Intake,digestibility, ingestive behavior,and nitrogen balance of goats fed with diets containing residue from tamarind fruit

This study is aimed at determining the maximum inclusion level of tamarind (Tamarindus indica) residues in the diet of goats on intake, digestibility, ingestive behavior, and nitrogen (N) balance. Twenty-four crossbred (Boer × undefined breed) castrated goat kids (5 months old and with an initial weight of 23.9?±?0.3 kg) were assigned in a completely randomized design (4 treatments and 6 replicates). Diets consisted of Tifton 85 (Cynodon sp.) hay as the roughage (400 g/kg) source and concentrate (600 g/kg); the levels of tamarind residue inclusion were 0.0, 7.0, 14.0, and 21.0% on a dry matter (DM) basis. The experimental period lasted 23 days (15 of adaptation and 8 of sampling). Inclusion of tamarind residue in the goat kid diets did not affect (P?>?0.05) the intake and digestibility of DM, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and total digestible nutrient; intake of N, urinary N, and retained N (g/day); time spent ruminating; numbers of times/day feeding, ruminating, or idling; eating efficiency of DM and NDF; number of boluses/day; and amount (g) of DM/bolus. However, there were a linear reduction in ether extract digestibility (P?=?0.011) and a linear decreasing trend in non-fibrous carbohydrate digestibility (P?=?0.083). The addition of tamarind residue had a positive linear effect (P?=?0.041) on the time spent feeding and promoted a decreasing linear trend for the time spent idling (P?=?0.063). It is recommended to include the residue from tamarind fruit at a level of 21% in diets for goat kids, as it does not affect nutrient intake and digestibility and the N balance.

     

Effects of estrone infusion on secretion of F series prostaglandins and on function of the corpus luteum during late gestation in cattle

Catheters were surgically implanted in the carotid artery, jugular vein, and middle uterine vein of 8 cows at 245 days of gestation. Four cows were given 4 mg of estrone/hour via continuous jugular infusion from 0800 hours on day 246 of gestation through 0800 hours on day 250 of gestation; the remaining 4 cows (controls) were given the vehicle for estrone at 10 ml/hour for the same period. Blood samples were collected from the carotid artery every 3 hours during the infusion. Samples were collected hourly from the middle uterine vein from 0 through 8, 54 through 66, and 112 through 120 hours of the infusion periods. After completion of the infusion, corpora lutea were enucleated and blood samples were collected from the carotid artery and uterine vein at hourly intervals for an additional 8 hours. Dispersed cell preparations of the corpora lutea were incubated with and without luteinizing hormone (LH) or dibutyryl cyclic adenosine monophosphate (dbcAMP). Circulating concentrations of unconjugated and conjugated estrone and estradiol-17 beta were higher (P less than 0.05) in the group infused with estrone than in the vehicle-infused group. Mean and base-line concentrations of F series prostaglandins (PGF) for each blood collection period tended to increase (P less than 0.10) during infusion with estrone, but not during infusion with vehicle. After luteectomy, mean and base-line concentrations of PGF also tended (P less than 0.10) to be greater in the estrone-infused cows than in the control cows, but a surge in PGF concentrations due to removal of the ovarian source of progesterone did not develop.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Infrared Absorptions near Three Microns Recorded over the Polar Cap of Mars

During the Mariner 7 flyby of Mars, the infrared spectrometer recorded distinct, sharp absorption. near 3020 and 3300 reciprocal centimeters between 61 degrees S and 80 degrees S. at the edge of the southern polar cap, with maximum optical density near 68 degrees S and 341 degrees E. These hands, which match in frequency the v(3) bands of methane and ammonia, can be associated with previously unreported spectral features of solid carbon dioxide exceeding 1 millimeter in thickness. Possible reasons for the geographic localization are discussed.     

Interplay between heritability,genetic correlation and economic weighting in a selection index with and without genomic information

The availability of genomic information demands proper evaluation on how the kind (phenotypic versus genomic) and the amount of information influences the interplay of heritability (h²), genetic correlation () and economic weighting of traits with regard to the standard deviation of the index (σ_I). As σ_I is directly proportional to response to selection, it was the chosen parameter for comparing the indices. Three selection indices incorporating conventional and genomic information for a two trait (i and j) breeding goal were compared. Information sources were chosen corresponding to pig breeding applications. Index I incorporating an own performance in trait j served as reference scenario. In index II, additional information in both traits was contributed by a varying number of full‐sibs (2, 7, 50). In index III, the conventional own performance in trait j was combined with genomic information for both traits. The number of animals in the reference population (N_P = 1000, 5000, 10 000) and thus the accuracy of GBVs were varied. With more information included in the index, σ_I became more independent of , and relative economic weighting. This applied for index II (more full‐sibs) and for index III (more accurate GBVs). Standard deviations of index II with seven full‐sibs and index III with N_P = 1000 were similar when both traits had the same heritability. If the heritability of trait j was reduced ( = 0.1), σ_I of index III with N_P = 1000 was clearly higher than for index II with seven full‐sibs. When enhancing the relative economic weight of trait j, the decrease in σ_I of the conventional full‐sib index was much stronger than for index III. Our results imply that N_P = 1000 can be considered a minimum size for a reference population in pig breeding. These conclusions also hold for comparing the accuracies of the indices.     

Meningoencephalitis caused by Naegleria fowleri in cattle of northeast Brazil

Primary amoebic meningoencephalitis is an acute disease of the central nervous system of humans and animals caused by Naegleria fowleri. This report describes a case of meningoencephalitis caused by N. fowleri in a crossbred, one-year-old bovine with progressive neurological signs. At necropsy there was thickening of the meninges and multifocal areas of malacia in the thalamus, caudal and rostral colliculi, parietal and occipital cortex, and cerebellum. Histologically there was multifocal necrosupurative meningoencephalitis associated with areas of malacia containing amoebic trophozoites. Immunohistochemistry of the brain was positive for N. fowleri. The disease should be included among the differential diagnosis of diseases of the central nervous system in cattle in areas where animals are exposed to hot, stagnant water.     

Pinewood nematode population growth in relation to pine phloem chemical composition

The pinewood nematode, Bursaphelenchus xylophilus, native to North America (NA), is now a major invasive pine pest in Eurasia. Pine species differ greatly in their susceptibility to B. xylophilus, and differences in susceptibility might be related to differences in phytochemistry. This study addressed two major questions: (i) which plant chemical profiles (including compounds that act as plant defences and those important for nutrition) favour pinewood nematode development; and (ii) are NA and Portuguese pinewood nematodes different in their capacity to subsist on plant tissues? For this, B. xylophilus isolates from NA and Portugal were tested on pine phloem and xylem of different pine species. It was found that unaltered pine phloem can sustain the population growth of B. xylophilus, but only in a few cases, and this was clearly related to distinct chemical profiles in some pine species. No evidence was found of evolutionary divergence between B. xylophilus populations in Portugal and NA. The pine species with phloem on which pinewood nematodes could grow tended to have low levels of total phenols, condensed tannins, flavonoids and lignin. Evidence was also found that nutrients such as N may be important.     

Assessment of the usage of biodegradable polymeric matrix in vaginal devices to sustain progesterone release in cows

The usage of timed artificial insemination (TAI) at a low cost leading to better reproductive rates has been the aim of several research groups in the field. Usually during TAI protocols, sustained progesterone (P₄) release devices are employed. Most devices are constituted of a nylon skeleton covered with a silicon layer with P₄. A device based on biopolymers was developed in order to reduce costs and decrease its environmental impact. In this study, we compared the kinetics of sustained progesterone release among devices manufactured with a polymeric blend made of polyhydroxybutyrate‐valerate (PHBV) and poly‐ε‐caprolactone (PCL) (DISP) which were compared with DIB® (Internal Bovine Device) used as the control. In the in vitro and in vivo progesterone release tests, two types of biopolymer‐based devices with a superficial area of 147 cm² were used: DISP8 (46% PHBV, 46% PCL and 8% P₄; n  = 4), DISP10 (45% PHBV, 45% PCL, 10% P₄; n  = 4) and DIB® (1 g P₄, 120 cm² area; n  = 3). The in vitro tests were carried out according to USP XXIII specifications and were performed in a dissolutor sink using an alcohol/water mixture (60/40 v/v) as a release media and samples were collected at 2 min, 2, 4, 8, 12, 24, 48, 60, 72, 84 and 96 h. P₄ concentrations were measured through spectrophotometry in a 244 nm long wave. Three to 3 comparisons of angular coefficients of the straight lines obtained by regression analysis of accumulated P₄ concentrations as a function of square root of time were carried out. Furthermore, the diffusion coefficient values of P₄ were also determined for DISP8 and DISP10. The results showed that the concentrations of P₄ were higher in the DISP10 (774.63 ± 45.26 μg/cm²/t^1/2) compared to DISP8 (566.17 ± 3.68 μg/cm²/t^1/2) (P  < 0.05). However, both DISP10 and DISP8 P₄ concentrations did not differ from DIB® (677.39 ± 16.13 μg/cm²/t^1/2). For the analysis of released quantities per day of the in vitro test, four periods were considered: 0–24, 24–48, 48–72 and 72–96 h. In the first 24 h, DISP8 released significantly less P₄ than DISP10 or DIB®, which did not differ among them. Between 24 and 48 h, DISP10 released significantly more P₄ than DIB®. DISP8 released an intermediate P₄ amount and did not differ significantly from DIB® or DISP10. Between 48 and 72 h, P₄ quantity released by DISP10 was significant higher (P  < 0.01) than that of DIB® and DISP8, which did not differ among themselves. Between 72 and 96 h, DISP10 released significantly more P₄ than DIB®, and DISP8 released an intermediate amount which did not differ from DIB® or DISP10 (P  < 0.01). There was interaction between treatment and time (P  = 0.0024). The diffusion coefficient values were: 1.36 × 10^?8 (cm²/s) for DISP10 and 1.12 × 10^?8 (cm²/s) for DISP8. For the in vivo test, ovariectomized crossbred cows received DIB® (n  = 4) or DISP8 (n  = 8) in an alternate design with a non‐balanced sequence (cross‐over) added of measures repeated in time referring to 16 days of blood samples collection. Samples were analyzed through radioimmunoassay in solid phase using the commercial kit of DPC (Diagnostics Products Corporation). Plasma concentrations of P₄ peaked at 4 h after the placement of the device, this being the only time in which plasma P₄ concentrations differed between DIB® (11.45 ± 1.96) compared with DISP8 (9.23 ± 1.15 ng/mL) (P  = 0.027). On day 8, plasma P₄ concentrations were similar for DIB® (2.44 ± 0.09) and DISP8 (1.89 ± 0.13 ng/mL) (P  = 0.58) showing that both devices were able to keep P₄ concentrations above 1 ng/mL in the plasma of the cow during the 16 day in vivo test. In conclusion, devices manufactured with the blend of PHBV/PCL biopolymers can sustain the release of P₄ in a similar manner as silicon.     

Lipid droplets in clusters negatively affect Bos indicus embryos during cryopreservation

Embryo transfer using cryopreserved B. indicus embryos results in low pregnancy rates. The low viability of B. indicus embryos is likely a result of their low freezability relative to embryos from other species, notably B. taurus. Freezability is probably related to the quantity of lipid droplets in the embryonic cells. However, the mechanism underlying this association is unknown. Using multiphoton and transmission electron microscopy, the proportion, volume, morphology and composition of lipid droplets in fresh and cryopreserved B. indicus and B. taurus embryos were studied. B. indicus embryos have more droplets than B. taurus and a greater percentage of lipid droplets in clusters (34% vs. 24%; p < 0.05). Also, B. indicus individual droplets are of greater volume than those of B. taurus (47 μm³ vs. 34 μm³; p < 0.05). After freezing, the percentage of clusters decreased in B. indicus (11% vs. 5%; p < 0.05), while in B. taurus they increased (2% vs. 7%; p < 0.05). Freezing influenced the lipid droplet morphology, increasing the number of cracked droplets in B. indicus embryos (33% fresh vs. 62% frozen; p < 0.05), but not in B. taurus embryos (35% fresh vs. 34% frozen; ns). Regarding composition, saturated lipid droplets prevail in B. indicus embryos, contrary to B. taurus embryos. We observed differences in lipid droplet organization, proportion, volume, morphology and composition between B. indicus and B. taurus embryos which are altered in opposite directions following freezing.