Suchergebnisse

Melatonin, a hormone secreted in cow milk, has beneficial effects on human health. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of dietary vitamin supplementation and nocturnal milking on the concentration of melatonin in cow milk. Twenty-one confined cows in the final period of lactation were used for the study and the supplemented vitamins were: rumen-protected B vitamins, A, D3, E, and niacin (B3) not protected from rumen degradation. The experimental period had a duration of 10 days. Milk samples were collected during the first two days, without supplementation of vitamins (WITHOUT), and during the final two days, eight days after the beginning of supplementation (WITH). Samples of milk produced without and with supplementation, milked at 05:00 h (NIGHT) or from the total milk produced in the two daily milkings (TOTAL), were analyzed. The concentration of melatonin was determined by enzyme immunoassay using the ELISA kit, and the results were analyzed by ANOVA and Tukey´s test with 5% significance. Supplementation of the diet with vitamins (WITH) did not affect melatonin concentration in TOTAL milk, but it resulted in a concentration 40.55% lower in the NIGHT milk than in the milk from cows without (WITHOUT) supplementation (6.57 vs. 11.06 pg mL-1). Milk milked at night showed melatonin concentrations 1.43 to 2.38 times higher than daily TOTAL milk. The total milk of the herd showed a concentration of 2.13 pg mL-1. The differentiated collection of milk produced during the night period makes it possible to obtain milk with high levels of melatonin.

Bluetongue (BT) is an infectious and non-contagious disease caused by bluetongue virus (BTV) belonging to the genus Orbivirus. It is transmitted by a hematophagous vector, Culicoides sp., to ruminants, particularly to sheep, which are most susceptible to this disease. The main serological tests are agar gel immunodiffusion (AGID), which is recommended by the World Organization for Animal Health (OIE), and the competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (cELISA), which has the advantage of no cross-reaction with other orbiviruses. The aim was to compare the results of these two tests by conducting them on sera collected from sheep in the state of Paraná, Brazil. From March to October 2017, serum samples were collected from 270 sheep from 10 farms in six mesoregions of Paraná. The samples were subjected to AGID and cELISA to detect antibodies against BTV. Based on the test results, we classified the sheep as low, moderate, and high occurrence. The results demonstrated that 64.81% (175/270) of the sheep were seropositive through the cELISA test, showing a high occurrence, and 41.11% (111/270) were seropositive through the AGID test, indicating a moderate occurrence. The concordance between the tests was moderate (0.51) as determined by the Kappa coefficient. Among the studied farms, 90% (9/10) presented at least one seropositive sheep, and the number of animals tested positive by the cELISA test was higher than those by the AGID test. Favorable climate, which favors the presence and multiplication of the culicoid vector and the occurrence of infection, was the biggest predominant factor responsible for the obtained results. The low occurrence in farms with milder climate suggest that the presence of antibodies also occurs due to the low pathogenicity of circulating serotypes in the different mesoregions studied. It is concluded that BTV infection is present in the sheep herds in Paraná, and the occurrence was moderate detected by AGID test and high detected by cELISA test.

Na ovinocultura há a necessidade de se adaptar às novas tecnologias para obtenção de produtos com qualidade cada vez melhor. Os probióticos são suplementos alimentares contendo micro-organismos ruminais e intestinais viáveis que, em quantidade adequada, produzem efeitos benéficos na saúde dos pequenos ruminantes. O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho e parâmetro ruminal, através do uso de probiótico, em borregas mestiças Dorper suplementadas a pasto. Foram utilizadas 57 borregas mestiças Dorper, com idade entre 6 a 12 meses, sendo separadas em dois grupos: GC (grupo controle), com 28 animais, e GT (grupo tratado), com 29 borregas. Todos permaneceram em dois piquetes contendo capim-estrela e capim Aruana, sendo que houve revezamento semanalmente entre os grupos para cada pastagem. Uma vez ao dia, os dois grupos receberam concentrado energético-proteico equivalente a 1,5% de peso vivo por animal, disponibilizada em cochos, e somente o GT recebeu probiótico em pó na quantidade de 5g por animal, misturado à ração. Realizou-se análise bromatológica dos pastos e concentrado. No dia inicial (D0) e final do experimento (D45), foi feita classificação do escore corporal. Os animais foram pesados no dia inicial (D0), dia 7 (D7), dia 15 (D15), dia 30 (D30) e no dia último dia (D45), obtendo-se o ganho médio de peso diário (GMPD) e o peso médio. Avaliou-se o suco ruminal no último dia do experimento (D45). Não houve diferença significativa no desempenho entre os grupos, entretanto, o parâmetro ruminal demonstrou resultados superiores no grupo tratado. Palavras-chave: Escore Corporal. Ganho de Peso Médio. Liquido Ruminal. Saccharomyces cerevisiaeAbstractIn sheep farming, farmers need to adapt to the new technologies to obtain better quality products. Probiotics are dietary supplements containing viable ruminal and intestinal microorganisms, which in adequate amount can produce beneficial effects on the small ruminants health. The aim of the study was to evaluate the permormance and ruminal parameter by probiotic use in crossbred Dorper lambs supplemented to pasture. 57 crossbreed Dorper lambs were used, aged 6 to 12 months and they were separated into two groups: GC (control group), with 28 animals, and TC (treated group) with 29 lambs. They remained in Cynodon plectostachyus and Panicum maximum cv. Aruana piquet and there was a weekly relay between groups for each pasture. Once a day both groups received concentrate equivalent to 1.5% of live weight per animal, available in troughs and only the GC received probiotic in the amount of 5g per animal, mixed with feed. A bromatological analysis of the pasture and concentrate was made. On the initial day (D0) and on the end of the experiment (D45), the body score was made in all animals. They were weighed on the initial day (D0), day 7 (D7), day 15 (D15), day 30 (D30) and on the last day of experiment (D45). The average weight gain and the mean weight were performed on all days of the experiment . The ruminal fluid was evaluated on the last day of the experiment (D45). There was no significant difference in performance between the groups and the ruminal parameter showed superior results in the treated group.Keywords: Body Score. Average Weight Gain. Ruminal Fluid. Saccharomyces cerevisiae

The objective of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of replacing oat hay with coffee husk for the feeding of confined lambs. In this study, 24 male Texel lambs of approximately 60 days of age and with a mean ± standard error weight of 21.95 ± 5.81 kg were examined. Their diet was composed of 30% oat hay and 70% concentrated feed per kilogram of dry matter. The experimental design was randomized and included four treatments (0, 7.5, 15, and 22.5% of coffee husk in the total dry matter), with six replicates of each treatment. The animals were slaughtered when they reached a mean live weight of 32 kg. There was no significant difference in dry matter intake and mean daily weight gain (which were 197 g day-1) among treatments. The mean daily weight gain (DWG) was not significantly affected (P > 0.05) by the replacement of oat hay with coffee husk in the diet, with the overall mean DWG being 215.05 g day-1. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) among treatments in any of the studied carcass variables, and the mean true carcass yield was 53.9%. The lambs presented a mean finishing score of 2.96 (on a scale of 1 to 5) and a conformation of 4.21 (on a scale of 1 to 6), characterizing them as good carcasses. In terms of economic viability, the 7.5% diet stood out as the one that had the highest profitability, generating a profit of $ 3.25 USD per kg of carcass produced. Coffee husk can therefore replace oat hay in the feed of finishing lambs in concentrations of 0.075 to 0.225 kg kg-¹ of total dry matter with biological and economical efficacy and generating good commercial carcasses.

This study aimed to evaluate the Texel lambs' meat quality fed with increasing levels of crude glycerin (0, 7, 14, and 21% of dry matter) in the diet. Thirthy-two-two non-castrated male Texel lambs were used, with initial weight of 15.9 ± 4.1 kg, using a completely randomized design with four treatments and eight repetitions, per treatment. Upon reaching the average weight of 35 kg, the animals were slaughtered. The meat chemical composition was similar among treatments (P>0.05) and total lipids and crude protein presented averages of 3.47 and 20.05 g 100g -1, respectively. No changes in pH, marbling, color, and water loss under pressure were observed. The shear force did not change among treatments and the texture can be considered soft, with average values of 5.48 kgf. There was a linear (P0.05) were observed for the attributes flavor, tenderness, juiciness, and overall acceptance among treatments. Fatty acids in higher proportions in the meat lamb were to C18:1n-9 (1298.90 mg 100g-1), C16:0 (709.07 mg 100g-1) and C18:0 (433.30 mg 100g-1), with percentages of 42.72, 23.07 and 14.35%, respectively. Significant difference according to the glycerin level in the diet was observed only for the margaric acid (C17:0) with an increasing linear effect, reaching 58.95 mg 100g-1 muscle to the group with 21% crude glycerin, corresponding to 1.77% of total fatty acids. The other fatty acids did not change, and provided a satisfactory result for conjugated linoleic acid (CLA), totaling about 6.1 mg 100 g-1 muscle, corresponding to 0.21% of total lipids. The use of glycerin in the diet for finishing lambs does not alter the characteristics of the meat, maintaining the product quality for consumption.

<p>The current study aims to assess the effect from crude glycerin inclusion (0, 7, 14, and 21% dry matter) in the diet of slaughtered lamb on their development, nutrient consumption, biometrical measures, diet economic viability and carcass features. Thirty two (32) non-castrated male Texel lambs were used in the study, they presented mean initial weight 15.9 ± 4.1 kilos and were distributed in casual outlining. They were fed with four treatments, with 8 repetitions. Animals were slaughtered when they reached approximately 35 kilos. The mean total weight gain was 20.72 kilos and mean daily weight gain was 260 grams. No changes resulted from glycerin use. The carcass performance was similar among treatments (P&gt;0.05) and the cold carcass performance (CCP) was 44.68%. There were no effects (P&gt;0.05) on the loin eye area (LEA) and on fat thickness (FT); they showed averages of 13.66 cm2 and 0.84 mm, respectively. Nutrition cost per animal during the whole confinement period varied between R$82.60 (eighty-two Reais and forty-eight cents) to R$92.48. The smallest nutrition amount consisted of 21% crude glycerin. The gross profit ranged from R$30.75 to R$ 34.01 per animal, for feed without glycerin and 21% glycerin, respectively. Animal development was not impacted by glycerin introduction, even with decrease on dry and organic mass consumption. The result showed that crude glycerin inclusion might be used in lambs' diet. Whenever there are big amounts of feed involved in the process, the 21% crude glycerin addition may be an interesting cost reduction. Seventy eight percent (78%) glycerol crude glycerin to replace corn-based feed in confined lambs' diet appeared to be nutritionally and economically viable.</p><p><strong> </strong></p>

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the seroprevalence of antibodies against Neospora caninum, obtained two years apart, among dairy cattle in a rural settlement in southern Brazil. Blood samples from 734 dairy cattle on 41 farms were collected at two different times: in 2012, 406 animals on 30 farms were used; and in 2014, 329 animals on 31 farms. Serum samples were obtained and were used to detect antibodies against N. caninum, by means of the indirect fluorescence assay (IFA). Animals with titers ? 100 were considered positive. The total serum prevalence of anti-N. caninum antibodies was 19.7% (145/736) among all the dairy cattle, comprising 23.1% (94/406) in 2012 and 15.5% (51/329) in 2014. Serum from 91 animals was tested in both trials: 11(12.1%) showed positivity in 2012 and 10 (11%) in 2014. The variables of age, sex and breed did not show any associations with seropositivity. Thus, we showed that the cattle in this settlement presented high levels of antibodies against N. caninum, and that IFA showed good efficacy for epidemiological studies.

<p class="Pa7">The aims of present study were to evaluate the effects of milk somatic cell count (SCC) and heat stress on yield and milk composition of cows in a herd for commercial production in a temperate region during the period 2008-2012. Data from the monthly milk test-day records of 161±9 Holstein, totaling 9,650 milkings, were provided by the Association of Holstein Cattle Breeders of Parana State, and analyzed by descriptive analysis, correlation, analysis of variance, and regression analysis. The average daily milk yield was 31.78 kg/cow, which decreased to 29.31% when the somatic cell score (SCS) was 9, and to 11% when the Equivalent Temperature Index (ETI) was 32 or above. Lactose content decreased from SCS 0 until 9 and fat content decreased from SCS 1 until 9, totaling decrease 7.88 and 9.23%, respectively, when the SCS was 9. An opposite effect was observed for the protein content, which increased by 3.6% at SCS 8, when compared to SCS 0. Losses were observed in the daily total solids production from the SCS 0, totaling 30.64% at SCS 9.The increase in ETI to 32 or above reduced all milk constituents as much as 3.42%, except protein. These results, combined with the losses in milk yield at that ETI level, led to a decrease of up to 12.74% of milk solids. It is concluded that since losses in milk quality and yield resulting from SCC and ETI are significant, actions to prevent infection in the mammary gland and to provide a comfortable environment for dairy cattle are needed even in temperate regions.</p>