Suppression of ovarian progesterone production in dairy cows using an implant of GnRH-agonist (deslorelin) for the purpose of evaluating progesterone metabolism

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the potential of an implant of a GnRH-agonist (deslorelin) to create a progesterone free animal suitable for studying progesterone (P4) metabolism in intact cows by measuring blood P4 and faecal P4 metabolites. METHODS: Experiment 1: Eighteen non-lactating cycling Holstein-Friesian cows, 4 to 7 years old, were allocated to one of three groups to study plasma P4 concentrations preceding an intravaginal insert. These groups comprised: i) a deslorelin group (GnRH-agonist implanted); ii) a PGF group receiving two injections of prostaglandin (PGF2alpha) 12 days apart; and, iii) an ovariectomised (OVX) group. An intravaginal device (CIDR) was inserted into the vagina of each animal and left in place for 11 days. Plasma P4 concentrations were measured during the study period. Experiment 2: Twelve non-lactating cycling Holstein-Friesian cows, 4 to 7 years old, were allocated to two groups: i) a deslorelin group (GnRH-agonist implanted); and ii) an ovariectomised group. Plasma P4 and faecal P4 metabolites (20-oxo-pregnanes, 20alpha-OH and 20beta-OH) were monitored for a period of 5 weeks. RESULTS: Experiment 1: Average plasma P4 concentration did not differ between the three groups (1.28, 1.43 and 1.55 ng/mL for deslorelin, OVX and PGF cows, respectively, P = 0.8) during the period of supplementation. Experiment 2: There was no difference in plasma P4 (mean plasma P4 < 0.02 ng/mL, P = 0.9) and faecal P4 metabolites between deslorelin and OVX cows 2 weeks after the implantation (P = 0.7). CONCLUSIONS: These data showed that a GnRH-agonist (deslorelin) implant may be used as an alternative to ovariectomy to create a progesterone free animal suitable for studying the metabolism of administered P4.     

台湾樟芝对碳素营养源利用的研究

本文报道了台湾樟芝 (Antradiacomphora)液体深层培养过程中 ,六种不同碳素营养源组成的合成液体培养基 ,对樟芝菌球生长的影响 ,结果表明 ,樟芝对六种碳源均可利用 ,其中以麦芽糖利用效果最佳 ,菌球数量及菌丝体干重均居首位 ,菌球数量是对照的 3 5 5倍 ,菌丝体干重比对照高出1 73倍 ,樟芝对乳糖的利用较差 ,菌球数量虽比CK仅少 2 5个 / 10 0mL ,但菌体干重相差较大 ,每10 0mL相差 2 5 6 9mg。对樟芝发酵液pH测定情况看来 ,不同碳源组成的培养基终止pH表现不同 ,以麦芽糖、葡萄糖、果糖、蔗糖为碳源的培养基终止pH为 4 5～ 5 0左右。甘露醇为碳源的培养基终止发酵pH为 3 5～ 4 0 ,而乳糖则为 5 5以上。试验表明 ,樟芝菌丝生长极其缓慢 ,在液体深层培养过程中 ,若培养基配方不合理 ,菌球就不生长 ,本文筛选了适合樟芝深层培养的碳素营养源 ,为樟芝的开发和利用提供了科学依据     

Effect of Dietary Lactobacillus fermentum from Pig on Growth Performance,Nutrient Apparent Digestibility,Faecal Microflora Number and Serum Immune Indices in Weaned Piglets

This experiment was conducted to study the effects of Lactobacillus fermentum on growth performance, nutrient apparent digestibility, faecal microflora number and serum immune indices of weaned piglets.A total of 160 weaned piglets with an average age of (30±2) days and averge body weight of (7.85±0.68) kg were randomly distributed into 4 groups with 4 replicates per group and 10 piglets per replicate feeding basal diet, 0.1%, 0.2%, and 0.3% Lactobacillus fermentum supplementation diets, respectively.The experiment lasted for 35 d.The results showed that, compared with the control group, the average daily gain, the feed conversion ratio, the apparent digestibility of crude protein, calcium and total phosphorusin of Lactobacillus fermentum groups were all increased in varying degrees.The optimum supplemental level of Lactobacillus fermentum should be 0.2%, and at this level, the average daily gain was significantly increased by 8.70% (P<0.05), the F/G was decreased by 4.62% (P<0.05), the apparent digestibility of crude protein, calcium and total phosphorus were significantly increased (P<0.05), the number of faecal E.coli was significantly decreased (P<0.05), and the serum IgG was significantly increased by 8.39% (P<0.05).The results indicated that Lactobacillus fermentum supplementation could improve the immune function, growth performance, the apparent digestibility of crude protein, calcium and total phosphorus and reduce the number of faecal E.coli of weaned piglets.     

Stress steroid levels and the short-term impact of routine dehorning in female southern white rhinoceroses (Ceratotherium simum simum)

Rhinoceros populations in Africa are under severe threat as a result of surging poaching rates and risk-mitigation strategies are continuously adapted in an attempt to ensure the survival of the species. This study compared faecal glucocorticoid metabolite (fGCM) levels of two age classes of limited free-ranging female white rhinos with fGCM levels of adult free-ranging female white rhinos. Subsequently, fGCM alterations in the limited free-ranging animals were monitored following routine dehorning as a measure of the animals’ short-term physiological stress response. Baseline fGCM levels differed significantly between tested groups, with both free-ranging and limited free-ranging adult animals showing significantly higher fGCM levels compared with limited free-ranging juvenile females. In contrast, baseline fGCM levels did not differ significantly between limited free-ranging and free-ranging adult individuals. Routine dehorning procedures resulted in a short-term stress response expressed by a significant increase in fGCM levels 48 h post-dehorning, with stress steroid levels returning to pre-dehorning concentrations 72 h after the procedure.     

稀土壳聚糖螯合盐对水产颗粒饲料性能的影响

研究了在饲料中添加稀土壳聚糖螯合盐（ＲＥＣＣ）对水产颗粒饲料性能的影响。根据鲫（Ｃａｒａｓｓｉｕｓａｕｒａｔｕｓ）鱼苗的营养需求配制４种类型的ＲＥＣＣ试验日粮,即１号饲料（０．００％）、２号饲料（０．０８％）、３号饲料（０．１６％）和４号饲料（０２４％）。测定４种饲料的粉化率和溶失率。结果显示,添加稀土壳聚糖螯合盐后可以降低饲料的 粉化率,饲料中添加０．１６％的稀土壳聚糖螯合盐效果尤其明显（Ｐ＜０．０１）;在饲料中添加ＲＥＣＣ可以显著降低饲料的溶失率（Ｐ＜０．０５）,并可以提高和改善水产颗粒饲料的性能。     

Fragmentation of leaf litter by a natural population of the millipede Julus scandinavius (Latzel 1884)

Summary The rate and degree of fragmentation of leaf litter by Julus scandinavius in a Sycamore/ash wood in Cheshire, England, were determined from the ratio of surface area of the leaf diet consumed by all individuals of each instar during the period when they were present on the surface area of leaf materials in the faecal pellets. Generally, the rate of fragmentation of leaf litter decreased in the series young instars sexed immature instars mature instars. The total degree of increase in the fragmentation of leaf litter by the population was 72×10⁶.     

人工诱导池养3+龄鲥鱼性腺发育的初步试验与探讨

通过模似鲥鱼性腺发育的自然生态条件和埋植 LHRH-A 和 Testosterone 缓释放颗粒激素,诱导池养3~+龄鲥鱼性腺发育季至第1期,成熟系数达0.9%。试验摸索出麻醉操作鲥鱼不死的有效方法。对今后鲥鱼全人工繁殖的前景及有关问题进行了探讨.     

Age‐dependent baseline values of faecal cortisol metabolites in the American mink (Neovison vison) under semi‐natural housing conditions

The welfare of an animal is ensured if it is able to fully satisfy its essential species‐typical needs in all functional aspects of behaviour. In mink, stereotypies and apathy, internal and/or external injuries as well as increased susceptibility to disease have been known to occur as a result of chronic stress. The non‐invasive method of analysing faecal cortisol metabolites (FCM) allows conclusions to be drawn about the stress level in the respective housing system. The objective of this study is to find out how the cortisol metabolites content in the faecal changes with increasing age of the mink under semi‐natural housing conditions. Thus, 40 American mink (Neovison vison) were housed in two outdoor enclosures imitating natural conditions. Throughout the entire study (13th to 32nd week of life), faecal samples were collected to measure cortisol metabolites. No differences in FCM concentrations between the two outdoor enclosures were found. In the young mink lower, less fluctuating FCM levels were found than in older animals. After the first faecal collection in the 13th/14th week of life, the level of metabolites decreased slightly (p = 0.032; 17th/18th week). From the 22nd/23rd week onwards until the 30th/31st week, shortly before the animals were pelted, continuously increasing concentrations were then measured. Increasing FCM levels with advancing age of the animals are probably attributable to the onset of sexual maturity and/or the respective season. This has to be taken into account in future studies using this method for assessing welfare and when comparing different mink housing systems.     

Effects of straw treatment and nitrogen supplementation on digestibility,intake and physiological responses of water intake as well as urine and faecal characteristics

This study investigates the effects of feeding diet based on untreated (UT) or ensiled alkali‐treated (ET) barley straw with either urea or casein supplementation, on feed intake, digestibility, ruminal pH, water intake and faecal and urinary characteristics. Four sheep fitted with ruminal cannulas were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. Barley straw was treated by the dry (spraying) method in pH adjusted of hydrogen peroxide (pH 11.5), ensiled for 6 weeks and included at 65% of the diet dry matter (DM). The results showed that straw pH reduced from 11.58 to 8.60 after 6 weeks of ensilage. The ET diet increased average DM digestibility and intake by 19% and 43% respectively. Total water intake was similar across treatments, while the water/DM intake ratio was 23% higher with the UT diet than with the ET one. Ruminal (6.73 vs. 6.84) and faecal (8.67 vs. 9.05) pH decreased but urinary pH (6.14 vs. 8.13) increased as a result of feeding animals on the ET diet compared with the UT diet. Compared with the UT diet, the ET one decreased faecal fibre (12%), moisture (32%) and water holding capacity, while it increased faecal ash (10%) and density (20%). The volume of urine excreted by the sheep fed with the ET diet increased by 67%, but their urine specific gravity (SG) decreased. No significant effects were observed for the dietary N supplementation and interactions between straw type × N supplementation with regard to any of the measured characteristics except for DM intake, which reduced due to the casein supplementation in the ET diet. These results indicate that the alkali treatment and ensilage of barley straw increased digestibility, intake, faecal consistency and urinary pH and dilution but decreased straw alkalinity as well as ruminal and faecal pH.