Vegetation-type effects on performance and meat quality of growing Engadine and Valaisian Black Nose sheep grazing alpine pastures

Lambs of two Swiss mountain breeds, Engadine Sheep (ES; n=55) and Valaisian Black Nose Sheep (VS; n=55), were fattened in 2010 and 2011 on one lowland and three alpine pastures. Groups of six to seven lambs per breed were allocated to pastures of a size allowing ad libitum intake on the following four vegetation types: (i) species-poor and nutrient-rich lowland (400 m a.s.l.) ryegrass–clover ley on flat terrain (‘lowland-rich’); (ii) alpine, species-rich and nutrient-rich vegetation type on a flat terrain (1950 m; ‘alpine-rich’); (iii) alpine, species-rich vegetation type, moderate in nutrients on steep terrain (2150 m; ‘alpine-moderate’); and (iv) alpine, species-rich and nutrient-poor vegetation type on steep terrain (2150 m; ‘alpine-poor’). Lambs were slaughtered after 9 weeks of grazing in a commercial slaughterhouse. Carcasses were subjected to the Swiss CH-TAX classification grid. Meat quality was analysed on the Musculus longissimus dorsi (LD) in the segment of Musculus longissimus lumborum. Forage quality varied among vegetation types as anticipated. Across all sites, ES were superior (P<0.001) to VS in dressing percentage (43.9 vs. 38.4), carcass weight (18.4 vs. 16.4 kg), meat conformation and fat cover scores, even though daily gains had been lower (105 vs. 122 g/d; P<0.05). Meat of ES contained more dry matter, protein, total ash (P<0.001) and fat (P<0.05). Their meat was darker and more intensive red, had lower cooking losses (23.0 vs. 25.1%) but was less tender (65.6 vs. 58.1 N) compared to VS (P<0.001). Vegetation types offering good quality forage (lowland-rich and alpine-rich) enhanced average daily gains, dressing percentage, meat conformation and fat cover scores (mostly P<0.05 against alpine-moderate and -poor). Similarly, a higher vegetation quality promoted a higher intramuscular fat and lower cooking losses. Meat from lowland-rich was darkest and had the lowest shear force (P<0.05). Almost no breed×site interactions occurred in growth performance as well as carcass and meat quality. It was therefore concluded that both breeds are similarly well adapted to the extensive pasture production system in alpine regions. Still, ES seem to be the more efficient one of the two sheep breeds. The results also indicate that growth performance and meat quality clearly vary between vegetation types in animals grazing alpine pastures.     

Prediction of Major Agricultural Fruits Production in Pakistan by Using an Econometric Analysis and Machine Learning Technique

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study was to use an econometric analysis to investigate the relationship between agricultural gross domestic product (AGDP) and variables such as apple, citrus, pears, grape and banana in Pakistan; data were explored from 1980 to 2015; we used time series data collected from secondary sources, including the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, Statistical Year Books and the Economic Survey of Pakistan. Data were analyzed by using the Ordinary Least Square (OLS) method and Augmented Dickey Fuller (ADF) test, and results were interpreted by using the Johansen co-integration test. The machine learning technique was used to examine and predict the future agricultural productivity in Pakistan. We found that output of banana, citrus and pears had a positive and significant influence on AGDP, whereas apples and grapes had a negative but insignificant influence on AGDP.     

财政支持对提高农民家庭经营收入的效果——基于1991—2008年统计数据的再检验

基于1991至2008年的统计数据,运用ADF检验、协整检验及误差修正模型,分析了财政支持对农民人均家庭经营收入的影响。结果表明,近些年国家财政支农绝对量的增加对提高农民人均家庭经营收入有一定的推动作用,但这种推动作用的长期或短期效果都还不令人满意,财政支农对农民收入影响还有很大的提高空间。因此,本文提出了调整国民收入分配格局,加大财政支农力度;建立财政对农业支持的长期稳定机制;鼓励和吸引社会资金投入等政策建议。     

奶牛主要植物性蛋白质饲料蛋白质和纤维物质瘤胃降解率的研究

选用3头安装永久性瘤胃瘘管的健康荷斯坦产奶牛为试验动物,选取8种北方地区奶牛常用蛋白质饲料原料为试验样品,每个样品设3个重复,用尼龙袋法分别测定各个样品的粗蛋白质(CP)、中性洗涤纤维(NDF)和酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)在瘤胃内的动态降解率和有效降解率。结果表明:(1)所选8种蛋白质饲料原料中葵花粕的粗蛋白质(CP)有效降解率均高于其他粗饲料,达到61.17%以上,酒精粕的粗蛋白质(CP)有效降解率最低,仅为19.03%。(2)在饲喂基础上,玉米蛋白粉所含的瘤胃降解蛋白质(RDP)的比例最高,达到30.99%以上,而酒精粕所含的比例最低,仅为5.52%。(3)豆粕所含的中性洗涤纤维(NDF)的有效降解率最高,达到50.74%以上,而菜籽粕的最低,仅为11.06%。(4)玉米蛋白粉所含的酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)的有效降解率最高,达到59.23%以上,而酒精粕的最低,仅为11.27%。     

东乡野生稻与普通栽培稻中性洗涤纤维·酸性洗涤纤维等含量的对比

[目的]研究不同种类、不同生育时期水稻植株细胞壁化学组分变化规律.[方法]应用Van Soest法对普通栽培稻与东乡野生稻在不同生育时期的植株中性洗涤纤维(NDF)、酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)、酸性洗涤木质素(ADL)等含量进行研究.[结果]NDF、ADF、ADL含量的平均值变化范围分别是55.63%～71.70%、31.98%～49.61%、2.68%～5.71%,其中以蜡熟期的东乡野生稻各含量最高,以抽穗期的协青早B各含量最低.在同一生育时期,不同种类水稻的NDF、ADF含量(除抽穗期的NDF)有显著性差异(P<0.05),以东野的含量最高,秀水110其次,以协青早B含量最低.在同一种类水稻中,不同生育时期的水稻NDF、ADF含量差异均达到显著性水平(P<0.05),以抽穗期的含量最低,乳熟期其次,至蜡熟期含量达到最高峰.[结论]籼亚种水稻的NDF、ADF等含量比普通野生稻和粳亚种水稻低,具有一定的秸秆饲料利用价值.籼型水稻若能尽早收割,秸秆配合青贮发酵与酶解等技术可以作为牲畜的有效日粮.     

Limited genotype- and ploidy-related variation in the nutritive value of perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.)

Abstract

Water-soluble carbohydrates and fibre fractions are important traits that influence forage utilization by the ruminant. Little is known about the quality variation among perennial ryegrass genotypes within the same maturity group or between near-isogenic diploids and tetraploids. The current study was carried out in the form of two experiments on two successive years (2006–2007) in three sites in Northern Germany. The main aim was to investigate the variation in nutritive value that could be attributed to differences in maturity among 20 intermediate heading perennial ryegrass genotypes or to differences in ploidy between near-isogenic diploids and tetraploids. Results of the first experiment revealed significant variation among the 20 tested genotypes in the investigated quality parameters that were consistent with the discovered variation in the maturity of the genotypes determined in terms of their Mean Stage by Count (MSC). In the second experiment, few but consistent significant differences were detected between near-isogenic diploids and tetraploids. The tetraploid derivatives had always significantly higher water-soluble carbohydrate content and lower neutral detergent fibre (NDF), acid detergent fibre (ADF) and acid detergent lignin (ADL) than their near-isogenic diploid parents.     

日粮ADF水平对断奶肉兔肠道健康、营养物质消化及生产性能的影响

选用100只体重相近的35日龄断奶新西兰肉兔,随机分为5组,分别饲喂不同水平酸性洗涤纤维(ADF,13%、16%、19%、22%和25%)的日粮,探讨我国生长肉兔适宜的ADF需要量。结果表明:试兔肠道健康状况受日粮ADF水平影响较大,13%和16%ADF组肉兔腹泻发生率和健康风险指数明显高于其他各处理组;平均腹泻时间随ADF水平的提高逐渐下降,其中,25%组显著低于13%组(P<0.05)。13%、16%ADF组的空肠、盲肠和结肠pH均显著低于19%、22%和25%ADF组(P<0.05)。随日粮ADF水平升高,粗纤维消化率逐渐下降(P<0.05),粗蛋白质、粗脂肪和能量消化率先增加后降低(P<0.05),分别以19%和16%ADF组最高。随日粮ADF水平升高,平均日采食量逐渐增加;日增重先增加后降低,以19%ADF组最高,为31.43 g/d。综合分析,断奶至2月龄肉兔适宜的ADF水平为19%。     

玉米的加工处理对饲料营养物质消化率的影响

选用3头装有永久瘤胃瘘管的云南黄牛,饲喂5种含不同加工处理（粉碎、粉碎蒸汽、干碾压、湿碾压、蒸汽压片）玉米的日粮,在精粗比为50：50的条件下,采用5×5不完全拉丁方设计,测定5种日粮中干物质,有机物质、蛋白质、淀粉、中性洗涤纤维、酸性洗涤纤维的消化率以研究不同处理对饲料消化率的影响。试验结果表明,在5组处理玉米日粮中,蒸汽压片玉米日粮组干物质（DM）、有机物质（OM）和粗蛋白（cP）全消化道消化率显著提高（P〈0．05）。全消化道淀粉消化率各处理玉米日粮组间存在差异,蒸汽压片与粉碎蒸汽玉米日粮组显著高于干碾压与湿碾压玉米日根组（P〈0．05）,而与粉碎玉米日粮组间没有显著差异（P〉0．05）。中性洗涤纤维（NDF）与酸性洗涤纤维（ADF）的消化率在5组处理玉米日粮间没有显著差异（P〉0．05）．     

不同比例小叶章日粮其中性洗涤纤维与酸性洗涤纤维降解率的研究

本文采用拉丁方试验设计,利用瘤胃尼龙袋技术,测定适时收获的小叶章牧草占粗饲料不同比例时,其NDF、ADF在奶牛瘤胃中的降解率。结果表明:饲喂不同处理日粮时小叶章牧草的NDF在奶牛瘤胃降解率依次为27.78%、33.14%、30.58%,ADF在奶牛瘤胃降解率依次为27.03%、30.78%、29.59%。说明当小叶章牧草占日粮粗饲料的25%、全株玉米青贮占75%时,其对奶牛的饲用价值较高。     

中国小麦期货价格行为的实证研究

我国是一个农业大国,是世界上最大的小麦生产和消费国,小麦期货是国家发展大宗农产品期货交易,发挥期货市场功能、为国民经济服务的首选品种。本文研究了我国郑州商品交易所(CZCE)小麦期货近四年的收益序列,采用GARCH和EGARCH类模型描述分析了小麦期货收益的波动集群性和杠杆效应。本文借助协整检验等分析了小麦期货价格和现货价格之间的关系。研究结果显示:我国小麦期货价格与现货价格存在长期均衡关系,但是小麦期货市场的价格发现功能很弱。造成小麦期货市场效率不高的主要原因:小麦是我国最重要的粮食作物,事关国家粮食安全大计,因此政府在制定相关政策时往往给予特殊考虑。出于此原因,小麦价格仍然经常受到直接或间接的宏观调控。