油脂在提高公猪生产力和生育力上的潜在作用

精子及其相关精浆中所含的脂肪成分在组成和脂肪酸成分上是非常独特的。长链多不饱和脂肪酸 (即具有 2 0或 2 2个碳原子并含三个以上双键的脂肪酸 )在绝大多数主要组织所含脂肪中的含量非常有限 ,但在精子和精浆中的含量相当高 ,并具有明显的种属特异性。油脂的这种特性现在日益被认为是使受精最终成功所特别需要的。本综述根据最近一的些研究结果撰写而成 ,从精液质量和功能的一系列决定因子的角度论述了使现代种公猪精子中脂肪 /脂肪酸参数最佳化的可能性 ,可见人们对一系列参数所作的一系列重要研究 ,产生了使公猪和母猪的繁殖能力都得到提高的高度有益结果。文章还从主要的营养学特性和化学特性方面对研究结果进行了讨论 ,并与其它家畜进行了比较 ,还讨论了其对猪繁育部门可能的商业应用价值。     

Food intake adjustments of chicks: Short term reactions of genetic stocks to deficiencies in lysine,methionine or tryptophan

1. Growth, food intake, and food preference were measured in two experimental lines (White Rocks and White Leghorns) of chickens fed diets varying in content of lysine, methionine, or tryptophan. Diet A was balanced in all amino acids, while the remaining 6 diets were moderately ( ～ 30%) or slightly ( ～ 15%) deficient in either lysine, methionine, or tryptophan relative to NRC recommendations for broiler diets.

2. Body weight and food utilisation efficiency of White Leghorns at 10 d of age were not affected by diet, whereas the lower concentrations of lysine and methionine depressed these traits in White Rocks.

3. Tryptophan deficiency reduced food intake of White Leghorns, but not White Rocks.

4. With choice feeding of balanced and deficient diets from day 10 to 16, preferences between the diets were minimal for White Leghorns, whereas for White Rocks there was an almost immediate preference for the balanced diet, followed by lack of preference or preference for the deficient diet.

5. Apparently for some genetic stocks there is rapid adjustment to deficiencies in these amino acids with overconsumption, followed by compensation for preference of the balanced diet. The response, however, will vary depending on the deficient amino acid.     

Leiomyoma of the third eyelid in a dog

A 14‐year‐old neutered male Dachshund presented for the evaluation of oculus dexter (OD) third eyelid elevation ongoing for approximately 2 months. Complete ophthalmic examination revealed a large, nonpainful, well‐demarcated, soft mass at the base of the right third eyelid causing elevation and mild hyperemia. The mass was freely moveable with the third eyelid, and no right globe deviation was noted. No other abnormalities were noted on physical examination, routine blood chemistry, complete blood count, serum T4, urinalysis, or urine cortisol/creatinine ratio. Ocular B‐mode ultrasonography showed an anechoic, well‐demarcated, homogenous, soft tissue mass at the base of the third eyelid with no orbital extension. A leiomyoma was diagnosed after multiple punch biopsies were obtained from the palpebral surface of the mass. The right third eyelid was excised surgically. Histopathology confirmed a completely excised, nodular, unencapsulated, expansile mass within the third eyelid. Positive smooth muscle actin and negative S‐100 immunohistochemistry confirmed a leiomyoma. Bundles of normal smooth muscle were also present adjacent to the mass. The mass was compressing the adjacent lacrimal gland and associated with moderate dacryoadenitis. Twelve months postoperatively, the right globe position and motility remain normal with no evidence of mass regrowth. To the author's knowledge, this is the first reported case of a leiomyoma of the third eyelid in any species. In this case, the mass was completely excised and no regrowth has occurred twelve months after surgery. This case along with independently reviewed canine third eyelids clearly demonstrates the presence of smooth muscle within the canine third eyelid.     

Breed associations for canine exocrine pancreatic insufficiency

BACKGROUND: Knowledge of breed associations is valuable to clinicians and researchers investigating diseases with a genetic basis. HYPOTHESIS: Among symptomatic dogs tested for exocrine pancreatic insufficiency (EPI) by canine trypsin-like immunoreactivity (cTLI) assay, EPI is common in certain breeds and rare in others. Some breeds may be overrepresented or underrepresented in the population of dogs with EPI. Pathogenesis of EPI may be different among breeds. ANIMALS: Client-owned dogs with clinical signs, tested for EPI by radioimmunoassay of serum cTLI, were used. METHODS: In this retrospective study, results of 13,069 cTLI assays were reviewed. RESULTS: An association with EPI was found in Chows, Cavalier King Charles Spaniels (CKCS), Rough-Coated Collies (RCC), and German Shepherd Dogs (GSD) (all P < .001). Chows (median, 16 months) were younger at diagnosis than CKCS (median, 72 months, P < .001), but not significantly different from GSD (median, 36 months, P = .10) or RCC (median, 36 months, P = .16). GSD (P < .001) and RCC (P = .015) were younger at diagnosis than CKCS. Boxers (P < .001), Golden Retrievers (P < .001), Labrador Retrievers (P < .001), Rottweilers (P = .022), and Weimaraners (P = .002) were underrepresented in the population with EPI. CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPLICATIONS: An association with EPI in Chows has not previously been reported. In breeds with early-onset EPI, immune-mediated mechanisms are possible or the disease may be congenital. When EPI manifests later, as in CKCS, pathogenesis is likely different (eg, secondary to chronic pancreatitis). Underrepresentation of certain breeds among dogs with EPI has not previously been recognized and may imply the existence of breed-specific mechanisms that protect pancreatic tissue from injury.     

Irrigation of lucerne with saline groundwater on a slowly permeable,duplex soil

Summary Lucerne was irrigated for three years on a slowly permeable, duplex soil, with saline water up to 2.4 dS m^–1 without significant yield decline. Irrigation water of 4.5 dS m^–1 significantly reduced yield. Lucerne yield was most closely related to the soil ECe of the 0–15 cm depth, rather than the total rootzone, and was described by; Relative yield=100–6.5 (ECe-2.1). While lucerne roots reached depths of at least 150 cm, approximately 80% of total root length was located in the 0–60 cm depth.Increasing salinity increased the plant concentrations of sodium and chloride, however, these changes were not closely related to changes in yield.Soil salinity increased with increasing salinity of the applied water. However, during the irrigation season water penetration and the accumulation of salt within the profile was predominantly restricted to the 0–60 cm depth. No portion of the applied irrigation water was available as a leaching fraction. Any leaching of salts to the watertable, particularly below 120 cm, was due to winter rainfall rather than the application of summer irrigation water.Ripping the soil to a depth of 75 cm increased water infiltration and resulted in increased crop yields, but did not significantly affect the crop relative yield-soil ECe relationship.From the results it is proposed that on the slowly permeable duplex soils, when watertable depth is controlled, management strategies for lucerne irrigated with saline water should be based on controlling the salinity of the shallow soil depths, to 60 cm.     

Condition assessment of lamprey populations in the Yorkshire Ouse catchment,north‐east England,and the potential influence of physical migration barriers

• 1. River lamprey (Lampetra fluviatilis) and sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus) are designated features of the River Derwent Special Area of Conservation (SAC) and the Humber Estuary (a possible SAC). This study determined the condition of lamprey populations in the Yorkshire Ouse catchment by assessing the species composition, distribution, abundance and size‐structure of larval (ammocoete) populations in five major tributary rivers (Derwent, Swale, Ure, Nidd and Wharfe).
• 2. According to EU condition assessment criteria, Lampetra populations (assumed to be mostly river lamprey) are at present in favourable condition, with site mean (±SE) densities ranging from 2.7 (±1.2) to 160.3 (±50.5) individuals m^?2 (all river means >2 individuals m^?2), and at least two size (≈age) classes present in optimal microhabitats. By contrast, no sea lamprey larvae were recorded, suggesting that populations of this species are in unfavourable condition.
• 3. Actions to protect and enhance nationally or internationally important stocks must be implemented from at least a catchment perspective, because many of the issues affecting such species are not localized. With respect to lampreys, particular attention should be given to protecting spawning and nursery habitats, improving water quality, reducing impingement at abstraction points, preventing exploitation at spawning grounds and increasing passage at potential physical obstructions.

Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Analysis of archive samples of spring and winter barley support an increase in individual Fusarium species in Bavarian barley grain over the last decades

Journal of Plant Diseases and Protection - A broad range of different Fusarium (F.) species is associated with Fusarium head blight (FHB) on barley and the corresponding negative effects in...