Coat and hair color: hair cortisol and serotonin levels in lactating Holstein cows under heat stress conditions

The deleterious effects of heat stress on animal health are being increasingly recognized. This study aimed to determine hair cortisol (HC) and serotonin levels in lactating Holstein cows under heat stress conditions with different coat and hair‐cut color. Forty‐five multiparous lactating Holstein cows (days in milk = 130 ± 47, body weight = 753 ± 85 kg) were divided to two main groups of over 80% black coat color (BC) and over 85% white coat color (WC) visually observed based on registry certificates and subdividing to black hair sample (BH) and white hair samples (WH) in 2 × 2 factorial arrangements. Hair samples were taken from the forehead of the individuals. Higher HC levels were observed in BC than WC cows (P < 0.05). No differences were found in HC levels between BH and WH groups (P > 0.05). Serotonin levels showed no difference between BC and WC (P > 0.05). Interaction between coat color and hair color was not significant (P > 0.05). The cortisol levels in hair are not affected by pigmentation. However, pigmentation within the coat alters cortisol levels. In conclusion, white coat color retains less cortisol than the black coat. Therefore, white coats are preferable for dairy cows under heat stress conditions.     

沙漠化对内蒙地区水热通量及降水影响的数值研究

ＲＡＭＳ模式被应用于内蒙干旱地区气系统水热通量交换及水循环过程研究。本文通过敏感性试验,模拟了在半沙漠化和土壤含量变化的情况下内蒙地区地气通量交换的变化及其对降水的影响。     

Associations between use of electric cow-trainers and clinical diseases, reproductive performance and culling in Swedish dairy cattle

The aims of this follow-up study were: (a) to evaluate the role of ECT technology as a risk factor for several diseases; and (b) to determine if the effects of these diseases on cows' reproductive performance and as risk factors for culling are influenced by exposure to ECTs. Diseases considered were retained placenta, metritis, ketosis, cystic ovaries, silent heat, milk fever, clinical mastitis, and foot and leg problems. We used historical and contemporary controls (with control herds selected to match the experimental herds for size and location). Data consisted of 10264 Swedish Red and White (SRB) and 5461 Swedish Friesian (SLB) lactation records in 150 herds of which 33 used cow-trainers. Logistic regression was used to estimate the effects of parity and exposure to electric cow-trainers on the risks of diseases and the effects of diseases and exposure to electric cow-trainers on risk of culling. The least-squares procedure was used to estimate the effects of diseases on reproductive performance.

The dominant effects associated with use of electric cow-trainers were an increased risk for silent heat, clinical mastitis, ketosis and culling relative to cows in herds not using cow-trainers. Diseases had negative effects on reproductive performance and the effects were larger for cows in herds using cow-trainers. In herds using electric cow-trainers, the largest increase in the interval from first service to conception (58 days) was caused by the occurrences of silent heat, cystic ovaries and the combination of two or more diseases. Retained placenta, metritis, cystic ovaries, clinical mastitis and a combination of two or more diseases increased the risk of culling about two times relative to healthy primiparous cows with the increase being greater for cows in herds using cow-trainers. Silent heat did not increase risk of culling in control groups, but was the largest risk factor for culling in the exposed group. We concluded that exposure to electric cow-trainers increased the incidence risk of silent heat, clinical mastitis, and ketosis and changed silent heat from a neutral disease with respect to culling to a major risk factor. Finally, exposure to cow-trainers increased the general negative effect of diseases on the cows' reproductive performance and risk for culling.     

The effect of Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate on small intestinal morphology,antioxidant capacity and anti‐inflammatory effect in heat‐stressed broilers

This study was to investigate the effects of Epigallocatechin‐3‐gallate (EGCG) on intestinal morphology, antioxidant capacity and anti‐inflammatory response in heat‐stressed broiler. A total of 192 2‐week‐old Arbour Acres broilers chickens were divided into four groups with six replicates per group and eight chickens per replicate: one thermoneutral control group (28°C, group TN), which was fed the basal diet; and three cyclic high‐temperature groups (35°C from 7:00 to 19:00 hr; 28°C from 19:00 hr to 7:00 hr, heat stress group), which were fed the basal diet supplementation with EGCG 0 mg/kg (group HS0), 300 mg/kg (group HS300) and 600 mg/kg (group HS600). The gut morphology and intestinal mucosal oxidative stress indicators, as well as intestinal barrier‐related gene expression, were analysed. The results showed that compared with group TN, heat stress reduced the villus height (VH), activities of glutathione peroxidase (GSH‐Px), superoxide dismutase (SOD)and catalase (CAT), increased the crypt depth (CD) and malondialdehyde (MDA)content at 21, 28 and 35 days (p < 0.05). After the heat‐stressed broilers were supplemented with EGCG, VH, VH/CD (V/C), and the activities of GSH‐Px, SOD and CAT were increased, and CD and MDA content were reduced compared with those in group HS0 without EGCG supplementation at 21, 28 and 35 days (p < 0.05). The EGCG supplementation promoted the gene expression of nuclear factor‐erythroid 2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2), Claudin‐1, Mucin 2 (Muc2) and alleviated the nuclear factor‐kappa B (NF‐κB) and lipopolysaccharide‐induced tumour necrosis factor (LITAF) gene expression compared with group HS0 (p < 0.05). Moreover, intestinal morphology was strongly correlated with antioxidant ability and inflammatory response. In conclusion, EGCG alleviated the gut oxidative injury of heat‐stressed broilers by enhancing antioxidant capacity and inhibiting inflammatory response.     

土壤水分对夏玉米农田CO2通量和群体水分利用率的影响

利用CO     

益生菌大肠杆菌Nissle 1917抗逆性能、猪肠上皮细胞黏附率及抑菌效果研究

本试验旨在研究益生菌大肠杆菌Nissle 1917(Ec N)抗逆性能、猪肠上皮细胞黏附率及抑菌效果。采用体外法对Ec N进行生长曲线绘制和耐酸、耐胆盐、耐热性能的测定;以猪肠上皮细胞IPEC-J2细胞为体外细胞模型,考察了Ec N对该细胞的黏附率以及对致病菌大肠杆菌K88的黏附抑制率;同时通过蛋白质印迹法检测了Ec N对IPEC-J2细胞β-防御素-2和Toll样受体4的水平的影响。结果表明:1)Ec N对高酸、高胆盐和高温环境具有一定耐受能力。2)Ec N对IPEC-J2细胞的黏附作用以对数期最佳,黏附率达33.96%,显著高于迟缓期、稳定期和衰亡期(P0.05)。3)Ec N对致病菌大肠杆菌K88具有良好的抑制效果,黏附抑制率达87.84%。4)Ec N还能上调IPEC-J2细胞β-防御素-2和Toll样受体4水平。结果提示,益生菌Ec N具有较好的抗逆性能,能够良好地黏附猪肠上皮细胞,对致病菌大肠杆菌K88具有良好的抑制作用。     

石羊河下游物候季节的水热分配及变化特征

基于物候季节,分析了石羊河下游地区1971-2000年各季节的水热分配状况及多年变化特征。结果表明,石羊河下游物候季节的更迭与气候的季节性演变相吻合,稳定通过物候四季的温度界限分别为春季≥2.9℃,夏季≥19.0℃,秋季<19.0℃,冬季≤4.5℃。水热资源最丰富为物候的夏季,其≥0℃的积温和降水分别占全年的55.8%和62.5%。多年来,温度的四季变化和年际变化具有明显的增加趋势,增长幅度依次为冬季>全年>春季>夏季>秋季。年均温的升高以1986年为突变年,而冬季和春季气温的升高分别以1985年和1991为突变年;降水变化的趋势不明显,年降水的波动形态与夏季基本一致,春季则与夏季相反,有春湿夏干或春干夏湿的趋势。     

Effects of increased ambient temperature and supplemental altrenogest before pregnancy establishment in gilts

Heat stress (HS) mitigation strategies are critically needed to combat the substantial economic effects on animal agriculture. The manifestations of seasonal infertility include delayed puberty onset, reduced conception rates, decreased litter size, and increased wean to estrus interval. To assess the effects of HS during early gestation and evaluate the benefit of supplemental altrenogest (ALT) as a mitigation strategy, 30 crossbred postpubertal gilts (157 ± 11 kg body weight) were subjected to estrous synchronization via 14 d oral administration of ALT. Artificial insemination during estrus was performed, and gilts were then placed into one of four treatment groups: HS (35 ± 1 °C for 12 h/31.60 ± 1 °C for 12 h) with (HSALT, n = 7) or without (HSCON, n = 7) 15 mg/d ALT supplementation or thermal neutral (TN; 20 ± 1 °C) conditions with (TNALT, n = 8) or without (TNCON, n = 8) 15 mg/d ALT supplementation until 12 d post-estrus (dpe). Administrating ALT occurred at 0600 hours from 3 to 12 dpe, and rectal temperatures (T_R) and respiration rates (RR) were recorded. Blood was collected via jugular venipuncture on 0, 4, 8, and 12 dpe. Gilts were euthanized humanely at 12 dpe followed by the collection of ovarian tissue, and uterine flushing for conceptus collection. In HS compared with TN gilts, RR and T_R were increased (P < 0.01) but unaffected by ALT supplementation. Feed intake was reduced (P < 0.01) by HS but unaltered by the ALT treatment. Corpora lutea (CL) weight was reduced (P < 0.01) in HSCON gilts when compared with TNCON and HSALT gilts despite progesterone concentrations in serum and luteal tissue not being affected by treatment (P ≥ 0.10). CL diameter was reduced (P ≤ 0.05) in HSALT gilts compared with other treatments. Interleukin-1β (IL1B) uterine flush concentration was not affected (P > 0.20) by environment or ALT supplementation, although moderate (P = 0.06) interaction between environment and ALT existed, as IL1B concentration in TNALT was increased (P = 0.03) compared with TNCON gilts. While environment did not affect conceptus development (P = 0.90), ALT supplementation advanced conceptus elongation (P < 0.01). Collectively, these data demonstrate that HS may affect luteal development before pregnancy establishment, and ALT increases conceptus elongation by 12 dpe.     

热应激绍兴鸭不同组织HSP70基因mRNA表达研究

研究蛋鸭热应激条件下不同组织中热休克蛋白70(HSP70)基因mRNA表达规律,为揭示蛋鸭热应激反应机理提供参考。60只绍兴蛋鸭25℃饲养20d,其中30只进行40℃热应激处理1h,采取荧光定量PCR方法分别测定不同组织中HSP70mRNA的表达水平。试验组与对照组相比,肝脏、脾脏和胰腺组织HSP70mRNA表达差异不显著,其他6种组织HSP70基因表达量均有不同程度的增加,试验组心脏、腿肌、垂体、下丘脑、胸肌、肾脏中HSP70基因表达量分别高于对照组3.6倍、2.8倍、2.7倍、2.4倍、2.2倍和1.57倍。