Influence of eggshell density of fertile eggs and infectious bronchitis virus on performance and sanitary parameters of embryos and broilers A. R. Padilha, M. G. A. Menezes, V. Peripolli, T. M. A. Gomes, L. Pickler, E. Schwegler, J. M. Oliveira Júnior, I. Bianchi, F. Moreira British Poultry Science, 2026 1. The study evaluated the influence of infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) and eggshell density (as strength and thickness) of fertile eggs on performance and hatchery and sanitary parameters of embryos and broilers.2. Normal and thin eggshells density of fertile eggs from two broiler farms were used, one positive for IBV and the other negative, totalling 5,848 eggs, distributed into four treatments in a factorial arrangement, with two eggshell densities (normal and thin) and two IBV diagnostics (positive and negative).3. Normal-shelled eggs had a higher percentage of hatchability, a lower percentage of culled chicks (due to initial and intermediate mortality) and bacterial or fungal contamination (p < 0.05).4. Eggs from IBV-positive breeders showed reduced hatchability (p < 0.05), higher percentages of culled chicks, bacterial or fungal contamination and mortality (p < 0.05).5. The eggshell density and the presence of the IBV impacted hatchability, embryo mortality rates and performance (weight gain, body weight, feed conversion ratio and broiler mortality).
Finishing systems on the carcass and meat characteristics and fatty acid profile of the longissimus thoracis muscle of Hereford steers in southern Brazil Vanessa Peripolli, Grace Adele Gadotti, Carlos Eduardo Nogueira Martins, Betina Raquel Cunha dos Santos, Ivan Bianchi, Fabiana Moreira, Elizabeth Schwegler, Maiko Giorgi Philippe, Andressa Rozzetto Garcia, Marcílio Félix, José Laerte Nörnberg Applied Food Research, 2025 • Finishing systems affect carcass and meat characteristics in Hereford steers in southern Brazil. • Pasture-finished Hereford steers show a beneficial fatty acid profile and meat traits. • Supplementing pasture-fed Hereford steers yields a fatty acid profile close to pasture-fed. • Premium-quality Hereford beef is achievable with pasture systems in regional settings. • Premium-quality Hereford beef is possible with pasture systems in specific regions. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of finishing systems on the carcass and meat characteristics and fatty acid profile of the longissimus thoracis (LT) muscle of Hereford steers in southern Brazil. Thirty-six carcasses were chosen from animals aged 18-24 months, weighing at least 220kg, with a minimum fat thickness of 3mm, finished on pasture (n=12), pasture with concentrate supplementation (n=12), and feedlot (n=12). Evaluated parameters included age, fat thickness, pH, color, marbling, and fatty acid composition. Correlations were found between meat color and pH (r=0.43), marbling and fat thickness (r=0.38), and age and fat color (r=0.98). The principal component analysis explained 52.52 % of the variation. Finishing systems significantly influenced carcass characteristics and meat color (P<0.05) but not pH or fat thickness (P>0.05) of Hereford steers. Chemical composition and fatty acid profile varied with the finishing system (P<0.05), except for total lipids and certain fatty acids (P>0.05). Pasture-finished Hereford steers exhibited distinct characteristics compared to feedlot-finished, with higher omega-3, C18:0, C18:1n9c, trans-11 C18:1n7, 18:3n3, CLA-18:2n7 cis-9 trans-11, EPA-C20:1n9, C20:4n6, C20:5n3, MUFA, and desirable fatty acids, along with darker meat and fat. Pasture-finished Hereford steer meats. Meat from pasture-finished Hereford steer selected based on premium-quality carcass and meat characteristics, reared under southern Brazilian conditions, shows potential to meet niche market demands.
Lernaeenicus sp. parasite of Atlantic bumper fish on the coast of Santa Catarina state, Brazil Juliano Santos Gueretz, Patrícia Floriano Oreano De Azevedo, Ana Letícia Baggenstoss, Betina Raquel Cunha dos Santos, Elizabeth Schwegler, Maurício Laterça Martins Revista Academica Ciencia Animal, 2025 This study describes the Penellidae copepod parasite in the Atlantic bumper, Chloroscombrus chrysurus, a marine fish of commercial importance in Southern Brazil. This is the first description of Lernaeenicus parasitizing Atlantic bumper on the Brazilian coast. A total of 1,500 specimens measuring 19 - 27 cm in length and 102 - 361 g weight were examined in August 2021. Analysis showed the parasites belonged to the Lernaeenicus genus. The importance of this mesoparasite in marine fish for consumption is also discussed.
Prevalence of swine carcass condemnations for respiratory diseases and associated risk factors Tatiane Parolin Mengatto, Vanessa Peripolli, Juahil Martins de Oliveira Junior, Ivan Bianchi, Maria Eduarda Rosa, Elizabeth Schwegler, Julia Tavares, Fabiana Moreira Ciencia Rural, 2025 This study evaluated the prevalence of swine carcass condemnation due to respiratory diseases at slaughter, and its association with climatic and farm-related risk factors. This study comprised a retrospective analysis of data from 156 pig growing-and-finishing farms for a period classified into years 1 (October2016 to September2017) and 2 (October2017 to September2018). These periods were then further divided into dry and rainy seasons. The impact of risk factors on carcass condemnation, such as farm production rates, was also analyzed. Swine carcass condemnations was higher during the dry seasons, with wet pleuritis accounting for 60.38% of all condemnations (P < 0.0001). In addition, carcass condemnation was higher in year 2 than in year 1 (P < 0.0001). Carcasses condemned for dry pleuritis were released for consumption, while those condemned for pleuropneumonia were redirected to grease production (P < 0.0001). Lots with piglets from two or more origins compared with a single origin, as well as a shorter cleaning and disinfection (C&D) plan, accounted for a higher prevalence of condemned carcasses. Climatic conditions, number of piglet origins, and C&D plans are associated with higher condemnation prevalence rates due to respiratory diseases in the abattoir.
Growth curve and serum calcium and magnesium concentrations in duck breeders (Anas boschas) from hatching to the prelaying period reared under subtropical conditions VANESSA PERIPOLLI, FABIANO DAHLKE, ELLEN KAREN DOS SANTOS, MAILA PALMEIRA, STELAMARIS DEZEN, ROBERT LENOCK, ELIZABETH SCHWEGLER, JUAHIL MARTINS DE OLIVEIRA JÚNIOR, IVAN BIANCHI, PAULA GABRIELA DA SILVA PIRES, BETINA RAQUEL CUNHA DOS SANTOS, ANDRESSA FERNANDA CAMPOS, FABIANA MOREIRA Turkish Journal of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, 2025 Optimizing duck production requires understanding growth variability and monitoring serum calcium and magnesium levelsas health indicators. This study aimed to analyze the growth curve, mortality, and serum calcium (Ca) and magnesium (Mg) levels in White Mallard ducks from hatching to the prelaying period in subtropical conditions. A total of 1100 females and 270 males were raised for 146 days. At hatch, day 6 (D6), D13, D23, D34, D50, D64, D80, D94, D111, and D146, ducks were weighed separately to assess body weight (BW). Blood samples were collected at hatch, D50, D94, and D146 to determine serum calcium and magnesium levels. The influence of age, sex, and their interactions on body weight, growth rate, calcium, and magnesium concentrations was tested, and the growth curves were fitted with the Gompertz nonlinear regression model. There was an interaction between sex and age for all evaluated traits (p < 0.05). Males and females exhibited the same BW up to D64, when males started to become heavier. The growth patterns differed between males and females, with males exhibiting a higher theoretical mature body weight (3.62 kg vs. 3.11 kg) and a later age at the inflection point (29.68 days vs. 26.98 days) than females. The relative growth rate for both sexes peaked up to D23 and then decreased gradually, while absolute growth rates peaked between 13 and 23 days for females and at multiple intervals (13–23 days, 34–50 days, and 50–64 days) for males. Males also had a higher mortality rate compared to females (18.40% vs. 7.78%). At D94, females showed lower serum calcium levels than males, and at D146, lower serum magnesium levels were observed in females. Males and females displayed distinct growth patterns, with males achieving a higher body weight and a later age at the inflection point. Females had lower serum Ca and Mg levels.
Effect of Density and Lineage on Dorsal Surface Temperature, Performance, and Carcass Condemnation of Broiler Grillers Iara Cristina Marins, Bruno Giacomelli, Bruna Correia, Débora Cristina Olsson, Fabiana Moreira, Juahil Martins de Oliveira Júnior, Ivan Bianchi, Elizabeth Schwegler, Candice Bergmann Tanure, Monike Quirino, Tiago do Prado Paim, Natalia Nogueira Fonseca, Betina Raquel Cunha dos Santos, Vanessa Peripolli Animals, 2024 The aims of this study were (i) to evaluate the effect of density, lineage, age, and time of day on dorsal surface temperature and (ii) to evaluate the effect of density and lineage on performance and carcass condemnations in broiler grillers. The evaluations were carried out in barns with the Dark House system, with two densities, 17 and 19 chickens/m2 and two lineages, Cobb and Ross. The dorsal surface temperature of the chickens was measured by infrared thermography at 7, 14, 21, 23, 25 and 27 days of age, four times a day. The average daily weight gain, feed conversion, mortality, partial carcass condemnations, as well as those due to arthritis and dermatosis were also evaluated. The highest dorsal surface temperatures were observed in Cobbs housed at a density of 17 chickens/m2, and in Ross housed at a density of 19 chickens/m2. Cobbs housed at a 17 chickens/m2 density showed the lowest feed conversion compared to Ross at the same density. Ross showed higher dorsal surface temperatures when compared to Cobbs at 14, 21, and 27 days. Cobbs showed higher percentages of partial carcass condemnation and arthritis compared to Ross. The higher density of broiler grillers in the Dark House system does not influence the dorsal surface temperature, performance, dermatosis, arthritis, and partial carcass condemnations.
Quality control of semen processing in boar studs: A Brazilian scenario Janaina Colecha Rocha, Emanoelle Regina Rosa, Monike Quirino, Mariana Groke Marques, Paulo Eduardo Bennemann, Arlei Coldebella, Lucio Pereira Rauber, Elizabeth Schwegler, Fabiana Moreira, Vanessa Peripolli, Thomaz Lucia Junior, Ivan Bianchi Scientia Agricola, 2024
Effect of porcine somatotropin on metabolism and testicular characteristics of prepubertal pigs Viviane Rohrig Rabassa, Elizabeth Schwegler, Eduardo Schmitt, Augusto Schneider, Camila Pizoni, Cláudia Demarco, Vinícius Farias Campos, Tiago Collares, Carmen Lucia Garcez Ribeiro, Ana Lucia Pereira Schild, Francisco Augusto Burkert Del Pino, Ivan Bianchi, Marcio Nunes Corrêa Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science, 2014
Evaluation of the metabolic profile of bulls in different phases of the reproductive cycle Marcelo Brandi Vieira, Elizabeth Schwegler, Maikel Alan Goulart, Viviane Maciel Da Silva, Jacques Leston, Vinícius Coitinho Tabeleão, José Acélio da Fontoura Júnior, Francisco Augusto Burkert Del Pino, Marcio Nunes Corrêa Brazilian Journal of Veterinary Research and Animal Science, 2010
