The objective of this study was to obtain information with scientific validity regarding the probable physiological alterations that sheep may suffer in the period prior to slaughter and its relationship with welfare conditions and maintenance of homeostasis. Twenty-nine castrated male lambs were used, clinically healthy, with no defined breed, and aged up to one year. Before slaughter, the heart and respiratory frequencies were measured, as well as the rectal temperature. At the time of bleeding, a blood sample was collected for analysis of hematological parameters (lactic acid, glucose, hematocrit). The mean value found for the rectal temperature was 39.30 ± 0.45 °C, for respiratory rate of 64.10 ± 28.52mov/min, heart rate of 106.90 ± 30.57bat/min, lactic acid of 4.81 ± 1.04mmol/L, glucose of 69.79 ± 10.33mg/dL and hematocrit of 38.93 ± 3.28%. The database analysis showed a low and positive correlation between respiratory rate and rectal temperature. It was concluded that lambs kept at high temperatures showed an increase in respiratory and cardiac frequencies, as well as an intensification of the stress condition reflected by the increase in plasma lactic acid levels.
Tilapia fingerlings (0.5 ± 0.08g) were reared during the nursery phase in two different stocking densities (0.5 fish/m2 for control in a pond of 600m² and 75 fish/m2 for compensatory group in a cage of 4m²) for a period of 100 days. After this period, a 50-day trial study was performed with 43 juvelines of tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) for each group (control 294 ± 24.43g and compensatory 99.33 ± 16.99g) stocked at the same density (0,28 fish/m2) in order to evaluate the compensatory growth in eathern ponds of 160m2 for each treatment. Throughout the experimental period the water quality was monitored and biometrics were performed to evaluate the zootechnical performance. The results revealed that the fishes of compensatory group presented higher specific growth rate compared to control, demonstrating a compensatory growth. At the end of the trial both treatments presented weight loss strongly influenced by temperature decrease. These results showed the compensatory growth of O. niloticus and the possibility to use this strategy (nursery in high density) contributing to ensure a successful production of O. niloticus in this region of the country.
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