Banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO: WELLIGTON CONCEIÇÃO DA SILVA

Uma banca de QUALIFICAÇÃO de MESTRADO foi cadastrada pelo programa.
STUDENT : WELLIGTON CONCEIÇÃO DA SILVA
DATE: 22/01/2022
TIME: 08:30
LOCAL: Ambiente Virtual - Google Meet
TITLE:

FOCAL ANIMAL AS AN ANIMAL WELL-BEING INDICATOR IN CATTLE AND BUFFALOES

KEY WORDS:

Animal behavior. Focal animal. Animal Production. Cattle. Buffalos.

PAGES: 73
BIG AREA: Ciências Agrárias
AREA: Zootecnia
SUBÁREA: Produção Animal
SPECIALTY: Manejo de Animais
SUMMARY:

This study is divided into four chapters, the second, third and fourth being written in the format of scientific articles. Chapter I presents a literature review on animal behavior and welfare. Chapter II deals with a proposal for using the focal animal recording technique in the assessment of the well-being of buffaloes. This study was carried out in an experimental paddock on a rural property in the municipality of Santarém, Pará, Brazil. To assess animal patterns, the focal animal technique was used. The animals were filmed during the day, using a video camera, and at night and at dawn, records were held "in loco" due to difficulties in filming. In all, the animals were observed for 72 consecutive hours. Based on the literature, variables to be analyzed were predefined and divided into state type: finding, standing, rumination, grazing and idleness and instantaneous: tail wagging, scratching and licking. The variables, mean air temperature and relative air humidity were also verified. The temperature and humidity index (ITU) and the thermal comfort index (CI) were measured. The multivariate technique of principal components was applied to group the patterns and identify which activities the animals perform most in these periods. Instantaneous patterns were also adopted and the analyzes were carried out in the R-Studio software. As a result, note that the ITU and IC independently for the thermal comfort zone. Grazing was more evident in the coldest hours of the day, especially during the night and dawn. Rumination occurred in different periods, especially during the day, being more frequent with the animal in the lying position. Behaviors such as scratching, tail wagging and licking differed from each other (p<0.05), and are parameters that can also be taken into account to map the level of well-being of individuals of this species. Therefore, the evaluations carried out within the parameters adapted for buffaloes adequately reflect the behavioral repertoire for the ethogram, in the field environment. The third chapter was developed from the data obtained during the project, and aimed to identify through correlations whether the respiratory rate (RR) and mean descent time (TMD) can be used as instruments capable of assessing the animal's stress level. . The experiment was carried out in a slaughterhouse-refrigerator, under the Federal Inspection Service, in the municipality of Castanhal, State of Pará. Eight batches of uncastrated zebu cattle, aged approximately four years, weighing an average of 500±28 Kg were used. -1 from different properties and municipalities. Only animals transported by land were evaluated. Divided into two treatments (distance traveled between the origin and destination of the animals) of short (<291 km) and long distances (>291 km). In addition, direct correlation was also carried out by compiling the distances without adopting the treatments. As measurement parameters for the realization of correlations, the initial and final RF and the initial and final pH, as well as the TMD and distances were used. As a result, it was found that there was a positive correlation (p<0.05) of the initial and final pH with the final RF for long-distance transport. There were also differences (p<0.01) between initial and final RF and for initial and final pH. When evaluating the distances together (Treatment I and II), a positive correlation (p>0.05) was evidenced between the final and initial pH. It is also identified that there was a negative correlation (p<0.01) between TMD and initial pH (<0.05) and between TMD and final pH (<0.05). Furthermore, there was a positive correlation between initial and final pH for treatment II. By correlating the distance as a function of the TMD with the initial and final pH, a positive correlation was identified between the TMD and the distance (p<0.01). And for the final pH there was a negative correlation as a function of distance (p<0.01). Finally, it was possible to verify that the RF proved to be a response variable capable of indicating the animal's stress level with reference to the pH variation, since this presented a direct correlation with the initial and final pH. Furthermore, TMD also presented itself as a response in relation to the stress level of cattle. The fourth chapter is still under construction, and aims to evaluate the behavior of focal animals in a slaughterhouse waiting pen as an indicator of animal welfare and its effect on carcass and beef quality. This study was carried out in the waiting corral of a slaughterhouse-refrigerator, under the Federal Inspection Service (SIF), located in the municipality of Castanhal, State of Pará. Eight batches of uncastrated male zebu cattle aged approximately four years, weighing an average of 500±28.5 Kg-1, coming from different properties and municipalities. The lots were divided into distances, considering two different categories: short (<500 km) and long (>501km) distances. The animals were transported by means of a single-floor truck, exclusively by land. Five focal animals were used in each replication, chosen by drawing lots, which were visually identified, making it possible to observe the animals through the filming. For observation of individuals, the animal-focal method with instantaneous recording was used, where every five minutes per animal/hour, the animal was observed, and then the behavior of the cattle was recorded. In all, five focal animals per hour were evaluated, totaling 25 minutes of observation. Two video cameras distributed inside the waiting corral were used. Behaviors were continuously recorded. Digital video with a High Definition (HD) recorder (Seagate 500 GB) was used in order to store the images. The video data was then analyzed using a recording of each animal in the Cowlog 3.0.2 Behavior Software. Videos were evaluated by two trained observers. The evaluation of the carcass was carried out after the slaughter of the cattle, being evaluated 15 carcasses belonging to each batch, taking into account the number, location, color and size of bruises. After collection, data were statistically evaluated. It was found that there was a difference (p<0.05) between the short and long distances, as well as the execution time in isolation and associated with distance. There was a difference (p<0.05) in the halter behavior in the first hours of the cattle in the waiting pen of the slaughterhouse-refrigerator, that is, in rooms 1 and 2, this behavior being more evident in animals that traveled shorter distances to the establishment. Comparing the rooms in the short distance, it was noticed that rooms 1 and 2 were not different from each other, as well as between rooms 3 and 4 (p>0.05). For the mounting behavior, no differences were identified between the distances evaluated (p>0.05). However, differences were found between treatments for the waiting time, as well as for the same associated with distance (p<0.05). There was a difference (p<0.05) between the short and long distances for quarters 2 and 3, with breeding more performed by cattle transported over short distances. There were differences between treatments for waiting time alone and its association with the distance covered (p<0.05). There was a difference (p<0.05) in pushing behavior between the treatments studied, which was evident only in room 1, that is, in the first hours in the waiting pen. The initial and final PH differed from each other for cattle transported either for short or long distances (p<0.05). However, no differences were found between the initial and final RF for the studied treatments (p>0.05). Finally, it was found that there were no differences (p<0.05) between the location and size of the hematoma in relation to short and long distances. There was also a difference in the degree of injury (p-value = 0.0124), which was more evident in degree 1 for short distance and 2 for long distances.

BANKING MEMBERS:
Externo à Instituição - AMAURI GOUVEIA JUNIOR - UFPA
Interno - 035.432.296-64 - ANDRE GUIMARAES MACIEL E SILVA - UFPA
Externo à Instituição - ANDRÉ LUIZ VIARD WALSH MONTEIRO - IFPA
Externo à Instituição - JOSE DE BRITO LOURENÇO JUNIOR - EMBRAPA
Externo à Instituição - LUCIANO FERNANDES SOUSA - UFT