Could Cratylia argentea replace Tifton 85 hay on growing and finishing lamb diets in tropical areas?

Legumes shrubs such as Cratylia argentea have an ability to thrive in environments with low water availability and poor soil. On the other hand, forage grasses such as Tifton 85 have a greater demand for inputs to be productive. The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance of growing and finishing Lacaune lambs fed Cratylia argentea hay as an alternative to Tifton 85 (Cynodon spp). Twenty-four Lacaune lambs aged between five and six months (average body weight [BW] 21.50 ± 3.38 kg) were arranged in a split-plot randomized block design. The plots consisted of different Cratylia to Tifton 85 hay proportions (0, 20%, 40%, or 100%, dry matter [DM] basis) as a roughage replacement in the total diet. The subplots represented two evaluation times, entitled "initial period" and "final period", which consisted of the early seven days of total feces and urine collection, and the last seven days of the experiment, respectively. The lambs were blocked by weight with six replicates per treatment. The results show that the level of Tifton 85 replacement for Cratylia hay in the roughage portion of the lamb diet did not influence (P > 0.05) weight gain (WG), dry matter intake or dry matter digestibility; feed conversion, feed efficiency; and the evaluated nitrogen balance variables. The digestibility coefficient of neutral detergent fiber decreased linearly as Tifton 85 replacement for Cratylia level was increased, which probably happened due to the presence of highly lignified material within the Cratylia hay. However, the alternative legume maintained animal performance of Tifton 85. In conclusion, Cratylia hay can be recommended as a potential substitute for Tifton 85 hay, which requires greater inputs for the production. Cratylia may be considered a feeding strategy for livestock production, especially for smallholder livestock systems and regions with unfavorable soil and climate.

Effects of different moist orange pulp inclusions in the corn grain rehydration for silage production on chemical composition, fermentation, aerobic stability, microbiological profile, and losses

This study evaluated the effects of different moist orange pulp (MOP) inclusions in corn grain rehydration for silage production as a strategy to store and use MOP and whether these inclusions result in adequate fermentation and aerobic stability (AE) and acceptable losses. Ground corn grain and MOP were weighed separately and mixed to obtain MOP inclusions of 21%, 34%, or 42%. The control treatment was obtained with corn rehydrated with distilled water and MOP inclusion of 0%, with five laboratory silos (15-L buckets) per treatment. Acid detergent fiber, acid detergent insoluble protein, acid detergent lignin, lactic acid, acetic acid, and ethanol contents increased linearly with increasing MOP inclusion, whereas starch, in vitro dry matter (DM) digestibility and butyric acid contents and pH decreased linearly. NH₃ -N/TN content reduced quadratically and was minimal with 8.34 g/kg DM at 14% MOP inclusion. Total DM losses increased quadratically with maximal losses of 4.26% DM at 25% MOP inclusion. AE reduced by 2.8 h for each 1% increase in MOP inclusion. Rehydration of corn grain with MOP results in an adequate fermentation process. The inclusion of 34% MOP was the best because DM losses were lower and AE was not drastically reduced.

Addition of caffeine to equine thawed sperm increases motility and decreases nitrite concentration

The aim of this study was to improve the quality of frozen-thawed equine sperm by the addition of caffeine to it. Semen from nine stallions was frozen and different concentrations of caffeine (3, 5 and 7.5 mM) were added to frozen-thawed semen. The sperm kinetic parameters, membrane functionality and integrity, and acrosome integrity and spontaneous acrosome reacted sperm were evaluated with a computer-assisted sperm analysis, a hypoosmotic swelling test and epifluorescent microscopy, respectively. Nitrite and hydroperoxide concentrations of frozen-thawed semen were measured using spectrophotometry. Sperm fertility was evaluated by artificial insemination (AI) of 16 mares with thawed ejaculates (control and 5 mM caffeine-treated groups). Compared to that in the control, the addition of 5 mM caffeine induced an increase in sperm motility (38.9 ± 2.8 versus 32.6 ± 3.4%), and a decrease in nitrite concentration (11.4 ± 2.1 versus 12.8 ± 2.9 µM/µg protein, p < .05). Moreover, the pregnancy rate from AI in the caffeine group was significantly higher (62.5%) than that in the control group (12.5%). These data suggest that caffeine reduced the nitrite concentration and enhanced sperm motility in thawed equine sperm, thus increasing the fertility rate in mares inseminated with caffeine-treated equine semen.

Biometric measurements of Santa Inês meat sheep reared on Brachiaria brizantha pastures in Northeast Brazil

This study was undertaken to examine biometric measurements during the growth phase of male and female Santa Inês sheep reared in Brachiaria brizantha pastures in northeastern Brazil. The experiment involved 24 castrated males and 24 females at an initial age of 90 days, with an average body weight of 19.04 ± 0.96 kg. Treatments consisted of the effect of four cultivars (Marandu, Xaraés, Piatã and Paiaguás) and two sexes. Six animals were used per treatment, in a randomized-block experimental design. The following characteristics were evaluated: abdominal circumference (AC), body condition score (BCS), body length (BL), body weight (BW), body capacity 1 (BC1), body capacity 2 (BC2), chest width (CW), heart girth (HG), leg circumference (LC), leg length (LL), rump height (RH), rump width (RW) and withers height (WH). Data were subjected to descriptive analysis, Pearson's correlation, ANOVA and Tukey's, Kruskal Wallis and Mann-Whitney tests. Univariate and multiple regressions were applied to estimate BW with a maximum error level of 5%. Significant differences were observed for the biometric measurements between sexes and cultivars (p<0.05). Body weight was highly correlated (>70%) with AC, WH, CG, RW, BC1 and BC2. The male sheep grazed on cultivars Piatã showed the best values for BW (40.43 kg), HG, RW, WH, LL, LC (102.46; 20.8; 65.23; 60.44; 42.54 cm respectively) and BC1 (4.25 kg/cm). Females grazed on cultivar Marandu had higher values for RW, CW, LL (17.26; 20.1; 75.98 cm respectively), BC1 (6.03 kg/cm) and BC2 (0.422 kg/cm). The equations that best estimated live weight were BC1 and HG. In male and female Santa Inês sheep, biometric parameters grow differently depending on the cultivar where they are grazed during the growth phase. Cultivars Marandu and Piatã are the most recommended for sheep production, as they provided the best performance and body development in those animals.

Effect of Supplementation of Sorghum Silage in Weanling Fillies During the Dry Period in Brazil

Young horses reach nearly 90% of their final height in the first year of life. However, to achieve their genetic potential, it is necessary to receive adequate nutrition during this period of rapid growth. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementation of sorghum silage during a period of limited pasture forage availability, on the body development, and health of Mangalarga Marchador (MM) weanling fillies. Fourteen healthy MM 6-month-old fillies were randomly assigned to one of two groups: GS (consuming silage) and GH (consuming grass hay (Cynodon spp) in addition to 1.5% of body weight (BW) in dry matter (DM) of a fortified corn-based concentrate (17% CP [crude protein]), which was fed in individual stalls divided into two feedings/day for both groups. After concentrate feedings, the experimental groups remained loose in drylot pens of 50 m², where the assigned forages were fed ad libitum with free access to salt and water. Group feed intake of the forages was recorded. It was assumed they were consuming a forage:concentrate ratio of 50:50. To assess development, the animals were weighed and measured for height at the withers and croup, body length, girth, and cannon bone circumference. The physical condition of animals, including BW, rectal temperature, mucous membrane color, and body condition score were assessed as well as serum biochemical analyses of creatinine, urea, total protein, gamma glutaminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, glucose, magnesium, calcium, and phosphorus concentrations were evaluated. The weights, morphometric measurements, clinical evaluation, and blood collections were done on the first day and every 21 days during the 84 days trial period. The growth performance and serum were subjected to analysis of variance for repeated measures, factoring treatment, and collection period. Despite higher (P < .05) DM and CP intakes by the GH fillies than those GS, there were no treatment effects (P > .05) on any of the development or health parameters measured. The use of sorghum silage as forage source for 84 days during the dry season had no negative impact on the body development and health of MM fillies (6-9 months of age) that were also fed 1.5% BW of a commercial concentrate balanced for growth.

Evaluation of the Presence and Levels of Enrofloxacin, Ciprofloxacin, Sulfaquinoxaline and Oxytetracycline in Broiler Chickens after Drug Administration

The depletion times of enrofloxacin and its metabolite ciprofloxacin as well as sulfaquinoxaline and oxytetracycline were evaluated in broiler chickens that had been subjected to pharmacological treatment. The presence and residue levels of these drugs in muscle tissue were evaluated using an ultra-performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC-MS/MS) method that was validated in this work. The results showed the presence of all antimicrobial residues; however, the presence of residues at concentrations higher than the drugs’ maximum residue limit (MRL) of 100 μg kg^-1 was found only during the treatment period for oxytetracycline and until two days after discontinuation of the medication for enrofloxacin, ciprofloxacin and sulfaquinoxaline. It was concluded that the residues of all antimicrobials were rapidly metabolized from the broiler muscles; after four days of withdrawal, the levels were lower than the limit of quantification (LOQ) of the method for the studied analytes.

Performance of crossbred heifers in different step-down waste milk-feeding strategies

The aim of this study was to evaluate the consumption, performance, feed efficiency, glucose concentration, and the cost per kilogram of weight gain of crossbred Holstein-Gyr heifers (n = 33) subjected to one of the three waste milk step-down strategies: 6L-30d/4L-60d/2L-90d (T1), 6L-45d/4L-60d/2L-90d (T2), and 8L-30d/6L-60d/3L-90d (T3). Heifers were weaned at the age of 91 days. Water and starter were provided ad libitum. The average waste milk intake was higher in T3 than in T1 and T2 strategies until 30 days and between 60 and 90 days. The starter intake did not differ among the strategies until 45 days, but it was higher in strategy T1 than in strategy T3 between 60 and 90 days. The waste milk step-down strategy did not influence the total dry matter intake, average daily gain, body weight, and feed efficiency. Glucose concentrations in plasma varied within a range that could be considered normal and were similar among the treatments. The average cost per kilogram of weight gain was the lowest in strategy T1 (US$3.0) compared to that in the other strategies (T2, US$3.2, and T3, US$3.6). The 6L-30d/4L-60d/2L-90d waste milk step-down strategy was the most effective, since it increased the starter intake, led to normal glucose concentrations in plasma, and caused similar weight gain compared with the other strategies; however, it had a lower cost per kilogram.

Medidas morfométricas do rebanho atual de fêmeas Mangalarga Marchador e das campeãs da raça

Objetivou-se comparar as medidas morfométricas do rebanho atual de fêmeas Mangalarga Marchador (MM) com os exemplares campeões. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente ao acaso, sendo os tratamentos constituídos pelo rebanho atual de fêmeas da raça MM, representado por todas as éguas registradas entre 2000 e 2012 que tiveram suas medidas armazenadas no banco de dados do Serviço de Registro Genealógico da Associação Brasileira de Criadores do Cavalo Mangalarga Marchador, totalizando 51993 animais; e pelas campeãs da raça, representadas por 266 animais campeões. Foram avaliadas a altura na cernelha e na garupa, comprimento da cabeça, pescoço, espádua, dorsolombo, garupa e corpo, largura da cabeça e da garupa e perímetro torácico e da canela. As medidas lineares foram relacionadas ao comprimento da cabeça, de acordo com o Sistema Eclético de Proporções. Os resultados das 12 medidas lineares foram submetidos à análise de variância e as médias comparadas pelo teste de Fisher (p<0,05). Em relação ao rebanho atual de fêmeas MM, as éguas campeãs da raça apresentaram maior comprimento da cabeça, corpo, pescoço, dorso-lombo e garupa, altura na cernelha e na garupa, largura da garupa e perímetro torácico e da canela. Concluiu-se que embora apresentem maiores medidas lineares, as éguas campeãs MM são proporcionalmente semelhantes ao rebanho atual de fêmeas da raça.

Comparison between automated and manual measurements of carotid intima-media thickness in clinical practice

BACKGROUND AND AIM

The measurement of carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) has been used as a marker of arterial wall disease. Manual measurements have been performed in most epidemiological studies, but, due to the introduction of new technologies, automated software has been increasingly used. This study aimed to compare manual versus automated cIMT measurements in common carotid (CC), bifurcation (BIF), and internal carotid (IC).

METHODS

Automated and manual cIMT measurements were performed online in 43 middle-aged females. Carotid segment measurements were compared by Bland-Altman plot and the variation and repeatability coefficients between observers were also determined for comparison.

RESULTS

The average timespan for manual measurements (57.30 s) were significantly higher than for automated measurements (2.52 s). There were no systematic errors between methods in any carotid segments. The variation coefficient was 5.54% to 6.34% for CC and BIF, 9.76% for IC, and absolute differences were 85% below 0.1 mm and 70% below 0.05 mm. Interobserver agreement showed no systematic error. The variation and the repeatability coefficients were better for the automated than manual measures.

CONCLUSION

Although both methods are reliable for cIMT measurements, the automated technique allows faster evaluation with lesser variability for all carotid segments currently used in atherosclerosis research.