Effect of sweet potato vines on performance parameters and some carcass characteristics of rabbits

Conventional feedstuffs in Brazil are expensive, which has led to the search for less conventional cheaper and locally available feedstuffs. Thus, this study was carried out to determine the dietary effect of dry sweet potato vines (SPV) on the performance and some carcass characteristics of rabbits. A total of twenty‐seven weaned White New Zealand rabbits (14 male and 13 female) 35 days old with an average initial weight of 755 g were allocated into three treatments. Nine rabbits were assigned to each treatment in a completely randomized design. Three diets were formulated to similar protein and energy levels: 0SPV – diet without inclusion of dry sweet potato vines; 10SPV – diet with 10% alfalfa hay replaced by dry sweet potato vines; and 15SPV – diet with 15% of alfalfa hay replaced by dry sweet potato vines. The experiment lasted for 49 days during which data for feed intake and body weight were recorded. The daily feed intake ranged from 73.17 to 78.02 g; daily weight gain from 22.32 to 23.17 g; feed conversion ratio (FCR) from 3.16 to 3.49 and final live weight ranged from 1839.44 to 1880.55 g. None of the evaluated performance parameters as well as carcass weight, heart weight and percentages of fat and protein in meat were significantly affected by any of the tested dietary treatments. However, the liver weight was statistically lower in animals fed the diets containing 10% of SPV, mainly due to lower glucose content. Glycogen within the tissue, did not differ significantly among treatments. It was therefore concluded that up to 15% of SPV can successfully be included in the diet of rabbits as a cheaper replacement for alfalfa hay without adversely affecting performance.     

Improved milk production through PG–PL system by provision of in‐house shelter management in lactating Murrah buffaloes during winter season

Comprehensive information on the role of β‐casein and plasminogen–plasmin (PG–PL) system in milk secretion of Murrah buffaloes during winter season is lacking, although effects of cold stress can be ameliorated to an extent by altering microclimate at farm level. Hence, this study was aimed to determine the changes in productivity along with PG–PL system of milk, plasma hormones and metabolites of buffaloes during winter (December–January) season under two different management systems. Average minimum temperature and wind chill index during this season were 7.02 and 12.74 °C respectively. Buffaloes were divided in two groups of six animals each: control and treatment, where treatment group animals were placed in‐house with floor bedding of paddy straw and the control group animals in loose housing system without straw bedding. Physiological responses were recorded, and milk and blood samples were collected at weekly intervals for six‐week experimental period. Under in‐house management system, buffaloes experienced better comfort by alleviating environmental stress as their physiological responses such as respiration rate and pulse rate were significantly reduced (p < 0.01) as compared to the control, which subsequently resulted higher milk yield by 9.92% (p < 0.05). Analysis of milk samples revealed higher concentration of plasminogen (10.6 vs. 8.05 μg/ml; p < 0.01) and β‐casein (p < 0.05), and lower plasmin level (0.299 vs. 0.321 μg/ml; p < 0.05) in buffaloes under treatment group. It was also found that plasma cortisol, glucose and non‐esterified fatty acids levels were higher (p < 0.01) in control group as compared to the treatment animals by 13.6%, 8.14% and 12.6% respectively. However, milk composition, growth hormone, epinephrine and norepinephrine level in plasma were similar in both the groups. Hence, it may be concluded that provision of in‐house shelter management with floor bedding of paddy straw during winter was effective to minimize environmental stress and improved milk production through manipulation of PG–PL system in buffaloes.     

Impact of cold-season grazing and supplementary feeding on rumen metabolic parameters and micro-organisms in the ewes of Gansu Alpine Fine Wool Sheep北大核心CSCD

An experiment was conducted to scientifically identify the appropriate feed for Gansu Alpine Fine Wool ewes in order to change the animals' breeding mode, which currently can only be mated at the age of 2.5 years due to insufficient nutritional supply. The experiment selected 48 12-month-old ewes and randomly divided them into group a (Diet 1), group b (Diet 2), group c (Diet 3), and a control group with no supplementary feeding. The feed test was run for 90 days. The rumen pH of groups a and b were very significantly higher (P<0.01) or group c significantly lower (P<0.05) than control group. The rumen ammonia nitrogen, protein nitrogen and total nitrogen of groups a, b and c were all higher than control group (P<0.01). The total volatile fatty acids of group a and b were all higher than the control group (P<0.01), group b significantly higher than group c (P<0.05). The molar ratio of acetic acid and propionic acid in group a was very significantly higher than control group (P<0.01), group b and c were significantly higher than control group (P<0.05). The molar ratio of butyric acid in group a was very significantly higher than group c (P<0.01). The ratio of acetic acid and propionic acid in group b was significantly lower than control group (P<0.05). The number of several rumen fiber-degrading bacteria and protozoa in groups a, b and c were very significantly (P<0.01) or significantly (P<0.05) higher than the control. In conclusion, this study shows that supplementary feeding can positively affect the rumen metabolic parameters and the number of several rumen microorganisms in Gansu Alpine Fine Wool ewes. In general, the effects of Diet 1 were the strongest, while Diet 2 also produced notable improvements. © 2018, Editorial Office of Acta Prataculturae Sinica. All rights reserved.     

湄江翠片加工工艺中香气与色泽的相关性初探

详细介绍了湄江翠片茶各种工艺组合,并根据制茶原理,分析了制茶因子对湄江翠片的品质影响,通过分析对比,找出了湄江翠片比较合理的工艺组合。     

百宜黑羽鸡外貌特征及生长发育研究

从选育中的1,2世代百宜黑羽鸡的外貌特征、生长性能两个方面对百宜黑羽鸡的部分特征特性进行了研究,结果表明:百宜黑羽鸡具有全黑羽带墨绿色(脚、胫、喙、耳毛为黑色),体形中等,肤白色。2周龄时公母均出现日增重率先升后降,分别由0.048%和0.48%上升到41.72%和37.79%,接着又下降到5.69%和5.06%。百宜母鸡的生长曲线从10周龄开始与公鸡的生长曲线分离,17周龄后母鸡的生长速度明显慢于公鸡。     

贵州省花卉产业发展现状及对策

花卉是21世纪的朝阳产业,我国花卉种植面积已居世界第一,而贵州花卉处于起步阶段,许多花卉仍需从外地进货,这对于经济条件并不富裕,而地理环境条件都有利于花卉种植的贵州极为不利。通过对贵州花卉产业发展现状、发展优势的深入分析,探索相应的发展对策,以期对贵州花卉产业的健康发展提供参考。     

MHC及其在动物遗传与育种方面的应用

主要组织相容性复合体(Major histocompatibility complex,MHC)不仅与移植排斥反应有关,而且还与动物的一些经济性状密切相关。文章主要阐述了MHC的结构、功能和遗传特性,并且介绍了MHC基因作为遗传标记在动物遗传与育种方面的应用。     

西北太平洋公海柔鱼和日本爪乌贼个体发育期营养生态位变化分析

为了更好的了解柔鱼和日本爪乌贼个体发育期营养生态位变化,根据2021-2022年“淞航”号渔业资源调查船所采集36尾柔鱼和30尾日本爪乌贼样本,对其眼睛晶体进行了碳氮稳定同位素分析。结果表明：柔鱼个体δ13C、δ15N值变化幅度分别为0.10‰-1.68‰、0.79‰-7.51‰;日本爪乌贼个体δ13C、δ15N值变化幅度分别为0.15‰-1.20‰、0.81‰-7.05‰。柔鱼、日本爪乌贼生态位面积变化范围分别为0.40‰2-5.85‰2、0.27‰2-5.36‰2。GAM模型分析显示：柔鱼眼睛晶体δ13C、δ15N与晶体直径均具有显著的相关性（P<0.01）,偏差解释率分别为31.9%和34.3%。日本爪乌贼眼睛晶体δ13C、δ15N与晶体直径均具有显著的相关性（P<0.01）,偏差解释率分别为12.9%和19.4%。分析认为,个体营养生态位的变化幅度较大,侧面反映了西北太平洋黑潮-亲潮过渡区同位素基线值变化幅度较大;该海域的柔鱼、日本爪乌贼个体摄食水平存在很大差异;个体发育和基线值是影响组织δ13C、δ15N值的因素。     

紫花苜蓿形态和生理指标响应干旱胁迫的品种特异性

为研究紫花苜蓿在叶片和根系水平上响应干旱胁迫的形态和生理的品种特异性规律,在温室内分析了干旱胁迫下WL363HQ和巨能7紫花苜蓿株高、分枝数、生物量及叶片和根系中丙二醛(MDA)、脯氨酸、抗氧化酶类物质、C、N含量、C/N、稳定性C同位素(δ13C)和稳定性N同位素(δ15N).结果表明:干旱胁迫显著降低了供试品种地上...