Efficiency of low versus high airline pressure in stunning cattle with a pneumatically powered penetrating captive bolt gun

The efficiency of stunning cattle was assessed in 443 animals (304 pure Zebu and 139 crossbred cattle), being mainly mature bulls and cows. Cattle were stunned using a Jarvis pneumatically powered penetrating captive bolt gun operating with low (160–175 psi, N = 82) and high (190 psi, N = 363) airline pressure, which was within the manufactures specifications. Signs of brain function and the position of the shots on the heads were recorded after stunning. Velocity of the captive bolt and its physical parameters were calculated. Cattle shot with low pressures showed more rhythmic respiration (27 vs. 8%, P < 0.001), less tongue protrusion (4 vs. 12%, P = 0.03) and less masseter relaxation (22 vs. 48%, P < 0.001). There was an increased frequency of shots in the ideal position when cattle were shot with the low compared to high airline pressures (15.3 vs. 3.1%). Bolt velocity and its physical parameters were significantly (P < 0.01) higher when using high pressure. Airline pressures below 190 psi are inappropriate when shooting adult Zebu beef cattle with pneumatically powered penetrating captive bolt guns

Efeito do uso de ducha antes e após o transporte sobre a ocorrência de lesões na pele em suínos.

Projeto/Plano de Ação: 02.06.01.001

Efeito do uso de ducha antes e após o transporte, sobre indicadores fisiológicos de estresse em suínos.

Projeto/Plano de Ação: 02.06.01.001

Persistência de dois inseticidas ao parasitoide de moscas-dasfrutas, Diachasmimorpha longicaudata (Hymenoptera: Braconidae).

O presente trabalho objetivou avaliar a persistência de dois inseticidas utilizados para o controle de Ceratitis capitata, espinosade e etofenproxi, sobre adultos de Diachasmimorpha longicaudataSICONBIOL 2013

Effect of different catching practices during manual upright handling on broiler welfare and behavior

The aim of this study was to identify the influence of different catching practices during manual upright handling on broiler welfare and behavior. Catching was examined in a total of 4,595 Cobb broilers with average live weight of 3.2 kg and 42 days old. Six catching practices were evaluated: shed curtain position, loading time, catching method, catching team, height of the crates from the floor, and placement of the bird in the crate. Behavioral welfare indicators were defined as follows: 1) broiler agitation in the catcher's hands, measured when the birds flapped their wings, kicked, or wriggled in the hands; 2) broiler striking the crate entrance as it was being placed in the crate, measured when the birds get the head, wings, or legs, hit at the crate entrance; and 3) broiler agitation in the crate, measured when birds flapped the wings or jumped inside the crate for 3 s or more after placement in the crate. A logistic regression model was used to calculate the chance of occurrence of each behavioral welfare indicator due to the handling factors. All catching practices evaluated in the present study influenced the birds’ welfare and behavior. Thus, some procedures during broiler catching potentially improved their behavior, making them less prone to accidents, and consequently improved their welfare. The catching process should be performed with the curtains in the closed position, carrying one broiler per catcher in an upright position while containing its wings, carefully placing the birds inside the crates, and with the crates being positioned at a height of at least 21 cm from the ground. Additionally, it was concluded that more attention should be given to the broiler catchers, since the position of the curtain, loading time, and position of the crate during handling can influence the work done by them, affecting the welfare and behavior of both humans and birds

Condiciones de transporte y su impacto sobre la ocurrencia de lesiones en la piel y canal de cerdos.

Projeto/Plano de Ação: 02.06.01.001

Avaliação das respostas fisiológicas de bezerros zebuínos puros e cruzados nascidos em clima subtropical.

Estudou-se a influência de fatores climáticos sobre as respostas fisiológicas de bezerros, puros e cruzados, filhos de vacas da raça Nelore ou de alta mestiçagem de Nelore acasaladas com touros das raças Aberdeen Angus (AN), Simental (SN), Canchim (CN) e Nelore (NI e NR). Os bezerros AN, SN, CN e NI foram mantidos em sistema rotacionado intensivo, enquanto o grupo NR foi mantido em sistema extensivo. Os bezerros foram observados de forma direta desde o nascimento até a primeira mamada, medindo-se a latência para a primeira mamada (LM). Aproximadamente 24 horas após o parto, coletaram-se amostras de sangue do bezerro para as dosagens de proteina total (PT), glicose (Gli), triiodotironina (T 3)' tiroxina (T 4)' relação T 4:T 3' cortisol (Cort) e imunoglobulina G (IgGb), além das medidas de temperatura retal do bezerro (TR) e dos pesos de vacas e bezerros. Para análise dos efeitos de clima, foram tomadas no dia do nascimento as medidas de temperatura do ar (Temp), umidade do ar (UR) e precipitação (PRE). Os parâmetros fisiológicos foram estudados pelo método dos quadrados minimos com modelos que incluiram os efeitos de ano e mês de nascimento, grupo e sexo do bezerro, categoria da vaca e hora do parto e das interações ano x grupo e ano x mês de nascimento, além das covariáveis peso do bezerro, PRE, Temp, UR e LM. Temp mostrou efeito significativo para as concentrações de T 3 T 4' T 4:T 3 e de Corto Quanto maior Temp, menores as concentrações de T 3 e de Corte maiores as de T4 e de T4:T 3. LM influenciou os níveis de Cort, PT e IgGb, de modo que, quanto maior LM, maior a concentração de Cort e menor as de IgGb e PT. Também houve efeito significativo de grupo do bezerro sobre PT, que foi maior nos bezerros NR que nos bezerros NI