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.

     

旋转脱膜式残膜回收机的设计与试验

【目的】针对弹齿式残膜回收机残膜回收作业后自动脱膜困难的问题,设计一种旋转脱膜式残膜回收机具。【方法】采用田间试验确定了搂膜弹齿的最佳入土角范围、曲率半径和排布方式,通过理论研究设计残膜回收机的脱膜机构,用正交试验方法对残膜回收率的影响因素进行优化,以残膜回收率最高为优化目标确定最优参数组合,并对修正后的最优参数组合进行试验验证。【结果】综合田间试验数据,得出搂膜弹齿最佳入土角为18°～35°,主弹齿直径10 mm,副弹齿直径5 mm,3排搂膜弹齿交错排布;正交优化试验表明,各因素对残膜回收率影响的表现为作业深度作业速度搂膜弹齿曲率半径,当作业速度为7 km/h、主搂膜弹齿曲率半径190 mm、副搂膜弹齿曲率半径160 mm、作业深度50 mm时,对应的残膜回收率最高;验证试验表明,在该参数组合条件下残膜回收率为84.86%,与预测的残膜回收率(85.56%)十分接近。【结论】设计的旋转脱膜式残膜回收机收膜效果好、脱膜率高、制造成本低、调整使用便捷。     

番茄红素对秦川牛精液冷冻保存及鲜精品质影响

旨在探究番茄红素对秦川牛精液冷冻保存和新鲜精液品质的影响,为番茄红素作为新型精液稀释液添加剂和种公畜日粮添加剂提供依据。本研究采集3头年龄3~5岁健康状况良好秦川种公牛的新鲜精液混合,用0、1、2、3、4 μmol·L^-1浓度的番茄红素稀释液冷冻保存;利用计算机辅助分析仪、低渗肿胀检测法、花生凝集素荧光标记检测法、罗丹明荧光检测法等检测精子的运动性能、顶体完整率、质膜完整性、线粒体活性和抗氧化性能;在秦川种公牛日粮中添加15 mg·kg^-1 BW番茄红素,检测饲喂前后秦川种公牛的新鲜精液品质和血清抗氧化指标。结果表明,在秦川牛精液冷冻保存过程中添加番茄红素可以显著提高冷冻-解冻后精子的活力、顶体完整率、质膜完整性和线粒体活性以及抗氧化酶CAT和GSH-Px酶活性,显著降低精子中MDA含量,且番茄红素的最适添加浓度为2 μmol·L^-1(P<0.05);饲喂15 mg·kg^-1 BW番茄红素后,与饲喂之前相比,秦川种公牛的精子活力显著提高(P<0.05),精子畸形率显著降低(P<0.05),血清中抗氧化酶SOD、CAT、GSH-Px酶活性显著增加(P<0.05),MDA含量显著降低(P<0.05)。综上所述,一定浓度的番茄红素对精子在冷冻过程中造成的精子损伤和秦川牛机体应激造成的繁殖性能降低具有良好的保护作用,这可能与番茄红素通过抗氧化作用减少精子在冷冻-解冻过程中的氧化损伤和提高动物机体的抗氧化能力有关。     

不同灌溉条件下保水剂对新疆棉花生长及产量的影响

为指导新疆灌溉棉区棉花节水灌溉和增产,通过大田试验,比较研究5种不同灌溉条件下保水剂对棉花生长、干物质积累与分配、水分吸收及产量的影响。结果表明,施用保水剂能不同程度地抑制棉花株高,使主茎叶数、单株蕾数和叶面积减小,但单株铃数会增加。保水剂能促进棉花根系和蕾铃发育,使干物质由营养器官向生殖器官的分配比增加13.8%～25.8%,同时增强了水分由根系向茎叶的运输能力。适宜减量灌溉（常规灌量的40%以上）条件下,施用保水剂在节水21.1%以上的前提下,仍能较对照（充足灌溉,且无保水剂）增产6.7%～22.0%;即使是以常规灌量的40%进行灌溉,施保水剂也能保障棉花不减产。在该试验条件下,常规灌量的80%为最适灌溉量,能使棉花产量较对照显著提高22.0%（有保水剂）和7.4%（无保水剂）。初步分析认为,引起棉花增产的直接原因是单株铃数和单铃质量增加,间接原因是保水剂调控了不同器官干物质的积累与分配,以及水分代谢状况。     

Excitation Gap in the Normal State of Underdoped Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+delta

Angle-resolved photoemission experiments reveal evidence of an energy gap in the normal state excitation spectrum of the cuprate superconductor Bi2Sr2CaCu2O8+delta. This gap exists only in underdoped samples and closes around the doping level at which the superconducting transition temperature Tc is a maximum. The momentum dependence and magnitude of the gap closely resemble those of the dx2-y2 gap observed in the superconducting state. This observation is consistent with results from several other experimental techniques, which also indicate the presence of a gap in the normal state. Some possible theoretical explanations for this effect are reviewed.     

Soil and agronomic factors associated with cadmium accumulations in kidneys of grazing sheep

SUMMARY Mean concentration of cadmium (Cd) in kidneys of hogget sheep from 67 flocks grazing in the Agricultural Region of Western Australia was tested for association with soil, pastoral, climatic and nutritional factors. Hoggets grazing pastures on acidic soils and soils with a sandy-textured surface had higher Cd concentrations in kidneys than hoggets grazing pastures on more alkaline soils or soils with a clay-textured surface. Application of more than 100 kg of phosphatic fertiliser during the past 3 years to loamy soils was also associated with greater Cd concentration in kidneys of the grazing animals.     

A cost-effective method for Illumina small RNA-Seq library preparation using T4 RNA ligase 1 adenylated adapters

Background

Deep sequencing is a powerful tool for novel small RNA discovery. Illumina small RNA sequencing library preparation requires a pre-adenylated 3?? end adapter containing a 5??,5??-adenyl pyrophosphoryl moiety. In the absence of ATP, this adapter can be ligated to the 3?? hydroxyl group of small RNA, while RNA self-ligation and concatenation are repressed. Pre-adenylated adapters are one of the most essential and costly components required for library preparation, and few are commercially available.

Results

We demonstrate that DNA oligo with 5?? phosphate and 3?? amine groups can be enzymatically adenylated by T4 RNA ligase 1 to generate customized pre-adenylated adapters. We have constructed and sequenced a small RNA library for tomato (Solanum lycopersicum) using the T4 RNA ligase 1 adenylated adapter.

Conclusion

We provide an efficient and low-cost method for small RNA sequencing library preparation, which takes two days to complete and costs around $20 per library. This protocol has been tested in several plant species for small RNA sequencing including sweet potato, pepper, watermelon, and cowpea, and could be readily applied to any RNA samples.     

Carbendazim,at concentrations used on pasture for facial eczema control,reduces development of Trichostrongylus colubriformis when sprayed onto infected sheep faeces

Abstract

AIM: To determine whether the fungicide, carbendazim, as applied to pastures for controlling facial eczema (FE), would inhibit development of the free-living stages of the gastrointestinal nematode parasite Trichostrongylus colubriformis.

METHODS: Two studies were conducted, using sheep faeces containing eggs of T. colubriformis. In the first, the faeces were either exposed or not to an application of carbendazim sprayed at the recommended rate for FE control. After spraying, dishes containing the faeces were incubated at 20°C for 14 days, and the resulting third-stage infective larvae (L3) extracted by baermannisation and counted. In addition, naturally infested pasture was also sprayed, and the number of L3 present 7 days later was assessed by cutting herbage samples and extracting larvae by soaking in water and baermannisation. In the second, the faeces were incubated at 20°C for 0, 3 or 7 days before being exposed to no, one or two applications of carbendazim. After further incubation for 14, 11 or 7 days, L3 were similarly extracted by baermannisation and counted.

RESULTS: In the first study, there was a 74% reduction in the number of T. colubriformis larvae recovered from faeces exposed to carbendazim compared with faeces not exposed, but there was no reduction in the number of L3 recovered from herbage. In the second study, faeces incubated for 0 or 3 days prior to exposure to a single application of carbendazim yielded 98% or 89% fewer larvae, respectively, than faeces not exposed. Faeces incubated for 7 days prior to exposure yielded similar numbers of larvae to faeces not exposed.

CONCLUSION: Treatment of pastures with carbendazim for FE control is likely to result in reduced development of the larvae of T. colubriformis, and by inference those of other species, where the application coincides with the presence of freshly deposited faeces containing eggs and developing larvae. However, no effect of treatment on L3 was indicated. The significance of this for on-farm nematode parasite control remains to be determined, as does any potential for strategic applications of carbendazim to pasture aimed at reducing numbers of parasite larvae on pasture. The latter should not be contemplated without due consideration of the implications for the development of anthelmintic resistance.     

Selective and on-demand drenching of lambs: Impact on parasite populations and performance of lambs

AIM: To determine whether drenching regimes for lambs by which a proportion (10%) of the heaviest animals was selectively left untreated, or animals are only drenched ‘on demand’ when faecal nematode egg counts (FEC) exceeded a threshold level, would result in measurable increases in parasite larval challenge in the autumn and/or decreases in the performance of lambs.

METHODS: A replicated study compared three drenching strategies in which mobs of lambs (n=360 in total) received either: a five-drench preventive programme, administered to all animals (Treatment 1); a five-drench preventive programme, but the 10% heaviest animals left untreated each time (Treatment 2); or drench treatments administered only when FEC exceeded 500 eggs per gram of faeces (epg) (Treatment 3). After the five-drench programme, animals in Treatments 1 and 2 were treated according to FEC as for Treatment 3. A triple-combination drench containing ivermectin, oxfendazole and levamisole, administered orally, was used for all treatments. There were nine farmlets, allowing three replicates of each treatment, in a completely randomised design. Parasite infestations on pasture were measured in autumn by pasture plucks, and worm burdens were monitored in tracer lambs, while the performance of lambs was assessed by liveweight gains, fleece weights, and body condition and dag scores.

RESULTS: Increased numbers of Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis larvae on pasture were found in the autumn on farmlets treating selectively or on-demand (Treatments 2 and 3). No differences were detected in other parasite species. Mean liveweight gains did not differ between treatments but some differences were detected between drenched and undrenched lambs in Treatment 2. Mean body condition and mean dag scores of lambs in Treatment 3 tended to be lower and higher, respectively, than those of lambs in Treatment 1; Treatment 2 was generally intermediate.

CONCLUSIONS: Drenching strategies for lambs designed to slow the development of anthelmintic resistance, by increasing the pool of susceptible worms available to dilute resistant survivors after treatment, resulted in increased numbers of H. contortus and T. colubriformis but not other species of parasite on pasture. The increased parasite challenge to lambs in the autumn was associated with small production losses, which may be acceptable to farmers wishing to implement such strategies. It is clear that further work is required on the interaction between management practices and the population dynamics of parasites, especially with regard to creating pools of susceptible genotypes to slow the development of drench resistance.