Leonardo de Oliveira Seno

Selecting appropriate bedding to reduce locomotion problems in broilers

Two experiments were carried out at the Poultry Sector of the School of Agrarian Sciences of the Federal University of Grande Dourados to evaluate the incidence of leg problems in broilers reared on two distinct types of bedding material: rice husks or wood shavings, both new and reused. In both trials, a randomized experimental design was applied in factorial arrangement (2 x 2 x 2) using two genetic strains (Cobb® or Ross®); two sexes (male or female), and two litter materials (rice husks or wood shavings). In each trial 1080 one day pullets were reared equally divided in the treatments. The birds were placed in 4.5 m2 boxes at a density of 10 birds m-2. All birds were fed diets with equal nutritional density, and water was offered ad libitum. Feeds were divided in three phases: starter diet (1 - 21 days), grower diet (22 - 35 days), and finisher diet (36 - 45 days). On day 45, fifty birds were randomly selected in each experiment to evaluate flock leg problems. The following parameters were analyzed: gait score, incidence of valgus and varus disorder, footpad dermatitis, femoral degeneration, tibial dyschondroplasia, and spondylolisthesis. Ambient temperature during rearing and litter caking and moisture content were recorded in four boxes per treatment. The analytical hierarchy process was used to organize the data into specific criteria. Several criteria, related to the attributes that were determinant according to the statistical analysis, were chosen in order to provide the best input to the process. Results indicated that new wood-shavings bedding was the most appropriate bedding to prevent locomotion problems, followed by new rice husks, reused wood shavings, and reused rice husks. However, when leg problems were associated to sex and genetic strain, male Ross birds strain presented less problems when reared on new rice husks, followed by new wood shavings

Incidência da carne PSE (pale, soft, exsudative) em suínos em razão do tempo de descanso pré-abate e sexo

Were evaluated the effect of lairage pre-slaughter and sex on the incidence of PSE (pale, soft and exudative) meat in pigs. There were three visits to a commercial slaughterhouse, in which the pH of carcasses (n=2128) was measured at 45 minutes after slaughter of lots consisting exclusively of females, males castrated surgically, males immunologically castrated and mixed lots (females and castrated surgically) underwent a resting time, and time between the shipment and slaughter ranged from two to 16 hours. Carcasses with pH45≤5.8 were classified as PSE and with pH45>5.8 as normal. Depending on the number of animals evaluated in each category we estimated the frequency of PSE. The overall incidence of PSE meat was 10.1%, higher in lots of animals immunocastrated (13.5%) compared to lots of females (8.6%) or castrated males (8.5%). Resting time of less than six hours and up to 14 hours increased the incidence of PSE meat. Resting time between six and eight hours minimized the occurrence of PSE meat.

Adição de óleo e lipase sobre a biodigestão anaeróbia de dejetos suínos

The goal this paper was to verify the efficiency of the anaerobic co-digestion of manure with increasing levels of added oil disposal and lipase. Were tested four levels oil (8, 12, 16 and 20 g kg-1 substrate) and 3 doses of lipase (1, 2, 3g-1 kg of substrate). The parameters evaluated were: reduction of total solids (TS), volatile solids (VS) and most probable number (MPN) of total coliforms (TC) and thermophilic (TTC), in addition to pH, chemical oxygen demand (COD), production and potential biogas production. The results demonstrated the influence of additions of oil and lipase to the reductions in SV and ST effluent pH, following a model of linear prediction and descending. The reductions in MPN of TC and TTC were higher in treatments with more adding oil and lipase. Biogas production showed a negative correlation with the additions of lipase, and these yielded linear effect on the potential of biogas/kg of manure, ST and SV added. The additions of oil and lipase did not provide favorable effects on biogas production.

Effects of atmospheric pollutants on somatic and germ cells of Tradescantia pallida (Rose) D.R. HUNT cv. purpurea

Anatomical alterations in leaves and DNA damage in cells caused by the accumulation of atmospheric pollutants can be measured by epidermal leaf analyses and Tradescantia micronuclei assay with early pollen tetrad cells. The present study examined the feasibility of using somatic and germ cells of Tradescantia pallida for biomonitoring purposes in the city of Dourados, state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS), Brazil. Stomatal, micronucleus and epidermal leaf analyses were performed, using standard methodologies, on plants growing at three locations during six different time periods. Tradescantia micronuclei data were analyzed using SAS 9.2 software package and stomatal data were analyzed using SANEST software. Analyses of stomatal characteristics and micronuclei examination in T. pallida were found to be an efficient tool for monitoring atmospheric pollution. The micronucleus assay suggested that the number of micronuclei in early pollen tetrad cells was related to the intensity of vehicular traffic. Increased number of epidermal cells and stomata and increased stomatal density observed at locations with greater vehicular traffic are likely physiological responses of those plants to the increased gas exchange in highly polluted environments.

Association of the leptin gene with carcass characteristics in Nellore cattle.

Advances in DNA technology have created biotechnological tools that can be used in animal selection and new strategies for increasing herd productivity and quality. The objective of the present work was to associate the genotypes of leptin gene exon 2 polymorphisms with productive traits in Nellore cattle. Blood was collected from Nellore males and PCR-RFLP reactions were performed with the restriction enzymes ClaI and Kpn2I. The gene frequencies resulting from digestion by ClaI were 0.60 and 0.40 for allele A and T, respectively; the genotypic frequencies were AA = 0.20 and AT = 0.80. The gene frequencies from digestion by Kpn2I were 0.81 for allele C and 0.194 for allele T; the genotypic frequencies were CC = 0.62 and CT = 0.38. The populations in both cases were not in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium (p > 0.05), and the TT genotype was not found. Significant associations were noted between leptin gene exon 2 polymorphisms and five productive traits in Nellore cattle: carcass fat distribution, the intensity of red muscle coloration, pH, marbling, and post-slaughter fat thickness.

Reproductive efficiency of Nellore cows nursing Nellore or crossbred Simmental × Nellore calves

The objective of this study was to analyze the influence of genetic group (GG) of the calf during gestation, mobilization of body reserves and period of postpartum anestrus in Nellore cows. Thirty-seven primiparous and multiparous cows were used: 24 gave birth to Nellore (NEL), and 13 gave birth to ½ Simmental × ½ Nellore (SIM) calves. According to the date of calving, cows were divided into three blocks, with intervals of 20 days between blocks. The body condition (BC) of the cows was estimated subjectively on a scale from 0 to 5 points, with intermediate grading of 0.5 points. We measured the thickness of subcutaneous fat (SF) between the 12th and 13th ribs and rump by ultrasound. Blood samples from each cow were collected weekly from the third week after birth until weaning, to analyze the level of progesterone; in the samples collected until 16 weeks postpartum, we analyzed the concentration of nonesterified fatty acids (NEFA). The gestation period of mothers of NEL calves was eight days longer, on average. The variables relating to the mobilization of body reserves (NEFA, BC and SF) were not influenced by calf GG, with the only significant effects being the number of days postpartum, with a peak in the concentration of NEFA between the sixth and eighth weeks and linear decrease in BC and NF. Mothers of NEL calves remained in anestrus for 4.6 weeks longer than the mothers of crossbred calves.

Marinados com soluções alcalinas para a melhoria da qualidade da carne suína

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effects of alkaline solution marinades on the characteristics of pork subjected to post-mortem pH decrease in pig muscle. The pH of carcasses was measured in a commercial slaughterhouse (n = 526), 45 min after slaughtering (pH45) and, then, the carcasses were divided into the groups with pH45 5.7. Ten samples of the longissimus dorsi muscles of each group were collected and distributed in an entirely randomized design, in a 2x4 factorial arrangement, with two conditions (pH45 5.7), and four marinade solutions: TC, no marinade; TM1, sodium bicarbonate and sodium chloride; TM2, sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium chloride; TM3, sodium bicarbonate, sodium tripolyphosphate and sodium chloride. There was no interaction between pH45 of the meat and the marinade treatments. Meat with pH45<5.7 showed higher values for lightness, and for purge loss (PL), exudate loss (EL), cooking loss (CL) and shear force (SF). Marinating increased the pH, reduced the lightness, EL, CL and SF, and improved tenderness, juiciness and flavor of meat. Marinades with solutions containing chloride, bicarbonate, and sodium tripolyphosphate are effective in the improvement of pork quality, making physical characteristics of marinated meat similar to those of fresh pork, as a consequence of accelerated postmortem glycolysis.

The intake of thermally processed soybean reduces the feedlot period of lambs independently of roughage to concentrate ratio.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the nutrient intake and performance of feedlot lambs using 2 roughage to concentrate ratios and 2 types of soybean, whole (WS) or thermally processed (PS). Twenty male noncastrated market lambs weighting 23.26 ± 2.18 kg were used. The design was completely randomized in a factorial arrangement of 2 × 2. Diets were formulated with 50:50 and 20:80 of roughage to concentrate ratio on DM, and the thermal processing was realized in an autoclave at 120°C during 1 h. The end of the experimental period was determined by animal BCS, that is, the animals were slaughtered with a BCS between 3 and 3.5. The animals fed with 50% of roughage spent more time consuming feed (P < 0.01) and ruminating (P < 0.01). Thermally processed soybean provided more time consuming (P < 0.05) and less leisure time (P < 0.05) compared with WS. Diet with 20% of roughage provided increased ADG (P < 0.01) and better feed conversion (FC; P < 0.01). The utilization of PS resulted in decreased feedlot period (FP; P< 0.01), increased ADG (P < 0.05), decreased DMI (P < 0.01), and consequently better FC (P < 0.01). Diet with PS decreased the intake of ADF (P < 0.01). There was interaction between the roughage to concentrate ratio and soybean, wherein the diet with 50% of roughage and WS provided increased intake of NDF (P < 0.05). The use of thermally processed soybean provided better performance of lambs, and when this feed is associated with higher concentrate proportion, it reduces the intake of fibrous fraction of the diet.

Vocalização como indicativo do bem-estar de suínos submetidos a situações de estresse

Objetivou-se com este trabalho estimar o bem-estar de suinos a partir de registros de sua vocalizacao, durante alojamento em granja comercial. Foram utilizados 150 suinos machos castrados, distribuidos aleatoriamente em cinco baias. Os suinos foram submetidos a diferentes situacoes de estresse: sede (sem acesso a agua), fome (sem acesso ao alimento), estresse termico (Indice de temperatura e umidade - ITU >74). Para o tratamento controle, os animais foram mantidos em situacao de conforto, com acesso a alimento e agua, e ambiente com ITU <70. Foram registrados os sinais acusticos a cada 30 minutos, durante periodo ininterrupto de tres horas, totalizando seis coletas para cada situacao de estresse. Os sinais foram digitalizados a uma frequencia de ate 44.100Hz, por um periodo de 3 minutos. Posteriormente, os audios foram analisados pelo software Praat(r) 5.1.19. Os atributos gerados a partir desse software foram a energia do sinal (Pa²*s), amplitude maxima e amplitude minima (Pa), a frequencia de picht (Hz), a intensidade sonora (dB) e quatro niveis de formantes (F1; F2; F3 e F4), tambem chamados de harmonicas (Hz). Verificou-se que, dependendo do estimulo estressor e de sua duracao, os atributos acusticos energia e intensidade do sinal, frequencia de pitch e as formantes 2 e 4 apresentaram diferenciacao. Os atributos sonoros da vocalizacao de suinos variam de maneira distinta em funcao do tipo e duracao do estimulo estressante, funcionando, quando associados, como ferramenta eficiente para quantificar o grau de estresse dos animais.

Biometria testicular de ovinos Pantaneiros alimentados com níveis crescentes de glicerina bruta na dieta

Objective to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of levels of crude Glycerin in the feeding of lambs in the biometric characteristics and testicular histological. 24 lambs were neutered, not confined with 93.79 ± 5.73 days of age and body weight of 20.22 ± 2.84 kg. The treatments tested were: 0; 2.5; 5.0 and 7.5% of crude Glycerin injection in dry matter of diet in place of maize. The animals were slaughtered using the criteria in body condition score of 2.5 to 3.5 on a scale ranging from 1 to 5, and the variables evaluated were the initial weight, final weight, hot carcass weight, fat cover thickness, body condition, and the biometric parameters: testicular weight, scrotal perimeter in the scrotum, testicle weight left and right volume of right and left testicle, testicular testicular length width, seminiferous tubule diameter and height of germinal epithelium. There was no significant influence of crude Glycerin levels on any of the variables analyzed, also there was no correlation between the features assessed with body condition. Positive correlations were observed between hot carcass weight and fat thickness (r=0,57, p= p<0,05)). There was positive correlation (r=0,55, p= p<0,05)) between scrotal perimeter and body weight. The tubule diameter (r=0,47, p=p<0,05) and height of the seminiferous epithelium (r=0,62, p=p<0,05) were correlated with testicular volume. The inclusion of increasing levels of crude Glycerin in the feeding of lambs Pantaneiros, did not influence the biometric characteristics and testicular histometrics of animals.