Herbage intake of dairy cows in mixed sequential grazing with breeding ewes as followers

This study aimed to evaluate the hypothesis that mixed sequential grazing of dairy cows and breeding ewes is beneficial. During the seasons of spring–summer 2013 and autumn–winter 2013–2014, 12 (spring–summer) and 16 (autumn–winter) Holstein Friesian cows and 24 gestating (spring–summer) and lactating (autumn–winter) Pelibuey ewes grazed on six (spring–summer) and nine (autumn–winter) paddocks of alfalfa and orchard grass mixed pastures. The treatments “single species cow grazing” (CowG) and “mixed sequential grazing with ewes as followers of cows” (MixG) were evaluated, under a completely randomized design with two replicates per paddock. Herbage mass on offer (HO) and residual herbage mass (RH) were estimated by cutting samples. The estimate of herbage intake (HI) of cows was based on the use of internal and external markers; the apparent HI of ewes was calculated as the difference between HO (RH of cows) and RH. Even though HO was higher in CowG, the HI of cows was higher in MixG during spring–summer and similar in both treatments during autumn–winter, implying that in MixG the effects on the cows HI of higher alfalfa proportion and herbage accumulation rate evolving from lower residual herbage mass in the previous cycle counteracted that of a higher HO in CowG. The HI of ewes was sufficient to enable satisfactory performance as breeding ewes. Thus, the benefits of mixed sequential grazing arose from higher herbage accumulation, positive changes in botanical composition, and the achievement of sheep production without negative effects on the herbage intake of cows.     

Pharmacokinetics and effects of alfaxalone after intravenous and intramuscular administration to cats

AIMS: To determine the pharmacokinetics, and anaesthetic and sedative effects of alfaxalone after I/V and I/M administration to cats.

METHODS: Six European shorthair cats, three males and three females, with a mean weight of 4.21 (SD 0.53) kg and aged 3.8 (SD 0.9) years were enrolled in this crossover, two–treatment, two-period study. Alfaxalone at a dose of 5?mg/kg was administered either I/V or I/M. Blood samples were collected between 2–480 minutes after drug administration and analysed for concentrations of alfaxalone by HPLC. The plasma concentration-time curves were analysed by non-compartmental analysis. Sedation scores were evaluated between 5–120 minutes after drug administration using a numerical rating scale (from 0–18). Intervals from drug administration to sit, sternal and lateral recumbency during the induction phase, and to head-lift, sternal recumbency and standing position during recovery were recorded.

RESULTS: The mean half-life and mean residence time of alfaxalone were longer after I/M (1.28 (SD 0.21) and 2.09 (SD 0.36) hours, respectively) than after I/V (0.49 (SD 0.07) and 0.66 (SD 0.16) hours, respectively) administration (p<0.05). Bioavailability after I/M injection of alfaxalone was 94.7 (SD 19.8)%. The mean intervals to sternal and lateral recumbency were longer in the I/M (3.73 (SD 1.99) and 6.12 (SD 0.90) minutes, respectively) compared to I/V (0 minutes for all animals) treated cats (p<0.01). Sedation scores indicative of general anaesthesia (scores >15) were recorded from 5–15 minutes after I/V administration and deep sedation (scores 11–15) at 20 and 30 minutes. Deep sedation was observed from 10–45 minutes after I/M administration. One cat from each group showed hyperkinesia during recovery, and the remainder had an uneventful recovery.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Alfaxalone administered I/V in cats provides rapid and smooth induction of anaesthesia. After I/M administration, a longer exposure to the drug and an extended half life were obtained compared to I/V administration. Therefore I/M administration of alfaxalone could be a reliable, suitable and easy route in cats, taking into account that alfaxalone has a slower onset of sedation than when given I/V and achieves deep sedation rather than general anaesthesia.     

Based serum metabolomics analysis reveals simultaneous interconnecting changes during chicken embryonic development

Metabolic disorder is a major health problem and is associated with a number of metabolic diseases. Due to native hyperglycaemia and resistance to exogenous insulin, chickens as a model had used in the studies of adipose tissue biology, metabolism and obesity. But no detailed information is available about the comprehensive changes of serum metabolites at different stages of chicken embryonic development. This study employed LC/MS‐QTOF to determine the changes of major functional metabolites at incubation day 14 (E14d), 19 (E19d) and hatching day 1 (H1d), and the associated pathways of differential metabolites during chicken embryonic development were analysed using Metabolite Set Enrichment Analysis method. Results showed that 39 metabolites were significantly changed from E14d to E19d and 68 metabolites were significantly altered from E19d to H1d in chicken embryos. Protein synthesis was promoted by increasing the concentrations of L‐glutamine and threonine, and gonadal development was promoted through increasing oestrone content from E14d to E19d in chicken embryos, which indicated that serum glutamine, threonine and oestrone contents may be considered as the candidate indicators for assessment of early embryonic development. 2‐oxoglutaric acid mainly contributed to enhancing the citric cycle, and it plays an important role in improving the growth of chicken embryos at the late development; the decreasing of L‐glutamine, L‐isoleucine and L‐leucine contents from E19d to H1d in chicken embryonic development implied their possible functions as the feed additive during early posthatch period of broiler chickens to satisfy the growth. These results provided insights into understand the roles of serum metabolites at different developmental stages of chicken embryos, it also provides available information for chicken as a model to study metabolic disease or human obesity.     

基于冗余分析的高寒草原土壤与草地退化关系

在高寒草原退化草地设置研究样地,观测植物群落特征、采集土壤样品、分析土壤物理化学性质,依据数量生态学基本原理,探讨高寒草原退化草地与土壤因子间关系。结果表明:不同退化程度样地沿冗余分析排序图第一排序轴分布,第一排序轴反映草地退化程度的变化;草地植物群落中与第一排序轴负相关且按相关程度大小排序的指标为盖度>地上生物量>地下生物量;第一、第二排序轴能够解释97.1%的土壤因子与草地退化关系;土壤沙砾、p H与第一排序轴正相关,土壤有机碳、土壤含水量、容重、全氮、有效氮与第一排序轴负相关;第一排序轴及所有排序轴所反映的土壤因子均与草地退化之间呈极显著相关关系(P<0.01);不同土壤因子与草地退化之间相关程度不同,土壤有机碳(r=-0.890)、土壤含水量(r=-0.864)、容重(r=-0.847)、全氮(r=-0.836)、有效氮(r=-0.821)等与高寒草原退化相关程度更高且相关关系极显著(P<0.01)。利用退化草地群落特征和土壤因子数据矩阵进行冗余分析能够较好地综合反映土壤因子与草地退化之间的关系及相关程度,土壤有机碳、土壤含水量、容重、全氮、有效氮是反映高寒草原退化的重要土壤指标。     

玛曲高寒草甸放牧强度的遥感监测

为给玛曲县高寒草甸草-畜平衡和草地资源的可持续利用提供科学依据,本研究利用遥感技术,结合2016年地面实测数据和同时期的MODIS影像资料,分别建立了研究区草地地上生物量和植被指数(NDVI)、相对放牧强度间的回归模型以及不同相对放牧强度和NDVI值之间的幂回归模型。结果表明,6-9月调查点NDVI和地上生物量间存在较好的相关性,即随着NDVI值的增加生物量呈上升趋势,且9月份的拟合(R2=0.510 2)达到了极显著水平;实测地上生物量和相对放牧强度之间有很好的拟合关系(R2=0.965 1),随着放牧强度的增加地上生物量呈下降趋势;相对放牧强度和植被指数间相关性较好(R2=0.631),即随着NDVI值的变小,相对放牧强度逐渐增强,当相对放牧强度增强到一定程度时,NDVI对其响应不灵敏。     

新疆乌鲁木齐市犬布鲁氏菌病流行病学调查

为了解新疆乌鲁木齐市犬布鲁氏菌病流行特征,分析犬感染风险因素,初步掌握养犬人员对布鲁氏菌病的认知程度和行为特点,从而提出合理的预防对策和控制措施,采用流行病学横断面研究方法,通过估计流行率计算抽样数量,然后随机抽样,采用IELISA方法检测光滑型和粗糙型犬布鲁氏菌,同时结合调查问卷,获得乌鲁木齐市犬布鲁氏菌病流行率、感染风险因素和养犬人员对布鲁氏菌病认知情况,并对调查结果采用SPSS和Excel软件进行数据统计分析。结果显示:乌鲁木齐市犬布鲁氏菌病总流行率为25.5%(95%CI:20.9%~30.1%),且犬种和牛羊种并存,公共卫生威胁严重;从不同群体看,牧区流行率最高,为41.5%(95%CI:31.0%~52.0%);外购、散养、常接触牛羊、喂生肉、不处理犬粪便等行为是乌鲁木齐市犬布鲁氏菌感染的潜在风险因素,其中"常接触牛羊"(OR=1.97,95%CI:1.47~15.35)、"喂生肉"(OR=5.06,95%CI:1.69~20.74)是主要风险因素;乌鲁木齐市养犬人员对布鲁氏菌病的认知程度低,个人防护意识差。因此,应加强对犬感染牛羊种布鲁氏菌的公共卫生防控,减少犬与牛羊的直接接触,不喂生肉,定期开展犬布鲁氏菌病专项检测,同时加强宣传,提高养犬人员的布鲁氏菌病认知度。     

对兽医卫生信息资源整合共享的思考

近年来,兽医卫生信息化建设蓬勃发展,信息资源愈加丰富,但存在各自为政、重复采集、一数多源、标准规范缺失、共享利用不足等问题。为打通数据壁垒,深入挖掘信息资源价值,提升兽医卫生风险防控能力,本文提出了统筹规划国家、省级两级信息平台建设,制定标准规范,加强数据共享交换和大数据分析应用的兽医卫生信息资源整合共享思路。     

信号肽对溶血素在大肠杆菌中跨膜转运的影响

信号肽在引导外源蛋白的跨膜转运过程中具有重要作用。本试验通过PCR方法获得带有信号肽序列和不带有信号肽序列的溶血素基因,构建表达载体在大肠杆菌中进行诱导表达。经过溶血试验和免疫印迹试验证明缺失了信号肽的重组溶血素不能被跨膜转运至细胞外;带有信号肽的重组溶血素能够跨膜转运大肠杆菌细胞外。本试验为猪链球菌2型基因缺失弱毒疫苗的研究、细菌信号肽以及基因工程重组蛋白的可溶性表达进行了有益探索。     

羊种布鲁氏菌疫苗株PCR-RFLP鉴定方法的建立

为建立一种羊种布鲁氏菌Rev.1疫苗株PCR-RFLP鉴定方法,利用羊种布鲁氏菌Rev.1具有链霉素抗性的特性,选取与链霉素抗性相关编码核糖体蛋白S12的rps L基因为模板设计引物,经PCR扩增后,将产物进行Nci I酶切,发现羊种布鲁氏菌疫苗株Rev.1出现约500 bp条带,而不具有链霉素抗性的羊种布鲁氏菌株16M则出现384 bp条带。结果表明,PCR-RFLP方法能够用于羊种布鲁氏菌Rev.1疫苗株的鉴定,这为今后区分羊种布鲁氏菌疫苗株Rev.1免疫与野株感染提供了基础。