中国西门塔尔牛第6号染色体上部分微卫星的特征

利用微卫星技术对牛第6号染色体上9个微卫星位点进行了研究,检测其在中国西门塔尔牛育种核心群中152头母牛的多态性。本试验9个位点中,BM4528为单态,BM4203属于中度多态位点(0.5>PIC>0.25),而其它的7个位点均是高度多态位点(PIC>0.5)。     

日粮添加不同水平蛋氨酸硒对肉牛营养物质代谢的影响

选用4头安装永久瘤胃瘘管的西门塔尔阉牛(体重为420kg、年龄2.5岁),采用4×4拉丁方设计,以混合精料和风干玉米秸秆作为基础日粮,研究1.3倍维持需要水平下,日粮添加不同水平蛋氨酸硒(0、0.3、0.6、0.9mg/kg,以干物质为基础)对营养物质代谢的影响。结果表明:0.3和0.6mg/kg组日粮OM、CP、EE、NFE、NDF、ADF表观消化率显著高于对照组(P<0.05);0.6和0.9mg/kg组DN、RN和RN/DN显著高于对照组(P<0.05);0.6mg/kg组与对照组相比Se、Ca、P、Cu、Fe、Mn的存留率显著提高,Zn、Mo和S的存留率无显著差异;0.6mg/kg组血清TG、GLU、ALB、TP、ALT、AST、SOD、GSH-px、GSH均显著高于对照组(P<0.05);0.6mg/kg组血清Se、Cu含量显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。     

红色荷斯坦牛与西改牛杂交一代产奶性能的研究

为提高西改牛产奶量，选用外表与其相似的红色荷斯坦牛精液对西改牛进行杂交改良，结果表明，杂一代牛一、二、三胎泌乳期平均产奶量达到4010.33 kg；乳脂、非脂、蛋白质、乳糖含量分别为3.54%、8.52%、2.72%、4.70%，说明，红杂牛完全可作为奶牛的后备资源，加以开发利用。     

Productivity and nutritive value of Brachiaria decumbens and performance of dairy heifers in a long‐term silvopastoral system

Silvopastoral system (SPS) has been suggested to ensure sustainability in animal production systems in tropical ecosystems. The objective of this study was to evaluate the productive and nutritive value traits of Brachiaria decumbens and performance of dairy heifers in SPS and open pasture (OP) during the summer and autumn of two consecutive years in the SPS and OP (17th and 18th years after establishment). Experimental design was a randomized complete block with two treatments (SPS and OP) and three replications in subdivided plots with repeated measures in time. There was reduction in the tiller population density, total and green forage mass, and total and green forage bulk density in the SPS when compared to the OP in the summer. In the autumn, no difference was observed between the systems. Shading in SPS increased crude protein content of the grass pasture by 25% and 33% when compared to the OP during the first and second experimental years, respectively, and reduced neutral detergent fibre content. However, it did not change acid detergent fibre or lignin content. OP provided higher stocking rate and weight gain per area than the SPS. Average daily gain was higher in the OP in the second experimental year. Severe shading conditions should be avoided, because in the long ‐ term they may threaten the persistence and sustainability of pasture in the SPS. It is recommended to plant a low density of trees or implement management strategies of the tree component by either thinning or pruning over the years after planting.     

娟姗牛与西杂牛杂交后代生长发育观测

[目的]旨在繁育适于牦牛杂交改良的乳肉兼用父本.[方法]在海拔相对较低的半农半牧区,用娟姗牛与西杂牛杂交,观察杂交后代的生长发育和配种情况.[结果]娟姗牛与西杂牛的杂交后代在甘南州高海拔地区具有较好的适应性,表现出明显的杂交优势,能与甘南牦牛自然交配.     

Duration of estrus induced after GnRH‐PGF2α protocol in dairy heifer

Estrous expressions in dairy cows have been shortened and weakened. Dairy heifers, on the other hand, may not have had such changes in estrous signs as observed in cows, since they have less stresses than cows. The aim of this study was to describe the duration of estrus in a herd of dairy heifers. A total of 56 Holstein Friesian heifers estrus was synchronized using two different hormonal protocols. They were checked for primary and secondary estrous signs with the help of heat detection devices for 48 h at an interval of 4 h starting at 16.00 hour, one day after PGF_2α treatment. Onset and end of standing estrus during 48 h observation period was recorded in 35 of the 44 heifers coming into estrus within 5 days after PGF_2α treatment during the observation period. The duration of standing estrus on the average (±SD) was 9.7 ± 5.3 h. Percentage of heifers with standing estrus longer than 12 h was 40%, and 53% showed standing estrus only for 4–8 h. It is indicated that duration of estrus in dairy heifers has been shortened recently.     

Polymorphism in promoter region of growth hormone receptor is associated with potential production capacity of insulin‐like growth factor‐1 in pre‐pubertal Holstein heifers

Insulin‐like growth factor‐1 (IGF‐1) is one of the important factors for growth, milk production and reproductive functions and mainly released from the liver in response to growth hormone (GH) via GH receptor (GHR) in cattle. Recently, some single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were identified in the bovine GHR gene. Some GHR‐SNPs were shown to be related to plasma IGF‐1 concentration in cattle. Hence, the capacity to IGF‐1 production in the liver might be affected by GHR‐SNP and associated with performance in the future. This study examined whether GHR‐SNP is associated with IGF‐1 production in the liver of pre‐pubertal heifers. In 71 Holstein calves, blood samples for genomic DNA extraction were obtained immediately after birth. To genotype the GHR‐SNPs in the promoter region, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) products were digested with restriction enzyme NsiI (cutting sites: AA, AG and GG). All heifers at 4 months of age were intramuscularly injected with 0.4 mg oestradiol benzoate. Blood samples were obtained from the jugular vein just before (0 h) and 24 h after injection. The number of AA, AG and GG at the NsiI site was 0, 17 and 54 respectively. In AG and GG, plasma GH concentrations were higher pre‐injection than 24 h post‐injection (p < 0.01). Moreover, plasma GH concentrations in AG post‐injection were higher than in GG (p < 0.05). In contrast, the GG genotype exhibited higher plasma IGF‐1 concentrations in pre‐injection than post‐injection (p < 0.01), although oestradiol did not change IGF‐1 concentration in the AG genotype. We conclude that the GG polymorphism in the promoter region of GHR is associated with a higher potential capacity of IGF‐1 production in the liver of cattle.     

中国西门塔尔牛生长性状遗传参数估计

利用中国西门塔尔牛6个国家级种畜场1980～2000年间生长性状记录,对中国西门塔尔牛的初生重、断奶重、周岁重、18月龄重和成年母牛体重共5个性状进行遗传统计分析,应用动物模型、借助MT-DFREML方法估计上述性状的遗传参数,并考虑母体效应.结果表明,中国西门塔尔牛出生重、断奶重、周岁重、18月龄重和成年母牛体重的遗传力分别是0.32、0.11、0.27、0.36和0.47;生长性状的直接加性遗传效应和母体加性遗传效应呈较高强度的负相关(-0.39～-0.99);相邻年龄段内生长性状间的直接加性遗传效应相关值较高,而时间跨度大的年龄段生长性状间相关值相对较低;周岁重与18月龄重、成年母牛体重间的直接加性遗传相关、母体加性遗传相关值均较高.     

Beef quality traits of heifer in comparison with steer,bull and cow at various feeding environments

The present review has been focused largely on the sex type differences in beef quality among heifers, cows, steers and bulls in various feeding environments. Genetic groups, feeding systems and gender are the major factors that change carcass characteristics and fatty acid profiles of cattle. Studies identified that heifer beef has super characteristics in eating quality and a better healthy composition in fatty acids than steer, cow and bull. Diet influences the variation of fatty acid profile; particularly the level of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) interacts with breed and sex. Animals finished in pasture systems were reported to show better ratios of PUFA/ saturated fatty acids and n‐6/n‐3. Carcasses of roughage‐fed beef are lighter and have less marbling and lower quality grades but have higher cutability than carcasses of grain‐fed bulls. Heifers and cows are reported to deposit more fat than steers and bulls. Among males, lower production of testosterone by steers favors more fat thickness compared with bulls. Marbling greatly varies among cattle belonging to different sexes, and particularly, females have genetic makeup that efficiently controls deposition. The current review identified that heifers can be a premium beef brand, while steer beef currently take a large part of market share across the world.