The European Union Common Catalogue (EUCC) for potato contains over 1000 varieties. Each year member states add varieties to the list after they have undergone Distinctness, Uniformity and Stability (DUS) testing according to international guidelines. A rapid and robust method for variety identification to aid the management and maintenance of existing variety collections and for the screening of new candidate varieties would therefore be a highly useful tool for DUS testing stations. A database containing key morphological characteristics and microsatellite data was constructed for varieties on the 2006 list of the EUCC for potato. Rules for scoring SSR markers in different laboratories were established to allow a harmonized scoring of markers. Almost all varieties (99.5%) were shown to have unique molecular profiles and in pair wise comparisons 99.99% of all variety pairs could be distinguished. This clearly shows the versatility of the markers and database for identifying potato samples.

Simple SummaryThis study examined the hair of Brazilian local cattle breeds in order to verify the possibility of use this technique as a racial marker. The trichological analysis is a non-invasive method that allows the determination of the species, or even the breed, of mammals by means of the combination of the main microstructures of the hairs. This kind of analysis has been used to identify species in ecological, paleontological, archaeological, contaminating materials of human food and forensic issues, but has been little explored in agriculture.AbstractThis study aimed to identify bovine breeds through trichological morphology and morphometry and to validate this technique by comparing it with genetic characterization. Animals from Caracu, Curraleiro Pé-Duro, Nelore, and Bovino Pantaneiro breeds were studied. Morphological and morphometric analyses of the guard hairs were performed. The cuticular pattern was observed on the shaft and the medulla pattern on the shield of the samples. The cattle genetic characterization was accomplished using microsatellite markers. Statistical analyses were performed using R version 3.2.4 software. Pearson’s correlation test showed a high positive and significant correlation between the matrices generated by trichological and genetic analyses (r = 0,996 and p < 0.001). Trichological analysis is a useful method for cattle breed identification. Its potential for identifying other species of interest for animal production should be studied since it is a simple, low-cost, and non-invasive method.

A estrutura microscópica de pelos é espécie-específica. Ela permite não apenas a identificação de espécies, mas também a identificação de raças. A tricologia é amplamente utilizada para identificação de espécies em pesquisas taxonômicas, ecológicas, paleontológicas, arqueológicas, como controle de qualidade de alimentos e forenses, mas são pouco exploradas na agropecuária. O conhecimento, o estudo e, principalmente, a divulgação desta técnica abre a perspectiva para a pesquisa em diversas áreas da produção animal principalmente nos estudos relacionados aos recursos genéticos animal (RGAs). Do ponto de vista zootécnico a utilização de uma metodologia de fácil execução com baixo custo de realização e confiável é uma alternativa de grande importância. A tricologia é uma importante ferramenta para estudos sobre raças locais no Brasil, considerando que a caracterização dos pelos pode elucidar características como rusticidade, prolificidade, resistência à endo e ectoparasitas e adaptação às condições adversas que justificam os programas de conservação de tais recursos genéticos animais. Esta revisão foi redigida com o objetivo de discutir o uso da análise microscópica de pelos de mamíferos, sua aplicação na pesquisa científica e a importância para a produção e pesquisa agropecuária.

The rearing environment of pigs can cause a high level of stress due to the lack of stimuli and the impossibility of carrying out natural behaviors. Music therapy is a way to enrich the environment and promote stress relief. Few studies in swine using environmental enrichers focus on functional benefits, such as stress resilience, improved biological functions, or mental status. The effect of environmental enrichment on neurobiological processes is particularly poorly understood in farm animals. Thus, our study sought to elucidate the influence of music in piglets exposed to music therapy in the intrauterine and extrauterine phase on neuroplasticity, evaluating the levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF). Behavioural responses were also evaluated using fear tests related to stress resilience. The productive performance of these piglets was analysed to relate the possible reduction in stress levels to greater productivity gains. Forty-eight sows were used at 90 days of gestation until the weaning of their piglets. In the gestation phase, the sows were divided into two treatments: control (without music therapy) and music (with music therapy). In the farrowing/lactation phase, the sows were separated into four treatments: control-control (no music in any phase); control-music (music only in farrowing/lactation); music-control (music only during pregnancy); and music-music (music in both reproductive phases). Music therapy did not cause a difference in the BDNF levels of piglets at birth. However, piglets born from sows of the music-music treatment did not show a reduction in BDNF between birth and weaning, unlike the other treatments. Exposure to music in the last 1/3 of pregnancy and farrowing/lactation improved the weight of piglets at birth and at weaning. Musical enrichment during pregnancy and lactation was able to cause changes in the piglets’ neuroplasticity and improve their productive performances.

This study aims to evaluate the effects of the inclusion of different homoeopathic products on the diet of laying quails. We used 200 Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) distributed in a completely randomized design consisting of the adoption of four experimental diets, with eight replicates of five quails each. The treatments were control (without additives), calcium carbonate (vehicle used in the products), Fertsigo®, and Ovosigo®. We determined the performance, egg quality, and blood biochemical profile of quails. The data were submitted to Tukey test at 5% probability. There was a significant effect of the homeopathic products Fertsigo® and Ovosigo® on the variables egg weight, yolk, albumen, and shell percentage. It did not affect the performance and blood biochemical profile (p > 0.05). The addition of the homoeopathic product Ovosigo® and FertSigo® in diets of Japanese quails at the laying phase is recommended because they resulted in the better weight of the egg and its components. Thus, the application of homoeopathy in the production of quails is a viable practice, since it is easy to manage, has a reduced cost, and exerts positive effects on the performance of quails.