Feeding F1 Holstein x Zebu cows with different roughages and pseudostem hay of banana trees does not influence milk yield and chemical composition of milk and cheese

Profile of lactic acid bacteria (MALDI-TOF-MS) and physico-chemical and microbiological characteristics of the raw milk and fresh artisanal cheese from Serra Geral, Minas Gerais, Brazil

Artisanal cheese from Serra Geral, Minas Gerais, Brazil, stands out for its cultural asset and socio-economic relevance. However, standards of identity and quality and the peculiar terroir associated with the edaphoclimatic conditions have not been established. Therefore, the production flow diagram and the physico-chemical and microbiological quality of the raw milk, pingo (natural starter culture), production benches, water and fresh cheese were investigated for the first time. In addition, lactic acid bacteria (LAB) from cheese and its production environment were identified by MALDI-TOF. For that, 12 cheese making facilities were selected. The raw milk and pingo showed adequate physico-chemical characteristics for cheesemaking; however, high microbial counts were found. In the water, total and thermotolerant coliforms were also identified. The fresh cheeses were classified as 'high moisture and fat' and 'soft mass'. Most physico-chemical parameters were satisfactory; however, there were high counts of total coliforms, Staphylococcus spp. and coagulase-positive staphylococci. There were high counts of LAB in the raw milk, pingo, bench surface and fresh cheese. A total of 84 microbial biotypes from MRS agar were isolated. Lactococcus lactis was the predominant LAB, followed by Lactococcus garvieae. Leuconostoc mesenteroides (benches), Leuconostoc pseudomesenteroides (fresh cheese), and Enterococcus faecium (pingo) were identified sporadically. These results indicate the risks to public health associated with the consumption of the fresh cheese, and measures to improve its safety are needed.

Inclusion of calcium oxide in sugarcane silage under different particle sizes on performance of dairy cows

Our objective was to evaluate voluntary intake, apparent digestibility, performance, and nitrogen balance of dairy cows fed sugarcane silage under different particle sizes treated or not with calcium oxide (CaO). Eight F₁ Holstein/Zebu cows, with body weight of 521.5 ± 55.17 kg, and 60 ± 10 days in milk were used, distributed into two simultaneous 4 × 4 Latin squares. The treatments were composed of sugarcane into two particle sizes (15 and 30 mm) with and without the addition of CaO (10 g/kg of natural matter), being the treatments compared according to a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Data were analyzed by the MIXED procedure of SAS. The intake of dry matter (13.05 kg/day), crude protein, non-fibrous carbohydrates, and neutral detergent fiber was not modified (P > 0.05) by the inclusion of the calcium oxide, nor by particles size and interaction among both. However, there was interaction between CaO and particle size on dry matter digestibility (P = 0.002), being that the CaO was effective in promoting greater DM digestibility in silages with larger particle size. The milk yield and composition were also not affected by the diets (P > 0.05), similarly for nitrogen balance (P > 0.05). The addition of CaO to sugarcane silage with different particle sizes (15 and 30 mm) does not affect the milk yield and composition of dairy cows, nor the nitrogen balance. However, when CaO is added to the sugarcane silage under larger particle sizes, there are benefits in DM digestibility.

Effects of different banana crop wastes on nutrient intake and digestibility, microbial protein synthesis, feeding behavior, and animal performance of ¾ Holstein × Zebu heifers in a semiarid rangeland

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of banana crop wastes in diets of ¾ Holstein × ¼ Zebu heifers on the intake and digestibility of nutrients, microbial protein synthesis, feeding behavior, and animal performance. Eight ¾ Holstein × ¼ Zebu heifers were utilized with an average age of 18 ± 1.0 months and an average body weight (BW) of 298 ± 3.06 kg. The experiment was distributed in two simultaneous 4 × 4 Latin squares. The treatments were as follows: Diet 1 (SS)-sorghum silage as exclusive dietary roughage; diet 2 (SSL)-sorghum silage (50%) associated with 50% leaf hay of banana trees (on a DM basis); diet 3 (SSBP)-sorghum silage (50%) associated with 50% banana peel hay; and diet 4 (SSPS)-sorghum silage (50%) associated with 50% pseudostem hay of banana trees. The roughage:concentrate ratio was 75:25. The greatest dry matter intake (DMI; p < 0.01) was found in heifers that received the SS and SSBP diet, mean of 10.19 kg/day. The SS diet showed greatest dry matter digestibility (DMD; p < 0.01) and crude protein digestibility (CPD; p < 0.01). The concentration of total purines (p < 0.01) and absorbed purines (p < 0.01), microbial protein synthesis (p < 0.01), and microbial efficiency (p < 0.01) was higher in the SSBP diet in comparison with SS and SSL diets. The longest eating time was observed in animals that received the SSL diet, being 17.79% higher (p = 0.01) than the SSBP diet. The final BW (p = 0.39) and BW gain (p = 0.39) were similar, with averages of 319.84 kg and 1.08 kg/day, respectively. Biometric measurements were not altered as a function of bedtime (p > 0.05). Banana wastes can be used to feed ¾ Holstein × ¼ Zebu heifers in partial replacement for sorghum silage as they do not alter the animals' weight gain and body development.

Effect of different roughage sources associated banana pseudostem hay on the nutritional and behavioral parameters and performance of F1 Holstein/Zebu lactation cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the association of pseudostem hay of banana trees of different roughages in the diet of F1 Holstein/Zebu cows on their nutrient intake and digestibility, nitrogen balance, microbial synthesis, ingestive behavior, and milk production. The experiment was distributed in two simultaneous 4 × 4 Latin squares. The treatments were as follows: diet 1-sorghum silage as exclusive dietary roughage; diet 2-sorghum silage (70%) associated with 30% pseudostem hay of banana trees (dry matter basis); diet 3-70% elephant grass with 30% pseudostem hay of banana trees (dry matter basis); and diet 4-70% sugarcane with 30% banana pseudostem hay (dry matter basis). The roughage/concentrate ratio was 75:25. The animals fed with sorghum silage presented 14.45% higher intake (p = 0.01) to that of animals fed hay and elephant grass. The diets containing silage and silage with hay showed digestibility of neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein that was 57.75% higher (p < 0.01) than that of other diets. Cows fed elephant grass spent more time intake (p = 0.01). Diets did not influence milk yield (p = 0.47), and the milk yield corrected for 3.5 fat (p = 0.22), final weight (p = 0.06), and intake efficiency (p = 0.57), presenting a mean of 14.16 kg/day, 15.94 kg/day, 590 kg, and 0.9 kg of milk/kg of ingested dry matter, respectively. The utilization of pseudostem hay associated with other roughage can be an alternative to milk yield in F1 Holstein/Zebu cows.