Ministry of Agriculture

About: Ministry of Agriculture is a government organization based out in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. It is known for research contribution in the topics: Biology & Chemistry. The organization has 1153 authors who have published 1189 publications receiving 14442 citations.

Avaliação do bem-estar animal em bovinos abatidos para consumo em frigorífico do Rio Grande do Sul

Abstract: In this work the injuries found in a group of male and female cattle slaughtered in an abattoir of the State of Rio Grande do Sul – Brazil are presented and discussed. The geography and severity of the lesions are described as well as the relationship with the animal welfare. The phase in which the lesions occurred during the killing process is also commented. The hind leg injuries were the most frequent in both male and female cattle. The average number of injuries found per carcass varied from 2 to 4. Regarding to the severity of the lesions it was observed that the superficial ones which affect only the subcutaneous tissue (Score I) were the most prevalent in male cattle, while in female cattle 50.8 per cent of the injuries were score II, that includes the muscular tissue.

Population structure of Brazilian Gyr dairy cattle

Abstract: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the genetic structure of Gyr cattle selected for milk production. Files of pedigree and production were composed of 27,610 animals. The ENDOG program was used for the calculation of individual inbreeding coefficient (F) and coefficient of average relatedness (AR), effective number of animals(Ne), effective number of founders (fe) and ancestors (fa), and generation interval (GI). Individual inbreeding coefficients and average relatedness in the population were 2.82% and 2.10%, respectively. It was observed a reduction in the effective number of animals, especially after publication of the results of the first progeny test. The estimated effective number of founders was 146 and 75 for the ancestrals. Out of those, only 28 ancestors accounted for the origin of 50% of the population genes. The average generation interval was 8.41 years and it was longer for males than for females. For maintaining genetic variability in future generations, it should be invested mating strategies that reduce inbreeding and which do not use massively only some high breeding value sires.

Organic dragon fruits (Hylocereus undatus and Hylocereus polyrhizus) grown at the same edaphoclimatic conditions: Comparison of phenolic and organic acids profiles and antioxidant activities

Abstract: This study aimed to characterize and compare pulps of two species of organic dragon fruits, Hylocereus undatus and Hylocereus polyrhizus, grown at the same edaphoclimatic conditions in terms of bioactive compounds and physicochemical aspects. No significant differences were observed between purple and white pulps concerning moisture, ascorbic acid concentration, and DPPH-assay antioxidant activity. Purple pulp demonstrated higher values for pH, Folin-Ciocalteau reducing capacity, and FRAP-assay antioxidant activity, lower acidity, and expressive total betalain content, suggesting higher bioactive potential. The main phenolic compounds identified in purple pulp were rutin, hesperidin, ferulic, and sinapic acids, while the white one was rich in chlorogenic acid. The major organic acids identified in both pulps were malic, citric, formic, pipecolic, and ascorbic. Pipecolic acid was detected in both, although more predominant in purple pulp, in remarkable concentrations, being the first report of it in the Cactaceae family. The found results indicate potential bioactivity, contributing to confirm the status of superfruit of these exotic fruits.

Sealing strips for moving surfaces

Abstract: 1. A sealing component for a surface which can move relative to a fixed frame in which it is mounted comprising a fixing heel (1, 6, 10) made of hard elastomer or plastomer and a sealing lip (2, 7,16) made of flexible elastomer or plastomer, characterized in that the said lip (2, 7, 16) made of flexible elastomeric or plastomeric material, the Shore A hardness of which is at most 75, is provided, in its zone of contact with the movable surface, with at least one rib (3, 8, 12) made of a hard elastomer or plastomer of low coefficient of friction, and in that the difference in hardness, expressed as Shore A hardness, between the lip (2) made of flexible material and the ribs (3, 8, 12) made of hard material is of the order 30.