MORPHO-PHYSIOLOGICAL RESPONSES OF BOS INDICUS, BOS TAURUS AND CROSSBRED WEANED HEIFERS TO SEASONAL VARIATIONS

Animals kept in extensive production systems are constantly exposed to the effects of climatic aspects, which could favour thermal discomfort, decreasing productive and reproductive performances. Utilisation of Bos taurus crosses with Bos indicus animals is increasing in the tropics aimed at improving production and it is now well known how these animals respond in such environment. The objective was to characterize the morpho-physiological thermoregulation responses of weaned heifers from four different genetic groups to infer regarding the different degrees of adaptation to heat under tropical conditions Forty-eight, pasture-kept, 6-month-old, weaned heifers from four distinct genetic groups: (1) Nellore; (2) Senepol; (3) Angus x Nellore; and, (4) ¼ Brahman x ¼ Nellore x ½ Senepol (Tri-cross) were evaluated. Skin, hair coat and rectal temperatures; sweating rate; respiratory and heart rates; visual analysis of hair and hair coat colour; hair coat temperature and thickness; and length, diameter, density and number of hairs were evaluated. In addition, the temperature-humidity index, black-globe temperature and humidity index, and radiant thermal load were determined. Angus x Nellore animals presented the lowest (P=0.008) respiratory rate. Rectal temperature did differ (P=0.001) between seasons. Angus x Nellore heifers showed the greatest (P=0.001) values for the morphological measures in the evaluated months, coinciding with thermal comfort indexes above those considered comfortable for cattle. Nellore (Bos indicus), Brahman x Nellore x Senepol, and Senepol (B. taurus) present the best adaptive traits in savanna. The utilisation of B. indicus animals or adapted breed confers desirable morphological characteristics for the tropical environment.

Download Full-text

257 DIFFERENCES BETWEEN BOS TAURUS AND BOS INDICUS EMBRYOS: TRANSCRIPTS AMOUNTS

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rdv22n1ab257 ◽

2010 ◽

Vol 22 (1) ◽

pp. 285

Author(s):

S. Wohlres-Viana ◽

M. M. Pereira ◽

A. P. Oliveira ◽

J. H. M. Viana ◽

M. A. Machado ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Production System ◽

Production Systems ◽

Bos Taurus ◽

Bos Indicus ◽

In Vitro Production ◽

Embryo Production ◽

Peroxiredoxin 1 ◽

Vitro Production

The Zebu breeds (Bos indicus) are different from European breeds (Bos taurus) in some aspects of their reproductive physiology, including follicle recruitment, number of follicular waves, and oocyte ultrastructure. On the other hand, embryos produced in vivo and in vitro show morphological and developmental differences, which can be related to culture environment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of breed (Gyr v. Holstein) within embryo production system (in vivo and in vitro), as well as effect of production systems within breeds on relative abundance of transcripts related to formation, survival, and subsequent development of blastocysts, such as those involved in water and small solutes transport (Aquaporins 3 and 11), blastocoel formation (Na+/K+-ATPase a1 and |52), and cellular stress response (Peroxiredoxin 1). For in vivo embryo production, donors were superstimulated with FSH and inseminated, and embryos were recovered 7 days after AI. For in vitro embryo production, oocytes recovered by ovum pickup were in vitro matured and fertilized and then cultured for 7 days in culture medium under 5% CO2 at 38.5°C. For each group, blastocysts (n = 15) distributed in 3 pools were used for RNA extraction (RNeasy MicroKit, Qiagen, Valencia, CA, USA), followed by RNA amplification (Messageamp II amplification kit, Ambion-Applied Biosystems, Foster City, CA, USA) and reverse transcription (SuperScript III First-Stand Synthesis Supermix, Invitrogen, Carlsbad, CA, USA). The cDNA were submitted to real-time PCR, using the H2a gene as endogenous control, and analyzed by REST© software. To evaluate breed effect within the production systems, 2 comparisons were performed: (1) in vivo: Gyr v. Holstein and (2) in vitro: Gyr v. Holstein, considering Holstein data as 1.00. To evaluate production system effect within breeds, 2 comparisons were performed: (1) Gyr: in vivo v. in vitro and (2) Holstein: in vivo v. in vitro, considering in vivo produced embryo data as 1.00. The results are shown as mean ± SEM. For in vivo comparison between breeds, Aquaporin 3 (1.66 ± 0.77), Na+/K+-ATPase a1 (1.61 ± 0.56), and Peroxiredoxin 1 (1.61 ± 0.66) were up-regulated (P < 0.05) in Gyr embryos when compared with Holstein embryos, whereas for in vitro comparison, no differences (P > 0.05) were found. For comparisons between production systems within breeds, only Peroxiredoxin 1 (0.31 ± 0.39) was down-regulated (P < 0.01) in in vitro produced Gyr embryos when compared with in vivo counterparts. No differences (P > 0.05) were found between production systems for the Holstein breed. In conclusion, these data suggest that there is a difference on gene expression between Bos taurus and Bos indicus blastocysts, but such difference between breeds can be attenuated by the in vitro production system, indicating an embryo adaptation to the in vitro culture conditions. The data also suggest that the in vitro production system can influence the amount of transcripts in Gyr embryos. Other genes should be evaluated for a better understanding of these differences. Financial support was provided by CNPq and FAPEMIG.

Download Full-text

Genetic parameters for tropical beef cattle in northern Australia: a review

Australian Journal of Agricultural Research ◽

10.1071/ar9930179 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 44 (2) ◽

pp. 179 ◽

Cited By ~ 48

Author(s):

GP Davis

Keyword(s):

Genetic Parameters ◽

Production Systems ◽

Bos Taurus ◽

Bos Indicus ◽

Genetic Correlations ◽

Environmental Stresses ◽

Northern Australia ◽

Weighted Mean ◽

Weaning Weight ◽

Reproduction Traits

This paper reviews published estimates of genetic parameters for traits of growth, reproduction and resistance to environmental stresses for Bos indicus and Zebu derived breeds in northern Australia. Most published estimates of heritabilities for growth and reproduction traits were higher for tropically adapted breeds in northern Australia than for Bos taurus breeds in temperate Australia. Weighted mean estimates of heritabilities for the direct component of weaning weight were 39% for the Brahman breed and 30% for Zebu-derived breeds in northern Australia compared with 13% for Bos taurus breeds in temperate areas of Australia. Mean estimates for the maternal component of weaning weight were 5, 24 and 13% respectively. Mean heritabilities for yearling and 550 day weights for Zebu derived breeds in northern Australia (24 and 25%) were similar to those for Bos taurus breeds in temperate areas, though estimates for Brahmans were higher (39 and 39%). Published estimates of heritabilities of later weights (700 and 900 days), which are most relevant to northern Australian production systems, were rare but averaged between 32 and 45% for Zebu-derived breeds and Brahmans. Weighted mean heritability for female calving success was 14% and for realised bull fertility was 5%. Published estimates of heritabilities of scrota1 circumference averaged 31%, and testosterone response to GNRH stimulation was 52%. Heritabilities of resistance to various environmental stresses were all moderate with weighted means between 20 and 34%. Genetic correlations between growth, reproduction and resistance to environmental stresses are also reviewed. There appears to be predictable variation in estimates of parameters between breeds in different environments which is related to level of resistance to environmental stresses, and this is likely to affect the prediction of breeding values for cattle in northern Australia.

Download Full-text

Urinary purine derivatives excretion in Bos taurus and Bos indicus cattle

Proceedings of the British Society of Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0308229600032360 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 1998 ◽

pp. 23-23

Author(s):

F. Herrera Gomez ◽

F.D.DeB Hovell ◽

C.A. Sandoval Castro

Keyword(s):

Small Intestine ◽

Urinary Excretion ◽

Bos Taurus ◽

Bos Indicus ◽

Purine Derivatives ◽

Non Invasive ◽

N Supply ◽

Tropical Conditions ◽

Invasive Method ◽

Microbial N

The purine derivatives (PD) have been proposed as a non-invasive method to estimate microbial-N supply to the small intestine (Chen et al., 1990a; Verbic et al., 1990). The use of PD urinary excretion has the advantage that it can be used with intact animals thus reducing the concern of animal welfare issues. Although, there are known differences in purine metabolism between cattle (B. taurus), sheep and buffaloes (Bubalis bubalis) (Chen et al., 1990b; Chen et al., 1996), no direct comparison of PD urinary excretion has been made so far between cattle especies, therefore, the objective of the present experiment was to compare PD urinary excretion of B. taurus and B. indicus cattle fed similar diets under tropical conditions.

Download Full-text

Thermosensitivity of Bos indicus cattle and their F1, crosses with three breeds of Bos taurus

Animal Science ◽

10.1017/s0003356100005687 ◽

1991 ◽

Vol 52 (1) ◽

pp. 57-65 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Khub Singh ◽

N. K. Bhattacharyya

Keyword(s):

Ambient Temperature ◽

Rectal Temperature ◽

Heat Production ◽

Bos Taurus ◽

Bos Indicus ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Ambient Temperatures ◽

Brown Swiss ◽

Genetic Groups ◽

Holstein Friesian

ABSTRACTResting heat production (H), respiratory rate (RR) and rectal temperature (Tr) were measured at different controlled temperatures (Tt) in Hariana (Bos indicus) and its F, crosses with Jersey (JH), Brown Swiss (BH) and Holstein Friesian (FH) (Bos taurus) breeds and the values obtained were used to assess their relative thermosensitivity.The lowest Tt at which H significantly decreased from that at 17°c was 32°c for Hariana, JH and BH and 27°c for FH after exposure for 8 days. The corresponding values after exposure for 18 days were 37°c for Hariana and 32°c for all the three crossbred groups. Differences between the genetic groups were also significant. The lowest Tt at which metabolizable energy (ME) decreased significantly in comparison with those at 17CC was 32°c in all the genetic groups. The differences in ME intake between genetic groups were significant only at 32°c Tt. The lowest Tt at which RR significantly increased from those at 17°c were 32°c in Hariana, 27°c in JH, BH and FH for both 5 to 7 and 15 to 17 days of exposure. The corresponding Tt for increase in Tr was 37°c in Hariana, 32°c in JH and 27°c in BH and FH at both 5 to 7 and 15 to 17 days of exposure.The ambient temperature at which H would have significantly decreased and RR and Tr increased from the respective values at 17CC Tt were calculated curvilinearly for different genetic groups. There were differences in these values of calculated ambient temperatures between genetic groups and between exposure durations in respect of H, RR, and Tr, indicating differences in thermosensitivity.

Download Full-text

Energetic efficiency of protein and body fat retention in crossbred Bos indicus and Bos Taurus × Bos indicus raised under tropical conditions

Revista Brasileira de Zootecnia ◽

10.1590/s1516-35982009000800024 ◽

2009 ◽

Vol 38 (8) ◽

pp. 1581-1586

Author(s):

Douglas Sampaio Henrique ◽

César de Queiroz ◽

Ricardo Augusto Mendonça Vieira ◽

Mosar Faria Botelho

Keyword(s):

Body Fat ◽

Correction Factor ◽

Bos Taurus ◽

Bos Indicus ◽

Metabolizable Energy ◽

Energetic Efficiency ◽

Energy Fraction ◽

Protein Retention ◽

Tropical Conditions ◽

Partial Body

The efficiency of fat and protein retention by Bos indicus and its cross-breds was estimated from data obtained in the literature to verify possible differences between these animals and Bos taurus. After estimating the efficiencies, a correction factor was used to discount the metabolizable energy fraction that was spent in the maintenance and support metabolism processes. The efficiencies were then estimated again, assuming that all the remaining energy would correspond to the metabolizable energy available for body mass retention. The correction value used was considered satisfactory to discount energetic losses for maintenance and support. The efficiency values of partial body fat and protein retention in Bos indicus and its cross-bred were very similar to values reported by other authors who researched Bos taurus exclusively.

Download Full-text

Induction of ovulation with GnRH and PGF2a in lactating Bos taurus × Bos indicus cows

Acta Veterinaria Hungarica ◽

10.1556/avet.52.2004.4.12 ◽

2004 ◽

Vol 52 (4) ◽

pp. 501-508 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

C. Ahuja ◽

F. Montiel

Keyword(s):

Body Condition ◽

Artificial Insemination ◽

Bos Taurus ◽

Body Condition Score ◽

Bos Indicus ◽

Ovarian Activity ◽

Induction Of Ovulation ◽

Tropical Conditions ◽

Condition Score ◽

Timed Artificial Insemination

Induction of ovulation for timed artificial insemination (TAI) with the Ovsynch protocol was evaluated in 49 anoestrous and lactating Bos taurus × Bos indicus cows. Palpation per rectum and transrectal ultrasonography were used on Days -30, -20, -10 and 0 (start of treatment) to confirm anoestrus but with the presence of follicles = 10 mm, and every other day during treatment to determine ovarian activity. Cows were randomly assigned to: (1) Ovsynch (n = 24; Day 0, 200 µg GnRH; Day 7, 150 µg PGF2a; Day 9, 200 µg GnRH + TAI 16 to 20 h later) and (2) control (n = 25; no treatment). Rates of ovulation for the first GnRH injection, detection of a corpus luteum (CL) at PGF2a injection, pregnancy and induction of cyclicity were greater (P < 0.05) with Ovsynch. There was no effect of body condition score (P ? 0.05). In conclusion, the Ovsynch protocol was not effective in obtaining acceptable pregnancy rate for TAI, but it was effective for induction of cyclicity in anoestrous and lactating Bos taurus × Bos indicus cows under tropical conditions.

Download Full-text

Reproductive parameters of Bos taurus and Bos indicus bulls during different seasons in tropical conditions: focus on an alternative approach to testicular assessments using ultrasonography

Animal Reproduction Science ◽

10.1016/j.anireprosci.2020.106668 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 225 ◽

pp. 106668

Author(s):

Roberta Ferreira Leite ◽

João Diego de Agostini Losano ◽

Daniel de Souza Ramos Angrimani ◽

Raphaela Gabrielle Brito Sousa ◽

Álvaro de Miranda Alves ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Bos Taurus ◽

Bos Indicus ◽

Reproductive Parameters ◽

Alternative Approach ◽

Tropical Conditions ◽

Different Seasons

Download Full-text

154 EFFECTS OF THE BREED AND SEASON ON THE FERTILITY OF TROPICAL DUAL PURPOSE COWS

Reproduction Fertility and Development ◽

10.1071/rdv18n2ab154 ◽

2006 ◽

Vol 18 (2) ◽

pp. 184 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

H. Nava-Trujillo ◽

A. Hernández ◽

H. Hernández-Fonseca ◽

E. Soto-Belloso ◽

F. Perea-Ganchou

Keyword(s):

Bos Taurus ◽

Bos Indicus ◽

Oocyte Quality ◽

Dry Season ◽

Chi Square ◽

Dual Purpose ◽

Extra Energy ◽

Tropical Conditions ◽

Energy Supplementation ◽

Observation Period

First service fertility is an important factor affecting the calving-conception interval and the number of services per conception. In the present study, first service fertility of 618 multiparous dual purpose cows was analyzed according to breed predominance (Bos indicus and Bos taurus) and service season: dry (December-March); sub-humid (April-August); and humid season (September-November). All cows were located in a sub-humid tropical forest area, characterized by 1950 mm/year of rainfall and a mean daily temperature of 28.3�C. Cows were milked and suckled twice a day. Estrus was detected twice a day with a minimum observation period of 30 min. All cows were serviced according to the international rule AM-PM with semen of one of two Brahman bulls (A and B). All cows received water and mineral salt ad libitum during the entire year. Additionally, during the dry season cows received an energy supplementation. Data were analyzed using the chi-square procedure of SAS (SAS/STAT User's Guide, 8.2 ed. Cary, NC: SAS Institute, Inc., 2001). No bull effects were observed on first service fertility (bull A: 37.70%, 105/305; and bull B: 40.26%, 126/313; P > 0.05). Breed predominance significantly affected the first service fertility, being higher in Bos indicus cows (47.48%) than in Bos taurus cows (32.78%; P < 0.05). The higher first service fertility of Bos indicus cows seen during the year was probably because Bos indicus cattle are more thermotolerant than Bos taurus cattle (Hansen 2004 Anim. Reprod. Sci. 82-83, 349-360). Moreover, season of service did not affect the first service fertility of Bos indicus cows (dry: 48.95%, 70/143; sub-humid: 50%, 33/66; and humid: 41.30%, 19/46; P > 0.05). While in Bos taurus cows, first service fertility was higher in cows serviced during the dry season (43.24%) in comparison with those serviced during the sub-humid (28.26%; P < 0.05) or humid season (23.58%; P < 0.05). No differences were observed between Bos taurus cows serviced in the sub-humid and the humid season (P > 0.05). First service fertility did not differ between Bos indicus and Bos taurus cows serviced during the dry season (P > 0.05), which is likely due to the lower relative humidity and extra energy supplementation. This may improve oocyte quality. In conclusion, fertility of Bos taurus cattle is more sensitive than that of Bos indicus cattle under tropical conditions; therefore, the implementation of a reproductive seasonality scheme is recommended to increase the reproductive efficiency of Bos taurus cattle.

Download Full-text