No abstract

The aim of this study was to evaluate how the inclusion of a blend of essential oils in milk replacer (MR) affects different outcomes of dairy heifers. The outcomes evaluated: feed intake, performance, body development, blood cells and metabolites, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), rumen fermentation, fecal scores, and respiratory scores. All outcomes were evaluated during pre-weaning (4–60 d of age), and carry-over effects during post-weaning (61–90 d of age) periods. The experimental units utilized were 29 newborn Holstein × Gyr crossbred dairy heifers, with genetic composition of 5/8 or more Holstein and 3/8 or less Gyr and body weight (BW) at birth of 32.2 ± 5.2 kg. Experimental units were assigned to either a control (CON, n = 15) or a blend of essential oil supplementation (BEO, n = 14) treatment, maintaining a balance of genetic composition. The BEO was supplemented in the MR with 1 g/d/calf of a blend of essential oils (Apex Calf, Adisseo, China) composed by plant extracts derived from anise, cinnamon, garlic, rosemary, and thyme. During the pre-weaning phase, all heifers were fed 5 L of MR/d reconstituted to 15% (dry matter basis), divided into two equal meals. Water and starter were provided ad libitum. During the post-weaning, animals received a maximum of 3 kg of starter/d, and ad libitum corn silage, divided into two meals. Feed intake, fecal and respiratory scores were evaluated daily. The BW was measured every three days, while body development was recorded weekly. Blood samples were collected on 0, 30, and 60 d of age for total blood cell count, weekly and on the weaning day to determinate ß-hydroxybutyrate, urea and glucose, and biweekly for IGF-1. Ruminal parameters (pH, volatile fatty acids, ammonia-N, and acetate:propionate proportion—C2:C3) were measured on days 14, 28, 42, 60, 74 and 90. A randomized complete block design with an interaction between treatment and week was the experimental method of choice to test the hypothesis of the BEO’s effect on all outcomes. An ANOVA procedure was used for continuous outcomes, and a non-parametric test was used for the ordered categorical outcomes, both adopting a CI = 95%. Results indicated that there was not enough evidence to accept the alternative hypothesis of the effect of BEO in MR on feed intake, performance, body development, and blood metabolites during both pre-weaning and post-weaning periods. However, results indicated that the inclusion of BEO in MR significantly affects the proportion of C2:C3 during pre- and post-weaning (P = 0.05). Similarly, the effect was significant for basophil (P ≤ 0.001), and platelet (P = 0.04) counts pre-weaning. The interaction between week and treatment was also significant for lymphocytes (P ≤ 0.001), revealing a cumulative effect. Lastly, fecal scores were also significant (P = 0.04) during pre-weaning, with lower values for BEO. The BEO contributed to ruminal manipulation in pre-weaning and carry-over effects in post-weaning, immunity improvement, and decreased morbidity of neonatal diarrhea in the pre-weaning phase.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the influence of crude glycerin (CG) suplementation in sheep diets during pregnancy and transition period. Twenty-four Lacaune x East Friesian genotypes sheep were randomly assigned to four treatments. Diet was composed of roughage: tifton hay, and standard concentrate for the categories, being these similar among the treatments, whereas the CG differed for the supplements in (zero, 1,5, 3,0 and 4,5% of dry matter) being It added to the animals' drinking water. The sheep received supplementation during all pregnancy and lactation. Dry matter intake during gestation was reduced with the higher supplementation of CG in the animals' drinking water, presenting a linear decreasing response and remaining until delivery. Throughout lactation, the variable presented a linear behavior with the supplementation of CG on the eighteenth day of this phase, after a quadratic behavior was observed until the end of the evaluated period. The β-hydroxybutyrate and non-esterified fatty acids levels were not influenced by CG supplementation throughout the gestation period. CG suplementation conveyed in water did not affect negatively milk production and composition. Key words: β-hydroxybutyrate. Byproducts. Glycerol. Sheep. ResumoObjetivou-se avaliar a influência da suplementação com glicerina bruta (GB) em dietas para ovelhas durante a gestação e período de transição. Foram avaliadas 24 ovelhas com genótipo Lacaune x East Friesian distribuídas de forma inteiramente ao acaso em quatro tratamentos. A dieta foi composta de volumoso: feno de tifton e concentrado padrão para as categorias, sendo estes semelhantes entre os tratamentos já a GB diferenciava quanto às suplementações em (zero; 1,5; 3,0 e 4,5% da MS) sendo a mesma adicionada à água de beber dos animais. As ovelhas receberam suplementação ao longo da gestação e lactação. O consumo de matéria seca na gestação foi reduzido com a maior suplementação de GB na água de beber dos animais, apresentando resposta linear decrescente e mantendo-se até o parto. Ao longo da lactação, a variável apresentou comportamento linear decrescente com a suplementação da GB no décimo oitavo dia desta fase, posteriormente apresentando um comportamento quadrático até o fim do período avaliado. O teor de β-hidroxibutirato e ácidos graxos não esterificados não sofreram influência da suplementação com GB ao longo de toda a gestação. A suplementação com GB veiculada à água não afetou negativamente a produção e composição do leite. Palavras-chave: β-hidroxibutirato. Glicerol. Ovinos. Subprodutos.liver injury (GONZÁLEZ; SILVA, 2006). In view of this scenario, CG inserts itself as an energetic supplementation alternative to the end of gestation and the beginning of lactation in sheep. It can be diluted and offered in water as a strategy to reduce dry matter consumption and occupy less physical space. The aim of this study was to evaluate the CG supplementation conveyed in water for sheep, and to determine its effects on intake, blood parameters during gestation an...

1 2 Effects of a blend of essential oils in milk replacer on performance, rumen fermentation, 3 blood parameters and health scores of dairy heifers 4 5 Abstract 23 The objective of this study was to evaluate how the inclusion of a blend of essential oils 24 in milk replacer (MR) affects different outcomes of dairy heifers. The outcomes 25 evaluated: feed intake, performance, body development, blood cells and metabolites, 26 insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), rumen fermentation, fecal scores and respiratory . : bioRxiv preprint 2 27 scores. All outcomes were evaluated during pre-weaning (4 -60 d of age), and 28 carryover effects on post-weaning (61 -90 d of age) periods. The experimental units 29 utilized were 29 newborn Holstein × Gyr crossbred dairy heifers, with genetic 30 composition of 5/8 or more Holstein and 3/8 or less Gyr and body weight (BW) at birth 31 of 32.2 ± 5.2 kg. Experimental units were randomly assigned to either a control group 32 (CON, n = 15) or a treatment group, consisting of supplementation of a blend of 33 essential oils (BEO, n = 14) with1 g/d/calf (Apex Calf, Adisseo, China). During the pre-34 weaning phase, all heifers were fed 5 L of MR/d reconstituted at 15% (dry matter basis), 35 divided into two equal meals. Water and starter were provided ad libitum. During the 36 post-weaning, animals received a maximum 3 kg of starter/d, and ad libitum corn silage, 37 divided into two meals. The outcomes feed intake, fecal and respiratory scores were 38 evaluated daily. BW was measured every three days, while body development was 39 recorded weekly. Blood samples were collected on 0, 30 and 60 d of age for total blood 40 cell count, weekly to determinate ß-hydroxybutyrate, urea and glucose, and biweekly 41 for IGF-1. Ruminal parameters (pH, volatile fatty acids, ammonia-N and 42 acetate:proprionate proportion -C2:C3) were measured each 14 days. A randomized 43 complete block design with an interaction between treatment and week was the 44 experimental method of choice to test the hypothesis of effect of BEO on all outcomes. 45 An ANOVA procedure was used for continuous outcomes and a non-parametric test 46 was used for the ordered categorical outcomes both adopting a C.I. = 95%. Results 47 indicated that there was not enough evidence to accept the alternative hypothesis of 48 effect of BEO in MR on: feed intake, performance, body development and blood 49 metabolites during both pre-weaning and post-weaning periods. However, results 50 indicated that the inclusion of BEO in MR significantly affects the proportion of C2:C3 51 during pre and post-weaning (P ≤ 0.05). Similarly, the effect is significant for basophil 52 (P ≤ 0.001) and platelet (P ≤ 0.05) counts in pre-weaning. : bioRxiv preprint 3 53 and treatment was also significant for lymphocytes (P ≤ 0.001), revealing a long-term 54 treatment immunological effect. Lastly, the effect on fecal scores was also significant (P 55 ≤ 0.05) during pre-weaning, with lower values for BEO. BEO contributed for ruminal 56 manipulation on pre-weaning and...

Industrialization of the Babassu coconut for edible oil production generates many co-products and has great potential to be used in ruminant nutrition. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of different inclusions of endocarp meal type II of Babassu coconut (BEMII) on intake and digestibility of sheep diets. Twenty non-castrated male sheep with an undefined breed were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and five replications. The animals received an experimental diet with increasing inclusions of BEMII (0.0%, 7.5%, 15.0%, and 22.5%). Increasing additions of the coproduct negatively influenced dry matter intake (g/BW and g/kg0.75). Crude protein intake (in grams) per day decreased linearly with the inclusion of BEMII, presenting a reduction of 49.35 g/d. The inclusion of 7.5% showed the best response for energy balance among all inclusions and presented the closest nitrogen balance value when compared to the control group; therefore, this inclusion percentage is the best for endocarp meal utilization.

No abstract

Ectoparasites in ruminants are common in tropical rearing systems and normally associated with tick and fly infestations. Although cat fleas it can occur, records of ruminant infestation by are unusual. The present study describes two different cases of flea infestation at the same farm in the Brazilian southeast region, in different periods and different species, kids and calves. In both cases, domestic feral cats and dogs infested by Ctenocephalides felis felis had access to the animal’s facility. Kids and calves presented high flea burden that caused dermatitis, stress, discomfort, irritation, anemia, and weight gain reduction. The packed cell volume of the calves was performed and due to history of tick fever in the farm an investigation of tick fever agents DNA in the fleas was done, to verity possible mechanical transmission through flea bite. For flea control, on both situations, the animal’s treatment with deltamethrin plus environment cleaning and spraying insecticide showed success. Four of eight calves presented anemia (packed cell volume < 24%). The tick fever agents DNA was not diagnosed. The right parasite identification, election of methods, drugs and environment management are necessary to a satisfactory outcome and parasite control.

The objective of this study was to evaluate blood cells and metabolites, insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), digestibility, internal organs weight and histology, gene expression, and spleen cell proliferation of pre-weaned bull calves supplemented with a blend of essential oils in milk replacer (MR). Sixteen newborn Holstein × Gyr crossbred dairy bull calves, with body weight at birth of 33.3 ± 3.7 kg, were housed in individual sand bedded pens, blocked by genetic composition, and randomly assigned to 1 of 2 treatments in a randomized complete block design: Control (CON, n = 8) and blend of essential oils supplementation (BEO, n = 8, 1 g/day/calf, Apex Calf, Adisseo, China). The commercial blend was composed by plant extracts derived from anise, cinnamon, garlic, rosemary, and thyme. Animals were fed 5 L of MR/day reconstituted at 15% (dry matter basis), divided into two equal meals. Water and starter were provided ad libitum. ß-hydroxybutyrate, urea, and glucose were evaluated weekly, IGF-1 was evaluated biweekly, and total blood cell count was performed every four weeks until the end of the trial at eight weeks of age. Feed samples were collected three times a week and polled for weekly analysis. Apparent total nutrient digestibility was determined from d 56 to 60 of age. On d 60 ± 1, animals were euthanized for organ weight, histology, spleen cell proliferation, and intestinal gene expression analysis. Data were analyzed independently using linear mixed models using the REML method in the nlme package in R for continuous outcomes. A non-parametric test was used for ordered categorical outcomes using the Artools package in R. There were no differences between groups for blood evaluations, digestibility, gene expression, and a spleen cell proliferation assay. However, BEO calves presented a heavier pancreas, heavier intestines, bigger ileum villi, and higher cecum butyrate levels (P < 0.05), demonstrating that the EO supplementation helped intestinal development and symbiotic bacteria. It was also observed in CON animals’ heavier respiratory tract and a higher eosinophil count (P < 0.05). Therefore, the organs where eosinophils are more active had a better response for BEO animals. No differences were found in the intestinal gene expression in the immune context. These results demonstrate that supplementing essential oils in MR could contribute to gut development and immune function. However, more research is needed to understand its impact on body development and define the best dosage and route of administration.