Genetic relationship, inbreeding and generation interval in registered Gir cattle in Brazil

SUMMARY: Two-hundred random pedigrees of cows and fifty of sires born in 1987 from the Gir herdbook of the Brazilian Association of Zebu Breeders were analized. The bull Chave de Ouro DGR no. 2851 was the most influential animal with a 7% direct relationship to the breed. Total average inbreeding was 3.62 and 3.25 for the female and male sample, respectively. The subdivision of total inbreeding into current and non-current components resulted in values of 1.62, 1.25, 2.00 and 2.00 for the female and male sample, respectively. Long-term inbreeding was the principal component of non-current inbreeding, with values of 1.52% and 1.26%, respectively. Inbreeding due to strain formation strain due formation was less important (0.48% and 0.74%, respectively). The average generation interval was 8.02 years. The breed appears not yet to be subdivided into strains but this process may be starting. The average generation interval for the pedigree population was very high. Culling of old bulls could decrease this interval. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Verwandtschaft, Inzucht und Generationsintervall bei Gir Herdbuchrindern in Brasilien 200 zuf?llige Stammb?ume von Kühen und 50 von 1987 geborenen Stieren wurden vom Gir Herdbuch des brasilianischen Zebu Zuchtverbandes genommen. Der Stier Chave de Ouro DGR Nr. 2851 war das einflu?reichste Tier mit einer 7%igen direkten Verwandtschaft zur Rasse. Der gesamte Inzuchtkoeffizient war 3.6 und 3.25% für die weibliche und m?nnliche Stichprobe. Die Unterteilung der gesamten Inzucht in laufende und nicht laufende Komponenten resultierte in Werten von 1.62, 1.25, 2.0, 2.0 für die weibliche und die m?nnliche Stichprobe. Langfristige Inzucht war die Hauptursache für Nicht-Rezente Inzucht mit Werten von 1.5 und 1.26. Inzucht aufgrund von Linienbildung war weniger wichtig (0.48% und 0.74%). Das durchschnittliche Generationsintervall war 8.02 Jahre. Die Rasse scheint noch nicht in Linien unterteilt zu sein, aber dieser Proze? k?nnte begonnen haben. Das durchschnittliche Generationsintervall ist mit 8.02 Jahren sehr hoch. Nichtverwendung alter Stiere k?nnte dieses Intervall verkürzen.     

Association between bovine digital dermatitis and annual periods of lower pluviometric precipitation in Central Brazil

Tropical Animal Health and Production - We aimed to follow the epidemiologic evolution of bovine digital dermatitis (BDD) and other podal diseases grouped in a dairy farm in Central Brazil between...     

Isolation of Leptospira noguchii from sheep

The main goal of this study was to obtain new isolates of Leptospira spp. from sheep. A total of 10 kidney samples and 44 blood samples were collected from sheep slaughtered in Pelotas, Southern Brazil. One isolate was obtained which was identified by 16S rRNA gene sequencing and serogrouping to be Leptospira noguchii serogroup Autumnalis. Microscopic agglutination test (MAT) evaluation revealed that 4.5% of the sheep sera reacted against the Autumnalis serogroup. This is the first report of isolation of L. noguchii from sheep. Together these findings indicate that L. noguchii infections may be a potentially important veterinary problem in this domestic animal species.     

Contrasting edge and pasture matrix effects on ant diversity from fragmented landscapes across multiple spatial scales

Landscape Ecology - Harmful effects of habitat loss and fragmentation can be detected across multiple spatial scales, yet most studies that aim to characterize these effects take place at a single...     

Prediction of vascular invasion using a 7‐point scale computed tomography grading system in adrenal tumors in dogs

BackgroundPrevious studies evaluating the accuracy of computed tomography (CT) in detecting caudal vena cava (CVC) invasion by adrenal tumors (AT) used a binary system and did not evaluate for other vessels.ObjectiveTest a 7‐point scale CT grading system for accuracy in predicting vascular invasion and for repeatability among radiologists. Build a decision tree based on CT criteria to predict tumor type.MethodsRetrospective observational cross‐sectional case study. Abdominal CT studies were analyzed by 3 radiologists using a 7‐point CT grading scale for vascular invasion and by 1 radiologist for CT features of AT.AnimalsDogs with AT that underwent adrenalectomy and had pre‐ and postcontrast CT.ResultsNinety‐one dogs; 45 adrenocortical carcinomas (50%), 36 pheochromocytomas (40%), 9 adrenocortical adenomas (10%) and 1 unknown tumor. Carcinoma and pheochromocytoma differed in pre‐ and postcontrast attenuation, contralateral adrenal size, tumor thrombus short‐ and long‐axis, and tumor and thrombus mineralization. A decision tree was built based on these differences. Adenoma and malignant tumors differed in contour irregularity. Probability of vascular invasion was dependent on CT grading scale, and a large equivocal zone existed between 3 and 6 scores, lowering CT accuracy to detect vascular invasion. Radiologists'' agreement for detecting abnormalities (evaluated by chance‐corrected weighted kappa statistics) was excellent for CVC and good to moderate for other vessels. The quality of postcontrast CT study had a negative impact on radiologists'' performance and agreement.Conclusions and Clinical ImportanceFeatures of CT may help radiologists predict AT type and provide probabilistic information on vascular invasion.     

Prediction of parental combination for introduction of stay-green associated loci in wheat

In wheat, the increase of yield and stability associated traits can be achieved by combining parents containing the stay-green trait and favorable alleles for grain yield. The aim of this work was to analyze the genetic dissimilarity between wheat lines from stay-green and synchronized maturation groups and elite cultivars. Moreover, to propose promising combinations seeking the selection of high-grain yield and high bread-making quality genotypes containing stay-green trait. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design with three replications in 2003, 2004, and 2005, using sister-lines with the presence and absence of stay-green trait and elite cultivars. Genetic variability exists among wheat strains from the synchronized stay-green maturation group and elite cultivars. Genotypes of maturation group stay-green obtained an average performance superior to the synchronized group. Crosses between stay-green lines and the CEP 29 and BRS 177 cultivars are promising in the selection of genotypes carrying the stay-green trait with high yield and bread-making quality.     

Fall Armyworm Damaged Maize Plant Identification using Digital Images

The objectives of precision agriculture are profit maximisation, agricultural input rationalisation and environmental damage reduction, by adjusting the agricultural practices to the site demands. The fall armyworm (Spodoptera frugiperda) is one of the most important maize pests in Brazil and the use of insecticide is the main control method. It is believed that site-specific control can be implemented by using a machine vision system. The objective of this work was to develop and evaluate an algorithm at simplified lighting conditions for identifying damaged maize plants by the fall armyworm using digital colour images. Images of damaged and non-damaged maize plants were taken in eight different stages and in three different light intensities. The proposed algorithm had two stages: the processing and the image analysis. During the first stage, the images were processed to create binary images where the leaves were segmented from the other pixels. At the second stage, the images were subdivided into blocks and classified as ‘damaged’ or ‘non-damaged’ depending on the number of objects found in each block. The algorithm correctly classified 94·72% of 720 images.     

Antioxidants,free radicals,storage proteins,and proteolytic activities in wheat (Triticum durum) seeds during accelerated aging

Accelerated aging was performed by incubation of wheat seeds at 40 degrees C and 100% relative humidity for 3, 4, 6, 10, and 14 days. The effects of the treatment on seed germinability and on several biochemical characteristics of flour (carotenoids, free radical and protein contents, and proteolytic activity) and gluten (free radical content and flexibility) were evaluated. A decrease of germinability was found during aging, the germination being completely inhibited after 14 days. The lutein content decreased gradually, without going to zero, while that of free radicals increased. A reduction of soluble proteins and a degradation of glutenins and gliadins were observed, associated with a substantial increase of protease activity and a decrease in gluten flexibility. The results were discussed in reference to those previously obtained by natural aging of wheat seeds of the same species and cultivar.     

Establishment techniques affect productivity,nutritive value and atmospheric N2 fixation of two sunn hemp cultivars

Nitrogen fertilization is a common practice for sustaining forage production in forage systems in southeastern United States. Warm-season annual legumes may be an alternative forage to warm-season perennial grasses that do not require N fertilization. Sunn hemp (Crotalaria juncea L.) is a fast-growing, warm-season annual legume native to India and Pakistan. The objective of this 2-year study was to assess the herbage accumulation (HA), atmospheric N₂ fixation (ANF) and nutritive value of sunn hemp. Treatments were the factorial arrangement of two sunn hemp cultivars (“Crescent Sun” and “Blue Leaf”), three seeding rates (17, 28 and 39 kg seed/ha) and seed inoculation (inoculated or non-inoculated seeds), distributed in a randomized complete block design with four replicates. Crescent sun had greater HA (3,218 vs. 1764 kg DM/ha) and ANF (41 vs. 25 kg N/ha). Blue leaf had greater crude protein (CP) (188 vs. 176 g/kg) and in vitro digestible organic matter (IVDOM) concentrations (564 vs. 531 g/kg) than crescent sun. Non-inoculated seed had greater CP than inoculated seed, 188 and 177 g/kg, respectively, and inoculation did not affect HA. Intermediate seeding rate (28 kg/ha) decreased HA (2002 kg DM/ha), while HA from high and low seeding rates (17 and 39 kg/ha, respectively) did not differ (2,863 and 2,615 kg DM/ha respectively). Planting non-inoculated crescent sun at 17 kg/ha seeding rate is a feasible management practice to produce sunn hemp in subtropical regions; however, inoculation should always be recommended for proper establishment.