Abstract The objective of this study was to reduce the effects of cryoinjury caused in bovine semen by cryopreservation. Ejaculates were collected from Nellore bulls and subjected to freezing in C (control), ozone (15, 30, and 60 µg mL-1 of ozone), quercetin (25, 50, and 100 µg mL-1 of quercetin), and carnosine groups (100, 200, and 300 ng mL-1 of carnosine). Samples were evaluated post-thaw (M0) and post-rapid thermoresistance test (M30) for sperm kinetics (total motility, progressive motility, curvilinear speed, linearity and amplitude of lateral head displacement) and cell structure viability (plasma membrane integrity, acrosomal integrity, mitochondrial potential, membrane fluidity, and lipid peroxidation). There were no differences (P > 0.05) between the control, quercetin, and carnosine-treated groups for the parameters evaluated at M0 and M30. In turn, supplementation with ozone resulted in lower values for sperm kinetics (P < 0.05) and lower mitochondrial potential at M30 (P < 0.05). Quercetin and carnosine at the concentrations used did not promote significant gains in frozen semen, nor did they demonstrate cytotoxicity. We expected to obtain positive results with the use of ozone. Nonetheless, the addition was harmful to the parameters of sperm kinetics, and its effect was not observed as a possible pro-antioxidant. We believe that the fact that the gas did not harm the sperm structure opens avenues for tests with lower dosages, since, by reducing its concentration, we could minimize the damage to sperm kinetics.

Abstract The cryopreservation of jaguar semen must be improved to produce high-quality biobanking doses. Until now, the rare studies of semen freezing in the species have only evaluated glycerol, always with a significant reduction in sperm quality in thawed semen. The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy of three cryoprotectants, dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO), glycerol (GLY), and methanol (MET), in the cryopreservation of jaguar semen in an LDL-based extender, as well as the effect of thawing temperature on dosage quality. Five mature males with a history of reproduction were used. On the males, an infrared thermal image (IRT) was captured, the spicules and testes were analyzed, and the CASA system was used to evaluate the quality of fresh and thawed sperm. The superficial IRT was 4.6 ± 1.2 °C cooler than the anal sphincter, and the semen measured between 27.3 and 28.7 °C shortly after exiting the urethra. The total motility of fresh sperm was 55.3 ± 22.6%, and progressive motility was 36.3 ± 18%. The total motility of thawed sperm was 5.28 ± 2.51%, 4.49 ± %2.49, and 0.51 ± 0.62% for DMSO, GLY, and MET, respectively. DMSO and GLY performed better than MET, and there was no difference in thawing temperature (37°C 30 s vs. 50°C 12 s). All animals exhibit a considerable level of morphological changes in sperm. Low amounts of total and progressive motility were found in the thawed sperm. Males with a high level of sperm morphological changes were found to be fertile, but the lone male with normospermia was infertile. Thus, we contest the applicability of the commonly used morphological classification for bovines to felid species.

Objetivou-se avaliar, através da biometria, os cascos dos membros anteriores de equinos participantes de provas de Hipismo Clássico, Tambor, Laço Comprido e Pólo. Em cada modalidade foram avaliados 30 indivíduos totalizando 120 animais. As mensurações lineares (cm) incluíram o comprimento dorsal da pinça, comprimentos lateral e medial dos quartos, altura medial e lateral dos quartos, comprimento lateral e medial dos talões, alturas lateral e medial dos talões, comprimento do casco, largura do casco, comprimento da ranilha, largura da ranilha, e as angulares (graus) foram relativas ao ângulo do casco medido pela pinça (podogoniometria), ângulo da quartela, ângulo dos talões, ângulo das paletas. O comprimento da ferradura, circunferência da coroa do casco e peso corporal também foram avaliados. Através da biometria do casco foi possível avaliar os desequilíbrios do membro anterior de animais atletas e os mais comuns foram: quebra do eixo podal, com 96,7% dos animais apresentando essa alteração no membro torácico direito (MTD) e 95,8% no membro torácico esquerdo (MTE); talões contraídos com 95,0% no MTD e 87,6% no MTE. A modalidade com os maiores desequilíbrios foi a de Laço Comprido, seguida pelos animais de Tambor. Foi encontrada uma alta frequência de desequilíbrio médio lateral em todas as modalidades desportivas. Conclui-se que animais utilizados em provas funcionais apresentam uma alta incidência de desequilíbrios podal nos membros torácicos.

This study aimed to evaluate, through biometry, the forelimb hoof of horses participating in show jumping, barrel, long rope and polo competitions. Thirty subjects were assessed in relation to each competition (total of 120 animals). The linear measurements (cm) included the dorsal length of the toe; medial and lateral lengths of the quarter; medial and lateral heights of the quarter; lateral and medial lengths of the heel; medial and lateral heights of the heel; hoof length; hoof width; frog length; and frog width. The following angles (°) were measured: toe angle, pastern angle, heel angle and shoulder palette. The length of the horseshoe, coronet circumference and body weight were also assessed. With the use of hoof biometric evaluation was possible to identify the imbalances of forelimb in athletic horses and the most common were broken-backward hoof angle, with 96.7% of the animals showing this in the right forelimb (RFL) and 95.8% in the left forelimb (LFL); and contracted heels, with 95.0% in the RFL and 87.6% in the LFL. The competition type in which greatest numbers of hoof balance abnormalities were shown was the long rope, followed by the barrel. There were high frequencies of medial/lateral imbalance in all the sports. We conclude that animals used in functional tests have a high incidence of hoof balance abnormalities in the forelimbs.

Objetivou-se delinear o perfil de administradores e inseminadores envolvidos em programas de inseminação artificial em bovinos de corte no intuito de caracterizar os processos gerenciais envolvidos nesta atividade. Adicionalmente, por meio de entrevistas com administradores e inseminadores, buscou-se detectar fatores ligados à vida pessoal e ao trabalho que possam ser utilizados como medida da qualidade de vida dos inseminadores nas propriedades rurais. As questões abertas foram analisadas por frequência de respostas, depois de agrupadas por similaridade. De acordo com os resultados, os administradores associam o conceito de gestão de recursos humanos principalmente à supervisão do trabalho priorizando fatores técnicos como experiência profissional e índices nos processos de seleção, embora apontem os problemas de relacionamento interpessoal como principal motivo de demissão. Em geral, a escolaridade dos inseminadores é precária, pois a maioria desses trabalhadores possui apenas as séries iniciais do ensino fundamental. Os inseminadores preferem a inseminação convencional, embora reconheçam que a inseminação em tempo fixo facilita o manejo na fazenda. O desempenho destes profissionais parece ser determinado muito mais pelo relacionamento interpessoal que pelo salário.

The objective of the present study was to outline the profile of managers and inseminators involved in beef cattle artificial insemination programs to characterize the management processes involved in this activity. Additionally, by interviewing managers and inseminators, it was searched to detect particularities concerned to personal life and work that can be used to evaluate the quality of life of inseminators on farms. The open questions were analyzed by frequency of answer, after being grouped by similarity. Accordingly to the results, managers associate the concept of human resource management to work supervision, mainly, prioritizing technical factors such as professional experience and indexes in the selection processes, although problems in interpersonal relationships have been shown as the main reason for dismissal. In general, education level of the inseminators is not good because most of these workers studied only to the first series of primary school. Inseminators prefer conventional artificial insemination although they recognize that fixed-time artificial insemination can make animal handling on the farm easier. The performance of these workers seems to be determined more by interpersonal relationships than by the salaries.

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito de fatores ligados à vida pessoal e ao trabalho sobre os resultados obtidos por inseminadores em programas de inseminação artificial convencional e em tempo fixo em bovinos de corte. Inseminadores de três propriedades rurais (21 no total) foram entrevistados e avaliados quanto à taxa de gestação geral obtida. Foram avaliadas as diferenças entre as taxas de gestação obtidas nas fazendas, a motivação e sua associação com a taxa de gestação obtida e o efeito de cada variável dos grupos de necessidades sobre a taxa de gestação à primeira inseminação. As questões abertas, depois de agrupadas por similaridade, foram analisadas por frequência de respostas. A taxa de gestação obtida pelos inseminadores variou entre 12 e 57%, com índice de serviço de 3,10 ± 1,62 doses/prenhez. A satisfação das necessidades biológicas, financeiras e de treinamento foi mais intimamente relacionada à taxa de gestação que a satisfação das demais necessidades, embora nenhuma delas tenha apresentado relação antagônica com a taxa de gestação. Fatores ligados à qualidade de vida e ao trabalho podem ser importantes na determinação do desempenho dos inseminadores.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effect of factors of personal life and work conditions on the results obtained by inseminators in conventional and fixed-timed artificial insemination programs in beef cattle. Inseminators from three farms (21 in the total) were interviewed and evaluated according to the general obtained pregnancy rates. The differences among the pregnancy rates obtained in the farms, motivation and its association with the obtained pregnancy rate and the effect of each variable of the groups of needs on the pregnancy rate at first insemination were evaluated. The open questions were grouped by similarity and then analyzed by frequency of the answers. Pregnancy rates obtained by the inseminators ranged from 12 to 57%, with a mean service index of 3.10 ± 1.62 doses/pregnancy. It was also observed that the satisfaction of biological, financial, and training needs was more intimately related to the pregnancy rate than the satisfaction of the other needs, although none had shown an antagonistic relationship with it. Factors concerned to life quality and to the work can be important in determining the performance of these professionals.

Este trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de estudar alternativas de redução da proporção touro:vaca no Pantanal e conseqüentemente reduzir os custos de produção da pecuária de corte regional. Utilizaram-se as proporções de 1:10, 1:25 e 1:40 em pastagens nativas com taxa de lotação média de 0,27 unidade de animal por hectare durante duas estações de monta consecutivas. A análise estatística dos dados não revelou efeito significativo quanto aos seguintes fatores: ano (P = 0,2097), categoria animal (P = 0,0773) e proporção touro:vaca (P = 0,8134). Entretanto, na variável tipo de acasalamento, o sistema múltiplo mostrou-se superior (P = 0,0228) ao individual. O impacto econômico desta prática de manejo no sistema de criação extensivo do Pantanal mostrou que ocorre subutilização de touros na região na proporção de 1:10.

This work was conducted to study alternatives for reduction of the bull:cow ratio in the Brazilian lowland and, therefore, lower the production costs for the local beef cattle industry. The ratios 1:10, 1:25, and 1:40 were used in native pastures with a mean stocking rate of 0.27 mature animal unit per hectare over two consecutive breeding seasons. Statistical analysis did not show any effect (P>0.05) of year (P = 0.2097), animal category (P = 0.0773), bull:cow ratio (0.8134) on reproductive performance. However, the pregnancy rate in a multiple bull system was higher (P = 0.0228) than in the individual bull system. An evaluation of the economic impact of this management system in the extensive Lowland herds showed that at the ratio of 1:10 the bulls were sub utilized.