The aim of this study was to estimate the best covariance function structure, by means of Legendre polynomials using random regression models (RRM) to describe the genetic variability of the weight growth trajectory of quails and to estimate the genetic parameters. Body weight records of animals at 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days of age were used. The orders of fit of the polynomials were gradually increased in orders from 3 to 6 for comparison between the models the Akaike information criteria were used. The models included fixed effects of the contemporary group, the fixed regression coefficient of weight on the Legendre polynomial, random regression coefficients of the direct additive genetic, and the permanent environment effects of the animal, in addition to the residual random effect. The RRM with orders five for the additive genetic effect and six for the permanent environment effect, under the assumption of homogeneity, was the most suitable to describe the genetic variability of the birds’ ponderal growth. There was greater expression of additive genetic variability after 21 days, resulting in distinct and increasing heritability estimates between two periods in ponderal development. Estimates of additive genetic correlations for weights between the ages evaluated indicated that genetic associations are more correlated between body weights at closer ages when compared to ages more distant along the growth trajectory. Thus, it is concluded that selection in birds is more efficient from 28 days of age due to the higher heritability values.

In order to evaluate the impact of oil palm cultivation on dung beetles in the eastern Brazilian Amazon, comparisons were made of communities in oil palm plantations and native forest. Pitfall traps baited with human feces were buried to soil level in plantations and surrounding forests. Fifty traps were used in each type of vegetation, placed at 50 m intervals along five transects. Dung beetle communities in oil palm plantations have lower species richness (18 spp.) than in surrounding tropical rainforest (48 spp.), as well as altered species composition. Total abundance of individuals was not significantly different between the two habitats, but species composition was greatly different. Species evenness was greater in the forest. Forest corridors for the preservation of dung beetle species may need to be much wider than current designs. The erosion of biodiversity in dung beetles due to oil palm monoculture parallels what has been seen in other animal taxa in tropical tree plantations.

ABSTRACT Body weight records of 231,416 Nellore females obtained from the Brazilian Association of Zebu Breeders were used to determine a linear combination between visual appraisal scores (body structure, precocity and muscling) using principal components analysis (PC), and to verify their genetic association with body weight at 12 months (BW) and age at first calving (AFC). The mixed linear model included the fixed effect of the contemporary group and the linear and quadratic effects of age at calving, random effects of genetic additive, maternal environment and temporary environment. Heritability estimates for BW, PC and AFC were 0.51, 0.30 and 0.17, respectively. Genetic additive correlations between BW and PC; BW and AFC, and PC and AFC were 0.48; -0.31 and -0.55; respectively. Spearman's correlations for the best-ranked bulls based on PC prediction were positive between BW and PC and negative among the other combinations. Heritability estimates and correlations indicate potential genetic gains for BW and CP with reduced AFC in cows. The use of PC allows positive responses on precocity and body weight development.

RESUMO Utilizaram-se registros de pesos corporais padronizados aos 120, 210, 365 e 450 dias de idade, provenientes de 30.481 animais da raça Nelore, progênies de 211 reprodutores acasalados com 19.229 matrizes, oriundos de rebanhos dos estados de Mato Grosso, Mato Grosso do Sul e Goiás, com o objetivo de avaliar a presença de interação genótipo x ambiente entre os estados. As estimativas de herdabilidade entre os estados variaram de 0,09 a 0,14; 0,11 a 0,17; 0,16 a 0,27 e 0,17 a 0,35, respectivamente, para os pesos 120, 210, 365 e 450 dias de idade. As estimativas de correlação genética aditiva entre a mesma característica para os diferentes estados apresentaram valores inferiores a 0,80. As correlações de Spearman entre os valores genéticos para os pesos corporais se reduziram à medida que se aumentou a intensidade de seleção sobre os reprodutores. A presença de interação genótipo x ambiente causa maior impacto sobre a avaliação genética dos reprodutores sob intensidade de seleção elevada, sendo interessante sua consideração no processo de avaliação genética. Estimativas de tendências genéticas para todos os pesos corporais apresentaram-se crescentes ao longo dos anos nos três estados.

Foram utilizados 138.976 registros de informações de pesos corporais variando de 60 a 610 dias de idade, provenientes de 27.327 animais da raça Nelore, oriundos de rebanhos do estado do Mato Grosso, com o objetivo de descrever a variabilidade genética e estimar parâmetros genéticos para o peso corporal em diferentes idades, utilizando-se modelos de regressão aleatória. O modelo empregado incluiu efeitos fixos de grupo de contemporâneos e idade da vaca ao parto como covariáveis, além de efeitos aleatórios genético aditivo direto, genético materno, ambiente permanente de animal, ambiente permanente materno e efeito de ambiente temporário. O modelo de regressão aleatória mais adequado foi o que empregou função de covariância com polinômios de quarta ordem para descrição da variabilidade de todos os efeitos e duas classes de variância residual. As estimativas de variância genética aditiva direta e de ambiente permanente de animal aumentaram com a idade dos animais. As variâncias genética materna e de ambiente permanente materno exibiram comportamento semelhante, com maiores valores na fase de aleitamento. Os coeficientes de herdabilidade estimados variam de 0,25 a 0,43, com maiores valores nas idades mais avançadas na trajetória de crescimento dos animais. Esses resultados indicaram presença de variabilidade genética suficiente para obtenção de ganho genético expressivo por meio da seleção, principalmente após desmama. Os resultados encontrados para a correlação genética aditiva direta exibiram baixas correlações entre pesos nas idades iniciais e finais, porém pesos altamente correlacionados entre idades mais próximas. As correlações genéticas estimadas entre os pesos da desmama com os pesos até 610 dias de idade foram altas e positivas e indicam que os genes responsáveis por maiores pesos nesse período, em sua maioria, são os mesmos.

Abstract: We used 138,976 records of information of body weights ranging from 60 to 610 days of age, from 27,327 Nelore cattle of herds in the state of Mato Grosso. The random regression model with the covariance function of fourth order to describe the variability of the effects of additive genetic, animal and maternal permanent environment and maternal genetic effect and maternal, showed heritability estimates from 0.209 to 0.423 at the beginning by the end of the trajectory, respectively. There is enough genetic variability to promote genetic gain satisfactory performance for weight after weaning period the animals. Keywords: beef cattle, genetic parameters, selection.

Abstract: Records on birth weight (BW) and standardized to 210 (P210), 365 (P365) and 550 (550) days of age in Nellore breed, with the goal of predicting breeding values of sires. The model included fixed effects of contemporary group and age of calving as a covariate, and random effects of genetic additive direct and additive maternal, maternal permanent environmental and temporary environment. Estimates of means and standard deviations for PN, P210, P365 and P550 were equal to 32.76 3.74, 184.30 29.02, 240.31 41.85 and 322.12 60.77, respectively. Estimated values of heritability for P210, P365 and P550 were equal to 037, 0.36, 0.38 and 031, respectively. Genetic correlations between birth weight and other weights were of low magnitude, with high values of the weights at other ages. The use of sires with high genetic values for the total maternal effect, and allows players to choose more positive for weaning weight also allows the choice of breeding more positive for the year and yearling weights. Keywords: Nellore, Genetic Parameters, Animal Science

The aims of this study were to estimate the heritability and genetic correlation between milk yield (MY) and age at first calving (AFC) in Brown Swiss cows, calving between 1980 and 2002, amounting 2,981 lactations. Bayesian inference was used to estimate the components of (co) variance by way of Gibbs sampling, with a chain size of 1,500,000 rounds and a burn-in of 500,000 rounds. The frequency of sampling was 500 rounds. The estimated averages for milk yield and age at first calving were 5347.47 1849.13 kg and 29.65 4.51 months respectively. The heritability estimates obtained for the milk yield and age at first calving were 0.23 and 0.18, respectively. The genetic correlation was -0.31.The heritability estimates indicate that genetic advantages may be obtained by selection and that both traits should be considered by breeding programs for Brown Swiss cows. ARTIGO www.ajaes.ufra.edu.br doi: 10.4322/rca.2011.008

The domestic buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) originated in Asia and its introduction in Brazil began approximately in 1895. on lhe Marajó Island. For reasons associated to the great demand for buftalo milk products, lhere has been growing interest in technical and scientiflC information concerning this species. The objective of this study was to make use of random regression models to describe variation in milk production throughout tactation periods of buffaloes raised in the northeast of Pará, Brazil. Data on milk production were distributed among tive calving order for 36 Mediterranean females from Embrapa's Westem Amazon herd (Belém-PA), descendants of two bulls and 27 dams. The data were collected between 1998 and 2004. For each female, the mean milk production was calculaled for ali milk contrais, for every parity and analyzed under lhe random regression mode!. The preliminary concIusion is lhal milk production for distinct calving orders presents difterent additive genetic variances.

Lipid transfer proteins (LTPs) are antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) involved in the defense of plants against pathogens. Our group has previously characterized and purified a LTP from cowpea (Vigna unguiculata (L.) Walp.) seeds which caused the inhibition of growth of fungal pathogens in vitro. The aim of this work was to obtain the cDNA encoding the cowpea LTP and after cloning, to use the cDNA as a probe for studying its expression profile during the development of cowpea seeds. In this work, the N-terminal sequence of the mature LTP peptide from cowpea was used to produce a degenerated oligonucleotide. This primer allowed the amplification of the LTP cDNA by RT-PCR from mRNA of cowpea seeds. The sequence analysis of the cloned cDNA, named VULTP, showed 494 bp which encoded a polypeptide of 91 amino acids. The deduced peptide presented high homology of similarity to plant LTPs of Vigna radiata var. radiate (94%), Prunus domestica (82%) and Zea mays (72%). The expression profile of the VULTP gene in cowpea was analyzed by Northern blot and revealed that the transcript is not accumulated in adult tissues. Conversely, VULTP mRNA is early and strongly accumulated during seed development. The results obtained to seedling of cowpea demonstrate that the VULTP gene presents differential expression in response to different stress. Further studies will be conducted to try to gain better understanding about the physiological role of this gene in cowpea.