Proteins are the major constituents of muscle and are key molecules regulating the metabolic changes during conversion of muscle to meat. Brazil is one of the largest exporters of beef and most Brazilian cattle are composed by zebu (Nellore) genotype. Bos indicus beef is generally leaner and tougher than Bos taurus such as Angus. The aim of this study was to compare the muscle proteomic and phosphoproteomic profile of Angus and Nellore. Seven animals of each breed previously subjected the same growth management were confined for 84 days. Proteins were extracted from Longissimus lumborum samples collected immediately after slaughter and separated by two-dimensional electrophoresis. Pro-Q Diamond stain was used in phosphoproteomics. Proteins identification was performed using matrix assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry. Tropomyosin alpha-1 chain, troponin-T, myosin light chain-1 fragment, cytoplasmic malate dehydrogenase, alpha-enolase and 78 kDa glucose-regulated protein were more abundant in Nellore, while myosin light chain 3, prohibitin, mitochondrial stress-70 protein and heat shock 70 kDa protein 6 were more abundant in Angus (P<0.05). Nellore had higher phosphorylation of myosin regulatory light chain-2, alpha actin-1, triosephosphate isomerase and 14-3-3 protein epsilon. However, Angus had greater phosphorylation of phosphoglucomutase-1 and troponin-T (P<0.05). Therefore, proteins involved in contraction and muscle organization, myofilaments expressed in fast or slow-twitch fibers and heat shock proteins localized in mitochondria or sarcoplasmic reticulum and involved in cell flux of calcium and apoptosis might be associated with differences in beef quality between Angus and Nellore. Furthermore, prohibitin appears to be a potential biomarker of intramuscular fat in cattle. Additionally, differences in phosphorylation of myofilaments and glycolytic enzymes could be involved with differences in muscle contraction force, susceptibility to calpain, apoptosis and postmortem glycolysis, which might also be related to differences in beef quality among Angus and Nellore.

The use of digital images could be a faster and cheaper alternative technique to assess BW, HCW, and body composition of beef cattle. The objective of this study was to develop equations to predict body and carcass weight and body fat content of young bulls using digital images obtained through a Microsoft Kinect device. Thirty-five bulls with an initial BW of 383 (±5.38) kg (20 Black Angus, 390 [±7.48] kg initial BW, and 15 Nellore, 377 [±8.66] kg initial BW) were used. The Kinect sensor, installed on the top of a cattle chute, was used to take infrared light-based depth videos, recorded before the slaughter. For each animal, a quality control was made, running and pausing the video at the moment that the animal was standing with its body and head in line. One frame from recorded videos was selected and used to analyze the following body measurements: chest width, thorax width, abdomen width, body length, dorsal height, and dorsal area. From these body measurements, 23 indexes were generated and tested as potential predictors. The BW and HCW were assessed with a digital scale, whereas empty body fat (EBF) was estimated through ground samples of all tissues. To better understand the relationship among the measurements, the correlations between final BW (488 [±10.4] kg), HCW (287 [±12.5] kg), EBF (14 [±0.610] % empty BW) content, body measurements (taken through digital images), and developed indexes were evaluated. The REG procedure was used to develop the regressions, and the important independent variables were identified using the options STEPWISE and Mallow's Cp in the SELECTION statement. Chest width was the trait most related to weights and the correlations between this measurement and BW and HCW were above 0.85. The analysis of linear regressions between observed and predicted values showed that all models pass through the origin and have a slope of unity (null hypothesis [H]: = 0 and = 1; ≥ 0.993). The models to estimate BW and HCW of Angus and Nellore presented between 0.69 and 0.84 ( < 0.001), whereas from equations to estimate the EBF were lower ( = 0.43-0.45; ≤ 0.006). Index I5 [(chest width) × body length], related to the animal volume, was significant in all models created to estimate BW and HCW, and it explained more than 70% of the variation. This study indicates that digital images taken through a Microsoft Kinect system have the potential to be used as a tool to estimate body and carcass weight of beef cattle.

Chlordecone (Kepone) (CLD) is a highly persistent pesticide which was extensively used in the French West Indies; high levels of CLD can still currently be found in large agricultural areas. As CLD transfers from soil to animals mainly via involuntary ingestion, the consumption of foodstuffs derived from animals raised in contaminated areas may significantly contribute to exposure of humans to CLD. The present study was designed to test the efficacy of two different activated carbons (ACs) sources in limiting CLD transfer from soil to animal. Three soils (ASs) were prepared according to the OECD guideline 207. One standard soil (SS) lacking AC, and two modified preparations of SS supplemented with 2% coconut-based activated carbon (ORBO), SSO or with 2% lignite-based one (DARCO), SSD. All three soils were spiked with 10 μg of kepone per g of dry matter and aged for three weeks. This study involved 15 goat kids randomly assigned to the 3 experimental groups (n = 5/ group), which were fed the experimental matrices at an exposure dose of 10 μg CLD per kg of body weight per day. After 21 d of oral exposure, CLD in adipose tissue and liver were analysed by LC-MS-MS. A significant decrease of 63.7% and 74.7% of CLD concentrations in adipose tissue and liver, respectively, were obtained from animals exposed using SS containing DARCO as compared to those receiving only SS. Decreases in CLD levels of 98.2% (adipose tissue) and 98.7% (liver) were obtained for animals exposed using SS containing ORBO. This study leads us to conclude that (i) the presence of AC in CLD-contaminated soil strongly reduces CLD bioavailability, and (ii) the efficacy depends on the nature and characteristics of the AC used.

No abstract

Non-invasive methods for estimating body composition to monitor nutritional status in goats have been less studied. Therefore, this study estimated the body composition and fat depots of pregnant goats by using indirect measurements, such as bodyweight (BW) and ultrasound measurements of the Longissimus muscle area (LMA) and kidney fat thickness (KFT). Forty-three pregnant goats were slaughtered at 50, 80, 110 and 140 days of gestation to determine the gross energy and fat content in the body, as well as to obtain the mass of renal fat, omental fat and non-carcass fat. After the slaughter, the mass of fat depots was recorded and the whole body of the each animal was ground to take samples for determining gross energy (using a bomb calorimeter) and fat (Soxhlet extraction with ether). Animals were weighed, and ultrasonographic measurements were taken at the time of slaughter. The LMA and KFT measurements were taken between the 12th and 13th rib and after the 13th rib space, respectively, and these measurements were used to estimate total gross energy, body fat content and the renal fat, omental fat and non-carcass fat mass. Multiple regressions were performed using Proc mixed of SAS. No significant correlation was observed between gross energy and body fat composition, the number of fetuses or the days of gestation. LMA and BW were positively related to body fat and gross energy contents. KFT and BW showed a positive correlation with renal fat depots, omental fat content and non-carcass fat mass. The estimated models revealed that the total body fat increased from 15.6% to 20.8% of bodyweight from 50 to 140 days of gestation. This report is the first study using kidney fat thickness as a tool to predict fat depots in goats. LMA, BW and KFT measurements will enable the development of models to aid in the monitoring of the nutritional status of goats during pregnancy.

No abstract

Resumo: Foram submetidos à necropsia 28 cães e 11 gatos, provenientes dos canis municipais de Araraquara, Cosmorama, Jaboticabal, Pontal, Sertãozinho e Taiúva, Estado de São Paulo. Os animais, machos ou fêmeas, sem raça definida, de diferentes faixas etárias e naturalmente infectados por parasitos, foram alocados no "Setor de Cães e Gatos" do CPPAR -Centro de Pesquisas em Sanidade Animal -UNESP, durante cinco dias (período de adaptação), recebendo água e ração "ad libitum". O sacrifício dos animais foi efetuado de acordo com os procedimentos anestésicos recomendados pelas normas éticas utilizadas na pesquisa científica. Nos cães, 1010 helmintos foram diagnosticados. A ocorrência e amplitude de infecção foram: Toxocara canis (71,43% e 0 -58), Ancylostoma caninum (67,86% e 0 -77), Ancylostoma braziliense (57,14% e 0 -117), Dipylidium caninum (42,86% e 0 -73) e Physaloptera praeputialis (3,57% e 0 -1). Dos 750 helmintos diagnosticados nos felinos, a distribuição de acordo com a ocorrência e amplitude de infecção foi: A.caninum (100% e 3 -275), D. caninum (54,54% e 0 -33), Hydatigera taeniformis (45,45% e 0 -45), P. praeputialis (54,54% e 0 -20) e Platynosomum fastosum (27,27% e 0 -5). Palavras-chaves: helmintos, cães, gatos.Abstract: Twenty eight dogs and 11 cats from São Paulo State Municipalities (Araraquara, Cosmorama, Jaboticabal, Pontal, Sertãozinho and Taiuva cities) were submeeted to nechropsy. The animals, males and females, no defined race, with different ages and naturally infected by parasites were transported to the CPPAR -Centro de Pesquisas em Sanidade Animal -UNESP. After a five days period, in which the animals have recived water and ration "ad libitum", they were killed under normal ethic anesthetic scientific research procedures. A total of 1010 parasites were identified in the dogs, with the following occurrence and infection range: Toxocara canis (71,43% and 0 to 58%); Ancylostoma caninum (76,14% and 0 to 77), Ancylostoma braziliense (57,14% and 0 to 117); Dipylidium caninum (42,86% and 0 to 73) and Physaloptera praeputialis (3,57% and 0 to 1). Among the 750 helminths identified in the felidae the occurrence and infection range were: A.caninum (100% and 3 to 275), D. caninum (54,54% and 0 to 33), Hydatigera taeniformis (45,45% and 0 to 45), P. praeputialis (54,54% and 0 to 20) and Platynosomum fastosum (27,27% and 0 to 5).

O largo crescimento do setor de agronegócios no Brasil tem estimulado mudanças nos sistemas produtivos, tanto na intensificação, como na profissionalização da produção. Dessa forma, os produtores têm buscado estratégias para melhor atender aos desafios da atividade pecuária atual, dentre as quais se destacam as inovações tecnológicas que devem resultar em comprovado benefício à atividade, seja pelo aumento em produtividade, seja pela melhoria na qualidade dos produtos, seja pela conscientização do respeito ao meio ambiente. Assim como em outros segmentos do agronegócio brasileiro, na caprinocultura existe uma demanda crescente pela aplicação de inovações tecnológicas, uma vez que o sistema produtivo precisa ser mais competitivo para se manter no mercado. Dentre as inovações tecnológicas aplicadas na caprinocultura, foram abordadas as mais relevantes nas áreas de reprodução (desde métodos para indução de cio até a prática da transgenia), melhoramento genético (biogenética), sanidade (inovações no diagnóstico e prevenção de doenças de maior impacto na criação), nutrição (inovações nos sistemas de alimentação) e tratamento de dejetos (diminuição de contaminantes no ambiente). A utilização conjunta das inovações tecnológicas nos diferentes segmentos associados à cadeia produtiva caprina pode fazer com que ocorram melhorias nos rebanhos assim como nos produtos gerados.