Thermal environment characterization of laying hen-housing systems

This study systematically collected data on variables that influence the thermal environment characteristics in poultry houses. Laying poultry farming is a relevant economic activity in Brazilian agriculture and has been expressively growing mainly regarding genetics and nutrition. Thermal comfort in poultry houses is needed to achieve poultry's maximum productive potential. Therefore, laying aviaries previously naturally ventilated (positive pressure) are starting to be equipped with cage batteries and designed with lateral closures, using negative pressure ventilation and in some cases associated with adiabatic cooling. However, negative pressure ventilation systems' thermal efficiency in tunnel mode and its distribution in different cage levels is still slightly known. Consequently, this system's thermal efficiency needs to be investigated to ensure adequate climate indices recommendations and avoid costs and losses due to inadequate handling and facilities.

Mapeamento do mercado pet e insumos veterinários na região do Cariri / Pet and input market mapping veterinary in the Cariri region

Agronegócio é um conjunto de operações da cadeia produtiva, do trabalho agropecuário até a comercialização, que possui uma grande importância para o Brasil e demais países que têm uma economia fundamentada na agropecuária. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo relatar a situação mercadológica da região do Cariri, enfatizando a importância da caracterização e da análise da estrutura dos estabelecimentos que englobam o agronegócio. A pesquisa foi realizada com a aplicação de dois questionários técnicos, com visitas em clínicas veterinárias, pet shops e casas agropecuárias, dos municípios cearenses de Barbalha, Juazeiro do Norte e Crato. Os resultados revelaram a diversidade de estabelecimentos comerciais com predominância nas casas agropecuárias(46,0%), pet shops (23,0%) e clínicas veterinárias (8%). Destaca-se, principalmente, a atuação do médico veterinário, com a realização de procedimentos cirúrgicos, vacinação, atendimento clínico e a campo. Além disso, aponta-se a prestação de serviços farmácia e hotel pet, comércio de animais, banho e tosa e fisioterápicos, disponibilizados em pet shops e clínicas veterinárias na cidade do Crato e Juazeiro do Norte. Com a realização da pesquisa, foi possível quantificar as espécies animais que abrangem o setor Pet Food na região. Ademais, os dados da pesquisa de campo mostraram que existe uma ampla comercialização de insumos para alimentação animal, disponibilizados, principalmente, nas casas agropecuárias. Com a análise dos dados coletados verifica-se a importância do agronegócio para o desenvolvimento sustentável da região do Cariri, possibilitando a geração de emprego e renda para o homem do campo e para os profissionais prestadores de serviços.

Agribusiness is a set of operations in the production chain, from agricultural work to commercialization, which has great importance to Brazil and other countries that have an economy based on agriculture and livestock. This study aimed to report the market situation in the Cariri Region, emphasizing the importance of characterizing and analyzing the structure of establishments that include agribusiness. The research was carried out with the application of two technical questionnaires on visits to veterinary clinics, pet shops and agricultural houses in the municipalities of Barbalha, Juazeiro do Norte and Crato. The results revealed the diversity of commercial establishments with predominance in agricultural houses (46.0%), pet shops (23.0%) and veterinary clinics (8%). The Veterinarian's performance was particularly noteworthy, with surgical procedures, vaccinations, clinical and field care. In addition, the provision of pharmacy and pet hotel services, animal trade, bathing and grooming and physiotherapy, available in pet shops and veterinary clinics in the city of Crato and Juazeiro do Norte. With this work, it was possible to quantify the animal species that comprise the Pet Food sector in the region. In addition, data from the field research showed that there is a wide commercialization of inputs for animal feed, available mainly in agricultural houses. With the analysis of the collected data, it is possible to verify the importance of agribusiness for the sustainable development of the Cariri Region, enabling the generation of employment and income for rural people and professional service providers.

Mapeamento do mercado pet e insumos veterinários na região do Cariri / Pet and input market mapping veterinary in the Cariri region

Agronegócio é um conjunto de operações da cadeia produtiva, do trabalho agropecuário até a comercialização, que possui uma grande importância para o Brasil e demais países que têm uma economia fundamentada na agropecuária. O presente trabalho teve por objetivo relatar a situação mercadológica da região do Cariri, enfatizando a importância da caracterização e da análise da estrutura dos estabelecimentos que englobam o agronegócio. A pesquisa foi realizada com a aplicação de dois questionários técnicos, com visitas em clínicas veterinárias, pet shops e casas agropecuárias, dos municípios cearenses de Barbalha, Juazeiro do Norte e Crato. Os resultados revelaram a diversidade de estabelecimentos comerciais com predominância nas casas agropecuárias(46,0%), pet shops (23,0%) e clínicas veterinárias (8%). Destaca-se, principalmente, a atuação do médico veterinário, com a realização de procedimentos cirúrgicos, vacinação, atendimento clínico e a campo. Além disso, aponta-se a prestação de serviços farmácia e hotel pet, comércio de animais, banho e tosa e fisioterápicos, disponibilizados em pet shops e clínicas veterinárias na cidade do Crato e Juazeiro do Norte. Com a realização da pesquisa, foi possível quantificar as espécies animais que abrangem o setor Pet Food na região. Ademais, os dados da pesquisa de campo mostraram que existe uma ampla comercialização de insumos para alimentação animal, disponibilizados, principalmente, nas casas agropecuárias. Com a análise dos dados coletados verifica-se a importância do agronegócio para o desenvolvimento sustentável da região do Cariri, possibilitando a geração de emprego e renda para o homem do campo e para os profissionais prestadores de serviços.(AU)

Agribusiness is a set of operations in the production chain, from agricultural work to commercialization, which has great importance to Brazil and other countries that have an economy based on agriculture and livestock. This study aimed to report the market situation in the Cariri Region, emphasizing the importance of characterizing and analyzing the structure of establishments that include agribusiness. The research was carried out with the application of two technical questionnaires on visits to veterinary clinics, pet shops and agricultural houses in the municipalities of Barbalha, Juazeiro do Norte and Crato. The results revealed the diversity of commercial establishments with predominance in agricultural houses (46.0%), pet shops (23.0%) and veterinary clinics (8%). The Veterinarian's performance was particularly noteworthy, with surgical procedures, vaccinations, clinical and field care. In addition, the provision of pharmacy and pet hotel services, animal trade, bathing and grooming and physiotherapy, available in pet shops and veterinary clinics in the city of Crato and Juazeiro do Norte. With this work, it was possible to quantify the animal species that comprise the Pet Food sector in the region. In addition, data from the field research showed that there is a wide commercialization of inputs for animal feed, available mainly in agricultural houses. With the analysis of the collected data, it is possible to verify the importance of agribusiness for the sustainable development of the Cariri Region, enabling the generation of employment and income for rural people and professional service providers.(AU)

Thermal conditioning in the broiler production: challenges and possibilities

With the introduction of new technologies that lead to the development of new systems of poultry breeding, have been promoted to the animals better thermal comfort conditions. This lessens the great challenge for industrial poultry, with regard to aviary constructions, resulting in increased productivity. It is known that an animal in heat stress condition presents lower productive performance. A lower feed conversion caused by decreased feed intake is the main cause. Multidisciplinary studies have been developed seeking the deepening the needs and possibilities already available about these new systems. With this, this review seeks to approach in a didactic and simplified way the planning and construction of aviary sheds aiming to provide an suitable thermal conditioning for broiler accommodation.

Thermal conditioning in the broiler production: challenges and possibilities

With the introduction of new technologies that lead to the development of new systems of poultry breeding, have been promoted to the animals better thermal comfort conditions. This lessens the great challenge for industrial poultry, with regard to aviary constructions, resulting in increased productivity. It is known that an animal in heat stress condition presents lower productive performance. A lower feed conversion caused by decreased feed intake is the main cause. Multidisciplinary studies have been developed seeking the deepening the needs and possibilities already available about these new systems. With this, this review seeks to approach in a didactic and simplified way the planning and construction of aviary sheds aiming to provide an suitable thermal conditioning for broiler accommodation.(AU)

Heat Stress and body temperature in brown swiss cows raised in semi-arid climate of Ceará state, Brazil

Background: In tropical countries like Brazil, air temperature and relative humidity have a significant effect on animal physiology; there is a great impact of solar radiation on physiological parameters, especially on body temperature. This study evaluated the occurrence of heat stress in Brown Swiss cows in a tropical semi-arid climate, and checked for the correlation between internal body temperatures [rectal temperature (RT) and vaginal temperature (VT)] with surface temperature (ST) to determine if these variables are associated.Materials, Methods & Results: Twenty-eight Brown Swiss cows at three stages of the lactation cycle were used in this study: 10 nonpregant lactating (NPL) cows, 8 dry pregnant (DP) cows, and 10 pregnant lactating (PL) cows. These animals were between the second and third calving, weighed between 346 and 720 kg, and had ages between 2 and 13 years. During the experimental period, air temperature and relative humidity (RH) at the experimental site were measured using a digital thermohygrometer. The temperature and humidity index (THI) was calculated according to methodology described by Thom (1958), and was used as an environmental comfort parameter. For the evaluation of RT and VT, two digital clinical thermometers, one inserted in the vagina and the other in the rectum, were used simultaneously to minimize stress. Surface temperature (ST) was assessed using a digital infrared laser thermometer at a distance of 50 cm from the animal. Surface temperature was measured in the forehead (FST), thorax (TST), flank (FLST), and legs (LST). During the study period, the ambient temperature (AT) was significantly higher outside (in the sun) than inside of the facilities (in the shade) (P < 0.05). RH was inversely proportional to AT, and was significantly higher inside than outside the facilities (P < 0.05).[...](AU)

Heat Stress and body temperature in brown swiss cows raised in semi-arid climate of Ceará state, Brazil

Background: In tropical countries like Brazil, air temperature and relative humidity have a significant effect on animal physiology; there is a great impact of solar radiation on physiological parameters, especially on body temperature. This study evaluated the occurrence of heat stress in Brown Swiss cows in a tropical semi-arid climate, and checked for the correlation between internal body temperatures [rectal temperature (RT) and vaginal temperature (VT)] with surface temperature (ST) to determine if these variables are associated.Materials, Methods & Results: Twenty-eight Brown Swiss cows at three stages of the lactation cycle were used in this study: 10 nonpregant lactating (NPL) cows, 8 dry pregnant (DP) cows, and 10 pregnant lactating (PL) cows. These animals were between the second and third calving, weighed between 346 and 720 kg, and had ages between 2 and 13 years. During the experimental period, air temperature and relative humidity (RH) at the experimental site were measured using a digital thermohygrometer. The temperature and humidity index (THI) was calculated according to methodology described by Thom (1958), and was used as an environmental comfort parameter. For the evaluation of RT and VT, two digital clinical thermometers, one inserted in the vagina and the other in the rectum, were used simultaneously to minimize stress. Surface temperature (ST) was assessed using a digital infrared laser thermometer at a distance of 50 cm from the animal. Surface temperature was measured in the forehead (FST), thorax (TST), flank (FLST), and legs (LST). During the study period, the ambient temperature (AT) was significantly higher outside (in the sun) than inside of the facilities (in the shade) (P < 0.05). RH was inversely proportional to AT, and was significantly higher inside than outside the facilities (P < 0.05).[...]