Effect of l‐glutamic acid supplementation on performance and nitrogen balance of broilers fed low protein diets

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of protein reduction and supplementation of l ‐glutamic acid in male broiler diets. A total of 648 chicks of the Cobb 500 strain were distributed in a completely randomized design with six treatments and six replications with eighteen birds per experimental unit. The study comprised pre‐starter (1–7 days), starter (8–21 days), growth (22–35 days) and final (36–45 days) phases. The first treatment consisted of a control diet formulated according to the requirements of essential amino acids for each rearing phase. The second and third treatments had crude protein (CP) reduced by 1.8 and 3.6 percentage points (pp) in relation to the control diet respectively. In the fourth treatment, l ‐glutamic acid was added to provide the same glutamate level as the control diet, and in the last two treatments, the broilers were supplemented with 1 and 2 pp of glutamate above that of the control diet respectively. The reduction in CP decreased the performance of broilers and the supplementation of l ‐glutamic acid did not influence performance when supplied in the diets with excess of glutamate. The lowest excreted nitrogen values were observed in the control diet, and treatments 2 and 3, respectively, in comparison with treatments with the use of l ‐glutamic acid (5 and 6). Retention efficiency of nitrogen was better in the control diet and in the treatment with a reduction of 1.8 pp of CP. It was verified that the serum uric acid level decreased with the CP reduction. A reduction in CP levels of up to 21.3%, 18.8%, 18.32% and 17.57% is recommended in phases from 1 to 7, 8 to 21, 22 to 35 and at 36 to 42 days, respectively, with a level of glutamate at 5.32%, 4.73%, 4.57%, 4.38%, also in these phases.     

Leather quality of beefalo‐Nellore cattle in different production systems

The aim was to compare the effects of two production systems on performance, carcass traits and physical‐mechanical characteristics of leather from Beefalo‐Nellore steers and heifers and to determine if the response to the production system was similar for both genders. A total of 40 Beefalo‐Nellore cattle, 20 steers and 20 heifers, were evaluated. Animals were divided into two production systems: slaughtered at 15 (intensive system) or 26 (extensive system) months of age. In the intensive system, all animals received a ration containing 600 g/kg corn silage and 400 g/kg concentrate. In the extensive system, animals were kept on a pasture predominantly based on Brachiaria sp. and supplemented with 2 kg/day concentrate. In the intensive system, there was no difference in slaughter weight (470 kg body weight) between steers and heifers but steers in the extensive system had greater slaughter weight than heifers (463 and 428 kg body weight, respectively). Leather weight was higher for animals in the intensive than extensive system but there was no difference in leather weight once excess fat was removed. Leather quality from Beefalo‐Nellore cattle slaughtered at 15 or 26 months of age is similar although carcass yield is higher for cattle slaughtered at a younger age.     

Myelopathy in Holstein x Gir calves in Brazil

This case report contains clinical and pathologic features of a degenerative myelopathy in Holstein X Gir crossbred calves in Brazil. The bilateral and symmetrical spinal cord white matter lesions were interpreted as a primary axonopathy that may be of the dying-back type.     

Separate and combined effects of cyclic fasting and l‐carnitine supplementation in red porgy (Pagrus pagrus,L. 1758)

We examined the effects of cyclic fasting in red porgy (Pagrus pagrus) fed different dietary carnitine levels. Juvenile fish (23.58 ± 3.49 g) were divided into eight groups – four groups were fed every day to apparent satiation, while the other four were fasted for 7 days every 2 weeks. In each feeding regime, two replicates were fed an l ‐carnitine non‐supplemented diet (46 mg kg^?1) and the other two groups were fed an l ‐carnitine supplemented diet (630 mg kg^?1). Fish fed 630 mg l ‐carnitine accumulated two times more l ‐carnitine in muscle than fish fed 46 mg l ‐carnitine. Cyclic fasting reduced the growth performance and lipid content in the liver. Carnitine supplementation did not affect performance and body composition, but decreased the n‐6 PUFA content. Moreover, the combined effects of fasting and carnitine supplementation were observed on reducing the n‐3 fatty acid content. Areas of steatosis were found in the livers of red porgy, but the results revealed that supplementation of l ‐carnitine in cyclic fasted fish contributed towards a lower degree of vacuolization than in fish fed to apparent satiation. Regardless of the feeding regime applied, the spleen of fish fed the l ‐carnitine‐supplemented diet was haemorrhagic and hyper activation of melanomacrophage cells was observed.     

Microwave-assisted Acid decomposition of animal- and plant-derived samples for element analysis

A single microwave-assisted acid-decomposition procedure is proposed for sample preparation of plant- and bovine-derived materials prior to multielement determination by inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES). The procedure involved sample grinding in a cryogenic mill to reduce particle sizes and increase the surface area for acid attack, followed by decomposition under high pressure and temperature. A single heating program was employed and efficiently destroyed most of the organic matrix by using small volumes of nitric acid and hydrogen peroxide. Accuracy of the elemental analysis was indicated by the good agreement between certified and found values of elements in plant and animal samples at 95% confidence level. The sample preparation procedure was fast and reproducible, and proved to be efficient for elemental analysis in agricultural and food-related samples by a sensitive multielement technique such as ICP-OES.     

Two Calorimetrically Distinct States of Liquid Water Below 150 Kelvin

Vapor-deposited amorphous solid and hyperquenched glassy water were found to irreversibly transform, on compression at 77 kelvin, to a high-density amorphous solid. On heating at atmospheric pressure, this solid became viscous water (water B), with a reversible glass-liquid transition onset at 129 +/- 2 kelvin. A different form of viscous water (water A) was formed by heating the uncompressed vapor-deposited amorphous solid and hyperquenched liquid water. On thermal cycling up to 148 kelvin, water B remained kinetically and thermodynamically distinct from water A. The occurrence of these two states, which do not interconvert, helps explain both the configurational relaxation of water and stress-induced amorphization.     

Process Parameters and Technological Quality of French Rolls Produced with Dry Sourdough to Reduce Sodium

The search for alternatives for salt reduction in bread is a challenge. This study aimed to evaluate the use of dry sourdough (DS) for the reduction of sodium in French rolls, using a 2² central composite rotatable design. Sodium chloride (NaCl) (0–2.5%) and DS (0–10%, flour basis) were added to the formulations. The reduction of NaCl decreased high‐speed mixing time, proofing time, oven spring, cut opening, and cut height. The addition of DS increased high‐speed mixing time and proofing time and, at higher concentrations, decreased oven spring, cut opening, and cut height. Color parameters also showed effect of DS. Specific volume, shape, and texture of the rolls were not affected by the variables. Thus, the use of DS was shown to be viable for the reduction of sodium in French rolls, because we reached up to 45% salt reduction at concentrations below 5% DS, with desirable technological characteristics.     

Secondary succession in a fragmented Atlantic Forest landscape: evidence of structural and diversity convergence along a chronosequence

Changes in physiognomy, species composition and structure, and dispersal mechanisms of canopy and subcanopy plant assemblages were investigated along a chronosequence of three ages: 12, 20, and 50+ years old (=old-growth), three replications in each, in an Atlantic Forest landscape in Northeastern Brazil. Our objective was to investigate whether there is floristic and structural convergence along secondary succession. There were significant differences between secondary and old-growth forests in density and basal area only for the subcanopy. Differences in density between forest ages were noted when the assemblage was analyzed per diameter and height classes. Richness of canopy species of both secondary ages differed from those of old-growth forests. Some dominant species in the canopy of secondary forests showed a significant decrease in density with increasing age, which indicates an ongoing process of floristic changes. The low level of shared species between secondary and old-growth forests supports the idea that species composition is one of the last components to recover during successional process. Zoochory was the most important dispersal guild in species percentage and number, irrespective of stand age. Although regenerating areas can take alternative pathways, our results indicate that secondary Atlantic Forest sites have a high potential for natural regeneration. This recovery is recorded as a physiognomic convergence of the canopy layer in as little as 12 years, and progressive introductions of later successional species into the plant assemblage that lead to convergence in terms of the diversity and richness of the subcanopy and of dispersal guilds just 20 years after abandonment.     

Shading effect on physiological parameters and in vitro embryo production of tropical adapted Nellore heifers in integrated crop-livestock-forest systems

Tropical Animal Health and Production - The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of increased shadow supply in integrated crop-livestock-forest systems on in vitro embryonic development and...