RESUMO -Objetivou-se com este trabalho determinar a interferência dos aditivos extrato de Yucca schidigera e zeólitas (Clinoptilolita) na palatabilidade e digestibilidade de rações comerciais e avaliar sua capacidade de redução do odor das fezes e melhora da consistência fecal de cães. Utilizaram-se cães adultos da raça Beagle com peso médio de ±12,51 kg em três experimentos, todos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado. No teste de palatabilidade, realizado nos dez dias iniciais, utilizaram-se 16 animais distribuídos em duas dietas (controle, com 1,00% de zeólita; e controle + 375 ppm de Yucca schidigera) e, no teste de redução de odor das fezes, realizado nos seis dias posteriores, utilizaram-se 14 animais distribuídos em sete dietas (uma controle e outras seis, formuladas a partir da dieta controle, porém contendo Yucca schidigera (125, 250 ou 375 ppm) ou zeólitas (0,50; 0,75; ou 1,00%). Essas dietas foram utilizadas também no teste de digestibilidade e escore fecal, realizado com 21 animais durante 20 dias. A inclusão desses aditivos na dieta não prejudica a palatabilidade nem a digestibilidade de matéria seca, proteína bruta, extrato etéreo e energia bruta do alimento fornecido. Os níveis de 0,75% e 1,0% de zeólitas reduz significativamente o odor das fezes e aumenta a consistência fecal quando adicionados a rações comerciais para cães. Palavras-chave: aditivos, alumíniossilicatos, saponinaZeolites and Yucca schidigera in commercial ration for dogs: palatability, digestibility and reduction of fecal odors ABSTRACT -The objective of this study was to determine the interference of extract additives of Yucca schidigera and zeolites (Clinoptilolita) on the palatability and digestibility of commercial rations and to evaluate their capacity for reducing fecal odor and improving of fecal consistency of dogs. It was used Beagle breed adult dogs with average weight of ±12.51 kg in 3 experiments, all of them in a completely randomized design. In the palatability test, performed on the first ten days, it was used 16 animals distributed in two diets (control diet, with 1.00% zeolite and control diet + 375 ppm Yucca schidigera) and, on reduction of fecal odor test, performed on the six following days, it was used 14 animals distributed in seven diets (one control and the other six formulated from control diet, containing Yucca schidigera (125, 250 or 375 ppm) or zeolites (0.50; 0.75 or 100%, however). These diets were also used in the digestibility and fecal score trials performed with 21 animals during 20 days. The inclusion of these aditivies in the diet does not harm the palatability neither digestibility of dry matter, crude protein, ether extract and gross energy of the supplied food. Levels of 0.75% and 1.0% of zeolites significantly reduce odor of feces and increase fecal consistency when added to commercial rations for dogs. IntroduçãoA interação entre o homem e os animais de companhia vem se fortalecendo e comprovadamente é bastante benéfica para as duas partes. O vínculo emocional estabelecido fez com que o...

-The effect of the additives Yucca schidigera (YSC) and zeolite (clinoptilolite) on digestibility, fecal texture and odor, blood parameters and urine pH of domesticated felines was evaluated. The experiment was conducted in a randomized block design, with twenty-one cats, in two periods, distributed in seven treatments: moist commercial feed (control); control + 125, 250 and 375 ppm YSC; and control + 0.5; 0.75 and 1.0 % zeolite. No differences were observed between the diets regarding apparent digestibility coefficients of nutrient, energy, urine pH or blood parameters. However, levels of 0.5 and 0.75% zeolite were effective both in reducing odor (R 2 = 96.39) and for fecal texture (R 2 = 99.63), showing a quadratic pattern for these variables.Levels of 125 and 375 ppm YSC were also efficient in reducing fecal odor; however they did not adjust to regression. Levels of 0.5% and 0.75% zeolite significantly reduce odor of feces and increase fecal texture when added to commercial feed for cats.

This study evaluated the effects of increasing concentrations of spray-dried yeast cell wall (YCW) in diets for healthy adult cats on apparent nutrient digestibility and on bacterial composition and fermentation products in the stool. Fourteen cats with an average weight of 4.40 ± 1.05 kg and an average age of 6.2 ± 0.54 years were used and assigned to treatments in an unbalanced randomized block design (by experimental period) with two blocks and three or four cats per diet in each block. Treatments included: control (0% YCW), 0.2% YCW, 0.4% YCW and 0.6% YCW, totalling seven animals per experimental diet. We found that YCW did not affect body weight, nutrient and food intake, faecal production, faecal score, faecal pH or urine output (p > .05). Regarding faecal bacteria, we observed a linear reduction in Clostridium perfringens, a quadratic reduction in Escherichia coli, and linear increases in Bifidobacterium spp. and Lactobacillus spp. (p < .05) with the inclusion of YCW. Regarding the faecal short-chain fatty acid profile, butyrate, valerate, total biogenic amines, putrescine, cadaverine and histamine increased linearly (p < .05) with the inclusion of YCW. It was concluded that in healthy adult cats, consumption of YCW modulates the faecal bacterial populations, with an increased presence of beneficial bacteria and a reduction in some potentially pathogenic bacteria. It was concluded that YCW modulated the levels of fermentation products. There was an increase in fermentation products coming from carbohydrate metabolism, an important effect that can potentially benefit the intestinal health of cats. The consumption of YCW also increased the fermentation of nitrogen compounds, which have not yet been defined as deleterious or beneficial. The fermentability of carbohydrates and nitrogen compounds may be associated. Therefore, YCW may cause rapid fermentation of both classes of compounds by enhancing the fermentability of one class.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of b-lactoglobulin (b-lg) polymorphism and seasonality on milk composition (fat, lactose, total solids, milk urea nitrogen, total protein, true protein, casein and somatic cell counts) of Holstein and Girolando cows. Milk and blood samples from 278 Holsteins cows and 156 Girolando cows were taken during two dry seasons and two rainy seasons, for milk composition analysis and to determine b-lg genotypes, respectively. BB genotype was the most frequent for both breeds, followed by AA genotype for Holstein (BB> AA> AB) and by AB for Girolando cows (BB> AB> AA). No differences were found in milk compositional characteristics among genetic variants of b-lg (AA, AB and BB) either between Holstein or Girolando cows. No association between milk composition and b-lg genetic polymorphism was observed. During the dry season, independently of the breed considered, higher contents of lactose, true protein, casein and casein : true protein ratio were found.

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a substituição do farelo de soja por níveis crescentes de uréia na dieta de vacas leiteiras e os seus efeitos sobre a composição e o rendimento de fabricação de queijo Minas Frescal. Para a fabricação dos queijos, foram utilizados 15 kg de leite, provenientes de nove vacas Holandesas em lactação, distribuídas em três quadrados latinos 3x3. Foram utilizadas três dietas: A) controle, formulada para suprir 100% das exigências de proteína bruta, proteína degradável no rúmen (PDR) e proteína não degradável no rúmen (PNDR), utilizando farelo de soja como principal fonte protéica; B) com a inclusão de 0,75% de uréia, em substituição parcial ao farelo de soja, e C) com inclusão de 1,5% de uréia, em substituição parcial ao farelo de soja. Todas as dietas foram isoenergéticas (1,53 Mcal/kg de energia líquida de lactação) e isonitrogenadas (16% de PB) e utilizaram cana-de-açúcar como volumoso. Quando analisados por regressão polinomial simples, os resultados da composição e da fração nitrogenada do leite pasteurizado não foram influenciados pelo nível de uréia na dieta, o mesmo ocorrendo com a composição (pH, umidade, gordura, matéria mineral, cloreto de sódio, proteína bruta, nitrogênio solúvel em pH 4,6 e em TCA 12%) e o rendimento de fabricação dos queijos. Com base nos resultados deste estudo, concluise que o uso de até 1,5% de uréia na alimentação de vacas em lactação não alterou a composição do leite pasteurizado, bem como a composição e o rendimento de fabricação de queijo Minas Frescal.