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Iqbal A, Maqsood Ur Rehman M, Sajjad W, Degen AA, Rafiq M, Jiahuan N, Khan S, Shang Z. Patterns of bacterial communities in the rhizosphere and rhizoplane of alpine wet meadows. Environ Res 2024; 241:117672. [PMID: 37980986 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.117672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/31/2023] [Revised: 10/18/2023] [Accepted: 11/13/2023] [Indexed: 11/21/2023]
Abstract
Wet meadows, a type of wetland, are vulnerable to climate change and human activity, impacting soil properties and microorganisms that are crucial to the ecosystem processes of wet meadows. To decipher the ecological mechanisms and processes involved in wet meadows, it is necessary to examine the bacterial communities associated with plant roots. To gain valuable insight into the microbial dynamics of alpine wet meadows, we used Illumina MiSeq sequencing to investigate how environmental factors shape the bacterial communities thriving in the rhizosphere and rhizoplane of three plant species: Cremanthodium ellisii, Caltha scaposa, and Cremanthodium lineare. The most abundant bacterial phyla in rhizosphere and rhizoplane were Proteobacteria > Firmicutes > Actinobacteria, while Macrococcus, Lactococcus, and Exiguobacterium were the most abundant bacterial genera between rhizosphere and rhizoplane. The mantel test, network, and structure equation models revealed that bacterial communities of rhizosphere were shaped by total nitrogen (TN), soil water content (SWC), soil organic carbon (SOC), microbial biomass carbon (MBC), microbial biomass nitrogen (MBN), pH, however, rhizoplane bacterial communities exhibited varying results. The bacterial communities exhibited significant heterogeneity, with stochastic process predominating in both the rhizosphere and rhizoplane. PICRUSt2 and FAPROTAX analysis revealed substantial differences in key biogeochemical cycles and metabolic functional predictions. It was concluded that root compartments significantly influenced the bacterial communities, although plant species and elevation asserted varying effects. This study portrays how physicochemical properties, plant species, and elevations can shift the overall structure and functional repertoire of bacterial communities in alpine wet meadows.
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Affiliation(s)
- Awais Iqbal
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Muhammad Maqsood Ur Rehman
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Wasim Sajjad
- State Key Laboratory of Cryospheric Science, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Abraham Allan Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 8410500, Israel
| | - Muhammad Rafiq
- Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences and Informatics, Baluchistan University of IT, Engineering and Management Sciences, Quetta, Pakistan
| | - Niu Jiahuan
- Department of Health and Environmental Sciences, Xian Jiaotong-Liverpool University, Suzhou, 215123, China
| | - Salman Khan
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Zhanhuan Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
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Cheng X, Du X, Liang Y, Degen AA, Wu X, Ji K, Gao Q, Xin G, Cong H, Yang G. Effect of grape pomace supplement on growth performance, gastrointestinal microbiota, and methane production in Tan lambs. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1264840. [PMID: 37840727 PMCID: PMC10569316 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1264840] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2023] [Accepted: 09/11/2023] [Indexed: 10/17/2023] Open
Abstract
Grape pomace (GP), a by-product in wine production, is nutritious and can be used as a feed ingredient for ruminants; however, its role in shaping sheep gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microbiota is unclear. We conducted a controlled trial using a randomized block design with 10 Tan lambs fed a control diet (CD) and 10 Tan lambs fed a pelleted diet containing 8% GP (dry matter basis) for 46 days. Rumen, jejunum, cecum, and colon bacterial and archaeal composition were identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Dry matter intake (DMI) was greater (p < 0.05) in the GP than CD group; however, there was no difference in average daily gain (ADG, p < 0.05) and feed conversion ratio (FCR, p < 0.05) between the two groups. The GP group had a greater abundance of Prevotella 1 and Prevotella 7 in the rumen; of Sharpe, Ruminococcaceae 2, and [Ruminococcus] gauvreauii group in the jejunum; of Ruminococcaceae UCG-014 and Romboutsia in the cecum, and Prevotella UCG-001 in the colon; but lesser Rikenellaceae RC9 gut group in the rumen and cecum, and Ruminococcaceae UCG-005 and Ruminococcaceae UCG-010 in the colon than the CD group. The pathways of carbohydrate metabolism, such as L-rhamnose degradation in the rumen, starch and glycogen degradation in the jejunum, galactose degradation in the cecum, and mixed acid fermentation and mannan degradation in the colon were up-graded; whereas, the pathways of tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle VIII, and pyruvate fermentation to acetone in the rumen and colon were down-graded with GP. The archaeal incomplete reductive TCA cycle was enriched in the rumen, jejunum, and colon; whereas, the methanogenesis from H2 and CO2, the cofactors of methanogenesis, including coenzyme M, coenzyme B, and factor 420 biosynthesis were decreased in the colon. The study concluded that a diet including GP at 8% DM did not affect ADG or FCR in Tan lambs. However, there were some potential benefits, such as enhancing propionate production by microbiota and pathways in the GIT, promoting B-vitamin production in the rumen, facilitating starch degradation and amino acid biosynthesis in the jejunum, and reducing methanogenesis in the colon.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xindong Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology of Gansu Province, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Xia Du
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology of Gansu Province, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Yanping Liang
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology of Gansu Province, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Abraham Allan Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Xiukun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology of Gansu Province, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- Key Laboratory of Extreme Environmental Microbial Resources and Engineering, Lanzhou, China
| | - Kaixi Ji
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology of Gansu Province, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Qiaoxian Gao
- Ningxia Feed Engineering Technology Research Center, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Guosheng Xin
- Ningxia Feed Engineering Technology Research Center, Ningxia University, Yinchuan, China
| | - Haitao Cong
- Shandong Huakun Rural Revitalization Institute Co., Ltd., Jinan, China
| | - Guo Yang
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology of Gansu Province, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- Yellow River Estuary Tan Sheep Institute of Industrial Technology, Dongying, China
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Feng Q, Zhang J, Ling W, Degen AA, Zhou Y, Ge C, Yang F, Zhou J. Ensiling hybrid Pennisetum with lactic acid bacteria or organic acids improved the fermentation quality and bacterial community. Front Microbiol 2023; 14:1216722. [PMID: 37455750 PMCID: PMC10340086 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2023.1216722] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/04/2023] [Accepted: 06/12/2023] [Indexed: 07/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The aim of this study was to compare the effect of different additives on nutritional quality, fermentation variables and microbial diversity of hybrid Pennisetum silages. A control (CK - no additives) and seven treatments were tested, namely, Lactiplantibacillus plantarum (LP), Lentilactobacillus buchneri (LB), propionic acid (PA), calcium propionate (CAP), LP + LB; LP + PA and LP + CAP. In comparison with CK, all treatments increased the contents of crude protein and lactic acid, decreased the content of butyric acid, and altered the bacterial communities of the silage. Except for the CAP and LP + CAP treatments, the additives decreased pH and the ammonia nitrogen:total nitrogen (NH3-N:TN) ratio. The results of principal component analysis revealed that the PA, LP + PA and LP + LB treatments ranked as the top three silages. The PA and LP + PA treatments exhibited higher water-soluble carbohydrate content, but lower pH, and NH3-N:TN ratio than the other treatments. With the PA and LP + PA treatments, the relative abundances of Lactobacillus and Enterobacter decreased, and of Proteobacteria and Delftia increased, while the carbohydrate metabolism of the microorganisms improved. The LP and LB treatments reduced the Shannon and Simpson diversities. In the beta diversity, PA and LP + PA separated from the other treatments, indicating that there were differences in the composition of bacterial species. The relative abundance of Lactobacillus increased in the LP and LB treatments and of Leucanostoc and Weissella increased in the CAP and LP + CAP treatments. In summary, the addition of L. plantarum, L. buchneri, propionic acid, calcium propionate, and their combinations improved fermentation quality, inhibited harmful bacteria and conserved the nutrients of hybrid Pennisetum.
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Affiliation(s)
- Qixian Feng
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Juan Zhang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Wenqing Ling
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Abraham Allan Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Yi Zhou
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Chenyan Ge
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Fulin Yang
- College of Animal Sciences (College of Bee Science), Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
| | - Jing Zhou
- China National Engineering Research Center of JUNCAO Technology, Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, Fuzhou, China
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Wang X, Ji M, Zhang Y, Zhang L, Akram MA, Dong L, Hu W, Xiong J, Sun Y, Li H, Degen AA, Ran J, Deng J. Plant trait networks reveal adaptation strategies in the drylands of China. BMC Plant Biol 2023; 23:266. [PMID: 37202776 DOI: 10.1186/s12870-023-04273-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/01/2022] [Accepted: 05/08/2023] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Plants accomplish multiple functions by the interrelationships between functional traits. Clarifying the complex relationships between plant traits would enable us to better understand how plants employ different strategies to adapt to the environment. Although increasing attention is being paid to plant traits, few studies focused on the adaptation to aridity through the relationship among multiple traits. We established plant trait networks (PTNs) to explore the interdependence of sixteen plant traits across drylands. RESULTS Our results revealed significant differences in PTNs among different plant life-forms and different levels of aridity. Trait relationships for woody plants were weaker, but were more modularized than for herbs. Woody plants were more connected in economic traits, whereas herbs were more connected in structural traits to reduce damage caused by drought. Furthermore, the correlations between traits were tighter with higher edge density in semi-arid than in arid regions, suggesting that resource sharing and trait coordination are more advantageous under low drought conditions. Importantly, our results demonstrated that stem phosphorus concentration (SPC) was a hub trait correlated with other traits across drylands. CONCLUSIONS The results demonstrate that plants exhibited adaptations to the arid environment by adjusting trait modules through alternative strategies. PTNs provide a new insight into understanding the adaptation strategies of plants to drought stress based on the interdependence among plant functional traits.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoting Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Mingfei Ji
- Collaborative Innovation Center of Water Security for Water Source Region of Mid-Route Project of South-North Water Diversion of Henan Province, College of Water Resource and Environment Engineering, Nanyang Normal University, Nanyang, 473061, China
| | - Yahui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Liang Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Muhammad Adnan Akram
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
- School of Economics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Longwei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Weigang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Junlan Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Ying Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Hailin Li
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Abraham Allan Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of Negev, Beer Sheva, 8410500, Israel
| | - Jinzhi Ran
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China
| | - Jianming Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, 730000, China.
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Liang Y, Jiao D, Du X, Zhou J, Degen AA, Ran F, Sun G, Ji K, Wu X, Cheng X, Ma X, Qian C, Yang G. Effect of dietary Agriophyllum squarrosum on average daily gain, meat quality and muscle fatty acids in growing Tan lambs. Meat Sci 2023; 201:109195. [PMID: 37119717 DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2023.109195] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 03/27/2023] [Accepted: 04/13/2023] [Indexed: 05/01/2023]
Abstract
The herb A. squarrosum is reputed to possess medicinal properties for humans, and has the potential to be a feed resource for livestock. We hypothesized that this herb would improve the meat quality of lambs. To test this hypothesis, 24 Tan ewe-lambs (27.7 ± 0.45 kg) were offered diets containing 0 (CON), 100 (AS100), 200 (AS200) and 300 (AS300) g A. squarrosum/kg DM, and average daily gain, carcass traits, blood metabolites, meat quality and fatty acid profiles were determined. Drip loss % and cooking loss % decreased with the AS100 and AS200 diets (P < 0.05). Dietary A. squarrosum reduced muscle fiber area and diameter and increased density of the meat (P < 0.05), which indicated that the meat was more tender. The concentrations of C10:0 and C18:1n-9 t were 1ower and of C17:0 and C18:3n-3 were greater in the AS200 and AS300 treatments than CON (P < 0.05). Our results suggest that feeding lambs up to 200 g/kg DM of A. squarrosum can increase the water-holding capacity and L* value of meat without compromising growth. Further research is needed to determine the optimal level.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yanping Liang
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Department of Ecology and Agriculture Research, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Dan Jiao
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Department of Ecology and Agriculture Research, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xia Du
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Department of Ecology and Agriculture Research, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Jianwei Zhou
- College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Abraham Allan Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of Negev, Beer Sheva l8410500, Israel
| | - Fu Ran
- Pratacultural College, Gansu Agricultural University, Lanzhou 730070, China
| | - Guancong Sun
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Department of Ecology and Agriculture Research, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Kaixi Ji
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Department of Ecology and Agriculture Research, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiukun Wu
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Department of Ecology and Agriculture Research, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Xindong Cheng
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Department of Ecology and Agriculture Research, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing 100049, China
| | - Xiaofei Ma
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Department of Ecology and Agriculture Research, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Chaoju Qian
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Department of Ecology and Agriculture Research, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Guo Yang
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology in Cold and Arid Regions, Gansu Province, Department of Ecology and Agriculture Research, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou 730000, China; Dongying Yellow River Delta Biogenetic and Molecular Precision Breeding Laboratory, Dongying 257092, China; Shandong Huakun Rural Revitalization Institute Co., LTD, Dongying 250014, China.
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Sivan J, Tesler I, Hadad S, Degen AA, Geffen E, Kam M. Testing the morphological constraint hypothesis of tail length in the sexually dimorphic Cerastes vipera and new perspectives. Sci Rep 2023; 13:4447. [PMID: 36932218 PMCID: PMC10023687 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-023-31624-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/18/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2023] [Indexed: 03/19/2023] Open
Abstract
The morphological constraint hypothesis (MCH) states that, in snakes, males typically have relatively longer tails than females to accommodate the hemipenes and retractor muscles. To date, most studies testing the MCH have been interspecific and results have been equivocal. We tested the MCH intraspecifically on Cerastes vipera, a species with a relatively short tail and suitable for testing the MCH. The relative tail length and length of the hemipenes pocket in Cerastes vipera were measured in preserved museum-maintained males (n = 35) and in free-ranging males and females (n = 277). Males exhibited relatively longer tails than females, which was explained fully by the length of the hemipenes pocket. The relatively short tail of C. vipera presents a constraint to the reproductive structures in males, as the length of the hemipenes pocket occupies a greater proportion in shorter- than longer-tailed individuals. This is the first report presenting these intraspecific findings in support of the MCH. Whether these relations are widespread among snake families, within Viperidae, or specifically within C. vipera warrants further studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaim Sivan
- Department of Life Sciences, Achva Academic College, M.P. Shikmim, 79800, Arugot, Israel
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, 8410500, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | | | | | - Abraham Allan Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, 8410500, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Eli Geffen
- School of Zoology, Tel Aviv University, 69978, Tel Aviv, Israel
| | - Michael Kam
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, The Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, 8410500, Beer Sheva, Israel.
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Zhang Y, Xie S, Wang X, Akram MA, Hu W, Dong L, Sun Y, Li H, Degen AA, Xiong J, Ran J, Deng J. Concentrations and bioconcentration factors of leaf microelements in response to environmental gradients in drylands of China. Front Plant Sci 2023; 14:1143442. [PMID: 36938005 PMCID: PMC10019776 DOI: 10.3389/fpls.2023.1143442] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/13/2023] [Accepted: 02/20/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Determining response patterns of plant leaf elements to environmental variables would be beneficial in understanding plant adaptive strategies and in predicting ecosystem biogeochemistry processes. Despite the vital role of microelements in life chemistry and ecosystem functioning, little is known about how plant microelement concentrations, especially their bioconcentration factors (BCFs, the ratio of plant to soil concentration of elements), respond to large-scale environmental gradients, such as aridity, soil properties and anthropogenic activities, in drylands. The aim of the present study was to fill this important gap. We determined leaf microelement BCFs by measuring the concentrations of Mn, Fe, Ni, Cu and Zn in soils from 33 sites and leaves of 111 plants from 67 species across the drylands of China. Leaf microelement concentrations were maintained within normal ranges to satisfy the basic requirements of plants, even in nutrient-poor soil. Aridity, soil organic carbon (SOC) and electrical conductivity (EC) had positive effects, while soil pH had a negative effect on leaf microelement concentrations. Except for Fe, aridity affected leaf microelement BCFs negatively and indirectly by increasing soil pH and SOC. Anthropogenic activities and soil clay contents had relatively weak impacts on both leaf microelement concentrations and BCFs. Moreover, leaf microelement concentrations and BCFs shifted with thresholds at 0.89 for aridity and 7.9 and 8.9 for soil pH. Woody plants were positive indicator species and herbaceous plants were mainly negative indicator species of leaf microelement concentrations and BCFs for aridity and soil pH. Our results suggest that increased aridity limits the absorption of microelements by plant leaves and enhances leaf microelement concentrations. The identification of indicator species for the response of plant microelements to aridity and key soil characteristics revealed that woody species in drylands were more tolerant to environmental changes than herbaceous species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yahui Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems (SKLHIGA), College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Shubin Xie
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems (SKLHIGA), College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaoting Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems (SKLHIGA), College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Muhammad Adnan Akram
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems (SKLHIGA), College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- School of Economics, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Weigang Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems (SKLHIGA), College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Longwei Dong
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems (SKLHIGA), College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ying Sun
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems (SKLHIGA), College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hailing Li
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems (SKLHIGA), College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Abraham Allan Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Junlan Xiong
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems (SKLHIGA), College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jinzhi Ran
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems (SKLHIGA), College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jianming Deng
- State Key Laboratory of Herbage Improvement and Grassland Agro-ecosystems (SKLHIGA), College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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Guo W, Bi SS, Wang WW, Zhou M, Neves ALA, Degen AA, Guan LL, Long RJ. Maternal rumen and milk microbiota shape the establishment of early-life rumen microbiota in grazing yak calves. J Dairy Sci 2023; 106:2054-2070. [PMID: 36710176 DOI: 10.3168/jds.2022-22655] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/15/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 01/30/2023]
Abstract
Early-life gut microbial colonization and development exert a profound impact on the health and metabolism of the host throughout the life span. The transmission of microbes from the mother to the offspring affects the succession and establishment of the early-life rumen microbiome in newborns, but the contributions of different maternal sites to the rumen microbial establishment remain unclear. In the present study, samples from different dam sites (namely, oral, rumen fluid, milk, and teat skin) and rumen fluid of yak calves were collected at 6 time points between d 7 and 180 postpartum to determine the contributions of the different maternal sites to the establishment of the bacterial and archaeal communities in the rumen during early life. Our analysis demonstrated that the dam's microbial communities clustered according to the sites, and the calves' rumen microbiota resembled that of the dam consistently regardless of fluctuations at d 7 and 14. The dam's rumen microbiota was the major source of the calves' rumen bacteria (7.9%) and archaea (49.7%) compared with the other sites, whereas the potential sources of the calf rumen microbiota from other sites varied according to the age. The contribution of dam's rumen bacteria increased with age from 0.36% at d 7 to 14.8% at d 180, whereas the contribution of the milk microbiota showed the opposite trend, with its contribution reduced from 2.7% at d 7 to 0.2% at d 180. Maternal oral archaea were the main sources of the calves' rumen archaea at d 14 (50.4%), but maternal rumen archaea became the main source gradually and reached 66.2% at d 180. These findings demonstrated the potential microbial transfer from the dam to the offspring that could influence the rumen microbiota colonization and establishment in yak calves raised under grazing regimens, providing the basis for future microbiota manipulation strategies during their early life.
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Affiliation(s)
- W Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, International Centre of Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China; Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - S S Bi
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, International Centre of Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - W W Wang
- Key Laboratory of Animal Genetics, Breeding and Reproduction in the Plateau Mountainous Region, Ministry of Education, College of Animal Science, Guizhou University, Guiyang 550025, China
| | - M Zhou
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada
| | - A L A Neves
- Department of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Grønnegårdsvej 3, DK-1870, Frederiksberg C, Denmark
| | - A A Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410500, Israel
| | - L L Guan
- Department of Agricultural, Food and Nutritional Science, University of Alberta, Edmonton, AB T6G 2P5, Canada.
| | - R J Long
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, International Centre of Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China.
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Ji K, Jiao D, Yang G, Degen AA, Zhou J, Liu H, Wang W, Cong H. Transcriptome analysis revealed potential genes involved in thermogenesis in muscle tissue in cold-exposed lambs. Front Genet 2022; 13:1017458. [PMID: 36338953 PMCID: PMC9634817 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.1017458] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/12/2022] [Accepted: 10/05/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Cold tolerance is an important trait for sheep raised at high altitudes. Muscle tissue, comprising 30–40% of the total body mass, produces heat during cold exposure. However, little is known about the genetic mechanisms of this tissue and its role in thermogenesis in lambs. We examined genes in skeletal muscle tissue in a cold-adapted sheep breed, Altay, and a cold-intolerant sheep breed, Hu, when exposed to low air temperature. Three ewe-lambs of each breed were maintained at −5°C and three ewe-lambs of each breed were maintained at 20°C. After cold exposure for 25 days, the longissimus dorsi of each lamb was collected, and transcriptome profiles were sequenced and analyzed. The results of RNA-seq showed that the average reads among the four groups were 11.0 Gbase. The genome mapping rate averaged 88.1% and the gene mapping rate averaged 82.5%. The analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) indicated that the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptors (PPAR), cAMP, and calcium signaling pathways and muscle contraction in muscle tissue were linked to thermogenesis in cold-exposed lambs. Furthermore, PCK1 (phosphoenolpyruvate carboxykinase1) increased glyceroneogenesis in cold-exposed Altay lambs, and APOC3 (apolipoprotein C3), LPL (lipoprotein lipase), and FABP4 (fatty acid binding protein 4, adipocyte) were involved in the intake and transport of free fatty acids. In Hu sheep, cAMP biosynthesis from ATP hydrolysis was regulated by ADCY10 (adenylate cyclase) and ADORA2a (adenosine A2a receptor). Skeletal muscle contraction was regulated by MYL2 (myosin light chain 2). In conclusion, cold exposure altered the expression level of genes involved in heat production in muscle tissue. Some potential mechanisms were revealed, including calcium ion transport in the calcium signaling pathway, fatty acid metabolism in the PPAR signaling pathway, and cAMP biosynthesis in the cAMP signaling pathway. This study implied that skeletal muscle plays an important role in thermoregulation in lambs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kaixi Ji
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology of Gansu Province, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- University of Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, China
| | - Dan Jiao
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology of Gansu Province, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Guo Yang
- Key Laboratory of Stress Physiology and Ecology of Gansu Province, Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
- *Correspondence: Guo Yang,
| | - Abraham Allan Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Jianwei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-Ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hu Liu
- College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wenqiang Wang
- College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Haitao Cong
- Dongying Modern Animal Husbandry Development Service Center, Dongying, China
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10
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Jiang C, Dong Q, Xin X, Degen AA, Ding L. Effect of Chinese Herbs on Serum Biochemical Parameters, Immunity Indices, Antioxidant Capacity and Metabolomics in Early Weaned Yak Calves. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12172228. [PMID: 36077948 PMCID: PMC9455063 DOI: 10.3390/ani12172228] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/16/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022] Open
Abstract
Chinese traditional herbs are used widely as feed supplements to improve the immune response and antioxidant capacity of livestock. Twenty early-weaned 4-month-old yak calves (72.3 ± 3.65 kg) were divided randomly into four groups (n = 5 per group); three groups were provided with supplementary 80 mL/kg DMI of the root water extracts of either Angelica sinensis, Codonopsis pilosula or Glycyrrhiza uralensis, and one group (control) was not provided with a supplement. Compared to control calves, calves consuming the three herbal extracts increased serum concentrations of albumin (ALB) and glutathione peroxidase (GSH-Px), but decreased serum concentrations of free fatty acids (FFAs) and malondialdehyde (MDA) (p < 0.05). Calves consuming A. sinensis decreased (p < 0.05) serum concentration of total cholesterol (TC), and increased (p < 0.05) serum concentration of total proteins (TP). Serum FFA concentrations increased (p = 0.004) linearly with time in the control group, but not in the groups consuming herbs. Serum metabolomic data demonstrated that A. sinensis and C. pilosula regulate mainly amino acid metabolism, while G. uralensis regulates mainly carbon and amino acid metabolism. It was concluded that the three herbal root extracts, as dietary supplements, improved energy and nitrogen metabolism, and enhanced the antioxidant capacity of yak calves.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cuixia Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem, College of Ecology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Quanmin Dong
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Adaptive Management on Alpine Grassland, Qinghai University, Xining 810016, China
| | - Xiaoping Xin
- Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Beijing 100081, China
| | - Abraham Allan Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
| | - Luming Ding
- Institute of Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, Southwest Minzu University, Chengdu 610041, China
- Correspondence:
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11
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Tesler I, Sivan J, Degen AA, Kam M. Replacement of fangs in a free-ranging desert viperid, Cerastes vipera. ZOOLOGY 2022; 152:126013. [DOI: 10.1016/j.zool.2022.126013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/14/2021] [Revised: 04/10/2022] [Accepted: 04/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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12
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Jing XP, Wang WJ, Degen AA, Guo YM, Kang JP, Liu PP, Ding LM, Shang ZH, Zhou JW, Long RJ. Small intestinal morphology and sugar transporters expression when consuming diets of different energy levels: comparison between Tibetan and small-tailed Han sheep. Animal 2022; 16:100463. [PMID: 35193064 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2022.100463] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/27/2021] [Revised: 01/12/2022] [Accepted: 01/13/2022] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
Some non-structural carbohydrates, especially starch, escape ruminal fermentation, are converted into glucose, and are absorbed from the small intestine. This glucose provides an important source of energy, and its usage is more efficient than glucose from carbohydrates which are fermented as short chain fatty acids in the rumen and, subsequently, undergo hepatic gluconeogenesis. Tibetan sheep graze on the harsh Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) all year round and their carbohydrate and energy intakes fluctuate greatly with seasonal forage availability. Consequently, a high capacity to absorb glucose from the small intestine would be particularly beneficial for Tibetan sheep to allow them to cope with the inconsistent dietary intakes. This study examined how the small intestinal morphology and sugar transporters' expression of Tibetan and Small-tailed Han (Han) sheep respond to fluctuating energy intakes under the harsh conditions of the QTP. Han sheep graze on the QTP only in summer and are generally raised in feedlots. Twenty-four Tibetan sheep and 24 Han sheep, all wethers, were assigned randomly to four groups (n = 6 per breed/group), with each group offered a diet differing in digestible energy content: 8.21, 9.33, 10.45 and 11.57 MJ/kg DM. After 49 d, all sheep were slaughtered, tissues of the small intestine were collected, and measurements were made of the morphology and glucose transporters and the related regulation gene expressions. At intakes of low energy levels, Tibetan sheep had a greater villus surface area in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum and higher mRNA expression of sodium-dependent glucose transporter 1 in the duodenum and ileum (P < 0.05) than Han sheep. In the glucose transporter 2 (GLUT2) mediated glucose absorption pathway, Tibetan sheep had higher GLUT2 and taste receptor family 1 member 2 and 3 mRNA expressions than Han sheep in the duodenum, jejunum and ileum (P < 0.05). We concluded that the differences between breeds indicated a greater glucose absorption capacity in the small intestine of Tibetan than Han sheep, which would confer an advantage to Tibetan over Han sheep to an inconsistent energy intake on the harsh QTP. These findings suggested that ruminants raised under harsh environmental conditions with highly fluctuating dietary intakes, as is often the case in grazing ruminants worldwide, are able to absorb glucose from the small intestine to a greater extent than ruminants raised under more moderate conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- X P Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China; State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-Ecosystems, International Centre for Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; Laboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - W J Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-Ecosystems, International Centre for Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - A A Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 8410500, Israel
| | - Y M Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
| | - J P Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
| | - P P Liu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-Ecosystems, International Centre for Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - L M Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-Ecosystems, International Centre for Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Z H Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-Ecosystems, International Centre for Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - J W Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China.
| | - R J Long
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland and Agro-Ecosystems, International Centre for Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
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13
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Cui G, Tian F, Hu Y, Wei X, Zhu X, Wang X, Wang C, Li J, Degen AA, Duan H. Photosynthesis, fluorescence, and nutrition of Zhonglan No. 2, a new alfalfa cultivar. J Sci Food Agric 2021; 101:6434-6442. [PMID: 33987837 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.11314] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/17/2020] [Revised: 04/24/2021] [Accepted: 05/13/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND The years after planting play an important role in the above-ground biomass and nutritive value of alfalfa. Zhonglan No. 2 (Medicago sativa L. cv. Zhonglan No. 2) is a new breeding alfalfa cultivar characterized by high drought tolerance and high yield. To determine the optimum time for utilization of Zhonglan No. 2, we examined growth traits, chlorophyll content, photosynthetic and fluorescence parameters, and composition and nutritive values at the late vegetative and early flowering stages of the first stubble in the second, third, fourth, sixth, and eleventh years after planting. RESULTS In general, the height and leaf area decreased with increasing number of years after planting. At the late vegetative stage, the fourth-year alfalfa exhibited higher stomatal conductance (Gs) and intercellular CO2 concentration (Ci), and better water use efficiency, and at the early flowering stage, the fourth-year alfalfa had the highest (P < 0.05) leaf net photosynthetic rate (Pn) and carboxylation efficiency (CE). Total digestible nutrients did not differ among years, but, in the early flowering stage, crude protein content decreased with years (P < 0.05). Malondialdehyde (MDA) content and total antioxidant capacity did not differ among years after planting, suggesting aging did not impose oxidative stress on this alfalfa cultivar. CONCLUSIONS Based on height, chlorophyll content, crude protein (CP) content, and photosynthetic and fluorescence parameters, the fourth year after planting, at the early flowering stage, was the best for using Zhonglan No. 2. © 2021 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Guangxin Cui
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Fuping Tian
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Yu Hu
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Xiaoxing Wei
- Academy of Animal and Veterinary Sciences, Qinghai University, Xining, PR China
| | - Xinqiang Zhu
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Xiaoli Wang
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Chunmei Wang
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Jinhua Li
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, PR China
| | - Abraham Allan Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Huirong Duan
- Lanzhou Institute of Husbandry and Pharmaceutical Sciences of Chinese Academy of Agricultural Sciences, Lanzhou, PR China
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14
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Hu C, Ding L, Jiang C, Ma C, Liu B, Li D, Degen AA. Effects of Management, Dietary Intake, and Genotype on Rumen Morphology, Fermentation, and Microbiota, and on Meat Quality in Yaks and Cattle. Front Nutr 2021; 8:755255. [PMID: 34859030 PMCID: PMC8632495 DOI: 10.3389/fnut.2021.755255] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/08/2021] [Accepted: 10/11/2021] [Indexed: 12/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Traditionally, yaks graze only natural grassland, even in harsh winters. Meat from grazing yaks is considered very healthy; however, feedlot fattening, which includes concentrate, has been introduced. We questioned whether this change in management and diet would have an impact on the rumen and meat quality of yaks. This study examined the morphology, fermentation, and microbiota of the rumen and the quality of meat of three groups of bovines: (1) grazing yaks (GYs, 4-year olds), without dietary supplements; (2) yaks (FYs, 2.5-year olds) feedlot-fattened for 5 months after grazing natural pasture; and (3) feedlot-fattened cattle (FC, Simmental, 2-year olds). This design allowed us to determine the role of diet (with and without concentrate) and genotype (yaks vs. cattle) on variables measured. Ruminal papillae surface area was greater in the FYs than in the GYs (P = 0.02), and ruminal microbial diversity was greater but richness was lesser in the GYs than in the FC and FYs. Concentrations of ruminal volatile fatty acids were greater in the yaks than in the cattle. In addition, both yak groups had higher protein and lower fat contents in meat than the FC. Meat of GY had a lower n6:n3 ratio than FY and FC, and was the only group with a ratio below r, which is recommended for healthy food. Essential amino acids (EAA), as a proportion of total AA and of non-essential AA of yak meat, met WHO criteria for healthy food; whereas FC did not.
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Affiliation(s)
- Changsheng Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Luming Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Adaptive Management on Alpine Grassland, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Cuixia Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Chengfang Ma
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-Ecosystem, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Botao Liu
- Gansu Devotion Biotechnology Co., Ltd., Zhangye, China
| | - Donglin Li
- Qinghai Qilian Yida Meat Co., Ltd., Qinghai, China
| | - Abraham Allan Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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15
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Jiang C, Ding L, Dong Q, Wang X, Wei H, Hu C, Ma C, Yan Q, Zhou Y, Degen AA. Effects of root extracts of three traditional Chinese herbs as dietary supplements on dry matter intake, average daily gain, rumen fermentation and ruminal microbiota in early weaned yak calves. Anim Feed Sci Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anifeedsci.2021.115002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
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16
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Jing XP, Wang WJ, Degen AA, Guo YM, Kang JP, Liu PP, Ding LM, Shang ZH, Zhou JW, Long RJ. Energy substrate metabolism in skeletal muscle and liver when consuming diets of different energy levels: comparison between Tibetan and Small-tailed Han sheep. Animal 2021; 15:100162. [PMID: 33485829 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2020.100162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/28/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/10/2020] [Indexed: 12/21/2022] Open
Abstract
The energy intake of Tibetan sheep on the harsh Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) varies greatly with seasonal forage fluctuations and is often below maintenance requirements, especially during the long, cold winter. The liver plays a crucial role in gluconeogenesis and skeletal muscle is the primary tissue of energy expenditure in mammals. Both play important roles in energy substrate metabolism and regulating energy metabolism homeostasis of the body. This study aimed to gain insight into how skeletal muscle and liver of Tibetan sheep regulate energy substrate metabolism to cope with low energy intake under the harsh environment of the QTP. Tibetan sheep (n = 24; 48.5 ± 1.89 kg BW) were compared with Small-tailed Han sheep (n = 24; 49.2 ± 2.21 kg BW), which were allocated randomly into one of four groups that differed in dietary digestible energy densities: 8.21, 9.33, 10.45 and 11.57 MJ /kg DM. The sheep were slaughtered after a 49-d feeding period, skeletal muscle and liver tissues were collected and measurements were made of the activities of the key enzymes of energy substrate metabolism and the expressions of genes related to energy homeostasis regulation. Compared with Small-tailed Han sheep, Tibetan sheep exhibited higher capacities of propionate to glucose conversion and fatty acid oxidation and ketogenesis in the liver, higher glucose utilization efficiency in both skeletal muscle and liver, but lower activities of fatty acid oxidation and protein mobilization in skeletal muscle, especially when in negative energy balance. However, the Small-tailed Han sheep exhibited higher capacities to convert amino acids and lactate to glucose and higher levels of glycolysis and lipogenesis in the liver than Tibetan sheep. These differences in gluconeogenesis and energy substrate metabolism conferred the Tibetan sheep an advantage over Small-tailed Han sheep to cope with low energy intake and regulate whole-body energy homeostasis under the harsh environment of the QTP.
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Affiliation(s)
- X P Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China; International Centre for Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China; Laboratory for Animal Nutrition and Animal Product Quality, Department of Animal Sciences and Aquatic Ecology, Faculty of Bioscience Engineering, Ghent University, Ghent 9000, Belgium
| | - W J Wang
- International Centre for Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - A A Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of Negev, Beer Sheva 8410500, Israel
| | - Y M Guo
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
| | - J P Kang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China
| | - P P Liu
- International Centre for Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - L M Ding
- International Centre for Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - Z H Shang
- International Centre for Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
| | - J W Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730020, China.
| | - R J Long
- International Centre for Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou 730000, China
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17
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Wei H, Ding L, Wang X, Yan Q, Jiang C, Hu C, Wang G, Zhou Y, Henkin Z, Degen AA. Astragalus root extract improved average daily gain, immunity, antioxidant status and ruminal microbiota of early weaned yak calves. J Sci Food Agric 2021; 101:82-90. [PMID: 32608134 DOI: 10.1002/jsfa.10617] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/06/2020] [Revised: 06/23/2020] [Accepted: 07/01/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Early weaning in yak calves is being attempted to improve yak reproduction rate. However, this has to be done with caution because of the high mortality rate of calves due to the lack of nutrients and the harsh environmental conditions. Twenty-four weaned male yak calves were used in a 60 day feeding trial in which astragalus root extract (ARE) was supplemented. They were assigned randomly to one of four dietary treatments (n = six per treatment) that differed in ARE level: 0 g kg-1 (control), ARE0 ; 20 g kg-1 , ARE20 ; 50 g kg-1 , ARE50; and 80 g kg-1 dry matter intake (DMI), ARE80 . RESULTS Final bodyweight and average daily gain (ADG) were significantly higher and the DMI/ADG ratio was significantly lower in calves with ARE supplementation than control (ARE0 ) calves. Ruminal concentrations of acetate and propionate and serum concentration of superoxide dismutase in ARE80 calves were higher than in the other groups and serum concentration of insulin was higher in ARE80 calves than in ARE20 calves. Serum immunoglobulin G (IgG) and interleukin-2 (IL-2) concentrations in ARE-fed calves were higher than in controls. Serum tumor necrosis factor (TNF-α) concentration was higher in ARE50 and ARE80 groups than ARE0 calves and serum interleukin-6 (IL-6) concentration was higher in ARE80 than in ARE0 calves. Serum immunoglobulin A (IgA), IgG and immunoglobulin M (IgM) concentrations increased with age in ARE-fed calves. ARE supplementation increased the abundance of fiber degrading bacteria. CONCLUSION ARE at a dosage of 5% to 8% DMI can be supplemented to early weaned yak calves to improve growth performance, antioxidant capacity and immunity. © 2020 Society of Chemical Industry.
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Affiliation(s)
- Haiyan Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem, Engineering Research Center of Arid Agriculture and Ecological Remediation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Luming Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem, Engineering Research Center of Arid Agriculture and Ecological Remediation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
- Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Adaptive Management on Alpine Grassland, Qinghai University, Xining, China
| | - Xianju Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem, Engineering Research Center of Arid Agriculture and Ecological Remediation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Qi Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem, Engineering Research Center of Arid Agriculture and Ecological Remediation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Cuixia Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem, Engineering Research Center of Arid Agriculture and Ecological Remediation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Changsheng Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem, Engineering Research Center of Arid Agriculture and Ecological Remediation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Guowen Wang
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, Xining, China
| | - Yuqing Zhou
- Haibei Comprehensive Experimental Station of National Beef Cattle & Yak Industrial Technology System, Haibei, China
| | - Zalmen Henkin
- Beef Cattle Section, Department of Natural Resources, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe-Ya'ar Research Center, Yishay, Israel
| | - Abraham Allan Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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Wang XJ, Ding LM, Wei HY, Jiang CX, Yan Q, Hu CS, Jia GX, Zhou YQ, Henkin Z, Degen AA. Astragalus membranaceus root supplementation improves average daily gain, rumen fermentation, serum immunity and antioxidant indices of Tibetan sheep. Animal 2020; 15:100061. [PMID: 33516026 DOI: 10.1016/j.animal.2020.100061] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/31/2020] [Revised: 08/14/2020] [Accepted: 08/17/2020] [Indexed: 11/28/2022] Open
Abstract
The use of antibiotics as supplements in animal feed is restricted due to possible health hazards associated with them. Consequently, there is increasing interest in exploiting natural products to improve health and production of livestock with no detrimental side effects. In this study, we examined the effect of Astragalus membranaceus root (AMT) supplementation on DM intake, growth performance, rumen fermentation and immunity of Tibetan sheep. Twenty-four male Tibetan sheep (31 ± 1.4 kg; 9 months old) were assigned randomly to one of four dietary treatments with different levels of AMT: 0, 20, 50 and 80 g/kg DM (A0, A2, A5 and A8, respectively) in addition to their basal diets. A0 acted as a control group, and measurements were recorded over a 56-d feeding period. Sheep fed with AMT had a higher average daily gain and a lower feed:gain ratio than controls (P < 0.001). Rumen concentrations of NH3-N (P < 0.001), total volatile fatty acids (P = 0.028), acetate (P = 0.017) and propionate (P = 0.031) in A5 and A8 were higher than those in A0. The addition of AMT in the feed significantly increased serum antioxidant and immunity factors of the sheep and increased the concentrations of serum interleukin, immunoglobulin and tumour necrosis factor-α (P = 0.010). We concluded that AMT can be used as a feed additive to improve growth performance and rumen fermentation and enhance the immunity of Tibetan sheep. Some responses exhibited a dose-dependent response, whereas other did not exhibit a pattern, with an increase in AMT. The addition of 50 and 80 g/kg AMT of total DM intake showed the most promising results.
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Affiliation(s)
- X J Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem, Engineering Research Center of Arid Agriculture and Ecological Remediation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - L M Ding
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem, Engineering Research Center of Arid Agriculture and Ecological Remediation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China; Qinghai Provincial Key Laboratory of Adaptive Management on Alpine Grassland, Qinghai University, Xining, Qinghai 810016, China.
| | - H Y Wei
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem, Engineering Research Center of Arid Agriculture and Ecological Remediation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - C X Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem, Engineering Research Center of Arid Agriculture and Ecological Remediation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - Q Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem, Engineering Research Center of Arid Agriculture and Ecological Remediation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - C S Hu
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystem, Engineering Research Center of Arid Agriculture and Ecological Remediation of Ministry of Education, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, Gansu 730000, China
| | - G X Jia
- Key Laboratory of Adaptation and Evolution of Plateau Biota, Northwest Institute of Plateau Biology, Chinese Academy of Science, Xining 810001, China
| | - Y Q Zhou
- Haibei Comprehensive Experimental Station of National Beef Cattle & Yak Industrial Technology System, Haibei 810299, China
| | - Z Henkin
- Beef Cattle Section, Department of Natural Resources, Agricultural Research Organization, Newe-Ya'ar Research Center, POB 1021, Ramat Yishay, 30095, Israel
| | - A A Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel
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19
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Sivan J, Hadad S, Tesler I, Rosenstrauch A, Allan Degen A, Kam M. Relative tail length correlates with body condition in male but not in female crowned leafnose snakes (Lytorhynchus diadema). Sci Rep 2020; 10:4130. [PMID: 32139789 PMCID: PMC7058055 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-020-61168-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/25/2019] [Accepted: 02/24/2020] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Reproductive success is the ultimate measure of individual quality; however, it is difficult to determine in free-living animals. Therefore, indirect measures that are related to reproduction are generally employed. In snakes, males typically possess longer tails than females and this sexual size dimorphism in tail length (TL) has generally been attributed to the importance of the tail in mating and reproduction. Thus, intra-sexual differences in tail length, specifically within males, were hypothesized to reflect individual quality. We used a body condition index (BCI) as a measure of quality in snakes and predicted that tail length would be correlated with BCI in males. We tested our prediction by determining BCI in the free-ranging adult male and female crowned leafnose snake (Lytorhynchus diadema), a colubrid species that inhabits mainly desert sand dunes. The relative TL was correlated positively and significantly to BCI in males (F1,131 = 11.05; r2adj = 0.07; P < 0.01) but not in females, thus supporting our prediction. This is the first time that the relationship between TL and body condition was tested in a free-ranging species. In addition, sexual size dimorphism of TL increased intra-specifically with body size, which was also found in interspecific analyses following Rensch's rule.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jaim Sivan
- Department of Life Sciences, Achva Academic College, M. P. Shikmim, 79800, Israel
| | | | - Itay Tesler
- Negev Zoo, P. O. B, 4033, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Avi Rosenstrauch
- Department of Life Sciences, Achva Academic College, M. P. Shikmim, 79800, Israel
| | - Abraham Allan Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 8410500, Israel
| | - Michael Kam
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Institutes for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 8410500, Israel.
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20
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Zhou J, Ji K, Liu H, Zhang Y, Degen AA, Jiao D, Wang W, Xie Z, Wang X, Zhou P, Yang G. Effect of air temperature on growth performance, apparent digestibilities, rumen fermentation and serum metabolites in Altay and Hu lambs. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2020; 104:1024-1033. [PMID: 32011791 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13318] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/26/2019] [Revised: 11/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/27/2019] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
Fat-tailed Altay sheep are indigenous to the Altay prefecture and well adapted to severe cold and sparse pasture of poor quality. Hu sheep were introduced to this region in the 1970s and are raised mainly in feedlots. We hypothesized that the dietary energy utilization would differ between breeds and predicted that Altay sheep would be more efficient than Hu sheep, in particular at a low air temperature. To test this prediction, we examined growth performance, apparent digestibilities, rumen fermentation and serum metabolites in Altay (32 ± 2.6 kg) and Hu sheep (31 ± 2.7 kg) at air temperatures of -5 and 20°C. Average daily gain (ADG), feed and metabolizable energy intakes were greater in Altay than in Hu sheep (p < .01), and all were greater at -5°C than 20°C (p < .01). Body mass gain-to-feed intake ratio was higher in Altay than in Hu sheep (p < .001), but was not affected by air temperature (p > .10). Rumen total volatile fatty acid (VFA) concentration was greater in Hu than in Altay sheep (p < .05) and was greater at 20°C than at -5°C (p < .05), while rumen microbial protein concentration was greater in Altay than in Hu sheep (p < .05). Rectal temperature was higher at -5°C than 20°C (p < .05) and was similar between breeds (p > .05). Serum glucose, non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and urea-N concentrations were higher in Hu than in Altay sheep (p < .05). It was concluded that Altay sheep are better able to cope with poor quality diets as they had higher digestibility of nutrients, ADG and body mass gain-to-feed intake ratio than Hu sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianwei Zhou
- Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Kaixi Ji
- Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hu Liu
- Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yunsheng Zhang
- State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, China
| | - Abraham Allan Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Dan Jiao
- Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Wenqiang Wang
- Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhongkui Xie
- Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xinhua Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, China
| | - Ping Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Sheep Genetic Improvement and Healthy Production, Xinjiang Academy of Agricultural and Reclamation Science, Shihezi, China
| | - Guo Yang
- Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
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21
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Jiao J, Wang T, Zhou J, Degen AA, Gou N, Li S, Bai Y, Jing X, Wang W, Shang Z. Carcass parameters and meat quality of Tibetan sheep and Small-tailed Han sheep consuming diets of low-protein content and different energy yields. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2020; 104:1010-1023. [PMID: 31984565 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13298] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2019] [Revised: 12/05/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2019] [Indexed: 12/13/2022]
Abstract
Today, consumers are very health conscious and are more aware of the nutritional value of food, especially of meat, than they were in the past. The aim of this study was to evaluate the carcass parameters and meat quality of Tibetan sheep and Small-tailed Han sheep when consuming a diet of low-protein (~7%) and different energy yields (digestible energy, 8.21, 9.33, 10.45 and 11.57 MJ/kg) in the cold season. Twelve sheep of each breed were divided randomly into four treatments of different diets with three replicates per treatment per breed. Crude protein of the meat decreased linearly (p < .05), whereas energy increased linearly (p < .05) with an increase in energy level. Tibetan sheep tended to have a higher (p < .1) dressing percentage and rib eye area, while live body weight and hot carcass weight did not differ between breeds but increased linearly (p < .01) with an increase in energy level. Water holding capacity, as indicated by pressing loss and drip loss, did not differ between breeds and was not affected by dietary energy. The concentration of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) was greater in Tibetan sheep meat but saturated fatty acids (SFAs), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs) and n-6 PUFA did not differ between breeds. With an increase in energy content of the diet, SFA decreased (p < .05), whereas MUFA increased (p < .05). The n-6:n-3 PUFA ratio was lower (p < .001) in Tibetan sheep meat, while the atherogenic index did not differ between breeds, but tended to decrease (p < .1) with an increase in dietary energy content. The essential amino acid (EAA) content and ratio of EAA:NEAA (non-essential amino acid) were close to the world standards for healthy meat. In summary, (a) Tibetan sheep meat was preferable to Small-tailed Han sheep meat, although differences between breeds were small; and (b) some carcass parameters and meat quality were improved with an increase in dietary energy level when a low-protein diet was offered.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jianxin Jiao
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ting Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Jianwei Zhou
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Abraham Allan Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Nana Gou
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Shanshan Li
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Yanfu Bai
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Xiaoping Jing
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Weiwei Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Zhanhuan Shang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China.,State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, School of Life Sciences, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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Shi F, Wang H, Degen AA, Zhou J, Guo N, Mudassar S, Long R. Rumen parameters of yaks (Bos grunniens) and indigenous cattle (Bos taurus) grazing on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2019; 103:969-976. [PMID: 30985029 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/18/2018] [Revised: 01/08/2019] [Accepted: 03/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Yaks and indigenous Qaidam cattle and cattle-yak crosses (C × Y) graze on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau (QTP) throughout the year, but yaks are raised at higher elevations than cattle. Yaks do not receive supplementary feed whereas cattle require supplementary feed during harsh winter. We hypothesized that yaks would cope with the severe conditions of the QTP better than cattle and utilize the pasture more efficiently. We also hypothesized that differences between species would be pronounced in winter, when conditions are particularly harsh. To test these hypotheses, seasonal rumen fluid parameters of yaks, C × Y and cattle (n = 3 for each) were examined. Rumen fluid was collected in summer and winter from each genotype 2, 5 and 12 hr after a day of grazing. Concentrations of total volatile fatty acid (VFA), acetate, propionate, isobutyrate and isovalerate were greater in yaks than in cattle in summer (p < 0.05), while propionate concentration was lower in yaks than in cattle in winter (p < 0.05). Concentrations of ammonia and urea were greater (p < 0.001) in yaks than in cattle (p < 0.001) in summer, whereas, concentrations of free amino acids (AA) were greater in cattle than in yaks in summer and winter (p < 0.001). Concentrations of total VFA, acetate, propionate and butyrate decreased linearly (p < 0.05), whereas concentrations of isobutyrate and isovalerate increased linearly for yak and C × Y with sampling time (p < 0.05) in summer. In summer, concentrations of isobutyrate and isovalerate were greater in yaks than in cattle (p < 0.05). In conclusion, rumen fermentation characteristics of yaks showed that they coped better than cattle or C × Y in the harsh climate as we hypothesized. However, in contrast to our hypothesis, this emerged only in summer, when pasture was plentiful and not in winter, when pasture was scarce.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuyu Shi
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Hucheng Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Grassland Agro-ecosystems, Key Laboratory of Grassland Livestock Industry Innovation, Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, College of Pastoral Agriculture Science and Technology, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Abraham Allan Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
| | - Jianwei Zhou
- Northwest Institute of Eco-Environment and Resources, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Lanzhou, China
| | - Na Guo
- School of Life Sciences, International Centre for Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Shah Mudassar
- School of Life Sciences, International Centre for Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
| | - Ruijun Long
- School of Life Sciences, International Centre for Tibetan Plateau Ecosystem Management, Lanzhou University, Lanzhou, China
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23
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Zhou JW, Zhong CL, Liu H, Degen AA, Titgemeyer EC, Ding LM, Shang ZH, Guo XS, Qiu Q, Li ZP, Yang G, Long RJ. Comparison of nitrogen utilization and urea kinetics between yaks ( Bos grunniens) and indigenous cattle ( Bos taurus). J Anim Sci 2018; 95:4600-4612. [PMID: 29108052 DOI: 10.2527/jas2017.1428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 34] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Under traditional management on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau, yaks () graze only on natural pasture without supplements and are forced to cope with sparse forage of low N content, especially in winter. In contrast, indigenous Tibetan yellow cattle () require supplements during the cold season. We hypothesized that, in response to harsh conditions, yaks cope with low N intakes better than cattle. To test this hypothesis, a study of whole-body N retention and urea kinetics was conducted in 2 concurrent 4 × 4 Latin squares, with 1 square using yaks and 1 square using cattle. Four isocaloric forage-concentrate diets differing in N concentrations (10.3, 19.5, 28.5, and 37.6 g N/kg DM) were formulated, and by design, DMI were similar between species and across diets. Urea kinetics were determined with continuous intravenous infusion of NN urea for 104 h, and total urine and feces were concomitantly collected. Urea production, urea recycling to the gut, and ruminal microbial protein synthesis all linearly increased ( < 0.001) with increasing dietary N in both yaks and cattle. Urinary N excretion was less ( = 0.04) and N retention was greater ( = 0.01) in yaks than in cattle. Urea production was greater in yaks than in cattle at the 3 lowest N diets but greater in cattle than in yaks at the highest N diet (species × diet, < 0.02). Urea N recycled to the gut ( < 0.001), recycled urea N captured by ruminal bacteria ( < 0.001), and ruminal microbial protein production ( = 0.05) were greater in yaks than in cattle. No more than 12% of urea recycling was through saliva, with no difference between species ( = 0.61). Glomerular filtration rate was lower ( = 0.05) in yaks than in cattle. The higher urea recycling and greater capture of recycled urea by ruminal microbes in yaks than in cattle suggest that yaks use mechanisms to utilize dietary N more efficiently than cattle, which may partially explain the better survival of yaks than cattle when fed low-N diets.
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Krasnov BR, Hovhanyan A, Khokhlova IS, Degen AA. Evidence for a negative fitness-density relationship between parent density and offspring quality for two Xenopsylla spp. parasitic on desert mammals. Med Vet Entomol 2008; 22:156-166. [PMID: 18498616 DOI: 10.1111/j.1365-2915.2008.00730.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
We tested the hypothesis of negative fitness-density relationships and predicted that an increase in the density of parent fleas would result in lower survival rates and longer development time of pre-imagoes as well as shorter time to death from starvation of newly emerged imagoes. These predictions were experimentally tested on Xenopsylla conformis Wagner and Xenopsylla ramesis Rothschild feeding on two rodent species, Meriones crassus Sundevall or Dipodillus dasyurus Wagner. Survival of larvae and pupae, but not eggs, was negatively affected by parent density. An increase in parent density led to a decrease in the number of imagoes of the next generation. Eggs of both species developed faster when the parents were at low densities on either host. The same was true for larval X. ramesis, but not larval X. conformis. The negative effects of parent density on the duration of pupal development were evident in X. conformis, parents of which fed on both hosts, and X. ramesis from parents fed on M. crassus, whereas X. ramesis from parents fed on D. dasyurus developed faster at low densities. A negative effect of density on the development of offspring from egg to imago in X. conformis was manifested mainly when parent fleas fed on D. dasyurus, whereas the negative effect of density on offspring development in X. ramesis was manifested mainly when parent fleas fed on M. crassus. Although there was no general effect of parent density on the resistance of imago offspring to starvation, male X. ramesis from parents fed at the highest density survived starvation for significantly shorter times compared with those from parents fed at lower densities. Manifestation of the negative effect of parent density on offspring quality appears to vary with flea species and may be affected by host species.
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Affiliation(s)
- B R Krasnov
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel.
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25
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Abstract
We studied the effect of density on feeding success of 2 fleas, Xenopsylla conformis and Xenopsylla ramesis, when exploiting rodents Meriones crassus and Gerbillus dasyurus. We tested 2 alternative hypotheses: (i) that intraspecific interference competition occurs and, thus, feeding success of a flea decreases with an increase in density and (ii) that facilitation via suppression of a host defence system occurs and thus, feeding success of a flea increases with an increase in density. The mean size of a bloodmeal and the proportion of highly engorged individuals in X. conformis feeding on both hosts were affected by density. When on G. dasyurus, both the size of a bloodmeal and the proportion of highly engorged individuals were lower at low (5-15 fleas per host) than at high (25-50 fleas per host) densities. The opposite was true when this flea fed on M. crassus. The mean bloodmeal size and proportions of highly engorged X. ramesis parasitizing either host were not affected by flea density. This study showed that the density dependence of feeding success of a flea (a) varied both between fleas and within-fleas between hosts and (b) indicated either intraspecific competition or facilitation via the host in a particular flea-host association.
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Affiliation(s)
- B R Krasnov
- Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Jacob Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Sede Boqer Campus, Midreshet Ben-Gurion, Israel.
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26
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Krasnov BR, Sarfati M, Arakelyan MS, Khokhlova IS, Burdelova NV, Degen AA. Host specificity and foraging efficiency in blood-sucking parasite: feeding patterns of the flea Parapulex chephrenis on two species of desert rodents. Parasitol Res 2003; 90:393-9. [PMID: 12739133 DOI: 10.1007/s00436-003-0873-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 57] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/04/2003] [Accepted: 03/12/2003] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
Parasite species can adapt to ecological, behavioral, physiological and biochemical traits of a particular host species. The flea Parapulex chephrenis occurs on the spiny mouse Acomys cahirinus, but does not occur on a co-existing gerbil, Gerbillus dasyurus. To test the hypothesis that the host species affects feeding parameters of a host-specific flea, we studied the feeding rate, rate of blood digestion and resistance to starvation of P. chephrenis when feeding on A. cahirinus and G. dasyurus. We predicted that P. chephrenis would: (1) fill its gut with blood faster, (2) digest blood for a shorter time, and (3) survive longer when starved while feeding on its specific host, A. cahirinus, than on a non-specific host, G. dasyurus. These three responses were observed when P. chephrenis fed on the different hosts and, consequently, our predictions were supported. Twenty percent of fleas filled their midgut after feeding for 10 min on A. cahirinus but this occurred only after 25 min on G. dasyurus. The middle stage of blood digestion was significantly shorter in all fleas feeding on A. cahirinus than in fleas feeding on G. dasyurus. Flea survival was shorter when feeding on G. dasyurus than when feeding on A. cahirinus at 25 degrees C, but no difference in survival time was found at 15 or 20 degrees C. Both A. cahirinus, the specific host, and G. dasyurus, the non-specific host, co-exist in rocky habitats, yet P. chephrenis occurs on one rodent and not the other. The absence of P. chephrenis on G. dasyurus in nature and the decreased foraging efficiency when feeding on this species in the laboratory suggests that some physiological and biochemical differences between hosts can lead to sharp ecological differences in host-parasite relationships.
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Affiliation(s)
- B R Krasnov
- Ramon Science Center and Mitrani Department of Desert Ecology, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, P.O. Box 194, 80600, Mizpe Ramon, Israel.
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27
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Abstract
1. We examined the effect of density (5, 7, 9 and 11 birds/m2) and season (summerand winter; different hens each season) on stress and behaviour in two flocks of 64 broiler breeder females divided among 8 pens. 2. The hens, approximately the same age and body mass in each season, were maintained on hard-packed ground, without litter, in an open-sided chicken house and were offered the same amount of food each season. 3. Mean house max/min temperatures varied between 18 and 33 degrees C in summer and 7 and 17 degrees C in winter. Mean relative humidity in summer varied between 68% at 08:00 h and 42% at 14:00 h and in winter was 64% at 08:00 h and 47% at 14:00 h. 4. No difference was found in heterophil:lymphocyte ratios among densities and between seasons; however, basophil numbers were higher in winter than in summer indicating prolonged stress in winter. 5. Stereotyped pecking increased with an increase in density and was higher in winter than in summer. Pecking on the ground was higher in winter, but was not affected by density. 6. In summer the hens spent more time lying and eating than in winter, whereas in winter the hens spent more time walking, preening and drinking than in summer. They spent the same amount of time standing in both seasons. None of these behaviours was density dependent. 7. We conclude that season had more of an effect than density on stress and behaviour in broiler breeder hens under the conditions of our study.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Spinu
- Desert Animal Adaptation and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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28
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Degen AA, Kam M, Khokhlova IS, Zeevi Y. Fiber digestion and energy utilization of fat sand rats (Psammomys obesus) consuming the chenopod Anabasis articulata. Physiol Biochem Zool 2000; 73:574-80. [PMID: 11073792 DOI: 10.1086/317756] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 05/30/2000] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Most herbivorous rodents consume a variety of plants and, when available, select ones low in fiber content. In contrast, the fat sand rat (Psammomys obesus), a diurnal gerbillid rodent that is wholly herbivorous, is able to survive while consuming only the halophytic chenopod Anabasis articulata. We hypothesized that these gerbils are able to digest chenopods efficiently and that fiber digestion contributes substantially to their energy budget. Digestibility of total fibers (NDF), hemicellulose, and cellulose was 51.6%, 66.4%, and 44.0%, respectively. Energy derived from fiber digestion was 211.7 kJ kg(-0.75) d(-1) and resulted mostly from hemicellulose digestion. Average daily metabolic rate was 658.4 kJ kg(-0.75) d(-1), and basal metabolic rate (BMR) was determined to be close to 192.6 kJ kg(-0.75) d(-1). Therefore, fiber digestion provided 32% of maintenance requirements and 110% of BMR requirements, one of the highest values reported thus far for placental mammals. The efficiency of utilization of the chenopod was 0.29, a low value compared to other dietary items. We concluded that A. articulata fulfills all the energy and nutrient requirements of fat sand rats, even though energy yields and efficiency of utilization of its energy is low.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva 84105, Israel.
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29
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Khokhlova IS, Kam M, Gonen S, Degen AA. Level of energy intake affects the estrous cycle in Sundevall's jird (Meriones crassus). Physiol Biochem Zool 2000; 73:257-63. [PMID: 10893164 DOI: 10.1086/316745] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/04/2000] [Indexed: 11/03/2022]
Abstract
Effects of energy intake on the estrous cycle of the desert gerbillid, Sundevall's jird (Meriones crassus; 80 g; n=22) were studied. Females were offered either maintenance or below maintenance levels of millet seeds and ad lib. Atriplex halimus leaves and stems; drinking water was not available. Vaginal smears were used to determine sexual stage. We hypothesized that the estrous cycle ceases at low levels of energy intake and commences when sufficient energy is available. Females lost body mass linearly with a decrease in metabolizable energy intake. Estrous cycle averaged 4.46 d at maintenance energy intake but increased to an average of 7.81 d at 70% of maintenance energy intake. A cessation of the cycle occurred at an energy intake below 70% of maintenance requirements, which resulted in a body mass loss of more than 1% per day. More variability in the length of the different stages of the cycle was found with lower levels of energy intake. When offered ad lib. millet seeds and A. halimus (n=14), recovery to the normal cycle was attained within 10 d by 43% of the females and within 16 d by the rest of the females. Recovery time was longest in females that previously had the lowest energy intake. We concluded that the estrous cycle of M. crassus is sensitive to energy intake. With restricted energy intake, the estrous cycle and reproductive activities cease but can be restored with provision of adequate energy. This strategy ensures that reproduction occurs when conditions of food availability and body condition of the females are favorable.
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Affiliation(s)
- I S Khokhlova
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department for Dryland Agriculture, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva 84105, Israel
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30
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Abstract
1. Domesticated ostriches have been selected rigorously for productive traits with little concern for immunological responses, in contrast to wild ostriches. 2. We hypothesised that the immunological responses of wild and domesticated ostriches would differ. Total leucocyte counts, differential counts, heterophil: lymphocyte ratios, phagocytic activity, lysosome levels and anti-sheep red blood cell (SRBC) antibody titres (total, IgG, IgM) were compared between domesticated (n=3) and wild (n=3) ostrich subspecies. 3. Total leucocytes, lymphocytes and heterophils were similar in the 2 subspecies, but basophils and eosinophils were lower in the wild than in the domesticated ostriches. Lysosome concentrations and phagocytic activities were higher in the wild ostriches. 4. Total and IgM antibody titres to SRBC reached peak values quicker in the domesticated than in wild ostriches. IgG development patterns were similar. 5. The results suggest that a stronger non-specific immune response was shown by the wild ostriches (higher phagocytosis and lysozymes) whereas a stronger specific immune response was shown by the domesticated ostriches (peak values of anti-SRBC antibody titres were reached more quickly).
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Affiliation(s)
- M Spinu
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Israel
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31
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Weil S, Rozenboim I, Degen AA, Dawson A, Friedländer M, Rosenstrauch A. Fertility decline in aging roosters is related to increased testicular and plasma levels of estradiol. Gen Comp Endocrinol 1999; 115:23-8. [PMID: 10375460 DOI: 10.1006/gcen.1999.7276] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
The relationships between testicular and plasma hormone levels and the decline in fertility in aging roosters were examined. Body mass, testicular mass, and fertility were measured in roosters from 20 to 72 weeks of age. Plasma was assayed for LH and testosterone, and estradiol and testicular extracts were assayed for testosterone and estradiol contents. Fertility increased rapidly in young roosters to a peak of 96.2 +/- 3.9% at 37 weeks of age. Thereafter, fertility declined and by 72 weeks of age was significantly lower than at 37 weeks. Plasma LH reached 16.8 +/- 2.5 ng/ml at 27 weeks and remained high until 60 weeks of age, when it decreased significantly. Plasma and testicular testosterone levels increased from low levels in young birds to a peak that coincided with highest fertility and declined thereafter. Plasma and testicular estradiol showed a striking inverse relationship with testosterone. Plasma estradiol was 29.4 +/- 4.0 pg/ml in 20-week-old birds, decreased rapidly as testosterone increased, and increased again in older birds as testosterone decreased. Thus, the decline in fertility in aging roosters was associated with a decrease in plasma LH and testosterone and an increase in plasma and testicular estradiol. It is suggested that plasma levels of LH and testosterone in roosters are regulated by a negative feedback mechanism involving estradiol that is produced not only by the aromatization of testosterone in the brain but also by peripheral estradiol originating in the testes and that estradiol has a major role in the decline in fertility in aging roosters.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Weil
- Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
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32
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Weil S, Degen AA, Friedländer M, Rosenstrauch A. Low fertility in aging roosters is related to a high plasma concentration of insulin and low testicular contents of ACTH and lactate. Gen Comp Endocrinol 1999; 115:110-5. [PMID: 10375469 DOI: 10.1006/gcen.1999.7291] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/22/2022]
Abstract
Fertility in roosters peaks between 30 and 40 weeks of age and declines rapidly from about 50 weeks of age. Low-fertility, aging roosters have a higher density of elongated spermatids attached to Sertoli cells than do high-fertility roosters, but display normal spermatogenesis and ejaculated spermatozoa. Plasma levels of insulin and lactate and testicular contents of ACTH and lactate were compared in Cornish roosters aged 27 weeks (early state of sexual maturity), 37 weeks (high fertility), 67 weeks (reduced fertility), and 72 weeks (low fertility). Insulin may act as an endocrine regulator of Sertoli cell function, and ACTH as an autocrine regulator of Leydig cells for androgen production and as a paracrine regulator of Sertoli cells by amplifying FSH response. Lactate is the primary energy substrate of spermatocytes and spermatids in the adluminal compartment. Roosters aged 67 and 72 weeks had higher (P < 0.05) plasma insulin levels but lower (P < 0.05) testicular lactate content than roosters aged 27 and 37 weeks. The lower lactate content in testes of low-fertility roosters may reflect an increased consumption of lactate due to the higher density of elongated spermatids. Furthermore, the content of testicular ACTH was lower in low-fertility roosters than in 27-week-old roosters. These results suggest that ACTH may be involved indirectly in the mechanism responsible for the high density of spermatids in the tubuli and the lower spermatozoa concentration in the ejaculate of low-fertility roosters, as was reported in previous studies, since this hormone may serve as a paracrine regulator of Sertoli cell function.
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Affiliation(s)
- S Weil
- Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, 84105, Israel
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33
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Brosh A, Aharoni Y, Degen AA, Wright D, Young B. Estimation of energy expenditure from heart rate measurements in cattle maintained under different conditions. J Anim Sci 1998; 76:3054-64. [PMID: 9928610 DOI: 10.2527/1998.76123054x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 58] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
We examined whether heart rate (HR) could be used to estimate energy expenditure (EE) in cattle. Six Hereford heifers (345 +/- 10.8 kg BW) 12 mo of age were implanted with HR radio transmitters and maintained in individual pens under the following treatments: 1) shade or sun exposure, 2) high- or low-energy diet, and 3) feeding in morning or afternoon. The HR of animals was measured every .5 h during 3 mo; measurements of oxygen consumption and HR were made simultaneously in the morning and in the afternoon while animals were resting and exercising. Average daily HR (52 +/- 4 beats/min) and average daily EE (380 +/- 9 kJ/kg(.75)) in animals on the low-energy diet were less than values in animals on the high-energy diet (94 +/- 4 beats/min and 653 +/- 9 kJ/ kg(.75), respectively). For each animal and within each diet, linear regressions best described the relationship between HR and EE in resting animals, whereas quadratic regressions best described this relationship for exercising animals. The quadratic equation for the exercising animals could also be used for resting animals. In addition, a constant value of EE per heart beat (EE pulse) for each individual resting animal was found and gave accurate estimations. This method was convenient because 1) no exercise equipment was needed to generate the regression equations and 2) EE pulse was less affected by diet than was EE estimated by regression equations. We conclude that HR, a relatively easy measurement, can be useful and accurate in estimating EE. To increase the accuracy of the estimation of EE by HR, the relationship of HR to EE should be established for each animal. In addition, the nutritional regimen for the animal in which EE is estimated should be used for the animal in establishing the relationship.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Brosh
- Department of Beef Cattle, Agricultural Research Organization, Institute of Animal Science, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Ramat Yishay, Israel.
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34
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Abstract
Feeding and the search for food are the predominant activities of most rodents. Since desert rodents inhabit regions of generally low food availability, it has been theorized that their energetic requirements would be lower and/or their efficiency to use energy for maintenance and growth would be higher than for rodents from more temperate regions. Indeed, the basal metabolic rate, average daily metabolic rate and field metabolic rate of desert rodents have been found to be lower than those of non-desert rodents. However, the ability to use energy intake for maintenance by desert rodents was calculated to be lower than that of non-desert rodents. In addition, granivores were not different from omnivores and herbivores in energy use efficiency, but herbivores were more efficient than omnivores.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Degen
- Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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35
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Brosh A, Aharoni Y, Degen AA, Wright D, Young BA. Effects of solar radiation, dietary energy, and time of feeding on thermoregulatory responses and energy balance in cattle in a hot environment. J Anim Sci 1998; 76:2671-7. [PMID: 9814908 DOI: 10.2527/1998.76102671x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Ten growing heifers were either exposed to or protected from solar radiation, offered a diet of either high (H) or low (L) ME, and fed either in the morning or afternoon during a hot summer. Heifers that consumed the H diet had a greater water intake, DMI, metabolizable energy intake, energy expenditure, and retained energy than heifers that consumed the L diet. Solar radiation did not have an effect on any of these variables. Furthermore, dietary energy and time of measurement had an effect on rectal temperature (Tr), respiration rate (RR), heart rate (HR), and rate of oxygen uptake (VO2); solar radiation had an effect on Tr and RR but not on HR and VO2; and time of feeding had an effect only on VO2. Heifers coped with greater heat loads by increasing RR and the difference in Tr between morning and afternoon. It seems that a lowered body temperature in the morning is a physiological mechanism used by animals to prepare for the heat load that develops during the day. Heat production (HP) and HR throughout the day were affected mainly by the time of feeding and not by the environmental heat load. Feeding in the afternoon increased HP in the cooler hours of the day when heat losses from the animal through conduction and radiation were more efficient. With a pending high heat load situation, reducing feed quality and(or) changing the time of feeding to the late afternoon could be beneficial to the animals in reducing their heat loads.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Brosh
- Department of Beef Cattle, Agricultural Research Organization, Institute of Animal Science, Newe Ya'ar Research Center, Ramat Yishay, Israel.
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36
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Rosenstrauch A, Weil S, Degen AA, Friedländer M. Leydig cell functional structure and plasma androgen level during the decline in fertility in aging roosters. Gen Comp Endocrinol 1998; 109:251-8. [PMID: 9473369 DOI: 10.1006/gcen.1997.7029] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
In roosters, fertility peaks to 96% at 32 weeks, shortly after sexual maturation, and then declines rapidly to 68% at 70 weeks and to less than 10% at 110 weeks, as a result of intratesticular retention of spermatozoa. The reduction in fertility is associated with functional structural changes of the interstitial tissue, reflected in decreased plasma androgen levels from 2.7 ng/ml at 32 weeks to less than 0.5 ng/ml at 110 weeks. In high fertility roosters, the interstitial tissue is tightly packed with Leydig cells, which contain relatively large amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum and lipid droplets, both related to androgen synthesis. In the old rooster, which has a low fertility, the interstitial tissue contains only occasional Leydig cells within an enlarged intercellular space. These Leydig cells contain small amounts of endoplasmic reticulum, mainly rough, and there are low plasma androgen levels. It is concluded that differentiation of roosters' interstitial tissue is reflected by plasma levels of androgen. This, in turn, is related to the mechanism of spermatozoa release from Sertoli cells and, consequently, with the level of fertility.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Rosenstrauch
- Department of Life Sciences, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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37
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Abstract
We provide a theoretical and practical model for the calculation of energy balance of free-living animals using the doubly labeled water method. Energy expenditure, metabolizable energy intake, and body energy balance (energy retention, negative or positive) of animals are estimated using CO2 production, water influx, and dietary habits. This model accounts for CO2 produced from the 1) oxidation of dietary substrates, 2) catabolism of body tissue, and 3) deposition of body energy. We examined the model using data from studies on five homeotherms reported in the literature. The ratios between daily energy expenditure using our model and that presented in the reports ranged between 0.76 and 1.18. Metabolizable energy intakes were as low as 43% of energy expenditure in negative energy-balanced hummingbirds and as high as 245% of energy expenditure in positive energy-balanced koala bears. This model is the first that allows theoretical calculation of all energy budget components, including energy retention, in free-living animals using the doubly labeled water method.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Kam
- Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel.
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38
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Abstract
In chickens, the effect of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on body temperature and ex vivo hypothalamic prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) production was examined to test the possible involvement of PGE2 in mechanisms of avian fever. PGE2 is reported to be the major central mediator of fever in mammals; it has not been examined in birds. An intraperitoneal injection of LPS caused an elevation of body temperature but not an elevation of hypothalamic PGE2 production. It seems that: (a) hypothalamic PGE2 is not involved in the development of the febrile response in birds; (b) central mechanisms of avian fever differ from those in mammals.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Fraifeld
- Department of Clinical Pharmacology, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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39
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Abstract
Fertility of domestic roosters peaked and then began a steep decline within the first year of life. The decline was concomitant with a steady reduction in total number of spermatozoa per ejaculate. We found that 1) the decline was neither related to germinal epithelium regression nor to spermatozoa abnormalities, as reported for aging males of nonseasonal breeders and for fertile seasonal breeders during the nonmating period and 2) seminiferous tubules of extremely low-fertility aging roosters contained more Sertoli cell-spermatozoa complexes than did more fertile roosters, which is in sharp contrast to what occurs in other domestic males. We further observed that Sertoli cells of low-fertility roosters had smaller diameters, cytoplasm that stained deeper, and more crowded cytoplasmic inclusions than did Sertoli cells of high-fertility roosters. We conclude that the decline of fertility in aging roosters is related to changes in Sertoli cells that impair the regular release of spermatozoa. Spermatozoa remain within the testicular tubules and thus fewer spermatozoa are available for insemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Rosenstrauch
- Department of Life Sciences, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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40
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Degen AA, Weil S, Rosenstrauch A, Kam M, Dawson A. Seasonal plasma levels of luteinizing and steroid hormones in male and female domestic ostriches (Struthio camelus). Gen Comp Endocrinol 1994; 93:21-7. [PMID: 8138115 DOI: 10.1006/gcen.1994.1003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 40] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/29/2023]
Abstract
Ostriches are low-latitude birds and can be considered to be seasonal breeders. However, they are also opportunistic in that they can breed all year round. Monthly hormonal plasma concentrations were measured in six female and six male domestic ostriches kept at a latitude of 31 degrees 20'N. Measurements were made over a year, during which time each female laid an average of 28.7 eggs. Egg laying occurred between March and September, with peak numbers in May-June. Concentrations of plasma luteinizing hormone (LH) increased in February in both sexes and started declining before termination of egg laying. Plasma testosterone concentrations in males increased in April, about 2 months after the increase in LH. In females, plasma estradiol concentrations peaked in May but were elevated from March to August, basically all of the egg-laying period. Plasma hormonal changes in the ostriches were gradual and not abrupt, as seen in many wild seasonal breeders of higher latitude.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Degen
- Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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41
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Spinu M, Degen AA, Rosenstrauch A. Effect of warm drinking water on the performance and immunological responses of broiler breeder hens raised at low air temperatures. Br Poult Sci 1993; 34:361-6. [PMID: 8513410 DOI: 10.1080/00071669308417591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/31/2023]
Abstract
1. The effect of warmed drinking water on the performance and immunological responses of broiler breeder hens maintained at low air temperatures (5.0 degrees to 12.9 degrees C) was tested. From 22 weeks of age hens (mean body mass = 2.4 kg) were offered either warm water (27.7 degrees C; WARM; n = 24) or tap water (12.7 degrees C; CONR; n = 24) twice daily for a total time of 2.5 h or tap water ad libitum (CONA; n = 16). Food was restricted for all hens. 2. Daily water intake in the WARM hens (103 ml/kg) was similar to that of the CONR (93 ml/kg) and CONA hens (106 ml/kg). 3. There were no significant differences in either body mass change or egg production among treatment groups. 4. There was no difference among groups in heterophil/lymphocyte ratios. Similarly, there was no difference among groups in either phagocytic activity or wattle index after phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) injection. Total and IgG antibody titres to SRBC tended to be highest in the WARM hens and these titres were significantly higher than in CONR hens 14 d after challenge.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Spinu
- Isan Center for Comparative Medicine and Desert Animal Research, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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42
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Abstract
The fat sand rat (Psammomys obesus; Gerbillinae), a diurnal gerbillid rodent, is herbivorous and able to thrive while consuming only the saltbush Atriplex halimus (Chenopodiaceae), a plant relatively low in energy content and high in ash and water. Before consuming A. halimus leaves, fat sand rats scraped off the outer layer with their teeth. This removed much of the electrolytes but increased gross energy and organic matter content of the leaves by only about 3.1%. Basal metabolic rate of fat sand rats was 168 kJ.kg-0.75.d-1, 57 to 60% of that expected for a eutherian mammal of its body size, and average daily metabolic rate was 499 kJ.kg-0.75.d-1, 88% of that expected for a rodent of its body mass. Field metabolic rate was 565 kJ.kg-0.75.d-1 in summer and 680 kJ.kg-0.75.d-1 in winter. The rate of energy expenditure during summer was 60% of that expected for a herbivore and 83% of that expected for a desert eutherian mammal of its body mass. The difference in rate of energy expenditure between winter and summer was taken as thermoregulatory costs. Fat sand rats appear to be well adapted to high air temperatures but less so to low air temperatures. The efficiency of utilization of energy of A. halimus for maintenance was only 0.32 and for growth only 0.30 and their respective heat increments of feeding were 0.68 and 0.70. This low utilization of feed plus its low energy yield and high water content forced fat sand rats to consume large quantities of forage for maintenance. In spite of this, there are several advantages for consuming mainly this diet, namely: (1) it provides a more stable diet throughout the year than do seeds; (2) fat sand rats have no competition for this food resource from other rodents; and (3) fat sand rat burrows are at the base of the plants and therefore they expend minimal energy for foraging.
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Affiliation(s)
- A A Degen
- Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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Abstract
1. Bedouin chickens are kept in deserts mainly for eggs and are well adapted to arid conditions. However, deserts are also characterised by relatively cold winter nights. As a consequence of cold stress there is an involution of lymphoid organs and a depression of immunological function. We compared the performance and immunological responses of Bedouin and White Leghorn hens kept in outdoor pens in the Negev Desert during the winter. 2. Initial mean body mass was similar for the two breeds: 1525 g for Bedouin hens and 1542 g for White Leghorn hens. White Leghorns lost 7.74 g/d, compared with 0.60 g/d for Bedouin hens and produced 0.36 eggs/d, compared with 0.54 eggs/day for Bedouin hens. 3. The heterophil/lymphocyte ratio for Bedouin hens was 0.28, which was lower than the 0.44 for White Leghorn hens. Phagocytic index was higher in Bedouin hens than in White Leghorns. Furthermore, wattle index measured 24, 48 and 72 h after PHA injections and anti-SRBC antibody titres determined 10 d after challenge were also higher in Bedouin hens than in White Leghorns. 4. We concluded that the Bedouin hens were less stressed by the cold than were the White Leghorn hens.
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Affiliation(s)
- M Spinu
- Isan Center for Comparative Medicine and Desert Animal Research, Jacob Blaustein Institute for Desert Research, Ben-Gurion University of the Negev, Beer Sheva, Israel
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44
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Degen AA, Lee DG. The male genital tract of the dromedary (one-humped) camel (Camelus dromedarius): gross and microscopic anatomy. Anat Histol Embryol 1982; 11:267-82. [PMID: 6216826 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0264.1982.tb00995.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/19/2023]
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45
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Abstract
Intake energy (IE), metabolizable energy intake (MEI), energy retention (ER) and heat production (HP) were estimated in twelve male and six female suckling lambs from birth to 4 wk of age and in nine of these male lambs after weaning from 9 to 24 wk of age. Intake energy and MEI were estimated from the milk intake and combustible energy of the milk in the suckling lambs and from digestibility trials and energy content of feed and feces in the weaned lambs. Energy retention was estimated from body composition changes and HP was calculated from MEI - ER and from the rate of O2 consumption. The O2 consumption of the ewes was also measured during late pregnancy and during lactation. In the suckling lambs, daily MEI was 277 kcal/kg.75 and ER was 112 kcal/kg.75 and as calculated from O2 consumption was 168 kcal/kg.75. Daily HP as calculated by MEI - ER was 165 kcal/kg.75. Daily maintenance HP was equal to 121 kcal/kg.75 and the efficiency of utilization of energy for ER was 70.7%. In the weaned lambs, HP as measured from O2 consumption was 10% lower than that estimated using MEI and ER. Comparison of 9- to 16-wk-old with 17- to 24-wk-old lambs, showed daily increases in MEI from 212 to 228 kcal/kg.75, in ER from 54 to 95 kcal/kg.75 and in HP from 158 to 194 kcal/kg.75, whereas there was a daily decrease in maintenance HP from 101 to 90 kcal/kg.75. Efficiency of utilization of energy for production was similar in the two postweaning periods (48.8 and 46.5%, respectively). The O2 consumption of the ewes (/kg.75) was increased over that of nonpregnant, nonlactating controls by 30% in late pregnancy, by 62% in the first month of lactation and by 50% in the second month of lactation.
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Degen AA, Pinshow B, Alkon PU, Arnon H. Tritiated water for estimating total body water and water turnover rate in birds. J Appl Physiol Respir Environ Exerc Physiol 1981; 51:1183-8. [PMID: 7298458 DOI: 10.1152/jappl.1981.51.5.1183] [Citation(s) in RCA: 41] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/24/2023]
Abstract
The use of tritiated water (TOH) to estimate total body water (TBW) and total water turnover rate was validated in chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar) and sand partridges (Ammoperdix heyi). For six chukar partridges weighing between 315 to 475 g, TOH equilibration with body fluids was less than 45 min after intramuscular or intravenous injections. Mean TOH space in eight chukar partridges was 99.8% of the mean TBW measured by desiccation with individuals ranging between 97.9 and 103.2%. TOH space best approximated TBW when TBW was calculated by using the mean body mass for a bird weighed at TOH injection and at TOH equilibration. Total water intake as estimated by TOH ranged between 90.7 and 113.3% of measured water intake in three sand and three chukar partridges, birds ranging in mass from 145 to 446 g. We conclude that the TOH method provides accurate estimations of TBW and water turnover rates in birds. For birds of up to 500-g body mass, we recommend 45 min for TOH equilibration with body fluids, and intramuscular injections of 0.05 muCi TOH/g body mass for TBW estimations and 0.1 muCi TOH/g body mass for water turnover estimations.
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Abstract
Tritiated water was evaluated and used for determining snow and water intake by cattle. This method yielded results comparable to those obtained via simultaneous gravimetric measurement of snow and liquid water intake after adjustments were made for preformed and metabolic water from feed; the correlation coefficient was .96 and the standard error of the estimate was +/- 1.28 kg/day, or +/- 5.8% of the mean intake. Two steers were maintained in a covered, open-ended stable and were offered a maintenance diet and ad libitum liquid water. Distressed behavior was observed in these steers when they were abruptly denied liquid water and given snow in its place. They started ingesting snow after approximately 35 hr and subsequent switching from water to snow or vice versa was without apparent distress. In another study, eight pregnant beef cows were used in a 4 X 4 Latin square design consisting of four 15-day periods. The cows were either penned and given once-a-day access to water (pen water) or ad libitum access to snow only (pen snow), or they were kept in a snow-covered field and given once-a-day access to water (field water) or access only to the snow in the field (field snow). The pen water cows cunsumed 23.6 kg/day, the pen snow cows 20.6 kg/day, the field water cows 26.1 kg/day and the field snow cows 23.6 kg/day of water and (or) snow. In a subsequent experiment, the same pregnant cows were given 0, 5, 10 kg or free access to water for 15 min once each day and kept in a snow-covered field. The total daily water-plus-snow intake was similar for each of the four groups, ranging between 50 and 55 g/kg/day.
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Degen AA, Rubin ED. Partial duplication of the male uro-genital system in a Merino ram. Res Vet Sci 1974; 16:95-7. [PMID: 4819996] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [MESH Headings] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/12/2023]
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