Use of Equine Chorionic Gonadotropin to Control Reproduction of the Dairy Cow: A Review

Equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) is a member of the glycoprotein family of hormones along with LH, FSH and thyroid‐stimulating hormone. In non‐equid species, eCG shows high LH‐ and FSH‐like activities and has a high affinity for both FSH and LH receptors in the ovaries. On the granulosa and thecal cells of the follicle, eCG has long‐lasting LH‐ and FSH‐like effects that stimulate oestradiol and progesterone secretion. Thus, eCG administration in dairy cattle results in fewer atretic follicles, the recruitment of more small follicles showing an elevated growth rate, the sustained growth of medium and large follicles and improved development of the dominant and pre‐ovulatory follicle. In consequence, the quality of the ensuing CL is improved, and thereby progesterone secretion increased. Based on these characteristics, eCG treatment is utilized in veterinary medicine to control the reproductive activity of the cow by i) improving reproductive performance during early post‐partum stages; ii) increasing ovulation and pregnancy rates in non‐cyclic cows; iii) improving the conception rate in cows showing delayed ovulation; and finally, iv) eCG is currently included in protocols for fixed‐time artificial insemination since after inducing the synchrony of ovulation using a progesterone‐releasing device, eCG has beneficial effects on embryo development and survival. The above effects are not always observed in cyclic animals, but they are evident in animals in which LH secretion and ovarian activity are reduced or compromised, for instance, during the early post‐partum period, under seasonal heat stress, in anoestrus animals or in animals with a low body condition score.     

Genetic parameters for chronic progressive lymphedema in Belgian Draught Horses

Genetic parameters for chronic progressive lymphedema (CPL)‐associated traits in Belgian Draught Horses were estimated, using a multitrait animal model. Clinical scores of CPL in the four limbs/horse (CPL_clin), skinfold thickness and hair samples (hair diameter) were studied. Due to CPL_clin uncertainty in younger horses (progressive CPL character), a restricted data set (D_3+) was formed, excluding records from horses under 3 years from the complete data set (D_full). Age, gender, coat colour and limb hair pigmentation were included as fixed, permanent environment and date of recording as random effects. Higher CPL_clin certainty (D_3+) increased heritability coefficients of, and genetic correlations between traits, with CPL_clin heritabilities (SE) for the respective data sets: 0.11 (0.06) and 0.26 (0.05). A large proportion of the CPL_clin variance was attributed to the permanent environmental effect in D_full, but less in D_3+. Date of recording explained a proportion of variance from 0.09 ± 0.03 to 0.61 ± 0.08. Additive genetic correlations between CPL_clin and both skinfold thickness and hair diameter showed the latter two traits cannot be used as a direct diagnostic aid for CPL. Due to the relatively low heritability of CPL_clin, selection should focus on estimated breeding values (from repeated clinical examinations) to reduce CPL occurrence in the Belgian Draught Horse.     

The effect of supplementing leaves of four tannin‐rich plant species with polyethylene glycol on digestibility and zootechnical performance of zebu bulls (Bos indicus)

The effect of supplementing leaves of four tannin‐rich plant species with polyethylene glycol 6000 (PEG) on nutrient intake and digestibility as well as on weight gain, feed conversion ratio (FCR) and N retention of zebu bulls (Bos indicus) was studied. Leaves of Albizia gummifera, Grewia ferruginea, Prunus africana and Syzygium guineense, containing, respectively, 85, 55, 76 and 172 g condensed tannins (CT) per kg dry matter (DM), were combined with natural pasture hay in a ratio of 40:60 on DM basis. The four diets were fed both without and with addition of PEG, at a dose of 40 g per kg DM, to eight zebu bulls during trials of 25 days in an 8 × 8 randomized crossover design. Supplementation with PEG increased nutrient intake, digestibility, FCR, N retention and average daily gain (p < 0.01). A diet × PEG interaction was observed for nutrient intake as well as for crude protein, neutral detergent fibre and acid detergent fibre digestibility (p < 0.05), but the effect size of PEG addition could not be attributed to the CT content as such, and also digestibility without PEG was not related to CT content of the diets. The reason why the efficacy of PEG addition did not relate to the CT content pointed the need to evaluate other factors that can help to predict the efficacy of PEG, for example, tannin type or interaction with other nutrients.     

Gonadotropin‐induced Puberty Does Not Impair Reproductive Performance of Gilts over Three Parities

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproductive performance of three parities of gilts treated or not treated with gonadotropin to induce puberty. Sixty gilts received 600 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) followed by 2.5 mg of porcine luteinizing hormone (LH) 72 h later. Fifty‐nine other gilts were exposed only to a mature boar for 15 min twice daily. Artificial insemination (AI) was performed at 0, 12 and 24 h after the detection of oestrus, and gestation was confirmed by ultrasound after 35 days. Sows were inseminated at the first post‐weaning oestrus. The total numbers of piglets born, piglets born alive, stillborn, mummified foetuses, as well as pregnancy and farrowing rates were evaluated for each of the three parities. Culling rates, farrowing intervals and weaning‐to‐oestrous intervals (WEI) were also analysed. Mean age at puberty and oestrous manifestation were not significantly different between treatments (p = 0.0639; 179.20 ± 17.52 compared with 173.96 ± 16.94, 91.66% compared with 94.92%) across the experimental period. However, females that underwent puberty induction showed modest increases both in the number of total pigs born and in the number of piglets born alive. In conclusion, puberty induction through exogenous gonadotropin administration in field conditions did not induce a more concentrated first oestrous manifestation, but trended to a modest increase in the number of pigs born alive in the first parity and a reduced culling rate during the first gestation.     

某地区地表水环境质量检测与分析

指出了地表水的质量直接影响着人体健康,对某地区A、B两河流,不同河段的水温、pH值、化学需氧量、生化需氧量等几项水质参数进行了测定,并对测定结果进行了分析。以便及时发现水质问题,为预防和治理水污染,保护地表水水质提供科学参考。     

2013年冬季海口林场常绿植物冻害调查分析

针对2013年冬季昆明遭遇了低温雨雪天气的影响,对昆明市海口林场露天苗圃地栽培的常绿植物冻害进行了调查。结果显示：所调查的43种植物中,16种植物有不同程度的受冻,占37．2％;冻害级别3级以上有8种,分别是缅桂、清香木、小叶女贞、尖叶木樨榄、小叶榕、马蹄荷、三角梅、鹅掌柴,占18．6％;部分树种幼树和成年大树冻害程度一样,部分树种随着年龄增加,冻害程度降低。根据这次冻害的发生情况,提出了在今后苗木生产过程中,要针对性地对易受冻害的苗木进行保护管理,推广应用抗冻能力强的植物,改良抗冻能力,加大应用乡土绿化植物的力度。     

黄芪多糖对猪瘟活疫苗免疫应答的佐剂作用

为研究黄芪多糖对猪瘟活疫苗的佐剂作用,分别用0.5％黄芪多糖、疫苗专用稀释液、生理盐水（对照）稀释猪瘟耐热保护剂活疫苗免疫猪,测定免疫后不同时间段内血清中 IgG 及其亚型IgG1、IgG2、IgG3、IgG4和细胞因子IL 2、IL 6的含量。结果显示,与对照组相比,黄芪多糖作为疫苗稀释液可以显著提高血清中IgG及其亚型和细胞因子IL 2、IL 6的含量。与疫苗专用稀释液组相比,在免疫后第7、14、28天,黄芪多糖组IgG含量均提高,分别提高1.6％（P＞0.05）、6.4％（P＜0.05）、7.1％（P＜0.05）,IL 2含量分别提高12.1％（P＜0.05）、2.9％（P＞0.05）、15.3％（P＜0.05）,IL 6含量差异均不显著。表明,黄芪多糖作为疫苗稀释液对猪瘟活疫苗具有良好的佐剂作用。