30 research outputs found
Effects of multi-strains yeast supplementation on health and performances in male Holstein calves
No full textIntroduction. Use of antibiotics in livestock production has become a sensitive issue due to the reported cases of antibiotic resistance to pathogens in humans [1]. A correct and specific diet in beef cattle breeding cycle plays a key role to grant a better health and welfare of the animals [2]. The use of yeasts (Saccharomyces cerevisiae, in particular) in the diet of livestock animals, it is now a well-established practice [3, 4] and the positive effects obtained are known [5].
Animals, materials and methods. The objective of this study was to evaluate the health and the performances of young male dairy calves (17±3d) after S. cerevisiae and C. jadinii fractions product supplementation. At a commercial farm, 158 veal calves were enrolled and divided in two groups balanced for live weight: a control group (CTR) 57 animals (no supplementation) and a treated one (TRT) 101 animals (multi-strains yeast supplementation). Both groups were fed with a mixture of milk replacer (chemical composition %: CP 19, EE 17, ash 8) from 400 to 2600g/h/d in 4-16L/h/d, and grain mix with chopped straw (chemical composition %: CP 13.5, EE 3.2, CF 8.2, ash 4.1, DM 88) from 100 to 3500g/h/d. For TRT multi-strains yeast was added in the milk replacer: 5g/h/d during the first 30d, then 3g/h/d until d90. The diet was the same for both groups from d90 to 190 (slaughter). For all animals, mortality, morbidity (veterinary treatments) and individual carcass weights were collected. Blood parameters (Hg, RDW, MCV; d30, 73, 115, 150) and electrophoresis for blood protein characterization (d47, 118) were analysed in 23 randomly selected animals (12 CTR and 11 TRT). On sampled animals, body weights were measured (d0, 47, 82). All data were subjected to AOV procedure then T-test when significant differences were detected.
Results and discussion. Health of calves was improved, but no difference was observed in mortality. Morbidity was reduced from 56% in CTR to 38% in TRT (P<.05), with a reduction of number of chronic animals (≥2 treatments per animal) by 50% (P<.05, table 1). Numerically, the reduction of veterinary treatments was mainly due to reduction of enteric treatments in TRT (-26%). Sampled animals’ ADG was impacted. ADG in TRT was 263g/d and 321g/d higher than in CRT (P<.01) from d0 to 47 and 47 to 82 respectively. Total carcass weight was numerically higher in TRT (+3.4%) than in CTR. Content of total proteins was higher in TRT (P<.01), with higher percentage of γ-globulins (P<.01) and higher percentage of α1-globulins (P<.01). These analyses are in favour of a better activated immune system of veal calves in TRT. No differences were observed on RDW and MCV. No differences in Hg average concentration, but more homogeneity in TRT.
Table 1. Therapies carried out during the trial.
CTR TRT P
% healthy calves (0 treatment) 43.9b 63.4a <.05
% animals treated once 26.3a 21.8a
% animals treated twice or more (chronic) 29.8a 14.9b
Conclusion. This study demonstrates that the addition of multi-strains yeast supplement in the milk replacer during the first 90d of the lifecycle improved the health of veal calves. These results are in line with reduction in use of antimicrobial treatments in farms.
References: [1] Langford et al. (2003) J. Dairy Sci. 86:3963-3966; [2] Heinrichs et al. (2011) J. Dairy Sci. 94:336-341; [3] Alugongo et al. (2017) J. Dairy Sci. 100:1189-1199; [4] Xiao et al. (2019) Animals. 9:4; [5] Robinson et al. (2009) Anim. Feed Sci. Technol. 149:185-98
Effects of YANG (multi-strains yeast) supplementation effects on health and performances in male Holstein calves
No full textThe objective of this study was investigate the effects of a multi-strains yeast (S. cerevisiae and C. jadinii) fractions product, YANG, on the health and performance of young male dairy calves (17±3d). At a commercial farm, 158 veal calves were enrolled and divided in two groups: a control group (CTR) 57 animals (no supplementation) and a treated one (TRT) 101 animals (YANG supplementation), both balanced for live weight. TRT received YANG through the milk replacer: 5g/h/d during the first 30d, then 3g/h/d until d90. From d90 to 190 (slaughter) the diet was the same for both groups. For all animals, individual carcass weights, mortality and morbidity (veterinary treatments) were collected. Blood parameters (Hg, RDW, MCV; d30, 73, 115, 150) and electrophoresis for blood protein characterization (d47, 118) were analysed in 23 randomly selected animals (12 CTR and 11 TRT). On sampled animals, body weights were measured (d0, 47, 82). No differences were observed on carcass weights at slaughter and carcass classification between the two groups. However, sampled animals’ ADG was impacted. ADG from d0 to 47 and 47 to 82 was 263g/d and 321g/d higher, in TRT than in CTR (0.47kg/d, P=0.01; 1.01kg/d, P<0.01 respectively). No difference was observed in mortality, however health of calves was improved. Morbidity was reduced from 56% in CTR to 38% in TRT (P=0.02), with a reduction of number of chronic animals (≥2 treatments per animal) by 50% (P=0.03). Numerically, the reduction of veterinary treatments was mainly due to reduction of enteric treatments in TRT (-25.6%). TRT animals showed higher content of total proteins (P<0.01), with higher percentage of γ-globulins (P<0.01) and higher percentage of α1-globulins (P<0.01). These analyses are in favour of a better activated immune system of veal calves in TRT. No differences were observed on RDW and MCV. No differences in Hg average concentration, but more homogeneity in TRT. This study demonstrates that the health of veal calves was improved during their whole lifecycle with the addition of YANG in the milk replacer during the first 90d. These results are in line with reduction in use of antimicrobial treatments in farms
Health status blood parameters in northern Italian Holstein growing calves.
No full textThe wellbeing of growing Holstein female calves is a crucial point in
dairy farms. Set up a normal blood parameters list could be important to
check young herd health. The objective of this study was to investigate in
growing female Holstein calves (fHc, 7–77d of life) major blood indicators
of health status and their variation during this period. Nine health fHc
(7 ± 2 d of life) kept at the same conditions (individual box, winter-spring
period, north Italy, Grana Padano cheese production area), were enrolled
and sampled at d 7, 42, 63 (weaning time) and 77. Performance parameters
and blood indicators were analyzed. Dry TMR (15CP, 2EE, 28NDF,
27starch, %) and pasteurized milk (3.6fat, 3.2prot, 5lact, %; 6L/h/d) were
used for feeding. A mixed model was performed to evaluate all the parameters
at the time point sampled with each fHc as the experimental unit.
Results showed as ADG was 600g and ave. daily TMR intake was 700g
af overall the study. Table 1 shows the most relevant parameters as LSM
95% range of variability during the period sampled (7–77 d of life). In our
study, we provided a list of parameters, a range of normality to help veterinarians
and farmers to interpret common analysis and suggested values
of health status for fHc fed daily dry TMR and 6 kg/d of pasteurized milk
Hydroconversion of Fischer-Tropsch waxes: Assessment of the operating conditions by factorial design experiments
No full textAssessment of the impact on human health of the presence of norovirus in bivalve molluscs: What data do we miss?
No full textIn the latest One Health ECDC EFSA technical report, Norovirus in fish and fishery products have been listed as the agent/food pair causing the highest number of strong-evidence outbreaks in the EU in 2019. This review aims to identify data gaps that must be filled in order to increase knowledge on Norovirus in bivalve molluscs, perform a risk assessment and rank the key mitigation strategies for this biological hazard, which is relevant to public health. Virologic determinations are not included in any of the food safety and process hygiene microbiologic criteria reflected in the current European regulations. In addition, the Escherichia coli-based indices of acceptable faecal contamination for primary production, as well as the food safety criteria, do not appear sufficient to indicate the extent of Norovirus contamination. The qualitative risk assessment data collected in this review suggests that bivalve molluscs present a high risk to human health for Norovirus only when consumed raw or when insufficiently cooked. On the contrary, the risk can be considered negligible when they are cooked at a high temperature, while information is still scarce for non-thermal treatments
Effectiveness of alkaline electrolyzed water in reducing bacterial load on surfaces intended to come into contact with food
No full textAlkaline electrolyzed water (REW) is known for its cleaning action. The aim of this work was to assess REW effectiveness in reducing microbial load on surfaces intended for contact with food. Stainless- steel surfaces were experimentally contaminated, bacterial inactivation was tested before and after treatment with REW. Treatment with REW was operated spraying it on the contaminated plates until drying. Tests were conducted for Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., Staphylococcus aureus and Escherichia coli. The treatment revealed different degrees of sanitizing activity of REW on different bacterial species, with higher efficacy on E. coli and Salmonella spp. than S. aureus, Listeria spp.. Statistical analysis revealed a significant microbial load reduction (p<0.01) after treatment with REW, suggesting that it has a good disinfectant activity which, along with its easy and safe use, makes it a good alternative to many other more widely used disinfectants
Room-temperature self-regeneration of heteropolyacids dispersed in silica gel, after use as oxidation catalysts
No full text
Real-time threshold voltage compensation on dual-gate electrolyte-gated organic field-effect transistors
No full textElectrolyte-Gated Organic Field-Effect Transistors (EGOFETs) offer many opportunities for the development of low-cost and low-power electronics suitable for applications like sensors and point-of-care tests; however, EGOFETs can be affected by the drift of their operative point that causes signals distortion and loss of information during sensing applications. Here, a blend of 2,8-Difluoro-5,11-bis(triethylsilylethynyl)anthradithiophene (diF-TES-ADT) and polystyrene (PS) is used as the active material for the fabrication of dual-gate EGOFETs. We exploited the dual-gate architecture to improve EGOFETs stability by implementing digital feedback that uses the back-gate electrode to compensate dynamically for the transistor threshold voltage allowing us to fix its operative point for prolonged tests (>10 h) with different aqueous solutions (Milli-Q water, NaCl 0.1 M and a physiological solution). The presented real-time threshold voltage compensation does not only allow to steady EGOFETs DC output current, but it also preserves EGOFETs sensing capability for the detection of signals with frequencies as low as 1 Hz.The research leading to these results has received funding from the University of Padua, Department of Chemical Sciences (Grants: P-DISC#09BIRD2019-UNIPD - SMOW -; P-DiSC#11NExuS_BIRD2020-UNIPD - CARBON-FET -). It is further funded by the Italian Ministry of Education, Universities and Research through the project entitled “Nanochemistry for Energy and Health, NExuS” (the national funding network termed “Dipartimenti di Eccellenza” awarded to the Department of Chemical Sciences at the University of Padua).
This work was partially supported by the University of Padua, Department of Information Engineering, under the initiative Project PROACTIVE 2018, and by MIUR (Italian Minister for Education) under the initiative “Departments of Excellence” (Law 232/2016).
This work was funded by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation with the project GENESIS PID2019-111682RB-I00 and through the “Severo Ochoa” Programme for Centers of Excellence in R&D (FUNFUTURE CEX2019-000917-S), and the Generalitat de Catalunya (2017-SGR-918). S. R. acknowledges her FPI fellowship and is enrolled in the UAB PhD program.With funding from the Spanish government through the ‘Severo Ochoa Centre of Excellence’ accreditation (CEX2019-000917-S).Peer reviewe
