Luís Fernando Batista Pinto

Trace elements distribution in hawksbill turtle (Eretmochelys imbricata) and green turtle (Chelonia mydas) tissues on the northern coast of Bahia, Brazil.

Concentrations of elements (As, Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, K, Mg, Mn, Mo, Na, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sr, V, Zn) were determined in liver, kidneys and bones of Eretmochelys imbricata and Chelonia mydas specimens found stranded along the northern coast of Bahia, Brazil. Results showed that the concentrations of Cd, Cu, Ni and Zn in the liver and kidneys of juvenile C. mydas were the highest found in Brazil. We also observed a significant difference (p<0.05) on the bioaccumulation of trace elements between the two species: Al, Co, Mo, Na and Se in the liver; Al, Cr, Cu, K, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sr and V in the kidneys; and Al, Ba, Ca, Cd, Mn, Ni, Pb, Se, Sr and V in the bones. This study represents the first report on the distribution and concentration of trace elements in E. imbricata in the Brazilian coast.

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 240xa0days 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 10xa0% for several traits. Generally, males were larger than females (Pu2009<u20090.05), while lambs from single and double births were larger than lambs from triple births (Pu2009<u20090.05). Family effect was significant (Pu2009<u20090.05) 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.

Progresso científico em melhoramento animal no Brasil na primeira década do século XXI

Brazil is an important world leader in animal yield,xa0but to maintain this status, needs to invest heavily in research to increase animal productivity.xa0For Animal Breeding purpose, Brazil has many groups that develop important studies.xa0Those studies ranging from estimating components of variation and genetic parameters, statistical modeling, and molecular markers applied to animal breeding. Thus, this review aims to summarize the research in animal breeding in Brazil through the first decade of the 21st century, which can indicate the progress and new challenges.

Effects of birth type and family on the variation of carcass and meat traits in Santa Ines sheep

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of birth type and family on quantitative and qualitative meat traits in Santa Ines lambs and to do a descriptive study of variation inside of breed. A total of 50 carcass and meat traits were evaluated in up to 101 lambs slaughtered at 424xa0days of age. Random effect of family, the fixed effect of birth type (single or double) and year, and the covariates of dam’s weight at weaning and age (in days) at slaughter were inserted in the model. This study shows that some carcass and meat traits in Santa Ines raised on pasture has large variability, specially for meat cut yields, several carcass non-components yields, and rib eye area, subcutaneous fat thickness, shear force, cooking losses, and b* color parameter. The birth type effect influenced (Pu2009<u20090.05) rump width; reticulum, leg, heart and kidney yields; and the carcass pH at 24xa0h after slaughter. The family effect was significant (Pu2009<u20090.05) for cold carcass weight; hot, cold and true carcass yields; external carcass and leg lengths; perimeter and width of the rump; kidney, liver and tail yields; and carcass pH at slaughter.

Interação genótipo-ambiente sobre os pesos aos 205 e 365 dias de idade em bovinos da raça Nelore em diferentes regiões do Brasil

Data of weaning weight (205BW) and at year (365BW) of Nellore cattle from 29 farms in several Brazilian states of three distinct regions: North, Southeast and Midwest, all participants of the program of Nellore breeding (Nellore Brazil), were used to assess the presence of genotype by environment interaction (GEI) as well as estimate direct heritability (205BW and 365BW) and maternal (205BW) by restricted maximum likelihood method with the aid of MTDFREML. The statistical model used included fixed effects of contemporary group, age of dam (covariate) and random direct genetic effects (205BW and 365BW) and maternal (205BW). The estimated genetic correlation for 205BW and 365BW in each of the regions, North (R1), Southeast (R2) and Midwest (R3), were respectively: 0.85±0.11, 0.96±0.07 and 0.95±0.07 for R1/R2, R1/R3 and R2/R3, the evaluation of weaning weight, 0.72±0.09, 0.83±0.07 and 0.85±0.08, for R1/R2, R1/R3 and R2/R3, in the evaluation year. These results indicate that, at weaning (205BW), the effect of GEI was not observed, but in the weight at year (P365), the combination involving North/Southeast effect was verified of the GEI.

Palm kernel cake for lactating cows in pasture: intake, digestibility, and blood parameters

Multiparous dairy cows (n=16) of the Holstein x Gir crossbreed, with an average weight of 436.6 kg (±59.7), were tested to determine the best level of Palm kernel cake in a dietary supplement for lactating cows at pasture. The experiment utilized a Latin square design, with the cows distributed in four Latin squares. Intake, digestibility of nutritional fractions, and the metabolic profile, as determined from blood parameters, were analyzed for grazing cattle with a dietary supplement containing 0%, 25%, 50%, and 75% of palm kernel cake. Intake of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fibre, nonfibrous carbohydrates, total carbohydrates, and total digestible nutrients within the supplement, as well as the intake of total crude protein, total ether extract, and total nonfibrous carbohydrates, were negatively influenced by level of Palm kernel cake supplementation. The intake of dry matter had the mean values of 11.34 kg/day.The intake of crude protein decreased from 1.10 to 0.87 kg/day. The digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, nonfibrous carbohydrate, and total carbohydrates was significantly reduced with an increased percentage of Palm kernel cake in the supplement. The concentration of blood glucose was not affected by the amount of Palm kernel cake. However, these averages of urea nitrogen are still considered to be physiological norms. A decrease in intake, digestibility of crude protein and nonfibrous carbohydrates indicates that Palm kernel cake is not an adequate ingredient in nutritional supplements for dairy cows at pasture.

Parâmetros qualitativos da silagem de milheto amonizada com ureia, a diferentes densidades de compactação

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of urea ammoniation of pearl millet silage, at different compaction densities, on chemical composition, losses in the ensilage process, fermentation profile, microbial population count, and aerobic stability. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 2×4 factorial arrangement, with two compaction densities (600 and 800 kg m-3) and four urea levels (0, 2, 4, and 6% on a dry matter basis), with five replicates. For the aerobic stability assay, the experimental design was completely randomized, in a 2×4 factorial arrangement, with two times (0 and 72 hours) and four urea levels (0, 2, 4, and 6%, on dry matter basis), with five replicates. The urea levels interacted significantly with density as to the contents of organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent insoluble protein, and as to dry matter recovery; and with exposure hours as to the contents of acid detergent fiber and lignin. Molds and yeasts were not observed in the ammoniated silages. The 800 kg m-3 density reduced losses in the fermentation process of pearl millet silage, and promoted better nutritive value than the compaction at 600 kg m-3. The use of urea does not reduce losses and does not improve the aerobic stability of silages; however, it controls mold growth after silage exposure to air.

Linkage disequilibrium in Brazilian Santa Inês breed, Ovis aries

For genomic selection to be successful, there must be sufficient linkage disequilibrium between the markers and the causal mutations. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the extent of LD in ovine using the Santa Inês breed and to infer the minimum number of markers required to reach reasonable prediction accuracy. In total, 38,168 SNPs and 395 samples were used. The mean LD between adjacent marker pairs measured by r2 and |D′| were 0.166 and 0.617, respectively. LD values between adjacent marker pairs ranged from 0.135 to 0.194 and from 0.568 to 0.650 for r2 for |D′| across all chromosomes. The average r2 between all pairwise SNPs on each chromosome was 0.018. SNPs separated by between 0.10 to 0.20u2009Mb had an estimated average r2 equal to 0.1033. The identified haplotype blocks consisted of 2 to 21 markers. Moreover, estimates of average coefficients of inbreeding and effective population size were 0.04 and 96, respectively. LD estimated in this study was lower than that reported in other species and was characterized by short haplotype blocks. Our results suggest that the use of a higher density SNP panel is recommended for the implementation of genomic selection in the Santa Inês breed.

Physicochemical Quality, Fatty Acid Composition, and Sensory Analysis of Nellore Steers Meat Fed with Inclusion of Condensed Tannin in the Diet: Condensed tannin on steers meat quality…

This study was conducted to test the effect of dietary tannin on the fatty acid profile and sensory attributes of meat from Nellore steers. Thirty-two Nellore bull male were distributed in a completely randomized design and fed diets with condensed tannin extract as follows: 0, 10, 30, and 50xa0g/kg total DM basis. The physicochemical composition of the meat, lipid oxidation, fatty acid profile, flavor, tenderness, and overall acceptance were evaluated. There was a linear decrease (Pxa0≤xa00.05) on lipid content, tenderness, cooking weight loss, myristic, palmitic, and oleic acids in meat as tannin increased in the diets. The total saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids, the atherogenicity index decreased. However, a linear increase (Pxa0≤xa00.05) was observed for linoleic, linolenic, arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosapentaenoic acids. The physicochemical characteristic of the meat, such as moisture, ash, and protein contents, water retention capacity, final pH, Warner-Bratzler shear force, collagen, and color indexes (lightness, redness, yellowness, and chrome) did not change with dietary tannin. Also, CLA, n-6:n-3xa0ratio, Δ9 -desaturase, and elongase activity were not different among diets. In conclusion, condensed tannin linearly increases unsaturated fatty acids and decreases the atherogenicity index of meat; thus, it can be recommended at the highest level (50xa0g/kg DM) in the diet of Nellore steers.nnnPRACTICAL APPLICATIONnAgriculture byproducts plays an important part in the diet of ruminant animals and consequently on food chain and has implications for the composition and quality of the livestock products (milk, meat, and eggs) that people consume. Feeding tannin to steers increases the amount of unsaturated fatty acids and meat tenderness, with a concomitant reduction on saturated fatty acids and the atherogenicity index in meat. Thus, we recommend adding tannin to steer diets to reduce the risk factors for cardiovascular diseases in red meat for human consumption.

Estimates of genomic heritability and genome-wide association study for fatty acids profile in Santa Inês sheep.

BackgroundDespite the health concerns and nutritional importance of fatty acids, there is a relative paucity of studies in the literature that report genetic or genomic parameters, especially in the case of sheep populations. To investigate the genetic architecture of fatty acid composition of sheep, we conducted genome-wide association studies (GWAS) and estimated genomic heritabilities for fatty acid profile in Longissimus dorsi muscle of 216 male sheep.ResultsGenomic heritability estimates for fatty acid content ranged from 0.25 to 0.46, indicating that substantial genetic variation exists for the evaluated traits. Therefore, it is possible to alter fatty acid profiles through selection. Twenty-seven genomic regions of 10 adjacent SNPs associated with fatty acids composition were identified on chromosomes 1, 2, 3, 5, 8, 12, 14, 15, 16, 17, and 18, each explaining ≥0.30% of the additive genetic variance. Twenty-three genes supporting the understanding of genetic mechanisms of fat composition in sheep were identified in these regions, such as DGAT2, TRHDE, TPH2, ME1, C6, C7, UBE3D, PARP14, and MRPS30.ConclusionsEstimates of genomic heritabilities and elucidating important genomic regions can contribute to a better understanding of the genetic control of fatty acid deposition and improve the selection strategies to enhance meat quality and health attributes.