POLYMORPHISM OF DNA MICROSATELLITE AMONG CHUKOTKA REINDEER

The article presents the results of DNA microsatellite polymorphism with the use of a commercial kit containing 16 markers: Rt6, BMS1788, Rt30, Rt1, Rt9, C143, Rt7, OheQ, FCB193, C217, Rt24, BMS745, NVHRT16, T40 и C276. The study object is domestic reindeer procured from Chukotka AO to Nizhnekolymsky district of the Republic of Sakha (Yakutia) to refresh the blood of Chukotka reindeer under the rehabilitation program and improvement of reindeer breeding condition. Allele frequency, indicators of observed and expected heterozygosity, fix index and polymorphism were calculated. The calculation of allele frequencies showed that microsatellite markers have a wide range of alleles and high informative value for detecting genetic differences between animals and groups of animals. A total of 116 alleles were identified, which gave an average of 7.25 alleles per locus, and the number of effective alleles was 3.9. Indicators of observed and expected heterozygosity were 0.713 and 0.691. The highest number of alleles 12 and 13 were found in locus OheQ и BMS1788 and the smallest in locus C 143, which had 2 alleles. Also, 3 alleles were identified in locus C217 and C32. The results of the study can contribute to receiving information on the genetic structure of the Chukchi reindeer and using an improvement population program in Yakutia. Moreover, the results can be used in methods development and DNA test rules in the northern reindeer breeding.

Hormonal Profile Study of Bangladeshi Crossbred Dairy Cows in Relation to Repeat Breeding

The repeat breeding condition affects both the fertility of cows and the economy of farmers and the nation. Normal levels of various biochemical constituents are indispensable for the normal functioning of various body systems of animals, including the reproductive system. The hormonal profile is an indicator of the reproductive status and aids in the prognosis and restoration of animal fertility. The present study explores the implication of four hormones (luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin and prolactin) on the normal cycle breeding process of Bangladeshi normal cyclic cows and repeat breeder dairy cows. Among four hormones, the levels of luteinizing hormone and prolactin were significantly different between the normal cyclic cows and repeat breeder cows. The assessment of hormonal profile aids in ameliorating the repeat breeding conditions of the dairy cows. The findings of the present study could be applied in overcoming repeat breeding problems in dairy cows and thus, economic loss could be lessened.

Hormonal Profile Study of Bangladeshi Crossbred Dairy Cows in Relation to Repeat Breeding

The repeat breeding condition affects both the fertility of cows and the economy of farmers and the nation. Normal levels of various biochemical constituents are indispensable for the normal functioning of various body systems of animals, including the reproductive system. The hormonal profile is an indicator of the reproductive status and aids in the prognosis and restoration of animal fertility. The present study explores the implication of four hormones (luteinizing hormone, follicle-stimulating hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin and prolactin) on the normal cycle breeding process of Bangladeshi normal cyclic cows and repeat breeder dairy cows. Among four hormones, the levels of luteinizing hormone and prolactin were significantly different between the normal cyclic cows and repeat breeder cows. The assessment of hormonal profile aids in ameliorating the repeat breeding conditions of the dairy cows. The findings of the present study could be applied in overcoming repeat breeding problems in dairy cows and thus, economic loss could be lessened.

Implication of some biochemical parameters on normal cyclic and repeat breeding process in Bangladeshi dairy cows

Repeat breeding is one the most common reproductive disorders that hinders favorable productivity in domestic animals. Repeat breeding in dairy cows not only affects the fertility of the cattle to a considerable extent but also incurs great economic loss to the farmer. Biochemical profile can indicate the nutritional status and help in diagnosis and management of infertility in animals. Present study explores the implication of some biochemical parameters (total protein, bilirubin and some macro minerals as calcium, inorganic phosphorus and magnesium) on normal cyclic breeding process of Bangladeshi dairy cows. Current observation indicates that the lower calcium, inorganic phosphorus and magnesium concentrations might be associated with the ovulatory disturbances in repeat breeder cows. On the other hand, total protein and bilirubin do not play a significant role in causing repeat breeding problem in those cows. Thus, this study provides supportive evidence about the importance of calcium, inorganic phosphorus and magnesium in the resumption of repeat breeding condition. Asian J. Med. Biol. Res. June 2020, 6(2): 305-310

THE SECOND HALF OF THE 19TH CENTURY AND THE BEGINNING OF THE 20TH CENTURY (as on example of a horse)

This article deals with the livestock breeding condition in Turkistan region at the second port of the 19th century and the beginning of the 20th century. The field is analyses by comparing methods of cattle raising in emirates and khanates of that time

Response of colonial Peruvian guano birds to flying UAVs: effects and feasibility for implementing new population monitoring methods

Background Drones are reliable tools for estimating colonial seabird numbers. Although most research has focused on methods of improving the accuracy of bird counts, few studies have evaluated the impacts of these methods on bird behavior. In this study, we examined the effects of the DJI Phantom 3 drone approach (altitude, horizontal and vertical descent speeds) on changes in the intensity of behavioral response of guano birds: guanay cormorants (Phalacrocorax bougainvilli), Peruvian boobies (Sula variegata) and Peruvian pelicans (Pelecanus thagus). The breeding and non-breeding condition was also evaluated. Methods Eleven locations along the Peruvian coast were visited in 2016–2017. Drone flight tests considered an altitude range from 5 to 80 m from the colony level, a horizontal speed range from 0.5 to 15 m/s, and a vertical descent speed range from 0.5 to 3 m/s. The intensity of the behavioral response of birds was scored and categorized as: 0-no reacting, 1-head pointing to the drone (HP), 2-wing flapping (WF), 3-walking/running (WR) and 4-taking-off/flying (TK). Drone noise at specific altitudes was recorded with a sound meter close to the colony to discriminate visual from auditory effects of the drone. Results In 74% of all test flights (N = 507), guano birds did not react to the presence of the drone, whereas in the remaining flights, birds showed a sign of discomfort: HP (47.7%, N = 130), WF (18.5%), WR (16.9%) and TK (16.9%). For the drone approach tests, only flight altitude had a significant effect in the intensity of the behavioral response of guano birds (intensity behavioral response <2). No birds reacted at drone altitudes above 50 m from the colony. Birds, for all species either in breeding or non-breeding condition, reacted more often at altitudes of 5 and 10 m. Chick-rearing cormorants and pelicans were less sensitive than their non-breeding counterparts in the range of 5–30 m of drone altitude, but boobies reacted similarly irrespective of their condition. At 5 m above the colony, cormorants were more sensitive to the drone presence than the other two species. Horizontal and vertical flights at different speeds had negligible effects (intensity behavioral response <1). At 2 m above the ground, the noise of the cormorant colony was in average 71.34 ± 4.05 dB (N = 420). No significant differences were observed in the drone noise at different flight altitudes because the background noise of the colony was as loud as the drone. Conclusions It is feasible to use the drone DJI Phantom 3 for surveys on the guano islands of Peru. We recommend performing drone flights at altitudes greater than 50 m from guano bird colonies and to select take-off spots far from gulls. Likewise, this study provides a first step to develop guidelines and protocols of drone use for other potential activities on the Peruvian guano islands and headlands such as surveys of other seabirds and pinnipeds, filming and surveillance.

Evidence of breeding activity of subadult Turdus thrushes in Argentina

Little is known about the age at which many Neotropical bird species first attempt to breed. We evaluated the breeding condition of 515 adult and subadult males and females among four species of Turdus thrushes (T. nigriceps, T. chiguanco, T. amaurochalinus and T. rufiventris) in Tucumán, Argentina during three breeding seasons (2015 to 2018). We registered a total of 126 individuals with brood patches and cloacal protuberances, which accounted for 24.5% of thrushes in breeding condition that we sampled. Forty thrushes had a brood patch (31.7% of those in breeding condition), of which 11 were subadults (8.7%). Eighty-six thrushes (68.3%) had a swollen cloacal protuberance, 18 of which were subadults (14.3%). Only a few of the subadults in breeding condition built nests, incubated eggs or raised nestlings. Of 130 nests we found, only 3 belonged to a subadult thrush (in all cases, a subadult female with an adult social mate), one of which was successful. Further research on these patterns among various Neotropical bird species could lead to important insights into the life history strategies that characterize different populations, and how these ultimately affect their population dynamics.

Fin whale singing decreases with increased swimming speed

The attributes of male acoustic advertisement displays are often related to a performer's age, breeding condition and motivation, but these relationships are particularly difficult to study in free-ranging marine mammals. For fin whale singers, we examined the relationships between a singer's swimming speed, song duration and amount of singing. We used a unique set of fin whale singing and swimming data collected in support of the US Navy's marine mammal monitoring programme associated with the Navy's Integrated Undersea Surveillance System. A goal of the programme is to improve understanding of the potential effects of anthropogenic sound sources on baleen whale behaviours and populations. We found that as whales swam faster, some continued to sing, while others did not. If swimming speed is an indication of male stamina, then singing while swimming faster could be a display by which females and/or other males assess a singer's physical fitness and potential reproductive quality. Results have implications for interpreting fin whale singing behaviour and the possible influences of anthropogenic sounds on fin whale mating strategies and breeding success.

The Cloacal Microbiome Changes with the Breeding Season in a Wild Bird

The symbiotic microbial communities, or “microbiomes,” that reside on animals are dynamic, and can be affected by the behavior and physiology of the host. These communities provide many critical beneficial functions for their hosts, but they can also include potential pathogens. In birds, bacteria residing in the cloaca form a complex community, including both gut and sexually-transmitted bacteria. Transmission of cloacal bacteria among individuals is likely during the breeding season, when there is direct cloacal contact between individuals. In addition, the major energetic investment in reproduction can draw resources away from immune responses that might otherwise prevent the successful establishment of microbes. We assessed dynamic variation in the cloacal microbiome of free-living rufous-collared sparrows (Zonotrichia capensis) through sequential breeding and non-breeding seasons. We found that the cloacal bacterial communities differed between the sexes when they were in breeding condition. Further, in males, but not in females, the bacterial community became more diverse with the onset of reproduction, and then decreased in diversity as males transitioned to non-breeding condition. Individuals sampled across sequential breeding seasons did not accumulate more bacterial taxa over seasons, but bacterial community composition did change. Our results suggest that the cloacal microbiome in birds is dynamic and, especially in males, responsive to breeding condition.

Gambaran Darah Kukang Dipelihara pada Kandang Penangkaran

Maintenance of wildlife outside its original habitat is usually for the purposes of the exhibition in zoos, for research and captive breeding effort, especially for endangered species which eventually return to nature. The adaptability of the animals outside their original habitat can be seen from their health and their ability to reproduce in ex situ (captive) environment. One of the parameter that can be used to determine a health an animal is by observing their blood parameters and compared it with normal reference, however for many wild animals reference data for normal blood parameters are limited or not available. This study was conducted to determine a normal reference of blood parameters of slow lories that are kept in captive breeding condition, consisted of routine hematology and blood chemistry. This study used five animals consisting of four of N. coucang (1 male and three female) and one female N. javanicus. The results of the analysis showed that the value of hemoglobin, MCV, PDW, MPC, and erythrocytes (RBC) were higher on the male slow lories, while leukocytes (WBC), hematocrit, and MCHC were higher on the female. There were no significant differences between blood parameters of N. coucang and N. javanicus.