Carcass, meat quality traits, and economic analysis of Nellore bulls fed with finishing feedlot diets containing mechanically processed corn silage.

Effects of mechanical processing (MP) of corn silage and its inclusion in feedlot diets on carcass and meat quality traits of Nellore (Bos indicus) were analyzed. Seventy-two bulls aged approximately 18 months and with an initial average body weight of 392.8 ± 22.3 kg were used. The experimental design was a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, considering the concentrate-roughage (C:R) ratio (40:60 or 20:80), MP of silage and their interactions. After slaughter, hot carcass weight (HCW), pH, temperature, backfat thickness (BFT), and ribeye area (REA), yields of meat cuts (tenderloin, striploin, ribeye steak, neck steak, and sirloin cap), meat quality traits and economic analysis were evaluated. A lower final pH was found in the carcasses of animals consuming diets containing MP versus unprocessed silage (pH = 5.81 versus 5.93). Carcass variables (HCW, BFT, and REA) and meat cut yields were not affected by treatments. The C:R 20:80 increased the intramuscular fat (IMF) content by approximately 1%, without affecting moisture, ash, and protein contents. Meat/fat color (L*, a* and b*) and Warner-Bratzler shear force (WBSF) were similar among treatments. The results indicated that the MP of corn silage in finishing diets can provide better carcass pH results in Nellore bulls, without negatively influencing carcass weight, fatness, and meat tenderness (WBSF). The IMF content of meat was slightly improved using a C:R 20:80 and lower total costs per arroba produced (3.5%), daily costs per animal/day (4.2%), and cost per ton of feeds (5.15%) were found with MP silage.

Nutritional value of high moisture corn silage in the diet of Holstein cows / Valor nutritivo da silagem de grãos úmidos de milho na alimentação de vacas da raça Holandesa

Five Holstein cows were distributed in a 5x5 latin square design to assess the effect of replacement levels of dry ground corn grain (DGCG) by high moisture corn silage (HMCS) on intake, total nutrient digestibility and plasma glucose, according to the following treatments: 1) 100% DGCG; 2) 75% DGCG and 25% HMCS; 3) 50% DGCG and 50% HMCS; 4) 25% DGCG and 75% HMCS; 5) 100% HMCS. The experiment lasted 70 days, divided into five phases of 14 days each. The digestibility was obtained using chromic oxide (Cr2O3) as the indicator. Fecal samples were collected twice daily and blood samples were collected on the last day of each period before the first meal (0h) and 2h, 4h, 6h and 12h after the meal. There was no effect (P>0.05) on the intake of dry matter (DM), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF) and starch. The total apparent digestibility of DM, crude protein (CP), NDF and ADF were not affected (P>0.05) by the treatments, as well as the plasma glucose concentration. However, there was a decreased linear effect (P<0.05) for the protein intake and increased linear effect (P<0.05) for starch digestibility, as the level of HMCS was increased in the diets...

Cinco vacas da raça Holandesa foram distribuídas em quadrado latino 5x5 com o objetivo de se avaliar o efeito de níveis de substituição do grão seco de milho (GSM) pela silagem de grãos úmidos de milho (SGUM) sobre consumo, digestibilidade total dos nutrientes e glicose plasmática, o que constituiu os tratamentos: 1) 100% GSM; 2) 75% GSM e 25% SGUM; 3) 50% GSM e 50% SGUM; 4) 25% GSM e 75% SGUM; 5) 100% SGUM. O período experimental durou 70 dias, divididos em cinco fases de 14 dias. A digestibilidade foi obtida utilizando-se óxido crômico (Cr2O3) como indicador. Foram colhidas amostras fecais duas vezes por dia, bem como amostras de sangue no último dia dos períodos, antes da primeira refeição (zero hora), duas, quatro, seis e 12 horas após a refeição. Não houve efeito (P>0,05) sobre o consumo de matéria seca (MS), fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), fibra em detergente ácido (FDA) e amido. A digestibilidade aparente total da MS, a proteína bruta (PB), a FDN e a FDA não foram afetadas (P>0,05), assim como a concentração de glicose plasmática. Houve efeito linear decrescente (P<0,05) para consumo de PB e linear crescente (P<0,05) para digestibilidade do amido, à medida que se aumentou a inclusão de SGUM...

Toxicological reproductive study of Cassia occidentalis L. in female Wistar rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Cassia occidentalis L. (Leguminosae) has long been used as natural medicine in rainforests and other tropical regions for the treatment of inflammation, fever, liver disorders, constipation, worms, fungal infections, ulcers, respiratory infections, snakebite and as a potent abortifacient. AIM OF THE STUDY: This study has investigated the effects of oral sub-acute administration of Cassia occidentalis during pregnancy in female Wistar rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three groups of pregnant rats were treated orally from the 1st to the 6th day (pre-implantation period) and from the 7th to the 14th day (organogenic period) of pregnancy, with doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg. On the 20th day of pregnancy, the animals were euthanized and reproductive parameters evaluated. RESULTS: The results revealed no statistically significant differences between the control and treated groups in terms of offspring/dam relationship; fetuses, placentae and ovaries weights; number of implantation and resorption sites; number of corpora lutea in the ovaries and pre- and post-implantation loss rates. However, the presence of dead fetuses was registered in both doses of 250 and 500 mg/kg of Cassia occidentalis. CONCLUSIONS: Further studies should therefore be conducted to obtain more detailed characteristics of the toxic effects of this species, the use of which is not recommended during pregnancy.