Assessing foraging strategies of herbivores in Mediterranean oak woodlands: a review of key issues and selected methodologies

Montados are agro-silvo-pastoral ecosystems, typical of the Southwest Iberian Peninsula, of high socio-economic and conservation importance, where grazing is a dominant activity. Montados are characterized by an open tree canopy of Quercus sp. and a diverse undercover of shrubs and grasslands that constitute the plant food resources for grazing animals. Plant food resources of Montados are highly variable, both spatially and seasonally, in quantity and quality. Reliable and easy to use methods to monitor grazing are necessary to allow proper understanding of foraging strategies of grazing animals and to set sustainable grazing management. We describe the main characteristics of the plant food resources available for grazing animals, striking its variability, and revise the potential of using N-alkanes and saliva proteome methods to assess foraging strategies in Montados. In a scenario of dynamic multiple choices, we discuss the use of n-alkane methodology for the simultaneous estimation of diet composition and voluntary intake and saliva proteome as a mean of increasing the knowledge on diet adjustments.     

Evaluation of electrical nerve stimulation for epidural catheter positioning in the dog

ObjectiveTo evaluate the accuracy of epidural catheter placement at different levels of the spinal cord guided solely by electrical nerve stimulation and resultant segmental muscle contraction.Study designProspective, experiment.AnimalsSix male and two female Beagles, age (1 ± 0.17 years) and weight (12.9 ± 1.1 kg).MethodsAnimals were anesthetized with propofol and maintained with isoflurane. An insulated epidural needle was used to reach the lumbosacral epidural space. A Tsui epidural catheter was inserted and connected to a nerve stimulator (1.0 mA, 0.1 ms, 2 Hz) to assess positioning of the tip at specific spinal cord segments. The catheter was advanced to three different levels of the spinal cord: lumbar (L2–L5), thoracic (T5–T10) and cervical (C4–C6). Subcutaneous needles were previously placed at these spinal levels and the catheter was advanced to match the needle location, guided only by corresponding muscle contractions. Catheter position was verified by fluoroscopy. If catheter tip and needle were at the same vertebral body a score of zero was assigned. When catheter tip was cranial or caudal to the needle, positive or negative numbers, respectively, corresponding to the number of vertebrae between them, were assigned. The mean and standard deviation of the number of vertebrae between catheter tip and needle were calculated to assess accuracy. Results are given as mean ± SD.ResultsThe catheter position in relation to the needle was within 0.3 ± 2.0 vertebral bodies. Positive predictive values (PPV) were 57%, 83% and 71% for lumbar, thoracic and cervical regions respectively. Overall PPV was 70%. No significant difference in PPV among regions was found.Conclusion and clinical relevancePlacement of an epidural catheter at specific spinal levels using electrical nerve stimulation was feasible without radiographic assistance in dogs. Two vertebral bodies difference from the target site may be clinically acceptable when performing segmental epidural regional anesthesia.     

Performance, growth, and maturity of Nellore bulls

The objectives of this study were to evaluate the dry matter intake (DMI), digestibility, average daily gain (ADG), microbial efficiency, empty body weight (EBW) gain, and body composition of Nellore bulls. Additionally, Nellore bull maturity was estimated, and the prediction equation for DMI, suggested by the Brazilian nutrient requirements system (BR CORTE; Azevêdo et al. 2010), was evaluated. Thirty-three Nellore bulls, with a mean initial weight of 259?±?25 kg and age of 14?±?1 months, were used in this study. Five animals were slaughtered at the beginning of the experiment (control group), and the remaining 28 were divided into 4 groups, each slaughtered at 42-day intervals. Their diet was composed of corn silage and concentrate (55:45). The power model was used to estimate muscle tissue, bone tissue, crude protein (CP), mineral matter (MM), and water present in the empty body, while the exponential model was used to estimate adipose tissue and ether extract (EE) present in the empty body. When expressed in kilograms per day, differences were observed (P?<?0.05) only for the intake of EE and neutral detergent fiber as a function of feedlot time periods. Although there was a difference in relation to nutrient intake, it did not affect (P?>?0.05) digestibility, with the exception of EE digestibility. The equation suggested by BR CORTE correctly estimates the DMI of Nellore bulls. ADG was not affected (P?>?0.05) by time spent in the feedlot. No differences were observed (P?>?0.05) for microbial efficiency; a mean value of 142 g microbial crude protein/kg total digestible nutrients was achieved. The muscle and bone tissues, CP, MM, and water present in the empty body increased as the animal grew, although at a lower rate. The adipose tissue and EE present in the empty body increased their deposition rate when the animal reached its mature weight. Maturity is defined as when an animal reaches 22 % EE in the empty body, which corresponds to 456 kg of EBW in Nellore bulls. Therefore, this study can conclude that the feedlot time period does not affect DMI, nutrient intake, ADG, or microbial efficiency. The equation proposed by BR CORTE (Azevêdo et al. 2010) correctly estimates the DMI of Nellore bulls, which reach maturity when an EBW of 456 kg is attained.     

Multivariate approach for young bull selection from a performance test using multiple traits of economic importance

This study used multivariate statistics to identify clusters of animals with similar expected progeny difference (EPD) and also identify leading traits that discriminate between bulls. Various linear selection indices based on specific selection criteria were proposed. Records were collected from 880 young Nelore bulls submitted to performance testing in central Brazil between 2001 and 2012. Pre-weaning average daily gain and weights at 210 days with direct and maternal effects were used in the analysis, in addition to post-weaning weight, scrotal circumference at 365 and 450 days, carcass finish and rib eye area. EPDs were classified into three groups, and the EPD means of two of these groups stood out and were considered important based on principal component analysis that associated higher values of direct EPD of weights, average daily weight gain and scrotal circumference. The EPDs for weight at 210, 365 and 450 days, pre- and post-weaning daily gain and scrotal circumference at 365 and 450 days were major causes of variation. Each linear selection index proposed (SI₁, SI₂, SI₃, SI₄ and SI₅) defined a specific approach meaning that a different selection index should be used depending on breeding goals and selection criteria.     

Effects of α-tocopherol and Ascorbic Acid on Equine Semen Quality after Cryopreservation

This study investigated the effects of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol supplementation on semen quality parameters of equine thawed-frozen semen. Semen was divided in seven different treatments in a final concentration of 100 × 10⁶ sperm/mL by using Gent extender containing no supplements (control) and the following supplements with three different concentrations: α-tocopherol (0.5, 1, and 2 mM) and ascorbic acid (0.45, 0.9, and 1.8 g/L). After thawing, all samples were maintained at 37°C, while analyses were performed at 0, 60, and 120 minutes. Evaluation of viability and acrosome status (using Pisum sativum agglutinin conjugated to fluorescein isothiocyanate and propidium iodide), mitochondrial membrane potential (5,5′,6,6′-tetrachloro-1,1′,3,3′tetraethylbenzimidazolyl carbocyanine iodine [JC-1]), membrane lipid peroxidation (LPO; C₁₁-BODIPY^581/591), and stability of the plasmatic membrane (merocyanine 540 and Yo-Pro-1) of each sample was determined by flow cytometry. Relative to the control group, supplementation with α-tocopherol improved (P ≤ .05) postthaw membrane LPO, yet the higher concentrations of ascorbic acid (0.9 and 1.8 g/L, respectively) showed a negative effect on membrane LPO. Neither antioxidant significantly increased (P > .05) the acrosome integrity and mitochondrial membrane potential of frozen-thawed spermatozoa, although supplementation with α-tocopherol and ascorbic acid (0.9 and 1.8 g/L, respectively) had a positive effect on membrane integrity and stability (P ≤ .05). For all semen parameters, the lower concentration of ascorbic acid (0.45 g/L) did not show significant differences (P > .05) compared with the control. In conclusion, α-tocopherol seems to be an efficient antioxidant for reducing the oxidative stress provoked by cryopreservation, decreasing lipid peroxidation on equine spermatozoa.     

“Head-to-Side-Chain” Cyclodepsipeptides of Marine Origin

Since the late 1980s, a large number of depsipeptides that contain a new topography, referred to as “head-to-side-chain” cyclodepsipeptides, have been isolated and characterized. These peptides present a unique structural arrangement that comprises a macrocyclic region closed through an ester bond between the C-terminus and a β-hydroxyl group, and terminated with a polyketide moiety or a more simple branched aliphatic acid. This structural pattern, the presence of unique and complex residues, and relevant bioactivity are the main features shared by all the members of this new class of depsipeptides, which are reviewed herein.     

Spasmolytic Effect of Caulerpine Involves Blockade of Ca2+ Influx on Guinea Pig Ileum

In this work, we investigated the spasmolytic effect of caulerpine, a bisindole alkaloid isolated from marine algae of the Caulerpa genus, on guinea pig ileum. Our findings indicated that caulerpine inhibited phasic contractions induced by carbachol (IC₅₀ = 7.0 ± 1.9 × 10⁻⁵ M), histamine (IC₅₀ = 1.3 ± 0.3 × 10⁻⁴ M) and serotonin (IC₅₀ = 8.0 ± 1.4 × 10⁻⁵ M) in a non-selective manner. Furthermore, caulerpine concentration-dependently inhibited serotonin-induced cumulative contractions (pD′₂ = 4.48 ± 0.08), shifting the curves to the right with E_max reduction and slope of 2.44 ± 0.21, suggesting a noncompetitive antagonism pseudo-irreversible. The alkaloid also relaxed the ileum pre-contracted by KCl (EC₅₀ = 9.0 ± 0.9 × 10⁻⁵ M) and carbachol (EC₅₀ = 4.6 ± 0.7 × 10⁻⁵ M) in a concentration-dependent manner. This effect was probably due to inhibition of Ca²⁺ influx through voltage-gated calcium channels (Ca_V), since caulerpine slightly inhibited the CaCl₂-induced contractions in depolarizing medium without Ca²⁺, shifting the curves to the right and with E_max reduction. According to these results, the spasmolytic effect of caulerpine on guinea pig ileum seems to involve inhibition of Ca²⁺ influx through Ca_V. However, other mechanisms are not discarded.     

A Five-Day Progesterone Plus eCG-Based Fixed-Time AI Protocol Improves Fertility Over Spontaneous Estrus in High-Producing Dairy Cows Under Heat Stress

This study compared the efficiency of a five-day or standard (nine-day) progesterone-based regimen combined with equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG) in a fixed-time AI (FTAI) protocol for dairy cows. The data examined were derived from 3577 inseminations conducted in three dairy herds. Animals with no estrus signs detected over 21 days were randomly assigned to a PRID-9 or PRID-5 group. Cows in each group received a progesterone intravaginal device (PRID) for 9 or 5 days, respectively, PGF_2α and eCG on PRID removal, and GnRH 48 h later. Fixed-time AI was performed 12 h after the GnRH dose. Cows artificially inseminated following spontaneous estrus during the study period were considered as controls. Based on the odds ratio, the likelihoods of animals in PRID-9 in the warm (conception rate [CR] of 22.3%) and cool (32% CR) periods, and control animals in the warm period (26.6% CR) becoming pregnant were reduced (by factors of 0.6, 0.3 and 0.4, respectively) compared with the control animals in the cool period (CR of 43.7%). The risk of a twin pregnancy was higher (51.4%) for cystic PRID-9 cows (by a factor of 3.6) and lower (9.9%) for cyclic PRID-5 animals (by a factor of 0.4) compared with the PRID-9 cyclic cows. These findings indicate that the proposed protocol achieves similar results during the cool or warm season to those obtained when AI is conducted at spontaneous estrus during the cool season. In addition, PRID-5 reduced twin pregnancy compared with PRID-9.