Plasma α-tocopherol content and its relationship with milk somatic cells count in Italian commercial herds

In the last few years vitamin E supplementation in dairy cattle and its activity on udder health has been often controversially debated. This work was aimed to investigate relationship between plasma vitamin E concentration and milk somatic cell count in healthy cows in commercial herds. 49 multiparous cows from two commercial dairy herds in Milan area were monitored from the day of dry off until 90 DIM. BCS was assessed and blood samples were collected at dry off, day 0, 30, 60 and 90 postpartum. Plasma was analyzed for \u3b1-tocopherol, Zn and Se content. Quantification of NEFA and BOHB was performed in serum samples. Milk production and composition was obtained from routinely test-day of Italian milk producers association. Somatic Cell Score (SCS) was calculated and included in the dataset. Analysis of data was performed using MIXED repeated and CORR procedures of SAS. Vitamin E plasma concentration significantly decreased at day of calving and progressively increased in the first 90 days of lactation. A significant (P<0.01) negative (-20%) correlation was observed between NEFA serum content and \u3b1-tocopherol plasma concentration. Serum selenium content was positively correlated (+31%, P<0.05) to zinc concentration. Grouping cows on the basis of their plasma \u3b1-tocopherol content higher or lower than 3 mg/mL at dry off, SCS at 30 and 60 DIM tended to be higher in lactating animals with lower content of \u3b1-tocopherol (1.12 vs. 1.72, P=0.18 at 30d; 0.92 vs. 1.72, P=0.07 at 60d). No significant differences were observed on analyzed parameters when cows were grouped based on their plasma \u3b1-tocopherol content higher or lower than 2 mg/mL at day of calving. Overall low SCS values in investigated animals (mean values at days 30, 60 and 90; 1.42, 1.32, 1.58) could explain the lack of correlation between plasmatic vitamin E and somatic cell score. However, plasma \u3b1-tocopherol content at dry off could be usefully correlated with somatic cell count in fresh cows

Evolução do Mercado Brasileiro de Biodiesel sob a Ótica dos Leilões Promovidos pela ANP: 2005 a 2014

The National Biodiesel Production and Use Program (PNPB) was created so as to introduce biodiesel in the Brazilian energy matrix. Biodiesel is mainly commercialized through auctions regulated by the National Oil, Natural Gas and Biofuel Agency (ANP) to ensure the adequate functioning of the stock system due to the progressive increase in the mandatory adding of biodiesel to diesel fuel. The aim of this study was to identify the factors influencing the evolution of the Brazilian biodiesel market from a supply perspective as a result of the public auctions held by the ANP. The results of the study showed that, initially, the Brazilian biodiesel market is concentrated. However, with the increase in the number of participating companies, the percentage of mandatory mixture and the improvements in the legislation regarding the PNPB and the auctions, the market has become moderately concentrated. The study also found that the biodiesel sector may be characterized as pure oligopoly, where there are no differences among products, few companies are responsible for most of the production and there are barriers to entry due to the requirements that must be met by the companies to participate in the auctions