Evaluation of three popular diets fed to pet sugar gliders (Petaurus breviceps): Intake,digestion and nutrient balance

Three diets fed to 12 pair‐housed sugar gliders, Petaurus breviceps, were evaluated through 5‐day intake and digestion trials following 10‐day transitions. Diets 1 and 2 comprised liquid formula mixes with added vegetables and fruit, and Diet 3 comprised extruded pellets and a liquid formula. Diets eaten contained 16 —19% crude protein, 3%–15% crude fat, 10%–11% neutral detergent fibre, 4%–20% starch and 8%–49% sugar (dry basis). Calculated individual dry matter intakes (DMI) ranged from 3.9 to 5.1 g/day, representing 58.2–78.4 kJ/day. DMI was greater for Diet 2 (7.2% BW) vs. Diet 1 (5.6; p = .006) and Diet 3 (4.2% BW; p = .003). Although these differences were no longer detectable on a MBW basis, animals were shown to have gained BW (+14.2 g; p = .03) on Diet 2. In addition to nutrient composition differing widely among diets, DM digestibility (DMD) was higher in Diet 1 (91.2%) compared to Diet 2 (87.3%; p = .03), but DMD for Diet 3 (88.9%) did not differ from other diets. Gliders demonstrated ability to digest a variety of energy substrates, including simple sugars (96%–99%), fats (81%–96%) and starches (79%–98%), as well as substantial insoluble dietary fibre (58%–75%), with significant difference among diets demonstrated for some nutrients. Animals displayed selective feeding behaviours, rejecting insoluble fibre in produce and preferring the lipid‐coated exterior of pellets. The diets used appeared to be balanced with respect to energy, protein and macromineral content, but may predispose to iron excess, other mineral imbalances (especially Ca deficiency) and obesity—clinical health issues described for pet gliders. Future focus on concentrations, types and utilization of dietary fibre in natural and captive diets, vitamin D metabolism and trace mineral interactions in sugar gliders would assist diet optimization for this highly gummivorous species.     

Effects of in ovo feeding of L‐arginine on the development of digestive organs,intestinal function and post‐hatch performance of broiler embryos and hatchlings

This study was to investigate the effects of in ovo feeding (IOF) L‐arginine (Arg) solution on the development of digestive organs, the duodenal mucosa of broiler embryos and hatchlings, and the growth performance of chicks during the first week post‐hatch. A total of 720 fertilized eggs with similar weight were randomly allocated to three groups, consisting of eight replicates of 30 eggs each. Three treatments were arranged as non‐injected control, diluent‐injected (0.75% NaCl solution) group and Arg solution‐injected group containing 1% Arg, dissolved in diluent. At 17.5 days of incubation, 0.6 ml of IOF solution was injected into amniotic fluid of each egg of injected groups. Results showed IOF of Arg solution increased (p < .05) the chick embryo weight at 19 days of incubation; the body weight gain of post‐hatch broilers during 1–7 days; the weights of liver, pancreas, proventriculus and gizzard; the concentrations of duodenal ghrelin, vasoactive intestinal peptide and glucagon‐like peptide 2; and the duodenum mucosal enzyme activities of alkaline phosphatase, maltase, sucrase and inducible nitric oxide synthase of 7‐day‐old post‐hatch broilers compared with other groups. The IOF of Arg solution also increased (p < .05) the villus height (VH) and the ratio of VH to crypt depth (CD) and decreased (p < .05) the CD in duodenum of broiler embryos and post‐hatch hatchlings, except for the CD at 19 days of incubation. In conclusion, IOF of 1% Arg solution into the amnion at 17.5 days of incubation could improve the development of digestive organs, the duodenal morphology, the releasing of gastrointestinal hormones and mucosal enzyme activities of broiler embryos and hatchlings and finally the growth performance of chicks during the first week post‐hatch. Therefore, IOF of appropriate Arg solution could be an effective technology for regulating early nutrition supply and subsequent growth development in poultry industry.     

UV‐light and dietary vitamin D and their effects on ionized calcium and 25‐OH‐D plasma concentrations in captive gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua)

In this study, the effect of ultraviolet (UV) light and dietary vitamin D on calcium metabolism in permanently indoor‐housed gentoo penguins (Pygoscelis papua ) was investigated. The study consisted of three periods, each completed with blood samples to analyse plasma concentrations of 25‐OH‐D, 1,25‐(OH)₂‐D, ionized (iCa) and total calcium (tCa). During the first study period (D), animals were housed under routine conditions without UV‐light and fed a diet of different fish species, supplemented with 1,000 IU vitamin D per animal and day. The following study period (Baseline) of 28‐day duration consisted of the same diet without any vitamin D supplementation and without UV‐light. During the study period (UVB) artificial UV‐light was added for 3 weeks. The vitamin D content of fish was measured by high‐performance liquid chromatography. It varied between fish species and between facilities, ranging from no measurable content in capelin (Mallotus villosus ) to 7,340 IU vitamin D/kg original matter (OM) in herring (Clupea spp). The average dietary vitamin D content was 311 IU/kg OM at facility 1 and 6,325 IU/kg OM at facility 2, resulting in a vitamin D intake per animal and day without supplementation of 130 IU (25.5 IU/kg body weight BW) and 2,454 IU (438.2 IU/kg BW) respectively. The supplementation of vitamin D elevated significantly the plasma concentrations of 25‐OH‐D by an intraindividual difference of 15 (range ?2 to 59) nmol/L and tCa by 0.1 (0.0–0.3) mmol/L only at facility 2. The exposure to UV‐light raised the blood concentrations of tCa at facility 2 by 0.15 (0.1–0.2) mmol/L, and of iCa and tCa for females at facility 1 by 0.23 (0.13–0.41) mmol/L and 1.8 (1.1–2.5) mmol/L respectively. No significant influence of the study periods (D) and (UVB) was found for the concentrations of 1,25‐(OH)₂‐D at both facilities.     

Impact of cold-season grazing and supplementary feeding on rumen metabolic parameters and micro-organisms in the ewes of Gansu Alpine Fine Wool Sheep北大核心CSCD

An experiment was conducted to scientifically identify the appropriate feed for Gansu Alpine Fine Wool ewes in order to change the animals' breeding mode, which currently can only be mated at the age of 2.5 years due to insufficient nutritional supply. The experiment selected 48 12-month-old ewes and randomly divided them into group a (Diet 1), group b (Diet 2), group c (Diet 3), and a control group with no supplementary feeding. The feed test was run for 90 days. The rumen pH of groups a and b were very significantly higher (P<0.01) or group c significantly lower (P<0.05) than control group. The rumen ammonia nitrogen, protein nitrogen and total nitrogen of groups a, b and c were all higher than control group (P<0.01). The total volatile fatty acids of group a and b were all higher than the control group (P<0.01), group b significantly higher than group c (P<0.05). The molar ratio of acetic acid and propionic acid in group a was very significantly higher than control group (P<0.01), group b and c were significantly higher than control group (P<0.05). The molar ratio of butyric acid in group a was very significantly higher than group c (P<0.01). The ratio of acetic acid and propionic acid in group b was significantly lower than control group (P<0.05). The number of several rumen fiber-degrading bacteria and protozoa in groups a, b and c were very significantly (P<0.01) or significantly (P<0.05) higher than the control. In conclusion, this study shows that supplementary feeding can positively affect the rumen metabolic parameters and the number of several rumen microorganisms in Gansu Alpine Fine Wool ewes. In general, the effects of Diet 1 were the strongest, while Diet 2 also produced notable improvements. © 2018, Editorial Office of Acta Prataculturae Sinica. All rights reserved.     

Sex‐dependent responses of perch to changes in water clarity and temperature

Rising temperatures and decreasing water transparency of lakes have strong wide ranging effects on fish. Fish responses to various changes in the environment are usually species‐dependent, but responses may also vary within species. In general, large individuals are considered to be more sensitive to environmental variation due to higher energy demand, than smaller individuals. Similarly, large individuals require more food to maintain bodily functions and are thus more sensitive to resource and food scarcity. These size‐specific responses to environmental gradients are also sex‐dependent in species that exhibit sexual size dimorphism (SSD). We studied in enclosures with short‐term experiments how rising temperatures and decreasing water transparency regulate the feeding rates of female and male European perch (Perca fluviatilis L.). To explore experimental results, we calculated perch SSD in nine lakes with varying environmental conditions using previously collected field data. The results of the experiments revealed that the combined effect of water transparency and temperature on the feeding rate of fish is gender‐dependent: feeding rate of females decreased more than that of males. The experimental results were also supported by field data that revealed a negative relation between water transparency and the magnitude of SSD in perch. Our results suggest that rising temperatures and decreasing water transparency may potentially decrease fish size in a sex‐dependent manner. As female size is one of the main demographic traits determining the reproductive success of a fish population, changing environments may have unexpected and far‐reaching consequences on fish population dynamics.     

密闭式猪舍环境监控系统的发展研究

控制系统是密闭式猪舍环境调控的关键组成部分.该研究系统归纳分析了应用于密闭式猪舍环境调控的4种控制系统,包括基于单片机控制系统、基于PLC控制系统、基于CAN总线的分布式控制系统和基于物联网的监控系统,总结出了各自的结构特点.结合工业控制技术、计算机技术和网络通讯技术的发展,提出了密闭式猪舍环境控制系统的发展趋势,对密闭式猪舍环境控制系统的设计具有一定的参考价值.     

微生物燃料电池在环境监测中的研究进展

微生物燃料电池在环境监测领域有巨大的应用潜力.概述微生物燃料电池应用于环境监测的基本原理,对目前已有的微生物燃料电池型传感器为监测方法进行详细的介绍,包括微生物燃料电池用于易降解碳源、有毒污染物及微生物数量检测三方面的研究.最后探讨了微生物燃料电池传感器目前还未被广泛应用于实际水质监测的原因,以期为未来研究开发高性能微生物燃料电池传感器提供理论参考依据.     

基于北斗的大坝连续压实监控系统研究及应用

针对目前在大坝碾压施工过程中,传统施工质量控制方式难以满足日益提高的对高坝施工技术的需要,基于北斗卫星导航系统(BDS)和地理信息系统(GIS),对大坝碾压施工质量实时监控技术进行研究。通过安装在碾压机械上的加载设备及振动传感器采集数据,在集成软件处理并记录该碾压机械碾压施工过程,实现对碾压过程全程、全自动的实时监控。将研究结果应用于平桥水库面板堆石坝碾压施工过程中,结果表明,系统实现了对大坝碾压施工过程压实质量参数的有效监控,为大坝高质量、高强度施工提供保障,为工程管理提供便利和依据。     

1株鸭源非O1/O139群霍乱弧菌的分离鉴定与致病性分析

为探明引起贵州省某鸭场雏鸭发病的病原及其致病性和耐药情况，本研究对该鸭场送的疑似细菌感染病鸭进行剖检，取鼻黏膜、心脏和肝脏等组织器官接种于培养基中进行细菌分离鉴定，通过对分离菌进行药敏试验、动物回归试验和毒力基因检测研究其耐药情况和致病性。结果显示，分离菌在血琼脂培养基上生长16 h后呈现为边缘整齐、有光泽的乳白色菌落，伴有β-溶血现象，经革兰氏染色后在生物显微镜下呈两端钝圆、弧状、排列无规则的革兰氏阴性短小杆菌，与霍乱弧菌相符；16S rDNA基因序列同源性及系统进化树显示，该分离菌与霍乱弧菌同源性高达99.6%~99.7%聚为一支；药敏试验结果显示，分离菌对大部分药物都表现为耐药，其中对氨苄西林、克林霉素、复方新诺明、苯唑西林和克林霉素等抗菌药耐药性较强，对头孢哌酮和头孢曲松敏感；动物回归试验显示，分离菌可导致试验组雏鸭5 d内全部发病死亡，表明该分离菌对雏鸭具有较强的致病性；毒力基因PCR检测结果显示，检测的霍乱弧菌相关毒力基因hlyA、ompW和chxA为阳性，而检测的O1群rfb、O139群rfb、tcpA及ctxA基因为阴性，表明本次分离的霍乱弧菌携带有致病基因，但不属于O1和O139血清群。结果表明，该鸭场雏鸭发病的疫情病原为非O1/O139血清群霍乱弧菌，该菌致病性强且对多种抗菌药物耐药。本试验结果为贵州省鸭霍乱弧菌病的防控提供了参考依据。     

吉林省西部新开发水田遥感动态监测研究

为了响应土地整理开发项目的政策,吉林省西部地区开发了大面积的水田。为掌握新开发水田的动态变化,有必要对吉林省地区进行土地利用分类。以吉林省前郭县为例,利用2010年环境卫星数据进行不同土地利用分类方法的比较,进而对另外3景图像进行信息提取,分析4个年份新开发水田的分布及变化情况。结果表明,支持向量机法比最大似然法的耕地分类精度高约5%,其产品和用户精度分别为95%和84%。加入纹理信息没有显著提高分类精度。2009~2012年水田面积分别增加-67.7 km2,111.7 km2和265.01 km2。