Analysis of added value in bovines sold for the angus meat program in the south of Brazil

The objective of this work was to analyze price aggregation and disaggregation in commercialized animals searching for "Programa Carne Angus" benefits in the state of Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. Data from 40,698 carcasses with Angus cattle racial pattern, slaughtered in a meat industry that performs the "Programa Carne Angus "certification, during the 2014 year were analyzed. The aggregated value was calculated by the difference between the negotiated base price for the lot and the final price obtained by animal after the certification process. The disaggregation was calculated based on the factors preventing the animals from being included in the certification program. The results show that the major disqualifying factor in males with the racial pattern was carcass fatness, and for females was the dentition, which disqualified 34.3 and 12.7% respectively. Value breakdown from 7,177 disqualified animals due to lack of finishing, or advanced dentition, reached R$ 1,213,528.00, or US$ 369,077.86 (US$ 51.43 per head), an amount that is no paid on from the industry to rural producers.Keywords: Aberdeen Angus, beef cattle dentition, beef cattle meat chain, fatness carcass, quality meat.

Effect of aflatoxin B1 on digestibility and blood parameters in horses

The aim of this research was to evaluate the effect of mycotoxins on the digestion of nutrients and on the hematological profile of horses. Twelve horses were used in a completely randomized design, with three treatments and four replicates. Aliquots of 50 or 100 µg kg-1 of aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) were added to a basal diet naturally containing mycotoxins. The basal diet did not contain AFB1. The 40-day evaluation included a 12-day adaptation period and a 28-day experimental period. A digestion test was carried out at the end of the experimental period, using the partial stool collection method, using LIPE® as an indicator. Blood samples were collected once a week during 4 weeks of the essay for hematological and biochemical evaluations. The amounts of mycotoxins added did not influence the intake and digestibility of the nutrients (P>0.05). The aflatoxins in the diet influenced the white blood cell count, especially mature neutrophils and the creatine kinase and alkaline phosphatase (P <0.05), which had higher activity in horses fed diets with greater toxicity.

Clinical and anatomopathological study of urolithiasis in feedlot lambs subjected to diets with different phosphorus concentrations

Obstructive urolithiasis is common in farmed sheep and has a multifactorial etiology, but inadequate nutritional management is considered the most relevant condition for its occurrence. The objectives of this study were to verify the influence of two diets with different concentrations of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) on the development of obstructive urolithiasis, and to describe the clinical and anatomopathological findings of the urinary system in sheep. Thirty male crossbred Santa Inês and Ile de France lambs were randomly distributed into two groups: Group 1 (G1, n = 15) - Ca: 1.9:1 P and 0.42% P; Group 2 (G2, n = 15) - Ca: P 1.5:1 and 0.65% P. The diets consisting of Coast-cross hay, soybean meal, wheat, and corn were provided for 90 consecutive days with water ad libitum. After the diagnosis of the disease, the lambs were subjected to clinical and surgical treatment, when necessary. Urolithiasis was detected in 36.7% (11/30) of lambs, 26.7% were asymptomatic and 10% (3/30) had urethral obstruction. A lamb was unobstructed after amputation of the urethral process and urethral catheterization, one died of bladder and uroperitoneum rupture, and another was sacrificed after the failure of perineal urethrostomy and cystostomy. The most frequent renal histopathological changes were vascular congestion, dilation, and tubular degeneration. Proteins in the tubular lumen were more pronounced in G2. The diets were rich in concentrate and had adequate Ca:P ratios, but caused calculogenesis, showing that excess minerals and a small amount of roughage can cause disease in the herd.

Dormancy-breaking treatments and soil types on Chamaecrista rotundifolia emergence and initial development

Chamaecrista rotundifolia is a legume of high yield and nutritional value for livestock; however, it presents high seed dormancy. The aim of this study was to evaluate dormancy-breaking methods and the influence of soil texture on seedling emergence and initial development of C. rotundifolia. The experiment was performed in a greenhouse in a split-plot design with five replications. There were three treatments including dormancy-breaking techniques with immersion of the seeds in (1) hot water at 80°C for 30 s followed by 12 h in water at room temperature (25 °C; HW); (2) water at room temperature (25 °C) for 24 h (EW); and (3) hydrochloric acid (0.05 mol L-1) for 15 min (HA) (4) and a control group with no seed intervention, disposed in the main plots in randomized blocks. Seeds were cropped in two types of soil as subplots. Seedling emergence was evaluated daily to calculate the percentage emergence and emergence speed index. Plant performance was evaluated (21 days after sowing) through measurements of mass and length of components. Chamaecrista rotundifolia showed a high degree of dormancy in the seeds, and the treatment using HW had greater efficiency in seedling emergence (p < 0.01) and emergence speed index (p < 0.05). Total dry mass was superior in sandy soil (p < 0.05). Soil texture and dormancy treatments influenced the initial performance of plants, which performed better in sandy soil.

Prevalence of Oestrus ovis (Diptera: Oestridae) in sheep from Ituiutaba, south-east region of Brazil

Among the diseases which can afflict the nasal cavities of small ruminants, oestrosis stands out. In Brazil, more specifically in its South-East region, the reports are limited only to the State of São Paulo and to the municipality of Araxá, Minas Gerais. Therefore, it has been sought to assess the parasitic prevalence of Oestrus ovis in sheep farmed in the municipality of Ituiutaba, Minas Gerais-Brazil, while correlating the larval size and stage, and its anatomical localization. Eighty-eight hemiheads of healthy Santa Inês/Dorper crossbreds Ovis aries have been used at random. The larvae in view were then collected and fixated to be quantified and analyzed in regard of size and stage of development. It is concluded that the oestrosis is an existing problem in the municipality of Ituiutaba, this being the first complete study on the prevalence of this parasite in the State of Minas Gerais. By anatomical distribution, only the differences of total larval averages between the frontal sinus and the ventral nasal meatus, the common nasal meatus and the nasopharynx have been significant. In size, the significant difference has been there only upon comparison between the size and the larval stage, information that is crucial for a better understanding of the cyclic progression, of the clinical symptomatology, and animal prophylaxis.

Hemogasometric and biochemical changes caused by diets with high negative cation-anion balance in dairy cows

This study aimed to evaluate hemogasometric and metabolic indicators in the first postpartum hours of dairy cows that received different cation-anion diets in the prepartum period. Holstein cows (n=14), multiparous, were divided into two groups: (1) acidogenic diet (DA -27.13 mEq/100 g of DM) (n=7) and (2) neutral diet (DN -3.25 mEq/100 g of DM) (n=7), provided from 30 days before the expected calving. Urine samples were collected every three days from the beginning of supplementation until the day of delivery for pH verification. Blood samples were collected at 0, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60 and 72 h postpartum for hemogasometric and biochemical analyses. The animals that received DA presented lower urinary pH. The serum concentration of total calcium, ionized calcium and the incidence of subclinical hypocalcemia did not differ between groups. Animals that received DA presented reduction in blood levels of total plasma proteins, globulins, bicarbonate and blood pH, in addition to increased activity of paraoxone-1 and reduction in the concentration of haptoglobin from animals of DN. In conclusion, we can infer that, anionic diets can alter blood pH, interfere with protein synthesis, and probably improve antioxidant capacity.

Uso da galactose na vitrificação de sêmen ovino em palhetas

Resumo A vitrificação de espermatozoides é uma técnica que apresenta grande potencial para criopreservação de material genético, e sua eficácia tem sido superior aos métodos convencionais em algumas espécies. No entanto, existem poucos estudos sobre sua eficiência com sêmen ejaculado de carneiros e o uso da galactose como crioprotetor extracelular durante a vitrificação. Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar o efeito da galactose (0,01 M), associada ou não ao glicerol (3% e 7%), em meio comercial (Steridyl® - controle), na criopreservação de espermatozoides de carneiros pelo método de palhetas, comparando o método clássico de congelação e a vitrificação. Ejaculados de seis carneiros da raça Dorper em idade reprodutiva foram coletados com vagina artificial, aliquotados, diluídos individualmente (100 × 106 espermatozoides/mL) nos meios testados, envasados em palhetas de 0,25 mL e submetidos à congelação clássica ou vitrificação. Foram analisadas a cinemática, morfologia, morfometria, viabilidade, integridade física e funcional da membrana espermática. A congelação clássica obteve melhores resultados de motilidade total e progressiva do que a vitrificação nos quatro extensores testados, uma vez que as amostras vitrificadas não apresentaram motilidade pós-reaquecimento (p < 0,05). A adição de galactose ou glicerol ao meio comercial não trouxe efeito benéfico tanto para a vitrificação quanto congelação clássica.

Analysis of Brazilian livestock transformations: a focus on dairy farming

In this study, we investigated the principal transformations in dairy farming among Brazilian federative units in the period from 2006 to 2017. Data were drawn from the Agricultural Censuses from 2006 and 2017. In order to compare the variations between the states and macroregions, descriptive analyses were performed. Pearson correlation was used to test the correlation among the variables. A 4.63% decrease was observed in the number of establishments supporting cattle, notably in the states of PE (-23.02%), RS (-20.67%) and PR (-19.65%). Some states showed greater participation in terms of increase in number of cattle, particularly in the Northern region. No significant change in pasture area was observed. A decrease of 12.92% in number of milk producers was observed, mainly in the traditional dairy basins, such as RS (-36.62%), PR (-27.33%), SP (-24.67%) and SC (-20.21%). Producers who continued in the activity had a rise in the scale of their daily production. Although there was a 9.47% reduction in the number of cows milked, the herd productivity showed a 61.96% surge, particularly in the Southern (72.98%) and South-eastern (62.31%) areas. Milk production revealed higher correlation with number of cows milked (P<0.05; r=0.97) and productivity per cow (P<0.05; r=0.63), than with area of the rural establishments (P<0.05; r=0.38). In conclusion, there were significant changes in dairy farming over an eleven-year period, including changes in the geography of production, greater concentration and professionalization of the activity, as well as the expressive growth of milk production in almost every state, which is reflective of higher productivity of the national herd.

Anatomomopathological and immunohistochemical analyses of the spleen and lymph node of dogs seropositives for leishmaniasis in serological tests

Canine leishmaniasis (CanL) is a zoonosis caused by the protozoan of the species Leishmania infantum. The spleen and lymph nodes undergo morphological changes during CanL. This research aimed to perform an anatomopathological and immunohistochemical study of these organs in dogs reactive to leishmaniasis in the Dual-path Platform chromatographic immunoassay (DPP®) and Enzyme Immunoabsorption Assay (ELISA). Twenty-seven dogs were evaluated for anatomopathological examination with 92.6% showing changes at gross evaluation, specially splenomegaly and lymphadenomegaly. All dogs showed changes in the spleen unrelated to the parasitic load, with granulomatous splenitis being the most severe change. Diffuse cortical and paracortical hyperplasia, and hyperplasia and hypertrophy of the medullary cords were observed in the lymph node. Amastigote forms of Leishmania spp. were found in the spleen and lymph node at histopathological and immunohistochemical evaluations, with good agreement between these evaluations (k = 0.55, p = 0.00124), but no difference was observed in the parasitic intensity of these organs at immunohistochemistry (p = 0.23). It was concluded that spleen and lymph node from dogs reactive to leishmaniasis on the DPP® and ELISA tests show histomorphological changes resulting from the disease, independent to the parasitic load, as well as these organs show similar parasitic load at immunohistochemical test.

Clinical effectiveness of autohemotherapy as an adjuvant in the control of gastrointestinal nematodes in naturally infected sheep

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of autohemotherapy as an adjuvant in the control of gastrointestinal nematodes in sheep. Four experimental groups were formed: G1, 10 animals receiving autologous venous blood; G2, 10 animals receiving autologous venous blood and vermifuge containing levamisole; G3, 10 animals receiving only vermifuge containing levamisole; and G4, 10 animals as the control group receiving no treatment. We performed fecal egg count (eggs per gram, EPG) of strongyles, larval culture, hemogram, leukogram, and serum protein dosage prior to the start of treatment (D0), and on days 14 (D14) and 42 (D42). There was a significant decrease in the EPG of the groups receiving levamisole (G2 and G3) from D14 to the end of the experimental period. At the end of the evaluations, the mean EPG of G2 and G3 was significantly lower than that of G1 and G4. The most common nematode genus was Haemonchus (88%), and the least common was Trichostrongylus (1%). The Fecal Egg Count Reduction Test (FECRT) of G2 and G3 on D14 were 98.1% and 97.9%, respectively, however, in G1, the FECRT was zero on the two days when evaluation took place. G1 and G2 showed a significant increase in monocyte counts on D14 and D42. There was a significant increase in hematocrit and hemoglobin values in G2 and G3, however, a significant increase in the absolute value of red blood cells was observed only in G2. Two doses of autohemotherapy at 21-day intervals, administered alone or as an adjuvant to levamisole, is ineffective in controlling gastrointestinal nematodes in naturally infected sheep.