Increasing the amount of n-3 fatty acid in meat from young Holstein bulls through nutrition

Fifty-four Holstein bulls were blocked by initial BW (301 +/- 7.4 kg) and randomly assigned to 6 treatments following a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement, with 3 concentrate lipid levels (5, 8, and 11% of DM) and 2 lipid sources (whole canola seed and whole linseed), with the objective of evaluating the possibility of increasing the content of n-3 fatty acids in meat. Concentrates (mostly corn meal) were isonitrogenous and isocaloric. Concentrate and straw were both fed ad libitum. Animal BW was recorded every 2 wk, and feed consumption was recorded weekly. Ruminal pH and VFA concentrations were determined monthly. Bulls were transported to the slaughterhouse when they achieved the target slaughter weight of 443 kg (after 105 +/- 4 d of fattening). After slaughter, a sample of LM from the sixth to the eighth ribs was dissected and analyzed for intramuscular fat content and fatty acid profile. Dietary lipid source did not affect overall animal performance, rumen fermentation, or carcass quality. Rumen pH was >6.0 despite consumption by the bulls of large amounts of concentrate. In bulls fed linseed, the percentage of n-3 fatty acids in LM increased linearly with lipid level, whereas in bulls fed canola seed it remained constant. The ratio of n-6:n-3 fatty acids was lower (P < 0.01) in the LM of bulls fed linseed (10.0) than in those fed canola seed (26.0). The content of cis-9, trans-11-CLA in the LM tended (P = 0.06) to be greater in the bulls fed linseed than in those fed canola seed (62.9 vs. 49.2 mg/kg of LM, respectively). Concentration of n-3 fatty acids in meat of bulls fed high-concentrate diets can be enhanced by whole linseed supplementation without affecting animal performance, ruminal fermentation, or carcass quality.     

Applying Chemometrics to Determine Dispersion of Mine Tailing-Affected Sediments from Submarine Tailing Disposal in Bøkfjorden,Northern Norway

Mine tailing management is one of the largest environmental issues related to mining operation. This study uses chemometrics to assess the dispersion of iron mine tailing-affected sediments in Bøkfjorden, Northern Norway. Metal concentrations (Al, As, Cd, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Ni, Pb, Zn) and physico-chemical sediment characteristics (conductivity, organic matter, sulphate, chloride, grain size, CaCO₃, pH) were analysed in seven sediment cores collected in a transect out of the fjord along with two reference cores. Results of hierarchical cluster analysis and principal component analysis allowed to distinguish between mine tailing-affected and non-affected sediments. Non-affected sediments were especially characterised by high levels of organic matter whilst mine tailing-affected sediments varied significantly in sediment characteristics depending on location in the fjord. Crucial parameters to reveal mine tailing-affected sediments varied between the target metal Fe along with metals of Cd and Mn, albeit less significant. Variations in mine tailing-affected sediment characteristics could be attributed to other anthropogenic activities in the fjord. Despite potential disturbances, chemometrics made it possible to identify dispersion of mine tailing-affected sediments to cover the inner and middle parts of the fjord. The study demonstrates the advantage of applying chemometrics on complex fjord systems, which in this case was used to distinguish mine tailing-affected sediments from areas with elevated levels of metals not necessarily related to the mine.     

Composition and distribution of freshwater eels <Emphasis Type="Italic">Anguilla</Emphasis> spp. in Vietnam

A sampling survey to determine the composition and distribution of freshwater eel species was conducted in 12 provinces along the coast of Vietnam from October 2014 to February 2015. The sampled provinces spanned the country from central Vietnam to the south, but freshwater eels were only found in the central part of Vietnam. Species identification of 77 specimens, collected from different habitats (rivers and estuaries), was performed by analysis of both morphological characters and nucleotide sequences of mitochondrial cytochrome oxidase subunit I (COI). The 77 specimens were morphologically and genetically identified as 58 Anguilla marmorata, 17 A. bicolor pacifica, and two A. japonica. This is the first definitive survey about the composition and distribution of freshwater eels in Vietnam where distribution has been hitherto unknown.     

鸡球虫病多价疫苗免疫试验

通过鸡球虫病多价疫苗(DLV疫苗)临床应用试验,测试此多价疫苗的免疫效果,为解决球虫病的临床预防提供理论支持。试验应用饮水方法免疫1头份鸡球虫DLV型疫苗,免疫8d后用1.5万～2万个混合卵囊感染试验鸡,免疫组的病变分值和血便堆数、死亡率都明显低于非免疫组,说明通过DLV疫苗免疫的鸡对球虫病抵抗力强。     

Effect of some ergosterol biosynthesis inhibiting fungicides on sterols and cytochrome P-450 from the Japanese quail Coturnix coturnix

Nine fungicides that inhibit ergosterol biosynthesis (diclobutrazol, fenarimol, fenpropimorph, imazalil, nuarimol, prochloraz, propiconazole, triadimefon, triadimenol) and one plant growth regulator (ancymidol) were administered to Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix). Most of these compounds had a moderate or no effect, but prochloraz, imazalil and, to a lesser extent, propiconazole were shown to produce a dramatic increase in liver weight and cytochrome P-450 level. These three compounds were also found to be potent in-vitro inhibitors of 7-ethoxycoumarin O-de-ethylase and aniline hydroxylase, thus resulting in a biphasic effect on drug-metabolising enzymes. With these three compounds, and some others, an accumulation of lanosterol in liver was also observed, suggesting an inhibition of sterol synthesis.     

Physiologic studies of maturity diagnosis in the calf and its relationship to the postnatal condition

The parameters of kidney, lung, and skin maturity, known from human medicine, were for the first time determined from amniotic fluid of cattle. Given the difference in placentation, it is not known whether the conditions of the human fetus can be fully applied to the bovine fetus, the detectability of such maturity criteria may be indicative of comparable morphokinetic conditions in the bovine fetus. All physiological parameters investigated exhibited difference to the benefit of surviving calves. Positive correlations were found to exist between the lecithin/sphingomyelin quotient and body weight gain in the first week of age as well as drinking behaviour of the calves. Hence, insufficient concentration of surface-active phospholipids in calf breeding has measurable effects on quantitatively definable characteristics.     

Influence of thymic hormone on cell-mediated and humoral immune responses in Marek's disease

A reduction in the secretion of thymic hormones, and in particular thymulin, can be demonstrated in chickens following the thymic atrophy induced by Marek's disease virus (MDV) infection. In very sensitive histocompatible (B13/B13) chickens inoculated with the HPRS-16 strain of MDV at 10 days of age, treatment with synthetic thymulin by daily subcutaneous injection failed to modify the time course of Marek's disease (MD) and did not prevent the development of macroscopic tumors. No effect was noted on the levels of neutralizing anti-viral antibodies. Nevertheless, thymulin treatment resulted in significant suppression of the cellular immune response 4-6 weeks post-inoculation, monitored by splenic cytotoxicity against MD-specific and natural killer-sensitive lymphoblastoid cell lines.     

Ergebnisse der Anwendung von Gonave®"Berlin Chemie" zur Ovulationsinduktion in der Spontanbrunst beim Rind

Inhalt: Gonavet®“Berlin Chemie”, ein synthetisches Gonadotropin-Releasing-Hormon, wurde zur Ovulationsinduktion bei spontan brünstigen Rindern eingesetzt. Verabreicht wurden 0,1 mg Gonavet vor der Insemination in einer Zeitspanne von maximal vier Stunden. Die Erprobung umfaβte 935 Versuchs- und 911 Kontrolltiere in 12 Betrieben. Bei allen Tieren wurde ca. 24 Stunden nach der Insemination eine Ovulationskontrolle vorgenommen. Ovulations- und Trächtigkeitsrate dienten als Prüfparameter. Die Ovulationsrate konnte um 10,4% angehoben werden; in elf von zwölf Herden ging der Anteil an nicht termingerechten Ovulationen zurück. Die Trächtigkeitsrate wurde um 6,1% verbessert. Von den zwölf Herden trat eine Erhöhung der TR in acht ein (1,1 bis 17,5%), in einer Herde waren die Konzeptionsergebnisse bei Versuchs- und Kontrolltieren identisch und in drei Herden erzielte die Kontrollgruppe bessere Trächtigkeitsergebnisse (2,1 bis 9,7%). Die Anwendung des Praparates ist bei Tieren mit einer Ovulationsstorung angezeigt. Contents: The induction of ovulation in the spontaneous estrous in cattle by Gonavet “Berlin Chemie” Gonave®“Berlin Chemie”, a synthetic gonadotropinreleasing-hormone was used for induction of ovulation in spontaneously estrous cattle. 0.1 mg Gonavet were applied no more than 4 hours prior to insemination. A total of 935 experimental and 911 control animals of 12 farms were included into the study. Ovulation was assessed in all animals about 24 hrs following insemination. Rates of ovulation and pregnancy were used as endpoints. Ovulation rate was increased 10.4%; in 11 out of 12 farms, the number of on-time ovulations improved. Rate of pregnancy also improved for 6.1%. In about 8 out of the 12 herds pregnancy rate increased between 1.1 and 17.5%. In one herd conception rates were not different between experimental and control animals. In three herds the control groups had better conception rates (2.1 to 9.7% increase) when compared to experimental groups. Gonavet® ist indicated in cases of ovulatory problems.