Impact of 48-h water and feed deprivation and hydroxychloride sources of copper and zinc on the metabolism and performance of grazing Nellore cattle during the dry period.

Procedures such as transport and marketing can subject animals to water and feed deprivation and impair animal health and performance. Maintaining the mineral status of animals under these conditions can bring benefits to health and performance. The use of hydroxychloride mineral sources can improve mineral status, nutrient digestibility and performance. Two studies were conducted to investigate how the supplementation of 02 trace mineral sources of Cu and Zn and 48-hour water/feed deprivation would affect the performance and metabolism of grass-fed beef cattle. In the first study, 20 castrated and rumen-canulated Nellore steers (BW = 350 ±â€¯132 kg; 20 m) were distributed in individual pens, in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement: supplemental Cu and Zn sources from inorganic vs hydroxychloride (HTM) and 48-hours deprivation (WFD) vs unrestricted (WFU) access to water and feed. The 57d of study was divided into two periods: (1) Adaptation from -21d to -1d and (2) evaluation from 0d to 36d. Interaction between deprivation × period was detected (P < 0.05) for digestibility of DM (DMD), organic matter (OMD), neutral detergent fiber (NDFD), and acid detergent fiber (ADFD). Deprivation increased DMD, OMD, NDFD, and ADFD immediately after the deprivation period (3-5d), but impaired digestibility at longer periods such as 11-13d and 32-34d. DM (DMI) and nutrient intake (P = 0.075), as well as NDFD were higher in HTM. Several ruminal parameters were affected by deprivation: short-chain fatty acids concentration decreased, while rumen pH increased (deprivation × time; P < 0.05); decreased propionate, butyrate and increased isobutyrate, isovalerate, and valerate in WFD (deprivation × time; P < 0.05), respectively. In the second study, eighty-four intact Nellore males (BW = 260 ±â€¯35 kg) were blocked by BW and randomly assigned to Urochloa brizantha cv. Marandu paddocks for 131d in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Liver Cu was higher in WFU/HTM animals (mineral × deprivation; P < 0.05). Interaction between deprivation × period (P < 0.05) was detected for BW and average daily gain (ADG). On 2d and 12d after deprivation, WFD increased ADG and recovered the BW lost. In conclusion, water and feed deprivation imposed in these trials were able to impact several nutrient digestibility and ruminal fermentation parameters in short- and long-term. Performance was not affected by the studied factors. Furthermore, supplementation with sources of Cu and Zn hydroxychloride increased Cu in the liver and tended to increase DMI and NDFD.

Mycotoxin-contaminated diets and an adsorbent affect the performance of Nellore bulls finished in feedlots.

Mycotoxins are present in almost all feedstuffs used in animal nutrition but are often ignored in beef cattle systems, even though they can affect animal performance. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of mycotoxins and a mycotoxin adsorbent (ADS) on performance of Nellore cattle finished in a feedlot. One hundred Nellore cattle (430 ± 13 kg) were used in a randomized complete block design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments. The factors consisted of two diets with either natural contamination (NC) or exogenous contamination (EC) and the presence (1 g/kg of DM; ADS) or absence of a mycotoxin adsorbent. The NC and EC diets had the following contaminations, respectively: 0.00 and 10.0 µg/kg aflatoxins, 5114 and 5754 µg/kg fumonisins, 0.00 and 42.1 µg/kg trichothecenes B, 0.00 and 22.1 µg/kg trichothecenes A and 42.9 and 42.9 µg/kg fusaric acid. At the beginning of the experiment, all animals were weighed, and four randomly selected animals were slaughtered to evaluate the initial carcass weight. After 97 days of treatment, all animals were weighed and slaughtered. There was no interaction among factors for the DM intake (DMI; P = 0.92); however, there was a tendency for the EC diets to decrease the DMI by 650 g/day compared to animals fed NC diets (P = 0.09). There was a trend for interaction among factors (P = 0.08) for the average daily gain (ADG), where the greatest ADG was observed for cattle fed the NC diet (1.77 kg), and the lowest was observed for those fed the EC diet (1.51 kg). The NC + ADS and EC + ADS treatments presented intermediate values for ADG. The animals fed the NC diet had a greater final BW (596 kg) than animals fed the EC treatment (582 kg; P = 0.04). There was a tendency for interaction among factors for carcass gain (P = 0.08). Similarly to ADG, the highest carcass gain was observed for animals fed the NC diet (1.20 kg), and the lowest was observed for those fed the EC diet (1.05 kg). The NC + ADS and EC + ADS treatments presented intermediate values. The natural contamination groups had greater carcass gain than that of the EC groups, and the use of the ADS recovered part of the weight gain in animals fed the EC diet. In conclusion, mycotoxins at the levels evaluated affected the performance of beef cattle, and adsorbents may mitigate their impact.

Do mycotoxin contaminated diets and yeast cell wall adsorbent affect meat quality of Nellore bulls finished in feedlot? - A short communication.

Ninety-six Nellore bulls (430 ±â€¯13 kg and 24 months) were assigned to a completely randomized block design (2 × 2 factorial arrangement of treatments) to evaluate meat quality. Dietary treatments consisted of natural or exogenous contamination with mycotoxins (Factor 1), with or without yeast cell wall adsorbent (10 g/animal/d; Factor 2). The diets were provided during 97 d. The meat chemical composition was unaffected (P ≥ .37) by the factors and the averages of variables were 74.2% moisture, 22.7% protein, 1.04% ether extract, and 2.10% ash. The L*, a*, b*, E*, C* (P ≥ .11), cooking loss (P ≥ .24) and Warner-Bratzler shear force (P ≥ .17) were also similar among factors. In conclusion, low mycotoxin contamination and yeast cell wall based adsorbent do not affect meat quality of Nellore bulls finished in feedlot.

Fermentation and aerobic stability of rehydrated corn grain silage treated with different doses of Lactobacillus buchneri or a combination of Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici.

We investigated the effects of different types and doses of inoculants for ensiling rehydrated corn grain. Shelled corn was finely ground and rehydrated to 35% moisture. Treatments were as follows: (1) control (no additives); (2) Lactobacillus plantarum and Pediococcus acidilactici (LPPA) at a theoretical application rate of 1 × 105 cfu/g; (3) LPPA at 5 × 105 cfu/g; (4) LPPA at 1 × 106 cfu/g; (5) Lactobacillus buchneri (LB) at 1 × 105 cfu/g; (6) LB at 5 × 105 cfu/g; and (7) LB at 1 × 106 cfu/g. We detected no effect of inoculant dose. Gas losses were greater in silages treated with LB compared with control and LPPA silages. Treating silages with LB reduced the concentrations of lactic acid and ethanol and increased silage pH and concentrations of acetic acid, propionic acid, and 1,2-propanediol. At silo opening, silages treated with LB had higher counts of lactic acid bacteria but lower yeast counts than the control silage. Aerobic stability was greater for silages treated with LB and lower for silages treated with LPPA compared with the control. The LB reduced dry matter (DM) losses during aerobic exposure, whereas LPPA increased them. Prolamin content was lower in silages treated with LB compared with the control, resulting in greater ruminal in situ DM degradability. Inoculating LB to a dose of 1 × 105 cfu/g increased aerobic stability and ruminal in situ DM degradability of rehydrated corn grain silage. The addition of LPPA did not alter the fermentation process and worsened the aerobic stability of rehydrated corn grain silage. Further studies are warranted to confirm these conclusions in other corn hybrids, inoculants, and their combinations.

Effects of feeding corn silage inoculated with microbial additives on the ruminal fermentation, microbial protein yield, and growth performance of lambs.

This study aimed to examine the effects of feeding corn silage inoculated without or with either Lactobacillus buchneri (LB) alone or a combination of LB and Lactobacillus plantarum (LBLP) on the apparent digestibility, ruminal fermentation, microbial protein synthesis, and growth performance of lambs. Thirty Santa Inês×Dorper crossbred intact males lambs weighing 20.4±3.8 kg were blocked by weight into 10 groups. Lambs in each group were randomly assigned to 1 of the following 3 dietary treatments: untreated (Control), LB, and LBLP silage. Lambs were fed experimental diets for 61 d. The apparent digestibility was indirectly estimated from indigestible NDF measured on d 57 to 59. Spot urine samples were collected from all animals on d 59 to estimate microbial protein synthesis. Lambs were slaughtered for carcass evaluation on d 61 when they weighed 32.4±5.2 kg. Six additional ruminally cannulated Santa Inês×Dorper crossbred wethers weighing 40.5±1.8 kg were used to examine dietary effects on ruminal fermentation. Average daily gain was increased when lambs were fed LBLP silage (P<0.05) but not LB silage. The LBLP silage had the highest (P<0.05) lactic acid concentration and both inoculated silages had greater acetic acid concentrations than the Control silage (P<0.05). Inoculation of corn silage increased intakes of DM, OM, CP, NDF, total carbohydrate (CHO), and GE by the lambs but decreased digestibility of DM, OM, CP, total and nonstructural carbohydrates, and concentration of GE and ME. (P<0.05). Nevertheless, lambs fed inoculated silages had greater microbial N supply than those on the Control treatment (P<0.05). The acetate to propionate ratio was lower in ruminal fluid of wethers in LBLP treatment than LB and Control treatment (P<0.05) and ruminal pH tended to be greater in LB lambs than in LBLP and Control wethers (P<0.10). Finally, the inoculation with both bacteria combined enhanced the silage fermentation. The intakes of DM, OM, CP, NDF, and GE were improved in the lambs fed corn silage inoculated with L. buchneri alone or combined with L. plantarum. The microbial N supply was enhanced in the lambs fed corn silage inoculated with L. buchneri. The inoculation of L. buchneri combined with L. plantarum reduced the acetate to propionate ratio in ruminal fluid and improved the ADG of lambs.

Beef quality of young Angus×Nellore cattle supplemented with rumen-protected lipids during rearing and fatting periods.

This work evaluated the beef quality parameters of 108 bulls randomly administered to three treatments during rearing in pastures and two treatments during fatting in feedlots, including mineral and rumen-protected lipids. Meat and fat color, cooking yield, shear force, sensorial traits and chemical and fatty acid compositions were evaluated. Generally, the beef quality parameters were not affected by the rumen protected lipids; however, supplementation with rumen-protected lipids during the rearing period yielded darker beef and brighter fat and increased beef tenderness in meat aged for 28days compared to the meat from animals that received only mineral supplementation. In addition, the percent of meat polyunsaturated fatty acids was negatively affected by the inclusion of protected lipids, yielding 5.58 and 3.72% in animals fed with and without rumen-protected lipids, respectively, during the fatting period.

Timed artificial insemination should be performed early when used norgestomet ear implants are applied for synchronizing ovulation in beef heifers.

The present study evaluated the effect of the type of norgestomet ear implant (new vs. used) on the ovarian follicular response (experiment 1) and pregnancy per artificial insemination (AI) (P/AI; experiment 2) of beef heifers subjected to an estradiol plus progestin timed artificial insemination (TAI) program. In experiment 1, 57 cyclic beef heifers were randomly assigned to one of two groups according to the type (new or previously used for 9 days) of norgestomet ear (NORG) implant. At the time of NORG implant insertion, the heifers were treated with 2 mg of intramuscular estradiol benzoate. Eight days later, the NORG implants were removed, and the heifers received an intramuscular administration of 150 µg of d-cloprostenol, 300 IU of equine chorionic gonadotropin, and 0.5 mg of estradiol cypionate. The heifers had their ovaries scanned every 12 hours from the time of NORG implant removal to 96 hours after verifying the occurrence and timing of ovulation. No difference (P = 0.89) was observed in the ovulation rates between the two treatments (new = 80.0%; 24/30 vs. used = 81.5%; 22/27). However, the heifers treated with a used NORG implant had (P = 0.04) higher proportion (36.4%; 8/22) of early ovulation (between 36 and 48 hours after NORG implant removal) compared with the heifers treated with a new NORG implant (8.3%; 2/24). In experiment 2, at the beginning of the synchronization protocol, 416 beef heifers were randomly assigned into two groups, as described in the experiment 1. Two days after the NORG implant removal, the heifers were reassigned to be inseminated at 48 or 54 hours after NORG implant removal. There was an interaction (P = 0.03) between the type of NORG implant and the timing of TAI on P/AI. The timing of insemination only had an effect (P = 0.02) on the P/AI when the heifers were treated with a used NORG implant [(TAI 54 hours = 41.9% (44/105) vs. TAI 48 hours = 58.6% (58/99)]. In conclusion, beef heifers synchronized with a used NORG implant plus estradiol exhibited a higher proportion of earlier ovulations, and TAI in these heifers should be performed 48 hours after removal of used NORG implants.

Composição física da carcaça e características da carne de bovinos de corte terminados em confinamento com diferentes dietas / Physical composition of carcass and meat characteristics of beef cattle finished in feedlot with different diets

Avaliou-se o efeito de diferentes dietas sobre as características da carcaça e da carne de bovinos de corte em confinamento: dieta composta por silagem de milho e formulação fixa durante o período de confinamento (SMF); dieta composta por silagem de milho e formulação variável durante o período de confinamento (SMV); dieta composta por silagem de cana-de-açúcar e formulação fixa (SCF); dieta composta por silagem de cana-de-açúcar e formulação variável (SCV); SCV na metade inicial do confinamento e SMV no período final (SCV/SMV). O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos e três repetições. Houve maior deposição de gordura renal-pélvica-inguinal (P=0,03), de gordura subcutânea (P=0,06) e de gordura na carcaça (P=0,06) nas dietas com silagem de milho (6,7kg; 6,2mm e 34,6 por cento) em relação àquelas com silagem de cana-de-açúcar (5,3kg; 4,8mm e 31,7 por cento). Houve maior (P=0,05) rendimento de contrafilé e de miolo de alcatra nas dietas com silagem de milho (10 por cento e 6,9 por cento) em relação às com silagem de cana-de-açúcar (9 por cento e 6,6 por cento). Não houve efeito das dietas sobre rendimento de cortes primários (P>0,1), perdas por cocção (P>0,3) e força de cisalhamento (P>0,1). O ajuste da formulação da dieta e a troca de silagem não influenciaram as características de carcaça e da carne. A utilização de silagem de cana-de-açúcar permitiu carcaças com acabamento satisfatório.

The effects of different diets on the carcass and meat characteristics of beef steers in feedlot were evaluated using the following: diet containing corn silage, with fixed formulation during the period of feedlot (CSF); diet containing corn silage, with variable formulation according to the phase of feedlot (CSV); diet containing sugar cane silage with fixed formulation (SCSF); diet containing sugar cane silage, with variable formulation (SCSV); CSV diet in initial half of feedlot and SCSV diet in final half (SCSV/CSV). A completely randomized experimental design with five treatments and three replicates (collective pens) was used. There was higher content of kidney-pelvic-inguinal fat (P=0.03), subcutaneous fat (P=0.06), and fat tissue (P=0.06) deposition in animals fed diets containing corn silage (6.7kg, 6.2mm, and 34.6 percent) as compared to those fed sugar cane silage (5.3kg, 4.8mm, and 31.7 percent). A higher (P=0.05) yield of strip loin and rostbiff ( percent of hindquarter) were measured in carcasses from animals fed diets containing corn silage (10 percent and 6.9 percent) than in carcasses from animals fed diets containing sugar cane silage (9 percent and 6.6 percent). No effects of the diets on yield of primary meat cuts of the carcass (P>0.1), cooking losses (P>0.3), and shear force (P>0.1), with averages of 23.4 percent and 4.4kgf/mIII. The adjustment of the diet formulation as the period of confinement and the exchange of silage did not affect the characteristics of carcass and meat. The use of sugar cane silage allowed carcasses with good finishing.

Degradabilidade ruminal da matéria seca, da proteína bruta e da fração fibrosa de silagens de milho, de sorgo e de Brachiaria brizantha / Ruminal degradability of dry matter, crud protein, and fiber fraction of silages of corn, sorghum, and Brachiaria brizantha

Avaliou-se a degradação da matéria seca (MS), da proteína bruta (PB), da fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), da fibra em detergente ácido (FDA) e da hemicelulose das silagens de milho, de sorgo e de Brachiaria brizantha. Foram utilizados três novilhos Nelore, machos, fistulados no rúmen, com média de peso de 200kg. Em cada animal foram incubadas amostras das três silagens nos tempos de 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72 e 96 horas. Para as degradabilidades potencial e efetiva da MS (taxa de passagem no rúmen de 5 por cento/h), a silagem de milho foi a que apresentou valores mais altos, 80,1 e 56,7 por cento, respectivamente, seguida da silagem de sorgo, 73,0 e 45,3 por cento, e da silagem de Brachiaria, 60,8 e 33,7 por cento. Para a PB, o maior valor de degradabilidade foi verificado para a silagem de milho, 87,0 por cento, seguida das silagens de sorgo, 81,8 por cento, e de Brachiaria, 75,2 por cento. A degradabilidade da FDN foi maior para as silagens de milho e sorgo. Para FDA, a silagem de sorgo apresentou perfil de degradação menor que a silagem de milho. Os resultados sugerem melhor qualidade da silagem de milho, seguida pela do sorgo e pela de Brachiaria.

The experiment evaluated the degradation of the dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), acid detergent fiber (ADF), and hemicellulose of silages of corn, sorghum and Brachiaria brizantha. Three steers averaging 200kg bw were rumen fistulated. In each animal, the three silages were incubated for 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 72, and 96 hours. For the potential degradability and the effective degradability (passage rate 5 percent/h) the corn silage presented the highest values, 80.1 and 56.7 percent, respectively, followed by the sorghum silage (73.0 and 45.3 percent), and the Brachiaria silage (60.8 and 33.7 percent). For CP, the highest degradability value was also verified for the corn silage (87.0 percent), followed by the sorghum silage (81.8 percent), and Brachiaria silage (75.2 percent). For NDF, the highest degradability values were also verified for the corn and sorghum silages. However, for ADF, the sorghum silage presented degradation profile lower than the corn silage. The results suggest a better quality of the corn silage, followed by sorghum and Brachiaria silages.

Ocorrência de lombalgia em fisioterapeutas da cidade de Recife, Pernambuco / Occurrence of low back pain in physical therapists from the city of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil

INTRODUÇÃO: Os profissionais da área de Saúde estão sujeitos a altos índices de dor na coluna vertebral e a lombalgia é uma das queixas dolorosas mais freqüentes na prática clínica. Os fisioterapeutas estão entre os profissionais que mais apresentam estes tipos de distúrbios. OBJETIVO: Analisar a freqüência das disfunções na coluna lombar de fisioterapeutas da cidade de Recife, Pernambuco, relacionando-as com tempo de atuação profissional, idade e jornada de trabalho. Materiais e método: Trata-se de um estudo de série de casos que foi desenvolvido por meio da aplicação de um questionário em 56 fisioterapeutas. RESULTADOS: Durante a realização deste trabalho, foi verificado um alto índice de distúrbios musculoesqueléticos localizados na coluna lombar dos pesquisados, com 78,58 por cento de queixas. CONCLUSÕES: De acordo com os resultados obtidos neste trabalho, é necessário o aprofundamento das discussões para uma melhor compreensão dos problemas identificados e atuação em busca da melhoria da qualidade de vida do profissional em Fisioterapia, por meio de estudos de maior poder analítico.

INTRODUCTION: Healthcare professionals are affected by several painful problems in the vertebral column, and low back pain is one of the complaints most frequently found among these professionals. Physical therapists are professionals who often present this type of disorder. OBJECTIVE: To analyze the frequency of occurrence of low back disorders among physical therapists in the city of Recife, Pernambuco, Brazil, and relate it with length of time in the profession, age and work schedule. METHODS: This study was a case series that was developed by applying a questionnaire to 56 physical therapists. Results: A high rate of musculoskeletal disorders in the low back was found, with complaints observed in 78.58 percent of the subjects. CONCLUSIONS: According to the results obtained from this study, it is necessary to seriously consider the occurrence of low back disorders in physical therapists, in order to reach a better understanding of the problems identified and to act towards improving the quality of life of this professional, by means of further studies.

Rat uterine contraction by kallikrein and its dependence on uterine kininogen.

Smooth muscle responses to kallikrein (EC 3.4.21.8) are generally considered to result from kinin formation. In the present study, this premise was reexamined with respect to the isolated rat uterus. Rat submandibular gland kallikrein produced contractions of the rat uterus but the contractions disappeared after successive additions of the same dose of the enzyme to the preparation. Kallikrein-induced rat uterine contractions as well as bradykinin-induced contractions were enhanced by rat submandibular gland bradykinin potentiating factor. The incubation of kallikrein with rat uterine extract in the presence of a kininogen-depleted rat uterus produced kinin which elicited the uterine contraction. An extract from uterine horns previously depleted of kininogen was prepared. Incubation of this extract with kallikrein in a bath containing a kininogen-depleted rat uterus did not evoke uterine contraction. The incubation of four rat uterine horns with kallikrein in the presence of a uterine horn previously depleted of kininogen elicited contractions of the depleted uterus. These results suggest that the contraction produced by kallikrein involves kinin release from the uterus.