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.     

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.     

药用植物腊叶塑封标本制作技术

提出了药用植物腊叶塑封标本制作中采集——压制——装订上台纸——塑封等各环节的方法,尤其针对标本制作中存在的变色、叶片脱落等问题提出了用5%酒精溶液浸泡、0.3%沸盐水浸泡、烘干箱烘干、硅胶干燥、醋酸铜溶液保色等解决方案。     

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.     

Faecal nitrogen excretion as an approach to estimate forage intake of wethers

Data from twenty‐two digestibility trials were compiled to examine the relationship between faecal N concentration and organic matter (OM) digestibility (OMD), and between faecal N excretion and OM intake (OMI) by wethers fed tropical or temperate forages alone or with supplements. Data set was grouped by diet type as follows: only tropical grass (n = 204), only temperate grass (n = 160), tropical grass plus supplement (n = 216), temperate grass plus supplement (n = 48), tropical grass plus tropical legume (n = 60) and temperate grass with ruminal infusion of tannins (n = 16). Positive correlation between OMD and either total faecal N concentration (Nfc, % of OM) or metabolic faecal N concentration (Nmetfc, % of OM) was significant for most diet types. Exceptions were the diet that included a tropical legume, where both relationships were negative, and the diet that included tannin extract, where the correlation between OMD and Nfc was not significant. Pearson correlation and linear regressions between OM intake (OMI, g/day) and faecal N excretion (Nf, g/day) were significant for all diet types. When OMI was estimated from the OM faecal excretion and Nfc‐based OMD values, the linear comparison between observed and estimated OMI values showed intercept different from 0 and slope different from 1. When OMI was estimated using the Nf‐based linear regressions, the linear comparison between observed and estimated OMI values showed neither intercept different from 0 nor slope different from 1. Both linear comparisons showed similar R² values (i.e. 0.78 vs. 0.79). In conclusion, linear equations are suitable for directly estimating OM intake by wethers, fed only forage or forage plus supplements, from the amount of N excreted in faeces. The use of this approach in experiments with grazing wethers has the advantage of accounting for individual variations in diet selection and digestion processes and precludes the use of techniques to estimate forage digestibility.     

用人工神经网络模拟土体塌陷的可行性分析

探讨了利用人工神经网络预测土体塌陷与土体参数和荷载条件之间关系的可行性。BP神经网络是最常用的神经网络之一,通过网络训练,最终确定了6个变量即输入信息、8个隐层和1个输出层的网络结构。在比较了预测值与试验值后,进一步证实了人工神经网络在评估土体塌陷方面效果明显。     

泡沫塑料雕塑技术在鸵鸟形态标本制作中的应用研究

传统的形态标本制作是用棉花稻草等物做填充,或用钢筋、木头、石膏做成假体,存在着形态不逼真、易变形、易发霉、假体的制作工艺复杂、耗材多、重量重、易破损等缺点。本试验采用塑料泡沫雕塑技术成功制作出鸵鸟形态标本,具有形态逼真、不易变形、不易霉变、不易损坏、重量轻、易加工、工艺简单等优点。本试验对鸵鸟养殖业的生产、教育、科研及科学普及都具有积极的意义,对动物形态标本的制作也起到了积极作用。