Beneficial effects of a calf starter versus forage on rumen development and bacteria populations in beef calves / Efeitos benéficos de um concentrado de bezerro versus forragem no desenvolvimento ruminal e na população de bactérias em bezerros

Rumen development depends on the intake of solid food that is fermented into volatile fatty acids that stimulate the development of the rumen papillae in calves. The starter feeding can promote the growth of papillae in the rumen and as a consequence an earlier weaning. We evaluated the effects of calf starter on ruminal development, and productive response of lactating bull calves raised for meat in the tropics. Twelve male Brahman × Swiss American cross beef calves from a dual-purpose system were randomly assigned two treatments with six animals per treatment: milk-fed calves + Taiwan grass (Pennisetum purpureum, MT) and MT + calf starter, (MTS). Feed intake and growth were measured at 7-day intervals throughout until 210 d of age. At 90 days old, three calves from each treatment were harvested, and fluid and ruminal tissues were collected from the cranial, ventral, dorsal, and dorsal blind ruminal sacs for measurements of many papillaes per cm2 (NP), papillae length (LP) and papillae width (WP). Ruminal bacterial genotype identification was determined by amplicon generation with the Illumina platform. Calf starter-improved weight (Live weight, LW) and average weight gain (ADG) and NP, but, LP and WP was similar in both treatments (p 0.05). In calves with starter feed treatment, we observed the bacteria Desulfonauticus autotrophicus sp. nov.that was not previously reported in ruminants. Use of calf starter showed benefit for calves with improved feed intake and rumen development because promoted a greater number of rumen papillae.(AU)

O desenvolvimento do rumen depende da ingestão de alimentos sólidos fermentados em ácidos graxos voláteis que estimulam o desenvolvimento das papilas de rúmen em bezerros. A alimentação inicial pode promover o crescimento das papilas no rúmen e, como consequência, um desmame mais cedo. Avaliamos os efeitos da concentrado de bezerros no desenvolvimento ruminal, e a resposta produtiva dos bezerros lactantes criados para carne nos trópicos. Doze bezerros de carne bovina cruza Brahman × suíço-americano machos de de um sistema de dupla finalidade foram aleatoriamente atribuídos a dois tratamentos, com seis animais por tratamento: bezerros alimentados com leite + grama taiwanesa (Pennisetumpurpureum, MT) e MT+ concentrado de bezerro, (MTS). A ingestão de ração e o crescimento foram medidos. Aos 90 dias de idade, três bezerros de cada tratamento foi amostrado, e foram coletados tecidos fluidos dos sacos ruminais cranianos, ventral, dorsal e dorsal cegos para medições do número de papilas por cm2 (NP), comprimento das papilas (LP) e largura da papila (PM). A identificação do genótipo das bactérias ruminais foi determinada pela geração de amplicon com a plataforma de ilumine. O concentrado de bezerro melhorou o peso (LW) e o ganho diário médio (AGD) e NP, mas, LP e WP foram semelhantes nos dois tratamentos. Bezerros em MTS uma bactéria não encontrada anteriormente em ruminantes Desulfonauticus autotrophicus sp. nov. foi detectado. O uso de concentrado de bezerro mostrou benefício para bezerros com melhor ingestão de ração e desenvolvimento de rúmen, pois promove um maior número de papilas de rúmen.(AU)

Histopathological pattern recognition of cresty neck in horses in Spain

The aim of this study was to describe patterns of histopathological recognition of the cresty neck in Horses in Spain. A total of 250 horses were studied in Andalusia and Extremadura, Spain. Seventy-six percent of horses present cresty neck. The damage of the cresty neck in horses was categorized as Grade 0 - Muscle fibers are observed, no fat vacuoles are observed (24% of the horses). Grade 1 - Scarce adipose deposit was observed. An unaltered muscle tissue is observed (21% of the horses). Grade 2 - fat vacuoles are evident in muscle tissue intermyofibrillar space and prone to coalescence (23% of the horses). Grade 3 - Abundant fat vacuoles in the intermyofibrillar space, with tendency to coalesce, and low fat infiltration in muscle tissue (moderate lipomatosis) (16% of the horses). Grade 4 - Abundant fat vacuoles in the intermyofibrillar space, with tendency to coalesce, and fatty infiltration in muscle tissue (marked lipomatosis) (8% of the horses). Grade 5 - Only fat vacuoles are observed, without muscle tissue (severe lipomatosis) (8% of the horses). The results for desmin antibody (1: 100 dilution) was positive (++) in grades 0-2, and negative (-) in grades 3-5. These results suggest that as fat/lipomatosis infiltration increases (progresses in grades 3, 4 and 5), the intercellular space (intermyofibrillar) increases and therefore the cell cytoskeleton is lost, with loss of the bands Z, so the negative response to this antibody. Inconclusion, we describe histopathological pattern recognition of cresty neck in horses in Spain.

Histopathological pattern recognition of cresty neck in horses in Spain

The aim of this study was to describe patterns of histopathological recognition of the cresty neck in Horses in Spain. A total of 250 horses were studied in Andalusia and Extremadura, Spain. Seventy-six percent of horses present cresty neck. The damage of the cresty neck in horses was categorized as Grade 0 - Muscle fibers are observed, no fat vacuoles are observed (24% of the horses). Grade 1 - Scarce adipose deposit was observed. An unaltered muscle tissue is observed (21% of the horses). Grade 2 - fat vacuoles are evident in muscle tissue intermyofibrillar space and prone to coalescence (23% of the horses). Grade 3 - Abundant fat vacuoles in the intermyofibrillar space, with tendency to coalesce, and low fat infiltration in muscle tissue (moderate lipomatosis) (16% of the horses). Grade 4 - Abundant fat vacuoles in the intermyofibrillar space, with tendency to coalesce, and fatty infiltration in muscle tissue (marked lipomatosis) (8% of the horses). Grade 5 - Only fat vacuoles are observed, without muscle tissue (severe lipomatosis) (8% of the horses). The results for desmin antibody (1: 100 dilution) was positive (++) in grades 0-2, and negative (-) in grades 3-5. These results suggest that as fat/lipomatosis infiltration increases (progresses in grades 3, 4 and 5), the intercellular space (intermyofibrillar) increases and therefore the cell cytoskeleton is lost, with loss of the bands Z, so the negative response to this antibody. Inconclusion, we describe histopathological pattern recognition of cresty neck in horses in Spain.(AU)