Feeding value of pastures for horses

The feeding value of fresh pasture grazed in situ is determined by animal performance or productivity and could be relatively easily established for growing and lactating horses. Despite this, there is a lack of published information on the relative feeding value of different pastures and forages grazed by horses in New Zealand and the world. In addition, for adult breeding or non-breeding and young or adult sport or performance horses, the definition of feeding value and its determination remain problematic.

Limited information suggests that the feeding value of perennial ryegrass-based pasture in New Zealand for young growing horses is high, and growth rates for Thoroughbred horses fed solely on pasture in New Zealand are similar to those reported from the Northern Hemisphere where grain-based supplements are fed in addition to pasture or other forages. Attempts to assess the ability of fresh pastures to meet the nutrient requirements of horses are hampered by problems associated with determination of feed intake by grazing horses and lack of knowledge of the digestibility and utilisation of digested nutrients, including the relative bio availability of macro- and micro-minerals in pasture. A further challenge for future research is to determine the effect of herbage allowance and grazing behaviour, including pasture species preferences, on voluntary feed intake by grazing horses.

Grazing pasture has benefits for equine health and well-being including reduced risk of some nutrition-related disorders and reduced prevalence of stereotypic behaviour. Pastured horses have greater freedom for expression of natural behaviours including social interaction and exercise. However, grazing pasture is also associated with animal health problems, particularly parasitism and diseases related to pasture-associated toxins.     

Glucose and insulin responses to different dietary energy sources in Thoroughbred broodmares grazing cool season pasture

The objectives of this study were to characterize the glycemic and insulinemic responses of Thoroughbred broodmares fed late spring pasture only or a mixture of pasture and a high starch or low starch feed and to test hypotheses about differences in the glycemic and insulinemic effects of these dietary regimes. A group of 15 mares were divided into three treatment groups; pasture and high starch feed (PHS), pasture and low starch feed (PLS), and pasture only (PO) and maintained in these groups for 4.5 months prior to this study. These groups were maintained on a single pasture that was temporarily divided into three sections. The study protocol was conducted over two days. On day 1 the mares were fed their respective treatments and on day 2 all mares were allowed access to pasture only. On both days plasma glucose and insulin were measured in samples taken over a 7.5 h period. Baseline measurements for glucose and insulin were not different between any of the treatment groups on either day (P > 0.05). The baseline insulin concentrations of these pasture-kept mares (26.7 ± 8.3 mIU/L) were high compared to those reported from stall-kept horses. Plasma glucose and insulin on day 1 were influenced by treatment group, sample time, and an interaction between treatment and time (P < 0.05). On day 2 there was no significant influence of treatment group (P > 0.05). Glucose and insulin rose to higher (P < 0.01) peak concentrations in the PHS group on day 1 when compared to the PLS and PO groups, with no difference (P > 0.05) detected between the PLS and PO groups. These results are reflected in greater areas under the concentration-time curves for glucose and insulin in the PHS group on day 1 (P < 0.05). On day 2 there were no differences in any of the glucose and insulin characteristics for any of the treatment groups (P > 0.05). These results indicate a clear difference in the glycemic and insulinemic effect of the PHS feed compared to the PLS and PO groups. Of further interest are the glucose and insulin characteristics of these pasture-kept mares that indicate a low insulin sensitivity and high insulin secretory response. This study provides further information on factors influencing glycemic and insulinemic responses in horses.     

仔猪胰腺细胞体外培养体系的建立

为了研究体外培养仔猪胰腺细胞的适宜条件,试验选取1日龄的仔猪胰腺组织置于冰上清洗、修剪,对消化酶、离心方式、培养皿铺被方式、培养液及添加不同促生长因子等多种因素进行筛选和优化。结果表明:0.25%胰酶消化所获得的细胞强于0.1%胶原酶消化获得的细胞,细胞清亮,易于生长;采用500 r/min离心5 min、多次离心所获得的细胞较Percoll不连续密度梯度离心和5%BSA等密度梯度离心所获得的细胞贴壁率高,生长能力强,易于培养传代;采用0.1%明胶或20μg/mL的层黏连蛋白铺被培养皿均比无铺被的培养皿获得更多的贴壁细胞;以RPMI 1640、M199、F12、L-DMEM多种培养液培养仔猪胰腺细胞,表现出多种细胞形态和生长趋势;在基础培养液中添加上皮生长因子、角质化生长因子、β-巯基乙醇和白血病细胞抑制因子、转铁蛋白与亚硒酸盐混合试剂等促干细胞增殖因子可促进不同形态细胞的增殖。说明按此方式培养可获得大量、多种细胞形态的仔猪胰腺祖/干细胞。     

Occurrence of Equine Coital Exanthema in Mares from an Embryo Transfer Center

Equine coital exanthema (ECE) is an acute, venereal disease caused by equid herpesvirus 3 (EHV-3), characterized by the formation of papules, vesicles, pustules, and ulcers on the vaginal and vestibular mucosa as well as on the skin of the penis, prepuce, and perineal region of mares and stallions. The present work describes an outbreak of ECE characterized by typical lesions around the anus and on the perineal skin, discomfort, and anorectal lymphadenopathy, which occurred in a large number of donor and recipient mares at an embryo transfer center in Argentina. We found that the horses' movement pattern, the environmental conditions, and the management procedures could have favored the introduction and/or reactivation from latency and spread of EHV-3. Although this is the first report of an outbreak of ECE in an embryo transfer facility, it reinforces the need to introduce additional hygienic and preventive measures to avoid EHV-3 spread and future ECE outbreaks.     

农民接触农药防护措施及对机体影响的研究

了解农民接触农药时采用的防护措施及对机体的影响,对合格对象进行流行病学问卷调查及精液检测,发现农民在配、喷农药及检修喷药器械时未能安全合理使用防护措施;受教育程度与接触农药防护态度有关;长期小剂量接触农药对不稳定细胞有损害。建议为减少或避免农药中毒,政府应加强对农民进行农药基本知识、安全合理使用的宣传教育、推广和普及;增强农民遵守安全操作规程的自我保护意识。