About Book

Reproduction is necessary for the survival of any species. Efficient reproduction is of the utmost importance for the sustainable improvement of animal productivity and is a critical factor influencing the economic viability of livestock farmers. Increased numbers of animals enables more intense selection of animals of superior quality to serve as parents of the next generation. Farm animal breeding and reproduction stands at the beginning of the animal production chain. Breeding contributes to the basis of robust, efficient and healthy animals with a reduced need for medication and increased animal welfare. Research and innovation are essential to ensure continuous improvements needed for a sustainable and competitive livestock sector. As we domesticated animals and attempted to make genetic change, it became imperative that we better understand the physiology of reproduction. Through this improved understanding, the development of reproductive technologies like artificial insemination, embryo transfer and sexing semen became possible. This book offers comprehensive information concerning physiology, pathology and biotechnology of reproduction. It covers markers of diseases, husbandry procedures, probiotics, deltamethrin, annealing algorithms, breeding, artificial insemination, behavioural factors and production systems. It outlines different systems and explores the ethical implications of modern farming methods. It also provides a valuable synopsis of current and future reproductive technologies, such as cloning and the production of transgenic animals. It is suitable for advanced students in animal science, agriculture, biology, veterinary practitioners and farmers who wish to keep updated on developments in techniques that may be useful in their daily practice.

Preface............................................................................................................v

Chapter 1 Behavioral Factors Affecting Reproduction in Domestic Horses: Sociobiological Approach.........................................................................1

Abstract...................................................................................................1

1. Introduction............................................................................................2

2. Infanticide...............................................................................................2

3. Reproduction failure in domestic horse mares...............................4

4. Discussion.............................................................................................14

5. Conclusions..........................................................................................15

Acknowledgements.............................................................................16

Chapter 2 Estrus Synchronization and Artificial Insemination in Goats.......24

Abstract.................................................................................................24

1. Introduction..........................................................................................25

2. Materials and methods......................................................................25

3. Estrus synchronization in goats.......................................................26

4. Artificial insemination in goats........................................................29

5. Conclusion............................................................................................31

Chapter 3 The Use of Deltamethrin on Farm Animals......................................34

1. Introduction..........................................................................................34

2. Deltamethrin.........................................................................................35

3. Efficacy..................................................................................................36

4. Concluding remarks...........................................................................43

Chapter 4 Efficiency of Probiotics in Farm Animals ..........................................45

1. Introduction ........................................................................................45

2. Efficiency of probiotic in farm animals..........................................46

3. Mode of action of probiotics............................................................47

4. Production of inhibitory substances ..............................................49

5. Blocking of adhesion sites ...............................................................49

6. Competition for nutrients ................................................................49

7. Degradation of toxin receptor..........................................................49

8. Influence on the immune system ...................................................49

9. Other effects of probiotics ...............................................................52

10. Experiments in extensive farm conditions.....................................53

11. Experiment in intensive farm condition.........................................56

12. The methodology for determination of microbiological charge of

faeces......................................................................................................58

13. The physiological and microbiological parameters of intestinal

mucosa and digesta............................................................................58

14. The determination of anaerobic bacteria (Lactobacillus spp).

Method of samples in ice ................................................................59

15. Methods of samples in ice ...............................................................59

16. The determination of aerobic bacteria

(Enterobacteriaceae and Enterococcus spp) ........................................60

17. Data about probiotic “Seberini suini”.............................................61

18. Physical -chemical characteristics of the probiotic.......................62

19. Results and discussions.....................................................................63

20. Conclusions .......................................................................................68

Acknowledgement...............................................................................68

Chapter 5 Use of Simulated Annealing Algorithms for Optimizing Selection

Schemes in Farm Animal Populations................................................75

1. Introduction..........................................................................................75

2. Breeding strategies in farm animal populations..........................75

3. Calculation of inbreeding and additive relationship coefficients

in farm animals and small populations.........................................79

4. Restricted inbreeding strategies in farm animals.........................88

5. Use of the optimum contribution selection (OCS).......................90

6. A stochastic simulation program (Matlab), based on a simulated

annealing algorithm, for optimizing farm animal breeding

schemes under restricted inbreeding..............................................92

7. Conclusions..........................................................................................96

Chapter 6 Local Anesthesia for Husbandry Procedures and Experimental

Purposes in Farm Animals.....................................................................99

1. Introduction .......................................................................................99

2. Local anesthetics .............................................................................100

3. Physiology of nerve conduction ...................................................102

4. Mechanism of action of local anesthetics ...................................103

5. Nerve block for husbandry procedures in farm animals ........104

6. Systemic and toxic effects of local anesthetics ..........................105

7. Methods of producing local anesthesia ......................................106

8. Local anesthesia for husbandry procedures in farm animals..113

9. Using farm animals for experimental purposes.........................118

10. Topical anesthetics............................................................................119

11. Local anesthesia for vessel puncture ...........................................119

12. Blood sampling in farm animals...................................................120

13. Conclusion .........................................................................................123

Chapter 7 Acute Phase Proteins as Markers of Diseases in Farm

Animals ....................................................................................................128

1. Introduction ......................................................................................128

2. The acute phase response...............................................................129

3. Acute phase proteins ......................................................................130

4. The usefulness of the evaluation of acute phase proteins in the

veterinary clinical practice .............................................................136

5. Material and methods ...................................................................137

6. Results ................................................................................................142

7. Discussion ........................................................................................146

8. Conclusion .........................................................................................156

9. Acknowledgment .............................................................................156

Chapter 8 The Goat Sector in Spain: Situation, Local Breeds and Production

Systems......................................................................................................166

Abstract...............................................................................................166

1. Introduction........................................................................................166

2. Materials and methods: research methodology..........................167

3. An overview of the Spanish goat sector’s current status .......167

4. Goat breed characterization............................................................175

5. Goat production systems in Spain................................................185

6. Conclusions........................................................................................188

Acknowledgements .........................................................................188

Chapter 9 Goat Farming and Breeding in Jordan..............................................192

Abstract...............................................................................................192

1. Introduction........................................................................................193

2. Research methodology.....................................................................194

3. An overview of the present goat farming status.......................194

4. Goat breed characterization, regional distribution, and production

system of goat breeds......................................................................196

5. Goat performance..............................................................................199

6. Goat flock management, husbandry, and constraints...............202

7. Current and prospects for goat breeding in Jordan..................202

8. Goat diseases and health management........................................204

9. Conclusion .........................................................................................204

Citation......................................................................................................209

Index...........................................................................................................211

About Author

Viviana Archer obtained her Ph.D. in Animal Husbandry from Public Research University, Tumaco. She is as a Research Associate at Science Institute, Bahia. She has written several books and research papers including – the behavior of domestic animals, adaptation of domestic animals, and reproduction and breeding techniques for laboratory animals. Her areas of researches are biotechnology, livestock and environment, veterinary immunology, and microbial genetics. She is also a freelance writer and editor of agricultural journal, textbooks and references.