Towards the development of a bioeconomic stocking model for the semi‐arid savanna of KwaZulu‐Natal

Abstract

Rainfall variability is a major determinant of system dynamics and profitability of livestock enterprises in arid and semi‐arid environments. Range managers consequently require detailed information on the financial and ecological implications of various stocking strategies in order to formulate viable management systems. Data collected over seven seasons (1986–1993), from a series of extensive grazing trials in the semi‐arid savanna of KwaZulu‐Natal with cattle stocked at three rates (0.17, 0.23 and 0.30 LSU ha^?1) were used to develop a bioeconomic stocking model (LOWBEEF). The model comprised two biological sub‐models (BEEF and GRASS), and an integrated economic component. The BEEF sub‐model related seasonal live mass gain to stocking rate and rainfall. The GRASS sub‐model related residual herbage at the end of summer to summer stocking intensity, range condition (indexed as the sum of proportions of three key forage species, Themeda triandra, Panicum maximum and P. coloratum) and rainfall. The period over which supplementary feeding would be required to maintain cattle mass was related to residual summer herbage mass. The biological sub‐models were linked to an economic component model (ECON) to reflect the influence of various environmental and economic parameters on profitability.     

苗期紫花苜蓿品种抗旱性初步研究

运用多元统计分析方法,以来自、美国、澳大利亚、加拿大及中国的22个紫花苜蓿Medicago sativa品种（种群）为试验材料,对紫花苜蓿在苗期进行短期干旱胁迫,依据试验测定的15个形态指标和生理指标,应用主成分分析、聚类分析法,对22个紫花苜蓿品种试验材料的抗旱能力进行综合评价。通过运用主成分分析法将15项相关的抗旱性指标简化为5个独立且功能明确的主成分,并以5个主成分的得分系数运用聚类分析法把22份材料聚为三大类,从而将22份材料分为强抗旱性品种、中抗旱性品种、弱抗旱性品种,为下一步抗旱机制的研究提供参考。     

蝗虫微孢子虫病在蝗虫和群间的流行规律研究

在同德县北巴滩进行了不同浓度蝗虫微孢子虫（N.L)小区试验和大面积推广试验，并在1997和1999年对防治效果作了调查，结果表明N.L不仅当年虫口减退率和感病率可达60％和50％以上（30天），而且在1997年、1999年防区内平均感病率仍保持在30％和40％。说明N.L具有较强的水平扩散能力和垂直感染能力，可持续、有效地控制蝗灾的发生。     

EFFECT OF OBSERVER VARIABILITY ON GLOMERULAR FILTRATION RATE MEASUREMENT BY RENAL SCINTIGRAPHY IN DOGS

Observer variation in kidney depth measurement for correction of soft-tissue attenuation and kidney region of interest (ROI) drawing was evaluated using 60 clinical dogs with a wide range of glomerular filtration rate (GFR) for their effect on the calculated percentage uptake of 99mTc-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) and individual kidney GFR by scintigraphy. Kidney depth was measured separately on the lateral image using two color tables: a threshold and a continuous red-green-blue. Within-observer variability of the semi-automatic ROI drawing of the estimated total GFR was up to 10% for the right kidney (RK) and 9% for the left kidney (LK). The variability was lower between observers, 6% for RK and 8% for LK. Manual ROI drawing caused more within observer variation than semi-automatic: up to 14% for RK and 11% for LK. Continuous red-green-blue table caused more variation within and between observers than threshold table. Average within-observer variability from both observers of kidney depth measurement on different color tables could vary up to 5.5% and 6.5% variation of the GFR of RK and LK, respectively. Most variation affecting the DTPA percentage uptake came from the ROI drawing technique. Variations of the method because of the effects of both kidney depth and kidney ROI drawing were up to 8% and 10% for RK and LK, respectively. To minimize these variations a threshold scale should be used for the kidney depth measurement and an automatic or semi-automatic ROI should be used whenever possible. In sequential examinations the same person should make all the measurements.     

猪粪干、湿法厌氧发酵过程中碳、氮的流失

试验以新鲜猪粪为发酵原料,研究湿法和干法两种不同厌氧发酵过程的碳、氮排放量。湿发酵和干发酵组发酵料液的总固体(TS)含量分别为8%和20%,发酵液pH为6.8~7.4,发酵温度为35℃,体积为1.2 L,周期为21 d。试验期间每天测产气量,每4天取发酵样,测其全氮含量和TS降解率。结果表明,湿法和干法发酵组的CH4总产气量分别为9114 mL和12537 mL;CO2的总产气量分别为251.90 mmol和343.67 mmol;TS降解率分别为52.5%和29%。湿发酵的碳流失率和全氮流失率极显著高于干发酵(P<0.05)。     

高山草原放牧率与群落物种丰富度

选择甘肃省肃南裕固族自治县甘肃马鹿(Cervus elaphus kansuensis)养殖场冬季牧场不同牧压梯度的6个样地,采用巢式样方法调查草地植物群落的物种数,研究了甘肃马鹿山地草原放牧系统放牧率与草地群落物种丰富度的关系。结果表明,放牧强度梯度上,冬季牧场物种数随取样面积的增大而逐渐增加,放牧减轻导致物种增幅上升,放牧对物种丰富度的贡献率提高。高山草原的最小取样面积为0.71～1.54 m2,各放牧率样地物种数的变化分别在0.16～0.32和0.32～0.64 m2范围内最剧烈。物种数随放牧增强呈下降趋势,在放牧率2.45 AUM·hm-2出现拐点,拐点两侧放牧对物种多样性具有不同的作用规律,2.45 AUM·hm-2为高山草原适宜的放牧率。在牧场尺度上,当面积超过2.56 m2,改善放牧管理对物种丰富度的增加没有作用。     

采用“诱乳素”诱导空怀母牛泌乳的效果分析

试验选择6头500—800kg屡配不孕的荷斯坦母牛采用“诱乳素”进行诱导泌乳处理。结果表明,“诱乳素”在春季对母牛处理后开始出现泌乳的时间有差异,但到23天后,其产奶量可逐渐达到20kg。对体重大的母牛,虽然诱导泌乳处理时加大了药物的剂量,处理的时间延长,但开始出现泌乳的时间却推迟到8～9天,达到产奶高峰的时间也较晚。采用“诱乳素”处理除了对空怀母牛有明显的诱导泌乳作用外,对母牛的诱导发情亦有明显的作用。采用“诱乳素”处理空怀母牛,不仅可以在短期内达到诱导泌乳的效果,而且可以改善母牛的生殖功能,使不发情的母牛发情趋于正常,提高了其繁殖率。     

野古草居群光合作用对光强和CO2浓度的响应特征

以移植于同一环境的辽宁地区4个野古草居群为对象,比较了它们的光合作用对光强和CO₂浓度的响应差异,为研究其居群表型性状多样性的生理基础提供参考。结果表明,野古草光合速率对光强和CO₂浓度的光合响应特征参数在居群间多数存在显著差异,居群P₁(本溪)、居群P₂(北镇)具较高的光饱和点(分别为1782和1690 μmol/m²·s)、表观量子效率(分别为0.0553和0.0564)及表观羧化效率(分别为0.0568和0.0783),较低的CO₂补偿点(分别为14和12 μmol/mol),具有较高的光能生产潜力。居群P₃(建平)、居群P₄(彰武)的气孔导度低(分别为0.1227和0.1176 mol/m²·s),蒸腾速率低(分别为2.67和2.68 mmol/m²·s),持水能力强。     

湛江地区肉牛棚舍环境评价

为了解热带地区双坡式棚舍散栏饲养模式下的环境特征,在湛江测定了肉牛舍的温度、湿度、气流、PM10等指标。结果表明:棚舍内外温湿度几乎相同,换气量超过了最大换气量,PM10优于卫生标准,温湿指数范围为78～85,处于热应激状态。考虑了气流影响的体感温度范围为25～30.5℃,晴天的14:00和19:00,风速为0.95～1.30 m/s,气流显著地减少了高温的影响。棚顶隔热能力差,晴天棚顶内外表面温差不足1℃,棚顶内表面最高可达60.8℃,此时的舍内气温仅为33.4℃,棚舍自然换气调节是环境控制的主体。     

广东部分地区中小型猪场猪伪狂犬病野毒感染的血清学调查

采用阻断ELISA法,对广东省9个地区经猪伪狂犬基因缺失苗免疫的中小型猪场2005年-2006上半年送检的375份血清进行猪伪狂犬病野毒感染的血清学检测。结果表明,有9个地区猪场血清呈阳性,其中阳性血清174份,平均阳性率为46.4%,最高阳性率达65.0%,提示该地区中小型猪场有猪伪狂犬病野毒感染。