Social-pair judgment bias testing in slow-growing broiler chickens raised in low- or high-complexity environments.

Impacts of environmental complexity on affective states in slow-growing broiler chickens (Gallus gallus domesticus) are unknown. Chickens' performance in judgment bias tests (JBT) can be limited as they are tested individually, causing fear and anxiety. The objectives were to apply a social-pair JBT to assess the effect of environmental complexity on slow-growing broiler chickens` affective states, and assess the impact of fearfulness, anxiety, and chronic stress on JBT performance. Six-hundred Hubbard Redbro broilers were housed in six low-complexity (similar to commercial) or six high-complexity (permanent and temporary enrichments) pens. Twelve chicken pairs were trained (1 pair/pen, n = 24 chickens) using a multimodal approach (visual and spatial cues), with reward and neutral cues of opposing color and location. Three ambiguous cues were tested: near-positive, middle, and near-neutral cues. Approach and pecking behavior were recorded. Eighty-three percent of chickens (20/24) were successfully trained in 13 days. Fearfulness, anxiety, and chronic stress did not impact chickens' performance. Chickens successfully discriminated between cues. Low-complexity chickens approached the middle cue faster than high-complexity chickens, indicating that they were in a more positive affective state. The environmental complexity provided in this study did not improve affective states in slow-growing broiler chickens compared to a control. A social-pair JBT resulted in excellent learning and testing outcomes in slow-growing broilers.

Vocalização como indicativo do bem-estar de suínos submetidos a situações de estresse / Vocalization as a welfare indicative for pigs subjected to stress situations

Objetivou-se com este trabalho estimar o bem-estar de suínos a partir de registros de sua vocalização, durante alojamento em granja comercial. Foram utilizados 150 suínos machos castrados, distribuídos aleatoriamente em cinco baias. Os suínos foram submetidos a diferentes situações de estresse: sede (sem acesso a água), fome (sem acesso ao alimento), estresse térmico (Índice de temperatura e umidade - ITU >74). Para o tratamento controle, os animais foram mantidos em situação de conforto, com acesso a alimento e água, e ambiente com ITU <70. Foram registrados os sinais acústicos a cada 30 minutos, durante período ininterrupto de três horas, totalizando seis coletas para cada situação de estresse. Os sinais foram digitalizados a uma frequência de até 44.100Hz, por um período de 3 minutos. Posteriormente, os áudios foram analisados pelo software Praat(r) 5.1.19. Os atributos gerados a partir desse software foram a energia do sinal (Pa²*s), amplitude máxima e amplitude mínima (Pa), a frequência de picht (Hz), a intensidade sonora (dB) e quatro níveis de formantes (F1; F2; F3 e F4), também chamados de harmônicas (Hz). Verificou-se que, dependendo do estímulo estressor e de sua duração, os atributos acústicos energia e intensidade do sinal, frequência de pitch e as formantes 2 e 4 apresentaram diferenciação. Os atributos sonoros da vocalização de suínos variam de maneira distinta em função do tipo e duração do estímulo estressante, funcionando, quando associados, como ferramenta eficiente para quantificar o grau de estresse dos animais.

This work aimed to estimate the welfare of pigs using their vocalization records during rearing in a commercial swine farm. A total of 150 barrow pigs were randomly distributed into five pens. Pigs were exposed to different stressful situations: Thirst (no access to water), hunger (no access to the food), thermal stress (Temperature and Humidity Index - THI >74). For the control treatment, the animals were kept in a situation of comfort, with full access to food and water, and environment THI <70. Acoustic signals were recorded every 30 minutes during a continuous period of three hours, totaling six samples for each stress exposure. The signals were digitized at a frequency of up to 44,100 Hz, for a period of 3 minutes. Later the audios were analyzed using the Praat (r) 5.1.19 software. The attributes generated from this software were the signal energy (Pa² * s), the maximum amplitude and the minimum amplitude (Pa), the frequency of pitch (Hz), the sound intensity (dB) and four levels of formants (F1, F2, F3 and F4), also called harmonics (Hz). It was found that depending on the acoustic attributes, the stressor stimuli and its duration indicate energy and signal strength, frequency of pitch and formants 2 and 4 showed differentiation. The sound attributes of the pig vocalization varied in different ways depending on the type and duration of the stressful exposure, functioning as an efficient tool to quantify the degree of animal degree.

Photostimulation of Japanese quail.

To adapt commercial poultry production to a new scenario of energy savings and to develop specific practices for quail production aimed at reducing costs while maintaining or improving productivity, four experiments were conducted. In the first experiment, birds were allocated to four treatments (photoperiod duration): T1: 14 L:10 D; T2: 15 L:9 D; T3: 16 L:8 D; and T4: 17 L:7 D. In the second experiment, birds were subjected to four levels of brightness: T1: 5 lux; T2: 10 lux; T3:15 lux; and T4: 22 lux (control). In the third experiment, four types of lamps were evaluated: T1: compact fluorescent lamp (color temperature: 6,500 K); T2: compact fluorescent lamp (color temperature: 2,700 K); T3: incandescent lamp; and T4: yellow LED. In the last experiment, four lighting programs were compared: T1: continuous program (control), in which there was a single photoperiod of 15 h; the other treatments consisted of intermittent lighting programs, as follows: T2: 1 h of light provided 1 h after dusk; T3: 1 h of light provided 2 h before dawn; T4: half an hour of light provided 1 h after dusk and half an hour of light provided 1.5 h before dawn. In each experiment, 1,296 Japanese quail were evaluated for four 28-d cycles, totaling 112 experimental days. A completely randomized experimental design of 4 treatments with 12 replicates of 27 birds each was applied in all trials. Performance and egg quality were evaluated in each experiment. Higher egg production and adequate egg quality, as well as energy savings, can be obtained with Japanese quail using compact fluorescent lamps or LEDs and a photoperiod of 15 h/d supplied using an intermittent lighting program, with 1 h of artificial light 2 h before dawn at a brightness of 5 lux.

Feeding behavior and crop damage caused by capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris) in an agricultural landscape.

This study aimed to assess the yield loss caused by capybaras in rural areas of Dourados-MS, their feeding periods, crop preferences and the landscape characteristics of farms that may affect the occurrence of capybara's herds. Semi-structured interviews in 24 different farms were done during a period between April 2010 and August 2011. Field observations were held at different times of the day, and also during the night in order to record peaks of the feeding behavior in six farms. Direct counting of capybaras along with the group of animals reported as seen by the farmers during the interviews was used to estimate the size of herds. Data was analyzed using the Principal Components Analyses and the Analytic Hierarchy Process. The average number of capybaras found in a regular herd was 18.8 ± 7.90 animals. The average number of capybara herd by farms was of 1.38 ± 0.92 while the average number of capybaras by farms was 32.33 ± 27.87. Capybaras selected rice (Oryza sativa) when it was available (14.5% of devastation in 1.18% of total planted area); however, the most eaten crop was corn (Zea mays) with 38.55% of loss rate in 16.17% of the total planted area. Capybaras ate mostly in the evening and during the night. The availability of water resources in the rural area predisposed the occurrence of capybara's herds.

Incidência da carne PSE (pale, soft, exsudative) em suínos em razão do tempo de descanso pré-abate e sexo / Resting time pre-slaughter and sex on the incidence of PSE (pale, soft, exsudative) meat in pigs

Avaliou-se o efeito do período de descanso pré-abate e do sexo sobre a incidência de carne PSE (pale, soft, exudative) em suínos. Foram realizadas três visitas a abatedouro comercial, nas quais se mensurou o pH das carcaças (n=2128) aos 45 minutos após o abate, de lotes compostos por fêmeas, machos castrados cirurgicamente e machos imunocastrados e de lotes mistos (fêmeas e machos castrados cirurgicamente), submetidos a período de descanso que variou de duas a 16 horas. Carcaças com pH45≤5,8 foram classificadas como PSE, e com pH45>5,8 como normais. Em função do número de animais avaliados dentro de cada categoria, estimou-se a frequência de carne PSE. A incidência total de carne PSE foi de 10,1%, sendo maior nos lotes de animais imunocastrados (13,5%) quando comparados aos lotes de fêmeas (8,6%) ou de machos castrados cirurgicamente (8,5%). Períodos de descanso menores que seis horas e acima de 14 horas aumentaram a incidência de carne PSE. Período de descanso entre seis e oito horas minimizaram a ocorrência de carnes PSE.

Were evaluated the effect of lairage pre-slaughter and sex on the incidence of PSE (pale, soft and exudative) meat in pigs. There were three visits to a commercial slaughterhouse, in which the pH of carcasses (n=2128) was measured at 45 minutes after slaughter of lots consisting exclusively of females, males castrated surgically, males immunologically castrated and mixed lots (females and castrated surgically) underwent a resting time, and time between the shipment and slaughter ranged from two to 16 hours. Carcasses with pH45≤5.8 were classified as PSE and with pH45>5.8 as normal. Depending on the number of animals evaluated in each category we estimated the frequency of PSE. The overall incidence of PSE meat was 10.1%, higher in lots of animals immunocastrated (13.5%) compared to lots of females (8.6%) or castrated males (8.5%). Resting time of less than six hours and up to 14 hours increased the incidence of PSE meat. Resting time between six and eight hours minimized the occurrence of PSE meat.

Eucalyptus growth promotion by endophytic Bacillus spp.

Clonal eucalyptus plantings have increased in recent years; however, some clones with high production characteristics have vegetative propagation problems because of weak root and aerial development. Endophytic microorganisms live inside healthy plants without causing any damage to their hosts and can be beneficial, acting as plant growth promoters. We isolated endophytic bacteria from eucalyptus plants and evaluated their potential in plant growth promotion of clonal plantlets of Eucalyptus urophylla x E. grandis, known as the hybrid, E. urograndis. Eighteen isolates of E. urograndis, clone 4622, were tested for plant growth promotion using the same clone. These isolates were also evaluated for indole acetic acid production and their potential for nitrogen fixation and phosphate solubilization. The isolates were identified by partial sequencing of 16S rRNA. Bacillus subtilis was the most prevalent species. Several Bacillus species, including B. licheniformis and B. subtilis, were found for the first time as endophytes of eucalyptus. Bacillus sp strain EUCB 10 significantly increased the growth of the root and aerial parts of eucalyptus plantlets under greenhouse conditions, during the summer and winter seasons.

Production of bioethanol from sugarcane bagasse: Status and perspectives.

Lignocellulosic biomass is considered as the future feedstock for ethanol production because of its low cost and its huge availability. One of the major lignocellulosic materials found in great quantities to be considered, especially in tropical countries, is sugarcane bagasse (SCB). This work deals with its current and potential transformation to sugars and ethanol, considering pretreatment technologies, detoxification methods and biological transformation. Some modeling aspects are exposed briefly. Finally stability is discussed for considering the high nonlinear phenomena such as multiplicity and oscillations, which make more complex the control as a result of the inhibition problems during fermentation when furfural and formic acid from SCB hydrolysis are not absent.

Follow-up of the development of femoral degeneration lesions in broilers / Seguimiento del desarrollo de lesiones por degeneración en pollos de engorde

A study was carried out in the experimental facilities of FMVZ/UNESP-Botucatu, with the aim of following-up the development and the incidence of femoral degeneration (FD). A total of 305 one-day-old male broilers were housed in six pens of 5m² each. Histological analyses of femur head collected when broilers were 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days of age were carried out. At 42 days of age, 30 birds were taken to the experimental processing plant of FMVZ for leg gross examination. Ten legs per FD score where selected, and histologically analyzed to determine the most probable age at the beginning of the lesions, and to standardize femoral degeneration lesion scores. The histological results showed that cell architecture started to disorganize at 21 days of age in the resting and proliferation zones, and that angiogenesis increased, invading the joint cartilage, The gross lesion indexes due to femoral degeneration were 22.5 percent, 42.5%, and 65% at 28, 35, and 42 days of age, respectively.

Se realizó un estudio en las instalaciones experimentales de FMVZ/UNESP-Botucatu, con el objetivo de seguir el desarrollo y la incidencia de degeneración femoral (DF) en pollos. Se utilizaron 305 polluelos de un día, machos, distribuidos en seis corrales de 5m² cada uno. Se analizaron cortes histológicos de cabezas de fémur recolectadas a los 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 y 42 días de edad. A los 40 días de edad, se llevaron 30 aves al Matadero Experimental de FMVZ, para análisis macroscópico de las piernas. Se escogieron 10 muslos por escore de DF, y se analizaron histológicamente para determinar la edad más probable del inicio de la lesión y estandarizar los escores de lesión por degeneración femoral. Los resultados histológicos indicaron que a los 21 días ocurre el inicio de la desorganización celular en la zona de reposo y de proliferación, además del aumento de la angiogénesis, invadiendo el cartílago articular. Microscópicamente, el índice de lesión por degeneración femoral fue del 22.5 por ciento, 42.5% y 65% a los 28, 35 y 42 días de edad, respectivamente.

Femur mineral density of broilers with femoral degeneration fed high nutritional density diets / Densidad mineral del fémur de pollos de engorde con degeneración femoral alimentados con dietas de alta densidad nutricional

A study was carried out in the experimental facilities of FMVZ/UNESP-Botucatu, with the aim of following-up the development and the incidence of femoral degeneration (FD). A total of 305 one-day-old male broilers were housed in six pens of 5m² each. A completely randomized experimental design, with 3 treatments (T1traditional nutritional density diet; T2high nutritional density diet) of 3 replicates each was applied. Femoral head of the broilers were submitted to gross examination at 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, and 42 days of aged. At 42 days of age, 60 birds (30 per treatment) were submitted to the Veterinary Hospital of FMVZ to determine bone mineral density by radiography. Birds were then sacrificed for gross examination of the legs, and FD scoring. Five legs per treatment within each FD score were submitted to computed tomography for femur head integrity and bone mineral density. Treatments did not influence FD incidence, and the first gross FD lesions appeared when birds were 28 days old. It was concluded that radiographic optical densitometry and computed tomography are efficient methods to evaluate femoral degeneration, and both techniques expressed the same profile. In addition, using radiographic optical densitometry and computed tomography, these results also allowed us to establish bone mineral density value ranges within each gross FD score. These finding may provide an excellent non-invasive tool to describe femoral degeneration.

Se realizó un estudio en las instalaciones experimentales de FMVZ/UNESP-Botucatu, con el objetivo de seguir el desarrollo y la incidencia de degeneración femoral en pollos. Se utilizaron 305 polluelos de un día, machos, distribuidos en seis corrales de 5m² cada uno. Se adoptó un delineamiento experimental totalmente al azar, con dos tratamientos de 3 repeticiones cada uno. Se alimentaron las aves del T1 con dietas con densidad nutricional convencional, mientras el T2 consistió de una dieta con alta densidad nutricional. Se realizaron análisis macroscópicos de la cabeza del fémur de aves de 0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 y 42 días de edad. A los 42 días de edad, se llevaron 60 aves (30 por tratamiento) al Hospital Veterinario de FMVZ, para hacer radiografías para el análisis de la densidad mineral ósea. Posteriormente, se sacrificaron los pollos para el análisis macroscópico de las piernas y se atribuyeron puntajes para DF. Se seleccionaron cinco muslos por tratamiento dentro de cada puntaje de DF, que fueron sometidas a tomografía para evaluación de la integridad y de la densidad ósea de la cabeza del fémur. Los tratamientos no tuvieron influencia en la incidencia de DF, y a partir de los 28 días de vida, las aves presentaron lesiones macroscópicas. Se estableció que la densitometría ósea y la tomografía son métodos eficaces para evaluar la DF, además que ambos expresan el mismo perfil. Por otra parte, se encontraron intervalos de valores para densidad mineral ósea obtenida por densitometría óptica radiográfica y por tomografía en función de los puntajes macroscópicos de DF. Esos hallazgos son una importante herramienta no invasiva para la caracterización de degeneración femoral.

Efeito do sistema de criação sobre o desempenho e rendimento de carcaça de frangos de corte tipo colonial / Effect of production system on performance and carcass yield of free range broiler chickens

Foram utilizados 1600 pintos de corte de um dia de idade, distribuídos em delineamento, em blocos ao acaso, com esquema fatorial 4Î2 (quatro linhagens, sendo uma delas comercial (Ross-308) e as demais específicas para a produção colonial (Caipirinha, Pescoço Pelado e Paraíso Pedrês) e dois sistemas de criação (confinado e com acesso a piquete), com quatro repetições de 50 aves cada. A ração não continha promotores químicos de crescimento e produtos de origem animal. Avaliaram-se o ganho de peso, o consumo de ração, a conversão alimentar, a mortalidade e os rendimentos de carcaça e das partes (peito, pernas, asas e dorso) aos 56, 63, 70, 77 e 84 dias de idade. O comprimento e a porcentagem (em relação ao peso vivo) dos intestinos e o peso e a porcentagem (em relação ao peso vivo) do fígado, moela e pâncreas foram avaliados aos 84 dias de idade. Houve efeito (P<0,05) da linhagem para as características de desempenho e da linhagem e do sexo para rendimentos da carcaça e das partes, assim como para as características do sistema digestório (P<0,05). O sistema de criação não influenciou as características avaliadas.

One thousand and six hundred day-old-chicks were randomly assigned to a 4Î2 factorial design (4 strains and 2 production systems) with 4 replicates of 50 birds each. A commercial strain Ross and three strains (Caipirinha, Pescoço Pelado and Paraíso Pedrês) for free range chicken production systems were used. The production systems were confined and semi-confined supplemented with grass paddock (3m²/bird). The diets did not contain chemical growth promoters and animal by products. Weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion, mortality and carcass yield and parts were evaluated at 56, 63, 70, 77 and 84 days. Length and percentage of gut, liver, gizzard and spleen were evaluated at 84 days. Differences (P<0.05) among strains for performance, carcass yield and parts and gut characteristics and no differences (P>0.05) among production systems were observed.

Desempenho e qualidade da carne de frangos de corte alimentados com diferentes níveis de sorgo em substituicão ao milho / Effects on performance and meat quality of replacing corn with sorghum in a broiler diet

Avaliaram-se o desempenho e a qualidade da carne de frangos de corte alimentados com diferentes níveis de sorgo, do cultivar SAARA, com 0,49g/kg de tanino, em substituicão ao milho. Os 2600 pintos sexados de um dia de idade, da linhagem Ross 308, foram distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com esquema fatorial 5 2 (cinco níveis de sorgo - 0, 25, 50, 75 e 100 por cento e dois sexos), e quatro repeticões de 65 aves por unidade experimental. Não houve efeito (P>0,05) da substituicão do milho pelo sorgo sobre as características de desempenho, de rendimentos de carcaca, carne de peito e pernas, de composicão química e sensoriais. O pH observado nas carnes de peito e pernas foi maior para os machos (P<0,05), e houve diminuicão do pH à medida que se aumentaram os níveis de substituicão. Os machos apresentaram os maiores valores nas medidas de comprimento, largura e espessura do filé. Na carne do peito dos machos, ocorreu maior perda de peso por cozimento e forca de cisalhamento (P<0,05). Observou-se diminuicão (P<0,05) dos valores de a (vermelho) e b (amarelo) e aumento de L (luminosidade) à medida que aumentaram os níveis de substituicão.

Efeito da idade da matriz sobre o desempenho e rendimento de carcaça de frangos de corte / Effect of broiler breeder age on performance and carcass yield of broiler chickens

Avaliou-se efeito da idade da matriz sobre as características de desempenho, rendimento de carcaça e partes de frangos de corte, criados até 49 dias de idade. Foram utilizados 3600 pintos de um dia, oriundos de ovos de matrizes da linhagem Ross 308, distribuídos segundo um delineamento experimental inteiramente ao acaso, em esquema fatorial 5I2, com cinco idades de matrizes (29, 41, 58, 68 e 98 semanas) e dois sexos, com quatro repetições de 90 aves cada. Aos 21, 28, 35, 42 e 49 dias de idade, cinco frangos por parcela foram amostrados e abatidos após jejum alimentar de oito horas, para avaliação do rendimento de carcaça e partes. A idade da matriz influenciou (P<0,05) o desempenho das aves na fase inicial de criação (1 a 21 dias); os frangos oriundos de matrizes com 29 semanas de idade apresentaram menor rendimento. A idade da matriz não afetou (P>0,05) o rendimento de carcaça nas idades avaliadas. Os frangos oriundos de matrizes com 29 semanas apresentaram melhor rendimento de peito que aqueles de matrizes com 58 semanas. O sexo influenciou (P<0,05) tanto o desempenho quanto o rendimento de carcaça e partes dos frangos de corte.