Objetivou-se com esta pesquisa avaliar os efeitos dos níveis de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) das rações oferecidas para as aves entre a 7ª e 17ª semanas de idade sobre o desempenho, o desenvolvimento dos sistemas digestório e reprodutor, bem como os efeitos na maturidade sexual, no desempenho e na qualidade dos ovos na fase de postura.Foram distribuídas 1.296 aves em delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 3 × 2, composto de três níveis de FDN e duas linhagens, com quatro repetições de 54 aves. Foram testados os níveis de 14,5; 16,5; e 18,5% de FDN em aves leves e semipesadas. Ao final da fase de crescimento, as aves foram transferidas para o galpão de postura, mantendo o mesmo delineamento, composto por 14 aves por parcela. Não houve interação entre os níveis de FDN e as linhagens para as variáveis avaliadas. Na fase de crescimento, o aumento do nível de FDN reduziu o ganho de peso e o peso final, piorou a conversão alimentar e aumentou o peso dos intestinos. Na fase de postura, os níveis de FDN não influenciaram o desempenho das aves nem os constituintes e a qualidade dos ovos. Na fase de crescimento, as aves semipesadas apresentaram maior consumo, ganho de peso e peso final, melhor conversão alimentar, peso maior da moela e menor do fígado e do ovário. Na fase de postura, as aves leves foram mais precoces, apresentaram menor peso e massa de ovos, pior conversão alimentar, ovos com mais gema, menos albúmen, maior densidade específica e menores unidades Haugh. Independentemente da linhagem, o aumento do nível de FDN em rações para crescimento pode influenciar o desempenho das frangas, resultando em aves menos pesadas, sem influenciar a maturidade sexual, o desempenho e a qualidade dos ovos na fase de postura.

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the addition of fresh and stored copra meal to the diet of meat quails. Two hundred eighty-seven-day-old male and female quails were distributed in a completely randomized design, with five treatments, in a 2 × 2 + 1factorial arrangement. Two copra meal types (fresh and stored) at inclusion levels of 12.5% and 25%, respectively, were added to a corn-soybean meal-based diet, with seven replicates, of eight quails each. Copra meal acidity index recorded oleic acid percentage increase from 0.47 to 3.03% after six storage months. However, regardless of storage type, its addition to quails' diet resulted in higher values of metabolizable energy, in lower feed intake and better feed conversion than corn-soybean meal diet. Copra meal addition to quails' diet did not affect carcass traits, liver and pancreas relative weight, and bone growth and quality. Although copra meal storage for 180 days resulted in higher free fatty acid content in the provided feed, it can be used fresh or after storage, in diet of meat quails from 7 to 42 days of age up to 25%.

Resumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a estabilidade oxidativa do farelo integral de arroz parboilizado (FIAP) durante o armazenamento e os efeitos do seu uso na alimentação de codornas de corte. Foram utilizados 245 animais com sete dias de idade, de ambos os sexos, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com cinco tratamentos, em arranjo fatorial 2x2+1, e sete repetições de sete aves. Avaliaram-se os seguintes tratamentos: dieta controle, sem adição de FIAP; e níveis de inclusão, na dieta controle, de 10 e 20% de FIAP armazenado por 180 dias (FIAPA) ou de FIAP novo (FIAPN). Houve oxidação lipídica do FIAP durante o armazenamento, e o índice de acidez foi de 4,25 e 63,50 (% em ácido oleico) e o de peróxido foi de 15,64 e 38,28 meq kg -1 para FIAPN e FIAPA, respectivamente. A inclusão do FIAP resultou em menor digestibilidade da matéria seca e do nitrogênio e em maior valor de energia metabolizável da ração, em comparação à ração controle. A inclusão de 20% de FIAPA resultou em menor energia metabolizável da ração do que a adição do FIAPN. As inclusões não influenciaram desempenho, características da carcaça, pesos relativos do fígado e do pâncreas, e crescimento e qualidade óssea. O FIAPA, mesmo com rancidez, pode ser utilizado na alimentação de codornas de corte em níveis de até 20% de inclusão.Termos para indexação: Coturnix coturnix, características de carcaça, desempenho produtivo, estabilidade oxidativa, rancidez hidrolítica, rancidez oxidativa. Parboiled rice bran subjected to prolonged storage for meat quail feedingAbstract -The objective of this work was to evaluate the oxidative stability of parboiled rice bran (PRB) during storage and the effects of its use on meat quail feeding. Two hundred forty-five animals, with seven days of age, of both sexes, were used, distributed in a completely randomized design, with five treatments in a 2x2+1 factorial arrangement and seven replicates of seven chicks. The following treatments were evaluated: control diet, without PRB; and inclusion levels of 10 and 20% of 180-day-storaged PRB (SPRB) or of new PRB (NPRB) in the control diet. There was lipid oxidation of PRB during storage, the acid index was 4.25 and 63.50 (% as oleic acid) and the peroxide index was 15.64 and 38.28 meq kg -1 for NPRB and SPRB, respectively. The inclusion of PRB resulted in lower dry matter and nitrogen digestibility and in higher metabolizable energy value of feed when compared to the control diet. The inclusion of 20% SPRB resulted in lower metabolizable energy of feed than the addition of NPRB. The inclusions did not influence performance, carcass traits, relative weights of the liver and pancreas, and bone growth and quality. The SPRB, although rancid, can be used as feed for meat quail at levels up to 20% inclusion.

SummaryThe objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding laying hens diets containing cashew nut shell liquid (CNSL) as a source of anacardic acid on the blood biochemical parameters as well as the enzymatic activity and lipid peroxidation of liver and tissues of the reproductive system (ovary, magnum, and uterus). A total of 216 Hisex White commercial laying hens were distributed randomly into six treatments, with six replicates of six birds. Treatments consisted of a diet without growth promoter (GP); a diet with GP; and diets without GP, with addition of increasing levels of CNSL (0.25, 0.50, 0.75 and 1.0%). Addition of CNSL to the diet did not affect the blood biochemical parameters (uric acid, creatinine, alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, total cholesterol, high density lipoproteins, low-density lipoproteins and triglycerides), the enzymatic activity (superoxide dismutase and nonprotein sulphydryl groups) in the organs (liver, ovary, magnum and uterus) or the peroxidation of lipids from the blood serum, liver, magnum and uterus (p > 0.05). However, the addition of 0.75% and 1.00% CNSL provided a lower thiobarbituric acid reactive substances content in the birds' ovary (p < 0.001) compared to birds of other treatments, whereas the treatment without the GP provided a higher value. Addition of up to 1% of the CNSL as a source of anacardic acid in the laying hens' diets does not influence blood biochemical parameters or the endogenous enzymatic activity in the liver, ovary, magnum and uterus, but affects the lipid peroxidation in the ovary, although the problem is reduced from the inclusion of 0.75% CNSL.

-The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of limestone particle sizes in the diet and of lighting regimes on the egg and bone quality and on the performance of commercial laying hens. Three hundred Hissex White layers, at 18 weeks of age, were distributed in a completely randomized design, in a 5×2 factorial arrangement (coarse limestone in the diet at 0, 25, 50, 75, and 100%; with or without artificial light), with five replicates of six birds. No significant interaction was observed between particle sizes and lighting regime for the evaluated parameters. There was no significant effect of coarse limestone level in the diet on the performance and egg quality of hens; however, bone deformity (3.23 to 4.01 mm), strength (5.19 to 6.70 kgf cm -2 ), and mineral matter (51.09 to 59.61%) improved as the proportion of coarse limestone increased. For lighting regime, the treatment with artificial light yielded higher Haugh unit values (87.17 vs. 85.54) than that with natural light only. Greater limestone particles improve bone quality of laying hens, and the use of artificial light can benefit the albumen quality of the eggs.Index terms: egg mass, shell thickness, specific gravity, tibia. Tamanhos de partícula de calcário e regimes de luz na qualidade de ovos e ossos de galinhas poedeirasResumo -O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos de tamanhos de partículas de calcário na dieta e de regimes de luz artificial sobre a qualidade de ovos e de ossos e o desempenho de galinhas poedeiras comerciais. Utilizaram-se 300 poedeiras Hissex White, com 18 semanas de idade, distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em arranjo fatorial 5x2 (tratamentos com calcário grosso na dieta a 0, 25, 50, 75 e 100%; com ou sem luz artificial), com cinco repetições de seis aves. Não se observou interação significativa entre o tamanho das partículas e a iluminação quanto aos parâmetros avaliados. Não houve efeito significativo da percentagem de calcário grosso na ração sobre o desempenho e a qualidade do ovo das galinhas; no entanto, a deformidade (3,23 a 4,01 mm), a resistência à quebra (5,19 a 6,70 kgf cm -2 ) e a matéria mineral dos ossos (51,09 a 59,61%) melhoraram com o aumento da proporção de calcário grosso. Quanto ao regime de iluminação, o tratamento com luz artificial apresentou maiores valores de unidade Haugh (87,17 vs. 85,54) do que aquele apenas com luz natural. As maiores partículas de calcário melhoram a qualidade óssea das galinhas poedeiras, e a utilização da luz artificial pode favorecer a qualidade do albúmen dos ovos.Termos para indexação: massa de ovo, espessura de casca, densidade específica, tíbia.

-The effects of neutral detergent fiber levels (NDF) (145, 165, 185 g/kg) were assessed on the bone quality of light-weight and medium-weight laying hens. Eight hundred and forty laying hens were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement (two strains and three NDF levels) with four replications of 35 birds. At the end of the growth phase, birds were transferred to a laying shed in the same experimental design and each experimental plot consisted of 14 birds. For bone assessment, two birds were selected per plot in the 17th week and one bird in the 35th week for slaughter. After slaughter, drumstick and thigh (legs) were removed and after deboning of the femur and tibia, taken to measurement of their length, weight, Seedor index, resistance, deformity, dry matter, mineral residue and crude protein. The data analysis showed no significant interaction between the factors NDF level and strain for any of the variables assessed at the different phases. The NDF level in the diet did not significantly influence bone growth, quality and composition at the end of the growing and laying phases. Medium-weight birds presented larger and heavier femur and tibia, with a greater Seedor index and less deformity, ash content and protein than the light-weight birds. Resistance did not vary significantly among the strains. A diet intended for laying hens at the growth phase can contain up to 185 g/kg NDF without causing problems in bone development and quality of laying hens.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of including different levels of ethanolic extract of mango seed (EEMS) in broiler chicken rations on their phenolic compound levels, antioxidant activity, and meat quality. Initially, 756 one-day-old male chicks of the Ross 308 line were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with seven treatments and six replicates of 18 birds. The treatments consisted of (i) a ration without the addition of antioxidants, (ii) a ration with the addition of 200 ppm of the antioxidant butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and (iii) a ration with the addition of 200, 400, 600, 800, or 1000 ppm of EEMS. According to the results, the values of phenolic compounds, the lipid stability of meat (measured by the value of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances), shear force, loss of cooking water, color, and pH of the meat differed significantly between the treatments. For the antioxidant activity of the meat, there was no significant difference between the treatments by the 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl method; however, by the 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzthiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) method, the breast meat of broilers fed diets containing EEMS from 600 ppm and up presented higher antioxidant capacity when compared with the meat of the birds fed the control diet. In the ABTS method, there was no significant difference between the use of synthetic antioxidant BHT and the addition of EEMS at different levels. In conclusion, the addition of EEMS does not affect meat quality parameters of broilers, but when a dose of 600 ppm or more is added, the antioxidant capacity of meat measured by the ABTS method increases.

-The objective of this study was to evaluate the oxidative stability of cashew nut meal (CNM) at 180 days of storage and the effects of its use in the feed of meat quails. A total of 280 animals at seven days of age, of both sexes, were distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments, in a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement, and seven replicates of eight birds each. The treatments were a control diet without CNM and diets containing levels of 12.5 or 25% of new CNM (NCNM) or stored for 180 days (SCNM). The lipid oxidation of the brans was evaluated by determining the acidity index and peroxide index. The parameters evaluated were the quail performance, metabolizable coefficients and energy of diets, carcass characteristics, relative weights of the liver and pancreas, and bone parameters. The acidity of cashew nut meal was 4.66% and 6.16 (% in oleic acid) for NCNM and SCNM, respectively. Independent of the storage, inclusion of CNM resulted in higher metabolizable energy values in the diet, reduced intake, and, because weight gain did not vary, feed conversion improved compared with the control treatment. Carcass traits, relative weights of liver and pancreas, as well as bone growth and quality were not affected by dietary treatments. Despite the hydrolytic rancidity, CNM can be used in the diets for meat quails at up to 25% of inclusion.