Incorporation of sunflower oil or linseed oil in equine compound feedstuff: 1 Effects on haematology and on fatty acids profiles in the red blood cells membranes

Eight trained horses (6 mares – 2 geldings, 6 Selle Français, 2 Trotteur Français, 12 ± 5.8 years old, 538 ± 72.5 kg) were offered three diets to potentially affect haematology and the fatty acids (FA) profiles in red blood cells (RBC) membranes. The control diet was composed of 50% hay and 50% concentrate containing mainly rolled barley (48%) and whole spelt (48%). In the case of sunflower oil diet, sunflower oil (62.0% of α‐linoleic acid, LA) was incorporated at a rate of 8% and substituted by an equal proportion of barley. In the linseed oil diet, first cold‐pressed linseed oil (56.0% of α‐linolenic acid, ALA) was utilised at a similar incorporation rate of 8%. The experimental design consisted of three 3 × 3 latin squares with one being incomplete. Each period lasted 8 weeks. On average, the total feed intake (straw excluded) was 6.2 kg/day and the oil intake 0.278 kg/day. The oils significantly increased the concentrations of RBC, haemoglobin and haematocrit. The oils had no significant impact on the haematology profiles except that platelets tended to decrease in both oil‐based diets. The most abundant FA in the RBC membranes of the control diet samples were in the decreasing order LA, C18:1n9‐7, C18:0, C16:0 and the arachidonic acid (ARA) respectively. The sunflower oil supplementation slightly increased the amount of LA (36.23 vs. 34.72 mg/dl, p = 0.55) and C22:4n‐6 (0.21 vs. 0.09 mg/dl, p = 0.22), while the decrease was observed in case of other FA (C16:1n‐7, 1.08 vs. 1.42 mg/dl, p = 0.03), C20:3n‐6 (0.22 vs. 0.31 mg/dl, p = 0.02), and ARA (1.17 vs. 1.63 mg/dl, p = 0.08). Linseed oil induced similar effects in the n‐6 series FA profiles. In the context of practical applications, our results show that linseed oil incorporation in the diet could improve the haematology and the n‐3 FA profiles potentially leading to an increased performance.     

Association of oxidative status and insulin sensitivity in periparturient dairy cattle: an observational study

Post‐parturient insulin resistance (IR) is a common feature in all mammalian animals. However, in dairy cows, it can be exacerbated because of high milk yield, leading to excessive negative energy balance, which is related with increased disease incidence, reduced milk production and worsened reproductive performance. IR has been extensively investigated in humans suffering from diabetes mellitus. In these subjects, it is known that oxidative stress (OS) plays a causative role in the onset of IR. Although OS occurs in transitional dairy cattle, there are yet no studies that investigated the association between IR and OS in dairy cattle. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate whether there is a relationship between OS and IR in dairy cattle. Serum samples were taken repeatedly from 22 dairy cows from 2 months prior to the expected calving date to 2 months after calving and were analysed for markers of metabolic and redox balance. Surrogate indices of insulin sensitivity were also calculated. Generalised linear mixed models revealed an effect of the oxidative status on peripheral insulin concentration and on indices of insulin sensitivity. Hence, field trials should investigate the effectiveness of antioxidant therapy on insulin sensitivity in peripheral tissues during the transition period of dairy cattle.     

两种沉水植物在不同水深和生长时期对入侵植物的响应

为研究沉水植物在不同水深和生长时期对不同种类入侵植物的响应,选取2种湿地入侵植物凤眼莲Eichhornia crassipes、水盾草Cabomba caroliniana和2种常见本地沉水植物黑藻Hydrillaverticillata、菹草Potamogeton crispus为研究对象,通过模拟试验探究在不同水深（0.2、0.4 m）和生长时期（生长初期和生长旺期）的本地沉水植物对2种入侵植物的响应。结果显示,当水深为0.4 m时更有利于黑藻的生长,并可削弱入侵植物对黑藻生长的消极作用,而水深对菹草的生长无显著影响;入侵植物种类对本地沉水植物的生长无显著影响,但影响方式却存在差异,其中水盾草倾向于直接抑制本地沉水植物的生长,而凤眼莲可以通过降低水体透明度以及总磷含量进而间接抑制本地沉水植物的生长。此外,外来植物在本地沉水植物生长初期入侵对本地沉水植物产生的消极影响较生长旺期入侵时更显著。表明凤眼莲及水盾草入侵对本地沉水植物生长的影响机制存在差异,本地沉水植物在适宜水深和生长旺期对2种入侵植物具有更强的抵抗能力。     

欧盟食品动物注射部位兽药残留指南概述

2022年3月25日,欧盟药品管理局(EMA)兽医药品委员会(CVMP)发布了食品动物注射部位兽药残留指南,并于2022年8月1日正式生效。该指南代替旧版的注射部位兽药残留指南(EMA/CVMP/542/03-FINAL)。本文就新发布指南的背景、适用范围、法律依据、评价方法、残留研究及相关定义等内容进行介绍。     

影响猪采食行为的肠道微生物种类鉴别

动物主要通过采食来获取能量和所需营养物质,探索肠道菌群对猪采食行为的影响并研究其潜在的作用机制,可以为后续通过调控肠道菌群来改善猪采食提供理论基础。以210头商业杜洛克猪为研究对象,使用自动喂料器记录包括平均日采食时间(ADET)、平均日采食次数(ADEV)、平均日采食量(ADFI)等采食行为指标。140日龄时于肛门处收集粪便样品,通过16S rRNA基因V3-V4区测序获得试验猪肠道微生物结构与组成概况,采用Two-part模型以及共丰度组(CAGs)鉴别与猪采食行为相关的肠道微生物种类。结果显示：1)表型间相关性分析结果表明,ADET分别与ADEV(r=0.41,P<0.05)、RFI(r=0.32,P<0.05)呈显著正相关,ADFI分别与RFI(r=0.56,P<0.05)、平均日增重(ADG)(r=0.63,P<0.05)呈显著正相关,另外,RFI与背膘厚呈显著正相关(r=0.16,P<0.05)。2)CAGs分析中,主要包括瘤胃球菌科(Ruminococcaceae)、拟杆菌目(Bacteroidales)以及颤螺菌属(Oscillospira...     

饲喂机器人的研究与开发

精确饲喂的机器人主要由行走机构、料箱、分料螺旋和控制系统等部分组成,利用霍尔传感器和无线识别装置分别实现自身的精确定位以及奶牛的识别。机器人的控制器采用PIC16F877微处理器构成,主要完成机器人的运动控制以及与管理微机的数据交换。饲喂机器人效率高、成本低,定量饲喂有利于提高奶牛的产奶量,适合在奶牛场推广和应用。