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.     

完善农村居民最低生活保障制度的几点建议

当前，我国农村普遍建立了居民最低生活保障制度，这是保障农村社会稳定的“最后一道安全网”，是中国农村社会保障体系的基础工程。但是，我国农村居民最低生活保障制度也还存在一些问题，例如保障对象、保障方式、保障资金、管理体制等，充分认识并采取 有效措施解决好这些问题，对于完善农村社会保障体系，维护农村社会稳定和经济发展有着重要现实意义。     

南方山区草地资源的类型及开发利用途径

根据生态学的基本原理，对我国南方山区草地资源的特点进行了分析，从生态学类型上对该地区草地进行了划分，进而提出了南方山区草地开发利用的途径。     

古柏赤枯病病原菌的研究

经Ｋｏｃｈ＇ｓ法则检验证明，ＡｌｔｅｒｎａｒｉａｔｅｎｕｉｓＮｅｅｓ（细链格孢霉）是北京地区古柏赤枯病的病原菌。它引起古柏针叶及嫩梢的大量死亡。２—３年生桧柏及侧柏苗经人工接种证明，该病菌有较强的致病力，它还侵染某些种类的杨树。该病潜育期为５—６天。对病菌生物学特性也作了研究。病原菌生长和孢子萌发最适温度为２５℃Ｆ相对湿度在９０％以上；最适ｐＨ值为６；葡萄糖、淀粉、蛋白胨、谷氨酸为该菌纯培养的优良营养源。     

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   

烤烟适宜施氮量试验初报

试验结果表明,烤烟施氮量以90.0~112.5kg/hm2为佳,在此条件下,烤烟的产量和产值最高。     

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…     

江西省古树资源系统研究报告

研究对象只限于散生于江西省山下及村落的30851株古树，不涉及自然保护区、森林公园中的古树。根据古树生长特征，分析其时间分布(古树级及树龄)、空间分布(设区市分布、县域分布)，借助于动态聚类统计分析方法从不同方向进行数量分类，并对数量分类成果用判别分析进行检验。最后对各县域每km^2和每万人负荷古树数进行核算，用数据资抖说明县域保护古树的重要性，增强县域保护古树的责任感。     

浅析农牧交错区特殊地位与生态环境建设难点

农牧交错区是国家实施西部大开发的重点区域,通过建国50多年的艰苦努力,已经成为一条经济产业带,生产了大量的煤炭、石油、天然气和农牧产品支持国家的经济建设,并对西部地区起着重要的吸引和辐射作用。通过野外调查和资料分析,按照典型剖析、专题研究、总结提高的基本思路,分析了农牧交错区在国家经济建设中的地位与作用,探讨了在西部大开发中生态环境建设面临的严峻挑战,进而提出了相应的发展对策。