Background: Curcumin has been used as an additive in the diet of animals in recent years due to the potent medicinal properties of this molecule. Objective: To evaluate whether the addition of curcumin to the diet of calves at different phases (pre- and post-weaning) has a positive effect on metabolic profile, performance, and anti-coccidian action. Methods: Thirtythree Holstein calves were selected at various phases of development: Experiment 1 (E1: n=10) 18±7 (pre-weaning), Experiment 2 (E2: n=11) 64±4 (pre-weaning) and Experiment 3 (E3: n=12) 95±8 (post-weaning) days of life. The calves were separated in three groups according to their phase of development. In each experiment, animals were divided into two sub-groups: control and curcumin. The curcumin groups received 200 mg of additive per animal/day either in milk (pre-weaning) or concentrate (post-weaning). Fecal collections were performed on days 0, 10 and 15 of the experiment to count Eimeria oocysts per gram of feces and to perform fecal score analysis. Complete blood counts, oxidant and antioxidant profiles, protein metabolism markers, lipid levels, glucose levels, and animal weights were measured. Analyses of digestibility and composition of the diet used in Experiment 3 (post-weaning) were also performed. Results: Independent of phase, animals that received curcumin had greater weight gain on days 0 to 15 (E1, E2 and E3 p=0.04, 0.001 and 0.001, respectively), probably due to the increased digestibility of hay and concentrate at 72h (p=0.03 and 0.02, respectively). The supplemented calves had lower level of oxidants (thiobarbituric acid reactive substances –TBARS- and reactive oxygen species –ROS-), indicating that free radical levels in serum and lipid peroxidation were lower. This was probably due to increased enzymatic antioxidants gluthatione S-transferase (E1, E2 and E3 p=0.001, 0.001 and 0.02, respectively), catalase (E1 p=0.001) and superoxide dismutase (E3 p=0.001) in treated animals at day 15. Furthermore, calves receiving curcumin had lower numeric number of Eimeria infection during the experimental period, and the difference was significant in day 15 (E1 and E2 p=0.02, and 0.001, respectively). Conclusion: Curcumin supplementation to dairy calves has coccidiostatic potential, favoring weight gain.Keywords: animal stress; antioxidants; calves; cattle growth; curcumin; Eimeria; parasitology; supplementation. Resumen Antecedentes: Curcumina ha sido utilizada como aditivo en la dieta de animales en los últimos años, debido a las potentes propiedades medicinales de esa molécula. Objetivo: Evaluar si la adición de curcumina en la alimentación de terneras en diferentes fases (pre y post-destete) presenta efecto positivo sobre el perfil metabólico, desempeño de los animales, y acción anti-coccidial. Métodos: Se seleccionaron 33 terneros Holstein en varias etapas de desarrollo: Experimento 1 (E1: n=10) 18±7 (pre-destete), Experimento 2 (E2: n=11) 64±4 (pre-destete) y Experimento 3 (E3: n=12) 95±8 (post-destete) días de vida. Para todos los experimentos, el período experimental fue de 15 días. Los animales se dividieron en dos grupos: control y tratados con curcumina. Los grupos con curcumina recibieron una dosis de 200 mg del aditivo por animal/día en la leche (pre-destete) o en el concentrado (post-destete). Las colectas de heces y sangre fueron realizadas en los días 0, 10 y 15 para conteo de ooquistes de Eimeria por gramo de heces y análisis de puntaje fecal. Se realizó hemograma, perfil oxidante y antioxidante, metabolismo proteico, lipídico, glucosa sanguínea y pesaje de los animales. También se realizó análisis de digestibilidad de la dieta total para los animales del Experimento 3 (post-destete). Resultados: Encontramos que, independientemente de la fase, los animales que recibieron curcumina tuvieron una mayor ganancia de peso en los días 0 a 15 (E1, E2 y E3, p=0,04, 0,001 y 0,001, respectivamente), probablemente debido al aumento de la digestibilidad del heno y concentrado a las 72 h (p=0,03 y 0,02, respectivamente). En los terneros suplementados observamos un nivel más bajo de oxidantes (oxidantes (sustancias reactivas al ácido tiobarbitúrico y especies reactivas de oxígeno); es decir, los niveles séricos de radicales libres y la peroxidación lipídica fueron más bajos. Esto se debió, probablemente, a los antioxidantes enzimáticos glutatión S-transferasa (E1, E2 y E3 p=0,001, 0,001 y 0,02 respectivamente), catalasa (E1, p=0,001) y superóxido dismutasa (E3, p=0,001) que aumentaron en los animales tratados al día 15. Además, los terneros que recibieron curcumina tuvieron niveles más bajos de infección por Eimeria durante el período experimental y fueron significativos en el día 15 (E1 y E2, p=0,02 y 0,001, respectivamente). Conclusión: La suplementación con curcumina tiene potencial coccidiostático y favorece la ganancia de peso en terneros Holstein. Palabras clave: antioxidantes; crecimiento de ganado; curcuminatiene; Eimeria; estrés animal; parasitología; suplementación; terneros. ResumoAntecedentes: Curcumina tem sido usado como aditivo na dieta de animais nos últimos anos, devido as propriedades medicinais potente dessa molécula. Objetivo: Avaliar se a adição de curcumina na alimentação de bezerras em diferentes fases (pré e pós-desmame) apresenta efeito positivo sobre perfil metabólico, desempenho e ação anti-coccidéo. Métodos: Para isso, 33 bezerros holandeses foram selecionados em vários estágios de desenvolvimento: Experimento 1 (E1: n=10) 18±7 (prédesmame), Experimento 2 (E2: n=11) 64±4 (pré-desmame) e Experimento 3 (E3: n=12) 95±8...

The effect of milk production systems on the welfare of dairy cows has been studied worldwide, but studies that compare pasture-based, compost barn, and free stall systems, according to animal welfare, are more scarce. In this work, the welfare of 51 dairy herds, including 17 from each management system, was investigated through the application of the Welfare Quality^® protocol. Descriptive statistics and the Kruskal–Wallis non-parametric method were used to analyze variables. In the present work, the welfare of the evaluated herds was significantly better in the pasture-based system than in the confinement systems. However, the pasture-based system presented weaknesses in providing water resources. The compost barn had fewer animal welfare critical points than the free stall system, as well as it was better than the free stall in measures related to comfort and health. The free stall did not present better scores than the other systems. It is concluded that the welfare of dairy cows is affected by the rearing system, with better scores, in most measures, in the pasture-based system, followed by the compost barn and, finally, the free stall.

The objective of this study was to describe barn management practices and to evaluating cow locomotion, hygiene and hock lesion prevalence of dairy cows housed in Compost Barns (CB) located in the subtropical region of Brazil. The CB has demonstrated satisfactory results in relation to animal comfort and productivity. However, modifications to the initial American recommendations are being made by producers in order to adapt it to different conditions. Thirty dairy farms were analyzed regarding structural measurements and layout, management practices, bedded pack and herd characteristics. The main results highlighted were the resting space of 14.6 m2 cow-1, most of the farms (87%) had newly built facilities and only 43.3% were built in E-W direction. Most farms did not have ridge opening and 60 % had fans in the bedded pack area, which is mostly stirred twice a day. About a third of the farms used CB only during the hottest hours of the day or rainy periods, with pasture access the remainder of the time. The bedded pack material averaged 48.4% DM, pH of 8.68, C:N of 5.90 and deep bedding temperature of 42.52 ⁰C. Locomotion scoring showed majority of the cows with a normal gait (95.5% of cows scoring 1 or 2 for locomotion). Hock lesions were observed in 15.5% of the animals and 84.0% of the cows were clean or only slightly dirty. This study indicates characteristics or issues to start an improvement process on CB usage in Brazilian subtropical region. The cow comfort was considered adequate, based on results of cow locomotion, lesions and hygiene scoring.

This study aimed to examine the relationship between a high somatic cell count (SCC) in cows and milk quality during the hot season in different breeds. Milk samples from 500 cows in the hot season and 431 in the cold season of 2022 were collected across 39 farms in Santa Catarina, Brazil. The samples were analyzed for SCC, milk composition, and physical attributes. Cows were also evaluated for udder depth, udder clearance, teat-end condition, and leg and udder cleanliness. Based on the SCC levels, cows were categorized as low (≤200,000 cells/mL), medium (>200,000 and ≤615,000), or high (>615,000). Data were analyzed by ANOVA with a statistical model that included the effects of the SCC class, season, days in milk, parity, genetic group, and the interaction of the SCC level and season. The results showed that cows with a high SCC produced less milk with lower component levels but higher chloride content. Milk from the hot season had lower acidity and reduced component levels. The impact of SCC on the physical traits of milk did not vary with season. Furthermore, cows with deeper udders and lower udder clearance were more likely to have a high SCC, regardless of genetics. Both a high SCC and hot temperatures independently compromised milk yield and quality, thereby increasing the risk of culling. Therefore, improving udder conformation and avoiding cows with deep udders may help to reduce SCC levels.

The objective was to classify the dairy farms that use Compost bedded pack barn (CB) in the Brazilian subtropical region, in terms of farm structure, building aspects, environmental and compost bedded pack characteristics, and reports the variability among them. Additionally, this research identifies structural and management factors that interfere in the compost bedded pack quality. Farms (n = 30) were visited (January-March 2017), located on Subtropical region of Brazil, where CB measurements, managements and herd observations were performed. The cluster analysis was performed with the kmeans methodology to define the groups, and through iterations, the optimal number of groups was determined according to the Silhouette method. Descriptive statistics were used for the different groups of farms. The clustering analysis, based on 12 variables, resulted in the formation of three groups: “Conventional and adapted CB” (n=18, with new and adapted barns, of different sizes, full time using, with adequate pack characteristics or not), “Large conventional CB” (n = 6, larger barns, more similar to American models, full time using) and, “CB of partial use” (n = 6, used in hottest hours of the day or rainy season, with better pack characteristics among groups, although do not have fans ventilation and the bedded pack is stirring only once a day). The CB systems are heterogeneous, and the barns are characterized by their distinct sizes or period of utilization. The group “CB of partial use” presented better bedded pack characteristics even with less intensive bedding management, and without fan ventilation in the barns.

Yogurt is one of the most popular fermented dairy products and an excellent medium for new ingredients/food source. This study sought to evaluate and characterize bovine milk (BM) and sheep milk (SM) and yogurt made from bovine (BM) and sheep (SM) milk, and BM:SM mixture with the respective 100:0 fractions: 75:25, 50:50, 25:75 and 0:100, and evaluate their influence on physicochemical parameters, antioxidant, protein profile, microstructure and color analysis for yogurts. Yogurts with higher levels of acidity, protein, fat, total solids, ash and calcium were the ones made from SM.. Regarding the color attributes, all yogurts showed yellow-green characteristics after 21 days of storage by evaluating parameters a* and b*, with a predominance of bovine milk. The antioxidant profile showed a higher concentration at 100:0 and 0:100, but bovine milk has a higher DPPH (2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl) value, while yogurts maintained constant DPPH values ​​during storage, being higher at 0:100. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) showed that BM (100:0) has a more compact structure, possibly due to the larger size of the fat particles and the lower protein concentration compared to SM (0:100). Sheep milk presented better nutritional value, showing its potential in the manufacture of products.