Os taninos são compostos fenólicos presentes em plantas, classificados quanto à estrutura química em compostos hidrolisáveis e condensados. Os condensados são adicionados à dieta de ruminantes devido a sua capacidade de formar complexos com proteínas tornando-as não degradáveis no ambiente ruminal. Dessa forma, aumenta o aporte proteico no intestino delgado onde ocorrerá a maior absorção na porção cranial do órgão, o duodeno. A vantagem desse mecanismo é aumentar o aproveitamento da proteína da dieta pelos animais o que influenciará na produtividade e sistema imunológico, entre outros. Os efeitos positivos com a utilização desse composto como aditivo nutricional ainda precisam ser estudados, portanto, o objetivo dessa revisão consiste em demonstrar os resultados, até então conhecidos, da utilização de taninos condensados na dieta de ruminantes.

Background: Mastitis is an inflammatory disease of the mammary gland, mostly associated with bacterial infections. It is responsible for great economic losses due to decreased milk yield, discarded milk, milk composition alterations and treatment costs, besides it impairs the animal health and welfare. The rumination time is an important behavioral marker and its assessment can be used as an early diagnosis tool, which can improve cure rate. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to evaluate the sensitivity of behavior monitoring system collars in the diagnosis of mastitis and the average rumination time (RT) of Holstein cows during the healthy period and affected by the disease. Materials, Methods & Results: The study was conducted on a commercial property located in the municipality of Rio Grande, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil. The RT data from 39 multiparous Holstein cows with an average milk yield of 38.4 L/day was collected. RT monitoring was performed using C-Tech1 collars combined with CowMed® software, which assess behavior data from the animals and emits warning signals when it finds abnormalities in any parameter. In order to verify whether the animals were determined correlated with diseases, the sensitivity of the data was evaluated, when the system had given the alert to animals considered ill, they underwent to a further clinical evaluation performed by a veterinarian to confirm the diagnosis. From the diagnosis, the cows were divided into subclinical mastitis (SM) and clinical mastitis (CM) groups. SM was detected by the Californian Mastitis Test (CMT) and cows that were graded 1 (++), 2 (++) or 3 (+++) without the presence of any other clinical sign were assigned to the SM group. CM was assessed by observation of abnormalities in milk such as changes in color and consistency, as well as the presence of lumps, clots or blood; and clinical examination of the udder was performed for detection of hot, hard, swollen or painful quarters. Thereafter, variations in the mean RT between the healthy (15 days) and sick periods (days when there was an alert) were evaluated. For the identification of the etiological agents involved in the cases of CM, microbiological cultures were performed on Accumast® plates with milk samples, which were incubated at a temperature of 37°C and the diagnosis of the pathogens were performed after16 h of incubation. During the study, 57 cases of mastitis were observed, 42 were SM and 15 were CM. The sensitivity of the system, which is the ability to detect positive cases of the disease, was 73.8% for SM and 73.3% for MC. The RT of the animals were compared individually during the healthy period with the sick period and it was observed that SM reduced the RT by 5.33% whereas MC reduced the RT by 14.9%. Discussion: The maximum RT values were lower during the disease period in relation to the period in which the animals were healthy, for both SM and CM, which is due to the fact that the disease is responsible for causing inappetence in animals, among other clinical signs, therefore, reducing feed consumption. The lowest variation in RT, between the healthy and sick period, was observed in cases of SM, which was already expected, since the clinical form tends to cause more discomfort to the animals. As for the main etiological agents involved in the clinical condition, Streptococcus agalactiae and S. uberis were detected. In view of the above, the evaluation of the mean RT of multiparous dairy cows was efficient in the predictive diagnosis of SM and CM up to 2 days before the onset of the disease. In addition, the variability of this result demonstrated that animals with subclinical cases presented less fluctuation in RT.

This study was developed to evaluate the clinical, hematological, and performance parameters of calves affected by diarrhea caused by the bacterial enteric pathogen Escherichia coli, treated with three different protocols containing sulfonamides. Fourteen Holstein calves were monitored from birth to 60 days of age, and divided into 3 groups. Group 1 (n=5) animals were treated with 80 g of Kaopek®, Ibasa, Brazil, administered orally (BM), dissolved in 160 ml of water every 24 h; Group 2 (n=4) received IM sulfadiazine and trimethoprim (Ibatrim®, Ibasa, Brazil), and Group 3 (n=5) animals were treated with 80 g of Kaopek®, Ibasa, Brazil, which is made up of 16 g of phthalylsulfathiazole, associated with 2.28 g neomycin sulfate, 1.6 g of pectin, and 80 g of kaolin, dissolved in 160 ml of water and administered every 24 h by mouth, in addition to sulfadiazine and trimethoprim (Ibatrim®, Ibasa, Brazil), at a daily dose of 16 mg/kg live weight, through IM injection. During the study, the animals were clinically evaluated, and once they were diagnosed with diarrhea, feces samples were collected to identify the bacterial enteric pathogen, antibiogram, polymerase chain reaction (PCR), and coproparasitological exams. Blood samples were collected to evaluate the hematological profile, and the performance profile was monitored weekly. In the clinical examination, all calves presented a reduction in body temperature (<39.2°C) and some improvement in hydration after treatment (p=0,31). However, group 2 had a better concentration of lymphocytes and TP concerning the other animals, as well as better performance. Besides, E.coli was detected in 100% of feces samples. Thus, the therapeutic protocols with sulfonamides used to treat bovine neonatal diarrhea were effective in the clinical improvement of the animals. Nonetheless, the protocol with systemic therapy using sulfadiazine and trimethoprim (Ibatrim®, Ibasa, Brazil) intramuscularly, provided better performance, with better weight gain, and body development of the animals.

This study aimed to verify the effect of butaphosphan combined with cyanocobalamin (B+C) on dry matter intake (DMI) and milk yield in high producing dairy cows. Eighteen multiparous Holstein cows managed in a compost barn system were enrolled on a calving date and remained under observation until 28 days in milk (DIM). The B+C group administered at 2500 mg of butaphosphan and 1.25 mg of cyanocobalamin (25 mL/cow/day, n = 9), or the control group (NaCl 0.9% administered at 25 mL/cow/day, n = 9,) receiving injections at calving, and at day 3 and 7 post-partum. The DMI, feed efficiency, and DMI/% body weight were evaluated until 21 DIM and the milk yield, rumination, activity, and lying time until 28 DIM. Various metabolites were evaluated at 0, 3, 7, 14, 21, and 28 DIM. DMI did not change with treatment. Milk yield was more significant in the B+C group than in the control group, with an increase of 3.66 kg/milk/d. The maintenance of DMI and the greater milk yield in the B+C group may suggest that the use of B+C can improve feed efficiency. No treatment effect was observed for concentrations of serum glucose, NEFA, BHB, and acetone, however, albumin was higher in B+C than in control. No effect was observed on milk composition. Our results suggest that B+C improves milk yield and feed efficiency by modulating the DMI.