Multisensor system for isotemporal measurements to assess indoor climatic conditions in poultry farms.

The rearing of poultry for meat production (broilers) is an agricultural food industry with high relevance to the economy and development of some countries. Periodic episodes of extreme climatic conditions during the summer season can cause high mortality among birds, resulting in economic losses. In this context, ventilation systems within poultry houses play a critical role to ensure appropriate indoor climatic conditions.

PCR detection and PFGE genotype analyses of streptococcal clinical isolates from tilapia in China.

Large-scale streptococcal outbreaks occurred continuously in tilapia farms of China from 2009 to 2011. The objective of this study was to characterize the prevalent strains of tilapia streptococci from the main cultured areas of China through species specific PCR and pulse field gel electrophoresis (PFGE). A total of 105 prevalent strains were isolated from Guangdong, Guangxi, Hainan and Fujian provinces between 2006 and 2011, 85 of which were identified as Streptococcus agalactiae while the rest were all identified as Streptococcus iniae.

The influence of broiler activity, growth rate, and litter on carbon dioxide balances for the determination of ventilation flow rates in broiler production.

Carbon dioxide balances are useful in determining ventilation rates in livestock buildings. These balances need an accurate estimation of the CO(2) produced by animals and their litter to determine the ventilation flows. To estimate the daily variation in ventilation flow, it is necessary to precisely know the daily variation pattern of CO(2) production, which mainly depends on animal activity.

Characterization of gas emissions from a Mediterranean broiler farm.

Gas emissions from broiler production have been the subject of intensive research. However, little experimental information exists for farms under the particular management and environmental conditions of the European Mediterranean area. In this study, ammonia, carbon dioxide, methane, and nitrous oxide concentrations and emissions were measured in a commercial broiler farm located in Spain.

Effect of soybean variety on anti-nutritional factors content, and growth performance and nutrients metabolism in rat.

The present study was undertaken to evaluate the effects of soybean varieties on content of anti-nutritional factors, growth, and nutrient digestibility in rat. For this purpose, the content of trypsin inhibitor and lectin was firstly measured in five soybean varieties. Then sixty male Wistar rats were randomly divided into six groups and fed on different diets as follows: groups 1 to 5 were fed on treatment diets containing five different varieties of soybean flour; group 6 was fed on a control diet containing casein.

The influence of the lighting program on broiler activity and dust production.

Among the factors influencing dust production on the farms, animal activity is probably the least studied. Animal activity is strongly affected by circadian rhythms and it is altered by the rearing conditions, especially the management of light and the feeding strategy. In this study, a broiler flock was evaluated until 35 d of age with the general objective of studying the factors influencing the production of dust, particularly the effect of animal activity, as affected by the lighting program.

Airborne particulate matter from livestock production systems: a review of an air pollution problem.

Livestock housing is an important source of emissions of particulate matter (PM). High concentrations of PM can threaten the environment, as well as the health and welfare of humans and animals. Particulate matter in livestock houses is mainly coarse, primary in origin, and organic; it can adsorb and contain gases, odorous compounds, and micro-organisms, which can enhance its biological effect.

Ginsenoside Rd attenuates neuroinflammation of dopaminergic cells in culture.

In Parkinson's disease clinical and experimental evidence suggest that neuroinflammatory changes in cytokines caused by microglial activation contribute to neuronal death. Experimentally, neuroinflammation of dopaminergic neurons can be evoked by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) exposure. In mesencephalic primary cultures LPS (100 microg/ml) resulted in 30-50% loss of dendritic processes, changes in the perikarya, cellular atrophy and neuronal cell loss of TH-immunoreactive (TH+) cells.

Frequency of sex chromosomal mosaicism in bovine embryos and its effects on sexing using a single blastomere by PCR.

Assessment of nuclear status is important when a biopsied single blastomere is used for embryo sexing. In this study we investigated the nuclear status of blastomeres derived from 8- to 16-cell stage in vitro fertilised bovine embryos to determine the representativeness of a single blastomere for embryo sexing. In 24 embryos analysed, the agreement in sex determination between a biopsied single blastomere and a matched blastocyst by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was 83.

Rapid sexing of preimplantation bovine embryo using consecutive and multiplex polymerase chain reaction (PCR) with biopsied single blastomere.

The objective of this study was to establish a rapid and reliable PCR method for the sexing of 8- to 16-cell stage bovine embryos. The BOV97M and bovine 1.715 satellite DNA sequences were selected for amplification of male- and bovine-specific DNA, respectively.