Pregnancy Rates in Repeat-breeder Heifers Following Multiple Artificial Inseminations during Spontaneous Oestrus

Hormonal asynchronies during oestrus, related to the presence of suprabasal plasma-progesterone (P4) concentrations and a delayed ovulation, interfere with the fertility of repeat-breeder heifers (RBH). Since tubal dysfunction can occur in connection with hormonal asynchronies and constrained availability of fertile spermatozoa at the time of ovulation, the present study tested the hypothesis that frequent sperm deposition from onset of oestrus to ovulation may improve pregnancy rates in RBH. Five RBH and five virgin heifers (VH; controls) were repeatedly artificially inseminated (AI) at 6 h intervals from onset of oestrus to spontaneous ovulation. Hormone analyses revealed suprabasal P₄ concentrations and a delay in the occurrence of the luteinising hormone (LH) surge, but a normal cortisol profile in RBH. Compared with controls, RBH presented longer interval from onset of oestrus to ovulation, and therefore, received more AIs. Pregnancy rates in RBH reached control levels (60%; NS), indicating that the hypothesis might be correct. Pregnancy rates in VH were below the expected range, presumably attributed to a deleterious influence of the frequent handling. The study suggests that pregnancy rates can be improved in RBH by frequent AI in relation to spontaneous ovulation. However, this practice of repeated manipulations, while seeming not to show adverse effects, lacks practicality for routine use.     

Variation of Parthenium hysterophorus in response to soil quality: implications for invasiveness

Summary The performance of Parthenium hysterophorus , native to the tropical Americas and invasive to several countries, was evaluated for response to soil quality. Phenological (six stages) and quantitative growth variables [relative growth rates in height (R_h) and diameter (R_d)] were measured every fortnight. Based on harvest data, the variables, root:shoot (R:S) ratio, specific leaf area (SLA), relative growth rate in biomass (R_w), net assimilation rate (NAR) and dry matter allocation to plant components, were determined. High clay content in soils prolonged the rosette stage, enhanced R_h and R_d and hampered root growth, but promoted biomass allocation to shoots. The extreme degree of plant mortality was observed, with only 33.3% individuals surviving to reproduce in the soils with highest clay contents. This appears to be one of the most important findings that certainly has a major bearing on the range of adaptation of the weed. Seed mass declined whereas seed production increased in relatively coarser soils with the exception of nearly pure sand. In soils rich in clay, plants produced a smaller number of larger seeds. These data suggest that variation in fundamental functional traits would enable P. hysterophorus to adjust to a variety of habitat conditions.     

Reliably colonising broiler chickens with Campylobacter spp. using a litter-based method

ABSTRACT

1. Chicken-associated Campylobacter spp. are the cause of most food poisoning cases in Europe. In order to study the host–pathogen interactions, a reliable and reproducible method of colonising chickens with the bacteria is required.

2. This study aimed to identify a more appropriate and less invasive method of colonisation (cf. gavaging) by seeding bedding material (litter) that commercial chickens are kept on with a mixture of Campylobacter spp., broth and faeces.

3. The first phase of the study tested the longevity of Campylobacter spp. recovery in seeded litter over 24 h: significantly more Campylobacter spp. was recovered at 0 or 3 h post-seeding than at 6 and 24 h post-seeding, indicating that the pathogen can survive to detectable levels for at least 3 h in this environment.

4. In the second phase, three groups of 10 broiler chickens (negative for Campylobacter spp. prior to exposure) were exposed at 21 days of age to one of three different Campylobacter jejuni and C. coli mixes (A, B, C), using the method above. At 28 days of age, birds were euthanised by overdose of barbiturate or cervical dislocation, and livers and caeca removed for Campylobacter spp. assessment.

5. All liver and 28/30 caeca samples tested positive for Campylobacter spp., with mix A and C giving higher counts in the caeca than mix B. The method of euthanasia did not affect Campylobacter spp. counts.

6. In conclusion, a successful method for reliably colonising broiler chickens with Campylobacter spp. has been developed which negates the need for gavaging and is more representative of how contamination occurs in the field.     

铺地竹叶片对结球生菜种子发芽及幼苗生长的影响

采用基质盆栽试验,研究了铺地竹(Sasa argenteastriatus E.G.Camus)叶片对结球生菜(Lactucasativa L.var.capitata L.)种子萌发和幼苗生长的影响,结果表明,铺地竹叶片粉末对结球生菜种子的萌发和幼根生长具有一定的抑制作用,随着浓度的增加抑制作用增强,在50～200 g/m2的范围内,幼根抑制率为12.15%～28.91%。在50～100 g/m2的用量下,铺地竹叶片对结球生菜苗长表现为促进生长作用,而在200 g/m2时,则表现为抑制生长作用。施用铺地竹叶片后3 d、6 d、9 d和12 d,结球生菜幼苗的叶绿素含量特别是叶绿素a的含量显著减少,随着基质中叶片粉末浓度的增加,结球生菜叶绿素含量降低,叶绿素a含量高低依次为对照、低浓度处理、中浓度处理、高浓度处理。随着处理后时间的延长,竹叶对结球生菜叶片叶绿素a含量的影响减弱。这个结果进一步验证了自然条件下铺地竹叶片对植物生长的化感效应,说明其具有开发植物源除草剂的潜力,为研究铺地竹叶片中的化感物质提供了佐证。     

机械化直播油菜的优点及高产栽培技术

针对近年来油菜生产机械化程度低、用工多、成本高、效益低、面积逐年萎缩的情况,通过多年试验与总结,探索与完善了机械化直播油菜的高产栽培技术,实现了省工节本、提高机械化水平的目的,也为大面积油菜生产提供技术参考。     

调环酸钙25%悬浮剂对直播稻抗倒伏和产量性状的影响

为了研究新型植物生长调节剂调环酸钙在直播稻上的应用效果,本研究设计了调环酸钙25%悬浮剂在直播稻武运粳8号上的田间试验,用来了解其对直播稻的抗倒伏性状和产量性状的影响。试验结果表明:在直播稻武运粳8号的分蘖期使用调环酸钙25%悬浮剂12~15g/667m2均能够显著降低水稻的株高,缩短茎基部节间长度,提高水稻的抗倒伏能力,同时也能显著提高水稻产量。     

江汉平原棉花合理施氮量研究

采用田间小区试验研究了江汉平原棉花合理施氮量。结果表明,在施用90 kg/hm~2 P2O5、180 kg/hm~2K2O和3 kg/hm~2持力硼基础上,利用线性+平台模型得到棉花中高产量水平下的合理施氮量为280 kg/hm~2。在不明显减产的条件下,从提高氮肥当季利用率、尽量降低氮肥投入的角度,可以将氮肥用量降低到240kg/hm~2左右,在此施氮水平下仍然可能通过改进田间管理措施获得高产。因此,江汉平原棉花氮肥减量空间为20~60 kg/hm~2。     

云南芥菜型油菜资源品质及苗期耐旱性评价

为研究芥菜型油菜的耐旱性，对150份云南芥菜型油菜地方品种的品质及苗期不同干旱程度下植株地上 及地下部进行研究。结果表明，参试芥菜型油菜耐旱性总体表现较好，品质变异丰富，其中油酸、芥酸变异系数大 于1，依据品质性状参试品种大致聚为三类；中度及重度干旱均能显著影响油菜地上部及根系的生长，其中对根系 影响更大；各品质性状与耐旱性相关分析表明，中度干旱条件下，耐旱性与含油量及芥酸、花生烯酸2种极长链脂肪 酸呈显著正相关，与5种长链脂肪酸硬脂酸、棕榈酸、油酸、亚油酸、亚麻酸为显著负相关，而重度干旱条件下均不相 关，同一品种在不同程度干旱下其耐旱性有差别；含油量与极长链脂肪酸呈显著正相关，与长链脂肪酸及蛋白含量 呈显著负相关，极长链脂肪酸与长链脂肪酸间呈极显著负相关。共筛出8个综合耐旱性强的材料。     

香港人工林改造对林下植物自然更新 和物种多样性的早期影响

以嘉氏羊蹄甲（Bauhinia galpinii）种子为材料，开展了不同浸种催芽处理对比试验。结果表 明，相比不浸种处理，3 个浸种处理明显提高嘉氏羊蹄甲的种子发芽势和发芽率，平均苗高也明显高于不 浸种组，其中，温水(60 ℃ ) 浸种6 h 组嘉氏羊蹄甲种子发芽率最高，达74.7%，苗高生长最快。     

震动气吸针式精量播种机的性能与应用

为适应园艺农业的发展，在借鉴国外同类播种设备的基础上，开发出一种国产全智能精量播种机。本文介绍了该机的工作过程、主要性能指标及需改进的方向。