Suchergebnisse

The neotropical stink bug Euschistus heros is the predominant and most important insect pest affecting soybean cultivation. Knowledge of the spatial pattern of the pest in an area is critical to understanding its behavior. The objective of this work was to study the spatial distribution of E. heros in transgenic soybean cultivars of different maturing cycles. The experiments were conducted in the seasons 2013/14 and 2014/15 in FCAV/UNESP, Jaboticabal, SP. Three fields were selected, and each was marked an area of 8.000 m2 (0.8 ha), with each area divided into 80 portions of 100 m2 (10 m x 10 m). The transgenic soybean cultivars of different maturing cycles were: SYN 1365 RR (early), M 7908 RR (average), and BRS Valiosa RR (late). Samples were taken weekly using a beat sheet, registering the number of nymphs and adults of E. heros. To study the dispersion of E. heros, the following indices were used: variance/mean ratio, Morisita index, Green coefficient, and the exponent k of the negative binomial distribution. For studies of special distribution models of E. heros, adjustments of Poisson distribution and negative binomial distribution were tested. The spatial distribution of nymphs and adults was aggregated for all the cultivars studied, indicating that cultivars did not alter the distribution behavior of E. heros.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the reproductive performance of Ile de France ewes undergoing dietary supplementation before and during the breeding season, with and without association with management conditions (pre-mating shearing). Thirty-six ewes with an average body weight of 66 kg were used in the experiment. Treatments involved ewes receiving or not receiving concentrate supplementation (flushing), with groups subdivided according to the management condition to which animals were subjected: shearing or lack of it. Thus, ewes were divided into four treatments: flushed and shorn; flushed and unshorn; unflushed and shorn; and unflushed and unshorn. Flushing increased weight gain and body condition score, and when associated with shearing, it promoted anticipation of estrus. Fertility rate (86.05%), calving rate (77.77%), birth rate (113.83%), and type of birth (single: 82.29% and twin: 17.71%) were not influenced. Birth weight (3.96 kg) and prolificacy (1.25%) also were not affected. Despite the lack of changes in reproductive traits, flushing adopted during the breeding season associated with shearing anticipated estrus in ewes.

The purpose of the present investigation was to examine the effects of unilateral and bilateral jugular vein occlusion via temporary surgical ligature on arterial blood gases in horses during treadmill exercise. Six horses performed three exercise tests (ETs). ET1, considered to be the control, was performed in horses without jugular occlusion. ET2 and ET3 were performed in horses with unilateral and bilateral occlusion via temporary surgical ligature of the jugular veins, respectively. The partial pressure of oxygen (PO2) and partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) were determined. The PO2 showed decreased values during ET2 and ET3, suggesting that horses presenting acute jugular thrombophlebitis may have airflow limitations when exercising.

This experiment aimed to evaluate the effect of supplementation with Gliricidia fodder salt on intake, nutrient digestibility, and feeding behavior of lambs. Twenty-five Santa Inês crossbred male sheep at approximately 180 days of age, with an average live weight of 25 kg, were confined in individual 1-m2 stalls and distributed in a randomized complete design with five treatments and five replications. Treatments consisted of 0 (1,000 g/kg?1 NaCl), 930, 950, 970, and 990 g/kg?1 inclusion of Gliricidia hay (70, 50, 30, and 10 g/kg?1 NaCl in the formulation of the fodder salt, respectively). The animals were fed ground Tifton-85 (Cynodon spp.) hay, ground fodder salt and or mineral salt, and water ad libitum, at 07h00 and 17h00. Intakes of dry matter, mineral matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, and neutral detergent fiber were influenced (P<0.05) by supplementation with Gliricidia fodder salt. Crude protein intake increased linearly (P<0.01), while mineral-salt intake decreased linearly (P<0.01) as the levels of Gliricidia hay in the fodder salt were increased. There was no difference (P>0.05) in nutrient digestibility due to supplementation. Rumination time and number of cuds ruminated per day decreased (P<0.05), whereas rumination chews per cud increased (P<0.05). Feed and rumination efficiencies (g DM and NDF h?1) increased (P<0.01) with supplementation, and so did the rumination efficiency (P<0.01) expressed in g DM and NDF cud?1. Supplementation with Gliricidia fodder salt increases nutrient intake and positively changes the feeding behavior of lambs.

The study was developed in the Sheep Production Laboratory of the Department of Animal Science, College of Agricultural and Veterinary Sciences, São Paulo State University, Jaboticabal, SP, Brazil. Thirty-two non-castrated Ile de France lambs weighing 20.0 ± 0.2 kg received 4 diets with a roughage: concentrate ratio of 40: 60. The experimental treatments consisted of D1: corn silage + concentrate; D2: corn silage + concentrate + 30 mg rosemary extract kg body weight1; D3: corn silage + concentrate + 30 mg green tea extract kg body weight-1; and D4: corn silage + concentrate + 30 mg oregano extract kg body weight-1, up to 35.0 ± 0.2 kg body weight. The objectives were to evaluate rib eye area, cholesterol content, lipid oxidation, qualitative parameters, as well as perform sensory analysis, centesimal composition, and fatty acid profile of the meat. The experimental design was completely randomized with four treatments and eight replicates. The treatments were compared by Tukey's test through the SAS software (Statistical Analysis System Institute [SAS], 2003). Inclusion of phytogenic additives into the diets did not affect the qualitative parameters cholesterol content, lipid oxidation, and centesimal composition (except for protein content, which was lower in D2, 22.57%, compared to D1, 25.62%), as well as meat fatty acid profile (except for C18: 1n7 cis-vaccenic). The use of phytogenic additives provided suitable qualitative parameters.

Bovine mastitis is one of the main causes of economic damage in dairy farms. Therefore, the control and prevention of microorganisms involved in this disease, mainly Escherichia coli, Staphylococcus aureus, and Streptococcus agalactiae, are essential. One of the most important steps for the prevention of the disease is the use of antiseptic products before and after the milking process to avoid bacteria from infecting the udder of the animal. Currently, the most used antiseptic product in dairy farms is iodine-based, and organic dairy farms, which follow several strict regulations, including the use of natural products whenever possible, are often forced to adopt non-natural antiseptic products, such as iodine-based ones, because of the lack of natural alternatives. Propolis, a natural substance produced by honeybees, has been extensively studied for its various properties, one of which is antimicrobial activity. Therefore, a new natural antiseptic product containing 1% propolis in 10% hydroalcoholic solution for the pre-dipping, and 10% glycerol solution added with 0.2% citronella oil for the post-dipping was analyzed for its capacity to reduce bacteria in vivo in order to prevent bovine mastitis, allowing its use on organic dairy farms. A total of 128 samples were analyzed in terms of bacterial growth for Enterobacteriaceae and Staphylococcus spp. using the spreadplate technique. The reduction in the bacterial concentration after the application of the products was compared between two antiseptic solutions, an iodine-based solution as the control and a propolis-based one as the natural alternative. The results obtained show a similar efficiency for both products in terms of total bacterial reduction, indicating considerable antimicrobial activity against bacteria most commonly associated with bovine mastitis. Molecular analysis was carried out for the identification of Streptococcus agalactiae; the PCR results were negative for the presence of S. agalactiae in all samples, indicating that the animals most likely did not have any form of the disease. The efficiency of the natural antiseptic was satisfactory, indicating an important find facilitating organic milk production worldwide, showcasing a natural antiseptic solution with efficient antimicrobial activity.