Sugarcane yeast with urea in replace of soybean meal in the diet of Murrah buffaloes does not cause metabolic, endocrine, and mineral disorders.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the replacement of soybean meal by increasing levels of sugarcane yeast and urea on the energy, enzymatic, protein, mineral, and hormonal profiles of buffalo heifers. Twenty Murrah heifers with an average body weight of 168 ± 2.0 kg and 1 year old were used in a completely randomized design. The treatments consisted of the replacement of soybean meal by increasing levels of sugarcane yeast and urea (0, 33, 67, and 100% dry matter). The animals were weighed at the beginning and end of the experimental period, and blood was collected on the final day. The replacement of soybean meal with sugarcane yeast influenced the performance and metabolic dynamics, with total weight gain (P = 0.005) and average daily gain (P = 0.015), presenting, for both variables, a quadratic effect. Considering the biochemical profile, there was an influence on the serum concentration of triglycerides (P = 0.055), the serum activities of aspartate aminotransferase, gamma-glutamyl transferase, and alkaline phosphatase (P < 0.05), in addition to the serum concentration of phosphorus (P = 0.007) and potassium (P = 0.053), which showed positive linear effects. The hormonal profile was not influenced by diets (P > 0.05). The elements copper, iron, and zinc were able to be quantified at all levels of sugarcane yeast and urea in the diets offered. The use of sugarcane yeast with urea promotes adequate metabolic response of buffalo heifers and can replace up to 100% of soybean meal in the concentrate.

Effect of Crude Glycerin in the Feed of Lactating Goats on Concentrations of Essential and Toxic Metals in Serum, Urine, Milk, and Artisanal "Coalho" Cheese.

Goat farming is concentrated in semi-arid and tropical regions in Brazil. From 2006 to 2017, the number of goats sold in the country increased by 65.7%. The dairy products from these animals present higher digestibility, high vitamin A and B content, hypoallergenicity, and less lactose compared to dairy products from cows, in addition to having a higher sales value. Since corn and soybean meal generate an expense for feed management, crude glycerin, originating from the manufacture of biodiesel, has been studied as an energy substitute. However, this product contains heavy metals, posing risks to animal and human health. Few data are available on trace elements in biological samples and products derived from goats' milk with the dietary introduction of glycerin. The objective was to quantify aluminum (Al), cadmium (Cd), cobalt (Co), chromium (Cr), copper (Cu), iron (Fe), manganese (Mn), molybdenum (Mo), nickel (Ni), lead (Pb), and zinc (Zn) in the serum, urine, milk, and artisanal "coalho" cheese of dairy goats fed different levels of crude glycerin in feed management. In total, 16 Saanen goats were selected, lactating females, that were distributed in four Latin squares and randomly treated with different levels of crude glycerin (0, 5, 10, and 15%). After the end of each experiment cycle, serum, urine, milk, and artisanal "coalho" cheese samples were collected at the four moments. The samples were submitted to digestion assisted by microwave radiation. The multi-element analysis was carried out using inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP OES). There was no influence of crude glycerin levels replacing corn in serum, milk, urine, and artisanal "coalho" cheese. The serum concentration of the metals Cu, Fe, Zn, and Mn; urine concentrations of Cu, Zn, Mn, Mo, and Cr; and milk and artisanal "coalho" cheese concentrations of Cu, Zn, and Mn remained within the standards found in the literature. The inclusion of 5 to 15% of crude glycerin, derived from cotton oil, in the diets of dairy goats in partial replacement of corn, does not alter the concentration of essential and toxic metals in serum, urine, milk, and artisanal "coalho" cheese and does not, therefore, present a risk factor for intoxication.

Serum concentrations of folic acid and cobalamin and energy metabolism of ewes as a function of the energy density of the diet, peripartum period, and pregnancy toxemia.

The aim of this study was to determine the serum levels of folic acid, cobalamin, and indicators of energy metabolism during the peripartum period of ewes submitted to different diets and with or without pregnancy toxemia. Forty Santa Inês ewes were divided into three groups, a group of 20 animals fed only roughage-diet with low energy density (G1), a group of 10 ewes submitted to diet containing roughage and concentrate-diet with high energy density (G2), and a group of 10 ewes with diagnosis of pregnancy toxemia (PT) (G3). In the ewes of groups G1 and G2, blood samples were collected -30, -15, -7 days pre-partum, on the day of partum, and 7, 15, and 30 days postpartum; blood samples from G3 animals were collected during the veterinary clinic care. Significant variations were observed in the plasma concentration of glucose and serum folic acid, cobalamin, fructosamine, NEFA, and ß-hydroxybutyrate in the groups fed diets with different energy levels, with and without PT (P < 0.05). A positive correlation of folic acid and cobalamin was observed with plasma glucose and serum NEFA concentrations, in addition to negative correlation of glucose with NEFA and ß-hydroxybutyrate and positive correlation between the latter biomarkers of energy metabolism. The ewes diagnosed with PT showed higher levels of folic acid, NEFA, and ß-hydroxybutyrate (P < 0.05). Ewes fed diet containing roughage and concentrate present higher serum levels of folic acid, cobalamin, and glucose, in the pre-partum period and in the lactation period. The results obtained contribute to better understanding of the application of blood concentration tests for folic acid and cobalamin in the energy metabolism and in PT in ewes.

Concentrations of Essential Trace and Toxic Elements Associated with Production and Manufacturing Processes in Galician Cheese.

The objective of this study was to determine the trace element composition and the toxic metal residues in Galician cow's milk cheese produced in different systems (artisan, industrial, and organic). Fourteen elements (As, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Hg, I, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Se, and Zn) were determined in 58 representative samples of Galician cheeses by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The toxic elements were present at low concentrations, similar to those reported for other unpolluted geographical areas. The essential elements were also within the normal range in cheeses. There were no statistically significant differences between smoked and unsmoked cheeses for any of the elements. Chemometric analyses (principal component analysis and cluster analysis) revealed that the industrial cheeses produced in Galicia using the milk from intensive dairy farms were different, in terms of elemental content, from artisan and organic cheeses, in which the elemental contents were similar.

Histomorphometric and oxidative evaluation of the offspring's testis from type 2 diabetic female rats treated with metformin and pentoxifylline.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D) during pregnancy is characterized by high levels of reactive oxygen species and pro-inflammatory factors in the placenta. Once these reactive species reach the foetus, they trigger physiological adaptations that allow the foetus to survive, but programme the organism to develop metabolic disorders in adulthood. The male reproductive system is highly susceptible to foetal programming. This study aimed to investigate the effects of intrauterine exposure to T2D on testicular histomorphometry and redox homeostasis of adult rats and evaluate the effects of maternal treatment with metformin and pentoxifylline. Female rats were induced to T2D, then treated with metformin and pentoxifylline, or co-treated with both drugs. The females were mated, the male offspring were sacrificed on postnatal day 90, and the testicles were collected for analysis. Metformin protected the tubular compartment, with the maintenance of the Sertoli cell population and daily sperm production. Pentoxifylline attenuated the effects of diabetes on Leydig cells, in addition to stimulating testosterone production and lowering lipid peroxidation. Intrauterine exposure to T2D results in important testicular alterations that compromise gonadal function, and the co-treatment with metformin and pentoxifylline may represent a promising therapy that attenuates these effects by combining the positive influences in both the tubular and interstitial compartments of the testicular parenchyma.