The influences of ambient temperature and crude protein levels on performance and serum biochemical parameters in broilers

This study was undertaken to investigate the effects of ambient temperature, crude protein levels and their interaction on performance and serum biochemical parameters of broiler chickens. A total of 216 Arbor Acre broiler chickens (108 males and 108 females) were used in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement and randomly reared at two temperatures (normal temperature: 23 °C; daily cyclic high temperature: 28–32 °C) and fed on three diets with different crude protein levels (153.3, 183.3 or 213.3 g/kg, with constant essential amino acids) from 28 to 42 days of age. Daily cyclic high ambient temperature decreased final body weight, average daily weight gain, average daily feed intake and serum total protein contents (p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p < 0.001, p = 0.008 respectively), but increased feed/gain, mortality, respiratory rate, rectal temperature, serum uric acid contents and serum creatine kinase activity (p = 0.008, p = 0.003, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p < 0.0001, p = 0.003 respectively), irrespective of crude protein levels. At the ambient temperature, reducing crude protein levels resulted in an increase in feed/gain (p < 0.001), but a decrease in serum total protein and uric acid contents. Only serum creatine kinase activity in broiler chickens was interacted by daily cyclic high ambient temperature and dietary crude protein levels (p = 0.003). These results indicated that daily cyclic high ambient temperature had a great effect on performance and serum biochemical parameters in broiler chickens, whereas dietary crude protein levels affected them partially.     

温度胁迫对柱花草叶绿素荧光参数和光合速率的影响

为了探讨柱花草对不同温度的适应机制,以播种后40 d的幼苗为试验材料,在光照培养箱内分别用高温(36℃)处理5 d,低温(6℃)处理2 d,并以常温(25℃)处理5 d为对照,测定光合速率及叶绿素荧光参数等相关指标在不同温度胁迫下的变化。结果表明,低温处理2 d,叶绿素荧光参数的最大光化学效率(Fv/Fm)、光系统Ⅱ电子传递量子效率(Ф_PSⅡ)、光化学猝灭系数(qP) 和非光化学猝灭系数(NPQ)、叶片光合速率、叶片ATP含量及RuBPcase和FBPase活性显著降低;而高温处理5 d对其光合效率没有产生明显的抑制作用。在温度胁迫条件下,足够的ATP供应对保证柱花草的光合能力是有必要的。     

高温对猪采食量的影响机制及应用的研究进展

采食量是保证猪生产性能充分发挥的关键因素。温度对猪的采食量影响较大。温热恒定机制是调节猪采食量的主要方式,环境温度通过改变猪与环境的热交换而影响其采食量,且影响最为明显。作者阐述了温度对猪采食量的调节机制、温度对采食量的影响等研究进展。     

Cervix–rectum temperature differential at the time of insemination is correlated with the potential for pregnancy in dairy cows

This study sought to establish whether temperature gradients between the cervix, vagina, and rectum at and 7 days post-artificial insemination (AI) were associated with the incidence of pregnancy in lactating dairy cows (Experiment I; n = 90 ovulating cows) and to evaluate temperature gradient dynamics from the time of insemination to 7 days post-AI under heat stress conditions (Experiment II; n = 16 ovulating and 4 non-ovulating cows). In Experiment I, 39 cows (43.3%) became pregnant. The odds ratio for pregnancy was 2.5 for each one-tenth of a degree drop in cervical temperature with reference to the control rectal temperature at the time of AI (P = 0.01), whereas the same decrease in the cervix–rectum temperature differential 7 days post-AI resulted in an odds ratio of 0.44 (P = 0.02). In Experiment II, 5 of the ovulating cows (31.3%) became pregnant. The mean values of the vagina–rectum, vagina–cervix, and cervix–rectum temperature differentials at AI (day 0), 8 h, 24 h, and 7 days post-AI changed significantly from day 0 to day 7 (within-subject effect; P < 0.02) in ovulating cows but not in non-ovulating cows. Temperature differentials on days 0 and 7 were similar between ovulating cows and cows of Experiment I. Overall, our findings support the notion that a temperature differential between the caudal cervical canal and rectum at AI may be an indicator of the likelihood of pregnancy. Possible prospects of confirming estrus at the herd-level are also suggested.     

Effect of environmental factors and changes in the body condition score on the onset of the breeding season in mares

Several methods have been proposed to advance the onset of the breeding season in horses. Most of them are based on the exposure to an artificial lighting period combined with hormonal treatments. Mares exposed to an artificial photoperiod are most often housed indoors where the ambient temperature is often higher than the outside temperature. Mares held in barns are also exposed to different daylight intensities than horses kept outside, depending on the architecture. In the current study, we evaluated the impact of ambient temperature, daylight intensity and changes in body condition score (BCS) on the timing of first ovulation after winter anestrus in mares exposed to an artificial photoperiod. Mares (n = 211) were housed in barns with different ambient temperature and daylight exposure but with the same artificial photoperiod exposure (except for a natural photoperiod control group). Artificial photoperiod as well as an increase in BCS over the winter significantly advanced the first spring ovulation. The BCS at the start and end of the anestrus period did not have an effect on the interval to first ovulation and neither did the modest increase in ambient temperature in the barn. However, a higher light intensity during the daytime significantly advanced the first spring ovulation. The results of this study suggest that exposure to more sunlight advances the onset of the breeding season. This effect is likely mediated through the biological effect of short wavelength blue light and its impact on melatonin suppression and biological rhythms. We suggest that greater/direct exposure to the blue light component of daylight improves the response to the artificial photoperiod. The results of the present study can further assist to optimize the conditions that lead to an efficient spring transition of breeding mares.     

低温胁迫对结缕草抗氧化酶活性和脂肪酸含量的影响

为探讨不同纬度来源结缕草（Zoysia Willd）对低温的响应,本研究以两份结缕草种质LT-40（高纬度）和LT-22（低纬度）为材料,分析了适温（30℃/25℃）、亚适温（18℃/12℃）、冷害（8℃/2℃）和冻害（2℃/-4℃）4种温度对叶片电导率（Electrolyte leakage,EL）、叶绿素和丙二醛（Malondialdehyde,MDA）含量、抗氧化酶活性、叶片脂肪酸含量及不饱和指数的影响。结果表明,随着温度的降低,EL增大,叶片中叶绿素含量降低、MDA含量升高,且在LT-22中变化更大;叶片超氧化物歧化酶、过氧化物酶、过氧化氢酶活性均随着温度的下降而逐渐升高,且在LT-40中表现更为显著;低温下叶片中棕榈酸含量呈下降趋势,而硬脂酸含量只在LT-40叶片中显著下降,棕榈油酸和油酸含量在LT-40叶片中显著低于对照,而亚麻酸含量在LT-40叶片中却显著高于对照,不饱和指数在LT-40叶片中显著高于对照。高纬度来源的结缕草在低温胁迫下具有较高的抗氧化能力和较好的质膜稳定性,因而其耐寒性更好。     

What can we learn by studying dead fish fry?

This study investigated the influence of temperature (4, 8 and 12°C) on development and survival of brown trout (Salmo trutta) fry. The three aims of this study were: (a) to propose a typology of malformations; (b) to compare malformation types between live and dead fry and (c) to establish relationships between temperature and malformation occurrences. It was found 20 single malformations and 39 combinations of two or more malformations. Comparison between dead and live fry at different development stages (hatching, emergence and first food intake) showed that malformations of yolk sac were predominant at hatching and then decreased, while malformations of skeleton or multiple malformations were higher thereafter. All dead fry, and only 14% of live fry were malformed. Dead fry were mainly characterized by yolk sac malformations and multiple malformations whatever the temperature. Live fry showed a higher rate of skeleton malformations at 12°C, and the different types of malformations were equally represented at two other temperatures (4 and 8°C). To conclude, it is suggested that some malformations (yolk sac at hatching, yolk sac associated with skeleton malformations at emergence and skeleton at first food intake or combinations of malformations at all stages)might be lethal as they were founding dead fry and that temperature influences differently the occurrence of malformations.     

区域尺度下气候因子的插值优化及其与草地NPP的相关性

利用甘肃省及周边42个气象站点的气象数据和154个草地样地地上生物量（风干质量）实测数据,在AMMRR插值方法的基础上,加入坡度、坡向两个变量,对甘肃省1996－2005年的年均温和年降水量、不同季节温度和降水量进行空间模拟,并分析了甘肃省年均温和年降水量的空间分布格局,以及草地净初级生产力(NPP)对年均温、年降水量和不同季节温度、降水量的响应。结果表明,1）相对其他插值方法,引入了坡度、坡向等微观地理因子的AMMRR插值方法,可充分体现甘肃省的年均温、年降水量受地形影响的微观变化,更符合实际情况。2）除冬季外,草地NPP与不同时期的温度之间均呈显著负相关（P<0.01）,与不同时期的降水量均呈显著正相关（P<0.01）,而且与降水量的相关性明显高于温度。     

栗蚕卵发育起点温度和有效积温的测定

栗蚕(Dictypoea japonica)是珍贵的野生泌丝昆虫资源。对解除滞育的栗蚕卵分别通过15、18、21、24℃恒温处理暖种,测定栗蚕卵的发育起点温度为(10.2±0.6)℃、孵化有效积温为(181.7±11.6)℃.d,表明一旦给予越冬后解除滞育的栗蚕卵9.6℃以上的温度条件,就可能使其开始发育,当有效积温达到170℃.d时便可孵化。该结果可作为栗蚕卵的人工越冬保护及暖种技术处理的理论依据之一。     

晚秋温度对苜蓿地上部游离脯氨酸、可溶性糖和POD活性的影响

通过对9个不同苜蓿Medicago sativa品种地上部游离脯氨酸、可溶性糖和POD活性的研究,揭示晚秋温度变化对上述指标变化的影响,结果表明：9月10日-10月10日,随着温度的降低,3种不同秋眠类型的苜蓿地上部游离脯氨酸含量都呈上升趋势,其中高度秋眠类型苜蓿的变化幅度最大;不同秋眠类型苜蓿地上部可溶性糖变化趋势有所不同,低度和高度秋眠类型苜蓿变化幅度比较剧烈,说明在贮藏类营养物质方面,低度和高度秋眠类型苜蓿更为敏感,二者变化趋势恰好相反,中度秋眠类型苜蓿介于二者之间;不同秋眠类型苜蓿地上部过氧化物酶（POD）活性都经历逐步上升的趋势,中度和高度秋眠类型苜蓿POD活性变幅相对于低度秋眠类型大,说明中度和高度秋眠类型苜蓿地上部对于气温的变化更敏感。