Evaluation of a new strategy to modulate skeletal development in racehorses by imposing track-based exercise during growth: the effects on 2- and 3-year-old racing careers

REASON FOR PERFORMING STUDY: No data exist on the effects of conditioning exercise at foal age on workload and subsequent clinical injury rate during their 2- and 3-year-old racing careers. OBJECTIVES: To investigate the effects of subjecting TB foals to conditioning exercise prior to the start of race training on: the workload required to reach a level of fitness sufficient to compete; and the prevalence of orthopaedic injury during the first 2 seasons of their racing careers. METHODS: Twenty 18-month-old TBs, 12 subjected to conditioning exercise at foal age (CONDEX) and 8 exercised spontaneously at pasture only (PASTEX) were trained and entered in competitive events. Workload was quantified using the cumulative workload index (the product of average velocity and distance at a specific gait) and the animals were monitored clinically and radiographically for signs of musculoskeletal disorders. RESULTS: Workload to reach the desired fitness level was similar for CONDEX and PASTEX. CONDEX performed more prerace training sessions as 2-year-olds (P<0.05). The incidence of orthopaedic injuries was low in both groups and there were no differences in the occurrence of orthopaedic ailments. PASTEX animals tended to show signs of musculoskeletal disorders earlier than CONDEX animals. This time difference was significant for metacarpophalangeal joint pain on flexion, reduced carpal flexion and hindlimb lameness (P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Subjecting TB foals to conditioning exercise early in life does not have adverse effects on racing careers at ages 2 and 3 years, and does not influence the workload needed to reach a fitness level that is sufficient for racing. POTENTIAL RELEVANCE: The lack of negative effects and the indications of some positive effects of early conditioning exercise in the Thoroughbred encourage further large-scale comparative studies.     

中国河西走廊草地农业的基本格局和它的系统相悖─—草原退化的机理初探─—

河西走廊的草地资源位于西北荒漠的大背景中，由山地、荒漠和绿洲三个子系统构成，其中荒漠子系统居主导地位，具有先天的脆弱性。它们在人为干预下，在自然生态系统的农业化过程中，发生了山地一绿洲一荒漠组成的耦合农业系统。由于耦合不够完善，它所固有的相悖因素未能有效控制，形成涵有系列相悖因子群的系统相悖。主要表现为时间相悖，空间相悖和种间相悖。三者互相影响，但时间相悖起主导作用，使系统的生态危机加剧。它通常表现为草原退化。对草地农业生态系统的自由能的调控，保持自由能的积累和输出基本相当，是防止草原退化的根本出路。草原退化是草地对于草食动物压迫的对策系统和动物对于草地负荷行为的对策系统的综合反映。放牧程度可以作为草原退化过程的向量系统，但不是草原退化的本质。     

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.     

应用杆状病毒系统高效表达猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒GP5基因

将猪繁殖与呼吸综合征病毒CH_la株囊膜糖蛋白 (GP5 )基因定向亚克隆到杆状病毒转移载体pBlueBacHisB中 ,与杆状病毒线性DNA(Bac_N_BlueTMDNA)共转染昆虫细胞sf9,经过三轮蚀斑纯化后 ,获得重组杆状病毒rBac_GP5。用该重组病毒感染sf9细胞后 ,应用间接免疫荧光试验、SDS_PAGE和Westernblot检测表明 ,GP5基因在杆状病毒系统中获得了高效表达 ,表达产物因糖基化程度差异 ,表观分子量有 2 2、2 5和 30kDa三种总计约占细胞蛋白总量的 2 6 .4%。     

禁牧休牧监管立法的分析与探讨

禁牧休牧已成为保护和培育生态植被的一种主要方式,是遏制草原荒漠化的有效手段。相对于禁牧休牧的制度需求,其监管立法却存在诸多问题需要完善,本文从立法层级、监管体制、法律责任等方面分析了禁牧休牧监管立法中存在的问题,着重论述其完善途径,并提出了相应的立法建议。     

关于宁夏地区首次从乳房炎乳样中检出非脱羧勒克菌的研究

从宁夏部分奶牛场(牧场、养殖小区)采集94份临床型乳房炎乳样、70份隐性乳房炎乳样,并分离鉴定出4株非脱羧勒克菌,其中临床型乳房炎分离出1株、隐性乳房炎分离出3株。药敏试验结果表明,4株非脱羧勒克菌均对链霉素、氨基糖苷类、喹诺酮类、头孢类药物敏感;对磺胺类、林可胺类药物则产生不同程度的耐药性。     

Distribution,quantitative load and characterization of Salmonella associated with swine farms in upper-northern Thailand

This study was conducted to analyze the prevalence and quantitative loads of Salmonella spp. on pig farms in Chiang Mai, Lamphun, Thailand to assess loading levels before slaughtering. The serotype diversity, antimicrobial-resistance pattern and pulse-field type of Salmonella spp. were also characterized to assess the dynamic propagation of the pathogen. The Salmonella-positive prevalence was 246/805 (30.56%), and the quantitative loads varied from 1.48~4.04 Log₁₀MPN/g, with a mean ± standard deviation of 2.11 ± 0.57. AMP/S/TE (ampicillin/streptomycin/tetracycline) was the highest frequency antimicrobial resistance pattern found in this study. In addition, Salmonella Rissen was the primary serotype in this region. PFGE results indicated the occurrence of infection by cross contamination among pig farms. Our study showed that pork is easily contaminated with this pathogen. Farm control programs must be based on strict biosecurity and hygienic measures, which could further reduce the contamination pressure at slaughterhouses or retail shops.     

Evaluation of the Cranial Cruciate Ligament Repair System? in Surgery for Laryngeal Hemiplegia in Heavy Draft Horses

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of the canine cranial cruciate ligament repair system on laryngeal hemiplegia in heavy draft horses. Twenty-four heavy draft horses diagnosed with grade 4 laryngeal hemiplegia were allocated to either the prosthetic laryngoplasty (PL) group (n=14) or a canine cranial cruciate ligament repair system (CCCLRS) group (n=10). Right to left angle quotients (RLQs) of abductions of the arytenoid cartilages were endoscopically evaluated before and after surgery. Post-operative RLQs in the CCCLRS group were significantly lower than those of the PL group (P<0.01). The canine cranial cruciate ligament repair system was revealed to be a good surgical procedure for laryngeal hemiplegia in heavy draft horses.     

Genetic analyses of piglet survival and individual birth weight on first generation data of a selection experiment for piglet survival under outdoor conditions

Genetic parameters of piglet survival traits and birth weight were estimated on the first generation data of a selection experiment aimed at improving piglet survival using a multiple trait linear and threshold model. Data on 5293 piglets for survival at birth, at day one after birth and during the entire nursing period, as well as individual birth weight and litter size, were recorded in an outdoor production system. Genetic effects of piglet survival traits and birth weight were estimated based on threshold and Gaussian models, respectively, using a Bayesian approach. The statistical model included as fixed effects selection group, parity, gender, fostering, gestation length and month of farrowing and, alternatively, an adjustment for litter size. Direct genetic effects (i.e. the piglet's genetic potential) for piglet survival and birth weight were estimated separately, whereas maternal genetic and environmental effects could only be estimated for the given data structure in a combined litter effect. Posterior means of heritabilities for direct genetic effects of survival at birth, at first day after birth and the entire nursing period, as well as birth weight, were 0.08, 0.07, 0.08 and 0.20, respectively. Genetic correlations among survival traits were in the range of 0.29 to 0.40 and indicate that these traits were mainly attributable to different genetic effects. Genetic correlations between direct effects of survival traits and birth weight ranged between 0.18 and 0.23 and were reduced when weights of stillborn piglets were omitted in the analysis or the traits were adjusted for litter size. The magnitudes of direct genetic effects of survival traits are substantially higher than estimates in the literature, which may indicate that these traits have a higher genetic influence under outdoor conditions. The use of birth weight in the multiple trait estimation provided important information for the estimation of survival traits due to its favourable genetic correlations with survival, its high heritability and its high information content as a continuously measured trait.