In modern pig farming, the search for systems that promote environmental quality and welfare is an important issue. In this sense, the present study evaluated the effects of environmental enrichment on the performance and behavior of piglets. In a completely randomized block design, 32 piglets (7.43kg mean weight), weaned at 28 days of age, were distributed into four treatments (control without enrichment, environmental enrichment with wood shavings as bedding; environmental enrichment with hanging toys and environmental enrichment with wood shavings + hanging toys). Four repetitions were performed for each treatment, with two animals per experimental unit. The instant scan sampling technique was used to record the behavior of each piglet for 20h. Animals receiving environmental enrichment with wood shavings + hanging toys were heavier at 70 days (P=0.02), exhibited higher total and daily weight gain (P=0.04 and P=0.02, respectively) and better feed conversion (P=0.02). Environmental enrichment increased the interaction of animals with the environment, allowing them to exhibit natural behaviors.

Considering the increased incidence of wooden breast myopathy in broilers, the intake involves no threat to human health, indefinite etiology consumer rejection by appearance in such breasts, and the lack of studies on the industrial use of wooden breast. The objective of this study was evaluating the quality of hamburgers made with chicken meat affected by wooden breast. Breast samples from broilers slaughtered at 48-days-old were used. Normal (absence of myopathy), moderate degree (hardness only in one region of the breast) and severe degree (hardness over the entire length of the breast) samples were processed for the manufacture of hamburgers whose quality analyses (color, pH, cooking weight loss, shrinkage percentage, tenderness, storage weight loss, water activity, lipid oxidation, chemical composition and consumer test) were performed on non-stored samples (Day 0), and after storing at 30, 60, 90 and 120 days at −20 °C. There was a reduction (p < 0.05) in tenderness in samples of moderate-grade hamburgers (from 161.45 N to 289.40 N) after 120 days of storage. Hamburgers produced with chicken breast samples affected by wooden breast myopathy presented higher (p < 0.0001) fat concentration (5.32 g/100 g and 5.26 g/100 g, respectively, for the moderate and severe degree) than hamburgers made of normal samples (4.45 g/100 g). Lipid oxidation values increased, which exceeded the limit of rancidity detection, independent of myopathy. The consumers equally appreciated the aroma, flavor, and texture, and rated their overall acceptance as similar regardless of the quality of chicken meat. Chicken breast hamburgers with wooden breast myopathy is a viable alternative for the poultry industry.

This study assessed the effect of different concentrations of (Capsicum baccatum var. pendulum) on lipid oxidation, microbiological and sensorial characteristics of four different formulations of fresh pork sausage and smoked (control, F1, F2, F3), with the substitution of industrial antioxidant for the natural one. Lipid oxidation values (TBARS) did not display significant differences (P>0.05) among the treatments, and at different times of analysis (storage). The only significant differences were between the different types of sausages (fresh and smoked). The enumeration of all the microorganisms searched was below the standard required by Brazilian laws. F2 formula received the highest scores for acceptance but did not display significant difference (P>0.05) as it refers to taste, with the remaining formulations. The substitution of the synthetic antioxidant by the natural one displayed similar results, demonstrating that the natural extract from the balloon pepper does not affect the technological and sensorial properties of the sausages, which proves the viability of the product.

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Physiological parameters such as respiratory frequency and rectal temperature stand out as indicators for heat stress in pigs, however, requiring time and labor for measurements. The possibility of using infrared thermography associated with prediction systems of these physiological variables can help in decision making, allowing greater welfare and productivity of the animals. With this objective, an experiment was carried out with growing pigs submitted to acute and chronic heat stress, working with a thermoneutrality temperature (22° C) and heat stress (34° C). The results were used for the development of a fuzzy model using as input variables: air dry bulb temperature (°C), average surface temperature (°C) and, as output variables: respiratory frequency (movements/minute) and rectal temperature (°C). The method of inference used was the one of Mamdani having been elaborated six rules and the defuzzification technique used was the one of the Center of Gravity. In the obtained results on simulation model when compared with experimental data was evidenced satisfactory efficiency in respiratory frequency determination and the rectal temperature, in which the R 2 values calculated were respectively 0.997 and 0.951 for acute stress and 0.993 and 0.964 for chronic heat stress.

RESUMO Objetivou-se com esse trabalho avaliar o uso de programas de luz sobre o desempenho, concentração plasmática de melatonina e comportamento de suínos em fase de terminação. O experimento foi conduzido no setor de suinocultura da UFLA, utilizando-se 32 suínos em fase de terminação, por 48 dias. Os animais foram alojados em grupos de dois em cada baia (unidade experimental), distribuídos em delineamento em blocos casualizados, de acordo com o peso inicial com quatro tratamentos e quatro blocos. Foram utilizados quatro programas de luz (tratamentos), sendo T1: luz natural (LN); T2: 15 horas de luz e nove de escuro por dia (15L: 9E); T3: 19 horas de luz por dia (19L: 5E); T4: 23 horas de luz por dia (23L: 1E). As variáveis analisadas foram o desempenho (consumo de ração médio diário, ganho de peso médio diário e conversão alimentar), concentração plasmática de melatonina e o comportamento (bebendo, fuçando, ócio e comendo). A alteração no fotoperíodo não alterou o desempenho ou a concentração plasmática de melatonina nos suínos. As variáveis comportamentais “fuçando”, “comendo”, “bebendo”, não diferiram em nenhum dos períodos estudados, porém o comportamento ócio foi mais ocorrente nos suínos que receberam 15 horas de luz. O aumento no fotoperíodo não permitiu expressivas alterações de desempenho ou de comportamento dos animais.

Electroejaculation is a technique that can be used to collect semen from canines, but its use with this group of animals is restricted by low success rate and low semen quality. Here, we evaluated whether pharmacological and sexual sensory stimuli, which may affect ejaculation, can increase electroejaculation efficiency and improve ejaculate quality. We worked with 20 dogs of mixed breed weighing between 5.3 and 22.2 kg, divided into two groups. Both groups were exposed to a spayed female for 10 min, but in the second group, the same spayed female had her vagina impregnated with methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate synthetic pheromone for 10 min and after receiving dinoprost tromethamine IM, 0.1 mg/kg. After stimulation, all dogs were chemically restrained with ketamine, 8 mg/kg, IM; and xylazine, 1 mg/kg, IM, and subjected to electroejaculation protocol. We obtained 100% of antegrade ejaculate in treatments when the spayed female had her vagina impregnated with pheromone and 80% when she did not. Sperm motility was significantly different (p < 0.05) between controls and the test group (10.1 ± 4.5 and 43.0 ± 8.3, respectively). We concluded that the adopted electroejaculation protocol was efficient and that the PGF2α associated with sexual sensory stimulation can improve semen quality in dogs undergoing the procedure.

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