Effects of Increasing Levels of Total Tannins on Intake, Digestibility, and Balance of Nitrogen, Water, and Energy in Hair Lambs.

This study aims to evaluate the effects of increasing tannin levels from hay on the intake, digestibility, and balance of nitrogen (N), water, and energy in hair lambs. Thirty-two Santa Ines lambs, at an average age of 150 days and body weight of 26.75 ± 2.

Morphology of coat and skin of small ruminants reared in the Brazilian semi-arid region.

The structure of the coat and integument of small ruminants reared in semi-arid regions have valuable characteristics that favor their adaptation to the region. The objective of this study was to evaluate the structural characteristics of the coat and integument and sweating capacity of goats and sheep in the Brazilian semi-arid region, using 20 animals, 10 of each breed, 5 males and 5 females of each species, grouped in a completely randomized design in a 2 x 2 factorial scheme (2 species and 2 genders) with 5 replicates. The animals were already being kept under the influence of high temperatures and levels of direct solar radiation before the day of the collections.

Polymorphism of the beta-casein gene and adaptability of Sindhi cows to semiarid conditions.

This study aimed to investigate the effect of beta-casein genotypes (A1A2 and A2A2) in three different thermal comfort conditions on the adaptability of Sindhi cows and as a tool for selecting thermotolerant cattle. Twelve Sindhi cows were used in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, with six replicates, with two genotypes, and three thermal comfort conditions. The climatic variables were recorded, while black globe temperature, humidity index, and radiant heat load were calculated.

Ethology, physiological, and ingestive responses of sheep subjected to different temperatures and salinity levels of water.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the physiological responses, ethology, and ingestive behavior of female Morada Nova sheep kept in a thermoneutral environment, after thermal stress and after consuming water with different levels of salinity. Thirty-six Morada Nova females with a mean age of 10.0 ± 2.

Scrotum bipartite in sheep as a parameter indicative of adaptation to semi-arid climates: A thermographic and reproductive study.

With the objective of assessing the influence of scrotum bipartition on scrotum-testiclar thermoregulation and semen quality in sheep native to a semiarid region, 14 adult crossbred rams were placed into groups, GI (7 with bipartition in the scrotum) and GII (7 without bipartition). Images were taken of the caudal scrotum surface using a Fluke (Ti25) thermographic camera, for temperature analysis. Two semen collections were made, at an eight-day interval, by electroejaculation, to analyze macroscopic and microscopic parameters.