228Ra in cow’s milk from an anomalous region of Pernambuco-Brazil

The counties of Pedra and Venturosa have one of the largest natural radioactive occurrences of Brazil. The large farms producing milk in the state of Pernambuco are located in these counties. The forage plants cultivated on those farms have high concentrations of ²²⁸Ra, a naturally occurring descending radionuclide from the ²³²Th series. The ²²⁸Ra is transferred to the forage plants, and once ingested by the lactating cow, this radionuclide is rapidly transferred to the milk. Thus, milk intake is an important route for ²²⁸Ra of incorporation by the human consumer and may induce the appearance of bone sarcoma. Accordingly, the aim of the present study was to determine the concentrations of ²²⁸Ra in milk produced in the Pedra and Venturosa farms, in order to estimate the risk of ingestion in the local population. The ²²⁸Ra was determined by actin-228 (²²⁸Ac) using the radiochemical technique of barium sulphate precipitate (BaSO₄). The milk samples had concentrations of ²²⁸Ra ranging from 61 to 1338 mBq.l^?1, which corresponded to the cumulative equivalent dose ranging from 0.04 to 0.1 Sv. Although the doses were low, regulatory and protective measures should be taken to study the radiotoxic effects of ²²⁸Ra in subjects in the public.     

基于PI荧光图像计数的乳制品荧光性质分析

为分析添加PI染料时乳制品中不同的荧光成分如酪蛋白、黄油、维生素B1、维生素B2、维生素C等对荧光图像观察的影响,探究了不同乳制品及其成分在PI染色观察条件下的荧光性质,并以酿酒酵母为目标菌,研究了10种乳制品中酿酒酵母PI荧光图像计数结果。结果表明,酪蛋白、黄油、维生素B1、维生素B2、维生素C等成分及10种乳制品在发射光615 nm均可产生荧光,但不影响PI染色的酿酒酵母荧光计数的观察结果。使用荧光显微镜对添加105~107 CFU/mL酿酒酵母菌液的10种乳制品进行PI染色计数,并将荧光图像计数结果与平板计数结果进行比较。其中经荧光图像计数后得到的菌液浓度对数值分别在5.69~5.93、6.18~6.28、7.13~7.21之间,对应平板计数结果的对数值分别5.49~5.63、6.02~6.06、7.02~7.06之间,二者结果一致。使用 PI 进行荧光图像计数时,乳制品荧光虽然存在但不会对酿酒酵母荧光图像观察与计数造成影响。     

离子色谱法检测硝酸盐亚硝酸盐前处理方法的研究

目的 利用离子色谱法检测乳及乳制品中亚硝酸盐、硝酸盐,在实际检测中用该国标方法在前处理样品时,存在沉淀样品不完全进而影响检测准确性、重复性不理想的弊端,为提高检测的准确性,缩小检测偏差,需对国标方法中样品的前处理改进。方法 样品经乙腈沉淀脂肪蛋白质后,采用相应的方法提取和净化,以氢氧化钾溶液为淋洗液,阴离子交换柱分离,电导检测器检测。以保留时间定性,外标法定量。结果 该方法克服了乳及乳制品GB5009.33-2010第三法检测检出限高及检测用时长,精密度低的的弊端。结论本方法适合于乳及乳制品定量测定。     

中草药抗热应激剂对高温环境奶牛生产性能的影响

选用32头健康无病,体重、年龄、胎次、泌乳量、乳脂率、乳蛋白和乳固形物等相近的中国黑白花奶牛,对照组饲喂基础日粮,试验组在饲喂基础日粮的基础上分别添加50、100和150 g/(头·d)中草药抗热应激剂,进行中草药抗热应激剂缓解高温天气对奶牛的影响试验,试验期为40 d.结果表明,B、C和D组每头奶牛平均日产奶量比A组分别增加1.89、2.62和2.83 kg,提高幅度分别为11.91%、16.51%和17.83%,差异均极显著(P＜0.01).在乳脂率方面,B、C和D组比A组分别提高0.10、0.23和0.15个百分点,提高幅度分别为3.47%、7.99%和5.21%,其中C组差异显著(P＜0.05);在乳蛋白方面,B、C和D组比A组分别提高0.06、0.10和0.08个百分点,差异不显著(P＞0.05);B、C和D组乳固形物比A组分别提高0.39、0.42和0.38个百分点.B、C和D组比A组每头每日分别多收入2.64、3.08和2.53元.     

Metabolic effects in mice of cream formulation: Addition of both thickener and emulsifier does not alter lipid metabolism but modulates mucus cells and intestinal endoplasmic reticulum stress

Additives stabilize or improve the organoleptic or functional properties (or both) of many dairy products including whipping cream. Their influence on the metabolic effect of dairy cream is scarcely known. We tested the hypothesis that added emulsifier (lactic acid esters of mono- and diglycerides; MAG/DAG), thickener (carrageenan, CGN), or both, could modify the metabolic effect, notably in the intestine and liver. Nine-week-old male C57Bl/6J mice were fed UHT cream (indirect treatment) mixed with nonlipidic powder (final: 13% milkfat) for 1 or 4 wk. We compared creams (1) without additive (Ctl), (2) with thickener (Th), 0.02% of κ-CGN, and (3) with both thickener and emulsifier, 0.1% of MAG/DAG esters (Th/Em). We analyzed plasma parameters, intestine, and liver. Fasting glycemia, insulinemia, triglyceridemia, nonesterified fatty acids, body weight gain, and liver weight did not differ among groups. After 1 wk, Th/Em had higher expression in the duodenum of some of the genes involved in (1) intestinal lipid absorption and (2) tight junction proteins versus Ctl and Th. After 4 wk, mucus cell number in the small intestine was higher in Th/Em versus Ctl and Th. Genes involved in endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in the duodenum were more expressed in Th/Em after 1 wk. After 4 wk, in the colon, a higher expression of ER stress genes was observed for Th versus Th/Em and Ctl. Liver damage score was not altered by additives. Adding both CGN (0.02%) and MAG/DAG esters (0.1%) in dairy cream did not result in deleterious outcomes in mice after 4 wk regarding lipid metabolism, intestinal permeability, and liver disorders. The longer term effect of intestinal ER stress modulation deserves further investigation.     

Effect of finishing and ageing time on quality attributes of loin from the meat of Holstein–Fresian cull cows

The effects of finishing time, (T0 = 0, T1 = 30 and T2 = 60 days), on Holstein–Friesian cull cows (n = 18) and post-mortem ageing, (1, 7, 14, 21, 35 and 42 days), under vacuum conditions of Longissimus thoracis (LT) muscles were investigated. The objective of this research was to study how finishing feeding (based on a commercial concentrate and corn silage), following a pasture period of 90 days, affected carcass and meat quality. Ageing time effect was also evaluated on the main quality attribute of added value pieces, such as “striploin of ox” from cull cows. Finishing treatment affected intramuscular fat content (IMF), moisture percentage, water-holding capacity (WHC), colour parameters and shear force of meat at 24 h post-mortem, whereas ageing time enhanced meat tenderness, when this was measured by two textural tests, Warner–Braztler (WB) and textural profile analysis (TPA). A minimum shear force was achieved at 7 and 14 days of ageing for T1 and T2, respectively. No differences (P > 0.05) could be found in colour parameters from 7 to 42 days. The results show that a finishing time of two months is very beneficial, due to the increase in meat fatness, improved overall carcass quality and luminosity (L*). Furthermore, 14 ageing days were sufficient to improved tenderness. Ageing time did not have an effect on lipid oxidation (P > 0.05) and this leads us to conclude that meat shelf life exceeded 42 days under vacuum conditions’.     

The effect of left displacement of abomasum corrected by toggle-pin suture on lactation,reproduction, and health of Holstein dairy cows

Our objectives were to evaluate the effect of left displacement of abomasum (LDA) after correction by toggle-pin suture (TPS) on lactation performance, reproduction and health in Holstein dairy cows in a commercial dairy farm. Cows diagnosed with LDA and corrected by the TPS procedure (188 cows) during the first 70 d postpartum were matched with control herd-mates (186 controls) according to lactation number, calving date, and previous lactation 305-d mature equivalent milk yield. Cows were grouped according to parity and days in milk and fed the same total mixed ration throughout a 321-d lactation. Data collected included yields of milk and 3.5% fat-corrected milk (FCM), concentration and yields of milk fat, somatic cell count, incidence of mastitis, abortion, death and culling, in addition to reproductive measures. Cows affected with LDA corrected by the TPS procedure produced less milk and tended to produce less 3.5% FCM than control cows, but the decrease in production occurred only during the first 4 mo of lactation. Left displacement of abomasum did not affect the interval from calving to conception and conception rates, but it extended the period from calving to first postpartum artificial insemination. Incidences of abortions and mastitis were not influenced by LDA. Cows affected with LDA remained in the study for a shorter period than their control herdmates, and higher proportions of cows with LDA were sold or died. Death and culling were more pronounced immediately after the diagnosis of LDA and the TPS procedure.     

Free-stall dimensions: effects on preference and stall usage

In 2 experiments, free-stall dimensions were examined to determine how they affected stall preference, usage, cleanliness, and milk production in Holstein dairy cattle. In experiment 1, stall width (112 or 132 cm) and stall length (229 and 274 cm from curb to wall) were compared in a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement of stall treatments using 15 individually housed, non-lactating animals. Cows showed no clear preference for stall size as measured by lying time. When animals had no choice between stalls, average lying time was higher in the wide stalls than in the narrow stalls (10.8 vs. 9.6+/-0.3 h/24 h). Both length and width affected time spent standing with only the front hooves in the stall; total stall area is best explained by the variation associated with this behavior. In experiment 2, 27 lactating dairy cattle were alternately housed with access to stalls of 106, 116, or 126 cm in width using a cross-over design with exposure to each treatment lasting 3 wk. Animals spent an additional 42 min/24 h lying in stalls measuring 126 cm in width compared with stalls with only 106 cm between partitions. Free-stall width influenced the time spent standing with the front 2 hooves in the stall; animals averaged 58 min/24 h in the widest stalls and 85 min/24 h in the narrowest stalls. The amount of time spent standing with all 4 hooves in the stall tended to be longer in wider stalls, and these stalls were also most likely to become soiled with feces. Stall width did not affect the number of lying events or milk production. In conclusion, animals spent more time lying down, and less time was spent standing with only the front hooves in larger stalls, but larger stalls were also more likely to become soiled.     

Effects of replacing chopped alfalfa hay with alfalfa silage in a total mixed ration on production and rumen conditions of lactating dairy cows

The effects of replacing chopped alfalfa hay with alfalfa silage in a total mixed ration containing barley grain and corn silage on production and rumen conditions were investigated. Cows received three diets that all contained (dry matter basis) 38.5% barley grain-based energy supplement, 30.5% corn silage, 17.0% protein supplement, and 4.2% sunflower seeds. One diet contained (dry matter basis) 9.8% of chopped alfalfa hay and no alfalfa silage. One diet contained (dry matter basis) 4.9% chopped alfalfa hay and 4.9% alfalfa silage. One diet contained (dry matter basis) 9.8% of alfalfa silage and no chopped alfalfa hay. Contents of crude protein, neutral detergent fiber, acid detergent fiber, and starch, averaged across diets, were 16.7, 41.3, 21.1, and 24.4% DM, respectively, and did not differ significantly among diets. Replacing chopped alfalfa hay with alfalfa silage decreased the proportion of dietary DM passing through the 8-mm screen of the Penn State Particle Separator from 61.9 to 55.2% dry matter and significantly increased dietary physical effective NDF (peNDF) content, calculated as the NDF retained by the two screens of the Penn State Particle Separator, from 20.1 to 23.3% DM. Replacing chopped alfalfa hay with alfalfa silage also reduced dietary DM content, increased rumen pH from 6.27 to 6.47, reduced volatile fatty acid concentrations, numerically increased milk fat concentration and milk fat yield. Milk yield, milk protein concentration, dry matter intake, and rumen ammonia concentration were not affected.