Steers performance in dwarf elephant grass pastures alone or mixed with Arachis pintoi

The inclusion of legumes in pasture reduces the need for mineral nitrogen applications and the pollution of groundwater; however, the agronomic and animal husbandry advantages with tropical legumes are still little known. The objective of this study was to quantify the effect of the use of forage peanut (Arachis pintoi cv. Amarillo) in dwarf elephant grass pastures (Pennisetum purpureum cv. BRS Kurumi) on forage intake and animal performance. The experimental treatments were dwarf elephant grass fertilized with 200 kg?N/ha, and dwarf elephant grass mixed with forage peanut without mineral fertilizers. The animals used for the experiment were 12 Charolais steers (body weight (BW)?=?288?±?5.2 kg) divided into four lots (two per treatment). Pastures were managed under intermittent stocking with an herbage allowance of 5.4 kg dry matter of green leaves/100 kg BW. Dry matter intake (mean?=?2.44 % BW), the average daily gain (mean?=?0.76 kg), and the stocking rate (mean?=?3.8 AU/ha) were similar between the studied pastures, but decreased drastically in last grazing cycle with the same herbage allowance. The presence of peanut in dwarf elephant grass pastures was enough to sustain the stocking rate, but did not allow increasing forage intake and animal performance.     

Effect of Removing Seminal Plasma Using a Sperm Filter on the Viability of Refrigerated Stallion Semen

Cooling of equine semen obtained from some stallions results in lower seminal quality and viability when the seminal plasma (SP) is present. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of the removal of SP using a Sperm Filter on the viability of cooled stallion semen. For this purpose, 31 stallions were used. Their ejaculates were divided into three groups: CN, semen was diluted with an extender; FLT, SP was removed by filtration; and CT, SP was removed by centrifugation and cooled to 15°C for 24 hours. Sperm kinetics and plasma membrane integrity were evaluated immediately after collection (T0) and after 24 hours of refrigeration (T1). No difference (P > .05) was noted at T1 for total sperm motility (TM), progressive sperm motility, or plasma membrane integrity when semen samples from all the stallions were analyzed. However, when samples from stallions termed “bad coolers” were analyzed (TM = <30% at T1), a difference was observed in TM and progressive sperm motility for CN compared with FLT and CT at T1. Sperm recovery was greater when SP was removed using the filter (FLT) to that when the SP was removed by centrifugation (CN) (89% vs. 81%). Thus, we concluded that filtering with a Sperm Filter is an efficient and practical method for removal of SP from stallion ejaculates, with lower sperm loss than centrifugation. We also found that the presence of SP reduces the quality and viability of cooled semen from stallions whose semen is sensitive to the process of refrigeration.     

Tomato spotted wilt virus triggers specific and shared defense mechanisms in hypersensitive and susceptible Solanaceae hosts

In situ and in vitro techniques were employed to investigate the metabolic changes caused by Tomato spotted wilt virus in hypersensitive and susceptible hosts; Petunia hybrida and Nicotiana tabacum, respectively. In petunia, H₂O₂ accumulation preceded increased peroxidase and shikimate dehydrogenase activity at local lesion sites. In systemic tobacco plants, peroxidase activity was induced prior to symptom onset and the activity of shikimate dehydrogenase was disrupted upon viral infection. Taken together, our data suggest that reactive oxygen species-based mechanisms of defense are shared by hypersensitive and susceptible hosts, although downstream components and regulatory mechanisms are distinct.     

Use of a serum-free medium to produce in vitro Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii tachyzoites on Vero cells

Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii are cyst-forming coccidian parasites of human and veterinary clinical relevance. In vitro cultivation of the protozoans using Vero cells is usually performed in order to produce antigenic materials. Quantitative and qualitative comparisons of Vero cells grown in RPMI medium supplemented either with foetal calf serum (FCS), horse serum (HS) or a specific serum-free additive (DefCell) were performed. A serum-free cell culture system used to propagate N. caninum (NC-1 isolate) and T. gondii tachyzoites (Rh stain) were compared with the other two cell culture systems. FCS supplemented media was found to be more effective than the others in promoting Vero cells and N. caninum tachyzoites. However, it was found unable to support adequate T. gondii tachyzoite proliferation. Vero cells, T. gondii and N. caninum tachyzoite production gave similar growth patterns with either HS or DefCell supplemented media. Defcell was considered as a good alternative to supplement culture medium.     

Morphometric measurements and zootechnical indices of the Pantanal in race horses of different ages and gender

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The aim of this study was to perform linear measurements and assess morphometric indices of equines of the Pantanal race of different ages in the...     

Productive performance and reproductive characteristics of Morada Nova male lambs fed with high-energy diet

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Morada Nova breed sheep are without wool, tropicalized, small-sized animals, known for their high-quality meat and skin. Their body development naturally...     

Cactus cladodes associated with urea and sugarcane bagasse: an alternative to conserved feed in semi-arid regions

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutritional value of different roughage sources as an exclusive feed for goats and sheep from the...     

Lactation performance of the White Fulani cattle in Southern Nigeria

Summary Data on the lactation performance of the White Fulani cattle in Southern Nigeria were analysed. The first lactation yield over a mean lactation period of 230.68 ± 2.25 days averaged 810.89 ± 32.11 kg, while overall lactation yields averaged 1018.28 ± 18.10 kg over a mean lactation period of 249.67 ± 3.28 days. The year of calving was a significant source of variation in both first and overall lactation yields but season of calving had no significant effect on lactation yield. Lactation yield and length were positively correlated. Heritabilities of 0.26 ± 0.06 and 0.51 ± 0.05 were obtained for lactation yield and length respectively from half-sib analysis while the repeatability estimates were 0.32 ± 0.04 and 0.21 ± 0.04 respectively. There was little difference in performance of the White Fulani cattle under the humid conditions of Southern Nigeria compared to the semi-arid conditions of the north.

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Potencialidad Para La Produccion De Leche Del Ganado White Fulani En El Sur De Nigeria

Resumen Se analizaron datos de lactación del ganado White Fulani en el Sur de Nigeria. La primera lactación sobre un período medio de 230·68 ± 2·25 días promedió 810·89 ± 32·11 kg, mientras que el producto total de la lactación general promedió 1018·28 ± 18·10 kg sobre un período medio de 249·67 ± 3·28 días. El año de parición se constituyó en una feuente significativa de variación sobre la producción de la primera lactación y de la producción general, pero la estación de parición no tuvo un efecto significativo sobre el producto lácteo. La producción láctea y la duración de la misma se correlacionaron positivamente. Se obtuvieron heredabilidades de 0·26 ± 0·06 y 0·51 ± 0·05 en cuanto a la producción láctea y duración de la misma respectivamente mediante análisis medio hermana, mientras que los estimativos de repetibilidad furon 0·32 ± 0·04 y 0·21 ± 0·04 respectivamente. Hubo pequeñas diferencias en el comportamiento productivo del ganado White Fulani bajo condiciones húmedas en el Sur de Nigeria comparado al rendimiento obtenido en condiciones semiáridas del Norte.

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Performances Laitieres Du Betail White Fulani Dans Le Sud Nigeria

Résumé On a analysé les données du rendement laitier du bétail White Fulani dans le sud Nigéria. Le rendement de la première lactation sur une période de lactation de 230,68±2,25 jours est en moyenne de 810,89 ± 32,11 kg, tandis que la lactation totale produit en moyenne 1018,28 ± 18,10 kg sur une péroide moyenne de lactation de 249,67 ± 3,28 jours. L'année de vêlage est une source importante de variation pour les rendements de la première et de la lactation globale, mais la saison du velage n'a qu'un effet insignifiant sur le rendement. La durée et le rendement de la lactation sont corrélés positivement. Des kératabilités de 0,26 ± 0,06 et 0,51 ± 0,05 ont été respectivement obtenues pour le rendement et la durée de la lactation à partir des analyses half-sib (demi soeur), tandis que les estimations de répétition sont de 0,32 ± 0,04 et 0,21 ± 0,04 respectivement. Il n'y a que peu de différence des performances du bétail White Fulani dan l'environnement humide du Sud-Nigéria par rapport aux conditions semi-arides du Nord.