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.

ABSTRACT This study evaluates the dynamics of heat zones in the load and its relationship with the stress of pigs during transport. Four journeys of 170 km were monitored, recording the physiological variables of 192 animals (48 per journey), namely rectal temperature (RT), body temperature (BT), respiratory rate (RR), blood lactate concentrations and salivary cortisol. Heat zones and ventilation patterns were characterized by the spatial variability of the enthalpy and the Computational Fluid Dynamics of the load. The formation of a thermal core was observed in the frontal region of the load, which extended through the lower (LD) and upper (UD) decks. Pigs transported in the LD had higher means of RR (UD = 89 and LD = 94 breaths/min), and salivary cortisol (UD = 33.84 and LD = 34.92 ng/mL). The pigs transported in the UD presented the highest mean BT (UD = 38.9 and LD = 38.1 °C) and lactate (UD = 61.63 and LD = 58.26 mg/dL). Pigs transported in the LD of the load were more susceptible to thermal stress, while pigs transported in the UD showed greater physical stress and muscle exhaustion.

Resumo Objetivou-se avaliar a resposta da atividade biológica medida pela técnica Biospeckle Laser aplicada a mangas (Mangifera indica L.) submetidas a danos mecânicos, em diferentes estágios de maturação. Os testes foram realizados duas vezes por semana, durante 21 dias, sendo utilizados 40 frutos de manga da variedade Tommy. O procedimento foi dividido em duas etapas: na primeira etapa, simulou-se o impacto nos frutos; na segunda etapa, foi aplicada a luz laser sobre a área que sofreu impacto, seguido do registro das imagens de todos os frutos. Esses registros foram submetidos a um processamento gráfico, com a finalidade de se obterem mapas de atividade biológica dos frutos. A técnica Biospeckle laser associada à análise de imagem permitiu identificar níveis de atividades biológicas distintas nas mangas, certificando o seu potencial de aplicação como ferramenta de teste não destrutivo, no monitoramento da atividade biológica em amostras de frutos.

Abstract The objective of this study was to evaluate the response of biological activity measured by the Biospeckle Laser technique applied to mangoes (Mangifera indica L.) subjected to mechanical damage at different stages of maturation. The tests were carried out twice a week for twenty-one days, and 40 mangoes of the variety Tommy Atkins were used. The procedure was divided into two stages: the first simulated the impact on fruits, and in the second stage, the laser light was applied to the impacted area. After laser application, the images of all fruits were submitted to graphic processing, in order to obtain maps of biological activity of the fruits. The Biospeckle laser technique associated with image analysis allowed the identification of distinct biological activity levels in the mangoes, certifying its potential application as a non-destructive test tool, in the monitoring of biological activity in fruit samples.

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 objective of this study was to develop a software based on image processing and computer vision techniques for monitoring the feeding/collective behavior of broilers (Cobb) and validate it based on the results obtained from the visual analysis of an expert. The visual analysis was performed based on the observation and quantification of behaviors in the interval of 10 min at each hour of the day, in the period of 24 hours, totaling 1728 frames/day, for males and females. The software was developed using the Hoshen-Kopelman algorithm, for labeling clusters, which would basically be the grouping of similar pixels. This software is written in the 1999 standard of the C language. After this stage of programming, the Hoshen-Kopelman algorithm identified the birds in the region of interest (feeder and drinker), with removal of the background color to obtain the descriptors, using the same range of visual analysis. Then, the software was validated through linear regression analysis, using the R platform. Based on the correlation analyses, it was found that the coefficient of determination (R2) ranged from 0.74 to 0.97 for all software validation events. The number of broilers in the regions of interest showed R2 above 0.70 for females and above 0.89 for males, which allowed the characterization of the ingestive behavior of broilers by computer vision. Some factors that caused interference in the accuracy of the software were decisive for the result, especially the arrangement of the cameras, uneven lighting, obstruction caused by the lighting system, pendular movement of the feeders and drinker, and shade generated by them. Despite the highlighted interferences, the results allowed us to infer that the software identified and quantified the feeding behavior of broilers in an appropriate manner.

RESUMO O objetivo desta pesquisa foi avaliar o conforto térmico, as respostas fisiológicas e o desempenho de porcos na fase de crescimento, submetidos a programas complementares de iluminação em ambientes climatizados, na região semiárida de Pernambuco, Brasil. Vinte e sete porcos (3/4 Duroc, ¼ Pietrain) foram submetidos a baias sem ar condicionado, baias com ventilação forçada e baias com resfriamento adiabático evaporativo, associadas a 12 h de luz natural, 12 h de luz natural + 4 h de luz artificial e 12 h de luz natural + 6 h de luz artificial. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, em arranjo fatorial 3 x 3, com três repetições. As respostas meteorológicas, fisiológicas e variáveis de desempenho dos animais foram registradas. O sistema de resfriamento evaporativo atenuou a ação dos agentes estressores e garantiu o alojamento térmico adequado para os animais. A frequência respiratória e a temperatura retal indicaram que o resfriamento evaporativo garantiu a manutenção da homeotermia. O ganho de peso e a conversão alimentar foram influenciados positivamente para os animais expostos ao resfriamento evaporativo, no entanto, sem efeito significativo dos programas de iluminação.

ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to evaluate the thermal comfort, physiological responses and performance of pigs in the growth phase, subjected to supplemental lighting programs in air-conditioned environments, in semiarid region of Pernambuco state, Brazil. Twenty-seven pigs (3/4 Duroc, ¼ Pietrain) were subjected to pens with no climate control, pens with forced ventilation and pens with adiabatic evaporative cooling, associated with 12 h of natural light, 12 h of natural light + 4 h of artificial light and 12 h of natural light + 6 h of artificial light. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 3 x 3 factorial arrangement with three repetitions. Meteorological responses, physiological responses and performance variables of the animals were recorded. The evaporative cooling system attenuated the action of the stressors and ensured adequate thermal conditions for the animals. Respiratory rate and rectal temperature indicated that evaporative cooling ensured the maintenance of homeothermy. Weight gain and feed conversion were positively influenced for the animals exposed to evaporative cooling, but without significant effect of lighting programs.

ABSTRACT An adequate thermal environment in pig farming facilities is essential to ensure productivity and animal welfare. The objective of this study was to evaluate the behavior and performance of finishing pigs, subjected to climate-controlled environments and supplementary lighting. Twenty-seven pigs (3/4 Duroc, 1/4 Pietrain) were kept in pens with no climate control, pens with forced ventilation and pens with adiabatic evaporative cooling system, associated with 12 h of natural light, 12 h of natural light + 4 h of artificial light and 12 h of natural light + 6 h of artificial light. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 3x3 factorial arrangement and the means were compared by Tukey test (p<0.05). Meteorological variables, temperature and relative humidity, were recorded and the zootechnical performance of the animals was evaluated by weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion. Behavioral analysis was performed using the frequency of ingestive and comfort behaviors (exploratory activities and social interactions). Better performance was found for animals subjected to evaporative cooling, and the program with supplementary lighting for 6 hours promoted better feed conversion. Pigs subjected to evaporative cooling showed higher frequency of comfort behaviors and higher frequency of ingestive activity, stimulated by better thermal conditions in the housing.

ABSTRACT The objective of this research was to analyze the differences between the food behaviors observed under the factors of production environment, sex and lighting system, using stochastic tools of multivariate analysis. As for the thermal characteristics of the environment, air temperature (T, °C), enthalpy (H, kJ kg-1), and black globe temperature and humidity index (BGTHI) showed high positive correlation with each other and strong negative correlation with relative humidity (RH, %). The “male drinking” behavior was positively associated with thermal characteristics of the environment in the three periods of the day, that is, the act of drinking more water would be a way to alleviate thermal stress. Birds subjected to red LED showed a strong negative correlation with temperature associated with the “female drinking” behavior, in the afternoon period, according to the principal component analysis, which is justified by the orientation of the broiler house with its longitudinal axis in the NE/SW direction, so the sunlight directly hits the area where the drinker was located. Variation in body weight showed better response when the birds were exposed to a temperature of 27 °C, for the 5th week of the rearing cycle.

Resumen El objetivo fue verificar las posibles modificaciones de la estructura del suelo y el patrón de la respuesta espectral de la cubierta vegetal de los pastizales en función del pisoteo de los animales. El estudio se llevó a cabo en una granja en la región Agreste de Pernambuco, Brasil. En un área manejada bajo pastoreo continuo de vaquillas. Se recolectaron muestras de suelo en 36 puntos regulares, antes y después del período de pastoreo, donde se determinaron las propiedades físicas del suelo en la profundidad de 0.00-0.10 m. Antes y después del pastoreo, también se obtuvieron imágenes del satélite Sentinel-2A para observar el patrón de respuesta de la vegetación del pasto a lo largo del tiempo a través de los Índices de Vegetación. Los datos de los atributos del suelo se sometieron a análisis factorial multivariado. Los mapas del índice de vegetación se evaluaron para determinar la variabilidad espacial. Los resultados mostraron que después del pastoreo, hubo un cambio significativo en los atributos del suelo y el pasto, que puede indicar posibles procesos de degradación.

Abstract The objective was to verify possible modifications of the soil structure and the pattern of the spectral response of pasture vegetation cover to animal trampling. The study was carried out on a farm in the Agreste region of Pernambuco, Brazil in an area with continuous grazing by heifers. Soil samples were collected at 36 regular points, before and after the grazing period, where the physical properties of the soil were determined at a 0.00-0.10 m depth. Before and after grazing, images of the Sentinel-2A satellite were also obtained to observe the pasture vegetation response pattern over time through Vegetation Indexes. The soil attribute data were submitted to multivariate factorial analysis. The vegetation index maps were evaluated for spatial variability. The results showed that after the grazing, there was a significant change in soil attributes and pasture, which can indicate possible degradation processes.

RESUMO O Brasil é o maior produtor e exportador de cana-de-açúcar do mundo e, o setor sucroenergético tem investido no desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias e métodos de plantio de cana-de-açúcar para atender à demanda do mercado. Dessa forma, objetivou-se com esta pesquisa, avaliar o desempenho de cana-açúcar no final da fase de aclimatação e em campo, proveniente de mudas pré-brotadas expostas à iluminação suplementar à base de diodo emissor de luz no período de aclimatação em ambiente protegido. O experimento foi realizado em Carpina, PE, de janeiro a setembro de 2017. As parcelas experimentais foram compostas por mudas pré-brotadas em ambiente protegido, expostas aos sistemas de iluminação suplementar, 90% vermelho + 10% azul (V:A 90/10), 80% vermelho + 20% azul (V:A 80/20), 70% vermelho + 30% azul (V:A 70/30) e o controle. A avaliação do crescimento das mudas foi realizada por meio de indicadores biométricos: altura da planta (cm); comprimento do colmo (cm); diâmetro do colmo (cm) e o número de perfilhos. As variáveis biométricas não apresentaram diferenças significativas, no entanto, as plantas submetidas aos sistemas de iluminação com maior proporção do comprimento de onda vermelho (V:A 80/20 e V:A 90/10), apresentaram maior percentual de sobrevivência no campo.

ABSTRACT Brazil is the largest producer and exporter of sugarcane in the world, and the sugar and ethanol sector has invested in the development of new technologies and methods of planting to meet the market demand. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of sugarcane at the acclimation phase and under field conditions, from pre-sprouted seedlings exposed to supplementary lighting, through light-emitting diode, in the period of acclimation in a greenhouse. The experiment was carried out in Carpina, PE, Brazil, from January to September 2017. The experimental plots were composed of pre-sprouted seedlings acclimated in greenhouse, exposed to the supplementary lighting systems, 90% Red + 10% Blue (R:B 90/10), 80% Red + 20% Blue (R:B 80/20), 70% Red + 30% Blue (R:B 70/30) and a control. The evaluation of seedling growth was performed through the measurement of biometric indicators: plant height (cm); stem length (cm); stem diameter (cm) and number of tillers. The biometric indicators showed no significant differences, but plants under lighting systems with a greater proportion of the red wavelength (R:B 80/20 and R:B 90/10) showed higher percentage of survival in the field.

RESUMO A análise da variabilidade espacial dos elementos meteorológicos e identificação precisa de possíveis causas de estresse térmico no alojamento das aves, auxiliam os produtores no processo de tomada de decisão. Objetivou-se com este estudo avaliar o ambiente interno de aviários no vazio sanitário e na fase de produção, para caracterização da variabilidade térmica espacial e identificação de pontos críticos de controle. O estudo foi realizado no Vale Aluvial do Rio Mimoso, município de Pesqueira, PE, Brasil. Os dados de temperatura do ar, velocidade do vento e iluminância foram registrados no mês de novembro (primavera), em 155 pontos dentro de cada instalação avícola (10 x 90 m), espaçados por malha de 3,0 x 2,5 m e submetidos a análise estatística descritiva e geoestatística. Ocorreu forte dependência espacial para as variáveis temperatura do ar, velocidade do vento e iluminância. Os alcances obtidos para a temperatura do ar nas instalações foram de 48,22 a 114,52 m, enquanto que para a velocidade do vento e a iluminância foram menores que 10 m, revelando assim, a necessidade de maior homogeneidade das variáveis estudadas e atendimento da exigência térmica das aves.

ABSTRACT Spatial variability analysis of meteorological elements and precise identification of possible causes of thermal stress in poultry housing help producers in the decision making process. The objective of this study was to evaluate the internal environment of poultry houses in the downtime (sanitary void) and in the production phase, to characterize spatial thermal variability and to identify critical control points. The study was carried out in the Alluvial Valley of the Mimoso River, municipality of Pesqueira, PE, Brazil. The data of air temperature, wind speed and illuminance were recorded in November (spring season), at 155 points within each poultry facility (10 x 90 m), spaced in a 3.0 x 2.5 m grid and subjected to descriptive statistical analysis and geostatistics. There was a strong spatial dependence for the variables air temperature, wind speed and illuminance. The ranges obtained for the air temperature in the facilities were from 48.22 to 114.52 m, while for the wind speed and illuminance were less than 10 m, thus revealing the need for greater homogeneity of the studied variables and meeting of the thermal requirement of the poultry.

RESUMO A iluminância ideal em aviários para frangos de corte pode levar à melhoria da eficiência do ambiente de alojamento e no bem-estar das aves. Neste contexto, objetivou-se avaliar o comportamento e o bem-estar de frangos de corte sob efeito da iluminância por lâmpadas de diodo emissor de luz na faixa do branco (400-760 nm) e azul/verde (470-525 nm). O experimento foi conduzido de outubro a dezembro de 2017, no município de Carpina, PE, e contou com 384 pintos de um dia (lote misto), linhagem Cobb 500. O delineamento adotado foi inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 4 x 2, correspondendo a quatro iluminâncias, 5 lx (I1), 20 lx (I2), 150 lx (I3) e 5-20 lx (5 lx na 1a, 2a e 6a semana e 20 lx na 3a, 4a e 5a semana - I4), e dois espectrons luminosos com a utilização de lâmpadas de diodo emissor de luz (LED), tipo bastão RGB (400-760 nm) branco (C1) e dicromático (470-525 nm) azul/verde (C2), com três repetições. Utilizou-se programa de iluminação contínuo, 18 h de luz e 6 h de escuro por dia. Foram avaliados os comportamentos ingestivos, postura, conforto e natural, agressividade e desconforto das aves. As variáveis comportamentais das aves foram determinadas pela frequência dos eventos e sua probabilidade de ocorrência pelo teste Qui-quadrado. As aves submetidas aos comprimentos de onda na faixa do azul/verde e iluminância de 20 lx e 5-20 lx, apresentaram comportamentos ingestivos e de conforto mais expressivos, o que evidencia melhor bem-estar nestas condições de alojamento.

ABSTRACT The ideal illuminance in poultry houses for broiler chickens may lead to improvement in housing efficiency and broiler welfare. In this context, the objective of this research was to evaluate the behavior and welfare of broiler chickens under effect of illuminance by light-emitting diode (LED) in white band (400-760 nm) and blue/green band (470-525 nm). The experiment was conducted from October to December 2017, in the municipality of Carpina, PE, Brazil, and had 384-oneday-old chicks (mixed batch), Cobb 500 strain. The adopted design was completely randomized, in a 4 x 2 factorial scheme, corresponding to four illuminances, 5 lx (I1), 20 lx (I2), 150 lx (I3) and 5-20 lx (5 lx in the 1st, 2nd and 6th weeks and 20 lx in the 3rd, 4th and 5th weeks - I4), and two light spectra using LED bars, RGB type, in white (400-760 nm) color (C1) and blue/green (470-525 nm) dichromatic color (C2), with three repetitions. A continuous lighting program was used, 18 h of light and 6 h of dark per day. Ingestive, posture, comfort and natural behaviors, aggressiveness and discomfort of the broiler were evaluated. Broiler behavioral variables were determined by the frequency of the events and their probability of occurrence by the Chi-square test. Broilers subjected to wavelengths in the blue/green range and illuminance of 20 lx and 5-20 lx showed more significant ingestive and comfort behaviors, which demonstrates better welfare under these housing conditions.

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.

ABSTRACT Sugarcane is considered one of the main alternatives for biofuel production and an important product of Brazilian agriculture, so it is indispensable to adopt new techniques for its cultivation and management. Thus, the present study aimed to evaluate the effect of the quality of supplemental lighting, based on light-emitting diode (LED), on the acclimation of pre-sprouted sugarcane seedlings in a protected environment. The experimental design was completely randomized, consisting of three supplemental LED lighting systems, with light proportions of 90% red + 10% blue (R:B 90/10), 80% red + 20% blue (R:B 80/20) and 70% red + 30% blue (R:B 70/30), and a control, with natural solar radiation, with 5 replicates. Multivariate principal component analysis was used based on the matrix of correlation between all variables (meteorological, physiological and biometric). It was found that the different LED lighting systems increased the photosynthetically active radiation; however, until 20 days after planting, the seedlings were little influenced by the supplemental lighting systems. At the end of the acclimation period, the R:B 80/20 lighting system was the most associated with the growth and size of sugarcane seedlings.