The phenotypic relationship between residual intake and gain and other feed efficiency traits in Nellore cattle

This study aimed to compare feed efficiency measures of Nellore beef cattle on different residual intake and gain (RIG) classes. We used data from 610 animals weighing on average 236.33 kg and average of 283 days of age from feedlot performance tests carried out between 2005 and 2012. Animals were grouped based on RIG into three different classes: high RIG (>?mean?+?0.5 standard deviation (SD), most efficient; n?=?193), medium RIG (mean?±?0.5 SD; n?=?235), and low RIG (<?mean – 0.5 SD, least efficient; n?=?182). Residual feed intake (RFI), residual gain (RG), feed conversion ratio (FCR), feed efficiency (FE), relative growth rate (RGR), and Kleiber ratio (KR) of animals in each RIG class were compared by Tukey test at 1% of probability. Phenotypic correlations between variables were evaluated as well. Animals on high RIG class showed lower dry matter intake (P?<?0.01) and higher average daily gain (P?<?0.01) than low RIG animals. Consequently, high RIG animals had lower FCR (P?<?0.01) and higher FE (P?<?0.01) than those animals in low RIG class. The most efficient animals based on RIG were also the most efficient animals based on RG and RFI. RIG was negatively correlated to dry matter intake (P?<?0.01) and FCR (P?<?0.01), and a positive correlation was found between RIG and FE (P?<?0.01). Therefore, RIG appears to be a good parameter to select animals with reduced dry matter intake and high productive performance.

     

Multivariate analysis for characteristics of heat tolerance in horses in Brazil

The environment in which the horse is reared affects its ability to maintain thermal balance which is in turn related to thermal characteristics and regulatory physiological mechanisms. In this study a multivariate analysis of physiological traits in relation to heat tolerance in horses was carried out in the Federal District, Brazil. The aim was to test the ability of these analyses to separate groups of animals and determine which physiological traits are most important in the adaptation to heat stress. Forty adult horses (4 to 13 years) were used, ten from each of four different genetic groups (English thoroughbred, Brazilian showjumper, crossbred and Breton). The traits examined included heart and breathing rate, rectal temperature as well as blood parameters. The data underwent multivariate statistical analysis including cluster, discriminate and canonical using Statistical Analysis System - SAS ® procedures CLUSTER, STEPDISC, CANCORR and DISCRIM. The tree diagram showed clear distances between groups studied and canonical analysis was able to separate individuals in groups. The discriminate analysis identified the variables which were most important in separating these groups. The multivariate analysis was able to separate the animals into groups with RR, HR and RT being important in this separation.     

Intake,digestibility, microbial protein production,and nitrogen balance of lambs fed with sorghum silage partially replaced with dehydrated fruit by-products

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The objective of this study was to evaluate intake, digestibility, microbial protein production, and nitrogen balance of lambs fed with different dehydrated...     

Multivariate analysis of heat tolerance characteristics in Santa Inês and crossbred lambs in the Federal District of Brazil

Heat tolerance is an important trait for deciding on which genetic resource to use on farms in tropical regions. Three genetic groups of lambs were evaluated by physical and physiological parameters related to adaptation and multivariate analyses used to test if these traits were efficient in separating the genetic groups and which traits were more important in this separation. Crossbred lambs were more similar to each other than to Santa Inês, in general; but individually there was an overlap between Ile de France and Santa Inês lambs. Size traits had higher canonical correlation with physiological variables, while rectal temperature, heart rate, and hemoglobin were more highly correlated with physical traits. Error rates using only physiological traits were high, suggesting that these are inefficient in separating groups of lambs for heat tolerance, while separation with physical traits was more efficient.     

Use of heat tolerance traits in discriminating between groups of sheep in central Brazil

The animal and its environment make up an integrated system, where each acts on the other. Tropical regions are characterized by high levels of solar radiation and environmental temperature which may adversely affect animal production. This study carries out a multivariate analysis of physical and physiological traits in sheep in the Federal District of Brazil to test the ability to separate groups of animals and determine which traits are most important in the adaptation of animal to heat stress. The variables studied included coat thickness, number and length of hairs, pigmentation of the skin and coat, number of sweat glands as well as heart and respiratory rates, rectal and skin temperatures, sweating rate, and blood parameters. Five groups of ten animals were used depending on breed (Bergamasca, crossbred, or Santa Inês) or coat color (Santa Inês—brown, white, and black). The data underwent multivariate statistical analyses including cluster, discriminate, and canonical, using Statistical Analysis System—SAS®. The tree diagram showed clear distances between groups studied and canonical analysis was able to separate individuals in groups, especially Bergamasca and white Santa Inês. The canonical correlation redundancy analysis showed that coat reflectance as well as hair length and number of hairs per unit area were the most useful in explaining changes in physiological traits. Skin and coat traits such as hair length, coat reflectance, percentage of epithelial area occupied by sweat glands, skin reflectance and thickness, as well as heart and breathing rates were the most important in separating these groups.

     

Determination of deltamethrin in cattle dipping baths by high-performance liquid chromatography

Deltamethrin (S)-alpha-cyano-3-phenoxybenzyl) (1R,3R)-3-(2, 2-dibromovinyl)-2,2-dimethylcyclopropane-1-carboxylate is classified as a pyrethroid pesticide that is largely used as an acaricide and scabicide. For bovines, especially, the treatment is done with the aid of dipping baths of the pyrethroid solution. Analytical control of the concentration of deltamethrin in these baths must be done periodically in order to guarantee treatment efficacy. In the proposed procedure, the sample is prepared by centrifugation followed by filtration and measurement by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with spectrophotometric detection at 275 nm. Separation is done in a Nucleosil C-18 column with acetonitrile-water as the mobile phase. A calibration curve was constructed with external standards, and a detection limit of 0.2 mg L(-)(1) was obtained. In the samples analyzed, only ca. 20% of the total deltamethrin content was found in the solution. The results obtained demonstrate the potential of the described procedure for the determination of deltamethrin in animal baths.     

Transoral approach for mandibular and sublingual sialoadenectomy in a cat

Sialocele is an uncommon condition in cats. The treatment of choice for sublingual sialocele is excision of the ipsilateral mandibular and sublingual salivary gland/duct complex. Lateral and ventral cervical approaches have been described for mandibular-sublingual sialoadenectomy; however, the transoral approach, described here, has never been reported in cats. Ranula in the present case was likely caused by an inadvertent trauma of the sublingual duct during resection of a sublingual lesion performed by the referring veterinarian. The definitive surgery consisted of mass removal and sialoadenectomy through a unique oral approach. The surgery was effective without complications encountered after 6 months of follow-up.Key clinical message:This article reports a novel, transoral approach, for mandibular and sublingual sialoadenectomy in the cat. This approach decreases the surgical time and prevents recurrence of the mucocele.     

Performance and ruminal protozoa in lambs with chromium supplementation

The effects of chromium picolinate (CrPic) oral supplementation on the performance and ruminal protozoa population in sheep was investigated. Twenty-four male lambs were treated with four different levels of CrPic: placebo, 0.250, 0.375 and 0.500 mg of chromium/animal/day during 84 days. The base ration was Panicum maximum cv Massai hay and concentrate. Feed intake was measured three times a week. Lambs were weighed every 2 weeks. Ruminal content was sampled five times during the trial to quantify ruminal protozoa. No difference (p > 0.05) between treatments was recorded for any parameter measured: initial and final mean body weight, dry matter intake, daily gain and total body weight gain. There was a negative linear relationship between Cr supplementation and protozoa count (p = 0.0013) with no additional decrease when CrPic supplemental levels were higher than 0.375 mg/day. Therefore, Cr supplementation must be carried out carefully and more studies need to address stressed animals or possible toxic effects of Cr in the animal itself or to the ruminal protozoa population.     

Determination of carbofuran in pesticide formulations by flow injection spectrophotometry

A flow injection spectrophotometric method for the determination of carbofuran in commercial pesticide formulations was developed. The determination involves on‐line hydrolysis of the extracted carbofuran at room temperature with sodium hydroxide. The resulting carbofuran‐phenol is coupled with diazotized 4‐aminobenzoic acid in order to achieve an appropriate selectivity and sensitivity for the spectrophotometric measurements. The calibration curve is linear over the range 1–10 mg litre⁻¹ of carbofuran. The proposed method has a detection limit of 0.15 mg litre⁻¹ of carbofuran and a sample frequency of 120 injections per hour. The relative standard deviation of six independent determinations of a sample containing 1 mg litre⁻¹ carbofuran was 0.6%. The suitability of the proposed procedure for the determination of carbofuran in commercial pesticide formulations was studied. The procedure provides results comparable to those obtained by liquid chromatographic analysis. © 2000 Society of Chemical Industry