Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of inbreeding depression on traits of buffaloes from B razil. Specifically, the traits studied were body weight at 205 and 365 days of age, average daily gain from birth to 205 days ( ADG _205), average daily gain between 205 and 365 days ( ADG 205_365) in Mediterranean buffaloes, and milk yield, lactation length, age of first calving and calving intervals in M urrah buffaloes. Inbreeding effects on the traits were determined by fitting four regression models (linear, quadratic, exponential and M ichaelis‐ M enten) about the errors generated by the animal model. The linear model was only significant ( P < 0.05) for growth traits (exception of ADG 205_365). The exponential and M ichaelis‐ M enten models were significant ( P < 0.01) for all the studied traits while the quadratic model was not significant ( P > 0.05) for any of the traits. Weight at 205 and 365 days of age decreased 0.25 kg and 0.39 kg per 1% of increase in inbreeding, respectively. The inbred animals ( F = 0.25) produced less milk than non‐inbred individuals: 50.4 kg of milk. Moreover, calving interval increased 0.164 days per 1% of increase in inbreeding. Interestingly, inbreeding had a positive effect on age at first calving and lactation length, decreasing age of first calving and increasing lactation length.
Se utilizaron 26 bufalas de rio de la raza Murrah, entre 45 y 70 d posparto, vacias, multiparas, con peso vivo promedio de 675 ± 56 kg, y condicion corporal promedio de 3.5 puntos, en una escala de 1 a 5, para determinar las concentraciones de glucosa, colesterol, proteina total y factor de crecimiento semejante a la insulina tipo I (IGF-I) en el liquido folicular. El liquido se recolecto de foliculos dominantes, con diametros entre 8 y 12 mm, mediante aspiracion folicular in vivo . No se tuvo en cuenta la etapa del ciclo estral. La onda de desarrollo folicular se sincronizo seis dias previos a la colecta. Los analisis bioquimicos de glucosa y colesterol se realizaron por el metodo colorimetrico enzimatico con la utilizacion de kits comerciales de Glicose (GOD-PAP) y Colesterol (CHOD-PAP) (Kovalent), respectivamente. Para la determinacion de la proteina total, se utilizo el kit comercial Proteina total (Kovalent), metodo Biuret. Las lecturas se realizaron mediante espectrofotometria de absorcion con luz visible. Por la tecnica de radioinmunoanalisis (RIA) se obtuvo la concentracion de IGF-I, utilizando kits comerciales de IRMA IGF-I (INMUNOTECH). Se aplico la estadistica descriptiva, con la aplicacion del procedimiento PROC MEANS, del paquete estadistico SAS (2009). Las concentraciones de glucosa (4.0 ± 0.75 mmol/L) e IGF-I (340 ±129.83 ng/mL) mostraron valores superiores en bufalas de rio y vacas lecheras, con respecto a los referidos en otros estudios. Sin embargo, los niveles de colesterol (0.51 ± 0.12 mmol/Lˉ¹) y proteinas totales (58.4 ±4.43 g/L) se comportaron inferiores. Los resultados indican que existe relacion entre la concentracion de los indicadores bioquimicos, los aspectos nutricionales, el diametro de los foliculos aspirados y el periodo productivo. Palabras clave: perfil bioquimico, liquido folicular, posparto
High temperatures can be harmful to the competence of cumulus–oocyte complexes and to embryo development (Al-Katanani et al. 2002 J. Dairy Sci. 85, 390–396). The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of maternal heat stress on in vitro embryo yield. Ten multiparous nonlactating Gir (Bos indicus) cows were kept in tie stalls for an adaptive period of 28 days [pre-heat-stress period (PRE-HS)/Days -28 to -1]. Cows were subjected to 2 OPU (ovum pickup) sessions (Days -14 and -7). In the heat-stress period (HS; Days 0 to 28), cows were divided into control (C: n = 5) and heat-stressed (HS: n = 5) groups. During this period, OPU sessions were performed once a week from Days 0 to 28. The C group remained in a thermo-neutral environment, and the HS group was kept in a climatic chamber with controlled temperature and humidity (38�C and 80% during the day and 30�C and 80% during the night). In the post-heat-stress period (POST-HS; Days 28 to 147), all cows returned to thermo-neutral conditions. Then 17 OPU sessions were performed once a week from Days 35 to 147. In all periods, blood samples were collected weekly for progesterone (P4) analysis, and ovarian follicles were counted, measured, and aspirated. The COCs were evaluated and selected for the IVF procedure. Data were analyzed by ANOVA (PROC MIXED of SAS) and a chi-squared test. The luteal phase was defined as the period between 2 samples with P4 below 1.0 ng mL-1. A handling accident caused the exclusion of an HS cow after the sixth session. The C and HS groups were subjected to 125 and 107 OPU sessions, respectively. Means � SEM for the C vs. HS groups, in the PRE-HS, HS, and POST-HS periods, respectively, were visualized follicles: 25.5 � 2.5 vs. 28.5 � 2.8, 24.2 � 1.1 vs. 24.0 � 1.9, and 15.3 � 0.6 vs. 15.8 � 0.8; largest follicle diameter: 12.1 � 1.5 vs. 11.1 � 1.7, 13.3 � 0.8 vs. 13.0 � 0.6, and 11.4 � 0.4b vs. 14.0 � 0.4a; P < 0.05; 2nd largest follicle diameter: 6.2 � 1.3 vs. 6.0 � 1.2, 5.9 � 0.6 vs. 7.1 � 0.8, and 6.3 � 0.3b vs. 8.7 � 0.5a; recovered COCs: 11.2 � 2.8 vs. 14.3 � 2.5, 9.6 � 1.0 vs. 11.0 � 1.3, and 8.6 � 0.7 vs. 7.9 � 0.6; COCs selected for IVF: 69/112 (61.6%)b vs. 108/143 (75.5%)a, 164/241 (68%) vs. 172/265 (64.9%), and 426/712 (59.8%) vs. 305/535 (75.0%); cleavage: 44/59 (74.5%) vs. 87/105 (82.9%), 72/101 (71.3%) vs. 74/121 (61.2%), and 226/317 (71.3%) vs. 159/230 (69.1%); embryos per cow/OPU: 2.1 � 1.1y vs. 4.1 � 1.0x, 0.4 � 0.3 vs. 0.5 � 0.3, and 0.9 � 0.2x vs. 0.4 � 0.1y; P < 0.1; and blastocyst yield: 16/59 (27.1%) vs. 33/105 (31.5%), 11/31 (35.5%) vs. 13/52 (25.0%), and 76/279 (27.2%)a vs. 25/188 (13.3%)b. In conclusion, maternal heat stress increased the percentage of short estrous cycles, decreased the P4 concentrations, and decreased the number of embryos produced by Bos indicus cows, mainly from 28 to 147 days post-heat-stress, showing long-term deleterious effects on blastocyst development.
The objective of the study was to estimate heritability for calving interval (CI) and age at first calving (AFC) and also calculate repeatability for CI in buffaloes using Bayesian inference. The Brazilian Buffaloes Genetic Improvement Program provided the database. Data consists on information from 628 females and four different herds, born between 1980 and 2003. In order to estimate the variance, univariate analyses were performed employing Gibbs sampler procedure included in the MTGSAM software. The model for CI included the random effects direct additive and permanent environment factors, and the fixed effects of contemporary groups and calving orders. The model for AFC included the direct additive random effect and contemporary groups as a fixed effect. The convergence diagnosis was obtained using Geweke that was implemented through the Bayesian Output Analysis package in R software. The estimated averages were 433.2 days and 36.7months for CI and AFC, respectively. The means, medians and modes for the calculated heritability coefficients were similar. The heritability coefficients were 0.10 and 0.42 for CI and AFC respectively, with a posteriori marginal density that follows a normal distribution for both traits. The repeatability for CI was 0.13. The low heritability estimated for CI indicates that the variation in this trait is, to a large extent, influenced by environmental factors such as herd management policies. The age at first calving has clear potential for yield improvement through direct selection in these animals.
Data comprising 1,719 milk yield records from 357 females (predominantly Murrah breed), daughters of 110 sires, with births from 1974 to 2004, obtained from the Programa de Melhoramento Genètico de Bubalinos (PROMEBUL) and from records of EMBRAPA Amazonia Oriental - EAO herd, located in Belèm, Parä, Brazil, were used to compare random regression models for estimating variance components and predicting breeding values of the sires. The data were analyzed by different models using the Legendre's polynomial functions from second to fourth orders. The random regression models included the effects of herd-year, month of parity date of the control; regression coefficients for age of females (in order to describe the fixed part of the lactation curve) and random regression coefficients related to the direct genetic and permanent environment effects. The comparisons among the models were based on the Akaike Infromation Criterion. The random effects regression model using third order Legendre's polynomials with four classes of the environmental effect were the one that best described the additive genetic variation in milk yield. The heritability estimates varied from 0.08 to 0.40. The genetic correlation between milk yields in younger ages was close to the unit, but in older ages it was low.
Background: Seminal plasma is a set of secretions from accessory male reproduction organs which influence spermatic functions. Climate changes that affect gametogenesis may produce low reproduction efficiency in bulls. Electrophoresis is a great help in the diagnosis of reproduction pathologies and in animal differentiation with regard to fertility within the context of climate changes. Current research aims at studying the influence of the rainy and dry periods in testicle and epididymis morphometry, semen characteristics and protein of seminal plasma by SDS-PAGE electrophoresis in extensively bred Nellore and Simental bulls. Materials, Methods & Results: Five Nellore and two Simental bulls, at mean age of four years, were employed. Semen collection was undertaken during the rainy (spring and summer) and dry (autumn and winter) at 15-day intervals. One hundred and fifty-four ejaculations were analyzed and scrotal, testicle and epididymis measurement was provided. Samples of semen plasma were centrifuged and conditioned at -196°C till electrophoresis processing. Proteins were extracted from 200 µL from each sample in an extraction buffer composed of 0.625 M Tris - HCl, pH 6.8; 2% SDS, 5% β - mercaptoethanol and 20% glycerol. Proteins were quantified and electrophoreses processed. Data were evaluated by analysis of variance and means compared by Tukey´s test at 5%. The expression TV = 0.0396 x (average testicle length) x (scrotal perimeter)2 was used for testicle volume (TV), with TV = 460.14 cm3 for the Simental breed during the rainy season and TV = 571.26 cm3 during the dry season. Nellore bulls showed TV = 524.75 cm3 during the rainy season and 515.13 cm3 during the dry season. TV increased in Simental bulls during the dry period, whereas Nellore breed increased during the rainy one. There was an increase (P < 0.05) in big and total defects during the rainy season for both breeds. Further, 30 kDa in the seminal plasma occurred in all samples for both breeds and seasons under analysis. Band 179 kDa occurred in 43% and 14% of samples from Nellore and Simental breeds respectively. Molecular weights of identified bands in the gels varied between 4 and 205 kDa. Discussion: Testicle length axis varied significantly between breeds at specific seasons. Variation may be due to adaptation and anatomic plasticity of the testicles within specific seasons of the year under analysis. TV rise in Simental bulls during the dry period may have contributed towards the decrease of minor and major spermatic defects with an improvement of semen quality. Spermatic motility during the dry period and total spermatic defects during the rainy season for Simental breed provided fall in semen quality. Morphological abnormalities of spermatozoa are lower in the dry season. Season affects testicle morphometry and protein composition of the bulls´ seminal plasma. Protein band 179 kDa occurred in Nellore bulls during the two analyzed seasons, a fact that has not been described in the literature.
The objective of this study was to investigate the environmental factors affecting lactation curve traits and to estimate their genetic parameters by means of two methods of analysis. The data originated from 1,336 lactations of 687 goats, raised in seven farms over seven years and belonging to one of three breeds (1 - Alpine, 2 - Saanen and 3 - Toggenburg). The diphasic function was used to adjust the lactation curves. The curve trait means were as follows: days until peak in phases 1 and 2 (TP1 and TP2): 95.24 and 105.35; length of phases 1 and 2 (DF1 and DF2): 213.04 and 185.20 days; peak milk yield in phases 1 and 2: 2.14 and 1.87 kg; initial milk yield in phases 1 and 2 (PLF1 and PLF2): 1.12 and 0.86 kg; initial milk yield (PLI): 1.99 kg; milk yield during phases 1 and 2 (PLF1 and PLF2): 300.29 and 335.01 kg; and total milk yield: 635.30 kg. The following effects were observed: year on PF1, PF2, PLI and PLF1; kidding season on TP1, PLF1 and PLI; and year x season interaction on DF2 and PLF2. A linear effect of age at kidding was observed for PLIF2 and a quadratic effect was observed for PF1, PF2, PLIF1, PLI and PLF1. A farm-breed effect was detected for TP1, DF2, PF2, PLIF2, PLI, PLF1 and PLF2. The heritability estimates for curve traits, obtained through two methods of analysis, stayed all below 0.20, excepting PLT, for which the estimate was 0.30. The same occurred to the repeatability estimates, excepting PLT and PLI, for which the estimates were higher than 0.20.
ABSTRACT This study evaluated the plasma membrane integrity, acrosomal membrane integrity, and mitochondrial membrane potential of Nelore bull sperm from early puberty to early sexual maturity and their associations with sperm motility and vigor, the mass motility of the spermatozoa (wave motion), scrotal circumference, and testosterone. Sixty Nelore bulls aged 18 to 19 months were divided into four lots (n=15 bulls/lot) and evaluated over 280 days. Semen samples, collected every 56 days by electroejaculation, were evaluated soon after collection for motility, vigor and wave motion under an optical microscope. Sperm membrane integrity, acrosomal integrity, and mitochondrial activity were evaluated under a fluorescent microscope using probe association (FITC-PSA, PI, JC-1, H342). The sperm were classified into eight integrity categories depending on whether they exhibited intact or damaged membranes, an intact or damaged acrosomal membrane, and high or low mitochondrial potential. The results show that bulls have a low amount of sperm with intact membranes at puberty, and the sperm show low motility, vigor, and wave motion; however, in bulls at early sexual maturity, the integrity of the sperm membrane increased significantly. The rate of sperm membrane damage was negatively correlated with motility, vigor, wave motion, and testosterone in the bulls, and a positive correlation existed between sperm plasma membrane integrity and scrotal circumference. The integrity of the acrosomal membrane was not influenced by puberty. During puberty and into early sexual maturity, bulls show low sperm mitochondrial potential, but when bulls reached sexual maturity, high membrane integrity with high mitochondrial potential was evident.
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