Physiological and blood evaluation of horses submitted to exercises in different seasons of the year / Avaliação fisiológica e sanguínea de equinos submetidos a exercícios em diferentes estações do ano

Devido à crescente variedade nos esportes equestres e às raças de cavalos, tornou-se importante a avaliação da fisiologia do exercício animal. Os equinos são submetidos a treinamentos em condições de campo para o estabelecimento de condicionamento físico e até mesmo de programas nutricionais dos animais. A preocupação com o estresse térmico é uma realidade, principalmente para cavalos atletas, cujo o valor agregado no animal é maior. Este trabalho teve por objetivo avaliar parâmetros fisiológicos e sanguíneos de animais submetidos a exercícios em diferentes estações do ano. Foram utilizados 10 animais Quarto de Milha de diferentes idades e sexos. O experimento teve duração de seis dias, sendo três dias no inverno e três dias no verão, formando um fatorial 3x2 (três períodos e duas estações). Foram avaliados temperatura de pele, temperatura retal, emissividade de calor nos olhos e ceco, frequência respiratória e cardíaca, e parâmetros sanguíneos (glicose, colesterol total, triglicerídeos, proteína total, albumina, uréia, contagem de hemácias, hemoglobina e leucócitos), antes do início do exercício e após o término dos mesmos. Houve diferença estatística para estação do ano para as variáveis triglicerídeos, sendo maior no inverno, proteína e albumina, contagem de hemácias e leucócitos, sendo maiores no verão. A variável glicose apresentou interação entre tempo de coleta e estação.  A frequência cardíaca, temperaturas da pele e retal diferiram em relação as estações, apresentando maior aumento no verão. Houve diferença estatística quanto a emissividade de calor nos olhos, sendo maior no verão. A emissividade do ceco apresentou interação entre estação do ano e período de coleta. A temperatura ambiente e a estação do ano interferem nas respostas fisiológicas de dissipação de calor dos equinos

Desempenho produtivo e composição da fração proteica do leite de vacas leiteiras sob suplementação com fontes de gordura

The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of fat sources in rations for lactating cows on the productive performance and composition of milk protein fraction. Twelve Holstein cows were used, grouped in three balanced 4 × 4 Latin squares, fed with the following rations: control; refined soybean oil; whole raw soybean; and calcium salts of unsaturated fatty acid (Megalac-E). Dry matter and nutrient intake, and daily milk production were evaluated. The samples used to analyze milk composition were collected in two alternate days and were obtained from two daily milking. Milk composition and total nitrogen, non-protein nitrogen and non-casein nitrogen ratios were analyzed. The casein, serum protein and true protein ratios were obtained by difference. Dry matter and nutrient intakes were lower when cows received the diet containing calcium salts of fatty acids, in relation to the control diet. Among the diets with fat sources, the one with whole raw soybean and calcium salts decreased milk production. There was no effect of fat sources added to the diet on crude protein, non-protein nitrogen, non-casein nitrogen, true protein, casein, casein/milk true protein ratio and serum protein. Similarly, the experimental diets did not influence the protein fractions when expressed in percentage of milk crude protein. The utilization of fat sources in diets changes milk production and composition of lactating cows, but does not influence the composition of milk protein fractions.Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar a utilização de fontes de gordura em rações para vacas em lactação sobre o desempenho produtivo e a composição da fração proteica do leite. Foram utilizadas 12 vacas da raça Holandesa, agrupadas em três quadrados latinos balanceados 4 × 4, alimentadas com as seguintes rações: controle; óleo de soja refinado; grão de soja in natura; e sais de cálcio de ácidos graxos insaturados (Megalac-E). Avaliaram-se o consumo de matéria seca e de nutrientes, e a produção diária de leite. As amostras utilizadas para análise da composição do leite foram coletadas em dois dias alternados e foram provenientes das duas ordenhas diárias. Foram analisados a composição do leite e os teores de nitrogênio total, nitrogênio não-proteico e nitrogênio não-caseinoso. Por diferença, foram obtidos os teores de caseína, proteína do soro e proteína verdadeira. O consumo de matéria seca e de nutrientes foi menor quando as vacas receberam a ração contendo sais de cálcio de ácidos graxos em relação à ração controle. Entre as rações com fontes de gordura, aquela com grão de soja e sais de cálcio diminuiu a produção de leite. Não houve efeito das fontes de gordura adicionadas nas rações sobre os teores de proteína bruta, nitrogênio não-proteico, nitrogênio não-caseinoso, proteína verdadeira, caseína, relação caseína/proteína verdadeira no leite e proteína do soro. De forma semelhante, as rações experimentais não influenciaram as frações proteicas expressas em porcentagem da proteína bruta do leite. A utilização de fontes de gordura nas rações altera a produção e a composição do leite de vacas em lactação, mas não influencia a composição das frações proteicas do leite

Balanço de nutrientes e perfil de ácidos graxos do leite de vacas leiteiras no terço médio e lactação suplementadas como monensina

The aim of this study was to evaluate the nutrients balance and milk fatty acids profile of dairy cows supplemented with monensin. Twelve Brazilian Holstein dairy cows were distributed into four balanced 3x3 Latin squares, and fed with the following diets: control (C), basal diet without addition of monensin, monensin 24 (M24), addition of 24mg/kg DM of monensin, and monensin 48 (M48), addition of 48mg/kg DM. The experimental diets influenced the efficiency of net energy of lactation utilization. A quadratic effect was observed for the energy balance. It was observed effect of diets on nitrogen balance. It was observed effect of monensin in the milk yield, composition and in the milk fatty acids profile. Monensin in diets of dairy cows in mid lactation, using corn silage, improved the nutrients balance and milk fatty acid profile with 24mg/kg DM

Scheduling of a hydro producer considering head-dependency, price scenarios and risk-aversion

In this paper, a mixed-integer quadratic programming approach is proposed for the short-term hydro scheduling problem, considering head-dependency, discontinuous operating regions and discharge ramping constraints. As new contributions to earlier studies, market uncertainty is introduced in the model via price scenarios, and risk aversion is also incorporated by limiting the volatility of the expected profit through the conditional value-at-risk. Our approach has been applied successfully to solve a case Study based on one of the main Portuguese cascaded hydro systems, requiring a negligible computational time

Effect of unsaturated fatty acid supplementation on digestion, metabolism and nutrient balance in dairy cows during the transition period and early lactation

The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of unsaturated fatty acids in diets for dairy cows during the transition period and early lactation on intake, digestion and nutrient balance. Thirty-six multiparous and pregnant Holstein cows were randomly distributed to receive one of the experimental diets in the period from 35 days before the expected date of parturition to 84 days post-partum. Diets were fed as a total mixed ration and were as follows: control (C); soybean oil (SO), based on inclusion of 30 g/kg (DM basis); and calcium salts of unsaturated fatty acids (CS), based on inclusion of 30 g/kg (DM basis). Pre-partum dry matter intakes (DMI) of cows fed C, SO and CS were 11.9, 9.5 and 9.6 kg/d, respectively. Postpartum DMI was affected by experimental diets (18.5, 15.0 and 17.4 kg/d for C, SO and CS, respectively). The energy balance in the transition period of animals fed CS was 4.41 Mcal/d higher than cows fed SO and 1.3 Mcal/d higher than cows fed C. Supplementing cows with unsaturated fatty acid sources is a strategy for dairy cows in the transition perio

Evaluation of the Milk Fatty Acid Profile from Mediterranean Buffalo Cows in the First Eight Weeks of Lactation

The aim of this study was to evaluate the fatty acid composition of buffalo milk in the first eight weeks oflactation. It was used 18 cows multiparous Buffaloes of Mediterranean race, the data collection starting four weeksbefore of the calving provided by the 8th week of lactation. The animals were mechanically milked once daily in themorning. The milk samples used for composition analysis were collected weekly from parturition to eight weeks oflactation. There was effect of weeks during the transition period and early lactation for fat yield (kg/day) and for bodyweight of the buffalo cows in lactation (kg).There was effect of weeks of lactation on the fatty acid composition of milkfat.Variations in levels of unsaturated fatty acids of milk fat of buffaloes are similar to those found in dairy cows of thepartum to eighth week of lactation

Differences in Blood and Milk Fatty Acid Profile of Primiparous and Multiparous Mediterranean Buffaloes Cows During Transition Period and Early Lactation

The objective of this study was to determine the differences in blood and fatty acid (FA) profile between primiparous and multiparous Mediterranean buffaloes cows from 28 days of expected calving date until 56 days in milk. Nine multiparous (MUL) and 7 primiparous (PRI) cows were used in the present study, animals grazed in Brachiaria decumbens and supplemented with 2.0 kg of concentrate/day. Blood and milk samples were collected once a week and data were submitted to repeated measures analysis using PROC MIXED of SAS. Multiparous cows presented higher concentrations of glucose and non-esterified FA during pre- and post-partum period, higher cholesterol during post-partum when compared to PRI. Milk yield and fat content were higher for MUL (6.44 kg/d and 7.89%) when compared to PRI (5.66 kg/d and 6.75%). Palmitic and palmitoleic FA were lower and C18:0, C18:1 trans-11 and C18:1 cis-9 FAwere higher in MUL cows. Multiparous buffalo cows demonstrated higher milk yield and fat content than PRI, and milk FA profile of MUL had higher amounts of C18:0 FA. Multiparous buffalos presented higher non-esterified fatty acid, which altered milk fat content, and higher milk yield than primiparous cows. Furthermore, multiparous cows presented a higher content of FA from incomplete biohydrogenation process

Complex B Vitamin Improves Performance of Mediterranean Buffalo Calves in Artificial Suckling from Birth to Weaning

The aim of this study was to evaluate the ponderal development, blood parameters and hematological from buffalo calves in artificial suckling supplemented with vitamin-mineral additive from birth to weaning. 18 buffalo calves were used and divided into two random groups: 1) control group; 2) group supplemented with vitamin B complex (Metacell ®). To evaluation of the ponderal development, the calves were weighed weekly and measured the thoracic perimeter, height and body length. Blood samples were collected weekly throughout the experimental period by jugular vein puncture. The group of calves supplemented with additives showed the greatest ponderal development in relation to the control group. Similarly the group of calves supplemented with additive has higher concentration of total cholesterol, urea and total protein. However there was no additive effect on the levels of glucose, albumin and beta-hydroxybutyrate. The values of leukocytes, neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes increased with the oral use of the additive in relation to the control group. This study supports the definition of reference values for the evaluation of buffalo calves during suckling period. The additive use to buffalo calves improves ponderal performance without significantly alter the metabolic profile

Manejo orgânico de pastagens com uso de termopotássio e termofosfato na região do Cerrado

The objective of this work was to evaluate the performance of the thermopotassium and thermophosphate agrominerals, as sources of P and K, in an organic pasture consortium of 'Marandu' Urochloa brizantha + Stylosanthes spp. in the Brazilian Cerrado. The organic management was compared with conventional farming using chemical fertilizers, during three years, in two adjacent experiments, one with and the other without previous growth of green manure (Crotalaria juncea). The management treatments were: conventional, with the application of 200 kg ha-1 potassium chloride, 260 kg ha-1 triple superphosphate, and 217 kg ha-1 urea; organic, with the application of 1.0 Mg ha-1 thermophosphate, 2.0 Mg ha-1 termopotassium, and 7.0 Mg ha-1 chicken manure; and control, without fertilizers. Soil fertility, dry mass production, and legume content in the pasture were evaluated. The experiment with green manure resulted in a significant increase in the soil-extractable contents of P and K and in pasture productivity. In the organic treatment, due to the slow release of agromineral nutrients, long-term effects are observed on the soil-extractable contents of P and K.O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o desempenho dos agrominerais termopotássio e termofosfato, como fontes de P e K, em consórcio de pastagem orgânica de Urochloa brizantha 'Marandu' + Stylosanthes spp. no Cerrado brasileiro. O manejo orgânico foi comparado ao convencional com uso de fertilizantes químicos, durante três anos, em dois experimentos adjacentes, um com e outro sem cultivo prévio de adubo verde (Crotalaria juncea). Os tratamentos de manejo foram: convencional, com aplicação de 200 kg ha-1 de cloreto de potássio, 260 kg ha-1 de superfosfato triplo e 217 kg ha-1 de ureia; orgânico, com aplicação de 1,0 Mg ha-1 termopotássio, 2,0 Mg ha-1 termofosfato e 7,0 Mg ha-1 cama de frango; e controle, sem adubação. Foram avaliadas fertilidade do solo, produção de matéria seca e contribuição da leguminosa na pastagem. O experimento com adubação verde proporcionou aumento significativo nos teores de P e K extraíveis do solo e na produtividade da pastagem. No tratamento orgânico, devido à liberação lenta dos nutrientes dos agrominerais, são observados efeitos de longo prazo nos teores extraíveis de P e K do solo

Organic hay production as roughage supplementation strategy for ruminants produced in rural communities of Mato Grosso do Sul

The objective of this event was to describe all aspects related to the implementation of a demonstration area, at the Federal University of Grande Dourados (UFGD), for organic hay production aiming to provide support in the feeding of beef cattle in the rural communities of Dourados/MS. Therefore, the hay day field demonstration featured information about the forage species for hay production, stages of the haymaking, quality and nutritional value of hay, losses during the haymaking process, the use of hay in animal feeding and economic evaluation of hay utilization. In practice, there was a demonstration of the steps of haymaking: implantation, mowing, tedding of the green forage, raking, baling and storage. A horizontal baler was used to bale the hay, and it was coupled to the tractor. The laboratory analysis was performed to serve as a database to producers and other interested parties. The event was publicized through verbal contact, posters, and distribution of folders at strategic locations. The field day provided a theoretical-practical demonstration of the processes of haymaking, with the participation of rural producers, settlers, quilombolas and students from several courses. Overall, the event meet the knowledge needs of the public, as well as providing knowledge about organic management