The Welfare of Dairy Cows in Pasture, Free Stall, and Compost Barn Management Systems in a Brazilian Subtropical Region.

The effect of milk production systems on the welfare of dairy cows has been studied worldwide, but studies that compare pasture-based, compost barn, and free stall systems, according to animal welfare, are more scarce. In this work, the welfare of 51 dairy herds, including 17 from each management system, was investigated through the application of the Welfare Quality® protocol. Descriptive statistics and the Kruskal-Wallis non-parametric method were used to analyze variables. In the present work, the welfare of the evaluated herds was significantly better in the pasture-based system than in the confinement systems. However, the pasture-based system presented weaknesses in providing water resources. The compost barn had fewer animal welfare critical points than the free stall system, as well as it was better than the free stall in measures related to comfort and health. The free stall did not present better scores than the other systems. It is concluded that the welfare of dairy cows is affected by the rearing system, with better scores, in most measures, in the pasture-based system, followed by the compost barn and, finally, the free stall.

Infrared or ultrasonic milk analysis can affect its results? / A análise infravermelha ou ultrassônica do leite pode afetar seus resultados?

ABSTRACT: Constant monitoring of milk quality by the processing industries demands the use of methodologies that add agility and low-cost analysis, such as the use of electronic equipment based on infrared or ultrasonic spectroscopy. In the present study, quality of raw milk received by dairy farms from western region of Santa Catarina state, Brazil, was evaluated throughout two methodologies of analysis of chemical composition and compared, being that both equipment used standard procedures for calibration, considering as reference data from the classic analytical methods recommended in Brazilian legislation. Milk samples from 45 producers were analyzed for SCC, TBC and physicochemical analysis, performed at dairy's laboratory and at the official laboratory. Infrared and ultrasound methodologies for chemical composition of fat, protein and lactose were compared and correlated. The comparison of the methods showed that there was no significant difference for the mean values of fat (P=0.06); however, they presented significant difference for protein (P=0.001), higher for IR (3.23 vs. 3.33), and lactose (P<0.0001), higher for US (4.47 vs. 4.83). Correlation was positive and significant for fat (r=0.73, P<0.0001), protein (r=0.47, P=0.001) and lactose (r=0.51, P=0.0003). Considering the minimal composition required, TBC and SCC levels, 95.5%, 84.1% and 64.4% of the milk producers met the current Brazilian legislation, respectively. It was concluded that the methodologies have affected results, which may have been influenced by the correction factor used for equipment calibration, specifically for analyzed samples during the study period.

RESUMO: O monitoramento constante da qualidade do leite por parte das indústrias beneficiadoras demanda o uso de metodologias que agregam agilidade e baixo custo por análise, como a utilização de equipamentos eletrônicos que podem ter como princípio a espectroscopia por infravermelho ou por ultrassom. No presente estudo, avaliou-se a qualidade do leite recebido por um laticínio da região extremo oeste catarinense e comparou-se duas metodologias de análise de composição química desta matéria prima, sendo que ambos os equipamentos utilizaram procedimentos padrões para calibração, considerando como referência os dados oriundos dos métodos analíticos clássicos preconizados na legislação Brasileira. Foram comparadas amostras de leite de 45 produtores para análise físico-química, de CCS e CBT, realizadas no laboratório do laticínio e em laboratório oficial. As metodologias por infravermelho (IR) e ultrassom (US) foram comparadas e correlacionadas para composição química de gordura, proteína e lactose. Os resultados demonstraram que não houve diferença significativa para as médias de gordura (P=0,06), entretanto, apresentaram diferença para proteína (P=0,001), maior para IR (3,23 vs. 3,33), e lactose (P<0,0001), maior para US (4,47 vs. 4,83). A correlação foi positiva e significativa para gordura (r=0,73, P<0,0001), proteína (r=0,47, P=0,001) e lactose (r=0,51, P=0,0003). Os resultados das análises de qualidade, considerando composição, CBT e CCS, atenderam a legislação vigente em 95,5%, 84,1% e 64,4% dos produtores, respectivamente. Concluiu-se que as metodologias afetaram os resultados, e estes podem ter sido influenciados pelo fator de correção, utilizado para calibração, sendo específicos para as amostras analisadas durante o período do estudo.

Production, Composition, Fatty Acids Profile and Stability of Milk and Blood Composition of Dairy Cows Fed High Polyunsaturated Fatty Acids Diets and Sticky Coffee Hull

Four lactating Holstein cows were assigned to a 4 × 4 Latin square design to determine the effects of feeding sticky coffee hull (SCH) as a source of antioxidants on dairy cows fed with high PUFA diets. The treatments (on DM basis) were control diet, diet with 30 g/kg of soybean oil, diet with 30 g/kg of soybean oil and 100 g/kg of SCH, and diet with 30 g/kg of soybean oil and 150 g/kg of SCH. Inclusion of 150 g/kg of SCH decreased the crude protein digestibility. Lower values of NDF digestibility were also observed when cows were fed with 100 g/kg and 150g/kg of SCH. The digestibility of NDT was lower in the control and 150 g/kg of SCH diets. Milk production and composition did not differ among the treatments. Inclusion of SCH increased the total polyphenols and flavonoids in the milk and reducing power as well. Soybean oil and SCH supplementation increased the LDL and total cholesterol concentration in the plasma. Milk fatty acid profile was barely altered by the treatments. In conclusion, the results confirmed that SCH added up to 15% in the diet did not alter milk production, improved its stability, and incorporated antioxidants substances in the milk, improving its quality for human health.

Mammary gene expression and activity of antioxidant enzymes and oxidative indicators in the blood, milk, mammary tissue and ruminal fluid of dairy cows fed flax meal.

The effects of flax meal (FM) on the activity of antioxidant enzymes (superoxide dismutase (SOD), glutathione peroxidase (GPx) and catalase (CAT)) in the blood, mammary tissue and ruminal fluid, and oxidative stress indicators (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances(TBARS) and 1,1-diphenyl-2-picrylhydrazyl-scavenging activity) in the milk, plasma and ruminal fluid of dairy cows were determined.The mRNA abundance of the antioxidant enzymes and oxidative stress-related genes was assessed in mammary tissue. A total of eight Holstein cows were used in a double 4 x 4 Latin square design. There were four treatments in the diet: control with no FM(CON) or 5% FM (5FM), 10% FM (10FM) and 15% FM (15FM). There was an interaction between treatment and time for plasma GPx and CAT activities. Cows supplemented with FM had a linear reduction in TBARS at 2 h after feeding, and there was no treatment effect at 0, 4 and 6 h after feeding. TBARS production decreased in the milk of cows fed the 5FM and 10FM diets. There was a linear increase in nuclear factor (erythroid-derived 2)-like 2 (NFE2L2) mRNA abundance in mammary tissue with FM supplementation.A linear trend for increased mRNA abundance of the CAT gene was observed with higher concentrations of FM. The mRNA abundance of CAT, GPx1, GPx3, SOD1, SOD2, SOD3 and nuclear factor of k light polypeptide gene enhancer in B-cells (NFKB) genes was not affected by the treatment. These findings suggest that FM supplementation can improve the oxidative status of Holstein cows as suggested by decreased TBARS production in ruminal fluid 2 h post-feeding and increased NFE2L2/nuclear factor-E2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) mRNA abundance in mammary tissue.

Produção de biomassa de cana-de-açúcar em dois espaçamentos e duas frequências de cortes / Forage yield of sugarcane growing in different row spacing and harvesting periods

Objetivou-se, neste trabalho, identificar os efeitos do espaçamento de plantio de 0,90 m e 1,30 m e da frequência de um ou dois cortes na produção de biomassa da cana-de-açúcar. O experimento foi realizado em três fazendas no município de Santo Antônio da Platina PR, utilizando-se a cultivar RB72454 implantada em novembro de 2004. As avaliações foram realizadas até janeiro de 2006. Os tratamentos foram compostos da combinação dos espaçamentos de 0,90 m e 1,30 m com as frequências de um ou dois cortes, aos 240 dias cana-planta e 180 dias cana-soca ou 420 dias de cana-planta, respectivamente. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi de blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial 2x2 e cinco repetições. A produção de biomassa da cultivar RB72454 variou entre 142,49 t-ha-1 e 225,70 t-ha-1 e foi resultante do efeito do espaçamento de plantio. A frequência de cortes afetou (P<0,05) a produtividade, sendo que a frequência de 1 corte foi mais produtiva em 21,41 por cento que em 2 cortes. A perda relativa a tocos em situação de colheita mecanizada representou, em média, 17,41 por cento da produtividade total para a frequência de 2 cortes e 6,83 por cento para frequência de 1 corte.

The objective of this study was to identify the effect of 0.90 m and 1.30 m row spacing and one or two periods of harvesting on the agronomical characteristics and forage yield of sugarcane cultivar RB72454. The trial was performed in three farms located in Santo Antônio da Platina - PR, from November 2004 to January 2006. Treatments were composed by combination of 0.90 m and 1.30 m row spacing and number of harvesting, being two periods of harvesting (240 days of plant-cane and 180 days of regrowth), or one harvesting (420 days of plant-cane). A randomized blocks design was used, with five replicates per treatment. The yield forage varied between 142.49 t-ha-1 and 225.70 t-ha-1 and was due to row spacing. The period of harvesting affected (P<0.05) the yield and the treatment of one cut was 21.41 percent more productive than two harvests. The stubbles losses in simulated mechanical harvesting represented, on average, 17.41 percent and 6.83 percent of the total yield for two and one harvesting, respectively.