Odilei Rogerio Prado

Adição de plasma seminal ao sêmen descongelado e taxa de prenhez de ovelhas inseminadas em tempo fixo

The effect of seminal plasma addition to thawed-frozen ram semen on the pregnancy rate of commercial herd ewes was evaluated. One hundred and seventy-four crossbred Texel sheep were allocated to four treatments: T1) cervical artificial insemination (CAI) using frozen-thawed semen (FTS) diluted in phosphate buffered saline solution (PBS); T2) CAI using FTS diluted in ovine seminal plasma; T3) control group I: CAI using fresh semen diluted in PBS; T4) control group II: laparoscopic insemination using FTS diluted in PBS. Estrus induction was performed with medroxiprogesterone acetate (MAP) impregnated sponges for 12 days, followed by intramuscular injection of 400 IU of eCG (Novormon®) and 37.5µg of sodium cloprostenol (Sincrocio®) on the day of sponge removal. Estrus was monitorated with vasectomized rams, beginning at the time of the sponge removal until the fixed time artificial insemination - 54 to 60 hours. The pregnancy rate of FTS diluted in seminal plasma treatment (7.0%) did not differ (P>0.05) for the treatment without addition of seminal plasma (4.3%), however it was lower (P<0.05) when compared to the pregnancy rate of the cervical inseminated control I group with PBS diluted fresh semen (50.0%) and laparoscopic inseminated control group II with PBS diluted FTS (39.4%). The cervical artificial insemination with the addition of seminal plasma to frozen-thawed semen did not increase the pregnancy rate at acceptable values to make this biotechnology useful on commercial herds.

Carcaças e componentes não-carcaça de cordeiros terminados em pasto de azevém recebendo suplementação concentrada

The study was performed to evaluate the subjective and objective measurements of the carcasses and non-carcasses components of weaned lambs grazing on Italian ryegrass pasture fed with different levels of concentrate supplementation (without supplementation, 0,9%, 1,8% of body weight and ad libitum). Lambs were slaughtered at 32kg of live weight. After slaughtering, hot carcass, digestive content and weight of non-carcass components were recorded. Weight of cold carcasses was assessed after the refrigeration for 24h at 5°C. Weight, yield and carcasses measurements were taken and then the leg and carcass compactness were calculated. Data were subjected to regression and simple correlation analysis. The concentrate supplementation levels had a positive linear effect on the weights and yields of hot and cold carcass and leg and carcasses compactness. Supplementation of weaned lambs grazing on annual ryegrass enabled to get carcasses of better conformation and fat covering. These effects may result in better price opportunities and marketing for farmers.

Electronic and visual identification devices for adult goats reared in semi-intensive system

This study intended to evaluate three identification devices for adult goats reared in semi-intensive system. They were (1) the ruminal bolus, electronic identification device composed of non-toxic ceramic and weighing 74.4 g; (2) small ear tag on left ear, visual identification device with dimensions of 50 × 15mm; and (3) big ear tag on right ear, also a visual identification device with dimensions of 42 × 48 mm. Twenty-two crossbred Boer female goats with mean age of 4 years and mean body weight (BW) of 52.6 kg were used. The identification devices were applied on all animals. Time spent for administration/application, readability and retention rate of devices were assessed. Problems during and after the application of devices, as well as device losses were recorded. Evaluations were performed one day and one week after application, then, monthly, for six months. The time spent for administration/application of the devices showed mean of 21 s and was similar between the evaluated devices. One big ear tag was lost, which decreased the retention rate of this device to 95.5%. The other devices showed retention rate of 100%. The readability was 100% for all studied devices. Small ear tags and ruminal boluses used in this study are recommended for adult goats. Production systems, environment, and ear tags with large dimensions may affect the retention rates of these visual identification devices.

Performance, carcass traits and costs of Suffolk lambs finishing systems with early weaning and controlled suckling

The performance, carcass traits and finishing costs of Suffolk lambs were evaluated in three systems: (1) lambs weaned with 22 kg of body weight (BW) and supplemented with concentrate on pasture until slaughter; (2) lambs weaned with 22 kg BW and fed in feedlot until slaughter; (3) lambs maintained in controlled nursing after 22 kg BW and creep fed in feedlot until slaughter . Average daily gain (ADG) was 224 g/d for lambs weaned and supplemented with concentrate on pasture, 386 g/d for lambs weaned in feedlot and 481 g/d for lambs under controlled nursing. Empty body weight and visceral fat deposition were highest in lambs from feedlot systems. Carcass weights and carcass yields were highest for lambs in controlled nursing. Finishing total costs were highest in controlled nursing and lowest in the system with weaning in feedlot. High concentrate diet associated with controlled nursing in feedlot allowed lambs to reach the growth potential and carcasses with higher weights, higher yields and higher fat content. After weaning, lambs in feedlot fed with high concentrate diet had higher weight gain than lambs supplemented with concentrate on pasture. Carcasses produced under these two systems presented the same characteristics. The system with weaning in feedlot showed the lowest cost per kg carcass.

Feeding systems and periods of finishing on the body and carcass measurements of lambs slaughtered in the South Central region of the Paraná

The objective was to determine the effect of feeding system and time of the year on the in vivo and carcass characteristics of lambs slaughtered at the Cooperative Cooperalianca (Guarapuava-PR). Ile 1 Projeto de Pesquisa financiado pelo CNPq. 2

Composição tecidual e perfil de ácidos graxos do lombo de cordeiros terminados em pasto com níveis de suplementação concentrada

Meat composition is an important aspect on evaluation of sensory and nutritional quality of the product. This work had the objective of evaluating tissue composition and fatty acids profile of loin lambs weaned at 42 days of mean age and finished on ryegrass pasture with levels (0%; 1% and 2% of BW; ad libitum) of daily concentrate supplementation. The experiment was allocated in randomized blocks design with three replications. Lambs were slaughtered when individual live weight reached 32kg. Tissue composition was determined in right loin and left loin was used for fatty acids profile analyses. Analysis of variance and regression were performed by using SAS (2001). The concentrate supplementation of lambs finished on pasture did not affect (P>0.05) muscle and bone development, however, promoted linear increase on intermuscular and total fat. Levels of supplementation did not affect (P>0.05) the amount and percentage of each fatty acids in lambs meat. The concentrate supplementation of weaned lambs finished on ryegrass pastures increased fat covering on carcass without changing meat quality to human feeding considering fatty acids profile.

Electronic bolus design impacts on administration

Electronic identification of animals has become increasingly important worldwide to improve and ensure traceability. In warm and hot climates, such as Brazil, boluses can have advantages over ear tags as the internal devices reduce the risks of ear tag losses, tissue damage, and lesions on the ear. Electronic boluses, however, are often perceived as having negative characteristics, including reported difficulties of administration in small ruminants. This paper describes the factors associated with bolus design that affect the swallowing of a bolus in sheep. Other factors that might influence bolus swallowing time have also been considered. In addition, the effect of bolus design on its performance was evaluated. A total of 56 Suffolk ewes were used to assess the ease of administration and retention of 3 types of electronic ruminal boluses (mini, 11.5 × 58.0 mm and 21.7 g; small, 14.8 × 48.5 mm and 29.5 g; standard, 19.3 × 69.8 mm and 74.4 g) during a whole productive year, including pregnancy and lamb suckling. Ewe age (5.6 ± 2.3 yr) and weight (85.07 ± 8.2 kg BW) were recorded, as well as time for bolus swallowing. The deglutition of the bolus and any resulting blockages in the esophagus were monitored by visual observations. Retention and readability of the boluses were regularly monitored for d 1, wk 1, mo 1, and every mo until 1 yr. Time for bolus swallowing differed substantially with bolus type and was greater (P < 0.05) for the standard bolus (32.8 ± 6.9 s) when compared to small and mini boluses, which did not differ (8.5 ± 2.0 vs. 9.2 ± 2.7 s; P > 0.05). The bolus o.d. and length were positively correlated with swallowing time (P < 0.01). The ewe weight was negatively correlated with swallowing time (P < 0.05). At 6 mo all electronic boluses showed 100% retention rate, and at 12 mo, bolus retention was 100%, 94.5%, and 100% for mini, small, and standard boluses, respectively (P > 0.05). At 12 mo, all boluses showed 100% readability, except for small boluses, which had a readability of 94.5%. In conclusion, bolus design affected swallowing time and bolus readability. A reduction in boluses length and o.d. needs to be carried out to provide ease of administration and for boluses to be used as an effective means of electronic identification. Therefore, this study shows that adequately designed boluses are safe and suitable for identifying adult sheep and can therefore be used in hot climates.

Viabilidade econômico-financeira de sistemas de produção de cordeiros não desmamados em pastagem com suplementação em cocho ou pasto privativo

The objective was to analyze production costs and profitability of grazing sheep productions systems under three strategies of lambs supplementation: (1) white clover on creep grazing; (2) creep feeding; and (3) not supplemented. Two methods of financial analyses where used: annual (short term) and cash flow (long term). Costs were classified into variable, fixed, operational and total. Results showed that feeding and opportunity cost over investment was the most important production factors at variable and total costs, respectively. System with creep grazing supplementation did not show greater economic financial results over creep feeding supplementation system.

Consumo alimentar residual e sua relação com medidas de desempenho e eficiência e características in vivo da carcaça de cordeiros

The residual feed intake (RFI) and the feed conversion ratio (FCR) of 20 lambs was evaluated in order to estimate the correlations between these traits and performance measures and with in vivo carcass characteristics. The animals had their dry matter intake (DMI) measured over 65 days and they were weighed every 13 days to determine the average daily weight gain (ADG). Initial body weight (IBW), final body weight (FBW), metabolic weight (MW), ADG, relative growth rate (RGR), Kleiber ratio (KR), FCR, DMI and DMI in BW percentual (BWDMI) were considered. The carcass evaluation was performed by ultrasound. The RFI was correlated with the DMI (+0.81), BWDMI (+0.90) and with FCR (+0.63). Significant correlations were found between FCR and ADG; FCR and RGR; and FCR and KR; and FCR and IBW (-0.63, -0.74, -0.75 and +0.51 respectively). The RFI and the FCR were not correlated with carcass traits and similarly there was no difference between the RFI-classes for these variables. It was proved the RFI has potential as a measure of feed efficiency for housed lambs, without the existence of relations with weight gain and body size of animals and without changes in carcass composition.

Carcass and meat traits, and non-carcass components of lambs fed ration containing increasing levels of urea

The objective of this study was to evaluate the carcass and meat traits, and the non-carcass components of crossbred Dorper lambs fed diets with increasing levels of urea (0.0, 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5% of dry matter – DM). The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments (urea inclusion levels) and six replicates per treatment. Lambs were fed ad libitum for 56 days and slaughtered at 37.9 ± 5.1 kg of body weight (BW). The weight and yield of carcass before and after cooling were not influenced by urea levels, with average values of 16.9 kg and 44.6% for cold carcass weight and yield. Urea levels did not affect the morphometric measurements, the fat deposition on the carcass, the weight of carcass cuts and the weight of non-carcass components. There was a quadratic effect of urea levels on the loin yield, which may achieve maximum value of 11.31% with the inclusion of 0.84% DM urea in the feed. The pH and the color coordinates L* (brightness), a* (red intensity) and C* (saturation) of the meat also showed quadratic response to the urea levels, where in the minimum value of 5.53 for pH, maximum value of 48.67 for L* and minimum values of 14.04 and 16.21 for a* and C* may be obtained by including 0.53 to 0.70% DM urea in the ration. The inclusion of 0.84% DM urea in the ration is recommended to obtain maximum yield of loin and meat with attractive characteristics to the consumer, which is characterized by high red intensity and brightness. If consumers have preference for lamb meat with a more intense red color, the inclusion of 1.5% DM urea should be considered in the ration formulation.