Seasonal changes in nutritional status and reproductive performance of Zebu cows kept under a traditional agro-pastoral system in Tanzania

The objectives of this study were to assess changes in nutritional status/body condition score, percentage pregnancy and calving rate in Zebu cows and to establish the relationship between body condition score loss and postpartum interval to resumption of ovarian activity. A total of 198 cows and postpubertal heifers of the Tanzanian Shorthorn Zebu kept under a traditional management system were randomly selected from 200 smallholder herds. Factors investigated during bi-weekly visits include body condition score (BCS), heart-girth circumference, milk yield and reproductive status of the animals, pregnancy/non-pregnancy and cyclicity/non-cyclicity. Local weather conditions and dates of occurrence of other reproductive events such as calving were also recorded. Calvings occurred all year round but with a strong seasonal distribution characterized by annual peaks observed between April and July. The annual calving pattern was closely related to rainfall, with peak precipitation occurring a few months before peak calving. The overall percentage pregnancy varied from 30% to 50% throughout the year. Postpartum cows exhibited minimum mean BCS and heart-girth circumference 12–14 weeks after calving, and cows with BCS loss >1 point exhibited the longest time interval from calving to onset of ovarian activity.     

Breeding objectives of Brangus cattle in Brazil

Our goal was to define a breeding objective for Brangus beef cattle in Brazil. Bioeconomic models were produced and used to estimate economic values (EVs). The scenarios simulated were typical full-cycle beef production systems that are used in tropical and subtropical regions. The breeding objective contained pregnancy rate (PR), warm carcass weight (WCW), mature cow weight (MCW), number of nematode eggs per gram of faeces (EPG) and tick count (TICK). Two models were used in series to estimate the EV. A deterministic model was used to simulate effects of PR, WCW and MCW on profitability with a constant parasite load. Subsequently, stochastic models were used to estimate economic values for TICK and EPG as consequences of their environmental effects on weight gains, mortality and health costs. The EV of PR, WCW, MCW, EPG and TICK, was US$1.59, US$2.11, −US$0.24, −US$5.35 and −US$20.88, respectively. Results indicate positive emphasis should be placed on PR (12.49%) and WCW (65.07%) with negative emphasis on MCW (13.92%), EPG (2.77%) and TICK (5.75%). In comparison with the indexes usually used, these results suggest a reformulation in the selection indexes of the beef production system in tropical and subtropical regions in order to obtain greater profitability.     

中国南方草地现状与生产潜力

中国南方草地区为秦岭、淮河以南、青藏高原以东的广大地区 ,总面积约 2 70万 km2 ,分属淮河、长江、珠江 3大流域。南方草地多山 ,本文涉及的 12个南方省区中 ,山地与平原之比平均为 4 .85∶ 1,比全国平均比值高出 1倍。山地面积之大小与青藏高原距离的远近呈负相关。南方草地大体可以分为云贵高原区、华东区和华南区。笔者提出建立 3类系统耦合经济带 ,即西南岩溶山地系统耦合生态经济带、江淮平原丘陵系统耦合生态经济带和岭南沿海平原丘陵生态经济带。每一生态经济带内包含中心城市 ,农村生产基地和社会支持系统。据初步估算 ,这样的生态经济带蕴藏了巨大的经济潜力     

钾肥对紫花苜蓿根颈丙二醛、可溶性蛋白含量与抗氧化系统的影响

为探究钾肥种类及用量对苜蓿(Medicago sativa)抗寒性的影响,本研究以'北极熊'为供试紫花苜蓿品种,采用二因素随机区组试验设计,研究了秋季施用不同钾肥(硫酸钾和氯化钾)及不同施用量(0,50,100,150,200 kg·hm-2 K2 O)对越冬期苜蓿根颈在不同温度(4℃,—20℃)处理下抗氧化酶[过氧化...     

论国有企业改革中的土地资产处置

国有企业改革中的土地资产处置，关系到企业改革的成败。文章论述了国有企业改革中土地资产处置的必要性、处置方式、存在问题，本着“明晰产权、显化资产、依法处置”的原则，要“因地制宜、因企制宜”，即要有利于企业改革的顺利进行，又要避免国有土地资产的再流失。     

贵南县乡镇农业技术推广体系存在的问题及其对策建议

乡镇农业技术推广体系是实施科技兴农战略的重要力量,乡镇农业技术推广人员对于提高农民科学文化整体素质起到重要作用。笔者通过对贵南县乡镇农业技术推广现状分析,指出乡镇农业技术推广工作存在着基础设施条件差、推广经费不足、管理体制不顺、推广工作难度大、专业技术人员少、业务素质不高、农技人员待遇低等突出问题,并结合实际,有针对性地提出了搞好乡镇农业技术推广工作的对策建议。     

RNA干扰技术和家蚕杆状病毒表达系统在纤维素酶研究中的应用前景

植物通过光合作用产生的纤维素是地球上最丰富、最廉价的可再生资源。纤维素酶是糖苷水解酶的一种,能有效地将农作物秸杆等富含纤维素的物质水解为葡萄糖,进而发酵产生生物乙醇,从而解决农业、再生能源以及环境污染等问题。随着生物化学、分子生物学以及基因工程等多种交叉学科的快速发展,获得适合工业化的高活力的纤维素酶指日可待。RNA干扰是利用双链RNA特异性地降解相应序列的mRNA,从而特异性地阻断相应基因的表达,是后基因组时代的一种强有力的调控目的基因表达的实验工具。家蚕杆状病毒表达系统是一种快速、高效表达外源基因的技术手段,目前该系统的发展和应用已经非常成熟。本文综述了纤维素酶的特性以及近年来国内外对纤维素酶、RNA干扰和家蚕杆状病毒表达系统的研究进展,并对该两种实验技术手段在今后纤维素酶研究中的应用前景作了预测和展望。     

纳米氧化锌对肉仔鸡抗氧化性能的影响

本试验旨在研究纳米氧化锌对肉仔鸡抗氧化性能的影响.选用1日龄爱拔益加肉仔鸡192只,随机分为4个组,每个组4个重复,每个重复12只鸡.以添加硫酸锌(含锌80 mg/kg)的口粮为对照组,即A组,添加含锌40、80、120 mg/kg的3个纳米氧化锌水平组为试验组,即B、C、D组,试验期6周.试验结果表明:40 mg/kg锌添加水平的纳米氧化锌组能够显著提高(21、42 d)肉仔鸡血清中谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH-Px)活性(P<0.05、P<0.01),极显著提高(21、42 d)血清中总抗氧化能力(T-AOC)(P<0.01、P<0.01),减少(21 d)血清中一氧化氮(NO)生成(P<0.05).80 mg/kg锌添加水平的纳米氧化锌组能够极显著提高(42 d)肉仔鸡血清中GSH-Px活性(P<0.01),显著提高(42 d)肝组织中过氧化氢酶(CAT)和T-AOC活性(P<0.05、P<0.01),极显著提高(21 d)血清中T-AOC(P<0.01),减少(21、42 d)血清中NO生成(P<0.05、P<0.01),并能提高(42 d)血清抑制羟自由基能力(P<0.05),提高(21 d)肝组织中抗超氧阴离子自由基活性(P<0.05).由此可知,日粮添加纳米氧化锌可在一定程度上提高肉仔鸡机体的抗氧化性能,增强抗氧化酶活性,降低自由基的产生,以40、80 mg/kg添加量效果较佳.     

健全质量管理体系 保证蚕种检验检疫质量

阐述了浙江省蚕种质量检验检疫站质量管理体系的构建与运行实效,对确保全省蚕种质量的作用。     

Genetic analyses of piglet survival and individual birth weight on first generation data of a selection experiment for piglet survival under outdoor conditions

Genetic parameters of piglet survival traits and birth weight were estimated on the first generation data of a selection experiment aimed at improving piglet survival using a multiple trait linear and threshold model. Data on 5293 piglets for survival at birth, at day one after birth and during the entire nursing period, as well as individual birth weight and litter size, were recorded in an outdoor production system. Genetic effects of piglet survival traits and birth weight were estimated based on threshold and Gaussian models, respectively, using a Bayesian approach. The statistical model included as fixed effects selection group, parity, gender, fostering, gestation length and month of farrowing and, alternatively, an adjustment for litter size. Direct genetic effects (i.e. the piglet's genetic potential) for piglet survival and birth weight were estimated separately, whereas maternal genetic and environmental effects could only be estimated for the given data structure in a combined litter effect. Posterior means of heritabilities for direct genetic effects of survival at birth, at first day after birth and the entire nursing period, as well as birth weight, were 0.08, 0.07, 0.08 and 0.20, respectively. Genetic correlations among survival traits were in the range of 0.29 to 0.40 and indicate that these traits were mainly attributable to different genetic effects. Genetic correlations between direct effects of survival traits and birth weight ranged between 0.18 and 0.23 and were reduced when weights of stillborn piglets were omitted in the analysis or the traits were adjusted for litter size. The magnitudes of direct genetic effects of survival traits are substantially higher than estimates in the literature, which may indicate that these traits have a higher genetic influence under outdoor conditions. The use of birth weight in the multiple trait estimation provided important information for the estimation of survival traits due to its favourable genetic correlations with survival, its high heritability and its high information content as a continuously measured trait.