Improving management for higher reproduction accelerates genetic improvement in closed herd of swine

The present study compared responses to selection at different conception rates and litter sizes at weaning in a simulated closed herd in a swine breeding program. The base population consisted of 10 males and 50 females, and 10 generations of selection was practiced by using individual phenotype or best linear unbiased prediction of breeding values for a trait with heritability (h²) of either 0.2 or 0.5. The probability of conception in a single mating was assumed to be 0.8, 0.9 or 1.0. Litter size at weaning was sampled randomly from a normal distribution with mean 8, 10 or 12 and variance 8.1225. Genetic response increased by approximately 6% for h² = 0.2 and approximately 5% for h² = 0.5 at generation 10 when conception rate was increased from 0.8 to 1.0. However, litter size at weaning did not affect response to selection. In conclusion, improving conception rate by environmental management increases genetic response indirectly in a breeding program of a closed swine herd.     

A perspective on the measurement of time in plant disease epidemiology

The growth and development of plant pathogens and their hosts generally respond strongly to the temperature of their environment. However, most studies of plant pathology record pathogen/host measurements against physical time (e.g. hours or days) rather than thermal time (e.g. degree-days or degree-hours). This confounds the comparison of epidemiological measurements across experiments and limits the value of the scientific literature.     

几种缓释肥的氮释放特性以及对草坪草生长的影响

实验室内采用水浸泡法对尿素、3种缓效肥和山西省农业科学院土壤肥料研究所研制(自研草坪肥)的缓效肥的初期溶出率和微分溶出率进行了测定.其中尿素的初期溶出率为22.75%,超出了国际上公认的缓/控释肥的初期溶出率小于15%的指标,而微分溶出率为0.22%,也小于国际上公认的缓/控释肥的微分溶出率(0.25%～2.5%)指标.其他几种缓释肥的初期溶出率为8.73%～14.42%,微分溶出率为0.30%～2.11%,符合国际上公认的缓/控释肥的初期溶出率和微分溶出率指标.田间试验比较和研究了尿素、3种缓效肥和山西省农业科学院土壤肥料研究所研制的缓效肥对草坪草的干草产量和养分含量的影响,尿素和包衣尿素处理的草坪草的生长量前期较高,后期产草量较低,呈马鞍型.其他处理的草坪草干草产量则比较平缓,肥料的氮释放特性与草坪草生长趋势相同.不同肥料处理对草坪草的中量、微量元素含量有一定的影响.     

荷斯坦奶牛隐性乳房炎与乳用特征的相关性分析

随机抽取荷斯坦奶牛 472头 (1～ 11胎 )进行奶牛隐性乳房炎的检测 ,乳用特征性状 (楞角性、尻宽、尻角度、后肢侧视、蹄角度 )的线性评定 ,以及隐性乳房炎与乳用特征的相关性分析。结果表明 :奶牛隐性乳房炎的乳区阳性率与楞角性、尻宽、尻角度、后肢侧视、蹄角度的相关系数分别为 0 1171、0 10 3 0、0 0 681、0 0 180、-0 12 65 ,其中与楞角性、尻宽分别达到显著水平 (P <0 0 5 )的正相关 ,与蹄角度达极显著 (P <0 0 1)的负相关。奶牛阳性率与楞角性、尻宽、尻角度、后肢侧视、蹄角度的相关系数分别为 0 0 967、0 0 5 61、0 0 2 82、0 0 12 7和 -0 0 670 ,其中除与楞角性为显著水平 (P <0 0 5 )的正相关 (0 0 967)外 ,其余均不显著 (P >0 0 5 )。     

高海拔地区鸡胚发育关键因素研究

对藏鸡(T)、饲养在北京的藏鸡(TB)、矮小隐性白(D)、农大小型蛋鸡商品代种蛋(M)、寿光鸡(S)、藏鸡×矮小隐性白(TD)、藏鸡×寿光鸡(TS)7组种蛋在西藏林芝进行孵化研究,通过阶段死亡率、出雏率、失水率数据分析了影响高海拔地区胚胎发育的关键因素。结果表明胚胎本身的高原生活力是鸡蛋高海拔孵化主要因素,其次是蛋壳传导力。     

Retrospective Evaluation of the Effect of Heart Rate on Survival in Dogs with Atrial Fibrillation

Background

Atrial fibrillation (AF) usually is associated with a rapid ventricular rate. The optimal heart rate (HR) during AF is unknown.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Heart rate affects survival in dogs with chronic AF.

Animals

Forty‐six dogs with AF and 24‐hour ambulatory recordings were evaluated.

Methods

Retrospective study. Holter‐derived HR variables were analyzed as follows: mean HR (meanHR, 24‐hour average), minimum HR (minHR, 1‐minute average), maximum HR (maxHR, 1‐minute average). Survival times were recorded from the time of presumed adequate rate control. The primary endpoint was all‐cause mortality. Cox proportional hazards analysis identified variables independently associated with survival; Kaplan‐Meier survival analysis estimated the median survival time of dogs with meanHR <125 bpm versus ≥125 bpm.

Results

All 46 dogs had structural heart disease; 31 of 46 had congestive heart failure (CHF), 44 of 46 received antiarrhythmic drugs. Of 15 dogs with cardiac death, 14 had CHF. Median time to all‐cause death was 524 days (Interquartile range (IQR), 76–1,037 days). MeanHR was 125 bpm (range, 62–203 bpm), minHR was 82 bpm (range, 37–163 bpm), maxHR was 217 bpm (range, 126–307 bpm). These were significantly correlated with all‐cause and cardiac‐related mortality. For every 10 bpm increase in meanHR, the risk of all‐cause mortality increased by 35% (hazard ratio, 1.35; 95% CI, 1.17–1.55; P < 0.001). Median survival time of dogs with meanHR<125 bpm (n = 23) was significantly longer (1,037 days; range, 524‐open) than meanHR ≥125 bpm (n = 23; 105 days; range, 67–267 days; P = 0.0012). Mean HR was independently associated with all‐cause and cardiovascular mortality (P < 0.003).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Holter‐derived meanHR affects survival in dogs with AF. Dogs with meanHR <125 bpm lived longer than those with meanHR ≥ 125 bpm.     

Echocardiographic Estimates of Right Ventricular Systolic Function in Dogs with Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease

Background

Right ventricular (RV) dysfunction independently predicts outcomes in human myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). There is limited information regarding RV systolic function in dogs with MMVD.

Hypothesis

Right ventricular systolic function differs among stages of disease, decreasing in decompensated MMVD.

Animals

Thirty‐sixclient‐owned dogs with MMVD not receiving oral cardiovascular medications.

Methods

Prospective clinical study. Dogs were categorized according to disease severity as ACVIM Stage B1, B2, or C. Seven echocardiographic indices of RV systolic function were measured. Groups were compared by 1‐way ANOVA and Tukey's HSD test. Frequencies of cases with cardiac remodeling falling outside previously established reference intervals were compared using Fisher's exact test. Intra‐ and interobserver measurement variability was calculated for each RV function index.

Results

The indices TAPSE (P = 0.029), RV St_L (P = 0.012), and RV StR_L (P = 0.041) were significantly different between groups. A greater proportion of B2 dogs (7 of 12) had TAPSE values above reference intervals compared with B1 (2 of 12) or C (2 of 12) dogs (P = 0.027). Measurement variability of TAPSE, RV S', and RV St_G was clinically acceptable.

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Right ventricular systolic function differs between stages of MMVD, increasing in stage B2, and declining in stage C. The prognostic importance of RV function indices, particularly TAPSE, might be worth evaluating in dogs with MMVD.     

Genetic diversity and historic introgression in German Angler and Red Dual Purpose cattle and possibilities to reverse introgression

Recovering native uniqueness has major importance for breeds with historic introgression. The aim of the study was to estimate population genetic parameters for two local red cattle breeds from Northern Germany and to study possibilities to reverse introgression. Genealogical information consisted of 90,783 individuals for German Angler and 187,255 individuals for Red Dual-Purpose cattle breed, with additional information on sex, born, breed, status, and conventional breeding values. It is concluded that the native genetic contribution could be included as an additional trait in the total merit index in order to recover a part of the native genetic background. Native contributions should be estimated in the long term from marker data in order to account for Mendelian sampling. The maintenance of a sufficient genetic diversity of native alleles can be achieved by an advanced OCS with appropriate constraints.     

四个紫花苜蓿品种种子萌发期耐盐性研究

在实验室内模拟的盐分条件下,用不同浓度的Na Cl盐溶液对4个紫花苜蓿品种(中苜1号、中苜3号、中草3号和陇东苜蓿)种子萌发期进行盐胁迫处理。结果表明:低浓度(0.2%和0.4%)的盐溶液对苜蓿的发芽率和幼苗苗高抑制作用不显著,对幼根具有一定的刺激作用。0.8%和1.0%的Na Cl溶液处理下发芽率、0.6%的Na Cl溶液处理下的幼苗苗高和幼根生长量可以作为苜蓿种子萌发期耐盐性鉴定指标。对四个紫花苜蓿品种的发芽率、幼苗苗高、幼根生长量、耐盐半致死浓度四个指标进行综合分析,结果表明:中苜1号耐盐性最强,其次是中苜3号和中草3号,陇东苜蓿最弱。     

Ecological consequences of variation in standard metabolism and dominance among salmon parr

Abstract – Standard metabolic rate (SMR, closely related to basal and resting metabolism) varies by up to threefold among juvenile Atlantic salmon, Salmo salar L., of similar size at common temperature. Here, consequences of this variation are predicted by combining empirically derived relationships between SMR, specific dynamic action, energy budgets, water velocity, food level in the environment and food availability to fish. The range of velocities across which growth is predicted to occur is inversely related to a fish’s SMR. Growth is positively related to SMR at high but negatively related to it at low‐food levels. The relationship between food level and the range of velocities over which lower SMR fish can grow but higher SMR fish cannot is asymmetrically bi‐phasic and peaked. It is predicted that maternal manipulation of offspring SMR would generate fitness benefits through bet‐hedging against unpredictability in food level and increases in the overall range of velocities that the family of offspring can occupy and thrive in.