Laerte Dagher Cassoli

Contagem de células somáticas e produção de leite em vacas holandesas confinadas

ABSTRACT - The relationship between milk somatic cells count (SCC) and milk yield has been the aim of countless researchesin several countries; however, in Brazil, the literature related to this subject is scarce. Therefore, the objective of this st udy is to verifyif the losses in milk yield due to SCC increase are proportional to the yield, or absolute (independent of it) and starting fro m which SCC,the losses become evident. For this study, 13.725 observations were used, collected monthly from 6 different herds, from Januar y/2001up to June/2002. The analysis model, for lactation curve, was based upon the incomplete gama function, considering the effects of lactationorder, herd and calving season. The SCC entered in that model in two ways: as multiplicative factor (representing relative loss es) andas addictive factor (representing absolute losses). The best model was chosen based on the information criteria of Schwarz (BIC ). It isconcluded that the losses are absolute, becoming evident from 17.000 cells/mL, and they are 238 and 868 mL/day for each increas e ofone unit in the natural logarithm scale, starting from that SCC, respectively, for primiparous and multiparous.Key Words: SCC, subclinical mastitis, bovine mastitis, milk yield

Influência de fatores de ambiente sobre a contagem de células somáticas e sua relação com perdas na produção de leite de vacas da raça Holandesa

Cumulative milk yield at 305 days (MY-305) and somatic cell count (SCC) from the first to the fifth lactation of Holstein cows were analyzed in this study. Somatic cell count was logarithmically transformed to somatic cell score (SCS) that was then included in the model not only as a dependent but also as an independent variable. Year, season, and parity order all significantly affected the average SCS in this study. Data of the effect of SCS on milk yield showed significant losses on MY-305 because of the observed negative linear relationship between these two variables. Somatic cell score affected differently MY-305 from different parity orders with greater effect after the 3rd parity. Although clinical mastitis seems to cause greater economic losses, prevention and control of sub-clinical mastitis deserve more attention due to its greater prevalence leading to significant reduction on herd productivity.Cumulative milk yield at 305 days (MY-305) and somatic cell count (SCC) from the first to the fifth lactation of Holstein cows were analyzed in this study. Somatic cell count was logarithmically transformed to somatic cell score (SCS) that was then included in the model not only as a dependent but also as an independent variable. Year, season, and parity order all significantly affected the average SCS in this study. Data of the effect of SCS on milk yield showed significant losses on MY-305 because of the observed negative linear relationship between these two variables. Somatic cell score affected differently MY-305 from different parity orders with greater effect after the 3rd parity. Although clinical mastitis seems to cause greater economic losses, prevention and control of sub-clinical mastitis deserve more attention due to its greater prevalence leading to significant reduction on herd productivity.

Short communication: Evaluation of an on-farm test to estimate somatic cell count

The objective of this study was to compare the results of an on-farm test, named Somaticell, with results of electronic cell counting and for milk somatic cell count (SCC) among readers. The Somaticell test correctly determined the SCC in fresh quarter milk samples. Correlation between Somaticell and electronic enumeration of somatic cells was 0.92 and kappa coefficient 0.82. Using a threshold of 205,000 cells/mL, the sensitivity and specificity for determination of intramammary infections were 91.3 and 96.0%, respectively. The SCC was greater for milk samples from which major mastitis pathogens were recovered. Minor variation among readers was observed and most likely associated with the mixing procedure. However, the final analysis indicated that this variation was not significant and did not affect the amount of samples classified as having subclinical mastitis. The on-farm test evaluated in this study showed adequate capacity of determining SCC on quarter milk samples and may be considered as an alternative for on-farm detection of subclinical mastitis.

Efeitos genéticos e de ambiente sobre a produção de leite e a contagem de células somáticas em vacas holandesas

The objective of this study was to estimate the genetic and phenotypic relationships between somatic cell count (SCC) and milk yield and to evaluate the possibility of using SCC as a selection criteria in breeding programs of dairy cattle. Somatic cell count records were transformed into somatic cell score (SCS) using a logarithmic scale. Genetic parameters for milk yield (305 days) and average somatic cell score (ASCS) were estimated. The overall means for 305-day milk yield (MY305) and ASCS were, respectively, 7519.51 kg and 4.04. Heritability estimates for MY305 and ASCS, obtained from univariate analyses were 0.22 and 0.13, respectively. Similar results were obtained from bivariate analysis. The genetic correlation between MY305 and ASCS was -0.16. This result differs from most of those from the literature and suggests that selection for milk yield will not increase ASCS.

Métodos de conservação de amostras de leite para determinação da contagem bacteriana total por citometria de fluxo

ABSTRACT - The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of storage temperature and sample age on the totalbacterial count (TBC) of milk samples preserved with azidiol to verify whether a single sample could be used to performregulatory milk analysis under the Normative Instruction 51 (IN-51). Three hundred and twenty milk aliquots were usedcollected from an expansion tank to assess three storage temperatures (0 o C – frozen: 7 o C – refrigerated, and 24 o C – roomtemperature), three types of conservation (bronopol, azidiol and no preservative) and four sample ages (1, 3, 5, and 7 days).For the total bacteria count, refrigerated control samples, with azidiol and one day old samples, and for composition and somaticcell count (SCC), the controls were defined as one day old refrigerated samples containing bronopol. Samples conserved withbronopol presented lower total bacteria count than the control regardless of storage temperature and sample age. Milk samplesconserved with azidiol and stored refrigerated presented lower SCC, regardless of age, compared to refrigerated samplesconserved with bronopol. The fat and lactose contents decreased after the fifth day. Two samples had to be collected: onefor SCC determination and composition containing bronopol and another for the total bacteria count containing azidiol. Milksamples used for total bacteria count can be tested up to 7 days if they are kept at 7

Sazonalidade do teor de proteína e outros componentes do leite e sua relação com programa de pagamento por qualidade

Avaliou-se o efeito da variacao da qualidade do leite mediante acompanhamento de amostras provenientes de tanques refrigeradores. As 2.970 amostras foram obtidas de outubro/2005 a setembro/2006. Foram realizadas analises de composicao, contagem de celulas somaticas (CCS) e contagem bacteriana total. As condicoes climaticas foram avaliadas pela temperatura e umidade do ar coletadas em estacoes meteorologicas distribuidas em todo o estado de Sao Paulo. No outono, ocorreram os maiores valores para gordura e proteina do leite, 3,65 e 3,21%, respectivamente. Para contagem de celulas somaticas, foi observado aumento no verao e contagem bacteriana na epoca da primavera. Foi identificada a influencia da epoca do ano sobre o preco do leite pago dentro de um programa, com valor de bonificacao maxima de 7,9% para o outono. Um dos mais importantes itens relacionados com a penalizacao foi a CCS, a qual pode interferir na qualidade dos produtos finais por meio de alteracao da proporcao de caseina/proteinas do soro. O efeito da CCS e o da epoca do ano devem ser considerados na formulacao das tabelas de programas de pagamento.

Avaliação do fornecimento adicional de colostro para bezerros

The acquired immunity by newborns calves is dependent of ingestion and absorption of adequate quantity of colostral immunoglobulins. Supplemental pooled colostrum can be an important procedure to correct miscarried management. This study was performed to evaluate the effect of additional colostrum of super immunological quality at 12 hours of live on total serum protein and immunoglobulin G concentration in newborn calves. Fourty five newborn calves, separated in two treatments: Treatment 1 - additional colostrum 12 hours after birth (10% body weight) and Treatment 2 - control, were evaluated. According to the initial level of passive immunity, the animals were allocated to the groups described as follows: Group 1 (low level supplemented) IgG 20 mg/mL; Group 3 (low level control) IgG 20 mg/mL. The average concentration of pooled colostrum was 68,49 ± 4,21 mg/mL. In the animals with adequate levels of antibodies, despite of the additional colostrum, the concentrations were similar at all ages, without significant differences. However, in the group with low level of passive immunity the additional colostrum promoted a compensation effect with animals reaching the levels comparable with the ones with normal initial concentration of serum antibodies

In situ degradability of corn stover and elephant-grass harvested at four stages of maturity

Among tropical forages, corn silage is largely used by farmers trying to explore the maximum genetic potential from the animals. However, other tropical forages, such as elephant-grass (Pennisetum purpureum), are more productive and therefore cheaper to use than corn silage. Our objective was to compare the in situ degradability of elephant-grass with that from corn hybrids, all harvested at four stages of maturity. The experimental design followed a randomized block design with nested subplots. Two corn hybrids: AG5011, ZN8392 were harvested with 25, 30, 35, and 40% dry matter (DM) in the whole plant, and separated in stem + leaf sheath + leaf blade (stover), and cobs. Elephant-grass was harvested with 30, 40, 50 and 60 days after a leveling cut. Dried and ground samples were incubated in nylon bags inside the rumen for 0, 6, 12, 24, 48 and 72 h to estimate the kinetics of ruminal DM and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) degradation. The advance of maturity increased the NDF and acid detergent fiber (ADF) content in elephant-grass, and reduced its DM degradability. However, maturity had little or no effect on fiber content and DM degradability of corn stover. Elephant-grass had a higher NDF degradability than corn stover, and there was no effect of maturity on NDF degradability of either elephant-grass or corn stover. Fiber degradability of elephant-grass was not worse than that of corn stover, and therefore the choice of forage should be made on economical analysis rather than assuming an intrinsic low production potential for elephant-grass based diets.

Aflatoxin M1 in raw milk from different regions of São Paulo state – Brazil

A total of 635 raw milk samples from 45 dairy farms, from three regions of São Paulo state – Brazil, were evaluated during 15 months for aflatoxin M1 (AFM1). AFM1 was determined by high performance liquid chromatograph with fluorescence detection. AFM1 was detected (>0.003 µg kg−1) in 72.9%, 56.3% and 27.5% of the samples from Bauru, Araçatuba and Vale do Paraíba regions, respectively. The mean AFM1 contamination considering all the samples was 0.021 µg kg−1. Furthermore, the concentration of AFM1 was quite different among Bauru (0.038 µg kg−1), Araçatuba (0.017 µg kg−1) and Vale do Paraíba (<0.01 µg kg−1) regions. Only three samples (0.5%) had higher contamination than the tolerated limit in Brazil (0.50 µg kg−1) and 64 samples (10.1%) had a higher contamination than the maximum limit as set by the European Union (0.050 µg kg−1). The estimated AFM1 daily intake was 0.358 and 0.120 ng kg−1 body weight per day for children and adults, respectively.

The use of the Fourier Transform Infrared spectroscopy to determine adulterants in raw milk

The objective of this study was to develop calibrations to determine the concentration of some milk adulterants by using the automated methodology of Fourier Transform Infrared (FTIR). For construction of calibrations, samples were collected from 100 farms in the states of Sao Paulo and Minas Gerais. Samples were tainted with three different adulterants commonly used in the adulteration of raw milk: sodium bicarbonate (SB), sodium citrate (SC) and cheese whey (W). Each adulterant was used at three different concentrations (SB: 0.05, 0.10 and 0.25%; SC: 0.025, 0.050 and 0.075% and W: 5, 10 and 20%). For validation, 60 samples were collected in other farms, which were not considered at the development stage of calibration. Adulterants were added at the following concentrations: 0.03, 0.06, 0.10 and 0.12% for SB; 0.02, 0.04, 0.06 and 0.08% for SC and 5, 10 and 20% for W. Performance of each calibration was evaluated in terms of accuracy (Se), detection limit (DL) and determination coefficient (R2). All calibrations presented R2 higher than 0.91 with DL of 0.015%; 0.017% and 3.9% for SB, SC and W, respectively. Accuracy was 0.005%, 0.009% and 2.26% for SB, SC and W, respectively. Results show that the FTIR methodology can be used for determining the concentration of sodium bicarbonate, sodium citrate and whey in raw milk. Associated with automated equipment, it is a viable option for monitoring these adulterants, having low operational costs and high analytical performance as additional features.