ABSTRACT. The objective of this research was to identify the influence of the evaporative adiabatic cooling system (EACS) on the thermal comfort and productive responses of dairy cattle, through multivariate analysis by principal components (PC), in the summer and winter seasons of the semiarid region of Pernambuco, Brazil. The data came from an experiment that included 16 multiparous lactating cows (7/8 Holstein-Gyr), randomly distributed in 4 sets, with 4 experimental phases and 4 treatments (0, 10, 20, and 30 min.). The multivariate analysis was carried out through PC for the thermal comfort indices, physiological variables, and milk production and composition. The highest milk production in the summer season was obtained for animals exposed to the cooling system for 30 min. In the winter season in the morning period, the use of the EACS for 10 min. was sufficient for improvements in milk production. The times of exposure to EACS caused changes in the composition of milk, for both seasons. Principal component analysis made it possible to verify a positive correlation of evaporative cooling with thermal comfort, physiological responses, and production and composition of milk of lactating cows.

Resumen El objetivo fue caracterizar térmicamente las instalaciones durante las fases de crecimiento y finalización de los cerdos y evaluar la influencia de los sistemas de control climático en la expresión de los comportamientos de los cerdos. El experimento se realizó en la Universidad Federal Rural de Pernambuco, Serra Talhada, PE, Brasil, durante la primavera de 2019. Se utilizaron 27 cerdos de 63 días. Los animales fueron sometidos a corrales sin sistema de climatización, con ventilación forzada y con sistema de enfriamiento adiabático evaporativo. Se registraron la temperatura de bulbo seco (° C), la humedad relativa del aire (%), la temperatura del globo negro (° C) y las respuestas de comportamiento de los cerdos, sometidas a análisis multivariante, utilizando la técnica de componentes principales. Los corrales con sistema de enfriamiento adiabático evaporativo mostraron una reducción significativa de la temperatura del aire y un aumento de la humedad relativa del aire, durante las dos fases. Los cerdos sometidos a enfriamiento evaporativo mostraron mayor actividad ingestiva y comportamiento letárgico, propio de las fases estudiadas.

Abstract The objective was to thermally characterize the facilities during the growth and finishing phases of pigs and to evaluate the influence of climate control systems on the expression of the behaviors of pigs. The experiment was conducted at the Federal Rural University of Pernambuco, Serra Talhada, PE, Brazil, during the spring of 2019. Twenty-seven pigs aged 63 days were used. The animals were submitted to pens without climate control system, with forced ventilation, and with an evaporative adiabatic cooling system. Dry bulb temperature (°C), relative air humidity (%), black globe temperature (°C), and swine behavioral responses were recorded, submitted to multivariate analysis, using the principal component technique. Pens with the evaporative adiabatic cooling system showed a significant reduction in air temperature and an increase in relative air humidity, during the two phases. Pigs submitted to evaporative cooling showed greater ingestive activity and lethargic behavior, typical of the studied phases.

RESUMO: A eficiência dos desinfetantes empregados no manejo de ordenha é fundamental no sucesso na atividade leiteira, sendo um ponto crítico ao controle da mastite. Objetivou-se avaliar a eficácia in vitro do iodo utilizado no pré e pós-dipping frente à Staphylococcus coagulase negativa (SCN). Foram estudados 53 isolados de SCN quanto à ação do desinfetante a 1,0% e suas diluições seriadas de 0,5%, 0,375% e 0,25%, além de duas apresentações comerciais nas concentrações de 0,5% e 0,25%. A taxa de inibição de SCN alcançada pelo iodo a 0,375%, 0,5% e 1,0% durante 60 segundos, foi de 60,4%. Em 30 segundos, o iodo a 0,5% e 1,0% apresentaram taxa de inibição microbiana de 52,8% e 56,6%, respectivamente. Os demais protocolos testados foram menos eficientes. Conclui-se que a maior atividade desinfetante in vitro para SCN foi demonstrada pelo iodo a 0,375%, 0,5% e 1,0%, durante 60 segundos. Testes de susceptibilidade microbiana devem ser realizados periodicamente, assim como práticas de educação em saúde e treinamentos corretivos na propriedade, visando garantir a saúde do úbere e o controle da mastite.

ABSTRACT: The efficiency of the disinfectants used in the milking management is fundamental to the success in the dairy activity, being a critical point to the control of mastitis. The objective was to evaluate the in vitro efficacy of iodine used in pre and post-dipping against coagulase negative Staphylococcus (CNS). Thus, 53 CNS isolates were studied for the action of the 1.0% disinfectant and their serial dilutions of 0.5%, 0.375% and 0.25%, in addition to two commercial presentations of iodine in concentrations of 0.5% and 0.25%. The rate of CNS inhibition achieved by iodine at 0.375%, 0.5% and 1.0% for 60 seconds, was 60.4%. In 30 seconds, iodine at 0.5% and 1.0% showed a microbial inhibition rate of 52.8% and 56.6%, respectively. The other protocols tested were less efficient. It is concluded that the greatest in vitro disinfectant activity for CNS was demonstrated by iodine at 0.375%, 0.5% and 1.0%, for 60 seconds. Microbial susceptibility tests should be carried out periodically, as well as health education practices and corrective training on the property, in order to ensure udder health and mastitis control.

ABSTRACT. This study aimed to analyze the principal components of the meteorological variables, physiological and behavioral response of cows subjected to different cooling times and their influence on milk quality, in the dry and rainfall periods, and to establish multiple regression models for milk quality. The data used in the study came from an experiment conducted in the Agreste Region of Pernambuco. The pre-milking cooling time was 10, 20, 30 min. and the control (without cooling). Sixteen multiparous lactating Gir cows were selected. Data were analyzed by principal component analysis and a multiple regression analysis was applied to determine milk quality. There was a strong relationship between somatic cell count (SCC) and activity of the animal in the shade for dry, and lying for rainfall, with increased SCC in cow milk. It was possible to establish two multiple regression models to determine milk quality in dry and rainfall periods. According to the principal component analysis, the cooling time to meet the thermal requirement of the animals was 20 min., regardless of the season and milking shift.

ABSTRACT. The aim of this study was to employ the principal component technique to physiological data and environmental thermohygrometric variables correlated with detection of clinical and subclinical mastitis in dairy cattle. A total of 24 lactating Girolando cows with different clinical conditions were selected (healthy, and with clinical or subclinical mastitis). The following physiological variables were recorded: udder surface temperature, ST (°C); eyeball temperature, ET (°C); rectum temperature, RT (°C); respiratory frequency, RF (mov. min-1). Thermohygrometric variables included air temperature, AirT (°C), and relative humidity, RU (%). ST was determined by means of thermal images, with four images per animal, on these quarters: front left side (FL), front right side (FR), rear right side (RR) and rear left side (RL), totaling 96 images. Exploratory data analysis was run through multivariate statistical technique with the employment of principal components, comprehending nine variables: ST on the FL, FR, RL and RR quarters; ET, RT; RF, AirT and RU. The representative quarters of the animals with clinical and subclinical mastitis showed udder temperatures 8.55 and 2.46° C higher than those of healthy animals, respectively. The ETs of the animals with subclinical and clinical mastitis were, respectively, 7.9 and 8.0% higher than those of healthy animals. Rectum temperatures were 2.9% (subclinical mastitis) and 5.5% (clinical mastitis) higher compared to those of healthy animals. Respiratory frequencies were 40.3% (subclinical mastitis) and 61.6% (clinical mastitis) higher compared to those of healthy animals. The first component explained 91% of the total variance for the variables analyzed. The principal component technique allowed verifying the variables correlated with the animals' clinical condition and the degree of dependence between the study variables.

A análise conjunta do posicionamento e da atividade de bovinos a pasto, associada aos atributos do solo, torna-se importante na tomada de decisões e manejo da forragem. Neste trabalho desenvolveu-se o protótipo de um dispositivo eletrônico de sensoriamento baseado no sistema de posicionamento global (GPS) com o objetivo de monitorar o posicionamento de bovinos de leite a pasto e associar as áreas de preferência dos animais a possíveis alterações da resistência à penetração e ao acúmulo de matéria orgânica no solo sob pastoreio. O estudo foi conduzido na Fazenda Roçadinho, região Agreste de Pernambuco, Brasil, em uma área de 40 x 40 m, manejada em sistema de pastoreio contínuo. Os sensores de posicionamento GPS foram fixados por colares no pescoço dos animais e programados para registrar a localização dos animais durante o período de pastoreio. O erro médio observado foi de 0,65 m. Antes e após o pastoreio coletaram-se 36 amostras deformadas na camada superficial do solo para determinação da matéria orgânica (0,00 a 0,05 m) e da resistência à penetração (0,00 a 0,10 m). O dispositivo eletrônico desenvolvido apresentou precisão e autonomia adequada para o monitoramento de bovinos, o que permitiu determinar locais de preferências de pastoreio. Verificou-se que após o pastoreio, houve um acréscimo de 6,5% na matéria orgânica e 79,4% na resistência a penetração do solo nos locais de maior exploração do pasto.

The joint analysis about cattle positioning and activity in pasture associated to soil attributes, become important for making decisions and forage management. In this work, the prototype of an electronic sensing device based on global positioning system (GPS) was developed with the objective of monitoring dairy cattle position in pasture and associating animal preference areas to possible changes for soil penetration resistance and organic matter accumulation. Our study was performed at Roçadinho Farm, Agreste region of Pernambuco, Brazil, in 40 x 40 m area, managed under continuous stocking method. The GPS positioning sensors were fixed by collars on the animal neck and programmed to record the animal location during grazing. The mean error observed was 0.65 m. Before and after grazing, 36 deformed samples were collected in the soil surface layer for determination of organic matter (from 0.00 to 0.05 m) and penetration resistance (from 0.00 to 0.10 m). The developed electronic device had adequate accuracy and autonomy for cattle monitoring, which allowed to determine preference sites of grazing. After grazing, there was increase of 6.5% for organic matter and 79.4% for soil penetration resistance in the sites of greater pasture exploitation.

RESUMO Objetivou-se com essa pesquisa avaliar o padrão de variabilidade espacial da temperatura de superfície do úbere de vacas leiteiras saudáveis e com mastite. Foram selecionados 24 animais, oito saudáveis, oito com mastite subclínica e oito com mastite clínica. As imagens foram obtidas a partir de uma câmera termográfica Flir i60, resolução de 0,01 °C, 1,0 m de distância focal e emissividade ajustada para 0,98. O horário de realização das imagens foi entre às 05 e 07h00, que totalizaram 96 imagens, três por animal, nos enquadramentos anterolateral direito, anterolateral esquerdo, posterior e inferior. As análises foram realizadas pela geoestatística, com ajuste do semivariograma para validação do modelo teórico e construção dos mapas de krigagem. A temperatura média de superfície dos quartos mamários com classificação positiva para mastite subclínica apresentou valores entre 33,2 ± 0,67ºC e 34,64± 1,07ºC; para os quartos negativos entre 29,3 ± 1,78ºC e 32,24 ± 0,62ºC. Os animais saudáveis apresentaram temperatura de superfície de úbere inferior àqueles com mastite subclínica (29,3ºC ± 1,78 e 31,58ºC ± 0,62). A temperatura da superfície do úbere dos animais com mastite clínica foi mais elevada, entre 34,0 e 37,5°C, comparativamente aos demais quadros clínicos. A escala adotada para análise do padrão das imagens identificou com sucesso a dependência espacial da temperatura de superfície do úbere, o que contribuiu para padronização dos procedimentos de diagnóstico para animais saudáveis, com mastite subclínica e clínica, por meio da geoestatística.

ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to assess the spatial variability pattern concerning udder surface temperature in dairy cows that were healthy and in those with mastitis. A total of 24 animals were selected - eight healthy, eight with subclinical mastitis, and eight with clinical mastitis. Images were taken with a Flir i60 thermographic camera - resolution of 0.01°C, focal length of 1.0 m, and emissivity adjusted to 0.98 - between 05:00 and 07:00, totaling 96 images, three per animal, of the front and rear, right and left mammary quarters. Analyses were run through geostatistics, with semivariogram adjustment to validate the theoretical model and build kriging maps. The average surface temperature of the mammary quarters with positive classification for subclinical mastitis stood between 33.2 ± 0.67ºC and 34.64± 1.07ºC; for negative quarters, values ranged from 29.3 ± 1.78ºC to 32.24 ± 0.62ºC. The udder surface temperatures of healthy animals were lower than those of animals with subclinical mastitis (29.3ºC ± 1.78 and 31.58ºC ± 0.62). The udder surface temperature of animals with clinical mastitis was higher, between 34.0 and 37.5°C, compared to the other clinical statuses. The scale adopted for image pattern analysis successfully identified the spatial dependence of udder surface temperature, which helped standardize diagnostic procedures for healthy animals, and for those with subclinical and clinical mastitis, by means of geostatistics.

ABSTRACT. Soils under pastures suffer physical modifications, in greater or lesser intensity, via the action of animal trampling. Thus, the aim was to evaluate the spatial dependence of soil physical attributes under bovine trampling. The trial was performed at Roçadinho Farm, Agreste of Pernambuco, Brazil, in a 40 x 40 m paddock that was managed with continuous stocking by bovines and 12 AU ha-1 stocking rate. Soil samples were collected before and after grazing using a 6 x 6 m grid, totaling 36 sampling points. At each point, the bulk density, total porosity, moisture, soil penetration resistance at 0.00 - 0.10, 0.10 - 0.20, and 0.20 - 0.30 m depth were estimated, as was the hydraulic conductivity on the saturated soil surface. Descriptive statistics and geostatistics supported the data analysis. A normal distribution was verified for all variables, which were scored as either low or high variability in terms of the variation coefficient. The physical attributes (density, total porosity, moisture, soil penetration resistance and hydraulic conductivity) of the soil sampled presented a strong spatial dependence before and after grazing.

RESUMO: Essa pesquisa teve como objetivo avaliar o consumo de concentrado e o desempenho de bezerras da raça Girolando quando colocadas em abrigos com materiais de cobertura e programas de iluminação suplementar distintos, durante a fase de aleitamento. Para tal, nós utilizamos o delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado em arranjo fatorial 3×3, com três repetições. As bezerras Girolando (n=27) foram distribuídas ao acaso em abrigos individuais, com materiais de cobertura distintos (telha de fibrocimento, telha reciclada e cobertura com palha), e sujeitas a três programas de iluminação (12, 16 e 20h). Não houve interação entre os mateiral de cobertura×programas de iluminação, ao mesmo tempo que não foi observado efeito significativo (P>0,05) para os materiais de cobertura. A iluminação suplementar, proporcionando maior tempo de luz, tem estimulado a ingestão, e, portanto, apresentou efeito significativo (P<0,05) no consumo de concentrado e desempenho dos animais submetidos a 20h de iluminação.

ABSTRACT: This research aimed to assess Girolando calves’ concentrate intake and performance when placed in shelters with distinct roofing materials and programs of supplementary lighting during the milk-feeding stage. In order to so, we used a completely randomized design with a 3×3 factorial arrangement, with three replications. Females Girolando calves (n=27) were assigned in individual shelters at random with 3 different roofing materials (fiber cement tile, recycled tile and thatched roofs) and subjected to three lighting programs (12, 16 and 20 hours). No interaction was observed between roofing material and lighting programs, whilst no significant effect (P>0.05) was observed among the roofing materials. The supplementary lighting, by providing greater light exposure time, has stimulated intake and therefore, significantly affected (P<0.05) the concentrate intake and performance of the animals that were subjected to 20 hours of light.

Este trabalho foi realizado com o objetivo de avaliar as respostas fisiológicas de termorregulação de vacas leiteiras da raça Girolando, no período de verão, mantidas em confinamento. Foram utilizados 15 animais de três grupos genéticos: 1/2, 5/8 e 3/4 Holandês-Gir (HG), sendo 05 vacas de cada grupo genético, distribuídas num delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em parcelas subdivididas. Os parâmetros fisiológicos: taxa de sudação (Tsud), frequência respiratória (FR), temperatura da epiderme (TE) e temperatura de superfície de pelame (TSP) dos animais foram avaliados uma vez por semana, durante nove semanas, de dezembro de 2009 a fevereiro de 2010, totalizando 135 observações. Durante todo o período experimental os dados climáticos foram registrados através de uma estação meteorológica automática, e usados posteriormente para calcular os índices de conforto térmico: ITU (índice de temperatura e umidade), ITGU (índice de temperatura de globo e umidade) e CTR (carga térmica radiante). Os animais 1/2 HG apresentaram Tsud mais alta e FR, TE e TSP mais baixas nos três grupos genéticos, enquanto nas vacas 3/4 HG foram verificadas as médias mais baixas de Tsud e mais altas de TE e TSP. As vacas 5/8 HG ficaram em posição intermediária para os valores de Tsud, TE e TSP. A média de FR dos animais 5/8 e 3/4 HG não diferiram entre si. Concluiu-se que animais de grupos genéticos 3/4 e 5/8 HG demonstram maior sensibilidade ao estresse pelo calor que as vacas 1/2 HG.

This work was carried out to evaluate the physiological thermoregulation responses of Girolando-breed dairy cows kept in feedlot during summertime. A total of 15 animals were used, belonging to three genetic groups: 1/2, 5/8 and 3/4 Holstein-Gir (HG), with five cows from each genetic group, distributed in a completely randomized design, in subplots. The physiological parameters were sweat rate (SR), respiratory rate (RR), epidermis temperature (ET) and coat surface temperature (CST), and were evaluated once a week, during nine weeks, from December 2009 to February 2010, totaling 135 observations. Throughout the experimental period, climatic data were recorded using an automated weather station, and later used to calculate the different thermal comfort indexes: THI (temperature-humidity index), BGHI (black globe temperature and humidity index) and RTL (radiant thermal load). 1/2 HG animals showed the highest SR and lowest RR, ET and CST of all three genetic groups, while 3/4 HG cows had the lowest mean SR and highest ET and CST. 5/8 HG cows had intermediate values for SR, ET and CST. Mean RR values did not differ between 5/8 and 3/4 HG cows. It was concluded that animals from genetic groups 3/4 and 5/8 HG showed greater sensibility to heat stress than 1/2 HG cows.