Mineral Metabolism in Singleton and Twin-pregnant Dairy Goats.

During pregnancy, the maternal body undergoes significant physiological changes. The present study assessed the changes on calcium (Ca), phosphorus (P), magnesium (Mg), sodium (Na) and potassium (K) metabolism in singleton and twin-pregnant dairy goats. The 42 goats used (49.5 kg±7.6 body weight [BW]) were assigned at random to treatments that were factorially arranged to account for 2 breeds (Oberhasli and Saanen), 2 pregnancy types (singleton and twin) and 3 gestation periods (80, 110, and 140 days). Digestibility trials were performed at 80, 110, and 140 days of gestation. Mineral retention during pregnancy was determined in the maternal body, femur, uterus, mammary gland, fetus and fetal fluid. Blood samples were taken during pregnancy before and after a meal, and Ca, P, Mg, Na, K ions and alkaline phosphatase activity determined in serum. Bone mineral density was determined in the right femur. Statistical analyses were performed using the SAS MIXED procedure. Dry matter intake decreased linearly up to 140 days of gestation. Maternal BW gain, and Ca, P, and Mg retention (g/kg) decreased linearly with the advance of gestation days. Macromineral retention in maternal body (g/kg) was greater in Oberhasli than Saanen goats, and their fetuses had higher Ca, P, and Mg deposition (mg/g). Mineral retention (mg/g) increased in fetuses according to pregnancy development, with no differences between singleton and twin pregnancy. In the mammary gland, the retention of all minerals (g) increased with the days of pregnancy. In conclusion, related to Ca, P, and Mg metabolism can be divided into two stages. Up to 80 days of gestation, was characterized by the preparation of the maternal body reserves for future mineral demands. From 80 days of gestation onward, was characterized by the transfer of maternal body reserves for fetal development and colostrum production. Na and K supply was provided by adjustments in endogenous excretion and an increase in intestinal absorption. Finally, mineral metabolism was specific to each genotype and, except for Na, was not affected by the number of fetuses.

Intraspecific Cuticular Chemical Profile Variation in the Social Wasp Mischocyttarus consimilis (Hymenoptera, Vespidae).

Chemical compounds present on the cuticle of social insects are important in communication, as they are used in recognition of nestmates and sexual partners as well as in caste distinction, varying according to several factors, such as genetic and environmental. In this context, some studies have explored the cuticular chemical profile as a tool for assessing intra- and interspecific differences in social insects, although few studies have investigated this in social wasps. This study aimed to assess the differences in cuticular chemical profiles among different geographic samples of the wasp Mischocyttarus consimilis Zikán. Our hypothesis was that environmental factors are decisive to compose the cuticular chemical profiles of colonies of these social wasps and that there are differences regarding the geographic distribution among colonies. We used Fourier Transform Infrared-Photoacoustic Spectroscopy (FTIR-PAS) to assess the chemical profiles of samples. Our results show that despite there are differences between the cuticular chemical composition of the wasps' samples from different populations, there is no significant correlation compared to the spatial distribution of the colonies nor with the environment. Thus, our hypothesis was refuted, and we can infer that in this species neither exogenous nor genetic factors stand out to differentiate the chemical signature of their colonies, but a combination of both.

Net mineral requirements of dairy goats during pregnancy.

Mineral requirements of pregnant dairy goats are still not well defined; therefore, we investigated the net Ca, P, Mg, Na and K requirements for pregnancy and for maintenance during pregnancy in two separate experiments. Experiment 1 was performed to estimate the net Ca, P, Mg, Na and K requirements in goats carrying single or twin fetuses from 50 to 140 days of pregnancy (DOP). The net mineral requirements for pregnancy were determined by measuring mineral deposition in gravid uterus and mammary gland after comparative slaughter. In total, 57 dairy goats of two breeds (Oberhasli or Saanen), in their third or fourth parturition, were randomly assigned to groups based on litter size (single or twin) and day of slaughter (50, 80, 110 and 140 DOP) in a fully factorial design. Net mineral accretion for pregnancy did not differ by goat breed. The total daily Ca, P, Mg, Na and K requirements for pregnancy were greatest in goats carrying twins (P<0.05), and the requirements increased as pregnancy progressed. Experiment 2 was performed to estimate net Ca, P, Mg, Na and K requirements for dairy goat maintenance during pregnancy. In total, 58 dairy goats (Oberhasli and Saanen) carrying twin fetuses were assigned to groups based on slaughter day (80, 110 and 140 DOP) and feed restriction (ad libitum, 20% and 40% feed restriction) in a randomized block design. The net Ca, P and Mg requirements for maintenance did not vary by breed or over the course of pregnancy. The daily net requirements of Ca, P and Mg for maintenance were 60.4, 31.1 and 2.42 mg/kg live BW (LBW), respectively. The daily net Na requirement for maintenance was greater in Saanen goats (11.8 mg/kg LBW) than in Oberhasli goats (8.96 mg/kg LBW; P<0.05). Daily net K requirements increased as pregnancy progressed from 8.73 to 15.4 mg/kg LBW (P<0.01). The findings of this study will guide design of diets with adequate mineral content for pregnant goats throughout their pregnancy.

Energy and protein requirements for maintenance of dairy goats during pregnancy and their efficiencies of use.

It has been suggested that maintenance requirements are similar among animals of different physiological stages; however, important physiological changes occur in the maternal body during pregnancy. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the energy and protein requirements for the maintenance of pregnant dairy goats and to estimate their efficiency of energy and protein utilization for maintenance and pregnancy. We used 66 multiparous pregnant goats having 49.0 ± 1.59 kg initial BW (around the third or fourth parturition) arranged in a randomized block design with a 3 × 3 factorial scheme including slaughter at different days of pregnancy (DOP; 80, 110, and 140 d) and feed restriction (0, 20, and 40% feed restriction). The comparative slaughter technique was used to estimate energy and protein maintenance requirements. Goats slaughtered at 140 DOP were subjected to digestibility trials at around 80, 110, and 140 DOP to estimate diet metabolizability and N balance (NBAL). Metabolizability decreased with feed restriction and was 63.3 ± 2.16, 55.7 ± 2.35, and 58.2 ± 2.30% at 0, 20, and 40% of feed restriction, respectively ( < 0.01). There was no effect of DOP on NE or the requirements of ME for maintenance (ME), which were 197 and 315 kJ/kg empty body weight (EBW), respectively, and the efficiency of ME utilization for maintenance (k) was 0.63. Similarly, DOP did not affect thedaily net protein requirements for maintenance (NP) estimated using the comparative slaughter technique (1.38 ± 0.512 g/kg EBW; = 0.003) or the NP estimated using NBAL (2.49 ± 0.594 g/kg EBW; < 0.01). The MP requirement for maintenance (MP) estimated using the comparative slaughter technique was not affected by DOP and was 3.22 g MP/kg EBW ( < 0.01). The efficiency of MP utilization for maintenance (k) was 0.43. The efficiency of ME utilization for pregnancy (k) increased with the progress of pregnancy and was 0.058, 0.10, and 0.19 at 80, 110, and 140 DOP, respectively. Similarly, the efficiency of MP utilization for pregnancy (k) increased with DOP and was 0.12, 0.21, and 0.43 at 80, 110, and 140 DOP, respectively. There was no evidence that pregnancy affected NE, ME, NP, and MP or k and k, which were also unaffected by DOP. However, k and k increased with pregnancy progress as a response to the physiological changes that pregnant females are subjected to.

Efeito da suplementação com sulfato de zinco ou propilenoglicol em ovinos em uma pastagem nativa da Caatinga no período chuvoso: desempenho, características da carcaça e da carne / Effect of supplementation with either Zinc sulfate or propylene glycol in lambs on a native Caatinga pasture in the wet season: performance, carcass and meat characteristics

Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos do zinco ou do propilenoglicol sobre o desempenho e nas características da carcaça e da carne de ovinos sob pastejo em pastagem nativa da Caatinga. Utilizaram-se 24 ovinos, mestiços Santa Inês, machos, não castrados, peso inicial de 19,3±2,52kg, com quatro meses de idade, oito repetições por tratamento, distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso. Os tratamentos foram: sem aditivo, controle (CT), adição de sulfato de zinco (ZnSO4.7H2O) (Zn) para fornecimento de 300mg de Zn dia-1 via sal mineral, e propilenoglicol (PG), 2,5mL kgPC0,75-1 animal-1 dia-1 misturado no concentrado. Os animais foram suplementados com concentrado constituído de milho (54,0%), farelo de soja (45,1%) e calcário (0,911%) em 0,7% do PC médio de cada tratamento. O ensaio foi conduzido durante quatro meses (março a junho/2014). Avaliaram-se o desempenho e, após o abate dos animais, as características de carcaça e os componentes não carcaça, os parâmetros físico-químicos e organolépticos na carne. O Zn e o propilenoglicol não afetaram o desempenho e os parâmetros da carcaça em termos absoluto e relativo, bem como os pesos dos cortes e seus rendimentos (P>0,05). Não houve efeito dos aditivos nas características organolépticas e nos aspectos físico-químicos da carne (P>0,05), exceto cinzas (P<0,05). O zinco e o propilenoglicol não melhoram o desempenho e as características da carcaça de animais terminados em pastagem nativa da Caatinga. O baixo suprimento energético devido à má qualidade do pasto entre os meses de abril a junho contribui para a ineficiência no aproveitamento dos constituintes proteicos, implicando menor consumo e consequente diminuição do desempenho.(AU)

The aim was to evaluate the effects of zinc sulfate or propylene glycol on performance and carcass and meat characteristics from sheep under grazing in native Caatinga (Brazilian savannah) pasture during the rainy season. Twenty-four intact Santa Ines crossbreed male lambs, with an initial weight of 19.3±2.52kg, and 4-mo old, were distributed in a completely randomized design with eight replications per treatment. The treatments were composed of additives, as follows: no additive - control (CT); addition of zinc sulfate (ZnSO4.7H2O) (Zn) to supply a total of 300mg Zn day−1 on mineral salt; and addition of propylene glycol (PG), 2.5mL kg LW0.75−1 animal−1 day−1 mixed directly in the concentrate. Afterwards, they were supplemented with concentrate at 0.7% of the average LW of each batch according to the treatments. The concentrate was based on corn (54.0%), soybean meal (45.1%), and limestone (0.911%). The trials were carried out during the rainy season (March to June 2014), and evaluated the performance, and before of slaughter, carcass characteristics and non-carcass components were evaluated and the physical-chemical aspects and the organoleptic attributes on the meat. The additives did not affect the performance, parameters of carcass, in terms absolute and relative, carcass morphometric measurements, weight of the commercial cuts and yields (P>0.05). The additives did not affect the organoleptic characteristics and physical-chemical aspects of the meat (P>0.05), except, ash (P<0.05). The zinc sulfate and propylene glycol did not improve on performance and in carcass characteristics in lambs finished on a native Caatinga (Brazilian savannah) pasture. The low supply energetic due to poor quality of pasture between the months of April to June, which contributed to inefficiency in the utilization of proteics constituents, implying in lower intake, and decrease in performance.(AU)

Association between the presence of a partially erupted mandibular third molar and the existence of caries in the distal of the second molars.

The objective of this study was to verify, using periapical radiographs, whether a partially erupted mandibular third molar is a factor in the presence of dental caries on the distal surface of the adjacent second molar. Two-forty six high quality periapical radiographs were selected, each showing a partially erupted mandibular third molar. The variables analyzed were: tooth number; gender; age; radiographic presence of caries on the distal surface of the adjacent molar; Pell and Gregory classification; Winter classification; angulation and distance between the second and mandibular third molar. The examiners were previously calibrated to collect data (kappa statistics from 0.87 to 1.0). The prevalence rate of caries on the distal surface of the second molar was 13.4%. In the logistical multivariate regression analysis, the angulation (OR=8.5; IC95%: 1.7-43.8; p=0.011) and the gender (OR=3.3; IC95%: 1.4-7.7; p=0.005) remained statistically significant after an age adjustment was made. The results indicate that the presence of a partially erupted mandibular third molar with an angulation of 31 degrees or more, is a risk factor for caries on the distal surface of the mandibular second molars.

Desempenho produtivo e características de carcaça de cordeiros Rabo Largo puro e cruzados com Santa Inês / Performance and carcass traits of Rabo Largo lambs and crossbreeding with Santa Inês

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do cruzamento entre ovinos nativos no desempenho e características da carcaça. Foram utilizados vinte cordeiros, machos, inteiros, com idade inicial de quatro meses, e peso médio inicial 19,0±5,11, distribuídos em dois grupos genéticos: Rabo Largo (RL) e Santa Inês x Rabo Largo (F1SI x RL), em um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso. Os animais foram terminados em regime de confinamento durante 70 dias. Os cordeiros F1SI x RL apresentaram maiores pesos ao desmame, ao abate, do corpo vazio, das carcaças quente e fria, e maior rendimento biológico. Verificaram maiores valores para os parâmetros de morfometria da carcaça para animais F1SI x RL comparados aos animais Rabo Largo (P<0,05). Os pesos da hemi-carcaça e dos cortes comerciais foram superiores para cordeiros F1SI x RL. Nas medidas obtidas no músculo Longissimus dorsi, os cordeiros Rabo Largo apresentaram valores superiores para espessura de gordura subcutânea. A utilização da raça Santa Inês como base paterna acarreta em melhorias nas características de carcaça de cordeiros Rabo Largo podendo ser indicado em sistemas de produção de carne ovina.(AU)

The aim of study was to evaluate the effect of crossbreeding among native sheep on performance and traits carcass. Twenty intact lambs, male, at four months of age, with an initial weight of 19.0±5.11kg, were distributed in two groups genetics: Rabo Largo (RL) e Santa Inês x Rabo Largo (F1SI x RL), in a completely randomized design. The animals were finished in feedlot by 70 days. The lambs F1SI x RL showed higher weight at weaning, to slaughter, of the empty body, and hot and cold carcass, and increased biological yield. Higher values for carcass morphometry in F1SI x RL animals were found in comparison to Rabo Largo animals (P<0.05). The weight of half-carcass and the commercial cuts were higher for lambs. On the measurements obtained in muscle Longissimus dorsi, Rabo Largo lambs showed higher values for subcutaneous fat thickness. The use of the breed Santa Inês like base paternal may bring in improvements in lambs's carcass characteristics Rabo Largo and may be recommended in sheep meat production systems.(AU)