The freshwater prawn M. amazonicum is widely consumed by the traditional communities of the Amazon basin. This species is captured by traps throughout the year and particularly during the Amazon dry season, when animals are concentrated in floodplain lakes. The aim of this paper was to know the populational biology of M. amazonicum in the Macurany and Catispera lakes, both located in the city of Parintins, Amazonas, Brazil. Samples were collected monthly from September 2009 to April 2010, using regional fishing gear. Males, females and total fertility were significantly higher in Catispera lake. The largest ovigerous female was recorded for the Catispera lake (56.2 mm) and low to the Macurany lake (18.3 mm). Sexually undifferentiated individuals were captured throughout the collection period in both lakes. It was observed a higher proportion of females than males (1:2.6) in Macurany lake. The reproductive peak was in the full-flood period (December to April). It may be related to the greatest flow of river and overflowing the banks of lakes, which contribute to larvae dispersion.

Five experiments were conducted to estimate the digestible threonine requirements of slow-growing broilers: experiment 1, starter phase (days 10 to 28); experiment 2, grower I phase (days 29 to 49); experiment 3, grower II phase (days 50 to 69); experiment 4, finisher phase (days 70 to 84); and experiment 5, which was specifically conducted to determine the production of intestinal mucin over two periods (days 50 to 69 and 70 to 84). Different birds were used in all experiments. A completely randomized design with five treatments and four replicates was used. Treatments consisted of increasing the values of digestible threonine in the diet through basal feed supplementation with L-threonine (98.5%), which was added instead of cornstarch. The following values of digestible threonine were investigated: 0.622, 0.697, 0.772, 0.847, and 0.922% in experiment 1; 0.586, 0.662, 0.738, 0.814, and 0.890% in experiment 2; 0.570, 0.640, 0.71, 0.780, and 0.850% in experiments 3 and 5; and 0.520, 0.595, 0.670, 0.745, and 0.820% in experiments 4 and 5. The digestible threonine values presented quadratic effects on feed conversion ratio in experiments 1, 2, and 3. Digestible threonine values of 0.628 and 0.609% resulted in higher villus height and greater duodenal crypt depth, respectively. Digestible threonine values of 0.762, 0.767, and 0.733% may be recommended for the starter, grower I, and grower II phases, respectively, based on the best feed conversion ratio. In addition, a digestible threonine level of 0.694% may be recommended for the finisher phase based on the highest production of intestinal mucin.

No abstract

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the effects of xylanase and probiotic supplementation on the performance, carcass characteristics, intestinal pH, intestinal viscosity, and ileal microbiota of broiler chickens fed diets containing wheat bran. The study animals were kept in metal cages, and the study was performed using a completely randomized design, with four treatments, six birds per treatment, and six replicates. The four treatments included a control group, a probiotic-supplemented group, a xylanase-supplemented group, and a group that received both xylanase and probiotic supplementation. The diets of all four groups contained wheat bran (50 and 30 g/kg for the starter and grower phases, respectively) and phytase, and at 10 d after hatching, the experimental birds were challenged orally with Eimeria sp commercial vaccine. During the initial phase, supplementation with xylanase, probiotics, or their combination yielded greater weight gains than the control diet; however, considering the period from 10-35 d, the chickens receiving xylanase + probiotic and the diet without the additives showed lower weight gain (2.746 and 2.600 kg, respectively). All the supplemented diets reduced cecum viscosity, and supplementation with probiotic showed a significantly lower pH (6.11). The ileal microbiota was also influenced by xylanase and probiotic supplementation, modulating the frequencies of the genera Lactobacillus and Clostridium. The positive effects of supplementation with xylanase or probiotics alone were similar to those of co-supplementation, and no associative effect was observed.

Os jaraquis estão entre as espécies de peixes mais consumidas do Amazonas, destacando-se principalmente nos mercados de Manaus. O objetivo deste estudo foi realizar análise sensorial em filés cozidos de jaraqui, verificando a aceitabilidade deste pelo mercado consumidor e agregar valor ao produto final, proporcionando uma possibilidade de renda extra para os comerciantes e indústrias filetadoras da região. Para tanto, foram utilizados 30 exemplares de cada uma das espécies de jaraqui, em um total de 120 filés, oferecidos a 60 provadores não treinados, que avaliaram em uma escala hedônica quanto à aparência, aroma, textura, sabor e gosto, seguido de uma impressão global, bem como suas intenções de consumo e compra; presença de espinhas e a possibilidade do produto ser ofertado na merenda escolar. Os resultados revelaram que apesar da presença de espinhas no filé, mais de 60,00% dos provadores os consumiriam frequentemente e 55,56% certamente comprariam o filé de jaraqui quando ofertado pelo comércio, sendo inclusive aceito como fonte de proteína animal nas dietas escolares. Desta forma, o filé do jaraqui pode se tornar uma forma a mais de se ofertar este produto para o mercado regional e nacional.