Principal component and cluster analyses of production and fertility traits in Red Sindhi dairy cattle breed in Brazil.

The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship among functional traits (age at first calving (AFC), calving interval (CI), reproductive efficiency (RE), total milk yield (TMY), and lactation period (LP)) in Red Sindhi breed through multivariate techniques. For this goal, performance data provided by the Brazilian Association of Zebu Breeders related to 560 Red Sindhi dairy cattle from 28 different herds in Brazil, born in the period from 1987 to 2011, were used. Principal component analysis with correlation matrix was used to find the relationship among AFC, CI, RE, TMY, and LP. It was found that for all functional traits, first 3 principal components explained more than 90% of the total variation. Clustering analysis was performed based on Tocher method, and results showed physiological relationships among functional traits. By cluster analysis, twelve different groups were generated from the pool of Sindhi herds analyzed, with a great homogeneity among females for the traits evaluated and only few females generating separate groups. Four hundred and twenty-nine females were clustered in one group, representing 76.60% of the genotypes. Total milk yield (TMY) showed 71.92% of the total variation, and age at first calving (AFC) contributed with 23.06% of the variation, being the two most important traits for the variability of the data set. In conclusion, the multivariate procedures were effective in generating the correlations among the functional traits, showing that CI is correlated with RE and all these functional traits are related with total milk yield.

Wet citrus pulp in finishing diets for feedlot lambs: performance and hepatic enzyme concentration / Polpa cítrica úmida na terminação de cordeiros confinados: desempenho e concentração de enzimas hepáticas

Pectin industry generates a citrus pulp residue compounded by peduncle, endocarp, juice vesicles, columella, seeds and tiny fractions of epicarp and mesocarp of citrus fruits, denominated Wet Citrus Pulp (WCP), which has not yet been tested as food for lamb's nutrition. Thus, this study aimed to determine the effect of partial replacement of ground corn by WCP in high-concentrate diets on the performance and hepatic enzyme concentration of feedlot lambs. Forty-two male lambs (15 Santa Inês and 27 ½ Dorper × Santa Inês), with 24.7 ± 1.5 kg of BW and 60 ± 5 d of age was assigned to a randomized complete block design. Within blocks (n = 14), lambs were randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: 0WCP (control) ­ diet containing 75.5% ground corn without WCP; 20WCP ­ diet containing 20% WCP in replacement of ground corn, and 40WCP ­ diet containing 40% WCP in replacement of ground corn. The experiment lasted 70 days, which was split in 3 experimental periods (14 days of diets' adaptation and 2 sub-periods of 28 days each). Statistical analyses were performed using the MIXED procedure of the SAS. Orthogonal polynomials for diet response were determined by linear and quadratic effects. There was a quadratic effect for DM, CP, ash, ether extract and NFC intake The highest DM and CP intake was observed for lambs fed 20WCP, however, the control diet increased the ash, ether extract and NFC intake. The increased levels of WCP decreased the ADG and feed efficiency (FE) during the adaptation period, however, did not affect the ADG and FE on periods 1 and 2. Consequently, the increased levels of WCP inclusion decreased linearly the BW. There was no effect of WCP inclusion in diets on Gamma-Glutamyl Transferase (GGT) concentration. However, there was a linear increase for Aspartate Aminotransferase (AST) concentration during the adaptation period, but without difference in other periods. In conclusion, adding up to 40% of WCP in finishing diets for feedlot lambs decrease performance during adaptation period, compromising the final body weight, but without damages effects on liver enzymes.(AU)

A indústria de produção de pectina gera um resíduo composto por pedúnculo, endocarpo, vesículas de suco, columela, sementes e minúsculas frações de epicarpo e mesocarpo de frutas cítricas, denominada Polpa Cítrica Úmida (WCP), que ainda não foi testada como alimento na nutrição de ovinos. Sendo assim, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da substituição parcial do milho pela WCP em dietas contendo elevado teor de concentrado sobre o desempenho e a concentração de enzimas hepáticas de cordeiros confinados. Quarenta e dois cordeiros machos (15 Santa Inês e 27 ½ Dorper x Santa Inês), com 24,7 ± 1,5 kg de peso corporal e 60 ± 5 dias de idade foram distribuídos em delineamento de blocos completos casualizados. Dentro de cada bloco (n = 14), os cordeiros foram distribuídos aleatoriamente entre os tratamentos: 0WCP ­ dieta contendo 75,5% de milho moído, sem a inclusão de WCP; 20WCP ­ dieta contendo 20% de WCP em substituição ao milho moído; e 40WCP ­ dieta contendo 40% de WCP em substituição ao milho moído. O experimento teve duração de 70 dias, sendo dividido em 3 períodos experimentais (14 dias de adaptação as dietas e 2 períodos de 28 dias cada). As análises estatísticas foram realizadas utilizando o procedimento MIXED do SAS. Os polinômios ortogonais lineares e quadráticos foram utilizados para avaliar o efeito das dietas. Houve efeito quadrático para o consumo de matéria seca, PB, cinzas, extrato etéreo e CNF. A maior ingestão de MS e PB foi observada para os cordeiros alimentados com 20WCP, entretanto, a dieta controle aumentou o consumo de cinzas, extrato etéreo e CNF. O aumento na inclusão de WCP diminuiu o ganho médio diário e a eficiência alimentar durante o período de adaptação, entretanto, não afetou essas variáveis durante os períodos 1 e 2. Consequentemente, a inclusão de WCP reduziu o peso corporal ao final do período experimental. Não houve efeito das dietas na concentração de gama-glutamil transferase (GGT). Entretanto, houve aumento linear na concentração de aspartato aminotransferase (AST) durante o período de adaptação. Em conclusão, a inclusão de até 40% de WCP nas dietas de terminação para cordeiros confinados diminuiu o desempenho durante o período de adaptação, comprometendo o peso corporal ao final do período experimental, entretanto, não comprometeu a afetou as enzimas hepáticas.(AU)

Influência do manejo na fisiologia reprodutiva do macho bovino / Influence of management on the reproductive physiology of male bovine / Influencia del manejo en la fisiología reproductiva del bovino macho

O conhecimento da fisiologia do desenvolvimento testicular e ponderal, a precocidade sexual, a capacidade de produção e qualidade espermática, além dos fatores que potencialmente interferem nestes processos, são importantes para predizer a capacidade reprodutiva dos touros. Entre esses fatores, existem alguns que podem influenciar negativamente na fisiologia reprodutiva do touro, e, dessa forma, reduzir a fertilidade desses animais e causar esterilidade, tais como os fatores diretamente relacionados ao manejo e a nutrição. Dessa forma, torna-se de fundamental importância o conhecimento da fisiologia do desenvolvimento testicular e ponderal, e de como alguns fatores, como o manejo e o clima, podem interferir nestes processos. Portanto, o objetivo desta revisão é demonstrar como alguns fatores do ambiente, tais como o manejo e o clima, podem influenciar nessas características, com vistas à produção animal.(AU)

Knowledge of the physiology and weight of the testicular development, sexual precocity, ability and quality of sperm production, and the factors that potentially interfere with these processes are important for predicting the reproductive capacity of bulls. Among these factors, there are some that can negatively influence their reproductive physiology, and thus reduce their fertility, causing sterility, such as factors directly related to the management and nutrition. Thus, it is of fundamental importance to study the physiology of testicular development and weight, and how certain factors, such as management and climate, can interfere with these processes. Therefore, the aim of this review is to show how some environmental factors, such as management and climate, can influence these characteristics, aiming to animal production.(AU)

El conocimiento de la fisiología del desarrollo testicular y ponderal, la precocidad sexual, la capacidad de producción y la calidad del esperma, además de los factores que potencialmente interfieren en estos procesos, son importantes para predecir la capacidad reproductiva de los toros. Entre estos factores, hay algunos que pueden influir negativamente en la fisiología reproductiva del toro, y por lo tanto reducir la fertilidad de esos animales y causar esterilidad, tales como los factores directamente relacionados al manejo y la nutrición. Por lo tanto, es de fundamental importancia el conocimiento de la fisiología del desarrollo testicular y ponderal, y cómo ciertos factores, como el manejo y el clima, pueden interferir en estos procesos. Así, el objetivo de esta revisión es demostrar cómo algunos factores ambientales, tales como manejo y el clima, pueden influenciar en esas características, con miras a la producción animal.(AU)