Suchergebnisse

The aim of this study was to evaluate the mineral concentrations in the hoof horny capsule of healthy Holstein cows and cows with hoof problems associated with laminitis. Twenty-one multiparous Holstein cows with an average production of 24 L of milk/day, reared with semi-extensive nutritional management, were studied. The animals were evaluated and divided into two groups based on their locomotion score (LS, range: 0 to 4). LS greater than 2 indicated laminitis-associated lesions (lame cow group: LC), and LS = 0 indicated cows without laminitis (CWL). A sample of 30 mm2 was collected from the hoof horny capsule at the abaxial wall to evaluate the concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and magnesium. Calcium blood concentration was also evaluated. The LC group had lower magnesium concentration (P=0.008) and showed a trend (P=0.06) for lower calcium concentration compared to healthy animals (CWL), even though all animals were normocalcemic. The concentration of other minerals did not differ between the LC and CWL group. In conclusion, the magnesium concentration in the hoof horny capsule was lower in cows with lesions associated with laminitis, while phosphorus and zinc concentrations were not affected. The relationship between hoof lesions and calcium concentration requires further investigation.

<p>Foram estudados os efeitos da substituição parcial ou total do óleo de soja (SO) por óleo de canola (CO), suplementado ou não com selênio orgânico (SeO) na dieta de codornas (Coturnix coturnix coturnix) sobre o perfil de ácidos graxos, o colesterol na gema e a qualidade externa dos ovos. Um total de 252 codornas foram alimentadas durante três períodos de 28 dias cada, utilizando seis tratamentos: Controle (SO); SO + 0,3ppm SeO; Óleo de canola (CO); CO + 0,3ppm SeO; ½ SO + ½ CO; ½ SO + ½ CO + 0,3ppm SeO. O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado e as médias dos tratamentos foram comparadas por contrastes ortogonais e teste de Duncan a 5%. Observou-se um aumento significativo de 4% nos níveis de ácido oleico na gema dos ovos com a suplementação de óleo de canola, em comparação com os demais tratamentos. A suplementação de SeO não alterou o perfil de ácidos graxos da gema. Nem o óleo de canola nem a suplementação de SeO afetaram o colesterol da gema. O peso do ovo foi maior nas aves alimentadas com CO suplementado com 0,3ppm SeO comparado com CO não suplementado, mas não diferindo dos demais tratamentos. Conclui-se do experimento que a substituição de SO por CO na dieta das codornas muda o perfil de ácidos graxos na gema, aumenta a concentração de ácido oleico e diminui o ácido linoleico, sem afetar outras características de qualidade do ovo.</p>

The aim of this study was to evaluate the incidence of diseases as well as metabolic and zootechnical parameters in Holstein calves maintained in individual or collective housing systems in the extreme south of Brazil. One hundred calves were included immediately after birth and monitored for 90 days. Animals were randomly divided into two groups: individual stalls group (ISG; n=50) and collective stalls group (CSG; n=50). ISG calves were individually housed in 1.2m² wood pens and received 6 L of milk/day and concentrate food and water ad libitum for 90 days. Calves in the CSG were housed in groups of up to 25 animals, in a total of two stalls containing one animal per 3 m2. CSG calves received up to 8 L of milk/day at 0-15 days, milk ad libitum at 15-40 days, 7.2 L of milk. /day at 40-60 days, and gradual weaning at 60-90 days with concentrate food and water ad libitum, using an automatic feeder. In both groups, Zootechnical parameters (weight, thoracic perimeter, height at the withers, and rump width) were measured weekly during the first 28 days and once every 15 days until weaning. Blood samples were retrieved weekly during the first 28 days. Metabolic parameters evaluated in this study were total calcium, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), free fatty acids (FFA), and glucose. The animals were monitored daily for clinical signs of diseases diarrhea and respiratory symptoms. General morbidity was higher in CSG 92% compared to ISG 74% (p<0.05). We observed increased diarrhea-related morbidity and a higher rate of recurrence in the ISG (50% and 60%, respectively; p<0.05) compared to those in the CSG (both 20%, p<0.05 between groups). The morbidity due to bronchopneumonia was higher in the CSG (92%) than in the ISG (74%, p<0.05). Recurrence of bronchopneumonia and mortality were similar between groups (p>0.05). Glucose, FFA, and BHBA concentrations were higher in the ISG (p<0.05) and total calcium higher in CSG (p<0.05). Finally, the weight and thoracic perimeter were higher in the CSG than those in the ISG, whereas the height and, rump width, at the withers was higher in the ISG than that in the CSG (p<0.05). In conclusion, animals raised in a collective system with automatic feeders exhibited less diarrhea and increased serum calcium as well as improved zootechnical development, although they had a higher incidence of bronchopneumonia.

The action of the bovine placental lactogen (bPL) hormone on maternal metabolism is still poorly known. Some markers, such as the acute phase protein paraoxonase (PON1), are used as indicators of liver function and help to determine the metabolic condition during the transition period in dairy cows. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activity of paraoxonase (PON1) in the serum of peripartum dairy cows with different levels of bPL. Based on the plasma bPL concentration, 18 cows were divided equally into three groups: LOW ( < 2,68 ng bPL mL-1), MEDIUM (2,68–2,80 ng bPL mL-1), and HIGH ( > 2,80 ng bPL mL-1). The experiment was conducted between 21 days prepartum and 28 days postpartum. Serum samples were collected during the experiment for the determination of bPL concentrations and PON1 activity. The bPL concentration was significantly different between the experimental groups (P ? 0,0001) and the days of serum collection (P ? 0,0001). In the prepartum dairy cows, the PON1 levels were different between the groups (P ? 0,05) and the days of serum collection (P ? 0,05). Cows with high bPL concentration had lower serum PON1 activity (P ? 0,05), while cows with low hormone levels had higher enzyme activity (P ? 0,05). In the postpartum period, there was a significant difference between the days of serum collection (P ? 0,0001) and the interaction between groups and collections (P ? 0,01). The group with high concentrations of bPL had lower levels of PON1 (P ? 0,01), while the group with low bPL maintained higher concentrations of PON1 (P ? 0,01). It was concluded that the cows with higher concentrations of bPL in the prepartum period present a reduction in the serum activity of the PON1 enzyme during the peripartum period.

Identifying the metabolic profile of farm animals constitutes an important tool for the clinical diagnosis of metabolic diseases that can affect animal production performance. This study investigates the prepartum metabolic profile of ewes reared in two feeding systems native pasture and cultivated pasture of black oat and ryegrass and their effects on lamb development. Forty adult Texel ewes and their lambs were used and evaluated for metabolites representative of energy, protein, and mineral metabolism in the prepartum period. Ewes kept on cultivated pasture exhibited higher glucose levels than those kept on native pasture (59.67 vs. 31.98 mg/dL, respectively), whereas those kept on native pasture had higher serum Ca and P levels (7.62 and 4.58 mg/dL, respectively) than the ewes on cultivated pasture (6.21 and 3.73 mg/dL, respectively). Albumin was higher in the ewes with single pregnancy (2.92 vs. 2.76 g/dL), while urea levels were affected by the interaction between feeding system and type of pregnancy. Prepartum levels of glucose, phosphorus, and calcium in the blood of the ewes were correlated with lamb weight at 30 days. The feeding system influenced the metabolic profile of the ewes in the prepartum period, with lamb weight at 30 days of age being mainly associated with the mother's glucose level at the end of the gestation period.