Presence of cervical vertebral malformation in Dobermann puppies and the effects of diet and growth rate

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between diet, growth rate and the presence of caudal cervical malformation in Doberman puppies. DESIGN: A prospective study of 15 Dobermann puppies from three unrelated litters, aged from 0 to 16 weeks. PROCEDURE: The growth rate in terms of body weight gain and increase in ulna length were measured weekly for all puppies. In addition the nutritional quality of the diets was assessed. Radiographs of the cervical spine were taken at 6 and between 12 and 16 weeks of age and examined for the presence of caudal cervical vertebral malformation. A mixed model for repeated measures data was used to investigate the relationship between the growth rate of the puppies and the fixed effects age, dam, diet, gender and presence of caudal cervical malformation. RESULTS: Five of the puppies had changes consistent with caudal cervical malformation. The diets fed were either balanced or transiently deficient in protein, calcium, phosphorus and/or magnesium. There was no significant association between growth rate and the variables dam, gender and the presence of caudal cervical vertebral malformation. There was no significant association between diet and increase in ulna length, but a trend existed between body weight gain and the feeding of a balanced diet (P = 0.0672). CONCLUSION: Caudal cervical vertebral changes can be detected radiographically as early as 6 weeks of age in some Dobermann puppies. A balanced diet and growth rate are not significant factors in its initial development.     

波尔山羊与睢宁白山羊杂交羔羊生长性能研究

研究波尔山羊与睢宁白山羊F1 代、F2 代的生长发育情况 ,结果从出生到 3个月不同日龄羔羊的体重体尺均高于纯种睢宁白山羊 ,杂交优势显著 ,F1 代体重的杂种优势率为 18 96 % ,杂种后代生长性能比睢宁白山羊好     

Effect of Fagopyrum dibotrys (D.Don) Hara on Growth Performance,Immune Function and Intestinal Structure of Broilers

This experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of Fagopyrum dibotrys (D.Don) Hara on growth performance,immune function and intestinal structure of broilers. A total of 270 one-day-old healthy Tiejiaoma broilers were chosen and randomly divided into 3 groups with 6 replicates per group and 15 broilers per replicate.Control group was fed with the basal diet,group Ⅱ was fed with basal diet adding 8% flavomycin 60 mg/kg +15% aureomycin 270 mg/kg and group Ⅲ was fed with basal diet adding 1% Fagopyrum dibotrys (D.Don) Hara. The trial period lasted for 21 days. The results showed as follow:① At 21 days of age,the average daily feed intake of group Ⅲ was significantly lower than that of groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ (P<0.05).However,there was no significant difference in the average daily gain and F/G among the three groups (P>0.05).②At 21 days of age,the thymus and bursa of Fabricius indexes of groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ were significantly higher than that of group Ⅰ (P<0.05);But the spleen index were not significantly different among the three groups (P>0.05).③ At 21 days of age,the content of IgA and IgM in serum of groups Ⅲ were significantly higher than that of group Ⅰ (P<0.05),and the content of IgG in serum of groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ were significantly higher than that of group Ⅰ (P<0.05).④At 21 days of age,the content of IL-2,TNF-α and sIgA in intestinal mucosa of groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ were significantly higher than that of group Ⅰ (P<0.05),and the content of IL-6 in intestinal mucosa of group Ⅲ were significantly higher than that of groups Ⅰ and Ⅱ (P<0.05).⑤At 21 days of age,the villus height of jejunum in groups Ⅱ and Ⅲ were significantly higher than that of group Ⅰ (P<0.05),the villus height/crypt depth of jejunum in group Ⅱ was significantly higher than that of groups Ⅰ and Ⅲ (P<0.05). However,the crypt depth was not significantly different among the three groups (P>0.05).In conclusion,that Fagopyrum dibotrys (D.Don) Hara could not affect the growth performance of broilers,but it could improve the development of immune organs,increase the secretion of serum immunoglobulin, promote the immune function of intestinal mucosa and intestinal morphology of jejunum.     

Genetic (co)variances and breeding value estimation of Gompertz growth curve parameters in Finnish Yorkshire boars, gilts and barrows.

This paper's objectives were to estimate the genetic (co)variance components of the Gompertz growth curve parameters and to evaluate the relationship of estimated breeding values (EBV) based on average daily gain (ADG) and Gompertz growth curves. Finnish Yorkshire central test station performance data was obtained from the Faba Breeding (Vantaa, Finland). The final data set included 121,488 weight records from 10,111 pigs. Heritability estimates for the Gompertz growth parameters mature weight (alpha), logarithm of mature weight to birth weight ratio (beta) and maturation rate (kappa) were 0.44, 0.55 and 0.31, respectively. Genotypic and phenotypic correlations between the growth curve parameters were high and mainly negative. The only positive relationship was found between alpha and beta. Pearson and Spearman rank correlation coefficients between EBV for ADG and daily gain calculated from Gompertz growth curves were 0.79. The Spearman rank correlation between the sire EBV for ADG and Gompertz growth curve parameter-based ADG for all sires with at least 15 progeny was 0.86. Growth curves differ significantly between individuals and this information could be utilized for selection purposes when improving growth rate in pigs.     

粗纤维和赖氨酸水平对生长期豫南黑猪的影响

本试验旨在探讨饲粮中不同粗纤维和赖氨酸水平对生长期豫南黑猪生长性能、血清生化指标及营养物质表观消化率的影响.试验选取162头体重为30 kg左右的豫南黑猪,采用3（CF：4％、5.5％、7％）×3（lys：0.75％、0.85％、0.95％）两因子交叉完全随机设计,共设9个处理,每个处理3个重复,每重复6头猪.通过测定其生长性能、血清生化指标及营养物质表观消化率,确定生长期豫南黑猪的最佳粗纤维和赖氨酸水平.结果表明：不同粗纤维和赖氨酸水平对生长期豫南黑猪平均日采食量（ADFI）、平均日增重（ADG）和料重比（F/G）均无显著影响（P＞0.05）;粗纤维和赖氨酸水平分别为7％、0.75％时,料重比最低（P＜0.05）;粗纤维和赖氨酸水平分别为5.5％、0.85％时血清中游离三碘甲状腺原氨酸（FREET3）水平最高（P＜0.05）.饲粮中添加粗纤维使营养物质表观消化率下降,但通过适量比例的粗纤维和赖氨酸的合理添加,对饲粮中能量、粗蛋白、粗脂肪、粗纤维、Ca和P的表观消化率无显著影响（P＞0.05）.上述结果提示,30～60 kg生长期豫南黑猪的饲粮适宜粗纤维水平和赖氨酸水平分别为7％和0.75％.     

Follicular wave dynamics and Growth factors gene expression in Braford heifers

The objectives of the present study were (experiment 1) to characterized development and dynamics of the dominant follicles (DF) and the corpus luteum (CL) to determine patterns of two (W2) and three (W3) follicular waves in beef heifers, and (experiment 2) to determine gene expression of growth factors gene expression in follicular cells of W2 and W3 heifer. Twenty-eight Braford heifers were used. Dominant follicular and CL were monitored daily by ultrasonography to identify the development W2 and W3 in heifers. Pre-ovulatory DF were aspirated on day 19 in W2 and on day 22 in W3 heifers. In W2 and W3, follicular cells (FC) of gene expression of growth differentiation factor 9, bone morphogenetic protein 15 (BMP15), fibroblast growth factor basic, transforming growth factor beta receptor 1, bone morphogenetic protein receptor type IB and fibroblast growth factor receptor 2 were evaluated. The regression of the DF of the first follicular wave and the emergency of the DF of the second follicular wave began later in the heifers W2 than in W3 (p = .02 and p < .01). The regression of the CL began earlier in the W2 than in W3 group (p < .01). Gene expression of growth factors and receptors was similar between groups. However, higher relative levels of BMP15 was observed in W2 group (p = .07). Results propose that wave patterns were regulated by the development time of the DF in the first wave and the life of the CL. Furthermore, higher levels of BMP15 could produce shorter life of CL. The present work suggest that ultrasonography associated with molecular assays could be used as an easy and effective tool to characterize follicular wave patterns.     

Effects of dietary lipid levels on lipid deposition and activities of lipid metabolic enzymes in hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus)

This study was designed to investigate the effects of dietary lipid levels on growth performance, lipid deposition and activities of lipid metabolic enzymes in hybrid tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus × O. aureus). Four isonitrogenous (300 g/kg crude protein) experimental diets containing graded levels of lipid (25, 55, 85 and 115 g/kg) were randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 180 juvenile fish. Fish were fed twice daily for 8 weeks. At the end of the experiment, the growth performance and proximate composition of fish were determined. The activities and gene expression of lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) were assessed as well. Fish fed the diets with 55 and 85 g/kg lipid had a significantly (p < 0.05) higher body weight gain than those fed the diets with 25 and 115 g/kg lipid. The whole-body and liver lipid contents were significantly (p < 0.05) elevated with increasing dietary lipid levels. Moreover, the activities and mRNA abundances of LPL and HSL in the liver, dorsal muscle and fat tissues were markedly altered by dietary lipid levels. Our data demonstrate a profound influence of dietary lipid levels on the growth and lipid deposition in hybrid tilapia, which is likely associated with the regulation of lipid metabolic enzymes including LPL and HSL.