Selection for large body size can result in the development of obesity, which in mink females is associated with poor reproduction and metabolic diseases. Caloric restriction is effective in diminishing oxidative stress and delaying aging-related diseases. This study investigated the effects of moderate diet restriction (MDR) during the fall on body condition, health, and reproductive success of mink (Neovison vison) breeder females. The 100 control (CTRL) females were fed according to normal farm feeding practice and the 100 sister-pair MDR females were fed about 20% less. In the fall, more ideal body weights and body condition scores (BCS) were seen in the MDR females, and they produced larger litter sizes. In addition, the MDR females exhibited less deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) damage than the CTRL females. Telomeres were elongated in both groups. This dietary management practice is anticipated to result in significant advancement in the fur industry, both economically and welfare-wise.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-12-17T15:36:52Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 RodrigoTPM.pdf: 546581 bytes, checksum: cb4f6e4119e4c8484b61656898e881ae (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008-01-23 / Coordena??o de Aperfei?oamento de Pessoal de N?vel Superior / Alimentation is essential in life. Concerning omnivores, characterized by the necessity of a varied diet to satisfy their metabolic needs, it is extremely advantageous the assumption of new foods. However, the assumption of new unknown foods is, potentially dangerous, because of possible intoxications. In this sense, one of the most important behaviors related to reducing risks is the so called food neophobia, characterized by the rejection of new foods and/or an ingestion of very little amounts. The aim of the present study was to investigate if age, sex and socio-economical status were able to influence food neophobia. The neophobia has been described in a range of 3-6 years old children taken both from public and private schools within the city of Natal-RN. Four different type of ice-creams, each one characterized by a different flavor, have been utilized. Two flavors were known to the young and the remaining two flavor were new. We didn't find significant differences between the investigated variables. However, the exploitation of data from the survey conducted showed that the ease or not to accept new foods obtained, was correlated with the variables under the same guidelines observed in literature. Aspects related to the stimulus used probably eased the neophobic answer. Then, it is suggested that the food neophobia can be influenced by sex, age and socioeconomic factors of individuaIs. Neophobia tends to be more common in girls, with ages between three to four years old and with a low leveI socioeconomic. In this sense, given the importance of kid neophobic reaction to the development of dietary patterns of other life's stages, it is necessary to make further studies to better explain this phenomenon. Given the pivotal role of food neophobia to the development of alimentary habits within all ages of life, other studies will be necessary for a better comprehension of such phenomena. Key-words: food neophobia; Evolutionary Psychology;children food intake; diet restriction; children's diet development / A alimenta??o ? essencial para a vida. Para os on?voros, que necessitam de uma dieta variada para conseguir suprir suas necessidades nutricionais, ? extremamente vantajoso incluir novos itens ? dieta. Contudo, ingerir alimentos desconhecidos pode ser perigoso, em raz?o da possibilidade de intoxica??o. Neste sentido, um dos comportamentos que auxiliam na redu??o dos riscos decorrentes da ingest?o de itens alimentares desconhecidos ? a neofobia alimentar, caracterizada pelo ato de recusar ou ingerir pequenas quantidades de um alimento novo. Este trabalho teve por objetivo investigar a influ?ncia da idade, do sexo e das caracter?sticas socioecon?micas dos indiv?duos na neofobia alimentar. Para isto, buscamos caracterizar o fen?meno neof?bico em crian?as de tr?s a seis anos de idade, oriundas de escolas p?blicas e particulares de Natal-RN. O alimento escolhido para o experimento foi sorvete, em quatro sabores distintos, sendo dois sabores conhecidos pelas crian?as e dois novos. Os resultados demonstraram n?o haver diferen?as em fun??o das vari?veis de sexo, idade e fatores socioecon?micos, quando avaliamos a escolha dos sabores do sorvete. Entretanto, a explora??o dos dados do question?rio realizado com os pais demonstrou que a facilidade ou n?o em aceitar novos alimentos obtida, se correlacionava com as vari?veis nas mesmas orienta??es observadas na literatura. Aspectos ligados ao alimento-est?mulo utilizado provavelmente atenuaram a resposta neof?bica. Com base neste ?ltimo dado, sugere-se que a neofobia alimentar pode ser prevista em fun??o de caracter?sticas de sexo, idade e fatores socioecon?micos dos indiv?duos, tendendo o fen?meno neof?bico a ser mais freq?ente em meninas, de tr?s a quatro anos e com um n?vel socioecon?mico mais baixo. Neste sentido, dada a import?ncia da rea??o neof?bica infantil para o desenvolvimento do padr?o alimentar das demais fases da vida, faz-se necess?ria a realiza??o de novos estudos para que possam a esclarecer melhor este fen?meno. Palavras-chave: neofobia alimentar, Psicologia Evolucionista; alimenta??o infantil; restri??o da dieta; forma??o da dieta infantil