(24 to 38 days of age), pigs fed the antimicrobial supplemented diet showed better feed conversion rate (CA) than the mean of those fed herbal extract treatments, while pigs fed Ec supplemented diet had better CA than those fed Eo. For the total period (24 to 59 days of age), pigs fed antimicrobial showed higher body weight at 59 days of age (P59) and average daily gain (GDP) than the mean of those fed herbal extracts. Pigs fed Ec + Eo had higher P59 and GDP than the mean of those fed other herbal extract treatments. For the organ morphometry data, the antimicrobials provided a higher relative weight of kidneys compared to the mean of treatments with herbal extracts. Overall, antimicrobial agents provided the best growth performance of weanling pigs. Concerning to herbal extracts, the combination of clove and oregano provided growth performance close to that of pigs fed antimicrobials, showing that this combination can be a potential alternative as growth promoter for weanling pigs.

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RESUMOUtilizaram-se 72 leitões mestiços (Landrace x Large White), com peso inicial médio de 7,1kg, no experimento de desempenho e 20 leitões mestiços, com peso inicial médio de 18,9kg, no experimento de digestibilidade para avaliar a silagem de grãos úmidos de milho com diferentes granulometrias para leitões em fase de creche. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso. Em ambos os experimentos avaliaram-se o valor nutricional das silagens com diâmetro geométrico médio (DGM) das partículas de 979, 1168 e 2186µm e do milho seco com DGM das partículas de 594µm. Na fase de zero ao oitavo dia, a silagem proporcionou menor consumo diário de ração (CDR) em relação ao milho seco, e foi verificado aumento linear no CDR com o aumento da granulometria da silagem. A silagem com granulometria média e grossa proporcionou melhora na conversão alimentar (CA) em relação ao milho seco, mas não foi observada diferença no ganho diário de peso (GDP). Para o período total, não foram observadas diferenças estatísticas para CDR e GDP, entretanto a silagem proporcionou melhora na CA em relação ao milho seco havendo efeito linear crescente da granulometria da silagem sobre a CA. A granulometria da silagem não influenciou nos coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente (CDA) da matéria seca e da proteína bruta, porém proporcionou maiores CDA do fósforo e valores de energia digestível em relação ao milho seco. O CDA do cálcio e os valores de energia metabolizável foram maiores para a silagem com granulometria fina e média, comparado ao do milho seco. Houve redução linear do CDA do cálcio com o aumento da granulometria da silagem. Palavras

Two experiments (E) were carried out to evaluate the effects of fumaric acid and an acidifier blend [composed by calcium formate, calcium lactate and medium-chain fatty acids (capric and caprylic)] in piglet diets containing colistin (40 ppm) or halquinol (120 ppm) on performance, diarrhea incidence (E1), organs relative weight, pH values, intestinal morphometry and microbiota (E2). In E1, 192 and E2, 24 piglets weaned at 21-day-old were randomly assigned to blocks with 2x2 factorial arrangement of treatments [absence or presence of fumaric acid x absence or presence of acidifier blend], six replicates of eight (E1) and one piglet per pen (E2). For E1, the treatments were control (CD): no acidifier product + 40 ppm of colistin, FA: fumaric acid in absence of acidifier blend, AB: acidifier blend in absence of fumaric acid and, AF+AB: presence of fumaric acid and acidifier blend. For E2, the pre-starter I diet were used and the same treatments as E1 evaluated. No treatment effects (P>0.05) were observed on performance, diarrhea incidence (E1), gut pH values and duodenum morphometry of piglets (E2). However, the addition of AB increased (P<0.05) large intestine relative weight and, FA addition decreased (P<0.05) pancreas relative weight, jejunum villi height and, total coliform and E. coli counts in cecum. The inclusion of FA and AB in diets containing colistin or halquinol did not improve performance, although FA exerted an inhibitory effect on cecum microbiota.

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The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of autolyzed yeast on performance, cecal microbiota, and leukogram of weaned piglets. A total of 96 piglets of commercial line weaned at 21-day-old were used. The experimental design was a randomized block design with four treatments (diets containing 0.0%, 0.3%, 0.6%, and 0.9% autolyzed yeast), eight replicates, and three animals per pen in order to evaluate daily weight gain, daily feed intake, and feed conversion in periods of 0 to 15, 0 to 26, and 0 to 36 days. Quadratic effects of autolyzed yeast inclusion were observed on the feed conversion from 0 to 15 days, on daily weight gain from 0 to 15 days, 0 to 26 days and, 0 to 36 days, indicating an autolyzed yeast optimal inclusion level between 0.4% and 0.5%. No effect from autolyzed yeast addition was observed on piglet daily feed intake, cecal microbiota, and leukogram; however, i.m. application of E. coli lipopolysaccharide reduced the values of total leukocytes and their fractions (neutrophils, eosinophils, lymphocytes, monocytes, and rods). Therefore, autolyzed yeast when provided at levels between 0.4% and 0.5% improved weaned piglets' performance.

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RESUMO -Objetivou-se neste estudo avaliar o efeito da adição de ractopamina, cromo-metionina e suas combinações em dietas para suínos em crescimento e terminação sobre o desempenho, as características de carcaça e a qualidade da carne.Sessenta e quatro suínos da linhagem Topigs, com peso inicial de 26,56 ± 3,11 kg, foram distribuídos em delineamento experimental de blocos casualizados em esquema fatorial 2 × 2, com dois níveis de ractopamina (0 e 5 ppm) e dois níveis de cromo-metionina (0 e 400 ppb), totalizando quatro dietas com oito repetições (blocos) por dieta. Em cada uma das três fases, crescimento 1 (de 26,56 kg aos 50,51 kg), crescimento 2 (de 50,51 kg aos 70,32 kg) e terminação (de 70,32 kg aos 114,80 kg), os animais receberam rações fareladas e água à vontade. Ao atingirem o peso vivo de 114,80 ± 4,98 kg, os animais foram abatidos e as carcaças avaliadas quanto ao rendimento de carcaça fria, ao comprimento de carcaça, à espessura de toucinho, à área de olho-de-lombo e à relação gordura:carne. Amostras do músculo longissimus dorsi foram retiradas para mensurações de cor, pH final e perda de peso por gotejamento. A suplementação de ractopamina melhorou a conversão alimentar, o rendimento de carcaça fria, a área de olho-de-lombo, a relação gordura:carne e a perda de peso por gotejamento e reduziu os teores de vermelho e amarelo da carne. O cromo-metionina, embora tenha ocasionado redução no consumo diário de ração, não altera as características de desempenho e de carcaça nem a qualidade da carne dos suínos. A suplementação de ractopamina associada a cromo-metionina não afeta o desempenho nem as características de carcaça e qualidade da carne dos animais.Palavras-chave: agonista beta-adrenérgico, carcaça, carne, desempenho, nutrição Ractopamine, chromium-methionine and their combinations as metabolism modifier feed additives of growing and finishing pigs ABSTRACT -The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of ractopamine and chromium-methionine additions and their combinations in diets for growing and finishing swines on performance, carcass traits and meat quality. Sixty-fourTopigs line swines at 26.56 ± 3.11 kg initial body weight were distributed in a randomized block experimental design in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme with two levels of ractopamine (0 and 5 ppm) and two levels of chromium-methionine (0 and 400 ppb), totaling four diets with eight replications (blocks) per diet. In each one of the three following phases, growing 1 (from 26.56 kg to 50.51 kg), growing 2 (from 50.51 kg to 70.32 kg) and finishing (from 70.32 kg to 114.80 kg), meal rations and water were given ad libitum to animals.When pigs reached 114.80 ± 4.98 kg body weight, they were slaughtered and carcasses were evaluated regarded to cold carcass yield, carcass length, backfat thickness, loin eye area and fat:meat ratio.Samples of longissimus dorsi muscle were taken to measure colour, final pH and drip loss. Supplementation of ractopamine improved feed conversion, cold carcass yield, loin eye area, fat:meat ratio and drip loss,...