The aim was to analyze variation in 12 Brazilian and Moroccan goat populations, and, through principal component analysis (PCA), check the importance of body measures and their indices as a means of distinguishing among individuals and populations. The biometric measurements were wither height (WH), brisket height (BH) and ear length (EL). Thorax depth (WH-BH) and the three indices, TD/WH, EL/TD and EL/WH, were also calculated. Of the seven components extracted, the first three principal components were sufficient to explain 99.5% of the total variance of the data. Graphical dispersion by genetic groups revealed that European dairy breeds clustered together. The Moroccan breeds were separated into two groups, one comprising the Drâa and the other the Zagora and Rhâali breeds. Whereas, on the one side, the Anglo-Nubian and undefined breeds were the closest to one another the goats of the Azul were observed to have the highest variation of all the breeds. The Anglo-Nubian and Boer breeds were similar to each other. The Nambi-type goats remained distinct from all the other populations. In general, the use of graphical representation of PCA values allowed to distinguish genetic groups.

Durante tres años, vacas receptoras Angus (88) y Brahman (87) se utilizaron para determinar los efectos de raza y método de sincronización sobre las características del celo inducido y la preñez subsecuente a la transferencia embrionaria. El celo fue sincronizado en las receptoras utilizando PGF2α (Lutalyse®) o progesterona (PRO; Syncro-Mate-B). Un grupo de receptoras fue inyectado (im) con PGF los días 11 (25 mg), 0 (12,5 mg), y 1 (12,5 mg). Otro grupo fue tratado con PRO el dia -9 (implante auricular con 6 mg norgestomet e inyectadas (im) con 2 mL con 3 mg de norgestomet y 5 mg de valerato de estradiol), el implante fue removido el día 0. Los embriones fueron transferidos al azar a las receptoras en sincronía +24 a -24 h con embriones de 7-d de edad. Ambos métodos de sincronización (PGF vs. PRO) fueron similares en la inducción del celo (89,8 vs. 86,7%). El porcentaje de celos inducidos fue similar en Brahman (91,0%) y Angus (85,6%). Las receptoras tratadas con PGF presentaron un intervalo al celo más largo (P = 0,001) que aquellas tratadas con PRO (77,4 vs. 60,1 h). El intervalo al estro post-tratamiento fue más corto en la vacas Angus expresaron celo más temprano (P = 0,043) que las Brahman (65,4 vs. 72,2 h). La tasa de preñez no fue afectada por la raza (Angus 49% 35/72 y Brahman 54% 38/70; P = 0,97) ni por el tratamiento de sincronización (PRO 49% 35/72 y PGF 54% 38/70; P = 0,23). Las tasas de preñez en receptoras de sincronización cercana (0 h) fue del 60,0%, entre +12 y -12 h fue del 56,0%, y entre +24 y -24 h fue del 51,5%. Las receptoras de cuatro años de edad presentaron tasas de preñez menores (34,8%) que las de cinco (60,9%) o las de 6 o más años de edad (70,0%). Los resultados indican que cuando la segunda aplicación de PGF se administra dividida en dos dosis, es tan efectiva para sincronizar el celo en Angus y Brahman como lo es el PRO. La asincronía de la edad del embrión con el ciclo de la receptora entre +24 y -24 h no afectó significativamente la tasa de preñez.

Over a 3-year period, 88 Angus and 87 Brahman cows were used as recipients to determine the effects of breedtype and method of estrous synchronization on induced estrus and subsequent pregnancy following embryo transfer. Estrus was synchronized in recipients using either prostaglandin-F2α (PGF; Lutalyse) or progestogen (PRO; Syncro-Mate-B). Recipients were treated (im) with PGF on day -11 (25 mg), 0 (12.5 mg), and 1 (12.5 mg). Recipients were treated with PRO on day -9 (6 mg norgestomet ear implant and 2 mL [im] of 3 mg of norgestomet and 5 mg of estradiol valerate) and the ear implant was removed on day 0. Embryos were randomly transferred to recipients synchronous +24 to -24 h with a 7-d embryo. Both synchronization methods (PGF vs. PRO) were similarly effective in inducing estrus (89.8 vs. 86.7%). Percentage of induced estrus was similar between Brahman (91.0%) and Angus (85.6%). Recipients treated with PGF had a longer (P = 0.001) interval to estrus than PRO treated recipients (77.4 vs. 60.1 h). Estrus response in Angus was earlier (P = 0.043) than in Brahman (65.4 vs. 72.2 h). Neither breed (P = 0.97; Angus 49% 35/72 and Brahman 54% 38/70) nor estrus synchronization treatment (P = 0.23; PRO 49% 35/72 and PGF 54% 38/70) affected pregnancy rate. Pregnancy rates in recipients closely synchronized (0 h) was 60.0%, within +12 and -12 h was 56.0%, and within +24 and -24 h was 51.5%. Four-year-old recipients had lower pregnancy rates (34.8%) than did 5-year-old (60.9%) or greater than 6-year-old (70.0%) recipients. These results indicate that PGF, when administered as a split-second dose, is as effective in synchronizing estrus in Angus and Brahman as PRO. Asynchrony of embryo age with recipient stage of cycle up to +24 or -24 h did not significantly affect pregnancy rates.