ABSTRACT
Objetivou-se avaliar a composição química, consumo voluntário e digestibilidade aparente de dietas contendo resíduo oriundo da produção de palmito da palmeira Real Australiana (Archontophoenix alexandrae) em substituição à cana-de-açúcarem ovinos. Foram utilizados 12 ovinos com peso vivo médio de 23,3 ± 2,8 kg, mantidos em gaiolas metabólicas distribuídos em seis quadrados latinos 2x2 implementado em esquema fatorial 3 x 2 (três tipos de resíduo - folha, bainha e composta - e dois níveis de substituição do resíduo, 5% e 15%). Verificou-se maior consumo de matéria seca (MS), matéria orgânica (MO), carboidratos não fibrosos (CNF) na substituição pelo resíduo composta. Os valores médios de digestibilidade aparente da MS, MO, Proteína bruta (PB), fibra insolúvel em detergente neutro corrigido para cinzas e proteína(FDNcp) e nível dietético de NDT foram maiores para o resíduo folha. Constatou- se efeito de interação entre resíduo e o nível de substituição sobre as excreções urinárias de nitrogênio total (EUN), balanço nitrogenado aparente (BNA) e compostos nitrogenados microbianos (NMIC). Resíduos da produção de palmito oriundos da palmeira Real Australiana podem ser utilizados como alimentos volumosos na dieta de animais ruminantes, sendo destes, o resíduo folha e composta os que apresentaram melhores respostas nas características avaliadas.
The aim of this study was to evaluate the chemical composition, voluntary intake and apparent digestibility of the diets containing residue from palm heart of Australian Royal Palm (Archontophoenix alexandrae) to replace sugar cane on sheep. Twelve sheep were used with average live weight of 23,3 ± 2,8 Kg and they placed in metabolism cages and distributed in six latin square 2 x 2 in a factorial design 3 x 2 (three types of residue -sheet, bark and composed - and two levels of residues replacement, 5% and 15%). It was observed higher intake of dry matter (DM), organic matter (OM), nonfiber carbohydrates (NFC) by substitution of composed residue. The average values of apparent digestibility of DM, OM, crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fibre correct for ash and protein (NDFap) and total digestible nutrients (TDN) were higher for sheet residue. There was interaction between type of residue and level of residues replacement on the urinary excretion of total nitrogen (NUE), apparent nitrogen balance (BNA) and microbial nitrogen compost (NMIC). Residues from palm heart of Australian Royal Palm can be used as roughage in the ruminantsdiet, and of these residues, the sheet and composed residue showed better response in the evaluated characteristics.
Subject(s)
Animals , Arecaceae/chemistry , Feeding Behavior , Saccharum/chemistry , Sheep, Domestic/metabolism , Silage/analysis , Brazil , Digestion , Dietary Carbohydrates/metabolism , Dietary Fiber/metabolism , Dietary Proteins/metabolism , Eating , Food Quality , Feces/chemistry , Feces/microbiology , Nitrogen/urine , Plant Leaves/chemistryABSTRACT
In order to characterize the expression of genes associated with immune response mechanisms to mastitis, we quantified the relative expression of the IL-2, IL-4, IL-6, IL-8, IL-10, IFN-γ and TNF-α genes in milk cells of healthy cows and cows with clinical mastitis. Total RNA was extracted from milk cells of six Black and White Holstein (BW) cows and six Gyr cows, including three animals with and three without mastitis per breed. Gene expression was analyzed by real-time PCR. IL-10 gene expression was higher in the group of BW and Gyr cows with mastitis compared to animals free of infection from both breeds (p < 0.05). It was also higher in BW Holstein animals with clinical mastitis (p < 0.001), but it was not significant when Gyr cows with and without mastitis were compared (0.05 < p < 0.10). Among healthy cows, BW Holstein animals tended to present a higher expression of all genes studied, with a significant difference for the IL-2 and IFN-γ genes (p < 0.001). For animals with mastitis no significant difference in gene expression was observed between the two breeds. These findings suggest that animals with mastitis develop a preferentially cell-mediated immune response. Further studies including larger samples are necessary to better characterize the gene expression profile in cows with mastitis.