This study employed infrared thermography to assess the thermoregulatory responses of female buffaloes reared in a hot and humid climate as a function of variations in time and the thermal environment, and to correlate rectal temperature with that of different body areas. The trial was carried out at Embrapa Eastern Amazon (01 • 26'S and 48 • 24'W) in Belém, PA, Brazil. Twenty-four female buffaloes fed exclusively on pasture and exposed to the sun throughout the day in an open area were used. The animals were taken back to the corral at 6 A.M., 9 A.M., 12 P.M., 3 P.M., 6 P.M., and 9 P.M. for measurements of rectal temperature (RT), respiratory rate (RR), and body surface temperature (BST) using infrared thermography (IRT). Data on air temperature (AT), relative air humidity (RH), wind velocity (WV), and solar radiation (SR) were also recorded. A quadratic effect of AT, RH, SR, RR, and RT (P < 0.01) was found as a function of measurement time. Between 12 P.M. and 3 P.M., AT, SR, RR, and RT values were the highest, while RH values were the lowest (P < 0.05). WV was the highest between 12 P.M. and 9 P.M. A difference was found in RR and RT among the day's times, with the highest values at 12 P.M. and 3 P.M. (P<0.05). The IRTs have a quadratic effect as a function of day's times, with the highest levels between 12 P.M. and 6 P.M. and a reduction at 9 P.M. All IRTs are correlated with the physiological variables RR and RT, except for the IRT of the side of the back, which is not correlated with RT. The IRTs of the eye and cheek are correlated with RT (P < 0.01) and with RR (P < 0.05). IRT was efficient in evaluating the thermal stress of female buffaloes in hot and humid climates, and the technique can be used to evaluate the body temperature of these animals, since the RT was positively correlated with the temperature of the eye and cheek.

RESUMOCom o presente trabalho, objetivou-se avaliar a qualidade higiênico-sanitária de lingüiças tipo frescal, em função do potencial risco que estes produtos representam para a saúde pública. Para a condução de tal pesquisa, amostras foram aleatoriamente coletadas no município de Três Corações (n=20) e Lavras (n=20), ambos situados no Estado de Minas Gerais. As análises microbiológicas, conduzidas de acordo com o ICMSF (1982), constaram da enumeração de coliformes totais e termotolerantes (colimetria), quantificação e identificação bioquímica de Staphylococcus coagulase positiva e Salmonella spp. Não foi detectada a presença de Salmonella spp. em nenhuma das amostras. Os valores para contaminação por coliformes termotolerantes encontraram-se dentro do intervalo de 10 1 a 10 4 NMP/g. Em 14% das 40 amostras analisadas foi detectado Staphylococcus coagulase positiva acima do limite estabelecido pela legislação vigente. Pelos valores encontrados, as lingüiças analisadas não são produzidas dentro de padrões de higiene satisfatórios, sendo um potencial causador de toxinoses e infecções alimentares aos consumidores. Termos para indexação:Lingüiça tipo frescal, microbiologia, qualidade. ABSTRACTThe aim of this work was to evaluate the microbial quality of sausage in function of the potential involvement of these products in public health questions. Samples were randomly collected in Três Corações (n=20) and Lavras (n=20), both cities of Minas Gerais, Brazil. Microbiological analysis (ICMSF, 1982) were conduced to quantify, isolate and identify coliforms, Staphylococcus aureus positive coagulase and Salmonella spp. Salmonella spp was not found in none of samples. Counts of coliforms were between 10 1 to 10 4 MPN/g. Counts Staphylococcus positive coagulase were above the limit established by food legislation in 14% of the samples. In function of values found in this research sausages analyzed were elaborated under inappropriated conditions of hygiene and may represent risks to consumers.

Resumo: Estimou-se a herdabilidade e a correlação genética para a produção de leite na primeira lactação (PL) e idade ao primeiro parto (IPP) de animais da raça Pardo-Suíça. Foram utilizados registros de 2.981 lactações, com partos ocorridos entre os anos de 1980 a 2002. Na estimação dos componentes de (co) variâncias foi utilizada a inferência Bayesiana, por meio de amostrador de Gibbs, com tamanho de cadeia de 1.500.000 rounds e período de queima de 500.000 rounds. A frequência de amostragem foi de 500 rounds. As médias estimadas para produção de leite e idade ao primeiro parto foram iguais a 5.347,47±1.849,13 kg e 29,65±4,51 meses, respectivamente. As estimativas de herdabilidade obtidas para a produção de leite e idade ao primeiro parto foram iguais a 0,23 e 0,18, respectivamente. A correlação genética entre elas foi igual a -0,31. As herdabilidades obtidas para as características de desempenho avaliadas indicam que ganhos genéticos satisfatórios podem ser obtidos no melhoramento para essas características e que a seleção simultânea para ambas as características pode ser realizada. Abstract:The aims of this study were to estimate the heritability and genetic correlation between milk yield (MY) and age at first calving (AFC) in Brown Swiss cows, calving between 1980 and 2002, amounting 2,981 lactations. Bayesian inference was used to estimate the components of (co) variance by way of Gibbs sampling, with a chain size of 1,500,000 rounds and a burn-in of 500,000 rounds. The frequency of sampling was 500 rounds. The estimated averages for milk yield and age at first calving were 5347.47 1849.13 kg and 29.65 4.51 months respectively. The heritability estimates obtained for the milk yield and age at first calving were 0.23 and 0.18, respectively. The genetic correlation was -0.31.The heritability estimates indicate that genetic advantages may be obtained by selection and that both traits should be considered by breeding programs for Brown Swiss cows. ARTIGOwww.ajaes