Feeding Strategies for Rearing Replacement Heifers in Small-scale Dairy Production Systems in the Highlands of Central Mexico

The growth of Holstein heifers in the campesino dairy systems in the highlands of Mexico was evaluated in three feeding strategies. Thirty-three heifers from 11 farmers, grouped according to strategy, were weighed every 14 days for 28 weeks. The live weight change over each 14-day period was estimated by individually regressing live weight over period, taking the regression coefficient as an unbiased estimate of live weight change. Regression coefficients were analysed as a randomized design with feeding strategies as treatments. Strategies were as follows: S1: grazed or cut pasture all year, maize silage and maize straw in the dry season, and 1.0–1.5 kg concentrate/heifer per day. S2: maize straw in the dry season, cut pasture forage, grazing of native grass, weeds from maize fields, and 1.0–1.5 kg concentrate/heifer per day. S3: maize straw in the dry season, grazed native grasses and weeds in the rainy season. Live weight gains were: S1, 0.511 kg/heifer per day; S2, 0.271 kg/heifer per day; and S3, 0.252 kg/heifer per day. Despite the better gains in S1, they are 24% below recommendations, arriving to service at 20 months of age. Not rearing their replacements may be a better alternative for campesino farmers under current economic conditions.     

Effect of Supplementation with Leguminous Crop Residues or Concentrates on the Voluntary Intake and Performance of Kirdi Sheep

Twenty young Kirdi (West African Dwarf) rams, averaging 22 kg live weight and 15 months of age, were randomly assigned to four feeding groups of 5 animals each. The groups were subjected to an 8-week feeding trial to determine the effect of different protein supplements on their voluntary intake of rice straw and on their performance. The animals in one of the groups were maintained on a daily basal diet of rice straw given ad libitum and 250 g of rice bran per animal (control). Other groups were fed the basal diet, supplemented with 300 g of groundnut haulms (GH diet), 45 g of cotton seed cake (CSC diet) or 210 g of chopped cowpea vines (CPV diet) per animal per day. The average daily weight gains of the animals feeding on the control, GH, CSC and CPV diets were 20.00, 48.93, 52.14 and 49.29 g, respectively. The gains in live weight of the supplemented groups did not differ significantly (p>0.05), but there was a difference (p<0.05) in live weight gain between the supplemented groups and the control. The differences in intake of rice straw among the groups were highly significant (p<0.01). Cotton seed cake increased (p<0.01) the intake, while feeding crop residues tended to depress the intake of rice straw. Variations in the height at withers, heart girth and scapulo-ischial length did not differ significantly (p>0.05) among the groups. In terms of live weight gain and intake of rice straw, cotton seed cake was the most effective supplement, but, since the crop residues are more readily available to farmers in this area of the country, they merit more attention.     

Aspects of emergency vaccination against foot-and-mouth disease

Emergency vaccination is one of several measures which may be deployed to control outbreaks of foot-and-mouth disease. It can be a valuable adjunct to the application of the essential zoosanitary controls which must include rapid diagnosis, tracing, movement control and disinfection and which may also include slaughter of infected and in-contact animals and their safe disposal. Criteria which determine the successful application of emergency vaccination include access to vaccine(s) that (i) contain virus strain(s) of sufficient antigenic relatedness to the outbreak strain(s) (ii) are of the required type of vaccine formulation (iii) have acceptable innocuity and potency (iv) have appropriate availability, including quantity and immediacy of supply and (v) meet considerations of cost. Contingency planning should include provision for emergency vaccination and must address the complex decisions of not only when, where, and how to apply vaccine but also its economic consequences. Computer modelling may be a useful aid to cost benefit and decision support systems in this context. Planning must be detailed and regularly reviewed and should ensure, (i) that the legal and financial aspects are catered for (ii) that any contractual supply agreements are in place (iii) that information is collected and its currency maintained on the species, numbers and whereabouts of susceptible livestock (iv) that vaccination teams are formed and trained (v) that the vaccine cold chain is established and maintained (vi) that supplies of vaccination equipment are held in readiness and (vii) that briefing materials are available to inform the various stakeholders on relevant aspects of emergency vaccination. Knowledge concerning the characteristics and performance of emergency vaccines is summarised and areas identified for further research.     

Epidemiology,zoonotic aspects,vaccination and control/eradication of brucellosis in India

In India, brucellosis was first recognised in 1942 and is now endemic throughout the country. The disease is reported in cattle, buffalo, sheep, goats, pigs, dogs and humans. B. abortus biotype-1 in cattle and buffaloes and B. melitensis biotype-1 in sheep, goats and man are the predominant infective biotypes. The long-term serological studies have indicated that 5% of cattle and 3% of buffaloes are infected with brucellosis. Economic losses due to brucellosis in livestock are considerable in an agrarian country like India. There is no organised and effective brucellosis control programme in the country. With the indigenous development of serum and milk based ELISA kits, the population survey of the disease has been undertaken on a large scale in several states and plans for the control of the disease through calf-hood vaccination are being worked out. An innovative approach—Bovine Brucellosis Progressive Control Programme (BBPCP) is targeted to overcome the basic problems of ban on cow slaughter, distress sale of animals following the positive serological diagnosis of brucellosis and absence of a disease control strategy. The work plan for the implementation of BBPCP is presented.     

柔嫩艾美耳球虫热休克蛋白70(Et HSP70)的重组表达及免疫保护效果

本研究初步评价了柔嫩艾美耳球虫热休克蛋白70(EtHSP70)的免疫保护效果。以RT-PCR方法克隆获得E.tenella广东株的Ethsp70基因序列,插入表达载体pMAL-c2X后转化入大肠杆菌Rosetta株,经IPTG诱导,可高效表达分子量为112 ku的可溶性融合蛋白,表达量约占菌体总蛋白的27%。将Ethsp70基因插入真核载体pcDNA6,构建真核表达质粒pcDNA-Ethsp70。用纯化的重组融合蛋白(rEtHSP70)和pcDNA6-Ethsp70质粒分别以100μg/只剂量肌注免疫雏鸡,攻虫后以盲肠病变计分、相对盲肠卵囊产量(ROP)、相对增重率和抗球虫指数(ACI)为评价指标,结果表明2个免疫组相对盲肠卵囊产量分别为39.4%、45.2%,抗球虫指数由89分别提高至免疫组的164和150。提示EtHSP70可能是一种有潜在应用价值的保护性抗原。     

禽疱疹病毒活载体疫苗研究进展

禽疱疹病毒主要包括α疱疹病毒亚科的鸡马立克氏病毒( Mareks disease virus, MDV)、传染性喉气管炎病毒( infectious laryngotracheitis virus, IBDV )和鸭肠炎病毒( duck enteritis virus, DEV )。作为疱疹病毒家族的成员,禽疱疹病毒基因组庞大,存在多个复制非必需区,可容纳多个外源基因的插入,是表达其他禽类病原抗原基因的理想载体。总结了禽疱疹病毒的构建方法、外源基因表达水平,并对MDV、IBDV和DEV 三种禽疱疹病毒的不同重组病毒疫苗免疫效果评价进行归纳,旨在为畜禽传染病防治提供参考依据。     

基于网络直播平台创新生态文明教育的路径研究

新媒体背景下,网络直播以其内容多样、传播高效、即时互动等特点受到了广泛关注。蓬勃兴起的网络直播给生态文明教育带来了机遇和挑战。目前,推动网络直播与生态文明教育融合发展的问题主要在于直播平台对生态文明教育属意不够、生态失范行为时有出现、监管体系尚不完善、立法相对滞后等。各部门应当协同发力为生态文明教育做好引流和宣传工作;努力创新生态文明教育模式,不断完善生态文明教育直播内容;进一步加强对网络直播的监管与治理,积极营造良好的生态文化氛围。基于网络直播平台创新生态文明教育,符合绿色发展和生态文明的时代潮流,是切实提高生态文明教育质量和效果的重要路径。     

仔猪轮状病毒性腹泻的研究进展

仔猪轮状病毒性腹泻是由猪轮状病毒引起的急性肠道传染病,是危害养猪业的主要疾病之一。猪轮状病毒是一种条件性病原,一般情况下呈隐性感染,当环境因素发生变化、免疫力下降时可暴发。目前尚无有效治疗药物,预防该病的有效方法是加强饲养管理和有效疫苗接种。研制新一代高效、廉价疫苗是重要的研究方向。掌握仔猪轮状病毒性腹泻的动态变化和影响因素,可为其诊断以及疫苗的研制提供科学依据,并为该病发展趋势的科学预测提供数据和信息支持。文章综述了引起仔猪腹泻的猪轮状病毒的分群和分型、培养特性、流行病学、预防治疗及疫苗研制的现状。     

湖北白猪活体性状与胴体性状间的典型相关分析

通过对湖北白猪新系９０头样本的活体性状的９个变量与胴体性状的１０个变量之间的典型相关分析,得出了决定两组性状间相关性的三对典型变量。湖北白猪活体性状与胴体性状之间的相关主要是由：腹围,臀宽及活体膘厚与板油率密切相关。胸围,胸围,臀长,臀围与屠宰率及后腿比例密切相关,体长,胸围与瘦肉率和肥肉率间的较强相关所决定的。分析表明：湖北白猪新品系具有前胸开阔,腹部紧凑,臂部丰满,背膘薄的特点。选育中要加强     

Aquaculture of the sand star,Astropecten indicus Döderlein, 1888, as a step toward the sustainable aquaculture of harlequin shrimp,Hymenocera picta Dana, 1852

Ornamental harlequin shrimp, Hymenocera picta, are commonly maintained on live comet sea stars, Linckia multifora. In Thailand, both species are commonly collected from the wild, raising concerns regarding the sustainability of such practices. As a step toward the sustainable aquaculture of both, methods of their culture and nutrition were investigated. Under captive conditions, harlequin shrimp readily predate, and can be maintained upon the astropectinid sand star Astropecten indicus as an alternative live feed during periods when comet sea stars are unavailable. Wild A. indicus subsequently spawned multiple times shortly after their collection; the eggs (300 μm diameter) were transferred to static aquaria. Following the appearance of planktonic bipinnaria, larval sea stars were fed a 50:50 Chaetoceros calcitrans and Isochrysis galbana diet. Eleven days post-transfer, brachiolaria stages began to settle; stages were then fed concentrated I. galbana. When specimens measured 1–2 mm in diameter, they were transferred onto an in-house formulated Amphiprion diet (>50% protein, >16% lipid). Sea stars were graded regularly; they matured and spawned after 6 months. Populations were maintained for more than three successive generations, demonstrating their ready culture under captive conditions, representing the first harvestable aquaculture of a sea star as a step toward supporting the sustainable culture of a primary, marine species.