The effects of tryptophan and pyridoxine supplied orally to nursing piglets on weight loss and social behavior after weaning / Os efeitos do triptofano e da piridoxina fornecidos por via oral aos leitões em amamentação sobre a perda de peso e o comportamento social após o desmame

This study evaluated the effect of oral supplementation with tryptophan (Trp) and pyridoxine (Pyr) on the growth performance and social behavior of suckling piglets before and after weaning. At day 14, six suckling piglets per sow were distributed into three treatments and allotted in a randomized block design, with eight replicates and two piglets per experimental unit. Treatments consisted of a Control - oral supplementation with L-alanine (1.70 g), D-glucose (1.74 g) and distilled water (3.44 mL); Trp - oral supplementation with Trp (3.5 g/d) and distilled water; and Trp + Pyr - oral supplementation with Trp (3.5 g/d) + Pyr (0.0095 g/d) and distilled water. Each treatment was supplied orally five times per day (2.5 mL each treatment), from 14 to 21 days old. Piglets were monitored continuously in the nursing phase for 24 h at 21, 28 and 33 days of age to assess the behavior (standing, lying, eating, socializing, sitting and drinking). Piglets receiving oral Trp + Pyr showed a decreased weight loss on the first day after weaning (P = 0.03). Performance was not affected (P > 0.05) by treatments in each studied period, such as in overall period (21 to 34 days) after weaning. Piglets receiving Trp supplementation visited the feeders more frequently from days 21 to 22 (P < 0.01) and from days 28 to 29 (P < 0.02), as well as in the overall period (P < 0.01). It is concluded that high doses of tryptophan with or without high doses of pyridoxine, supplied orally to nursing piglets, reduced the weight loss on the first day after weaning and increased the frequency of visits to the drinkers on the first day after weaning and also to the feeders, mainly from weaning until 7 days after.(AU)

Este estudo avaliou o efeito da suplementação oral de triptofano (Trp) e piridoxina (Pyr) para leitões em aleitamento sobre o desempenho produtivo e comportamento social, antes e após o desmame. No 14º dia de vida, seis leitões por porca foram divididos em três tratamentos e foram distribuídos em um delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso, com oito repetições e dois leitões por unidade experimental (16 leitões/ tratamento). Os tratamentos foram os seguintes: Controle - suplementação oral de L-alanina (1.70 g), D-glicose (1.74 g) e água destilada (3.44 ml); Trp - suplementação oral de Trp (3.5 g / d) e água destilada; Trp + Pyr-Trp (3.5 g / d) + Pyr (0.0095 g / d) e água destilada. Cada tratamento foi fornecido oralmente por cinco vezes ao dia (2.5 ml em cada suplementação), do 14º até o 21º dia de idade. Durante a fase de creche os leitões foram monitorados durante 24 horas no 21º, 28º e 33º dia de idade para avaliação do comportamento (em pé, deitado, comendo, sociabilizando, sentado e bebendo). Leitões suplementados oralmente com Trp + Pyr apresentaram uma redução na perda de peso (P=0.03) no primeiro dia após o desmame. O desempenho não foi influenciado (P > 0.05) pelos tratamentos nos períodos estudados, assim como no período total após o desmame (21 a 34 dias). Leitões que receberam suplementação de Trp, com ou sem Pyr, visitaram os comedouros mais frequentemente do 21º ao 22º dia (P < 0.01) e do 28º ao 29º (P < 0.02) assim como no período total (P < 0.01). Conclui-se que altas doses de Trp associadas ou não com altas doses de Pyr fornecidas oralmente aos leitões em aleitamento reduziram a perda de peso no primeiro dia após o desmame e aumentaram a frequência de visitas aos bebedouros no primeiro dia após o desmame e aos comedouros principalmente do desmame até 7 dias após ao desmame.(AU)

Weaning strategies to improve productivity and animal welfare in zebu (Bos indicus) and water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

Information on approaches to weaning zebu (Bos indicus) and water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves is scarce in proportion to studies of breeds of B. taurus cattle, whetherdairy or beef. Little research has been done to test or validate methods evolved in cattle-ranching to these other species.Hence, expanding our understanding of appropriate, species specific methods of weaning could support the development ofapproaches or strategies that have the potential to improve animal welfare and productive performance in temperate or tropical climes. This review focuses on traditional and currentweaning strategies in an attempt to improve productivity and animal welfare for water buffaloes and zebus. For the case of the water buffalo, it examines common, routine weaningtechniques and procedures as well as novel approaches, while for the zebu it discusses abrupt versus gradual and early versuslate weaning as strategies and routines usually employed during this process. Finally, it analyses how new weaning techniques may reduce stress while enhancing productivity atthe same time. These approaches include fence-line weaning, nose-flaps (plastic devices that prevent the calf from grabbing a teat to suckle), restricted suckling and a section on practicaltips to decrease the stress induced by weaning in zebus. A better understanding of certain weaning techniques could, therefore, benefit calf welfare while simultaneously increasingcows' reproductive performance. Unfortunately, data on such approaches is scant, so despite published findings, several key issues remain unsolved living room for additional studies.

Weaning strategies to improve productivity and animal welfare in zebu (Bos indicus) and water buffaloes (Bubalus bubalis)

Information on approaches to weaning zebu (Bos indicus) and water buffalo (Bubalus bubalis) calves is scarce in proportion to studies of breeds of B. taurus cattle, whetherdairy or beef. Little research has been done to test or validate methods evolved in cattle-ranching to these other species.Hence, expanding our understanding of appropriate, species specific methods of weaning could support the development ofapproaches or strategies that have the potential to improve animal welfare and productive performance in temperate or tropical climes. This review focuses on traditional and currentweaning strategies in an attempt to improve productivity and animal welfare for water buffaloes and zebus. For the case of the water buffalo, it examines common, routine weaningtechniques and procedures as well as novel approaches, while for the zebu it discusses abrupt versus gradual and early versuslate weaning as strategies and routines usually employed during this process. Finally, it analyses how new weaning techniques may reduce stress while enhancing productivity atthe same time. These approaches include fence-line weaning, nose-flaps (plastic devices that prevent the calf from grabbing a teat to suckle), restricted suckling and a section on practicaltips to decrease the stress induced by weaning in zebus. A better understanding of certain weaning techniques could, therefore, benefit calf welfare while simultaneously increasingcows' reproductive performance. Unfortunately, data on such approaches is scant, so despite published findings, several key issues remain unsolved living room for additional studies.(AU)

Influence of organic chromium supplementation on the performance of beef calves undergoing weaning-related stress / Influência da suplementação com cromo orgânico no desempenho de bezerros de corte submetidos ao estresse da desmama

Dietary chromium supplementation before, during, and after weaning was conducted to evaluate the hypothesis that chromium supplementation could reduce weaning-induced cortisol release in beef calves. We examined the effects of chromium supplementation in 150 crossbred calves (male and female) between five and six months of age. The calves were randomly divided by sex and breed into two equal homogeneous groups (n=75). One group was used as the control, and the other experimental group received supplementation with 0.9mg of chromium carbon-amino-phospho-chelate per 100kg BW. The chromium supplement was mixed with mineral salt for the consumption of 0.1% of BW, and the supplement was administered via creep feeding 60 days before and 60 days after forced weaning. Calves were weighed, and their blood and urine samples were obtained at four time-points: T0 (60 days before weaning), T1 (at weaning), T2 (48 hours after weaning), and T3 (60 days after weaning). Blood samples were used to determine chromium, cortisol, total protein, and albumin concentrations, and urine samples were used to determine urinary creatinine and chromium levels. Cumulative weight gain was higher in calves supplemented with chromium before weaning and during the experiment (P<0.05). In addition, weaning-related stress caused an increase in chromium excretion in the urine, and chromium supplementation reduced stress, which resulted in lower cortisol and total protein levels during weaning.(AU)

O estudo foi realizado para avaliar a hipótese de que a suplementação dietética com cromo antes, durante e após a desmama possa diminuir a concentração de cortisol causado por este processo em bezerros de corte. Para tal, foram utilizados 150 bezerros mestiços, machos e fêmeas, entre cinco e seis meses de idade. Os animais foram divididos randomicamente por sexo e grupo genético em dois grupos homogêneos (n=75), um mantido como controle e outro suplementado com 0,9mg de carboaminofosfoquelato de cromo/100 kg PV misturado a um sal proteinado para ser consumido na base de 0,1% do PV via creep feeding, no decorrer de 60 dias antes e 60 dias após à desmama forçada. Os animais foram pesados e foram coletadas amostras sanguíneas e urinárias no M0 (60 dias antes da desmama), M1 (desmama), M2 (48 horas após a desmama) e M3 (60 dias após à desmama) para determinação de cromo, cortisol, proteína total e albumina no sangue e da concentração urinária de creatinina e cromo. O ganho acumulado de peso foi superior nos bezerros suplementados com cromo antes da desmama e no decorrer de todo o experimento (P<0,05). A suplementação com cromo reduziu os teores de cortisol e de proteína total durante a desmama. O estresse da desmama provocou aumento da excreção de cromo pela urina.(AU)

Influence of organic chromium supplementation on the performance of beef calves undergoing weaning-related stress / Influência da suplementação com cromo orgânico no desempenho de bezerros de corte submetidos ao estresse da desmama

Dietary chromium supplementation before, during, and after weaning was conducted to evaluate the hypothesis that chromium supplementation could reduce weaning-induced cortisol release in beef calves. We examined the effects of chromium supplementation in 150 crossbred calves (male and female) between five and six months of age. The calves were randomly divided by sex and breed into two equal homogeneous groups (n=75). One group was used as the control, and the other experimental group received supplementation with 0.9mg of chromium carbon-amino-phospho-chelate per 100kg BW. The chromium supplement was mixed with mineral salt for the consumption of 0.1% of BW, and the supplement was administered via creep feeding 60 days before and 60 days after forced weaning. Calves were weighed, and their blood and urine samples were obtained at four time-points: T0 (60 days before weaning), T1 (at weaning), T2 (48 hours after weaning), and T3 (60 days after weaning). Blood samples were used to determine chromium, cortisol, total protein, and albumin concentrations, and urine samples were used to determine urinary creatinine and chromium levels. Cumulative weight gain was higher in calves supplemented with chromium before weaning and during the experiment (P<0.05). In addition, weaning-related stress caused an increase in chromium excretion in the urine, and chromium supplementation reduced stress, which resulted in lower cortisol and total protein levels during weaning.(AU)

O estudo foi realizado para avaliar a hipótese de que a suplementação dietética com cromo antes, durante e após a desmama possa diminuir a concentração de cortisol causado por este processo em bezerros de corte. Para tal, foram utilizados 150 bezerros mestiços, machos e fêmeas, entre cinco e seis meses de idade. Os animais foram divididos randomicamente por sexo e grupo genético em dois grupos homogêneos (n=75), um mantido como controle e outro suplementado com 0,9mg de carboaminofosfoquelato de cromo/100 kg PV misturado a um sal proteinado para ser consumido na base de 0,1% do PV via creep feeding, no decorrer de 60 dias antes e 60 dias após à desmama forçada. Os animais foram pesados e foram coletadas amostras sanguíneas e urinárias no M0 (60 dias antes da desmama), M1 (desmama), M2 (48 horas após a desmama) e M3 (60 dias após à desmama) para determinação de cromo, cortisol, proteína total e albumina no sangue e da concentração urinária de creatinina e cromo. O ganho acumulado de peso foi superior nos bezerros suplementados com cromo antes da desmama e no decorrer de todo o experimento (P<0,05). A suplementação com cromo reduziu os teores de cortisol e de proteína total durante a desmama. O estresse da desmama provocou aumento da excreção de cromo pela urina.(AU)