-The experiment evaluated the influence of isolated or associated phytogenic additives (PA) and organic acids (OA) on nutrient digestibility, performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. Two experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement of treatments (with or without PA × with or without OA + antibiotic performance enhancer and anticoccidial). In the first experiment, two metabolic tests were conducted to determine the metabolizability coefficients of the nutrients of starter and growth diets. In the second experiment, 2520 one-day-old chicks were housed in 40 experimental units to evaluate the performance and carcass characteristics. The phytogenic additives and organic acids, isolated or associated, improve the nutrient digestibility of the diet and replace the growth-promoting antibiotics. The use of organic acids isolated or associated with phytogenic additives in broiler diets improves broiler performance in comparison with free antibiotic performance enhancer at 42 days of age. Isolated or associated phytogenic additives and organic acids provided better carcass characteristics.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of corn texture and the particle size on broiler performance, carcass yield, nutrient digestibility, and digestive organ morphometrics. In Experiment I, 720 male Cobb chicks were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement, consisting two corn textures (dented and hard) and three corn particle sizes, was applied, with four replicates of 30 birds each. Corn particle size was classified according to geometric mean diameter (GMD) as fine - 0.46 mm; medium - 0.73 mm, and coarse - 0.87 mm. In Experiment II, 120 broiler chicks were used to evaluate corn digestibility during the periods of 16 to 22 days and 35 to 41 days of age, using the method of total excreta collection. In Experiment I, corn particle size influenced body weight, average weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of 21-day-old birds. Corn texture and particle size did not affect the performance of 42-day-old broilers or carcass traits. In Experiment II, there was no influence of corn texture and particle size on digestive organ weights. Dented corn increased nitrogen excretion in the first trial, and hard corn improved dry matter digestibility in the second metabolic trial. Corn with fine particle size promotes better performance of broilers at 21 days of age. Hard corn results in higher dry matter digestibility and lower nitrogen excretion, and consequently higher production factor in 42-day-old broilers

BackgroundLocal timber is still one of the main sources of work and income for mountain communities. However, illegal logging is a major cause of deforestation in many countries and has significant impacts on local communities and biodiversity. Techniques for tracing timber would provide a useful tool to protect local timber industries and contribute to the fight against illegal logging. Although considerable progress has been made in food traceability, timber provenance is still a somewhat neglected research area. Stable isotope ratios in plants are known to reflect geographical variations. This study reports accurate spatial distribution of δ18O and δ2H in timber from north-eastern Italy (Trentino) in order to trace geographical origin.Methodology and principal findingsWe tested the accuracy of four kriging methods using an annual resolution of δ18O and δ2H measured in Picea abies. Pearson’s correlation coefficients revealed altitude to be the most appropriate covariate for the cokriging model, which has ultimately proved to be the best method due to its low estimation error.ConclusionsWe present regional maps of interpolated δ18O and δ2H in Picea abies wood together with the 95% confidence intervals. The strong spatial structure of the data demonstrates the potential of multivariate spatial interpolation, even in a highly heterogeneous area such as the Alps. We believe that this geospatial approach can be successfully applied on a wider scale in order to combat illegal logging.

RESUMOObjetivou-se avaliar o efeito da suplementação com glutamina e nucleotídeos na dieta sobre o desempenho e morfologia da mucosa intestinal de frangos de corte criados no sistema alternativo. Foram utilizados 600 pintos de corte machos distribuídos em delineamento em blocos casualizados, no esquema fatorial 3x2 (três níveis de glutamina: 0,0; 0,5 e 1,0% e dois níveis de nucleotídeos purificados na dieta: 0,0 e 0,04%), totalizando 6 tratamentos, com 4 repetições de 25 aves cada. Foram obtidos os dados de desempenho (peso corporal, ganho de peso, consumo de ração, conversão alimentar e mortalidade) aos 7, 21 e 42 dias de idade. Ao final do experimento foram abatidas 4 aves/tratamento para avaliação do peso de órgãos e da morfologia intestinal. A adição de 1% na dieta melhorou o ganho de peso, consumo de raçao e conversão alimentar na primeira semana de idade. Não sendo encontrados resultados positivos nos períodos de 21 e 42 dias de idade. A suplementação de glutamina e nucleotídeos em dietas de frangos de corte criados no sistema alternativo não influencia o desempenho e a morfologia intestinal, a inclusão de 1,0% de glutamina no período de 1 a 21 dias de idade, favorece o desempenho das aves. SUMMARYThe experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of supplementing glutamine and nucleotides on growth performance and development intestinal morphology in broiler chicks. In the trial, 600 male broiler chicks distributed in randomized blocks in a 3x2 factorial arrangement (consisting of a uniform basal diet supplemented with: 0.0, 0.5 or 1.0% glutamine, and 0.0 or 0.04% nucleotides), for a total of 6 treatments with 25 birds each. Means of performance (weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion and mortality) were obtained 7, 21 and 42 days of age. At the end of the experiment 4 broilers per treatment were used to determine organs weight and development intestinal morphology. Glutamine supplementation (1%) improved the body weight, feed intake and feed conversion in the first week. Glutamine and nucleotides supplementation did not affect performance in broiler chicks in the period one to 21 and one to 42 days of age. In conclusion, it was demonstrated that feeding 1.0% glutamine improved growth performance of broiler birds at 21 days of age. INTRODUÇÃONo Brasil, como em outros países, temse observado crescente preocupação dos consumidores com a origem e qualidade dos produtos, exigindo alimentos saudáveis e ausência de resíduos. Com isso, as empre-

This study aimed at evaluating the effect of nucleotides on the performance and carcass yield of broilers fed diets with no antibiotic growth promoters (AGP), anticoccidials, or animal feedstuffs. In the trial, 600 Ross 308 male broilers were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design into six treatments with four replicates of 25 birds each. Treatments consisted of a control diet (CD), CD + AGP, CD + 0.04%, CD + 0.05%, CD + 0.06%, and CD + 0.07% nucleotides. The experimental diets did not contain anticoccidials, and birds were vaccinated against coccidiosis at three days of age. No significant differences were detected among broilers submitted to the different treatments in none of the studied parameters. Under the conditions of this experiment, diets supplemented with nucleotides did not influence broiler performance or carcass yield at 42 days of age, and were not different from the feeds not containing any additive or with AGP.

INucleotídeos na dieta de frangos de corte e seus efeitos sobre taxa de turnover da mucosa intestinal antes e após lesões causadas por coccidiose Nucleotides in broilers challenged diet and its effects on intestinal mucosa turnover rate before and after injuries caused by coccidiose

The objective of the present study was to trace the inclusion of poultry offal meal (POM) in the diet of meat-type quails reared for a long period using the technique of stable isotopes. A number of 320 quails were randomly distributed into eight treatments: vegetable diet (T1), and a diet containing 8% POM were fed until the end of the experimental period (T2) or replaced by the vegetable diet on day 42 (T3), 56 (T4), 70 (T5), 84 (T6), 98 (T7), and 112 (T8). Breast muscle samples were collected from four birds randomly selected per treatment every 14 days. The obtained isotope results were submitted to multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) with the aid of the GLM procedure of statistical SAS program. Treatments were different from T1 when birds were sacrificed at least two weeks after the diet was changed. T2 results were different from T1 in all evaluated periods. It was concluded that it is possible to trace poultry offal meal inclusion in a strictly vegetable diet after the diet was changed for at least 14 days.

A B S T R A C TThe aim of this study was to estimate the metabolic rate of broiler tissues by assessing carbon turnover in different growth phases by using the stable isotope technique and by evaluating the natural changes in Carbon-13 ( 13 C) between C3 and C4 cycle plants. Six-hundred 1-day-old broiler chicks were divided into six groups and subjected to dietary changes containing different isotopic values at 7, 14, 21, 28, and 35 days of age. Birds of Group 1 received diets composed predominantly of C 3 cycle plants shortly after accommodation, while birds of other groups remained predominantly fed with C 4 diet. The diet of Group 2 was mainly replaced by C 3 diet on the 7th day of age. Group 3 started to receive C 3 diet on the 14th day of age, whereas the diet of Group 4 was replaced on the 21st, Group 5 on the 28th. In Group 6, the substitution occurred on the 35th day of age. Samples of the pectoral muscle, keel, tibia, legs muscle, intestinal mucosa, blood, plasma, and feathers were collected. Carbon isotope ratios were determined by mass-spectrometry of isotope ratios. To measure the speed of carbon substitution after a set interval (turnover), a time exponential function was employed and obtained by exponential equations of the first order calculated with Minitab ® 16 software. The carbon half-life varied from 1.78 to 8.20 days for the pectoral muscle, from 1.91 to 12.24 days for the keel, from 2.32 to 10.71 days for the tibia, from 1.87 to 9.43 days for the leg muscle, from 0.8 to 1.58 days for the intestinal mucosa, from 0.64 to 1.71 days for the plasma, from 2.61 to 11.07 days for blood, and from 1.84 to 28.41 days for the feathers during the total growth phase. With the exception of tibia and blood, all other tissues presented a high metabolic rate in the first week of the broilers' life. The metabolic rate of tissues is faster in younger animals, and the metabolism slows down as the broilers get older. The metabolic rates in the pectoral muscle, keel, tibia, and feathers decreased with age, whereas those of the plasma and intestinal mucosa were high in all evaluated periods; thus, these tissues can be used to study traceability of feed at all stages of the broilers' life.