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.     

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.     

浙江省油菜花期降水量风险评估

对浙江省66个县市(区)1971—2014年油菜花期降水量及油菜产量资料进行统计分析,并基于信息扩散的风险评估模型,对浙江省油菜花期降水量在各级降水量下的超越概率进行计算分析,评估各地油菜花期面临的旱涝风险;同时分析了浙江省油菜花期各级降水量风险值与油菜产量变化之间的关系。结果表明:油菜花期降水量严重过剩的风险高值区主要位于浙西南地区,降水量短缺风险高值区主要位于浙江省沿海岛屿及宁波的部分县市;浙江省油菜花期降水量短缺基本可以通过灌溉得到改善,但油菜减产与花期降水量过多显著相关,油菜花期降水量300 mm是油菜是否减产的阈值。该结果可为油菜种植合理布局及农业保险政策提供科学依据。     

Lactate Kinetics in veterinary Critical Care: A Review

Elevation in blood lactate concentration, with or without accompanying metabolic acidosis, is a hallmark finding in patients with circulatory compromise, and is also consistently noted in other conditions affecting critically ill or injured individuals. Little is reported in a veterinary literature regarding lactate measurement in the emergency and critical care setting, despite impressive reports of the clinical usefulness of lactate measurement in people. The purpose of this article is to review lactate kinetics and the clinical utility of lactate measurement. Limitations to lactate evaluation will also be discussed.     

五种豆科牧草耐盐临界值、极限值的研究

针对黄淮海２０００ｋｍ２内陆盐碱地，经２年时间，用盆栽实验方法进行研究，确定出五种豆科牧草耐盐临界值和极限值。其中保定苜蓿、猎人河苜蓿、红豆草这三种豆科牧草耐盐临界值为０．４％，极限值为０．５％。草木樨耐盐临界值为０．３％，极限值为０．４％。沙打旺耐盐临界值０．２％，极限值为０．３％。     

光箨篌竹笋期生长规律初步研究

本文对光箨篌竹笋期的出笋规律、成竹规律以及竹笋的生长发育规律进行了研究。初步认为,光箨篌竹林分的母竹立竹度一般应保持在2500株/亩左右、Ⅰ～Ⅱ级母竹株数保持在40％以上时,才能保证林分的优质高产与稳产;抽枝成竹历期长短受竹笋笋级大小、出土早晚或立地环境条件的影响可相应延长或推迟2～4d左右,一般历时25d,竹笋开始抽枝成竹时的高度一般为5m左右;竹笋在生长发育高峰期明显受到气候因子的影响,尤其是对气温更为敏感。     

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   

马尾松基因库无性系花期观察分析

在福建省沙县官庄林场石景山工区进行马尾松基因库无性系开花习性、花量、花期的观察。观察结果表明：不同无性系着生球花量的差异显著，始花期也有明显的差异，但也存在一定的同步性，大部分无性系雌花开放时间比雄花早４─９天。     

奎屯地区气象要素对玉米播种及苗期的影响

奎屯地区农七师位于天山北麓,准噶尔盆地的西南缘,总面积5986km2,其中作物种植面积120万亩,随着农七师产业结构的调整,2003年实施了“万头澳牛引进工程”,养牛业的发展使农七师畜牧业对玉米的需求量增加,尤其是澳牛养殖业对青贮玉米需求量更大,因此,研究分析气象要素对玉米播种及苗期的影响是重要工作之一。