Influência das etapas do processo de abate de suínos na prevalência de patógenos e níveis de microrganismos indicadores de qualidade e higiene

The pig slaughter process involve different steps that can influence the microbiological quality of carcasses. At this, the understanding of the slaughter process on the microbiological aspects is necessary for the implementation and evaluation of critical control points. The microbiological control of the slaughter process should involve the evaluation of pathogens prevalence and levels of quality and hygiene indicator microorganisms. This study aimed at investigating the influence of steps slaughter process on the microbiological levels of pig carcasses, and evaluate if there is correlation between pathogens (Salmonella spp. and Listeria monocytogenes) and indicators (aerobic mesophilic counts, total coliforms, Escherichia coli and Enterobacteriaceae) microorganisms. A high Salmonella soroprevalence in pigs were founded before the slaughter (57.49 %). While the Salmonella prevalence in carcasses at the initial stage of the slaughter was 26.67 % and in the final stage 1.11 %, L. monocytogenes was detected only in the final washing and cooling steps, with a prevalence of 21.11 and 8.89 %, respectively. The aerobic mesophilic counts, Enterobacteriaceae, total coliforms and E. coli levels in initial steps of slaughter process were 4.25 ± 0.37; 1.25 ± 0.38; 1.10 ± 0.35 and 0.86 ± 0.36, respectively. At the end of slaughter process the results were lower (ranging from 0.16 at 2.70 log CFU/cm2). The step that most reduced microbiological levels was the scalding. The dehairing was a critical step that led to a significant increase of microorganisms levels in the process (p < 0.05). The evisceration not proved to be a critical step on the increase of microbial levels, differently of the final washing, which showed significant increases (p < 0.05) over the levels of aerobic counts, total coliforms, E. coli and enterobacterias (0.30; 0.36; 0.27 and 0.42 log respectively) and Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes. The chilling contributes significantly to the reduction of microbiological levels of carcasses, bringing them to levels below the all process stages, with the exception of scalding. No correlation between the hygiene indicator microorganisms used and presence of Salmonella spp. and L. monocytogenes were obtained (p < 0.05). The results show that steps in the process are critical to the sanitary profile, which implies the need to implement actions in the process to reducing the microbiological levels.

Chorume de suíno no controle da rizoctoniose em beterraba

The fungus Rhizoctonia solani is a soil borne pathogen that causes damage to various crops. The chemical control, when managed incorrectly, can be harmful to the environment, which makes the study of alternative control important. This study aimed to evaluate the ability of different doses of Liquid swine manure (LSM), with and without the retention of gases, at different soil pH levels, to control R. solani in beet. An inoculum of the fungus R. solani was on rice grains, which had been previously sterilised. The experiments were set up in a greenhouse in a completely randomised block design, arranged in a three-factor 2 x 2 x 5 scheme, comprising of soil pH levels (4.8 and 7.2) x with and without gas retention x LSM dose (0, 5, 10, 15 and 20%), with four replications per treatment. To setup the experiments, 4 kg of soil of each pH level were packed separately into plastic bags. Subsequently, the soil of each bag was infested with 15 g of fungus inoculum/kg of soil, and moistened as necessary. After seven days of infestation of the soil with the pathogen the different doses of LSM were incorporated separately into the bags, the bags designated as the gas retention treatment were closed, while those designated as the gas release treatment were left open. After seven days, part of the soil from each bag was packed separately into 16 cells of 128 cell Styrofoam trays, which were then seeded with two beet seeds per cell. The other part of the soil was placed in 2 litre pots, to conduct the quantification of microbial activity, through the method of CO2 release, 21 days after the experiment was setup. Seedling emergence and damping-off evaluations were performed daily for 21 days consecutively. The data was submitted to analysis of variance, and when significant were submitted to regression analysis or Tukey at 5% probability of error. The experiments were repeated twice. According to the results obtained, there was a suppressive effect of LSM on R. solani. For the variable emergence, the 10% dose of LSM resulted in the largest number of emerging plants in the two soil pH levels studied, whether or not gas was retained. Seedling dampingoff decreased with increasing volumes of LSM incorporated into the soil. The soil with the pH level of 7.2 presented less seedling damping-off than the soil with a pH level of 4.8. The retention of gases provided greater control of R. solani in the higher LSM doses and in soil with a pH level of 7.2. Also noted in this study that there was a significant increase in microbial activity with increasing doses of LSM when applied to soil with pH levels of 4.8 and 7.2. Based on these results, it was concluded that the 10% dose of LSM provided the best control of R. solani without harming seedling emergence.

Proposta de um processo de transferência de tecnologia para as instituições públicas de pesquisa: o caso da Embrapa

The Brazilian agricultural research agency has, over the years, contributed to solve social problems and to promote new knowledge, incorporating new advances and seeking technological independence of the country, through the transfer of knowledge and technology generated. However, the process of transfering of knowledge and technology has represented a big challenge for public institutions. The Embrapa is the largest and main brazilian agricultural research company, with a staff of 9.790 employees, being 2.440 researchers and an annual budget of R$ 2.52 billion. Operates through 46 decentralized research units, and coordinate of the National Agricultural Research System - SNPA. Considering that technology transfer is the consecration of effort and resources spent for the generation of knowledge and the validity of the research, this work aims to conduct an assessment of the performance of Embrapa Swine and Poultry along the production chain of broilers and propose a technology transfer model for this chain, which can be used by the Public Institutions Research – IPPs. This study is justified by the importance of agricultural research for the country, and the importance of the institution addressed. The methodology used was the case study with a qualitative approach, documentary and bibliographic research and interviews with use of semi-structured questionnaires. The survey was conducted in three stages. In the first stage, there was a diagnosis of the Technology Transfer Process (TT), the contribution of the Embrapa Swine and poultry for the supply chain for broiler. At this stage it was used bibliographical and documentary research and semi- structured interviews with agroindustrial broiler agents, researchers at Embrapa Swine and Poultry, professionals of technology transfer, from the Embrapa and Embrapa Swine and Poultry, managers of technology transfer and researchers from the Agricultural Research Service - ARS. In the second step, a model was developed for the technology transferring poultry process of Embrapa. In this phase, there were made documentary and bibliographic research and analysis of information obtained in the interviews. The third phase was to validate the proposed model in the various sectors of the broilers productive chain. The data show that, although the Embrapa Swine and Poultry develops technologies for broiler production chain, the rate of adoption of these technologies by the chain is very low. It was also diagnosed that there is a gap between the institution and the various links of the chain. It was proposed an observatory mechanism to approximate Embrapa Swine and Poultry and the agents of the broiler chain for identifying and discussing research priorities. The proposed model seeks to improve the interaction between the institution and the chain, in order to identify the chain real research demands and the search and the joint development of solutions for these demands. The proposed TT model was approved by a large majority (96.77%) of the interviewed agents who work in the various links in the chain, as well as by representatives (92%) of the entities linked to this chain. The acceptance of the proposed model demonstrates the willingness of the chain to approach Embrapa Swine and Poultry, and to seek joint solutions to existing problems.