Browsing by Author "Albuquerque, Francisco Braga"
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- Análise biomecânica para Equus asinusPublication . Albuquerque, Francisco Braga; Queijo, Luís; Xavier, Leydervan de SouzaOs burros (Equus asinus) foram domesticados, no norte da África, entre de 5.000 a 7.000 anos atrás, sendo usados sobretudo na agricultura e transportes de bens e pessoas [1]. No pós segunda guerra mundial, com a expansão da mecanização no campo, a tração animal perdeu espaço [2], e a raça estudada, Asinina de Miranda, ficou próxima da extinção [3]. Já no final do século XX, houve um retorno à utilização da tração animal em trabalhos rurais, devido à fácil locomoção em espaços limitados e com obstáculos, aos elevados custos da mecanização (investimento inicial e manutenção) e, por fim, aos benefícios do uso de animais seja no controle de queimadas seja na menor compactação do solo [4]. Dessa forma, ganha importância avaliar os atuais usos desses animais no campo, considerando-se seu bem-estar e sua longevidade. Para isso, foram desenvolvidos três pilares de avaliação biomecânica. Em primeiro lugar, fizeram-se estudos com mantas de pressão, alternando diversos arreios (artesanais e comerciais), a fim de perceber a influência da carga transportada nas regiões críticas dos animais (traqueia e ombros). Paralelamente, desenvolveu-se um balancim equipado com um dinamômetro que grava os dados de força e tempo, possibilitando a análise dos esforços segundo a combinação de diferentes tipos de arreios e cargas. Por último, devido às dificuldades encontradas na realização de testes, sujeitos a variações de solo e intempéries, projetou-se uma passadeira para animais de grande porte, a qual permitirá posteriores ensaios em laboratório.
- Collar pressure mapping: an evaluation of seven collar types used on working donkeys in EuropePublication . Rodrigues, João B.; Garrett, Chris; Norris, Stuart L.; Albuquerque, Francisco Braga; Queijo, Luís; Cooke, Fiona; Judge, AndrewBackground: Working donkeys represent an important source of energy worldwide. Poor working conditions and equipment affect their ability to work. Poorly designed, ill-fitted harness causes inefficient transfer of power and leads to health and welfare issues. Using technology to assess different types of collars provides a better understanding of those that are most efficient for working donkeys. Materials and methods: Seven different collars were tested using pressure pads. Contact area, median, maximum and peak pressures were obtained for the whole collar and critical points. Eight donkeys pulled 20% and 40% of their body weight, using each collar, under controlled conditions. Results: Contact area and pressures vary between collars and effort, with design and expansion capacity of the collars playing a major role. Simple collars designed specifically for donkeys performed well, with full collars designed for horses also having good results. Due to reduced expansion capacity and contact in the critical points, the breast collars were the least effective. Conclusion: Design, appropriate padding and manufacturing materials and adjustment capacity are key features for good collars, and such parameters are of paramount importance in terms of health and welfare for working donkeys. © 2021 British Veterinary Association
- Electronic instrumentation of a swingletree for equid pull load monitoring: a contribution for the welfare and performance of working donkeysPublication . Coelho, João Paulo; Rodrigues, João Brandão; Queijo, Luis; Rosse, Higor Vendramini; Albuquerque, Francisco Braga; Judge, Andrew; Cooke, Fiona; Garrett, ChrisEquids play a fundamental role in supporting livelihoods in many parts of the world. Being able to access the animal’s welfare, especially while performing tasks that involve high levels of physical effort such as those found in agroforestry activities, is of utmost importance. The Donkey Sanctuary, a UK-based international charitable institution, has designed a project that aims to develop a set of tools to evaluate the working conditions of donkeys and mules worldwide. This requires the measurement of several different parameters, including the force exerted by an animal to pull a load during work. This article presents the stages of design, development and implementation of a device capable of carrying out these measurements with minimal human intervention and with negligible impact on the task operating conditions. Data obtained from real fi eld conditions validates the devised measurement method.
- May the force be with you: an investigation into logging methods using donkeysPublication . Rodrigues, João Brandão; Garrett, Chris; Norris, Stuart; Albuquerque, Francisco Braga; Queijo, Luis; Coelho, João Paulo; Cooke, Fiona; Judge, AndrewWorking equids represent major sources of energy worldwide, and assume an increasingly important role in line with increasing requirements for sustainable energy. The effectiveness of their contributions relies on welfare, especially in the case of donkeys that, due to their size, face more adverse working conditions compared to larger equids. In this study, heart rate and force exerted were monitored while logging using three methods: direct pull, sled, and vehicles. A swingle tree incorporating a dynamometer and data logger was developed for this project, allowing continuous recording of forces. It was hypothesized that logging techniques that suspend (partially or totally) the load from the ground, reduce the force exerted, thus reducing physical effort. This study also aimed to understand if heart rate can be used as an alternative proxy measure when pulling different loads using different methods. Results showed that the greatest force was measured during direct pull (369.66 N), requiring 20% greater force compared to the sled (299.10 N, P <0.001), and 60% greater force than the vehicle (125.11 N, P <0.001). The sled required an additional 58% of force compared to the vehicle (P <0.001). This determines vehicles are the best option for reducing the force exerted by donkeys. Affordability and skills needed to work with this technique, however, are important considerations. Sleds represent a user-friendly solution; reducing the force needed when compared to direct pull, requiring less skills and equipment. The dynamometer proved an excellent method for force monitoring. Heart rate as a proxy measure for force didn’t provide accurate data for lighter loads. Increasing load weight, followed by the increasing force requirements, correlation and explanatory power became greater, indicating that with heavier logs, or methods that display greater force requirements, heart rate may be used as a proxy method for force, but further studies are needed. Keywords: Working donkeys, dynamometer, logging techniques, heart rate, animal welfare.