This study aimed to identify gross and microscopic changes, caused by high-energy diets, in the rumen environment and hoof of confined beef cattle. The study sample comprised 40 confined heifers (Bos taurus) with no disease history divided into four experimental groups using different diets: Group 1 (D1, control), 48:52 forage:concentrate ratio; Group 2 (D2), 30:70 forage:concentrate ratio; Group 3 (D3), 30:70 forage:concentrate ratio + sucrose; Group 4 (D4), 100% concentrate. All animals underwent clinical examination, assessment of ruminal fluid pH and lameness, and sample collection after slaughter for histopathology of the hoof laminae and digital cushion and ruminal tissue. All dependent variables of the study were compared using the SPSS 20.0 statistical software. The variables that did not show normality (HR, RM, ST, and CRT) were compared with application of the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by the Dunnet’s multiple comparison test. All other variables were submitted to analysis of variance (ANOVA) followed by Tukey’s test. The different diets had an impact on the rumen environment (p<0.05) of the heifers assessed, with momentary general depression in the first 12 h after sucrose induction (D3), as well as mild clinical signs in D4. The animals in D3 and D4 presented lower motility (p<0.05) and ruminal pH (p<0.01) than those in D1. Of the 40 heifers, 27.5% (n=11) showed gross lesions in the epithelium of ruminal pillars, whereas 22.5% (n=9) of those in D3 and D4 presented these lesions. Sole corium thickness varied between heifers in D3 compared with those in D1 and D2 (p<0.05). Therefore, high-energy diets, as used in this study, alter some clinical parameters and the rumen environment, causing lesions in the rumen mucosa, and of lesser intensity, in the hoof corium and laminae, suggestive of laminitis.

The aim of this study was to confirm the possible consequences of prepartum lameness on subsequent lactation among Holstein cows. In this research, 27 multiparous cows, were monitored from the 30th to 63rd day, relative to calving. Thirty days prior to parturition, the animals were segregated into two groups based on the locomotion score (LS), where LS 1 is attributed to animals without claudication, LS 2 to those with suspected lameness and LS 3, 4 and 5 to those with mild, moderate and severe lameness, respectively; in the lame cows group (LC) (n=15), the animals displayed LS ≥ 3, whereas in the non-lame cows group (NLC) (n=12) they showed LS 1. Milk production, body condition score (BCS) and blood concentration levels of β-hydroxybutyrate (BHB), urea, phosphorus, calcium aspartate aminotransferase (AST), gamma glutamyl transferase (GGT) and total plasma proteins (PPT) were evaluated. Milk production (17.675 ± 0.31 L of milk/day) and blood calcium concentration (7.42 ± 0.12 mg/dL) were lower in the lame cows in comparison to those without lameness (22.27 ± 0.42 L of milk/day and 9.63 ± 0.13 mg/dL). Besides, the lame cows showed higher BCS loss during the early postpartum period. The metabolites AST, GGT, PPT, urea, BHB and phosphorus revealed no difference between the groups during the period evaluated. The lameness evident in cows during prepartum exerted major negative effects on the milk production and calcemia, making the LS evaluation during these period an important tool in the early diagnosis of losses for future lactation.

The accumulation of industrial by-products increases the use of sweet potato waste for ruminants, but ruminal pH characteristics are still not well known. The objective was to assess the fluctuation of ruminal pH in sheep supplemented with different levels of sweet potato flour inclusion in their diet. Four rumen-fistulated sheep were used; they were fed a diet based on ryegrass haylage (Lolium multiflorum) and sweet potato flour (Ipomoea batatas), provided according to the level of inclusion in the total diet (0, 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5%). Approximately 80 ml of ruminal fluid was collected for reading on a bench pH meter. Statistical data analysis was run on Statistical Analysis System (SAS Institute INC. Cary, NC, USA), and statistical difference was considered for p < 0.05. The animals that received 1.5% of sweet potato flour in their diet presented acid rumen pH; the 1.0% group presented rumen pH acidification in the first 6 hours after feeding, and the 0.5% level of inclusion did not change the rumen environment. It is concluded that the inclusion of 0.5% sweet potato flour in sheep diet proved to be an efficient energy supplementation strategy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the mineral concentrations in the hoof horny capsule of healthy Holstein cows and cows with hoof problems associated with laminitis. Twenty-one multiparous Holstein cows with an average production of 24 L of milk/day, reared with semi-extensive nutritional management, were studied. The animals were evaluated and divided into two groups based on their locomotion score (LS, range: 0 to 4). LS greater than 2 indicated laminitis-associated lesions (lame cow group: LC), and LS = 0 indicated cows without laminitis (CWL). A sample of 30 mm 2 was collected from the hoof horny capsule at the abaxial wall to evaluate the concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, zinc, and magnesium. Calcium blood concentration was also evaluated. The LC group had lower magnesium concentration (P=0.008) and showed a trend (P=0.06) for lower calcium concentration compared to healthy animals (CWL), even though all animals were normocalcemic. The concentration of other minerals did not differ between the LC and CWL group. In conclusion, the magnesium concentration in the hoof horny capsule was lower in cows with lesions associated with laminitis, while phosphorus and zinc concentrations were not affected. The relationship between hoof lesions and calcium concentration requires further investigation.

This study evaluated the effects of different levels of substitution of ground corn by sweet potato flour on intake, digestibility, microbial protein synthesis and total Nitrogen (N) retention in sheep fed mixed diets based on corn silage. Eight castrated male sheep were used, kept in metabolic cages. The animals received fixed proportions of oat hay, corn silage and soybean meal. The control group (0%) received only ground corn, while the other groups received different levels of inclusion of sweet potato flour (SPF) to replace ground corn, in the proportions of 33%, 66%, and 100%. The 0% and 33% groups had lower neutral detergent fiber (NDF) intake than the 66% and 100% groups. There was a trend (P = 0.07) of effect of treatments on crude protein (CP) intake with a significant positive linear effect (P = 0.03). There was a trend (P = 0.07) for treatment effects in N intake with a significant positive linear effect (P = 0.03). The other parameters as urine N excretion (P = 0.91) and feces N excretion (P = 0.16) were not affected by the replacement of ground corn by SPF. Moreover, there was no effect on N retention (P = 0.43) and on efficiency of N use (P = 0.69). Adding SPF to a diet instead of corn did not alter the microbial protein parameters. The inclusion of sweet potato flour did not cause changes in the protein metabolism of animals, suggesting it can be used instead of corn.

Butaphosphan is an organic phosphorus compound used in several species for the prevention of rapid catabolic states, however, the mechanism of action remains unclear. This study aimed at determining the effects of butaphosphan on energy metabolism of mice receiving a normal or hypercaloric diet (HCD) and submitted or not to food restriction. Two experiments were conducted: (1) during nine weeks, animals were fed with HCD (n = 28) ad libitum, and at the 10th week, were submitted to food restriction and received butaphosphan (n = 14) or saline injections (n = 14) (twice a day, for seven days) and; (2) during nine weeks, animals were fed with a control diet (n = 14) or HCD (n = 14) ad libitum, and at the 10th week, all animals were submitted to food restriction and received butaphosphan or saline injections (twice a day, for seven days). In food restriction, butaphosphan preserved epididymal white adipose tissue (WAT) mass, increased glucose, NEFA, and the HOMA index. In mice fed HCD and submitted to food restriction, the butaphosphan preserved epididymal WAT mass. Control diet influences on PI3K, GCK, and Irs1 mRNA expression. In conclusion, butaphosphan increased blood glucose and reduced fat mobilization in overweight mice submitted to caloric restriction, and these effects are influenced by diet.

Retention of the second polar body and chromosome malsegregation were observed after parthenogenetic activation, either spontaneous or induced by puromycin. This means that using parthenogenetic embryos for stem cell research will require great care and attention.

This study was developed to evaluate the clinical, hematological, and performance parameters of calves affected by diarrhea caused by the bacterial enteric pathogen Escherichia coli, treated with three different protocols containing sulfonamides. Fourteen Holstein calves were monitored from birth to 60 days of age, and divided into 3 groups. Group 1 (n=5) animals were treated with 80 g of Kaopek®, Ibasa, Brazil, administered orally (BM), dissolved in 160 ml of water every 24 h; Group 2 (n=4) received IM sulfadiazine and trimethoprim (Ibatrim®, Ibasa, Brazil), and Group 3 (n=5) animals were treated with 80 g of Kaopek®, Ibasa, Brazil, which is made up of 16 g of phthalylsulfathiazole, associated with 2.28 g neomycin sulfate, 1.6 g of pectin, and 80 g of kaolin, dissolved in 160 ml of water and administered every 24 h by mouth, in addition to sulfadiazine and trimethoprim (Ibatrim®, Ibasa, Brazil), at a daily dose of 16 mg/kg live weight, through IM injection. During the study, the animals were clinically evaluated, and once they were diagnosed with diarrhea, feces samples were collected to identify the bacterial enteric pathogen, antibiogram, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and coproparasitological exams. Blood samples were collected to evaluate the hematological profile, and the performance profile was monitored weekly. In the clinical examination, all calves presented a reduction in body temperature (<39.2°C) and some improvement in hydration after treatment (p=0,31). However, group 2 had a better concentration of lymphocytes and TP concerning the other animals, as well as better performance. Besides, E.coli was detected in 100% of feces samples. Thus, the therapeutic protocols with sulfonamides used to treat bovine neonatal diarrhea were effective in the clinical improvement of the animals. Nonetheless, the protocol with systemic therapy using sulfadiazine and trimethoprim (Ibatrim®, Ibasa, Brazil) intramuscularly, provided better performance, with better weight gain, and body development of the animals.