Detection of an untyped strain of bovine respiratory syncytial virus in a dairy herd

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

How FTAI and FTET impact reproductive efficiency of Brazilian dairy herds

Background: Throughout dairy cows evolution, milk production was always the key point to select the superior animal. Currently, several evidences has shown that high milk production have intensively contributed to the decline of dairy cattle fertility. Beyond milk production, dairy cows have their reproductive performance impaired by another factors, heat stress and repeat-breeding. Methods like fixed time artificial insemination and embryo transfer were developed to minimize the effects of these factors, and improve dairy herds profitability. This review aims to show some key-point experiments conducted to improve the efficiency of the self-appointed protocols for artificial insemination and embryo transfer in Brazil, overcoming several reproductive problems. Our goal is to develop cheap and easy self-appointed programs that facilitate animal handling and maximize their reproductive outcomes all over the year. Review: Failure in estrus detection is the mainly limiting factor for the use of artificial insemination in high-production dairy herd. An excellent alternative to overcome the need of estrus detection is fixed time artificial insemination. Many protocols with and without the use of estradiol have been developed to that end. Among the protocols for fixed time artificial insemination without estradiol, DoubleOvsynch has been extensively used recently in American dairy herds. In Brazil, similar pregnancy rate was obtained compared to progesterone-estradiol based protocols for fixed time artificial insemination. Particularities of progesterone-estradiol based protocols as (1) new progesterone device or devices previously used for eight days; (2) different doses of eCG; and (3) the use of estradiol cypionate for fixed time artificial insemination have been studied in Brazil. The use of self-appointed artificial insemination also enabled the reduction of the interval calving-conception compared to cows inseminated following the standing estrus. Regarding the low fertility of repeat breeders and the effect of heat stress at early pregnancy, other methods like embryo transfer became important tools to enhance reproductive efficiency of Brazilian dairy herds. Protocols were also developed to allow fixed time embryo transfer, eliminating the need of estrus detection and improving the reproductive efficiency of lactating recipients. As well as described for fixed time artificial insemination treatments, there is a large variety of hormone combination for fixed time embryo transfer (with and without estradiol). An experiment conducted in Brazil demonstrated that protocols for fixed time embryo transfer without estradiol can be as good as with estradiol to synchronize high-producing Holstein recipients, essentially during summer. Particularities related to embryos cryopreservation, synchronization of the estrus cycle of donors and recipients and the site of embryo release into the uterine horn were also investigated. Greater conception rates were achieved when fresh embryos were transferred compared to frozen-thawed ones. Also, the tight synchronization between donor and recipient (same day of estrus) resulted more pregnancies than when recipients were one day later or in advantage in relation to donors. Moreover, the site of embryo release into the uterine horn (ipsilateral to the corpus luteum) had no effect on pregnancy rates after in vivo produced embryo transfer. Conclusion: Both fixed time artificial insemination and fixed time embryo transfer are important tools to improve reproductive efficiency of high-producing dairy cows. These biotechnologies help bypassing some of the greatest challenges of dairy cattle reproduction: the difficulties of estrus detection, and the low fertility associated to heat stress and repeat breeding.

Profitability measures of dairy cows

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Preventive diagnosis of dairy cow lameness

This research aimed to develop a Fuzzy inference based on expert system to help preventing lameness in dairy cattle. Hoof length, nutritional parameters and floor material properties (roughness) were used to build the Fuzzy inference system. The expert system architecture was defined using Unified Modelling Language (UML). Data were collected in a commercial dairy herd using two different subgroups (H-1 and H-2), in order to validate the Fuzzy inference functions. The numbers of True Positive (TP), False Positive (FP), True Negative (TN), and False Negative (FN) responses were used to build the classifier system up, after an established gold standard comparison. A Lesion Incidence Possibility (LIP) developed function indicates the chances of a cow becoming lame. The obtained lameness percentage in H-1 and H-2 was 8.40% and 1.77%, respectively. The system estimated a Lesion Incidence Possibility (LIP) of 5.00% and 2.00% in H-1 and H-2, respectively. The system simulation presented 3.40% difference from real cattle lameness data for H-1, while for H-2, it was 0.23%; indicating the system efficiency in decision-making.

Dairy goat health management and milk production on organic and conventional system in Brazil

The aimed of this article is to measure risk factors on health and milk production on organic and conventional dairy goats in Brazil. Two experimental groups (organic and conventional) were evaluated simultaneously. The study design was completely randomized. The organic herd consisted of 25 goats and 15 kids. In the conventional production system, a dairy herd comprising 40 goats and 20 kids participated in the study. Data on milk production and health management were available from January 2007 to December 2009. The abortion rate in the conventional system was 5% (2/40) whereas in organic system no abortion was diagnosed (0/25). The mortality rate at weaning in the conventional system was 5% (2/40) and in the organic system was 8% (2/25). Milk production was lower (2.20 kg/day) in organic than conventional system (2.66 kg/day). Goats and kids in organic farm had a higher FEC (386±104 and 900±204, respectively) (p<0.05) than those in conventional farm (245±132 and 634±212, respectively). In addition, Saanen kids had higher FEC (p<0.001) than goats. Treatment with antiparasitic drugs was higher in conventional system (50%) than organic system (1.3%).

Molecular epidemiology and extended-spectrum β-lactamases production of klebsiella pneumoniae isolated from three dairy herds

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

Relação entre medidas ultrassônicas e da carcaça de bubalinos Murrah abatidos em diferentes períodos de confinamento

Os objetivos neste trabalho foram estimar as correlações entre medidas obtidas por ultrassonografia e na carcaça e acompanhar o desenvolvimento da área de olho-de-lombo e a deposição de gordura de búfalos em diferentes períodos de confinamento. Foram utilizados 20 bubalinos da raça Murrah, castrados, abatidos aos 75, 100, 125 ou 150 dias de confinamento. As medidas realizadas foram área de olho-de-lombo, espessura de gordura subcutânea do dorso e espessura de gordura da garupa, mensuradas por ultrassonografia quando os búfalos atingiram o tempo de abate e na carcaça, após o abate. A espessura de gordura subcutânea da carcaça foi avaliada utilizando-se paquímetro e a área de olho-de-lombo da carcaça, régua do quadrante de pontos. O período de confinamento apresentou efeito linear crescente na área de olho-de-lombo e nas espessuras de gordura do dorso e da garupa avaliadas por ultrassom e na carcaça. O efeito linear positivo entre 75 e 150 dias de confinamento, tanto para a área de olho-de-lombo como para espessura de gordura medidas no dorso e na garupa, comprovou que os animais ainda não haviam atingido a maturidade. As correlações entre as medidas obtidas por ultrassom e na carcaça foram 0,82 para área de olho-de-lombo e 0,85 para espessura de gordura subcutânea no dorso. As características de carcaça medidas por ultrassom em bubalinos apresentam boas correlações com as medidas realizadas na carcaça no momento do abate, o que permite, em bubalinos da raça Murrah castrados e oriundos de rebanho leiteiro, acompanhar as alterações dessas características durante o desenvolvimento.

Desenvolvimento ponderal de bubalinos da raça Murrah criados em pastagem de Brachiaria brizantha no Centro-Oeste do Estado de São Paulo, Brasil

Foram analisados os dados de desempenho ponderal de bubalinos Murrah do Sistema de Produção de Leite da Universidade Estadual Paulista, Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, campus de Botucatu. Os pesos foram corrigidos às diversas idades-padrão e o modelo incluiu os efeitos de sexo (S), mês (M) e ano (A) de nascimento, classe de idade da búfala ao parto (C) e as interações S x M, S x A, S x C e M x A. As médias ajustadas e respectivos erros-padrão estimados para as características estudadas foram: Peso ao Nascer (PN): 37,71 ± 8,25kg; Peso aos 120 dias (P120): 102,08 ± 16,27kg; Peso aos 240 dias (P240): 169,84 ± 22,83kg; Peso aos 365 dias (P365): 250,59 ± 25,12kg; Peso aos 550 dias (P550): 326,13 ± 39,27kg e Peso aos 730 dias (P730): 389,80 ± 31,26kg. O efeito de sexo (S) foi significativo somente para PN e P365, sendo que machos tenderam a nascer mais pesados que fêmeas. O mês de nascimento (M) exerceu efeito sobre o PN, P120 e P730 sendo que animais nascidos em maio foram os mais pesados ao nascer, enquanto os nascidos em janeiro e maio, foram os mais pesados aos 120 e 730 dias, respectivamente. O efeito de ano de foi significativo sobre o PN, P120, P240 e P730. Os filhos de búfalas das classes de idade 1 (3 anos ou menos) e da classe 6 (10,11 e 12 anos) foram os mais leves e mais pesados ao nascer, respectivamente. O fato de a classe de idade da búfala não exercer efeito sobre os P365, P550 e P730 sugere que, em rebanhos comerciais possa ser feita a substituição de búfalas não gestantes por novilhas prenhes, apesar de esta prática reduzir a média de idade do rebanho de cria. Bubalinos da raça Murrah oriundos de rebanhos leiteiros podem ser utilizados para a produção de carne.

Concentração do zinco sérico em vacas leiteiras suplementadas com Saccharomyces cerevisiae, portadoras ou não de lesões podais

The present study was conducted to evaluate bovine serum zinc concentration in animals with and without hoof lesions, supplemented or not with Saccharomyces cerevisiae, an organic zinc source. The supplementation was carried out during 180 days. Forty-five Holstein cows were randomly chosen from a dairy herd of 189 lactating cows. The animals were distributed in three groups. In G1, 20 heifers with foot lesions were fed a diet supplemented with S. cerevisae. In G2, 10 heifers without hoof lesions were fed a diet with supplementation. In G3, 15 heifers with hoof lesions were fed a diet without supplementation. Serum samples were collected on day 0, 90 and 180, after the beginning of the experiment. Serum zinc concentration was determined by Atomic Absorption Spectrophotometry. The results showed there not to be an increase significant serum of zinc among the groups, and in the animals inside of the group 1 (G1) it happened an increase (P<0,01) of the concentration of zinc (0,84 for 1,16 mu g/mL). The oral supplementation of organic zinc didn't increase the concentration serum of zinc, although in the last 90 days of the experiment it has happened an elevation of the value serum of zinc in the groups supplemented.

Variabilidades fenotípica e genotípica de estirpes de Staphylococcus aureus isoladas em casos de mastite subclínica bovina

Foram submetidas a PCR-Ribotipagem e aos testes de sensibilidade in vitro frente a 12 antimicrobianos 77 estirpes de Staphylococcus aureus isoladas em amostras de leite procedentes de 40 vacas da raça holandesa que apresentaram mastite subclínica, em uma propriedade rural localizada no Estado de São Paulo, Brasil. Os resultados obtidos revelaram quatro diferentes padrões de resistência a antimicrobianos, sendo observada a predominância de resistência à lincomicina entre 19 (24,7%) estirpes de S.aureus. As 58 (75,3%) estirpes restantes foram sensíveis aos 12 antimicrobianos testados. A PCR-ribotipagem revelou a ocorrência de nove padrões genotípicos distintos, além de apresentar uma capacidade discriminatória maior (D = 0,82) que a obtida nos antibiogramas (D = 0,42). Entre as 19 estirpes resistentes aos antimicrobianos, 14 (73,7%) foram agrupadas em três padrões de ribotipagem e, destas, 13 (92,9%) apresentaram resistência à eritromicina e à lincomicina, isoladamente ou em associação. O grande número de ribotipos e de padrões de resistência a antimicrobianos observados nesta propriedade demonstrou que há grande heterogeneidade genética em populações naturais de S. aureus, fato este que deve ser levado em consideração em programas de controle da mastite bovina.

Aracatuba virus: A vaccinialike m virus associated with infection in humans and cattle

We describe a vaccinialike virus, Aragatuba virus, associated with a cowpoxlike outbreak in a dairy herd and a related case of human infection. Diagnosis was based on virus growth characteristics, electron microscopy, and molecular biology techniques. Molecular characterization of the virus was done by using polymerase chain reaction amplification, cloning, an DNA sequencing of conserved orthopoxvirus genes such as the vaccinia growth factor (VGF), thymidine kinase (TK), and hemagglutinin. We used VGF-homologous and TK gene nucleoticle sequences to construct a phylogenetic tree for comparison with other poxviruses. Gene sequences showed 99% homology with vaccinia virus genes and were clustered together with the isolated virus in the phylogenetic tree. Aragatuba virus is very similar to Cantagalo virus, showing the same signature deletion in the gene. Aragatuba virus could be a novel vaccinialike virus or could represent the spread of Cantagalo virus.

Araçatuba virus: A vaccinialike virus associated with infection in humans and cattle

We describe a vaccinialike virus, Araçatuba virus, associated with a cowpoxlike outbreak in a dairy herd and a related case of human infection. Diagnosis was based on virus growth characteristics, electron microscopy, and molecular biology techniques. Molecular characterization of the virus was done by using polymerase chain reaction amplification, cloning, and DNA sequencing of conserved orthopoxvirus genes such as the vaccinia growth factor (VGF), thymidine kinase (TK), and hemagglutinin. We used VGF-homologous and TK gene nucleotide sequences to construct a phylogenetic tree for comparison with other poxviruses. Gene sequences showed 99% homology with vaccinia virus genes and were clustered together with the isolated virus in the phylogenetic tree. Araçatuba virus is very similar to Cantagalo virus, showing the same signature deletion in the gene. Araçatuba virus could be a novel vaccinialike virus or could represent the spread of Cantagalo virus.

Estudo fenotípico e genotípico da produção de biofilmes por estirpes de Staphylococcus aureus isolados dos casos de mastite subclínica bovina

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Condições higiênicas e sanitárias em propriedades produtoras de leite de assentamento da região noroeste do Estado de São Paulo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Características qualitativas da carne de bubalinos submetida a diferentes períodos de maturação

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