Fat-Tailed Sheep Traits as Affected by Docking

The literature mostly indicates that docking fat-tailed lambs initially reduces growth but that post-weaning growth and feed conversion efficiency then increase. The amount of fat deposited, the total separable lean meat to fat ratio and the meat quality all increase, while the percentage of bone in the carcase either decreases or does not change in the carcases of the docked lambs. Wool growth and characteristics are, in general, not affected and reproductive traits in ewes and lambs are improved by docking. The rectal temperature, respiration rate and pulse rate are decreased following docking. The concentrations of immunoreactive beta-endorphin and cortisol in the plasma and the incidence of foot stamping and restlessness, as indicators of stress, increase after docking. Other constituents of the blood are not significantly altered following docking or by the methods of docking. Docking of fat-tailed sheep using rubber rings at one day of age can be recommended. This revised version was published online in July 2006 with corrections to the Cover Date.     

长安区不同性质土层CO2释放规律研究

通过对长安双竹村夏、秋季不同性质土层CO2释放量的测定,本文研究了不同性质土层CO2释放规律及其差异。资料表明,从当日早晨到次日早晨,不同性质土层土壤CO2释放量均呈现由低到高再到低的变化规律;土壤CO2释放量与土层性质有密切关系,马兰黄土土层CO2释放量最高,其次是黏性土,释放量最低的是含砾石中细砂土;土层CO2释放量变化与气温的变化呈现负相关。     

高寒地区不同干燥法对紫花苜蓿营养价值的影响

研究了高寒地区不同干燥方法对紫花苜蓿营养价值的影响，结果表明：压扁茎秆结合日晒干燥法所用干燥时间短，减少了紫花苜蓿粗蛋白质、钙、磷等营养物质的损失，有利于营养价值的保持，从而提高了干草的质量。     

Differentiation of canine bone marrow stromal cells into voltage- and glutamate-responsive neuron-like cells by basic fibroblast growth factor

We investigated the in vitro differentiation of canine bone marrow stromal cells (BMSCs) into voltage- and glutamate-responsive neuron-like cells. BMSCs were obtained from the bone marrow of healthy beagle dogs. Canine BMSCs were incubated with the basal medium for neurons containing recombinant human basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF; 100 ng/ml). The viability of the bFGF-treated cells was assessed by a trypan blue exclusion assay, and the morphology was monitored. Real-time RT-PCR was performed to evaluate mRNA expression of neuronal, neural stem cell and glial markers. Western blotting and immunocytochemical analysis for the neuronal markers were performed to evaluate the protein expression and localization. The Ca²⁺ mobilization of the cells was evaluated using the Ca²⁺ indicator Fluo3 to monitor Ca²⁺ influx. To investigate the mechanism of bFGF-induced neuronal differentiation, the fibroblast growth factor receptor inhibitor, the phosphoinositide 3-kinase inhibitor or the Akt inhibitor was tested. The bFGF treatment resulted in the maintenance of the viability of canine BMSCs for 10 days, in the expression of neuronal marker mRNAs and proteins and in the manifestation of neuron-like morphology. Furthermore, in the bFGF-treated BMSCs, a high concentration of KCl and L-glutamate induced an increase in intracellular Ca²⁺ levels. Each inhibitor significantly attenuated the bFGF-induced increase in neuronal marker mRNA expression. These results suggest that bFGF contributes to the differentiation of canine BMSCs into voltage- and glutamate-responsive neuron-like cells and may lead to the development of new cell-based treatments for neuronal diseases.     

Dietary replacement of fish meal by defatted and fermented soybean meals with taurine supplementation for pompano fish: effects on growth performance,nutrient digestibility,and biological parameters in a long-term feeding period

A 16-wk growth trial was conducted to examine the effects of dietary replacement of fish meal by defatted soybean meal (SBM) and fermented soybean meal (FSBM) with taurine supplementation on growth performance, nutrient apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) and biological parameters of pompano fish. The FSBM was produced by fermenting SBM with Lactobacillus spp. Seven isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were formulated to replace 35% or 50% of fish meal by SBM or FSBM with taurine supplementation. The diets are denoted as follows: FM, SBM35, SBM35T, FSBM35T, SBM50, SBM50T, and FSBM50T. The FM (the basal diet) contained fish meal as a main source of dietary protein. Taurine was supplemented to SBM35T, FSBM35T, SBM50T, and FSBM50T at the level of 15 g/kg diet. Pompano juveniles with an initial body weight (BW) of 80 g reared in floating net cages were fed the experimental diets twice daily for 16 wk. Results showed that the final BW, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio of fish fed SBM35 and SBM50 were significantly lower than those of fish fed FM (P < 0.05), indicating that the replacement of fish meal by SBM at the rate of 35% in the diet is excessive for pompano. Supplementation of taurine to the SBM-included diets significantly increased growth performance and feed utilization (P < 0.05); however, these diets did not restore the performance back to a level equivalent to that of fish offered the basal diet. Meanwhile, fish fed FSBM35T had comparable growth and feed performances to those fed FM. Hematocrit values, total biliary bile acid levels, whole body lipid contents, and tissue taurine concentrations of fish fed SBM35 and SBM50 were the lowest among the treatments, but these parameters were improved by taurine supplementation and FSBM inclusion in the diet. Taurine supplementation increased lipid ADC, and SBM fermentation slightly enhanced both lipid and protein ADCs of the fish. These findings suggest that the combination of FSBM and taurine supplementation is an effective way to improve growth performance, nutrient digestibility, and biological parameters, and that FSBM with taurine supplementation can replace 35% of fish meal in pompano diets without any negative effects on growth and feed performances in a long-term feeding period.     

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.     

Reestablishment of transzonal projections and growth of bovine oocytes in vitro

Transzonal projections (TZPs) that maintain bidirectional communication between oocytes and granulosa cells or cumulus cells are important structures for oocyte growth. However, whether TZPs develop between TZP-free oocytes and granulosa cells, and whether reestablished TZPs support oocyte growth, is unknown. We first examined changes in TZPs after denudation of bovine oocytes collected from early antral follicles (0.5–0.7 mm). Twenty-four hours after denudation, almost all the TZPs disappeared. We also examined the reestablishment of TZPs by coculturing TZP-free denuded oocytes (DOs) with mural granulosa cells (MGCs) collected from early antral follicles. In addition, to confirm if the reestablished TZPs were functional, the reconstructed complexes (DO+MGCs) were subjected to in vitro growth culture and found that the MGCs adhered to TZP-free DOs and TZPs were reestablished. During in vitro growth culture, DO+MGCs developed and formed antrum-like structures. After culture, the number of TZPs in DO+MGCs increased, and the oocytes grew fully and acquired meiotic competence. These results suggest that reestablished TZPs are able to support oocyte growth.     

复合双歧杆菌制剂对肉羊生长性能、养分表观消化率及血液生化指标的影响

为研究复合双歧杆菌制剂对肉羊生长性能、养分表观消化率及血液生化指标的影响,试验选择健康、体重相近的杜寒杂交肉羊60只随机分成4组,每组15个重复,每个重复1只,1组为对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验2、3、4组分别在基础日粮中添加2.5％、5.0％、10％的复合双歧杆菌制剂,预试验7 d,试验期56 d.结果表明:(1)试验3...