This study aimed to assess and compare the growth performance, feed efficiency, and carcass traits of Pantaneiro sheep and their Texel and Santa Inês crossbreds. Ninety-six lambs, fifty-one males, and forty-five females, with a mean weaning weight of 15.21 ± 1.25 kg and 78 ± 13 days of age, were slaughtered at a 32-kg body weight. The results showed better production efficiency from males compared with females. Texel-crossed lambs had a better growth performance than the other genotypes. The Texel × Pantaneiro lambs were more efficient with a better feedlot performance, higher ribeye muscle area, and better carcass characteristics with an adequate amount of fat cover. Pantaneiro lambs and their crosses with meat breeds could be useful in meat production systems under Savanna environmental conditions.

The state of Mato Grosso do Sul has a genetic origin of animals native Sulmatogrossense that has been highly adapted and highly productive and reproductive potential, these animals exhibit a combination of alleles that are close to the south and tossed races wooless Northeast , thus paving the way for the possibility of creating a new race. The sheep of this group do not exhibit reproductive seasonality may produce up to 1.5 lambs per year. They also have high yield potential and can earn up 350g/day, thereby providing early animals slaughtered within 6 months of age weighing 40 kg and may have a carcass yield of 50%. Herd animals with wool, the wool can be considered a byproduct of great importance. So keep the characteristics of these animals is of paramount importance, both to collaborate with the regional sheep production, as if to offer an additional option to breed to be created and used in sheep production systems.

The aim of this study was to describe aspects of the parturition and uterine involution in native sheep from Brazilian Pantanal. Fifty-seven pluriparous ewes were used in this study. At parturition, the placenta expulsion (h), weight (g), total diameter of cotyledons, sex and weight of newborn, and single or twin parturition were evaluated. The uterine involution was evaluated by leucocytes profile, desquamation cells (cervix-uterine smears) and transrectal ultrasonography at 1, 7, 14, 21 and 28 days post-partum. The weight of the placenta and total of cotyledons were higher (P<0.05) in female lambs from single and twin parturition. Placental expulsion time and cotyledons diameter were not different (P>0.05) between sex and parturition classification. The total of neutrophils in twin parturitions were higher in days 1, 7 and 14 postpartum (78.5±9.5; 58.5±9.6 and 31.9±9.8, respectively). Macrophages were different (P<0.05) at 1 and 14 days postpartum in ewes with twin parturition (12.5±1.6 and 6.7±1.6, respectively). The regression analysis model revealed a quadratic curve estimation (P<0.001) to the diameter, area and uterine volume considering all postpartum period. In conclusion, the parturition characteristics are similar to other breeds. Leukocytary profile and the transrectal ultrasonography exam suggest that the uterine involution in native sheep of Brazilian Pantanal varies among 14 and 21 days postpartum

-The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of crossings between sheep breeds on the intrinsic quality of leather. It was used the skins of 36 lambs (18 females and 18 males), resulting from crosses between ewes of a native breed from the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul and rams of the same native breed as well as the Texel and Santa Inês genetic groups. The animals were raised in confinement until slaughter weight, from 28 to 32 kg. After slaughter, samples were taken from the skins for histological analysis. The skins were tanned with chromium, retanned and greased. It was taken from the leather samples for electromicrographs and for tests for tensile and tear strength (intrinsic quality). Morphological aspects from the skin as well as from the leather help to understand the results found and they evidence that breeds or crossings among breeds interfere in the intrinsic quality of leather and skin of sheep.

ResumoEstimações de parâmetros genéticos são importantes para o estudo de características a serem inseridas em programas de melhoramento de um grupo genético. Foram utilizadas 594 informações de pesos referentes a 211 cordeiros do grupo genético de ovinos naturalizados Sul-mato-grossenses pertencentes à Fundação Manoel de Barros, criadas no Centro Tecnológico de Ovinos (CTO) da Universidade Anhanguera-Uniderp localizado em Campo Grande-MS. A estimativa dos componentes de variância nas análises uni e bicaracter foi realizada por meio de inferência bayesiana. As estimativas de herdabilidades unicaracter variaram de 0,22 a 0,47 e bicaracter de 0,13 a 0,78. O efeito permanente de ambiente materno foi maior no peso ao nascimento (PN) e no ganho de peso do nascimento aos 50 dias (GP0-50) em 24,2% e 19,5%, respectivamente, da variação observada. As estimativas de herdabilidades, participação do efeito permanente de ambiente materno, correlações genéticas e fenotípicas indicaram que a seleção para ganho de peso do nascimento aos 90 dias implicaria em incrementos no peso aos 50 dias, peso aos 90 dias e ganho de peso dos 50 aos 90 dias (GP50-90) dos cordeiros com aumentos inexpressivos no PN e GP0-50. Palavras-chave: Correlação, herdabilidades, peso corporal, raças nativas AbstractEstimates of genetic parameters are important to study characteristics that are to be included in a breeding program of a genetic group. The information of 594 weights from 211 lambs of a genetic group of naturalized Sul-mato-grossenses sheep belonging to Manoel de Barros Foundation and breeding at Centro Tecnologico de Ovinos from Anhanguera-Uniderp University was used. The estimation of variance components in unicaracter and bicaracter analysis were carried out through Bayesian inference. Estimates of heritability ranged from unicaracter analyses (0.22 to 0.47) and

Muitas pessoas contribuíram para o desenvolvimento desta dissertação e merecem o reconhecimento devido. Estas foram fundamentais, especialmente nos momentos mais difíceis que passei, durante esse processo de escrita. Assim, destacarei a gentileza e colaboração daqueles que tornaram exequível esta pesquisa: Primeiramente destaco o incondicional apoio da minha família: Erlei, Dirceu e Rafael. Somente eles o sabiam o quanto a realização dessa pesquisa era (e é) importante pra mim, e, por isso, me apoiaram e me fortaleceram emocionalmente e afetivamente durante todo o processo. Também agradeço aos amigos próximos que muita força e incentivo me deram, particularmente, a Jéssica Coimbra, pela amizade iniciada ainda no primeiro semestre do curso de Filosofia da UFSM. Agradeço o grupo de colegas do mestrado, do Programa de Pós-graduação em Educação desta instituição, também em situação de desenvolvimento e defesa de suas pesquisas: Paulo, Dulce, Gabriella, Natali, Juliana, Patricio, Tainan e Laisa. Agradeço aos colegas de orientação e de orientadora: Paulo, Raquel, Jéssica Erd e Gilberto, por todo o apoio e sugestões dadas no desenvolvimento desta pesquisa. Agradeço a contribuição dos professores desta banca examinadora: Elisete, Samuel, Sueli e Cláudia. Seus apontamentos na banca de qualificação foram fundamentais para o desenvolvimento empírico desta pesquisa. E, por fim, agradeço enormemente as sugestões, orientações, críticas e o todo o apoio dado pela professora Elisete. Graças a ela, essa pesquisa se fez possível e materializável.