Nutritional evaluation of the legume Macrotyloma axillare using in vitro and in vivo bioassays in sheep

This study consisted of two experiments with the following objectives: to evaluate the effects of tannins from the tropical legume macrotiloma (Macrotyloma axillare) on total gas and methane (CH₄) production, as well as on ruminal fermentation parameters by performing an in vitro bioassay, with samples incubated with and without polyethylene glycol (PEG) in a semi‐automatic system; and secondly in a 17 day in vivo experiment, to determine apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of dietary nutrients and ruminal fermentation parameters of 12 intact 8‐ to 9‐month‐old Santa Inês (averaging 24.95 ± 1.8 kg body weight) ewes fed tropical grass hay supplemented with macrotiloma hay. The ewes were divided into two treatment groups depending on their diet: chopped aruana grass hay (Panicum maximum cv. Aruana) (control—CON); and aruana grass hay supplemented with chopped macrotiloma hay (macrotiloma—MAC). The animals were kept for 5 consecutive days in metabolic cages for the ATTD assay, and at the end of this period, samples of rumen fluid were collected from each ewe to determine ammoniacal nitrogen (NH₃‐N) and short‐chain fatty acid (SCFA) production, and protozoa count. For the in vitro assay, a decrease in total gas and CH₄ production was observed for samples incubated without PEG (p < .05). No differences were observed for the other parameters evaluated (p > .05). In the in vivo experiment, increased intake and ATTD of crude protein were observed for the animals fed MAC when compared to CON (p < .05). For rumen fermentation parameters, increased NH₃‐N, total SCFA and isobutyrate concentrations, as well as reduced protozoa count were observed for MAC when compared to CON (p < .05). The results observed here indicated the potential of macrotiloma for use as a ruminant feed, and antimethanogenic potential of this plant was noted.     

Evaluation of a Neck Mounted 2‐Hourly Activity Meter System for Detecting Cows About to Ovulate in Two Paddock‐Based Australian Dairy Herds

Two studies were conducted to assess the performance of a commercially available neck‐mounted activity meter to detect cows about to ovulate in two paddock‐based Holstein‐Friesian dairy herds. The activity monitoring system recorded cow activity count in 2‐hourly periods. Study I investigated the ability of the system to detect cow ovulatory periods in dairy herds managed in two different Australian environments and breeding systems using five activity alert algorithms. Herd 1 consisted of approximately 130 milking cows calving year‐round in a sub‐tropical environment and kept in a single dry lot paddock. Herd 2 consisted of approximately 400 milking cows calving seasonally in a temperate climate and fed pasture by rotation through multiple grazing paddocks. Ovulatory periods and non‐ovulatory days were identified using milk progesterone monitoring alone or in combination with ovarian ultrasonography; using these ‘gold standards’ 141 and 135 ovulatory periods were identified in 64 and 135 cows in Herds 1 and 2 respectively. Sensitivity of the activity monitoring system for detecting cow ovulatory periods ranged from 79.4% to 94.1%, specificity from 90.0% to 98.2% and positive predictive value from 35.8% to 75.8%. Study II investigated the ability of the activity meter system to predict the timing of ovulations in paddock‐based pasture‐fed dairy cattle (Herd 2). The time of ovulation was estimated by repeat trans‐rectal ovarian ultrasonography at approximately 0, 12, 24 and 36 h after artificial insemination (AI). The mean times (±SD) from onset and end of increased activity to ovulation were 33.4 ± 12.4 and 17.3 ± 12.8 h respectively (n = 94). Fifty per cent of cows (n = 47) ovulated within the 8‐h period between 30 to 38 hs after the onset of increased activity, 76.6% (n = 72) within the 16 h between 24 to 40 h, 85.1% (n = 80) within the 24 h between 18 and 42 h and 90.4% (n = 85) within the 32 h from 19 to 51 h after the onset of increased activity. Results from these studies show that in paddock‐based dairy cows in two diverse management systems, this neck‐mounted activity meter system detects high proportions of cows that are about to ovulate and provides a useful indication of when ovulation is likely to occur. However, the specificities and positive predictive values using the algorithms assessed may be lower than desirable.     

Spatial hierarchical variances and age covariances for seroprevalence to Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo, BoHV-1 and BVDV for cattle in the State of Paraíba, Brazil

We estimated spatial hierarchal variances and age-group covariances for seroprevalence to Leptospira interrogans serovar hardjo (LeptoH), bovine viral-diarrhea virus (BVDV) and bovine herpesvirus type 1 (BoHV-1) among 2343 cattle from 72 properties sampled in the State of Paraíba, Brazil in 2000. From each property, eight animals in each of the four age categories were evaluated. The age categories studied were: pre-weaned (0–6 months), young (7–18 months), replacement (19–30 months) and mature (>30 months). Overall seroprevalence to LeptoH was 16.0% and showed clustering at all levels of the spatial hierarchy and had a high posterior probability of being negatively correlated between replacement and mature groups within herds. Seroprevalence to BoHV-1 was 46.6% and demonstrated very little clustering among levels of the spatial hierarchy and was positively correlated between young and replacement groups within herds. Seroprevalence to BVD was 22.2% and was strongly clustered within herds and was positively correlated between young and replacement age groups within herds.     

Use of Extensibility to Measure Corn Tortilla Texture

An objective extensibility test was evaluated to measure texture of corn tortillas. A tortilla strip is pulled apart by a tensile force during the test. Force at 1 mm deformation, force required to rupture the tortilla strip, modulus of deformation, and extensibility distance were correlated to subjective rollability and flexibility scores. Hard, firm tortillas required more force to deform and to rupture and had greater moduli of deformation than soft, flexible tortillas. Tortilla texture was affected by manufacturer of commercial tortillas and by aging. The coefficient of variation ranged from 6.0 to 16.7% for force at 1 mm deformation and work required to rupture, respectively. The extensibility technique is sensitive, fast, simple, and repeatable.     

Effects of Different Drying Processes on Oil Absorption and Microstructure of Tortilla Chips

Tortilla chips were slow dried after baking and then fried in fresh soybean oil. Control chips were not dried before frying. Final oil content of sun-dried tortilla chips was significantly (P < 0.05) lower than those receiving the control treatment. As a result of drying, the structure of the tortilla chips was tighter before frying but expanded significantly during frying. An attempt was made to produce tortilla chips with the same characteristics of the sun-dried chips using impinging hot-air drying techniques. Results indicated that tortilla chips drying rate was mostly affected by air temperature; texture was crispier at higher air temperatures; shrinkage of the piece was higher at lower convective heat transfer coefficient; and microstructure looked smoother at higher air temperature.