Economic evaluation of artificial insemination of sex‐sorted semen on a Brown Swiss dairy farm—A case study

Artificial insemination using sex‐sorted semen is employed to efficiently increase the number of female dairy calves born. Previous studies have determined that using sex‐sorted semen is beneficial to improve the management, but the mechanism by which it increases cattle numbers through objective indices of breeding remains unclear. This study focused on a Brown Swiss cattle herd in which frozen female sex‐sorted semen was systematically employed to increase the number of cattle. We analyzed the correlation between the increase in the number of cattle and the screening accuracy of sex‐sorted semen, measuring indices such as pregnancy rate and birth rate of female calves. Study revealed that: (1) production cost for female calves is influenced by the pregnancy rate, rate of female calves, and using sex‐sorted semen is less expensive than using nonsorted semen; (2) improvements in screening accuracy nearly doubled the number of cows and tripled the number of heifers in 5 years; and (3) use of sex‐sorted semen improved milk quality. The pregnancy rate was lower when sex‐sorted semen was used, but the birth rate of heifers was improved. Results suggest that artificial insemination using sex‐sorted semen is beneficial because it economically produces offspring to increase the herd.     

内蒙古赛罕乌拉国家级自然保护区陆生野生动物长期监测简报

开展生物多样性动态长期监测,了解生态系统结构与功能变化,探明生物多样性变化过程及影响因素是制定有效保护措施的重要基础。本研究在内蒙古赛罕乌拉国家级自然保护区开展10年野生动物多样性动态监测,新发现保护区分布哺乳动物7种、鸟类98种,内蒙古鸟类新纪录2种,内蒙古蛇类新纪录1种。但也未发现一些以往有记录的物种,需要进一步强化野生动物多样性监测,探明物种变化的原因。后续监测工作引入了非损伤采集动物粪样提取DNA技术,从而深入了解保护区野生动物种群长期稳定的遗传学和空间分布特征,为有效管理自然保护区珍稀野生动物提供科技支撑。     

竞技赛马的营养需要研究进展

马是一种独特的家畜,主要用途是娱乐或工作。长期以来,马的营养一直集中在提供足够数量和类型的营养素,以达到最大的运动状态。营养学家的目标是最大限度地发挥营养对运动的影响,因此,本文综述了关于赛马主要营养素的需求特点,为竞技赛马的饲养提供依据。     

基于B/S结构的家蚕育种与种性维持信息管理系统

对家蚕育种亲本及其新品种性状数据档案实行信息化管理,可在家蚕育种和品种的种性维持过程中自动实现完整的信息采集、计算、调用、选择等功能。开发了一个基于B/S结构的家蚕育种与种性维持信息管理系统,主要包括品种管理、计划任务管理、饲育信息管理、蚕茧信息管理、选种信息管理、选优信息管理等功能模块。选种信息管理模块的运行过程是通过电子天平称量蚕茧质量,然后根据计算模型自动进行数据信息处理与统计分析实施选择。用户可以方便地通过网络访问该系统,实现家蚕新品种选育及种性维持工作的自动化。     

Development and verification of saphenous, tibial and common peroneal nerve block techniques for analgesia below the thigh in the nonchondrodystrophoid dog

OBJECTIVE: To document simple and reliable local, infiltrating nerve blocks for the saphenous, tibial and common peroneal nerves in the dog. STUDY DESIGN: Laboratory technique development; in vivo blind, controlled, prospective study. ANIMALS: Twenty canine cadavers and 18 clinically normal, client-owned dogs. METHODS: A peripheral nerve blockade technique of the tibial, common peroneal, and saphenous nerves was perfected through anatomic dissection. Injections were planned in the caudal thigh for the tibial and common peroneal nerves, and in the medial thigh for the saphenous nerve. Cadaver limbs were injected with methylene blue dye and subsequently dissected to confirm successful dye placement. Clinically normal dogs undergoing general anesthesia for unrelated, elective procedures were randomly assigned to treatment (bupivacaine; n = 8) or control (saline; n = 8) nerve blocks of the nerves under study. Upon recovery from general anesthesia, skin sensation in selected dermatomes was evaluated for 24 hours. RESULTS: Cadaver tibial, common peroneal, and saphenous perineural infiltrations were successful in nonchondrodystrophoid dogs (100, 100, and 97%, respectively.) Intraneural injection was rare (1%; 1/105; tibial nerve) in cadaver dogs. In the treatment group of normal dogs, duration of loss of cutaneous sensation in some dermatomes (saphenous, superficial and deep peroneal nerve) was significantly different than control dogs; the range of desensitization occurred for 1-20 hours. No clinical morbidity was detected. CONCLUSIONS: This technique for local blockade of the tibial, common peroneal, and saphenous nerves just proximal to the stifle is easy to perform, requires minimal supplies and results in significant desensitization of the associated dermatomes in clinically normal, nonchondrodystrophoid dogs. CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This technique may be an effective tool for post-operative analgesia to the femoro-tibial joint and distal pelvic limb. Other applications, using sustained-release drugs or methods, may include anesthesia/analgesia in high-risk patients or as a treatment for chronic pelvic limb pain or self-mutilation.     

A survey of mutations in the Cochliomyia hominivorax (Diptera: Calliphoridae) esterase E3 gene associated with organophosphate resistance and the molecular identification of mutant alleles

Cochliomyia hominivorax (Calliphoridae) is one of the most important myiasis-causing flies and is responsible for severe economic losses to the livestock industry throughout the Neotropical region. In Brazil, C. hominivorax has been controlled mainly with organophosphate (OP) insecticides, although the inappropriate use of these chemicals can result in the selection of resistant flies. Changes in carboxylesterase activity have been associated with OP insecticides in some arthopodan species. In this work, we isolated and characterized part of the E3 gene in C. hominivorax (ChE7), which contained the same substitutions responsible for the acquisition of OP hydrolase activity in Lucilia cuprina (Calliphoridae). Digestion of the polymerase chain reaction products with a restriction enzyme that specifically recognized the mutation site unambiguously differentiated wild and mutated esterase alleles. The PCR-RFLP assay therefore provided a fast, reliable DNA-based method for identifying C. hominivorax individuals with a mutation in the esterase gene. Further bioassays to determine the association of this mutation with OP resistance in C. hominivorax should allow the development of more effective strategies for managing this species.     

Classical swine fever in The Netherlands 1997-1998: a description of organisation and measures to eradicate the disease

The central and regional organisation of the campaign to eradicate the CSF epidemic in the Netherlands in 1997/1998 is described. The main instruments used in the campaign were based on stamping-out and movement restrictions specified by the European Union. Additional instruments were used for the first time, namely, pre-emptive culling of contact and neighbouring farms, compartmentalisation of transport, monthly serological screening in established surveillance areas and supervised repopulation of all farms in the former surveillance zone. Two other measures, the killing of very young piglets and a breeding ban were introduced to reduce production in established surveillance zones. Several factors complicated the eradication campaign, for instance, the late detection of the first infection; artificial insemination as a source of infection; the organisation of pig farming in the Netherlands, with its highly concentrated production and dependence on the transport of stock from one unit to another; insufficient rendering capacity; decreasing sensitivity of clinical inspection; and extremely high costs.     

平安县草地生态环境现状及治理对策

通过对草地生态环境现状及草地生产能力的调查分析,盲目开垦、超载过牧、鼠虫危害等是造成草地生态环境恶化的主要原因,加大监管和调控力度,明确草地使用、管理和保护权限,以草定畜,合理利用,使草地的开发利用和改良建设同步进行,为草地畜牧业健康、稳定发展提供基础保障,确保草地生态环境进入良性循环。