-The objectives of this study were to estimate the phenotypic correlations of residual feed intake (RFI) and gross feed efficiency (GFE) with hematological and metabolic blood profiles of lambs and to determine the differences for these traits in animals of different RFI classes. Twenty Ile de France male lambs, 115±8 days of age and 31.3±4.1 kg of body weight (means ± SD), were individually housed and their dry matter intake was measured over 65 days. They were weighed every 13 days to determine the average daily weight gain and two blood samples were collected at the last two weighings (at 07h30) for analysis of blood variables. The animals were divided into two classes: negative RFI (most efficient: <0.5 SD below the mean; n = 6) and positive RFI (least efficient: >0.5 SD above the mean; n = 8). There were associations among RFI and the serum metabolic variables for albumin (r RFI = 0.74) and creatinine (r RFI = −0.45) and between GFE and serum albumin (r GFE = −0.70). Less efficient animals as measured by RFI had higher serum albumin and lower creatinine levels and showed a tendency to have a greater concentration of total plasma protein. Other serum biochemical parameters were not correlated with GFE and RFI, and no differences between RFI classes were found. There was a correlation between the percentage of eosinophils and RFI (r RFI = −0.65), and such more efficient animals had a higher proportion of these cells and a trend to have a lower percentage of monocytes. This study provided evidence indicating associations between RFI and protein metabolism, as reflected by the serum albumin and creatinine. The hematological findings suggest that RFI is related to susceptibility of lambs to stress and should provide a basis for further research in this regard.

Neighborhood dogs may act as reservoirs for several zoonotic protozoan infections, particularly in urban areas, thus constituting a potential public health threat. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the exposure of neighborhood dogs to four protozoan pathogens in public areas with high levels of human movement in Curitiba, southern Brazil. Blood samples from 26 neighborhood dogs were screened by means of the indirect immunofluorescent antibody test (IFAT) for Leishmania spp., Toxoplasma gondii, Trypanosoma cruzi and Neospora caninum, and a questionnaire was answered by the respective keeper. A total of 8/26 dogs (30.7%) seroreactive to T. gondii, 3/26 (11.5%) to N. caninum and 2/26 (7.7%) to both were identified. All the samples were seronegative for T. cruzi and Leishmania spp. Pathogen seroreactivity was not associated with the daily human movements or other epidemiological variables investigated (p > 0.05). In conclusion, the low seroprevalence for T. gondii and N. caninum indicated low environmental and food risk for animal infection and the seronegativity for Leishmania spp. and T. cruzi may reflect the absence of these pathogens in urban areas of Curitiba. Moreover, neighborhood dogs may be used as environmental sentinels for the presence of protozoan pathogens and their vectors.

Objetivou-se analisar os custos e a rentabilidade de sistemas de produção de ovinos em pastagem sob três estratégias de suplementação de cordeiros lactentes: (1) creep grazing de trevo branco; (2) creep feeding; e (3) sem suplementação. Utilizaram-se dois métodos de análise financeira: análise anual (de curto prazo) e de fluxo de caixa (de longo prazo). Os custos foram segmentados em variáveis, fixos, operacionais e totais. O fator de produção que exerceu maior influência no custo variável da produção foi a alimentação, e no custo total foi o custo de oportunidade do capital imobilizado. O sistema com creep grazing não apresentou resultados econômico-financeiros superiores aos com creep feeding.

Consumo alimentar residual e sua relação com medidas de desempenho e eficiência e características in vivo da carcaça de cordeiros FCR, DMI and DMI in BW percentual (BWDMI) FCR and ADG; FCR and RGR; and FCR and KR; ABSTRACT The residual feed intake (RFI) and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 20 lambs was evaluated in order to estimate the correlations between these traits and performance measures and with in vivo carcass characteristics. The animals had their dry matter intake (DMI) measured over 65 days and they were weighed every 13 days to determine the average daily weight gain (ADG). Initial body weight (IBW), final body weight (FBW), metabolic weight (MW), ADG, relative growth rate (RGR), Kleiber ratio (KR),

ResumoNo Brasil, a produção animal a pasto é privilegiada pelas extensas áreas de pastagens disponíveis e pelos baixos custos de produção comparada a outros sistemas alimentares. Entretanto, as pastagens nativas com ausência de manejo adequado podem apresentar severas deficiências nutricionais, e as pastagens cultivadas, manejadas erroneamente, tendem à degradação. O uso de leguminosas forrageiras tem potenciais benefícios ao ambiente pastoril, como incorporação de nitrogênio ao sistema, aumento da capacidade de suporte e qualidade de pastagens quando em consórcio com gramíneas, além

Important physiological changes affect the blood profile of ruminants during the growth phase, but few studies approach the factors involved in these dynamics in lambs. The aim of this study was to characterize the dynamics of hematological parameters, of total plasma protein (TPP), and of fibrinogen in healthy female lambs during the first four months of life. Blood samples of 35 female lambs were collected at 30, 60, 90, and 120 days old to perform the complete blood count (CBC). The erythrocyte and leukocyte parameters, TPP, and fibrinogen were determined. The means for total red blood cell (RBC) counts at 60 and 120 days differed (P < 0.05) from the initial mean, showing a peak of 13.6 x 106 cells µL-1 at 60 days old. The mean values for packed cell volume (PCV) and hemoglobin (Hgb) concentration increased (P < 0.05) until 90 days and decreased at 120 days (36.6% to 33.7% and 11.4 g dL-1 to 10.6 g dL-1 between 90 and 120 days, respectively). The means for mean corpuscular volume (MCV) and for mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC) increased (P < 0.05) between 30 and 120 days (27.5 µm3 to 29.7 µm3 and 26.6% to 31.4%, respectively). The total white blood cell (WBC) count increased (P < 0.05) and reached a peak at 90 days (9,314 cells µL-1). The peaks for segmented neutrophils (5,141 cells µL-1) and lymphocyte counts (4,236 cells µL-1) occurred at 60 and 90 days, respectively. The means for neutrophil/lymphocyte ratio were similar (P > 0.05) between the ages (mean of 1.8) but higher than the reference value for adult sheep (0.5). The initial mean for eosinophil counts (2 cells µL-1) was lower (P < 0.05) than all subsequent ones, and the monocyte count showed the lowest level (P < 0.05) at 120 days (232 cells µL-1). The mean for TPP at 60 days (6.4 g dL-1) was higher (P < 0.05) than the other ages. Except for band neutrophil and basophil counts, and fibrinogen concentration, the hematological parameters and the TPP of female lambs are influenced by age until four months of life and differ from the reference intervals established for adult sheep. Therefore, the interpretation of CBCs performed in female lambs should be made on the basis of age group-specific reference intervals.

Neighborhood dogs may act as reservoirs and disseminators of vector-borne diseases in urban areas. Accordingly, the aim of this study was to ascertain the health status and the vector-borne pathogens infecting dogs living in public areas with high levels of human movement in the city of Curitiba, southern Brazil. Blood samples from 21 neighborhood dogs that were found in nine of 22 bus stations and two public parks were subjected to a complete blood cell (CBC) count, serum biochemical profiling, a commercial rapid ELISA test and a commercial real-time PCR panel of vectorborne diseases. The CBC count and serum biochemical profiling were within the normal range for dogs and only 1/21 (4.7%) of the dogs was seroreactive for Borrelia burgdorferi sensu stricto. The commercial real-time PCR panel showed that 7/21 (33.3%) of the dogs had Mycoplasma haemocanis infection, 9/21 (42.8%) had 'Candidatus Mycoplasma haematoparvum' and 4/21 (19.0%) had both. No statistical association between infected by the agents found here and abnormalities in physical examinations, laboratory tests or ectoparasite presence was found (p > 0.05).In conclusion, neighborhood dogs showed low prevalence of vector-borne diseases and satisfactory wellbeing, and dogs can be used as sentinels for disease exposure.

Este trabalho avaliou a composição tecidual do pernil de cordeiros desmamados aos 42 dias de idade média e terminados em pasto de azevém com níveis diários de suplementação concentrada (0; 1% e 2% do peso vivoe ad libitum). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso com três repetições. Os cordeiros foram abatidos ao atingirem 32 kg de peso vivo e os pernis direitos foram dissecados em músculo, osso, gorduras subcutânea e intermuscular para cálculo do índice de musculosidade. Para cada aumento de uma unidade percentual no nível de suplementação houve acréscimo de 14,76 g no peso da gordura intermuscular, 34,61 g no da gordura total e 0,03 no índice de musculosidade do pernil. A suplementação de cordeiros desmamados terminados em pasto permitiu a obtenção de pernis com maiores quantidades de gordura intermuscular e total, e melhores índices de musculosidade.