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A fractional matching of a graph G is a function f assigning each edge a number in $ [0, 1] $ [ 0 , 1 ] so that $ \sum _{e\in \Gamma (v)} f(e) \le 1 $ ∑ e ∈ Γ (v) f (e) ≤ 1 for each $ v \in V(G) $ v ∈ V (G) , where $ \Gamma (v) $ Γ (v) is the set of edges incident to v. The fractional matching number is the maximum of $ \sum _{e\in \Gamma (v)} f(e) $ ∑ e ∈ Γ (v) f (e) over all fractional matchings. Motivated by progress in the study of relations between eigenvalues and matchings of graphs, in this paper, we characterize graphs with the minimum distance spectral radius among all t-connected graphs with n vertices and fractional matching number at most $ \frac {n-k}{2} $ n − k 2 for $ 1 \le k\le n-2 $ 1 ≤ k ≤ n − 2. Our characterization generalizes a result of Li, Miao, and Zhang [On the size, spectral radius, distance spectral radius and fractional matchings in graphs. Bull Aust Math Soc. 2023;187–199.], giving a distance spectral condition for the existence of a fractional perfect matching in a connected graph. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The impact of supplementation of Laminaria japonica powder on ruminal microbiota composition and fermentation parameters was evaluated in the present paper. For this purpose, a total of 30 cross bred Angus bulls (Xiangxi Yellow Cattle ♀ x Angus ♂, body weight = 331.22 ± 10.15 kg) were equally divided into two groups (n=15). Two experimental diets were prepared that were basal diet (CON) and basal diet supplemented with 0.7% Laminaria japonica powder commonly known as kelp powder (SWE). The trial period was 60 days. The results showed that the addition of Laminaria japonica powder to the diet had no effect on rumen fermentation parameters in bulls (P>0.05). Results of microbial compositions explored that at both phylum and genus levels, most abundant phylum was Bacteroidetes (59.82%) and Firmicutes (29.75%). Results also showed that most abundant taxa were Prevotella (35.04%) and Ruminococcus (7.52%), and at the genus level 37.68% of the sequences were unclassified. The results of the relative abundance of the top 10 genera of rumen showed that Succiniclasticum, Moryella, and Comamonas were significantly different in ruminal bacteria relative abundance between the two experimental treatments (P<0.05). There was a notable distinction between CON and SWE cohorts using PC2 (P<0.01, 16.66%). Based on results, it is concluded that Laminaria japonica powder influence rumen microbial composition. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we study the uniqueness problems of fn(z)L(g) and gn(z)L(f) when they share a non-zero small function α(z) with finite weights, where L(h) represents any one of h(k)(z), h(z + c), h(z + c) - h(z) and h(k)(z + c), k ≥ 1 and c is a non-zero constant. Here f(z) and g(z) are transcendental meromorphic (or entire) functions and α(z) is a small function with respect to both f(z) and g(z). Our results improve and supplement the recent results due to Gao and Liu [Bull. Korean Math. Soc. 59 (2022), 155-166]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we focused on a one-dimensional elastic system with a double porosity structure and frictional damping acting on both porous equations. We introduce two stability numbers χ 0 {\chi_{0}} and χ 1 {\chi_{1}} and prove that the solution of the system decays exponentially provided that χ 0 = 0 {\chi_{0}=0} and χ 1 ≠ 0 {\chi_{1}\neq 0} . Otherwise, we prove the absence of exponential decay. Our results improve the results of [N. Bazarra, J. R. Fernández, M. C. Leseduarte, A. Magaña and R. Quintanilla, On the thermoelasticity with two porosities: Asymptotic behaviour, Math. Mech. Solids 24 2019, 9, 2713–2725] and [A. Nemsi and A. Fareh, Exponential decay of the solution of a double porous elastic system, Politehn. Univ. Bucharest Sci. Bull. Ser. A Appl. Math. Phys. 83 2021, 1, 41–50]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A proper ideal I of a commutative ring R is said to be a strongly quasi-primary ideal if, whenever a , b ∈ R with a b ∈ I , then a 2 ∈ I or b ∈ I (see [S. Koc, U. Tekir and G. Ulucak, On strongly quasi primary ideals, Bull. Korean Math. Soc. 56(3) (2019) 729–743]). This paper studies the class of strongly quasi-primary ideals with a radical equal to the nil-radical of R , called the class of quasi- n -ideals. Among other results, this new class of ideals is used to characterize when the nil-radical of R is a maximal or a minimal ideal of R. Many examples are given to illustrate the obtained results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

If p(z) = Xn ν=0 aνz ν is a polynomial of degree n having all its zeros in |z| ≤ k, k ≥ 1, Jain [Bull. Math. Soc. Sci. Math. Roumania Tome, 59(2016), 339-347] proved max |z|=1 |p′ (z)| ≥ nAk max |z|=1 |p(z)|, where Ak = ( |a0| + |an|k n+1/ |ao|(1 + k n+1) + |an|(k n+1 + k 2n) ) . In this paper, we initially derive a generalized form that not only encompasses but also enhances the aforementioned inequality. Additionally, we extend this formulation to a more comprehensive result, thereby producing an improved outcome for certain established inequalities as a specific instance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article offers information on the importance of progeny testing (PT) of bulls in tropical smallholder dairy sector that helps in the improvement of cattle farming in Kerala, India. It mentions that major source of subsidiary income for the rural sector including smallholding, comes from dairying. It mentions that a cattle improvement programme was started in 1951 with various village schemes and later the Intensive Cattle Development Project (ICDP) was launched.

We show that l¹(ℕʌ) is ᵠ-amenable for each multiplicative linear functional ᵠ : l¹(ℕʌ) → C. This is a counterexample to the final corollary of Jaberi and Mahmoodi ['On ᵠ-amenability of dual Banach algebras', Bull. Aust. Math. Soc. 105 (2022), 303-313] and shows that the final theorem in that paper is not valid. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Scholars have used the regnal formulae in Kings to reconstruct at least three successive editions at work—a Hezekian version of Kings, a Josianic redaction, and an exilic redaction. Nevertheless, there have only rarely been examinations of how the evaluation of a particular king interacts with the narrative account of that king's tenure. This paper will examine the ways in which Ahaz's evaluation is at odds with the narrative depiction of his reign. By analyzing each element of his evaluation, this paper argues that there is evidence that a Josianic or later redactor modified an originally positive evaluation of this king. When taken on its own terms, the narrative account of Ahaz presents a king who rescued his nation, installed a large altar for public use, and removed iconography from the Jerusalem temple. Given this analysis, Ahaz should be understood as a precursor to, rather than a foil of, Hezekiah's reform program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Kaempferol (KAE) is a natural flavonoid with powerful reactive oxygen species (ROS) scavenging properties and beneficial effects on ex vivo sperm functionality. In this paper, we studied the ability of KAE to prevent or ameliorate structural, functional or oxidative damage to frozen–thawed bovine spermatozoa. The analysis focused on conventional sperm quality characteristics prior to or following thermoresistance tests, namely the oxidative profile of semen alongside sperm capacitation patterns, and the levels of key proteins involved in capacitation signaling. Semen samples obtained from 30 stud bulls were frozen in the presence of 12.5, 25 or 50 μM KAE and compared to native ejaculates (negative control—CtrlN) as well as semen samples cryopreserved in the absence of KAE (positive control—CtrlC). A significant post-thermoresistance test maintenance of the sperm motility (p < 0.001), membrane (p < 0.001) and acrosome integrity (p < 0.001), mitochondrial activity (p < 0.001) and DNA integrity (p < 0.001) was observed following supplementation with all KAE doses in comparison to CtrlC. Experimental groups supplemented with all KAE doses presented a significantly lower proportion of prematurely capacitated spermatozoa (p < 0.001) when compared with CtrlC. A significant decrease in the levels of the superoxide radical was recorded following administration of 12.5 (p < 0.05) and 25 μM KAE (p < 0.01). At the same time, supplementation with 25 μM KAE in the cryopreservation medium led to a significant stabilization of the activity of Mg2+-ATPase (p < 0.05) and Na+/K+-ATPase (p < 0.0001) in comparison to CtrlC. Western blot analysis revealed that supplementation with 25 μM KAE in the cryopreservation medium prevented the loss of the protein kinase A (PKA) and protein kinase C (PKC), which are intricately involved in the process of sperm activation. In conclusion, we may speculate that KAE is particularly efficient in the protection of sperm metabolism during the cryopreservation process through its ability to promote energy synthesis while quenching excessive ROS and to protect enzymes involved in the process of sperm capacitation and hyperactivation. These properties may provide supplementary protection to spermatozoa undergoing the freeze–thaw process. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, in order to serve credit risk management, we introduce a pricing model for a vulnerable Bull Spread options in a Mixed Modified Fractional Hull-White-Vasicek stochastic volatility and stochastic interest rate model. We use Milstein scheme to find the sample paths of asset price and its volatility, and the sample paths of interest rates of asset price movement. We use the double Mellin transform to obtain an analytical vulnerable bull spread call option formula and an analytical vulnerable bull spread put option formula under fractional stochastic volatility and fractional stochastic interest rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We developed a data-driven and simulation-based ground motion model (GMM) for Eastern Türkiye as a follow up of the Sandıkkaya et al. (Bull Earthq Eng, 2023) paper, which proposes a regional GMM for Western Türkiye. This way, we complete the region-specific ground-motion models for the entire country. As in the case of Sandıkkaya et al. (Bull Earthq Eng, 2023) paper, we investigated the influence of regional stress parameter, geometrical spreading,and anelastic attenuation in Eastern Türkiye for ground-motion prediction. The proposed model was developed for estimating the geometric means of PGA, PGV and 5%-damped horizontal spectral acceleration up to 10 s. The model is usable for earthquake scenarios of magnitudes between 3.5 and 8, and the path effects are consistent for distances up to 400 km. The magnitude-dependent partially non-ergodic sigma is computed as part of the model. In the paper, we also addressed the differences in locality residuals and anelastic attenuation rates for each event cluster that are determined from the seismotectonic features of the region, event sequences and residual distributions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper was to highlight the results of biometric measurements were performed on cattle of the Aubrac breed, exploited in Romania. Were measured a total number of 84 bovine, both adult females and bulls (12-18 months), in three farms in the region of Moldova. The highest recorded average for biometric parameters was: height at the withers (133.23 cm at females, 130.24 cm at bulls); rump height (140.78 cm at females and 130.46 cm at bulls); chest girth (202.15 cm at females and 204.22 cm at bulls); slantwise body length (159.64 cm at females, respectively 161.22 cm at bulls). Body conformation indices were calculated based on the obtained values. Cattle exploited within farm 2, show the most pronounced massiveness. Weight values between 553.21 and 603.13 were recorded in adult females and between 551.89 and 618.82 in bulls. As a general conclusion, we can state that the animals taken in the study, exploited in the three farms, present overall reports that denote a well-proportioned body development, within the specific morphoproductive type. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we establish the existence of at least three weak solutions for the fourth-order problem with indefinite weights involving the Leray–Lions operator with nonstandard growth conditions. We generalize the result obtained by Kefi et al. [On the fourth-order Leray–Lions problem with indefinite weight and nonstandard growth conditions. Bull Math Sci. 2021;DOI:10.1142/S1664360721500089]. The proof of our main result uses variational methods and the critical theorem of Bonanno and Marano [On the structure of the critical set of nondifferentiable functions with a weak compactness condition. Appl Anal. 2010;89:1–10]. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cattle infected with BHV 4 show respiratory symptoms, gastrointestinal and postnatal genital disorders. The virus is a cofactor of bacterial infections. This paper reflects data on the prevalence of BHV 4 infections in several herds, among breeding animals and bulls from artificial insemination stations (AIS). One hundred and twenty six serum samples from bulls were investigated by MVNT and 45 (35.7%) were positive. Epizootiological and clinical studies on the prevalence of BHV 4 infections were limited to bovine farms with suspected infection with this virus. To establish seroconversion to the virus, double serum samples from 264 cattle - 165 native-born cows and 99 imported pregnant heifers were investigated by the microvirus neutralisation test (MVNT) and commercial ELISA for the detection of antibodies against BHV 4. Ninety-nine samples (37.5%) were positive in the MVNT and 110 samples (41.6%) - in ELISA. One out of the seven milk samples from cows with signs of mammary glands involvement was positive in the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) performed to detect the gB and Tk virus genes. Four of the ten whole blood samples from acutely ill animals were positive for BHV 4 DNA by PCR. The results of the present study confirmed that the BHV 4 circulated within the Bulgarian cattle population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Montana has long been known for the big game hunting opportunities it provides both residents and nonresidents. This may change in the future, as the state confronts a number of challenging issues that pose a serious threat to its long-standing hunting culture. This paper examines key changes that have occurred in recent years involving population and technology, landownership and access, and politics and license allocation. The potential impacts of these issues on the hunting experience are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Given two graphs H 1 and H 2 , a graph is (H 1 , H 2) -free if it contains no induced subgraph isomorphic to H 1 or H 2. Let P t be the path on t vertices. A bull is the graph obtained from a triangle with two disjoint pendant edges. In this paper, we show that there are finitely many 5-vertex-critical (P 5 , bull)-free graphs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

On two pages of the Maya hieroglyphic manuscript known as the Madrid Codex are found vestiges of European paper. Visible on one of those fragments are handwritten words in Latin and Spanish. Scholars first proposed that the European paper had been incorporated into the substrate of the Maya codex during manufacture, and that the codex was a post-conquest creation. A re-analysis of the codex has shown, however, that the European paper became adhered to the codex after it was manufactured and painted. Another study has argued that it is a fragment of a Bull of the Santa Cruzada and that its presence helps to identify the approximate year and place when the Maya codex fell into the hands of Spanish friars. This article will show that argument is incorrect and that the European writing found in the Madrid Codex does not clarify the provenience of this important document. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this paper is to highlight the difference in the average daily gain recorded in the bulls of the Aubrac breed, exploited in the conditions of our country. The database was made up of data recorded in two fattening bull farms of the Aubrac breed. The average daily gain of the animals recorded at the age of 12 months, as well as the average daily gain at the age of 18 months, were measured. A total of 30 animals (15 animals from farm 1, and 15 animals from farm 2) were studied. The results were statistically interpreted, which showed that there were no significant differences between the animals from the two studied farms, but there were statistically significant differences between the average daily increase recorded at 12 months compared to the average daily increase recorded at 18 months. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of this paper was to evaluate semen parameters from Czech Fleckvieh (dual-purpose breed) bulls used in artificial insemination in the Fleckvieh population. The ejaculate was collected from bulls only once a week, which is not usual. Respectively, the effects of age and season of collection on semen parameters were tested. The average volume of ejaculate by Fleckvieh bulls was 8.72 mL, which is higher than results in studies of bulls which were collected usually more than once a week. The average total motility was 72.82 % and progressive motility was 67.99 %. Sperm concentration reached on average 1254.10×106 mL-1. The total motility of spermatozoa after thawing was 40.88 %. A significant influence of age was observed on ejaculate volume, total and progressive motility, and total motility after thawing (P<0.05). The season of collection had a significant influence on the volume of ejaculate, total motility, progressive motility, concentration of spermatozoa, and total count of spermatozoa (P<0.01). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The paper covers the peculiarities of the degree of meat shapes in the bulls of the Ukrainian meat breed, depending on the adipose tissue content under the skin and between the muscles. They were evaluated according to their productivity from 8 to 18, 21, and 23 months. Bulls with better development of meat shapes are characterized by fat deposition in the carcass and between the muscles earlier and more intensively. They have from 15.1 to 44.7% more fatty tissue in the carcass, including under the skin - from 3.8 to 44.1%. With a different degree of meat shapes, subcutaneous fat is deposited more than between muscles. The content of adipose tissue under the skin relative to its total amount in the body of animals tends to decrease by 6.5 points with age for a better degree of meat shapes, and on the contrary, to increase by 2.6 points for a worse degree. If the fat under the bull skin at 18 months in the best shapes is 72.1% of the fat in the carcass, and in the worst - 72.3%, then at 23 months, its amount decreases by 13.6 and 4.4 points, respectively. The fat between the muscles, on the contrary, increases from 27.9 and 27.7% by the same amounts, respectively. With a greater degree of meat shapes and subcutaneous fat thickness on the carcasses of 18-month-old bulls, intramuscular fat (marbling) content is lower by 75.0%. 18-month-old bulls with better-developed meat shapes have fat cuts off from the carcass by 15.2% more than animals with less developed shapes, 23 - by 11.3%. A large amount of produced waste in the body of animals in the best meat shape leads to excessive (from 0.9 to 14.5%) feed consumption (feed unit) for the increase in live weight. The subcutaneous fat content and the number of cuts off from 16 to 24 months positively correlate with the degree of meat shapes in bulls at 15 months and have correlation coefficients of 0.26 and 0.17, respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The historical, zooarchaeological and isotopic data concerning cattle breeding and management in the medieval Middle Nile Valley are considered in this paper in the first such comprehensive research for the region. The main source of data are the nearly 10,300 animal remains. The archaeozoological analyses focused primarily on cattle morphology. Strontium isotope analyses were used to indicate the local/non-local origin of animals encompassing the whole period studied. The empirical data indicate a developed central system of cattle management in medieval Makuria. Textual and iconographic sources additionally reflect an extensive set of values that have been experienced since prehistory in the Middle Nile and correspond to the anthropological definition of the "cattle centred behavior". Comprehensive analysis of animal remains and the analysis of textual information enabled the formulation of a hypothesis about Makuria's economic and cultural foundations rooted in the local tradition, constituting an important element of the Nubian identity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Increasing the efficiency of reproduction of farm animals is possible through the use of progressive cryotechnology. Numerous studies have been devoted to this problem. However, a significant number of cells do not restore their functional activity after deconservation, which hinders a fuller use of the genetic potential of high-value breeding animals. Therefore, the purpose of the research was to determine the optimal technological parameters of cryopreservation. To achieve the intended goal, experiments were carried out to determine: the optimal rate of cooled semen up to 4°C, the temperature of the fluoroplastic plate, the duration of cooling of bull sperm after diluting it with mediums containing various cryoprotective agents. It has been established that when developing new mediums, it is necessary to use the optimal modes of cryopreservation of sperm of different types of farm animals. The results presented in this paper allow us to understand that cryotechnologies should be developed taking into account the features of the frozen object and the physicochemical properties of the components of protective mediums. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the field of cryobiology, there are a large number of publications devoted to the study of the most labile lipid composition of gametes and their membranes. However, less attention is paid to the state of the protein component of cells. Therefore, the purpose of the presented paper was to study the protein spectrum and its changes in the process of cryopreservation of bull and rooster sperm. The presence of albumins, alpha, beta and gamma globulins was determined by the spectrophotometric method. Most of the proteins are contained in the seminal plasma, in gametes the total protein content is slightly lower. Of the seminal plasma proteins, most contain albumins, and of the gamete proteins, most contain gamma globulins (in the sperm of both animal species). With the passage of technological stages, the number of some proteins increases, while of others it decreases. This indicates about the destruction of protein structures, violation of the permeability of biological membranes and changes in the chromatographic mobility of proteins. From the data obtained, it was found that the protein spectrum of bull and rooster sperm is very different. If alpha globulins (18.2±1.84 mg/billion) prevail in the plasma of the bull's sperm, and gamma globulins (16.8±3.27 mg/billion) prevail in the gametes, then in rooster sperm, both in plasma and gametes, most of all is albumin (6.0±2.45 and 11.8±0.47 mg/billion, respectively). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we propose to approach the camarguaise bullfighting through animal work. We will focus on the Biòu d'Or bulls career, which is the main objective of the breed, the Course, a sport based on the competition of speed and agility between humans and bulls in Camargue, in the south of France. We identified a profession of up to 12 years, where knowledge and intelligence grow in the bull's body thanks to the repeated exposure to the razateur. We have found two aesthetics of sport that have their correlation in the breeding labor, both of which are settled between strength and an active submission, which creates conditions of possibility to diminish or increase humanity and animality. The findings are based on data collected through participant observation of ten Courses in Camargue and the analysis of private audiovisual archives, and 15 semi-directed interviews with razeteurs and ranchers during 2021. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The bronze statuette of a bull from the Roman Period, which was according to B. Svoboda located nearby Rymáň at Mníšek pod Brdy (Svoboda 1948: 197, obr. 38: 2), belongs to the finds that has repeatedly been cited in the Czech, scholarly literature. The presented paper provides analysis of the artefact as well as a specification of the find spot. At the same time, the aim of the text is to summarize the knowledge about Roman bull statuettes in provincial and Italian environments and briefly characterize other similar finds from Bohemia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents several veterinary researches in Great Britain. It states that a study on the provision of supplements by dog owners shows that 98.8 percent of the private veterinary practices clients reported feeding a commercial maintenance or dietetic diet to their dog. While another study on abnormalities in sperm chromatin have been linked with abnormal morphology and poor fertility in bulls.

Sperm competition was defined by Geoff Parker 50 years ago as the competition between sperm from two or more males over the fertilization of a set of eggs. Since the publication of his seminal paper, sperm competition has developed into a large field of research, and many aspects are still being discovered. One of the relatively poorly understood aspects is the importance of selection and competition among sperm within the ejaculate of a male. The sheer number of sperm present in a male's ejaculate suggests that the competition among sibling sperm produced by the same male may be intense. In this review, we summarize Parker's theoretical models generating predictions about the evolution of sperm traits under the control of the haploid gamete as opposed to the diploid male. We review the existing evidence of within-ejaculate competition from a wide range of fields and taxa. We also discuss the conceptual and practical hurdles we have been facing to study within-ejaculate sperm competition, and how novel technologies may help in addressing some of the currently open questions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The online version of the original article can be found at https://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-022-02238-2Correction to: Psychon Bull Revhttps://doi.org/10.3758/s13423-022-02238-2Joaquín Macedo-Pascual · Almudena Capilla · Pablo Campo3 · José Antonio Hinojosa1,4,5 · Claudia PochThis paper has been updated with open access.Publisher's noteSpringer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.By Joaquín Macedo-Pascual; Almudena Capilla; Pablo Campo; José Antonio Hinojosa and Claudia PochReported by Author; Author; Author; Author; Author [Extracted from the article]

There are given the results of the selection, the assessment of future mothers of bulls of the Simmental breed. The materials for the research were cows of the first, second and third lactation of the Simmental breed of the herd of the breeding farm Society of limited liability "Strapit". The studies were carried out according to the scheme developed by us according to the following parameters: origin and genetic examination; constitution and exterior, marker alleles; productivity; breeding value; genetic evaluation methods. Milk yields for 305 days of lactation on average for the population of Simmental cows amounted to 6017 kg of milk, which is by 455 kg of milk more than the average for the first lactation, the difference is significant (P<0.005). Alleles B2I1Q, I', I'Q' are markers for the Simmental breed. There were selected 4 cows as candidates for mothers of future bulls, whose productivity in terms of the highest lactation varied within 7029-8003 kg of milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interbull has been responsible for comparing dairy bulls across countries since the mid‐1980s. The current methodology is called MACE (multiple across country evaluations) which has been in use since 1995. Now that genomic data are being utilized in many countries, this has led to two serious problems. The first is that of preselection of young bulls such that the young animals are no longer a random sample of progeny from a sire by dam mating pair. Secondly, some countries are becoming less willing to share genomic data with Interbull. Both issues raise concern over the future of Interbull and international comparisons. This paper suggests a competition model as a potential replacement for MACE. The competition model makes pairwise comparisons between all pairs of bulls within a country and combines these differences across countries through bulls that are used in more than one country. Pedigree information is ignored as are all genomic data because bulls are treated as fixed. The model produces one international ranking of bulls averaging out any genotype by environment interactions which may exist. The competition model is illustrated by a small example. The limitations and advantages of the competition model are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aims to deduce a baseline data regarding seminal attributes (fresh and post thaw semen) and libido of indigenous Dajal and Cholistani breeding bulls. Data were collected on weekly basis for three months and a total of 138 ejaculates were attained for analyses. Among fresh semen attributes, mass motility was significantly higher for Dajal bulls as compared to Cholistani bulls being 2.7±0.2 and 2.1±0.1, respectively. Dajal proved to bear the brunt of cryopreservation in a better way in terms of percentage of live spermatozoa (14.7±0.2% damage). The values of libido index score, reaction time and Time Lapsed between Two Ejaculates were also significantly higher for Dajal breeding bulls. This preliminary study is the first of its kind, which furnishes baseline data regarding various reproductive attributes of Dajal breeding bulls. It envisions future studies on Dajal bulls with a larger sample size related to effect of age, season, feeding regimen, various types of extenders on semen quality, and assessment of fertility rate in order to attain an enhanced productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper aims to study the effect of the dietary treatments on mRNA expression of urea transporter B (UT-B) and some aquaporins (AQP) in rumen epithelium of Italian Simmental young bulls. Eighty animals allocated to 16 pens were fed from about 500 to 650 kg body weight with four experimental diets, which resulted from the combination of two crude protein levels (125 and 110 g/kg dry matter, diets M and L, respectively) and two nitrogen sources (soybean meal (SBM) or SBM partly replaced by an isonitrogenous mixture of corn and urea; diets −U and +U, respectively). At slaughtering samples of blood and rumen epithelium were collected from six bulls for each diet. Blood samples were analysed for haematological parameters and quantitative PCR was carried out on the mRNA extracted from the rumen epithelium samples. The bulls fed diets M had lower plasma concentrations of aspartate aminotransferase than those receiving diets L (78.9 vs. 88.3 U/l, p = 0.04). Plasma urea was higher (p = 0.03) for diets M and lower for diets +U (2.0 vs. 2.5 and 1.73 vs. 2.00 mmol/l, respectively, in M and L diets, p = 0.04). The effect of dietary treatments on rumen UT expression were limited to AQP3, which was down regulated (p = 0.01) in diets +U. Finally, a high positive correlation (R2 = 0.871) between the expressions of AQP7 and AQP10 was found. In conclusion, the AQP3 appears very responsive to dietary treatments and therefore it is a candidate to be further studied in rumen metabolism experiments. The close relationship between mRNA expression of AQP7 and AQP10 indicates a similar function of these two proteins. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is well known that sperm motility is the most important parameter in measuring sperm quality. Sperm motility can be measured manually by a medical veterinarian or using Computer Aided Sperm Analysis (CASA) system. Measuring bull sperm motility manually is the most popular method nevertheless it has major drawbacks which are subjective and high variability. CASA gives consistent results, hence it is an expensive system. Therefore, an alternative method is required. In this paper, a method to measure bull sperm motility was proposed, It was using ellipse detection and sperm head direction angle. The video samples were taken using a digital microscope. Compared with the manual assessment by medical veterinarians, the proposed method gave the average absolute margin of 5.16% which surpassed the previous method which gave 10.69%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are numerous specialized studies of the physicochemical and biochemical aspects of bull and boar semen, but this paper highlights additional enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes that behave as sperm defense mechanism against of oxygen free radicals(the protection of membrane lipids against oxidative damage). Such a comparative study was performed from a physicochemical (pH, buffering capacity) and biochemical (seminal fructose content, total protein, total lipids, total cholesterol and lactate dehydrogenase enzymatic activity, glutamate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and acrosin activity) point of view for 10 samples of boar and bull seminal plasma. The investigation showed smaller values of total protein, fructose, lipids and total cholesterol in the boar seminal plasma samples than in the bull seminal plasma samples (the decrease was significant, P <0.05). LDH and GDH activity in bull sperm is increased compared to the boar (P< 0.05), which leads to the idea that the anaerobic degradation of fructose (fructolise) in which LDH is involved, as well as the oxidation of the amino acids where GDH is involved are both processes that take place more intensively in bull sperm than in the boar one. Acrozine of boar sperm cells showed an increased activity compared with that of bull sperm (P< 0.05), because the intracellular pH of boar sperm (7.3-7.9) is closer to the optimal action pH for this enzyme (8,0). SOD activity in both the sperm extract and the seminal plasma of the bovines is increased compared to the ones from boar samples(P<0.01), which explains the higher resistance to lipid peroxidation of the bovine sperm compared to all other animal species. Regarding glutathione peroxidase activity, similarly to SOD activity, it is greatly increased in the extract of bovine sperm compared to bovine seminal plasma. In the boar samples, no traces of glutathione peroxidase could be found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Tension-band castration of cattle is gaining favour because it is relatively simple to perform and is promoted by retailers of the devices as a humane castration method. Furthermore, retailers encourage delaying castration to exploit the superior growth rates of bulls compared with steers. Two experiments were conducted, under tropical conditions, comparing tension banding and surgical castration of weaner (7-10 months old) and mature (22-25 months old) Bos indicus bulls with and without pain management (ketoprofen or saline injected intramuscularly immediately prior to castration). Welfare outcomes were assessed using a wide range of measures; this paper reports on the behavioural responses of the bulls and an accompanying paper reports on other measures. Behavioural data were collected at intervals by direct observation and continuously via data loggers on the hind leg of the bulls to 4 weeks post-castration. Tension-banded bulls performed less movement in the crush/chute than the surgically castrated bulls during the procedures (weaner: 2.63 vs. 5.69, P<0.001; mature: 1.00 vs. 5.94; P<0.001 for tension-band and surgical castration, respectively), indicating that tension banding was less painful then surgical castration during conduct. To 1.5h post-castration, tension-banded bulls performed significantly (all P<0.05) more active behavioural responses indicative of pain compared with surgical castrates, e.g., percentage time walking forwards (weaner: 15.0% vs. 8.1%; mature: 22.3% vs. 15.1%), walking backwards (weaner: 4.3% vs. 1.4%; mature: 2.4% vs. 0.5%), numbers of tail movements (weaner: 21.9 vs. 1.4; mature: 51.5 vs. 39.4) and leg movements (weaner: 12.9 vs. 0.9; mature: 8.5 vs. 1.5), respectively. In contrast, surgically castrated bulls performed more immobile behaviours compared with tension-banded bulls (e.g., standing in mature bulls was 56.6% vs. 34.4%, respectively, P=0.002). Ketoprofen administration appeared effective in moderating pain-related behaviours in the mature bulls from 1.5 to 3h, e.g., reducing abnormal standing (0.0% vs. 7.7%, P=0.009) and increasing feeding (12.7% vs. 0.0%, P=0.048) in NSAID- and saline-treated bulls, respectively. There were few behavioural differences subsequent to 24h post-castration, but some limited evidence of chronic pain (3-4 weeks post-castration) with both methods. Interpretation, however, was difficult from behaviours alone. Thus, tension banding is less painful than surgical castration during conduct of the procedures and pain-related behavioural responses differ with castration method (active restlessness in response to tension banding and minimisation of movement in response to surgical castration). Ketoprofen administered immediately prior to castration was somewhat effective in reducing pain, particularly in the mature bulls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It is weel known that in order to increase progress on cattle farms it is necessary to monitor animals in order to determinate the genetic quality of animals, by assessing the quantitative and qualitative characters of the animals, estimating breeding values and setting up a database on these aspects. In our country, as a result of favorable factors, such as natural pasture potential, European subsidies, government programs for the purchasing animals, extensiveintensive growth technology systems, the price of bovine meat, population trends towards the consumption of meat obtained in ecological conditions, in Romania were imported a series of specialized breeds for meat production, including Aberdeen Angus, Galloway, Highland, Aubrac, Charolais, Limousin. Thus, in order to expand the database and monitoring the qualitative and quantitative characters of the animals, specific breeding programs to each breed were developed. Regarding the Aberdeen Angus breed, the genealogical register is held by the Aberdeen Angus Association from Sibiu county, which also leads the activity of official performances control on national level. Recordings are made in accordance with legislative framework, in herds of pure breed Aberdeen Angus cattle and also cross-breeding programs with Aberdeen Angus terminal bulls. The control purpose is to record the weights of calves between three and fourteen months old, observing the specific characters of Aberdeen Angus breed and managing all purebred bulls. Data is collected in order to provide farmers with information useful for herd management and raw data for genetic evaluations. Generally, in this paperwork it will be studied the legislative framework, the control technique, the control methods, the national evolution of performances, the stock evolution and the appreciation of the bulls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Holstein-Friesian breed is the best known and most representative breed that produces large quantities of the best quality milk. A healthy Holstein calf weighs 40 kg at birth. Holstein bulls can weigh up to 1180 kg. The growth and development of calves are influenced by environmental conditions, but also by feed. For this study, the calf breeding group from the 0-3 months category was used. Calves were tested from a nutritional point of view, both in terms of the lactating diet and the concentrate mixture at different protein levels. The consumption of the mixture of concentrates per animal was measured, following the development of calves in this category and metabolic problems. The rations were differentiated by protein level. It was found that there are statistically significant differences in feed consumption due to the different ratios applied and the type of milk administered according to the feeding schedule. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are numerous specialized studies of the physicochemical and biochemical aspects of bull and boar semen, but this paper highlights additional enzymatic activity of superoxide dismutase and glutathione peroxidase enzymes that behave as sperm defense mechanism against of oxygen free radicals(the protection of membrane lipids against oxidative damage). Such a comparative study was performed from a physicochemical (pH, buffering capacity) and biochemical (seminal fructose content, total protein, total lipids, total cholesterol and lactate dehydrogenase enzymatic activity, glutamate dehydrogenase, superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase and acrosin activity) point of view for 10 samples of boar and bull seminal plasma. The investigation showed smaller values of total protein, fructose, lipids and total cholesterol in the boar seminal plasma samples than in the bull seminal plasma samples (the decrease was significant, P <0.05). LDH and GDH activity in bull sperm is increased compared to the boar (P< 0.05), which leads to the idea that the anaerobic degradation offructose (fructolise) in which LDH is involved, as well as the oxidation of the amino acids where GDH is involved are both processes that take place more intensively in bull sperm than in the boar one. Acrozine of boar sperm cells showed an increased activity compared with that of bull sperm (P< 0.05), because the intracellular pH of boar sperm (7.3-7.9) is closer to the optimal action pH for this enzyme (8,0). SOD activity in both the sperm extract and the seminal plasma of the bovines is increased compared to the ones from boar samples (P<0.01), which explains the higher resistance to lipid peroxidation of the bovine sperm compared to all other animal species. Regarding glutathione peroxidase activity, similarly to SOD activity, it is greatly increased in the extract of bovine sperm compared to bovine seminal plasma. In the boar samples, no traces of glutathione peroxidase could be found. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the paper was to identify β - lactogloβulin gene polymorphism in βulls. The β - lactogloβulin (LGB) is expressed in milk and is important in the evaluation of milk production potential and βutterfat and protein content. LGB is localized on βovine chromosome 11. The AA genotype of LGB is associated with higher milk yield, the BB genotype with higher fat and casein content and is more desiraβle for cheese making. The material involved 46 βulls (Slovak spotted βreed - 41 βulls, Pinzgau βreed - 3 βulls and Holstein βreed - 2 βulls). Bovine genomic DNA was isolated from sperm using commercial kit NucleoSpin Tissue and used in order to estimate LGB genotypes βy means of PCR RFLP method and high resolution melting analysis (HRMA). In the population of Slovak spotted βreed we detected all genotypes AA, AB and BB with frequency 0.3415, 0.4390 and 0.2195, suβsequently. In Pinzgau βreed was detected homozygote genotypes AA and BB with frequency 0.3333 and 0.6667. In Holstein βreed was oβserved only heterozygote genotype AB with frequency 1. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents an abstract of the graduate student paper titled `Scrotal Circumferences Associated With Age in Wagyu Bulls,' by J.M. Sosa, D.M. de Avila, and J.J. Reeves. Focus on a Japanese breed of cattle.

Animal conservation and improvement programs for any species or breed require the basic knowledge of its reproductive anatomy, histology and physiology. The present study has been devised with an objective to determine interrelationships between body weight, various orchidometric, fresh seminal, and post thaw seminal attributes for Nili-Ravi buffalo bulls. Materials, Methods & Results: Adult Nili-Ravi buffalo bulls (n = 07) being reared for breeding at Semen Production Unit (SPU), Qadirabad, Sahiwal, Pakistan were used in the present study. Orchidometric attributes included scrotal circumference, testicular length, testicular width and paired testicular volume (PTV), whereas fresh seminal parameters included the assessment of ejaculatory volume, color, pH, mass motility and individual sperm motility, and sperm. The sperm dimensional characteristics included measurements of head length (HL), head breadth (HB), head shape (HS), midpiece length (MPL), tail length (TL) and total sperm length (TSL). Results revealed a significantly positive correlation (P = 0.01) between body weight and all the studied orchidometric attributes. Similarly, correlation coefficients between all the studied sperm dimensional characteristics were also statistically significant (P = 0.01). Semen color showed significantly positive correlation with sperm HL, HB, TL and TSL, being negative with HS and MPL. Semen pH showed significantly positive correlation with sperm HS and MPL and significantly negative correlation with other sperm dimensional characteristics. The individual sperm motility had significantly positive correlation with HL, TL and TSL being negatively correlated with MPL. The sperm count showed significantly positive correlation with HL, HB, TL and TSL. Various studies on males of livestock have reported a positive correlation between body weight and various testicular attributes especially SC and PTV. Similarly, semen parameters, both for fresh and post thaw, have also been shown to have interrelationships among each other. The present study has added sperm dimensional characteristics in the study. The perplexing diversity of sperm structure has always been an interest of research world-wide which has resulted in reports of its structure associated with its adaptive function i.e. appropriate fertility. The novelty of this study is that the work has been conducted on Nili-Ravi buffalo bulls, for which the results of this study endorse that body weight, orchidometric, seminal and sperm dimensional characteristics show positive correlation with each other and may be utilized for selection of breeding buffalo bulls as they are readily measurable and reliable indicators of their reproductive status. We recommend the incorporation of sperm morphological attributes in the Breeding Evaluation protocols of the SPUs of Pakistan for selection of reproductively sound breeding bulls. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper analyses bullfighting programming featured on Spanish public television (TVE) between 1956 and 1975. As such, it covers live broadcasts of corridas, specialist news programmes and related documentary films broadcast during the final twenty years of the Franco dictatorship. Given that no actual footage has been preserved, other material such as broadcast schedules published in the press, newspaper sections devoted to the subject and archive collections of bullfighting magazines have been examined and analysed in order to reconstruct a clear picture of programming in this genre offered by TVE during the period. It also provides a critical assessment of the ways in which the Franco regime sought to use bullfighting-related programming to promote tourism and pursue other economic objectives as well as an evaluation of the contribution of live broadcasts of corridas to the technological development of television in Spain and the gradual professionalisation of journalism devoted to this particular topic. Bullfighting related programming, which was quite popular among TV audience, did much to stimulate public interest in the medium as well as the world of tauromachy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Thirty-five years ago the pioneering paper in Science (240:1131) on the relationship between sperm DNA integrity and pregnancy outcome was featured as the cover issue showing a fluorescence photomicrograph of red and green stained sperm. The flow cytometry data showed a very significant difference in sperm DNA integrity between fertile and subfertile bulls and men. This study utilized heat (100 °C, 5 min) to denature DNA at sites of DNA strand breaks followed by staining with acridine orange (AO) and measurements of 5000 individual sperm of green double strand (ds) DNA and red single strand (ss) DNA fluorescence. Later, the heat protocol was changed to a low pH protocol to denature the DNA at sites of strand breaks; the heat and acid procedures produced the same results. SCSA data are very advantageously dual parameter with 1024 channels (degrees) of both red and green fluorescence. Hundreds of publications on the use of the SCSA test in animals and humans have validated the SCSA as a highly useful test for determining male breeding soundness. The SCSA test is a rapid, non-biased flow cytometer machine measurement providing robust statistical data with exceptional precision and repeatability. Many genotoxic experiments showed excellent dose response data with very low coefficient of variation that further validated the SCSA as being a highly powerful assay for sperm DNA integrity. Twelve years following the introduction of the SCSA test, the t erminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated fluorescein-dUTP nick end labelling (TUNEL) test (1993) for sperm was introduced as the only other flow cytometric assay for sperm DNA fragmentation. However, the TUNEL test can also be done by light microscopy with much less statistical robustness. The COMET (1998) and Sperm Chromatin Dispersion (SCD; HALO) (2003) tests were introduced as light microscope tests that don’t require a flow cytometer. Since these tests measure only 50–200 sperm per sample, they suffer from the lack of the statistical robustness of flow cytometric measurements. Only the SCSA test has an exact standardization of a fixed protocol. The many variations of the other tests make it very difficult to compare data and thresholds for risk of male factor infertility. Data from these four sperm DNA fragmentation tests plus the light microscope acridine orange test (AOT) are correlated to various degrees. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There are presented the results of studies of the exterior and economically useful characteristics of first calf heifers of the local generation of the Holstein breed, bred in a herd of Joint-Stock Company “Aydyn”, Komrat, Administrative and Territorial Unit Gagauzia, Republic of Moldova. The bone index in comparison with the standard turned out to be on average 8.3% lower, which is due to the high height at the withers of Holstein cows. Comparative analysis of milk productivity of daughters of various bulls showed that milk yield for 305 days of lactation of daughters of bull Forms 999 is 155 kg more milk than that of daughters of bull Kiperush 79. Realization of the genetic potential of first-calf heifers of local selection was at the level of 91.4-92.1% of the productivity of full-aged cows, with a fat content of 3.82- 3.89%. The relationship between the milk yield and the percentage of fat in the milk of the daughters of the analyzed bulls was in a positive correlation from the weak (+0.034, daughter of Kiperush 79), to moderate (+0.369, daughter of Forms 999). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trials to skew the primary sex ratio or preselecting offspring with a predefined sex have been considered to be of interest for a number of years. Several methods and techniques have been used to this purpose. The present study evaluated the effects of red Light Emission Diode (LED) radiation on primary sex ratio and qualitative parameters of bull sperm during the swimup method. Fresh semen samples of four Holstein bulls were used in these experiments. Two experimental groups were designed (with or without LED radiation). The LED radiation group received red LED irradiation during the swim-up procedure. The photo-stimulation pattern consisted of sequential light-exposure periods (the light phase for 10 min followed by the dark phase for 10 min and the final light phase for 10 min). In each experiment, 5 tubes (#1 to 5) were considered for the swim-up procedure. The sperms were collected at 5, 10, 20, 30 and 60 min of swimming up time. Samples were analysed by Computer Assisted Sperm Analysis (CASA) and quantitative real-time PCR. Results of CASA parameters show significant differences between the two experimental groups for most parameters estimated at 10 and 30 min. Results of the comparative threshold cycle (ΔCt] reveal that the Y-bearing sperm swim faster than the X ones and the percentage of Y-bearing sperm in the control group was significantly greater. In conclusion, using red LED during the swim-up method could enhance sperm CASA parameters and increase the Y/X-chromosome bearing sperm ratio. Our results showed that red LED irradiation improves motility of sperm, which in turn can improve fertility. Additionally, the Y/X bearing sperm chromosome ratios are different in different times of the swim-up procedure. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Bacterial contamination of semen samples represents potential threat to the sperm quality. Enterococcus faecium was identified in our previous study concerning bacteriocenosis of fresh bovine ejaculates. The objectives of this study are focused on the effect of Enterococcus faecium-induced bacteriospermia on sperm motility, mitochondrial membrane potential and reactive oxygen species generation. Bovine semen samples came from breedeng bulls kept in a breeding centre (Slovak Biological Services, a.s., Lužianky, Slovakia). Immediately, samples were subjected to density gradient separation using Percoll PLUS to separate seminal plasma along with seminal bacteriocenosis. An 18-hours culture of E. faecium isolated from bovine semen was diluted to 0.5 McFarland and co-incubated with spermatozoa, while held at 37°C during 4 hours. One-way ANOVA followed by Dunnett’s comparison test were used to express arithmetic mean ± standard error of mean of obtained data. Data obtained using the Computerassisted sperm analysis showed that spermatozoa motility slightly decreased when treated with E. faecium. However, a significant decrease (P<0.01) in mitochondrial membrane potential was recorded after 4 hours treated with E. faecium. After 2 and 4 hours were observed significant increases of ROS levels in the groups with added E. faecium, when compared to control. We may conclude that increased concentrations of Enterococcus faecium may trigger oxidative burst in spermatozoa resulting in decreased mitochondrial membrane potential and thus impaired fertilizing ability of bovine spermatozoa. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Cryopreservation is a technique, commonly used for a long-term storage of male gametes as an effective way to preserve their longevity and vitality. During cryopreservation and following the thawing process, sperm cells are exposed to thermal stress, which may lead into disruptions of their morphological structures and a subsequent functional dysfunction. The objective of our study was to monitor HSP90 (heat shock protein 90) gene expression in cryopreserved bovine spermatozoa. HSP90 is one of the main heat-related cellular proteins, which belongs into chaperone protein family. It is involved in the formation of protein complexes, which stabilize proteins against heat stress and aid in the protein degradation. For the experimental purposes were used semen samples from 12 sexually mature Holstein-Friesian bulls. The samples were divided into two identical fractions, one fraction was cryopreserved and kept in liquid nitrogen at -196°C, while the other fraction was processed as non-cryopreserved fresh semen. The sperm motility rate was evaluated using CASA (Computer Assisted Semen Analysis). Quantification of isolated RNA was performed by real-time PCR and the expression of the HSP90 gene was assessed with the Western blot technique. For a proper analysis, we compared cryopreserved sperm samples with fresh ones. The data from our study indicate a reduction in the sperm motility (P<0.01) and HSP90 gene expression by approximetly 50% in the cryopreserved samples (P<0.01 for real-time PCR; P<0.05 for Western blot). Based on the results, we may confirm that the gene expression is reduced in the cryopreserved samples, which leads into a decrease of the protective properties of HSP90 due to the impact of low temperatures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The model calculations at hand quantify emissions of greenhouse gases (GHG) and ammonia (NH3) from beef production with Simmental suckler cow herds. This paper deals with varying fattening intensities that agree with current German agricultural practice. Both individual emissions of GHGs and NH3 from beef bulls and heifers as well as emissions from a suckler cow "family" with a useful life of the suckler cow of 4 years were calculated. The emissions were then related to the product, i.e. the overall carcass mass produced by the "family". Here, the contribution to the emission total of the suckler cows is paramount. It can be shown that it is advantageous to strive for high slaughter weights exceeding 550 kg animal-1 and 400 kg animal-1 for beef bulls and heifers, respectively. Higher weights are unlikely to further contribute to substantial emission reductions per unit of product. It is remarkable that relative NH3 emission reductions fall below those of GHG emissions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]