ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Poultry activity exposes workers to accidents and unhealthy conditions with physical, chemical, biological, ergonomic and psychological risks. OBJECTIVE: The objective was to list risk factors in poultry farms in operational, behavioral, and environmental aspects. METHODS: We evaluated poultry farm workers through quantitative and qualitative analysis applying a semi-structured online questionnaire containing 58 questions to identify risks in the workplace and health implications. RESULTS: Most facilities were air-conditioned, workers performed their activities in a totally closed environment, with low light (1 to 10 lux), for more than 40âh/wk. Regarding accidents, 61%of workers claimed to have suffered some type of accident, 34%claimed to not use personal protection equipment, and 41%felt unable to perform their activities at some time due to health problems; handling animals and animal waste were the most significant biological risks; dust and ammonia corresponded to the most significant chemical risks; and electric shock, burns, and heat exposure were the most significant physical/accident risks. CONCLUSIONS: Workers expose themselves daily to physical, chemical, biological, psychosocial, and ergonomic risks. These exposures often lead to symptoms such as stress, headache, eye and mucous membrane disorders, respiratory diseases, back and muscle pain, depression, and symptoms often associated with Sick Building Syndrome.
Subject(s)
Farmers , Occupational Exposure , Animals , Dust , Farms , Humans , Occupational Exposure/statistics & numerical data , PoultryABSTRACT
The objective is to evaluate different bedding materials, including dehydrated grass, on performance and carcass yield and verify the physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of materials. The completely randomized experiment comprised 1,080 chicks in a 3 × 2 factorial design with three levels of dehydrated grass (0%, 25%, and 50%) and two bedding materials (rice husks and shavings). Total microorganism count and physicochemical characteristics, surface temperature of birds, and performance of birds were analyzed up to 42 days of age, when birds were slaughtered, and carcass yield was evaluated. The inclusion of grass showed a higher microbiological count after 1 day, stabilizing with materials after 28 days. The inclusion of 50% of dehydrated grass resulted in a higher surface bed temperature at 42 days. Inclusions above 25% of grass have a lower density and a greater water retention capacity, pH, moisture, and total nitrogen, in addition to a lower FDA in its structure. The highest ammonia emissions occurred with the inclusion of 25% of grass. The inclusion of dehydrated grass did not affect performance and carcass yield, favoring feed conversion at the initial stages. The inclusion of grass can replace up to 25% of shavings without harming physicochemical parameters of materials and birds' performance.
Subject(s)
Bedding and Linens/veterinary , Chickens/growth & development , Poaceae , Ammonia/analysis , Animals , Bedding and Linens/microbiology , Chemical Phenomena , Desiccation , Humidity , Hydrogen-Ion Concentration , Male , Nitrogen/analysis , Oryza , Temperature , Water/analysisABSTRACT
Summary Background: the use of semi-purified glycerin in pig diets has been studied as an alternative energy source. Objective: to evaluate growth performance and serum levels of glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, and urea in pigs fed diets containing semi-purified glycerin during the growth phase. Methods: forty barrows with an initial weight of 27.30 ± 1.74 kg, distributed in a randomized complete block design, with four treatments and five replicates were used. The dietary treatments were a combination of corn and soybean meal diets with the addition of 0, 5, 10 or 15% semi-purified glycerin. The experimental period lasted 27 days and was divided into two periods. Results: during Period 1, pig performance did not differ with the inclusion of semi-purified glycerin in the diet. In Period 2, an improvement in average daily weight gain was observed. In the total period, an improvement was observed in the average daily weight gain, feed/gain ratio and final weight of the animals. However, serum parameters were not affected by the inclusion of semi-purified glycerin in the diets. Conclusions: the addition of up to 15% semi-purified glycerin to the diet of growing pigs improves growth performance without affecting serum parameters.
Resumen Antecedentes: el uso de la glicerina semi-purificada en la dieta de cerdos se ha estudiado como una fuente alternativa de energía. Objetivo: evaluar el desempeño y los niveles séricos de glucosa, triglicéridos, colesterol y urea en cerdos alimentados con dietas que contienen glicerina semi-purificada durante la fase de crecimiento. Métodos: fueron utilizados 40 machos castrados con un peso inicial de 27,30 ± 1,74 kg, distribuidos en un diseño experimental en bloques al azar con cuatro tratamientos y cinco repeticiones. Los tratamientos se basaron en maíz y harina de soja con adición de 0, 5, 10 o 15% de glicerina semi-purificada. El período experimental duró 27 días, dividido en dos períodos. Resultados: en el período 1, el desempeño productivo de los cerdos no fue alterado por la inclusión de glicerina semi-purificada en la dieta. En el período 2 se observó una mejora en la ganancia diaria de peso. En el período total se observó una mejora en la ganancia diaria de peso, conversión alimenticia y el peso final de los animales. Los parámetros séricos no se afectaron por la inclusión de glicerina semi-purificada en la dieta. Conclusiones: la adición de glicerina semi-purificada hasta en un 15% en la dieta de cerdos en crecimiento mejora el desempeño productivo, sin afectar los parámetros séricos.
Resumo Antecedentes: utilização da glicerina semipurificada na alimentação de suínos vem sendo estudada como uma fonte alternativa de energia. Objetivo: avaliar o desempenho e níveis séricos de glicose, triglicerídeos, colesterol e uréia em suínos alimentados com dietas contendo glicerina semipurificada na fase de crescimento. Métodos: foram utilizados 40 machos castrados com peso inicial de 27,30 ± 1,74 kg, distribuídos em desenho experimental de blocos casualizados com quatro tratamentos e cinco repetições por tratamento. Os tratamentos foram baseados em milho e farelo de soja com adição de 0, 5, 10 ou 15% de glicerina semipurificada. O período experimental durou 27 dias dividido em dois períodos. Resultados: no período 1 o desempenho dos suínos não foi alterado pela inclusão de glicerina semipurificada. No período 2 foi observado melhora no ganho de peso diário. No período total observou-se melhora no ganho de peso diário, conversão alimentar e peso final dos animais. Os parâmetros séricos não foram afetados pela inclusão de glicerina semipurificada nas dietas. Conclusões: a adição de até 15% de glicerina semipurificada em dietas de suínos em crescimento melhora o desempenho e não altera os parâmetros séricos.
