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)

Site and extent of amino acid digestion in dairy cattle fed with corn and its byproducts

The study was conducted to evaluated the site and extent of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), methionine (Met), lysine (Lys), and threonine (Thr) digestion of corn and byproducts obtained from corn germ mixed with different amounts of extruded or non-extruded ether extract (EE) in dairy cattle. Treatments consisted in eight types of feed and two processing in a 4 x 2 factorial design. There were four feeds: corn grain cracked (Corn), corn germ meal with 1% EE (CG1), corn germ meal with 7% EE (CG7), and corn germ meal with 10% EE (CG10). The feeds were processed in one of two ways: extruded (Ex) and not extruded. In situ techniques were used to determine DM, CP, Met, Lys, and Thr partial and total tract digestion. A basic diet was compounded of corn germ meal, soybean meal and coastcross hay in a 70: 30 roughage to concentrate ratio. There was no interaction (P>0.05) between feeds and processing method. Extrusion improved (P<0.05) total tract digestibility of corn DM but not CP. Intestinal digestibility was similar (P>0.05) for corn and corn germ meal mixed with 7 and 10% EE, regardless of EE processing method. The CP total tract digestibility of corn germ meal with 1% non-extruded EE was 16.62% higher (P<0.05) than that of the extruded form. The best total CP digestibility was obtained for corn germ meal with 7% EE, independently of the processing method. The effects of EE processing method on partial and total digestibility differed between amino acid. Corn and corn byproduct extrusion may improve dry matter digestibility, but do not necessarily influence crude protein digestion. Ruminal and intestinal digestibility of Met, Lys, and Thr depends on both feed type and processing method. Therefore, amino acid availability should be considered individually.

Soil phosphorus increases dry matter and nutrient accumulation and allocation in potato cultivars

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

Chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of fresh sugarcane hydrolysed with calcium oxide (CaO)

The objective was to evaluate the chemical composition and in vitro digestibility of sugarcane hydrolysed with increasing doses of calcium oxide and varying air exposure times. A completely randomised, split plot design was used; the doses were allocated to the plots, and the air exposure times were allocated to the subplots, with four repetitions. The data underwent analysis of variance and were laid out according to the effect of the treatment on the components of polynomial regressions, and evaluated at the 5% probability. The increase in the dosage negatively affected the quantities of neutral-detergent fibre (NDF), acid-detergent fibre (ADF), lignin (LIG), total carbohydrates (TC), cellulose (CEL), crude protein (CP), and ether extract (EE); and positively affected the quantities of non-fibrous carbohydrates (NFC) and mineral matter (MM). The addition of calcium oxide improved the in vitro digestible dry matter (IVDMD) coefficients and was able to keep up to 72 hours. The in vitro digestibility of the neutral-detergent fibre (IVDNDF) and of the acid-detergent fibre (IVDADF) coefficients decreased when calcium oxide was added. Calcium oxide has the ability to hydrolyse the fibrous fraction and conserve chopped sugarcane. Doses of 0.5 and 1.0% lime exhibited similar results to those achieved at higher doses; therefore, higher doses are not required in the hydrolyses of sugarcane. Over time, the sugarcane deteriorates, but this deterioration is reduced by the addition of calcium oxide.

Buffalo cheese whey proteins, identification of a 24 kda protein and characterization of their hydrolysates: in vitro gastrointestinal digestion

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

In vitro organogenesis of Eucalyptus grandis: effects of boron and calcium

The in vitro organogenesis of woody species plays an essential role in the improvement of forest products by providing saplings with high commercial value. Furthermore, mineral nutrition plays an important role in the induction of organogenic responses. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of boron and calcium in the organogenesis of nodal segments from seedlings of Eucalyptus grandis growing under in vitro conditions. The concentration of boron and calcium in MS medium was modified to induce organogenic responses in 45-day-old nodal segments used as explants. After 60 days, the fresh weight, dry weight, ratio of fresh and dry weight, relative water content and relative matter content accumulated by the explants were evaluated. The concentrations of boron and calcium in the culture medium influenced the in vitro organogenic control of Eucalyptus grandis. Reduced combinations of boron and calcium induced callus formation and dry matter accumulation in the explants. A boron concentration of 100% (1.10 mg L-1) combined with 100% (119.950 mg L-1) and 200% (239.900 mg L-1) of calcium, and 200% (2.20 mg L-1) of boron combined with 100% (119.950 mg L-1) of calcium allowed the induction of well-developed buds, which can be used for the regeneration of micro-plants.

Architectural development and dry matter production in a multisite trial on single and multiaxis apple trees (Malus domestica Borkh) grafted on different rootstocks

In two Italian sites, multiaxis trees slightly reduced primary axis length and secondary axis length of newly grafted trees, and increased the number of secondary shoots. The total length, node production, and total dry matter gain were proportional to the number of axis. Growth of both primary and secondary shoots, and dry matter accumulation, have been found to be also well related to rootstock vigour. A great variability in axillary shoot production was recorded among different environments. Grafted trees had higher primary growth, secondary axis growth, and dry matter gain than chip budded trees. Stem water potential measured in the second year after grafting was not affected by rootstocks or number of leaders. Measurements performed in New Zealand (Hawke’s Bay) during the second year after grafting revealed that both final length and growth rate of primary and secondary axis were related to the rootstock rather than to the training system. Dwarfing rootstocks reduced the number of long vegetative shoots and increased the proportion of less vigorous shoots.

A novel cell compatible impingement system to study in vitro drug absorption from dry powder aerosol formulations

A modified Astra type multistage liquid impinger (MSLI) with integrated bronchial cell monolayers was used to study deposition and subsequent drug absorption on in vitro models of the human airway epithelial barrier. Inverted cell culture of Calu-3 cells on the bottom side of cell culture filter inserts was integrated into a compendial MSLI. Upside down cultivation did not impair the barrier function, morphology and viability of Calu-3 cells. Size selective deposition with subsequent absorption was studied for three different commercially available dry powder formulations of salbutamol sulphate and budesonide. After deposition without size separation the absorption rates from the aerosol formulations differed but correlated with the size of the carrier lactose particles. However, after deposition in the MSLI, simulating relevant impaction and causing the separation of small drug crystals from the carrier lactose, the absorption rates of the three formulations were identical, confirming the bioequivalence of the three formulations.

In vitro models of the human epithelial airway barrier to study the toxic potential of particulate matter

BACKGROUND: Several epidemiological studies show that inhalation of particulate matter may cause increased pulmonary morbidity and mortality. Of particular interest are the ultrafine particles that are particularly toxic. In addition more and more nanoparticles are released into the environment; however, the potential health effects of these nanoparticles are yet unknown. OBJECTIVES: To avoid particle toxicity studies with animals many cell culture models have been developed during the past years. METHODS: This review focuses on the most commonly used in vitro epithelial airway and alveolar models to study particle-cell interactions and particle toxicity and highlights advantages and disadvantages of the different models. RESULTS/CONCLUSION: There are many lung cell culture models but none of these models seems to be perfect. However, they might be a great tool to perform basic research or toxicity tests. The focus here is on 3D and co-culture models, which seem to be more realistic than monocultures.

Effects of Supplementing High or Low Quality Forages with Corn or Corn Processing Co-Products Upon Digestibility of Dry Matter and Energy by Steers

A digestibility trial, utilizing eight crossbred steers weighing initially 741 lbs. was conducted in an 8 x 8 Latin square design. High-fiber corn by-products were compared with corn as energy sources when fed in mixed diets with either lowor high-quality forage. Ground, dry corn stover and ground alfalfa hay were both fed alone or with corn grain, dried corn gluten feed (CGF), and dried corn distillers grains plus solubles (DDG) in a 1:1 ratio (dry basis). Total tract dry matter digestibility (DMD) was increased for both forages when fed with concentrates. Total tract DMD was similar in stover-based and alfalfa-based diets fed with CGF and DDG. However, stover+corn was lower in DMD than either stover+CGF and stover+DDG. Conversely, alfalfa+corn was higher in DMD than alfalfa+CGF or alfalfa+DDG. Feeding stover with corn tended to decrease digestibility of neutral detergent fiber (NDF), while feeding stover with CGF or DDG increased NDFD. There was no effect upon NDF digestion of alfalfa-based diets when fed with any of the concentrates. Feeding either forage with a concentrate increased digestible energy (DE). Stover+CGF and stover+DDG were similar in DE and were both higher in DE than stover+corn. Alfalfa+DDG tended to be higher than alfalfa+CGF and was similar to alfalfa+corn in DE. Alfalfa+CGF was lower in DE compared with alfalfa+corn. Results are interpreted to indicate that stover is more susceptible to negative feed interactions caused by corn grain than is alfalfa. Additionally, highfiber corn co-products fed with stover resulted in a positive associative effect but essentially had no associative effect when fed with alfalfa.