Heat stress and effect of shade materials on hormonal and behavior response of dairy cattle: a review

In tropical countries, at high temperatures, several physiological rearrangements occur in cows as they attempt to facilitate heat dissipation and/or reduce metabolic heat production. Following exposure to heat, cattle appear to acclimatize within 2–7 weeks. The failure of homeostasis at high temperatures may lead to reduced productivity or even death. The situation is even worse when humidity adds to high temperature. Livestock with elevated body temperature exhibit lower DMI and growth with less efficiency, reducing profitability for dairy farms in hot and humid climates. Shading of feed and water also offers production advantages. Although several elaborate methods for reducing heat stress in cows have been reported, simple shade materials appear to be the most cost-effective methods that are currently applicable to tropical developing countries. Different materials are being used to provide shade during warm weather. The shade material determines the microclimate—it should be light, strong, durable, weatherproof, good looking and a bad conductor of heat, and free from tendency to condense moisture inside. This review discusses various shade materials and their advantages and disadvantages in different situations.     

Effects of protein-energetic supplementation frequency on growth performance and nutritional characteristics of grazing beef cattle

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate reduced supplementation frequencies for grazing beef cattle in rainy season. In experiment 1, evaluating the nutritional parameters, four rumen-cannulated Nellore bulls (BW = 410 kg) were used. In experiment 2, evaluating animal performance, 48 Nellore bulls (BW = 358 kg) were used. The treatments were as follows: mineral supplement (MS) alone and MS plus protein-energy supplement provided 3×, 5× and 7×/week. Supplementation frequency did not affect (P > 0.05) intake and digestibility. Average daily gain was greater (P < 0.001) to supplementation compared with MS. The supplementation 5×/week resulted in greater weight gain per hectare (9.24) and higher economic returns during the study period (1.64%) compared to other supplementations. Supplementation 5×/week increased animal performance and positively influenced economic returns.     

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.     

化学法和生物法制备巨菌草腐植酸的比较

对化学方法和生物方法制备巨菌草(Pennisetum sp.)腐植酸和黄腐酸进行分析比较。结果表明,硝酸、盐酸、乙酸、草酸、氨水均能降解纤维素、半纤维素或木质素从而生产腐植酸和黄腐酸,其中10.0%氨水提取巨菌草得到的腐植酸含量最高,其次为37.5%硝酸和37.5%盐酸,草酸和乙酸提取得到的腐植酸含量最低。枯草芽孢杆菌(Bacillus subtilis)、毛霉(Mucor)、根霉(Rhizopus)、青霉(Penicillium)在巨菌草腐殖质的形成中均起到了积极作用,其中根霉对木质素的降解程度最高,生成总腐植酸的含量最高。根霉发酵制备得到的总腐植酸含量是10.0%氨水提取得到的总腐植酸含量的1.45倍,毛霉发酵制备得到的总腐植酸含量是10.0%氨水提取得到的总腐植酸含量的1.29倍,而枯草芽孢杆菌和青霉发酵制备得到的总腐植酸含量比10%氨水提取得到的总腐植酸含量低。37.5%硝酸提取得到的黄腐酸含量是毛霉发酵制备得到的黄腐酸含量的1.79倍,22.5%盐酸提取得到的黄腐酸含量是毛霉发酵制备得到的黄腐酸含量的1.98倍。综上可知,生物发酵法制备得到的总腐植酸含量比化学法提取得到的总腐植酸含量要高,而化学方法提取得到的黄腐酸含量比生物发酵法制备得到的黄腐酸含量要高。     

温度和水分对赖草种子萌发的影响

利用聚乙二醇(PEG)试剂室内模拟不同干旱(0、-0.10、-0.20、-0.40、-0.80、-1.60 MPa)和温度(10、15、20、25、30℃)环境条件,对西藏班戈县野生型赖草(Leymus secalinus)种子萌发特性进行研究。结果表明,赖草种子在恒温10~30℃和变温10~30℃均能萌发.恒温25℃处理下,种子萌发达到了最佳响应;恒温15℃和变温20/30℃处理对赖草种子发芽率具有显著影响(P0.05),而恒温10和30℃对赖草种子发芽率具有极显著影响(P0.05);随着PEG渗透势的增加,赖草种子发芽率、发芽指数、活力指数和胚芽长均出现了不同程度的下降现象,而胚根则表现为先升后降的变化现象。25℃和蒸馏水处理下,野生赖草种子萌发效果最佳;而在25℃和-0.10~0 MPa渗透势处理下,赖草种子胚根优于胚芽生长。     

火龙果镰刀菌果腐病病原菌鉴定及生物学特性研究

采用形态学特征观察、rDNA-ITS序列、EF-1α序列比对和系统发育树分析的方法对引起火龙果镰刀菌果腐病病原菌进行鉴定,并初步研究其生物学特性。结果表明:引起火龙果镰刀菌果腐病是单隔镰刀菌(Fusarium dimerum Penzig in Saccardo),这是该菌引起火龙果果腐病在国内的首次报道。该菌菌丝生长的适宜温度25~35℃,最适温度30℃,适宜产孢温度25~35℃,最适产孢温度30~35℃,致死温度75℃(10 min);适宜pH5~9,最适pH7,最适产孢pH4;连续光照、D-果糖为碳源、牛肉膏和蛋白胨为氮源时最有利于该菌菌丝生长;完全黑暗、D-半乳糖为碳源、尿素为氮源时最有利于该菌产孢。综合分析认为,该菌耐高温,光照充足、弱酸和富含有机营养的环境有利于该菌的生长和繁殖。