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Productive performance and reproductive characteristics of Morada Nova male lambs fed with high-energy diet

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Abstract

Morada Nova breed sheep are without wool, tropicalized, small-sized animals, known for their high-quality meat and skin. Their body development naturally depends on the genetic potential and adequate nutritional support, which suggests that the offer of high-energy density diets positively influences their productive indicators. Thus, the present study investigated the effect of a high-energy diet for the Morada Nova lambs on body development and testicular function, considering their histomorphometric characteristics and seminal quality. Forty-two males (19.2 weeks, 20.7 ± 3.5 kg) were equally divided into two groups and fed with 2.05 Mcal (G7, n = 21) or 2.37 Mcal (G24, n = 21) of metabolizable energy/day, equivalent to 7% and 24% above the minimum for growing lambs. The animals were confined for 23 weeks (W0 to W23). Weight and body score differed significantly from the W1 (P < 0.05). From the W5, thoracic perimeter, body length, wither height, and rump attributes were higher in G24 (P < 0.05). The scrotal circumference and testicular volume were higher in G24 from the W3 (P < 0.05). Although testosterone levels were not affected (P = 0.05), the highest energy intake increased the diameter of the seminiferous tubules and the development of the epididymal epithelium (P < 0.05). This positively influenced the seminal quality and reduced the minor defects (21.87% vs. 17.13%) and the total spermatic defects (26.34% vs. 21.78%, P < 0.05). Thus, it is possible to employ higher levels of dietary energy for Morada Nova young males to express higher productive efficiency and earlier reproductive attributes of interest.

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Acknowledgments

This project was supported by Embrapa-Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation (BIOTEC Network Grant No. 01130600105), Federal University of Pará (UFPA/PROPESP), CAPES (Pró-Amazônia Biodiversity and Sustainability Program), and CNPq—Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (Grant No. 831591/1999-4). The authors also thank Dr. Júlio Balieiro and Dr. Sarita Gallo for the critical review of the manuscript.

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  1. Institute of Veterinary Medicine, Federal University of Pará, Av. dos Universitários, s/n, Castanhal, 68746-360, Brazil

    Andréa do Nascimento Barreto, André Guimarães Maciel e Silva, Daniela Botta & Alessandro Giro

  2. Laboratory of Animal Reproduction, Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, Embrapa Southeast Livestock/Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste (CPPSE/Embrapa), Rod. Washington Luiz, km 234, São Carlos, 13560-970, Brazil

    Sergio Novita Esteves, Manuel Antonio Chagas Jacinto, Waldomiro Barioni Junior & Alexandre Rossetto Garcia

  3. Faculty of Veterinary Medicine, Fluminense Federal University, Rua Vital Brasil, 64, Niterói, 24230-340, Brazil

    Felipe Zandonadi Brandão

  4. University of São Paulo, Av. Duque de Caxias Norte, 225, Pirassununga, 13635-900, Brazil

    Messy Hannear de Andrade Pantoja & Narian Romanello

  5. São Paulo State University “Júlio de Mesquita Filho”, Via Prof. Paulo Donato Castellane, s/n, Jaboticabal, 14884-900, Brazil

    Amanda Prudêncio Lemes

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do Nascimento Barreto, A., Guimarães Maciel e Silva, A., Esteves, S.N. et al. Productive performance and reproductive characteristics of Morada Nova male lambs fed with high-energy diet. Trop Anim Health Prod 51, 2481–2491 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11250-019-01969-0

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