Alexandre Augusto de Oliveira Gobesso

Substituição de milho por sorgo triturado ou extrusado em dietas para eqüinos

The aim of this work was to evaluate, the replacement of ground or extruded corn by sorghum ground or extruded in the concentrate used in diets for equines. Four mares with an average weight of 450 kg and 24 months of age, non-defined breed were distributed to a 4 × 4 Latin square experimental design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (ingredient - corn and sorghum × processing form - ground and extruded). Apparent digestibility of total diet and nutrients were evaluated, and also the metabolic profile of the animals, considering the values of plasma glucose and insulin after ingestion of diets. Diets with extruded corn and sorghum provided higher total apparent digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber higher than those obtained with diets containing these ground ingredients. Total apparent digestibility of starch was similar among diets. Glycemic and insulinemic response was higher when fed extruded diets hence grain processing forms caused changes in the metabolism of horses. Total replacement of corn by sorghum in diets for horses is possible, since the apparent digestibility of nutrients and plasma levels of glucose and insulin did not differ between processing forms of sorghum. Regarding to processing forms, extruded corn and sorghum showed highest starch apparent digestibility and improved the energy potential of the diet.

Efeito da inclusão de diferentes fontes lipídicas e óleo mineral na dieta sobre a digestibilidade dos nutrientes e os níveis plasmáticos de gordura em equinos

The objective of this study was to assess the effects of including animals or vegetable fats and mineral on the acceptability, nutrient digestibility and triglyceride plasma concentrations and cholesterol in horses. Four foals aged 13 to 16 months were used receiving diet containing grass hay and concentrate. The experimental design was a Latin Square; using orthogonal contrasts. The acceptability was not influenced by the quantity nor the type of oil added to the diets. The smallest dry matter (DM) digestibility values, organic matter (OM) and ether extract (EE) were observed for the diets with the addition of mineral oil (58.90, 60.29 and 32.02%) compared to the control diet, whose values were 62.58, 64.41 and 77.71%. The EE digestibility coefficient obtained for the diets with animal fat (90.26%) and vegetable fat (86.47%). The diet with mineral oil reduced the HDL-C concentration (68.75 mg/dL) compared to the control diet (76.00 mg/dL). The adition of fat sources and mineral oil did not influence the acceptability of the diet by the horses. The vegetable oil did not differ from animal fat regarding nutrient digestibility, but these fat sources affected ether extract digestibility. The addition of mineral oil reduced the plastmatic HDL-C levels while the addition of animal fat and vegetable fat did not alter the cholesterol plasmatic concentrations.

Productive performance of simmental dairy cows supplemented with ricinoleic acid from castor oil.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance and blood parameters of Simmental dairy cows, supplemented with 2 g/day of ricinoleic acid (RA) in diet. Forty Simmental dairy cows in mid lactation, individually housed in stable type tie-stall, were used. The animals were randomly assigned to two treatments: 0 or 2 g of RA/animal/day. The experimental period consisted of 42 days divided into two 21-day. It was observed reduction in dry matter intake (DMI), increased milk, fat and FCM (fat corrected milk) yield, as well as increased of fat content of milk in cows that received RA in diets. No effects were observed for red and white blood cells and blood metabolites. Supplementation of RA improves performance of dairy cows in mid lactation.

Evaluation of body condition score in horses by ultrasonography

Currently, the evaluation of training and nutrition for sport horses has been widely studied in order to achieve maximum performance of sport horses in competitions. The body composition of muscle and fat deposition, as well as in humans, is one of the best indicators of performance. The body condition score (BCS) is a subjective indicator of body state and is mainly based in fat deposition in some regions of the horse. Ultrasonography has proved to be a valuable tool in the evaluation of subcutaneous fat deposition. In order to study the relationship between condition score and measures of body fat and muscle thickness obtained by ultrasonography in three distinct breeds, we used 14 Thoroughbred horses (PSI), 7 Quarter Horses (QM) and 10 Purebred Arabian horses (PSA) with a mean age of 3.5 ± 0.5 years and average weight of 471 kg. The animals were evaluated by ultrasonography in three regions: parallel to the spine, back fat thickness (EGL), thickness of gluteal muscle (EMG) and fat thickness in tail (EGC). Measurements were performed every 30 days for 60 days. The results showed a correlation between body condition score and tail fat thickness, with a higher correlation compared with the other variables. Ultrasonographic evaluation proved to be a reliable and practical tool for assessing body condition in sport horses.

Effects of alfalfa processing and addition of soybean oil on the total diet digestibility of foals

The effect of alfalfa hay processing (Medicago sativa L.) and the addition of soybean oil in diets on the total dry matter digestibility, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent in horses was evaluated. Four crossbred male foals with approximately 14 months of age and 197.25 kg were used and assigned in a (4 × 4) Latin square design with a factorial arrangement (2 × 2) composed of two alfalfa haying forms (cubes or branches) and the addition or absence of soybean oil in commercial diets containing concentrated in the form of pellets. The nutrients digestibility was determined by the total feces collection method for three days. The addition of refined soybean oil increased the total digestibility of dry matter, organic matter, ether extract and neutral detergent fiber. The alfalfa processing in the form of cubes increased the total digestibility of crude protein, neutral detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber. The addition of soybean oil in the assessed diets was a practical and safe way to increase the caloric density without reducing the digestibility of organic nutrients. The alfalfa processing in the form of cubes improved the total digestibility of crude protein, detergent fiber and acid detergent fiber in the diet of horses.

Addition of increasing doses of ricinoleic acid from castor oil (Ricinus communis L.) in horse diets: intake, digestibility, glucose and insulin dynamic

ABSTRACT Ricinoleic acid is obtained from castor bean and studies related to its effects on glucose and insulin dynamic are scarce in the literature. Eight male Crioulo breed horses (362 ± 16 of live weight, mean ± SD) were used in a replicated 4 × 4 Latin square design experiment that consisted of 10 days of adaptation and 7 days for data collection. The horses were allocated in each square to receive one of the following treatments: Control (0) and 1, 2, 3 and 4 g/d of ricinoleic acid (diet DM basis). Diets were composed of a commercial concentrate and Coast cross hay. Treatments did not affect DM and nutrient intake. Ricinoleic acid did not alter the nutrient digestibility, regardless of the dosage used. The quadratic effect was observed for glucose and insulin area under the curve. Ricinoleic acid quadratically affected glucose and insulin concentrations. Increasing dietary doses of ricinoleic acid altered glycemic and insulinemic responses of horses, and the present study recommends the dietary inclusion of 1.8 g of ricinoleic acid to improve horses energetic metabolism.

Influence of fat supplementation on mare’s milk composition

With the purpose to evaluate the effect of including dietary sources rich in linoleic acid (soybean oil) or linolenic acid (linseed oil) on the composition of milk, fifteen mares were divided into three groups: control, soybean and linseed. The animals received soybean oil or linseed oil in the proportion of 0.5% of body weight per day, during the final third of pregnancy until two months postpartum. Milk samples were collected weekly up to the eighth week of lactation, and were analyzed for concentrations of fat, protein, lactose and total solids by infrared process. The experimental design was completely randomized with three treatments, five replicates per treatment, and eight repeated measurements over time (weeks) for the composition of milk. The adjusted means of control, soy and linseed oils treatments were respectively 1.93, 1.66 and 1.48% for fat; 2.65, 2.48 and 2.39% for protein; 5.93, 6.14 and 6.26% for lactose; and 9.62, 10.04 and 10.14% for total solids. Time effect was observed for the variables fat (P<0.0001), protein (P<0.0001), lactose (P<0.0001) and total solids (P=0.001), and an interaction between time and treatment was found for the variable fat (P<0.0001). Under the conditions of this experiment was conducted, we conclude that supplementation with soybean or linseed oil does not affect the average composition of mare milk during the first eight weeks of lactation.

Effect of ricinoleic acid from castor oil (Ricinus communis L.) inclusion in equine diet on total apparent digestibility

The aim of the study was to evaluate the inclusion of ricinoleic acid deriving from castor oil as an additive in equine diet on total apparent digestibility. Eight Criollo adult horses, weighting 362.12 ± 16.15 kg, were distributed in 4 treatments: 0 g of ricinoleic acid per day; 1 g of ricinoleic acid per day; 2 g of ricinoleic acid per day, and 3 g of ricinoleic acid per day; distributed in two 4 × 4 Latin squares. Feces total collection was done with the animals in stalls, with concrete floor, without bed, during 5 consecutive days. There was no effect of ricinoleic acid on total apparent digestibility neither on dry matter nor on nutrients. The quantity of ricinoleic acid used in this study did not influence total apparent digestibility of equines.

Effect of the inclusion of ricinoleic acid from castor oil (Ricinus communis L.) in equine diet based on Bermuda grass hay: glycemic and insulinemic response

The aim of the study was to evaluate the inclusion of ricinoleic acid deriving from castor oil as an additive in equine diet on glycemic and insulinemic response. Eight adult Criollo horses, weighting 362.12±16.15 kg, were randomly allotted to four treatments according to a balanced 4×4 Latin square design: 0 g of ricinoleic acid per day; 1 g of ricinoleic acid per day; 2 g of ricinoleic acid per day, and 3 g of ricinoleic acid per day. The data were subjected to an analysis of variance. To assess glycemic and insulinemic response, blood samples were obtained at -30, 30, 90, 150, 210 minutes based on morning feed, always on the 11th day of the experimental period. Quadratic effect was observed (P<0.05) when related to glucose and insulin concentration. In conclusion, addition of ricinoleic acid influenced glycemic and insulinemic responses of equines.

Study of the lymphocyte proliferation of neonate foals from mares supplemented with linseed oil and soybean oil

Recent study of animal species indicates that the acid dietary n-3 fatty acids (FA) supplementation may exert immunomodulatory effects, mainly through changes in the production of inflammatory mediators. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the supplementation of pregnant mares with sources of omega-3 or omega-6 alter the lymphoproliferative response of their foals against Rhodococcus equi surface proteins (APTX). Three groups of mares were used in this study. They were denominated as C (without supplementation), OS (soybean oil supplementation) and OL (linseed oil supplementation), which were consisted of four, five and five mares, respectively. The soybean oil or linseed oil was included in the feeding of mares during the last trimester of pregnancy until two months postpartum. Samples were collected in the 7 and 30 day after foal’s birth. The OS group maintained a lymphoproliferative activity similar to that found in C group in both periods analyzed. The OL group showed a lymphoproliferative activity statistically higher than found in two others at day 7 of life. Our results suggest that supplementation of mares in late pregnancy with linseed oil can promote a higher proliferative response in vitro of their foal’s peripheral blood mononuclear cell against APTX.