Semiquantitative multi‐analysis of plasma obtained from Romney lambs (Ovis aries) by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry,and the classification according to feed type

The establishment of a classification system for domestic animals on consumed feed stuff is thought to be important from both a hygiene and market point of view. We collected plasma samples of Romney lambs (Ovis aries) which were fed one of the following: a herb‐clover mix (n = 10) which included chicory, red clover, white clover and plantain; a plant‐grass mix (n = 10) which included plantain, ryegrass and white clover; or a grass mix (n = 10) which included ryegrass and white clover. A total of 20 elements in plasma samples obtained from the lambs were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The data were then analyzed by principal component analysis. The lambs were divided into three groups on a score plot depending on the different feed conditions. Furthermore, discriminant analyses of the elements were examined, using linear discriminant analysis with forward stepwise regression. This discriminant function correctly classified the samples from each group. The accuracy of classification of each group, as shown by 10‐fold cross‐validation, proved the effectiveness of the established discriminant function. It is concluded that using linear discriminant analysis might be a useful tool for the validation of elements from plasma in lambs grown in different conditions.     

Esophagostomy Feeding Tube Use and Placement in Exotic Pets

Providing enteral nutrition to injured or ill exotic animal patients by means of assisted feedings minimizes catabolism and gastrointestinal morbidity associated with anorexia, while optimizing immune system and organ function, and providing nutritional precursors necessary for healing. When determining the nutritional needs of a debilitated animal, it is important to account for both metabolic rate and energy requirements. Providing enteral nutrition via a feeding tube utilizes the functional gastrointestinal tract in patients that cannot or will not eat. Additionally, administration of food through a feeding tube is significantly less stressful for patients than restraint and syringe feeding. Feeding tube placement should be considered in any animal where the stress associated with syringe feeding is likely to result in significant morbidity or when the need for an extended period of assisted feeding is required.     

调制方式对苜蓿青干草干燥特性和营养品质的影响

本研究以种植第2年处于初花期的紫花苜蓿(Medicago sativa)为材料,设压扁+喷碳酸钾（2.5%）、压扁茎秆、自然晾晒和阴干4种青干草调制方法,以105 ℃烘干为对照,研究不同调制方法对苜蓿干燥特性和营养品质的影响,并对干草质量进行综合评价。结果表明,除对照外,参试调制方式的苜蓿干燥速率均呈现先快后慢的趋势;对照、压扁+喷碳酸钾（2.5%）都能加速干燥,减少干草营养物质损失;常规晾晒虽缩短了干燥时间,但对干草品质的保持效果不显著。采用灰色关联分析对参试方法的调制效果进行综合评价表明,对照的综合表现最好,其次是压扁+喷碳酸钾（2.5%）,该晾晒方法快速、简便、实用,在生产中值得推荐。     

贵州都匀马尾松种子园针叶DRIS营养诊断分析

通过对都匀1．5代无性系种子园20年生马尾松针叶中N、P、K、Ca、Mg、Cu、Zn、Fe、Mn、B等营养元素含量变化的测定和分析,初步筛选出N／P、K／N、Ca／N、Mg／N、N／Cu、zn／N、N／Fe、K／P、Ca／P、P／Mg、P／Cu、P／Zn、Fe／P、K／Ca、K／Mg、K／Cu、K／Zn、Fe／K、Ca／Mg、Ca／Cu、Ca／Zn、Fe／Ca、MgJCu、Zn／Mg、Fe／Mg、Zn／Cu、Fe／Cu、Fe／Zn共28对元素比值为重要参数,对贵州都匀马尾松种子园针叶作DRIS营养诊断分析。结果表明,该地区马尾松针叶内Mn含量过高,平均值为767．01mg／kg,而B含量较低,仅为12．95mg／kg,马尾松的需肥顺序为Cu〉P〉Zn〉Mg〉Ca〉N〉K〉Fe。     

A Screening Trial of 28 Species Conducted on Non-Saline and Saline Soils in Dry Tropical Northeast Australia

Abstract

A trial to examine the suitabilities of 28 tree species for both non-saline and saline soils was carried out in a dry tropical area of northern Australia. The trial consisted of two experiments, Experiment 1 on a non-saline site and Experiment 2 on a saline site. In each experiment, trees of all the species were grown in a randomised complete block design with 6 blocks (replicates) and were measured for survival; height and diameter at breast height (DBH) at age 24 months. These parameters were found to differ significantly between species in both experiments. Of all species tested, Azadi-rachta indica, Eucalyptus camaldulensis, E. citriodora, E. maculata, E. pellita, E. raveretiana, Khaya senegalensisand Paulowniafortue-niihad high survival and fast growth in height and DBH on the non-saline site while E. camaldulensis, E. drepanophylla, E. moluc-cartaand E. raveretianaperformed better on the saline site. Salinity greatly affected survival for some species and reduced tree growth in both height and DBH for most species tested. E. camaldulensisis suggested to be one of themost important species for land rehabilitationin theregion.     

Growth and Nutritional Responses of Juvenile Jeffrey Pine to Post-Planting Fertilization

Abstract

Broadcast fertilization of a three-year-old Jeffrey pine (Pinus jeffreyi Grev. & Balf.) plantation growing on an eroded Sierra Nevada site was examined for its capacity to enhance seedling growth. The amendments chosen for the study included controlled release and conventional soluble formulations that contained a variety of N forms, but all featured high N content along with other nutrients. Four application rates were used, and all amendments were distributed around the base of the seedlings as top dressing. Four seasons after treatment application, fertilized seedlings were 129% larger in height, 93% larger in diameter, and 865% greater in shoot volume than unfertilized seedlings overall. Seedling sizes generally increased with application rate, and by a small margin, the controlled release fertilizer outperformed the other formulations. Relative growth analysis suggested that stimulation by the amendments would continue beyond four seasons. Foliar analysis conducted early and again late during the study revealed that N and P concentrations were consistently raised by fertilization, which likely accounts for much of the accompanying growth gains, while Ca, Fe, Mn, B, and Al concentrations were consistently reduced. Either early or late, foliar K was also raised while Mg, S, Zn, and Cu were reduced. Collectively, these results indicate that fertilization with a variety of high N formulations can increase the availability and uptake of critical nutrients sufficiently to impart in Jeffrey pine on low quality sites a substantial growth advantage.     

A survey of feeding,management and faecal pH of Thoroughbred racehorses in the North Island of New Zealand

AIM: To identify feeding and management variables associated with variation in faecal pH within a population of intensively managed Thoroughbred racehorses in New Zealand.

METHODS: A cross-sectional survey was conducted of 16 racehorse trainers in the North Island of New Zealand. Interviews were conducted at the trainers' stables to obtain information on feeding and management of horses, and faecal samples were collected and faecal pH measured.

RESULTS: Ninety-seven percent of the horses surveyed were confined in an area ≤5 × 5 m for ≥12 h/day. Trainer's age, number of years they had trained horses, age and gender of horses, weeks in race training, racing class, frequency of feeding, bedding type, and exercise workload had no effect on mean faecal pH. Acidic faecal pH (pH ≤6.32) was associated with stables with ≤12 horses, and trainers at stables with ≤12 horses offered more concentrate feed than those at stables with >12 horses. Acidic faecal pH was associated with trainers who offered 4 kg of grain as the only form of concentrate fed, or offered ≤2.25 kg hay/day. Horses that displayed stable vices had less acidic faecal pH than horses that did not display stable vices, viz pH 6.70 (standard error of the mean (SEM) 0.135) vs 6.43 (SEM 0.029) (p=0.04).

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL RELEVANCE: Racehorse management in New Zealand is similar to that observed in other major racing countries. Trainers with ≤12 horses fed more concentrates and their horses had lower faecal pH than those of trainers with >12 horses. Irrespective of management system, it appears important to provide at least 2.25 kg of hay/day ad libitum, to buffer hindgut acidosis associated with diets high in soluble carbohydrate.     

Effect of extra maternal feed supply in early gestation on sow and piglet performance and production and meat quality of growing/finishing pigs

The influence of differentiated extra maternal feed allowance during early gestation on maternal performance and postnatal development of the progeny from gilts and sows was investigated. Four different feed allowances of the same diet (Control [C], +35% [T35], +70% [T70], +100% [T100]) were assigned to 20 crossbred gilts (Swedish Landrace×Swedish Yorkshire), which continued as sows with the same feed allowance the following parity. The progeny was uniformly raised and slaughtered at a live weight of 110 kg. Additional maternal feed allowance resulted in significantly more weaned piglets per sow but not per gilt. Piglet numbers did not increase from T35 to T70/T100. Piglet birth weight did not increase due to maternal feeding. The intra-litter variation in piglet birth weights was similar between the treatments. Independent of the additional feed allowance, all gilts and sows had similar weights after weaning and had good body condition. The growth rate of progeny from sows was negatively related to maternal feed supply; for progeny from gilts, no clear trend of nutritional influence could be observed. Carcass and technological meat quality was not affected by maternal feeding treatment. Birth weight positively affected later growth performance (daily weight gain), carcass quality (lean meat content, back fat, proportion of muscles in ham/loin), whereas technological meat quality was unaffected.     

Status of selenium and vitamin E on Norwegian organic sheep and dairy cattle farms

Herbage selenium (Se) concentration is generally low in Norway. It is unknown whether feeding practices on Norwegian organic farms fulfil the dietary needs of Se and vitamin E for sheep and dairy cattle. Therefore we analysed Se in soil and herbage, and Se and vitamin E in animal blood in the indoor feeding season at 14 organic dairy and 14 organic sheep farms. The herbage Se concentration was low. Approximately 50 and 35% of all samples in the first and second cut, respectively, had Se concentrations below the detection limit of 0.01 mg/kg dry matter (DM). The median (10th, 90th percentile) Se concentrations were <0.01 (<0.01, 0.03) and 0.02 (<0.01, 0.06) mg/kg DM in the first and second cuts, respectively. Whole blood Se concentrations were 0.10 (0.04, 0.15) μg/g in dairy cattle and 0.14 (0.03, 0.26) μg/g in sheep. Vitamin E concentrations were 4.2 (2.7, 8.4) mg/l in dairy cattle and 1.3 (0.9, 2.4) mg/l in sheep. None of the soil or plant variables explained the variation in herbage Se concentration, although Se in soil and plant tended to be correlated. Herbage Se concentration was inadequate to meet the dietary Se requirements. Vitamin E requirement was only met in dairy herds. We recommend Se and vitamin E supplementation to ruminants on organic farms.