Effects of music stimulus on behavior response,cortisol level,and horizontal immunity of growing pigs

An enriched environment is widely used to improve domestic animals’ welfare and promote their natural behaviors. Music can reduce abnormal behavior in humans, nonhuman primates, and rodents. However, little is known about the effects of music on pigs. This study aims to explore the effects of repeated music stimulation on the behavior, physiology, and immunity of growing pigs. A total of 72 hybrid piglets (Large White × Duroc × Minpig) were randomly divided into three groups, including music (Mozart K.448, 60 to 70 dB), noise (recorded mechanical noise, 80 to 85 dB), and control (natural background sound, <40 dB), and 6 h sound stimulation was given per day (1000 to 1600 hours) from 40 to 100 d of age. The behavioral activities of the pigs were observed during the music stimulation, and their serum cortisol, salivary cortisol, and serum immune indices were also measured. Compared with the control group, the music group and noise group increased activity but decreased lying of pigs (P < 0.05). A significant increase in tail-wagging, playing, and exploring behaviors of pigs was found in the music group (P < 0.05), and the noise significantly increased the aggressive behavior of the pigs (P < 0.05). Tail-wagging, playing, exploring, manipulating, and aggressive behaviors decreased over time. Short-term (8 d) music stimulus had a lower cortisol level than that of the noise and control groups (P < 0.05), whereas long-term (60 d) music stimulus increased immunoglobulin G (IgG), interleukin-2 (IL-2), and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) levels (P < 0.05) and decreased interleukin-4 (IL-4) level (P < 0.05). Long-term noise stimulus significantly reduced the level of IgG (P < 0.05) but did not affect the level of IL-2, IL-4, and IFN-γ levels (P > 0.05). In conclusion, short-term music stimulus (8 d) reduced the stress response, whereas long-term music stimulus (60 d) enhanced the immune responses. In addition, the noise increased the aggressive behavior, and long-term noise reduced the immunity of the growing pigs.     

内蒙古高原紫花苜蓿土壤氮素丰缺指标和推荐施氮量

为了给内蒙古高原紫花苜蓿（Medicago sativa L.）测土施氮奠定科学基础，本研究采用“零散实验数据整合法”和“养分平衡-地力差减法”新应用公式，开展了该自然区域紫花苜蓿土壤氮素丰缺指标和推荐施氮量研究。结果表明：内蒙古高原生长第1年紫花苜蓿土壤碱解氮第1~6级丰缺指标为≥48，20~48，8~20，4~8，2~4和<2 mg·kg^-1，土壤全氮第1~5级丰缺指标为≥1.4，0.8~1.4，0.4~0.8，0.2~0.4和<0.2 g·kg^-1，土壤有机质第1~6级丰缺指标为≥17，10~17，6~10，3~6，2~3和<2 g·kg^-1。当紫花苜蓿目标产量9~18 t·hm^-2、氮肥利用率40%时，内蒙古高原紫花苜蓿第1~6级土壤推荐施氮量分别为0，68~135，135~270，203~405，270~540和338~675 kg·hm^-2。     

青海省祁连圆柏天然林单木生物量模型构建

利用祁连圆柏整株生物量与生长指标数据，为估算祁连圆柏林的生物量估算提供参考。通过野外调查，共获取了63株祁连圆柏天然林样木生物量与生长指标实测数据。用其中50株样木数据进行回归模拟，用其余的13株样木数据对模型可靠性进行检验，构建器官生物量与生长指标间的回归模型。结果表明，祁连圆柏单木水平下，树干生物量模型的R²_adj为0.96，均方根、模型有效性和残差系数分别为0.50、0.85和0.05；枝条生物量模型的R²_adj为0.897，均方根、模型有效性和残差系数分别为0.69、0.80和-0.66；叶生物量模型的R²_adj为0.61，均方根、模型有效性和残差系数分别为0.54、0.86和0.15；根生物量模型的R²_adj为0.93，均方根、模型有效性和残差系数分别为0.12、0.997 和-0.01。在调查数据范围内构建的模型较好地反映了祁连圆柏生物量与生长指标间的关系，形式简单、使用方便；与实测值相比，树干与叶生物量模拟值偏小，枝和根偏大。     

Determination of critical nitrogen dilution curve based on leaf area index for winter wheat in the Guanzhong Plain,Northwest China

Excessive use of nitrogen(N) fertilizers in agricultural systems increases the cost of production and risk of environmental pollution. Therefore, determination of optimum N requirements for plant growth is necessary. Previous studies mostly established critical N dilution curves based on aboveground dry matter(DM) or leaf dry matter(LDM) and stem dry matter(SDM), to diagnose the N nutrition status of the whole plant. As these methods are time consuming, we investigated the more rapidly determined leaf area index(LAI) method to establish the critical nitrogen(N_c) dilution curve, and the curve was used to diagnose plant N status for winter wheat in Guanzhong Plain in Northwest China. Field experiments were conducted using four N fertilization levels(0, 105, 210 and 315 kg ha-1) applied to six wheat cultivars in the 2013–2014 and 2014–2015 growing seasons. LAI, DM, plant N concentration(PNC) and grain yield were determined. Data points from four cultivars were used for establishing the N_c curve and data points from the remaining two cultivars were used for validating the curve. The N_c dilution curve was validated for N-limiting and non-N-limiting growth conditions and there was good agreement between estimated and observed values. The N nutrition index(NNI) ranged from 0.41 to 1.25 and the accumulated plant N deficit(N_(and)) ranged from 60.38 to –17.92 kg ha~(-1) during the growing season. The relative grain yield was significantly affected by NNI and was adequately described with a parabolic function. The N_c curve based on LAI can be adopted as an alternative and more rapid approach to diagnose plant N status to support N fertilization decisions during the vegetative growth of winter wheat in Guanzhong Plain in Northwest China.     

Phenological and physiological evaluation of first and second cropping periods of sorghum and maize crops

Environmental conditions influence phenology and physiological processes of plants. It is common for maize and sorghum to be sown at two different periods: the first cropping (spring/summer) and the second cropping (autumn/winter). The phenological cycle of these crops varies greatly according to the planting season, and it is necessary to characterize the growth and development to facilitate the selection of the species best adapted to the environment. The aim of this study was to characterize phenological phases and physiological parameters in sorghum and maize plants as a function of environmental conditions from the first cropping and second cropping periods. Two parallel experiments were conducted with both crops. The phenological characterization was based on growth analyses (plant height, leaf area and photoassimilate partitioning) and gas exchange evaluations (net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance, transpiration and water-use efficiency). It was found that the vegetative stage (VS) for sorghum and maize plants was 7 and 21 days, respectively, longer when cultivated during the second cropping. In the first cropping, the plants were taller than in the second cropping, regardless of the crop. The stomatal conductance of sorghum plants fluctuated in the second cropping during the development period, while maize plants showed decreasing linear behaviour. Water-use efficiency in sorghum plants was higher during the second cropping compared with the first cropping. In maize plants, in the second cropping, the water-use efficiency showed a slight variation in relation to the first cropping. It was concluded that the environmental conditions as degree-days, temperature, photoperiod and pluvial precipitation influence the phenology and physiology of both crops during the first and the second cropping periods, specifically cycle duration, plant height, leaf area, net assimilation rate, stomatal conductance and water-use efficiency, indicating that both crops respond differentially to environmental changes during the growing season.     

The Use of a Metabolic Disorder Index as a Predictor for Metabolic Eliminations in Endurance Horses

The equine endurance race involves both aerobic and anaerobic metabolisms of the horse. The intense physical activity over an extended period often causes susceptible horses to develop metabolic signs or problems resulting in elimination from races. Thus, the objective of this study was to develop a method for prediction and validation of a metabolic disorder index (MDI) to be used before endurance races. Three hundred seventy-five Arabian (n = 152) and Arabian cross (n = 223) endurance horses aged from 6 to 15 years and weighing between 350 and 450 kg were selected for the study in Malaysia. Blood samples were collected at pre- and post-race periods. The significant (P < .05) findings in horses with metabolic disorder were packed cell volume (0.50 ± 0.06 LL−1), creatine kinase (1,275.89 ± 121.45 UL−1), interleukin-6 (2.01 ± 0.89 ng/mL), decreased glutathione reductase (26.57 ± 3.95 ng/mL), and chloride (94.98 ± 8.12 mmol/L). A new method called MDI was developed as a predictor for horses with the potential to develop metabolic disorders in endurance races. The MDI indicated a higher value greater than 5.5 for those eliminated and lower value below 5.5 for those that completed the race successfully, this proved to be accurate in the prediction of metabolic disorder in endurance horses. The MDI is an innovative and simple method used as a prediction method that will assist the equine endurance society to reduce the rate of elimination and to safeguard against serious medical problems during endurance races in the tropics.     

放牧牦牛采食量和几种消化生理指标的测定

在莎草科 +禾本科草地上对放牧条件下牦牛采食量和几种消化生理指标进行测定。结果表明 :牦牛的干物质消化率为 69 3 6%± 5 87% ,放牧牦牛日干物质采食量为 12 2 13g/kg·W0 75,大部分食糜在采食后 60小时左右排出 ,但完全排出要在 5天以后     

羊支原体性肺炎两标准株对抗菌药物敏感性的研究

本实验测定了环丙沙星、氧氟沙星、单诺沙星、红霉素、罗红霉素、泰勒菌素、泰妙菌素、四环素等8种药物对羊肺炎支原体两个标准株Y98和Y-goat的体外抑菌浓度以及红霉素与氧氟沙星、泰勒菌素对Y-goat和四环素与氧氟沙星、泰勒菌素对Y98的联合药敏作用。对羊肺炎支原体两个标准株对抗菌药物的敏感性进行了分析。     

迷宫螺旋槽的选取研究

以提高迷宫螺旋泵的扬程、流量、效率、汽蚀等性能参数为目标,给出不同使用条件下螺旋槽形状与几何参数的选取。