Silvicultural performance of eucaliptus and animal behavior in a silvopastoral system / Desempenho silvicultural de eucalipto e comportamento animal em sistema silvipastoril

Silvopastoral system, in which trees and forage species are grown in the same area together with animals, has emerged as a sustainable alternative of agricultural production systems. However, information on different silvicultural arrangements and combinations of forest, animal and grazing components in this system are still scarce. Thus, this study followed the silvicultural performance of the forest component (Eucalyptus urophylla x E. grandis, eucalyptus hybrid, clone I-144) under different population arrangements in a silvopastoral system through periodic dendrometric evaluations and determined the impact of animal component (Nellore females) on tree development and ingestive behavior of animals subjected to rotational grazing in Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu. The study was conducted at Agropecuária Ouro Branco, located in Bandeirantes, MS, Brazil. Total height, diameter at breast height, and wood volume per hectare were evaluated in three- and five-row ranks. To indicate plant growth, the current and average annual increments werecalculated. Animal behavior was evaluated based on the periodic observation of 15 animals randomly selected in the lot. The initial performance of forest component was satisfactory in both populations, but growth indicators indicated greater current and average annual increments in the five-row rank. The presence of forest component does not interfere with the ingestive behavior and wellbeing of animals in the silvopastoral system, as well as, the presence of animal component does not interfere in the plants silvicultural development.

O sistema silvipastoril, onde espécies arbóreas e forrageiras são cultivadas em uma mesma área, conjuntamente com o componente animal, vem se despontando como uma alternativa sustentável de sistemas de produção agrícola, no entanto, informações sobre os diferentes arranjos silviculturais e combinações dos componentes arbóreo, animal e pastagem no sistema ainda são incipientes. Assim, este estudo teve como objetivo acompanhar o desenvolvimento inicial do componente florestal (Eucalyptus urophylla x E. grandis, híbrido de eucalipto, clone I-144), em diferentes arranjos populacionais, em sistema silvipastoril, por meio de avaliações dendrométricas periódicas; e, determinar o impacto da inserção do componente animal(fêmeas da raça Nelore) sobre o desenvolvimento das árvores e sobre o comportamento ingestivo dos animais submetidos ao pastejo rotacionado em Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu. O estudo foi realizado na Agropecuária Ouro Branco, situada em Bandeirantes, MS. Tanto nos renques de três, como no de cinco fileiras, foram avaliados a altura total (H), diâmetro a altura do peito (DAP) e volume de madeira por hectare. Para indicar o crescimento das plantas, foram calculados o Incremento Corrente Anual (ICA) e o Incremento Médio Anual (IMA). O comportamento dos animais foi avaliado baseado na observação periódica de 15 animais selecionados aleatoriamente no lote. Verificou-se que o desempenho inicial do componente arbóreo, em ambos os arranjos populacionais, mostrou-se satisfatório, no entanto, os indicadores de crescimento, apontam para um maior incremento corrente e médio anual nas plantas dos renques com cinco fileiras. A presença do componente arbóreo não interfere no comportamento ingestivo e bem-estar dos animais locados no sistema, assim como, a presença dos animais não interfere no desenvolvimento silvicultural das plantas.

Productive sustainability in a silvopastoral system / Sustentabilidade produtiva em sistema silvipastoril

The objective was to analyze the productive and economic sustainability of the silvopastoral system, in the state of Mato Grosso do Sul. The system had been implanted five years earlier, using Eucalyptus sp. (GG100), arranged in stands with three rows in an East/West direction, 20 meters apart, with 1.2 meters between plants and 1.5 meters between rows. The eucalyptus trees were planted in consortium with Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu and Nelore heifers, in the rearing (post-weaning) phase, weighing 186.2 Kg (± 21.18) and aged approximately 12 months. Samples were collected for chemical evaluation of the soil, determination of the quantity of carbon fixed by the tree species, evaluation of the forest component, study of the animals' grazing behavior, measurement of the physiological and behavioral indicators of stress in the heifers, meteorological monitoring, analysis of animal yield and economic viability. There were improvements in the content of soil organic matter in the surface layer of the soil (0 to 10 cm) and a tendency for the soil organic matter content to rise as distance from the rank of trees increased. The central rows of each stand showed less growth in height and diameter, when compared to the outer rows. There were significant differences for the mass of dry matter from leaves, branches, stem and roots between the different rows in the stand. In general, these values were higher in the lowest row, indicating that in arrangements with three rows, the central row tends to present lower development in relation to the side rows, reflecting negatively on the volume of wood and yield. The capacity for neutralizing greenhouse gases emitted by cattle was influenced by the position of the trees in the stands, and there were differences in the carbon content between the different compartments of the trees. Plasmatic concentrations of cortisol and progesterone were measured and associated with the interval in the day when animals grazed most, between 10.00h and 16.00h. This indicated that the thermal comfort provided in the site by the system was favorable to ingestion at the time of greatest sunshine, as well as resulting in less total time spent on ingestion compared to what is seen in other production systems for cattle in extensive pastures. The financial balance for the silvopastoral activities carried out on the property revealed, in general, greater return rate for the forestry compared to cattle in the system, so far.

Objetivou-se analisar a sustentabilidade produtiva e econômica do Sistema Silvipastoril, em Mato Grosso do Sul, implantado há 5 anos, mediante consórcio entre Eucalyptus sp. (GG100), dispostos em renques com fileiras triplas no sentido Leste/Oeste, distantes entre si por 20 metros, com 1,2 metros entre plantas e 1,5 metros entre fileiras, Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu e novilhas Nelore, em fase de recria, com 186,2 Kg (± 21,18) e aproximadamente 12 meses. Foram coletadas amostras para avaliação química do solo, determinação da quantidade fixada de carbono pela espécie arbórea, avaliação do componente florestal, estudo do comportamento de pastejo dos animais, mensuração dos indicadores fisiológicos e comportamentais de estresse das novilhas, controle meteorológico, da produtividade animal e a viabilidade econômica. Houve melhorias nos teores de matéria orgânica do solo na camada superficial do solo (0 a 10 cm) e uma tendência de aumento do teor de matéria orgânica no solo a medida que se distancia do renque. As fileiras centrais de cada renque tiveram menor crescimento em altura e em diâmetro, quando comparadas às fileiras laterais. Houve diferenças significativas para a massa de matéria seca de folhas, ramos, caule e raízes entre as diferentes fileiras do renque, sendo de maneira geral, maiores na fileira inferior, indicando que em arranjos com fileiras triplas, as fileiras centrais tendem a apresentar um desenvolvimento inferior em relação às fileiras laterais, o que reflete negativamente no volume de madeira e produção. A capacidade de neutralizar a emissão de GEEs por bovinos foi influenciada pela posição das árvores nos renques de plantio e houve diferenças nos teores de carbono dos diferentes compartimentos das árvores. A mensuração das concentrações plasmáticas de cortisol e de progesterona, associados ao intervalo do dia em que se observou maior frequência de pastejo pelos animais, entre 10 e 16 horas, indica que o conforto térmico proporcionado no ambiente local pelo sistema é favorável para a ingestão nos momentos de maior incidência de luz solar, bem como resultou em menor tempo de ingestão total comparado ao que se verifica nos demais sistemas de produção de bovinos em pastejo extensivo. O balanço financeiro das atividades silvipastoril realizadas na propriedade revelou, no geral, maior taxa de retorno à silvicultura comparada à criação de bovinos no sistema, até o momento.

Seasonality on the antifungal potential of green propolis collected in Campo Grande - MS, Brazil / Sazonalidade sobre o potencial antifúngico da própolis verde coletada em Campo Grande -MS

ABSTRACT: Apis melífera L. propolis is a resinous and balsamic material whose biological effects are related to its chemical composition. This chemical composition is greatly influenced by seasonality, so propolis from different seasons and regions has a different chemical composition. The increasing need for natural options to control fungi that cause damage to food crops makes propolis an alternative that deserves more research. In this context, the aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of seasonality on the antifungal potential of propolis collected in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, on the fungus Lasiodiplodia theobromae . Effects of different concentrations of ethanolic extracts of green propolis on the mycelial growth of the pathogen were evaluated. Concentrations of flavonoids and phenolic compounds in the samples were also determined by spectrophotometric methods. Results showed that the propolis extracts have a different chemical composition, potential fungi static effects on the tested fungus, and that there is interference of seasonality on the mycelial growth of the fungus, pointing to the concentration of 1250µg 100mL-1of the samples collected in the summer, in a first moment, as the most efficient.

RESUMO: A própolis da Apis mellifera L. é um material resinoso e balsâmico, cujos efeitos biológicos estão relacionados a sua composição química, e esta, sofre grande interferência da florada e da sazonalidade. Por isso, o própolis de regiões diferentes possuem composição química diferente. A busca crescente por opções naturais no controle de fungos que causam danos às culturas de alimentos torna a própolis uma alternativa a ser pesquisada. Nesse contexto, o objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da sazonalidade sobre potencial antifúngico da própolis verde coletada em Campo Grande - MS sobre o fungo Lasiodiplodia theobromae. Foram avaliados os efeitos de diferentes concentrações dos extratos etanólicos de própolis verde, coletadas em diferentes períodos do ano, sobre o crescimento micelial do fitopatógeno. Determinaram-se as concentrações de flavonoides e compostos fenólicos das amostras por meio de métodos espectrofotométricos. Os resultados demonstraram que os extratos de própolis verde possuem composição química diferente, potencial fungistático sobre o fungo testado, e que há interferência da sazonalidade no crescimento micelial do fungo, apontando para a concentração de 1250µg 100mL-1 das amostras coletadas no verão, em um primeiro momento, como a de maior eficiência.

Time course of the meiotic arrest in sheep cumulus-oocyte complexes treated with roscovitine.

Temporary meiosis arrest with cyclin-dependent kinases inhibitors has been proposed in order to improve the quality of in vitro matured oocytes. In sheep, however, this phenomenon has been rarely investigated. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of different incubation times with roscovitine on nuclear maturation and cumulus cell expansion of sheep cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs). For this, COCs were cultured for 0, 6, 12 or 20 h in basic maturation medium (Control) containing 75 µM roscovitine (Rosco). After, they were in vitro matured (IVM) for 18 h in the presence of luteinizing hormone (LH) and follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). At the end of each treatment, cumulus cell expansion and nuclear maturation were assessed under a stereomicroscope and by Hoechst 33342 staining, respectively. In the Control and Rosco groups, the absence of cumulus cell expansion prevailed at 0, 6, 12 and 20 h. After IVM for 18 h, total cumulus cell expansion in the Rosco treatments was dependent on the exposure time to roscovitine. A significantly high percentage of oocytes treated with roscovitine for 6 h (87%), 12 h or 20 h (65%) were arrested at the germinal vesicle (GV) stage. In contrast, 23% GVBD, 54% metaphase I (MI) and 61% MII oocytes were observed in the Control groups at 6, 12 and 20 h, respectively. In all treatments, a significant percentage of oocytes reached MII after IVM for 18 h. Therefore, roscovitine reversibly arrested the meiosis of sheep oocytes during different culture times with the maximal efficiency of meiotic inhibition reached at 6 h. In addition, reversibility of its inhibitory action on cumulus cells was exposure-time dependent.

Luteal changes after treatment with sub-luteolytic doses of prostaglandin (cloprostenol sodium) in cattle.

This study characterizes the physiological and morphological changes related to partial luteolysis in bovine corpus luteum (CL) after challenges with sub-doses of cloprostenol sodium on Day 6 (D6) of the estrous cycle. Cows (n = 12/treatment) were treated as follows: Control (2 mL, saline, i.m.); 2XPGF (two treatments i.m. 500 µg of cloprostenol sodium 2 h apart) and 1/6PGF (83.3 µg of cloprostenol sodium, i.m., once). Plasma progesterone (P4) concentration, CL volume and blood flow were measured immediately before the treatments, then every 8 h (h) for 48 h. In the Control, P4 concentrations were higher at 48 h than at 0 h. P4 decreased 8h after 2XPGF treatment (P < 0.05), and remained low until the end of the trial. P4 decreased in 1/6PGF between 8 and 16 h (P < 0.05), then began to rebound at 24 h. Luteal volume was higher in Controls at 48 h than at 0 h. Under 1/6PGF, luteal volume decreased at 24 h (P < 0.05) and began to rebound at 32 h. Luteal volume and blood flow were reduced starting at 24 and 32 h, respectively, after 2XPGF treatment (P < 0.05). In this study, we were able to describe the partial luteolysis phenomenon, induced by a treatment of a D6CL with cloprostenol sub-dose.