Genetic background of claw disorders in the course of lactation and their relationships with type traits

Random regression threshold animal models were applied to binary longitudinal claw disorder data for studying genetic parameters of all claw disorders (ACD), as well as to claw disorders divided into different categories: non‐purulent claw disorders (NPCD), purulent claw disorders (PCD), dermatitis digitalis (DD), sole ulcer (SU), phlegmona (PH), laminitis (LAM) and interdigital hyperplasia (IH) in the course of lactation. Claw disorder data were obtained from 26 651 Holstein cows kept in 15 large‐scale contract herds in the region of Thuringia over a period of 5 years from 2007 to 2012. If a cow had one or more entries of the same disorder, for example, sole ulcer, within an interval of 30 days, she was scored with a ‘1’, and otherwise, she received a score of ‘0’ for healthy. Heritabilities for the same disorder were relatively stable between DIM 50 and DIM 300, but they tended to increase in early and late lactation. Highest heritabilities in the range from 0.20 to 0.34 were estimated for IH, and lowest heritabilities were realized for LAM (~ 0.05). Genetic correlations for same traits between different DIMs were high for adjacent test days, but close to zero for distant test days. The relationship between the sire EBVs for claw disorders and official sire EBVs for the type traits ‘foot angle’ was slightly antagonistic with correlation coefficients in the range from 0.05 (DD) to 0.33 (PH). Correlations between lactation EBVs for hock quality, rear leg rear view and the feet and leg index with EBVs for claw disorders were slightly favourable and ranged between ?0.01 (rear leg rear view correlated with SU) and ?0.43 (hock quality correlated with PH). Regarding daily EBVs for claw disorders, the strongest correlation coefficient was of value ?0.46 (LAM early in lactation correlated with the feet and leg index). Genetic parameters from the random regression model were verified by applying a single‐trait repeatability model. Correlation coefficients between lactation EBVs from the random regression model and lactation EBVs from the repeatability model for the same claw disorder were close to 1. Correlations were lower between EBVs from single test days and lactation EBVs from the repeatability models, with a minimal value of 0.58 for PCD measured at day 20.     

Effect of diet on the metabolic profile of ostriches (Struthio camelus var. domesticus)

In order to study the metabolic profile of ostriches in relation to diet, 40 animals of both sexes were divided equally into two groups and fed two diets ad libitum consisting, on a dry matter basis, of the same commercial concentrate (60%) for the two groups and of corn silage (group A) or alfalfa hay (group B). In the morning, after about 12 h of fasting, blood was collected from the wing vein. The following haematological parameters were determined with an automatic system (Ektachem 250 analyser, Kodak): glucose, cholesterol, triglycerides, lactate (LAC), total protein (TP), uric acid, total bilirubin (Tbil), creatinine (CREA), calcium (Ca), magnesium (Mg), phosphorus (P), sodium (Na), potassium (K), chloride (Cl⁻), iron (Fe), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), alkaline phosphatase (AP), cholinesterase (ChE), α-amylase (Amyl), lipase (LIP) and γ-glutamyltrasferase (GGT). Diet significantly affected some parameters of the metabolic profile. Indeed, owing to the presence of alfalfa hay in the diet, group B showed, in comparison to group A, significantly higher values of uric acid (222.5 vs 387.5 mmol/L, p < 0.01), GGT (8.50 vs 11.3 U/L, p < 0.05), Tbil (8.50 vs 10.7 mmol/L, p < 0.05), Ca (2.41 vs 2.83 μmol/L, p < 0.01), Mg (1.01 vs 1.18 μmol/L, p < 0.05) and K (2.71 vs 3.16 μmol/L, p < 0.01). The levels of creatinine (27.3 vs 32.6 mmol/L, p < 0.05) and AST (344.9 vs 461.4 U/l, p < 0.01) were also higher for group B.     

代谢组学技术在奶牛生产性疾病研究中的应用

代谢产物是基因转录翻译为蛋白质后生命活动的最终执行者,因此,机体代谢产物的变化可以直接反映出生物体内各种生命活动的变化。运用代谢组学技术可以清晰并直观地对机体代谢物的变化进行检测。奶牛生产性疾病一直是畜牧兽医行业关注的重点疾病之一。奶牛出现生产性疾病会直接或间接导致奶牛生产性能下降,对养殖业造成危害。代谢组学技术的应用可以更加全面地了解疾病的发生发展过程,准确检测出参与疾病发生的物质和代谢通路,使兽医更加有针对性地开展疾病防控和治疗。综述了代谢组学技术在奶牛生产性疾病研究中的应用,以期为今后奶牛生产性疾病的防控和治疗提供思路。     

代谢激素及营养对牛卵泡发育的影响

营养与牛繁殖的关系十分复杂，它影响到繁殖过程的诸多方面。该文仅局限于讨论其对卵泡发育的影响，即代谢激素(GH，IGF—1，INS)及短期增加日粮摄入对青年母牛卵泡发育的影响。并讨论营养与代谢激素，卵泡发育的相互关系及生产中的一些实际问题，如高产奶牛繁殖率下降，超排反应不稳定等问题。     

早期营养限制对肉鸡生长性能和胴体品质的影响

本文研究了早期长时间(1~21日龄)低强度(每日4 h)营养限制对肉鸡生长性能和胴体品质的影响。选择健康、体重相近1日龄安康红肉用公母混合雏鸡600羽,随机分成2个组(对照组与试验组),每个组300羽(含3个重复,每个重复100羽)。饲养试验分3个阶段:1~21、22~42和43~63日龄。试验组1~21日龄每日10:00~14:00实施限饲(不给料),22~63日龄恢复自由采食,对照组全期自由采食。所有试验鸡在自由饮水和24 h光照条件下进行为期63 d的饲养试验。限饲结束(21日龄)和饲养试验结束(63日龄)后,每个组的每个重复选择母鸡8羽(共96羽)进行屠宰试验与取样分析。结果表明,肉鸡早期低强度(12.59%限饲量)长时间(1~21日龄)的连续限饲方案显著降低了1~21日龄肉鸡生长速度;22~63日龄恢复自由采食后获得了明显的补偿生长,饲料转化率各阶段差异均不明显(P>0.05)。早期限饲明显改变了21、63日龄肉鸡的胴体组成和肉质,显著提高上市肉鸡(63日龄)腿肌重而不影响胸肌重,提高胸肌蛋白含量而降低脂肪含量,同时明显增加了腹脂沉积量。上述结果提示,早期营养限制对肉鸡具有代谢程序化和营养重分配的作用,能显著改变肉鸡的胴体品质。     

Equine paranasal sinus disease: a long-term study of 200 cases (1997-2009): treatments and long-term results of treatments

Reasons for performing study: There is limited objective information available on the treatment and the long‐term response to treatment of the different types of equine sinus disease. Objectives: To document the treatments and long‐term response to these treatments in 200 cases of equine sinus disease (1997–2009). Methods: The treatments of horses affected with subacute primary sinusitis (n = 52); chronic primary sinusitis (n = 37); dental sinusitis (n = 40); sinus cyst (n = 26); traumatic (n = 13); dental‐related oromaxillary fistula (n = 8); sinus neoplasia (n = 10); mycotic sinus disease (n = 7); and intrasinus progressive ethmoid haematoma (n = 7) and the long‐term response to these treatments were retrospectively reviewed. Results: Treatments evolved throughout the study and latterly were as conservative as possible, including sinoscopic lavage and standing sinusotomy, with a maxillary sinusotomy approach preferred for the mainly mature horses treated in this study. Removal of intrasinus inspissated pus, including transendoscopically (by sinusotomy and via existing sinonasal fistulae), was the main treatment for chronic primary sinusitis and sinonasal fistulation was seldom performed latterly. Attempted oral extraction of infected cheek teeth, even if unsuccessful, facilitated subsequent dental repulsion, resulting in few post operative problems. Sinus cyst removal carried an excellent prognosis. Except for cases of sinus neoplasia (only 22% cured), an excellent long‐term response to treatment (91% fully cured, 7% partially cured) was obtained for all other types of sinus disease following a median of one treatment. Conclusions: More conservative treatments, including removal of intrasinus inspissated pus by sinoscopy, pre‐existing sinonasal fistula or sinusotomy, are effective for chronic primary sinus disease. Standing sinusotomy, mainly using a small maxillary site, was suitable for most cases of sinus disease in mature horses.     

Contrast-enhanced fluid-attenuated inversion recovery vs. contrast-enhanced spin echo T1-weighted brain imaging

In humans, contrast-enhanced fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging plays an important role in detecting brain disease. The aim of this study was to define the clinical utility of contrast-enhanced FLAIR imaging by comparing the results with those with contrast-enhanced spin echo T1-weighted images (SE T1WI) in animals with different brain disorders. Forty-one dogs and five cats with a clinical suspicion of brain disease and 30 normal animals (25 dogs and five cats) were evaluated using a 0.2 T permanent magnet. Before contrast medium injection, spin echo T1-weighted, SE T1WI, and FLAIR sequences were acquired in three planes. SE T1WI and FLAIR images were also acquired after gadolinium injection. Sensitivity in detecting the number, location, margin, and enhancement pattern and rate were evaluated. No lesions were found in a normal animal. In affected animals, 48 lesions in 34 patients were detected in contrast-enhanced SE T1WI whereas 81 lesions in 44 patients were detected in contrast-enhanced FLAIR images. There was no difference in the characteristics of the margins or enhancement pattern of the detected lesions. The objective enhancement rate, the mean value between lesion-to-white matter ratio and lesion-to-gray matter ratio, although representing an overlap of T1 and T2 effects and not pure contrast medium shortening of T1 relaxation, was better in contrast-enhanced FLAIR images. These results suggest a superiority of contrast-enhanced FLAIR images as compared with contrast-enhanced SE T1WI in detecting enhancing brain lesions.     

Clinical course of digital dermatitis lesions in an endemically infected herd without preventive herd strategies

Lactating Holstein-Friesian dairy cows in four separately housed groups in a herd with endemic digital dermatitis (DD) were monitored weekly for 4 weeks in December 2004 for the presence of and transition between five stages (M0-M4) of DD. Cows were also monitored for the presence of heel horn erosion (HHE) and interdigital hyperplasia. Prior to the study, two groups had been housed indoors on a high or low energy ration, one group had been grazed and one was a dry cow group. All cows received the same ration during the period of investigation. 'Active infection' was defined as transition from M0, M1, M3 or M4 to M2 and 'resolving M2 lesions' were defined as transition from M2 to another stage. M2 lesions were diagnosed on 106 occasions in the hind claws of 49 (36%) of 138 dairy cows; both hind claws were affected in nine cases (18%). M2 lesions were more often painful on palpation than other stages; 94% of M2 lesions were located plantar-medially near the interdigital cleft and 71% had a diameter of 2-4 cm. More M1 lesions than other stages were found within the interdigital space. When interdigital hyperplasia was present, claws were always concurrently affected by DD. The baseline incidence for 'active infection' was 6% per week, increasing to 11% when HHE was present, 14% when cows were previously housed indoors and fed a high energy ration and 16% when cows were 60-120 days in lactation. Topical treatment with chlortetracycline resulted in resolution from M2 of 79% per week. There were no significant effects of group, stage of lactation, parity or HHE on resolution of M2 lesions.     

纤维素酶对大黍青贮饲料品质的影响

采用首次刈割鲜大黍 ,经预干处理、用稻草调水分后 ,分别设对照和添加纤维素酶的 4个组 ,青贮 6 0d ,评定其营养价值。结果表明 :1.常规成分 :青贮饲料的pH ,添加纤维素酶情况下 ,预干处理显著低于添加稻草组 ,粗蛋白质为预干各组显著高于添加稻草组 ,粗纤维含量添加稻草组低于预干组 ,挥发性碱基氮含量由于纤维素酶的添加而显著降低 ;2 .细胞成分 :青贮饲料的细胞内容物含量由于稻草的添加而显著减少 ,添加纤维素酶显著提高细胞内容物含量 ,中性洗涤纤维随着稻草和纤维素酶的添加而显著降低 ,酸性洗涤纤维含量随着纤维素酶的添加而显著降低。 3 .短链脂肪酸 :青贮饲料中乳酸含量由于纤维素酶的添加而显著增加、稻草的添加而显著降低 ,乙酸含量在预干大黍情况下 ,由于纤维素酶添加而显著增加 ,而添加稻草的各组则相反 ,丙酸各组含量很低 ,预干组添加纤维素酶显著降低其含量 ,丁酸在添加稻草各组中 ,添加纤维素酶组显著增加 ,而预干各组则相反。 4.糖含量 :青贮饲料中添加纤维素酶增加了五、六碳单糖的含量 ,其中以预干大黍情况下增加幅度明显。