Broiler breeder behavior and egg production as function of environmental temperature

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Comparison of environmental indicators of two aviaries for laying Hens

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Influence of environmental temperature, dietary energy level and sex on performance and carcass characteristics of pigs

Pigs are quite sensitive to high environmental temperatures and the thermoregulation mechanisms represent great expenses in energy for heating loss, reducing animal well-being and production performance, and altering carcass quality. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of sex and dietary energy level in growing-finishing pigs submitted to characteristic seasonal variation of temperature in subtropical humid climate, and to propose a mathematical model to predict growth performance and carcass characteristics. Twenty-eight crossbred growing-finishing pigs were randomly allotted to twelve treatments, in a 2x2x3 factorial trial (2 sex; 2 environmental conditions, and 3 energy levels). Heat stress condition (climatic chamber) showed temperatures of 31 oC at 7:00 and 22 oC at 17:00 (maximum of 33 °C) and thermal comfort condition (stall) showed temperatures of 18 °C at 7:00 and 24 °C (maximum of 27 °C). Pigs were fed ad libitum with diets containing 12.2 (low), 13.6 (medium) and 15.0 (high) MJ ME/ kg DM. Voluntary feed intake, daily weight gain, and final body weight were higher (P<0.01) at thermal comfort condition and were influenced by sex (P<0.01) in growing pigs. Feed to gain ratio decreased as the energy level increased (P<0.01), with values of 2.67, 2.59, and 2.32 (12.2, 13.6, and 15.0 MJ ME/kg DM, respectively). There was energy level and sex interaction only for daily weight gain. Regarding finishing pigs, environmental conditions also showed effects (P<0.01) on voluntary feed intake, daily weight gain, and final body weight. Performance of pigs was better at thermal comfort condition. Feed to gain ratio values were 3.55, 3.42, and 2.95 for low, medium, and high energy level, respectively. Interactions between energy level and sex were observed for voluntary feed intake, daily weight gain, and final body weight (P<0.05). Carcass yield and quality were affected by environmental condition and dietary energy level. Both hot and cold carcass weight increased as energy of ration increased. Cold carcass weight increased by 1.142 kg/MJ EM whereas backfat thickness was up to 252 mm/MJ EM. Longissimus thoracis muscle thickness was around 16 mm smaller in pigs under heat stress, but lean content was 2.68% higher in those animals. Regression equations were proposed to predict the performance values in the different situations studied.

Impactos ambientais da mineração no estado de São Paulo

Generally, mining causes significant impact over the environment, since this activity often involves suppression of vegetation, soil exposure and erosion resulting in important changes in the quantity and quality of surface and ground-waters and in air pollution, among other negative effects. The prevention and mitigation of these impacts in the State of Sao Paulo are made through the environmental licensing. Another way of environmental management includes programs like mining and environmental zoning and regional mining director plans. But there is clear dissociation between the actions effectively taken and those recommended in the projects, limiting the recovery of degraded areas to measures that only attenuate the visual impact. this paper presents considerations on the subject and challenges of the industry to adapt to the Federal Constitution and the National Policy on Environment.

The liberalization of environmental goods and services: overview and implications for Latin America and the Caribbean

Includes Bibliography

Comparative advantages and the exploitation of environmental resources

Includes bibliography

In Vitro Susceptibility of Environmental Isolates of Exophiala dermatitidis to Five Antifungal Drugs

Several dematiaceous fungi frequently isolated from nature are involved in cases of superficial lesions to lethal cerebral infections. Antifungal susceptibility data on environmental and clinical isolates are still sparse despite the advances in testing methods. The objective of this study was to examine the activities of 5-flucytosine, amphotericin B, itraconazole, voriconazole and terbinafine against environmental isolates of Exophiala strains by minimum inhibition concentration (MIC) determination. The strains were obtained from hydrocarbon-contaminated soil, ant cuticle and fungal pellets from the infrabuccal pocket of attine gynes. Broth microdilution assay using M38-A2 reference methodology for the five antifungal drugs and DNA sequencing for fungal identification were applied. Terbinafine was the most active drug against the tested strains. It was observed that amphotericin B was less effective, notably against Exophiala spinifera, also studied. High MICs of 5-flucytosine against Exophiala dermatitidis occurred. This finding highlights the relevance of studies on the antifungal resistance of these potential opportunistic species. Our results also contribute to a future improvement of the standard methods to access the drug efficacy currently applied to black fungi. © 2012 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht.

Some thoughts on the role of environmental impact assessment for developing countries and ECO's role in the Americas

Includes bibliography

Informe del Seminario sobre las Evaluaciones del Impacto Ambiental como Instrumento de Gestión del Medio Ambiente: Situación y Perspectivas en América Latina y el Caribe = Report of the Seminar on Environmental Impact Assessments as an Instrument of Environmental Management: Situation and Prospects in Latin America and the Caribbean

Contiene asistencia, organización de los trabajos y resumen de los debates de la reunión que tuvo como principal objetivo analizar aspectos de la cooperación internacional en materia de evaluaciones del impacto ambiental.