Morphometric analysis of the angle of the femoral trochlea

The possible association between disorders of the femoropatellar joint and geometrical anatomical variations in the patellar facet and femoral sulcus motivated us to conduct a morphometric study on the angle of the femoral sulcus and to correlate this with possible variation factors, such as: length, width at the midpoint of the femur, femur inclination angle, distance between condyles and depth of the patellar facet. The material consisted of 56 dry femurs of both sexes and various ages: 24 from the right side and 32 from the left side. The patellar facets were photographed at three positions: a) start level; b) middle level; and c) end level. The angle formed in each of these positions was measured using graphical tools in CorelDraw X4. To analyze the results, the statistical tests used were chi-square and Student’s t-test for correlations. The results obtained were: a) angle of the patellar facet: mean for start level of the patellar facet = 129°01; mean for middle level = 131°35 and mean for end level = 132°14; b) mean distance between condyles = 50.29  mm; c) mean depth of the patellar facet = 9.55 mm; d) mean for Ficat and Bizou’s condylar depth index = 5.45. We concluded that the angle of the femoral sulcus increased from the start of the patellar facet to its end, and that its variability was weakly influenced by the length, width, femur inclination angle and side, according to the t-test (significance of 5%) for the correlation coefficients found.

Efeito da temperatura ambiente e da idade do frango sobre o valor energético do farelo de soja

Two hundred and eighty-eight Cobb chicks were distributed in a completely randomized design with a split-plot arrangement with six replication of six chicks each, the main plots were in three temperatures (cold, thermo neutral and hot) and the secondary plot were by phase (initial, growing and final). The test diet was produced by replacing the basal diet with test food: 40% soybean meal+60% basal diet. The coefficient of apparent and true metabolizability of dry matter, nitrogen, ether extract of the test diet and apparent and true metabolizable energies (AME and TME) of soybean meal were calculated and energy values were corrected for nitrogen balance (AMEn and TMEn) of soybean meal, in kcal/kg, as fed basis. The mean values of AMEn observed for broiler chicks in cold, thermo neutral and hot temperature were 2110, 2016 and 2022kcal/kg, respectively, and the initial, growing and final phases were 1840, 2052 and 2256kcal/kg, respectively. The metabolizable energy values of soybean meal, the balance and coefficients of metabolizability of the nutrients of the test diet increased with the age of broiler; however, they were not affected by environmental temperature.

Foram utilizados 288 pintos de corte Cobb, distribuídos em delineamento experimental inteiramente ao acaso, em esquema de parcelas subdivididas no tempo, sendo as três temperaturas de criação - fria, termoneutra e quente - as parcelas, e as três fases de avaliação - inicial, crescimento e final - as subparcelas, com seis repetições de seis aves cada. A dieta-teste foi obtida pela substituição de parte da ração basal pelo alimento-teste: 40% do farelo de soja + 60% da ração basal. Foram calculados os coeficientes de metabolizabilidade aparente e verdadeiro da matéria seca, do nitrogênio, do extrato etéreo da dieta-teste e os valores de energia metabolizável aparente e verdadeira (EMA e EMV), e corrigidas pelo balanço de nitrogênio do farelo de soja (EMAn e EMVn). Foram encontrados valores médios de EMAn do farelo de soja para aves criadas em temperatura fria, termoneutra e quente de 2110, 2016 e 2022kcal/kg, respectivamente, e para as fases de criação inicial, crescimento e final de 1840, 2052 e 2256kcal/kg, respectivamente. O valor de energia metabolizável do farelo de soja, os balanços e os coeficientes de metabolizabilidade dos nutrientes da dieta-teste aumentaram com a idade do frango de corte, porém não são afetados pela temperatura ambiente.

Corn texture and particle size in broiler diets

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of corn texture and the particle size on broiler performance, carcass yield, nutrient digestibility, and digestive organ morphometrics. In Experiment I, 720 male Cobb chicks were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement, consisting two corn textures (dented and hard) and three corn particle sizes, was applied, with four replicates of 30 birds each. Corn particle size was classified according to geometric mean diameter (GMD) as fine - 0.46 mm; medium - 0.73 mm, and coarse - 0.87 mm. In Experiment II, 120 broiler chicks were used to evaluate corn digestibility during the periods of 16 to 22 days and 35 to 41 days of age, using the method of total excreta collection. In Experiment I, corn particle size influenced body weight, average weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of 21-day-old birds. Corn texture and particle size did not affect the performance of 42-day-old broilers or carcass traits. In Experiment II, there was no influence of corn texture and particle size on digestive organ weights. Dented corn increased nitrogen excretion in the first trial, and hard corn improved dry matter digestibility in the second metabolic trial. Corn with fine particle size promotes better performance of broilers at 21 days of age. Hard corn results in higher dry matter digestibility and lower nitrogen excretion, and consequently higher production factor in 42-day-old broilers.

Corn texture and particle size in broiler diets

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of corn texture and the particle size on broiler performance, carcass yield, nutrient digestibility, and digestive organ morphometrics. In Experiment I, 720 male Cobb chicks were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement, consisting two corn textures (dented and hard) and three corn particle sizes, was applied, with four replicates of 30 birds each. Corn particle size was classified according to geometric mean diameter (GMD) as fine - 0.46 mm; medium - 0.73 mm, and coarse - 0.87 mm. In Experiment II, 120 broiler chicks were used to evaluate corn digestibility during the periods of 16 to 22 days and 35 to 41 days of age, using the method of total excreta collection. In Experiment I, corn particle size influenced body weight, average weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of 21-day-old birds. Corn texture and particle size did not affect the performance of 42-day-old broilers or carcass traits. In Experiment II, there was no influence of corn texture and particle size on digestive organ weights. Dented corn increased nitrogen excretion in the first trial, and hard corn improved dry matter digestibility in the second metabolic trial. Corn with fine particle size promotes better performance of broilers at 21 days of age. Hard corn results in higher dry matter digestibility and lower nitrogen excretion, and consequently higher production factor in 42-day-old broilers.

Paraganspis egeria Díaz, Gallardo & Walsh (Hymenoptera: Figitidae: Eucoilinae) as potential agent in the biocontrol of muscoid dipterous collected in several substracts in Itumbiara, Goias, Brazil

Este estudo determinou as espécies de hospedeiros do parasitóide Paraganspis egeria (Díaz, Gallardo & Walsh, 1996) (Hymenoptera: Figitidae) em esterco bovino, fezes humanas, rins de bovino, galinha e carcaça de suíno. As pupas foram obtidas pelo método de flutuação. Elas foram colocadas individualmente em cápsulas de gelatina e mantidas até a emergência das moscas e/ou parasitóides. A prevalência total de parasitismo foi de 3,4%.

Brachymeria podagrica (Fabricius) (Hymenoptera: Chalcididae) as a parasitoid of Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae): first report in Brazil

Este trabalho relata a primeira ocorrência do parasitóide Brachymeria podagrica (Fabricius, 1787) parasitando estádios imaturos de Chrysomya albiceps (Wiedemann) (Diptera: Calliphoridae) no Brasil. Utilizaram-se armadilhas contendo como isca vísceras de galinha. As pupas foram obtidas pelo método de flutuação. Elas foram colocadas individualmente em cápsulas de gelatina e mantidas até a emergência das moscas e/ou dos parasitóides. Foram obtidas 29 pupas de C. albiceps, quatro das quais emergiram parasitóides. A prevalência de parasitismo foi de 13,7%.