Responses in carcass lean pH at 24 hours post-mortem in lines of Large White pigs selected for growth rate on a fixed ration over a set time

A restricted maximum likelihood analysis applied to an animal model showed no significant differences (P > 0.05) in pH value of the longissimus dorsi measured at 24 h post-mortem (pH24) between high and low lines of Large White pigs selected over 4 years for post-weaning growth rate on restricted feeding. Genetic and phenotypic correlations between pH24 and production and carcass traits were estimated using all performance testing records combined with the pH24 measurements (5.05–7.02) on slaughtered animals. The estimate of heritability for pH24 was moderate (0.29 ± 0.18). Genetic correlations between pH24 and production or carcass composition traits, except for ultrasonic backfat (UBF), were not significantly different from zero. UBF had a moderate, positive genetic correlation with pH24 (0.24 ± 0.33). These estimates of genetic correlations affirmed that selection for increased growth rate on restricted feeding is likely to result in limited changes in pH24 and pork quality since the selection does not put a high emphasis on reduced fatness.     

Evaluation of ground grain versus pre- and post-pellet whole grain additions to poultry diets via a response surface design

1. The objective of this study was to compare the effects of pre- and post-pellet whole grain wheat additions to diets on growth performance, gizzard and pancreas development, nutrient utilisation and starch and protein (N) digestibility coefficients in broiler chickens via an equilateral triangle response surface design.

2. The three apical treatments of the equilateral triangle comprised (1A) a standard diet containing 600 g/kg ground wheat, (2B) the same diet containing 600 g/kg pre-pellet whole wheat and (3C) the same diet containing 300 g/kg ground wheat and 300 g/kg post-pellet whole wheat. Seven blends of the three apical diets were located within the triangle to complete the design and a total of 360 male Ross 308 chicks were offered the ten experimental diets from 7 to 28 d post-hatch. Model prediction and response surface plots were generated with R 3.0.3 software.

3. The most efficient FCR of 1.466 was observed in birds offered an almost equal mixture of the pre- and post-pellet whole grain apical dietary treatments, which corresponded to 172 g/kg ground grain, 256 g/kg pre-pellet whole grain, 172 g/kg post-pellet whole grain in a diet containing 600 g/kg wheat.

4. The most efficient energy utilisation (ME:GE ratio of 0.766) was observed in birds offered a blend of the ground grain and pre-pellet whole grain apical dietary treatments which corresponded to a mixture of 384 g/kg pre-pellet whole grain and 216 g/kg ground grain.

5. Pre-pellet whole grain feeding generated the most pronounced responses in increased relative gizzard contents, reduced gizzard pH and increased relative pancreas weights. Consideration is given to the likely differences between pre- and post-pellet whole grain feeding.     

Infection, immunity and the neuroendocrine response

The Central Nervous (CNS) and Immune Systems (IS) are the two major adaptive systems which respond rapidly to numerous challenges that are able to compromise health. The defensive response strictly linking innate to acquired immunity, works continuously to limit pathogen invasion and damage. The efficiency of the innate response is crucial for survival and for an optimum priming of acquired immunity. During infection, the immune response is modulated by an integrated neuro-immune network which potentiates innate immunity, controls potential harmful effects and also addresses metabolic and nutritional modifications supporting immune function. In the last decade much knowledge has been gained on the molecular signals that orchestrate this integrated adaptive response, with focus on the systemic mediators which have a crucial role in driving and controlling an efficient protective response. These mediators are also able to signal alterations and control pathway dysfunctions which may be involved in the persistence and/or overexpression of inflammation that may lead to tissue damage and to a negative metabolic impact, causing retarded growth.This review aims to describe some important signalling pathways which drive bidirectional communication between the Immune and Nervous Systems during infection. Particular emphasis is placed on pro-inflammatory cytokines, immunomodulator hormones such as Glucocorticoids (GCs), Growth hormone (GH), Insulin-like Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1), and Leptin, as well as nutritional factors such as Zinc (Zn).Finally, the review includes up-to-date information on this neuroimmune cross-talk in domestic animals. Data in domestic animal species are still limited, but there are several exciting areas of research, like the potential interaction pathways between mediators (i.e. cytokine-HPA regulation, IL-6-GCS-Zn, cytokines-GH/IGF-1, IL-6-GH-Leptin and thymus activity) that are or could be promising topics of future research in veterinary medicine.     

基于遗传多样性评估燕麦品种的农艺性状

为客观评价燕麦种质资源重要农艺性状的遗传多样性,并为黑龙江地区燕麦新品种选育提供关键数据,对51份燕麦种质资源13个农艺性状进行了形态多样性指数分析,并对其中的9个数量性状进行了聚类分析和主成分分析。结果表明,各性状的遗传多样性指数均较大,遗传多样性指数最高的是主穗长(1.517),其次为株高(1.448)和主穗粒重(1.414),性状变异系数最大的是主穗小穗数(34.8%),其次为主穗粒重(33.1%)和单株分蘖数(27.4%);聚类分析将51份燕麦品种的9个数量性状分为4大类群,类群Ⅰ为有益性状不明显,为多目标性状育种的亲本材料,类群Ⅱ为选育矮秆育种目标亲本材料,类群Ⅲ为高杆、增加分蘖数育种目标亲本材料,类群Ⅳ为选育大粒型、多轮层数、多小穗数等育种目标亲本材料。主成分分析结果表明,前3个主成分对变异的累计贡献率为70.09%,第一主成分反映种子产量,第二主成反映单株分蘖数,第三主成分反映株高。     

响应面法优化当归补血汤液体发酵工艺

为确定当归补血汤液体发酵的最佳工艺,本试验采用枯草芽孢杆菌为发酵菌种,以多糖提取率为评价指标进行液体发酵工艺优化。首先采用单因素试验考察发酵培养基中葡萄糖和蛋白胨添加量、菌液接种量和发酵时间对多糖提取率的影响,再以此为基础,采用Box-Behnken中心组合试验设计法,选取葡萄糖添加量、蛋白胨添加量、接种量、发酵时间为发酵优化的4个因素,以多糖提取率为响应值,设计4因素3水平的试验方案并进行响应面分析,以确定各因素与响应值多糖提取率的关系。结果显示,各因素对多糖提取率变化的贡献大小依次为葡萄糖添加量、蛋白胨添加量、接种量、发酵时间;利用响应面分析结果显示,蛋白胨添加量与接种量和发酵时间、接种量和发酵时间的交互作用较为显著,最终确定最佳发酵工艺条件为：葡萄糖添加量0.95%,蛋白胨添加量1.52%,接种量2.92%,发酵时间35.8 h。该条件下多糖提取率达到9.23%,与未发酵组（4.62%）相比,多糖含量提高近2倍。该工艺对液体发酵当归补血汤产多糖优化效果显著,为发酵当归补血汤的进一步开发利用提供了理论基础。     

Characterization of an intravenous lipopolysaccharide inflammation model in calves with respect to the acute-phase response

Our objective was to develop a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) inflammation model in calves to evaluate the acute-phase response with respect to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and acute-phase proteins, fever development and sickness behaviour. Fourteen 4-week-old male Holstein Friesian calves were included and randomly assigned to a negative control group (n = 3) and an LPS-challenged group (n = 11). The latter received an intravenous bolus injection of 0.5 μg of LPS/kg body weight. Blood collection and clinical scoring were performed at 0, 0.5, 1, 1.5, 2, 2.5, 3, 3.5, 4, 5, 6, 8, 12, 18, 24, 28, 32, 48, 54 and 72 h post LPS administration (p.a.). In the LPS group, the following clinical signs were observed successively: tachypnoea (on average 18 min p.a.), decubitus (29 min p.a.), general depression (1.75 h p.a.), fever (5 h p.a.) and tachycardia (5 h p.a.). Subsequent to the recovery from respiratory distress, general depression was prominent, which deteriorated when fever increased. One animal did not survive LPS administration, whereas the other animals recovered on average within 6.1 h p.a. Moreover, the challenge significantly increased plasma concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-α, interleukin 6, serum amyloid A and haptoglobin, with peaking levels at 1, 3.5, 24 and 18 h p.a., respectively. The present LPS model was practical and reproducible, caused obvious clinical signs related to endotoxemia and a marked change in the studied inflammatory mediators, making it a suitable model to study the immunomodulatory properties of drugs in future research.     

发酵棉粕对肉鸡生长性能、血清生化指标及免疫功能的影响

试验旨在研究发酵棉粕(FCM)替代豆粕(SBM)对AA肉仔鸡生长性能、血清生化及免疫功能的影响,并确定发酵棉粕在AA肉鸡日粮中的最适添加量。试验选择480羽1日龄AA肉鸡(44.40±1.11)g,随机分成4组,每组6个重复,以玉米豆粕基础日粮为对照组,分别用5%、10%和15%的发酵棉粕替代豆粕。结果表明:与对照组相比,添加发酵棉粕对肉鸡平均日增重(ADG)、采食量(ADFI)和饲料增重比(F/G)无显著影响;21日龄时,添加5%FCM显著提高了肉鸡的血液IgG和IgM含量及法氏囊指数(P<0.05),添加15%FCM显著降低了血清中尿素氮(UN)含量(P<0.05),此外,3个FCM处理均能提高胸腺指数(P<0.05),但对脾脏指数无影响;42日龄时,5%和10%FCM组显著降低了血清中的UN含量(P<0.05),15%FCM还提高了胸腺和法氏囊指数(P<0.05)。试验通过主成分分析,在试验范围内建立了评价FCM综合效果的参数Z,并得到1~21日龄和22~42日龄阶段,FCM的适宜添加量分别为5%和15%。     

伊维菌素纳米乳透皮制剂的研究

本试验研制伊维菌素纳米乳透皮制剂,并对其理化性能、稳定性、体外药物释放及透皮性能进行评价。采用三元相图筛选不同载药量的纳米乳,确定最佳载药量;采用响应面优化设计筛选纳米乳处方,考察了伊维菌素纳米乳的平均粒径、电位、形态、pH、黏度等性能;分别采用透析袋法和Franz扩散池法比较伊维菌素纳米乳透皮制剂与市售伊维菌素皮肤涂剂的体外释放行为和透皮性能。结果显示,载药量为2.00%时,纳米乳区域最大、最稳定;获得的优选处方为聚氧乙烯蓖麻油 :二乙二醇单乙基醚 :油酸乙酯 :伊维菌素 :水=26 :12 :7: 2: 53;所得伊维菌素纳米乳的平均粒径为18 nm;伊维菌素纳米乳在室温条件和4 ℃冰箱中保存1年仍稳定;其24 h皮肤累积渗透量和滞留量分别是市售伊维菌素皮肤涂剂的3.24和2.05倍。研究结果表明,研制的新型伊维菌素纳米乳透皮制剂具有制备工艺简便、稳定性好、透皮性能好等优点,具有很好的应用前景。     

响应面法优化挤压膨化犬粮加工工艺的研究

以犬粮配方研究中所确定的最佳配方为基础,以糊化度作为挤压膨化犬粮核心品质指标,通过单因素和响应面实验,对螺杆转速、物料水分、喂料速率和套筒温度等双螺杆挤压机的主要操作参数与犬粮糊化度之间的关系进行了研究。建立了糊化度与4个因素变化的二次回归方程。结果表明,物料水分为25%,螺杆转速为30 Hz(1 Hz=5 r/min),套筒温度为160℃,喂料速率为24 Hz(1 Hz=1.7 r/min)的条件下,犬粮的糊化度达到89.7%。