Evaluation of Corn Gluten Feed as a Dietary Ingredient for Pond-Raised Channel Catfish Ictalurus punctatus

Abstract.— This study was conducted to evaluate corn gluten feed as an alternative feedstuff in the diet of pond-raised channel catfish Ictalurus punctatus . Three 32%-protein diets containing 0%, 25%, or 50% corn gluten feed were tested. Channel catfish fingerlings (average weight: 57 g/fish) were stocked into 15 0.04-ha ponds at a rate of 18,530 fish/ha. Five ponds were used for each dietary treatment. Fish were fed to satiation once daily for a 147-d growing period. No differences were observed in feed consumption, weight gain, feed conversion ratio, survival, or fillet protein concentration among fish fed the test diets. Fish fed diets containing 25% and 50% corn gluten feed exhibited a lower level of visceral fat and a higher carcass yield than fish fed the control diet without corn gluten feed. The diet containing 50% corn gluten feed resulted in a lower level of fillet fat and a higher level of moisture than the control diet. There were no visible differences in the coloration of skin or fillet of channel catfish fed diets with and without corn gluten feed. Results from this study indicated that channel catfish can efficiently utilize corn gluten feed at levels up to 50%n without adverse effect on feed palatability, weight gain, or feed efficiency. Corn gluten feed may be beneficial in reducing fattiness of channel catfish and improving carcass yield by reducing the digestible energy to protein ratio of the diet.     

Habituation by the immature fowl in response to repeated injections of corticotrophin.

1. Immature birds treated for 7 d with corticotrophin (30 IU/kg, one injection per day) had significantly poorer growth rates and decreased adrenal cholesterol concentrations. Plasma glucose, corticosterone and cholesterol concentrations and adrenal weight were within the normal range 24 h after the last injection.

2. The responses of birds pretreated as described above to a single injection of corticotrophin (30 IU/kg) were determined.

3. A similar degree of hyperglycaemia had developed in both groups after 2 h but thereafter the responses differed: the concentration of plasma glucose did not increase further in those pretreated with corticotrophin and had begun to decrease at 6 h, whereas that of the birds pretreated with saline increased progressively.

4. The concentrations of plasma corticosterone had increased similarly in the two groups to a peak at 2 h but there was a significantly more rapid decrease in the birds pretreated with corticotrophin.

5. Both groups showed a transient hypercholesteraemia but the increase was significant only in the group that had previously received saline.

6. There were decreases in the concentrations of adrenal cholesterol in both groups. The decrease, in absolute terms, was 2–4 times greater in the group receiving corticotrophin for the first time: percentage changes were similar, however.     

The effects of restricted feeding on adrenal cortical activity in the immature domestic fowl

1. The effect of reducing food intake to 75% of the ad libitum intake was determined from hatching to 8 weeks in young Light Sussex chickens.

2. Restricted birds were lighter throughout the experiment.

3. Relative adrenal weight tended to be greater in restricted birds but the difference decreased with time.

4. There was no depletion of adrenal cholesterol: from week 5 there was a significantly greater amount in the adrenals of restricted birds.

5. After 1 week of restriction plasma corticosterone concentration was 73% greater than in controls. It decreased progressively, falling within the normal range at 5 weeks.

6. Restricted birds were hypoglycaemic from weeks 2 to 7 and hyper‐lipacidaemic throughout. A negative correlation between plasma glucose and free fatty acids was found.     

A survey of northern Victorian dairy farmers to investigate dairy calf management: colostrum feeding and management

Objectives

To describe colostrum management practices carried out in northern Victorian dairy herds and to identify weaknesses in these areas that may affect calf health and welfare by comparing the results with the current industry recommendations

Methods

A questionnaire to obtain information about colostrum management and calf‐rearing practices was sent to commercial dairy farming clients of Rochester Veterinary Practice between June and September 2013. The questionnaire consisted of a general herd overview and colostrum harvesting practices.

Results

The response rate was 39% (58/150). Many dairy producers were not meeting the current industry recommendations in the following areas: (1) time of removal calf from the dam, (2) relying on calf suckling colostrum from the dam to achieve adequate passive transfer, (3) failing to supplement calves with colostrum, (4) feeding inadequate volumes of colostrum, (5) delayed colostrum harvesting, (6) pooling of colostrum, (7) failing to objectively assess colostrum quality or relying on visual assessment and (8) storing colostrum for a prolonged periods of time at ambient temperatures.

Conclusion

The results from this survey highlight the need for greater awareness of industry standards for colostrum management and feeding hygiene.

     

Equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction: current understanding and recommendations from the Australian and New Zealand Equine Endocrine Group

The purpose of this article is to provide a review of the current knowledge and opinions about the epidemiology, clinical findings (including sequelae), diagnosis, treatment and monitoring of equine pituitary pars intermedia dysfunction, particularly in the Australian context. This information and the recommendations provided will assist practitioners in making informed decisions regarding the diagnosis and management of this disorder.     

基于GRA-TOPSIS耦合的草莓品质综合评价

研究不同水肥滴灌条件对草莓品质的综合影响,为草莓高品质生产提供水肥管理依据.以灌水量(X1)和施肥量(X2)为试验因子,依据蒸腾量(ETc)设置4个灌水水平(W1:100％ETc、W2:85％ETc、W3:70％ETc、W4:55％ETc);依据目标产量(F0)设置3个施肥水平(F1:120％F0、F2:100％F0、F3:80％F0),完全组合共12个处理.测定草莓可溶性总糖、可溶性蛋白、维生素C、可溶性固形物、糖酸比、游离氨基酸、还原性糖、硝酸盐8个品质指标,解析水肥耦合对各品质指标的调控效应.各品质指标对水肥因素响应不一致,基于博弈论组合赋权中,单一指标权重最大是可溶性蛋白为0.1689,维生素C次之为0.1551,硝酸盐最小为0.0918;基于GRA-TOPSIS建立草莓品质综合评价,解析草莓综合品质对水肥因素响应模型,可知,水肥交互作用显著,且施肥效应强于灌水.当灌水量控制在2 003～2566m3.hm-2,施肥量控制在1 878～2 195 kg.hm-2时,草莓综合品质最佳.     

MSTN基因编辑牛肌肉转录组测序及生物信息学分析

为探究肌生长抑制素（myostatin,MSTN）基因对牛肌肉发育的具体调控机制,本研究选取同一牛场健康鲁西黄牛10头,其中通过转基因技术得到的基因编辑牛MSTN^-/-和同种非转基因野生型牛各5头。分别采集两组牛腿臀肌肉样品,利用IIlumina HiSeq高通量测序技术进行转录组测序分析,通过生物信息学方法比较两组样本间的差异表达基因,并进行GO和KEGG富集分析,最后利用实时荧光定量PCR验证转录组测序数据。结果显示,基因编辑型牛和野生型牛之间共检测到18 071个基因。在log₂|FoldChange|≥ 1.48条件下,筛选出406个差异表达基因,其中347个显著上调,59个显著下调。GO功能富集分析显示,MSTN基因编辑后显著影响915个功能类别（P<0.05）,差异基因主要参与结合、生物系统调节、免疫系统等相关功能。KEGG通路富集分析结果共涉及211个通路,差异基因主要富集在细胞黏附分子、趋化因子信号通路、细胞因子互作等信号通路上,进一步从中筛选出可能参与细胞生长、肌肉发育的差异基因（CD14、KIT、CSF1R、FBP1、DUSP4、ULBP21、PRKCB、SPN、CHAD、SRC）。实时荧光定量PCR检测结果显示,所选差异基因表达水平与转录组表达水平一致,证明测序结果的可靠性。本研究结果表明,MSTN基因发挥作用后可以介导多个下游基因表达,从而影响相关信号通路及生物学过程;同时,所筛选出的差异表达基因可作为进一步研究骨骼肌调控机制的候选靶标。