Abstract
Our objective was to evaluate the effects of mineral source supplementation on performance of finishing cattle when fed a high-concentrate diet for 89 days. Angus-Nellore bulls (iBW, n = 32; ...472 ± 4.93 kg; age, 18 months) were randomly assigned to two treatments in a completely randomized design, with sixteen replicates per treatment (animal as experimental unit). The control group received a diet containing inorganic minerals (i.e. sulphates) and the other group were supplemented with carbo-amino-phospho-chelates (TM, Tortuga Minerals) as a source of Cr, Se, Zn, Mn, S, Cu and Co. The DM intake and weight of the animals variables were assessed individually using the respective digital devices, Intergado electronic feeders and the Bosch Precision Livestock platform placed in the feedlot pen. Data were analyzed using the MIXED procedure of SAS and means were separated using PDIFF statement, adopting P< 0.05, and the initial BW as a covariate when significant. Supplementation with TM increased the ADG (1.74 vs. 1.55 kg/d, P< 0.01) and final BW (626.96 vs. 609.91kg, P< 0.01) compared with animals supplemented with inorganic sources. Likewise, animals supplemented with TM had better G:F (0.133 vs. 0.123 kg/kg, P< 0.05) and biological efficiency (146.41 vs 134,34 kg DMI/15 kg de carcass; P< 0.05), with no effect on DM intake (~12.94 kg, P=0.43). In addition, supplementation with TM increased final HCW in 13.44 kg (366.57 vs. 353.13 kg; P< 0.01) and carcass ADG in 0.15 kg/d (1.47 vs. 1.32 kg/d; P< 0.01). We conclude that supplementation with carbo-amino-phospho-chelates can be used as a tool to increase productive performance and efficiency by feedlot cattle.
Abstract
This experiment evaluated the effects of feeding whole cottonseed (WC) and/or calcium salts of fatty acids (CSFA) on dry matter intake (DMI), performance, and carcass characteristics of Bos ...indicus animals receiving a high-concentrate diet during the finishing phase. On day 0, 96 Nellore bulls were blocked according to initial shrunk body weight (BW; 302 ± 26.7 kg) into group pens (four animals/pen) and, within blocks, pens were randomly assigned to receive: 1) 15% of WC and 2% of CSFA (dry matter DM basis) of palm, cottonseed, and soybean oil (15WC; n = 6); 2) 10% of WC and 3% of CSFA (DM basis) of palm, cottonseed, and soybean oil (10WC; n = 6); 3) 5% of WC and 4% of CSFA (DM basis) of palm, cottonseed, and soybean oil (5WC; n = 6); and 4) 0% of WC and 5% of CSFA (DM basis) of palm, cottonseed, and soybean oil (0WC; n = 6). Diets were formulated to be isocaloric, isonitrogenous, and isolipidic. Experimental period lasted 108 d; DMI was evaluated daily, whereas blood samples and carcass measurements were obtained on days 0, 55, and 108 of the study. Upon slaughter on day 109, steaks were collected for determination of the chemical and fatty acid (FA) profile of the meat. No treatment effects (P ≥ 0.35) were observed on DMI, performance, average daily gain (ADG), carcass ultrasound measurements, and chemical variables of the steak. Nonetheless, including WC into the diets decreased C12:0, C16:0, C16:1 trans-9, C17:0, C18:0, C18:1 cis-9, C18:2 cis-9, cis-12, C18:3 cis-9, cis-12, cis-15, saturated, and unsaturated FA intake (P < 0.01). Moreover, adding WC increased DMI fluctuation and feed efficiency (FE; P = 0.03) but decreased marbling (P ≤ 0.03). A treatment × day interaction was observed (P < 0.01) for serum leptin concentration, as 10WC animals had greater leptin concentration on day 103 vs. other treatments (P < 0.01). Regarding steak FA profile, WC addition into the diet increased C18:2 cis-7, trans-9 and C18:3 cis-9, cis-12, cis-15 (P < 0.001), whereas saturated FA was quadratically affected (P = 0.02) and unsaturated FA was reduced for 15WC (P < 0.04). In summary, increasing levels of CSFA into isolipidic finishing diets containing WC did not negatively impact feedlot performance but reduced FE and increased marbling scores of B. indicus bulls, demonstrating its feasibility as a technology to improve carcass traits of low-marbling animals.
Abstract
Our objective was to evaluate the use of different feed additives in the performance of beef cattle in intensive pasture finishing (TIP), fed a high level of concentrate for 96 days. Nellore ...bulls (n = 120; iBW 359 kg, ±5.02 kg) were distributed in randomized blocks, allocated in paddocks of 2.4 ha (Urochloa brizantha cv. Xaraés; 10 animals/paddock), with two treatments with 6 replications (paddock as experimental unit), adapted with increasing concentrate, with a target of 2% BW in concentrate DMI (DMIc) on the 10th day. The treatments were: 1) Sodium Monensin (MON), 26mg/Kg MS; 2) Crina, Rumistar + Hy-D, essential oil blend, 90 mg/kg DM + exogenous α-amylase, 560 mg/kg DM + 25 hydroxy-vitamin D3, 1mg/animal/day). The animals were weighed fasting (± 16h) at the beginning and at the end of the experimental period, the DMIc was measured daily by the difference between the offered and the leftovers. Data were evaluated using Glimmix procedure of SAS, whereby means were separated using the PDIFF statement (P < 0.05). The use of CRD increased DMIc (9.1 vs. 8.2 kg/day, P=0.0034), DMIc/BW (2.14 vs 1.97% DMI/BW, p=0.0044), ADG (1.4 vs. 1.2 kg/day, P=0.0241), and final BW (492 vs. 473kg, P=0.0085). Likewise animals fed CRD had greater carcass ADG (1.2 vs 1.0 kg/day, P=0.0034), HCW (292 vs. 277kg, P=0.0121) and tended to have greater dressing % (58.56 vs 59.34, P = 0.07). Additionally, animals fed MON had greater fluctuation in DMIc (5.28% vs 4.53% day, p=0,0278), and took longer days to reach 2% BW in DMIc (22 vs. 12 days, P< 0.05). The use of Crina® RumistarTM + Hy-D® increases carcass production of bovines under intensive pasture finishing.
Abstract
Our objective was to evaluate the performance of Nellore cattle in intensive pasture finishing (TIP), fed for 96 days and submitted to different adaptation periods, aiming to reach 2% of BW ...of DMI concentrate (DMIc)/BW at the end of the adaptation period. A total of 240 Nellore bulls (iBW 359kg±5.02 kg; 20 mo) were distributed in randomized blocks, allocated in paddocks of 2.4 ha (Urochloa brizantha cv. Xaraés; 10 animals/paddock), with two treatments with 12 replications (paddock as experimental unit). The treatments were: 1) 9 days on adaptation (ADAP9), 2% DMIc/BW on the 10th day; 2) 14 days on adaptation (ADAP14), 2% DMIc/BW on the 15th day. The animals were weighed fasting (± 16h) at the beginning, on day 28, and at the end of the experimental period, the DMIc was measured daily by the difference between offered and leftovers. Data were analyzed using the SAS ANOVA procedure at P< 0.05. Evaluating the period between the beginning and the 27th day, ADAP9 showed greater DMIc (6.9 vs. 6.5kg/d; P=0.009), greater DMIc/BW (1.8 vs. 1.7% BW; P =0.0043) and greater fluctuation in DMIc (9.4 vs. 5.9% DMIc/d; P< 0.001) compared with ADAP14. In the total fattening period, there was no difference between treatments (P >0.05), for DMIc (8.7 vs. 8.5 kg DM/d), DMIc/BW (2 vs. 2% BW), fluctuation in DMIc (4.91 vs. 4.31% DMIr/d), days to reach target (17 vs 20 d), ADG (1.3 vs. 1.3 kg/d), ADG/DMIc (0.127 vs. 0.128), fBW (483 vs. 484kg) and HCW (285 vs. 285kg). The use of an adaptation period of less than 14 days did not improve performance, and therefore would not be recommended.
Abstract
Our objective was to evaluate the effect of including a mycotoxin deactivator on the productive performance of feedlot cattle for 96 days, fed a high concentrate diet. Nellore bulls (iBW, n ...= 48; 402 kg ±5.02 kg), were allocated in a collective pen with automatic troughs (Intergado, Brazil), randomly distributed in two treatments: 1) Control (CON), with no mycotoxin deactivator; 2) Mycofix Select 5.0 (Myc, Biomin, DSM Nutritional Products, 10g per animal/day). The animals were weighed fasting (±16h) at the beginning and end of the experiment and dry matter intake (DMI) was measured by electronic feeders (Intergado). The diets were analyzed for the presence of naturally occurring mycotoxins by enzyme immunosorbent test, Elisa – AgriQuant (Romer Labs) and the detected results were: Total aflatoxins (AF) < 2.0 μg/kg DM, fumonisins (B1+B2) 0.29 mg/kg DM, deoxynivalenol (DON) 0.38 mg/kg DM and trichotocenes (< 0.25 μg/ kg DM). Data were analyzed by SAS PROC ANOVA for p < 0.05. The MyC provision increased the final BW (561 vs 545 kg, P=0.0465), ADG (1.66 vs 1.50 kg/d, P=0.0458), HWC (317 vs 308 kg, P=0.0492) and the average daily gain in carcass (1.15 vs 1.05 kg/d, P=0.0455) with no effect on DM intake. The use of Mycofix Select 5.0 provided better performance and greater carcass production in Nellore cattle confined with a high concentrate diet with a natural presence of mycotoxins.
The cottonseed cake has the necessary nutritional characteristics
to be able to substitute the traditional ingredients (such as soybean meal)
and reduce the costs of the diet. However, it is ...necessary to determine the
best level of inclusion of cottonseed cake in the diets of fattening goats
to improve meat production and quality. The objective of this study was to
evaluate carcass and meat traits of feedlot goats fed diets containing
cottonseed cake replacing soybean meal (33 %, 66 % and 100 %). Thirty-two
uncastrated Boer crossbred goats (4 months old, 16 ± 2 kg initial body
weight) were used in a completely randomized experimental design. Replacing
soybean meal with cottonseed did not compromise (P> 0.05)
slaughter weight, carcass traits (dressing percentage, loin-eye area and
back-fat thickness), primal cuts or carcass morphometric measurements;
moisture, protein, or total lipid contents of meat; or the physicochemical
traits of color (L*, a* and b* coordinates), pH, shear force, and cooking
loss. However, there was a reduction (P=0.001) in the mineral matter
content (from 1.08 % to 0.97 %) and an increase (P=0.006) in the
cholesterol content (from 50.85 to 70.55 mg/100 g of meat) of the meat as
the dietary levels of cottonseed cake were increased. Based on the results
of production and meat quality, we recommend using cottonseed cake as an
alternative protein source to replace up to 100 % of soybean meal in
feedlot goat diets.
Significance Methotrexate (MTX) is the first-line therapy for rheumatoid arthritis (RA). However, about 40% of patients are resistant to MTX. Furthermore, MTX resistance is only apparent after a ...prolonged continuous MTX treatment (>3 mo), by which time the disease of the nonresponders would have aggravated. Thus, there is a considerable unmet need for a biomarker to select MTX-resistant patients and place them immediately on alternative therapy. We found here that the low density of CD39 on peripheral regulatory T cells in RA patients is a rapid, convenient, and reliable ( P < 0.01) biomarker for MTX resistance. Our findings also provide previously unrecognized information on aspects of immune regulation in RA and the mechanism of action of MTX.
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is an inflammatory autoimmune disease characterized by joint destruction and severe morbidity. Methotrexate (MTX) is the standard first-line therapy of RA. However, about 40% of RA patients are unresponsive to MTX treatment. Regulatory T cells (Tregs, CD4 ⁺CD25 ⁺FoxP3 ⁺) are thought to play an important role in attenuating RA. To investigate the role of Tregs in MTX resistance, we recruited 122 RA patients (53 responsive, R-MTX; 69 unresponsive, UR-MTX) and 33 healthy controls. Three months after MTX treatment, R-MTX but not UR-MTX showed higher frequency of peripheral blood CD39 ⁺CD4 ⁺CD25 ⁺FoxP3 ⁺ Tregs than the healthy controls. Tregs produce adenosine (ADO) through ATP degradation by sequential actions of two cell surface ectonucleotidases: CD39 and CD73. Tregs from UR-MTX expressed a lower density of CD39, produced less ADO, and had reduced suppressive activity than Tregs from R-MTX. In a prospective study, before MTX treatment, UR-MTX expressed a lower density of CD39 on Tregs than those of R-MTX or control ( P < 0.01). In a murine model of arthritis, CD39 blockade reversed the antiarthritic effects of MTX treatment. Our results demonstrate that MTX unresponsiveness in RA is associated with low expression of CD39 on Tregs and the decreased suppressive activity of these cells through reduced ADO production. Our findings thus provide hitherto unrecognized mechanism of immune regulation in RA and on mode of action of MTX. Furthermore, our data suggest that low expression of CD39 on Tregs could be a noninvasive biomarker for identifying MTX-resistant RA patients.
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Erythraline is the major alkaloid produced by Erythrina verna Vell., Fabaceae, a plant used in folk medicine and phytotherapeutic products to treat anxiety and sleep disorders. This ...study aimed to investigate the pharmacokinetic parameters of erythraline after intravenous administration in rats. For the analysis of erythraline in rat plasma, a method was developed and validated using UHPLC-MS/MS. Pharmacokinetic parameters were estimated by non-compartmental analysis. The metabolite 8-oxo-erythraline observed in previous biomimetic model studies was monitored during in vivo experiments. The quantification limit was 5ng/ml within a linear range of 5–2000ng/ml. After an intravenous dose of 1mg/kg, the following pharmacokinetic parameters were observed: elimination half-life of 44.2min; total clearance of 42.1ml/min/kg and volume of distribution of 2085ml/kg. In summary, a precise, accurate and selective UHPLC-MS/MS method was developed and successfully applied to investigate the pharmacokinetics of erythraline in rats. The metabolite 8-oxo-erythraline was observed in rat plasma after 20min of erythraline administration.
In the present study, Boron Nitride Nanotubes (BNNTs) were synthesized and functionalized with organic hydrophilic agents constituted by glucosamine (GA), polyethylene glycol (PEG)1000, and chitosan ...(CH) forming new singular systems. Their size, distribution, and homogeneity were determined by photon correlation spectroscopy, while their surface charge was determined by laser Doppler anemometry. The morphology and structural organization were evaluated by Transmission Electron Microscopy. The functionalization was evaluated by Thermogravimetry analysis and Fourier Transformer Infrared Spectroscopy. The results showed that BNNTs were successfully obtained and functionalized, reaching a mean size and dispersity deemed adequate for in vitro studies. The in vitro stability tests also revealed a good adhesion of functionalized agents on BNNT surfaces. Finally, the in vitro cytocompatibility of functionalized BNNTs against MCR-5 cells was evaluated, and the results revealed that none of the different functionalization agents disturbed the propagation of normal cells up to the concentration of 50μg/mL. Furthermore, in this concentration, no significantly chromosomal or morphologic alterations or increase in ROS (Reactive Oxygen Species) could be observed. Thus, findings from the present study reveal an important stability and cytocompatibility of functionalized BNNTs as new potential drugs or radioisotope nanocarriers to be applied in therapeutic procedures.
•BNNTs were synthesized and functionalized with organic hydrophilic agents.•Hydrophilic molecules do not alter the biocompatibility profile of BNNTs.•No significantly chromosomal or morphologic alterations in ROS could be observed.
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