Initially, meat emulsions were studied in a model system to optimize phosphate and potassium chloride concentrations. In the second step, frankfurters containing 1.00%, 1.30% and 1.75% sodium chloride (NaCl) were processed and their stability was monitored over 56 days. In the emulsion tests, the best levels in relation to shear force found in model system were 0.85% and 0.25% of potassium chloride and phosphate, respectively. In the second step, treatments with 1.30% and 1.75% NaCl performed better in most of the analysis, particularly the sensory analysis. Consumers could identify the levels of salt, but this was not the factor that determined the overall acceptability. In some technological parameters, frankfurters with 1.30% NaCl were better than those with 1.75%. This represents a reduction of approximately 25% sodium chloride, or 18% reduction in sodium (916 mg/100g to 750 mg/100g), and it appears to be feasible from a technological, microbiological and sensory point of view.

A non-surgical sterilant (NSS) was used with the objective of assessing the zootechnical performance, carcass and meat quality, and hormone levels. 90 male piglets were selected with birthweights varying between 1.5kg to 2.0kg. The control group was constituted of 45 males castrated by the conventional surgical method, at the seventh day of age, and the treated group was constituted of 45 males castrated with NSS (active principle of zinc gluconate in the concentration of 26.2mg/mL associated to the dimethyl sulfoxide at 0.5%), with the application of the first dose on the seventh day of age and the second dose on the fourteenth day of age. The zootechnical assessments were carried out on the farm and consisted: weight gain in the periods per animal and feed conversion. The slaughter of the animals and the assessment of the carcass and meat quality and hormone levels were carried out in a slaughterhouse and the municipality of Campinas (SP). The study demonstrated that the use of NSS was a viable alternative in relation to the zootechnical performance and the carcass quality. In relation to the meat quality there was no significant difference in the majority of the assessed parameters.Keywords: swine, zinc gluconate, androstenone, feed conversion, carcass yield RESUMO Foi utilizado esterilizante não cirúrgico (ENC) com

Technological, sensory and microbiological impacts of reducing sodium content on sausage Consumers are increasingly aware and informed about the relationship between sodium intake and the development of hypertension with subsequent coronary problems. Thus, the food industry has developed numerous products with low sodium content to meet the needs of this new consumer profile. This project studied the technological, sensory, and microbiological impacts on low sodium sausages, with phosphate and potassium chloride added. Evaluations were performed in two meat matrices: a) beef and pork b) mechanically recovered poultry meat (MRPM). In the first stage, emulsions were studied, in which the optimization process used the technique of factorial design with a central composite design, based on Response Surface Methodology, and the independent variables were phosphate, sodium chloride and potassium chloride. This stage was performed in a model system obtaining the mass in a mini cutter with all the ingredients to obtain sausage with varying levels of phosphate, salt (NaCl) and potassium chloride (KCl). In the second stage, the best levels of phosphate and KCl were fixed and sodium chloride remained rated at three contents (1.00 %, 1.30 %, and 1.75 %). The treatments were processed in a pilot plant and the physical/chemical, technological, microbiological, and sensorial analyses were performed. The treatments were monitored over 56 days in vacuum packaged products and stored at 5 ± 2°C in five periods (1, 14, 28, 42, and 56 days). In meat emulsion, the best contents of KCl and phosphate were 0.85% and 0.25%, respectively. In sausage, the treatments with 1.30 and 1.75% NaCl showed the best performance in most analyses, mainly in the sensory analysis. In emulsion of mechanically recovered poultry meat, the best contents of KCl and phosphate were 0.46 % and 0.40 %, respectively, and sausage MRPM treatments with 1.3% and 1.75% NaCl showed the best results mainly in the sensory analysis. The reduction of 1.75% to 1.3% of NaCl represents a reduction of about 25% of sodium chloride and is viable in terms of technological, microbiological, and sensorial aspects.

O mercado de confinamento demonstra alto grau de complexidade quanto às variáveis que o influenciam, gerando dificuldade no estabelecimento de diretrizes estratégicas para a atividade. A necessidade de gerar milhares de simulações de resultados para que se tornasse possível uma visão ampla de negócios levou à criação de uma ferramenta que cruzasse a maior quantidade possível de dados técnicos e mercadológicos, concatenasse as informações disponíveis e retornasse cenários de forma direta ao gestor, possibilitando a este, a determinação de objetivos e estratégias que aumentariam a competitividade da empresa. Para tanto, foi estudado um confinamento no estado de Goiás, em que foram obtidas informações reais de produção e resultados financeiros no ano de 2012. Foram comparados cenários reais e simulados, com a finalidade de se comparar o EBITDA, além de ser apresentada uma breve explanação sobre os fatores que tem direta influência sobre os cálculos realizados. Os estudos demonstram que a utilização de um plano estratégico pode contribuir positivamente para a lucratividade ao responder o melhor momento de confinar, o perfil dos animais, e o período ideal de manutenção no regime de engorda. Por questão de confidencialidade empresarial, não foi autorizada a divulgação da fonte dos dados.

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