Resposta reprodutiva na apresentação de zelagem, fertilidade e prolificidade em ovelhas pelibues, sincronizadas com FGA, P4, PMSG e efeito masculino / Reproductive response on the presentation of zeal, fertility and prolificity in pelibuey sheep, synchronized with FGA, P4, PMSG and male effect

A aplicação do efeito macho (E.M.) como substituto do PMSG em ovelhas tratadas com esponjas vaginais FGA, com o objetivo de induzir e sincronizar o calor das ovelhas sem aumentar excessivamente a prolificidade, reduzindo assim o custo do tratamento. Para tanto, foram utilizadas 60 ovelhas da raça pelibuey, divididas aleatoriamente em três grupos: grupo 1 (Controle): o protocolo foi o clássico, utilizando uma esponja APG vaginal em dose normal (40 mg, Cronogest®, Intervet) durante 11 dias. PMSG (500 IU.IM.) foi injetado 2 dias antes (dia 9) da remoção da esponja. O grupo foi mantido isolado dos machos até o dia do acasalamento dirigido. Grupo 2: apenas ½ esponja FGA (20mg. Cronogest®, Intervet) sem PMSG foi usada. No dia 5 foi injetada progesterona (25mg, IM em solução oleosa) e no dia 8 o "efeito masculino" foi causado. Grupo 3: Com apenas ½ esponja FGA (20mg, Cronogest®, Intervet) também injetando progesterona (25mg, IM em solução oleosa no dia da inserção da esponja) sem PMSG, por 6 dias. Três dias antes (dia 3) da remoção da esponja, o "efeito masculino" foi obtido. Os ovinos dos grupos G1, G2 e G3 não mantinham contato com os machos há 30 dias. Um macho foi usado para detecção de cio e mais dois para acasalamento. O grupo controle foi superior apenas no tempo de apresentação do calor em relação ao G2 e G3 com diferença estatística (p 0,05). Para as variáveis de fertilidade e prolificidade, não houve diferenças significativas (p 0,05) entre os três grupos. Esses resultados demonstram as grandes possibilidades de utilização do efeito macho ao invés do PMSG para sincronização de calor em ovinos.

Impacts of Short-Term Water Restriction on Pelibuey Sheep: Physiological and Blood Parameters

One of the projected effects of climate change is a reduction in rainfall in certain regions of the world. Hence, the agricultural and livestock sectors will have to cope with increasing incidences of water shortage whilst still maintaining productivity levels to feed an ever increasing global population. This short communication reports on the effect of a two week water stress on Pelibuey sheep in Cuba. Three treatments were compared viz. supply of water ad libitum; water supplied once every 3 or 6 d. Following exposure to the water stress, the results showed no changes in sheep body weight or rectal temperature. However, respiration frequency was affected with water stress causing a reduction from 23.3 to 13.3 respirations per min in control and water deprived animals, respectively. Furthermore, there was evidence for hemoconcentration in response to water stress (levels of hemoglobin increased from 9.2 to 13.1 g L-1 and hematocrits from 27.6 to 39.3% in the control group and animals restricted to water once every 6 d. The imposed water stress was also evident in the reduction of lymphocytes (from ±63 to 43%), and in increase of neutrophils (from approximately 38 to 54%) and leukocytes (from 3133 to 4933 per mm3). The results indicated a decline in the levels of antioxidants, i.e. SOD (SOD from approximately 13 to 10 U mg-1 protein and CAT activity from 23 to 9 U mg-1 protein. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report on the response of Pelibuey sheep to short-term water shortage stress under Cuban environmental conditions.

Udder Measurements and Their Relationship with Milk Yield in Pelibuey Ewes

The study aimed to evaluate the relationship between udder measurements and milk yield (MY) in dairy Pelibuey ewes. Udder measurements were taken twice a week for eight weeks before (initial) and after (final) milking, including udder depth (UD), udder circumference (UC), udder width (UW), teat length (TL) and teat diameter (TD) in 38 multiparous ewes. Additionally, udder volume (UV) and the difference (VDF) between initial UV (UVi) and final (UVf) was calculated as VDF = UVi − UVf. The MY varied from 0.10 kg/d to 1.04 kg/d, with a mean of 0.39 kg/d, ± 0.18 kg/d. Initial UC (UCi) ranged from 25.80 cm to 53.30 cm, and VDF varied from 1 cm3 to 2418 cm3. The TL and TD were not correlated with MY (p > 0.05), while UCi, UVi and VDF were positively correlated with MY (p < 0.0001; r = from 0.66 to 0.74). For the prediction of MY, the obtained equations had an r2 ranging from 0.54 to 0.63. The UCi, UDf, UWi and UWf were included in these models (p < 0.05). It is concluded that there was an acceptable correlation (r = 0.60) between the measurements of the udder, the volume of the udder and the daily milk yield in Pelibuey sheep. When direct measurements of milk production cannot be performed in practice, the measurement of udders and their volume could be a viable alternative to estimate milk yield production as an indirect method.