ABSTRACT The use of agricultural residues in anaerobic digestion (AD) for biogas production promotes environmental and socioeconomic benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the biogas production from dry coffee husks (DCH), wet coffee husks (WCH), and cattle manure (CM) in AD. Prototypes of Indian anaerobic benchtop digesters with a batch feeding system supplied with 100 CM, 100 DCH, and 100 WCH for anaerobic mono-digestion (AMoD) and 25:75 DCH:CM and WCH:CM for anaerobic co-digestion (ACoD) were used in the experiment. The dry husk was mechanically pre-treated with grinding in a manual mill. Moisture and total solid presented no statistically significant difference between the studied relationships but the coffee husk as a co-digestant acidified the medium to be digested. The 25:75 DCH:CM ratio anticipated biogas production (7th week) and showed higher potential for weekly and accumulated biogas production. The Gompertz model showed the best fit considering the coefficient of determination, mean relative error, standard deviation of the estimate, and mean squared deviation. Therefore, the coffee husk as a co-digestant of cattle manure is a potential lignocellulosic biomass for biogas production provided that the process is conducted under pre-treatment.

ABSTRACT Although dry bulb temperature (T) is the environmental variable most commonly used to classify thermal comfort in pigs, environmental assessment ratios provide more accurate information. The objective of this study was to correlate the sound pressure levels (SPL) produced by piglet vocalization with the thermal environment observed during the nursery phase, and subsequently establish thermoneutrality ranges. The experiment was conducted on a pig farm where T, relative humidity (RH), and SPL data were recorded between 9 am-5 pm for 42 days. The association between SPL and T in nursery phase piglets was verified; for thermal comfort to be possible, SPLs were 56.3 to 60.3 dB. The SPLs were subsequently used in predictor equations of ratios, and thermal comfort ranges were 74.4-78.3 for temperature and humidity ratio (THI), and 71.6-75.8 for globe temperature and humidity ratio (BGHI). Although the SPL proved to be a convenient indicator of thermal comfort for the evaluation of pigs, further studies developed in different phases of the production system are required.

RESUMO O Brasil é um dos maiores produtores de abacaxi do mundo, o que além de trazer enormes benefícios contribui para o aumento da geração de resíduos nas etapas de beneficiamento, visando seu consumo. A legislação ambiental brasileira vem se tornando a cada ano mais restritiva quanto ao descarte dos resíduos sólidos, sejam domésticos, industriais ou agroindustriais, o que vem suscitando estudos relativos ao uso destes materiais em diversas matrizes. Esse trabalho visa avaliar a potencialidade da utilização da fibra natural do abacaxi, extraída da folha do abacaxizeiro (Ananás comosus) como material de reforço em compósitos cimentícios. Para este propósito, a fibra natural extraída da coroa do abacaxi foi incorporada em diferentes proporções em relação à massa de cimento: 0, 2,5, 5, 7,5 e 10%, e as fibras obtidas foram submersas em solução aquosa de NaOH com concentração de 5% em volume, durante 1 h à temperatura ambiente. Foram avaliadas as seguintes variáveis: consistência, retenção de água, ar incorporado, densidade de massa no estado endurecido, resistência mecânica, absorção de água por imersão e por capilaridade, além de verificar a influência do modo de incorporação das fibras. Foi observado que o tratamento com solução de NaOH e a porcentagem de fibra natural de abacaxi incorporada em até 5% em relação à massa de cimento formam argamassas com viabilidade tecnológica.

ABSTRACT Brazil is one of the largest producers of pineapple in the world, which, in addition to bringing substantial benefits, contributes to increasing waste generation in the stages of processing, aiming at its consumption. The Brazilian environmental legislation has been increasingly more restrictive with respect to the disposal of solid waste, whether domestic, industrial or agro-industrial, which has stimulated studies related to the use of these materials in several matrices. This study aimed to evaluate the potentiality of using the natural fiber of pineapple (Ananas comosus), extracted from its leaves, as reinforcing material in cementitious composites. For this purpose, natural fiber extracted from the pineapple crown was incorporated in different percentages in relation to the cement mass: 0, 2.5, 5, 7.5 and 10%, and the fibers obtained were submerged in aqueous NaOH solution with 5% concentration in volume, for 1 h at room temperature. The following variables were evaluated: consistency, water retention, incorporated air, mass density in hardened state, mechanical strength, water absorption by immersion and capillarity, besides verifying the influence of the mode of fiber incorporation. It was observed that the treatment with NaOH solution and the percentage of natural pineapple fiber incorporated in up to 5% in relation to the cement mass form mortars with technological feasibility.

RESUMO A entalpia é uma propriedade termodinâmica que pode ser usada na avaliação do ambiente térmico para frangos, pois considera as variáveis meteorológicas que mais influenciam no conforto térmico animal, a temperatura do bulbo seco e a umidade relativa do ar. Objetivou-se analisar e comparar a variabilidade espacial da entalpia em um aviário de frangos durante três períodos do dia (manhã, tarde e noite) por 14 dias de vida das aves, empregando técnicas geoestatísticas. O experimento foi realizado em um aviário comercial onde estavam alojados 28.000 pintinhos machos da linhagem Cobb localizado na mesorregião oeste de Minas Gerais. O sistema de aquecimento consistia em um forno industrial de metal com queima indireta de biomassa. O ar aquecido foi insuflado por motor CA, 2206 W de potência, 1725 RPM. Utilizou-se técnicas de geoestatística por meio de análises de semivariograma e confecção de mapas de isocores por meio de interpolação dos dados por krigagem. O semivariograma foi ajustado pelo método da Máxima Verossimilhança Restrita. O modelo matemático utilizado foi o esférico. Após o ajuste dos semivariogramas foi realizada a interpolação dos dados por krigagem ordinária. Os semivariogramas juntamente com os mapas de isocores permitiram identificar a não-uniformidade da distribuição espacial da entalpia ao longo do aviário durante três períodos dos 14 dias análisados. Observou-se que nos primeiros dois dias de vida durante os três períodos avaliados as aves ficaram a maior parte do tempo ao longo da maior parte do galpão sob condições de entalpia abixo do recomendado pela literatura. No 12º e 13º dias de vida durante os três períodos analisados, as aves ficaram submetidas as condições mais críticas de desconforto ao longo do dia, na maior parte do aviário. Observou-se também possíveis falhas no sistema de aquecimento, principalmente no período da noite, o que pode ser uma fonte de desconforto para as aves e consequentemente gerar perdas produtivas e econômicas.

ABSTRACT The enthalpy is a thermodynamic property that can be used to evaluate thermal environment for chickens, considering the meteorological variables that most influence the animal’s thermal comfort, the dry-bulb temperature and the relative humidity. The aim was to analyze and compare the spatial variability of enthalpy in a broiler aviary during three periods of the day (morning, afternoon and night) for 14 living days, using geostatistical techniques. The experiment was performed in a commercial broiler aviary located in the western mesoregion of Minas Gerais, Brazil, where 28,000 male Cobb chicks were housed. The heating system consisted of an industrial indirect-fired biomass furnace. The heated air was inflated by an AC motor, 2206 W of power, 1725 RPM. Geostatistical techniques were used through semivariogram analysis and isochore maps were generated through data interpolation by kriging. The semivariogram was fitted by the restricted maximum likelihood method. The used mathematical model was the spherical one. After fitting the semivariograms, the data were interpolated by ordinary kriging. The semivariograms along with the isochore maps allowed identifying the non-uniformity of spatial distribution of the enthalpy throughout the broiler aviary for three periods during 14 days. It was observed that in the first two days of life, during the three evaluated periods the poultry kept most of the time and in most of the poultry shed under conditions of enthalpy below the recommended level in the literature. In the12th and 13th days during the three analyzed periods were the most critical because they showed values below the comfort throughout the day, over the entire broiler aviary. Possible failures in the heating system were also observed, especially at night, which can be a discomfort source for poultry and hence generate productive and economic losses.

Resumen Este trabajo tuvo como objetivo desarrollar y evaluar un modelo matemático computacional, con base en la teoría de los conjuntos fuzzy, para predecir el confort térmico a partir del comportamiento de lechones, en función de su edad y del índice de temperatura de globo y humedad, en dos tipologías de instalación de preceba. La instalación 1 estaba compuesta por corrales de mampostería y piso de malla metálica, y la instalación 2 tenía corrales construidos con tablilla de madera y piso en malla plástica. La instalación 2 presentó una mayor frecuencia comportamental en la condición de confort que la instalación 1, con 39,32% y 38,16% respectivamente. Los valores da tasa de confort térmico estimados por el sistema fuzzy presentaron una desviación estándar media de 3,58% y coeficiente de determinación de 72,86%. El modelo fuzzy desarrollado mostró ser adecuado para la predicción de la tasa de confort térmico a partir del comportamiento de los animales.

Abstract This work aims to develop and test a computational mathematical model, based on the fuzzy set theory, to predict the rate of thermal comfort by means of the swine behavior in relation to their age and to the black globe humidity index for two nursery types. Nursery 1 had brick stalls with fully slatted metal flooring, and nursery 2 had wooden stalls with fully slatted plastic flooring. Nursery style 2 presented a higher frequency of behavior in the condition comfort than nursery style 1, respectively 39,32% and 38,16%. The thermal comfort values for the fuzzy system were 3,58% for the standard deviation and 72,86% for the coefficient of determination. The developed fuzzy model has proven adequate in predicting thermal comfort by means of the animal's behavior.

RESUMO O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar a concentração de gases em três instalações de crescimento e terminação para suínos, com tipologias construtivas diferentes no que tange ao piso e divisórias. Compararam-se três tratamentos: baia com lâmina d’água, baia com piso parcialmente vazado nas laterais e baia com piso parcialmente vazado nas laterais e no centro. Foram feitas medições das concentrações instantâneas de amônia (NH3, ppm) e dióxido de carbono (CO2, ppm) a nível dos animais; também foram registrados os níveis de pressão sonora (dB) a nível dos animais e a 1,50 do piso. Observou-se que a baia com lâmina d’água foi a que apresentou o maior valor médio de concentração de NH3. Apesar de haver ocorrido diferenças significativas nas concentrações de CO2, os valores encontrados estão dentro dos limites permitidos pelas normas brasileiras, presumindo-se, assim, que as instalações não ocasionam desconforto em relação aos níveis de CO2. A baia com lâmina d’água demostrou proporcionar um possível desconforto aos animais, com nível de concentração de NH3 acima de valores que já podem acarretar problemas aos animais de acordo com o preconizado pela literatura. Não foi observada influência do tipo de piso da baia sobre a pressão sonora em nenhum horário.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the concentration of gases in three swine growing and finishing facilities with different building typologies, regarding floor and dividers. The experiment compared three treatments: pen with water depth, pen with partially slotted floor on the sides, and pen with partially slotted floor on sides and in the center. Measurements of instantaneous concentrations of ammonia (NH3 ppm) and carbon dioxide (CO2 ppm) were taken at animal level. The levels of sound pressure (dB) at animal level and at 1.50 m from the floor were also recorded. It was observed that the pen with water depth was the one with the highest average concentration of NH3. Although there was a significant difference in CO2 concentrations, the observed values are within the limits allowed by the Brazilian standards; thus, it is assumed that the facilities do not cause discomfort in relation to CO2 levels. The pen with water depth possibly caused discomfort to the animals, since the NH3 concentration was above the values that can cause problems to the animals, according to the recommendation of the literature. There was no influence of the type of pen on the sound pressure at any time.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate gas levels and the acoustic environment (noise) of growing-finishing swine in different facilities, one composed of shallow pool (SP) and another of partially slatted floor (PSF). Sensors and a sound level meter were used to measure gas concentrations (CO2 and NH3) and noise at 1.50 meters above the ground and at animal height. Data on gas concentrations and noise levels were measured at 9am, 12pm, and 3 pm. Results showed differences (P<0.05) between noise levels at animal height and gas concentrations measured in relation to stall type and data collection time. The highest noise values were found in the shallow pool stall, measured at animal level. The highest NH3 (13 ppm) and CO2 (1174.5 ppm) values were observed in the shallow pool stall at 3pm. The stall floor with shallow pool seems to provide greater welfare in relation to noise level for growing-finishing swine.

Esta pesquisa foi realizada com o objetivo de avaliar o reaproveitamento de embalagens Tetra Pak-® junto a telhas de fibrocimento e o uso de telhas recicladas à base de embalagens Tetra Pak-® no conforto térmico em modelos físicos em escala reduzida de instalações rurais. Para testar os diferentes materiais de cobertura, foram construídos seis modelos: telhas recicladas à base de embalagens Tetra Pak-®, telhas cerâmicas, telhas de fibrocimento, telhas de alumínio, telhas de fibrocimento com subcobertura de embalagens Tetra Pak-® com a face aluminizada voltada para cima e telhas de fibrocimento com forro de embalagens Tetra Pak-® com a face aluminizada voltada para cima. Os dados foram coletados no período de dezembro de 2012 a fevereiro de 2013, das 9 às 17 h, em intervalos de 20 min. É possível afirmar que as telhas recicladas apresentaram índices de conforto térmico com valores semelhantes aos apresentados por outros materiais de cobertura, como as telhas cerâmicas. O reaproveitamento das embalagens Tetra Pak-® como forro contribuiu para redução dos valores médios de índice de temperatura e umidade, índice de temperatura de globo e umidade e carga térmica de radiação.

This research aimed to evaluate the recycling of Tetra Pak-® packaging, along with fiber cement tiles, and the efficiency of the tiles recycled with Tetra Pak-® packages regarding thermal comfort in physical models of reduced scale rural facilities. In order to test the different roofing materials, six models were constructed - tiles recycled from Tetra Pak-® packages, fibre cement tiles, aluminum tiles, fiber cement tiles with under-coverage of Tetra Pak-® packages with the aluminum side facing up, and fiber cement with lining of Tetra Pak-® packages with the aluminum side facing up. The data were collected in the period from December, 2012 to February, 2013, from 9 to 17 h in 20 min intervals. From the results obtained it may be affirmed that the recycled tiles presented thermal comfort indexes with values similar to those presented by other roofing materials, such as ceramic tiles. The recycling of Tetra Pak-® packages as lining contributed to reducing the mean values of temperature and humidity index, globe temperature and humidity index and radiant heat load.

Objetivou-se, com o presente trabalho, comparar o uso de cama de colchão de borracha e de areia no recobrimento da superfície de baias para confinamento tipo free-stall. Foram monitoradas 18 vacas holandesas confinadas em galpão modelo free-stall cujas baias foram recobertas com camas de areia e colchão de borracha (tratamentos). O delineamento experimental foi em blocos casualizados. Os parâmetros comportamentais estudados foram os tempos despendidos nas atividades: deitada em ócio e deitada ruminando, em pé em ócio sobre a cama, em pé ruminando sobre a cama, registrados a cada 10 min. As variáveis ambientais e temperatura da superfície das camas foram registradas a cada hora. Houve maior preferência dos animais pela cama de areia para os comportamentos deitada em ócio e deitada ruminando. As vacas permaneceram mais tempo deitadas em cama de borracha somente nos períodos mais frescos (noite e madrugada), devido à temperatura da cama. A temperatura da borracha foi maior que areia nos horários mais quentes do dia (notadamente durante o período da tarde), enquanto à noite se apresentou mais fria.

The aim of the present study was to compare the use of bed mattress, rubber and sand coating on the surface of stalls in free-stall barn. Eighteen holstein cows confined in free-stall barn were monitored whose stalls were covered with beds of sand and rubber mattress (treatments). The experimental design was randomized blocks. The studied behavioral parameters were the time spent in different activities: lying in idleness and lying ruminating, standing in idleness on the bedding, standing ruminating on the bed, recorded every 10 min. Environmental variables and surface temperature of the bedding were recorded every hour. There was a greater preference of animals for sand bedding and the behaviors lying in idleness or lying ruminating. The cows spent more time lying on rubber bed only in cooler periods (morning and night), due to the temperature of the bedding. The temperature of the rubber was higher than sand in the hottest times of the day (especially during the afternoon), while in the evening, presented cooler.