Optimizing the use of breed types in developing country livestock production systems: a neglected research area

Developing country livestock production systems are diverse and dynamic, and include those where existing indigenous breeds are currently optimal and likely to remain so, those where non‐indigenous breed types are already in common use, and systems that are changing, such as by intensification, where the introduction of new breed types represents significant opportunities. These include opportunities to improve the livelihood of the world's poor, increase food and nutrition security and enhance environmental sustainability. At present, very little research has focused on this issue, such that significant knowledge gaps in relation to breed‐change interventions remain. The purpose of this study is to raise awareness of this issue and suggests strategic research areas to begin filling these knowledge gaps. Such strategic research would include (i) assessing the impact of differing breed types in developing country livestock productions systems, from a range of viewpoints including intrahousehold livelihood benefit, food and nutrition security at different scales, and environmental sustainability; (ii) identification of specific livestock production systems within developing countries, and the type of livestock keepers within these system, that are most likely to benefit from new breed types; and (iii) identification of new breed types as candidates for in‐situ testing within these systems, such as through the use of spatial analysis to identify similar production environments combined with community acceptance studies. Results of these studies would primarily assist stakeholders in agriculture, including both policy makers and livestock keepers, to make informed decisions on the potential use of new breed types.     

Comparison of the API 20E and BBL Crystal E/NF Identification Systems for Differentiating Bacterial Isolates from Apparently Healthy Reared Sea Bass (Dicentrarchus labrax)

The ability of two commercial rapid identification systems, API 20E and BBL Crystal E/NF, to reliably identify bacterial isolates from the internal organs of reared sea bass were compared. The tests gave different results: API 20E identified bacteria as Pseudomonas spp. with 37% accuracy, while BBL Crystal E/NF identified them as Flavobacterium odoratum with 99% accuracy. Although F. odoratum is not a marine fish pathogen, conventional tests conducted with the same isolates were more indicative of them being Flavobacterium spp. than Pseudomonas spp., suggesting that BBL Crystal E/NF was more reliable in this identification. Both systems were found to be applicable for diagnostics of marine fish pathogens, but should be used with caution because of possible misinterpretation.     

双重和三重配种对母猪产仔力影响

本文采用双重和三重配种对本场－千多头母猪的产仔力进行观察结果三重配种显著提高母猪产仔数和产活仔数（Ｐ〈０．０１），两种配种法对仔猪初生重无显著影响（Ｐ〉０．０５）。     

Distances Walked by Long Established and Newcomer Horses in an Open Stable System in Northern Germany

Group housing is claimed to possibly provide horses with a species-appropriate movement possibility, and hence, better welfare. Thus, this study analyzed the daily walked distances of 51 horses held in one group in a “HIT Active Stable” (Hinrichs Innovation + Technik) in Northern Germany by using global positioning system (GPS) technology during a 7 ½-month time span. The daily walking distances of the whole group, as well as newcomers, were investigated. The horses traveled an average of 8.43 km/day. Linear mixed models were applied. The observation day had a significant effect on the daily walking distances (P < .01) due to season and the available area per horse. The age as covariate also had a significant effect (P < .01). The breed had no significant effect (P = .96). No significant differences were found in sex (P = .69), which can be explained by the fact that only mares and geldings were investigated, which do not show increasing locomotion caused by sexual behavior as stallions do. On six of the first nine days, new horses moved significantly more compared to the remaining 24 of the 30 observation days directly after individuals’ inclusion. This is probably due to more exploration and rank-fighting behavior. Similar walking distances were seen among the horses on the single observation days because all horses had to travel the same distance to reach resources. Further, it is suspected that not all horses can sufficiently live out their urges to move, especially in winter, when pasture is inaccessible.     

优质猪杂交繁育体系的构建与优化

选用杜洛克、长白、大白3个国外引进品种,冀合白猪专门化母系B1个国内培育品系,以及1个地方品种太湖猪,模拟杂交繁育体系的生物经济学过程,构建了优质猪的杂交繁育体系,并以每头后备母猪平均每年的利润、每头标准化商品猪的利润、每1000头标准商品猪相对应的母猪头数和商品代出栏猪肌内脂肪含量(肉质指标)4个评价指标对杂交繁育体系进行了优化选择,结果在4种杂交配套组合中,杜洛克×(大白×冀合白猪专门化母系B)经济效率和商品代猪肉质最优。     

Characterisation of smallholder pig production in Kikuyu Division, central Kenya

A three-phase study was conducted in high-potential farming and peri-urban area in Kikuyu Division central Kenya to obtain farm and management data and to monitor health and productivity of pigs in smallholder farms. The first phase was a cross-sectional study in which 87 farms (that had been selected from a total of 179 farms using a simple random selection) were visited once and data on important farm and management factors were gathered using semi-structured questionnaires. The second phase was a pilot study that was conducted in the 87 study farms for a period of 3 months to pretest the data-collection tools and to evaluate the general research methodology for the longitudinal study. The third phase was a prospective 12-month observational study in which health and productivity of pigs were monitored monthly in 76 herds that were still active and had participated in the previous studies.

The initial voluntary enrolment among the eligible farms was 99%. The median farm size was 1 acre. All the farms kept crossbreed pigs of Large White or Landrace (median nine pigs per farm). The median number of sows per herd was one. Most farmers engaged in farrow-to-finish pig-production system and most (60%) did not keep a breeding boar. The pigs were stall-fed the year round. Guard rails/piglet devices were present in 22% of the herds. Few (8%) farmers disinfected pig pens (especially the farrowing area). None of the farmers reported the use of vaccination against pig diseases. Most farmers (84 and 96%) indicated that they controlled for mange and worm infestations, respectively. To control mange, 50% of the farmers used acaricides, 34% used engine oil and 12% used both. Anthelmintics were used to control worms. No farmer had a particular control programme in place for both worms and mange. Artificial heating for piglets was not used in any of the farms. High costs of feeds (which were of variable qualities) lack of credit and genetically high-quality breeding boars and diseases were ranked highly by the farmers as the main production constraints. Thirteen percent (11/87) of farmers withdrew during the pilot study; 10 farmers had sold their pigs and one had died. Thirty-three percent (25/76) of the farms withdrew during the longitudinal study for various reasons that included death of pigs (3%; 2/76) and sale of the pigs (30%; 23/76)—mainly because of financial need.     

Emerging viral zoonoses: frameworks for spatial and spatiotemporal risk assessment and resource planning

Spatial epidemiological tools are increasingly being applied to emerging viral zoonoses (EVZ), partly because of improving analytical methods and technologies for data capture and management, and partly because the demand is growing for more objective ways of allocating limited resources in the face of the emerging threat posed by these diseases. This review documents applications of geographical information systems (GIS), remote sensing (RS) and spatially-explicit statistical and mathematical models to epidemiological studies of EVZ.Landscape epidemiology uses statistical associations between environmental variables and diseases to study and predict their spatial distributions. Phylogeography augments epidemiological knowledge by studying the evolution of viral genetics through space and time. Cluster detection and early warning systems assist surveillance and can permit timely interventions. Advanced statistical models can accommodate spatial dependence present in epidemiological datasets and can permit assessment of uncertainties in disease data and predictions. Mathematical models are particularly useful for testing and comparing alternative control strategies, whereas spatial decision-support systems integrate a variety of spatial epidemiological tools to facilitate widespread dissemination and interpretation of disease data. Improved spatial data collection systems and greater practical application of spatial epidemiological tools should be applied in real-world scenarios.     

福建省辣椒疫霉菌群体结构表型特征分析

为了明确福建省辣椒疫霉菌群体遗传结构的表型特征,对分离自福建省15个市(县)的300株辣椒疫霉菌的交配型、甲霜灵敏感性及生理小种进行了测定。结果显示,288株为A2交配型,12株为A1交配型,出现频率分别为96%和4%,以A2占优势,在各采集点均有分布。263株对甲霜灵表现敏感,28株为中间型,9株为抗性,分别占总体的87.67%、9.33%和3.00%,甲霜灵敏感菌株为主要菌系。根据菌株对辣椒疫霉菌生理小种鉴别寄主的致病性测定结果,可将辣椒疫霉菌划分为3个生理小种,其中168株为小种3,126株为小种2,6株为小种1,分别占56%、42%和2%,小种3为福建辣椒疫霉菌优势小种。     

需引起警惕的棕榈科植物入侵害虫—椰子织蛾

椰子织蛾是为害棕榈科植物的重要食叶害虫之一,2013年8月在我国海南首次发现。本文报道了该害虫各发育阶段的外部形态、COⅠ/cox1测序和比对的分子鉴定结果、寄主及为害情况。序列比对显示,目标样本430bp的cox1序列与NCBI中已提交的Opisina arenosella的线粒体COⅠ条形码序列覆盖率为100%,一致性达99.8%,表明分子遗传数据支持形态鉴定结果。调查发现,椰子织蛾寄主主要为椰子、王棕和林刺葵,已在海南9个市县发生,局部地区为害严重。椰子织蛾已在海南定殖、扩散,并形成经济和景观危害,其入侵将对我国南方热带、亚热带地区棕榈科植物的安全生产和生态环境构成重大威胁,需提高警惕,加强检疫,防止其扩散蔓延,并开展防治研究。