Formação de populações-bases de aves para corte. I. Avaliação de melhoramento genético disponível no mercado

The present work aimed at studying the effect of five doses of zinc (0, 1.0, 2.0, 3.0 and 4.0 ppm) in three levels of soil correction. A Dark-Red Latosol, clay texture, oryginally recovered by cerrado vegetation was used. Soybean was used as test plant, cultivated in green-house conditions. The zinc dose affected dry matter production of aerial parts and grain only in the treatments that received the corrective. The concentration of the element in the soil increased linearly with the dose application, and the critical levels in soil (90% of the maximal yield) were between 0.27 and 0.37 ppm of zinc in the treatments with the equivalent to 2.0 t/ha and 3.2 t/ha of lime, respectively.

Qualidade e composição química da carne de bovinos de corte inteiros ou castrados de diferentes grupos genéticos Charolês x Nelore

Seventy beef males of three breeding systems (BS), straightbreds Charolais (Ch) and Nellore (Ne), G1 crossbreds: 1/2 Ch + 1/2 Ne (1/2 Ch) and 1/2 Ne + 1/2 Ch (1/2 Ne) and G2 crossbreds: 3/4 Ch + 1/4 Ne (3/4 Ch) and 3/4 Ne + 1/4 Ch (3/4 Ne) were used. The number of animals by genetic group was, respectively, 15, 12,8, 12,14 and 9. Thirty-five males were castrated (C) at seven months and 35 were kept intact (1). The animals were feedlot finished from 20 to 24 months. The longissimus dorsi muscle was used for the meat evaluation. No significant interaction was observed between genetic composition and sexual condition, for the variables studied. The I males displayed meat with darker color (3.05 vs. 3.78 points) with less amount of marbling (4.26 vs. 5.75 points) and less amount of ether extract (1.73 vs. 2.88%). However they presented larger (66.03 vs. 60.50 cm(2)) longissimus dorsi area and meat with better palatability, juiciness and tenderness. Ch animals had larger longissimus dorsi than the Ne. In the G I group, the 1/2 Ch meat showed larger amount of marbling and ether extract and less cooking losses than the 1/2 Ne meat. Between G2 animals, the 3/4 Ne showed meat with larger thawing losses and larger amount of ether extract. In G1 animals meat, the heterosis level reached 18.54% for longissimus dorsiarea, 28.10% for ether extract and 64.01% for amount of marbling. In G2, the heterosis was -17.30% for lean texture and 10.40% for longissimus dorsi area.

Influência do banho de aspersão ante-mortem na contaminação microbiana da carne bovina

To determine the effects of the pre-slaughter showering on some meat quality parameters, the bacterial changes in the Longus colli muscle and the contamination of the meat surface at three different points of the slaughter line were studied. Sixteen Nelore steers were slaughtered in a commercial slaughterhouse. Eight animals were submitted to pre-slaughter showering; a control group of eight animals were slaughtered without showering. Aseptic samples were collected for evaluations in the muscle depth, in the anterior portion of Longus colli muscle, just before chilling. The swab method was used for sampling carcass surface right after dressing, before carcasse washing, and at the beginning of chilling. Longus colli muscle samples were used to determine bacteria total count, psychrotrophic count and Enterobacteriaceae count, after 5, 24 and 48 hours from slaughtering, and in carcass surface, bacteria total count and psychrotrophic count. Multivariate methods were used to evaluate bacterial data the use of pre-slaughter showering did not affect the bacteria total counts, in the deep tissue. A significant growth of psychrotrophic bacteria was detected in both treatments. No significant differences (P>.05) were found in bacteria total count and psychrotrophic count between treatments. Also, no differences (P>.05) were detected between counts taken at different momments at the kill floor: skinning, before carcasse washing, and at the cooler, before chilling.

Cytotaxonomic analysis of Brazilian species of the genus Amazona (Psittacidae, Aves) and confirmation of the genus Salvatoria (Ribeiro, 1920)

The karyotypes of 12 species of Psittacidae of the genus Amazona were studied: A. aestiva, A. amazonica, A. brasiliensis, A. autumnalis, A. farinosa, A, festiva, A. kawalli, A. ochrocephala, A. pretrei, A. rhodocorytha, A. vinacea and A. xanthops. The metaphases were obtained using a short term culture of leather pulp. Eleven of the twelve analyzed species were karyotypically homogeneous, with only a few divergences in chromosomes 2 and 3. The species A. xanthops showed large karyotypic differences compared to the genus Amazona. Consequently, the genus Salvatoria (Ribeiro, Rev. Mus. Paul. 12: 1-82, 1920) was confirmed, and A. xanthops renamed Salvatoria xanthops. The study showed the chromosomic conservation of the genus Amazona and the need for further taxonomic studies of the karyotype of the Psittacidae.

Cranial osteology in mornoticlae (Aves : Coradiformes)

Momotidae (motmots) is found throughout Latin America between Mexico and northern Argentina. Given the absence of detailed studies of cranial osteology of Momotidae in the literature, this article presents a comprehensive description of the variation of the cranial osteology in all nine species of Momotidae and compares the results with published studies of other families of Coraciiformes and families in other orders. In addition, the cranial structures described are related to ecological and behavioral aspects of Momotidae. The cranial osteology of Baryphthengus ruficapillus is described in detail and compared with other species of Momotidae. The results indicate the presence in Momotidae of modified cranial structures, among which the most conspicuous are the frontal, lacrimal, squamosal, orbital, and laterosphenoid regions, as well as the palatine, upper jaw, pterygoid, and mandible. (C) 2003 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

POPULATIONAL STUDY OF CHROMOSOME POLYMORPHISM IN ZONOTRICHIA-CAPENSIS (EMBERIZIDAE, PASSERIFORMES, AVES)

The karyotypes of 328 specimens of Zonotrichia capensis from four regions, three in the state of Parana and one in the state of São Paulo (Brazil), were studied. This species presents a chromosomal polymorphism due to pericentric inversion, involving the 3rd and 5th chromosome pairs. Chromosome 3 exists in the 3st and 3sm conditions and chromosome 5, in 5st and 5m conditions. Mitotic metaphase spreads were obtained from bone-marrow material of colchicine-treated animals.At all collection sites the frequency of chromosome 5m was considerably lower than that of the inverted chromosome 3sm.The present work tried to establish a correlation between the frequencies of the 3rd and 5th chromosome pairs with the climatical and geographical parameters at the collecting regions.Data show that the frequency of chromosome 5m is higher in regions with low temperature and high altitude.

Artrópodes associados ao excremento de aves poedeiras

A research about arthropode fauna in laying hen excrement was carried out in a poultry house in the State of São Paulo, from January 2001 to December 2002. The objective was to verify the frequency of Diptera and Coleoptera collected by Berlese funil and flutuation methods, and to show correlation between the collect methods and sazonality possible in the currents seasons. A total of 29,499 insects were collected from seventy five collects, being 16,702 Diptera (six families) and 12,797 Coleoptera (four families). Some arthropodes presented direct relation with the collect method, the seasons of the years and the rainfall precipitation, with significant increase in the number of insects collected in certain periods of the year.

KARYOTYPE STUDIES IN 22 SPECIES OF PARROTS (PSITTACIFORMES, AVES)

The karyotypes of 12 species of Psittaciformes new to cytology are described: Lorius hypoinochrous, L. lory and Phigys solitarius of the Loriidae, and Amazona autumnallis, Aratinga jandaya, Eclectus roratus, Pionus maximiliani, P. menstruus, P. senilis, P. seniloides, Poicephalus senegalus and Polytelis alexandrae of the Psittacidae. The karyotypes of Amazona ochrocephala, Ara ararauna, Ara macao, Psittacula krameri, Psittacus erithacus and Pyrrhura molinae of the Psittacidae have been previously described. For reasons of comparison the karyotypes of Aratinga aurea, Forpus xanthopterygius, Brotogeris sanctithomae and B. versicolorus of the Psittacidae are also described. These karyotypes are compared to those in the literature and the karyological relationships in the Psittaciformes are briefly discussed. Microchromosome fusions and translocations and pericentric inversions probably are responsible for the heterogeneity of karyotypes in the Psittaciformes.

Influência do banho de aspersão ante-mortem na eficiência da sangria e em parâmetros bioquímicos da carne bovina

To determine the effects of the pre-slaughter showering on some meat quality parameters, the biochemical changes in the Longus colli muscle and the bleeding efficiency were studied. Thirty-six Nelore steers were slaughtered in a commercial slaughterhouse. Eighteen animals were submitted to pre-slaughter showering; a control group of eighteen animals were slaughtered without showering. Samples were collected for evaluations in the muscle depth, in the anterior portion of longus colli muscle,just before chilling. Bleeding efficiency was evaluated through the ratio of muscle haemoglobin/blood haemoglobin using blood samples taken five seconds after bleeding, and muscle sample taken before chilling. Longus colli muscle samples were also used to determine glycogen, glucose, pH and acidity, 5, 24 and 48 hours after slaughtering. Multivariate methods were used to evaluate biochemical data and the bleeding efficiency data analysis followed the randomized block design. Haemoglobin retained in the muscle and bleeding efficiency were not affected (P > .05) by pre-slaughter showering. The pre-slaughter showering did not affect (P > .05) the glycolysis. There was a significant effect of time in glycogen, glucose, pH and acidity, in the first 24 hours.

Estudo experimental sobre a intoxicação de Gallus gallus domesticus com semente de crotalaria spectabilis. II efeito em aves na fase final de crescimento

This study was undertaken to investigate the toxic effect of Crotalaria spectabilis seeds added to the ration for commercial broilers during the final phase of growth. Ground seeds were added at different concentrations to the ration: 0.0% (control), 0.01%, 0.1% and 0.4%. Rations containing 0.4% caused symptoms of intoxication, beginning in the second week of the study. During the third week birds showed bristling, apathy, general weakness, distended abdomen and agglomeration. In the fourth week, four animals died. Necropsy revealed prominent ascites and severe lesions of liver, kidney and lung. Microscopic examination revealed necrosis of hepatocytes, inflammatory cell infiltration, hypertrophy and hyperplasia of biliary duct cells leading to atresia and cholestasis. Prominent cartilaginous and osseous nodules in the lungs were also present as well as degenerative, changes in the kidney tubules and necrosis of cells of the bursa. All the broilers receiving a ration with 0.1% of Crotalaria seeds showed ascites and slight lesions of the liver. The remaining groups showed no reduction in weight gains, lesions or clinical symptoms. It is concluded that broilers during the final phase of growth are sensitive to administrations of seeds of C. spectabilis in their ration. The presence of ascites and cartilaginous and osseous nodules in the lungs of the affected birds was also considered important.