A meta‐analysis examining lactic acid bacteria inoculants for maize silage: Effects on fermentation,aerobic stability,nutritive value and livestock production

A database containing 140 articles published in journals (731 treatment means evaluated) was used to examine the effect of different lactic acid bacteria (LAB) on fermentation, chemical composition and aerobic stability of maize (corn) silage. Compared with the control, dry matter (DM) loss increased by 8% and 50% (p < .01) due to inoculation of maize silage with either homolactic LAB (^hoLAB) or heterolactic LAB (^heLAB). In vitro DM digestibility of maize silage increased only with ^hoLAB inoculation (+2.22%; p < .01). The ^heLAB inoculation increased (p < .01) the aerobic stability of maize silage by 71.3 hr. To investigate the effect of silage inoculation on livestock production, a second database comprising 35 articles [99 treatment means evaluated based on results from 648 cattle (429 beef cattle and 219 dairy cows) and 298 sheep] was used. Inoculation of maize silage with either ^hoLAB or ^heLAB did not affect milk yield (p > .05), but their combination (^mixLAB) depressed milk yield (–2.5 kg/day; p < .01). Inoculation with ^hoLAB increased DM intake in sheep (+0.15 kg/day; p = .02), but decreased it in beef cattle (–0.26 kg/day; p = .01) without affecting average daily gain for both sheep and beef cattle (p ≥ .06). In conclusion, fermentative loss increased regardless of the bacterial inoculant used, while aerobic stability increased mainly by using ^heLAB. Benefits from ^hoLAB inoculation on animal performance were noted only for feed intake in sheep, while productive performances of dairy cows and beef cattle were not improved.     

Efficacy of entomopathogenic nematodes (Nemata: Rhabditida) to control Brazilian apple leafroller Bonagota salubricola (Meyrick, 1937) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae)

The Brazilian apple leafroller, Bonagota salubricola (Meyrick, 1937) (Bonagota cranaodes) (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae), is one of the main pest problems in apple orchards is Brazil. The purpose of this work was to evaluate B. salubricola larval and pupal susceptibility to different species of entomopathogenic nematodes, isolated in Rio Grande do Sul state in Brazil, under laboratory and field (apple orchard) conditions. Bioassays for isolates selection and determination of lethal concentration were performed in tubes of 1.5 ml (eppendorf), each containing one B. salubricola third instar larvae and filter paper. Field experiments were performed in commercial orchard, with application of 100 infecting juveniles (IJs)/cm² for each apple plant previously infected with five B. salubricola larvae covered with plastic trays containing thin cloth. Nematodes H. bacteriophora RS107 and H. bacteriophora RS57 had LC₅₀ of 13 and 4.5 IJs/larvae (4.3 and 1.5 IJs/cm²), respectively. In the field, H. bacteriophora RS107 and H. bacteriophora RS57, applied with sorbitol as an adjuvant, reached 70.2 and 61.1% larval mortality, respectively. The results showed that both isolates had biological activity against B. salubricola under laboratory and field conditions.     

Influence of Sperm Cell Dose and Post-insemination Backflow on Reproductive Performance of Intrauterine Inseminated Sows

This study was carried out to evaluate the effects of the sperm cell dose and semen backflow on the pregnancy rate and number of embryos of sows inseminated once at 0-24 h before ovulation, using an intrauterine technique. The results were analysed from a total of 211 sows assigned to three groups inseminated with doses of 0.25 x 10(9) (T1), 0.5 x 10(9) (T2) and 1.0 x 10(9) (T3) spermatozoa. Semen backflow was observed in 95% of the females (143/151) evaluated for this purpose. The percentage of semen backflow is close to two-third of the volume and the percentage of sperm is around 15% of the infused sperm dose. Intrauterine insemination can be successfully performed provided that at least 0.5 billion of sperm cell dose is infused at an interval of 0-24 h before ovulation.     

Toxicity of apolar and polar Lantana camara L. crude extracts in mice

Lantana camara L, widely used in folk medicine, presents toxicity for farm animals. The acute poisoning effects of the apolar and polar L. camara L. extracts in mice were done. The percentage of death during 7 days after treatment, the acute signs of toxicity as well as the general activity observed in open field were assessed. The extracts were administered by i.p. route at 1.5, 3.0 and 5.0 g/kg. Animals were evaluated during the first 2 h after the treatments to assess the acute signs of toxicity and daily observations were done for the presence of death. In the end of the experiment, at day 7, or immediately after death the animals had their organs removed, weighted and observed for macroscopic alterations. ¹H NMR and TLC analysis suggest the presence of triterpenoids in the apolar phase but not in the polar phase. Results showed also that both extracts produced similar percentage of death, mainly after 2 days of treatment; only the apolar extract presented a dose-dependent increased lethality. At necropsy, mice treated by both apolar and polar extracts were severely icteric, dehydrated and constipated, with hepatosis, showed congested heart and lung, and nephrosis; no skin lesions were shown. The main signs of toxicity revealed a decreased spontaneous general activity. In addition, it was observed a decreased duration of locomotion and animal rearing parallel to an increased immobility in the open field. The similarity of the signs related to the acute toxicity for both apolar and polar extracts suggested that the extracts have some of the active toxic principles in common. Data from open field behavior and spontaneous signs of toxicity suggest that the toxic principles have depressive properties on central nervous system.     

Urea-montmorillonite-extruded nanocomposites: a novel slow-release material

The present study describes the preparation and characterization of a novel urea slow-release nanocomposite, based on urea intercalation into montmorillonite clay by an extrusion process at room temperature. Nanocomposites with urea contents ranging from 50 to 80 wt % were successfully produced and characterized. Analyses by XRD, DTA, and SEM-EDX confirmed the effectiveness of this simple process to exfoliate the clay lamellae into the urea matrix, forming a product that can be classified as a nanocomposite, due to the exfoliation degree attained. Diametral compression tests showed that the samples were very deformable, and the release rate of active components in water showed that the nanocomposite showed a slow release behavior for urea dissolution, even in low montmorillonite amounts (20% in weight).     

Fragment Sizes Produced from T5 Bacteriophage DNA Molecules by Acid Deoxyribonuclease

The action of acid deoxyribonuclease on T5 bacteriophage DNA results in a "random distribution" of sizes of duplex fragments as judged by electron microscopy. No preferred subunit size resulting from the "single hit" action can be detected down to lengths of 0.1 micron or less. The results are in agreement with the coexistence of a "single-hit" and a "double-hit" kinetics.     

Formulation and sensory evaluation of Prosopis alba (Algarrobo) pulp cookies with increased iron and calcium dialyzabilities

Prosopis alba (algarrobo) is an important indigenous specie, which fruits are used as food and feed since ancient times. Cookies containing algarrobo pulp (AP) with increased iron and calcium availabilities were formulated and sensory evaluated. AP is preferred as food ingredient because of its high sugar content and pleasant flavour. Formulated cookies mean proximal composition was 8.9 g/100 g protein, 7.2 g/100 g dietary fiber, 25 g/100 g total sugar, and 18.5 g/100 g crude fat with iron and calcium contents 30 ppm and 340 ppm, respectively. Ascorbic (AA) and citric (CA) acids at different mM acid: mM Fe were added in order to increase mineral availabilities being evaluated by an in vitro method. Those ratios were 5:1 and 10:1 for AA:Fe whereas for CA:Fe were 50:1 and 100:1 and combinations of them. After chosen the best AA:Fe and CA:Fe ratios (5:1 and 50:1, respectively), sensory evaluation with trained sensory panel and a consumer acceptability test with one hundred and seventy untrained judges were carried out. Acceptability test showed that 77.65% of the people (< 25 years old 41.76%, 25-50 years old 20.00% and > 50 years old 15.89%) tasting final formulated cookies indicated that they "like very much" or "moderately like" and there were not consumers rejecting them.