Breeder Research Articles

Natural history notes of Rhinella proboscidea (Anura, Bufonidae) from a non-flooded forest in central Amazon

Rhinella proboscidea , a toad of the Rhinella margaritifera species group, is found in terra firme (non-flooded) forests in central Amazon. This species reproduces in streamside ponds and uses small seedling plants to rest during the night. In this study, we present data on the variation in abundance, size and weight of adults and juveniles, on the relationship between body mass and size, and we characterize the resting sites and some aspects of R. proboscidea reproductive events throughout two rainy seasons. We captured 359 individuals (55 males, 81 females, 204 juveniles and19 undetermined). Highest abundance of females and juveniles was found in the fifth sampling period. We did not detected sexual dimorphism in body size and mass between males and females. Body size of males, females and juveniles varied between rainy seasons. There was a positive relationship between body size and mass considering all individuals or sexes. Reproductive events were observed from the middle to the end of the rainy season on few occasions. In conclusion, R. proboscidea is an explosive breeder, and juvenile recruitment events occurred in the end of the rainy season, probably related to the variation in water body availability for reproduction. Moreover, the absence of sexual dimorphism in body size and mass for this species disagrees with what is known for other species in the R. margaritifera group.

Effects of pre- and postpartum supplementation on lactational and reproductive performance of grazing Nellore beef cows

Context Few studies have evaluated the effects of providing concentrate pre- or postpartum, or during both of these intervals, to beef cows grazing tropical pastures, even though this information is important for planning breeder herd management. Aims A study was undertaken to examine the effects of supplementation with concentrates before calving (prepartum), after calving (postpartum) or during both these intervals on production and reproductive efficiency in Bos indicus beef cows grazing Urochloa decumbens pasture. Methods Nellore cows, initially 6 months pregnant (mean ± s.e.), weighing 516 ± 1.3 kg and body condition score 4.7 ± 0.15 (1–9 scale), were used in an experiment with four treatments in a 2 × 2 factorial design with 20 animals per treatment. The treatments comprised no supplementation or provision of a supplement (1 kg/cow.day containing 28% crude protein) for 90 days prepartum only, 90 days postpartum only or during the pre- and postpartum intervals. Key results Responses could be described in terms of the main effects of providing the supplement pre- or post-calving; the interactions were not significant (P > 0.05). Prepartum supplements increased the cow bodyweight at calving by 29 kg, and calf birthweight by 3.7 kg (P 4 did not change the response to postpartum supplementation. Implications Prepartum supplementation may increase cow performance and calf weight at birth, whereas postpartum supplementation may improve the reproductive efficiency.

The Myth of Race and Racism

Among the myths that have shaped our modern world, the myth of ‘race’, which lacks any rational foundation, is surely the most tragic. One need only think of the abuses experienced by many populations throughout history. Therefore, it is important to trace how this concept arose and to examine why it continues to exist today.The word ‘race’ first appeared in Europe during the XIV century. Possibly, it derived from the Latin word radix=root, or from the Arabic razza, or from generatio=generation, descent, or more simply from ratio=reason, which in the scholastic language of the XV century meant, amongst other things, the order of succession according to which a living being was placed on a date line of ascendants and descendants. Initially used in the field of animal breeding (probably originating from the ancient French ‘haraz’, horse breeder, which through common usage then became ‘race’). This term was first used and applied to Man by Bernier (1688) and entered into everyday speech following the philosophical works of Emanuel Kant (1775). Notwithstanding, the term is misleading and without sense, particularly when it tends to confuse the physical characteristics of Man with those of cultures, religions or economies, or rather, when the historical and cultural characteristics of ‘ethnic groups’ are confused with the biological characteristics of the diverse human populations.

PlantBreedGame: A Serious Game that Puts Students in the Breeder's Seat

PlantBreedGame: A Serious Game that Puts Students in the Breeder's Seat

Reducing feather pecking and cloacal cannibalism by providing layer breeders with nest boxes in colony cages for natural mating

Colony cages for natural mating have been applied on many layer breeder farms. However, feather pecking and cloacal cannibalism are considered as prominent problems for these systems. This study aimed to investigate the effects on feather pecking and vent pecking behaviors by providing layer breeders with nest boxes (0.90 m L × 0.40 m W × 0.60 m H) in colony cages for natural mating (4.80 m L × 1.20 m W × 0.71 m H). Video recording and artificial observation were adopted. The results showed that the usage of nest boxes gradually increased from the beginning of nest boxes providing at the age of 37 weeks to the end of the experiment at the age of 55 weeks. The utilization rates of nest boxes were 36.75%, 44.75% and 50.38% at the ages of 41 weeks, 47 weeks and 53 weeks, respectively. The hens in the cages without nest boxes showed significantly more frequent gentle feather pecks (both given and received) than hens in the cages with nest boxes at the ages of 41 weeks, 47 weeks and 53 weeks. A decreasing trend of gentle feather pecking frequency (both given and received) was found with the increasing age for both the two groups. No significant difference was found in the number of given or received severe feather pecks at the age of 41 weeks. The hens in the cages without nest boxes showed a significantly higher frequency of given and received severe feather pecks than hens in the cages with nest boxes at the ages of 47 weeks and 53 weeks (p<0.05). Both cannibalistic injury occurrence and mortality rate in the cages with nest boxes were significantly lower than those in the cages without nest boxes. In conclusion, providing nest boxes in colony cages for natural mating could decrease abnormal pecking behaviors and improve animal welfare conditions of layer breeders. Keywords: feather pecking, vent pecking, nest box, colony cage, cloacal cannibalism, layer breeder, animal welfare DOI: 10.25165/j.ijabe.20181106.3323 Citation: Shi H P, Zheng W C, Tu J, Li B M. Reducing feather pecking and cloacal cannibalism by providing layer breeders with nest boxes in colony cages for natural mating. Int J Agric & Biol Eng, 2018; 11(6): 27–32.

Pigeon Breeder's Lung: A case report of hypersensitivity pneumonitis

Hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP) is an inflammatory disease caused by repeated inhalation of antigens. HP can mimic a variety of clinical processes from life-threatening anaphylaxis to insidious malignancy, and thus is often misdiagnosed. It is crucial for the clinician to correlate relevant exposure to onset of symptoms, and for the radiologist to provide appropriate differential diagnoses for prompt treatment. Radiological findings, when present, may include ground glass opacities and mosaic attenuation on CT. Clinical improvement upon removal of antigen helps cement diagnosis and facilitate the treatment of antigen avoidance and corticosteroids. We present an interesting case of hypersensitivity pneumonitis, particularly Pigeon Breeder’s lung, in a young man exposed to birds in a research laboratory whose symptoms occurred much sooner than the usual timeframe reported in the literature.

The Effect of Breeders' Capability Deprivation and Capability on Their Freedomof Choice

Abstract This research aimed to evaluate the freedom of choosing opportunity by breeders in Getasan, Semarang Regency, Central Java Province, Indonesia. The preceding issue is that the breeders do not have capability of selling their product (milk) themselves to the collector cooperatives, and IPS (Dairying Industry). Breeders encounter capability deprivation because as producer, they should determine the selling price. The breeders do not have freedom of choice in the term of milk marketing chance. This research used survey method and the population was milk cow breeders. The sample of village was taken using cluster sampling and that of breeder respondents using stratified random sampling techniques to determine the number of breeders for each selected villages. The village sample consisted of 3 villages and the respondent consisted of 375 breeders. There were 3 (three) variables in this research: breeders’ capability deprivation, capability, and freedom of choice. The data was analyzed using Path Analysis with SEM ordinary least square method. The result of research showed that there were a direct effect of breeders’ capability deprivation on the freedom of choice and an indirect effect through breeders’ capability . Keywords: Capability Deprivation, Capability, Freedom of Choice, Breeders.

Investigation into the In-box LOCA of water cooled solid breeder blanket for CFETR based on PWR conditions

Investigation into the In-box LOCA of water cooled solid breeder blanket for CFETR based on PWR conditions

Factors that enhance repeat breeder condition in a crossbred dairy herd submitted to reproductive synchronization protocols

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a incidência vacas repetidoras (VR) leiteiras mestiças submetidas à inseminação artificial em tempo fixo (IATF) e protocolos de sincronização de estro. Dados de 371 novilhas e 997 vacas leiteiras mestiças foram analisados. Vacas com mais de 30 dias pós-parto, boa condição uterina, sem mastite clínica e com escore corporal ≥ 2,5 foram utilizadas. As vacas foram divididas em dois grupos, sendo: grupo 1: IATF – vacas sem corpo lúteo no exame ultrassonográfico e que foram submetidas ao protocolo de IATF, e grupo 2: sincronização de cio – aquelas vacas com corpo lúteo presente. A incidência de VR e seus fatores foram analisados por regressão logística pelo SAS. A incidência de VR foi maior em vacas em lactação em relação às fêmeas não-lactantes (P &lt; 0,001). Ainda, uma tendência de um maior número de VR foi observada naquelas que pariram na primavera/verão quando comparadas às paridas no outono/inverno. O tipo de parto (normal vs. não normal) não influenciou na incidência de VR (P &gt; 0,001), no entanto, foi detectado efeito do número de partos (P &gt; 0.01). Dessa forma, nas categorias animais avaliadas, a incidência de VR foi maior em vacas leiteiras mestiças do que em novilhas. Uma tendência de VR foi observada naquelas que pariram na primavera/verão quando comparadas aquelas que pariram no outono/inverno, ainda a incidência de VR foi maior naquelas de segunda parição quando comparadas as de primeira, terceira ou quarta, ao passo que o tipo de parto (normal vs. não normal) não influenciou sobre a incidência de VR.

Role of Melatonin in Modulation of Immune Status of Pregnant Female Indian Short Nosed Fruit Bat Cynopterus Sphinx

Pregnancy is associated with profound immunological changes that are characterized by a strong activation of certain components of the innate immune defense and a down-regulation of adaptive immune functions. This shift in balance of the immune system towards an innate dominance is thought to be important for the maintenance of pregnancy. Based on our observation in the short nosed fruit bat Cynopterus sphinx, a seasonal breeder, we show for the first time that melatonin injection to the pregnant females significantly increases lymphocyte proliferation of spleen and consequently the circulating level of lymphocytes and percent stimulation ratio of splenocytes, thereby improving immune status during pregnancy. We have reported earlier that during pregnancy melatonin level increases significantly which in turn might improve the maternal immunity. Towards establishing this inference we used a physiological dose of p-chlorophenylalanine (p-CPA), an indirect antagonist of melatonin, which reduced circulatory melatonin level and thereby reduced the immune status. It is conceived that specific immune adaptation is conveyed to the fetus through placental transfer of melatonin thereby controlling fetal immunity as well. This could be an adaptation during pregnancy to protect the mother from various external threats.

Thyroid Gland in Regulation of Annual Reproduction and Oxidative Metabolism of a Tropical Bird, Perdicula Asiatica :Role of Melatonin and Environmental Factors

As a transducer of the environmental factors the pineal gland, together with the metabolically active thyroid gland, plays a major role in control of reproduction during different times of the year, in response to the changing environmental conditions of the tropical zone unlike in the temperate zone. Our avian model P. asiatica is a long day breeder. It is reproductively active during summer and quiescent during winter months. In this study we investigated the role of thyroid gland super-imposed by melatonin in the regulation of the annual male reproduction in this bird. The metabolically active thyroid gland presented a functional parallelism with the testicular activity suggesting that thyroid hormone is essential for reproductive activity and related metabolic energy for avian species. Our data also suggest an inhibitory effect of melatonin on thyroid gland function [weight, thyroxine (T3/ T4) level and thymidine kinase activity, THK] both during active and inactive phases of the reproductive cycle. However, this inhibitory effect was less evident during the active phase. The low level of melatonin during the reproductively active phase might be due to long days of summer which prevented the birds from being hyperthyroidic. Therefore, we suggest that the level of melatonin serves as a physiological check to control the seasonal reproductive activities of gonads and thyroid which synergistically play most important physiological roles in energy metabolism of these seasonally breeding bird P. asiatica .

Milk ketone bodies assessment in a local italian cow breed (Modenese) vs. Holstein and characterization of its physiological, reproductive and productive performances.

Several autochthonous cattle breeds characterized by a small territorial diffusion are farmed in Northern Italy. The technical data show that these animals have a good reproductive performance (Communod et al 2010; Communod et al 2011), disease resistance and resilience. The objective of this study was to characterize some productive, reproductive and metabolic parameters (ketone bodies) in the Italian autochthonous cattle breed Modenese, comparing them with those of Holstein and their crossbred (F1=Modenese x Holstein; F2=Modenese x F1) breed in the same farm in order to understand if there is a different metabolic picture that can influence the reproductive performances. Milk samples have been collected at different times of lactation (20th, 40th, 90th day in milk) and analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry to obtain the ketone bodies concentration. The reproductive (Open Days Period and number of Services Per Pregnancy) and productive (percentage and kg of protein between the 40th and 90th DIM) data have been recovered by the consultation of the farm registers and the APA (Provincial breeder association) data. On days open, number of services per pregnancy, % of proteins in milk, and kg of proteins in milk; a Spearman correlation analysis was applied. In all time points, the Modenese breed showed a significant (p<0,05) lower ketone bodies concentration. The F1, F2 and Modenese showed also better reproductive performances when compared to Holstein, with 80-105 days of days open in average. In conclusion, the better resilience against the negative energy balance and his adverse effects of Modenese cattle could be one of the phenomena underlying their better reproductive efficiency.

Control of Poultry Salmonellosis - Detection of Carrier Status in Grandparent Farms in Sri Lanka -

In Sri Lanka, the control programme for Salmonellosis is carried out by Department of Animal Production and Health (DAPH), in order to keep Salmonella carrier status at a less than 1% level in poultry breeder flocks. This study was aimed at serologically verifying the Salmonella carrier status in the two Grand Parent farms during the period of 2011- 2013, by performing whole blood agglutination test. In the present study, a total of 10 batches (nA=20915) from one farm and 9 batches (nB=4651) from the other were tested for antibody detection, once the age of the birds reached 20 weeks. The results revealed the Salmonella carrier status to be below 1%, in both farms during the study period as recommended by the DAPH.

Effect of saline dilution of fowl semen and artificial insemenation in layer breeder hens

The study was conducted to assess the effect of saline dilution of fowl semen for artificial insemination in egg layer breeder hens under the prevailing environmental conditions. The study was conducted in BV300 layer breeding hens. The dilutions were made with normal saline in the ratio of 1:1 and undiluted semen served as control. Three thousand two hundred and fifty (3250) hens were assigned at random to each group. The dose of insemination was 0.05 ml and the hens were inseminated artificially twice in a week in the afternoon between 1430 h and 1730 h. It was found that the hens in saline dilution group produced significantly (P < 0.05) less infertile eggs than the hens in undiluted semen group. Besides, diluted semen inseminated group had numerically lesser early embryonic mortality per cent, dead in shell per cent, lesser live in shell per cent, lesser chicks culling per cent and increased hatchability and saleable female chicks. The present study provided evidence that hens inseminated with 1:1 semen dilution produced more fertile eggs compared to those hens inseminated with undiluted semen. Additionally, insemination with saline diluted semen group had reduced the cost by 0.47 per female chick.

Bird breeder's hypersensitivity pneumonitis: progress studies of lung function after cessation of exposure to the provoking antigen.

Lung function and immunologic studies have been performed in 9 patients with bird breeder's hypersensitivity pneumonitis at the time of diagnosis and at intervals from 8 to 30 months after they ceased exposure to the provoking antigen. All 9 patients had evidence of small airway obstruction at the time of diagnosis. Complete recovery of lung function occurred in 4 patients. The other 5 all had evidence of interstitial damage; 3 of them had progressive increase in the degree of airway obstruction, and one had progressive loss of elastic recoil. The patients were nonsmokers, and these progressive changes could not be explained by occult exposure to antigen because the tests of immunologic sensitivity to relevant avian antigens became negative. Neither the nature or degree of lung function abnormality nor the form of clinical presentation was related to the development of residual damage. The period of exposure to antigen after symptoms developed and the age of the patient appeared to be the most important factors determining recovery of lung function.

Influence of mid-cycle pg therapy on fertility and plasma profile of progesterone and biochemical constituents in repeat breeding cows and buffaloes

A study was conducted under field conditions in Amul and Panchamrut milk-shed areas of Gujarat on 30 postpartum cows and buffaloes each of average body condition score without any visible or palpable genital abnormalities. These comprised of 20 repeat breeding (10 PG treated and 10 untreated control) and 10 normal cyclic control animals in each class. The aim was to evaluate and compare the fertility response as well as plasma progesterone and biochemical profile of repeat breeders to i/m injection of PGF2α 25 mg at mid-cycle with fix timed AI (FTAI) twice 72 and 96 hrs later (Gr-I), with those of untreated repeat breeder (Gr-II) and normal cyclic (Gr-III) controls. The oestrus induction response obtained with mid-cycle PG treatment in both cows and buffaloes was 100% within mean intervals of 53.79±2.18 and 61.16±5.21 h, respectively, from the day of PG injection. The conception rates at induced/first oestrus and overall of 3 cycles in cows were 50 and 70%, and in buffaloes 60 and 70.00%, respectively. The corresponding first service and overall conception rates in untreated repeat breeder cows were 20 and 30% and buffaloes 20 and 40%, respectively, and in normal cyclic control cows 50 and 80% and in buffaloes 40 and 70%. The repeat breeding cows and buffaloes had significantly (P<0.01) higher plasma progesterone (4.73±0.37 and 4.43±0.43 ng/ml) at the time of PGF2α injection suggesting that they all had midcycle functional CL on the ovary. This PG injection caused rapid luteolysis and drastic (P<0.01) reduction in plasma progesterone concentrations within next 72 hrs when FTAI was done. The levels further rose significantly by day 21 post-AI due to establishment of pregnancy in 50–60 per cent of treated animals. The levels of plasma protein, cholesterol, calcium and phosphorus were not influenced by treatment or reproductive status of animals, except that among cows the minerals were significantly higher in normal cyclic than repeat breeders. Thus, the results with mid-cycle PG protocol in repeat breeding cows and buffaloes were better or at par with normal cyclic controls (50–80%), as against only 20–40% in untreated repeat breeding control groups. Hence, the midcycle PGF2α treatment protocol can be used in repeat breeding cows and buffaloes under field conditions, provided animals have a palpable CL at the time of PG treatment and are not bred during previous cycle.

Development of Semantic Web-based Knowledge Management for Nuclear Reactor (KMNuR) Porta

A web portal for nuclear reactor domain has been developed and is christened as Knowledge Management for Nuclear Reactor (KMNuR). This article reports about the development of the portal for fast breeder test reactor (FBTR). The methodology adopted for the development of the portal is described. Formats like RDF (Resource Description Framework), OWL (Web Ontology Language), Graphs, UML (Unified Modeling Language) were used to represent nuclear reactor knowledge. The ontology for the portal is created using Protege. Central data processing system of the FBTR is taken as an example for giving the details of the functionality of KMNuR portal and its knowledge representation. http://dx.doi.org/ 10.14429/djlit.34.7002

Comparison of different chicken egg parameters in young and old cobb boiler breeders

The aim of this study was the comparative analysis of the chemical composition determined for 45 samples of eggs (white, yolk) from young and old hens of Cobb breeder at 31and 51 weeks of age. Research has been organized in hatchery unit with different age of hen egg production. Determination of gross chemical composition using specific methods in order to standards and regulations in force. Statistical analysis, revealed significant differences between the mean values calculated for albumin, yolk, samples derived from different age breeders. The eggshell, weights were differing significantly between Y and O group breeders. A sample of eggs was used for measurement of chemical composition in the yolk and albumen base on method of AOAC, 1990. There were significant difference (P 0.05) between Y and O group in Alb fat, Alb CP, Alb ash, yolk dry matter and yolk nitrogen free extract content, Although yolk dry matter and yolk nitrogen free extract content were decreased in O group compared to Y group numerically. In the present study, a significant effect of breeder age on AlbDM, Yolk fat was observed. This effect indicated that yolk from O group had the more fat content in compare with the Y group, 21.81g and 24.83 % respectively. There was significant differences (P<0.05) between Y and O group in Albumen, energy content, this result may be due to this fact that albumen weight is changed by aging in the egg so energy content of its increased in same manner.

Fast neutron reactors: development in future decades

The 'sustainability' of nuclear power generation is an important objective for world development. This goal requires maintaining open the option of fast neutron breeder reactors. The main challenge is to have breeder technology ready for the day when massive deployment of fast neutron breeder reactors may be needed. To accomplish this, construction of a few prototypes is likely to be insufficient; a more quantitative fast neutron operating experience is necessary. This may be achieved by promoting specific near–term applications of fast neutron reactors, using their remarkable flexibility which makes it possible to burn, to store, or to breed plutonium. These applications - the CAPRA project, the CAPTURE concept - in addition to accomplishing specific near–term objectives, will yield indispensable experience for future breeder development.

RESISTANCE TO LEAF RUST IN A SET OF DURUM WHEAT CULTIVARS AND LANDRACES IN SPAIN

SUMMARY Durum wheat (Triticum turgidum var. durum) is an important crop in the Mediterranean basin, and in southern Spain. One of the most important biotic constraints to durum wheat production is leaf rust. Breeder deployed resistant cultivars, but mutations in the pathogen create new virulent pathotypes that erode resistance. In this work, two collections of genotypes have been characterized for their leaf rust resistance both in field trials (in Spain and Mexico) and in the greenhouse (with an array of Spanish pathotypes). The first collection included 14 cultivars and lines, mostly from CIMMYT origin, plus six genotypes with known resistance genes. The second collection comprised 29 cultivars commercially available in Spain, plus 11 landraces from the Spanish germplasm bank. Besides, six resistant cultivars of particular importance were crossed with two cultivars with known effective genes (Lr14a and Lr27 + Lr31), and a susceptible one to infer the genetic basis of their resistance. F2 populations were analyzed. At adult plant stage, 20 genotypes including four landraces were resistant in greenhouse to all Spanish pathotypes. In field trials, 24 genotypes were resistant in Spain, and 22 genotypes in Mexico. The presence of resistant genes Lr14a and the complementary genes Lr27+Lr31 has been deduced in some cultivars either by gene postulation or by genetic analysis. These results provide an opportunity for breeding programs in Spain and elsewhere to target their crossing and selection activities so they can yield lines with effective resistance in the Mediterranean region.