Suppression of behavioural and physiological oestrus in the mare by vaccination against GnRH

OBJECTIVE: To examine the immunogenicity of an equine immunocontraceptive vaccine and its efficacy in controlling hormone-related behaviour. DESIGN: A total of 24 mares at two sites in Australia were vaccinated with an immunocontraceptive vaccine comprising gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) conjugated to a carrier protein in immunostimulating complex as an adjuvant. Twelve animals at each site received a placebo of adjuvant alone and served as controls for seasonal oestrus, hormonal and behaviour patterns. Animals were observed for injection site reactions, ovarian and follicular activity, and serum levels of antibody, 17beta-oestradiol and progesterone in the weeks following vaccination. Mares were also examined for oestrous behaviour by teasing with a stallion. RESULTS: All mares responded to vaccination. Two weeks following the second vaccination there was a peak in antibody response to GnRH that declined gradually over the following weeks. Commensurate with the elevated anti-GnRH antibody there was a marked effect on ovarian activity with a reduction in 17beta-oestradiol and progesterone levels in the 24 vaccinated mares. There was also a reduction of oestrus-related behaviour as determined by a teaser stallion. This effect lasted a minimum of 3 months and correlated with the initial level of antibody response. CONCLUSION: Following a conventional two-dose immunisation regime this commercially available equine immunocontraceptive vaccine was effective at inhibiting oestrous behaviour for at least 3 months. This vaccine has a high level of safety since there were no significant local reactions nor were there any adverse systemic responses to vaccination.     

Seasonal and photoperiodic regulation of secretion of hormones associated with reproduction in Magang goose ganders

This study examined the reproductive endocrine profile under natural and artificial photoperiods in Magang goose ganders. Group 1 ganders (n=8) served as non-treated controls and were exposed to natural photoperiod throughout the experiment from 13th January to 17th December 2004. Group 2 ganders (n=8) were exposed to 18 h long daily photoperiod for 60 days from 13 January till 15 March 2004 and again to 16 h photoperiod for 75 days till 10th October 2004, and the 11h short photoperiod in the remainder periods of the experiment. In control ganders, plasma LH concentrations were high in normal breeding seasons (August-March) and decreased to low levels in non-breeding season from April to July. Testosterone concentrations changed similarly to that of LH throughout the seasons. Seasonal pattern of PRL concentrations was opposite to those of LH and testosterone, with low values in breeding season and high values in non-breeding season. In artificial photoperiod treated ganders, increasing photoperiod increased PRL and decreased LH and testosterone concentrations, while decreasing photoperiod reversed these changes. There were no seasonal or photoperiod caused changes in plasma T3 concentrations in both control ganders and artificial photoperiod treated ganders. These results demonstrated that in Magang goose ganders that long photoperiod stimulates PRL secretion and decreases LH secretion, which terminates reproductive season in spring and early summer, and short photoperiod stimulates LH secretion and inhibits PRL secretion rendering ganders enter into reproductive season.     

Optimising cutting method and timing for the control of Abutilon theophrasti seed production

Abutilon theophrasti (velvetleaf) is a widespread and problematic annual weed. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different cutting methods on the viability of A. theophrasti seeds. Three cutting methods were assessed: (1) Entire plant cut and dried (EPD)—plants were cut at soil level and dried with capsules attached on the greenhouse bench or soil surface for 4 weeks; (2) capsules detached and dried (CD)—capsules were removed from plants and dried for 4 weeks; and (3) capsules detached and tested while fresh (CF)—a control treatment. Before drying, the developmental stage (stage one, dark green; stage two, light green; stage three, yellowish-green; or stage four, black with the slightly open capsule) and age (days after flowering, DAF) of each capsule was recorded. Seed viability was measured immediately in the CF treatment and after the 4-week drying period in the EPD and CD treatments. No seeds in the EPD and CD treatments were viable when harvested at the first developmental stage (1–8 DAF) in either experiment, but 100% of seeds in the CF treatment in the field were viable when harvested at 8 DAF. In both greenhouse and field experiments, seeds attained full viability at earlier harvest ages in CF than in EPD or CD treatments, suggesting that seeds might become viable relatively early in development but lose viability if allowed to dry. These findings could be applied to optimise late-season mechanical control of A. theophrasti.     

两个地理种群蠋蝽的生物学特性差异比较

蠋蝽Arma chinensis Fallou是一种优良的捕食性天敌昆虫, 在多种农林害虫的生物防治中发挥着重要作用?为明确不同地理来源的蠋蝽种群的生物学特征, 指导蠋蝽的扩繁及在不同地区的释放应用, 本研究测定并比较了河北廊坊和贵州六盘水两个地区蠋蝽种群的表观形态?发育历期?成虫寿命和繁殖能力等生物学指标?结果表明, 贵州六盘水蠋蝽种群的体型显著大于河北廊坊种群; 河北廊坊蠋蝽种群的若虫期虽长于贵州六盘水种群, 但二者无显著差异; 河北廊坊种群配对饲养的雄虫和单雌饲养的雌虫其寿命显著长于贵州六盘水种群, 配对饲养的雌虫寿命两种群间无显著差异; 两个种群蠋蝽雌虫均在羽化后5~8 d进入产卵高峰期, 贵州六盘水种群的产卵前期较短, 且配对饲养条件下其单雌产卵量显著高于河北廊坊种群?     

基于MVC设计模式的奶牛繁殖智能提醒系统

在奶牛场管理中,根据奶牛繁殖过程的生命周期性,从其生物特性和生理特点等各个管理角度出发,在.NET环境下,采用MVC设计模式来构造奶牛繁殖智能提醒系统,并应用到奶牛场,从而为奶牛生产者提供技术支持,以实现牛场生产过程的数字化和智能化.     

甘氨酸锌在动物生产中的应用研究

锌是动物体内的必需微量元素之一,在动物生长发育和健康方面起着关键作用.甘氨酸锌作为有机微量元素具有生物利用率高、减排环保等优势.综述了甘氨酸锌对动物的生长性能、繁殖性能、免疫能力及肠道健康的影响,探讨了动物对甘氨酸锌的需要量,旨在为动物生产中科学利用甘氨酸锌改善动物健康,促进动物生长提供理论依据.     

西花蓟马孤雌产雄生殖繁育的后代种群生命表的建立

孤雌生殖是西花蓟马(Frankliniella occidentalis)繁殖的一种重要方式。前期研究发现,西花蓟马在高温下,雌性的存活率远大于雄性。为探究高温处理后仅有雌性西花蓟马孤雌产雄的情况下其后代建立种群的可能性,试验设定:高温(45℃,2 h)处理西花蓟马单个雌性个体,分别进行孤雌产雄生殖后,雄性子代(F1代)与其母系回交产生F2代;高温(45℃,2 h)处理西花蓟马多个雌性个体,进行孤雌产雄生殖后,雄性子代(F1代)与亲代多个雌性个体共存情况下进行交配产生F2代。两组处理模式下建立F2代实验种群生命表。结果表明,上述两种处理模式,母代雌性个体与子代雄性个体交配后均可产生后代,雄性F1代与其母系回交产生的F2代的雌雄性比为1.05∶1;与亲代多个雌性个体共存下交配产生的F2代性比为1.55∶1。雄性F1代与其母系回交产生的F2代的平均单雌产卵量(F)和内禀增长率(rm)显著小于与亲代多个雌性个体共存下交配产生的F2代(P0.05);各龄期的平均发育历期、平均产卵前期和平均总产卵前期2个繁殖力参数以及净生殖率(R0)、平均世代周期(T)2个种群参数,前者则比后者长(P0.05);另周限增长率(λ)两者之间无显著差异。研究表明西花蓟马在孤雌产雄状态下仍然可以在短期建立种群,具有较强的抗高温能力和繁殖能力,为其成功入侵奠定了生态学基础。     

Condition assessment of lamprey populations in the Yorkshire Ouse catchment,north‐east England,and the potential influence of physical migration barriers

• 1. River lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) and sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) are designated features of the River Derwent Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the Humber Estuary (a possible SAC). This study determined the condition of lamprey populations in the Yorkshire Ouse catchment by assessing the species composition, distribution, abundance and size‐structure of larval (ammocoete) populations in five major tributary rivers (Derwent, Swale, Ure, Nidd and Wharfe).
• 2. According to EU condition assessment criteria, Lampetra populations (assumed to be mostly river lamprey) are at present in favourable condition, with site mean (±SE) densities ranging from 2.7 (±1.2) to 160.3 (±50.5) individuals m^?2 (all river means >2 individuals m^?2), and at least two size (≈age) classes present in optimal microhabitats. By contrast, no sea lamprey larvae were recorded, suggesting that populations of this species are in unfavourable condition.
• 3. Actions to protect and enhance nationally or internationally important stocks must be implemented from at least a catchment perspective, because many of the issues affecting such species are not localized. With respect to lampreys, particular attention should be given to protecting spawning and nursery habitats, improving water quality, reducing impingement at abstraction points, preventing exploitation at spawning grounds and increasing passage at potential physical obstructions.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Reproductive seasonality in a swamp-locked African cichlid

Abstract –  This study quantified the seasonal pattern of reproduction in a swamp-dwelling population of the African cichlid Pseudocrenilabrus multicolor victoriae. In the hypoxic waters of the Lwamunda Swamp, Uganda, P. multicolor was reproductively active throughout the year, even during the peak of the dry seasons. However, the degree of activity was seasonal, with rainfall providing a predictor of the percentage of ripe, mature females. There was no correlation between aquatic oxygen availability dissolved oxygen (DO) and either adjusted mean gonad mass or percentage of mature females, suggesting that DO is not limiting reproductive activity in this system. Reproductively mature females were larger during drier periods and may maximise their lifetime reproductive success by producing young throughout the year; but with a lower brooding efficiency. A comparison with Welcomme's (1969) study of a river-swamp system feeding Lake Victoria suggests that reproductive patterning is variable among populations of P. multicolor and may reflect adaptive response to chronically hypoxic conditions in the Lwamunda Swamp.