Effects of timing of induced luteolysis in embryo donor mares on reproductive performance and pregnancy rate in recipient mares

The objective was to evaluate the effects of giving prostaglandin F(2 alpha) (PGF) to donor mares 48 h prior to embryo collection. Non-lactating donor mares (n = 20 estrous cycles in 10 mares), ranging from 2.5 to 10 y of age and 400 to 500 kg of body weight were used from September 2004 to February 2005 in the southern hemisphere (Brazil). Donor mares were randomly assigned in a cross-over design study. During a Treated cycle, 7.5 mg PGF was given 48 h prior to embryo collection, whereas in the Control cycle, 7.5 mg PGF was given at embryo collection. In Treated Cycles, serum progesterone concentrations decreased between the day of PGF treatment and the day of embryo collection (13.9 +/- 5.4 and 0.5 +/- 0.3 ng/mL, respectively; P < 0.05). In Treated versus Control cycles, the interovulatory interval was shorter (14.9 +/- 0.9 vs 17.5 +/- 1.1 d, P < 0.05). However, there was no significant difference between these groups for the interval from PGF to ovulation (average, 9.8 d), embryo recovery rate (average, 75%), embryo quality, uterine protein concentration, and pregnancy rate in recipient mares (average, 87% at 15 d after ovulation, with no pregnancy loss detected by 60 d). In conclusion, giving donor mares PGF 48 h prior to embryo collection reduced the average interovulatory interval by approximately 2.5 d, thereby potentially increasing the numbers of embryos that could be collected during a breeding season, with no deleterious effects on embryo recovery rate, embryo quality, or pregnancy rate in recipient mares. (c) 2011 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Levels of replacing corn by cassava starch on performance and carcass characteristics of bulls finished in feedlot

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Performance and physiological parameters of broiler chickens subjected to fasting on the neonatal period

Broiler chicks aged 12 h after hatching were allotted according to a block design in a 7 x 2 factorial schedule of 14 treatments and four replications of 50 chicks each one. The main experimental factors were fasting for 0, 6, 12, 18, 24, 30, and 36 h after chick placement and sex. Independent of sex, fasting had a negative linear effect on weight and productivity of broilers at market age (42 d) without affecting feed conversion or mortality index. Groups subjected to 18 and 36 h of fasting after placement, corresponding to 30 and 48 h posthatching fasting, had lower biometrical values for small intestine (length, weight, and size; villus height; and crypt depth) than chicks fed immediately after placement. According to the Pearson test, BW of birds at 21 and 42 d were significantly correlated to BW at 7 d (r = 0.77) and 21 d (r = 0.45), respectively. Males performed better than females but had higher mortality rates. Fasting did not influence serum concentrations of corticosterone or sexual steroid hormones. Nevertheless, early signs of sexual dimorphism arose from the high estradiol (E2) concentration on female serum. Heterophil:lymphocyte ratio was not different among treatments, indicating that early fasting did not seem to be a stress factor 21 or 42 d after fasting. The results suggested a maximum fasting of 24 h after hatching in order to preserve broiler productivity at market age.

Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, productive performance and carcass characteristics as related to food management

Male juveniles of Nile tilapia, Oreochromis niloticus, were stocked in 12, 300-m 2 ponds at a density of 1.7 fish/m 2 to evaluate the effects of different food management methods (natural foods and diets in pellet, floating or minced form) on fish production and carcass characteristics. Water quality variables monitored during the period were within acceptable levels for the species. Total fish production was significantly different (P < 0.05) and the highest values were obtained with diets in pellet (5,997 kg/ha) and floating (5,441 kg/ha) form. The fish fed diets had higher contents of body fat (1.57 to 1.98%) and visceral fat (12.64 to 25.04%) than fish fed natural food, which had levels between 0.17 and 0%, respectively. Natural food treatment yielded lower fish production and fish with lower body fat, while treatments that yielded higher fish production (rations) higher percentage of visceral fat. © 2004 by The Haworth Press, Inc. All rights reserved.

Influence of environmental temperature, dietary energy level and sex on performance and carcass characteristics of pigs

Pigs are quite sensitive to high environmental temperatures and the thermoregulation mechanisms represent great expenses in energy for heating loss, reducing animal well-being and production performance, and altering carcass quality. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of sex and dietary energy level in growing-finishing pigs submitted to characteristic seasonal variation of temperature in subtropical humid climate, and to propose a mathematical model to predict growth performance and carcass characteristics. Twenty-eight crossbred growing-finishing pigs were randomly allotted to twelve treatments, in a 2x2x3 factorial trial (2 sex; 2 environmental conditions, and 3 energy levels). Heat stress condition (climatic chamber) showed temperatures of 31 oC at 7:00 and 22 oC at 17:00 (maximum of 33 °C) and thermal comfort condition (stall) showed temperatures of 18 °C at 7:00 and 24 °C (maximum of 27 °C). Pigs were fed ad libitum with diets containing 12.2 (low), 13.6 (medium) and 15.0 (high) MJ ME/ kg DM. Voluntary feed intake, daily weight gain, and final body weight were higher (P<0.01) at thermal comfort condition and were influenced by sex (P<0.01) in growing pigs. Feed to gain ratio decreased as the energy level increased (P<0.01), with values of 2.67, 2.59, and 2.32 (12.2, 13.6, and 15.0 MJ ME/kg DM, respectively). There was energy level and sex interaction only for daily weight gain. Regarding finishing pigs, environmental conditions also showed effects (P<0.01) on voluntary feed intake, daily weight gain, and final body weight. Performance of pigs was better at thermal comfort condition. Feed to gain ratio values were 3.55, 3.42, and 2.95 for low, medium, and high energy level, respectively. Interactions between energy level and sex were observed for voluntary feed intake, daily weight gain, and final body weight (P<0.05). Carcass yield and quality were affected by environmental condition and dietary energy level. Both hot and cold carcass weight increased as energy of ration increased. Cold carcass weight increased by 1.142 kg/MJ EM whereas backfat thickness was up to 252 mm/MJ EM. Longissimus thoracis muscle thickness was around 16 mm smaller in pigs under heat stress, but lean content was 2.68% higher in those animals. Regression equations were proposed to predict the performance values in the different situations studied.

Tax performance and reform in the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)

Includes bibliography

Trade liberalisation, trade performance and competitiveness in the Caribbean

Includes bibliography

Performance and operation of the CMS electromagnetic calorimeter

The operation and general performance of the CMS electromagnetic calorimeter using cosmic-ray muons are described. These muons were recorded after the closure of the CMS detector in late 2008. The calorimeter is made of lead tungstate crystals and the overall status of the 75 848 channels corresponding to the barrel and endcap detectors is reported. The stability of crucial operational parameters, such as high voltage, temperature and electronic noise, is summarised and the performance of the light monitoring system is presented. © 2010 IOP Publishing Ltd and SISSA.

Measuring educational performance and disparities in educational outcomes in an international comparative context

Includes bibliography

Central America: macroeconomic performance and social financing

Includes bibliography

Chile: academic performance and educational management under a rigid employment regime

Includes bibliography

Age-related differences in time-limit performance and force platform-based balance measures during one-leg stance

Poor posture control has been associated with an increased risk of falls and mobility disability among older adults. This study was conducted to assess the test-retest reliability and sensitivity to group differences regarding the time-limit (TLimit) of one-leg standing and selected balance parameters obtained with a force platform in older and young adults. A secondary purpose was to assess the relationship between TLimit and these balance parameters. Twenty-eight healthy older adults (age: 69±5years) and thirty young adults (age: 21±4years) participated in this study. Two one-leg stance tasks were performed: (1) three trials of 30s maximum and (2) one TLimit trial. The following balance parameters were computed: center of pressure area, RMS sway amplitude, and mean velocity and mean frequency in both the anterio-posterior and medio-lateral directions. All balance parameters obtained with the force platform as well as the TLimit variable were sensitive to differences in balance performance between older and young adults. The test-retest reliability of these measures was found to be acceptable (ICC: 0.40-0.85), with better ICC scores observed for mean velocity and mean frequency in the older group. Pearson correlations coefficients (r) between balance parameters and TLimit ranged from -0.16 to -0.54. These results add to the current literature that can be used in the development of measurement tools for evaluating balance in older and young adults. © 2013 Elsevier Ltd.

Effects of corn replacement by sorghum in broiler diets on performance and intestinal mucosa integrity

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Effect of plasma and/or yeast extract on performance and intestinal morphology of piglets from 7 to 63 days of age

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of diets supplemented with plasma and/or yeast extract on performance (daily weight gain [DWG], daily feed intake [DFI] and feed conversion [FC]) and intestinal morphology of piglets from 7 to 63 days of age. A total of 288 piglets aged 7 days and weighing 2.57±0.05 kg were studied. A randomized block design consisting of four experimental diets, six repetitions and 12 piglets per experimental unit was adopted. The pre-starter I (7 to 21 days), pre-starter II (22 to 35 days) and starter I (36 to 49 days) diets were supplemented as follows: control diet (CD): no plasma or yeast extract; plasma (PL) diet: addition of 6%, 4% and 2% plasma; yeast extract (YE) diet: addition of 6%, 4% and 2% yeast extract; plasma + yeast extract (PL+YE) diet: addition of 3%, 2% and 1% plasma and yeast extract each. From 50 to 63 days of age all piglets received the same diet. No difference in performance was observed from 7 to 21 days and from 7 to 28 days of age, whereas DWG was higher from 7 to 35 days in piglets receiving the PL+YE diet (268, 278, 271 and 288 g/day for CD, PL, YE and PL+YE, respectively). From 7 to 49 days and from 7 to 63 days, DWG (330 and 519 g/day, respectively) and DFI (307 and 647 g/day) were higher in animals receiving the PL-YE diet when compared with those consuming CD (DWG: 295 and 486 g/day; DFI: 266 and 594 g/day). No significant differences in intestinal morphology were observed between piglets receiving the different diets. The combination of plasma and yeast extract elevates DWG, but does not affect the intestinal morphology of piglets from 7 to 63 days of age. © 2013 Sociedade Brasileira de Zootecnia.

Effect of the ZrO2 phase on the structure and behavior of supported Cu catalysts for ethanol conversion

The effect of amorphous (am-), monoclinic (m-), and tetragonal (t-) ZrO2 phase on the physicochemical and catalytic properties of supported Cu catalysts for ethanol conversion was studied. The electronic parameters of Cu/ZrO2 were determined by in situ XAS, and the surface properties of Cu/ZrO2 were defined by XPS and DRIFTS of CO-adsorbed. The results demonstrated that the kind of ZrO2 phase plays a key role in the determination of structure and catalytic properties of Cu/ZrO 2 catalysts predetermined by the interface at Cu/ZrO2. The electron transfer between support and Cu surface, caused by the oxygen vacancies at m-ZrO2 and am-ZrO2, is responsible for the active sites for acetaldehyde and ethyl acetate formation. The highest selectivity to ethyl acetate for Cu/m-ZrO2 catalyst up to 513 K was caused by the optimal ratio of Cu0/Cu+ species and the high density of basic sites (O2-) associated with the oxygen mobility from the bulk m-ZrO2. © 2013 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.