Positive effects of biocholine powder dietary supplementation on milk production and quality, and antioxidant responses in lactating ewes: A new nutritional tool.

We determined whether the dietary supplementation with a commercial product (vegetable biocholine - VB) for Lacaune ewes at peak lactation would improve animal health and production as well as milk quality. We also determined the effects of VB as a feed additive. We used thirty Lacaune ewes at 30 days of lactation, allocated into three groups: T0 (control, without VB), T5 (5 g of VB/animal/day) and T10 (10 g of VB/animal/day). T10 sheep had greater milk yield during the experimental period. T10 ewes had also a significantly lower feed conversion ratio than the other groups. Total solids concentration of milk was higher in T10 than in the other groups on day 20. The somatic cell count in milk was lower in ewes that consumed VB in the highest dose (T10) than in the T0 and T5 in days 15 and 20. Lower levels of lipoperoxidation (LPO) and of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were observed in milk from ewes fed with the VB supplemented diet on day 20, associated with increased levels of total antioxidant capacity and superoxide dismutase activity in milk. In serum, we found that T5 and T10 animals had significantly higher levels of non-enzymatic antioxidants (non-protein thiols) associated with reduced LPO and ROS content. Higher levels of globulins were observed in T10 than in T0 sheep on day 20. These data suggest that VB dietary supplementation stimulates antioxidant responses and increases the concentration of globulins in a manner beneficial to sheep health. Milk production, feed conversion rate, and milk SCC were also improved.

High Prevalence of Orodental Disorders in South Brazilian Cart Horses: Walking a Tightrope Between Animal Welfare and Socioeconomic Inevitability.

In developing and emerging countries, many people make a living from picking municipal solid waste to sell for reuse or recycling. These people depend on cost-effective transport vehicles like horse-drawn carts. It is indisputable that the general health of these horses not only plays a major economic role but is a welfare issue as well. Orodental disorders are likely to be of particular importance as they directly impair health, performance, and therefore influence animal welfare and income. However, studies investigating prevalence and distribution of orodental disorders in working horses are scarce. This cross-sectional study is a survey of orodental alterations in 70 South Brazilian urban mixed-breed cart horses. All animals were subjected to a standardized clinical and subsequent specific orodental examination, and no horse had previously received dental treatment. Age and gender-related distribution and correlation of type and prevalence of orodental disorders were assessed. Excessively sharp enamel points (98.6%), cheek tooth diastema (65.7%), and mucosal ulcers (65.7%) occurred most frequently. Diastemata were more likely to be present between maxillary and mandibular Triadan 06/07 and mandibular 10/11. Male horses showed a higher individual number of orodental alterations than females (P = .048). Incisors were often worn down and endodontically affected, occurring most frequently in horses >18 years (P = .004) and males (P = .048). Results indicate a high prevalence of orodental changes among South Brazilian cart horses. Poor orodental health in working horses is an animal welfare issue and may be influenced by the socioeconomic status of waste pickers.

Agricultura familiar y salud animal / Family agriculture and animal health / Agricultura familiar e sanidade animal

A agricultura familiar é caracterizada como agricultura de subsistência e de pequena produção, seguindo alguns critérios como, tipo de exploração, renda e área total utilizada de até quatro módulos fiscais. Este seguimento rural limita a receita financeira anual da unidade familiar, baseado no número de empregados que podem ser contratados para completar a mão-de-obra familiar, que deve ser predominante. Vem se observando um aumento de maior interesse pela atividade, permitindo a manutenção de pequenos produtores nas atividades agrícolas. A grande maioria do processo produtivo na agricultura familiar está relacionada a propriedades normalmente de menor porte e estrutura, com conceitos mais simples. Sob essa ótica, é de suma importância avançar nesse segmento para o estímulo à prática do conceito de Saúde Única (One Health), que se relacionam ao ser humano, aos animais e ao meio ambiente, que se interagem, com o objetivo final a saúde coletiva, e a sanidade animal, com o objetivo de controlar a ocorrência de zoonoses importantes como a brucelose, tuberculose, raiva, e leptospirose.