Effects of maternal subnutrition during early pregnancy on cow hematological profiles and offspring physiology and vitality in two beef breeds

This experiment evaluated the effects of subnutrition during early gestation on hematology in cows (Bos Taurus) and on hematological, metabolic, endocrine, and vitality parameters in their calves. Parda de Montaña and Pirenaica dams were inseminated and assigned to either a control (CONTROL, 100% requirements) or a nutrient‐restricted group (SUBNUT, 65%) during the first third of gestation. Dam blood samples were collected on days 20 and 253 of gestation, and calf samples were obtained during the first days of life. Pirenaica dams presented higher red series parameters than Parda de Montaña dams, both in the first and the last months of gestation. During early pregnancy, granulocyte numbers and mean corpuscular hemoglobin were lower in Pirenaica‐SUBNUT than in Pirenaica‐CONTROL cows. Calves from the SUBNUT cows did not show a physiological reduction in red series values in early life, suggesting later maturation of the hematopoietic system. Poor maternal nutrition affected calf endocrine parameters. Newborns from dystocic parturitions showed lower NEFA concentrations and weaker vitality responses. In conclusion, maternal nutrition had short‐term effects on cow hematology, Pirenaica cows showing a higher susceptibility to undernutrition; and a long‐term effect on their offspring endocrinology, SUBNUT newborns showing lower levels of IGF‐1 and higher levels of cortisol.This work was supported by the Spanish Ministry of Economy and Business and the European Union Regional Development Funds (INIA RTA 2013‐00059‐C02 and INIA RZP 2015‐001) and the Government of Aragon under the Grant Research Group Funds (A14_17R). A. Noya received a PhD grant from INIA‐Government of Aragon

Estudio de expresión diferencial de genes y distribución de la vinculina en ovario de cerdas

Ponencia publicada en ITEA, vol.104El objetivo de este estudio es analizar las diferencias en la expresión de genes y proteínas en tres estadios reproductivos en cerdas. Con el fin de caracterizar los cambios en los perfiles de expresión, se hibridó RNA de ovario de cerdas en celo, 15 y 45 días de gestación en microchips porcinos. Se detectaron diferencias de expresión en 281 genes (probabilidad posterior <10-11) entre los tres momentos reproductivos analizados en ovario. Uno de estos genes, la vinculina, mostró una expresión 100 veces mayor en celo comparado con 45 días de gestación. Por ello, fue escogido para realizar un análisis de expresión proteica mediante inmunohistoquímica y análisis western blot. Los resultados obtenidos mediante inmunohistoquímica muestran mayor cantidad de vinculina en celo que a 30 días de gestación. Para esta misma proteína, los resultados sugieren la existencia de diferencias significativas entre ovarios de cerdas en celo y a 45 días de gestación mediante la técnica western blotStudy on the differential gene expression and distribution of the vinculin in the ovary of sows The objective of this experiment is to study genes and proteins differing across reproductive stages in swine. RNA from ovary, from sows on heat, 15 and 45 days of pregnancy have been hybridised in porcine oligonucleotide microchips to characterize changes in gene expression profile between different reproductive stages. Expression differences in 281 genes (posterior probability <10-11) have been found between expression at different stages in ovary. One of these genes, vinculin, showed 100 times more expression on heat than at 45 days of pregnancy, so we chose that gene for immunohistochemistry and western blot analysis. On immunohistochemistry we found that ovaries of sows on heat showed stronger vinculin staining than ovaries stroma of sows at 30 days of pregnancy. On western blot, significant differences appeared only between heat and 45 days of pregnancy

High salt inclusion reduces concentrate intake without major effects on renal function in young bulls

Beef producers prefer to feed concentrates on an ad libitum basis to increase the flexibility of their work. Including salt, which is a self-limiting supplement, could control or reduce concentrate intake without increasing the workforce. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of including 10%NaCl in the concentrate on intake, growth, blood ions (sodium, potassium and chlorine), renal function (through creatinine and urea concentrations in blood), and daytime behaviour of bulls over 6 weeks. Bulls consuming the control concentrate (Control bulls) had greater weight gain (P<0.05) and concentrate intake (P<0.001) than those consuming the concentrate with 10%NaCl (10%NaCl bulls). Lower plasma sodium concentration was found in Control bulls after 6 weeks (P<0.05), while potassium concentration was lower after 4 (P<0.05) and 6 weeks (P<0.01). Blood urea did not differ between the groups, and creatinine only differed at week 4 (P<0.01). Control bulls spent less time eating hay (P<0.001) and more time idling (P<0.01) during daylight hours. In conclusion, the inclusion of 10%NaCl in the concentrate for short periods could be used to reduce concentrate intake without major effects on renal function; however, a concomitant decrease in weight gain should be expected

Soil salinization as a threat to the sustainability of deficit irrigation under present and expected climate change scenarios

24 Pags.- 5 Tabls.- 4 Figs. The definitive version is available at: http://link.springer.com/journal/271Deficit irrigation (DI) strategies using moderately saline waters save water, but may enhance soil salinization. Based on data gathered during years 2007–2012 in three drip-irrigated grapevine, peach, and nectarine crops subjected to several irrigation and soil-mulching treatments, we assessed trends in root-zone soil salinity [saturation extract electrical conductivity (ECe)], related the changes in soil salinity (ΔECe) to field-wide leaching fraction (LF), evaluated management strategies for soil salinity control, and examined the sustainability of DI strategies under present and expected climate change (CC) scenarios in the Middle Ebro River Basin (ERB, Spain). ECe increased in 82 % of the irrigation seasons and decreased in 75 % of the non-irrigation seasons examined. Soil salinization trends were not apparent during the study years due to these annual salt accumulation–salt leaching cycles. ECe increases were higher in the more severe DI treatments and in the geotextile-mulched soil and lower in the full and less severe irrigation treatments and in the organic-mulched soil. As expected, ΔECe and LF were linearly and negatively correlated (P < 0.01), indicating that soil salinization increased with decreasing LF. These linear relationships provided a way to evaluate best management strategies (increased irrigation, rainfall harvesting, and soil mulching) for soil salinity control. These strategies decreased soil salinization, but did not guarantee the sustainability of severe DIs in the study area. The application of these relationships to the CC precipitation and crop evapotranspiration projections in the ERB shows that the examined DI strategies will be unsustainable due to soil salinization.This work was financed by the CSD2006-00067 project (CONSOLIDER-INGENIO 2010).Peer reviewe

El CITA nominado en los Premios Aragoneses del Año 2013

El Periódico de Aragón convoca por vigésimo año consecutivo los premios “Aragoneses del Año”, un certamen que reconoce los méritos personales y profesionales de ciudadanos y colectivos aragoneses que desarrollan su labor en diferentes ámbitos, siempre con trascendencia social

Cerezo y ciruelo

Publishe

Néré (Parkia biglobosa)

Conservation and sustainable use of genetic resources of priority food tree species in sub-Saharan AfricaConservation et utilisation durable des ressources génétiques des espèces ligneuses alimentaires prioritaires de l'Afrique subsaharienneLa publicación de esta hoja divulgativa ha sido financiada con la acción complementaria nº AC-2008-00050-00-00, titulada "Publicación de hojas divulgativas: Uso y gestión sostenible y conservación de especies forestales para la alimentación (ELA) en Africa Subsahariana" solicitada por el Centro de Investigación y Tecnología Agroalimentaria de Aragón (CITA), investigador responsable: Eduardo Notivo