The development of genomics applied to dairy breeding

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

The contribution of multiple use forest management to small farmers' annual incomes in the Eastern Amazon

Small-scale farmers in the Brazilian Amazon collectively hold tenure over more than 12 million ha of permanent forest reserves, as required by the Forest Code. The trade-off between forest conservation and other land uses entails opportunity costs for them and for the country, which have not been sufficiently studied. We assessed the potential income generated by multiple use forest management for farmers and compared it to the income potentially derived from six other agricultural land uses. Income from the forest was from (i) logging, carried out by a logging company in partnership with farmers' associations; and (ii) harvesting the seeds of Carapa guianensis (local name andiroba) for the production of oil. We then compared the income generated by multiple-use forest management with the income from different types of agrarian systems. According to our calculations in this study, the mean annual economic benefits from multiple forest use are the same as the least productive agrarian system, but only 25% of the annual income generated by the most productive system. Although the income generated by logging may be considered low when calculated on an annual basis and compared to incomes generated by agriculture, the one-time payment after logging is significant (US$5,800 to US$33,508) and could be used to implement more intensive and productive cropping systems such as planting black pepper. The income from forest management could also be used to establish permanent fields in deforested areas for highly productive annual crops using conservation agriculture techniques. These techniques are alternatives to the traditional land use based on periodic clearing of the forest. Nevertheless, the shift in current practices towards adoption of more sustainable conservation agriculture techniques will also require the technical and legal support of the State to help small farmers apply these alternatives, which aim to integrate forest management in sustainable agricultural production systems.

Random regression models using different functions to model milk flow in dairy cows

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

The physiology and impact on fertility of the period of proestrus in lactating dairy cows

In cattle, proestrus begins with the initiation of luteolysis and ends with initiation of estrus and the GnRH/LH surge. This period is marked by a dramatic decrease in circulating progesterone (P4) that reaches a nadir by about 36-48 h in cows undergoing natural or prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF)-induced luteolysis. Inadequate luteolysis is a cause of reduced fertility particularly in timed AI programs with small elevations in circulating P4 reducing fertility. Increasing circulating estradiol (E2) during proestrus is dependent on presence, size, and function of the dominant follicle and this varies during natural proestrus, due to whether animals have two or three follicular waves, and during PGF-induced proestrus, according to stage of the follicular wave at time of PGF treatment. Inadequate circulating E2 can limit fertility and increase pregnancy loss in some specific circumstances such as in cows with low BCS and in cows during heat stress. Thus, studies to optimize the length of proestrus and the concentrations of E2 and P4 during proestrus could produce substantial improvements in fertility and reductions in pregnancy loss.

Práticas higiênico-sanitárias na ordenha de vacas e percepção de risco de produtores rurais no Estado de São Paulo

Pós-graduação em Ciência Animal - FMVA

Study of the removal of chemical oxygen demand of the cheese whey and wastewater from dairy industry using Spirulina platensis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Aspectos socioeconômicos, indicadores de qualidade do leite e pesquisa de linhagens toxigênicas de Staphylococcus em propriedades de agricultura familiar de Botucatu, SP

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FMVZ

Impacto da difusão de tecnologia na melhoria da qualidade do leite

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FCAV

Research of Klebsiella pneumoniae in dairy herds

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of adding a gonadotropin-releasing-hormone treatment at the beginning and a second prostaglandin F-2 alpha treatment at the end of an estradiol-based protocol for timed artificial insemination in lactating dairy cows during cool or hot seasons of the year

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effects of rumen-protected choline supplementation on metabolic and performance responses of transition dairy cows

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

B-Mode and doppler sonography of the mammary glands in dairy goats for mastitis diagnosis

Contents This study aimed to evaluate the sonographic characteristics of the udder and teats and to determine the Doppler indexes of mammary artery in healthy and undergoing subclinical and clinical mastitis goats. Thirty animals among Saanen and Alpine Brown goats were arranged in three groups, healthy goats (HG), goats with subclinical mastitis (SMG) and goats with clinical mastitis (CMG). Using the B-mode, the sonographic characteristics (echotexture and echogenicity) and biometry (diameter and area of the udder cistern, diameter and area of the teat cistern and thickness of the teat wall) were evaluated. Using Doppler ultrasonography, the vascular indexes of the mammary artery were obtained. It was observed hyperechogenicity with solid component in the gland cistern when comparing animals with clinical mastitis and healthy mammary tissue. Regarding the echotexture of the breast tissue, there was heterogeneity in the mammary parenchyma on the three groups, for the milk, it was observed homogeneity for animals on HG and SMG and heterogeneity for animals on CMG. Grey-scale quantitative assessment revealed increase in echogenicity (mean value) for all the structures when comparing the three groups. Biometry did not reveal statistical difference between groups, for none of the evaluated structures. Doppler examination of the mammary artery showed the decrease of end diastolic velocity and raise of pulsatility index between groups. The association of B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography is useful for the evaluation of the udder of dairy goats with mastitis. It is a sensitive and specific method for the study of this disease. Doppler mode was unable to establish reliable criteria for diagnosis of subclinical mastitis. Moreover, the quantification of echogenicity is a useful technique for the evaluation of the milk in animals with mastitis; therefore, it is suggested that it can be used as complementary technique for the diagnosis of mastitis in goats.

Site and extent of amino acid digestion in dairy cattle fed with corn and its byproducts

The study was conducted to evaluated the site and extent of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), methionine (Met), lysine (Lys), and threonine (Thr) digestion of corn and byproducts obtained from corn germ mixed with different amounts of extruded or non-extruded ether extract (EE) in dairy cattle. Treatments consisted in eight types of feed and two processing in a 4 x 2 factorial design. There were four feeds: corn grain cracked (Corn), corn germ meal with 1% EE (CG1), corn germ meal with 7% EE (CG7), and corn germ meal with 10% EE (CG10). The feeds were processed in one of two ways: extruded (Ex) and not extruded. In situ techniques were used to determine DM, CP, Met, Lys, and Thr partial and total tract digestion. A basic diet was compounded of corn germ meal, soybean meal and coastcross hay in a 70: 30 roughage to concentrate ratio. There was no interaction (P>0.05) between feeds and processing method. Extrusion improved (P<0.05) total tract digestibility of corn DM but not CP. Intestinal digestibility was similar (P>0.05) for corn and corn germ meal mixed with 7 and 10% EE, regardless of EE processing method. The CP total tract digestibility of corn germ meal with 1% non-extruded EE was 16.62% higher (P<0.05) than that of the extruded form. The best total CP digestibility was obtained for corn germ meal with 7% EE, independently of the processing method. The effects of EE processing method on partial and total digestibility differed between amino acid. Corn and corn byproduct extrusion may improve dry matter digestibility, but do not necessarily influence crude protein digestion. Ruminal and intestinal digestibility of Met, Lys, and Thr depends on both feed type and processing method. Therefore, amino acid availability should be considered individually.

Changes in maternal body composition and metabolism of dairy goats during pregnancy

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of organic sources of minerals on fat-corrected milk yield of dairy cows in confinement

This study evaluated the effects of organic and inorganic sources of minerals in diets for mid-lactation dairy cows on milk yield and composition, intake and total apparent digestibility of dry matter and nutrients, blood parameters, microbial protein synthesis, and energy and protein balances. Twenty Holstein cows averaging 146.83 +/- 67.34 days in milk and weighing 625.30 +/- 80.37 kg were used. The experimental design was a crossover. Diets were composed of corn silage (50%), ground grain corn, and soybean meal, differing with regard to the sources of trace minerals, plus an organic and inorganic mix. The organic mineral source increased milk fat and fat-corrected milk yield without changing milk yield, intake, or total apparent digestibility. Blood parameters, microbial protein synthesis, and energy and protein balances were not affected by the sources of minerals. Organic sources of minerals improve milk fat yield without affecting other parameters.