The experiments described in this thesis investigated nutritional and physiological aspects of antler growth in red deer stags. The initial experiment (Section 3) examined the effects of winter nutrition on subsequent antler casting date and velvet antler weight. Mature stags on two different farm types (hill country, Farm H and irrigated lowland, Farm L) were offered three levels of winter nutrition, two levels of a concentrate supplement (ad libitum pellets and 1/2 ad libitum pellets) and a basal hay ration. On both properties liveweight gains occurred in supplemented groups and liveweight losses in unsupplemented groups. At antler casting there were significant differences in liveweight of approximately 10 kg between fully supplemented and unsupplemented groups. Realimentation of winter liveweight losses subsequently occurred so that by the following rut the effects of winter undernutrition had been eliminated. On Farm H poor winter nutrition (hay only) resulted in a significant delay in casting date (13 days) and lower velvet antler yields (0.24 kg), than in stags offered the ad libitum concentrate ration. Stags on Farm H were 13 kg lighter at commencement of the trial than at Farm L and the differences in treatment effects obtained between farms may have been due to differences in body condition at commencement of the trial. An association was demonstrated between liveweight and date of antler casting, with heavier stags casting earlier than lighter stags. There was no effect of age of stag on casting date. Of the liveweights recorded, liveweight prior to the rut showed the best relationship with casting date, possibly because the seasonal nature of liveweight change meant that a weight recorded at this time gave the best indicator of the true frame size of a stag. Both age and liveweight significantly affected velvet antler weight, with increases of velvet antler weight of 0.26 kg between 3 and 4-year-old stags and of 0.30 kg between 4 and 5-year-old stags at the same liveweight. Within an age group velvet weight increased by 0.12 kg for each 10 kg increase in pre-rut liveweight. The experiments described in Section 4 comprised studies on antler growth and composition. In order to obtain data on antler growth and composition individual antlers were removed sequentially from mature red deer stags between 28 and 112 days after casting of hard antlers. Contralateral antlers were removed after stripping of velvet. Wide variation occurred in antler casting date (53 days) compared to date of velvet stripping (24 days). The duration of the period of antler growth may therefore be governed more by date of casting than by date of velvet stripping. Mean duration of the antler growth period was 164 days. Growth in length of the antler appeared to follow a sigmoid curve. However, between 28 and 112 days after casting, rates of elongation were close to linear. Mean length of hard stripped antlers was 0.71 m and between 28 to 112 days after casting mean rate of antler elongation was 0.62 cm/day. Over this period indivdual antlers increased in fresh weight at a rate of 13.7 g/d, with heaviest weight recorded 112 days after antler casting, at approximately 130% of final hard antler weight. Between 28 and 91 days of growth, volume of blood in the antler increased linearly at a rate of 194 ml/kg. Three phases of mineralization were demonstrated in developing antlers. Tips of growing antlers were cartilaginous and poorly mineralized. A zone of mineralization occurred 5.0 to 7.5 cm behind the antler tip which corresponded histologically to the transition from mineralized cartilage to trabecular bone. The second phase of mineralization occurred through continued accretion of trabecular bone in the antler shaft. The third phase, described as "terminal mineralization" in this study, appeared to be associated with a rapid increase in density of cortical bone in the periphery of the antler shaft. Terminal mineralization (between 91 and 112 days after casting of hard antlers) coincided with the slowing of growth in length, a decrease in relative blood volume in the antler and an increase in levels of plasma testosterone. These events occurred close to the summer solstice. At velvet stripping individual antlers had a mean weight of 1.12 kg and contained 81.1% dry matter (DM). Fat free organic matter (FFOM) and ash concentration in DM were 36.6 and 60.0%, respectively. Peak daily rates of FFOM and ash deposition occurred between 91 days and 112 days after casting, at rates of 1.4% of hard antler FFOM and 1.6% of hard antler ash. For a stag producing 2.24 kg of hard antler mean rates of FFOM and ash deposition over this period were 9.3 and 18.3 g/d, respectively. On a whole antler basis calcium concentration in antler ash remained constant, at around 35%. Therefore peak rate of antler calcium deposition would be 6.4 g/d. In the final experiment (Section 5) mature stags were offered a maintenance ration of greenfeed oats during the period of peak calcium requirement for antler growth and the kinetics of calcium metabolism were examined using a radio-isotope (⁴⁵Ca). Rates of faecal endogenous loss were low and at approximately 6.4 mg/kg BW per were half the estimated requirements of ARC (1980) for sheep and cattle. Availability of calcium from greenfeed oats was low (mean, 37%) and less than 30% of total calcium requirements were derived from the diet. Poorly mineralized skeletal bones indicated that the shortfall in antler calcium was derived from the skeleton. In spite of a severely negative calcium balance stags were capable of maintaining high and apparently normal rates of antler calcium deposition (mean, 44 mg/kg BW per day). Antlers appear to be acting as a sink with calcium being irreversibly deposited in the antler and lost to the animal's body. On the assumption therefore that antler calcium behaves like calcium lost during lactation a kinetic model of calcium metabolism in the stag was developed.

Os objetivos desta pesquisa foram estudar as perdas de colheita, a composição morfológica, as dinâmicas de acúmulo e perfilhamento e, a densidade populacional de perfilhos sobre a variedade de cana-de-açúcar IAC86-2480 submetida a três métodos de colheita. No corte manual (MAN), as plantas foram colhidas por meio do corte com podão na base da planta. Para o corte mecanizado (MEC), a colhedora de forragem, regulada para altura de corte de 20 cm, foi tracionada por trator provido de sistema redutor, seguida por vagão forrageiro. Para o corte mecanizado seguido de rebaixamento manual (MEC+MAN), seguiu-se o mesmo procedimento do corte MEC, entretanto, após o corte, os tocos remanescentes foram recepados rente ao solo com uso de podão. A área experimental (0,34 ha) foi constituída por seis blocos, com 3 parcelas cada. As parcelas eram formadas por 8 linhas de plantio com 15 m de comprimento em espaçamento entrelinhas de 1,3 m. A produtividade colhida e a massa de forragem disponível no início do experimento (em t MV e MS/ha) foram similares entre os tratamentos (P>0,05). As perdas totais foram superiores (P<0,05) para o tratamento MEC+MAN, atingindo 18,5% da MV em relação à produtividade colhida. Entretanto, as perdas se tornaram similares (P>0,05) quando relativas à produtividade colhida em MS, variando de 17,7 a 25,7% para os tratamentos MAN e MEC+MAN, respectivamente. As perdas quantitativas e relativas das frações palha e cana ponta foram semelhantes entre os tratamentos (P>0,05), sendo a fração colmo responsável pela diferenças entre os tratamentos, gerando valores de perdas relativas à produtividade colhida em MV de 1,5% para MAN, 7,6% para o corte MEC, e de 12,7% para MEC+MAN. O número de toletes danificados foi superior (P>0,05) para o corte MEC+MAN, de um a cada 0,7 m. O número de plantas inteiras deixadas a campo foi superior (P>0,05) para o corte MEC, de uma a cada 1,5 m. As perdas totais geradas pelo corte MEC+MAN aumentaram em 8 unidades percentuais as perdas em MS, quando comparadas aos outros métodos. Sendo assim, o comportamento da colheita mecanizada (com ou sem rebaixamento) foi considerado satisfatório. Não houve diferença (P>0,05) entre a biomassa acumulada em MV e MS entre os tratamentos. O número final de perfilhos por metro foi de 16 para o tratamento MAN, 14 para MEC e 15 para MEC+MAN, e não diferiu (P>0,05) entre os tratamentos. Os perfilhos basais e de primeira ordem foram os principais componentes da população final de perfilhos. O perfilhamento aéreo apresentou valor máximo de 5 perfilhos/m para o corte MEC e perdurou por até 90 dias após colheita. Não houve diferença (P>0,05) entre os tratamentos para as variáveis de peso de planta inteira e colmo, altura, diâmetro, número de nós, número e peso de folhas verdes, senescentes e mortas, índice de maturação e grau brix. Os métodos de colheita não alteraram a composição morfológica, o padrão de crescimento e de perfilhamento das variáveis durante o primeiro ciclo de avaliação. / This research aimed to study harvesting losses, morphologic composition, dynamics of tillering and accumulation and, tiller density of sugarcane IAC86-2480 variety under three harvesting methods. In manual harvesting (MAN), plants were harvested to ground level, using a cutter. For mechanical harvesting (MEC), the harvester (adjusted for 20 cm from the ground) was pulled by a tractor and had a wagon attached to it to accommodate the harvested material. For mechanical harvesting followed by manual (MEC + MAN), the same procedures for mechanical harvesting were followed, however, after cutting, the remaining stalks were cut to ground level with a cutter. Experimental units (plots) (0.34ha) were composed in complete randomized block design, with six replications. Each plot corresponded to eight 15 m-long rows spaced 1.3 from each other. The losses were expressed in moisture and dry matter. Productivity and available forage (in t FM and DM/ha) were similar among the treatments (P>0.05). Total losses were higher (P<0.05) for MEC+MAN treatment, showing 18.5% of FM in relation to productivity. Nevertheless, losses became similar (P>0.05) when compared to productivity of DM harvesting, ranging from 17.7 to 25.7% for MAN and MEC+MAN treatments, respectively. Quantitative losses and losses related to straw and stalk fractions were similar among the treatments (P>0.05), stalk fractions accounted for the differences, generating values of relative losses in FM of 1.5% for MAN, 7.6% for MEC, and of 12.7% for MEC+MAN. The number of damage stalks was higher (P>0.05) for MEC+MAN treatment (one each 0.7 m). The number of whole plants left on the field was higher for MEC treatment (one each 1.5 m). Thus, the transit of the harvester over the crop, in the first cycle, determined the losses and damages increase to the harvest, although it was considered satisfactory. During regrowth and plant growth in the subsequent cycle, characteristics were evaluated monthly, as follows: No difference P>0.05) was found between accumulated biomass in FM and DM among the treatments. MAN harvesting showed DM accumulation rates higher than the others P<0.05). The final number of tillers by meter was 16 for MAN treatment, 14 for MEC and 15 for MEC+MAN, no difference (P>0.05) reported among treatments. Basal and linear tillers were the main components of the final population of tillers, being that the aerial tillering remained alive until 90 days after harvesting, and presented 5 tillers/meter maximum for the MEC harvesting. No difference (P>0.05) was registered among the treatments in relation to whole plant and stalk weights, height, diameter, knots number, number and weight of green, senescent and dead leaves, maturation rate and brix. Harvesting methods presented no changes in morphologic composition, tillering and growth standards of the variables analyzed during the first cycle of evaluation.

O propósito do Sistema Nacional do Crédito Rural (SNCR) elaborado pelo Governo Federal nos anos de 1960 foi ofertar, por meio de programas de financiamento, taxas de juros e prazos para pagamentos subsidiados, a fim de modernizar e fortalecer a agricultura e a pecuária brasileira. Entretanto, para acessar esses empréstimos exigem garantias e nem sempre os recursos disponibilizados promovem as melhorias esperadas no setor agropecuário. Os objetivos deste estudo foram: analisar as linhas de financiamento de custeio e de investimento disponibilizadas para a atividade de bovinocultura de corte; e comparar a viabilidade econômico-financeira de projetos de sistema de criação de bovinos, por meio da utilização de crédito rural e de capital próprio. Foi realizada revisão do SNCR para se entender o funcionamento e aplicabilidade do financiamento na agropecuária. Modelo matemático para cálculo dos custos de produção e de demonstrativo de fluxo de caixa foi utilizado para estimar indicadores econômicos e financeiros. Os conceitos da Teoria Econômica foram considerados para calcular o Custo Operacional Efetivo, Custo Operacional Total e o Custo Total. O Valor Presente Líquido (VPL), Taxa Interna de Retorno (TIR), Payback Simples e Descontado foram os indicadores financeiros utilizados. Uma fazenda representativa da produção de bovinos de corte em sistema de cria foi proposta para a região de Presidente Prudente no Estado de São Paulo. Simulações foram realizadas para cenários em dois níveis tecnológicos, e sem ou com a utilização de crédito rural. Os resultados econômicos mais favoráveis foram encontrados ao adotar nível maior de tecnologia, isso ocorreu devido ao aumento da produtividade por área que diluiu os custos fixos pela quantidade de produto produzido - bezerros(as). O Custo Operacional Total do bezerro no cenário com nível inferior de tecnologia foi de R$ 4,84/kg, enquanto que para o cenário com nível mais elevado foi de R$ 4,10/kg. Em relação aos resultados financeiros, todos os cenários propostos foram favoráveis, com o VPL positivo, a TIR média de 9% ao ano e o retorno do projeto ocorreu dentro do prazo estabelecido para o projeto (30 anos). Os maiores VPL e TIR ocorreram para o cenário no qual utilizava-se maior tecnologia e capital financiado (cenário 4). O menor Payback Simples (11 anos) e Payback Descontado (17 anos) ocorreram com utilização de capital próprio e baixa tecnologia (cenário 1). Concluiu-se que, adotar maior nível de tecnologia melhorou os resultados econômicos, e a utilização de maior tecnologia juntamente com o crédito rural resultou na melhor viabilidade econômico-financeira para o produtor. Por fim, os resultados de sistemas com tecnologia mais avançada demonstraram que, o uso do crédito rural pode ser uma estratégia para alavancar a produção de bezerros de corte. / The goal of the National Rural Credit System (SNCR) prepared by the Federal Government in the 1960s was to offer, through financing programs, interest rates and terms for subsidized payments, in order to improve and consolidate of Brazilian agriculture and livestock. However, to access these loans guarantees are required, and the available resources do not always foment the expected improvements in the agricultural and livestock sector. The aims of this study were: to analyse the defrayal and investment credit lines made available for the beef cattle; and to compare the economic-financial feasibility of beef calves projects, through the use of rural credit and own resources. A review of SNCR has been carried out to understand the operation and application of livestock financing. Mathematical model for calculation of production costs and cash flow statement was used to estimate economic and financial indicators. The concepts of Economic Theory were considered to calculate the Effective Operational Cost, Total Operational Cost and Total Cost. The Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Simple and Discounted Payback were the financial indicators used. The representative farm of beef calves production was proposed for the region of Presidente Prudente in São Paulo State. Simulations were performed for scenarios at two technological levels, and without or with the rural credit use. The most favourable economic results were found when adopting a higher level of technology, this ocurred due to the increase in productivity per area which diluted the fixed costs by the quantity of product produced - calves. The Total Operational Cost of the calf in the scenario with lower level of technology was R$ 4.84/kg, while for the scenario with the highest level it was R$ 4.10/kg. Regarding the financial results, all the scenarios proposed were favourable, with the NPV positive, the average IRR of 9% per year and the project return occurred within the deadline established for the project (30 years). The highest NPV and IRR occurred for the scenario in which more technology and credit rural were used (scenario 4). The lowest Simple Payback (11 years) and Discounted Payback (17 years) occurred with the use of own resources and low technology (scenario 1). It was concluded that, the adoption of more technology improved the economic results and the utilization of more technology with rural credit resulted in the best economic-financial feasibility for the farmer. Finally, the results of systems with more technology demonstrated that the use of the rural credit can be a strategy to leverage the production of beef calves.

O propósito do Sistema Nacional do Crédito Rural (SNCR) elaborado pelo Governo Federal nos anos de 1960 foi ofertar, por meio de programas de financiamento, taxas de juros e prazos para pagamentos subsidiados, a fim de modernizar e fortalecer a agricultura e a pecuária brasileira. Entretanto, para acessar esses empréstimos exigem garantias e nem sempre os recursos disponibilizados promovem as melhorias esperadas no setor agropecuário. Os objetivos deste estudo foram: analisar as linhas de financiamento de custeio e de investimento disponibilizadas para a atividade de bovinocultura de corte; e comparar a viabilidade econômico-financeira de projetos de sistema de criação de bovinos, por meio da utilização de crédito rural e de capital próprio. Foi realizada revisão do SNCR para se entender o funcionamento e aplicabilidade do financiamento na agropecuária. Modelo matemático para cálculo dos custos de produção e de demonstrativo de fluxo de caixa foi utilizado para estimar indicadores econômicos e financeiros. Os conceitos da Teoria Econômica foram considerados para calcular o Custo Operacional Efetivo, Custo Operacional Total e o Custo Total. O Valor Presente Líquido (VPL), Taxa Interna de Retorno (TIR), Payback Simples e Descontado foram os indicadores financeiros utilizados. Uma fazenda representativa da produção de bovinos de corte em sistema de cria foi proposta para a região de Presidente Prudente no Estado de São Paulo. Simulações foram realizadas para cenários em dois níveis tecnológicos, e sem ou com a utilização de crédito rural. Os resultados econômicos mais favoráveis foram encontrados ao adotar nível maior de tecnologia, isso ocorreu devido ao aumento da produtividade por área que diluiu os custos fixos pela quantidade de produto produzido - bezerros(as). O Custo Operacional Total do bezerro no cenário com nível inferior de tecnologia foi de R$ 4,84/kg, enquanto que para o cenário com nível mais elevado foi de R$ 4,10/kg. Em relação aos resultados financeiros, todos os cenários propostos foram favoráveis, com o VPL positivo, a TIR média de 9% ao ano e o retorno do projeto ocorreu dentro do prazo estabelecido para o projeto (30 anos). Os maiores VPL e TIR ocorreram para o cenário no qual utilizava-se maior tecnologia e capital financiado (cenário 4). O menor Payback Simples (11 anos) e Payback Descontado (17 anos) ocorreram com utilização de capital próprio e baixa tecnologia (cenário 1). Concluiu-se que, adotar maior nível de tecnologia melhorou os resultados econômicos, e a utilização de maior tecnologia juntamente com o crédito rural resultou na melhor viabilidade econômico-financeira para o produtor. Por fim, os resultados de sistemas com tecnologia mais avançada demonstraram que, o uso do crédito rural pode ser uma estratégia para alavancar a produção de bezerros de corte. / The goal of the National Rural Credit System (SNCR) prepared by the Federal Government in the 1960s was to offer, through financing programs, interest rates and terms for subsidized payments, in order to improve and consolidate of Brazilian agriculture and livestock. However, to access these loans guarantees are required, and the available resources do not always foment the expected improvements in the agricultural and livestock sector. The aims of this study were: to analyse the defrayal and investment credit lines made available for the beef cattle; and to compare the economic-financial feasibility of beef calves projects, through the use of rural credit and own resources. A review of SNCR has been carried out to understand the operation and application of livestock financing. Mathematical model for calculation of production costs and cash flow statement was used to estimate economic and financial indicators. The concepts of Economic Theory were considered to calculate the Effective Operational Cost, Total Operational Cost and Total Cost. The Net Present Value (NPV), Internal Rate of Return (IRR), Simple and Discounted Payback were the financial indicators used. The representative farm of beef calves production was proposed for the region of Presidente Prudente in São Paulo State. Simulations were performed for scenarios at two technological levels, and without or with the rural credit use. The most favourable economic results were found when adopting a higher level of technology, this ocurred due to the increase in productivity per area which diluted the fixed costs by the quantity of product produced - calves. The Total Operational Cost of the calf in the scenario with lower level of technology was R$ 4.84/kg, while for the scenario with the highest level it was R$ 4.10/kg. Regarding the financial results, all the scenarios proposed were favourable, with the NPV positive, the average IRR of 9% per year and the project return occurred within the deadline established for the project (30 years). The highest NPV and IRR occurred for the scenario in which more technology and credit rural were used (scenario 4). The lowest Simple Payback (11 years) and Discounted Payback (17 years) occurred with the use of own resources and low technology (scenario 1). It was concluded that, the adoption of more technology improved the economic results and the utilization of more technology with rural credit resulted in the best economic-financial feasibility for the farmer. Finally, the results of systems with more technology demonstrated that the use of the rural credit can be a strategy to leverage the production of beef calves.

A Agroinova é uma empresa de prestação de serviços especializados em tecnologia de informação e soluções inteligentes na agropecuária. Após o seu início no segmento de aquicultura, a empresa realizou estudos para continuar expandindo seu negócio e iniciou o desenvolvimento de um software para gestão na bovinocultura de leite. Este segmento foi escolhido devido ao grande volume de informação gerada diariamente, o que dificulta seu controle e também pela sua importância econômica no mercado. Sem um sistema de computador e um sistema de coleta de dados, uma gestão adequada fica praticamente impossível. Devido à complexidade do segmento foi desenvolvido um software com programação em nuvem, que permite o controle dos indicies zootécnicos e financeiros através de interfaces ricas, de maneira fácil e rápida, com alimentação em aplicativos no sistema android e suporte integral ao cliente. Durante o processo de implementação do software nas fazendas, foi percebido que alguns clientes estavam com dificuldade em obter as informações, pois ocorria extrema demora no envio dos dados e/ou mandavam dados antigos que seriam pouco utilizados. O tempo médio que esses clientes ficaram estacionados nessa fase inicial foi de quatro meses. Este estudo se propõe a analisar os pontos críticos de gestão nas fazendas durante o processo de implementação do sistema Inovaleite® e também avaliar se houve relação dos problemas com as inovações incorporadas ao sistema. Nesse trabalho foi utilizada a metodologia qualitativa, já que a percepção do problema ocorreu com a interação entre o pesquisador e os usuários da ferramenta de gestão. Essa interação gerou os registros das conversas dos usuários, que expõem suas opiniões e pensamentos sobre o determinado problema, o que possibilitou dentro da metodologia qualitativa realizar uma análise de discurso. Para analisar melhor e poder comparar as situações das fazendas, foram criados três grupos de clientes: Fazendas desistentes, fazendas em andamento e fazendas finalizadas. Após analisar todas as falas e as situações das fazendas de cada grupo, foram identificados três problemas que ocorreram durante as implementações: dificuldade dos proprietários em achar mão de obra tecnificada, centralização do poder da informação e o impacto que o sistema Inovaleite® causou nas propriedades, exigindo mudança na postura dos gestores e na rotina das atividades da fazenda. Essa mudança gerou um impacto muito grande, podendo sofrer grande resistência por parte do funcionário e/ou do proprietário, pois em muitos casos, novas atividades precisaram ser incorporadas na fazenda, como a organização da informação e a coleta de dados. As inovações propostas no software não causaram problemas na implementação, uma vez que o problema principal ficou concentrado na fazenda, no momento de levantar as informações. Os produtores perceberam a necessidade de melhorarem sua gestão e procuram um software para isso, porém muitos desses produtores ainda precisam organizar e estruturar a produção e criar uma rotina de trabalho que permita o levantamento e armazenamento das informações corretamente. Somente assim um sistema de gestão irá funcionar, pois a ferramenta é somente um facilitador para que o gestor consiga avaliar e comparar dados de maneira mais rápida e segura. / Agroinova is a company that provides agriculture services specialized in managing information and developing intelligent solutions. After Agroinova initial launch focused on aquaculture field, the company conducted studies to expand its business and develop a software for dairy production management. This field was chosen because of the large volume of information generated in a daily basis, which can be challenging to manage, also because the economic importance of the dairy industry. The management of data can be problematic specially without a computer and a system for data collection. Due to the complexity of the field, a cloud programing was developed that allows control of livestock performance data and financial index by rich interfaces that can be accessed thru android system in a simple way, also providing complete customer support. During the software implementation at the farm level, some customers had difficulty managing the data, causing delays when uploading the information, also sending old data, which had little use. The average time spent by customers during this stage was four months. The goal of this study is to analyze the critical points of management on farms during the implementation process Inovaleite®, analyzing the correlation between issues in the process and the innovations built into the system. Since the analysis was done by the researcher and management tool users, a qualitative methodology was used in this study. User interaction generated data containing recorded conversations, which highlighted their opinions and resulted in qualitative methodology analysis. In order to better analyze recorded conversation and different scenarios, three groups were created: farms that terminated the service, farms with service in progress and farms that completed the service. After analysis was complete, three issues were noted during system implementation: owner challenge in finding qualified workers, centralization of the information and the impact caused by Inovaleite® system resulting in management changes and daily farm schedule. These changes in the farm routine, such as data collection can create resistance by both employee and owner. The software innovations do not cause implementation problems. Dairy farmers realize the need of management improvement and often search for software but many of them still need to organize and structure their production and create a work schedule that includes correct data collection and information storage. This software works only as a tool that allows producer manage the system and production, evaluating and comparing data quickly and safely.

Muitos antibióticos de uso veterinário não são totalmente metabolizados no organismo animal, ocasionando a presença de resíduos destes compostos em várias matrizes ambientais, tais como estercos animais, solos e sedimentos fluviais. A ocorrência destes resíduos no ambiente pode favorecer a resistência de microrganismos aos agentes antibióticos, ocasionar problemas de ordem toxicológica em determinados organismos e, além disso, interferir nos ciclos biogeoquímicos mediados por microrganismos. Apesar do uso de antibióticos de uso veterinário ser elevado no Brasil, até o momento não existem dados quanto à ocorrência e comportamento ambiental dos principais compostos atualmente empregados no país. Neste sentido, este trabalho investigou a ocorrência em amostras ambientais (cama de frango e solo) de uma importante classe de antibióticos, as fluoroquinolonas, além de aspectos do comportamento de fluoroquinolonas e sulfonamidas através de ensaios de sorção. No exterior, estudou-se a dissipação e a sorção de fluoroquinolonas em solos neozelandeses. Para a quantificação de resíduos de fluoroquinolonas em amostras de cama de frango e solo, a metodologia analítica foi adaptada e validada. No geral, os resíduos de fluoroquinolonas ocorreram em concentrações equiparáveis (mg kg-1 para cama de frango e g kg-1 para solo) aos encontrados em outros países (China, Áustria e Turquia) e os seus coeficientes de sorção às partículas do solo foram sempre elevados (Kd = 544 a 1.277.874 L kg-1), maiores do que aqueles encontrados internacionalmente (Kd = 260 to 5.012 L kg-1), e bastante superiores aos encontrados na cama de frango (Kd 65 L kg-1), o que demonstra que o transporte destas moléculas ocorre somente em associação às partículas do solo, podendo atingir fontes de águas superficiais. Já os coeficientes de sorção das sulfonamidas foram relativamente baixos (Kd = 0,7 a 70,1 L kg-1), mostrando seu potencial de lixiviação no perfil dos solos. A textura e a capacidade de troca catiônica influenciaram significativamente o potencial de sorção das fluoroquinolonas e das sulfonamidas aos solos, evidenciando a importância dos processos de troca iônica na sorção desses antibióticos em solos tropicais. Nos solos neozelandeses, com maior capacidade tampão, o potencial de sorção das fluoroquinolonas também foi elevado, mas menor que em solos brasileiros, sendo que a adição de cama de frango diminuiu o seu potencial de sorção. A dissipação das fluoroquinolonas variou consideravelmente (DT50 = 16 a >70 dias), tendo sido mais rápida em sub-superfície apesar da sua menor atividade biológica. Antibióticos são usados rotineiramente na produção animal, representando uma fonte potencial de poluição ao meio ambiente que tem sido largamente ignorada, devendo ser melhor investigada no Brasil / Many antibiotics used for veterinary purposes use are not fully metabolized in the animal body, resulting in the presence of residues in a wide range of environmental matrices such as animal manures, soils and sediments. The occurrence of these residues in the environment can favour microorganisms resistance to antibiotic agents, cause toxicological problems to certain organisms and, besides, also interfere in the biogeochemical cycles mediated by microorganisms. Despite the high use of veterinary antibiotics in Brazil, so far there are no data regarding the occurrence and environmental behavior of the main compounds currently in use in the country. This work represented a first investigation on the occurrence of an important class of antibiotics, the fluoroquinolones, in environmental samples (poultry litter and soil), also investigating aspects of the environmental behavior of fluoroquinolones and sulfonamides in these matrices through sorption experiments. Overseas, dissipation and sorption behavior of fluoroquinolones were studied for New Zealand soils. For the quantification of fluoroquinolone residues in poultry litter and soil samples, an analytical methodology was adapted and validated. Overall, the results demonstrated the occurrence of fluoroquinolone residues in concentrations (mg kg-1 for poultry litter and g kg-1 for soil) comparable to those found elsewhere (China, Austria and Turkey), a high sorption potential of fluoroquinolones to soils (Kd from 544 to 1,277,874 L kg-1), higher than the reference values for soil (Kd = 260 to 5,012 L kg-1), and much higher than for poultry litter (Kd 65 L kg-1), showing that the transport of these molecules will only occur in association with the soil particles, possibly reaching superficial water sources. In the case of sulfonamides, sorption coefficients were relatively low (Kd = 0.7 to 70.1 L kg-1), showing their leaching potential in the soil profile. Texture and cation exchange capacity greatly affected the sorption of sulfonamides and fluoroquinolones to soils, emphasizing the importance of ion exchange processes on the sorption of antibiotics in tropical soils. In New Zealand soils, with a higher buffer capacity, sorption of fluoroquinolones was also high, but lower than to Brazilian soils, and the addition of poultry litter to soil reduced the sorption potential of these compounds. Fluoroquinolones dissipation varied considerably ((DT50 = 16 to >70 days), being faster in sub-surface samples despite its lower biological activity. Antibiotics are routinely used in animal production, representing a potential source of pollution to the environment that has been largely ignored and should be further investigated in Brazil

<p>Animal behavior observation is a widely used method of detecting when animals are ill or injured, but there are limitations to using behavioral observations. Behavioral observations can be labor-intensive, subjective and unreliable. The development of technologies such as accelerometers, which record acceleration and activity-based data in 3D space, enables faster, more accurate and quantitative methods of detecting changes in animal behavior. Previous research has demonstrated the utility of using accelerometers to detect changes in animals’ health and well-being. However, limited information is available on the use of accelerometers to detect changes in behavior due to heat stress, which is a major poultry welfare concern, or to detect changes in activity levels of turkeys. The overall objective of this study was to determine whether micro-acceleration data loggers (accelerometers) can be used to detect changes in turkeys’ activity levels and to identify changes in turkey behavior that are indicative of changes in turkey well-being. Two trials were conducted. Specific objectives for Trial 1 were to: 1) determine the effects of accelerometers and habituation to accelerometers on turkey gait and welfare, 2) determine age-related changes in gait and welfare, and 3) evaluate the validity of the accelerometers. Thirty-six male commercial turkeys were randomly assigned to one of five groups: accelerometer and habituation period (AH), accelerometer and no habituation (AN), VetRap bandage (no accelerometer) and habituation (VH), bandage (no accelerometer) and no habituation (VN), and nothing on either leg (C). Welfare was assessed prior to video-recording birds as they walked across a Tekscan® pressure pad at 8, 12 and 16 wk to determine effects of treatment on number of steps, cadence, gait time, gait distance, gait velocity, impulse, gait cycle time, maximum force, peak vertical pressure, single support time, contact time, step length, step time, step velocity, stride length, total double support time, and duty factor. Accelerometer validity and reliability were determined by comparing the number of steps detected with the accelerometer to the number of steps determined from video recordings. Several age-related changes in turkey gait were found regardless of habituation, including a slower cadence at 16 wk, shorter gait distance at 8 wk, and slower gait velocity at 16wk. Habituation to the accelerometer and bandage had limited effects on turkey gait: non-habituated turkeys (VN and AN) spent more time standing on two feet (total double support time) compared to C birds, but did not differ from habituated (VH and AH) birds. Accelerometer validity and reliability were affected by both age and treatment. Validity and reliability were lowest for non-habituated birds (AN). Precision and sensitivity of accelerometers decreased with age but were unaffected by treatment. False discovery rate increased, and accuracy and specificity decreased with age. Results demonstrated that micro-data loggers do not adversely affect turkey welfare, but habituation to wearing accelerometers affects accelerometer reliability and validity. Accelerometer validity and turkey gait are also greatly affected by the age of the turkeys. </p> <p> </p> <p>The second experiment used the validated accelerometers to assess changes in walking activity when turkeys were under an immune challenge or mild heat stress. Another objective of Experiment 2 was to identify changes in welfare and behavior associated with mild heat stress and a mild immune challenge. A total of 92 tom turkeys (trial 1: 51 turkeys; trial 2: 41 turkeys) were assigned to 3 different treatments in a crossover design: control (C; no heat stress or immune challenge), heat stress (HS), and immune challenge (IC). HS treatment was induced by slowly heating rooms to a peak temperature before slowly returning the rooms to normal temperatures. IC treatment was induced by a live-virus hemorrhagic enteritis vaccine which was added to the drinking water. Video (walking, sitting, standing, eating, drinking, preening, feather pecking, aggression and heat-stress related behavior) and accelerometer (steps/hr) data were recorded for 5 days at 10, 12, and 14 wk of age in order to gather behavior and walking activity data pre and post treatment, which occurred on day 3 of the 5 day period. Steps/hr decreased with age, treatments HS and IC had lower step counts compared to control groups, and each day proved to have a different step count regardless of whether a treatment was imposed. On the day of the imposed treatments, steps/hr were lower for both HS and IC turkeys. Welfare analysis indicated that tail and wing feather condition was worse at 14 wk compared to 10 and 12 wk. Behaviorally, the amount of time spent sitting increased as birds aged. Treatment also affected behavior: HS and IC turkeys performed less standing and walking compared to C birds on the day of the imposed treatment. Turkeys under a heat stress treatment performed more aggressive interactions and were observed performing heat-stress related behavior, including panting and sitting with their wings spread apart. </p> <p> </p> <p>Results from both trials indicated that accelerometers can be useful tools to assess walking activity of turkeys and that accelerometers have the potential to detect changes in behavior that may be associated with conditions that negatively impact turkey welfare. The process of wearing an accelerometer on the leg did not adversely affect turkey welfare, but habituation is important to ensure that accelerometers are accurately and reliably recording turkeys’ steps. In addition, it was determined that changes in behavior, such as decreased walking and standing, can be indicative of potential welfare issues, such as heat stress and an immune challenge in turkeys. Further research is needed to explore the best step threshold for particular turkey ages in order to get the most accurate data in future analysis of walking activity. Furthermore, sex differences were not a factor in these studies as only male turkeys were used which may differ from females in terms of gait and behavior under heat stress and an immune challenge. It may also be beneficial to further explore turkey gait as there were discrepancies in the literature and this study concerning age related differences in gait (duty factor). Future research should focus on the early detection potential accelerometers can provide to the turkey industry for welfare concerns. As shown by our results, walking activity decreases under both a mild heat stress and immune challenge, so future studies should now determine if this decrease in activity level is detectable before overt visual behavioral signs. If accelerometers can detect signs of stress more objectively, accurately, and quicker than visual inspection, then both farmers and researchers could benefit from utilizing these devices to improve animal welfare in the future.</p>

Muitos antibióticos de uso veterinário não são totalmente metabolizados no organismo animal, ocasionando a presença de resíduos destes compostos em várias matrizes ambientais, tais como estercos animais, solos e sedimentos fluviais. A ocorrência destes resíduos no ambiente pode favorecer a resistência de microrganismos aos agentes antibióticos, ocasionar problemas de ordem toxicológica em determinados organismos e, além disso, interferir nos ciclos biogeoquímicos mediados por microrganismos. Apesar do uso de antibióticos de uso veterinário ser elevado no Brasil, até o momento não existem dados quanto à ocorrência e comportamento ambiental dos principais compostos atualmente empregados no país. Neste sentido, este trabalho investigou a ocorrência em amostras ambientais (cama de frango e solo) de uma importante classe de antibióticos, as fluoroquinolonas, além de aspectos do comportamento de fluoroquinolonas e sulfonamidas através de ensaios de sorção. No exterior, estudou-se a dissipação e a sorção de fluoroquinolonas em solos neozelandeses. Para a quantificação de resíduos de fluoroquinolonas em amostras de cama de frango e solo, a metodologia analítica foi adaptada e validada. No geral, os resíduos de fluoroquinolonas ocorreram em concentrações equiparáveis (mg kg-1 para cama de frango e g kg-1 para solo) aos encontrados em outros países (China, Áustria e Turquia) e os seus coeficientes de sorção às partículas do solo foram sempre elevados (Kd = 544 a 1.277.874 L kg-1), maiores do que aqueles encontrados internacionalmente (Kd = 260 to 5.012 L kg-1), e bastante superiores aos encontrados na cama de frango (Kd 65 L kg-1), o que demonstra que o transporte destas moléculas ocorre somente em associação às partículas do solo, podendo atingir fontes de águas superficiais. Já os coeficientes de sorção das sulfonamidas foram relativamente baixos (Kd = 0,7 a 70,1 L kg-1), mostrando seu potencial de lixiviação no perfil dos solos. A textura e a capacidade de troca catiônica influenciaram significativamente o potencial de sorção das fluoroquinolonas e das sulfonamidas aos solos, evidenciando a importância dos processos de troca iônica na sorção desses antibióticos em solos tropicais. Nos solos neozelandeses, com maior capacidade tampão, o potencial de sorção das fluoroquinolonas também foi elevado, mas menor que em solos brasileiros, sendo que a adição de cama de frango diminuiu o seu potencial de sorção. A dissipação das fluoroquinolonas variou consideravelmente (DT50 = 16 a >70 dias), tendo sido mais rápida em sub-superfície apesar da sua menor atividade biológica. Antibióticos são usados rotineiramente na produção animal, representando uma fonte potencial de poluição ao meio ambiente que tem sido largamente ignorada, devendo ser melhor investigada no Brasil / Many antibiotics used for veterinary purposes use are not fully metabolized in the animal body, resulting in the presence of residues in a wide range of environmental matrices such as animal manures, soils and sediments. The occurrence of these residues in the environment can favour microorganisms resistance to antibiotic agents, cause toxicological problems to certain organisms and, besides, also interfere in the biogeochemical cycles mediated by microorganisms. Despite the high use of veterinary antibiotics in Brazil, so far there are no data regarding the occurrence and environmental behavior of the main compounds currently in use in the country. This work represented a first investigation on the occurrence of an important class of antibiotics, the fluoroquinolones, in environmental samples (poultry litter and soil), also investigating aspects of the environmental behavior of fluoroquinolones and sulfonamides in these matrices through sorption experiments. Overseas, dissipation and sorption behavior of fluoroquinolones were studied for New Zealand soils. For the quantification of fluoroquinolone residues in poultry litter and soil samples, an analytical methodology was adapted and validated. Overall, the results demonstrated the occurrence of fluoroquinolone residues in concentrations (mg kg-1 for poultry litter and g kg-1 for soil) comparable to those found elsewhere (China, Austria and Turkey), a high sorption potential of fluoroquinolones to soils (Kd from 544 to 1,277,874 L kg-1), higher than the reference values for soil (Kd = 260 to 5,012 L kg-1), and much higher than for poultry litter (Kd 65 L kg-1), showing that the transport of these molecules will only occur in association with the soil particles, possibly reaching superficial water sources. In the case of sulfonamides, sorption coefficients were relatively low (Kd = 0.7 to 70.1 L kg-1), showing their leaching potential in the soil profile. Texture and cation exchange capacity greatly affected the sorption of sulfonamides and fluoroquinolones to soils, emphasizing the importance of ion exchange processes on the sorption of antibiotics in tropical soils. In New Zealand soils, with a higher buffer capacity, sorption of fluoroquinolones was also high, but lower than to Brazilian soils, and the addition of poultry litter to soil reduced the sorption potential of these compounds. Fluoroquinolones dissipation varied considerably ((DT50 = 16 to >70 days), being faster in sub-surface samples despite its lower biological activity. Antibiotics are routinely used in animal production, representing a potential source of pollution to the environment that has been largely ignored and should be further investigated in Brazil

Submitted by Jorge Silva (jorgelmsilva@ufrrj.br) on 2018-05-11T18:40:57Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Joethe Moraes de Carvalho.pdf: 6116852 bytes, checksum: afde03802608c7b8bd7209ceccfe8dfe (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2018-05-11T18:40:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2016 - Joethe Moraes de Carvalho.pdf: 6116852 bytes, checksum: afde03802608c7b8bd7209ceccfe8dfe (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-06-30 / The research aimed to analyze the contributions of the application of a herd management educational software in Animal Production discipline of Technical Course in Agriculture at the Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology Amazon - IFAM Campus Mau?s. Recent research has motivated this work, as pointed out that one of the major causes of truancy is the lack of practical classes. This is because the search location, to date, has not yet physical infrastructure necessary for implementation of practical activities related to cattle, study focus of Animal Production discipline 3. A computer program has been developed for agricultural education. We sought to evaluate the previous knowledge and opinions of 27 students through a questionnaire and an initial test. educational workshops were held where program was used as an educational tool for explanation of the races themes, food, health, dairy and meat production, reproduction, disposal and cattle weighing. After the workshops, knowledge was again tested by a final evaluation. We sought to evaluate the teaching resource by applying a final questionnaire with open and closed questions. The two discipline of teachers were also questioned. The results showed that the use of software, based pedagogically favored learning efficiently and aroused the interest of students by technology and the interdisciplinary. / A pesquisa objetivou analisar as contribui??es da aplica??o de um software educativo de gerenciamento de rebanhos na disciplina Produ??o Animal do curso T?cnico em Agropecu?ria do Instituto Federal de Educa??o, Ci?ncia e Tecnologia do Amazonas ? IFAM Campus Mau?s. Uma pesquisa recente motivou esse trabalho, pois apontou que uma das maiores causas de evas?o escolar ? a car?ncia de aulas pr?ticas. Isso ocorre porque o local da pesquisa, at? o presente momento, ainda n?o possui infraestrutura f?sica necess?ria ? execu??o de atividades pr?ticas inerentes ? bovinocultura, foco de estudo da disciplina Produ??o Animal 3. Foi desenvolvido um programa de computador para educa??o agr?cola. Procurou-se avaliar os conhecimentos e opini?es pr?vios dos 27 alunos por meio de um question?rio e uma prova inicial. Foram realizadas oficinas pedag?gicas onde o programa foi utilizado como ferramenta educacional para explana??o dos temas de ra?as, alimenta??o, sanidade, produ??o leiteira e de carne, reprodu??o, descarte e pesagem de bovinos. Ap?s as oficinas, o conhecimento foi novamente testado atrav?s de uma avalia??o final. Procurou-se avaliar o recurso did?tico atrav?s da aplica??o de um question?rio final, com perguntas abertas e fechadas. Os dois professores da disciplina tamb?m foram questionados. Os resultados obtidos apontaram que o uso do software, fundamentado pedagogicamente, favoreceu o aprendizado de modo eficiente e despertou o interesse dos alunos pelas tecnologias e pela interdisciplinaridade.

<p>This thesis examines learner-centered animal science education and its relationships with emotion, motivation and performance. Part I focuses on active learning strategies implemented in an introductory animal sciences course. This large-enrollment course had traditionally been taught through traditional, passive learning methods. Instructors added learning activities such as case studies and hands-on laboratory stations to supplement lecture-based instruction. Chapter Two summarizes the impacts of different active learning techniques implemented in the course and characterizes students enrolled in the course based on their interests, past experiences, and demographic information. Building on these findings, Chapter Three describes an experiment quantitatively comparing the effects of three learning strategies (lecture, case study, and laboratory station) on students’ experience of interest and motivation. In both studies, students rated themselves highly interested in animal sciences throughout the semester. More collaborative, problem-based instructional methods (i.e. laboratory stations and case studies) were favored by students and resulted in higher student interest and internalized motivation. Results presented in Part I may inform the creation of instructional techniques to support student motivation, retention, and performance. Part II describes an online learning program contextualizing STEM learning within poultry science and implemented in high school classrooms during the fall 2018 semester. The program was designed to increase students’ knowledge and interest in both poultry and STEM fields to support the development of poultry- and STEM-literacy and meet workforce needs. Chapter Four describes program effects on students’ knowledge, awareness, and interest in the poultry industry. In contrast, Chapter Five focuses on the program’s effects on students’ STEM learning and STEM motivation. In addition, Chapter Five provides background on teacher and contextual factors influencing the program’s implementation. Results from these studies indicate that the program effectively increased students’ STEM and poultry knowledge, and increased motivation for some students. However, other qualitative and quantitative data indicated that some students experienced difficulties relating content to their lives. In addition, the program’s effects on students differed substantially based on teachers and classroom implementation. Both students and teachers also mentioned a need for more hands-on, collaborative elements in the program. Although results from Part II show promise that contextualizing STEM learning within agriculture may effectively increase knowledge and motivation, more research is needed to understand how to select and personalize contexts to maximize their relevance to students, and how to support teachers in effectively implementing these approaches. In conclusion, learner-centered instructional strategies such as problem-based and hands-on learning can be designed to enhance students’ interest, motivation, and performance. However, more research is needed to understand the complex personal and contextual factors moderating the effectiveness of these approaches when implemented in authentic classroom settings. Future studies clarifying these effects can advance the development of theory-based educational resources.</p>