O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o potencial antioxidante do capim-limão (Cymbopogon citratus (D.C.) Stapf) sobre a qualidade do leite de cabra (produção, composição, características físico-químicas, contagem de células somáticas, contagem bacteriana total e oxidação lipídica) antes (Fase 1) e após a administração pontual de ACTH (Fase 2), bem como a apoptose do tecido mamário (Fase 3) de cabras leiteiras da raça Saanen em lactação. Nas Fases 1 e 2, 44 cabras foram alimentadas com ração composta por 53,2% de silagem de milho na matéria seca (MS) (T1), sendo a silagem de milho substituída em 33,5% (T2), 66,5% (T3) e 100% (T4) pelo feno de capim-limão peletizado, sendo que na Fase 3, doze cabras ao final do período de lactação (264,67 ± 31,86 dias) foram submetidas à biópsia de glândula mamária. Houve aumento numérico do consumo de matéria seca (CMS) com o aumento da inclusão de capim-limão nas duas fases experimentais (Fase 1 e 2) sem, no entanto, afetar a produção de leite. Os teores de gordura e sólidos totais na Fase 2 foram maiores nos tratamentos T1 e T3 após a indução de estresse via ACTH e reduziram linearmente com a inclusão de teores crescentes de capim-limão. Não houve diferença na contagem bacteriana total do leite nas duas fases experimentais. Já a contagem de células somáticas foi menor no tratamento T2 após a indução de estresse via ACTH e reduziu linearmente com a inclusão de níveis crescentes de capim-limão na Fase 2. A oxidação lipídica na Fase 1 não foi influenciada pelo capim-limão, mas na Fase 2 houve redução linear com a inclusão de capim-limão. A administração de ACTH não influenciou a oxidação lipídica do leite (Fase 2). Não houve efeito da inclusão de capim-limão sobre as concentrações de DNA e RNA, bem como na fragmentação do DNA (Fase 3) em gel de poliacrilamida 8%, no entanto, foi verificado efeito quadrático na contagem de células apoptóticas, com maior valor para o tratamento T2. A inclusão de níveis crescentes de capim-limão na alimentação de cabras leiteiras não reduziu a apoptose da glândula mamária, no entanto, aumentou a estabilidade oxidativa do leite, comprovando seu efeito antioxidante. / The objective of this study was to evaluate the antioxidant potential of lemongrass (Cymbopogon citrates (D.C.) Stapf) on the quality of goat\'s milk (production, composition, physical-chemical characteristics, somatic cell count, total bacterial count and lipid oxidation) before (Phase 1) and after punctual administration of ACTH (Phase 2), as well as mammary gland apoptosis (Phase 3) of milk goats of Saanen breed in lactation. In phases 1 and 2, 44 goats were fed ration composed by 53.2% of corn silage in dry matter (DM) (T1), where corn silage was substituted in 33.5% (T2), 66.5% (T3) and 100% (T4) by lemongrass pelletized hay. In phase 3, twelve goats at the end of lactation period (264.67 ± 31.86 days) were submitted to mammary gland biopsy. It was observed a numeric increase in dry matter intake (DMI) with the increase of lemongrass inclusion in two experimental phases (Phase 1 and 2) without, however, affecting milk production. The contents of fat and total solid in Phase 2 were higher in treatments T1 and T3 after stress induction through ACTH and were linearly reduced with increasing levels of lemongrass. There was no difference in total bacteria counts in milk in two experimental phases. Somatic cell counts were lower in treatment T2 after stress induction through ACTH and linearly reduced with the inclusion of increasing levels of lemongrass in Phase 2. Lipid oxidation in Phase 1 was not influenced by lemongrass inclusion but in Phase 2 there was linear reduction with lemongrass inclusion. The administration of ACTH did not influence milk lipid oxidation (Phase 2). There was no effect of lemongrass inclusion on DNA and RNA concentration, as well as in DNA fragmentation (Phase 3) in polyacrylamide gel 8%. However, it was observed quadratic effect in apoptotic cells counts with higher value for treatment T2. The inclusion of increasing levels of lemongrass in the feeding of dairy goats did not reduce the apoptosis of mammary gland, however, increased the oxidative stability of milk, proving its antioxidant effect.

A presente investigação teve o objetivo de avaliar quantitativa e qualitativamente a celularidade de cabras hígidas criadas no Estado de São Paulo, assim como correlacionar as células somáticas do leite com os leucócitos presentes no sangue, informações que, além de raras em relação à glândula mamária de cabras sadias, são extremamente conflitantes. Foram colhidas amostras de cada metade mamária, provenientes de 51 cabras hígidas das raças Saanen, Alpina e Toggenburg, em diferentes fases de lactação, pertencentes a diferentes criatórios do Estado de São Paulo. As amostras de leite foram submetidas ao California Mastitis Test (CMT), a contagem eletrônica de células somáticas e microscopia direta, utilizando o corante de verde de metil e pironina-Y, além da citocentrifugação para a avaliação dos leucócitos; com as amostras de sangue foi realizado o leucograma. Associando-se os escores do CMT com a contagem celular eletrônica foram encontrados os valores medianos de 181.000, 578.000, 628.000, 1.421.500 e 5.542.000, respectivamente. Já na contagem celular por microscopia direta os valores medianos obtidos foram de 74.991, 271.396, 71.420, 640.995 e 5.049.394, correspondendo, respectivamente aos escores negativo, traços, 1+, 2+ e 3+. Relacionando-se as contagens celulares de acordo com as fases da lactação, os valores medianos obtidos não apresentaram diferenças significativas entre as fases inicial, intermediária e final da lactação tanto para a contagem eletrônica quanto para a contagem microscópica direta, respectivamente. A correlação entre a contagem celular automática e microscópica direta foi de 88%. Não foram encontradas diferenças significativas quando se comparou a contagem de células somáticas nas glândulas direita e esquerda, tanto na contagem automática quanto na microscópica direta. Os valores relativos dos leucócitos presentes no leite foram determinados, obtendo-se os valores médios e desvios-padrão de 77,0 ± 30,5%; 76,5 ± 20,9% e 65,3 ± 25,6% de neutrófilos, 2,24 ± 3,26%; 2,04 ± 2,33% e 2,14 ± 2,81% de linfócitos e 22,6 ± 20,2%, 21,4 ± 20,0% e 23,0 ± 16,2% de monócitos, correspondendo às fases inicial, intermediária e final da lactação, respectivamente. No sangue, determinou-se o valor total de leucócitos, obtendo-se o valor médio de 8525 ± 3244 células/mL. Os valores relativos médios dos diferentes tipos de leucócitos presentes no sangue de cabras sadias foram de 56,8 ± 11,8% de neutrófilos, 38,5 ± 11,8% de linfócitos, 2,8 ± 1,7% de monócitos e 1,9 ± 1,6% de eosinófilos. Correlacionando-se os leucócitos presentes no sangue com os presentes no leite, não foram observadas correlações significativas, porém, quando se analisou os leucócitos do sangue com as fases da lactação, foram encontradas diferenças significativas nos valores relativos médios de neutrófilos e linfócitos, respectivamente, na fase final da lactação. Os resultados obtidos permitiram concluir que existiu diferença entre a contagem celular automática e a microscópica direta na determinação do número de células somáticas no leite caprino; os valores celulares aumentam conforme o escore do CMT, o leucócito predominante no leite e sangue de cabras hígidas é o neutrófilo e existe relação íntima entre o neutrófilo e o linfócito no sangue de cabras, sendo estes influenciados pela fase da lactação. / The present investigation had the objective to evaluate quantitatively and qualitatively the celularity of created healthy goats in Sao Paulo state, as well as correlating the somatic cells of milk with the leukocytes in the blood, information that, beyond rare in relation to the mammary gland of healthy goats, are extremely conflicting. Samples of each mammary half had been harvested, proceeding from 51 Saanen, Alpina and Toggenburg healthy goats, in different phases of lactation, from the different breeders of Sao Paulo state. The milk samples had been submitted to California Mastitis Test (CMT), the electronic counting of somatic cells and direct microscopy, using the pyronin Y-methyl green stain, beyond the cytospin centrifuge for the evaluation of leukocytes; with the samples of blood the leucogram was carried through. Associating you prop up of the CMT with electronic the cellular counting had been found the medium values of 181.000, 578.000, 628.000, 1.421.500 and 5.542.000, respectively. Already in the cellular counting for direct microscopy the gotten medium values had been of 74.991, 271,396, 71,420, 640,995 and 5.049.394, corresponding, respectively to negative, traces, 1+, 2+ and 3+ scores. Becoming related the cellular counting in accordance with the phases of the lactation; the gotten medium values had not presented significant differences between the phases, initial, intermediate and final of the lactation in such for the electronic counting how much for the direct microscopically counting, respectively. The correlation between the automatic and direct microscopically counting cellular was of 88%. Significant differences had not been found when the counting of somatic cells in the glands was compared right and left, as much in the microscopically automatic counting in the direct one. The relative values of the leucocytes gifts in milk had been determined, getting the average values and 77,0 ± 30,5%; 76,5 ± 20.9% and 65,3 ± 25.6% of neutrophils, 2,24 ± 3,26%; 2,04 ± 2.33% and 2,14 ± 2.81% of lymphocytes and 22,6 ± 20.2%, 21,4 ± 20.0% and 23,0 ± 16.2% of monocytes, corresponding the phases initial, intermediate and final of the lactation, respectively. In the blood, the total value of leucocytes was determined, getting itself the average value of 8525 ± 3244 céls/mL. The average relative values of the different types of leukocytes gifts in the blood of healthy goats had been of 56,8 ± 11.8% of neutrophils, 38,5 ± 11.8% of lymphocytes, 2,8 ± 1.7% of monocytes and 1,9 ± 1.6% of eosinophils. Correlating the leukocytes gifts in the blood with the gifts in milk, significant correlation had not been observed, however, when it analyzed the leucocytes of the blood with the phases of the lactation, significant differences in the average relative values of neutrophils and lymphocytes had been found, respectively, in the final phase of lactation. The gotten results allow to conclude that difference between the automatic cellular counting and the direct microscopically one in the determination of the somatic frame number in goat milk exists, the cellular values increase as prop up it of the CMT, the predominant leucocyte in milk and blood of healthy goats is neutrophil, exists close relation between neutrophil and lymphocytes in the blood of goats, being these influenced by the phase of the lactation.

Foi conduzida uma série de experimentos onde se buscou definir: 1) o limite de tolerância do espermatozóide caprino a soluções hiperosmóticas de sacarose; 2) um diluente para criopreservação de sêmen que minimizasse as flutuações de volume celular. O limite de tolerância da membrana, avaliado pelo corante eosina-nigrosina, foi de 930 mOsm em soluções de sacarose em Ringer-lactato a 38oC. Os danos à integridade de membrana (IM), em osmolalidades acima deste valor, se estabeleceram no primeiro minuto de exposição e não se agravaram até 10 minutos depois. A motilidade (MOT) foi mais afetada que a IM. A rediluição abrupta em meio isosmótico causou dano extenso e proporcional ao grau de desidratação prévia. Nos experimentos seguintes, adição de 375 mM de sacarose ao diluidor TRIS-gema com 6,8% de glicerol (TGG), 5 minutos antes da congelação, resultou em MOT e IM similares ao controle TGG sem sacarose. Descongelação e rediluição a 4oC favoreceram a MOT e, a 38oC, favoreceram a IM. O diluente TRIS-gema com 375 mM de sacarose e concentração de glicerol reduzida para 1,7% apresentou melhor MOT e IM que o controle (65% e 187% vs 52% e 100%, respectivamente). A MOT após 2 h e o vigor após 6 h foram maiores quando a rediluição pós-descongelação foi em 5 passos se comparado a 3 passos (28% e 9% vs 19% e 2%, respectivamente). Na fase seguinte do trabalho, diluentes elaborados com 300 mM após 6 h a 38oC, melhor MOT e vigor que o controle (33% e 26% vs 15% e 10%, respectivamente). A descongelação a 20oC favoreceu a MOT e o vigor nos tempos zero, 2 h e 6 h pós-descongelação em todos os grupos contendo sacarose. O etilenoglicol não diferiu do glicerol na concentração de 3,4% quando adicionado a diluente contendo 300 mM de sacarose. Nestes diluentes, a rediluição em 5 passos a 20oC não diferiu em MOT e IM da feita em 1 passo a 38oC. No último experimento, sêmen congelado em diluente contendo 300 mM de trealose e zero% de glicerol mostrou melhor IM após descongelação em um passo a 38oC (320% vs 100% no controle) e maior MOT às 6 h após descongelação e rediluição em 5 passos a 20oC (56% vs 26% no controle). Conclui-se que o sêmen caprino tolera soluções de sacarose até o limite de 930 mOsm, mas a rediluição deve ser progressiva. A desidratação parcial, causada por soluções concentradas de sacarose ou trealose, permite a congelação de sêmen sem adição de crioprotetores permeantes. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos em diluente TRIS-gema sem glicerol e adicionado de 300 mM de trealose. / The objective of this study was to: 1) define the tolerance limits of goat sperm to hyperosmotic sucrose solutions; 2) establish an extender that minimizes cell volume variations during the processes of freezing and thawing. Boer goat semen was diluted with Ringer-lactate-Sucrose solutions at 38oC. The hyperosmotic tolerance limit was 930 mOsm evaluated with eosin-nigrosin stain. At osmolalities above this value, damage was evident after 1 min and was not affected by further exposure. Redilution in a single step resulted in massive membrane damage that was nearly proportional to the dehydration intensity previously undergone. Motility (MOT) was more distinctly impaired than membrane integrity (MI). In the next experiments, addition of 375 mM sucrose (Suc) 5 min previous to freezing to TRIS-egg yolk extender containing 6.8% glycerin (TYG) resulted in sperm motility (MOT) and MI similar to control extender TYG without sucrose. Thawing and redilution at 4oC affected favorably the MOT, and at 38oC, was favorable to MI. When freezing in TRIS-egg yolk-Suc extenders with low glycerin concentration (1.7%) MOT and MI were significantly higher than in the control TYG (65% and 187% vs 52% and 100%, respectively). MOT 2 h after thawing and intensity of motility (INTMOT) after 6 h after thawing were better preserved after a redilution of 5 increasing volume-steps than after redilution of 3 steps (28% and 9% vs 19% and 2%, respectively). In sequence, extenders containing 300 mM sucrose and thawed-rediluted 5 steps at 20oC improved MOT and INTMOT after 6 h (33% and 26% vs 15% and 10% in the control Group). The thawing-redilution at 20oC improved the results in all groups containing sucrose. At a concentration of 3.4% added to TRIS-yolk extender with 300 mM sucrose, the cryoprotectant ethylene glycol gave similar results as glycerin. MOT and INTMOT in the different time intervals were not influenced by redilution in 5 steps at 20oC or in one step at 38<SUPoC. In the last experiment made, semen frozen in a TRIS-yolk extender with 300 mM trehalose and devoid of glycerin showed the best MI after thawing-redilution in 1 step at 38oC (320% vs 100% in the control Group). The highest MOT after 6 h incubation was observed when this group was thawed-rediluted at 20oC in 5 steps (56% vs 26% in the control). From the results obtained it may be concluded that the upper tolerance limit of goat spermatozoa to hyperosmotic sucrose solutions is 930 mOsm. The redilution and return to isosmolality should be stepwise made. Goat semen can be frozen in extenders devoid of permeant cryoprotectants like glycerin when, previous to freezing, the cells are partially dehydrated by concentrated sucrose or trehalose solutions. The best survival rate was obtained when freezing goat spermatozoa in a glycerin-free TRIS-yolk-extender containing 300 mM of trehalose.

Este projeto tem como objetivo investigar duas obras teatrais que poderiam ser pensadas como uma expressão do trágico no mundo contemporâneo. Tal investigação parte da tentativa de compreender o que seria essa tragicidade pesquisando o que haveria de intrínseco à tragédia na Grécia a partir de diferentes olhares filosóficos, e de que modo esse trágico poderia ainda existir hoje. Para delinear os parâmetros do que será chamado de trágico se partirá da conceituação do que é a tragédia feita pelos helenistas Vernant e Vidal-Naquet, para posteriormente entender como pensadores modernos olharam de modo particular para esta questão. Então se tomará como base a ideia de trágico definida por Steiner e os estudos filosóficos de Nietzsche e Agamben sobre tragédia e contemporaneidade. Paralelamente se investigará a teoria antropológica de René Girard sobre como a possibilidade da tragédia pode estar associada ao mecanismo da vítima expiatória. Em seguida será feita a análise das obras teatrais escolhidas justamente porque foram elaboradas a partir de uma pesquisa artística sobre o trágico e se terá como objetivo investigar como os seus criadores compreendem essa retomada da tragicidade e de que modo eles dialogam com os pensadores estudados. Os espetáculos contemporâneos escolhidos para análise são: Tragedia Endogonidia, uma série de episódios teatrais realizados pelo grupo Socìetas Rafaello Sanzio (2002-2004), e a peça Mantenha Fora do Alcance de Crianças, escrita em processo colaborativo com o coletivo [PH²] - estado de teatro (2009). / This project has as an objective investigates two theater works that might be thought like an expression of tragic in the contemporary world. That investigation begins with the tentative of understand what could be that tragic researching what have intrinsic in tragedy from Greece starting with different philosophical views, and how that tragic could still exist today. For outline the parameters that we will call tragic, we begins with the conceptualization of what is the tragedy made by Hellenists Vernant and Vidal-Naquet, for after understand how the modern theorists have a particular look for that question. So, we will build on the idea about tragic defended by Steiner and the philosophical studies from Nietzsche and Agamben about tragedy and contemporaneity. At the same time we will investigate the anthropological theory from René Girard of how the possibility of the tragedy could be associated with expiatory victim mechanism. After that, we will analyst the theatre plays chosen right because were created from an artistic research about tragic and we will have with objective investigate how yours creators understand that resumption of the tragic and how they talk with the theorists studied. The contemporary plays chosen for the analyze are: Tragedia Endogonidia, one series of theater episodes realized by the group Socìetas Rafaello Sanzio (2002-2004), and the play Mantenha Fora do Alcance de Crianças, written in collaborative process with the collective [PH²] - estado de teatro (2009).

Foi conduzida uma série de experimentos onde se buscou definir: 1) o limite de tolerância do espermatozóide caprino a soluções hiperosmóticas de sacarose; 2) um diluente para criopreservação de sêmen que minimizasse as flutuações de volume celular. O limite de tolerância da membrana, avaliado pelo corante eosina-nigrosina, foi de 930 mOsm em soluções de sacarose em Ringer-lactato a 38oC. Os danos à integridade de membrana (IM), em osmolalidades acima deste valor, se estabeleceram no primeiro minuto de exposição e não se agravaram até 10 minutos depois. A motilidade (MOT) foi mais afetada que a IM. A rediluição abrupta em meio isosmótico causou dano extenso e proporcional ao grau de desidratação prévia. Nos experimentos seguintes, adição de 375 mM de sacarose ao diluidor TRIS-gema com 6,8% de glicerol (TGG), 5 minutos antes da congelação, resultou em MOT e IM similares ao controle TGG sem sacarose. Descongelação e rediluição a 4oC favoreceram a MOT e, a 38oC, favoreceram a IM. O diluente TRIS-gema com 375 mM de sacarose e concentração de glicerol reduzida para 1,7% apresentou melhor MOT e IM que o controle (65% e 187% vs 52% e 100%, respectivamente). A MOT após 2 h e o vigor após 6 h foram maiores quando a rediluição pós-descongelação foi em 5 passos se comparado a 3 passos (28% e 9% vs 19% e 2%, respectivamente). Na fase seguinte do trabalho, diluentes elaborados com 300 mM após 6 h a 38oC, melhor MOT e vigor que o controle (33% e 26% vs 15% e 10%, respectivamente). A descongelação a 20oC favoreceu a MOT e o vigor nos tempos zero, 2 h e 6 h pós-descongelação em todos os grupos contendo sacarose. O etilenoglicol não diferiu do glicerol na concentração de 3,4% quando adicionado a diluente contendo 300 mM de sacarose. Nestes diluentes, a rediluição em 5 passos a 20oC não diferiu em MOT e IM da feita em 1 passo a 38oC. No último experimento, sêmen congelado em diluente contendo 300 mM de trealose e zero% de glicerol mostrou melhor IM após descongelação em um passo a 38oC (320% vs 100% no controle) e maior MOT às 6 h após descongelação e rediluição em 5 passos a 20oC (56% vs 26% no controle). Conclui-se que o sêmen caprino tolera soluções de sacarose até o limite de 930 mOsm, mas a rediluição deve ser progressiva. A desidratação parcial, causada por soluções concentradas de sacarose ou trealose, permite a congelação de sêmen sem adição de crioprotetores permeantes. Os melhores resultados foram obtidos em diluente TRIS-gema sem glicerol e adicionado de 300 mM de trealose. / The objective of this study was to: 1) define the tolerance limits of goat sperm to hyperosmotic sucrose solutions; 2) establish an extender that minimizes cell volume variations during the processes of freezing and thawing. Boer goat semen was diluted with Ringer-lactate-Sucrose solutions at 38oC. The hyperosmotic tolerance limit was 930 mOsm evaluated with eosin-nigrosin stain. At osmolalities above this value, damage was evident after 1 min and was not affected by further exposure. Redilution in a single step resulted in massive membrane damage that was nearly proportional to the dehydration intensity previously undergone. Motility (MOT) was more distinctly impaired than membrane integrity (MI). In the next experiments, addition of 375 mM sucrose (Suc) 5 min previous to freezing to TRIS-egg yolk extender containing 6.8% glycerin (TYG) resulted in sperm motility (MOT) and MI similar to control extender TYG without sucrose. Thawing and redilution at 4oC affected favorably the MOT, and at 38oC, was favorable to MI. When freezing in TRIS-egg yolk-Suc extenders with low glycerin concentration (1.7%) MOT and MI were significantly higher than in the control TYG (65% and 187% vs 52% and 100%, respectively). MOT 2 h after thawing and intensity of motility (INTMOT) after 6 h after thawing were better preserved after a redilution of 5 increasing volume-steps than after redilution of 3 steps (28% and 9% vs 19% and 2%, respectively). In sequence, extenders containing 300 mM sucrose and thawed-rediluted 5 steps at 20oC improved MOT and INTMOT after 6 h (33% and 26% vs 15% and 10% in the control Group). The thawing-redilution at 20oC improved the results in all groups containing sucrose. At a concentration of 3.4% added to TRIS-yolk extender with 300 mM sucrose, the cryoprotectant ethylene glycol gave similar results as glycerin. MOT and INTMOT in the different time intervals were not influenced by redilution in 5 steps at 20oC or in one step at 38<SUPoC. In the last experiment made, semen frozen in a TRIS-yolk extender with 300 mM trehalose and devoid of glycerin showed the best MI after thawing-redilution in 1 step at 38oC (320% vs 100% in the control Group). The highest MOT after 6 h incubation was observed when this group was thawed-rediluted at 20oC in 5 steps (56% vs 26% in the control). From the results obtained it may be concluded that the upper tolerance limit of goat spermatozoa to hyperosmotic sucrose solutions is 930 mOsm. The redilution and return to isosmolality should be stepwise made. Goat semen can be frozen in extenders devoid of permeant cryoprotectants like glycerin when, previous to freezing, the cells are partially dehydrated by concentrated sucrose or trehalose solutions. The best survival rate was obtained when freezing goat spermatozoa in a glycerin-free TRIS-yolk-extender containing 300 mM of trehalose.

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento CientÃfico e TecnolÃgico / Visou avaliar o desempenho reprodutivo de cabras mestiÃas e cabras SPRD para produÃÃo de carne acasaladas durante o perÃodo chuvoso no estado do CearÃ. Foi conduzido na Fazenda Experimental Vale do CurÃ, localizada no municÃpio de Pentecostes utilizando 24 cabras mestiÃas  Anglo nubiano x SPRD, 37 mestiÃas  Boer x SPRD e 37 matrizes SPRD, com o perÃodo de acasalamento durante os meses de abril e maio do ano de 2006 e duraÃÃo de 42 dias. Os parÃmetros avaliados foram freqÃÃncia de estro, taxa de pariÃÃo, duraÃÃo da gestaÃÃo, prolificidade, tipo de parto, taxa de desmame, mortalidade das crias, peso das matrizes no inÃcio e final da estaÃÃo de acasalamento e ao parto e efeito do sexo e genÃtipo sobre o peso das crias ao nascimento, aos 40 dias e ao desmame, que foi realizado aos 90 dias. As anÃlises de variÃncia foram feitas com base no mÃtodo dos quadrados mÃnimos e os testes de comparaÃÃo de mÃdias pelo teste Tukey, a 5 % de probabilidade. Houve aumento dos pesos das matrizes durante a estaÃÃo de monta. O grupo genÃtico Boer x SPRD apresentou, em mÃdia, estro mais tardiamente que os outros grupos, mas no andamento do perÃodo de monta houve similaridades entre os grupos. As crias oriundas de cruzamentos com reprodutores de raÃas exÃticas apresentaram-se mais pesadas que os animais SPRD. Da mesma forma, as crias do sexo masculino apresentou-se mais pesada que o sexo feminino. Nos outros parÃmetros houve uma ligeira equivalÃncia de resultados entre os trÃs grupos. Desta forma, as matrizes mestiÃas apresentaram desempenho similar e nÃo foram superiores Ãs cabras SPRD e a introduÃÃo de genes exÃticos para produÃÃo de carne incrementou o peso das crias desde o nascimento atà o desmame. / Aimed to evaluate the reproductive performance of cross bred and SPRD goats for meat production, mated during raining season in state of CearÃ. It was performed on Vale do Curà Experimental Farm, sitted on Pentecostes using 24 cross bred goats  Anglo nubian x SPRD, 37cross breds  Boer x SPRD and 37 goats SPRD, with the breeding season happening in 2006, april and may, and lasting 42 days. The evaluated parameters were estrus frequency, birth rate, duration of pregnancy, prolificity, type of birth, weaning rate, mortality of kids, wheight of goats at beggining and ending of mating season and at birth, and gender and genotype efect over wheight at birth, at 40 days and weaning, that was performed at 90 days of age. The data were analized using q-quadratic test and means comparasion tests, under Tukey test at 5 % of probability. There were a increase of goats wheights during mating season. The genetic group  Boer x SPRD showed, by mean, estrus latter than others groups, but became similars on the rest of period. The kids deriving from cross with exotic breed bucks showed heavier than that deriving from SPRD bucks cross. Equally, male kids were heavier than female kids. On the others parameters there were an equivalency between groups. This way, the cross breds goats showed similars performances and were not better than SPRD goats, and the introduction of exotic gens for meat production improved the weight of kids from birth until weaning.

Wood for firewood, fence posts and construction material and forage for domestic livestock are key resources in the caatinga vegetation zone of northeastern Brazil. This experiment was designed as a preliminary assessment of thinned caatinga as the basis of a production system which optimizes forage and wood production. Two levels of thinning (25% and 55% tree canopy cover) were compared to cleared (0% tree canopy cover) and undisturbed (95% tree canopy cover) caatinga in terms of forage and wood production and goat nutrition. Clearing and thinning of caatinga vegetation resulted in higher amounts of available forage through the wet ·season and up to the time of leaf fall. After leaf fall, total available forage was similar for all four treatments. Dietary selection differed among the treatments only in February and May, when goats on treated pastures selected higher amounts of herbaceous vegetation than those on control pastures. Herbaceous vegetation was the primary dietary constituent on treated pastures throughout the wet season. During mid to late dry season, when herbaceous vegetation was dead and leaf:stem ratios were low, browse was consistently selected at high levels. Nutrient content of diets were not different among treatments, but forage and digestible energy intakes were higher (P<.OS) on treated pastures than on control. Due to lack of wood production on cleared plots from an intact tree component, total aboveground biomass production for the cleared treatment was 30% less than that for the control and about 25% less than that for the two thinned treatments. Overall, cleared and thinned treatments had similar positive forage and animal responses but thinned treatments had the added benefit of an intact tree canopy producing valuable wood. The dry season has been identified as the most critical time of the year for livestock due to low forage availability and quality resulting in weight losses and mortality. Results of this study indicated that either supplementation or increased availability of nutritious forage would be necessary for goats to continue to grow beyond the first half of the dry season. Thinning may be a means of increasing the availability of nutritious forage.

This research examined the diets of angora goats on a sagebrush bunchgrass rangeland. Research objectives were to 1) determine the effects of a positive conditioning method on both mature and immature angora goats; and 2) to quantify plant selection and provide preliminary information as to the potential for using goats to rehabilitate degraded sagebrush rangelands. Goat diets were ascertained using focal - animal bite-count observations during five consecutive seasons, summer 1990 through summer 1991. Treatment group goats were conditioned for 8 months by including ever- increasing amounts of sagebrush (Artemisia tridentate subspp. wyomingensi) in their daily ration, up to 25% of their total intake. Conditioning effects were evaluated in a rangeland setting by comparing relative amounts of sagebrush consumption between groups. Our results indicate that while conditioning did not significantly impact sagebrush consumption, young animals consumed significantly more sagebrush than adults. Additionally, learning throughout the first year altered dietary selection by the second summer. Both does and kids were primarily gramnivorous, however there was strong seasonality in species preference and a significant age difference in diets selected. Age differences in the plant species selected persisted throughout the study until the summer of 1991 when kids were eighteen months old. / Graduation date: 1993

The difficullty to distinguish between sheep and goats is a well-known problem in archaeology and osteology. Distinguishing sheep and goats in archaeological animal remains takes time and time is often limited for osteologists. Because of this difficulty osteologists and archaeozoologists often use the term sheep/goat or ”ovicaprids” in their analytical reports. But even if the term sheep/goat comprise both species, this is often not the case when archaeologists and osteologists interpret and present archaeological findings. Sheep usually dominates in the interpretations and is often seen as a more important animal than goats which ultimately lead to false representations of the species and their relation to humans in the past. Zeder and Lapham (2010) have gathered criterias for post-cranial bone elements which show a high degree of reliability in osteological species determination between sheep and goats. However, when working on archaeological remains you do not know if the evaluation is done correctly.      In this thesis, the use of ocular osteological methods from by Zeder and Lapham (2010) are combined with genetical analyzis of selected sheep and goat bones from an archaeological assemblage in order to evaluate how well these osteological methods perform and assess which criterias on the bone elements can be seen as reliable when used to distinguish between the species. According to the results, only three criterias of a total of 21 criterias are seen as reliable. It is also apparent that previous osteological experience is relevant for successfully distinguish between sheep and goat with these methods. However, several criterias show tendencies towards reliability and are probably affected by the small sample set for each bone element, few osteological analysts, and the fact that all genetically analyzed bones resulted in sheep.

Dissertation (Ph.D.)--Auburn University, 2006. / Abstract. Vita. Includes bibliographic references.