Parâmetros fisiológicos de bovinos cruzados submetidos ao estresse calórico RESUMOCaracterizaram-se as respostas fisiológicas de termorregulação em conforto e estresse calórico de bovinos cruzados F 2 (½ Gir x ½ Holandês), machos e fêmeas, com idade entre 14 e 20 meses. Os animais foram alocados, em número de cinco, e submetidos ao conforto térmico (22°C a 70% de umidade relativa) por 12 horas e ao estresse calórico (42ºC e 60% de umidade relativa) durante seis horas, logo após o período de conforto, nas estações de verão e inverno, em câmara bioclimática. Nas duas etapas, foram registradas a temperatura retal (TR), a freqüência respiratória (FR) e a temperatura de superfície corporal (TSC) às 6 e 16 horas. Os animais apresentaram aumento da TR, da FR e da TSC no período de estresse calórico (P<0,05). O aumento da TR e FR foi mais acentuado no verão (P<0,05). A TSC não apresentou diferença entre as estações (P<0,05).Palavras-chave: bovino, estresse calórico, temperatura retal, freqüência respiratória, temperatura de superfície corporal ABSTRACTThe thermoregulation physiological responses in thermoneutrality and heat stress of crossbred calves (½Gir x ½Holstein), males and females, with age between 14 and 20 months were studied. The animals were submitted to thermoneutrality (22°C and 70% of relative humidity)

Mastite subclínica e relação da contagem de células somáticas com número de lactações, produção e composição química do leite em vacas da raça Holandesa RESUMOVerificaram-se a ocorrência de mastite subclínica em animais da raça Holandesa e a relação entre a contagem de células somáticas com a ordem de lactação e com a produção e a composição química do leite. O estudo foi realizado em propriedades integrantes do programa de controle leiteiro da Associação de Criadores de Gado Holandês de Minas Gerais. As variáveis estudadas foram: ordem de lactação, ocorrência de mastite subclínica, contagem de células somáticas (CCS), produção de leite e porcentagens de gordura e de proteína total. A correlação entre CCS e produção de leite foi negativa e entre CCS e porcentagens de gordura e de proteína, positivas. Animais com maior número de lactações apresentaram maior CCS, e com CCS acima de 100.000 cels/ml menor produção de leite.Palavras-chave: gado de leite, contagem de células somáticas, mastite, produção de leite ABSTRACT

Digital dermatitis (DD) is one of the main causes of lameness in dairy cattle worldwide, and it is frequently reported in high-yielding, free stall dairy herds from regions with a temperate climate. However, DD is also observed with high prevalence in grazing cattle with a low milk yield in tropical regions. To clarify whether these differences have an impact on the etiology of the disease, we studied DD lesions from all year round grazing cattle of mixed breed in Brazil using high-throughput 16S rRNA gene sequencing and fluorescent in situ hybridization. The study included samples from 66 skin lesions and 5 healthy skins collected from five farms. Both techniques showed Treponema spp. to be the most abundant bacteria, present in all but one of the samples with minimal epidermal alterations. We identified eleven different Treponema strains belonging to the six major phylotypes of Treponema which have all previously been identified in DD lesions. Furthermore, we identify Dichelobacter nodosus in DD lesions by gene sequencing and also by fluorescent in situ hybridization in almost half of biopsy specimens in areas with mild epithelial damage and together with Treponema. The present data support the hypothesis that Treponema constitutes the main pathogen responsible for DD, independent of the environment and region where cows are kept, and it further suggests D. nodosus as another potentially important pathogen.

Performance, rumen development, and metabolism of male Holstein calves (n=54) were evaluated according to 1 of 3 liquid feeding strategies: 4 L of milk replacer (MR)/d until 60 d old (4 L-60 d), 6L of MR/d until 29 d old and 4 L/d from 30 to 60 d (6L-29 d/4 L-60 d), or 6L of MR/day until 60 d old (60 d-6L). Water and starter were provided ad libitum. Intakes of MR and starter were monitored daily and body weight (BW) weekly. Blood samples for glucose and insulin concentrations and ruminal content samples for volatile fatty acids and ruminal ammonia concentrations were collected at 15, 30, 45, 60, 75, and 90 d of age. Six calves on each treatment were euthanized at 30, 60, and 90 d of age. Empty weights of forestomach and abomasum, papillae length, and mitotic index were measured. Average MR intake/d (expressed as a percent of BW) was greater for calves receiving 6L/d than for those receiving 4 L/d until 30 d of age. Calves on the 6 L-29 d/4 L-60 d had the smallest MR intake from 30 to 60 d old, followed by the 4 L-60 d and 6L-60 d treatments. Starter intake (kg of dry matter/day) did not differ between groups. It increased from 0.065 kg/d in the first month to 0.386 kg/d in the second month, and to 2.065 kg/d after weaning. Weight gain was greater for calves fed more MR in the first month, but no difference was observed during the second month. After weaning, 6L-60 d calves had greater rate of weight gain than others and were heavier at 30, 60, and 90 d of age. Weight of empty forestomachs, ruminal pH, and ammoniac nitrogen concentration were not different among groups. Propionate concentration was lower for 6 L-60 d calves, but acetate and butyrate concentrations were not influenced by MR feeding strategy. Calves fed more MR until d 30 had greater ruminal epithelium mitotic index. The different MR feeding strategies did not influence papillae length or ruminal epithelium thickness. Lesions such as ruminal parakeratosis or hyperkeratosis were not observed. The MR feeding strategy did not affect glucose concentration, but insulin was higher in 6L-60 d calves than in the other groups. Glucose concentration increased with age, whereas insulin decreased until 45 d old, and then started to increase until 90 d. In conclusion, MR feeding strategy did not influence ruminal development. Feeding calves 6 L of MR/d over 60 d resulted in greater rate of weight gain without negative effects on starter intake or forestomach development. The weight advantage that 6L-60 d calves obtained preweaning was maintained until 90 d of age.

This prospective longitudinal study investigated the epidemiology of enteric disease associated with infections in calves aging up to 70 days. A total of 850 fecal samples were collected from 67 calves. Seventeen isolates of Salmonella spp. were recovered from feces of 11 calves (16.4%), and statistical analysis revealed no association between the presence of Salmonella spp. and clinical signs of diarrhea or age. Virulence factors of Escherichia coli were identified in 103 strains: eae (7), K99/STa (7), Stx1 (7), Stx1/eae (36), Stx1/Stx2/eae (2), Stx2 (43), and Stx2/eae (1). There was statistical association between diarrheic animals carrying E. coli Stx1/eae (+) in their feces at 2 and 4 weeks of age (P = 0.003) and E. coli Stx2 (+) at 5 weeks of age (P = 0.03). Rotavirus was detected in 49 (5.76%) fecal samples collected from 33 calves (49.2%). The presence of rotavirus was correlated with diarrheic feces (P < 0.0001) rather than feces with normal consistency. There was a significant relationship between age group and diarrhea (P = 0.001). Bovine coronavirus (BCoV) was detected in 93 fecal samples collected from 46 calves (68.6%). There was an association (P < 0.0001) between diarrheic animals positive for BCoV and age groups. The results demonstrate the importance of the pathogens studied in the etiology of diarrhea in calves.