Dietary Supplementation with Microencapsulated Lutein Improves Yolk Color and Lutein Content in Fresh and Cooked Eggs of Laying Hens

This study was conducted to compare the efficacy of diet supplemented with non-microencapsulated lutein (NL) and microencapsulated lutein (ML) in laying hens. A total of 270 Hy-line Brown laying hens (54 weeks old) were allocated to three groups with six replicates of 15 hens and were adapted to a wheat-soybean meal basal diet for two weeks. Next, the control birds were fed the basal diet, and the test birds were fed the basal diet supplemented with 600 mg/kg NL (12 mg/kg available lutein) or 90.1 mg/kg ML (10 mg/kg available lutein) for 35 days. Supplementation of lutein did not affect the productive performance of laying hens, but improved (P<0.05) the yolk color and red/green value (a*), with eggs from the ML group displaying improved color and a* values from the 15^th day of the experimental period. The blue/yellow value (b*) for the yolk showed an increase (P<0.05) through both NL and ML supplements. The yolk color of fried and boiled eggs and a* value of the yolk in fried eggs were improved (P<0.05) only through ML supplemented diet. Both NL and ML supplements resulted in lower (P<0.05) lightness and higher (P<0.05) a* values of yolk in boiled eggs, as well as higher (P<0.05) b* values in fried and boiled eggs. Yolk lutein content in fresh, fried, and boiled eggs was increased (P<0.05) in NL and ML groups with the latter being higher. In conclusion, ML improved yolk pigmentation and lutein retention in laying hens better than NL.     

Serine-to-glycine ratios in low-protein diets regulate intramuscular fat by affecting lipid metabolism and myofiber type transition in the skeletal muscle of growing-finishing pigs

Serine and glycine are 2 of the first-affected nonessential amino acids in low crude protein (CP) diets for pigs. Therefore, we explored the effects of different dietary serine-to-glycine ratios on growth performance and lipid metabolism in growing-finishing pigs. A total of 160 crossbred healthy barrows, with a similar body weight of around 59.50 kg, were randomly allotted into 1 of 5 treatments (8 pens per treatment and 4 pigs per pen). The serine-to-glycine ratios of the 5 dietary treatments were as follows: diet A (NORMAL group), 1.18:1 (16% CP); diet B (LOW group), 1.2:1 (12% CP); diet C (S2G1 group), 2:1 (12% CP); diet D (S1G2 group), 1:2 (12% CP); and diet E (S1G1 group), 1:1 (12% CP).We found that the pigs fed a low CP diet (12% CP), when maintaining serine-to-glycine ratio at 1:2 and a total amount of 1.44%, had the same average daily gain as the pigs fed a normal CP diet (16% CP) (P > 0.05), but they had increased intramuscular fat (P < 0.05). Furthermore, they exhibited higher expression of genes involved in lipid oxidation (P < 0.05), which was regulated by modulating methylation levels in the promoters of acyl-CoA oxidase 1 (ACOX1) and acyl-CoA dehydrogenase medium chain (ACADM). When compared with the pigs fed a normal CP diet, these pigs had more oxidative myofibers (P < 0.05), which were regulated by AMPK-PGC-1α and Calcineurin-MEF2/NFAT pathways in a coordinated manner. Our findings suggested that a dietary serine-to-glycine ratio of 1:2 is beneficial for improving meat quality in pigs fed a low CP diet.     

离体牛小肠细胞对β-胡萝卜素和叶黄素吸收的研究

用分离出的牛小肠细胞分别与含不同浓度的β-胡萝卜素和叶黄素培养液温育,结果小肠粘膜细胞对两种类胡萝卜素的吸收呈浓度依赖性,吸收率稳定,与浓度无关,且吸收不受培养温度的影响,因而推断牛小肠细胞对两种类胡萝卜素的吸收是一种被动扩散机制,培养液中聚环氧乙烷山梨糖醇单月桂酸脂(Tween 20)超过一定浓度则抑制类胡萝卜素进入肠细胞,其中对叶黄素抑制作用最大。     

升金湖越冬白头鹤集群变化及领域行为

白头鹤是长江中下游的大型越冬水鸟,安徽升金湖是其在国内主要的越冬地之一。近年来,由于生境退化,越冬种群的数量在萎缩,种群的越冬生态研究十分必要。2007年10月～2008年4月,我们在升金湖对白头鹤的主要分布地点进行了调查,并对集群情况进行了观察。升金湖白头鹤觅食地主要分布于湖区外围的稻田,夜栖于上湖核心区内。整个越冬期,白头鹤大部分以5只以上的群类型觅食,以家庭集群活动仅占越冬集群数的29.14%。随着越冬期的变化,集群大小发生改变：越冬前期,越冬鹤以家族群活动频率最高,占集群的35.64%,30～49只集群频率最低,仅为6.38%;越冬中期,家庭集群及5～9只集群频率相对于越冬前期减少,10只以上集群频率增加;越冬后期,以≥50只以上集群频率最高,占28.77%。此外,我们还观察到1对成年鹤占有一定面积的稻田并积极保护,表现领域行为。     

苜蓿干草添加剂研究进展

苜蓿干草在高水分打捆贮藏时添加有机酸、胺类化合物和生物制剂等添加剂可以有效地抑制微生物的生长繁殖 ,缩短干燥时间 ,避免低水分牧草在打捆时的叶片脱落 ,是减少调制过程中营养物质的损失 ,保证苜蓿干草质量的有效措施。     

种公猪附红细胞体病的综合防治措施

扬中市家畜改良站的种公猪于1999年6～7月间发生了猪的附红细胞体病,严重影响了精液质量,如无精、死精、少精等.经采取综合防治措施后获得根治.     

mRNA差异显示技术、PCR技术及其在动物营养研究中的运用

21世纪将是生命科学的世纪。当前,世界各国都将分子生物学纳入本国科技发展的重点。分子生物学技术的迅速发展为营养科学探索必需营养缺陷的分子基础提供了强有力的实验工具。本文旨在对mRNA差异显示技术、PCR技术等两种最常用的生物技术手段的原理、特点及其在动物营养研究中的应用作一综述。     

一种适用于双向电泳的家蚕微孢子虫总蛋白的制备方法

本文对适用于双向电泳的微孢子虫总蛋白提取方法进行了探讨。研究表明，采用液氮多次冻融结合手工研磨，再用裂解液抽提的方法能够得到产率较高且适用于双向电泳的家蚕微孢子虫总蛋白。     

动物园常态化保护教育项目的评估和分析——以“澳洲区幕后之旅”为例

保护教育作为现代动物园的主要职能之一,常态化的保护教育项目的开展正是动物园这一职能的重要体现.近两年南京市红山森林动物园开发了6个动物场馆幕后之旅的常态化教育项目,以澳洲区幕后之旅为例,通过对2014年4～7月的活动参与者进行问卷调查,对教育项目进行评估.结果显示此类教育项目切合当下亲子游的市场需求,对于影响常态化教育项目初期的正常开展的主要因素有市场推广、项目内容和师资力量.其中市场推广效果较好的是朋友推荐和网络宣传;项目内容中受欢迎程度较高的是亲近动物或动物相关内容;关于项目形式幼儿（4～6岁）偏好游戏互动环节而小学低年级（7～9岁）偏好动物故事环节.     

中药抗病毒性疫病作用机制研究进展

病毒性疫病作为一类具有高度传染性的疾病,目前尚缺乏理想的抗病毒药物,而中药因其独特的病毒病防治视角,成为近年来我国学者们研究的热点。研究显示,多种中药及其有效成分对病毒有一定的抑制作用。本文结合病毒性疫病发病机理与近年来抗病毒中药研究成果,对中药的抗病毒机制进行阐述,以期为多方位、多靶点、天然低毒兽医临床抗病毒药物的研发提供帮助。