以催乳素受体基因作为撒坝猪部分生产性能候选基因的研究

此文运用PCR-RFLP技术检测催乳素受体(PRLR)基因在撒坝猪群体中的多态性分布,并采用最小二乘分析模型初步统计分析基因多态性与部分生产性能的相关性。结果表明,PRLR基因等位基因B及其基因型BB在群体中占优势,频率分别为0.6594和0.4438;PRLR基因在群体中处于Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态;头胎繁殖性状有利等位基因B对生长性状无不利影响。     

四倍体鸭茅产量及其构成因素的QTL定位

产量相关性状是复杂的数量性状,对鸭茅的单株产量及构成因素进行QTL分析,可提高育种中对产量性状优良基因选择的效率,同时为鸭茅遗传改良、基因克隆及分子标记辅助育种提供理论依据。以四倍体鸭茅“楷模”和“01436”为亲本杂交而成的作图群体为试验材料,于2014年对洪雅、宝兴两个不同生境下鸭茅株高、旗叶长、倒二叶长、旗叶宽、倒二叶宽、茎粗、花序长、分蘖数、单株干重等9个产量相关性状进行了表型鉴定及相关性分析。此外,在已构建的高密度鸭茅分子遗传图谱的基础上,采用MapQTL 5.0进一步对这些性状QTL定位分析。结果表明,绝大多数性状在亲本间呈显著差异且都整体表现出连续变异,符合数量性状遗传的特征;相关性分析表明,大多数产量相关性状均与干重极显著正相关,与单株干重相关性最好的依次为分蘖、株高;QTL分析发现,控制该9个农艺性状的QTL共60个,洪雅38个,宝兴22个,这些QTL分别定位于分子连锁图谱的1、2、3、4、5共5个连锁群上,单个QTL的贡献率为5.7%~24.7%,单个性状QTL个数为2~15个。其中,控制株高、花序长的QTL各12个,控制倒二叶长、茎粗的QTL各4个,控制旗叶宽、倒二叶宽的QTL各2个,控制单株干重的QTL有6个,影响分蘖的QTL为3个,与旗叶长相关的QTL最多15个。     

不同施肥模式对玉米各器官碳氮累积和分配的影响

以长期定位试验为依托,选取:1)不施肥(CK);2)农民习惯施肥(FP);3)推荐施肥(OP);4)有机肥氮替代100%化肥氮(OM);5)有机肥氮替代50%化肥氮(MF)5个处理,研究不同施肥模式对玉米植株及各器官碳氮含量、碳氮分配比例及C/N的影响,为西南紫色土地区合理施肥、作物增产提供科学依据。结果表明,与FP处理相比,MF处理显著增加了玉米植株生物量,达26.2%。相比OM和OP处理,MF处理显著增加玉米苞叶和根茬中碳浓度,分别增加5.4、4.2 g·kg^-1和7.4、21.3 g·kg^-1,同时增加玉米苞叶、根茬、穗轴和籽粒中的碳储量,玉米茎秆和籽粒中的氮储量也有增加。此外,相比FP处理,MF处理能显著增加玉米整株的碳储量和氮储量,达29.1%和16.9%。等氮水平下,MF、OP处理均能增加玉米苞叶和籽粒中碳同化物的分配比例,MF处理玉米籽粒中氮素的分配比例较OP和OM处理分别增加1.7%和3.6%,同时MF处理能使玉米维持较高的C/N。综上,有机肥氮替代50%化肥氮能增加玉米植株的生物量,同时提高玉米对氮素的吸收和碳素的累积,增加玉米籽粒中碳同化物和氮素的分配比例,同时,有机肥氮替代50%化肥氮能使玉米植株维持较高的C/N,有利于产量的形成,该施肥方式不仅能够促进氮素的高效利用,减少化肥的投入,还能够减少化肥损失,降低氮素损失引发的环境风险。     

不同轮作序列对旱地胡麻土壤有机碳稳定性的影响

为了探索陇中黄土高原半干旱丘陵沟壑区胡麻轮作序列对土壤碳库的影响,2012-2016年通过4年定位试验,以连作为对照,研究了不同胡麻频率下的轮作序列(F:休闲;PWFW:25%Flax、马铃薯-小麦-胡麻-小麦;WFWP:25%Flax、小麦-胡麻-小麦-马铃薯;FWPF:50%Flax、胡麻-小麦-马铃薯-胡麻;WPFF:50%Flax、小麦-马铃薯-胡麻-胡麻;FFFF:100%Flax、胡麻-胡麻-胡麻-胡麻)对土壤团聚体、总有机碳(TOC)、土壤颗粒有机碳(POC)、土壤微生物碳(MBC)和氮(MBN)的影响。结果表明,休闲、不同轮作序列和低胡麻频率显著增加了030 cm土层<0.25 mm粒级的土壤团聚体含量、TOC和POC含量,而随胡麻频率的增加三者的含量呈下降趋势。其中,25%Flax处理下土壤团聚体含量较播前和休闲处理分别显著增加了2.02%4.04%和9.56%11.73%;土壤有机碳(SOC)较连作显著增加5.95%7.48%。50%Flax处理下胡麻位置对土壤SOC影响显著,且轮作(FWPF)显著高于连作(WPFF)。060 cm土层土壤SOC含量表现为休闲>播前≈25%Flax>50%Flax>100%Flax。与连作相比,轮作显著提高了010 cm土层土壤TOC和POC含量,呈现表层富集现象。土壤POC含量表现为25%Flax≈休闲>50%Flax>100%Flax。此外,轮作换茬显著增加了土壤MBC含量,且随着胡麻频率的增加,030 cm土层土壤MBC含量逐渐降低。与播前、休闲、轮作相比,连作显著降低土壤微生物碳氮比,50%Flax(WPFF)轮作序列和土层深度对土壤有机碳和微生物量的互作效应显著。综合来看,休闲可以显著改善土壤理化性状,25%胡麻频率的轮作序列利于保持土壤团聚体稳定性,增加土壤TOC、SOC和POC含量,而50%Flax轮作序列(WPFF)能够提高土壤微生物量和微生物碳氮比。表明25%胡麻频率的轮作序列均可维持土壤有机碳的稳定性,是旱地胡麻比较理想的轮作序列。     

日粮中添加牛至油对河西绒山羊育肥性能的影响研究

牛至精油对家畜生产性能和免疫力的提高有重要的影响。通过在日粮中添加牛至精油育肥河西绒山羊,研究其对河西绒山羊生长性能、屠宰性能及胴体品质的影响。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组在饲喂的基础日粮中分别添加4和7 g宜生饲宝(含牛至精油的添加剂),4和7 g宜生饲宝中牛至精油的含量分别为52和91 mg。对照组和试验组均为同月龄、同体重的河西绒山羊羯羊,试验组和对照组均设3个重复,每个重复5只羊。育肥期为90 d,每30 d为1个阶段。试验结果表明:育肥全期,对照组、4 g组和7 g组河西绒山羊平均日增重分别为96.30、172.22和169.82 g·d^-1,4 g组和7 g组分别显著高于对照组(P<0.05),4 g组和7 g组无显著差异(P>0.05);屠宰性状,胴体重对照组、4 g组和7 g组分别为20.24、24.18和23.90 kg,无显著差异(P>0.05),屠宰率对照组、4 g组和7 g组分别为48.86%、51.21%和51.56%,4 g组和7 g组分别显著高于对照组(P<0.05),4 g组和7 g组无显著差异(P>0.05),胴体净肉重对照组、4 g组和7 g组分别为12.90、16.27和15.99 kg,4 g组和7 g组分别显著高于对照组(P<0.05),4 g组和7 g组无显著差异(P>0.05);肉质性状,大理石纹4 g组和7 g组分别显著高于对照组(P<0.05),4 g组和7 g组无显著差异(P>0.05),pH、熟肉率、失水率、嫩度、蒸煮损失对照组、4 g组、7 g组间均无显著差异(P>0.05)。日粮中添加牛至油可以显著提高河西绒山羊的育肥性能,本试验日粮中添加4 g宜生饲宝(含牛至精油52 mg)效果最佳。     

水氮供应对地下滴灌紫花苜蓿生长特征及草地小气候的影响

为探讨不同水氮处理条件下紫花苜蓿生长状况与草地小气候特征的关系,以2年生紫花苜蓿“巨能7号”为研究对象,采用田间试验和室内分析相结合的方法,研究了宁夏引黄灌区地下滴灌条件下不同滴灌量和施氮量处理下紫花苜蓿生长特征和草地小气候的变化。结果表明:1)滴灌量和施氮量对紫花苜蓿的株高、叶面积和鲜草产量都有显著的影响,表现为紫花苜蓿的株高、叶面积和鲜草产量均随滴灌量和施氮量的增加而增加,当施氮量增加到一定值时,继续增施氮肥,其鲜草产量增产效果在不同滴灌量处理下表现出不同的趋势。2)与不施氮处理相比,增施氮肥降低了紫花苜蓿株间空气温度、浅层土层温度和株间光照强度,而增加了群体内部空气相对湿度。3)不同滴灌量对紫花苜蓿的生长微环境的调节作用不同,随着滴灌量的增加,紫花苜蓿群体相对湿度逐渐提高,而紫花苜蓿株间气温和浅层土层温度降温效应越明显。4)紫花苜蓿生育期间株高与叶面积、草产量和群体内部相对湿度呈极显著正相关(P<0.01),与群体内光照强度、株间气温、浅层土壤温度呈极显著负相关(P<0.01)。合理减少滴灌量和施氮量不仅能维持紫花苜蓿良好的生长特征,而且能提高鲜草产量和改善草地生态环境条件。本研究旨在为紫花苜蓿群体微环境生态因子的改善及高产优质栽培措施提供科学依据。     

In situ provision of drinking water to grazing dairy cows improves milk production

AIMS: To determine the effect of providing water within the area grazed by dairy cows on milk yield and quality, compared to requiring cows to walk to a distant water trough, on a dairy farm in the Pampa region of Argentina during summer.

METHODS: Holstein dairy cows were allocated to two herds with similar parity, days in milk and milk production. They were grazed in one paddock that was divided in two, with a fixed water trough at one end. Cows were moved twice daily to grazing plots within the paddock. Control cows (n=66) could only access water from the fixed trough, whereas supplemented cows (n=67) also received water from a mobile trough within the grazing plot. Milk production of each cow, and water consumption of the two herds were measured daily over 62 days. Milk composition for each herd was determined weekly from Days 18 to 60 of the study, and grazing behaviour was observed between 08:00 and 16:00 hours on Days 11–15, 19–22 and 39–43.

RESULTS: Over the 62 days of the study, supplemented cows produced 1.39 (SE 0.11) L/cow/day more milk than Control cows (p=0.027). Estimated mean daily water intake was 50.4 (SE 2.1) L/cow/day for supplemented cows and 58.2 (SE 2.7) L/cow/day for Control cows (p=0.004). Percentage total solids in milk was higher for supplemented (12.5 (SE 0.06)%) than Control (12.4 (SE 0.04)%) cows (p=0.047). During the periods of behavioural observation, a higher percentage of cows in the water supplemented than the Control herd were observed in the grazing area (p=0.012).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This preliminary study demonstrated that provision of water to dairy cows within the grazing plot was beneficial for milk production and composition, and may be associated with longer periods spent within the grazing area, during hot weather in the Pampa region of Argentina.     

Innovative layer genetics to handle global challenges in egg production

1. In commercial layer breeding, extensive gene pools are tested and selected for market requirements which must be anticipated at least 5 years ahead. Field results confirm a continuous positive genetic trend in egg output and better feed efficiency which can be converted into land savings.

2. Animal welfare and cage-free housing dominate future needs of the market. Nesting behaviour and minimal tendency to develop feather-pecking or cannibalism without beak treatment are key trait complexes. Stronger shells for longer production cycles without moulting have to be combined with better bones.

3. No single big gene effect can be expected to control the multifactorial problem of feather-pecking. Adjusting the shape of the beak, with a heritability of .10–.25, can contribute to reducing the risk of severe cannibalism.

4. For better skeletal integrity, the assessment of bone quality in pedigree birds housed in enriched cages is done by keel bone palpation or ultrasound measurement of the humerus. Both traits show similar heritabilities in the range of .15–.30 and can be included in a balanced selection approach for performance, quality and welfare traits.

5. The combination of performance testing and genome-wide DNA marker analysis is a promising tool to generate more progress for a balanced performance and behaviour profile.     

The effect of dietary supplementation with Aurantiochytrium limacinum on lactating dairy cows in terms of animal health,productivity and milk composition

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of dietary supplementation with the docosahexaenoic acid (DHA )‐rich microalgae, Aurantiochytrium limacinum (AURA ), on a variety of health and productivity parameters in lactating cows. Twenty‐four cows were blocked by parity and number of days in milk and then randomly assigned to a control (CON ; n  = 12) group with no algal supplementation, or a treatment group (AURA ; n  = 12) provided with 100 g AURA  cow^?1 day^?1 or 16 g DHA  cow^?1 day^?1. A variety of health and productivity measurements were taken, and results indicated that supplementation had no negative effects on animal health in terms of somatic cell count, haematological and biochemical blood parameters, while body condition was marginally improved by algal supplementation. No differences were found for the various production parameters measured; however, a tendency towards increased milk production was observed for the AURA group during the final stage of the study (+4.5 kg cow^?1 day^?1, day 78–84). The fatty acid profile of milk was improved by supplementation, with significantly lower saturated fatty acids, significantly higher omega‐3 fatty acids and an improved omega‐3/omega‐6 ratio observed when compared to the control group. The amount of DHA in the milk of cows provided 105 g AURA  head^?1 day^?1 was 4.7 mg/100 g milk with a peak transfer efficiency from feed to milk at day 49 of 8.3%. These results indicate that supplementation with 105 g AURA  head^?1 day^?1 resulted in the successful enrichment of milk with DHA without negatively impacting the health or productivity of the animals.