Dinâmicas de trânsito e degradação da fibra em detergente neutro em bovinos alimentados com forragem tropical de baixa qualidade e compostos nitrogenados / Transit and degradation dynamics of neutral detergent fiber in cattle fed low-quality tropical forage and nitrogenous compounds

Avaliaram-se as dinâmicas de trânsito e degradação da fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) em bovinos alimentados com forragem tropical de baixa qualidade e compostos nitrogenados. Foram utilizadas cinco novilhas Holandês x Zebu fistuladas no rúmen. A alimentação volumosa basal dos animais foi constituída por feno de capim-braquiária (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.), com 5,08 por cento de proteína bruta (PB), com base na matéria seca (MS), fornecido ad libitum. Os cinco tratamentos avaliados foram definidos de acordo com o nível de suplementação proteica (0, 3, 5, 7 e 9 pontos percentuais acima do nível de PB da forragem). Como fonte de compostos nitrogenados, empregou-se mistura de ureia:sulfato de amônia:albumina (4,5:0,5:1,0). O experimento foi estruturado segundo delineamento em quadrado latino 5 x 5. Os níveis médios de PB nas dietas foram de 5,28; 8,08; 9,82; 11,87 e 13,63 por cento, com base na MS. Verificou-se elevação linear (P<0,05) da fração potencialmente degradável da FDN até o nível de 8,62 por cento de PB, com platô estimado de 47,92 por cento da FDN. Verificou-se efeito quadrático (P<0,05) sobre a taxa de degradação da fração potencialmente degradável da FDN em função dos níveis de PB da dieta, com máxima resposta estimada sobre 13,39 por cento de PB. O fluxo ruminal de partículas fibrosas apresentou relação linear-response-plateau em função do nível de PB na dieta (P<0,05), com ponto crítico para o início do platô sobre 7,59 por cento de PB.

Rumen transit and degradation dynamics of neutral detergent fiber (NDF) in cattle fed low-quality tropical forage and nitrogenous compounds were evaluated. Five crossbred heifers fitted with rumen cannulae were used. The animals were fed ad libitum with signal grass (Brachiaria decumbens Stapf.) hay, which had crude protein (CP) content of 5.08 percent in dry matter (DM). The five treatments were defined according to the level of CP in the diet (0, 3, 5, 7, and 9 percentile points above the CP level of the roughage). The supplement was a mixture of urea, ammonium sulfate, and albumin (4.5:0.5:1.0, respectively). The experiment was carried out according to a 5 x 5 Latin square design. The average CP levels in the diets were: 5.28, 8.08, 9.82, 11.87, and 13.63 percent in DM basis. The potentially degradable fraction of NDF was linearly increased (P<0.05) by CP levels in diet until 8.62 percent CP. From this point, there was stabilization of estimates (47.92 percent of NDF). The degradation rate of potentially degradable NDF showed a quadratic response (P<0.05) to CP levels, with maximal response at 13.39 percent of CP. The ruminal rate of passage of fibrous particles showed a linear-response-plateau (P<0.05) according to CP levels in the diet, with plateau beginning at 7.59 percent of CP.

Level of nitrate and nitrite contents in drinking water of selected samples received at AFPGMI, Rawalpindi

Contamination of drinking water by nitrates is an evolving public health concern since nitrate can undergo endogenous reduction to nitrite and nitrosation of nitrites can form N-nitroso compounds, which are potent carcinogens. The carcinogenic feature of N-nitroso compounds has been well established. Nitrites can lead among infants to the disease called methemoglobinemia [blue baby syndrome]. There is a strong relationship between nitrate concentration and recurrent diarrhoea and also other illnesses. The aim of this study was to evaluate the level of nitrate and nitrite contents in some drinking water samples. In this study we analysed 162 water samples received at Water Quality Control Laboratory, AFPGMI, Rawalpindi for their nitrate and nitrite contents. Out of these 162 water samples, 153 [94%] and 133 [82%] samples had nitrate and nitrite contents in varying concentrations, while 64 [40%] and 22 [14%] had nitrate and nitrite concentrations more than Pakistani standards. Given the potential health risk associated with the presence of toxicants like nitrates and nitrites in water sources used for drinking yet the scarcity of available data, there is a need to evaluate these waters and develop strategies to reduce and prevent their contamination

Nitratos, nitritos e compostos N-nitrosos em alimentos: onde está o problema? / Nitrates, nitrites and N-nitrosocompounds in foods: where is the problem?

O objetivo deste artigo de revisäo é apresentar os problemas associados à presença de nitratos, nitritos e compostos. N-nitrosos em alimentos. Säo fornecidas informaçöes sobre as propriedades físico-químicas dos compostos, sua presença natural em vegetais e em alimentos processados, bem como os efeitos produzidos na exposiçäo humana: aspectos toxicológicos relacionados à ingestäo de nitratos e nitritos por adultos e crianças e á carcinogenicidade dos compostos N-nitrosos