Metabolic profile of goats fed diets containing crude glycerin from biodiesel production.

Feedlot finishing of goats is a growing practice, but the economic viability of this technology is compromised by the inclusion of ingredients such as corn and soybean. An alternative to minimize this barrier is the use of agroindustry coproducts as substitutes for those ingredients, such as crude glycerol. This study aimed to evaluated the metabolism of crossbred Boer finishing goats fed diets containing crude glycerin from biodiesel production. Thirty-two crossbred, castrated goat of age were distributed in a fully randomized experimental design with four treatments and eight replicates. The experiment lasted 69 days, and goats were fed sorghum silage and concentrate, with the inclusion of crude glycerin in the diet at levels of 0, 50, 100, and 150 g/kg on a dry matter basis. The diets did not have an effect (p > 0.05) on the serum urea levels. Increasing dietary crude glycerin levels did not the influence the metabolic or urinary profiles (p > 0.05). The liver tissue of the goats fed diets containing the highest crude glycerin inclusion levels showed deleterious effects. The inclusion of crude glycerin with approximately 6.6 g/kg methanol caused deleterious effects to the liver tissue of Boer crossbred goats as the glycerin concentrations increased. However, glycerin levels did not cause deleterious effects on the liver tissue or on the serum or urinary profiles. The use of crude glycerin with lower methanol content is recommended for goat diets.

A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in goats.

The aim of this study was evaluate to seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in goats worldwide and the main risk factors associated from 2000 to 2020, through meta-analysis with 55,317 goats from 75 reports published in seven electronic databases of major global importance. A global seroprevalence detected was 27.49% (95% CI 24.15-30.95; I2 = 99%), with the lowest percentage in Asia (20.74%; 95% CI 16.45-25.39) and highest in Central America (62.15%; 95% CI 57.28-66.90) and Europe (31.53%; 95% CI 21.71-42.26). The seropositivity in Africa and South America were (29.41%; 95% CI 19.11-40.89) and (29.76%; 95% CI 25.84-33.83), respectively. The seroprevalence was associated with presence of cats (OR 2.22; 95% CI 1.30-3.82), goats older than one year (OR 1.77; 95% CI 1, 37-2.29), females (OR 1.43; 95% CI 1.23-1.65), rearing system (extensive vs. intensive) (OR 4.82; 95% CI 1.96-11, 84) and rearing system (semi-intensive vs. intensive) (OR 1.48; 95% CI 1.48-6.13). The heterogeneity was evidenced in most world regions and the risk factors may play roles in varying the seroprevalence.

Seroprevalence of Neospora caninum and risk factors associated with infection in water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from Maranhão State, Brazil.

The aim of this work was to determine the seroprevalence of Neospora caninum in buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis) from Maranhão State, Brazil, and identify risk factors associated with infection. In total, 338 buffaloes of different ages and both sexes from four farms were randomly selected. Information about the study region, animals and management was collected using an epidemiological questionnaire. Sera were subjected to an indirect fluorescent antibody test (IFAT) to detect anti-N caninum antibodies, while N. caninum DNA was detected using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. The overall seroprevalence of N. caninum in buffaloes was 27.5% (93/338), while DNA was detected in 3.0% (3/101) samples. The proportion of positive animals detected by IFAT and PCR simultaneously was 2.6% (2/77). The risk factors for N. caninum infection were contact with fomites (p = 0.022), management conditions (p = 0.005), calving interval of 20 months (p = 0.010) and deworming management (application 3 times a year in adults and calves, p = 0.020; change of anthelmintic group, p = 0.040). By multivariate analysis, management conditions was a risk factor for N. caninum infection with odds ratio of 2.2 (95% CI 1.0-4.6). This is the first report of the prevalence and risk factors for neosporosis in B. bubalis of Maranhão State, Brazil. Thus, N. caninum is widely distributed in buffalo herds in Maranhão, with management conditions being a risk factor for infection. Further studies should be conducted to elucidate the importance of buffaloes in the epidemiology of neosporosis in Maranhão State.

Seroprevalence and risk factors for Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii in goats of Maranhão State, Brazil.

We estimated the seroprevalence and possible risk factors for neosporosis and toxoplasmosis in goats in the state of Maranhão, Brazil. In addition, the variables related to these animals and the management of the farm were investigated in terms of the significance of the associations. In total, 383 serum samples from goats, of both sexes and different ages, were collected from 15 farms in four municipalities. The indirect immunofluorescence test was used for antibody detection against Neospora caninum and Toxoplasma gondii. The overall seroprevalence of N. caninum in goats was 26.4% (101/382; IC 95% 22.3-31.1), and 114 out of 383 serum samples were T. gondii-seropositive (29.8%, IC 95% 25.4-34.5). In addition, the seroprevalence of coinfection of T. gondii and N. caninum in goats was 8.6% (33/382; IC 95% 6.2-11.8). The risk factors significantly associated with the seroprevalence of N. caninum were age, type of sheepfold floor, rearing system, feeding, pasture area cultivated, cats having access to the feed deposits, worming, slaughter place of the animals, history of abortion and the presence of dogs and cats. Regarding the seroprevalence of T. gondii infection, age, category, presence of other species and purpose of breeding were the risk factors. To our knowledge, this is the first report of the seroprevalence and risk factors for N. caninum and T. gondii in goats in the state of Maranhão, Brazil, which provides basic data for the implementation of strategies and control measures against neosporosis and toxoplasmosis.

Fermentative profile, losses and chemical composition of silage soybean genotypes amended with sugarcane levels.

The experiment aimed to evaluate the fermentative and nutritional profile of the silage of four soybean plant genotypes (BRS 333 RR, Pampeanas: C50, C60, and C70) ensiled with levels of sugarcane (0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%). The experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design, in factorial scheme 4 × 5 (four soybean genotypes and five levels of sugarcane inclusion) with four replicates. Silages with 100% soybean plant presented the highest levels of butyric acid (P < 0.001) and ammoniacal nitrogen (P < 0.047); however, the intermediate addition of sugarcane contributed to lactic fermentation (P < 0.001). Besides, there was a quadratic effect (P < 0.05) for the recovery of dry matter, which ranged from 83.28 to 95.29%, with higher values observed for silage with the same proportions of soybean plant and sugarcane. It was verified that the crude protein content exhibited decreasing linear effects (P < 0.001), varying among 4.60 to 7.48% in the silages. It was concluded that the highest recovery of dry matter, the best fermentation profile, and the highest levels of crude protein and digestibility occurred in the inclusion between 25 and 50% of sugarcane in soybean silage, with the superiority of the C50 soybean genotype.

A systematic literature review and meta-analysis of risk factors for Neospora caninum seroprevalence in goats.

This meta-analysis aimed to estimate N. caninum seroprevalence in goats worldwide to determine the main risk factors for seropositivity that could be associated with parasite infection in herds. Four electronic databases were searched: PubMed, SciELO, Scopus and the VHL Regional Portal. Firstly, 367 articles were identified. After removing duplicates and non-eligible papers. A total of 36 articles were selected, which contained information concerning 22,234 goats, between 2004-2019. The combined seroprevalence of infection using a meta-analysis of the random effects model was 5.99 % (95 %, CI 4.38-7.83). The overall estimated N. caninum seroprevalence showed high heterogeneity, I2 = 97 %. The present study showed that seropositive goats were 3.07 times more likely to abort (OR 3.07; 95 % CI 1.02-9.22) than seronegative animals. The presence of dogs on farms also increased the odds of N. caninum seropositivity (OR 1.40; 95 % CI 1.01-1.94). In addition, male animals had higher odds of being seropositive to neosporosis than females (OR 1.31; 95 % CI 1.00-1.71). N. caninum seroprevalence in goats is widely distributed worldwide, with the American continent having a higher proportion of seropositive animals.

Feeding sunflower cake from biodiesel production to Santa Ines lambs: Physicochemical composition, fatty acid profile and sensory attributes of meat.

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of the inclusion of sunflower cake in the diets of lambs on meat quality. Forty male, uncastrated Santa Ines lambs with an initial average body weight of 20.9 ± 0.41 kg were used in a completely randomized design with four treatments. The lambs were fed 500 g/kg hay and 500 g/kg concentrate (corn, soybean meal, urea, ammonium sulfate and sunflower cake) in their diet, and the experimental treatments were 0, 10, 20, and 30% sunflower cake inclusion (DM basis). The inclusion of sunflower cake in the diet did not affect (P > 0.05) the content of ash and protein, overall acceptance, or sensory aroma of the lamb meat. Total lipids and moisture content of the longissimus lumborum muscle increased linearly (P ≤ 0.05) with sunflower cake inclusion. The C16:0, ΣSFA, ΣMUFA:ΣSFA ratio, Δ-9 desaturase enzyme and atherogenicity index in the longissimus lumborum muscle decreased linearly (P ≤ 0.05) with sunflower cake inclusion in lamb diets, whereas a linear increase occurred (P ≤ 0.05) in C12:0, C18:0, ΣMUFA, ΣPUFA, ΣPUFA:ΣSFA and ΣPUFA:ΣMUFA ratios, Σn-6, Σn-3, desirable fatty acids, h:H index, elongase activity, and flavor, tenderness and juiciness sensory qualities in lamb meat. Among the panelists, the highest preference (35.9%) was for meat with 30% sunflower cake inclusion in the diet. Sunflower cake up to 30% of total DM can be included in the diet of Santa Ines lambs, because lipid nutritional quality and the sensory qualities of the lamb meat increase, in addition to improvement in nutraceutical compounds, such as the CLA content, and in the AI, PUFA:SFA and PUFA:MUFA ratios, desirable fatty acids content and h:H ratio, which are beneficial to the health of consumers.

Detoxified castor meal in substitution of soybean meal in sheep diet: growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat yield.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the intake, digestibility, performance, and carcass characteristics of lambs fed different levels of replacement (0, 15, 30, and 45 % based on dry matter, DM) of soybean meal (SM) by detoxified castor meal (DCM). Twenty-four and 32 intact hair lambs of nondescript breed (21.7 ± 2.6 kg of initial average body weight and approximately 10 months old) were used, respectively, in the intake and digestibility and performance experiments. The diets were composed of buffel grass hay, ground corn grain, and different levels of SM, DCM, and urea, in a roughage-to-concentrate ratio of 40:60. There was no effect of treatments on DM intake. However, crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intakes were higher at 30 and 45 % than at 0 and 15 % of DCM, which in turn showed higher intake of non-fiber carbohydrates (NFC) (P < 0.05). The organic matter, CP, and NDF digestibilities were not affected, but the digestibility of NFC was lower at 30 and 45 % than at 0 % of DCM (P < 0.05). The average daily gain, feed conversion, slaughter and carcass weights, chilling losses, ribeye area, and absolute values and yields of neck, ribs, loin, and leg were not affected. However, the carcass yield was lower at 45 % of DCM and the absolute value of shoulder was lower at 30 and 45 % of DCM (P < 0.05). The replacement of SM by DCM up to 45 % in the feed of lambs did not negatively affect the intake, digestibility, performance, and main carcass features.