The aim of this study was to determine the influence of the season of birth on the body weight, testicular size, testosterone concentrations, semen output and sexual behaviour in Saint Croix male lambs. Thirty-three lambs were born in spring (n = 10), summer (Sum; n = 12) or autumn (n = 11). Body weight and the scrotal circumference were weekly recorded; semen was also weekly collected by electroejaculation; and sexual behaviour towards oestrous ewes was weekly evaluated. Data were recorded from 15 to 33 weeks of age. The reproductive development of Saint Croix male lambs differed according to the period in which they were born. More lambs born in spring than in summer and autumn achieved puberty during this study and were also more precocious in semen production and displayed sexual behaviour earlier. Lambs born in summer delayed their semen production; however, season-related negative effects were less pronounced at the end of the study than in autumn born lambs born. In conclusion, despite the apparently low seasonality of the breed, Saint Croix male lambs showed in this study a seasonal pattern in their reproductive development at least until they achieve the puberty.

Seasonality in Saint Croix male lamb reproductive development in northern Mexico.

Introduccion : la alimentacion de los ovinos en el tropico representa del 48 a 90 % de los costos de produccion, ademas, el uso de granos hace dependientes a los ovinocultores del mercado internacional. Ganancias de peso moderadas se han obtenido con follaje de plantas arbustivas, sin embargo, algunas plantas como el Tulipan ( Hibiscus rosa-sinensis ) presentan compuestos que pueden actuar como fito-estrogenos, lo que puede comprometer el uso potencial en la alimentacion de sementales ovinos pelibuey.                        Metodo : doce sementales ovinos Pelibuey, de 24±3 meses de edad, con un peso de 44±5 kg y una condicion corporal de 2.3 + 0.3 en una escala de 1 a 5 fueron asignados a 2 tratamientos (n=6) durante 45 dias. En dietas con base en pasto de corte ( Pennisetum purpureum x P. Typhoides var. CT-115 ), para el tratamiento 1 (T1), se utilizo alimento comercial (500 g d -1 por ovino) con 16% de PC; y para el tratamiento 2 (T2), 20% de Tulipan (451 g MS/ kg MV, ~1.6 kg d -1 por ovino). Al finalizar la prueba se evaluo la calidad seminal, las variables de respuesta fueron: volumen del eyaculado (Vol, ml) y a traves del Analisis de Semen Asistido por Computadora (CASA) la concentracion espermatica (CE, Millones por ml) y ocho parametros de motilidad individual: velocidad curvilinea (VCL, m/s), velocidad rectilinea (VSL, m/s), velocidad promedio (VAP, m/s), indice de linealidad (LIN, %), indice de rectitud (STR, %), indice de oscilacion (WOB, %), amplitud media del desplazamiento lateral de la cabeza (ALH, m) y frecuencia de batido de cola (BCF, Hz). Para determinar las diferencias entre las medias para tratamientos para Vol y CE, VCL, VSL y VAP se utilizo una t de Student; para los parametros de motilidad individual se realizo una reduccion de factores y una clasificacion en dos fases de los indices obtenidos para caracterizar las subpoblaciones espermaticas por motilidad. Los analisis fueron realizados con el software SPSS 15.0 para Windows Resultados : no se encontraron diferencias significativas (P>0.05, T1 vs T2, Media±DE) para volumen del eyaculado (0.79±0.31 vs 0.81±0.32 ml), o Concentracion Espermatica/ml (4051±729.5 vs 4860 ± 598.6 millones/ml). Para motilidad espermatica se encontraron diferencias (P<0.01) en VCL (90.18±39.16 vs 131.26±63.16 m/s), VSL (52.94±36.72 vs 71.64±54.44 m/s), VAP (70.42±36.23 vs 101.41±59.87 m/s), LIN (55.14±27.02 vs 50.88±26.64 %), STR (69.16±24.93 vs 65.68±24.52 %), WOB (75.94±16.81 vs 73.47±18.94 %), ALH (2.99±1.26 vs 3.96±1.74 m) y BCF (7.33±3.12 vs 7.71±3.25 Hz). La reduccion de factores llevo a dos indices, las subpoblaciones espermaticas por motilidad derivadas de estos tuvieron mayores valores en los animales alimentados con H. rosa-sinensis . Conclusion : La alimentacion de sementales ovinos Pelibuey, con H. rosa-sinensis no afecta el volumen o concentracion espermatica del eyaculado, pero si presenta indices mayores de motilidad individual (Velocidad promedio, Velocidad rectilinea y Velocidad curvilinea). El analisis de subpoblaciones evidencia las diferencias en motilidad individual entre tratamientos presentando diferentes estructuras de subpoblaciones segun el tratamiento. El H. rosa-sinensis es una alternativa en la alimentacion de sementales ovinos Pelibuey en los tropicos, ya que no afecta la calidad seminal.

/pdf/calidad-seminal-en-ovinos-pelibuey-con-inclusion-de-hibiscus-1k183allaw.pdf

Calidad seminal en ovinos pelibuey con inclusión de Hibiscus rosa-sinensis en la dieta

The effects of level of dried distillers grains with solubles (DDGS) and rice polishings (RP) on the scrotal circumference and semen parameters were examined in 22 crossbred (Pelibuey x Dorper) ram lambs (average live weight 24.84 ± 2.07 kg, approx. 5 months of age). The lambs were randomly allotted to four treatments in a 2 x 2 factorial design. The two factors were dietary levels of RP (0 and 15%) and of DDGS (0 and 30%). The experiment lasted 52 days. The animals were weighed on days 0, 34 and 52, and semen variables were measured on days 34 and 52. Semen evaluation included sperm morphology, mass and progressive motility, and sperm concentration. On day 34, sperm concentration showed an interaction of both effects (P=0.01) and was greater in rams in group 4 (both RP and DDGS) than in those in groups T2 (RP alone) or T3 (DDGS alone). Sperm morphology (% normal cells) was higher (main treatment effect) in rams fed with 30% DDGS than in those not fed with DDGS (P<0.05). The other variables showed no treatment effect. On day 52, none of the ejaculate variables varied with treatments. In conclusion, the diets did not affect body weight of ram lambs, but did affect the percentage of normal spermatozoa at 34 d of the trial, although this effect was not observed after 52 d of the trial; thus, in the long run, these diets do not alter scrotal circumference or semen parameters of young Pelibuey x Dorper ram lambs.

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Effect of feeding with dried distillers grains with solubles and rice polishings on scrotal circumference and semen parameters of ram lambs

Simple Summary Hibiscus rosa-sinensis is a medicinal plant recognized for its pharmacological chemical compounds for humans and animals. Hibiscus rosa-sinensis hyperproducer forage technology yields 10–20 t DM/ha/year (t of dry matter/ha/year), depending on the agronomic conditions. Chemical composition of hibiscus forage meal is similar to alfalfa, moringa, tithonia, and cassava forages due to its content of protein, minerals, fiber compound, and metabolizable energy. The fresh forage of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis could be offered in a ratio of 60% plus 40% of grass forage in sheep. Moreover, goats show favorable productive results when fed ad libitum with hibiscus forage. Likewise, inclusion levels of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis forage were recommended for rabbits, pigs, and organic chickens. Hibiscus forage could be considered as a viable alternative feed for ruminant and non-ruminant animals, although more research is needed in other animal species and productive categories. Abstract This review summarized for the first time the nutritional benefits of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis in animal feed. the agronomic characteristics for the hyperproduction of Hibiscus rosa-sinensis were reported, as well as the chemical composition of the forage meal (leaves + petioles + stems), with emphasis on crude protein, amino acids, minerals, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, lignin detergent acid, secondary metabolites, and metabolizable energy for ruminants and non-ruminants. Additionally, their medicinal properties such as antimicrobial, antifungal, antiparasitic, antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, antidiarrheal, and antipyretic properties were detailed. Its use as a source of protein in ruminant feeding is attractive and can be combined with grasses. In rabbits, fresh forage in high concentrations in the diets reduces the feed palatability, which causes a decrease in animal response, although it depends on the forage quality. In addition, limits for Hibiscus rosa-sinensis forage were recommended in diets or feeding systems for poultry, pigs, rabbits, goats, and sheep.

/pdf/hibiscus-rosa-sinensis-forage-as-a-potential-feed-for-2m22g403.pdf

Hibiscus rosa-sinensis Forage as a Potential Feed for Animals: A Review

The current study aimed to explore the effect of Spirulina platensis (SP) inclusion at various levels in quail diets, in terms of their production performance, physiological traits, stress measurements, and immunological parameters under heat stress (HS) conditions. Four hundred Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) chicks, one day old, were equally distributed into forty wire cages, and the cages were placed in two chambers with environmentally controlled systems (20 cages in each chamber). From 21 to 42 d of age, the quails were randomly subjected to a factorial design of two HS treatments × four SP treatments. To induce HS treatments in the quails, the first chamber was maintained at a thermoneutral temperature of 24 °C (TN group), while the temperature of the second chamber was elevated to 35 °C during the daytime (9:00–17:00 h), followed by a thermoneutral temperature for the remaining 24 h cycle (HS group). The birds in each chamber were further allocated into four SP treatments (5 replicate cages × 10 birds per cage in each treatment), where the quails were fed on a basal diet that included 0, 5, 10, or 15 g/kg SP (SP0, SP5, SP10, and SP15 groups, respectively). After exposure to the HS, a significant (p < 0.05) reduction of 5% in body weight and 9% in both weight gain and feed intake was recorded, and the slaughter performance of the quails was adversely (p < 0.05) affected. In addition, HS significantly (p < 0.05) impaired the physiological traits (total protein, albumin, globulin, alanine transferase, aspartate transferase, creatinine, uric acid, cholesterol, and triglycerides) and immunological parameters (total white blood cells, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, and T- and B-lymphocyte stimulation indexes), but increased the stress measurements (corticosterone, malondialdehyde, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α). In contrast, most of these parameters were linearly (p < 0.05) improved by increasing the SP levels in the diets of the TN quail group. When the SP was included in the diets of the HS quail group, the deleterious effects of HS on the alanine and aspartate transferase activities, creatinine, uric acid, triglycerides, corticosterone, interleukin-1β, and tumor necrosis factor-α levels, heterophil to lymphocyte ratio, and T- and B-lymphocyte stimulation indexes were remarkably (p < 0.05) relieved. These results concluded that SP nutritional application can improve the production performance and the overall physiological homeostasis of the Japanese quail, especially when suffering from heat stress.

/pdf/effects-of-dietary-intervention-using-spirulina-at-graded-1zbro8zc.pdf

Effects of Dietary Intervention Using Spirulina at Graded Levels on Productive Performance and Physiological Status of Quail Birds Reared under Elevated Temperatures

The onset of puberty of Pelibuey male hair sheep is not delayed by the short term consumption of Morus alba or Hibiscus rosa-sinensis foliage

Heat stress compromises turkey’s productivity and increase mortality mainly in the final stages of growth. This study evaluated the effect of perches and its interaction with outdoor access on turkey performance in high environment temperature humidity index (THI). Turkeys were reared in 1.75 × 5 m indoor floor pens and were fed with a standard commercial diet, offered ad libitum according to the productive phase. All poults were housed indoors until 62 d of age. A free-range area for a replicate of 8.75 m2, with natural shadow, was available from 07:00 to 19:00 h. Final density was 10.33 ± 0.22 kg/m2. The treatments were a combination of a factorial arrangement (2 × 2) with or without perches and, with or without access to the outdoors. From 10:00 and 19:00 THI was above critical level of comfort (heat stress). In indoors turkeys, feed intake (FI) decreased, and water intake increased, panting was observed, and had a significantly lower final body weight (BW) and FI than turkeys allowed outdoors (p<0.05). Perch availability decreased final BW and FI (p<0.05). Differences in weight of breast meat, wings, or thighs between treatments were negligible. In conclusion turkeys with outdoor access from 62 d of age had better performance. 

/pdf/performance-of-turkeys-in-enrichment-environment-with-1kkvmdhr.pdf

Performance of Turkeys in Enrichment Environment with Perches and Outdoor Access under Tropical Conditions

. The objective of this study was to determine the tissue composition of the carcass of growing New Zealand White rabbits based on the shoulder and neck traits (weight, meat and bone weights). Live weight and characteristics of dissected meat and bone tissues (neck, breast, rib, loin, shoulder, and leg) of 80 rabbits were recorded. Total carcass tissue weights (carcass fat weight, carcass meat weight – CMW, and carcass bone weight – CBW) were calculated and correlation and regression analyses were implemented. Shoulder, neck, shoulder meat, bone and neck meat were correlated (P < 0.0001 and < 0.001) with CMW and CBW. In conclusion, cut weights and tissue content of the shoulder and neck provided good predictions for total meat and bone weights of growing New Zealand White rabbits.

/pdf/development-of-prediction-equations-to-estimate-carcass-2788deq1.pdf

Development of prediction equations to estimate carcass tissue
composition in growing New Zealand White rabbits
by shoulder and neck dissection

Simple Summary The concept of sustainable diets that are profitable, ethical, socioculturally acceptable, and environmentally beneficial is emerging as one of the key solutions to ensure the efficiency of livestock production systems. In this regard, agro-industrial by-products obtained from fruit processing have emerged as an alternative. Mamey pulp generates residual biomass from which the kernel is the main by-product that, due to its composition, can be used as ruminant feed. This study determined the effects of the inclusion of ground mamey kernel on intake, digestibility, and growth performance in lambs. No effects on nutrient intake or productive performance were observed. However, protein and fiber digestibility were reduced by ground mamey kernel inclusion. These findings suggest that mamey kernels can be included in ruminant diets. Abstract This study determined the effect of replacing ground corn and soybean meal with ground Pouteria sapota kernel (PSSM) in lamb diets on nutrient intake and digestibility, performance, and carcass traits. Twenty-one male hair sheep lambs with an average body weight of 22 ± 3.5 kg were randomly assigned to three treatment diets containing PSSM at 0, 10, and 20% of the total dry matter (DM) inclusion. The study lasted 60 days, which included 15 days for adaption and 45 days for sample collection. The PSSM inclusion did not affect intake or performance (p > 0.05). However, ether extract (EE) digestibility linearly increased (p < 0.0001), while crude protein (CP) and acid detergent fiber (ADF) linearly decreased. Final body weight, total weight gain, average daily weight gain, feeding efficiency, and carcass traits were not affected by PSSM inclusion. In conclusion, these results suggest that PSSM can replace up to 200 g/kg DM of ground corn and soybean meal without affecting intake or animal performance.

/pdf/effects-of-the-inclusion-of-ground-pouteria-sapota-kernel-on-1yar842e.pdf

J.R. Sanginés-García

Papers

The onset of puberty of Pelibuey male hair sheep is not delayed by the short term consumption of Morus alba or Hibiscus rosa-sinensis foliage

Performance of Turkeys in Enrichment Environment with Perches and Outdoor Access under Tropical Conditions

Development of prediction equations to estimate carcass tissue composition in growing New Zealand White rabbits by shoulder and neck dissection

Effects of the Inclusion of Ground Pouteria sapota Kernel on Intake, Digestibility, and Growth Performance in Lambs