The objective of this study was to evaluate the influence of unsaturated fatty acids in diets for dairy cows during the transition period and early lactation on intake, digestion and nutrient balance. Thirty-six multiparous and pregnant Holstein cows were randomly distributed to receive one of the experimental diets in the period from 35 days before the expected date of parturition to 84 days post-partum. Diets were fed as a total mixed ration and were as follows: control (C); soybean oil (SO), based on inclusion of 30 g/kg (DM basis); and calcium salts of unsaturated fatty acids (CS), based on inclusion of 30 g/kg (DM basis). Pre-partum dry matter intakes (DMI) of cows fed C, SO and CS were 11.9, 9.5 and 9.6 kg/d, respectively. Post-partum DMI was affected by experimental diets (18.5, 15.0 and 17.4 kg/d for C, SO and CS, respectively). The energy balance in the transition period of animals fed CS was 4.41 Mcal/d higher than cows fed SO and 1.3 Mcal/d higher than cows fed C. Supplementing cows with unsaturated fatty acid sources is a strategy for dairy cows in the transition period.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the utilization of different sources of unsaturated long-chain fatty acids in diets for dairy cows during the transition period and early lactation on the milk fatty acid profile and composition of the protein fraction. Thirty-six Holstein cows were divided into three groups, fed the following diets: control (C); soybean oil (SO); and calcium salts of long-chain unsaturated fatty acids (CS). The milk samples utilized for analysis were obtained weekly from parturition to twelve weeks of lactation; each one of the samples originated from two daily milkings. Milk composition and total nitrogen, non-protein nitrogen and non-casein nitrogen levels were analyzed. The cows receiving the diet with calcium salts had lower concentrations of non-protein nitrogen (%CP) in milk compared with the animals fed the diet with soybean oil. There was a decrease in concentration of medium-chain fatty acids C12-C16, and a concomitant increase in concentrations of long-chain fatty acids >C18 in milk fat for the animals fed the diets CS and SO when compared with diet C. Soybean oil and CS diets increased milk-fat concentrations of the acids C18: 1 trans-11, C18: 2 cis-9, trans-11 and C18: 2 trans-10 cis-12 in relation to diet C. The utilization of sources of long-chain fatty acids in the diet of dairy cows increases the biological value of milk in early lactation due to higher concentrations of specific fatty acids such as CLA C18: 2cis-9, trans-11.

This work aimed to study the probiotics association in 144 piglets from birth to 62 days old. In lactation, the design was completely randomized with two treatments, CTL, 1 mL of distilled water and ProbA, 5g in 15 ml of distilled water, both orally, and in the nursery in randomized block design, with 2x3 factorial arrangement of treatments, ProbA ProbB: 30g/ton of ProbB in the ration; CTL ProbB: 30g/ton of ProbB in the ration; ProbA ProbA, CTL CTL; ProbA CHA (challenged); CTL CHA. At 35 days of age the animal of the nursery were inoculated with Salmonella typhimurium orally. There was no effect of the parameters evaluated during the maternity. In nursery, the feed conversion was favorable to the ProbA. In the evaluation of fecal score, the challenged group had more diarrhea and increased elimination of S. typhimurium. Results showed the positive action of probiotics when applied at birth by the direct influence on the formation of the intestinal microbiota.

Twenty-eight Brangus cattle were used to determine the effect of copper and selenium supplementation on the carcass characteristics, fatty acid composition of the longissimus dorsi muscle and on the copper and selenium concentrations in the liver. The treatments were: no supplementation of copper or selenium; 2 mg Se/kg DM as sodium selenite; 40 mg Cu/kg DM as copper sulfate; and 2 mg Se/kg DM as sodium selenite and 40 mg Cu/kg DM as copper sulfate. The fat thickness, rib eye area and fatty acid composition of the longissimus dorsi muscle were not affected by treatments. There was no effect on carcass yield and cooling loss with the supplementation of copper, selenium or selenium × copper in the levels studied. For the ether extract concentration in the longissimus dorsi muscle, no differences were found according to the treatments with selenium, copper or selenium × copper. The treatments with selenium and selenium × copper showed higher selenium concentrations in the liver than the control and copper treatments. For the copper concentration in the liver, the copper and selenium × copper treatments showed higher values than the control and selenium treatments. Despite the little effect on the meat composition, the results of this experiment demonstrate no interaction between selenium and copper in the levels studied.

This research was conducted with objective to evaluate the effect of different zinc (Zn) sources and doses in the diet for Santa Ines sheep. Forty lambs at weaning, with 18.4 kg of body weight were supplemented with three different sources of zinc (zinc oxide (ZnO), zinc amino acid and zinc proteinate) and three doses of zinc (200, 400 and 600 mg/kg DM) added to the basal diet. At every 28 days, animals were weighted and blood samples were collected for analyses of zinc (Zn), alkaline phosphatase and immunoglobulin G (IgG) and M (IgM). At the end of experiment, liver samples were collected for determination of the hepatic zinc levels. Zinc was analyzed with atomic absorption spectrophotometer, while phosphatase alkaline and immunoglobulins G and M were analyzed using Laborlab and Bioclin kits, respectively. There was no effect of diets on phosphatase alkaline levels and hepatic zinc, but there was difference in the plasmatic zinc levels and IgG and IgM levels. Based on the accumulation of hepatic zinc, the estimate of the zinc bioavailability, through the regression equation, showed that supplementation with organic and inorganic sources of zinc did not differ in the diet of Santa Ines sheep.

Doze vacas leiteiras (³/4 Holandês x ¹/4 Gir) foram utilizadas em um delineamento em quadrado latino, nas dependências da Fazenda Raposo - Nepomuceno, MG, entre novembro de 2001 e abril de 2002 para comparar o efeito da substituição parcial e total do farelo de soja pela amiréia na produção e composição do leite. Os animais apresentavam peso médio de 443 kg e estavam na quarta lactação. A amiréia substituiu o farelo de soja nas seguintes proporções: 0 - 0% de amiréia 150 S; 33 - 33% de amiréia 150 S; 66 - 66% de amiréia 150 S e 100 - 100% de amiréia 150 S, sendo que todos tratamentos foram isoenergéticos e isoprotéicos. Utilizou-se a cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum officinarum L.) como volumoso "ad libitum". Cada período experimental teve duração de 15 dias, 9 dias para adaptação e 6 dias para coleta de dados. A produção de leite de cada vaca foi pesada nas duas ordenhas (manhã e tarde) e as amostras enviadas para análise de gordura, proteína, lactose, sólidos totais e uréia, pelo processo de infravermelho, junto à Clínica do Leite do Departamento de Produção Animal da ESALQ/USP. A gordura e sólidos totais do leite não foram influenciados pelos tratamentos (P>0,05). A produção de leite, a proteína, a lactose e a uréia do leite diferiram entre os tratamentos (P<0,05). Conclui-se que, nas condições deste experimento, é viável a substituição total do farelo de soja pela amiréia.

Twelve dairy cows (³/4 Hoslten x ¹/4 Gir) were used in a desing in Latin square, at Fazenda Raposo's dependences in Nepomuceno, MG, between November of 2001 and April of 2002 to compare the effect of the partial and total substitution of soybean meal for starea in the production and composition of milk. The medium weight of the animals was 443 kg and they were in the fourth nursing. The starea substituted soybean meal in the following proportions: 0 - 0% of starea 150 S; 33 - 33¨% of starea 150 S; 66 - 66% of starea 150 S and 100 - 100% of starea 150 S, and every treatments were isoenergetics and isoproteics. Sugar-cane (Saccharum officinarum L.) was used ad libitum as roughage. Each experimental period had the duration of 15 days being 9 days for adaptation and 6 days for collection of data. The milk production of each cow was weighed twice a day (morning and afternoon) and samples were sent for analysis of fat, protein, lactose, total solids and urea, by the infrared method, at the Clinic of the Milk of the Department of Animal Production at ESALQ/USP, in Piracicaba, SP. Fat and total solids of milk were not influenced by the treatments. The production of milk, protein, lactose and urea content of milk differed among the treatments (P<0.05). The results showed that it is viable the total substitution of soybean meal for starea.