Effects of traditional salt placement and strategically placed mineral mix supplements on cattle distribution in the Western Italian Alps

Effects of traditional salt placement (TS) and strategically placed mineral mix supplements (MMS) on cattle distribution were compared in the Italian Alps. Salt was placed within flat and herbaceous sites following the traditional method of farmers, whereas MMS blocks were placed on steep and shrub‐encroached sites within three large pastures (44 ha on average). Each TS and MMS site was paired with a control site, and eleven cows were tracked with GPS collars. Within 10 and 50 m of TS and MMS, treatment sites were used more than control sites (P < 0·05). No differences were detected (P > 0·05) in the number of visits by cows within 10 and 50 m of TS and MMS placements. No differences were detected in time spent within 10 m of TS and MMS placements, but cows spent more time (P < 0·05) within 50 m of TS. With either TS or MMS, cattle preferred areas with gentler terrain, higher forage pastoral value and closer to water (P < 0·001). When MMS was available cattle also preferred areas near MMS (P < 0·001). Shrub and herbaceous cover decreased near MMS placements (P < 0·05) from cattle grazing and trampling. Placement of MMS is a promising tool to enhance cattle distribution and potentially reduce shrub encroachment in rugged mountain pastures.     

荞麦轮纹病抗性鉴定方法的建立及荞麦抗病种质资源的筛选

为建立荞麦轮纹病的抗性鉴定方法和筛选可利用的抗轮纹病的荞麦种质资源,本研究以TP2和KP14为供试材料,在健康荞麦叶片正面针刺处理,然后用荞麦轮纹病的病原菌菌饼进行接种;利用建立的抗性鉴定方法,对50份荞麦种质资源进行抗病性评价。结果显示:针刺5针接种叶片病斑出现较快,且比针刺1针、针刺3针的叶片病斑大,针刺5针的病情指数最高。50份荞麦种质资源的病情指数有差异,其中YZ-18的病情指数为29.63,为高抗种质资源,YZ-2、YZ-5、YZ-13和YZ-9的病情指数均低于40,为中抗种质资源,其余为感病种质资源。因此,接种前叶片正面针刺5针的方法为最佳的抗性鉴定方法。50份抗性评价的荞麦种质资源中,筛选出5份抗病种质资源。     

Effects of Dietary Protein and Lipid Levels with Different Protein‐to‐Energy Ratios on Growth,Feed Utilization,and Plasma Biochemical Parameters of Dianchi Golden‐line Barbell,Sinocyclocheilus grahami

An 8‐wk feeding trial was conducted to evaluate the effects of varying dietary protein and lipid levels with different protein‐to‐energy (P/E) ratios on growth, feed utilization, and plasma biochemical parameters of Sinocyclocheilus graham. Nine experimental diets were formulated to contain three protein levels (35, 40, and 45%), and each with three lipid levels (4, 8, and 12%), to produce a range of P/E ratios from 71.31 to 98.64 mg protein/kcal. Each diet was randomly assigned to triplicate groups of 25 fish. Fish grew best when fed the diet containing 45% protein and 12% lipid. However, fish fed the diet with 40% protein and 8% lipid had similar weight gain and specific growth rate as those fed the above diet but showed relatively better feed conversion ratio, protein efficiency ratio, and protein and energy retentions. Additionally, plasma total amino acids and blood urea nitrogen contents and γ‐glutamyltransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, and alanine aminotransferase activities in fish fed the diet containing 40% protein and 8% lipid were relatively low among the dietary treatments. These results may indicate that a diet containing 40% protein and 8% lipid with P/E ratio of 84.05 mg protein/kcal would be suitable for the optimal growth, feed utilization, and health of S. graham.     

STATIC AND DYNAMIC 18FDG‐PET IN NORMAL HISPANIOLAN AMAZON PARROTS (AMAZONA VENTRALIS)

Positron emission tomography (PET) is often used to stage and monitor human cancer and has recently been used in a similar fashion in veterinary medicine. The most commonly used radiopharmaceutical is 2‐Deoxy‐2‐[¹⁸F]‐Fluoro‐d ‐glucose (¹⁸F‐FDG), which is concentrated and trapped within cells that use glucose as their energy substrate. We characterized the normal distribution of ¹⁸F‐FDG in 10 healthy Hispaniolan Amazon parrots (Amazona ventralis) by performing whole body PET scans at steady state, 60 min after injection. Significant variability was found in the intestinal activity. Avian species are known to reflux fluid and electrolytes from their cloaca into their colon. To evaluate reflux as the cause of variability in intestinal distribution of ¹⁸F‐FDG, dynamic PET scans were performed on the coelomic cavity of six Hispaniolan Amazon parrots from time 0 to 60 min postinjection of radiotracer. Reflux of radioactive material from the cloaca into the colon occurred in all birds to varying degrees and occurred before 60 min. To evaluate the intestinal tract of clinical avian patients, dynamic scans must be performed starting immediately after injection so that increased radioactivity due to metabolism or hypermetabolic lesions such as cancer can be differentiated from increased radioactivity due to reflux of fluid from the cloaca.     

Effects of β‐carotene‐enriched dry carrots on β‐carotene status and colostral immunoglobulin in β‐carotene‐deficient Japanese Black cows

Data from 18 β‐carotene‐deficient Japanese Black cows were collected to clarify the effects of feeding β‐carotene‐enriched dry carrots on β‐carotene status and colostral immunoglobulin (Ig) in cows. Cows were assigned to control or carrot groups from 3 weeks before the expected calving date to parturition, and supplemental β‐carotene from dry carrots was 138 mg/day in the carrot group. Plasma β‐carotene concentrations in the control and carrot groups at parturition were 95 and 120 μg/dL, and feeding dry carrots slightly improved plasma β‐carotene at parturition. Feeding dry carrots increased colostral IgA concentrations in cows and tended to increase colostral IgG₁, but colostral IgM, IgG₂, β‐carotene and vitamin A were not affected by the treatment. Feeding dry carrots had no effects on plasma IgG₁, IgA and IgM concentrations in cows, but plasma IgG₁ concentrations decreased rapidly from 3 weeks before the expected calving date to parturition. These results indicate that feeding β‐carotene‐enriched dry carrots is effective to enhance colostral IgA and IgG₁ concentrations in β‐carotene‐deficient cows.     

Long‐Term Field Drought Affects Leaf Protein Pattern and Chloroplast Ultrastructure of Winter Wheat in a Cultivar‐Specific Manner

Recurrent drought periods of varying duration often cause extensive crop damage and affect wheat production in Southern Europe. This study compares biochemical and ultrastructural responses of four wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) cultivars to long‐term field drought, and their contribution to final grain yield. Gel electrophoresis and immunoblotting analyses combined with transmission electron microscopy and grain yield evaluation were employed to assess drought susceptibility of the wheat cultivars. Two of them behaved as drought‐tolerant, the other two presented as drought sensitive. Enhanced degradation of Rubisco large subunit (RLS), Rubisco small subunit (RSS) and Rubisco activase (RA) accompanied by an increased protease activity and reduced levels of heat shock proteins (HSP70) and dehydrins (DHNs) were associated with drought sensitivity. Drought tolerance coincided with relatively stable or increased HSP70 and DHN contents, and unchanged/higher levels of RLS, RSS and RA. Sensitive cultivars were more vulnerable to ultrastructural damages, showing obvious degradation of chloroplast membrane systems and depletion of leaf starch reserves. These drought responses affected yield potential, as tolerant cultivars gave higher yield under intense drought. Thus, our results provide additional insights into the complexity of plant drought responses, identifying multiple interacting traits that may serve as indirect selection criteria for wheat drought tolerance.     

苹果轮纹病菌对吡唑醚菌酯的敏感性及Cytb基因序列分析

为了明确苹果轮纹病菌Botryosphaeria dothidea对吡唑醚菌酯的敏感性和吡唑醚菌酯的靶标基因序列, 采用菌丝生长速率法测定了水杨肟酸对B. dothidea 菌丝生长的作用, 探讨了添加或不添加水杨肟酸的情况下病原菌对吡唑醚菌酯敏感性的变化; 并测定了不同产区的80株B. dothidea 对吡唑醚菌酯的敏感性以及440株B. dothidea 对吡唑醚菌酯的抗性; 然后, 扩增并分析了具有不同敏感性的菌株的细胞色素b基因 (Cytb) 序列?结果表明:不同浓度水杨肟酸对菌丝生长的抑制作用不同?添加40 μg/mL水杨肟酸不影响吡唑醚菌酯的EC50?菌株的敏感性频率符合近似正态分布, 各产区菌株对吡唑醚菌酯的敏感性没有显著差异, 吡唑醚菌酯平均EC50为(2.95±2.11) μg/mL, 没有检测到抗性菌株?靶标基因序列分析表明, Cytb基因在F129?G137和G143位密码子上没有产生点突变, 首次发现在143位密码子后有内含子插入?     

Crop species differ in root plasticity response to localised P supply

The effect of localised phosphorus (P) fertiliser placement and in particular, deep P fertiliser placement, on the comparative root growth and P uptake of fibrous vs tap‐rooted crops is not known. In this study, we examined the root growth and P uptake of wheat (Triticum aestivum L.), canola (Brassica napus L.), and narrow‐leaf lupin (Lupinus angustifolius L.) in a split‐root system and in columns with deep (19 cm) or shallow (5 cm) P fertiliser sources in glasshouse conditions. In the split‐root system, plants of all three species grown under heterogeneous soil P conditions absorbed more P and produced greater root and shoot biomass than those under homogeneous P supply. Root plasticity differed between species under heterogeneous soil P supply: canola and wheat allocated relatively more root biomass and root length to the high P zone than narrow‐leaf lupin. In the column experiment, there was no difference in the amount of P accumulated in shoots of any crops grown in the deep vs shallow P fertiliser treatments. Root proliferation occurred within the shallow and deep‐P fertiliser bands in all three species; however, root distribution above or below the bands did not differ between deep or shallow P fertiliser treatments in any species. Whilst root plasticity responses to heterogeneous soil P supply differed among species, root architecture (fibrous vs taproot) did not confer any advantage or disadvantage to the acquisition of P from deep vs shallow P fertiliser bands. Moreover, whilst roots proliferate in the vicinity of P fertiliser bands, root distribution outside of the bands appears to remain unaltered in both fibrous and tap‐rooted crops during early growth.     

Epidemiological features and association with crib‐biting in horses with neurological disease associated with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy (1991–2008)

A retrospective study of 43 cases of temporohyoid osteoarthropathy was performed to evaluate the epidemiological features and a possible association with crib‐biting. Data collected from records included case details, what diagnostics were utilised, whether medical or surgical treatment was administered, and outcome. Owners were contacted via telephone and asked whether the horse had displayed crib‐biting behaviour. Forty‐three horses were diagnosed with neurological disease associated with temporohyoid osteoarthropathy, 62.8% of which were Quarter Horse‐types. Median age at presentation was 10 years and median duration of neurological signs prior to presentation was 3 days. Skull radiographs and guttural pouch endoscopy were used to definitively diagnose temporohyoid osteoarthropathy in 72% of the cases. Of 43 horses, 21 received medical treatment and 15 surgical treatment, with an overall survival rate of 55.8%. Crib‐biting was observed in 31.3% of cases and there was a significant association between being afflicted with THO and likelihood of possessing the behaviour. Horses with neurological disease associated with THO were 8 times more likely to be crib‐biters compared to the general population.