Carcass characteristics and meat quality of lambs fed high levels of spineless cactus in the diet

The objective was to evaluate the effect of increasing the dietary inclusion of spineless cactus (Nopalea cochenillifera Salm Dyck) on the carcass characteristics and meat quality of confined lambs. Thirty-two male Santa Inês lambs with an average age of 140 days and an initial body weight of 20.4 ± 2.60 kg were used in this study. The lambs were housed in individual stalls for 70 days and individually fed a ration with spineless cactus included at 0, 241, 519, or 753 g/kg of dry matter (DM). The lambs were slaughtered, and characteristics of the carcass and meat were recorded and analysed. Inclusion of spineless cactus had a quadratic effect on the bodyweight at slaughter and on the empty bodyweight of the lambs. The inclusion of 500 g/kg of spineless cactus provided the highest predicted cold carcass weight (16.03 kg). There was a quadratic effect of the inclusion of spineless cactus on the weight of meat cuts and leg composition of lambs. The inclusion of spineless cactus did not influence pH, tenderness, and water-retention capacity of the meat. However, the intramuscular fat content increased 1 mg for every 10 g/kg inclusion of spineless cactus in the diet. Quadratic effects were observed of the inclusion of spineless cactus on the weights of the liver, heart, rumen, blood, skin and internal fat of the lambs. Up to 500 g/kg of spineless cactus could be included in the diet of confined lambs

Spatial distribution and evaluation of risk factors for bovine neosporosis in Rondônia, Brazil

ABSTRACT Neospora caninum is an important worldwide parasite responsible for causing abortion in animals. Due to limited information on the occurrence of infection by this parasite in the state of Rondônia, Brazil, this study aimed to determine the seroprevalence and identify the risk factors associated with the infection in slaughtered cattle, from 19 municipalities distributed in seven microregions of the state. A total of 494 samples were obtained and subjected to anti-N. caninum antibodies, using the Indirect Immunofluorescence Reaction technique. Antibodies were detected in 5.06% (25/494) of the samples, in 30.30% (10/33) of farms, in nine municipalities located in four microregions of Rondônia. Of all the animals analyzed, 4.81% of the females (20/416) and 6.41% of the males (05/78) were seropositive for the parasite, with “abortion in the last 12 months” being considered an important risk factor for the occurrence of infection (OR = 9.54; p = 0.01). The present study points out the prevalence of anti-N. caninum antibodies in 5.06% of slaughtered animals and abortion as the main risk factor associated with infection by N. caninum, thus contributing to the elucidation of the epidemiology of this protozoan in Rondônia, Brazil

Effect of light, food additives and heat on the stability of sorghum 3-deoxyanthocyanins in model beverages.

This work aimed to evaluate the stability of sorghum 3-deoxyanthocyanins (DXA) in model beverages (pH 3.5) elaborated with crude sorghum phenolic extract, containing ascorbic acid and sulphite, under fluorescent light exposure and subjected to heat treatment. There was no significant difference in the DXA degradation during storage under light exposure (24.16%) and absence of light (20.72%). DXA degradation did not differ in the presence of ascorbic acid during storage under light exposure (23.99-25.38%) and absence of light (19.87-21.74%). The addition of sulphite caused an initial bleaching reaction, but as a reversible reaction, the anthocyanin content was higher on the last day of storage compared to the first day. There were no significant differences in total anthocyanin content of all treatments subjected to the heat treatment (80 °C for 5 and 25 min). Thus, crude DXA are very stable under light, additives and heat, and may be useful as natural food colourants

TRY plant trait database – enhanced coverage and open access

Plant traits—the morphological, anatomical, physiological, biochemical and phenological characteristics of plants—determine how plants respond to environmental factors, affect other trophic levels, and influence ecosystem properties and their benefits and detriments to people. Plant trait data thus represent the basis for a vast area of research spanning from evolutionary biology, community and functional ecology, to biodiversity conservation, ecosystem and landscape management, restoration, biogeography and earth system modelling. Since its foundation in 2007, the TRY database of plant traits has grown continuously. It now provides unprecedented data coverage under an open access data policy and is the main plant trait database used by the research community worldwide. Increasingly, the TRY database also supports new frontiers of trait‐based plant research, including the identification of data gaps and the subsequent mobilization or measurement of new data. To support this development, in this article we evaluate the extent of the trait data compiled in TRY and analyse emerging patterns of data coverage and representativeness. Best species coverage is achieved for categorical traits—almost complete coverage for ‘plant growth form’. However, most traits relevant for ecology and vegetation modelling are characterized by continuous intraspecific variation and trait–environmental relationships. These traits have to be measured on individual plants in their respective environment. Despite unprecedented data coverage, we observe a humbling lack of completeness and representativeness of these continuous traits in many aspects. We, therefore, conclude that reducing data gaps and biases in the TRY database remains a key challenge and requires a coordinated approach to data mobilization and trait measurements. This can only be achieved in collaboration with other initiatives

Levels of Saffron (Curcuma longa) in diets rations for broiler chickens containing sorghum replacing corn

The aim of this study was to determine the effect of levels of saffron on the performance, carcass yield, meat color, and sensory acceptance of the breast and drumstick cuts of broilers. A total of 750 male broilers at one to 44 days of age, with an average initial weight of 42 g,were used. A completely randomized experimental design, consisting of five treatments, five replications, and 30 birds per experimental unit, was adopted. The following treatments were evaluated: 1 (Control) - diet based on sorghum and soybean meal (SB); 2 - control diet with 0.5% saffron; 3 - control diet with 1.0% saffron; 4 - control diet with 1.5% saffron; and 5 - control diet with 2.0% saffron. Performance, yields of carcass and cuts, coloring of the breast and drumstick cuts, and acceptance of the drumstick and breast cuts by sensory analysis were evaluated. No effect of treatment on productive performance or dressing percentage was observed. Drumstick cut b* (yellow) color variable was influenced by the different levels of saffron, increasing linearly. In the sensory analysis of the breast cut, the treatment containing 1.5 % saffron provided the best acceptance of the public. The use of saffron up to the level of 2% in sorghum-based diets for broilers leads to a stronger drumstick coloring without interfering with performance or carcass yield. The breast cut of broilers fed diets containing 1.5% saffron are better accepted.Objetivou-se, com esta pesquisa, verificar o efeito dos níveis de açafrão sobre o desempenho, rendimento de carcaça, coloração da carne e aceitação sensorial dos cortes peito e coxa de frangos de corte. Foram utilizados 750 pintos de um dia, machos, de um a 44 dias de idade, com peso médio inicial de 42 g. O delineamento utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, constituído por 5 tratamentos e 5 repetições e 30 aves por unidade experimental. Foram avaliados os seguintes tratamentos: 1 (Testemunha): ração à base de sorgo e farelo de soja (FS); 2: ração testemunha com 0,5% açafrão; 3: ração testemunha com 1,0% açafrão; 4: ração testemunha com 1,5% açafrão; 5: ração testemunha com 2,0% açafrão. Foram avaliados o desempenho, rendimento de carcaça e cortes, coloração dos cortes peito e coxa e teste de aceitação dos cortes coxa e peito por análise sensorial. Não houve influência dos tratamentos no desempenho e rendimento de carcaça. A variável b* (amarelo) do corte coxa foi influenciada pelos diferentes níveis de açafrão, apresentando comportamento linear crescente. Na análise sensorial do corte peito, o tratamento contendo 1,5% de açafrão proporcionou melhor aceitação do público. A utilização de açafrão até o nível de 2% em rações para frangos de corte à base de sorgo promove maior coloração do corte coxa sem interferir no desempenho e no rendimento de carcaça. Há melhor aceitação do corte peito dos frangos alimentados com rações contendo 1,5% de açafrão