Effects of dietary supplementing tannic acid in the ration of beef cattle on rumen fermentation,methane emission,microbial flora and nutrient digestibility

Four adult Simmental male cattle (376 ± 9.0 kg initial BW), fitted with permanent rumen cannulas, were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design to investigate the effects of dietary supplementing tannic acid (TA) on rumen fermentation, methane (CH₄) production, rumen microbes, nutrient digestibility and plasma biochemical parameters. Four levels of TA, that is 0, 6.5, 13.0 or 26.0 g/kg dry matter (DM), were added to the basal ration (composed of corn silage and concentrate mixture) as experimental treatments respectively. Each experimental period consisted of a 12‐day adaptation phase followed by a 3‐day sampling phase. The results showed that supplementing TA at 26.0 g/kg DM decreased the relative abundance of protozoa, methanogens and Ruminococcus albus to the total ruminal bacterial 16S rDNA in beef cattle (p < 0.05). The results also showed that supplementing TA at 6.5, 13.0 or 26.0 g/kg DM decreased (p < 0.01) the CH₄ production (l/kg DM intake) by 11.1%, 14.7% and 33.6% respectively. Supplementing TA at 13.0 or 26.0 g/kg DM decreased the ratio of acetate to propionate and ammonia nitrogen (NH₃–N) (p < 0.05) and tended to decrease the total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration of rumen fluid (p = 0.07). Supplementing TA at 26.0 g/kg DM decreased DM and organic matter (OM) digestibility (p < 0.05), supplementing TA at 6.5, 13.0 or 26.0 g/kg DM decreased (p < 0.01) crude protein (CP) digestibility by 5.0%, 8.6% and 15.7%, respectively, and supplementing TA at 6.5, 13.0 or 26.0 g/kg DM increased (p < 0.05) the plasma total antioxidant capability. It was concluded that supplementing TA in the ration of beef cattle decreased the CH₄ production and digestibility of CP of beef cattle. Supplementing TA could be an effective option to mitigate CH₄ emission form cattle, further research is necessary to study the effects of TA on the performance of cattle.     

Decreased blood cell counts were not observed in cattle living in the “difficult‐to‐return zone” of the Fukushima nuclear accident

White blood cells, especially lymphocytes, are susceptible to radiation exposure. In the present study, red blood cell, total white blood cell, and lymphocyte counts were repeatedly measured in cattle living on three farms located in the “difficult‐to‐return zone” of the Fukushima nuclear accident, and compared with two control groups from unaffected areas. Blood cell counts differed significantly between the two control groups, although almost all the values fell within the normal range. The blood cell counts of the cattle in the “difficult‐to‐return zone” varied across sampling times even on the same farms, being sometimes higher or lower than either of the two control groups. However, neither a statistically significant decrease in blood cell counts nor an increase in the rate of cattle with extremely low blood cell counts was observed overall. The estimated cumulative exposure dose for the cattle on the most contaminated farm was within a range of 500–1000 mSv, exceeding the threshold for the lymphopenia. Because of the low dose rate on these farms, potential radiation damages would have been repaired and have not accumulated enough to cause deterministic effects.     

Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum infection following an abortion outbreak in a dairy cattle herd

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum infection in a commercial dairy cattle herd, 15 months after detection of an abortion outbreak. PROCEDURE: Sera from the whole herd (n = 266) were examined for N caninum antibodies by indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) and immunoblot analysis. Herd records were reviewed to collate serological results with abortion history, proximity to calving, and pedigree data. RESULTS: The seroprevalence of N caninum infection was 24% (63/266) for IFAT titre > or = 160, 29% (78/266) for immunoblot positive (+ve), and 31% (82/266) for IFAT > or = 160 and/or immunoblot +ve; 94% (59/63) of animals with IFAT > or = 160 were immunoblot +ve. The association between seropositivity (IFAT > or = 160 and/or immunoblot +ve) and history of abortion was highly significant (P < 0.001); the seroprevalence was 86% (18/21) in aborting cows, compared with 30% (50/164) in non-aborting animals. The abortion rate for seropositive cows was 26% (18/68) compared with 3% (3/117) for seronegative animals. IFAT titres of infected cows were higher within 2 months of calving than at other times (P < 0.001). The association between seropositivity in dams and daughters was highly significant (P = 0.009). CONCLUSIONS: The abortions were associated with N caninum infection and there was evidence of reactivation of latent infection close to calving and congenital transmission of infection. Immunodominant antigens identified by immunoblots may prove useful for improved diagnostic tests.     

云南黄牛杂交改良效果分析

[目的]为了提高云南黄牛的生产性能,优选主要的杂交改良父本,开展云南黄牛杂交改良。[方法]用西门塔尔牛、短角牛、安格斯牛、海福特牛等分别与云南黄牛母本杂交,测定不同杂交组合后代初生、6月龄、12月龄、24月龄的体重体尺。[结果]云南黄牛经过杂交改良后,改良效果良好,杂交后代对云南高原的气候条件适应性良好。在农村饲养条件下,西×云杂一代牛初生重平均为24.57kg,6月龄体重平均为135.83kg,12月龄体重平均为196.21kg,24月龄体重平均为344.24kg,分别比本地黄牛提高74.13%,59.20%,56.53%和78.10%。短×云杂交一代牛初生重平均为22.28kg,6月龄体重平均为117.20kg,12月龄体重平均为193.56kg,24月龄体重平均为314.86kg,分别比本地黄牛提高57.90%,38.10%,54.21%和62.90%;安×云杂交一代牛犊牛初生重平均为21.21kg,6月龄体重平均为134.34kg,12月龄体重平均为196.18kg,24月龄体重平均为268.45kg,分别比本地黄牛提高50.32%,57.45%,56.51%和38.89%;海×云杂交一代牛初生重平均为22.78kg,6月龄体重平均为124.97kg,12月龄体重平均为190.52kg,24月龄体重平均为289.50kg,分别比本地黄牛提高61.45%,46.47%,51.99%和49.78%。[结论]西×云杂一代牛、短×云杂交一代牛、安×云杂交一代牛和海×云杂交一代牛生产性能显著提高,效益明显。     

Utilization of digital differential display to identify differentially expressed genes related to rumen development

This study aimed to identify the genes associated with the development of the rumen epithelium by screening for candidate genes by digital differential display (DDD) in silico. Using DDD in NCBI's UniGene database, expressed sequence tag (EST)‐based gene expression profiles were analyzed in rumen, reticulum, omasum, abomasum and other tissues in cattle. One hundred and ten candidate genes with high expression in the rumen were derived from a library of all tissues. The expression levels of 11 genes in all candidate genes were analyzed in the rumen, reticulum, omasum and abomasum of nine Japanese Black male calves (5‐week‐old pre‐weaning: n = 3; 15‐week‐old weaned calves: n = 6). Among the 11 genes, only 3‐hydroxy‐3‐methylglutaryl‐CoA synthase 2 (HMGCS2), aldo‐keto reductase family 1, member C1‐like (AKR1C1), and fatty acid binding protein 3 (FABP3) showed significant changes in the levels of gene expression in the rumen between the pre‐ and post‐weaning of calves. These results indicate that DDD analysis in silico can be useful for screening candidate genes related to rumen development, and that the changes in expression levels of three genes in the rumen may have been caused by weaning, aging or both. © 2015 Japanese Society of Animal Science     

晋南牛七项生理指标测定

为了给畜牧兽医工作者提供晋南牛正常生理指标,给晋南牛制定饲养管理方案和正确进行疾病诊断提供科学的理论依据,选择健康无病、发育正常的２～１２岁晋南牛犍牛、公牛、母牛共计１７９头,测量了其正常的体温、脉搏、呼吸、红血球、白血球数目、血红蛋白含量和血球沉降率第七项正常生理指标。     

闽南牛结构基因座多型性的研究

以中心产区典型群简单随机抽样原则在福建省漳州市抽取闽南牛64头,采集血样,按常规方法分离血浆和血细胞,冷冻后带回实验室-20℃保存备用。用垂直平板聚丙烯酰胺凝胶电泳(PAGE)和水平淀粉凝胶电泳技术(SGE)检测21个编码血液蛋白(酶)的结构基因座。同时引用其他学者用相同方法获得的国内外12个牛群体7个相同座位的研究资料,进行聚类分析。结果表明:在所检测的21个基因座中,有10个存在多型,多态位点百分比为47.62%,群体内遗传变异水平相对较高,平均杂合度为0.1593;证实了闽南牛与东南亚牛种亲缘关系较近,闽南牛是南方黄牛和瘤牛的混血种,但不应含有巴厘牛或斑腾牛的血统。     

晋南牛的选育及保种工作进展

晋南牛经过长期的系统选育,已由役用型逐渐向肉用型转变。经测定,在一般育肥条件下,１６—２４月龄的屠宰率和净肉率分别为５０％—５８％和４０—５０％;育肥期日增重６３１—７８２ｇ;强度育肥的上述指标分别可达５９％—６３％,４９％—５３％和８５１－９６１ｇ。在保种方法上,采取区域保种,基因库保种和胚胎保种相结合,取得了良好的保种效果。     

Pharmacokinetics of multiple doses of transdermal flunixin meglumine in adult Holstein dairy cows

A transdermal formulation of the nonsteroidal anti‐inflammatory drug, flunixin meglumine, has been approved in the United States and Canada for single‐dose administration. Transdermal flunixin meglumine was administered to 10 adult Holstein cows in their second or third lactation at the label dose of 3.33 mg/kg every 24 hr for three total treatments. Plasma flunixin concentrations were determined using high‐pressure liquid chromatography with mass spectroscopy (HPLC ‐MS ). Pharmacokinetic analysis was completed on each individual animal with noncompartmental methods using computer software. The time to maximum drug concentration (T max) was 2.81 hr, and the maximum drug concentration was 1.08 μg/ml. The mean terminal half‐life (T½) was determined to be 5.20 hr. Clearance per fraction absorbed (Cl/F) was calculated to be 0.294 L/hr kg^?1, and volume of distribution of fraction (V z/F ) absorbed was 2.20 L/kg. The mean accumulation factor was 1.10 after three doses. This indicates changes in dosing may not be required when giving multiple doses of flunixin transdermal. Further work is required to investigate the clinical efficacy of transdermal flunixin after multiple daily doses.     

外源微生物对牛粪高温堆肥的影响

通过向堆肥中添加微生物菌剂和已腐熟堆肥研究了其对堆肥腐熟速度的影响。结果表明,添加菌剂和腐熟堆肥在堆制初期均能促进堆体快速升温,较对照提前1～4 d到达高温阶段(>50℃),且菌剂添加量越大,升温越快,尤其是添加600 mg.kg-1菌剂和50 g.kg-1腐熟堆肥,使高温期(>50℃)延长了3～4 d,29 d后堆肥达到腐熟,种子发芽指数分别为92.1%和84.4%,其他处理则未达到腐熟。这表明向堆肥中接入一定量的菌剂和腐熟堆肥均可加快堆肥进程,缩短堆肥周期。