Hair cortisol levels of lactating dairy cows in cold‐ and warm‐temperate regions in Japan

We compared the hair cortisol levels of lactating dairy cows in a cold‐ and a warm‐temperate region out of four climatic zones in Japan. We simultaneously investigated the effects of calving number, lactation period and month of hair sampling. Hair of nine Holstein lactating cows chosen from each region (i.e. 18 cows per sampling) was sampled in March, June, September and December. Number of calvings (1, 2, ≥3) and lactation duration (early: <100, middle: 101–200, and late: >201 days) were balanced between regions. Cortisol was extracted from hair by methanol, and its level was determined with a cortisol immunoassay kit. A multi‐way analysis of variance revealed that the effects of month of hair sampling (P < 0.001) and its combination with region (P < 0.05) were significant. In a multiple comparison test, significant differences (P < 0.01) in hair cortisol level (pg/mg of hair) were found between June (13.0 ± 1.0) and the other 3 months, and between September (1.6 ± 0.2) and December (4.5 ± 0.3). The rise in cortisol level from March to June was more intense in the cold‐temperate region. These results demonstrate the necessity of considering seasonal variations in each climatic region when we use hair cortisol level as an indicator of stress.     

Distinctive diet‐tissue isotopic discrimination factors derived from the exclusive bamboo‐eating giant panda

Stable isotope analysis is very useful in animal ecology, especially in diet reconstruction and trophic studies. Differences in isotope ratios between consumers and their diet, termed discrimination factors, are essential for studies of stable isotope ecology and are species‐specific and tissue‐specific. Given the specialized bamboo diet and clear foraging behavior, here, we calculated discrimination factors for carbon and nitrogen isotopes from diet to tissues (tooth enamel, hair keratin and bone collagen) for the giant panda (Ailuropoda melanoleuca), a species derived from meat‐eating ancestors. Our results showed that carbon discrimination factor obtained from giant panda tooth enamel (ε ¹³C_{diet‐enamel} = 10.0‰) and nitrogen discrimination factors from hair keratin (Δ¹⁵N_diet‐hair = 2.2‰) and bone collagen (Δ¹⁵N_{diet‐collagen} = 2.3‰) were lower, and carbon discrimination factors from hair keratin (Δ¹³C_diet‐hair = 5.0‰) and bone collagen (Δ¹³C_{diet‐collagen} = 6.1‰) were higher than those of other mammalian carnivores, omnivores and herbivores. Such distinctive values are likely the result of a low‐nutrient and specialized bamboo diet, carnivore‐like digestive system and exceptionally low metabolism in giant pandas.     

Heritability of, and genetic correlations among, forage and seed yield traits in Ladino white clover

Sixteen white clover genotypes and their half-sib progenies were grown in pure stand. Each clover progeny was also grown in a mixed stand that also included three grass varieties of different species. Dry matter (DM) yield was measured over 2 years and seed yield at the second year. Competitive ability of clover families was defined as the ratio between mixed stand and pure stand for clover DM yield. Narrow-sense heritability from parent-offspring regression of pure stand data was high to moderate (h²0.50) for DM yield, seed yield and most of their components. Persistence as predicted by stolon density showed negative genetic correlations with seed yield (r_g= -0.70) and DM yield (r₂= -0.60), whereas seed yield and DM yield tended towards a negative correlation (r₂=0.45). Sizes of different vegetative or reproductive organs were generally correlated positively. Evidence was provided that the set of parent genotypes represents well the genetic variation available within the Ladino gene pool. The results highlighted the difficulty of combining relatively short-term DM yield, persistence and seed yield into a unique plant type. Differences in competitive ability emerged only in the second year, better ability being related mainly to petiole length among the traits assessed in pure stand.     

不同化合态氮浓度对大豆根瘤菌结瘤和固氮作用的影响

不同化合态氮浓度对大豆根瘤菌结瘤和固氮作用的影响＊刘莉周俊初陈华癸（农业部农业微生物重点实验室,华中农业大学,武汉４３００７０）ＴｈｅＥｆｅｃｔｏｆＤｉｆｅｒｅｎｔＣｏｍｐｏｕｎｄＮｉｔｒｏｇｅｎＣｏｎｃｅｎｔｒａｔｉｏｎｏｎｔｈｅＮｏｄｕｌａｔｉｏ...     

用~(75)Se、~(65)Zn示踪研究微量元素硒、锌在家兔毛中沉积与体内代谢的关系

本研究以大耳白家兔为实验动物,分别用含硒,锌水平不同的饲粮预饲２个月后,每组５只动物各灌喂１次＾７５Ｓｅ－亚硒酸钠,＾６５Ｚｎ－硫酸锌溶液。测定了＾７５Ｓｅ,＾６５Ｚｎ的吸收,排泄与转移到毛中沉积的过程,实验末检测了各器官组织中了存留量。从测定背部被毛中的放射性变化的结果表明,＾７５Ｓｅ,＾６５Ｚｎ能较快的从体内转移到被行中,动物处理后第７ｄ和第５ｄ在背部被毛的基段和上段都测得了＾７５Ｓｅ和＾６５     

辽宁绒山羊与本地山羊杂交改良效果分析

分析了杂交一代山羊在体型外貌、体重、体尺、产绒量、绒长、粗毛长等性状与本地山羊的差异。结果表明,F1代杂种羊具明显的父本外貌特征,其粗毛及羊绒为白色。在体重与体尺土,F1代杂种羊与本地山羊差异不显著（P＞0.05）,F1代杂种羊的产绒量、绒长、粗毛长明显高于本地羊,差异极显著（P＜0.01）。经分析,单从产绒量上每只杂交一代羊较本地山羊增加收入6－10元,经济效益明显。     

达氏鳇稚鱼感觉器官在摄食行为中的作用

通过选择性封闭达氏鳇(Huso dauricus)稚鱼不同感觉器官(包括视觉、嗅觉、触觉、侧线感觉、电感觉、嗅觉+触觉、嗅觉+触觉+电感觉),研究其在达氏鳇稚鱼摄食行为中的作用,旨在为达氏鳇的资源保护和人工培育提供科学依据。实验鱼受精卵采自黑龙江抚远江段,经过开口饲养56 d,随机选择120尾体质健壮的稚鱼用于实验。实验鱼体长为(13.98±1.27)cm,体重为(17.32±4.31)g,在实验开始前暂养适应15 d,实验设计7个实验组和1个对照组。实验持续12 d,期间水温维持在25.2~27.5℃;1 h摄食实验显示,封闭视觉、侧线感觉或触须后稚鱼的摄食量与正常稚鱼(对照组)无显著性差异(P0.05)。结果表明,封闭嗅觉、嗅觉+触须、电感觉、电感觉+嗅觉+触觉时,平均每尾达氏鳇稚鱼摄食量分别为正常水平的69.1%、63.0%、54.3%与43.9%,且差异显著(P0.05),说明电感觉和嗅觉在达氏鳇稚鱼期的摄食中起重要作用;延长摄食实验时间时,达氏鳇稚鱼可能产生了摄食定势与习惯,电感觉和嗅觉的摄食作用并不明显。     

调控动物性状相关长链非编码RNA的研究进展

长链非编码RNA(long non-coding RNA,lncRNA)是基因转录过程中产生的一类长度大于200个核苷酸(nt)的非编码RNA(non-coding RNA,ncRNA)。lncRNA的表达水平通常低于mRNA,且无高度保守序列,缺少开放阅读框,但它们具有更强的组织特异性表达模式。lncRNA可以通过与DNA、RNA(mRNA,miRNA,环状RNA)和蛋白质进行相互作用来发挥其功能,因此可作为信号分子、诱导物等来调节复杂的基因表达网络。作为一种新的调节分子,lncRNA正在成为基因表达调控中新的重要参与者,且近年研究表明,其与家畜动物性状调控密切相连。本文对lncRNA在动物肌肉生长分化、脂肪沉积、毛囊发育和繁殖方面进行了综述,旨在为lncRNA在家畜遗传育种上的应用提供依据。     

庆阳市气候四季变化分析及对作物种植的影响

应用中国气象局2012年发布的气候季节划分标准QX/T152-2012,利用庆阳市8站1981——2016年的逐日平均气温资料对庆阳市气候四季进行了划分,得出该区常年气候分为无夏季区和四季分明区。入春时间在4月中旬末至下旬初,西南早东北迟;入夏时间(四季分明区)在6月底至7月下旬,西北早中南迟;入秋时间在7月中旬末至8月中旬,东早西迟;入冬时间在10月中旬末至下旬初,东北早西南迟。采用线性相关分析法对四季分明区的入季日期进行分析得出：入春、入夏日期逐年呈现提前趋势,入冬日期呈现推后趋势,秋季持续天数呈现延长趋势,冬季持续天数呈现缩短趋势。为应对气候变化,该区近年来调整种植结构,引进了耐寒抗旱的藜麦,扩大紫花苜蓿的种植,发展畜牧业,大力发展苹果产业,加大设施农业投入。     

Determination of Festuca filiformis seedbank characteristics,seedling emergence and herbicide susceptibility to aid management in lowbush blueberry (Vaccinium angustifolium)

Festuca filiformis is a common perennial grass in lowbush blueberry fields, but little is known about the general biology, seedbank characteristics, seedling recruitment or susceptibility of seedlings to currently registered herbicides. The objectives of this research were to determine (i) the presence of F. filiformis seedbanks in lowbush blueberry fields, (ii) whether F. filiformis seedbanks accumulate near the soil surface in lowbush blueberry fields, (iii) the dormancy status of fresh F. filiformis seeds, (iv) the temporal patterns of seedling recruitment in established F. filiformis populations, (v) whether F. filiformis has a vernalisation requirement for flowering in lowbush blueberry and (vi) susceptibility of F. filiformis seedlings to various herbicides currently registered in lowbush blueberry. Festuca filiformis formed a seedbank in lowbush blueberry fields, with an average of 1660 ± 272–5680 ± 1409 seedlings m^?2 emerging from soil cores collected from two infested fields. Most seeds were located at the soil surface, providing opportunities for seedbank management through predation or burning. Fresh seeds lacked dormancy and readily germinated, although germination was reduced by dark conditions. New seedlings emerged in spring and autumn and required vernalisation to flower. Seedlings were susceptible to several currently registered herbicides in lowbush blueberry, although mortality rates were highest in plants treated with glufosinate, flumioxazin, glufosinate + flumioxazin and terbacil. Growers should avoid movement of seeds on machinery, and additional research should be conducted to determine the effects of registered herbicides on F. filiformis seedling recruitment under field conditions in lowbush blueberry.