https://repositorio.uema.br/jspui/handle/123456789/1898 2026-08-20T15:23:56Z https://repositorio.uema.br/jspui/handle/123456789/6464 Título: Avaliação das condições de bem-estar em creches de suínos em São Luís-MA Abstact: The present study aimed to evaluate favorable and unfavorable conditions for the welfare of piglets during the nursery phase, identifying the variability of factors related to housing, management, health, and animal behavior in nursery units of intensive swine production systems practiced on the Island of São Luís. The research was conducted through the development and on-site application of questionnaires during visits to ten swine farms between February and August 2025, covering the assessment of facilities (floor type, stocking density, ventilation, and thermal environment), management practices (feeding, water supply, and environmental enrichment), as well as health and behavioral indicators (presence of lesions and occurrence of tail biting). The observed results revealed that the intensive production system in the region presents significant challenges, particularly due to asymmetries in crucial aspects of animal welfare. It was found that 90% of the farms had ground-level flooring, with 70% being concrete and 20% subfloor, while only 10% had suspended slatted floors, with the use of subflooring being predominant (70%). All units had fiber-cement roofing; however, 70% did not have any type of thermal monitoring, only 20% used curtains and 10% used thermometers, indicating deficiencies in the maintenance of thermal comfort, which is especially important in hot climate regions. Furthermore, 50% of the farms operated under excessive stocking density, representing an unfavorable management condition that compromises space availability and animal movement, which, combined with the absence or inadequacy of environmental enrichment in most farms (80%), contributes to increased stress and the development of stereotypic behaviors in animals. It is concluded that the intensive swine production system on the Island of São Luís requires significant improvements regarding animal welfare, including the implementation of more appropriate management practices and facilities that promote adequate thermal and environmental comfort for the animals. 2026-01-08T00:00:00Z https://repositorio.uema.br/jspui/handle/123456789/6276 Título: Diagnóstico bioclimático para criação de ovinos no município de Amarante do Maranhão-MA Abstact: Sheep farming in the Brazilian Northeast, especially with adapted breeds such as the Morada Nova, is of great socioeconomic relevance; however, it faces limitations related to the hot and humid climate characteristic of the region. This study aimed to create a bioclimatic diagnosis of the municipality of Amarante do Maranhão (MA) for raising Morada Nova sheep by analyzing annual meteorological data, including air temperature (TA), relative humidity (RH), and thermal comfort indices such as the Temperature-Humidity Index (THI) and the Black Globe Humidity Index (BGHI) to identify periods of thermal comfort and discomfort for the animals. The results demonstrated that the first half of the year presents lower average TA and high RH, while the second half concentrates the most critical conditions. This period shows a gradual increase in TA, a sharp drop in RH, and a higher radiation load, especially between September and November, when the THI and BGHI exceed comfort limits, indicating a significant risk of thermal stress. These conditions directly affect feed intake, respiratory rate, weight gain, reproductive efficiency, and animal welfare. It is concluded that the climate of Amarante do Maranhão imposes relevant challenges on the production of Morada Nova sheep, reinforcing the need for thermal management strategies, such as natural or artificial shading, continuous water availability, adjustments to grazing schedules, and interventions that promote a microclimate more suitable for the performance and sustainability of the activity 2025-12-16T00:00:00Z https://repositorio.uema.br/jspui/handle/123456789/6246 Título: Caracterização da suinocultura da Grande Ilha do Amor Abstact: Pig farming has socioeconomic relevance for family agriculture; however, in the Grande Ilha do Maranhão, the activity is still characterized by a low level of technification and limited technical assistance. This study aimed to characterize pig farming in the Grande Ilha do Maranhão, covering the municipalities of São Luís, São José de Ribamar, Paço do Lumiar, and Raposa, analyzing socioeconomic, structural, productive, sanitary, and marketing aspects. This is a descriptive and exploratory study with a qualitative and quantitative approach, conducted between March and December 2025, involving 38 pig farmers through the application of structured questionnaires and on-site observations. The results showed a predominance of male producers (76.3%), aged between 36 and 55 years (71%), with a low level of schooling and predominant use of family labor (84.2%). The intensive production system was adopted by 100% of the producers, with predominance of the complete production cycle (86.8%). Reproduction occurs exclusively through natural mating, with absence of zootechnical control in 85.3% of the properties. Regarding feeding management, 73.7% use only feed, and 81.6% produce their own feed, with low adoption of phase-feeding diets. Biosecurity practices are limited, and 89.5% of the producers do not receive technical assistance. Marketing occurs mostly in an informal manner, with the sale of live animals to middlemen. It is concluded that pig farming in the Grande Ilha do Maranhão has productive potential; however, it requires technical assistance, modernization of management practices, and structuring of formal marketing channels 2026-01-08T00:00:00Z https://repositorio.uema.br/jspui/handle/123456789/6242 Título: Avaliação da relação entre níveis de ração escore corporal sobre desempenho reprodutivo de matrizes suínas Abstact: The reproductive efficiency of sow herds is one of the main determinants of productivity in swine production and represents an activity of great economic relevance in the state of Maranhão, especially on the island of São Luís, where family-based production systems predominate. This study aimed to evaluate the relationship between different feed levels and body condition score (BCS) on the reproductive performance of sows in natural mating systems on family farms in the rural area of São 10 Luís, Maranhão, Brazil. The experiment was conducted on a swine farm with an average herd of 36 crossbred sows (Landrace × Large White), arranged in a 2×2×3 factorial design (two feed levels, two body condition scores, and three parity orders), with three replications. Body condition score was assessed using visual and tactile methods with the aid of a caliper at different stages of the productive cycle. Reproductive parameters evaluated included the number of piglets born alive, stillborn, and mummified. Data were subjected to normality analysis, ANOVA, and Tukey’s test. The results showed no significant differences among treatments and body condition scores. However, sows with body condition scores within the range considered ideal tended to present a higher number of piglets born alive and lower reproductive losses, regardless of the feeding treatment. It is concluded that although a slight reduction in the mean number of stillborn and mummified piglets was observed, unsatisfactory reproductive performance rarely has a single cause, being the result of multifactorial origins, which makes its diagnosis unstable and highlights the need for stricter experimental control of variables. 2025-01-01T00:00:00Z