• Energy Research
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A macaúba é uma palmeira oleaginosa altamente produtiva e seu óleo pode ser usado na produção de biocombustíveis. O presente trabalho teve como objetivos avaliar a influência de concentrações dos sais do meio de cultura MS e de água de coco na germinação in vitro de embriões zigóticos de macaúba e no crescimento inicial de plântulas. Os embriões foram excisados e em seguida inoculados em tubos de ensaio contendo 15mL de meio de cultura MS nas concentrações de 50 e 100% de sais minerais, acrescidos de água de coco (0, 50, 100 e 150mL L-1). As culturas foram mantidas em sala de crescimento com irradiância em torno de 42W m-2, temperatura de 25±2°C e fotoperíodo de 16 horas. Maior porcentagem de germinação de embriões de macaúba foi obtida aos 60 dias, em meio MS, na concentração original dos sais. O crescimento e a conversão de plântulas viáveis ou normais, passíveis de serem aclimatizadas, requerem metade da concentração de sais do meio MS suplementado com 50mL L-1 de água de coco.The macaw is a palm oleaginous that it is highly productive and in which their oil can be used to produce biofuels.This study aimed to evaluate the influence of concentrations of minerals of the culture medium MS and coconut water germination in vitro of zygotic embryos of macaw and initial growth of seedlings. The embryos were inoculated in test tubes containing 15mL of culture medium MS in concentrations of 50 and 100% of minerals, plus coconut water (0, 50, 100 and 150mL L-1). The cultures were kept in room for growth with irradiance around 42W m-2, at 25±2°C and photoperiod of 16 hours. Higher percentage of germination of embryos of 'macaúba' was obtained at 60 days in MS medium in the original concentration of salts. The growth and conversion to viable seedlings or normal, which can be acclimatized, require half the concentration of salts of MS medium supplemented with 50mL L-1 coconut water.

This paper aims to provide pig farmers with the necessary information to guide strategic decisions through the development of a tool that allows them to calculate and control their production costs. A financial ratio analysis can be used as a starting point when assessing and improving a farm’s economic sustainability. The objective of the present article is to (1) provide insight into the financial ratios commonly used for pig farm assessments and (2) how they may be applied through an advisory tool to assess farm economic sustainability. Moreover, in this study, different financial ratios were examined to uncover trade-offs and synergies between them. Using the Farm Accountancy Data Network (FADN), we analyzed Spearman correlations between financial ratios. The correlation between these sets of indicators suggested that they could be used to estimate dairy farm economic sustainability. Our results showed that pig farms face a financial situation that can be improved. Pig farmers can benefit from this tool in multiple ways, by gaining an understanding of the costs and revenues leading to investment decisions, managing the risks, planning for potential growth, and having greater access to funding opportunities.

Keeping horses causes environmental impacts through the whole chain from feed production to manure. According to national statistics, the number of horses in Sweden is currently 360,000 and is cont ...

The paper aims to review literature data with respect to Romanian native cattle breeds which are considered at risk of extinction. In the last decades, the number of individuals of Romanian indigenous cows decreased significantly, as a consequence of the intensification and specialization of animal productions and agriculture modernization. Some of the native cattle breeds are already lost, due to their crossing with improved breeds. However, after the accession of Romania to the European Union, various preservation programs were initiated, and most of them included biochemical research and studies of molecular or quantitative genetics. All these, associated with the application of reproduction biotechnologies, give a chance to these animals, which are extremely valuable in terms of their genetic resistance to diseases and environmental factors. The reviewed literature on Romanian indigenous endangered cattle breeds confirms that these animals are carriers of a valuable gene pool, which can be kept and bred while applying different reproductive biotechnologies. Consequently, this paper raises awareness on two issues: the decrease of genetic diversity in two Romanian native cow breeds threatened with extinction (Grey Steppe and Romanian Pinzgauer); and the benefits of genetic diversity of the two breeds.

SummaryFunctions of porcine polymorphonuclear neutrophils are evaluated with in vitro test systems. Results are compared with those from human PMN and the relevance for in vivo conditions is discussed. Ethanol was inhibitory to all porcine PMN functions investigated here. Influex, a combination product, containing extracts of Echinacea, Aconitum, Apis and Lachesis stimulated adherence, chemotaxis, and phagocytosis, but inhibited chemiluminescence. These results suggest an effect of the product in the generation of reactive oxygen species.ZusammenfassungGranulozytenfunktionen beim Schwein: Messung und BeeinflussungVerschiedene Funktionen neutrophiler Granulozyten des Schweines werden mit Hilfe von in vitro‐Systemen gemessen und die Ergebnisse mit entsprechenden Werten verglichen, die für menschliche Neutrophile beschrieben sind. Die Aussagekraft der erhaltenen Ergebnisse für in vivo‐Verhältnisse wird diskutiert. Alle hier beschriebenen Granulozytenfunktionen wurden durch Alkohol gehemmt. Influex, ein Kombinationspräparat, das Extrakte aus Echinacea, Aconitum, Apis und Lachesis enthält, stimulierte Adhärenz, Chemotaxis und Phagozytose, hemmte jedoch die Chemolumineszenz. Die Ergebnisse lassen einen Einfluß des Präparates auf die Bildung von reaktiven Sauerstoffspezies vermuten.

In this work the compound obtained from yeast culture extract (YCE) that stimulated the activity of an anaerobic cellulolytic consortium (ACC) was characterized. YCE were obtained at different pH (4, 7 and 10) and ultra-filtered 300 and 30 kDa membranes (UYE). The 30 kDa UYE was heated to 60 °C, 90 °C and 120 °C and gel filtered (GYF). Mid infrared spectroscopy, protein and carbohydrate analysis of GYF were conducted. Results showed that YCE, UYE and GYF significantly stimulated (p < 0.05) the biomass production, acetate concentration and carboxymethyl cellulase activity of the ACC, in relation to the control. The GYF had an estimated molecular mass of 4 kDa. Mid-infrared and biochemical analysis of GYF suggested that the active compound is a peptide.

Body condition score (BCS), energy content (EC), cumulative effective energy balance (CEEB), and blood serum concentrations of glucose, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), and nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA) were measured throughout first lactation in 497 Holstein cows raised on a large commercial farm in northern Greece. All these traits are considered to be indicators of a cow's energy balance. An additional measure of BCS, EC, and blood serum glucose, BHBA, and NEFA concentrations were taken approximately 2 mo (61 +/- 23 d) before first calving. During first lactation, first service conception rate, conception rate in the first 305 d of lactation, interval from calving to conception, number of inseminations per conception, incidence of metritis, and incidence of reproductive problems of these cows were recorded; interval between first and second calving, and second lactation first service conception rate were also recorded. Random regression models were used to calculate weekly animal breeding values for first lactation BCS, EC, CEEB, glucose, BHBA, and NEFA. Single trait animal models were used to calculate breeding values for these traits measured on pregnant heifers before calving. Reproductive records were then regressed on animal breeding values for these energy balance-related traits to derive estimates of their genetic correlations. Several significant estimates were obtained. In general, traits that are known to be positively correlated with energy balance (BCS, EC, CEEB, and glucose) were found to have a favorable genetic relationship with reproduction, meaning that increased levels of the former will lead to an enhancement of the latter. On the other hand, traits known to be negatively correlated with energy balance (BHBA and NEFA) were found to have an unfavorable genetic association with reproductive traits. Body condition score, BHBA, and NEFA recorded early in lactation, and glucose concentrations measured in pregnant heifers had the highest genetic correlation with future reproductive performance. Results suggest that genetic selection for body energy and blood metabolites could facilitate the genetic improvement of fertility and overall reproductive efficiency of dairy cows.

Este estudo foi conduzido com o objetivo de determinar o melhor teor de substituição da proteína do farelo de algodão pela proteína da torta de girassol em dietas para cordeiros Santa Inês, por meio da avaliação do consumo, ganho de peso, conversão alimentar e medidas morfométricas. Foram confinados, por 60 dias, 30 cordeiros da raça Santa Inês, machos inteiros, com idade e peso médio no início do experimento de 80 dias e 21,45±2,16kg, respectivamente. O delineamento experimental foi completamente casualizado, sendo os animais divididos em 5 tratamentos, com 6 repetições por tratamento, de acordo com a quantidade de proteína do farelo de algodão substituída pela proteína da torta de girassol (0, 20, 40, 60 e 80% de substituição). As variáveis peso final, consumo de matéria seca e conversão alimentar não foram afetadas pelas dietas experimentais, embora o ganho médio diário tenha sido inferior para as dietas com maior teor de torta de girassol. Para os parâmetros de consumo, verificou-se diferença apenas no consumo de extrato etéreo em relação ao peso metabólico (g/kg PV0,75), em que cordeiros recebendo dieta com maior teor de torta de girassol ingeriram maiores quantidades de extrato etéreo. Em relação às medidas morfométricas, houve decréscimo linear da altura de dorso e largura de garupa com a inclusão da torta de girassol na dieta. A substituição da proteína do farelo de algodão pela proteína da torta de girassol afetou negativamente o ganho de peso de cordeiros Santa Inês em confinamento. Porém, teve pouca ou nenhuma influência nos parâmetros de consumo e nas medidas morfométricas in vivo.