This Research aimed to evaluate the metabolic status and behavior changes during the transition period in dairy goats from three breeds, under tropical conditions. Thirty multiparous female goats were kept in pens, distributed randomly by breeds. Infrared cameras were fitted in the pens to monitor the animals, and its activities were recorded. Goats displayed varied idle, standing, walking, and feeding behaviors at kidding day ( P < 0.10) when compared with the days after and before. Agnostic interactions prevailed between 3.33 and 7.98% of the time on the day of kidding. There was a day effect for the exploratory activities ( P < 0.10), where the most exploratory activities were observed on the day of kidding. The milk production and fat content differed according to breed and lactation week. Collective pens for lactating goats, kept in a tropical environment, do not compromise the social behavior and welfare.

ContentsOxidative stress (OS) has been recognized as one of the most important causes of male infertility. The antioxidant activities of seminal plasma and epididymal fluid are not enough to prevent OS, which can damage sperm membranes and DNA, so antioxidant supplementation has been used as a treatment of male infertility. The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the DNA peroxidation before and after antioxidant supplementation with vitamin C and E in dogs with and without fertility problems. A total of eleven dogs were used and were divided in two groups: fertile group (G1), dogs with normal spermiogram (n = 5); subfertile group (G2): dogs with low sperm count (<20 9 10 6 sptz/ml) and/or more than 30% of total sperm pathology (n = 6). Both groups received 500 mg/ day of vitamin C and 500 mg/day of vitamin E for 60 days. A semen sample was collected before (M1) and after (M2) oral supplementation. Samples were analysed for DNA peroxidation by measuring the 8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine concentration. No significant difference was observed between groups at either time. Oral supplementation with 500 mg/day of vitamin C and 500 mg/day of vitamin E did not change the DNA peroxidation in fertile and subfertile dogs. IntroductionAlthough the traditional semen parameters like concentration, motility and morphology are often used to classify male infertility, it has become apparent that none of these are sufficient for the prediction of male fertility. During the last decade, the search for better predictors of male fertility has resulted in an increased focus on sperm DNA integrity (Bungum 2012). Oxidative stress (OS) has been associated with DNA damage to spermatozoa (Twigg et al. 1998). Spermatozoa are sensitive to OS because they possess limited endogenous antioxidant protection while presenting abundant substrates for free radical attack in the form of unsaturated fatty acids and DNA (Koppers et al. 2010). Peroxidation of DNA can lead to chromatin cross-linking, base changes and DNA strand breaks (Twigg et al. 1998); therefore, embryonic development and pregnancy rate can be influenced by the rate of peroxidation found in DNA (Fraga et al. 1991). The expanding research interest in the last two decades on reactive oxygen species (ROS), OS and male infertility has led to the development of various techniques for evaluating oxidative DNA damage in spermatozoa. Among various oxidative DNA adducts, 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) has been selected as a representative of oxidative DNA damage owing to its high specificity, potent mutagenicity and relative abundance in DNA. It offers a specific and quantitative biomarker on the extent of oxidative DNA damage caused by ROS in sperm (Shen and Ong 2000). For example, OS occurs when there is an imbalance between the concentrations of ROS and antioxidants and the freeze-thawing of spermatozoa is associated with an increase in ROS generation (Ball et al. 2001). It is believed that a dietary supplementation with antioxidants may reduce the sperm DNA damage even if sperm cells ...

No abstract

Due to the peculiarities of the reproductive cycle of the female dog, which makes it difficult to accurately ascertain the date of conception, it may be challenging to precisely estimate the gestational age in bitches. Using fetal measurements obtained by ultrasound, it is possible to estimate the gestational age in dogs; however, due to the differences in size of the various breeds, such estimates may have a significant standard deviation, which represents less accuracy when specifying the date of birth. The purpose of this study was to evaluate pregnant female Chihuahuas, establishing relations between the fetal dimensions measured by ultrasound and the remaining time until delivery. Using 13 pregnant female Chihuahuas, weekly ultrasound assessments and measurements were performed, of the inner chorionic cavity, cranial-caudal length, biparietal diameter, abdominal diameter and thoracic diameter. Such parameters were retroactively correlated to the date of delivery, and linear regressions were established between the gestational measurements and remaining days until delivery. The fetal measurement presenting the highest correlation (r = 0.99; P<0.0001) and reliability (R 2 = 0.98, P<0.0001) with the probable date of delivery was the biparietal diameter, a measurement that can be easily and safely obtained and, when applying a specific formula (Y =-15.46X1 + 38.72), can accurately predict the date of delivery in Chihuahua female dogs.

Objectives We compared the effects of two alpha (α)2-adrenergic agonists on semen traits. Methods In this study, 13 adult domestic cats were divided into two experimental groups, according to the chemical ejaculation protocol used: the first group received medetomidine hydrochloride (100 µg/kg) and ketamine (5000 µg/kg); the second group received dexmedetomidine hydrochloride (25 µg/kg) and ketamine (5000 µg/kg), both by the intramuscular route. Results The animals responded positively ( P >0.05) to chemical collection. Seminal parameters evaluated included volume, sperm vigor, total motility, progressive motility, sperm concentration, and the structural and functional integrity of the plasma membrane; sperm morphology values did not differ between groups ( P >0.05). Conclusions and relevance The results indicated that dexmedetomidine is a more viable and economical alternative to medetomidine in domestic cats submitted to semen collection by urethral catheterization. Semen collection by urethral catheterization after using α2-adrenergic agonists is a recently developed technique in feline species that is considered to be quick and highly applicable to assisted reproduction programs in felids.

Nove amostras de sêmen de dois caprinos adultos, colhidas com a utilização de vagina artificial, foram submetidas a criopreservação, com o objetivo de verificar o efeito do Equex STM Paste e do EDTA, adicionados a um diluidor a base de Tris-gema de ovo, sobre a viabilidade espermática pós-descongelação. Também foi objetivo desse trabalho, avaliar a utilização de um diluidor comercial, a base de lecitina de soja (Bioexcell® - IMV, L'Aigle, França), para a congelação do sêmen caprino. Assim, foram formados cinco grupos experimentais: TRIS; TRIS+EDTA; TRIS+EQUEX; TRIS+EQUEX+EDTA e Bioexcell. Logo depois da avaliação, o sêmen foi diluído nos diferentes meios e envasado em palhetas de 0,25 mL, com dose inseminante de 100 x 10(6) espermatozóides. As amostras foram submetidas ao resfriamento, com uma curva média de 0,46°C/min, até atingirem a temperatura de 5°C, mantidas por mais 75min em tempo de equilíbrio e, posteriormente, congeladas em nitrogênio líquido. A descongelação foi realizada em banho-maria a 37ºC por 50s. Não houve diferença (P>;0,05) entre as médias de motilidade total e progressiva, em relação aos grupos TRIS, TRIS+EQUEX e TRIS+EQUEX+EDTA. O grupo Bioexcell obteve o menor (P<0,05) percentual de espermatozóides com motilidade total e progressiva após a descongelação. Após o teste de termoresistência, as melhores (P<0,05) taxas de motilidade total e progressiva foram observadas para os grupos com Equex STM (TRIS+EQUEX e TRIS+EQUEX+EDTA). Assim, pode-se afirmar que a adição do Equex promove uma maior manutenção das taxas de viabilidade espermática após a descongelação, quando comparado com os diluidores que não o continham.

No abstract

No abstract