Distribution of alpha‐neoendorphin,ACTH (18–39) and beta‐endorphin (1–27) in the alpaca brainstem

Using an immunocytochemical technique, we have studied in the alpaca brainstem the distribution of immunoreactive structures containing prodynorphin (alpha‐neoendorphin)‐ and pro‐opiomelanocortin (adrenocorticotrophin hormone (18–39) (ACTH), beta‐endorphin (1–27))‐derived peptides. No peptidergic‐immunoreactive cell body was observed. Immunoreactive fibres were widely distributed, although in most of the brainstem nuclei the density of the peptidergic fibres was low or very low. In general, the distribution of the immunoreactive fibres containing the peptides studied was very similar. A close anatomical relationship occurred among the fibres containing alpha‐neoendorphin, ACTH or beta‐endorphin (1–27), suggesting a functional interaction among the three peptides in many of the brainstem nuclei. The number of fibres belonging to the prodynorphin system was higher than that of the pro‐opiomelanocortin system. A moderate/low density of immunoreactive fibres was observed in 65.11% (for alpha‐neoendorphin (1–27)), 18.18% (for ACTH) and 13.95% (for beta‐endorphin) of the brainstem nuclei/tracts. In the alpaca brainstem, a high density of immunoreactive fibres was not observed. The neuroanatomical distribution of the immunoreactive fibres suggests that the peptides studied are involved in auditory, motor, gastric, feeding, vigilance, stress, respiratory and cardiovascular mechanisms, taste response, sleep‐waking cycle and the control of pain transmission.     

豆科与禾本科牧草间作的生长互作效应及对氮、磷养分吸收的影响

为了解牧草间作对作物生长和养分吸收的影响,以及为不同牧草优化配置、豆科和禾本科牧草间作提高结氮量提供理论依据,本试验采用随机区组试验设计,研究了间作对柱花草、扭黄茅和孔颖草的生物量和氮磷吸收的影响。结果表明,由于柱花草生物固氮,对扭黄茅和孔颖草养分吸收和生长有促进作用,与柱花草间作后的扭黄茅和孔颖草与禾本科牧草单作模式相比,能获得高的养分吸收量和产量。与各自单作对比,间作体系中的禾本科牧草生物量高于单作0.06%和26.78%;与柱花草单作对比,两个间作体系中的柱花草生物量低于单作9.70%和12.83%。扭黄茅与柱花草间作后,对氮磷的吸收量高于单作扭黄茅24.26%和35.18%,对氮磷的吸收量高于单作孔颖草40.64%和47.50%。相对于单作而言,柱花草分别与扭黄茅和孔颖草间作,对氮吸收量分别降低8.31%和28.94%,磷吸收量分别降低3.56%和20.58%。而且两种间作模式当量比均大于1,具有间作优势;柱花草/扭黄茅间作系统生产力、种间竞争能力高于柱花草/孔颖草,具有产量优势。在株行距为50 cm种植密度下,间作体系中禾本科牧草生长旺盛,柱花草的生长受到抑制,在与两个禾本科牧草间作中为弱竞争作物。结果表明,在合理的种植密度下,适合的牧草配置能够充分利用各种资源,促进种间有益作用,提高单位面积牧草产量和禾本科牧草氮磷的吸收,有利于改善牧草品质。     

开食料中不同NDF水平对犊牛生长性能、瘤胃内环境及血清生化指标的影响

为探索开食料中不同NDF水平对犊牛生长、瘤胃发酵参数以及血清生化指标的影响,选用初生重相近(42±2.5) kg、饲喂足量初乳的中国荷斯坦犊牛60头,其中公犊牛36头,母犊牛24头。随机分为A、B、C和D 4个处理组,每个处理15头,其中9头公犊牛+6头母犊牛,试验犊牛于犊牛岛(1.5 m×3.4 m)单独饲养。15日龄开始分别饲喂NDF水平不同的4种开食料,分别为:A处理10%,B处理15%,C处理20%和D处理25%,70日龄断奶,试验期112 d。结果表明:1)0~42日龄和70~112日龄,B组日增重均高于A、C和D组(P<0.05),分别高出45.69、39.79、117.13 g·d^-1和35.33、153.29、 145.93 g·d^-1。70~112日龄,B、C和D组开食料采食量显著高于A组(P<0.05),分别高出255.20、252.48和392.27 g·d^-1。A(0.61)和B(0.60)组犊牛的饲料转化率显著高于C(0.55)和D(0.54)组(P<0.05);2)犊牛瘤胃pH在35和70日龄时,C组显著高于其他3组(P<0.05),112日龄时,A和B组显著高于C和D组(P<0.05);3)瘤胃NH₃-N含量在90日龄前差异不显著(P>0.05),但在112日龄时, B、C和D组较A组显著降低16.72%、44.19%和52.10%(P<0.05);4)C和D组乙酸比例显著高于A和B组(P<0.05);B组丙酸比例较A、C和D组高出4.24%、3.18%和6.43% (P<0.05),乙酸/丙酸显著低于A、C和D组(P<0.05);5)各处理组间血清总蛋白、葡萄糖和尿素氮含量无显著差异(P>0.05)。1~3月龄犊牛开食料中NDF适宜水平为15%有利于提高断奶后日增重,促进饲料利用效率,改善瘤胃内环境,且对犊牛血清生化指标无不利影响。     

Use of two doses of cloprostenol in different intervals for estrus synchronization in hair sheep under tropical conditions

Tropical Animal Health and Production - This study evaluated the effect of two doses of prostaglandin at different intervals on reproductive parameters of crossbred ewes. In Experiment 1, 30 ewes...     

Bovine viral diarrhea virus subgenotype 1b in water buffalos (Bubalus bubalis) from Brazil

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Serological studies have characterized the presence of the bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) infection in water buffalo herds worldwide. However, the...     

Doxycycline treatment for <Emphasis Type="Italic">Dirofilaria immitis</Emphasis> in dogs: impact on <Emphasis Type="Italic">Staphylococcus aureus</Emphasis> and <Emphasis Type="Italic">Enterococcus</Emphasis> antimicrobial resistance

Doxycycline is an antibiotic that, in addition to the classic antibacterial use, is also prescribed to fight parasitic diseases, like heartworm disease in dogs. Despite the concern that the overuse of this antibiotic may decrease susceptibility of clinically important bacteria, the consequences of the prolonged doxycycline therapy in heartworm-infected dogs have never been studied before. We have analyzed the impact of this therapy on Staphylococcus aureus and Enterococcus antimicrobial resistance. In this study, 17 heartworm-infected dogs (10 that had completed the doxycycline treatment and 7 dogs that had not yet begun) were included. Twenty-four isolates of Staphylococcus aureus were obtained from two locations of each dog. After treatment, 73.3% of isolates were resistant to at least one antibiotic but only 22.2% of isolates before treatment. Most of doxycycline resistant isolates were obtained from dogs that have received treatment. Erythromycin resistance or intermediate susceptibility was detected in 45.6% of isolates, most of them from dogs after treatment. For Enterococci, 48 isolates were obtained from fecal samples (25 before treatment and 23 after treatment). Before treatment, 32% of isolates were resistant at least to one antibiotic while after, this data increase up to 65%. Comparing isolates before and after treatment, a clear increase in resistance to doxycycline (12% against 21.74%) and erythromycin (20% against 39.13%) was observed. Although the present work is a preliminary research, the results encourages the development of further studies to determinate the effect of prolonged doxycycline therapy on antimicrobial resistance.     

Male-to-female aggression in cage-housed common pheasants (Phasianus colchicus) during the breeding season was not related to male plasma testosterone level

1. The aim of this study was to investigate if male-to-female aggression of common pheasants in the course of the breeding season was related to the concentration of plasma testosterone and/or other biochemical plasma indicators in male pheasants housed in breeding cages. The influence of season on the concentration of testosterone and biochemical indicators was also investigated.

2. Males were divided into non-aggressive and aggressive groups during the breeding season based on ethological evaluation. At the beginning, in the middle and at the end of the breeding season, a blood sample was taken from all males on the same day and the concentration of selected biochemical indicators and the total circulating testosterone in the plasma were determined.

3. Male-to-female aggression during the breeding season of pheasants was not influenced by the total plasma testosterone of males.

4. The concentration of total plasma testosterone in males decreased gradually during the breeding season.

5. Male-to-female aggression of pheasants did not have a significant effect on any of the assessed biochemical indicators.

6. The influence of the breeding season affected the activities of alanine aminotransferase and aspartate aminotransferase as well as the concentrations of glucose, magnesium, potassium and chloride in the blood plasma of cage-housed male pheasants.     

Effects of quebracho tannin extract on intake,digestibility, rumen fermentation,and methane production in crossbred heifers fed low-quality tropical grass

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of quebracho tannins extract (QTE) on feed intake, dry matter (DM) digestibility, and methane (CH₄) emissions in cattle fed low-quality Pennisetum purpureum grass. Five heifers (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) with an average live weight (LW) of 295 ± 19 kg were allotted to five treatments (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4% QTE/kg DM) in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. Intake, digestibility, and total methane emissions (L/day) were recorded for periods of 23 h when cattle were housed in open-circuit respiration chambers. Dry matter intake (DMI), organic matter intake (OMI), dry matter digestibility (DMD), and organic matter digestibility (OMD) were different between treatments with 0 and 4% of QTE/kg DM (P < 0.05). Total volatile fatty acid and the molar proportion of acetate in the rumen was not affected (P < 0.05); however, the molar proportion of propionate increased linearly (P < 0.01) for treatments with 3 and 4% QTE. Total CH₄ production decreased linearly (P < 0.01) as QTE increased in the diet, particularly with 3 and 4% concentration. When expressed as DMI and OMI by CH₄, production (L/kg) was different between treatments with 0 vs 3 and 4% QTE (P < 0.05). It is concluded that the addition of QTE at 2 or 3% of dry matter ration can decrease methane production up to 29 and 41%, respectively, without significantly compromising feed intake and nutrients digestibility.     

Altitude effects on technology and productivity of small bovine farms (milk meat) in Veracruz (Gulf of Mexico)

The dual-purpose bovine system represents 98.4% of the bovine livestock of Veracruz, the main cattle-producing state of Mexico. This system supplies calves to meat companies, a sector in which Veracruz has been the national leader in the last decade. The objective of the present study was to analyze the effect of the altitudinal zonation of farms on livestock technology and productivity in a microbasin of the Gulf of Mexico where small farms predominate. Structured interviews were applied to producers located in three altitudinal zones (at average altitudes of 50, 140, and 450 m, respectively, for lower, middle, and upper zones). Sample size was 135 farms having similar land surface (within a range of 15–22 ha). The results indicated multiple differences among farms located in the three zones. Farms in the middle and lower zones presented higher productive indicators than those in the upper zone. Differences in herd structure and management resulted in important differences in productivity, income, and profits in milk and calf production. We concluded from this study that altitudinal zonation in Veracruz had a clear effect on the differentiation of small farms, which are representative of dual-purpose cattle. The upper zone performs cattle activity under conditions with greater disadvantages in the analyzed region.