Impact of musical rhythm on blood, physiological and welfare parameters in stabled horses.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of two styles of classical music, based on different tempos (BPM), on the physiological and blood parameters of horses during social isolation and restriction of movements. First experiment was carried out using nine horses of no defined breed, distributed in Control, Slow-tempo music and Moderate-tempo music .For social isolation and restriction of movement, the animals were housed daily in individual stalls for two hours and exposed to the stimuli for 60 min, and eye temperature, heart rate, and respiratory rate were assessed.

Optimal paraformaldehyde levels for disinfection of eggs used in vaccine production.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of paraformaldehyde levels on the disinfection of fertile eggs from breeders intended for vaccine production. A total of 4,368 fertile eggs were divided into seven treatment groups: nondisinfected eggs and eggs disinfected with 0, 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6 g/m³ of paraformaldehyde. Disinfection was carried out by fumigation, followed by incubation.

Music and Tactile Stimuli during Daily Milking Affect the Welfare and Productivity of Dairy Cows.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of tactile stimuli and music during daily milking on the productive, physiological, well-being, and health parameters of dairy cows. The experiment, which lasted 39 days, was conducted on a commercial farm with forty crossbred cows (age: 36 to 42 months; weight: 350 to 400 kg) distributed in a completely randomized design (2 × 2) via the following treatments: (Con)-cows not exposed to stimuli, (Tac)-cows exposed to tactile stimuli before milking, (Mus)-cows exposed to music during milking, (Tac+Mus)-cows exposed to both stimuli. In this study, classical music with a slow (75 to 107 BPM) and moderate tempo (90 to 100 BPM) was played, and tactile stimuli was provided manually using a flexible stick in the posterior region and udders of the cows.

Nutritional, Productive, and Qualitative Characteristics of European Quails Fed with Diets Containing Lipid Sources of Plant and Animal Origin.

The objective of this study was to investigate the impact of alternative lipid sources on nutrient metabolism, performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality in European quails. Trial 1 determined the energy values and nutrient metabolizability of non-conventional lipid sources. Six treatments (control, soybean oil, conventional corn oil, distilled corn oil, poultry fat, and beef tallow) were randomly assigned with 10 replicates per treatment.

Spray-chilling system in the initial cooling process of swine half carcasses.

This research was carried out with the objective of evaluating the effects of using a chilling water sprinkler system during the cooling process of swine carcasses on the quantitative and qualitative parameters of carcass and meat. A total of 220 swine carcasses were divided in a completely randomized experiment and two treatments: (1) CONTROL, no water spraying; (2) SPRAY, with water spraying during cooling. Surface and internal temperature of carcasses throughout the cooling process, initial and final pH, and microbiological analyses of carcass surface were evaluated.

Effects of Auditory Enrichment on Welfare and Performance of Sows During Pregnancy and Farrowing/lactation Periods.

This study is an observational study that aimed to evaluate whether exposure to music in the final third of sows' gestation and during farrowing/lactation would change behavior, reduce stress, and improve reproductive rates. Forty-eight sows were used at 90 days of gestation until the weaning of their piglets. During gestation, sows were divided into two treatments: control and with music enrichment.

Characterization and subchronic oral toxicity of Pentaclethra macroloba (pracaxi) oil in Rattus norvegicus (lin. Wistar).

The trend of replacing antimicrobials as growth promoters in animal nutrition is growing. Functional oils emerge as an alternative because of their richness in bioactive compounds and bioavailability. The present study aims to evaluate the fatty acid profile, antioxidant capacity, composition of phenolic compounds, and toxic capacity in Wistar rats of pracaxi oil (Pentaclethra macroloba).

Performance and Welfare of Sows Exposed to Auditory Environmental Enrichment in Mixed or Collective Housing Systems.

The research aimed to assess the effects of auditory environmental enrichment on sows in mixed housing (caged until 35 days after insemination and then collective pens) or collective housing (caged until 72 h after insemination and then collective pens). Reproductive performance, body surface and eye temperature (ET) were evaluated as sows' welfare indicators. A sample of 56 sows between 2nd and 6th parity was submitted to the treatments from artificial insemination to weaning.

Dietary Supplementation of Eubiotic Fiber Based on Lignocellulose on Performance and Welfare of Gestating and Lactating Sows.

The present study aimed to evaluate the effects of partially fermentable insoluble dietary fiber supplementation on the behavior, surface temperature, and reproductive parameters of gestating and lactating sows, as well as on the performance of their litters. Four hundred hyper-prolific sows were assigned in a randomized block design with two treatment groups during the gestation phase: Control (C), corn-soy based diets, or corn-soy based diets with daily 55 g supplementation of eubiotic fiber (F) from the 85th day of gestation until the farrowing (late pregnancy). During the lactation phase, the sows were assigned in a 2 × 2 factorial design using the following treatment groups: (1) CC, no fiber included during gestation and lactation.

Energy Assessment from Broiler Chicks' Vocalization Might Help Improve Welfare and Production.

Vocalization seems to be a viable source of signal for assessing broiler welfare. However, it may require an understanding of the birds' signals, both quantitatively and qualitatively. The delivery of calls with a specific set of acoustic features must be understood to assess the broiler's well-being.

Effects of Music Therapy on Neuroplasticity, Welfare, and Performance of Piglets Exposed to Music Therapy in the Intra- and Extra-Uterine Phases.

The rearing environment of pigs can cause a high level of stress due to the lack of stimuli and the impossibility of carrying out natural behaviors. Music therapy is a way to enrich the environment and promote stress relief. Few studies in swine using environmental enrichers focus on functional benefits, such as stress resilience, improved biological functions, or mental status.

Environmental Enrichment for Pig welfare during Transport.

This study aimed to assess the effects of environmental enrichment for pigs during transportation in different phases of their productive cycle. Two trials were conducted, the first during transportation of pigs from the piglet production unit (PPU) to the nursery (n = 250) and the second during the transportation of nonhuman animals from the finishing unit (FU) to the slaughterhouse (n = 120). This work was an observational study with five environmental enrichments: Control - no enrichment; object - use of enrichment objects in the truck; aroma - use of lavender aroma in the truck; music - music in the truck; and vehicle sound.

Techniques for assessment of myopathies in broiler chicken breasts using a biopsy as a support tool.

An experiment was conducted to validate non-invasive evaluation techniques as evaluation tools for the myopathies wooden breast and white striping that affect broilers, using biopsy as a support tool. It evaluated 30 Cobb 500® broiler chickens in a completely randomized design consisting of two sexes (males and females) and 15 replications per treatment. At 14, 21, 35, 42 and 49 days, the surface temperature of the birds' breasts was recorded using infrared thermography, analysis of fillet depth, and echogenicity by ultrasound imaging.

Wooden breast myopathy on broiler breast fillets affects quality and consumer preference.

Introduction: The emergence of myopathies such as wooden breast in the poultry industry generally associated with the fast development of the breast muscle of broilers has provided changes in the morphological structure of muscle tissues, as well as problems of meat qualitative attributes. The aim of this study was to evaluate physical, chemical, qualitative, and sensorial attributes of broiler fillets associated with severity levels of wooden breast (WB) myopathy in a poultry slaughterhouse.

Materials And Methods: Three hundred fillets in a poultry slaughterhouse were classified into three severity levels: normal (100 samples), moderate (100 samples), and severe (100 samples).

Characterization and valuing of hatchery waste from the broiler chicken productive chain.

Characterizing the waste generated from different agro-industrial segments enables the strategic management of residues, with the goal of maximizing recovery within the premises of a circular economy. This research aimed to determine the coefficient of waste generated in broiler chick hatcheries as well as to characterize the waste, taking into account the points of culling and the ages of the laying hens. Furthermore, the waste was used in composting with sheep manure (SM) at increasing inclusion rates (0:100, 10:90, 20:80, 30:70, 40:60, and 50:50).

How do Brazilian citizens perceive animal welfare conditions in poultry, beef, and dairy supply chains?

The aim of this study was to understand the perceptions of Brazilian citizens about the general conditions of animal welfare in the poultry, beef, and dairy supply chains. To reach this aim, an online survey was conducted. The analysis was based on descriptive statistics and three logistic regression models.

Behavior of Pigs Reared in Enriched Environment: Alternatives to Extend Pigs Attention.

Three trials were carried out in a completely randomized design aiming to assess the behavior of pigs in growth phase in enriched environments. Trial 1 evaluated the effects of frequency of availability of environmental enrichment. The animals were assigned to four treatments: 1) control with no enrichment object; 2) objects provided for six consecutive days uninterruptedly; 3) objects provided on alternate days, and 4) objects provided for six consecutive days taken away by the end of the afternoon and replaced at dawn.

Piglets' surface temperature change at different weights at birth.

The study was carried out in order to verify the effects of piglets' weight at birth on their surface temperature change (ST) after birth, and its relationship with ingestion time of colostrum. Piglets from four different sows were weighed at birth and divided into a totally randomized design with three treatments according to birth weight (PBW): T1 - less than 1.00 kg, T2 - 1.

Carcass characteristics and qualitative attributes of pork from immunocastrated animals.

An investigation was carried out to assess the carcass characteristics and meat quality aspects of immunocastrated male pigs of medium genetic potential for lean meat deposition in carcass (53 to 55%). When the crossbred Large White x Landrace pigs (n = 45) were 70 days old, they were distributed in a totally randomized design in three treatments (castrated males, females and immunocastrated males) with three replicates of five animals. The pigs were slaughtered when they were 140 days old.