Palatability and digestibility of horse diets containing increasing levels of citrus pulp / Palatabilidad y digestibilidad de las dietas que contienen pulpa de cítricos para caballos

Objective. To evaluate the impact of citrus pulp on the palatability and digestibility of horse diets and the physicochemical characteristics of the feces. Materials and methods. The diets were composed of 60% of the energy from the forage and 40% from the concentrate, with increasing levels of citrus pulp. Two different tests were performed. The first test assessed the palatability of concentrates. Using a randomized experimental design, 15 horses were observed for 10 days. The variables recorded were first action, first choice and intake ratio (IR). Five horses were arranged in 5x5 Latin Square design for the test assessing digestibility and fecal physicochemical characteristics. The apparent digestibility of the nutrients and the color, consistency, pH and buffering capacity (BC) of the feces were evaluated. Results. The addition of increasing levels of citrus pulp had an effect (p≤0.001) on first action. A difference was also observed in first choice, and the addition of 0, 7 or 14% of citrus pulp was preferred. A difference between treatments (p≤0.001) was also observed for IR, and the control concentrate was consumed the most. The amount of citrus pulp included had no effect (p>0.05) on the digestibility of nutrients, fecal consistency and color, and there was no effect (p>0.05) on fecal pH and BC. Conclusions. Horses can identify the presence of citrus pulp in concentrates but prefer concentrates without added citrus pulp. Citrus pulp does not negatively affect the digestibility of concentrates or the physicochemical characteristics of the feces; thus, citrus pulp is a viable alternative ingredient in the formulation of horse diets.

Objetivo. Evaluar la inclusión de pulpa de cítricos en la dieta de los caballos a través de la evaluación de la de palatabilidad, digestibilidad y características fisicoquímicas de las heces. Materiales y métodos. El valor energético de las dietas fue aportado en el 60% por la energía del forraje y en el 40% a partir del concentrado con niveles crecientes de pulpa de cítricos. En la primera prueba se evaluó la palatabilidad de los concentrados. Se utilizó un diseño experimental aleatório. Se observaron 15 caballos durante 10 días. Las variables registradas fueron la primera acción, la primera opción y la relación de la ingesta (IR). Cinco caballos fueron dispuestos en un diseño cuadrado latino 5x5 para la evaluación de la digestibilidad y las características fisicoquímicas fecales. La digestibilidad de los nutrientes y el color, la consistencia, el pH, y se evaluó la capacidad de tamponamiento (CT) de las heces. Resultados. El nível de inclusión de pulpa de cítricos tuvo un efecto (p<0.001) en la primera acción. Una diferencia también se observó en primera elección. Una diferencia (p<0.001) entre los tratamientos también se observó para IR. El nível de inclusión de pulpa de cítricos no efectó (p>0.05) la digestibilidad, consistencia fecal y el color de las heces, pH fecal y CT de las heces. Conclusiones. Los caballos pueden identificar la presencia de pulpa de cítricos en los concentrados, pero prefieren concentrados sin pulpa de cítricos. La pulpa de cítricos no afecta la digestibilidad de los nutrimentos en el concentrado, ni las características fisicoquímicas de las heces; la pulpa de cítricos es un ingrediente alternativo viable en la formulación de dietas para caballos.

[Evaluation of ectoparasites and hemoparasites in dogs kept in apartments and houses with yards in the city of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil]. / Avaliação ectoparasitológica e hemoparasitológica em cães criados em apartamentos e casas com quintal na cidade de Juiz de Fora, MG.

Fleas and ticks transmit various pathogens while feeding on the blood of dogs. This study sought to verify the occurrence of ectoparasitism and hemoparasitism in dogs from two urban areas in the city of Juiz de Fora, Minas Gerais, Brazil. Between February and August 2003, 101 dogs were studied: 50 came from apartments in the downtown region and 51 from houses with grassy yards. The ectoparasites were collected and conserved in etanol 70%. The occurrence of hemoparasites was verified by examining blood smears from sample taken from the dogs'ears. The blood smears were stained with Giemsa and 100 fields per slide were examined, studying the erythrocytes to determine parasitism. From among the dogs living in apartments, we found (with respective prevalence and mean intensity): Ctenocephalides felis (12%), (3.3+/-2.0); Rhipicephalus sanguineus (2%); and ixodid nymphs (2%). In this environment in the dogs were not found hemoparasites. From the houses with grassy yards, we observed the following prevalence levels and mean intensities: C. felis (14%), (2.28+/-1.9); R. sanguineus (35%), (7.8+/-9.8); ixodid nymph (18%), (1.4+/-0.7); and ixodid larvae (4%), (12+/-14.4). The hemoparasites found were: Ehrlichia canis (16%) and Babesia canis (2%).