No abstract available

No abstract available

[en] To determine the in vivo efficiency of monopolar radiofrequency ablation (RFA) using a dual-switching (DS) system and a separable clustered (SC) electrode to create coagulation in swine liver. Thirty-three ablation zones were created in nine pigs using a DS system and an SC electrode in the switching monopolar mode. The pigs were divided into two groups for two experiments: 1) preliminary experiments (n = 3) to identify the optimal inter-electrode distances (IEDs) for dual-switching monopolar (DSM)-RFA, and 2) main experiments (n = 6) to compare the in vivo efficiency of DSM-RFA with that of a single-switching monopolar (SSM)-RFA. RF energy was alternatively applied to one of the three electrodes (SSM-RFA) or concurrently applied to a pair of electrodes (DSM-RFA) for 12 minutes in in vivo porcine livers. The delivered RFA energy and the shapes and dimensions of the coagulation areas were compared between the two groups. No pig died during RFA. The ideal IEDs for creating round or oval coagulation area using the DSM-RFA were 2.0 and 2.5 cm. DSM-RFA allowed more efficient RF energy delivery than SSM-RFA at the given time (23.0 ± 4.0 kcal vs. 16.92 ± 2.0 kcal, respectively; p 0.0005). DSM-RFA created a significantly larger coagulation volume than SSM-RFA (40.4 ± 16.4 cm³ vs. 20.8 ± 10.7 cm³; p < 0.001). Both groups showed similar circularity of the ablation zones (p = 0.29). Dual-switching monopolar-radiofrequency ablation using an SC electrode is feasible and can create larger ablation zones than SSM-RFA as it allows more RF energy delivery at a given time.

[en] Numerous research studies have been conducted to access growth and meat characteristic differences between bulls and steers. In general, results have indicated that bulls grow more rapidly (15 to 17%), utilize feed more efficiently (10 to 13%) to an age or weight end point, and produce higher yielding carcasses with less fat and more muscle than steers. Steers have a slowly growth rate, more intramuscular fat, tenderer meat as compared with bulls. For further study on muscle gene expression profiles between bulls and steers, we constructed subtracted cDNA libraries between Longissimus muscles from three Chinese Simmental steers and three Chinese Simmental bulls with same age and same raising condition using suppression subtractive hybridization, genes that were differentially expressed in steer vs. bull Longissimus muscle were identified. More than 300 clones were randomly selected from each subtracted cDNA library. By PCR analysis, 223 positive clones were isolated from the subtracted cDNA libraries, by steers as Tester, bulls as Driver, respectively. By Longissimus muscles from steers and bulls cDNA as probes, high-throughput screening was carried out. We selected 84 differential expressed clones for further analysis, which showed that they represent 10 ESTs, all of them are known in cattle. Three functional genes, which are ACTG2, TPM2 and IGF-1, were chosen to do qRT-PCR to confirm the expression differentiation between steer LD tissue and bull LD tissue. The genes expressed in the former tissue were 1.96, 2.41, 2.89 times higher, respectively, than in the later tissue. These results implied that new candidate genes could be selected form the SSH library constructed in this research, and this could be a way to make the base of steer muscle special trait. (author)

[en] Because of an absent of special storages a geno-fund of plants seeds are stored mainly in usual unpractical laboratory conditions (in paper packs, in fabric bags, in metal boxes and so on). And during the first year of the storage the many Kinds of seeds begin to reduce a capacity of an inter-growth, and after several years they became to be useless to a sowing. As result, plant - breeders are forced to carry out frequent transplanting of collection samples, but it is connected with both significant material expenditures and a possible loss of a valuable geno-fund of seeds. But, from other hand, it is well known, that for a creation of only one new breed of animals it is necessary to carry out some experiments of during with from 15 to 30 years. With some economical reforms in Kazakhstan high - productive breeds of animals are on the brink of a disappearance. In connection with this the problem of the creation of the storage for the geno-fund of the seeds of the plants and of high - productive breeds of animals in Kazakhstan begins being an actual one. National storages, created in USA, Japan, Italy, Turkey, countries of SIS, correspond to definite standards, where there are maintained strict parameters for the storage active ventilation, storage in cooling state, a storage without of an access for air, a freezing in liquid nitrogen and in other coolants). Our investigations has established, that the storage of seeds of plants in gaseous medium with below-average content of oxygen increases a germinating power of seed. F.e. seeds of arid food plant of 'izen, Kochia prostrata', by natural way, keep the germinating power of seed, during about (6-8) months, and in gaseous medium its germinating power of seed reaches up to 5.5 years. Besides, at maturity of micro -organisms, there ore exterminated insects- pests and rodents. In order to improve mobility and a frost resistance of sperms of high productive stud-rams we had investigated the influence of electromagnetic waves, of special frequencies and of a gaseous medium, created by the liquid nitrogen. There is established, that such way of the storage of ram sperms improves essentially a fertilization-ability of sheep and of a quality of sperms. The final object of our investigations consists in a creation of a new complex technology for the storage of the geno-fund of plant seeds, including various combinations of three ecologically - pure technological techniques. These are a pyramid, a gaseous medium and electromagnetic waves. It is necessary to note, that in some cases a choice of storages in the form of pyramids does not require a construction of special spaces with refrigerating machinery and large energetic and labour - consuming expenditures

[en] Genotype x environment interactions occur because genotypes differ both in their inherent levels of productivity, which determine the maximum levels of productivity that are possible, and in their resistance to environmental stresses, which governs the proportion of that maximum which is actually expressed. The major environmental stresses considered are climatic factors, external parasites, internal parasites, diseases and variations in the quantity and quality of feed available. Improvements in productivity depend either on increasing the inherent levels of resistance while enhancing or maintaining the existing levels of inherent productivity, or on modifying the environment to control the stresses to enable a higher proportion of the inherent levels of productivity to be manifested. In extensive grazing systems the depressing effects of high air temperatures, humidity and solar radiation can best be reduced through the use of genotypes of high heat resistance. Controlling parasites and parasite-borne diseases by chemotherapy is limited by a number of factors. Prospects for the success of an immunological approach to the control of disease organisms through the use of improved vaccination methods and by the use of resistant genotypes are analysed. Ways of developing genotypes that have high resistance are discussed. The most intractable problem is the quantity and quality of the available feed. The possible role of supplementary feeding with non-protein N, rumen-soluble S and other minerals in increasing productivity is considered by comparing the responsiveness of different genotypes to these supplements under controlled conditions. Manipulating growth rates through use of growth promotants and metabolic depressants is compared with the potential advantages associated with use of genotypes that have an inherent ability to achieve the same result. The role of various strategies to improve fertility is discussed in relation to the genotype x environment interactions that are known to occur

[en] The Booroola fecundity gene (FecB) is an autosomal gene in sheep with a large effect on ovulation rate and consequently, litter size. The Nimbkar Agricultural Research Institute (NARI) at Phaltan, Maharashtra, India (latitude 18 deg. N and longitude 74 deg. E) has embarked upon a breeding program to introgress the FecB gene from the Garole breed of Sunderban, West Bengal, into the local Deccani breed. Garole sheep, the probable original source of the FecB gene, are small-sized (average adult live weight 15 kg) and adapted to hot humid conditions. The Deccani are the native sheep of the semi-arid Deccan plateau and adult ewes weigh about 27 kg. The reproductive performance of 188 ewes with 1/4 Garole genotype (progeny of Deccani ewes mated to Garole x Deccani F1 rams), 97 of which were heterozygote carriers of the FecB gene (FecB''B''+) and 91 were non-carriers (FecB''+''+), was analyzed to quantify the advantage in lamb production conferred by the gene. The percentage of abortions/stillbirths among maiden ewes was compared between ewes of the two FecB genotypes using a Z test. Other traits analysed were litter size (lambs born alive) and lambs weaned per lambing (weaning age being 120 days) as traits of the ewe. Fixed effects fitted for both traits were FecB genotype of ewe, birth year of ewe, year and season of lambing with age of ewe at lambing as a covariable. The interaction of ewe genotype and litter size was also fitted for lambs weaned. In addition, another model was fitted for the trait lambs weaned per lambing, with litter size instead of ewe genotype as a fixed effect. A random sire effect was fitted for both traits. A repeated measures analysis was done for both traits, using data from 1-3 lambings per ewe. Sire variance was found to be very low for both traits. The proportion of abortions/stillbirths among heterozygote maiden ewes (0.21) was significantly higher (P<0.05) than that among non-carrier ewes (0.11). At the second and third parities, the proportion of abortions (0.04 and 0 respectively) was similar in both groups. Birth year of ewe, year-season of lambing and age of ewe at lambing were not significant for litter size or lambs weaned. FecB genotype of ewe had a highly significant (P<0.001) influence on litter size, as expected. The least squares mean litter size of non-carrier ewes was 1.00 and that of heterozygote ewes increased from 1.44 at the first lambing to 1.88 at the third lambing. These results are similar to those reported earlier for a larger dataset including the ewes considered here. Of the lambing ewes carrying one copy of the FecB gene, 54.5% , 44.4% and 25% had single lambs at the first, second and third lambings respectively. One heterozygous ewe at the second lambing and three heterozygous ewes at the third lambing had triplets. One non- carrier ewe had twins at the first and second lambing while none had twins at the third lambing. The interaction between litter size and FecB genotype was significant for lambs weaned per lambing (P=0.03 at first lambing, P<0.01 at subsequent lambings). It is shown that lamb production of ewes bearing twin lambs is 65 to 112% higher than those bearing singles while heterozygote ewes produce 37 to 45% more weaned lambs than noncarrier ewes.There are indications that the proportion of heterozygote ewes bearing twins is likely to increase substantially at the third and later parities when they reach peak production and they are therefore likely to produce significantly higher number of weaned lambs than non-carrier ewes. Lamb production performance of heterozygote ewes will be evaluated in local shepherds' flocks in the next two years. Further reduction in the proportion of Garole genes beyond 25% is likely to yield additional benefits since Deccani sheep have been observed to have higher milk production and consequently better ability to rear lambs compared to Garole sheep. These preliminary results of performance of ewes on NARI's farm suggest that the introduction of the FecB gene into the Deccani under the more efficient management of native shepherds may prove successful and lead to an increase in lamb production. However, this will depend to some extent on the reproductive performance of Deccani ewes homozygous for the FecB gene, and this is an issue we are currently investigating. Acknowledgements: This work was carried out under the India-Australia collaborative project 'Prolific Worm-resistant Meat Sheep for Maharashtra, India', funded by the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research and AusAID. We acknowledge the assistance of NARI's farm staff in ewe flock management and recording and the guidance of Dr. J.F. Maddox of the University of Melbourne to establish the FecB test at NCL, India

No abstract available

[en] Data was collected from 2663 registers from 657 cows of the breed Lucerna. The ecotypes were selected on basis of color and uniformity of coat, length of hair besides skin and mucous color. Tests analysis shown statistical difference among ecotypes in reference to the mean of the days open (p < 0.05) and Calving periods (p<0.01). No statistical difference between ecotypes in dry period. Lucerna ecotypes show good reproductive performance and adaptability under tropical climatic conditions

[en] In Malaysia, mutton (as chevon is called locally) is one of the main red meat consumed. The total mutton demand in 2007 was 20,000 mT. However, its output for the year was only 1750 mT, a mere 8.75% self-sufficiency. The demand is met by import of mutton and live animals, especially from Australia. However, with stimulus provided under the National Agricultural Policy and the recent introduction of the Boer goats with excellent body conformation, growth rate and carcass quality, the goat industry is rapidly developing. Many medium to large Boer goat farms are being established with purebred Boer goats and crosses imported from Australia and South African as breeding animals. Many of the farmers are new to the farming industry and have acquired knowledge and skills through short courses, publications, government extension workers, local and foreign stock suppliers, or hired consultants. To ensure the economic viability of the industry, good management systems, quality and cost-effective feed resources, and highly productive animals are essential. However, there is little information on the growth and reproductive performance of Boer goats in Malaysia. In addition, the effects of genetic and non-genetic factors influencing the traits of interest have yet to be evaluated. A project was undertaken to evaluate the growth performance of the Boer goats under intensive management system. This reports the preliminary results, focusing on the effects of year of birth, sex of kid and litter type on birth and weaning weights in one of the newly established Boer goat farms. The data is from 397 purebred Boer kids, offspring of 174 does and 16 bucks imported from Australia, in a medium sized (300-1000 heads), commercial farm. The kids were raised with their dams in group pens in raised, wooden sheds. They were fed fresh Napier grass, provided twice daily, supplemented with concentrated feed. The kids were weaned at about 90 d of age. The GLM procedure of SAS 9.1 was used to analyse the data. Except for litter x parity effect, which was significant (P < 0.05) for birth weight, the interaction effects were not significant for both the traits. Year and litter effects were significant (P < 0.01) for both traits, but effect of sex was significant (P < 0.05) only for birth weight. The least square means for birth and weaning weights of the Boer kids are displayed in Table I. Kids born in 2008 had significantly (P < 0.01) higher birth and weaning weights than those born in 2007, probably due to more experienced management. Males were 7.5% heavier than the females at birth but showed no significant difference for weaning weight. Similarly, single born kids were heavier than twin born kids only at birth (by 15%). Surprisingly, first parity, multiple birth kids recorded higher birth weight than the twins of the same parity. This may be due to supplemented foster feeding of kids born as triplets and quadruplets. The effects of the non genetic factors considered in this study were generally as expected and reported by many researchers. However, the weight achieved by the Boer kids at weaning was below what was expected. One possible reason could be that the optimal nutrition requirement of the Boer kids to display their growth potential was not met. This requires further investigation