The moon cycle influences reproductive and productive traits in guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) from a tropical Andean area.

There is currently innumerable evidence showing that the lunar cycle affects various reproductive aspects in farm animals. However, there is very little information on the effect of the lunar cycle on productive traits in these species. A retrospective study was conducted (2015-2018) to evaluate the influence of the lunar cycle on some reproductive and productive traits in a guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) production system in the southern Andean region of Ecuador. A total of 7352 productive and reproductive records of guinea pig females housed in 3 m2 cages with a breeding male were analyzed. The following variables were considered: offspring sex ratio, litter size per cage, number of weaned guinea pigs, mortality, individual and litter weaning weight of guinea pigs, and calving frequency. The lunar cycle was split into eight periods of ~3.7-d length each. Data were analyzed by logistic regression and general linear model, and means were compared by the least mean squares method of the SAS. The offspring sex ratio was not correlated to the lunar cycle. The lunar cycle at mating and calving influenced the litter size per cage, number of weaned, and mortality of guinea pigs. The individual and litter-weaning weights were influenced by the lunar cycle at calving. The frequency of calving was greater around the new and full moon than in the remaining periods of the lunar cycle. In conclusion, the lunar cycle influenced several productive and reproductive traits in guinea pigs, such as litter size, mortality, number of pups weaned, and individual and litter weaning weights. This valuable information may have practical applications in management of guinea pig production systems.

Egg Yolk-Supplemented Tris-Citric Acid Extender Improves the Prefreezing and Post-Thaw Sperm Quality Indices of Guinea Pig (Cavia porcellus) Epididymal Spermatozoa.

This study aimed to assess the suitability of egg yolk (EY) supplementation to a tris-citric acid-based extender on cryosurvival of guinea pig (Cavia porcellus) epididymal spermatozoa. Two synthetic-based extenders, tris-citric acid-glucose plus 20% EY (TCG-EY) and tris-citric acid-fructose (TCF) both with 5% glycerol, were compared. Thirty-two epididymides were recovered from 16 adult guinea pig males by gonadectomy, and then the sperm samples were retrieved by retrograde flushing using TCG-EY and TCF extenders for left or right epididymis, respectively. TCG-EY and TCF sperm samples were frozen in static liquid nitrogen vapors through a two-step cooling procedure. Before freezing, the percentage of progressive sperm motility and sperm with intact plasma and acrosome membranes from TCG-EY sperm samples were higher (p < 0.05) than those diluted with TCF. Post-thaw sperm kinematic variables and membrane integrity were drastically reduced (p < 0.001) compared with prefreezing samples, regardless of extender type. The post-thaw plasmatic and acrosome membrane integrity from TCG-EY sperm samples was higher (p < 0.05) than those from TCF samples. Except for the length, the morphometric head dimensions of sperm diluted with TCG-EY or TCF did not vary (p > 0.05) after the freezing-thawing process compared with the prefreezing samples. In conclusion, despite greater cell cryoinjury with both extenders, the EY supplementation exerted greater cell membrane protection before and after the freezing-thawing process. This research shows an in-depth analysis of guinea pig sperm cryopreservation; however, more studies are recommended.

Addition of clinoptilolite in the diet reduces uterine PMN leukocytes and open days in multiparous lactating dairy cows managed in a mountain tropical pasture-based system.

This study aimed to assess the effect of adding clinoptilolite in the diet on uterine health and reproductive performance in multiparous lactating dairy cows managed in a tropical pasture-based system above 2500 m of altitude. Seventy-seven multiparous Holstein crossbred cows from two farms were allocated randomly into two groups: clinoptilolite supplemented cows (CLG, n = 42) and non-supplemented cows as control (CG, n = 35). Cows from CLG were supplemented with clinoptilolite from 30 days (50 g/cow/day) before to 60 days after calving (200 g/cow/day). In CLG cows, percentages of uterine PMN leukocytes (P < 0.0001) and proportion of subclinical endometritis (P = 0.0187) were lower than in CG. The interval calving to first corpus luteum was shorter (P = 0.0759) in CLG than CG, and calving to first service interval was similar between treatments. Cows from CLG became pregnant 35 days earlier than CG cows (P = 0.0224). On farm A, calving to conception interval was 18.1 days longer in CLG than in CG (P = 0.3750); in farm B, this interval was 86.2 days shorter in CLG than in CG (P = 0.0002). In conclusion, daily addition of clinoptilolite in the diet decreased the percentage of uterine PMN leukocytes, the proportion of cows with subclinical endometritis, and shortened the calving-conception interval in multiparous lactating dairy cows.

Lunar Cycle Influences Production of Tilapia (Oreochromis spp) Eggs in an Intensive Outdoor Production System in the Tropics.

A robust body of evidence has demonstrated that the lunar cycle plays an important role in the reproduction of fish living in natural environments. However, little is known about the influence of the moon on tilapia reproductive activity in intensive fish farming systems. This study aims to evaluate the influence of the lunar cycle on the reproductive performance of tilapias in an intensive outdoor tropical production system in Latin America. Records of two tilapia strains (Nile tilapia [Oreochromis niloticus; n = 75] and Red tilapia [Oreochromis spp.; n = 1335]) reared in concrete tanks in a commercial fish farm were analyzed. Over a 3-year period, 60,136 captures were made in intervals of 12 to 14 days and 6,600 females were manually spawned. The number of females spawned and the volume of eggs collected from each tank (n = 9) were recorded. Data was analyzed by the general linear model and means were compared by least squares means method. A very slight or no variation was observed when the lunar cycle was split into two halves (crescent and waning). The proportions of females spawned and the volume of eggs per spawned female and per female in the tank varied considerably across the eight periods of the lunar cycle, with greater values in the waning than in the crescent phase. A significantly greater proportion of tilapia spawned and yielded more eggs around the full moon than around the new moon and remaining days of the lunar cycle. The moon cycle affected the reproductive activity of tilapia, which were more reproductively active around the full moon and most of the waning phase.

Lunar Cycle Influences Reproductive Performance of Crossbred Brahman Cows Under Tropical Conditions.

Evidence has accumulated over the years indicating that the moon influences some aspects of the reproductive activity in animals and humans. However, little is known about the influence of the lunar cycle on the reproductive performance of cows under tropical conditions, where the environment strongly affects reproduction. This retrospective study was conducted with the aim of assessing the influence of the lunar cycle on some reproductive traits of tropical crossbred cows managed in a pasture-based system. Data from 5869 reproductive records from two commercial farms localized in the Maracaibo Lake Basin of Zulia State, Venezuela, were analyzed. Variables studied were first service conception rate, calving frequency, first postpartum estrous frequency, and pregnancy frequency. In addition to the lunar cycle, the effects of farm, season, and predominant breed were also considered. Data were analyzed using logistic regression and general linear model from SAS. First service conception was affected by lunar phases and predominant breed, but not by farm or season. For frequencies of calving, first postpartum estrus, and pregnancy, there was no main effect of farm, season, and predominant breed, whereas the effect of lunar phases was highly significant. First service conception was significantly greater in waning than in crescent phase of the lunar cycle. Frequencies of calving, first estrus, and pregnancy were highly correlated and showed greater figures around full moon and new moon. In conclusion, lunar cycle influenced first service conception, attaining greater values in the waning phase of the moon cycle. Frequencies of calving, first postpartum estrus, and pregnancy in crossbred cows showed a clear bimodal rhythm, whose greatest values coincided with new moon and full moon.

Intraovarian influence of bovine corpus luteum on oocyte morphometry and developmental competence, embryo production and cryotolerance.

Three experiments were conducted to determine influence of the bovine corpus luteum (CL) on morphometric and functional characteristics of oocytes, and subsequent embryonic development. Cumulus-oocyte complexes were aspirated from two types of cows: 1) with a CL in one ovary (CL+) and without a CL in the contralateral ovary (CL-), 2) and from cows without CL in either ovary (C). Intracellular activity of the enzyme glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH), oocyte diameter and thickness of the zona pellucida were determined (Experiment 1). Then, the rate of in vitro oocyte maturation for each ovarian category was evaluated and oocyte diameter and zona pellucida thickness were measured after maturation (Experiment 2). In Experiment 3, in vitro embryo production and cryotolerance were assessed. The oocyte diameter was greater (P < 0.01) and the zona pellucida was thinner in CL+ than in CL- (P > 0.05) or C (P = 0.0131) ovaries. Activity of G6PDH was lower in oocytes from CL+ than CL- (P < 0.01) and C (P = 0.0148) ovaries. Rate of oocyte maturation, oocyte diameter and thickness of the zona pellucida after maturation did not differ among groups. Rate of cleavage was greater in zygotes from CL+ than from CL- or C (P < 0.01); and CL+ ovaries produced more total embryos on day 7 (P < 0.05) and more blastocysts (P < 0.01) than CL- and C ovaries. Rate of expansion and hatching of day-7 vitrified-warmed blastocysts at 24 and 48 h of culture did not differ among groups. In conclusion, oocytes collected from CL+ ovaries were larger and metabolically more prepared to continue maturation than those from ovaries lacking a CL. Also, rates of cleavage and yield of blastocysts were greater for oocytes from CL+ ovaries than from CL- and C ovaries. These findings indicate that a CL influenced oocyte developmental competence and embryonic development, presumably through intraovarian interactions.

Intrauterine therapy with ozone reduces subclinical endometritis and improves reproductive performance in postpartum dairy cows managed in pasture-based systems.

New postpartum strategies have been developed in dairy cows to ameliorate uterine health and reproductive performance, especially the first service conception rates. This study aimed to assess the effect of intrauterine therapy with ozone (IUTO) in early postpartum on subclinical endometritis prevalence and reproductive parameters in dairy cows under commercial farm conditions. For this purpose, eighty clinically healthy cows with a body condition score between 3.0 and 3.5, from four dairy farms, were randomly allocated into two groups: ozone therapy group (OG, n = 40), which were subjected to IUTO, and control group (CG, n = 40). Content of uterine polymorphonuclear (PMN) leukocytes and subclinical endometritis (SE) percentage were assessed at 35 days after calving by uterine cytology. A second cytology was performed 72 h after IUTO. Reproductive parameters such as interval calving to first service (IFS), number of services per conception (nSC), interval calving to conception (ICC) and first service conception rate (FSCR) were analysed. The second endometrial cytology demonstrated that IUTO reduced (P < 0.01) both PMN (3.7 ± 1.4 vs. 7.6 ± 1.1%) and SE (5.0 vs. 50.0%) percentages compared with CG. Likewise, after ozone treatment, both nSC (2.1 ± 0.3 vs. 3.1 ± 0.2; P < 0.01) and ICC (126.2 ± 9.7 vs. 149.0 ± 9.0; P = 0.0672) decreased, and FSCR increased (50.0 vs. 16.2%; P < 0.01) compared with CG. In conclusion, intrauterine ozone therapy applied at 35 days after calving reduced subclinical endometritis prevalence and improved reproductive performance in postpartum dairy cows managed in a pasture-based system.

Methods of collection, extender type, and freezability of semen collected from creole bulls raised in the tropical highlands of Ecuador.

This study was conducted to determine the best combination between two collection method and two extenders in the cryopreservation of semen from creole bulls adapted to highlands of the Ecuadorian Andes. Sixty ejaculates from three adult Creole bulls were evaluated after collection by artificial vagina (AV) and electroejaculation (EE). Semen samples were split into two aliquots and diluted with a soy lecithin extender (Andromed®; A) or an egg yolk-containing extender (Triladyl®; T) and packed in straws of 0.25 ml with 20 × 106 sperms. Optical microscopy and computer-assisted semen analysis system (CASA) were used to evaluate semen quality characteristics. The effects of collection methods and extender type as well as its interaction were evaluated by a factorial ANOVA and Bonferroni's test. Semen samples collected with EE and frozen with T (EE-T) and A (EE-A) had greater proportion of spermatozoa with optical assessed individual progressive motility (IPM), plasmatic membrane intact (HosT), and lower tail abnormalities than those obtained with AV and frozen with the same extenders (AV-T and AV-A); however, differences were significant only between EE-A and AV-T. CASA assessment indicated that the total mobility (TM) was greater (P < 0.05) in semen samples diluted with T, although these samples had a greater proportion (P < 0.05) of sperms with local motility (LM) and fewer immobile sperms (IS), than those extended with A. Generally, semen samples obtained with EE or AV and diluted with T seems to be the best option to ciopreserve gametes of Creole bulls raised in highlands of Ecuadorian Andes.