Intake and digestibility in sheep and chemical composition during different seasons of some West African browse species

Foliage of Afzelia africana, Pterocarpus erinaceus and Khaya senegalensis, from 10 trees per species, was collected every two weeks during the late dry, rainy and cool season to determine the seasonal effects on chemical composition. Fifteen rams of the Djallonké breed, weighing on average 20.0 kg, were used to evaluate the voluntary intake and digestibility of hay of A. gayanus, foliage of A. africana (as a sole feed), and A. africana, P. erinaceus and K. senegalensis offered with 30% of the diet as A. gayanus hay. The crude protein (CP) content of A. africana, and P. erinaceus decreased significantly from the late dry season to the cool season when that of K. senegalensis tended to increase. The mean CP of A. africana, P. erinaceus and K. senegalensis differed significantly (173 g, 139 g and 114 g/kg DM, respectively). The DM intake of A. africana offered with hay (571 g/d) or as a sole feed (598 g/d) were not significantly different, but was higher than that of P. erinaceus (428 g/d) and K. senegalensis (298 g/d). The digestibility calculated by difference of DM and CP of A. africana (582 g/kg DM and 795 g/kg CP, respectively) did not differ significantly from A. africana as a sole feed, but were higher than for the other species. The nutritive value of A. africana seems to justify the high preference of herders for this species.     

Wild ostrich (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Struthio camelus australis</Emphasis>) reproduction in Orbata,a nature reserve in Tunisia

The aim of the current investigation was to determine wild ostrich reproductive behaviour in Orbata Nature Reserve by observing 16 hens and 28 cocks over a seven-year period. Intense laying commenced in January, one month after the cessation of the rainy season, and 92% of the eggs were produced during the dry season (January to May, peaking in March). Over the seven years, 1,322 eggs were laid in 69 nests, which corresponded to an annual average production of 19.2 ± 9.1 eggs/nest and 11.8 eggs/hen. 24 nests (34.78%) were non-brooded, 17 nests (24.64%) were deserted in the course of incubation, and 28 nests (40.58%) possessed hatched eggs. All the non-incubated nests had egg losses equivalent to 46.6 ± 12.6%. Hatchability success of incubated eggs was 41.9 ± 12.0%. Ostriches tended to dig their nests adjacent to the reserve enclosure which had direct access by road and track, the latter subjecting them to human disturbance and predation. The systematic obstruction of these nests stimulated ostriches to build additional nests within the reserve perimeter. The authors discussed the results recorded in an ostrich flock in relation to the environmental factors (climatic factors, food disponibility and predation) and suggested possibilities for improved wildlife management.     

Effects of tea saponins on rumen microbiota,rumen fermentation,methane production and growth performance—a review

Reducing methane emission from ruminant animals has implications not only for global environmental protection but also for efficient animal production. Tea saponins (TS) extracted from seeds, leaves or roots of tea plant are pentacyclic triterpenes. They have a lasting antiprotozoal effect, but little effect on the methanogen population in sheep. There was no significant correlation between the protozoa counts and methanogens. The TS decreased methanogen activity. It seems that TS influenced the activity of the methanogens indirectly via the depressed ciliate protozoal population. The TS addition decreased fungal population in the medium containing rumen liquor in in vitro fermentation, but no such effect was observed in the rumen liquor of sheep fed TS. Tea saponins had a minor effect on the pattern of rumen fermentation and hence on nutrient digestion. When added at 3 g/day in diets, TS could improve daily weight gain and feed efficiency in goats. No positive associative effect existed between TS and disodium fumarate or soybean oil on methane suppression. Inclusion of TS in diets may be an effective way for improving feed efficiency in ruminants.     

利用析因法测定产蛋鸡必需氨基酸需要量、模式及模型

本研究是3期饲养试验内容的概括和总结，目的是使所建立的估测产蛋鸡必需氨基酸（EAA）需要模型具有广泛的适应性和准确性。对394只罗曼蛋鸡的试验数据进行多元回归分析。根据食入的每个EAA（主要包括赖氨酸、蛋氨酸、色氨酸、苏氨酸、亮氨酸、异亮氨酸、苯丙氨酸、缬氨酸、组氨酸、精氨酸、胱氨酸、酪氨酸）与产蛋、维持和增量所需的相应EAA的回归关系，测定相应的回归系数，建立了估测每个EAA需要的数学模型，可估测产蛋鸡在任何生产条件下每个EAA的需要量及模式。另外．本试验还建立了指数曲线模型（R2为0．71），唐它来描述食入EAA与产蛋量间的关系比较恰当，不过，用来估测产蛋鸡EAA需要量时，其估测值与实测值的吻合度没有桥因法好（R2为0．80）。     

白鹭大肠埃希菌的分离鉴定与药敏试验

对3份白鹭新鲜粪便进行细菌分离纯化、染色镜检和生化鉴定,并用Kirby-Bauer法对分离细菌用30种抗菌药进行了耐药性试验。结果表明,分离到3株革兰阴性小杆菌为大肠埃希菌,分别编号为E1、E2和E3。3株白鹭大肠埃希菌都对青霉素G、阿莫西林、万古霉素和洁霉素耐药,对常用广谱抗菌药物有2重以上耐药性,但对试验用的氨基苷类抗生素、喹诺酮类药物和复方新诺明高度敏感。     

Effect of different hand-milking techniques on milk production and teat treatment in Zebu dairy cattle

The aim of the study was to test three different hand-milking techniques (“pull down”, “thumb in”, and “full hand grip”) and their effects on milk production and teat treatment. This is important since milk production in many tropical areas still rely on hand-milking. The study was carried out at a peri-urban farm in the Bobo-Dioulasso area in Burkina Faso. Twelve indigenous Zebu cows in early lactation were used in the study. The sequences of the treatments (hand-milking techniques) and the milkers were balanced for carry-over effects between successive periods and days, respectively. The sequences were constructed by using special Latin squares. Yield and composition of saleable milk was not affected by milking technique but there were differences between the milkers in milk yield. There was also a significant interaction for saleable milk yield between milker and milking technique. Hemoglobin in milk was measured as an indicator of teat damage. The hemoglobin content was numerically higher in post-milking strip milk samples than in saleable milk. It was concluded that the amount of milk removed depends mainly on the milker and how well the milking technique works for the individual milker. No effect of milking technique was observed on teat treatment.     

2018—2020年四川省兽医系统实验室检测能力比对

为评估四川省兽医系统实验室检测能力和水平,2018—2020年四川省动物疫病预防控制中心组织全省21个地市（州）级兽医实验室开展了检测能力比对。结果显示：2018—2020年全省整体平均正确率分别为95.59%、97.09%和97.88%,说明四川省地市（州）级兽医实验室检测能力处于较高水平,能满足非洲猪瘟、禽流感等重大动物疫病检测需要。同时,部分实验室也反映出一些问题,如设备差、检测水平不高、检测报告不规范等。建议加大兽医实验室建设力度,更新完善检测设施设备;加强实验室技术人员培训,提升其检测能力和水平;同时继续推进兽医系统实验室考核工作,加强比对考核。     

Disease incidence in ranch and pastoral livestock herds around Lake Mburo National Park,in South Western Uganda

A longitudinal study was done to monitor incidence of livestock diseases in ranch and pastoral herds around Lake Mburo National Park, in South-western Uganda with a high level of wildlife (impala and zebra) and livestock (cattle and goats) interactions. East Coast Fever (ECF), abortions, helminthosis and starvation due to drought were major livestock disease problems encountered. ECF was a major disease affecting mainly calves, causing mortality both in ranch (8.5%) and pastoral (8.2%) herds. Meanwhile, drought was a more serious in pastoral than ranch herds (p < 0.05), killing 28.5 % and 5.8% of adult female cattle in respective production systems. Other endemic diseases found and controlled by vaccination were FMD, CBPP and blackquarter. In both cattle and goats helminthosis was causing mortalities, 3.3% and 0.8% among calves in pastoral and ranches respectively; and 4.8% and 6.9% among kids and sub-adult goats respectively. Many cases of abortions occurred among pastoral herds. In conclusion, the disease incidence among livestock was the same or relatively low as compared to other areas without wildlife.     

Environmentally sustainable production of food,feed and fuel from natural resources in the tropics

Responding to the challenges posed by global warming, peak oil and biofuels will require a paradigm shift in the practice of agriculture and in the role of live stock within the farming system. Farming systems should aim at maximizing plant biomass production from locally available diversified resources, processing of the biomass on farm to provide food, feed and energy and recycling of all waste materials. The approach that is the subject of this paper is that the generation of electricity can be a by-product of food/feed production. The concept is the fractionation of biomass into inedible cell wall material that can be converted to an inflammable gas by gasification, the gas in turn being the source of fuel for internal combustion engines driving electrical generators. The cell contents and related structures such as tree leaves are used as human food or animal feed. As well as providing food and feed the model is highly appropriate for decentralized small scale production of electricity in rural areas. It also offers opportunities for sequestration of carbon in the form of biochar the solid residue remaining after gasification of the biomass.