Predicting breeding values for milk yield of Guzera (Bos indicus) cows using random regression models

Given the importance of Guzera breeding programs for milk production in the tropics, the objective of this study was to compare alternative random regression models for estimation of genetic parameters and prediction of breeding values. Test-day milk yields records (TDR) were collected monthly, in a maximum of 10 measurements. The database included 20,524 records of first lactation from 2816 Guzera cows. TDR data were analyzed by random regression models (RRM) considering additive genetic, permanent environmental and residual effects as random and the effects of contemporary group (CG), calving age as a covariate (linear and quadratic effects) and mean lactation curve as fixed. The genetic additive and permanent environmental effects were modeled by RRM using Wilmink, All and Schaeffer and cubic B-spline functions as well as Legendre polynomials. Residual variances were considered as heterogeneous classes, grouped differently according to the model used. Multi-trait analysis using finite-dimensional models (FDM) for testday milk records (TDR) and a single-trait model for 305-days milk yields (default) using the restricted maximum likelihood method were also carried out as further comparisons. Through the statistical criteria adopted, the best RRM was the one that used the cubic B-spline function with five random regression coefficients for the genetic additive and permanent environmental effects. However, the models using the Ali and Schaeffer function or Legendre polynomials with second and fifth order for, respectively, the additive genetic and permanent environmental effects can be adopted, as little variation was observed in the genetic parameter estimates compared to those estimated by models using the B-spline function. Therefore, due to the lower complexity in the (co)variance estimations, the model using Legendre polynomials represented the best option for the genetic evaluation of the Guzera lactation records. An increase of 3.6% in the accuracy of the estimated breeding values was verified when using RRM. The ranks of animals were very close whatever the RRM for the data set used to predict breeding values. Considering P305, results indicated only small to medium difference in the animals' ranking based on breeding values predicted by the conventional model or by RRM. Therefore, the sum of all the RRM-predicted breeding values along the lactation period (RRM305) can be used as a selection criterion for 305-day milk production. (c) 2014 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Evaluation of the effect of supplementing fermented milk with quinoa flour on probiotic activity

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

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

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

Occurrence of heat waves in Triangulo Mineiro and Alto Paranaiba and their effect on milk yield and feed intake in cattle

The aim of this study was to estimate milk production and food consumption during the occurrence of heat waves in the Triangulo Mineiro and Alto Paranaiba, MG by means of bioclimatic zoning based on the Temperature and Humidity Index (THI). Therefore a history of heat wave occurrence between the years 2000-2010 was compiled. The decline in milk production (DMP) and reduced food consumption (RFC) were simulated in cities where periods of heat waves were identified. Frutal and Ituiutaba had the highest rate of heat wave occurrence per year. The DMP and RFC showed bioclimatic differences between the cities of Uberaba, Ituiutaba and Frutal. The cities with the best bioclimatic conditions were Sacramento and Patrocinio, as they presented a THI classified outside of the emergency range, with a night THI of below 76 and without heat waves. Therefore, the occurrence of heat waves can impair food intake and decrease milk production, thereby most effectively demonstrating the effects of thermal stress on dairy cows in the Triangulo Mineiro and Alto Paranaiba, MG region.

Etiopatogênia da artrite-encefalite caprina e estratégias para seu controle

The arthritis-encephalitis caprine vírus is found at mostly areas of the world, especially at the countries that milk goats is strongly tecnific, and already was found in many brasilian states. The illness causes greats econimics prejudice, influencing badly the productive life time of the flock, related with the low production, decrease of the reproductive performance and lost of the genetic potential, determining constants flock’s renew. Many authors calls the atention for the probable dissemination of the illness and reinforce the necessity of the adoption strong sanitary politics for the illnes control. The controls programs, basically, based on knowledeg of the target-cells, that keep and distribute the virus on the guests organisms; on the transmition way; on sensibility and specificity of the sorologics tests, as well as your frequency of realitation in the flock; and after all on the management that the flock is submeted

Effects of probiotic fermented milk on biofilms, oral microbiota, and enamel

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Clonal profile, virulence and resistance of Staphylococcus aureus isolated from sheep milk

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

Effect of supplementary milk feeding on growth and survival of Santa Inês lambs

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Human follicle stimulating hormone (hFSH) and thyroxine (T4) in survival maintenance and in vitro growth promotion of caprine preantral follicles

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Prevalence and etiology of buffalo mastitis and milk somatic cell countin dry and rainy seasons in a buffalo herd from Analândia, São Paulo State,Brazil

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

Acidification profile, probiotic in vitro gastrointestinal tolerance and viability in fermented milk with fruit flours

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

Random regression models for milk, fat and protein in Colombian Buffaloes

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.

Short communication: Variable number of tandem repeat polymorphisms in DGAT1 gene of buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) is associated with milk constituents

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

Production, composition and processing of milk from ewes fed soybean seeds

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