A review and simplification of the in vitro incubation medium

The requirement to rapidly and efficiently evaluate ruminant feedstuffs places increased emphasis on in vitro systems. However, despite the developmental work undertaken and widespread application of such techniques, little attention has been paid to the incubation medium. Considerable research using in vitro systems is conducted in resource-poor developing countries that often have difficulties associated with technical expertise, sourcing chemicals and/or funding to cover analytical and equipment costs. Such limitations have, to date, restricted vital feed evaluation programmes in these regions. This paper examines the function and relevance of the buffer, nutrient, and reducing solution components within current in vitro media, with the aim of identifying where simplification can be achieved. The review, supported by experimental work, identified no requirement to change the carbonate or phosphate salts, which comprise the main buffer components. The inclusion of microminerals provided few additional nutrients over that already supplied by the rumen fluid and substrate, and so may be omitted. Nitrogen associated with the inoculum was insufficient to support degradation and a level of 25 mg N/g substrate is recommended. A sulphur inclusion level of 4-5 mg S/g substrate is proposed, with S levels lowered through omission of sodium sulphide and replacement of magnesium sulphate with magnesium chloride. It was confirmed that a highly reduced medium was not required, provided that anaerobic conditions were rapidly established. This allows sodium sulphide, part of the reducing solution, to be omitted. Further, as gassing with CO2 directly influences the quantity of gas released, it is recommended that minimum CO, levels be used and that gas flow and duration, together with the volume of medium treated, are detailed in experimental procedures. It is considered that these simplifications will improve safety and reduce costs and problems associated with sourcing components, while maintaining analytical precision. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Organic and inorganic sources of zinc, copper and selenium in diets for dairy cows: intake, blood metabolic profile, milk yield and composition

The present study was carried out with the objective of evaluating the effects of feeding dairy cows with organic or inorganic sources of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) on blood concentrations of these minerals, blood metabolic profiles, nutrient intake and milk yield and composition. Nineteen Holstein cows were selected and randomly assigned to two groups for receiving organic (n = 9) or inorganic (n = 10) sources of Zn, Cu and Se from 60 days before the expected date of calving to 80 days of lactation. Samples of feed, orts and milk were collected for analysis. Body condition score (BCS) was determined and blood samples were collected for analysis of Zn, Cu and Se concentrations, as well as for metabolic profile. Supplying organic or inorganic sources of Zn, Cu, and Se did not affect dry matter and nutrient intake, blood metabolic profile, milk yield and composition, plasma concentration of these minerals, and BCS or change the BCS in cows from 60 days before the expected date of calving to 80 days of lactation. An effect of time was observed on all feed intake variables, plasma concentrations of Zn and Se, milk yield, milk protein content, BCS and change in BCS.

Efeito da fonte protéica e do processamento físico do concentrado sobre a terminação de bovinos jovens confinados e o impacto ambiental dos dejetos

O objetivo nesta pesquisa foi avaliar o efeito de dois ingredientes protéicos da dieta (farelo de soja e de algodão) e de dois processamentos físicos do concentrado (farelado e extrusado) na terminação de 16 bovinos machos não-castrados da raça Canchim. Avaliaram-se ainda a excreção de nutrientes nos dejetos e o potencial de produção de biogás. Os animais tinham 12 meses de idade e 315 kg PC, em média, e foram confinados em baias individuais durante 147 dias (os primeiros 35 dias foram de adaptação). Como volumoso utilizou-se silagem de milho, em uma relação volumoso:concentrado de 50:50, com base na MS. Os resultados foram analisados em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 2 × 2 (fonte protéica × processamento físico). A fonte protéica influenciou o ganho de peso corporal (1,50 e 1,35 kg/dia para o farelo de soja e de algodão, respectivamente), a conversão alimentar (4,73 e 5,31 kg MS ingerida/kg de ganho de peso, respectivamente) e a eficiência protéica (1,78 e 1,59 kg de ganho de peso/kg PB ingerida, respectivamente). O tratamento físico do concentrado e a fonte protéica não influenciaram a ingestão de MS, a área de olho-de-lombo e a espessura de gordura, estimadas por ultra-som. O balanço de nutrientes foi semelhante entre tratamentos para MS, FDN e FDA, mas a fonte protéica determinou diferenças no balanço de PB. Entre os macro e microminerais quantificados nas fezes, os teores de P e Mg diferiram entre as fontes protéicas e a extrusão aumentou o conteúdo de Ca, com médias de 0,39 e 0,43 g/100 g de MS de dejetos, respectivamente, para os concentrados farelado e extrusado. Os dejetos produziram biogás de maneira efetiva entre o 70º e o 200º dia.

Alimentação de leitões com dietas contendo soro de leite fermentado mais zinco e cobre orgânico

An experiment was carried out to evaluate the performance of piglets fed rations containing fermented milk and zinc and copper amino acid complex. Sixty four piglets, littermates, were used. The experimental design was based on random block with two dietary treatments. One of these contained a basal diet (DB) with ZnO e CuSO 4 and the other one with the DB, but without CuSO 4 and with the addition of fermented milk and zinc and copper amino acid complex (SLF Lact +ZnCuAA). There were eight replicate pens per treatment, and pigs were grouped at 4 per pen. The SLF Lact + ZnCuAA didn't not affect (p>0.05) final live weight of the piglets. However, live weight was different (p<0.01) between males and females (24.3 vs. 24.0 kg) at end of experiment. The feed intake of animals feed with SLF Lact+ZnCuAA was higher (p<0.01) in 8% in the first 14 days (0.261 vs. 0.239 kg/d), 15% from 15 to 28 days (0.756 vs. 0.675 kg/ d) and 12% from 29 to 42 days (1.091 vs. 0.962 kg/ d) compared to control group. Daily average feed intake in the experimental period was 11% higher (p<0.01) for the animals fed with the diet contained SLF Lact+ZnCuAA. Weight gain of the treatment with SLFL act+ZnCuAA was higher (p<0.01) by 14% from 0 to 14 days (0.176 vs. 0.152 kg/d), 11% from 15 to 28 days (0.564 vs. 0.500 kg/d) and 12% from 29 to 42 days (0,572 vs. 0,501 kg/d). Average daily weight gain of 42 days of trial of treatment with SLF Lact +ZnCuAA was 12% higher (p<0.01) compared to control group (0.437 vs. 0.384 kg/d). Feed conversion ratio was 8% lower (p<0.01) for treatment with SLF Lact+ZnCuAA in the first 14 days (1.487 vs. 1.614). Supplementation with fermented milk and zinc and copper amino acid complex in diets containing zinc oxide improved growth performance of weanling piglets.

Fontes orgânicas de microminerais nas rações de leitões desmamados

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

Valores séricos de macro e microminerais de eqüinos da raça puro sangue inglês(PSI), do nascimento aos seis meses de idade

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FMVZ

Efeitos de minerais orgânicos no desempenho, qualidade de ovos e qualidade óssea de poedeiras semi-pesadas no segundo ciclo de produção

Pós-graduação em Zootecnia - FMVZ

Cana-de-açúcar hidrolisada com doses crescentes de cal virgem e tempos de exposição ao ar para a alimentação de bovinos

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Response plateau models fitting via isotonic regression

Within the nutritional context, the supplementation of microminerals in bird food is often made in quantities exceeding those required in the attempt to ensure the proper performance of the animals. The experiments of type dosage x response are very common in the determination of levels of nutrients in optimal food balance and include the use of regression models to achieve this objective. Nevertheless, the regression analysis routine, generally, uses a priori information about a possible relationship between the response variable. The isotonic regression is a method of estimation by least squares that generates estimates which preserves data ordering. In the theory of isotonic regression this information is essential and it is expected to increase fitting efficiency. The objective of this work was to use an isotonic regression methodology, as an alternative way of analyzing data of Zn deposition in tibia of male birds of Hubbard lineage. We considered the models of plateau response of polynomial quadratic and linear exponential forms. In addition to these models, we also proposed the fitting of a logarithmic model to the data and the efficiency of the methodology was evaluated by Monte Carlo simulations, considering different scenarios for the parametric values. The isotonization of the data yielded an improvement in all the fitting quality parameters evaluated. Among the models used, the logarithmic presented estimates of the parameters more consistent with the values reported in literature.

Organic and inorganic sources of zinc, copper and selenium in diets for dairy cows: intake, blood metabolic profile, milk yield and composition

The present study was carried out with the objective of evaluating the effects of feeding dairy cows with organic or inorganic sources of zinc (Zn), copper (Cu) and selenium (Se) on blood concentrations of these minerals, blood metabolic profiles, nutrient intake and milk yield and composition. Nineteen Holstein cows were selected and randomly assigned to two groups for receiving organic (n = 9) or inorganic (n = 10) sources of Zn, Cu and Se from 60 days before the expected date of calving to 80 days of lactation. Samples of feed, orts and milk were collected for analysis. Body condition score (BCS) was determined and blood samples were collected for analysis of Zn, Cu and Se concentrations, as well as for metabolic profile. Supplying organic or inorganic sources of Zn, Cu, and Se did not affect dry matter and nutrient intake, blood metabolic profile, milk yield and composition, plasma concentration of these minerals, and BCS or change the BCS in cows from 60 days before the expected date of calving to 80 days of lactation. An effect of time was observed on all feed intake variables, plasma concentrations of Zn and Se, milk yield, milk protein content, BCS and change in BCS.

Biochemical evolution III: Polymerization on organophilic silica-rich surfaces, crystal–chemical modeling, formation of first cells, and geological clues

Catalysis at organophilic silica-rich surfaces of zeolites and feldspars might generate replicating biopolymers from simple chemicals supplied by meteorites, volcanic gases, and other geological sources. Crystal–chemical modeling yielded packings for amino acids neatly encapsulated in 10-ring channels of the molecular sieve silicalite-ZSM-5-(mutinaite). Calculation of binding and activation energies for catalytic assembly into polymers is progressing for a chemical composition with one catalytic Al–OH site per 25 neutral Si tetrahedral sites. Internal channel intersections and external terminations provide special stereochemical features suitable for complex organic species. Polymer migration along nano/micrometer channels of ancient weathered feldspars, plus exploitation of phosphorus and various transition metals in entrapped apatite and other microminerals, might have generated complexes of replicating catalytic biomolecules, leading to primitive cellular organisms. The first cell wall might have been an internal mineral surface, from which the cell developed a protective biological cap emerging into a nutrient-rich “soup.” Ultimately, the biological cap might have expanded into a complete cell wall, allowing mobility and colonization of energy-rich challenging environments. Electron microscopy of honeycomb channels inside weathered feldspars of the Shap granite (northwest England) has revealed modern bacteria, perhaps indicative of Archean ones. All known early rocks were metamorphosed too highly during geologic time to permit simple survival of large-pore zeolites, honeycombed feldspar, and encapsulated species. Possible microscopic clues to the proposed mineral adsorbents/catalysts are discussed for planning of systematic study of black cherts from weakly metamorphosed Archaean sediments.