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The aim of this study was to determine the differences in digit sizes from both pelvic limbs of 169 dairy cows of different genetic groups (Holstein, Jersey, Brown Swiss, and Jersolando), in lactating and non-lactating conditions, and their relation with diseases. Images were taken from the plantar view of the lateral and medial digits, and the length and width of the sole and bulb were then measured. Variables were discarded and factors for analysis were defined. Data were defined according to the highest coefficients and used to discriminate genetic groups and their association with indexes of foot diseases and productive performance. The Chi-square test showed that higher involvement occurred in lactating cows and in the right pelvic limb. Differences among all genetic groups were observed regarding the variables body weight, productive longevity, incidence of foot diseases, and generated factors. The Jersey breed was isolated from the other genetic groups because it presented lower coefficients for all variables; Holstein and Brown Swiss presented the highest morphometric measures of the digits, a higher body weight, and productive longevity, and higher rates of foot diseases. The Jersolando presented intermediate values between those of the two breeds from which it originated. The susceptibility to foot diseases is associated with breed, lactational stage, body weight, and with the morphometric parameters of the digits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The genetic divergence of 30 buffalo sires were evaluated based on their expected offspring differences regarding the development characteristics using the multivaried analysis. Six similar genetic groups were obtained. It was also identified the genotype that presented dissimilarity for matings that aimed at either the hybrid vigor or the heterosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The goal of the present study was to analyze the endogamy of Murrah buffaloes over 5 generations in 10 Brazilian herds. Pedigree information of 5,062 animals born from 1972 on were used. The mean endogamy coefficient and the percentage of endogamic animals increased from 0.33 and 1.31% in the second generation to 2.58 and 50.17% in the sixth generation, respectively. The expected endogamy increases caused by the unbalanced contribution of founders was equal to 0.48% and the founder effective number (fe) was 103. The genetic contribution of 5, 10 and 17 most influent ancestors (founders or not) explained, in the same order, 29.5, 41.13 and 50% of the genetic variability in the whole population. The mean endogamy coefficient increased over generations, what indicates that matings among closely related individuals have been allowed. Management and breeding strategies should be implemented to reduce the endogamy in the analyzed herds. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different feeding systems on milk fat quality of Murrah buffaloes. Forty Murrah buffaloes from 5 different Brazilian farms (n=8 animals/farm) were used. Milk samples were collected monthly throughout a single lactation, and fatty acid profile was determined by gas chromatography. Milk fatty acid profile was used to calculate the nutritional quality of milk fat according to the following indices: atherogenicity index (AI); thrombogenicity index (TI); omega 6/omega 3 (n6/n3) ratio and desirable fatty acids (DFA). Statistical analyses were performed using PROC Univariete from 7. The smallest AI (1.49±0.43) was observed in milk fat from Buffaloes raised in the Farm 3. No differences among farms were observed for TI and n6/n3 ratio. However, DFA differed among farms, with milk fat of Buffaloes from Farm 3 showing the highest values (47.17%). Our results showed that nutritional quality of milk fat from Murrah Buffaloes is influenced by different feeding systems. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of somatic cell count (SCC) on buffalo milk. Samples were collected monthly from 156 Murrah buffaloes during lactation, in 4 production systems (tropical pasture with supplementation), in Brazil. The SCC was determined by flow cytometry, using the Somacount 300. The fat, crude protein and lactose were determined by infrared light reading absorption, using the Bentley 2000 (Bentley Instruments). The SCC range in milk was (x 1.000 cells): Group 1 - until 250; Group 2 - more 250 to 450; Group 3 - more 450 to 750; Group 4 - more 750 to 1.000; Group 5 - more 1.000. The larger frequency of samples was observed in the Group 1 (89.7%). In the Group 2 was observed 4.6% of samples. In turn, in the Group 3 was 1.8%, in the Group 4 was 0.7%, and in the Group 5 was observed 3.2% of milk samples. Milk components such as fat, protein and lactose were not affected in spite of a decrease in their concentration. Perhaps, this result is due to the small number of samples in 3, 4 and 5 Groups. However, significant effect of SCC on the solids was observed. Most total solids concentration was observed in the Group 1 (17.1±1.71%) did not differ from Group 2 (16.5±1.45%) and Group 3 (16.8±2.09%), however was observed statistical effect from intervals 4 (15.8±2.43%) and 5 (14.5±2.39%). In the 2, 3 and 4 Groups was not find statistical difference, however, they differ in the range 5. The SCC did not affect the composition of buffalo's milk. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Reducing the environmental impact of livestock production is now indispensable and genetic selection can be of great support for this purpose. Measures that can identify high body growth at low maintenance costs in production animals are particularly useful since resources have been increasingly limited. Therefore, the goal of this study was to estimate genetic parameters for BW and Kleiber ratio (KR) in 210-day-old and 365-day-old Charolais and Limousin breeds. A database comprising animals born from 1999 to 2018 was used in a multitrait model applying Bayesian inference. The heritability for BW is high in Charolais (0.39 and 0.42 for BW210 and BW365, respectively) and moderate in Limousin (0.22), indicating possible genetic gains for BW in both breeds. The genetic variability of KR should also allow satisfactory genetic gains. In addition, the genetic correlation between BW and KR ranged from low to moderate. Thus, selection over KR should have no effects on BW, showing that high body growth can be obtained without changes in efficiency., Competing Interests: Declaration of interest The authors declare no conflicts of interest., (Copyright © 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.)