Evaluation of Pallet Covers Performance for Produce Protection in Cold Chain Logistics for Chard, Cucumbers and Carrots.

Cold chain disruption and refrigeration failures are common issues in the logistics of perishable food products. In these cases, the use of pallet covers should be very useful, delaying the increase of product temperatures inside the pallets until cooling conditions are restored. However, there are no studies about the performance of pallet covers in these types of situations, which could persist for hours. This paper evaluates the performance of three different types of cold chain covers versus having no cover for three different types of vegetables (chard, cucumbers, and carrots). A refrigeration failure during the cold chain was simulated. The three covers presented an improvement in temperature loss compared to the no-cover situation, with the average time for the temperature to increase from 4 to 10 °C with a cover being a range of 214 to 506 min, while for no cover, from 162 to 211 min. Relative humidity (RH) always presented improved preservation with a cover than with no cover, except for one case. The correlation between the thermal images and sensor temperatures was also studied.

Temperature-humidity index and reproductive performance of dairy cattle farms in Lima, Peru.

Background: Heat stress results in a mild reduction in milk production, while long-term heat stress exposure can severely affect the productive and reproductive performance in dairy cattle. Aim: To quantify the relationship between reproductive performance and temperature-humidity index in dairy cattle farms in Lima, Peru. Methods: Monthly service, conception, and pregnancy rates were measured from four dairy farms in four different Lima localities as reproductive performance indicators, along with an index of heat stress and maximum daily temperature-humidity index (max THI), during a 3-year period. In order to establish the relationship between the max THI and the reproductive performance indicators, a multiple regression analysis was carried out, which considered farm and year as explicative variables. Results: The regression model showed an adjusted R2 of 33.5% with an estimated standard error of 5.75% and was highly significant (p < 0.001). The regression coefficients for max THI for the variables pregnancy rate and conception rate were significant (p < 0.0001). With every increasing unit of max THI, a 0.84% drop in the pregnancy rate and a 1.74% drop in the conception rate were estimated by the model. The regression coefficient of max THI for the service rate variable was not significant. Conclusion: It was concluded that the increase in max THI significantly affected the reproductive performance of intensive dairy cattle farms in Lima.

Comparative life cycle assessment of conventional and organic hazelnuts production systems in Central Italy.

Agricultural activity is responsible of considerable negative effects on the environment. In this context, in the last years, organic cultivation is increasing being perceived as more sustainable for the environmental. Nevertheless, this higher sustainability compared to conventional agricultural systems is debated. This applied for crops but also for livestock systems. For some of the main crops (i.e., cereals, soybean) comparative analysis were carried out but for most of the other annual and perennial crops there is a lack of information about the environmental impact related to conventional and organic cultivation In this study, the environmental impact of the conventional and organic farming systems of hazelnuts production in Viterbo province in Italy was evaluated using the Life Cycle Assessment (LCA) approach. Even if originally developed for industrial processes, LCA is more and more applied also to agriculture systems to quantify the environmental impact. Primary data were collected by the main Producer Organization and elaborated considering 1 kg of hazelnuts as functional unit and a from cradle to gate approach considering the 50-years as life cycle duration of the crop. Finally, using the Recipe characterization method, 15 midpoint impact categories were evaluated. The results show how, except than for ecotoxicity related impact categories, organic cultivation practice shows higher impact (from +5% to +285%) respect to the conventional production. For ecotoxicity related impact categories, organic hazelnut production performs better (from -42% to -81%) than the conventional one because no synthetic pesticides are applied. The sensitivity analysis carried shows how yield is the main driver of the environmental results while the uncertainty analysis performed with the Monte Carlo technique shows that the to the selection of the data source, model imprecision and data variability does not significantly affect the environmental results for the evaluated impact categories.

Effect of probiotics administration at different levels on the productive parameters of guinea pigs for fattening (Cavia porcellus).

Background: For more than 50 years, antibiotics have been used to maintain animal welfare and improve efficiency. Recently, antibiotics were found in the muscle, liver, and kidney of guinea pig carcasses put up for sale and human consumption, which is a public health issue. Probiotics are supplements of live microorganisms that, when administered in adequate doses, could replace growth-promoting antibiotics. Aim: This study analyzed the effect of the administration of an oral probiotic mixture on the guinea pigs productive performance (Cavia porcellus). Methods: Fifty male guinea pigs, weaned at 14 days of age, were distributed in a completely randomized design of five treatments with ten repetitions for each group. The treatments were CONTROL group without probiotic; PROB 1 given 1 ml of probiotic; PROB 2 with 2 ml of probiotic; PROB 3 with 3 ml of probiotic; and antibiotic growth promoter (AGP) was given 300 ppm zinc bacitracin. The microorganisms used in the probiotic were Enterococcus hirae, Lactobacillus reuteri, Lactobacillus frumenti, Lactobacillus johnsoni, Streptococcus thoraltensis, and Bacillus pumilus. Productive parameters were evaluated from weaning to 70 days of age. Results: No statistically significant difference was found between the treatments on forage dry matter intake (DMI), concentrateconcentrate DMI, or total concentrate DMI (p > 0.05). Similarly, no statistical difference was found between the treatments in terms of final weight or weight gain (p > 0.05). Regarding the feed conversion ratio (FCR), there was a significant difference between treatments (p = 0.045); the CONTROL group had the highest FCR, followed by the AGP group, with the best FCR observed in the PROB 3 group (p < 0.05). In addition, significant statistical differences were found between CONTROL and PROB 2 (p < 0.05). Likewise, a significant linear effect of increasing doses of the probiotic was found (p = 0.01), which indicated that the feed conversion was better with a higher dose. Conclusion: The treatments evaluated in this study significantly impacted the FCR in guinea pigs for fattening. Increasing doses of probiotics had a linear effect on FCR.

Efficacy of physical and chemical treatments on the inactivation of bovine leukosis virus present in milk.

PURPOSE: The objective of the present study was to evaluate the efficacy of pasteurization, freezing, the addition of formaldehyde and peroxymonosulfate on the inactivation of the bovine leukemia virus (BLV) present in milk. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A sheep bioassay was carried out in 40 sheep, which were intraperitoneally inoculated with leukocytes from milk infected by the BLV previously treated with one of the virus inactivation methods. Five study groups were evaluated: (1) control group: milk without previous treatment, (2) pasteurization group: milk treated by pasteurization, (3) freezing group: milk treated by freezing for 36 hours, (4) formaldehyde group: 0.1% formaldehyde, and (5) peroxymonosulfate group: 0.05% peroxymonosulfate. The inoculated animals were followed for 10 weeks. RESULTS: At week 10 post-inoculation, all the animals (8/8) of the control group and the peroxymonosulfate group were seropositive to BLV, while no animals were seropositive (0/8) to BLV in the remaining three groups. Statistically significant differences were found between the pasteurization, freezing and formaldehyde groups with respect to the control (p<0.001) and peroxymonosulfate groups (p<0.001). CONCLUSION: The results indicate that pasteurization, freezing and formaldehyde processes are efficient in inactivating the BLV and can be used in milk to prevent the transmission of the virus.

Inclusion of different levels of inulin on productive parameters and intestinal morphology in fattening guinea pigs (Cavia porcellus) / Efeito da inclusão de diferentes níveis de inulina nos parâmetros produtivos e na morfologia intestinal em cobaias de engorda (Cavia porcellus)

ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the effect of the three inulin levels (0.1%, 0.2%, 0.4%) supplemented as a substitute for an antibiotic growth promoter (AGP, zinc bacitracin) and control in guinea pigs raised for human consumption. Fifty 14-day-old male guinea pigs were used. Productive parameters (weight gain, total dry matter intake, and feed conversion ratio (FCR)) and intestinal morphology of the duodenum, jejunum, and ileum at slaughter (70 days of age) were evaluated. An inverse relationship was observed between inulin levels and FCR (linear effect; P = 0.006). There was no statistically significant effect of the treatments on total dry matter intake and weight gain (P > 0.05). A linear effect of the inulin level on the villi's length (VL), villi's width (VW), and length/depth ratio (VL/DC) in the duodenum; VW in the jejunum; and VL in the ileum (P <0 .05) was reported. In conclusion, a linear effect of the increasing doses of inulin was found on the FCR and the morphological parameters of the duodenum's integrity, and no differences in the effects of the inulin added to the diet and the treatment with AGP were found.

RESUMO: O objetivo do estudo foi avaliar o efeito da suplementação na dieta de cobaias com inulina, em níveis crescentes (0,1%, 0,2%, 0,4%) como substituto para um antibiótico promotor de crescimento (AGP, bacitracina de zinco) além do grupo controle (dieta padrão). Foram utilizados 50 porquinhos-da-índia machos com 14 dias de idade. Os parâmetros produtivos foram avaliados do desmame aos 70 dias de idade e os parâmetros morfológicos intestinais foram avaliados no duodeno, jejuno e íleo no momento do abate. Foi encontrado um efeito linear do nível de inulina sobre na taxa de conversão alimentar (FCR; P = 0,006), indicando que em níveis mais elevados de inulina o FCR diminui. Não houve diferença significativa entre os grupos quando avaliado o efeito dos diferentes tratamentos sobre o consumo de ração e ganho de peso corporal (P > 0,05). Um efeito linear do nível de inulina foi encontrado no comprimento das vilosidades (VL), na largura das vilosidades (VW) e na relação comprimento / profundidade (VL/DC) no duodeno, sobre a VW no jejuno; e no VL no íleo (P < 0,05). Em conclusão, um efeito linear do aumento do nível de inulina foi encontrado na taxa de conversão alimentar e nos parâmetros morfológicos da integridade do duodeno, além disso, não houve diferença entre a adição de inulina na dieta e o tratamento com um antibiótico promotor de crescimento.

Food Packaging: A Comprehensive Review and Future Trends.

Innovations in food packaging systems will help meet the evolving needs of the market, such as consumer preference for "healthy" and high-quality food products and reduction of the negative environmental impacts of food packaging. Emerging concepts of active and intelligent packaging technologies provide numerous innovative solutions for prolonging shelf-life and improving the quality and safety of food products. There are also new approaches to improving the passive characteristics of food packaging, such as mechanical strength, barrier performance, and thermal stability. The development of sustainable or green packaging has the potential to reduce the environmental impacts of food packaging through the use of edible or biodegradable materials, plant extracts, and nanomaterials. Active, intelligent, and green packaging technologies can work synergistically to yield a multipurpose food-packaging system with no negative interactions between components, and this aim can be seen as the ultimate future goal for food packaging technology. This article reviews the principles of food packaging and recent developments in different types of food packaging technologies. Global patents and future research trends are also discussed.

Refrigerated fruit storage monitoring combining two different wireless sensing technologies: RFID and WSN.

Every day, millions of tons of temperature-sensitive goods are produced, transported, stored or distributed worldwide, thus making their temperature and humidity control essential. Quality control and monitoring of goods during the cold chain is an increasing concern for producers, suppliers, logistic decision makers and consumers. In this paper we present the results of a combination of RFID and WSN devices in a set of studies performed in three commercial wholesale chambers of 1848 m3 with different set points and products. Up to 90 semi-passive RFID temperature loggers were installed simultaneously together with seven motes, during one week in each chamber. 3D temperature mapping charts were obtained and also the psychrometric data model from ASABE was implemented for the calculation of enthalpy changes and the absolute water content of air. Thus thank to the feedback of data, between RFID and WSN it is possible to estimate energy consumption in the cold room, water loss from the products and detect any condensation over the stored commodities.

Efecto de dilutores en base a Tris, Tes y leche descremada en la criopreservación de espermatozoides obtenidos del epidídimo de alpaca / Effect of extenders based on tris, tes and skim milk on cryopreservation of epididymal alpaca sperm

El estudio tuvo por objetivo evaluar el efecto de tres dilutores (Tris, Tes y leche descremada) en la criopreservación de espermatozoides obtenidos del epidídimo de alpaca. Previamente se determinó el efecto del tiempo entre el beneficio/castración y la recuperación de los espermatozoides del epidídimo. Se utilizaron 24 testículos de alpacas para la obtención de los espermatozoides directamente del epidídimo en una solución fisiológica buferada (PBS). La recuperación de espermatozoides se realizó a las 0, 35, 48 y 72 horas (6 testículos por grupo) y se evaluó la motilidad, concentración espermática e integridad funcional de membrana. Los espermatozoides recuperados a partir de 35 horas post beneficio/castración no fueron aptos para ser congelados. Las muestras recuperadas a las 0 horas fueron diluidas con Tris, Tes y leche descremada, enfriadas desde 35 a 5°C en 90 minutos, envasadas en pajillas de 0.25 ml y congeladas en nitrógeno líquido. Se evaluó la motilidad, integridad funcional de membrana y vitalidad/integridad acrosomal en las muestras descongeladas. La motilidad fue de 14.0, 8.6 y 17.0% en los grupos Tris, Tes y leche descremada, respectivamente, donde el grupo leche descremada fue significativamente mejor que el grupo Tes (p<0.05). Los porcentajes de integridad funcional de membrana y vitalidad/integridad acrosomal fueron similares entre los tres grupos. Se concluye que los tres dilutores brindan efectos similares para la criopreservación de espermatozoides epididimarios de alpaca.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of three semen extenders (skim milk, Tris, and Tes) on cryopreservation of epididymal alpaca sperm. Previously, the effect of timespan since slaughtering or castration to the recovery of epididymal sperm was evaluated. Twenty-four alpaca testicles were used to obtain sperm from the epididymis in a buffered saline solution (PBS). The recovery of spermatozoa was performed at 0, 35, 48, and 72 hours (6 testes per group) after slaughtering or castration. Sperm motility, concentration, and sperm membrane functional integrity were analyzed. Sperm recovered after 35 hours was not usable for cryopreservation. Sperm samples recovered at 0 hours were subjected to the process of freezing. Samples were diluted with skim milk, Tris, and Tes, cooled from 35 to 5 °C in 90 minutes, packed into 0.25 ml straws and frozen in liquid nitrogen. After thawing, straws were evaluated by motility, sperm membrane functional integrity and vitality/acrosome integrity. Motility was 17.0, 14.0, and 8.6% on skim milk, Tris and Tes groups respectively, where the skim milk group was significantly better than the Tes (p<0.05). Percentages of sperm membrane functional integrity and vitality/acrosomal integrity were similar among the three extenders. It was concluded that all three extenders provided similar effects for the cryopreservation of epididymal alpaca spermatozoa.

Refrigeración de semen canino utilizando glucosa, fructuosa, trehalosa o sacarosa para prolongar la supervivencia espermática / Refrigeration of canine semen using glucose, fructose, trehalose or sucrose to extend sperm survival

Se evaluó el efecto la glucosa, fructosa, trehalosa y sacarosa, como componentes del diluyente, sobre la viabilidad espermática en semen canino refrigerado a 5 °C. La fracción espermática de 16 eyaculados de perro fue distribuida en cinco alícuotas conteniendo un diluyente a base de Tris - ácido cítrico - yema de huevo, pero con un azúcar distinto, además del control sin azúcar. Los cinco tratamientos se evaluaron a las 24, 48, 72 y 96 horas de refrigeración en base a motilidad progresiva e integridad funcional de membrana mediante la prueba hipoosmótica (HOS). En todos los grupos, a excepción del grupo control, la motilidad espermática se mantuvo dentro de rangos aceptables durante el estudio (90% en el día 0 hasta cerca de 60% en el día 4). Sin embargo, la integridad de membrana se mantuvo ligeramente superior en los grupos con azúcar (87-90%) en comparación con el grupo control (83-85%). La glucosa y sacarosa mostraron mejores resultados de motilidad y HOS. Se concluye que no se genera un daño significativo sobre la membrana espermática durante la refrigeración a 5 °C del semen canino, y que la utilización de cualquiera de los azúcares como sustrato energético para los espermatozoides, en especial glucosa y sacarosa, es de gran importancia para el mantenimiento de niveles apropiados de motilidad espermática e integridad funcional de membrana.

The effect of glucose, fructose, trehalose, and sucrose, as components of the extender, was evaluated on canine sperm viability during refrigeration at 5 ºC. The spermatic fraction of 16 dog ejaculations were distributed in 5 aliquots containing an extender based on Tris – citric acid – egg yolk, but differing in the presence of one of the sugars, plus a control without sugar. The five treatments were evaluated after 24, 48, 72, and 96 hours of refrigeration in relation to progressive motility and functional integrity of the membrane by the hypoosmotic swelling test (HOS). All groups, with the exception of the control group, the sperm motility maintained within acceptable ranges during the study (90% on day 0 and 60% on day 4). The integrity of the membrane remained slightly superior in groups with sugar (87-90%) in comparison with the control group (83-85%). The glucose and sucrose showed the best results in motility and HOS. It is concluded that no significant damage occurred on the sperm membrane while keeping semen at 5 ºC, and that the use of any of the tested sugars as energy-giving substrate for the sperm cells (especially glucose and sucrose) is of great importance for the maintenance of appropriate levels of sperm motility and functional integrity of the membrane.

Testing ZigBee motes for monitoring refrigerated vegetable transportation under real conditions.

Quality control and monitoring of perishable goods during transportation and delivery services is an increasing concern for producers, suppliers, transport decision makers and consumers. The major challenge is to ensure a continuous 'cold chain' from producer to consumer in order to guaranty prime condition of goods. In this framework, the suitability of ZigBee protocol for monitoring refrigerated transportation has been proposed by several authors. However, up to date there was not any experimental work performed under real conditions. Thus, the main objective of our experiment was to test wireless sensor motes based in the ZigBee/IEEE 802.15.4 protocol during a real shipment. The experiment was conducted in a refrigerated truck traveling through two countries (Spain and France) which means a journey of 1,051 kilometers. The paper illustrates the great potential of this type of motes, providing information about several parameters such as temperature, relative humidity, door openings and truck stops. Psychrometric charts have also been developed for improving the knowledge about water loss and condensation on the product during shipments.

A review of wireless sensor technologies and applications in agriculture and food industry: state of the art and current trends.

The aim of the present paper is to review the technical and scientific state of the art of wireless sensor technologies and standards for wireless communications in the Agri-Food sector. These technologies are very promising in several fields such as environmental monitoring, precision agriculture, cold chain control or traceability. The paper focuses on WSN (Wireless Sensor Networks) and RFID (Radio Frequency Identification), presenting the different systems available, recent developments and examples of applications, including ZigBee based WSN and passive, semi-passive and active RFID. Future trends of wireless communications in agriculture and food industry are also discussed.

Criopreservación de semen ovino empleando tres dilutores y cuatro combinaciones de agentes crioprotectores permeantes y no permeantes / Ovine semen cryopreservation using three extenders and four combinations of permeant and non permeant agents

El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el efecto de tres dilutores y cuatro combinaciones de dos agentes crioprotectores permeantes más dos no permeantes sobre la calidad del semen ovino post-descongelamiento. Para esto, en una primera fase se evaluaron entre tres dilutores (A, B y C) y el más adecuado se usó en una segunda fase, donde se evaluaron las siguientes combinaciones de agentes crioprotectores permeantes y no permeantes: 1) Glicerol - Trehalosa, 2) Glicerol - Sacarosa, 3) Etilenglicol - Trehalosa y 4) Etilenglicol - Sacarosa. En el experimento 1, se encontró que el Dilutor A mantenía mejor la motilidad progresiva, viabilidad e integridad acrosomal post-descongelamiento en comparación con los dilutores B y C, por lo que el Dilutor A se empleó en el experimento 2. En este ensayo se encontró que la motilidad progresiva, la viabilidad e integridad acrosomal, la termoresistencia y la integridad de membrana plasmática post-descongelamiento fue mejor en los grupos con glicerol-sacarosa y glicerol-trehalosa en comparación con los grupos con etilenglicol-sacarosa y etilenglicol-trehalosa. Esto demuestra que el glicerol es un mejor crioprotector permeante en comparacion con el etilenglicol; sin embargo, no hubo diferencia en el uso de sacarosa o trehalosa. Se concluye que un dilutor con las características del dilutor A, utilizando glicerol más trehalosa o sacarosa, constituye una buena alternativa para la criopreservación de semen ovino.

The objective of the study was to evaluate the effect of three extenders and four combinations of two permeant and two non permeant cryoprotectant agents on the quality of post thaw ram semen. In Experiment 1, three extender were evaluated (A, B, and C) in order to select the best for the next step. In Experiment 2, different combinations of cryoprotectant agents were evaluated as follow: 1) Glycerol–Trehalose, 2) Glycerol–Sucrose, 3) Ethylene glycol-Trehalose, and 4) Ethylene glycol–Sucrose. In experiment 1, motility, viability and acrosomal integrity in extender A were higher than in extender B and extender C, and therefore, extender A was used for experiment 2. In this assay, motility, viability and acrosomal integrity, thermoresistance, and plasmatic membrane integrity were higher in groups Glycerol-sucrose and Glycerol-trehalose in comparison with groups Ethilene glycol-sucrose and Ethilene glycol-trehalose. However, there were not significative differences between sucrose or trehalose. In conclusion, an extender with characteristics of extender A using glycerol plus trehalose or sucrose constitute a good alternative for cryopreservation of ram semen.

Efecto de dos antioxidantes (tempo y tempol) en la criopreservación de semen ovino empleando un dilutor en base a tris / Effect of two antioxidants (tempo and tempol) on ram semen cryopreservation using the tris extender

Se emplearon 32 muestras de semen procedentes de cuatro ovinos a fin de ser criopreservadas con la adición dos antioxidantes: Tempo (2,2,6,6 tetrametil-1-piperidiniloxil) y Tempol (4-hidroxi 2,2,6,6 tetrametil-1-piperidiniloxil), en concentraciones de 0.5, 1.0 y 2.5 mM, para evaluar el efecto postdescongelamiento que pudieran tener sobre la motilidad progresiva, la viabilidad e integridad acrosomal y la capacitación espermática prematura. En cada concentración de los dos antioxidantes y del grupo control se utilizó un dilutor en base a Tris, realizándose ocho repeticiones, cada una con cuatro muestras de semen. Los resultados obtenidos demuestran que la adición de Tempo a una concentración de 0.5 mM mejora significativamente la calidad del semen criopreservado en comparación con el grupo control (p<0.05), incrementado los porcentajes de motilidad progresiva (79 vs. 67 por ciento), viabilidad e integridad acrosomal (70 vs. 58 por ciento) y reduciendo la capacitación espermática prematura (9 vs.15 por ciento). Por otro lado, la adición de Tempol disminuyó la calidad seminal postdescongelamiento en comparación con el control. En conclusión, la adición de Tempo 0.5 mM en un dilutor en base a Tris, al finalizar la fase de enfriamiento, podría constituir una estrategia para mejorar la calidad de semen ovino criopreservado.

Thirty-two semen samples from four rams were frozed using two antioxidants, Tempo (2,2,6,6 tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxyl) and Tempol (4-hidroxi 2,2,6,6 tetramethyl-1-piperidinyloxyl), each one in concentrations of 0.5, 1.0, and 2.5 mM, to evaluate the effects on post-thawing motility, viability, acrosomal integrity, and earlier sperm capacitation. Eight replications for each antioxidant concentration and control group, were done using four semen samples per replication. Semen samples were diluted on a Tris extender. Results showed that Tempo 0.5 mM improved frozen semen quality in comparison with control group (p<0.05), by increasing progresive motility (79 vs. 67 por ciento), viability and acrosomal integrity (70 vs. 58 por ciento), and decreasing earlier sperm capacitation (9 vs. 15 por ciento). On the other hand, Tempol decreased frozen semen quality. In conclusion, the use of Tempo 0.5 mM on a Tris extender, at the end of the cooling process, could be an alternative for improving the quality of frozed ram semen.