Selecting the most adequate bedding material for broiler production in Brazil

Broiler chicken production is widely dispersed across the globe, and one important issue for growers is the selection of adequate bedding material, as the availability and price of substrates varies among countries and regions within a same country. This study aimed at applying a multiple criteria analysis approach for the selection of the most appropriate bedding material for broiler production. Based on field research data and growers' experience, the most desirable characteristics of a litter material were chosen as the main criteria. The selected materials were wood shavings, rice husks, chopped Napier grass (Pennisetum pupureum), 50% sugar cane bagasse (Saccharum L.) plus 50% wood shavings, 50% sugar cane bagasse (Saccharum L.) plus 50% rice husks, and pure sugar cane bagasse (Saccharum L.). The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) was applied for selecting the most suitable bedding material. Validation was performed using data from previous studies carried out in central-western Brazil on the effects of different types of bedding material on broiler carcass quality. Considering the selected criteria, several bedding materials were tested and ranked, and the results showed that wood-shavings litter was the best option (weight = 0.28), followed by rice husks (weight = 0.24). All other tested alternatives presented lower scores and were, therefore, not considered for use. The AHP approach was found to be an efficient tool to select the most appropriate litter material under specific scenarios.

Principal components and factor analytic models for birth to mature weights in Nellore cattle

A total of 61,528 weight records from 22,246 Nellore animals born between 1984 and 2002 were used to compare different multiple-trait analysis methods for birth to mature weights. The following models were used: standard multivarite model (MV), five reduced-rank models fitting the first 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 genetic principal components, and five models using factor analysis with 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 factors. Direct additive genetic random effects and residual effects were included in all models. In addition, maternal genetic and maternal permanent environmental effects were included as random effects for birth and weaning weight. The models included contemporary group as fixed effect and age of animal at recording (except for birth weight) and age of dam at calving as linear and quadratic effects (for birth weight and weaning weight). The maternal genetic, maternal permanent environmental and residual (co)variance matrices were assumed to be full rank. According to model selection criteria, the model fitting the three first principal components (PC3) provided the best fit, without the need for factor analysis models. Similar estimates of phenotypic, direct additive and maternal genetic, maternal permanent environmental and residual (co)variances were obtained with models MV and PC3. Direct heritability ranged from 0.21 (birth weight) to 0.45 (weight at 6 years of age). The genetic and phenotypic correlations obtained with model PC3 were slightly higher than those estimated with model MV. In general, the reduced-rank model substantially decreased the number of parameters in the analyses without reducing the goodness-of-fit. © 2013 Elsevier B.V.

Exercício, funcionalidade e distúrbios do sono em pacientes com doença de Parkinson

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Avaliação da reatividade de bovinos de corte e sua relação com caracteres reprodutivos e produtivos

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Mediação da leitura em bibliotecas públicas

Pós-graduação em Ciência da Informação - FFC

Uma abordagem multiobjetivo para o problema de corte de estoque unidimensional

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Fatores socioeconômicos e percepção de risco de produtores de leite no uso de produtos veterinários

Pós-graduação em Medicina Veterinária - FCAV

Avaliação da população de cães e gatos com proprietário, e do nível de conhecimento sobre a raiva e posse responsável em duas áreas contrastantes da cidade de Jaboticabal, São Paulo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Contribuição para o estudo da dinâmica de populações de cães e gatos do município de Jaboticabal, São Paulo

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Fatores de risco para macrossomia fetal em gestações complicadas por diabete ou hiperglicemia diária

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Influência da pré-eclâmpsia na capacidade funcional de exercício

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Associações das concentrações séricas de ácido úrico com as variáveis dietéticas, antropométricas e bioquímicas de adultos clinicamente selecionados para programa de mudança de estilo de vida

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Associação da massa muscular esquelética com variáveis demográficas, antropométricas, dietéticas, bioquímicas e aptidão física de adultos clinicamente selecionados para programa de mudança de estilo de vida (MEV)

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Gestão de organizações não governamentais

Pós-graduação em Serviço Social - FCHS

Caracterização de micro-habitats do guaxinim (Procyon cancrivorus) em remanescentes de vegetação na região de Campinas, São Paulo (Mammalia: Carnivora)

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)