Monensin controlled-release intraruminal capsule for control of bloat in pastured dairy cows

Monensin, a polyether ionophore antibiotic, is potentially an important agent for bloat relief in dairy cows grazing temperate legume-based pasture. A series of studies was undertaken to determine the effect of monensin, when delivered continuously in the rumen of lactating dairy cows by means of controlled-release capsules (monensin CRC). Such devices release approximately 300 mg/head/day for 100 d. A short-term pilot study made at Ruakura, New Zealand, tested monensin CRC in cows selected for high susceptibility to bloat and grazing lucerne (Medicago sativa) or red clover (Trifolium pratense). Treatment significantly reduced the incidence of bloat, while milk yield and protein yield were increased. There was no effect on fat yield. Following the pilot study, 6 large-scale field experiments involving a total of 368 lactating dairy cows, were made in Australia and New Zealand to confirm the effectiveness of monensin CRC for bloat control and to measure the effect of such treatment on milk production and composition. A severe bloat problem occurred in 2 experiments, mild bloat occurred in 2 others, while no visual signs of bloat were observed in the remaining 2 experiments. Bloat was significantly (P less than 0.05) reduced by monensin CRC treatment when data was pooled over the 4 experiments in which bloat occurred. Daily milk yield was increased in all experiments from a mean of 17.7 in untreated groups to 18.8 kg/head/day (P less than 0.05) in monensin CRC-treated cows. Protein percentage was not affected by treatment, while there was a decrease from 4.29 to 4.10% fat, although total fat yield was not affected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

不同植物油对奶牛瘤胃液、血浆中脂肪酸及乳脂中共轭亚油酸组成的影响

为改善牛奶脂肪酸构成,提高乳脂中CLA含量,研究瘤胃液、血浆和乳脂中脂肪酸的代谢规律,探寻提高乳品质的合适途径,本试验以3头装有永久性瘤胃瘘管的经产荷斯坦奶牛为试验动物,采用3×3拉丁方设计,研究向日粮中添加不同植物油(即葵花油、亚麻油、菜籽油,3种日粮的粗脂肪含量基本相同)对奶牛瘤胃液、血浆中脂肪酸及乳脂中CLA的影响。结果表明:(1)日粮中添加3种不同植物油,葵花油组、亚麻油组乳脂中的CLA比例均显著高于菜籽油组(P<0.05),且以葵花油组最高;乳脂中PUFA的比例则是亚麻油组显著高于菜籽油组(P<0.05);(2)3组间血浆中C14∶0、C16∶0、C18∶0的比例差异不显著(P>0.05),菜籽油组C18∶1的比例显著高于亚麻油组和葵花油组(P<0.05),而后两组差异不显著(P>0.05),亚麻油组和葵花油组t11-C18∶1的比例与菜籽油组间差异均达到显著水平(P<0.05),亚麻油组和菜籽油组中C18∶2的比例差异显著(P<0.05);(3)采食添加不同植物油日粮后,瘤胃液中各种脂肪酸动态变化的平均值差异不显著(P>0.05)。总的趋势是随着时间的延长,饱和脂肪酸含量逐渐增加,而不饱和脂肪酸含量逐渐减少。瘤胃液中CLA的比例不同时间点均较低。由本研究可知,在优化奶牛乳脂肪酸构成提高CLA含量方面,以葵花油效果最好。     

新疆褐牛细管冻精改良当地蒙古牛效果分析

用新疆褐牛细管冻精为父本,以新疆博尔塔拉州本地蒙古牛为母本进行杂交,即采用人工授精的方法获得杂交F1。褐蒙F1,初生重公犊比蒙古牛提高28．26％,母犊提高27．23％,断奶重公犊提高92．04％,母犊提高92．16％。同龄褐蒙F1屠宰率、净肉率比本地蒙古牛提高6．6％和8％。平均每头褐蒙F1牛可增肉70．3kg,按每千克牛肉25元计算,增效1758元。细管冻精配种可降低成本130元。     

欧拉羊在甘南半农半牧区与山谷型藏羊的适应性对比

从甘南州玛曲县河曲马场引进欧拉羊种公羊30只,投放到卓尼县的半农办牧区进行放牧,观察欧拉羊的行为表现、生长发育、生理生化指标、繁殖性能、发病与死亡情况,结果各项指标正常,适应性良好,充分发挥了种公羊的生产性能,且具有杂交改良山谷型藏羊的优势,引种获得成功。     

柴达木盆地弃耕地盐渍状况的主分量分析

采用主分量分析（PCA）方法对柴达木盆地弃耕地盐渍化状况进行了研究，结果表明，该地属于中重度氯化物盐渍地、耕作层含盐量在0．5％－4．0％之间，盐分表聚强烈，基本无自然淋溶过程。耕作层第一、二主分量显著，累计贡献率高达95．0％左右，反映了该区土壤含盐量及盐离子分布规律，认为全盐量、Cl^-,Mg^2＋是该弃耕地盐渍环境的特征因子。     

The survival of platypus in captivity: a reappraisal with recommendations for veterinary management and future research

SUMMARY: Data are presented on the duration of survival of platypus held in the collections of the 5 Australian zoos displaying the species over the period 1987–1991. Of 10 living platypus, five had survived for 7 or more years. Similarly, of 10 captive animals that died during the period, six had survived for 6 or more years. Five purpose-caught animals were integrated into captive collections over the period; all of these were alive at the end of 1991. The high survival of captive platypus documented in this study contrasts with the conclusion of Whittington (1991) that the duration of survival of platypus in captivity is generally short. This primarily reflects differences in the nature of the two sets of data: Whittington's analysis was based on incomplete records dating back to 1934, and also categorised as managed in captivity those wild platypus that died at zoos while under veterinary care. A series of recommendations on current captive management issues includes the need for improved veterinary knowledge of platypus.     

Oestradiol Induced Inhibition of Neuroendocrine Marker Expression in Leydig Cells of Adult Rats

The objectives of this work were to determine the changes in the expression of neuroendocrine markers in Leydig cell by oestradiol treatment, and to determine whether testosterone is able to recover partially the effects of hormonal suppression induced by oestradiol. Adult male rats were injected daily with either 50 microg of oestradiol or oestradiol plus testosterone propionate (25 mg every 3 days) for 15 days. The animals were sacrificed and testicles were dissected and processed by routine histological protocols. FSH and LH serum levels were determined by radioimmunoassay. The visualization of antigens was achieved by the streptavidin-peroxidase immunohistochemical method. Antibodies against chromogranin A (CrA), S-100 protein (S-100), P substance (PS), synaptofisin (SYN), neurofilament protein (NF), gliofibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) and neuron specific enolase (NSE) were used. The mean LH and FSH serum concentrations were consistently suppressed with hormonal treatments. Intermediate filaments (NF and GFAP) showed no difference in their expression. The expression of S-100, NSE and SYN was significantly lower in both hormone-treated groups. In oestradiol-treated rats, the immunoreactivity of CrA and SP decreased significantly but was restored after testosterone supplementation. Although the nature and functions of many of these substances in Leydig cells remain unknown, these results are consistent with the hypothesis that the expression of some neuroendocrine markers is hormonally controlled.