A trial was conducted to evaluate quality of quail eggs from two companies (A and B) at two storage times (5 and 15 days after packing). A total of 480 eggs were kept at room temperature and distributed in a completely randomized design in 2x2factorial arrangement (companies and storage time). The results indicated that trays from company B presented higher weight, as well as mean egg weight. However, the eggs in trays from company A showed greater uniformity. Evaluating the external quality, we found that above 90% of eggshell were considered with total integrity, and no difference for this characteristic between companies was found. The eggs from company A presented lower average weight in comparison to those from company B, regarding storage time. No differences were observed between eggs from companies A and B for Haugh unit value. Storage time of 15 days after packing promoted reduction in Haugh unit value in comparison to those stored for 5 days. Quail eggs from company A presented lower variation in weight, although heavier eggs are produced by company B. Internal quality of quail eggs from both companies was similar. Storage time affected eggs quality.

The intestinal health of piglets depends on the balance between diet, microflora and mucosal integrity. Disruption of this balance can compromise the digestive functions, leading to diarrhoeal frame and decline in performance of piglets. However, the level and type of fibre can limit digestive disorders. Thirty newly weaned piglets were used to evaluate the levels of neutral detergent fibre (NDF) in diets regarding performance, pH, viscosity and concentration of short chain fatty acids of digestive contents, gastrointestinal transit time, morphology of the intestinal mucosa, weights of organs and occurrence of diarrhoea. NDF level had quadratic effect on weight gain and feed conversion ratio of piglets, estimating best results at the level of 10.4%. NDF level had no effect on the pH, viscosity and concentration of short chain fatty acids. NDF levels below 10.2% or above 13.5% reduced the transit time of digesta. There was quadratic effect on villus height in the duodenum and jejunum and in the crypt depth of jejunum. There was linear increase in stomach, caecum and colon weights and linear decrease in the occurrence of diarrhoea according to increasing NDF levels. It is concluded that levels below 10.2% and above 13.5% reduce the transit time of digesta, whereas 12.2% NDF level results in better mucosa structure of the small intestinal, with an increase in the weights of the stomach, caecum and colon and a reduction in the occurrence of diarrhoea with increasing NDF level in diets, resulting in better performance of weaned piglets with 10.4% of NDF.Index terms: Short chain fatty acids; pigs; transit time; viscosity. RESUMOA saúde intestinal em leitões depende do equilíbrio entre dieta, microflora e integridade da mucosa. Perturbações desse equilíbrio podem comprometer as funções digestivas, conduzindo a quadro diarreico e queda no desempenho dos leitões. Nesse sentido, o nível e tipo de fibra podem limitar as perturbações digestivas. Utilizou-se 30 leitões recém desmamados objetivando avaliar níveis de fibra em detergente neutro (FDN) nas dietas sobre o desempenho, pH, viscosidade concentração de ácidos graxos de cadeia curta dos conteúdos digestivos, tempo de trânsito gastrointestinal, do ceco, morfologia da mucosa intestinal, pesos dos órgãos e ocorrência de diarreia. Observou-se efeito quadrático do nível de FDN sobre o ganho de peso e conversão alimentar dos leitões, estimando-se melhores resultados no nível de 10,4%. Não houve efeito do nível de FDN sobre o pH, viscosidade e concentração de ácidos graxos de cadeia curta da digesta. Níveis de FDN abaixo 10.2 ou acima de 13,5% reduziu o tempo de trânsito da digesta. Houve efeito quadrático sobre a altura das vilosidades do duodeno e jejuno e na profundidade das criptas do jejuno. Houve aumento linear no peso do estômago e do ceco e cólon e redução linear na ocorrência de diarreia conforme houve aumento dos níveis de FDN. Concluiu-se que níveis abaixo de 10,2 e acima de 13,5% reduzem o tempo de trânsito da digesta, enquanto que o nível de 12,2% de NDF ...

RESUMOForam utilizados 60 leitões fêmeas e machos castrados, de linhagem comercial, desmamados com média de 21 dias de idade e com peso vivo médio de 5,4 ± 1,44 kg, com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da inclusão de farelo de arroz integral (FAI) em rações para leitões na fase de creche, sobre o desempenho zootécnico, ocorrência de diarréia, bem como a viabilidade econômica. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado com cinco tratamentos (0,0; 5,0; 10,0; 15,0 e 20,0% de FAI) e seis repetições por tratamento, sendo a unidade experimental (parcela) constituída por dois animais. Os resultados mostraram que o consumo de ração médio diário (CRMD), ganho de peso médio diário (GPMD) e conversão alimentar (CA), bem como a ocorrência de diarréia não diferiram significativamente (p>0,05) para os diferentes níveis de inclusão de FAI. A análise econômica mostrou que não houve diferença significativa entre os tratamentos. Concluiu-se que o fornecimento de farelo de arroz integral foi viável até o nível de 20% de inclusão nas dietas de leitões no período de 21 a 42 dias de idade. SUMMARYSixty castrated male and female piglets (commercial lineage), weaned at 21 days of age and average live weight of 5.4 ± 1.44 kg, were used aiming to evaluate the effect on productive performance, diarrhea, and economic viability of adding different levels of rice bran (RB) in rations for pigs. The experimental design was completely randomized with five treatments (0.0, 5.0, 10.0, 15,0 and 20.0% of RB) and 6 replicates per treatment, where the experimental unit (plot) consisted of two animals. Results showed that daily mean feed intake (DMFI), daily mean weight gain (DMWG) and feed conversion (FC), as well as the occurrence of diarrhea, did not differ significantly (p>0.05) for the different levels of RB inclusion in the ration. The economic analysis showed no significant difference among treatments. It is concluded that adding rice bran up to 20% in pig ratios for the period from 21 to 42 days of age is technically viable.

Quails are homeothermic animals, in countries with a tropical climate, such as Brazil, birds face great difficulties in controlling body temperature inside the sheds. Several practices are being studied in order to keep these animals within the thermal comfort zone, and thus, to minimize the effects of thermal stress, partial substitution of carbohydrates by oils and changes in density are some of them. The objective of this study was to evaluate the different breeding densities and inclusion levels of soybean oil in performance, carcass characteristics and heat loss in quail. 450 quails, seven days old, distributed in a completely randomized design in a 3 × 2 factorial scheme, two densities (215.6 cm2 bird-1 and 188.6 cm2 bird-1) and three inclusion levels of soybean oil (0, 2, 4%) were used, totaling six treatments with five replicates each. The heat loss by radiation was estimated with the aid of infrared thermography. The results showed that there was an effect of the density on feed consumption, which was lower for birds raised in the density of 188.6 cm2 bird-1 (783.78 g of feed), but without its effect on weight gain and food conversion. No effect of inclusion levels of soybean oil was observed on any performance variables. There was no statistical difference (P > 0.05) between treatments for any variables of carcass yield and parts, and heat loss by radiation analyzed. Therefore, it is concluded that soybean oil inclusion levels do not affect the performance and yield of quails, nor do they influence the loss of heat throughout the life cycle of these animals. The birds raised in the density of 188.6 cm2 bird-1 obtained the lowest average dietary intake, with no impact on weight gain and feed conversion, allowing the creation of a greater number of birds per box.

No abstract

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the effect of lighting programs for male and female meat quails raised in an equatorial region on performance and carcass traits. A total of 1,500 sexed quails (Coturnix coturnix) was distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, with 2 sexes (male and female) and 3 lighting programs (natural, intermittent, and continuous) with 5 replicates of 50 birds. The lighting programs were applied in the period from 7 to 49 d of age, being natural (12 h and 30 min of natural light and 11 h and 30 min of dark), intermittent (12 h and 30 min of natural light and 5 h and 30 min of artificial light, alternating lighting periods with one h and 06 min and periods of darkness with one h and 12 min), and continuous (23 h of natural + artificial light and one h of dark). Regardless of lighting program, female quails were heavier than males, and birds subjected to natural light weighed less than those exposed to continuous and intermittent lighting programs. Quails exposed to intermittent and continuous light presented higher weight gain and feed intake, and worse feed conversion ratio compared to birds under a natural light regimen. It is concluded that in an equatorial region, it is possible to use a lighting program with only natural light for raising male and female meat quails from 7 to 49 d of age.

Anacardic acid is naturally found in various parts of the cashew tree (Anacardium occidentale L.) and marketed as calcium anacardate. This product has antibacterial, antifungal and antioxidant activity, and has been used in humans in the treatment and prevention of cardiovascular and cerebrovascular diseases and tumors. In meat and egg production systems, anacardic acid is used as a substitute for growth-promoting antibiotics. The study objective was to evaluate effects of adding calcium anacardate as source of anacardic acid in laying Japanese quail diet on bird performance and eggs quality. A total of 252 Japanese quail with 22 week-old were studied, using a completely randomized design composed of six treatments with six replicates and seven quails per experimental unit. Treatments applied were: diet without growth promoter; diet with 0,1% growth promoter; and four diets without growth promoter and addition of 0.25; 0.50; 0.75 and 1.0% calcium anacardate (CA), respectively. The data were submitted to analysis of variance and treatment means compared with a SNK test (5%). The data from treatments containing CA were submitted to regression analysis. Treatments did not influence feed intake, egg production, egg weight, egg volume, feed conversion ratio and eggs quality parameters. The addition up to 1% of calcium anacardate in laying Japanese quail diet, does not influence their performance and egg quality.

RESUMOForam conduzidos dois ensaios para avaliar a utilização do farelo do farelo integral de arroz parboilizado (FIAP)