Effects of quebracho tannin extract on intake,digestibility, rumen fermentation,and methane production in crossbred heifers fed low-quality tropical grass

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effect of quebracho tannins extract (QTE) on feed intake, dry matter (DM) digestibility, and methane (CH₄) emissions in cattle fed low-quality Pennisetum purpureum grass. Five heifers (Bos taurus × Bos indicus) with an average live weight (LW) of 295 ± 19 kg were allotted to five treatments (0, 1, 2, 3, and 4% QTE/kg DM) in a 5 × 5 Latin square design. Intake, digestibility, and total methane emissions (L/day) were recorded for periods of 23 h when cattle were housed in open-circuit respiration chambers. Dry matter intake (DMI), organic matter intake (OMI), dry matter digestibility (DMD), and organic matter digestibility (OMD) were different between treatments with 0 and 4% of QTE/kg DM (P < 0.05). Total volatile fatty acid and the molar proportion of acetate in the rumen was not affected (P < 0.05); however, the molar proportion of propionate increased linearly (P < 0.01) for treatments with 3 and 4% QTE. Total CH₄ production decreased linearly (P < 0.01) as QTE increased in the diet, particularly with 3 and 4% concentration. When expressed as DMI and OMI by CH₄, production (L/kg) was different between treatments with 0 vs 3 and 4% QTE (P < 0.05). It is concluded that the addition of QTE at 2 or 3% of dry matter ration can decrease methane production up to 29 and 41%, respectively, without significantly compromising feed intake and nutrients digestibility.     

Pharmacokinetic profiles of the two major active metabolites of metamizole (dipyrone) in cats following three different routes of administration

This study was performed to determine pharmacokinetic profiles of the two active metabolites of the analgesic drug metamizole (dipyrone , MET), 4‐methylaminoantipyrine (MAA), and 4‐aminoantipyrine (AA), after intravenous (i.v., intramuscular (i.m.), and oral (p.o.) administration in cats. Six healthy mixed‐breed cats were administered MET (25 mg/kg) by i.v., i.m., or p.o. routes in a crossover design. Adverse clinical signs, namely salivation and vomiting, were detected in all groups (i.v. 67%, i.m. 34%, and p.o. 15%). The mean maximal plasma concentration of MAA for i.v., i.m., and p.o. administrations was 148.63 ± 106.64, 18.74 ± 4.97, and 20.59 ± 15.29 μg/ml, respectively, with about 7 hr of half‐life in all routes. Among the administration routes, the area under the plasma concentration curve (AUC) value was the lowest after i.m. administration and the AUC_EV/i.v. ratio was higher in p.o. than the i.m. administration without statistical significance. The plasma concentration of AA was detectable up to 24 hr, and the mean plasma concentrations were smaller than MAA. The present results suggest that MET is converted into the active metabolites in cats as in humans. Further pharmacodynamics and safety studies should be performed before any clinical use.     

Pharmacokinetic assessment of the monepantel plus oxfendazole combined administration in dairy cows

Monepantel (MNP) is a novel anthelmintic compound launched into the veterinary pharmaceutical market. MNP is not licenced for use in dairy animals due to the prolonged elimination of its metabolite monepantel sulphone (MNPSO₂) into milk. The goal of this study was to evaluate the presence of potential in vivo drug‐drug interactions affecting the pattern of milk excretion after the coadministration of the anthelmintics MNP and oxfendazole (OFZ) to lactating dairy cows. The concentrations of both parent drugs and their metabolites were measured in plasma and milk samples by HPLC. MNPSO₂ was the main metabolite recovered from plasma and milk after oral administration of MNP. A high distribution of MNPSO₂ into milk was observed. The milk‐to‐plasma ratio (M/P ratio) for this metabolite was equal to 6.75. Conversely, the M/P ratio of OFZ was 1.26. Plasma concentration profiles of MNP and MNPSO₂ were not modified in the presence of OFZ. The pattern of MNPSO₂ excretion into milk was also unchanged in animals receiving MNP plus OFZ. The percentage of the total administered dose recovered from milk was 0.09 ± 0.04% (MNP) and 2.79 ± 1.54% (MNPSO₂) after the administration of MNP alone and 0.06 ± 0.04% (MNP) and 2.34 ± 1.38% (MNPSO₂) after the combined treatment. The presence of MNP did not alter the plasma and milk disposition kinetics of OFZ. The concentrations of the metabolite fenbendazole sulphone tended to be slightly higher in the coadministered group. Although from a pharmacodynamic point of view the coadministration of MNP and OFZ may be a useful tool, the presence of OFZ did not modify the in vivo pharmacokinetic behaviour of MNP and therefore did not result in reduced milk concentrations of MNPSO₂.     

Pharmacokinetics of cefquinome in healthy and Pasteurella multocida‐infected rabbits

The pharmacokinetics of cefquinome were studied in healthy and Pasteurella multocida‐infected rabbits after a single intramuscular (IM) injection at 2 mg/kg of its sulfate salt. Twelve female New Zealand white rabbits (2.0–2.5 kg) were used; six of them served as controls, and the other six had been infected with P. multocida; the experiments were conducted 1–2 days after nasal inoculation of P. multocida when rabbits showed the signs of respiratory infection. Plasma concentrations of cefquinome were determined using high‐performance liquid chromatography. The values of elimination half‐life, area under the curve, area under the first moment curve, and mean residence time were significantly lower in infected rabbits (0.48 hr, 4.54 hr*μg/ml, 3.63 hr* hr*μg/ml and 0.8 hr, respectively) than healthy rabbits (0.72 hr, 9.11 hr*μg/ml, 9.85 hr* hr*μg/ml and 1.1 hr, respectively), whereas total body clearance was significantly higher in infected than healthy rabbits. Therefore, P. multocida infection caused significant changes in some of the pharmacokinetic parameters of cefquinome in rabbits. These pharmacokinetic changes may affect dose regimen when used in P. multocida‐infected rabbits.     

CD117‐ and vimentin‐positive telocytes in the bovine teat sphincter

Mastitis is a common economically relevant problem in dairy farming. As the major entry for pathogens is the papillary duct, one of the first defence mechanisms is the teat sphincter. This sphincter shows a rhythmic contractility of yet unknown origin. Searching for possible modulatory pacemaker cells, teat sphincters of eight cows were stained immunohistochemically with antibodies against CD117 and vimentin and evaluated microscopically for the presence of telocytes. CD117‐ and vimentin‐positive telocytes with telopodes were found in close contact with smooth muscle cells. Our findings present a first evidence of telocytes in the teat of bovines.     

Branched‐chain amino acid ratios in low‐protein diets regulate the free amino acid profile and the expression of hepatic fatty acid metabolism‐related genes in growing pigs

Liver metabolism is affected by nutrients. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of low‐protein diets (17% crude protein, CP) supplemented with branched‐chain amino acids (BCAAs), including leucine (Leu), isoleucine (Ile) and valine (Val), on hepatic amino acid profile and lipid metabolism in growing pigs. The ratio of Leu : Ile : Val in all groups was 1 : 0.51 : 0.63 (20% crude protein, CP), 1 : 1 : 1 (17% CP), 1 : 0.75 : 0.75 (17% CP), 1 : 0.51 : 0.63 (17% CP) and 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 (17% CP) respectively. Results revealed that compared to the positive control group (1 : 0.51 : 0.63, 20% CP), the low‐protein diets significantly augmented the concentrations of most essential amino acids and non‐essential amino acids (p < .05), with the greatest values observed in the 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 group. Moreover, relative to the control, the low‐protein diets with the Leu : Ile : Val ratio ranging from 1 : 0.75 : 0.75 to 1 : 0.25 : 0.25 markedly downregulated the mRNA abundance of acetyl‐CoA carboxylase (ACC), lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and fatty acid‐binding protein 4 (FABP‐4) (p < .05), and upregulated the mRNA expression of hormone‐sensitive lipase (HSL), peroxisome proliferator‐activated receptor‐g coactivator‐1α (PGC‐1α), uncoupling protein 3 (UCP3) and liver carnitine palmitoyltransferase 1 (L‐CPT‐1) (p < .05). Therefore, our data suggest that protein‐restricted diets supplemented with optimal BCAA ratio, that is, 1 : 0.75 : 0.75–1 : 0.25 : 0.25, induce a shift from fatty acid synthesis to fatty acid oxidation in the liver of growing pigs. These effects may be associated with increased mitochondrial biogenesis.     

Safety of standardized Macleaya cordata extract in an eighty‐four‐day dietary study in dairy cows

The objective of this study was to evaluate the safety of a standardized Macleaya cordata Extract Product (MCEP) containing the quaternary benzophenanthridine alkaloids, sanguinarine and chelerythrine, when fed to dairy cows. Thirty‐six dairy cows were randomized into three groups with twelve cows/treatment in two replica pens for each treatment group: control (C) without MCEP added to feed, treatment 1 (SANG‐1000) with MCEP added to feed at 1,000 mg/animal/day (1.5 mg/kg bw/day) and treatment 2 (SANG‐10000) with MCEP added to feed at 10,000 mg/animal/day (15.5 mg MCEP/kg bw/day). After two weeks of acclimation, animals were observed for an 84‐day experimental period, with body weight, feed intake and milk production measured daily. Milk composition was analysed every two weeks. Haematological analyses were performed on Day 0 and Day 84, and clinical chemistry analyses were performed on Day 84 of the study. There was no statistically significant difference (p > .10) among the three groups on body condition score, milk production or milk composition over the study period. There were no significant differences in body weight gain or feed consumption among the three groups. Animals in the SANG‐10000 group had significantly higher mean corpuscular volume (MCV) than the C group (p < .1) and lower mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration (MCHC) than the SANG‐1000 group (p < .1). Concentrations of sanguinarine and chelerythrine in milk samples collected on Day 84 were below the detection limit (LOD) as measured by high‐performance liquid chromatography‐mass spectrometry (HPLC‐MS/MS). In conclusion, this study presents compelling data supporting the hypothesis that the test product MCEP, when included in the TMR at up to 10,000 mg/animal/day (15.5 mg MCEP/kg bw/day), is well tolerated by dairy cows.     

Effect of sweet potato vines on performance parameters and some carcass characteristics of rabbits

Conventional feedstuffs in Brazil are expensive, which has led to the search for less conventional cheaper and locally available feedstuffs. Thus, this study was carried out to determine the dietary effect of dry sweet potato vines (SPV) on the performance and some carcass characteristics of rabbits. A total of twenty‐seven weaned White New Zealand rabbits (14 male and 13 female) 35 days old with an average initial weight of 755 g were allocated into three treatments. Nine rabbits were assigned to each treatment in a completely randomized design. Three diets were formulated to similar protein and energy levels: 0SPV – diet without inclusion of dry sweet potato vines; 10SPV – diet with 10% alfalfa hay replaced by dry sweet potato vines; and 15SPV – diet with 15% of alfalfa hay replaced by dry sweet potato vines. The experiment lasted for 49 days during which data for feed intake and body weight were recorded. The daily feed intake ranged from 73.17 to 78.02 g; daily weight gain from 22.32 to 23.17 g; feed conversion ratio (FCR) from 3.16 to 3.49 and final live weight ranged from 1839.44 to 1880.55 g. None of the evaluated performance parameters as well as carcass weight, heart weight and percentages of fat and protein in meat were significantly affected by any of the tested dietary treatments. However, the liver weight was statistically lower in animals fed the diets containing 10% of SPV, mainly due to lower glucose content. Glycogen within the tissue, did not differ significantly among treatments. It was therefore concluded that up to 15% of SPV can successfully be included in the diet of rabbits as a cheaper replacement for alfalfa hay without adversely affecting performance.     

Effects of concentrate‐to‐forage ratios and 2‐methylbutyrate supplementation on ruminal fermentation,bacteria abundance and urinary excretion of purine derivatives in Chinese Simmental steers

This study evaluated the effects of dietary concentrate levels and 2‐methylbutyrate (2MB ) supplementation on performance, ruminal fermentation, bacteria abundance, microbial enzyme activity and urinary excretion of purine derivatives (PD ) in steers. Eight ruminally cannulated Simmental steers (12 months of age; 389 ± 3.7 kg of body weight) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Moderate‐concentrate (400 g/kg diet [MC ]) or high‐concentrate (600 g/kg diet [HC ]) diets were fed with or without 2MB (0 g/day [2MB ?] or 15.0 g/day [2MB +]). Dry matter intake and average daily gain increased, but feed conversion ratio decreased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Ruminal pH decreased, but total volatile fatty acid increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Molar proportion of acetate and acetate‐to‐propionate ratio decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. Propionate molar proportion and ruminal NH ₃‐N content increased with the HC diet, but decreased with 2MB supplementation. Neutral detergent fibre degradability decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. Crude protein degradability increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Abundance of Ruminococcus albus , Ruminococcus flavefaciens , Fibrobacter succinogenes and Bufyrivibrio fibrisolvens as well as activities of carboxymethyl cellulase, cellobiase, xylanase and pectinase decreased with the HC diet, but increased with 2MB supplementation. However, abundance of Prevotella ruminicola and Ruminobacter amylophilus as well as activities of α‐amylase and protease increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. Total PD excretion also increased with the HC diet or 2MB supplementation. The results suggested that growth performance, ruminal fermentation, CP degradability and total PD excretion increased with increasing dietary concentrate level from 40% to 60% or 2MB supplementation. The observed diet × 2MB interaction indicated that supplementation of 2MB was more efficacious for improving growth performance, ruminal fermentation and total PD excretion with promoted ruminal bacteria abundance and enzyme activity in the MC diet than in the HC diet.