Performance, feed efficiency, feeding behavior, and cortisol concentration of lambs ranked for Residual Feed Intake and Residual Intake and Gain.

This study aimed to evaluate the performance, feed efficiency, feeding behavior, and cortisol concentrations of lambs ranked into different groups of Residual Feed Intake (RFI) and Residual Intake and Gain (RIG). Forty Santa Inês lambs with a mean initial age of 120 ± 30 days and mean initial (IBW) and final body weight (FBW) of 28.9 ± 3.2 and 43.7 ± 3.9 kg, respectively, were used. The animals were fed at an automatic feed and water station (Intergado®) for 60 days and classified at the end of the experiment as low-RFI/RIG, medium-RFI/RIG, and high-RFI/RIG according to RFI and RIG. Performance, feed efficiency measures, ingestive behavior, temperament, and cortisol concentrations were measured, and Pearson's correlation analysis was performed to evaluate the relationship between the variables studied. The variables that differed most between RFI groups were dry matter intake, feed conversion, and feed efficiency, with better values in efficient animals (RFI-). Regarding the RGI groups, the average daily gain of animals classified as RIG- was 19.37% lower than that of animals classified as RIG± and 39.28% lower than that of animals classified as RIG+. Only the hourly feeding rate per day (p = 0.04) differed significantly between RFI and RIG classes, while no differences were observed for the ingestive behavior variables or cortisol. The number of visits to the feed bunk (total, with or without intake) showed no correlation with any performance or efficiency measure. Identifying animals ranked into different RFI and RIG classes shows that more efficient animals have a lower feed intake for the same weight gain and spend less time at the feed bunk.

Effect of castration and vitamin E supplementation on carcass and meat quality of Santa Inês lambs / Efecto de la castración y de la suplementación con vitamina E sobre la canal y la calidad de la carne de corderos Santa Inês / Efeito da Castração e da suplementação de vitamina E sobre a carcaça e qualidade da carne de ovinos Santa Inês

Abstract Background: Carcass and sheep meat quality are influenced by several factors, such as race, age, slaughter weight, type of diet, and dietary supplementation. Objective: To evaluate the effect of castration and vitamin E supplementation on performance, carcass characteristics and meat of lambs slaughtered at 45 kg. Methods: Thirty-two male lambs (16 castrated and 16 not castrated) were fed diets with or without the inclusion of vitamin E. The animals had an average age of 180 ± 20 days and a mean weight of 25.1 ± 4.6 kg. Performance was evaluated for 56 days, and the animals were slaughtered when reaching a weight of 45 kg. The experimental design was randomized blocks based on initial weights, and variables were assessed by a 2x2 factorial design (castrated and intact, supplemented or not with vitamin E, with a probability of 5%). Results: Higher proportion (p<0.05) of visceral fat was found in castrated animals (kidney: 2.45%, inguinal: 0.57% and omental: 4.96%) than in intact animals (kidney: 1.25%, inguinal 0.27%. and omental 3.12%). The aged meat samples showed no color differences for any of the treatments, but there were differences in shear force for steaks aged for 7 days, where the castrated animals showed an average of 2.64 kgf and intact animals showed an average 3.29 kgf. The animals supplemented with vitamin E had lower shear forces in non-aged samples. Conclusion: Castration increased deposition of visceral and fat coverage but did not influence the cut yields and total carcass yield. The animals supplemented with vitamin E had lower shear forces in non-aged samples.

Resumen Antecedentes: La calidad de la canal y de la carne de ovino puede ser influenciada por varios factores, como raza, edad, peso de sacrificio, tipo de dieta y suplementación. Objetivo: Evaluar el efecto de la castración y de la suplementación con vitamina E sobre el desempeño, la calidad de la canal y la carne de corderos Santa Inés sacrificados a los 45 kg de peso. Métodos: Fueron utilizados treinta y dos corderos: dieciséis castrados y dieciséis no castrados, alimentados con dietas con o sin inclusión de vitamina E. Los animales tenían una edad promedio de 180 ± 20 días y un peso promedio de 25,1 ± 4,6 kg. Fue evaluado el desempeño durante 56 días y, al llegar a los 45 kg de peso fueron sacrificados. El diseño experimental fue en bloques aleatorizados con base en el peso inicial, y las variables analizadas mediante un modelo factorial 2x2 (castrado o no castrado y suplementado o no con vitamina E, con una probabilidad del 5%). Resultado: Se encontró mayor proporción (p<0,05) de grasa visceral en los animales castrados (renal: 2,45%; inguinal: 0,57% y mesentérica: 4,96%) que en los no castrados (renal: 1,25%; inguinal 0,27% y mesentérica: 3,12%). Las muestras de carne maduradas no presentaron diferencias de color entre tratamientos, sin embargo hubo diferencias en la fuerza de corte para las carnes maduradas por 7 días, donde los animales castrados presentaron una media de 2,64 kgf y los no castrados de 3,29 kgf. La carne de los animales suplementados con vitamina E tuvo menor fuerza de corte en las muestras no maduradas. Conclusión: La castración aumentó la deposición de grasa visceral y de cobertura pero no influenció las características de rendimiento total de la canal y cortes. Los animales suplementados con vitamina E tuvieron menor fuerza de corte en las muestras no maduradas.

Resumo Antecedentes: A qualidade da carcaça e da carne ovina pode ser influenciada por vários fatores como raça, idade, peso de abate tipo de dieta e suplementação. Objetivo: Avaliar o efeito da castração e da suplementação de vitamina E sobre o desempenho e qualidade de carcaça e carne de cordeiros Santa Inês abatidos a 45 kg de peso. Métodos: Foram utilizados trinta e dois cordeiros, dezesseis castrados e dezesseis não castrados alimentados com dietas com ou sem inclusão de vitamina E. Os animais tinham idade média de 180 ± 20 dias e peso médio de 25,1 ± 4,6 kg. Foi avaliado o desempenho durante 56 dias, e ao chegarem aos 45 kg foi realizado o abate. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso, com base no peso inicial, e as variáveis analisadas por modelo fatorial 2x2 (castrado ou não castrado e suplementado ou não com vitamina E, ao nível de 5%). Resultado: Foi encontrada maior proporção (p<0,05) das gorduras viscerais nos animais castrados (renal: 2,45%; inguinal: 0,57% e omental: 4,96%) do que nos animais não castrados (renal: 1,25%; inguinal 0,27% e omental: 3,12%). As amostras maturadas não apresentaram diferenças de cor entre os tratamentos, no entanto houve diferenças na força de cisalhamento para as carnes maturadas por 7 dias, na qual os animais castrados apresentaram média de 2,64 kgf e os não castrados de 3,29 kgf. Os animais suplementados com vitamina E apresentaram menores forças de cisalhamento nas amostras não maturadas. Conclusão: A castração aumentou a deposição de gorduras viscerais e de cobertura, mas não influenciou as características de rendimento de carcaça e cortes. Os animais suplementados com vitamina E tiveram menor força de cisalhamento nas amostras não maturadas.

Genetic parameter estimates for gastrointestinal nematode parasite resistance and maternal efficiency indicator traits in Santa Inês breed.

Infection with Haemonchus contortus is the most economically important gastrointestinal nematode parasitosis and the most important cause of mortality in sheep production. The aim of this study was to estimate variance components of gastrointestinal parasite resistance traits, maternal efficiency (ME) and ewe adult weight (AW) in Santa Inês breed in tropical conditions. The phenotypic records were collected from 700 animals, belonging to four flocks located south-east and north-east in Brazil. The evaluated traits were as follows: degree of anaemia assessed using the FAMACHA chart (FMC), haematocrit (HCT), white blood cell (WBC), red blood cell (RBC), haemoglobin (HGB), platelets (PLT), faecal egg count (EPGlog ), ME, metabolic maternal efficiency (MME), AW and metabolic ewe adult weight (MAW). From the 700 animals, 576 (82% of the evaluated population) were genotyped with the Ovine SNP12k BeadChip (Illumina, Inc.). Markers with unknown genomic position, located on sex chromosomes, monomorphic, with minor allele frequency <0.05, call rate <90% and with excess heterozygosity were excluded. The variance components were estimated using a single-trait animal model with ssGBLUP procedure. The correlation between the parasite's resistance indicators and the ME suggested that selecting animals with both higher adult weight and ME will also favour the selection of animals with better resistance to gastrointestinal nematodes parasites, specially H. contortus. Therefore, since there are few or no studies with Santa Inês breed in this area, it is important to study those traits to better manage selection programs.

Genomic regions and pathways associated with gastrointestinal parasites resistance in Santa Inês breed adapted to tropical climate.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to estimate variance components and to identify genomic regions and pathways associated with resistance to gastrointestinal parasites, particularly Haemonchus contortus, in a breed of sheep adapted to tropical climate. Phenotypes evaluations were performed to verify resistance to gastrointestinal parasites, and were divided into two categories: i) farm phenotypes, assessing body condition score (BCS), degree of anemia assessed by the famacha chart (FAM), fur score (FS) and feces consistency (FC); and ii) lab phenotypes, comprising blood analyses for hematocrit (HCT), white blood cell count (WBC), red blood cell count (RBC), hemoglobin (HGB), platelets (PLT) and transformed (log10) egg per gram of feces (EPGlog). A total of 576 animals were genotyped with the Ovine SNP12k BeadChip (Illumina, Inc.), that contains 12,785 bialleleic SNP markers. The variance components were estimated using a single trait model by single step genomic BLUP procedure. RESULTS: The overall linkage disequilibrium (LD) mean between pairs of markers measured by r2 was 0.23. The overall LD mean between markers considering windows up to 10 Mb was 0.07. The mean LD between adjacent SNPs across autosomes ranged from 0.02 to 0.10. Heritability estimates were low for EPGlog (0.11), moderate for RBC (0.18), PLT (0.17) HCT (0.20), HGB (0.16) and WBC (0.22), and high for FAM (0.35). A total of 22, 21, 23, 20, 26, 25 and 23 windows for EPGlog for FAM, WBC, RBC, PLT, HCT and HGB traits were identified, respectively. Among the associated windows, 10 were shown to be common to HCT and HGB traits on OAR1, OAR2, OAR3, OAR5, OAR8 and OAR15. CONCLUSION: The traits indicating gastrointestinal parasites resistance presented an adequate genetic variability to respond to selection in Santa Inês breed, and it is expected a higher genetic gain for FAM trait when compared to the others. The level of LD estimated for markers separated by less than 1 Mb indicated that the Ovine SNP12k BeadChip might be a suitable tool for identifying genomic regions associated with traits related to gastrointestinal parasite resistance. Several candidate genes related to immune system development and activation, inflammatory response, regulation of lymphocytes and leukocytes proliferation were found. These genes may help in the selection of animals with higher resistance to parasites.

Fatores de risco, etiologia e aspectos clínicos da mastite em ovelhas de corte no Paraná / Risk factors, etiology and clinical aspects of mastitis in meat ewes of Parana, Brazil

A mastite em ovelhas da raça Santa Inês apresenta-se como um problema de grande proporção e gravidade e é dificilmente tratada com sucesso. O objetivo deste estudo foi caracterizar aspectos clínicos, epidemiológicos e etiológicos da mastite clínica em ovelhas de corte criadas no norte do Paraná. O presente estudo foi realizado entre os meses de outubro de 2009 a setembro de 2010 envolvendo 54 rebanhos de ovinos de corte de diferentes raças. Durante as visitas às propriedades, um questionário foi preenchido com a finalidade de caracterizar o problema. Setenta ovelhas com mastite clínica foram examinadas e amostras de secreção láctea foram colhidas para exame microbiológico. A mastite foi considerada um problema relevante em 39 propriedades (72,3%), com frequência média de 6,74%. Casos crônicos e agudos de mastite foram observados em 69% e 31% das ovelhas examinadas, respectivamente. Em ambos os casos, a mastite flegmonosa foi a forma mais encontrada (65,5% dos casos). O agente etiológico mais prevalente foi Staphylococcus coagulase negativo (54,5%), seguido por S. aureus e A. pyogenes (11,5% cada). Mannheimia haemolytica foi isolada em dois casos. Sistema de criação não extensivo e raça Santa Inês foram identificados como fatores de risco para o desenvolvimento de mastite clínica. Secagem das fêmeas após 120 dias de lactação e separação de fêmeas doentes do rebanho foram associadas com menor ocorrência da doença. Recomenda-se a limpeza adequada das instalações e a secagem mais tardia, principalmente em rebanhos Santa Inês.

Mastits is infrequent in meat ewes. However Santa Ines ewes have a high incidence of this disease and it is severe and difficult to treat. The goal of this study was to characterize clinical, epidemiological and etiological aspects of clinical mastitis in meat ewes reared in the north of Parana, Brazil. Fifith four farms were visited from October 2009 to September 2010. The surveyed data included frequency, breeds of sheep affected, lamb mortality rates, main clinical signs, attempts and outcome of treatment, method and period of weaning and management features. Seventy ewes with clinical mastitis were fully examinated and samples of mammary secretion were asseptically taken for bacteriological culture. Mastitis was identified in 39 farms (72.3%) as a relevant problem (mean frequency was 6,74%). Chronic and acute mastitis were observed in 69% and 31% of the examinated ewes, respectively. In both cases, phlegmonous mastitis was the most prevalent form (65.5%). Coagulase negative Staphylococccus (CNS) was the main isolated microorganism (54.5%), followed by Staphylococcus aureus and Arcanobacterium pyogenes (11.5%, each one). Mannheimia haemolytica was found in two cases. The risk factors for clinical mastitis were intensive management system and Santa Ines breed. Weaning after 120 days of lactation and isolation of affected ewes were associated with lower frequency of mastitis. Preventive measures recommended are daily cleaning of facilities and delayed weaning, mainly in Santa Ines flocks.