Reducing supplementation frequency for Nellore beef steers grazing tropical pastures

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Polymorphism analysis in genes of the somatotropic axis in Nellore cattle selected for growth

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effects of flunixin meglumine administration on physiological and performance responses of transported feeder cattle

The objective was to evaluate the effects of flunixin meglumine administration on physiological and performance responses of transported cattle during feedlot receiving. Forty-five Angus x Hereford steers were ranked by BW on d 0 and assigned to 1 of 3 treatments:1) transport for 1,280 km in a commercial livestock trailer and administration of flunixin meglumine (1.1 mg/kg BW; intravenous) at loading (d 0) and unloading (d 1; FM), 2) transport for 1,280 km in a commercial livestock trailer and administration of 0.9% saline (0.022 mL/kg BW; intravenous) at loading (d 0) and unloading (d 1; TRANS), or 3) no transport and administration of 0.9% saline (0.022 mL/kg BW; intravenous) concurrently with loading (d 0) and unloading (d 1) of FM and TRANS cohorts (CON). Upon arrival and processing for treatment administration on d 1, steers within each treatment were ranked by BW and assigned to 15 feedlot pens (5 pens/treatment, 3 steers/pen). Full BW was recorded before (d -1 and 0) treatment application and at the end of experiment (d 28 and 29) for ADG calculation. Total DMI was evaluated daily from d 1 to 28. Blood samples were collected on d 0 (before treatment administration), 1 (after unloading but before treatment administration), 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28. Body weight shrink from d 0 to 1 was less (P < 0.01) in CON vs. FM and TRANS but similar (P = 0.94) between TRANS and FM. Mean ADG was greater (P <= 0.04) in CON vs. FM and TRANS but similar (P = 0.69) between TRANS and FM. No treatment effects were detected on DMI, but CON had greater G:F vs. TRANS (P = 0.08) and FM (P = 0.02), whereas G:F was similar (P = 0.68) between TRANS and FM. Mean plasma cortisol concentrations tended (P <= 0.09) to be greater in TRANS vs. FM and CON but was similar (P = 0.87) between CON and FM. Plasma NEFA concentrations were greater (P <= 0.02) for TRANS and FM vs. CON on d 1 and greater (P <= 0.04) for FM vs. TRANS and CON on d 4. Plasma ceruloplasmin concentrations were greater (P <= 0.03) for TRANS vs. CON on d 1, 4, and 7, greater (P <= 0.05) for TRANS vs. FM on d 4 and 7, and greater (P <= 0.04) for FM vs. CON on d 1 and 4. Plasma haptoglobin concentrations were greater (P < 0.01) for TRANS vs. CON and FM on d 1 and 4 and greater (P <= 0.05) for FM vs. CON on d 1 and 4. In conclusion, flunixin meglumine reduced the cortisol and acute-phase protein responses elicited by road transport but did not improve receiving performance of feeder cattle.

Rest stops during road transport: Impacts on performance and acute-phase protein responses of feeder cattle

Angus x Hereford steers (n = 42) and heifers (n = 21) were ranked by gender and BW on d 0 of the experiment and randomly assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: 1) no transport and full access to feed and water (CON); 2) continuous road transport for 1,290 km (TRANS), or 3) road transport for 1,290 km, with rest stops every 430 km (STOP; total of 2 rest stops). Treatments were applied from d 0 to 1 of the experiment. Cattle from TRANS and STOP treatments were transported in separate commercial livestock trailers, within a single 2.1 x 7.2 m compartment, but through the exact same route. During each rest stop, STOP cattle were unloaded and offered mixed alfalfa-grass hay and water for ad libitum consumption for 2 h. Upon arrival of STOP and TRANS on d 1, cattle were ranked by sex and BW within each treatment and assigned to 21 feedlot pens (7 pens/treatment; 2 steers and 1 heifer/pen). Full BW was recorded before (d -1 and 0) treatment application and at the end of experiment (d 28 and 29). Total DMI was evaluated daily from d 1 to 28. Blood samples were collected on d 0 (before loading of TRANS and STOP cattle), 1 (immediately after unloading of TRANS and STOP cattle), 4, 7, 10, 14, 21, and 28. Body weight shrink from d 0 to d 1 was reduced (P < 0.01) in CON compared to TRANS and STOP, and reduced in STOP compared to TRANS. Mean ADG was greater (P < 0.05) in CON compared to TRANS and STOP, but similar (P = 0.68) between TRANS and STOP. No treatment effects were detected (P >= 0.18) on hay, concentrate, and total DMI. Mean G: F was greater (P = 0.05) in CON compared to STOP, tended to be greater (P = 0.08) in CON compared to TRANS, and similar (P = 0.85) between TRANS and STOP. Plasma cortisol concentrations were greater (P <= 0.04) in TRANS compared to CON and STOP on d 1, and greater (P = 0.04) in TRANS compared to CON on d 4. Serum NEFA concentrations were greater (P < 0.01) in TRANS compared to CON and STOP on d 1, and greater (P <= 0.05) in TRANS compared to CON on d 4 and 7. Mean plasma ceruloplasmin concentrations were similar (P = 0.19) among treatments. Plasma haptoglobin concentrations were greater (P <= 0.04) in TRANS compared to CON and STOP on d 1, and in STOP compared to CON on d 1. In conclusion, inclusion of rest stops during a 1,290-km transport prevented the increase in circulating cortisol and alleviated the NEFA and haptoglobin response elicited by transport, but did not improve feedlot receiving performance of transported cattle.

Genome-Wide Mapping of Loci Explaining Variance in Scrotal Circumference in Nellore Cattle

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Crude glycerin in diets for feedlot Nellore cattle

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Qualidade do manejo no frigorífico: efeitos no bem-estar animal e na qualidade da carcaça e da carne

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FCAV

Polymorphisms in candidate genes and their association with carcass traits and meat quality in Nellore cattle

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Genetic parameter estimation for pre- and post-weaning traits in Brahman cattle in Brazil

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Genetic parameter estimates for feed efficiency and dry matter intake and their association with growth and carcass traits in Nellore cattle

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

A genome-wide scan for selection signatures in Nellore cattle

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Effects of meloxicam administration on physiological and performance responses of transported feeder cattle

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Ranking of Nellore animals in cattle championships: genetic parameters and correlations with production traits

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Escherichia coli O157:H7 como importante patógeno veiculado em produtos cárneos de origem bovina

Escherichia coli O157:H7 is a foodborne pathogen associated with enteritis in humans, ranging from a mild to bloody diarrhea to hemolytic uremic syndrome, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura and even death. Large E. coli O157:H7 outbreaks have been reported worldwide and are frequently associated with consumption of undercooked beef. Cattle are a major reservoir of the pathogen, which is found in the intestinal tract of the animal. The carcasses can be contaminated with feces during the slaughter and production process. Ground beef remains the most common vehicle. The purpose of this study was to determine the E. coli O157:H7 importance associated to human illness and productivity losses to the meat industry, as well as identifying mechanisms of contamination related to beef and strategies to improve the safety of beef products

Desenvolvimento de imunossensor baseado na imobilização de anticorpo monoclonal em fibroína da seda para diagnóstico rápido da cisticercose bovina

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)