This study aimed to evaluate physical aspects of the semen and sexual behavior of Moxotó breed goats at different ages. Two males Moxotó goats, ages 4 and 7, represented by (1) and (2) respectively, and twenty-six (26) female goats as mannequins, were used. The breeders were subjected to sexual behavior evaluation by measuring of reaction time to the female in estrus, which were recorded the patterns of behavior (courtship with paw, emission of sounds, tongue exposure, exposure penis exposure, smell the urogenital female and Flehmen reflex) performed in two shifts (morning and afternoon) during the months of February to April 2010, totaling 50 observations. To assess the physical aspects of semen collections were performed twice on each breeder at the beginning and end of the observation period. There was no difference in reaction time and the number of jumps in terms of shifts and breeders. The frequency of behavioral events in relation to shifts evaluation did not differ. The emission of sounds (EMS) and exposure of the tongue (EXL) was expressed more often by the oldest breeder (2). Regarding the assessment soundness, the average values for the parameters studied as motility, vigor, pathology and sperm concentration, results were favorable to the breeder (1). The study of behavioral patterns during the courting stage is an indispensable tool in predicting the reproductive potential of male goats; however, other aspects within the reproductive management should be evaluated in combination. Key words: Behaviours events, ethology, reaction time ResumoEste estudo objetivou avaliar o comportamento sexual e aspectos físicos do sêmen de reprodutores caprinos da raça Moxotó. Foram utilizados dois reprodutores, com idades de 4 e 7 anos, representados por (1) e (2), respectivamente, e vinte e seis (26) cabras como manequins. Os reprodutores foram submetidos à avaliação do comportamento sexual pela medida do tempo de reação frente à fêmea em estro, onde foram registrados os padrões de comportamento (cortejo com a pata, emissão de sons, exposição da língua, exposição do pênis, cheirar a região urogenital da fêmea e reflexo de flehmen) realizados em dois turnos (manhã e tarde) durante os meses de fevereiro à abril de 2010, totalizando 50 observações. Para avaliação dos aspectos físicos do sêmen, foram realizadas duas coletas em cada reprodutor no início e fim do período de observações. Não houve diferença quanto ao tempo de reação e ao número de saltos em função dos turnos e reprodutores. A freqüência dos eventos comportamentais em relação aos turnos de avaliação não diferiu. A emissão de sons (EMS) e exposição da língua (EXL) foi expresso mais vezes pelo reprodutor mais velho (2). Com relação à avaliação andrológica os valores médios encontrados para os parâmetros estudados como motilidade, vigor, patologia e concentração espermática, apresentaram resultados favoráveis ao reprodutor (1). O estudo dos padrões comportamentais durante a fase de cortejo é uma ferramenta indispensável na predição do potencial reprodut...

In this study we investigated the effect of glutamine and glutamic acid inclusion in the diet of weaned piglets subjected to cold stress and thermoneutral environment. Sixty-four weaned piglets were assessed from 28 to 65 days of age. A completely randomised design consisting of a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement was tested – environments (thermoneutral and cold stress) and diets (control and L-glutamine + L-glutamic acid (G + GA)). Performance, relative organ weight and carcass yield, and morphology of the intestinal mucosa were assessed. Supplementing the diets with G + GA reduced feed intake under both environments. This was associated with a decline in growth rate for piglets in the thermoneutral environment but not in the cold environment (P < 0.002). Feed efficiency was lower for piglets offered the control diets in the cold environment, but was significantly improved (24.6%) by G + GA supplementation in the cold but not the thermoneutral environment (P < 0.001). G + GA supplementation decreased small intestinal length and altered intestinal morphology with the highest villus/crypt depth ratio observed in piglets offered the G + GA supplemented diet in the cold environment. In summary, glutamine and glutamic acid diets mitigated the effects of cold stress on the intestinal mucosa and performance of weaned piglets.