Thermal features,ambient temperature and hair coat lengths: Limitations of infrared imaging in pregnant primitive breed mares within a year

Infrared thermography is a non-invasive technique which allows to distinguish between pregnant and non-pregnant animals. Detecting accurate body surface temperatures can be challenging due to external factors altering thermograph measurements. This study aimed to determine the associations between the ambient temperature, the hair coat features and the temperatures of mares' abdomens. It compared pregnant and non-pregnant mares throughout 11 months. The research was carried out on 40 Konik Polski mares, which were divided into pregnant and non-pregnant groups. The temperature (Tmax, maximal; Taver, average; Tmin, minimal) of the mares' abdomen was evaluated in two regions of interest: the whole area of the lateral surface of the mares' abdomen (Px1) and the flank area of the lateral surface of mares' abdomen (Px2). During the increasing period, the slopes in the linear regression equation did not differ significantly for ambient (Tamb) and surface temperatures in both groups. In the decreasing period, the slopes did not differ significantly for Tamb and Tmax in the non-pregnant group. They also did not differ for Tamb and Taver in Px1 and Tamb and Tmin in Px1 in both pregnant and non-pregnant groups respectively. Other slopes varied significantly (p < .001). There was no evidence of parallel changes in hair coat features and measured temperatures. The flank area appears more suitable for thermal imaging in pregnant mares due to the seasonal fluctuations in hair coat lengths.     

基于非洲猪瘟病毒标准物质的荧光PCR检测试剂盒初步评价

为探究非洲猪瘟病毒(African swine fever virus,ASFV)标准物质作为试剂盒评价体系的可行性,比较了市场上5种主流品牌ASFV荧光PCR检测试剂盒的检测性能。使用ASFV P72基因核酸标准物质作为模板,根据5种试剂盒说明书分别进行相应的荧光定量PCR检测,结合扩增曲线、Ct值,分析不同试剂盒的敏感性、可重复性以及所需反应时间。结果显示:5种试剂盒的阴性、阳性对照均成立,最低检测限均为5.9×10^-1拷贝/μL;4个厂家的试剂盒线性关系R2>0.98,其中最优的R²=0.994,离散度最小;各试剂盒的实际反应耗时与理论反应耗时均有一定差异(0.20~0.96 h)。结果表明,各生产厂家使用P72基因作为靶基因研制的ASFV荧光PCR检测试剂盒都可以使用ASFV标准物质作为评价体系,来评判试剂盒的检测性能。本试验为各实验室不同样品检测的ASFV荧光PCR检测试剂盒选择提供了一种可用的评价方法。     

口蹄疫病毒VP1基因密码子偏好性分析

VP1蛋白是口蹄疫病毒(FMDV)的主要结构蛋白,可诱导机体产生中和抗体以及激发保护性免疫应答。为探究VP1基因密码子偏好性,筛选出其最佳体外表达系统,使用Visual Gene Developer、CodonW、GraphPad Prism等软件,对VP1基因进行密码子偏好性分析,同时将VP1基因密码子使用频率与大肠杆菌、毕赤酵母、昆虫杆状病毒和哺乳动物细胞表达系统作了比较。结果显示,VP1基因的CAI为0.21,ENC为55.43,GC3S为65.26%,表明该基因密码子使用偏好较弱并且密码子偏好以G/C碱基结尾。结合VP1基因与各表达系统密码子使用频率比值,发现其与昆虫杆状病毒表达系统频率比值差异最小且CAI最大,因此推断昆虫杆状病毒表达系统是FMDV VP1基因最适体外表达系统。本研究为FMDV亚单位疫苗研制等提供了技术基础。     

甘肃省天水市生猪屠宰企业非洲猪瘟检测能力提升措施

着力加强和提升生猪屠宰企业非洲猪瘟检测实验室建设是有效防范非洲猪瘟传播的重要手段。为进一步提升屠宰企业非洲猪瘟自检能力,对甘肃省天水市生猪屠宰企业非洲猪瘟自检体系建设和运行情况进行了实地调研,并针对不足之处提出系列提升指导措施。调研发现:2019年以来,通过优化实验室配置、增加检测人员数量、加强检测人员培训和强化生物安全防护措施等,天水市屠宰企业非洲猪瘟检测能力明显提升。本文为我国其他地区生猪屠宰企业提升非洲猪瘟自检能力提供了参考。     

云南省红河州病死畜禽无害化处理存在问题及对策

云南省红河州畜禽养殖数量庞大。为了解红河州病死畜禽无害化处理体系的建设情况,总结了该州畜禽养殖生产和病死畜禽无害化处理工作基本情况,指出了该州存在病死畜禽无害化处理中收集体系建设进展缓慢、集中无害化处理率低、补助配套政策不完善等问题,继而提出了加快推进收集处理体系建设,建立联动监管执法机制,强化政策配套及落实,加强宣传引导,提升重大动物疫病防控水平等建议,从而为完善该州病死畜禽无害化处理体系,推动畜牧业健康高效发展提供参考。     

Fatty acid profile as affected by fat depot and the sex category of Polish Holstein-Friesian × Limousin fattening cattle fed silage ad libitum

This study was designed to compare the fatty acid profiles of four types of fat depots from bulls, steers, and heifers. All animals were Polish Holstein-Friesian and Limousin crossbreds fattened semi-intensively—silage at libitum and concentrate in the amount corresponding to 30% of their net energy requirements. The fatty acid profile in intramuscular, intermuscular, and external and internal fat was determined. The intramuscular fat of bulls was most abundant in total PUFAs and n-6 PUFAs, and functional fatty acids C 18:2, C 20:4, and C 22:5 in comparison with steers and heifers. Regardless of sex category, intramuscular and external fat were characterized by higher levels of UFAs and a more desirable MUFA/SFA ratio than the remaining fat types. It should also be noted that external fat was more abundant in CLA than other fat types, and that the highest CLA content was found in bull fat, compared with the remaining sex categories of cattle.     

Potential protective effects of thiamine supplementation on the ruminal epithelium damage during subacute ruminal acidosis

In ruminants, the ruminal epithelium not only has the function of absorbing nutrients but also is an important tissue to prevent harmful substances in the rumen from entering the blood circulation. Thus, the normal function of ruminal epithelium is critical for ruminants. However, subacute ruminal acidosis induced by high-concentrate diets often damages the barrier function of ruminal epithelium in ruminants. Recently, many studies have shown that dietary supplementation with thiamine is an effective method to alleviate subacute ruminal acidosis. In order to provide theoretical reference for the in-depth study of subacute ruminal acidosis and the application of thiamine in the future, this review introduces the effects of subacute ruminal acidosis on morphological structure, inflammatory response, and tight junction of ruminal epithelium. In addition, this paper summarizes the role of thiamine in maintaining ruminal epithelial function of ruminants during subacute ruminal acidosis challenge.     

Investigations of the maintenance system of the Konik Polski horse and its effects on fecal microbiota activity during the winter and summer seasons

Gastrointestinal microbiota play a key role in the nutrients digestion and hence maintaining animal health and welfare. The diet offered to the animals in captivity may differ considerably from that on natural pastures. In a stabled maintenance system, horses have a limited choice of habitat and feed. Time spend for feeding is relevant for equine welfare because the reduction of the time devoted for foraging may be responsible for inducing gastric inflammation and ulceration. Therefore, in the present study, it was hypothesized that fecal bacterial fermentative processes differ between free-roaming and stabled Konik Polski Horses (KPHs) with respect to microbial enzymatic activity, and thus the fecal concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), which can be further utilized for assessing the feeding behavior and welfare in free-roaming versus stabled horses. The SCFA concentration and profile, as well as the extracellular and intracellular activities of selected bacterial enzymes, were characterized in horse feces collected during the winter and summer feeding seasons. The results showed higher enzymatic activity and SCFA production in the feces excreted by free-roaming versus stabled horses, especially during summer. An increase in pasture plant diversity may be beneficial for the gastrointestinal microbiota and hence for maintaining health and welfare.     

新冠肺炎疫情与猪肉价格波动初探

基于2020年3月-2020年10月猪肉价格及新冠肺炎疫情指数,借助VAR模型,定量研究新冠肺炎疫情对于猪肉价格的影响。研究结果表明:新冠肺炎疫情对猪肉价格存在影响,促使猪肉价格上涨,在此基础上文章提出相应措施。     

Green tea polyphenols supplementation alters immunometabolism and oxidative stress in dairy cows with hyperketonemia

Peripartal cows often experience negative energy balance, and are therefore prone to suffering from metabolic diseases such as hyperketonemia, which causes financial losses in dairy farms. This study aimed to investigate the effect of green tea polyphenol (GTP) supplementation during the periparturient period on production performance, oxidative stress and immunometabolism in dairy cows with hyperketonemia. One hundred Holstein cows were assigned to GTP (0.2 g/kg DM; n = 50) or control (without GTP; n = 50) group based on body weight, previous milk yield, and parity on d 15 before expected parturition. Subsequently, 10 cows with hyperketonemia were selected from each group, according to blood β-hydroxybutyric acid (BHBA) concentration between 1.2 and 2.9 mmol/L from 2 to 3 d postpartum. All cows were fed a close-up diet and a lactation diet with or without GTP supply from 15 d prepartum until 30 d postpartum. Milk and blood samples were obtained from 20 cows selected with hyperketonemia on 10, 20, and 30 d postpartum. Compared with control cows, greater milk yield and lower somatic cell count were observed in GTP cows. The GTP group had lower concentrations of BHBA, free fatty acids, cholesterol, triglyceride, reactive oxygen species, malondialdehyde, and hydrogen peroxide, greater concentrations of glucose, lower activities of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and glutamyl transpeptidase, alongside greater activities of superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and total antioxidant capacity. Additionally, GTP supplementation up-regulated concentrations of interleukin-6 and interleukin-10, but down-regulated concentrations of tumor necrosis factor-α, interleukin-1β, interleukin-2, interleukin-8, and interferon-γ in plasma. Greater concentrations of plasma immunoglobulin G were also detected in the GTP group. Overall, the data suggested that GTP supplementation from 15 d prepartum to 30 d postpartum improved the milk yield and health status in cows with hyperketonemia during early lactation.