A modified technique for flushing ova from the sheep uterus

Abstract

Extract

Sheep ova are normally obtained from the reproductive tract using the flushing techniques described by Hunter et al. (1955) Cumming, I. A. and McDonald, M. F. 1967. The production of ova by New Zealand Romney ewes following hormonal stimulation. N.Z. Jl agric. Res., 10: 226–236. [Taylor &; Francis Online], [Web of Science ®] , [Google Scholar]. Oviduct flushes, in the writers' experience, give a higher recovery of ova than uterine flushes, but they result in more adhesions of the tract, which can cause infertility. Consequently, the development of satisfactory uterine flushing techniques appears necessary before ova can be recovered repeatedly from superior ewes. This paper describes such a technique.     

Diet composition and breeding cycle of blacktail,Diplodus sargus capensis (Pisces: Sparidae), caught off St Croix Island,Algoa Bay,South Africa

The contents of the alimentary tracts of D. sargus capensis were analysed to establish diet composition. The importance of analysing stomach, intestine and total alimentary tract, separately, is emphasized. D. sargus capensis is an omnivore preying on lower intertidal and shallow subtidal benthic species. Cirripedia and algae were the most important groups and constitute ca. 60% of the total dietary composition. Ulva sp., Perna perna and Balanu, spp. were prefered species. A new index for ranking prey items, which combines the modified points method and the frequency of occurrence method, is suggested. It is especially useful for omnivorous fish where prey items sucl as seaweed and colonial organisms are difficult to enumerate. Ambosexual individuals differentiate into functional males or functional females. Active spermatogenesis in the ovo-testis suggests a special type of protandric development. D. sargus capensis has an extended breeding cycle with a peak spawning period from October to December.     

Effects of postweaning dietary energy source on reproductive traits in primiparous sows

An experiment was conducted to study the effects of major dietary energy source fed from weaning to ovulation or from ovulation to d 35 of pregnancy on reproductive traits in primiparous sows. Dietary energy sources were used to manipulate the plasma insulin concentration. One hundred thirteen sows were used in a split-plot design. From weaning to ovulation sows were fed at two times maintenance either a diet with tallow (Fat) or maize starch plus dextrose (Starch) as the major energy source. From ovulation onward, sows within each dietary group were alternately reassigned to either the Fat or the Starch diet and were fed at 1.25 times maintenance. Estrus detection was performed three times a day from d 3 to 9 after weaning and sows were inseminated each day of standing estrus. On d 35 of pregnancy, the sows were slaughtered and their reproductive tracts were removed. Plasma insulin concentration was higher in sows fed the Starch-rich diet than in sows fed the Fat-rich diet on d 4 after weaning (1.30 vs 0.97 ng/mL, P = 0.08) and on d 32 of pregnancy (1.20 vs 0.51 ng/mL, P < 0.001). Plasma glucose and IGF-I concentration on d 4 after weaning and d 32 of pregnancy did not differ between sows on the two dietary energy sources. The percentage of sows exhibiting estrus within 9 d after weaning was 52 and 67% for the Fat and Starch diet before ovulation, respectively (P = 0.11), whereas the weaning-to-estrus interval was 134 vs 123 h, respectively (P = 0.12). Survival analysis showed that sows fed the Fat-rich diet had a 1.6 times higher risk to remain anestrous until d 9 after weaning than sows fed the Starch-rich diet (P = 0.04). No effect of dietary energy source, either before or after ovulation, on uterine, placental, or embryonal development on d 35 of pregnancy was found. It can be concluded that the dietary energy source provided after weaning can affect the risk of sows to remain anestrous but does not affect uterine, placental, or embryonic traits.     

Impact of sampling and storage technique,and duration of storage,on the composition of fresh grass when analysed using near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy

The objective of this study was to examine the effect of sampling technique (pluck or cut), storage duration (immediate analysis, 24‐h or 48‐h), storage temperature (ambient or chilled) and storage conditions (air present, air excluded or breathable) on the composition of fresh grass sampled from a sward managed to simulate grazing. Treatments were repeated across four sampling dates, with grass samples stored in grip seal bags prior to analysis using near‐infrared reflectance spectroscopy. Grass sampled by ‘pluck’ had a higher crude protein and ME content, and a lower acid detergent fibre (ADF) content, compared to that sampled by ‘cut’. Grass stored for 48 h had a lower water soluble carbohydrate (WSC) and ME content and a higher ADF content than for immediate analysis. Samples stored for 24 h did not differ from immediate analysis. Grass stored at ambient temperature had a lower WSC and ME content compared to immediate analysis. Grass stored under ‘breathable’ conditions had a lower ME content and higher ADF content than immediate analysis or samples stored with air present or air excluded. It is recommended that grass for analysis should be sampled by cutting, stored chilled (4°C) in a sealed bag to minimize exposure to oxygen and analysed within 24 h of harvest.     

内源H2O2对水稻种子萌发的影响

通过用不同浓度的烟酰胺腺嘌呤二核苷酸磷酸（nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide phosphate, NADPH）合成酶抑制剂碘二苯（diphenylene iodonium, DPI）及过氧化氢（hydrogen peroxide, H₂O₂）清除剂二甲基硫脲（dimethylthiourea, DMTU）分别培养水稻（Oryza sativa L.）种子,研究内源H₂O₂对种子萌发过程胚根、胚芽和胚根根尖活力等的影响。结果表明,DPI及DMTU培养的水稻种子其胚根生长和胚芽生长均受到抑制,尤其是DPI对胚根生长的抑制作用更为显著。DPI和DMTU对水稻种子萌发的影响均呈现出浓度效应,即浓度越高,抑制作用越强。其中,DPI对水稻种子萌发的抑制作用比DMTU的更为明显。此外,胚根根尖的超氧阴离子（superoxide anion, O ^2-）和H₂O₂含量随DMTU浓度增大而减少,根尖细胞受损也越严重。由此推测,内源H₂O₂可能参与调控水稻种子萌发过程。     

安徽省水稻品种(系)对稻瘟病和稻曲病的抗性评价

2013年对安徽省103份水稻品种(系)进行稻瘟病和稻曲病田间抗病性鉴定。结果表明,参试材料对稻瘟病表现抗病和中抗的分别有5份和9份,占13.59%;表现中感的有25份,占24.27%;表现感病和高感的分别有33份和31份,占62.14%。对稻曲病表现抗病和中抗的分别有6份和7份,占12.62%;中感的有55份,占53.40%;感病和高感的分别有29份和6份,占33.98%。对两种病害均能达到抗病或中抗的只有3份,分别是G优6号、Y两优1500和协优118。     

Nanoemulsion from essential oil of Pterodon emarginatus (Fabaceae) shows in vitro efficacy against monogeneans of Colossoma macropomum (Pisces: Serrasalmidae)

Outbreaks of diseases pose a major threat to sustainable aquaculture development worldwide. Application of herbal products to combat parasitic diseases provides an alternative approach for sustainable aquaculture. This study investigated the in vitro antiparasitic effects of an oil‐in‐water nanoemulsion prepared using the essential oil from Pterodon emarginatus, against monogeneans infesting Colossoma macropomum. Gill arches from C. macropomum (47.6 ± 14.5 g and 13.5 ± 1.4 cm) that were naturally parasitized by Anacanthorus spathulatus, Notozothecium janauachensis and Mymarothecium boegeri were immersed in different dispersions of the P. emarginatus nanoemulsions (0, 50, 100, 200, 400 and 600 mg/L). The major compounds presented in the essential oil of P. emarginatus were β‐elemene, β‐caryophyllene and α‐humulene. Characterization of these nanoemulsions showed that they have a small mean droplet size and low polydispersity index, which is concordant with stable systems. In this in vitro trial, the P. emarginatus nanoemulsion concentrations of 100, 200, 400 and 600 mg/L presented 100% helminthic efficacy against monogeneans of the gills of C. macropomum. The highest two concentrations used (400 and 600 mg/L) were seen to immobilize the parasites after only 15 min. Therefore, it would be worthwhile testing these concentrations in therapeutic baths against monogeneans of C. macropomum.     

CFD-DEM耦合模拟网式过滤器局部堵塞

过滤器内部的流场不均导致使用时容易产生局部堵塞,堵塞分布受入口流速、颗粒粒径、流线轨迹等因素的共同影响。该文以计算流体力学-离散元法(computational fluid dynamics-discrete element method,CFD-DEM)耦合模拟不同流量下Y型网式过滤器内部不同粒径的沙粒运动及分布,分析过滤器内部流态对沙粒运动分布的影响并通过试验加以证明。结果表明,滤网两侧的压差占总压差的77%。网面流量呈阶梯分布,最大流量位于出口侧滤网上端,最低流量位于进口侧滤网中心,前者是后者的5.9倍;对于通过滤网的颗粒,入口流速越高,颗粒通过点越集中;对于拦截颗粒,当粒径接近孔径时,颗粒稳定附着在滤网,增加入口流速使颗粒向侧面滤网聚积并产生局部堵塞,粒径远大于孔径时,颗粒在内腔中不停运动,难以稳定附着在滤网;降低入口流速将提高颗粒分布的均匀程度,延长过滤器高效段时间,减少冲洗难度。     

果实膨大期不同施氮量对油桃产量和品质的影响

  【目的】  桃园施肥过量不仅导致资源浪费和环境问题,还会影响桃树的正常生长。在果实膨大期,果实体积和重量迅速增大,果实重量的增加占总果重的50%～70%,果实膨大期是影响果实着色和内在品质形成的关键期,探究此阶段适宜的施氮量,对降低氮肥施用量、提高果实产量和品质有重要意义。  【方法】  田间试验在北京市林业果树科学研究院果树生长良好的果园进行,试材为早熟油桃品种‘夏至早红’。设置0、100、200、400 kg/hm2 4个氮 (N) 水平,即N0、N1、N2和N3处理。2016年供试氮肥1/2为普通尿素,1/2为15N丰度为5.18%的尿素;2017年供试氮肥均为普通尿素。氮肥在果实膨大期于桃树两侧沟施。在果实成熟期取样,调查桃单株果实产量、单果重、果实可溶性固形物、果实还原糖和总酸、叶片SPAD值、新梢长度、各器官Ndff值。  【结果】  桃单株果实产量和单果重在施氮量200 kg/hm2(N2) 处理下最高,与N3处理没有显著差异,二者单果重均显著高于N0和N1处理。随着施氮量的增加,果实可溶性固形物含量先上升后下降。果实还原糖和总酸含量与果实膨大期施氮量呈正相关。2016年6月8日之后,N2和N3处理叶片SPAD值显著高于N0和N1处理 (除6月15日,N1与N2、N3处理无显著差异外)。2016年新梢长度随着施氮量的增加而增长,N3处理新梢长度显著高于其它3个处理;2017年N2和N3处理新梢长度显著高于N0和N1处理。随着施氮量的增加,叶片、枝条、果实的Ndff值均增加。  【结论】  适量施氮 (N 200 kg/hm2) 能够提高果实产量,在此基础上再增加氮肥用量 (N 400 kg/hm2),增产效果不明显。果实膨大期施氮可促进于新生器官 (新梢) 的建成,高施氮量能够加快新梢生长。