Mycotoxins are common contaminants in cattle diets that compromise animal performance and health. Despite the demonstrated efficacy of adsorbents in poultry and swine, studies involving feedlot cattle, particularly those fed naturally contaminated diets, are limited. This study evaluated the impact of a mixed adsorbent (MA) and an inorganic adsorbent (IA) on the hepatic, ruminal, respiratory, and immune health and productive performance of 36 crossbred steers (½ Angus-Nelore; average weight of 501.7 ± 33.2 kg and 11 ± 5 months of age) fed naturally contaminated diets containing aflatoxin, zearalenone, deoxynivalenol, and fumonisins over 63 days. The treatments included a control, MA (bentonite, yeast cell wall, and silymarin), and IA (bentonite, clinoptilolite, and activated charcoal from babassu). Parameters related to immune, hepatic, respiratory, and ruminal functions as well as animal performance were assessed on days 0, 21, 42, and 63. Immunologically, MA treatment resulted in higher neutrophil and lymphocyte counts, whereas the IA group exhibited only increased neutrophil counts on day 63 compared to the control group. Both treatments resulted in a higher albumin/globulin ratio, indicating a more efficient immune response. The hepatic profiles revealed a tendency for the control group to have higher AST levels (p=0.07) and greater hepatic degeneration (p=0.07) than the treated groups. In the rumen, the MA group showed thickening of the keratin layer and connective tissue, suggesting an increased absorptive area. The average daily gain was higher in the MA group (1.362 kg) than in the control (1.198 kg) and IA (1.266 kg) groups. Feed conversion efficiency was higher in the MA group (7.37) than in the control (7.94) and IA (8.47) groups. These results confirm that adsorbents, particularly MA, mitigate the adverse effects of mycotoxins, thereby enhancing the performance and health of feedlot steers.
Native orchids are increasingly fragile in terms of survival within ecosystems that are being progressively altered by deforestation, land-use changes, illegal trade, and many others factors. It is estimated that the number of orchids in Bolivia ranges between 2,000 and 3,000, considering both identified and unidentified species. Their unique flowering makes it essential to study them for conservation purposes. Within this framework, this research was conducted at the BIORENA Biotechnology Laboratory to propagation three accessions collected with capsule of native orchids (Orchidaceae) by establishing protocols for in vitro seed micropropagation during the establishment and multiplication phases lacking the rooting and actual conservation phases. Seed capsules were collected in October 2023 in the forest at community of San Juan de Saguayo, near Amboró Park in Bolivia. For the establishment phase, the seeds were disinfected with sodium hypochlorite (NaOCl) at 5%, 7% and 10%. A two-factor design with a completely randomized arrangement was used. Three orchid accessions (BAO-001, BAO-002, BAO-003) and three hypochlorite concentrations (5%, 7% and 10%) were used in establishment phase. During the multiplication stage, three MS medium formulations were evaluated: (1) MS supplemented with activated charcoal (AC) and indole-3-acetic acid (IAA), (2) MS supplemented with pyridoxine (P), and (3) MS supplemented with gibberellic acid (GA3). The treatment with 100% germination was achieved with 10% sodium hypochlorite. The survival rate of the accessions was 77.79%, and in the multiplication stage, the survival rate reached 100% at 45 days. In conclusion the MS + GA3 medium in accession BAO- 003 showed to be of larger size, with a greater number of leaves and a greater number of roots.
O objetivo deste trabalho foi desenvolver um método rápido e preciso para determinação do teor de borracha seca (DRC) em lâmina de coágulo de borracha, utilizando a espectroscopia no infravermelho, Near Infrared (NIR) Spectroscopy (NIRS), como técnica analítica, em espectrômetros de bancada e portátil. Amostras de coágulos de borracha natural para o NIRS de bancada (n = 936) e NIRS portátil (n = 987) foram coletadas de uma cooperativa processadora de borracha, no período de janeiro de 2024 a julho de 2025, nas condições edafoclimáticas das épocas de seca, de transição e de águas. Foram utilizados três diferentes métodos de coleta: convencional, quadrado e revolvimento. Os coágulos foram processados na forma de lâminas e analisados o DRC. Após, os espectros NIR das amostras foram obtidos utilizando o método transflectância, e a acurácia e a precisão do modelo foram investigadas. Os espectros NIR foram associados aos resultados laboratoriais para construir modelos quimiométricos de calibração pelo método de regressão por mínimos quadrados parciais (PLS). A equação de calibração utilizando o NIRS de bancada apresentou valores dos parâmetros de calibração R2, RMSEC, RMSECV, Slope e Offset de 0,63; 2,04; 2,18; 0,63; 24,5, respectivamente. Por sua vez, o NIRS portátil apresentou parâmetros de calibração 0,51; 2,37; 2,40; 0,51; 32,0, respectivamente para os mesmos coeficientes. Os modelos ajustados foram testados quanto a precisão e exatidão (validação externa) utilizando um conjunto independente de amostras (n = 163) não incluídas na construção dos modelos de calibração e selecionadas aleatoriamente pelo software quimiométrico. Os resultados da validação externa mostraram que os NIRS de bancada e portátil apresentaram habilidades similares na predição do DRC de coágulo de borracha em lâminas, com R2, RMSEP, SEP, r (Pearson) e bias muito próximos. Os valores de R² iguais a 0,68 (NIRS de bancada) e 0,61 (NIRS portátil) e demais métricas (RPD e RER), indicam que os modelos ainda devem ser aplicados com cautela em uso operacional direto. De modo geral, os métodos desenvolvidos tanto para o NIRS de bancada como o portátil apresentam potencial para predizer os valores de DRC em coágulo de borracha em lâminas. Entretanto, antes da aplicação rotineira nas análises, os modelos devem ser aprimorados por meio da inclusão de novas amostras e de recalibrações contínuas. Embora o modelo de bancada tenha a vantagem de ser ligeiramente mais preciso, as análises precisam ser realizadas sob condições laboratoriais. Em contrapartida, o modelo portátil tem a vantagem de ser usado em tempo real e em análise in situ.
This study evaluated the effects of fodder radish silage on the performance and carcass and meat characteristics of growing rabbits. Forty-four New Zealand White rabbits were equally assigned to one of two dietary treatments: a Control Diet (CD), consisting of commercial pelleted rabbit feed, and a Silage Diet (SD), consisting of a 1:1 mixture (as-fed basis) of fodder radish silage and commercial pelleted rabbit feed. Rabbits were housed in pairs from 35 to 75 days of age and fed ad libitum, with daily feed adjustments to maintain approximately 10% refusals. Body weight was recorded at the beginning of the experiment and weekly until slaughter at 75 days of age. Performance variables (dry matter intake, average daily gain, and feed conversion ratio) and carcass and meat characteristics (carcass and cut yields, pH, color, water-holding capacity, cooking loss, and shear force) were evaluated. Rabbits fed the CD showed greater average daily gain and better feed conversion ratio (P < 0.05) than those fed the SD. The CD also resulted in higher (P < 0.05) hot and cold carcass weights and lower (P < 0.05) shear force. Overall, the nutritional composition of the silage diet negatively affected growth performance and quantitative carcass traits but did not impair the meat quality of growing New Zealand White rabbits.
Wheat is one of the most important cereal crops in the world, being the second most produced globally. It has the largest cultivation areas in the subtropical region of Brazil during the winter period. However, Brazilian wheat production is insufficient to meet domestic demand, requiring imports to adequately supply the demand. Thus, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of nitrogen splitting on wheat cultivars grown in a low-altitude subtropical environment. This study was conducted in a randomized block design distributed in strips, characterizing a three-factor experiment 4x6x2, (four cultivation environments, six wheat cultivars, and two nitrogen management regimes). It was possible to verify that the splitting or single application of nitrogen management as topdressing should be evaluated individually for each wheat cultivar, depending on the productive response of each cultivar. For wheat crops in different environments, and subjected to splitting or not of nitrogen fertilization as topdressing, the variable maximum number of tillers reduces the hectoliter weight of wheat when it is sown in July. The direct effects on the maximum number of tillers variable can be used to improve grain productivity for nitrogen management without split applications. For plant height, there are positive direct effects on grain productivity when sowing in June, with the effect enhanced by greater water availability.
The objective was to evaluate the interaction between the response to supplementation of multiparous and primiparous beef cows on pasture on performance and blood metabolism. Forty Nellore cows were used. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, where two parity orders were evaluated: primiparous (P1) and multiparous (P2), and two postpartum supplementation strategies, as follows: unsupplemented (N), and supplemented (S). Overall, supplementation trend increased weight gain of cows (P < 0.09), regardless of parity order, but did not alter body condition score (BCS) (P > 0.20). In addition, supplementation increased calf weight at 42 days of age (P < 0.01), and milk protein and lactose concentrations (P < 0.03) On the other hand, multiparous cows had higher milk production (P < 0.01), and their calves had higher average dairy gain (ADG) (P < 0.04). There was interaction between postpartum day and parity order (P < 0.03), in which multiparous cows had higher non-sterified fatty acid (NEFA) in blood at calving. There was an interaction between calving order and supplementation on blood albumin (P < 0.05), with lower values for non-supplemented primiparous cows. In addition, supplementation increased insulin like growth factor (IGF-1) in the animal’s blood (P < 0.01). Postpartum supplementation improves the productive performance of cows. In addition, multiparous cows have greater body mobilization at calving and non-supplemented primiparous cows have the worst blood protein status.
Asian soybean rust (Phakopsora pachyrhizi) is an important disease, and the induction of resistance is a promising alternative method for its control. The objective was to evaluate proteins isolated from the Basidiomycota Pycnoporus sanguineus to control soybean rust. The treatments consisted of three proteins (III, IV, and V), a non-fractionated extract (crude extract - CE) of P. sanguineus, the fungicide tebuconazole, and water. The proteins did not show any inhibition of spore germination. Protein III and the CE reduced the number of lesions only on treated leaves. Thus, P. sanguineus contains non-fungitoxic protein capable of locally inducing resistance in soybean against P. pachyrhizi.
Cryoconcentration increases sugar concentration in grape juice, influencing alcoholic fermentation. Thus, physicochemical and colorimetric parameters of cryoconcentrated grape juices and their impact on alcoholic fermentation were evaluated. Five treatments, each with a volume of 1.5 L, were prepared. Treatments received 0.05 g L-1 potassium metabisulfite and 0.60 g L-1 Saccharomyces cerevisiae. Subsequently, treatments were incubated at 25.0 +/- 2.0 degrees C and remained under these conditions until alcoholic fermentation was completed after 10 days (treatment 1), 18 days (treatments 2, 3, and 5), and 26 days (treatment 4). Alcoholic degree and residual reducing sugar levels were 10.56 +/- 0.01% and 4.22 +/- 0.42 g L-1 (treatment 1), 14.58 +/- 0.03% and 34.53 +/- 0.20 g L-1 (treatment 2), 14.91 +/- 0.03% and 35.88 +/- 0.56 g L-1 (treatment 3), 10.37 +/- 0.03% and 76.03 +/- 1.55 g L-1 (treatment 4), and 5.26 +/- 0.02% and 208.50 +/- 5.57 g L-1 (treatment 5), respectively. Total polyphenol content and total titratable acidity increased with higher volumes of cryoconcentrate in treatments. However, pH, volatile acidity, and phenolic profile did not show the same behavior. Cryoconcentration did not affect blue color or hue, but increased color intensity while reducing luminosity and red coloration. High concentrations of total soluble solids reduced the fermentative capacity of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in treatments 2, 3, 4, and 5, delaying fermentation and resulting in high residual sugar levels.
As contaminações microbiológicas que ocorrem na cadeia produtiva do leite, representam um desafio significativo para a saúde pública, principalmente com derivados lácteos como manteiga e creme. Nesse contexto e tendo em vista a relevância socioeconômica e nutricional que esses alimentos representam, é essencial compreender os riscos envolvidos e buscar estratégias eficazes de controle. Este estudo realizou uma revisão sistemática com meta-análise para avaliar a prevalência de microrganismos patogênicos em manteiga e creme. A pesquisa envolveu cinco indexadores bibliográficos, e contou com 1.275 artigos inicialmente, após parâmetros de exclusão, foram incluídos 21 artigos de países diversos como Brasil, Índia, Egito, Irlanda, Turquia, Reino Unido e Suécia, cobrindo continentes como África, Ásia, Europa e América do Sul. Foi utilizado as diretrizes PRISMA para seleção e análise de dados. Os resultados destacaram a presença de Escherichia coli, e espécies de Listeria, Staphylococcus, Pseudomonas nos dois tipos de amostra, além de isolados específicos como Klebsiella spp. em creme e Salmonella spp. em manteiga. Houve identificação de variabilidade nos métodos de isolamento e confirmação. A pesquisa evidenciou que falhas higiênicas e inadequações no transporte e armazenamento são fatores críticos associados à contaminação. Os achados reforçam a necessidade de padronização nos métodos de análise microbiológica e de estratégias de vigilância mais eficientes. A baixa representatividade de continentes como América do Norte e Oceania apontam para lacunas importantes na literatura. Desse modo, a implementação de políticas públicas para minimizar riscos à saúde se fazem necessárias, promovendo segurança de alimentos derivados tão consumidos.
Although the role of humans as the main host that maintains the epidemic cycles of some arboviruses is clarified, there is no consensus that dengue virus (DENV) can be maintained in endemic regions in an enzootic cycle. Therefore, the objective of this study was to investigate the molecular detection of DENV serotypes 1, 2, 3, and 4 RNA in semi-domiciled dogs from urban areas of Foz do Igua & ccedil;u, a dengue-endemic municipality located in a tri-border region between Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. A total of 100 blood samples were collected from dogs residing in two human dengue hotspots. Samples were analyzed by qRT-PCR using a commercial assay originally developed for human diagnostics. The endogenous 18S rRNA internal control amplified in all samples, confirming RNA integrity and absence of detectable PCR inhibition in the canine matrix under the experimental conditions applied. It was possible to identify the presence of DENV-4 RNA signal in six (6%) of the animals, a value considered epidemiologically high. In a region of Triple Frontier, with fluctuating population, great social inequality and different legislative norms between countries, the inclusion of sentinel animals for dengue in epidemiological surveillance programs is in line with PAHO recommendations. The results found provide molecular evidence of DENV RNA detection in dogs from endemic urban areas and raise important questions regarding the potential epidemiological relevance of dogs in dengue-endemic urban environments.
Peanut production has been highlighted in the Northeast region of Brazil; however, salinity in irrigation water negatively affects the agronomic performance of crops. Potassium fertilization, in turn, may mitigate salt stress and enhance the agronomic performance of peanut plants. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of potassium fertilization as a strategy to mitigate salt stress on peanut agronomic performance. The experiment was conducted in the experimental area of the Auroras Seedling Production Unit, belonging to the Universidade da Integra & ccedil;& atilde;o Internacional da Lusofonia Afro Brasileira, in Reden & ccedil;& atilde;o, state of Cear & aacute;. A completely randomized design in a 5 & times; 2 factorial arrangement, with five replications, was adopted. The first factor consisted of five potassium rates (0, 12.5, 25, 37.5, and 50 kg ha-1, corresponding to 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100% of the recommended rate), and the second factor consisted of two irrigation water salinity levels (0.8 and 4.0 dS m-1). Potassium fertilization, combined with irrigation using moderately saline water, led to increases in pod diameter, pod length, and pod number in peanut plants. However, higher salinity significantly reduced these variables. On the other hand, when applied in isolation, brackish water negatively affected pod weight, yield, and water use efficiency.
A brucelose e a tuberculose bovina são zoonoses de elevada relevância sanitária e econômica, cujo controle é prioridade no âmbito da defesa sanitária e epidemiológica agropecuária. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar a influência do trânsito inter e intramunicipal de bovinos na ocorrência dessas enfermidades, no município de São João do Itaperiú, SC, Brasil, entre 2013 e 2022. A pesquisa baseou-se em dados oficiais extraídos do Sistema de Gestão da Defesa Agropecuária Catarinense (SIGEN+) e Sistema Brasileiro de Vigilância e Emergência Veterinária (SISBRAVET), considerando registros de movimentação animal, exames diagnósticos, abates e notificações de casos positivos. Foram identificados 1.026 bovinos com permanência superior à média de idade ao abate, sugerindo destinação à reprodução, dos quais 834 não apresentaram exames sanitários obrigatórios. Dentre os 157 animais diagnosticados como positivos, 135 para brucelose e 22 para tuberculose, 131 (83,4%) haviam ingressado no município sem exames prévios. O risco de positividade para Brucelose no grupo de animais não submetidos a testes prévios foi 17,83 vezes maior em comparação com o grupo submetido a testes prévios. Para a Tuberculose, observou-se também um risco superior no grupo de animais destinados à engorda, com os animais apresentando um risco aproximadamente 2,57 vezes maior de positividade. Constatou-se incongruência entre a finalidade declarada nas Guias de Trânsito Animal (GTA) e a real utilização dos animais, revelando lacunas normativas e falhas de fiscalização. Recomenda-se a reavaliação dos critérios para emissão de GTAs, com inclusão de exigência diagnóstica para machos não castrados e rastreamento da permanência dos animais nas propriedades. Os resultados reforçam a importância de políticas sanitárias integradas, com foco em prevenção, rastreabilidade e educação sanitária, para mitigar os riscos de disseminação dessas zoonoses.
pThe timing of planting is important, as it defines the productive potential of a crop. Among planting-related factors, delayed emergence has received less attention compared with stand loss and seed spatial distribution. Some studies suggest that temporal unevenness in emergence may be more detrimental than spatial unevenness. Thus, the objective of this study was to determine the effect of delayed emergence on delayed and adjacent plants. Two experiments, arranged in randomized blocks, were conducted in a commercial area in 2018 and 2019, with one third of the plants (33%) sown with delays of 0, 2, 4, 6, 8, and 10 days. Delayed and adjacent plants were evaluated separately. In both years, delayed plants showed etiolation, characterized by increased ear insertion height and reduced stem diameter. Adjacent plants exhibited an increase in stem diameter but no change in ear insertion height. Delayed plants demonstrated a linear reduction in all yield components in both years, resulting in a 6.6% (2018) and 8.1% (2019) reduction in yield for each day of delayed emergence. Adjacent plants showed a compensatory response only in 2019, with a linear increase of 1.7% in yield for each day of delayed emergence. In both years, tolerance of up to two days of delayed emergence was observed; beyond this point, the reduction in average yield becomes linear, ranging from 1.6% to 2.1% for each additional day of delay.
Bovine leukemia virus (BLV) is an oncogenic retrovirus belonging to the subfamily Orthoretrovirinae and genus Deltaretrovirus. It is the etiological agent of enzootic bovine leukosis, an infectious disease that affects cow longevity and milk production, potentially leading to economic losses. Serological surveys provide valuable information on BLV circulation in dairy cattle herds. This study evaluated the serological profile of BLV infection in high-yield dairy cattle herds in the Central-Eastern mesoregion of Paran & aacute; State, Southern Brazil. Whole-blood samples were collected from 628 lactating cows in 43 dairy cattle herds between October 2019 and January 2020. Serum samples were stored at -80 degrees C until processing. Serological tests were performed using a commercially available ELISA kit to detect antibodies against glycoprotein 51 (gp51) in the BLV envelope. Herds were considered positive when at least one cow tested positive for anti-gp51 antibodies. The data obtained were categorized by type of management (intensive and semi-intensive) and the number of lactating cows per herd (<100, 100-200, and >200) and subjected to statistical analyses using chi-square and odds ratio tests at a 95% confidence level. Notably, all 43 (100.0%) evaluated herds were seropositive for BLV, with 10 herds (23.3%) showing 100% positivity in the evaluated cows. Of the sampled cows, 82% (515/628) were seropositive for BLV. The results of the statistical analyses for both factors were compared with the frequency of seropositive cows. Herds with 100-200 lactating cows exhibited a higher chance of being positive than those with <100 or >200 lactating cows. Moreover, herds under intensive management practices showed a 1.87-times greater chance of becoming infected with BLV than those under semi-intensive management. The serological survey results indicated that BLV infection is endemic in the Central-Eastern mesoregion of Paran & aacute; State. Enzootic bovine leukosis is a clinically silent retroviral disease, with overt clinical manifestations occurring only sporadically. Nevertheless, BLV infection is associated with reduced animal productivity and significant economic losses. Therefore, only coordinated actions to raise awareness among all stakeholders in the dairy production chain regarding the epidemiological importance of BLV and its routes of transmission will help to reduce the prevalence of seropositive animals and herds in endemic regions.
Soluble peptides derived from bovine cartilage and intestinal mucosa (Peptipro®) are obtained through enzymatic hydrolysis as byproducts of heparin and chondroitin extraction. This hydrolysis releases bioactive compounds and results in a highly digestible product. This study aimed to identify the bioactive peptides present in Peptipro® and evaluate the effects of its dietary inclusion on the growth performance and intestinal health of weaned piglets, compared with diets containing spray-dried bovine plasma (BP) used in nursery feeding. Peptipro® was subjected to peptide sequencing using mass spectrometry. The performance trial was conducted in a randomized block design with a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement and ten replicates. The factors included diet and sex of the piglets, while blocks were defined based on their initial body weight (BW). The experimental diets were as follows: BP: 6% and 3% spray-dried BP in Pre-initial I (first week) and II (second week) phases, respectively; Partial replacement of BP with Peptipro® (BP–Pep): 3% spray-dried BP and 3% Peptipro® in Pre-initial I phase, and 1.5% of each in Pre-initial II phase; and Peptipro®: 3% and 1.5% Peptipro® in Pre-initial I and II phases, respectively. During Initial I (third week) and Initial II (last 18 days) phases, all experimental groups received the same diet. A total of 120 piglets (6.92 ± 0.77 kg BW), comprising 60 immunocastrated males and 60 females, were distributed in 30 pens with four animals per pen and fed ad libitum for 39 days. In total, 176 peptides were identified in Peptipro®, of which 71 exhibited bioactive functions related to energy metabolism regulation (74.6%), blood pressure regulation (63.4%), and antioxidative activity (8.4%), immunomodulation (2.8%), and other metabolic processes (4.2%). Intestinal permeability, assessed using fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran (FITC-dextran), was not affected by diet (P = 0.308). In the Pre-initial II phase, Peptipro® diet increased the average daily gain by 12.8% compared with the BP–Pep diet (0.397 vs. 0.352 kg animal−1 day−1; P = 0.044), without affecting feed intake (0.444 kg animal−1 day−1, on average; P = 0.198), resulting in a better feed conversion ratio (1.08 vs. 1.25 kg feed kg−1 gain; P = 0.001). Fecal score was not influenced by diet, sex, or their interactions (P > 0.05), with mean relative frequencies of 51.5, 35.5, and 13.0% for normal, pasty, and liquid feces, respectively. Owing to its favorable amino acid profile, the presence of broad spectrum of bioactive peptides, and its positive effects on animal performance, Peptipro® can replace spray-dried BP in pre-starter diets for nursery piglets.
Toxoplasma gondii is a zoonotic parasite that can infect mammals and birds, posing a risk to human health. It can cause reproductive disorders in small ruminants. Neospora caninum affects ruminants, especially cattle, and causes abortions; however, studies have also reported reproductive alterations in sheep and goats. The aim of this study was to investigate the seroprevalence and epidemiological aspects of infection by T. gondii and N. caninum in goats in northern Paraná, Brazil. Blood samples were collected from 321 animals on eight goat farms in northern Paraná. IgG anti-T. gondii antibodies were analyzed using an indirect fluorescence antibody test (IFA), with cutoff points of 64 for T. gondii and 50 for N. caninum. Of the 321 animals analyzed, 110 (34.3%) were seropositive for T. gondii and 33 (10.3%) were seropositive for N. caninum. Eight farms (100%) were seropositive for T. gondii and seven (87.5%) were seropositive for N. caninum. Statistically significant associations were observed between seropositivity for T. gondii and a history of abortions and the presence of cats on the property. Investigation of the seroprevalence of T. gondii and N. caninum is essential for implementing measures to control and prevent toxoplasmosis and neosporosis in Northern Paraná.
This study aimed to develop predictive equations for bodyweight (BW) in fat-type (lard-type) pigs raised under extensive or semi-extensive systems, and to determine the most significant morphometric predictors. Data were collected from 240 pigs (122 males and 118 females) on smallholder farms, with BW ranging from 4.7 to 68.0 kg. The following traits were recorded: body weight (BW), carcass length (CL), thoracic circumference (TC), hip circumference (HC), withers height (WH), and hip height (HH). Descriptive statistics (means, standard deviations, coefficients of variation, and maximum values) were calculated separately for each sex. Pearson's correlation coefficients indicated that all morphometric measurements were strongly correlated with BW (r >= 0.90) in both sexes. Data were tested for normality (Cramer-von Mises), and male and female datasets were analyzed separately using stepwise multiple linear regression. The resulting sex-specific equations were compared using an F test, with no differences detected between males and females (P = 0.376) Therefore, a single pooled equation was considered sufficientto explain BW variation in both sexes: BW =-35.51 + 0.80 & times; TC + 0.11 & times; CL (R-2 = 0.93; P<0.0001). To assess practical applicability, the general equation was validated using CL and TC data from an independent set of 53 pigs (BW = 6.5-42.8 kg) not included in model development. Predicted and observed values were highly correlated (r = 0.96), indicating strong predictive performance. These findings demonstrate that CL and TC are sufficient to accurately predict BW in fat-type pigs, providing a practical tool for small-scale producers who lack access to weighing scales.
This study assessed the availability, nutritional quality, and economic accessibility of eco-labeled animal-based products and plant-based analogues within the urban food environment. A crosssectional audit of 149 retail establishments in the city of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, was conducted between July 2022 and June 2023, stratified by the Social Progress Index (& Iacute;ndice de Progresso Social-IPS). In total, 1,643 eco-labeled protein-rich foods (animal-based products and plant-based analogues) were evaluated for availability, price, and macronutrient composition. Multivariate factor analysis (MFA) and principal component analysis (PCA) were used to examine the relationships between product availability, geographic regions, and IPS levels, while chi-square and G tests compared product categories (p <= 0.05). The results indicated that IPS accounted for 86.8% of the variance in product availability, suggesting that socio-spatial segregation is strongly associated with differences in access to sustainable protein-rich foods. Plant-based products were on average 71% more expensive than their animal-based counterparts. Among plant-based products, burgers emerged as the most prevalent item in the segment, whereas certified chicken was the most prevalent within the animal-based category. The nutritional composition of plant-based products showed advantages, including higher dietaryfiber content, absence of cholesterol, and a more favorable lipid profile, but also limitations, such as lower protein content and elevated sodium levels. The unequal concentration of ecolabeled protein-rich foods reinforces disparities in access to innovative and sustainable foods. The protein transition in Brazil is unlikely to occur solely through market forces; targeted public policies will be necessary to overcome structural barriers related to price, distribution, and consumer information within sustainable food systems.
Weed resistance to herbicides, especially glyphosate, has made their management difficult in soybean crops. One alternative is the use of pre-emergent herbicides. However, even when recommended for the crop, selectivity depends on several factors, including the soybean cultivar. In this sense, the objective of this work was to evaluate the sensitivity of different soybean cultivars to the herbicide metribuzin. The experiment was conducted in a greenhouse in a completely randomized design with four replications, in a 19 x 3 factorial arrangement. Factor A consisted of 19 soybean cultivars. Factor B consisted of three doses of metribuzin; zero, 480 g a.i. ha-1, and 960 g a.i. ha-1. The variables evaluated were: phytotoxicity, quantum efficiency of PSII (Fv/Fm), effective efficiency of PSII (YII), relative electron transport rate (rETR), plant height, and shoot dry mass (SDM). Data were subjected to analysis of variance (ANOVA) (p < 0.05) and means were compared using the Scott-Knott test (p < 0.05). A significant interaction was observed between the factors soybean cultivar and metribuzin dose. The herbicide metribuzin caused negative alterations in the physiological and growth characteristics of the plants, demonstrating the phytotoxicity of the herbicide in some soybean cultivars, especially at the highest dose evaluated. The cultivars M 5917, M 6130 I2X, M 6301 I2X, and NS 5252 I2X showed greater tolerance to metribuzin.
