The objective of this study was to investigate the antioxidant potential of freeze‐dried green tea (GT) in hamburgers (lipid oxidation) and its influence on quality characteristics (composition, colour, texture, pH, microorganisms and sensory acceptance). The total polyphenol (TPC), flavonoid content (FC) and antioxidant activity of GT were also evaluated. Five treatments were used: control—without antioxidant; butylhydroxytoluene (BHT)—with 0.01% of BHT; and with different levels of GT (0.01%, 0.02% and 0.04%). The TPC in GT was 44.31 mg gallic acid equivalent (GAE)/g, FC was 4.43 mg quercetin equivalent (QE)/g and also presented a higher antioxidant activity. The GT addition did not influence (p > 0.05) on moisture, protein, lipid, ashes, calories, microorganism counts and shear force of hamburger. Only the b* value (colour) was affected (p < 0.047). GT was more efficient in retarding the hamburger oxidation than BHT (p < 0.05). No influence was also observed on sensory acceptability of hamburger, being the GT a potential substitute for synthetic antioxidant. Practical applications Currently, the use of antioxidants by the industry is done on a large scale, mainly aimed at inhibiting or retarding lipid oxidation, which modify colour, flavour, texture and decrease nutritional quality of food, reducing the acceptability by consumers leading them to reject the product. However, most of these antioxidants are synthetic and many of them are harmful to human health. Thus, this work demonstrates the potential use of a natural antioxidant (green tea) as a substitute for synthetic antioxidant by the food industries.

The objective was to evaluate the impact of producing piglets fed diets with different crude protein (CP) levels through life cycle assessment and experimental data. In Trial I (performance), 28 crossbred barrow piglets, with an initial average weight of 15.3 ± 1.15 kg were divided into a randomized block design with four treatments, seven replications and one animal per experimental unit. In Trial II (nitrogen and phosphorus balance), 20 crossbred barrow piglets with an average weight of 21.4 ± 1.62 kg were divided in a randomized block design with four treatments, five replications and one animal per experimental unit. Four experimental feeds were evaluated: HighCP, CP18, CP17 and LowCP, with 19, 18, 17 and 16 % of CP, meeting the requirements of digestible amino acids through industrial amino acid (IAA) addition. From Trial I and II data, the environmental impact was calculated for global warming potential, acidification potential, eutrophication potential, cumulative energy demand, terrestrial ecotoxicity and land occupation (LO). Total nitrogen excretion decreased by 0.226 g d -1 for each 1 g of reduction on daily nitrogen intake. However, there was no statistical difference (p > 0.05) among experimental treatments for all impact categories. For LO, there was a reduction (p = 0.078) of impact with CP reduction, which was 8 % lower with the LowCP diet, in comparison with HighCP. Dietary CP reduction for piglets from 15 to 30 kg, through IAA supplementation, reduced the environmental impact under LO, considering soybean meal from southern Brazil and observed individual data of performance and excretion.

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.

Lycopene has the highest antioxidant activity among carotenoids due to its high number of conjugated double bonds; thus, it can be used in pig diets to look for improvements in growth performance and health status, eliminating or preventing the formation of free radicals. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to investigate the effects of dietary lycopene on the growth performance, the gene expression of antioxidant enzymes and blood lipid profile of finishing pigs. In total, 40 barrows and 40 gilts (Piétrain × Landrace × Large White) were used, averaging 75.04 ± 1.6 kg of initial bodyweight. Pigs were distributed in a 2 × 5 factorial arrangement, consisting of two genders (male and female) and five dietary levels of lycopene (0, 12.5, 25.0, 37.5 and 50.0 mg/kg of diet) supplemented for 28 days. It was observed that gilts presented with average daily feed intake (P = 0.001) being lower and the gain:feed ratio (P = 0.001) higher than for barrows. Increasing dietary lycopene concentration provided a linear decrease in the gene expression of the enzymes superoxide dismutase (SOD1; P = 0.018) and catalase (P = 0.001) in the liver of gilts. The gilts showed a lower gene expression than did barrows for SOD1 gene (P = 0.001) receiving 50.0 mg lycopene/kg of diet and for catalase gene (P = 0.001) receiving of 0, 12.5 and 50.0 mg lycopene/kg of diet. Glutathione peroxidase showed a lower expression (P = 0.001) for gilts than for barrows. Total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) and LDL:high-density lipoprotein (HDL) ratio decreased (P = 0.001) as lycopene concentration increased in the diet. Increasing dietary lycopene in pig diets improved the lipid profile of the blood plasma, providing an increase in the concentration of high-density lipoprotein (HDL; P = 0.001). Gilts had greater plasma concentrations of urea (P = 0.001) and triglycerides (P = 0.001) and lower concentrations of HDL (P = 0.001), LDL (P = 0.001) and a lower LDL:HDL ratio (P = 0.004) than did barrows. Dietary lycopene up to 50 mg/kg does not affect the growth performance of pigs, acting as a potent modulator of the lipid profile and also reducing the plasma concentrations of total cholesterol and low-density lipoproteins, while increasing the high-density lipoproteins. In addition, lycopene also reduces the gene expression of superoxide dismutase and catalase enzymes in the liver of gilts.

The metabolizable energy (ME) determination for foods used in quail diets, through metabolism assays, takes time, infrastructure and financial resources, which makes the development of prediction equations based on proximal composition of foods to estimate the ME values of particular interest. The objective of this study was to adjust the prediction equations of metabolizable energy (ME) of corn for quail. The chemical compositions of 12 maize varieties were determined and a metabolism assay was carried out in order to determine the apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) of these corn varieties. The values of chemical composition, AME and AMEn, converted to dry matter, were used to adjust the prediction equations. The initial adjustment of simple and multiple linear regression of the AME and AMEn was performed using the values of crude protein (CP), ether extract (EE), neutral (NDF) and acid (ADF) detergent fiber, mineral matter (MM), calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) as regressors (full model). To adjust the prediction equations the statistical procedure of simple and multiple linear regression was used, with the technique of indirect elimination (Backward). There was adjustment of 10 prediction equations, in which 5 were for AME and another 5 for AMEn and the R² values ranged from 0.20 to 0.75 and from 0.21 to 0.78, respectively. For all adjusted equations, negative correlations for MM were observed, which may be related to its dilutive effect of the gross energy contained in corn. In conclusion, the equations that showed better adjustment were AME= 5605. 46 -385 alimentos. Objetivou-se com este trabalho ajustar equações de predição dos valores de EM do milho para codornas de corte. Foi determinada a composição química de 12 diferentes cultivares de milho e realizado um ensaio de metabolismo, com estas cultivares, para determinação da EM aparente (EMA) e EMA corrigida para balanço de nitrogênio (EMAn).De posse da composição química, e dos valores de EMA e EMAn, convertidos para a matéria seca, procedeu-se com o ajuste das equações de predição. O ajuste inicial dos modelos de regressão linear simples e múltipla, dos dados de EMA e EMAn, foi realizado utilizando-se os valores de proteína bruta (PB), extrato etéreo (EE), fibras em detergentes neutro (FDN) e ácido (FDA), matéria mineral (MM), cálcio (Ca) e fósforo (P) como regressoras (modelo completo). Para o ajustamento das equações de predição, dos valores de EMA e EMAn, foi utilizado o procedimento de regressão linear simples e múltipla, por meio da técnica de eliminação indireta (Backward). Houve ajustamento de 10 equações de predição da EM do milho, sendo 5 para EMA e 5 para EMAn, cujos valores de R² variaram de 0,20 a 0,75 e de 0,21 a 0,78, respectivamente. Em todas as equações ajustadas observouse correlação negativa para a matéria mineral, o que pode estar associado ao seu efeito diluente da energia bruta contida nos milhos. Conclui-se que as equações que apresentaram melhor ajustamento foram...

The objective of this study was to evaluate dietary lycopene levels on the immune responses of finishing pigs. Forty barrows and 40 gilts, averaging 75.04 ± 1.6 kg of initial weight, were allotted in a randomised blocks design arranged in a 2 Â 5 factorial scheme, consisting of two sexes (males and females) and five lycopene levels (0, 12.5, 25.0, 37.5, 50.0 mg/kg of diet). The studied parameters were submitted to the statistical analysis adopting 5% significance. Increasing lycopene in pig diets increased the plasma albumin (p ¼ .023). There was no interaction (p > .05) between sex and lycopene on the leukocyte profile or haematocrit concentration. As lycopene levels increased in the diet, the lymphocyte concentration increased linearly (p ¼ .045). The neutrophil concentration and the neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio were affected (p < .05) by dietary lycopene levels, showing a lower neutrophils concentration at 17.49 mg lycopene/kg of diet, and the lowest neutrophil:lymphocyte ratio was observed at 16.46 mg/kg. Eosinophils were also affected (p ¼ .050) by lycopene supplementation, estimating the greater response by adding 22.69 mg lycopene/kg of diet. There was an interaction (p ¼ .011) between the blood collection period and lycopene levels for anti-BSA IgG, resulting in higher production of anti-BSA IgG with the supplementation of up to 20.06 mg of lycopene/kg of diet. Dietary lycopene supplementation for finishing pigs affected the cellular and humoral immune response, and the highest anti-BSA IgG production was achieved by supplementing 20.06 mg lycopene/kg of diet. ARTICLE HISTORY

This work was conducted to assess behavioral, thermoregulatory and operational aspects of gilt breeding (Body weight, 25-110 kg) whilst the animals were housed in 2-cm deep shallow pool pens (SPP), without the addition of water, compared to the use of fully compact floor pens (TSF) during the winter and summer seasons. Commercial female strains for high lean tissue accretion were used, housed in grower/finisher pens for 108 days (11 animals/pen, 1.2 m 2 /animal). Instantaneous observations of behavior were carried out every 12 min between 7:00 and 19:00 hours throughout the six days of the raising period. At the end of the raising period, the operational aspects of cleaning the facilities were analyzed. A 2 × 2 factorial scheme design was used, with two types of floors and two seasons, with three replicates. The average temperatures in winter and summer were 19.9 ± 2.2°C and 24.5 ± 2.3°C, respectively. The use of SPP reduced aggressive behavior and increased exploratory behavior, increased the time for the daily cleaning, and reduced the time for the final cleaning of the pens. Key words: Animal welfare, environmental enrichment, facilities, pigs ResumoFoi conduzido um trabalho para avaliar os comportamentos, a termorregulação e os aspectos operacionais da criação de leitoas (25 aos 110 kg de peso vivo) alojadas em lâminas d'água rasa (LDR), com 2 cm de profundidade, sem adição de água em comparação com o piso totalmente compacto (PTC), nas estações de inverno e verão. Foram utilizadas fêmeas de linhagem comercial para alta deposição de tecido magro, alojadas em baias de crescimento/terminação por 108 dias (11 animais por baia, 1,2 m 2 /animal). Foram realizadas observações instantâneas do comportamento, a cada 12 minutos, das 7h00min às 19h00min por seis dias ao longo do período de criação. No final do período de criação foram analisados os aspectos operacionais da limpeza das instalações. Foi utilizado delineamento em um esquema fatorial 2x2, com dois tipos de pisos e duas estações, com três repetições. As temperaturas médias do ar no inverno e verão foram de 19,9±2,2ºC e 24,5±2,3ºC, respectivamente. A utilização de LDR reduziu os comportamentos agressivos e aumentou os comportamentos exploratórios, aumentou o tempo de limpeza diário e reduziu o tempo de limpeza final das baias. Palavras-chave: Bem-estar animal, enriquecimento ambiental, instalações, suínos 1 Zootecnista, Poli-Nutri Nutrição Animal, Treze Tilia, SC, Brasil.

Two experiments were carried out in Paraná State, Brazil, to evaluate the nutritional value of passion fruit seed meal (PFM) and to study the effect of PFM on growth performance, carcass, and blood characteristics in starter pigs (Topigs 20 × Tybor). In experiment 1, 25 castrated males, averaging 19.1-kg body weight, were individually fed in a completely randomized block design, consisting of five treatments and five replicates and an experimental period that lasted 14 days. In experiment 2, a total of 60 pigs (30 females and 30 castrated males) were distributed in a randomized block design with five treatments, six replications, and two animals per experimental unit and 90 days of experimentation. For both experiments, the same PFM inclusion rates were used in the experimental diets, namely, 0, 4, 8, 12, and 16 %. The metabolizable energy of PFM was estimated to be 15.0 MJ/kg. Inclusion of PFM at any level did not affect average daily gain, daily feed intake, feed/gain ratio, backfat thickness, loin depth, and plasma or blood components. It is concluded that passion fruit seed meal for swine in the starting phase can be added at a rate of up to 16 % in the diet without any negative effects on growth performance, carcass, and blood characteristics in starter commercial line pigs.