Characterizing the molecular structure features of newly developed hulless barley cultivars with altered carbohydrate traits (Hordeum vulgare L.) by globar-sourced infrared spectroscopy in relation to nutrient utilization and availability

Four newly developed huless barley cultivars with altered carbohydrate traits were developed at the Crop Development Centre (CDC), University of Saskatchewan which varied for amylose (1–40% DM), and β-glucan (5–10% DM) content. The four hulless barley cultivars include zero-amylose waxy, CDC Fibar; 5%-amylose waxy, CDC Rattan; normal-amylose, CDC McGwire and high-amylose, HB08302. CDC Copeland was also included as a hulled barley control. Our previous study revealed the altered carbohydrate traits in barley affected nutrition availability and rumen degradation kinetics. These biological differences may be caused by differences in their molecular structure features. The objectives of this study were to (1) reveal molecular structure features in the four hulless barley cultivars with altered carbohydrate traits, and (2) quantify the molecular structural features in relation to rumen degradation kinetics, intestinal nutrient digestion and predicted protein supply to dairy cattle. Conventional Molecular Infrared-vibration Spectroscopy was applied to detect biochemical characteristics of functional group bands including protein, non-starch carbohydrate (β-glucan and cellulosic compounds) and total carbohydrate. Spectral data were further analyzed using univariate analysis of recording absorption peak parameters (baseline, region, relative height and area) and also multivariate analysis with agglomerative hierarchical cluster analysis and principal components analysis. Although correlation results showed weak correlation (P < 0.05) between identified functional group bands and ruminal degradation kinetics and estimated protein supply from both models, molecular structure differences of hulless barley cultivars can still be detected by the Molecular Infrared-vibration Spectroscopy technique and potential truly protein supply (MP) was significantly affected (P < 0.05) by protein molecular structure characteristics in hulless barley cultivars.     

Aquacultureagriculture systems integration: an Australian prospective

The concept of integrating aquaculture with irrigated farming systems was evaluated in three projects in the GoulburnMurray Irrigation District (GMID) in south-eastern Australia. (1) Semi-intensive cage culture trials using silver perch, Bidyanus bidyanus (Mitchell), were undertaken in a range of irrigated farming systems: irrigation supply channels; groundwater supplies; and on-farm storage dams. Survival and growth of fish under these conditions were comparable to fish reared in conventional aquaculture ponds. However, poor water quality at some sites reduced survival and growth. (2) A study was undertaken to assess the feasibility of the cage culture of silver perch and rainbow trout, Oncorhynchus mykiss (Walbaum), in three irrigation water storage reservoirs. Conditions within each reservoir, particularly water quality, wind and wave action, and cage fouling, varied considerably, and influenced fish growth and survival. (3) Mariculture trials were undertaken in two saline groundwater evaporation basins, which were part of an integrated agriforestry and salt reclamation system. The species tested included two oyster, two prawn and nine fish species. Some species exhibited exceptional survival and growth rates under trial conditions. These projects indicate that the concept of integrating aquaculture with existing irrigated farming systems has the potential to enhance productivity, water use efficiency and overall environmental sustainability in the GMID.     

大豆皮替代产奶牛日粮精料中玉米与小麦麸对产奶性能的影响

本试验选用 4 2头荷斯坦产奶牛分为 3组 ,每组 1 4头。采用完全随机化区组设计进行试验。处理为 3种大豆皮替代水平 ,即 :大豆皮分别替代精料中 0 % (对照 )、2 5%和 50 %的玉米与小麦麸 ;区组 ( 4个 )为产奶牛的不同胎次和泌乳月。正式试验期 1 2周。结果表明 ,用大豆皮替代产奶牛精料中 0 %、2 5%和 50 %的玉米和小麦麸 ,日粮干物质、蛋白质进食量、日产奶量、4 %乳脂率校正奶产量、产奶的饲料转化效率、乳蛋白、乳糖、无脂固形物含量均没有明显变化 (P >0 .2 0 ) ,乳脂率随大豆皮替代水平的提高呈直线上升趋势 (P =0 .0 8)。以大豆皮替代精料中 2 5%和 50 %玉米与小麦麸饲粮喂奶牛 ,每千克产奶的饲料成本平均分别降低 0 .0 4 5和 0 .0 57元     

Saccharomyces cerevisiae mannoproteins that protect wine from protein haze: their release during fermentation and lees contact and a proposal for their mechanism of action

A fraction containing the mannoproteins released during fermentation from the winemaking strain of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, Maurivin PDM, was able to reduce the visible protein haze in white wine. This fraction of haze protective mannoprotein material (HPM) could be recovered by either ultrafiltration or ethanol precipitation. The kinetics of the release of both mannose- and glucose-containing polymers during the growth cycle of PDM were determined as a guide to the release of HPM. Active HPM was first detected in the culture supernatant when the cells were exponentially growing. HPM was also released into the medium under an environment simulating winemaking conditions by PDM cells during fermentation as well as during storage on yeast lees. Since the amounts of HPM released during fermentation are greater than those subsequently extracted from the cell wall, fermentation would be a more viable procedure than extraction from yeast cells for the commercial production of HPM. Yeast invertase, a mannoprotein with haze protective activity, was used as a model substrate to investigate the mechanism of haze protection. Invertase was found to reduce visible turbidity but not prevent protein precipitation. Invertase itself did not precipitate but remained soluble in the wine. On the basis of these observations, we propose that the mechanism of haze protection may be one of competition between HPM and wine proteins for unknown wine component(s), the latter being required for the formation of large insoluble aggregates of denatured protein. As the available concentration of these components decreases, due to the presence of HPM, the particle size of the haze decreases and thus visible turbidity declines.     

Using synchrotron transmission FTIR microspectroscopy as a rapid, direct, and nondestructive analytical technique to reveal molecular microstructural-chemical features within tissue in grain barley

The objective of this study was to use synchrotron transmission FTIR microspectroscopy as a rapid, direct, and nondestructive analytical technique to reveal molecular microstructural-chemical features within tissue in grain barley. The results showed that synchrotron transmission FTIR microspectroscopy could provide spectral, chemical, and functional group characteristics of grain barley tissue at ultrahigh spatial resolutions. The spatially localized structural-chemical distributions of biological components (lignin, cellulose, protein, lipid, and carbohydrates) and biological component ratios could be imaged. Such information on molecular microstructural-chemical features within the tissue can be used for plant breeding programs for selecting superior varieties of barley for special purposes and for prediction of grain barley quality and nutritive value for humans and animals.     

用大豆皮替代日粮中部分玉米对奶牛产奶量和乳成分的影响

选用36头产奶牛,按产奶量、泌乳月和胎次配对的原则随机均分为对照组和试验组。试验处理为大豆皮替代饲粮30％的玉米。正试期90天。结果表明,奶牛日产奶量、4％乳脂率校正奶(FCM)产量和乳脂率均较对照组有明显提高,处理组日产奶量提高1.5千克;由于乳脂率的差异,4％FCM产量提高2.7千克(P<0.08)。乳脂率提高0.32个百分点(P<0.05)。结论:在奶牛饲粮中用大豆皮替代30％玉米时,可以提高产奶量和乳脂率;大豆皮可作为奶牛较好的精料替代成分。     

大豆皮替代产奶牛日粮精料中玉米与小麦麸对产奶性能和干物质与纤维消化特性的影响(2)

2结果与讨论2.1产奶牛饲喂试验2.1.1大豆皮化学成分及饲喂情况观察经实验室测定,大豆皮(%,DM基础)中CP12.15、NDF62.26、ADF48.08、Ca0.53、P0.18。尽管大豆皮的NDF含量高,但木质素含量低于2%(NRC,1996),这使得大豆皮具有较高的DM和纤维消化率(Quicke等,1959)。大豆皮的CP含量为12.2%,高于玉米(10%),低于小麦麸(17.1%,NRC,1989);但产奶净能值(1.77Mcal/kg)高于小麦麸(1.6Mcal/kg),低于玉米(1.96Mcal/kg,NRC,1989)。这说明大豆皮以一定比例替代玉米与小麦麸在营养价值方面是可行的。在整个试验期间,产奶牛饲喂不同比例大豆皮饲…     

Surgical results and fertility following correction of vesicovaginal reflux in mares

Objective To evaluate the surgical results and fertility of mares bred at various intervals relative to surgical management of urovagina. Design Sixty-one mares underwent surgery to correct vesicovaginal reflux. Surgery was performed at varying times relative to breeding and postoperative fertility was evaluated. Results Five mares were lost to follow-up and a further four were electively not bred. Of the remaining 52 mares, seasonal pregnancy and live foaling rates were 67% (35/52) and 54% (26/48), respectively. When mares were bred in the same cycle as the surgery, the first cycle following surgery, the second cycle following surgery or the following breeding season after surgery the seasonal pregnancy rates were 89% (8/9), 63% (10/16), 67% (2/3) and 63% (15/24), respectively. After censoring four mares that died of natural causes pre-foaling, the foaling rates were 88% (7/8), 50% (7/14), 0% (0/3), 52% (12/23), respectively. All mares bred in the same cycle as surgery or in the next cycle were bred once only that season, so the pregnancy rate per cycle of 72% (18/25) was identical to the seasonal pregnancy rate. Conclusions Good fertility (comparable to a normal population of mares) was achieved following surgery and the results suggest that delaying breeding until the following breeding season is not necessary. In addition, breeding in the same cycle as surgical repair is a previously unreported technique that should be considered to maintain a yearly foaling interval.