DSpace Communidade: Embrapa Pecuária Sudeste (CPPSE)

Effect of bromoform-based feed additive on methane emissions and performance of Nellore cattle in feedlot backgrounding and finishing phases.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Título: Effect of bromoform-based feed additive on methane emissions and performance of Nellore cattle in feedlot backgrounding and finishing phases. Autoria: SILVA, M. M.; MESSANA, J. D.; KIRCHHOFF, A. M.; GERMANO, J. V. de P.; GIAMPIETRO JÚNIOR, F. E.; RIGOBELLO, I. L.; ALVAREZ-HESS, P. S.; JACQUES, S.; TOGNELLI, R.; COSTA, D. F. A.; BERNDT, A.; REIS, R. A. Conteúdo: This study evaluated the effects of a bromoform based feed additive (BBFA) on growth performance and enteric methane emissions in Nellore cattle during feedlot backgrounding and finishing phases. Ninety-six Nellore bulls (10 +/- 2 mo old, body weight (BW) 315 +/- 23 kg (block 1), and BW = 360 + 7 kg [block 2]) were allocated to 1 of 2 treatments: CONTROL (basal diet) and BBFA (basal diet plus BBFA [to target 23 mg bromoform/kg dry matter]). Bulls were housed in pens (n = 6 animals/pen) and monitored over 218 d (108 d backgrounding, 110 d finishing). Performance parameters were measured in all bulls, while enteric methane emissions were assessed in a subset of 36 animals using the sulfur hexafluoride (SF6) tracer technique. Supplementation of the BBFA did not influence dry matter intake (DMI), weight gain or feed efficiency (P > 0.05). Compared with control, BBFA decreased methane production and yield by 26% and 25%, respectively, during backgrounding (P < 0.001). While, in the finishing phase, BBFA supplementation resulted in reductions of 58% in methane production, 59% in yield, and 60% in intensity (P < 0.001). These findings demonstrate the potential to supplement the BBFA throughout the lifecycle of cattle in Brazil, reducing methane emissions without any detrimental impacts on productivity.

Sheep breed-specific response to environment challenge against Haemonchus contortus and effect on immuno-hematological parameters.

2026-01-01T00:00:00Z

Título: Sheep breed-specific response to environment challenge against Haemonchus contortus and effect on immuno-hematological parameters. Autoria: OKINO, C. H.; BELLO, H. J. S.; NICIURA, S. C. M.; CUNHA, A. F. da; COSTA, E. C. da; CAMPOS, E. M. de; KAPRITCHKOFF, R. T. I.; CORRÊA, L. G. P.; MINHO, A. P.; ESTEVES, S. N.; CHAGAS, A. C. de S. Conteúdo: Variable resistance to Haemonchus contortus infection and the associated immune mechanisms have been investigated and characterized in different sheep breeds adapted to tropical climates. In a recent study, we compared the local immune responses of the resistant Santa Inês with those of the susceptible White Dorper and Texel sheep breeds under chronic haemonchosis, and evaluated the correlations of immune-related transcripts and different parasitic stages and sexes. The aim of present study was to further elucidate the immune mechanisms among these sheep breeds by comparing local responses, microscopic lesions in the abomasum and hematological parameters in lambs raised under varying levels of parasitic challenge. The naturally resistant Santa Inês breed maintained similar phenotypic characteristics across different levels of parasitic infection loads, whereas White Dorper and Texel breeds exhibited increased susceptibility under moderate to high challenge. Texel lambs showed altered mean corpuscular volume, indicative of macrocytic anemia, and also displayed the lowest resistance under low challenge conditions. Significantly higher levels of eosinophils, lymphocytes and monocytes in peripheral blood, along with increased expression of Galectin-11 gene in the abomasum, were observed in Santa Inês sheep compared to the other breeds. These responses may represent key host mechanisms contributing to improved control of infection. Overall, our findings demonstrate that resistance to H. contortus infection is breed-dependent and modulated by environmental parasite challenge, providing insights that may forward to the targeted strategies for sheep flock management.

Survey of nutritional recommendations and management practices adopted by nutritionists of dairy cattle in Brazil: calves management.

2013-01-01T00:00:00Z

Título: Survey of nutritional recommendations and management practices adopted by nutritionists of dairy cattle in Brazil: calves management. Autoria: SILVA, D. P. da; MILLEN, D. D.; PEDROSO, A. M. Conteúdo: This study conducted at UNESP, Dracena campus, was designed to describe the nutritional recommendations and management practices adopted by dairy cattle nutritionists in Brazil. The 43 nutritionists, responsible for dairy farms throughout Brazil, who agreed to participate in this survey were contacted by e-mail or telephone and received preliminary instructions about participating in the survey. In a subsequent e-mail message, instructions were provided on how to access the survey, and each participant was assigned an identification number. The participants were guaranteed anonymity and asked to complete the survey as quickly as possible. All 43 consultants completed the survey within one month. This survey consisted of 77 questions, which were available online through the Web-based survey tool (http://www.surveymonkey.com) during one month. After this one-month period, all data were tabulated in an Excel Spreadsheet, and the number of responses, mean, minimum value, maximum value, and mode were calculated for all questions. The main methods for providing colostrum to newborns calves were controlled (n = 22; 51.2%), ad libitum (n = 13; 30.2%), direct from the cow (n = 6; 13.9%), and forced ingestion by oroesophageal tube (n = 2; 4.7%). In addition, 28 nutritionists (65.1%) reported that the farms of their clients have no colostrum bank, which means that they obtain the colostrum from the cow and offer immediately to the calves. With respect to the systems used to raise calves, 32 nutritionists (76.2%) responded that their clients use individual housing, and 10 (23.8%) reported the use of group-housed calves for the most part of their clients. Regarding methods to offer milk to the calves in the farms serviced by the nutritionists interviewed, 58.1% (n = 25) reported the use of buckets, 25.6% (n = 11) the use of nipples, 9.3% (n = 4) the use of buckets with nipple, and 7.0% (n = 3) responded that their clients do not offer milk to the calves. Most part of the nutritionists surveyed (n = 41; 95.4%) reported that their clients offer milk to the calves twice daily. According to the nutritionists interviewed, the average daily supply of milk ranged from four to six liters for 36 of them (83.7%), two to three liters for four (9.3%) and more than six liters for three respondents (6.98%). With respect to the type of milk offered to the calves, 29 participants (70.7%) responded that their clients use raw milk, 10 (24.4%) reported the use of discard milk, and two nutritionists (4.9%) reported the use of powdered milk. The main criteria adopted by the nutritionists to wean calves were live weight (n = 15; 35.7%), age (n = 15; 35.7%), and concentrate ingestion (n = 12; 28.6%). Moreover, the weaning age recommended by the most part of nutritionists surveyed (n = 23; 53.5%) was between 60 to 80 days. This study presents a part of an overview of the practices and management recommendations adopted by nutritionists in the Brazilian dairy farms, and may help guide the development of new hypotheses for research involving dairy calves.

Predição da mastite subclínica em sistema de ordenha automatizado utilizando técnicas de aprendizado de máquina.

2025-01-01T00:00:00Z

Título: Predição da mastite subclínica em sistema de ordenha automatizado utilizando técnicas de aprendizado de máquina. Autoria: FRAGA, M. M. Conteúdo: Resumo: O objetivo deste estudo foi aplicar técnicas de aprendizado de máquina supervisionado para detectar mastite subclínica, combinando dados produtivos, zootécnicos, ambientais e microbiológicos obtidos em um sistema de ordenha robótica. Foram acompanhadas 103 vacas em lactação, em uma propriedade de São Carlos, SP, durante um ano. | Abstract: The objective of this study was to apply supervised machine learning techniques to detect subclinical mastitis by combining productive, zootechnical, environmental, and microbiological data obtained from a robotic milking system. Approximately 103 lactating cows were monitored over one year at a farm in São Carlos, SP, Brazil.