The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of digestible threonine supplementation in the starter diet on the performance, intestinal parameters, and nutrient metabolism of broilers derived from breeders of different ages. In total, 480 one-day-old Cobb chicks, derived from 38-or 49-week-oldbreeders, were housed in experimental battery cages until 21 days of age and fed four different threonine levels (800, 900, 1,000, or 1,100 mg/kg) in the starter feed. A completely randomized experimental design in a 2x4 factorial arrangement (breeder age x threonine levels) was applied, totaling eight treatments with five replicates of 12 birds each. Broilers from older breeders fed 800 mg digestible threonine/kg of diet presented higher weight gain, with a positive linear effect. There was also an interaction between breeder age and threonine levels for the weight gain of 21-d-old broilers supplemented at maximum level of 1,003 mg Thr/kg diet during the starter phase. There was no effect of breeder age or threonine levels on nutrient metabolism during the period of 17-21 days. There was no influence of breeder age or threonine levels in the starter diet on intestinal morphometric measurements, absorption area, or percentage of goblet cells.

An investigation was made into the effects of different lairage times and the position of chicken crates during transport to the slaughterhouse on the biochemical and hematological profile and physical parameters of broilers, such as color and pH of their breast meat. The treatments were defined by the animals slaughtered after 0, 2, 4 and 6 hours of lairage time at the slaughterhouse, transported in crates located in the top and bottom layers of the truck. It was found that increasing the lairage time at the slaughterhouse to over two hours reduced the number of lymphocytes and increased the heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratio and the basophil count in the hemogram. In addition, lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) activity and cholesterol levels increased and plasma triglyceride and glucose levels decreased. The position of the crates in the truck altered the creatine kinase (CK) activity, and the highest enzyme activity was found in birds transported in the top layer of crates in the truck. Furthermore, the long lairage time in the slaughterhouse increased the pH and the value of a* (redness value) and decreased the lightness value of breast fillets. The interaction significant between 4 and 6 hours of lairage time and the position of the crate in the top layer of the truck favored the development of dark, firm, dry (DFD) meat.Keywords: animal welfare, DFD meat, fasting, holding sheds, pre-slaughter Palavras-chave: bem-estar animal, carne DFD, galpão de espera, jejum, pré-abate RESUMO Este trabalho objetivou a avaliação dos efeitos dos diferentes tempos de espera e da posição das caixas

Resumo O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da adição de óleos vegetais à alimentação de poedeiras semipesadas na qualidade física de ovos armazenados sob refrigeração ® e em temperatura ambiente (TA). As aves receberam ração formulada à base de milho e farelo de soja com a suplementação de níveis crescentes de óleo de Copaifera langsdorffii (CP-0,03; 0,06 e 0,09%) ou Pterodon emarginatus (SC-0,03 e 0,06%) mais um controle negativo (CN). Periodicamente, foram analisados três ovos por tratamento para Unidade Haugh (UH), índice de gema (IG), cor, pH (gema e albúmen) e porcentagens de casca (PC), gema (PG) e albúmen (PA). Para análise estatística dos resultados, foi adotado um modelo misto (SAS 9.3) e as médias foram comparadas pelo teste de Tukey. A inclusão de até CP0,06% CP ou SC0,03% preservou (P<0,05) os valores de UH nos ovos em TA, equivalente aos tratamentos sob R até 14 dias; além disso, a adição dos óleos controlou a elevação do pH das gemas. Concluiu-se que os óleos vegetais suplementados nas dietas de poedeiras influenciaram positivamente na manutenção da qualidade do albúmen e do pH das gemas dos ovos em temperatura ambiente, contudo nenhum efeito adicional foi verificado para os ovos mantidos sob refrigeração.

SUMMARY The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplemental copaiba or sucupira oils on broiler performance and intestinal health. A total of 600 one-day old Cobb 500 male broilers were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and six replicates with 25 broilers each. To increase the health challenge, the broilers were reared on reused litter. The treatments consisted of: control diet; diet with a performance enhancing antibiotic (avilamycin); diet with 2,000 mg/kg copaiba oil and a diet with 500 mg/kg sucupira oil. Data were submitted to analysis of variance and Tukey test (5%). The addition of sucupira oil at 500 mg/kg decreased broiler performance at 21, 33, and 40 days of age, whereas the addition of copaiba oil resulted in similar performance relative to the antibiotic. Dietary supplementation of copaiba or sucupira oils did not change the intestinal epithelium of broilers. The addition of sucupira oil negatively affected broiler performance. Copaiba oil can be used in broiler diets as a performance enhancer.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the performance and nutrient metabolizability of broilers fed diets containing fumonisin B1 (FB1) and an esterified glucomannan (EGM). In total, 420 male broilers were distributed according to a 3 x 2 + 1 factorial arrangement, corresponding to three FB1 exposure times (seven, 21, or 35 days), two dietary glucomannan addition levels (0 or 0.1% EGM), and control diet, totaling seven treatments. The following diets were fed: 1) Control diet, 2) pre-starter diet containing FB1, 3) pre-starter diet containing FB1 and 0.1% EGM, 4) starter diet containing FB1, 5) starter diet containing FB1 and 0.1% EGM, 6) grower diet containing FB1, and 7) grower diet containing FB1 and 0.1% EGM. On d 7, broilers fed FB1 presented lower body weight gain and feed intake (p<0.05) compared with control treatment. On d 21, no significant performance differences were detected among treatment groups (p>0.05). At 35 days of exposure to FB1 body weight gain was reduced (p<0.05) compared with broilers fed fumonisin B1 for seven days. From 4 to 7 days and 18 to 21 days of age, FB1 reduced nutrient metabolizability (p<0.05). From 36 to 39 days of age, the EGM allowed maintaining apparent metabolizability for ether extract. It was concluded that the EGM did not reduce FB1 effects on performance or nutrient metabolizability in broilers, except for apparent metabolizability of ether extract.

Aim of study: An experiment was carried out aimed to evaluate the effects of different levels and sources of trace mineral to laying pullets with two initial body weights (BWs). Area of study: The experiment was carried out in Federal University of Goiás, Goiânia, Goiás, Brazil Material and methods: Two hundred and eighty eight Bovans White pullets aged 12 weeks old were allotted in a completely randomized design and a 2×3 factorial arrangement, wherein the main effects included initial BW (light-weight and heavy-weight) and three dietary trace mineral sources and levels (100% inorganic, 100% chelated and low-dose corresponding to 50% chelated), totalizing six treatments with eight replicates of six birds. The performance, the metabolizability coefficient of nutrients, and the onset of lay were evaluated at rearing phase (12 to 20 weeks). At 17th and 20th weeks of age, the relative weight of reproductive and digestive organs, abdominal fat, and tibia quality were assessed. A residual effect was evaluated at production phase on productive performance and egg quality. Main results: The mineral source did not affect the performance of pullets. Birds fed 50% chelated mineral produced the lowest eggshell. The heavy-weight birds showed higher egg weight and eggshell quality. The lighter birds showed lower abdominal fat weight and lower tibia robustness index. Research highlights: The replacement of 100% of inorganic mineral for chelated mineral do not result in decrease of bird performance at rearing and at production phase, but a minimum amount should be provided to ensure growth and nutrient metabolizability

The objective of the present study was to ascertain the effect of sucupira oil in diets of broilers on gut development, dry matter and nitrogen metabolizability and broilers performance. A total of 350 one-d-old, male, Cobb500® broiler were allotted in seven treatments with five replicates, totaling 35 experimental units with 10 birds each. The dietary treatments consisted of a negative control diet, four diets with different levels of sucupira oil (100; 500; 900 and 1,300 mg/kg), diet with mannanoligosaccharide and control diet with antibiotic. The inclusion of 900 and 1,300 mg of sucupira oil impaired gut development and metabolizability of nutrients (P<0.05). The inclusion of 100 or 500 mg of sucupira oil in broiler feed was similar to negative control, MOS and antibiotic treatments for performance variables (all phases studied) and also for nutrient metabolizability (P<0.05). It can be concluded that high levels of sucupira oil is not recommended in broilers diet.

A idade da matriz afeta o peso corporal dos pintos e os mais pesados normalmente são provenientes de matriz mais velhas, e com maior taxa de crescimento quando comparados com de matriz mais jovens. Também vários trabalhos correlacionam peso do ovo incubável e peso do pintinho com o desempenho dos frangos de corte. O objetivo da pesquisa foi avaliar a influência da matriz e o peso do ovo fértil sobre o desempenho na fase inicial de frangos de corte alimentados com ração pré-inicial micropeletizada e triturada. Foram utilizados 384 pintos (machos e fêmeas) da linhagem Cobb 500 provenientes de matrizes de 32 e 62 semanas de idade, e pintos provenientes de ovos leves (média de 55 gramas) e pesados (média de 65 gramas), de matrizes com 42 semanas de idade, alimentados com ração pré-inicial micropeletizada e triturada. Foram dois delineamentos inteiramente casualizados, sendo dois fatoriais 2 x 2 (idade da matriz x forma física da ração) e 2 x 2 (peso dos ovos incubáveis x forma física da ração) totalizando quatro tratamentos com quatro repetições (12 pintos por repetição) para cada delineamento. Foram avaliados o desempenho, biometria dos órgãos e metabolizabilidade dos nutrientes da ração aos sete dias de idade. Pintos oriundos de ovos férteis pesando 65g apresentaram melhor desempenho e maior comprimento de intestino aos sete dias quando comparados com pintos provenientes de ovos férteis pesando 55g. Pintos oriundos de matrizes com 62 semanas de idade apresentaram melhor desempenho aos sete dias do que pintos oriundos de matrizes com 32 semanas. A forma física da ração não melhorou o desempenho do pinto de corte aos sete dias, mas ração micropeletizada proporcionou melhor utilização do extrato etéreo e do nitrogênio.