Egg storage and breeder age impact on egg quality and embryo development

Prolonged hatching egg storage (>7 days) influences internal egg quality and embryo survival during both storage and subsequent incubation. Moreover, effects of storage of hatching eggs interact with the breeder age. The aim of this review was to investigate how this interaction between storage duration and breeder age affects egg, embryo, hatchling and chicken characteristics. Prolonged storage resulted in a reduction in egg quality in both young and old breeders. This reduction was more pronounced in young flocks than in older flocks. For example, albumen pH increased more after 8 days of storage in younger flocks than in older flocks. Additionally, the embryonic morphological stage appears to increase as well with storage duration, but this increase is again more pronounced in younger flocks than in older flocks. Short storage (<7 days) seems to increase hatchability of eggs from young breeders, probably as a result of albumen liquefaction with consequently better oxygen availability for the embryo. However, long storage (>7 days) resulted in a decline in hatchability, which was stronger in older breeders than in younger breeders. Prolonged storage duration resulted in lower chicken quality in both young and old breeders, but interaction between storage duration and breeder age on multiple chicken quality parameters is not clear. Based on this review, it can be concluded that (a) Short storage can improve hatchability of eggs from young breeders, but not from older breeders. (b) Negative impact of long storage appears to be lower with young breeders than with old breeders. (c) Adapted storage conditions related to the age of breeders might be an option to reduce negative effects of prolonged storage on hatching egg quality and chicken quality.     

Age-related declines in ejaculate quality and sperm kinematics vary among strains of Japanese Quail (Coturnix japonica)

For successful breeding programs, it is important to quantify the useful period of a male's reproductive life and it is often done simply by measurement of semen quality. This information is lacking for Japanese quail so we tested whether there is a decline in ejaculate quality and sperm kinematics with age, and whether the decline varies among strains. Nine males (n = 9) from each of 5 strains (A, B, C, D and E) were subjected to 4 semen collections (n = 16 per male) at 8, 16, 26 and 36 weeks of age. Ejaculate volume, sperm concentration and total sperm per ejaculate were measured, and sperm kinematics were analysed using a Sperm Class Analyser (SCA^®). There was a significant effect of age for ejaculate volume, total sperm per ejaculate and per cent medium sperm. The effect of the interaction between age and strain was significant for percent progressive motile sperm, percent rapid sperm, velocity curvilinear, velocity straight line, velocity average path, linearity, straightness and beat cross frequency. Ejaculate volume peaked at Week 26 in all strains, while peak values for sperm concentration and total sperm per ejaculate were observed at Week 16 for most strains. There were declines in percent motile sperm, progressive motile sperm and rapid sperm, and in velocity curvilinear velocity, velocity straight line and velocity average path, by Week 16 for most strains. Linearity declined by Week 26 in some strains, and all strains showed a significant decline in beat cross frequency by that age. In conclusion, the ability of CASA to detect age-related changes in sperm kinematics makes it a valuable tool for identifying the best males and thus improving quail flock fertility. It is essential that breeders understand that age affects both sperm production and sperm kinematics, and that the changes vary with strain.     

The influence of rapid growth on sodium salicylate pharmacokinetics in male turkeys

The aim of this study was to assess the influence of growth on the pharmacokinetics of sodium salicylate (SS) in male turkeys. SS was administered intravenously at a dose of 50 mg/kg. Plasma drug concentrations were assessed by high‐performance liquid chromatography, and pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated by noncompartmental analysis. As the age increased from 6 to 13 weeks (body weight increase from 2.35 to 9.43 kg), median body clearance decreased from 1.34 to 0.87 ml/min/kg. This caused a significant increase in the median mean residence time from 3.42 to 4.44 hr. Elimination phase proved to be biphasic and two elimination half‐lives (T_1/2el) were distinguished. Whereas T_1/2el1 was found to increase with age by 128%, T_1/2el2 represented a later but faster and less age‐dependent phase of elimination (increase by 56% in the respective groups). Volume of distribution decreased with age. These effects may lead to different therapeutic response to SS in turkeys of different age and body weights.     

川西北高寒沙地不同年限高山柳林下优势植物碳、氮、磷生态化学计量特征

通过采集川西北高寒沙地不同年限(6、18、24年)高山柳林下3种优势植被藏沙蒿、裂叶独活和镰荚棘豆,分别测定分析3种植被叶片、根部C、N、P化学计量特征变化特征。结果表明:不同年限高山柳林下植被C、N、P含量及其比值间存在显著差异且呈现出不同变化趋势。林下植被C含量整体下降;叶N含量呈上升趋势,根N含量随年限增长而下降;除藏沙蒿外,林下植被P含量变化不显著;C∶N变化范围为1.92~12.86;C∶P为29.18~196.88;不同年限高山柳林下植被N∶P间虽存在差异,但均表现出主要受到P限制,表明该区域植被生长主要受P限制,应注意P养分的适当补充。     

The effects of low doses of Senna occidentalis seeds on broiler chickens

The effects of 0.5%, 0.3% and 0.1% w/w concentrations of Senna occidentalis (So) seed mixed with commercial ration were studied in 18 groups of 32 broiler chicks each, from 1 day to 49 days of age. Three groups were fed one of the rations throughout their lives (TL). Three other groups were fed one of the rations from the 1st to the 28th day of life (starter phase, SP), and the final 3 groups were fed one of the rations from the 29th to 49th day (finisher phase, FP). Each experimental group was matched by a control group fed the same diet over the same period but without the inclusion of So. All the animals were killed at 49 days of age, and blood was collected from 10 birds in each group for biochemical studies (ALT, AST, GGT, LDH, UA). A complete necropsy was performed on 3 birds from each group. No significant differences in the biochemical parameters in the serum were found between the control and experimental chicks, but animals treated with 0.5% So in groups FP and TL, gained less weight and chicks that received 0.3% So or 0.5% So in the ration throughout life (TL) had a larger feed conversion ratio. Besides this, degenerative changes were found in the striated skeletal muscle in the chest, in the myocardium and in the liver in the animals that received the higher concentrations of So seeds.     

An Outbreak of Diarrhoea in One-week-old Piglets Caused by Group A Rotavirus Genotypes P[7],G3 and P[7],G5

Thirty-two group A isolates of rotavirus detected in faecal samples from diarrhoeic piglets, were selected for P and G genotyping using a Multiplex RT-PCR. Ten isolates, from animals less than 8 days old, characterized an outbreak of diarrhoea caused by group A rotavirus in animals. P[7],G3 (CRW8-like) and P[7],G5 (OSU-like) genotypes were detected in 5 animals each. Isolates of a group A rotavirus of genotypes compatible with the OSU prototype were those most frequently identified in single infections in older animals (20/32 strains). In addition to these, 20 isolates from piglets with diarrhoea caused by group A rotavirus, collected between May 1998 and June 1999, but not from the outbreak month, were analysed. These isolates were used to compare the types observed on the farm outside the outbreak in May 1999 and the CRW8-like genotype was found in none of these faecal samples. P[7],G5 was the most frequent genotype (10/20 strains). No outbreak of diarrhoea caused by rotavirus in 1-week-old piglets was found in any other period during the 13 months of this study.     

贝奥不育剂和溴敌隆抗凝血杀鼠剂对布氏田鼠种群控制作用的试验研究

2013年5-9月,在内蒙古锡林郭勒盟东乌珠穆沁旗草地研究贝奥不育剂、溴敌隆灭鼠剂对草原主要害鼠布氏田鼠的控制作用。通过早春一次性足量投饵(贝奥不育剂野外有效期30~60 d;溴敌隆灭鼠剂野外有效期30 d),按月铗捕调查的方法研究贝奥不育剂和溴敌隆杀鼠剂对该地布氏田鼠种群增长的控制效果。结果表明,5月不育剂组布氏田鼠的家系大小较杀鼠剂组的家系更大且差异显著(P<0.05),6月差异不显著,杀鼠剂组布氏田鼠种群恢复速度比不育剂组快。贝奥不育剂改变了布氏田鼠种群的性比,其幼体出生率比杀鼠剂组低。因此,贝奥不育剂对布氏田鼠有更好的防治效果。     

Variations in Seroprevalence and Host Factors for Bovine Anaplasmosis in Illinois

Hungerford, L.L. and Smith, R.D., 1997. Variations in seroprevalence and host factors for bovine anaplasmosis in Illinois. Veterinary Research Communications, 21 (1), 9-18.The modified card agglutination test (MCAT) was used to detect antibodies to Anaplasma marginale in 4994 samples collected from market cattle through the Brucellosis Eradication Program in Illinois. The MCAT reactor rate in the sample was 6.4%. The statewide prevalence estimate increased to between 7.1% and 10.7% when corrected for sampling distribution and test sensitivity and specificity. While the sample reactor rate measures the proportion of infected cattle moving through the market system and into new herds, consideration of the sampling proportions and test characteristics is important when estimating the overall prevalence. Cows were found to be at decreased risk relative to male cattle in lower-prevalence areas, but the risk was similar in higher-prevalence areas. In both higher- and lower-prevalence areas, the risk for seropositivity increased from 1 year of age onwards, but the rate of increase with age was greater in the higher-prevalence areas. Calves, however, had higher seroprevalence levels than 1-2-year-old animals. The risk was highest for Angus and Angus-Hereford cross cattle, while dairy cattle showed a decreased risk in the whole sample, but not when the analyses were stratified by prevalence level. There was a higher concentration of dairy cattle in areas with lower prevalence levels.