Lucas Rocha Valfré

Oxidative stress is a critical challenge in intensive swine production, particularly during weaning, compromising intestinal integrity and animal performance. N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) has emerged as a multifunctional nutritional strategy to mitigate these effects due to its role as a glutathione precursor and signaling modulator. This systematic review aimed to critically synthesize the evidence regarding NAC supplementation in piglets, focusing on growth performance, intestinal morphology, antioxidant status, and gut health indicators. A systematic search was conducted on the Web of Science and Scopus databases following PRISMA guidelines. Twenty experimental trials evaluated oral NAC supplementation in suckling and nursery piglets were included. Methodological quality was assessed using the SYRCLE Risk of Bias tool. Results: NAC supplementation consistently improved antioxidant capacity by increasing reduced glutathione (GSH) levels (15% to 40%) and reducing malondialdehyde (MDA) (20% to 35%) across various stress models. In weaned piglets, NAC attenuated pro‐inflammatory signaling (NF‐κB and MAPK pathways), reducing cytokine production (TNF‐α, IL‐1β) and preserving villus height and tight junction expression. In neonatal and intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) models, NAC promoted mitochondrial biogenesis and bioenergetic rescue. Furthermore, NAC modulated the intestinal microbiota, favoring beneficial genera such as Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium . Despite these molecular benefits, zootechnical responses were more pronounced under physiological challenges, whereas effects in low‐stress commercial environments remained inconsistent. NAC acts as a physiological modulator that goes beyond simple antioxidant action, providing cytoprotection and maintaining intestinal homeostasis through developmental‐stage‐specific mechanisms.

This study evaluated whether the complexity and temporal dynamics of environmental enrichment during the nursery phase are associated with piglets’ threat-related responses and affective state using a multimodal approach. We combined an Attentional Bias Test (ABT) with bioacoustic measures, Qualitative Behavior Assessment (QBA), and biomarkers (hair cortisol and serum BDNF). In a commercial nursery setting, 675 piglets were allocated to three treatments: UNI (single continuous item: chains), ALT (chains plus an additional object rotated weekly), and SIM (continuous simultaneous provision of multiple objects). A subsample of 32 piglets underwent the ABT (UNI, n = 10; ALT, n = 11; SIM, n = 11). Most ABT measures related to threat-directed attention and space use showed no detectable treatment differences under the present protocol, and feeding latency was affected by stimulus exposure but not by treatment. In contrast, treatments differed in coping-related responses: UNI showed a higher frequency of excretions, ALT showed a longer standing-inactive duration, and SIM showed more escape attempts. Vocalizations were restricted to harsh grunts, with ALT showing longer harsh-grunt duration and higher total vocal output. QBA and biomarkers further differentiated treatments: SIM showed calmer/less tense expressive profiles, whereas UNI showed higher post-exposure hair cortisol and lower serum BDNF than the more complex conditions. Overall, enrichment-related differences were more consistently detected in coping-related behavior, QBA, and biomarkers than in ABT attentional measures, suggesting that enrichment implementation (stable vs. rotational) shapes partially dissociable behavioral and physiological adaptation profiles, and that both more complex strategies showed a more favorable biological profile than UNI.

O movimento estudantil exerce papel essencial na formação acadêmica e cidadã dos discentes, promovendo engajamento, representatividade e fortalecimento da identidade profissional. Este trabalho teve como objetivo analisar a percepção e o engajamento de estudantes de Zootecnia do Brasil em relação ao movimento estudantil, com ênfase no papel da Associação Brasileira de Zootecnistas (ABZ) e da ABZ Jovem. Foram realizadas apresentações virtuais sobre a ABZ e a ABZ Jovem em diferentes escolas de Zootecnia, seguidas da aplicação de um formulário online, que obteve 933 respostas válidas. Os resultados revelam ampla distribuição geográfica dos participantes, com maior concentração entre o 1º e 5º semestre, sendo que 36,7% participam de entidades estudantis e 72,9% conhecem a ABZ Jovem. Apesar da baixa filiação à ABZ (17,9%), a ABZ Jovem foi amplamente reconhecida e bem avaliada pelos discentes, demonstrando seu papel central no fortalecimento da representatividade e do protagonismo estudantil na Zootecnia. A ação contribuiu para aproximar os estudantes da entidade de classe e para fomentar o engajamento acadêmico e extensionista.

Este estudo apresenta um relato de experiência extensionista, de abordagem qualitativa e natureza descritiva, sobre o uso do Instagram como estratégia de comunicação institucional e divulgação científica no Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zootecnia da Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (PPGZ/UFGD). As ações foram realizadas durante a divulgação de quatro processos seletivos consecutivos (PS-2024/2, PS-2025/1, PS-2025/2 e PS-2026/1), com publicações sistemáticas nos stories, utilizando linguagem acessível, elementos visuais padronizados e marcação de discentes para ampliar o alcance orgânico. A avaliação foi conduzida por meio de indicadores do Instagram Insights, considerando visualizações, interações e taxa de engajamento, além da caracterização do público alcançado. Observou-se variação entre os ciclos, com aumento das interações totais e do engajamento qualitativo ao longo do tempo, indicando maturação das estratégias comunicacionais e fortalecimento da visibilidade institucional. Os resultados reforçam o potencial das redes sociais como ferramenta de extensão universitária, contribuindo para democratizar informações sobre processos seletivos e aproximar universidade e sociedade.

Dietary supplementation with tryptophan in sows is a promising strategy for optimizing both performance and animal welfare. In addition to its role in protein synthesis, this essential amino acid is a precursor of serotonin and melatonin, which are bioactive compounds that influence appetite, social behavior, and stress regulation. However, the reported effects on reproductive outcomes and maternal metabolism remain inconsistent. This systematic review evaluated the evidence of tryptophan supplementation as a modulator of behavior and productivity in sows. Searches were conducted in Scopus and Web of Science databases. Experimental peer-reviewed studies that assessed tryptophan supplementation across different physiological phases (gestation and lactation), dietary levels, and environmental contexts were included. This review followed the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) 2020 guidelines, and the protocol was preregistered. Screening and data extraction were performed by two independent reviewers, and the risk of bias was assessed using the SYRCLE′s (Systematic Review Center for Laboratory Animal Experimentation) risk of bias tool. Eleven studies met the eligibility criteria of this review. Tryptophan supplementation consistently reduced aggressiveness in group-housing systems and supported piglet survival and growth. However, the effects on reproductive performance and maternal metabolism vary depending on the dose, parity, and environmental conditions. The heterogeneity of the study designs and the absence of a meta-analysis due to data variability were identified as the main limitations. Overall, tryptophan supplementation demonstrated potential benefits for sow welfare and productivity, but the results remained context dependent. Long-term and standardized studies are required to clarify its impact, particularly on reproductive efficiency and maternal physiology.