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The use of cooled semen in artificial insemination operations results in higher pregnancy rates than the use of frozen semen. This result seems to be related to the more severe damage triggered by the freezing process than that observed during refrigeration. Due to its ability to bind to sperm-binding proteins and calcium ions, sodium caseinate has been studied as a substance capable of preventing early sperm capacitation, a significant cause of the decreased pregnancy rate resulting from the use of frozen semen. The first objective of this study was to evaluate whether a commercial egg yolk diluent developed for frozen bovine semen could be used for buffalo semen cryopreservation; the second objective was to investigate the effect of this diluent in combination with sodium caseinate during the procedures of buffalo sperm cryopreservation using flow cytometry and computer-assisted sperm analysis. In the first part of the study, comparing the results of spermatic kinetics and plasma and acrosomal membrane integrity, it was observed that the freezing process resulted in more cell damage than the cooling process. In the second part of the study, no effects of the addition of sodium caseinate to the egg yolk diluent were observed. From the results of the present study, it was possible to conclude that the egg yolk-based diluent was suitable for buffalo semen cryopreservation and that the addition of sodium caseinate did not decrease the harmful effects related to seminal cryopreservation.

Canids occupy the top of the food chain and are fundamental in sustaining a wild animal/environmental balance. South America, the most biodiverse continent, has 11 species of canids inhabiting diverse biomes, with or without overlapping territories. Although several species are threatened, little is known about their reproductive biology. Remarkably, basic knowledge regarding ejaculate characteristics, sexual behavior, female reproductive cycles, pregnancy and management, and parturition are scarce or absent. These gaps complicate or preclude development of conservation programs. This review compiles the current knowledge of the reproductive biology of South American canids and discusses implications of this scenario.

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Uterine torsion is considered an obstetric emergency. In severe cases, it compromises the survival of both the fetus and the dam. The purpose of the current report is to describe uterine torsion in an 8-year-old full-term pregnant Nelore cow, at 275 days of gestation, presenting physiological and behavioural changes for 12 hours. Physical examination revealed tachycardia, tachypnoea and mucoid vaginal discharge. On rectal examination, absent signs of fetal viability, increased ultrasonographic appearance of the uterine wall, separation of its layers and hyperechogenic placentomes showing rough borders were observed. Blood sample evaluation revealed biochemical changes. The postmortem examination confirmed severe uterine torsion with detachment of uterine wall layers and severe subendometrial haemorrhage. Haematology and biochemistry profiles and ultrasonographic findings were helpful in determining the severity of uterine damage. Ultrasound examination is a rapid, non-invasive and low-cost procedure that can be used to establish a prognosis while avoiding expensive and unsuccessful therapeutic approaches.