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Spanner EA, de Graaf SP, Rickard JP. Uterine tone influences fertility of Merino ewes following laparoscopic artificial insemination. Theriogenology 2024; 222:45-53. [PMID: 38615435 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2024.04.002] [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: 03/06/2024] [Revised: 04/01/2024] [Accepted: 04/01/2024] [Indexed: 04/16/2024]
Abstract
Artificial insemination (AI) plays a critical role in facilitating rapid genetic and production gains within the sheep industry. However, variable rates of AI success remain a concern for the industry and a barrier to adoption. Furthermore, the degree to which female factors influence the success of intrauterine laparoscopic AI rather than natural mating remains unknown. As such, this study investigates the effect of several factors collected during the time of AI, on the success of intrauterine laparoscopic AI. Data was generously donated by artificial breeding companies and stud breeders during routine commercial AI operations. AI data was collected over 3 breeding seasons during commercial AI programs (N = 24 programs) using Merino ewes (N = 24,700). Sire ID (N = 253), time of AI following progesterone removal (approx. 43-59 h post removal), uterine tone and intra-abdominal fat (both scored 1-5) as well as age of the ewe were all recorded at the time of AI. Transcutaneous ultrasound subsequently determined pregnancy rate approximately 55 days post-AI. A multivariate regression analysis was performed and revealed pregnancy success to increase when semen was inseminated into a ewe with a uterine tone score of 4 or 5 (P < 0.001). The remaining factors fell short of significance within the multivariate model. An interclass coefficient variation matrix was also used to determine the proportion of variation contributed to AI success by random factors allocated in the model; site, sire, AI date and breeding season (45.99 %, 29.94 %, 15.15 % and 8.92 %, respectively). These results highlight the influence of uterine tone on ewe fertility following laparoscopic AI, but also that program location and the sire used can further modify this influence on pregnancy rate. These factors must now be considered in combination with semen factors per individual sire used during AI to ascertain the contribution of several factors to the success of laparoscopic AI in Australia.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Spanner
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, New South Wales, 2006, Australia.
| | - S P de Graaf
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
| | - J P Rickard
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, New South Wales, 2006, Australia
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Spanner EA, de Graaf SP, Rickard JP. Factors affecting the success of laparoscopic artificial insemination in sheep. Anim Reprod Sci 2024; 264:107453. [PMID: 38547814 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2024.107453] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/09/2023] [Revised: 01/06/2024] [Accepted: 03/10/2024] [Indexed: 05/01/2024]
Abstract
Successful artificial breeding underpins rapid genetic and production gains in animal agriculture. In sheep, artificial insemination with frozen semen is performed via intrauterine laparoscopy as frozen-thawed spermatozoa do not traverse the cervix in sufficient numbers for high fertility and transcervical insemination is anatomically impossible in most ewes. Historically, laparoscopic artificial insemination has always been considered reasonably successful, but recent anecdotal reports of poor fertility place it at risk of warning adoption. Understanding the male, female and environmental factors that influence the fertility of sheep is warranted if the success of artificial insemination is to be improved and genetic progress maximised for the sheep industry. This review details the current practice of laparoscopic AI in sheep. It explores the effects of semen quantity and quality, the ewe, her preparation, and environmental conditions, on the fertility obtained following laparoscopic artificial insemination.
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Affiliation(s)
- E A Spanner
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, NSW 2006, Australia.
| | - S P de Graaf
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, NSW 2006, Australia
| | - J P Rickard
- The University of Sydney, Faculty of Science, School of Life and Environmental Sciences, NSW 2006, Australia
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3
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Widiyono I, Yanuartono Y, Purnamaningsih H, Sarmin S. Influence of refeeding on production, blood biochemistry parameters, and reproduction in underfed Kacang goat does. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2023; 107:453-462. [PMID: 35851697 DOI: 10.1111/jpn.13753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/25/2021] [Revised: 05/24/2022] [Accepted: 06/29/2022] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
This research aimed to investigate the effect of refeeding on production, blood biochemical parameters, and reproduction in underfed Kacang goat does. Twelve 2-3-year-old Kacang goats scored (body condition score [BCS]: 1-1.5) with poor body condition but appeared healthy, gave normal births 3-4 months before but no longer nursing their youngs, and anestrus were used in this study. The experiment consisted of 110 days with 14 days of adaptation period and 96 days of feeding treatment and data collection. After the adaptation period, the animals were divided into two groups (A and B), with six animals each. During the first 40 days (underfeeding period), they were fed with kangkong (Ipomoea reptans) straw at a level of 2% of body weight (BW). For the following 56 days (refeeding period), each animal in group A was fed at the level of 4% BW per day while group B was fed at the level of 5% BW per day consisting of 50% kangkong straw and 50% concentrate. Feed intake, average daily gain, body condition, and estrus were assessed in the period of underfeeding and refeeding. Blood samples were collected at the end of the underfeeding and refeeding period for blood biochemical parameter analyses. During the underfeeding period, the animals were anestrous and had poor body condition (BCS: 1.17-1.33) and high serum levels of cortisol, progesterone, and estradiol. Refeeding resulted in a significant increase in BCS (2.75-3.0), restoring estrous cycle, and reduced serum cortisol and progesterone level (p < 0.05). The Kacang goats had good compensatory growth. It could be concluded that refeeding at the level of 4-5% BW would restore undernourished goats' clinical condition, productivity, and reproductive performance after 8 weeks of refeeding.
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Affiliation(s)
- Irkham Widiyono
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Yanuartono Yanuartono
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Hary Purnamaningsih
- Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
| | - Sarmin Sarmin
- Department of Physiology, Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Universitas Gadjah Mada, Yogyakarta, Indonesia
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Falchi L, Ledda S, Zedda MT. Embryo biotechnologies in sheep: Achievements and new improvements. Reprod Domest Anim 2022; 57 Suppl 5:22-33. [PMID: 35437835 PMCID: PMC9790389 DOI: 10.1111/rda.14127] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/28/2022] [Accepted: 04/17/2022] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Abstract
To date, large-scale use of multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) programmes in ovine species is limited due to unpredictable results and high costs of hormonal stimulation and treatment. Therefore, even if considered reliable, they are not fully applicable in large-scale systems. More recently, the new prospects offered by in vitro embryo production (IVEP) through collection of oocytes post-mortem or by repeated ovum pick-up from live females suggested an alternative to MOET programmes and may be more extensively used, moving from the exclusive research in the laboratory to field application. The possibility to perform oocytes recovery from juvenile lambs to obtain embryos (JIVET) offers the great advantage to significantly reduce the generation interval, speeding the rate of genetic improvement. Although in the past decades several studies implemented novel protocols to enhance embryo production in sheep, the conditions of every single stage of IVEP can significantly affect embryo yield and successful transfer into the recipients. Moreover, the recent progresses on embryo production and freezing technologies might allow wider propagation of valuable genes in small ruminants populations and may be used for constitution of flocks without risks of disease. In addition, they can give a substantial contribution in preserving endangered breeds. The new era of gene editing might offer innovative perspectives in sheep breeding, but the application of such novel techniques implies involvement of specialized operators and is limited by relatively high costs for embryo manipulation and molecular biology analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Laura Falchi
- Sezione di Cl. Ostetrica e GinecologiaDipartimento di Medicina VeterinariaUniversità degli Studi di SassariSassariItaly
| | - Sergio Ledda
- Sezione di Cl. Ostetrica e GinecologiaDipartimento di Medicina VeterinariaUniversità degli Studi di SassariSassariItaly
| | - Maria T. Zedda
- Sezione di Cl. Ostetrica e GinecologiaDipartimento di Medicina VeterinariaUniversità degli Studi di SassariSassariItaly
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Farrag B. Effect of seasonal variations during dry and wet seasons on reproductive performance and biological and economic criteria of hair sheep under Halaieb rangeland conditions. Arch Anim Breed 2022; 65:319-327. [PMID: 36303952 PMCID: PMC9594863 DOI: 10.5194/aab-65-319-2022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/23/2022] [Indexed: 12/09/2023] Open
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of seasonal variations (wet and dry season) on the reproductive and productive performance and to do an economic evaluation of hair sheep under Halaieb rangeland conditions and determine which season is the best in grazing areas. A total of 64 multiparous Abou-Delik ewes were bred in two different seasons. During the first season (dry season), a total of 35 ewes, 2-4 years of age and 32.02 ± 0.52 kg weight, were bred during May and June, while lambing and lactation took place in the months of November, December and January. On the other hand, during the wet season, 29 ewes, 2-4 years age and 31.06 ± 0.57 kg weight, were bred during November and December, whereas lambing and lactation took place in the months of May, June and July. Sheep grazed 8 h daily in the same pastures during the study and then moved back to the barns to receive a sorghum vulgare supplement with a dosage of 250 g per head per day. The results revealed that there were no significant effects of breeding season on conception, lambing and abortion rates. However, the wet season had higher ( P < 0.05 ) prolificacy, mortality rates, lambs' weight and lambs born to ewes serviced. Contrariwise, dry-season lambs had a higher ( P < 0.05 ) weaning weight. Also, milk yield (mL d- 1 ) and number of lambs weaned per lambs born (LW/LB) increased ( P < 0.05 ) in the dry season compared to the wet season. No significant differences between the two seasons regarding the biological criteria studied were observed. On the other hand, the flock bred in the dry season generated a higher gross margin than that bred in the wet season. In this context, variable costs of the wet breeding season flock were recorded to be close to the value of the dry breeding season. Hence, it is concluded that the reproductive and productive performance of hair sheep raised in grazing areas in the Halaieb triangle is affected when lambs are born during the dry season because of the higher lamb mortality rate during this period which eliminates any comparative advantage for the good reproductive performance of ewes during the period of feed availability in the wet season. The high lamb mortality rates and low weaning weights in the wet breeding season lessen the economical merits of higher reproductive performance during the seasonal availability of feed in the wet season.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bahaa Farrag
- Animal Physiology Department, Animal and Poultry Production Division,
Desert Research Center, Cairo, Egypt
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Samartzi F, Theodosiadou EK, Vainas E, Saratsi A, Tsiligianni T, Rekkas CA. Plasminogen activator activity and plasminogen activator inhibition in the uterus of ewes after the induction of oestrus synchronization or superovulation, involving eCG. Small Rumin Res 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2022.106672] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
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7
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Yıldırır M, Çakır DÜ, Yurtman İY. Effects of restricted nutrition and flushing on reproductive performance and metabolic profiles in sheep. Livest Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.1016/j.livsci.2022.104870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
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8
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In vitro embryo production from early antral follicles of goats fed with a whole full-fat linseed based diet. ZYGOTE 2021; 30:194-199. [PMID: 34530946 DOI: 10.1017/s0967199421000472] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/06/2022]
Abstract
The present study aimed to use an in vitro follicle culture (IVFC) biotechnique as a tool to evaluate the influence of whole flaxseed as a feed supplementation in the diet on the in vitro development of caprine early antral follicles (EAFs) and further embryo production. In total, 18 adult goats were homogeneously allocated into two diet groups: Control and Flaxseed. EAFs from both experimental groups (300-400 µm) were isolated and cultured in vitro for 18 days. After IVFC, recovered cumulus-oocyte complexes were submitted to in vitro maturation, and subsequently to IVF and in vitro embryo culture. The endpoints evaluated were follicular growth and morphology, oocyte recovery rate and diameter, sperm penetration, pronuclei formation, embryo development, and estradiol production. The addition of the whole flaxseed in the diet did not affect (P > 0.05) follicular growth and diameter. A higher (P < 0.05) percentage of oocytes ≥ 110 µm was recovered from the flaxseed treatment. However, the sperm penetration rate was higher (P < 0.05) in the control treatment when compared with the flaxseed treatment, but no differences were found regarding the rate of fertilization nor cleaved embryos. In conclusion, dietary flaxseed increased the recovery rate of fully grown oocytes, but it did negatively affect the sperm penetration rate, even though there was no further effect on the cleavage rate.
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Zarazaga LA, Gatica MC, De La Rosa I, Guzmán JL. The use of photoperiod-treated bucks to induce a "male effect" does not compensate for the negative effects of nutritional restriction of the females in Mediterranean goats. Res Vet Sci 2021; 139:177-185. [PMID: 34333252 DOI: 10.1016/j.rvsc.2021.07.027] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2021] [Revised: 07/09/2021] [Accepted: 07/22/2021] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
Abstract
This work examined the effect of acute nutritional restriction or supplementation one week before male introduction on the reproductive performances of the "male effect" when using photostimulated or control males in goats. On 22 March, 84 anoestrous does were placed with photostimulated bucks or with bucks which had received no treatments. One week before male introduction, the females were provided with different nutritional regimes: Supplemented, restricted or control females. The non-esterified fatty acids (NEFAs) and Insulin Growth Factor-1 (IGF-1) concentrations were measured in the same samples. Fecundity, fertility, prolificacy and productivity were also determined. No interaction between both sources of variation was observed in any of the reproductive variables studied. Treatment of the bucks increased the percentage of females expressing behavioural oestrous associated with ovulation (71% vs 90% for Natural and Photo groups, respectively, P < 0.05). The Supplemented females showed higher ovulation rate than Restricted females (1.77 ± 0.13 vs 1.05 ± 0.05, P < 0.001), fecundity (71% vs 43%, P < 0.05); fertility (76% vs 29%, P < 0.05) and productivity (1.00 ± 0.15 vs 0.29 ± 0.11 kids per female, P < 0.01). In the Supplemented females, the higher reproductive results could be due to the lower NEFAs and higher IGF-1 concentrations at ovulation and at the time of oestrus compared to the Restricted females. Thus, the present experiment results demonstrate that nutrition is an important factor in the response to the "male effect" at Mediterranean latitudes, and its negative effect cannot be counterbalanced by using photostimulated bucks.
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Affiliation(s)
- L A Zarazaga
- Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales, Universidad de Huelva, "Campus de Excelencia Internacional Agroalimentario, ceiA3", Carretera Huelva-Palos de la Frontera s/n, 21819 Palos de la Frontera, Huelva, Spain.
| | - M C Gatica
- Universidad Arturo Prat, Facultad de Recursos Naturales Renovables, Avenida Arturo Prat, 2120 Iquique, Chile
| | - I De La Rosa
- Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales, Universidad de Huelva, "Campus de Excelencia Internacional Agroalimentario, ceiA3", Carretera Huelva-Palos de la Frontera s/n, 21819 Palos de la Frontera, Huelva, Spain
| | - J L Guzmán
- Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales, Universidad de Huelva, "Campus de Excelencia Internacional Agroalimentario, ceiA3", Carretera Huelva-Palos de la Frontera s/n, 21819 Palos de la Frontera, Huelva, Spain
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Asín J, Ramírez GA, Navarro MA, Nyaoke AC, Henderson EE, Mendonça FS, Molín J, Uzal FA. Nutritional Wasting Disorders in Sheep. Animals (Basel) 2021; 11:ani11020501. [PMID: 33671862 PMCID: PMC7918192 DOI: 10.3390/ani11020501] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/13/2020] [Revised: 02/02/2021] [Accepted: 02/08/2021] [Indexed: 01/30/2023] Open
Abstract
The different ovine production and breeding systems share the cornerstone of keeping a good body condition to ensure adequate productivity. Several infectious and parasitic disorders have detrimental effects on weight gains and may lead to emaciation. Flock health management procedures are aimed to prevent such conditions. Nutritional management is equally important to guarantee adequate body condition. Persistent bouts of low ruminal pH due to excess concentrate in the diet may lead to subacute ruminal acidosis. Pre-stomach motility disorders may also lead to ill-thrift and emaciation. An adequate mineral supplementation is key to prevent the effects of copper, selenium, and other micronutrients deprivation, which may include, among others, loss of condition. This review elaborates on the clinico-pathologic, diagnostic, and therapeutic aspects of some of these conditions, and highlights the necessity of considering them as contributors to states of wasting in sheep flocks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Javier Asín
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory (CAHFS), San Bernardino Branch, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (M.A.N.); (A.C.N.); (E.E.H.); (F.A.U.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +1-909-751-3314
| | - Gustavo A. Ramírez
- Animal Science Department, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (G.A.R.); (J.M.)
| | - Mauricio A. Navarro
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory (CAHFS), San Bernardino Branch, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (M.A.N.); (A.C.N.); (E.E.H.); (F.A.U.)
| | - Akinyi C. Nyaoke
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory (CAHFS), San Bernardino Branch, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (M.A.N.); (A.C.N.); (E.E.H.); (F.A.U.)
| | - Eileen E. Henderson
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory (CAHFS), San Bernardino Branch, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (M.A.N.); (A.C.N.); (E.E.H.); (F.A.U.)
| | - Fábio S. Mendonça
- Laboratory of Animal Diagnosis, DMFA/UFRPE, Recife, Pernambuco 52171-900, Brazil;
| | - Jéssica Molín
- Animal Science Department, University of Lleida, 25198 Lleida, Spain; (G.A.R.); (J.M.)
| | - Francisco A. Uzal
- California Animal Health and Food Safety Laboratory (CAHFS), San Bernardino Branch, University of California, Davis, CA 95616, USA; (M.A.N.); (A.C.N.); (E.E.H.); (F.A.U.)
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11
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Zhou L, Li C, Liu X, Zhang T. Effect of Irisin on LIF and integrin αvβ3 in rats of implantation failure. Reprod Biol Endocrinol 2021; 19:18. [PMID: 33536035 PMCID: PMC7856750 DOI: 10.1186/s12958-021-00700-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/26/2019] [Accepted: 01/28/2021] [Indexed: 12/18/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of irisin on leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) and integrin αvβ3 in implantation failure uterus. METHODS Early pregnant rats were randomly divided into normal group (N), mifepristone treated group (M), irisin group (I) and progestin group (P). The implantation failure model was established using mifepristone. Second, we evaluated the average number of embryos and detected the expression of LIF and integrin αvβ3 protein and mRNA in endometrium. RESULTS Compared with group M, the average number of embryos was significantly higher in group N, P and I, the expression of LIF and integrin αvβ3 in endometrium was significantly higher in group N, P and I. CONCLUSION Irisin could improve the poor receptive state of endometrium by promoting LIF and integrin αvβ3 secretion to improve blastocyst implantation in rats of implantation failure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Li Zhou
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affliated Dongfeng Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, P.R. China
| | - Chenggang Li
- Hubei Key Laboratory of Wudang Local Chinese Medicine Research, School of Pharmaceutical Sciences, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, P.R. China.
| | - Xiangshu Liu
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affliated Dongfeng Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, P.R. China
| | - Tao Zhang
- Department of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Affliated Dongfeng Hospital, Hubei University of Medicine, Shiyan, Hubei, 442000, P.R. China
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de Brun V, Loor JJ, Naya H, Graña-Baumgartner A, Vailati-Riboni M, Bulgari O, Shahzad K, Abecia JA, Sosa C, Meikle A. The presence of an embryo affects day 14 uterine transcriptome depending on the nutritional status in sheep. b. Immune system and uterine remodeling. Theriogenology 2020; 161:210-218. [PMID: 33340754 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.12.008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 12/07/2020] [Accepted: 12/07/2020] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
Abstract
Transcriptomics and bioinformatics were used to investigate the potential interactions of undernutrition and the presence of the conceptus at the time of maternal recognition of pregnancy on uterine immune system and remodeling. Adult Rasa Aragonesa ewes were allocated to one of two planes of nutrition for 28 days: maintenance energy intake (control; 5 cyclic, 6 pregnant ewes) providing 7.8 MJ of metabolisable energy and 0.5 maintenance intake (undernourished; 6 cyclic, 7 pregnant ewes) providing 3.9 MJ of metabolisable energy per ewe. Uterine gene expression was measured using Agilent 15 K Sheep Microarray chip on day 14 of estrus or pregnancy. Functional bioinformatics analyses were performed using PANTHER (Protein ANalysis THrough Evolutionary Relationships) Classification System. Pregnancy affected the expression of 18 genes in both control and undernourished ewes, underscoring the relevance for embryo-maternal interactions. Immune system evidenced by classical interferon stimulated genes were activated in control and -in a lesser extent-in undernourished pregnant vs cyclic ewes. Genes involved in uterine remodeling such as protein metabolism were also upregulated with the presence of an embryo in control and undernourished ewes. However, relevant genes for the adaptation of the uterus to the embryo were differentially expressed between pregnant vs cyclic ewes both in control and undernourished groups. Undernutrition alone led to an overall weak activation of immune system pathways both in cyclic and pregnant ewes. Data revealed that cellular and immune adaptations of the uterus to pregnancy are dependent on the nutritional status.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria de Brun
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología y Metabolismo Animal, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Juan J Loor
- Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Hugo Naya
- Departamento de Bioinformática, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Andrea Graña-Baumgartner
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología y Metabolismo Animal, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Mario Vailati-Riboni
- Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Omar Bulgari
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Italy
| | - Khuram Shahzad
- Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - José Alfonso Abecia
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Ambientales de Aragón (IUCA), Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Cecilia Sosa
- Departamento de Anatomía Patológica, Medicina Legal, Forense y Toxicología, Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain
| | - Ana Meikle
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología y Metabolismo Animal, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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13
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de Brun V, Loor JJ, Naya H, Vailati-Riboni M, Bulgari O, Shahzad K, Abecia JA, Sosa C, Meikle A. The embryo affects day 14 uterine transcriptome depending on nutritional status in sheep. a. Metabolic adaptation to pregnancy in nourished and undernourished ewes. Theriogenology 2020; 146:14-19. [PMID: 32036055 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2020.01.047] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/15/2019] [Revised: 12/20/2019] [Accepted: 01/26/2020] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of undernutrition and the presence of the conceptus at the time of maternal recognition of pregnancy on the expression of uterine indicators of metabolism in ewes. Adult Rasa Aragonesa ewes were allocated to one of two planes of nutrition for 28 days: maintenance energy intake (control; 5 cyclic and 6 pregnant ewes) providing 7.8 MJ of metabolisable energy, and 0.5 maintenance intake (undernourished; 6 cyclic and 7 pregnant ewes) providing 3.9 MJ of metabolisable energy per ewe. RNA from intercaruncular uterine tissue was harvested at slaughter on Day 14 of estrous cycle or pregnancy, and hybridized to the Agilent 15K Sheep Microarray chip. Functional bioinformatics analyses were performed using PANTHER (Protein ANalysis THrough Evolutionary Relationships) Classification System. The presence of the embryo upregulated expression of genes encoding peptide and monocarboxylate transporters regardless of nutritional treatment, although the degree of gene expression was lower in undernourished ewes. Genes encoding enzymes involved in glycolysis were downregulated both in pregnant control and undernourished ewes, probably as a compensatory mechanism for the increased glucose transport to the uterus. Compared with control cyclic ewes, control pregnant ewes had greater expression of genes involved in oxidation of fatty acids, suggesting increased uterine energy demands. This was not observed in undernourished pregnant animals when compared to undernourished cyclic ewes; nevertheless, those animals had lower uterine expression of enzymes involved in fatty acid biosynthesis. The presence of the embryo upregulated genes involved in electron transport probably as a result of increased energy demands for pregnancy. Overall, the data indicate that depending on the nutritional status of ewe, pregnancy alters gene expression of metabolic pathways related to energy generation in the uterus. An impairment in nutrient transport and metabolism in the uterus of pregnant undernourished ewes may explain the greater embryo mortality associated with undernutrition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Victoria de Brun
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología y Metabolismo Animal, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay.
| | - Juan J Loor
- Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Hugo Naya
- Departamento de Bioinformática, Institut Pasteur de Montevideo, Uruguay
| | - Mario Vailati-Riboni
- Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - Omar Bulgari
- Department of Molecular and Translational Medicine, University of Brescia, Italy
| | - Khuram Shahzad
- Department of Animal Sciences and Division of Nutritional Sciences, University of Illinois, Urbana, IL, United States
| | - José Alfonso Abecia
- Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Ambientales de Aragón (IUCA), Universidad de Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - Ana Meikle
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología y Metabolismo Animal, Universidad de la República, Montevideo, Uruguay
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14
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Espinoza-Flores LA, Andrade-Esparza JD, Hernández H, Zarazaga LA, Abecia JA, Chemineau P, Keller M, Delgadillo JA. Male effect using photostimulated bucks and nutritional supplementation advance puberty in goats under semi-extensive management. Theriogenology 2019; 143:82-87. [PMID: 31862671 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.12.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/31/2019] [Revised: 12/02/2019] [Accepted: 12/08/2019] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Well-nourished spring-born female goats reach puberty in the autumn of the same year. Contrastingly, undernourished spring-born females reach puberty in the autumn of the following year. Therefore, in this study, we reared female goats (undernourished) under semi-extensive management and determined whether the introduction of photostimulated, sexually active males, advances puberty in these females, and whether nutritional supplementation increases the proportion of kidding females. Goats were born on March 30 and weaned at 2 months of age. Then, they grazed natural vegetation from 10:00 to 18:00 each day. Starting in December, two groups did not receive feed supplementation after grazing, whereas two other groups received 600 g daily supplements of a commercial concentrate. In April, one non-supplemented (n = 10) and other supplemented groups (n = 11) were moved indoors and kept in separate pens, where they were joined with sexually active bucks (n = 1 per group). Males were rotated daily between groups for 7 days. Other non-supplemented (n = 8) and supplemented groups (n = 11) were not joined with males. Most of the female goats under study reached puberty (70-100%). However, in supplemented and non-supplemented groups joined with males, puberty commenced much earlier (April) than in those non-exposed to males (September) (P < 0.001). The proportion of pregnant goats did not differ between groups joined with males (P > 0.05), but the proportion of goats that kidded was higher in supplemented (7/11) than in non-supplemented goats (2/10) (P < 0.05). In conclusion, in spring-born goats, the male effect using sexually active males advanced puberty, and nutritional supplementation increased the proportion of kidding goats in females reared under semi-extensive management.
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Affiliation(s)
- L A Espinoza-Flores
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Caprina (CIRCA), Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, 27054, Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - J D Andrade-Esparza
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Caprina (CIRCA), Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, 27054, Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - H Hernández
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Caprina (CIRCA), Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, 27054, Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico
| | - L A Zarazaga
- Departamento de Ciencias Agroforestales, Universidad de Huelva, "Campus de Excelencia Internacional Agroalimentario, cei3", Carretera Huelva-Palos de la Frontera s/n, 21819, Palos de la Frontera, Huelva, Spain
| | - J A Abecia
- Departamento de Producción Animal, Instituto de Investigación en Ciencias Ambientales (IUCA), Universidad de Zaragoza, Miguel Servet, 177, Zaragoza, 500013, Spain
| | - P Chemineau
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, CNRS, IFCE, INRA, Université de Tours, Agreenium, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - M Keller
- Physiologie de la Reproduction et des Comportements, CNRS, IFCE, INRA, Université de Tours, Agreenium, 37380, Nouzilly, France
| | - J A Delgadillo
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Caprina (CIRCA), Programa de Posgrado en Ciencias Agrarias, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, 27054, Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico.
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15
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Fernández-Foren A, Sosa C, Abecia JA, Vázquez MI, Forcada F, Meikle A. Dietary restriction in sheep: Uterine functionality in ewes with different body reserves during early gestation. Theriogenology 2019; 135:189-197. [PMID: 31226609 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2019.06.023] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/07/2018] [Revised: 04/24/2019] [Accepted: 06/11/2019] [Indexed: 10/26/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to characterize insulin, leptin and IGF-1 profiles after undernutrition in pregnant ewes with different initial body condition (iBCS) and to investigate embryo quality, uterine gene expression and presence and location of proteins during early gestation (day 5). Thirty-six Rasa Aragonesa ewes were divided into 2 groups with different BCS: BCS> 2.75 (high, H, n = 19) and BCS <2.25 (low, L, n = 17) and they were randomly assigned to two nutritional treatments: 1.5 maintenance (M) (control, C) or 0.5 (M) (undernourishment, U) times the daily maintenance requirements establishing four groups: high-iBCS control (HC, n = 9), high-iBCS undernourished (HU, n = 10), low-iBCS control (LC, n = 9) and low-iBCS undernourished (LU, n = 8). High-iBCS ewes presented higher concentration of IGF-1, reflecting a better metabolic status in these animals. There was a greater proportion of high-iBCS ewes presenting more than one CL (P < 0.05), and associated greater P4 plasma concentration, number of recovered embryo and a tendency for higher embryo viability rate (P = 0.13). In uterus, undernourished ewes tended to present lower P4 (P = 0.09) and higher E2 concentration (P = 0.10). Inmunostaining of uterine progesterone and estrogen receptors (PR and ERα) was not affected by iBCS and nutritional treatment. Ewes with low-iBCS tended to have more INSR mRNA, and undernourished ewes tended to have more IGFBP2 mRNA expression (P < 0.08). An interesting finding was that the uterine response to undernutrition was dependent on iBCS: a higher expression of GHR (P < 0.05) and a tendency in IGFBP5 (P = 0.09) mRNA was found in undernourished than control ewes but only in the high-iBCS group. In summary, the present study demonstrates that the endocrine response and the uterine gene expression to undernutrition depend on the initial body energy reserves (iBCS) and appears to be associated with a differential embryo quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Fernández-Foren
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología y Metabolismo Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, UdelaR, C/ Lasplaces 1550, Montevideo, 11600, Uruguay.
| | - C Sosa
- Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, C/ Miguel Servet 177, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain
| | - J A Abecia
- Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, C/ Miguel Servet 177, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain
| | - M I Vázquez
- Reproducción Animal, Facultad de Agronomía y Veterinaria, UNRC, Ruta Nac. 36, km 601, Río Cuarto, 5800, Argentina
| | - F Forcada
- Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, C/ Miguel Servet 177, Zaragoza, 50013, Spain
| | - A Meikle
- Laboratorio de Endocrinología y Metabolismo Animal, Facultad de Veterinaria, UdelaR, C/ Lasplaces 1550, Montevideo, 11600, Uruguay
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Mattioli S, Dal Bosco A, Combes S, Moscati L, Crotti S, Cartoni Mancinelli A, Cotozzolo E, Castellini C. Dehydrated Alfalfa and Fresh Grass Supply in Young Rabbits: Effect on Performance and Caecal Microbiota Biodiversity. Animals (Basel) 2019; 9:ani9060341. [PMID: 31212702 PMCID: PMC6616632 DOI: 10.3390/ani9060341] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2019] [Revised: 05/31/2019] [Accepted: 06/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Simple Summary The weaning of young rabbits is a critical period that is often accompanied by digestive troubles. Innovations in feeding strategy are urgently needed to preserve rabbit health and to reduce the use of antibiotics. We show here that providing dehydrated alfalfa during weaning is a promising solution to manage health status by favoring the establishment of a proper digestive microbiota. Abstract The improvement of rabbit gut microbiota by modifying nutritional components of the feed or favoring its early intake of feed has been previously investigated. The early administration of dehydrated alfalfa (A) or fresh grass (G) for rabbits, during the peri-weaning period (30 and 45 days of age), and their effect on performance and caecal microbiota compared to a standard diet (C) were evaluated. Until 15 days of age, nine litters/group were housed in the maternal cage and milked once per day. From 15 to 30 days, the young rabbits could consume both milk and solid feed (pelleted for C or supplemental feed for A and G). At 30 days of age, the rabbits were weaned and, until 45 days, were kept in single cages following the same dietary protocol. No significant changes were found in the milk intake or the individual weight of young rabbits at 30 and 45 days. The caecal Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes (bacterial phyla ratio) increased with age (from 2.43 to 6.05 on average, at 30 and 45 days). The Ruminococcaceae/Lachinospiraceae (bacterial family ratio) was highest in the A group at both ages, followed by G then C. The early administration of dehydrated alfalfa is a promising solution to improve health status by favoring an appropriate digestive microbiota.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simona Mattioli
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Science, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Alessandro Dal Bosco
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Science, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Sylvie Combes
- GenPhySE, Université de Toulouse, INRA, ENVT, 31300 Toulouse, France.
| | - Livia Moscati
- Institute Zooprofilattico Umbria and Marche, Via Gaetano Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Silvia Crotti
- Institute Zooprofilattico Umbria and Marche, Via Gaetano Salvemini 1, 06126 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Alice Cartoni Mancinelli
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Science, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Elisa Cotozzolo
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Science, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy.
| | - Cesare Castellini
- Department of Agricultural, Environmental and Food Science, University of Perugia, Borgo XX Giugno 74, 06121 Perugia, Italy.
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Đuričić D, Benić M, Žaja IŽ, Valpotić H, Samardžija M. Influence of season, rainfall and air temperature on the reproductive efficiency in Romanov sheep in Croatia. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2019; 63:817-824. [PMID: 30790044 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-019-01696-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/28/2018] [Revised: 01/14/2019] [Accepted: 01/17/2019] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of season, rainfall and air temperature on the reproductive efficiency in the Romanov breed of sheep in continental part of Croatia during five consecutive years (2012-2016). During this period, 5379 matings resulted in 5046 successful conceptions, i.e. lambings at eight medium-scale Romanov breed sheep farms. The conception rate was 93.81%, fecundity was 195% and average preweaning mortality until 90 days of age was 12.41%. The seasonal distribution of lambings was 47.64% for ewes that delivered in winter (n = 2422), 23.37% in spring (n = 1179), 18.82% in summer (n = 950) and 9.81% in autumn (n = 495). Sexual activity was lowest during spring and early summer when air temperatures were above average (very and extremely warm), and sexual activity peaked from August to September, especially during extremely wet and very wet seasons. Litter size was greater during winter than in other seasons (1.70 vs. 1.54) and was significantly different as compared to each of selected years of the study period. There was a statistically significant difference in the number of pregnant ewes between mating seasons. Most female Romanov lambs born during winter and early spring mated in late summer or autumn and delivered at the age of 1 year or earlier. The seasonal distribution of matings and lambing was not uniform throughout the seasons over five consecutive years. Thus, it can be assumed that air temperature and rainfall during different seasons could affect the reproductive efficiency in Romanov breed of sheep in continental part of Croatia.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Ivona Žura Žaja
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Hrvoje Valpotić
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia
| | - Marko Samardžija
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine University of Zagreb, Zagreb, Croatia.
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18
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Andrade-Esparza J, Espinoza-Flores L, Hernández H, Chemineau P, Keller M, Delgadillo J. Extensive management conditions do not modify the frequency of short ovulatory cycles in progesterone-treated does exposed to sexually active males. Anim Reprod Sci 2018; 199:40-44. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2018.10.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2018] [Revised: 10/09/2018] [Accepted: 10/17/2018] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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19
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Fernandes CCL, Rodriguez-Villamil P, Vasconcelos FR, Nagano CS, Rossetto R, Moura ADAAN, Rondina D. Proteome of the periovulatory oviduct and uterus of goats as related to nutritional balance. Reprod Domest Anim 2018; 53:1085-1095. [PMID: 29885005 DOI: 10.1111/rda.13208] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2017] [Revised: 04/07/2018] [Accepted: 04/12/2018] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different feeding levels on the proteome of oviduct and uterus tissues of hormonally stimulated goats during the periovulatory period. Forty goats were separated into four different diet groups: Diet 1.0 M (n = 11), Diet 1.3 M (n = 10), Diet 1.6 M (n = 9), Diet 1.9 M (n = 10), fed with 1.0, 1.3, 1.6 and 1.9 times live weight maintenance, respectively. After four weeks of treatment, six hormonally stimulated females per treatment group were randomly selected for collection of uterine and the oviduct tissue samples. Samples were collected after animals were slaughtered in a commercial unit. Feeding goats with 1.3 to 1.9 times more nutrients than a control group directly influenced the proteome of the oviduct and uterus, altering the expression of proteins that participate in biological processes such as apoptosis, antioxidant, and immunological activities. These events are crucial for fertilization and early embryonic survival. Expression of oviduct proteins such as Tubulin Beta 2B, Transferrin and Disulphide-isomerase A3 increased in the 1.9 M group in relation to the other feeding levels. Disulphide-isomerase A4 showed higher expression in the 1.0 M group compared to diets with higher energetic levels. As energy intake increased in the diets, there was higher expression of Alpha-1-antitrypsin and downregulation of Profilin-1 in the uterus of the goats. In conclusion, this study showed that specific proteins of the goat oviduct and uterus expressed during the periovulatory period are modified as the result of nutritional balance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | | | - Celso Shiniti Nagano
- Departament of Fishing Engineering, Federal University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil
| | - Rafael Rossetto
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ceará State University (UECE), Fortaleza, Brazil
| | | | - Davide Rondina
- Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Ceará State University (UECE), Fortaleza, Brazil
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20
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Ferreira-Silva JC, Freitas Neto LM, Moura MT, Filho FT, Oliveira LRS, Bartolomeu CC, Oliveira MAL. Conceptus loss in Santa Inês ewes carrying twin pregnancies by natural mating or embryo transfer. Theriogenology 2018; 115:94-98. [PMID: 29742481 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2018.04.024] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/18/2017] [Revised: 04/16/2018] [Accepted: 04/24/2018] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
Commercial application of reproductive biotechnologies such as multiple ovulation and embryo transfer depends on its overall efficiency. Sheep embryo transfer is gradually gaining wider adoption, but pregnancy rates after embryo transfer remain lower than those derived from natural mating for most breeds. The work was aimed to evaluate embryonic and fetal losses in Santa Inês ewes carrying twin pregnancies by natural mating or embryo transfer. Ewes were subjected to synchronized natural mating by ram effect or used as recipients for embryo transfer. Ewes diagnosed as carrying twin pregnancies at day 25 were used in the experiment (n = 42). Conceptus viability was monitored by ultrasonography on days 30, 35, 40, 45, 50, and 55 after conception. Conceptus loss was similar (P > 0.05) within natural mating 11/42 (26.19%) and embryo transfer 14/42 (33.34%). However, overall embryonic loss (80.0%) was greater (P < 0.05) than fetal loss (20.0%), with no difference within groups The results allow the conclusion that conceptus loss after embryo transfer is similar to natural mating and occurs predominantly during the embryonic stages.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Marcelo Tigre Moura
- Laboratório de Biotécnicas Reprodutivas, Universidade Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Recife, PE, Brazil
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21
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Juengel JL. How the quest to improve sheep reproduction provided insight into oocyte control of follicular development. J R Soc N Z 2018. [DOI: 10.1080/03036758.2017.1421238] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jennifer L. Juengel
- Reproduction, Animal Science, AgResearch Ltd, Invermay Agricultural Centre, Mosgiel, New Zealand
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22
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Pokharel K, Peippo J, Honkatukia M, Seppälä A, Rautiainen J, Ghanem N, Hamama TM, Crowe MA, Andersson M, Li MH, Kantanen J. Integrated ovarian mRNA and miRNA transcriptome profiling characterizes the genetic basis of prolificacy traits in sheep (Ovis aries). BMC Genomics 2018; 19:104. [PMID: 29378514 PMCID: PMC5789708 DOI: 10.1186/s12864-017-4400-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/05/2016] [Accepted: 12/19/2017] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The highly prolific breeds of domestic sheep (Ovis aries) are globally valuable genetic resources for sheep industry. Genetic, nutritional and other environmental factors affect prolificacy traits in sheep. To improve our knowledge of the sheep prolificacy traits, we conducted mRNA-miRNA integrated profiling of ovarian tissues from two pure breeds with large (Finnsheep) vs. small (Texel) litter sizes and their F1 crosses, half of which were fed a flushing diet. RESULTS Among the samples, 16,402 genes (60.6% known ovine genes) were expressed, 79 novel miRNAs were found, and a cluster of miRNAs on chromosome 18 was detected. The majority of the differentially expressed genes between breeds were upregulated in the Texel with low prolificacy, owing to the flushing diet effect, whereas a similar pattern was not detected in the Finnsheep. F1 ewes responded similarly to Finnsheep rather than displaying a performance intermediate between the two pure breeds. CONCLUSIONS The identification and characterization of differentially expressed genes and miRNAs in the ovaries of sheep provided insights into genetic and environmental factors affecting prolificacy traits. The three genes (CST6, MEPE and HBB) that were differentially expressed between the group of Finnsheep and Texel ewes kept in normal diet appeared to be candidate genes of prolificacy traits and will require further validation.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kisun Pokharel
- Green Technology, Natural Resources Institute of Finland (Luke), Myllytie 1, Jokioinen, Finland
| | - Jaana Peippo
- Green Technology, Natural Resources Institute of Finland (Luke), Myllytie 1, Jokioinen, Finland
| | - Mervi Honkatukia
- Green Technology, Natural Resources Institute of Finland (Luke), Myllytie 1, Jokioinen, Finland
| | - Arja Seppälä
- Eastman Chemical Company, Tammasaarenkatu 1, Helsinki, Finland
| | | | - Nasser Ghanem
- Green Technology, Natural Resources Institute of Finland (Luke), Myllytie 1, Jokioinen, Finland
- Department of Animal Production, Faculty of Agriculture, Cairo University, Giza, Egypt
| | - Tuula-Marjatta Hamama
- Green Technology, Natural Resources Institute of Finland (Luke), Myllytie 1, Jokioinen, Finland
| | - Mark A. Crowe
- School of Veterinary Medicine, University College Dublin, Belfield, Dublin 4, Ireland
| | - Magnus Andersson
- Department of Production Animal Medicine, University of Helsinki, Helsinki, Finland
| | - Meng-Hua Li
- CAS Key Laboratory of Animal Ecology and Conservation Biology, Institute of Zoology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), Beijing, China
| | - Juha Kantanen
- Green Technology, Natural Resources Institute of Finland (Luke), Myllytie 1, Jokioinen, Finland
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23
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Jing X, Peng Q, Hu R, Wang H, Yu X, Degen A, Zou H, Bao S, Zhao S, Wang Z. Effect of supplements during the cold season on the reproductive system in prepubertal Tibetan sheep ewes. Anim Sci J 2017; 88:1269-1278. [DOI: 10.1111/asj.12762] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/02/2016] [Revised: 09/01/2016] [Accepted: 10/28/2016] [Indexed: 12/30/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Xiaoping Jing
- Animal Nutrition Institute; Sichuan Agricultural University; Ya'an Sichuan China
| | - Quanhui Peng
- Animal Nutrition Institute; Sichuan Agricultural University; Ya'an Sichuan China
| | - Rui Hu
- Animal Nutrition Institute; Sichuan Agricultural University; Ya'an Sichuan China
| | - Hongze Wang
- Animal Nutrition Institute; Sichuan Agricultural University; Ya'an Sichuan China
| | - Xiaoqiang Yu
- Animal Nutrition Institute; Sichuan Agricultural University; Ya'an Sichuan China
| | - Allan Degen
- Desert Animal Adaptations and Husbandry, Wyler Department of Dryland Agriculture, Blaustein Institutes for Desert Research; Ben-Gurion University of Negev; Beer Sheva Israel
| | - Huawei Zou
- Animal Nutrition Institute; Sichuan Agricultural University; Ya'an Sichuan China
| | - Shanke Bao
- Haibei Demonstration Zone of Plateau Modern Ecological Husbandry Science and Technology; Haibei Qinghai China
| | - Suonan Zhao
- Haibei Demonstration Zone of Plateau Modern Ecological Husbandry Science and Technology; Haibei Qinghai China
| | - Zhisheng Wang
- Animal Nutrition Institute; Sichuan Agricultural University; Ya'an Sichuan China
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24
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Abecia JA, Arrébola F, Macías A, Laviña A, González-Casquet O, Benítez F, Palacios C. Temperature and rainfall are related to fertility rate after spring artificial insemination in small ruminants. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2016; 60:1603-1609. [PMID: 26951115 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-016-1150-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2015] [Revised: 01/20/2016] [Accepted: 02/23/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
A total number of 1092 artificial inseminations (AIs) performed from March to May were documented over four consecutive years on 10 Payoya goat farms (36° N) and 19,392 AIs on 102 Rasa Aragonesa sheep farms (41° N) over 10 years. Mean, maximum, and minimum ambient temperatures, mean relative humidity, mean solar radiation, and total rainfall on each insemination day were recorded. Overall, fertility rates were 58 % in goats and 45 % in sheep. The fertility rates of the highest and lowest deciles of each of the meteorological variables indicated that temperature and rainfall had a significant effect on fertility in goats. Specifically, inseminations that were performed when mean (68 %), maximum (68 %), and minimum (66 %) temperatures were in the highest decile, and rainfall was in the lowest decile (59 %), had a significantly (P < 0.0001) higher proportion of does that became pregnant than did the ewes in the lowest decile (56, 54, 58, and 49 %, respectively). In sheep, the fertility rates of the highest decile of mean (62 %), maximum (62 %), and minimum (52 %) temperature, RH (52 %), THI (53 %), and rainfall (45 %) were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) than were the fertility rates among ewes in the lowest decile (46, 45, 45, 45, 46, and 43 %, respectively). In conclusion, weather was related to fertility in small ruminants after AI in spring. It remains to be determined whether scheduling the dates of insemination based on forecasted temperatures can improve the success of AI in goats and sheep.
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Affiliation(s)
- J A Abecia
- IUCA. Departmento Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Miguel Servet, 177, 50013, Zaragoza, Spain.
| | - F Arrébola
- IFAPA, Ctra El Viso, km 15. 14270 Hinojosa del Duque, Córdoba, Spain
| | - A Macías
- Asociación Nacional de Ganaderos de la Raza Rasa Aragonesa (ANGRA), Cabañera Real, s/n, 50800 Zuera, Zaragoza, Spain
| | - A Laviña
- Asociación Nacional de Ganaderos de la Raza Rasa Aragonesa (ANGRA), Cabañera Real, s/n, 50800 Zuera, Zaragoza, Spain
| | | | - F Benítez
- IFAPA, Ctra El Viso, km 15. 14270 Hinojosa del Duque, Córdoba, Spain
| | - C Palacios
- Departmento Construcción y Agronomía, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Ambientales, Filiberto Villalobos, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
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25
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Arrébola F, Palacios C, Gil MJ, Abecia JA. Management and meteorological factors affect fertility after artificial insemination in Murciano-Granadina goats. ANIMAL PRODUCTION SCIENCE 2016. [DOI: 10.1071/an15176] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/23/2022]
Abstract
Over 6 years, 2004 artificial inseminations (AI) were documented from 13 goat farms. We quantified the effect on fertility rate of management factors (farm, year, month, timing and order of insemination, dose of progestagen, prostaglandin, equine chorionic gonadotrophin and prostaglandin doses, age, technician, problems at AI, body condition and buck) and meteorological conditions at AI (mean, maximum and minimum temperatures, mean relative humidity, mean solar radiation, and total rainfall). Meteorological variables were converted to categorical variables to quartiles and deciles. Overall fertility was 56%. Each of the management factors had a significant (P < 0.05) effect on fertility. Non-pregnant goats differed significantly in most of the meteorological variables. Successful inseminations were associated with significantly (P < 0.001) higher mean, maximum and minimum temperatures, and solar radiation, and lower relative humidity, and rainfall, than were failed inseminations. Fertility rates of the highest and lowest deciles were significantly different for each of the meteorological variables. Inseminations performed when meteorological values were in the highest decile of mean (62%), maximum (61%) and minimum temperature (60%), and solar radiation (59%), and the lowest of relative humidity (61%) and rainfall (57%) had a significantly (P < 0.0001) higher proportion of does that became pregnant than when meteorological values were within the opposite decile (47%; 34%; 55%; 46%; 45%, and 43%, respectively). In conclusion, management and meteorological factors affected the success of AI in goats. Although technical factors can be controlled, it remains to be determined whether scheduling the dates of insemination based on forecasted temperatures can improve the success of AI.
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Ángel-García O, Meza-Herrera C, Contreras-Villarreal V, Guillen-Muñoz J, Leyva C, Robles-Trillo P, Rivas-Muñoz R, Rodríguez-Martínez R, Mellado M, Véliz F. Effect of different male-to-female ratios and testosterone administration upon the male sexual behavior and the out-of-season reproductive response of anestrous goats. Small Rumin Res 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2015.10.013] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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García J, Orihuela A, Solano J, Flores-Pérez FI, Aguirre V, Vázquez R, Pablos JL. Short-term under-nutrition affects feeding and sexual behaviour in oestrous-synchronized Saint Croix ewes (Ovis aries). JOURNAL OF APPLIED ANIMAL RESEARCH 2015. [DOI: 10.1080/09712119.2015.1091349] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/22/2022]
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Effects of breed, parity and post-mating nutrition on reproductive wastage and pregnancy outcomes of Egyptian sheep. Small Rumin Res 2015. [DOI: 10.1016/j.smallrumres.2015.06.009] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/19/2022]
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Soares FN, Oliveira MEF, Padilha-Nakaghi LC, de Oliveira LG, Feliciano MAR, de Oliveira FBB, Teixeira PPM, Vicente WRR, Faturi C, Rodrigues LFDS. Reproductive and productive performances of Santa Inês ewes submitted to breeding in different periods of the Amazonian humid tropical climate. Trop Anim Health Prod 2015. [DOI: 10.1007/s11250-015-0886-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Palacios C, Abecia JA. Meteorological variables affect fertility rate after intrauterine artificial insemination in sheep in a seasonal-dependent manner: a 7-year study. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BIOMETEOROLOGY 2015; 59:585-592. [PMID: 25056126 DOI: 10.1007/s00484-014-0872-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 17] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/01/2014] [Revised: 06/24/2014] [Accepted: 07/11/2014] [Indexed: 06/03/2023]
Abstract
A total number of 48,088 artificial inseminations (AIs) have been controlled during seven consecutive years in 79 dairy sheep Spanish farms (41° N). Mean, maximum and minimum ambient temperatures (Ts), temperature amplitude (TA), mean relative humidity (RH), mean solar radiation (SR) and total rainfall of each insemination day and 15 days later were recorded. Temperature-humidity index (THI) and effective temperature (ET) have been calculated. A binary logistic regression model to estimate the risk of not getting pregnant compared to getting pregnant, through the odds ratio (OR), was performed. Successful winter inseminations were carried out under higher SR (P < 0.01) and summer inseminations under lower SR values (P < 0.05). Successful inseminations during the summer were performed under significantly lower maximum T (P < 0.01), while winter inseminations resulted in pregnancy when they were carried out under higher maximum (P < 0.05) and minimum Ts (P < 0.01). Up to five meteorological variables presented OR >1 (maximum T, ET and rainfall on AI day, and ET and rainfall on day 15), and two variables presented OR <1 (SR on AI day and maximum T on day 15). However, the effect of meteorological factors affected fertility in opposite ways, so T becomes a protective or risk factor on fertility depending on season. In conclusion, the percentage of pregnancy after AI in sheep is significantly affected by meteorological variables in a seasonal-dependent manner, so the parameters such as temperature reverse their effects in the hot or cold seasons. A forecast of the meteorological conditions could be a useful tool when AI dates are being scheduled.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Palacios
- Departamento de Construcción y Agronomía, Facultad de Ciencias Agrarias y Ambientales, Filiberto Villalobos, 37007, Salamanca, Spain
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Abdel-Mage I, El-Gawad MA. Does Parity and Nutrition in Early Pregnancy Affect Viability of Embryos in Both Rahmani and Barki Egyptian Sheep? ASIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL AND VETERINARY ADVANCES 2014; 10:25-34. [DOI: 10.3923/ajava.2015.25.34] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 09/02/2023]
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de Brun V, Meikle A, Casal A, Sequeira M, Contreras-Solís I, Carriquiry M, Forcada F, Sosa C, Abecia J. Periconceptional undernutrition modifies endocrine profiles and hepatic gene expression in sheep. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2014; 99:710-8. [DOI: 10.1111/jpn.12261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/24/2014] [Accepted: 09/02/2014] [Indexed: 12/22/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- V. de Brun
- Laboratorio de Técnicas Nucleares; Facultad de Veterinaria; Montevideo Uruguay
| | - A. Meikle
- Laboratorio de Técnicas Nucleares; Facultad de Veterinaria; Montevideo Uruguay
| | - A. Casal
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Pasturas; Facultad de Agronomía; Montevideo Uruguay
| | - M. Sequeira
- Laboratorio de Técnicas Nucleares; Facultad de Veterinaria; Montevideo Uruguay
| | - I. Contreras-Solís
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos; Universidad de Zaragoza; Zaragoza Spain
| | - M. Carriquiry
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Pasturas; Facultad de Agronomía; Montevideo Uruguay
| | - F. Forcada
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos; Universidad de Zaragoza; Zaragoza Spain
| | - C. Sosa
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos; Universidad de Zaragoza; Zaragoza Spain
| | - J.A. Abecia
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos; Universidad de Zaragoza; Zaragoza Spain
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Rahman MR, Rahman MM, Wan Khadijah WE, Abdullah RB. Follicle Stimulating Hormone (FSH) Dosage Based on Body Weight Enhances Ovulatory Responses and Subsequent Embryo Production in Goats. ASIAN-AUSTRALASIAN JOURNAL OF ANIMAL SCIENCES 2014; 27:1270-4. [PMID: 25178370 PMCID: PMC4150193 DOI: 10.5713/ajas.2013.13786] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/03/2013] [Revised: 02/16/2014] [Accepted: 04/14/2014] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
An experiment was conducted to evaluate the efficacy of porcine follicle stimulating hormone (pFSH) dosage based on body weight (BW) on ovarian responses of crossbred does. Thirty donor does were divided into 3 groups getting pFSH dosages of 3, 5, and 8 mg pFSH per kg BW, respectively, and were named as pFSH-3, pFSH-5 and pFSH-8, respectively. Estrus was synchronized by inserting a controlled internal drug release (CIDR) device and a single injection of prostaglandin F2α (PGF2α). The pFSH treatments were administered twice a day through 6 decreasing dosages (25, 25, 15, 15, 10, and 10% of total pFSH amount; decreasing daily). Ovarian responses were evaluated on Day 7 after CIDR removal. After CIDR removal, estrus was observed 3 times in a day and pFSH treatments were initiated at 2 days before the CIDR removal. All does in pFSH-5 and pFSH-8 showed estrus signs while half of the does in pFSH-3 showed estrus signs. No differences (p>0.05) were observed on the corpus luteum and total ovarian stimulation among the treatment groups, while total and transferable embryos were higher (p<0.05) in pFSH-5 (7.00 and 6.71) than pFSH-3 (3.00 and 2.80) and pFSH-8 (2.00 and 1.50), respectively. In conclusion, 5 mg pFSH per kg BW dosage gave a higher number of embryos than 3 and 8 mg pFSH per kg BW dosages. The results indicated that the dosage of pFSH based on BW is an important consideration for superovulation in goats.
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Affiliation(s)
- M R Rahman
- Animal Biotechnology-Embryo Laboratory (ABEL), Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia ; School of Agriculture and Rural Development, Bangladesh Open University, 1705 Gazipur, Bangladesh
| | - M M Rahman
- Animal Biotechnology-Embryo Laboratory (ABEL), Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - W E Wan Khadijah
- Animal Biotechnology-Embryo Laboratory (ABEL), Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - R B Abdullah
- Animal Biotechnology-Embryo Laboratory (ABEL), Institute of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science, University of Malaya, 50603 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
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Loya-Carrera J, Bedos M, Ponce-Covarrubias J, Hernández H, Chemineau P, Keller M, Delgadillo J. Switching photo-stimulated males between groups of goats does not improve the reproductive response during the male effect. Anim Reprod Sci 2014; 146:21-6. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2014.02.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2013] [Revised: 01/15/2014] [Accepted: 02/02/2014] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
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Abstract
To determine the effect of undernutrition on embryo production and quality in superovulated sheep, 45 ewes were allocated into two groups to be fed diets that provided 1.5 (control, C; n = 20) or 0.5 (low nutrition, L; n = 25) times daily requirements for maintenance, from oestrous synchronization with intravaginal sponges to embryo collection. Embryos were collected 7 days after the onset of oestrus (day 0). Low nutrition resulted in lower live weight and body condition at embryo collection (P < 0.05). Diet (P < 0.01) and day of sampling (P < 0.001) significantly affected plasma non-esterified fatty acid (NEFA) and insulin concentrations. Plasma leptin concentrations decreased on day 7 only in L ewes. A significant effect of dietary treatment (P < 0.05) and day (P < 0.0001) was observed on plasma insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I concentrations. The number of recovered oocytes and embryos did not differ between the groups (L: 15.4 ± 0.4; C: 12.4 ± 0.4). Recovery rate was lower (P < 0.05) in the L (60%) than in the C group (73%). The total number of embryos and number of viable-transferable embryos (5.0 ± 0.3 and 3.4 ± 0.3 embryos, respectively) of the L group were lower (P < 0.1) when compared with controls (8.4 ± 0.4 and 6.2 ± 0.4 embryos, respectively). Undernutrition during the period of superovulation and early embryonic development reduced total and viable number of embryos. These effects might be mediated by disruption of endocrine homeostasis, oviduct environment and/or oocyte quality.
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Vázquez M, Forcada F, Sosa C, Casao A, Sartore I, Fernández-Foren A, Meikle A, Abecia J. Effect of exogenous melatonin on embryo viability and uterine environment in undernourished ewes. Anim Reprod Sci 2013; 141:52-61. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2013.07.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/05/2013] [Revised: 06/10/2013] [Accepted: 07/18/2013] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Sosa C, Forcada F, Meikle A, Abecia J. Increase in ovine plasma cortisol at oestrus and its relation with the metabolic status during the sexual cycle in sheep. BIOL RHYTHM RES 2013. [DOI: 10.1080/09291016.2012.704793] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/28/2022]
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Urrutia-Morales J, Meza-Herrera CA, Tello-Varela L, Díaz-Gómez MO, Beltrán-López S. Effect of nutritional supplementation upon pregnancy rates of goats under semiarid rangelands and exposed to the male effect. Trop Anim Health Prod 2012; 44:1473-7. [PMID: 22311376 DOI: 10.1007/s11250-012-0090-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Accepted: 01/24/2012] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate possible effects of improved protein and energy diet upon reproductive outcomes of adult goats under marginal rangeland grazing conditions and exposed to the male effect during the anoestrous-dry season. Adult goats (Nubian × Criollo, nonpregnant, nonlactating, n = 160, 22° 50' N, 100° 59' W, 1,653 m) were randomly divided in two experimental groups: Control (CG; n = 80) and Supplemented (SG; n = 80). Both CG and SG goats were kept together during the day for ranging a semiarid rangeland while separated accordingly at night. SG goats were individually supplemented [400 g kg(-1) day(-1); 14% CP and 2.92 Mcal DE kg(-1)] during a 30-day period. Thereafter, both the CG [35.5 ± 0.94 kg LW, 1.95 ± 0.06 U, body condition score (BCS)] and the SG [39.5 ± 0.94 kg LW, 2.29 ± 0.06 BCS] were exposed to adult males (Nubian, n = 4, two per group) of proven libido and fertility and kept together at night (1700-0900) during a 42-day experimental breeding period. At the beginning of the breeding period, both LW (P < 0.001) and BCS (P < 0.001) were higher in the SG, which was also reflected in higher pregnancy rate (92.5 vs. 76.3%, P < 0.01). Nonetheless, both CG and SG depicted an increased abortion rate (52.5 vs. 41.9% P > 0.05), respectively. Results suggest that nutritional supplementation and the male effect were able to successfully invoke neurophysiological pathways to increase ovarian activity and to promote a uterine milieu prone to the establishment of pregnancy during the anoestrus season. However, the increased abortion rates observed in the study occurred irrespective of the nutritional regime offered during the premating stage. Therefore, there is a need to align the last third of gestation to the onset of the grazing season in order to increase reproductive and economic efficiency in those rangeland-based marginal goat production systems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jorge Urrutia-Morales
- Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, Agrícolas y Pecuarias, San Luis Potosí, Mexico
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The effect of gestational undernutrition on maternal weight change and fetal weight in lines of mice selected for different growth characteristics. Br J Nutr 2011; 105:539-48. [PMID: 21269545 DOI: 10.1017/s0007114510004022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/07/2022]
Abstract
The present study investigated whether the genetic growth characteristics (fast or slow growing, lean or fat) of a mother influences her ability to partition nutrients to developing offspring. A total of sixty-one pregnant mice of three selected lines were used: fast-growing, relatively fat (FF, n 19); fast-growing, relatively lean (FL, n 23); and normal growth, relatively lean (NL, n 19). On day 1 of pregnancy, mice were given either ad libitum access to food (control (C): n 32) or pair-fed at 80 % of C intake (restricted (R): n 29). Feed intake and dam weight were measured daily. The weight of the mouse, organs, mammary tissue and the weight of fetuses and placentas were determined at day 18 of gestation. Overall, R dams gained less than half the weight of C dams during gestation. NL dams gained the most weight, and FF dams gained the least weight (P < 0·001). R dams in the fast-growing lines mobilised significantly more body fat during gestation than the NL line (P < 0·001) and had a greater reduction in mammary tissue growth. The relative weight of the litter increased in R dams of the FF line but was reduced in both the lean lines. Undernutrition reduced fetal and placental weight, and reduced placental efficiency in all the lines. The reduction was least in the FF line and greatest in the FL line. The data suggest that selection of animals for different growth characteristics alters their response to undernutrition during pregnancy, the relatively fat line was better able to buffer its offspring from the effects of undernutrition than the lean lines, regardless of their underlying rate of growth.
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A within farm clinical trial to compare two treatments (parenteral antibacterials and hoof trimming) for sheep lame with footrot. Prev Vet Med 2010; 96:93-103. [PMID: 20627343 DOI: 10.1016/j.prevetmed.2010.05.006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/14/2009] [Revised: 04/07/2010] [Accepted: 05/08/2010] [Indexed: 10/19/2022]
Abstract
From observational studies, farmers who use parenteral antibacterials to promptly treat all sheep with footrot (FR) or interdigital dermatitis (ID) have a prevalence of lameness of < 2% compared with a prevalence of 9% lameness reported by farmers who treat lame sheep by trimming affected feet. We tested the hypothesis that prompt treatment of sheep lame with naturally developing FR or ID with parenteral and topical antibacterials reduces the prevalence and incidence of lameness with these conditions compared with less frequent treatment with trimming of hoof horn and applying topical antibacterials.A further hypothesis was that reduction of ID and FR would improve productivity. A lowland sheep flock with 700 ewes was used to test these hypotheses in an 18-month within farm clinical trial with four groups of ewes: two intervention and two control. The duration and severity of lameness was used to categorise sheep into three weighted scores of lameness (WLS): never lame (WLS0), mildly lame/lame for < 6 days (WLS1) and severely or chronically lame (WLS2). The intervention reduced the prevalence of lameness due to FR and ID in ewes and lambs and the incidence of lameness in ewes. The WLS was also significantly lower in sheep in the intervention groups. Ewes with a higher WLS were subsequently significantly more likely to have a body condition score < 2.5 and to have lame lambs. Significantly more ewes lambed and successfully reared more lambs that were ready for slaughter at a younger age in the intervention versus control groups. There was an increase in the gross margin of Pound630/100 ewes mated in the intervention group, including the cost of treatment of Pound150/100 ewes mated. We conclude that prompt parenteral and topical antibacterial treatment of sheep lame with ID and FR reduced the prevalence and incidence of these infectious conditions and led to improved health, welfare and productivity.
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Shorten P, Peterson A, O’Connell A, Juengel J, McNatty K, Soboleva T. A mathematical model of pregnancy recognition in mammals. J Theor Biol 2010; 266:62-9. [DOI: 10.1016/j.jtbi.2010.06.005] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2010] [Revised: 05/31/2010] [Accepted: 06/02/2010] [Indexed: 01/28/2023]
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Sejian V, Maurya VP, Naqvi SMK. Effect of thermal stress, restricted feeding and combined stresses (thermal stress and restricted feeding) on growth and plasma reproductive hormone levels of Malpura ewes under semi-arid tropical environment. J Anim Physiol Anim Nutr (Berl) 2010; 95:252-8. [PMID: 20796074 DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0396.2010.01048.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 32] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
A study was conducted to assess the effect of thermal, nutritional and combined stresses (thermal and nutritional) on the growth, oestradiol and progesterone levels during oestrus cycles in Malpura ewes. Twenty-eight adult Malpura ewes were used in the present study. The ewes were randomly allocated into four groups, viz., GI (n=7; control), GII (n=7; thermal stress), GIII (n=7; restricted feeding) and GIV (n=7; combined stress). The animals were stall fed with a diet consisting of 60% roughage and 40% concentrate. GI and GII ewes were provided with ad libitum feeding while GIII and GIV ewes were provided with restricted feed (30% intake of GI and GII ewes) to induce nutritional insufficiency. GII and GIV ewes were kept in climatic chamber at 40°C and 55% RH for 6 h a day between 10:00 and 16:00 hours to induce thermal stress for a period of two oestrous cycles. Parameters studied were body weight, oestrus incidences, plasma oestradiol 17-β, plasma progesterone, conception rate, gestation period, lambing rate, and birth weight of lambs. The results indicate that combined stress significantly (p<0.05) reduced body weight, oestrus duration, birth weight of lambs, and oestradiol 17-β whereas significantly (p < 0.05) increased oestrus cycle length and progesterone. Furthermore, the results reveal that on comparative basis, ewes were able to better adapt in terms of growth and reproduction to restricted feeding than thermal stress. However, when restricted feeding was coupled with thermal stress it had significant (p<0.05) influence on body weight, average daily gain, oestradiol 17-β and progesterone concentrations. This showed that combined stress were more detrimental for these reproductive hormones in Malpura ewes under a hot semi-arid environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- V Sejian
- Adaptation Physiology Laboratory, Division of Physiology & Biochemistry, Central Sheep & Wool Research Institute, Avikanagar, Rajasthan, India
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Vázquez MI, Abecia JA, Forcada F, Casao A. Effects of exogenous melatonin on in vivo embryo viability and oocyte competence of undernourished ewes after weaning during the seasonal anestrus. Theriogenology 2010; 74:618-26. [PMID: 20570337 DOI: 10.1016/j.theriogenology.2010.03.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/16/2009] [Revised: 03/05/2010] [Accepted: 03/13/2010] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of exogenous melatonin on embryo viability and oocyte competence in post-partum undernourished ewes during the seasonal anestrus. At parturition (mid-Feb), 36 adult Rasa Aragonesa ewes were assigned to one of two groups: treated (+MEL) or not treated (-MEL) with a subcutaneous implant of melatonin (Melovine(R), CEVA) on the day of lambing. After 45 d of suckling, lambs were weaned, ewes were synchronized using intravaginal pessaries, and fed to provide 1.5x (Control, C) or 0.5x (Low, L) times daily maintenance requirements. Thus, ewes were divided into four groups: C-MEL, C+MEL, L-MEL, and L+MEL. At estrus (Day=0), ewes were mated. At Day 5 after estrus, embryos were recovered by mid-ventral laparotomy and classified based on their developmental stage and morphology. After embryo collection, ovaries were recovered and oocytes were classified and selected for use in in vitro fertilization (IVF). Neither diet nor melatonin treatment had a significant effect on ovulation rate and on the number of ova recovered per ewe. Melatonin treatment significantly improved the number of fertilized embryos/corpus luteum (CL) (-MEL: 0.35 +/- 0.1, +MEL: 0.62 +/- 0.1; P = 0.08), number of viable embryos/CL (-MEL: 0.23 +/- 0.1, +MEL: 0.62 +/- 0.1; P < 0.01), viability rate (-MEL: 46.6%, +MEL: 83.9%; P < 0.05), and pregnancy rate (-MEL: 26.3%, +MEL: 76.5%; P < 0.05). In particular, exogenous melatonin improved embryo viability in undernourished ewes (L-MEL: 40%, L+MEL: 100%, P < 0.01). Neither nutrition nor exogenous melatonin treatments significantly influenced the competence of oocytes during IVF. Treatment groups did not differ significantly in the number of healthy oocytes used for IVF, number of cleaved embryos, or number of blastocysts and, consequently, the groups had similar cleavage and blastocyst rates. In conclusion, melatonin treatments improved ovine embryo viability during anestrus, particularly in undernourished post-partum ewes, although the effects of melatonin did not appear to be mediated at the oocyte competence level.
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Affiliation(s)
- M I Vázquez
- Departamento de Producción Animal y Ciencia de los Alimentos, Facultad de Veterinaria, Universidad de Zaragoza, Miguel Servet 177, Zaragoza, Spain (C.P. 50013).
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Rauw WM, Thain DS, Teglas MB, Wuliji T, Sandstrom MA, Gomez-Raya L. Adaptability of pregnant Merino ewes to the cold desert climate in Nevada. J Anim Sci 2009; 88:860-70. [PMID: 19933439 DOI: 10.2527/jas.2009-2221] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Grazing ability is difficult to record in animals under free-ranging conditions without sophisticated methods. Alternatively, grazing ability may be indirectly inferred from changes in BW and production characteristics during the grazing period. The present study investigated the effect of grazing on resource-limited rangelands on BW, wool characteristics, and offspring weaning weights in nine hundred five 5/8, 7/8, and fullblood Merino ewes of 2 to 7 yr of age during a grazing period of approximately 2.5 mo (between January and March). A total of 469 ewes gave birth to a single lamb, 248 to twin lambs, and 188 did not give birth. Body weights were measured and wool samples taken before and after the ewes were allowed to graze freely on the rangelands; absolute change in BW and change in BW as a percentage of initial BW were estimated. On average, grazing on resource-poor rangelands resulted in BW loss, a reduction in fiber diameter and its CV, and increased staple length. Animals with finer wool at the start of the grazing period lost phenotypically (r = -0.07, P < 0.05) and genetically (r = -0.23, P < 0.05) less BW during the grazing period and had a greater probability to carry 1 lamb (or 2) to term (P < 0.05). Animals that lost less BW produced more greasy fleece (r = 0.09, P < 0.01). Body weight change did not significantly influence offspring weaning weights. Change in BW was moderately heritable at h(2) = 0.29; fiber diameter was strongly heritable at h(2) = 0.51. Animals with the least inclusion of Merino genetics lost more BW (P < 0.01) during the grazing period and had a more uniform fiber diameter (P < 0.05) but shorter staples (P < 0.05) and less fleece (P < 0.0001) than animals with a greater level of Merino genetics. Our results indicate that animals with finer wool appeared to be better adapted to the cold Nevada desert. Thus, selection for finer wool may positively influence adaptability to resource-limited cold climate conditions; alternatively, BW change may be selected for directly. Because nutritional deficiencies during pregnancy can have adverse consequences for the offspring, indirect selection for grazing ability would foremost result in healthier ewes that can produce lambs and wool without compromising their welfare.
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Affiliation(s)
- W M Rauw
- Department of Animal Biotechnology, University of Nevada, Reno 89557, USA.
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Arrebola FA, Abecia JA, Forcada F, Garcia A, Martín RA, Mesa O. Effects of annual rainfall and farm on lamb production after treatment with melatonin implants in Merino sheep: a 4-year study. N Z Vet J 2009; 57:141-5. [PMID: 19521462 DOI: 10.1080/00480169.2009.36893] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 10/18/2022]
Abstract
AIM To determine the effects of annual rainfall and farm on the efficacy of melatonin implants in improving lamb production in Merino sheep in Spain. METHODS A study was conducted on 3,871 Merino sheep on six farms over a 4-year period (2004-2007). Melatonin implants were inserted during the second half of February or early March (winter) (Melatonin group) or not (Control group). Multinomial logistic regression was used to determine the effects of melatonin, farm and year, and their interactions, on reproductive outcomes. Regression analysis was used to examine the relationship between annual rainfall and the percentage of ewes lambing, percentage of lambs born to ewes lambing, and overall lambing percentage, for each year and treatment group within farm. RESULTS Annual rainfall, farm and treatment with melatonin, and their interactions, had a significant effect on the reproductive performance of ewes (p<0.001). Treatment with melatonin increased the percentage of ewes lambing (Melatonin group = 77 (SEM 4)%, Control group = 44 (SEM 7)%; p<0.0001), and overall lambing percentage (Melatonin group = 109 (SEM 1)%, Control group = 59 (SEM 2)%; p<0.0001). Treatment differences were especially pronounced in 2005 and 2006, when annual rainfall was exceptionally low; ewes in the Control group had the lowest lambing rates those years. Lambing rates and overall lambing percentage were positively correlated (p<0.05) with the amount of annual rainfall but the correlation coefficients were higher in the Control than Melatonin group. CONCLUSIONS Melatonin implants are an effective means of improving lamb production of Merino ewes, especially in harsh environments where low annual rainfall limits the availability of food. When melatonin treatment was used, however, the responses of flocks on individual farms were difficult to predict because within a year, responses did not occur on all farms.
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Affiliation(s)
- F A Arrebola
- IFAPA Hinojosa del Duque, Carretera el Viso, km 2, 14270 Córdoba, Spain
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Sosa C, Gonzalez-Bulnes A, Abecia JA, Forcada F, Meikle A. Short-Term Undernutrition Affects Final Development of Ovulatory Follicles in Sheep Synchronized for Ovulation. Reprod Domest Anim 2009; 45:1033-8. [DOI: 10.1111/j.1439-0531.2009.01483.x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
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Lafi SQ, Talafha AQ, Giadinis N, Kalaitzakis E, Pourliotis K, Panousis N. Factors affecting the reproductive performance of Awassi sheep flocks in north-east of Jordan: An epidemiological study. Trop Anim Health Prod 2009; 41:1755-64. [DOI: 10.1007/s11250-009-9374-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2009] [Accepted: 05/08/2009] [Indexed: 10/20/2022]
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Vázquez M, Forcada F, Casao A, Sosa C, Palacín I, Abecia J. Effects of melatonin and undernutrition on the viability of ovine embryos during anestrus and the breeding season. Anim Reprod Sci 2009; 112:83-94. [DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2008.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2008] [Revised: 03/17/2008] [Accepted: 04/02/2008] [Indexed: 01/07/2023]
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Fitz-Rodríguez G, De Santiago-Miramontes MA, Scaramuzzi RJ, Malpaux B, Delgadillo JA. Nutritional supplementation improves ovulation and pregnancy rates in female goats managed under natural grazing conditions and exposed to the male effect. Anim Reprod Sci 2009; 116:85-94. [PMID: 19231114 DOI: 10.1016/j.anireprosci.2009.01.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/31/2008] [Revised: 12/31/2008] [Accepted: 01/14/2009] [Indexed: 10/21/2022]
Abstract
Two experiments were conducted to determine if nutritional supplementation improved ovulation and pregnancy rates in female goats managed under grazing conditions and submitted to the male effect. In Experiment 1, one group of does did not receive nutritional supplementation, while the other group was supplemented daily for 7 days starting at the time when the males were introduced to the females. The ovulation rate at the second male-induced ovulation was greater (P<0.05) in supplemented (2.0+/-0.1) than in non-supplemented (1.6+/-0.1) does. For Experiment 2, female goats were supplemented for 0, 7, 14 or 28 days, starting 9 days following buck introduction. The proportion of does that were pregnant in the group supplemented for 28 days was greater (P<0.05) than in the non-supplemented group, but did not differ from 14-day and the 7-day supplemented groups. The proportion of pregnant does was greater (P<0.05) in the group supplemented for 14 days compared to the group supplemented for 7 days and the non-supplemented group. These latter two groups did not differ (P>0.05). In conclusion, feed supplementation for 7 days, starting at the time when males were introduced increased ovulation rate and feed supplementation for 14 or 28 days starting 9 days after males were introduced improved pregnancy rates in goats managed under grazing conditions and exposed to males.
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Affiliation(s)
- G Fitz-Rodríguez
- Centro de Investigación en Reproducción Caprina, Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, C.P., Torreón, Coahuila, Mexico
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Sosa C, Abecia JA, Carriquiry M, Forcada F, Martin GB, Palacín I, Meikle A. Early pregnancy alters the metabolic responses to restricted nutrition in sheep. Domest Anim Endocrinol 2009; 36:13-23. [PMID: 18838244 DOI: 10.1016/j.domaniend.2008.08.003] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/10/2008] [Revised: 07/29/2008] [Accepted: 08/25/2008] [Indexed: 11/28/2022]
Abstract
This study investigated whether a 27-day period of nutrition at half-maintenance during early pregnancy (up to Day 14) could alter maternal endocrine responses. Forty-six ewes were fed all or half of their maintenance requirements and slaughtered on Day 14 of the oestrous cycle or pregnancy. We used real time RT-PCR to study gene expression of growth hormone receptor (GHR) and leptin in adipose tissue and GHR, GHR1A and of the insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) in the liver. Blood profiles of metabolites and metabolic hormones were also determined. Throughout the experiment, underfed animals presented lower body weight and body condition, greater plasma concentrations of non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), and lower plasma concentrations of leptin, compared to adequately fed animals. Undernutrition affected the patterns of gene expression in adipose and hepatic tissues, and the responses differed between pregnant and non-pregnant ewes. In adequately fed ewes, pregnancy up-regulated leptin mRNA expression in adipose tissue, a response that was impaired in underfed ewes. The hepatic expression of IGF-I mRNA was increased by pregnancy in underfed animals while no effect was observed in adequately fed ewes. It remains to be determined whether the changes in the endocrine milieu are paralleled by modifications in uterine gene expression that could alter the environment of the embryo during early pregnancy.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Sosa
- Department of Animal Production and Food Science, Veterinary Faculty, Miguel Servet 177, 50013 Zaragoza, Spain
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