Leptospira spp. infection in sheep herds in southeast Brazil

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

Molecular identification of trypanosomatids in wild animals

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

Sustainable worm control practices in South America

A high prevalence of nematodes, especially Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis, that exhibit multiple anthelmintics resistance has been reported in sheep in several South American countries. For this reason, the development of strategies that are less dependent on anthelmintic treatments is imperative for the prophylaxis of gastrointestinal nematode infections in small ruminants. Integrated grazing using cattle and sheep can be used for pasture decontamination with considerable reduction of H. contortus and T. colubnformis infective larvae after cattle grazing. Several breeds of sheep exhibit genetically related resistance against nematode infections, as is the case of crioulo, native or naturalised breeds of sheep. These breeds descend from livestock introduced by Portuguese and Spanish settlers and have been submitted to a long process of natural selection in various environmental conditions. In the South, the Crioula Lanada breed is more resistant to H. contortus than are Corriedale sheep. In tropical areas, where the minimum temperatures are usually higher than 20 degrees C, hair sheep flourish, especially the Santa Ines breed, which also display a higher level of resistance to nematode infections compared with certain breeds of European origin. However, Santa Ines sheep have inferior carcass quality compared with other commercial breeds. Recent studies showed that the crossbreeding of Santa Ines ewes with sires of breeds with high potential for growth and meat production, results in crossbred animals with high productivity and a satisfactory degree of resistance against nematode infections. Several studies have indicated that improvement in nutrition has a beneficial effect on the development of resistance in lambs that were naturally or artificially infected with nematodes. Therefore, supplementary feeding and breeding strategies to improve resistance to nematodes are feasible options in the effort to reduce dependence on anthelmintic drugs to control worm infections in sheep. (C) 2013 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Características morfométricas, rendimentos no processamento e composição centesimal da carne do barbado

This study was carried out to evaluate the morphometric characteristics, the yield and the centesimal composition of different cuts of the Barbado's (Pinirampus pirinampu) flesh, captured in the Itaipu Reservoir. Were used 55 animals randomly distributed into three classes of body weight [less than 620 g (n = 15), between 620 and 1.120 g (n = 16) and greater than de 1.120 g (n = 24)]. Were measured the standard length (SL), the total length (TL), the head length (HL), the head height (HH), the trunk length (TRL), the trunk height (TH) and width of the trunk (WT). Then were established the morphometric relationships: (HL/SL), (HL/HH), (SL/TL), (WT/TRL), (WT/TH) (TH/TRL). Afterwards were measured the flesh's cut yield and the residue waste yield called: trunk (TC), fillet (FILLET), abdominal fillet (AF), head (HEAD), viscera (VISC), fin, spine and skin (SKSF). The levels of moisture, ash, fat and crude protein from FILLET and AF were determined. The body weight affected (P<0.05) the WT/TRL, WT/TH, TH/TRL, TR, FILLET, HEAD and SKSF, however didn't affected the centesimal parameters. In conclusion, the Barbado (Pinirampus pirinampu) has allometric growth and the flesh processing from fishes with more than 620 g provides better yields of edible parts. In addition, the chemical composition of meat suggests its potential for use in the manufacture of artisanal or industrial products.

Performance and carcass quality of feedlot- or pasture-finished Nellore heifers according to feeding managements in the postweaning phase

The objective of this study was to evaluate the postweaning history of heifers kept on marandu grass pastures with three canopy heights, in a continuous-grazing system, during the rainy period, on feedlot-or pasture finishing. The effects of three canopy heights (15, 25 and 35 cm) associated with two supplements (mineral salt and protein-energy supplement) and two finishing systems in the dry period (feedlot and open pasture) were studied in the postweaning period during the rainy season. The adopted design was completely randomized, with seven replications (animals) in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement. The animals which received protein-energy supplement reached the finishing period with greater body weight in relation to those fed mineral salt. In both feedlot and pasture finishing systems, compensatory gain effect was observed in the animals that remained on the low pastures during postweaning compared with the high pastures. This compensatory gain was not verified in the animals that received protein-energy supplement in relation to the mineral salt, and thus the animals were slaughtered beforehand. The heifers on pastures with 25 or 35 cm in height were slaughtered in the same period, and those kept on the low pastures were slaughtered afterwards. The studied factors in the postweaning phase did not affect the carcass characteristics. Animals finished in feedlot slaughtered with the same body weight as those finished on pasture show greater carcass yield, subcutaneous fat deposition and renal pelvic and inguinal fat and greater losses with trimmings for cleaning the main hindquarter meat cuts; however, they provide cuts with the same weight but greater fat cover.