Douglas D. Salgado

Impact of global warming on beef cattle production cost in Brazil

Global warming is affecting agribusiness in its economic aspects. Therefore, the prediction of the evolution of Brazilian beef cattle production cost was made using the IPCC forecast scenario for global warming. The methodology consisted of two steps: (i) the development of a fuzzy model that estimated the grazing land capacity (RP) decrease risk as a function of the changes in the average total rain index, air temperature and increase in extension of the dry season; and (ii) the design of an algorithm for predicting the decrease in production as function of the RPfuzzy model, that results in the impact in beef cattle productivity, and consequent increase in production costs. Historical environmental data from important producing counties in the Cerrado were organized and a set of fuzzy Gaussian functions were developed, and three possible settings (optimistic, medium and pessimistic) were considered. The decrease in beef cattle productivity was estimated using the losses in production due to the increase in air temperature and vulnerability of pasture capacity. The boundary settings for the total increase of production cost scenario used the number of animals per area of grazing land, the adoption of grain supplement and its future scenario; and the result output function pointed to a threshold within a variation from an increase in production cost of 80% (optimistic) to 160% (pessimistic). Under the optimistic scenario the total cost of Brazilian beef cattle production in the Cerrado became near to US

Avaliação do nível de ruído em instalações para suínos

2.88 kg-1, while in the pessimistic scenario this cost reached US

Indicadores de bem-estar baseados em reações comportamentais de matrizes pesadas

4.16 kg-1, challenging the international competitiveness of this economic segment.

Field evaluation of broiler gait score using different sampling methods

This research was carried out with in growing and finishing facilities of swine housing with the objective to evaluate and compare the noise level emitted by the animals mainly during feeding and noise level from other sources, and estimate the occupational risk exposition of workers. The evaluation was made using noise level equipment and measurement as indicated in NR-15 norm located at 1.50 m of height, corresponding to the mean height of the workers ear. Four swine housings were evaluated. The statistical analysis was done using fatorial design and mean test. The results indicated significant differences at 1% probability level among the four housings. The mean noise level was 65 dB(A) and 70 dB(A) for growing and finished housing respectively, within the limits allowed in the NR15 norm (85 dB(A)) for a daily working of 8 h. Considering the peak noise level observed during feeding and other task schedule mainly finishing swine housing ear protection is recommended. There was also a tendency for the noise level to increase as thermal conditions became more unconfortable.

Medidas do ambiente acústico em creche de suínos

Dada a importância da avicultura de corte para a economia brasileira, este trabalho buscou compreender e identificar novos indicadores de bem-estar inerentes ao animal que contribuissem para o aumento da eficacia produtiva, estudando-se diferentes reacoes comportamentais de matrizes de frango de corte, em câmara climatica. O experimento foi delineado como um Quadrado Latino 3x3x3, em que as variaveis temperatura do ar, racao e idade das aves foram controladas, sendo as aves de diferentes idades alojadas em boxes distintos. Foram feitas observacoes do comportamento das aves em dois horarios do dia, sendo uma observacao na parte da manha e outra na parte da tarde, durante periodos de 15 minutos cada, por meio de câmeras de video instaladas no teto da câmara climatica, nao havendo interferencia humana no registro das informacoes. Constatou-se, nos dados, a influencia das variaveis controladas em diversos comportamentos observados, concluindo-se que a presenca do alimento e um fator experimental relevante, pois aumenta as reacoes comportamentais agressivas.

Risk evaluation of broiler production in the State of São Paulo as function of ambient temperature.

Brazil is today the worlds largest broiler meat exporter; however, in order to keep this position, it must comply with welfare regulations while maintaining low production costs. Locomotion problems restrain bird movements, limiting their access to drinking and feeding equipment, and therefore their survival and productivity. The objective of this study was to evaluate locomotion deficiency in broiler chickens reared under stressful temperature conditions using three different sampling methods of birds from three different ages. The experiment consisted in determining the gait score of 28, 35, 42 and 49-day-old broilers using three different known gait scoring methods: M1, birds were randomly selected, enclosed in a circle, and then stimulated to walk out of the circle; M2, ten birds were randomly selected and gait scored; and M3, birds were randomly selected, enclosed in a circle, and then observed while walking away from the circle without stimulus to walking. Environmental temperature, relative humidity, and light intensity inside the poultry houses were recorded. No evidence of interaction between scoring method and age was found however, both method and age influenced gait score. Gait score was found to be lower at 28 days of age. The evaluation using the ten randomly selected birds within the house was the method that presented the less reliable results. Gait score results when birds were stimulated to walk were lower than when they were not simulated, independently of age. The gait scores obtained with the three tested methods and ages were higher than those considered acceptable. The highest frequency of normal gait score (0) represented 50% of the flock. These results may be related to heat stress during rearing. Average gait score incresead with average ambient temperature, relative humidity, and light intensity. The evaluation of gait score to detect locomotion problems of broilers under rearing conditions seems subjective and difficult to be properly performed.

Estimativa do padrão de preferência térmica de matrizes pesadas (frango de corte)

Nowadays, it is known that not only thermodynamics elements influence swine productivity, but also the interaction with the aerial environment along with the noise level must be taken into account. This research studied the acoustic environment inside a pig nursery housing using average noise level distribution maps as a function of ambient temperature and relative humidity. The structural environment was divided in 2 m2 cells. Noise level, air dry bulb temperature and relative humidity were recorded at piglet height in the centre of each cell. The results were mapped and the resulting nursery noise level was found to be 12.49 dB. However, a positive correlation between thermal environment and noise level was not found. From the results, it was possible to estimate the room noise level due to presence of piglets at around 12.49 dB. The resulting noise level found was below the international limit for swine housing and in accordance to national standards for farm workers. The results indicate that the piglets that were recently transferred to that environment vocalized more than the ones already acquainted with the room (10.98 dB), presenting a higher level of noise (12.58 dB).

Efeitos da temperatura do ar, linhagem e período do dia nas freqüências de ocorrências e tempos de expressão comportamental de matrizes pesadas

As perdas produtivas na avicultura de corte, provenientes de climas com temperaturas diarias elevadas, sao potencialmente de grande magnitude, pois abrangem perdas diretas e indiretas. Esta pesquisa teve a finalidade de apontar os municipios localizados onde ha mais risco de temperaturas extremas diarias. Os dados historicos meteorologicos de temperaturas diarias, maximas e minimas, fornecidos pelo CEPAGRI-UNICAMP, foram adaptados para analise estatistica, descritiva e exploratoria. As temperaturas diarias foram categorizadas em forma binaria, estimando-se probabilidades condicionais (riscos) por meio das frequencias relativas, obtidas em tabelas de contingencia. Utilizando o software Minitab 15®, foi realizada analise descritiva, analise de risco e, por fim, avaliacao de associacao. Este trabalho apontou que os municipios da regiao oeste do Estado de Sao Paulo foram os mais suscetiveis a apresentarem perda na producao avicola devido as temperaturas ambientais, sendo recomendado maior cuidado com o excesso de calor nos alojamentos das granjas. Tambem foi constatado que os valores medios e medianos das temperaturas minimas sao bons preditores do risco, devido a alta associacao entre o risco e essas variaveis.

Análise das condições ambientais em sistemas de alojamento 'freestall' para bovinos de leite

Female broiler breeder productivity is based on the principles of thermal comfort that are directly related with the microclimate inside the housing. This research had the objective of monitoring the behavior of female broiler breeders, using the technology of radio-frequency, injectable transponders and readers in different existing microclimates inside a small scale distorted housing model. Eight birds with electronic identification were used. Three readers were used, in three different points inside the model: on the floor of the nest, in the passage besides the lateral wall and below the water facility. Dry bulb (DBT), wet bulb (WBT) and black globe (BGT) temperature were measured continuously. The results point out a distinct behavioral pattern of the birds regarding the environment exposition during the experiment. Three probabilistic models of behavior were developed from the recorded data: probabilistic model for the passage use: FP = 1.10 - 0.244 ln(DBT), probabilistic model for the water facility use: FB = 0.398 + 0.00866(DBT), and probabilistic model for the nest use: FN = 2.22 - 0.272 DBT + 0,011 DBT2 - 0.000144 DBT3.

Avaliação de poluentes aéreos em instalações de creche e terminação de suínos

Behavioral adjustments may occur fast and with less cost than the physiological adaptations. Considering the social behavior is suggestive that the frequency and the intensity of aggressive interactions, the total social cohesion and the extent of vicious attitudes may be used to evaluate welfare. This research presents an analysis of the interactions between the experimental factors such as temperature, genetic and time of the day in the behavior of female broiler breeders under controlled environment in a climatic chamber in order to enhance the different reaction of the birds facing distinct environmental conditions. The results showed significant differences between the behaviors expressed by the studied genetics presenting the need of monitoring them in real-time in order to predict their welfare in commercial housing, due to the complexity of the environmental variables that interfere in the well being process. The research also concluded that the welfare evaluation of female broiler breeders needs to consider the time of the day during the observation of the behaviors.