Productive performance and composition of milk protein fraction in dairy cows supplemented with fat sources

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of fat sources in rations for lactating cows on the productive performance and composition of milk protein fraction. Twelve Holstein cows were used, grouped in three balanced 4 × 4 Latin squares, fed with the following rations: control; refined soybean oil; whole raw soybean; and calcium salts of unsaturated fatty acid (Megalac-E). Dry matter and nutrient intake, and daily milk production were evaluated. The samples used to analyze milk composition were collected in two alternate days and were obtained from two daily milking. Milk composition and total nitrogen, non-protein nitrogen and non-casein nitrogen ratios were analyzed. The casein, serum protein and true protein ratios were obtained by difference. Dry matter and nutrient intakes were lower when cows received the diet containing calcium salts of fatty acids, in relation to the control diet. Among the diets with fat sources, the one with whole raw soybean and calcium salts decreased milk production. There was no effect of fat sources added to the diet on crude protein, non-protein nitrogen, non-casein nitrogen, true protein, casein, casein/milk true protein ratio and serum protein. Similarly, the experimental diets did not influence the protein fractions when expressed in percentage of milk crude protein. The utilization of fat sources in diets changes milk production and composition of lactating cows, but does not influence the composition of milk protein fractions.

A family of perfect factorisations of complete bipartite graphs

A 1-factorisation of a graph is perfect if the union of any two of its 1-factors is a Hamiltonian cycle. Let n = p(2) for an odd prime p. We construct a family of (p-1)/2 non-isomorphic perfect 1-factorisations of K-n,K-n. Equivalently, we construct pan-Hamiltonian Latin squares of order n. A Latin square is pan-Hamiltoilian if the permutation defined by any row relative to any other row is a single Cycle. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science (USA).

Effects of adding polyclonal antibody preparations on ruminal fermentation patterns and digestibility of cows fed different energy sources

Nine ruminally cannulated cows fed different energy sources were used to evaluate an avian-derived polyclonal antibody preparation (PAP-MV) against the specific ruminal bacteria Streptococcus bovis, Fusobacterium necrophorum, Clostridium aminophilum, Peptostreptococcus anaerobius, and Clostridium stick-landii and monensin (MON) on ruminal fermentation patterns and in vivo digestibility. The experimental design was three 3 x 3 Latin squares distinguished by the main energy source in the diet [dry-ground corn grain (CG), high-moisture corn silage (HMCS), or citrus pulp (CiPu)]. Inside each Latin square, animals received one of the feed additives per period [none (CON), MON, or PAP-MV]. Dry matter intake and ruminal fermentation variables such as pH, total short-chain fatty acids (tSCFA), which included acetate, propionate, and butyrate, as well as lactic acid and NH(3)-N concentration were analyzed in this trial. Total tract DM apparent digestibility and its fractions were estimated using chromic oxide as an external marker. Each experimental period lasted 21 d. Ruminal fluid sampling was carried out on the last day of the period at 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, and 12 h after the morning meal. Ruminal pH was higher (P = 0.006) 4 h postfeeding in MON and PAP-MV groups when compared with CON. Acetate: propionate ratio was greater in PAP-MV compared with MON across sampling times. Polyclonal antibodies did not alter (P > 0.05) tSCFA, molar proportion of acetate and butyrate, or lactic acid and NH(3)-N concentration. Ruminal pH was higher (P = 0.01), 4 h postfeeding in CiPu diets compared with CG and HMCS. There was no interaction between feed additive and energy source (P > 0.05) for any of the digestibility coefficients analyzed. Starch digestibility was less (P = 0.008) in PAP-MV when compared with CON and MON. In relation to energy sources, NDF digestibility was greater (P = 0.007) in CG and CiPu vs. the HMCS diet. The digestibility of ADF was greater (P = 0.002) in CiPu diets followed by CG and HMCS. Feeding PAP-MV or monensin altered ruminal fermentation patterns and digestive function in cows; however, those changes were independent of the main energy source of the diet.

Generating highly balanced sudoku problems as hard problems

Sudoku problems are some of the most known and enjoyed pastimes, with a never diminishing popularity, but, for the last few years those problems have gone from an entertainment to an interesting research area, a twofold interesting area, in fact. On the one side Sudoku problems, being a variant of Gerechte Designs and Latin Squares, are being actively used for experimental design, as in [8, 44, 39, 9]. On the other hand, Sudoku problems, as simple as they seem, are really hard structured combinatorial search problems, and thanks to their characteristics and behavior, they can be used as benchmark problems for refining and testing solving algorithms and approaches. Also, thanks to their high inner structure, their study can contribute more than studies of random problems to our goal of solving real-world problems and applications and understanding problem characteristics that make them hard to solve. In this work we use two techniques for solving and modeling Sudoku problems, namely, Constraint Satisfaction Problem (CSP) and Satisfiability Problem (SAT) approaches. To this effect we define the Generalized Sudoku Problem (GSP), where regions can be of rectangular shape, problems can be of any order, and solution existence is not guaranteed. With respect to the worst-case complexity, we prove that GSP with block regions of m rows and n columns with m = n is NP-complete. For studying the empirical hardness of GSP, we define a series of instance generators, that differ in the balancing level they guarantee between the constraints of the problem, by finely controlling how the holes are distributed in the cells of the GSP. Experimentally, we show that the more balanced are the constraints, the higher the complexity of solving the GSP instances, and that GSP is harder than the Quasigroup Completion Problem (QCP), a problem generalized by GSP. Finally, we provide a study of the correlation between backbone variables – variables with the same value in all the solutions of an instance– and hardness of GSP.

The effect of incremental replacement of wheat with soya hulls in diets for Jersey cows on lactational performance, diet digestibility and feeding behaviour

Eight Jersey cows were used in two balanced 4 x 4 Latin Squares to investigate the effects of replacement of dietary starch with non-forage fibre on productivity, diet digestibility and feeding behaviour. Total-mixed rations consisted of maize silage, grass silage and a soyabean meal-based concentrate mixture, each at 250g/kg DM, with the remaining 250g consisting of cracked wheat/soya hulls (SH) in the ratios of 250:0, 167:83; 83:167 and 0:250 g, respectively, for treatments SH0, SH83, SH167 and SH250. Starch concentrations were 302, 248, 193 and 140g/kg DM, and NDF concentrations were 316, 355, 394 and 434g/kg DM, for treatments SHO, SH83, SH167 and SH250, respectively. Total eating time increased (p < 0.05) as SH inclusion increased, but total rumination time was unaffected. Digestibility of DM, organic matter and starch declined (p < 0.01) as SH inclusion increased, whilst digestibility of NDF and ADF increased (p < 0.01). Dry-matter intake tended to decline with increasing SH, whilst bodyweight, milk yield and fat and lactose concentrations were unaffected by treatment. Milk protein concentration decreased (p < 0.01) as SH level increased. Feed conversion efficiency improved (p < 0.05) as SH inclusion rose, but it was not possible to determine whether this was due to the increased fibre levels alone, or the favourable effect on rumen fermentation of decreasing starch levels. (c) 2006 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Statistical isomorphism of three-level factional factorial designs

From a statistician's standpoint, the interesting kind of isomorphism for fractional factorial designs depends on the statistical application. Combinatorially isomorphic fractional factorial designs may have different statistical properties when factors are quantitative. This idea is illustrated by using Latin squares of order 3 to obtain fractions of the 3(3) factorial. design in 18 runs.

Effects of 3-nitrooxypropanol on methane emission,digestion, and energy and nitrogen balance of lactating dairy cows

The objective was to measure effects of 3-nitrooxypropanol (3NP) on methane production of lactating dairy cows and any associated changes in digestion and energy and nitrogen metabolism. Six Holstein-Friesian dairy cows in mid-lactation were fed twice daily a total mixed ration with maize silage as the primary forage source. Cows received 1 of 3 treatments using an experimental design based on two 3 × 3 Latin squares with 5-wk periods. Treatments were a control placebo or 500 or 2,500 mg/d of 3NP delivered directly into the rumen, via the rumen fistula, in equal doses before each feeding. Measurements of methane production and energy and nitrogen balance were obtained during wk 5 of each period using respiration calorimeters and digestion trials. Measurements of rumen pH (48 h) and postprandial volatile fatty acid and ammonia concentrations were made at the end of wk 4. Daily methane production was reduced by 3NP, but the effects were not dose dependent (reductions of 6.6 and 9.8% for 500 and 2,500 mg/d, respectively). Dosing 3NP had a transitory inhibitory effect on methane production, which may have been due to the product leaving the rumen in liquid outflow or through absorption or metabolism. Changes in rumen concentrations of volatile fatty acids indicated that the pattern of rumen fermentation was affected by both doses of the product, with a decrease in acetate:propionate ratio observed, but that acetate production was inhibited by the higher dose. Dry matter, organic matter, acid detergent fiber, N, and energy digestibility were reduced at the higher dose of the product. The decrease in digestible energy supply was not completely countered by the decrease in methane excretion such that metabolizable energy supply, metabolizable energy concentration of the diet, and net energy balance (milk plus tissue energy) were reduced by the highest dose of 3NP. Similarly, the decrease in nitrogen digestibility at the higher dose of the product was associated with a decrease in body nitrogen balance that was not observed for the lower dose. Milk yield and milk fat concentration and fatty acid composition were not affected but milk protein concentration was greater for the higher dose of 3NP. Twice-daily rumen dosing of 3NP reduced methane production by lactating dairy cows, but the dose of 2,500 mg/d reduced rumen acetate concentration, diet digestibility, and energy supply. Further research is warranted to determine the optimal dose and delivery method of the product. Key words: 3-nitrooxypropanol, methane, digestion, rumen, dairy cow

Aplicação do modelo all-or-none em condições de aquisição de associação aos pares

O presente estudo teve por objetivo submeter a nova verificação experimental o modelo "all-or-none" de aprendizagem de pares-associados, em que as associações estímulo resposta são formadas inteiramente em uma única tentativa. Justifica o presente trabalho a necessidade de estudos na área da teoria da aprendizagem, a fim de fornecer subsídios para uma tecnologia educacional. A hipótese testada foi a de que a probabilidade de uma associação se efetuar é constante para qualquer número de treinos anteriores. Foram testados 100 sujeitos de classe de alfabetização, divididos em 5 grupos, com 5 níveis de reforçamentos e 5 grupos de itens. Foi usado um esquema de quadrados latinos, combinando três fatores em cinco níveis cada um: 1 - número de reforçamentos, 2 - grupo de itens e 3 - grupo de sujeitos. A análise dos resultados levou à aceitação da hipótese de que a aprendizagem é, em essência, all-or-none.

Estimativas de consumo do capim-elefante (Pennisetum purpureum Schum), fornecido picado para vacas lactantes utilizando a técnica do óxido crômico

O consumo de matéria seca (CMS) de vacas mestiças Holandês-Zebu, fistuladas no rúmen, em lactação, foi medido pela diferença de peso do alimento oferecido e das sobras e estimado com auxílio do óxido crômico (Cr2O3) pela produção fecal (PF) e indigestibilidade do alimento. O delineamento experimental foi em três quadrados latinos (3x3) e os tratamentos consistiram de capim-elefante cortado nas idades de 30, 45 e 60 dias. A digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS) foi determinada nas amostras do capim-elefante e estimada a partir do consumo medido diretamente e pela produção fecal obtida com o Cr2O3. A produção fecal foi também calculada (PFc) a partir dos valores do consumo (direto) e da DIVMS e foi estimada pela relação do indicador administrado/indicador excretado. Foram observadas diferenças entre os CMS obtidos nas três idades de corte do capim-elefante pelos dois métodos avaliados. Os CMS médios obtidos pelo método direto foram de 8,00; 10,00 e 11,02 kg/vaca/dia, respectivamente, para o capim cortado com 30, 45 e 60 dias. Os CMS estimados com auxílio do Cr2O3 foram de 9,00; 11,10 e 12,00 kg/vaca/dia, para os mesmos tratamentos. As estimativas de consumo utilizando o Cr2O3 foram superestimadas em 9,25% em relação aos resultados obtidos pelo método direto.

Teores de proteína bruta para bovinos alimentados com feno de capim-tifton 85: parâmetros ruminais, eficiência de síntese microbiana e degradabilidade in situ

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

Teores de proteína bruta para bovinos alimentados com feno de tifton 85: consumo e digestibilidades total e parcial

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

Cinética digestiva e eficiência de síntese de proteína microbiana em novilhos alimentados com farelo de girassol e diferentes fontes energéticas

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da substituição parcial do milho pela casca de soja e pelo farelo de gérmen de milho sobre a produção e eficiência de síntese de proteína microbiana e sobre as taxas de diluição e passagem ruminal. Foram utilizados três novilhos de corte, mestiços, canulados no rúmen e no duodeno, distribuídos em dois delineamentos em quadrado latino 3 x 3. As dietas experimentais, à base de silagem de milho (60%), apresentavam como fonte de proteína farelo de girassol e, como fonte de energia, milho (MI) ou sua substituição parcial pela casca de soja (CS) ou pelo farelo de gérmen de milho (FGM). Para o isolamento da massa microbiana, foram coletadas amostras de conteúdo ruminal às 3, 6, 9 e 12 horas após a alimentação. Utilizaram-se RNA como marcador microbiano e dicromato de sódio e Co-EDTA como indicadores das taxas de passagem e de diluição, respectivamente. A composição dos microrganismos ruminais não foi influenciada pelas dietas experimentais ou pelos horários de coleta. Não houve diferenças significativas no fluxo de matéria orgânica, carboidratos totais, nitrogênio e nitrogênio microbiano para o duodeno e na eficiência de síntese de proteína microbiana. As taxas de diluição foram semelhantes entre as dietas, com média de 13,4%/h. A taxa de passagem da silagem de milho mordentada foi menor, com tendência de menor taxa de passagem também para o farelo de girassol na dieta MI. A casca de soja e o farelo de gérmen de milho podem substituir parcialmente o milho, proporcionando ambiente ruminal adequado ao desenvolvimento da flora microbiana e conseqüente produção de proteína microbiana ruminal em novilhos confinados.

Taxa de passagem e parâmetros ruminais em bovinos suplementados com enzimas fibrolíticas

Avaliou-se o efeito da adição de enzimas fibrolíticas (celulase e xilanase) sobre as taxas de passagem de partículas e de diluição e os parâmetros ruminais (pH e nitrogênio amoniacal) em animais consumindo dietas contendo silagem de milho e feno de tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) como volumoso. Oito bovinos com fístulas no rúmen e no duodeno foram distribuídos em dois quadrados latinos 4 x 4, com os tratamentos distribuídos em esquema fatorial 2 x 2 (duas fontes de volumoso e adição ou não de enzimas). O complexo enzimático foi proveniente de fonte comercial e extraído dos fungos Aspergillus niger e Trichoderma longibrachiatum, sendo fornecido na proporção de 12 g/animal/dia, misturado à ração total. Para as taxas de passagem, foram utilizados como marcadores das fases sólida e líquida o cromo-mordente e o cobalto-EDTA, respectivamente. Não houve efeito das enzimas sobre o pH e as concentrações de N-NH3, que apresentaram médias de 6,5 e 22,10 mg/100 mL, respectivamente. A taxa de passagem de partículas no rúmen não foi influenciada pela suplementação enzimática, com médias de 3,4 e 3,0%/h para as dietas contendo silagem de milho e feno de tifton, respectivamente. A taxa de diluição aumentou de 10,07 para 11,84%/h com a adição de enzimas. A suplementação com enzimas fibrolíticas em dietas formuladas com silagem de milho e feno de tifton como volumoso praticamente não alterou os parâmetros avaliados.

Eficiência de síntese microbiana e atividade enzimática em bovinos submetidos à suplementação com enzimas fibrolíticas

Avaliou-se o efeito da suplementação com enzimas fibrolíticas (celulase e xilanase) sobre a eficiência de síntese microbiana e a atividade enzimática da beta-1,4-endoglucanase (celulase) em animais consumindo dietas contendo silagem de milho e feno de tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) como volumoso. Oito bovinos com fístulas no rúmen e no duodeno foram distribuídos em dois quadrados latinos 4 x 4, em esquema fatorial 2 x 2 (duas fontes de volumoso e adição ou não de enzimas). O complexo enzimático, proveniente de fonte comercial e extraído dos fungos Aspergillus niger e Trichoderma longibrachiatum, foi fornecido misturado à ração total na proporção de 12 g/animal/dia. A adição de enzimas às dietas contendo silagem de milho e feno de tifton 85 aumentou a atividade da beta-1,4-endoglucanase no fluido ruminal. Não houve efeito das enzimas sobre a eficiência de síntese de proteína microbiana, o fluxo de nitrogênio microbiano (N-mic) e nitrogênio não-amoniacal (NNA), com valores médios de 31,8 e 33,9 g de N/kg de MODR; 0,40 e 0,41 g de N/Mcal de EDR; 78,2 e 52,5 g/dia; 89,6 e 76,3 g/dia, respectivamente, para as dietas contendo silagem de milho e feno de tifton. A adição de enzimas fibrolíticas não influenciou os parâmetros ruminais de bovinos alimentados com feno e silagem de milho.

Consumo e digestibilidade aparente total em bovinos sob suplementação com enzimas fibrolíticas

Avaliou-se o efeito da suplementação com enzimas fibrolíticas (celulase e xilanase) sobre o consumo e a digestibilidade aparente total dos nutrientes de dietas compostas de silagem de milho e feno de tifton 85 (Cynodon spp.) cortado aos 90 dias. Oito bovinos (340 kg de PV) fistulados no rúmen foram distribuídos em dois quadrados latinos 4 x 4, em esquema fatorial 2 x 2 (fonte de volumoso e adição ou não de enzimas). O complexo enzimático testado foi proveniente de fonte comercial e extraído dos fungos Aspergillus niger e Trichoderma longibrachiatum, sendo fornecido na quantidade de 12 g/animal/dia, misturado à ração total. Não houve efeito da suplementação enzimática sobre o consumo de nutrientes para ambos os volumosos, porém, a adição de enzimas aumentou a digestibilidade total de FDN, FDA e CEL de 36,87; 36,21 e 46,89%, respectivamente, para 41,19; 40,01 e 50,46%, respectivamente.