Gastrointestinal tract (GIT) microorganisms play important roles in animal health, including providing energy and vitamins, improving the host immune response and preventing pathogenic microorganisms from colonizing. Prebiotic feed supplementation offers an alternative to antimicrobial growth promoters by stimulating key populations of the GIT bacteria that can ferment these non-digestible compounds, producing various short chain fatty acids used by the animal. The objective of this study was to quantify the effects of a proprietary Saccharomyces cerevisiae fermentation product (XPC, Diamond V Mills, Inc., Cedar Rapids, IA) inclusion in nursery diets on the microbial diversity and growth performance of pigs before, during and after an oral challenge with Salmonella. Pigs (n= 40) were weaned at 21 d of age, blocked by body weight (BW) and assigned in a 2Ã 2 factorial arrangement consisting of diet (control or 0.2% XPC) and inoculation (broth or Salmonella). Diet had no effect on pig growth performance prior to inoculation; however, consumption of XPC altered the composition of the gastrointestinal microbial community resulting in increased growth performance prior to inoculation. After Salmonella infection, XPC altered the composition of the gastrointestinal microbial community resulting in increased (P < 0.05) populations of Bacteroidetes and Lactobacillus. Infection with Salmonella and treatment of the piglets with ceftiofur-HCl resulted in alterations to the species richness and abundance of key members of the GIT community. The addition of XPC to the diets of weaning pigs results in greater compensatory gains after infection with Salmonella and an increase in beneficial bacteria within the GIT. / Master of Science

The U.S. hog industry's shift to vertically-integrated, intensively-managed operations brought about a variety of management systems for breeding herds, including batch farrowing. In this system, groups of sows are weaned in 2- to 5- week intervals, making estrus synchronization of new gilts and sows critical to maintaining reproductive efficiency in the herd. The use of commercially available hormones to synchronize estrus in this system has not been extensively studied. This experiment was conducted to determine whether the use of commercially available hormones (MATRIX® and P.G. 600®; Merck Animal Health, De Sota, KS) in a 5-week batch management system had a positive impact on reproductive efficiency in gilts and sows over the course of 3 parities. Gilts were allocated to an Entry Group (A, B, or D) and then assigned to a treatment, Hormone-Assisted (HA) (5 mL P.G. 600 injection 5 days and/or fed 15 mg/day of MATRIX for 14 consecutive days prior to the breeding week) or Control (no exogenous hormones). Gilts and sows were checked daily for estrus with a mature boar, and a group was bred using AI during a 7-day breeding period every 5 weeks and allowed to farrow up to 3 parities. Among groups, there was a tendency (P = 0.08) for more HA than control gilts to display estrus and be mated on schedule. For gilts within Group A, more (P < 0.01) HA than control females displayed estrus and were mated. Body weight at first service for gilts in Groups A and B were higher than Group D (P < 0.01). Overall, there was no effect of treatment on (P = 0.20) non-productive days. There was a strong tendency for HA sows to have a greater (P = 0.07) number of parities completed than control sows; Total pigs born (P < 0.05) and total pigs born alive (P < 0.05) were greater for HA sows than control sows. In Parity 1, Group D sows had a lesser number of pigs born (P < 0.01) and pigs born alive (P < 0.02) than Groups A and B; The number of pigs weaned differed between entry groups (P < 0.05) (Group B > Group A > Group D); Control sows weaned more pigs (P < 0.02) and had a greater litter weaning weight (P < 0.01) than HA sows; HA sows had a lower (P < 0.05) wean-to-estrus interval than control sows. No significant effects of group or treatment were observed in Parities 2 and 3. The use of exogenous hormones to synchronize estrus had a positive impact on reproductive efficiency in HA gilts/sows in a 5-week batch management system. / Master of Science

Postnatal skeletal muscle growth occurs through myonuclear accretion and high protein turnover rate. While fiber type composition of the muscle could affect protein turnover rate, less is known about how fiber type influences the regulation of protein synthesis and degradation signaling pathways. Thus, the hypothesis of this work was that variation in fiber type composition will differentially affect the regulation of signaling pathways related to protein turnover in skeletal muscle hypertrophy in growing pigs. Downregulated protein synthesis signaling and reduced expression of type II MyHC isoforms have been reported in skeletal muscles of low birth weight (LBWT) neonatal pigs. Therefore, we sought to determine whether these changes are sustained until weaning and would explain the reduction in LBWT pig growth compared to their normal birth weight (NBWT) sibling at weaning. Another objective was to determine whether the regulation of protein turnover signaling pathways are correlated to fiber type differences in skeletal muscles. Our data suggest that the longissimus dorsi (LD, glycolytic) muscle of LBWT pigs experienced compensatory growth while the soleus (oxidative) remained proportionally smaller. Growth of the LD was accompanied by upregulation of translation initiation. Additionally, there was no difference in expression of MyHC isoforms between NBWT and LBWT pigs. These data suggest the rapid growth of the LD of LBWT pigs may be attributed to an upregulation of protein synthesis signaling and occurred only in glycolytic muscles. A caveat in LBWT pig model is that the reduction in type II MyHC at birth is not the only factor that could influence muscle growth, and that other factors may have confounded our results. This is why we aimed to use β-adrenergic agonist as a means to induce a shift fiber type in muscles to a more glycolytic phenotype. Our objective was to determine the influence of the β-adrenergic agonist Ractopamine (RAC) induced slow-to-fast fiber type transformation on the regulation of protein synthesis and degradation pathways. Although supplementation improved translational capacity, enhanced S6K1 phosphorylation, and reduced the abundance of calcium-dependent proteases, RAC feeding had no effect on body or muscle weights. These results suggest that a fiber type transformation without other physiological influences does not alter protein turnover signaling in favor of hypertrophy in growing pigs. / Master of Science / Skeletal muscles grow by increasing the amount of protein contained within them. The amount of protein deposited is determined by the net balance between the rates at which proteins are synthesized and degraded. However, not all skeletal muscles grow at the same rate. One factor that is thought to influence protein synthesis and degradation rates is the types of muscle fibers that are present within a muscle. These fibers can display a range of contractile and metabolic characteristics, from slow-twitch oxidative fibers to fast-twitch glycolytic fibers. In the presented studies, we sought to determine whether changes in fiber type composition result in difference to the signaling pathways the regulate protein synthesis and degradation, ultimately leading to differences in the muscle growth of young pigs. We have previously shown reduced activation of the protein synthesis pathway in the skeletal muscle of low birth weight (LBWT) newborn pigs. These pigs also had lower expression of glycolytic fibers. In experiment 1, we aimed to compare the signaling pathways regulating protein synthesis and degradation in LBWT and normal birth weight (NBWT) pigs at weaning. We also sought to determine if the regulation of these signaling pathways changed between muscles with differing fiber type compositions. The glycolytic longissimus dorsi (LD) muscle of LBWT pigs grew rapidly between birth and weaning whereas the highly oxidative soleus did not. In addition, the LD of LBWT pigs had greater protein synthesis signaling and similar expression of muscle fibers compared with NBWT pigs, suggesting the improvement in protein synthesis signaling of LBWT pigs between birth and weaning may be related to a shift in fiber type. In experiment 2, we used a compound called ractopamine hydrochloride (RAC) to promote a slow-to-fast fiber type switch in the muscle of young pigs. With this study, we sought to determine the effect of this fiber type transformation, without the influence of birth weight, on the regulation of protein synthesis and degradation pathways. Although RAC-fed pigs showed some minor changes that could improve protein synthesis and decrease protein degradation, RAC feeding had no observable effect on body weight or muscle growth. These results suggest that a fiber type transformation alone is not enough to promote muscle growth in growing pigs.

Transportation of swine is an emerging welfare issue, especially for piglets weaned and then immediately transported. Weaned pigs fed starter diets containing SDPP display improved growth performance. The objective of this study was to determine effects of pre-weaning SDPP on indicators of health, welfare, and performance in transported weaned pigs. Pigs were assigned to treatments: I. SDPP + transport, II. Water + transport, III. SDPP + no transport, or IV. Water + no transport. Pigs received their gavage twice daily for 5 d prior to weaning. Pigs were weaned and either transported or moved directly to the wean-to-finish barn. Rectal temperatures and blood samples were obtained at weaning and after relocation. Body weight was determined on d 1, at weaning, after relocation, and at weekly intervals for 5 wk thereafter. Blood chemistry profiles and serum cortisol concentrations were also determined. Rectal temperature and potassium increased and calcium decreased after groups I and II were transported. Glucose was lowest in group II. Total protein was greater in group I compared to group III. Albumin was greatest in group I compared to all other groups. Sodium was greatest in group II compared to all other groups. Anion gap was greatest in group II compared to group IV. Cortisol, phosphorus, gamma-glutamyltransferase, and chloride, were greater in groups I and II after transportation. In summary, transportation impacted several physiological indicators of health and well-being in weaned pigs, and providing SDPP prior to weaning prevented transportation-induced changes in sodium, glucose, and anion gap levels. / Master of Science

No

A presença de Salmonella no conteúdo intestinal do suíno ao abate é a principal fonte de contaminação da carcaça. O processo de abate embora capaz de controlar a contaminação de carcaças pode não ser capaz de garantir baixa frequência de carcaças positivas para Salmonella em lotes que apresentam elevado número de suínos excretores. O objetivo deste estudo exploratório foi acompanhar lotes suínos abatidos em um matadouro-frigorífico em relação à presença de excretores de Salmonella no conteúdo intestinal e à frequência de carcaças positivas para Salmonella no pré-resfriamento. O estudo foi conduzido em dez dias de abate; em cada dia, cinco suínos foram amostrados, totalizando 50 animais, destes foram coletados: sangue, conteúdo intestinal, suabes de superfície da carcaça nas etapas de pós-sangria e pré-resfriamento. O soro foi submetido ao teste ELISA-Typhimurium; Salmonella foi enumerada no conteúdo intestinal pela técnica do Numero Mais Provável (NMP); e nos suabes de carcaça foi realizada pesquisa de Salmonella e enumeração de Mesófilos aeróbios totais (MAT) e Enterobactérias. Todos os suínos foram positivos na pesquisa de IgG anti-Salmonella, em 64% destes Salmonella foi detectada no conteúdo intestinal em médias estimadas entre 2,7 e >1.400 NMP/g de conteúdo intestinal. A superfície das carcaças apresentou média de 3,28 log UFC/cm2 de MAT, quando amostradas na pós-sangria. As mesmas carcaças, na etapa de pré-resfriamento, apresentaram médias entre 1,43 e 2,48 log UFC/cm2, observando-se uma redução logarítmica média de 0,64 a 2,35 UFC/cm2 entre as etapas de coleta. A enumeração de Enterobactérias apresentou maior variação entre os dias e entre as etapas de abate. Na etapa de pós-sangria as médias variaram de 0,27 a 2,64 log UFC/cm2. Já no pré-resfriamento as médias variaram de -0,71 até 0,46 log UFC/cm2. Em relação ao isolamento de Salmonella, houve uma frequência de 16% (8/50) de carcaças positivas na etapa de pós-sangria e 8% (4/50) no pré-resfriamento. Os sorovares Typhimurium, Derby, Infantis e O:4,5 foram encontrados nas carcaças. As quatro carcaças positivas no pré-resfriamento foram originadas de suínos que apresentaram Salmonella no conteúdo intestinal; duas delas provenientes de um mesmo dia de abate, no qual todos os suínos apresentavam elevado número de Salmonella no conteúdo intestinal (130 até > 1.400 NMP/g-1). Os resultados obtidos indicam que lotes de abate com suínos apresentando alta contagem de Salmonella no conteúdo intestinal podem apresentar maior frequência de carcaças positivas no pré-resfriamento, mesmo em processos de abate de acordo com os padrões higiênico-sanitários. / The presence of Salmonella in the intestinal contents of slaughter pigs is considered the main source for carcass contamination. The slaughter process can control the contamination of carcasses, but may not be able to ensure a low frequency of Salmonella-positive carcasses in slaughter batches that have a high number of shedders. The objective of this exploratory study was to follow slaughter pig batches for the presence of Salmonella in intestinal content and to determine the frequency of Salmonella-positive pre-chill carcasses. The study was conducted in ten slaughter; in each day five pigs were sampled for: blood, intestinal contents; carcass surface swabs taken at the post-bleeding and pre-chill steps. The serum was subjected to the ELISA- Typhimurium test; Salmonella was enumerated in the intestinal contents by the Most Probable Number (MPN) protocol; and carcass swabs were subjected to Salmonella detection and enumeration of Total aerobic mesophilic (MAT) and Enterobacteriaceae. All pigs were positive in the anti-Salmonella IgG testing, in 64% of them Salmonella was detected in the intestinal contents. The estimated Salmonella mean ranged from 2.7 to > 1,400 MPN/g-1 of intestinal content. In the carcass surface an averaged of 3.28 log CFU/cm2 of MAT was found at the post-bleeding step. The same carcasses presented averages between 1.43 and 2.48 log CFU/cm2 in the pre-cooling stage, corresponding to a mean log reduction from 0.64 to 2.35 log CFU/cm2 between steps. Enumeration of Enterobacteriaceae showed a greater variation between days and slaughtering stages. In the post-bleeding step averages ranged from 0.27 to 2.64 log CFU/cm2. In the pre-cooling the average ranged from -0.71 to 0.46 log CFU/cm2. Regarding the isolation of Salmonella, the frequency was 16% (8/50) of positive carcasses at the post-bleeding step and 8% (4/50) at the pre-chilling. The serovar Typhimurium, Derby, Infantis and O:4,5 were found in the carcasses. The four positive carcasses in the pre-cooling step originated from pigs that had Salmonella in intestinal contents, two of them were slaughter on a same day, in which all pigs had a high number of Salmonella in intestinal contents (130 to > 1,400 MPN/g-1). The results indicate that slaughter pig batches presenting high counts of Salmonella in intestinal contents may have higher frequency of positive carcasses in the pre-chilling, even in slaughtering processes complying to hygienic-sanitary standards.

A presença de Salmonella no conteúdo intestinal do suíno ao abate é a principal fonte de contaminação da carcaça. O processo de abate embora capaz de controlar a contaminação de carcaças pode não ser capaz de garantir baixa frequência de carcaças positivas para Salmonella em lotes que apresentam elevado número de suínos excretores. O objetivo deste estudo exploratório foi acompanhar lotes suínos abatidos em um matadouro-frigorífico em relação à presença de excretores de Salmonella no conteúdo intestinal e à frequência de carcaças positivas para Salmonella no pré-resfriamento. O estudo foi conduzido em dez dias de abate; em cada dia, cinco suínos foram amostrados, totalizando 50 animais, destes foram coletados: sangue, conteúdo intestinal, suabes de superfície da carcaça nas etapas de pós-sangria e pré-resfriamento. O soro foi submetido ao teste ELISA-Typhimurium; Salmonella foi enumerada no conteúdo intestinal pela técnica do Numero Mais Provável (NMP); e nos suabes de carcaça foi realizada pesquisa de Salmonella e enumeração de Mesófilos aeróbios totais (MAT) e Enterobactérias. Todos os suínos foram positivos na pesquisa de IgG anti-Salmonella, em 64% destes Salmonella foi detectada no conteúdo intestinal em médias estimadas entre 2,7 e >1.400 NMP/g de conteúdo intestinal. A superfície das carcaças apresentou média de 3,28 log UFC/cm2 de MAT, quando amostradas na pós-sangria. As mesmas carcaças, na etapa de pré-resfriamento, apresentaram médias entre 1,43 e 2,48 log UFC/cm2, observando-se uma redução logarítmica média de 0,64 a 2,35 UFC/cm2 entre as etapas de coleta. A enumeração de Enterobactérias apresentou maior variação entre os dias e entre as etapas de abate. Na etapa de pós-sangria as médias variaram de 0,27 a 2,64 log UFC/cm2. Já no pré-resfriamento as médias variaram de -0,71 até 0,46 log UFC/cm2. Em relação ao isolamento de Salmonella, houve uma frequência de 16% (8/50) de carcaças positivas na etapa de pós-sangria e 8% (4/50) no pré-resfriamento. Os sorovares Typhimurium, Derby, Infantis e O:4,5 foram encontrados nas carcaças. As quatro carcaças positivas no pré-resfriamento foram originadas de suínos que apresentaram Salmonella no conteúdo intestinal; duas delas provenientes de um mesmo dia de abate, no qual todos os suínos apresentavam elevado número de Salmonella no conteúdo intestinal (130 até > 1.400 NMP/g-1). Os resultados obtidos indicam que lotes de abate com suínos apresentando alta contagem de Salmonella no conteúdo intestinal podem apresentar maior frequência de carcaças positivas no pré-resfriamento, mesmo em processos de abate de acordo com os padrões higiênico-sanitários. / The presence of Salmonella in the intestinal contents of slaughter pigs is considered the main source for carcass contamination. The slaughter process can control the contamination of carcasses, but may not be able to ensure a low frequency of Salmonella-positive carcasses in slaughter batches that have a high number of shedders. The objective of this exploratory study was to follow slaughter pig batches for the presence of Salmonella in intestinal content and to determine the frequency of Salmonella-positive pre-chill carcasses. The study was conducted in ten slaughter; in each day five pigs were sampled for: blood, intestinal contents; carcass surface swabs taken at the post-bleeding and pre-chill steps. The serum was subjected to the ELISA- Typhimurium test; Salmonella was enumerated in the intestinal contents by the Most Probable Number (MPN) protocol; and carcass swabs were subjected to Salmonella detection and enumeration of Total aerobic mesophilic (MAT) and Enterobacteriaceae. All pigs were positive in the anti-Salmonella IgG testing, in 64% of them Salmonella was detected in the intestinal contents. The estimated Salmonella mean ranged from 2.7 to > 1,400 MPN/g-1 of intestinal content. In the carcass surface an averaged of 3.28 log CFU/cm2 of MAT was found at the post-bleeding step. The same carcasses presented averages between 1.43 and 2.48 log CFU/cm2 in the pre-cooling stage, corresponding to a mean log reduction from 0.64 to 2.35 log CFU/cm2 between steps. Enumeration of Enterobacteriaceae showed a greater variation between days and slaughtering stages. In the post-bleeding step averages ranged from 0.27 to 2.64 log CFU/cm2. In the pre-cooling the average ranged from -0.71 to 0.46 log CFU/cm2. Regarding the isolation of Salmonella, the frequency was 16% (8/50) of positive carcasses at the post-bleeding step and 8% (4/50) at the pre-chilling. The serovar Typhimurium, Derby, Infantis and O:4,5 were found in the carcasses. The four positive carcasses in the pre-cooling step originated from pigs that had Salmonella in intestinal contents, two of them were slaughter on a same day, in which all pigs had a high number of Salmonella in intestinal contents (130 to > 1,400 MPN/g-1). The results indicate that slaughter pig batches presenting high counts of Salmonella in intestinal contents may have higher frequency of positive carcasses in the pre-chilling, even in slaughtering processes complying to hygienic-sanitary standards.

A propriedade suinícola encontra-se hoje numa fase que, dificilmente poderá fugir ao processo integrador, disponibilizado pelas empresas detentoras de recursos financeiros e tecnológicos. No entanto, o produtor sujeita-se a margens estreitas de lucratividade pelas facilidades que o processo em si lhe oferece. A presente pesquisa consiste num estudo exploratório com o objetivo de analisar o desempenho dos produtores, no sistema integrado de suínos, a partir da caracterização da cadeia de valor adaptada à atividade suinícola. Para isso, foram realizadas entrevistas com técnicos da área e aplicados questionários junto a doze suinocultores, — divididos em três categorias: pequenos, médios e grandes produtores — da Região Centro Oriental do Estado, participantes do sistema de integração da Cooperativa Agropecuária Languiru Ltda., em Teotônia — RS. A análise diagnóstico foi realizada com base no referencial teórico, envolvendo aspectos ligados à suinocultura, à cadeia produtiva, com ênfase no sistema de produção, e à cadeia de valores que ofereceu a melhor alternativa para identificar o desempenho dos suinocultores. Nesse contexto, observou-se estar o desempenho dos produtores condicionado à conversão alimentar e o período de engorda, associado ao processo de gestão da propriedade suinícola. / Rural properties devoted to pig breeding are currently in a situation in which they will hardly be able to avoid taking part in the integrating process made available by financially and technologically privileged companies. However, producers have to face low profit rates due to the features inherent to such process. This paper is a study which has as a goal to analyze the producers' performance in the pig breeding integrated system, departing from the chain of values adaptad to the pig breeding environment. To do so, interviews with technicians have been done, as well as questionnaires have been submitted to twelve pig breeders - split into three categories: small, medium and big producers - from the west central region of the state, that participate of the Cooperativa Agropecuária Languiru Ltda. integrating system, in Teutônia, RS. A diagnostic analysis was done based upon the theory related to pig breeding, the productive chain focused in this production system, and the chain of values that offered the best alternative to identify the producers' performances. In such context, it has been observed that the producers' performance is conditioned by food conversion and the fatten period, associated with the property mangement process.

A presença de Salmonella no conteúdo intestinal do suíno ao abate é a principal fonte de contaminação da carcaça. O processo de abate embora capaz de controlar a contaminação de carcaças pode não ser capaz de garantir baixa frequência de carcaças positivas para Salmonella em lotes que apresentam elevado número de suínos excretores. O objetivo deste estudo exploratório foi acompanhar lotes suínos abatidos em um matadouro-frigorífico em relação à presença de excretores de Salmonella no conteúdo intestinal e à frequência de carcaças positivas para Salmonella no pré-resfriamento. O estudo foi conduzido em dez dias de abate; em cada dia, cinco suínos foram amostrados, totalizando 50 animais, destes foram coletados: sangue, conteúdo intestinal, suabes de superfície da carcaça nas etapas de pós-sangria e pré-resfriamento. O soro foi submetido ao teste ELISA-Typhimurium; Salmonella foi enumerada no conteúdo intestinal pela técnica do Numero Mais Provável (NMP); e nos suabes de carcaça foi realizada pesquisa de Salmonella e enumeração de Mesófilos aeróbios totais (MAT) e Enterobactérias. Todos os suínos foram positivos na pesquisa de IgG anti-Salmonella, em 64% destes Salmonella foi detectada no conteúdo intestinal em médias estimadas entre 2,7 e >1.400 NMP/g de conteúdo intestinal. A superfície das carcaças apresentou média de 3,28 log UFC/cm2 de MAT, quando amostradas na pós-sangria. As mesmas carcaças, na etapa de pré-resfriamento, apresentaram médias entre 1,43 e 2,48 log UFC/cm2, observando-se uma redução logarítmica média de 0,64 a 2,35 UFC/cm2 entre as etapas de coleta. A enumeração de Enterobactérias apresentou maior variação entre os dias e entre as etapas de abate. Na etapa de pós-sangria as médias variaram de 0,27 a 2,64 log UFC/cm2. Já no pré-resfriamento as médias variaram de -0,71 até 0,46 log UFC/cm2. Em relação ao isolamento de Salmonella, houve uma frequência de 16% (8/50) de carcaças positivas na etapa de pós-sangria e 8% (4/50) no pré-resfriamento. Os sorovares Typhimurium, Derby, Infantis e O:4,5 foram encontrados nas carcaças. As quatro carcaças positivas no pré-resfriamento foram originadas de suínos que apresentaram Salmonella no conteúdo intestinal; duas delas provenientes de um mesmo dia de abate, no qual todos os suínos apresentavam elevado número de Salmonella no conteúdo intestinal (130 até > 1.400 NMP/g-1). Os resultados obtidos indicam que lotes de abate com suínos apresentando alta contagem de Salmonella no conteúdo intestinal podem apresentar maior frequência de carcaças positivas no pré-resfriamento, mesmo em processos de abate de acordo com os padrões higiênico-sanitários. / The presence of Salmonella in the intestinal contents of slaughter pigs is considered the main source for carcass contamination. The slaughter process can control the contamination of carcasses, but may not be able to ensure a low frequency of Salmonella-positive carcasses in slaughter batches that have a high number of shedders. The objective of this exploratory study was to follow slaughter pig batches for the presence of Salmonella in intestinal content and to determine the frequency of Salmonella-positive pre-chill carcasses. The study was conducted in ten slaughter; in each day five pigs were sampled for: blood, intestinal contents; carcass surface swabs taken at the post-bleeding and pre-chill steps. The serum was subjected to the ELISA- Typhimurium test; Salmonella was enumerated in the intestinal contents by the Most Probable Number (MPN) protocol; and carcass swabs were subjected to Salmonella detection and enumeration of Total aerobic mesophilic (MAT) and Enterobacteriaceae. All pigs were positive in the anti-Salmonella IgG testing, in 64% of them Salmonella was detected in the intestinal contents. The estimated Salmonella mean ranged from 2.7 to > 1,400 MPN/g-1 of intestinal content. In the carcass surface an averaged of 3.28 log CFU/cm2 of MAT was found at the post-bleeding step. The same carcasses presented averages between 1.43 and 2.48 log CFU/cm2 in the pre-cooling stage, corresponding to a mean log reduction from 0.64 to 2.35 log CFU/cm2 between steps. Enumeration of Enterobacteriaceae showed a greater variation between days and slaughtering stages. In the post-bleeding step averages ranged from 0.27 to 2.64 log CFU/cm2. In the pre-cooling the average ranged from -0.71 to 0.46 log CFU/cm2. Regarding the isolation of Salmonella, the frequency was 16% (8/50) of positive carcasses at the post-bleeding step and 8% (4/50) at the pre-chilling. The serovar Typhimurium, Derby, Infantis and O:4,5 were found in the carcasses. The four positive carcasses in the pre-cooling step originated from pigs that had Salmonella in intestinal contents, two of them were slaughter on a same day, in which all pigs had a high number of Salmonella in intestinal contents (130 to > 1,400 MPN/g-1). The results indicate that slaughter pig batches presenting high counts of Salmonella in intestinal contents may have higher frequency of positive carcasses in the pre-chilling, even in slaughtering processes complying to hygienic-sanitary standards.

This thesis deals with the complex project of the technical and technological equipment in a new building of the agricultural object. This thesis is divided into two parts. The first part is focused on the description possible and and the most often used variants of technical and technological equipments together with legislative terms. The second part is focused on the design of these equipments including calculations and drawings.