Herbage intake of dairy cows in mixed sequential grazing with breeding ewes as followers

This study aimed to evaluate the hypothesis that mixed sequential grazing of dairy cows and breeding ewes is beneficial. During the seasons of spring–summer 2013 and autumn–winter 2013–2014, 12 (spring–summer) and 16 (autumn–winter) Holstein Friesian cows and 24 gestating (spring–summer) and lactating (autumn–winter) Pelibuey ewes grazed on six (spring–summer) and nine (autumn–winter) paddocks of alfalfa and orchard grass mixed pastures. The treatments “single species cow grazing” (CowG) and “mixed sequential grazing with ewes as followers of cows” (MixG) were evaluated, under a completely randomized design with two replicates per paddock. Herbage mass on offer (HO) and residual herbage mass (RH) were estimated by cutting samples. The estimate of herbage intake (HI) of cows was based on the use of internal and external markers; the apparent HI of ewes was calculated as the difference between HO (RH of cows) and RH. Even though HO was higher in CowG, the HI of cows was higher in MixG during spring–summer and similar in both treatments during autumn–winter, implying that in MixG the effects on the cows HI of higher alfalfa proportion and herbage accumulation rate evolving from lower residual herbage mass in the previous cycle counteracted that of a higher HO in CowG. The HI of ewes was sufficient to enable satisfactory performance as breeding ewes. Thus, the benefits of mixed sequential grazing arose from higher herbage accumulation, positive changes in botanical composition, and the achievement of sheep production without negative effects on the herbage intake of cows.     

Feeding behavior of feedlot lambs fed diets containing levels of cassava wastewater

In this study, we evaluated the effects of including cassava wastewater in the diet on the feeding behavior of feedlot lambs in 35 male uncastrated Santa Inês × Dorper crossbred lambs at an approximate age of 3 months, with an average live weight of 20.0?±?3.4 kg. Diets were formulated with hay of cassava shoots (roughage) and a concentrate based on corn and soybean, with a roughage:concentrate ratio of 50:50, plus inclusion of cassava wastewater at the levels of 0, 12, 24, 36, or 48 g/kg of the total diet. Feeding behavior was evaluated between the 46th and 52nd days of the experiment. Increasing cassava wastewater levels in the diet reduced (P?<?0.05) the intakes (kg/day) of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber as well as the efficiency of rumination (g/cud and g/h) of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber. The other behavioral parameters were not affected by wastewater inclusion in the diet. Therefore, the inclusion of up to 48 g/kg of cassava wastewater on fresh matter of diets is not recommended for feedlot lambs.     

Effects of p.o. administered xylitol in cats

Xylitol is commonly used as sugar substitute in households. While it has numerous beneficial effects on human health, it is highly toxic to dogs. The goal of this study was to examine whether xylitol has similar deleterious effects, such as hypoglycaemia and acute hepatic failure, on cats. Our research included six healthy middle‐aged cats. Xylitol was dissolved in deionized water and administered p.o. at three doses (100, 500 and 1,000 mg/kg body weight). These dosages have been considered toxic and can cause liver failure or even death in dogs. After every xylitol administration, the basic health status and the blood glucose of cats were observed regularly. Additionally, prior to and 6, 24 and 72 hr after xylitol administration, blood samples were taken to check complete blood count, clinical biochemical parameters and enzymes such as ALT, ALKP, GGT, GLDH, bile acids, BUN, creatinine, phosphate, total protein, albumin, sodium and potassium. There were no significant changes (p > .05) in any of the haematological or biochemical parameters. Blood glucose concentrations did not show any significant alterations, except at 1,000 mg/kg dose, where a mild but significant increase was observed, but it was in physiological range. Based on our results, xylitol did not induce toxic effects on cats.     

Evaluation of β‐carotene assimilation in leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius)

Although leopard geckos (Eublepharis macularius) are commonly kept under human care, their vitamin requirements are largely unknown. Many invertebrate preys display a low vitamin A concentration; thus, gut‐loading insects with vitamin A or carotenoids is a common practice. The objective of this prospective experimental study was to investigate whether dietary supplementation with β‐carotene, including prey gut‐loading, leads to sufficient vitamin A hepatic storage and prevents epithelial squamous metaplasia development in leopard geckos. Ten clinically healthy female leopard geckos were randomly divided in two groups with various supplementations: a group receiving vitamin A supplementation and a group receiving β‐carotene. Insects were gut‐loaded continuously with a supplement containing vitamin A or β‐carotene, depending on the group. Oral supplementation with cod liver oil or carrot juice was administered weekly to each lizard from “vitamin A group” and “carotenoid group” respectively. After 10 weeks of supplementation, surgical hepatic biopsies were obtained in three geckos of each group while the two remaining geckos were euthanized to undergo complete necropsy. Hepatic vitamin A concentration was determined for each lizard (n = 10) by ultra‐performance liquid chromatography. Histopathology revealed hepatocellular vacuolization and vitellogenic follicles in five females. Epithelial squamous metaplasia was not observed in any of the geckos. Hepatic vitamin A concentration was significantly higher in the carotenoid‐supplemented group than in the vitamin A‐supplemented group (p = 0.03). Our results suggest that in leopard geckos, dietary supplementation with β‐carotene allows sufficient vitamin A hepatic storage.     

Single step genomic evaluation for female fertility in Nordic Red dairy cattle

Joint Nordic (Denmark, Finland, Sweden) genetic evaluation of female fertility is currently based on the multiple trait multilactation animal model (BLUP). Here, single step genomic model (ssGBLUP) was applied for the Nordic Red dairy cattle fertility evaluation. The 11 traits comprised of nonreturn rate and days from first to last insemination in heifers and first three parities, and days from calving to first insemination in the first three parities. Traits had low heritabilities (0.015–0.04), but moderately high genetic correlations between the parities (0.60–0.88). Phenotypic data included 4,226,715 animals with records and pedigree 5,445,392 animals. Unknown parents were assigned into 332 phantom parent groups (PPG). In mixed model equations animals were associated with PPG effects through the pedigree or both the pedigree and genomic information. Genotype information of 46,914 SNPs was available for 33,969 animals in the pedigree. When PPG used pedigree information only, BLUP converged after 2,420 iterations whereas the ssGBLUP evaluation needed over ten thousand iterations. When the PPG effects were solved accounting both the pedigree and the genomic information, the ssGBLUP model converged after 2,406 iterations. Also, with the latter model breeding values by ssGBLUP and BLUP became more consistent and genetic trends followed each other well. Models were validated using forward prediction of the young bulls. Reliabilities and variance inflation of predicted genomic breeding values (values for parent averages in brackets) for the 11 traits ranged 0.22–0.31 (0.10–0.27) and 0.81–0.95 (0.83–1.06), respectively. The ssGBLUP model gave always higher validation reliabilities than BLUP, but largest increases were for the cow fertility traits.     

PCR鉴定沙门氏菌血清分型方法的建立与应用

为建立快速有效、经济适用的沙门氏菌血清型鉴定方法,利用Primer Plex软件设计畜禽中常见沙门氏菌的菌体(O)抗原和鞭毛抗原(H)的引物,优化引物比例和退火温度等反应条件,建立沙门氏菌血清型鉴定的PCR法,并对46株沙门氏菌分离株进行血清型鉴定,同时与传统玻片凝集法和美国CDC的液相芯片(Luminex-x MAP)法进行比较。优化后获得了O抗原中B、C1、D和E1群的多重PCR引物,以及鞭毛抗原H1相抗原基因(fli C)和H2相抗原基因(flj B)的2对引物;建立了一套基于沙门氏菌O和H抗原的多重PCR血清型鉴定法;PCR法和Luminex-x MAP法鉴定出7种沙门氏菌血清型,传统玻片凝集法鉴定出6种血清型;PCR法与传统玻片凝集法和Luminex-x MAP鉴定结果的符合率均为95.65%。本研究建立的PCR沙门氏菌血清型鉴定法简便、快速,预期可在沙门氏菌的血清分型研究中发挥作用。     

肉鸡屠宰加工过程中沙门菌污染定量风险评估

为了构建肉鸡屠宰加工过程中沙门菌污染定量风险评估模型,分析鸡肉中沙门菌的消长变化规律,明确关键风险防控点,采用2015年部分肉鸡屠宰场沙门菌污染监测和调研数据,构建以烫煺后为评估过程起点,包括净膛、清洗预冷和分割传送的模块化过程风险评估模型,以不同分布描述各变量,并通过@RISK软件模拟运行。结果显示,通过构建的模型模拟屠宰加工后终端鸡肉产品中的沙门菌污染量,90%的可能分布在0~9MPN之间,而依据实际监测数据换算为5.3 MPN,说明模型可信。根据过程中各环节的模拟数据,分析了肉鸡携带的沙门菌消长变化,发现预冷后沙门菌污染总量明显下降,但分割传送后污染总量又有所回升。通过拟合的相关系数分析,明确了传送带上的沙门菌是影响终端鸡肉沙门菌污染的最关键风险点。本研究构建的肉鸡屠宰加工全过程沙门菌定量风险评估模型,可为肉鸡屠宰场沙门菌污染的卫生监管和风险管理提供理论依据。     

广西边境地区活禽批发市场禽流感流行病学监测

为了给广西边境地区重大动物疫病防控阻截带建设提供数据支持,以及了解中越边境地区家禽禽流感病毒生态学,2012年12月—2017年12月,对广西边境地区主要活禽批发市场家禽及市场环境进行了系统监测。结果显示:广西边境地区活禽批发市场内禽流感病毒污染较重,呈多亚型病毒共存状态;家禽样品的平均病毒分离率为15.95%,环境样品则高达23.65%,明显高于家禽样品。市场调查发现:广西9个边境县(市、区)中,年活禽交易量在100万只以上的有5个;市场交易活禽主要为本地散养或规模场养殖家禽、从其他地区批发转运来的家禽以及边境走私家禽;大部分活禽市场没有配备消毒和无害化处理设施,也未严格执行休市制度。监测和调查结果表明,广西边境地区活禽批发市场家禽交易量大且频繁,来源复杂;市场中禽流感病毒污染严重,多亚型病毒在市场内常年蓄积循环,且存在家禽隐性带毒现象,因而有病毒散播风险。污染严重主要是因市场管理水平不高和生物安全措施不到位造成的,因此需要加强市场的动物卫生监管,提高禽流感监测力度。     

黄菠萝与红松混交林生长情况研究

通过对比黄菠萝与红松不同混交生长的影响,以及分析了二者混交林种间的树冠结构关系,以此制订相应的经营措施。