Puncture and drainage of the subordinate follicles at timed artificial insemination prevents the risk of twin pregnancy in dairy cows

The objective of this study was to determine whether fluid drainage from the subordinate follicles by ovum pickup procedures prevents the risk of twin pregnancy without reducing the fertility of the cow. Lactating dairy cows with at least two follicles over 12 mm diameter located one on each ovary and selected from synchronized groups for fixed‐time insemination were assigned to a Control (n = 49) or Drainage (n = 49) group. The largest follicle was considered as the dominant follicle. Draining of all subordinate follicles (≥10 mm) was performed in the Drainage group. All drained follicles developed as a corpus luteum 7 days later. In the Control cows, the presence of two corpora lutea (55.1%) was lower (p = .003) than those in the Drainage cows (87.8%), whereas the incidence of twin pregnancies was 50% and 0% for the Control and Drainage groups, respectively (p < .001). Draining did not affect the pregnancy rate. These results indicate that puncture and drainage of the subordinate follicles at insemination may eliminate the risk of twin pregnancies and reduce the risk of subsequent pregnancy loss by increasing the incidence of additional corpora lutea.     

Creatinine and pseudouridine in plasma and urine from Brahman-cross steers fed a low, medium or high plane of nutrition

Metabolic state as influenced by growth rate may influence meat toughness and can be estimated from metabolites excreted in urine. Urine collection over 24 h requires animals to be constrained in metabolism crates for many days. Single blood sampling to estimate metabolites in plasma would be less stressful on animals than collecting 24 h urine excretion. This study investigated the hypothesis that the plasma concentrations of pseudouridine and creatinine were representative of those found in 24 h urine excretions in steers fed different quality diets. Eleven Brahman-cross steers were fed a high (n = 3), medium (n = 4) or low (n = 4) quality hay diet for three weeks. Steers were catheterized and housed in metabolism crates for 6 days. Urine was collected every 24 h and total volume sub-sampled for analyses of creatinine and pseudouridine. Jugular blood was collected from each steer every 3 h from 07:30 to 16:30 h. Plasma was separated from red blood cells by centrifugation and frozen for creatinine and pseudouridine analyses. No time of day effect was apparent for pseudouridine or creatinine so daily means were used to test for effect of diet and to relate to urinary concentrations. Nutritional restriction halted live weight gain but had no effect on urinary or plasma pseudouridine, suggesting that diet did not affect tRNA turnover. Increased plasma creatinine concentrations and reduced urinary creatinine concentration in steers experiencing nutritional restriction indicated that their renal clearance rate decreased. As a result, the ratio of plasma pseudouridine to creatinine concentration was not directly proportional to that of 24 h urinary excretion.     

西辽河平原矮秆蓖麻杂交种抗氧化酶活性、产量与油分含量对氮肥水平的响应

采用大田随机区组试验设计,以矮秆蓖麻杂交种通蓖11号为试材,以高秆杂交种通蓖9号为对照,在N 0、60、120、180 kg/hm~2 4个氮肥用量处理下,探讨灌浆期间叶片抗氧化酶活性、产量和油分含量对氮肥水平的响应。结果表明,在0～120 kg/hm~2施氮水平范围内,随着氮肥水平的提高,2品种的超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、过氧化物酶(POD)和过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性不断增强,丙二醛(MDA)含量则持续下降。当施氮水平提高到180 kg/hm~2时,SOD、POD、CAT活性不再升高,反而下降,MDA含量则略有上升。在各个氮肥水平和灌浆阶段通蓖11号SOD、POD、CAT活性均高于通蓖9号,MDA含量均低于通蓖9号;在低氮水平处理下,2品种间大部分差异不显著;在高氮水平处理下,大部分差异显著。随着灌浆进程,SOD、POD活性呈单峰曲线变化,但通蓖11号的峰值较通蓖9号有所延迟。CAT活性呈下降趋势,MDA含量呈上升趋势。各处理籽粒产量、油分含量与抗氧化酶活性趋势相同。相关分析结果表明,籽粒产量和油分含量与SOD、POD、CAT活性呈正相关关系,与MDA含量呈负相关关系。灌浆前期,花后10 d通蓖9号SOD、POD和CAT活性与籽粒重的相关关系达显著或极显著水平,通蓖11号则达显著水平。花后20 d通蓖9号SOD、POD和CAT活性与籽粒重的相关关系未达显著水平,通蓖11号则达显著水平。灌浆中期,通蓖11号SOD、POD活性与油分含量呈显著正相关关系,而通蓖9号油分含量仅与POD活性呈显著正相关关系,与SOD和CAT相关关系未达显著水平。说明适量施用氮肥可以提高蓖麻主茎叶片抗氧化酶活性,降低MDA含量,但通蓖11号保护酶活性对氮肥的生理响应更积极,具有更强的改善细胞中活性氧产生与清除之间的平衡能力,这是其籽粒产量和油分含量高于通蓖9号的生理原因。120 kg/hm~2氮肥用量是通蓖11号在西辽河平原取得优质高产的最佳施肥水平。     

华北落叶松夜间树干液流特征及生长季补水格局

在宁夏六盘山北侧半干旱区的叠叠沟小流域,采用热扩散探针法在2011年生长季监测了华北落叶松(Larix principisrupprechtii)人工林的树干液流速率,分析了夜间树干液流和补水量的变化特征及与气象、土壤水分等环境因子的关系.结果表明:树干液流速率日变化表现为典型的单峰宽峰曲线,且整个生长季均存在微弱的夜间液流,一般表现为逐渐减小,特别是在晴天,且晴天的变幅显著大于雨天.除生长季中期雨天夜间液流平均速率显著高于晴天,生长季初期及末期雨天与晴天的差异并不显著.生长季内,夜间树干补水总量为11.03 mm,占总蒸腾量的7.22％;5月份的树干补水量最大(4.19mm),其他月份的树干补水量明显减小,在0.9-1.7mm的范围波动.但不同月份间的补水贡献率存在明显差异,表现为生长季末期(9、10月)＞初期(5月)＞中期(6-8月).相关分析表明,日补水量与各气象因子关系不大,仅与降水量显著正相关(P＜0.05),与土壤含水率、日间蒸腾量、日蒸腾总量极显著正相关(P＜0.01).夜间补水的月蒸腾贡献率与月均土壤含水率、月均气温、月均日间蒸腾量、月总蒸腾量等显著相关(P＜0.05);而夜间补水的日蒸腾贡献率与日最高气温、日均气温、日间蒸腾量、日均饱和水汽压差、日总蒸腾量、日均太阳辐射强度、日最低气温、日均空气相对湿度、日降水量、土壤含水率等极显著相关(P＜0.01),经逐步回归分析建立了日补水量蒸腾贡献率与环境因子的多元线性模型.     

Megabacteriosis in a flock of budgerigars

Megabacteriosis was diagnosed as the cause of depression and wasting in a flock of breeding budgerigars in the Manawatu. Large numbers of megabacteria were detected in direct smears from mucosal scrapings of the proventriculus of two birds and in the faeces of live birds. The diagnosis was confirmed by demonstrating a chronic proventriculitis histologically associated with megabacterial organisms. Treatment of seven individuals with amphotericin B resulted in clinically sustained weight gain over a 10-week period. Treatment of the whole flock resulted in the resumption of normal condition, behaviour and activity.