Water sprinkling market pigs in a stationary trailer. 2. Effects on selected exsanguination blood parameters and carcass and meat quality variation

In each of 12 weeks between May and September, 2011, two identical pot-belly trailers were loaded with 208 pigs each and transported to the slaughter plant (2 h trip). One of the two trailers was equipped with a water sprinkling system (WS) installed inside the truck compartments whereas the other one transported pigs under standard commercial conditions (control, CONT). The water sprinkling system was activated for 5 min in the stationary truck, both at the farm (at the end of loading) and at the plant (immediately before unloading). Blood lactate levels at exsanguination, carcass and meat quality traits were assessed on a sub-sample of randomly selected pigs (n=384/576). Exsanguination lactate levels were lower (P=0.02) in WS pigs compared to CONT, regardless of ambient temperature. Concurrently, the pH value of the Longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle at 1 h post-mortem (pH1) was greater (P=0.009) in WS pigs compared to CONT, regardless of ambient temperature. The effect of water sprinkling interacted with location inside the truck and ambient temperature. Water sprinkling reduced exsanguination lactate levels in pigs transported in compartments 5 and 8 (which are located at the front and at the rear of the middle deck, respectively) such that lower lactate was observed in compartment 5 at 15 \ub0C (P=0.03) and 18 \ub0C (P=0.009), and in compartment 8 at 22 \ub0C (P=0.03) and 25 \ub0C (P=0.04). In compartment 5, the pH1 value in the LD muscle of WS pigs was higher than in the CONT group at 18 \ub0C (P=0.002), 22 \ub0C (P<0.001) and 25 \ub0C (P=0.005); pH1 in the SM muscle of WS pigs was lower at 18 \ub0C (P=0.01) and 22 \ub0C (P=0.02); and drip loss in the WS group was lower than in the CONT group at 22 \ub0C (P=0.01), and at 25 \ub0C (P=0.02). No significant effect was detected in compartment 4 (which is located at the rear of the top floor), or in compartment 9 (which is located at the front to the bottom deck). The results of this study showed that the sprinkling protocol applied was effective, particularly in some trailer compartments, in reducing stress response and improving pork quality of pigs transported in pot-bellied trailers

Influência da urbanização sobre as assembléias de peixes em três córregos de Maringá, Paraná Influence of urbanization upon fish assemblages in three streams of Maringá, Paraná

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar padrões espaciais na composição, estrutura e distribuição das assembléias de peixes e suas relações com características abióticas em três córregos urbanos da cidade de Maringá, Paraná, Brasil. Peixes foram coletados ao longo de um gradiente longitudinal utilizando pesca elétrica nos meses de maio e novembro de 2004. Temperatura, nitrogênio, pH, oxigênio e fósforo foram as variáveis que mais influenciaram a análise de componentes principais (CPA). Riqueza, eqüitabilidade, índice de diversidade de Shannon-Wiener e o primeiro eixo da análise de correspondência com remoção do efeito do arco (DCA) foram diretamente correlacionados com características ligadas ao impacto químico urbano. Adição de espécies prevaleceu nas estações de amostragem do córrego Miosótis e entre a cabeceira e porção intermediária nos córregos Nazaré e Mandacaru. Substituição ocorreu entre as porções intermediárias e foz desses córregos. A dominância da espécie tolerante Poecilia reticulata Peters, 1859 indicou a influência do impacto do meio urbano sobre as assembléias de peixes.<br>The aim of the present study was to evaluate spatial patterns in composition, structure and distribution of fish assemblages and their relationships with abiotic characteristics in three urban streams of Maringá city, Paraná, Brazil. Fish were collected along the longitudinal gradient by electrofishing in May and November 2004. Temperature, nitrogen, pH, oxygen and phosphorous influenced at most the principal components analysis (PCA). Richness, evenness, Shannon-Wiener index and the first axis of detrended correspondence analysis (DCA) were directly correlated with abiotic characteristics related to chemical urban impact. Species addition prevailed in Miosotis stream sampling stations, and between headwater and intermediary reaches in Nazaré and Mandacarú streams. Replacement occurred between intermediary and lowland reaches of these streams. The dominance of the tolerant species Poecilia reticulata Peters, 1859 indicated the influence of the urban impact on fish assemblages