Morada Nova Research Articles

Do forage production and ingestive behavior of locally adapted sheep differ from an irrigated silvopastoral system to an irrigated monoculture in the semi-arid region?

This study aimed to evaluate forage production and ingestive behavior of Morada Nova sheep in an intensive system with capim-tamani grass in both monoculture and silvopastoral irrigated systems in the Semi-arid region. Eighteen adult sheep, approximately 3 years old, with an average body weight of 26.8 ± 4.3kg, were allocated to treatments with capim-tamani grass cultivated in monoculture and in silvopastoral systems with Caatinga trees. The experiment followed a completely randomized complete block design with two plots and three replications. Forage production, consumption, and behavioral activities were the assessed variables. The animals remained in the pasture daily between 6 am and 6 pm. No effects of the monoculture and silvopastoral systems were observed on the structural and productive characteristics of the capim-tamani grass pasture. There were also no observed effects on body condition score, consumption, and disappearance rate of dry matter (DM) and other nutrients in both systems. However, there was an interaction between the time animals spent under shade in monoculture and silvopastoral systems. In general, the animals spent more time under shade where there were trees, except during the period between 2 pm and 4 pm, when the times were similar. On average, the animals spent approximately 15.6% (equivalent to 1.87h) of their total time in the artificial shade available in the monoculture system, whereas in the silvopastoral system, they remained under natural shade for approximately 40% (five and a half hours) of their time spent in the pasture during the day. The grazing frequency in both systems was approximately 70% (8.4h) in relation to the total time spent in the pasture. The capim-tamani grass pasture managed intensively with sheep in the silvopastoral system showed similar forage production and consumption compared to the monoculture system. There was a positive influence of trees on the duration of solar radiation exposure to the animals throughout the day. The results support the need to provide shade for sheep, as well as to promote these sustainable systems in semi-arid regions.

Comparative assessment of growth curves in Brazilian white Morada Nova hair sheep breed.

The Morada Nova sheep breed is essential for the economy of the semi-arid region of Northeast Brazil, standing out for its adaptability, resistance to parasites and reproductive ability. However, the white variant is endangered, highlighting the importance of studies on its productivity to support conservation efforts. This study focuses on the growth curve of the Morada Nova sheep breed, using nonlinear models and analyzing flock profiles. Total of 764 observations of 165 animals from four farms in Ceará and Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil, were analyzed. Canonical discriminant analysis (CDA) was used for the exploratory analysis and four nonlinear models were used to study the growth curve. Weight from birth to 270days of age, absolute growth rate (AGR), and the impact of sex on growth curves were assessed. Sex and farm are significant discriminating variables (P < 0.05) for the studied effects (weight and age). Weight was the primary phenotypic biomarker that discriminated between the two indicators, while age was a discriminating indicator only for the core effect. The Gompertz model was the most efficient, presenting the lowest residuals and greatest convergence. The study reveals new information about the growth of Morada Nova sheep, the white variety, including weight differences between the sexes at all analyzed ages and an inflection point before 90days of age. These discoveries contribute to the understanding of the breed's growth and help in the formulation of conservation strategies.

Divergent humoral responses between males and females against 24 kDa excretory-secretory protein of Haemonchus contortus and influence of ovine β-globin polymorphism

Lambs harboring the Hb-AA β-globin haplotype present improved cell-mediated responses and increased resistance against Haemonchus contortus infection. The aim of the present study was to compare the effect of sex and β-globin haplotypes on specific humoral responses and phenotypes of resistance during H. contortus infection in Morada Nova sheep. As expected, females displayed stronger resistance during the first and second experimental challenges. Differential systemic humoral immune responses were observed comparing sex groups, in which higher levels of specific antibodies targeting 24 kDa excretory-secretory (ES24) protein of H. contortus of IgG and IgM antibodies were respectively observed as predominant isotypes in males and females. The IgM levels were significantly correlated with phenotypes of resistance, evaluated by packed cell volume and fecal egg counts. To our knowledge this is the first study reporting divergent humoral responses profiles to H. contortus infection between male and female sheep. The impact of β-globin haplotypes was less pronounced in females compared to males. Notably, only males showed significant weight differences across haplotypes, with Hb-AA lambs being the heaviest. Additionally, Hb-AA males had significantly higher PCV (indicating better red blood cell health) and lower FEC (indicating lower parasite burden). These findings suggest a more pronounced effect of β-globin polymorphisms on H. contortus infection in males, potentially due to their generally weaker resistance compared to females. This study highlights the importance of sex and β-globin haplotypes in shaping immune responses to H. contortus infection. Specifically, IgM antibodies targeting the ES24 protein appear to play a crucial role in host-parasite interactions and may hold promise for therapeutic development.

Genealogical structure and genetic variability: A step towards conservation of white Morada Nova sheep in semi-arid region

Morada Nova breed has a low effective herd, and its white variety is in risk of extinction in Brazilian semi-arid region. This study aimed to evaluate white Morada Nova sheep’s genetic variability and population structure in four flocks. These are the only flocks in the world. The assessed parameters of pedigree integrity and a genealogy record of 219 animals. 44.74 % did not have pedigree information on their mother or father, and 50.47 % did not have available information on their grandparents. 52.97 % had a pedigree in their first ancestry (obtained through the average of known parents), 23.74 % in the second, 13.58 % in the third, and 5.33 % in the fourth. The effective size was 10.7, considering the complete equivalent generation. The effective number of founding animals (fe) and ancestors (fa) was 10, indicating the effective participation of all founding animals in the population over the generations, reducing losses of genetic variability. Out of all the ancestors, only 3 explained 50 % of the population’s genetic variability, reflecting the low values of fa and fe. The population’s average inbreeding and kinship coefficients were 2.61 and 4.54. The F statistics of Wright, Fis, Fst, and Fit, were −0.012, 0.016, and 0.003. The genetic conservation index (GCI) had an average of 2.01 ± 1.29, with minimum and maximum values of 1.0 and 6.38, respectively. Approximately, 71 % of the population had GCI below 2.0, while only 5.9 % of sheep had an GCI bigger than 5.0. This indicates the absence of sub-structures inf the population. There is no population subdivision, considering the genealogical structure of the evaluated flocks. The inbreeding and kinship coefficient values are controlled and serve as a starting point for establishing a future management plan for the genetic variability of the flock. It is recommended to use strategies to increase the effective population size, to meet the minimum number recommended by FAO and to promote the conservation and genetic improvement of the breed.

Carcass traits and morphometry, typification of the Longissimus dorsi muscle and non-carcass components of hair lambs: can biscuit bran completely replace corn? A machine learning approach.

Biscuit bran (BB) is a co-product with worldwide distribution, with Brazil as the second largest cookie producer in the world with 1,157,051 tons. We evaluate the impact of completely replacing corn with BB on the characteristics and morphometry of carcass of purebred and crossbred Morada Nova lambs using machine learning techniques as an auxiliary method. Twenty male lambs from two genetic groups (GG) were used: purebred red-coated Morada Nova (MNR) and crossbred MNR × white-coated Morada Nova (MNF1). Supervised and unsupervised machine learning techniques were used. No interaction (P > 0.05) was observed between diets (D) and genetic groups (GG) and no simple isolated effect was observed for carcass characteristics, qualitative-quantitative typification of the Longissimus dorsi muscle, weight of non-carcass components, weight and yield of commercial cuts and carcass morphometric measurements. The formation of two horizontal clusters was verified: (i) crossed lambs with corn and BB and (ii) purebred lambs fed corn and BB. Vertically, three clusters were formed based on carcass and meat characteristics of native lambs: (i) thermal insulation, body capacity, true yield, and commercial cuts; (ii) choice, performance, physical carcass traits, and palatability; and (iii) yield cuts and non-carcass components. The heatmap also allowed us to observe that pure MN lambs had a greater body capacity when fed BB, while those fed corn showed superiority in commercial cuts, true yields, and non-carcass components. Crossbred lambs, regardless of diet, showed a greater association of physical characteristics of the carcass, performance, palatability, and less noble cuts. Crossbred lambs, regardless of diet, showed a greater association of physical characteristics of the carcass, performance, palatability, and less noble cuts. BB can be considered an alternative energy source in total replacement of corn. Integrating of machine learning techniques is a useful statistical tool for studies with large numbers of variables, especially when it comes to analyzing complex data with multiple effects in the search for data patterns and insights in decision-making on the farm.

Assessment of the adaptive capacity of Morada Nova ewes with different coat coloration.

Coat color is a factor affecting heat tolerance in tropical ruminant and a particular coat color can determine which is more resilient to environmental changes. The aim of this study was to measure the level of adaptation of Morada Nova sheep with different coat color by using an Adaptability Index (AI). Adult ewes were used, including two different coat colors of Morada Nova sheep (red and white) with mean of body weight of 28.02 ± 5.70kg and 31.47 ± 3.41kg, respectively. Physiology parameters, hematology, electrolytes, acid-base status, mineral, renal functions, metabolites, enzymes, and proteins were measured. AI was designed using a multivariate approach (principal component analysis) to "weigh" the influence of each variable in the animal responses. The variables more important for adaptive aspects of Red Morada Nova were: haematology, electrolytes and acid-base status. The hemoglobin (HG), mean corpuscular hemoglobin (MCH), mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (MCHC), sodium (Na+), oxygen pressure (PO2), glucose (GLU) and albumin (ALB) were significantly higher in Red Morada Nova sheep and hydrogen carbonate (HCO3), base excess (BE), total carbon dioxide concentration (TCO2) and URE were significantly higher in the white phenotype. The variables more important for adaptive aspects of White Morada Nova sheep were: (K+), total protein (TP), PO2, HG, cholesterol (CHO), rectal temperature (RT) and glucose (GLU). Both phenotypes showed a high adaptation level, however, a higher value was generated for the Red Morada Nova sheep (81.97). This study concludes that both phenotypes of the Morada Nova sheep breed are well adapted to the climatic condition of the Brazilian tropical region using different adaptive mechanisms.

Multi-omics data elucidate parasite-host-microbiota interactions and resistance to Haemonchus contortus in sheep

BackgroundThe integration of molecular data from hosts, parasites, and microbiota can enhance our understanding of the complex biological interactions underlying the resistance of hosts to parasites. Haemonchus contortus, the predominant sheep gastrointestinal parasite species in the tropics, causes significant production and economic losses, which are further compounded by the diminishing efficiency of chemical control owing to anthelmintic resistance. Knowledge of how the host responds to infection and how the parasite, in combination with microbiota, modulates host immunity can guide selection decisions to breed animals with improved parasite resistance. This understanding will help refine management practices and advance the development of new therapeutics for long-term helminth control.MethodsEggs per gram (EPG) of feces were obtained from Morada Nova sheep subjected to two artificial infections with H. contortus and used as a proxy to select animals with high resistance or susceptibility for transcriptome sequencing (RNA-seq) of the abomasum and 50 K single-nucleotide genotyping. Additionally, RNA-seq data for H. contortus were generated, and amplicon sequence variants (ASV) were obtained using polymerase chain reaction amplification and sequencing of bacterial and archaeal 16S ribosomal RNA genes from sheep feces and rumen content.ResultsThe heritability estimate for EPG was 0.12. GAST, GNLY, IL13, MGRN1, FGF14, and RORC genes and transcripts were differentially expressed between resistant and susceptible animals. A genome-wide association study identified regions on chromosomes 2 and 11 that harbor candidate genes for resistance, immune response, body weight, and adaptation. Trans-expression quantitative trait loci were found between significant variants and differentially expressed transcripts. Functional co-expression modules based on sheep genes and ASVs correlated with resistance to H. contortus, showing enrichment in pathways of response to bacteria, immune and inflammatory responses, and hub features of the Christensenellaceae, Bacteroides, and Methanobrevibacter genera; Prevotellaceae family; and Verrucomicrobiota phylum. In H. contortus, some mitochondrial, collagen-, and cuticle-related genes were expressed only in parasites isolated from susceptible sheep.ConclusionsThe present study identified chromosome regions, genes, transcripts, and pathways involved in the elaborate interactions between the sheep host, its gastrointestinal microbiota, and the H. contortus parasite. These findings will assist in the development of animal selection strategies for parasite resistance and interdisciplinary approaches to control H. contortus infection in sheep.Graphical

Adaptive, morphometric and productive responses of Brazilian hair lambs: Crossing between indigenous breeds - A machine learning approach

For the first time, the thermoregulatory, morphometric and productive responses of the Morada Nova breed and its crosses with the Santa Inês and Rabo Largo breeds in the Brazilian semi-arid region were evaluated. Subsequently, the relationship between thermoregulation and morphometric, productive and non-carcass components was verified. 30 lambs, weighing 2.26 ± 0.53 kg at birth and 7.31 ± 1.85 kg at weaning, were distributed into three genetic groups: Morada Nova (MN) and its F1 crossbred Morada Nova × Rabo Largo (RL×MN) and Morada Nova x Santa Inês (SI×MN) animals in a completely randomized factorial design (3 genetic groups × 2 sexes). Machine learning techniques were performed in order to understand the relationship between the variables and in order to identify phenotypic biomarkers. No interaction effect was observed for any variable under study (P > 0.05). Male lambs have higher heart rate (P = 0.03), are heavier (P < 0.001), have higher weight gain (P < 0.001) and higher skin weight (P = 0.01) when compared to females. MN ×SI lambs showed lower heart rate (P = 0.03) and rectal temperature (P = 0.02). Respiratory rate was similar (P = 0.26) between genetic groups. It was also observed that crossbred lambs had higher morphological measures, non-carcass components and productive responses (P < 0.001). Lung weight in purebred animals was lower (P = 0.01) when compared to MN × SI, but equal to MN × RL. The first component was characterized by morphological, productive and non-carcass components, and the second component by thermoregulatory response. The canonical correlation analysis showed that the thermoregulatory response is influenced by the morphological response (P = 0.002). Furthermore, the weight of non-carcass components does not have a relationship (P = 0.834) with thermoregulatory responses. Finally, the thermoregulatory responses did not influence (P = 0.717) the productive responses of sheep in the Brazilian semi-arid region. The redundancy index showed that 36.1% of the variation in thermoregulatory responses is explained by morphological responses, more specifically: the smaller the body length and chest circumference, the higher the animal's heart rate. The productive and morphometric responses and the non-carcass components are the main phenotypic biomarkers used to differentiate the genetic groups of lambs. The crossing of the native Brazilian semi-arid region breed led to higher body weight attributed to higher adaptability, manifested by lower rectal temperature and heart rate with no recorded increase of the morphological indicators.

Peróxido de hidrogênio na atenuação do estresse salino em gravioleira

ABSTRACT In semi-arid regions, the use of saline water for irrigation has become an increasingly frequent reality due to the qualitative and quantitative scarcity of water sources occurring most of the year. Thus, the use of hydrogen peroxide can be a strategy capable of mitigating the deleterious effects of salt stress on plants and guaranteeing the agricultural production of crops such as soursop. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of foliar application of hydrogen peroxide on the physiological and growth indices of soursop plants cv. Morada Nova irrigated with waters of different salinity levels. The treatments were distributed in a randomized block design, in a 4 × 4 factorial scheme, corresponding to four levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water and four concentrations of hydrogen peroxide, with three replicates. Foliar application of hydrogen peroxide at concentrations of 12, 18 and 15 µM, respectively, attenuated the effects of salt stress on stomatal conductance, CO2 assimilation rate and chlorophyll a synthesis of soursop, at 780 days after transplanting. The 30 µM hydrogen peroxide concentration intensified salt stress on gas exchange, variable fluorescence and electrolyte leakage in the leaf blade of soursop plants cv. Morada Nova, 780 days after transplanting.

Luteal tissue characteristics of Morada Nova ewes with hCG application 7.5 days after the end of estrus synchronization protocol in the breeding season

Results with the use of hCG after synchronization protocol are still inconsistent, which may vary according to breed, season, day of application and dose of the drug used. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the functionality of luteal tissue and ovarian perfusion after hCG treatment during early luteal phase. Estrus-synchronized ewes were randomly assigned to receive i.m. injection of 300 IU of hCG (G-hCG; n = 40) or 1 mL of saline (G-Control; n = 32) on Day 7.5 after progesterone withdrawal. Ultrasonographic evaluations of the ovaries and ovarian and iliac arteries were performed on Days 7.5, 10.5, 13.5, and 21.5. The accessory corpus luteum (aCL) formation rate was 52.5% for G-hCG. There was interaction (p > 0.05) for treatment (G-hCG and G-Control), days (7.5, 10.5, 13.5 and 21.5) and PD (Pregnant and Non-pregnant) for the variables of biometric characteristics of the corpus luteum B-Mode and Color Doppler on days 7.5, 10.5, 13.5 and 21.5. There was no difference (p > 0.05) for pregnancy rates and mean fetuses per ewe between the treatment groups. It is concluded that the application of hCG 7.5 days after the hormonal protocol in Morada Nova ewes in a breeding season is efficient in inducing aCL formation and increasing luteal tissue biometry. However, there was no effect on pregnancy rate.

Assessment of FecGE genotypes on reproductive traits in Brazilian Morada Nova and Santa Inês sheep.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the polymorphic FecGE allele on reproductive traits in Santa Inês and Morada Nova ewes. The traits evaluated were as follows: total progeny weights at birth (PWB) and weaning (PWW) and progeny survival rates at birth (PSRB) and weaning (PSRW). A total of 389 animals, belonging to two Santa Inês herds and one Morada Nova herd, were genotyped. There was a difference between the averages for all the traits studied regarding type of parturition, herd/breed, genotype/herd, and genotype/type of parturition. For each additional progeny, if the female was FecGE/E, the PWB decreased by 1.02kg and the PWW by 3.16kg, also with a 0.04% reduction in PSRB and no change in PSRW. If the female was FecGE/+, the reduction in PWB was 0.24kg, with an increase in PSRW by 0.11%, but no change in PWW and PSRB. In general, these results demonstrate that FecG+/+ females have a better ability to increase their number of progenies without reducing PWB and PWW (also similar to FecGE/+). Thus, it is suggested that further studies on the association between the traits of interest and candidate genes in sheep should be carried out so that the regions which have the greatest effect on the expression of these traits are actually identified. It was not possible to verify the effect of the FecGE allele on the PWB, PWW, PSRB, and PSRW in these Morada Nova and Santa Inês herds.

Blood biochemical, hormonal, and hematological responses of native sheep submitted to different environmental conditions

The aim of this study was to evaluate the biochemical, hormonal, and hematological blood responses of native sheep subjected to five temperatures (20°, 24°, 28°, 32°, and 36 °C), using 24 sheep of the following breeds: Santa Inês (SI), Morada Nova (MN), Soinga (SO) and no defined racial pattern (NDRP), kept in collective pens inside the climatic chamber. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 5 × 4 factorial scheme (5 temperatures and 4 breeds) with 6 animals of each breed at each temperature. There was interaction for urea (P < .0001), glucose (P < .0001), cholesterol (P < .0001), and magnesium (P < .0001) as a function of breed and air temperature. Urea (P = .001), glucose (P < .0001), triglycerides (P = .033), cholesterol (P = .004), and magnesium (P < .0001) showed differences according to breed. It was observed that T4 (P < .0001) and cortisol (P < .0001) showed an interaction between breed and temperature, while T4 (P = .001) and cortisol (P = .001) an effect of breed. The highest magnesium concentration was observed in MN, and the lowest was in NDRP, SO, and SI, which are statistically similar, and SI and NDRP are statistically similar. The hormones showed a significant effect (P < .0001) for temperature, where cortisol increased, and thyroid hormones decreased with increasing temperature. Temperatures of 32° and 36 °C contribute to changes in blood, hormone, and hematological biochemical responses of native sheep.

Path analysis and logistic regression for heat tolerance in sheep

Climate change and increasing atmospheric temperature are important issues in breeding small ruminants. Although sheep animals are highly adaptable to extreme conditions, observing how they respond physiologically when challenged in stressful climatic regions is important. Understanding the physiological pathways that lead these animals to thermal equilibrium is crucial. The present study aimed to analyse the interaction between environmental and physiological variables on heat stress in different breeds of sheep by path and logistic regression analysis. In total, 16 sheep genetics groups were studied and classified into two groups (wool and hair) to analyse how the variables correlate using path analysis and the responses of respiration rate and rectal temperature to increased temperature and humidity index using logistic regression analysis. Suffolk and Dorper breeds presented alterations in respiration rate before the others. Bergamasca and Poll Dorset × Dorper were the first groups to demonstrate alterations in rectal temperature. Hampshire Down breed showed no alteration in respiration rate. Morada Nova was the breed (among the breeds with hair) with the more delayed respiration rate and rectal temperature alteration. The use of path analysis and logistic regression helps in the understanding of how sheep animals respond physiologically to environmental changes.

Aspectos gerais do sistema de produção e manejo e sua relação com a infecção por Corynebacterium pseudotuberculosis e ocorrência de mastite de rebanhos da raça Morada Nova branca em região semiárida

This study aimed to characterize the production and management systems of white Morada Nova sheep herds and to present data on the occurrence of caseous lymphadenitis (CLA) and clinical mastitis (CM) in a population maintained in a semi-arid region. Blood samples were collected from adult females from herds of the Brazilian northeastern region. The first venous blood sample was used for a complete blood examination. The second blood sample was used to detect the presence of anti-C. pseudotuberculosis specific antibodies. The production and management systems of the herds were characterized using questionnaires, divided into three blocks of indicators: Facilities; Characterization of the production system; Health management. Body weight and hematological results were submitted to an analysis of variance, on which the fixed effect was clinical diagnosis, and the principal component analysis was performed to determine the main variables. For CLA, three herds stood out as having the highest rates of seropositivity (85.71, 79.41 and 60.45%). The same herds also had the highest occurrences of CM (9.30, 8.82 and 5.71%). The main variables that showed differences according the diagnosis of both diseases were blood granulocytes and lymphocytes. The study made it possible to observe the relationship between the best sanitary practices and the lowest occurrence rates of both CLA and CM. The diseases present considerable occurrence​ in sheep populations.

Spline functions and nonlinear models for modeling the growth of sheep in Northeast Brazil

Modeling animal growth is essential to manage quality meat production systems at a low cost. This study aimed to compare the linear-linear, linear-plateau, and linear-linear-linear spline functions with the nonlinear models Brody, Richards, and von Bertalanffy to model the growth of crossbred sheep in the Northeast of Brazil. Weighing data from the genetic groups of meat sheep Dorper x Morada Nova, Dorper x Rabo Largo, and Dorper x Santa Inês were used. Knots in the spline fitting were considered unknown and estimated under the segmented nonlinear regression approach. Overall, splines were more accurate than traditional nonlinear models in describing the growth of sheep of all genetic groups. The linear-plateau spline was superior in predicting weight as a function of the age of sheep. The linear-plateau function also resulted in estimates of parameters (growth rates, time for animals to reach adult weight, and adult weight) with easier biological interpretations, which can be used in practice for decision-making for herd management.

Hyriidae and Mycetopodidae (Mollusca: Bivalvia) from Solimões formation (mio-pliocene), Amazonas, Brazil

The Solimões Formation (late early Miocene to Pliocene, Brazil) yields an important fossiliferous content, but the mollusks have been scarcely studied. We studied 58 bivalve specimens from Aquidabã and Morada Nova, Eirunepé Municipality, southwestern Amazonas. They belong to Castalia ambigua (Hyriidae) and Haasica cf. balzani (Mycetopodidae). The two genera are restricted to South America. Castalia has its oldest occurrence in the late Cretaceous at Itapecuru Formation, Parnaíba Basin (Maranhão State, Brazil), and it presently has a wide distribution in South America. Haasica is currently restricted to the Paraná River Basin, and its presence in the Solimões Formation is the first in the fossil record. These strictly freshwater bivalves suggest a lacustrine environment to the upper part of the Solimões Formation.

A Comparative Study of the Irrigated Zones of Jaguaribe-Apodi and Morada Nova from a (Un)Sustainable Perspective

Large-scale government-sponsored irrigation is a feasible alternative to the development of semiarid regions, such as Northeastern Brazil, provided perennial rivers and reservoirs are available. Brazilian irrigation projects have also generally promoted the participation of farmers as informed agents in the process, encouraging training and education towards agribusiness. The purpose of this explorative and descriptive study was to analyze and compare the sustainability characteristics of the Jaguaribe-Apodi and Morada Nova irrigation zones in light of the triple bottom line model (Elkington, 2012), based on information from 18 interviews conducted in September 2015 to November 2015 and submitted to discourse analysis. Triple bottom line sustainability envisages a balance between three dimensions: social, environmental and economic. Such a balance was not observed in our study due to insufficient awareness of environmental issues. However, focusing on a specific context and moment in time, the exploratory study design made it difficult to extrapolate our findings. Future studies could expand the discussion on the sustainability of irrigation zones by using data triangulation in longitudinal designs.

Enhanced mucosal response in sheep harbouring βA beta-globin against haemonchosis.

Association between ovine β-globin polymorphisms and resistance against haemonchosis was described and related to the mechanism of high oxygen affinity βA ➔ βC switch during anaemia, but there are no studies regarding the involved local host responses. Phenotypic parameters and local responses were evaluated in sheep from two β-globin haplotypes naturally infected with Haemonchus contortus. Morada Nova lambs were monitored at 63, 84 and 105 days of age for faecal egg counts and packed cell volume (PCV) under natural infection with H. contortus. At 210 days of age, lambs of Hb-AA and Hb-BB β-globin haplotypes were euthanised, and the fundic region of abomasum was sampled for evaluation of microscopic lesions and relative expression of genes related to immune, mucin and lectin activities. Lambs harbouring the βA allele presented an improved resistance/resilience against clinical haemonchosis, showing higher PCV during infection. Hb-AA animals presented increased eosinophilia in the abomasum compared to Hb-BB animals, accompanied by higher Th2 profile, mucin and lectin activity transcripts, while the inflammatory response was increased in Hb-BB animals. This is the first report to demonstrate an enhanced local response in the primary site of H. contortus infection related to βA allele of β-globin haplotype.

Influence of Foliar Application of Hydrogen Peroxide on Gas Exchange, Photochemical Efficiency, and Growth of Soursop under Salt Stress.

Hydrogen peroxide at low concentrations has been used as a salt stress attenuator because it induces a positive response in the antioxidant system of plants. This study aimed to assess the gas exchange, quantum yield, and development of soursop plants cv. Morada Nova grown with saline water irrigation and foliar hydrogen peroxide application. The experiment was carried out under greenhouse conditions using a randomized block design in a 4 × 4 factorial scheme corresponding to four levels of electrical conductivity of irrigation water, ECw (0.8, 1.6, 2.4, and 3.2 dS m-1), and four doses of hydrogen peroxide, H2O2 (0, 10, 20, and 30 μM), with three replicates. The use of irrigation water with electrical conductivity above 0.8 dS m-1 inhibited stomatal conductance, internal CO2 concentration, transpiration, maximum fluorescence, crown height, and vegetative vigor index of the Morada Nova cultivar of soursop. Compared to untreated plants, the hydrogen peroxide concentration of 30 μM resulted in greater stomatal conductance. Water salinity of 0.8 dS m-1 with hydrogen peroxide concentrations of 16 and 13 μM resulted in the highest variable fluorescence and quantum efficiency of photosystem II, respectively, of soursop plants cv. Morada Nova at 210 days after transplantation.

Portable near-infrared spectroscopy: A rapid and accurate blood test for diagnosis of Haemonchus contortus infection and for targeted selective treatment of sheep

Haemonchus contortus is the most prevalent and important gastrointestinal nematode (GIN) in small ruminants. Since it reduces the packed cell volume (PCV), causing anemia, early diagnosis can be used for targeted selective treatment (TST) of sheep, reducing antiparasitic drug use and anthelmintic resistance. This study aimed to predict PCV values through near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) and to develop a classification and diagnosis model of H. contortus infection using PCV values, eggs per gram of feces (EPG) counts and mean daily weight gain (DWG). A total of 1728 spectra were collected from blood samples of 216 lambs with a portable NIR spectroscope. In parallel, other parameters indicative of infection were measured: PCV by hematocrit, FAffa MAlan CHArt (FAMACHA) scores, EPG and DWG. To evaluate the relationship between NIRS spectra and the evaluated parameters, principal component analysis (PCA) was used for an exploratory analysis, regression by the partial least squares method (PLS) for the prediction of PCV values via NIRS, and PCA linear discriminant analysis (PCA-LDA) as a classification model for diagnosis. The absorption peaks in the NIRS region associated with the excitation of overtones of nitrogen-hydrogen (N-H) functional groups of proteins had a strong impact on the principal components (PCs), indicating that blood proteins, especially hemoglobin, can be estimated by the NIRS technique. The model for predicting PCV by PLS presented a standard error of prediction of 2.53, root-mean-square error of 2.48, and coefficient of determination of 0.84, indicating good correlation between the PCV values predicted by the model and the PCV obtained by hematocrit. The PCA-LDA model presented 93.33% sensitivity and 82.18% accuracy, both higher than those of the FAMACHA method, as was expected for resilient Morada Nova lambs. The multivariate models associated with the NIRS technique reported here can be used in the future as a quick and versatile tool for H. contortus infection diagnosis and TST application in lambs.