Growth performance, carcass, and meat quality traits of Tropical Milking criollo bulls fed with two energy-level diets

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of two energy-level diets on the beef performance of Tropical Milking criollo bulls grouped by weight and age in three periods: initial, middle, and final. Evidence on intensive beef production from Tropical Milking criollo cattle breeds are unknown, and productive alternatives for dairy producers in the hot tropics are needed. Bulls were fed in each period with low (LE, 2.2 Mcal ME/kg DM) and high (HE, 2.9 Mcal ME/kg DM) energy diets and content phase feeding protein of 14.5, 12.0, and 10.3%, respectively. For each period, ten bulls were randomly assigned to diets. In all periods, growth performance for final body weight, average daily gain, feed intake, and feed conversion were all superior in HE (p ≤ 0.05). For the final period, slaughter body, hot and cold carcass weights, and dressing were also superior in HE (p ≤ 0.05); for meat quality traits, differences were observed in muscles Longissimus dorsi, Semimembranosus, Infraspinatus, and Serratus ventralis for pH and tenderness (p ≤ 0.05), although not for diets. For color L*, a*, and b* system, neither diet nor muscle had effect on L* (p > 0.05); however, the diet-muscle interaction was significant for a* (p ≤ 0.05), and only muscle effect was detected for b* (p ≤ 0.05). Tropical Milking bulls responded positively to a high-energy diet, despite not being a beef breed.

Detection of Candidate Genes Associated with Fecundity through Genome-Wide Selection Signatures of Katahdin Ewes

One of the strategies to genetically improve reproductive traits, despite their low inheritability, has been the identification of candidate genes. Therefore, the objective of this study was to detect candidate genes associated with fecundity through the fixation index (F_ST) and runs of homozygosity (ROH) of selection signatures in Katahdin ewes. Productive and reproductive records from three years were used and the genotypes (OvineSNP50K) of 48 Katahdin ewes. Two groups of ewes were identified to carry out the genetic comparison: with high fecundity (1.3 ± 0.03) and with low fecundity (1.1 ± 0.06). This study shows for the first time evidence of the influence of the CNOT11, GLUD1, GRID1, MAPK8, and CCL28 genes in the fecundity of Katahdin ewes; in addition, new candidate genes were detected for fecundity that were not reported previously in ewes but that were detected for other species: ANK2 (sow), ARHGAP22 (cow and buffalo cow), GHITM (cow), HERC6 (cow), DPF2 (cow), and TRNAC-GCA (buffalo cow, bull). These new candidate genes in ewes seem to have a high expression in reproduction. Therefore, future studies are needed focused on describing the physiological basis of changes in the reproductive behavior influenced by these genes.

Kisspeptin Stimulates the Pulsatile Secretion of Luteinizing Hormone (LH) during Postpartum Anestrus in Ewes Undergoing Continuous and Restricted Suckling

This study tested whether the intravenous application of kisspeptin can stimulate the pulsatile secretion of LH in suckling ewes during postpartum anestrus. Ten days after lambing, Pelibuey ewes were allocated among two groups: (1) continuous suckling (n = 8), where the lambs remained with their mothers; and (2) restricted suckling (n = 8), where the mothers suckled their lambs twice daily for 30 min. On Day 19 postpartum, the ewes were individually penned with ad libitum access to water and feed and given an indwelling catheter in each jugular vein. On Day 20, 4 mL of blood was sampled every 15 min from 08:00 to 20:00 h to determine LH pulse frequency. At 14:00 h, four ewes in each group received 120 μg of kisspeptin diluted in 3 mL of saline as a continuous infusion for 6 h; the remaining four ewes in each group received only saline. The interaction between kisspeptin and suckling type did not affect LH pulse frequency (p > 0.05). Before kisspeptin administration, pulse frequency was similar in all groups (1.50 ± 0.40 pulses per 6 h; p > 0.05). With the application of kisspeptin, pulse frequency increased to 3.50 ± 0.43 pulses per 6 h (p ≤ 0.014), so the concentration of LH (1.11 ± 0.14 ng mL^-1) was greater in kisspeptin-treated ewes than in saline-treated ewes (0.724 ± 0.07 ng mL^-1; p ≤ 0.040). The frequency of LH pulses was greater with restricted suckling than with continuous suckling (2.44 ± 0.29 versus 1.69 ± 0.29 pulses per 6 h; p ≤ 0.040). We conclude that intravenous application of kisspeptin increases the pulsatile secretion of LH in suckling ewes and that suckling might reduce kisspeptin neuronal activity, perhaps explaining the suppression of ovulation. Moreover, the effects of kisspeptin and suckling on pulsatile LH secretion appear to be independent, perhaps operating through different neural pathways.

Efecto de la raza paterna en características de la canal de corderos para carne en Hidalgo, México

Efecto de la raza paterna en características de la canal de corderos para carne en Hidalgo, México   El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar los efectos de la raza paterna (Charollais, Dorset y Texel), utilizando ovejas Hampshire, sexo y tipo de nacimiento de la cría, en características de la canal de los corderos. Después del destete (74±8 días), 45 corderos de estas cruzas se finalizaron durante 63 días, consumiendo una dieta balanceada con 14% de PC y 2.82 Mcal de EM/kg de MS. Los corderos se pesaron y se sacrificaron a los 137 días de edad; posteriormente, se tomaron medidas de peso y rendimiento de la canal caliente y fría, área del ojo de chuleta, espesor de grasa subcutánea, longitud de canal, longitud de pierna, perímetro de grupa y se calculó el índice de compacidad de la canal; además se determinó la composición regional de la canal (espaldilla, bajos, badal, pierna, cuello, y costillar). Los datos se analizaron utilizando un modelo mixto. Los corderos de padre Charollais tuvieron el mayor (P<0.05) área del ojo de chuleta (20.1±0.5 cm2), mientras que los de padre Dorset fueron superiores (P<0.05) en longitud interna de la canal (66.3±0.9 cm) y longitud de pierna (34.8±0.3 cm). Los machos superaron a las hembras (P<0.05) en la mayoría de las variables analizadas. Los corderos de parto sencillo tuvieron medias mayores que los de parto doble (P<0.05) en espesor de la grasa subcutánea y longitud de la pierna. En general, las cruzas con Charollais y Dorset mostraron superioridad en las características de la canal.     Efecto de la raza paterna en características de la canal de corderos para carne en Hidalgo, México   El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar los efectos de la raza paterna (Charollais, Dorset y Texel), utilizando ovejas Hampshire, sexo y tipo de nacimiento de la cría, en características de la canal de los corderos. Después del destete (74±8 días), 45 corderos de estas cruzas se finalizaron durante 63 días, consumiendo una dieta balanceada con 14% de PC y 2.82 Mcal de EM/kg de MS. Los corderos se pesaron y se sacrificaron a los 137 días de edad; posteriormente, se tomaron medidas de peso y rendimiento de la canal caliente y fría, área del ojo de chuleta, espesor de grasa subcutánea, longitud de canal, longitud de pierna, perímetro de grupa y se calculó el índice de compacidad de la canal; además se determinó la composición regional de la canal (espaldilla, bajos, badal, pierna, cuello, y costillar). Los datos se analizaron utilizando un modelo mixto. Los corderos de padre Charollais tuvieron el mayor (P<0.05) área del ojo de chuleta (20.1±0.5 cm2), mientras que los de padre Dorset fueron superiores (P<0.05) en longitud interna de la canal (66.3±0.9 cm) y longitud de pierna (34.8±0.3 cm). Los machos superaron a las hembras (P<0.05) en la mayoría de las variables analizadas. Los corderos de parto sencillo tuvieron medias mayores que los de parto doble (P<0.05) en espesor de la grasa subcutánea y longitud de la pierna. En general, las cruzas con Charollais y Dorset mostraron superioridad en las características de la canal.     

Comparison of parasitological and productive traits of Criollo lambs native to the central Mexican Plateau and Suffolk lambs experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus

The study compares the parasitological and productive traits of Criollo lambs native to the central Mexican Plateau (CNCMP) and Suffolk (SU) lambs experimentally infected with Haemonchus contortus. CNCMP lambs (n=20) and SU lambs (n=15) were infected with L3 of H. contortus while five lambs of each genotype were kept as controls. Fecal egg count (FEC), packed cell volume (PCV), blood eosinophil number (BEN), ocular mucous membrane color (as measured by the FAMACHA index), changes in body condition score (BCS) and cumulative live weight gain (CLWG) were measured weekly during a 20-week period. On week 20, all animals were euthanized and the number of adult worms (AW) in the abomasum was counted. Infected SU lambs had higher (p<0.05) FEC and AW mean values compared to CNCMP lambs, which had a higher mean BEN count (p<0.05). Infected lambs had lower PCV values than controls, regardless of genotype, and had a negative correlation (r=-0.84, p<0.05) with the FAMACHA index. BCS tended to decline for infected SU lambs and increased slightly for infected CNCMP lambs. CLWG differed in all groups (p<0.05); infected SU lambs gained 12.1+/-1.9kg, infected CNCMP lambs gained 18.8+/-0.7kg, control SU lambs gained 34.6+/-1.6kg, and control CNCMP lambs gained 26.9+/-0.8kg. In conclusion, CNCMP lambs had a smaller worm burden, a better ability to maintain their productive traits, and were less affected by infection with Haemonchus contortus.