饲粮铜源及水平对育成期雄性水貂生长性能、营养物质表观消化率及氮、铜代谢的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮铜源及水平对育成期雄性水貂生长性能、营养物质表观消化率及氮、铜代谢的影响。采用3×3+1双因素试验设计,设3种铜源(硫酸铜、碱式氯化铜、蛋氨酸铜)和3个铜添加水平(10、25、40 mg/kg),1个对照组。选择60日龄健康、体重接近的美国短毛黑雄性水貂120只,随机分成10组,每组12个重复,每个重复1只貂。预试期7 d,正试期45 d。结果表明:1)水貂的平均日采食量随饲粮铜添加水平的增加呈极显著线性增加(P0.01),并且平均日增重随饲粮铜添加水平的增加也呈线性增加(P=0.053)。2)水貂的粗脂肪表观消化率随饲粮铜添加水平的增加呈极显著线性增加(P0.01),并且粗蛋白质表观消化率随饲粮铜添加水平的增加也呈显著线性增加(P0.05)。3)水貂铜摄入量、粪铜排泄量、尿铜排泄量以及铜沉积量均随饲粮铜添加水平的增加呈极显著线性增加(P0.01),然而铜的表观吸收率却随饲粮铜添加水平的增加呈极显著线性降低(P0.01)。水貂对碱式氯化铜和蛋氨酸铜的表观吸收率极显著高于对硫酸铜的表观吸收率(P0.01)。水貂氮沉积量随饲粮铜添加水平的增加而呈显著线性增加(P0.05)。由此可见,基础饲粮中铜含量为8.05 mg/kg时,饲粮添加40 mg/kg的铜能改善育成期雄性水貂生长性能,提高水貂粗脂肪表观消化率;育成期雄性水貂对碱式氯化铜和蛋氨酸铜的表观吸收率高于对硫酸铜的表观吸收率。     

硒肥与钝化材料组配对土壤Cd钝化及稻米Cd消减效果

为了探讨不同硒肥施用方式联合钝化材料对土壤镉钝化和稻米镉消减的效果,采用盆栽试验的方式,选用亚硒酸钠作为硒肥,钙镁磷肥和硅藻土作为钝化材料,设置基施硒肥+钙镁磷肥+硅藻土和叶面喷施硒肥+钙镁磷肥+硅藻土2种方式,研究其不同用量对镉污染酸性稻田土壤修复与安全利用的影响。结果表明：随着施用量的增加,稻米产量增加,基施硒肥产量略高于叶面喷施硒肥,产量差为 2.115 g/pot,与对照(CK)相比,基施0.28%钙镁磷肥+0.12%硅藻土+0.004‰硒(T3)能够提高1.68倍的稻米产量;随着施用量的增加,pH升高,有效Cd降低,有机质与CEC变化不大;基施硒肥与叶面喷施硒肥处理对土壤pH、有机质与CEC差异不显著,但基施硒肥处理有效Cd含量略低于叶面喷施硒肥处理,T3对土壤Cd的钝化效果最佳;随着基施硒肥用量的增加,稻米Cd含量降低,随着叶面喷施硒肥用量的增加,稻米Cd含量先降低后升高,基施硒肥处理对稻米Cd的消减程度强于叶面喷施硒肥处理,相差 0.021 mg/kg,与对照(CK)相比,T3处理稻米Cd降低0.063 mg/kg。可见,硒对调控稻米镉累积具有重要作用,且基施硒肥强于叶面喷施。综上所述,基施0.28%钙镁磷肥+0.12%硅藻土+0.004‰硒对土壤Cd钝化与稻米Cd消减的效果最佳,值得在镉污染稻田推广应用。     

Abnormal bone mineralization in a puppy fed an imbalanced raw meat homemade diet diagnosed and monitored using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry

A 4-month-old male Old English Sheepdog was presented for evaluation of a raw meat-based homemade diet after a 1-month history of progressive lameness. Marked dietary deficiencies were detected, which included calcium, phosphorus and vitamin D. Hypovitaminosis D and hypocalcaemia were diagnosed by serum analysis. Evidence of severe diffuse osteopenia was noted on survey radiographs. Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) was used to quantify bone mineral content and density and compare to published reference ranges. The puppy's initial bone mineralization was markedly subnormal, with bone mineral density 66% lower than expected, and bone mineral content 40% lower than expected. Subsequent DEXA scans were performed at intervals during the puppy's recovery to document the rate of bone re-mineralization and guide therapeutic recommendations. Marked improvement was achieved within 4 months through exercise control and feeding of a diet appropriately formulated for large breed puppy growth and development. This report reinforces the necessity of thorough dietary history and highlights the potential for malnutrition in pets fed homemade and raw meat-based diets. Use of DEXA has rarely been reported in clinical cases, yet can be a valuable tool for diagnosing and monitoring cases with abnormal bone mineralization. Further studies using DEXA to track bone mineralization in healthy puppies are encouraged to develop a more robust reference range of bone mineralization in growing dogs of varying sizes, weights and ages.     

Protective Effect of Sulforaphane on Reproductive Function of Male Mice with Cadmium Poisoning

The study was aimed to explore the protective effect of sulforaphane (SFN) on the reproductive function of male mice with cadmium poisoning.40 healthy clean grade male Kunming mice were randomly divided into four groups:control group (H₂O),cadmium chloride group (2.3 mg/kg CdCl₂),sulforaphane group (10 mg/kg SFN),sulforaphane + cadmium chloride group (10 mg/kg SFN+2.3 mg/kg CdCl₂),and continuous administration for 10 d,all mice were executed by dislocated cervical vertebra at 2 d after the last administration,and then the pathologic changes of testicular tissues,organ coefficient of testicle and epididymis,sperm quality and concentration of testosterone were tested.Additionally,the contents of GSH and MDA,and the activities of T-SOD in testis were also detected at the same time. Compared with the control group,pathology damages were observed in cadmium chloride group,organ coefficient of testis and epididymis,sperm quality and levels of testosterone extremely significantly decreased (P<0.01),the activities of T-SOD and GSH content were extremely significantly decreased (P<0.01),and the concentration of MDA was extremely significantly enhanced (P<0.01).Compared with the control group,the activity of T-SOD and concentration of GSH in sulforaphane group were significantly increased (P<0.05),and the concentration of MDA was not significant different between the control group and sulforaphane group (P>0.05).While compared with the cadmium chloride group,the sperm motility rate and sperm total count in sulforaphane and cadmium chloride group were extremely significantly increased (P<0.01),the organ coefficient of testicle and epididymis was increased significantly (P<0.05),the concentration of GSH and activity of T-SOD in testicular tissue were extremely significantly increased (P<0.01),and the concentration of MDA was extremely significantly decreased (P<0.01).The results indicated that sulforaphane had the protection effect on reproduction function of male mice with cadmium poisoning.     

Mineral requirements of hair sheep in tropical climates

In this study, we evaluated the requirements of calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) and potassium (K) for sheep hair growth. Experimental diets contained different levels of metabolizable energy [ME; 0.96, 1.28, 1.72, 2.18 and 2.62 Mcal/kg of dry matter, (DM), corresponding to 4.23, 5.64, 7.58, 9.61 and 11.55 MJ/kg DM]. The lambs' hair (n = 48) at 2 months of age presented an average body weight (BW) of 12.05 ± 1.81 kg. At the beginning of the experiment, eight animals were slaughtered as a reference group to estimate the initial empty body weight and body composition. Net mineral requirements (g/day) ranged from 0.73 to 0.71 g of Ca, 0.51 to 0.49 g of P, 0.026 to 0.026 g of Mg, 0.16 to 0.19 g of Na and 0.15 to 0.13 g of K for animals with a BW ranging from 15 to 30 kg and a daily gain of 100 g. The results of this study indicate that the net macromineral requirements for weight gain in Morada Nova lambs are different from the values commonly recommended by the Agricultural and Food Research Council.     

Mineral absorption in the black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) as compared with the domestic horse

To test whether mineral recommendations for horses are likely to guarantee adequate mineral provision for black rhinoceroses (Diceros bicornis), we investigated the apparent absorption (aA) of macro- and microminerals in eight black rhinoceroses from three zoological institutions in a total of 32 feeding trials with total faecal collection, with additional data from three unpublished studies (18 feeding trials). Feeds and faeces were analysed for Ca, P, Mg, Na, K, Fe, Mn, Cu, Zn and Co. The resulting aA coefficients, and the linear relationships of apparently absorbable dietary mineral content to total dietary mineral content [per 100 g dry matter (DM)], were compared with data for domestic horses. Rhinoceroses had significantly higher aA coefficients for Ca and Mg (because of a higher calculated 'true' absorption), and lower ones for Na and K (because of calculated higher endogenous faecal losses). High absorption efficiency for divalent cations is hypothesized to be an adaptation to a natural diet of particularly high Ca:P ratio (approximately 14:1); an effective removal of Ca from the ingesta guarantees sufficient P availability at the fermentation site in the hindgut. Higher faecal losses of Na and K are hypothesized to be linked to a higher faecal bulk per DM intake in black rhinoceroses as compared with horses because of a generally lower digestive efficiency. There were no relevant differences in the absorption patterns of microminerals. In particular, there were no discernable differences in Fe absorption within the rhinoceroses for diets with and without tannin supplementation. Several of the zoo diets assessed in this study were deficient in Cu, Mn or Zn, and most contained excessive levels of Fe when compared with horse requirements. The findings of this study indicate that differences in mineral absorption between occur even between species of similar digestive anatomy; that in particular, Ca absorption might vary between hindgut fermenters with Ca:P ratio in their natural diet; that Na might be a particularly limiting factor in the ecology of free-ranging rhinoceroses; that moderate doses of tannins do not seem to markedly influence mineral absorption; and that diets for captive animals should contain adequate, but not excessive mineral levels.     

A novel mutation of the CLCN1 gene associated with myotonia hereditaria in an Australian cattle dog

BACKGROUND: Heritable myotonia is a genetic muscle disorder characterized by slow relaxation of skeletal muscles. The main clinical signs are skeletal muscle stiffness, especially after vigorous contraction, and muscle hypertrophy. Muscle stiffness may be enhanced by inactivity, and often is relieved by exercise. Myotonia can be inherited in an autosomal dominant or recessive manner (Thomsen- or Becker-type myotonia, respectively). In mice, goats, Miniature Schnauzer dogs, and most affected humans, the disorder is caused by mutations in CLCN1, which encodes the skeletal muscle voltage-gated chloride channel, Cl1C-1. HYPOTHESIS: We hypothesized that an Australian Cattle Dog with generalized muscle stiffness and hypertrophy examined at the Ontario Veterinary College would have a mutation in the CLCN1 gene. ANIMALS: A pure-bred Australian Cattle Dog from Ontario, Canada, was used. METHODS: Based on clinical signs and electromyographic test results, a diagnosis of myotonia hereditaria was made, and a muscle biopsy was collected for genetic analysis. RESULTS: Sequence data obtained from the affected dog confirmed that it was homozygous for a single base insertion in the CLCN1 coding sequence. This mutation would result in a truncated ClC-1 protein being expressed, which, based on molecular evidence from other studies, would result in functionally compromised chloride conduction in the skeletal muscles of the animal. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE: To the authors' knowledge, this report describes the Ist case of myotonia in an Australian Cattle Dog and represents the 1st non-Schnauzer canine myotonia to be genetically characterized. In addition, we developed a polymerase chain reaction-based genetic screen to detect heterozygotes with this mutation in the at-large Australian Cattle Dog population.