Genetic Engineering Approaches to Pig Production*

Modern biotechnology promises a number of new applications in animal breeding and production. Although conventional pig breeding has achieved a high level of efficiency and productivity numerous problems have been encountered with animal health and the loss of meat quality. Selection based on phenotypic performance data of individual animals does not take into account the importance of specific genes and their relevance within a complex regulatory system. In most cases it is therefore difficult to trace back the genetic origins of clinically important disorders. The application of genetic engineering techniques in pig production will facilitate diagnosis, improvement of productivity, and animal health by allowing direct genetic manipulation. Attention must be focussed on the physical and genetic analysis of the procine genome. The isolation and characterisation of genes, DNA-markers, polymorphic DNA-fragments, and their chromosomal assignment will be important prerequisites and tools for the elucidation of genetic disorders. Especially the detection of heterozygous carriers of recessive disorders and their elimination from the breeding stock will increase selection accuracy and decrease the generation intervals. But also the rapid and simple detection of infectious diseases, which is sometimes difficult if not impossible at present, will improve animal health and welfare. Although the production of transgenic animals either by DNA-microinjection into zygotes or the use of embryonal stem cells manipulated in vitro is less straightforward than DNA-based diagnosis it will play an important role in the direct manipulation of the porcine genome and genes. Breeding programmes including the use of transgenic livestock have already been developed. There is no doubt that genetic engineering has reached a degree of practical feasibility, allowing it to play an important role in pig breeding in particular and animal production in general.     

罗平万峰山市级自然保护区保护价值评价

万峰山自然保护区地处地貌发育典型的喀斯特地区,是我国滇东喀斯特山地森林的重要组成部分,也是滇东地区重要的物种基因库。本文在对保护区内现有野生动植物资源进行分析的基础上,从典型性、稀有性、脆弱性、多样性、感染力、面积适宜性、潜在价值、科研价值等方面对保护区的保护价值进行了综合评价分析,认为保护区形成了具有代表性的喀斯特山地森林生态系统,区内的森林生态系统对保护喀斯特地区极其脆弱的生态环境及保护生物多样性具有十分重要的意义。     

河北进境种用动物衣原体血清学检测

衣原体病是一种重要的人畜共患病,给养殖业带来巨大的经济损失,同时严重威胁从业人员的身体健康。本研究对河北辖区引进的2批种鸡、2批种鸭及2批种猪进行抽样,使用间接血凝试验（IHA）检测引进种用动物的衣原体抗体。结果表明：衣原体IHA抗体阳性率为15.7%。在种鸡、种鸭和种猪中均检测到衣原体IHA抗体,阳性率分别为18.1%、4.2%和20%。这说明在引进种用动物中存在着较高的衣原体抗体阳性率,需要加强对该病的检测。     

乳酸菌对水产养殖动物抗氧化应激与免疫力影响研究进展

简述了在水产养殖动物中使用乳酸菌所具有的抗氧化应激与免疫力影响的研究现状和作用机理,并描述了其应用前景,以期为乳酸菌制剂在水产动物上的应用提供参考。     

唇形科植物提取物对单胃动物的抗氧化作用及其机制

动物在患病、应激或特殊生理条件下,机体内会大量产生自由基,自由基与机体内的脂质、ＤＮＡ等产生反应,可对动物造成氧化损伤。唇形科植物提取物中的抗氧化物主要活性成分是酚类化合物,它和抗坏血酸及类胡萝卜素能够阻止自由基引发的氧化伤害。本文阐述了唇形科植物提取物对猪、鸡体外和体内抗氧化作用的实例与抗氧化功能,分析了其抗氧化作用机制。     

COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHIC IDENTIFICATION OF DYSPLASIA AND PROGRESSION OF OSTEOARTHRITIS IN DOG ELBOWS PREVIOUSLY ASSIGNED OFA GRADES 0 AND 1

Elbow dysplasia is a heritable disease that is a common cause of lameness and progressive elbow osteoarthritis in young large breed dogs. The Orthopedic Foundation for Animals (OFA) screens elbow radiographs, and assigns grades 0–3 based on presence and severity of bony proliferation on the anconeal process. Grade 1 is assigned when less than 3 mm is present and considered positive for dysplasia. We investigated the incidence of elbow dysplasia and progression of osteoarthritis in elbows with grades 0 and 1 in 46 elbows screened at least 1 year previously, using CT as a gold standard and with the addition of CT absorptiometry. The incidence of dysplasia based on CT was 62% in grade 0, and 75% in grade 1 elbows, all of which had medial coronoid disease. Progressive osteoarthritis at recheck was consistent with elbow dysplasia. The sensitivity and specificity of the OFA grade for elbow dysplasia compared to CT findings was 75% and 38%, respectively. Increased bone mineral density of the medial coronoid process as characterized by osteoabsorptiometry warrants further investigation with respect to elbow dysplasia. Proliferation on the anconeal process without CT evidence of dysplasia or osteoarthritis was present in 20% of the elbows, and is theorized to be an anatomic variant or enthesopathy of the olecranon ligament/synovium. Results of our study suggest that the “anconeal bump” used for elbow screening by the OFA is a relatively insensitive characteristic, and support the use of CT for identifying additional characteristics of elbow dysplasia.     

海洋SOD抗疲劳作用动物实验方法初探

超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)具有防止细胞过度氧化的生理功能,从海洋生物中提取的SOD,可用于清除运动产生的自由基,起到抗疲劳作用.本文探讨了SOD抗疲劳作用的动物实验方法,为验证SOD抗疲劳效果建立技术平台.     

Potential role of N-carbamoyl glutamate in biosynthesis of arginine and its significance in production of ruminant animals

Arginine (ARG) exerts many beneficial effects on animal body and enhanced angiogenesis, lactogenesis, which finally leads to the improvement in nitrogen (N) metabolism, reproduction, lactation, immunity and growth. Unfortunately, unprotected ARG will be degraded in the rumen and its price is high, thus feeding rumen-protected ARG seems to be uneconomical. Alternatively, N-carbamoyl glutamate (NCG) is structural analogue of N-acetyl glutamate, cofactor of cabamoyl phosphate synthetase1, is lower in rumen degradation compared to ARG. Additionally, rumen epithelial and duodenal cells have potentially utilized the NCG for ureagenesis. Supplementation of NCG to high yielding dairy cows increased plasma concentration of ARG and nitric oxide, decreased the plasma ammonia N and improved lactation performance and N utilization. Supplementation of NCG enhanced pregnancy rates in rats, improved litter size and fetal survival rate, thereby improved the reproductive performance of sows. Oral NCG supplementation increases plasma ARG and somatotropin levels, and increased growth rate and muscle protein synthesis in nursing piglets. The NCG is potential a relatively cheaper source of feed additive to offer vital compensation over oral administration of ARG, resulting in improved ruminant animal health and production. In this article, we reviewed the mechanism of ARG biosynthesis by NCG and their significance in growth, reproduction, milk production and N utilization in ruminant animals.     

草业科学专业《草食动物饲养学》教学方法改革与创新

结合当前草牧业发展现状,笔者在《草食动物饲养学》课程教学中进行了一些改革和创新尝试。实践教学是人才培养的重要环节,对学生创新能力的培养具有重要作用。本文介绍了案例教学法、任务驱动法和项目教学法在《草食动物饲养学》课程中的综合应用及其效果,并结合雨课堂的应用,使得课程表现形式灵活多样,课堂气氛活跃,充分激发和提高了学生的学习兴趣和积极主动性,加强了学生的团结协作意识,促进学生积极动脑动手及实践创新能力。     

Infection, immunity and the neuroendocrine response

The Central Nervous (CNS) and Immune Systems (IS) are the two major adaptive systems which respond rapidly to numerous challenges that are able to compromise health. The defensive response strictly linking innate to acquired immunity, works continuously to limit pathogen invasion and damage. The efficiency of the innate response is crucial for survival and for an optimum priming of acquired immunity. During infection, the immune response is modulated by an integrated neuro-immune network which potentiates innate immunity, controls potential harmful effects and also addresses metabolic and nutritional modifications supporting immune function. In the last decade much knowledge has been gained on the molecular signals that orchestrate this integrated adaptive response, with focus on the systemic mediators which have a crucial role in driving and controlling an efficient protective response. These mediators are also able to signal alterations and control pathway dysfunctions which may be involved in the persistence and/or overexpression of inflammation that may lead to tissue damage and to a negative metabolic impact, causing retarded growth.This review aims to describe some important signalling pathways which drive bidirectional communication between the Immune and Nervous Systems during infection. Particular emphasis is placed on pro-inflammatory cytokines, immunomodulator hormones such as Glucocorticoids (GCs), Growth hormone (GH), Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), and Leptin, as well as nutritional factors such as Zinc (Zn).Finally, the review includes up-to-date information on this neuroimmune cross-talk in domestic animals. Data in domestic animal species are still limited, but there are several exciting areas of research, like the potential interaction pathways between mediators (i.e. cytokine-HPA regulation, IL-6-GCS-Zn, cytokines-GH/IGF-1, IL-6-GH-Leptin and thymus activity) that are or could be promising topics of future research in veterinary medicine.