Effect of Partial Replacement of Steam Rolled Corn With Soybean Hulls or Prickly Pear Cactus in the Horse's Diet in the Presence of Live Saccharomyces cerevisiae on In Vitro Fecal Gas Production

The aim of the study was to evaluate the fecal fermentation of partial replacing steam rolled corn with soybean hulls (SH) or prickly pear cactus (PC) as energy source in horse diets, in the presence of Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Steam rolled corn was replaced with SH at 0% (control), 7.5% (SH75), and 15% (SH150) in the first trial, whereas it was replaced with PC at 0% (control; the same of the first trial), 7.5% (PC75), and 15% (PC150) in the second trial. Yeast of S. cerevisiae was added at 0, 2, and 4 mg/g dry matter (DM) of incubated substrates. Fecal inoculum was obtained from four adult English Thoroughbred horses fed on an amount of commercial concentrate and oat hay ad libitum. Interactions observed between PC rations and yeast doses for the asymptotic gas production (GP), the rate of GP and carbon dioxide (CO₂) production during some incubation hours. Moreover, with no effect due to SH rations (P > .05), increased (P < .05) rate of GP was observed with the ration PC75 compared with other rations. Besides, PC75 and PC150 rations with 0 mg yeast/g DM linearly decreased (P < .05) CO₂ production at some incubation hours. However, SH75 and SH150 ration had increased (P = .005) DM degradability (DMD). Yeast addition at 2 mg/g DM increased the asymptotic GP (P = .048) with the SH75 and PC150 rations. The level of 4 mg yeast/g DM increased the asymptotic GP (P = .048) from the SH150 ration. Yeast addition at 2 and 4 mg/g DM increased (P < .05) ​the asymptotic GP from PC75 and PC150 rations, respectively, with increasing DMD with the both doses. Yeast addition increased (P < .05) CO₂ production from SH75, SH150, PC75, and PC150 rations. It could be concluded that SH and PC can replace steam rolled corn at levels of 7.5% to 15% without negative effect of fermentation kinetics and with better fermentation performance in the presence of yeast at 2 mg/g DM of substrates.     

Chemical and nutritional characteristics of Cannabis sativa L. co-products

Cannabis sativa L. is an annual herbaceous plant. It was used for centuries to obtain different products. In the last century, hemp cultivation was forbidden due to the psychoactive effects of tetrahydrocannabinol acid (THCA). In the last years, new strains, characterized by high cannabidiolic acid (CBDA) and low THCA level, were developed renewing the interest in hemp cultivation to obtain food or to extract essential oils from flowers. All these processes produce many residues with different chemical–physical characteristics. In order to evaluate their potential use also in animal nutrition, some hemp co-products were evaluated. Two different co-products of seed processes (flour and oil) and two co-products obtained trimming the flowers, differing in granulometry were used. The samples were analysed for chemical composition and evaluated in vitro using the gas production technique with buffaloes' ruminal inoculum. All hemp co-products showed interesting nutritional characteristics, such as crude protein content always higher than 20% on a dry matter basis, and high neutral detergent fibre concentration partially lignified. The in vitro gas production parameters at 120 h of incubation showed quite low fermentability testified by the low organic matter degradability and cumulative gas volume (OMD from 28.09 to 45.64% and OMCV from 110 to 164 ml/g, respectively). Also, the methane produced after 24 h of incubation was particularly low (from 1.78 to 11.73 ml/g dOM). These results could be due to the high lipid and ash amounts or to the CBDA content that probably affected the CH₄ formation processes. According to preliminary results obtained by this study, it is possible to hypothesize that these co-products could be useful to mitigate the methane production into the rumen. Further studies are necessary in order to evaluate the correct inclusion into the diet for ruminants.     

Egg production,fertility, hatchability and immune responses of some chicken strains under high ambient temperatures

This experiment was designed to investigate and compare the egg production, fertility, hatchability and immune responses of some local developed Egyptian chicken strains under high ambient temperatures. A total of 108 (26 weeks old) laying hens of Matrouh, Silver Montazah, Mandarah and Inshas (9 hens × 3 replicates × 4 strains) were used to evaluate the impact of thermal stress (24-34ºC) during summer season (June, July and August) on egg production, fertility, hatchability and immune responses. The obtained results revealed that final body weight (FBW/g) and body weight change (BWC/g) among different chicken strains were not affected. The daily feed consumption (FC/g) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) for Silver Montazah and Inshas strains were significantly (p ≤ .05) higher than those of Matrouh and Mandarah strains. The mean egg production (EP/%) and egg mass (EM) for Silver Montazah and Inshas strains were significantly (p ≤ .05) higher than those of Matrouh and Mandarah strains. The highest percentages of hatchability of total eggs (HTE) and fertile eggs (HFE) were recorded in Inshas chickens, while the lowest value was recorded in Mandarah chickens. Also, the highest embryonic mortalities (p ≤ .05) and lowest chick weight at hatch (CWH/g) were recorded in Mandarah chickens compared with the other strains. The highest values for antibody titres against phytohemagglutinin-P (PHA-P) were recorded in Mandarah chickens, while the least values were recorded in Inshas chickens.     

Production,chemical composition,and fatty acid profile of milk from buffaloes fed with cupuaçu (Theobroma grandiflorum) cake and murumuru (Astrocaryum murumuru) cake in the Eastern Amazon

The objective was to evaluate the effect of concentrate supplementation using by-products of the Amazonian industry on milk production, milk composition, and milk fatty acid profile of dairy buffaloes. Twelve lactating buffaloes (544.5 ± 35.6 kg, 6.4 ± 2.2 years old, 59 ± 6 days in milk) were allotted in a pasture of Mombaça grass and managed under rotational grazing (4 days occupancy/28 days rest). A 3 × 3 Latin square was adopted, and each animal alternately received three supplementary treatments based on corn bran + soybean meal or cupuaçu cake or murumuru cake for 21 days per treatment. Murumuru cake increased the levels of lauric acid and myristic acid in the milk (p < 0.05). Murumuru cake reduced the unsaturated fatty acid contents in the milk compared with animals fed control diet or cupuaçu cake (24.27% vs. 25.24% vs. 25.08%). The n-6/n-3 ratio was 2.6, 1.97, and 2.0 in the control, cupuaçu, and murumuru groups, respectively. Based on this parameter, cakes made from cupuaçu as well as murumuru could be considered to be adequate for inclusion in dairy water buffalo feed. However, the murumuru cake addition requires some caution because its use induces the secretion of higher levels of lauric and myristic fatty acids that are related to human cardiovascular disease.     

Single nucleotide polymorphism in avian uncoupling protein gene is associated with thermoregulation in chicks

Avian uncoupling protein (av-UCP) is a key protein for thermoregulation in poultry. A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the av-UCP gene has been reported in chickens. The purpose of the current study was to clarify the association between this av-UCP gene mutation and thermoregulation in chickens. Wild and mutant type chicks for the av-UCP gene SNP (g. 1270 of the av-UCP gene exon 3 with C to T substitution and amino acid substitution) were exposed to high ambient temperature. Rectal temperature, radiation temperature on the body surface, and the expression of heat dissipation behavior (wing drooping and panting) during heat exposure were measured. In addition, oxygen consumption rate in the thermoneutral zone in wild and mutant type chicks was measured. Changes in wing temperature during heat exposure in wild-type chicks were lower than those in mutants. The latency of continuous wing drooping during heat exposure in wild-type chicks was shorter than in mutant chicks. It was also found that the SNP in the av-UCP gene caused reduced oxygen consumption. These results suggest that the av-UCP gene mutation affects thermoregulation, especially heat production, in chickens.     

我国不同奶业产区规模化牧场饲料结构分析

在奶牛养殖规模化水平不断提高,养殖成本日益增加,且区域间差异明显的背景下,饲料作为奶牛养殖主要投入品,了解其在规模化牧场生产成本中的结构对于优化奶牛日粮结构、降低养殖成本、缩小区域间养殖效益差距等具有重要意义。本文利用2018—2020年规模牧场月度调研数据,分析了我国规模化牧场饲料结构情况。研究发现,大城市周边产区和南方产区的精饲料和粗饲料的比例相对更加科学,华北产区仍有较大提升空间,并且玉米、豆粕、玉米青贮和苜蓿草在日粮中占有较大比重,达到84.62%;不同产区奶牛日粮结构具有明显差距,玉米青贮和苜蓿草在西北产区占比最高,玉米和豆粕在南方产区占比最高。注重发挥区域优势,加大优质粗饲料和可替代饲料的利用,有利于降低养殖成本,提高养殖的科学性和可持续性。     

拷贝数变异在畜禽中的研究进展

拷贝数变异（copy number variation,CNV）具有多种形式的变异结构,在品种多样性、生物进化和疾病相关性等研究中起着重要作用,并具有片段长度大、覆盖范围广等特点。随着分子生物学的发展及DNA测序技术的日渐成熟,人们对遗传变异的研究不断向DNA分子水平深入,多态性标记在畜禽育种中已逐渐成为动物育种研究的趋势和主流。由于CNV对基因的调控和表达所造成的影响更为显著,因此,CNV在重要畜禽中的研究越来越多。目前,已检测出大量有关畜禽重要经济性状的基因序列变异,并有许多研究均表明CNV与动物的重要经济特征及疾病的发生有关。笔者主要通过参考国内外相关的研究报道,简述了CNV的相关研究背景、概念、突变机制,归纳总结了CNV对牛、羊、猪、鸡的经济性状、繁殖性状和疾病调控的影响,以期通过对这些重要畜禽的基因组学研究揭示其适应性遗传机理和表型性状差异的遗传基础,开发相应的分子遗传标记,为畜禽的标记辅助选育提供理论基础。     

以沼气为纽带的西藏农牧业清洁生产模式研究

为了解决因长期不合理施用化肥导致的西藏土壤理化性状、营养元素、有机物质、生物学活性和重金属含量等问题,提出了以沼气为纽带的西藏农牧业清洁生产的3种模式,均以沼肥综合利用促进沼气发展为目标的,集养殖、沼气、种植为一体的循环农牧业清洁生产模式。同时,阐述了农牧业清洁生产的内涵和目标,以及西藏发展农牧业清洁生产的条件、模式、存在的问题及解决对策,为解决长期不合理施用化肥而导致的一系列问题提供思路。该研究有利于实现资源循环利用,实现生态农业与无公害农产品的生产,保护农牧区生态环境,促进西藏农牧业的可持续发展。     

滴灌水肥管理对日光温室黄瓜产量和品质的影响

采用田间试验,研究滴灌系统运行方式和施肥频率对黄瓜产量、品质的影响。结果表明:施肥频率对黄瓜的生长、产量和品质的影响显著,在开花期与采收期,提高施肥水平能促进植株株高和叶片数的增加,产量和品质随施肥频率的增加而增加。因此,从提高产量和品质的角度看,施肥频率取两周1次较为适宜,滴灌施肥灌溉过程中的施肥时段应尽量前移。     

Effects of Supplemental Complex Water Soluble Vitamin on Production Performance,Blood Biochemical Parameters and Oxidation Resistance of Dairy Cows

The objective of the study was to investigate the effects of supplemental complex water soluble vitamins on production performance, blood biochemical parameters and oxidative resistance of dairy cows in spring and summer.The experiment was designed by 2×2 factorial randomized blocks design.Eighty healthy dairy cows with similar parity and body weight were randomly divided to four groups, with 7 days of adaptation and 70 d experimental phase.The dairy cows in group Ⅲ and Ⅳ were fed a basal diet supplemented with complex water soluble vitamins in spring.The dairy cows in group Ⅱ and Ⅳ were fed a basal diet supplemented with complex water soluble vitamins in summer.The results showed that the ADFI and daily milk yield of dairy cows receiving water soluble vitamin in spring were extremely significantly higher (P<0.01);The ADFI of dairy cows receiving water soluble vitamin was significantly higher in summer (P<0.05) and daily milk yield were extremely significantly higher (P<0.01);The butterfat rate was extremely significantly increased and SCC was extremely significantly decreased in spring and summer (P<0.01);Supplementation of water soluble vitamin was also significantly increased LYM (P<0.05).In summer, T-AOC, T-SOD were extremely significantly increased (P<0.01), and TP, CK, LDH, TP, HDL and ALB were extremely significantly decreased (P<0.01) by water soluble vitamin supplementation than that of control group.In conclusion, complex water soluble vitamins could increase the production performance and non-specific immune function, improve the oxidative resistance and relieved the heat stress of the dairy cows.