Evaluation of haemodynamic changes of uterine arteries using Doppler ultrasonography during different stages of pregnancy in Bos indicus cows

The objectives of the study were to evaluate haemodynamic changes and their relationships among ipsilateral (IPS) and contralateral (CONT) uterine arteries (UA) during different stages of pregnancy in Bos indicus cows. Multiparous pregnant cows (n = 40) having a gestation length 30.47 ± 0.54 (mean ± SD) days were randomly enrolled and subjected to Doppler ultrasonography sequentially at 1st, 2nd, 4th, 6th and 8th months of gestation. Blood flow indices including diameter of UA (mm), blood flow volume (BFVo, ml/min), blood flow velocity (BFVe, cm/s), time-averaged maximum velocity (TAMV, cm/s), pulsatility index (PI) and resistance index (RI) were recorded. Data were analysed with mixed models using the PROC MIXED procedures, and Pearson correlation coefficients were calculated using the PROC CORR statement in SAS. The final statistical models included the fixed effects of side of UA, gestation month and the interaction between side of UA and gestation month. Results revealed that the mean diameter of the UA (12.13 ± 0.22 vs. 10.09 ± 0.22), BFVo (1236.33 ± 0.55 vs. 770.41 ± 0.55), BFVe (17.18 ± 0.42 vs. 15.58 ± 0.42) and TAMV (17.11 ± 0.44 vs. 15.77 ± 0.44) was higher (p < .05) in IPS as compared to CONT side of the UA in cows. However, PI and RI did not differ between IPS and CON arteries of uterus in cows. A very high and positive correlation (r = .89; p < .05) existed between the diameter of UA and BFVo starting from 1st to 8th months of gestation in IPS as well as CONT sides of UA. Moreover, TAMV was highly and positively correlated (r = .91; p < .05) with BFVe throughout the gestation. In conclusion, these haemodynamic changes in the UA could be used as a valuable validity tool to differentiate the compromised pregnancy in Bos indicus cows.     

Effects of cerium oxide supplementation to laying hen diets on performance,egg quality,some antioxidant enzymes in serum and lipid oxidation in egg yolk

This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary cerium oxide levels (0, 100, 200, 300 or 400 mg/kg) on the laying performance, egg quality, some blood serum parameters and egg lipid peroxidation of laying hen. In total, one hundred and twenty 22‐week‐old brown Lohman LSL laying hens were randomly assigned to five groups equally (n = 24). Each treatment was replicated six times. Dietary supplementation of cerium oxide had no significant effect on feed intake and egg weight. The addition of cerium oxide to the laying hens' feed improved feed conversion ratio and increased (p < 0.05) egg production. Quality criteria of egg for except shell breaking strength were not affected by supplementing cerium oxide. In particular, supplementation of 200 and 300 mg/kg cerium oxide to the laying hens feed led to a significant (p < 0. 01) increase in egg shell breaking strength. Calcium and phosphorus concentration of serum increased significantly (p < 0.05) with supplementation of 100 mg/kg cerium oxide to laying hen diets. It was also observed that serum superoxide dismutase (SOD) activity and malondialdehyde (MDA) concentration decreased significantly with supplementation of cerium oxide in diets. Inclusion of cerium oxide resulted in a significant reduction in thiobarbituric acid reactive substance (TBARS) values in egg yolk in this study. It can be concluded that the addition of cerium oxide had positive effects on egg production, feed conversion ratio and egg shelf life. Based on the results of this study, it could be advised to supplement laying hens feed with cerium oxide as feed additives.     

Effects of protein-energetic supplementation frequency on growth performance and nutritional characteristics of grazing beef cattle

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate reduced supplementation frequencies for grazing beef cattle in rainy season. In experiment 1, evaluating the nutritional parameters, four rumen-cannulated Nellore bulls (BW = 410 kg) were used. In experiment 2, evaluating animal performance, 48 Nellore bulls (BW = 358 kg) were used. The treatments were as follows: mineral supplement (MS) alone and MS plus protein-energy supplement provided 3×, 5× and 7×/week. Supplementation frequency did not affect (P > 0.05) intake and digestibility. Average daily gain was greater (P < 0.001) to supplementation compared with MS. The supplementation 5×/week resulted in greater weight gain per hectare (9.24) and higher economic returns during the study period (1.64%) compared to other supplementations. Supplementation 5×/week increased animal performance and positively influenced economic returns.     

Production,chemical composition,and fatty acid profile of milk from buffaloes fed with cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) cake and murumuru (Astrocaryum murumuru) cake in the Eastern Amazon

The objective was to evaluate the effect of concentrate supplementation using by-products of the Amazonian industry on milk production, milk composition, and milk fatty acid profile of dairy buffaloes. Twelve lactating buffaloes (544.5 ± 35.6 kg, 6.4 ± 2.2 years old, 59 ± 6 days in milk) were allotted in a pasture of Mombaça grass and managed under rotational grazing (4 days occupancy/28 days rest). A 3 × 3 Latin square was adopted, and each animal alternately received three supplementary treatments based on corn bran + soybean meal or cupuaçu cake or murumuru cake for 21 days per treatment. Murumuru cake increased the levels of lauric acid and myristic acid in the milk (p < 0.05). Murumuru cake reduced the unsaturated fatty acid contents in the milk compared with animals fed control diet or cupuaçu cake (24.27% vs. 25.24% vs. 25.08%). The n-6/n-3 ratio was 2.6, 1.97, and 2.0 in the control, cupuaçu, and murumuru groups, respectively. Based on this parameter, cakes made from cupuaçu as well as murumuru could be considered to be adequate for inclusion in dairy water buffalo feed. However, the murumuru cake addition requires some caution because its use induces the secretion of higher levels of lauric and myristic fatty acids that are related to human cardiovascular disease.     

林地开垦后坡面侵蚀过程与土壤养分流失的研究

林地被人为开垦破坏后 ,加速侵蚀是导致坡面土壤养分流失的根本原因。坡面土壤养分流失的空间分布与坡面侵蚀方式和侵蚀强度的空间分布相一致 ,浅沟沟槽是坡面土壤养分流失最严重的部位。土壤养分流失在开垦初期非常迅速 ,开垦耕种 5 a后 ,土壤养分含量可减少 5 0 %。土壤剖面中 A层的流失是土壤养分流失的标志。     

Comparison of Cryoprotective Effects of Lycopene and Cysteamine in Different Cryoprotectants on Bull Semen and Fertility Results

The objectives of this study were to compare glycerol and ethylene glycol at different concentrations as cryoprotectants and lycopene or cysteamine (with/without) as antioxidants in Tris extender for bull semen. Twenty‐four ejaculates were obtained from three bulls. Each ejaculate was split into four equal aliquots and diluted using both of the Tris extenders with glycerol (5% or 7%) or ethylene glycol (3% or 5%). After that, each extenders were split into three equal aliquots and added using both of the cysteamine 5 mm or lycopene 500 μg/ml, and control (without additives). The addition of 7% glycerol with cysteamine, 5% ethylene glycol with cysteamine and 3% ethylene glycol with cysteamine groups gave the lowest CASA motility than the other groups. However, 7% glycerol and 7% glycerol with lycopene resulted in a better rate of CASA progressive motility compared with that of other groups. Generally, all the lycopene groups signed better protective effects on acrosome and total morphology than the other groups. Glycerol 7% and 3% ethylene glycol with lycopene groups yielded to slight higher percentages of membrane integrity assessed by HOST than that of the other groups, but 7% glycerol with cysteamine and 3% ethylene glycol with cysteamine showed the worst percentages of membrane integrity. Glycerol 7% and 5% glycerol with lycopene gave rise to a higher value of VAP, VSL and VCL compared with that of the other groups. On the contrary, adding to 5% glycerol with cysteamine showed negative effect for VAP, VSL, VCL and ALH values. All cryoprotectant groups with lycopene decreased chromatin damage than the other groups. Ethylene glycol 3% led to lower non‐return rates of inseminated cows. However, this result was not considered to be statistically important.     

高效脱色菌的特性及其在染化废水厌氧处理中的生物强化作用

从活性污泥等微生物源中分离、筛选获得10株高效脱色菌，经鉴定其属于Pseudomonas,Bacillus，Xanthomonas，Erwinia，Alealigenes，Plesiomonas。对艳红染料生产废水脱色试验表明最适温度30℃，pH6.6～8.0，湿细胞浓度20～30!g*L-1;静置培养（兼氧）脱色率高于振荡培养；外加NADH、NADPH、易降解有机物和有机废水可强化脱色菌的脱色性能。为实现脱色菌的资源化应用，试验将PseudomonasD18,ErwiniaD17,AlcaligenesD19andPlesiomonasD124株脱色菌制成混合培养物和固定化细胞，分别投加于处理染化废水的厌氧反应器，结果发现在相同COD负荷、水力负荷条件下，投加固定化细胞的反应器，其脱色率可提高5!%～10!%，出水苯胺浓度提高40!%～65!%。电镜观察发现脱色菌在胶团内外持留、增殖。厌氧反应器性能的改善主要通过功能性微生物生物量和相关基因库量的增加而实现。