Seasonal variation of the estrous cycle length, corpus luteum area, and size of the pre-ovulatory follicle in Criollo Limonero heifers.

In order to determine whether seasonal variations may influence the estrous cycle length (ECL), corpus luteum size (CLS), maximum area of CL (MACL), day of cycle with maximum area of CL (DCMACL), and pre-ovulatory follicles size (PFS), ten Criollo Limonero heifers were subjected to daily ultrasound ovary scanning throughout their estrous cycles during three seasons: hot-dry (HD), hot-humid (HH), and wind-rain (WR). The effect of season on ECL, MACL, DCMACL, and PFS was analyzed with an ANOVA (PROC GLM, SAS), whereas, for the effect of season on CLS, an ANOVA with repeated measures (PROC MIXED, SAS) was used. Results showed no effect (P > 0.

Heat stress response in slick vs normal-haired Criollo Limonero heifers in a tropical environment.

To assess the effect of hair type on the heat stress response, 20 Criollo Limonero heifers with slick (n = 11) or normal hair (n = 9) were studied. Under a high temperature-humidity index (THI) environment, heat stress response was assessed through physiological variables that included respiration rate (RR), heart rate (HR), ruminal frequency (RMF), rectal temperature (RT), saliva pH (SPH), and lymphocyte count (LC) in the morning (5:00 AM, 27.4 °C, 64% relative humidity, THI = 77) and afternoon (1:00 PM, 34.

Variability of hair coat and skin traits as related to adaptation in Criollo Limonero cattle.

The variation in hair coat and skin histology traits of Criollo Limonero cattle was analyzed using 213 Criollo Limonero females. Skin biopsies were obtained from slick-haired (N=16) and normal-haired (N=14) animals. Measured traits included hair length (HL), color coat (CC), number of hair follicles per square centimeter (NHF), sweat glands per square centimeter (NSG), sweat glands size (SGS), sebaceous glands per square centimeter (NSBG), blood vessels per square centimeter (NBV), and thickness of epidermis (TE).

Shortening the postpartum anoestrous interval in suckled crossbred dual purpose cows using progestagen intravaginal sponges plus eCG and PGF(2alpha).

One hundred and twenty-six suckled crossbred cows (Bos taurus x Bos indicus), with body condition score >or=3 (1-5 point scale), were employed in the present study to evaluate the effectiveness of intravaginal progestin-releasing sponges (IVS) for shortening anoestrous interval. Fifty-four cows were assigned to control group. Seventy-two cows were treated with IVS impregnated with 250 mg of medroxy-acetate-progesterone (MAP) as follows: day 0, IVS plus 5 mg of 17beta-E and 50 mg of MAP i.