Santa Ines Breed Research Articles

Water and food utilization efficiencies in sheep and their relationship with some production traits

• The use of water by sheep needs more attention from researches and sheep breeders. • Residual water intake (RWI) is a new trait for sheep selection. • Residual feed and residual water intake is a new trait for sheep selection. • Sheep more efficient in water use are more efficient in food use. • Sheep more efficient in water and food use are desirable in a sustainable industry. The objective of this study was evaluate the efficiency in water and food use in sheep production, using two new traits (residual water intake - RWI; residual feed and residual water intake - RFRWI). For this purpose, we evaluated the relationships between the traits total water intake, RWI and RFRWI with water measures, productive performance and carcass traits (ultrasound). We used 32 lambs with age of 3 months: 16 Santa Ines breed (8 males and 8 females) and 16 crossbred 7/8 Dorper x Santa Ines (8 males and 8 females). They were fed at an automated feed and water station (Intergado®), where the food and water intake by each animal was measured automatically. Residual water intake (RWI), residual feed intake (RFI) and residual body weight gain (RWG) were calculated using the MIXED procedure in SAS®. Correlation coefficients between total water intake (TWI), RWI and all traits (water measures, performance and carcass traits) were calculated using the CORR procedure (P ≤ 0.05). Total water intake showed mean 3.15 L/day during the study and the RWI ranged from 0.66 L to -0.89 L, which represents a difference of 1.55 L between the most and least efficient animal. There was positive correlation between less efficient animals in water consumption (positive RWI) and water intake (r = 0.31); total water intake in relation to dry matter intake (r = 0.36); total water intake in relation to mid-trial metabolic body weight (r = 0.26); residual feed and residual water intake (r = 0.99) and gain/feed ratio (r = 0.44). There was negative correlation between less efficient animal and dry matter intake in relation to body weight (r= -0.33) and feed conversion ratio (r= -0.44). The evaluation of the new variables, RWI and RFRWI, proved effective in identifying the most efficient animals in water use. Moreover, these findings open the possibility of considering the traits RWI and RFRWI in sheep selection, because performance and carcass traits are not adversely affected by selecting for these new traits.

Physicochemical properties and fatty acid profile of meat from lambs fed with a blend of spineless cactus and sugarcane

Context Cactus is an important feed resource, widely cultivated in the semi-arid Brazilian north-east owing to its resistance to drought, high production potential and high nutritional value. It is also an excellent source of energy. Therefore, its use in the diet of sheep should be optimised. Aims This study was designed to evaluate effects of different ratios of a spineless cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera) to sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum) (Cac:Sug ratio) as source of dietary roughage on the physicochemical properties and fatty acid (FA) profile of meat from lambs. Methods Experimental treatments were diets with four Cac:Sug ratios (0:3, 1:2, 2:1 and 3:0) (477 g/kg as fed) in a complete randomised block design, using 36 uncastrated male lambs (Santa Ines breed) of average initial bodyweight 22.0 ± 2.3 kg housed in individual pens. Lambs were slaughtered after 100 days and meat samples (longissimus lumborum (LL) muscle) taken. Key results Cac:Sug ratio in the roughage of the diet did not influence (P > 0.05) moisture, protein, total lipid or ash contents, pH24h, expressed juice, cooking weight losses, shear force, or colour parameters of LL muscle. However, there was a linear increase in cholesterol (P = 0.013) concentration of the meat. Increasing Cac:Sug ratio in the diet did not affect (P > 0.05) the saturated FAs (SFAs) C10:0, C12:0, C14:0, C15:0, C16:0, C17:0 and C20:0; monounsaturated FAs (MUFAs) C14:1 n–5cis, C17:1 n–7cis and C20:1 n–9cis; polyunsaturated FAs (PUFAs) C18:2 n–6cis, C18:3 n–6, C18:3 n–3, C20:2 n–6cis, C20:5 n–3cis (eicosapentaenoic acid) and C22:5 n–3 (docosapentaenoic acid); ∑n–6:∑n–3 ratio; or nutraceutical compounds. There was a linear decrease in Δ9-desaturases C16 (P = 0.042) and C18 (P < 0.001) with the increasing Cac:Sug ratio, and a quadratic decrease in C18:2 n–6trans concentration (P = 0.045). The ∑SFAs and ∑MUFAs of LL muscle tended to increase linearly with increasing Cac:Sug ratio. Conclusion Most of the physicochemical parameters of the meat of lambs were not changed by the Cac:Sug ratio in the diets. A diet containing up to 48% of DM as spineless cactus plus sugarcane in a 1:2 ratio was found to be satisfactory for finishing lambs. Implications Cac:Sug ratio up to 1:2 (spineless cactus 159 g and sugarcane 318 g/kg DM total diet) may be a useful feed strategy for lamb meat producers because improved lipid composition enriched with C18:0 and higher ∑PUFA:∑SFA ratio is considered healthy for human consumption without affecting most physical and chemical properties.

Differences in immune responses to Haemonchus contortus infection in the susceptible Ile de France and the resistant Santa Ines sheep under different anthelmintic treatments regimens

Understanding the immunological basis of resistance to gastrointestinal nematode infections in livestock is important in order to develop novel methods of parasite control such as vaccination or genetic selection for parasite resistance. The present study aimed to investigate differences in immune response between parasite resistant Santa Ines and susceptible Ile de France sheep breeds to natural Haemonchus contortus infection. Parasitological parameters, humoral immunity, local and circulating cellular immune responses were evaluated in 19 Santa Ines and 19 Ile de France lambs undergoing different anthelmintic treatments regimens: suppressive treatments (SUP) or targeted selective treatments (TST) over a 5-month grazing period. Santa Ines lambs had significantly lower Haemonchus faecal egg count and worm burden compared to Ile de France regardless of treatment regime. In addition, circulating blood eosinophils count and parasite-specific IgG levels were significantly higher and more rapidly induced in Santa Ines lambs. Abomasal immune responses were generally greater in the resistant breed, which had significantly higher levels of parasite-specific IgA in mucus, and elevated number of globule leukocytes and CD3+ T cells within the abomasal mucosal. Furthermore, numbers of POU2F3+ epithelial cells, a tuft-cell specific transcription factor, were also elevated in the Santa Ines breed, suggesting that this breed is better able to initiate T-helper type 2 immune responses within the abomasum. In conclusion, the differential immunological responses detailed here are relevant to understanding resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes in other host breeds, as well as to resistance breeding as a sustainable control approach for parasitic infections.

132 Effects of high-energy diet on viscera and progeny carcass yield in sheep

Abstract The energy required during gestation in sheep is high, and when restricted, fetal development may be affected; thus, knowledge of its deficit needs to be better understood. The objective was to evaluate different levels and sources of energy in the diet of sheep and their influence on the viscera and carcass yield of the offspring. The experiment was carried out at the Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering of USP, Brazil, using 56 pregnant ewes, Dorper and Santa Ines breeds, randomly distributed in four treatments: control group (fed according to the 2007 NRC recommendation); and groups with 10% more energy with different sources (starch, ST; protected fat, PF; and chromium, Cr). Ewes were fed the experimental diets at the beginning (50 days) and end of the gestation (50 days). The middle of gestation the ewes received the diet as recommended by the NRC (2007). After weaning at 60 days, 32 uncastrated male lambs were confined for a period of 60 days. In the confinement the lambs received a growth diet, being the same for all the animals. After this period, lambs were slaughtered, and the non-carcass components were weighed, the warm and cold carcass yields were calculated. The experimental design was completely randomized, with eight replicates and four treatments, the means were analyzed by orthogonal contrasts, assuming a significant threshold of 5%. Lambs in the PF treatment had lower cold carcass yield (50.8%, PPP > 0.05). The sheep fed according to the energy recommendation had lambs with greater weight of omental fat, testicular, kidney and rumen. These lambs also had a smaller spleen, heart, liver, and intestine. We concluded that the maternal diet affected the growth and development of progeny by altering the viscera and the carcass yields. Acknowledgment to FAPESP (process 2017/20555–8).

131 Milk yield of ewes fed with diets of different energy levels

Abstract An adequate sheep milk production ensures survival and optimum lamb’s growth and development through the weaning. To evaluate the effects of different energy sources in the diet of ewes on their milk yield, an experiment was carried out at the Faculty of Animal Science and Food Engineering of USP, Brazil, using 56 pregnant ewes, Dorper and Santa Ines breeds, average live weight of 70 kg, randomly distributed in four treatments: control group (fed according to the 2007 NRC recommendation); and groups with 10% more energy with different sources (starch, ST; protected fat, PF; and chromium, Cr). Dry matter intake was approximately 3% of the live weight of the ewes, to all treatments, but the control group with intake of 2.1 Mcal EM/d and the other with 2.3 Mcal EM/d. Ewes were fed the experimental diets at the beginning (50 d) and end of the gestation (50 d). In the middle of the gestation (50 d) the sheep were fed according to the recommendation of the NRC (2007). At 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 days post-lambing, the milk yield was assessed using an indirect method of double weighing the lambs (one weight before suckling, another weight after suckling). The ewe milk yield was analyzed using contrasts and statistical significance at 5% of probability. There was no statistical difference (P > 0.05) among the diets evaluated on milk yield of the ewe (0.42, 0.45, 0.38, 0.3, and 0.14 kg/d for 20, 30, 40, 50, and 60 days of lactation). We concluded that milk yield of ewes receiving different levels and source of dietary energy did not differ. Additionally, the use of Cr or protected fat did not influence milk yield when added at 10% of the required energy for lactation. Acknowledgment to FAPESP (process 2017/20555–8).

Temperament, behaviour and physiology of sheep trained with tactile stimulation and halter walking

This study aimed to evaluate the influence of tactile stimulation and halter walking trainings in the temperament, physiology, behavior and body weight of sheep. A total of 80 sheep, males and females, of the Morada Nova (MN) and Santa Ines (SI) breeds, with initial ages of six to eight months, were trained with tactile stimulation (TS), halter walking (HW) or tactile stimulation and halter walking (TS+HW). The control (C) animals were not submitted to any kind of training. The behavioral aspects were measured by application of a open-field test, to quantify the traits movement, vocalization, escape attempt and digging, and the temperament test, with assignment of a temperament score for each animal. The animals were weighed and rectal temperature, heart rate and respiratory rate were measured. Males were more reactive than females to human. Animals trained with TS were the least reactive in the temperament test, while the most reactive animals were SI male from C and TS+HW treatments. Males of treatments C and HW were the heaviest during the study. The animals in the control group showed higher averages for heart rate and rectal temperature, while animals trained with TS and HW showed the lowest values. Females MN trained with TS and TS+HW moved more during the open-field test, while the SI females of the control group moved less. The SI animals vocalized more during the open-field test, both from treatment C and from TS+HW. The MN animals from C treatment vocalized less. Sheep trained with tactile stimulation were more docile. The training with tactile stimulation and halter walking in Santa Ines and Morada Nova sheep influenced the heart rate, rectal temperature, moviment, vocalization, escape attempt and body weight.

English

Artemisia annua L. is a well-known source of artemisinin, an antimalarial drug. This compound has been used in traditional medicine to treat malaria for many years. The anthelmintic property of A. annua has also been attributed to artemisinin, hence the belief that artemisinin could be useful as an alternative anthelmintic to control Haemonchus contortus in livestock. The present study focused on evaluating the anthelmintic activity of A. annua against H. contortus by oral administration on infected sheep in a controlled clinical trial. The trial was conducted using 24 male sheep of the Santa Ines breed, with average weight of 20 kg, artificially infected with H. contortus (Embrapa 2010 isolate). The animals were kept in metabolic cages and randomly divided into four homogeneous groups with six animals each, being: (T1) negative control (untreated), (T2) positive control: 10 mg/kg BW of levamisole phosphate, (T3) fed 10% A. annua (0.2% BW), (T4) fed 20% A. annua (0.4% BW). EPG counts were conducted on days -3, -2, -1, 0 (treatment day), 3, 7, 10, 14, 17, 21, 24 and 28 post-treatment. After extraction of the artemisinin in plant material, it was quantified in triplicate and analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography with infrared detection. The average efficacy in the positive control treated with levamisole was 89%. Moderate anthelmintic efficacy against H. contortus was observed in the groups fed 0.2 and 0.4% BW A. annua for 30 days (32.9 and 14.8%, respectively), mainly from day 21 post treatment (47.1 and 25.2%, respectively). At the highest dose, the animals avoided eating due to the compound’s bitter taste. It is concluded that A. annua presents moderate anthelmintic activity in sheep in both doses. The lowest dose was accepted by animals and seems to have practical use. Oral administration was safe and after further in vivo trials could be introduced in organic farms in tropical countries. Key words: Artemisinin, sesquiterpenoids, gastrointestinal nematodes, control, veterinary ethnopharmacology.

Hemograma de ovinos (Ovis aries) sadios da raça Santa Inês criados na região de Piedade, estado de São Paulo: influências etárias e sexuais

Foi investigada a influência dos fatores etários e sexuais sobre o hemograma de ovinos sadios da raça Santa Inês, criados na região de Piedade, no Estado de São Paulo. O hematócrito e o número de hemácias apresentaram maiores valores nas fêmeas mais jovens e houve um decréscimo gradual durante o desenvolvimento etário dos animais. Em contraposição, o número total de leucócitos foi menor nos animais mais jovens e apresentou elevação gradual com a evolução da idade dos animais.

Genome-wide search for signatures of selection in three major Brazilian locally adapted sheep breeds

The study of locally adapted breeds has the potential to underpin the discovery of genes involved in economically and ecologically important traits. Brazilian locally adapted sheep breeds have distinctive characteristics that could be of value for specialized production systems. Therefore, the main objective of the present study was to identify genomic regions that may have been under selection and therefore may explain ecological and production differences observed among three important Brazilian locally adapted sheep breeds. Animals from the Brazilian Creole, Morada Nova and Santa Ines breeds were genotyped using the Illumina Ovine SNP50 BeadChip. The identification of selection signatures was based on two groups of methodologies: differentiation among populations (FST) and linkage disequilibrium (iHS and RsB). Taken together, these analyses allowed for the identification of 86 candidate genes. Functional analysis revealed genes related to immunity, nervous system development, reproduction and sensory perception. A number of genes are of particular interest including: RXFP2, which has recently been associated with the presence/absence and morphology of horns in sheep; the TRPM8 gene, involved in regulation of body temperature at low temperatures; DIS3L2, PLAG1 and NIPBL, associated with height variation; and finally, SPEF2 and SPAG6, important for spermatogenesis. Selective sweeps were identified using multiple methods, and in a number of cases sweep regions contained genes with a demonstrated role in phenotypic variation. The genomic distribution of the sweep regions differed between populations, suggesting that breed specific signatures were successfully identified that may reflect the consequence of local adaptation.

Estrutura de covariância para características de carcaça e tamanho corporal com medidas repetidas em ovinos de diferentes grupos genéticos

RESUMO Objetivou-se avaliar a influência de efeitos ambientais sobre medidas corporais, peso e características de qualidade de carcaça, com estrutura de mensurações repetidas no tempo, em ovinos de diferentes grupos genéticos. Foram realizadas coletas do nascimento aos 180 dias de idade, durante os anos de 2012 e 2013, em 92 cordeiros de 3 grupos genéticos, sendo 29 da raça Santa Inês, 43 mestiços Dorper x Santa Inês e 20 mestiços Dorper x Morada Nova, pertencentes a dois rebanhos. Foram mensuradas área e profundidade de olho de lombo, espessura de gordura subcutânea, altura da cernelha, comprimento corporal, profundidade torácica e peso corporal. O modelo estatístico considerou os efeitos de período de coleta, tipo de nascimento, sexo, rebanho, grupo genético, idade do animal no momento da mensuração como covariável, em efeitos linear e quadrático, e as interações entre os diferentes efeitos. Foram testadas diferentes estruturas para modelar a matriz de (co) variância residual. A estrutura que melhor se ajustou aos dados foi a Simetria Composta. A interação entre grupo genético e idade como efeito linear e quadrático foi significativamente importante para modelar as características estudadas. Os efeitos ambientais de propriedade, tipo de nascimento, grupo genético e período da mensuração influenciaram as características de carcaça, medidas corporais e peso. O grupo genético oriundo do cruzamento Dorper x Morada Nova apresentou menor tamanho corporal e melhores características de carcaça.

PARÂMETROS CARDIOPULMONARES E HEMOGASOMÉTRICOS EM OVINOS SOB ANESTESIA INALATÓRIA DURANTE ALTERNÂNCIAS DE DECÚBITO

Resumo Os rebanhos de ovinos do Centro-Oeste do Brasil, principalmente da raça Santa Inês, aumentaram muito nos últimos anos. Dessa forma, a casuística clínica também cresceu e a realização de cirurgias de grande porte sem dor e com segurança se faz presente, associada ao uso da anestesia geral inalatória. Este trabalho objetivou avaliar os parâmetros cardiopulmonares e hemogasométricos em ovinos sob anestesia inalatória com ventilação controlada, bem como avaliar a influência de alternâncias de decúbito nos mesmos parâmetros. Os animais foram sedados com acepromazina, induzidos com propofol, intubados e colocados sob anestesia inalatória com isoflurano durante manutenção anestésica. As frequências cardíaca e respiratória, pressão arterial e a concentração de gases sanguíneos foram aferidas a cada cinco minutos por um total de 45 minutos, durante os quais os animais foram alternados entre decúbito lateral direito, dorsal e esquerdo. Os parâmetros aferidos não apresentaram diferenças significativas entre os tempos e decúbitos, concluindo-se que a anestesia geral inalatória com isoflurano mostra-se viável e segura na espécie ovina, pois mantém os parâmetros cardiopulmonares e hemogasométricos em níveis seguros.

Determinação de valores de referência séricos para os eletrólitos magnésio, cloretos, cálcio e fósforo em ovinos das raças Dorper e Santa Inês

Resumo: A ovinocultura no Brasil é uma atividade em grande expansão e, com o aumento da demanda mundial por carne ovina, aumentou-se o interesse no monitoramento da sanidade do rebanho, utilizando diversas ferramentas como auxiliares no diagnóstico clínico, tais como os intervalos de referência séricos. Os elementos minerais constituem 2 a 5,5% do corpo dos vertebrados, exercendo diversas funções no organismo. O objetivo deste trabalho foi obter intervalos de referência para os eletrólitos magnésio, fósforo, cloreto e cálcio para ovinos das raças Dorper e Santa Inês. Foram coletados soros de 487 animais clinicamente sadios, sendo 146 da raça Dorper e 341 da raça Santa Inês. Os eletrólitos foram mensurados utilizando-se kits comerciais. Os dados foram analisados quanto à raça, sexo e idade, e os intervalos de referência determinados. Os resultados revelaram diferenças significativas nos intervalos de referência obtidos para os eletrólitos cálcio e magnésio na variável raça, e para o eletrólito fósforo na variável faixa etária e, quando confrontados com valores de referência já publicados, comprovou-se a existência de diferença estatística significativa entre os mesmos em todos os analitos estudados.

Use of reduced doses of eCG applied by different routes in the TAI program in Santa Ines sheep

The aims of this study were to improve the cost-benefit ratio of the application of artificial insemination in fixed time (TAI) by the transcervical route in sheep, to test the dosage reduction and the use of the vulvar submucosa (VSM) route as an alternative for the application of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) on the efficiency of the synchronization protocol and fertility to artificial insemination (AI) and to measure the level of cortisol in ewes as a result the application of this biotechnique. Blood samples were collected before AI, immediately after AI and seven days after AI. Six groups of twenty animals were used, and each group received doses of 200, 300 and 400 IU of eCG by the intramuscular route (IM) and VSM. Estrus was detected, and 48 hours later, the inseminations were performed by the transcervical route. Among the 120 treated ewes, 87.5% came in estrus. The percentage of the intrauterine deposition of semen was 88.3%. The pregnancy rate ranged from 20 to 70% between treatments, with an average of 46.66%. The VSM route was viable for the application of eCG in doses of 300 and 400 IU. The reduction in the eCG dose to 200 IU by the IM route reduces costs while maintaining the efficiency of estrus synchronization protocols and TAI with frozen semen in Santa Ines ewes. The average levels of cortisol were significant, at 1.15, 2.86 and 0.52 ?g/dL according to the three collections, being higher after the animal was off the easel at the end of AI. The procedures for performing the transcervical AI technique indicate that stress in the animals produces satisfactory fertility results and a low cost in multiparous ewes of the Santa Ines breed.

Diferenciação de populações ovinas encontradas no estado do Piauí

Objetivou-se analisar a semelhança fenotípica entre genótipos de ovinos localizados em oito microrregiões do Estado do Piauí, para averiguação da semelhança de caracteres morfométricos de animais da raça Santa Inês com os de outras raças da região, utilizando-se de análise multivariada. Nos rebanhos amostrados foram encontrados animais das raças Santa Inês, Dorper e Morada Nova, presente uma ou mais raça simultaneamente. As características morfológicas avaliadas foram tipo de pelagem e perfil do chanfro, já as métricas foram a altura de cernelha, a altura de garupa, a circunferência torácica, o comprimento corporal e o comprimento de orelha. Essas características foram avaliadas com as raças estratificadas por microrregião e, através da análise de componentes principais e de agrupamento de Ward, analisou-se a semelhança fenotípica entre as raças e também a variação dentro da raça Santa Inês, com base na relação entre as características medidas. Constatou-se que a raça Santa Inês apresentou variação no tamanho de acordo com a microrregião e que se apresenta com maior altura, mas com menor comprimento e perímetro corporal que a Dorper no Piauí. Já a Morada Nova foi a menor em tamanho. A raça Santa Inês apresentou um grupo de animal com maior tamanho corporal, localizado nas microrregiões de Floriano, Médio Parnaíba Piauiense, Campo Maior e Teresina. Outro grupo de tamanho intermediário, porém com comprimento corporal e circunferência torácica maior e orelha pequena, localizado na microrregião de São Raimundo Nonato, e um terceiro grupo, com tamanho intermediário, orelhas grandes e animais menores, localiza-se nas microrregiões do Litoral Piauiense e Valença. Pela análise de correspondência das características morfológicas com tipo de chanfro e o tipo de pelagem, foi possível identificar que os animais da raça Dorper no Estado apresentam alta correspondência com a característica lanada, que pode ser considerado uma desvantagem por estar numa região que prevalece alta temperatura ao durante o ano.

Morfologia da cérvice de ovelhas Santa Inês adultas nas fases luteínica e folicular

A cérvice ovina tem formato irregular, tornando um desafio transpassá-la durante a inseminação artificial. Logo, este trabalho teve por objetivo descrever as características morfológicas da cérvice de ovelhas da raça Santa Inês, comparando-se as fases do ciclo estral. Foram coletados 112 úteros de ovelhas adultas não gestantes e silicone foi injetado no lúmen da cérvice obtendo-se um molde do canal cervical. O comprimento médio foi de 41,33± 16,38 mm e o tipo de óstio cervical mais frequente foi o bico-de-pato (46%). O número mínimo de anéis encontrados nas cérvices foi de dois e o máximo de sete, com média de 4,70 ± 1,05 anéis. A morfometria de cada anel cervical indica que a circunferência interna se afunila na porção média e em seguida torna a aumentar. Não houve diferença significativa (p>0,05) quando se compararam as fases luteínica e folicular e entre os tipos de cérvice quanto ao diâmetro das dobras, altura das dobras, circunferência interna, ponto médio entre as dobras e distância do orifício para as dobras. Nas condições estudadas, concluiu-se que o desenvolvimento de um aplicador de sêmen deve levar em consideração os limites morfométricos encontrados, embora a morfologia e morfometria da cérvice da espécie ovina seja bastante variada, não havendo uma forma padrão para a espécie, inclusive quando são comparadas as fases luteínica e folicular.

Performance of the Santa Ines breed raised on pasture in semiarid tropical regions and factors that explain trait variation.

This study aimed to evaluate sex, the number of lambs per birth, and the family effects on production traits in the Santa Ines breed of sheep by estimating the least square means and coefficient of variance for those traits. A total of 484 lambs were evaluated for the following traits: weight at birth, at weaning, and at 240 days of age; weight gain during the pre-weaning and post-weaning periods; height, width, and length of different body regions; and rib eye area and fat thickness between the 12th and 13th ribs. We observed coefficients of variation higher than 10 % for several traits. Generally, males were larger than females (P < 0.05), while lambs from single and double births were larger than lambs from triple births (P < 0.05). Family effect was significant (P < 0.05) for most traits and explained the highest percentage of residual variance. The results showed good development of Santa Ines sheep, especially during the pre-weaning period but no in post-weaning. Our study also showed that there is an effect of sex, birth type, and family, which must be included in any statistical model for the estimation of least square means and residual variance in ANOVA.

Características de carcaça de ovinos alimentados com subproduto da goiaba

It was evaluated the carcass characteristics of 40 sheeps of Santa Ines breed, uncastrated, with initial average weight of 17.41 ± 1.27 kg and average age of 120 days and slaughtered with body weight of 32 kg or 105 days of confinement. The animals were placed in individual stalls and fed with diets containing increasing levels (0, 20, 40 and 60 %) of corn replacement by guava agroindustrial by-product. It was used the lineation completely at random with four treatments and ten repetitions. It occurred a diet effect over the weight and the percentage of carcasses and retail cuts. The replacement of 60 % of corn by guava agroindustrial by-product provided smaller hot carcass weight (11.91 kg) and cold carcass (11.81 kg), lower hot carcass yield (42.08 %) and cold carcass weight (41.72 %), lower rib eye area (9.94 cm2), and muscle (0.33 g/cm), and higher content of gastrointestinal tract (7.43 kg). It is estimated that the inclusion of up to 40 % of guava agroindustrial by-product in the diet replacing the corn is relevant to attaining carcasses with characteristics appropriate to the consumer market, especially where this food resource is available.

Fatores de risco, etiologia e aspectos clínicos da mastite em ovelhas de corte no Paraná

A mastite em ovelhas da raça Santa Inês apresenta-se como um problema de grande proporção e gravidade e é dificilmente tratada com sucesso. O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar aspectos clínicos, epidemiológicos e etiológicos da mastite clínica em ovelhas de corte criadas no norte do Paraná. O presente estudo foi realizado entre os meses de outubro de 2009 a setembro de 2010 envolvendo 54 rebanhos de ovinos de corte de diferentes raças. Durante as visitas às propriedades, um questionário foi preenchido com a finalidade de caracterizar o problema. Setenta ovelhas com mastite clínica foram examinadas e amostras de secreção láctea foram colhidas para exame microbiológico. A mastite foi considerada um problema relevante em 39 propriedades (72,3%), com frequência média de 6,74%. Casos crônicos e agudos de mastite foram observados em 69% e 31% das ovelhas examinadas, respectivamente. Em ambos os casos, a mastite flegmonosa foi a forma mais encontrada (65,5% dos casos). O agente etiológico mais prevalente foi Staphylococcus coagulase negativo (54,5%), seguido por S. aureus e A. pyogenes (11,5% cada). Mannheimia haemolytica foi isolada em dois casos. Sistema de criação não extensivo e raça Santa Inês foram identificados como fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de mastite clínica. Secagem das fêmeas após 120 dias de lactação e separação de fêmeas doentes do rebanho foram associadas com menor ocorrência da doença. Recomenda-se a limpeza adequada das instalações e a secagem mais tardia, principalmente em rebanhos Santa Inês.

Avaliação do crescimento de cordeiros alimentados com permeado de soro de leite em pó

The present work aimed to establish the biometric measures and the pre-slaughter weight, conversion and food efficiency of sheep fed with whey powder permeate. In order to do so, 24 male sheep, of Santa Ines breed, with a 20 kg body weight, fed with growing levels of whey powder permeate (0%, 5%, 10% and 15%), replacing ground maize in the concentrate. When reaching 30 kg of live weight, the animals were weighed to establish the live weight in the origin and the live weight at slaughter, and to get the morpho-structural measures. The analysis of regression was used for study the replacement levels, when significant differences were detected in the analysis of variance. The initial biometric measures did not differ among the animals which can help inferring that they all belong to a homogeneous group and do not characterize a variation source. There was no effect of the replacement of ground maize of the whey powder permeate diet on the development and the bioemtric measures of sheep. The inclusion of up to 15% of whey powder permeate to substitute maize, in diets for sheep in termination, does not harm the animals growth.

Sustainable worm control practices in South America

A high prevalence of nematodes, especially Haemonchus contortus and Trichostrongylus colubriformis, that exhibit multiple anthelmintics resistance has been reported in sheep in several South American countries. For this reason, the development of strategies that are less dependent on anthelmintic treatments is imperative for the prophylaxis of gastrointestinal nematode infections in small ruminants. Integrated grazing using cattle and sheep can be used for pasture decontamination with considerable reduction of H. contortus and T. colubriformis infective larvae after cattle grazing. Several breeds of sheep exhibit genetically related resistance against nematode infections, as is the case of “crioulo”, “native” or naturalised breeds of sheep. These breeds descend from livestock introduced by Portuguese and Spanish settlers and have been submitted to a long process of natural selection in various environmental conditions. In the South, the Crioula Lanada breed is more resistant to H. contortus than are Corriedale sheep. In tropical areas, where the minimum temperatures are usually higher than 20°C, hair sheep flourish, especially the Santa Ines breed, which also display a higher level of resistance to nematode infections compared with certain breeds of European origin. However, Santa Ines sheep have inferior carcass quality compared with other commercial breeds. Recent studies showed that the crossbreeding of Santa Ines ewes with sires of breeds with high potential for growth and meat production, results in crossbred animals with high productivity and a satisfactory degree of resistance against nematode infections. Several studies have indicated that improvement in nutrition has a beneficial effect on the development of resistance in lambs that were naturally or artificially infected with nematodes. Therefore, supplementary feeding and breeding strategies to improve resistance to nematodes are feasible options in the effort to reduce dependence on anthelmintic drugs to control worm infections in sheep.