A comparative study on the rumen microbial populations,hydrolytic enzyme activities and dry matter degradability between different species of ruminant

A comparative study among Korean native cow (Hanwoo), Holstein dairy cow, Korean native goat and crossbred sheep on the population and marker concentration of ruminal microbes, the activities of carboxymethylcellulase (CMCase), xylanase and amylase, and in situ dry matter (DM) degradability were conducted. Twelve ruminally cannulated animals, three of each species, were used. Animals were fed the same diet containing 40% formula feed and 60% rice straw at the level of 2.5% of body weight. Total viable microbial populations in the rumen fluid were significantly (P < 0.01) greater for bacteria and fungi in goat than those of Holstein. The protozoan population among ruminant species was the reverse from that of bacteria. The concentrations of 2,6‐diaminopimelic acid and chitin as markers for bacteria and fungi in the rumen fluid, respectively, were highest in goat, which is in accordance with the above population data. The concentration of aminoethylphosphonic acid as marker of protozoa was highest in Hanwoo and lowest in sheep (P < 0.01). Goat had the highest (P < 0.01) activities of all the enzymes investigated among ruminants. In situ effective degradation of the DM of rice straw was approximately 19% higher in the rumen of goat compared with other animals.     

野山杏果肉成分分析及对小鼠小肠蠕动作用的研究

考察野山杏干果肉的营养成分及其膳食纤维的润肠通便作用,同时研究用碱处理法从野山杏果肉中提取膳食纤维的最佳工艺条件。研究结果表明,野山杏干果肉含有丰富的膳食纤维（51．84％）和钾、镁、磷、铁、钠等多种矿物质元素及维生素;制备野山杏果肉膳食纤维的最佳工艺条件是碱处理温度为30℃．碱处理时间为60min,碱（NaOH）溶液用量为11mL／g;肠蠕动实验组与模型组相比,中、高剂量对便秘模型小鼠的小肠蠕动和推进作用有显著性差异（P〈0．05）,表明野山杏果肉膳食纤维可明显促进小鼠小肠蠕动,具有润肠通便作用。     

水貂阿留申病的历史回顾及最新研究概述

水貂阿留申病是阻碍养貂业发展的世界性攻关病害。自人们发现该病至今已有５０余年的历史,尽管国内外有关专家学者,从没间断过对该病的研究,但始终没能攻克该病的免疫防制问题;值得庆幸的是,在国家科委和农业部畜牧兽医司等部门的大力资助下,我们对阿留申病的免疫原性和免疫机制进行了较系统深入的研究,并研制出了阿留申病灭活疫苗,现已在多个大型貂场进行小试。该文对阿留申病的病史和危害,以及最新研究进展和重大技术突破进行了较全面系统的论述。     

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.     

Search for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Salmonella</Emphasis> spp. in ostrich productive chain of Brazilian southeast region

We analyzed ostriches from an equipped farm located in the Brazilian southeast region for the presence of Salmonella spp. This bacterium was investigated in 80 samples of ostrich droppings, 90 eggs, 30 samples of feed and 30 samples of droppings from rodents. Additionally, at slaughter-house this bacterium was investigated in droppings, caecal content, spleen, liver and carcasses from 90 slaughtered ostriches from the studied farm. Also, blood serum of those animals were harvested and submitted to serum plate agglutination using commercial Salmonella Pullorum antigen. No Salmonella spp. was detected in any eggs, caecal content, liver, spleen, carcass and droppings from ostriches and rodents. However, Salmonella Javiana and Salmonella enterica subsp. enterica 4, 12: i:- were isolated from some samples of feed. The serologic test was negative for all samples. Good sanitary farming management and the application of HACCP principles and GMP during the slaughtering process could explain the absence of Salmonella spp. in the tested samples.     

Gastric inflammatory pseudotumour secondary to <Emphasis Type="Italic">Actinomyces hordeovulneris</Emphasis> infection in a cat

Background

The authors report the first case of feline gastric actinomycosis associated with infection by Actinomyces hordeovulneris.

Case presentation

A 4-year-old, neutered male, semi-feral European cat, with a 1 year history of chronic vomiting, was referred to the clinic. Abdominal ultrasound examination identified a hypoechoic focal transmural thickening with loss of normal wall layering and hyperechoic speckles at the gastric body. Initial gastroscopic examination showed a tumour-like gastric mass with an ulcerated depression at the level of the greater curvature. Histologic examination of endoscopic biopsy specimens was consistent with a severe lymphoplasmacytic gastritis. After 2 months, due to persistence of abdominal discomfort, surgical exploration and intraoperative sampling of gross abnormalities was recommended. Full thickness gastric wall biopsies, and fine needle aspiration of the gastric thickening and gastric lymph node, were performed. Histopathological examination identified a transmural pyogranulomatous gastritis. Aspirate samples of the gastric wall cultured positive, with colony morphology, biochemical testing and PCR of the 16 s rRNA gene compatible with Actinomyces hordeovulneris. After 4 months of treatment with cefovecin (8 mg/kg subcutaneously every 14 days), the vomiting completely resolved, as well as the ultrasonographic gastric alteration.

Conclusion

This case report of feline gastric actinomycosis, caused by Actinomyces hordeovulneris, suggests that gastric bacterial infection should be considered in cases of focal gastric wall thickening associated with chronic vomiting in the cat, which may otherwise closely resemble neoplastic disease. Once a diagnosis of actinomycosis was obtained, a correct treatment with antibiotic therapy can resolve it.

     

Effect of source and dose of probiotics and exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFE) on intake,feed efficiency,and growth of male buffalo (<Emphasis Type="BoldItalic">Bubalus bubalis</Emphasis>) calves

Probiotics of Lactobacillus acidophilus, Saccharomyces cerevisiae, and Aspergillus niger and three commercial exogenous fibrolytic enzymes (EFE) were tested in vitro to select best source and optimum dose followed by in vivo studies on male buffalo calves. Bacterial (P < 0.001) and protozoal population were increased significantly (P < 0.001) with probiotics and EFE. In vitro dry matter digestibility was more (P < 0.001) on L. acidophilus and then on S. cerevisiae. Dose required for L. acidophilus and S. cerevisiae probiotics was 1 × 10⁹ and 3 × 10⁹ cfu/flask, respectively. Cellulase and xylanase were effective at 4,000 and 12,500 IU/kg DM. In vitro cell wall digestibility was increased (P < 0.001) when probiotics and EFE were used together. Best source and optimum dose of probiotics and EFE were fed to 18 male buffalo calves with concentrate supplement (CS). Calves were randomly divided into three groups either without probiotics and EFE (CG) or with probiotics (EG₁) or probiotics combined with EFE (EG₂) on wheat straw diet. Organic matter, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber digestibility was improved significantly. Average daily weight gain (ADG) and feed efficiency were significantly higher (P < 0.001) in EG₂ than EG₁ or CG. Final body weight was 4% and 12% and feed efficiency was 2.6% or 1.6% more (P < 0.001) in EG₂ compared to CG or EG₁, respectively. Fortification of CS with probiotics and EFE together had more impact on FE and ADG in buffalo calves.