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.     

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.     

配料混合试验的设计和分析

系统地介绍了配料混合试验的基本概念．指出了混合试验与常规因子试验的区别。提出配料混合试验的3种设计，即顶点和边界点设计、矩心设计和极顶设计。以2个实例演示了混合试验资料的统计方法，包括回归和方差分析．驻点分析和等值线分析。     

肾俞穴,后三里穴与子宫相关的神经基础

应用辣根过氧化物酶（ＨＲＰ）法和荧光素双标记法，研究了家兔子宫与肾俞穴、后三里穴的外周神经联系。结果显示，支配子宫与肾俞穴、后三里穴的初级传入神经元及交感节后神经元分布节段部分重叠，在腰１（Ｌ１）脊神经节有少量的荧光素双标记细胞，约占该节荧光素标记细胞总数的２．６％，表明Ｌ１脊神经节有一些初级传入神经元，其周围突分支分布于肾俞穴和子宫，提示子宫与肾俞穴除通过中枢途径联系外，还可通过外周突分支投射的感觉神经元直接相联系；在胸１２～荐３（Ｔ１２～Ｓ３）交感神经节出现大量分别支配子宫和后三里穴的标记细胞，这两种细胞紧密相邻，提示支配子宫和后三里穴的交感节后神经元之间，可能还存在直接或间接联系。上述结果为穴位－内脏相关机理提供了形态学证据。     

环境温度和饲粮营养浓度对生长期母兔代谢能利用率的影响

选用6只9周龄新西兰母兔,评定环境温度和饲粮营养浓度对生长期母兔代谢能利用率的影响。试验在密闭式的小动物呼吸测热柜中进行。分别对处于环境温度为20±2℃和30±2℃,采食两种不同营养浓度的试兔进行测试。饲粮营养水平实测值,分别为12.22kJ ME/g和13.49kJ ME/g;粗蛋白质(CP)分别为17.3％和21.6％;中性洗涤纤维(NDF)分别为23.7％和16.5％。结果表明:环境温度影响试兔的能量平衡,它与采食量间存在着显著的相关。20±2℃时,相关系数r=0.798;30±2℃时,相关系数r=0.875。在本试验设计范围内,饲粮营养浓度并不影响代谢能食入量(ME_I),热增耗(HP)和能量平衡(EB)。当环境温度为20±2℃和30±2℃时,表观代谢能转化率(NE/ME)分别为51％和71％;每天每兔每千克代谢体重代谢能维持需要分别为396 kJ和361 kJ。试验结果认为:环境温度影响营养物质消化率(P相似文献   

近冰点温度贮藏草莓的研究

草莓呼吸旺盛,果皮薄易受伤,难以贮藏。利用近冰点温度贮藏可以明显地抑制草莓的呼吸作用,结合小袋包装的气密性,改善了包装内部的气体组成,提高草莓果实周围的相对湿度并减少空气对流,从而抑制了草莓在贮藏过程中糖分、水分的损耗,减少了糖酸比值的下降。保持了一定的感观指标,可使草莓的贮藏时间延长。     

Humble Opinion of Roof Gardens

1 GENERALRoof gardens can be extensively interpreted as ageneral designation, which means building variousrecreational garden on roofs, gazebos and terracesof both ancient and modern buildings, structures, andbridges (flyovers) (Jin Weiping, 1996). Cities aredensely populated and land is costly, so shortage ofland is one of the restrictive factors in green urbandevelopment. According to statistics, the green spaceis 2~3 m2 per capita in Chinese cities. As a result, todevelop roof gardens h…     

内蒙古大兴安岭林区野生动物资源开发对策

内蒙古大兴安岭林区野生动物资源十分丰富,在积极保护的基础上,合理开发利用野生动物资源对林区培育新的经济增长点、提供就业机会具有重要意义.本文主要从药用野生动物、毛皮动物、食用动物及野生动物生态旅游产品等几个方面的开发对策进行了探讨.     

冻融中土壤的水热动态

根据在北京郊区的试验,认为土壤水冻融过程可分为三阶段,其中第二阶段有聚墒现象,平均聚墒8.6mm,所聚的墒在融化过程中又逐渐消失。气温回升至-2℃左右是冻层下部由冻到融的转折温度。冬灌水保存到来年春季的数量有限,本试验中1m 土层内平均不足20mm。     

浅谈HACCP在机制针形名茶中的应用

对HACCP作简要介绍，根据HACCP体系的要求，分析了机制针形名茶过程中各个环节可能出现的危害因素，用HACCP的原理确立了关键控制点，并且建立了相应的控制措施。