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.     

Methyl donors dietary supplementation to gestating sows diet improves the growth rate of offspring and is associating with changes in expression and DNA methylation of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 gene

The study aimed to investigate the effects of maternal dietary methyl donors on the performance of sows and their offspring, and the associated hepatic insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) expression of the offspring. A total of 24 multiparous sows were randomly fed the control (CON) or the CON diet supplemented with methyl donors (MD) at 3 g/kg betaine, 15 mg/kg folic acid, 400 mg/kg choline and 150 μg/kg VB₁₂, from mating until delivery. After farrowing, sows were fed a common lactation diet through a 28‐days lactation period and six litters per treatment were selected to be fed until at approximately 110 kg BW. Maternal MD supplementation resulted in greater birthweight (p < 0.05) and increased the piglet weights (p < 0.01) and litter weights (p < 0.05) at the age of day 28, compared with that in CON group. The offspring pigs in the MD group had greater ADG (p < 0.05) and tended to lower F:G ratio (p = 0.07) compared with that of CON group from day 28 to 180 of age. The offspring pigs from MD group had greater serum IGF‐1 concentrations and expressions of hepatic IGF‐1 gene and muscular IGF‐1 receptor (IGF‐1r) protein at birth (p < 0.05), and greater hepatic IGF‐1 protein (p = 0.03) and muscular IGF‐1r gene expressions (p < 0.05) at slaughter, than that from the CON group. Moreover, the methylation at the promoter of IGF‐1 gene in the liver of newborn piglets and finishing pigs was greater in the MD group than that of the CON group (p < 0.05). In conclusion, maternal MD supplementation throughout gestation could enhance the birthweight and postnatal growth rate of offspring, associated with an increased expression of the IGF‐1 gene and IGF‐1r, as well as the altered DNA methylation of IGF‐1 gene promotor.     

陕西省榆林市某鸡场家禽H7N9流感紧急流行病学调查

2017年5月21日,陕西省榆林市某养殖场的蛋鸡出现异常死亡。经国家参考实验室确诊,该起疫情为H7N9流感疫情。为找出引发疫情的可能原因,采用描述性流行病学方法,描述疫情的三间分布,分析发病的风险因素。调查结果显示:该场饲养规模较大,共有8栋鸡舍,饲养4.5万只蛋鸡;疫情暴发突然,病程仅为5 d;蛋鸡死亡2.2万只,死亡率为48.9%;疫情具有明显的场内传播规律,从靠近鸡场入口的鸡舍逐渐向内蔓延;产蛋高峰期蛋鸡的发病风险是雏鸡的37.458倍,差异显著(P0.05);所分离毒株的HA基因裂解位点有4个氨基酸插入,为变异株;该起疫情可能是通过运输淘汰蛋鸡的车辆、野鸟、饲料和饮水,以及调入雏鸡等途径引入的。疫情发生后,当地政府按照《高致病性禽流感防治技术规范》,发布了封锁令,划定了疫点、疫区和受威胁区;在疫区采取了扑杀、无害化处理、关闭疫区内所有禽类产品交易市场等控制措施。采取以上处置措施后,疫情得以快速有效控制。     

新疆阿勒泰垦区规模化羊群弓形虫病血清流行病学调查

为摸清新疆阿勒泰垦区兵团第十师北屯市规模化羊群的弓形虫感染情况,采用间接血凝试验(IHA),对采集自第十师所属7个团场的890份羊血清进行了弓形虫血清抗体检测。结果显示:该地区规模化羊群的弓形虫血清抗体平均阳性率为6.18%(55/890);不同羊群均有感染,表明感染分布广泛;母羊群感染率较高,为9.36%;羊群感染率随羊年龄增加而升高。这些情况需引起足够重视。     

Symbiotic N<Subscript>2</Subscript> fixation and nitrate utilisation in irrigated lucerne (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Medicago sativa</Emphasis>) systems

Symbiotic N₂ fixation by lucerne (Medicago sativa) has capacity to provide significant inputs of N to agro-ecosystems, and the species has also been shown to scavenge soil mineral N and thus act as a sink for excess reactive N. The balance between these two N cycle processes was investigated in an extensive irrigated lucerne growing region where nitrate contamination of groundwater has been reported. We sampled 18 permanent pure lucerne stands under irrigation for standing dry matter, total shoot N, and N₂ fixation using ¹⁵N natural abundance along with activity of the inducible enzyme nitrate reductase as indicators of use of soil NO₃⁻ by lucerne. On average 65% of lucerne N was obtained from symbiotic N₂ fixation. Converting standing dry matter estimates to annual N₂ fixation amounts we calculated average N₂ fixation of 311 kg N/ha, including N in roots and nodules. Uptake of N from soil by lucerne was calculated to be 181 kg N/ha/year. We were not able to identify the source of this soil mineral N, although nitrate reductase activity of lucerne was higher than that of non-N₂ fixing species examined.     

微细木质粉尘静电除尘器的设计

近年来,随着人们对环境质量的要求逐渐提高,木材工业除尘日益得到重视。众所周知,木材工业是产生粉尘的大户,如不采取有效的除尘措施,产生的粉尘不但会造成极大的环境污染,而且还会对工人的身体健康、产品质量、设备的精度和使用年限及生产的安全造成危害。目前,在木材工业中,广泛采用的多是离心力除     

聚脲喷枪混合室的设计和FLUENT仿真分析

为提高聚脲喷涂喷枪的混合效果，基于撞击流理论设计了一种新型聚脲喷涂喷枪的混合室。混合室采用两级撞击混合，分别采用两组T型和两组Y型对撞混合形式。利用SolidWorks设计混合室的结构模型后，利用FLUENT软件，采用冷、热水在混合室内撞击混合、对流传热的方法进行仿真模拟，并且计算了流体在混合室内的微观混合时间。结果表明:合理增加撞击流混合室的混合级数和采用多组T型、Y型对撞混合形式可增益混合效果；撞击流混合室的主要混合区是在撞击区；流体在喷枪内停留的总时间约为5.71 ms，满足具有反应迅速这一特性的材料的混合要求；微观混合时间小于1 ms，混合效果优异。      

江浙地区葡萄霜霉病菌的致病性差异研究

为明确江苏、浙江不同地区葡萄霜霉病菌的致病性分化情况,采用单斑分离法和叶盘接种法,对分离得到的不同葡萄霜霉病菌单斑菌株进行致病性测定。结果表明,分离获得的80个葡萄霜霉病菌株都有致病性,且2个省份均有半数以上的菌株的病情指数在40~60之间。致病力聚类分析表明,2个省份的菌株都可以聚类为强、中、弱3种致病力类型,江苏以强致病力菌株为优势菌株,浙江以中等致病力菌株为优势菌株。对同一省份的菌株进行致病力分析发现,江苏树山和浙江永福的菌株致病力明显强于同省其他地区,而江苏新坊和浙江上钱的菌株与同省其他地区相比,致病力最弱。同时,构建菌株的系统发育树,结果显示,同源性相同的菌株间有致病力不同的情况,致病力相同的菌株间也存在rDNA-ITS序列有差异的情况。综上,江苏、浙江的葡萄霜霉病菌都存在致病力分化现象,这种分化现象与菌株的亲缘关系远近没有相关性,但同一省份不同地区间的菌株致病力差异与菌株的地理来源有一定的相关性。