-With this study we aimed to evaluate and compare physicochemical and microbiological characteristics of frozen and chilled chicken meat. Only the prime cuts (breast, thighs, and drumsticks) were considered for the analysis of chemical composition, pH, color, water-holding capacity (WHC), thawing-cooking loss (TCL), and shear force (SF). For microbiological analysis, mesophilic bacteria, thermotolerant coliforms, and Salmonella spp. were considered. The frozen and chilled chicken meat showed no PSE (pale, soft, and exudative) or DFD (dark, firm, and dry) type of anomalies. The chromaticity showed higher redness in the breast (a* = 0.23) and yellowness in the thigh (b* = 5.64) for the frozen meat. The chilled meat showed better values for water-holding capacity in the thigh (69.19%) and thawing-cooking loss in the breast meat (18.84%). Samples of frozen and chilled chicken meat showed unconformities as to the percentage of occurrence of Salmonella spp., since the Brazilian legislation determines the absence of these pathogens. Both forms of preservation by freezing and chilling are recommended to maintain the physicochemical characteristics. In turn, we observed that the microbiological patterns can be maintained by the both forms of meat preservation by cold, mainly by freezing, provided there are satisfactory sanitary conditions in handling pre and post-slaughter of poultry.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the daily variations in the thermoregulatory behavior of 4- to 6-week-old naked neck broilers (Label Rouge) in an equatorial semi-arid environment. A total of 220 birds were monitored for 5 days starting at 0600 hours and ending at 1800 hours. The period of observation was divided into classes of hours (C H). The observed behaviors were as follows: feed and water intake, wing-spreading, sitting or lying, and beak-opening. A total of 14,300 behavioral data values were registered. In C H 2 (0900 hours to 1100 hours) and 3 (1200 hours to 1500 hours), the greatest average body surface temperature was recorded (34.67 ± 0.25 °C and 35.12 ± 0.22 °C, respectively). The C H had an effect on the exhibition of all behaviors with the exception of the water intake behavior. Feed intake was more frequent in C H 1 (0600 hours to 0800 hours) and 4 (1600 hours to 1800 hours). In C H 2 and 3, the highest frequency of sitting or lying behavior was observed. Beak-opening and wing-spreading behaviors occurred more frequently in C H 3 where the body surface temperature (35.12 ± 0.22 °C), radiant heat load (519.38 ± 2.22 W m(-2)), and enthalpy (82.74 ± 0.36 kJ kg(-1) of dry air) reached maximum recorded averages. Thus, it can be concluded that naked neck broilers adjust their behavior in response to daily variations in the thermal environment. Wing-spreading and beak-opening behaviors are important adaptive responses to the thermal challenges posed by the equatorial semi-arid environment.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the inclusion of sunflower cake (SC) and the addition of enzymes in the ration of lightweight replacement pullets in the growth phase, as well as their effects on the variables feed consumption and conversion, productive performance, sexual maturity, egg quality at the beginning of the laying phase, and economic viability. Five hundred and forty pullets of the Hy-Line W-36 light line were used. The experimental design was completely randomized, in a 2×2+1 factorial arrangement, with two inclusion levels of SC (10 and 20%), with or without the addition of enzymes, and a control treatment. At the end of the growth phase (7 to 17 weeks age), 360 birds were transferred to the laying shed until their thirty-fifth week of age. There was no interaction between SC levels and enzymes, but an isolated effect of rations and enzymes was observed on feed consumption and conversion. There was a decrease in specific egg density and an interaction between the factors for this variable, but without affecting productive performance. The inclusion of up to 20% SC in the rations does not affect bird performance in both evaluated phases; however the use of 20% SC with enzymes is more economically viable.

RESUMO -Objetivou-se determinar o valor nutricional, a digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes e a metabolização da energia do grão do girassol para aves Label Rouge. Foram realizados dois experimentos simultâneos onde o primeiro foi constituído por 40 frangas, em fase de recria, com dois tratamentos, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado: uma dieta controle (DCO), a partir da qual foram incluídas 20% (kg/kg) do grão de girassol (GG). O segundo experimento foi constituído por 10 galos, também com dois tratamentos, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado: uma dieta controle (RCO), a partir da qual foram incluídas 20% (kg/kg) do grão de girassol (GG). As aves foram alojadas individualmente em gaiolas metálicas adaptadas para coleta total de excretas. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente (CDA) da dieta com grão de girassol para frangas e galos foram respectivamente, de 82,36 e 76,84% para matéria seca (MS), 78,88 e 77,17% para proteína bruta (PB), 96,16 e 94,83% para extrato etéreo (EE), 20,44 e 19,41% para fibra em detergente neutro (FDN), 19,16 e 17,68% para fibra em detergente ácido (FDA), 73,54 e 71,40% para energia bruta (CMEB), 3.446 e 3.286 kcal/kg para energia metabolizável aparente (EMA) e disponibilidade de 12,03 e 10,44% para matéria mineral (MM). A inclusão de 20% de grão de girassol em dietas propicia uma redução da digestibilidade aparente de todos os nutrientes, exceto para CDA do EE e EMA, seja para frangas ou galos. O valor de energia metabolizável aparente do grão de girassol para frangas e galos foi, respectivamente, 4.722 e 3.945 kcal/kg de dieta. Palavras-chave: alimentos fibrosos; energia metabolizável; Helianthus annuus.ABSTRACT -The objective was to determine the nutritional value, the apparent digestibility and metabolism of energy of sunflower grain for Label Rouge poultry. Two simultaneous experiments were made. The first was composed of 40 pullets in the growing phase, with two treatments, distributed in a completely randomized design: one control diet (COD), from which were included 20% (kg/kg) sunflower grain (SG). The second experiment consisted of 10 roosters, also with two treatments, distributed in a completely randomized design: control diet (COD), from which were included 20% (kg/kg) of sunflower grain (SG). The poultry were housed in individual cages adapted for total excreta collection. The apparent digestibility coefficients (ADC) of diet with sunflower grain for pullets and roosters were respectively 82.36 and 76.84% for dry matter (DM), 78.88 and 77.17% for crude protein (CP), 96.16 and 94.83% for ether extract (EE), 20.44 and 19.41% for neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 19.16 and 17.68% for acid detergent fiber (ADF), 73.54 and 71.40% for gross energy (MEC), 3.446 and 3.286 kcal/kg for apparent metabolizable energy (AME), and availability of 12.03 and 10.44% for mineral matter (MM). The inclusion of 20% of sunflower grain in the diet led to a decrease in the apparent digestibility of all nutrients, except for the ADC for EE and AME, whether...