Total Fatty Acids in Murrah Buffaloes Milk on Commercial Farms in Brazil

The objective of this trial was to document the total fatty acids in Murrah buffaloes milk on commercial farms in Brazil. Data from forty lactating Murrah-crossbred buffaloes were collected on five commercial farms located at Sarapui and Pilar do Sul, Sao Paulo-Brazil. A field survey was done from April to November 2002. In four farms, buffaloes were fed with wet brewers grains (primary concentrate). Only one farm (Farm 4) offered pasture and corn silage. Monthly milk samples were collected and stored at -20ºC until analyzed for fatty acid composition. The fatty acids with the highest percentage in total milk fat were C16:0; C18:1c9; C18:0 and C14:0. The average content observed in C16:0 varied from 25.4 to 32.5%. Farm 4 (pasture plus corn silage) showed a higher C16:0 value (32.5%). C18:1c9 varied from 20.6 to 25.1%, C14:0 varied from 5.9 to 8.9 % and CLA content (C18:2c9t11) varied from 1.0 to 1.8%. Farm 3 presented higher average of C18:1c9 (25.1%) and C18:2c9t11 (1.8%), and lower average of C14:0 (6.0%). Likewise, unsaturated fatty acids, C18:1c9 and C18:2c9t11 were higher on Farm 3. Probably, these results can be due to high CLA intakes derived from wet brewers grain and pasture. Long chain fatty acids varied from 34.2% (Farm 4) to 48.8% (Farm 3). In general, diets based on pasture and corn silage increased the levels of medium chain fatty acids in Murrah buffaloes milk

Activity of Δ9-desaturase enzyme in mammary gland of lactating buffaloes

The objective of this research was to measure the activity of Δ9-desaturase enzyme in lactating buffaloes. Data from forty lactating Murrah-crossbred buffaloes were collected on five commercial farms located at Sarapui and Pilar do Sul, Sao Paulo-Brazil. A field survey was done from April to November 2002. In four farms, buffaloes were fed with wet brewers grains (primary concentrate). Only one farm (Farm 4) offered pasture and corn silage. Monthly milk samples were collected and stored at -20ºC until analyzed for fatty acid composition. The Δ9-desaturase activity was measured using an indirect method (myristoleic and myristic acids ration - C14:1c9 /C14:0). The higher C14:1c9 /C14:0 rate was verified on Farm 4 (0.092).The C14:1c9 /C14:0 ratio were 0.064 to Farm 1; 0.065 to Farm 2; 0.062 to Farm 3 and 0.065 to Farm 5. The C17:1/C17:0, C18:1c9 /C18:0 and C18:2c9t11/C18:1t11 ratios were also affected. The Farm 4 showed higher value for all ratios. Therefore, in lactating buffaloes grazing pasture the Δ9-desaturase activity could be enhanced

Potencial do capim-quicuio em manter a produção e a qualidade do leite de vacas recebendo níveis decrescentes de suplementação

Com o objetivo de estudar alternativas de extensificação, avaliou-se o efeito da redução da oferta de suplemento (níveis de 100, 65, 45 e 20% das exigências totais para produção) e de sua substituição por pastagens de capim-quicuio sobre a produção e composição de leite. O experimento foi realizado em delineamento de blocos completos casualizados, com três repetições, pelo método de pastejo com lotação contínua e taxa de lotação variável, tendo como meta a manutenção do pasto a 20 cm de altura. A produção de leite individual e por área apresentou resposta linear positiva com o nível de suplementação. Os componentes qualitativos do leite não foram alterados pela redução do uso de suplementos, contudo, as produções diárias de proteína bruta e gordura por vaca variaram com os níveis de suplementação. Vacas pastejando capim-quicuio não mantêm a produção de leite quando se reduz a oferta de suplemento.Aiming to study alternatives to extensification, it was evaluated the effect of supplement supply reduction (levels of 100, 65, 45 and 20% of the total requirements for production) and the possibility of its substitution by kikuyu grass on milk production and composition. The trial was performed using a completely randomized block design with three replicates, using the continuous and variable stocking rate grazing method aiming to keep the sward height at 20 cm. Individual and per hectare milk production presented positive linear response with the supplementation level. The qualitative milk components were not modified by reducing the use of supplements, however, daily productions of crude protein and fat by the animal varied with the supplementation levels. Cows grazing kikuyu grass do not maintain their milk production when supplement offer is reduced

Substituição do milho pela raspa de mandioca em dietas para vacas primíparas em lactação Replacement of corn with cassava scrapings in diets for primiparous lactating Holstein cows

Com o objetivo de avaliar a influência de níveis de substituição do milho moído pela raspa de mandioca no desempenho dos animais, no consumo e na digestibilidade dos nutrientes de dietas à base de palma forrageira (Opuntia ficus indica, Mill) e silagem de sorgo, cinco vacas primíparas da raça Holandesa (60&plusmn;15 dias em lactação e 448 kg de PV inicial) foram distribuídas em um único quadrado latino (5 x 5). A raspa de mandioca substituiu 0, 25, 50, 75 e 100% do milho moído nas dietas. Os consumos e a digestibilidade de MS (em kg/dia, % do PV, g/kg0,75 do PV), MO, PB, EE, CNF, CHOT, FDA, FDN e NDT não foram influenciados pelos níveis de raspa de mandioca nas dietas. A produção de leite, a produção de leite corrigida para 3,5% de gordura e a produção de gordura decresceram linearmente em 20, 30 e 1,15 g/dia, respectivamente. A eficiência alimentar (kg de leite corrigido para 3,5% de gordura/kg de MS) diminuiu linearmente em 0,001 para cada unidade de inclusão da raspa de mandioca, enquanto o teor de gordura não foi influenciado pelos níveis de substituição do milho moído nas dietas.<br>This study was conducted to evaluate replacement of ground corn grain with cassava scrapings on nutrient intake, digestibility, and production of primiparous Holstein lactating dairy cows receivind diets containing forage cactus (Opuntia ficus indica, Mill), sorghum silage and concentrate. Five cows averaging 60&plusmn;15 of days in milk and initial body weight (BW) of 448 kg were randomly assigned to a 5 &times; 5 Latin square with increasing levels of cassava scrapings in the diet: 0, 25, 50, 75 or 100%. Intakes of dry matter (DM) (kg, %BW and g/BW kg0.75), organic matter (OM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), nonfiber carbohidrates (NFC), total carbohydrates (TCHO), acid detergent fiber (ADF), neutral detergent fiber (NDF), and total digestible nutrients (TDN) all were not affected by replacing ground corn with cassava scrapings in the diet. Similarly, increasing the dietary levels of cassava scrapings did not affect apparent digestibilities of nutrients (P>0.05). However, milk yield, milk yield corrected for 3.5% fat, and fat yield decreased linearly by 20, 30 and, 1.15 g/day, respectively, when corn grain was replaced with cassava scrapings. Feed efficiency, expressed as kg of 3.5% fat corrected milk per kg of DM, also decreased linearly by 0.001 per each unit of cassava scrapings added to the diet. No significant differences for milk fat content were observed among treatments in this trial