Estimation of daily milk yield of Nellore cows grazing tropical pastures

Beef cows’ milk yield is typically determined by measuring milk yield once daily and then doubling this value to estimate daily production. However, it is not known whether this is accurate. Thus, we aimed to determine the association between morning and afternoon milk yield in grazing Nellore cows. Eighty Nellore cows were used, with initial weight of 516.0?±?1.0 kg. The experiment was a completely randomized factorial scheme, with 20 replications and four treatments (i.e., +?or ??pre-partum supplementation in combination with +?or ??post-partum supplementation): PRMM—1 kg of supplement/cow/day for 90 days pre-partum; MMPS—1 kg of supplement/cow/day for 90 days post-partum; PRPS—1 kg of supplement/cow/day for 90 days pre-partum and 90 days post-partum; and MM—only mineral mix ad libitum during pre- and post-partum. Milk was sampled on days 45, 135, and 225 post-partum (early, middle, and late lactation, respectively). No effects were observed of pre- and post-partum supplementation on milk yield (P?>?0.05). The afternoon/morning proportion of 0.45 in the early third of lactation was higher than other stages, which had a proportion of 0.41 (P?<?0.05). Post-partum supplementation increased milk protein in the morning and afternoon milking (P?<?0.05). There was also no effect of pre- and post-partum supplementation on afternoon-morning proportion other milk components (P?>?0.05). We conclude that estimating daily milk production of grazing beef cattle by multiplying a once daily milking amount times two is not accurate. Under the conditions of this study, proportion of total daily production represented by the ratio of afternoon/morning milking was 0.45 in early lactation (first third) and 0.41 in mid- and late lactation.     

Low occurrence of pathogenic Yersinia enterocolitica in pig tonsils at slaughter in Southern Brazil

Tropical Animal Health and Production - Yersinia enterocolitica is a foodborne pathogen and pigs are the main reservoir of it in their tonsils. As Brazil is a large producer and exporter of pork...     

Presence and distribution of leptin and its receptor in the gut of adult zebrafish in response to feeding and fasting

Leptin is an anorectic hormone secreted mainly by peripheral adipocytes but also by other central and peripheral tissues. It acts by means of a receptor called OB‐R, influencing not only appetite and body mass but being also involved in many fields like endocrinology, metabolism and reproduction. Immunohistochemistry and qRT‐PCR techniques were, respectively, used to demonstrate the presence of leptin and its receptor in the gut of adult zebrafish and to evaluate the leptin gene expression response to feeding and fasting. Immunoreactivity for the antibodies utilized was demonstrated in feeding but not in fasting fish, and the gene expression analysis corroborates the data obtained by immunohistochemistry. Therefore, all the obtained results support the hypothesis of the role of this hormone in food regulation in zebrafish.     

Increasing levels of supplementation for crossbred steers on pasture during the dry period of the year

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of increasing concentrate supplementation levels on the intake, nutrient digestibility, and performance of crossbred steers during the dry period of the year. The experiment was developed on Princesa do Mateiro farm, in the municipality of Ribeirão do Largo, located in the southwest region of Bahia State, Brazil. Forty uncastrated male crossbred (½ Holstein-Zebu) steers with an average body weight (BW) of 232.55?±?24.97 kg were distributed into four treatments in a completely randomized design with ten replicates. The animals were managed in an experimental area formed by Brachiaria brizantha cv. Marandu, in an intermittent grazing system. Treatments consisted of the following supplementation levels: 0.2% BW, with 60% crude protein (CP); 0.3% BW, with 40% CP; 0.4% BW, with 30% CP; and 0.5% BW, with 24% CP. The intakes of forage dry matter in kg/day and %BW and neutral detergent fiber corrected for ash and protein (NDFap) in %BW decreased linearly, whereas the intake of non-fibrous carbohydrates corrected for ash and protein in kg/day and average daily gain increased linearly. Therefore, the use of supplementation at 0.5% BW (24% crude protein) to provide gains of up to 0.500 kg/day is recommended for grazing steers during the post-weaning period in the dry season of the year.     

Relationships among neuroscore,magnetic resonance imaging features,and intracranial pressure in sheep affected by slow‐growing brain lesions

Diagnosing high intracranial pressure by clinical and diagnostic imaging is particularly challenging for chronic or slow‐growing lesions. The aim of this prospective case‐control study is to determine whether the neuroscore and brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are related to the direct measurement of intracranial pressure in sheep affected by intracranial slow‐growing lesions due to chronic cerebral coenurosis (Coenurus cerebralis). Seventeen affected and 10 control sheep were included. All animals underwent a neurological examination, MRI of the brain, and direct measurement of intracranial pressure. The severity of clinical signs and MRI findings were scored. Data were statistically analyzed. The invasive intracranial pressure value was higher in affected animals. A severely altered neuroscore is related to an increased intracranial pressure beyond the normal threshold (P < 0.05). The volume of the calvarium was larger in affected animals than in control animals (P = 0.0001) and was positively influenced by the presence and volume of the parasitic cyst (r = 0.7881, P < 0.01). Several degrees of deviation and deformation of both the ventricular system and brain parenchyma were detected by MRI. Subjective MRI findings were not associated with intracranial hypertension. In conclusion, this study shows that in sheep affected by slow‐growing lesions, severe alterations in the neuroscore and the results of objective MRI are related to an increased intracranial pressure beyond the normal threshold.     

Presumed post‐traumatic ocular chondrosarcoma with intrathoracic metastases in a cat

An indoor‐only, 5‐year‐old, spayed female domestic shorthair cat presented for an ophthalmic examination of the left eye. An intraocular tumor with secondary glaucoma and blindness was diagnosed; the globe was enucleated and sent for histopathological examination. Gross examination revealed a solid white mass filling the entire vitreous space and replacing the iris and ciliary body. The lens and retina appeared to be similarly replaced by the neoplasm. Histological examination revealed a complete loss of the internal ocular structures, with a ruptured capsule as the only remnant of the lens within an extensive malignant mesenchymal neoplastic cell proliferation. The cells were polygonal, with well‐defined cytoplasmic borders and abundant weakly basophilic cytoplasm, embedded within the islands of chondroid matrix. No neoplastic invasion of the sclera was apparent. The animal died 6 months after the enucleation due to respiratory distress. Gross examination revealed numerous firm, white to tan nodular masses with smooth to mildly irregular surfaces dispersed throughout the parietal pleura, thoracic surface of the diaphragm, tracheobronchial and mediastinal lymph nodes, pericardium, and lungs. On cross‐section, the neoplastic nodules were solid and variably translucent, resembling hyaline cartilage. Histologically, these nodules were similar to the neoplasm identified earlier in the left globe. Metastasis of post‐traumatic ocular chondrosarcoma has not yet been described in cats. This is therefore believed to be the first report of metastases of this type of neoplasm in cats. This case adds to the limited set of data on the outcome of this type of tumor.     

Alfaxalone anaesthesia in Lemur catta following dexmedetomidine–butorphanol–midazolam sedation

Objective

To evaluate the clinical effects and quality of sedation, induction, maintenance and recovery in Lemur catta after dexmedetomidine–butorphanol–midazolam sedation and alfaxalone anaesthesia.

GLP1 and GIP are involved in the action of synbiotics in broiler chickens

Background: In order to discover new strategies to replace antibiotics in the post-antibiotic era in meat-type chicken production, two new synbiotics were tested:(Lactobacillus salivarius IBB3154 plus galactooligosaccharide(Syn1) and Lactobacillus plantarum IBB3036 plus raffinose family oligosaccharides(Syn2).Methods: The synbiotics were administered via syringe, using a special automatic system, into the egg air chamber of Cobb 500 broiler chicks on the 12 thday of egg incubation(2 mg of prebiotics + 105 cfu bacteria per egg).Hatched roosters(total 2,400) were reared on an experimental farm, kept in pens(75 animals per pen), with free access to feed and water. After 42 d animals were slaughtered. Blood serum, pancreas, duodenum and duodenum content were collected.Results: Syn2 increased trypsin activity by 2.5-fold in the pancreas and 1.5-fold in the duodenal content. In the duodenum content, Syn2 resulted in ca 30% elevation in lipase activity and 70% reduction in amylase activity.Syn1 and Syn2 strongly decreased expression of m RNA for GLP-1 and GIP in the duodenum and for GLP-1 receptors in the pancreas. Simultaneously, concentrations of the incretins significantly diminished in the blood serum(P 0.05). The decreased expression of incretins coincides with changed activity of digestive enzymes in the pancreas and in the duodenal content. The results indicate that incretins are involved in the action of Syn1 and Syn2 or that they may even be their target. No changes were observed in key hormones regulating metabolism(insulin, glucagon, corticosterone, thyroid hormones, and leptin) or in metabolic indices(glucose,NEFA, triglycerides, cholesterol). Additionally, synbiotics did not cause significant changes in the activities of alanine and aspartate aminotransferases in broiler chickens. Simultaneously, the activity of alkaline phosphatase and gamma glutamyl transferase diminished after Syn2 and Syn1, respectively.Conclusion: The selected synbiotics may be used as in ovo additives for broiler chickens, and Syn2 seems to improve their potential digestive proteolytic and lipolytic ability. Our results suggest that synbiotics can be directly or indirectly involved in incretin secretion and reception.