Effect of a non‐forage fiber of red bean hulls on ruminal mat characteristics,chewing activity and milk production in dairy cows

The evaluation of red bean hulls (RBH) as a non‐forage fiber source on ruminal mat formation, chewing activity and milk production was determined using two experiments. In experiment 1, four non‐lactating, rumen‐cannulated Holstein cows were offered a control diet of 60.1% forage, and an RBH diet of 51.6% forage and 9.4% RBH. Although the neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake was higher with the RBH diet than the control diet, the physically effective NDF (peNDF) intake was lower. The rumination period tended to be longer with the RBH diet than with the control diet and the ruminal mat was formed even when the RBH diet was consumed. Ruminal fermentation parameters were not affected by treatment. In experiment 2, 40 lactating cows were fed a control diet of 53.4% forage or an RBH diet of 50.3% forage and 8.1% RBH. Dry matter intake, chewing activity and milk production were not affected by diet. Cows sorted against NDF in the control diet, but not in the RBH diet. It is concluded that normal ruminal function can be maintained because the ruminal mat was stratified and rumination activity was not reduced even when a low peNDF diet that contained RBH was given to dairy cows.     

Genetic variation in mitochondrial genes and intergenic spacer region in harmful algae <Emphasis Type="Italic">Chattonella</Emphasis> species

In this study, nuclear ribosomal RNA gene internal transcribed spacer regions and the cox2-cox1 fragment of the mitochondrial (mt) genome were sequenced in 24 strains of Chattonella spp. Variability in both regions showed that the mt genome sequences of Chattonella spp. have a higher evolutionary rate than the nuclear rRNA gene sequences. A maximum likelihood tree based on the mt sequence grouped the Japanese Chattonella strains into two groups (Groups A and B), although no correlation was observed amongst the phylogenetic groups, their morphologies, or the isolated areas. Groups A and B were clearly identified by a polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) assay using Fokl, without the need for a sequencing experiment. The PCR-RFLP assay revealed that Chattonella cells obtained from sea water in Oita, Japan, in 2004 and 2005 belonged to Group B. This is the first report showing the genetic variation in Chattonella spp. using a PCR-RFLP identification protocol.     

Chromospheric anemone jets as evidence of ubiquitous reconnection

The heating of the solar chromosphere and corona is a long-standing puzzle in solar physics. Hinode observations show the ubiquitous presence of chromospheric anemone jets outside sunspots in active regions. They are typically 3 to 7 arc seconds = 2000 to 5000 kilometers long and 0.2 to 0.4 arc second = 150 to 300 kilometers wide, and their velocity is 10 to 20 kilometers per second. These small jets have an inverted Y-shape, similar to the shape of x-ray anemone jets in the corona. These features imply that magnetic reconnection similar to that in the corona is occurring at a much smaller spatial scale throughout the chromosphere and suggest that the heating of the solar chromosphere and corona may be related to small-scale ubiquitous reconnection.     

Some Measurement Results on Sulfate Aerosol Concentration in and above a Pine Canopy

Profile of sulfate aerosol (SO₄ ^2?) concentration was measured for four days at six heights in and above a 15m-high canopy of pine plantation during 6th and 10th August. 1999. The concentration was the lowest (about 2 nmol/m³) on 6th, and gradually increased to 9th showing the maximum values of about 13 nmol/m³, and then decreased to 2 nmol/m³ on 10th. The vertical profiles of SO₄ ^2? concentration showed mostly higher in the canopy than above the canopy. As for the vertical profiles above the canopy on 8th and 10th, the minimum was observed just above the canopy (16m), showing SO₄ ^2? transport from the upper air layer to the canopy. While on 9th the profiles that are higher concentration just above the canopy and lower at the upper air layer were observed, suggesting SO₄ ^2? emission from the canopy to the upper air layer.     

Effects of adding a commercial capsaicin fertilizer on the feeding behavior of sika deer (Cervus nippon)

We investigated the inhibitory effect of capsaicin fertilizer on feeding in deer. We tested four captive adult female deer. In Experiment 1, in addition to the treatment (intact) containing only a solid feed (HC), we mixed the fertilizer not containing capsaicin (F) or the capsaicin fertilizer (CF) in the solid feed. In addition, the solid feed was put on a wire net that capsaicin fertilizer was placed 5 cm below (SCF). We investigated their feeding behavior response. In Experiment 2, we changed the amount of substance (fertilizer and capsaicin fertilizer) mixed in the HC. We mixed different amounts (0, 50, 100, and 200 g) of the treatments other than the intact with HC and presented them to the deer, and investigated their feeding behavior response. In Experiment 1, intake in the F and CF decreased (p < .05). In Experiment 2, HC intake was significantly lower in the 100 and 200 g CF (p < .05). However, HC intake relatively increased by the last day in the CF 200 g too. The capsaicin fertilizer decreased the feeding behavior of deer by directly touching the mucous membranes of the deer nose and lips. However, the effects were decreased over time.     

Effects of exogenous lactoferrin on characteristics and functions of bovine epididymal,ejaculated and frozen-thawed sperm

The purpose of this study was to investigate effects of addition of lactoferrin on characteristics and functions of bovine epididymal, ejaculated, and frozen-thawed sperm. The addition of lactoferrin was significantly (p < .05) effective on increasing values of progressive motility, straightness, and linearity in caput epididymal sperm and values of motility in cauda epididymal sperm. When ejaculated sperm were incubated in capacitation medium, percentages of motile and progressively motile sperm decreased largely within the first period of 30 min, followed by only minor changes. However, the addition of lactoferrin significantly lessened the early decreases of these parameters and additionally promoted capacitation-dependent changes of chlortetracycline staining patterns (from F pattern to B pattern). In other experiments, when ejaculated sperm were exposed to oxidative stress with 100-µM H₂O₂, the addition of lactoferrin partially protected them from dysfunction of flagellar movement and loss of progressive movement. In final experiments with frozen-thawed samples incubated in the capacitation medium, the addition of lactoferrin effectively survived dying sperm and suppressed occurrence of sperm agglutination. These results may suggest biological and biotechnological potentials of lactoferrin for modulation of bovine sperm viability, motility, capacitation state, and preservation in vitro.     

The effect of sodium butyrate supplementation on ruminal and fecal pH and serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein after ruminal acidosis challenge in nonlactating cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate effects of sodium-butyrate supplementation on gastrointestinal function and the inflammatory response to ruminal acidosis (RA) challenge in cows. Four nonlactating cows with a rumen cannula were assigned to two treatments in a crossover design. Treatments were ruminal administration of sodium-butyrate (BUT) or control (CON). Sodium-butyrate was provided as Gustor BP70 and administered at a butyrate dose of 0.04% per kg body weight. The CON premix was made by replacing sodium-butyrate with wheat bran. Experimental periods were 28 days long with 21-day washout period separating the treatments. On Day 25 of each period, corn starch was ruminally administered at 0.7% per kg body weight as RA challenge. After RA challenge, ruminal pH was lower, and endotoxin concentration was higher for cows provided with BUT than those with CON, but the increase in fecal starch and the decrease in fecal pH were attenuated by BUT. The effect of butyrate supplementation on serum lipopolysaccharide-binding protein after RA challenge was not found. From these findings, butyrate supplementation mitigated rectal acidosis by reducing the flux of fermentable carbohydrate into the large intestine. An anti-inflammatory effect of butyrate was not observed, possibly due to lower pH and higher endotoxin concentration in the rumen.