ResumoObjetivou-se com o estudo avaliar os efeitos da imunocastração sobre o ganho de peso, características de carcaça e qualidade da carne de novilhos Nelore. Foram utilizados oitenta bovinos Nelores, com peso inicial médio de 357±8,63 kg, que foram alimentados em confinamento e distribuídos em dois tratamentos com 40 bovinos inteiros e 40 imunocastrados (Bopriva ® , Pfizer Saúde Animal). Os imunocastrados receberam duas doses da vacina, sendo a primeira aplicação 30 dias antes da entrada dos animais em confinamento e a segunda na entrada do confinamento. Ao final do período experimental de 67 dias, calculou-se o ganho diário de peso vivo em kg/dia dos 80 animais e selecionou-se 20 de cada grupo para o abate e avaliações de carcaça, e posteriormente dez de cada tratamento para as análises de carne. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância. Animais imunocastrados apresentaram menor ganho diário de peso vivo, peso de carcaça quente, rendimento de carcaça, pH final, espessura de perna, profundidade de músculo, área de olho de lombo, porcentagem de músculo, força de cisalhamento e umidade. Entretanto, obtiveram maior concentração sanguínea de lactato e cortisol, profundidade torácica, espessura de gordura subcutânea, grau de cobertura da carcaça, a*, b* e c*, perda de líquido no descongelamento, índice de fragmentação miofibrilar e extrato etéreo da carne em relação aos inteiros. A imunocastração (Bopriva ® ) é uma alternativa para melhorar a qualidade da carne, através da maior deposição de gordura na carcaça e redução da força de cisalhamento da carne em relação aos animais inteiros. Palavras-chave: Grau de acabamento, hormônio liberador de gonadotrofinas, imunização, maciez, novilhos AbstractThe objective of this study was evaluate the effects of immunocastration on body weight gain, carcass characteristics and meat quality of Nellore beef cattle. Eighty Nellore beef cattle, with initial body weight of 357±8.63 kg, were placed in feedlots and distributed in two treatments (40 animals per treatments) as follow: one -non-vaccinated bulls and two -immunocastrated bulls (Bopriva ® , Pfizer Animal Health). The animals placed on treatment two were vaccinated in two doses, first application 30 days before they arrive on the feedlots and second on the day they arrive on feedlots. After 67 days

Twenty Nellore bulls (ABW=357.7±9.65kg) were divided into 2 groups: intact and immunocastrated - Bopriva®. After the trial period, the cattle were slaughtered and carcass fat thickness was evaluated, ether extract and fatty acid composition of the longissimus thoracis analyses were performed, and the activity indices of relevant enzymes were calculated. The means were calculated and compared by Student's t-test and Pearson's correlation coefficients (p<0.05). The immunocastrated group showed higher back fat thickness, ether extract, monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFAs), and activity index of Δ(9) desaturase C18 and lower polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and n-6 fatty acids when compared to the intact group. The correlations between ether extract and the saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids were positive, and negative with polyunsaturated, n-3, n-6 and PUFA/SFA. Therefore, immunocastration may improve the fatty acid profile in the longissimus thoracis by increasing MUFAs, mainly oleic acid that is the most representative fatty acid in the meat and is considered beneficial to health.

There was evaluated the performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality parameters of swine on the finishing stage receiving a dietetic supplementation with magnesium oxide (MgO). The animals were 48 male swine, supplemented 7 days before the slaughter by the following treatments: feed with 0; 0.2; 0.4 e 0.6% of MgO inclusion. The pigs were blocked by the initial weight as: lights, medium and heavy. The treatments had influence on the daily weight gain showing a quadratic effect, maximum inclusion point 0.3% MgO. The effect on the plasmatic cortisol and on the carcass yield was a linear decreasing regression. Back fat thickness shows a quadratic effect, minimal deposition point 0.37% MgO. Amount of meat in chilled carcass, meat yield and gratification index showed quadratic effect for the treatments, the maximum points are 0.31, 0.37 and 0.28% of inclusion respectively. Water losses and liquid losses on defrosting presented quadratic effect; the minimal point was to 0.31 and 0.35% of inclusion, respectively. Key words: Back fat thickness, carcass yield, meat color, stress ResumoO objetivo deste experimento foi avaliar o efeito da inclusão de óxido de magnésio (MgO) na fase de terminação sobre o desempenho, as características de carcaça e qualidade de carne de suínos. Foram utilizados 48 suínos, suplementados com MgO por 7 dias antes do abate, sendo os tratamentos: rações com 0; 0,2; 0,4 e 0,6% de inclusão de MgO. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados, sendo os animais blocados de acordo com o peso inicial em leves, médios e pesados. O ganho diário em peso foi influenciado pelos tratamentos, apresentando efeito quadrático com ponto de máxima inclusão de 0,3% de MgO. A suplementação com MgO diminuiu as concentrações séricas de cortisol, apresentando efeito de regressão linear decrescente. A espessura de toucinho apresentou efeito de regressão quadrática, em que o ponto de mínima deposição ocorreu com a inclusão de 0,37% de MgO. Quantidade de carne na carcaça resfriada, rendimento de carne na carcaça e índice de bonificação apresentaram efeito quadrático para suplementação dietética com MgO sendo os pontos de máxima 0,31, 0,37 e 0,28% respectivamente. A porcentagem de perda de água e a perda de água no descongelamento apresentaram efeito quadrático, com pontos de mínima perda iguais a 0,31 e 0,35%, respectivamente.

ResumoEste trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o estresse e a qualidade da carcaça e da carne de frangos abatidos pelo método "Halal". Foram avaliadas 120 carcaças, 60 frangos abatidos pelo método tradicional e 60 frangos abatidos pelo método "Halal", com peso médio de 3,8 kg de peso vivo e idade de 49 dias. No momento da sangria foi coletado sangue para análise dos níveis de creatina fosfoquinase, lactato e hemograma. Após o abate foi verificado nas carcaças a presença de hematomas, contusões, hemorragias musculares e fraturas. No músculo peitoral (Pectoralis major) foi mensurado o pH inicial e final, a cor (CIELAB), a perda de água por gotejamento e por pressão e a maciez (Força de cisalhamento). Os níveis de lactato foram mais elevados e de monócitos mais baixos nos frangos abatidos pelo método "Halal", indicando maior nível de estresse, embora a porcentagem de hematócrito tenha sido maior para o abate tradicional. Animais abatidos pelo método "Halal" apresentaram lesões de maior tamanho nas asas e carnes com menores valores de pH inicial e final, maior luminosidade (L*) e maior índice de vermelho (a*). Foi observado maior frequência de carcaças PSE (cor pálida, textura mole, exsudativa) nos animais abatidos pelo método "Halal". Conclui-se que o método de abate Halal para frangos, aumenta o estresse assim como o tamanho das lesões das carcaças e maior frequência de carcaças PSE, diminuindo a qualidade da carne de frango. Palavras-chave: Abate humanitário, abate tradicional, insensibilização elétrica, Halal, PSE AbstractThis research was aimed to evaluate the stress as well as carcass and meat quality of broilers slaughtered by the "Halal" method. 120 carcasses were evaluated, 60 broilers were slaughtered by the traditional method and 60 broilers by the "Halal" method, with live weight of 3.8 kg and 49 days old. Exsanguination blood samples were collected to measure the levels of creatine phosphokinase, lactic acid and hemogram. After the slaughter each carcass had been evaluated to verify the presence of bruises, contusions, muscle bleeding, and fractures. Initial and final pH, color (CIELAB), drip (PAG) and pressing water loss (PAP)

-The objective of this study was to evaluate the consequences of low or high stress during pre-slaughter handling of pigs on their carcass and meat quality. Forty-four animals of a commercial lineage, with an average weight of 107.23±5.23 kg, were used. At lairage the animals were randomly divided into two groups, the least and the most stressed. At slaughter, during bleeding, blood samples were collected for later cortisol and lactate tests. Forty-five minutes after slaughter the initial pH of th carcasses was measured and samples of the semitendinosus muscle were collected for R-value calculation. After 24 hours of cooling, the final pH was measured, damage scores were assessed and samples of the longissimus dorsi muscle were collected to evaluate drip loss, liquid loss from defrosting and cooking, shear force, lipid oxidation, and color. The results were evaluated by analysis of variance and the means were compared by Tukey´s test. It was found that cortisol, lactate and R-value were lower and initial pH was higher for the least stressed animals, whereas the other parameters were not significantly affected. Thus, low stress in the pre-slaughter handling of pigs is effective in reducing stress and carcass damage, but has no effect on meat quality.

This work was carried out with the objective of evaluating the effects of different levels of replacement of whole grain corn by pelleted soybean hulls in high concentrated diet, without long fiber use, on intake, productive performance and economical viability of feedlot lambs production. Twenty four Texel lambs, 12 males and 12 females of the same age, with average weight of 23 kg, distributed in 12 stalls, in a completely randomized design, were used. The treatments consisted of replacement of whole grain corn by pelleted soybean hulls, at levels of 0% (SH0), 15% (SH15) and 30% (SH30). Dry matter (DM) (kg day -1

-The objective of this study was to evaluate the performance, the carcass and meat characteristics of ewes supplemented with magnesium oxide. Eighteen 6-year-old Santa Ines ewes were used in a completely randomized experimental design, where three levels of supplementation (0.0, 0.1 and 0.2% magnesium oxide in the concentrate) were tested, with six replicates. Final weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion were not affected by levels of magnesium supplementation. Hot and cold carcass weights showed linear increasing and quadratic responses, respectively, according to supplementation with magnesium. Carcass measurements such as length, depth, and measures of arm and leg were not affected by supplementation. Depth and width of the longissimus muscle and rib-eye area were not affected; however, marbling and ether extract increased linearly with supplementation. Water loss and color were not affected. Lipid oxidation and shear force were not affected by supplementation, while the myofibrillar fragmentation index showed a quadratic regression. There was a linear decrease in pH with magnesium supplementation. Supplementation with magnesium can improve carcass and meat pH, but can act negatively by increasing the amount of marbling and ether extract of meat.

Consumers believe tenderness to be most important organoleptic characteristic of meat. However, there is great variability in the tenderness of meat available to consumers; one method to reduce the variability and improve tenderness would be to promote meat aging. The aim of this study was to evaluate the quality of aged ewe meat. The experiment was conducted at the State University of Londrina. It was used eighteen Santa Ines ewes. After slaughter, the Longissimus dorsi muscle were collected and subjected to treatment, three different aging times: zero, four and eight days at 5 ± 2°C. The increase in aging time caused a decrease in pH. The L*, a* and c* values increase linearly with the aging period. The b* and h* values showed a quadratic regression. The mesophilic and psychrotrophic count showed a linear increase. The myofibrillar fragmentation index showed a quadratic regression, and the shear force decreased linearly. In a sensory analysis, a difference in the odor intensity of the meat was observed. The microbiological count indicated that the meat was fit for consumption. The aging promoted improvements in the quality of sheep meat. Key words: Anaerobic, chroma, ovine, sensorial, tenderness ResumoOs consumidores acreditam que a maciez é a característica organoléptica mais importante da carne. No entanto, há grande variabilidade na maciez da carne disponível para os consumidores, um método de reduzir a variabilidade e melhorar a maciez seria promover a maturação da carne. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade da carne maturada de ovelhas. O experimento foi conduzido na Universidade Estadual de Londrina. Foram utilizadas 18 ovelhas da raça Santa Inês. Após o abate, o músculo Longissimus dorsi foram coletados e submetidos ao tratamento, três diferentes tempos de maturação: zero, quatro e oito dias a 5 ± 2 ° C. O aumento do tempo de maturação provocou uma redução no pH. Os valores de L *, a * e c* aumentam de forma linear com o tempo de maturação. Os valores b * e h * apresentaram uma regressão quadrática. A contagem de mesófilos e psicrotróficos apresentaram um aumento linear. O índice de fragmentação miofibrilar apresentou uma regressão quadrática, e a força de cisalhamento diminuiu linearmente. Na análise sensorial, uma diferença na intensidade de odor da carne foi observada. A contagem microbiológica indicou que a carne estava apta para consumo. A maturação promoveu melhorias na qualidade da carne de ovelhas.