Qualitative feed restriction for heavy swines: effect on digestibility and weight of organs of digestive tract, and environmental impact of feces

Foram utilizados 50 suínos machos castrados para avaliar o efeito da restrição alimentar qualitativa sobre a digestibilidade dos componentes dietéticos, os órgãos do trato digestório, a composição e a produção fecal. Foram utilizadas cinco dietas experimentais, com níveis de restrição qualitativa de 0, 5, 10, 15 e 20%. Houve redução linear (P<0,001) para todos os coeficientes de digestibilidade, com exceção da fibra em detergente ácido, que apresentou resposta quadrática (P<0,05). Os teores de sólidos totais (P<0,01) e voláteis (P<0,05), e minerais totais (P<0,001) nas fezes aumentaram com os níveis de restrição alimentar, enquanto os níveis de K (P<0,05), Cu (P<0,01) e de N, P, Na, Ca, Mg, Fe e Zn (P<0,001), apresentaram resposta quadrática. A excreção diária de fezes, sólidos totais e voláteis, minerais totais, N, P, K, Mn e Cu (P<0,001), Ca, Na, Mg e Fe (P<0,05) apresentaram aumento em função do nível da restrição alimentar qualitativa. A restrição qualitativa pode ser alternativa para destinação de resíduos da agroindústria, conferindo boas propriedades às fezes suínas, no que diz respeito à utilização para adubação de culturas.

Poultry feed metabolizable energy determination using total or partial excreta collection methods

The aim of this work was to compare the efficiency of total (TC) or partial (PC) collection excreta methods to determine metabolizable energy in poultry feeds. A number of 180 12- to 21-day-old broilers were distributed into two treatments of six replicates of 10 birds each. A reference-diet was formulated to supply broiler requirements, and the test-diets consisted of 60% of reference diets and 40% of corn or soybean meal. Celite was added at 1% to the diets as a marker. Excreta and diet samples were analyzed for dry matter, energy, nitrogen, and acid-insoluble ash (AIA). AME of corn determined by partial collection (PC) was higher (3544 kcal/kg) as compared to total collection (TC) (3133 kcal/kg). However, no difference were observed for soybean meal (1797 vs. 1821 kcal/kg) between both methods. Marker recovery rates in the excreta were 101, 111, and 96% for the basal-diet, and the test-diets with corn or soybean meal, respectively. This result indicates the importance of marker recovery rate in the excreta to evaluate feed AME and digestibility.

Gastrointestinal nematode infection in beef cattle of different genetic groups in Brazil

Resistance to natural infection by gastrointestinal nematodes was compared in 67 female calves of the following genetic groups: Nelore (NX); 1/2 Senepol + 1/2 Nelore (SN); and 1/2 Aberdeen Angus + 1/2 Nelore (AN). The NX (n = 26), SN (n = 23) and AN (n = 18) animals were monitored for 14 months, during which they remained without treatment, allowed to graze in a tropical environment. Eggs per gram of feces (EPG), coprocultures and packed cell volume (PCV) were carried out monthly. No significant effects of the interaction between the genetic groups and month/year of collection and the genetic group on the EPG were found, but there was a significant influence of the month of collection (P < 0.01). The monthly PCV measurements did not differ for the animals of the three genetic groups and there was no association found between the EPG and PCV. The animals of the SN and NX groups showed similar numbers of EPG with results zero, while for the AN group these numbers were significantly lower (P < 0.05). Although the NX group had a large number of EPG with results zero, it also contained many animals with high counts, meaning this group had higher averages during the entire study period. The following nematode genera were found in the coprocultures: Haemonchus, Cooperia, Oesophagostomum and Trichostrongylus, the latter in smallest proportion. There was no significant difference between the genetic groups for averages of all parasites identified, except Cooperia, which were present in higher numbers in the animals of the NX group (P < 0.05). The results obtained in this experiment suggest that the use of Bos taurus x Bos indicus crossbreeds can be a good strategy to reduce the use of chemical control in Brazil. (C) 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Disponibilidade e absorção de aminoácidos em bovinos alimentados com diferentes fontes de compostos nitrogenados

Objetivou-se estudar o fluxo e a absorção de aminoácidos em bovinos alimentados com dietas isoprotéicas formuladas com diferentes fontes nitrogenadas. As dietas foram fornecidas a bezerros holandeses canulados no abomaso, com 8 meses de idade e peso médio de 187 kg, em um total de 21 animais escolhidos aleatoriamente para formar o grupo que constituiu as repetições experimentais (sete por tratamento). As dietas experimentais foram constituídas de 40% de volumoso e 60% de concentrado. Como volumoso, utilizou-se feno de capim-de-rhodes e, no concentrado, utilizaram-se milho, farelo de algodão, levedura, uréia, melaço e minerais. As dietas diferiram apenas quanto à fonte nitrogenada (farelo de algodão, levedura ou uréia). As quantidades (g/dia) de aminoácidos no abomaso e a composição em aminoácidos da proteína presente no abomaso e nas fezes foram influenciadas pela fonte protéica da dieta. As fontes nitrogenadas não afetaram significativamente a digestão de aminoácidos no intestino. A disponibilidade de aminoácidos no abomaso e a absorção no intestino apresentaram valores inferiores aos descritos na literatura, provavelmente porque, neste trabalho, os animais foram submetidos à restrição de ingestão. As fontes nitrogenadas testadas influenciaram a composição e a disponibilidade de aminoácidos em bovinos.

Analysis and functional annotation of an expressed sequence tag collection for tropical crop sugarcane

To contribute to our understanding of the genome complexity of sugarcane, we undertook a large-scale expressed sequence tag (EST),program. More than 260,000 cDNA clones were partially sequenced from 26 standard cDNA libraries generated from different sugarcane tissues. After the processing of the sequences, 237,954 high-quality ESTs were identified. These ESTs were assembled into 43,141 putative transcripts. of the assembled sequences, 35.6% presented no matches with existing sequences in public databases. A global analysis of the whole SUCEST data set indicated that 14,409 assembled sequences (33% of the total) contained at least one cDNA clone with a full-length insert. Annotation of the 43,141 assembled sequences associated almost 50% of the putative identified sugarcane genes with protein metabolism, cellular communication/signal transduction, bioenergetics, and stress responses. Inspection of the translated assembled sequences for conserved protein domains revealed 40,821 amino acid sequences with 1415 Pfam domains. Reassembling the consensus sequences of the 43,141 transcripts revealed a 22% redundancy in the first assembling. This indicated that possibly 33,620 unique genes had been identified and indicated that >90% of the sugarcane expressed genes were tagged.

Determination of selenium by GFAAS in slurries of fish feces to estimate the bioavailability of this micronutrient in feed used in pisciculture

This paper presents a simple, fast and sensitive method to determine selenium in samples of feces and of fish feed by graphite furnace atomic absorption spectrometry (GFAAS) through the direct introduction of slurries of the samples into the spectrometer's graphite tube. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ calculated for 20 readings of the blank of the standard slurries (0.50% m/v of feces or feed devoid of selenium) were 0.31 mu g 1(-1) and 1.03 mu g 1(-1), respectively, for the standard feces slurries and 0.35 mu g 1(-1) and 1.16 mu g 1(-1), respectively, for the standard feed slurries. The proposed method was applied in studies of bioavailability of selenium in different fish feeds and the results proved consistent with that obtained from samples mineralized by acid digestion using the microwave oven. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Determination of chromium by GFAAS in slurries of fish feces to estimate the apparent digestibility of nutrients in feed used in pisciculture

This paper presents a simple, fast and sensitive method to determine chromic oxide (used as a biological marker of fish feed) in samples of fish feces by GFAAS through the direct introduction of slurries of the samples into the spectrometer's graphite tube. The standard samples of feces and of fish feed containing 0.10-1.00 mg kg(-1) of Cr2O3 were pre-frozen for I min in liquid nitrogen and then ground a cryogenic mill for 2 min, which reduced the samples' grain size to less than 60 mu m. The standard slurries were prepared by mixing 20 mg of standard samples of fish feed or feces with I mL of a solution containing 0.05% (v/v) of Triton X-100 and 0.50% (v/v) of suprapure HNO3 directly in the spectrometer's automatic sampling glass. The final concentrations of Cr2O3 present in the standard slurries were 2, 4, 8, 16 and 20 mu g L-1. After sonicating the mixture for 20s, 10 mu L of standard slurries were injected into the graphite tube, whose internal wall was lined with a metallic palladium film that acted as a permanent chemical modifier. The limits of detection (LOD) and quantification (LOQ) calculated for 20 readings of the blank of the standard slurries (2%, m/v of feces or feed devoid of minerals) were 0.81 and 2.70 mu g L-1 of Cr2O3 for the standard feces slurries, 0.84 and 2.83 mu g L-1 of Cr2O3 for the standard feed slurries. The proposed method was applied in studies of nutrient digestibility of different fish feeds and its results proved compatible with the results obtained from samples pre-mineralized by acid digestion. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Morphological changes of the intestinal mucosa of broilers and layers as affected by fasting before sample collection

The present study aimed at evaluating the histo-morphological changes resulting from different fasting periods before the collection of tissue samples in different segments of the small intestine (duodenum, jejunum and ileum) of 7-d-old male chicks of a broiler and a layer strain. A completely randomized experimental design in in a 2x7 factorial arrangement, being two strains with different growth rates (Ross 308 and HyLine® W36) and seven fasting periods (0, 2, 4, 6, 8, 10 and 12 hours ), with six replicates, totaling 84 birds. The comparison of the morphometrics of the duodenum, jejunum and ileum of broiler and layer chicks demonstrated faster digestive tract development in broilers relative to layers. The fasting period caused morphological changes in the liver and small and large intestines in both strains. Therefore, it must be highlighted that in studies involving organ weights and intestinal morphometrics, birds must not be submitted to fasting before tissue collection.

Diminuição do teor de óxido de crômio (III) usado como marcador externo

A sensibilidade do método espectrofotométrico da s-difenilcarbazida de determinação do crômio permite que esse metal possa ser determinado em teores e em massas de amostras tão pequenas que as concentrações atualmente usadas de óxido de crômio (III) como marcador externo em ensaios biológicos poderiam ser drasticamente diminuídas. Utilizando-se do piauçu (Leporinus macrocephalus) para um estudo sobre o coeficiente de digestibilidade aparente (CDA) da fração protéica, seis níveis de óxido de crômio (III) - 0,01% - 0,02% - 0,03% - 0,05% - 0,1% e 0,2% - foram incorporados em dietas isoprotéica e isoenergética, objetivando-se verificar se o cálculo do CDA seria afetado pela variação do teor do marcador. Os seis tratamentos foram dispostos em um delineamento em blocos inteiramente casualisados, sendo as fezes coletadas durante 16 dias. Verificou-se que os resultados do coeficiente de digestibilidade aparente da fração protéica não apresentaram diferenças estatísticas significativas devidas aos teores incorporados do marcador à ração e aos dias de coleta. Conseqüentemente, e em experimentos dessa natureza, nada impede que seja reduzido o teor de óxido de crômio (III) ao menos até 0,01%: além da economia relativa ao consumo do mesmo e da facilidade na manipulação de menor quantidade de amostras de fezes, o método espectrofotométrico da s-difenilcarbazida permite dosar esse nível (e até menor do que 0,01%) de modo simples e rápido, com precisão e exatidão.

Recuperação de larvas infectantes de Trichostrongylus colubriformis em três espécies de gramíneas contaminadas no verão

O experimento teve como objetivo avaliar a recuperação de larvas infectantes (L3) de Trichostrongylus colubriformis em Brachiaria decumbens cv. Australiana, Cynodon dactilon cv. Coast-cross e Panicum maximum cv. Aruana. Foram utilizados módulos experimentais constituídos por seis canteiros de 32,4 m² cada, perfazendo dois canteiros por espécie forrageira. Cada canteiro foi dividido em 36 parcelas, de 30 x 30 cm, de forma a permitir seis repetições por espécie e por altura da forragem em cada semana de colheita de material. A sobrevivência larval foi avaliada do meio do verão e até meados do outono, sob o efeito de duas alturas de poda das forragens: baixa, 5 cm e alta, 30 cm. A poda foi realizada imediatamente antes da deposição das fezes contaminadas com ovos de T. colubriformis, obtidos de ovinos, que ocorreu no dia 05/02/ 2004. A colheita das fezes e da forragem foi realizada uma, duas, quatro, oito, 12 e 16 semanas após a deposição das fezes nos canteiros experimentais. A altura da forragem foi medida em cada uma das subdivisões imediatamente antes da colheita. A forragem foi cortada rente ao solo, de uma área delimitada com o auxílio de um círculo de 10 cm de raio. As fezes foram recolhidas manualmente dos canteiros. O número de larvas infectantes recuperado foi muito pequeno em comparação com a quantidade de larvas produzidas nas culturas controle, mantidas no laboratório (máximo de 6,7% no capim Aruana com 30 cm de altura). Arecuperação de L3 das amostras fecais foi maior quando as fezes foram depositadas em meio ao capim alto (com 30 cm - P<0,05). Porém, a recuperação de L3 das forragens foi similar em ambos os cortes. em relação à concentração de L3 (número de L3/kg de matéria seca), não houve diferença entre o corte baixo e alto (P>0,05) em nenhuma das semanas experimentais. Dentre as espécies forrageiras, o capim aruana foi o que, no geral, apresentou maiores concentrações de L3 de T. colubriformis.

Virulence factors in Escherichia coli strains isolated from urinary tract infection and pyometra cases and from feces of healthy dogs

The aim of this study was to compare the prevalence of virulence genes in 158 Escherichia coli strains isolated from 51 clinical cases of UTIs, 52 of pyometra and from 55 fecal samples from healthy dogs by PCR. papC was found in 12 (23.5%) strains isolated from UTIs, 19 (36.5%) from pyometra and 10 (18.2%) from feces. papGII was observed in 3 (5.8%) strains from pyometra, and papGIII in 10 (19.6%) from UTIs, 15 (28.8%) from pyometra and 9 (16.4%) from feces. sfaS was detected in 22 (43.1%) strains from UTIs, 24 (46.1%) from pyometra and 19 (34.5%) from feces. hlyA was observed in 17 (33.3%) strains from UTIs, 18 (34.6%) from pyometra and 7 (12.7%) from feces, while cnf-1 was detected in 11 (21.6%) from UTIs, 21 (40.4%) from pyometra and 9 (16.4%) from feces. iucD was observed in 12 (23.5%) strains from UTIs, 9 (17.3%) from pyometra and 1 (1.8%) from feces. usp was found 17 (33.3%) isolates from UTIs and 36 (69.9%) from pyometra. (c) 2008 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Collection Rates and Morphology of Equine Oocytes Obtained from Immature Follicles after Treatment with Equine Pituitary Extract (EPE) and Human Chorionic Gonadotropin

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Visual detection of turkey coronavirus RNA in tissues and feces by reverse-transcription loop-mediated isothermal amplification (RT-LAMP) with hydroxynaphthol blue dye

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