Characterization of cattle production systems in Santarém, Pará, Brazil

Com o objetivo de identificar as principais falhas no sistema de produção que limitam a pecuária em Santarém, Pará, foram entrevistados, ao acaso, 21 pecuaristas (90,5% de corte - cria, recria e engorda; 9,5% de leite), proprietários de 10% da população de bovinos do município. 71,4% das propriedades tinham currais para manejo do gado, entretanto apenas 38,1% possuíam balança e 23,8% tronco de contenção. A Brachiaria brizantha estava presente em todas as fazendas, sendo usada exclusivamente em 42,9% das propriedades. A disseminação de plantas invasoras (61,9%) foi considerada a principal dificuldade no manejo das pastagens. Constatou-se que 76,2% dos pecuaristas utilizam misturas minerais com macro e micro-elementos, geralmente de formulações comerciais, enquanto que 19% utilizam apenas sal comum, enriquecido com micro-elementos. A concentração de fósforo (P) na mistura mineral estava abaixo do recomendado para bovinos de corte em 76,9% das propriedades e apenas 19% das propriedades possuía cochos para suplementação mineral adequada.With the objective of identifying the main problems of cattle nutrition in the production systems of Santarém, Pará, Brazil, ranchers in different regions of the municipality and who owned 10% of the municipality's animals were interviewed at random. The ranchers raised mostly beef cattle; only 9.5% had dairy cattle. The infrastructure conditions are inappropriate; only 23.8% of the ranches have adequate facilities for beef cattle management and 61.9% of the ranchers do not consider weight control. Weed invasion was considered the main problem of the pastures (61.9%). The most common forage was Brachiaria brizantha, used exclusively in 42.9% of the ranches. 76.2% of the ranchers used a complete mineral supplement, with macro and micro elements, while 19% used only salt (NaCl) with micro elements; the other 5% did not use mineral supplements at all. The phosphorus concentration in the mineral supplement at 76.9% of the ranches was less than the minimum level suggested for beef cattle and only 19% of the ranches had appropriate mineral feeders

Osteoporosis in water buffalo, in relation to age, clinical condition of the animal and physical-chemical bone and hepatic copper status

O presente trabalho faz parte de um programa de pesquisa de doenças metabólicas nutricionais em bubalinos no Trópico Úmido Amazônico e, nesse contexto, objetivou-se estudar os processos osteoporóticos em bubalinos criados em sistema de pastejo na Ilha de Marajó e a relação da enfermidade com a faixa etária e a condição físico-química óssea e do cobre hepático. Foram utilizados 110 animais: 39 jovens e 71 adultos, apresentando Índice de Condição Corporal entre 1 e 2. Avaliou-se um grupo composto por animais jovens e outro por animais adultos. Análises anátomoclínica e da qualidade óssea possibilitaram subdividir cada grupo em dois subgrupos, segundo a presença ou não de manifestações osteopáticas aparentes. Do terço médio da 11ªcostela direita analisou-se o cálcio, fósforo, cinza e densidade óssea e do tecido hepático determinou-se a concentração do cobre. No exame anatomopatológico, respectivamente 98,44% dos animais jovens e 96,16% dos animais adultos apresentavam algum grau de osteoporose (+, ++, +++). Foram demonstrados baixos percentuais na média do fósforo (10,69%), nas cinzas (60,24%) e na densidade (1,46 g/ml). O cobre hepático apresentou valores médios igualmente baixos (19,51 mg/kg). Os resultados mostraram que a osteoporose apresenta um quadro mais severo nos animais jovens, sendo que o processo pode estar relacionado com as baixas reservas de fósforo no tecido ósseo e do cobre no tecido hepático.This paper is part of a research program of metabolic nutritional diseases in water buffalo in the Humid Tropical Amazon. In that context, the objective was to study osteoporotic processes in buffalo raised in a grazing system on Marajó Island and the relation of the disease with the age as well as physical-chemical bone and hepatic copper status. One hundred and ten animals were evaluated: 39 young or juvenile and 71 adults that presented Body Condition Index from 1 to 2. One group was composed by young buffalo and another by adult animals. Based on anatomical-clinical and bone quality analyses, the animals were subdivided in two sub-groups, according to presence or absence of clinical signs of apparent osteopathic. Analysis of calcium, phosphorus, ash and bone density was performed on the middle third of the 11th right rib, and the copper concentration was determined from liver tissue. Pathological anatomical findings showed that 98.44% of juvenile animals and 96.16% of adult animals, respectively, presented some degree of osteoporosis (+, ++, +++). Low average percentages were demonstrated for phosphorus (10.69%), in ashes (60.24%) and in density (1.46 g/ml). Hepatic copper presented similar low values (19.51 mg/kg). The results showed that juvenile animals presented more severe clinical sign of osteoporosis, and the pathogenesis may be related to low reserves of phosphorus in bony tissue and copper in liver tissue

GANHO DE PESO E PERFIL METABÓLICO SANGUÍNEO DE CORDEIROS ALIMENTADOS COM DIETAS CONTENDO GORDURA PROTEGIDA

ABSTRACT: The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of protected fat over the weight gain and the metabolic blood profile in lambs. 14 Santa Ines sheep were  required, from weaning until 174 days old, and complete casuistic lineation was obtained by seven repetitions (in animals), two different treatments (one diet containing protected fat and another one, without it), and two different collected data times (one at the beginning and the other at the end of experiments). The biochemistry analysis included glucose, urea, triglycerides, and cholesterol. A 5% protected fat portion didn’t advance any positive effects over weight gain. No variations were detected in glucose rates, and triglycerides varied equally in groups, due to physiological modifications in such species. Plasma urea was a good indicator of methabolic energetic values as well as cholesterol, which showed the fat intake on such diet. A 5%  protected fat proportion on the diet didn’t have any positive effects over the weight gain. The inclusion of protected fat was more efficient metabolically in comparison to the group without it.      KEY-WORDS: biochemistry, performance, megalac®, sheep.RESUMO: O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a influência da gordura protegida sobre o ganho de peso e o perfil metabólico sanguíneo de cordeiros. Utilizou-se 14 cordeiros da raça Santa Inês do desmame até os 174 dias de idade, sendo utilizado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado com sete repetições (animais), dois tratamentos (dieta com e sem gordura protegida) e dois tempos de coleta de dados (início e final). As análises bioquímicas incluíram a determinação da glicose, ureia, triglicerídeos e colesterol. A gordura protegida na proporção de 5% na dieta não promoveu efeito positivo sobre o ganho de peso. A glicose não apresentou variação e os triglicerídeos variaram igualmente nos grupos devido a modificações fisiológicas da espécie. A ureia plasmática foi um bom indicador metabólico dos valores energéticos e o colesterol do aporte lipídico na dieta. A gordura protegida na proporção de 5% na dieta não promoveu efeito positivo sobre o ganho de peso. A inclusão de gordura protegida foi mais eficiente do ponto de vista metabólico comparado ao grupo sem o suplemento. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: bioquímica, desempenho, megalac®, ovino

Productive efficiency of buffalos in the State of Pará in different conditions of mineral supplementation

The monitoration of the consumption of different minerals mixtures was evaluated in 84 crossbred buffaloes distributed in two farms (1 and 2) located in Meso-area of Paraense's Northeast for the evaluation of the cost benefit of each product. The farms presented pastures of the type Brachiaria brizantha, cv. Marandú where the animals were maintained for 14 months. The animals were divided in two lots. The lot 1 of each farm received a commercial product of mineral supplementation recommended for buffalos (Topbúfalo Matsuda®) and the lot 2, the commercial product of conventional mineral supplementation of the property, in which was indicated for the bovine species. In Finance 1, the consumption of the mineral mixture to be tested was inferior to the consumption of the conventional mineral mixture and in Finance 2, the consumption of both lots was similar. The commercial product recommended for buffalos in pasture regime, in both systems, it promoted a better acting in the earnings of weight of the buffalos when compared to commercial products recommended for the bovine species. The medium weight of the hot carcass of the animals that consumed the mineral mixture to be tested was superior the one of the animals that received the conventional mineral mixture. The expense with the mineral supplementation was superior with the conventional products in both farms, with smaller net yields than the supplementation to be tested. Was ended that the productive efficiency of the animals using a recommended supplementation for buffalos in pasture regime overcomes the productive efficiency of buffalos when a supplementation is used recommended for bovine.O monitoramento do consumo de diferentes misturas minerais foi avaliado em 84 búfalos mestiços distribuídos em duas fazendas (1 e 2) localizadas na Meso-região do Nordeste Paraense para a avaliação do custo benefício de cada produto. As fazendas apresentavam pastagens do tipo Brachiaria brizantha, cv. Marandú onde os animais foram mantidos durante 14 meses. Os animais foram divididos em dois lotes. O lote 1 de cada fazenda recebeu um produto comercial de suplementação mineral recomendado para bubalinos (Topbúfalo Matsuda®) e o lote 2, o produto comercial de suplementação mineral convencional da propriedade, no qual era indicado para a espécie bovina. Na fazenda 1, o consumo da mistura mineral a ser testada foi inferior ao consumo da mistura mineral convencional e na fazenda 2, o consumo de ambos os lotes foi semelhante. O produto comercial recomendado para búfalos em regime de pastagem, em ambos os sistemas, promoveu um melhor desempenho no ganho de peso dos búfalos quando comparado a produtos comerciais recomendados para a espécie bovina. O peso médio da carcaça quente dos animais que consumiram a mistura mineral a ser testada foi superior a dos animais que receberam a mistura mineral convencional. O gasto com a suplementação mineral foi superior com os produtos convencionais em ambas as fazendas, com rendimentos líquidos menores do que a suplementação a ser testada. Conclui-se que a eficiência produtiva dos animais utilizando uma suplementação recomendada para bubalinos em regime de pastagem supera a eficiência produtiva de búfalos quando se utiliza uma suplementação recomendada para bovinos

Bovine Leukosis Virus and Antibodies against Bovine Herpesvirus Type-1 and Bovine Viral Diarrhea Virus and in Buffaloes of the State of Pará, Brazil

Background: Viral diseases affecting reproduction cause economic losses in cattle, as reproductive failure interrupts the production cycle, thus reducing herd productivity. Buffaloes are susceptible to most of the diseases that affect cattle. Some of the viral diseases of reproductive importance are infectious bovine rhinotracheitis (IBR), bovine viral diarrhea (BVD), and bovine leukosis (BL). The objective of this study was to determine the seroprevalence of IBR virus (bovine herpes virus-1, BoHV-1), BVD virus (BVDV), and BL virus (BLV) in female buffaloes living in wetland areas or plains in the state of Pará, as well as the seroprevalence of BoHV-1, BVDV, and BLV in females of different age groups.Materials, Methods & Results: It were used 225 crossbred buffaloes from 4 buffalo exclusive farms. The buffaloes reared on farms A (n = 50) and B (n = 89) were kept in wetland areas on Marajó Island (n = 139), Pará. On farms C (n = 30) and D (n = 56) buffaloes were kept in plains (n = 86) in a northeastern mesoregion of Para. Animals were categorized into age groups: I: 0-3 years (n = 34), II: 3-6 years (n = 58), III: 7-9 years (n = 55), and IV: over 9 years (n = 78). Blood samples were collected and sera were sent for processing at the Bovine Virus Laboratory, Biological Institute of São Paulo, Brazil. The presence of IBRV and BVDV was determined by neutralization and BLV antibodies by immunodiffusion in agar gel. Statistical analysis was performed using the Ȥ2 test at a significance level of 5%. Among the seroprevalences of IBRV, BVDV and BLV antibodies, the difference in prevalence for BVD [P < 0.01] was observed between wetland areas and plains of Para, varying from 12.4% to 96.0% and 0.0% to 13.3%, respectively. While levels of IBRV remained high on farms A (79.6%), B (86.5%), C (83.3%) and D (89.1%) [P = 0.60] and BLV was negative in all the animals. BVDV was similar for all the age groups [P = 0.60], while IBRV was more prevalent in animals over 6 years of age with group I: (76.5%), II (74.5%), III (92.3%) and IV (91.3%) [P = 0.01]. It was not possible verify the influence of age in prevalence for BL.Discussion: The prevalence obtained for the BoHV-1 on farms was high, with little variation between 79.6% and 89.1%. The high prevalence of BoHV-1 suggests the free circulation of the virus in the state of Para. Notably, the animals in this study had not been vaccinated, so the determined viral antibody titers were independent of vaccination. BVDV results showed high variation between 0.0% and 96.0%. The highest prevalence in wetland areas may be related to the breeding environment, because of a possible horizontal contamination. The lack of BLV antibodies prevalence can be attributed to the fact that all the evaluated animals were kept in an extensive breeding system where they had little direct contact. The prevalence of IBR was higher in the older animals. Variation in prevalence with age was not observed for BVD. It was concluded that the prevalence for IBR and BVD were high indicating that the etiological agents are circulating in Para, with IBR having a higher prevalence in older animals. Breeding buffalo in wetland areas may favor horizontal transmission of BVDV because facilitate contact of healthy animals with water contaminated by virus carriers animal secretion and the absence of seropositive animals at the BLV does not necessarily indicate that buffaloes are resistant to the virus

Aspectos histopatológicos da ossificação endocondral nas osteodistrofias de bubalinos.

Com o objetivo de estudar os processos patológicos da placa epifisária de crescimento (PEC), que comprometem a osteogênese, avaliou-se a junção costocondral da 11º costela e do metacarpo esquerdo de 71 búfalos em desenvolvimento procedentes da Iha de Marajó (PA). Baseado em análise clínica e anatomopatológica, definiram-se dois grupos: animais sem evidência clínica de osteodistrofia (1) e animais com evidência de osteodistrofia (2). Histologicamente, registrou-se 1,56% de casos de inatividade osteogênica. Proliferações e projeções da PEC na metáfise tiveram um percentual de 40,85% de ocorrência, 14,29% em animais sem evidência clínica de osteodistrofia e 26,56% de animais com evidência clínica. A invasão vascular da PEC, com espaços vasculares amplos e os espículos da matriz cartilaginosa delgados e irregulares, ocorreu em 14,29% e 43,75% dos animais sem e com evidência de osteodistrofia, respectivamente. O perfil patológico de proliferação e projeção da PEC na metáfise foi compatível com o raquitismo nutricional descrito em bovinos e a invasão anormal de vasos demostrou haver comprometimento na osteogênese.The costochondral junction of the 11º rib and left metacarpus of 71 growing buffalos from Marajó Island were surveyed in order to determine the pathological processes of epiphyseal growth plate — EGP. Two groups of buffaloes were defined based on clinical and anatomical pathological analyses: animals with no clinical evidence of osteodistrophy (1) and animals with evidence of osteodistrophy (2). Histological analyses showed that 1,56% of the cases recorded were of endochondral inactivity. EGP proliferations and projections in the metaphyses occurred in 40.85% of cases, with 14.29% in animals with no clinical evidence of osteodistrophy and 26.56% in animals with clinical evidence. The EGP vascular invasion with broad vascular spaces and spicules of thin and irregular cartilaginous matrix occurred in 14.29% and 43.75% of the animals without and with evidence of osteodistrophy, respectively. The pathological profile of EGP proliferation and projection in the metaphyses was compatible with nutritional rickets described in bovines. Abnormal invasion of vessels demonstrated that osteogenesis had occurred

Achados histopatológicos do osso trabecular nas osteodistrofias de bubalinos procedentes da Ilha de Marajó, Estado do Pará.

Com o objetivo de determinar os achados histológicos do osso trabecular, nas osteodistrofias subclínica e clínica em bubalinos, avaliaram-se 110 búfalos da Ilha de Marajó, distribuídos em dois grupos formados de animais jovens e adultos. Com base em análises clínica e anatomopatológica, definiram-se dois subgrupos: animais sem evidência de osteodistrofia e animais com osteodistrofia. O estudo histopatológico demonstrou que a desorganização de trabéculas representou a principal alteração do osso trabecular, sendo registrada sobretudo nos animais jovens com osteodistrofia clínica em 34,38% dos casos. Essa alteração caracterizou-se por trabéculas arranjadas de maneira desordenada e com disposição anormal, orientando-se de forma oblíqua e, em muitos casos, com trabéculas transversais. Observaram-se ilhas de cartilagem na região metafisária, principalmente nos animais com osteodistrofia clínica, ocorrendo em 15,63% e 11,54% dos animais jovens e adultos, respectivamente. Foram ainda diagnosticadas: necrose de trabéculas, formação óssea intramembranosa, fibroplasia e as hemorragias quase sempre associadas às microfraturas. Neste estudo, as alterações do osso trabecular foram compatíveis com idênticas alterações descritas em bovinos deficientes em cobre.The objective of this study was to determine the histology of sub clinical and clinical esteodistrophy in buffalo trabecular bones. We therefore studied 110 buffalos from Marajó Island. Young and adult animals formed the groups. Two subgroups were defined on the basis of clinical and anatomic-pathological analyses: a) animals with no evidence of osteodistrophy, b) animals with osteodistrophy. Trabecular disorganization represented the main alteration of the trabecular bone found mainly in young animals with clinical osteodistrophy in 34.38% of the cases. This alteration was characterized by trabecular bones arranged in a disorderly manner and abnormally placed, obliquely oriented and, often, with transversal trabecular bones. Cartilage isles were seen in the metaphyseal region, especially in animals with clinical osteodistrophy. This fact occurred in 15.63% and 11.54% of the young and adult animals, respectively. It was also observed trabecular necrosis, intra-membranous bone formation, fibroplasias and hemorrhages frequently associated to micro fractures. Trabecular bone alterations in this study were compatible to those described for bovines with copper deficiency

Concentração de sódio e potássio na saliva de búfalos no Estado do Pará, Brasil.

Dois grupos de bubalinos, procedentes do Estado do Pará, criados em condições extensivas e sem suplementação mineral, foram estudados objetivando determinar a concentração de sódio (Na) e de potássio (K) na saliva para avaliar a condição desses elementos no organismo animal. À saliva foi colhida através de uma esponja de poliuretano, introduzida na cavidade oral, próxima ao ducto da glândula parótida e acondicionada em tubos de polietileno. As análises constaram da diluição do material em água deionizada e leitura no espectrofotômetro de absorção atômica. As concentrações de Na e K na saliva dos animais procedentes da Ilha do Marajó e dos animais procedentes de Belém apresentaram-se semelhantes, sendo que a concentração média de Na (192 g/L) foi menor e a de K (1,99 g/L) foi maior do que os valores de referência sugerindo um processo de deficiência de Na.Buffaloes from two municipalities of the Para state, Brazil, grazed in systems without mineral supplementation were used to determine sodium (Na) and potassium (K) concentrations in saliva in order to evaluate the animal mineral condition. To collect the saliva samples, a polyurethane sponge was introduced into the oral cavity, near the duct of parotid gland, and was stored into polyethylene tubes. Laboratory analysis were made by diluting the samples in deionized water and determining Na and K by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. Saliva values of Na and K were similar in the animals from the two municipalities. The concentrations of Na was lower (1.92 g/L) and the concentration of K was higher (1.99 g/L) than the reference values suggesting Na deficiency