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.     

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   

兔病毒性出血症病毒高免血清的制备与应用效果

以兔病毒性出血症病毒组织灭活疫苗免疫家兔，经五次免疫之后，抗体效价可达12log2以上，采集兔血清，以此治疗攻毒兔，结果大部分兔都存活，临床应用效果表明：以此血清治疗自然感染兔病毒性出血症病毒的发病兔，治愈率达80％以上。     

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…     

纤维素酶对兔日增重、肠绒毛结构、胃内容物及肝、睾丸内无机元素含量的影响

选用雄性日本大耳白兔20只,随机分为试验组和对照组,每组10只。结果表明,饲喂纤维素酶(3g/头·日)的兔日增重明显增加(P<0.05),通过电镜观察试验组兔空肠肠绒毛结构比较完整,而对照组则比较紊乱。另外,纤维素酶还能提高兔胃酸度和胃蛋白酶的活力(P<0.01);使肝脏中Cu(P<0.01)及睾丸内无机元素的含量增加,而使肝脏中Mn的含量下降(P<0.01)。     

虎皮黄兔主要肉用性能评定及其估（预）测

以３５只虎皮黄免为材料，对其增重、屠宰率及肉品品质等性状进行评定，利用通径分析法研究主要向用性状间的相关关系及其估（预）测．结果表明，１～３月龄平均日增重为２２．５９ｇ；３月龄宰前活重为１８９５ｇ；屠宰率为５２％；背最长肌水分含量为７５％，ｐＨ２为５．７，脂肪含量为２．０１％，失水率为１５．９％．用体长、胸围估测体重，用体重、体长预测肌间脂肪含量和颜色深浅，用胸围和耳长预测失水率可获得较可靠的结果。     

仔兔补饲方法的比较试验

仔兔从18～20日龄采取随笼补饲和离笼补饲两种方法。两批试验结果表明:随笼补饲的仔兔断奶窝重、窝日增重及成活率均明显高于离笼补饲的仔兔,重要的是随笼补饲极大简化了烦琐操作程序,减少了工作量,更适合规模化养兔场应用。     

不同生长年限王草的营养价值研究

本文对生长第1、2、3年的王草在100cm高度时刈割的营养成分及其体外干物质、有机物降解率进行分析研究。结果表明:不同生长年限王草第1年的粗蛋白质显著高于第2、3年(P<0.05),而中性洗涤纤维(NDF)、酸性洗涤纤维(ADF)显著低于第3年(P<0.05)。干物质、有机物的降解率第1年最高,第3年的最低,但差异不大。     

不同月龄生长公牛日粮营养物质消化规律的研究

本试验选用3头6月龄左右断奶中国荷斯坦公牛,在试验全程喂以相对稳定的日粮,从2003年11月1日开始,到2004年6月20日结束,用以测定中国荷斯坦生长公牛在不同生长期对饲粮中各营养成分的代谢情况。试验结果表明:日粮中的DM、OM、NDF、ADF、淀粉和粗蛋白质的表观消化率随着生长犊牛的月龄的增加而增加(P<0.05);并且9月龄以后,DM、OM、NDF、ADF和粗蛋白质的表观消化率增长不明显(P>0.05),淀粉的表观消化率则在11月龄以后增长不明显(P>0.05)。氮的净吸收率随着生长犊牛的月龄的增加而下降(P<0.05),且在9月龄以后下降不明显(P>0.05)。