Efeito do uso de sistema de resfriamento adiabático evaporativo sobre a produção de leite no estado do Paraná

The aim of this study was evaluate the use of adiabatic evaporative cooling system (AECS) of air as an alternative to improve the thermal environment, aiming the milk production (MP) of cows with production levels of 15 and 35 kg day-1. The climatological data of air temperature and relative humidity used to estimate Temperature and Humidity Index (THI) and MP were collected in the IAPAR (Instituto Agronômico do Paraná) meteorological field stations from Paraná State. The use of AECS of air provides a significant reduction in the THI values, in all locations and periods of the years, which resulted in improvements in MP. For the East, North and West Regions, from December to February, were observed loss of MP to high producing animals (35 kg day-1) however, after simulation using AECS of air, there was an increase in estimated production milk of 6.3%, 9.5% and 9.4%, respectively. The lower efficiency of using AECS for the East Regions can be related to the high values of relative humidity observed, which reduce the efficiency of air AECS. Thus, the most suitable environment conditions provided by AECS justify its use, since observed each local condition, month and animal category.Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o uso de sistema de resfriamento adiabático evaporativo (SRAE) como alternativa para melhorar as condições de ambiente térmico, visando à produção de leite (PL) de vaca com nível normal de produção de 15 e 35 kg dia-1. Para as estimativas do Índice de Temperatura e Umidade (ITU) e da PL foram utilizados dados de normais climatológicas de temperatura e umidade relativa do ar coletados nas estações meteorológicas da rede do IAPAR (Instituto Agronômico do Paraná) no Estado do Paraná. A utilização de SRAE do ar proporcionaria uma redução significativa (p<0,05) nos valores do ITU, em todas as localidades e períodos do ano estudados o que resultou em melhora na produção de leite. Para as regiões Leste, Norte e Oeste, no período de dezembro a fevereiro, foram observadas quedas na PL para animais de alta produção (35 kg dia-1), contudo, após simulação do uso de SRAE houve aumento na produção estimada de leite de 6,3%; 9,5% e 9,4%, respectivamente. A menor eficiência do uso de SRAE para a região Leste pode estar relacionada com os altos valores de umidade relativa do ar observados, o que reduz a eficiência do SRAE do ar. Desta forma, as condições de ambientes mais adequadas proporcionadas pelos SRAE justificam seu emprego desde que se considerem as condições locais, a época do ano e a categoria animal estudada

CTLA-4 gene polymorphisms are associated with obesity in Turner syndrome

Turner syndrome (TS) is characterized by a set of clinical conditions, including autoimmune/inflammatory diseases and infectious conditions, that can compromise a patient's quality of life. Here we assessed polymorphisms in CTLA-4 +49A/G (rs231775), PTPN22 +1858G/A (rs2476601), and MBL2 -550 (H/L) (rs11003125), -221(X/Y) (rs7096206) and exon 1 (A/O) in women from northeastern Brazil to determine whether polymorphisms within these key immune response genes confer differential susceptibility to clinical conditions in TS. A case-control genetic association study was performed, including 86 female TS patients and 179 healthy women. An association was observed for the A/G genotype of CTLA-4 +49A/G in TS patients (p=0.043, odds ratio [OR]=0.54). In addition, an association between the CTLA-4 G/G genotype and obesity was detected in TS patients (p=0.02, OR=6.04). Regarding, the -550(H/L) polymorphism in the MBL2 promoter, the frequency of the H/L genotype was significantly higher in the TS group than healthy controls (p=0.01, OR=1.96). The H/H genotype indicated a protective effect in TS patients (p=0.01, OR=0.23). No differences were observed in the distribution of -221(X/Y), MBL2 exon 1 variants, and PTPN22 +1858G/A in any assessed groups. CTLA-4 variants are potentially involved in obesity in this cohort of TS patients from northeastern Brazil

SUNFLOWER MEAL AND EXOGENOUS ENZYMES IN INITIAL DIETS FOR BROILERS

This research aimed to evaluate the effects of different levels of sunflower meal (SFM) and the supplementation of a multienzyme complex in the initial diets of broilers on their performance, intestinal morphometry and carcass characteristics. In all, 1100 1 - d - old male chicks were distributed in a completely randomized design with 2 x 5 factorial arrangement (with and without a multienzyme supplement and five levels of SFM inclusion - 0, 4, 8, 12 and 16%), and five replications per experimental unit. The experimental diets were provided until the chickens were 21 - d - old and thereafter all birds received the same diet up to 42 d, to evaluate the possible residual effects of treatments. The SFM inclusion impaired performance from 1 to 21 d of age and the animals that received SFM during the initial phase, failed to recover from the negative effects on performance parameters. The multienzyme supplement improved the intestinal morphometry and was more effective than non - supplemented diets on performance, independent of the SFM inclusion level. The carcass and cuts yield of the wings and leg were significantly affected by the multienzyme supplementation. In conclusion, the SFM inclusion impaired performance variables and intestinal morphometry without affecting carcass yield; however, the supplementation of an enzyme complex counteracted the negative performance and intestinal morphometry effects

PERFORMANCE AND CARCASS YIELD OF BROILERS FED INCREASING LEVELS OF SUNFLOWER CAKE

This study aimed to evaluate the performance, carcass yield and intestinal morphometry of 1- to 21-day-old broiler chickens fed a diet containing increasing levels of sunflower cake, supplemented with or without an enzyme complex (EC). We used 1200 Cobb 500 birds, which were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2x5 factorial scheme and five levels of sunflower cake inclusion (0, 5, 10, 15, and 20%) in diets supplemented or not with EC. Each treatment consisted of 5 replicates. Animals were fed the experimental diets from 1 to 21 days of age and from 22 to 42 days all birds received the same feed based on corn and soybean meal. There was no interaction between the level of sunflower cake inclusion and presence of EC. From 1 to 21 days of age, the weight gain, final weight, and feed intake linearly decreased (P<0.05) with increasing sunflower cake inclusion level. At 42 days old, after animals consumed diets based on corn and soybean meal (from 22 to 42 days), the levels provided least 21 days did not influence the performance results. Animals receiving the EC in the first phase showed better results at the end of the experiment (P<0.05). Up to 21 days old, carcass yield decreased, and abdominal fat increased with the sunflower cake inclusion. The addition of EC in the diet improved the thigh, breast and carcass yield. Intestinal morphology after 21 days revealed that the three segments of the intestine had at least one type of change, such as a decrease in villus height and increase in crypt depth, with increased level of sunflower cake in the diet, affecting performance

Adjustment of four growth models through Bayesian inference on weight and body nutrient depositions in laying quail

ABSTRACT An experiment was conducted to estimate the parameters of the Gompertz, Brody, Logistic, and Von Bertalanffy equations through Bayesian inference and evaluate the potential for growth in terms of weight and body composition of laying female quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). The weights and body compositions of the birds were obtained weekly (1-119 days), allowing the adjustment of the four equations by Bayesian inference. The parameters mature weight (β1), integration constant (β2), maturity rate (β3), and their credibility intervals in four models on body weight and body components were properly estimated by Bayesian inference to describe the body growth in laying quail. The inflection point was determined by the 1st and 2nd derivatives of the Gompertz equation for body weight and body components (fat, protein, ash, and water). Based on Deviance Information Criterion (DIC) for the studied and analyzed variables, there is a model that fits best as a result of its better performance to achieve the DIC value. The Von Bertalanffy model proved to be very versatile, not obtaining good fit of data only for fat. The study shows that other models can also be used in several data sets as an alternative to Gompertz, which, due to its adequate biological interpretation and desirable characteristics in a curve growth, is generally the most used

Sunflower cake with or without enzymatic complex for broiler chickens feeding

Objective This study was to evaluate the sunflower cake and enzymatic complex fed to broilers from 22 to 42 d of age. Methods In a completely randomized design, a total of 850 birds were allotted in a 2×5 factorial scheme (with and without enzymatic complex) and five inclusion levels (0%, 5%, 10%, 15%, 20%) of sunflower cake. There were 5 replications and 17 birds in each experimental unit. Data from performance, carcass yield and intestinal morphology were evaluated. Results Feed intake, weight gain, final weight and feed:gain ratio linearly worsened as sunflower cake increased. For weight gain, final weight and feed:gain ratio, the birds whose diets contained levels of 15% and 20% of sunflower cake showed worse values (p<0.05) than the birds fed the control diet. When fed the enzymatic complex, birds improved (p<0.05) crypt depth and villus:crypt ratio in the jejunum. As inclusion levels of sunflower cake increased, villus depth and villus:crypt ratio in duodenum, jejunum and ileum linearly reduced and the crypt depth linearly increased. Carcass yield linearly reduced as sunflower cake increased. Conclusion Based on performance, sunflower cake can be used up to 10% in broilers feeding from 21 to 42 days of age

Bioavailability of different methionine sources for growing broilers

The objective of this trial was to evaluate the bioavailability of DL-2-hydroxy-4-(methyl) butanoic acid (DL-HMBA) and a polyherbal ingredient (PHI) in relation to DL-methionine (DLM) on broilers. Nine hundred male broiler chickens of the Cobb 500 strain were fed from 22 to 42 days of age either a basal diet without industrial methionine supplementation or the basal diet supplemented with DL-HMBA at one of three levels (0.143, 0.286 and 0.429%) or DLM at one of three levels (0.093, 0.186 and 0.279%, each of which is 65% of the respective DL-HMBA level by weight) or PHI at one of the same three levels used for DLM (0.093, 0.186 and 0.279%). The weight gain, feed conversion ratio and relative weights of breast and abdominal fat were improved over that of basal diet-fed broilers by the addition of DL-HMBA and DLM to the diet. A simultaneous exponential regression analysis revealed that the relative bioavailability values for DL-HMBA and PHI were 52% and 5% of that of DLM, respectively, for weight gain, and 57% and 4%, respectively, for feed conversion ratio. Concerning breast meat yield, a simultaneous linear regression analysis (slope ratio) showed that the relative bioavailability for DL-HMBA was 65% of that of DLM. Considering all studied parameters together, the relative bioavailability values for DL-HMBA and PHI are 58% and 4.5% of that of DLM on a product basis