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In the Paraguayan Chaco, cattle evoke images of power, prosperity, and celebration, but they also trigger one of the quickest deforestation processes in the world. The presence of cattle in the region has deep historical roots, dating back to the beginning of the colonization process, when the establishment of a double economy based on cattle ranching and the tannin industry dispossessed indigenous people of their territories. Through a historical and ethnographic analysis of the Carlos Casado tannin company, I suggest considering domestication and ferality—and their local related idioms (amansar, anestesiar, sagua’a, señuelo, carne)—as inter-species categories crucial for understanding processes of colonization from a local perspective. In particular, I claim that practices and idioms related to the (un)domestication domain have been used to make sense of ethnic, class, and power relationships, as well as of practices of resistance. En el Chaco paraguayo, el ganado bovino evoca imágenes de poder, prosperidad y abundancia. Pero, a la vez, es la causa de uno de los procesos de deforestación más rápidos del mundo. La presencia de ganado en la región tiene profundas raíces históricas y se remonta al principio del proceso de la colonización, cuando el establecimiento de una doble economía basada en la ganadería y la industria del tanino despojó a los pueblos indígenas de sus tierras. A través de un análisis histórico y etnográfico de la compañía taninera Carlos Casado S.A., propongo considerar a la domesticación y a lo asilvestrado—en sus distintas declinaciones: amansar, anestesiar, sagua’a, señuelo, carne—como categorías interespecíficas fundamentales para entender los procesos de colonización desde una perspectiva local. En particular, sostengo que las prácticas y los términos relacionados con el campo semántico de la (de)domesticación fueron utilizados para poner en escena y conceptualizar relaciones étnicas, de clase y de poder, como así también prácticas de resistencia.

Background: The Gyr breed is widely used in Colombian low tropic dairy production systems. During the last 10 years, the Asociación Colombiana de Criadores de Ganado Cebú† - ASOCEBU, has been leading a dairy milk control program which led to the creation of a dataset that permits to carry out the first analysis of milk yield in Gyr cattle in the country using records from several herds. Objectives: To study milk production dynamics of Gyr cattle in the Colombian low tropic through the estimation of lactation curves and four derived production parameters: total milk yield between 5 and 305 days (TMY305), peak milk yield (PMY), days at peak (DP) and persistency (P). Methods: 13,798 daily milk yield records from 1,510 cows performing in 103 herds were used; the total number of lactations was 2,480. Four models were considered: Wood, Wiltmink, Papajcsik & Bordero, and a second-degree polynomial. Mean square error, mean absolute error, mean square error of prediction, Akaike and Bayesian information criteria were used to select the model better describing each lactation using the majority rule, that is, the model selected by most criteria was the chosen one. The shape of each fitted lactation curve was checked using basic results from calculus which permitted the classification of the estimated curves into two groups: typical and atypical; only typical functions were used to compute the four aforementioned production parameters. Results: The second-order polynomial was the model most frequently selected, while the Papajcsik & Bordero model had the lowest frequency. Average TMY305, PMY, DP and P were 3,489.86 kg, 17.28 kg, 57.17 days, and 0.83, respectively, with coefficients of variation: 0.27, 0.21, 0.41, and 0.16. Conclusions: This study permitted to identify individuals with outstanding phenotypic performance. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study of this kind involving thousands of lactations from Gyr cows performing in several regions of Colombian low tropic.

Background: No dairy breed or crossbreed has superior overall performance in all environments; therefore, it is necessary to determine which crossbreed is the most suitable for the Mexican tropic and what proportion of European breed is optimum for reproduction. Objective: To assess the effect of the proportion of Bos taurus (Bt) genes on reproductive performance of Holstein×Zebu (HZ) and Brown Swiss×Zebu (BZ) cows, and compare reproductive performance of these genotypes in a dual-purpose production system. Methods: Cows were maintained in a rotational grazing system on African star grass (Cynodon plectostachyus) in Veracruz, Mexico. Cows were milked twice daily. Calves were kept tied to the side of their dams while the cows were milked. Results: The percentage of Bt genes did not affect (p>0.05) fertility traits (age at first calving, days to first service after calving, services per conception, conception rate at first service, days open until conception, gestation length, and calving interval) of BZ cows. In contrast, HZ cows with less than 75% Holstein (H) genes were 0.3 years younger (p<0.05) at first calving and had 39.8 fewer days open (p<0.05) than HZ cows with 75% H genes or more. In addition, the calving interval of HZ cows with less than 75% H genes was 44.8 days shorter (p<0.05) than that of HZ cows with 75% H genes or more. The HZ cows had five fewer days pregnant and were 22.8 kg heavier at calving (p<0.05) than BZ cows. Conclusions: The effect of the percentage of Bt genes on cow fertility depends on the dairy breed used. In general, BZ and HZ cows present similar reproductive performance.

Myostatin (GDF-8) is a member of the transforming growth factor β superfamily of secreted growth and differentiation factors that is essential for proper regulation of skeletal muscle mass in mice. Here we report the myostatin sequences of nine other vertebrate species and the identification of mutations in the coding sequence of bovine myostatin in two breeds of double-muscled cattle, Belgian Blue and Piedmontese, which are known to have an increase in muscle mass relative to conventional cattle. The Belgian Blue myostatin sequence contains an 11-nucleotide deletion in the third exon which causes a frameshift that eliminates virtually all of the mature, active region of the molecule. The Piedmontese myostatin sequence contains a missense mutation in exon 3, resulting in a substitution of tyrosine for an invariant cysteine in the mature region of the protein. The similarity in phenotypes of double-muscled cattle and myostatin null mice suggests that myostatin performs the same biological function in these two species and is a potentially useful target for genetic manipulation in other farm animals.

Since the completion of the bovine sequencing projects, a substantial number of genetic variations such as single nucleotide polymorphisms have become available across the cattle genome. Recently, cataloguing such genetic variations has been accelerated using massively parallel sequencing technology. However, most of the recent studies have been concentrated on European Bos taurus cattle breeds, resulting in a severe lack of knowledge for valuable native cattle genetic resources worldwide. Here, we present the first whole-genome sequencing results for an endangered Korean native cattle breed, Chikso, using the Illumina HiSeq 2,000 sequencing platform. The genome of a Chikso bull was sequenced to approximately 25.3-fold coverage with 98.8% of the bovine reference genome sequence (UMD 3.1) covered. In total, 5,874,026 single nucleotide polymorphisms and 551,363 insertion/deletions were identified across all 29 autosomes and the X-chromosome, of which 45% and 75% were previously unknown, respectively. Most of the variations (92.7% of single nucleotide polymorphisms and 92.9% of insertion/deletions) were located in intergenic and intron regions. A total of 16,273 single nucleotide polymorphisms causing missense mutations were detected in 7,111 genes throughout the genome, which could potentially contribute to variation in economically important traits in Chikso. This study provides a valuable resource for further investigations of the genetic mechanisms underlying traits of interest in cattle, and for the development of improved genomics-based breeding tools.

Mycobacterium avium subsp. paratuberculosis (MAP) is an acid-fast, gram-positive bacillus. MAP is the causal agent of paratuberculosis (PTB) or Johne’s disease, an infectious disease affecting domestic ruminants and some wild species. Itsimportance as a potentially zoonotic agent due to itsrelation to Crohn’s disease (CD) in humans is still under debate and investigation. The aim of the present systematic review is to summarize original studies on MAP carried out in Colombia since 1924, as well as to establish strengths, weaknesses, and future research opportunities in the country with emphasis on diagnosis and epidemiology. The initial search for existing publications reporting original studies on MAP, PTB, and the relationship between MAP and CD was carried out in the available databases and national libraries. After compilation of the available studies (n = 20), the relevant data was extracted (year, province of report, species studied, diagnostic tests used, study design, summary of results, and authors). Recommendations for future research opportunities on MAP in Colombia are made.

La fascioliasis es una enfermedad parasitaria emergente que afecta al ganado bovino de Perú. El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar los factores asociados a la prevalencia de Fasciola hepática en bovinos faenados en la provincia de Huaura. Se evaluaron datos sobre decomisos de hígados, procedencia, edad, sexo y mes del año, provenientes de los registros de 2198 bovinos, entre mayo y agosto del 2018, donde el 59,51 % de los hígados estuvieron infestados con Fasciola hepática. Además, se registró un mayor decomiso (p < 0,05) en los bovinos procedentes de los distritos Churín (67 %), Oyón (63 %) y Ambar (57 %), ubicados en las zonas de mayor altitud (2082-3620 m s.n.m.) y precipitación pluvial (30-206 mm). Asimismo, la prevalencia fue mayor en mayo (69 %, p < 0,05) en comparación con junio (61 %), julio (58 %) y agosto (42 %) y la edad de los animales fue un factor significativamente asociado al decomiso de hígados (p < 0,05), siendo mayor en el ganado de 5 años o más (62 %) y menores de 2 años (64 %) en comparación a los de 2 años (51 %), 3 años (53 %) y 4 años (52 %). Por otra parte, el decomiso de hígados fue mayor en hembras (61 %, p < 0,05) que el registrado en machos (51 %). La prevalencia de F. hepática en bovinos faenados en la provincia de Huaura es elevada, donde la procedencia del ganado, el sexo, la edad y el mes del año estuvieron asociados con el mayor decomiso de hígados.

The cattle breeding area of the province of La Pampa, Argentina is characterized by a 60 % average weaning rate. The degree of relationship between environmental and management factors and the weaning rates obtained in the region was analysed. A total of 180 farms (15% of total) were randomly selected in the area, characterized by an arid-semiarid climate, and their climatic and productive information was reconstructed for the period 2004-2017. The explanatory and target variables were categorized as 0 and 1, and analysed using contingency tables (c2, a = 0,10). The probability of occurrence of significant associations was estimated by Odd Ratio (OR). The variables heat stress, below-average cumulative summer-autumn rainfall and negative water balance per animal had significant probabilities of 60 % of being associated with low weaning (OR = 1,5, 1,6 and 1,45, respectively). It is a priority to define policies to improve access to water and to incorporate more rustic breeds tolerant to high temperatures. La zona criadora de la provincia de La Pampa, en Argentina, está caracterizada por una tasa de destete promedio inferior al 60 %, por lo que se decidió analizar el grado de relación existente entre factores ambientales y de manejo con las tasas de destete de terneros obtenidas en la región. Se seleccionaron 180 establecimientos al azar en la zona (15 % del total), caracterizada por un clima árido-semiárido, reconstruyendo su información climática y productiva para el periodo 2004-2017. Las variables explicatorias y el objetivo fueron categorizados como 0 y 1 y analizados mediante tablas de contingencia (c2, a = 0,10), donde la probabilidad de ocurrencia de las asociaciones significativas se estimó mediante Odd Ratio (OR). Las variables de estrés térmico, precipitación acumulada de verano-otoño inferior a la media y balance hídrico por animal negativo presentaron probabilidades significativas del 60 % de estar asociadas a destetes bajos (OR = 1,5, 1,6 y 1,45, respectivamente). Así, es prioritario definir políticas para mejorar el acceso al agua e incorporar razas más rústicas y tolerantes a altas temperaturas.

The prevalence of brucellosis was determined in buffaloes, cattle, sheep and goats in the districts Bagerhat, Bogra, Gaibangha, Mymensingh and Sirajgonj in Bangladesh. A total of 550 sera samples (105 buffaloes, 188 cattle, 127 goats and 130 sheep) were screened by RBT and were further confirmed with I-ELISA. A structured questionnaire was used to collect epidemiological information. The overall serological prevalence derived from the samples was 2.87% in buffaloes, 2.66% in cattle, 3.15% in goats, and 2.31% in sheep. The prevalence was relatively higher in females than in males in cattle, goats and sheep, but an insignificantly higher prevalence was observed in buffalo males than buffalo females. A significant association was found between abortion or age and occurrence of brucellosis. Our results provide (a) a comparison of the prevalence of brucellosis in different livestock species in Bangladesh, (b) constitute baseline data for further study of Brucella infections, and (c) are a starting point for the control of brucellosis.

Ectoparasite control in the livestock sector involves the use of chemicals to prevent production losses. In small farms that produce milk in the Córdoba department, the use of the pumping system for the cattle bath is common between farmers. In this work, cypermethrin degradation efficiency was evaluated in three lab-scale subsurface flow constructed wetland planted with Limnocharis flava, Cyperus papyrus and Alpinia purpurata sp., and one unplanted system, all of the beds were gravel based; then, total suspended solids and total phosphorus retention, and elimination of chemical oxygen demand were measured as water quality parameters. The wastewater was pretreated in a descending-ascending slow sand filter, and then was conducted to a wetland continuous flow fed at 7 ml/min. Limnocharis flava bed was higher for the degradation of organic compounds, with 97.9 ± 2.5 % and 69.1 ± 3.7 % for cypermethrin and chemical oxygen demand respectively, with statistically significant differences (p < 0,05) respect to unplanted bed. The higher SST removal were found in the Cyperus papyrus wetland, with 62,0 %, however, no differences were observed with the other evaluated planted systems, as opposed these were significantly higher than unplanted wetlands.