Finding best exotic breed proportion in crossbred lactating sheep kept under farmers’ conditions in Ethiopia determined by use of nested Legendre polynomials with limited data     

W. G. Haile  S. Banerjee  A. Ayele  T. Mestawet  G. Klemetsdal  T. Ådnøy 《Acta Agriculturae Scandinavica, Section A - Animal Sciences》2018,68(4):174-180

ABSTRACT

The present study was conducted to estimate milk production performance and fit lactation curves for groups of ewes of Local and of Awassi crosses, with a variable blood level, reared under farmer’s environment. The Weigh-Suckle-Weigh method plus hand milking was used to estimate milk yield for ewes. A total of 466 observations from 115 ewes were used. Estimated least-squares adjusted means for the milk production over 120 days were 0.56?kg day^?1 (Local), 0.67 (<30% Awassi), 0.86 (30–50% Awassi), and 0.96 (>50% Awassi). Groups with 30–50% Awassi and >50% Awassi ewes produced significantly (p?<?0.05) more milk than Local ewes. Significant differences were observed between <30% Awassi and >50% Awassi crossbred groups. The best crosses (>50% Awassi) produced over 70% more milk than the local ewes which demonstrates the potential that exists in increasing milk production through the initiated crossbreeding programme with sheep in Ethiopia.  相似文献   

Effects of a Dual‐Frequency Frequency‐Sweeping Ultrasound Treatment on the Properties and Structure of the Zein Protein     

Xiaofeng Ren  Xun Wei  Haile Ma  Huiji Zhou  Jingjing Guo  Shuyun Mao  An Hu 《Cereal Chemistry》2015,92(2):193-197

We investigated the effects of a dual‐frequency frequency‐sweeping ultrasound (DFFSU) treatment on the functional properties and structure of zein. The solubility of ultrasound‐treated zein proteins increased slightly but significantly as the treatment time increased. The results showed that the DFFSU treatment had an obvious influence on the mean particle size and the size distribution. A significant (P < 0.05) increase in the size of the particles with respect to time was observed after a sonication time of more than 20 min in zein solutions. Differential scanning calorimetry results showed that sonication alters the thermal behavior of zein. Circular dichroism spectra showed a small increase in the percentage of ordered structure elements within the protein molecule. After 60 min of ultrasonication, the percentage of α‐helix structures increased by 0.9%, whereas the percentage of β‐sheets and β‐turns decreased by 0.5%. Microstructural analyses by scanning electron microscopy showed that several microholes appeared in the zein following ultrasonic pretreatment. Under the conditions investigated in this study, DFFSU treatment was found to affect the studied functional properties of the zein protein. This technology could be used to obtain improved functional properties in some protein samples.  相似文献   

The Effect of Season on Spermatozoa Motility,Plasma Membrane and Acrosome Integrity in Fresh and Frozen–Thawed Semen from Xinong Saanen Bucks          下载免费PDF全文

W Wang  J Luo  S Sun  L Xi  Q Gao  AB Haile  H Shi  W Zhang  H Shi 《Reproduction in domestic animals》2015,50(1):23-28

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the season of ejaculate collection influences seminal quality parameters of pre‐ and post‐freeze–thawing in Xinong Saanen bucks. Ejaculates were collected from eight bucks throughout the four seasons (spring, summer, autumn and winter) in a 12 months’ time period, identified in the Northern Hemisphere. Semen samples were evaluated by the combinations of conventional and Computer‐Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) when fresh and after frozen–thawed, respectively. The results clearly demonstrated that season of ejaculate collection influenced (p < 0.05) fresh semen quality. Highest semen quality was observed during autumn. On the contrary, undesirable indices (significantly lower, p < 0.05) were observed in winter as compared with the other remaining seasons. CASA has clearly shown the influences of seasonal variations on semen motility parameters. Furthermore, season of ejaculate collection was also found to influence sperm freezability. Semen characteristics after frozen–thawed followed a similar pattern with that of fresh ejaculate except in spring. The results revealed that sperm quality was higher (p < 0.01) in summer and autumn than in spring and winter. In conclusion, seasonal variation influences semen quality in Xinong Saanen bucks. In addition to summer and autumn, fresh ejaculates in spring can also be successfully used for AI. Sperm from ejaculates collected during summer and autumn are more suitable for cryopreservation. Hence, it is possible to increase the efficiency of goat breeding by manipulating the seasonal variations of semen quality for immediate AI and/or cryopreservation.  相似文献   

Breeding programmes for smallholder sheep farming systems: II. Optimization of cooperative village breeding schemes     

S. Gizaw  J.A.M. van Arendonk  A. Valle‐Zárate  A. Haile  B. Rischkowsky  T. Dessie  A.O. Mwai 《Zeitschrift für Tierzüchtung und Züchtungsbiologie》2014,131(5):350-357

A simulation study was conducted to optimize a cooperative village‐based sheep breeding scheme for Menz sheep of Ethiopia. Genetic gains and profits were estimated under nine levels of farmers' participation and three scenarios of controlled breeding achieved in the breeding programme, as well as under three cooperative flock sizes, ewe to ram mating ratios and durations of ram use for breeding. Under fully controlled breeding, that is, when there is no gene flow between participating (P) and non‐participating (NP) flocks, profits ranged from Birr 36.9 at 90% of participation to Birr 21.3 at 10% of participation. However, genetic progress was not affected adversely. When there was gene flow from the NP to P flocks, profits declined from Birr 28.6 to Birr ?3.7 as participation declined from 90 to 10%. Under the two‐way gene flow model (i.e. when P and NP flocks are herded mixed in communal grazing areas), NP flocks benefited from the genetic gain achieved in the P flocks, but the benefits declined sharply when participation declined beyond 60%. Our results indicate that a cooperative breeding group can be established with as low as 600 breeding ewes mated at a ratio of 45 ewes to one ram, and the rams being used for breeding for a period of two years. This study showed that farmer cooperation is crucial to effect genetic improvement under smallholder low‐input sheep farming systems.  相似文献   

Establishment and characterization of a dairy goat mammary epithelial cell line with human telomerase (hT‐MECs)     

Jun Luo  Wei Wang  Abiel B. Haile  Huifen Xu  Jun Li 《Animal Science Journal》2014,85(7):735-743

Although research on dairy goat mammary gland have referred extensively to molecular mechanisms, research on lines of dairy goat mammary epithelial cells (MECs) are still rare. This paper sought to establish an immortal MEC line by stable transfection of human telomerase. MECs from a lactating (45 days post‐parturition) Xinong Saanen dairy goat were cultured purely and subsequently transfected with a plasmid carrying the sequence of human telomerase. Immortalized MECs by human telomerase (hT‐MECs) exhibited a typical cobblestone morphology and activity and expression levels of telomerase resembled that of MCF‐7 cells. hT‐MECs on passage 42 grew vigorously and ‘S’ sigmoid curves of growth were observed. Moreover, hT‐MECs maintained a normal chromosome modal number of 2n = 60, keratin 8 and epithelial membrane antigen (EMA) were evidently expressed, and beta‐casein protein was synthesized and secreted. Beta‐casein expression was enhanced by prolactin (P < 0.05). Lipid droplets were found in hT‐MECs, and messenger RNA levels of PPARG, SREBP, FASN, ACC and SCD in hT‐MECs (passage 40) were similar to MECs (passage 7). In conclusion, the obtained hT‐MEC line retained a normal morphology, growth characteristics, cytogenetics and secretory characteristics as primary MECs. Hence, it can be a representative model cell line, for molecular and functional analysis, of dairy goat MECs for an extended period of time.  相似文献   

鸡法氏囊病毒重组多抗原表位串联肽的制备及其免疫反应     

蔡梅红  谭仁可  韦瑶  段玉清  王亮  马海乐 《安徽农业大学学报》2014,41(4):592

合成含有鸡法氏囊病毒抗原表位核酸序列的4条引物,利用SOE-PCR (重叠延伸PCR法)方法克隆得到含鸡法氏囊病毒多抗原表位串联肽的核酸序列。通过EcoR I和Sal I 两个酶切位点使该核酸序列插入原核表达载体(pET32a)。SDS-PAGE 实验结果表明鸡法氏囊病毒重组多抗原表位串联肽在大肠杆菌中的表达量为20%左右。Western blotting试验和免疫琼脂扩散沉淀试验（AGP）的结果均表明鸡法氏囊病毒重组多抗原表位串联肽具有明显的抗原性。  相似文献   

基于限制因子改良与耕地质量潜力耦合的耕地整治分区     

赵海乐  徐艳  张国梁  周翼  常玉旸 《农业工程学报》2020,36(21):272-282

科学划定耕地整治重点区对于实现区域土地资源可持续利用具有重要意义。该研究以内蒙古河套-土默川平原为研究区，从农用地可改良限制因子角度出发，采取自然等提升潜力指数模型和局部空间自相关模型划分耕地质量提升潜力区，在耦合限制因子改良程度分级的基础上，确定耕地整治分区。研究结果：1）研究区耕地质量提升主要受限于土壤有机质含量和盐渍化程度，耕地整治难度整体呈现两边高中间低的趋势。2）研究区自然等提升潜力指数呈现西高东低的分布趋势，且耕地质量提升潜力空间差异明显，潜力提升呈现"低-低"聚集特征的耕地多分布在东部，呈现"高-高"聚集特征以及无聚集特征的耕地多分布在西部。3）研究区耕地共划分为4种整治类型，其中重点整治型耕地为0.84万hm2，是实施耕地整治的重点区域；选择整治型耕地为22.22万hm2，应选择其质量提升潜力相对较高且集中连片的地块进行整治；保护整治型耕地为54.98万hm2，应当被划入到基本农田保护区内；不宜整治型耕地为26.46万hm2，应当进行有选择地退出还林还草。该研究提出的研究方法可为细化限制因子在耕地整治分区中的应用提供参考，同时研究成果对半干旱区耕地整治具有现实指导意义。  相似文献   

Effectiveness of stone bunds in controlling soil erosion on cropland in the Tigray Highlands, northern Ethiopia   总被引：4，自引：0，他引：4  

Desta Gebrernichael    J. Nyssen  J. Poesen  J. Deckers  Mitiku Haile  G. Govers  J. Moeyersons 《Soil Use and Management》2005,21(3):287-297

Abstract Use of stone bunds to enhance soil and water conservation was first introduced to Tigray, northern Ethiopia in 1981. This study was designed to examine the factors that control the effectiveness of bunds installed on cropland. Qualitative and quantitative assessments of soil loss and sediment accumulation were conducted on 202 plots at 12 representative sites in Dogu'a Tembien district. Mean annual soil loss from the foot of the bunds due to tillage erosion was estimated at 39kgm⁻¹yr⁻¹ or 20tha⁻¹yr⁻¹, a rate which decreased with increasing age of bund. The assessed mean annual soil loss rate by sheet and rill erosion in the absence of stone bunds is 57tha⁻¹yr⁻¹. The mean measured annual rate of sediment accumulation behind the stone bunds is 119kgm⁻¹yr^−1/sp or 59tha⁻¹yr⁻¹. The measurements show that the introduction of stone bunds to the region has led to a 68% reduction in annual soil loss due to water erosion. This reduction is due to the accumulation of sediment behind the stone bunds, which occurs faster in the early years after construction and decreases as the depression behind the bunds becomes filled with sediment. New stone bunds are particularly effective in trapping sediment in transport, but regular maintenance and increase in height of the bunds is necessary to maintain their effectiveness. The average USLE P factor for stone bunds in the study area is estimated to be 0.32.  相似文献   

High-performance solid Acid fuel cells through humidity stabilization     

Boysen DA  Uda T  Chisholm CR  Haile SM 《Science (New York, N.Y.)》2004,303(5654):68-70

Although they hold the promise of clean energy, state-of-the-art fuel cells based on polymer electrolyte membrane fuel cells are inoperable above 100 degrees C, require cumbersome humidification systems, and suffer from fuel permeation. These difficulties all arise from the hydrated nature of the electrolyte. In contrast, "solid acids" exhibit anhydrous proton transport and high-temperature stability. We demonstrate continuous, stable power generation for both H2/O2 and direct methanol fuel cells operated at approximately 250 degrees C using a humidity-stabilized solid acid CsH2PO4 electrolyte.  相似文献   

Effects of strategic helminthosis control on age at first lambing and lambing interval of communally grazed Menz ewes in Ethiopia     

K. Aragaw  M. Teferi  A. Haile  M. Tibbo 《Livestock Science》2011,135(1):38-43

A three-year longitudinal study was conducted to evaluate effects of strategic anthelmintic treatment regimes on age at first lambing (AFL), weight at first lambing (WFL) and lambing interval (LI) of 356 communally grazed ewes and 675 lambs owned by 10 smallholder farmers in the central highlands of Ethiopia. The ewes were stratified by weight and randomly allocated to three treatment groups as untreated control (TG1), twice-dosed per year (TG2) for both nematodes and trematodes in mid-January and mid-June and four-time-dosed per year (TG3) in June for nematodes, in August–September for nematodes and adult Fasciola, in November–December and January–February for immature flukes. The fixed effect of anthelmintic treatments, parity, season and year of lambing on AFL and LI was evaluated. Mean ± standard error (SE) of lambing interval was 292 ± 3 days. Both anthelmintic treatments (TG2 and TG3) shortened (P < 0.01) LI by about 23 days compared to non-treated ewes (TG1). Season and year of lambing had a significant (P < 0.001) effect on LI. Mean ± SE of AFL and WFL was 598 ± 10 days and 17.2 ± 1.37 kg, respectively. Anthelmintic treatments and parity of dam of the ewe lamb did not affect AFL (P > 0.05). Birth and lambing seasons of the ewe lamb had significant (P < 0.05) effect on AFL. On the other hand, lambing season of the ewe had significant (P < 0.05) effect on WFL. Ewe lambs born in the long rains lambed more than 50 days earlier than the ewe lambs born in short rainy and dry seasons. Lambing occurred year-round with two peaks in August–September and December–January, each 5 months after the two rainy seasons. Anthelmintic treatment at the beginning of the two rainy seasons should improve reproductive performance of Menz ewe lambs in similar agro-ecology in the central highlands of Ethiopia.  相似文献