Efeitos da monensina no desempenho de bezerras leiteiras em crescimento Effects of monensin on growing dairy heifers performance

Foi estudado o efeito da suplementação de monensina sobre o desempenho de 32 novilhas Holandesas em crescimento, com peso médio de 84 kg, durante quatro meses . Os animais suplementados com monensina apresentaram maior peso e perímetro torácico aos 90 e 120 dias de experimentação, maior ganho de peso, mostrando um valor de 26,56% maior do que os animais controle. Não foi observada diferença no comprimento corporal e glicose sangüínea, enquanto a altura na cernelha apresentou tendência a valores mais altos nos animais suplementados. Concluiu-se que a suplementação de monensina resultou em maior desenvolvimento dos animais, podendo proporcionar precocidade reprodutiva e produtiva de novilhas leiteiras de reposição.<br>The performance of 32 growing Holstein heifers, with average weight of 84 kg and supplemented with monensin, during four months, was studied. The animals supplemented with monensin presented higher weight and hearth girth at 90 and 120 days of experiment, higher weight gain, with value of 26.56% superior than the control animals. No difference was observed for the corporal length, plasma glucose and the height values. The animals fed monensin presented higher height values. The animals supplemented with monensin showed better development. The use of monensin provided reproductive and productive precocity for the replacement dairy heifers

Juazeiro hay in diets of Morada Nova sheep

This study evaluated intake and apparent digestibility of the nutrients in the diet of Morada Nova sheep that received diets containing increasing levels of juazeiro hay in substitution of Tifton 85 bermudagrass hay (0, 33, 67 and 100%). Sixteen non castrated male sheep, weighing an average of 26.75 kg, were used, placed in individual metabolic cages and distributed in a completely randomized block design with four treatments and four replications. Intakes of dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, total carbohydrates, fibrous carbohydrates and non-fibrous carbohydrates and total digestible nutrients were not influenced by the addition of juazeiro hay to the diets, with mean values of 1,042.78 and 595.59 g/day of dry matter and neutral detergent fiber intake, respectively. Linear reduction was observed for digestibility of the dry matter, organic matter, neutral detergent fiber and fibrous carbohydrates. Quadratic reduction was observed for the acid detergent fiber digestibility coefficient. The digestibility coefficients of the crude protein, ether extract, total carbohydrates and fibrous carbohydrates were not significant. The nitrogen balance was not influenced and was positive for all the treatments. The inclusion of juazeiro hay did not influence nutrient intake or nitrogen balance, but reduced the digestibility coefficient of some diet components

Behavior patterns of cows with Charolais or Nellore breed predominance fed diets with plant extract or monensin sodium

The objective of this research was to study the ingestive behavior of feedlot cows fed additives based on plant extracts or monensin sodium. Twenty-four Charolais and Nellore crossbred cows with age and average initial weight of 7 years and 423 kg, respectively, were used. The experimental diets were plant extracts: basal diet + 5 g/animal/day of a natural additive composed of 750 mg of essential oil of thyme (Thymus vulgaris), 150 mg of garlic (Allium sativum), 250 mg of rosemary extract (Rosmarimus officinalis), 250 mg of canola oil (Brassica napus), 250 mg extract of quillaja (Quillaja saponaria), and 3350 mg of corn starch; sodium monensin: basal diet + 300 mg/monensin/animal/day; and control: basal diet without additive. The basal diet contained sorghum silage and concentrate in a 62:38 ratio. The experimental design was completely randomized with a 3 × 2 (3 diets and 2 breed predominances) factorial arrangement, and means were compared using DMS test at 5% of significance. The type of additive consumed did not alter animal feeding behavior. Cows with Charolais predominance consumed more dry matter (13.78 vs. 12.38 kg/day) and neutral detergent fiber (7.81 vs. 6.89 kg/day), ruminated for longer (8.47 vs. 7.82 h), spent more time chewing (13.05 vs 12.01 h), had a greater number of chews per minute (58.88 vs 53.21) and a greater number of ruminal bolus (541.43 vs. 464.09 boluses/day); however, cows with Nellore predominance had greater idling time (11.82 vs. 10.74 h)

Avocado Fruit Quality Management during the Postharvest Supply Chain

Avocados are a popular subtropical fruit of high economic importance, and the European Union is the biggest importer of the bulk of the fruit coming from countries such as South Africa, Chile, and Israel. The fruit is highly nutritious, being rich in vitamins A, B, C, minerals, potassium, phosphorus, magnesium, iron, and antioxidants. The biggest challenge is that the fruit is highly susceptible to qualitative and quantitative postharvest losses. Successful maintenance of avocado fruit quality during the supply chain depends on many aspects, including adequate orchard management practices, harvesting practices, packing operations, postharvest treatments, temperature management, transportation and storage conditions, and ripening at destination. Postharvest losses are mostly attributed to flesh softening, decay, physiological disorders, and improper temperature management. Management of the supply chain is solely done to provide the fruit with the most favorable conditions to extend storage life, and retain quality and nutritional attributes of the fruit. The focus of this review is therefore to study the findings that have emanated from research done to retain overall avocado fruit quality and to reduce postharvest losses during the supply chain through the adoption of appropriate and novel postharvest technologies.Post-Harvest Innovation Programme (Fresh Produce Exporter Forum, South Africa, and Department of Science and Technology).http://www.tandfonline.com/loi/lfri202015-06-30hb201