Fernando Queiroz de Almeida

Avaliação morfométrica de eqüinos da raça Mangalarga Marchador: índices de conformação e proporções corporais

This work aims to evaluate the relationships between body measures of foals from birth to twelve months of age and mature animals of Mangalarga Marchador breed. Measures were body weight and measures of height, length, width, girth of animals. Corporal Index (CI), Meloscopic Index (MI), Dactilo-thoracic Index (DTI) and Weigth in Cannon Index (WCI) were used to evaluate the relationship between measures. The Eclectic System of Linear Proportions was used to evaluation the proportions between linear measures and head length. Colts and fillies were classified as small shape at birth, because the CI were 81.36 and 82.33, respectively. Colts and fillies with four months of age, already presented CI higher than 85.0, and were classified as medium shape. Stallions and mares were classified as medium shape, with CI of 87.17 and 85.18, respectively. Considering the MI, colts and fillies were classified as large shape at birth, changing to medium shape with increase of age and stallions and mares were classified as medium shape. The DTI classified the colts and fillies as hipermetric animals because presented values above 10.8. The WCI ranged from 26.18 to 6.60 for fillies and from 25.93 to 7.04 for colts, while for stallions and mares were 4.16 and 4.96, respectively. Linear measures with greater rates of growth than the head length presented increase of the proportions from birth to adult age, while the measures of smaller rates of growth than the head length presented reverse behavior.

Estimativa da digestibilidade aparente de nutrientes em dietas para eqüinos, com o uso de óxido crômico e indicadores internos

Two assays were performed to evaluate the apparent digestibility of nutrients in horses diets, using the total collection of feces method and the markers chromic oxide, indigestible acid detergent fiber (iADF), indigestible neutral detergent fiber (iNDF), indigestible cellulose (iCEL), lignin (LIG), and insoluble acid detergent ashes (ADTA), as markers. In the first assay, five crossbred colts were used, fed five diets with different levels of crude protein, maintaining the relationship 50:50 concentrate to forage. The chromic oxide was used as external marker. In the second assay, four crossbred colts were fed diets composed by coastcross hay as forage and concentrate in the proportions of 40:60, 60:40, 80:20 and 100:00. In both assays, the cotents of indigestible acid detergent fiber, indigestible neutral detergent fiber, indigestible cellulose, lignin and acid detergent insoluble ash were obtained after in vitro incubation. In the first assay, the FDAi showed to be appropriate as internal marker to estimate the digestibility, and in both assays the CELi showed to be appropriate as internal marker for the estimate of apparent digestibility of nutrients of horses diets. The chromic oxide showed low fecal recovery in the first assay and the LIG showed low fecal recovery in both assays, underestimating the apparent digestibility coefficients of nutrients, and was inadequate to estimate the digestibility. ADIA, compared to the total collection of feces method, also showed to be inadequate to estimate the nutrient digestibility in equine.

Factors associated to Theileria equi in equids of two microregions from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Serum samples from 714 equids of Itaguaí and Serrana microregions, Rio de Janeiro, southeastern Brazil, were examined by indirect fluorescent antibody test (titer 1:80) for Theileria equi. The prevalence in the microregions and factors associated with seropositivity were evaluated and the prevalence ratio (PR) calculated. The overall prevalence of T. equi infection was 81.09% (n = 579), with higher prevalence (p < 0.05) in the Itaguaí (85.43%) when compared to Serrana microregion (76.92%). The geographic area, altitude, farming condition and area of origin of equids were associated (p < 0.05) with seropositivity for T. equi. Equids reared in the Itaguaí microregion (PR = 1.11, p = 0.003) and at altitudes below 500 m (PR = 1.10; p = 0,014) were more likely to be seropositive for T. equi. Furthermore, when equids were born in the farm (PR = 1.10, p = 0.008) and reared with poor farming conditions (PR = 1.13, p = 0.018) they were more likely to be exposed to T. equi. The main ticks found on equids were Amblyomma cajennense and Dermacentor (Anocentor) nitens. The microregions studied are endemic areas for equine theileriosis and there exists enzootic stability for T. equi. Only factors related to the collection area of serum samples influenced the seropositivity of equids for T. equi in that region.

Progresso científico em equideocultura na 1ª década do século XXI

In Brazil, as in other countries, investments in research with horses are related to the objectives of the equine industry in the country. This study aimed to review the current literature with the purpose of assessing the latest scientific and technological development in horses production. Researchers are related to many areas as in production and management, genetics and breeding, nutrition and feeding, reproduction, medicine and surgery, diseases and health protection. There is still research in areas related to equestrian sports, involving equine exercise physiology, riding and training horses and also studies on national and international equine trade. Considering all areas of interest of horse production the largest number of published articles is related to the medicine and surgery and diseases and health. In Animal Science, the largest number of articles is related to nutrition and feeding of horses. However, must be consider that interests of agribusiness, horses breeders associations, governments and society in general, influence the research and consequently the publication of papers about horses.

Avaliação morfométrica de eqüinos da raça Mangalarga Marchador: medidas lineares

This work was carried out to evaluate angular measures of foals, from birth to 12 months age, and mature animals of the Mangalarga Marchador horse. Eleven angular measures of 98 foals, 55 males and 43 females, were taken on the birth day and at each thirty days up to complete 12 months of age. Results of measures were submitted to analysis of variance and mathematical model included effects of sex, region, nutritional management, herd, month and year of birth. The variables studied were not influenced by sex, herd, nutritional management, month and year of birth. The values increases and decreases at each month, what can be result of unequal growth of bones that form the angles. Average values observed for shoulder-floor angle of foals varied from 58.3 to 63.40, for males, and from 58.1 to 63.10, for females. The average value of shoulder-floor angle was 66,8o for stallions and mares. There were observed a relative agreement between the angles of anterior and posterior legs comparing values of angles shoulder-humerus with coxae-femur, humerus-radius with femur-tibia, metacarpus-phalanx with metatarsus-phalanx and tibia-metatarsus with metatarsus-phalanx. In anterior leg was observed variation directly proportional of the angles shoulder-floor and shoulder-humerus, while in posterior leg the variation there were inversely proportional between the angles coxae-floor and coxae-femur.Objetivou-se com o presente trabalho avaliar o crescimento de potros da raca Mangalarga Marchador por meio de suas medidas lineares. Foram mensurados 98 potros, sendo 55 machos e 43 femeas, ao nascimento e a cada 30 dias ate completarem 12 meses de idade. Os pais e as maes dos potros foram mensurados para obtencao dos valores medios das medidas lineares estudadas nos animais adultos. Os valores das medidas corporais dos animais foram submetidos a analise de variância e o modelo estatistico incluiu os efeitos de sexo, local, manejo nutricional, rebanho, mes e ano de nascimento. As caracteristicas de conformacao estudadas nao foram influenciadas pelos efeitos de sexo, rebanho, regiao, manejo nutricional, mes e ano de nascimento. A medida de altura na cernelha apresentou reduzida variacao, passando de 61,6% da media a idade adulta, ao nascimento, para 88% da media a idade adulta, aos 12 meses, nos machos, e de 63,2% da media a idade adulta, ao nascimento, para 90% da media a idade adulta, aos 12 meses, nas femeas. De forma similar, a altura na garupa passou de 63,3% da media a idade adulta, ao nascimento, para 89% da media a idade adulta, aos 12 meses, nos machos e de 64,1% da media a idade adulta, ao nascimento, para 91,1% da media a idade adulta, aos 12 meses, nas femeas. O comprimento do corpo dos potros apresentou valores de 68,1; 112,6 e 127,1 cm nos machos e de 68; 111,6 e 128,3 cm nas femeas, ao nascimento, 6 e 12 meses, respectivamente. Em relacao a idade adulta, os valores observados para comprimento do corpo foram 43,3; 71,6 e 86,6%, nos machos, e 45,5; 74,7 e 85,8%, nas femeas, ao nascimento, 6 e 12 meses de idade, respectivamente.

Cinética de passagem da digesta, balanço hídrico e de nitrogênio em eqüinos consumindo dietas com diferentes proporções de volumoso e concentrado

Este trabalho foi conduzido com os objetivos de avaliar a cinetica de passagem da digesta no trato digestivo e estimar o balanco hidrico e de nitrogenio em equinos consumindo dietas com diferentes niveis de volumoso. Foram utilizados quatro potros nao castrados, mesticos, com idade de 18 meses, alojados em baias individuais e exercitados uma vez ao dia. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o quadrado latino 4 x 4, em que cada periodo experimental teve duracao de 14 dias de adaptacao a dieta e cinco dias de coleta fecal. As dietas foram compostas por feno de capim-coastcross e concentrado, fornecidos simultaneamente, duas vezes ao dia, nas proporcoes de 40:60, 60:40, 80:20 e 100:0. A cinetica de passagem da digesta foi estimada pelo tempo medio de retencao da digesta (TMR), da taxa de passagem (TxP) e do tempo de trânsito (TT), utilizando dois indicadores externos, o cromo fixado como mordente na fibra em detergente neutro (Cr-FDN) e o complexo cobalto-EDTA (Co-EDTA). O balanco hidrico foi avaliado de acordo com as quantidades de agua ingerida in natura e na dieta e excretada na urina e nas fezes. O balanco de nitrogenio foi avaliado de acordo com as quantidades diarias de compostos nitrogenados consumidos e excretados. As medias dos valores da cinetica de passagem nas fases solida e liquida da digesta foram 42,7 e 33,8 horas para TMR e de 2,4 e 3,1 %/hora para TxP. O TT da fase liquida da digesta apresentou efeito linear negativo, em funcao da inclusao de volumoso na dieta. O consumo medio de agua foi de 13,8 litros. O balanco hidrico variou de 7,9 a 1,8 litros para as dietas com 40 e 100% de volumoso, respectivamente, reduzindo de forma linear, com a inclusao do volumoso na dieta.

Perfil hematólogico e características das fezes de equinos consumindo dietas hiperlipidêmicas

This research aimed to evaluate blood parameters, dry matter intake and faeces characteristics in horses fed with high fat diets. Fifteen horses were used in a completely randomized design with three diets and five repetitions. The diets were: diet without soybean oil inclusion (control); diet with of 8.5% soybean oil inclusion; diet with 19.5% soybean oil inclusion. The trial had 34 days of duration, 30 days to diet adaptation and four days for samples collection. Blood samples were taken at 34th day to hematological and biochemical evaluation. Faeces characteristics were evaluated from 33rd and 34th day and dry matter intake (DMI) were evaluated from 30th to 34th of essay. Horses fed with high fat diet increased number of erythrocytes and reduced mean corpuscular volume in blood (P<0.05). Blood levels of hemoglobin differ (P<0.05) only in horses fed with control diet or diet with 8.8% soybean oil inclusion, with lower value in control diet of 9.5g dL-1. Serum triglycerides were more available in horses fed diet with 19.5% soybean oil inclusion. Reduced DMI, of 1.9 and 2.8kg, were observed in horses fed diet with 8.5% and 19.5% soybean oil inclusion respectively in relation to control diet, with DMI of 9.0kg/day. Fecal production were reduced, to 0.7 and 1.1kg DM, in horses fed diets with 8.5% and 19.5% soybean oil inclusion in relation to control diet, of 3.4kg DM. High fat diets for horses with soybean oil inclusion reduced dietetic intake and increased serum triglycerides levels without diarrheas or faeces characteristics alterations.

Valor nutritivo do capim-elefante (Penninsetum purpureum, Schum), do feno de alfafa (Medicago sativa, L.) e do feno de capim coast-cross (Cynodon dactylon (L.) Pers.) para eqüinos

The objective of this work was to evaluate the intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients of elephant grass forages, alfalfa and coast-cross grass hays in adult horses. Eighteen adult Mangalarga Marchador mares were allotted to a completely randomized design with three treatments that consisted on diets with the following forages: T1 - elephant grass, T2 - alfalfa hay, T3 - coast-cross grass hay. The animals were ad libitum fed twice a day. The experimental period was constituted by a phase of eight days for diet adaptation and a phase of five days for total collection of feces. There were no differences of forage dry matter intake, with average values of 6.27 kg DM, 68.41 g DM/kg0,75 or 1.51% LW. The average coefficients of apparent digestibility of elephant grass and alfalfa and coast-cross grass hays were 43.10, 55.20, and 49.80% for DM, 4160, 53.40, and 47.90% for gross energy, 24.60; 71.20 and 56.10% for crude protein and 40.60, 35.50, and 63.30% for neutral detergent fiber.

Estimativa da digestibilidade aparente da matéria seca por meio de indicadores internos em eqüinos

This research aimed to compare dry matter digestibility coefficient (DMDC) of horse diets by total feces collection (TC) and internal markers, indigestible cellulose (iCEL), indigestible acid detergent fiber (iADF) and acid insoluble ash (AIA). Sixteen adult mares of Mangalarga Marchador breed averaging from 3.5 to 18.4 years and 394.80 ± 46.22 kg were assigned to a randomized block design with four replicates. Diets were formulated to be isoprotein and isoenergetic and composed of coastcross hay (Cynodon dactylon cv. Coast cross) and 60:40 concentrate. Evaluation of DMDC estimated by the markers was performed by a model considering the bias, i.e., the difference between DMDC estimated by marker and by TC. No effect of animal age on DMDC. Among the evaluated markers, iADF was more accurate. Regarding precision, no differences were observed among markers. Concerning robustness, dry matter intake and DMDC affected iADF and iCEL estimates, whereas only DMDC affected AIA estimate. Markers recoveries were 98.49, 94.49 and 144.5% for iADF, iCEL e AIA, respectively and, only iADF recovery did not differ from 100%. Markers ranking concerning accuracy, precision and robustness were as follows: iADF, AIA and iCEL.

Composição química e predição do valor nutritivo de dietas para eqüinos

The objetive of this experiment was to obtain data from literature about diet composition for horses and to estimate the digestible energy and digestible protein contents by regression equations from chemical composition of these diets. Data we re submitted to a correlation study among the content of nutrients in experimental diets and apparent digestibility coefficients, selecting the best correlation among DE, EAD, OMAD, CPAD and nutrients of diets. The values of EAD, OMAD and CPAD and digestible energy contents were fitted to simple and multiple linear regression equations in function of the nutrients contents fo the diets and in two classes of diets, roughage and mixed (roughage plus concentrate) diets. The best prediction equations for DE contents, in Mcal/kg DM, t o all horses diets were: ED = 0.104 + 0.0416 OMAD (r2 = 0.85), DE = 5.0285 0.0144 OM 0.0424 ADF (R2 = 0.89) and DE = 3.7868 0.044 A DF (R2 = 0.87). The most appropriate equation in roughage diets was: DE = 0.2273 + 0.0352 OMAD (r2 = 0,70) and in mixed diets was : DE = 0.3803 + 0.0459 OMAD (r2 = 0,86). Prediction equation of apparent digestibility coefficient for crude protein in roughag e diets was, CPAD (%) = 38.2446 + 1.7381 CP (r2 = 0.53), appropriate to estimate the contents of digestible protein in alfalfa and coast-cross grass hays.O objetivo deste trabalho foi reunir informacoes da literatura sobre a composicao de dietas para equinos e estimar, por meio de equacoes de regressao, os conteudos de energia e proteina digestivel, a partir da composicao quimica dietetica destas dietas. Foi feito um estudo de correlacao entre o conteudo e os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes, nas dietas experimentais, selecionando-se as melhores correlacoes entre ED, CDE, CDMO e CDPB e os componentes quimicos das dietas. Os valores de CDE, CDMO, CDPB e do teor de energia digestivel foram submetidos a analise de regressao linear simples e multipla, em funcao dos componentes quimicos das dietas e de duas classes, dietas simples com alimentos volumosos e dietas mistas com alimentos volumosos e concentrados. As melhores equacoes de predicao do conteudo de ED, expressas em Mcal/kg MS, para dietas em geral foram: ED = - 0,104 + 0,0416 CDMO (r² = 0,85), ED = 5,0285 - 0,0144 MO - 0,0424 FDA (R² = 0,89) e ED = 3,7868 - 0,044 FDA (R² = 0,87). Em dietas volumosas, a equacao mais adequada foi: ED = 0,2273 + 0,0352 CDMO (r² = 0,70) e em dietas mistas, ED = - 0,3803 + 0,0459 CDMO (r² = 0,86). A equacao de predicao do coeficiente de digestibilidade da proteina bruta para alimentos volumosos, CDPB (%) = 38,2446 + 1,7381 PB (r² = 0,53), mostrou-se adequada para a estimativa do conteudo em proteina digestivel dos fenos de alfafa e capim coast-cross.