A mail survey of factors associated with morbidity and mortality in feedlot calves in southwestern Ontario.

The design and results of a mail survey of a simple random sample of southwestern Ontario feedlot owners are presented. The survey provided general data about management of feedlot calves and the association between a number of factors and disease and/or death rates. The number of calves purchased was related positively, in a linear manner, to mortality and morbidity rates. Increased levels of morbidity and mortality were noted when the ration was changed to corn silage from dry-hay within the first month after arrival. However, it was not clear whether the ration changes preceded or followed increased rates of morbidity and mortality. Prophylactic levels of antimicrobials in the water supply were associated with increased death losses. Shipping cattle by truck, rather than train, was associated with decreased rates of disease. Processing factors, including using vaccines against respiratory disease, were not associated significantly with mortality or morbidity. It was concluded that reducing the number of calves, to approximately 100 per group, not changing the ration to silage within the first month and not using antibiotics in the water supply on arrival could significantly reduce disease and death losses.     

Insulin tolerance in laminitic ponies.

Sensitivity to insulin was assessed in ponies episodically affected with chronic laminitis by measurement of blood glucose and arterial blood pressure during insulin tolerance tests. In terms of blood glucose values, laminitic ponies were significantly less sensitive to insulin than controls. Conversely, a post-insulin decline in diastolic, systolic and mean blood pressure values was significantly greater in laminitic ponies than in controls.     

Gill diseases of cultured salmonids in Ontario.

Between 1977 and 1981, the Fish Pathology Laboratory of the Ontario Veterinary College received 239 cases from trout farms of southern Ontario, 51 (21.3%) of which had diseased gills. Branchial lesions in 86.3% of these 51 cases were characterized by marked lamellar epithelial hyperplasia with epithelial hypertrophy and lamellar fusion. Filamentous bacteria were seen on the surface of the branchial filaments and lamellae in 68.6% of the cases. Our observations highlight the importance of gill diseases as a production problem of farmed salmonids in southern Ontario.     

Serological tests as indicators of immunity against Pasteurella multocida infection in sheep.

Five serological tests, i.e. single tube agglutination, doubling dilution tube agglutination, agar agglutination, passive hemagglutination and passive mouse protection tests were evaluated for their efficacy in predicting the fate of vaccinated and unvaccinated sheep on challenge with an ovine strain of Pasteurella multocida. The passive hemagglutination test predicted the fate of unvaccinated sheep while the agar agglutination test indicated the immune status of vaccinated sheep.     

Studies on vitamin E and selenium deficiency in young pigs. III. Effect on kinetics of erythrocyte production and destruction.

The effect of vitamin E and/or selenium deficiency on the kinetics of erythrocyte production and destruction has been investigated in swine. The plasma iron turnover rate, 59Fe incorporation into newly formed red cells as well as the 51Cr apparent red cell half-life, were not found to be significantly affected by either vitamin E deficiency, selenium deficiency or deficiency of both, as compared to replete animals. The results of this study suggest that vitamin E is not a limiting factor for normal erythropoiesis in young growing pigs. Erythropoiesis appeared, however, to be slightly decreased in selenium deficient pigs and will need to be further investigated.     

The pathogenisis of leptospirosis II. Jaundice in experimental leptospirosis in guinea pigs.

Different mechanisms responsible for the appearance of jaundice in leptospirosis caused by Leptospira icterohaemorrhagiae in guinea pigs were discussed. Hepatocellular damage was demonstrated with the presence to a lesser extent of intrahepatic biliary obstruction. A massive destruction of extravascular red blood cells liberated by the hemorrhagic diathesis, appeared to be the main cause in the genesis of jaundice. The latter was inhibited following the neutralization of the reticuloendothelial system of guinea pigs by an irradiation before the infection.     

三江源地区1961−2019年降水量时空变化特征

利用三江源地区13个气象站1961?2019年共59年的降水量资料,基于一元线性回归、滑动平均法、气候倾向率和重标极差分析等方法,研究源区降水量的时空演变规律和未来变化趋势.结果表明:三江源地区年均降水量为470.7?mm,并以10.31?mm·10?a?1的速率增加.黄河源区春季降水量最大,其余三季以澜沧江源区最高,...     

不同植物生长延缓剂和除草剂对苜蓿/玉米套作系统产量和种间竞争的影响

为解决夏季在单作紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)田中套作青贮玉米(Zea mays)后苜蓿和苗期玉米种间竞争的问题,于2018–2019年在套播青贮玉米后对苜蓿喷施3种植物生长延缓剂(调环酸钙、多效唑和甲哌鎓)和两种玉米田除草剂(丁异莠去津和异丙甲草胺),分析其对苜蓿和玉米种间竞争和系统生产力的影响.结果表明:植物生长延缓剂和除草剂混施没有交互作用;除2019年多效唑增加套作期间苜蓿的产量外,与清水对照(CK)相比,3种植物生长延缓剂对苜蓿的抑制作用不显著(P>0.05),未能改变苜蓿、玉米以及系统的总产量.与CK相比,除草剂丁异莠去津对苜蓿的抑制作用显著(P<0.05),降低了苜蓿再生初期的株高、叶绿素含量和套作期间的产量,显著增加了套作玉米的产量(P<0.05),但对苜蓿第2年春季的生长也造成了影响,导致2019年系统总产量和食物当量值显著降低(P<0.05).异丙甲草胺处理玉米、苜蓿的产量与CK差异不显著(P>0.05),但对苜蓿春季产量有提高作用,系统总产量和食物当量值有升高的趋势.本研究采用的植物生长延缓剂和除草剂均未能达到在保证系统生产力的前提下短期有效抑制苜蓿再生、缓解苜蓿与套作玉米苗期的竞争的目的.     

谷子RNA干扰相关酶类基因家族的鉴定与分析

Dicers酶类、Argonautes蛋白以及RNA依赖的RNA聚合酶(RNA-dependent RNA polymerases,RDRs)是RNA干扰(RNA interference,RNAi)机制中重要的核心蛋白,但在谷子(Setaria italica)中尚无系统报道.为了研究谷子中与RNA干扰相关酶类基因的特征,本研究对谷子的RNA干扰相关酶类基因家族进行了蛋白质理化性质、亚细胞定位预测、蛋白质保守基序、基因保守结构域、基因家族成员间系统发育关系以及组织特异性表达谱分析.研究共发现24个与谷子RNA干扰相关酶类基因,包括7个DCL(Dicers),13个AGO(Argonautes),4个RDRs.系统进化树分析表明,这些家族被分为3个进化支.同一家族基因成员具有共同的保守结构域.虽然大多数基因可同时在不同发育时期的叶、茎和穗中表达,但其在各时期的穗和茎中的表达量最高.本研究为详细探讨这些基因在谷子生殖和生长发育中的表观遗传修饰作用提供了理论依据.