This research was carried out to evaluate the influence of the year and calving season on the production, composition and mozzarella cheese yield index (PKM) of Murrah water buffalos. We analyzed a data set of 514 lactations collected from 2004 to 2008, recorded and archived in software of a farm located in Taipu, in the eastern region of Rio Grande do Norte State, Brazil. To assess the effects of calving season, the year was divided into a rainy season (from March to August) and a dry season (from September to February). Results showed that the year influenced daily production and PKM (P<0.05). However, no effects were observed on logarithm somatic cell count (LSCC), fat, protein and total dry extract (TDE). The season had no influence on the variables analyzed and no interaction was observed between the year and the season. The season and its interactions had no effect on water buffalo performance in relation to dairy production and PKM index of mozzarella efficiency.

The aim of this study was to verify the length of post-partum anoestrus (PPA) in Anglo-Nubian and Saanen goats raised in Northeastern Brazil. Thirty-four Anglo-Nubian and 25 Saanen goats were used and the following parameters were observed: parity (order I or II), type of parturition (single or multiple), length of PPA, type of oestrous cycle, milk production and body condition score (BCS). No significant difference (P > 0.05) was observed between breeds for PPA length. Concerning order I, Saanen goats showed a higher PPA when compared to Anglo-Nubian (P < 0.05). In both breeds, order I goats showed a higher PPA than order II (P < 0.05). Concerning the type of parturition, no significant difference was observed for the length of PPA. Anglo-Nubian goats showed a shorter first oestrous cycle length (mean F S.E.M.) (23.89 F 5.64 days) when compared to Saanen goats (46.20 F 9.50 days) (P < 0.05). For both breeds it was observed a greater proportion of long oestrous cycles (P < 0.05). Saanen goats showed higher daily milk production in comparison to Anglo-Nubian breed (P < 0.001). A significant fall in BCS was observed (P < 0.05) in both breeds. In conclusion, when raised in Northeastern Brazil, Saanen goats showed more efficient milk production but presented a longer PPA in primiparous females.

Ejaculados de seis bodes Moxotó e seis ½ sangue Moxotó-Pardo Alpina, adultos, mantidos em confinamento, foram avaliados antes e após a insulação do saco escrotal com bolsa de plástico, de parede dupla, durante 6,5 dias. A degeneração seminal ocorreu em todos os animais na 4ª semana após o início da insulação, ressaltando-se a redução na concentração, o aumento dos defeitos espermáticos e a redução do vigor celular, culminando com a necrospermia. A motilidade individual progressiva (MIP) atingiu os valores mais baixos na 3ª semana após o início da insulação, retornando aos valores normais entre a 8ª e 9ª semanas. Os defeitos espermáticos começaram a aumentar aos sete dias após o início da insulação escrotal. O volume apresentou oscilações atípicas e o aumento da temperatura escrotal afetou os parâmetros físicos e morfológicos do ejaculado de maneira consistente evidenciando-se o efeito negativo sobre a qualidade do sêmen.

The seasons in the 1 year study were classified as rainy, transitional rainy-dry, dry, and transitional dry-rainy. Semen pH and the consistency of the testes did not vary between seasons or among rams. All other characteristics of semen and testis varied between rams. Significant seasonal differences were observed for ejaculate volume, mass, % motility, forward motility score and concentration of spermatozoa, and linear testis measurements. The total number of spermatozoa per ejaculate did not vary seasonally. The magnitude of the seasonal effects was not sufficient to prevent the rams being used for breeding throughout the year.

No abstract

SummaryExperiments were undertaken to develop intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) to produce caprine embryos out of the normal breeding season. Oocytes were obtained from 2–6 mm ovarian follicles at slaughter. Selected oocytes with two to four layers of cumulus cells were incubated in 1 ml of H-TCM 199 supplemented with 10 μg each of oFSH and bLH (NHPP, NIDDK, NICHD, USDA) and 20% fetal bovine serum (FBS) in a thermos (38.5°C) for 4.5 h during transportation. Then, oocytes were transferred into 75 μl of freshly prepared maturation medium under paraffin oil and a mixture of 5% O2, 5% CO2 and 90% N2. Approximately 26 h after recovery oocytes were denuded by incubation with hyaluronidase (100 IU/ml) and pipetting and held at 38.5°C for 90 min. Spermatozoa frozen in egg yolk extender were thawed in a 37°C water bath for 15s. Motile fractions were selected by swim-up, then incubated for 90 mm in TALP with 10 μg heparin/ml. Each oocyte was positioned with its first polar body at 6 or 12 o'clock by a holding pipette. Sperm (1 μl) were added to 10 μl medium containing 10% polyvinylpyrrolidone. A sperm cell was aspirated into a pipette, and then injected head-first into the cytoplasm of an oocyte maintained in H-TCM 199 + 20% FBS at 37°C. Injected oocytes were transferred to HM and, after 90 min, cultured in 50 μl of BSA-free synthetic oviduct fluid plus polyvinyl alcohol, citrate and non-essential amino acids. Results demonstrate that caprine blastocysts can be produced outside the breeding season by the use of frozen-thawed semen and injection of sperm cells with broken tails into ova followed by culture in defined medium.

No abstract

RESUMO -O presente experimento foi realizado para avaliar o desempenho produtivo de ovelhas deslanadas do Nordeste do Brasil acasaladas com machos de raças especializadas para corte. Dados de 305 parições oriundas de 134 matrizes dentro de três períodos de monta foram usados para determinar as taxas de desmame e sobrevivência das crias, o peso vivo ao desmame e o peso vivo total desmamado por ovelha acasalada. As fêmeas foram acasaladas, em sistema de rodízio de uso dos machos das raças Santa Inês, Hampshire-Down, Ile-de-France, Suffolk e Texel. O peso das crias ao desmame não diferiu entre genótipos. A taxa de desmame foi mais baixa para crias de Suffolk e de Texel, ao passo que crias de Hampshire-Down e Ile-de-France tiveram as taxas de sobrevivência mais baixas. Houve efeito compensatório entre os pesos ao nascer e ao desmame e as taxas de sobrevivência e desmame, de modo que o peso total de cordeiro desmamado não diferiu entre genótipos, à exceção para o grupo F 1 de Hampshire-Down, devido à baixa taxa de sobrevivência dos cordeiros (71,4%), se comparado com as crias de Ile-de-France. Os acasalamentos ocorridos durante a estação chuvosa foram responsáveis pela menor produtividade das ovelhas. O desempenho das crias Santa Inês comparou-se ao das raças especializadas para o corte, podendo ser indicada como raça parental em programas de cruzamento com ovelhas deslanadas do Nordeste do Brasil. Palavras-chave: ovino, cruzamento, desmama Hairsheep Females Mated to Specialized Meat-Type Rams: Productive Performance up to WeaningABSTRACT -This trial was conducted to evaluate production levels of native breed ewes of Northeast Brazil mated to rams of specialized meat-type breeds. A total of 305 lambings from 134 ewes over three periods of mating were used to determine weaning rate, survival rate and live weight at weaning and total weight of weaned lamb. The hairsheep ewes were mated in a rotational scheme of the use of rams from Santa Inês, Hampshire-Down, Ile-de-France, Suffolk and Texel breeds. Live weight at weaning did not differ among lamb genotypes. Weaning rate was lower for Suffolk and Texel crossbred lambs. Whereas, the lowest survival rates were observed for Hampshire-Down and Ile-de-France crossbred lambs. There was a compensatory effect among the weight at birth, weaning weight; weaning and survival rate, so that the total weight of weaned lamb did not differ among lamb genotypes except for Hampshire Down crossbred, due to its lower survival rate (71.4%) as compared to Ile-de-France crossbred lambs. The mating throughout the rainy season accounted for the decreased levels of productivity of the ewes. The Santa Inês hairsheep lamb performance compared to the other specialized meat-type sheep breeds and could be indicated as ram breed in crossbreeding programs for hairsheep in Northeast Brazil.