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 contribuíssem para o aumento da eficácia produtiva, estudando-se diferentes reações comportamentais de matrizes de frango de corte, em câmara climática. O experimento foi delineado como um Quadrado Latino 3x3x3, em que as variáveis temperatura do ar, ração e idade das aves foram controladas, sendo as aves de diferentes idades alojadas em boxes distintos. Foram feitas observações do comportamento das aves em dois horários do dia, sendo uma observação na parte da manhã e outra na parte da tarde, durante períodos de 15 minutos cada, por meio de câmeras de vídeo instaladas no teto da câmara climática, não havendo interferência humana no registro das informações. Constatou-se, nos dados, a influência das variáveis controladas em diversos comportamentos observados, concluindo-se que a presença do alimento é um fator experimental relevante, pois aumenta as reações comportamentais agressivas.

This study aimed to assess the yield loss caused by capybaras in rural areas of Dourados-MS, their feeding periods, crop preferences and the landscape characteristics of farms that may affect the occurrence of capybara's herds. Semi-structured interviews in 24 different farms were done during a period between April 2010 and August 2011. Field observations were held at different times of the day, and also during the night in order to record peaks of the feeding behavior in six farms. Direct counting of capybaras along with the group of animals reported as seen by the farmers during the interviews was used to estimate the size of herds. Data was analyzed using the Principal Components Analyses and the Analytic Hierarchy Process. The average number of capybaras found in a regular herd was 18.8 ± 7.90 animals. The average number of capybara herd by farms was of 1.38 ± 0.92 while the average number of capybaras by farms was 32.33 ± 27.87. Capybaras selected rice (Oryza sativa) when it was available (14.5% of devastation in 1.18% of total planted area); however, the most eaten crop was corn (Zea mays) with 38.55% of loss rate in 16.17% of the total planted area. Capybaras ate mostly in the evening and during the night. The availability of water resources in the rural area predisposed the occurrence of capybara's herds.

ABSTRACT:Pigs are more sensitive to high environmental temperatures explained by the inability of sweating and panting properly when compared to other species of farmed livestock. The evaporative cooling system might favor the thermal comfort of animals during exposure to extreme environmental heat and reduce the harmful effects of heat stress. The purpose of this study was to assess the sensible heat loss and thermoregulation parameters from lactating sows during summer submitted to two different acclimatization systems: natural and evaporative cooling. The experiment was carried out in a commercial farm with 72 lactating sows. The ambient variables (temperature, relative humidity and air velocity) and sows physiological parameters (rectal temperature, surface temperature and respiratory rate) were monitored and then the sensible heat loss at 21days lactation was calculated. The results of rectal temperature did not differ between treatments. However, the evaporative cooling led to a significant reduction in surface temperature and respiratory rate and a significant increase in the sow's sensible heat loss. It was concluded that the use of evaporative cooling system was essential to increase sensible heat loss; thus, it should reduce the negative effects of heat on the sows' thermoregulation during summer.KEYWORDS: ventilation, thermal stress, panting, surface temperature, swine, lactation. IMPACTO DO RESFRIAMENTO EVAPORATIVO NA TERMORREGULAÇÃO E NA TROCA DE CALOR SENSÍVEL DE PORCAS NA MATERNIDADERESUMO: Em comparação com outras espécies de animais de criação comercial, os suínos são mais sensíveis à temperatura ambiente elevada, pois são incapazes de suar, e a respiração ofegante não é eficiente. O sistema de resfriamento evaporativo pode favorecer o conforto térmico dos animais durante a exposição a altas temperaturas e reduzir os efeitos prejudiciais do estresse térmico. Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar a troca de calor sensível e os parâmetros de termorregulação de porcas em lactação submetidas a dois sistemas de climatização: natural e resfriamento evaporativo, durante o verão. O experimento foi conduzido em uma granja comercial com 72 porcas em lactação, no qual foram monitoradas as variáveis ambientais (temperatura, umidade relativa do ar e velocidade do ar), os parâmetros fisiológicos das porcas (temperatura retal, temperatura superficial e frequência respiratória) e, assim, foi calculada a troca de calor sensível no período de 21 dias de lactação. Os resultados não indicaram efeito significativo dos sistemas de climatização sobre a temperatura retal. Porém, o resfriamento evaporativo proporcionou redução significativa na temperatura superficial e na frequência respiratória, além do aumento significativo na troca de calor sensível das porcas. A utilização do resfriamento evaporativo contribuiu para aumentar a perda de calor sensível, e, portanto, este sistema pode amenizar os efeitos negativos do calor na termorregulação das porcas lactantes durante o verão.

The constant use of synthetic antibiotics as growth promoters can cause bacterial resistance in chicks. Consequently, the use of these drugs has been restricted in different countries. In recent years, antimicrobial peptides have gained relevance due to their minimal capacity for bacterial resistance and does not generate toxic residues that harm the environment and human health. In this study, a Ctx(Ile21)-Ha antimicrobial peptide was employed, due to its previously reported great antimicrobial potential, to evaluate its application effects in laying chicks challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis, resistant to nalidixic acid and spectinomycin. For this, Ctx(Ile21)-Ha was synthesized, microencapsulated and coated with hypromellose phthalate (HPMCP) to be released in the intestine. Two different doses (3.2 and 6.4 µg of Ctx(Ile21)-Ha per kg of isoproteic and isoenergetic poultry feed) were included in the chick’s food and administered for 28 days. Antimicrobial activity, effect and response as treatment were evaluated. Statistical results were analyzed in detail and indicate that the formulated Ctx(Ile21)-Ha peptide had a positive and significant effect in relation to the reduction of chick mortality in the first days of life. However, there was moderate evidence (p = 0.07), not considered statistically significant, in the differences in laying chick weight between the control and microencapsulation treatment groups as a function of time. Therefore, the microencapsulated Ctx(Ile21)-Ha antimicrobial peptide can be an interesting and promising option in the substitution of conventional antibiotics.

Layer mortality due to heat stress is an important economic loss for the producer. The aim of this study was to determine the mortality pattern of layers reared in the region of Bastos, SP, Brazil, according to external environment and bird age. Data mining technique were used based on monthly mortality records of hens in production, 135 poultry houses, from January 2004 to August 2008. The external environment was characterized according maximum and minimum temperatures, obtained monthly at the meteorological station CATI in the city of Tupã, SP, Brazil. Mortality was classified as normal (≤ 1.2%) or high (> 1.2%), considering the mortality limits mentioned in literature. Data mining technique produced a decision tree with nine levels and 23 leaves, with 62.6% of overall accuracy. The hit rate for the High class was 64.1% and 59.9% for Normal class. The decision tree allowed finding a pattern in the mortality data, generating a model for estimating mortality based on the thermal environment and bird age.

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ABSTRACT:In animal farming, an automatic and precise control of environmental conditions needs information from variables derived from the animals themselves, i.e. they act as biosensors. Rectal temperature (RT) and respiratory rate (RR) are good indicators of thermoregulation in pigs. Since there is a growing concern on animal welfare, the search for alternatives to measure RT has become even more necessary. This research aimed to identify the most adequate body surface areas, on nursery-phase pigs, to take temperature measurements that best represent the correlation of RT and RR. The main experiment was carried out in a climate chamber with five 30-day-old littermate female Landrace x Large White piglets. Temperature conditions inside chamber were varied from 14 °C up to 35.5 °C. The measurements were taken each 30 minutes, over six different skin regions, using a temperature data logger Thermochron iButton ® -DS1921G (Tb) and an infrared thermometer (Ti). As shown by the results, the tympanic region is the best one for RT and RR monitoring using an infrared thermometer (TiF). In contrast, when using temperature sensors, the ear (TbE) is preferred to be used for RT predictions and the loin region (TbC) for RR. KEYWORDS RESUMO:O controle automático e preciso do ambiente para animais de produção carece de informações e variáveis originadas dos próprios animais, tendo-os como biossensores. A temperatura retal (TR) e a frequência respiratória (FR) são bons indicadores da termorregulação de suínos. Porém, com a crescente preocupação em relação ao bem-estar animal, torna-se necessária a busca por alternativas à mensuração da TR. Com a presente pesquisa, objetivou-se identificar a região mais adequada para a aferição da temperatura da superfície corporal dos suínos, em fase de creche, e que apresentasse a melhor correlação com a TR e a FR. O experimento principal foi conduzido em câmara climática, com cinco leitões da raça Landrace x Large White, com 30 dias de idade, provenientes de uma mesma ninhada e do mesmo sexo (fêmea). As temperaturas ambientes utilizadas variaram de 14 °C a 35,5 °C. Realizaram-se medidas de temperatura repetidas em intervalos de 30 minutos, em seis diferentes regiões corporais, utilizando-se de dois métodos: via data logger de temperatura Thermochron iButton ® -DS1921G (Tb) e via termômetro de infravermelho (Ti). Por meio dos resultados, foi possível observar que a região timpânica mostrou--se como a melhor opção para acompanhamento tanto da TR quanto da FR via termômetro de infravermelho (TiF), enquanto que ao utilizar sensores de temperatura da superfície corporal, a melhor opção foi a orelha (TbE) para predição de TR, e a região do lombo (TbC) para predição de FR.