Resumen Este estudio tuvo como objetivo evaluar el desempeño productivo y el estado nutricional de ovinos mestizos alimentados con una dieta que contenía ensilaje de pasto buffel (EPB) en sustitución de ensilaje de maíz (EM). Treinta y dos (32) ovinos Santa Inês machos con un peso corporal promedio de 20.09 ± 2.0 kg se distribuyeron en un diseño de bloques completamente al azar con cuatro tratamientos (0, 33.3, 66.6 y 100 % de sustitución de ensilaje de maíz por ensilaje de pasto buffel) y ocho animales por tratamiento. Se evaluó la ingesta de materia seca, la digestibilidad aparente de nutrientes, el balance hídrico, el balance de nitrógeno y el desempeño productivo de los animales. Los diferentes niveles de sustitución de ensilaje de maíz por ensilaje de pasto buffel promovieron una disminución lineal en el consumo de extracto etéreo (P=0.001) y carbohidratos no fibrosos (P<0.001), digestibilidad aparente de carbohidratos no fibrosos (P=0.019), ingesta de agua vía alimentos (P<0.001), ingesta total de agua (P=0.008), excreción de agua vía orina (P=0.004), excreción total de agua (P=0.001), entre los cuales los valores más altos se observaron en animales alimentados con 100 % de ensilaje de maíz. La excreción de agua vía heces (P=0.017) y el balance de nitrógeno (P=0.047) mostraron una función cuadrática, aumentando a medida que la sustitución con ensilaje de pasto buffel se incrementó de 0 a 33.3 %. No se observaron diferencias significativas (P>0.05) en el desempeño productivo de los ovinos, con una ganancia diaria de peso promedio de 140.16 g/día. La sustitución del 66.6 % de EM por EPB proporciona resultados satisfactorios para la ingesta de materia seca y nutrientes, y la ingesta de agua, con una ganancia de peso de hasta 155 g/día para ovinos mestizos Santa Inês en los semiáridos brasileños.

Abstract This study aimed to evaluate the productive performance and nutritional status of crossbred sheep fed a diet containing buffel grass silage (BGS) in substitution of corn silage (CS). Thirty-two male Santa Inês sheep with an average body weight of 20.09 ± 2.0 kg were distributed in a completely randomized block design with four treatments (0, 33.3, 66.6, and 100 % of substitution of corn silage with buffel grass silage) and eight animals per treatment. Dry matter intake, apparent nutrient digestibility, water balance, nitrogen balance, and productive performance of animals were evaluated. The different levels of substitution of corn silage by buffel grass silage promoted a linear decrease in the consumption of ether extract (P=0.001) and non-fibrous carbohydrate (P<0.001), apparent digestibility of non-fibrous carbohydrate (P=0.019), water intake via food (P<0.001), total water intake (P=0.008), water excretion via urine (P=0.004), total water excretion (P=0.001), among which the highest values were observed in animals fed 100% corn silage. Water excretion via feces (P=0.017) and nitrogen balance (P=0.047) showed a quadratic function, increasing as substitution with buffel grass silage increased from 0 to 33.3 %. No significant differences (P>0.05) were observed in sheep productive performance, with an average daily weight gain of 140.16 g/d. The replacement of 66.6 % of CS for BGS provides satisfactory results for dry matter and nutrients intake, and water intake, with weight gain of up to 155 g/d for Santa Inês crossbred sheep in Brazilian semi-arid.

ABSTRACT This study analyzed seasonal variations in the testes, the concentration of sex hormones, the parameters of fresh and thawed semen, and the sexual behavior of male Alpine goats from a temperate region in a tropical climate and possible interference with fertility. The maximum and minimum temperature and luminosity were recorded daily, while seminal, hormonal, and behavioral assessments were carried out every fortnight. The maximum and minimum temperature (°C) and luminosity (h) were recorded daily always at 17.00 h. The scrotal circumference (cm), testicular volume (mL), volume (mL), appearance (creamy, milky, aqueous) and coloration (white, white-yellowish, and yellowish) seminal, turbulence or mass movement (0 to 5), progressive spermatic motility (0 to 100%), spermatic force (0 to 5), concentration (spermatozoids/mL), spermatic pathologies, hypoosmotic test (%), serum levels of FSH (mUI/mL), LH (mUI/mL), testosterone (ng/mL), and sexual behaviors were carried out every fortnight. There was a difference between the scrotal circumference evaluated monthly, testicular volume, volume and concentration of fresh semen, sperm vigor of the thawed semen, serum levels of testosterone, FSH and LH, and some sexual behaviors. Thus, the changes that occur in the quantity and quality of sperm, in the hormonal profile, and in sexual behaviors should not be regarded as an impediment to the use of male Alpine goats in tropical climates throughout the year. These variations do not lead to changes in the semen that may compromise the fertility of these animals.

A criopreservação do sêmen é de grande importância para diversas biotecnologias da reprodução, como Inseminação Artificial (IA), Produção de Embriões In Vitro (PIV) e Injeção Intracitoplasmática de Espermatozoides (ICSI). Avaliou-se a estabilidade e persistência da motilidade e vigor dos espermatozoides, assim como alterações da membrana plasmática, após a adição de Ringer com Lactato, citrato de sódio 2,92% ou solução TRIS ao sêmen caprino descongelado. O sêmen foi coletado de dois bodes da raça Parda Alpina, realizando-se os procedimentos padrões de análise e criopreservação seminal. Após a descongelação do sêmen, foram adicionados os diluentes Ringer Lactato, citrato de sódio 2,92% ou solução TRIS, realizando-se os Testes de Termorresistência (TTR), Supravital e Morfológico. No TTR, somente o grupo a que foi adicionada a Solução TRIS obteve motilidade e vigor por maior período (90 minutos; P< 0,05). Não foi encontrada influência da adição das soluções na análise morfológica, assim como no teste Supravital, o qual apresentou valores próximos aos encontrados para motilidade (P> 0,05). Concluiu-se que a adição das soluções não permite uma grande persistência da motilidade e vigor dos espermatozoides descongelados, porém a solução TRIS poderia ser utilizada para expansão de doses seminais utilizadas em biotecnologias reprodutivas in vitro.

Cryopreservation of semen is of great importance for various reproductive biotechnologies such as artificial insemination (IA), In Vitro Embryo Production (PIV) and Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection (ICSI). The objective of this work was to evaluate the stability and persistence of motility and strength of sperm, as well as changes in the plasma membrane after the addition of Ringer Lactate, sodium citrate 2.92% or TRIS solution in thawed goat semen. Semen was collected from two Alpine Brown goats, and standard procedures for cryopreservation and seminal analysis were performed. After thawing the semen, the extenders Ringer Lactate, sodium citrate 2.92% and TRIS solution were added and Thermoresistance (TTR), Supravital and Morphology Tests were carried out. In TTR, only the group received TRIS solution presented motility and strength for a longer period (90 minutes; P< 0,05). No influence of the addition of the solutions was found in the morphological analysis, as well as in the Supravital Test, which showed values close to those found for motility (P> 0.05). We concluded that the addition of the solutions does not allow a large persistence of motility and strength of thawed sperm, but TRIS solution could be used for expansion of seminal doses used in vitro reproductive biotechnology.