The objective of this study was to determine the extraction yield, the content of bioactive compounds and in vitro antioxidant activity of different extracts from Moringa oleifera (MO) leaves, and their potential use as a natural feed additive for ruminant diets. For the preparation of MO extracts, three treatments were used: (1) MO extract in distilled water (MOEW, 0%), (2) ethanol-water (MOEEW, 50%) and (3) absolute ethanol (MOEE, 100%). The extraction yield and the antioxidant activity measured with the DPPH assay in the MO extracts were higher for MOEW and MOEEW. From all treatments, MOEEW had the highest antioxidant activity evaluated with the ABTS assay and showed a higher content of bioactive compounds. On the other hand, the principal component analysis showed that the first two principal components explained 96.5% of the variability of the data. The variables that contributed to the greatest variation were condensed tannins (CT), total phenolic compounds (TPC), total flavonoids (TF), and extraction yield. A high correlation (p ≤ 0.001) was observed between TPC and extraction yield with r² = 0.989. The content of bioactive compounds and antioxidant activity was higher in the MOEEW extract; therefore, its inclusion in ruminant diets can be suggested to potentially improve their productivity and product quality.

Electronic devices have been used to describe chemical compounds in the food industry. However, there are different models and manufacturers of these devices; thus, there has been little consistency in the type of compounds and methods used for identification. This work aimed to determine the applicability of electronic nose (e-nose) Cyroanose 320 to describe the differentiation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in fresh Mexican cheese (F-MC) formulated with milk from two different dairy cattle breeds. The VOCs were described using a device manufactured by Sensigent and Solid-Phase Micro-extraction (SPME) coupled to GC-MS as a complementary method. The multivariate principal components analysis (PCA) and the partial least squares discriminant analysis (PLS-DA) were used to describe the relationships of VOCs to electronic nose data, sensory data, and response levels. In addition, variable importance in projection (VIP) was performed to characterize the e-nose signals to the VOCs. The e-nose distinguishes F-MC prepared with milk from two dairy breeds. Sensor number 31 correlated with carboxylic acids most in F-MC from Jersey milk. The HS-SPME/GC-MS identified eighteen VOCs in F-MC made with Holstein milk, while only eleven VOCs were identified for F-MC made with Jersey milk. The more significant peaks in both chromatogram analyses were Propanoic acid, 2-methyl-, 1-(1,1-dimethylethyl)-2-methyl-1,3-propanediyl ester in cheese made from Holstein milk and Propanoic acid, 2-methyl-, 3-hydroxy-2,4,4-trimethylpentyl ester in Jersey milk cheese. Both compounds are considered essential carboxylic acids in the dairy industry. Thus, sensor 31 in the electronic nose Cyranose 320 increased its response by essential carboxylic acids identified by HS-SPME/GC-MS as a complementary method. The e-nose Cyranose 320 is potentially helpful for evaluating fresh Mexican cheese authentication independent of cows’ milk samples from different breeds.

Nutrition plays a critical role in developmental programs. These effects can be during gametogenesis, gestation, or early life. Omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) are essential for normal physiological functioning and for the health of humans and all domestic species. Recent studies have demonstrated the importance of n-3 PUFA in ruminant diets during gestation and its effects on pre-and postnatal offspring growth and health indices. In addition, different types of fatty acids have different metabolic functions, which affects the developmental program differently depending on when they are supplemented. This review provides a broad perspective of the effect of fatty acid supplementation on the developmental program in ruminants, highlighting the areas of a developmental program that are better known and the areas that more research may be needed.

In sheep, polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) supplementations in late gestation increases the growth of offspring; however, there is a lack of evidence on the effect of PUFA supplementation during early gestation. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation of eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA) and docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) in early gestation pregnant ewes on fatty acid concentration of fetal liver (FL) and fetal central nervous system (FCNS), and relative abundance of the mRNA for genes associated with transport and metabolism of fatty acids in FL and placenta. A total of 12 ewes, block for stage of gestation were fed a diet containing 1.6% (dry matter basis) monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA) or EPA+DHA during the first 45 days of gestation. A cesarean section was conducted on day 45 of gestation to collect placenta (caruncle and cotyledon), FL, and FCNS. Relative abundance of mRNA in FL and FCNS and fatty acid concentration were analyzed using a 2x2 factorial arrangement of treatments considering fatty acid supplementation and tissue as the main factors. Concentrations of C18:1 isomers increase (P < 0.05) in FL and FCNS with MUFA supplementation; the FL and FCNS had a greater concentration of C20:3(n-6), C20:3(n-3), C22:1, C22:5 and C22:6 (P < 0.05) with EPA+DHA supplementation. In FL, the relative abundance of LPL mRNA was greater (P = 0.02) as a result of MUFA supplementation. In placenta, there was a FA x tissue interaction for relative abundance of DNMT3b and FFAR-4 mRNA (P < 0.05). Fetus from MUFA-supplemented dams had a greater relative abundance of FABP-4 mRNA (P < 0.05). Results indicate supplementation with EPA+DHA during early gestation increases the total EPA and DHA in FL. For the placenta, EPA+DHA supplementation led to an increase in the relative abundance of lipid mRNA for transport genes.

Twenty-four Dorper x Pelibuey lambs were housed in individual pens during a 31-d feeding period and assigned to four treatments (n = 6) under a randomized complete block design with different daily doses of zilpaterol hydrochloride (ZH): 0 (control), 0.1, 0.2, and 0.3 mg/kg BW to determine the effects of ZH supplementation on productive performance, meat quality, and wholesale cut yields. Final BW (p = 0.02) and average daily gain (ADG, p = 0.04) were greater in lambs supplemented with 0.2 mg/kg BW. Supplemental ZH tended to improve dry matter intake (DMI, p = 0.008) and ADG:DMI ratio (p = 0.078). Wholesale cut yields were not affected by ZH supplementation. Percentage of head was greater (p = 0.04) in lambs treated with ZH. The ZH supplementation did not affect carcass characteristics. However, longissimus thoracis et lumborum (LTL) presented a linear trend (p = 0.08) of increasing with ZH supplementation. Percentage of blood presented a trend (p = 0.051) of decreasing with ZH supplementation. Also, liver decreased in size (p < 0.05) for treatments where ZH was included. Values of luminosity decreased (p < 0.02) when ZH dosage increased. The value of protein Lowry was greater, with 0.3 mg kg⁻¹ (p = 0.04). Cathepsin B + L was greater in the lambs from the control treatment (p = 0.05). In conclusion, using a daily ZH dosage of 0.2 mg per kg of BW produced the best productive performance, carcass characteristics, and some changes in the meat of hair-breed lambs.

The objective was to characterize the effects of a supplemental Herbal Antibiotics Source (HAnS) on performance, blood chemistry, blood cells, and antibody counts of Holstein calves. Forty calves (initial BW 45.8 ± 7.2 kg) were randomly assigned to treatments: 0, 3, 4, and 5 g d⁻¹ HAnS. The additive improved hip height and thoracic girth. The reduction of starter diet intake among individuals varied greatly, while milk replacer intake increased. HAnS at intermediate doses reduced the cases of pneumonia. It also linearly reduced the blood serum glucose and B-OH butyrate. Urea and monocytes showed a quadratic response, and basophils decreased. HAnS improves calf development at intermediate doses and reduces the incidence of diseases.