The aim of this study was to analyze the factors that can influence pork prices, particularly the effects of various types of fluctuations on the volatility of pork prices in the European Union as a ...whole market and individual EU countries. The research material consisted of monthly time series of pork prices collected from 2009 to 2020. These data originated from the Integrated System of Agricultural Information coordinated by the Polish Ministry of Agriculture. Information on global pork production volumes is from the Food and Agriculture Organization Statistics (FAOSTAT) database. Time series of prices were described by the multiplicative model, and seasonal breakdown was performed using the Census X-11 method. The separation of the cyclical component of the trend was performed using the Hodrick-Prescott filter. In 2019, pork production in the European Union totaled 23,954 thousand tonnes, which accounted for 21.8% of global pork production. The largest producers were Germany, Spain, and France, supplying more than half of the pork to the entire European Union market. Pork prices in the EU, averaged over the 2009-2020 period were Euro (EUR) 154.63/100 kg. The highest prices for pork were recorded in Malta, Cyprus, Bulgaria, and Greece, whereas the lowest prices in Belgium, the Netherlands, Denmark, and France. The breakdown of the time series for pork prices confirmed that, in the period from 2009 to 2020, pork prices exhibited considerable fluctuations of both a long-term and medium-term nature as well as short-term seasonal and irregular fluctuations. Prices were higher than average in summer (with a peak in June-August) and lower in winter (January-March). Overall, the proportions of different types of changes in pork prices were as follows: random changes-7.9%, seasonal changes-36.6%, and cyclical changes-55.5%.
The present study set out to determine the effects of incorporating cDDGS into starter, grower, and finisher diets (containing 5%, 10%, and 15% of cDDGS, respectively) on growth performance, carcass ...and meat quality, and cost effectiveness of pig fattening. Sixty-four pigs (mean body weight of 15.0 ± 2.1 kg) were divided into two groups (n = 32) and fed a control diet (cereal–soybean meal-based) or cDGGS-containing diets (with soybean meal partially replaced with cDDGS). Live weights of pigs as well as weight gains/daily weight gains across all fattening phases did not differ between the two groups of fattener pigs studied (p > 0.05). Addition of cDDGS decreased feed intake per pig during the grower (p < 0.05) and finisher (p < 0.01) phases, and, as a result, throughout the entire fattening period (254 vs. 245 kg for control and cDDGS groups, respectively; p < 0.01). The feed conversion ratio (FCR) for the entire fattening period was significantly less for cDDGS-fed fatteners (2.77) than for controls (2.91; p < 0.05). Carcass weights, fat thickness, and meatiness did not vary between the two groups of animals (p > 0.05). Loin depth was greater in the cDDGS group by ~5 mm (p < 0.05). Slaughter value was higher for the cDDGS group (76.1% vs. 77.0%, p < 0.05). The total cost of fattening and total cost of 1 kg of body weight decreased in cDDGS compared with the control subset of fatteners by ~7% and 8% during the grower and finisher phases, respectively (p < 0.01). The simplified direct surplus per pig was approximately 63% higher for the cDDGS group. Our results indicate that even moderate inclusion of cDDGS to concentrate mixtures (or a partial replacement of soybean meal with cDDGS) may improve FCR without any substantial changes in meat and back fat characteristics as well as significantly decrease the cost of feeding and increase the profitability of pig production.
Premature regression of corpora lutea (PRCL) may adversely affect the outcome of hormonal ovarian superstimulation in small ruminants, and the total dose of exogenous gonadotropins used may be one of ...the causes of this condition. There were two major objectives of the present study: (1) to evaluate the effects of different superovulatory doses of porcine follicle-stimulating hormone (pFSH) on the biometry, blood perfusion (Doppler), and echotextural characteristics of luteal structures; and, (2) to determine the usefulness of biometric, vascular, and echotextural luteal variables, as well as measurements of circulating progesterone (P
) concentrations for early detection of PRCL in superovulated Santa Inês ewes. Twenty-seven Santa Inês ewes received an intravaginal P
-releasing device (CIDR) from Days 0 to 8 (Day 0 = random day of the anovulatory period). An IM injection of d-cloprostenol (37.5 μg) was given at the time of the CIDR insertion and withdrawal. On Day 6, all the ewes received 300 IU of eCG IM and were divided into three treatment groups (each
= 9): G100 (100 mg); G133 (133 mg); and G200 (200 mg of pFSH) administered IM every 12 h in eight injections. Transrectal ovarian ultrasonography and jugular blood sampling for serum P
measurements were performed on Days 11 to 15. On the day of embryo recovery (Day 15), all the ewes underwent diagnostic videolaparoscopy and were classified, based on their luteal characteristics, into three response groups: nCL (ewes with normal CL only); rCL (ewes with regressing CL only); and ewes with both nCL and rCL following the superovulatory regimen. Our present results indicate that the total pFSH doses of 100 mg and 200 mg result in similar ovulatory responses and luteal function/biometrics, although the percentage of donor ewes with nCL was greater (
< 0.05) for G100 compared with the G200 animals. An application of 133 mg of pFSH was associated with diminished luteogenesis. Lastly, circulating P
concentrations, ultrasonographic estimates of total luteal area, and CL pixel heterogeneity (standard deviation of numerical pixel values) are promising markers of luteal inadequacy in superovulated ewes.
Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of administering 300 IU hCG intravaginally (i.vag.) at the time of artificial insemination (AI) on ovulatory response, luteal function and ...pregnancy rates in cyclic Alpine (A) and Saanen (S) goats. All animals received two i.m. injections of 37.5 μg of d-cloprostenol (Prolise®; Tecnopec, São Paulo, SP, Brazil) at 11.5-day (Experiments 1 and 2) or 7.5-day intervals (Experiment 2). One day after the onset of estrus (day of AI=D0), the goats were randomly allocated to one of the two groups that received: 300 IU hCG (Vetecor®; Hertape-Calier, São Paulo, SP, Brazil) i.vag. (G-hCG; Experiment 1: n = 12 A; Experiment 2: n = 80 A + 63 S) or 0.3 mL or saline solution i.vag. (G-Control; Experiment 1: n = 12 A; Experiment 2: n = 82 A + 65 S). Blood samples for measurements of circulating progesterone concentrations were drawn on both days of d-cloprostenol injections and on D3, D7, D10, D13 and D21 (Experiment 1). Transrectal ovarian ultrasonography was done on D7, D10, D13, D17 and D21 (Experiment 1), and pregnancy detection was performed on D60 (Experiment 2). In Experiment 1, there were no differences (P > 0.05) in the mean diameter of ovulatory follicles, timing and number of ovulations, and incidence of early luteal regression between the two groups of goats. However, the total luteal area on D17 and D21 and luteal vascularization on D10 and D13 were higher (P < 0.05) in G-hCG compared with G-Control does. In Experiment 2, the pregnancy rate was higher (P < 0.05) in G-hCG compared with G-Control goats (80.4% compared with 67.3%, respectively). Human chorionic gonadotropin (300 IU) given i.vag. at the time of AI did not alter ovulatory response or progesterone secretory ability of resultant corpora lutea nor did it completely prevent premature luteal regression, but it increased the luteal area and luteal vascularization as well as the conception rate in dairy goats (the latter by 13.1%).
•Cyclic goats received intravaginal hCG at the time of artificial insemination (AI).•Treatment with hCG at AI did not alter ovulatory response.•There was an increase in the total luteal area and vascularization in goats.•The conception rate was higher in the hCG group compared to untreated does
•Milli-Q® Water and nanowater (NW) were used to collect slaughterhouse bovine ovaries.•Milli-Q® Water and NW were then used for in vitro bovine embryo maturation (IVM).•There were no differences in ...cleavage rates between Milli-Q® Water and NW.•There were no differences in blastocyst formation between Milli-Q® Water and NW.•NW is a safe substitute for Milli-Q® Water for bovine ovary collection and IVM.
The aim of this study was to compare the efficiency of in vitro embryo production (IVP) following the collection of bovine ovaries and 22-h in vitro maturation (IVM) of oocytes in media prepared with Milli-Q® Water (n = 509 oocytes) or nanowater (NW; n = 304 oocytes). The mean cleavage (63.8 ± 4.6 % vs. 63.6 ± 6.1 %, respectively; mean ± SEM) and blastocyst formation rate (16.3 ± 3.4 % vs. 16.7 ± 6.7 % of presumptive zygotes, respectively) did not vary (P > 0.05; Student t-test) between the two types of media diluents. NW is a safe substitute for Milli-Q® Water for IVM of bovine oocytes.
The assessment of morphology and digital image opacity may provide valuable information on the present embryo quality. Time-lapse imaging has been employed in research to establish a means of ...monitoring the dynamic nature of preimplantation embryo development. The aim of present study was to use time-lapse imaging for assessing various prospective morphometric and phototextural markers of the developmental potential of
-derived ovine embryos. Oocytes were obtained by scarification of ovaries from nine Polish Longwool ewes. After
maturation (IVM) and fertilization (IVF) of oocytes with fresh ram semen, the development of embryos to the blastocyst stage was monitored and evaluated using Primo Vision time-lapse imaging technology. Commercially available Image-Pro
Plus software was used to measure zona pellucida thickness, embryo diameter, total area of the perivitelline space, cellular grey-scale pixel intensity and cellular pixel heterogeneity. Statistical assessment of all attributes was done at various time points during embryo development (i.e., presumptive zygote stage: t(0); first cleavage detected at t(2) or t(3); and second cleavage detected at t(4) or t(6)). Out of thirty-seven zygotes analyzed in this study, five did not divide, 26 arrested before and six developed to the blastocyst stage. Our present results indicate that most parameters analyzed did not differ among embryos varying in their developmental fate except for the perivitelline space area that was greater (P<0.05) for non-dividing zygotes than future blastocysts at the presumptive zygote stage (4040±1850 vs. 857±262 µm
, respectively; means±SEM). Consequently, the measurement of perivitelline space at t(0) can potentially be used to prognosticate developmental potential of
-produced ovine embryos albeit further confirmational studies are needed.
Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) has been used to improve goats reproductive efficiency. This study aimed to (i) evaluate if hCG administered by the intramuscular (i.m.) or intravaginal (i.vag.) ...route can be detected by a rapid β‐hCG test in blood plasma samples and (ii) document ovarian effects of hCG administered by both routes at the time of artificial insemination (AI) performed 60 h after oestrus synchronization in goats. Twenty‐two Alpine goats received two i.m. injections of 30 μg of d‐cloprostenol (Prolise®, Tecnopec, São Paulo, Brazil) 7.5 days apart. One day after the onset of oestrus (at the time of AI), the goats were randomly allocated to one of the three groups that received: control (n = 7): 0.3 ml of saline solution intravaginally; hCGi.m. (n = 7): 300 IU of hCG (Vetecor®; Hertape‐Calier, São Paulo, Brazil) i.m. and hCGi.vag. (n = 8): 300 IU of hCG deposited intravaginally. Blood samples were drawn at −1, 3, 6, 9 and 24 h after as well as on days 3, 7, 10, 13, 17 and 21 after hCG treatment/AI. All animals tested negative for hCG (ECO Diagnóstica, Corinto, Brazil) at −1 h, and all control animals tested negative throughout the entire blood collection period. All hCGi.m. animals tested positive from 3 h until D3 post‐AI but only 50% of hCGi.vag. goats tested positive during the present study. In all animals studied, mean circulating P4 concentrations increased (p < .05) from D3 to D7 after AI and then declined (p < .05) from D10 to D17 in control and hCGi.m. groups and from D17 to D21 in the hCGi.vag. group. Total cross‐sectional luteal area (CLA), mean colour Doppler area (DA), DA/CLA, mean high‐velocity Doppler area and HVDA/CLA all declined (p < .05) by D17–D21 in all animals studied. In summary: (i) human chorionic gonadotropin could consistently be detected in blood samples using the rapid β‐hCG test only in the hCGi.m. group; and (ii) there were no significant differences in the mean pregnancy rate, circulating P4 concentrations and various luteal parameters studied among Control, hCGi.m. and hCGi.vag. dose.
The main goal of this preliminary study was to determine and compare ultrasonographic characteristics of the mammary gland in two genotypes of ewes varying in milk productivity at 2, 3 and 4 weeks ...after lambing. Ultrasonographic images of the udder were obtained using the 5.0- and 7.5-MHz transducers, in axial and coronal planes, in four low milk-yielding Polish Mountain sheep and six high milk-yielding Olkuska ewes. All ultrasonograms were subjected to computerized image analyses using commercially available image analytical software (Image ProPlus
; Media Cybernetics Inc., San Diego, CA, USA) to determine numerical pixel values (NPVs) and heterogeneity (pixel standard deviation-PSD) of the mammary gland parenchyma. During the 28-day period post-partum, the Olkuska sheep exceeded (P < 0.05) Polish Mountain ewes in milk productivity (31.6 ± 2.7 l and 25.0 ± 4.2 l, respectively; means ± SEMs) as estimated by the mean weight gains of suckling lambs. In animals examined with the 5.0-MHz transducer, mean NPVs of the mammary gland parenchyma in Olkuska ewes and mean PSD in both genotypes of ewes were lower (P < 0.05) before than after milking. In addition, PSD recorded both before and after milking were lower (P < 0.05) in the Polish Mountain compared with Olkuska breed. Mean PSD values for the mammary gland were less (P < 0.05) before than after milking in Polish Mountain ewes and they were greater (P < 0.05) in Olkuska compared with Polish Mountain ewes examined with the 7.5-MHz probe after milking. It can be concluded that milk quantity, histomorphology of the udder and ultrasound transducer frequency may all impinge on the echotextural characteristics of the mammary parenchyma in different breeds of sheep. Our observations warrant future studies of correlations between milk composition, mammary gland histophysiology and ultrasonographic image attributes of the mammary gland in ruminants.
At present, the success of non-surgical embryo recovery (NSER) and transfer (NSET) hinges upon the cervical passage of catheters, but penetration of the uterine cervix in ewes is problematic due to ...its anatomical structure (i.e., long and narrow cervical lumen with misaligned folds and rings). It is a major obstacle limiting the widespread application of NSER and NSET in sheep. While initial attempts to traverse the uterine cervix focused on adapting or re-designing insemination catheters, more recent studies demonstrated that cervical relaxation protocols were instrumental for transcervical penetration in the ewe. An application of such protocols more than tripled cervical penetration rates (currently at 90–95 %) in sheep of different breeds (e.g., Dorper, Lacaune, Santa Inês, crossbred, and indigenous Brazilian breeds) and ages/parity. There is now sufficient evidence to suggest that even repeatedly performed cervical passages do not adversely affect overall health and reproductive function of ewes. Despite these improvements, appropriate selection of donors and recipients remains one of the most important requirements for maintaining high success rates of NSER and NSET, respectively. Non-surgical ovine embryo recovery has gradually become a commercially viable method as even though the procedure still cannot be performed by untrained individuals, it is inexpensive, yields satisfactory results, and complies with current public expectations of animal welfare standards. This article reviews critical morphophysiological aspects of transcervical embryo flushing and transfer, and the prospect of both techniques to replace surgical methods for multiple ovulation and embryo transfer (MOET) programs in sheep. We have also discussed some potential pharmacological and technical developments in the field of non-invasive embryo recovery and deposition.
This study examined the differences in ovarian responses and in vivo embryo production in three naturalized Brazilian sheep breeds (Morada Nova, Santa Inês, and Somalis Brasileira). Thirty cycling, ...multiparous ewes (n = 10/breed) received intravaginal devices containing 0.33 g of progesterone (CIDR®) for 9 days and the twice-daily superovulatory treatment with 133 mg of porcine follicle-stimulating hormone (six decreasing doses) started on Day 7 (Day 0 PM = CIDR® insertion). On Days 11 (36 h after CIDR® removal) and 15 (12 h before non-surgical embryo recovery performed seven days after CIDR® removal), all ewes were examined using B-mode and Doppler ultrasonography. The number of medium-sized ovarian follicles (4.0–5.99 mm) on Day 11 was greater (P = 0.003) in Santa Inês and Somalis Brasileira compared with Morada Nova ewes. Small antral follicle numbers (2.0–3.99 mm in diameter) on Day 11 were directly related to ovulatory responses in all three breeds of superovulated ewes. The number of corpora lutea on Day 15 was greater (P < 0.0001) in Santa Inês, followed by Somalis Brasileira and Morada Nova ewes; however, the number of viable embryos and viability rate did not differ (P > 0.05) among the three genotypes of ewes studied. The total ovarian area (TA), color Doppler area (DA), and DA/TA × 100% increased from Day 11 to Day 15 in all breeds, and they were lowest (P < 0.001) in superovulated Morada Nova sheep. Significant positive correlations among ovarian antral follicle numbers in different size classes (Day 11) and ovulatory responses were recorded in all breeds, but associations between the ovarian blood perfusion and superovulatory outcomes were restricted to the Morada Nova and Santa Inês genotypes. In summary, ovarian follicle numbers and blood flow indices differed among the three naturalized Brazilian ewes, but no significant differences were noted in embryo yields and quality following superovulation. Small antral follicle count 36 h after CIDR® treatment was a reliable predictor of impending ovulation rates in all ewes under study.
•A superovulatory treatment was performed in three Brazilian indigenous sheep breeds.•Antral follicle numbers and ovulation rates differed among the breeds.•There were no inter-breed differences in embryo yields or quality.•The number of small antral follicles after superovulation was correlated with ovulatory responses.•Color Doppler indices may help predict viable embryo yields.
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