Genetic parameters for cattle's growth characteristics were estimated in Romosinuano creole breed cattle forming part of the Turipaná research centre's conservation program , located in the Valle del Sinú (Córdoba, Colombia). A univariate animal model was used for production characteristics such as birth weight (BW), weaning weight (WW, adjusted at 270 days), 16-month weight (16m W), daily weaning weight gain (DWWG) and daily weight gain at 16 months (DWG16m). Mean heritability values were 0.28, 0.43 and 0.38 for BW, WW, 16m W, respectively. Mean DWWG was 0.42 and 16m W was 0.20. Direct heritability values were always greater than maternal heritability values; correlation between direct and maternal effects consistently presented negative values. Annual mean genetic values for direct effects always presented a growing tendency compared to maternal effects which revealed a decreasing tendency (except for BW). The results presented acceptable heritability values for the aforementioned parameters whilst the tendency indicated slight genetic progress, in spite of being a nucleus for conservation aimed at preserving genetic variability. Parámetros y tendencias genéticas para características de crecimiento en el ganado criollo colombiano Romosinuano R E S U M E N Se estimaron los parámetros genéticos para características de crecimiento en un núcleo de bovinos de la raza criolla Romosinuano que forman parte del Programa de Conservación del Centro de Investigación Turipaná, localizado en el Valle del Sinú (Córdoba, Colombia). Fue utilizado un modelo animal univariado para las características productivas de 'peso al nacimiento' (PN), 'peso al destete' (PD, ajusta-do a los 270 días), 'peso a los 16 meses' (P16m), 'ganancia diaria de peso al destete' (GPD) y 'ganancia diaria de peso a los 16 meses' (GP16m). Se obtuvieron valores de heredabilidad total medios (0,28; 0,43 y 0,38 para PN, PD, P16m, respectivamente); así mismo, se obtuvo un valor medio para GPD (0,42) y un valor bajo para GP16m (0,20). Los valores de heredabilidad directa siempre fueron mayores que los valores de heredabilidad materna y la correlación entre efectos directos y maternos presentó valores negativos consistentemente. Los valores genéticos anuales promedio para los efectos directos presentaron siempre una tendencia creciente a diferencia de los efectos maternos que mostraron una tendencia decreciente, con excepción del PN. Los resultados muestran valores de heredabilidad aceptables para los parámetros mencionados, mientras la tendencia indica un progreso genético leve pese a ser un núcleo de conservación cuyo objeto es preservar la variabilidad genética. Palabras clave: ganado criollo, Romosinuano, parámetros genéticos.
Background: Diets combine food types according to some trade-offs, as for example maximising nutrients and minimising toxins. But some diets include elements because of their activity against the host parasites and other pathogens. This so-called medicinal role of food is under-reported in the literature, either because toxic elements in diets of livestock and wildlife are infrequent, or because their activity against parasites and pathogens has not been fully documented. We contribute to fill this knowledge gap by testing the activity of extracts and essential oils from Papaver rhoeas and Echium plantagineum against a selection of laboratory pathogens. These plants are strongly selected by great bustards Otis tarda during the mating season. Results: During this season we found a significantly higher frequency of P. rhoeas in male than in female faeces. The activity of different extracts of these plants against some laboratory models including a flagellated protozoan (Trichomonas gallinae), a nematode (Meloidogyne javanica) and a fungus (Aspergillus niger) was evaluated. We found activity against nematodes and trichomonads in non-polar and polar extracts of the aerial parts of P. rhoeas, especially the extracts of flowers and capsules, and E. plantagineum, especially the extracts of leaves and flowers.Conclusions: Both plants showed anti-parasitic activity, a result compatible with the hypothesis that great bustards eat plants for non-nutritional purposes, likely to assist them in coping with parasites and other pathogens, and P. rhoeas could be especially helpful for males during the mating season, when their immune system is weakened by the investment in secondary sexual characters and sexual display. The self-medication properties of plants and animals included in diets should be considered in studies of foraging behaviour, habitat selection, and even conservation biology of wildlife.
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