The effect of lactic acid bacterial starter culture and chemical additives on wilted rice straw silage

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) are suitable for rice straw silage fermentation, but have been studied rarely, and rice straw as raw material for ensiling is difficult because of its disadvantages, such as low nutrition for microbial activities and low abundances of natural populations of LAB. So we investigated the effect of application of LAB and chemical additives on the fermentation quality and microbial community of wilted rice straw silage. Treatment with chemical additives increased the concentrations of crude protein (CP), water soluble carbohydrate (WSC), acetic acid and lactic acid, reduced the concentrations of acid detergent fiber (ADF) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF), but did not effectively inhibit the growth of spoilage organisms. Inoculation with LABs did not improve the nutritional value of the silage because of poor growth of LABs in wilted rice straw. Inoculation with LAB and addition of chemical materials improved the quality of silage similar to the effects of addition of chemical materials alone. Growth of aerobic and facultatively anaerobic bacteria was inhibited by this mixed treatment and the LAB gradually dominated the microbial community. In summary, the fermentation quality of wilted rice straw silage had improved by addition of LAB and chemical materials.     

Effects of dietary supplementation of emulsifier and carbohydrase on the growth performance,serum cholesterol and breast meat fatty acids profile of broiler chickens

A total of 540 2‐day‐old male Ross 308 broilers were used in a 35‐day experiment and were randomly divided into five treatments: (i) NC (low energy); (ii) PC (high energy diet); (iii) P1 (NC + 0.1% carbohydrases); (iv) P2 (NC + 0.05% emulsifier); and (v) P3 (NC + 0.1% carbohydrases + 0.05% emulsifier). From days 0 to 21, body weight gain in PC and P3 treatments increased (P < 0.05) compared with NC treatment. The chicks fed PC, P1, P2 and P3 improved (P < 0.05) feed conversion ratio compared with the NC treatment throughout the whole experiment. Abdominal fat weight was heavier (P < 0.05) in PC, P2 and P3 treatments than in NC and P1 treatments. On day 35, serum total cholesterol and low density lipoprotein cholesterol concentration were higher (P < 0.05) and high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol was lower (P < 0.05) in NC and P2 treatments than in PC, P1 and P3 treatments. The concentration of oleic acid, linoleic acid and total unsaturated fatty acids were highest (P < 0.05) in PC than in the other treatments. In conclusion, the results indicate that low energy density diet had lower growth performance, while the inclusion of emulsifier and carbohydrases in low energy diets can partially improve growth performance.     

Rearing conditions affected responses of weaned pigs to organic acids showing a positive effect on digestibility,microflora and immunity

Three experiments were conducted to assess the response of weaned pigs to organic acid SF3, which contains 34% calcium formate, 16% calcium lactate, 7% citric acid and 13% medium chain fatty acids. Dietary treatments had no effect on growth performance of piglets (21‐day weaning) fed the commercial prestart diet for 1 week before receiving the experimental diets supplemented with SF3 at 0, 3 or 5 g/kg diet (Exp. 1), whereas diarrhea frequency averaged across a week was decreased by SF3 supplementation (5 g/kg diet) in piglets fed the experimental diets immediately after weaning (Exp. 2). In Exp. 3, piglets (28‐day weaning) were fed the control (containing pure colistin sulfate and enramycin, respectively, at 20 mg/kg diet) for 1 week and then were fed the control or SF3‐supplemented (5 g/kg diet) diet for 2 weeks. The SF3‐fed piglets had greater apparent ileal digestibility of calcium and dry matter, while also demonstrating greater overall gross energy, up‐regulated jejunal expression of sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐1 and transforming growth factor‐β, down‐regulated jejunal expression of tumor necrosis factor (TNF)‐α, higher ileal Lactobacillus, with lower total bacteria content, lower plasma TNF‐α but higher IgG levels than the control‐fed piglets. Collectively, SF3 consumption improved diarrhea resistance of weaned pigs by improving nutrient digestibility, piglet immunity and intestinal bacteria profile. © 2016 Japanese Society of Animal Science     

Crop milk protein is synthesised following activation of the IRS1/Akt/TOR signalling pathway in the domestic pigeon (Columba livia)

1. The experiment was conducted to study whether insulin receptor substance 1 (IRS1) / Protein kinase B (Akt)/target of the rapamycin (TOR) signalling pathway activation stimulates crop milk protein synthesis in the domestic pigeon (Columba livia).

2. Crop milk was collected from ten 1-d-old squabs and analysed for nutrient content. During the non-breeding period and the first day of lactation, blood samples were collected from 5 pairs of breeding pigeons and the levels of prolactin and insulin were determined.

3. Crop samples were collected from 5 pairs of breeders at d 14 and 16 of the incubation period and d 1, 3 and 7 of the lactation period. Crop samples were evaluated for changes in crop weight and thickness and changes in the expression patterns of IRS1/Akt/TOR signalling pathway–related proteins.

4. The results demonstrated that prolactin induces a gradual increase in the relative weight and thickness of the crop, with crops reaching a maximum size at the third day of lactation.

5. Pigeon crop milk contains 64.1% crude protein and 29.7% crude fat based on dry weight.

6. Serum prolactin and insulin levels in the lactation period were significantly higher than those in the non-breeding period. Compared with non-breeding pigeons, the expression of the phosphorylated IRS1 phosphorylated Akt, phosphorylated TOR, phosphorylated ribosomal protein S6 kinase, phosphorylated S6, phosphorylated eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E were significantly up-regulated in the crop of pigeons in the lactation period.

7. In conclusion, prolactin might induce changes in crop tissue and form the physiological structure for crop milk synthesis. Furthermore, the synthesis of crop milk protein is regulated by activation of the IRS1/Akt/TOR signalling pathway.

     

土壤压砂保水处理含水率对西瓜生产潜力的影响

以西瓜为试材,针对压砂保墒问题,选择压砂时期和灌溉定额作为研究因素,采用对比试验方法研究了压砂保墒效果及其种植西瓜的生产潜力。结果表明:压砂覆盖能够有效保持土壤水分,上年雨季前压砂与雨季后压砂相比较,播种初期前者处理土壤质量含水率可达10.8%以上,而后者仅为8.9%;补水条件下前者比后者处理西瓜纵径大2.8cm,西瓜横径大3.1cm,未补水条件下前者比后者处理西瓜纵径大3.9cm,西瓜横径大2.7cm;补水条件下,前者处理西瓜产量为12 301.0kg·hm~(-2),后者处理西瓜产量为7 549.1kg·hm~(-2),未补水条件下,前者处理西瓜产量为6 723.3kg·hm~(~(-2)),后者处理西瓜产量为3 829.5kg·hm~(-2),可见,压砂保水能够明显提高西瓜生产潜力。     

岩棉育苗块持水量对番茄幼苗生长的影响

设施土壤次生盐渍化和连作障碍日益严重,岩棉无土栽培是解决诸类问题的途径之一。以"双抗1号"番茄品种为试材,在日光温室条件下,研究了岩棉块育苗期间不同相对持水量(30%、40%、50%、60%、70%)对番茄幼苗株高、茎粗、鲜重、干重的影响。结果表明:较高的岩棉块持水量对番茄幼苗株高有明显的促进作用;育苗结束时不同持水量处理对番茄幼苗茎粗的影响差异不显著;较高持水量处理能显著增加番茄幼苗地上部鲜重和干重,能明显促进根系生长,增加岩棉育苗块底面的根系密度。初步建议岩棉块培育番茄苗时宜采用60%~70%相对持水量。     

沼肥施用对桃树缩叶病的防治效果

以桃树为供试材料,研究了不同沼液稀释浓度对其缩叶病的防治效果。结果表明:喷施沼液组较对照(CK)均可不同程度降低桃树缩叶病的发生。其中以沼液稀释倍数为1/8处理的效果最好,于第3次喷施后7d,病叶率由50%降低至8%,枝条新叶平均增加5片,枝条生长了4cm,均高于其它处理;其次为沼液稀释倍数为1/4和1/16的处理,病叶率分别由45%降低至10%和52%降低至15%。     

弱光胁迫对七个辣椒组合的生长发育及产量的影响

以驻马店市农业科学院园艺所近年来培育的7个辣椒组合(品种)为试材,利用遮阳网模拟弱光胁迫,调查了在弱光胁迫下辣椒植物学性状及产量性状,以株高、茎粗作为参考指标,以叶面积、比叶干质量作为重要指标,以产量、叶绿素a/b值作为主要指标,对其弱光耐受性进行了综合评价。结果表明:弱光逆境胁迫导致辣椒植株增高、茎秆变细、叶面积增大、比叶干质量降低、产量及叶绿素a/b值均降低;且叶绿素a/b值与产量的变化幅度基本一致,该方法可用来鉴定辣椒不同组合的耐弱光性能。     

Comparison of two doses of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein in absorbable collagen sponges for bone healing in dogs

OBJECTIVE: To determine the effects of 2 doses of recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 in an absorbable collagen sponge (rhBMP-2/ACS) on bone healing in dogs. ANIMALS: 27 adult dogs. PROCEDURES: Dogs underwent a mid-diaphyseal (1-mm) tibial osteotomy (stabilized with external skeletal fixation) and received an ACS containing 0.28 mg (0.2 mg/mL) or 0.56 mg (0.4 mg/mL) of rhBMP-2 or no treatment (control dogs). All dogs were examined daily; bone healing was assessed via radiography and subjective lameness evaluation every 2 weeks. After euthanasia at 8 weeks, tibiae were evaluated biomechanically and histologically. RESULTS: Control dogs required antimicrobial treatment for pin-site-related complications more frequently than did rhBMP-2/ACS-treated dogs. At 4 and 6 weeks, weight bearing was greater in dogs treated with rhBMP-2/ACS (0.2 mg/mL) than in control dogs, albeit not significantly. Compared with control treatment, both doses of rhBMP-2/ACS accelerated osteotomy healing at 4, 6, and 8 weeks, and the 0.2 mg/mL dose enhanced healing at 2 weeks; healing at 6 weeks was greater for the lower-dose treatment than for the higher-dose treatment. Histologically, healing at 8 weeks was significantly improved for both rhBMP-2/ACS treatments, compared with control treatment. Among groups, biomechanical variables did not differ, although less osteotomy-site failures occurred in rhBMP-2/ACS-treated groups. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: In dogs that underwent tibial osteotomy, rhBMP-2/ACS (0.2 mg/mL) appeared to accelerate bone healing and reduce lameness (compared with control treatment) and apparently augmented bone healing more than rhBMP-2/ACS (0.4 mg/mL). Compared with control dogs, rhBMP-2/ACS-treated dogs required antimicrobial treatments less frequently.     

Evaluation of immunogenicity and protective efficacy of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae HB04C(-) mutant lacking a drug resistance marker in the pigs

Previously, we reported the construction and characterization of a genetically defined Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae (A. pleuropneumoniae) apxIIC gene mutant, HB04C(-), which conferred protection to mice against infection with A. pleuropneumoniae. In this study, we further evaluated HB04C(-) for safety and its ability to elicit protective immunity in pigs. It was demonstrated that a dose of 2 x 10(8) CFU HB04C(-) was safe to the pigs via intranasal or intramuscular injection. Immunization with a dose of 2 x 10(8) HB04C(-) by both intranasal and intramuscular routine could yield equal protective efficacy and elicited significant protection against experiment challenge with homologous or heterologous serotypes of a virulent A. pleuropneumonia. Taken together, HB04C(-) might serve as a promising vaccine candidate against infection with A. pleuropneumoniae.