Lúcia Maria Zeoula

Milk composition, milk fatty acid profile, digestion, and ruminal fermentation in dairy cows fed whole flaxseed and calcium salts of flaxseed oil.

Four ruminally lactating Holstein cows averaging 602+/-25 kg of body weight and 64+/-6 d in milk at the beginning of the experiment were randomly assigned to a 4 x 4 Latin square design to determine the effects of feeding whole flaxseed and calcium salts of flaxseed oil on dry matter intake, digestibility, ruminal fermentation, milk production and composition, and milk fatty acid profile. The treatments were a control with no flaxseed products (CON) or a diet (on a dry matter basis) of 4.2% whole flaxseed (FLA), 1.9% calcium salts of flaxseed oil (SAL), or 2.3% whole flaxseed and 0.8% calcium salts of flaxseed oil (MIX). The 4 isonitrogenous and isoenergetic diets were fed for ad libitum intake. Experimental periods consisted of 21 d of diet adaptation and 7 d of data collection and sampling. Dry matter intake, digestibility, milk production, and milk concentrations of protein, lactose, urea N, and total solids did not differ among treatments. Ruminal pH was reduced for cows fed the CON diet compared with those fed the SAL diet. Propionate proportion was higher in ruminal fluid of cows fed CON than in that of those fed SAL, and cows fed the SAL and CON diets had ruminal propionate concentrations similar to those of cows fed the FLA and MIX diets. Butyrate concentration was numerically higher for cows fed the SAL diet compared with those fed the FLA diet. Milk fat concentration was lower for cows fed SAL than for those fed CON, and there was no difference between cows fed CON and those fed FLA and MIX. Milk yields of protein, fat, lactose, and total solids were similar among treatments. Concentrations of cis-9 18:1 and of intermediates of ruminal biohydrogenation of fatty acids such as trans-9 18:1 were higher in milk fat of cows fed SAL and MIX than for those fed the CON diet. Concentration of rumenic acid (cis-9, trans-11 18:2) in milk fat was increased by 63% when feeding SAL compared with FLA. Concentration of alpha-linolenic acid was higher in milk fat of cows fed SAL and MIX than in milk of cows fed CON (75 and 61%, respectively), whereas there was no difference between FLA and CON. Flaxseed products (FLA, SAL, and MIX diets) decreased the n-6 to n-3 fatty acid ratio in milk fat. Results confirm that flax products supplying 0.7 to 1.4% supplemental fat in the diet can slightly improve the nutritive value of milk fat for better human health.

Degradabilidade ruminal In Situ da matéria seca e proteína bruta das silagens de milho e sorgo e de alguns alimentos concentrados

The ruminal dry matter (DM) and crude protein (CP) degradability of some feeds were evaluated by the in situ technique, using three Holstein cows. The concentrate feeds were ground through a 2 mm screen and the forage and the cassava root, in 5 mm screen, and incubated in nylon bag (53µ). The effective degradability (ED) of DM (5%/h) for corn silage, sorghum silage, corn, sorghum, wheat bran, triticale, cassava scraping, citrus pulp, soybean meal, cottonseed meal and meat and bone meal was: 54.8, 46.0, 37.6, 54.3, 80.4, 88.7, 75.0, 67.5, 74.1, 65.9, and 39.4%, respectively. The effective degradabilities CP were: 70.4, 67.9, 40.2, 42.7, 86.5, 89.3, 71.7, 62.1, 57.3, 81.4, and 47.5%, respectively. The feed group was made according to ruminal DM and CP degradation dynamics, by means of Tocher method. The potentially degradable fraction and its degradation rate were the variables of the highest discrimination power for the group formation.

Evaluation of cassava and its industrial residues in replacement of corn on performance of feedlot heifers

The objective of this work was to study the replacement of corn by cassava hulls, swept cassava meal or cassava scrapings on the average weight gain, feed intake, feed:gain ratio and carcass yields of feedlot heifers. Twenty-eight crossbreeding heifers averaging 365 kg LW and 24 months of age were allotted to a randomized blocks design in a 56 days experimental period, with four diets and seven replicates. There was no effect of replacement of corn by cassava products on average weight gain, feed:gain ratio and carcass yields. However, feed intake was smaller in the diets with cassava scrapings and by-product cassava.

Antioxidant activity and composition of propolis obtained by different methods of extraction

Ethanolic extracts of propolis obtained with different concentrations of propolis and made using hydrous ethanol with various water/ethanol contents were analyzed. The antioxidant action of the extracts was determined by free radical 1,1-diphenyl-2-picryl-hydrazyl (DPPH·) scavenging and by ferric reducing ability power (FRAP), using the ferric-tripyridyl triazine (Fe3+-TPTZ) complex. The total phenolic and flavonoid contents were also determined, and the electrospray ionization mass spectrometry spectra (ESI(-)-MS) of the extracts were acquired. The chemical composition of propolis extracts and their antioxidant activity were observed to vary with the concentration of propolis, and especially with the water/ethanol contents of the hydrous ethanol used for extraction. The antioxidant activity of the extracts was also found to be significantly dependent on these extraction parameters, as well as on the composition of the phenolic compounds and flavonoids. FRAP values showed, however, poor correlation with the flavonoid content

Ruminal metabolism of flaxseed (Linum usitatissimum) lignans to the mammalian lignan enterolactone and its concentration in ruminal fluid, plasma, urine and milk of dairy cows

Secoisolariciresinol diglucoside is the main flax (Linum usitatissimum) lignan that is converted to the mammalian lignans enterodiol (ED) and enterolactone (EL) by gastrointestinal microbiota. The objectives of the present study were to investigate the role of ruminal microbiota and the effects of flax oil on in vivo metabolism of flax lignans and concentration of EL in biological fluids. Four rumen-cannulated dairy cows were used in a 4 x 4 Latin square design. There were four periods of 21 d each and four treatments utilising flax hulls (1800 g/d) and oil (400 g/d) supplements. The treatments were: (1) oil and hulls administered in the rumen and abomasal infusion of water; (2) oil and hulls administered in the abomasum; (3) oil infused in the abomasum and hulls placed in the rumen; (4) oil placed in the rumen and hulls administered in the abomasum. Samples were collected during the last week of each period and subjected to chemical analysis. The site of supplementation of oil and hulls had no effect on ruminal EL concentration. Supplementing flax oil in the rumen and the abomasum led to similar EL concentrations in urine, plasma and milk. Concentrations of EL were higher in the urine, plasma and milk of cows supplemented with hulls in the rumen than in those placed with hulls in the abomasum. The present study demonstrated that ruminal microbiota play an important role in the metabolism of flax lignans.

Solubilidade e Degradabilidade Ruminal do Amido de Diferentes Alimentos

The starch solubility in bicarbonate-phosphate buffer (SSB) and the ruminal degradability of starch from some feed by the in situ technique, using three Holstein cows, were evaluated in this study. The feeds were ground through a 2-mm screen for the concentrate and a 5-mm screen for forage and incubated using nylon bag (53mm). The starch concentration in corn, sorghum, cassava scraping, wheat bran, triticale, corn silage, sorghum silage, soybean meal, cottonseed meal and citrus pulp were: 79.3, 83.4, 91.4, 49.1, 65.9, 31.6, 16.1, 5.5, 5.5, and 8.4%, respectively, and SSB were 13.4, 10.7, 14.0, 0.7, 20.8, 18.1, 27.0, 18.4, 68.1 and 63.3%, respectively. The effective degradability (ED) of starch was corrected (EDc) for loss of small particles during the washing process of the nylon bags using SSB values. The corn, sorghum, cassava root, wheat bran, triticale presented starch ED values of 57.8, 67.5, 79.1, 98.8, and 98.4% and EDc of: 55.5, 39.5, 62.7, 90.3, and 91.9% respectively. The observed values for ED and EDc were different only for sorghum and cassava root.

Recuperação Fecal de Indicadores Internos Avaliados em Ruminantes

This experiment was carried out to assess the fecal recuperation of the following internal markers: acid insoluble ash (AIA), acid detergent insoluble ash (ADIA), indigestible acid detergent fiber (IADF), indigestible neutral detergent fiber (INDF), and the apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM). Four castrated sheep were used, fed with four levels of substitution of corn by cassava by-product meal. The feed samples, orts and feces were incubated in situ for 192 hours in three Holstein cows with ruminal cannula to determine the indigestible neutral detergent fiber and indigestible acid detergent fiber. The fecal recuperation of AIA and INDF were not different from 100% and had values for the digestibility coefficient of DM and OM similar to those obtained by the total feces collection method. The fecal recuperation of ADIA and IADF differed from 100%.

Características quantitativas e qualitativas da carcaça de novilhas alimentadas com diferentes fontes energéticas em dietas à base de cascas de algodão e de soja

This work was carried out to evaluate carcass characteristics, physicochemical and fatty acids compositions of Longissimus muscle from feedlot heifers fed cottonseed hulls (CSH) and soybean hulls (SBH) as forage, and different energy sources: ground corn (COR), corn germ meal (CGM) or whole rice meal (WRM). Twenty-four crossbred heifers (initial body weight of 350 ± 35 kg) were allocated in a completely randomized design into three treatments (diets) and eight replications (animals). Heifers were slaughtered after a 24-hour fasting period. Carcasses were identified, weighed and stored in a cold chamber at 2oC until following morning in order to perform carcass evaluations. The animals fed the experimental diets did not differ as carcass characteristics, the average values for hot carcass dressing were 51.4%, the loin eye area, 50.8 cm2, and fat thickness, 3.3 mm. The diets also did not influenced the physicochemical composition of Longissimus muscle, which showed 73.4% of moisture, 23.0% CP, 48.2 mg/100 g of cholesterol and 4.84 kgf/cm3 of shear force. Animals fed with CGM diet showed higher concentrations of CLA (0.48%), trans-vaccenic acid (7.69%) and worse omega 6/omega 3 ratio in the Longissimus muscle, due to the higher supply of linoleic acid provided by this diet as compared to the others. Animals fed WRM diet presented higher concentration of stearic acid in the Longissimus muscle, probably as a result of the higher content of oleic acid in this diet.

Apparent digestibility of diets containing corn or cassava hull as energy source and cottonseed meal or yeast as protein source, in heifers

ABSTRACT - Twenty-eight heifers, with average 303 kg LW were used to determine the apparent digestibility of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), organic matter (OM), gross energy (GE), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF) and starch in diets containing corn or cassava hull and yeast or cottonseed meal plus meat and bone meal, during seven days. The addition effect of salt or mineralized salt to the diets was also evaluated. The acid insoluble ash was used as internal maker. The digestibility of DM, OM and GE were higher for diets containing yeast compared to those ones with cottonseed meal plus meat and bone meal. The same happens for digestibilities of CP, ADF and NDF, however, only for diets containing corn as a energy source. There was no effect of protein sources on starch digestibility. The cassava hull presented higher nutrient digestibility compared to corn grain. The mineralized salt provided higher digestibility of DM, CP, OM, NDF and starch, compared to corn based diets with salt.

Desempenho de novilhas alimentadas com rações contendo milho ou casca de mandioca como fonte energética e farelo de algodão ou levedura como fonte protéica

ABSTRACT - The effect of the combination of energy sources (corn or cassava hull) and protein sources (cottonseed meal or yeast + meat and bone meal) in four diets, using corn silage as forage source, on the performance and intake of DM, CP, OM, ME, ADF, NDF, starch, Ca and P, using heifers. The effect of the addition salt or mineralized salt was also evaluated. A total of 28 heifers with average 303 kg LW and 18 months of age, confined during 76 days, was used. There were differences on nutrients intake among diets, however, there was no effect of the sources of energy, protein and salt on the average daily gain, carcass yield and feed:gain ratio. Therefore, yeast could substitute cottonseed meal as protein source, so as cassava hull could replace corn as energy source, without affecting the performance of feedlot heifers. The calcium intake by the heifers was higher in the mineralized salt diets as compared to salt diets.