Economic values for production traits of Morada Nova meat sheep in a pasture based production system in semi-arid Brazil

AbstractEconomic values were estimated for meat sheep raised in a pasture based production system in semi-arid Brazil using data on the Morada Nova hair sheep breed. The traits considered were lambing percentage (LP), litter size (LS), lamb mortality (LM), yearling mortality (YM), ewe and ram mortality (AM), female slaughter weight (FSW), male slaughter weight (MSW), ewe adult weight (EAW), ram adult weight (RW), carcass yield (CY), number of lambings per year (NLY), age at first lambing (AFL) and number of anthelminthic doses used per year (AC). The economic values were estimated using the profit equation (profit=revenue−costs) after a one unit and 1% increase of each trait, keeping all other traits at their mean value. With a 1% increase in the traits, the economic values (US$ per ewe per year) for LP, LM, MSW, CY and NLY were 0.781, −0.138, 0.416, 0.827 and 0.781, respectively. The production system with Morada Nova sheep grazing native “caatinga” pasture in Brazilian Northeast, exclusively for meat production, is profitable when taking into account all costs of production, including that of family labour. Carcass yield was shown to be an important selection objective. As it is expressed when the animal is slaughtered, further studies need to be carried out with this population to aid in the choice of appropriate selection criteria for the improvement of this trait

Efeito da incorporação da covariância entre os efeitos direto e materno sobre a análise para a característica dias para ganhar 160 Kg

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar o efeito da covariância entre os efeitos direto e materno sobre as estimativas dos parâmetros genéticos e nas predições dos valores genéticos, direto e materno, para a característica dias para ganhar 160 kg (D160) na fase pré-desmama. Os parâmetros e as predições dos valores genéticos foram estimados utilizando o aplicativo MTDFREML. O modelo 1 incluiu os efeitos genéticos direto e materno e de ambiente permanente, além do efeito fixo de grupo contemporâneo e da covariável idade da vaca ao parto, assumindo a covariância entre o efeito direto e materno (sigmaam;¹;0); o modelo 2, considerou os mesmos efeitos do modelo 1, mas a covariância entre os efeitos direto e materno foi considerada nula (sigmaam=0). As estimativas de correlação de classificação dos animais pelos valores genético foram realizadas utilizando a correlação de Spearman. As estimativas de herdabilidade direta e materna para D160 foram respectivamente, 0,12 ± 0,01 e 0,09 ± 0,02, sob o modelo 1, e 0,12 ± 0,01 e 0,07 ± 0,02, sob o modelo 2. A correlação genética entre os efeitos direto e materno foi de -0,14 ± 0,12 (modelo 1). A inclusão da covariância entre os efeitos direto e materno nos modelos de análises não alterou a estimativa dos parâmetros genéticos e a classificação dos animais pela ordem dos valores genéticos estimados, quando se considerou toda a população. Entretanto, verificou-se que à medida que diminui a proporção de animais selecionados diminui a correspondência entre a classificação dos animais obtida pelos dois modelos.The aim of this work was to study the effect of the covariance between maternal and direct effects on estimatives of genetic parameters and on predictions of breeding values for days to gain 160 kg in the pre-weaning period (D160). The analysis were carried out using the MTDFREML software. The model 1 included the direct and maternal genetic effects and permanent environmental effect and the fixed effects of the contemporaneous group and the covariable age of dam at calving, assuming the covariance between maternal and direct effect (sigmaam;¹;0); the model 2 included the same effects of model 1, but the covariance between maternal and direct effects was considered zero (sigmaam=0). The rank correlations were obtained using Spearman correlation. The direct and maternal heritabilities for D160, were respectively, 0.12 ± 0.01 and 0.09 ± 0.02, for the model 1, and 0.12 ± 0.01 and 0.07 ± 0.02, for the model 2. The correlation between maternal and direct effects was -0.14 ± 0.12 (model 1). The inclusion of the covariance between maternal and direct effects in the analysis models had no influence on the genetic parameters and on the rank of the animals classified by breeding values, when all population was considered. However, as it reduced the proportion of selected animal was reduced there was a corresponding reduction on ranking animals through the two models

Effect of 0.9% saline solution and phosphate buffer saline at different temperatures and incubation times on the morphology of goat preantral follicles

The present work investigated the efficiency of 0.9% saline solution and Phosphate Buffered Saline (PBS) in the preservation of goat preantral follicles in situ at different temperatures and incubation times. The ovarian pair of each animal was divided into 19 fragments. One ovarian fragment was taken randomly and fixed (control). The other 18 fragments were randomly distributed in tubes containing 0.9% saline solution or PBS at 4, 20 or 39 ºC for 4, 12 or 24 h. A total of 5,921 preantral follicles were examined. The quality of preantral follicles was evaluated by classical histology. The storage of ovarian fragments in 0.9% saline solution or PBS at 4 ºC did not reduce significantly the percentage of morphologically normal follicles when compared with the control, except after preservation in 0.9% saline solution for 24 h. The storage of ovarian fragments at 20 or 39°C reduced the percentage of normal preantral follicles when compared to the control, except after preservation in PBS at 20°C for 4 h. In conclusion, this study showed for the first time that goat preantral follicles can be stored in situ successfully at 4 ºC in 0.9% saline solution for 12 h and in PBS for 24 h, and at 20 ºC in PBS for 4 h.O presente trabalho investigou a eficiência da solução salina 0,9% e tampão fosfato salina (PBS) na conservação de folículos pré-antrais caprinos in situ a diferentes temperaturas e tempos de incubação. O par ovariano de cada animal foi dividido em 19 fragmentos. Um fragmento foi escolhido aleatoriamente e fixado (controle). Os outros 18 fragmentos foram distribuídos aleatoriamente em tubos contendo solução salina 0,9% ou PBS a 4, 20 ou 39 °C por 4, 12 ou 24 h. Um total de 5.921 folículos pré-antrais foram analisados. A qualidade dos folículos pré-antrais foi avaliada através de histologia clássica. A incubação de fragmentos ovarianos em solução salina 0,9% ou PBS a 4 ºC não reduziu significativamente a percentagem de folículos morfologicamente normais quando comparados com o controle, exceto após a conservação em solução salina 0,9% por 24 h. A incubação de fragmentos ovarianos a 20 ou 39°C reduziu a percentagem de folículos pré-antrais normais quando comparados com o controle, exceto após conservação em PBS a 20°C por 4 h. Em conclusão, este estudo mostrou pela primeira vez que folículos pré-antrais caprinos podem ser conservados in situ com sucesso a 4 ºC em solução salina 0,9% por 12 h e em PBS por 24 h, e a 20 ºC em PBS por 4 h

Differentially transcribed genes in skeletal muscle of lambs

The objective of this study was to compare gene transcription profiles in Longissimus dorsi muscle of the following four hair sheep genetic groups, Morada Nova (MO), Brazilian Somali (SO), Santa Inˆes (SI) and 1⁄2Dorper  1⁄2Morada Nova (F1). These groups all display different postnatal muscle growth. The transcriptomes of the skeletal muscle of the lambs (at 200 days of age) were profiled by using oligonucleotide microarrays and reverse transcription- quantitative real-time PCR (RT-qPCR). The microarray experiment identified 262 transcripts that were differentially expressed when transcription levels were compared between the different breeds. A total of 23 transcripts among which those involved in skeletal muscle development (MyoD1 and IGFBP4), lipogenesis and adipogenesis (C/EBP d , PPAR g and PGDS) were differentially expressed in at least in one comparison. Clustering analysis showed that there is greater similarity in gene expression between the MO and SI breeds and between F1 and SO genetic groups. The SO breed has the most distinct expression pattern. The RT-qPCR results confirmed the findings from the microarray study. A positive correlation was observed between the expression of MyoD1 and the cold carcass yield. The negative correlations between the weight and yield of cold carcass with the expression of C/EBP d mean that the selection for adipogenesis could lead to a lower carcass weight. The GLUT3 and PYGL gene transcripts were negatively correlated with fat thickness, but ATP5G1 was positively correlated with this trait. Interestingly, many genes negatively correlated with PUFA were positively correlated with cold carcass yield. In conclusion, the present work demonstrated that there are breed-specific expression patterns in Brazilian hair sheep genetic groups. The differences in gene expression among genetic groups were consistent with their phenotypic differences. The positive correlation of the MyoD1 expression with the cold carcass yield suggests that this gene is important for tissue growth in sheep. Thepositive correlation of the C/EBP d expression with PUFA provides an opportunity to select for lipid deposition in meat animals

Parâmetros biométricos de sementes de acessos de palma de óleo de banco de germoplasma brasileiro

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a diversidade morfológica de sementes de palma de óleo e agrupar os acessos de acordo com as suas características morfológicas. Foram avaliados 41 acessos do banco de germoplasma de palma de óleo da Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental - 18 de Elaeis oleifera e 23 de E. guineensis. Os agrupamentos foram formados com base em características morfológicas, por meio de análise de componentes principais. Em E. oleifera, foram formados quatro grupos ligados às suas regiões de origem, mas com diferenças morfológicas significativas entre acessos de uma mesma população. Para sementes de E. guineensis do tipo tenera, foram formados três grupos bastante divergentes, especialmente quanto aos parâmetros externos, os quais os diferenciaram dos demais. O parâmetro espessura do endocarpo se destacou na diferenciação intra e interpopulacional. Para E. guineensis do tipo dura, houve a formação de três grupos, com sementes maiores e endocarpos mais espessos, que diferiram dos demais. A variabilidade observada para as características das sementes, nos acessos analisados, permite estabelecer grupos divergentes, para definição de estratégias de melhoramento genético.The objective of this work was to evaluate the morphological diversity of oil palm seeds and to cluster the accessions according to their morphological characteristics. Forty-one accessions from the oil palm germplasm bank of Embrapa Amazônia Ocidental were evaluated - 18 of Elaeis oleifera and 23 of E. guineensis. The groups were formed based on morphological characteristics, by principal component analysis. In E. oleifera, four groups were formed, tied to their region of origin, but with significant morphological differences between accessions from the same population. For tenera-type E. guineensis seeds, three widely divergent groups were formed, especially as to external parameters, which differentiated them from the other ones. The parameter endocarp thickness stood out in intra- and inter-population differentiation. For dura-type E. guineensis, three groups were formed, with larger seeds and thicker endocarps, which differed from all the other ones. The variability observed for seed characteristics in the analyzed accessions allows the establishment of different groups, to define strategies for genetic improvement

Intake, nutrient digestibility and performance of dairy heifers fed diets containing palm kernel cake

Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos da inclusão de torta de dendê na dieta sobre o consumo, a digestibilidade das dietas e o desempenho de novilhas leiteiras. Utilizaram-se 16 novilhas leiteiras mestiças Holandês × Zebu, com média de 13 meses de idade e peso vivo inicial de 183,4±32,5 kg, distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro níveis de torta de dendê (0; 11,9; 22,9 e 34,2% da matéria seca total), cada um com quatro repetições. Avaliaram-se os consumos de matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), carboidratos não-fibrosos (CNF), extrato etéreo (EE) e nutrientes digestíveis totais (NDT) e as digestibilidades aparentes da MS, PB, FDN, CNF e EE. Houve redução linear no consumo de MS, PB, FDN, CNF e NDT. A digestibilidade aparente da MS e FDN reduziu com a inclusão da torta de dendê na dieta, enquanto a de PB e dos CNF sofreu efeito quadrático. A inclusão de torta de dendê nas dietas promoveu aumento linear da digestibilidade aparente do extrato etéreo. O ganho de peso reduziu linearmente com a inclusão de torta de dendê na dieta, sendo observados valores de 1,06; 0,99; 0,89 e 0,54 kg/dia para as dietas contendo 0; 11,9; 22,9 ou 34,2% de torta de dendê na dieta total, respectivamente. A conversão alimentar não foi afetada pelos níveis de inclusão de torta de dendê na dieta. A inclusão de torta de dendê na dieta reduz o consumo de nutrientes e o desempenho de novilhas leiteiras em crescimento, porém, quando utilizada em níveis de até 24,6% da dieta total, proporciona ganho de peso compatível com os obtidos em programas de recria visando à parição aos 24 meses de idade.The objective was to evaluate the effects of inclusion of palm kernel cake in the diet on intake, digestibility and performance of dairy heifers. Sixteen dairy Holstein-Zebu crossbred heifers with average age of 13 months and average weight of 183.4±32.5 kg were distributed to four treatments in a completely randomized design with four levels of palm kernel cake (0, 11.9, 22.9 and 34.2% from total dry matter), each one with four replicates. The intake of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC), ether extract (EE) and total digestible nutrients (TDN), and the apparent digestibility of DM, CP, NDF, NFC and EE were evaluated. There was linear reduction in DM, CP, NDF, NFC, and TDN intake. The apparent digestibility of DM and NDF reduced with the inclusion of palm kernel cake in the diet, while the apparent digestibility of CP and NFC showed quadratic effect. The inclusion of palm kernel cake in the diets resulted in linear increase in the apparent digestibility of ether extract. Weight gain decreased linearly with the inclusion of palm kernel cake in the diet, with values of 1.06, 0.99, 0.89 and 0.54 kg/day for diets containing 0, 11.9, 22, 9 or 34.2% palm kernel cake, respectively. Feed conversion was not affected by the inclusion of levels of palm kernel cake. The inclusion of palm kernel cake in the diet reduces nutrient intake and performance of dairy heifers during growth, but when used in levels up to 24.6% of the total diet, it provides weight gain compatible with growth programs aiming calving at 24 months of age