Utility of on- and off-farm weather records for studies in genetics of heat tolerance

Utility of weather information from on-farm and weather stations was evaluated for the application in studies on the genetics of heat stress. Daily milk yield of 31 primiparous Holstein cows was collected at Tifton, GA, from April 28 to July 19, 1993. Weather information was recorded on-farm and was available from weather stations in Georgia. Analyses used daily average of temperature–humidity index (THI). Effects of threshold of heat stress and the rate of decline in milk after the threshold were estimated. With on-farm weather data, threshold was at THI = 22 and rate of decline was − 1.12 kg of milk per unit of THI measured 2 days before milking. At the Tifton weather station, 3 km away from the farm, the threshold was THI = 20 and the rate was the same. With data from Macon, Columbus, Atlanta, and Athens stations, the threshold was at 20, 21, 20, and 20, respectively, and the rate of decline with a 2 day lag was − 0.88, − 1.02, − 0.90, and − 0.97 kg of milk per unit of THI. Subsequent analysis included 2260 test day records from the same farm from 1993 to 2003 and weather data from Tifton station. The highest rate of decline on milk yield of − 0.22 kg per unit of THI occurred at the threshold of 20 and no lag. For data restricted to 1999–2003, the threshold increased to 22 and the rate to − 0.46 kg per THI unit. Public stations provide satisfactory information for national genetic evaluation for heat stress. Critical parts in such an evaluation are modeling of test days and accounting for changes among farms and weather stations over time.     

圆叶决明种子粉对肉鸡血脂指标的影响

研究了圆叶决明种子粉对艾维茵（AA）肉鸡血脂指标的影响，并初步探讨了其机理。选取8周龄健康AA鸡240羽，采用单因子试验设计，随机分为2组，每组3次重复，每次重复40羽，对照组饲喂基础日粮，试验组日粮为基础日粮添加3g／羽圆叶决明种子粉（120目），试验期30天。观测圆叶决明种子粉对AA鸡生产性能、脂肪沉积指标、血脂指标、转氨酶活性的影响。结果表明：①在肉鸡生产性能方面，对照组和试验组没有显著差异（P〉0．05）；②圆叶决明种子粉具有显著降低脂肪沉积的作用；③圆叶决明种子粉能明显降低肉鸡血清总胆固醇（TCHO）、甘油三酯（TG）、低密度酯蛋白含量（LDL—C）（P〈0．05），显著升高血清高密度酯蛋白（HDL—C）含量（P〈0．05）；④通过对肉鸡谷丙转氨酶（AST）、谷草转氨酶（ALT）活性的检测，表明饲喂圆叶决明种子粉对肉鸡肝脏没有损伤作用。     

复合天然添加剂对鹌鹑蛋品质影响的研究

用300只10月龄产蛋鹌鹑随机分成3组,对照组A饲喂全价基础日粮,试验组B添加0.5%的含有红椒粉和油菜花粉的天然添加剂,试验组C添加0.5%的含有红椒粉和甜茶粉的天然添加剂,试验期15天。测定第0、5、10、15天的蛋重、蛋形指数、蛋壳厚度、蛋黄指数及蛋黄色泽度(RCF)。结果表明:B和C蛋黄色泽度明显高于A(P<0.01),同时B高于C(P<0.05);B和C蛋黄指数显著高于A(P<0.05,P<0.01),且第15天时B显著高于C(P<0.05);蛋重、蛋形指数和蛋壳厚度组间差异不显著(P>0.05)。试验说明:该两种复合天然添加剂能够明显提高鹌鹑蛋黄色泽度和蛋黄指数。     

蟛蜞菊对肉兔的饲用价值

选择24只体重相近的40日龄肉兔,随机分成2组,每组12只,基础日粮相同,青饲料分别饲喂桂牧1号象草与蟛蜞菊,两组在平均日增重、平均日耗基础料量、平均日耗青料量间均无显著差异(P>0.05),表明肉兔采食蟛蜞菊可正常生长发育。同时,两组肉兔的血液指标和内脏重量无显著差异,表明蟛蜞菊与桂牧1号的饲用价值相似,可用于肉兔生产。     

Prediction of response to marker-assisted and genomic selection using selection index theory

Selection index methods can be used for deterministic assessment of the potential benefit of including marker information in genetic improvement programmes using marker-assisted selection (MAS). By specifying estimates of breeding values derived from marker information (M-EBV) as a correlated trait with heritability equal to 1, it was demonstrated that marker information can be incorporated in standard software for selection index predictions of response and rates of inbreeding, which requires specifying phenotypic traits and their genetic parameters. Path coefficient methods were used to derive genetic and phenotypic correlations between M-EBV and the phenotypic data. Methods were extended to multi-trait selection and to the case when M-EBV are based on high-density marker genotype data, as in genomic selection. Methods were applied to several example scenarios, which confirmed previous results that MAS substantially increases response to selection but also demonstrated that MAS can result in substantial reductions in the rates of inbreeding. Although further validation by stochastic simulation is required, the developed methodology provides an easy means of deterministically evaluating the potential benefits of MAS and to optimize selection strategies with availability of marker data.     

白萨福克羊和特克塞尔羊生理生化常值的测定

本试验对白萨福克羊(White Suffolk)和特克塞尔羊(Texel)的6项生理指标、10项生化指标按冬春季、夏季和秋季三个不同阶段进行了全面测定。白萨福克羊和特克塞尔羊的生理指标随季节变化而变化。白萨福克公、母羊夏季的体温和呼吸极显著高于冬春季、秋季的体温和呼吸,特克塞尔公、母羊夏季的体温和呼吸极显著高于冬春季的体温和呼吸(P<0.01);两个品种公、母羊各种类型的白细胞变化均在正常范围内。两个品种羊在秋季和冬春季葡萄糖含量都较高,略高于藏羊含量,是对寒冷适应性的表现;血液钙水平较高,表明对较高海拔的代谢适应性。     

DOPPLER ULTRASONOGRAPHIC ESTIMATION OF RENAL AND OCULAR RESISTIVE AND PULSATILITY INDICES IN NORMAL DOGS AND CATS

Resistive index (RI) and pulsatility index (PI) are indirect measurements of blood flow resistance that may be used to evaluate vascular changes in renal and ophthalmologic diseases. To our knowledge, no reports are available describing values for renal and ocular PI index in the unsedated dog and ocular RI and PI indices in the unsedated cat. The purpose of this study was to measure normal values for both intrarenal and ocular RI and PI within the same subject in unsedated clinically normal dogs and cats. Twenty-seven dogs and 10 cats were considered healthy by means of physical examination, CBC, biochemical profile, urinalysis, and ultrasonography. Systolic blood pressure was measured by Doppler ultrasonography. Intrarenal and ocular arteries were scanned by pulsed Doppler ultrasonography to calculate RI and PI. No significant differences were noted between the values obtained for the right vs. the left kidney and eye. The upper values of these indices were calculated as mean+2 standard deviations resulting in 0.72 and 1.52 for dog renal RI and PI; 0.7 and 1.29 for cat renal RI and PI; 0.76 and 1.68 for dog ocular RI and PI; and 0.72 and 1.02 for cat ocular RI and PI.     

道塞特、萨福克与阿勒泰羊5月龄杂交公羔肉品质分析

选取5月龄萨福克×阿勒泰(SAF1、SAF2)、道塞特×阿勒泰(DAF1、DAF2)杂交一、二代羔羊与同龄阿勒泰羊(ALT)各3只,对肉品质进行分析。结果表明:5月龄杂交羔羊肉品质得到明显改善,特别是蛋白质、脂肪和氨基酸含量变化尤为明显,且杂交二代优于杂交一代,杂交组合SA优于DA。     

二氢杨梅素对肉仔鸡生长性能、免疫器官指数及血液生化指标的影响

1日龄AA肉公雏300只,随机分为5个组,每组6个重复,每个重复10只鸡。试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ、Ⅳ、Ⅴ组在基础日粮中分别添加0%、0.025%、0.05%、0.1%和0.25%的二氢杨梅素(DMY),研究DMY对肉仔鸡生长性能、免疫器官指数及血液常规理化指标等影响。结果表明:1)日粮中添加不同剂量的DMY对肉仔鸡日增重有提高的趋势,0.05%的DMY显著提高肉仔鸡饲料转化率(P<0.01);试验期间,各组试验鸡生长发育正常,各组织器官未见异常。2)0.05%DMY显著提高21d肉仔鸡法氏囊指数(P<0.05);3)0.25%DMY组显著降低21d肉仔鸡血清总蛋白、白蛋白含量,对球蛋白无显著影响;4)0.025%、0.05%DMY显著降低21d肉鸡血清谷丙转氨酶(GPT)活性(P<0.05,P<0.01),0.025%～0.1%剂量的DMY能显著降低42d肉鸡血清GOT活性(P<0.05);5)各剂量的DMY对21、42d肉鸡血清谷草转氨酶(GOT)无显著影响。     

中药甜菜碱复方对高温环境下三黄鸡某些血液生化指标的影响

试验选取15日龄的三黄鸡288只,随机分为8组。高温对照组仅喂基础日粮,中药Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组分别在基础日粮中添加0.4%、0.8%、1.2%的中药,中药-甜菜碱Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组分别在基础日粮中添加0.4%中药-0.2%甜菜碱、0.8%中药-0.2%甜菜碱、1.2%中药-0.2%甜菜碱,甜菜碱组在基础日粮中添加0.2%甜菜碱,探讨中药甜菜碱复方对高温环境下三黄鸡血液生化指标的影响。结果:①42日龄,在日粮中添加1.2%中药-0.2%甜菜碱试验组0.8%中药-0.2%甜菜碱试验组母鸡血清血糖含量分别比高温对照组高26.5%(P<0.05)、19.4%(P<0.05);在日粮中添加1.2%中药-0.2%甜菜碱试验组公鸡血清血糖含量比高温对照组高24.3%(P<0.05);②42日龄,在日粮中添加1.2%中药-0.2%甜菜碱试验组母鸡血清白蛋白含量比高温对照组高34.5%(P<0.05);在日粮中添加1.2%中药-0.2%甜菜碱试验组公鸡血清白蛋白含量比高温对照组高18.8%(P<0.05)。试验结果表明,中药甜菜碱复方能提高高温环境下三黄鸡血清总蛋白、白蛋白、血糖的含量,以在日粮中添加1.2%中药-0.2%甜菜碱复方效果最明显。