A seroepidemiological study on bluetongue virus in dairy cattle in the central valley of California

A seroepidemiological study on bluetongue virus (BTV) infection in California dairy cattle was conducted to estimate the prevalence and distribution by age and season of BTV group-reactive antibodies and to look for possible associations between the presence of antibodies and cattle age or breed and farm. Between December 1985 and March 1987, a sample of cattle was tested at approximately two-month intervals for BTV group-reactive antibodies using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data taken during the month of December 1986 were used to evaluate possible associations between a positive antibody test and certain intrinsic (age, breed) and extrinsic (farm) factors.Univariate and multivariate statistical analyses using the -square test for associations and multiple logistic regression, respectively, were carried out for possible associations between positive antibody tests to BTV and each factor of interest. The strengths of the associations were determined using estimates of the odds ratio.Of the 3774 serum samples tested, 238 (6.3%) were from calves, 1045 (27.6%) were from heifers and 2492 (66.0%) were from cows. Seroprevalence varied from nil in calves on two occasions to over 90% on several occasions in cows. Cows consistently had higher prevalence rates than heifers or calves across all test dates (p<0.05). The seroprevalence of BTV group-reactive antibodies also showed a seasonal fluctuation, with the highest rates occurring during the warmer months of the year. These highest prevalence rates coincided with heavy activity of the known vector of BTV, Culicoides spp. Breed and farm effects were not statistically significant (p>0.05). With the exception of one farm, all cattle were of the Holstein breed, which reduced confidence in assessing any breed effect in this study. Relative estimates of the sensitivity and specificity of BTV ELISA were 87% and 100% respectively, compared to the standard agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID) test.The observations support previous findings of seasonal distribution of BTV antibodies and suggest an age relationship, whereby older cattle are more likely to be positive to BTV group-reactive antibodies than younger cattle.     

Estimation of daily and total lactation milk yield of Chios ewes from single morning or evening records

Linear models were developed and evaluated for the estimation of daily (24 h) and total lactation milk yield of dairy sheep from single morning (am) or evening (pm) milking records. A total of 22,908 individual test-day milk records of 5110 ewes of the Chios breed, raised in 46 flocks, were used. Depending on the model, different daily milk yield estimates were derived for each ewe, accounting for lactation number, stage of lactation, season of previous lambing and interval between successive milkings. Daily milk yield was also estimated from doubling the single am or pm record. Actual and estimated yields were compared using root mean square errors (RMSEs), mean absolute differences, an accuracy parameter defined as the ratio of the actual yield variance over the sum of the variances of actual yield and absolute difference, and the product moment correlation between estimated and actual yield. Results were validated on independent datasets. Linear models resulted in less biased and more accurate estimates of the daily milk yield than simply doubling the am or pm record. Root mean square errors decreased by 7-37% and the mean absolute difference was reduced by 1-4% of the average daily yield. Higher accuracy and correlation were obtained from linear model application than doubling. Total lactation milk yield was predicted based on actual daily yield and compared to predictions based on estimated daily yield from am or pm records, as well as directly on single milking records. Root mean square errors obtained when daily yield had been estimated with linear models were 26-35% lower compared to doubling the am or pm yield and 0-13% lower compared to estimating the total lactation yield directly from single milking records. Linear model application also resulted in lower mean absolute difference and higher accuracy and correlation than doubling the am or pm record. Recording the yield of a single milking (am or pm) instead of both can benefit milk recording by reducing its cost and increasing farmer participation. In this context, linear models developed in the present study can be used for the accurate estimation of daily (24 h) and total lactation milk yield from single milking records.     

Breeding objectives for beef cattle used in different production systems: 2. Model application to production systems with the Charolais breed

A general bio-economic model for beef cattle production was used to define breeding objectives for Charolais cattle to be utilized in a variety of linked production systems. Economic weights were calculated for 16 traits (some with both direct and maternal components) in three production systems (pure-breeding and terminal crossing with beef or dairy cows) and two marketing strategies (sale or fattening of weaned surplus calves). Economic weights for the total breeding objective were calculated as weighted averages, where weights were numbers of cows expected to be mated with Charolais bulls in each production system and marketing strategy. Results suggest that the direct component of calving performance and cow longevity were of primary economic importance in all systems. Conception rate of cows and weaning weight reached about 50% of the standardized economic weight of calving performance in purebred systems with sale of weaned calves, whereas in purebred systems with fattening the economic importance of the direct component of cow conception rate, losses at calving, mature weight of cows, weaning weight, and fattening traits were of equal importance (each approximately about 20% that of calving performance). In terminal crossing systems, weaning weight was important when calves were sold at weaning, and fattening traits were important for systems selling fattened animals. The bio-economic model performed well under the conditions of this demonstration and could easily be customized for other applications.     

架子牛肥育综合技术研究

该文从架子牛的选购、驱虫、肥育期的饲养管理、日粮营养等方面做了系统的研究。结果表明,选择2～3岁的夏洛来牛或西门塔尔牛的改良后代,采用高能量高蛋白质日粮可以获得较高的经济效益。     

牛得喜对奶牛生产性能的影响

实验研究了奶牛日粮中添加牛得喜(SCCNCMl077)对奶牛生产性能的的影响。实验选用了50头奶牛,根据产奶量、泌乳天数和胎次相近的原则分为试验组和对照组。试验结果表明,试验组平均产奶量比对照组提高了1.52kg,差异显著(P<0.05),而试验组乳脂率、乳蛋白率分别下降了0.09%、0.07%,但均差异不显著(P>0.05)。     

体外培养条件对延边黄牛受精卵体外发育的影响

从延边黄牛卵巢中采集未成熟的卵母细胞进行体外成熟培养、体外受精及受精卵体外培养。结果表明 :1将卵子用 2种不同的培养液进行体外成熟培养和受精卵体外培养 ,TCM199组的卵裂率 (5 6 .3% )极显著高于 D- PBS组(33.6 % ) (P<0 .0 1) ;TCM199组的囊胚发育率和孵化率 (15 .1%、13.7% )虽高于 D- PBS组 (10 .5 %、8.7% ) ,但 2个组之间无显著差异 (P>0 .0 5 )。2以 TCM199作为基础培养液 ,分别用含激素培养液和不含激素培养液进行成熟培养和受精卵体外培养 ,添加激素组的卵裂率、囊胚发育率及囊胚孵化率 (81.2 %、17.5 %、15 .3% )高于没有添加激素的对照组 (75 .8%、12 .1%、10 .5 % ) ,但 2个组之间无显著差异 (P>0 .0 5 )。 3体外受精卵与单层颗粒细胞共培养组的卵裂率、囊胚发育率及囊胚孵化率 (78.0 %、11.5 %、9.9% )显著高于非共培养组 (6 8.1%、5 .4 %、3.6 % ) (P<0 .0 5 )。     

洛南县秦川牛改良山地黄牛调查报告

秦川牛是我国著名地方良种黄牛 ,我县从 2 0世纪 5 0年代开始引进秦川种公牛改良当地黄牛 ,2 0世纪 70年代末推广牛的冷配技术 ,引进秦川种公牛冷冻精液颗粒、细管 ,坚持本交与人工授精相结合。全县累计引进秦川牛 670 0多头 ,改良配种 9.0 1万头 ,产改良牛 6.5 8万头。秦川牛的引进 ,丰富了我县黄牛遗传基因库 ,优化了牛群整体结构 ,改良效果明显 ,社会经济效益显著     

Mitochondrial DNA analysis of Nepalese domestic dwarf cattle Lulu*

Dwarf Lulu cattle, the only Bos Taurus type of cattle in Nepal, are raised under severe environments in the mountainous zone of that country. In the present study, the body measurement traits, cytogenetic and molecular genetic characteristics of the Lulu cattle are investigated. Blood samples were collected from 31 animals in four villages (altitudes 2590–3550 m) in the southern part of Mustang. The Lulu cattle had a normal karyotype with 2n = 60, XY or XX. Only one male examined had a large submetacentric X‐chromosome and a small submetacentric taurine type Y‐chromosome. The mitochodrial DNA (mtDNA) genotypes were analyzed by PCR mediated restriction fragment length polymorphisms, displacement (D)‐loop region PCR mediated single strand conformation polymorphisms, and D‐loop region sequences. Many base substitutions were found in the D‐loop region, suggesting that the Lulu cattle originated from at least 10 maternal lines. Three types of mtDNA from these cattle were found, the Bos taurus type (n = 23), the Bos indicus type (n = 6), and the Bos grunniens type (n = 2). In the village at the lowest altitude, four of the five cows were of the Bos indicus type. These results indicated that mtDNA types of the Lulu cattle mostly belong to Bos taurus, but have been hybridized with Bos indicus cattle in lower‐elevation regions in their maternal lineage.     

浅论优质牧草在肉牛饲养中的利用

针对我国肉牛饲养在饲料利用中的误区,结合肉牛的消化及代谢特点,分析了牧草的鲜喂、青贮、干草饲喂以及综合利用4种不同的利用方式及其营养特点,指出优质牧草用于肉牛饲养能充分发挥牧草的优良特性,而且符合我国畜牧业发展要求,值得广泛推广.     

秦川牛肉用性能开发前景及对策

秦川牛是我国优良的地方黄牛品种,其肉用性能非常突出,具有诱人的发展潜力.本文就秦川牛肉用性能开发的前景、制约秦川牛肉用性能发展的因素进行了分析,并提出了秦川牛发展对策.