Safety of standardized Macleaya cordata extract in an eighty‐four‐day dietary study in dairy cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of a standardized Macleaya cordata Extract Product (MCEP) containing the quaternary benzophenanthridine alkaloids, sanguinarine and chelerythrine, when fed to dairy cows. Thirty‐six dairy cows were randomized into three groups with twelve cows/treatment in two replica pens for each treatment group: control (C) without MCEP added to feed, treatment 1 (SANG‐1000) with MCEP added to feed at 1,000 mg/animal/day (1.5 mg/kg bw/day) and treatment 2 (SANG‐10000) with MCEP added to feed at 10,000 mg/animal/day (15.5 mg MCEP/kg bw/day). After two weeks of acclimation, animals were observed for an 84‐day experimental period, with body weight, feed intake and milk production measured daily. Milk composition was analysed every two weeks. Haematological analyses were performed on Day 0 and Day 84, and clinical chemistry analyses were performed on Day 84 of the study. There was no statistically significant difference (p > .10) among the three groups on body condition score, milk production or milk composition over the study period. There were no significant differences in body weight gain or feed consumption among the three groups. Animals in the SANG‐10000 group had significantly higher mean corpuscular volume (MCV) than the C group (p < .1) and lower mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) than the SANG‐1000 group (p < .1). Concentrations of sanguinarine and chelerythrine in milk samples collected on Day 84 were below the detection limit (LOD) as measured by high‐performance liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS/MS). In conclusion, this study presents compelling data supporting the hypothesis that the test product MCEP, when included in the TMR at up to 10,000 mg/animal/day (15.5 mg MCEP/kg bw/day), is well tolerated by dairy cows.     

Effects of concentrate‐to‐forage ratios and 2‐methylbutyrate supplementation on ruminal fermentation,bacteria abundance and urinary excretion of purine derivatives in Chinese Simmental steers

This study evaluated the effects of dietary concentrate levels and 2‐methylbutyrate (2MB ) supplementation on performance, ruminal fermentation, bacteria abundance, microbial enzyme activity and urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD ) in steers. Eight ruminally cannulated Simmental steers (12 months of age; 389 ± 3.7 kg of body weight) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Moderate‐concentrate (400 g/kg diet [MC ]) or high‐concentrate (600 g/kg diet [HC ]) diets were fed with or without 2MB (0 g/day [2MB ?] or 15.0 g/day [2MB +]). Dry matter intake and average daily gain increased, but feed conversion ratio decreased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Ruminal pH decreased, but total volatile fatty acid increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Molar proportion of acetate and acetate‐to‐propionate ratio decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. Propionate molar proportion and ruminal NH ₃‐N content increased with the HC diet, but decreased with 2MB supplementation. Neutral detergent fibre degradability decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. Crude protein degradability increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Abundance of Ruminococcus albus , Ruminococcus flavefaciens , Fibrobacter succinogenes and Bufyrivibrio fibrisolvens as well as activities of carboxymethyl cellulase, cellobiase, xylanase and pectinase decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. However, abundance of Prevotella ruminicola and Ruminobacter amylophilus as well as activities of α‐amylase and protease increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Total PD excretion also increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. The results suggested that growth performance, ruminal fermentation, CP degradability and total PD excretion increased with increasing dietary concentrate level from 40% to 60% or 2MB supplementation. The observed diet × 2MB interaction indicated that supplementation of 2MB was more efficacious for improving growth performance, ruminal fermentation and total PD excretion with promoted ruminal bacteria abundance and enzyme activity in the MC diet than in the HC diet.     

Comparative expression profile of microRNAs and piRNAs in three ruminant species testes using next‐generation sequencing

microRNA (miRNA) and piwi‐interacting RNA (piRNA) are two classes small non‐coding regulatory RNAs that play crucial roles in multiple biological processes such as spermatogenesis. However, there are no published studies on conjoint analysis of miRNA and piRNA profiles among cattle, yak and their interspecies (the dzo) using sequencing technology. Next‐generation sequencing technology was used to profile miRNAs and piRNAs among those three ruminants to elucidate their functions. A total of 119, 14 and six differentially expressed miRNAs were obtained in cattle vs. dzo, cattle vs. yak and yak vs. dzo comparison groups, while there were 873, 1,065 and 1,158 differentially expressed piRNAs in those three comparison groups. The expression of three miRNAs was validated in the three ruminants, and the results suggested that the miRNA expression profiles data could represent actual miRNA expression levels. Moreover, the putative targets of differentially expressed miRNAs were predicted by their own genome, it is worth to note that both the cattle and yak genome were used for dzo, then the targets were subjected to GO enrichment and KEGG pathway analysis, revealing the likely roles for these differentially expressed miRNAs in spermatogenesis. In conclusion, this study provided a useful resource for further elucidation of the miRNAs and piRNAs regulatory roles in spermatogenesis. It may also facilitate the development of therapeutic strategies for dzo reproduction research.     

饲用荞麦在畜牧业中的应用与研究

荞麦(Fagopyrum esulentum)原产于中国,其栽培种甜荞和苦荞在世界各地已被广泛种植,我国西南地区蕴含着丰富的野生荞麦资源。荞麦营养丰富,除含有常见的蛋白质、纤维素和糖类外,还富含芦丁等抗氧化物质,具有耐瘠薄、抗病虫害、适应性强、生长迅速等优点,特别是一些野生种叶片大、叶量多,更适合于刈割,这些优点使其成为一种很具有发展潜力的优质牧草资源。但目前荞麦的饲用价值仍未得到充分的发掘与利用。本文着重介绍了荞麦在我国的栽培、饲用历史和现状,结合荞麦饲用于猪、反刍动物及家禽等方面的研究进展,分析了荞麦在饲用化发展中将面临的问题,并对其应用前景进行了评价与展望。     

基于GIMMS NDVI 3g.v1的近34年青海省植被生长季NDVI时空变化特征

在气候变化和人类活动的综合影响下,青海省生态环境发生了明显变化。在此背景下,以GIMMS NDVI 3g.v1为数据源,采用Sen+Mann-Kendal方法研究青海省1982-2015年植被覆盖区域NDVI时空变化,将趋势分析和R/S(rescaled range analysis)分析叠加,研究植被生长季NDVI变化的持续性特征,并揭示植被对气候变化及人类活动的响应规律。结果表明:1)近34年青海省植被NDVI整体呈从西北到东南的增加趋势;且变异系数显示,波动性较大地区集中在柴达木盆地周边和青南牧区西北部等植被NDVI较低的区域,波动性较小地区集中在祁连山东部、东部农业区和青南牧区东南部等植被NDVI较高的区域。2)近34年青海省植被NDVI整体呈增加趋势,增长率为0.38%·10a~(-1);且NDVI变化具有明显的阶段性,存在1994年和2000年两个突变点。3)近34年青海省植被改善区域(75.4%)远大于退化区域(24.6%),其中显著改善面积占植被覆盖区域面积的40.9%,退化区随时间变化在空间上表现出明显的转移现象。4)Hurst指数表明,青海省植被变化反持续性较强,趋势分析与Hurst指数叠加得出,由退化转为改善的区域占植被覆盖区面积的13.7%,由改善转为退化的区域占植被覆盖区面积的44.3%,另41.5%的区域无法确定未来变化趋势。5)青海省植被生长季NDVI受气候变化和人类活动的双重影响,且不同植被类型对气候变化的响应存在较大差异。     

种植密度对陇东旱塬区光敏型高丹草生物学性状及产量的影响

本研究于2014、2015年连续两年选用两个品种的光敏型高丹草(Sorghum bicolor×S.sudanense)"大卡"和"海牛"在黄土高原雨养农业区,采用全膜平铺穴播的方式,以8.33万、12.50万和16.67万穴·hm-2 3个种植密度进行种植,比较了各处理的生长发育指标和草产量的异同。结果表明,在生育期方面,品种间从孕穗期开始后差异明显。在农艺性状方面,"海牛"两年的分蘖数和全株叶片数均高于"大卡",其他各性状均以"大卡"最高;两个品种的茎粗、分蘖数、全株叶片数、节间数、单株鲜重、单株叶重和单株茎重连续两年均随着密度的加大而减小,呈负相关关系;主茎叶片数随密度的增加呈先上升后下降的趋势。在产草量方面,连续两年"大卡"的鲜草产量和干物质产量均高于"海牛";鲜草产量均在8.33万穴·hm-2处理下最高,且呈现出随着密度的增加鲜草产量下降的趋势;干物质产量丰水年2014年在16.67万穴·hm-2处理下最高,欠水年2015年在12.50万穴·hm-2处理下最高。综上所述,在黄土高原雨养农业区采用全膜覆盖方式种植光敏型高丹草时,品种应选择"大卡",在有灌溉条件或降水较多的地区,以16.67万穴·hm-2种植密度为宜;而在降水较少且无灌溉条件的地区,以12.50万穴·hm-2种植密度为宜。     

补饲水平对甘肃高山细毛羊生产性能的影响

为了探讨补饲水平对高寒牧区甘肃高山细毛羊生产性能的影响,本研究选择12月龄甘肃高山细毛后备母羊48只,随机分为补饲Ⅰ组(颗粒饲料)、Ⅱ组[玉米(Zea mays)和苜蓿(Medicago sativa)干草]、Ⅲ组[玉米、苜蓿干草和燕麦(Avena sativa)干草]和对照组(不补饲),进行冬春季"放牧"+"补饲"试验,比较了后备母羊体重,剪毛量,毛纤维长度、细度、白度、强度和伸度等物理指标。结果表明,试验Ⅰ组、Ⅱ组和Ⅲ组试验羊平均日增重分别比对照组高148.29%、133.09%、96.76%;剪毛量各组之间差异不显著(P0.05);自然长度和伸直长度对照组均极显著低于Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组(P0.01),且自然长度Ⅰ组极显著高于Ⅱ组和Ⅲ组(P0.01),伸直长度Ⅲ组极显著低于Ⅰ组和Ⅱ组(P0.01),Ⅱ组显著高于Ⅰ组(P0.05);细度(直径)Ⅰ组最大,Ⅰ组极显著高于对照组(P0.01),且显著高于Ⅱ组(P0.05);白度Ⅰ组最高,Ⅰ组显著高于对照组(P0.05),其他各组之间均差异不显著(P0.05);强度和伸度补饲组均极显著高于对照组(P0.01),且强度Ⅰ组极显著高于Ⅱ组(P0.01),伸度Ⅰ组显著高于Ⅱ组(P0.05)。由此可见,补饲对体重、羊毛品质都有显著正向影响,高寒牧区冬春季节牧草营养缺乏,为了满足羊只营养需要,使甘肃高山细毛羊后备母羊能在1.5岁进行配种繁殖,在冷季放牧的基础上补饲1号料为最佳选择。     

紫花苜蓿9个盐响应相关基因表达模式

紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)是世界上种植面积最大、应用最广泛的豆科牧草。由于其耐盐性中等,其在我国北方地区的产量和种植受到土壤盐渍化的限制。因此提高紫花苜蓿的耐盐性具有重要的科学和生产意义。为此,以龙牧801紫花苜蓿(M.sativa‘Longmu 801’)为试验材料,采用实时荧光定量PCR技术分析了不同浓度NaCl胁迫下9个盐胁迫蛋白质组筛选出的盐响应相关基因的表达模式。结果显示,处理时间和处理浓度对9个基因的相对表达量均有显著性影响,表明这9个基因均在紫花苜蓿盐胁迫应答中发挥着一定作用。处理1h时,G6PI、ABP19a、Trx-h1、PR bet 1、FBPA、6PGDH和ALDH这7个基因的相对表达量在不同NaCl胁迫浓度处理的紫花苜蓿中均显著上调,RRM和GDPD在NaCl处理2h后开始上调。除G6PI基因,其他8个基因在0.4%NaCl处理下相对表达量显著高于0.2%和0.8%NaCl处理。这些基因参与糖代谢、信号转导和胁迫响应。以上结果表明,紫花苜蓿的耐盐性极其复杂,涉及到多基因的表达和代谢通路的调控。研究结果有助于全面研究并了解紫花苜蓿的盐响应相关基因的表达模式,促进紫花苜蓿耐盐分子育种。     

紫花苜蓿细胞质雄性不育恢复基因的初步定位

以紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)不育系MS-GN-1A为母本,恢复系MS178为父本组合构建BSA分离群体,获得的F1代均表现为雄性可育,在大田种植了221株F2代群体单株,盛花期将花粉颗粒染色后,显微镜下观察统计出,不育的F2代株数为57,可育F2代株数164,并没有观察到半不育植株。将所有植株划分为可育和不育两组,并构建可育和不育DNA混池,混池DNA从可育和不育植株组DNA中各随机抽取20个样品,以此对恢复基因定位。随机挑选160对已知的四倍体苜蓿SSR引物扩增基因池DNA,获得2个具有多态性的分子标记,分别是Mt2c12、AW166,初步定位Rf基因在类群Composite5上。将类群Composite5上的所有引物进行合成,进一步进行引物筛选,最终获得4个具有多态性的标记BI68、Mt2c12、BG267和AW776153,遗传距离分别为19.0、20.9、44.6和72.1cM。