Physical quality of different industrial versus non-industrial eggs obtained from groceries and markets in southern Chile

The aim of this study was to determine external and internal quality parameters of industrial (cages and cage-free) and family farms eggs that are normally available at groceries in developing countries such as Chile. Two experiments were performed to evaluate 1) quality differences between family farms and industrial eggs and 2) to determine quality differences between brown shell eggs from different industrial cage and cage-free systems. Experiment 1 consisted of five groups where three of them were industrial eggs: i) cage white shell eggs, ii) cage brown shell eggs, iii) brown shell cage-free eggs; and two of them were non-industrial: iv) family farm brown shell eggs and v) family farm blue shell eggs. Experiment 2 had four groups, all brown-shell types of eggs were used: i) cage brown eggs, ii) cage-free from aviary eggs, iii) southern free-range eggs and iv) central free-range eggs. In both Experiments, egg weight, egg length, egg width, egg shape index, Haugh units, albumen ratio, egg yolk, yolk weight and albumen weight, blood and meat spots were determined. In Experiment 1, brown and blue-shelled family farm eggs were equal in terms of external and internal quality, except for blood spots, with brown eggs having more incidence. In Experiment 2, free-range eggs presented more intense yolk colors compared to those from battery and cages. In both experiments, free-range eggs presented the darker yolk color. It can be concluded that brown and blue-shelled family farm eggs are equal in terms of external and internal quality, except for blood spots, with brown eggs having more incidence. In addition, free-range eggs from the southern part of the country presented better shell quality, whereas free-range eggs presented more intense yolk colors, while those of battery

Canagliflozin and renal outcomes in type 2 diabetes and nephropathy

BACKGROUND Type 2 diabetes mellitus is the leading cause of kidney failure worldwide, but few effective long-term treatments are available. In cardiovascular trials of inhibitors of sodium–glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2), exploratory results have suggested that such drugs may improve renal outcomes in patients with type 2 diabetes. METHODS In this double-blind, randomized trial, we assigned patients with type 2 diabetes and albuminuric chronic kidney disease to receive canagliflozin, an oral SGLT2 inhibitor, at a dose of 100 mg daily or placebo. All the patients had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of 30 to <90 ml per minute per 1.73 m2 of body-surface area and albuminuria (ratio of albumin [mg] to creatinine [g], >300 to 5000) and were treated with renin–angiotensin system blockade. The primary outcome was a composite of end-stage kidney disease (dialysis, transplantation, or a sustained estimated GFR of <15 ml per minute per 1.73 m2), a doubling of the serum creatinine level, or death from renal or cardiovascular causes. Prespecified secondary outcomes were tested hierarchically. RESULTS The trial was stopped early after a planned interim analysis on the recommendation of the data and safety monitoring committee. At that time, 4401 patients had undergone randomization, with a median follow-up of 2.62 years. The relative risk of the primary outcome was 30% lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group, with event rates of 43.2 and 61.2 per 1000 patient-years, respectively (hazard ratio, 0.70; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.59 to 0.82; P=0.00001). The relative risk of the renal-specific composite of end-stage kidney disease, a doubling of the creatinine level, or death from renal causes was lower by 34% (hazard ratio, 0.66; 95% CI, 0.53 to 0.81; P<0.001), and the relative risk of end-stage kidney disease was lower by 32% (hazard ratio, 0.68; 95% CI, 0.54 to 0.86; P=0.002). The canagliflozin group also had a lower risk of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, or stroke (hazard ratio, 0.80; 95% CI, 0.67 to 0.95; P=0.01) and hospitalization for heart failure (hazard ratio, 0.61; 95% CI, 0.47 to 0.80; P<0.001). There were no significant differences in rates of amputation or fracture. CONCLUSIONS In patients with type 2 diabetes and kidney disease, the risk of kidney failure and cardiovascular events was lower in the canagliflozin group than in the placebo group at a median follow-up of 2.62 years

Canagliflozin and Cardiovascular and Renal Outcomes in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus and Chronic Kidney Disease in Primary and Secondary Cardiovascular Prevention Groups

Background: Canagliflozin reduces the risk of kidney failure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, but effects on specific cardiovascular outcomes are uncertain, as are effects in people without previous cardiovascular disease (primary prevention). Methods: In CREDENCE (Canagliflozin and Renal Events in Diabetes With Established Nephropathy Clinical Evaluation), 4401 participants with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease were randomly assigned to canagliflozin or placebo on a background of optimized standard of care. Results: Primary prevention participants (n=2181, 49.6%) were younger (61 versus 65 years), were more often female (37% versus 31%), and had shorter duration of diabetes mellitus (15 years versus 16 years) compared with secondary prevention participants (n=2220, 50.4%). Canagliflozin reduced the risk of major cardiovascular events overall (hazard ratio [HR], 0.80 [95% CI, 0.67-0.95]; P=0.01), with consistent reductions in both the primary (HR, 0.68 [95% CI, 0.49-0.94]) and secondary (HR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.69-1.06]) prevention groups (P for interaction=0.25). Effects were also similar for the components of the composite including cardiovascular death (HR, 0.78 [95% CI, 0.61-1.00]), nonfatal myocardial infarction (HR, 0.81 [95% CI, 0.59-1.10]), and nonfatal stroke (HR, 0.80 [95% CI, 0.56-1.15]). The risk of the primary composite renal outcome and the composite of cardiovascular death or hospitalization for heart failure were also consistently reduced in both the primary and secondary prevention groups (P for interaction >0.5 for each outcome). Conclusions: Canagliflozin significantly reduced major cardiovascular events and kidney failure in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic kidney disease, including in participants who did not have previous cardiovascular disease

In situ rumen degradation kinetics as affected by type of pasture and date of harvest

Botanical composition affects the nutritive value and nutrient degradation kinetics of pastures. However, there is little information about pastures composed of various species. The present study was conducted to evaluate in situ degradation kinetics of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of a naturalized non fertilized pasture (NNF), naturalized fertilized pasture (NF), sown pasture with Lolium perenne L. and Trifolium repens L. (RGWC), and sown pasture with Bromus valdivianus Phil., Dactylis glomerata L., Holcus lanatus L., L. perenne and T. repens (MIXED); at three dates of harvest (early-spring, mid-spring and autumn). Duplicate bags were incubated in the rumen of three cannulated cows for 2, 4, 8, 12, 24 or 48 h. Zero-hour bags were washed with water. Ruminal degradation was evaluated according to exponential models with or without lag phase. Pasture chemical composition showed on average low DM, high CP and digestible organic matter (DOMD). Degradation parameters of DM, CP and NDF exhibited strong pasture type*date of harvest interactions. In general, high potential degradability and fractional degradation rates of DM, CP and NDF were observed. Nutrient supply was generally higher for RGWC and NF, especially compared with NNF during autumn. Naturalized fertilized pastures supply similar amounts of nutrients to grazing cattle as sown pastures. However, it is necessary to consider other variables that determine the productive performance such as DM intake and rumen fermentation products

The Replacement of Ground Corn with Sugar Beet in the Diet of Pasture-Fed Lactating Dairy Cows and Its Effect on Productive Performance and Rumen Metabolism

(1) Background: Sugars have a potential to provide great amounts of fermentable energy in the rumen. Feeding fresh sugar beet (SB) to dairy cattle to replace a portion of the grain in the ration has not received sufficient attention. This study determined dry matter intake (DMI), feeding behavior, rumen fermentation and milk production responses when replacing corn grain with increasing levels of SB in pasture-fed lactating dairy cow diets. (2) Methods: A total of 12 early-lactation cows were used in a replicated (n = 4) 3 × 3 Latin square design. The control diet consisted of 21 kg dry matter (DM) composed of 6.3 kg DM green chopped perennial ryegrass, 7 kg DM grass silage, 2 kg DM of concentrate, 1 kg DM soybean meal and 4.5 kg DM of ground corn. The other treatments replaced 50% or 100% of the ground corn with SB roots. (3) Results: The replacement of ground corn with sugar beet reduced DMI and milk yield (p < 0.05), but it increased milk fat concentration (p = 0.045), reduced feeding costs and increased margin over feed costs (p < 0.01). Urinary nitrogen was linearly reduced with SB supplementation (p = 0.026). (4) Conclusions: Using SB roots as energetic supplement can be a suitable alternative to ground corn in pasture-fed lactating dairy cows

Water-Soluble Carbohydrate Recovery in Pastures of Perennial Ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) and Pasture Brome (Bromus valdivianus Phil.) Under Two Defoliation Frequencies Determined by Thermal Time

The objectives of the experiment were to (i) examine the dynamics of WSC use and the recovery of leaf sheaths and blades of Bromus valdivianus Phil. and Lolium perenne L. subjected to two defoliation frequencies (DFs) determined by thermal time (TT); (ii) evaluate how DF influenced regrowth and accumulated herbage mass (AHM) during fall. Defoliation was carried out at frequencies of 135 and 270 accumulated growing degree days (AGDDs) for both species. Twelve plots were arranged in a three-block design. All plots had a conditioning period to establish the assigned DF prior to sampling. From the start of the experiment, “cores” were collected from each plot every three days until the DF was reached. Every core was separated into leaf and sheath material before measuring the WSC concentration. Lolium perenne had concentrated more WSCs than B. valdivianus. Both species adapted their WSC recovery according to the DF. The recovery of WSC was faster under a DF of 135 AGDDs than that of 270 AGDDs. Leaf sheaths contained more WSCs than leaf blades and were identified as WSC storage organs. This period can be used as the optimal defoliation interval in B. valdivianus and L. perenne grazing systems

Are fatty acids from beef and milk from cattle harmful for human health?

Nutritional recommendations of the past 35-40 years have promoted the reduction of fat intake, calories and particularly saturated fatty acids (SFA), emphasizing lower consumption of red meat and high fat dairy products, because of its association with cardiovascular diseases (CVD), being in turn replaced by sugars and refined carbohydrates. There is consensus that the SFA concentration in blood plasma, particularly palmitic acid, are associated with an increased risk of CVD and heart attacks. However, there is no evidence of causality between CVD and consumption of SFA, raising reasonable doubts about the relationship between consumption of SFA with those present in blood plasma, as well as with the CVD risk. This review presents scientific evidence that demonstrates that the inclusion of fats in the diet, specifically animal fats from ruminants, provide important health benefits for people, especially when accompanied by a reduction in the consumption of carbohydrates. It is also proposed that ruminant products and their fatty acids contribute with beneficial saturated fats for people's health, especially those from pastoral production systems such as vaccenic, rumenic and linolenic acids

Efecto de la edad a primer servicio, número y época de parto sobre el comportamiento de la curva de lactancia en vacas Jersey

The objective of this investigation was to determine the characteristics of the lactation curves of a herd of Jersey dairy cows in Heredia Costa Rica and to explore the effect of number of lactation, age at first breeding, and calving season on milk production. A total of 12,397 daily milk production data were analyzed, corresponding to 237 lactations (longer than 150 days) of 72 cows which had had between one and eight calves. Lactations were obtained from January 2005 to December 2014.For each lactation, the total milk production, 305-daymilk production and the days of lactation were determined and standard lactation curves were generated using the Wilmink model function Yt = a + be- 0,05t + ct. Of all the lactations, 177 were adjusted to the model (P <0.01) and were used to determine the effects of fixed factors. The coefficients of the model (a, b and c) were estimated using the NLIN procedure of SAS. These coefficients were used to calculate other important production parameters, such as days and milk production at peak lactation. The parameters of the lactation curves were analyzed according to the MIXED procedure of SAS with the factors, age at first breeding, number of lactations and calving season as fixed effects. Significance was declared with P <0.05. The number of lactations had a significant effect on the 305-day milk production; the sixth lactation presented the highest average for this factor. Age at the first breeding had no effect on the 305-daymilk production but did have a significant effect on the form of the lactation curves. Calving season also influenced the 305-days milk production significantly, in that when calving occurred in the dry season milk production was significantly higher than when calving occurred in the rainy season.El objetivo de esta investigación fue determinar el comportamiento de las curvas de producción de leche en un hato bovino de la raza Jersey en Heredia Costa Rica, y el efecto que tiene sobre ésta el número de lactancia, edad al primer servicio, y época de parto. Se analizaron 12397 datos de producción de leche diarios, correspondientes a 237 lactancias mayores a 150 días, de 72 vacas entre el primero y el octavo parto, obtenidas de enero de 2005 a diciembre 2014. Para cada lactancia se determinó, producción total de leche, ajustada a 305 días y longitud de lactancia, luego se generaron curvas estándar de lactancia, utilizando la función del modelo Yt= a + be- 0,05t + ct. Del total de lactancias, 177 se ajustaron al modelo (P <0,01), las cuales se utilizaron para determinar los efectos de los factores fijos. Los coeficientes del modelo (a, b y c) se estimaron utilizando el procedimiento NLIN de SAS. A partir de estos coeficientes, se obtuvieron los parámetros días y producción de leche al pico de lactancia.  Los parámetros de las curvas de lactancia fueron analizados mediante el procedimiento MIXED de SAS, incluyendo los factores edad a la primera monta, número de lactancias y época de parto como efectos fijos. La significancia fue declarada con P < 0,05. El número de parto presentó efectos significativos sobre la producción de leche ajustada a 305 días, presentado mayor producción la 6ta lactancia. También, se observó que la edad a la primera monta de la vaca no presentaba efecto sobre la producción de leche, pero si sobre el comportamiento de la curva de lactancia.  La época en que se da el parto también influye sobre la producción de leche ajustada a 305, cuando la lactancia se da en época seca, la producción de leche es significativamente mayor.

Pre-grazing herbage mass affects grazing behavior, herbage disappearance, and the residual nutritive value of a pasture during the first grazing session

CONICYT-PCHA programm