Branched‐chain amino acid ratios in low‐protein diets regulate the free amino acid profile and the expression of hepatic fatty acid metabolism‐related genes in growing pigs

Liver metabolism is affected by nutrients. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of low‐protein diets (17% crude protein, CP) supplemented with branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs), including leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile) and valine (Val), on hepatic amino acid profile and lipid metabolism in growing pigs. The ratio of Leu : Ile : Val in all groups was 1 : 0.51 : 0.63 (20% crude protein, CP), 1 : 1 : 1 (17% CP), 1 : 0.75 : 0.75 (17% CP), 1 : 0.51 : 0.63 (17% CP) and 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 (17% CP) respectively. Results revealed that compared to the positive control group (1 : 0.51 : 0.63, 20% CP), the low‐protein diets significantly augmented the concentrations of most essential amino acids and non‐essential amino acids (p < .05), with the greatest values observed in the 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 group. Moreover, relative to the control, the low‐protein diets with the Leu : Ile : Val ratio ranging from 1 : 0.75 : 0.75 to 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 markedly downregulated the mRNA abundance of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid‐binding protein 4 (FABP‐4) (p < .05), and upregulated the mRNA expression of hormone‐sensitive lipase (HSL), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐g coactivator‐1α (PGC‐1α), uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) and liver carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (L‐CPT‐1) (p < .05). Therefore, our data suggest that protein‐restricted diets supplemented with optimal BCAA ratio, that is, 1 : 0.75 : 0.75–1 : 0.25 : 0.25, induce a shift from fatty acid synthesis to fatty acid oxidation in the liver of growing pigs. These effects may be associated with increased mitochondrial biogenesis.     

Effects of concentrate‐to‐forage ratios and 2‐methylbutyrate supplementation on ruminal fermentation,bacteria abundance and urinary excretion of purine derivatives in Chinese Simmental steers

This study evaluated the effects of dietary concentrate levels and 2‐methylbutyrate (2MB ) supplementation on performance, ruminal fermentation, bacteria abundance, microbial enzyme activity and urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD ) in steers. Eight ruminally cannulated Simmental steers (12 months of age; 389 ± 3.7 kg of body weight) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Moderate‐concentrate (400 g/kg diet [MC ]) or high‐concentrate (600 g/kg diet [HC ]) diets were fed with or without 2MB (0 g/day [2MB ?] or 15.0 g/day [2MB +]). Dry matter intake and average daily gain increased, but feed conversion ratio decreased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Ruminal pH decreased, but total volatile fatty acid increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Molar proportion of acetate and acetate‐to‐propionate ratio decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. Propionate molar proportion and ruminal NH ₃‐N content increased with the HC diet, but decreased with 2MB supplementation. Neutral detergent fibre degradability decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. Crude protein degradability increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Abundance of Ruminococcus albus , Ruminococcus flavefaciens , Fibrobacter succinogenes and Bufyrivibrio fibrisolvens as well as activities of carboxymethyl cellulase, cellobiase, xylanase and pectinase decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. However, abundance of Prevotella ruminicola and Ruminobacter amylophilus as well as activities of α‐amylase and protease increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Total PD excretion also increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. The results suggested that growth performance, ruminal fermentation, CP degradability and total PD excretion increased with increasing dietary concentrate level from 40% to 60% or 2MB supplementation. The observed diet × 2MB interaction indicated that supplementation of 2MB was more efficacious for improving growth performance, ruminal fermentation and total PD excretion with promoted ruminal bacteria abundance and enzyme activity in the MC diet than in the HC diet.     

Effect of bovine seminal plasma on bovine endometrial epithelial cells in culture

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of seminal plasma (SP) from bulls of known fertility on bovine endometrial epithelial cells (bEEC) in culture. The bEEC from passage 5, approximately 5.0–13 × 10⁵ cells per flask, were challenged with SP from bulls of high or low fertility (n = 3 and 2, respectively) or PBS (control), at 1% (75 μl) or 4% (300 μl) and were incubated for 72 hr (n = 13 per challenge). Total cell number and viability of bEEC after challenge with 1% SP from either high‐ or low‐fertility bulls (75H or 75L, respectively) did not differ from controls. In contrast, challenge with 4% of SP from high‐ or low‐fertility bulls (300H or 300L) negatively affected bEEC cell number and viability. Challenge with 300 L had a greater adverse effect than 300H. These results suggest that the negative effect of bovine SP on bEEC is both dose‐dependent and fertility‐dependent.     

三江源区高寒草原土壤湿度变化特征及与气候因子的关系

利用青海省三江源区兴海县牧业气象站1999-2016年高寒草原土壤湿度、牧草生育期资料,分析了高寒草原土壤湿度的年、季变化特征以及牧草生长季不同生育期土壤湿度的变化特征及与气候因子的关系。结果表明:高寒草原0-10、10-20、20-30、30-40和40-50 cm土壤湿度均随年际延长呈增加趋势,春季除40-50 cm土层外,其他各层土壤湿度均随年际延长呈显著增加趋势(P<0.05)。高寒草原牧草生长季的土壤相对湿度随年际延长呈显著上升趋势(P<0.05),且与生长季降水量之间呈极显著正相关关系(P<0.01)。随着气候变化,牧草抽穗、开花、成熟和枯黄期的土壤相对湿度随年际延长呈显著增加趋势(P<0.05)。牧草抽穗期、枯黄和全生育期的土壤湿度与气温呈显著负相关关系(P<0.05)。高寒草原牧草生长季土壤湿度的增加有利于草地植被生长。     

Impact of cold-season grazing and supplementary feeding on rumen metabolic parameters and micro-organisms in the ewes of Gansu Alpine Fine Wool Sheep北大核心CSCD

An experiment was conducted to scientifically identify the appropriate feed for Gansu Alpine Fine Wool ewes in order to change the animals' breeding mode, which currently can only be mated at the age of 2.5 years due to insufficient nutritional supply. The experiment selected 48 12-month-old ewes and randomly divided them into group a (Diet 1), group b (Diet 2), group c (Diet 3), and a control group with no supplementary feeding. The feed test was run for 90 days. The rumen pH of groups a and b were very significantly higher (P<0.01) or group c significantly lower (P<0.05) than control group. The rumen ammonia nitrogen, protein nitrogen and total nitrogen of groups a, b and c were all higher than control group (P<0.01). The total volatile fatty acids of group a and b were all higher than the control group (P<0.01), group b significantly higher than group c (P<0.05). The molar ratio of acetic acid and propionic acid in group a was very significantly higher than control group (P<0.01), group b and c were significantly higher than control group (P<0.05). The molar ratio of butyric acid in group a was very significantly higher than group c (P<0.01). The ratio of acetic acid and propionic acid in group b was significantly lower than control group (P<0.05). The number of several rumen fiber-degrading bacteria and protozoa in groups a, b and c were very significantly (P<0.01) or significantly (P<0.05) higher than the control. In conclusion, this study shows that supplementary feeding can positively affect the rumen metabolic parameters and the number of several rumen microorganisms in Gansu Alpine Fine Wool ewes. In general, the effects of Diet 1 were the strongest, while Diet 2 also produced notable improvements. © 2018, Editorial Office of Acta Prataculturae Sinica. All rights reserved.     

柞蚕幼虫黄体色与白体色的遗传分析及类胡萝卜素组成比较

为深入探讨柞蚕幼虫体色多样性的形成机制,分析柞蚕品种豫大1号(黄体色)和白一化(白体色,略带黄色)幼虫体色的遗传规律,并比较二者在体壁类胡萝卜素组成上的差异。杂交试验发现,F₁的幼虫体色为黄色,F₂有黄色和白色两种表型,且分离比符合3∶1;回交BC₁(F₁×豫大1号)均为黄色,而BC₁(F₁×白一化)则有两种表型,即黄色和白色,分离比符合1∶1。遗传分析表明,豫大1号的基因型为YYGG,白一化的基因型为YYgg,豫大1号的黄体色对白一化的白体色属于完全显性遗传。代谢组学分析发现,豫大1号中的类胡萝卜素含量(10.259μg/g)远高于白一化(1.167μg/g);白一化体壁中的叶黄素、β-胡萝卜素和玉米黄质含量远小于豫大1号。综上认为,体壁中类胡萝卜素的缺乏是导致白一化形成白体色的原因之一。     

基于无人机成像高光谱的棉叶螨为害等级估测模型构建

为快速、实时、准确地了解新疆棉田棉叶螨(优势种为土耳其斯坦叶螨Tetranychus turkestani)的发生情况,利用高光谱图像中的7种植被指数,使用一般线性回归分析方法分别构建不同棉叶螨为害等级棉花冠层叶片叶绿素相对含量(用soil and plant analyzer development(SPAD)值表征)遥感估测模型和棉叶螨为害等级遥感估测模型,实现棉叶螨为害的实时监测。结果显示:不同棉叶螨为害等级对应的棉花冠层光谱反射率存在明显差异,棉叶螨为害等级与棉花冠层叶片SPAD值呈显著负相关关系。在7个不同棉叶螨为害等级对应的棉花冠层叶片SPAD遥感估测模型中,SPAD-红边归一化植被指数估测模型的估测决定系数为0.915,均方根误差为3.451,识别精确度显著高于其他模型。表明利用棉花冠层叶片SPAD遥感估测模型可快速无损地获取棉叶螨为害数据,构建的棉叶螨为害等级估测模型可用于植保人员快速准确获取棉叶螨为害情况。     

甘薯新品种龙薯14号的选育与栽培技术要点

采用优质品种浙薯60-2与广薯88-70进行杂交,选育出甘薯新品种龙薯14号.该品种在产量、晒干率、出粉率、食味和抗病性等重要经济性状方面表现较为突出,可利用其优质和薯形美观的特点,实现产业化开发利用.