Suppression of behavioural and physiological oestrus in the mare by vaccination against GnRH

OBJECTIVE: To examine the immunogenicity of an equine immunocontraceptive vaccine and its efficacy in controlling hormone-related behaviour. DESIGN: A total of 24 mares at two sites in Australia were vaccinated with an immunocontraceptive vaccine comprising gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) conjugated to a carrier protein in immunostimulating complex as an adjuvant. Twelve animals at each site received a placebo of adjuvant alone and served as controls for seasonal oestrus, hormonal and behaviour patterns. Animals were observed for injection site reactions, ovarian and follicular activity, and serum levels of antibody, 17beta-oestradiol and progesterone in the weeks following vaccination. Mares were also examined for oestrous behaviour by teasing with a stallion. RESULTS: All mares responded to vaccination. Two weeks following the second vaccination there was a peak in antibody response to GnRH that declined gradually over the following weeks. Commensurate with the elevated anti-GnRH antibody there was a marked effect on ovarian activity with a reduction in 17beta-oestradiol and progesterone levels in the 24 vaccinated mares. There was also a reduction of oestrus-related behaviour as determined by a teaser stallion. This effect lasted a minimum of 3 months and correlated with the initial level of antibody response. CONCLUSION: Following a conventional two-dose immunisation regime this commercially available equine immunocontraceptive vaccine was effective at inhibiting oestrous behaviour for at least 3 months. This vaccine has a high level of safety since there were no significant local reactions nor were there any adverse systemic responses to vaccination.     

Seasonal and photoperiodic regulation of secretion of hormones associated with reproduction in Magang goose ganders

This study examined the reproductive endocrine profile under natural and artificial photoperiods in Magang goose ganders. Group 1 ganders (n=8) served as non-treated controls and were exposed to natural photoperiod throughout the experiment from 13th January to 17th December 2004. Group 2 ganders (n=8) were exposed to 18 h long daily photoperiod for 60 days from 13 January till 15 March 2004 and again to 16 h photoperiod for 75 days till 10th October 2004, and the 11h short photoperiod in the remainder periods of the experiment. In control ganders, plasma LH concentrations were high in normal breeding seasons (August-March) and decreased to low levels in non-breeding season from April to July. Testosterone concentrations changed similarly to that of LH throughout the seasons. Seasonal pattern of PRL concentrations was opposite to those of LH and testosterone, with low values in breeding season and high values in non-breeding season. In artificial photoperiod treated ganders, increasing photoperiod increased PRL and decreased LH and testosterone concentrations, while decreasing photoperiod reversed these changes. There were no seasonal or photoperiod caused changes in plasma T3 concentrations in both control ganders and artificial photoperiod treated ganders. These results demonstrated that in Magang goose ganders that long photoperiod stimulates PRL secretion and decreases LH secretion, which terminates reproductive season in spring and early summer, and short photoperiod stimulates LH secretion and inhibits PRL secretion rendering ganders enter into reproductive season.     

Optimising cutting method and timing for the control of Abutilon theophrasti seed production

Abutilon theophrasti (velvetleaf) is a widespread and problematic annual weed. Greenhouse and field experiments were conducted to investigate the effects of different cutting methods on the viability of A. theophrasti seeds. Three cutting methods were assessed: (1) Entire plant cut and dried (EPD)—plants were cut at soil level and dried with capsules attached on the greenhouse bench or soil surface for 4 weeks; (2) capsules detached and dried (CD)—capsules were removed from plants and dried for 4 weeks; and (3) capsules detached and tested while fresh (CF)—a control treatment. Before drying, the developmental stage (stage one, dark green; stage two, light green; stage three, yellowish-green; or stage four, black with the slightly open capsule) and age (days after flowering, DAF) of each capsule was recorded. Seed viability was measured immediately in the CF treatment and after the 4-week drying period in the EPD and CD treatments. No seeds in the EPD and CD treatments were viable when harvested at the first developmental stage (1–8 DAF) in either experiment, but 100% of seeds in the CF treatment in the field were viable when harvested at 8 DAF. In both greenhouse and field experiments, seeds attained full viability at earlier harvest ages in CF than in EPD or CD treatments, suggesting that seeds might become viable relatively early in development but lose viability if allowed to dry. These findings could be applied to optimise late-season mechanical control of A. theophrasti.     

两个地理种群蠋蝽的生物学特性差异比较

蠋蝽Arma chinensis Fallou是一种优良的捕食性天敌昆虫, 在多种农林害虫的生物防治中发挥着重要作用?为明确不同地理来源的蠋蝽种群的生物学特征, 指导蠋蝽的扩繁及在不同地区的释放应用, 本研究测定并比较了河北廊坊和贵州六盘水两个地区蠋蝽种群的表观形态?发育历期?成虫寿命和繁殖能力等生物学指标?结果表明, 贵州六盘水蠋蝽种群的体型显著大于河北廊坊种群; 河北廊坊蠋蝽种群的若虫期虽长于贵州六盘水种群, 但二者无显著差异; 河北廊坊种群配对饲养的雄虫和单雌饲养的雌虫其寿命显著长于贵州六盘水种群, 配对饲养的雌虫寿命两种群间无显著差异; 两个种群蠋蝽雌虫均在羽化后5~8 d进入产卵高峰期, 贵州六盘水种群的产卵前期较短, 且配对饲养条件下其单雌产卵量显著高于河北廊坊种群?     

阶段性极端高温对七星瓢虫生长发育和繁殖的影响

为明确极端高温天气对七星瓢虫Coccinella septempunctata生长发育和繁殖的影响,通过模拟田间高温发生情况,设置6h极端高温(36℃和39℃)与不同持续时间(1d和3d)对七星瓢虫卵和成虫进行胁迫,以25℃恒温饲养处理为对照,观察统计其发育历期、存活率、繁殖力及子代孵化率。结果表明,在相同高温胁迫模式下,七星瓢虫成虫的耐热性要明显高于卵,如在39℃处理1d后,卵和成虫的存活率分别为52.09%和93.94%;处理温度越高,高温持续时间越长,七星瓢虫卵的存活率越低,36℃处理1、3d和39℃处理1、3d后卵的存活率依次为71.31%、62.87%、52.09%和24.98%。七星瓢虫卵经39℃处理3d后,其孵化1龄幼虫的发育历期为2.77d,显著长于对照组(2.11d),其余龄期幼虫的发育历期、整个幼虫期和蛹期与对照组均无显著差异,说明七星瓢虫发育前期经历极端高温可能会导致其发育后期生长加速,出现生长补偿现象。卵期受极端高温的影响要显著大于成虫期,卵和成虫在39℃处理1d后的单雌产卵量分别为42.67粒和139.79粒;所有高温处理组的子代卵孵化率均显著低于对照组(85.42%),介于0~64.13%之间。另外,各高温处理组的种群趋势指数在5.26~56.02之间,均低于对照组(78.76)。表明夏季极端高温天气频发可能导致七星瓢虫种群数量减少,不建议此时期在田间释放七星瓢虫卵进行害虫防控。     

基于MVC设计模式的奶牛繁殖智能提醒系统

在奶牛场管理中,根据奶牛繁殖过程的生命周期性,从其生物特性和生理特点等各个管理角度出发,在.NET环境下,采用MVC设计模式来构造奶牛繁殖智能提醒系统,并应用到奶牛场,从而为奶牛生产者提供技术支持,以实现牛场生产过程的数字化和智能化.     

A comparison of the incidence of tuberculosis in forty-six town supply herds in the manawatu district in 1950–51 and 1951–52

Extract

The forty-six herds concerned were tuberculintested in 1950–51 under the provisions of the appropriate section of the Stock Amendment Act, 1945. The same herds were retested in the season 1951–52 at an interval of approximately one year from the date of the first test.     

Pathogenicity of the root-knot nematode Meloidogyne javanica on potato

Host–parasite relationships and pathogenicity of Meloidogyne javanica on potatoes (newly recorded from Malta) were studied under glasshouse and natural conditions. Potato cvs Cara and Spunta showed a typical susceptible reaction to M. javanica under natural and artificial infections, respectively. In potato tubers, M. javanica induced feeding sites that consisted of three to four hypertrophied giant cells per adult female. Infection of feeder roots by the nematode resulted in mature large galls which usually contained at least one mature female and egg mass. In both tubers and roots, feeding sites were characterized by giant cells containing granular cytoplasm and many hypertrophied nuclei. Cytoplasm in giant cells was aggregated alongside the thickened cell walls. Stelar tissues within galls appeared disorganized. The relationship between initial nematode population density ( P ) [0–64 eggs + second-stage juveniles (J2s) per cm³ soil] and growth of cv. Spunta potato seedlings was tested under glasshouse conditions. A Seinhorst model [ y = m  + (1 −  m ) z ^{( P − T )}] was fitted to fresh shoot weight and shoot height data of nematode-inoculated and control plants. Tolerance limits ( T ) for fresh shoot weight and shoot height of cv. Spunta plants infected with M. javanica were 0·50 and 0·64 eggs + J2s per cm³ soil, respectively. The m parameter in that model (i.e. the minimum possible y -values) for fresh shoot weight and shoot height were 0·60 and 0·20, respectively, at P  = 64 eggs + J2s per cm³ soil. Root galling was proportional to the initial nematode population density. Maximum nematode reproduction rate was 51·2 at a moderate initial population density ( P  = 4 eggs + J2s per cm³ soil).