SUMMARY The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition, apparent metabolizable energy (AME), apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen balance (AMEn) and the metabolizability of dry matter (DM), crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE) and neutral detergent fiber (NDF) of passion fruit seed meal (PFM) for quails. One hundred meat quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica), with 21 days old, allotted in a completely randomized design, with four treatments, five replicates and four animals per experimental unit. The treatments consisted of different levels PFM (4.0, 8.0, 12.0 and 16.0%) that replaced the basal diet (w/w). Metabolizable values were determined by fitting linear equations the PFM can be characterized as an alternative feedstuff for meat quails and the main chemical compounds are gross energy (5,569 kcal kg-1), CP (11.34%), EE (18.84%) and NDF (50.22%), as fed basis. Linear equations were fitted as follow: AME = 2,976 x + 5.877 (r2 = 0.94) and AMEn = 2,939 x + 4.864 (r2 = 0.95), thus AME and AMEn were estimated at 2,976 and 2,939 kcal kg-1, respectively. Additionaly, equations were adjusted for CP, EE, NFD and DM, respectively resulting in a metabolization of 6.35, 17.9, 12.48 and 45.66%. It is concluded that main components of the passion fruit seed meal are gross energy, crude protein, ether extract and neutral detergent fiber and its AME and AMEn for meat quails are 2,976 and 2,939 kcal kg-1, respectively.

ObjectiveEvaluate the partial replacement of soybean meal with different protein sources in piglet feed during the nursery phase in terms of digestibility of feed, nitrogen balance, growth performance and blood parameters.MethodsExperiment I involved 24 crossbred entire male pigs with an initial body weight (BW) of 18.28±0.7 kg and used a randomized complete block design consisting of 3 treatments (fish meal, FM; soybean protein concentrate, SPC; and soybean meal, SBM) and 8 replicates, with 1 pig per experimental unit. Experiment II involved 1,843 crossbred male and female pigs with an initial BW of 6.79±0.90 kg and was based on a completely randomized design with a 2×3 factorial arrangement (2 sexes and 3 protein sources) and 13 replicates.ResultsThe results of Exp. I indicate effects (p<0.05) of dietary protein sources on digestible protein (FM, 17.84%; SPC, 16.72%, and SBM, 18.13%) and on total nitrogen excretion (TNE, g/kg BW0.75/d) in which pigs fed with SBM-based feed had TNE values that were 5.36% and 3.72% greater than SPC and FM, respectively. In the Exp. II, there was difference (p<0.01) between sexes in the pre-starter I and starter phases, and total period in average daily feed intake (ADFI), which were greater in females, and between the protein sources, ADFI, final weight and daily weight gain. For urea in the pre-starter II and starter phases and glucose in the pre-starter II phase, there was a difference (p<0.05) between protein sources and between sexes, in starter phase in urea concentrations (females: 57.11 mg/dL and males: 50.60 mg/dL).ConclusionThe use of SBM as only protein source influences larger TNE (g/kg BW0.75/d), reduces the growth performance of piglets and increases plasma urea concentrations in pre-starter II phase.

Three experiments were carried out to determine the nutritional value and the effect of acerola seed meal (ASM) for starter piglet diets on feed digestibility, nitrogen balance (NB), growth performance and blood metabolites. Twenty-four crossbred entire male piglets (21.07 ± 3.07 kg) were assigned to a digestibility assay (Exp. I) and distributed in a randomised block design (RBD) with two treatments composed of reference diet (RD) or test diet (20% replacement with ASM), 12 replications and with one pig per experimental unit (EU). An NB study (Exp. II) was conducted with four levels of ASM (0, 4, 8 and 12%) and 24 crossbred entire male piglets (20.78 ± 1.84 kg) allocated in an RBD of six replications and one pig per EU. The growth performance study (Exp. III) involved 120 crossbred piglets: 60 entire males and 60 females (13.85 ± 1.49 kg). Treatments consisted of a gender combination and five levels of ASM (0, 3, 6, 9 and 12%), distributed in an RBD with six replications and four animals per EU. The physicochemical composition results indicated 86.12% of dry matter (DM), 8.03% of crude protein (CP) and 4,553 kcal kg-1 of gross energy (GE) as well as apparent digestibility coefficients of 39.04 and 28.21% for CP and GE, respectively. The levels of ASM that provided the maximum estimate for final body weight, daily body weight gain and average daily feed intake were 2.93% (p = 0.037), 3.05% (p = 0.040) and 4.27% (p = 0.043), respectively. ASM can be indicated as a dietary fibre source for starter piglet diets because it contains relevant nutritional and energy values, without affecting the nitrogen balance and blood urea concentration.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the total replacement of soybean meal (SM) with extruded semi-whole soybean (ESWS) and its effects on feed digestibility, growth performance, plasma urea concentration (PUC) and economic feasibility. In Experiment I, a digestibility assay was undertaken using 12 crossbred pigs with an initial average body weight (IABW) of 18.85 ± 0.69 kg, distributed in a completely randomized design (CRD), with two treatments (reference diet and replacement of 30% of the reference diet by ESWS), six replicates and one pig per experimental unit. Experiment II involved 64 crossbred piglets, entire males, with an IABW of 7.46 ± 0.55 kg, distributed in a CRD, with two treatments (a control diet containing SM and another in which ESWS replaced SM), eight replicates and four animals per experimental unit. The digestible contents of dry matter, crude protein and gross energy of ESWS were 91.26%, 42.21% and 4,629 kcal kg -1, and the digestibility coefficients were 92.33%, 96.49% and 91.21%, respectively. Experiment II data indicated an effect on the feed conversion (FC) in the total period, in which pigs fed SM presented better FC. The diets affected the PUC in the pre-starter II phase and the total period, with pigs fed SM showing higher PUC. The cost of feed per kilogram of live weight gain increased in the starter phase. ESWS does not change the DWG and ADFI of piglets but worsens both the FC in the total period and economic results.

Context Vitamin D supplementation plays a key role because its actions positively affect the animal’s overall health for optimal performance. Aims To assess partial cholecalciferol replacement with 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol glycoside for piglets on nutrient digestibility and daily balance of calcium and phosphorus, growth performance and blood metabolites. Methods To test digestibility, a total of 36 whole male piglets (18.79 ± 3.37 kg BW) were assigned in a randomised complete block design, with four treatments: (1) D3 (100% of the vitamin D supplemented with 1969 IU of cholecalciferol), (2) no supplemental sources of vitamin D (control), (3) D3 (50% of requirement + 0.375 μg of 1,25(OH)2D3 glycoside) or (4) 100% supplemented with 0.750 μg of 1,25(OH)2D3 glycoside. Nine replicates were performed, with one animal per experimental unit. For growth performance (Experiment II), a total of 128 whole male piglets (6.82 ± 0.38 kg BW) were distributed in a randomised complete block design, with four treatments: (1) 100% D3 (2707 IU in the pre-starter phase I, 2405 IU in the pre-starter phase II and 1969 IU in the starter phase), (2) 50% D3 + 0.25 μg of 1,25(OH)2D3 glycoside, (3) 25% D3 + 0.375 μg of 1,25(OH)2D3 glycoside or (4) 100% supplemented with 0.50 μg of 1,25(OH)2D3 glycoside. Eight replicates were conducted, with and four animals per experimental unit. Key results The apparent digestibility of nutrients and mineral balance were not influenced (P > 0.1). The results of Experiment II indicate effects (P < 0.1) of vitamin D supplementation on the growth performance evaluated during the nursery phase. Plasma calcium concentrations in the pre-starter II phase showed (P < 0.1) the highest concentration in the 50/50 treatment. Alkaline phosphatase showed (P < 0.001) a difference between treatments in the starter phase, with treatment 25/75 promoting the lowest plasma value. Conclusions Cholecalciferol or 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol glycoside resulted in similar digestibility and balance of calcium and phosphorus, even though the combination increased plasma calcium and alkaline phosphatase concentration in piglets. In addition, the partial replacement reduced the voluntary feed intake of piglets during nursery phase. Implications This investigation provided new information on partial cholecalciferol replacement with 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol glycoside in piglet starter as an alternative in post-weaning nutrition.