Effects of three short-term pasture allocation methods on milk production,methane emission and grazing behaviour by dairy cows

Two short-term grazing experiments were conducted with Norwegian Red cows. In Exp 1, 24 cows were randomly assigned to one of the following three pasture allocation methods (PAM): weekly pasture allowance (7RG), grazing 1/7 of 7RG each day (1SG), or grazing as 1SG but had access to grazed part of the paddock within one week (1FG). In Exp 2, 7RG was shortened to 5 days (5RG). We hypothesized that PAM will affect sward quality, quantity, intake and production differently. Pasture chemical composition changed with advancing grazing days but were not different between treatments. Pasture intake, milk yield, and methane emission were not affected by PAM. In Exp 1, 7RG cows spent less time on grazing, whereas in Exp 2, 1FG cows spent longer on grazing than others. Patterns observed in sward quality, and behavioural and physiological adaptations of cows to short-term changes in nutrient supply may explain the observed effects.     

中国荷斯坦牛部分乳房结构特性对泌乳性能的影响

本研究对规模化场奶牛乳房结构部分性状进行评价和测定,旨在分析其影响因素及其与泌乳性能的关系。现场评价和测定我国北方6个规模化奶牛场荷斯坦牛的乳房均衡(2 030条)、乳头长度(1 551条)和乳头位置评分(分前、后乳头,2 839条),使用SAS 9.2 GLM过程采用固定效应模型分析影响上述3个乳房性状的因素,同时分析3个单项性状对校正日产奶量和体细胞评分的影响。结果表明:场和胎次对3个乳房性状影响极显著(P0.01);前、后乳头位置和后乳头长度对校正日产奶量有显著影响(P0.05),校正日产奶量与前乳头位置评分值呈正比,与后乳头位置评分值呈反比;前乳头位置和长度对体细胞评分有显著影响(P0.05),体细胞评分随前乳头位置评分的增大而减小;5~5.5 cm的乳头长度对于校正日产奶量和体细胞评分都最佳。本研究结果为通过乳房性状选择、淘汰并提高奶牛的生产性能、乳房健康提供了参考。     

Pharmacokinetic assessment of the monepantel plus oxfendazole combined administration in dairy cows

Monepantel (MNP) is a novel anthelmintic compound launched into the veterinary pharmaceutical market. MNP is not licenced for use in dairy animals due to the prolonged elimination of its metabolite monepantel sulphone (MNPSO₂) into milk. The goal of this study was to evaluate the presence of potential in vivo drug‐drug interactions affecting the pattern of milk excretion after the coadministration of the anthelmintics MNP and oxfendazole (OFZ) to lactating dairy cows. The concentrations of both parent drugs and their metabolites were measured in plasma and milk samples by HPLC. MNPSO₂ was the main metabolite recovered from plasma and milk after oral administration of MNP. A high distribution of MNPSO₂ into milk was observed. The milk‐to‐plasma ratio (M/P ratio) for this metabolite was equal to 6.75. Conversely, the M/P ratio of OFZ was 1.26. Plasma concentration profiles of MNP and MNPSO₂ were not modified in the presence of OFZ. The pattern of MNPSO₂ excretion into milk was also unchanged in animals receiving MNP plus OFZ. The percentage of the total administered dose recovered from milk was 0.09 ± 0.04% (MNP) and 2.79 ± 1.54% (MNPSO₂) after the administration of MNP alone and 0.06 ± 0.04% (MNP) and 2.34 ± 1.38% (MNPSO₂) after the combined treatment. The presence of MNP did not alter the plasma and milk disposition kinetics of OFZ. The concentrations of the metabolite fenbendazole sulphone tended to be slightly higher in the coadministered group. Although from a pharmacodynamic point of view the coadministration of MNP and OFZ may be a useful tool, the presence of OFZ did not modify the in vivo pharmacokinetic behaviour of MNP and therefore did not result in reduced milk concentrations of MNPSO₂.     

Improved milk production through PG–PL system by provision of in‐house shelter management in lactating Murrah buffaloes during winter season

Comprehensive information on the role of β‐casein and plasminogen–plasmin (PG–PL) system in milk secretion of Murrah buffaloes during winter season is lacking, although effects of cold stress can be ameliorated to an extent by altering microclimate at farm level. Hence, this study was aimed to determine the changes in productivity along with PG–PL system of milk, plasma hormones and metabolites of buffaloes during winter (December–January) season under two different management systems. Average minimum temperature and wind chill index during this season were 7.02 and 12.74 °C respectively. Buffaloes were divided in two groups of six animals each: control and treatment, where treatment group animals were placed in‐house with floor bedding of paddy straw and the control group animals in loose housing system without straw bedding. Physiological responses were recorded, and milk and blood samples were collected at weekly intervals for six‐week experimental period. Under in‐house management system, buffaloes experienced better comfort by alleviating environmental stress as their physiological responses such as respiration rate and pulse rate were significantly reduced (p < 0.01) as compared to the control, which subsequently resulted higher milk yield by 9.92% (p < 0.05). Analysis of milk samples revealed higher concentration of plasminogen (10.6 vs. 8.05 μg/ml; p < 0.01) and β‐casein (p < 0.05), and lower plasmin level (0.299 vs. 0.321 μg/ml; p < 0.05) in buffaloes under treatment group. It was also found that plasma cortisol, glucose and non‐esterified fatty acids levels were higher (p < 0.01) in control group as compared to the treatment animals by 13.6%, 8.14% and 12.6% respectively. However, milk composition, growth hormone, epinephrine and norepinephrine level in plasma were similar in both the groups. Hence, it may be concluded that provision of in‐house shelter management with floor bedding of paddy straw during winter was effective to minimize environmental stress and improved milk production through manipulation of PG–PL system in buffaloes.     

Effect of water restriction on milk yield and quality in Lacaune breed ewes

The effect of water restriction on body weight, body condition score, milk yield, and milk composition and rheological characteristics in intensively reared Lacaune ewes was evaluated. After 7 days of adaptation, the trial lasted 28 days. Thirty lactating ewes (48 ± 5 months of age; mean value ± standard deviation) at the beginning of third lactation month were divided into three groups (n = 10), corresponding to the following water restriction treatment: a group control received no drinking water restriction (W100), and two groups received water to the extent of 80% and 60% of W100 daily consumption (W80 and W60 group respectively). The effects of water restriction were assessed at the beginning of experiment (D0), at D14 and D28. The W60 group resulted in a significant decrease in body weight, body condition score, milk yield and feed consumption of hay due to the experimental treatment; whereas a marked increase in both W60 and W80 groups of milk lactose, urea, sodium, sodium chloride content and titratable acidity was observed. Rheological parameters of milk, rennet coagulation time and curd‐firming time were positively affected by water restriction treatments, with a decrease in both experimental groups of the time required for the formation of a stable and firm curd. Results highlight the importance of water consumption in dairy sheep. The scarce availability of water, significantly affecting ewes milk production, is worthy of particular attention in arid area where water stress‐resistant breeds should be considered. This study underlines that milk yield, being closely linked to the availability of water of the breeding habitat due to its high water content (about 81%), could be reached in area where water is not a limiting factor without reducing the genetic expression of the animals. Less severe water restrictions, such as 20% of daily voluntary water intake, produce no detrimental effect on milk yield.     

胶州湾鱼类生物量粒径谱特征

为了解胶州湾海域鱼类群落粒径结构特征,本研究根据2016—2017年4次底拖网调查数据构建了胶州湾鱼类生物量粒径谱,比较分析了各季节鱼类生物量粒径谱特征参数的异质性。结果显示,胶州湾Sheldon型鱼类生物量粒径谱呈现单峰模式,鱼类粒径范围为-3～10粒径级,粒径分布相对均匀,且峰值位于5～6粒径级,主要由大泷六线鱼和褐菖鲉等小型鱼类构成。各季节鱼类标准化生物量粒径谱曲率和曲度差异显著,其中春季曲率最大且曲线较平缓,夏季曲率最小且曲线相对陡峭。谱线曲度和曲率的季节变化主要与粒径小的细纹狮子鱼、大泷六线鱼、玉筋鱼及长丝虾虎鱼等地方常栖性种类和赤鼻棱鳀、白姑鱼等季节洄游性种类的出现有关。Abundance-biomass comparison(ABC)曲线表明,春季处于未干扰状态,冬季处于中度干扰状态,夏秋季处于严重干扰状态。研究表明,胶州湾鱼类群落总体处于严重干扰状态,鱼类生物量谱呈现单峰型,粒径结构以小型粒径鱼类为主,且地方常栖性和季节洄游性鱼类等补充群体的数量和粒径大小影响鱼类生物量粒径谱的峰型和曲率。     

乏情期奶山羊下丘脑催产素样神经元的分布

为了揭示不同生理期催产素(Oxytocin,OT)在下丘脑-垂体-性腺轴中的分布特点,采用链霉素抗生物素蛋白-过氧化物酶(Streptaridin-peroxidase,SP)法研究了OT免疫反应产物在乏情期奶山羊下丘脑中的分布。结果显示:OT样神经元存在于视上核、室旁核弓状核、室周核、穹隆周核、下丘脑前核、下丘脑后核、腹外侧核、背内侧核、下丘脑外侧区以及乳头体各核团等27个核区,分布区域呈前端尖、中部宽、后钝圆的梭形带。此外,在室旁核观察到大量的强阳性神经纤维,第三脑室附近的纤维伸向脑室内。说明OT在下丘脑广泛存在,且下丘脑OT经神经垂体、第三脑室、血管3条途径释放,经血液循环最终作用于靶细胞而发挥生理作用。     

鸽乳的组成及其生成调控机制的研究进展

鸽乳是由鸽嗉囊组织生成并分泌的半固态营养物质,是乳鸽唯一的营养来源。乳鸽出生后不能自主觅食,需由亲鸽哺育,鸽乳对其生长发育极为重要。鸽乳的生成及分泌是一种特殊的生理过程,在禽类中极为少见,也不同于哺乳动物的泌乳过程。鸽乳主要由蛋白质、脂质、碳水化合物和矿物质等物质组成,其合成与分泌受催乳素、胰岛素和松弛素等多种激素共同调控,通过激活JAK/STAT、PI3K/Akt/TOR、AMPK和Wnt等信号通路,调控相关基因的表达,进而调节嗉囊上皮细胞增殖、变性和营养物质合成、富集等过程。本文综述了鸽乳的组成及其生成调控机制,并与哺乳动物进行了比较,进一步明确了嗉囊产生鸽乳的生理机制及与哺乳动物乳腺泌乳的异同。通过研究鸽乳的组成,可为种鸽营养需要标准制定及人工鸽乳研发提供参考;通过研究鸽乳生成的调控机制,进一步深入挖掘调控泌乳的基因,结合分子标记辅助育种技术,应用于提高种鸽的泌乳能力。     

过瘤胃氨基酸对泌乳早期奶牛生产性能、乳成分和血液生化指标的影响

为研究日粮添加过瘤胃氨基酸对泌乳早期奶牛生产性能、乳成分、血液生化指标和经济效益的影响,选择96头体况良好、健康的泌乳早期荷斯坦牛,泌乳天数为(65±15)天.采用单因素随机区组试验设计,按照年龄、胎次和产奶量相近的原则,将96头奶牛随机分为对照组和试验组,每组48头.对照组为基础日粮,试验组在对照组日粮的基础上添加过...