Presence of cervical vertebral malformation in Dobermann puppies and the effects of diet and growth rate

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between diet, growth rate and the presence of caudal cervical malformation in Doberman puppies. DESIGN: A prospective study of 15 Dobermann puppies from three unrelated litters, aged from 0 to 16 weeks. PROCEDURE: The growth rate in terms of body weight gain and increase in ulna length were measured weekly for all puppies. In addition the nutritional quality of the diets was assessed. Radiographs of the cervical spine were taken at 6 and between 12 and 16 weeks of age and examined for the presence of caudal cervical vertebral malformation. A mixed model for repeated measures data was used to investigate the relationship between the growth rate of the puppies and the fixed effects age, dam, diet, gender and presence of caudal cervical malformation. RESULTS: Five of the puppies had changes consistent with caudal cervical malformation. The diets fed were either balanced or transiently deficient in protein, calcium, phosphorus and/or magnesium. There was no significant association between growth rate and the variables dam, gender and the presence of caudal cervical vertebral malformation. There was no significant association between diet and increase in ulna length, but a trend existed between body weight gain and the feeding of a balanced diet (P = 0.0672). CONCLUSION: Caudal cervical vertebral changes can be detected radiographically as early as 6 weeks of age in some Dobermann puppies. A balanced diet and growth rate are not significant factors in its initial development.     

Heart Rate Variability in Horses Engaged in Equine-Assisted Activities

Although there has been a recent surge in using horses to treat mental and emotional human health issues, the consequences of horse-assisted interventions on the stress response of horses have not been well documented. Assessment of the autonomic nervous system and its regulation of cardiovascular function has been used as an indicator of acute and chronic stress in human beings and horses. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a noninvasive measurement that has been used to assess autonomic nervous system regulation of cardiovascular function. There is evidence to suggest that several factors including the genotype, behavior, environment, temperament, and nutritional status of the horse play a key role in the large inter-individual variations in basal HRV. The present study determined whether 24-hour HRV recordings in horses currently working in equine-assisted therapy (EAT) differ from those previously shown in Thoroughbred horses. Findings from the present study found that in contrast to previous studies in Thoroughbred horses, diurnal and nocturnal low frequency and high frequency powers were not significantly different in horses that are currently engaged in EAT. Future studies are needed to determine the short- and long-term consequences of horses participating in EAT programs. Findings from this study will provide the basis for the development of a physiological/behavioral assessment criteria to determine the consequences of EAT on the well-being of horses as well as to help EAT Centers to improve the beneficial effects of EAT in human beings.     

Effects of Supplementing a Basal Diet of Chloris gayana Hay with One of Three Protein-rich Legume Hays of Cassia rotundifolia,Lablab purpureus and Macroptilium atropurpureum Forage on Some Nutritional Parameters in Goats

Growth and digestibility experiments were conducted on growing East African type goats offered Chloris gayana hay supplemented with one of three high-protein (119–128 g CP/kg DM) legume hays, Cassia rotundifolia (cassia), Lablab purpureus (lablab) or Macroptilium atropurpureum (siratro), and crushed maize to investigate the feed intake, digestibility, growth and urinary excretion of purine derivatives. Goats in the supplemented groups had higher total dry matter and nitrogen intakes and higher N retention and body mass gains than unsupplemented counterparts. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and neutral detergent fibre were increased by protein supplementation. Animals on supplemented diets had higher fractional outflow rates of particulate matter from the rumen. The production of protein by ruminal microbes and the efficiency of microbial N production were increased by supplementation. It was concluded that a mixture of low-quality grass hay (61.9 CP/kg DM) and either cassia, lablab or siratro hay, and maize grain can provide a productive balanced diet for growing goats.     

断奶日龄对仔猪Et玫瑰花环形成率和T淋巴细胞转化率的影响

选取15窝杜洛克×长白×约克夏三元杂交初生仔猪 ,按14、21、28、35日龄断奶和不断奶随机分为5组(14E、21E、28E、35E、C) ,每组3窝 ,研究断奶及不同断奶日龄对仔猪外周血Et玫瑰花环形成率和T淋巴细胞转化率的影响。结果表明 :哺乳仔猪外周血Et玫瑰花环形成率、淋巴细胞转化率LTT(PHA、LPS刺激原)随日龄增长呈线性加大的趋势(P<0.05) ;断奶应激均使Et、LTT(PHA)、LTT(LPS)降低(P<0.05)。断奶越早 ,断奶后血液LTT(PHA/LPS)下降的幅度越大 ,恢复与哺乳猪相同水平的时间越长 ,其中14日龄断奶后1～3周 ,21、28日龄断奶后1周LTT(PHA)显著低于对照组(P<0.05) ;14日龄断奶后1～4周 ,21日龄断奶后1～3周 ,28日龄断奶后1～2周 ,35日龄断奶后1周LTT(LPS)显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。     

家兔发情状态与受胎率和产仔数关系的研究

本文研究了家兔的发情状态与配种后的受胎率，以及产仔数之间的关系。以家兔阴粘膜颜色作为表观指标，将家兔的发情分为５个状态，其相应的阴粘膜颜色分别为：苍白、粉色、红色、大红、黑紫。经促排２号诱发排卵后，人工授精，相应状态下的受胎率为：２９．５％、４２．９％、５６．８％、５３．８％、２５．０％；相应状态下的平均产仔数分别为：５．５４、６．６９、６．６２、７．２１、５．５２。用促排３号处理后，相应状态下的受胎率为：９．０％、４３．２％、５３．２％、７０．０％、２１．７％。结果表明：无论是用促排２号，还是用促排３号处理，当阴粘膜颜色为苍白和黑紫时的受胎率或产仔数，都显著地低于或少于阴粘膜颜色为粉色、红色、大红时的受胎率（Ｐ＜０．０１）或产仔数（Ｐ＜０．０５）。说明，家兔的发情状态与配种后的受胎率和产仔数有密切的相关     

迪卡猪配套系繁殖性能统计分析

从某迪卡猪场１９９８年５月到２０００年年初的１２３４窝产仔记录中,分别对Ａ、Ｂ、Ｃ、Ｅ、Ｆ每个纯系和ＡＢ、ＣＤ、ＥＦ、ＡＢＣＤ杂交组合中母猪的繁殖性能进行了统计,计算了不同杂交组合的杂种优势率,从育种的角度分析了迪卡猪商品代具有很高生产性能的原因。     

獒本杂交犬繁育性能研究

通过对獒本杂交犬与当地土种犬发情时间、配种时间、产活仔数、幼犬初生重等的对比研究,发现獒本杂交犬发情时间集中在9~11月份,发情受胎率与母犬年龄及养殖条件有关,常规养殖下3~4岁獒本杂交母犬发情率为100%,2~4岁獒本杂交母犬受胎率达到100%。獒本杂交犬产仔力和哺乳性能等繁育性能指标明显高于本地土种犬,1~5岁龄杂交母犬的平均活产仔数显著高于当地土种犬(P(0.05);仔犬平均初生重显著高于当地土种犬(P(0.05);仔犬断奶平均个体体重显著高于当地土种犬(P(0.01);仔犬断奶平均窝重显著高于当地土种犬(P(0.05);幼犬断奶成活数比土种犬高14.3%。     

五种牧草及三种草坪草种子寄藏真菌检测初探

采用PDA平皿法和滤纸法检测了市售5个牧草品种和3个草坪草品种种子样品寄藏真菌的情况,并就分离获得的真菌对种子出苗及幼苗生长的影响进行了初步研究.结果表明,供试种子样品带菌率为0～70.5%,分离获得的35个真菌分离物大多属于镰刀菌(Fusarium spp.)、链格孢菌(Alternaria spp.)、蠕孢菌(Helminthosporium spp.)、小核菌(Sclerotium sp.)、匍柄霉菌(Stemphylium spp.)和曲霉菌(Aspergillus spp.).供试样品中假俭草和波多马各(鸭茅)种子带菌率较高,在PDA平皿检测中其未经表面消毒处理的种子带菌率分别为48.4%和70.5%,表面消毒处理种子带菌率分别为40.8%和28.8%,分离获得的种子寄藏真菌对假俭草和波多马各种子出苗及幼苗生长的影响较小.圣地亚哥(南苜蓿)和菊苣种子带菌率较低,但分离获得的真菌对其种子出苗和幼苗生长的影响较大.以镰刀菌与匍柄霉菌接种过的南苜蓿种子出苗率分别比未经表面消毒且未接种真菌的对照低44.0%和21.7%,出苗后的病苗率分别为22.7%和29.7%;以链格孢菌与曲霉菌接种过的菊苣种子的出苗率分别比未经表面消毒且未接种真菌的对照低22.0%和27.5%,出苗后的病苗率分别为2.3%和29.3%.     

牛不同直径卵泡内卵母细胞体外受精后的卵裂率和染色体异常分析

将不同直径牛卵泡内卵母细胞体外成熟培养22h后，对其体外受精后的卵裂率，胚胎发育速度和胚胎染色体异常发生率进行了研究。结果表明，体外受精后48h，直径3－6mm卵泡内卵母细胞外受精后的卵裂率明显高于直径1－2mm和7－10mm卵泡内卵母细胞体外受精后的卵裂率（P＜0．05）。体外受精后48h，直径3－6mm包泡内卵母细胞体外受精后的胚胎的发育速度明显快于直径1－2mm和7－10mm卵泡组胚胎（P＜0．05）。通过对不同卵裂期胚胎的染色体标本分析表明，直径1－2mm卵泡内卵母细胞体外受精后的胚胎染色体异常发生率明显高于直径3－6mm卵泡组（P＜0．05），但与直径7－10mm卵泡组之间无显著性差异。