Crossbreeding effects on reproductive traits in two strains of duck (Anas platyrhynchos): Brown Tsaiya and Pekin

1. The reproductive performances of 211 domestic duck females (Anas platyrhynchos) from the pure breeds Brown Tsaiya (Ts) and Pekin (Pk) and their two reciprocal crossbreds were analysed.

2. Differences in the 4 genotypes, additive direct and maternal crossbreeding effects and heterosis were estimated on the following traits: age at first egg, egg production to the ages of 30, 35, 40 and 52 weeks of age, egg weight at 30 weeks of age, and (egg) fertility by artificial insemination with Muscovy drakes’ pooled semen.

3. Egg production up to 52 weeks of age was higher in Ts than in Pk (respectively 214 ± 7 and 150 ± 8 eggs), but not statistically different from that of the reciprocal crossbreds. The ratio of settable eggs to total eggs was nearly 90%, without any difference between genotypes.

4. Average egg weight at the age of 30 weeks was 75 ± 0.9 g for Pk, which was higher than the corresponding values for Ts (62 ± 0.8 g), but not significantly different from the crossbreds.

5. An effect of genotype was found on egg fertility: the Pk strain exhibited the lowest value, 71.3 ±3.1% compared with 75.9 ±2.1% for Ts, 80.6 ± 2.6% for Ts × Pk and 74.6 ± 1.9% for Pk × Ts.

6. Crossbreeding genetic variables showed favourable direct genetic effects for egg production and (egg) fertility in Ts, while Pk had favourable direct genetic effects on egg weight. The Pk genotype had a favourable maternal effect on fertility. Direct heterosis was 34% and 10% for egg production up to 30 and 52 weeks of age respectively, 8.8% for egg weight and 5.4% for (egg) fertility.

7. Crossing Ts with Pk seems profitable for the production of mule ducklings.     

Multilocus sequence typing detects new Piscirickettsia salmonis hybrid genogroup in Chilean fish farms: Evidence for genetic diversity and population structure

Piscirickettsia salmonisis the causative bacterial pathogen of piscirickettsiosis, a salmonid disease that causes notable mortalities in the worldwide aquaculture industry. Published research describes the phenotypic traits, virulence factors, pathogenicity and antibiotic‐resistance potential for various P. salmonisstrains. However, evolutionary and genetic information is scarce for P. salmonis. The present study used multilocus sequence typing (MLST) to gain insight into the population structure and evolution of P. salmonis. Forty‐two Chilean P. salmonisisolates, as well as the type strain LF‐89^T, were recovered from diseased Salmo salar, Oncorhynchus kisutchand Oncorhynchus mykissfrom two Chilean Regions. MLST assessed the loci sequences of dnaK, efp, fumC, glyA, murG, rpoD and trpB. Bioinformatics analyses established the genetic diversity among P. salmonis isolates (H = 0.5810). A total of 23 sequence types (ST) were identified, 53.48% of which were represented by ST1, ST5 and ST2. Population structure analysis through polymorphism patterns showed few polymorphic sites (218 nucleotides from 4,010 bp), while dN/dS ratio analysis indicated purifying selection for dnaK, epf, fumC, murG, and rpoD but neutral selection for the trpB loci. The standardized index of association indicated strong linkage disequilibrium, suggesting clonal population structure. However, recombination events were detected in a group of seven isolates. Findings included genogroups homologous to the LF‐89^T and EM‐90 strains, as well as a seven‐isolate hybrid genogroup recovered from both assessed regions (three O. mykiss and four S. salar isolates). The presented MLST scheme has comparative potential, with promising applications in studying distinct P. salmonis isolates (e.g., from different hosts, farms, geographical areas) and in understanding the epidemiology of this pathogen.     

Pharmacokinetics of norfloxacin and its N-desethyl- and oxo-metabolites in broiler chickens.

Norfloxacin was given to 2 groups of chickens (8 chickens/group) at a dosage of 8 mg/kg of body weight, IV and orally. For 24 hours, plasma concentration was monitored serially after each administration. Another group of chickens (n = 30) was given 8 mg of norfloxacin/kg orally every 24 hours for 4 days, and plasma and tissue concentrations of norfloxacin and its major metabolites desethylenenorfloxacin and oxonorfloxacin were determined serially after the last administration of the drug. Plasma and tissue concentrations of norfloxacin, desethylenenorfloxacin, and oxonorfloxacin were measured by use of high-performance liquid chromatography. Pharmacokinetic variables were calculated, using a 2-compartment open model. For norfloxacin, the elimination half-life (t1/2 beta) and the mean +/- SEM residence time for plasma were 12.8 +/- 0.59 and 15.05 +/- 0.81 hours, respectively, after oral administration and 8.0 +/- 0.3 and 8.71 +/- 0.23 hours, respectively, after IV administration. After single oral administration, norfloxacin was absorbed rapidly, with Tmax of 0.22 +/- 0.02 hour. Maximal plasma concentration was 2.89 +/- 0.20 microgram/ml. Oral bioavailability of norfloxacin was found to be 57.0 +/- 2.4%. In chickens, norfloxacin was mainly converted to desethylenenorfloxacin and oxonorfloxacin. Norfloxacin parent drug and its 2 major metabolites were widely distributed in tissues. Considerable tissue concentrations of norfloxacin, desethylenenorfloxacin, and oxonorfloxacin were found when norfloxacin was administered orally (8 mg/kg on 4 successive days). The concentration of the parent fluoroquinolone in fat, kidneys, and liver was 0.05 micrograms/g on day 12 after the end of dosing.     

Reproductive seasonality in the mare: neuroendocrine basis and pharmacologic control

Reproductive seasonality in the mare is characterized by a marked decline in adenohypophyseal synthesis and secretion of LH beginning near the autumnal equinox. Thus, ovarian cycles have ceased in most mares by the time of the winter solstice. Endogenous reproductive rhythms in seasonal species are entrained or synchronized as a result of periodic environmental cues. In the horse, this cue is primarily day length. Hence, supplemental lighting schemes have been used managerially for decades to modify the annual timing of reproduction in the mare. Although a full characterization of the cellular and molecular bases of seasonal rhythms has not been realized in any species, many of their synaptic and humoral signaling pathways have been defined. In the mare, neuroendocrine-related studies have focused primarily on the roles of GnRH and interneuronal signaling pathways that subserve the GnRH system in the regulatory cascade. Recent studies have considered the role of a newly discovered neuropeptide, RF-related peptide 3 that could function to inhibit GnRH secretion or gonadotrope responsiveness. Although results that used native peptide sequences have been negative in the mare and mixed in all mammalian females, new studies that used an RFRP3 antagonist (RF9) in sheep are encouraging. Importantly, despite continuing deficits in some fundamental areas, the knowledge required to control seasonal anovulation pharmacologically has been available for >20 yr. Specifically, the continuous infusion of native GnRH is both reliable and efficient for accelerating reproductive transition and is uniquely applicable to the horse. However, its practical exploitation continues to await the development of a commercially acceptable delivery vehicle.     

Effect of peripartal administration of mycobacterium cell wall fraction on health and fertility of Holstein cows under organic-certified management

The main objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of peripartal administration of a commercially available nonspecific immune stimulant (mycobacterium cell wall fraction; MCWF [Amplimune, NovaVive Inc., Napanee, ON, Canada]) on the incidence of disease during early lactation and subsequent fertility of dairy cows. A second objective was to characterize the dynamics of circulating white blood cells (WBC) and metabolic markers following treatment administration. Cows in an United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) organic-certified dairy herd were blocked by parity and, based on sequential calving dates, randomly assigned to receive two injections (5 mL s.c.) of either a placebo (saline solution) as a control (CON; n = 71) or MCWF (n = 65) at enrollment (7 d before expected calving) and within 24 h after calving. Blood samples were collected from a subsample of the study population (MCWF = 16; CON = 18) for WBC count at enrollment, at day 2 post enrollment, and at days 1, 3, 7, and 14 after calving. Serum fatty acids, beta-hydroxybutyrate, and Ca concentrations were determined at days 1 and 7 postpartum (MCWF = 21; CON = 21). Main outcome variables included incidence risk of peripartal and early lactation health disorders and pregnancy at first artificial insemination (AI), at 100, and at 150 days in milk (DIM). In addition, the average daily milk yield up to 90 DIM and death and live culling before 305 DIM were compared. Treatment effects were assessed using multivariable logistic regression, time-to-event analyses, and repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA). A treatment effect on the incidence risk of some of the health disorders in the study was established. Incidence risk of metritis and clinical mastitis <28 DIM was smaller in MCWF than in CON cows (36.9% vs. 50.7% and 6.3% vs. 19.7%, respectively). On the contrary, the incidence risk of respiratory disease <28 DIM was smaller in CON (0%) than in MCWF (7.7%). Reproductive performance of multiparous cows was affected by MCWF administration: pregnancy at first AI and pregnancy at 100 and 150 DIM were greater in MCWF than in CON (35.6% vs. 19.2%; 51.1% vs. 25.0%; and 64.4% vs. 40.4%, respectively). Overall, median intervals from calving to pregnancy were 90 vs. 121 d in MCWF and CON cows, respectively. No treatment effects on the dynamics of circulating WBC or in postpartum metabolic status were established. No differences for milk yield or for the proportion of cows that survived up to 305 DIM were determined, although cows in MCWF left the herd earlier than cows in CON. In conclusion, incidence risks of metritis and mastitis in early lactation were smaller in cows receiving MCWF, whereas the incidence risk of respiratory disease was smaller in CON. Fertility significantly improved in MCWF compared with CON cows. As this study was performed in an organic-certified dairy, specific health and reproductive management practices may affect the external validity of the current findings.     

Nutritional planning for Nellore heifers post-weaning to conception at 15 months of age: performance and nutritional,metabolic, and reproductive responses

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of strategic supplementation in the dry period and dry/rainy transition period on the performance and...     

Estimation of daily milk yield of Nellore cows grazing tropical pastures

Beef cows’ milk yield is typically determined by measuring milk yield once daily and then doubling this value to estimate daily production. However, it is not known whether this is accurate. Thus, we aimed to determine the association between morning and afternoon milk yield in grazing Nellore cows. Eighty Nellore cows were used, with initial weight of 516.0?±?1.0 kg. The experiment was a completely randomized factorial scheme, with 20 replications and four treatments (i.e., +?or ??pre-partum supplementation in combination with +?or ??post-partum supplementation): PRMM—1 kg of supplement/cow/day for 90 days pre-partum; MMPS—1 kg of supplement/cow/day for 90 days post-partum; PRPS—1 kg of supplement/cow/day for 90 days pre-partum and 90 days post-partum; and MM—only mineral mix ad libitum during pre- and post-partum. Milk was sampled on days 45, 135, and 225 post-partum (early, middle, and late lactation, respectively). No effects were observed of pre- and post-partum supplementation on milk yield (P?>?0.05). The afternoon/morning proportion of 0.45 in the early third of lactation was higher than other stages, which had a proportion of 0.41 (P?<?0.05). Post-partum supplementation increased milk protein in the morning and afternoon milking (P?<?0.05). There was also no effect of pre- and post-partum supplementation on afternoon-morning proportion other milk components (P?>?0.05). We conclude that estimating daily milk production of grazing beef cattle by multiplying a once daily milking amount times two is not accurate. Under the conditions of this study, proportion of total daily production represented by the ratio of afternoon/morning milking was 0.45 in early lactation (first third) and 0.41 in mid- and late lactation.     

Influence of steam heating on the properties of pine (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Pinus pinaster</Emphasis>) and eucalypt (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Eucalyptus globulus</Emphasis>) wood

Heat treatment of Pinus pinaster and Eucalyptus globulus woods, two important species in Portugal, was performed in the absence of air by steaming, inside an autoclave, for 2–12 h at 190–210°C. Mass losses increased with treatment time and temperature reaching 7.3% for pine and 14.5% for eucalypt wood. The wood behaviour with moisture was improved. The equilibrium moisture content decreased by 46% for pine and 61% for eucalypt, the dimensional stability increased (maximum anti-shrinking efficiency in the radial direction of 57 and 90% for pine and eucalypt, respectively) and the surface wettability was lowered. In relation to mechanical properties, the modulus of elasticity was little affected (maximum decrease of 5% for pine and 15% for eucalypt) but the bending strength was reduced (by 40% at 8% mass loss for pine and 50% at 9% mass loss for eucalypt wood). The variation of properties was related to treatment intensity and mass loss but significant improvements could already be obtained for a 3–4% mass loss without impairing the mechanical resistance. The response of eucalypt was higher than that of pinewood. Heat treatment of eucalypt wood shows an interesting potential to improve the wood quality for solid timber products.