ORCID Profile
0000-0002-7810-3988
Current Organisation
Universidade de Lisboa Instituto Superior de Agronomia
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Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 20-02-2019
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2014
DOI: 10.1016/J.JPROT.2014.03.036
Abstract: Seasonal weight loss is the main limitation to animal production worldwide, significantly affecting the productivity of milk, meat and wool farms, particularly in drought-prone areas of the world where most of the large-scale wool production farms are located. Although the effect of nutritional status on wool quality parameters has been extensively studied, little is known on how it affects wool protein composition. Here, a proteomic approach has been applied to study changes in fiber structure and protein composition in wool from merino sheep subjected to experimentally induced weight loss. Results indicate that there is a significant reduction in the fiber diameter of wool from the animals on a restricted diet over a 42-day period. At the same time, significant increases in the expression of the high sulfur protein KAP13.1 and proteins from the high glycine-tyrosine protein KAP6 family in the wools from the animals on the restricted diet were also detected. Such findings have strong implications for the wool industry that favors finer wool. Seasonal weight loss caused by poor pasture availability has strong effects on wool productivity parameters and quality traits. In this work we determine that experimentally induced weight loss causes a decrease in fiber diameter associated with an increase in the level of high sulfur protein KAP13.1 and proteins from the high glycine-tyrosine protein KAP6 family. The implication of this is that decreasing the fiber diameter of the wool by this process could result in a fiber reduced prickle but with reduced wearability and appearance retention.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 18-10-2013
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 14-12-2016
DOI: 10.1038/SREP39120
Abstract: Sheep are a valuable resource for meat and wool production. During the dry summer, pastures are scarce and animals face Seasonal Weight Loss (SWL), which decreases production yields. The study of breeds tolerant to SWL is important to understand the physiological mechanisms of tolerance to nutritional scarcity, and define breeding strategies. Merino, Damara and Dorper sheep breeds have been described as having different levels of tolerance to SWL. In this work, we assess their liver and muscle metabolomes, and compare the responses to feed restriction. Ram lambs from each breed were ided into growth and feed restricted groups, over 42 days. Tissue metabolomes were assessed by 1 H-NMR. The Dorper restricted group showed few changes in both tissues, suggesting higher tolerance to nutritional scarcity. The Merinos exhibited more differences between treatment groups. Major differences were related to fat and protein mobilization, and antioxidant activity. Between the Damara groups, the main differences were observed in amino acid composition in muscle and in energy-related pathways in the liver. Integration of present results and previous data on the same animals support the hypothesis that, Dorper and Damara breeds are more tolerant to SWL conditions and thus, more suitable breeds for harsh environmental conditions.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 27-06-2019
DOI: 10.1111/JPN.13148
Abstract: Seasonal weight loss (SWL) is a major constraint in extensive animal production systems in the tropics and Mediterranean. The objective of this study was to characterize the amino acid profile of muscle and hepatic tissues of Australian Merino, Damara and Dorper lambs under restricted feeding to evaluate the impact of SWL at the metabolic and physiological levels. SWL induced generalized muscle protein breakdown among restricted groups of all breeds, with varying intensity. Dorper breed mobilized less muscle amino acids when under these conditions, with the Damara having frequent significant differences, namely by having lower amino acid concentrations in the muscle of restricted lambs. Damara lambs showed greater ability to catabolize branched-chain amino acids in the muscle tissue, which indicates yet another mechanism that provides the Damara with the necessary tools to endure harsh conditions. Overall, the Damara breed mobilized more muscle amino acids than the other breeds, with a better capacity to catabolize branched-chain amino acids in the muscle, while maintaining muscle structural integrity.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2013
Publisher: CSIRO Publishing
Date: 2016
DOI: 10.1071/AN14852
Abstract: Seasonal weight loss is the major constraint to animal production in the tropics. To counter seasonal weight loss, the use of breeds better adapted to it is of major importance. Damara sheep are an important breed in tropical animal production, as they are not only able to tolerate seasonal weight loss, but also have a characteristic fat-tail adipose tissue, often discarded, but that may be of interest to the food industry. The objective of this work is to determine the effect of weight loss on mineral profiles (zinc, manganese, iron, potassium, sodium, magnesium and calcium) in the fat-tail of Damara sheep. The trial lasted 42 days and was conducted in Western Australia. Twenty-four Damara sheep lambs were randomly allocated to an underfed (growth rate –100 g/day) and a control group (growth rate 100 g/day). Upon slaughter, fat-tail adipose tissue was s led and analysed by atomic absorption spectrophotometry for mineral content. The results showed no significant differences regarding minerals concentrations/quantities, with the exception of zinc and calcium concentrations that were higher in the restricted group, likely as a consequence of feed restriction and a decrease in fat tissue amount. In conclusion, we have quantified for the first time several minerals in Damara sheep fat-tail and demonstrated that reducing their bodyweight does not affect mineral quantity in fat-tails of Damara sheep.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 05-2017
DOI: 10.1016/J.JPROT.2017.03.020
Abstract: Seasonal Weight Loss (SWL) is one of the most pressing issues in animal production in the tropics and Mediterranean. This work aims to characterize muscle proteome changes as a consequence of SWL in meat producing sheep, using a label-free proteomics approach. We compare three breeds: the Australian Merino (SWL susceptible), the Damara (SWL tolerant) and the Dorper (SWL intermediate tolerance). We identified 668 proteins of the sheep proteome, 95 with differential regulation. Also we observe that the more vulnerable to SWL a breed is, the more differential abundance proteins we find. Protein binding was the most frequently altered molecular function identified. We suggest 6 putative markers for restricted nutritional conditions independently of breed: ferritin heavy-chain immunoglobulin V lambda chain transgelin fatty acid synthase glutathione S-transferase A2 dihydrodiol dehydrogenase 3-like. Moreover, we suggest as related to SWL tolerance: S100-A10 Serpin A3-5-like and Catalase, subject however to necessary validation assays. The identification of SWL-tolerance related proteins using proteomics will lead to increased stock productivity of relevant interest to animal production, particularly if identified at the muscle level, the tissue of economic importance in meat production. Seasonal Weight Loss (SWL) is the most pressing issue in animal production in the tropics and the Mediterranean. To counter SWL, farmers often use animal breeds that have a natural ability to withstand pasture scarcity. Here we study the sheep muscle proteome at the muscle level, the tissue of economic importance in meat production. Furthermore, the identification of proteins that change their abundance in response to SWL using proteomics can contribute to increased stock productivity of relevant interest to animal production. We identified 668 proteins of the sheep proteome. We demonstrate that the following proteins are affected by restricted nutritional conditions: ferritin heavy chain immunoglobulin V lambda chain transgelin fatty acid synthase glutathione S-transferase A2 dihydrodiol dehydrogenase 3-like. Furthermore, S100-A10, Serpin A3-5-like and Catalase are proteins that changed their abundance in response to SWL. Nevertheless, it is important to highlight that Catalase values for the merino breed were close to significance and therefore catalase validation is of utmost importance.
Publisher: Wiley
Date: 03-07-2016
DOI: 10.1002/JSFA.7285
Abstract: Muscle fatty acid profile reflects the body condition of animals and has a noticeable effect on meat quality. Herein, longissimus dorsi muscle of three different sheep breeds, Damara (a fat-tailed breed), Dorper and Australian Merino sheep, was analysed for fatty acid composition. The three breeds were subjected to two distinctive feeding levels (ad libitum and restricted feeding) over 42 days. The Damara sheep revealed several differences compared to the other two breeds, namely a higher concentration of polyunsaturated fatty acids, which can be related to being a fat-tailed breed. Even in restricted feeding conditions, this breed revealed the highest levels compared to Merino and Dorper sheep respectively, of linoleic acid (+31% and +28%), linolenic acid (+97% and +51%), eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) (+65% and +37%), docosapentanenoic acid (DPA) (+31% Merino) and dodosahexanenoic acid (DHA) (+63% and +77%). EPA, DPA and DHA are three omega-3 fatty acids, with described beneficial characteristics. With this work we show other qualities (higher levels of the omega-3 fatty acids, EPA, DPA and DHA) of Damara meat that might present this breed as an interesting alternative for animal production in semi-arid climates.
Publisher: Public Library of Science (PLoS)
Date: 02-2016
Publisher: MDPI AG
Date: 20-09-2022
DOI: 10.3390/ANI12192501
Abstract: Arouquesa is an autochthonous bovine breed known for its Arouquesa PDO beef labeling. There are several production systems under the definition of PDO labeling. This study aimed to compare the effect of different production systems on carcass and meat traits for the Arouquesa breed. Two trials differing in diet and weaning age were conducted. The first trial included a TF group fed the traditional way and weaned at 9 months a TF + S1 group, equal to TF, but with a starter supplement and finally, a S1 + S2 group that was fed with a starter and a growth supplement and weaned at 5 months. The second trial was composed of a TF + S3 group fed like the TF + S1 group but reared until 12 months with a finishing supplement, and finally, the S3 group fed like the S1 + S2 group but reared until 12 months. In the first trial, the TF + S1 and S1 + S2 groups showed higher final live weight and average daily gain. In the second trial, we observed differences in the subcutaneous fat that was higher in the S3 group. Regarding meat traits, we observed differences in exudative and cooking losses in the first trial. In general, supplementation improved meat production without affecting meat quality parameters.
Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Date: 24-01-2013
DOI: 10.1007/S11250-013-0361-Z
Abstract: Seasonal weight loss (SWL) is the most pressing constraint in ruminant production systems in tropical climates. SWL is controlled using supplementation, which is costly and difficult to implement in extensive systems, or using breeds adapted to tropical hot dry climates, like the Damara and Dorper. Albeit 15 years in Australia, little is known on how these sheep compare to Australian Merino. Here, the responses of the Damara, Dorper and Merino breeds to nutritional stress were compared. Seventy-two 6-month-old ram lambs, 24 from each breed, were allocated to growth (gaining 100 g/day) or restricted diets (losing 100 g/day, 85% of maintenance needs). Animals were weighed and carcass and meat characteristics determined. Results point out to the existence of important differences between the three genotypes, in particular between the Merino and the Southern African breeds. Additionally, Merino ram lambs seem to have been more influenced by SWL than the other two, with consequences on meat characteristics.
Publisher: Elsevier BV
Date: 2019
DOI: 10.1016/J.JPROT.2018.02.018
Abstract: The effect of feed restriction on the liver protein profiles of two different breeds of sheep was studied. We compared Merino with the Damara, breeds with respectively low and high tolerance to nutritional stress. Each breed was grouped into two nutritional treatments: restricted (12-14% loss of live weight) and control (maintenance). The trial lasted 42 days. Animals were sacrificed and liver s les subjected to label free shotgun proteomics. The resultant proteins had both their fold change and statistical significance in an unpaired t-test calculated to identify differential protein abundance. The tool WebGestalt was utilized to perform an Overrepresentation Enrichment Analysis (ORA) for gene ontology terms associated with the significant proteins. We further validated shotgun proteomics findings using a selected reaction monitoring (SRM)-based targeted proteomics approach, where similar trends in regulation were obtained for a subset of relevant proteins across an independent cohort of animals. Results confirm that Damara has adapted to nutritional stress by mobilizing stored fatty acids within adipose tissue and converting them to energy more efficiently than Merino. Finally, Merino had an overabundance pattern primarily directed to protein synthesis pathways. Regulated proteins identified may be used as a basis for marker selection towards tolerance to nutritional stress. BIOLOGICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Sheep are one of the most important livestock animals. They remain however poorly understudied and described. Seasonal weight loss (SWL) due to pasture scarcity during the dry season is one of the most limiting conditions to ruminant production in the tropics. To counter SWL, farmers may use supplementation, expensive or difficult to implement. A more suitable long-term solution would be to use breeds that are naturally adapted to nutritional stress. This work contrasts two breeds with different levels of tolerance to SWL, the Damara and the Merino, respectively well and poorly adapted. Comparison is conducted at the level of the hepatic tissue and using label free proteomics. This work identifies a series of pathways in the liver of the Damara via label free proteomics that suggest a unique fatty acid metabolic process within this breed. Proteins that have increased abundance in the Damara in association with fatty acid metabolism may be used as potential markers of tolerance to nutritional stress. This research will pave the way for more viable, long-term solutions for farmers facing annual production problems due to drought in the tropics and the Mediterranean region.
Location: Portugal
Location: Portugal
Location: Saint Kitts and Nevis
No related grants have been discovered for Andre Almeida.