Performance, survivability and carcass traits of crossbred lambs from five paternal breeds with local hair breed Santa Inês ewes

The present study aimed to evaluate the performance, survivability and carcass traits of crossbred lambs. Data from 299 lambs born to 209 ewes were used. The dams were from a local hair breed (Santa Inês) and five breeds of sires were used: Dorper (DR), Ile de France (IF), Hampshire Down (HD), Texel (TX) and Santa Inês (SI). The lambs were weighed at birth, weaning and slaughter. Fasting body weight, skin thickness, hot and cold carcass weight, carcass yield and carcass length were measured at slaughter. Carcasses were separated into commercial cuts: neck, shoulder, rib, belly, loin and leg. Leg length and circumference were measured. Analyses of variances using MIXED procedure in SAS® were carried out for weights and carcass traits. Factor, discriminant and canonical analysis were carried out. Mortality data of animals from birth until slaughter was analyzed using logistic regression. The HD animals had the highest mortality rate. TX lambs had similar growth rate and survivability compared to DR and IF and had better carcass traits than these genetic groups. Therefore, this breed can be used as paternal breed to crossbreeding with Santa Inês dams. Santa Inês animals did not differ in growth from birth until slaughter compared to crossbred animals, which highlights the potential of this naturalized breed for meat production. Moreover, there is a great variability inside this breed for carcass and growth traits which may undergo great improvement through selection programs. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Estimates of genetic parameters for carcass, growth and reproductive traits in Nellore cattle

The objective of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for female mature weight (FMW), age at first calving (AFC), weight gain from birth to 120 days (WG_B_120), from 210 to 365 days (WG_210_365), rib eye area (REA), back fat thickness (BF), rump fat (RF) and body weight at scanning date (BWS) using single and multiple-trait animal models by the REML method from Nellore cattle data. The estimates of heritability ranged from 0.163±0.011 for WG_210_365 to 0.309±0.028 for RF using the single-trait model and from 0.163±0.010 for WG_210_365 to 0.382±0.025 for BWS using the multiple-trait model. The estimates of genetic correlations ranged from -0.35±0.08 between AFC with BF to 0.69±0.04 between WG_B_120 with BWS. Selection for weights gains, REA, and BWS can improve FMW. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Genetic parameter estimates and principal component analysis of breeding values of reproduction and growth traits in female Canchim cattle

Phenotypic data from female Canchim beef cattle were used to obtain estimates of genetic parameters for reproduction and growth traits using a linear animal mixed model. In addition, relationships among animal estimated breeding values (EBVs) for these traits were explored using principal component analysis. The traits studied in female Canchim cattle were age at first calving (AFC), age at second calving (ASC), calving interval (CI), and bodyweight at 420 days of age (BW420). The heritability estimates for AFC, ASC, CI and BW420 were 0.03±0.01, 0.07±0.01, 0.06±0.02, and 0.24±0.02, respectively. The genetic correlations for AFC with ASC, AFC with CI, AFC with BW420, ASC with CI, ASC with BW420, and CI with BW420 were 0.87±0.07, 0.23±0.02, -0.15±0.01, 0.67±0.13, -0.07±0.13, and 0.02±0.14, respectively. Standardised EBVs for AFC, ASC and CI exhibited a high association with the first principal component, whereas the standardised EBV for BW420 was closely associated with the second principal component. The heritability estimates for AFC, ASC and CI suggest that these traits would respond slowly to selection. However, selection response could be enhanced by constructing selection indices based on the principal components. © CSIRO 2013.

Meat and carcass traits of the red-winged tinamou (Rhynchotus rufescens)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Protein phenotypes and productive traits in landrace, large white and duroc swine

Quatorze sistemas proteicos, codificados por 15 locos estruturais, foram tipados através de eletroforese horizontal para investigar possíveis associações entre os diferentes fenótipos proteicos e parâmetros de produção em suínos das raças Landrace (N=109), Largo White (N=116) e Duroc (N=57), criadas no sul do Brasil. As associações mais consistentes foram detectadas entre dois sistemas enzimáticos (Fosfogliconato desidrogenase - Pgd e Hemopexina - Hpx) e, pelo menos, um dos quatro parâmetros produtivos considerados. Na raça Duroc foram verificadas associações dos fenótipos de Pgd com o ganho de peso diário (P < 0,01), com a conversão alimentar (P < 0,01) e com o índice de seleção (P < 0,001), enquanto que na Landrace foram detectadas interações significantes apenas com relação à conversão alimentar (P < 0,05). Quanto ao sistema Hpx, foram verificadas associações signifícantes dos fenótipos desta proteína com o ganho de peso (P < 0,05) e com a espessura do toicinho (P < 0,05) entre os porcos Largo White e nos Duroc com a espessura do toicinho (P < 0,01) e com o índice de desempenho (P < 0,05). Uma vez que tais resultados não foram observados em investigações anteriores, outros estudos serão necessários para confirmar estas associações.

A genomic assisted breeding program for cassava to improve nutritional quality and industrial traits of storage root

A mandioca é cultivada como "mandioca mansa" para consumo in natura e "mandioca para indústria" como fonte de amidos e farinhas. Raças locais foram utilizadas para descoberta de "mutações espontâneas" e desenvolvimento de abordagem evolutiva e de melhoramento para estudos de função gênica. Recursos de Genômica e Proteômica foram obtidos. Análises de expressão gênica por blot de RNA e microarranjos foram desenvolvidos para identificação de expressão diferencial. "Mandioca açucarada" foi identificada, sendo relacionada com falta de expressão do gene da BEI e de uma mutação "nonsence" na sequência do gene GBSSI causando a formação do amido serose. "Mandioca avermelhada" apresentou falta de expressão do gene CasLYB, e a "amarela" uma regulação de repressão do gene CasHYb. Análise Proteômica do complexo carotenóide-proteína, juntamente com a análise de expressão de gene da CAP4, revelaram uma dupla fita de cDNA associada ao elevado acúmulo de carotenóide. Sequenciamento do gene da GBSSI identificou 22 haplótipos e grande diversidade de nucleotídios. Populações segregantes de cruzamentos de fenótipos bioquímicos diferenciados com cultivares elites dos Cerrados foram obtidas.

Anatomical and histological characteristics of teeth in agouti (Dasyprocta prymnolopha Wagler, 1831)

A cutia espécie Dasyprocta prymnolopha (D. prymnolopha) é um roedor de tamanho médio, diurno e característico do Nordeste do Brasil, sul da Amazônia. Vários estudos têm sido feitos sobre estes roedores. No entanto, há uma carência de estudos do sistema estomatognático, em particular, a morfologia dos dentes. Assim, esta pesquisa procura descrever aspectos anatômicos e histológicos dos dentes cutia. Para isto, nós utilizamos cutias adultas, em que as mensurações e as descrições dos dentes e dos tecidos dentais foram feitas. Observou-se que a arcada dentária de D. prymnolopha é composta por vinte dentes, distribuídas uniformemente no arco superior e inferior, sendo os dentes inferiores, maiores do que os seus correspondentes superiores. Os incisivos são maiores, e entre os pré-molares e molares posteriores, existe um aumento gradual no comprimento do arco anterior-posterior. No exame microscópico, uma forma prismática foi observada o que consiste de prismas de esmalte dispostos em diferentes direções, atrás do esmalte e dentina com túbulos dentinários com padrão tubular de diâmetro variável e distantes entre si, mostrando também um caminho sinuoso a partir da parte interna da junção com o esmalte mais superficial. A análise morfológica dos tecidos dentários mostrou um esmalte com a organização estrutural adaptada para o ato de mastigar e dentina de alto impacto compatível com a função do padrão tubular de resiliência e amortecimento mecânico de forças mastigatórias, como encontrado em animais maiores, confirmando o entendimento de hábitos alimentares que definem muito das suas funções ecológicas dentro do ecossistema em que vivem.

Evaluation of morpho-anatomical and chemical differences between varieties of the medicinal plant Casearia sylvestris Swartz

Casearia sylvestris Swartz (Salicaceae) é uma planta utilizada na medicina tradicional, cujos extratos de folhas demonstraram importantes ações farmacológicas. A espécie apresenta variação morfológica, genética e química. Duas variedades são consideradas devido a diferenças morfológicas: C. sylvestris var. sylvestris e var. lingua. Há dificuldades na definição destas variedades. O objetivo deste trabalho é avaliar diferenças morfo-anatômicas e químicas entre as variedades de C. sylvestris que permitam sua diferenciação com aplicação farmacêutica ou botânica. Seções transversais e paradérmicas de folhas foram preparadas para análises morfo-anatômicas, histoquímicas e microscopia quantitativa (indices de estômatos e paliçada). Análises cromatográficas (CLAE-DAD e CCD) foram realizadas para obter o perfil de diterpenos clerodânicos. Os resultados das análises morfo-anatômicas demonstraram diferenças significativas entre as variedades somente em cortes paradérmicos: var. sylvestris - paredes celulares epidérmicas poligonais e hipoestomática, var. lingua - paredes celulares epidérmicas arredondadas e anfiestomática. Os índices de estômatos não revelaram diferenças; os valores dos índices de paliçada foram de 2,8 para var. lingua e 3,9 para var. sylvestris. As análises cromatográficas confirmaram resultados prévios, demonstrando predomínio de diterpenos na var. sylvestris. Este trabalho sugere que análises cromatográficas e morfo-anatômicas podem ser ferramentas aplicáveis na distinção das variedades da espécie.

Carcass and meat traits of lambs fed by-products from the processing of oil seeds

We evaluated the effect of adding by-products from the processing of oil seeds in the diet of lambs on the carcass and meat traits. Twenty-four non-castrated weaned male Santa Inês lambs with approximately 70 days of age and initial average weight of 19.11 ± 2.12 kg were distributed into a completely randomized design. Treatments consisted of diets containing by-products with 70% of concentrate and 30% of tifton hay (Cynodon spp.) and were termed SM: control with soybean meal; SC: formulated with soybean cake; SUC: formulated with sunflower cake and PC: formulated with peanut cake. Diets had no effects on the carcass traits evaluated. There was no significant effect on the mean values of perirenal, omental and mesenteric fats (0.267, 0.552 and 0.470 kg, respectively) and there was no influence on the percentages of moisture, ether extract, crude protein or ash in the loin between experimental diets. Diets containing by-products from the processing of oil seeds did not change fatty acids found in lamb meat. The use of by-products from oil seeds provided similar carcass and meat traits, thus their use can be recommended as eventual protein and energy sources for feedlot lambs.

Changes in plant species composition and functional traits along the successional trajectory of a restored patch of Atlantic Forest

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

Supplementation based on protein or energy ingredients to beef cattle consuming low-quality cool-season forages: I. Forage disappearance parameters in rumen-fistulated steers and physiological responses in pregnant heifers

Two experiments evaluated the influence of supplement composition on ruminal forage disappearance, performance, and physiological responses of Angus x Hereford cattle consuming a low-quality cool-season forage (8.7% CP and 57% TDN). In Exp. 1, 6 rumen-fistulated steers housed in individual pens were assigned to an incomplete 3 x 2 Latin square design containing 2 periods of 11 d each and the following treatments: 1) supplementation with soybean meal (PROT), 2) supplementation with a mixture of cracked corn, soybean meal, and urea (68:22:10 ratio, DM basis; ENER), or 3) no supplementation (CON). Steers were offered meadow foxtail (Alopecurus pratensis L.) hay for ad libitum consumption. Treatments were provided daily at 0.50 and 0.54% of shrunk BW/steer for PROT and ENER, respectively, to ensure that PROT and ENER intakes were isocaloric and isonitrogenous. No treatment effects were detected on rumen disappearance parameters of forage DM (P >= 0.33) and NDF (P >= 0.66). In Exp. 2, 35 pregnant heifers were ranked by initial BW on d -7 of the study, allocated into 12 feedlot pens (4 pens/treatment), and assigned to the same treatments and forage intake regimen as in Exp. 1 for 19 d. Treatments were fed once daily at 1.77 and 1.92 kg of DM/heifer for PROT and ENER, respectively, to achieve the same treatment intake as percent of initial BW used in Exp. 1 (0.50 and 0.54% for PROT and ENER, respectively). No treatment effects (P = 0.17) were detected on forage DMI. Total DMI was greater (P < 0.01) for PROT and ENER compared with CON and similar between PROT and ENER (P = 0.36). Accordingly, ADG was greater (P = 0.01) for PROT compared with CON, tended to be greater for ENER compared with CON (P = 0.08), and was similar between ENER and PROT (P = 0.28). Heifers receiving PROT and ENER had greater mean concentrations of plasma glucose (P = 0.03), insulin (P <= 0.09), IGF-I (P <= 0.04), and progesterone (P = 0.01) compared to CON, whereas ENER and PROT had similar concentrations of these variables (P >= 0.15). A treatment x hour interaction was detected (P < 0.01) for plasma urea N (PUN), given that PUN concentrations increased after supplementation for ENER and PROT (time effect, P < 0.01) but did not change for CON (time effect, P = 0.62). In conclusion, beef cattle consuming low-quality cool-season forages had similar ruminal forage disappearance and intake, performance, and physiological status if offered supplements based on soybean meal or corn at 0.5% of BW.

Wolf presence in the ranch of origin: Impacts on temperament and physiological responses of beef cattle following a simulated wolf encounter

This experiment evaluated temperament, vaginal temperature, and plasma cortisol in beef cows from wolf-naive and wolf-experienced origins that were subjected to a simulated wolf encounter. Multiparous, pregnant, nonlactating Angus-crossbreed cows from the Eastern Oregon Agricultural Research Center located near Burns, OR (CON; n = 50), and from a commercial operation near Council, ID (WLF; n = 50), were used. To date, grey wolves are not present around Burns, OR, and thus CON were naive to wolves. Conversely, wolves are present around Council, ID, and WLF cows were selected from a herd that had experienced multiple confirmed wolf-predation episodes from 2008 to 2012. Following a 50-d commingling and adaptation period, CON and WLF cows were ranked by temperament, BW, and BCS and allocated to 5 groups (d 0; 10 CON and 10 WLF cows/group). Groups were individually subjected to the experimental procedures on d 2 (n = 3) and d 3 (n = 2). Before the simulated wolf encounter, cow temperament was assessed and blood samples and vaginal temperatures (using intravaginal data loggers) were collected (presimulation assessments). Cows were then sorted by origin, moved to 2 adjacent drylot pens (10 WLF and 10 CON cows/pen), and subjected to a simulated wolf encounter event for 20 min, which consisted of 1) cotton plugs saturated with wolf urine attached to the drylot fence, 2) continuous reproduction of wolf howls, and 3) 3 leashed dogs that were walked along the fence perimeter. Thereafter, WLF and CON cows were commingled and returned to the handling facility for postsimulation assessments, which were conducted immediately after exposure to wolf-urine-saturated cotton plugs, wolf howl reproduction, and 20-s exposure to the 3 dogs while being restrained in a squeeze chute. Chute score, temperament score, and plasma cortisol concentration increased (P <= 0.01) from pre- to postsimulation assessment in WLF but did not change in CON cows (P >= 0.19). Exit velocity decreased (P = 0.01) from pre-to postsimulation assessment in CON but did not change (P = 0.79) in WLF cows. In addition, WLF cows had a greater (P = 0.03) increase in temperature from pre-to postsimulation assessments compared with CON cows. In conclusion, the simulated wolf encounter increased excitability and fear-related physiological stress responses in cows that originated from a wolf-experienced herd but not in cows that originated from a wolf-naive herd.

Productive and reproductive traits in Murrah breed from Brazil

Major objective of this study was to estimate heritability and genetic correlations between milk yield (MY) and calving interval (CI) and lactation length (LL) in Murrah buffaloes using Bayesian inference. The database used belongs to the genetic improvement program of four buffalo herds from Brazil. To obtain the estimates of variance and covariance, bivariate analyses were performed with the Gibbs sampler, using the program MTGSAM. The heritability coefficient estimates were 0.28, 0.03 and 0.15 for MY, CI and LL, respectively. The genetic correlations between MY and LL was moderate (0.48). However, the genetic correlation between MY and CI showed large HPD regions (highest posterior density interval). Milk yield was the only trait with clear potential for genetic improvement by direct mass selection. The genetic correlation between MY-LL indicates that indirect selection using milk yield is a potentially beneficial strategy. The interpretation of the estimated genetic correlation between MY-CI is difficult and could be spurious.

Polymorphisms in the MTRN1A gene and their effects on the productive and reproductive traits in buffaloes

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Genetic Parameters for Productive and Reproductive Traits for Milk Buffalo in Brazil

Knowing the genetic parameters of productive and reproductive traits in milking buffaloes is essential for planning and implementing of a program genetic selection. In Brazil, this information is still scarce. The objective of this study was to verify the existence of genetic variability in milk yield of buffaloes and their constituents, and reproductive traits for the possibility of application of the selection. A total of 9,318 lactations records from 3,061 cows were used to estimate heritabilities for milk yield (MY), fat percentage (%F), protein percentage (%P), length of lactation (LL), age of first calving (AFC) and calving interval (CI) and the genetic correlations among traits MY, %F and %P. The (co) variance components were estimated using multiple-trait analysis by Bayesian inference method, applying an animal model, through Gibbs sampling. The model included the fixed effects of contemporary groups (herd-year and calving season), number of milking (2 levels), and age of cow at calving as (co) variable (quadratic and linear effect). The additive genetic, permanent environmental, and residual effects were included as random effects in the model. Estimated heritability values for MY, % F, % P, LL, AFC and CI were 0.24, 0.34, 0.40, 0.09, 0.16 and 0.05, respectively. The genetic correlation estimates among MY and % F, MY and % P and % F and % P were -0.29, -0.18 and 0.25, respectively. The production of milk and its constituents showed enough genetic variation to respond to a selection program. Negative estimates of genetic correlations between milk production and its components suggest that selection entails a reduction in the other.