A total of 17 356 test-day milk yield (TDMY) records from 642 first lactations of Alpine goats were used to model variations in lactation curve using random regression models (RRM). Orthogonal Legendre polynomials and B-splines were evaluated in order to obtain adequate and parsimonious models for the estimation of genetic parameters. The analysis were performed using a single-trait RRM, including the additive genetic, permanent environmental and residual effects. We estimated the mean trend of milk yield, and the additive genetic and permanent environmental covariance functions through random regression using different orders of Orthogonal Legendre polynomial (three to six) and B-spline functions (linear, quadratic and cubic, with three to six knots). This study further evaluated different number of classes of residual variances. The covariance components and the genetic parameters were estimated using the Restricted Maximum Likelihood method. Heritability estimates presented similar trends for both functions. RRMs with a higher number of parameters better described the genetic variation of TDMY throughout the lactation. The most suitable RRM for genetic evaluation of TDMY of Alpine goats is a quadratic B-spline function with six knots, for the mean trend, curves of additive genetic and permanent environmental effects and five classes of residual variance.

Brazilian naturalized goat breeds are adapted to the semiarid conditions prevalent in the Northeast region of the country (which has the largest Brazilian goat heard) and represent an as yet uninvestigated source of genetic diversity. Currently, imported goat breeds are crossed with Brazilian naturalized goat breeds, endangering the genetic potential of the naturalized breeds. We used 11 microsatellite markers to determine the genetic diversity among imported (non-naturalized) dairy Alpine and Saanen goats and naturalized Brazilian Moxotó goats. We genotyped 292 goats from three herds (one private, one from the University of Minas Gerais and the Moxotó conservation herd from Embrapa Caprinos) and found that the general heterozygosity was 0.6952 for Alpine, 0.7043 for Saanen and 0.4984 for Moxotó goats. The number of alleles ranged from 5 (INRA005) to 11 (BM3205), with an average of 7 alleles per locus in the imported breeds and 3.5 alleles per locus in the Moxotó breed. Mean differentiation between populations was higher for herds (F ST S = 0.0768) than for breeds (F ST P = 0.0263), indicating similarity between the imported breeds and the existence of crosses between them. Nei's genetic distance was highest between the Moxotó breed and the imported breeds. These indicate that further studies using these molecular markers would be fruitful.

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ABSTRACT. Data from 1279 lactations of 783 Alpine and Saanen goats of the herd of our university in Minas Gerais, Brazil, were used to study environmental effects on and to estimate genetic parameters for milk production until 270 days of lactation (MP270) and for production and percentages of fat (PFAT and %FAT), protein (PPROT and %PROT), lactose (PLACT and %LACT), and total dry extract (PEXTR and %EXTR). Environmental effects were estimated by a statistical model that included contemporary group effect, type of kidding, genetic grouping, and kidding order. A multi-trait animal model with animal and permanent environment random effects was used to estimate genetic parameters and the significant environmental effects (fixed). Contemporary group influenced all traits; genetic grouping did not influence %LACT; type of kidding did not influence PFAT, %PROT or %LACT, and kidding order did not influence %FAT or %EXTR. Estimates of genetic correlations among MP270 and production of milk constituents were positive and high, but correlations between MP270 and %FAT, MP270 and %PROT, MP270 and %ESTR were moderate and negative. These heritability estimates show that satisfactory genetic gains can be obtained by selection, especially for milk constituents.

We proposed multiple-trait random regression models (MTRRM) combining different functions to describe milk yield (MY) and fat (FP) and protein (PP) percentage in dairy goat genetic evaluation by using Bayesian inference. A total of 3,856 MY, FP, and PP test-day records, measured between 2000 and 2014, from 535 first lactations of Saanen and Alpine goats, including their cross, were used in this study. The initial analyses were performed using the following single-trait random regression models (STRRM): third- and fifth-order Legendre polynomials (Leg3 and Leg5), linear B-splines with 3 and 5 knots, the Ali and Schaeffer function (Ali), and Wilmink function. Heterogeneity of residual variances was modeled considering 3 classes. After the selection of the best STRRM to describe each trait on the basis of the deviance information criterion (DIC) and posterior model probabilities (PMP), the functions were combined to compose the MTRRM. All combined MTRRM presented lower DIC values and higher PMP, showing the superiority of these models when compared to other MTRRM based only on the same function assumed for all traits. Among the combined MTRRM, those considering Ali to describe MY and PP and Leg5 to describe FP (Ali_Leg5_Ali model) presented the best fit. From the Ali_Leg5_Ali model, heritability estimates over time for MY, FP. and PP ranged from 0.25 to 0.54, 0.27 to 0.48, and 0.35 to 0.51, respectively. Genetic correlation between MY and FP, MY and PP, and FP and PP ranged from -0.58 to 0.03, -0.46 to 0.12, and 0.37 to 0.64, respectively. We concluded that combining different functions under a MTRRM approach can be a plausible alternative for joint genetic evaluation of milk yield and milk constituents in goats.

Follicles R5 mm were ablated at 4 day post-ovulation in heifers to induce a follicular wave, and prostaglandin F 2a was given at day 6 to increase the incidence of double ovulations. Follicle diameters and plasma hormone concentrations were compared between single ovulators (nZ12) and double ovulators (nZ8). In double ovulators, the interval from follicle deviation to the peak of the pre-ovulatory LH surge was shorter (1.9G0.2 vs 2.5G0.2 days; P!0.02) and diameter of the largest pre-ovulatory follicle was smaller (12.2G0.5 vs 13.3G0.3 mm; P!0.02). The LH concentrations of the pre-ovulatory surge did not differ between single and double ovulators for 24 h on each side of the peak. When data were normalised to LH peak, the peak of the pre-ovulatory FSH and oestradiol (E 2 ) surges occurred in synchrony with the peak of LH surge for both groups. Concentration of FSH for 24 h on each side of the peak showed a group effect (P!0.0001) from lower concentration in the double ovulators. A group-by-hour interaction (P!0.008) for E 2 reflected greater concentration in the double ovulators before and at the peak. Results indicated that two pre-ovulatory follicles resulted in an earlier and greater E 2 increase, leading to lower FSH concentration, an earlier LH surge, and ovulation at a smaller diameter. In conclusion, the difference in hormone concentrations during the pre-ovulatory period was an effect rather than a cause of double ovulations.

RESUMO -Objetivou-se aplicar um modelo de simulação para avaliação bioeconômica de estratégias de alimentação para rebanhos leiteiros e avaliar a produtividade física e a eficiência bioeconômica de sistemas de alimentação com diversas estratégias de alimentação à base de volumosos para vacas de cinco níveis de produção de leite. Utilizou-se uma plataforma computacional desenvolvida com os programas CNCPS v.5.0 e planilhas eletrônicas do Microsoft Excell ® , de forma a simular a produção e as exigências de nutrientes de uma lactação completa para vacas de diferentes níveis de produção. Foram realizadas análises econômicas em sete estratégias de alimentação. A avaliação da receita subtraída dos custos com alimentação (RMCA) comprovou interação entre a estratégia de alimentação e o nível de produção de leite. As estratégias com alimentação à base de silagem de milho durante a época da seca e pastagens na época das águas resultaram em maiores RMCA para todos os níveis de produção de leite, apesar de as demais estratégias apresentarem resultados próximos dependendo do nível de produção de leite. Nas estratégias avaliadas, quanto maior a produção de leite por vaca maior a produtividade (PROD/ha) e a RMCA por área (RMCA/ha). Quanto maior a capacidade de suporte dos volumosos, ou quanto maior a taxa de lotação que determinada área foi submetida, considerando determinada estratégia de alimentação e determinado nível de produção de leite, maior a PROD/ha e RMCA/ha. Para a RMCA por vaca, volumosos de maior densidade energética resultam em diminuição dos custos de alimentação e aumento da receita por animal. A RMCA/ha é fortemente influenciada pela capacidade de suporte das forrageiras em todos os níveis de produção.Palavras-chave: bovinos de leite, eficiência bioeconômica, simulação Bioeconomic evaluation of feeding strategies in milk production systems. Production per animal and per areaABSTRACT -This work was carried out to apply a simulation model for the bioeconomic evaluation of feeding strategies for dairy herds and evaluate the physical productivity and the bioeconomic efficiency of feeding systems for dairy cows using feeding forage based strategies for cows with five levels of milk yield. An computational platform developed with the programs CNCPS v5.0 and electronic spreadsheets of Microsoft Excell ® was used, in way to simulate the production and demands of nutrients of a complete lactation for cows of different milk yield levels. Economic analyses in seven strategies of feeding were carried out. The income over feed costs (RMCA) showed interaction among the feeding strategy with the milk yield levels. The strategies based on corn silage during the dry season and pastures during rain season resulted in higher RMCA for all milk yield levels, although the other feeding strategies present closed results, depending on the milk yield level. In the evaluated strategies, as higher was the milk yield per cow, greater was the productivity (PROD/ha) and the RMCA per area (RMCA/ha). As higher was the carrying capacity of f...

RESUMO -Os objetivos do presente estudo foram a caracterização do padrão nictemeral do pH ruminal e a avaliação do comportamento alimentar de cabras leiteiras alimentadas com dietas compostas por diferentes relações volumoso:concentrado. Foram utilizadas cinco cabras, com peso médio de 58 kg, não-lactantes, não-gestantes, fistuladas no rúmen, em cinco períodos experimentais. Cada animal foi observado em cada um dos cinco tratamentos, que consistiram das relações volumoso:concentrado de 100: 0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60 e 20:80, em um delineamento em quadrado latino 5×5. As dietas foram fornecidas a cada 6 horas, buscando amenizar a variação dos níveis de pH ruminal, durante o período de 24 horas, para todos os tratamentos. Após a adaptação dos animais às dietas experimentais, estes foram observados por um período de 48 horas, no qual foi mensurado o pH ruminal a cada hora, bem como em outro período de mesma duração, em que se observou o comportamento a cada 10 minutos. Foi constatado que o nível de concentrado crescente resultou em decréscimo sobre o pH, cujos valores decresceram mais drasticamente em níveis acima de 60%. Observou-se também o efeito de tratamento sobre tempo de alimentação, ruminação e ócio. O tempo de alimentação foi maior para as dietas contendo valores acima de 60% de volumoso. A dieta contendo 100% de volumoso apresentou maior tempo de ruminação e menor ócio, seguida das dietas contendo 80 e 60% de volumoso, enquanto aquelas contendo 40 e 20% apresentaram menor tempo de ruminação e maior ócio.Palavras-chave: caprinos, etologia, pH ruminal, fibra Nictemeral Pattern of Ruminal pH and Feeding Behavior of Dairy Goats Fed Diets with Different Roughage to Concentrate RatioABSTRACT -The objectives of the present study were to characterize nictemeral pattern of ruminal pH and feed behavior of dairy goats fed diets presenting different ratios of roughage:concentrate. Five non pregnant non lactating goats, ruminally cannulated, and averaging 58 kg were used during the five experimental periods. A 5x5 Latin square was used to evaluate five treatments consisted of roughage to concentrate ratio of 100:0, 80:20, 60:40, 40:60 e 20:80. Diets were fed every 6h in order to reduce ruminal pH variation during the 24h period. After adaptation to experimental diets, a 48h period was given to measure ruminal pH hourly for 24h, to be used as a covariate, following a study of feeding behavior where measurement was taken at every 10 minutes for the remaining 24h period. It was observed that increasing level of concentrate resulted in reduction of pH, especially when concentrate accounted for more than 60%. Treatment effect was also observed on time spent eating, ruminating and idling. Time spent eating was greater as percentage of roughage in the diet increased, especially over 60%. Roughage content of 100% presented the highest value of rumination time and the lowest value for idle, following diets containing 80 e 60% respectively. There were no difference between diets containing 40 e 20% roughage, which presented the l...