No abstract

Métodos de diagnóstico e pontos críticos de bem-estar de bovinos leiteirosWelfare assessment methods and critical points for dairy cattle

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) play a critical role on biological and cellular processes; the search for functional markers may be of importance for differential diagnosis, prognosis, and development of new therapeutic regimens. In this context, we evaluated the bone marrow miRNA profile of Brazilian children exhibiting T‐ or B‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T‐ALL or B‐ALL), using massive parallel sequencing, using the HiSeq 2500 platform (Illumina). The differential expression analysis was conducted considering a leave‐one‐out approach and FDR ≤ 0.05. Machine learning algorithms were applied to search for the disease subset biomarkers. Target prediction, functional enrichment, and classification of biological categories were also performed. Sixteen miRNAs were differentially expressed between T‐ and B‐ALL, of which 10 (miR‐708‐5p, miR‐497‐5p, miR‐151a‐5p, miR‐151b, miR‐371b‐5p, miR‐455‐5p, miR‐195‐5p, miR‐1266‐5p, miR‐574‐5p, and miR‐425‐5p) were downregulated and six (miR‐450b‐5p, miR‐450a‐5p, miR‐542‐5p, miR‐424‐5p, miR‐629‐5p, and miR‐29c‐5p) were upregulated in childhood T‐ALL. These miRNAs may be used for distinguishing childhood lymphoblastic leukemia subtypes, since it provided the clear separation of patients in these two distinct groups. Six relevant biological pathways were identified according to their role in leukemia, namely, viral carcinogenesis, cell cycle, and B‐cell receptor signaling pathways for induced miRNAs and TGF‐beta signaling, apoptosis, and NF‐kappa B signaling for the repressed miRNAs, of which several miRNA gene targets participate in cell differentiation and hematopoiesis processes. Machine learning analysis pointed out miR‐29c‐5p expression as the best discriminator between childhood T‐ and B‐ALL, which is involved in calcium signaling, critical for B‐cell lymphocyte fate. Further studies are needed to assure the role of the 16 miRNAs and miR‐29c‐5p on acute lymphoblastic leukemia subtypes and on disease prognosis.

-The present study was conducted to determine the relationship between milk urea nitrogen (MUN) and milk yield, fat and protein contents, breed and season effects, parity and days in milk in dairy cows from Paraná State, Brazil. collected during the winter were higher than those collected in the other seasons. The effects of the lactation stage on MUN were significant, with the highest MUN values observed in the sixth month of lactation. High-producing dairy cows showed higher milk urea concentrations but several environmental factors may contribute to reduce this important parameter of diet utilization efficiency.

This work evaluated the chemical composition and mycotoxin incidence in corn silage from 5 Brazilian dairy-producing regions: Castro, in central-eastern Paraná State (n=32); Toledo, in southwestern Paraná (n=20); southeastern Goiás (n=14); southern Minas Gerais (n=23); and western Santa Catarina (n=20). On each dairy farm, an infrared thermography camera was used to identify 3 sampling sites that exhibited the highest temperature, a moderate temperature, and the lowest temperature on the silo face, and 1 sample was collected from each site. The chemical composition and concentrations of mycotoxins were evaluated, including the levels of aflatoxins B1, B2, G1, and G2; zearalenone; ochratoxin A; deoxynivalenol; and fumonisins B1 and B2. The corn silage showed a highly variable chemical composition, containing, on average, 7.1±1.1%, 52.5±5.4%, and 65.2±3.6% crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, and total digestible nutrients, respectively. Mycotoxins were found in more than 91% of the samples, with zearalenone being the most prevalent (72.8%). All samples from the Castro region contained zearalenone at a high average concentration (334±374µg/kg), even in well-preserved silage. The incidence of aflatoxin B1 was low (0.92%). Silage temperature and the presence of mycotoxins were not correlated; similarly, differences were not observed in the concentration or incidence of mycotoxins across silage locations with different temperatures. Infrared thermography is an accurate tool for identifying heat sites, but temperature cannot be used to predict the chemical composition or the incidence of mycotoxins that have been analyzed, within the silage. The pre-harvest phase of the ensiling process is most likely the main source of mycotoxins in silage.

RESUMO -Nesta pesquisa, comparou-se a inclusão de aditivo composto por cepas de Lactobacillus brevis + Enterococcus faecium + L. plantarum à inoculação com aditivo comercial contendo cepas de Lactobacillus buchneri e à ensilagem sem aditivos (controle). As silagens foram confeccionadas em silos experimentais e armazenadas por 90 dias antes da abertura do silo. Foram avaliadas a composição bromatológica da cana-de-açúcar antes e após a ensilagem, a composição de ácidos orgânicos e etanol das silagens, a estabilidade aeróbia e as perdas fermentativas durante o processo de ensilagem.O uso do aditivo composto e do aditivo comercial contendo cepas de Lactobacillus buchneri provocou aumento da produção de efluentes e de gases e da perda total de matéria seca. O teor de ácido lático da silagem aumentou com o uso do aditivo composto, embora esse aditivo também tenha elevado o teor de etanol (18,6% da MS) em relação ao da silagem controle (14,4%). A estabilidade aeróbia da silagem não foi influenciada pelos inoculantes adicionados no processo de ensilagem. Os aditivos aplicados prejudicaram o processo de ensilagem da cana-de-açúcar. Palavras-chave: etanol, gases, Lactobacillus brevis, Lactobacillus buchneri, silagemNew microbial additives on sugarcane ensilage: bromatological composition, fermentative losses, volatile compounds and aerobic stability ABSTRACT -In this study, the inclusion of Lactobacillus brevis + Enterococcus faecium + L. plantarum was compared to the inoculation with a commercial additive containing strains of Lactobacillus buchneri and to the silage without additives (control). Silages were prepared in experimental silos and stored for 90 days before opening of the silos. It was evaluated chemical composition of sugarcane before and after ensiling process, composition of organic acids and ethanol in the silages, aerobic stability and fermentative losses during the ensiling process. Use of compound additive and commercial additive containing strains of Lactobacillus buchneri increased production of effluents and gas and total dry matter losses. Lactic acid content in the silage increased with the use of compound additive, although this additive had increased content of ethanol (18.6% of DM) compared with the control ensilage (14.4%). Aerobic stability in the silage was not influenced by inoculants added into ensilage process. The additives used have impaired the ensiling process of sugarcane. IntroduçãoA ensilagem da cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum officinarum L.) é uma alternativa para conservação dessa forragem visando à otimização de atividades no canavial e facilidade operacional. Assim, a aplicação dessa técnica tem aumentado nos últimos anos e constitui uma opção interessante para os demais volumosos suplementares.Como as perdas de matéria seca (MS) durante o processo fermentativo das silagens de cana-de-açúcar são elevadas, o uso de aditivos é importante para reduzir a intensidade da fermentação alcoólica, típica desse material (Schmidt, 2009). A escolha de um aditivo para ensilagem deve ser baseada e...

Substituição parcial de farelo de soja por ureia protegida na produção e composição do leite

RESUMO -Objetivou-se avaliar a composição tecidual do lombo e do pernil e o perfil de ácidos graxos da carne de cordeiros em quatro sistemas de terminação: 1) cordeiros desmamados com média de 40 dias e mantidos em pasto de azevém até o abate; 2) cordeiros com suas mães na mesma pastagem até o abate; 3) idem ao 2), porém com suplementação diária a 1% do PV em creep feeding; 4) cordeiros desmamados aos 40 dias e confinados, recebendo silagem de milho e concentrado ad libitum. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado com quatro sistemas de terminação e três repetições.Os cordeiros foram abatidos com 32 kg de peso vivo. Os lombos e pernis direitos foram utilizados para determinação da composição tecidual e os lombos esquerdos, para análise do perfil de ácidos graxos. No lombo esquerdo foram mensurados: comprimento e profundidade máxima do músculo; espessura mínima e máxima de gordura de cobertura e área de olho-delombo. Os cordeiros desmamados terminados a pasto apresentaram menor deposição de gordura na carcaça e índice de musculosidade do pernil. O desenvolvimento muscular e a deposição de gordura nos cordeiros terminados ao pé da mãe, com ou sem suplementação, foram semelhantes aos observados nos cordeiros desmamados e terminados em confinamento.Cordeiros em creep feeding apresentaram mais ácidos graxos na carne que cordeiros desmamados a pasto. Os sistemas de terminação influenciam a composição tecidual, mas não afetam o perfil de ácidos graxos da carne para consumo humano.Palavras-chave: gordura, músculo, qualidade da carne, pasto de azevém Tissue composition of carcass and meat fatty acids profile of lambs finished on pasture and feedlot systemsABSTRACT -The objective of this study was to evaluate tissue composition of loin and leg and fatty acids profile of the meat of lambs in four finishing systems: (1) lambs weaned around 40 days of age and kept in ryegrass pastures until slaughter;(2) lambs kept with their dams in the same pasture until slaughter; (3) same treatment of (2), but daily supplemented with 1% of the body weight in creep feeding; (4) lambs weaned at 40 days of age and confined, fed corn silage and concentrate ad libitum. It was used a complete random experimental design with four finishing systems and three replications. Lambs were slaughtered at body weight of 32 kg. Loins and right legs were used for determining tissue composition and the left loins were used for analyzing fatty acid profile. Length and maximal deep of the muscle, minimal and maximal thickness of backfat and loin eye area were measured on the left legs. Pasture finished weaned lambs showed lower fat deposition on the carcass and leg muscularity index. Muscle development and fat deposition on finished weaned lamb with or without supplementation were similar to the ones observed on feedlot finished weaned lambs. Lambs in creep feeding showed more fatty acids in the meat than pasture weaned lambs. Finishing systems influence tissue composition but they do not affect fatty acid profile in meat for human consumpti...