Metabolic profile and histopathology of kidneys and liver of lambs fed silages of forages adapted to a semi-arid environment

Thirty-two mixed-breed ram lambs (average age, 5.6 ± 0.4 months, and average live weight, 17.61 ± 2.63 kg) were used to evaluate the effect of diets containing silages of forages adapted to a semi-arid environment on the metabolic profile in serum and the histopathological assessment of liver and kidney tissues of the lambs. Lambs were allocated, in a completely randomised design, to four treatments (silage of old man saltbush (Atriplex nummularia Lind), buffelgrass (Cenchrus ciliaris), gliricidia (Gliricidia sepium) and ‘pornunça’ (Manihot sp.). The feedlot period was 49 days, and animals were slaughtered at an average weight of 27 ± 4.6 kg. On the last day of the experiment, blood was collected from the jugular vein of all animals to measure the protein, metabolic and energy profiles of the lambs. At slaughter, kidney and liver samples were collected for histopathological examination. The consuming of the diet containing buffelgrass silage resulted in a significantly higher activity of alanine-aminotransferase (30.14 IU/L) and the concentrations of urea (44.25 mg/dL), creatinine (0.94 mg/dL) and albumin (4.48 g/dL) in serum. Diets containing gliricidia silage resulted in significantly higher gamma-glutamyl transferase activity (92.0 IU/L), while the diets with pornunça silage resulted in higher serum levels of triglycerides (37.85 mg/dL). The diets had no effect on aspartate-aminotransferase enzyme activity and total protein, cholesterol and globulin concentrations, or the albumin : globulin ratio in serum. Mild congestion, necrosis and foci of mineralisation were observed in the kidneys of animals fed diets containing old man saltbush (50%) and pornunça (25%) silages, and mild fatty degeneration and mild mononuclear inflammatory infiltrate in their livers. In conclusion, diets containing silages of forages that are adapted to semi-arid environments may be used for feeding lambs, given the absence of dysfunctioning plasmatic levels of liver enzymes and energy and protein profiles. Additionally, kidney failure was not observed in lambs fed these diets during the feedlot period.Keywords: blood parameters, buffelgrass, gliricidia, old man saltbush, pornunç

Mpsaci Is A Widespread Gypsy-ty3 Retrotransposon Highly Represented By Non-autonomous Copies In The Moniliophthora Perniciosa Genome

Transposons are an important source of genetic variation. The phytopathogen Moniliophthora perniciosa shows high level of variability but little is known about the role of class I elements in shaping its genome. In this work, we aimed the characterization of a new gypsy/Ty3 retrotransposon species, named MpSaci, in the M. perniciosa genome. These elements are largely variable in size, ranging from 4 to 15 kb, and harbor direct long terminal repeats (LTRs) with varying degrees of similarity. Approximately, all of the copies are non-autonomous as shifts in the reading frame and stop codons were detected. Only two elements (MpSaci6 and MpSaci9) code for GAG and POL proteins that possess functional domains. Conserved domains that are typically not found in retrotransposons were detected and could potentially impact the expression of neighbor genes. Solo LTRs and several LARDs (large retrotransposon derivative) were detected. Unusual elements containing small sequences with or without interruptions that are similar to gag or different pol domains and presenting LTRs with different levels of similarities were identified. Methylation was observed in MpSaci reverse transcriptase sequences. Distribution analysis indicates that MpSaci elements are present in high copy number in the genomes of C-, S- and L-biotypes of M. perniciosa. In addition, C-biotype isolates originating from the state of Bahia have fragments in common with isolates from the Amazon region and two hybridization profiles related to two chromosomal groups. RT-PCR analysis reveals that the gag gene is constitutively expressed and that the expression is increased at least three-fold with nutrient depravation even though no new insertion were observed. These findings point out that MpSaci collaborated and, even though is primarily represented by non-autonomous elements, still might contribute to the generation of genetic variability in the most important cacao pathogen in Brazil

Desempenho de cordeiros Santa Inês alimentados com dietas completas contendo feno de maniçoba Performance of Santa Inês lambs fed total mixed rations containing different ratios of concentrate to ceara rubbertree hay

Avaliou-se o desempenho de cordeiros alimentados com dieta completa formulada com diferentes proporções de feno de maniçoba. Foram utilizados 32 animais Santa Inês machos, não-castrados (idade inicial de 70 dias e peso vivo de 16,02±2,37 kg), distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos e oito repetições. As dietas foram constituídas de concentrado e feno de maniçoba (FM) nas proporções de 20, 40, 60 e 80%. As proporções de feno na dieta não influenciaram os consumos de MS, PB e CT, cujas médias diárias foram 1,214; 0,201 e 0,816 kg, respectivamente. Os níveis de feno tiveram efeito linear positivo sobre o consumo de FDN e efeito linear negativo sobre o consumo de EM e CNF. O ganho de peso diário foi afetado pelos níveis de feno na dieta, apresentando médias de 290,84; 293,62; 253,35 e 208,48 g, respectivamente, para as dietas com 20, 40, 60 e 80% de feno de maniçoba. As dietas influenciaram a conversão (Y = 3,332+0,028x) e a eficiência alimentar (Y = 0,280,0013x). Pela análise econômica, observaram-se relações custo:benefício de 1,49; 1,57; 1,69 e 1,84 para os níveis de 20, 40, 60 e 80% de feno de maniçoba na dieta. O custo operacional efetivo por quilograma de carcaça produzida foi de R$3,68; R$ 3,49; R$3,23 e R$ 2,98, respectivamente, para as dietas com 20, 40, 60 e 80% de feno. A inclusão de 80% de feno de maniçoba em dietas completas possibilitou a obtenção de desempenho satisfatório dos cordeiros e melhor retorno financeiro.<br>The objective of this trial was to investigate the effect of different dietary ratios of concentrate (C) to ceara rubbertree hay (CRH; Manihot Glaziovii Muell. Arg.) on performance of lambs. Thirty two intact Santa Inês lambs averaging 70 days of age and 16.02±2.371 kg of body weight were fed one of the following four treatments as total mixed rations: 80C:20CRH (diet A), 60C:40CRH (diet B), 40C:60CRH (diet C), or 20C:80CRH (diet D) in a completely randomized design (eight repetitions/treatment). Increasing levels of CRH in the diet had no significant effect on the intakes of dry matter, crude protein, and total carbohydrates which averaged 1.214, 0.201, and 0.816 kg/day, respectively. However, intake of neutral detergent fiber increased linearly while the opposite was observed for intakes of metabolizable energy and nonfiber carbohydrates by increasing the proportion of CRH in the diet. The average daily gain was significantly affected by the different dietary ratios of C:CRH averaging 290.84, 293.62, 253.35, and 208.48 g/d, respectively, for diets A, B, C, and D. Significant linear effects were also observed for feed conversion (Y = 3.332 + 0.028x) and feed efficiency (Y = 0.28-0.0013x) when the proportion of CRH was increased from diet A to diet D. The profit:cost ratio and the cost per kg of carcass averaged, respectively, 1.49, 1.57, 1.69, and 1.84 and R$3.68, R$3.49, R$3.23, and R$2.98 with 20, 40, 60 and 80% of CRH hay in the diet. It can be concluded that the C:CRH ratio of 20:80 (diet D) resulted in satisfactory performance and improved income of Santa Inês lambs

Water and small ruminant production A água e a produção de pequenos ruminantes

Water is a nutrient of extreme importance for animals and must be considered vital in any rearing phase. The increasing scarcity of this precious natural resource has concerned different segments of society in order to find solutions for rational and sustainable use of this nutrient. Small ruminants, especially sheep and goats, have social and economic importance due to their great ability in adapting to adverse environmental conditions and using water efficiently. Thus, they might be a good alternative to mitigate the climate change effects and to generate foreign exchange and improving life condition in many places of the world. The concept of water productivity for livestock production is relatively new and there are few studies in the world, especially in Brazil. More researches and new technologies for water use in livestock production are indispensable.<br>A água é um nutriente extremamente importante na vida dos animais e deve ser considerada como vital em qualquer fase da criação. A escassez crescente deste precioso recurso natural tem provocado reações de diferentes segmentos da sociedade na busca de soluções de uso racional e sustentável deste nutriente. Os pequenos ruminantes, especialmente os ovinos e caprinos, são partes importantes da vida econômica e social de muitas nações pela sua ampla capacidade de adaptação às condições adversas do ambiente e boa eficiência no uso da água, podendo ser uma das boas alternativas de mitigação dos efeitos das mudanças climáticas, gerando divisas e melhoria das condições de vida em muitas regiões do mundo. O conceito de produtividade de água para a produção animal é relativamente novo e ainda são recentes e escassos os estudos existentes no mundo e em particular no Brasil. A realização de mais pesquisas e a geração de novas tecnologias de uso da água na produção animal, hoje mais do que nunca tornam-se imprescindíveis

Water consumption when exposed to sun and shade for native goats in the semiarid of the State of Paraiba, Brazil Consumo de água quando exposta ao sol e à sombra por caprinos nativos no Semiárido Paraibano

This work aimed to evaluate the preference and water consumption of native goats in the semiarid of Brazil. The water was freely supplied, in individual buckets, one exposed to the sun and the other in the shade. The experiment was realized using 18 animals of Moxotó, Graúna and Azul breeds, with average weight of 16,6 ± 2,4 kg, kept in confinement in individual stalls equipped with feeders and drinkers, during the period from January to February of 2009. The water temperature was measured by sensors (thermocouples type T - copper/constantan), which were coupled to a system of data acquisition. It was observed that the average water temperature exposed to the sun was 29.02 ºC, and 23.85 ºC in the shade. For all breeds there was a preference for the water exposed to the sun, corresponding to an average consumption of 64.71% of the total. Among the breeds, the greatest preference for water exposed to the sun was the Azul (71.18%), followed by the Moxotó (65.95%) and the Graúna (57.00%). The animals consumed more water during the day, and the average water consumption was 1.15 grams day-1, corresponding to 6.9 % of body weight of the animals.<br>O trabalho teve o objetivo de avaliar a preferência e o consumo de água por caprinos nativos no semiárido brasileiro, fornecida à vontade, em baldes individuais, sendo um exposto ao sol e outro à sombra. O experimento foi realizado, utilizado-se de 18 animais das raça Moxotó, Graúna e Azul, com peso vivo médio de 16,6 ± 2,4 kg, mantidos em confinamento, em baias individuais, providas de comedouro e bebedouro, durante o período de janeiro a março de 2009. A temperatura da água foi medida através de sensores (termopares tipo T - cobre/constantan), que estavam acoplados a um sistema de aquisição de dados. Observou-se que a temperatura média da água exposta ao sol foi de 29,02 ºC, e à sombra, de 23,85 ºC. Para todas as raças, houve preferência pela água exposta ao sol, correspondendo a um consumo médio de 64,71% do total. Entre as raças, a maior preferência pela água exposta ao sol foi da Azul (71,18%), seguida da Moxotó (65,95%) e Graúna (57,00%). Os animais consumiram mais água no período diurno, sendo o consumo médio de 1.150 gramas dia-1, correspondendo a 6,9% do peso vivo dos animais

Rendimento, composição tecidual e musculosidade da carcaça de cordeiros Santa Inês alimentados com diferentes níveis de feno de flor-de-seda na dieta Yield, tissue composition and carcass muscularity of Santa Inês lambs fed diets with different ratios of forage sorghum hay to silk flower hay

Foi avaliada a inclusão de níveis crescentes de feno de flor-de-seda (Calotropis procera SW) (FFS) em substituição ao feno de sorgo forrageiro (Sorghum bicolor, L.) (FSF) na dieta e seus possíveis efeitos sobre os rendimentos verdadeiro, biológico e comercial, a perda ao resfriamento, o rendimento dos cortes, a composição tecidual e a musculosidade da carcaça de cordeiros Santa Inês. Foram utilizados 24 cordeiros (machos não-castrados) distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualisado, com quatro tratamentos (relações FSF:FFS: 100:0, 66:33, 33:66 e 0:100). Os animais foram abatidos com 30,0 (±0,4) kg ou aos 70 dias de experimento. Não houve efeito das relações FSF:FFS na dieta sobre os rendimentos biológico, verdadeiro e comercial, sendo obtidos valores médios de 53,17; 45,97 e 44,34%, respectivamente. Foram observadas diferenças significativas no peso vivo ao abate, no peso de corpo vazio, nos pesos de carcaça quente e de carcaça fria, no rendimento dos cortes, na composição tecidual e na musculosidade da carcaça. À exceção dos cortes paleta e perna, as variáveis apresentaram valores mais elevados quando fornecidos os menores níveis de FFS na dieta. O feno de flor-de-seda pode ser utilizado na alimentação de cordeiros para produção de carne em proporções de até 16,5% da dieta (33% da fração volumosa), pois não ocasiona prejuízo à qualidade da carcaça.<br>This study evaluated the effects of different dietary ratios of forage sorghum (Sorghum bicolor L) hay (FSH) to silk flower hay (Calotropis procera SW) (SFH) on true, biological, and retail carcass yields, carcass cooling losses, retail cut yields, tissue composition and carcass muscularity of Santa Inês lambs. Twenty-four intact male lambs were assigned to one of the following four treatments: 100:0 FSH:SFH, 66:33 FSH:SFH , 33:66 FSH:SFH, or 0:100 FSH:SFH in a completely randomized design (six animals/treatment). Animals were slaughtered at 30.0±0.4 kg of body weight or at 70 days of experiment. There was no effect of treatments on the biological, true, and retail carcass yields, which averaged, respectively 53.17, 45.97%, and 44.34%. Except for shoulder clod and leg cuts, increasing the dietary levels of SFH significantly reduced the slaughter body weight, empty body weight, hot and cold carcass weights, retail cut yields, tissue composition, and carcass muscularity. It can be concluded that the inclusion of up to 16.5% of the diet DM (33% of the dietary forage) as SFH had no detrimental effect on carcass quality