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.     

Clinicopathological studies on facial eczema outbreak in sheep in Southwest Turkey

After very hot summer, 22 sheep from 5 different flocks consisting of approximately 150-200 animals each were diagnosed with facial eczema in September 2005, in southwest Turkey. Photophobia, corneal opacity, severe ulcers of the facial skin, especially localized around the eyes and mouth, and 3% mortality were the most prominent clinical symptoms. GGT levels of the animals were very high and varying between 261- 328 U/l. While the activities of ALT and total bilirubin were elevated and AST was normal in affected sheep. Total bilirubin level was higher than normal. Seven of the 22 sheep were euthanatized and necropsy was performed on all of these animals. Severe icterus, hepatomegaly, enlarged gallbladder, congestion of mesenteric vessels were the common necropsy findings. Histopathological changes of the liver included necrosis of the hepatocytes, cholangiohepatitis characterized by mononuclear inflammatory cell infiltrate in the portal area and mild to severe fibrosis around bile ducts. A diagnosis of sporidesmin toxicosis was made based on the histopathology of the livers, the elevation in liver enzymes, and the development of cutaneous lesions consistent with photosensitization and high spore counts in the ruminal contents. Surviving sheep were treated with procaine penicillin + dihidrostreptomycin sulfate, multivitamin complexes and flunixin meglumine. Additionally, zinc sulphate was also given at a dose of 6 gr per 100 lt drinking water for 28 days. All treated sheep recovered. Pasture spore counts were between 96,300- 267,500 spores/g grass.     

电刺激疑核对TNBS诱导的IBD大鼠TGF－β表达的影响

为探讨疑核对炎症性肠病（inflammatory bowel disease,IBD）相关细胞因子TGF-β的调控作用以及在IBD的发生发展过程中发挥的作用,以三硝基苯磺酸（TNBS）诱导IBD大鼠动物模型通过Real-Time PCR和ELISA方法,利用疑核定位技术,检测急性电刺激疑核前后,细胞因子TGF-β在TNBS诱导的IBD大鼠结肠、胸腺、脾脏、外周血淋巴细胞中mRNA水平的变化和血清中蛋白浓度的变化。结果表明,急性电刺激IBD大鼠疑核后TGF-βmRNA表达水平在结肠、脾脏和外周血淋巴细胞中均显著高于对照组和假刺激组;而在胸腺中TGF-βmRNA表达降低。急性电刺激IBD大鼠疑核后血清中TGF一8蛋白浓度显著高于对照组和假刺激组。由此认为,疑核可能通过对IBD相关细胞因子TGF一8的调控,介导IBD的发生、发展过程,从而对IBD的发生、发展发挥调节作用。     

互花米草生境中人工巢巢捕食研究

为了研究江苏大丰麋鹿国家级自然保护区互花米草生境中繁殖鸟巢的被捕食情况及影响捕食的因素,2014年3~6月,在保护区第三核心区鸟类繁殖生境中,使用人工巢及真实鹌鹑蛋进行巢捕食实验的方法进行巢捕食实验,分析不同巢高度、覆盖度、边缘距离、植被密度等因素对鸟巢被捕食的影响。实验共放置520个人工巢,1 040枚卵,使用红外相机对部分人工巢进行监测。结果表明:在江苏大丰麋鹿自然保护区互花米草生境内,人工巢存在较高的被捕食率,共有352巢被捕食,占67.7%,对11个变量进行逻辑斯蒂回归,巢高度、植被均高、主要植被密度、距边缘距离、水平覆盖度、上层垂直覆盖度等6个变量进人最终模型,巢高度、距边缘距离与巢被捕食显著相关。通过红外相机拍摄从102个监测巢中记录到69个捕食事件,68巢黑线姬鼠(Apodemus agrarius)和1巢黑眉锦蛇(Elaphe taeniura)捕食。我们认为互花米草生境中缺乏啮齿类动物的天敌是当地人工巢被捕食的主要原因。     

Apparent metabolizable energy value of whole date palm (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Phoenix dactylifera</Emphasis> L.) and its possible use as a feedstuff for aged laying hens

This study was conducted to evaluate the feeding value of whole date palm (WDP) with and without enzyme supplementation on aged laying hen’s performance. Apparent metabolizable energy value of WDP was determined by the total collection method using ten adult leghorn cockerels. WDP was substituted with a corn-soybean meal basal diet at 40% level, and then the metabolizable energy of this experimental diet and basal diet was determined. After that, a total number of 256 Bovanz 95-week-old hens were randomly allocated into eight groups consisting of four replicates of eight birds each, based on a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement of the treatments. Eight iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous experimental diets including one corn-soybean meal-based control diet and two, three, and four corn-soybean meal-based diets included 70, 140, and 210 g/kg ground WDP, respectively. Each of the diets supplemented with two levels of an enzyme (0.0 and 0.07 g/kg Natozim Plus). There was no significant difference in feed intake, feed conversion ratio, egg production, egg mass, eggshell thickness, and Haugh unit among the treatments (P > 0.05). However, yolk color score significantly decreased as dietary WDP level increased. The serum biochemical metabolites were not significantly affected by WDP and enzyme supplementation (P > 0.05). There were no significant differences in the relative weight of different organs except for abdominal fat. Our findings show that using WDP up to 21% of the diet was more economic and had no adverse effect on productive performance and serum metabolites of laying hens. However, WDP had an adverse effect on yolk color which can be ameliorated by carotenoid supplementation.     

An assessment of benzimidazole resistance against caprine nematodes in Central India

Current status of resistance to benzimidazole (BZ) group of anthelmintic drugs against caprine nematodes in Central India at Amanala goat farm, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh (M. P.), was systematically investigated using faecal egg count reduction (FECR) test and egg hatch test (EHT). Besides, allele-specific PCR (AS-PCR) was deployed to ascertain the susceptible genotype (alleles) especially of the Haemonchus contortus. Randomly selected 30 goats, irrespective of age and sex, were divided into three groups of 10 each, to serve as treated and untreated controls. It was ensured that the animals were not administered with an anthelmintic drug for the past 3 months prior to undertaking the study, and faecal egg counts were estimated. FECR test evidenced fenbendazole resistance by partial elimination (24.90%) copro-egg counts in the treated group of animals vis-à-vis controls with a lower confidence interval of ?26%. Further, EHT revealed ED-50 value of 0.335 μg of thiabendazole/ml, confirming benzimidazole resistance in the animals of that farm. AS-PCR showed that 62% of H. contortus larvae were homozygous resistant (rr), 24% heterozygous (rS) and 14% homozygous susceptible (SS). The genotypic frequencies of three genotypes (rr, rS and SS) were significantly (P < 0.01) different. The prevalence of benzimidazole resistance allele (r) was also significantly (P < 0.01) higher (74%) as compared to susceptible allele (S) (26%). The resistance to benzimidazole has been discussed while emphasizing improved managemental practices designed to reduce exposure of the goat population to parasites, minimize frequency of anthelmintic use at optimum dose and rotational use of different chemical groups of medicines with different mode of action, so as to overcome and combat the upcoming problem in the field.     

Current status of cattle production system in Nyagatare District-Rwanda

A study was conducted to characterize the cattle production systems in Nyagatare District, Eastern Province of Rwanda using pre-tested questionnaires, interviews with key informants as well as focus group discussions in a period of 2 months. The respondents were selected by multi-stage sampling at sector and cell levels. Based on the procedure of Krejcie and Morgan (Educational and Psychological Measurement 30:607–610, 1970) to determine the overall sample size, the result indicated that the majority (98.3%) of farms were privately owned by large families of five to seven members, and most farmers (53.9%) had only primary education. Most respondents (52.6%) were in the age bracket of 41–50 years and were mainly (48.3%) located within 3 km from trading centers. The farm size averaged 6.5 ± 0.8 ha and most farms (64.7%) were fenced except in Rukomo Sector (50%) where zero grazing prevailed. Natural pastures (savanna grass land) were the main feed resource; tethering (9%) and communal grazing had diminished. Napier grass was the main planted forage (93.2%), followed by Chloris guyana (3.1%) and Brachiara (1.2%). Leguminous forages were rarely (2.5%) reported. Vita-mineral and salt block supplements, hay, and crop residues were the predominant supplementary feed stuffs used except in Karangazi and Rwemiyaga Sectors where only vita-mineral block predominated. However, maize and rice brans were reported to be the main feed stuffs used in supplementary feeding of lactating cows. Most farmers (89.7%) reported shortage of water as most of the farmers trekked their cattle to the nearest valley dams (59.2%), rivers (21.1%), and a few 6% had water on farms. Indigenous cattle were predominant (67.03%) followed by cross-breeds (28.37%) and exotics (4.6%) while all farmers kept small ruminants. Natural breeding predominated (74.9%) and most farms (60.6%) had animal houses most of which were temporary (52.8%). The reported mean age at first calving (AFC) was highest (40.2 ± .33) for Ankole and the lowest (29.1 ± .50) months for exotic cattle. Calving interval was shorter in local breeds than 65.7 ± 3.0 in exotic. The mean dairy milk yield was lowest for Ankole cattle 2.4 ± .08 as compared to the exotics (10.42 ± .36) and their crosses (7.2 ± .34). The main challenges were diseases, shortage of water, feeds, and inadequate extension services. Same observation was reported by Okello (African Journal of Range and Forage Science 22(3), 2005) in Uganda.     

L-carnitine significantly decreased aging of rat adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells

Mesenchymal stem cells are undifferentiated cells that have the ability to divide continuously and tissue regeneration potential during the transplantation. Aging and loss of cell survival, is one of the main problems in cell therapy. Since the production of free radicals in the aging process is effective, the use of antioxidant compounds can help in scavenging free radicals and prevent the aging of cells. The aim of this study is evaluate the effects of L-carnitine (LC) on proliferation and aging of rat adipose tissue-derived mesenchymal stem cells (rADSC). rADSCs were isolated from inguinal region of 5 male Rattus rats. Oil red-O, alizarin red-S and toluidine blue staining were performed to evaluate the adipogenic, osteogenic and chondrogenic differentiation of rADSCs, respectively. Flow cytometric analysis was done for investigating the cell surface markers. The methyl thiazol tetrazolium (MTT) method was used to determine the cell proliferation of rADSCs following exposure to different concentrations of LC. rADSCs aging was evaluated by beta-galactosidase staining. The results showed significant proliferation of rADSCs 48 h after treatment with concentrations of 0.2 mM LC. In addition, in the presence of 0.2 mM LC, rADSCs appeared to be growing faster than control group and 0.2 mM LC supplementation could significantly decrease the population doubling time and aging of rADSCs. It seems that LC would be a good antioxidant to improve lifespan of rADSCs due to the decrease in aging.     

3种生长素对蓝叶忍冬枝条扦插生根的影响

以蓝叶忍冬(Lonicera korolkowi‘Zabclii’)为材料,研究了2种不同浓度(50、100 mg·L-1)的生长素吲哚乙酸(IAA)、吲哚丁酸(IBA)和萘乙酸(NAA)在不同处理时间(30、60 min),对蓝叶忍冬生根部位、根数和根长的影响。结果表明,3种生长素对蓝叶忍冬枝条扦插生根都产生了一定的影响,IAA处理增加蓝叶忍冬的生根率和根数,但抑制根的伸长。NAA处理对蓝叶忍冬生根效果不明显,仅对根长有一定的促进作用。与对照相比,50 mg·L-1IBA处理60min显著增加了蓝叶忍冬的生根率和根数(P0.05)。另外,3种生长素对蓝叶忍冬枝条生根部位也有影响,3种生长素处理都可以增加皮层生根数,对切口愈伤组织的生根有一定的抑制作用。其中IBA处理对生根部位影响的效果最明显,100 mg·L-1处理30 min可以显著提高皮层生根数并抑制愈伤组织生根(P0.05)。综合比较3种生长素促进生根的效果,IBA最好,IAA和NAA次之。     

硫酸多粘菌素E在猪体内的药代动力学和生物利用度研究

健康断奶仔猪 5头 ,分别进行单剂量肌注 (2 5和 5 0mg/kgb .w .)和静注 (2 5mg/kgb .w .)给药 ,并用微生物学方法对硫酸多粘菌素E在猪体内的药代动力学和绝对生物利用度进行了研究。以 3P97程序处理血药浓度—时间数据 ,结果表明 ,以 2 5和 5 0mg/kgb .w .的剂量肌注给药时 ,其血清中药物的峰浓度 (Cmax)分别为 3 73± 0 2 8μg/ml和 6 40± 0 1 8μg/ml,达峰时间分别为 32 2 2± 1 51min和 34 1 8± 1 76min ,消除半衰期 (t1 / 2 β)为 2 55 99± 1 3 65min和 2 64 0 8± 2 8 57min ;以 2 5mg/kgb .w .的剂量静注给药时 ,其消除半衰期 (t1 / 2 β)为 2 51 2 8± 1 2 53min。静注和肌注在体内的分布均为一级吸收二室模型。肌注 2 5和 5 0mg/kgb .w .剂量的注射液时 ,其平均绝对生物利用度分别为 98 30 %和 88 54 %。