Morphological phenotypic dispersion of garlic cultivars by cluster analysis and multidimensional scaling

Multivariate techniques have become a useful tool for studying the phenotypic diversity of Germplasm Bank accessions, since they make it possible to combine a variety of different information from these accessions. This study aimed to characterize the phenotypic dispersion of garlic (Allium sativum L.) using two multivariate techniques with different objective functions. Twenty accessions were morphologically characterized for bulb diameter, length, and weight; number of cloves per bulb; number of leaves per plant; and leaf area. Techniques based on generalized quadratic distance of Mahalanobis, UPGMA (Unweighted Pair Group Method with Arithmetic Mean) clustering, and nMDS (nonmetrric MultiDimensional Scaling) were applied and the relative importance of variables quantified. The two multivariate techniques were capable of identifying cultivars with different characteristics, mainly regarding their classification in subgroups of common garlic or noble garlic, according to the number of cloves per bulb. The representation of the phenotypic distance of cultivars by multidimensional scaling was slightly more effective than that with UPGMA clustering

Substituição do milho por farelo de palma forrageira em dietas para ovinos em crescimento: consumo e digestibilidade Replacement of corn by forage cactus meal in growing lambs diets: intake and digestibility

A digestibilidade aparente e os consumos de matéria seca (MS), de matéria orgânica (MO), de proteína bruta (PB), de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) e de nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT) foram avaliados para se determinar o efeito da substituição do milho por farelo de palma forrageira (0, 33, 66 e 100%), em dietas de ovinos em crescimento. Objetivou-se, também, a comparação da estimativa de digestibilidade aparente por intermédio dos métodos de coleta total de fezes e de indicadores internos (fibra em detergente ácido [FDAi] e fibra em detergente neutro [FDNi] indigestíveis). Foi empregado delineamento experimental em quadrado latino, constituído de quatro animais, quatro períodos e quatro níveis de substituição do milho por farelo de palma forrageira. Não houve efeito da substituição sobre os consumos de MS, MO, PB e FDN. O consumo de NDT diminuiu linearmente com a inclusão de farelo de palma nas dietas. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente da MS e MO diminuíram linearmente, enquanto os de PB e FDN não foram influenciados pela substituição. Não houve diferença entre a coleta total de fezes e o indicador interno FDNi na estimativa da digestibilidade dos nutrientes.<br>The apparent digestibility and the intakes of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) were estimated to evaluate the effects of replacement by corn by forage cactus meal (0, 33, 66 and 100%) in growing lambs diets. It was also aimed to compare the internal markers, indigestible neutral detergent (NFDi) and acid detergent fiber (ADFi) with total feces collection to estimate the apparent digestibility of nutrients. A 4 x 4 latin square experimental design with four lambs, four periods and four levels of replacement of corn by forage cactus meal, was used. The replacement of corn by forage cactus meal did not affect the intakes of DM, OM, CP and NDF. TDN intake decreased linearly. The apparent digestibility of DM and OM decreased linearly, but no effect was observed for CP and NDF digestibilities. There was no difference between NDFi and total feces collection in the estimate of nutrients digestibility

Genetic diversity and patterns of population structure in Creole goats from the Americas

Biodiversity studies are more efficient when large numbers of breeds belonging to several countries are involved, as they allow for an in-depth analysis of the within- and between-breed components of genetic diversity. A set of 21 microsatellites was used to investigate the genetic composition of 24 Creole goat breeds (910 animals) from 10 countries to estimate levels of genetic variability, infer population structure and understand genetic relationships among populations across the American continent. Three commercial transboundary breeds were included in the analyses to investigate admixture with Creole goats. Overall, the genetic diversity of Creole populations (mean number of alleles = 5.82 ? 1.14, observed heterozygosity = 0.585 ? 0.074) was moderate and slightly lower than what was detected in other studies with breeds from other regions. The Bayesian clustering analysis without prior information on source populations identified 22 breed clusters. Three groups comprised more than one population, namely from Brazil (Azul and Graúna; Moxotó and Repartida) and Argentina (Long and shorthair Chilluda, Pampeana Colorada and Angora-type goat). Substructure was found in Criolla Paraguaya. When prior information on sample origin was considered, 92% of the individuals were assigned to the source population (threshold q ≥ 0.700). Creole breeds are well-differentiated entities (mean coefficient of genetic differentiation = 0.111 ? 0.048, with the exception of isolated island populations). Dilution from admixture with commercial transboundary breeds appears to be negligible. Significant levels of inbreeding were detected (inbreeding coefficient > 0 in most Creole goat populations, P < 0.05). Our results provide a broad perspective on the extant genetic diversity of Creole goats, however further studies are needed to understand whether the observed geographical patterns of population structure may reflect the mode of goat colonization in the Americas.Estación Experimental Agropecuaria BarilocheFil: Ginja, Catarina. Universidad de Porto; PortugalFil: Gama, Luis T. Universidade de Lisboa. Faculdade de Medicina Veterinaria; PortugalFil: Martinez, Amparo. Universidad de Córdoba. Departamento de Genética; EspañaFil: Sevane Fernandez, Natalia. Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Departamento de Producción Animal; EspañaFil: Martin-Burriel, Inmaculada. Universidad de Zaragoza. Facultad de Veterinaria; EspañaFil: Lanari, María Rosa. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Bariloche; ArgentinaFil: Revidatti, María Antonia Susana. Universidad Nacional del Nordeste. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; ArgentinaFil: Aranguren Mendez, Jose Atilio. Universidad de Zulia. Facultad de Ciencias Veterinarias; VenezuelaFil: Bedotti, Daniel Osvaldo. Instituto Nacional de Tecnología Agropecuaria (INTA). Estación Experimental Agropecuaria Anguil; ArgentinaFil: Ribeiro, Maria Norma. Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco. Departamento de Zootecnia; BrasilFil: Sponenberg, D. Phillip.Virginia Tech. Virginia-Maryland Regional College of Veterinary Medicine; Estados UnidosFil: Aguirre Riofrío, Edgar Lenin. Universidad Nacional de Loja, EcuadorFil: Alvarez Franco, Luz Angela. Universidad Nacional de Colombia; ColombiaFil: Menezes, M.P.C. Universidad Federal de Paraiba; BrasilFil: Chacón Marcheco, Edilberto. Universidad Tecnica de Cotopaxi; EcuadorFil: Galarza, Alexander Josué. Universidad Mayor de San Simón; BoliviaFil: Gómez Urviola, Nilton César. Universidad Nacional Micaela Bastidas de Apurimac; PerúFil: Martinez Lopez, Oscar Roberto. Universidad Nacional de Asunción. Centro Multidisciplinario de Investigaciones Tecnológicas, Dirección General de Investigación Científica y Tecnológica; ParaguayFil: Cavalcanti Pimenta, Edgard. Universidad Federal de Paraiba; BrasilFil: da Rocha, Laura Leandro. Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco. Departamento de Zootecnia; BrasilFil: Stemmer, Angelika. Universidad Mayor de San Simón; BoliviaFil: Landi, Vicenzo. Universidad de Córdoba. Departamento de Genética; EspañaFil: Delgado Bermejo, Juan Vicente. Universidad de Córdoba. Departamento de Genética; Españ

Subprodutos industriais na ensilagem de capim-elefante para cabras leiteiras: consumo, digestibilidade de nutrientes e produção de leite Industrial by-products in elephant grass silage for dairy goats: intake, nutrient digestibility and milk yield

O experimento foi conduzido para avaliar o consumo, a digestibilidade aparente e a produção do leite em cabras alimentadas com silagens de capim-elefante contendo subprodutos industriais. Utilizaram-se oito cabras da raça Saanen, distribuídas em dois quadrados latinos 4 &#215; 4, com 4 períodos de 14 dias (10 dias de adaptação e 4 dias para coleta de dados). Os tratamentos foram: silagem de capim-elefante + concentrado; silagem de capim-elefante com 15% de farelo de mandioca + concentrado; silagem de capim-elefante com 15% de casca de café + concentrado; silagem de capim-elefante com 15% farelo de cacau + concentrado. Os maiores consumos de matéria seca (MS), matéria orgânica (MO), carboidratos totais (CT), carboidratos não-fibrosos (CNF) e nutrientes digestíveis totais foram observados entre os animais alimentados com a silagem contendo farelo de mandioca. As silagens com farelo de mandioca ou casca de café promoveram maior consumo de extrato etéreo. Os maiores valores de digestibilidade da MS, MO, EE e CT foram obtidos na dieta contendo silagem de capim-elefante com farelo de mandioca. O valor de digestibilidade dos CNF foi semelhante entre as dietas contendo silagem de capim-elefante com farelo de mandioca, casca de café e farelo de cacau. A digestibilidade de fibra em detergente neutro e de fibra em detergente ácido foi maior para a silagem sem aditivo, com farelo de mandioca ou farelo de cacau. Entre os subprodutos avaliados, o farelo de mandioca é o que promove maiores consumos, digestibilidades dos nutrientes e produção de leite em cabras alimentadas com silagem de capim-elefante.<br>The experiment was carried out to evaluate the intake, apparent digestibility and the milk yield of goats fed elephant grass silages containing industrial by-products. Eight Saanen breed goats were used, distributed in two 4 &#215; 4 Latin squares, with four 14-day periods (ten days of adaptation and four days for data collection). The treatments were: elephant grass silage + concentrate; elephant grass silage containing 15% cassava meal + concentrate; elephant grass silage containing 15% coffee hulls + concentrate; elephant grass silage containing 15% cocoa meal + concentrate. The greatest intakes of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), total carbohydrates (TC), nonfiber carbohydrate (NFC) and digestible total nutrients were observed in the animals fed silage containing cassava meal. The greatest intake of ether extract was verified in the silages with cassava meal or coffee hulls. The greatest digestibility values of the DM, OM, EE and TC were obtained in the diet containing elephant grass silage with cassava meal. The NFC digestibility value was similar among diets containing elephant grass silage with cassava meal, coffee hulls and cocoa meal. The neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber digestibility was greater in the silage without additive, with cassava meal or cocoa meal. Greater intake, digestibility coefficients and milk yield were obtained in goats fed elephant grass silage containing cassava meal