Avaliação do uso de Lithothamnium Calcareum e levedura de cana-de-açucar na contagem de células somáticas e bacteriana total do leite de vacas

Abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the reduction in somatic cell count (SCC) and total bacterial count (TBC) in bovine milk to acceptable parameters, using a dietary supplement, in three different dosages. The dietary supplement consisted basically of organic minerals derived from Lithothamnium calcareum (92.5 g/kg), Saccharomyces cerevisiae (2.5 g/kg) and yeast cell walls (5g/kg). Twelve crossbred cows that were more than 60 days postpartum and produced more than 20 Kg of milk/day were used in this research, which was conducted at the experimental farm of the Federal University of Uberlândia (Fazenda Experimental do Glória, Universidade Federal de Uberlândia, Uberlândia, Brazil). During the first 75 days, the animals were confined and received feed and silage. During the following 75 days, the animals were received feed and pasture. The 12 cows were divided into four groups of three animals each, the animals of each group receiving 0, 40, 60 or 80g of supplement per day. The supplement was mixed in 4 kg of feed and offered during milking. Milk samples were collected each month, the first one at the beginning of the experiment and the remaining samples every 30 days. These samples were collected at the beginning of the afternoon milking, before the placement of the teat cups, and were kept in containers with bronopol (2-bromo, 2-nitro-1, 3 propanediol). After being collected, the samples were cooled and sent to the Centro de Tecnologia para o Gerenciamento da Pecuária de Leite, at the Clínica do Leite (Esalq-USP). Flow cytometry was used to determine the SCC and flow cytometry PO ANA 010 was used to determine TBC. The average SCC ranged between 1,07 x 105 cells/mL and 2,78 x 105 cells/mL. The average TBC ranged between 4 x 103 CFU/mL and 17 x 103 CFU/mL. No significant changes in SCC and TBC counts were observed, regardless of the dosage used was observed.