Estimação de parâmetros genéticos para a produção de leite no dia do controle e em 305 dias para primeiras lactações de vacas da raça Holandesa

Dados de 39.578 controles leiteiros de 3.766 primeiras lactações de vacas da raça Holandesa, ocorridas de 1994 a 2002, foram analisados com os objetivos de estimar parâmetros genéticos para as produções de leite no dia do controle (PLDC) e para a produção até 305 dias de lactação (P305) e comparar estes dois critérios de seleção. Os componentes de variância foram estimados pelo método da máxima verossimilhança restrita, sob modelo animal univariado ou bivariado. Para as PLDC, os modelos incluíram o efeito aleatório genético aditivo, o efeito fixo de grupo contemporâneo e, como covariáveis, a idade da vaca ao parto (efeitos linear e quadrático) e os dias em lactação (efeito linear). Para a P305, foi utilizado o mesmo modelo, substituindo dias em lactação por duração da lactação. Os grupos de contemporâneos foram formados por ano, mês do controle e rebanho (para as PLDC) e por ano, época do parto e rebanho (para a P305). As herdabilidades estimadas para a P305 foram de 0,27 e 0,25 para as análises univariadas e bivariadas, respectivamente. Para as PLDC, as herdabilidades variaram de 0,11 a 0,31. Para o modelo bivariado (pelo qual avaliaram-se simultaneamente P305 e as PLDC), as herdabilidades para os controles (PLDC) foram menores, variando de 0,08 a 0,25. As maiores estimativas ocorreram para as produções do 4º e 5º controles, correspondendo aos 2º e 3º meses de lactação. As correlações genéticas entre P305 e os controles individuais foram positivas e elevadas, variando de 0,83 a 1,00. Os resultados indicaram que a seleção direta para P305, como tradicionalmente realizada, implicaria maiores ganhos genéticos para a produção de leite (PL) na maioria dos controles quinzenais. Além disso, a seleção direta para as produções parciais poderia proporcionar ganhos correlacionados também para a P305, mas estes ganhos seriam menores que os obtidos via seleção direta.

Mineral requirements for growth of wool and hair lambs

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

Study of stayability in Nellore cows using a threshold model

The objectives of the current study were to assess the feasibility of using stayability traits to improve fertility of Nellore cows and to examine the genetic relationship among the stayabilities at different ages. Stayability was defined as whether a cow calved every year up to the age of 5 (Stay5), 6 (Stay6), or 7 (Stay7) yr of age or more, given that she was provided the opportunity to breed. Data were analyzed based on a maximum a posteriori probit threshold model to predict breeding values on the liability scale, whereas the Gibbs sampler was used to estimate variance components. The EBV were obtained using all animals included in the pedigree or bulls with at least 10 daughters with stayability observations, and average genetic trends were obtained in the liability and transformed to the probability scale. Additional analyses were performed to study the genetic relationship among stayability traits, which were compared by contrasting results in terms of EBV and the average genetic superiority as a function of the selected proportion of sires. Heritability estimates and SD were 0.25 +/- 0.02, 0.22 +/- 0.03, and 0.28 +/- 0.03 for Stay5, Stay6, and Stay7, respectively. Average genetic trends, by year, were 0.51 +/- 0.34, and 0.38% for Stay5, Stay6, and Stay7, respectively. Estimates of EBV SD, in the probability scale, for all animals included in the pedigree and for bulls with at least 10 daughters with stayability observations were 7.98 and 12.95, 6.93 and 11.38, and 8.24 and 14.30% for Stay5, Stay6, and Stay7, respectively. A reduction in the average genetic superiorities in Stay7 would be expected if the selection were based on Stay5 or Stay6. Nonetheless, the reduction in EPD, depending on selection intensity, is on average 0.74 and 1.55%, respectively. Regressions of the sires' EBV for Stay5 and Stay6 on the sires' EBV for Stay7 confirmed these results. The heritability and genetic trend estimates for all stayability traits indicate that it is possible to improve fertility with selection based on a threshold analysis of stayability. The SD of EBV for stayability traits show that there is adequate genetic variability among animals to justify inclusion of stayability as a selection criterion. The potential linear relationship among stayability traits indicates that selection for improved female traits would be more effective by having predictions on the Stay5 trait.

Genetic and phenotypic trends for growth traits of buffaloes in Brazil

The objectives this paper were to estimate genetic parameters and genetic and phenotypic trends of birth weight (BWT) and weights adjusted to 205 (WT205), 365 (WT365) and 550 (P550) days of age of beef buffaloes born from 1985 to 2003 in Brazil. For BWT and WT205 the model included direct and maternal genetic and maternal environment as random effects and contemporary and genetic groups as fixed effects. For WT365 and WT550 the same model was used except without direct maternal and maternal environmental effects. The genetic and phenotypic trends were estimated by regression of means of dependent variables on birth year of animals Regressions were obtained by using two methodologies: 1) linear regression; and 2) non-parametric splined regression. The direct heritability estimates were 0.09, 0.45, 0.46 and 0.58 for BWT, WT205, WT365 and WT550, respectively. The direct genetic trends from linear regression were 0.01, 0.23, 0.58 and 1.40 kg per year for PN, WT205, VVT365 and WT550, respectively (P<0.001 for all). Phenotypic trends were strongly positive while genetic trends were consistently positive but small. Genetic parameters indicate potential for increased rate of genetic change with full implementation of genetic improvement programs.

Avaliação da composição química e física dos cortes da costela para estimar a composição química corporal de novilhos nelore

The objective of this study was to establish equations to estimate the empty body chemical composition of Nellore steers using the following indirect techniques: 1) physical composition of the 9-10-11(th) rib cut;) physical composition of the 10(th) rib cut; and 3) chemical composition of the 10(th) rib cut. Thirty-one Nellore steers with weights ranging from 245 to 489 kg and ages from 20 to 29.7 months at slaughter were utilized. The empty body chemical composition was established through samples collected after grinding all animal tissues. The equations using the percentage of dissectable fat in the 9-10-11(th) rib cut shored a high precision for estimating the percentage of water (r(2) = 0.91; Syx = 1.168) and ether extract (r(2) = 0.94; Syx = 1.298) of the empty body; the same was observed when the percentage of dissectable fat in the 10(th) rib cut was used (r(2) = 0.82 and 0.85; Syx = 1.658 and 1.942, respectively, for water and ether extract). The equations using the percentage of ether extract in the 10(th) rib cut showed a high precision for estimating the percentage of water (r(2) = 0.89; Syx = 1.311) and the ether extract (r(2) = 0.89; Syx = 1.730) of the empty body, but there was no advantage over the physical composition of the 9-10-11(th) and 10(th) rib cut. Multiple regressions using carcass weight and the percentage of bones and kilograms of lean, fat, and bones dissectable in the 10(th) rib cut improved the coefficients of determination for water and ether extract to 0.87 and 0.91. The equations to estimate the percentages of protein and ach showed a low precision, indicating that those techniques are not recommended to estimate these components in the empty body of Nellore steers.

Computer-assisted analysis of cell proliferation markers in oral lesions

Abnormalities in any component of the cell cycle regulatory machine may result in oral. cancer, and markers of cell proliferation have been used to determine the prognosis of tumor progression. The aim of this study was to determine whether silver-stained nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) and Ki-67 measurements could improve the assessment of growth rates in oral lesions. Eighty-three oral biopsies were studied, 20 of which were classified as fibrous inflammatory hyperplasia (FIH), 40 as leukoplakia (LKP) and 23 as oral. squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC). Within the LKP group, 22 out of 29 biopsies were diagnosed as non-dysplastic leukoplakia (LK) and 18 as dysplastic teukoptakia (DLK), presenting discrete, moderate and severe dysplasia. Ki-67 immunotabeting of the lesions increased steadily in the following order: FIH, DLK, LK and OSCC, indicating that Ki-67 is a good marker for predicting the protiferative fraction among benign, premalignant and malignant oral lesions. The median values of AgNOR parameters indicate that the morphometric index gives better results regarding the proliferative rate than the numerical one. A series of linear regressions between AgNOR parameters and Ki-67 showed positive associations. We conclude that a combination of Ki-67 and morphometric AgNOR analyses could be used as an aid in the determination of the protiferative status of oral epithelial. cells in oral cancer. (C) 2007 Elsevier GmbH. All rights reserved.

Factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding in children under four months old in Botucatu-Sp, Brazil

This study aimed to identify factors associated with exclusive breastfeeding (AME) and the reasons mothers presented to introduce complementary feeding in the first four months of life. A total of 380 mothers (92.2%) of children under four months old vaccinated in a Multi-vaccination Campaign were interviewed. To identify factors associated to AME, univariate and multiple logistic regressions analyses were performed. Thirty-eight percent of the children were on AME; 33.4% consumed cow milk; 29.2% tea; and 22.4% water. The mothers justified introduction of cow milk by factors related to quantity/quality of maternal milk and necessity of the child. The use of a pacifier (odds ratio=2.63; CI95%=1.7-4.06) and difficulty to breastfeed (odds ratio=1.57., CI95%=1.02-2.41) were associated with the absence of AME. The populational attributable risk percentage for the use of a pacifier was estimated at 46.8%. Thus, modifiable risk factors were associated with AME interruption.

Fecundity of the crab Callinectes ornatus Ordway, 1863 (Decapoda, Brachyura, Portunidae) from the Ubatuba region, São Paulo, Brazil

The objective of the present study was to characterize the fecundity of Callinectes ornatus from the northern coast of São Paulo, Brazil. To study the fecundity and its relationships to size, brood weight, and egg size, the ovigerous females were collected at 2-month intervals for two consecutive years (January, 1991 to November, 1992) in the Ubatuba region using a fishing boat equipped with an otter-trawl type of net. After collecting, the animals were screened, bagged, labeled, and stored frozen. Only data from 38 females carrying early stage eggs were considered. In the laboratory, the specimens were thawed at room temperature, the pleopod structure with the egg mass was removed and the eggs were carefully removed from the pleopods. The samples were then fixed in 10% formalin and stored in 70% ethanol, until the time for processing. Processing followed the method of Hines (1982, 1988). Following the frequency determination of carapace width and fecundity, mean egg number, mean volume and mean dry weight of brooded egg mass were determined for each class obtained. Data were analyzed by regressions of log-log transformations for allometric plots (Y = aX(b)) of reproductive variables versus carapace width. Carapace width was one of the main factors for the determination of fecundity, which ranged 171 570 +/- 94 634 eggs, with females of the same size class presenting a wide amplitude of variation. This supports the hypothesis that portunid females present staggered spawning, possibly presenting more than one period of reproduction within one year. The present species showed lower fecundity than the remaining portunids studied, but they did show a rapid and efficient embryonic development, presumably capable of assuring reproductive success.

Estimating the aboveground biomass and wood volume of savanna woodlands in Brazil's Pantanal wetlands based on allometric correlations

The quantity and distribution of vegetal biomass are important aspects to consider in ecosystem studies. However, little information is available about Brazil's Pantanal woodland savannas. This work involved the development of regression equations of the aerial biomass and wood volume of native tree species in a region of woodland savanna on Rio Negro farm in the Pantanal of Nhecolandia, Brazil. Samples were taken from 10 trees of each of five species: Protium heptaphyllum (Aub1.) Marchand, Magonia pubescens A. St.-Hil., Diptychandra aurantiaca Tul., Terminalia argentea Mart. and Zucc. and Licania minutiflora (Sagot) Fritsch and from a miscellaneous group of I I different species. Linear and nonlinear regression analyses were developed relating the diameter at breast height to the dry weight of wood, branches and leaves, wood volume and total aerial biomass. All the regressions showed a significance of P < 0.05 and an R-2 close to or above 0.8. The biomass curve predicted by linear regression analysis of the studied species was similar to the nonlinear regression, with the exception of L. minutiflora and the miscellaneous group. The breast height diameter proved a good choice for estimating biomass and wood volume. The estimated wood volume and biomass of the Pantanal woodland savanna is crucial information for understanding the carbon cycle and for ensuring the region's conservation and sustainable use. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Chemical composition of flavonoids and styrylpyrones and the genetic variability of isozymes in natural populations of Cryptocarya mandioccana Meisner (Lauraceae)

The chemical composition of leaves of 57 trees of Cryptocarya mandioccana from three populations of southeastern Brazil was investigated through HPLC, assaying six flavonoids, seven styrylpyrones, and seven unidentified compounds. From 51 of the former trees, genotypes were obtained from 40 polymorphic loci of 19 isozymes. Cluster analyses of the phytochemical and genetical variation revealed that trees exhibited four chemotypes and five clusters from isozymes, respectively. Discriminant analyses from selected variables of the isozymic and chemical data sets were performed, respectively, in relation to the four chemotypes and the five isozyme clusters. The classification of individuals presented respective error estimates of 9.16% and 13.57%, indicating that the genetic data could explain the clusters from chernotypes and vice versa at acceptable error levels. Linear regressions with Dummy variable showed significant association of locus Skdh-2 with quercetin-3-O-beta-D-glucopyranoside and cryptofolione, indicating that its alleles would be responsible for the chemotype variation between individuals. (c) 2006 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Sepsis and Neutropenia in Very Low Birth Weight Infants Delivered of Mothers with Preeclampsia

Objective To study the association between maternal preeclampsia and neonatal sepsis in very low birth weight newborns.Study design We studied all infants with birth weights between 500 g and 1500 g who were admitted to 6 neonatal intensive care units of the Brazilian Network on Neonatal Research for 2 years. Exclusion criteria were major malformations, death in the delivery room, and maternal chronic hypertension. Absolute neutrophil count was performed in the first 72 hours of life.Results A total of 911 very low birth weight infants (preeclampsia, 308; non-preeclampsia, 603) were included. The preeclampsia group had significantly higher gestational age, more cesarean deliveries, antenatal steroid, central catheters, total parenteral nutrition, and neutropenia, and less rupture of membranes >18 hours and mechanical ventilation. Both groups had similar incidences of early sepsis (4.6% and 4.2% in preeclampsia and non-preeclampsia groups, respectively) and late sepsis (24% and 22.1% in preeclampsia and non-preeclampsia groups, respectively). Vaginal delivery and neutropenia were associated with multiple logistic regressions with early sepsis, and mechanical ventilation, central catheter, and total parenteral nutrition were associated with late sepsis. Death was associated with neutropenia in very preterm infants.Conclusions Preeclampsia did not increase neonatal sepsis in very low birth weight infants, and death was associated with neutropenia in very preterm infants. (J Pediatr 2010; 157: 434-8).

A description of the growth of the major body components of 2 broiler chicken strains

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

Colonization pattern of Cecropia by Azteca ants: Influence of plant ontogeny, environment and host plant choice by queens

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

WATER BALANCE and SPATIAL DISTRIBUTION of AN ANURAN COMMUNITY FROM BRAZIL

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Fibre analysis and fibre digestibility in pet foods - a comparison of total dietary fibre, neutral and acid detergent fibre and crude fibre

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