RESUMO Práticas inadequadas de manejo antes do abate podem comprometer o bem-estar animal e a qualidade da carne suína. Este estudo visou avaliar os efeitos do período de transporte (TT), período de descarga (TD), e período de pré-abate (TE) nos indicadores termofisiológicos animais e no pH da carne suína, utilizando uma abordagem multivariada. Este estudo foi realizado num matadouro localizado em Aquiraz, Ceará, Brasil. Um total de 60 suínos mestiços com 107 ± 5 kg de peso corporal foram distribuídos em três grupos experimentais: grupo A (TT = 180 min, TD ≤ 10 min, e TE = 24 horas), grupo B (TT = 60 min, TD ≤ 15 min, e TE = 18 horas), e grupo C (TT = 45 min, TD ≤ 5 min, e TE = 24 horas). A análise discriminante canônica foi implementada e as diferenças entre tratamentos são representadas graficamente. Os dois primeiros componentes foram responsáveis por 97% dos tratamentos. A análise discriminante mostrou que o grupo C apresentou diferenças multivariadas em relação aos outros, particularmente com temperatura retal elevada antes do abate (38,4 ± 0,23 °C) e frequência respiratória (131 ± 7,0 respirações min-1) e temperatura retal (39,7 ± 0,18 °C) à chegada ao matadouro. O período de transporte (TT), período de descarga (TD) e o stress térmico das instalações influenciaram variáveis fisiológicas, tais como a temperatura retal e a frequência respiratória. Além disso, as variáveis de estresse fisiológico também favoreceram cortes com pH básico, resultando em perda de qualidade.

ABSTRACT Inadequate pre-slaughter handling practices may compromise animal welfare and pork quality. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of transport period (TT), unloading period (UT), and pre-slaughtering period (WT) on animal thermophysiological indicators and pork pH using a multivariate approach. This study was conducted in a slaughterhouse located in Aquiraz, Ceará state, Brazil. A total of 60 mestizo pigs with 107 ± 5 kg body weight were distributed into three experimental groups: group A (TT = 180 min, UT ≤ 10 min, and WT = 24 hours), group B (TT = 60 min, UT ≤ 15 min, and WT = 18 hours), and group C (TT = 45 min, UT ≤ 5 min, and WT = 24 hours). Canonical discriminant analysis was implemented and the differences between treatments are represented graphically. The first two components accounted for 97% treatments. The discriminant analysis showed that group C presented multivariate differences in relation to others, particularly with high rectal temperature before slaughter (38.4 ± 0.23 °C) and respiratory rate (131 ± 7.0 breaths min-1) and rectal temperature (39.7 ± 0.18 °C) upon arrival at the slaughterhouse. Transport period (TT), unloading period (UT), and thermal stress of the facilities influenced physiological variables, such as rectal temperature and respiratory rate. Furthermore, the physiological stress variables also favored cuts with basic pH, resulting in quality loss.

RESUMO A presente pesquisa objetivou avaliar a quantidade de carbono estocado no substrato sob influência de espécies de plantas presentes em um telhado verde extensivo em dois períodos. A pesquisa foi desenvolvida nos meses de março e setembro de 2020, no Edifício Garagem do Empresarial Charles Darwin, Recife, Pernambuco, Brasil. Adotou-se o delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema de parcelas subdivididas, com as espécies de plantas (Grama Esmeralda (Zoysia japonica), Lambari roxo (Tradescantia zebrina), and Capim-do-texas (Pennisetum setaceum)) alocadas nas parcelas e os períodos de coleta dos materiais (março e setembro) nas subparcelas. Para isso, foram quantificados o teor de CO2 e concentração de carbono orgânico no substrato. Trinta amostras de substrato foram retiradas em cada período. Para o teor de CO2, não houve diferença estatística entre as espécies, apenas entre os períodos avaliados, com médias de 14.05 e 96.97 mg, para os meses de março e setembro, respectivamente. Sendo assim, setembro apresentou o maior potencial de armazenamento de CO2 no substrato. Para a concentração de carbono orgânico, houve diferença estatística entre as espécies e períodos, com valores médios de 95.05 e 129.22 g kg-1 para as espécies Capim-do-texas e Lambari roxo, respectivamente, e 131.15 e 100.81 g kg-1, para março e setembro, respectivamente.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the influence of three plant species and two periods on the amount of carbon stored in the substrate in an extensive green roof. The study was carried out in March and September 2020 at Charles Darwin Business Garage Building, Recife, Pernambuco state, Brazil. A completely randomized design with a split-plot scheme was adopted, with plant species (zoysia grass [Zoysia japonica], inch plant [Tradescantia zebrina], and fountain grass [Pennisetum setaceum]) allocated to plots and the material collection periods (March and September) to subplots. The CO2 and organic carbon concentrations in the substrate were quantified. Thirty samples were obtained from the substrate during each period. No statistically significant difference was observed in CO2 content among species treatments; however, there was a significant difference between the two periods evaluated, with average values of 14.05 and 96.97 mg in March and September, respectively. Therefore, September has the greatest potential for CO2 storage in the substrate. Significant differences were observed in organic carbon concentrations among species and between periods, with average values of 95.05 and 129.22 g kg-1 for fountain grass and inch plant, respectively, and 131.15 and 100.81 g kg-1 in March and September, respectively.

ABSTRACT The characterisation of ventilation during the transport of broilers is essential to identify and solve problems related to the microclimate of the load. This study aimed to evaluate the ventilation patterns in alternative load layouts, i.e., with a central span or an air corridor, used in Brazil. Computational fluid dynamics simulations and wind tunnel tests were performed on virtual models and small-scale prototypes, respectively. The results showed that the load layout with a "central span" promoted positive ventilation patterns and increased wind circulation between the crates. However, it reduces the load transport capacity by approximately 20% (70 fewer crates), increasing the number of journeys. Therefore, the modification of the layout can optimise ventilation throughout the load; however, it becomes necessary to reduce the number of crates stacked on the truck, which is not feasible for the commercial transport of broilers because it makes it more onerous.

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.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the reactivity of the pupillary area (PA) as a non-invasive method for diagnosing stress in piglets submitted to transport. A total of 10 journeys were monitored and grouped according to the transport distance (15 and 75 km). Were sampled 360 piglets (25±3.8 kg) to measure the PA, body temperature (BT), and serum concentrations of cortisol and creatine kinase (CK). The micrometeorological characterization of the load was performed using enthalpy comfort index (ECI). It was possible to identify an increase of 19.32% (+18.91 mm2; P< 0.001) in PA of piglets transported in shorter journeys (15 km), as well as the highest mean values of BT (+ 1.24 °C; P< 0.001), cortisol (+ 2.37 ng/mL; P< 0.001) and CK (+ 379 U/L; P= 0.025). In this study, high correlations of PA were observed with r = 0.922, 0.900, 0.842 and 0.829 ( P< 0.05) for cortisol and CK, BT and ECI of trailer, respectively. In conclusion, we state that PA reactivity is a physiological response for the diagnosis of stress of piglets transported. Further research will refine this technique in order to make this non-invasive acquisition method more practical and adaptable to different transport conditions.

ABSTRACT The characterization of ventilation during the transport of broiler chickens is essential for identifying and characterizing the potential problems of a convective heat flow and its effects on the welfare and the health and production conditions of the chickens. The objective of this study was to evaluate the ventilation patterns in two layout models of a live transport load: conventional (LC) and alternative (LA) with spacers placed between the chicken transport crates. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) simulations and wind tunnel tests were performed using small scale models. The results showed that the use of spacers between crates (LA model) modified the ventilation patterns and increased the wind circulation between crates. However, wind tunnel tests simulating a density of eight birds/crate were inconclusive because the ventilation was below the sensitivity of the measuring devices used (0.001 m/s). It can be concluded that the use of spacers between the transport crates can modify the ventilation patterns within the load and increase the air circulation between the crates. However, the internal ventilation within the crates has not changed, suggesting the need for studies on the aerodynamics of a transport crate for poultry use.

RESUMO O Brasil é o maior produtor mundial de cana-de-açúcar (Saccharum officinarum L.), e pesquisas voltadas à propagação têm proporcionado maior qualidade na produção. Objetivou-se averiguar o efeito da variação dos elementos micrometeorológicos na sobrevivência e qualidade de mudas pré-brotadas de cana-de-açúcar. A pesquisa foi realizada em ambiente protegido (UFRPE). As mudas da cultivar RB92579 foram obtidas pela técnica de produção de mudas pré-brotadas. Os ambientes protegidos foram divididos em quatro módulos cobertos com plástico polietileno de baixa densidade + malhas de sombreamento fotosseletivas e um módulo sem malha. Foram registrados os dados micrometeorológicos de radiação solar global e fotossinteticamente ativa, temperatura do ar e do substrato, umidade relativa do ar e o espectro de radiação solar em cada módulo. O experimento foi instalado em delineamento inteiramente casualizado e foi utilizada a análise de componentes principais para verificar a associação entre os módulos de cultivo, as variáveis micrometeorológicas e da cultura. O plástico de polietileno de baixa densidade antiUV + freshnet proporcionou menor transmitância da radiação solar global, maior porcentagem de radiação fotossinteticamente ativa e menor mortalidade de mudas. Temperatura do substrato acima de 30,2 °C ocasionou maior mortalidade de mudas. O maior espectro na faixa do vermelho proporcionou a produção de mudas de qualidade superior. O uso de malha freshnet promoveu condições adequadas para o cultivo de mudas de cana-de-açúcar, permitindo a obtenção de mudas de qualidade superior.

ABSTRACT Brazil is the world’s largest producer of sugarcane (Saccharum officinarum L.) and research aimed at propagation has promoted higher quality in production. The objective of this study was to investigate the effect of the variation of micrometeorological elements on the survival and quality of pre-sprouted sugarcane plantlets. The study was carried out in a protected environment (UFRPE). Plantlets of the cultivar RB92579 were obtained by the technique of production of pre-sprouted plantlets. The protected environments were divided into four modules covered with low-density polyethylene plastic + photo-selective shade nets and one module without shade net. Micrometeorological data of global and photosynthetically active solar radiation, air temperature, substrate temperature, relative humidity and the solar radiation spectrum were recorded in each module. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design and the principal component analysis was used to verify the association between the cultivation modules, micrometeorological variables and crop variables. Anti-UV low-density polyethylene plastic + freshnet led to lower transmittance of global solar radiation, higher percentage of photosynthetically active radiation and lower plantlet mortality. Substrate temperature above 30.2 °C resulted in higher plantlet mortality. Larger spectrum in the red range led to the production of better quality plantlet. The use of freshnet shade net promoted adequate conditions for the cultivation of sugarcane plantlets and allows obtaining better quality plantlets.

ABSTRACT Work in the field is characterized as unstructured because it is performed in inconvenient postures, without a fixed workstation, exposing the worker directly to the sun and other inclement weather. This may interfere in the health and the performance of the activity. The objective of this work was to characterize the environment of the agricultural microtractor operator, evaluating the thermal comfort during the activity in the municipality of Quixadá, CE. A model TC14 Super Yanmar Agritech microtractor, coupled to a rotary spindle, was used. For the measurements of the environmental variables, sensors and devices were installed on the operator and in the microtractor. The experimental design adopted the assumptions of statistical quality control. Fifteen collections were done daily at different times for three consecutive days. The data obtained were indices of thermal discomfort and thermography, both of which were analyzed by sequential graphs (run charts), control graph (Xbar-R chart), and scatter plot. At all rates, the work performed proved to be inadequate, exceeding the operator's capabilities and limitations. It was concluded that the activity performed by the microtractor operator is stressful. Measures should be taken to improve working conditions without affecting the operator's health.

RESUMO Este trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de investigar a aplicabilidade das redes neurais artificiais (RNAs) para estimar a evapotranspiração do cultivo protegido de pimentão. Os dados utilizados compreenderam o segundo ciclo da cultura, cultivado de setembro de 2013 a fevereiro de 2014, constituindo 135 dias de dados meteorológicos diários: temperatura e umidade relativa do ar, velocidade do vento e radiação solar global, utilizadas como variáveis preditoras e evapotranspiração, determinada a partir de dados obtidos por lisímetro de pesagem, usada como variável resposta. Os dados registrados no período foram divididos em três conjuntos para treinamento, teste e validação. O processo de aprendizado da RNA foi estabelecido com precisão aceitável, com erro médio quadrático de 0,005, em que os padrões de evapotranspiração no ambiente protegido estimado pela rede, em comparação àqueles gerados a partir dos dados de lisimetria, apontaram coeficiente de determinação da ordem de 0,87 para uma arquitetura de rede 4-21-1, de múltiplas camadas, algoritmo de aprendizagem de retropropagação do erro e taxa de aprendizagem de 0,1.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to investigate the applicability of artificial neural networks (ANNs) in the prediction of evapotranspiration of sweet pepper cultivated in a greenhouse. The used data encompass the second crop cycle, from September 2013 to February 2014, constituting 135 days of daily meteorological data, referring to the following variables: temperature and relative air humidity, wind speed and solar radiation (input variables), as well as evapotranspiration (output variable), determined using data obtained by load-cell weighing lysimeter. The recorded data were divided into three sets for training, testing and validation. The ANN learning model recognized the evapotranspiration patterns with acceptable accuracy, with mean square error of 0.005, in comparison to the data recorded in the lysimeter, with coefficient of determination of 0.87, demonstrating the best approximation for the 4-21-1 network architecture, with multilayers, error back-propagation learning algorithm and learning rate of 0.01.

Este trabalho foi conduzido com o objetivo de caracterizar o perfil microclimático da carga de caminhões de transporte de frangos de corte sob condições comerciais, durante o verão brasileiro, por meio do monitoramento constante das variáveis meteorológicas (temperatura e umidade relativa do ar). Foram monitorados três carregamentos, da saída das aves da granja até a chegada ao abatedouro, em que se consideraram fatores como a distância e os turnos (manhã, tarde e noite). Para a obtenção do perfil das variáveis ambientais durante o transporte dos animais, foram instaladas ao longo da carga miniestações meteorológicas (Data Loggers) que permitiram determinar o microclima a que as aves foram submetidas e visualizar o perfil do Índice Entalpia de Conforto (IEC). Com estes valores, foi possível a classificação das regiões da carga de acordo com os limites de conforto térmico para frangos de corte, na sexta semana de vida. Os dados de temperatura, umidade relativa do ar e do IEC na carga foram analisados, utilizando-se da geoestatística pelo método de krigagem ordinária. O turno da tarde foi o mais crítico, com ênfase no conforto térmico das aves, sendo que as partes central e traseira da carga do caminhão foram as mais problemáticas, portanto as mais propícias à ocorrência de perdas.

The objective of this study was to characterize the microclimatic profile of broiler transport trucks under commercial conditions, in the summer, by continuous monitoring of environmental variables (temperature and air relative humidity). Three loads were monitored from farm to slaughterhouse, considering factors such as distance and day periods (morning, afternoon, and night). To obtain the profile of the environmental variables during journey, data loggers, that determined the microclimate to which birds were submitted, were installed in the trucks; data loggers also allowed visualization of the Enthalpy Comfort Index (ECI) so that load regions could be classified according to heat comfort limits for 6-week old poultries. Temperature, relative humidity, and ECI in the truck were analyzed, using geostatistics, by the ordinary kriging method. The afternoon was the most critical period, and truck central and rear regions were most problematic for chickens, thus most susceptible to losses.

A grande preocupação com o uso de gaiolas dá-se quanto ao espaço oferecido às aves poedeiras, o qual, certamente, afeta seu bem-estar. Sendo assim, este trabalho teve o objetivo de avaliar aspectos relacionados ao comportamento e bem-estar animal, comparando o sistema de criação alternativo (com cama e ninho) com o sistema convencional em gaiolas. Para isso, dois grupos de 20 aves (10 Hy-Line W36 e 10 Hy-Line Brown) em início de produção foram divididos em dois sistemas de criação (cama+ninho e gaiolas) e colocadas em câmara climática: um grupo a 26 °C e 60% UR (condição de conforto térmico), e outro a 35 °C e 70% UR (condição de estresse térmico), onde eram constantemente monitoradas por câmeras de vídeo. Com base na análise dos comportamentos, verificou-se que o sistema de criação em cama propiciou a expressão de todos os comportamentos naturais relacionados ao conforto das aves, evidenciando o estado de bem-estar das mesmas. Para o sistema em gaiolas, pôde ser constatado que as aves tentavam expressar seus comportamentos naturais, mesmo não tendo condições para isso. Essa impossibilidade de expressão dos comportamentos agravou as condições de estresse provocadas por esse sistema de criação e pela condição ambiental a que as aves foram submetidas.

The concern about the use of cages is related to barren environment and the minimal space offered to the laying hens, which negatively affects bird welfare. The present study focused on the aspect evaluation related to the behavior and welfare of birds, making a comparison between the alternative housing system (with litter and nests) and the conventional cage system. Two groups of 20 laying hens (10 Hy-Line W36 and 10 Hy-line Brown) at the beginning of the production were divided in two breeding systems (litter+nest and cages). Both of them were kept in climatic controlled chambers: one group with an ambient temperature of 26 °C and 60% RH (Thermal Comfort Condition) and the other in a temperature of 35 °C and 70% RH (Heat Thermal Stress Condition). A system of video cameras recorded the behavior of the laying hens. According to the behavior analysis, it was verified that the housing system on litter led to the expression of all natural behaviors related to bird comfort, which permitted to improve welfare conditions. In conventional system (laying cages) it was verified that birds tried to show their natural behavior in spite of lacking condition for it. This impossibility for expressing natural behaviors may have increased stress caused by the housing system and ambient condition.