The use of vitamin D3 and its metabolites to improve beef tenderness

Three experiments were conducted to determine whether feeding 25-hydroxyvitamin D3 (25-OH D3) or 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 (1,25-(OH)2 D3) improves the tenderness of longissimus dorsi (LD), semimembranosus (SM), and infraspinatus (IF) muscles similar to supplemental vitamin D3 without leaving residual vitamin D3 and its metabolites in muscle. In the first two experiments, 24 crossbred steers were used to determine the effects of different oral amounts of 1,25-(OH)2 D3 (Exp. 1; n = 12) and 25-OH D3 (Exp. 2; n = 12) on plasma Ca2+ concentrations. In the third experiment, crossbred steers were allotted randomly to one of four treatments: 1) control placebo (n = 7); 2) 5 x 10(6) IU of vitamin D3/d (n = 9) for 9 d and harvested 2 d after last treatment; 3) single, 125-mg dose of 25-OH D3 (n = 8) 4 d before harvest; or 4) single, 500-microg dose of 1,25-(OH)2 D3 (n = 9) 3 d before harvest. The LD and SM steaks from each animal were aged for 8, 14, or 21 d, whereas steaks from the IF were aged for 14 or 21 d. All steaks were analyzed for tenderness by Warner-Bratzler shear force and for troponin-T degradation by Western blot analysis. Supplementing steers with vitamin D3 increased (P < 0.01) the concentration of vitamin D3 and 25-OH D3 in all muscles sampled. Feeding steers 25-OH D3 increased (P < 0.05) the concentration of 25-OH D3 in meat, but to an amount less than half that of cattle treated with vitamin D3. Supplemental 1,25-(OH)2 D3 did not affect (P < 0.10) shear force values; however, there was a trend (P < 0.10) for supplemental vitamin D3 and 25-OH D3 to produce LD steaks with lower shear values after 8 and 14 d of aging, and lower (P < 0.10) shear force values for the SM aged for 21 d. Analysis of Western blots indicated that LD steaks from cattle supplemented with vitamin D3 and 25-OH D3 had greater (P < 0.05) troponin-T degradation. Antemortem supplementation of 25-OH D3 seems to increase postmortem proteolysis and tenderness in the LD and SM without depositing large concentrations of residual vitamin D3 and its metabolite 25-OH D3.     

Pericardial lipoma in a geriatric dog with an incidentally discovered thoracic mass

An intrathoracic mass was discovered as an incidental finding in a 14-year-old, spayed, female Rottweiler cross during evaluation of urinary incontinence. Computed tomography suggested a pericardial or pleural location and high adipose content of the mass. The mass was removed via lateral thoracotomy with partial pericardectomy and was diagnosed as a pericardial lipoma. The dog recovered well, and there was no evidence of recurrence approximately one year later. Adipose tumours of the heart and its associated structures are rare in dogs and have been associated with both successful and fatal outcomes.     

新疆“十二五”畜禽养殖减排对策与措施

畜禽养殖业从地表水、地下水、大气、土壤等方面对环境造成危害。“十二五”期间,畜禽养殖业污染排放列入污染减排总量考核指标,控制畜禽养殖业污染、削减污染物排放总量已成为新疆“十二五”减排重点工作之一。本文从新疆畜禽养殖业现状出发,分析了新疆畜禽养殖业污染产生原因,提出了相应的减排对策与措施。     

呼和浩特地区降水雨滴谱特征分析

文中利用2014年5月-8月及2015年5月呼和浩特地区四部雨滴谱仪的观测数据,用Gamma分布拟合了平均雨滴谱,分析了三种不同性质降水(层状云、混合性、对流云)的平均雨滴谱及总粒子浓度、降水强度和雷达反射率因子特征。将降水粒子按尺度分为四个档,分析了各尺度的降水粒子在总粒子浓度和总含水量中所占的比例。结果表明,三种性质降水的雨滴谱均表现为单峰分布的特征,且粒子浓度峰值在低谱宽段,其中层状云降水的雨滴谱宽度最窄,平均谱宽为2.06mm;其次是混合性降水,平均谱宽为2.78mm;最宽的是对流性降水平均谱宽为3.25mm。层状云降水总粒子浓度最大,混合性次之,对流性最少。总含水量特征表现为层状云、混合性、对流云降水依次递增的特征,Ⅱ档以上粒子虽然数量少于小粒子,但对总含水量的贡献要多于小粒子。小时雨强表现为层状云、混合性、对流云降水依次递增的特征。层状云降水反射率因子最小,最大值在35dbz以下,混合性降水在40dbz左右,对流云降水在50dbz左右。     

我国食品冷链物流发展现状及对策研究

随着人们物质生活水平的提升,人们对于食品的要求从"吃得饱"逐渐转变为"吃得好,吃的健康"。近年来,我国大力提倡的可持续战略,食品冷链物流的发展在现有的食品物流方式中的地位日益提高。本文旨在对我国食品冷链物流的发展现状进行阐述,提出发展食品冷链物流发展的积极影响,并从经济角度介绍了食品冷链物流发展的现状。     

山货超市进特区

农村有句俗话说，胆大的降龙降虎，胆小的欺负猫和老鼠。与很多农民着眼于用那担子菜卖肉吃、换盐巴钱相比．地处赣南山区的全南县农民的做法无疑是值得借鉴的。