Esta Tese tem como tema os agricultores familiares diferenciados que vem sendo denominados de pecuaristas familiares. Estes agricultores têm como atividade principal a bovinocultura de corte explorada em pequenas áreas. O objetivo deste trabalho é investigar a existência, as lógicas e as estratégias dos pecuaristas familiares da região da Campanha do Rio Grande do Sul. As hipóteses que norteiam este trabalho são a de que os pecuaristas familiares são realmente um tipo diferenciado dentro da agricultura familiar, que são frutos de diferentes formações oriundas da ocupação da terra, que têm contribuições importantes em relação à questão ambiental e ao processo de desenvolvimento. Através de 60 entrevistas realizadas com pecuaristas familiares em três municípios da região da Campanha (Bagé, Dom Pedrito e Quaraí) foi possível compreender melhor as suas origens e as suas estratégias. Além disso, foram realizadas quatro entrevistas com assentados da reforma agrária, estabelecidos em dois municípios da região (Hulha Negra e Candiota), que acabaram optando pela bovinocultura de corte repetindo as formas estabelecidas historicamente. O trabalho utiliza o modo de vida e os estilos de agricultura como a explicação teórica mais consistente para a realidade encontrada. Os dados obtidos demonstram que os pecuaristas familiares são sim um tipo de agricultor familiar que norteiam as suas atividades e as suas estratégias a partir do modo de vida que definem para si e suas famílias. As principais características do modo de vida dos pecuaristas familiares são cinco. A primeira é a bovinocultura de corte como a principal atividade agrícola, praticada sobre pastagens naturais e com baixo uso de insumos externos sendo os bovinos considerados como mercadoria de reserva. Isto acarreta estratégias como as altas lotações de animais por hectare, a diversificação "por dentro" da atividade (cria e recria) e vendas de animais apenas quando há necessidades financeiras. A segunda é a autonomia em relação ao mercado estabelecendo estratégias de comercialização a partir das necessidades da família e não na busca de melhores preços, além de distância dos endividamentos. terceira é o uso principal da mão-de-obra da família associada com uma troca de serviços com os vizinhos em uma relação de reciprocidade que permite enfrentar os momentos de maior demanda por mão-de-obra. A quarta é a grande quantidade e a grande importância que tem a aposentadoria rural para os pecuaristas familiares. A quinta é a presença do autoconsumo de maneira significativa representada não pelo consumo de vegetais, mas pelo consumo de carne bovina e, principalmente ovina. Apesar de ser um grupo de famílias que tem pouca renda pode-se constatar que se trata de um modo de vida que contribui econômica, social e ambientalmente com os processos de desenvolvimento rural compreendido de maneira mais ampla do que apenas o crescimento da economia. / The subject of the herein enclosed thesis is that particular variety of family farmers that is currently being referred to as "family cattle breeders". These farmers' main activity is the raising of beef cattle bred within small, restricted areas. The aim targeted by the present work was that of probing the existence, economical logic, and strategies employed by family cattle breeders in the Campanha (Southernmost Plains) area of Brazilian state, Rio Grande do Sul. The hypotheses presented as guidelines to this work are (a) that family cattle breeders are an actual variety within the family agricultural work universe; (b) that they result from different mindsets achieved during the several waves of land occupation; and (c), that they indeed bring important contributions into the environment and the developmental process. Sixty interviews were conduced with family farm owners in three different Campanha area counties (Bagé, Dom Pedrito, and Quaraí) which led to a better understanding of their origins and the strategies adopted by them. To these were added four interviews achieved with recipiendaries of land grants afforded them by the Agrarian Reformation processes and who had been settled in two other Campanha area counties (Hulha Negra and Candiota) all of whom opted out for beef cattle breeding, repeating therefore the historically stablished ways of cattle-raising in said area. This paper takes their chosen ways of life and their adopted agricultural styles as the most consistent theoretical explanation for the reality that was found. Data gleaned shows that family cattle breeders are indeed a particular kind of family farmers and that they orient their activities and strategies from the way of life they defined for themselves and their families. The main characteristics which were pinpointed among the family cattle breeding farmers are five, as described below. The first is that beef cattle raising is their main farming activity and that it is performed on natural grasslands and with low usage of external inputs, as their beef cattle is considered to be prime goods. This prods them into the adoption of some necessary strategies, like high percentiles of animals per hectare, the "inside" diversification of the activity (breeding and re-breeding), as well as the selling of animals only when in need of hard cash. The second is their being autonomous in relation to the market prices, setting up marketing strategies according to the family needs and not in search for the best pricing, as well as keeping away from borrowing and getting into debts. The third characteristic is employing mainly the family's own work in association with labor trading with their neighbors, a technique that allows them to face the moments when the demand for labor is strongest. The fourth is the great importance and the numbers of rural retirement benefits for family beef cattle breeders. The fifth is the presence of a high degree of self-consume, which is not significatively represented by vegetal produce, but by beef cattle meat and, all the oftener, by mutton. Even though this group of families reaches only into the lowest income brackets, the analysis of data gathered allowed for the conclusion that their way of life contributes economically, socially, and environmentally toward the processes of rural development when this is understood in a broader sense than the simple economical growth.

The weight´s effect on egg´s quality, performance characteristics and incubation of chicks were observed in two experiments. Three treatments were used, defined by the weight of the eggs, breeding Leghorn 38 weeks old: small (S) 53 to 57g, medium (M) 58 to 62g and large (L) 63 to 67g. We have evaluated: a) the eggs - strength and shell thickness, Haugh units (HU), albumen height and percentage of egg compounds b) in incubation - eggs weight loss , hatching and embryo diagnosis, c) in one day old chicks in the yolk sac: weight and length of the chick, absolute and relative weight of the yolk sac, d) dry material (DM), crude protein (CP) albumen´s energy , and the yolk sac. Eggs range of different weights produced by Leghorn breeders of the same age (38 weeks) did not show differences among them for shelll strength, relative weight of albumen and yolk, albumen and yolk in DM and gross energy in the yolk. There are differences in the shell thickness, UH, albumen height, absolute weight of egg components, the relative weight of shell, the yolk and albumen protein and gross energy albumen. In the incubation, the weight loss of eggs and the hatch decreases with increasing egg weight range. Unhatched eggs increase with the increase of initial mortality and pecked alive and dead. The chick weight, absolute and relative weight of the yolk sac are directly proportional to the weight of the egg. The proportion of protein in the yolk sac decreases with increasing egg weight and gross energy content is higher in the yolk sac of chicks hatched from medium eggs. / Os efeitos do peso do ovo sobre a qualidade dos ovos, rendimento de incubação e características dos pintos foram avaliados, em dois experimentos. Foram utilizados três tratamentos definidos pela faixa de peso dos ovos de reprodutoras Leghorn, da linhagem Dekalb White, com 38 semanas de idade: pequeno (P) de 53 a 57g, médio (M) de 58 a 62g e grande (G) 63 a 67g. Avaliou-se: a) nos ovos: resistência e espessura da casca, unidades Haugh (UH), altura de albúmen e porcentagem dos seus componentes; b) na incubação: perda de peso dos ovos, eclosão e embriodiagnóstico; c) nos pintos de um dia e no saco vitelino: peso e comprimento do pinto, peso absoluto e relativo do saco vitelino; d) matéria seca (MS), proteína bruta (PB) e energia bruta do albúmen, gema e saco vitelino. Ovos de faixa de pesos diferentes produzidos por reprodutoras Leghorn de mesma idade (38 semanas) não demonstram diferenças entre si para resistência da casca, peso relativo do albúmen e da gema, MS no albúmen e gema e energia bruta na gema. As diferenças residem na espessura da casca, UH, altura do albúmen, peso absoluto dos componentes dos ovos, peso relativo da casca, na PB da gema e albúmen e na energia bruta do albúmen. Na incubação, a perda de peso dos ovos e a eclosão diminuem com o aumento da faixa de peso dos ovos. Ovos não eclodidos aumentam em função do aumento da mortalidade inicial e bicados vivos e mortos. O peso do pinto, peso relativo e absoluto do saco vitelino são diretamente proporcionais ao peso do ovo. A percentagem de PB no saco vitelino diminui com o aumento do peso dos ovos e o teor de energia bruta é maior no saco vitelino de pintos nascidos de ovos médios. / Mestre em Ciências Veterinárias

Esta Tese tem como tema os agricultores familiares diferenciados que vem sendo denominados de pecuaristas familiares. Estes agricultores têm como atividade principal a bovinocultura de corte explorada em pequenas áreas. O objetivo deste trabalho é investigar a existência, as lógicas e as estratégias dos pecuaristas familiares da região da Campanha do Rio Grande do Sul. As hipóteses que norteiam este trabalho são a de que os pecuaristas familiares são realmente um tipo diferenciado dentro da agricultura familiar, que são frutos de diferentes formações oriundas da ocupação da terra, que têm contribuições importantes em relação à questão ambiental e ao processo de desenvolvimento. Através de 60 entrevistas realizadas com pecuaristas familiares em três municípios da região da Campanha (Bagé, Dom Pedrito e Quaraí) foi possível compreender melhor as suas origens e as suas estratégias. Além disso, foram realizadas quatro entrevistas com assentados da reforma agrária, estabelecidos em dois municípios da região (Hulha Negra e Candiota), que acabaram optando pela bovinocultura de corte repetindo as formas estabelecidas historicamente. O trabalho utiliza o modo de vida e os estilos de agricultura como a explicação teórica mais consistente para a realidade encontrada. Os dados obtidos demonstram que os pecuaristas familiares são sim um tipo de agricultor familiar que norteiam as suas atividades e as suas estratégias a partir do modo de vida que definem para si e suas famílias. As principais características do modo de vida dos pecuaristas familiares são cinco. A primeira é a bovinocultura de corte como a principal atividade agrícola, praticada sobre pastagens naturais e com baixo uso de insumos externos sendo os bovinos considerados como mercadoria de reserva. Isto acarreta estratégias como as altas lotações de animais por hectare, a diversificação "por dentro" da atividade (cria e recria) e vendas de animais apenas quando há necessidades financeiras. A segunda é a autonomia em relação ao mercado estabelecendo estratégias de comercialização a partir das necessidades da família e não na busca de melhores preços, além de distância dos endividamentos. terceira é o uso principal da mão-de-obra da família associada com uma troca de serviços com os vizinhos em uma relação de reciprocidade que permite enfrentar os momentos de maior demanda por mão-de-obra. A quarta é a grande quantidade e a grande importância que tem a aposentadoria rural para os pecuaristas familiares. A quinta é a presença do autoconsumo de maneira significativa representada não pelo consumo de vegetais, mas pelo consumo de carne bovina e, principalmente ovina. Apesar de ser um grupo de famílias que tem pouca renda pode-se constatar que se trata de um modo de vida que contribui econômica, social e ambientalmente com os processos de desenvolvimento rural compreendido de maneira mais ampla do que apenas o crescimento da economia. / The subject of the herein enclosed thesis is that particular variety of family farmers that is currently being referred to as "family cattle breeders". These farmers' main activity is the raising of beef cattle bred within small, restricted areas. The aim targeted by the present work was that of probing the existence, economical logic, and strategies employed by family cattle breeders in the Campanha (Southernmost Plains) area of Brazilian state, Rio Grande do Sul. The hypotheses presented as guidelines to this work are (a) that family cattle breeders are an actual variety within the family agricultural work universe; (b) that they result from different mindsets achieved during the several waves of land occupation; and (c), that they indeed bring important contributions into the environment and the developmental process. Sixty interviews were conduced with family farm owners in three different Campanha area counties (Bagé, Dom Pedrito, and Quaraí) which led to a better understanding of their origins and the strategies adopted by them. To these were added four interviews achieved with recipiendaries of land grants afforded them by the Agrarian Reformation processes and who had been settled in two other Campanha area counties (Hulha Negra and Candiota) all of whom opted out for beef cattle breeding, repeating therefore the historically stablished ways of cattle-raising in said area. This paper takes their chosen ways of life and their adopted agricultural styles as the most consistent theoretical explanation for the reality that was found. Data gleaned shows that family cattle breeders are indeed a particular kind of family farmers and that they orient their activities and strategies from the way of life they defined for themselves and their families. The main characteristics which were pinpointed among the family cattle breeding farmers are five, as described below. The first is that beef cattle raising is their main farming activity and that it is performed on natural grasslands and with low usage of external inputs, as their beef cattle is considered to be prime goods. This prods them into the adoption of some necessary strategies, like high percentiles of animals per hectare, the "inside" diversification of the activity (breeding and re-breeding), as well as the selling of animals only when in need of hard cash. The second is their being autonomous in relation to the market prices, setting up marketing strategies according to the family needs and not in search for the best pricing, as well as keeping away from borrowing and getting into debts. The third characteristic is employing mainly the family's own work in association with labor trading with their neighbors, a technique that allows them to face the moments when the demand for labor is strongest. The fourth is the great importance and the numbers of rural retirement benefits for family beef cattle breeders. The fifth is the presence of a high degree of self-consume, which is not significatively represented by vegetal produce, but by beef cattle meat and, all the oftener, by mutton. Even though this group of families reaches only into the lowest income brackets, the analysis of data gathered allowed for the conclusion that their way of life contributes economically, socially, and environmentally toward the processes of rural development when this is understood in a broader sense than the simple economical growth.

Thesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Raising cattle in South Africa and any other developing country in the Southern African region as part of livestock production, is one of the important means through which people sustain their livelihood. Inadequate efforts have been taken by the government to improve the marketing system of cattle, particularly to develop small-scale farming in the Limpopo Province and South Africa as a whole. With that being said, the small-scale sector has not been developed to the extent it is expected to. This study examined the factors affecting the participation of small-scale cattle farmers in livestock auctions in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province. The study had three objectives, namely; (i) To describe the socio-economic characteristics of the small scale cattle farmers in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province; (ii) To assess the perception of small-scale cattle farmers in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province towards livestock auction; (iii) To identify and analyse factors affecting the participation of small-scale cattle farmers in livestock auctions in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province. The Multi-stage sampling procedure was used in the selection of the representative sample. Three locations (Lepelle-Nkumpi, Molemole and Polokwane local municipalities) were selected purposively because a large number of small-scale cattle farmers in the Capricorn District rely on the agricultural sector economically. The Logistic Regression Model was used to analyse factors affecting the participation of small-scale cattle farmers in livestock auctions. The results showed that, out of the 120 sample size, 42% of small-scale cattle farmers were auction participants and 58% of small-scale cattle farmers were non-participants . There were 43 male-headed households of the participants and 61 female-headed households of the non-participants . An analysis of the farmers ’ socio-economic characteristics further showed that in order for the farmers to cut the costs of production, the majority of the small-scale cattle farmers preferred using family labourers or household labourers in their cattle farming. Farmers were asked a set of Likert type scale questions about their perceptions on the auctions. The Perception Index score ii was skewed to the left and therefore revealed that the small-scale cattle farmers had a negative perception towards the auction. Farmers who had a positive perception, on the other hand, often sold their cattle at a higher price compared to the non-participants who had a negative perception. Furthermore, small-scale cattle farmers who are participants tend to use the market avenue and through that, their cattle productivity is higher, resulting in a total revenue compared to the non-participants. Consequently, small-scale farmers who participate in auctions acquire valuable production information at the very auctions. Descriptive statistics such as means, minimum and maximum values, frequencies, percentages and standard deviations were used to describe the socioeconomic characteristics of the small-scale cattle farmers in the Capricorn District of the Limpopo Province. The results revealed that only 4 variables were significant. The total herd size, distance to the market, gender of the household head and market information were significant at 1%, 5%, 1%, 5%, respectively and all had a positive effect towards auction participation. The study suggested that the government and other policy makers should increase the marketing information and abilities of small-scale cattle farmers through avenues like mass media, extension service and other means of capacity building. This will help the farmers to minimise transaction costs. Furthermore, farmers will not incur more costs when they participate in the markets, considering that market facilities such as auctions are often hosted far from the farmers, which results in farmers incurring more costs.

Thesis (M.Sc. Agriculture (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / The purpose of this study was to analyse socioeconomic factors influencing formal and informal market participation by beef cattle farmers. Cattle production plays an important role in the provision of food worldwide. It important for farmers to participate in the market to improve their income and livelihood. Globally, it was discovered that livestock production contribute value to the economic development of various countries. Ethiopia is one of the countries that generate more income from the livestock production. In the study area farmers participate in the lower level of market participation. They sell at informal market than formal market because of insufficient market channel. The farmers seldom sell since their sale depends on the availability of the market. Hence it was important to analyse socioeconomic factors influencing informal and formal market participation by small-scale beef cattle farmers at Makhado Local Municipality. The aim of the study was to analyse socioeconomic factors influencing informal and formal market participation of small-scale beef cattle farmers in Makhado Local Municipality. The objectives of the study were to identify, describe the socioeconomic characteristic of beef cattle, determine the level of market participation of the beef cattle and analyse the influence of socioeconomic factors in the participation of the beef cattle farmers in both the formal and informal market in Makhado local municipality. Structured questionnaires were used to interview 82 cattle farmers who participate in both informal and formal markets. Descriptive statistics were used to analyse socioeconomic characteristics of the cattle farmers. The logistic regression model was used to analyse factors that influence the participation of small-scale cattle farmers in both formal and informal markets. Lastly, market participation index tool was used to analyse the percentage of each farmer’s participation in different markets. The descriptive statistic results were showing men dominating participation in the market than women. The findings illustrate that farmers participating in the market were mostly pensioners who depend on social grant. Most of them are married and v have low level of education. The study also revealed that most beef cattle farmers are engaged in cattle farming for the purpose of sale instead of consumption. The logistic regression model results shows the coefficients for the independent variables such as gender, family size and farming experience to be significant at 1%. Age, marital status, monthly income, and distance to the market were found to be significant at 5%. Membership association were found to be significant at 10%. Educational level, extension services as well as the market information were found to be insignificant. The market participation index tool results revealed that the participation of beef cattle farmers in level 1 was 74.39%, level 2 18.29%, level 3 3.66% and lastly, in level 4, it was 3.66%. Additionally, the study revealed that only 1 farmer had a minimum score of participation of 3 and another farmer scored the highest participation of 23 out of all 82 farmers who participated in different market channels namely, homestead, village market, auctions, town market and fresh produce market. The study indicated various constraints faced by cattle farmers in both formal and informal markets. However, for a farmer to be a full participant all farmers should be able to participate in all the above-mentioned market channels. Additionally, for a farmer to increase his/her level of market participation, there is a need for each farmer to sell many cattle per year in different marketing channels mentioned above. It is also vital to increase the cattle productivity and to decrease identified constraints that negatively influence market participation of beef cattle farmers. Furthermore, constraints influencing market participation of beef cattle farmers need to be addressed to increase the sale of cattle by farmers. This requires assistance by both government and non-governmental stakeholders. Government stakeholders include extension officers, agricultural experts and veterinaries, while nongovernmental stakeholders include meat quality experts, agricultural cattle commercial farmers, and cattle farm managers. / Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries

Le droit de la propriété intellectuelle présente, depuis quelques années, un intérêt particulier à l'évolution de la recherche sur les plantes. Ceci s'est traduit, au plan international, par l'adoption de plusieurs instruments visant à assurer une meilleure protection des investissements consentis dans ce domaine. Il s'agit notamment de la Convention de l'UPOV, qui s'inscrit dans une logique de protection par la voie sui generis avec la possibilité de délivrance de certificat d'obtention végétale aux sélectionneurs; de l'Accord ADPIC, qui, en plus de recommander un système sui generis efficace, ouvre l'option de protection par brevet ou en définitive par le cumul des deux systèmes; de la Convention sur la Diversité Biologique (CDB) et du Traité de la FAO portant sur les ressources phytogénétiques pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture, qui, favorables aux deux précédentes formes de protection, demandent que soient prises en compte des considérations relatives aux droits souverains des pays sur leurs ressources végétales, au partage des bénéfices, etc. Au plan régional, on distingue, entre autres, l'initiative de l'Afrique, visant à assurer la protection des plantes suivant une logique partagée entre l'alignement sur les normes internationales existantes (Accord de Bangui) ou l'institution d'une autre législation originale qui reflète les réalités et préoccupations du continent (Loi modèle). Il apparaît donc qu'il existe plusieurs instruments pour cerner la même réalité. Ceci est forcément la source de quelques difficultés qui sont d'ordre conceptuel, socioéconomique, environnemental et juridique. Pour les pallier, il est important que certaines conditions soient satisfaites afin d'harmoniser les points de vue entre les différents acteurs concernés par la question et d'assurer une appropriation conséquente des instruments adoptés. / The intellectual property rights have showed increasing attention to the evolution of plant research in recent years. This has been reflected, at the international level through the adoption of several measures to ensure a fairly comprehensive protection of rights arising. These measures include the Convention of the Union for the protection of Plant breeder' Rights, which is part of a logic of protection through sui generis with the possibility of issue plant breeders' rights to breeders; the Agreement on Intellectual Property Rights Related to Trade, which, in addition to recommending an effective sui generis system gives the option of protection by patent or by the combination of the two systems of law to protect plant varieties; the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, which supported both previous forms of protection, ask to be taken into account considerations on sovereign rights of nations over their plant resources, benefit sharing, and so on. At the regional level, there are the initiative of the Africa which aimed to ensure the protection of plants following a certain vision shared between alignment on existing international standards or the institution of another original legislation which reflects the realities and concerns of the continent. It then appears that there are several tools to handle the same reality, which can be a source of difficulty. These are difficulties are conceptual, socio-economic, environmental and legal. T0 overcome these difficulties, it is important that certain conditions are met to harmonise points of view between different actors involved in the issue and ensure a consistent ownership of the instruments adopted.

Le droit de la propriété intellectuelle présente, depuis quelques années, un intérêt particulier à l'évolution de la recherche sur les plantes. Ceci s'est traduit, au plan international, par l'adoption de plusieurs instruments visant à assurer une meilleure protection des investissements consentis dans ce domaine. Il s'agit notamment de la Convention de l'UPOV, qui s'inscrit dans une logique de protection par la voie sui generis avec la possibilité de délivrance de certificat d'obtention végétale aux sélectionneurs; de l'Accord ADPIC, qui, en plus de recommander un système sui generis efficace, ouvre l'option de protection par brevet ou en définitive par le cumul des deux systèmes; de la Convention sur la Diversité Biologique (CDB) et du Traité de la FAO portant sur les ressources phytogénétiques pour l'alimentation et l'agriculture, qui, favorables aux deux précédentes formes de protection, demandent que soient prises en compte des considérations relatives aux droits souverains des pays sur leurs ressources végétales, au partage des bénéfices, etc. Au plan régional, on distingue, entre autres, l'initiative de l'Afrique, visant à assurer la protection des plantes suivant une logique partagée entre l'alignement sur les normes internationales existantes (Accord de Bangui) ou l'institution d'une autre législation originale qui reflète les réalités et préoccupations du continent (Loi modèle). Il apparaît donc qu'il existe plusieurs instruments pour cerner la même réalité. Ceci est forcément la source de quelques difficultés qui sont d'ordre conceptuel, socioéconomique, environnemental et juridique. Pour les pallier, il est important que certaines conditions soient satisfaites afin d'harmoniser les points de vue entre les différents acteurs concernés par la question et d'assurer une appropriation conséquente des instruments adoptés. / The intellectual property rights have showed increasing attention to the evolution of plant research in recent years. This has been reflected, at the international level through the adoption of several measures to ensure a fairly comprehensive protection of rights arising. These measures include the Convention of the Union for the protection of Plant breeder' Rights, which is part of a logic of protection through sui generis with the possibility of issue plant breeders' rights to breeders; the Agreement on Intellectual Property Rights Related to Trade, which, in addition to recommending an effective sui generis system gives the option of protection by patent or by the combination of the two systems of law to protect plant varieties; the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and the Treaty on Plant Genetic Resources for Food and Agriculture, which supported both previous forms of protection, ask to be taken into account considerations on sovereign rights of nations over their plant resources, benefit sharing, and so on. At the regional level, there are the initiative of the Africa which aimed to ensure the protection of plants following a certain vision shared between alignment on existing international standards or the institution of another original legislation which reflects the realities and concerns of the continent. It then appears that there are several tools to handle the same reality, which can be a source of difficulty. These are difficulties are conceptual, socio-economic, environmental and legal. T0 overcome these difficulties, it is important that certain conditions are met to harmonise points of view between different actors involved in the issue and ensure a consistent ownership of the instruments adopted.

A carne de frango tornou-se nos últimos anos uma das principais fontes de proteína animal consumida no Brasil e um dos produtos líderes da pauta de exportação do agronegócio nacional. Esta posição de destaque foi conseguida pela contínua evolução das áreas de sanidade, nutrição, manejo, ambiência e genética. Na cadeia avícola, a criação de reprodutores de linhagem pesada de frango de corte tem papel de destaque, haja visto que desempenham o papel de transmissão do código genético ao frango, garantindo a expressão fenotípica de suas qualidades selecionadas. Todavia, a produção de animais de alto rendimento e produtividade prescinde do conhecimento da sua fisiologia, das possíveis alterações metabólicas a que estão sujeitos e das melhores condições de criação, traduzindo na garantia do seu bem-estar. A patologia clínica representa importante ferramenta de auxílio de diagnóstico, muito explorada na medicina humana e na clínica veterinária de animais de companhia. Nas criações industriais dos animais de produção, em destaque nas reprodutoras de frango de corte, não houve a mesma demanda para a sua aplicação, embora, nos últimos anos, tenha aumentado a utilização deste recurso na criação de frango de corte e poedeiras comerciais. Com o objetivo de conhecer as variações fisiológicas de acordo com a idade e o sexo no perfil bioquímico sanguíneo de aves da linhagem pesada de frango de corte, foi realizada a coleta de sangue para a análise de alguns parâmetros bioquímicos. As avaliações foram realizadas nas idades de 4, 12, 20, 28, 36, 44, 52 e 60 semanas, utilizando uma unidade de produção industrial de matrizes de frango de corte, no município de Uberlândia, MG. Entre os constituintes bioquímicos sanguíneos pesquisados, houve diferenças significativas (p<0,05) na proteína total, albumina, globulinas, relação A/G, ácido úrico, triglicérides, colesterol, glicose, fósforo, relação Ca/P, AST e FAL, demonstrando influência do sexo e/ou idade, quando analisados nas fases de recria e produção. Ca e GGT também apresentaram diferenças significativas (p<0,05) na fase de recria e a ALT na fase de produção, sendo também influenciados pelo sexo e/ou idade. Nesse sentido, faz-se necessário realizar novos estudos nesta mesma linha de pesquisa, empregando também outras ferramentas de diagnóstico, como a clínica e a patologia, procurando melhor compreender a fisiologia e os possíveis desafios infecciosos e alterações metabólicas em aves da linhagem pesada de frango de corte. / Chicken meat has become in recent years one of the main sources of animal protein consumed in Brazil and one of the leading products of the national agribusiness export agenda. This outstanding position was achieved by the continuous evolution of the areas of health, nutrition, management, environment and genetics. In the poultry chain, the breeding of heavy chicken´s lineage have a prominent role, since they play the role of transmission of the genetic code to the chicken, guaranteeing the phenotypic expression of its selected qualities. However, the production of high-yielding and productive animals lacks the knowledge of their physiology, the possible metabolic alterations to which they are subject and the best conditions of creation, thus guaranteeing their well-being. Clinical pathology represents an important diagnostic aid tool, much explored in human medicine and veterinary practice in companion animals. However, in recent years, there has been an increase in the use of this resource in the production of broiler chickens and commercial laying hens. In order to know the physiological variations according to age and sex in the blood biochemical profile of the broiler breeders, blood was collected for the analysis of some biochemical constituents. The evaluations were defined at the ages of 4, 12, 20, 28, 36, 44, 52 and 60 weeks, using an industrial production unit of broiler breeders, in the city of Uberlândia, MG. Among the biochemical constituents studied, there were significant differences (p<0.05) in total protein, albumin, globulins, A / G ratio, uric acid, triglycerides, cholesterol, glucose, phosphorus, Ca / P, AST and ALP, demonstrating the influence of gender and / or age, when analyzed in the rearing and production phases. Ca and GGT also showed significant differences (p <0.05) in the rearing phase and ALT in the production phase, and were also influenced by sex and / or age. In this sense, it is necessary to undertake new studies in this same line of research, also using other diagnostic tools, such as clinical and pathology, seeking to better understand the physiology and possible infectious challenges and metabolic changes in poultry heavy strain broiler. / Tese (Doutorado)

No description available.

Avian pathogenic Escherichia coli (APEC) is a bacterium that is responsible for colibacillosis in birds. However, information about broiler breeder APEC isolates is limited, but the data is critical due to the transfer of this bacteria down the production pyramid to progenies resulting in high mortality. Therefore, we evaluated the phenotypic virulence characteristics of 28 isolates using embryo lethality and day-old chick challenge assays. Also, the in vitro adhesion and invasion potential of selected nine isolates were identified. Results showed more than 1/3rd of the isolates were highly virulent and the virulence increased as the number of virulence-associated genes increased. High adhesion and invasion rates were observed among the isolates. Overall, the study helped us to evaluate the virulence characteristics of APEC from broiler breeders. However, future studies based on whole genome approach would help to identify the specific targets which can be used to develop effective interventions.