Thirty Brangus bulls were used in a 90-d study to assess the effect of artificial shading on the performance and reproductive characteristics of semi-confined cattle. Animals were kept in four one-ha paddocks in two groups of eight for shade treatment (5 m2/animal of 80% solar block shade cloth) and two groups of seven animals in no-shade treatment. Each treatment had two homogeneous groups, each divided into heavy-bulls (351-450 kg) and light-bulls (300-350 kg). Time spent under shade, time standing, average daily gain, testicular development and sperm quality were investigated. Animals spent 24% of the daylight under the shade and no-shaded bulls spent more time standing (P < 0.05). No difference was found in average daily gain (P > 0.05) and testicular development between shaded and no-shaded animals. However, scrotal perimeter was higher for shaded light animals compared to no-shaded light bulls (P < 0.10). Sperm motility increase during the experimental period for shaded animals (P < 0.05) and sperm abnormalities were higher for the shaded ones (P < 0.05). Although the results did not indicate pronounced benefits on cattle performance, this resource was an important alternative because it appears to provide an improvement in some reproductive parameters and ensure a better thermal comfort to the animals.

The present study was conducted to investigate the effects of boldenone undecylenate (BUL) on carcass traits and blood stress parameters in growing male rabbits. A total of 170 male rabbits comprising of three breeds namely New Zealand White (NZW; n=55), Californian (CAL; n=50), and Rex (RX; n=65) were taken for this study. The rabbits of each breed were divided into three groups viz., D0 (control), D1 provided with normal dose of BUL (at 4.4 mg/kg body weight), and D2 provided with BUL (at 8.8 mg/kg bwt). The rabbits were kept under temperature ranged from 28-32 and deg;C during the experimental period. Carcass traits of the rabbits were studied, and the blood parameters were measured by radioimmunoassay. Most of carcass traits, globulin and cholesterol levels in the serum were significantly improved for the injection of BUL at normal dose. Plasma corticosterone levels in normal dose injected rabbits were lowered by 27.21 and 15.25% as compared to controls and double dose, respectively. The effect of interaction between dose and breed was non-significant (P>0.05) on almost all carcass traits and blood parameters. In conclusion, BUL improves all carcass traits in male growing rabbits when injected with normal dose of BUL, with the exception of dressing-out%, and has a significant lowering effect on stress hormone (i.e., corticosterone), and increasing effect on serum total protein, globulin and cholesterol. [J Adv Vet Anim Res 2015; 2(3.000): 263-270]