Responses to graded replacement of urea by maize steep liquor in diets for intensively fed lambs for meat production

Urea is a common ingredient of the diets of intensively fed lambs, but is increasingly required for industrial processes. Maize steep liquor (MSL) is a by-product of maize grain degradation to produce starch that may be a suitable replacement. Fifty growing lambs were fed on equinitrogenous diets in which between 0% and 80% of the urea was replaced by MSL; their growth and metabolism were recorded over 70 days. Increasing replacement of urea by MSL increased feed intake and nutrient digestibilities, leading to increased growth rates, more efficient feed conversion, and increased nitrogen retention. Concentrations of triiodothyroxin, thyroxin, glucose, and methionine were increased by replacement of urea by liquor, and plasma urea was reduced. This study suggests that MSL is a suitable replacement for up to 80% of urea in the diet of rapidly growing lambs.     

Veterinary aspects of ecological monitoring: the natural history of emerging infectious diseases of humans,domestic animals and wildlife

Proliferation of disease pathogens capable of affecting humans, domestic livestock and wildlife increasingly threatens environmental security and biodiversity. Livestock and wild animals in proximity to human beings are often in the chain of transmission and infection. Globalization of industrial livestock production (especially poultry upon which so much of the burgeoning human population depends) often permits transcontinental disease spread. Rapidly expanding (and often illegal) international trade in wild and domestic animals and their products are increasingly involved in the emergence of new diseases that may have the ability to transmit among humans, livestock and wildlife. Rapidly increasing urbanization has led in many places to overcrowded townships that rely on “bushmeat” for sustenance and has contributed to the emergence of virulent zoonotic pathogens. The emergence and proliferation of pathogens are exacerbated by anthropogenic transformation of natural landscapes in order to increase agricultural and livestock production. This paper posits that data gathered by veterinary ecologists should be interpreted and used by other disciplines. The importance of a thorough knowledge of the “natural history” (ecology) of the disease agent and its human, domestic and wild hosts is stressed.     

西南“旱三熟”区不同作物和秸秆覆盖对土壤团聚体及固碳潜力的影响

为了探讨西南"旱三熟"(小麦/玉米/大豆)套作种植模式下农田土壤团聚体的分布特征及有机碳含量变化情况,进而估算该模式下的土壤固碳潜力,在重庆北碚西南大学试验农场对传统耕作(traditional tillage,T)和传统耕作+秸秆覆盖(traditional tillage+straw mulching,TS)2种处理下的土壤团聚体进行筛分和测定。结果表明,3种作物种植下的2mm粒径与2~0.25mm粒径团聚体含量此消彼长,存在显著的负相关关系(r=-0.985,P0.05)。土壤团聚体结构对不同作物的响应不同,水稳性大团聚体(0.25mm粒径)含量在小麦和大豆种植后高达90%左右,玉米种植后约为80%,说明种植玉米有利于土壤水稳性微团聚体的形成。2~0.25mm粒径团聚体的有机碳含量最高,而水稳性微团聚体的两个粒径团聚体有机碳含量相差不大,有机碳含量在团聚体中的分布规律不受种植作物和耕作方式的影响。秸秆覆盖显著提高了0~5cm和5~10cm土层的本土及各个粒径中的有机碳含量,且5~10cm土层团聚体有机碳受秸秆覆盖的影响较大。通过估算固碳潜力发现,玉米条带的土壤固碳潜力显著大于小麦-大豆条带,在耕作处理保持一致的情况下,土壤团聚体有机碳含量对农作物的响应不同。因此,在西南"旱三熟"地区,农田土壤团聚体分布特征和不同粒径有机碳含量受到耕作措施和种植作物的双重影响,土壤固碳潜力主要由水稳性大团聚体的固碳能力决定,水稳性大团聚体更易受到耕作措施和种植作物的影响,在实践中通过秸秆还田提高土壤固碳外,合理安排农作物也有助于提高土壤的固碳能力。     

A pioneering survey of deep-diving and off-shore cetaceans in the northern South China Sea

A pioneering boat-based survey was conducted in 2019, to gather baseline information regarding the presence, composition, relative abundance, and spatial distribution of deep-diving and off-shore cetaceans in the northern South China Sea (SCS). A total of 27 sightings comprising at least 8 cetacean species were recorded during the 13-day survey, including 5 deep-diving species (i.e. Risso's dolphin [Grampus griseus], short-finned pilot whale [Globicephala macrorhynchus], sperm whale [Physeter macrocephalus], Cuvier's beaked whale [Ziphius cavirostris], and an unidentified beaked whale [either the ginkgo-toothed beaked whale, Mesoplodon ginkgodens, or Deraniyagala's beaked whale, Mesoplodon hotaula]), as well as 3 off-shore dolphins (i.e. pantropical spotted dolphin [Stenella attenuate], striped dolphin [Stenella coeruleoalba], and Fraser's dolphin [Lagenodelphis hosei]). With the exception of pantropical spotted dolphins, all other species were sighted and recorded at sea in the northern SCS for the first time. The pantropical spotted dolphin was the most frequently sighted species, comprising 30% of the total sightings. Deep-diving cetaceans were mainly sighted in the northern Xisha Archipelago, whereas off-shore dolphins were distributed across the survey area. The pantropical spotted dolphin was observed in aggregations of more than 100 individuals and nearly all encountered species included calves; these findings suggested that the survey area functions as an important feeding and calving ground for various cetacean species. This pioneering survey provides fundamental information regarding cetacean fauna in the northern SCS and highlights the need to strengthen research and conservation efforts concerning these species.     

Socio-economic factors influencing control of vector-borne diseases in the pastoralist system of south western Uganda

Research in control of tick-borne diseases and trypanosomosis, and their vectors, namely, ticks and tsetse flies respectively, has been on going for decades. However, very little attention has been paid to the socio-economic factors that are likely to influence the outcome of the interventions in the control of these diseases. Thus, this study was designed to investigate these factors, mainly the intra-household factors influencing decision-making in the control of Vector-borne diseases in the pastoralist areas of Uganda. These factors included: indigenous technical knowledge, household economic factors, and gender. Both qualitative and quantitative methods were used in the collection and analysis of data. The tools used for data collection included among others, participatory learning and action (PLA), and Case studies. The findings included the following: In pastoralist households, a big proportion of the household budget was allocated to vector-borne diseases control. In the male-headed households, men dominated decision-making on vector-borne diseases control, although the goals and priorities of men and women in these households were not the same. Also, vector-borne disease control was predominantly by use of modern veterinary drugs, and pastoralists treated sick cattle by themselves even in situations where there were veterinary personnel.     

不同添加剂对夏河县紫花苜蓿青贮品质的影响

以含水量控制在65%～70%的紫花苜蓿（Medicago sativa L.）为青贮原料,通过添加麸皮、红糖、甲酸、乙酸、乳酸菌制剂等,探讨了夏河县紫花苜蓿青贮发酵品质及添加剂对其的影响。结果表明：经添加剂处理的紫花苜蓿,发酵品质均有不同程度的提升,具体表现为pH值及氨态氮含量降低、乳酸含量升高;综合青贮饲料发酵品质、营养价值指标及感官评定来看,添加甲酸、乙酸和芯来旺Ⅰ号对紫花苜蓿青贮饲料的发酵品质和营养价值有明显改善,在90 d的短期青贮中,是适宜夏河县紫花苜蓿青贮饲料生产的高效添加剂,而乙酸作为青贮添加剂在本次试验中效果最佳。     

德宏局辖区边境口岸10年监测实蝇的结果与分析

利用德宏边境口岸10年的实蝇监测数据,从实蝇种类、种群数量和结构动态变化方面分析实蝇发生发展情况。结果如下:(1)10年间德宏地区共监测鉴定出13种实蝇,其中种群数量最多的是桔小实蝇、瓜实蝇和南瓜实蝇;(2)3种主要实蝇10年来发生数量呈上升态势,2009年增速最快,1年监测到的实蝇占10年总量的28.1%;(3)桔小实蝇已经成为德宏地区最大的优势种群,到2009年,它在3种主要实蝇中已占79.0%的绝对多数,增速也最快。     

The presence of double-stranded RNAs in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Alternaria alternata</Emphasis> Japanese pear pathotype is associated with morphological changes

Strains of the Japanese pear pathotype of Alternaria alternata were screened for double-stranded RNAs (dsRNAs). Four strains had several dsRNAs; strain N18 was associated with several dsRNAs and had impaired growth phenotypes such as irregular mycelium and abnormal pigmentation. We isolated dsRNA-cured isolates from strain N18 by single-conidium isolation. The dsRNA-cured isolates had recovered normal growth and pigmentation. Enlarged vesicles were observed in mycelial cells of the original dsRNA-carrying N18 strain. DAPI nuclear staining revealed regression of the nuclei in dsRNA-carrying N18 cells. These results indicate that the dsRNAs might have negative effects, such as apoptosis-like cell death, on the host fungus.     

A molecular mechanism of resistance to streptomycin in <Emphasis Type="Italic">Xanthomonas oryzae</Emphasis> pv. <Emphasis Type="Italic">oryzicola</Emphasis>

Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola, the causal agent of rice leaf streak disease, was found to be sensitive to streptomycin (an aminocyclitol glycoside antibiotic), by inhibition of protein synthesis resulting from interference with translational proofreading. This study aimed to determine the molecular resistance mechanism of X. oryzae pv. oryzicola to streptomycin. Seven streptomycin-resistant mutants were obtained by UV induction or streptomycin selection. These mutants can grow at 100 μg ml⁻¹ of streptomycin while the wild-type strain (RS105) cannot grow at 5 μg ml⁻¹. Sequencing indicated that the rpsL gene encoding ribosomal protein S12 has 375 bp encoding 125 amino acid residues. In all resistant strains, a mutation in which AAG was substituted for AGG (Lys→Arg) occurred either at codon 43 or 88. Two plasmids, pUFRRS and pUFRRX, were constructed by ligating the rpsL gene into the cosmid pUFR034. The plasmids pUFRRS and pUFRRX containing the Lys→Arg mutation of the rpsL gene conferred streptomycin resistance to the sensitive wild-type strain by electroporation. Both transformants, RS1 and RS2, could grow in the medium containing 50 μg ml⁻¹ of streptomycin. A mutation at codon 43 or 88 in rpsL can result in resistance of Xanthomonas oryzae pv. oryzicola to streptomycin.