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Abduch NG, Reolon HG, Ligori VA, Silva RMDO, Veríssimo CJ, Paz CCP, Stafuzza NB. Resistance to natural tick infestation varies with age and coat and hair traits in a tropically adapted beef cattle breed. Vet Parasitol Reg Stud Reports 2024; 50:101017. [PMID: 38644040 DOI: 10.1016/j.vprsr.2024.101017] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/10/2024] [Revised: 03/28/2024] [Accepted: 03/29/2024] [Indexed: 04/23/2024]
Abstract
Rhipicephalus (Boophilus) microplus causes considerable livestock production losses. Knowledge of the traits that influence tick resistance contributes to the development of breeding strategies designed to improve herd productivity. Within this context, this study evaluated the resistance of Caracu, a tropically adapted cattle breed, to R. microplus. Tick count, hair length, coat thickness, and coat color were evaluated in 202 naturally tick-infested females (cows and heifers) over a period of 18 months. Blood samples were collected from all animals during the winter season for hematological analysis. Data were analyzed using Pearson correlations, generalized linear models, and principal component analysis. Correlation coefficients of tick count with coat color, coat thickness, and hair length were estimated within each season. Hematological parameters were only included in the winter season analysis and were analyzed by the restricted maximum likelihood method using log-transformed data. No differences in blood parameters were observed between animals with and without ticks. However, tick count was negatively correlated with erythrocytes (-0.29) and hematocrit (-0.24) and positively correlated with mean corpuscular hemoglobin (0.21) and mean corpuscular hemoglobin concentration (0.25). These findings suggest that higher tick counts lead to a decrease in erythrocytes but also to an increase in the amount of hemoglobin per erythrocyte, which could reduce the damage caused by low erythrocyte levels due to tick hematophagy, delaying or preventing anemia. Although tick infestation on pasture was demonstrated by the infestation of all staff members during herd management, none of the animals exhibited high tick counts, providing evidence of resistance of Caracu animals to R. microplus. Tick infestation was influenced by age class (cows > heifers), season (spring and summer > fall and winter), coat thickness (>1.5 mm > <1.5 mm), and hair length (>6 mm > <6 mm). Three components were extracted by principal component analysis, which accounted for 69.46% of data variance. The findings of this study will contribute to the development of efficient strategies aimed at reducing economic losses due to tick infestation and could be applied in animal breeding to select for tick resistance traits, reducing chemical control strategies and consequently improving sustainable livestock production.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalya Gardezani Abduch
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School (FMRP), University of Sao Paulo (USP), Ribeirao Preto, SP 140349-900, Brazil.
| | | | - Viviane Andrade Ligori
- Beef Cattle Research Center, Animal Science Institute (IZ), Sertaozinho, SP 14160-900, Brazil.
| | | | - Cecília José Veríssimo
- Sao Paulo Agency of Agribusiness and Technology, Animal Science Institute (IZ), Nova Odessa, SP 13380-011, Brazil.
| | - Claudia Cristina Paro Paz
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirao Preto Medical School (FMRP), University of Sao Paulo (USP), Ribeirao Preto, SP 140349-900, Brazil; Sustainable Livestock Research Center, Animal Science Institute, Sao Jose do Rio Preto, SP 15130-000, Brazil
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Matos JC, de Lucena ARF, Castro EMS, Rodrigues de Souza EA, Ramos EJN, Gois GC, Horta MC, Menezes DR, Moraes EA, Queiroz MAÁ. Changes in the physiological, hematological and parasitological parameters of Dorper sheep in relation to residual feed intake and confinement environment. J Therm Biol 2024; 119:103753. [PMID: 38071895 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2023] [Revised: 10/31/2023] [Accepted: 11/14/2023] [Indexed: 02/25/2024]
Abstract
The selection of animals with greater feed efficiency has unknown parasitological and physiological parameters when confined in full sun or shade. Thus, we aimed to assess the effect of residual feed intake (RFI) and the confinement environment on the hematological, parasitological and physiological parameters in male Dorper sheep (n = 60; 30 with positive RFI and 30 with negative RFI) distributed in 2 confinement environments (full sun and shade), in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme, with 15 animals for treatment. Animals kept in the shade showed an increase (P < 0.05) of erythrocytes, hemoglobin and albumin. Animals kept in full sun showed higherOocysts gamma glutamyltransferase, direct bilirubin, transaminase aspartate and respiratory rate (P<0.05). There was a higher incidence of Eimeria spp oocysts in RFI negative animals (P<0.05). Positive RFI animals increased respiratory rate (P<0.05). The RFI did not influence the blood parameters of Dorper sheep, however, it had an effect on respiratory rate and presence of Eimeria spp. oocysts. Thermal environment promoted changes in blood parameters and the physiological parameters of Dorper sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jair Correia Matos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal Do Vale Do São Francisco, UNIVASF, Petrolina, PE, 56300-000, Brazil
| | - Alita Ruth Ferraz de Lucena
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal Do Vale Do São Francisco, UNIVASF, Petrolina, PE, 56300-000, Brazil
| | - Elaine Monalize Serafim Castro
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal Do Vale Do São Francisco, UNIVASF, Petrolina, PE, 56300-000, Brazil
| | - Eline Almeida Rodrigues de Souza
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal Do Vale Do São Francisco, UNIVASF, Petrolina, PE, 56300-000, Brazil
| | - Ery Jonhons Nascimento Ramos
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal Do Vale Do São Francisco, UNIVASF, Petrolina, PE, 56300-000, Brazil
| | - Glayciane Costa Gois
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal Do Maranhão, 65500-000, Chapadinha, Maranhão, Brazil
| | - Mauricio Claudio Horta
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal Do Vale Do São Francisco, UNIVASF, Petrolina, PE, 56300-000, Brazil
| | - Daniel Ribeiro Menezes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal Do Vale Do São Francisco, UNIVASF, Petrolina, PE, 56300-000, Brazil
| | - Elenice Andrade Moraes
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal Do Vale Do São Francisco, UNIVASF, Petrolina, PE, 56300-000, Brazil
| | - Mário Adriano Ávila Queiroz
- Programa de Pós-Graduação Em Ciência Animal, Universidade Federal Do Vale Do São Francisco, UNIVASF, Petrolina, PE, 56300-000, Brazil.
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da Silva WC, da Silva JAR, Camargo-Júnior RNC, da Silva ÉBR, dos Santos MRP, Viana RB, Silva AGME, da Silva CMG, Lourenço-Júnior JDB. Animal welfare and effects of per-female stress on male and cattle reproduction—A review. Front Vet Sci 2023; 10:1083469. [PMID: 37065229 PMCID: PMC10102491 DOI: 10.3389/fvets.2023.1083469] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/29/2022] [Accepted: 02/22/2023] [Indexed: 04/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Thermal stress causes severe effects on the wellbeing and reproduction of cattle, including changes in oogenesis and spermatogenesis, generating great concerns, which last for decades. In cattle, the occurrence of thermal stress is associated with a reduction in the production of spermatozoids and ovarian follicles, in addition to the increase of major and minor defects in gametes or in their intermediate stages. In bovine females able to reproduce, a reduction in the rate of estrus manifestation and an increase in embryonic mortality has been observed. Therefore, keeping animals on good welfare conditions, with water supply and in shaded areas can favor the improvement of different reproductive parameters. For all this, the present study aimed to gather, synthesize and argue recent studies related to animal welfare, focusing on the effects of thermal stress on the reproduction of cattle, aiming to support possible strategies to mitigate the harmful effects of thermal stress in this species.
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Affiliation(s)
- Welligton Conceição da Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Para (UFPA), UFRA, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Castanhal, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Welligton Conceição da Silva
| | | | - Raimundo Nonato Colares Camargo-Júnior
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Para (UFPA), UFRA, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Castanhal, Brazil
| | | | | | - Rinaldo Batista Viana
- Federal Rural University of the Amazon (UFRA), Institute of Animal Health and Production, Belém, Brazil
| | - André Guimarães Maciel e Silva
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Para (UFPA), UFRA, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Castanhal, Brazil
| | - Cleidson Manoel Gomes da Silva
- Federal University of the South and Southeast of Pará (UNIFESSPA), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Xinguara, Pará, Brazil
| | - José de Brito Lourenço-Júnior
- Postgraduate Program in Animal Science (PPGCAN), Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Para (UFPA), UFRA, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), Castanhal, Brazil
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Abduch NG, Pires BV, Souza LL, Vicentini RR, Zadra LEF, Fragomeni BO, Silva RMO, Baldi F, Paz CCP, Stafuzza NB. Effect of Thermal Stress on Thermoregulation, Hematological and Hormonal Characteristics of Caracu Beef Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12243473. [PMID: 36552393 PMCID: PMC9774310 DOI: 10.3390/ani12243473] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/22/2022] [Revised: 12/02/2022] [Accepted: 12/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/13/2022] Open
Abstract
This study evaluated the influence of environmental temperature on thermoregulation, hormonal, and hematological characteristics in Caracu cattle. Blood samples, hair length, coat and muzzle colors, rectal (RT), and surface temperatures were collected from 48 males and 43 females before (morning) and after sun exposure for eight hours (afternoon). Infrared thermography (IRT) was used to identify superficial temperature that exhibits a high correlation with RT. Hematological parameters, hormone concentrations, RT, and the superficial temperature obtained by IRT that exhibited the highest correlation with RT were evaluated by variance analysis. Regarding IRT, the lower left side of the body (LS) showed the highest correlation with the RT. Interaction between period and sex was observed for LS, cortisol, and eosinophils. Cortisone, progesterone, and RT were influenced by period and sex. Neutrophils and segmented neutrophils were influenced by the period, which showed the highest concentrations after sun exposure. Platelets, leukocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes were influenced by sex. Heat stress changes several physiological characteristics where males and females exhibited differences in their responses to heat stress. Furthermore, most characteristics evaluated remained within the regular values observed for taurine Creole breeds, showing that Caracu is adapted to tropical climates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Natalya G Abduch
- Centro Avançado de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Bovinos de Corte, Instituto de Zootecnia (IZ), Sertãozinho 14174-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Bianca V Pires
- Departamento de Genética, Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP), Universidade de São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto 14049-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Luana L Souza
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Rogerio R Vicentini
- Departamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal de Juiz de Fora (UFJF), Juiz de Fora 36036-900, MG, Brazil
| | - Lenira El Faro Zadra
- Centro Avançado de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Bovinos de Corte, Instituto de Zootecnia (IZ), Sertãozinho 14174-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Breno O Fragomeni
- Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | | | - Fernando Baldi
- Departamento de Zootecnia, Faculdade de Ciências Agrárias e Veterinárias (FCAV), Universidade Estadual Paulista Júlio de Mesquita Filho (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Claudia C P Paz
- Centro Avançado de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Bovinos de Corte, Instituto de Zootecnia (IZ), Sertãozinho 14174-000, SP, Brazil
| | - Nedenia B Stafuzza
- Centro Avançado de Pesquisa e Desenvolvimento em Bovinos de Corte, Instituto de Zootecnia (IZ), Sertãozinho 14174-000, SP, Brazil
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Pires BV, Reolon HG, Abduch NG, Souza LL, Sakamoto LS, Mercadante MEZ, Silva RMO, Fragomeni BO, Baldi F, Paz CCP, Stafuzza NB. Effects of Feeding and Drinking Behavior on Performance and Carcass Traits in Beef Cattle. Animals (Basel) 2022; 12:ani12223196. [PMID: 36428423 PMCID: PMC9686570 DOI: 10.3390/ani12223196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/26/2022] [Revised: 11/16/2022] [Accepted: 11/17/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Feed and water efficiency are important traits to improve beef cattle production’s economic and environmental sustainability. This study evaluated residual feed intake (RFI) and residual water intake (RWI) and their relationship with performance, ingestive behavior, and carcass traits in Caracu beef cattle. The data were analyzed using a generalized linear model with least squares means. The ingestive behavior, performance, and carcass traits were influenced by sex (p < 0.05). Males showed higher dry matter intake (DMI), average daily gain (ADG), mid-test metabolic weight (BW0.75), rib eye area, and rump fat thickness than females, besides spending more time drinking and eating. Low RFI animals exhibited higher DMI than high RFI animals. Low RWI animals ingested 3.89 L/d of water further than high RWI animals. The interaction between sex and RWI influenced the DMI, BW0.75, and backfat thickness. The ingestive behavior of low and high RFI animals was similar, although high RWI animals visited a smaller number of drinkers than low RWI animals. Water intake positively affects productive efficiency, and the combined use of RWI and RFI may help improve the selection of more efficient animals contributing to reducing the costs of beef cattle production and improving environmental sustainability.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bianca V. Pires
- Beef Cattle Research Center, Institute of Animal Science (IZ), Sertãozinho 14160-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Henrique G. Reolon
- Beef Cattle Research Center, Institute of Animal Science (IZ), Sertãozinho 14160-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Natalya G. Abduch
- Department of Genetics, Ribeirão Preto Medical School, University of São Paulo (USP), Ribeirão Preto 140349-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Luana L. Souza
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Leandro S. Sakamoto
- Beef Cattle Research Center, Institute of Animal Science (IZ), Sertãozinho 14160-900, SP, Brazil
| | | | | | - Breno O. Fragomeni
- Department of Animal Science, University of Connecticut, Storrs, CT 06269, USA
| | - Fernando Baldi
- Department of Animal Science, School of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, Sao Paulo State University (UNESP), Jaboticabal 14884-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Claudia C. P. Paz
- Beef Cattle Research Center, Institute of Animal Science (IZ), Sertãozinho 14160-900, SP, Brazil
| | - Nedenia B. Stafuzza
- Beef Cattle Research Center, Institute of Animal Science (IZ), Sertãozinho 14160-900, SP, Brazil
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +55-16-34759163
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Mulim HA, Brito LF, Batista Pinto LF, Moletta JL, Da Silva LR, Pedrosa VB. Genetic and Genomic Characterization of a New Beef Cattle Composite Breed (Purunã) Developed for Production in Pasture-Based Systems. Front Genet 2022; 13:858970. [PMID: 35923708 PMCID: PMC9341487 DOI: 10.3389/fgene.2022.858970] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 06/10/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Purunã is a composite beef cattle breed, developed in Southern Brazil by crossing the Angus, Charolais, Canchim, and Caracu breeds. The goal of this study was to perform the first genetic characterization of the Purunã breed, based on both pedigree and genomic information. For this, 100 randomly selected animals were genotyped, and 11,205 animals born from 1997 to 2019 had pedigree information. The genetic analyses performed were principal component analysis, admixture, phylogenic tree, pedigree and genomic inbreeding, linkage disequilibrium (LD), effective population size (Ne), consistency of the gametic phase, runs of homozygosity (ROH), heterozygosity-enriched regions (HERs), and functional analyses of the ROH and HER regions identified. Our findings indicate that Purunã is more genetically related to the Charolais, Canchim, and Angus breeds than Caracu or Nellore. The levels of inbreeding were shown to be small based on all the metrics evaluated and ranged from −0.009 to 0.029. A low (−0.12–0.31) correlation of the pedigree-based inbreeding compared to all the genomic inbreeding coefficients evaluated was observed. The LD average was 0.031 (±0.0517), and the consistency of the gametic phase was shown to be low for all the breed pairs, ranging from 0.42 to 0.27 to the distance of 20 Mb. The Ne values based on pedigree and genomic information were 158 and 115, respectively. A total of 1,839 ROHs were found, and the majority of them are of small length (<4 Mb). An important homozygous region was identified on BTA5 with pathways related to behavioral traits (sensory perception, detection of stimulus, and others), as well as candidate genes related to heat tolerance (MY O 1A), feed conversion rate (RDH5), and reproduction (AMDHD1). A total of 1,799 HERs were identified in the Purunã breed with 92.3% of them classified within the 0.5–1 Mb length group, and 19 HER islands were identified in the autosomal genome. These HER islands harbor genes involved in growth pathways, carcass weight (SDCBP), meat and carcass quality (MT2A), and marbling deposition (CISH). Despite the genetic relationship between Purunã and the founder breeds, a multi-breed genomic evaluation is likely not feasible due to their population structure and low consistency of the gametic phase among them.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luiz F. Brito
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
| | | | | | | | - Victor Breno Pedrosa
- Department of Animal Science, Federal University of Bahia, Salvador, Brazil
- Department of Animal Sciences, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, United States
- Department of Animal Science, State University of Ponta Grossa, Ponta Grossa, Brazil
- *Correspondence: Victor Breno Pedrosa,
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