In ovo feeding of nutrients and its impact on post‐hatching water and feed deprivation up to 48 hr,energy status and jejunal morphology of chicks using response surface models

A Box–Behnken design (BBD) in a response surface methodology (RSM) was used to investigate the response of broiler chicks to in ovo feeding (IOF) of beta‐hydroxy beta‐methylbutyrate (HMB), dextrin and the timing of the first water and feed deprivation. On day 18th of incubation, 1,500 eggs were randomly assigned to 15 experimental runs of BBD, each with 4 replicates, as 3 levels IOF of HMB (0%, 0.5% and 1%) and dextrin (0%, 20% and 40%), and 3 levels of the first water and feed deprivation (6, 27 and 48 hr). Day‐old chicks from each replicate were then used to assess the effect of IOF and time first water and feed access on chick's responses. The IOF of dextrin leads to respectively 9.7%–15.5% lower hatchability for 20% and 40% inclusion (p < .05), whereas HMB inclusion appeared with no effect on hatchability (p > .05). Administration of dextrin or HMB into the amnion of embryos elevated length, width and surface area of villus, and increased glycogen content of liver and breast (p < .05). In all parameter models, the linear terms showed highest contribution (R² = 0.81–0.97) to explain existing variation in chick's responses. The first water and feed deprivation had largest effect on BW2 and glycogen content of liver and breast. It is concluded that if possible, place chicks before 7 hr of hatch to preserve BW loss and have maximum response from IOF. If not possible, use IOF with 40% dextrin + 0.5% HMB to preserve gut integrity and energy status up to 48 hr. This should give advantage to chicks to recover fast after feeding, but that would have to be confirmed by trials growing birds to slaughter age.     

Effect of feed intake level and dietary protein content on the body temperature of pigs housed under thermo neutral conditions

Feed intake and diet composition appear to affect the body temperature of pigs. Two trials were conducted to analyse the effect of feed intake level and dietary protein content on the intestinal temperature (IT) of pigs housed under thermo neutral conditions. Ten pigs (64.1 ± 1.3 kg initial body weight) fitted with an ileal cannula were used. A thermometer set to register the IT at 5‐min intervals was implanted into the ileum through the cannula. In both trials, the ambient temperature ranged from 19.1 to 21.6°C and the pigs were fed at 07:00 and 19:00 hr (same amount each time). In trial 1, the pigs were fed daily 1.2 or 1.8 kg of a wheat–soybean meal diet. The IT followed a similar pattern along a 24‐hr period regardless the feed intake level. The IT rapidly increased up to 0.61 and 0.74°C after the morning meal and up to 0.53 and 0.47°C after the evening meal in pigs fed 1.2 and 1.8 kg/d respectively. The postprandial IT was higher in pigs fed 1.8 kg after each meal (p < .05). In trial 2, pigs were fed daily 1.8 kg of a low (11%) or a high (22%) crude protein diet. The IT followed a similar pattern along the 24‐hr period regardless the dietary protein level. The postprandial IT did not differ between pigs fed the low protein or the high protein (p > .10). The IT rapidly increased up to 0.66 and 0.62°C after the morning meal in pigs fed the high‐ and low‐protein diet (p < .05), but there was no change after the evening meal (p > .10). In conclusion, the feed intake level affected the IT of pigs housed under TN conditions, but the dietary protein content had no effect.     

The effects of late gestation nutrient restriction of dams on beef heifer intake,metabolites and hormones during an ad libitum feeding trial

This study's objective was to determine if nutrient restriction during late gestation affected beef heifer feed intake, body weight (BW) gain and endocrine regulation during a 10‐week feeding trial. During the last 100 days of gestation, control (CON) dams were fed to increase body condition score (BCS). Whereas, nutrient‐restricted dams (NR) and NR dams protein supplemented 3 days/week (NRS) were fed to decrease BCS by 1.2. After parturition, all cow‐calf pairs were moved to a common pasture and fed in excess of requirements until weaning. At 15 months of age, heifers were randomly sorted into two pens and adjusted to a commercial total mixed ration over a 2‐week period. Blood samples and BW were taken at the initiation of feeding and on a biweekly basis for the duration of the feeding trial. Feed intake was monitored for 10 weeks using a GrowSafe System. After 10 weeks, an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) was performed on 21 randomly subsampled heifers. During the feeding trial, NR heifers consumed more feed than CON and NRS heifers. Heifers from NR dams tended to increase BW compared to NRS and CON heifers when adjusted for initial BW. Heifers from NR and NRS dams had a greater increase in BCS compared to heifers from CON dams. Plasma glucose and insulin concentrations during the feeding trial increased in NR heifers compared to the other groups beginning at 2 and 4 weeks respectively. Plasma leptin concentrations were increased in the NR and NRS heifers compared to the CON heifers beginning at week 4 of feeding. During the IVGTT at the conclusion of the feeding challenge, plasma glucose and insulin were increased in NR heifers compared to other treatment groups. These results show that nutrient restriction during late gestation alters appetite and endocrine regulation in heifer offspring.     

Determining spatial feed distribution in sea cage aquaculture using an aerial camera platform

Within this paper we describe an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) based method to estimate the spatial feed pellet distribution in salmon fish-cages and exploit it within a case study to determine the radial pellet distribution for different rotor spreaders and blower configurations. Compared to previously used methods, capturing pellets thrown from a rotary feed spreader in rows of Styrofoam boxes, the UAV based method is simpler and faster to setup and allows to cover a larger portion of the sea cage surface area. We compare results obtained with the Styrofoam box method with results we obtained by an automatic analysis of aerial videos taken by the UAV during feeding experiments. The employed method helps to gain insight into the spatial feed pellet distribution in full-scale salmon fish-cages where the feeding pipe and actual fixation of the spreader may influence the dynamic behaviour of the feeding system. This can also be seen as a step towards a continuous measuring of the feed pellet distribution, particularly in view of possible future feeding systems that may allow to adapt the feed pellet distribution to the actual fish distribution.     

多糖提取及对家禽生长、免疫和产蛋性能影响研究进展

多糖是由多个单糖通过糖苷键结合而成的高分子化合物。食用菌及植物的组织中均存在丰富的天然多糖类物质。多糖具有抗氧化、提高免疫力、改善肠道健康等多种生理功能,作为功能性添加剂在饲料中被广泛应用。文章对多糖的提取方法及对家禽生长、免疫、产蛋性能影响进行综述,为进一步获取优质多糖及在饲料中的应用提供参考。     

放牧条件下乳用伊犁马采食量的初步研究

2013年8-10月,采用模拟采食法、群牧差额法、内外指示剂结合法在昭苏马场草甸草地上进行了放牧条件下乳用伊犁马采食量的测定。结果表明,1)同种测定方法不同月份之间测定的乳用伊犁马干物质采食量差异不显著(P0.05)。2)模拟采食法测得的干物质采食量为12.79 kg·15 h-1·匹-1,群牧差额法测得为16.39kg·d-1·匹-1,内外指示剂结合法测得为13.28 kg·d-1·匹-1。3)群牧差额法与内外指示剂结合法测定的乳用伊犁马干物质采食量之间差异不显著(P0.05),初步确定乳用伊犁马平均干物质采食量为14.83 kg·d-1·匹-1。     

谷子秸秆剪切力与其饲料营养特性变化规律及相互关系

为探究谷子秸秆力学性质与其饲料特性的变化规律及相互关系，选用谷物完熟期的谷子秸秆，将其分为5段（近根部、中下部、中部、中上部、上部）并每隔7 d进行秸秆节间、茎节力学性质（剪切、压缩）和饲料特性（形态指标、营养成分）测定。试验结果表明：谷物完熟后，随着时间的推进，秸秆节间、茎节剪切力、抗压强度、干物质含量、纤维素含量、半纤维素含量和木质素含量总体上呈增大趋势，而秸秆含水率、当量直径、横截面积、线性密度和粗蛋白含量总体上呈减小趋势。谷子秸秆单位直径剪切力与含水率和线性密度呈负相关关系（R2≥0.903），与其干物质、纤维素、半纤维素和木质素含量呈正相关关系（R2≥0.845），与其粗蛋白含量无显著相关关系（P>0.05）。采收期内，谷子秸秆基部起秸秆剪切力至顶部逐渐增大，且剪切力与当量直径、横截面积呈正相关关系（R2≥0.916）。试验表明谷子秸秆饲料特性指标验证试验值与预测值相对误差不大于6.48%，预测模型合理。测量秸秆剪切力可用于预测其形态指标参数和营养成分含量，进而一定程度地反映秸秆饲用价值和反刍动物择食趋向。采收期内，谷子中部及以上秸秆单位直径剪切力显著小于其近根部（P<0.05），更适合饲用；且谷物完熟后，及时采收可避免秸秆饲用价值降低。该研究可为高效利用谷子秸秆资源提供参考。     

绿地养护的原则及方法和途径

绿地养护是绿化得以存续、发展的根本保证,应遵循及时、适度和系统5条原则,采用现场观测法、理论指导法和经验操作法;从灌溉(排涝)、有害生物防治、施肥、整形修剪、清除杂草和垃圾、更新补植、维护设施、协调及创新9个途径开展工作.