The relationship between tail biting in pigs, docking procedure and other management practices

The tail length (docked, tipped or undocked) and tail status (bitten or unbitten) of 27,870 pigs from 450 units was recorded at six UK abattoirs. A farm survey of the final finishing stage was used to investigate the relationship between management practice and tail biting. This showed that docking was the most important factor influencing the probability of being not bitten, with 2.4% of docked and 8.5% of long-tailed pigs being tail-bitten. The following factors reduced the probability of long-tailed pigs being tail-bitten; light straw provision, use of natural ventilation or artificially controlled natural ventilation (ACNV), mixed sex grouping, meal or liquid feeding, and use of double or multi-space feeders. Docked and long-tailed pigs provided with light straw and natural ventilation/ACNV had levels of tail biting of 1.2% and 4.3% respectively; 3.9% of docked pigs with artificial ventilation and no straw were tail-bitten. Long-tailed pigs fed via double or multi-space feeders also had 3.9% of tails bitten.     

Measurement of canine IgE using the alpha chain of the human high affinity IgE receptor

In vitro assays for allergen specific immunoglobulin E (IgE) are a convenient and reproducible alternative to intradermal skin testing in dogs. Such tests may be used to support a diagnosis of atopic dermatitis and to define appropriate allergens for immunotherapy. Current in vitro assays rely upon monoclonal or polyclonal antibodies as IgE detection reagents. However, in sera where allergen-specific IgG occurs in great excess, any IgE:IgG cross-reactivity of the detection reagent may result in lowered assay specificity. Therefore, we have developed an assay for canine IgE which uses a recombinant form of the extracellular part of the alpha chain of the human high affinity IgE receptor (FcvarepsilonRIalpha). Biotinylated FcvarepsilonRIalpha shows no significant binding to purified canine IgG, and recognizes a heat labile antibody in serum, with a detection limit of 73-146pg/ml. Comparison of assay signals using the labeled FcvarepsilonRIalpha and a highly specific anti-canine IgE monoclonal antibody (MAb) shows good agreement. The FcvarepsilonRIalpha is therefore a sensitive and specific alternative to polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies for canine serum IgE measurement.     

碱性盐胁迫对燕麦矿质离子吸收与分配的影响

为探讨燕麦耐碱性与矿质离子的关系,通过盆栽试验,将碱性盐Na2CO3、NaHCO3按摩尔比1∶1混合设置不同浓度(0、50和100mmol·L-1)胁迫处理,分析燕麦耐碱性品种vao-9和碱敏感性品种白燕5号根、茎、叶对Na+、K+、Ca2+、Mg2+、Fe2+、Cu2+、Zn2+的吸收及分配规律。结果表明,碱性盐胁迫下2个品种根、茎、叶中Na+含量增加,K+、Cu2+含量下降;Ca2+、Mg2+含量在根中增加,在茎、叶中下降,Fe2+、Zn2+含量在不同胁迫程度下和不同器官中变化不同。与白燕5号相比,vao-9吸收的Na+总量较低,K+、Ca2+、Cu2+总量较高,Mg2+、Fe2+、Zn2+总量变化不大。在胁迫浓度达到100mmol·L-1时,vao-9茎中截留Na+,叶片中较K+、Ca2+、Mg2+、Fe2+、Cu2+和Zn2+分配较多,而白燕5号叶片中积累Na+较多,茎中积累K+较多,根中积累Ca2+、Mg2+、Fe2+、Cu2+、Zn2+较多,从而使碱性盐胁迫下vao-9较白燕5号叶片中保持的Na+/K+、Na+/Ca2+和Na+/Mg2+低。可见,在高浓度碱性盐胁迫下vao-9茎中区域化Na+,选择吸收K+、Ca2+、Cu2+,并在叶片中分配较多的矿质离子来保持燕麦体内离子平衡,以适应盐碱胁迫。     

豆米轮作对春玉米土壤固氮细菌群落结构及多样性的影响

为探明大豆-玉米轮作对土壤固氮细菌的影响，以玉米连作为对照(MMM)，以nif-H基因为指示，采用高通量测序技术，分析大豆-玉米2年轮作周期(MSM)和大豆-玉米-玉米3年轮作周期(SMM)下土壤固氮细菌群落结构及多样性。结果表明：大豆-玉米轮作下0～20、20～40 cm土层土壤有机质、全氮、碱解氮、铵态氮和硝态氮均显著增加。固氮细菌的Chao1指数和ACE指数在0～20、20～40 cm土层均为轮作高于对照，轮作下MSM显著高于SMM;Shannon指数和Simpson指数在0～20 cm土层轮作显著高于MMM;20～40 cm土层MSM显著高于MMM。在门水平上，MSM和SMM的0～20、20～40 cm土层变形菌门的相对丰度均高于MMM。在属水平上，2个轮作类型0～20 cm土层的慢生根瘤菌属、弗兰克氏菌属和纤毛菌属相对丰度显著较高；20～40 cm土层慢生根瘤菌属、伪食酸菌属、地杆菌属和固氮弧菌属相对丰度显著较高；MSM 0～20、20～40 cm土层慢生根瘤菌属、甲基孢囊菌属和固氮弧菌属较SMM均提高。方差分析表明，固氮细菌丰度指数（Chao1和ACE指数）与有机质、碱解氮...