Determination of the relationship between serum anti‐Müllerian hormone level and superovulatory response in Simmental cows

The most significant focal points of the embryo transfer technology are as follows: the selection of donors, the response of the selected donor to the superovulation protocol and the obtained number of the transferable embryos. For this purpose, it is suggested that donor selection can be done by anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH) levels, and embryo production is evaluated. AMH is secreted by the granulosa cells of primordial, pre‐antral and antral follicles below 4 mm in the ovary, independent of FSH. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between serum AMH levels and the number of corpus luteum (CL), total embryos and transferable embryos that were shaped after a uniform superovulation protocol. For this reason, 48 Simmental cows, which were located at General Directory of Agricultural Enterprises (region, province, etc. instead of the general directorate), were used as donors for the embryo transfer. Blood samples were taken at random, regardless of the stage of animal's sexual cycle. AMH levels were measured by enzyme‐linked fluorescent assay (ELFA) method of the miniVIDAS^® (bioMérieux SA) using AMH Bovine Test Kit. According to the statistical analyses of the obtained data, AMH levels were positively correlated with CL and total embryos (p < .05). No significant correlations between AMH and transferable embryos were approved (p > .05). It was also determined that each 200 pg/ml increase in serum AMH level resulted in one increase in CL number. Overall, considering the positive correlation between AMH level and the obtained number of CL and total embryos after a superovulation treatment, it was concluded that measuring blood AMH level prior to any further costly implementation may be an effective method in donor selection.     

Assessing the situation of non-forest private woodlands: The Turkish case

This paper examines the situation of private woodlands in Turkey, which are referred to as ‘non-forest private woodlands’ (NFPWs). The questions addressed by this study are ‘Why are NFPWs not defined as forest?’, ‘Is the exclusion of NFPWs from forests reasonable?’ and ‘What are the consequences of excluding NFPWs from the forest regime?’. It is found that the criteria used to define a forest in Turkey, and hence to exclude NFPWs from forests, do not have a rational basis. Moreover, the threshold level of area, the most decisive criterion, is far beyond comparable international values and cannot be explained by country peculiarities. Also, NFPWs are more likely to be granted tree cutting approval if they have some type of official cadastre or if they harvest trees for domestic use. Commercial-use NFPWs make tree cuttings in higher quantities than domestic harvesters. NFPWs in general can be perceived as fuelwood harvesters as opposed to industrial wood suppliers. NFPWs with forest or land cadastre tend to harvest at higher levels compared to those without a cadastral survey. In the 8-year period 1993 and 2000, approximately 2.5 M m³ of wood was harvested on NFPWs across Turkey. The annual wood production on NFPWs throughout the country decreased drastically during that period, from about 700,000 m³ down to about 150,000 m³. This may be an alarming sign for environmental and socio-economic sustainability involving these lands. Forest management of these lands can be improved if the forestry administration authority implements planned environment-related regulative criteria as well as sound channels of communication, designed to lead the landowners towards best ‘forest’ management practices and hence to guarantee the sustainability of the communities and the natural resource base of the country.     

不同地方猪重要经济性状关联位点SNP芯片分型及群体遗传结构研究

旨在分析四川省7个地方猪种类群和山东省徒河黑猪重要经济性状关联SNP位点基因型分布及群体间遗传结构。本研究采用中芯一号芯片对23头成华猪、26头雅南猪、60头青峪猪、57头内江猪、151头丫杈猪、57头乌金猪（凉山类群）、51头平原藏猪、109头高原藏猪和28头徒河黑猪共562头健康种猪进行了单核苷酸多态性（single nucleotide polymorphism,SNP）分析,利用Plink软件对获得的基因型数据进行质控,结合R等软件,统计分析猪7个重要经济性状的基因型;采用Mega X软件进行聚类分析,使用Plink软件进行主成分（PCA）分析,通过VCFtools软件计算猪群间的群体遗传分化指数（Fst）,分析群体间遗传关系远近。结果显示,四川省地方猪群体中,采食量、酸肉和应激性状的非优势基因型比例均在2.20%以下;抗仔猪腹泻、料重比（FCR）、公猪精液品质和多肋性状的非优势基因型比例分别为8.99%、11.80%、73.97%和95.32%;徒河黑猪群体中,应激性状已无q等位基因,采食量和酸肉性状的非优势基因型比例较低,均为3.57%;公猪精液品质、抗仔猪腹泻、料重比和多肋性状的非优势基因型比例较高,分别为39.29%、50.00%、82.14%和92.86%;聚类和主成分分析显示,徒河黑猪与四川地方猪种间遗传距离远,丫杈猪、乌金猪、内江猪和藏猪（平原和高原）各自聚为一类,品种间群体分层结构明显,雅南猪、成华猪、青峪猪聚为一类;Fst指数计算结果表明,同属于湖川山地猪的丫杈猪和青峪猪间存在高度遗传分化。结果提示,四川省地方猪群体的采食量、酸肉、应激、抗仔猪腹泻和料重比性状的非优势基因型比例较低,公猪精液品质和多肋性状的非优势基因型比例较高;徒河黑猪群体的应激性状已无q等位基因,采食量和酸肉性状的非优势基因型比例较低,公猪精液品质、抗仔猪腹泻、料重比和多肋性状的非优势基因型比例较高;群体遗传结构研究结果表明,丫杈猪与青峪猪都归类于湖川山地猪有待商榷。     

Detection of prion gene promoter and intron1 indel polymorphisms in Anatolian water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis)

Bovine spongiform encephalopathy (BSE) is a fatal disease caused by miss folded prion protein. Studies in the cattle, comparing genetic data from BSE diseased and healthy animals have shown that indel polymorphisms in the promoter and intron 1 of PRNP gene were associated with disease susceptibility. Several studies were conducted to find out allele and genotypic frequencies of indel polymorphisms in promoter and intron 1 of the cattle PRNP gene. Unlike domestic cattle and bison, no indel polymorphisms of the PRNP promoter and intron 1 were examined in any population of the water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis). Aim of this study was to analyse frequencies of allele, genotype, and haplotype of the indel polymorphisms (23 bp indel in promoter and 12 bp indel in intron 1) in prion protein coding gene (PRNP) of water buffalo. Therefore a PCR based procedure, previously used in cattle to detect indel polymorphisms of PRNP promoter and intron 1 locus, was applied to 106 Anatolian water buffalo DNAs. Our results have revealed high frequency of in variants and in23/in12 haplotype for PRNP promoter and intron 1 indel polymorphisms in water buffalo. The results of the study have demonstrated that frequencies of allele, genotype, and haplotype of the indel polymorphisms in PRNP gene of the Anatolian water buffalo are significantly different those from cattle and bison PRNP indel polymorphisms.     

Changes in Testicular Development, Ultrasonographic and Histological Appearance of the Testis in Buck Kids Immunized Against LHRH Using Recombinant LHRH Fusion Protein

This study was designed to evaluate the effectiveness of recombinant Ovalbumin-LHRL (OL) immunization on changes in testicular size, histological appearance and testosterone production in buck kids. Thirty native buck kids at 18 weeks of age were divided into three groups, control (n = 10), immunization (n = 10) and castration (n = 10) groups. Immunized animals received OL protein generated by recombinant DNA technology. Ultrasonographic and histological examinations of the testes were performed. Animals were slaughtered at 44 weeks of age. Semen and epididymides were evaluated for the presence of sperm cells. Immunized animals generated anti-LHRH antibodies. Testosterone production, testicular and accessory glands development and sperm production were suppressed in the immunized animals (p < 0.01). Semineferous tubule diameters decreased (p < 0.01), basal membrane of the tubule was thickened and hyalinized in immunized kids. Immunization affected ultrasonographic appearance of the testes drastically. While testes of control animals gained their normal ultrasonographic appearance as the age increased, immunized animals had uniform hypoechogenic testicular structure as observed at 18 weeks of age until slaughter. Simultaneous histological and ultrasonographic evaluations indicated that the changes in testicular histology could partly be monitored via ultrasonographic imaging; nevertheless, it is difficult to claim that ultrasonographic image reflects the exact changes in such instances. In conclusion, these results indicate that recombinant OL fusion protein is effective in immunocastration in buck kids and has a potential to be used as an alternative to physical castration. Further researches should be conducted to help assessing reproductive status of testes from ultrasound images.     

The problem of the use of urea in feeding swine]

For a period of 9 days growing fattening pigs (with liveweights ranging from 40 to 50 kgs were fed a ration of autumn barley, dried skim mild and wheat gluten supplemented with 0.5% of 15N labelled urea (12.5% of the total N). The N balance and the rate of 15N protein retention as well as the rates of protein and amino acid synthesis in the different organs and tissues of the carcasses were estimated by emission spectrometry after amino acid fractionation. On an average, 19.3% of the ingested urea were retained, while only 4% N were retained in the essential amino acids found in the carcasses. This proportion will, to a large extent, result from transamination processes and, to a lesser extent, from microbia synthesis. From this it may be concluded that urea N does not induce any appreciable synthesis of amino acids in pigs so that urea cannot be regarded as a suitable substitute for protein feeds in the feeding of monogastric animals.     

黄淮海区主推夏播玉米品种籽粒脱水特性研究

[目的]籽粒机收是现代玉米生产发展的趋势和方向.生理成熟期籽粒含水率及生理成熟后籽粒物理脱水速率是决定玉米能否机收籽粒的关键因素,明确不同玉米品种籽粒脱水特性差异及其影响因素,可为机收籽粒玉米品种选育和推广提供理论依据.[方法]2017—2018年,以京农科728等18个黄淮海区主推夏播玉米品种为研究材料,测定籽粒含水...