Progesterone Device Use Improves Ovum Pick-Up Efficiency in Acyclic Donors.

The aim of this study was to evaluate follicular dynamics and ovum pick-up (OPU) efficacy in untreated mares or mares treated with an intravaginal progesterone (P4) device during seasonal anestrus (acyclic) and during the breeding season (cyclic). Six mares (mean age = 5 years), were recruited into an ovum pick-up scheme that was performed every 14 days with and without the P4 device, during the acyclic and cyclic phases. Aspirations amounted to seven procedures with or without the P4 device during each phase. Five ultrasound assessments were performed at each interval between the OPUs. Data on follicular number and diameter as well as the numbers of recovered and the percentage of recovered oocytes were also collected. The number of follicles from mares in the acyclic phase was higher (P < .005) regardless of the treatment. However, the follicular diameter was smaller for the P4 group (P < .005) from the 2nd to the 5th evaluation post-OPU procedure. The percentage of oocytes recovered during the acyclic phase was higher for mares treated with the P4 device (P < .005). The P4 device resulted in follicles with smaller diameters and facilitated OPU efficacy.

Evaluation of hCG as gonadotropic support to timed embryo transfer protocol in beef cattle.

This study compared the reproductive performance of embryo recipients treated with a timed embryo transfer (TET) protocol using human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) or equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG). On a random day of the estrous cycle (Day -10) indicus-taurus recipients (n = 341; 194 nulliparous and 147 multiparous cows) with a body condition score between 3.0 and 4.0, were submitted to the TET protocol consisting of an intramuscular (i.m.) injection of 2.0 mg estradiol benzoate (EB) and the insertion of intravaginal progesterone (P4) device that remained until Day -2.5. On the same day (-2.5), the recipients received i.m. 150 mg D-cloprostenol and 1 mg estradiol cypionate and were randomly divided into two groups: the eCG group (n = 179), in which females received i.m. 300 IU eCG and the hCG group (n = 162), in which females received 150 IU hCG. Then, estrus intensity and the diameter of the dominant follicle (DF) were monitored on D0 and the quality of the corpus luteum (CL) (B mode and color Doppler) was assessed on D7 to select recipients eligible for receiving the transfer of an embryo produced in vitro. Pregnancy diagnosis was assessed 23 days after the transfer. Continuous data were analyzed by ANOVA using a mixed-effects model and Tukey's test. The rates were analyzed using a logistic regression model. The diameter of the DF on day 0 of the TET protocol was influenced by the interaction between gonadotropic treatment and category (P = 0.01), and nulliparous recipients treated with hCG had the smallest diameter. Treatment with hCG and eCG resulted in a high rate of estrus expression; however, the proportion of females with a high-intensity of estrus was higher in the hCG group (79.84 vs. 68.61%, respectively; P = 0.03). The utilization rate (recipients with CL) showed a tendency (P = 0.06) to be influenced by the interaction between gonadotropic treatment and category, wherein nulliparous recipients treated with hCG exhibited a lower utilization rate than the other groups. The diameter, perimeter, and area of the CL were similar (P > 0.1) in all groups. However, the hCG group resulted in CL with a better Doppler evaluation score (P = 0.04), central blood flow (P = 0.03), and tendency towards greater peripheral blood flow (P = 0.08). The rates of conception (32.00% hCG vs. 35.10% eCG; P = 0.46) and pregnancy (24.69% hCG vs. 29.61% eCG; P = 0.20) were similar between the hCG and eCG groups. However, an interaction between the gonadotropic treatment and category revealed lower conception (P = 0.01) and pregnancy rates (P = 0.001) in nulliparous recipients treated with hCG. Treatment with hCG resulted in a greater intensity of estrus expression and CL with a higher Doppler score, which determined rates of utilization, conception, and pregnancy similar to conventional protocols using eCG. However, nulliparous recipients treated with hCG exhibited a lower overall reproductive rate.

Giant african snail, Achatina fulica (Férussac, 1821): an environmental and public health problem in the northwestern of Paraná State, Brazil / Caramujo africano, Achatina fulica (Férussac, 1821): um problema ambiental e de saúde pública no Noroeste do Paraná, Brasil

Achatina fulica, known as Giant African Snail (GAS), was introduced in Brazil as a substitute for the European escargot, Helix aspersa maxima. However, its cultivation was abandoned and the mollusk became an invasive species, found throughout Brazil and causing damage to health and the environment. In this context, this study analyzed the knowledge of the population about the damage caused by GAS, seeking to reveal a regional scenario on this issue. This exploratory and cross-sectional study was conducted by means of a questionnaire applied to 150 people, which obtained sociodemographic characteristics of respondents and specific responses about the knowledge and handling of GAS. The results showed that most of the respondents know the snail and are concerned about the transmission of diseases and losses in agricultural crops, but few recognize this pest as the basis of environmental imbalance. It is suggested to implement actions seeking the dissemination of such knowledge and the awareness of the population about the impact of this mollusk on the environment.

Achatina fulica, conhecida como caramujo gigante africano, foi introduzida no Brasil como um substituto do escargot europeu, Helix aspersa maxima. Contudo, seu cultivo foi abandonado e o molusco transformou-se numa espécie invasora, presente em todo o território brasileiro, provocando danos à saúde e ao meio ambiente. Assim, objetivou-se, com este trabalho, analisar o conhecimento da população sobre os danos causados pelo caramujo gigante africano, buscando evidenciar um cenário regional sobre esta problemática. A pesquisa teve caráter exploratório e transversal e foi realizada por meio da aplicação de um questionário para 150 pessoas, por meio do qual foram obtidas as características sociodemográficas dos respondentes e respostas específicas sobre o conhecimento e o manuseio do caramujo africano. Os resultados deste estudo mostraram que a maioria dos respondentes conhece o caramujo africano e se preocupa com a transmissão de doenças e com os prejuízos em culturas agrícolas, porém poucos reconhecem essa praga como base de desequilíbrios ambientais. Sugere-se que ações sejam implementadas, buscando a disseminação desses conhecimentos e a conscientização da população sobre o impacto desse molusco no meio ambiente.

Silagem de grão úmido de milho na alimentação de coelhos em crescimento / High moisture corn silage in diets for growing rabbits

Dois experimentos foram realizados para determinar o valor nutritivo da silagem de grãos úmidos de milho (SGUM) e avaliar os efeitos da substituição gradativa do milho seco das rações pela SGUM sobre o desempenho e características quantitativas de carcaça de coelhos, no período de 36 a 70 dias de idade. No ensaio de digestibilidade, foram utilizados 22 coelhos da raça Nova Zelândia Branco, com 50 dias de idade, alojados individualmente em gaiolas de metabolismo, em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com dois tratamentos e 11 repetições. Os valores da matéria seca digestível, proteína bruta digestível, energia bruta digestível, fibra em detergente neutro digestível, fibra em detergente ácido digestível e amido digestível da SGUM foram, respectivamente, 94,42 por cento; 7,94 por cento; 3973kcal kg-1, 6,74 por cento; 2,61 por cento e 68,73 por cento. No experimento de desempenho, foram utilizados 110 coelhos, distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com cinco tratamentos, 11 repetições e dois animais por unidade experimental. Os tratamentos consistiram de uma dieta referência e outras quatro com 25, 50, 75 e 100 por cento de substituição do milho pela SGUM, com base na matéria seca do milho incluído na dieta referência. Não foram observadas diferenças entre os tratamentos no desempenho, tanto no período de 36 a 50 dias como no período total do experimento, de 36 a 70 dias de idade. Nenhuma diferença foi observada no peso e rendimento de carcaça entre os tratamentos. Diante dos resultados, a SGUM substitui eficientemente o milho seco em dietas para coelhos.

Digestibility and performance experiments were carried out to evaluate the nutrients digestibility coefficients of high moisture corn silage (HMCS) and the gradative replacing (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 percent) of dry grain corn by HMCS on performance and carcass yield of growing rabbits from 36 to 70 days old. In the digestibility experiment 22 rabbits were used allocated on a completely randomized design, with two treatments and 11 replicates. The values of digestible dry matter, digestible crude protein, digestible crude energy, digestible neutral fiber detergent, digestible acid fiber detergent and digestible starch were, respectively, 94.42 percent; 7.94 percent; 3973kcal kg-1; 6.74 percent; 2.61 percent and 68.73 percent. In the performance experiment, 110 rabbits were allocated on a completely randomized design, with five treatments, 11 replications and two rabbits per experimental unit. The HMCS replaced the dry grain corn in levels of 0, 25, 50, 75 and 100 percent, on dry matter basis. No differences were observed on performance in the period from 36 to 50 and the period from 36 to 70 days old. No difference was observed also on weight and carcass yield. The results showed that the HMCS replaces efficiently the dry grain corn in rabbit diets.