3)、淀粉酶(Amy)对可能为同卵双生波尔山羊的亲缘关系鉴定。结果发现，除淀粉酶(Amy)和亮氨酸胺肽酶(Lap)外，其余位点均有多态性。由蛋白位点的基因型判定羔1、羔2基因型完全一致，是供体后代的概率为75G，受体后代的概率为22．8％，从而确认羔1、羔2的双亲为供体公羊和供体母羊。     

Caprine toxoplasmosis in Southern Brazil: a comparative seroepidemiological study between the indirect immunofluorescence assay,the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay,and the modified agglutination test

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study investigated the prevalence of caprine toxoplasmosis in goat herds from Southern Brazil by the indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and...     

Anatomical characterization of hoof growth pattern in six Iranian sheep breeds and its possible implication for trimming recommendations

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The objective of this study was to compare hoof anatomy, hoof growth pattern, and hoof weight-bearing surface of six different Iranian sheep breeds to...     

Can treatment of <Emphasis Type="Italic">Brachiaria decumbens</Emphasis> (signal grass) improve its utilisation in the diet in small ruminants?—a review

Brachiaria decumbens is an extremely productive tropical grass due to its aggressive growth habit and its adaptation to a varied range of soil types and environments. As a result of the vast availability, treated B. decumbens demonstrates as a promising local material that could be utilised as an improved diet for sheep and goats. Despite the fact that the grass significantly increases weight gains in grazing farm animals, there were many reports of general ill-thrift and sporadic outbreaks of photosensitivity in livestock due to the toxic compound of steroidal saponin found in B. decumbens. Ensiling and haymaking were found to be effective in removing toxin and undesirable compounds in the grass. Biological treatments using urea, activated charcoal, polyethylene glycol, and effective microorganisms were found to be useful in anti-nutritional factor deactivation and improving the nutritive values of feedstuffs. Besides, oral administration of phenobarbitone showed some degree of protection in sheep that fed on B. decumbens pasture. In this review, we aim to determine the effect of B. decumbens toxicity and possible treatment methods on the grass to be used as an improved diet for small ruminant.     

Genomic characterization of the first oral avian papillomavirus in a colony of breeding canaries (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Serinus canaria</Emphasis>)

Papillomaviruses are non-enveloped, DNA viruses that infect skin and mucosa of a wide variety of vertebrates, causing neoplasias or simply persisting asymptomatically. Avian papillomaviruses, with six fully sequenced genomes, are the second most studied group after mammalian papillomaviruses. In this study, we describe the first oral avian papillomavirus, detected in the tongue of a dead Yorkshire canary (Serinus canaria) and in oral swabs of the same bird and other two live canaries from an aviary in Madrid, Spain. Its genome is 8,071 bp and presents the canonical papillomavirus architecture with six early (E6, E7, E1, E9, E2, E4) and two late open reading frames (L1 and L2) and a long control region between L1 and E6. This new avian papillomavirus L1 gene shares a 64% pairwise identity with FcPV1 L1, so it has been classified as a new species (ScPV1) within the Ethapapillomavirus genus. Although the canary died after showing breathing problems, there is no evidence that the papillomavirus caused those symptoms so it could be part of the oral microbiota of the birds. Hence, future investigations are needed to evaluate the clinical relevance of the virus.     

Knowledge,attitudes and practices towards <Emphasis Type="Italic">cystic echinococcosis</Emphasis> in livestock among selected pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Uganda

A cross-sectional study was done from March 2013 to May 2014 to assess knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards cystic echinococcosis (CE) or hydatidosis among selected pastoral and agro-pastoral communities in Uganda. A structured questionnaire was administered to 381 respondents. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to find the relationship between knowledge about CE and factors such as age, sex, and level of education across all regions. The odds ratio and confidence interval were used to determine the difference in responses across regions. It was shown that age above 36 years was significantly (p < 0.001) associated with awareness about CE in livestock. Likewise, uneducated (p < 0.0001) and agro-pastoralists (p = 0.01) were significantly less knowledgeable than the educated and pastoralists across all regions. The overall knowledge towards CE in livestock was low 17.8% (95% CI = 14.0–21.6). Dog ownership was high and they never dewormed their freely roaming dogs. Dogs shared water with livestock. In conclusion, knowledge about CE in livestock was low across all regions. Therefore, public health education and formulation of policies towards its control by the relevant stakeholders should be done. Also, the true prevalence of CE in livestock needs to be done so that the magnitude and its public health significance are elucidated.     

杨树固沙林密度、配置与林木生长过程的关系

在科尔沁沙地证明低覆盖度行带式固沙林具有显著的防风效果后,进一步对雨养条件下杨树(赤峰-36号)固沙林的密度、配置及林木生长过程与林龄的动态关系进行研究.结果表明: 1)1～5 a林木的生长基本不受密度的影响,密度大单位面积材积量大;6～11 a是密度对林木生长的显著影响阶段,杨树固沙林的胸径、株高和材积量的增长率随林龄增大而逐年加快;大约在11 a之后趋于稳定;单位活立木蓄积最大(153.39 m3·hm-2)的固沙林密度是825株·hm-2,其他密度按蓄积大小排序依次为540株·hm-2、420株·hm-2和1 215株·hm-2;2)边缘林木的平均胸径和单株材积量分别比林内高20%～70%和90%～260%,且低密度林分的边缘林木的生长优势比高密度林分边缘林木的生长优势更加明显;3)同密度(500株·hm-2)13 a的一行一带式固沙林,其胸径、树高和材积量分别比等株行距的片林高37.4%、17.4%和81%;而10 a的两行一带式的胸径、树高和材积量分别比等株行距的片林高19.8%、16.2%和64.8%,说明行带式配置还具有生物生产力优势.     

沙棘木蠹蛾综合控制技术研究

沙棘木蠹蛾是近几年在我国内蒙古、辽宁、山西、宁夏、陕西和甘肃等地大面积成灾的一种钻蛀性害虫,主要以幼虫危害沙棘的根部和干部.由于该虫以前从未大面积发生危害,相关的研究报道较少.笔者从沙棘木蠹蛾的成灾原因、生物生态学特性、可供监测和防治的性引诱剂,以及天敌种类和自然控制效果等方面进行了较全面的研究,取得了重要研究成果.     

粮仓智能通风控制系统

综合了当今先进的仓储管理技术、电子技术、计算机网络技术、人工智能,通讯技术及防腐防雷技术为一体,设计一套粮仓智能通风控制系统,以实现在外部条件适宜的情况下对粮仓进行通风,达到除热、调湿等目的,进而有效控制粮仓的储粮环境,从而达到安全储粮的目的.