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Several studies related to the feasibility and efficiency of using alternative materials to Vernon's globe have been carried out, mainly due to the high price of copper, a component of the standard instrument. The objective was to evaluate the efficiency of using an aluminum mug as an alternative material for replacing Vernon's globe. To make the prototype, an aluminum mug was used, used in a paint gun, with a capacity of 50 ml. The mug was painted with matte black paint, in two layers and a mercury thermometer was inserted in the center. Four pieces of equipment were used to carry out the tests (two Vernon globes and two alternative black globes). Previous temporal behavior tests were carried out. Once the time was established, the globes' temperatures were collected for seven consecutive days, in three periods of 15 minutes each. Temperature records were taken every five minutes, a total of 84 per equipment. Data were subjected to Pearson's correlation analysis. The results indicated a positive correlation with the r2 of 0.9927, establishing a strong correlation between the mean temperature results of the alternative black globe and Vernon's globe. It is concluded that the alternative black globe of the aluminum mug type proved to be efficient for measuring the temperature of the black globe in ambience studies, replacing the Vernon Globe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The objective of this study was to evaluate the health status, productive performance and carcass traits of growing rabbits housed in pen with litter and conventional cage. At 35 d, 54 crossbred rabbits (New Zealand White vs. Botucatu) were randomly housed in pen with litter (6 pens, 6 rabbits/pen, 2.3 rabbits/m²) or cage (6 cages, 3 rabbits/cage, 8.3 rabbits/m²) and kept until the age of slaughter at 77 d. To simulate farm conditions, the rabbits that were housed in pen have not been previously adapted to this system. There was greater intensity of dirt and mucus occurrence in the rabbits housed in pens in first period, but the mucus occurrence practically disappeared in the later period. For performance, the rabbits housed in cages had a higher live weight at 56 d (1714 vs. 1506 g; P<0.001), as well as BWG (46.4 vs. 36.7 g/d, P<0.001) and better FC (2.75 vs. 3.33; P<0.05) from 35 to 56 d. However, these animals did not show the best performance (P>0.05) in the posterior period (56 to 77 d). There was no effect (P>0.05) of housing system for carcass yield, dissectible fat and hind leg yield. It may be suggested that rabbits adapt to the floor over time. Therefore, it is indicated the adoption of this system for growing rabbits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]