PSV-10 Free-choice diet selection by sheep during peripartum

Our objective was to explore diet selection and productive performance by sheep during peripartum. Pregnant Saint-Croix and Katahdin ewes were housed in individual pens from 100 days of gestation to 60 days of lactation and assigned to two groups: Free-choice-FC and Mixed-ration-MR (n = 12/group). Sheep in FC received ad-libitum amounts of soybean meal, sorghum grain, alfalfa and oat hays, presented in individual troughs. Animals in MR received a total-mixed-ration with these feeds, balanced for gestation or lactation according to NRC. Dry matter (and nutrient) intake/kg BW was measured daily, whereas BW and BCS were measured every 7 and 14 d, respectively. Data was analyzed as a Linear Mixed Model with repeated measures; group, breed, litter size (single, twins) and parity (primiparous, multiparous) were the fixed factors and sheep (random factor) was nested within group. Overall dry matter and ME intake did not differ between groups (P > 0.05), without breed, litter size or parity effects (P > 0.05), but protein intake was greater and NDF and ADF intakes were lower in FC than in MR (P < 0.001). During gestation, FC sheep consumed soy=alfalfa >sorghum >oats, and during lactation they increased (2X) soy intake (P < 0.001). Body weight was similar between groups (73.3±1.3, and 70.6±1.3 kg, for FC and MR, respectively; P=0.148), whereas BCS was greater for FC than for MR (3.9±0.2 vs. 3.3 ±0.1; P = 0.01). During lactation, ewe BW (67.3±1.3 vs. 61.92±1.3 kg; P = 0.01) and BCS (3.83±0.1 vs. 3.03±0.1; P < 0.001) were greater for FC than for MR. Offspring BW was similar between groups (11.5±0.6, and 11.4±0.5 kg, for FC and MR, respectively; P = 0.804). In conclusion, the free-choice treatment enhanced ewe nutrition, reducing BW and BCS losses during lactation without influencing offspring growth. Free-choice may enable ewes to meet their individual nutrient needs, with benefits to their welfare and postpartum ovarian activity.

Effects of Rumen-Protected Choline on Growth Performance, Carcass Characteristics and Blood Lipid Metabolites of Feedlot Lambs

Choline is an essential nutrient for animals, but dietary choline is degraded in the rumen, and thus, should be offered as rumen-protected choline (RPC) in ruminants. In this article, we investigate the effect of RPC supplementation in feedlot lambs. Forty intact male Saint Croix lambs (average: 20.3 kg, 3–4 months of age) on a high grain-low roughage base feed were randomly assigned to four treatments (0, 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3% RPC on dry-matter basis; n = 10 per group). RPC was offered for 90 days after 15 days of adaptation. RPC supplementation was not associated with significant differences in dry matter intake, weight gain, gain:feed ratio, carcass weights, and the dressing percentages. There was a linear decrease in height to the shoulder (p = 0.013) and longissimus muscle area (p = 0.051) with higher RPC levels, and a higher backfat thickness and yield grade with 0.3% RPC compared to 0.1% RPC (p < 0.05). Blood triglycerides concentrations were higher in control (0% RPC) compared to 0.3% RPC (p = 0.008). The lack of significant effects on growth performance and the results on backfat thickness and yield grade, may indicate undesirable effects associated with RPC supplementation. More research is needed to establish the needs and specific quantities of RPC supplementation in feedlot lambs.

Empowering Women In Haiti: Perceptions Of The Days For Girls International Program For Feminine Hygiene And Reproductive Health

Recent studies report that Haitian women are concerned about unmet women’s health issues. The Days for Girls (DfG) International program features women’s health education and personal hygiene kits to ensure women understand the process of menstruation and use sanitary hygiene practices. The aims of this study were to identify the perceived benefits and challenges to using the DfG International program kits for high school and college women in Haiti and to identify ways to adapt the current DfG program for Haitian culture. A post-use survey design was used to study the perceptions of young women in Leogane, Haiti. Forty-four women (89.9%) from the Episcopal University of Haiti and forty-eight women (86%) from Saint Croix High School used the DfG kits for two-months and completed the post-use survey. Although neither group ranked lack of feminine hygiene products as the most critical reason for school absences, both groups agreed that there is a need for feminine hygiene programs in Haiti and the DfG kits were easy to use and clean. Both groups recommended changes in the design of the DfG hygiene products to make the shields and liners more comfortable and suggested the kits would be more widely accepted if white in color. The DfG program could provide a cost-effective feminine hygiene program for Haiti and future studies should focus on distribution of the kits in the more rural areas.

First Record of Mansonia dyari From Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands

ABSTRACT The first report of Mansonia dyari on Saint Croix, United States Virgin Islands (USVI), is confirmed. Adult and larval specimens were collected in 2018 and 2019 through adult surveillance and larval collections. Specimens were identified by microscopic methods, and a representative specimen was confirmed by DNA sequencing (mitochondrial cytochrome c oxidase subunit I). Morphological features are reviewed and compared with Mansonia flaveola, a species previously reported in the USVI. Notes are provided on the locations, collection methods, and mosquito associates found with Ma. dyari in the USVI.

Treatments with eCG and courtship behaviour in rams during the breeding and the non-breeding seasons

Equine chorionic gonadotrophin (eCG or PMSG) is a hormone with FSH/LH effect that has been widely used in ewes and cows to induce follicle development. However, the possible positive effects of its administration to males have been rarely studied. ECG stimulates testosterone secretion and increases rams’ ability to stimulate ovulation in anoestrous ewes (the ‘ram effect’), but it is still not known if this effect is at least partially explained by an enhancement of a ram’s sexual behaviour. Thus, the aim was to determine if the administration of eCG induces an increase in testosterone concentration, and thus improves sexual behaviour of Saint Croix rams during both the breeding and the non-breeding seasons. Two doses of 1000 IU of eCG were administered separated by 4 days to 10 rams during the breeding and five rams during the non-breeding seasons, with the same number of animals as untreated controls. Administration of eCG increased testosterone concentration during the breeding (P = 0.008) and the non-breeding (P = 0.0009) seasons. The number of ano-genital sniffings, lateral approaches, as well as total courtship behaviours were greater in treated than untreated rams during the breeding season. Treated rams also tended to mount and mate more during the breeding season. During the non-breeding season, treated rams tended to display more ano-genital sniffs, lateral approaches and total courtship behaviours than untreated rams 6 days after the first dose. Overall, eCG increased testosterone concentrations the breeding and the non-breeding seasons, and was associated with a greater display of sexual behaviours during the former.