Effect of Age at Weaning on the Physiological Stress Response and Temperament of Two Beef Cattle Breeds

The study was conducted to evaluate the effect of age at weaning and breed on the stress response of calves to weaning and their temperament. At calving, 14 Parda de Montaña calves and 14 Pirenaica calves were randomly assigned to either early weaning (at 90 days) or traditional weaning (at 150 days) treatment. During nursing, calves were allowed to suckle their dams twice a day for 30 min. After weaning, calves were placed in an adjacent barn without access to their dams, where they remained for 7 days. On day 8 after weaning, they were transported to a feedlot where they received an intensive diet. Blood samples were taken 168 h before weaning (baseline) and 6, 24, 48 and 168 h after weaning for cortisol, fibrinogen and haematology analyses, and temperament was measured 90 and 180 days after weaning with the flight speed test. Cortisol concentration increased after weaning, irrespective of age at weaning. Early-weaned calves had a lower fibrinogen baseline and a greater increase in fibrinogen concentrations 48 h after weaning than traditionally weaned calves. Moreover, fibrinogen concentration returned to baseline values 168 h after weaning in traditionally weaned calves, whereas it remained high in early-weaned calves. Concerning breed effects, Pirenaica calves had higher cortisol concentration and fibrinogen increments after weaning than Parda de Montaña calves. Slight alterations occurred after weaning in haematology, but all parameters returned to baseline values 168 h after weaning, with no significant effects of age at weaning or breed. Despite the absence of clinical signs, early-weaned calves of both breeds suffered marginal anaemia, according to haemoglobin values. Regardless of age at weaning, Pirenaica calves had greater reactivity to human presence than Parda de Montaña calves, according to their higher flight speed values measured. Finally, early-weaned calves were lighter than traditionally weaned calves at weaning, but had similar weight gains in the feedlot. Consequently, they needed an additional 40 days to reach the target weight, irrespective of breed. Therefore, age at weaning had no major effects on the stress response to weaning or temperament, but early weaning increased the length of the feedlot period. On the other hand, Pirenaica calves were more reactive than Parda de Montaña calves to the stress of weaning and human presence

Humanitarian engineering in Spain: ingenieros sin fronteras

ISF (Ingenieros sin fronteras) is an Spanish NGO. ISF deals with humanitarian engineering. The association aspires to help integrate cultural, political, social, economical, and environmental contexts into technology, and to use technology for the service of human development. ISF's activities involve development programs, education, social awareness efforts, networking and institutional relations.Peer ReviewedPostprint (published version

Milk fatty acid profiles of beef cows in response to a short feed restriction during lactation.

Abstract M75 The relationship between energy balance and the milk fatty acid (FA) profile is well established in dairy cows but has received little attention in beef cattle. We analyzed the milk fatty acid profile of 16 Parda de Montaña beef cows 2 mo post-calving in response to a 4-d (d) dietary restriction (55% of energy requirements, 6.2 kg dry matter (DM) hay/d), as compared with a previous basal and an 8-d refeeding period (100% of requirements; 7.0 kg DM/d hay + 2.7 kg DM/d concentrate). With d0 as the start of restriction, milk was sampled on days d-2 (basal), d1, d3 (restriction) and d5, d6, d8 (refeeding). Individual FA were identified by gas chromatography, and sums of FA were calculated (saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA), polyunsaturated (PUFA), cis-MUFA, trans-MUFA, C4-C15 de novo synthesis FA and C16-C24 mobilization FA). These sums and the 4 major FA (C16:0, C18:1–9c, C18:0, C14:0) were analyzed using mixed models, with day as fixed and cow as random effects. All the results presented here were significant at P < 0.001. The milk FA profile responded immediately to changes in the energy balance and/or the diet. On d1 of restriction, the concentrations of SFA decreased, mainly due to a reduction in the de novo synthesis FA and C16. A concomitant increase in MUFA (associated with that of C18:1–9c, predominant in body fat) was observed. These changes, along with the increments in C16-C24 FA, indicate an enhanced fat mobilization from the adipose tissue. During the restriction, C18:0 and trans-MUFA decreased while cis-MUFA and PUFA increased, as a result of both the mobilization and the change in diet composition..

Effects of condensed tannins from sainfoin on the milk fatty acid profile of ewes.

Abstract M136 There is an increased interest in using local fodder legumes to improve the self-sufficiency of feed for livestock. Sainfoin (Onobrychis viciifolia) is a typical high-quality crop of Mediterranean areas with a medium-high content of condensed tannins (CT), however their effects on milk composition are not well known. The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of CT from fresh sainfoin on milk production, chemical composition, and fatty acids during 4 wk of lactation. Twenty pairs dam-lamb were individually fed fresh sainfoin ad libitum plus 200 g/d of barley. The distribution of pairs dam-lamb were done according to ewe’s BW (60.7 ± 6.15 kg BW) and BCS (3.3 ± 0.57), lambing date (06/04/2019 ± 0.95) and lamb weight at birth (4.1 ± 0.64 kg BW). Half of the ewes were daily orally dosed 100 g of PEG 4000/200 mL water per ewe as a tannin-binding agent (SF+PEG) and the other half received only water (SF). Once a week, ewes were milked and samples of sainfoin and milk were obtained and analyzed for chemical composition and individual fatty acids (FAs). The total saturated FA (SFA), monounsaturated FA (MUFA), polyunsaturated FA (PUFA), PUFA n-3 and PUFA n-6 were calculated. The sums and the major FA were analyzed using mixed models, with week of lactation as fixed and ewe as random effects using the SAS statistical software (SAS v.9.3)..

Milk fatty acid profiles of beef cows in response to a short feed restriction during lactation.

Abstract M75 The relationship between energy balance and the milk fatty acid (FA) profile is well established in dairy cows but has received little attention in beef cattle. We analyzed the milk fatty acid profile of 16 Parda de Montaña beef cows 2 mo post-calving in response to a 4-d (d) dietary restriction (55% of energy requirements, 6.2 kg dry matter (DM) hay/d), as compared with a previous basal and an 8-d refeeding period (100% of requirements; 7.0 kg DM/d hay + 2.7 kg DM/d concentrate). With d0 as the start of restriction, milk was sampled on days d-2 (basal), d1, d3 (restriction) and d5, d6, d8 (refeeding). Individual FA were identified by gas chromatography, and sums of FA were calculated (saturated (SFA), monounsaturated (MUFA), polyunsaturated (PUFA), cis-MUFA, trans-MUFA, C4-C15 de novo synthesis FA and C16-C24 mobilization FA). These sums and the 4 major FA (C16:0, C18:1–9c, C18:0, C14:0) were analyzed using mixed models, with day as fixed and cow as random effects. All the results presented here were significant at P < 0.001. The milk FA profile responded immediately to changes in the energy balance and/or the diet. On d1 of restriction, the concentrations of SFA decreased, mainly due to a reduction in the de novo synthesis FA and C16. A concomitant increase in MUFA (associated with that of C18:1–9c, predominant in body fat) was observed. These changes, along with the increments in C16-C24 FA, indicate an enhanced fat mobilization from the adipose tissue. During the restriction, C18:0 and trans-MUFA decreased while cis-MUFA and PUFA increased, as a result of both the mobilization and the change in diet composition..

Observation of two new Ξb−\Xi_b^- baryon resonances

Two structures are observed close to the kinematic threshold in the $\Xi_b^0 \pi^-$ mass spectrum in a sample of proton-proton collision data, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3.0 fb$^{-1}$ recorded by the LHCb experiment. In the quark model, two baryonic resonances with quark content $bds$ are expected in this mass region: the spin-parity $J^P = \frac{1}{2}^+$ and $J^P=\frac{3}{2}^+$ states, denoted $\Xi_b^{\prime -}$ and $\Xi_b^{*-}$. Interpreting the structures as these resonances, we measure the mass differences and the width of the heavier state to be $m(\Xi_b^{\prime -}) - m(\Xi_b^0) - m(\pi^{-}) = 3.653 \pm 0.018 \pm 0.006$ MeV$/c^2$, $m(\Xi_b^{*-}) - m(\Xi_b^0) - m(\pi^{-}) = 23.96 \pm 0.12 \pm 0.06$ MeV$/c^2$, $\Gamma(\Xi_b^{*-}) = 1.65 \pm 0.31 \pm 0.10$ MeV, where the first and second uncertainties are statistical and systematic, respectively. The width of the lighter state is consistent with zero, and we place an upper limit of $\Gamma(\Xi_b^{\prime -}) < 0.08$ MeV at 95% confidence level. Relative production rates of these states are also reported.Comment: 17 pages, 2 figure

Observation of an Excited Bc+ State

Using pp collision data corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 8.5 fb-1 recorded by the LHCb experiment at center-of-mass energies of s=7, 8, and 13 TeV, the observation of an excited Bc+ state in the Bc+π+π- invariant-mass spectrum is reported. The observed peak has a mass of 6841.2±0.6(stat)±0.1(syst)±0.8(Bc+) MeV/c2, where the last uncertainty is due to the limited knowledge of the Bc+ mass. It is consistent with expectations of the Bc∗(2S31)+ state reconstructed without the low-energy photon from the Bc∗(1S31)+→Bc+γ decay following Bc∗(2S31)+→Bc∗(1S31)+π+π-. A second state is seen with a global (local) statistical significance of 2.2σ (3.2σ) and a mass of 6872.1±1.3(stat)±0.1(syst)±0.8(Bc+) MeV/c2, and is consistent with the Bc(2S10)+ state. These mass measurements are the most precise to date

Measurement of the Bs0→J/ψηB_{s}^{0} \rightarrow J/\psi \eta lifetime

Using a data set corresponding to an integrated luminosity of $3 fb^{-1}$, collected by the LHCb experiment in $pp$ collisions at centre-of-mass energies of 7 and 8 TeV, the effective lifetime in the $B^0_s \rightarrow J/\psi \eta$ decay mode, $\tau_{\textrm{eff}}$, is measured to be $\tau_{\textrm{eff}} = 1.479 \pm 0.034~\textrm{(stat)} \pm 0.011 ~\textrm{(syst)}$ ps. Assuming $CP$ conservation, $\tau_{\textrm{eff}}$ corresponds to the lifetime of the light $B_s^0$ mass eigenstate. This is the first measurement of the effective lifetime in this decay mode.Comment: All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://lhcbproject.web.cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/LHCbProjectPublic/LHCb-PAPER-2016-017.htm

Bose-Einstein correlations of same-sign charged pions in the forward region in pp collisions at √s=7 TeV

Bose-Einstein correlations of same-sign charged pions, produced in protonproton collisions at a 7 TeV centre-of-mass energy, are studied using a data sample collected by the LHCb experiment. The signature for Bose-Einstein correlations is observed in the form of an enhancement of pairs of like-sign charged pions with small four-momentum difference squared. The charged-particle multiplicity dependence of the Bose-Einstein correlation parameters describing the correlation strength and the size of the emitting source is investigated, determining both the correlation radius and the chaoticity parameter. The measured correlation radius is found to increase as a function of increasing charged-particle multiplicity, while the chaoticity parameter is seen to decreas

Measurement of the mass and lifetime of the Ωb−\Omega_b^- baryon

A proton-proton collision data sample, corresponding to an integrated luminosity of 3 fb$^{-1}$ collected by LHCb at $\sqrt{s}=7$ and 8 TeV, is used to reconstruct $63\pm9$ $\Omega_b^-\to\Omega_c^0\pi^-$, $\Omega_c^0\to pK^-K^-\pi^+$ decays. Using the $\Xi_b^-\to\Xi_c^0\pi^-$, $\Xi_c^0\to pK^-K^-\pi^+$ decay mode for calibration, the lifetime ratio and absolute lifetime of the $\Omega_b^-$ baryon are measured to be \begin{align*} \frac{\tau_{\Omega_b^-}}{\tau_{\Xi_b^-}} &= 1.11\pm0.16\pm0.03, \\ \tau_{\Omega_b^-} &= 1.78\pm0.26\pm0.05\pm0.06~{\rm ps}, \end{align*} where the uncertainties are statistical, systematic and from the calibration mode (for $\tau_{\Omega_b^-}$ only). A measurement is also made of the mass difference, $m_{\Omega_b^-}-m_{\Xi_b^-}$, and the corresponding $\Omega_b^-$ mass, which yields \begin{align*} m_{\Omega_b^-}-m_{\Xi_b^-} &= 247.4\pm3.2\pm0.5~{\rm MeV}/c^2, \\ m_{\Omega_b^-} &= 6045.1\pm3.2\pm 0.5\pm0.6~{\rm MeV}/c^2. \end{align*} These results are consistent with previous measurements.Comment: 11 pages, 5 figures, All figures and tables, along with any supplementary material and additional information, are available at https://lhcbproject.web.cern.ch/lhcbproject/Publications/LHCbProjectPublic/LHCb-PAPER-2016-008.htm