MANEJO NUTRICIONAL ADOTADO EM FAZENDAS DE CRIAÇÃO DE BÚFALOS NO BRASIL

Buffaloes were originally introduced in Brazil from  the  mid-nineteenth  century,  usually  in  small  lots from Asia, Europe, mainly Italy and the Caribbean, attracted mainly  by  their  exoticism  to  their  zootechnical  qualities. Nowadays buffalo production presents itself as a growing activity throughout Brazil, following the world trend, but it is still a secondary alternative. In this sense, the objective of this research was to understand the current scenario of buffalo production in Brazil with emphasis on the characterization of farms and production systems of Brazilian buffalo production, through the completion of online and written questionnaires sent to buffalo producers from all over the world. Brazil containing questions related to the subjects of this activity. For this was used the digital platform Google forms, creating a form in which it was disseminated via online employing various devices such as social networks, emails and in the form of printed questionnaire. There were 29 answers from 11 Brazilian states. It is concluded that although the farms perform a nutritional management, it is not adequate, so there is a need for evolution in this aspect, with the provision of better quality supplementation and forage.Los búfalos se introdujeron originalmente en Brasil desde mediados del siglo XIX, generalmente en pequeños lotes de Asia, Europa y principalmente Italia y el Caribe, atraídos principalmente por su exotismo a sus cualidades zootécnicas. Hoy en día, la bubalinocultura se presenta como una actividad en crecimiento en todo Brasil, siguiendo la tendencia mundial, pero sigue siendo una alternativa secundaria. En este sentido, el objetivo de esta investigación fue comprender el escenario actual de la bubalinocultura en Brasil, con énfasis en la caracterización del manejo nutricional de la bubalinocultura brasileña, a través de la realización de cuestionarios en línea y escritos enviados a bubalinoculturadores de todo Brasil que contengan preguntas relacionadas. a los sujetos de esta actividad. Para ello se utilizó la plataforma digital de formularios de Google, creando un formulario en el que se difundió en línea utilizando diversos dispositivos como redes sociales, correos electrónicos y en forma de cuestionario impreso. Hubo 29 respuestas de 11 estados brasileños. Se concluye que aunque las granjas realizan un manejo nutricional, no es adecuado, por lo que existe una necesidad de evolución en este sentido, con la provisión de suplementos y forraje de mejor calidad.Os búfalos originalmente foram inseridos no Brasil a partir de meados do século XIX, geralmente em lotes pequenos oriundos da Ásia, Europa e principalmente da Itália e Caribe, atraído principalmente pelo seu exotismo à suas qualidades zootécnicas. Nos dias atuais a bubalinocultura se apresenta como uma atividade em crescimento em todo o Brasil, acompanhando a tendência mundial, todavia ainda é uma alternativa secundária. Nesse sentido objetivou-se com essa pesquisa compreender o cenário atual da bubalinocultura no Brasil com ênfase na caracterização do manejo nutricional da bubalinocultura brasileira, por meio da realização de questionários de maneira online e na forma escrita encaminhadas aos bubalinocultores de todo o Brasil, contendo perguntas relacionadas aos assuntos dessa atividade. Para isso foi utilizado a plataforma digital Google forms, criando-se um formulário no qual foi divulgado via online empregando vários dispositivos como redes sociais, e-mails e na forma de questionário impresso. Obteu-se 29 respostas, proveniente de 11 estados brasileiros. Conclui-se que embora as fazendas realizem um manejo nutricional, o mesmo não se encontra adequado, com isso há necessidade de evolução nesse aspecto, com o fornecimento de suplementação e forragem de melhor qualidade

Productive efficiency of buffalos in the State of Pará in different conditions of mineral supplementation

The monitoration of the consumption of different minerals mixtures was evaluated in 84 crossbred buffaloes distributed in two farms (1 and 2) located in Meso-area of Paraense's Northeast for the evaluation of the cost benefit of each product. The farms presented pastures of the type Brachiaria brizantha, cv. Marandú where the animals were maintained for 14 months. The animals were divided in two lots. The lot 1 of each farm received a commercial product of mineral supplementation recommended for buffalos (Topbúfalo Matsuda®) and the lot 2, the commercial product of conventional mineral supplementation of the property, in which was indicated for the bovine species. In Finance 1, the consumption of the mineral mixture to be tested was inferior to the consumption of the conventional mineral mixture and in Finance 2, the consumption of both lots was similar. The commercial product recommended for buffalos in pasture regime, in both systems, it promoted a better acting in the earnings of weight of the buffalos when compared to commercial products recommended for the bovine species. The medium weight of the hot carcass of the animals that consumed the mineral mixture to be tested was superior the one of the animals that received the conventional mineral mixture. The expense with the mineral supplementation was superior with the conventional products in both farms, with smaller net yields than the supplementation to be tested. Was ended that the productive efficiency of the animals using a recommended supplementation for buffalos in pasture regime overcomes the productive efficiency of buffalos when a supplementation is used recommended for bovine.O monitoramento do consumo de diferentes misturas minerais foi avaliado em 84 búfalos mestiços distribuídos em duas fazendas (1 e 2) localizadas na Meso-região do Nordeste Paraense para a avaliação do custo benefício de cada produto. As fazendas apresentavam pastagens do tipo Brachiaria brizantha, cv. Marandú onde os animais foram mantidos durante 14 meses. Os animais foram divididos em dois lotes. O lote 1 de cada fazenda recebeu um produto comercial de suplementação mineral recomendado para bubalinos (Topbúfalo Matsuda®) e o lote 2, o produto comercial de suplementação mineral convencional da propriedade, no qual era indicado para a espécie bovina. Na fazenda 1, o consumo da mistura mineral a ser testada foi inferior ao consumo da mistura mineral convencional e na fazenda 2, o consumo de ambos os lotes foi semelhante. O produto comercial recomendado para búfalos em regime de pastagem, em ambos os sistemas, promoveu um melhor desempenho no ganho de peso dos búfalos quando comparado a produtos comerciais recomendados para a espécie bovina. O peso médio da carcaça quente dos animais que consumiram a mistura mineral a ser testada foi superior a dos animais que receberam a mistura mineral convencional. O gasto com a suplementação mineral foi superior com os produtos convencionais em ambas as fazendas, com rendimentos líquidos menores do que a suplementação a ser testada. Conclui-se que a eficiência produtiva dos animais utilizando uma suplementação recomendada para bubalinos em regime de pastagem supera a eficiência produtiva de búfalos quando se utiliza uma suplementação recomendada para bovinos

Influência da parição e do puerpério no leucograma de caprinos (Capra hircus) da raça Saanen, criados no Estado de São Paulo

Com o objetivo de avaliar a influência da parição e do puerpério no leucograma de caprinos da raça Saanen foram colhidas 360 amostras de sangue de 20 cabras, sendo os resultados apresentados em 18 grupos experimentais: 32, 16, 8, 4, 3, 2, 1 e ½ dias antes do parto, imediatamente após a parição, ½, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 16, 32 e 64 dias após o parto. Nas amostras de sangue colhidas em frascos contendo EDTA, foram realizadas as seguintes provas: contagem do número total de leucócitos, em câmara de Neubauer modificada, utilizando-se o líquido de Thoma como diluidor e contagem diferencial de leucócitos, efetuada em esfregaços sangüíneos, corados pelo método de Rosenfeld. A avaliação dos resultados obtidos demonstrou que o leucograma sofreu influência da parição e do puerpério, sendo que durante todo o experimento o quadro leucocitário foi predominantemente neutrofílico. Nos últimos três dias de gestação observou-se gradual aumento do número de leucócitos, em decorrência das variações observadas no número de neutrófilos. No momento do parto o leucograma era caracterizado por leucocitose devido à neutrofilia associado a linfopenia. Nas primeiras 24 horas após o parto foi observado a existência de leucocitose por neutrofilia que desapereceu nos dias subseqüentes, passando o quadro leucocitário a assemelhar-se entre o 2º e 64º dia após o parto àquele observado na fase final da gestação.With the intention of evaluating the influence of parturition and puerperium on the leukogram of Saanen goats (Capra hircus) 360 blood samples were collected from 20 goats and allotted into 18 experimental groups as described: 32, 16, 8, 4, 3, 2, 1 e ½ days before parturition, immediately after parturition, ½, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 16, 32 e 64 days after parturition. The blood samples were collected with EDTA and submitted to the following tests: total leukocyte counts, at the modified Neubauer hemocytometer, using Thomas liquid as a dilute and differential leukocyte count, made up with blood smears stained with Rosenfeld method. The evaluation of the leukogram showed significant variation that could be attributed to parturition and the puerperium. The leucograma became mostly neutrophilic at the end of pregnancy and puerperium. On the last three days of pregnancy, a gradual raise on the number of leukocytes was observed due to same changes on the total number of neutrophils. At the moment of parturition the leukogram was characterized by a leukocytosis due to neutrhophilia and lymphopenia. On the first 24 hours after parturition, it was still possible to observe this leukocytosis due to neutrophilia that disappeared on the subsequent days making the leukogram look similar to taht obseved at the late pregnancy until the end of puerperium

Lipidograma e glicemia de búfalas leiteiras durante a lactação e o período seco

The purpose of this study was to analyze the influence of lactation and dry period in the constituents of lipid and glucose metabolism of buffaloes. One hundred forty-seven samples of serum and plasma were collected between November 2009 and July 2010, from properties raising Murrah, Mediterranean and crossbred buffaloes, located in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. Biochemical analysis was obtained by determining the contents of serum cholesterol, triglycerides, beta-hydroxybutyrate (β-HBO), non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA) and plasma glucose. Values for arithmetic mean and standard error mean were calculated using the SAS procedure, version 9.2. Tests for normality of residuals and homogeneity of variances were performed using the SAS Guide Data Analysis. Data were analyzed by ANOVA using the SAS procedure Glimmix. The group information (Lactation), Farm and Age were used in the statistical models. Means of groups were compared using Least Square Means (LSMeans) of SAS, where significant difference was observed at P ≤ 0.05. It was possible to conclude that buffaloes during peak lactation need to metabolize body reserves to supplement the lower amounts of bloodstream lipids, when they remain in negative energy balance. In the dry period, there were significant changes in the lipid profile, characterized by decrease of nutritional requirements, with consequent improvement in the general conditions of the animals.Com o objetivo de se analisar a influência da lactação e do período seco nos constituintes do metabolismo lipídico e na glicemia de búfalas leiteiras, foram coletadas amostras de soro e plasma de 147 animais, entre novembro de 2009 e julho de 2010, sendo estes oriundos de propriedades criadoras de búfalos das raças Murrah, Mediterrâneo e Mestiços, localizadas no Estado de São Paulo. A análise bioquímica foi obtida por meio da determinação dos teores séricos de colesterol, triglicérides, ß-hidroxibutirato (ß-HBO), ácidos graxos não esterificados (NEFA) e teores plasmáticos de glicose. Os valores da média aritmética e o erro padrão da média foram calculados utilizando-se o procedimento Means do SAS versão 9.2. Os dados foram analisados por ANOVA, usando o procedimento Glimmix do SAS. As informações de grupo (Lactação), Fazenda e Idade foram utilizadas nos modelos estatísticos. A comparação entre as médias dos grupos foi realizada por meio do teste de médias Least Square Means (LSMeans) do SAS, no qual foi considerada diferença para P ≤ 0,05. Concluiu-se que em búfalas, durante a fase de pico da lactação, existe a necessidade de o animal metabolizar as reservas corporais para suprir as menores quantidades de lipídios circulantes, estando os animais em balanço energético negativo. No período seco, existem significativas alterações no lipidograma, caracterizadas por diminuição na exigência nutricional, com consequente melhora na condição geral do animal

Influência da gestação e do puerpério sobre o eritrograma de caprinos (Capra hircus) da raça Saanen, criados no Estado de São Paulo

The influence of pregnancy and puerperium on the erythrogram of Saanen goats (Capra hircus) was evaluate on blood samples were taken from 150 goats raised on the State of São Paulo and were allocated into 5 experimental groups of 30 goats each as described: non-pregnant; initial pregnancy (30 -| 60 days of pregnancy); middle pregnancy (60 -| 120 days of pregnancy); late pregnancy (more than 120 days of pregnancy); kidding goats (until 30 days after parturition). The blood samples were collected with EDTA and submitted to the following analysis: erythrocyte counts (at the modified Neubauer hemocytometer, using Gower's liquid as a dilute); packed cell volume (using the microhematocrit method); hemoglobin concentration (using cyanmethemoglobin method); calculated blood indices: MCV - mean corpuscular volume; MCH - mean corpuscular hemoglobin; MCHC - mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. Although lower number of erytrocytes were seen at the end of pregnancy, the blood values returned to normality during the kidding phase. These values returned to those observed in non-pregnant goats, goats in early and middle pregnancy. The evaluation of the hemoglobin concentration and packed cell volume did not show any significant variation that could be attributed to pregnancy or the puerperium. The MCV and MCH values were higher in goats in late pregnancy and during kidding.Para avaliar a influência da gestação e do puerpério sobre o eritrograma de caprinos (Capra hircus) foram coletadas 150 amostras de sangue de cabras sadias da raça Saanen, criadas no Estado de São Paulo, distribuídas em cinco grupos com 30 animais cada: G1 - cabras não prenhes; G2 - fase inicial da gestação (30 -| 60 dias de prenhez); G3 - fase média da gestação (60 -| 120 dias de prenhez); G4 - fase final da gestação (>; 120 dias de prenhez); e G5 - recém-paridas(cabras com até 30 dias pós-parto). Nas amostras de sangue coletadas em frascos contendo EDTA, foram realizadas as seguintes análises: contagem do número de hemácias, determinação do volume globular, dosagem de hemoglobina, e cálculo dos índices hematimétricos (Volume Corpuscular Médio - VCM, Hemoglobina Corpuscular Médio - HCM, Concentração de Hemoglobina Corpuscular - CHCM). Constatou-se a influência da gestação e do puerpério sobre o eritrograma, pois na fase final da gestação, houve diminuição do número de hemácias, valores estes que retornaram no puerpério aos patamares observados nas cabras não prenhes, fases inicial e média da gestação. A avaliação do volume globular e da taxa de hemoglobina não revelou variações significativas que pudessem ser atribuídas à gestação ou ao puerpério. Na análise dos índices hematimétricos, verificou-se que os valores do VCM e do HCM foram maiores nas cabras na fase final de gestação e nas recém-paridas

Infecção natural pelo vírus da diarreia viral bovina (BVDV) em bovinos de corte no Estado do Pará

Background: Bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV) is a pathogen that causes great economic losses in dairy and beef herds.The main disturbances caused by this virus are related to abortion, fetal malformation and mummification, and the birth ofweak calves. In addition, this disease may result in persistently infected animals, as well as individual immune tolerance tothe virus. However, the symptoms are nonspecific and variable, and dependent on the age of affected animal. The objectiveof the present study was to report three cases with clinical signs of BVDV infection, with subsequent confirmation of thediagnosis by reverse transcription - polymerase chain reaction technique (RT-PCR).Cases: In a beef production farm located at the state of Para, Brazil, three animals presented severe diarrhea; the feces wereliquefied and greenish-yellow in color; crusted lesions were visible and scattered over various parts of the animals’ bodies,including the muzzle, nostrils, periauricular region, and hooves; the tongue mucosa was undergoing an intense desquamationprocess. One of the affected animals, a 6-month-old calf, was euthanized following the recommendations of the “Brazilianguide to good practices for animal euthanasia” of the Ethics, Bioethics and Animal Welfare Committee / Federal Council ofVeterinary Medicine. After euthanasia, this calf was necropsied and some of its organs, including the tongue and skin, weresent to the Biological Institute of Sao Paulo State for histopathology examination (HE) and identification and isolation of thevirus. Positive samples for the presence of BVDV were diagnosed by RT-PCR, confirming the suspicion and explaining thesigns observed in that animal and reported in other dead animals of the farm. Because RT-PCR was performed in ulcerativelesions present in the tongue, negative reactions were detected for bovine herpesvirus (BoHV) and positive reactions forBVDV. The cutaneous tissue was marked with lymphocytic infiltration, observed in both epidermis and dermis, which refersto crusted lesions distributed in several regions of the animal’s body. In the lungs, we observed rare areas of emphysema andmarked lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia with hemorrhagic spots, correlated with symptoms of respiratory disease. Also,marked renal damage and spleen lesions were identified, indicating glomerulonephritis and lymphocytic splenitis.Discussion: This study evidenced the occurrence of BVDV in two calves and one adult animal, which is in agreementwith the described higher incidence of symptomatic infection in young animals. Clinical signs of severe greenish-yellowdiarrhea and crusted lesions distributed throughout several regions of the animals’ bodies, including the muzzle, nostrils,periauricular region, and hooves were described, with intense tongue epithelium desquamation, which is a particular andcharacteristic symptom of Mucosal Disease - the classical form of the physiopathogeny caused by bovine viral diarrheavirus. The clinical findings of severe diarrhea are possibly related to the histopathological results, which showed hyaliniza-tion of the intestinal mucosa and rare mononuclear cells in the liver nodules. Pulmonary histopathological findings of rareareas of lymphocytic interstitial pneumonia, severe emphysema, and hemorrhagic foci refer to respiratory diseases. Basedon the clinical signs and laboratory findings, we conclude that the affected animals showed classic symptoms of bovineviral diarrhea. This diagnosis highlights the presence of the disease in cattle raised in the state of Para, Brazil

Influência da gestação e do puerpério sobre o leucograma de caprinos da raça Saanen, criados no Estado de São Paulo

Para avaliar a influência da gestação e do puerpério sobre os constituintes do leucograma de caprinos da raça Saanen foram colhidas 150 amostras de sangue, distribuídas em 5 grupos com 30 animais cada: cabras não prenhes; fase inicial da gestação (30 -| 60 dias de prenhez); fase média da gestação (60 -| 120 dias de prenhez); fase final da gestação (>; 120 dias de prenhez); e recém-paridas (< 30 dias de puerpério). Nas amostras de sangue, colhidas em frascos contendo EDTA, foi realizada a contagem do número total de leucócitos em câmara de Neubauer, utilizando-se o líquido de Thoma como diluidor e a contagem diferencial de leucócitos,efetuada em esfregaços sangüíneos, corados pelo Método de Rosenfeld. Observou-se a influência da gestação sobre o leucograma, pois o quadro leucocitário foi caracterizado por uma diminuição gradual do número de leucócitos com o avançar da gestação, atingindo seus menores valores no final da gestação e no puerpério. Essa diminuição ocorreu devido ao comportamento observado para o número absoluto de linfócitos, que também diminuiu com a evolução da gestação. Dessa forma, o quadro leucocitário tornou-se, predominantemente, neutrofílico na fase final da gestação e no puerpério.With the intention of evaluating the influence of pregnancy and puerperium in the leucogram of Saanen goats (Capra hircus), blood samples were taken from 150 goats bred on the State of São Paulo and were allotted into 5 experimental groups of 30 goats each as described: non-pregnant; initial pregnancy (30 to 60 days of pregnancy); middle pregnancy (60 to 120 days of pregnancy); late pregnancy (more than 120 days of pregnancy); kidding goats (until 30 days after parturition). The blood samples were collected with EDTA and submitted to the following tests: total leukocyte counts (in the modified Neubauer hemocytometer, using Thoma's liquid as a dilute); and differential leukocyte count (made up with blood smears and stained with Rosenfeld method). The influence of pregnancy and puerperium on the leucogram was verified due to a gradual decrease on the number of leucocytes further on in pregnancy, reaching its lower values at the end of pregnancy and puerperium. This decrease occurred due to behavior observed on the absolute number of lymphocytes that also decreased further on in pregnancy. Therefore the leucograma became mostly neutrophilic at the end of pregnancy and puerperium

Influência da parição e do puerpério sobre eritrograma de caprinos (Capra hircus - Linaeus, 1758) da raça Saanen, criados no Estado de São Paulo

Aimine at evaluating the influence of parturition and puerperium on the erythrogram of Saanen goats (Capra hircus) 360 blood samples were collected from 20 goats on 18 different moments, as described as described: 32, 16, 8, 4, 3, 2, 1 and ½ days before parturition, immediately after parturition, ½, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 16, 32 and 64 days after parturition. The blood samples were collected with EDTA and submitted to the following tests: erythrocyte counts (at the modified Neubauer hemocytometer, using Gower's liquid as a dilute); packed cell volume (using the microhematocrit method); hemoglobin concentration (using cyanmethemoglobin method); calculated blood indices: MCV - mean corpuscular volume; MCH - mean corpuscular hemoglobin; MCHC - mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration. The evaluation of the erythrogram did not show any significant variation that could be attributed to the pregnancy or puerperium.Com o objetivo de avaliar a influência da parição e do puerpério sobre o eritrograma de caprinos da raça Saanen foram colhidas 360 amostras de sangue de 20 cabras, sendo os resultados apresentados em 18 momentos do puerpério: 32, 16, 8, 4, 3, 2, 1 e ½ dias antes do parto, imediatamentee após a parição, ½, 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, 16, 32 e 64 dias após o parto.Nas amostras de sangue colhidas em frascos contendo EDTA, foram realizadas as seguintes determinações: contagem do número de hemácias, em câmara de Neubauer modificada, utilizando-se o líquido de Gower como diluidor; determinação do volume globular, pelo método do microhematócrito; dosagem da taxa de hemoglobina, pelo método da cianometahemoglobina e cálculo dos índices hematimétricos absolutos (VCM, HCM, CHCM). A avaliação dos resultados obtidos demonstrou que o eritrograma não sofreu influência da parição e do puerpério

Bovine Leukosis Virus and Antibodies against Bovine Herpesvirus Type-1 and Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus and in Buffaloes of the State of Pará, Brazil

Background: Viral diseases affecting reproduction cause economic losses in cattle, as reproductive failure interrupts the production cycle, thus reducing herd productivity. Buffaloes are susceptible to most of the diseases that affect cattle. Some of the viral diseases of reproductive importance are infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), and bovine leukosis (BL). The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of IBR virus (bovine herpes virus-1, BoHV-1), BVD virus (BVDV), and BL virus (BLV) in female buffaloes living in wetland areas or plains in the state of Pará, as well as the seroprevalence of BoHV-1, BVDV, and BLV in females of different age groups.Materials, Methods & Results: It were used 225 crossbred buffaloes from 4 buffalo exclusive farms. The buffaloes reared on farms A (n = 50) and B (n = 89) were kept in wetland areas on Marajó Island (n = 139), Pará. On farms C (n = 30) and D (n = 56) buffaloes were kept in plains (n = 86) in a northeastern mesoregion of Para. Animals were categorized into age groups: I: 0-3 years (n = 34), II: 3-6 years (n = 58), III: 7-9 years (n = 55), and IV: over 9 years (n = 78). Blood samples were collected and sera were sent for processing at the Bovine Virus Laboratory, Biological Institute of São Paulo, Brazil. The presence of IBRV and BVDV was determined by neutralization and BLV antibodies by immunodiffusion in agar gel. Statistical analysis was performed using the Ȥ2 test at a significance level of 5%. Among the seroprevalences of IBRV, BVDV and BLV antibodies, the difference in prevalence for BVD [P < 0.01] was observed between wetland areas and plains of Para, varying from 12.4% to 96.0% and 0.0% to 13.3%, respectively. While levels of IBRV remained high on farms A (79.6%), B (86.5%), C (83.3%) and D (89.1%) [P = 0.60] and BLV was negative in all the animals. BVDV was similar for all the age groups [P = 0.60], while IBRV was more prevalent in animals over 6 years of age with group I: (76.5%), II (74.5%), III (92.3%) and IV (91.3%) [P = 0.01]. It was not possible verify the influence of age in prevalence for BL.Discussion: The prevalence obtained for the BoHV-1 on farms was high, with little variation between 79.6% and 89.1%. The high prevalence of BoHV-1 suggests the free circulation of the virus in the state of Para. Notably, the animals in this study had not been vaccinated, so the determined viral antibody titers were independent of vaccination. BVDV results showed high variation between 0.0% and 96.0%. The highest prevalence in wetland areas may be related to the breeding environment, because of a possible horizontal contamination. The lack of BLV antibodies prevalence can be attributed to the fact that all the evaluated animals were kept in an extensive breeding system where they had little direct contact. The prevalence of IBR was higher in the older animals. Variation in prevalence with age was not observed for BVD. It was concluded that the prevalence for IBR and BVD were high indicating that the etiological agents are circulating in Para, with IBR having a higher prevalence in older animals. Breeding buffalo in wetland areas may favor horizontal transmission of BVDV because facilitate contact of healthy animals with water contaminated by virus carriers animal secretion and the absence of seropositive animals at the BLV does not necessarily indicate that buffaloes are resistant to the virus