Oocyte quality in adapted Bos taurus taurus cows.

The objective of the current study was to determine the performance of creole cows of the Chino Santandereano breed in the ultrasound-guided follicular aspiration technique (OPU) and the quality of oocytes recovered. A total of 15 multiparous cows were selected from a herd located in the department of Santander with tropical climate. The cows were submitted to 5 sessions of follicular aspiration with an interval of 45 days. In each aspiration session, 7.9 ± 0.7 oocytes were recovered per cow, with a recovery rate of 64.9% ± 0.5 and a rate of viable and non-viable oocytes of 64.3% ± 0.6 and 35.7% ± 0.7, respectively. A difference (P < 0.05) in oocyte quality was presented for grades I, II and III (7.7 ± 0.4, 19.8 ± 0.5 and 36.8 ± 0.5, respectively). The results suggest that Chino Santandereano cows submitted to the OPU technique have a higher percentage of grade III oocytes recovered.

Assessment of copy number variants in three Brazilian locally adapted cattle breeds using whole-genome re-sequencing data.

Further characterization of genetic structural variations should strongly focus on small and endangered local breeds given their role in unraveling genes and structural variants underlying selective pressures and phenotype variation. A comprehensive genome-wide assessment of copy number variations (CNVs) based on whole-genome re-sequencing data was performed on three Brazilian locally adapted cattle breeds (Caracu Caldeano, Crioulo Lageano, and Pantaneiro) using the ARS-UCD1.2 genome assembly. Data from 36 individuals with an average coverage depth of 14.07× per individual was used. A total of 24 945 CNVs were identified distributed among the breeds (Caracu Caldeano = 7285, Crioulo Lageano = 7297, and Pantaneiro = 10 363). Deletion events were 1.75-2.07-fold higher than duplications, and the total length of CNVs is composed mostly of a high number of segments between 10 and 30 kb. CNV regions (CNVRs) are not uniformly scattered throughout the genomes (n = 463), and 105 CNVRs were found overlapping among the studied breeds. Functional annotation of the CNVRs revealed variants with high consequence on protein sequence harboring relevant genes, in which we highlighted the BOLA-DQB, BOLA-DQA5, CD1A, ß-defensins, PRG3, and ULBP21 genes. Enrichment analysis based on the gene list retrieved from the CNVRs disclosed over-represented terms (p < 0.01) strongly associated with immunity and cattle resilience to harsh environments. Additionally, QTL associated with body conformation and dairy-related traits were also unveiled within the CNVRs. These results provide better understanding of the selective forces shaping the genome of such cattle breeds and identify traces of natural selection pressures by which these populations have been exposed to challenging environmental conditions.

No Morphological Integration of Dorsal Profiles in the Araucanian Horse (Colombia).

The aim of this research was to determine if the division between the cervical, dorsal, and croup profiles (three regions commonly assessed for descriptive profile purposes) has a modular basis as well as a morphological integration. For this, a total of 135 digital photographs were obtained, in a lateral view, of adult horses (14 females and 121 geldings; age range: 2-20 years), of the Araucanian breed, an equine population typical of the flooded savannah of Arauca, NE Colombia. From each image, 25 reference points (semi-landmarks) were obtained at the dorsal level of the neck, back, and croup. The hypothesis of the modularity of different body profiles based on differentiated regions was tested using the RV coefficient, and an analysis of two blocks of partial least-squares allowed the evaluation of the level of morphological integration. The results showed that each alloidic group reflected high integration but low modularity. The covariation between the modules was centered mainly on the withers, the loin, and the croup. For the studied profile blocks, no module can be considered. The absence of the fragmentation of the alloidic sets would promote the adaptive capacity of the breed by linking coordinated functional responses to similar selection pressures, e.g., field work. Although the integration between the neck, back, and croup profiles was proven, their modular covariation was low.

Morphological characterization of remaining specimens of the Curraleiro horse in Central Brazil / Caracterização morfológica de espécimes remanescentes do cavalo Curraleiro no Brasil Central

This study aimed to carry out the morphological characterization of the remaining specimens of the Curraleiro horse in municipalities of the state of Goiás, Brazil. Forty male horses were evaluated using the age of five years as a criterion. Sixteen linear measurements and 13 zootechnical indices were obtained. Subsequently, the mean, standard deviation, minimum, maximum, and covariances of these measures and indices were obtained using the software IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows. The measures withers height (WH), croup height (CH), midback height (MH), sternum-to-ground height (SH), chest index (CI), and estimated weight (W) allowed characterizing Curraleiro horses as small-sized, light, and fast, with proportional measures. The dactyl-thoracic index (DTI), body index (BI), conformation index (CFI), load index 1 and 2 (LOI1 and LOI2), and compactness index 1 and 2 (COI1 and COI2) showed that the Curraleiro horse has an intermediate capacity for speed and strength, bearing considerable weight on the back, with saddling aptitude and fast work. These results represent the beginning of the formation of a database that may contribute to future studies and the conservation of the Curraleiro horse in the state of Goiás.(AU)

O objetivo deste trabalho foi a realização da caracterização morfológica de espécimes remanescentes do cavalo Curraleiro em municípios do estado de Goiás, Brasil. Foram avaliados 40 cavalos machos, tendo como critério a idade a partir de cinco anos, dos quais se obteve 16 medidas lineares e 13 índices zootécnicos. Posteriormente, a média, o desvio padrão, o mínimo, o máximo e as covariâncias dessas medidas e índices foram obtidos por meio da utilização do software IBM SPSS Statistics for Windows. As medidas altura da cernelha (AC), altura da garupa (AG), altura do costado (ACost), vazio subesternal (VAZ), índice peitoral (IP) e peso estimado (P) permitiram caracterizar os cavalos Curraleiros como um grupo de pequeno porte, leve, veloz e com medidas proporcionais. Os índices dáctilo-torácico (IDT), corporal (IC), de conformação (ICF), de carga 1 e 2 (ICG1 e ICG2) e de compacidade 1 e 2 (ICO1 e ICO2) demonstraram que o cavalo Curraleiro tem capacidade intermediária para velocidade e força, suportam considerável peso sobre o dorso, e possuem aptidão para sela e tração ligeira. Tais resultados representam o início da formação de uma base de dados que pode contribuir para estudos futuros e a conservação do cavalo Curraleiro no estado de Goiás.(AU)

Molecular surveillance of Trypanosoma spp. reveals different clinical and epidemiological characteristics associated with the infection in three creole cattle breeds from Colombia.

In South America, Colombia is the third-largest livestock producer with approximately 28.8 million cattle, of which Colombian Creole cattle represent around 1% of the livestock population. Animal Trypanosomiasis (AT) is one of the most critical problems in the livestock industry, reducing its production by about 30 %. Considering the paucity of information to understand the epidemiological features of AT in Colombian Creole cattle, the present study reports the molecular prevalence and clinical traits associated with the infection of Trypanosoma spp. in three Colombian Creole breeds. From 2019 to 2020, cross-sectional surveillance in farms of central and west of Colombia was designed to evaluate the mentioned characteristics in Casanareño, Chino Santandereano, and Sanmartinero Creole breeds. Molecular analysis showed an AT prevalence of 60.2 % (95 % CI = 54.2 % - 66.2 %). The Chino Santandereano population presented the highest value (Trypanosoma spp., 75.2 %, T. theileri 59.6 % and T. evansi 15.6 %), followed by Casanareño (Trypanosoma spp., 65.3 %, T. theileri 38.6 %, T. evansi 24.0 %, and T. vivax 5.3 %) and Sanmartinero (Trypanosoma spp., 33.3 %, T. theileri 24.0 % and T. evansi 9.3 %). Features such as breeds, age, and feeding system were significantly associated with AT prevalence (P < 0.05). Additionally, a low level of serum total proteins was observed during T. evansi infection in Sanmartinero (P < 0.05). To our knowledge, this is the first cross-sectional survey that evaluates using molecular methods the infection of Trypanosoma spp. in Colombian Creole breeds, showing significant variations in the prevalence and clinical signs associated with the infection. These results suggest different degrees of trypanotolerance in these breeds, as well as a possible effect of environmental variables on the prevalence and clinical characteristics associated with the infection. The epidemiological and economic implications of these findings are discussed here.

Productive, nutritional, and metabolic performance of Chino Santandereano cattle receiving different degrees of protein-energy supplementation.

Cattle of Colombian creole breed Chino Santandereano in the raising phase were subjected to stabling for 100 days in order to determine the productive, nutritional, and metabolic capacity when exposed to different degrees of protein-energy supplementation. Sixteen whole males with an initial mean weight of 377.69 ± 16.55 kg were used in completely randomized delineation with four treatments and four repetitions per treatment, as follows: UNS, not supplemented; low, supplemented with amounts relative to 0.5% of body weight; medium, supplemented with amounts relative to 1.0% of the live weight; and high, supplemented with amounts relative to 1.5% of body weight. At the end of each experimental period, the animals were weighed, and samples of feed, feces, blood, and urine were collected to determine the performance, consumption, and digestibility of the nutritional components, and nitrogen balance. In the greater performance, consumption, and digestibility of DM, OM, C-NFCP, EE, and NFC, the concentration of ureic nitrogen in blood and urine (P <0.05) was observed in supplemented animals when contrasted with UNS. Bovine Chinese Santandereano presents high productive, nutritional, and metabolic potential as a response to high levels of protein-energy supplementation.

Sexual Allometric Monomorphism in Araucan Pig from Colombia: Preliminary Results.

This study aimed to evaluate the allometric growth of the Araucan pig breed, a creole breed from Arauca, East Colombia, locally known as "Sabaneros", in relation to different quantitative traits and considering genders separately. To do this, a total of 31 male and 27 female Araucan pigs, ranging from 4 to 48 months of age, were studied in order to evaluate their growth patterns, using a multivariate approach. Animals belonged to different farms ("fincas") of the Department of Arauca, Colombia. From each individual, 10 quantitative traits were obtained: face width, croup height, croup length, croup width, tail base height, hock height, loin height, cannon length, and length and width of ear. Our results, which must be interpreted as preliminary, showed that the Araucan pig is allometrically monomorphic as sexual differences do not increase with body size. We suggest that although males and females have evidently different reproductive roles, during growth they shift the allocation of energy to structures linked to environmental adaptation rather than those linked to reproduction.

Polimorfismo demmicrosatelites en individuos de razas de bovino criollo Colombiano / Microsatellites polymorphism in individuals of Colombian Creole Cattle

Se evaluó el polimorfismo de tres sistemas microsatelitales (BMS 527, BMS 4440 y BMS 2113) en 5 razas de ganado bovino criollo colombianas: ROM (Romosinuano), BON (Blanco Orejinegro), CAS (Casanareño), SM (San Martinero) CCC (Costeño con cuernos) y dos razas foráneas: Cebú y Holstein. Se encontraron 38 alelos en 105 individuos estudiados y se reportan alelos únicos para BON, ROM, CCC y CAS. La heterocigosidad esperada total incluidas las dos razas foráneas fue de 0.7228, mientras que la observada osciló entre 0.3511 y 0.7787. Se evidenció desequilibrio de Hardy- Weinberg para algunas razas en dos sistemas microsatélitales, resultado probable de efectos de selección a los cuales las razas criollas y foráneas han estado sujetas. El análisis de diversas distancias genéticas mostró que la raza más distante fue la Cebú en relación a las colombianas y a Holstein y un cluster consistente que agrupa las razas HOL-ROM-CAS. Los análisis de mezcla sugieren que las razas criollas colombianas tienen mayor aporte genético de la raza Holstein (entre un 76 y un 88%) que de Cebú (entre un 8 y un 22 %). Finalmente, se sugiere que el sistema BMS2113, podría ser de utilidad para realizar análisis de paternidad en razas criollas colombianas.

The polymorphism of three microsatellite systems (BMS527, BMS4440 y BMS 2113) was evaluated in 5 Colombian creole breeds: ROM (romosinuano), BON (Blanco orejinegro), CAS (casanareño), SM (San Martinero), CCC (Costeño con cuernos) and two foreign breeds: Cebu and Holstein . Thirty eight alleles in 105 studied individuals were fouund and unique alleles are reported for BON, ROM, CCC and CAS. Total expected heterocigocity which includes the two foreign breeds was 0.7228, where as observed heterocigocity varied between 0.3511 and 0.7787. Hardy/Weinberg desequilibrium was evident in some breeds in two microsatellite systems, as a result, probably of selection effects in creole and foreign breeds. The analysis of several genetic distances showed that the most distant breed was Cebu compared to the Colombian ones and to Holstein , and a cluster that shows HOL-ROM-CAS together. Mixture analysis suggests that Colombian creole breeds have a large genetic contribution from Holstein (between 8 and 22%). Finally we suggest that system BMS2113, could be useful for paternity tests in Colombian creole breeds.