Control Goats Research Articles

Effects of dietary oil blend on fatty acid composition, oxidative stability and physicochemical properties of Longissimus thoracis et lumborum muscle in goats.

This study examined the effects of dietary blend of 80% canola oil and 20% palm oil (BCPO) on the physicochemical properties, antioxidant status, oxidative stability and fatty acid composition of Longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) muscle from goats during chill storage. Over a 14-week feeding trial, 24 Boer bucks were randomly assigned to and supplemented with diets containing 0, 4 or 8% BCPO on a dry matter basis, slaughtered and the LTL was subjected to a 7 day chill storage. Neither diet nor post mortem ageing influenced (P > 0.05) antioxidant enzyme activities, chemical composition and cholesterol. Diet had no effect on the carbonyl content, free thiol content, water-holding capacity, tenderness, pH and glycogen. Oil-supplemented goats had higher (P < 0.05) C18:1 trans-11, C18:3n-3 and C20:5n-3, carotenoid, tocopherol and redness, and lower thiobarbituric acid reactive substances values than the control goats. Post mortem ageing decreased (P < 0.05) shear force and oxidative stability of chevon. No significant (P > 0.05) changes were found in the proportion of individual fatty acids throughout storage. Total polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) decreased while total saturated fatty acids increased as storage progressed. Dietary BCPO enhanced n-3 PUFA without compromising the quality attributes of chevon.

Assessment of caprine corpora lutea growth, progesterone concentration, and eNOS expression: effect of a compensatory gain model

The experiment was conducted to evaluate corpus luteum (CL) growth, progesterone (P4) concentration, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression in nutrient stair-step fed goats. Female goats (n = 32) that exhibited at least 2, normal, consecutive estrous cycles were randomly assigned to either the control or stair-step fed group. In the control group, goats were fed ad libitum (100% of nutrient requirement for goats). The goats in the stair-step group were fed 70% of the control consumption for the first 42 d and 130% for the later 42 d during 4 consecutive estrous cycles (84 d). Blood and luteal samples were collected on days 3, 8, 13, and 18 of the estrous cycle to determine concentration of glucose, insulin, P4, luteal growth, and eNOS expression. Luteal growth was determined using fresh CL weight, DNA content, DNA and protein concentrations, and cell proliferation (labeling index of Ki-67). During realimentation phase at 4 h, glucose and insulin concentrations were greater (P < 0.05) in stair-step fed goat than those in control goats. Fresh CL weight, DNA content, protein concentrations, and labeling index of Ki67 on day 8 of the estrous cycle in the stair-step group were greater (P < 0.05) than that in the control group. Protein for eNOS was located in the capillaries of CL throughout of the estrous cycle in both groups. Greater serum P4 concentrations and eNOS protein (P < 0.05) were observed in the stair-step fed goats on day 3 (1.83 ng/mL and 6.79%) compared with the control goats (0.98 ng/mL and 6.02%) and on day 8 (5.15 ng/mL and 7.88%) compared with the control goats (4.54 ng/mL and 7.07%). These data demonstrate that luteal growth, progesterone concentration, and eNOS protein were partially affected by nutrient compensatory gain in goats.

Serum fatty acids, biochemical indices and antioxidant status in goats fed canola oil and palm oil blend.

BackgroundDietary supplementation of unsaturated fats in ruminants, if not stabilized, can instigate oxidative stress which can have negative impact on production performance and enhance the susceptibility to various diseases. The current study examined the effect of dietary 80 % canola oil and 20 % palm oil blend (CPOB) on serum fatty acids, antioxidant profile and biochemical indices in goats. Thirty Boer bucks (4–5 months old; initial BW, 20.34 ± 0.77 kg) were randomly assigned to diets containing 0, 4 or 8 % CPOB and fed daily for a period of 90 days. Blood was sampled from the goats on 0, 30, 60 and 90 days of the trial and the serum was analyzed for fatty acids, cholesterol, glucose, total protein, antioxidants and lipid oxidation.ResultsNeither diet nor sampling time influenced serum TBARS value, catalase, glutathione peroxidase and superoxide dismutase activities, LDL cholesterol, VLDL cholesterol, triglycerides, glucose and total protein. Goats fed 4 and 8 % CPOB had higher (P < 0.05) total cholesterol and HDL cholesterol than the control goats on day 30, 60 and 90. The proportion of C15:0 decreased with increasing level of CPOB on day 30 and 60. Serum C18:1n-9 increased with increasing level of CPOB in diet on day 60. The proportion of C18:3n-3 and C22:5n-3 increased (P < 0.05), while the proportion of C18:2n-6 decreased (P < 0.05) with increase in the level of CPOB on day 60 and 90. Dietary CPOB did not affect serum total carotenoid and δ-tocopherol but did increase (P < 0.05) α and γ-tocopherol.ConclusionDietary canola oil and palm oil blend could be supplemented in diets without instigating oxidative stress in goats.

The effect of helminth infection on the microbial composition and structure of the caprine abomasal microbiome.

Haemonchus contortus is arguably the most injurious helminth parasite for small ruminants. We characterized the impact of H. contortus infection on the caprine abomasal microbiome. Fourteen parasite naive goats were inoculated with 5,000 H. contortus infective larvae and followed for 50 days. Six age-matched naïve goats served as uninfected controls. Reduced bodyweight gain and a significant increase in the abosamal pH was observed in infected goats compared to uninfected controls. Infection also increased the bacterial load while reducing the abundance of the Archaea in the abomasum but did not appear to affect microbial diversity. Nevertheless, the infection altered the abundance of approximately 19% of the 432 species-level operational taxonomic units (OTU) detected per sample. A total of 30 taxa displayed a significantly different abundance between control and infected goats. Furthermore, the infection resulted in a distinct difference in the microbiome structure. As many as 8 KEGG pathways were predicted to be significantly affected by infection. In addition, H. contortus-induced changes in butyrate producing bacteria could regulate mucosal inflammation and tissue repair. Our results provided insight into physiological consequences of helminth infection in small ruminants and could facilitate the development of novel control strategies to improve animal and human health.

Effects of supplemental feeding on performance of Kilis goats kept on pasture condition

In this study, the effects of supplemental feeding to extensive pasture condition on some reproductive and milk yield characteristics in Kilis goats have been investigated. For this study, 180 Kilis goats were used. These goats were assigned into two groups as control and treatment. Control goats were allowed to graze pasture, while treatment goats were additionally fed 750 g/day with concentrated feed per head plus pasture facility. At the end of the study the average fertility rate, marketable milk yield, lactation length and lactation milk yield were determined as 115.56%, 215.5 ± 5.28 l, 212.5 ± 1.09 days 293.7 ± 5.76 l, respectively, in the control goats; 131.1%, 304.1 ± 6.48 l, 256.5 ± 1.79 days, 408.3 ± 7.21 l, respectively, in the treatment goats. To conclude, supplementary feeding plus pasture improved reproductive and milk yield performance in Kilis goats.

Carcass traits, meat yield and fatty acid composition of adipose tissues and Supraspinatus muscle in goats fed blend of canola oil and palm oil.

BackgroundDietary fats can alter the deposition and distribution of body fats in ruminants. The deposition and distribution of body fat play a vital role in the quality of ruminant carcasses and are of great commercial value since they influence the profitability and consumer acceptability of ruminant meat. The current study examined the effects of dietary blend of 80 % canola oil and 20 % palm oil (BCPO) on carcass characteristics, meat yield and accretion of fatty acid (FA) in subcutaneous, omental, perirenal, and mesentery adipose depots and m. supraspinatus (SS) in goats.MethodsTwenty four Boer crossbred bucks (BW 20.54 ± 0.47 kg) were randomly assigned to diets containing on DM basis 0, 4 and 8 % BCPO, fed for 100 d and harvested.ResultsDiet had no effect (P > 0.05) on slaughter weight, dressing percentage, carcass and non-carcass components, meat yield, color, moisture and carotenoid contents and weight of adipose tissues in goats. The proportion of C18:1n-9 and cis-9 trans-11 CLA in the omental, perirenal and SS was higher (P < 0.05) in goats fed 4 and 8 % BCPO compared with the control goats. Dietary BCPO reduced (P < 0.05) the proportion of C14:0 in the omental, perirenal and mesentery depots, C18:0 in the perirenal depot, C16:0 in the SS and C16:1n-7 in the SS, omental and perirenal tissues. Dietary BCPO enhanced the proportion of C18:1 trans-11 Vaccenic and C18:3n-3 in SS and C20:5n-3 in SS and mesentery depot. No significant changes were found in the FA composition of subcutaneous depot.ConclusionsResults indicate that dietary BCPO can be utilized to alter the FA composition of adipose tissues without detrimental effects on carcass characteristics in goats. Nonetheless, dietary BCPO is not an effective repartitioning agent for body fats in goats.

Influence of dietary canola oil and palm oil blend and refrigerated storage on fatty acids, myofibrillar proteins, chemical composition, antioxidant profile and quality attributes of semimembranosus muscle in goats.

BackgroundImproving the unsaturated fatty acid content of ruminant meat is essential due to the generally saturated nature of fatty acids in ruminant meat and the negative effects this can have on human health. Nonetheless, enhancing the unsaturated fatty acid content of ruminant meat can have adverse effects on the shelf life and quality attributes of the meat. This study assessed the effects of dietary 80 % canola oil and 20 % palm oil blend (CPOB) on fatty acid composition, antioxidants, oxidative spoilage, cholesterol and physicochemical properties of semimembranosus (SM) muscle from goats. Twenty four Boer bucks were randomly assigned to diets containing on dry matter basis 0, 4 and 8 % CPOB, fed for 100 d and slaughtered. The carcasses were subjected to a 7 d postmortem refrigerated storage. All analyses were conducted on the SM muscle.ResultsDiet had no effect (P > 0.05) on the concentration of free thiol and carbonyl and the band intensity of myosin heavy chain, actin and troponin T. The muscle glycogen, pH, water holding capacity, tenderness, glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity, total carotenoid, δ-tocopherol, cholesterol and proximate composition did not differ (P > 0.05) between diets. The SM muscle from goats fed 4 and 8 % CPOB had lower (P < 0.05) concentration of C14:0 and C16:0 and higher (P < 0.05) concentration of C18:1 trans-11, C18:1ω-9, C18:3ω-3, C20:5ω-3 and C22:5ω-3 than the SM muscle from the control goats. Dietary CPOB increased (P < 0.05) the concentration of α and γ tocopherol and meat redness (a*) on d 1 and 4 postmortem. Regardless of diet, antioxidant vitamins, and shear force decreased (P < 0.05) while drip loss, lipid and protein oxidation increased (P < 0.05) as postmortem storage progressed.ConclusionResults evince that dietary CPOB can be used as a management tool to enhance the beneficial fatty acids and antioxidant contents of chevon without deleterious effects on its physicochemical properties and shelf life.

Effects of blend of canola oil and palm oil on nutrient intake and digestibility, growth performance, rumen fermentation and fatty acids in goats.

The study examined the effects of blend of 80% canola oil and 20% palm oil (BCPO) on nutrient intake and digestibility, growth performance, rumen fermentation and fatty acids (FA) in goats. Twenty-four Boer bucks were randomly assigned to diets containing 0, 4 and 8% BCPO on a dry matter basis, fed for 100 days and slaughtered. Diet did not affect feed efficiency, growth performance, intake and digestibility of all nutrients except ether extract. Intakes and digestibilities of ether extract, unsaturated fatty acids (FA) and total FA were higher (P < 0.05) while digestibility of C18:0 was lower (P < 0.05) in oil-fed goats than the control goats. Total volatile FA, acetate, butyrate, acetate/propionate ratio and methane decreased (P < 0.05) with increasing BCPO but propionate, NH3 -N and rumen pH did not differ between diets. Ruminal concentration of C18:0, n-3 FA and total FA increased (P < 0.05) while C12:0, C14:0, C15:0 and n-6 FA decreased with increasing BCPO. Analysis of the FA composition of Triceps brachii muscle showed that concentrations of C16:0, C14:0 and C18:2n-6 were lower (P < 0.05) while C18:1n-9, C18:3n-3 and C20:5n-3 were higher in oil-fed goats compared with control goats. Dietary BCPO altered muscle lipids without having detrimental effects on nutrient intake and digestibility and growth performance in goats.

Abstract 16685: Obstructive Fibrosis Related to Transverse Conduction Slowing in Chronic Atrial Fibrillation

Introduction: Patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) often transition between sinus rhythm and AF. For AF to initiate there must be both a trigger and a substrate that facilitates reentrant activity. This trigger is often caused by a premature atrial contraction or focal activations within the atrium. Hypothesis: We hypothesize long strands of continuous fibrosis act as a substrate that slows conduction, but only after a premature contraction. Methods: A high density electrode plaque was placed on 13 controls and 6 chronic AF goats (an average of 6 months of rapid pacing induced AF). Conduction slowing following a premature contraction was quantified. Atrial fibrosis was quantified into two groups, non-obstructive and obstructive fibrosis. Obstructive fibrosis was considered fibrosis that was at least the length of a myocyte (100 μm), thus potentially disrupting transverse cell to cell conduction. Non-obstructive fibrosis had a length less than 100 μm. Results: Conduction velocity of the AF goats was significantly slowed compared to the control goats in the transverse direction (0.40±0.03 m/s vs. 0.53±0.15 m/s, p&lt;0.05) but not in the longitudinal direction (0.70±0.27 m/s vs. 0.76±0.18 m/s, p = N.S.) following a premature atrial contraction. The AF goats had more obstructive fibrosis than the controls (18±8 fibers/mm 2 vs. 9±3 fibers/mm 2 , p&lt;0.05). The control group trended towards more non-obstructive, diffuse fibrosis than the AF animals (1109±309 fibers/mm 2 vs. 718±380 fibers/mm 2 , p = 0.07, N.S). Conclusions: Structural and electrophysiological remodeling in chronic AF leads conduction velocity slowing transverse to fiber orientation. Histology from goats with a history of chronic AF had more obstructive fibrosis, which may lead to the conduction slowing and alteration in conduction pathways to make the tissue more susceptible to AF. The amount of obstructive fibrosis may be more important to AF outcomes than the total density of fibrosis.

Field and experimental symptomless infections support wandering donkeys as healthy carriers of Trypanosoma vivax in the Brazilian Semiarid, a region of outbreaks of high mortality in cattle and sheep.

BackgroundThe Brazilian Semiarid is the home of the largest herd of donkeys in South America and of outbreaks of Trypanosoma vivax infection of high mortality in dairy cattle and sheep. For a comprehensive understanding of the underlying mechanisms of these outbreaks and epidemiological role of donkeys, we surveyed for T. vivax in wandering donkeys and follow the experimental infection of donkeys and sheep with a highly virulent isolate from the Semiarid.MethodsBlood samples from 180 randomly selected wandering donkeys from the Brazilian Semiarid region were employed for PCV and parasitemia assessments and tested using the T. vivax-specific TviCATL-PCR assay. PCR-amplifed Cathepsin L (CATL) sequences were employed for genotyping and phylogenetic analysis. Four wandering donkeys were experimentally infected with a T. vivax isolate obtained during an outbreak of high mortality in the Semiarid; the control group consisted of two non-inoculated donkeys.ResultsWe detected T. vivax in 30 of 180 wandering donkeys (16.6 %) using TviCATL-PCR. The prevalence was higher during the dry (15.5 %) than the wet season (1.1 %) and more females (23.1 %) than males (8.9 %) were infected. All the PCR-positive donkeys lacked patent parasitemia and showed normal values of body condition score (BCS) and packed cell volume (PCV). To evaluate the probable tolerance of donkeys to T. vivax, we inoculated five donkeys with a highly virulent isolate (TviBrRp) from the Semiarid. All inoculated donkeys became PCR-positive, but their parasitemia was always subpatent. A control goat inoculated with TviBrRp showed increasing parasitemia concurrently with fever, declining PCV, tachycardia, mucous membrane pallor, enlarged lymph nodes and anorexia. None of these signs were observed in donkeys. However, T. vivax from wandering donkeys shared identical or highly similar genotypes (identified by Cathepsin L sequences) with isolates from cattle and sheep outbreaks of acute disease in the Semiarid.ConclusionsThis is the first report of T. vivax in donkeys in Brazil and, to our knowledge, the first experimental infection of donkeys with T. vivax. The symptomless field and experimental infections corroborated that donkeys are more tolerant to T. vivax than other livestock species as shown in African countries. Therefore, farmers, veterinaries and control programmes should be aware of healthy carrier donkeys as a possible source of T. vivax for susceptible livestock species in the Brazilian Semiarid.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s13071-015-1169-7) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Immunization against Rumen Methanogenesis by Vaccination with a New Recombinant Protein.

Vaccination through recombinant proteins against rumen methanogenesis provides a mitigation approach to reduce enteric methane (CH4) emissions in ruminants. The objective of present study was to evaluate the in vivo efficacy of a new vaccine candidate protein (EhaF) on methanogenesis and microbial population in the rumen of goats. We amplified the gene mru 1407 encoding protein EhaF using fresh rumen fluid samples of mature goats and successfully expressed recombinant protein (EhaF) in Escherichia coli Rosetta. This product was evaluated using 12 mature goats with half for control and other half injected with 400ug/goat the purified recombinant protein in day 1 and two subsequent booster immunizations in day 35 and 49. All measurements were undertaken from 63 to 68 days after the initial vaccination, with CH4 emissions determined using respiration calorimeter chambers. The results showed that the vaccination caused intensive immune responses in serum and saliva, although it had no significant effect on total enteric CH4 emissions and methanogen population in the rumen, when compared with the control goats. However, the vaccination altered the composition of rumen bacteria, especially the abundance of main phylum Firmicutes and genus Prevotella. The results indicate that protein EhaF might not be an effective vaccine to reduce enteric CH4 emissions but our vaccine have potential to influence the rumen ecosystem of goats.

Identification of suitable reference gene in goat peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) infected with peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV)

Identification of an ideal, stably expressing reference gene regardless of treatment, such as virus infection, is an important prerequisite to normalize quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR). Several studies have shown variable expression of reference genes in virus-infected cells. In the present study, we evaluated the expression stability of six commonly used housekeeping genes (ACTB, GAPDH, 18S rRNA, HSP 90, POLR2A, HPRT1) as reference genes in peste des petits ruminants virus (PPRV) infected and control (uninfected) goat PBMCs at different time points – 24h, 72h and 120h postinfection. Expression stability of six housekeeping genes in PPRV infected goat PBMCs was ranked using four different computational programs (NormFinder, Bestkeeper, geNorm, the comparative ΔCT method) based on their expression levels. Analysis revealed GAPDH (Glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase) as the most stable reference gene in PBMCs infected with PPRV. The other housekeeping genes evaluated in the study were found to vary in their expression due to virus infection and therefore are considered unreliable as reference genes for evaluating gene expression in PBMCs infected with PPRV.

Diverse Fibrosis Architecture and Premature Stimulation Facilitate Initiation of Reentrant Activity Following Chronic Atrial Fibrillation.

Patients with paroxysmal atrial fibrillation (AF) often transition between sinus rhythm and AF. For AF to initiate there must be both a trigger and a substrate that facilitates reentrant activity. This trigger is often caused by a premature atrial contraction or focal activations within the atrium. We hypothesize that specific architectures of fibrosis alter local conduction to enable AF. Control goats (n = 13) and goats in chronic AF (for an average of 6 months, n = 6) had a high-density electrode plaque placed on the LA appendage. Conduction patterns following a premature atrial contraction, caused by an electrical stimulation, were quantified to determine regions of conduction slowing. These regions were compared to architecture, either diffuse fibrosis or regions of obstructive fibrosis, and overall fibrosis levels as determined by histology from the mapped region. The chronic AF goats had more obstructive fibrosis than the controls (17.5 ± 8.0 fibers/mm(2) vs. 8.6 ± 3.0 fibers/mm(2)). Conduction velocity of the AF goats was significantly slowed compared to the control goats in the transverse direction (0.40 ± 0.04 m/s vs. 0.53 ± 0.15 m/s) but not in the longitudinal direction (0.70 ± 0.27 m/s vs. 0.76 ± 0.18 m/s). AF-induced atrial remodeling leads to increased obstructive fibrosis and conduction velocity slowing transverse to fiber orientation following premature stimuli. The decrease in conduction velocity causes a decrease in the cardiac wavelength, and increases the likelihood of reentry and AF onset.

Resistance transferance of Amorimia septentrionalis poisoning in goats by ruminal transferance fluid from goats with induced resistance by the inoculation of sodium monofluoroacetate-degrading bacteria

Amorimia septentrionalis is a sodium monofluoroacetate (MFA) - containing plant that causes sudden death in ruminants. The aim of this study was to determine whether the resistance to A. septentrionalis poisoning in goats conferred by the intra-ruminal inoculation with the MFA-degrading bacteria Ancylobacter dichloromethanicus and Pigmentiphaga kullae can be transferred to susceptible goats by the transfaunation of rumen content. Two groups of 8 goats and 2 goats resistant to A. septentrionalis poisoning were used. Goats in Group 1 received four daily doses of 160ml of rumen content from resistant goats and subsequently ingested 8 daily doses of 5g kg-1 of A. septentrionalis. Goats from Group 2 (control) received only the plant. In Group 1, only 2 goats showed mild tachycardia and mild jugular vein engorgement on the 4th and 5th day, but they subsequently returned to normal, even with the continuation of plant administration. All control goats showed severe signs of intoxication and the plant administration was suspended between the 3rd and 7th day. So, the transfer of ruminal fluid from goats previously inoculated with MFA-degrading bacteria induces resistance to poisoning by A. septentrionalis in susceptible goats.

P.1.a.022 Effects of parabolic flight on epigenetics-related gene expression in the mouse brain

To explore the epigenetic mechanisms regulating mesenchymal stem cells, we analyzed epigenetic patterns in control goat fetal fibroblast cells (gFFCs), adipose-derived stem cells (gADSCs), bone marrow stromal cells (gBMSCs), and muscle-derived satellite cells (gMDSCs). We found that the 5mC content of gBMSC genomes was lower than that of gFFC genomes, while the 5mC content of gADSC and gMDSC genomes surpassed that of gFFC genomes. H3K9 acetylation did not differ significantly among those cells; gFFCs, gADSCs, and gMDSCs contained acetylated H3K9, H3K14, H3K18, H4K5, and H4K12, but gBMSCs contained almost no acetylated H4K5 and H4K12. DNMT1, DNMT3A, and DNMT3B expression levels in gBMSCs and gMDSCs were relatively high; TET1 and TET2 expression levels in gFFCs, gADSCs, gBMSCs, and gMDSCs were relatively low; the TET3 expression level was relatively high, but was not statistically significant. The expression levels of HDAC1, HDAC6, SIRT1, Tip60, and PCAF in gADSCs, gBMSCs, and gMDSCs were higher than those in gFFCs; this observation was consistent with the real-time quantitative PCR results. P300 expression was not detected. We found that epigenetic modification was active in mesenchymal stem cells, which benefited the regulation of these cells.

Risk factors for calcium carbonate urolithiasis in goats.

To identify demographic or signalment factors associated with calcium carbonate urolith formation in goats. Retrospective case series and case-control study. 354 goats with calcium carbonate uroliths (case animals) and 16,366 goats without urinary tract disease (control animals). Medical records of the Minnesota Urolith Center were reviewed to identify case goats for which samples were submitted between January 1, 1984, and December 31, 2012. Control goats evaluated at US veterinary teaching hospitals in the same time period were identified by searching Veterinary Medical Database records. Age, breed, sex, reproductive status, geographic location, season, and anatomic location of collected uroliths were analyzed to identify risk or protective factors associated with calcium carbonate urolithiasis. Nigerian dwarf goats had higher odds of developing calcium carbonate uroliths than did Pygmy goats (reference group). Several breeds had lower odds of this finding, compared with Pygmy goats; odds were lowest for mixed, Anglo-Nubian, and Toggenburg breeds. Breeds of African origin (Pygmy, Nigerian Dwarf, and Boer) comprised 146 of 275 (53%) case goats with data available. Goats of African descent had a higher risk of developing calcium carbonate uroliths than did goats of non-African descent (reference group). Males and neutered goats had higher odds of calcium carbonate urolithiasis, compared with females and sexually intact goats, respectively. Age category, geographic location, and season were associated with detection of calcium carbonate uroliths. Goats with calcium carbonate uroliths were typically neutered males, > 1 year of age, and of African descent. This study identified factors associated with calcium carbonate urolithiasis in goats; however, these associations do not allow conclusions regarding cause-and-effect relationships.

Fatty acid composition and mRNA expression levels of lipid-metabolic genes in the muscles of ovariectomised young goats

This study investigated the fatty acid composition and mRNA levels of acetyl-coenzyme A carboxylase (ACC), fatty acid synthase (FAS), hormone-sensitive lipase (HSL) and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) genes in the Longissimus dorsi muscle (LD) and Biceps femoris muscle (BF) of nine ovariectomised young goats, 50 days after ovariectomy at 5 months of age, relative to nine Control goats. Ovariectomy resulted in faster growth rates (130 vs 110 g/days; P = 0.027), more intramuscular fat (3.37% vs 1.62%; P = 0.009) and heavier final weights (28.3 vs 26.6 kg; P = 0.035). The total saturated fatty acid, C15:0 in the LD and C6:0, C11:0, C12:0, C15:0 and C21:0 in the BF were lower in ovariectomised goats than that in the Control goats (P &lt; 0.05). Ovariectomy increased the total monounsaturated fatty acids in the LD (P &lt; 0.05) and BF (P &lt; 0.01). In the BF, the total polyunsaturated fatty acids and C18:2 of ovariectomised goats were lower than those of the Control goats (P &lt; 0.05), and the C20:2 content significantly decreased in the LD (P &lt; 0.05). The LD of the ovariectomised goats expressed significantly higher FAS but lower HSL mRNA levels than those of Control goats (P &lt; 0.01). Significantly higher ACC, FAS and LPL and lower HSL mRNA levels were observed in the BF of the ovariectomised goats than in the BF of Controls (P &lt; 0.05). These data suggest that ovariectomy affects fatty acid composition potentially by altering the expression of lipid-metabolic genes in the muscles of young goats.

Effects of melatonin implantation on cashmere yield, fibre characteristics, duration of cashmere growth as well as growth and reproductive performance of Inner Mongolian cashmere goats.

BackgroundExogenous melatonin could induce cashmere growth. However, induced growth of cashmere fleece by melatonin implants cannot be combined with the typical growth, resulting in earlier shedding followed by another cycle of cashmere growth. To address this issue, we examine the effects on the cashmere yield, fibre characteristics, and the growth and reproductive performance of cashmere goats of planned administration of melatonin.MethodsEighteen half-sib, female goats were assigned to two treatments (n = 9) including a control and a treatment where melatonin (2 mg/kg BW) was implanted at the end of April and end of June. Cashmere growth and shedding were observed for approximately 1 year following implantation. Fibre samples were collected monthly to determine cumulative cashmere length. Initiation and cessation dates for cashmere growth as well as the rate of cashmere growth were calculated. Cashmere yield, weight gain of dam, kidding date, litter size, and birth weight were also recorded.ResultsMelatonin implantation increased cashmere yield by 34.5 % (control 553.7 g vs. melatonin 745.0 g; P < 0.01), cashmere length by 21.3 % (control 95.2 mm vs. melatonin 115.4 mm; P < 0.01), and decreased fibre diameter by 4.4 % (control 14.6 μm vs. melatonin 14.0 μm; P < 0.03). In melatonin-treated goats, the average initiation date was earlier than in control goats (May 18, 2013 vs. July 2, 2013; P < 0.01) but there was a similar cessation date (March 22, 2014 vs. March 27, 2014). Consequently, the duration of cashmere growth was longer in melatonin-treated goats than in control goats (307 vs.270 days; P < 0.01). The final BW, average daily gain, kidding date, litter size, and birth weight were not influenced by melatonin implantation.ConclusionsThese data indicate that melatonin implantation (2 mg/kg BW) on two occasions (late April and June) increased cashmere yield by combining the induced growth of cashmere fleece with the typical growth and decreased the fibre diameter without changing dam growth rate or reproductive performance.

Effect of intermittent administration of neurokinin 3 receptor agonist on luteinizing hormone secretion, estrus, and ovulation in feed-restricted goats

The aim of this study was to determine the short-term effects of feed restriction on follicular dynamics and hormone secretion patterns in goats, and to examine the effect of senktide, a neurokinin 3 receptor agonist, under the feed-restricted condition. Goats were administered 2mg of dinoprost in the luteal phase of the estrous cycle, and an intravaginal progesterone device (CIDR) was inserted for 10 days. Feed was provided at the level of 50% (feed-restricted, n=12) or 100% maintenance (control, n=5) for 15 days, beginning on the day of CIDR insertion. At 12h after CIDR withdrawal, feed-restricted goats were intravenously administered with 200 nmol of senktide (n=6) or saline (n=6) at 4-h intervals for 24h. Fifteen days of feed restriction caused 12.4±5.5% body weight loss. On the day of CIDR withdrawal, feed-restricted goats had fewer follicles with smaller diameter than control goats. Feed restriction caused anestrus and anovulation in one case, and all the other goats in the control and feed-restricted saline-treated groups showed estrus and ovulated within normal ranges. Therefore, there was no significant influence of feed restriction on the timing of these events and related hormone profiles. In senktide-treated goats, there was a rapid increase in luteinizing hormone (LH) after each injection, which was followed by an increase in plasma estradiol concentration. In the senktide-treated group, 5/6 goats did not show estrus, and 3/6 goats ovulated 2 days after treatment, while most goats ovulated 3 or 4 days after treatment. These results suggest that feed restriction negatively affects follicular development and that senktide can enhance pulsatile LH secretion and thereby accelerate the ovulatory process.

Effects of Condensed Tannin-Rich Pine Bark Diet on Experimentally Infected With Haemonchus Contortus in Meat Goats

This study evaluated the effects of dietary supplementation of a novel condensed tannin-rich pine bark (PB) mixture diet on an in vitro gas production, in vivo animal performance, internal parasites, carcass production, and plasma metabolites in meat goats. Fifteen Kiko-cross meat goats (Capra hircus; body weight (BW) = 28.0 ± 1.0 kg) were randomly assigned to two experimental diets (control vs. PB supplementation): 1) control diet (70% grain mixture and 30% wheat straw (WS) and 2) 70% grain mixture with 30% PB. Animals were dewormed on day 10 and animals were artificially inoculated (day 20) with 5,000 infective stage (L3) Haemonchus contortus larvae. Feed intake and performance were monitored for 87 days. Blood samples were taken twice, once at the beginning and once at the end of the experiment. Fecal egg (FEC) was determined approximately every 2 week. At the end of the experimental period, goats were slaughtered, and abomasum parasite load was determined. Abomasal worms were identified and counted. All analyses were conducted using a GLM or MIXED pro - cedure of SAS, but in vitro gas analysis was conducted using non-linear procedure of SAS. Overall, there were no differences (P >0.10) in dry matter intake, body weight, and carcass traits between diets. H.contortus adult worm numbers were lower (P <0.05) for goats that were fed PB diet than for control. On day 84, control goats on control WS diet had greater (P = 0.01) FEC than PB diet group. It was concluded that feeding ground PB as a feed ingredient has the potential to decrease internal parasite infection without detrimental effects.