The objective of this study was to evaluate and characterize the dependence and the spatial and temporal distribution of variables and indices of the thermal environment in an open compost-bedded pack barn system with positive-pressure ventilation (CBPPV) during the winter period. The study was conducted in a CBPPV system located in the Zona da Mata region, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The indoor environment was divided into a mesh composed of 55 equidistant points, where data on dry-bulb air temperature (t_db) and relative humidity (RH) were collected. The collected data were divided into four periods—dawn, morning, afternoon, and night—and mean values were obtained. To evaluate the thermal microenvironment, the temperature and humidity index (THI) and the specific enthalpy of air (h) were used. For spatial dependence analysis, geostatistical techniques were applied. Through the results, a strong spatial dependence was verified for all variables evaluated. Through THI and h maps, conditions of thermal comfort were found for dairy cattle. The highest values of t_db, THI, and h were recorded in the afternoon period in the northwest region of the facility (t_db = 23.2 °C, THI = 69.7, and h = 50.9 kJ∙kg of dry air⁻¹).

The objective of this study was to characterize the dependence and spatial distribution of bedding attributes in an open compost-bedded pack barn (CBP) system with positive pressure ventilation during the winter period in Brazil. The study was conducted in July 2021, in the Zona da Mata region, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The bedding area (shavings and wood sawdust) was divided into a mesh with 44 equidistant points. At each point, the bedding temperature at the surface (t_B-sur) and at a depth of 0.2 m (t_B-20) and the air velocity at bedding level (v_air,B) were measured, and bedding samples were collected. The bedding samples were used to determine the moisture level and pH at the surface (M_B-sur e pH_B-sur) and at a depth of 0.2 m (M_B-20 and pH_B-20). The spatial behavior of the variables was evaluated using geostatistics techniques. For all variables, the occurrence of strong spatial dependence was verified. Through the maps, it was observed that t_B-sur, t_B-20, M_B-sur, M_B-20, and v_air,B showed high spatial variability, whereas pH_B-sur and pH_B-20 demonstrated low variation. On the surface, values of t_B-sur < 20 °C and M_B-sur > 60% were observed. At the subsurface, there was a predominance of t_B-20 < 40 °C, M_B-20 > 60%, and pH > 9, which are indications of low bedding composting activity.

In Compost-Bedded Pack Barn (CBP) systems, air velocity is linked with the thermal comfort of housed dairy cattle and bedding quality and, therefore, assessing ventilation efficiency is essential. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate and characterize dependence and spatial distribution of air velocity at the 1.5 m height (v_air,_M) and at bedding level (v_air,_B) in an open CBP system with positive pressure ventilation. The study was conducted in 2021, in a facility located in the Zona da Mata region, Minas Gerais, Brazil. The facility area was divided into a mesh composed of 55 equidistant points, where v_air,_M and v_air,_B data were collected in the morning (09:00 a.m.) and afternoon (03:00 p.m.) periods, during three weeks in Brazilian winter. Geostatistics techniques were used to assess dependence and spatial distribution. In both periods evaluated, there were a strong occurrence of spatial dependence and non-uniform v_air,_M and v_air,_B distributions. The v_air,_M and v_air,_B values were lower than recommended (1.8 m∙s–¹) in more than 65.0% of the area. Adequate ventilation levels were observed only in the first 20.0 m of the facility, from Southeast to Northwest, because of the fan lines present.

As abelhas nativas sem ferrão desempenham um papel vital e crucial na polinização de culturas agrícolas no Brasil. Sua presença e atividade são essenciais para garantir a produtividade, a qualidade dos alimentos e a diversidade dos ecossistemas agrícolas. Portanto, a proteção e o manejo adequado dessas abelhas devem ser prioridades para promover a sustentabilidade e a segurança alimentar no país. No entanto, as abelhas têm enfrentado desafios significativos, como a perda de habitat natural. Compreender o papel das abelhas é particularmente importante porque este grupo de polinizadores contribui para a polinização de muitas espécies de culturas. Diante da importância que as abelhas possuem dentro do cenário agrícola, é necessária uma conscientização sobre a conservação e manejo das abelhas sem ferrão no intuito de apresentar a população o impacto ambiental com a ausência desses animais. Deste modo, o presente estudo tem por objetivo apresentar uma revisão de literatura sobre a importância das abelhas nativas sem ferrão na polinização de culturas agrícolas no Brasil e apontar quais medidas podem ser adotadas para a proteção dos habitats dessas abelhas.

The Brazilian forestry sector comprises 9.94 million hectares of plantations, with eucalyptus dominating 75% of this area for pulp production. Technological advances have enhanced machinery performance, with the cut-to-length system being the primary method for pulpwood production. This study aimed to optimize the operational cycle of the log loader by evaluating productivity, operational cycles, and loading costs. Data were collected in Bahia, northeastern Brazil, from a forestry company operating under varying productivity scenarios and forest rotations. Time and motion studies were conducted to assess the log loader’s cycles, while productivity and cost analyses were performed. The results indicated that predictive models effectively explained productivity variations. The log loader’s productivity increased with the average volume per tree (AVT) and decreased with the number of movements, which consumed 68% of the cycle time due to wood adjustment and stack organization. Stages such as personal breaks, truck movements, crane adjustments, and cleaning of fallen material showed no significant statistical differences. Loading costs rose by up to 154% with increased movements and decreased with a higher AVT. Additionally, loading tri-train trucks significantly influenced transportation efficiency, emphasizing the importance of optimizing the log loader’s cycle to balance costs and enhance transportation operations.