Molecular genetics of the adrenocortical axis and breeding for robustness

The concept of robustness refers to the combination of a high production potential and a low sensitivity to environmental perturbations. The importance of robustness-related traits in breeding objectives is progressively increasing toward the production of animals with a high production level in a wide range of climatic conditions and production systems, together with a high level of animal welfare. Current strategies to increase robustness include selection for "functional traits," such as skeletal and cardiovascular integrity, disease resistance, and mortality at various stages. It is also possible to use global evaluation of sensitivity to the environment (eg reaction norm analysis or canalization), but these techniques are difficult to implement in practice. The glucocorticoid hormones released by the adrenal cortex exert a wide range of effects on metabolism, the cardiovascular system, inflammatory processes, and brain function, for example. Protein catabolism toward energy production and storage (lipids and glycogen) supports their pivotal role in stress responses aiming at the adaptation and survival of individuals under strong environmental pressure. Large individual variations have been described in adrenocortical axis activity, with important physiopathological consequences. In terms of animal production, higher cortisol levels have negative effects on growth rate and feed efficiency and increase the fat:lean ratio of carcasses. On the contrary, cortisol has positive effects on functional traits and adaptation. Intense selection for lean tissue growth and more generally high protein output during the past decades has concomitantly reduced cortisol production, which may be responsible for the negative effects of selection on functional traits. In this paper, we review experimental evidence suggesting that the balance between production and functional traits was modified in favor of improved robustness by selecting animals with higher adrenocortical axis activity, as well as the molecular genetic tools that can be used to fine-tune this objective.     

Analyses of factors affecting dry matter intake of lactating dairy cows

An experiment was conducted to analyze feed, climate and animal factors affecting dry matter intake (DMI) in lactating dairy cows. Sixteen lactating Holstein cows, with parity from 1 to 6, were assigned to a feeding trial for 2 years, comprising 31 lactations. The animals were fed Italian ryegrass silage, oat hay, alfalfa hay, beet pulp and three types of concentrate. The data, pooled and classified by stage of lactation, season of lactation and parity were analyzed by stepwise multiple regression to determine the nature and extent of factors affecting DMI. A total of 45 prediction equations for DMI were derived. Energy‐corrected milk yield or milk yield was selected as the primary factor of DMI in all the equations in which the ratio of contribution (R²) varied from 0.26 to 0.67. The dietary concentration of organic cell wall, crude fiber, crude protein, organic b fraction, forage to concentrate ratio, average ambient temperature and temperature–humidity index were selected as the secondary factors affecting DMI for pooled data, late lactation (251–350 days of lactation), summer (June–August), spring (March–May), ≥4th lactation, autumn (September–November) and 3rd lactation, respectively, and improved R² up to 0.77. Except for an impact of bodyweight in several equations, feed and climatic factors significantly improved prediction equations effectively for data classified in different ways. To estimate DMI accurately in lactating dairy cows, feed and climatic factors should be considered for specific conditions.     

狼毒及瑞香狼毒的研究进展

大戟科狼毒含有挥发油成分、萜类、植物甾醇类、蒽醌、鞣质类、苯乙酮、杀虫成分。月腺大戟还分离出了黄酮类化合物;而瑞香狼毒含有木脂素、黄酮类化合物、二萜类化合物、香豆素类化合物、三萜类化合物、甾醇类以及其他成分。大戟科狼毒与瑞香狼毒的生物活性都有抗癌或抗肿瘤、抗茵、抗病毒、抗惊厥、杀虫作用,但二者的作用方式却不同,大戟科狼毒还独有抗白血病作用,而瑞香狼毒独有治疗和预防免疫缺陷的作用。关于狼毒的记载与研究的历史较早,但对于瑞香狼毒与大戟科植物狼毒大戟和月腺大戟的收载比较混乱,因此,对瑞香狼毒与大戟科狼毒在植物形态、生长分布、化学成分研究以及生物活性研究上进行了对比。     

石歧杂鸡催乳素基因外显子2的SNP检测与产蛋就巢性状的关联分析

利用PCR-SSCP技术对石歧杂鸡的催乳素(prolactin,PRL)基因外显子2进行SNP检测和测序分析,并对该基因与石歧杂鸡产蛋、就巢性状的相关性进行了研究。结果表明,PRL基因外显子2存在多态性位点,该位点由于在3838位点发生C→T的碱基突变,产生了AA、AB和BB3种基因型,并导致氨基酸的改变,由亮氨酸变为苯丙氨酸。基因型AA和等位基因A的频率最高;BB基因型个体首次就巢时间显著晚于AA和AB基因型(P0.01);BB基因型的就巢次数显著多于AA和AB基因型(P0.05);3种基因型与产蛋性状相关性不显著。     

新疆和田河上、下游不同生长地小花棘豆成分对比分析

选择新疆和田河上、下游两个不同生长地的小花棘豆,研究其有毒成分。结果显示,生长于和田河下游的小花棘豆生物碱含量较低,其他成分与昆仑山生长的小花棘豆无区别,如黄酮类化合物、酚类化合物、鞣质、氨基酸、多肽、蛋白质、有机酸、皂苷、还原糖或多糖等。对生长于和田河上游昆仑山北坡的小花棘豆生物碱进行提取,得到了有毒成分苦马豆素。     

京海黄鸡IGFBP-1基因遗传多态性及其与生长性状的关联分析

以京海黄鸡、AA鸡、尤溪麻鸡、边鸡等4个鸡品种为研究对象,采用PCR-SSCP方法检测胰岛素样生长因子结合蛋白1(insulin-like growth factor-binding protein-1,IGFBP-1)第4外显子的多态性,并分析其对京海黄鸡生长性能的遗传效应。结果显示,在IGFBP-1第4外显子区检测到2处变异(5550T→C、5692AAT插入)。对于P3扩增片段,在尤溪麻鸡群体中检测到AA、AB、BB 3种基因型,在AA鸡和边鸡品种中检测到AA和AB 2种基因型,京海黄鸡中只检测到AA基因型;对于P4扩增片段,在4个鸡品种中均检测到CC、CD、DD 3种基因型。最小二乘分析结果表明,京海黄鸡3种基因型个体的初生重存在显著差异(P＜0.05)。     

长期不同施肥处理对连作高粱生长规律及产量的影响研究

以甜高粱品种‘新高粱3号’为试验材料,采用长期定位施肥方式,研究CK、NK、NP、PK、NPK、M(有机肥)、NPKM、1.5NPKM 8个不同施肥处理对甜高粱生长规律、含糖锤度、叶绿素含量及产量的影响,筛选出适宜新疆干旱区连作甜高粱生长的最佳施肥方式。结果显示,不同施肥处理对连作甜高粱的生育期、农艺性状、叶绿素含量、秸秆含糖锤度及产量均有影响。在不同施肥处理下甜高粱的株高、茎粗、叶片数、秸秆含糖锤度和叶绿素含量在整个生育阶段的变化趋势基本一致,但不同施肥处理之间有差异。成熟期不同施肥处理之间的株高、茎粗和茎秆含糖锤度差异较大、叶片数差异不大,其中NPKM施肥处理的株高、茎粗和含糖锤度分别为224.33 cm、21.47 mm、18.41%,均高于其他施肥处理,并比CK极显著增高了13.86%、39.60%、23.47%。施肥有利于秸秆含糖锤度的积累,在抽穗后第28天时达到最高值,此时,NPKM处理达到18.57%,但抽穗期到成熟期不同茎节含糖锤度在不同施肥处理下的积累规律不一致。各处理的叶绿素含量在整个生育期的变化趋势基本一致,灌浆期时达到最大值,其中NPKM处理叶绿素达到44.62 SPAD。所有施肥处理的秸秆产量、籽粒产量和生物产量均比CK极显著地增加,其中NPKM处理秸秆产量、籽粒产量、生物产量分别达到90.80、4.01、94.81 t·hm^-2,均高于其他处理。施肥有利于增加甜高粱的产量、含糖锤度及经济效益,利用不同施肥方式来缓解高粱连作障碍的过程中应当注重采取不同的肥料配比。综合来看,有机肥、无机肥混合施用(NPKM)是促进干旱区连作高粱生长发育的最佳施肥模式。     

不同日粮类型和粗蛋白质水平对四川山地乌骨鸡生产性能和屠宰性能的影响

试验旨在研究不同日粮类型和粗蛋白质水平对四川山地乌骨鸡生产性能和屠宰性能的影响。采用2×2因子设计,设2种日粮类型(玉米—豆粕型和玉米—豆粕—酵母蛋白型)和2个粗蛋白质水平(16.5%和14.5%)。选用23周龄的四川山地乌骨鸡480只,设4个处理,每个处理4个重复,每个重复30只鸡。预试期14 d,正试期120 d。结果表明,日粮类型对四川山地乌骨鸡的生产性能无显著影响(P>0.05),日粮16.5%粗蛋白质水平组平均蛋重显著高于14.5%粗蛋白质水平组(P<0.05)。日粮类型与粗蛋白质水平互作可显著影响平均蛋重(P<0.05),但对产蛋率、日产蛋量、日采食量和料蛋比均无显著影响(P>0.05)。日粮类型、粗蛋白质水平及日粮类型与粗蛋白质水平互作对四川山地乌骨鸡的屠宰性能均无显著影响(P>0.05),其中玉米—豆粕—酵母蛋白型(粗蛋白质16.5%)日粮组屠宰率、全净膛率、半净膛率、胸肌率和腿肌率最佳。结果提示,四川山地乌骨鸡的平均蛋重受日粮粗蛋白质水平影响较大;饲喂粗蛋白质水平为16.5%的玉米—豆粕—酵母蛋白型日粮可获得较好的生产性能和屠宰性能。     

不同温度下雌雄葎草营养生长期的生长特性

通过测定15、20、25 ℃培养条件下,雌雄葎草(Humulus scandens)单株营养生长期持续时间,根、茎、叶等构件数量性状及鲜质量、干质量和生物量分配等指标,分析温度对营养生长期雌雄葎草生长特性的影响。结果表明,温度对葎草营养生长持续期有极显著影响（P＜0.01）,雌株比雄株更易受影响;温度极显著影响根、茎、叶等构件数量性状及其鲜质量与干质量;温度极显著影响营养生长期雌、雄葎草单株的生物量总量及构成,雄株通过减少叶生物量、雌株通过增加根系生物量来为生殖生长提供物质基础。