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Leucaena leucocephala is a shrub rich in proteins and mimosine. This high-density crop is cultivated to increase protein intake in cattle production systems. Mimosine is an antimitotic and its effect on the endometrium is still unknown. It is presumed that it could accumulate in the endometrial tissue, inhibiting the development of the endometrial glands, which are in charge of nurturing the embryo. The objective of this study was to determine mimosine accumulation in the endometrial tissue as a result of the consumption of L. leucocephala and to observe its effect in the development of the endometrial glands of early postpartum cows in a silvopastoral system. Twenty-four Bos indicus-Bos taurus cows were divided in two treatments: grazing in a silvopastoral system (SSP, n-12), formed by the association of Cynodon nlemfuensis and L. leucocephala, var. Cunningham; and grazing in a monoculture system (SM, n-12) of C. nlemfuensis. Mimosine consumption per kilogram of live weight was estimated based on the daily consumption of mimosine per cow. Mimosine concentration in the uterine tissue was determined using HPLC. A Student's t test (p≤0.05) was applied to contrast the differences between the mimosine concentration in the endometrial tissue of functional and non-functional glands. Mimosine accumulated in the endometrial tissue of SSP cows. Its concentration ranged from 51.02 to 63.45 -g g-1 of endometrial tissue (TE). The endometrial glands had a normal development, with -53.73 μg g-1 mimosine concentration in TE. By contrast, with 60.81 μg g-1, or higher, TE concentrations, endometrial glands showed signs of atrophy. Daily mimosine consumption in the SSP was 0.019 g kg-1 live weight. Mimosine from L. leucocephala consumption accumulates in the endometrial tissue and can cause endometrial glands atrophy in early postpartum cows. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. The aim of this work was to determine the rates of prevalence and recurrence of TVT infection in owned dogs, as well as the distribution of the disease, in Cuajinicuilapa, Guerrero, Mexico. Materials and methods. This work was an observational, descriptive, longitudinal study. A TVT diagnosis was performed in all dogs in the community based on clinical records, a physical examination, and a cytological evaluation, and further confirmed by histopathology. Tissue samples were surgically obtained for histopathological analysis and, when required, to remove tumors and give treatment with vincristine; a GPS system was used to identify possible spatial groupings. All cases were re-evaluated one year after. Results. A prevalence of 5.15% was found in 1047 dogs (512 females and 535 males; 25 positive females and 29 positive males). TVT infection was more frequent in 2-3-years-old dogs. A spatial aggregation pattern was observed in the local cases. One year after, no lesions were found in the 29 animals treated. Conclusions. TVT is a common disease, and its distribution suggests its aggregation in certain areas of the locality. Further studies on the dynamics of dog populations in small cities are required. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of body condition score (BCS) at lambing over the resumption of ovarian and estrous postpartum activity in lactating Pelibuey ewes. Twenty ewes were assigned to two groups, according to the BCS at lambing: Low BCS (LBC, n = 10) and High BCS (HBC, n = 10). Ovarian and estrous activities were daily monitored from day 3 postpartum until the first estrous or 90 days postpartum. Continuous variables were analyzed using Student´s t test and binary responses with the exact Fisher test. No significant effect of BCS at lambing on ewes in estrous, lambing to first estrous interval, estrous length, and estrous cycle length, preovulatory follicles at estrous, the maximum follicular diameter at estrous day or ovulation rate was observed. However, the lambing to first preovulatory follicle interval was shorter in the HBC group (HBC = 6.2 ± 2.6 vs LBC = 10.8 ± 4.5 d; P < 0.05). The lambing to first corpus luteum intervals were similar between groups, but without estrous expression. The function of the first corpus luteum postpartum was similar in both groups. BCS at lambing did not affect the resumption of ovarian and estrous activity postpartum in lactating Pelibuey ewes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Nutritional blocks (NB) are a supplement strategy for ruminants, and regional food ingredients such as mango (Mangifera indica L.) are included in their preparation. Due to its rapidly fermentable sugars, mango pulp (MP) may be used to substitute sugar cane molasses in the elaboration of NB. The objective of the present experiment was to evaluate the kinetic of gas production in vitro and the fermentative characteristics of the partial substitution of sugar cane molasses (Saccharum officinarum L.) with MP in the elaboration of NB. The experimental design was completely randomized and the treatments were MP0, MP10, MP20 and MP30, which was the level of substitution of molasses with MP. The variables determined in the sample of each treatment were: dry matter (DM), crude protein, ash, neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and acid detergent fiber (ADF). The biodigesters with 0.5 g of sample from each treatment and 50 mL of culture medium were maintained at 39 °C for 72 h. The variables calculated in the biodigesters were: maximum gas volume (Vf), gas production rate (S), time lag (λ), production of total gases and methane (CH4), volatile fatty acids (VFA), degradation of dry matter (DEGDM) and of NDF (DEGNDF) at 72 h. The MP0 produced Vf, of total gases and higher DEGDM and degradation of NDF (DEGNDF) at 72 h. The MP0 produced Vf, of total gases and highest DEGDM (p≤0.05). MP0 and MP10 presented higher S and lower λ (p≤0.05). There were no differences among treatments (p>0.05) for DEGNDF, CH4 and VFA. The partial substitution of mango pulp for sugar cane molasses in nutritional blocks decreased the maximum volume of gas produced, degradation of dry matter, total gases and increased colonization time. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

aim of this study was to determine the effect of the supplementation with palm oil (PO) and chicken fat (CF) on the seminal characteristics, testosterone, glucose and lipid metabolites levels in hair rams. Fats in the diet is the principal source of fatty acids and cholesterol (CHOL) for the steroid hormones synthesis involved in the reproductive processes. Seminal characteristics, levels of testosterone, glucose and lipids metabolites, body weight (BW), body condition score (BCS) and scrotal circumference (SC) were evaluated inhair rams supplemented with 30 g animal-1 d-1 of PO (n=4) or CF (n=4) for 90 d. Apart from semen vitality which was higher in CF group than in PO group, differences between treatments in any other parameter were not found. In hair rams, PO and CF can be integrated interchangeably in the diet without prejudice to the seminal characteristics, testosterone, glucose or lipid metabolites [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Intensive silvopastoral system (ISS) is a successful sustainable grazing system for dual-purpose cattle with growing adoption in the tropics; however, there is a concern on the quality of dairy products from this system. The aim of this study was to compare the ISS with the traditional monoculture system (MS) in terms of milk composition, soft cheese composition and yield, and the sensory acceptability of cheese during two seasons of a tropical area in Mexico. Twenty-four cows at the first 3 months postpartum were allocated evenly to two groups. The cows in ISS grazed in paddocks of Leucaena leucocephala associated with Cynodon nlemfuensis whereas the cows in MS grazed in C. nlemfuensis. Milk samples were collected weekly during the rainy and dry seasons for chemical analysis and fresh soft cheese making. The cheese was analyzed chemically, and cheese acceptability was evaluated for the sensory attributes of appearance, texture, flavor, color, and overall acceptability. Milk percentages of fat, protein, SNF, and lactose did not differ significantly between systems being, 3.5, 3.0, 8.1, and 4.4 in ISS and 3.6, 2.9, 8.0, and 4.4 in MS, respectively. Similar results were obtained for cheese content of fat/DM and protein/DM. In the rainy season, adjusted cheese yield from ISS (24.2%) was higher compared with MS (20.8%). Cheese texture in the dry season showed more acceptability for ISS. This study provide absence of adverse effect of ISS on milk and cheese composition; moreover, ISS improve the yield and acceptability of soft cheese. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]