Alexandre Oba

Vehicle thermal microclimate evaluation during Brazilian summer broiler transport and the occurrence of PSE (Pale, Soft, Exudative) meat

O microambiente termico formado no caminhao de transporte de frangos da granja ao abatedouro pode ser a causa primaria que compromete o bem estar das aves e a qualidade final da carne com o desenvolvimento de PSE (Pale, Soft, Exudative) em files de peito de frango. O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do microambiente formado durante o transporte por caminhao em uma linha comercial. Para classificacao de files de peito em PSE, o pH e a cor (L*, a* e b*) foram medidos nos files de peito de frango 24 h postmortem. Os resultados mostraram que em jornadas longas, as aves transportadas nas regioes do meio e fundo do veiculo apresentaram maior ocorrencia de PSE devido as dramaticas condicoes de temperatura e umidade relativa no microambiente destas regioes. A ventilacao diminuiu gradualmente da frente a trazeira do caminhao e a aplicacao do banho de agua sobre os frangos apos o carregamento na granja foi benefica em jornadas longas ao reduzir a ocorrencia de carnes PSE.

Broiler transportation conditions in a Brazilian commercial line and the occurrence of breast PSE (Pale, Soft, Exudative) meat and DFD-like (Dark, Firm, Dry) meat

The objective of this work was to investigate the effect of road transportation conditions on the occurrence of broiler PSE-(Pale, Soft, Exudative) and DFD-like (Dark, Firm, Dry) meats in the Brazilian commercial slaughterhouse plant. Samples of Pectoralis major m from 47-day-old broilers of commercial lineage were analyzed. The results indicated that water-bathing birds just before journey over 3.0km promoted the occurrence of 46.0% of PSE and 4.0% of DFD-like meat, while birds under non-water bathing conditions presented 14.7 and 2.0%, respectively. For a distance of 68.0km, the occurrences of PSE-and DFD-like meat were 44.0 and 0.0% under water bathing conditions, and 52.0 and 0.0% without water bathing, respectively. Water bathing at the farm was a critical manoeuvre for increasing the unfavourable truck microenvironment for short journey, whereas conversely for longer journey it was less stressful influencing the broiler breast meat quality.

The effect of management of transport and lairage conditions on broiler chicken breast meat quality and DOA (Death on Arrival)

The aim of this work was to evaluate the influence of time of broiler chicken transportation and laira ge prior to slaughtering on the occurrence of PSE (Pale, Soft, Exudative) meat and Death On Arrival (DOA) under no ncommercial conditions in the Brazilian summer. Male birds (n=250) from a commercial line were subjecte d to different periods of journey (30, 90, and 180 min) and lairage (0, 90, and 180 min) before slaughterin g. The occurrence of PSE was higher in broilers subjected to shorter journeys and lairage periods, whereas DO A was more pronounced upon longer periods of transport an d lairage. The DOA occurrence percentage was much h in comparison to commercially available figures, co nfirming that broiler chickens are very sensitive tboth transport and lairage maneuvers.

Improving transport container design to reduce broiler chicken PSE (pale, soft, exudative) meat in Brazil

Throughout the chicken production chain, transport from farm to the commercial abattoir is one of the most critical sources of stress, particularly heat stress. The aim of this work was to describe the performance of a new prototype truck container designed to improve the microenvironment and reduce the incidence of pale, soft and exudative (PSE) meat and dead on arrival (DOA) occurrences. Experiments were carried out for four different conditions: regular and prototype truck, both with and without wetting loaded cages at the farm (for bird thermal stress relief) just before transporting. While there was no difference in the DOA index (P ≥ 0.05), the prototype truck caused a reduction (P < 0.05) in the occurrence of PSE meat by 66.3% and 49.6% with and without wetting, respectively. The results of this experiment clearly revealed a low-cost solution for transporting chickens that yields better animal welfare conditions and improves meat quality.

Características produtivas e imunológicas de frangos de corte submetidos a dietas suplementadas com cromo, criados sob diferentes condições de ambiente

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate performance, immune response and traits concerning carcass and poultry cuts of broiler chickens fed diets supplemented with chromium-yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisae), reared under different environmental temperature conditions. Birds were reared in climate chambers with heating and cooling system, using the following environmental temperatures according to ages: from 1 to 3 days of age (35, 35 and 35 oC ± 2), from 4 to 7 days of age (35, 30 and 25 oC ± 2), from 8 to 14 days old (34, 27 and 20 oC ± 2), from 15 to 21 days of age (33, 26 and 18 oC ± 2) and from 22 to 47 days of age (32, 26 and 18 oC ± 2), respectively, for high, thermoneutral and low temperatures. Diets were supplemented with 0; 400; 800; and 1,200 μg Cr/kg. Supplementation with 400 μg Cr/kg enhances the viability and, in birds reared in high temperature, feed conversion as well, while temperature showed to have great influence upon productive traits in every rearing phase. Chickens reared at high temperature presented better immune response, higher carcass dressing percentage and leg quarter yield, but inferior results for breast yield and performance.

Farelo de gérmen de milho desengordurado na dieta de poedeiras comerciais de 28 a 44 semanas de idade

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of including defatted corn germ meal in diets for laying hens. It was assigned two hundred and forty laying hens to a randomized design, with six diets and five replicates of eight hens per diet. Experimental diets were formulated by inclusion of defatted corn germ meal at 0, 6, 12, 18, 24 and 30% level. The period experiment was carried out for four 28-day cycles and performance (feed intake, egg production, egg weight, egg mass and feed conversion) and the egg quality (egg specific gravity, yolk color, yolk and albumen percentages, shell percentages, shell thickness and Haugh unity) were the evaluated parameters. Negative linear effect was observed for feed intake and yolk pigmentation by increasingly including defatted corn germ meal in diets for laying hens. Quadratic effect of defatted corn germ meal for feed conversion was also observed. No statistical differences were observed for any other parameters. Defatted corn germ meal can be included at 21.2% in laying hens diets.

Sensitivity to halothane and its relationship to the development of PSE (Pale, Soft, Exudative) meat in female lineage broilers

This work aimed to evaluate female lineage broilers for halothane sensitivity and for their susceptibi lity to the subsequent development of PSE meat. The halothane t est was carried out in an anesthetic chamber with 3 .0% halothane. The unconscious birds were examined for leg muscle rigidity. If one or both legs became ext ended and rigid, the birds were classified as halothane sensi tive (HAL+), while unresponsive birds were classifi ed as halothane negative (HAL-). The results showed that of 298 birds aged 42 days old, 95.6% were HAL- and 4.4% were HAL +. A sample of pectoralis major muscle was collected from HAL- (n=105) and HAL+ (n=13) birds. The pH and breast fillet color were determined at 4oC, 24 hours post-mortem. Interestingly, only 2.5% of H AL+ birds displayed PSE meat characteristics compared to 12.7 % of HAL- individuals. The halothane test demonstra ted that female lineage broilers displayed very little sensi tivity towards halothane, indicating that the devel opment of PSE meat is related to other environmental factors.

Desempenho e características de carcaça de suínos submetidos a diferentes programas de restrição alimentar na fase dos 30 aos 118 kg

The aim of this work was evaluate the animal performance, the carcass characteristics and the weight of the organs of digestive system of pigs submitted to different periods of feed restriction. A total of 40 barrows, Landrace × Large White were distributed to randomized block design, to four feed restriction programs, five replications and two animal per experimental unit. Four restrict programs were evaluated: one control, with ad libitum feeding during the 86 days of experiment, and others three, with restriction of 20% in the feed intake in relation to control group, during 21 days, at 30, 50 or 70 kg BW. Performance characteristics as daily feed intake, daily weight gain and the feed conversion of the animals were evaluated. Carcass characteristics, as hot and cold carcass weights, length and carcass dressing, subcutaneous fat thickness, Longissimus dorsi muscle depth, lean meat yield, lean meat amount and loin eye area were evaluated. Also were evaluated organs weights, as liver, stomach, small and large intestine. The costs of each program were evaluated to observe their viability. Feed conversion, considering total experimental period, was better for the animals kept on feed restriction from 70 kg BW. The carcass characteristics evaluations and organs weights did not differ among feed restriction programs. The costs analysis showed a better relation for feed restriction from 70 kg BW. In all feeding programs, the feed restriction followed by ad libitum feeding promoted a compensatory gain effect for all treatments.

Características das fibras musculares do L. dorsi e qualidade da carne de suínos de quatro linhagens

The aim of this paper was to analyze the myofiber characteristics of four distinct genetic pork groups and correlate them with the meat quality. 46 animals (23 barrows and 23 females) from four genetic lines were used, representing the experimental treatments: high-lean commercial cross-bred line; commercial cross-bred line selected for ends of prolificacy, non selected genetic line and crossbred animals (Landrace x Large White). Were analyzed the sarcomere length, myofiber differentiation, myofiber number and diameter and meat quality (colour, marbling and dripping loss). It was used a complete randomized design with a 4x2 factorial arrangement (4 genetic lines and 2 sexes). The high-lean commercial cross-bred line, commercial cross-bred line selected for ends of prolificacy and Landrace x Large White animals presented greater myofiber number than non selected animals (p<0.05). Landrace x Large White animals presented the greatest cell diameter and non selected animals and commercial cross-bred line selected for ends of prolificacy animals presented the smallest averages for this trait (p<0.05). There were no differences among genetic lines for sarcomere length. The commercial cross-bred line selected for ends of prolificacy animals had less glicolitic fibers percentage and more intermediate fiber percentage (p<0.05) than the other genetic groups. The high-lean commercial cross-bred line and commercial cross-bred line selected for ends of prolificacy had the greatest (p<0.05) and the smallest (p<0.05) dripping loss values, respec-tively. Non selected animals presented the greatest marbling value and the darkest meat (p<0.05), while they showed more intramuscular-fat than high-lean commercial cross-bred line animals (p<0.05) and showed the darker meat (p<0.05). Barrows presented lighter paler meat than females. The correlation analysis indicates that the myofiber number was positively associated with dripping loss values and lightness. It also indicates that muscle with greater glicolitic fiber present greater marbling value. In this way we conclude that the myofiber number and type are related with meat quality characteristics. Breeds with greater myofiber number have less intramuscular fat, lighter muscles and smaller water holding capacity, but it was not observed correlation among myofiber number and glicolitic fiber percentage.

Animal Welfare and Meat Quality: Methodologies to Reduce Pre-slaughter Stress in Broiler Chicken

The aim of this study was to report the causes of stress for commercial chickens during the manoeuvres performed immediately prior to slaughter. The model used to quantitatively measure the stress level of a condition was the occurrence of PSE (pale, soft and exudative) meat in the breast fillet. This abnormal meat condition affects meat quality and has damaging economic consequences for the meat industry. Several initiatives have been taken to alleviate the stressful conditions of commercial chickens. This chapter presents a detailed discussion of the techniques that would diminish, if not abolish, the stress placed on broiler chickens, thereby producing better quality breast fillet meat.