This study evaluated the effects that gradual ractopamine supplementation in diets with nutritional adjustments on pig meat. Were used 80 finishing crossbred barrows in a randomized block design with a 2×5 factorial arrangement (two diets: with and without nutritional adjustment; five levels of ractopamine supplementation: 5-5, 10-10, 20-20, 5-10 and 10-20 ppm) in the 14 initial and 14 final study days, four replicates with two animals by experimental unit. Higher shear force values (P<0.05) were obtained using the 5-5 and 10-20 ppm ractopamine supplementation plans in the diets without nutritional adjustment. With nutritionally adjusted diets, the 5-10 ppm of ractopamine supplementation plan yielded higher shear force values (P<0.05). Water retention capacity was higher (P<0.05) for animals fed adjusted diets and 5-5 and 10-20 ppm of ractopamine plans. In the 10-20 ppm of ractopamine supplementation plan, meat pH was higher (P<0.05) for diets without nutritional adjustment, whereas in the 20-20 ppm of supplementation plan, pH was higher for adjusted diets.

Effect of ginger (Zingiber officinale) was evaluated as nematicide against root-knot disease of brinjal (Solanum melongena). Treatment of soil with ginger as raw and dry bark, powder as well as extract in lower concentration (S/100) inhibited the activity of Meloidogyne javanica in brinjal as evident with lower galling incidence. Better growth of plant with lower galling incidence was observed with powder, dry bark and extract of ginger. Ginger was found to be nematicidal both in the laboratory and glass house test.

The comparative efficiency of methanol extracts of Neem (Azadirachta indica), Bitter Gourd (Momordica charantia) and chemical anthelmintic Albendazole on gastrointestinal nematodes infected goats were evaluated by egg per gram (EPG) count for a period of approximately three weeks. Twelve Kambing Katjang goats naturally infested with gastrointestinal parasite were selected based on EPG count (>300 EPG) and divided into four groups each consisting of three goats. Treatment I was methanol extract of A.indica (0.5 ml/kg body weight), treatment II was methanol extract of M.charantia (1 ml/kg body weight), treatment III was chemical anthelmintic, Albendazole (0.1 ml/kg body weight) and finally treatment IV was control. The treatments were administered on day 0 orally with single dosage and faecal egg count (EPG) was determined on day 4, 8 and 20. Both methanol extract of A.indica and M.charantia showed significant (p<0.01) reduction in controlling gastrointestinal nematodes infected goats compared to control group. A.indica showed gastrointestinal nematodes to be at a safe level (below 300 EPG) in goats on day 20 whereas M.charantia showed efficacy on day 8. Chemical anthelmintic showed no significant (p>0.01) reduction throughout the three weeks. The use of herbal anthelmintics, A.indica and M.charantia has shown significant (p<0.01) anthelmintic activity when compared with control group.

Realizou-se este estudo com o objetivo de avaliar qualitativamente a carne de suínos alimentados com dietas contendo diferentes níveis de energia líquida e suplementadas com 10ppm de ractopamina. Foram utilizados 100 suínos, machos castrados, de alto potencial genético, com peso médio inicial de 73,62 ± 4,76kg e peso médio final de 97,31 ± 1,12kg. Os animais foram distribuidos em delineamento experimental de blocos ao acaso em esquema fatorial 5x2 (cinco níveis de energia líquida: 2.300; 2.425; 2.550; 2.675; 2.800kcal/kg de ração e dois níveis ractopamina na dieta: 0 e 10 ppm/kg ração). Adotou-se o peso inicial como critério de bloqueamento. Não se observou interação entre os níveis de energia líquida e a suplementação de ractopamina na dieta para as variáveis força de cisalhamento, capacidade de retenção de água, oxidação, pH e cor da carne. Não houve efeito dos níveis de energia líquida e de ractopamina na força de cisalhamento, capacidade de retenção de água, oxidação, pH e coloração da carne dos suínos. Os níveis de energia líquida e o nível de 10 ppm de ractopamina não alteram a força de cisalhamento, a capacidade de retenção de água, a oxidação, a coloração e o pH das carne de suínos.

Realizou-se este trabalho com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito do período de suplementação da ractopamina nadieta sobre a qualidade da carne suína. Foram utilizados 48 suínos híbridos comerciais, machos castrados, compeso inicial de 65,85±4,34kg e peso final de 96,49±1,69kg. Os animais foram distribuídos em delineamentode blocos completos casualizados com seis tratamentos e quatro repetições de dois animais cada. Foramavaliadas amostras de carne provenientes de suínos alimentados com dietas sem qualquer suplementação(controle) ou suplementadas com 20ppm de ractopamina por um período de 7, 14, 21, 28 e 35 dias pré-abate.Foram avaliados pH, capacidade de retenção de água, cor, força de cisalhamento e oxidação. Verificou-se que asuplementação de 20mg/kg de ractopamina durante 28 e 35 dias aumenta a força de cisalhamento da carnesuína. A suplementação de 20 mg/kg de ractopamina durante sete dias reduz a luminosidade (L*) da carne. Osdemais parâmetros qualitativos da carne suína não são influenciados pela ractopamina.