Preservation of sugarcane silage with urea and calcium oxide: performance and metabolic efficiency of dairy cows / Conservación del ensilaje de caña de azúcar con urea y óxido de calcio: rendimiento y eficiencia metabólica en vacas lecheras / Preservação da silagem de cana-de-açúcar com ureia e óxido de cálcio: desempenho e eficiência metabólica de vacas leiteiras

Abstract Background: Inclusion of urea and calcium oxide (CaO) during sugarcane ensilage has been hypothesized to improve dairy cow performance. Objective: To evaluate the use of urea and calcium oxide as additives to preserve sugarcane silage quality and determine whether they improve dairy cow performance and metabolic efficiency. Methods: Four diets were used: sugarcane silage without additive (SS), sugarcane silage with 10 g/kg urea (SU), sugarcane silage with 5 g/kg urea + 5 g/kg CaO (SUC), and sugarcane silage with 10 g/kg CaO (SC). Eight crossbred cows at approximately 100 days of lactation were distributed in two 4x4 Latin squares, and their diets were formulated to reach an average milk production of 15 kg/day. Results: Dry matter, non-fibrous carbohydrates, organic matter, total carbohydrates, and total digestible nutrient intake were the highest (p<0.05) for the cows fed SC. Urinary excretion of nitrogen was higher (p<0.05) for cows fed diets based on SUC than those fed diets with SC. Milk urea nitrogen content was the highest (p<0.05) in animals fed SU diets. Nitrogen balance was positive in all treatments; however, the microbial protein synthesis was low for all diets. Conclusions: The diet with SU showed the highest nitrogen loss through the milk. Among the evaluated silages, those with SC and SUC are recommended to promote a high intake of nutritional components.

Resumen Antecedentes: La hipótesis fue que una dieta con combinación de urea y óxido de calcio (CaO) para el ensilaje de caña de azúcar, puede mejorar la producción de vacas lecheras cruzadas. Objetivo: Evaluar la urea y el óxido de calcio como aditivos para preservar la calidad del ensilaje de caña de azúcar y determinar si mejoran el rendimento y la eficiencia metabólica de vacas lecheras. Métodos: Cuatro dietas fueron utilizadas: ensilaje de caña de azúcar sin aditivo (SS), ensilaje de caña de azúcar con 10 g/kg de urea (SU), ensilaje de caña de azúcar con 5 g/kg de urea + 5 g/kg de CaO (SUC) y ensilaje de caña de azúcar con 10 g/kg de CaO (SC). Ocho vacas cruzadas fueron evaluadas con una producción media de leche de 15 kg/día y aproximadamente 100 días de lactación, distribuidas en dos cuadrados latinos 4x4. Resultados: El consumo de materia seca, carbohidratos no fibrosos, materia orgánica, carbohidratos totales y nutrientes digestibles totales fue mayor (p<0,05) cuando las vacas fueron alimentadas con dietas conteniendo SC. La excreción de nitrógeno en la orina fue mayor (p<0,05) cuando las vacas fueron alimentadas con dietas basadas en SUC que las alimentadas con dietas SC. El nitrógeno ureico de la leche fue mayor (p<0,05) en animales alimentados con dietas con SU. El balance de nitrógeno fue positivo en todos los tratamientos, sin embargo, la síntesis de proteína microbiana fue baja para todas las dietas. Conclusión: La dieta con SU presentó la mayor pérdida de nitrógeno por medio de la leche. Entre los ensilajes evaluados, aquellos con SC y SUC son recomendados por promover un mayor consumo de componentes nutricionales.

Resumo Antecedentes: A hipótese foi que uma dieta com a mistura de ureia e óxido de cálcio (CaO) para a ensilagem de cana de açúcar, poderia melhorar a produção de vacas leiteiras mestiças. Objetivo: Avaliar ureia e óxido de cálcio como aditivos para preservar a qualidade da silagem de cana de açúcar: melhoria da produção e eficiência metabólica de vacas leiteiras. Métodos: Quatro dietas foram utilizadas: silagem de cana de açúcar sem aditivo (SS), silagem de cana de açúcar com 10 g/kg de ureia (SU), silagem de cana de açúcar com 5 g/kg de ureia + 5 g/kg de CaO (SUC) e silagem de cana de açúcar com 10 g/kg de CaO (SC). Oito vacas mestiças foram avaliadas com uma produção media de 15 kg/dia e aproximadamente 100 dias de lactação, distribuídas em dois quadrados latinos 4x4. Resultados: O consumo de matéria seca, carboidratos não fibrosos, matéria orgânica, carboidratos totais e nutrientes digestíveis totais foi maior (p<0,05) quando as vacas foram alimentadas com dietas contendo SC. A excreção de nitrogênio na urina foi maior (p<0,05) quando as vacas foram alimentadas com dietas baseadas em SUC do que aqueles animais alimentados com dietas SC. O nitrogênio ureico do leite foi maior (p<0,05) em animais alimentados com dietas com SU. O balanço de nitrogênio foi positivo em todos os tratamentos, no entanto, a síntese de proteína microbiana foi baixa para todas as dietas. Conclusão: A dieta com SU apresentou maior perda de nitrogênio por meio do leite. Entre as silagens avaliadas, aquelas com SC e SUC são recomendadas por promover maior consumo de componentes nutricionais.

Feasibility analysis and research practice for development of alternative antibiotic feeding products based on non-medicinal parts and by-products in processing of Chinese medicinal materials / 中草药

Chinese medicine resources are national strategic resources, which not only make important contributions to human health, but also provide an important material basis for disease prevention and control of livestock and poultry. With the promulgation and implementation of the policy of banning antibiotics in livestock and poultry feeding products, the development of feeding products that can effectively replace antibiotics has become a research hotspot in the animal husbandry industry. Feeding products with traditional Chinese medicine based on natural plant resources have been recognized as an important direction to realize the replacement of antibiotics in feeding products. In the process of production and industrialization of Chinese medicinal materials, a large number of non-medicinal parts and by-products have not been effectively utilized, which not only causes huge waste of resources, but also exacerbates the pressure of ecological environment. However, modern research has found that most of these unused wastes and by-products are rich in feedable resources with anti-bacterial, anti-inflammatory, digestive-promoting and nutritional functions. In addition, these wastes and by-products exhibit the resource characteristics such as huge reserves and low production costs, and are urgently needed to be disposed. Accordingly, this paper puts forward that non-medicinal parts and by-products produced in the production and industrialization of Chinese medicinal materials are the important raw materials for the development of antibiotic alternative feeding products. Then, the feasibility of this proposal was analyzed, the existing research practices were summarized, and some suggestions for industrial development were proposed, with view to providing support for the improvement of the utilization efficiency and green development of Chinese medicine resources industry, and providing an effective alternative to feeding antibiotics.

Combined supplementation of chromium-yeast and selenium-yeast on finishing barrows / Suplementação associada de cromo-levedura e selênio-levedura na dieta de suínos machos castrados em terminação

ABSTRACT: The present study was performed to evaluate the association of chromium-yeast and selenium-yeast as nutritional additives to enhance performance and quantitative characteristics in the carcass of finishing barrows. A total of 48 barrows, commercial hybrid, with initial weight of 68.3±3.5 kg and final weight of 99.6±3.6 kg, were utilized for the study. The animals were distributed in a randomized complete block design, consisting of three levels of chromium-yeast and selenium-yeast (i.e., without supplementation of chromium-yeast and selenium-yeast, supplementation of 0.4 mg kg-1 chromium-yeast and 0.3 mg kg-1 selenium-yeast, and supplementation of 0.8 mg kg-1 chromium-yeast and 0.6 mg kg-1 selenium-yeast) with eight replicates and two animals per experimental unit. The supplementation of chromium and selenium-yeast did not significantly affect (P>0.05) the average daily feed intake, digestible lysine, crude protein and metabolizable energy intake, average daily weight gain, feed conversion, weight and carcass length, back fat thickness, muscle depth, percentage and amount of lean meat, and carcass allowance. These findings suggest that supplementation of chromium and selenium-yeast does not affect the performance or quantitative characteristics in the carcass of finishing barrows.

RESUMO: Realizou-se este estudo com o objetivo de avaliar a associação de cromo-levedura e selênio-levedura como aditivos nutricionais melhoradores de desempenho e das características quantitativas de carcaça de suínos machos castrados em terminação. Foram utilizados 48 suínos machos castrados, híbridos comerciais, com peso inicial de 68,3±3,5 kg e peso final de 99,6±3,6 kg. Os animais foram distribuídos em delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados, composto por três níveis de cromo-levedura e selênio-levedura (controle sem suplementação de cromo-levedura e selênio-levedura; suplementação de 0,4 mg kg-1 de cromo-levedura e 0,3 mg kg-1 de selênio-levedura; e 0,8 mg kg-1 de cromo-levedura e 0,6 mg kg-1 de selênio-levedura), com oito repetições e dois animais por unidade experimental. A suplementação de cromo-levedura e selênio-levedura não influenciou (P>0,05) o consumo de ração diário, os consumos de lisina digestível, de proteína bruta e de energia metabolizável, o ganho de peso diário, a conversão alimentar, o peso e comprimento de carcaça, espessura de toucinho, profundidade de músculo, percentagem e quantidade de carne magra e índice de bonificação. A suplementação associada de cromo e selênio-levedura não influencia o desempenho e as características quantitativas de carcaça de suínos machos castrados em terminação.

Thyme essential oil for sheep: effect on rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility, nitrogen metabolism, and growth / Óleo essencial de tomilho para ovinos: efeito na fermentação ruminal, na digestibilidade dos nutrientes, no metabolismo de nitrogênio e no crescimento

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of thyme (Thymus vulgaris) essential oil (EO) doses on rumen fermentation, nutrient digestibility, and nitrogen metabolism, as well as performance and coccidia oocyst discharge. In experiment I, 20 rumen-cannulated wethers received the experimental diets containing 80% dry matter (DM) of haylage and 20% DM of concentrate. Treatments were 25mg of monensin/kg DM or doses of 1.25, 2.50, or 3.75g of thyme EO/kg DM. In experiment II, 50 ewe lambs received the same diets from experiment I, including a diet without feed additives. Wethers fed with diets containing 1.25g/kg DM of thyme EO had higher molar proportion of propionate (P= 0.03) and butyrate (P< 0.01), and lower (P= 0.04) acetate to propionate ratio than other treatments. Adding thyme EO to diets increased (P= 0.02) nitrogen retention compared to monensin. The performance of ewe lambs was not affected (P≥ 0.05) by treatments. However, lambs fed monensin had a lower (P= 0.04) number of coccidia oocyst discharge than others. Adding 1.25g/kg DM of thyme EO in high-forage diet improved ruminal fermentation. Thyme EO enhanced nitrogen metabolism, however, it did not improve performance.(AU)

Dois experimentos foram conduzidos para avaliar o efeito de doses de óleo essencial (OE) de tomilho (Thymus vulgaris) sobre a fermentação ruminal, a digestibilidade de nutrientes e o metabolismo de nitrogênio, bem como sobre o desempenho e a descarga de oocistos de coccídeos. No experimento I, 20 ovinos canulados receberam dietas experimentais contendo 80% de matéria seca (MS) de pré-secado e 20% de MS de concentrado. Os tratamentos foram 25mg de monensina/kg de MS ou doses de 1,25, 2,50 ou 3,75g de OE de tomilho/kg de MS. No experimento II, 50 borregas receberam as mesmas dietas do experimento I, incluindo uma dieta sem aditivos. Os animais alimentados com dietas contendo 1,25g de OE de tomilho apresentaram maior proporção molar de propionato (P=0,03) e de butirato (P<0,01) e menor (P=0,04) relação acetato/propionato do que outros tratamentos. A adição de OE de tomilho nas dietas aumentou (P=0,02) a retenção de nitrogênio em comparação com a monensina. O desempenho de cordeiros não foi afetado (P≥0,05) pelos tratamentos. No entanto, cordeiros alimentados com monensina apresentaram menor (P=0,04) número de oocistos de coccídeos. A adição de 1,25g/kg de MS de OE de tomilho na dieta forrageira melhorou o perfil da fermentação ruminal. O OE de tomilho aumentou a retenção de nitrogênio, no entanto não melhorou o desempenho.(AU)

Studying the technology for obtaining pharmaceutical substances and determination of biologically active substances in them

In searching for alternatives to traditional chemical medicines, including feed antibiotics, scientists around the world are developing a new generation of medicines, phytobiotics. This work was aimed at studying the phytobiotics (pharmaceutical substances) production technology using the method of low-temperature vacuum water-ethanol extraction of Siberian medicinal plants, followed by low-temperature vacuum drying and determination of the main biologically active substances that had the required pharmacological effect on the organisms of farm animals and poultry. The objects of the study in this work were Siberian medicinal plants and ready phytobiotics (pharmaceutical substances). The article describes the technological conditions for obtaining pharmaceutical substances and their properties concerning the content of biologically active substances. It has been found that for obtaining pharmaceutical substances, extraction should be performed in three stages: two water extractions and ethanol- water extraction. The article provides a list of medicinal plants and the amounts of biologically active substances that ensure certain pharmacological effects on the set of economically useful qualities in farm animals and poultry and contained in phytobiotics (pharmaceutical substances) based on extracts from medicinal plants.

Research strategies for feed additives and veterinary medicines from side products of Chinese medicine resources industrialization / 中国中药杂志

The global antimicrobial resistance has been a big challenge to the human health for years. It has to make balance between the safety of animal products and the use of antimicrobials in animal husbandry. Any methods that can minimize or even phase out the use of antimicrobials in animal husbandry should be encouraged. We herein describe the research strategies for feed additives and veterinary medicines from the side products of Chinese medicine resources industrialization. Killing two birds with one stone-besides the major purposes, the rational utilization of non-medicinal parts and wastes of industrialization of Chinese herbal medicines is also achieved under the proposed strategies.

Guanosine 5′-monophosphate-chelated calcium and iron feed additives maintains egg production and prevents Salmonella Gallinarum in experimentally infected layers

We evaluated the effects of guanosine 5′-monophosphate (GMP)-chelated calcium and iron (CaFe-GMP) on health and egg quality in layers experimentally infected with Salmonella Gallinarum. In this study, a CaFe-GMP feed additive was added to a commercial layer feed and fed to layers over a four-week period. All were inoculated with Salmonella Gallinarum. Body weight, mortality, clinical symptoms, and poultry production including feed intake, egg production, egg loss, and feed conversion rate were observed, and Salmonella Gallinarum was re-isolated from the liver, spleen, and cecum of the layers. All tested internal organs for the CaFe-GMP additive group exhibited significantly lower re-isolation numbers of Salmonella Gallinarum and less severe pathological changes than those in the control group, indicating that the CaFe-GMP feed supplement induced bacterial clearance and increased resistance to Salmonella Gallinarum. Additionally, due to the inhibitory action of CaFe-GMP on the growth of Salmonella Gallinarum, the CaFe-GMP additive group exhibited better egg production, including a higher laying rate and fewer broken eggs. The results suggest that a 0.16% CaFe-GMP additive may help prevent salmonellosis in the poultry industry.

Antibacterial activities of bark extracts from Fraxinus rhynchophylla Hance and Geranium koreanum Kom. against clinical strains of Clostridium perfringens in chickens / 대한수의학회지

Necrotic enteritis (NE) caused by Clostridium (C.) perfringens commonly occurs in domestic broiler farms since antibiotic supplementation in poultry feed has been banned. We evaluated the antibacterial activities of medicinal plant extracts against C. perfringens isolates to select alternative compounds for preventing NE. We compared antibacterial activities using two methods and evaluated susceptibilities of the isolates based on minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) and minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC). Two (Fraxinus rhynchophylla Hance [FRH] and Geranium koreanum Kom. [GKK]) of the 30 plant extracts had potent antibacterial activities against C. perfringens ATCC 13124 in two assays. The MIC values for FRH and GKK against 20 C. perfringens isolates were 128~256 microg/mL and 32~128 microg/mL, respectively. The geometric MIC mean values for the two extracts were 147.2 microg/mL and 68.8 microg/mL, respectively. The MBCs for the two extracts against the same strains were 1,024~2,048 microg/mL and 256~1,024 microg/mL, respectively. The geometric mean MIC and MBC for GKK were about two-fold lower than those of FRH. The modified spot-on-lawn assay may be useful for measuring primary antibacterial potential. FRH and GKK are expected to be used as feed additives to prevent or treat NE in veterinary practice.

Capacidad probiótica de cepas del género Lactobacillus extraídas del tracto intestinal de animales de granja / Probiotic Properties of Strains of Lactobacillus Genus Extracted from Intestinal Tract of Farm Animals

Se aislaron y caracterizaron 14 cepas bacterianas del tracto intestinal de diferentes animales de granja con el fin de seleccionar las cepas con potencial probiótico. Las cepas seleccionadas fueron sometidas a pruebas bioquímicas y además se evaluó su capacidad probiótica mediante pruebas de resistencia al ácido y a las sales de bilis, crecimiento a temperaturas extremas y perfil de fermentación de carbohidratos. Los resultados permitieron la selección e identificación de cuatro cepas de Lactobacillus con potencial para ser utilizados como aditivos probióticos en la alimentación animal.

In the present work 14 bacterial strains were isolated and characterized from the intestinal tract of different farm animals, in order to select the strains whit probiotic potential. The selected strains were exerted to biochemical trails and also their probiotic properties were evaluated through acid resistance and bile salt trials, extreme temperature growth and the carbohydrate fermentation profile. The results allowed selection and identification of four lactobacillus strains with potential to be used as probiotic additives in animal feeding.

Studies on the residues of Nicarbazin in commercial chickens / 日本農村医学会雑誌

A simple and sensitive method for the determination of residual Nicarbazin (NCZ) by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was examined to apply to livestock products. And the detection of residual NCZ in commercial chickens was also investigated.<BR>1. The method that the acetonitrile extracts of meat homogenate were injected directly into HPLC was able to apply to determine the residual NCZ by adding process of degreasing and dehydration of the extracts. The average recovery of NCZ added to the chicken muscle (0.4 μg/g) were 89.13±6.61%(N =5) and detection limit in this analytical procedure was 0.02μg/g.<BR>2. Using the above method for the analysis of NCZ in commercial samples, the frequency of detection was 13.0% and the range of concentration was 0.03-0.30μg/g in samples collected from Kagoshima city (N =131). The residual NCZ in commercial chickens showed a tendency to increase in summer season. The similar levels of frequency (12.5%) and concentrations (0.03-0.43μg/g) were found in samples collected from other prefectures (N=40).