Use of PG2α on the puerperio to reduce the pos-partum anestrous of continuos or controlled suckling goats

Trabalho extraído da Dissertação de Mestrado do primeiro autor apresentado ao Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciência Veterinária da Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco.Objetivou-se estudar os efeitos da administração da PGF2α sobre o período de anestro pós-parto de oitenta cabras, em aleitamento contínuo ou controlado, criadas em sistema semi-extensivo com acesso à água e sal mineral ad libitum. As fêmeas, com idade entre dois e seis anos, foram aleatoriamente distribuídas em três grupos experimentais (GI, GII, GIII). As do GI (n = 30) receberam, na musculatura vulvar, 250μg de PGF2α no 6o e 12o dias após o parto. As do GII (n = 30) foram tratadas, pela mesma via e com a mesma dose de PGF2α, no 6o, 7o, 8o, 9o e 10o dias do pós-parto, e as do GIII (n = 20) serviram como controle. Realizou-se a detecção do estro por rufião com auxílio de pessoal habilitado e efetuaram-se as coberturas com reprodutores de fertilidade comprovada. Analisaramse os dados através da ANOVA e do cálculo do erro-padrão da diferença entre proporções. Não se verificou diferença (P > 0,05) das porcentagens de estro entre os três grupos experimentais; todavia, a duração média do anestro pósparto foi significativamente reduzida (P 0,05) nas porcentagens de prenhez entre os diferentes grupos. Os dados obtidos permitem concluir que a administração da PGF2α no início do puerpério é eficiente para reduzir o período de anestro pósparto, especialmente nas fêmeas em aleitamento controlado; contudo, não exerce influência sobre a fertilidade de cabras SRD com aptidão para produção de carne. ____________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThis work aimed to study the effect of PGF2α administration on anestrous post-partum period in 80 goats, with continuos or controlled suckled, rised in semiextensive system with water and mineral salt ad libitum. The females, with age between two and six years, were randomly distributed in three groups (GI, GII, GIII). The females of GI (n = 30) received 250μg of PGF2α in vulvar muscle on days 6th and 12th after delivery. The females of GII (n = 30) received the same treatment of Group I, but every day from days 6th to 10th after delivery. The GIII (n = 20) was the control group. The estrous detection was made by using teasers and the mating with bucks with confirmed fertility. The obtained data were analyzed by ANOVA and by analysis of standard errors of difference among proportions. Difference in the occurrence of estrous among the three experimental groups was not observed (P > 0.05), however the average time of post partum anestrous was significantly reduced (P 0.05) on pregnant percentages among the different groups. It may be concluded that the administration of PGF2α in the beginning of puerperium in caprine is efficient to reduce the anestrous pos-partum period, specially in females controlled suckled; however do not influence the fertility in meat goats

Spermatic and seminal evaluation in Young Boer goats born in the rainy and dry season

Este trabalho objetivou determinar motilidade, turbilhonamento, vigor, defeitos maiores e menores dos espermatozoides de caprinos da raça Boer durante a estação chuvosa (n = 11) e seca (n = 11). Na estação chuvosa, a concentração espermática variou de 0,90 ± 1,46 x 109/mL a 2,7 x 109/mL, a motilidade progressiva de 16,0% a 62,0%, o turbilhonamento de 0,3 a 2,6 , vigor de 1,1 a 2,8 , defeitos maiores de 18,3% a 3% e menores de 16,1% a 3,4%. Na estação seca, a concentração espermática variou de 0,96 x 109/mL a 2,15 x 109/mL, a motilidade progressiva de 35,4% a 64,1%, o turbilhonamento de 1,7 a 3,1, vigor de 2,0 a 3,0, defeitos maiores de 16,9% a 4,2% e menores de 17,5% a 3,2%. Foi registrada correlação positiva (P < 0,05) entre motilidade espermática vs turbilhonamento espermático, respectivamente, para a estação chuvosa e seca, motilidade espermática vs vigor espermático bem como negativa entre motilidade progressiva vs defeitos maiores dos espermatozoides e entre motilidade progressiva e defeitos menores dos espermatozoides. Dessa forma, pode-se concluir que machos caprinos da raça Boer nascidos na estação seca têm atraso de três meses do início da maturidade sexual em comparação àqueles nascidos na estação chuvosa. __________________________________________________________________________________________ ABSTRACTThis study had the objective to distinguish spermatic and seminal parameters in animals born during the dry (n=11) and rainy (n=11) seasons. In the rainy season, the spermatic concentration ranging from 0.90 to 2.7 x 109/mL, the progressive motility from 16.0% to 62.0%, the mass movement from 0.3 to 2.6, vigor from 1.1 to 2.8, major sperm defects of 18.3% to 3 % and minor sperm defects from 16.1% to 3.4% . In the dry season, the spermatic concentration varied from 0.96 to 2.15 x 109/mL, the progressive motility from 35.4% to 64.1%, the mass movement form 1.7 to 3.1, vigor from 2.0 to 3.0, major sperm defects from 16.9% to 4.2% and minor sperm defects from 17.5% to 3.2%. It was observed positive correlation between spermatic motility versus spermatic mass movement, spermatic motility versus spermatic vigor as well as a negative correlation between motility versus major sperm defects of the spermatozoa and between motility and spermatozoa smaller defects respectively, in the rainy and dry seasons. Based on these results we conclude that Boer male goats born in dry season have sexual retardation of three months in comparison to those born in the rainy station

Use of ultrasound to diagnose pregnancy and fetal sex of small ruminant originating from natural mating and from fresh, frozen and vitrified embryo transfer.

Com este trabalho, dividido em três experimentos, objetivou-se verificar a possibilidade de realizar o diagnóstico de prenhez em cabras e ovelhas por diferentes vias de acesso e sexar fetos originados de monta natural e da transferência de embriões frescos e criopreservados. Os exames foram realizados com um aparelho de ultrassom equipado com um transdutor linear (6,0 e 8,0 MHz) utilizado pelas vias transretal e transabdominal e outro microconvexo (5,0 e 7,5 MHz) endocavitário utilizado por via transvaginal. No primeiro experimento verificou-se a viabilidade do exame ultrassonográfico pelas vias transretal, transabdominal e transvaginal para diagnosticar a gestação de cabras (n = 240) e ovelhas (n = 320) no 30o, 45o, 60o e 75o dia. Nas cabras e ovelhas, o exame ultrassonográfico pela via transretal foi mais rápido (P < 0, 05) no 30o e no 45o dia da gestação, mas, pela via transabdominal foi mais rápido no 60o e no 75o dia. Em ambas as espécies, a duração do diagnóstico de gestação foi maior (P < 0,05) no 30o dia do que nos demais, enquanto que a duração do diagnóstico no 75o dia foi menor (P < 0,05) do que no 45o e 60o. Independentemente da via de exame e do dia da gestação, o tempo médio para diagnosticar a gestação foi menor (P < 0,05) nas cabras do que nas ovelhas. Independentemente da espécie e do dia da gestação, o tempo médio para diagnosticar a gestação pela via transretal foi menor (P < 0,05) do que as demais e o da transvaginal foi menor (P < 0,05) do que o da via transabdominal. No segundo experimento, com a finalidade de aperfeiçoar a sexagem de fetos (n = 123) caprinos da raça Boer por via transretal, procurou-se identificar o período de migração do tubérculo genital e sua diferenciação nas estruturas da genitália de fetos derivados de monta natural (TI) e da transferência de embriões frescos (TII), congelados (TIII) e vitrificados (TIV) colhidos 7 dias após a cobertura. A migração do tubérculo genital ocorreu mais cedo (P < 0,05) no TI (42,21±2,86 dias) do que no TII (43,98±3,00 dias), TIII (44,97±1,83 dias) e no TIV (44,58±1,97 dias). A visibilização da bolsa escrotal, prepúcio e vulva ocorreu precocemente (P < 0,05) no TI (45,22±1,25; 45,95±1,53;45,01±1,03 dias) do que no TII (53,25 ± 2,02; 53,37 ± 1,92; 51,76 ± 2,10 dias), TIII (53,25 ± 2,02; 53,37 ± 1,92; 51.76 ± 2,10 dias) e TIV (54,06±1,75; 52,46 ± 1,95;51,91 ± 2,06 dias). No terceiro experimento, com o propósito de aperfeiçoar a sexagem de fetos (n = 130) ovinos da raça Dorper por via transretal, procurou-se identificar o período de migração do tubérculo genital e sua diferenciação nas estruturas da genitália de fetos derivados de monta natural (TI) e da transferência de embriões frescos (TII), congelados (TIII) e vitrificados (TIV) colhidos 7 dias após a cobertura. A migração do tubérculo genital ocorreu mais cedo (P < 0,05) no TI (45,21 ± 3,31 dias) do que no TII (48,50 ± 3,70 dias), TIII (48.50 ± 3.70 dias) e no TIV (48,85 ± 3,23 dias). A visibilização da bolsa escrotal, prepúcio e vulva ocorreu precocemente (P < 0,05) no TI (51,20 ± 2,56; 50,35 ± 1,59; 49,75 ± 1,73 dias) do que no TII (53,25 ± 2,02; 53,37 ± 1,92; 51,76 ± 2,10 dias), TIII (53,25 ± 2,02; 53,37 ± 1,92; 51.76 ± 2,10 dias) e TIV (54,06±1,75; 52,46 ± 1,95; 51,91 ± 2,06 dias). Os resultados permitem concluir que o diagnóstico de gestação pode ser realizado pelas vias transretal, transabdominal etransvaginal, bem como que é mais rápido pela via transretal, na gestação avançada e na espécie caprina. É também permissível concluir que, com base no posicionamento final do tubérculo genital, é recomendável sexar fetos caprinos provenientes de monta natural somente a partir do 55o dia de prenhez e a partir do 60o dia naqueles derivados da transferência de embriões frescos e criopreservados. Nos ovinos a sexagem fetal já pode ser efetuada a partir do 50o dia de prenhez nos fetos oriundos de monta natural e a partir do 55o dia naqueles originados da transferência de embriões frescos e criopreservados. Ainda é possível concluir que a ultrassonografia em tempo real é uma ferramenta importante para diagnosticar precocemente a prenhez nos pequenos ruminantes, assim como identificar o sexo fetal nos primeiros 60 dias de gestaçãoIn this work, divided into three experiments, the aim was to verify the possibility to diagnose the pregnancy of does and ewes by different pathway access and diagnose the fetuses sex originated by natural mating and transfer of fresh and cryopreserved embryos. The examinations were carried out using an ultrasound scanner equipped with a linear transducer (6.0 and 8.0 MHz) used by transrectal and transabdominal via and a microconvex endocavitary (5.0 and 7.5 MHz) transducer used by transvaginal via. In the first experiment was verified the viability of the ultrasound examination by transretal, transabdominal and transvaginal via to diagnose pregnancy in goats (n = 240) and ewes (n = 320) at days 30th, 45th, 60th and 75th. In does and ewes the ultrasound examination was faster (P < 0.05) on days 30th and 45th of pregnancy, however by transabdominal via was faster on day 60th and 75th. In both species the time of pregnancy diagnose was greater (P < 0.05) on day 30th than the others days while this time was smallest (P < 0.05) at day 75th than day 45th and 60th. Independent of the examination via and the day of pregnancy the average time to diagnose the pregnancy was shorter (P < 0.05) in does than in ewes. Independing of the specie and the day of pregnancy the average time to diagnose the pregnancy by transrectal via was shorter (P < 0.05) than the other vias and the transvaginal via was shorter (P < 0.05) than the transabdominal one. In the second experiment, in order to improve the sexing of Boer fetuses (n = 123) by transrectal ultrasonography, the aim was to identify the migration period of the genital tubercle and its later differentiation into genital structures in fetuses derived from natural mating (TI) and fetus from fresh (TII), frozen (TIII) and vitrified (TIV) embryo transfer collected 7 days after breeding. Migration of the genital tubercle occurred earlier (P < 0.05) in TI (45.21 ± 3.31 days) than in TII (48.50 ± 3.70 days), TIII (48.93 ± 3.61 days) and TIV (48.85 ± 3.23 days). The visualization of the scrotum, prepuce and vulva occurred earlier (P < 0.05) in TI (51.20 ± 2.56; 50.35 ± 1.59; 49.75 ± 1.73 days) than in TII (53.25 ± 2.02; 53.37 ± 1.92; 51.76 ± 2.10 days),TIII (53.37 ± 1.92; 52.31 ± 2.00; 51 ± 78 ± 2.22 days) and TIV (54.06±1.75; 52.46 ± 1.95; 51.91 ± 2.06 days). In the third experiment, in order to improve fetal sexing by ultrasonography in Dorper ewe breed (n = 130), the objective was to identifythe migration period of the genital tubercle and the period of the visualization of external genital structures in fetuses derived from natural mating (TI) and from fresh (TII), frozen (TIII) and vitrified (TIV) embryos transfer collected 7 days after breeding. Migration of the genital tubercle occurred earlier (P < 0.05) in TI (42.21±2.86 days) than in TII (43.98±3.00 days), TIII (44.97±1.83 days) and TIV (44.58±1.97days). The visualization of scrotal bag, prepuce and vulva occurred, respectively, earlier (P < 0.05) in TI (45.22±1.25; 45.95±1.53; 45.01±.103 days) than in TII (48.91±1.92; 48.52±1.41; 47.41±1.41 days), TIII (49.97±1.08; 49.18±2.00; 47.64±1.82 days) and TIV(50.12±1.66; 49.27±1.1.61; 47.93±1.92 days). The results allow to conclude that the pregnancy diagnose may be performed by transrectal, transabdominal and transvaginal via, as well as, that is faster by transrectal via and hat the time for diagnosing is shorterin advanced pregnancy and in goat specie. Is also possible to conclude, taking into consideration the final position of the genital tubercle, that goat fetal sexing can be done from the 55th day onward in fetuses produced by natural mating and from the 60th day onward in fetuses derived from cryopreserved embryos. It can also be concluded that, real-time ultrasonography is a reliable tool for fetal sex determination in sheep after Day 50 of pregnancy taking into account both the location of the genital tubercle and the identification of external genital structures. In ovine species the fetal sexing can be done from the 50th day onward in fetuses produced by natural mating and from the 55th day onward in fetuses derived from cryopreserved embryos. Finally is possible to conclude that real-time ultrasonography is a reliable tool for early pregnancy diagnose in small ruminant as well as that to identify the sex on the first 60 days of pregnancy.Conselho Nacional de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico - CNP

Role of Male effect on Reproductive Efficiency of Nulliparous Santa Inês and Morada Nova ewes raised in Different Regions

Background: The male effect is an attractive strategy to increase herd production by concentrating mating events and deliveries and further allowing the adoption of genetic improvement programs. It holds similar efficiency to those chemically based estrous synchronization methods, but has the advantage of being a natural method. The work was aimed to evaluate the influence of male effect on estrous induction and synchronization, pregnancy and prolificacy of nulliparous Santa Inês and Morada Nova ewes raised in Semiarid and Zona da Mata regions of Pernambuco state.Materials, Methods & Results: Santa Inês (n = 80) and Morada Nova (n = 80) females, with age from 11 to 12 months, after being evaluated and selected, were identified with plastic ear tags, weighted and maintained isolated from males, during 30 days before experiment onset, without any physical, visual, olfactive and auditive contact. Estrous events were observed twice a day (6:00 and 16:00 h) by trained personnel, during a breeding season of 60 days, and estrous were considered synchronized when detected, within first five days of breeding season. Rams of Santa Inês (n = 2) and Morada Nova (n = 2) breeds were selected based upon reproductive capacity by an andrology exam, and were marked on the externum bone region with a wax and ink (4:1) mixture, and were marked in female lots in order to identify females in estrous. After ten days of breeding season onset, rams were again marked with the same wax and ink mixture, but with a different ink color. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed on day 30 by ultrasonography and confirmed on day 60 after the last mating. The statistical analysis was performed using SAS, version 8. Differences of 5% (P 0.05). The total pregnancy was 42.50% on first, 64.70% on second service and total delivery was 86.20% singletons, 12.06% twins and 3.33% triples with prolificacy of 1.15 ± 0.31. On both Semiarid and Zona da Mata regions, the majority of estrous events occurred between the11th and 15th day of the breeding season for Santa Inês ewes and between 6th and 10th day for Morada Nova ewes.Discussion: The occurrence of estrous, for both breeds, in both regions, were detected throughout the breeding seasons, despite most estrous detections were within the initial fifteen days, which normally happens with cycling pluriparous females, in disagreement with findings in the literature that young females display lower reproductive performance on the first breeding season. However, the sexual inexperience of young females is not equivalent to lack of male receptivity, since then, could not be responsible for late estrous onset in a breeding season of young females. In agreement with this statement, and based on the data described here, it has been described that young ewes display estrous within the initial 18 days of breeding season onset. The estrous dispersion in biostimulation programs is normally due to female cyclicity, a physiological condition that lowers the sensibility to estradiol negative feedback response, but are still responsible to the presence of males

Male effect associated with suckling interruption on the reproductive performance of Santa Inês ewes

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of temporary suckling interruption associated with the male effect on reproductive performance of pluriparous Santa Inês ewes. The females were kept apart from the males for 60 days and then randomly distributed into three treatments associated with the male effect (DT0, DT24 and DT48); in DT0, there was no suckling interruption; in DT24, suckling was interrupted for 24 hours, and in DT48, sucking was interrupted for 48 hours. Estrous distribution was observed within 31 (DT0), 27 (DT24) and 38 (DT48) days of the breeding season. Estrous synchronization up to the 5th day of the mating season was observed in 15% (DT0), 30% (DT24) and 25% (DT48) of the females, with no difference among treatments. Estrous percentages were 90% (DT0), 100% (DT24) and 100% (DT48), with no difference among treatments. Pregnancy rates were 38.4% (DT0), 60.0% (DT24) and 45.0% (DT48) with no difference among treatments. Prolificacy was 1.43 (DT0), 1.17 (DT24) and 1.22 (DT48) and did not differ between treatments. In conclusion, temporary suckling interruption associated with the male effect is efficient to induce estrous but not to synchronize estrous or increase the pregnancy rates and prolificacy of Santa Inês ewes during a 45-day breeding season.</span