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This study aimed to evaluate the thermoregulatory capacity and performance of Saanen goat kids from birth to weaning in a hot climate. Twelve newborn males and female goat kids with an initial body weight of 4.17 ± 0.81 kg were used. Physiological responses, climatic variables, and biometric traits data were collected. Univariate and multivariate analysis techniques were used. Heart rate (H R ) was high up to the 6th week of life, with a reduction from the 7th week on (P < 0.001). Rectal temperature (R T ) was lower in the first 2 weeks (P < 0.001), with an increase and stabilization occurring in the 7th and 8th weeks. Coat surface temperature (S T ) was more activated from the 5th week onwards (P < 0.001). Body weight (B W ) and withers height (W H ) were higher in later weeks of the calving phase with a linear effect (P < 0.001). The first principal component demonstrated the relationship of sensible heat dissipation × body area of the goat kids; the second component shows the relationship of meteorological data with R T , having a positive relationship between R T with R H and negative with A T , and the third component points to the association of R R and H R . Of the animals, 81.3% were correctly classified in their group of origin in discriminant canonical analysis, with emphasis on the classification of the kids in the 1st-2nd and 3rd-4th weeks (classification percentage Ʃ = 95.8%). It is concluded that (i) newborn kids activate latent mechanisms to maintain their homoeothermic during the first 2 weeks of life, and as they grow, they use sensitive heat loss processes, especially from the 5th week of life onwards and (ii) male and female goats do not show sexual dimorphism effect on body performance and body morphometric measurements up to 60 days of life., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Nature B.V.)

The use of iron oxide nanoparticles for the synthesis of adsorbents materials with application in contaminated water remediation is based on both their magnetic and adsorption properties. Poly(styrene-co-divinylbenzene) - Poly(Sty-co-DVB)microparticles are widely known for this use and the addition of magnetite comes to add magnetic properties, however it should not limit the functionalization processes for formation of cationic and/or anionic resins. Thus, there is a concern about the stability of magnetite in acidic environments, as required by the sulfonation process, for example. Furthermore, the synthesis of composites with magnetic nanoparticles is a challenge due to the strong magnetic dipole interactions between particles resulting from the high specific surface area, making them susceptible to aggregation. As well as oxidation during the synthesis process can compromise the structure of the initial magnetic material. In this sense, the present work validated processes for the synthesis of Poly(Sty-co-DVB)/magnetite microparticles that sought, as a final result, the incorporation of magnetite aiming to preserve its initial structural conformation. Thus, started from original synthesis method aimed at the production of Poly(Sty-co-DVB) microparticles without magnetite, to methods in which magnetite nanoparticles is added through two distinct processes, different regarding the use or not of oleic acid in its preparation. In this method article we show:•Combination of methods to preserve the structure of magnetite in the Poly(Sty-co-DVB)/magnetite composite.•Simple method of adding magnetite to the Poly(Sty-co-DVB)/magnetite composite synthesis process.•Magnetite treatment method with oleic acid in Poly(Sty-co-DVB)/magnetite composite synthesis. The samples were characterized using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) and Mössbauer spectroscopy to evaluate the chemical modifications that were introduced in the original synthesis method., (© 2022 The Authors. Published by Elsevier B.V.)

The objective of this study was to evaluate the subjective, chemical and sensorial meat characteristics of ½ Santa Inês (SI) x ½ No Defined Racial Standard (NDRS) and ½ Brazilian Somalis (BS) x ½ No Defined Racial Standard (NDRS) crossbred lambs, finished in confinement. Sixteen uncastrated male lambs with initial weight of 19.7 ± 2.03 kg and approximately 90 days of age. A randomized block design was used, with blocks represented by the initial weight of each genetic group, with eight animals per group. There was a higher degree and distribution of marbling, percentage of lipids and meat color for ½ BS x ½ NDRS lambs. The conjugated linoleic acid profile was higher for ½ SI x ½ NDRS lambs. Considering the meat quality of the evaluated genetic groups, Santa Inês crossbred lambs have a better nutritional value for meat, especially taking into account the production of foods that are beneficial to human health.

To compare the fatty acid (FA) composition, and chemical and tissue composition of meat, 24 uncastrated males, 12 sheep of the Santa Inês breed, and 12 crossbred goats (F1 Boer × undefined breed) with the weight of 24.3 ± 2.38 kg. The animals were distributed in a randomized block design and treatments were arranged in a 2 × 2 factorial design, two small ruminant species/breed (Boer crossbreed goat × Santa Inês breed sheep), and two supplementation strategies (energy × protein energy). There was not an interaction between the small ruminant species and the supplementation on average daily gain, tissue composition, chemical composition, or FA profile of the longissimus lumborum muscle. Sheep presented greater weight and yield of fat in the subcutaneous, intermuscular, and total depots than goats, which results in better finishing of the sheep for slaughter. Goat meat presented a lower lipid concentration than sheep meat. The protein-energy supplementation increased oleic acid, ΣUFA, ΣMUFA, hypocholesterolemic/ Hypercholesterolemic index, and enzymatic activity Δ9-desaturase C18 and decreased SFA capric acid in the muscle when compared with energetic supplementation. In Caatinga biome conditions, Boer crossbreed goats meat has a lower concentration of lipids and a healthier FA composition compared with Santa Inês breed sheep because it has a lower SFA and greater PUFA content, which are sources of n-3 and n-6, which may contribute to the reduction of blood cholesterol (LDL). In addition, protein-energy supplementation also improved the quality of animal fat compared with supplementation only with the energetic concentrate, regardless of species.

The industrial application of radiation processing involves high doses of gamma or electron radiation to cause structural changes in materials, such as rubber vulcanization and polymer degradation, among others. A reliable dosimetric system is necessary to guarantee the desired effects and also to avoid damages. Poly(vinylidene fluoride) [PVDF] homopolymer has been recently proposed for application in high gamma dose dosimetry. In this work, nanocomposites made of PVDF filled with zirconium oxide [ZrO 2 ] nanoparticles and multiwalled carbon nanotubes [MWCNT] were studied for applications in high dose dosimetry, for doses ranging from 100.0 kG to 2.72 MGy. Pristine PVDF and PVDF/MWCNT-ZrO 2 samples were exposed to a Co-60 source. FTIR spectra were collected 2 h, 30 and 60 days after exposure. The intensity of the radio-induced absorption bands centered at 1715 cm -1 and 1730 cm -1 were found to have an unambiguous relationship with the absorbed dose. The pristine PVDF samples show linear behavior in the dose range between 100 and 1000 kGy. However, the PVDF/MWCNT-ZrO 2 samples show linearity in a larger range, i.e. between 500 and 2750 kGy interval. The melting latent heat, measured by Differential Scanning Calorimetry (DSC) and SEM micrographs revealed that PVDF/MWCNT-ZrO 2 samples show increased resistance to the radio-induced damages, when compared to pure PVDF samples irradiated in the same conditions. The results indicate that the MWCNT-ZrO 2 adds resistance to PVDF and improves its dosimetric properties., (Copyright © 2018 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

This study aimed to characterize a commercial lamb finishing system using animals of undefined breed from production to slaughter by analyzing performance, carcass traits, yield of commercial cuts, and the quality and meat acceptance of different slaughter groups, as to evaluate whether this system provides the market with a standardized product. The lots were not homogeneous for yield of commercial cuts and performance and morphometric traits evaluated in vivo. The groups were heterogeneous to 75% of the 13 carcass traits evaluated, among them, hot and cold carcass weights, hot and cold carcass yields, carcass grade finishing and biological yield. There was also no uniformity for the proportion of non-carcass components, morphometry of carcass, visual appraisals, and loin traits. On the other hand, homogeneity was achieved in physico-chemical and sensory traits, except for hardness and proportion of saturated, monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fatty acids. We conclude that the commercial finishing system with the use of undefined crossbred lambs does not produce carcass and cuts standardized to the market.