Optimization of in vitro embryo production and zygote vitrification for the indigenous Vietnamese Ban pig: The effects of different in vitro oocyte maturation systems

The Vietnamese Ban pig is a precious genetic resource that needs to be preserved. In vitro embryo production from in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes is an important tool for the utilization of cryopreserved porcine sperm. The aim of this study was to compare two media for the IVM of Ban pig oocytes. Immature oocytes were subjected to IVM either in a non‐defined (TCM‐199 + pig follicular fluid) or in a defined base medium (POM + epidermal growth factor). At the end of IVM, the oocytes were in vitro fertilized (IVF) with frozen Ban sperm. Ten hours after IVF, the oocytes were either subjected to orcein staining to check fertilization and maturation status or cultured in vitro for 7 days. There was no difference between the two IVM media in terms of percentages of oocyte maturation and blastocyst production. However, the percentage of male pronuclear formation after IVF and the total cell numbers in blastocysts were higher with the defined system. Zygotes obtained by the two IVM systems survived vitrification at similar rates. In conclusion, the two IVM systems were both effective for the production of Ban pig embryos; however, better embryo quality was achieved with the defined one.     

Assessment of the water quality of two rivers in Hanoi City and its suitability for irrigation water

The To Lich and Kim Nguu Rivers in Hanoi City are the main sources of irrigation water for suburban agricultural land and fish farm. Wastewater from the industrial plants located along these rivers has been discharged, and has degraded the water quality of the rivers. This study describes the chemical properties of water from the rivers, focusing on heavy metal pollution and the suitability of water quality for irrigation water. Water from the rivers was heavily polluted with organic matter and heavy metals such as Pb, Cu, Zn, Cr, Cd and Ni. Dissolved oxygen, chemical oxygen deman, and total suspended solids, and the concentrations of all heavy metals exceeded the Vietnamese standard for surface water quality in all investigated sites. The concentrations of some heavy metals such as Cu, Cd, Cr and Ni were above the internationally recommended WHO maximum level for irrigation water. A wide variation in the heavy metal concentration of water due to metal types is the result of wastewater discharged from different industrial sources.     

Comparative energy and economic analyses of conventional and System of Rice Intensification (SRI) methods of rice production in Thai Nguyen Province,Vietnam

The consumption of energy inputs in agricultural production has been increasing rapidly during the past decades. However, given the limitations and costs of non-renewable energy, increasing production while using the least energy possible has become a major concern of most nations. Prompted by this concern, we conducted a face-to-face survey of 90 farming households in Thai Nguyen Province, Vietnam, to find out how energy is being used in agriculture and, specifically, in their rice production. Through analysis of energy input–output balances, combined with economic efficiency analysis, a comparison was made of conventional and SRI methods of rice production. The study found that applying the SRI method can save around 23% of energy inputs, while increasing energy outputs by 11%. Economic benefits per hectare also rise by more than 8 million dong (USD 364) compared to those under the conventional cultivation system. The study also showed conflicts between the energy and economic balances for manual compared with machine ploughing operations. This study contributes to providing an overview of energy consumption in rice cultivation at the household level. Its findings can help stakeholders to assess current policies and make better decisions on the uses of energy in agricultural production. In addition, the comprehensive approach taken here to analysing energy use and efficiency could expand the analysis and comparison of energy uses at sectoral or activity level—still a new field in Vietnam and many other countries.     

Observations on growth, sexual maturity and spawning performance of pond-reared Penaeus merguiensis

This 12‐month preliminary study investigated the development of sexual characters, primary sexual maturity, ovarian maturity and spawning performance of pond‐reared Penaeus merguiensis in relation to culture conditions in south‐east Queensland, Australia. Post‐larvae of P. merguiensis were produced and cultured in two 60‐m³ tanks during the first 14 weeks. Before winter, they were harvested and stocked in three different overwintering facilities: a 200‐m² covered pond, two 60‐m³ outdoor tanks and a 15‐m³ indoor, recirculated tank at a stocking density of 10 individuals m^?2. The development of sexual characters was found to be similar to that reported previously in wild P. merguiensis. Males matured at younger ages and smaller sizes than females. Overall, the average size at primary sexual maturity of pond‐reared P. merguiensis was 23.1 mm carapace length for males (possessed spermatophores) and 29.3 mm for females (being impregnated). Water temperature and the availability of natural food strongly influenced prawn growth, maturity rate and their subsequent spawning performance. Growth, maturity rate and spawning performance of prawns in the covered pond were significantly higher than in the other overwintering facilities. Prawns started mating at 6–7 months, reached full ovarian maturation and spawned as early as about 8 (peaked at 9–11) months from hatching, producing high fecundity and viable larvae. There was a strong relationship (P < 0.001) between prawn size and fecundity. The results of this study suggest a potential for using pond‐reared broodstock P. merguiensis for hatchery production and for domestication or selective breeding programmes.     

Dominant sources of dietary carbon and nitrogen for shrimp reared in extensive rice-shrimp ponds

Stable isotope analysis was used to determine the sources of dietary nitrogen (N) and carbon (C) for shrimp during the rearing phase in extensive rice‐shrimp ponds in My Xuyen and Gia Rai districts, Vietnam. Farm‐made feed was added as a food source in shrimp ponds in My Xuyen district, and based on stable isotope analyses, was generally a poor dietary source. The commercial formulated feed used in Gia Rai also appeared to contribute little directly to the nutritional needs of the shrimp. In contrast, the natural biota in all ponds appeared to contribute substantially. In particular, biota from beam trawls and benthic organic matter were the most likely sources of nutrition in My Xuyen ponds, while benthic organic matter was the main source in Gia Rai ponds. δ¹⁵N ratios in the natural biota in My Xuyen farms decreased over the growing season, suggesting increased N fixation in the case of the benthic organic matter reaching values as low as 1‰. This suggests N‐limitation in the ponds and that natural biota become increasingly dependent on N fixed by algae and/or other microorganisms. There is the potential to promote the growth of the plankton and hence, the other natural biota, by the judicious addition of fertilizer.     

Nitrous Oxide and Carbon Dioxide Emissions from Vietnamese Soil Amended with Different Compost Types at High Temperature

This study aims to determine the effects of compost additions and high temperature on N₂O and CO₂ emissions from a Vietnamese agricultural soil. Soil samples amended with two compost types (commercial compost, SH and chicken compost, CC) at three rates of 1%, 2% and 4% w/w were aerobically incubated at 25°C, 30°C and 35°C for 28 days in the laboratory. N₂O and CO₂ emissions were determined on days 1, 3, 5, 7, 14, 21 and 28. Our results showed that N₂O and CO₂ emissions were significantly affected by temperature, compost additions, and their interactions. Greater N₂O and CO₂ emissions were seen in CC treatments than SH treatments. Higher application rates of CC led to greater N₂O and CO₂ emissions. In SH treatments, higher temperature lowered N₂O emissions but did not affect CO₂ emissions. N₂O and CO₂ emissions were enhanced with CC addition while they showed different responses to increasing temperature.     

Effects of Integrated Shrimp Farming in Vietnam

Despite being a leading shrimp exporter in the world market, shrimp farming in Vietnam is carried out by many small‐scale farmers who face constraints in complying with increasingly stringent food safety and sustainability standards. The best way for such small farmers to circumvent this paradox is to make effective integrations both horizontally and vertically. Using value chain and institutional economics approaches, this study determines the factors that influence the probability of horizontal and vertical integrations between the production and processing stages in the shrimp industry in Vietnam. Analysis results confirm that integrated shrimp aquaculture is much more effective than the traditionally small‐scale‐ and individual‐production mode. In addition, logit estimation results identify the key factors affecting integration, including effectiveness of the legal framework, production scale, infrastructure development, and farmers' skill and awareness. Several policy recommendations proposed to encourage the development of integration in shrimp farming in Vietnam could also be useful for other similar developing countries.     

Sperm Motilities in Waigieu Seaperch,Psammoperca waigiensis: Effects of Various Dilutions,pH, Temperature,Osmolality, and Cations

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of varying dilutions, pH, temperature, osmolality, and cations on sperm motility parameters in waigieu seaperch, Psammoperca waigiensis. The maximum velocity of average in path (VAP), percentage of motile cells (MOT), and duration of sperm motility (DSM) were observed when semen was diluted in artificial seawater (ASW) at a ratio of 1:100 (144.9 ± 0.6 µm/sec, 95.6 ± 0.4%, and 230.3 ± 2.3 sec, respectively), at 30 C (142.0 ± 0.6 µm/sec, 93.6 ± 0.4%, and 238.3 ± 0.9 sec, respectively), and pH 8 (144.8 ± 0.6 µm/sec, 93.3 ± 0.4%, and 234.0 ± 1.5 sec, respectively). Maximum VAP, MOT, and DSM were obtained in each solution containing 0.6 M NaCl (143.8 ± 1.0 µm/sec, 91.3 ± 2.0%, and 230.6 ± 4.2 sec, respectively), 0.6 M KCl (135.1 ± 3.1 µm/sec, 91.1 ± 3.1%, and 230.3 ± 3.7sec, respectively), 0.2M CaCl₂ (105.3 ± 4.7μm/sec, 47.9 ± 2.7%, and 120.7 ± 1.3 sec, respectively), 0.2 M MgCl₂ (107.3 ± 3.0 m/s, 42.1 ± 3.3%, and 120.3 ± 4.8 sec, respectively), and osmolality of 400 mOsm/kg (145.1 ± 2.5 µm/sec, 93.0 ± 2.1%, and 346.5 ± 4.4s, respectively). We used these mediums as artificial insemination media for fertilizing matured eggs. The results showed that the fertilization and hatching rates in 0.6 M NaCl (75.3 ± 0.6% and 57.0 ± 2.4%, respectively), ASW (70.8 ± 1.2% and 51.2 ± 1.8%, respectively), or 400 mOsm/kg (72.9 ± 1.8% and 55.3 ± 1.6%, respectively) were higher than that in seawater (63.9 ± 1.2% and 39.2 ± 3.9%, respectively). In conclusion, using 0.6 M NaCl, ASW, or 400 mOsm/kg as an artificial insemination medium is effective for fertilizing of waigieu seaperch.     

Genetic characterization of chicken anemia viruses newly isolated from diseased chicks in Japan in 2020

In this study, a total of nine chicken samples obtained from two broiler flocks in Oita and Tottori prefectures in 2020 were examined for Chicken anemia virus (CAV) infection. The samples were collected from clinically suspected flocks and diseased chickens. The CAV genome was detected in all nine samples tested by real-time PCR. Phylogenetic analyses and sequence comparisons of the full-length VP1 gene sequences indicated that all the Japanese CAV strains obtained in this study formed a similar cluster of genotype III and shared high nucleotide (99.62–100%) identity. The current Japanese CAV strains were closely related to Chinese CAV strains but not related to vaccine strains. One positive selection site of VP1 was detected among the Japanese CAV strains.     

Occurrence of tetrodotoxin in three Nassarius gastropod species in Khanh Hoa Province,Vietnam

Fisheries Science - Neurotoxic poisonings with fatal symptoms caused by consumption of Nassarius gastropods have been reported in Vietnam but the causative toxins have not been confirmed. In the...