Influence of Different Heat-Stress-Reducing Systems on Physiological and Behavioral Responses and Social Dominance of Holstein and Jersey Cows and Heifers on Pasture.

High ambient temperatures and relative humidity affect the behavior and physiology of the animal. This study investigated the influence of different heat-stress-reducing systems on the physiological, behavioral, and preferential responses of Holstein and Jersey cows and heifers on pasture. Experimental treatments were: (1) three heat-stress-reducing systems (sprinklers + artificial shade; showers + artificial shade; and artificial shade); (2) two breeds (Holstein and Jersey); and (3) two physiological stages (lactating cows and pubertal heifers). Physiological and behavioral responses to treatments were measured every 30 min on collection days. The frequency and duration of the use of the systems were recorded continuously 24 h/day for 3 days in each period. The air temperature and the relative humidity were 26 ± 4.1 °C and 74 ± 11.3%, respectively. The experimental treatments affected (p = 0.0354) standing idle, grazing behavior (p = 0.0435), and the frequency and duration of use of the systems by the animals (p < 0.0001). For all treatments, the respiratory rate and the coat surface temperature were highly and significantly correlated (p < 0.05) with the temperature and humidity index. In conclusion, under ambient conditions, dairy cows preferred using sprinklers or showers over artificial shade. These systems were more efficient at reducing the heat load and led to better behavioral and physiological responses.

Digestibility of canola seeds treated by autoclaving and/or condensed tannins / Digestibilidad de la canola tratada en autoclave y/o con taninos condensados / Digestibilidade de grãos de canola tratados em autoclave e/ou com tanino condensado

Background: plant proteins are susceptible to rapid degradation in the rumen therefore it is important to explore the best way to improve protein utilization. Objective: to evaluate the effect of heat treatment and/ or condensed tannins on ruminal degradability and in vitro digestibility of crude protein (CP) and dry matter (DM) of canola seeds. Methods: in situ and in vitro DM and CP digestibility of canola seeds treated with water (control; CCL), heat in autoclave (CLE), condensed tannin (CTN), and condensed tannin followed by autoclaving (CTA) were evaluated. Results: the DM effective degradability values (EDDM) by CCL, CLE, CTN, and CTA were 66.8%, 73.6%, 58.5%, and 77.5%, respectively. Effective degradability of crude protein (EDCP) by CCL, CLE, CTN, and CTA at a 5%/h passage rate (k) was 75.2, 77.2, 60.2, and 80.5%, respectively. Addition of condensed tannin and/or autoclaving reduced both DM and CP digestibility. Conclusions: treatment with condensed tannins protected canola seeds DM and CP from ruminal degradability, while treatment with heat or tannins combined with heat showed the opposite effect, increasing degradability of those fractions. Addition of condensed tannins and/or autoclaving decreased in vitro DM and CP digestibility.

Antecedentes: es importante estudiar la mejor manera de utilizar fuentes de proteínas vegetales, ya que son rápidamente degradadas en el rumen. Objetivo: evaluar el efecto del tratamiento térmico y/o adición de taninos condensados sobre la degradabilidad ruminal y digestibilidad in vitro de la proteína bruta (PB) y la materia seca (MS) en granos de canola. Métodos: se evaluó la degradabilidad in situ y la digestibilidad in vitro de la MS y PB en granos de canola tratados con agua (control - CCL), térmicamente utilizando autoclave (CTE), taninos condensados (CTN), y taninos condensados seguido por autoclavado (CTA). Resultados: los valores de degradabilidad efectiva de la materia seca (DEMS) para CCL, CTE, CTN, y CTA fueron 66,8, 73,6, 58,5 y 77,5% respectivamente; y para la degradabilidad efectiva de la proteína bruta (DEPB ) fueron 75,2, 77,2, 60,2 y 80,5%, respectivamente -a una tasa de pasaje (k) de 5%/h. La adición de taninos condensados y/o tratamiento térmico provocó la reducción de los valores de digestibilidad, tanto de la MS como de la PB. Conclusiones: el tratamiento con taninos condensados protegió la MS y la PB de las semillas de canola de su degradación ruminal. Los tratamientos con calor húmedo y asociación taninos más calor mostraron el efecto contrario, promoviendo el aumento de la degradabilidad ruminal de esas fracciones. La adición de taninos condensados y/o el autoclavado resultaron en menores valores de digestibilidad para la MS y PB.

Antecedentes: é importante estudar a melhor maneira de utilizar as fontes de proteína vegetal, uma vez que essas são normalmente degradadas no rúmen. Objetivo: avaliar o efeito do tratamento térmico e/ou a adição de tanino condensado sobre a degradabilidade ruminal in situ e a digestibilidade in vitro da proteína bruta (PB) e da matéria seca (MS) de grãos de canola. Métodos: avaliou-se neste trabalho a degradabilidade in situ e a digestibilidade in vitro da MS e PB de grãos de canola tratados com água (controle - CCL), termicamente em autoclave (CTE), tanino condensado (CTN) e tanino condensado seguido de autoclave (CTA). Resultados: os valores de degradabilidade efetiva da matéria seca (DEMS) para CCL, CTE, CTN e CTA foram 66,8; 73,6; 58,5 e 77,5% respectivamente, e para a degradabilidade efetiva da proteína bruta (DEPB) foram 75,2; 77,2; 60,2 e 80,5%, para taxa de passagem (k) igual a 5%/h. A adição de tanino condensado e/ou tratamento com autoclave provocaram a diminuição da digestibilidade, tanto da MS como da PB. Conclusões: concluiu-se que o tratamento com tanino condensado promoveu efetiva proteção da MS e PB dos grãos de canola frente à degradabilidade no rúmen. Já o tratamento com calor úmido e a associação tanino-calor, mostraram efeito contrário, promovendo aumento da degradabilidaderuminal dessas frações. A adição de tanino condensado e/ ou tratamento com autoclave diminuíram a digestibilidade da MS e da PB.