The effects of tail docking on growth performance and carcass characteristics of fat-tailed male Karakas, lambs were investigated. A total of 23 Karakas, single-born male lambs was used in this study. Nine were docked at one day of age using rubber elastrator rings and the rest was left intact. After weaning, the lambs were fed a finishing diet for 70 days, and then slaughtered to evaluate carcass characteristics. Total weight gains during the finishing period were 14.3 ± 1.00 and 18.9 ± 0.82 kg and average daily live weight gains 204.7 ± 14.41 and 269.9 ± 11.72 g for the undocked the docked group, respectively. The carcasses of the docked group contained more kidney, pelvic and internal fat than the intact lambs as well as a higher percentage of subcutaneous and intramuscular fat. The weights of the different carcass cuts of the docked lambs were also heavier that those of the intact group. The results indicated that the tail docking of fat-tailed Karakas lambs improved weight gain and desirable carcass characteristics compared to those of undocked lambs.

Metas para pesquisas em andamento e futuras em nosso laboratório incluem o estudo de ataque químico em refratários em contacto com vidro, bem como os refratários da abóbada de tanques de fusão de vidro sob condições de queima gas/ar ou óleo/oxigênio. Ênfase em avaliação e caracterização de parâmetros críticos serão considerados em refratários comerciais, tais como microestrutura, porosidade e propriedades mecânicas. Um segundo foco é a avaliação do desempenho de refratários alternativos às abóbodas tradicionais e refratários de superestruturas, incluindo seus aspectos físicos, desenho de abóboda e qualidade de juntas.

Current and future research goals in our laboratories include the study of the attack of glass-contact refractories and of crown refractories in glass tank melters, under either air-gas or oxyfuel conditions. There is an emphasis on evaluation and characterization of critical parameters of commercial refractories such as microstructure, porosity and mechanical properties. A second focus is the evaluation of the performance of refractory alternatives to traditional crown and superstructure refractories including their physical aspects, crown design, and joint quality.