Antral follicle count classification selects fertile heifers without influencing the carcass traits.

This study aimed to evaluate the ovarian structure, estrus intensity, ultrasound carcass measurements, and pregnancy rate of Nelore breed heifers and cows in accordance with antral follicle counts (AFCs). We evaluated 503 heifers and 565 Nelore cows, with a mean age of 15.5±2.2 and 69.8±36.1 months, respectively, submitted to a fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) protocol. On day zero, all bovine females were examined using ultrasound to determine the AFC. The mean AFC of the heifers and cows were 20±8.6 and 22.5±8.4, respectively. The rib-eye area (REA) and fat thickness (FT) of the heifers (n = 119 for REA and n = 219 for FT) were measured using ultrasound imaging. The average conception rates at the first FTAI and at the end of the breeding season were 35.8% and 57.5%, respectively, for heifers and 45.1% and 78.9%, respectively, for cows. We demonstrated that the probability of pregnancy at the first FTAI and at the end of the breeding season for both young heifers and cows increased as the AFC decreased (P>0.001 and P=0.0123, respectively). FT and REA showed no correlation with AFC in heifers. The intensity of estrus expression was negatively correlated with AFC (-0.46; P<0.0001). In conclusion, Nelore heifers and cows with low AFC had a high probability of pregnancy during the entire breeding season. Thus, AFC can be used as a tool to select heifers with increased fertility without affecting carcass traits (REA and FT)

Supplementation with protected FAT in the dairy buffalo cows pregnancy rate.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation with rumen-protected fat source (RPF, palm oil) on the pregnancy rate of dairy buffalo cows submitted to FTAI.Proceedings of the 31st Annual Meeting of the Brazilian Embryo Technology Society (SBTE); Cabo de Santo Agostinho, PE, Brazil, August 17th to 19th, 2017. Abstracts

Reproductive performance of Nellore heifers raised in extensive system undergoing different vaccination protocols in fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI).

This study evaluated the reproductive performance of Nellore heifers without previous vaccination undergoing fixed-time artificial insemination (FTAI) and subsequent natural breeding under different vaccination protocols against infectious bovine herpesvirus 1 (BHV-1), bovine viral diarrhea virus (BVDV), and bovine leptospirosis (BL). A total of 763 animals were included; the group assignment was as follows: T1, control without vaccination; T2, vaccination against BL; T3, vaccination against BHV-1and BVDV; T4,vaccination against combination of BL + BHV-1and BVDV. Vaccination was started 30 days before FTAI (D-40), and a booster dose was administered at D-10. Serological tests were used to verify the occurrence rate of natural infection by BL, BHV-1, and BVDV. Initial pregnancy was diagnosed at D30, D60, and D120 after FTAI. Final pregnancy rates were evaluated by group, weight, body-condition score, occurrence of estrus, inseminator, bull, and occurrence of abortions or embryonic death. In all groups, results indicated seropositivity of 100% for leptospirosis, 77.0-94.0% for BHV-1, and 64.0-87.0% for BVDV. The vaccination protocol was not a significant influencing factor of pregnancy rate and embryonic or fetal mortality; whereas, animal weight at the beginning of the breeding season and presence of estrus at FTAI were significant influencing factors of pregnancy rate. The vaccination protocol had no interference with the reproductive performance of the experimental groups. O estudo foi conduzido para avaliar o desempenho reprodutivo de novilhas Nelore, não imunizadas para herpesvirus bovino tipo 1 (BHV-1), vírus da diarreia viral bovina (BVDV) e leptospirose bovina (LB), submetidas a diferentes protocolos vacinais em manejo de inseminação artificial em tempo fixo (IATF) e repasse com touro em monta natural. Um total de 763 animais foram distribuídos em quatro grupos: T1 - controle sem vacinação; T2 - vacinação contra LB; T3 - vacinação contra BHV-1 e BVDV T4 - vacinação com LB+ BHV-1 e BVDV. A vacinação foi iniciada 30 dias antes da IATF (D-40) com a aplicação da segunda dose em D-10. Verificou-se a taxa de ocorrência de infecção natural por LB, BHV-1 e BVDV realizando-se exames sorológicos. O diagnóstico de gestação inicial foi feito aos 30, 60 e 120 dias. Avaliou-se as taxas de prenhez em função dos grupos, do peso, escore de condição corporal, presença ou ausência de cio, inseminador, touro, ocorrência de abortos ou morte embrionária. Os resultados obtidos revelaram que soropositividade para leptospirose foi de 100% para todos os grupos, variando de 77,0% a 94,0% para BHV-1 e 64,0% a 87,0% para BVDV. O protocolo vacinal não interferiu na taxa de prenhez, de mortalidade embrionária ou fetal. Houve diferença na taxa de prenhez em relação ao peso dos animais no início da estação reprodutiva e a presença de cio no momento da IATF. Concluiu-se que o protocolo vacinal não interferiu no desempenho reprodutivo dos grupos experimentais.Made available in DSpace on 2019-11-12T00:41:41Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 ReproductiveperformanceofNelloreheifersraisedinextensivesystemundergoing2019.pdf: 1072932 bytes, checksum: 7b0a7c094dc8775a56ab5defebf6131e (MD5) Previous issue date: 2019bitstream/item/204517/1/Reproductive-performance-of-Nellore-heifers-raised-in-extensive-system-undergoing-2019.pd

Anti-Müllerian hormone (AMH) as a predictor of antral follicle population in heifers.

Antral follicular population (AFP) and antiMüllerian hormone (AMH) concentration are strongly associated. Thus, analyzing AMH concentration is a reliable method to predict animals with high AFP, an important feature to select donor cows for embryos and oocytes. However, not much is known about this parameter in heifers, particularly in crossbred animals. The aim of this study was to assess AFP in heifers and cows and its relation to serum AMH levels. Bos taurus indicus cows (36?60-months-old; n = 30) and heifers (12?14-months-old; n = 17) of the same breed were evaluated. A single procedure of follicular counting was performed by ultrasound for each animal. Random sampling was performed to analyze serum AMH concentration. Cows showed higher AFP than heifers; nonetheless, plasma AMH concentration did not differ between the categories. A high correlation of AFP with plasma AMH concentration was observed in Girolando heifers. Thus, it is suggested that AMH concentration could be a reliable and less invasive method for selecting heifers with high AFP.Made available in DSpace on 2018-04-21T00:45:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Cardosoetal.2018p1216AR887.pdf: 137096 bytes, checksum: 928b416e6480d0b2024bf28a8e2dca07 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2018-04-17bitstream/item/175581/1/Cardoso-et-al.-2018-p12-16-AR887.pd

Seasonal chaetognath abundance and distribution in a tropical estuary (Southeastern, Brazil)

This study focuses on the seasonal variation of the chaetognath species in the Vitória Bay/Passage Channel estuarine system, Espírito Santo, Brazil, in terms of their abundance and distribution. Specimens of chaetognaths were collected between July 1997 and April 1998 at 10 sampling stations, with a cylindrical-conical plankton net of 200 µm mesh and 30 cm mouth, fitted with a mechanical flowmeter. Five chaetognath species were identified: Sagitta enflata, Sagitta decipiens, Sagitta hispida, Sagitta friderici and Sagitta minima. Most of them were distributed in areas of high salinity (e.g. at the stations closest to the outer estuary). The dominant species, S. enflata and S. friderici, were more frequent in the outer estuary where salinities varied from 32 (wet season - summer) to 28 (dry season - winter). S. friderici was the only species found right in the middle of the Passage Channel, at a station close to the main freshwater input into the estuary. Results showed that chaetognaths only enter the estuary due to the tidal effect, and that they are not typical residents of this system. This is to be expected because the group normally inhabits only truly marine regions.<br>Este estudo abordou a abundância e distribuição sazonal das espécies de quetognatos, no sistema estuarino baía de Vitória/Canal da Passagem, Espírito Santo, Brasil. Os organismos foram coletados entre julho de 1997 e abril de 1998 em 10 estações amostrais, utilizando uma rede de plâncton cilíndrico-cônica de 200µm de malha e 30 cm de abertura de boca, dotada de um fluxômetro mecânico. Cinco espécies de quetognatos foram identificadas: Sagitta enflata, Sagitta decipiens, Sagitta hispida, Sagitta friderici e Sagitta minima. A maioria destas espécies esteve distribuída em áreas com alta salinidade (e.g. estações próximas a saída do estuário). As espécies dominantes S. enflata e S. friderici foram mais freqüentes na parte externa do estuário onde as salinidades variaram de 32 (verão - estação chuvosa) a 28 (inverno - estação seca). S. friderici foi a única espécie encontrada no meio do Canal da Passagem, em uma estação próxima a uma fonte de água doce para o estuário. Os resultados mostram que os quetognatos entram no estuário devido ao efeito da maré, não sendo residentes típicos desse sistema. Isto é esperado visto que este grupo normalmente habita regiões verdadeiramente marinhas