R. D. Mingoti

Desempenho e parâmetros sanguíneos de vacas leiteiras alimentadas com grão de soja

The editorial process of Archivos de Zootecnia during 2012 is reported below. A total of 361 manuscripts coming from 28 countries, mainly from Brazil (78 %), were received. Consequently, the language most frequently used in the manuscripts was Portuguese, followed by Spanish and English. The mean time elapsed from submission of a manuscript until printing, was 599 days, a hundred days shorter than 2011. The rejection rate was 65 %. In 2011, 53 articles, 11 short notes and 7 reviews (total 72) were published by authors coming from 14 different countries.

Effects of whole flaxseed, raw soybeans, and calcium salts of fatty acids on measures of cellular immune function of transition dairy cows

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of supplemental n-3 and n-6 fatty acid (FA) sources on cellular immune function of transition dairy cows. Animals were randomly assigned to receive 1 of 4 diets: control (n=11); whole flaxseed (n-3 FA source; n=11), 60 and 80g/kg of whole flaxseed [diet dry matter (DM) basis] during pre- and postpartum, respectively; whole raw soybeans (n-6 FA source; n=10), 120 and 160g/kg of whole raw soybeans (diet DM basis) during pre- and postpartum, respectively; and calcium salts of unsaturated FA (Megalac-E, n-6 FA source; n=10), 24 and 32g/kg of calcium salts of unsaturated FA (diet DM basis) during pre- and postpartum, respectively. Supplemental FA did not alter DM intake and milk yield but increased energy balance during the postpartum period. Diets containing n-3 and n-6 FA sources increased phagocytosis capacity of leukocytes and monocytes and phagocytosis activity of monocytes. Furthermore, n-3 FA source increased phagocytic capacity of leukocytes and neutrophils and increased phagocytic activity in monocytes and neutrophils when compared with n-6 FA sources. Supplemental FA effects on adaptive immune system included increased percentage of T-helper cells, T-cytotoxic cells, cells that expressed IL-2 receptors, and CD62 adhesion molecules. The results of this study suggest that unsaturated FA can modulate innate and adaptive cellular immunity and trigger a proinflammatory response. The n-3 FA seems to have a greater effect on phagocytic capacity and activity of leukocytes when compared with n-6 FA.

Effects of flaxseed, raw soybeans and calcium salts of fatty acids on apparent total tract digestibility, energy balance and milk fatty acid profile of transition cows

Oilseeds offer some protection to the access of ruminal microorganisms and may be an alternative to calcium salts of fatty acids (FA), which are not fully inert in the ruminal environment. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of different sources of FA supplementation on apparent total tract nutrient digestibility, milk yield and composition, and energy balance (EB) of cows during the transition period and early lactation. We compared diets rich in C18:2 and C18:3 FA. Multiparous Holstein cows were randomly assigned to receive one of the four diets: control (n=11); whole flaxseed (WF, n=10), 60 and 80 g/kg (diet dry matter (DM) basis) of WF during the prepartum and postpartum periods, respectively; whole raw soybeans (WS, n=10), 120 and 160 g/kg (diet DM basis) of WS during the prepartum and postpartum periods, respectively; and calcium salts of unsaturated fatty acids (CSFA, n=11), 24 and 32 g/kg (diet DM basis) of CSFA during the prepartum and postpartum periods, respectively. Dry cows fed WF had higher DM and net energy of lactation (NEL) intake than those fed WS or CSFA. The FA supplementation did not alter DM and NDF apparent total tract digestibility, dry cows fed WF exhibited greater NDF total tract digestion than cows fed WS or CSFA. Feeding WS instead of CSFA did not alter NEL intake and total tract digestion of nutrients, but increased milk fat yield and concentration. Calculated efficiency of milk yield was not altered by diets. FA supplementation increased EB during the postpartum period. Experimental diets increased long-chain FA (saturated and unsaturated FA) in milk. In addition, cows fed WS and CSFA had higher C18:1 trans-11 FA and C18:2 cis, and lower C18:3 FA in milk than those fed WF. Furthermore, cows fed CSFA had higher C18:1 trans-11 and cis-9, trans-11 FA than cows fed WS. Although supplemental C18:2 and C18:3 FA did not influence the milk yield of cows, they positively affected EB and increased unsaturated long-chain FA in milk fat.

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 the Milk Fatty Acid Profile from Mediterranean Buffalo Cows in the First Eight Weeks of Lactation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the fatty acid composition of buffalo milk in the first eight weeks oflactation. It was used 18 cows multiparous Buffaloes of Mediterranean race, the data collection starting four weeksbefore of the calving provided by the 8th week of lactation. The animals were mechanically milked once daily in themorning. The milk samples used for composition analysis were collected weekly from parturition to eight weeks oflactation. There was effect of weeks during the transition period and early lactation for fat yield (kg/day) and for bodyweight of the buffalo cows in lactation (kg).There was effect of weeks of lactation on the fatty acid composition of milkfat.Variations in levels of unsaturated fatty acids of milk fat of buffaloes are similar to those found in dairy cows of thepartum to eighth week of lactation.

Desempenho e perfil plasmático de vacas leiteiras alimentadas com grão de soja integral ou moído

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different forms of use of processed or full whole raw soybean in different ground of screens and their effects on dry matter intake, milk yield and composition and blood parameters. Twelve Holstein cows were grouped in three balanced 4x4 Latin squares and fed the following diets: 1) control (C), 2) whole raw soybean (GI), 3) ground soybean 2mm (G2) and 4) ground soybean 4 mm (G4). A reduction in dry matter intake in cows fed diets containing whole raw soybean or ground in relation to the control diet. The parameters of production and milk composition were not affected by the experimental diets. There was no effect of diets for cows on concentrations of blood parameters, glucose, urea, blood urea nitrogen (NUS), total protein, albumin and hepatic enzymes aminotranferase aspartate (AST) and gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) except for total cholesterol and HDL-cholesterol. The processing of whole raw soybean did not affect the performance and plasma profile of midlactation dairy cows.

Whole flaxseed, raw soybeans, and calcium salts of fatty acids supplementation for transition cows: follicle development and embryo quality

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of diets rich in omega-3 and -6 fatty acids (FA) during the transition period and early lactation on size and number of follicles, oocyte and embryo quality, and blood metabolites of Holstein cows. Forty-two cows were assigned to the diets: control (CON, with no fat sources and dietary ether extract content of 28.8 and 24.8 g/kg during the pre- and post-partum periods, respectively); whole flaxseed (WF, diet rich in omega-3 FA), 60 and 80 g/kg of WF during the pre and post-partum periods, respectively; whole raw soybeans (WS, diet rich in omega-6 FA), 120 and 160 g/kg of WS during the pre and post-partum periods; and calcium salts of unsaturated fatty acids (CSFA, diet rich in omega-6 FA), 24 and 32 g/kg of CSFA during the pre and post-partum periods. Diets were supplied from 35 d of the expected calving date until 84 days in milk (DIM). The ovaries of cows were examined from 14 to 84 DIM. Ovum pick-ups were performed on days 35 ± 7 and 65 ± 7 of lactation. Diets rich in omega-3 and -6 FA had greater follicle number than the CON. No differences were detected among diets rich in omega-3 and omega-6 FA on number and size of follicles and corpus luteum area. Cows had similar oocyte quality regardless of diet supplied. Although FA supplementation had no effect on embryo quality (number of cleaved and viable embryos), diets rich in omega-6 FA had lower viable embryos compared with WF. Supplementation with diets rich in omega-3 and -6 FA resulted in greater blood cholesterol concentration in early lactation cows. Fat supplementation increased the number of small and total follicles of early lactating cows. However, diets rich in omega-3 or -6 FA had no effect on oocyte quality. Cows fed WS during the transition period had the least viable embryos, and consequently cows fed diets rich in omega-6 FA had lower viable embryos than those fed WF.

Ruminal biohydrogenation and abomasal flow of fatty acids in lactating cows fed diets supplemented with soybean oil, whole soybeans, or calcium salts of fatty acids

Ruminants have a unique metabolism and digestion of unsaturated fatty acids (UFA). Unlike monogastric animals, the fatty acid (FA) profile ingested by ruminants is not the same as that reaching the small intestine. The objective of this study was to evaluate whole raw soybeans (WS) in diets as a replacer for calcium salts of fatty acids (CSFA) in terms of UFA profile in the abomasal digesta of early- to mid-lactation cows. Eight Holstein cows (80 ± 20 d in milk, 22.9 ± 0.69 kg/d of milk yield, and 580 ± 20 kg of body weight; mean ± standard deviation) with ruminal and abomasal cannulas were used in a 4 × 4 Latin square experiment with 22-d periods. The experiment evaluated different fat sources rich in linoleic acid on ruminal kinetics, ruminal fermentation, FA abomasal flow, and milk FA profile of cows assigned to treatment sequences containing a control (CON), with no fat source; soybean oil, added at 2.68% of diet dry matter (DM); WS, addition of WS at 14.3% of diet DM; and CSFA, addition of CSFA at 2.68% of diet DM. Dietary fat supplementation had no effect on nutrient intake and digestibility, with the exception of ether extract. Cows fed fat sources tended to have lower milk fat concentration than those fed CON. In general, diets containing fat sources tended to decrease ruminal neutral detergent fiber digestibility in relation to CON. Cows fed WS had lower ruminal digestibility of DM and higher abomasal flow of DM in comparison to cows fed CSFA. As expected, diets containing fat supplements increased FA abomasal flow of C18:0 and total FA. Cows fed WS tended to present a higher concentration of UFA in milk when compared with those fed CSFA. This study suggests that under some circumstances, abomasal flow of UFA in early lactation cows can be increased by supplementing their diet with fat supplements rich in linoleic acid, regardless of rumen protection, with small effects on ruminal DM digestibility.