Effect of environmental factors on fertility of Holstein–Friesian cattle in Japan

We investigated the environmental factors in Japan, including meteorological conditions, on the fertility of a European cattle breed, Holstein–Friesian, by examining conception rates in different regions. First artificial insemination and associated conception details were recorded for 69,952 Holstein female cattle. In general, meteorological conditions vary considerably according to latitude in Japanese islands. Conception rates were higher in the Northern (above 37°N) than the Southern (below 37°N) region (61.3% vs. 53.3%). All the factors analyzed in the statistical model, including insemination year, region, month, AI technician, service sire and interaction between region and month, had significant effects on the conception rate. In the Southern region, conception rates were lower in the summer months (average temperature, 27.8 °C, and maximum temperature, 32.3 °C). However, this seasonal decline was not observed in the Northern region (average temperature, 23.7 °C, and maximum temperature, 28.4 °C). Regression analysis of conception rate in relation to temperature showed highly significant negative regression coefficients (− 0.66 to − 0.63% per °C; p < 0.001) in the Southern region, but non-significant coefficients in the Northern region. Humidity had a minimal effect on conception rate in both regions. Our data collectively suggest that 37°N latitude is a threshold that affects Holstein–Friesian conception rates in Japan.     

镉胁迫对弯叶画眉草幼苗生长和生理特性的影响

采用溶液培养研究不同浓度镉(0～15.0mg/L)胁迫对弯叶画眉草幼苗生长和部分生理特性的影响。结果表明,随着镉浓度的提高和胁迫时间的延长,苗高和鲜重降低,叶绿素含量下降,膜透性增大,幼苗根尖膨大褐化,叶黄化。在镉胁迫下,叶片丙二醛含量增加,过氧化物酶活性增强,而超氧化物歧化酶和过氧化氢酶活性降低。     

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.     

Protective effect of vitamin C and lycopene on the in vitro fertilization capacity of sex-sorted bull sperm by inhibiting the oxidative stress

The fertilization capacity of sex-sorted sperms is seriously decreased, which inhibits its wide application. However, little information is still available about the effect of vitamin C (VC) and lycopene (Lyc) on the fertilization capacity of sex-sorted bull sperm. In this study, the washing medium and fertilization medium of sex-sorted sperm from three bull individuals were supplemented with different concentrations of VC (0, 1 × 10^–3, 1 × 10^–4, 1 × 10^–5, 1 × 10^–6 M) or Lyc (0, 1 × 10^–4, 1 × 10^–5, 1 × 10^–6, 1 × 10^–7). After washing twice and incubation for 1.5 hr, the malondialdehyde (MDA) level, phosphatidylserine (PS) translocation, membrane potential (Δψm) and IVF (in vitro fertilization) ability of sex-sorted sperm were investigated. For the sex-sorted sperm of bulls A, B and C, 1 × 10^–3 M VC or 1 × 10^–4 M Lyc treatment significantly decreased their MDA levels and PS translocation and increased their Δψm levels and cleavage rates after IVF. When blastocysts were concerned, 1 × 10^–4 M Lyc significantly improved the blastocyst rates and their IFN-tau expression of bulls A and C. In conclusion, supplementation of 1 × 10^–3 M VC or 1 × 10^–4 M Lyc in washing and fertilization medium contributed greatly to improving the fertilization capacity of sex-sorted bull sperm during IVF procedure.     

热应激对肉鸡的影响及热休克蛋白70的研究进展

在现代化畜禽生产中,热应激已成为制约肉鸡生长、代谢、肉品质及生理功能的重要因素之一,给养殖业带来了严重的经济损失。热应激蛋白（heat shock protein,HSPs）是动物在不良因素作用下所产生的一组特异性蛋白质,而HSP70是其家族成员中最保守、最重要的蛋白之一;它具有分子伴侣、热耐性,抗过氧化损伤等特性,能够使机体迅速适应环境变化,在热应激保护中发挥了重要的作用。作者主要阐述了热应激对肉鸡的影响和HSP70的生物学特点及其抗热应激的作用机理,以期为从药物方面探讨HSP70的抗应激功能提供理论依据。     

镁的营养作用研究进展

镁是生物体内重要的阳离子,参与了体内所有的能量代谢,催化或激化300多种酶体系。本文综述了镁对动物体脂质过氧化、应激及脂类代谢等方面影响的研究近况,并探讨了其可能的作用机制。     

不同饲养密度对地面平养蛋鸡福利状况和生产性能的影响

试验旨在通过研究地面平养模式下不同饲养密度对蛋鸡行为、外观、血液应激指标及生产性能的影响,筛选保证蛋鸡福利状况及生产性能的最大饲养密度,为我国推广地面平养模式蛋鸡福利养殖奠定理论基础。将780只苏禽绿壳蛋鸡按舍内密度分为四组,其中地面平养分为低密度组(6只/m^2)、中密度组(8只/m^2)、高密度组(10只/m^2),笼养组为对照组,每组3个重复。试验期为18~27周龄,蛋鸡行为学数据均采用视频录像收集,在27周龄末进行翅静脉采血和福利外观评价,统计分析24~27周龄生产性能。结果显示:笼养蛋鸡的产蛋率,攻击、刻板等非福利行为均显著高于平养组(P<0.05),脚垫损伤、羽毛评分、应激激素浓度(CORT、ACTH)显著低于平养组(P<0.05)。地面平养各组间,高密度组蛋鸡料蛋比显著高于低、中密度组(P<0.05);低、中密度组蛋鸡行走和休息时间比例均显著高于高密度组(P<0.05);低密度组蛋鸡啄羽行为显著低于高密度组(P<0.05),但与中密度组差异不显著(P>0.05);低、中密度组蛋鸡脚垫损伤、背羽损伤显著低于高密度组(P<0.05);高密度组蛋鸡血清中CORT和ACTH浓度显著低于低、中密度组(P<0.05)。由此可见,平养蛋鸡比笼养蛋鸡行为表现更积极,羽毛覆盖度更好,但应激水平和足部损伤较高、生产性能较低;在试验场地模式下,推荐8只/m2为最佳饲养密度。     

Gastrointestinal motility modulation by stress is associated with reduced smooth muscle contraction through specific transient receptor potential channel

Excessive stress response causes disability in social life. There are many diseases caused by stress, such as gastrointestinal motility disorders, depression, eating disorders, and cardiovascular diseases. Transient receptor potential (TRP) channels underlie non-selective cation currents and are downstream effectors of G protein-coupled receptors. Ca²⁺ influx is important for smooth muscle contraction, which is responsible for gastrointestinal motility. Little is known about the possible involvement of TRP channels in the gastrointestinal motility disorders due to stress. The purpose of this study was to measure the changes in gastrointestinal motility caused by stress and to elucidate the mechanism of these changes. The stress model used the water immersion restraint stress. Gastrointestinal motility, especially the ileum, was recorded responses to electric field stimulation (EFS) by isometric transducer. EFS-induced contraction was significantly reduced in the ileum of stressed mouse. Even under the conditions treated with atropine, EFS-induced contraction was significantly reduced in the ileum of stressed mouse. In addition, carbachol-induced, neurokinin A-induced, and substance P-induced contractions were all significantly reduced in the ileum of stressed mouse. Furthermore, the expression of TRPC3 was decreased in the ileum of stressed mouse. These results suggest that the gastrointestinal motility disorders due to stress is associated with specific non-selective cation channel.     

Body temperature,activity patterns and hunting in free‐living cheetah: biologging reveals new insights

As one of the few felids that is predominantly diurnal, cheetahs (Acinonyx jubatus) can be exposed to high heat loads in their natural habitat. Little is known about long‐term patterns of body temperature and activity (including hunting) in cheetahs because long‐term concurrent measurements of body temperature and activity have never been reported for cheetahs, or, indeed, for any free‐living felid. We report here body temperature and locomotor activity measured with implanted data loggers over 7 months in 5 free‐living cheetahs in Namibia. Air temperature ranged from a maximum of 39 °C in summer to ?2 °C in winter. Cheetahs had higher (～0.4 °C) maximum 24‐h body temperatures, later acrophase (～1 h), with larger fluctuations in the range of the 24‐h body temperature rhythm (approximately 0.4 °C) during a hot‐dry period than during a cool‐dry period, but maintained homeothermy irrespective of the climatic conditions. As ambient temperatures increased, the cheetahs shifted from a diurnal to a crepuscular activity pattern, with reduced activity between 900 and 1500 hours and increased nocturnal activity. The timing of hunts followed the general pattern of activity; the cheetahs hunted when they were on the move. Cheetahs hunted if an opportunity presented itself; on occasion they hunted in the midday heat or in total darkness (new moon). Biologging revealed insights into cheetah biology that are not accessible by traditional observer‐based techniques.