Antioxidant capacity, reproductive response and glucose concentration and insulin of ewes supplemented prior to insemination with orange residue / [Capacidade antioxidante, resposta reprodutiva e concentração de glicose e insulina de ovelhas suplementadas antes da inseminação com resíduo de laranja]

The objective was to evaluate the antioxidant capacity, glucose and insulin concentration and reproductive performance of ewes supplemented with orange residue prior to insemination. Fifty-five multiparous ewes were divided into two corrals, and 15 unbred ewes were kept individually to measure feed consumption. Two integral diets were administered; T0: control treatment and T1: with 20% of dry matter of orange residue. Ten days after the start of supplementation, the ewes were synchronized. Supplementation was finalized prior to artificial insemination, then, a blood sample was taken to measure the antioxidant capacity and glucose and insulin concentration. An analysis of variance was made to evaluate the effect of treatment on the antioxidant capacity, glucose and insulin; and to analyze the response to estrus, percentage of gestation and prolificity a ji squared test was performed. Of 9 antioxidant compounds found in the orange residue, hesperidin (7.44%), chlorogenic acid (0.50%) and protocatechuic acid had the highest concentration. Feed intake, estrus response, percentage of gestation, antioxidant capacity, and glucose and insulin concentration were not affected by the treatment. It is concluded that inclusion of 20% of orange residue in the diet prior to insemination in ewes is possible.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a capacidade antioxidante, a concentração de glicose e insulina e o comportamento reprodutivo de ovelhas suplementadas com resíduo de laranja antes da inseminação. Cinquenta e cinco ovelhas multíparas foram divididas em dois currais e 15 ovelhas sem raça foram mantidas individualmente para se medir o consumo de ração. Duas dietas integrais foram administradas; T0: tratamento controle e T1: dieta com 20% de resíduo de laranja seco. Dias após o início da suplementação, as ovelhas foram sincronizadas. A suplementação foi finalizada antes da inseminação artificial e, em seguida, foi coletada uma amostra de sangue para medir a capacidade antioxidante e a concentração de glicose e insulina. Uma análise de variância foi feita para avaliar o efeito do tratamento sobre a capacidade antioxidante, a glicose e a insulina, e um teste do ji quadrado foi realizado para analisar a resposta ao estro, a porcentagem de gestação e de prolificidade. Dos nove compostos antioxidantes encontrados no resíduo laranja, a hesperidina (7,44%), o ácido clorogênico (0,50%) e o ácido protocatecuico foram os de maior concentração. O consumo alimentar, a resposta ao estro, a porcentagem de gestação, a capacidade antioxidante, a concentração de glicose e a insulina não foram afetados pelo tratamento. Conclui-se que é possível a inclusão de 20% de resíduos de laranja na dieta antes da inseminação em ovelhas.(AU)

Effects of intravaginal devices containing different dosages of medroxyprogesterone acetate for the control of the estrous cycle in gilts.

This aim of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of intravaginal devices (IVDs), containing medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA), for controlling the estrous cycle in pubertal gilts. Gilts were assigned to four treatments: Control (no IVD); IVD containing 100 (IVD100), 200 (IVD200) or 400 mg (IVD400) of MPA. The IVDs were inserted on day 12 of the estrous cycle and maintained intra-vaginally for 14 days. The percentage of gilts in estrus, interval between IVD removal and estrous onset, adjusted farrowing rate (AFR), total number of piglets born (TPB), follicle size and serum progesterone (P4) were recorded. None of the gilts expressed estrus during the IVD treatment period. All gilts of the control group expressed estrus (15/15; 100%) which was greater (P =  0.03) than all IVD-treated gilts (33/44; 75%); however, there were no treatment differences (P =  0.09). The interval between IVD removal and estrous onset was shorter for IVD100 (3.8 ± 0.6 d) compared to IVD400 (5.3 ± 0.6 d; P = 0.05). The IVD400-treated gilts had smaller follicles than the IVD100-treated gilts (P =  0.05). The P4 concentrations were similar among treated groups (P =  0.99). The AFR did not differ among treatment groups (P = 0.37); however, the control group had a greater TPB than the other treatment groups (P =  0.04). The gilts treated with IVDs had longer interval to estrous expression. The most effective dosage was 400 mg of MPA, considering both the minimal follicular growth during the IVD treatment period and the lesser numbers of persistent follicles.

Comparison of luteolysis and timed artificial insemination pregnancy rates after administration of PGF2α in the muscle or the ischiorectal fossa in cattle.

Prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α) is commonly injected intramuscularly (IM) in female cattle in synchronization protocols. A novel site for administration of PGF2α that improves beef quality assurance is the ischiorectal fossa (IRF). The objective of this study was to determine whether administration of PGF2α in the IRF results in a similar physiological response to an intramuscular injection. Yearling angus-cross heifers (n = 112) were blocked by weight and randomly assigned within blocks to be injected with 5 mL PGF2α either IM in the neck or in the IRF. Blood samples taken at 0, 8, 16, 24, 36, and 48 h post-injection were analyzed for serum progesterone concentration using a radioimmunoassay. Progesterone concentration curves for each heifer were plotted to determine luteolysis. The median times to luteolysis for neck and IRF injections were 18.1 h and 20.0 h, respectively (p = 0.06). Angus cross commercial beef cows (n = 1471) at least 30 days post-partum were blocked by age and randomly assigned within blocks to be injected with 5 mL PGF2α either IM in the neck muscle or in IRF as part of a 7-Day CO-Synch + CIDR synchronization protocol. Pregnancy diagnosis was performed via ultrasound at 60 days post insemination. Results were analyzed with Proc Glimmix (SAS). Pregnancy rates for neck and IRF injections were 52.6% and 57.2%, respectively (p = 0.06). In summary, injection of PGF2α in the IRF for synchronization of estrus and luteolysis did not differ from IM injection. Utilizing the ischiorectal fossa as an injection site for PGF2α may serve as an alternative that more closely aligns with beef quality assurance.

Expression of cumulus-oocyte complex genes and embryonic development in goats subjected to progestogen-based estrus synchronization.

The objective was to investigate the effect of short-term (7 days) and long-term (14 days) progesterone-based estrus synchronization on number of follicles, progesterone concentrations, cumulus-oocyte complex (COC) gene expression, and embryonic development in goats. Nulliparous Thai-native goats (n = 45) were randomly assigned to one of two estrus synchronization treatments. Goats were treated with intravaginal sponges containing 60-mg medroxyprogesterone acetate (MAP; Synchrogest esponjas, Spain) during 7 or 14 days (short-term or long-term protocol, respectively). Multiple follicular development was induced by intramuscularly injections of 300-IU eCG in both groups (1 day before sponge withdrawal). An ovariectomy was performed at 24 hours after sponge removal to evaluate number of follicle and collect oocyte for IVF. Oocyte quality (healthy or nonhealthy) was determined by morphology of COCs before IVM. Recovery of COCs and total cellular RNA isolation were applied to determine apoptosis-related gene expression. After IVF, embryos were evaluated during the eight-day culture as numbers of cleaved oocyte, morula, and blastocyst embryo. Total numbers of follicles and oocytes were similar for both treatments. Plasma progesterone concentrations were not different during MAP insertion period (P > 0.05). However, goats that received the short-term protocol had a greater number of 4 to 6-mm follicle, healthy oocytes, cleaved oocytes, and morula embryos than goats that received the long-term protocol (P < 0.01). In addition, the expression of B-cell lymphoma 2 messenger RNA was greater (P < 0.05) in COCs derived from the 7 days MAP-treated when compared to the 14 days MAP-treated goats. These data highlight that the 7-day progestin-based treatment may contribute to quality of oocytes and embryonic development in goats.

Comportamento de éguas após a inserção de dispositivo intravaginal impregnado com progesterona / Behavior of mares after insertion of intravaginal progesterone device / Comportamiento en yeguas después de la inserción del dispositivo intravaginal impregnado con progesterona

Considerando a escassez de estudos sobre o temperamento ou reatividade de equinos, objetivou-se com esse estudo avaliar o comportamento de éguas após a inserção do implante intravaginal de progesterona, para utilização em bovinos, por meio da observação de comportamentos individuais e coletivos. Para tanto, utilizou-se sete éguas que receberam dispositivo intravaginal impregnado com progesterona e agente luteolítico. Após a colocação dos implantes e soltura das éguas, se iniciou a observação (cinco observadores sem contato entre eles) de seus comportamentos até o tempo de 120 minutos, seguindo o modelo proposto por Heleski et al. (2002). Os resultados indicaram que durante os 120 minutos de observação todas as éguas demonstraram estar alertas, pelo menos em uma observação; que o ato de comer foi observado em todos os animais durante o período estudado e que o ato de urinar e defecar foram observados, em aproximadamente, 70 e 60%, respectivamente, dos comportamentos avaliados. Comportamentos prováveis da indicação de dor e/ou desconforto, como bater da cauda, mímica de urinar, eversão do clitóris e urinando foram observados até 65 minutos, sendo que os três primeiros cessaram aos 55 minutos. De todos os comportamentos analisados, nenhum deles foi visualizado após 65 minutos de observação. Concluiu-se que a inserção do dispositivo intravaginal impregnado com progesterona não afeta negativamente o comportamento de éguas, podendo ser utilizado sem comprometer o bem-estar desses animais.

Considering the scarcity of studies on the behavior or reactivity of horses, this study aimed to assess the behavior of mares after insertion of intravaginal progesterone implant for use in cattle, through the observation of individual and collective behavior. In order to do so, seven mares received intravaginal devices impregnated with progesterone and luteolitic agent. After the implant was placed, the mares were released, and their behavior was observed (five observers with no contact between them) for a period of 120 minutes, following the model proposed by Heleski et al. (2002). The results indicated that during the 120-minute period, all mares were alert, in at least one observation; that all animals ate during the study period, and urination and defecation were observed in approximately 70 and 60%, respectively, of the assessed behavior. Behaviors that were likely an indication of pain and/or discomfort, like hitting the tail, miming to urinate, eversion of the clitoris and urinating were observed in up to 65 minutes, with the first three symptoms ceasing after 55 minutes. None of the analyzed behaviors were viewed after 65 minutes of observation. It can be concluded that the insertion of the intravaginal device impregnated with progesterone does not adversely affect the behavior of mares, and therefore, it can be used without compromising the well-being of the animals.

Teniendo en cuenta la escasez de estudios sobre el temperamento o la reactividad de equinos, este estudio buscó evaluar el comportamiento de yeguas después de la inserción del implante de progesterona intravaginal, para su uso en ganado, a través de observación de conductas individuales y colectivas. Para ello, se utilizó siete yeguas que recibieron dispositivo intravaginal impregnado con progesterona y agente luteolítico. Después de los implantes y la liberación de las yeguas, comenzó la observación (cinco observadores sin contacto entre ellos) de sus comportamientos hasta el tiempo de 120 minutos, siguiendo el modelo propuesto por Heleski et al. (2002). Los resultados indicaron que durante los 120 minutos de observación todas las yeguas demostraron estar alertas, por lo menos en una observación; el acto de comer se observó en todos los animales durante el periodo de estudio y que el acto de la micción y la defecación, en aproximadamente, 70 y 60%, respectivamente, de los comportamientos evaluados. Comportamientos probables de indicación de dolor y/o malestar, como golpear la cola, la mímica de orinar, eversión del clítoris y orinando, observados hasta 65 minutos, siendo que los tres primeros cesaron después de 55 minutos. De todos los comportamientos analizados, ninguno de ellos se visualizó después de la observación de 65 minutos. Se concluyó que la inserción del dispositivo intravaginal impregnado con progesterona no afecta negativamente el comportamiento de yeguas, que puede ser utilizado sin comprometer el bienestar de esos animales.