Effects of fibre and non-fibre carbohydrate and level of intake on microbial protein yield in Sarda sheep

Three studies using Sarda dairy sheep in dry, mid-lactation and late-lactation were carried out. Forty ewes for each physiological stage were fed 8 complete pelleted diets, which differed from each other in NDF and NFC content and source. Based on their main ingredient, diets were denominated: corn meal (CM), wheat middlings (WM), corn flakes (CF), barley meal (BM), corn cobs (CC), beet pulp (BP), alfalfa (AA), and soybean hulls (SH). In each study, rumen microbial protein (MCP) synthesis was estimated measuring urinary purine derivatives. In dry sheep, MCP synthesis was not affected by diet, while in mid- and late-lactation sheep dietary effects were observed. In mid-lactation, the highest MCP production was found for BM and BP (171 and 166 g/d, respectively), while the lowest was observed with AA (63 g/d). In late-lactation, the highest MCP yield (146 g/d) was observed in BP, while the lowest were for SH and CM. MCP synthesis, for each diet, was higher in mid-lactation than in latelactation, which in turn were higher than in the dry period. Dry matter intake (DMI) was positively associated to MCP. The MCP synthesis was best predicted by dietary energy (NEL) or digestible organic matter intake (dOMI)

Palatability of \u3cem\u3ePsolarea\u3c/em\u3e spp. Accessions Offered as Micro-Swards to Dairy Sheep

Psoralea bituminosa C.H. Stirton (syn. Bituminaria bituminosa L.) is a perennial legume usually considered of low palatability because of the strong smell that can be emitted by oil glands located on its foliage. However the nutritive value of P. bituminosa in terms of forage composition and digestibility was proven similar to or even better than that of other legumes. The aerial part of this species may contain a high concentration of furano-coumarins, out of which psoralen and angelicin are the most abundant (Pecetti et al. 2007). These substances could be harmful to animals, being responsible for contact photodermatitis, in addition to possibly limiting forage intake. Nevertheless there are some examples of the utilisation of P. bituminosa either as green or dry forage. In the Canary Islands, it is grazed all year and also is collected from late spring to mid-summer to make hay used to feed goats (Ventura et al. 2009). In Israel P. bituminosa is grazed by cattle in particular in mid-spring, when the principal grasses become less palatable. In late spring, when the herbaceous species dry up, P. bituminosa becomes the only species with green leaves and cattle graze the whole plant intensively (Sternberg et al. 2006). The potentiality of Psoralea as forage species for dairy sheep is less known. For that reason an experiment was carried out to evaluate the propensity of Sarda dairy sheep towards different accessions of Psoralea spp. using the micro-swards method (Orr et al. 2005)

A comprehensive evaluation of adverse childhood experiences, social–emotional impairments, and neurodevelopmental disorders in cannabis-use disorder: Implications for clinical practice

Abstract Background Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), social–emotional impairments (SEIs), and neurodevelopmental disorders (NDs) are frequent in psychiatric disorders, including substance-use disorders. We aimed to determine the prevalence of ACE, SEI, or ND in individuals with cannabis-use disorder (CUD). We compared individuals with preCUD-onset ACE, SEI, or ND to those without. Methods We crosssectionally studied 323 inpatients or outpatients with a history of past or current CUD, aged 12–35 years (mean age 22.94 ± 4.79), 64.5% of whom were male. The sample was divided into two groups: the non-premorbid (N = 52) and the premorbid ACE/SEI/ND group (N = 271). Within the premorbid group, further subgroups were based on ACEs, SEI, and NDs. We also analyzed other substance use and psychiatric symptoms/diagnoses based on the non-premorbid-premorbid dichotomy in the CUD sample. Results Pre-CUD ACE-SEI-ND had higher prevalence of bipolar, schizoaffective, borderline personality, and attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders, and a history of agitation, hallucinations, and self-injury. The ACE group had higher rates of agitation, depression, delusions, hallucinations, eating disorders, and use of cocaine, amphetamines, and hallucinogens than the SEI or ND. Patients in the premorbid group initiated cannabis use at an earlier age, experienced the first comorbid psychiatric episode earlier, and were hospitalized earlier than those in the non- premorbid ACE-SEI-ND group. Conclusions PreCUD-onset ACE, SEI, or ND conditions in individuals with CUDare linked to earlier onset of comorbid mental illness. Furthermore, ACEs contribute to significant and potentially severe clinical symptoms, as well as the use of substances other than cannabis

Nuclear Shield: A Multi-Enzyme Task-Force for Nucleus Protection

In eukaryotic cells the nuclear envelope isolates and protects DNA from molecules that could damage its structure or interfere with its processing. Moreover, selected protection enzymes and vitamins act as efficient guardians against toxic compounds both in the nucleoplasm and in the cytosol. The observation that a cytosolic detoxifying and antioxidant enzyme i.e. glutathione transferase is accumulated in the perinuclear region of the rat hepatocytes suggests that other unrecognized modalities of nuclear protection may exist. Here we show evidence for the existence of a safeguard enzyme machinery formed by an hyper-crowding of cationic enzymes and proteins encompassing the nuclear membrane and promoted by electrostatic interactions

Exclusive Photoproduction of the Cascade (Xi) Hyperons

We report on the first measurement of exclusive Xi-(1321) hyperon photoproduction in gamma p --> K+ K+ Xi- for 3.2 < E(gamma) < 3.9 GeV. The final state is identified by the missing mass in p(gamma,K+ K+)X measured with the CLAS detector at Jefferson Laboratory. We have detected a significant number of the ground-state Xi-(1321)1/2+, and have estimated the total cross section for its production. We have also observed the first excited state Xi-(1530)3/2+. Photoproduction provides a copious source of Xi's. We discuss the possibilities of a search for the recently proposed Xi5-- and Xi5+ pentaquarks.Comment: submitted to Phys. Rev.

Acute Delta Hepatitis in Italy spanning three decades (1991–2019): Evidence for the effectiveness of the hepatitis B vaccination campaign

Updated incidence data of acute Delta virus hepatitis (HDV) are lacking worldwide. Our aim was to evaluate incidence of and risk factors for acute HDV in Italy after the introduction of the compulsory vaccination against hepatitis B virus (HBV) in 1991. Data were obtained from the National Surveillance System of acute viral hepatitis (SEIEVA). Independent predictors of HDV were assessed by logistic-regression analysis. The incidence of acute HDV per 1-million population declined from 3.2 cases in 1987 to 0.04 in 2019, parallel to that of acute HBV per 100,000 from 10.0 to 0.39 cases during the same period. The median age of cases increased from 27 years in the decade 1991-1999 to 44 years in the decade 2010-2019 (p &lt; .001). Over the same period, the male/female ratio decreased from 3.8 to 2.1, the proportion of coinfections increased from 55% to 75% (p = .003) and that of HBsAg positive acute hepatitis tested for by IgM anti-HDV linearly decreased from 50.1% to 34.1% (p &lt; .001). People born abroad accounted for 24.6% of cases in 2004-2010 and 32.1% in 2011-2019. In the period 2010-2019, risky sexual behaviour (O.R. 4.2; 95%CI: 1.4-12.8) was the sole independent predictor of acute HDV; conversely intravenous drug use was no longer associated (O.R. 1.25; 95%CI: 0.15-10.22) with this. In conclusion, HBV vaccination was an effective measure to control acute HDV. Intravenous drug use is no longer an efficient mode of HDV spread. Testing for IgM-anti HDV is a grey area requiring alert. Acute HDV in foreigners should be monitored in the years to come

Milk Urea Concentration in Dairy Sheep: Accounting for Dietary Energy Concentration

In dairy sheep milk urea concentration (MUC) is highly and positively correlated with dietary crude protein (CP) content and, to a lesser extent, with protein intake. However, the effect of dietary energy and carbohydrate sources on MUC of lactating ewes is not clear. Thus, the objective of this study was to assess the effects of diets differing in energy concentration and carbohydrate sources on MUC values in lactating dairy ewes. Two experiments were conducted (experiment 1, E1, and experiment 2, E2) on Sarda ewes in mid and late lactation kept in metabolic cages for 23 d. In both experiments, homogeneous groups of five ewes were submitted to four (in E1) or three (in E2) dietary treatments, consisting of pelleted diets ranging from low energy (high-fiber diets: 1.2&ndash;1.4 Mcal of net energy for lactation (NEL)) to high energy (high-starch diets: 1.7&ndash;1.9 Mcal of NEL) contents, but with a similar CP concentration (18.4% dry matter (DM), on average). Each diet had a different main ingredient as follows: corn flakes, barley meal, beet pulp, or corn cobs in E1 and corn meal, dehydrated alfalfa, or soybean hulls in E2. Regression analysis using treatment means from both experiments showed that the best predictor of MUC (mg/100 mL) was the dietary NEL (Mcal/kg DM, MUC = 127.6 &minus; 51.2 &times; NEL, R2 = 0.85, root of the mean squared error (rmse) = 4.36, p &lt; 0.001) followed by the ratio CP/NEL (g/Mcal, MUC = &minus;14.9 + 0.5 &times; CP/ NEL, R2 = 0.83, rmse = 4.63, p &lt; 0.001). A meta-regression of an extended database on stall-fed dairy ewes, including the E1 and E2 experimental data (n = 44), confirmed the predictive value of the CP/ NEL ratio, which resulted as the best single predictor of MUC (MUC = &minus;13.7 + 0.5 &times; CP/NEL, R2 = 0.93, rmse = 3.30, p &lt; 0.001), followed by dietary CP concentration (MUC = &minus;20.7 + 3.7 &times; CP, R2 = 0.82, rmse = 4.89, p &lt; 0.001). This research highlights that dietary energy content plays a pivotal role in modulating the relationship between MUC and dietary CP concentration in dairy sheep

Responses to condensed tannins of flowering sulla (<i>Hedysarum coronarium</i> L.) grazed by dairy sheep: Part 1: Effects on feeding behaviour, intake, diet digestibility and performance

The concentration of condensed tannins (CT) in sulla (Hedysarum coronariun L.) is moderate and overall regarded as beneficial. However, the intake of this forage can reduce diet digestibility, particularly during flowering phase. An experiment was run to assess the effect of CT on feeding behaviour, intake, diet digestibility and performance of dairy sheep rotationally grazing sulla at flowering phase. Twenty-four late-lactating sheep were blocked in two homogeneous groups and submitted to the following treatments: i) twice daily drenching with 200 g/day of a 50% w/v water solution of an anti-tannic substance, polyethylene glycol, group PEG; ii) twice daily drenching with 200 g/day of water, group CON (Control group). All the sheep rotationally grazed as a flock two sulla plots from April to June (8 weeks in total). Sward height, herbage mass, botanical and chemical composition of the herbage were measured at the beginning and the end of each grazing period. The feeding behaviour (3 sheep per group) was continuously monitored for 24 h in 6weeks using the IGER behaviour recorders. Herbage DM intake (DMI), dietary DM digestibility (DMD) and apparent CP digestibility (CPD) were estimated on 8 sheep per group by the n-alkane method. On average, PEG group had longer total grazing (503±12 vs 460±12 min, P &lt; 0.05) and eating time (425±13 vs 391±13 min, P &lt; 0.07) than CON group. Moreover PEG group showed shorter inter-meal intervals (41±3 vs 52±3, min, P &lt; 0.05) and higher number of daily meals than CT-exposed group (24±1 vs 19±1 min, P &lt; 0.01). The herbage DMI was not affected by the treatment whereas DMD (74.60±3.48 vs 58.30±3.01%), and CPD (60.14±4.83 vs 38.21±4.83%) were both increased by PEG administration (P &lt; 0.05) confirming the negative effect of sulla CT on these variables. Milk yield tended to be higher in PEG than CON (1331±45 vs 1205±59ml, P &lt; 0.11). Milk protein content was similar between groups while milk fat content was higher in CON than PEG ewes (6.61±0.15 vs 6.11±0.15%, P &lt; 0.05), being the reverse true for milk urea (46.04±1.27 vs 53.04±0.76%, P &lt; 0.001). To conclude, this experiment shows that when sulla is grazed at flowering as monoculture, dietary CT can exert negative effects on DM and CP apparent digestibility, in this study partially counterbalanced by a better metabolic

Monitoring liveweight in Sarda dairy sheep using a walk-over-weighing system

Session 39 - Poster 14International audienceLive weight (LW) monitoring is important in livestock management to check nutritional, reproduction and welfare status of animals. In dairy sheep system LW measurement is less frequent because it is time and labour consuming. The use of automated weighing system could facilitate this practice. Within the H2020 Techcare project, aiming to use innovative technologies to improve welfare management for small ruminant systems, a short-test was run to evaluate the precision and accuracy of LW measures carried out using an automated walk-over-weighing (WoW) scale in comparison with a static scale. Thirty-six dry Sarda dairy ewes (LW, mean ± SE 55.49±0.92) were used in a 3-day session. Ewes were daily weighed 3 times following the same circuit, which included a first static LW measurement; once a static position was achieved and LW recorded, the animals continued and traversed the WoW scale for the WoW LW recording. The ewes were previously accustomed to the circuit during a pre-experimental week. Raw static and automatic LW data were first filtered for removing misbehaviours and outlier with Kalman filter algorithm. The concordance correlation coefficient (CCC) has been then calculated (Model Evaluation System) to simultaneously account for precision and accuracy. The two component of CCC (=0.98), correlation coefficient estimate (r, that measure precision) and the bias correction factor (Cb, that indicates the accuracy) were respectively 0.98 and 0.99 indicating high agreement between measures. The WoW system evaluated here is an alternative to the static scales conventionally used on dairy sheep farms. If sound filtration of raw data is applied, WoW could contribute to the close (daily) monitoring of individual LW without operator intervention (i.e. voluntary weighing), taking animal welfare into account (i.e. no stress related to the weighing session on static scales), and potentially detecting nutrition issues highlighted by LW changes