Desempenho de vacas leiteiras em pastejo de alfafa

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

Allonursing in river buffalo, Bubalus bubalis: Nepotism, incompetence, or thievery?

Allonursing was investigated in a dairy herd of 30 river buffalo cows and their calves. The primary behavioural variables were solicitations of allonursing by calves and acceptances of calves by cows. The sample of cows included a group of nine half-sisters, two additional pairs of half-sisters, and a pair of full-sisters. All of the calves were half-siblings owing to putative common paternity. Ancillary variables were age, milk-yield and docility of cows, as well as age, sex, weight and growth rate of calves. Three hundred and fifty-one instances of allonursing and 341 of filial nursing were recorded. There were large individual differences in the cows' tendencies to accept their own offspring and non-filial calves, and for the calves to successfully solicit milk from their mothers and other cows. Thirteen of the 30 cows accounted for 97% of the allonursing. Frequent allonursing was correlated with decreased growth rate in the donors' calves. Allonursing was unrelated to kinship or reciprocal relationships among the cows, and was associated with a lack of maternal experience in young cows and apparent milk theft by hungry calves whose mothers were not providing them with sufficient milk. © 1995 The Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour.

The manipulation of progesterone profiles during progesterone + estradiol timed ai protocols in dairy cattle: effects on fertility

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

Estudo genômico da produção de leite e seus constituintes em bovinos da raça Guzerá

Pós-graduação em Genética e Melhoramento Animal - FCAV

Genetic parameters estimate for milk and mozzarella cheese yield, fat and protein percentage in dairy buffaloes in Brazil

The aim of this study was analyze the (co)variance components and genetic and phenotypic relationships in the following traits: accumulated milk yield at 270 days (MY270,), observed until 305 days of lactation; accumulated milk yield at 270 days (MY270/A) and at 305 days (MY305), observed until 335 days of lactation; mozzarella cheese yield (MCY) and fat (FP) and protein (PP) percentage, observed until 335 days of lactation. The (co)variance components were estimated by Restricted Maximum Likelihood methodology in analyses single, two and three-traits using animal models. Heritability estimated for MY270, MY270/A, MY305, MCY, FP and PP were 0.22; 0.24, 0.25, 0.14, 0.29 and 0.40 respectively. The genetic correlations between MCY and the variables MY270, MY270/A, MY305, PP and FP was: 0.85; 1.00; 0.89; 0.14 and 0.06, respectively. This way, the selection for the production of milk in long period should increase MCY. However, in the search of animals that produce milk with quality, the genetic parameters suggest that another index should be composed allying these studied traits.

Genetic parameters for body weight, carcass chemical composition and yield in a broiler-layer cross developed for QTL mapping

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

Milk fatty acid characterization and genetic parameter estimates for milk conjugated linoleic acid in buffaloes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Factors affecting somatic cell counts and their relations with milk and milk constituent yield in buffaloes

Data concerning daily milk yield (MY), percentage of milk fat (%F), protein (%P), lactose (%LT), and total solids (%TS), and somatic cell counts (SCC) for a herd of 222 Murrah buffalo reared in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, were collected monthly from 1997 to 2000 in order to study the factors affecting SCC and their relation to milk production and constituents during lactation. SCC decreased in the second month of lactation and increased thereafter, up to the ninth month of lactation. The interaction of month of lactation x order of calving was significant. Mean MY observed during the first month of lactation was 6.87 kg, which increased to 7.65 kg during the second month, and then decreased until the ninth month of lactation (3.83 kg). During the different months of lactation, %F, %P, %LT, and %TS ranged from 6.28 to 8.38%, 4.05 to 4.59%, 4.96 to 5.34%, and 16.94 to 18.55%, respectively. Calving year, calving order, and order of month of lactation significantly affected MY, %F, %P, %LT, and %TS. The regression coefficients of transformed SCC on MY and %LT were negative and significant during all months of lactation, showing that milk and lactose yield decreased with increased transformed SCC, causing losses to buffalo milk producers.

Nutrients balances and milk fatty acid profile of mid lactation dairy cows supplemented with unsaturated fatty acid

The objective was to evaluate the effect of unsaturated fatty acid sources supplementation on nutrients balances and milk fatty acid profile of mid lactation dairy cows. Twelve Brazilian Holstein cows in the mid lactation (mean of 128 days) and (580 ± 20kg of weight; mean ± SD) with milk yield of 25kg/d were assigned randomly into three 4 × 4 Latin square, fed the following diets: control (C); refined soybean oil; (SO); whole soybean raw (WS) and; calcium salts of unsaturated fatty acids (CSFA). Milk yield was 26.6; 26.4; 24.1 and 25.7 to the diets CO, SO, WS and CSFA respectively. Cows fed the WS treatment produced less milk (1.95kg/d of milk), fat and lactose than did cows fed the SO and CSFA. Cows fed the CSFA treatment showed less blood, urine (g/d) concentrations of N more energetic efficiency and intake of energy than did cows fed the SO treatment. Cows fed the unsaturated fatty acids sources showed more C18:2 cis-9, trans-11 CLA and trans-C18:1 FA concentration in milk than did cows fed the CO treatment. Diets with whole soybeans and soybeans oil provide more efficient digestive processes, and increase milk composition of unsaturated fatty acids.

Yield, changes in proteolysis, and sensory quality of Prato cheese produced with different coagulants

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effect of energy intake on performance and carcass composition of broiler chickens from two different genetic groups

In order to evaluate the effect of energy intake and broiler genotype on performance, carcass yield, and fat deposition, 600 one-day-old male chicks from two different genetic groups (AgRoss 308 - commercial line and PCLC - Empresa Brasileira de Pesquisa Agropecuária (EMBRAPA) non-improved line) were fed diets with different metabolizable energy level (2950, 3200 and 3450 kcal/kg). A completely randomized experimental design in a 2X3 factorial arrangement with four replications of 25 birds per treatment was applied. In order to ensure different energy intake among treatments within each strain, feed intake was daily adjusted by pair-feeding schemes. AgRoss 308 broilers had better performance and carcass yield, and presented lower abdominal fat deposition rate. In both genetic groups, the highest dietary energy level increased weight gain, heart relative weight, and fat deposition. However, it reduced the difference between AgRoss 308 and PCLC for feed conversion ratio and carcass protein deposition. These findings allow concluding that genetic improvement had a significant effect on broiler energy metabolism, and that the highest performance differences between genetic groups are found when low-energy intake is imposed.

Buffalo milk production in brazil and colombia: Genotype by environment interaction

The objective of this study was to determine whether there is a genotype by environment interaction (GxE) for dairy buffaloes in Brazil and Colombia. The (co)variance components were estimated by using a bi-trait repeatability animal model with the REML method. Each trait consisted in the milk yield obtained in both countries. Contemporary group (herd, year and season of parity) and age at parity (linear and quadratic covariate) fixed effects, along with the additive genetic, permanent environment, and the residual random effects were included in the model. Genetic, permanent environmental and residual variance and heritabilities were different for both countries. The genetic correlations for milk yield between Brazil and Colombia were low (between 0.10 and 0.13), indicating a GxE interaction between both countries. Knowing that this interaction influences the genetic progress of buffalo populations in Brazil and Colombia, we recommend choosing sires tested in the country they will be used, along with conducting joint genetic evaluations that consider GxE interaction effects.

Nutritional evaluation of soy yoghurt in comparison to soymilk and commercial milk yoghurt. Effect of fermentation on soy protein

Soymilk was fermented using Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus. The soy yoghurt produced was evaluated in comparison to soymilk and commercial milk yoghurt by biological evaluation, rat growth, nitrogen balance assays and microbiological methods. Trypsin inhibitor activity and chemical composition were also determined for all samples. For the soy yoghurt, the growth and nitrogen balance values were not different from the control diet, but the nitrogen balance values were higher than for the soymilk, without significant difference in terms of growth assays. Compared to the commercial yoghurt, Net Protein Ratio and Nitrogen Utilization values were lower, but the Protein Efficiency Ratio, Biological Value and Net Protein Utilization values were equivalent, and for digestibility assays the best results were obtained with the soy yoghurt. The results indicated that soy yoghurt represents a good protein alternative to milk yoghurt and casein. The protein quality of soymilk evidently increased during the fermentation process using Lactobacillus delbrueckii ssp. bulgaricus and Streptococcus thermophilus, including a reduction in trypsin inhibitor levels of about 30%.

EFFECT OF DIFFERENT ROOTSTOCKS ON GROWTH, CHLOROPHYLL A FLUORESCENCE AND MINERAL COMPOSITION OF TWO GRAFTED SCIONS OF TOMATO

Two tomato scions (cvs. 'Raf' and 'Gorety') were grafted on three different rootstocks: S. torvum, 'Beaufort' (Lycopersicum esculentum × Lycopersicum hirsutum) and intermediate grafting of eggplant 'Cristal' between tomato and S. torvum (double graft). Plants were grown in Mediterranean greenhouse conditions. The response to grafting was measured through growth parameters, Fv/Fm and leaf macronutrients analysis, and it was compared with non-grafted plants. The scions grafted on S. torvum in simple and double graft showed lower fresh and dry weight of leaves, number of commercial fruits, plant height, Fv/Fm and decreased their capacity to absorb several nutrients resulting in a lower mineral concentration in scions leaves, as a result of a thickened graft union. On the other hand, both scions showed a good response when grafted on the rootstock 'Beaufort', with which growth parameters, yield and photosynthetic capacity were similar to non-grafted plants. © 2013 Copyright Taylor and Francis Group, LLC.

Effect of shade and water sprinkling on physiological responses and milk yields of Holstein cows in a semi-arid region

The effects of shading and water sprinkling on physiological responses and milk production were studied in Holstein cows managed in an equatorial semi-arid region. Five cows were observed for 36 days during May and June 2009. We studied the effects of sun, shade, shade plus single sprinkling, shade plus sprinkling every 2. h and shade plus sprinkling every hour on physiological responses, i.e., rectal temperature, coat surface temperature and respiratory rate, and on milk production. Environmental variables, i.e., air temperature, black globe temperature, mean radiant temperature, relative humidity and wind speed, were recorded every 30. min throughout the observation period. The statistical analysis utilized a 5×5 replicated latin square, and the results showed reduced values in physiological variables in cows that were protected from short wave radiation and that received water sprinkling; milk yield increased by approximately 3.5. kg in such animals relative to those not receiving such treatment. However, the milk yield for the morning milking presented similar mean values regardless of whether the animals received shading and sprinkling benefits, which indicates that frequency of sprinkling and amount of time (permanence) in the shade were critical for the effect on milk yield. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.