Bayesian estimation in maternally ancestral animal models for weaning weight of beef cattle

The Bayesian approach was implemented for fitting several maternally ancestral models for weaning weight data of Angus calves. The goal was to evaluate to what extent genetic evaluation models with additive grand maternal effects (G), or with an ancestrally structured covariance matrix for maternal environmental effects (E), or with a sire × year interaction (ISY), or combinations thereof (GE, GSY, ESY, GESY), redistribute the additive variability and reduce the negative magnitude of the additive correlation between direct and maternal effects (r(AoAm)), when compared with the regular maternal animal model (I). All animals with records had known dams and maternal granddams. The sampling scheme induced low autocorrelations among all variables and tended to converge quickly. The signs of the estimates of r(AoAm) were consistently negative for all models fitted. The magnitudes of the estimates of r(AoAm) from models E, G, GE, ESY, and GESY were almost one-third of those from models I and ISY. Inclusion of the sire × year interaction had some effect in reducing the negative magnitude of r(AoAm), but also reduced the size of the estimates of direct (h(0)(2)) and maternal (h(m)(2)) heritabilities. In comparison, models E or G reduced the negative magnitude of r(AoAm) by 0.50 units and produced more favorable estimates of H(0)(2) and h(m)(2) than models I and ISY. The estimate of h(0)(2) from G was similar to the one from I; however, the estimated h(m)(2) was 0.04 units greater, whereas the estimate of r(AoAm) was much less negative (-0.21 vs. -0.71) than the respective estimates from I. The environmental correlation between the weaning weights of dams and their daughters (λ) was estimated to be -0.28 ± 0.03 in E and ESY, and -0.21 ± 0.03 in GE and GESY. Inclusion of the sire × year interaction effect by itself did not have much of an impact in the reduction of the estimated magnitude of r(AoAm). Rank correlations among EBV for direct effects were larger than 0.94 and did not show any appreciable difference among models, whereas the rank correlation among maternal breeding values displayed differences in the ranking between I and the other models. Models E and ESY recovered the largest amount of total additive variability with maternal effects.     

豆粕粉碎粒度与蛋白质体外消化率的关系研究

将过3．0mm、2．0mm、1．2mm和0．8mm孔径筛片的蒸炒豆粕（测定的几何平均粒度分别为2565μm、529μm、449μm、334μm和210μm）进行体外消化,研究豆粕粒度与蛋白质消化率的关系,结果表明：粒度为449μm组的粗蛋白消化率最高,比2565μm、529μm和334μm组分别提高了10．75％、4．43％和1．37％（P〈0．01）;比210μm组提高了0．17％（P〈0．05）;粒度为449μm组和334μm组的干物质消化率（分别为68．95％,68．89％）较高,分别比2565μm和529μm组提高了（3．52％,3．44％）和（8．14％,8．06％）（P〈0．01）;粒度为449pm的豆粕的赖氨酸、精氨酸、胱氨酸、甘氨酸、谷氨酸、天门冬氨酸、丙氨酸、酪氨酸和脯氨酸的消化率均高于其他粒度组。     

农产品成本收益评价方法的探讨——数据包络分析的应用

评价农产品成本收益的方法很多，但往往缺乏分析的深度与客观性，一种崭新的统计方法——数据包络分析——已经逐步应用于投入产出的规模、结构与技术有效性等的测定．文章介绍了数据包络分析（ＤＥＡ）的模型、论述其特点、应用与计算方法，作为实例探讨了其中的Ｃ２ＧＳ２模型如何应用于农产品成本收益的技术有效性评价，并指出有关的计算机分析软件．     

我国畜间布鲁氏菌病流行特点及因为分析

畜间布鲁氏菌病近年来在我国呈高发态势,已严重威胁畜牧生产和人类健康。本文通过搜集整理大量数据,结合疫情报告资料和定点监测调查资料,对我国近20年畜间布病流行情况及特点进行总结,系统分析造成我国畜间布病疫情上升的原因,为制定科学防控对策奠定基础。     

对妊娠母猪追加n-3类脂肪酸对其子宫脂肪酸含量的影响

用2个试验来评估母猪饲料中追加脂肪酸对母猪子宫脂肪酸构成的影响。在试验1中,组1为对照组(基础日粮),组2为亚麻组(基础日粮添加3.75%的亚麻),组3为保护性脂肪酸组(PFA)含有n-3多不饱和脂肪酸(PUFA)。当母猪170日龄时,对其进行配种使其怀孕。在妊娠40～43d将组1的7头、组2的5头和组3的8头妊娠母猪屠宰。结果表明,相比对照组,组2有增加胎儿二十碳五烯酸(EPA:C20:5n-3)的趋势(P=0.055);组3中胎儿的二十二碳六烯酸(DHA:C22:6n-3)含量显著增加;组2和组3中胎儿的绒毛尿囊膜中的DHA含量有显著增加趋势;在组2中的母猪子宫内膜中,EPA和二十二碳五烯酸(DPA)含量和对照组差异显著(P0.001;P0.05),组3的DHA含量也显著增加(P0.001)。总体来看,亚麻组(组2)和保护脂肪酸组(组3)都选择性地使得母猪子宫内膜和绒毛尿囊膜中的EPA和DHA含量有所增加。在试验2中,将含有PFA(1.5%)的170日龄的母猪日粮作为试验组(n=13/每组)日粮,对照组日粮为玉米-豆粕型。30d后采集其血液样本,当母猪205日龄时对其进行人工配种。妊娠11～19d采集其胎儿和母体子宫样本。血液样本数据显示,PFA日粮组的血浆中EPA和DHA含量都有所增加,且试验组的子宫内膜的EPA含量和对照组差异显著(P0.005);另外试验组胚胎外其他组织的EPA和DHA含量也成倍增加;PFA日粮组的19d胎儿的DHA含量较对照组也有所增加(P0.05)。     

Accuracy of genomic prediction using different models and response variables in the Nordic Red cattle population

Breeding animals can be accurately evaluated using appropriate genomic prediction models, based on marker data and phenotype information. In this study, direct genomic values (DGV) were estimated for 16 traits of Nordic Total Merit (NTM) Index in Nordic Red cattle population using three models and two different response variables. The three models were as follows: a linear mixed model (GBLUP), a Bayesian variable selection model similar to BayesA (BayesA*) and a Bayesian least absolute shrinkage and selection operator model (Bayesian Lasso). The response variables were deregressed proofs (DRP) and conventional estimated breeding values (EBV). The reliability of genomic predictions was measured on bulls in the validation data set as the squared correlation between DGV and DRP divided by the reliability of DRP. Using DRP as response variable, the reliabilities of DGV among the 16 traits ranged from 0.151 to 0.569 (average 0.317) for GBLUP, from 0.152 to 0.576 (average 0.318) for BayesA* and from 0.150 to 0.570 (average 0.320) for Bayesian Lasso. Using EBV as response variable, the reliabilities ranged from 0.159 to 0.580 (average 0.322) for GBLUP, from 0.157 to 0.578 (average 0.319) for BayesA* and from 0.159 to 0.582 (average 0.325) for Bayesian Lasso. In summary, Bayesian Lasso performed slightly better than the other two models, and EBV performed slightly better than DRP as response variable, with regard to prediction reliability of DGV. However, these differences were not statistically significant. Moreover, using EBV as response variable would result in problems with the scale of the resulting DGV and potential problem due to double counting.     

Immunodiagnosis of current fasciolosis in sheep naturally exposed to Fasciola hepatica by using a 2.9 kDa recombinant protein

A 2.9 kDa recombinant-Fasciola hepatica protein (FhrAPS) was employed to estimate the prevalence of fasciolosis in sheep maintained under field conditions. For this purpose, 340 samples with known status in relation to fasciolosis by using a direct-ELISA and the coprological sedimentation were used. These samples were analysed by using an indirect-ELISA (iELISA) and the FhrAPS recombinant protein and excretory/secretory antigens (FhES) of this trematode. Current fasciolosis (CF) was named when results were positive to antigenemia and/or coprology. Out of 198 sheep with current fasciolosis, 68% were positive to the FhrAPS-ELISA test and 53% to the FhES. We observed 14% of the CF-neg sheep were positive to the FhrAPS, whereas this percentage was 52% with the FhES. A significant correlation between FhrAPS and current fasciolosis was obtained (r2=0.513, p=0.001). We concluded that the FhrAPS provides a more suitable antigen than FhES for developing field trials to know the prevalence of early and current fasciolosis.     

Successful drug development despite adverse preclinical findings part 1: processes to address issues and most important findings

Unexpected adverse preclinical findings (APFs) are not infrequently encountered during drug development. Such APFs can be functional disturbances such as QT prolongation, morphological toxicity or carcinogenicity. The latter is of particular concern in conjunction with equivocal genotoxicity results. The toxicologic pathologist plays an important role in recognizing these effects, in helping to characterize them, to evaluate their risk for man, and in proposing measures to mitigate the risk particularly in early clinical trials. A careful scientific evaluation is crucial while termination of the development of a potentially useful drug must be avoided. This first part of the review discusses processes to address unexpected APFs and provides an overview over typical APFs in particular classes of drugs. If the mode of action (MoA) by which a drug candidate produces an APF is known, this supports evaluation of its relevance for humans. Tailor-made mechanistic studies, when needed, must be planned carefully to test one or several hypotheses regarding the potential MoA and to provide further data for risk evaluation. Safety considerations are based on exposure at no-observed-adverse-effect levels (NOAEL) of the most sensitive and relevant animal species and guide dose escalation in clinical trials. The availability of early markers of toxicity for monitoring of humans adds further safety to clinical studies. Risk evaluation is concluded by a weight of evidence analysis (WoE) with an array of parameters including drug use, medical need and alternatives on the market. In the second part of this review relevant examples of APFs will be discussed in more detail.     

鹌鹑肌肉肌苷酸含量和鹑肉保鲜时间的研究

用纸层析法测定鹌鹑肌肉提取液中的肌苷酸含量,实验结果表明:1.鹌鹑性别不同的肌苷酸含量(平均值):雌鹑为5.557μM/g(肉);雄鹑为5.274μM/g(肉),差异不显著(p>0.05)。2.两组不同日龄鹌鹑胸肌肌苷酸含量(平均值):35日龄为5.739μM/g,70日龄为4.941μM/g,差异极显著(p<0.01)。3.鹌鹑不同部位肌苷酸含量,胸肌明显高于腿肌,腿肌的肌苷酸含量平均值仅为胸肌的60.51％,差异极显著(p<0.01)。4.不同条件保存鹑肉时,随着时间的延长,肌肉中的肌苷酸均降解,降解速度,低温(0℃)较室温缓慢。5.测定肌肉中肌苷酸的含量可作为衡量鹌鹑肌肉鲜度的一项有用的指标。     

大蒜素对断奶仔猪生长发育及其周围环境的影响

选用 10 8头 2 0日龄健康无病的杜× (长×大 )三元杂交断奶仔猪 ,按血缘、体重、性别一致原则随机分为 2组 ,每组设 3个重复。各组试验猪基础日粮一致、饲养管理条件一致 ,并由同一饲养员饲养。对照组饲喂带有抗生素的饲料 ;试验组在饲料中添加 2 5%大蒜素 2 0 0g t,试验期18d。结果表明 ,与对照组比较 ,试验组日增重提高 16 5% (P <0 0 5) ,料重比降低 13% (P <0 0 5) ,采食量无显著差异 ,未有试验猪发病 ,粪便颜色比对照组浅 ,粪便表面蚊蝇量较少 ,说明大蒜素对仔猪具有促生长作用 ,同时还具有抑菌和杀菌、减少仔猪发病率、驱除蚊蝇、改善舍内外环境等功效 ,从而提高了经济效益 ,是一种极具有开发价值的中草药添加剂