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Barragán AL, Avendaño-Reyes L, Mellado-Bosque M, Meza-Herrera CA, Vicente-Pérez R, Castañeda VJ, Díaz-Molina R, Macías-Cruz U. Seasonal heat stress compromises testicular thermoregulation and semen quality of Dorper rams raised in a desert climate. J Therm Biol 2023; 118:103737. [PMID: 37944301 DOI: 10.1016/j.jtherbio.2023.103737] [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: 06/09/2022] [Revised: 10/16/2023] [Accepted: 10/20/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023]
Abstract
Dorper rams are widely distributed throughout the world under different climatic conditions, however, little is known about their reproductive performance in desert regions. Ten Dorper rams were individually housed and exposed to thermoneutrality for 35 d in spring (23.6 ± 5.6 °C, mean ± SD) and outdoor heat stress (HS) for 35 d in summer (33.6 ± 2.0 °C) to evaluate the effect of seasonal HS on physiological responses, testicular biometry, and seminal quality under desert climatic conditions. Rectal temperature, respiration rate and coat surface temperatures in different body regions were measured every 7 d (0600, 1200, and 1800 h); also, testicular biometry was registered at 0600 h. Semen was collected via an artificial vagina 3 d after physiological variables were measured and seminal traits were evaluated. Rectal temperature, respiration rate and coat surface temperatures were higher (P < 0.01) at each hour of measurement in summer compared to spring. Overall, scrotal length and circumference, as well as testicular volume were higher (P < 0.01) in summer than in spring. Compared to spring conditions, summer HS caused lower (P ≤ 0.05) sperm concentration and viability combined with a higher percentage of sperm abnormalities without affecting ejaculate volume. Both mass and sperm motility were similar between seasons in the first two sampling weeks, and then decreased (P ≤ 0.03) due to summer HS. In conclusion, Dorper rams developed testicle hyperthermia and, consequently, showed poor semen quality due to the high environmental temperatures prevailing in desert regions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Alejandra L Barragán
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Instituto de Ciencias Agrícolas, Mexicali, Baja California, 21705, Mexico
| | - Leonel Avendaño-Reyes
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Instituto de Ciencias Agrícolas, Mexicali, Baja California, 21705, Mexico
| | - Miguel Mellado-Bosque
- Universidad Autónoma Agraria Antonio Narro, Departamento de Nutrición Animal, Saltillo, Coahuila, 25315, Mexico
| | - César A Meza-Herrera
- Universidad Autónoma Chapingo, Unidad Regional Universitaria de Zonas Áridas, Bermejillo, Durango, 35230, Mexico
| | - Ricardo Vicente-Pérez
- Universidad de Guadalajara-CUCSUR, Departamento de Producción Agrícola, Autlán de Navarro, Jalisco, 48900, Mexico
| | - Vielka J Castañeda
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Instituto de Ciencias Agrícolas, Mexicali, Baja California, 21705, Mexico
| | - Raúl Díaz-Molina
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Facultad de Medicina, Mexicali, Baja California, 21100, Mexico
| | - Ulises Macías-Cruz
- Universidad Autónoma de Baja California, Instituto de Ciencias Agrícolas, Mexicali, Baja California, 21705, Mexico.
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Gurgeira DN, Crisóstomo C, Sartori LVC, de Paz CCP, Delmilho G, Chay-Canul AJ, Bedoya HJN, Vega WHO, Bueno MS, da Costa RLD. Characteristics of growth, carcass and meat quality of sheep with different feed efficiency phenotypes. Meat Sci 2022; 194:108959. [PMID: 36084489 DOI: 10.1016/j.meatsci.2022.108959] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/24/2022] [Revised: 08/25/2022] [Accepted: 08/26/2022] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
The objective was to evaluate the performance, carcass and meat quality of 40 lambs classified by RFI (residual feed intake) and RIG (residual intake and gain). Dry matter intake (DMI) was recorded to calculate the RFI and RIG, classified as efficient, moderately or inefficient. After the confinement period, they were slaughtered and the carcass and meat quality were determined. The efficient animals had DMI scores of 0.700 RFI and 0.400 kg/d RIG, lower than the inefficient ones with similar weight gain. The RFI efficient animals showed greater shear force, without effect in the RIG classification. In general, the variables analyzed were not influenced by RFI or RIG. Efficiency measures do not affect the carcass and meat quality of sheep, but they do have the advantage of identifying animals with lower feed consumption, making the system more efficient. However, as the dataset is limited to fully assess the effects, this manuscript can be used as preliminary results for future studies.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Charleni Crisóstomo
- Instituto de Zootecnia, Rua Heitor Penteado, 56, Nova Odessa, SP 13380-011, Brazil
| | | | | | - Gustavo Delmilho
- Instituto de Zootecnia, Rua Heitor Penteado, 56, Nova Odessa, SP 13380-011, Brazil
| | - Alfonso Juventino Chay-Canul
- Universidad Juárez Autónoma de Tabasco, Carretera Villahermosa-Teapa, km 25, R/A La Huasteca, Centro, Tabasco, C.P. 86280, Mexico
| | | | - Wilder Hernando Ortiz Vega
- Centro Universitário UNINTA, Rua. Antônio Rodrigues Magalhães, 359 - Dom Expedito, Sobral, CE 62050-100, Brazil
| | - Mauro Sartori Bueno
- Instituto de Zootecnia, Rua Heitor Penteado, 56, Nova Odessa, SP 13380-011, Brazil
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