P. González-Redondo

Effect of long-term storage on the hatchability of red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) eggs

The effect of 0-, 7-, 14-, 21-, 28-, and 35-d storage periods on hatchability and weight loss during storage and incubation of red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) eggs stored at 15 degrees C and 80% RH was studied. There was a significant effect of storage period on egg weight loss during storage (P<0.001), a significant increase occurring in weight loss for each additional week the eggs were stored, and this weight loss amounted to more than 3% for the eggs stored for 35 d. Storage period affected egg weight loss during incubation (P<0.05). An increase in egg weight loss during incubation occurred, increasing from 21 d of storage and amounting to more than 10% for the eggs stored for 35 d. Storage period had a significant effect on hatchability (P<0.05). Storage of red-legged partridge eggs up to 28 d does not affect subsequent hatchability, but a significant decline in hatchability occurs when the eggs are stored for 35 d. This research confirms, as occurs in other Alectoris species, that long-term storage of red-legged partridge eggs (to 28 d) does not have a negative effect on hatchability. These findings will be useful in terms of successful hatchery management, mainly by allowing prolonged storage of eggs while gathering a sufficient-sized batch to be incubated, and shipment of long shelf life hatching eggs at game farms while losing little hatchability until further incubation.

Pleiotropic effects of the goat prolactin receptor genotype on milk fatty acid composition.

In the lactating mammary gland, prolactin (PRL) stimulates the synthesis of lactose as well as fatty acid uptake, lipogenesis, and triacylglycerol synthesis. Associations between bovine PRL receptor (PRLR) genotype and fat yield have been reported, which illustrates the role of PRL in conveying lipids toward the udder as well as in stimulating their local synthesis during lactation. Conversely, and to the best of our knowledge, the effects of PRLR genotype on milk fatty acid content have not been studied so far in any mammalian species. In this study, we sequenced most of the coding region of the caprine PRLR gene in several individuals from the Malagueña and Murciano-Granadina breeds. This approach allowed us to identify 2 long and short mRNA isoforms, produced by alternative splicing, and 4 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), namely, c.177T>C, c.1131G>A, c.1201G>A and c.1355C>T. Two of these SNPs are nonsynonymous and involve G401R (c.1201G>A) and T452I (c.1355C>T) amino acid substitutions in the cytoplasmic domain of PRLR, which plays a fundamental role in signal transduction. Performance of an association analysis with milk composition traits in a Murciano-Granadina goat population revealed highly suggestive effects on palmitoleic acid content, whereas suggestive effects were detected for other fatty acids, such as palmitic and linoleic. These results are consistent with the pleiotropic effects of PRL on mammary gland lipid metabolism and milk composition.

Neonatal cannibalism in cage-bred wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

El objetivo de este estudio fue analizar la practica de canibalismo neonatal por conejas silvestres (Oryctolagus cuniculus) alojadas individualmente en jaulas ubicadas al aire libre. Se controlo la incidencia de canibalismo en 98 partos producidos durante cinco anos consecutivos por 19 conejas silvestres nacidas en jaula. Esta alteracion de la conducta maternal, que estuvo limitada exclusivamente al periparto, tuvo una elevada incidencia (13,3% de los partos) y estuvo asociada significativamente con una inadecuada conducta maternal, tal como la no introduccion de pelo y paja en los nidales por parte de las conejas o los partos fuera del nidal. En el 84,6% de los partos en los que ocurrio canibalismo las conejas no introdujeron pelo en los nidales, y en el 92,3% de los partos con gazapos canibalizados las conejas no introdujeron paja en los nidales. El canibalismo tambien estuvo asociado con una gran proporcion de conejas que parian fuera de los nidales (53,8%). Se discute que el canibalismo practicado por las conejas silvestres alojadas en jaula es una manifestacion del fracaso en el desarrollo de la conducta maternal como consecuencia del estres que experimentan en cautividad.

Incidence of coccidiosis in different rabbit keeping systems

Amostras fecais de coelhos foram examinadas pela tecnica de flutuacao para a presenca e contagem de oocistos do genero Eimeria, de acordo com a tecnica McMaster, em uma investigacao com o objetivo de comparar um sistema alternativo nao medicamentoso de criacao de coelhos e sistemas convencionais com diferentes niveis de controle higienico. A presenca de oocistos nas diferentes exploracoes foi baixa, mas muito variavel. As maiores concentracoes de oocistos foram encontradas nas exploracoes cujas condicoes higienicas nao foram boas, independentemente do tratamento ou nao com anticoccidiano, ou do sistema de criacao. Os melhores resultados foram observados no sistema alternativo com boas condicoes higienicas. Neste sistema, a concentracao de oocistos nos laparos desmamados, que deveriam apresentar maxima susceptibilidade a infeccao por Eimeria, foi muito baixa. Estes resultados indicam que o estrito respeito as condicoes higienicas e suficiente para o controle da coccidiose e que a profilaxia farmacologica poderia ser evitada sempre que fossem adotadas altas condicoes higienicas so sistema criatorio ao ar livre, baseado em celulas subterrâneas exploraveis (tocas).

Effects of storage temperature and length of the storage period on hatchability and performance of red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) eggs

The aim of the present study was to investigate, in red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) eggs, the effects of 7- and 42-d storage periods with different storage temperatures (15, 12, and 9°C) on egg weight loss, hatchability, chick weight at hatch, incubation length, and development stage at embryonic mortality. A total of 420 red-legged partridge eggs were arranged in a 2 × 3 factorial design with 2 levels of storage length and 3 levels of storage temperature, resulting in 6 treatments consisting of 10 replications of 7 eggs each. We found that the storage length significantly reduced hatchability of the fertile eggs (P = 0.001), increasing late embryonic mortality (P = 0.001). Storage temperature did not influence on the embryonic mortality at any stage (P > 0.05). Egg weight loss during storage increased with the storage length (P < 0.001), storage temperature (P < 0.001), and their interaction (P < 0.001). Incubation length increased with the storage length (P < 0.001); however, it was not influenced by the storage temperature (P > 0.05). Nevertheless, incubation period decreased with the storage temperature for 7-d storage, and increased with the storage temperature for 42-d storage (P = 0.005). It can be concluded that in this study red-legged partridge eggs stored well with little deterioration up to 42 d at 9 and 12°C and 80% RH, in contrast to the lesser durability of eggs described in the literature for other poultry species. In case of 7-d storage periods, hatchability of A. rufa fertile eggs is higher when they are stored at 15°C. These findings are useful to address specific demands of game farms that require fertile eggs for hatching whose shelf-life should be long enough to maintain hatchability until further incubation. And, due to the marked reproductive seasonality of red-legged partridge, long-term storage of hatching eggs could permit the distribution of batches of chicks throughout the year.

Genetic variation at the goat hormone-sensitive lipase ( LIPE) gene and its association with milk yield and composition.

Hormone-sensitive lipase (LIPE) plays a fundamental role in the regulation of energy balance by releasing free fatty acids from adipose triacylglycerol stores. These fatty acids can be subsequently transferred to other body compartments to be oxidized or employed in other biochemical reactions. This enzymic function is particularly important in lactating animals because the synthesis of milk components involves the mobilization of lipid depots to satisfy the large energy demands of the mammary gland. In the current study, we partially sequenced the goat LIPE gene in several individuals. In doing so, we identified two synonymous polymorphisms at exons 2 (c.327C>A>T, triallelic polymorphism) and 3 (c.558C>T). Moreover, we found a mis-sense polymorphism at exon 6 (c.1162G>T) that involves an alanine to serine substitution at position 388. Analysis with Polyphen and Panther softwares revealed that this amino acid replacement is expected to be neutral. Performance of an association analysis with a variety of milk traits revealed that goat LIPE genotype has highly suggestive effects on milk yield (P=0.0032) as well as on C18:3 n-6g (P=0.0051), trans-10 cis-12 CLA (P=0.007) and C12:0 (P=0.0084) milk contents. These associations are concordant with the preference of LIPE to selectively mobilize medium-chain and unsaturated fatty acids.

Factors Affecting Rabbit Meat Consumption Among Spanish University Students

This study investigates the rabbit meat consumption patterns among students. Results of the 342 students surveyed at the University of Seville, Spain showed that more men than women consumed rabbit meat. More students consumed wild rabbit meat than farmed rabbit meat. The practice of hunting by students or their relatives, and the raising of rabbits for self-consumption, positively influenced the proportion of students that currently consumed rabbit meat. Most of the students that had eaten rabbit meat before but are currently non-eaters do so because of the meats organoleptic characteristics or from lack of consumption habit.

Injuries in cage-bred wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) caused by the size of the orifices in the cage floor

The scarcity of wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) as a result of myxomatosis and viral hemorrhagic disease has led to restocking in countries such as Spain, Portugal, and France. Part of such restocking requires animals to be bred in captivity, and the game farms breeding wild rabbits in strict captivity normally use cages designed for domesticated breeds. Given the adaptability of the species to management under controlled conditions (Löliger, 1992; Verga, 2000), the results are satisfactory (GonzálezRedondo, 2003). However, some designs of industrial rabbit-breeding cages do not guarantee the minimum conditions of health and welfare when they are used for wild rabbits because they cause injuries, contravening the main function required of housing: that of securing the animals for prolonged periods free of the risk of producing bodily injuries or diseases (Löliger, 1992). In the absence of literature on the rearing of wild rabbits in cages, the objective of this work was to analyze the unexpected incidence of hind limb injuries in cage-bred wild kits caused by unsuitably-sized orifices in one type of flooring, and to propose improved designs in order to enhance animal welfare at game farms.The scarcity of wild rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus) as a result of myxomatosis and viral hemorrhagic disease has led to restocking in countries such as Spain, Portugal, and France. Part of such restocking requires animals to be bred in captivity, and the game farms breeding wild rabbits in strict captivity normally use cages designed for domesticated breeds. Given the adaptability of the species to management under controlled conditions (Loliger, 1992; Verga, 2000), the results are satisfactory (GonzalezRedondo, 2003). However, some designs of industrial rabbit-breeding cages do not guarantee the minimum conditions of health and welfare when they are used for wild rabbits because they cause injuries, contravening the main function required of housing: that of securing the animals for prolonged periods free of the risk of producing bodily injuries or diseases (Loliger, 1992). In the absence of literature on the rearing of wild rabbits in cages, the objective of this work was to analyze the unexpected incidence of hind limb injuries in cage-bred wild kits caused by unsuitably-sized orifices in one type of flooring, and to propose improved designs in order to enhance animal welfare at game farms.

Polymorphism of the caprine malic enzyme 1 (ME1) gene and its association with milk quality traits in Murciano-Granadina goats

Malic enzyme 1 plays a fundamental role in lipid metabolism because it yields a significant amount of the NADPH necessary for fatty acid biosynthesis. In ruminants, however, its contribution to this biochemical process seems to be less relevant than in other livestock species. In this study, we have partially sequenced the goat ME1 gene with the aim of identifying polymorphic sites. Structural analysis of the goat ME1 amino acid partial sequence evidenced the existence of two dinucleotide-binding motifs, located at positions 158 to 163 (GLGDLG) and 301 to 306 (GAGEAA), and three amino acid residues (E245, D246 and D269) involved in the binding of Mn2+ and strongly conserved among mammalian species. Moreover, multiple sequence alignment allowed us to identify four single nucleotide polymorphisms at exons 5 (c.483C > T), 6 (c.667G > A), 9 (c.927C > T) and 11 (c.1200G > A). The effects of ME1 genotype on milk production and composition traits were investigated in a Murciano-Granadina goat population. None of the associations found reached statistical significance after applying Benjamini-Hochberg correction. At most, associations with uncorrected P-values below 0.01 were observed for C16:0, C18:1n-9t and total conjugated linoleic acids. These negative results reinforce the notion that ME1 plays an ancillary role in ruminant lipogenesis.

Effect of the inclusion of Amaranthus dubius in diets on carcass characteristics and meat quality of fattening rabbits

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the effect of dietary supplementation with Amaranthus dubius on carcass characteristics and meat quality of fattening rabbits. One hundred and six New Zealand White rabbits, weaned at 35 d of age, were assigned to three experimental diets including 0%, 16% and 32% of A. dubius (A0, A16 and A32), and were fed ad libitum until their slaughter at 87 d of age. Drip loss percentage (A0: 2.47, A16: 3.83 and A32: 3.61%; P < .05), dissectible fact percentage (A0: 3.02, A16: 3.63 and A32: 3.77%; P < .05) and thoracic cage percentage (A0: 12.97, A16: 13.68 and A32: 13.68%; P < .05) increased with diets including A. dubius. Contrarily, hind part percentage (A0: 40.00, A16: 38.95 and A32: 38.89%; P < .05) and compactness of the carcass decreased (A0: 2.38, A16: 2.42 and A32: 2.48; P < .01). The inclusion of A. dubius in the diets increased protein (A0: 21.52, A16: 23.76 and A32: 24.27%; P < .05) and fat contents (A0: 3.33, A16: 4.16 and A32: 5.39%; P < .05), while moisture of meat decreased proportionally (A0: 74.23, A16: 70.99 and A32: 67.70%; P < .05). These findings suggest that A. dubius can be considered as an alternative raw material for rabbit feeding in tropical and subtropical regions where it is widespread.