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To compare the performance of four N95 respirator types with respect to quantitative fit test pass rate and health care worker-rated usability and comfort.Health care workers who participated in the respiratory protection program at the Royal Melbourne Hospital, 1 October 2020 - 31 May 2021. Participants underwent quantitative N95 respirator fit testing (at least three of four types: semi-rigid cup, flat-fold cup, duckbill, and three-panel flat-fold types), and were invited to complete an online usability and comfort assessment for respirators for which their fit test results were passes.Fit test pass rate, and user-rated overall comfort and assessment ratings (five-point Likert scales), by N95 respirator type.A total of 2161 health care workers underwent quantitative fit testing (women, 1586 [73.4%]; nurses, 1271 [58.8%]). The overall fit test pass rates were 65.0% for the semi-rigid cup respirators (1029/1583 tests), 32.4% for the flat-fold respirator (660/2035 tests), 59.2% for the duckbill respirators (2005/3387 tests), and 96.4% for the three-panel flat-fold respirator (1876/1946 tests). 378 health care workers completed the comfort and usability survey. Overall comfort and assessment ratings each differed by respirator group (P 0.001); the median overall comfort (4; IQR, 3-4) and overall assessment values (4; IQR, 3-5) were highest for the three-panel flat-fold respirator and lowest for the semi-rigid cup respirators (comfort: 2 [IQR, 1-3]; assessment: 2 [IQR, 2-3]).The three-panel flat-fold N95 respirator outperformed the three alternative types with regard to fit test pass rate and user-rated comfort and usability. To maximise respiratory protection for health care workers, these factors should be considered when making respirator procurement decisions.

The present work was developed with the objective of evaluating the effect of the regrowth age on the chemical composition, digestibility and polyphenol content of the Jatropha curcas in an area of Cauto Valley. Was used piece of ground of Jatropha curcaswith two years of establishment. A randomized block design with six replicas was used. The treatments were regrowth ages of60, 120 and 180 days. At the beginning of each seasonal period a homogeneity cut was made at 1 m above the ground level. Fromthere the sampling was carried out in 10 random plants eliminating the edge effect in an area of 0.5 ha, according to the treatments.The chemical composition of Jatropha curcas the dry matter content, DNF, ADF, ADL, increase with age with its best results at 180 days with 28.82 ; 51.53 ; 33.44 and 20.22 % ; while the CP and cellular content decrease with its highest results at 60 days 27.78 and58.79 %. The minerals showed a very variable behavior. The highest energy contribution and digestibility percentage at 60 days of age with a decrease of 11.04 ; 7.40 ; 8.90 % ; 1.58 and 1.11 MJ / kg. Polyphenolic compounds increase with age with the best results at180 days of age with 11.26, 21.10, 113.93, 111.49 and 2.46 g / Kg, respectively ; for total tannins, total phenols, TCT, TBCT and FTC. The results of the present investigation evidenced the marked effect of climatic factors and age on the quality of the Jatropha curcas, as the maturity of the forage progressed, its nutritional contribution decreased with a decrease in the CP, the nutrient content, digestibility and energy, as well as an increase in the fibrous fraction and the content of polyphenolic compounds.

The aim of this work was to study the relationship between meteorological parameters (relative humidity, rainfall, temperature and wind speed) and rumen environment (pH and temperature) in extensively reared Lidia cattle. Five four year old Lidia breed bulls have been used. All the animals received 10 kg of a TMR (total mixed rations, ratio forage:concentrate 33:67) per animal and day, supplied by means of unifeed wagon once a day. The bulls had free access to a pasture (dehesa) area of 17 hectares. Rumen pH and temperature ruminal were continuously measured using a wireless internal pH and temperature probe. Meteorological parameters (temperature, humidity, rainfall and wind speed) were registered and provided by the AEMET (State Agency of Meteorology). The correlations were performed using the software SPSS 16.0 for Windows. It has been observed that rainfall, relative humidity and temperature have a relationship with rumen environment. Conversely, wind speed does not seem to influence the rumen conditions (pH and temperature).

Thirty-two lambs were used to study the effect of sunflower soap stocks (SS), a by-product from the vegetable oil refinery industry, on meat chemical composition, fatty acid profile, volatile compounds, and consumer acceptability. Lambs were finished (average length of fattening period 35 ± 7.3 d, 26.8 ± 0.09 kg final BW) on a pelleted total mixed ration (TMR) with no SS (00SS) or including 15, 30 or 60 g SS/kg (15SS, 30SS, and 60SS, respectively). Sunflower soap stocks decreased the percentage of SFA, increased the proportion of -MUFA (0.05), and modified the levels of several odor-active lipid-derived volatile compounds ( 0.05). Consumers were able to distinguish between control and 15SS meat samples in a triangular test (0.05), but a well-defined preference for meat of any of these treatments was not exhibited (0.05). Atherogenicity and saturation indexes decreased by 31% and 27%, respectively, in SS groups compared to control (linear 0.05). However, certain volatile compounds (benzene and toluene) and 10-18:1 fatty acid, known potential hazards for human health, were increased in meat from lambs fed TMR with SS. For this reason, only inclusion rates up to 15 g SS/kg TMR seem to sustain a satisfactory balance between beneficial and detrimental effects on lamb meat composition and quality.

Con el objetivo de conocer el consumo de electricidad y su distribución en las explotaciones de ganado vacuno lechero de Castilla y León se realizaron auditorías energéticas a 80 explotaciones, recogiéndose datos sobre sus características, equipos y tiempos de utilización (sala de ordeño, refrigeración, limpieza, agua caliente, ventilación, otros dispositivos) y factura eléctrica. A partir de estos datos se calcularon los índices de consumo medio anual y los índices de utilización de electricidad por vaca productora y por litro de leche producido. Los equipos que más electricidad consumen son la bomba de vacío (8948 kWh/año) y el tanque de frío (6030 kWh/año), seguidos por los sistemas de limpieza (5244 kWh/año). Los sistemas de ordeño en espina de pescado mostraron un consumo inferior (7 kWh) al de los robots de ordeño (24 kWh) o las salas rotativas (26 kWh). El consumo eléctrico anual medio se sitúa en los 516 kWh por vaca productora o 51 kWh por cada 1000 kg de leche producida. La optimización del consumo eléctrico en las explotaciones de ganado vacuno lechero es posible, pero pasa por la evaluación del consumo real producido en cada equipo y proceso de la explotación.

En este trabajo se realiza una revisión de las posibilidades que ofrece el agua electrolizada como agente de limpieza en los sistemas de producción animal, donde ha sido utilizada con éxito en procesos de desinfección de equipos y como higienizante del agua de bebida, observándose interesantes efectos sobre la fisiología y la sanidad animal así como en el rendimiento y productividad de los animales.

10 páginas, 6 tablas., The aim of this research was to investigate the nutritive value of three aquatic plants, the seagrass (Ruppia maritima) and two green macroalgae (Chaetomorpha linum and Ulva lactuca). Biomass from three aquatic plants collected from the lagoon Ghar el melh of Bizerte (northeast of Tunisia) was washed and dried, and tested alone (compared to barley grain and barley grass) or included at different levels in isonitrogenous concentrate mixtures. Four rumen cannulated Barbarine rams were used as donors of rumen fluid for in vitro incubations and as hosts for in situ nylon bags rumen incubations. Gas production, fermentation rate, gas produced after 24 h of incubation and apparent OM digestibility were greater for barley grain and grass than for the three aquatic plants (P 0.05). Inclusion of biomass of the three aquatic plant species studied as ingredients should not exceed 200 g kg in concentrate feeds, because the rate and extent of degradation of the mixture may be reduced with greater addition., The Canada Research Chairs Program (National Science and Engineering Council, Ottawa) is thanked for partial funding.

Feeding systems can play an important role, not only in beef farm profitability but also in animal health and performance. Fourteen Avilena-Negra Iberica bulls, with an initial weight of 270 kg (SE 22.6 kg) and aged 223 d (SE 16.2) were used to study the effect of two feeding systems on ruminal pH and temperature and animal performance when calves were kept in loose housing conditions. Feeding systems were barley (Hordeum vulgare L.) grain-based concentrate plus barley straw (CONC) and maize (Zea mays L.) silage-based total mixed ration (TMR). Internal wireless boluses were used to collect pH and temperature values every 10 min throughout the measurement period (15 d). Diet did not modify (P > 0.10) average daily gain, carcass weight, dressing percentage, ruminal mucosa color, or papilla counts. Papilla width and papilla width/lamina propria thickness were significantly lower (P < 0.05) in TMR than in CONC animals. Time spent below ruminal pH thresholds of 7.0, 6.6, 6.2, and 5.8 and the corresponding areas under the curve were higher (P < 0.05) for animals fed under the TMR system. No significant changes were observed between experimental treatments in parameters related to ruminal temperature or estimated number of times that the animals were drinking during the day (P > 0.10). Although animal performance is not affected, feeding fattening calves on a concentrate plus barley straw diet can result in better rumen conditions than using maize silage-based TMR.

Forty-four merino lambs (6 to 8 wk old; BW 15.6 ± 0.21 kg) were used to study the effect of adding different proportions of sunflower soap stock (SS) to pelleted total mixed ration (TMR) for fattening lambs on feed intake, animal growth and dressing percentage, ruminal fluid characteristics, and blood acid-base parameters. Lambs were assigned to 1 of 4 experimental groups (11 lambs per group), each randomly assigned to 1 dietary treatment: 00SS (0 g SS/kg TMR pellet), 15SS (15 g SS/kg TMR pellet), 30SS (30 g SS/kg TMR pellet), and 60SS (60 g SS/kg TMR pellet). Lambs were individually fed the corresponding diet ad libitum. On d 19 to 23, total feces were collected and sampled from 4 lambs per group. When lambs reached 27 kg BW, they were slaughtered. Dry matter intake, ADG, and length of fattening period were not affected by the dietary treatment (P0.10). Animals in the 30SS group tended to show the best G:F values (P0.10). Dressing percentage tended to linearly decrease as SS increased (P0.10). Animals in the 60SS groups showed the lowest DM and fiber digestibility values (P0.05). Total VFA contents in ruminal fluid were not affected (P0.10), but the propionate proportion linearly increased (P0.05), and the acetate to propionate ratio tended to decrease with SS supplementation. Increasing dietary content of SS linearly decreased the cold carcass weight (P0.05) but did not affect other measured carcass characteristics. Ruminal fluid pH tended to decrease (P0.10) and mucosa color decreased as SS increased in the TMR (P0.05). Blood pH and Na concentration increased (P0.05), whereas the anion gap, CO2 pressure, and K concentration linearly decreased (P0.05) as SS increased. Including more than 30 g SS/kg TMR in the diet for fattening lambs reduces DM and fiber digestibility without affecting feed intake and ADG. The acidotic rumen conditions that induced a darkening of rumen mucosa were counteracted by blood acid-base parameters. The optimum level of inclusion seems to be 30 g SS/kg TMR.

Para conocer las características del consumo de energía y agua de las explotaciones de ganado ovino lechero de Castilla y León se realizó una auditoría energética a 35 granjas. Se recogieron datos de censo y producción, equipos y horario de funcionamiento (ordeño, enfriamiento, bomba de agua, agua caliente…), maquinaria disponible y consumo de agua. Se calcularon los índices de utilización de la energía por oveja productora y por unidad de leche producida. Aunque existen diferencias en función del tamaño de las explotaciones, el consumo de agua caliente sanitaria se sitúa en 0,42 L por oveja productora al día o 0,29 L por cada litro de leche producido. El consumo medio de electricidad es de 2000 kWh al mes, es decir, casi 50 kWh/oveja y año u 84 kWh por cada 1000 L de leche producida. El ordeño consume 34 kWh/día (más del 40 % del gasto eléctrico diario), seguido del enfriamiento de la leche (30 %) y el calentamiento del agua (12 %). Las explotaciones con variador de velocidad en la bomba de vacío presentaron un menor consumo de electricidad por oveja. Se ha estimado que el consumo total de electricidad representa el 2 % del precio percibido por cada litro de leche vendido.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of milking frequency reduction and dietary lipid supplementation on intake, BW, and milk yield and composition in high yielding dairy ewes. Ten lactating Assaf ewes were allocated into 2 experimental groups (n=5). Ewes were fed alfalfa hay ad libitum and 34 g·kg(-1) of BW of a concentrate feed with either 0 (Control group) or 43 g of sunflower oil·kg(-1) of DM (SO group). The experiment lasted 63 d and consisted of 3 periods. During Period 1 (from d 1 to 21), ewes were milked twice a day. During Period 2 (from d 22 to 49), ewes were unilaterally milked, so that each gland of each ewe was milked either once or twice daily. During Period 3 (from d 50 to the end of the experiment), both udder halves were again milked twice daily. Intake, BW, and milk composition were controlled weekly and milk production from each half udder was recorded twice a week. Total DM intake, BW, and milk yield in Period 1 were not significantly (P0.10) affected by dietary treatments. Milk yield tended to be increased in the ewes fed the SO diet in periods 2 (P=0.093) and 3 (P=0.067). Oil supplementation (SO diet) significantly (P0.05) decreased milk protein and total solids concentrations in the 3 experimental periods and fat content in Period 3, and tended (P=0.077) to decline fat content in Period 2. Lactose content and somatic cell count (SCC) were unaffected (P0.10) by dietary lipid supplementation in any of the experimental periods. There were no significant (P0.10) differences between half udders in milk yield and composition in Period 1, and in SCC in any of the experimental periods. Fat and total solids contents were unaffected (P0.10) by reducing milking frequency. Nevertheless, milk protein content was increased (P0.001) when glands were milked only once daily whereas milk yield and lactose content were decreased (P=0.001). The interaction between gland and diet was significant for lactose in Period 2, suggesting a greater effect of milking frequency reduction on tight junctions in Control ewes. In fact, the ratio between glands for milk yield was significantly (P0.05) greater in SO (0.82) than in Control (0.72) ewes. In Period 3, this ratio increased but it was still lower in Control ewes (0.92 vs. 0.78, P0.05). Thus, milking frequency reduction and SO supplementation seem to have counteracting effects on milk production and composition. Our results suggest that SO-supplemented ewes have a better capacity of adaptation to changes in milking frequency, probably due to processes induced in the mammary gland.

Twenty-four Merino lambs (mean BW 15.4 ± 0.13 kg, 6 to 7 wk old) were used to study the effects of the addition of 0 (control), 100 (V10), and 200 (V20) g of vinasse per kilgram of concentrate on intake, animal performance, biochemical blood profile, and carcass and meat characteristics. Lambs were assigned to 1 of 3 experimental diets and fed barley straw and the corresponding concentrate ad libitum. When the animals reached 25 kg of BW, a sample of blood was taken and the lambs were slaughtered. Feed intake, growth rate, biochemical blood profile, and carcass and meat characteristics were assessed. Lambs that received the concentrates with vinasse showed a reduced concentrate intake (linear contrast, P = 0.029) and ADG (linear contrast, P = 0.004) and an increased length of fattening period (linear contrast, P = 0.002) as well as feed:gain ratio (linear contrast P = 0.011). Vinasse enhanced ruminal pH (orthogonal contrast control vs. V10 + V20; P = 0.007). Plasma glucose concentrations declined in lambs fed vinasse (linear contrast, P = 0.003), whereas plasma urea concentration increased in animals fed vinasse (linear contrast, P = 0.036). The plasma concentrations of creatinine, triglycerides, and lactate and the enzyme profile studied (alkaline phosphate, alanine transaminase, glutamate oxal-acetate transaminase, γ-glutamyl transpeptidase, and lactate dehydrogenase) were not modified in response to vinasse inclusion. Lambs in the vinasse groups had less Na(+) and nitrate and greater K(+) and nitrite plasma concentrations (linear contrasts, P0.05). None of the carcass characteristics studied was affected by vinasse (P0.10). Meat chemical composition and characteristics were unaffected (P0.10), but shear force was greater for lambs that received vinasse (orthogonal contrast, control vs. V10 + V20, P = 0.007). The addition of 100 or 200 g vinasse/kg of concentrate for fattening lambs reduced feed intake and growth rate and increased the feed:gain ratio and meat toughness without affecting any other carcass and meat characteristics.

Three experiments were performed to study the nutritional characteristics of sugar beet pulp (SBP) according to the concentration of vinasse (condensed molasses solubles) added. Eighteen Merino ewes were used to study preference in Exp. 1, and 18 Merino ewes were used in Exp. 2 to study voluntary intake of SBP with different amounts of vinasse inclusion (0, 7, and 13% on a DM basis; SBP0, SBP7, and SPB13, respectively). Sheep showed a marked preference for SBP with vinasse, regardless of the amount of addition, whereas voluntary feed intake was not affected (P0.34). Eight ruminally cannulated Merino ewes were used in Exp. 3 to study rumen fermentation of SBP0 and SBP13. Regardless of the diet fed to the animals (SBP0 or SBP13), disappearance rates of DM, NDF, and CP were greater when SBP13, compared with SBP0, was incubated in sacco (P0.05), and NDF and CP disappearance rates were increased when animals were fed the SBP13 diet. No significant differences were observed for pH, ammonia concentration, or total or individual VFA in the ruminal liquor of sheep at different sampling times after feeding (P0.23) in response to vinasse addition. Experiment 4 was designed to study digestibility, solid passage rate, and excretion of purine derivatives from 12 Merino ewes fed SBP0 and SBP13. Digestibility of NDF tended to be greater (P0.10) for the SBP13 group compared with the SBP0 group; digestibilities of DM, OM, CP, and ADF were not affected (P0.11). Digesta flow kinetics and urinary excretion of purine derivatives were not significantly affected by the presence (SBP13) or absence (SBP0) of vinasse in the diet (P0.21). In conclusion, sheep showed a clear preference for SBP with vinasse. However, the lack of significant differences in most of the in vivo variables measured indicates that ewes can be satisfactorily fed with any of the amounts of vinasse inclusion studied.

Twenty-two Merino lambs (average weight=15.3 kg) were used to study the effects of inclusion of sodium bicarbonate in the concentrate on feed intake, digestibility, rate of passage, nitrogen balance and ruminal fermentation in vivo and in vitro. Lambs were allocated to two experimental groups receiving concentrate and 20 g/kg sodium bicarbonate (group Bic) or concentrate alone (group Control). Both groups received barley straw ad libitum. Faeces and urine were collected for 5 days to estimate digestibility, nitrogen balance and rate of passage. After slaughter (at 25 kg live weight), samples of rumen fluid were collected from each lamb to determine parameters of ruminal fermentation and to be used as inocula for batch cultures of rumen microorganisms. There were no significant differences between treatments (P>0.10) in concentrate intake, dry matter digestibility, nitrogen balance and digesta kinetics. However, straw intake was greater (P Se utilizaron 22 corderos de raza Merina (15,3 kg de peso medio) que se distribuyeron en dos grupos, recibiendo el correspondiente pienso concentrado solo (grupo Control) o con 20 g/kg de bicarbonato sódico (grupo Bic). Para estimar la digestibilidad, el balance de nitrógeno y el ritmo de paso se recogieron muestras de heces y orina durante 5 días. Tras el sacrificio (a los 25 kg de peso) se tomaron muestras del contenido ruminal de cada cordero para determinar parámetros de la fermentación ruminal y para ser usadas en cultivos in vitro de microorganismos ruminales. No se observaron diferencias significativas (P>0,10) en la ingestión de concentrado, la digestibilidad de la materia seca, el balance de nitrógeno y la cinética de la digesta. Sin embargo, la ingestión de paja de cebada fue mayor (P

Tap water alone (TW) or treated with 3% of slightly acidic electrolyzed water (SAEW) were used in this experiment to study its effect on water quality, blood biochemical parameters and milk yield and composition. Each type of water was supplied to one group of 10 milking ewes for 25 days. Weekly water samples from troughs were taken. On days 1, 12 and 25, milk yield was measured, and milk and blood samples were taken. SAEW reduced (P0.05) bacterial counts (aerobic mesophilic, total coliform and streptococcus). Blood gases, biochemical parameters and milk yield and its composition were not affected (P0.05). SAEW can be used at 3% rate as a powerful and economic agent for sanitizing drinking water for dairy ewes with no effects on animal performance.