Presence of cervical vertebral malformation in Dobermann puppies and the effects of diet and growth rate

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the relationship between diet, growth rate and the presence of caudal cervical malformation in Doberman puppies. DESIGN: A prospective study of 15 Dobermann puppies from three unrelated litters, aged from 0 to 16 weeks. PROCEDURE: The growth rate in terms of body weight gain and increase in ulna length were measured weekly for all puppies. In addition the nutritional quality of the diets was assessed. Radiographs of the cervical spine were taken at 6 and between 12 and 16 weeks of age and examined for the presence of caudal cervical vertebral malformation. A mixed model for repeated measures data was used to investigate the relationship between the growth rate of the puppies and the fixed effects age, dam, diet, gender and presence of caudal cervical malformation. RESULTS: Five of the puppies had changes consistent with caudal cervical malformation. The diets fed were either balanced or transiently deficient in protein, calcium, phosphorus and/or magnesium. There was no significant association between growth rate and the variables dam, gender and the presence of caudal cervical vertebral malformation. There was no significant association between diet and increase in ulna length, but a trend existed between body weight gain and the feeding of a balanced diet (P = 0.0672). CONCLUSION: Caudal cervical vertebral changes can be detected radiographically as early as 6 weeks of age in some Dobermann puppies. A balanced diet and growth rate are not significant factors in its initial development.     

Possibility of amino acid nutrition in broiler

The consumption of poultry meats exceeds 50% of total meat consumption. With the outbreak of bovine spongiform encephalopathy and foot and mouth disease, the consumption of poultry meat is set to increase. The use of meat bone meal derived from cattle and pigs is prohibited. Therefore, plant protein has to be used more frequently and the importance of the study of amino acid nutrition is increasing. In order to improve dietary efficiency, it is necessary to elucidate the exact amino acid requirements of poultry. The amino acid requirements are not constant and are affected by various factors. By using the plasma amino acid concentration as a parameter, it is possible to predict the amino acid requirements within a short period using a small number of animals repeatedly. By satisfying the amino acid requirements through supplementing crystalline amino acids, it is possible to reduce dietary protein and excretory nitrogen simultaneously. However, when the dietary protein is reduced, the abdominal fat tends to increase. This is solved by deciding the optimum dietary protein level, but it is difficult to control the taste of poultry meat by dietary amino acids.     

Heart Rate Variability in Horses Engaged in Equine-Assisted Activities

Although there has been a recent surge in using horses to treat mental and emotional human health issues, the consequences of horse-assisted interventions on the stress response of horses have not been well documented. Assessment of the autonomic nervous system and its regulation of cardiovascular function has been used as an indicator of acute and chronic stress in human beings and horses. Heart rate variability (HRV) is a noninvasive measurement that has been used to assess autonomic nervous system regulation of cardiovascular function. There is evidence to suggest that several factors including the genotype, behavior, environment, temperament, and nutritional status of the horse play a key role in the large inter-individual variations in basal HRV. The present study determined whether 24-hour HRV recordings in horses currently working in equine-assisted therapy (EAT) differ from those previously shown in Thoroughbred horses. Findings from the present study found that in contrast to previous studies in Thoroughbred horses, diurnal and nocturnal low frequency and high frequency powers were not significantly different in horses that are currently engaged in EAT. Future studies are needed to determine the short- and long-term consequences of horses participating in EAT programs. Findings from this study will provide the basis for the development of a physiological/behavioral assessment criteria to determine the consequences of EAT on the well-being of horses as well as to help EAT Centers to improve the beneficial effects of EAT in human beings.     

Effects of Supplementing a Basal Diet of Chloris gayana Hay with One of Three Protein-rich Legume Hays of Cassia rotundifolia,Lablab purpureus and Macroptilium atropurpureum Forage on Some Nutritional Parameters in Goats

Growth and digestibility experiments were conducted on growing East African type goats offered Chloris gayana hay supplemented with one of three high-protein (119–128 g CP/kg DM) legume hays, Cassia rotundifolia (cassia), Lablab purpureus (lablab) or Macroptilium atropurpureum (siratro), and crushed maize to investigate the feed intake, digestibility, growth and urinary excretion of purine derivatives. Goats in the supplemented groups had higher total dry matter and nitrogen intakes and higher N retention and body mass gains than unsupplemented counterparts. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter and neutral detergent fibre were increased by protein supplementation. Animals on supplemented diets had higher fractional outflow rates of particulate matter from the rumen. The production of protein by ruminal microbes and the efficiency of microbial N production were increased by supplementation. It was concluded that a mixture of low-quality grass hay (61.9 CP/kg DM) and either cassia, lablab or siratro hay, and maize grain can provide a productive balanced diet for growing goats.     

断奶日龄对仔猪Et玫瑰花环形成率和T淋巴细胞转化率的影响

选取15窝杜洛克×长白×约克夏三元杂交初生仔猪 ,按14、21、28、35日龄断奶和不断奶随机分为5组(14E、21E、28E、35E、C) ,每组3窝 ,研究断奶及不同断奶日龄对仔猪外周血Et玫瑰花环形成率和T淋巴细胞转化率的影响。结果表明 :哺乳仔猪外周血Et玫瑰花环形成率、淋巴细胞转化率LTT(PHA、LPS刺激原)随日龄增长呈线性加大的趋势(P<0.05) ;断奶应激均使Et、LTT(PHA)、LTT(LPS)降低(P<0.05)。断奶越早 ,断奶后血液LTT(PHA/LPS)下降的幅度越大 ,恢复与哺乳猪相同水平的时间越长 ,其中14日龄断奶后1～3周 ,21、28日龄断奶后1周LTT(PHA)显著低于对照组(P<0.05) ;14日龄断奶后1～4周 ,21日龄断奶后1～3周 ,28日龄断奶后1～2周 ,35日龄断奶后1周LTT(LPS)显著低于对照组(P<0.05)。     

家兔发情状态与受胎率和产仔数关系的研究

本文研究了家兔的发情状态与配种后的受胎率，以及产仔数之间的关系。以家兔阴粘膜颜色作为表观指标，将家兔的发情分为５个状态，其相应的阴粘膜颜色分别为：苍白、粉色、红色、大红、黑紫。经促排２号诱发排卵后，人工授精，相应状态下的受胎率为：２９．５％、４２．９％、５６．８％、５３．８％、２５．０％；相应状态下的平均产仔数分别为：５．５４、６．６９、６．６２、７．２１、５．５２。用促排３号处理后，相应状态下的受胎率为：９．０％、４３．２％、５３．２％、７０．０％、２１．７％。结果表明：无论是用促排２号，还是用促排３号处理，当阴粘膜颜色为苍白和黑紫时的受胎率或产仔数，都显著地低于或少于阴粘膜颜色为粉色、红色、大红时的受胎率（Ｐ＜０．０１）或产仔数（Ｐ＜０．０５）。说明，家兔的发情状态与配种后的受胎率和产仔数有密切的相关     

成龄雉鸡内源代谢氮的比较测定

本研究选择２０只成龄母雉鸡,采用无氮日粮法和回归分析法比较测定内源代谢氮和维持蛋白质需要量。结果表明,成龄雉鸡内源代谢氮（内源尿氮＋代谢粪氮）分别为０１８８８ｇ／ｋｇＷ０．７５·ｄ和０２２７４ｇ／ｋｇＷ０．７５·ｄ;维持蛋白质需要量理论值为２６７ｇ／ｋｇＷ０．７５·ｄ～３．２２ｇ／ｋｇＷ０．７５·ｄ。     

短周期间歇光照对肉用仔鸡生产性能的影响

在７日龄时,肉服仔鸡由接近全日制光照改变为１ｈ光照,３ｈ黑暗的短周期简歇光照。结果表明,短周期间歇光照的肉仔鸡饲料报酬和饲料利用率提高,氮平衡试验表明,增加肉用仔鸡的光周期,粪氮分泌量减少,饲料氮在鸡体内的沉积增加,而饲料氮的摄入量并未增加,因而使得饲料氮的利用率和到提高。     

控释氮肥和尿素配比对不同品种夏玉米氮素累积、转移及其利用效率的影响

在黄淮海夏玉米生产区,不同控释氮肥和尿素的配比下,研究不同氮效率玉米品种的产量及其花前花后干物质和氮素累积分配规律,以及相应的氮素利用效率与经济效益,为该区域夏玉米氮肥高效施用提供理论与技术依据.试验采用裂区设计,周期为两年,以施氮处理为主区,设置0、180、300 kg·hm-23个施氮水平,并在180 kg·hm-...