Feeding behavior of lambs fed diets containing old man saltbush hay / Comportamiento ingestivo de corderos alimentados con dietas conteniendo heno de hierba-sal / Comportamento ingestivo de cordeiros alimentados com dietas contendo feno de erva-sal

Abstract Background: We hypothesized that a diet with old man saltbush hay used as an alternative source of nutrients could partially replace the concentrate in the feeding of feedlot lambs. Objective: This study evaluated the behavior and performance of lambs fed diets containing increasing levels of old man saltbush hay plus concentrate. Methods: Twenty-four castrated Santa Inês lambs at approximately eight months of age (22 ± 1.97 kg) were confined in a randomized complete design and fed diets containing 30, 40, 50, and 60% (dry matter: DM) of old man saltbush hay. Results: The intake of DM and neutral detergent fiber was not affected (p>0.05) by the level of old man saltbush hay. Intake of mineral salt decreased (p<0.01) as the proportion of old man saltbush in the diet increased. Weight gain (kg) and feed efficiency worsened (p<0.05) with 40% inclusion of old man salt bush hay. The time spent on feeding and chewing increased (p<0.05), while idle time was reduced (p<0.01) with dietary inclusion of old man saltbush. Feed efficiency decreased (p<0.05) with the inclusion of old man saltbush. Conclusion: Dietary inclusion of old man saltbush affects the feeding behavior and performance of lambs in feedlot.

Resumen Antecedentes: Nuestra hipótesis consistió en que una dieta con heno de hierba-sal como fuente alternativa de nutrientes puede sustituir parcialmente el concentrado en la alimentación de corderos confinados. Objetivo: Evaluar el comportamiento ingestivo de corderos alimentados con dietas conteniendo niveles incrementales de heno de hierba-sal asociado al concentrado. Métodos: Veinticuatro corderos Santa Inés, castrados, con aproximadamente ocho meses de edad, peso corporal de 22 ± 1,97 kg, confinados, fueron distribuidos en un arreglo experimental completamente aleatorizado y alimentados con dietas conteniendo 30, 40, 50 y 60% (materia seca: MS) de heno de hierba-sal. Resultados: El consumo de MS y fibra detergente neutra no se vió afectado (p>0,05) por los diferentes niveles de inclusión de hierba-sal. La ingestión de sal mineral se redujo (p<0,01) al incrementar la hierba-sal en la dieta. La ganancia de peso (kg) y la eficiencia alimenticia empeoraron (p<0,05) con la inclusión de 40% de heno de hierba-sal. El tiempo empleado para las actividades de alimentación y masticación aumentó (p<0,05), mientras que el de ocio se redujo (p<0,01) con la inclusión de hierba-sal. La eficiencia alimenticia de la materia seca disminuyó (p<0,05) a medida que aumentó el nivel de inclusión de heno de hierba-sal. Conclusión: La inclusión de heno de hierba-sal en la dieta afecta el comportamiento ingestivo y el rendimiento de corderos confinados.

Resumo Antecedentes: A hipótese foi que uma dieta com o feno de erva-sal como fonte alternativa de nutrientes poderia substituir parcialmente o concentrado na alimentação de cordeiros confinados. Objetivo: Este estudo foi desenvolvido para avaliar o comportamento ingestivo de cordeiros alimentados com dietas contendo feno de erva-sal associado com o concentrado. Métodos: Vinte e quatro cordeiros Santa Inês, castrados, com aproximadamente oito meses de idade, peso corporal de 22 ± 1,97 kg, confinados, foram distribuídos em um delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado e alimentados com dietas contendo 30, 40, 50 e 60% (matéria seca (MS)) de feno de erva-sal. Resultados: O consumo de matéria seca e fibra em detergente neutro não foram comprometidos (p>0,05) pelos diferentes níveis de erva-sal. A ingestão de sal mineral reduziu (p<0,01) com o aumento de erva sal nas dietas. O ganho de peso e a eficiência alimentar pioraram (p<0,05) a partir da inclusão de 40% de feno de erva-sal na dieta dos cordeiros. O tempo despendido para as atividades de alimentação e mastigação aumentaram (p<0,05), enquanto que o de ócio reduziu (p<0,01) com a inclusão da erva sal nas dietas. A eficiência de alimentação da matéria seca diminuiu (p<0,05) à medida que se incluiu o feno de erva-sal. Conclusão: A inclusão de feno de erva-sal na dieta afeta o comportamento ingestivo eo desempenho de cordeiros confinados.

Effects of ammoniated pearl millet silage on intake, feeding behavior, and blood metabolites in feedlot lambs.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of urea as an additive in the ensiling of pearl millet on the intake, feeding behavior, and metabolic parameters of feedlot-finished lambs. Thirty-two uncastrated, mixed-breed male lambs were used in the experiment. Diets were composed of pearl millet silage enriched with 0, 2, 4, or 6% urea plus a concentrate containing ground corn, soybean meal, and a mineral mixture. The treatments did not affect feed intake (P > 0.05) but influenced (P < 0.05) eating time (in min/day, in min/kg of dry matter (DM), and in min/kg of neutral detergent fiber (NDF)) and chewing time in min/kg of DM. Eating efficiency (in g DM/h and in g NDFap/h) responded linearly (P < 0.05) to the increasing urea levels in the silages. By contrast, there was no effect (P > 0.05) of diets on the blood protein profile (total proteins and albumin), although the serum urea levels responded quadratically (P < 0.05). Increasing urea levels in the silage did not change the blood energy profile (cholesterol and triglycerides) or blood enzyme activity (alanine aminotransferase (ALT), aspartate aminotransferase (AST), and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT); P > 0.05). In conclusion, the treatment of pearl millet silage with urea does not influence the DM intake or metabolic parameters of lambs, but leads to increased eating time and decreased eating efficiency.

Effects of pearl millet silage ammoniation with urea on carcass and meat quality of lambs.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pearl millet silage ammoniated with urea on lamb carcass characteristics and meat quality. Thirty-two noncastrated crossbred lambs at 4-5 months of age, with an average initial body weight of 17.39 ± 2.16 kg, were distributed into four treatments in a randomized block experimental design with eight animals per treatment. Experimental diets were composed of pearl millet silage ammoniated with four levels of urea (0%, 2%, 4% and 6%, on dry matter basis (DM). Carcass conformation and fatness decreased linearly (p < 0.05). Except for the fat content, the proximate composition was not influenced (p < 0.05) by the diets. Meat lightness and yellowness increased linearly (p < 0.05). There was no effect of diets (p > 0.05) on cooking losses or shear force. The levels of oleic and erucic fatty acid levels in the meat decreased linearly (p < 0.05), whereas linoleic and eicosadienoic acids, polyunsaturated fatty acids, PUFA:SFA ratio and ω6 contents increased (p < 0.05). Pearl millet silage ammoniated with urea allows for the production of good-quality lamb meat, with greater concentrations of polyunsaturated fatty acids. However, lambs fed diets with pearl millet ammoniated with up to 6% lead to a reduction of carcass characteristics without significantly affecting loin-eye area possibly associated with low palatability of the additive used. The lower acceptance of the silages with higher levels of urea is due to the ammonia retention in the material is attributed to the ammonization process. Thus, in spite of the benefits on lamb meat quality, it is suggested that the use of this additive in the ammonization of tropical forages be carried out with care, in limits of up to 6%.

Influence of drinking water salinity on carcass characteristics and meat quality of Santa Inês lambs.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different salinity levels in drinking water on the quantitative and qualitative characteristics of lamb carcass and meat. Ram lambs (n = 32) were distributed in a completely randomized design with four levels of salinity in the drinking water (640 mg of total dissolved solids (TDS)/L of water, 3188 mg TDS/L water, 5740 mg TDS/L water, and 8326 mg TDS/L water). After slaughter, blending, gutting, and skinning the carcass, hot and biological carcass yields were obtained. Then, the carcasses were cooled at 5 °C for 24 h, and then, the morphometric measurements and the cold carcass yield were determined and the commercial cuts made. In the Longissimus lumborum muscle color, water holding capacity, cooking loss, shear force, and chemical composition were determined. The yields of hot and cold carcass (46.10 and 44.90%), as well as losses to cooling (2.40%) were not affected (P > 0.05) by the salinity levels in the water ingested by the lambs. The meat shear force was 3.47 kg/cm2 and moisture, crude protein, ether extract, and ash were 73.62, 22.77, 2.5, and 4.3%, respectively. It is possible to supply water with salinity levels of up to 8326 mg TDS/L, because it did not affect the carcass and meat characteristics of Santa Inês lambs.

MR imaging evaluation of endometrial carcinoma: results of an NCI cooperative study.

A prospective study to assess the usefulness of magnetic resonance (MR) imaging in the evaluation of endometrial carcinoma was undertaken by five institutions under the auspices of the National Cancer Institute. Six different MR imagers were used, ranging in magnetic field strength from 0.15 T to 1.5 T. For each unit, appropriate T1- and T2-weighted sequences in the transverse plane and T2-weighted sequences in the sagittal plane were used. Initially, 107 patients were entered in the study, but only 88 fulfilled all the criteria and provide the basis for this study. The abnormality within the endometrial cavity was demonstrated with MR imaging in 81% of the patients. The overall accuracy with MR imaging for staging endometrial carcinoma was 85%. In the evaluation of depth of myometrial invasion for stage I disease, overall accuracy with MR imaging was 74%. The accuracy of MR imaging in assessing tumors confined to endometrium or tumor with superficial myometrial invasion was 89% and decreased to 54% in assessing deep myometrial invasion. The results of this prospective study performed by multiple examiners with vastly different equipment demonstrate the inherent value of MR imaging in the evaluation of this neoplasm.

[The contribution of the clinical examination to the diagnosis of bronchopulmonary cancer]. / Aportul examenului clinic la diagnosticarea cancerului bronhopulmonar.

An analysis is made of the contribution of clinical examination to the diagnosis of primary bronchopulmonary cancer in a lot of 355 patients. As it is known bronchopulmonary cancer does not have a characteristic and patognomonic clinical symptomatology. In two thirds of the patients (236/66.4%) the disease' onset was marked by respiratory symptoms. In half of these patients (120/33.8% of the total number of cases) the respiratory syndromes for which the patient had requested medical help could have suggested the diagnosis, and were marked by a pseudo-pneumonia, or pneumopathy with long evolution, intensified coughing in a patient who had been coughing for a long time, or an onset marked by hemopthysis. In the other half of the patients in this group the onset symptoms had nothing characteristic. The onset marked by metastases was noted 69 of the patients (19.4%), and para-neoplastic syndromes were noted in 10 (2.8%). These certainly suggested the presence of pulmonary cancer. It appears that in over half of the patients 9195, or 54.1%) the clinical examination could suggest the existence of bronchopulmonary cancer, and this percentage increases if patients are included in those whose respiratory symptoms are not characteristic but in those which physical examination will evidence suggestive changes. Only in a very small number of patients (12, or 3.3%) the clinical examination did not provide any diagnostic element. These were the asymptomatic cases, accidentally identified in the course of a radiological examination. It should be stressed that the clinical suspicion of pulmonary cancer should always be confirmed by paraclinical investigations.