Decreasing pH of mammary gland secretions is associated with parturition and is correlated with electrolyte concentrations in prefoaling mares

The objectives of this study were to determine pH of the mammary gland secretions and the corresponding electrolyte concentrations in prefoaling mares. Pregnant mares (seven primiparous and seven multiparous) were monitored daily from 310.320 days of gestation until parturition. Prefoaling mammary gland secretions were collected, and pH was immediately determined with a pH meter and pH strip test. An aliquot of prefoaling mammary secretions was frozen and stored until further analyses. After parturition, samples from day .4 to 0 (day of foaling) were thawed and electrolyte concentrations (ie, Ca2+, Mg2+, Na+, K+ and Cl-) were determined with an automated analyser. Data were analysed via a mixed model with the mare as a random effect. Correlations were determined between pH and electrolyte concentrations by the Pearson product-moment for each pair. There was significant reduction in pH of mammary secretions on the day of foaling (P<0.0001), and most mares (11/14) with a pH .7 foaled within 24 hours. There was high correlation between the two pH methods (r=0.93). Additionally, there were significant (P<0.05) increases in Ca2+ and K+ concentrations, and significant decreases in Na+ and Cl- concentrations from one day before to the day of foaling. The pH of mammary secretions was highly and significantly (P<0.001) correlated with Na + (r=0.87), Cl- (r=0.85), Ca2+ (r=-0.88); and K+(r=.0.80) concentrations, and moderately correlated with Mg 2+ (r=-0.58). Daily evening pH measure of the mammary gland secretions can predict foaling in most mares.

Validity and feasibility of qualitative behavior assessment for the evaluation of Nellore cattle temperament

The aims of this study were to assess the validity and the feasibility of the qualitative behavior assessment (QBA) method as indicator of Nellore cattle temperament under field conditions, evaluating its associations with four other traditional methods and weight gain. The temperament and live weight of 2229 Nellore cattle was assessed at approximately 550 days of age. Five measurements of cattle temperament were recorded: flight speed test (FS, in m/s), visual scores of movement in the crush (MOV), crush score (CS), temperament score (TS), and the qualitative behavior assessment method (QBA), by using a list of 12 behavioral based adjectives as descriptors of temperament. Average daily weight gain (ADG) was calculated for each animal. For statistical analysis of QBA data, the Principal Component Analysis was used. A temperament index (TI) was defined for each animal using the scores for the first principal component. Pearson's correlation coefficients were estimated between TI with FS and ADG. A mixed model ANOVA was used to analyze the TI variation as a function of TS, CS, and MOV. The score plot for the first and second principal components was used to classify the cattle in four groups (from very bad to very good temperament). The first principal component explained 49.50% of the variation in the data set, with higher positive loadings for the adjectives 'agitated' and 'active', and higher negative loadings for 'calm' and 'relaxed'. TI was significantly correlated with FS (r=0.49; P<0.01) and ADG (r=-0.10; P<0.01). The means of ADG, FS, and the temperament scores (CS, TS, MOV) differed significantly (P<0.01) among the four groups, from very bad to very good temperament. The QBA method could discriminate different behavioral profiles of Nellore cattle and were in agreement with other traditional methods used as indicators of cattle temperament. Additional studies are needed to assess the inter- and intra-observers reliability and to study its association with physiological parameters. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Controle da posição da perna de pessoas hígidas utilizando um controlador PID

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Inversor Buck-Boost integrado para aplicações com micro-geradores eólicos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação agronômica e modo de reprodução de híbridos intraespecíficos de Brachiaria decumbens

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Parâmetros genéticos de escore de temperamento em bovinos da raça Nelore

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FCAV

Análise de polimorfismos em genes do eixo somatotrópico em bovinos Nelore selecionados para crescimento

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Polimorfismo nos genes da leptina e do receptor de melatonina em búfalas (Bubalus bubalis)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Metaheurísticas em um problema de rotação de culturas

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Utilização de dispositivo de liberação intravaginal de progesterona no protocolo de sincronização (GnRH/PG2a / GnRH) associado a remoção temporária de bezerros em vacas Nelore paridas

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

Associação entre perda auditiva induzida pelo ruído e zumbido

Pós-graduação em Saúde Coletiva - FMB

Métodos de estimativa da evapotranspiração de referência para a mesoregião do Triângulo Mineiro e Alto Paranaíba-MG

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Evolução das modificações morfo-funcionais cardíacas no processo de adaptação crônica à insuficiência aórtica aguda experimental em ratos

Pós-graduação em Fisiopatologia em Clínica Médica - FMB

Associações genéticas com o marcador alfa actina 1, e variabilidade genética de características de importância econômica de frangos de corte

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Variabilidades genética e não genética na mortalidade pré-desmama de bezerros de corte

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)