RADIOGRAPHIC CHANGES IN TESTES OF BULLS INFECTED WITH BESNOITIOSIS

Ten beef bulls infected with Besnoitiosis were examined radiographically and pathologically. Eight of these were slaughtered soon after diagnosis; two were left for a six-month observation period. The radiographic findings were focal and branching-tree calcification of the testes. Histopathologic examination proved these calcifications to be necrotic sections of the seminiferous tubules. Radiography of the testes as a means of evaluating the fertility status of the infected bull is recommended.     

Multiple domestications of the Mesoamerican gene pool of lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.): evidence from chloroplast DNA sequences

The Mesoamerican (MA) gene pool of lima bean (Phaseolus lunatus L.) is widely distributed from northern Mexico to northern Argentina in its wild forms and from the southern United States to the east coast of Brazil in its domesticated forms. This broad distribution and lack of wild accessions of the MA gene pool in many areas of its natural distribution has impeded determining its center of domestication and establishing whether it has a single or multiple centers. To answer these questions, we evaluated 262 accessions of P. lunatus using two intergenic spacers of chloroplast DNA: atpB-rbcL and trnL-trnF. The data were analyzed using a maximum likelihood tree (ML), a haplotype network and two estimators of genetic differentiation (N _ST and G _ST). Nucleotide diversity (π) and haplotype (Hd) were quantified to estimate the percentage of reduction in genetic diversity (%r) as a founder effect. The ML tree and haplotype network indicated the existence of three groups (AI, MI and MII), which was supported by the high values of N _ST (0.61–0.80). Values for %r were high (58.67–60.83 %). Existence of Mesoamerican and Andean gene pools was confirmed, with two genetically and geographically distinct groups (MI and MII) within the MA gene pool. We present the first evidence for multiple origins of domestication for the MA gene pool. For MI, we propose western central Mexico as the domestication area and between Guatemala and Costa Rica for MII. We observed a founder effect in the MA gene pool as a result of domestication.     

Impact of Distillery Effluent on Soil Carbon and Nitrogen Dynamics in a Vertisol of Central India

Distilleries produce a huge quantity of effluents, popularly known as spent wash (SW), which when bio-methanated produce post-methanation effluents (PME). A field experiment on soybean–wheat system was conducted for five consecutive years in a Vertisol of central India to evaluate the effect of distillery effluent (DE) on soil carbon and nitrogen dynamics. Ten treatment combinations consisting of control, 100% NPK + Farmyard Manure (FYM), and graded level of SW and PME were applied. Total carbon content of soil increased significantly with applications of FYM and DE. SW was found superior in enhancing carbon content of soil in comparison to PME. Farmyard Manure contributed more carbon toward the recalcitrant pool, whereas DE contributed more carbon toward the active and slow pool. Nitrogen (N) availability was significantly improved with the application of DE. Balanced application of DE may act as amendment for increasing C and N stocks in Vertisol.     

Direct and maternal additive effects are not the main determinants of Iberian piglet perinatal mortality

Data of 127,800 Iberian piglets were used to study genetic parameters of mortality at birth at the piglet level. These records proceed from three data sets: 4,987 litter of 2,156 sows of a dam line, 2,768 litter of 817 sows of a complete diallel cross between four Iberian strains and 7,153 litter of 2,113 sows of the Torbiscal composite line. Perinatal mortality was considered as a binary trait, and Bayesian threshold animal models were fitted to separately analyse the three data sets. The posterior means of direct heritability were 0.010, 0.004 and 0.003, and those of maternal heritability were 0.034, 0.011 and 0.014 for dam line, diallel cross and Torbiscal line, respectively. Important effects of litter size and parity order were inferred in the three data sets, of within‐breed cross‐breeding parameters in the diallel cross and of sex and sow handling in the Torbiscal line Therefore, the inclusion of perinatal mortality in the objective of selection is questionable in this breed and strategies for reducing piglet mortality successful in other breeds should be considered.     

Y chromosome genetic diversity in the Lidia bovine breed: a highly fragmented population

To assess the paternal gene pool in the Lidia bovine breed (or fighting bull), a total of 603 animals belonging to 81 herds classified in 33 lineages were genotyped for six Y chromosome microsatellites, one single nucleotide polymorphism and one indel. A total of 10 haplotypes were determined with a high level of frequency variation between them, ranging from 0.2 to 74%. All the haplotypes identified belong to two previously defined major haplogroups (Y1 and Y2). Two major paternal influences were identified, corresponding to the two most common haplotypes (H1Y1 and H3Y2) with frequencies of 74 and 18%, respectively. The detection of the INRA189-104 allele evidenced an African influence in the Lidia bovine breed. Low levels of haplotype diversity have been achieved and only eight lineages showed more than one haplotype. Analysis of molecular variance showed a high level of interlineage variance (F(ST) = 86%). Network results evidenced two main clusters made for those haplotypes belonging to Y1 and Y2 haplogroups, respectively. The findings support a high level of genetic structure together with a low level of genetic diversity in the Lidia bovine breed.     

用农业废料制成的优质刨花板和中密度纤维板

全球农民每年都会面对一项挑战——在不致造成生态问题或额外开支的情况下,清除农田上过量的谷物残余物。 以在农田焚烧的方式来清除麦秸稻草的惯例在许多地方均引起关注。这是由于焚烧麦秸对泥土和环境均有损害,且会导致健康和交通问题。 小麦、大麦、稻谷、玉米和蔗渣等残余物的价值基本上均微不足道。Ｄａｐｒｏｍａ可以将这些废料纤维转化成一种制造工业用优质刨花板和中密度纤维板的主要原材料。 一家装备Ｄａｐｒｏｍａ设备的工厂可将一年生植物废料加工成作家具和柜子用的板材。而由于农业废料的成本远较木纤维的成本低,农业残余…     

Vitamin A deficiency in turkey poults.

Vitamin A deficiency was diagnosed in a commercial flock of 13,000 4-6-week-old turkey poults in the summer of 2004. The birds were initially submitted for examination because of a 3% increase in the reported daily mortality of the flock. Clinically, affected birds had stunted growth and ruffled feathers, showed signs of incoordination, and were depressed. At necropsy, pale white pseudomembranous to mucoid material was observed on the mucosal surface of the tongue, oral cavity, portions of the esophagus, and the crop of some birds. Histologically, there was squamous metaplasia of the mucosal epithelium of the oral mucosa, esophagus, sinuses, nasal glands, bronchi, proventriculus, and the bursa of Fabricius. Vitamin A was not detected in the feed sample at a detection limit of 0.5 mg/kg. Serum vitamin A concentrations in 7 birds were very low and ranged from 0.05 to 0.1 mg/L. Vitamin A concentrations in livers were extremely low (0.1 mg/kg wet weight, 1/7 poults) or undetectable (< 0.1 mg/kg wet weight, 6/7 poults). A diagnosis of vitamin A deficiency was made based on gross and microscopic lesions and vitamin A concentrations in serum, liver, and feed. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first documented case of vitamin A deficiency in poults submitted from a commercial meat turkey producer comparatively depicting the gross and microscopic lesions with those found in other species of birds and mammals.     

Response of the aroma fraction in sherry wines subjected to accelerated biological aging.

The effect of an acceleration assay, carried out with a periodic aeration and an increased surface/volume ratio, on various aroma compounds of "fino" Sherry wines aging under a veil of a pure culture of Saccharomyces cerevisiae race capensis G1 flor film yeast was studied. The results were subjected to multifactor analysis of variance, and the compounds simultaneously depending on acceleration conditions and aging time at p < 0.01 were subjected to principal component analysis. The first component, accounting for 86.14% of the overall variance, was mainly defined by acetaldehyde and its derivatives 1,1-diethoxyethane and acetoin. These compounds reached higher concentrations in accelerated aging wines in a shorter time than they did in control wines, and no browning problems were detected. Taking into account that these compounds can be used as indicators for biological aging of "fino" Sherry wines, the acceleration condition assayed can be applied to shorten the time of this process.     

The Effect of Season on Spermatozoa Motility,Plasma Membrane and Acrosome Integrity in Fresh and Frozen–Thawed Semen from Xinong Saanen Bucks

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the season of ejaculate collection influences seminal quality parameters of pre‐ and post‐freeze–thawing in Xinong Saanen bucks. Ejaculates were collected from eight bucks throughout the four seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter) in a 12 months’ time period, identified in the Northern Hemisphere. Semen samples were evaluated by the combinations of conventional and Computer‐Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) when fresh and after frozen–thawed, respectively. The results clearly demonstrated that season of ejaculate collection influenced (p < 0.05) fresh semen quality. Highest semen quality was observed during autumn. On the contrary, undesirable indices (significantly lower, p < 0.05) were observed in winter as compared with the other remaining seasons. CASA has clearly shown the influences of seasonal variations on semen motility parameters. Furthermore, season of ejaculate collection was also found to influence sperm freezability. Semen characteristics after frozen–thawed followed a similar pattern with that of fresh ejaculate except in spring. The results revealed that sperm quality was higher (p < 0.01) in summer and autumn than in spring and winter. In conclusion, seasonal variation influences semen quality in Xinong Saanen bucks. In addition to summer and autumn, fresh ejaculates in spring can also be successfully used for AI. Sperm from ejaculates collected during summer and autumn are more suitable for cryopreservation. Hence, it is possible to increase the efficiency of goat breeding by manipulating the seasonal variations of semen quality for immediate AI and/or cryopreservation.