Moving forward: scaling-up the integration of an HIV and hypertension program in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

As people living with HIV experience increased life expectancy, there is a growing concern about the burden of comorbid non-communicable diseases, particularly hypertension. This brief describes the current policy landscape on the management of HIV and hypertension in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, stakeholder engagement meetings, and the resulting five policy recommendations rooted in an ongoing research study designed to integrate hypertension management into HIV care across primary health centers in the State. In order to identify the current gaps in integrated care, discussion sessions with three stakeholder groups (i.e., healthcare providers, patient advocacy groups, and policy makers) were held separately in November 2022. The discussions were purposed to brainstorm policy-level solutions for integrating hypertension into HIV treatment. After all the sessions were concluded, there were five recommendations provided by the stakeholders for integrating HIV and hypertension care in the Akwa Ibom State. Stakeholders unanimously agreed with the need to integrate hypertension care for HIV impacted communities in the State. Specifically, stakeholders recommended to: (1) engage retired community health nurses as mentors; (2) actively link communities to integrated care in clinics; (3) integrate hypertension management with HIV education; (4) expand health insurance accessibility; and (5) formally integrate hypertension management into primary healthcare centers in Akwa Ibom State.

Soybean oil, linoleic acid source, in lamb diets: carcass traits and meat quality.

We developed a study to determine the ideal level of inclusion of soybean oil (SBOil) in the diet without affecting the quantitative and qualitative parameters of the carcass and meat of lambs in a feedlot system; therefore, determining the ideal level of inclusion. Forty male lambs (Santa Inês breed) were used. The initial body weight and age averaged 34.88 ± 3.19 kg and 5 months, respectively. Experimental units (lambs) were randomly distributed in 5 different diets: inclusion levels of SBOil: 0, 30, 60, 90, and 120 g/kg of dry matter (DM). The SOil inclusion reduced the DM intake (P < 0.001), Total digestible nutrients (P = 0.004), and crude protein (P < 0.001). Total weight gain (P < 0.001) decreased with the SBOil inclusion and subcutaneous fat thickness (P = 0.017) showed the same behaviour. The final body weight decreased by 42.9 g/kgDM until the inclusion level of 30 g/kgDM; from this level it was reduced by 145 g/kgDM. The hot and cold carcass weights (P = 0.013) decreased by 36.6 g/kgDM after including 30 g/kgDM of SBOil. Meat physicochemical composition was not altered (P > 0.05). Lower meat tenderness values ​​were obtained at the levels of 60 and 90 g/kgDM. The inclusion above 30 g/kgDM decreased meat tenderness. It is concluded that soybean oil should be included up to 30 g/kgDM in diets. It is important to note that with diets with 60% concentrate, SBOil levels greater than 30 g/kgDM promote yield losses.

Microencapsulation of vitamins: A review and meta-analysis of coating materials, release and food fortification.

Vitamins are responsible for providing biological properties to the human body; however, their instability under certain environmental conditions limits their utilization in the food industry. The objective was to conduct a systematic review on the use of biopolymers and lipid bases in microencapsulation processes, assessing their impact on the stability, controlled release, and viability of fortified foods with microencapsulated vitamins. The literature search was conducted between the years 2013-2023, gathering information from databases such as Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science and publishers including Taylor & Francis, Elsevier, Springer and MDPI; a total of 49 articles were compiled The results were classified according to the microencapsulation method, considering the following information: core, coating material, solvent, formulation, process conditions, particle size, efficiency, yield, bioavailability, bioaccessibility, in vitro release, correlation coefficient and references. It has been evidenced that gums are the most frequently employed coatings in the protection of vitamins (14.04%), followed by alginate (10.53%), modified chitosan (9.65%), whey protein (8.77%), lipid bases (8.77%), chitosan (7.89%), modified starch (7.89%), starch (7.02%), gelatin (6.14%), maltodextrin (5.26%), zein (3.51%), pectin (2.63%) and other materials (7.89%). The factors influencing the release of vitamins include pH, modification of the coating material and crosslinking agents; additionally, it was determined that the most fitting mathematical model for release values is Weibull, followed by Zero Order, Higuchi and Korsmeyer-Peppas; finally, foods commonly fortified with microencapsulated vitamins were described, with yogurt, bakery products and gummy candies being notable examples.

Moving forward: Scaling-up the integration of an HIV and hypertension program in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria.

Background: As people living with HIV experience increased life expectancy, there is a growing concern about the burden of comorbid non-communicable diseases, particularly hypertension. This policy brief describes the current policy landscape in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, the research activities, and five policy recommendations rooted in an ongoing research study designed to integrate hypertension management into HIV care across primary health centers in the state. Analysis: The policy brief was developed in four steps: review of existing policies, using the reviewed policies to inform research activities, solicitation of stakeholder recommendations via focus group discussions, and formulation of the resulting five policy recommendations for integrating hypertension management into HIV care programs in Akwa Ibom. The key analysis for this brief emerged from the thematic analyses of stakeholder responses. Policy Implications: The five policy recommendations for integrating hypertension management in HIV care in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria are: 1) build capacity by leveraging retired community nurses as mentors; 2) emphasize community engagement; 3) develop consistent training programs on hypertension management for health workers; 4) expand health insurance accessibility; and 5) formally integrate hypertension management into primary healthcare centers in Akwa Ibom State.

Assets for integrating task-sharing strategies for hypertension within HIV clinics: Stakeholder's perspectives using the PEN-3 cultural model.

BACKGROUND: Access to antiretroviral therapy has increased life expectancy and survival among people living with HIV (PLWH) in African countries like Nigeria. Unfortunately, non-communicable diseases such as cardiovascular diseases are on the rise as important drivers of morbidity and mortality rates among this group. The aim of this study was to explore the perspectives of key stakeholders in Nigeria on the integration of evidence-based task-sharing strategies for hypertension care (TASSH) within existing HIV clinics in Nigeria. METHODS: Stakeholders representing PLWH, patient advocates, health care professionals (i.e. community health nurses, physicians and chief medical officers), as well as policymakers, completed in-depth qualitative interviews. Stakeholders were asked to discuss facilitators and barriers likely to influence the integration of TASSH within HIV clinics in Akwa Ibom, Nigeria. The interviews were transcribed, keywords and phrases were coded using the PEN-3 cultural model as a guide. Framework thematic analysis guided by the PEN-3 cultural model was used to identify emergent themes. RESULTS: Twenty-four stakeholders participated in the interviews. Analysis of the transcribed data using the PEN-3 cultural model as a guide yielded three emergent themes as assets for the integration of TASSH in existing HIV clinics. The themes identified are: 1) extending continuity of care among PLWH; 2) empowering health care professionals and 3) enhancing existing workflow, staff motivation, and stakeholder advocacy to strengthen the capacity of HIV clinics to integrate TASSH. CONCLUSION: These findings advance the field by providing key stakeholders with knowledge of assets within HIV clinics that can be harnessed to enhance the integration of TASSH for PLWH in Nigeria. Future studies should evaluate the effect of these assets on the implementation of TASSH within HIV clinics as well as their effect on patient-level outcomes over time.

A simple, fast, and cost-effective smartphone-based digital imaging method for quantification of lidocaine hydrochloride in pharmaceutical formulations.

OBJECTIVE: A simple, highly specific, accurate and fast method by smartphone-based digital imaging was developed for estimating lidocaine hydrochloride in pharmaceutical formulations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: To obtain the images, a Galaxy A03 Core smartphone and an image acquisition device developed in the laboratory were used to control the incident factors in reproducibility of the measurements. The processing of the images was carried out with the Color Grab application. Finally, the absorbance values were calculated using the RGB intensity values of blank, standard, and sample solutions. The proposed method was compared with spectroscopic and chromatographic methods. RESULTS: The reaction between copper and lidocaine hydrochloride was characterized, showing better results in an equimolar ratio and maintaining the pH of the solution above 11.5. The use of the device for the capture of digital images allowed to control those sensitive parameters for reproducibility so that the analytical measurements showed adequate precision and accuracy. Validation of the main parameters of the method showed compliance with acceptance criteria. The application of the method for the analysis of injectable samples achieved reliable results, which were statistically similar to other reference instrumental methods. CONCLUSION: The proposed method presented figures of merit in relation to linearity, precision, selectivity, accuracy, and robustness; it was carried out by designing and manufacturing a device for capturing digital images on a smartphone, which were analyzed to obtain RGB intensity values. These data are finally used to calculate absorbance values of solutions. All these elements provide this work with innovative characteristics in the field of analysis for control of pharmaceutical formulations.

Nonlinear evolution of viscoplastic film flows down an inclined plane.

In this article, we experimentally investigate the nonlinear behaviour of a viscoplastic film flow down an inclined plane. We focus on the nonlinear instabilities that appear as roll waves. Roll waves are generated by perturbing a permanent flow of Herschel-Bulkley fluid (Carbopol 980) at low frequencies. To determine the local thickness of the film, we used a laser sensor and a camera to globally capture the transverse shape of the waves. For a regular forcing, the results show the existence of different regimes. First, we observe primary instabilities below the cut-off frequency at the entrance of the channel. After the exponential growth of the wave in the linear regime, we recognise the nonlinear dynamics with the existence of finite amplitude waves. This finite amplitude depends on the frequency, the Reynolds number and the inclination angle. The results show that this instability is supercritical. At moderate Reynolds numbers, the finite 2-D waves become sensitive to transverse perturbations, due to a secondary instability, and become 3-D waves. The experimental results illustrate a phenomenology of viscoplastic film flows similar to Newtonian fluids, except for the capillary waves.

Building Capacity of Community Nurses to Strengthen the Management of Uncomplicated Hypertension in Persons Living with HIV in Low- and Middle-Income Countries.

Objectives: Poor training of non-physician healthcare workers (especially community nurses) could hinder the successful integration of cardiovascular disease (CVD) management into HIV chronic care in primary healthcare facilities in low- and middle-income countries. To address this limitation, we included a holistic training programme with a robust module for both practice facilitators and community nurses as part of the formative stages of the managing hypertension among people living with HIV: an integrated model (MAP-IT), which is a study that is evaluating the effectiveness of practice facilitation on the integration of a task-strengthening strategy for hypertension control (TASSH) into primary healthcare centres in Akwa Ibom State of Nigeria. Methods: Between June and November 2021, 3 didactic training workshops were conducted using a training module which is based on the simplified Nigerian Hypertension Protocol for primary care and the World Health Organization (WHO) heart package. Knowledge acquired by the participants was assessed using anonymized pre- and post-training assessments in the first two workshops. Participants' view of the training was assessed using a comprehensive course evaluation questionnaire. Results: A total of 92 community nurses and six practice facilitators were trained in the workshops on managing hypertension in persons living with HIV. Mean pre- and post-test scores improved from 11.9(3.4) to 15.9(2.9); p < 0.001 in the first workshop, and from 15.4(0.9) to 16.4 (1.4); p < 0.001 in the second workshop. The methodology used in the training, understanding of the MAP-IT study programme, and the level of engagement was highly rated by the participants with LIKERT scores of 3.2/4.0, 3.2/4.0, and 3.1/4.0 respectively. Conclusion: Our training methodology, which involved the train-the-trainer model to deliver simplified HIV and HTN care guidelines, showed improvement in the knowledge of managing hypertension in persons living with HIV and was highly rated by participants.

Organizational readiness to implement task-strengthening strategy for hypertension management among people living with HIV in Nigeria.

BACKGROUND: Hypertension (HTN) is highly prevalent among people living with HIV (PLHIV), but there is limited access to standardized HTN management strategies in public primary healthcare facilities in Nigeria. The shortage of trained healthcare providers in Nigeria is an important contributor to the increased unmet need for HTN management among PLHIV. Evidence-based TAsk-Strengthening Strategies for HTN control (TASSH) have shown promise to address this gap in other resource-constrained settings. However, little is known regarding primary health care facilities' capacity to implement this strategy. The objective of this study was to determine primary healthcare facilities' readiness to implement TASSH among PLHIV in Nigeria. METHODS: This study was conducted with purposively selected healthcare providers at fifty-nine primary healthcare facilities in Akwa-Ibom State, Nigeria. Healthcare facility readiness data were measured using the Organizational Readiness to Change Assessment (ORCA) tool. ORCA is based on the Promoting Action on Research Implementation in Health Services (PARIHS) framework that identifies evidence, context, and facilitation as the key factors for effective knowledge translation. Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics (including mean ORCA subscales). We focused on the ORCA context domain, and responses were scored on a 5-point Likert scale, with 1 corresponding to disagree strongly. FINDINGS: Fifty-nine healthcare providers (mean age 45; standard deviation [SD]: 7.4, 88% female, 68% with technical training, 56% nurses, 56% with 1-5 years providing HIV care) participated in the study. Most healthcare providers provide care to 11-30 patients living with HIV per month in their health facility, with about 42% of providers reporting that they see between 1 and 10 patients with HTN each month. Overall, staff culture (mean 4.9 [0.4]), leadership support (mean 4.9 [0.4]), and measurement/evidence-assessment (mean 4.6 [0.5]) were the topped-scored ORCA subscales, while scores on facility resources (mean 3.6 [0.8]) were the lowest. CONCLUSION: Findings show organizational support for innovation and the health providers at the participating health facilities. However, a concerted effort is needed to promote training capabilities and resources to deliver services within these primary healthcare facilities. These results are invaluable in developing future strategies to improve the integration, adoption, and sustainability of TASSH in primary healthcare facilities in Nigeria. TRIAL REGISTRATION: NCT05031819.

Study design and protocol of a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial using a practical implementation strategy as a model for hypertension-HIV integration - the MAP-IT trial.

BACKGROUND: As people living with HIV (PLWH) experience earlier and more pronounced onset of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), advancing integrated care networks and models in low-resource-high-need settings is critical. Leveraging current health system initiatives and addressing gaps in treatment for PLWH, we report our approach using a late-stage (T4) implementation research study to test the adoption and sustainability of a proven-effective implementation strategy which has been minimally applied in low-resource settings for the integration of hypertension control into HIV treatment. We detail our protocol for the Managing Hypertension Among People Living with HIV: an Integrated Model (MAP-IT) trial, which uses a stepped wedge cluster randomized trial (SW-CRT) design to evaluate the effectiveness of practice facilitation on the adoption of a hypertension treatment program for PLWH receiving care at primary healthcare centers (PHCs) in Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria. DESIGN: In partnership with the Nigerian Federal Ministry of Health (FMOH) and community organizations, the MAP-IT trial takes place in 30 PHCs. The i-PARiHS framework guided pre-implementation needs assessment. The RE-AIM framework will guide post-implementation activities to evaluate the effect of practice facilitation on the adoption, implementation fidelity, and sustainability of a hypertension program, as well as blood pressure (BP) control. Using a SW-CRT design, PHCs sequentially crossover from the hypertension program only (usual care) to hypertension plus practice facilitation (experimental condition). PHCs will recruit and enroll an average of 28-32 patients to reach a maximum of 960 PLWH participants with uncontrolled hypertension who will be followed longitudinally for BP outcomes. DISCUSSION: Given the need for integrated NCD-HIV care platforms in low-resource settings, MAP-IT will underscore the challenges and opportunities for integrating hypertension treatment into HIV care, particularly concerning adoption and sustainability. The evaluation of our integration approach will also highlight the potential impact of a health systems strengthening approach on BP control among PLWH. TRIAL REGISTRATION: Clinicaltrials.gov ( NCT05031819 ). Registered on 2nd September 2021.

Hand-Portable Miniaturized Liquid Chromatography for the Determination of Chlorogenic Acids in Dietary Supplements.

With the explosive growth of the dietary supplements industry, new demands have emerged that cannot be faced with the sophisticated instrumentation available in well-equipped laboratories. In particular, there is a demand for simplified and easy-to-use instruments, capable of providing results in short times of analysis. In this study, a hand-portable miniaturized liquid chromatograph (portable LC) has been tested for the determination of chlorogenic acids (CGAs) in products intended to supplement the diet and elaborated with green coffee extracts. CGAs offer several health benefits due to their antioxidant properties, and an increasing number of dietary supplements are marketed with claimed high contents of these compounds. The results obtained with the proposed portable LC approach have been compared with those obtained with two other miniaturized benchtop liquid chromatography instruments, namely, a capillary liquid chromatograph (capLC) and a nano liquid chromatograph (nanoLC). Although compared with the methods that used the benchtop instruments, the sensitivity attainable was lower, the portable LC instrument provided a comparable analytical performance for the quantification of the main GCAs at low mg g-1 levels, and it was clearly superior in terms of speed. The proposed portable LC-based method can be applied to assess the content and distribution profile of the predominant CGAs in this kind of dietary supplement. It can be also used to estimate the antioxidant power due to CGAs, as well as their preservation state.

The association of salivary caffeine levels with serum concentrations in premature infants with apnea of prematurity.

The purpose of this paper is to verify whether the concentrations of caffeine in saliva are comparable to serum concentrations in preterm infants who are treated with caffeine for apnea of prematurity. This is a prospective observational study. Eligible participants were newborn infants < 37 weeks of gestational age treated with oral or intravenous caffeine for apnea of prematurity. Two paired samples of saliva and blood were collected per patient. Tube solid-phase microextraction coupled online to capillary liquid chromatography with diode array detection was used for analysis. A total of 47 infants with a median gestational age of 28 [26-30] weeks and a mean of 1.11 ± 0.4 kg of birth weight. Median postmenstrual age, when samples were collected, was 31 [29-33] weeks. Serum caffeine median levels of 19.30 µg/mL [1.9-53.90] and salivary caffeine median levels of 16.36 µg/mL [2.20-56.90] were obtained. There was a strong positive Pearson's correlation between the two variables r = 0.83 (p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The measurement of salivary caffeine concentrations after intravenous or oral administration offers an alternative to serum caffeine monitoring in apnea of prematurity. Measurement of salivary concentration minimizes blood draws, improves blood conservation, and subsequently minimizes painful procedures in premature infants. WHAT IS KNOWN: • Salivary sampling may be useful when is applied to extremely low birth weight infant, in whom blood sampling must be severely restricted. WHAT IS NEW: • The measurement of caffeine salivary concentrations after intravenous or oral administration offers an alternative to serum caffeine monitoring in apnoea of prematurity. • Salivary sampling may be a valid non-invasive alternative that could be used to individualize and optimize caffeine dose.

Feeding behavior of post-weaned crossbred steers supplemented in the dry season of the year.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the feeding behavior of grazing steers supplemented in the dry season of the year. Thirty-two castrated crossbred (½ Holstein-Zebu) steers with an average initial weight of 378 ± 7.54 kg, aged 14 months, were distributed into four treatment groups in a completely randomized design with eight replicates. The animals were managed in an area covered with a pasture of Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, in a rotational grazing system. The supplement was formulated so that the animals in the different treatment groups would ingest the same amount of crude protein (CP) daily. Thus, the treatments consisted of increasing levels of supplementation, based on the animals' body weight (BW), as the protein content of the supplement was reduced. The following treatments (dry matter basis) were tested: T2, supplement at 0.2% BW, with 50% CP; T4, supplement at 0.4% BW, with 25% CP; T6, supplement at 0.6% BW, with 16.67% CP; and T8, supplement at 0.8% BW, with 12.5% CP. Forage dry matter intake decreased linearly (P < 0.05), characterizing a substitution effect. The increasing supplementation levels influenced the animals' feeding behavior, especially grazing time, total feeding time, number of grazing bouts, and number of bites per day, which showed a positive quadratic response (P < 0.05), and rumination time, number of rumination bouts, number of cuds ruminated per day, and number of chews per ruminated cud, which exhibited a negative quadratic behavior (P < 0.05). Dry matter and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) feed efficiencies and dry matter and NDF rumination efficiencies responded quadratically (P < 0.05). In conclusion, concentrate supplementation at up to 0.8% BW improves the feeding behavior of grazing steers in terms of the intake of concentrate supplement and forage as well as the feed and rumination efficiencies.

Familial Dyskeratosis Comedones without Dyskeratosis-A Rare Entity.

A 42-year-old woman presented with multiple, discrete, symmetric hyperkeratotic papules and comedo-like lesions over the cheek and upper part of the back. These lesions first began to appear at the age of 20 years. Since then, new lesions have periodically appeared with spontaneous regression. Keratinous material could be extruded, leaving behind pock-like scars. The scalp, palms, soles, and mucous membranes were spared. Because the lesions were asymptomatic, the patient did not seek any treatment (Figure 1 and 2). (SKINmed. 2022;20:152-153).

Nutrient intake, digestibility, feeding behavior, nitrogen balance, and performance of feedlot goat kids fed high-concentrate diets containing licury cake (Syagrus coronata).

The current trial was carried out to evaluate the impacts of adding licury cake (Syagrus coronata) in high-concentrate diets for goat kids feedlot-finished on growth performance and metabolic parameters. Forty crossbred non-castrated Boer goat kids with approximately four months and similar initial live weights (20.15 ± 2.79 kg). The experimental design used in this study was a completely randomized, with four diets (0, 10, 20, and 30% of licury cake inclusion in a dry matter basis (DM)). Licury cake inclusion decreased nutrient intake and digestibility (P < 0.05). Times spent in feeding (P < 0.001) and rumination (P = 0.003) activities, number of events in feeding (P < 0.001) and idling (P = 0.015) increased, whereas a linear reduction occurred in feeding and rumination efficiencies of DM and neutral detergent fiber (P < 0.001). Nitrogen (N) intake, retained N (P < 0.001), triglycerides concentrations (P = 0.002), aspartate-aminotransferase, alanine-aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase decreased with the licury cake inclusion (P < 0.05). Final body weight (P = 0.008), average daily gain (P = 0.001), and total weight gain (P = 0.001) decreased linearly when licury cake was included in diets. High-concentrate diets containing increasing levels of licury cake decrease intake and apparent digestibility of nutrients and performance when supplied for goat kids feedlot-finished. Therefore, the inclusion of the studied levels of licury cake in goat kids fed high-concentrate diets is not recommended for feedlot-finished systems.

Effects of replacing ground corn with Nopalea cochenillifera meal on the intake, performance, and economic viability of grazing steers.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of replacing different levels of spineless-cactus meal instead of ground corn on supplements for crossbred steers grazing in Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandú pastures. Forty crossbred steers with an average body weight (BW) of 261 ± 7.46 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design. In supplements, the ground corn grain was substituted with 0%, 30%, 60%, and 90% spineless-cactus meal. The substitution of spineless-cactus meal instead ground corn promoted a linear decrease in the ether extract (EE; P = 0.03) and non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC; P < 0.01) intakes. The apparent digestibility of EE was influenced (P < 0.05) showing a linear decrease. The apparent digestibility of NFC had a quadratic effect (P = 0.03). For the neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein, the apparent digestibility increased linearly (P = 0.01). The average daily gain showed a quadratic effect (P < 0.01), with a maximum response estimated at 44.94% (1055.52 g/day) substitution with spineless-cactus meal for ground corn. The cost per animal per period and the cost per hectare decreased linearly (P < 0.01). The revenue, net revenue, exchange rate, and monthly revenue of the activity showed quadratic responses to the spineless-cactus meal supplements (P < 0.01), with maximum effects at 44.99%, 47.46%, 61.25%, and 57.35%, respectively. The substitution with up to 44.94% of spineless-cactus meal for ground corn provided daily gains, increased the feed conversion, and was favorable as a cost to the production system. Moreover, the profitability increased with maximum animal performance and improved use of fiber from pastures.

Effect of selenium and vitamin E supplementation on the metabolic status of dairy goats and respective goat kids in the peripartum period.

This study aimed to examine the effects of selenium (Se) and vitamin E (vitE) supplementation on blood cell counts and blood metabolite concentrations in goats and their kids. Fifteen Saanen goats (average age 6 years of age; average initial body weight of 70 ± 10 kg) and 21 ½ Saanen × ½ Pardo Alpine crossbred goat kids (average body weight of 3.70 ± 0.64 kg) were used. Animals were distributed in a completely randomized design with five replicates per diet for mother goats and seven for goat kids and randomly assigned into three groups in the following diets: CON, control basal diet; Se, inclusion of 3.2 mg of Se/kg DM; SevitE, inclusion of 3.2 mg Se/kg DM and 1145 IU/day vitE/kg DM. Effects of time were observed on red blood cells, hemoglobin, hematocrit, mean corpuscular volume, and mean corpuscular hemoglobin in goats and goat kids. Effects of time were observed on differential counts of leucocytes, lymphocytes, and monocytes in goat kids. Interaction was observed for high-density lipoprotein and total protein in goats and for triglycerides, beta-hydroxybutyrate (BHBA), and gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT) in goat kids. Effects of time were observed on low-density lipoprotein, triglycerides, glucose, lactate, BHBA, non-esterified fatty acids (NEFA), creatinine, aspartate-aminotransferase, and GGT in goats and all blood metabolites in goat kids. Selenium, vitE, or association in the evaluated levels are not sufficient to change blood cell counts when supplied in diets for goats or goat kids. However, the effect of time or interaction between time and diets change the blood metabolite concentrations in the animals.

Productive characteristics of feedlot Santa Inês and Dorper lambs: intake, digestibility, feeding behavior, performance, carcass traits, and meat quality.

This study aimed to evaluate the intake, digestibility, feeding behavior, performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of feedlot Santa Inês (locally adapted breed) and Dorper (transboundary breed) lambs. Twenty non-castrated lambs were used (10 from the Santa Inês genetic group and 10 Dorper), with approximately 3 months of age and an initial body weight of 22.95 ± 2.1 kg (mean ± standard deviation), distributed in a completely randomized design. Nutrient intake and digestibility, feeding behavior, and liver metabolism enzymes were similar (P > 0.05) between genetic groups. Dry matter (DM) feeding and ruminating efficiency were higher (P < 0.05) in the Santa Inês genetic group. There was also no difference (P > 0.05) in the subjective evaluation and morphometric measurements. Genetic groups showed differences and trend to differences (P < 0.05) in performance and commercial cuts. The physicochemical characteristics, centesimal composition, and sensory attributes of the Longissimus lumborum muscle did not differ between the genetic groups (P > 0.05). The Santa Inês genetic group showed higher feeding efficiency and productive parameters when compared to Dorper lambs. Therefore, Santa Inês lambs have greater potential for meat production than Dorper lambs, when kept in the same breeding system as the feedlot.

Carcass and meat traits of goats fed diets containing cottonseed cake.

The cottonseed cake has the necessary nutritional characteristics to be able to substitute the traditional ingredients (such as soybean meal) and reduce the costs of the diet. However, it is necessary to determine the best level of inclusion of cottonseed cake in the diets of fattening goats to improve meat production and quality. The objective of this study was to evaluate carcass and meat traits of feedlot goats fed diets containing cottonseed cake replacing soybean meal (33 %, 66 % and 100 %). Thirty-two uncastrated Boer crossbred goats (4 months old, 16  ±  2 kg initial body weight) were used in a completely randomized experimental design. Replacing soybean meal with cottonseed did not compromise ( P > 0.05 ) slaughter weight, carcass traits (dressing percentage, loin-eye area and back-fat thickness), primal cuts or carcass morphometric measurements; moisture, protein, or total lipid contents of meat; or the physicochemical traits of color ( L * , a * and b * coordinates), pH, shear force, and cooking loss. However, there was a reduction ( P = 0.001 ) in the mineral matter content (from 1.08 % to 0.97 %) and an increase ( P = 0.006 ) in the cholesterol content (from 50.85 to 70.55 mg/100 g of meat) of the meat as the dietary levels of cottonseed cake were increased. Based on the results of production and meat quality, we recommend using cottonseed cake as an alternative protein source to replace up to 100 % of soybean meal in feedlot goat diets.

Effect of high-concentrate diets with calcium lignosulfonate and cottonseed processing method on quantitative traits and non-carcass components of feedlot cull ewes.

This study examined the effects of cottonseed processing form and the inclusion of calcium lignosulfonate in high-concentrate diets for feedlot cull ewes on carcass traits and non-carcass components. Thirty Santa Inês cull ewes with an average body weight of 44.2  ±  5.2 kg and an average age of 50 months were distributed into collective stalls in a completely randomized design. The treatments consisted of diets including whole cottonseed, crushed cottonseed, whole cottonseed treated with lignosulfonate (100 g/kg, as fed), crushed cottonseed treated with lignosulfonate (100 g/kg, as fed), and a control diet without cottonseed. The experimental diets did not influence ( P > 0.05 ) average daily weight gain (0.195 kg/day), slaughter weight (51.74 kg), or in vivo biometric and on-carcass measurements. There was no difference ( P > 0.05 ) in loin-eye area or subcutaneous fat thickness as evaluated in vivo by ultrasound. There was no diet effect on hot carcass weight and yield (24.8 kg and 47.8 %), cold carcass weight and yield (24.2 kg and 46.8 %), or chilling loss (2.1 %). Non-carcass components did not differ in response to the diets ( P > 0.05 ). Dietary inclusion of calcium lignosulfonate increases the proportions of udder and liver relative to empty body weight ( P < 0.05 ). Neither the cottonseed processing method nor the inclusion of calcium lignosulfonate in high-concentrate diets for cull ewes affects their performance, biometric or morphometric measurements, non-carcass components, or qualitative traits of their carcass.