The effect of dietary chloride and bicarbonate on blood pH, haematological variables, pulmonary hypertension and ascites in broiler chickens.

1. The effect of supplementing grower diets with bicarbonate or chloride on haematological variables, pulmonary hypertension syndrome and ascites in broilers exposed to cold temperature was investigated. 2. High concentrations of dietary chloride had no effect on the pH of the venous blood but a low chloride/high bicarbonate diet significantly increased blood pH. There was no consistent effect of dietary chloride or bicarbonate concentrations on growth performance, although in 1 experiment birds given a low chloride/high bicarbonate diet consumed less food and gained less weight than controls. 3. Birds fed on high-chloride diets tended to have a higher incidence of ascites and pulmonary hypertension than controls. Birds fed on low-chloride and high-bicarbonate diets had significantly lower pulmonary hypertension and lower heart weights, which may have indicated a decrease in pulmonary and systemic blood pressure. 4. We conclude that increasing dietary bicarbonate and reducing dietary chloride has potential as a low cost and effective method to reduce the pulmonary hypertension which leads to ascites in broiler chickens.     

An Unusual Necrotizing cholangiohepatitis in Broiler Chickens

A diagnosis of toxic necrotizing cholangiohepatitis was made in approximately 35% of a flock of 23,000 commercial broiler chickens. Affected chickens were small, and had discrete green foci throughout the liver. Seven to twelve days prior to shipping the flock to slaughter, premixes containing oxytetracycline, monensin, and 3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid had been added to the ration because the birds had wet droppings and were growing slowly. The 3-nitro-4-hydroxyphenylarsonic acid had been inadvertently incorporated at ten times the recommended level. Liver and kidney of affected birds had elevated levels of total arsenic, and special strains demonstrated arsenic in necrotic foci in liver. Histologically there was marked dilation of intrahepatic bile ducts, and patchy necrosis and hyperplasia of the bile duct epithelium. Damage to bile ducts may have been a toxic manifestation of altered metabolism and excretion of the three drugs being fed to birds suffering from intercurrent diarrhea and/or undefined interactions among the drugs.     

Caprine beta-Mannosidosis in Kids from an Ontario Herd

Caprine β-mannosidosis, a fatal inherited deficiency of the lysosomal enzyme β-mannosidase, was diagnosed in neonatal female Nubian crossbred twin kids from a small herd near Guelph, Ontario. The kids had been tetraplegic since birth, with whole body tremors, abnormal nystagmus and an intention tremor of the head.     

Long term fertilization effects on ‘Rio Red’ grapefruit yield and shape on a heavy textured calcareous soil

Fertilizer recommendations for citrus production on heavier textured, calcareous soils increase with the age of the tree up to 168 kg N ha⁻¹ year⁻¹ from a soluble source in one or two applications. Such practices may be inefficient and could cause detrimental effects on fruit quality. A variety of fertilization practices are used in South Texas, and additional evaluation is needed. Rates and sources of nitrogen (N), phosphorus (P), and a commercial program consisting of both a soil component containing organic acids and a foliar component were evaluated on grapefruit production for 6 years. Increasing rate of N application increased leaf nutrient concentration, grapefruit yield, and affected fruit shape as indicated by a decrease in the equatorial:polar diameter (E:P) ratio. Since the response to increasing N application by the E:P ratio was linear while grapefruit yield was quadratic, high N application has a negative effect on fruit shape beyond the level of increasing total yield. Phosphorus application had no effect on any parameter measured, even though soil testing indicated soil P levels were below those at which a P response would be expected. Comparisons between granular 21-0-0 applied broadcast and liquid N-32 injected in a band in the soil at the drip line showed an increase in the number of fruit per tree, but no differences in yield. The ‘Actagro’ program greatly improved available soil P levels and increased the juice brix:acidity ratio, but did not affect grapefruit yield. Phosphorus availability may therefore be a factor in improving grapefruit juice quality. The soil profile within the citrus root zone was found to contain large amounts of inorganic N, but availability of this residual N was limited since yield responses occurred at the N application rates applied in this study. The amount of N contained in the fruit harvested was a small fraction, roughly 5–10%, of the residual amount in the soil. While N uptake in the fruit increased with N fertilizer application, the increase in N taken up relative to the amount applied averaged 42%.     

Mites associated with budgerigars Melopsittacus undulatus (Psittaciformes: Psittacidae) and the first report of Ornithonyssus bursa (Mesostigmata: Macronyssidae) in Mexico

Background:Hematophagous mites affect numerous bird species, causing severe injuries to the budgerigars. Some species can cause dermatitis in humans.Aims:The purpose was to morphologically identify the mites related to budgerigars (Melopsittacus undulatus) and their nests in Yucatan, Mexico.Methods:In May 2022, a private budgerigar hatchery was visited and mites were collected from the bodies of the birds and their nests. The morphological traits of the mites were confirmed by scanning electron microscopy.Results:Four of 30 birds showed severe clinical signs of mite infestation. The Budgerigars revealed lesions in the cere, nostrils, eyelids, beak, and paws. The bird’s skin showed signs of dryness and beige coloring. The birds with severe damage also presented anorexia and had deformed paws and beaks. The parasitosis was caused by the “burrowing mites,” Knemidocoptes pilae. The burrowing mites and the Grallacheles bakeri were recovered and identified from paw scabs. To eliminate mites, a topical application of Ivermectin was administered to the necks of the birds. The dose was a single, which has a residuality of 21 days. Two drops (0.115 mg/ml) of ivermectin were applied to each bird. A gradual reduction in crusted lesions due to mite mortality was noted. The “tropical fowl mite” Ornithonyssus bursa was identified in the nests, which represents the first record in Mexico.Conclusions:Three species of mites were discovered in a single budgerigar hatchery. This emphasizes the importance of deworming birds and keeping a clean environment in their cages to reduce the potential for parasitic mite infestation.     

仔猪饲料中的植物蛋白因加工而产生的变化

温度不是饲料加工过程中需要考虑的唯一因素,湿度、加工时间和颗粒大小都会有变化,并最终都会影响饲料的营养价值。随着更多的植物蛋白添加到猪日粮中,这一问题越发严重,准确地说,在大豆的应用中就有此问题。     

生物有机肥对宁夏盐碱地土壤养分和生物学特性的影响

为了探讨生物有机肥施用对宁夏引黄灌区盐碱地土壤化学和微生物特性的影响,明确生物有机肥的最佳施用量及施肥模式,以田间连续4年定位试验为依托,研究了生物有机肥施用量0(CK)、4.5(T1)、9.0(T2)、13.5 t/hm²(T3)及生物有机肥9.0 t/hm²配施无机化肥N 360 kg/hm²(T4)对盐碱地土壤养分含量、酶活性、微生物生物量、微生物群落碳源代谢活性及多样性和玉米产量的影响。结果表明:(1)施用生物有机肥可明显降低土壤p H和全盐含量,土壤养分含量及土壤酶活性随着生物有机肥施用量增加呈递增趋势,且在T2处理基础上增施无机化肥可显著增加土壤速效钾含量14.73%;(2)土壤微生物群落碳源代谢活性及多样性指数均随着生物有机肥施用量的增加而增加, T3处理土壤培养192 h时AWCD值为0.84,经Tukey检验分析, Shannon和Mcintosh指数较CK处理分别增加10.11%和62.67%;(3)随着生物有机肥施用量增加,土壤微生物生物量碳、氮、磷含量呈递增趋势,各处理平均分别比CK处理增加66....     

高温蘑菇浙AgH—1种型的鉴定

本文描述了高温蘑菇浙ＡｇＨ－１的形态学和生物学特性,该菌株最适出菇温度为２７￣３０℃,子实体能在３５￣３８℃下生长。此外该菌株子实体的口感和风味明显优于以往文献报道的双环蘑菇,因此该菌株是双环蘑菇的一个新的生理型。