Anoda cristata control with glyphosate in narrow- and wide-row soyabean

Experiments evaluated the effect of glyphosate rate and Anoda cristata density, on crop and weed biomass and weed seed production in wide (70 cm) and narrow rows (35 cm) glyphosate‐resistant soyabean (Glycine max). Soyabean density was higher at 35 cm row spacing as an increase in planting rate in narrow‐row soyabean is recommended for producers in Argentina. Soyabean biomass at growth stage V4 (four nodes on the main stem with fully developed leaves beginning with the unifoliate leaves) was higher when grown on narrow than in wide‐rows but was not affected by the presence of A. cristata. At growth stage R5 (seed initiation – seed 3 mm long in a pod at one of the four uppermost nodes on the main stem, with a fully developed leaf and full canopy development), crop biomass was greater in narrow rows compared with wide rows with 12 plants m^?2 of A. cristata. In narrow‐row soyabean, a single application of a reduced rate of glyphosate maintained soyabean biomass at R5 and provided excellent weed control regardless of weed density. In wide‐row soyabean control was reduced at the high weed density. Regardless of row spacing, A. cristata biomass and seed production were severely reduced by half of the recommended dose rate of glyphosate but the relationship between biomass and seed production was not altered. Glyphosate rates as low as 67.5 g a.e. ha^?1 in narrow rows or 540 g a.e. ha^?1 in wide rows provided excellent control of A. cristata. To minimize glyphosate use, planting narrow‐row soyabean are effective where A. cristata density is low.     

以催乳素受体基因作为撒坝猪部分生产性能候选基因的研究

此文运用PCR-RFLP技术检测催乳素受体(PRLR)基因在撒坝猪群体中的多态性分布,并采用最小二乘分析模型初步统计分析基因多态性与部分生产性能的相关性。结果表明,PRLR基因等位基因B及其基因型BB在群体中占优势,频率分别为0.6594和0.4438;PRLR基因在群体中处于Hardy-Weinberg平衡状态;头胎繁殖性状有利等位基因B对生长性状无不利影响。     

Biochemical proximates of pumpkin (Cucurbitaeae spp.) and their beneficial effects on the general well‐being of poultry species

There is a growing need to increase productivity in poultry. Growth hormones and antibiotics have the ability to improve health, weight gain and feed efficiency in meat‐producing animals. The growth‐promoting antibiotics are administered to poultry to improve the general performance of the chicken. However, the use of the xenobiotic drugs in food‐producing animals has been a concern and a sensitive issue of debate for several decades in the EU and many other regional blocks of the world. Consequently, the use of hormones in animal production has been banned in Italy, Denmark and Germany for over 4–5 decades, while Belgium and Greece had never permitted its use for livestock fattening purposes. Bioactive phytochemicals exhibit antimicrobial, antioxidant, antiparasitic, antiprotozoal, antifungal and anti‐inflammatory properties and consequently have several beneficial effects on appetite, growth and the immune status of the animal. In South Africa, different species of pumpkin are produced for food due to their high nutrient content. The flesh serves as a traditional food, while the seeds and peels are commonly discarded. Pumpkin seed extract is reported to be useful for immunomodulation, reproductive health, therapeutics over a wide range of disease conditions and stimulates metabolism of accumulated fats. Studies have also shown that pumpkin seeds are a valuable source of protein and fat. Their complexity and extent of bioactivity offers sustainable prospects for natural control of pathogenic/parasitic organisms, stimulate nutrition or enhance resistance to disease infections, and reduce abdominal fat and serum levels of harmful lipids, while increasing serum levels of beneficial lipids.     

On farm observations to increase genetic gain in breeding schemes for village poultry production – A simulation study

To improve genetic gain of breeding programs for village poultry production, breeding schemes with observations obtained in village production systems using individual (VIO) and group recording (VGO) were examined under different levels of genotype-by-environment-interactions (GxE). GxE was modeled by varying the correlation between traits measured in the breeding station and village environments for bodyweight (r_{g_BW}) and egg production (r_{g_EP}). Relative and absolute genetic gains obtained from VIO and VGO were used for comparison between the schemes. Results showed that village observations significantly improved genetic gains compared to the scheme without birds tested in the village. The improvement was only slightly larger with individual observations than with group observations. Higher r_{g_BW} and r_{g_EP} led to lower relative genetic gain, but a higher absolute gain of VIO and VGO. It is recommended to apply a breeding scheme using group recording of village performance when strong GxE in breeding for village poultry is expected.     

日粮中添加牛至油对河西绒山羊育肥性能的影响研究

牛至精油对家畜生产性能和免疫力的提高有重要的影响。通过在日粮中添加牛至精油育肥河西绒山羊,研究其对河西绒山羊生长性能、屠宰性能及胴体品质的影响。对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组在饲喂的基础日粮中分别添加4和7 g宜生饲宝(含牛至精油的添加剂),4和7 g宜生饲宝中牛至精油的含量分别为52和91 mg。对照组和试验组均为同月龄、同体重的河西绒山羊羯羊,试验组和对照组均设3个重复,每个重复5只羊。育肥期为90 d,每30 d为1个阶段。试验结果表明:育肥全期,对照组、4 g组和7 g组河西绒山羊平均日增重分别为96.30、172.22和169.82 g·d^-1,4 g组和7 g组分别显著高于对照组(P<0.05),4 g组和7 g组无显著差异(P>0.05);屠宰性状,胴体重对照组、4 g组和7 g组分别为20.24、24.18和23.90 kg,无显著差异(P>0.05),屠宰率对照组、4 g组和7 g组分别为48.86%、51.21%和51.56%,4 g组和7 g组分别显著高于对照组(P<0.05),4 g组和7 g组无显著差异(P>0.05),胴体净肉重对照组、4 g组和7 g组分别为12.90、16.27和15.99 kg,4 g组和7 g组分别显著高于对照组(P<0.05),4 g组和7 g组无显著差异(P>0.05);肉质性状,大理石纹4 g组和7 g组分别显著高于对照组(P<0.05),4 g组和7 g组无显著差异(P>0.05),pH、熟肉率、失水率、嫩度、蒸煮损失对照组、4 g组、7 g组间均无显著差异(P>0.05)。日粮中添加牛至油可以显著提高河西绒山羊的育肥性能,本试验日粮中添加4 g宜生饲宝(含牛至精油52 mg)效果最佳。     

Salmonella Gallinarum field isolates and its relationship to vaccine strain SG9R

1. The aim of the present study was to determine if the 9R-strain of the Salmonella Gallinarum live vaccine was responsible for having fowl typhoid outbreaks in chicken flocks from both chicken and turkey breeders as well as to verify the antimicrobial resistance of the isolates from the outbreaks.

2. The triplex polymerase chain reaction, standard antimicrobial test, beta-lactamase genes identification and Ion Torrent PMG whole-genome sequence were used in the field isolates and in the vaccine strain of S. Gallinarum.

3. The 60 tested isolates were not from vaccine origin and manifested high resistance to drugs from macrolide and quinolone groups. Whole-genome sequencing (WGS) and single nucleotide polymorphism analysis on selected isolates for core genes from Salmonella enterica confirmed the wild origin of these isolates and showed two possible sources of S. Gallinarum in the studied outbreaks.

4. S. Gallinarum isolated from fowl typhoid outbreaks in the studied period were not caused by the use of the SG9R live vaccine. The source of strains sequenced was diverse.     

In situ provision of drinking water to grazing dairy cows improves milk production

AIMS: To determine the effect of providing water within the area grazed by dairy cows on milk yield and quality, compared to requiring cows to walk to a distant water trough, on a dairy farm in the Pampa region of Argentina during summer.

METHODS: Holstein dairy cows were allocated to two herds with similar parity, days in milk and milk production. They were grazed in one paddock that was divided in two, with a fixed water trough at one end. Cows were moved twice daily to grazing plots within the paddock. Control cows (n=66) could only access water from the fixed trough, whereas supplemented cows (n=67) also received water from a mobile trough within the grazing plot. Milk production of each cow, and water consumption of the two herds were measured daily over 62 days. Milk composition for each herd was determined weekly from Days 18 to 60 of the study, and grazing behaviour was observed between 08:00 and 16:00 hours on Days 11–15, 19–22 and 39–43.

RESULTS: Over the 62 days of the study, supplemented cows produced 1.39 (SE 0.11) L/cow/day more milk than Control cows (p=0.027). Estimated mean daily water intake was 50.4 (SE 2.1) L/cow/day for supplemented cows and 58.2 (SE 2.7) L/cow/day for Control cows (p=0.004). Percentage total solids in milk was higher for supplemented (12.5 (SE 0.06)%) than Control (12.4 (SE 0.04)%) cows (p=0.047). During the periods of behavioural observation, a higher percentage of cows in the water supplemented than the Control herd were observed in the grazing area (p=0.012).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: This preliminary study demonstrated that provision of water to dairy cows within the grazing plot was beneficial for milk production and composition, and may be associated with longer periods spent within the grazing area, during hot weather in the Pampa region of Argentina.     

Innovative layer genetics to handle global challenges in egg production

1. In commercial layer breeding, extensive gene pools are tested and selected for market requirements which must be anticipated at least 5 years ahead. Field results confirm a continuous positive genetic trend in egg output and better feed efficiency which can be converted into land savings.

2. Animal welfare and cage-free housing dominate future needs of the market. Nesting behaviour and minimal tendency to develop feather-pecking or cannibalism without beak treatment are key trait complexes. Stronger shells for longer production cycles without moulting have to be combined with better bones.

3. No single big gene effect can be expected to control the multifactorial problem of feather-pecking. Adjusting the shape of the beak, with a heritability of .10–.25, can contribute to reducing the risk of severe cannibalism.

4. For better skeletal integrity, the assessment of bone quality in pedigree birds housed in enriched cages is done by keel bone palpation or ultrasound measurement of the humerus. Both traits show similar heritabilities in the range of .15–.30 and can be included in a balanced selection approach for performance, quality and welfare traits.

5. The combination of performance testing and genome-wide DNA marker analysis is a promising tool to generate more progress for a balanced performance and behaviour profile.