Adílio Flauzino Lacerda Filho

The study evaluated the effects of corn grain deterioration under different storage conditions in processed feeds and broiler digestibility. The corn grains were stored in chambers (quality corn and contaminated corn) at different storage temperatures and relative humidity (10 °C and 90%, 30 °C and 40%), and the evaluations were carried out at five storage times (zero, three, six, nine, and twelve months). After feed formulation (zero, six, and twelve months of corn stored), the broilers (504 animals) were fed for up to 14 days. The excreta collection was done twice per day for metabolism analysis. The 10 °C and 90% RH conditions influenced the loss of dry matter; the physical quality of corn grain was lower for the 30 °C and 90% RH conditions. When we obtained lower dry matter losses, the microbiological and mycotoxin levels were directly influenced by the loss of dry matter in corn. The storage time increased the risk of fungi (8.5 × 10⁷ CFU g⁻¹), bacteria (7.5 × 10⁶ CFU g⁻¹), and aflatoxins (64.96 µg kg⁻¹), reaching levels above acceptable limits for the corn quality and interfering with digestibility and animal metabolism. In addition, the storage time was the determining factor in the nutritional loss of corn quality, feed, and animal digestibility. Furthermore, the storage time reduced the levels of crude protein (5%), gross energy in the feed (3200 kcal kg⁻¹), metabolizable energy (3000 kcal kg⁻¹), and animal digestibility (3100 kcal kg⁻¹) after six months of storage. Based on the results of this study, the feed processing industry should pay close attention to the origin of stored corn and the associated environmental conditions, as these factors led to significant changes in grain quality, directly impacting animal nutrition and production. Therefore, it is recommended that the production chain invest more in the sector—specifically in adequate infrastructure and grain storage monitoring and control systems—to provide higher-quality raw materials to the processing industry.

Sensory characterization of coffee (Coffea arabica L.) Harvested in different percentages of the cherry maturation stage / Caracterização sensorial do café (Coffea arábica L.) colhido em diferentes percentagens do estádio de maturação cereja

The industrial development of solar photovoltaic technology has attracted investors and influenced governments to establish public policies for the sector. The present research consisted of studying, building and testing low concentration solar radiation systems for photovoltaic energy conversion. The study used optical nonimaging parameters for the V-trough type radiation concentrator constructed of anodized aluminum, to reflect and to cool. Designed to concentrate radiation by about two times and consisting of a set of photovoltaic modules connected in parallel, they were modeled in the Laboratory of Energy Area in the Department of Agricultural Engineering of the Federal University of Vicosa, Brazil, at the coordinates 20°45′14′′ S latitude, 42°52′53′′ W longitude and altitude 648.74 m. They were installed to the geographic North, with the same slope as the local latitude. For comparative analysis, it was determined the electrical characteristics for evaluation of the prototype’s performance with and without radiation concentration, the final productivity for cities in tropical and temperate regions and economic analysis for the system. It was concluded that the prototypes allowed for a gain of energy with concentration, about 31.3% more, and therefore a productivity gain for the analyzed cities in, kWh·kW_p⁻¹.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the quantity, costs and contaminations of the physical losses of products (corn, meals, flours, feeds, and micro ingredients) caused by the maintenance system utilized in equipment of the different stages of a feed production mill.

The aim of the study was to evaluate the quantity, costs and contaminations of the physical losses of products (corn, meals, flours, feeds, and micro ingredients) caused by the maintenance system utilized in equipment of the different stages of a feed production mill. The experiment was conducted in a feed industry with production capacity of 1,000 ton day-1. Firstly, an assessment of the maintenance system used in the feed mill was performed, after the products losses were quantified in the external and internal sectors of the milling steps. Two methods were utilized for loss quantification: per sector and per equipment of the feed industry. Samples of the products were collected in different points of the area evaluated for counting of fungi and salmonella colonies, insects and mites. The results showed that a large number of maintenances were not performed within the programmed period, up to 70%. In addition, the equipment maintenance system utilized in the feed milling significantly influenced product losses, reaching 120 kg and costs of US$ 38 per hour worked. The microbiological analysis presented a high contamination index by fungi and salmonellas sp. (7,4 x 104 CFU g-1) in corn grain.

Divulgação de conteúdo acadêmico: notícias, congressos, artigos de revistas e congressos, dissertações, teses e livros.

As farinhas de origem animal apresentam potencial de contaminação microbiológica, no entanto, são ainda muito utilizadas na formulação de dietas para animais. O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a qualidade microbiológica das farinhas de origem animal processados em oito unidades distribuídas no estado de Minas Gerais. As amostras de farinhas de vísceras (248), de carne e ossos (224), e farinhas de penas (216) foram coletadas para avaliação microbiológica no recebimento de uma fábrica de ração, localizada na cidade de Viconde do Rio Branco, MG. Os resultados demonstraram um elevado índice de contaminação bacteriana pelas espécies Salmonella sp. (5,3x102) e Staphylococcus sp. (4,5x105), coliformes totais (2,8x105), coliformes termotolerantes (3,3x105), mesófi los totais (4.7x105), e colônias de fungos (3,6x105). As farinhas de origem animal processadas na unidade “A” apresentaram os maiores níveis de contaminação microbiológica. Além disso, as farinhas de vísceras foram os subprodutos com qualidade inferior. As farinhas de origem animal obtidas nas unidades de processamento estão fora do padrão exigido pela legislação no que se refere a qualidade microbiológica e colocam em risco a qualidade fi nal da ração. Concluiuse que as farinhas de origem animal não atendem a qualidade mínima para serem comercializadas para as fábricas de rações.

The present work aimed at evaluating the quality of raw materials destined for animal feed production, as well as the quality of corn produced in different areas of the Minas Gerais State. The study was conducted in a feed mill for poultry, with production capacity of 1,000 t d-1. Samples of corn, soybean, flours, animal meals, and feed, during the year of 2008 were collected for analysis of moisture, acidity, peroxides, crude protein, ethereal extract, and physical classification of the corn for "type". The collection of samples, physical-chemical analysis and classification of corn according to "type" were performed at the Industrial Laboratory and at the Department of Agricultural Engineering of Federal University of Viçosa. It was concluded that: raw materials meet the minimum demands of quality (with regards to physical-chemical and nutritional aspects); the corn grains and some by-products present high indexes of moisture and are subject to microbiological contamination during storage; the corn produced in the different areas of Minas Gerais State can be classified as "type 1" for commercialization.

Foi realizada a secagem de café cereja descascado em terreiro de asfalto e de concreto com objetivo de avaliar e comparar a influência do tipo de pavimentação no processo de secagem. Também foi avaliada a infecção por microrganismos e a eficiência energética. Para isso foram monitoradas as condições climáticas, temperaturas da massa de grãos, a intensidade de radiação solar sobre a superfície da massa de grãos, além da radiação refletida pelo café. O terreiro de asfalto apresentou maior rendimento de secagem, maior variação das temperaturas, menor taxa de reflexão de radiação solar, menor consumo específico de energia, menor contaminação por microrganismos e maior eficiência energética, em relação ao de concreto, para as mesmas condições ambientais. A classificação da bebida não apresentou diferença entre os tratamentos.