Pathogen-specific changes in composition and quality traits of milk from goats affected by subclinical intramammary infections.

We investigated the effects of pathogens associated with subclinical intramammary infections on yield, composition and quality indicators of goat milk. By means of a longitudinal study, individual half udder milk samples (n = 132) were collected at different lactation periods and assessed for milk yield and physicochemical composition, somatic cell count (SCC), total bacteria count (TBC) and microbiological culture. Staphylococci species accounted for the great majority of the isolates (96.1%). Intramammary infections significantly reduced fat and total solids in goat milk and increased both SCC and TBC. However, these indicators were significantly higher in udder halves affected by S. aureus compared with other staphylococci species.

Models to predict both sensible and latent heat transfer in the respiratory tract of Morada Nova sheep under semiarid tropical environment.

The aim of this study was to build a prediction model both sensible and latent heat transfer by respiratory tract for Morada Nova sheep under field conditions in a semiarid tropical environment, using easily measured physiological and environmental parameters. Twelve dry Morada Nova ewes with an average of 3 ± 1.2 years old and average body weight of 32.76 ± 3.72 kg were used in a Latin square design 12 × 12 (12 days of records and 12 schedules). Tidal volume, respiratory rate, expired air temperature, and partial vapor pressure of the expired air were obtained from the respiratory facial mask and using a physiological measurement system. Ewes were evaluated from 0700 to 1900 h in each day under shade. A simple nonlinear model to estimate tidal volume as a function of respiratory rate was developed. Equation to estimate the expired air temperature was built, and the ambient air temperature was the best predictor together with relative humidity and ambient vapor pressure. In naturalized Morada Nova sheep, respiratory convection seems to be a mechanism of heat transfer of minor importance even under mild air temperature. Evaporation from the respiratory system increased together with ambient air temperature. At ambient air temperature, up to 35 °C respiratory evaporation accounted 90 % of the total heat lost by respiratory system, on average. Models presented here allow to estimate the heat flow from the respiratory tract for Morada Nova sheep bred in tropical region, using easily measured physiological and environmental traits as respiratory rate, ambient air temperature, and relative humidity.

Produção da batata-doce adubada com esterco bovino e biofertilizante / Yield of sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L) Lam) fertilized with cattle manure and biofertilizer

Objetivou-se avaliar a produção da batata-doce (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) adubada com esterco bovino e biofertilizante, conduziu-se um experimento no período de Janeiro a Junho de 2004, em NEOSSOLO REGOLÍTICO, psamítico típico, na Universidade Federal da Paraíba, em Areia-PB. O delineamento experimental empregado foi de blocos casualisados, com quatro repetições com os tratamentos distribuídos em arranjo fatorial 6 x 2, sendo seis doses de esterco bovino (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 t ha-1) e ausência e presença de biofertilizante. As parcelas foram constituídas por 80 plantas, espaçadas de 80 x 30 cm. O número de raízes comerciais por planta atingiu valores máximos estimados de 2,0 e 1,7 raízes, respectivamente, nas doses de 26 e 25 t ha-1 de esterco bovino na presença e ausência de biofertilizante. O peso médio de raízes comerciais da batata-doce aumentou com elevação das doses de esterco bovino, atingindo na maior dose 360 e 224 g na presença e ausência de biofertilizante. As doses de 25,6 e 24,4 t ha-1 de esterco bovino foram responsáveis pela máxima produção total de raízes de 21,4 e 21,2 t ha-1, respectivamente, na presença e ausência de biofertilizante. As máximas produções de raízes comerciais, 15,2 e 12,9 t ha-1 foram alcançadas com 25,5 e 21,3 t ha-1 de esterco bovino, na presença e ausência de biofertilizante, respectivamente.

Aiming to evaluate the sweet potato (Ipomoea batatas (L.) Lam.) yield fertilization with bovine manure and biofertilizer, an experiment was carried out from January to July, 2004, on ustipsamment soil, at Universidade Federal da Paraíba, Areia-PB. The Experimental outline used was randomized blocks, with four replications and, treatments distributed in factorial arrangement 6 x 2, being six levels of bovine manure (0, 10, 20, 30, 40, 50 t ha-1) and absence and presence of biofertilizer. Plots were constituted by 80 plants, spaced 80 x 30 cm. Commercial roots number per plant reached maximum values estimated of 2.0 and 1.7 roots, respectively, on levels of 26 e 25 t ha-1 of bovine manure in presence and absence of biofertilizer. The medium weight of commercial roots of sweet potato increased, with elevation of bovine manure levels, with maximum weights of 360 e 224 g, in presence and absence of biofertilizer. The levels of 25.6 and 24.4 t ha-1 of bovine manure, in presence and absence of biofertilizer, presented the maximum of total yield of 21.4 and 21.2 t ha-1, respectively. Maximum yield of commercial roots, 15.2 and 12.9 t ha-1 were reached with 25.5 and 21.3 t ha-1 of bovine manure, under presence and absence of biofertilizer, respectively.

Características físico-químicas e atividade antimicrobiana de extratos de própolis da Paraíba, Brasil / Physicochemical characteristics and antimicrobial activity of the extracts propolis of the Paraiba, Brazil

Objetivou-se com esta pesquisa analisar a própolis produzida por abelhas Apis mellifera L. no Estado da Paraíba, colhida pelo método de tela plástica, determinando-se a composição físico-química e a atividade antimicrobiana conforme o período de colheita das amostras. Para a determinação físico-química, foram avaliados os teores de umidade, cinzas, resíduos insolúveis, cera, sólidos solúveis, fenóis, flavonóides e índice de oxidação. Para o estudo da atividade antimicrobiana, foram utilizados os microrganismos Candida albicans e Staphylococcus aureus. O teor de umidade, os resíduos insolúveis, as cinzas, os sólidos solúveis, os fenóis, os flavonóides e o índice de oxidação das amostras testadas apresentaram uma variação de 1,0 a 8,6 por cento; 23,5 a 40,4 por cento; 1,1 a 3,3 por cento; 32,0 a 62,5 por cento; 1,0 a 8,1 por cento; 0,04-0,5 por cento e de 14 a 29 segundos, respectivamente. Os extratos etanólicos de própolis não apresentaram inibição ao crescimento dos patógenos testados. Observou-se, também, que a própolis colhida em diferentes épocas do ano, assim como a própolis oriunda de diferentes colméias, apresentaram diferentes valores para a composição bromatológica e bioativa, tendo a própolis amostrada nos períodos de maior precipitação os melhores valores para compostos bioativos.

This study was aimed at analysing the propolis produced in beehive of Apis mellifera L. bee in the state of Paraiba - Brazil. Propolis was collected by the method of plastic screen, determining the physical-chemical composition and antimicrobial activity according to the period of collection of the samples. For the physical-chemical determination, it was assessed the humidity, ashes, insoluble residues, wax, soluble solids, phenols, flavonoids and oxidation index. To study the antimicrobial activity, microorganisms Candida albicans and Staphylococcus aureus were used. The humidity contents, insoluble residues, ashes, soluble solids, phenols, flavonids and index of oxidation of the tested propolis varied from 1.03 to 8.58 percent; 23.47 to 40.38 percent; 1.13 to 3.25 percent; 31.97 to 62.54 percent; 1.01 to 8.13 percent; 0.045-0.52 percent and from 14 to 29 seconds, respectively. None of the etanol extracts of propolis inhibited the growth of bacteria pathogenic. It was also observed that the propolis collected in different times of the year, as well as propolis originated from of different beehives, showed different chemical composition and bioactive and that propolis sampled in periods of greater precipitation had better values of bioactive compounds.