Enterococcus faecium NCIMB 10415 supplementation improves the meat quality and antioxidant capacity of muscle of broilers

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) on the meat quality and antioxidant capacity of muscle in broilers. A total of 600 Arbor Acre broiler chickens (1‐day‐old, male) were randomly divided into five treatments with six replicates (20 chickens per replicate) for each treatment. The five treatments were the control treatment (CON, basal diet), antibiotic treatment (ANT, basal diet supplemented with 0.1% chlortetracycline) and E. faecium‐supplemented treatments (LEF, MEF and HEF, basal diet supplemented with 50, 100 and 200 mg/kg of E. faecium respectively). The experiment lasted 42 days in two periods of 21 days. Results showed that there were no differences in breast meat quality among different treatments (p > 0.05). Compared with the CON and ANT treatments, the yellowness of thigh meat in E. faecium‐supplemented treatments was significantly increased (p < 0.05); the shear force of thigh meat in the LEF and MEF treatments was lower than that of the CON treatment (p < 0.05). In addition, the concentration of the inosine monophosphate (IMP) in the breast and thigh meat of the MEF treatment was significantly higher than that of the other treatments (p < 0.05). At 21 days, the total antioxidant capability (T‐AOC) level and glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px) activity of breast meat and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in the thigh meat of the MEF treatment were greatly increased (p < 0.05). At 42 days of age, the catalase (CAT), GSH‐Px and T‐AOC activities in the breast meat of the MEF treatment were increased (p < 0.05) and the CAT activity of thigh meat in the LEF and MEF treatments was increased (p < 0.05). In conclusion, E. faecium supplementation increased the meat quality of the thigh muscle, increased the IMP content and the activities of CAT, SOD, T‐AOC, and GSH‐Px of muscle in broilers. Supplementation with 100 mg/kg E. faecium had the greatest effects.     

Combined microRNAome and transcriptome analysis of follicular phase and luteal phase in porcine ovaries

The aim of this study was to explore the expression difference of miRNAs and mRNAs between the follicular phase (FP) and luteal phase (LP) in porcine ovaries and provide a theoretical basis for the research on mammalian reproductive regulation. RNA‐Seq and miRNA‐Seq were used to identify differentially expressed genes (DEGs) and miRNAs (DEMs) between the FP and LP in ovaries of six sows (3‐year‐old Yorkshire pigs with similar weights and same parities). Bioinformatic analysis was used to screen potential genes and miRNAs related to porcine ovarian function. Real‐time qualitative PCR was used to validate the sequencing results. RNA‐Seq results showed that 3,078 genes were up‐regulated, and 1,444 genes were down‐regulated in the LP compared with the FP, and DEGs were significantly enriched in 242 Gene Ontology (GO) terms and 33 Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) pathways. miRNA‐Seq identified 112 DEMs, of which 25 were up‐regulated and 87 were down‐regulated in the LP compared with the FP. We obtained 186 intersection genes (IGs) between the 4,522 DEGs and 2,444 target genes predicted from the 112 DEMs. After constructing a miRNA‐gene‐pathway network, we identified key miRNAs and genes including miR‐17‐3p, miR‐214, miR‐221‐5p, miR‐125b, FGF1, YWHAG, YWHAZ, FDFT1 and DHCR24, which are enriched in Hippo and PI3K‐Akt signalling pathways, and various metabolic pathways. These results indicate that these key genes and miRNAs may play important roles in the developmental transition from FP to LP in porcine ovaries and represent candidate targets for further study.     

固始鸡免疫器官内细胞增殖动态变化

应用流式细胞术研究了固始鸡免疫器官内细胞增殖的动态变化。结果表明:(1)固始鸡不同免疫器官内细胞均以G1期细胞为主,少量细胞为S期和M期,无异倍体细胞。不同免疫器官细胞周期动态变化相似,部分发育阶段之间存在差异。(2)不同发育阶段固始鸡免疫器官细胞增值指数由大到小依次是脾脏、法氏囊和胸腺;在8周龄(胸腺)、或12周龄(脾脏和法氏囊)以前,免疫器官细胞增值指数处于上升阶段,而后逐渐下降,这一结果与固始鸡免疫器官生长发育的测定及其动态变化的分析基本一致。     

Diet composition, herbage intake and digestibility in Inner Mongolian Cashmere goats grazing on native Leymus chinensis plant communities

The botanical composition, intake and digestibility of the diet selected by Inner Mongolian Cashmere goats grazing on a native Leymus chinensis plant community were measured in two grazing periods (June and August) using the n-alkane markers. In each grazing period, 48 Inner Mongolian Cashmere goats (24 wethers and 24 does with an average live weight of 22.1 ± 1.2 kg and 19.6 ± 0.8 kg, respectively) were divided in two groups (G1: grazing group; G2: cage-fed group) of 24 animals each. Based on the observation of G1 grazing behaviour, G2 goats were fed on herbage obtained by a simulative method and were housed in metabolism cages to determine the alkane faecal recoveries. Diet composition was estimated by comparing the odd-chain n-alkane pattern (C₂₅–C₃₅) of the selected plant species with the n-alkane faecal concentrations, corrected for their incomplete faecal recovery. The alkane pair C₃₂:C₃₃ and C₃₆ alkane were used to estimate intake and diet digestibility, respectively. The results showed that the increase of herbage availability from June to August, resulted in higher (P < 0.05) DM, CP, ME, ADF and NDF intake of both wethers and does, with no evident changes in ADF and NDF intake in does., The intake of nutrients differed significantly between wethers and does in both experimental periods, except for NDF in EP1 and ME in EP2. Differences between grazing seasons and goats' sex in nutrients digestibility were not observed. Diet composition indicated seasonal differences, being Sonchus brachyotus, Artemisia frigida and Phragmites communis the main components of the diet in June. However, Suaeda corniculata, Chloris virgata, Xanthium sibiricum and Echinochloa crusgalli became the main diet components in August. Moreover, the sex affected significantly the diet choices in both grazing periods.     

多菌灵对茶树菇菌丝生长的影响及其在子实体中的残留

研究了多菌灵对茶树菇和食用菌生产中3大主要污染霉菌菌丝生长的影响.在PDA培养基上多菌灵对茶树菇菌丝和孢菌、木霉及曲霉菌丝的EC50分别为22.3μg·mL-1、0.06μg·mL-1、0.29μg·mL-1和0.64μg·mL-1,MIC分别为60μg·mL-1、0.9μg·mL-1、1.6μg·mL-1和2.0μg·mL-1;在出菇袋料培养基中,按1500、11000和12000添加多菌灵对茶树菇菌丝生长影响不明显.同时采用液相色谱法分析了多菌灵在茶树菇子实体中的残留,3种处理的残留量分别为0.09ppm、0.04ppm和0.01ppm.     

保存条件对西瓜花粉生活力的影响

西瓜花为半日花,西瓜花粉的生活力在田间条件下开花几小时后即完全丧失。为了延长花粉的生活力,以二倍体西瓜B99品种为试材,研究了不同保存条件对西瓜花粉生活力的影响,结果表明:常温干燥条件下可延长花粉保存时间;低温(4℃)干燥(RH25%)条件下保存花粉,花粉生活力4d内降低较慢,4d后降低稍快,但到第9天仍有1/3以上的花粉具有生活力;前8d的坐果率可达到自然状态(用新鲜花粉授粉)的73%,这在实践中完全可以利用,尤其是对4、5d之内的短期保存更有利用价值。     

Multi‐level mixed models for evaluating factors affecting the mortality and weaning weight of piglets in large‐scale commercial farms in central China

This study investigated the factors affecting piglet mortality (square root of mortality, SQRM) and average weaning weight (AWW) in commercial farms in central China. Information on sow diets, management and climate from 2478 weaning batches completed in 16 pig farms was collected from 2009 to 2013. Multi‐level mixed models, which included batch level (level 1) and farm level (level 2), were used to analyze the factors associated with SQRM and AWW. The mean values of SQRM and AWW were 2.52% (SD = 0.96) and 7.31 (SD = 0.77), respectively. Lactation sow diets supplemented with oregano essential oils (OEOs) decreased the SQRM (P < 0.05) and increased the AWW of piglets (P < 0.01). The SQRM was lower in period 2 (June to September, hot) than in period 1 (February to May, warm) and period 3 (October to January, cold; P < 0.05 and 0.001, respectively). The AWW was lower in periods 2 and 3 than in period 1 (P < 0.01). In conclusion, supplying OEOs to lactation diets can increase the weaning weight and reduce the mortality of piglets. The sources of variations in SQRM and AWW are of greater concern in the warm season than in the hot season.     

屎肠球菌对AA肉鸡血清和肝脏抗氧化功能的影响

试验旨在研究日粮中添加屎肠球菌对爱拔益加（Arbor Acres,AA）肉鸡血清和肝脏抗氧化功能的影响。选取1日龄AA肉鸡600只（公鸡）,随机分为5组,每组6个重复。对照组（CON组）饲喂基础日粮;抗生素组（Ant组）在基础日粮中添加0.1%金霉素;低（LEF组）、中（MEF组）、高（HEF组）剂量屎肠球菌组分别在基础日粮中添加50、100、200 mg/kg屎肠球菌。结果表明：①21日龄时,HEF组肉鸡血清中总抗氧化能力（T-AOC）、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶（GSH-Px）活性均显著高于CON组（P<0.05）,Ant组T-AOC显著高于CON组（P<0.05）;42日龄时,MEF组和HEF组血清中丙二醛（MDA）含量显著低于CON组（P<0.05）,LEF组血清中超氧化物歧化酶（SOD）活性显著高于CON组和Ant组（P<0.05）。②21日龄时,MEF组和HEF组肉鸡肝脏中T-AOC、GSH-Px活性均显著高于CON组（P<0.05）,且HEF组肉鸡肝脏中T-AOC显著高于Ant组（P<0.05）;42日龄时,HEF组肉鸡肝脏中过氧化氢酶（CAT）活性显著高于CON组（P<0.05）。结果提示,屎肠球菌能显著提高21与42日龄血清和肝脏中T-AOC和GSH-Px活性,降低血清中MDA含量,增加抗氧化酶活性,改善肉鸡抗氧化应激能力,且200 mg/kg屎肠球菌添加量在提高血清和肝脏抗氧化能力上与抗生素效果相当。     

动物科学专业认知实习课程教学实践

动物科学专业认知实习是引导学生了解专业、树立专业思想的一个重要环节。通过合理设计课程、精心编排内容等一系列实践,探索出了聘请企业指导教师现场讲解、深入现代化企业感知前沿科技、聘请专家和劳模融入情怀教育、校企协同育人长效机制、加强基地建设等方法,使课程内容不断优化,对引导学生全面认知专业、激发学习热情、树立正确的专业思想、坚定学农爱农为农的信念有较好的积极作用,实现了“既认知动物科技、又感知专业情怀”的“双认知”,同时促进了教学质量的提高。