Artificial lighting is one of the most powerful management tools available to commercial layer producers. Artificial light allows anticipating or delaying the beginning of lay, improving egg production, and optimizing feed efficiency. This study aimed at comparing the performance of commercial layers submitted to lighting using different LED colors or conventional incandescent lamps. The study was carried out in a layer house divided in isolated environments in order to prevent any influenced from the neighboring treatments. In total, 360 Isa Brown layers, with an initial age of 56 weeks, were used. The following light sources were used: blue LED, yellow LED, green LED, red LED, white LED, and 40W incandescent light. Birds in all treatment were submitted to a 17-h continuous lighting program, and were fed a corn and soybean meal-based diet. A completely randomized experimental design with subplots was applied, with 24 treatments (six light sources and four periods) of three replicates. Egg production (%) was significantly different (p<0.05) among treatments, with the best results obtained with red LED, white LED, and incandescent light sources. Egg weight, feed intake, and internal egg quality (albumen height, specific gravity, and Haugh units) were not influenced (p>0.05) by light source. It was concluded that the replacement of incandescent light bulbs by white and red LEDs does not cause any negative effect on the egg production of commercial layers.

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It is known that PSE meat present important functional defects, such as low water holding capacity and ultimate pH, which may compromise the quality of further-processed meat products. In this study, L* (lightness), a* (redness), and b* (yellowness) values of 500 chicken breast fillets were determined using a portable colorimeter (Minolta, model CR-400) in a commercial processing plant. Fillets were considered pale when their L* was ≥49. Out of those samples, 30 fillets with normal color and 30 pale fillets were evaluated as to pH, drip loss, cooking loss, water holding capacity, shear force, and submitted to sensorial analysis. An incidence of 10.20% PSE meat was determined. Pale and normal fillets presented significantly different (p≤0.05) pH values, L* and a* values, water holding capacity, drip loss, and cooking loss, demonstrating changes in the physical properties of PSE meat. Shear force and sensorial characteristics were not different (p>0.05) between pale and normal fillets. Despite the significant differences in meat physical properties, these were not perceived by consumers in terms of tenderness, aspect, and flavor. The observed incidence of PSE may cause losses due to its low water retention capacity. INTRODUCTIONPoultry meat production has undergone many changes in the last few years. Parts are increasingly sold relative to whole carcasses. Moreover, there is an increasing number of further-processed products, such as nuggets, breaded and other ready-to-cook and ready-to-eat products, available in the market. However, the quality of these products is directly related to the quality of the meat used to prepare them.According to the Brazilian Poultry Association (União Brasileira de Avicultura -UBA, 2008), Brazilian chicken production exceeded the volumes sold in previous years both in the domestic and international markets. Exporters expect to obtain significant increase in sales, particularly as new markets are opened. One of the factors that allowed Brazil to become the largest global chicken meat exporter in terms of revenue was the increase in the sales of chicken parts and further-processed products, which have higher added value.A significant proportion of chickens is deboned for breast exports, and consequently, meat quality defects, such as PSE (pale, dry, and exudative meat), result in important losses for chicken meat industry. In addition, taking into account the increasing number of further-processed chicken meat products in the last few years, it is essential for processors to have correct information on PSE meat (Komiyama, 2006). PSE meat is a meat quality defect that affects important meat physical properties, such as water holding capacity and ultimate pH, which may reduce the quality of further processed chicken meat products (Komiyama, 2006

The study was carried out in order to verify the effects of piglets’ weight at birth on their surface temperature change (ST) after birth, and its relationship with ingestion time of colostrum. Piglets from four different sows were weighed at birth and divided into a totally randomized design with three treatments according to birth weight (PBW): T1 - less than 1.00 kg, T2 - 1.00 to 1.39 kg, and T3 - higher than or equal to 1.40 kg. The time spent for the first colostrum ingestion was recorded (TFS). Images of piglets’ surface by thermal imaging camera were recorded at birth (STB) and 15, 30, 45, 60, and 120 min after birth. The air temperature and relative humidity were recorded every 30 min and the indexes of temperature and humidity (THI) were calculated. A ST drop after 15 min from birth was observed, increasing again after sixty minutes. Positive correlations were found between the PBW and the ST at 30 and 45 min after birth. The PBW was negatively correlated with the TFS. The THI showed high negative correlations (−0.824 and −0.815) with STB and after 15 min from birth. The piglet’s surface temperature at birth was positively correlated with temperature thereof to 15 min, influencing therefore the temperatures in the interval of 45 to 120 min. The birth weight contributes significantly to postnatal hypothermia and consequently to the time it takes for piglets ingest colostrum, requiring special attention to those of low birth weight.

Brazil must comply with international quality standards and animal welfare requirements in order to maintain its position as world's largest exporter of poultry meat. With the scenario of global climate change there is the forecast of occurrence of extreme events with characteristics of both excess cold and heat for several regions of the country. This study aimed to evaluate the effectiveness of using images of infrared thermography to evaluate the loss of sensible heat in young broilers fed different dietary energy levels. Twenty birds were reared in a house with appropriate brooding using infrared lamps. Birds were distributed in a completely randomized experimental into two treatments: T1 (control diet with 2950 kcal ME/kg -1 ), and T2 (high-energy diet with 3950 kcal ME/kg -1 ). Infrared thermographic images of the birds were recorded for four consecutive days. One bird was randomly chosen per treatment, and had special images taken and analyzed. Average surface temperature of the body area was calculated using the surface temperature recorded at 100 spots (50 at the front and 50 at the lateral side of the bird's body). Mean surface temperature of the flock was calculated recording 100 spots on the group of birds. Total radiant heat loss was calculated based on the average data of surface temperature. The results indicated that the young broilers fed the high-energy diet presented a metabolic energy loss equivalent to 0.64 kcal h -1 , while the birds fed with the control diet lost 2.18 kcal h -1 . This finding confirms that oil supplementation to the diet reduces bird heat loss. The infrared camera was able to record young broilers' surface temperature variation when birds were fed diets with different energy contents. INTRODUCTIONBrazil produced almost 11 million tons of chicken meat in 2009, out of which 70% was exported, making it the leading poultry exporter in the world (UBA, 2009). In order to keep this position, the Brazilian production chain must make constant innovations to meet international quality standard requirements. In addition, the world's largest chicken meat importers have set deadlines for the compliance of requirements for intensive production systems, including those related to housing environment and animal welfare.When the housing environment not within the thermoneutral zone, metabolic heat dissipation of poultry changes. The thermal tolerance of broilers varies according to age and weight. The thermal comfort zone of 1 to 7-d-old broilers is around 31-33 °C, and it is reduced to 21-23 °C when they are 35 to 42 days old, considering that air relative humidity is between 65 and 70% (Furlan & Macari, 2002

Three trials were carried out in a completely randomized design aiming to assess the behavior of pigs in growth phase in enriched environments. Trial 1 evaluated the effects of frequency of availability of environmental enrichment. The animals were assigned to four treatments: 1) control with no enrichment object; 2) objects provided for six consecutive days uninterruptedly; 3) objects provided on alternate days, and 4) objects provided for six consecutive days taken away by the end of the afternoon and replaced at dawn. Trial 2 assessed the effects of scent on animals’ acceptance and maintenance of interest in objects. Animals were assigned to four treatments: 1) unscented object; 2) object with banana scent; 3) object with rum scent; 4) object with scents alternated every other day. Trial 3 aimed to assess the influence of environmental enrichment based on providing rewards at different difficulty levels. Animals were assigned to three treatments: 1) object with no reward; 2) object with a reward at an easy level; 3) object with a reward at a difficult level. Each trial had six days of behavioral observations every ten minutes for eight hours each day using images from video cameras. Enrichment objects stimulated the animals’ natural behavior of nuzzling and exploring the environment. The way the objects were available did not impact the success of their use. Offering enrichment on alternate days or removing the objects by the end of the day was not an effective strategy to extend the animals’ interest. The olfactory stimulus in environmental enrichment objects had no positive effect on extending the animals’ interest on them, nor did alternating the aromas. The tactile stimulus was a key factor for object attractiveness. Providing environmental enrichment objects with rewards stimulated the exploratory behavior of pigs. The level of difficulty to obtain the reward may discourage the animals.

RESUMOO experimento foi realizado nas instalações experimentais da Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia da Unesp, Campus de Botucatu e objetivou-se avaliar o efeito das dietas com milho e farelo de soja, sorgo com alto tanino e farelo de soja e sorgo com baixo tanino e farelo de soja sobre o desempenho, rendimento de carcaça e parâmetros gastrintestinais de frangos de corte. Foram utilizados 1200 pintos de corte de um dia, da linhagem Ross 308, distribuídos em 24 boxes em um delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 3 x 2, três dietas: 100% milho e farelo de soja, 100% sorgo com alto tanino e farelo de soja (SAT) e 100% sorgo com baixo tanino e farelo de soja (SBT) e dois sexos, com 4 repetições de 50 aves cada. O desempenho foi avaliado aos 21, 35 e 42 dias de idade e aos 42 dias de idade, uma amostra de 5 aves por repetição foi abatida para a determinação do rendimento de carcaça e das partes. Foram medidos o rendimento do peito desossado, coxa e sobrecoxa, asas, dorso e gordura abdominal. Aos 14, 21, 28, 35 e 42 dias de idade foram sacrificadas 3 aves por repetição para avaliação do desenvolvimento das vísceras e dos intestinos por meio de pesagens e medidas. Conclui-se que, ao utilizar sorgo com alto tanino (cultivar AG3002 com 1,89 g/kg) e sorgo com baixo tanino (cultivar SAARA com 0,49 g/kg) em substituição ao milho não foi encontrado efeito significativo (p>0,05) para os parâmetros analisados de desempenho e rendimento de carcaça, não ocorrendo também efeito evidente sobre a porcentagem das vísceras e intestinos e as medidas dos intestinos.Termos para indexação: Desempenho, frangos de corte, intestinos, sorgo, tanino. ABSTRACTThe experiment was carried out in the experimental facilities of Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia of Unesp, Botucatu Campus and the objective was evaluate the effect of corn, sorghum with tannin and sorghum no tannin-based diets on the gastric and bowel parameters in broiler . One thousand and two hundred sexed Ross 308, one-day-old chicks were used, divided in 24 boxes in an completely randomized experimental design with factorial arrangement 3x2, three diets: 100% corn, 100% sorghum with tannin (SAT) and 100% sorghum without tannin (SBT) and two sexes, with 4 replications of 50 birds each The broiler performance was evaluate at 21, 35 and 42 days of age. At 42 days of age, a sample of 5 birds per replication was slaughtered to carcass yield determination. At 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days of age 3 birds per replication were slaughtered for the evaluation of guts and bowel development by means of weighing and measurements. It can be concluded that, when using sorghum with tannin (AG3002 crop with 1.89g/kg) and sorghum no tannin (SAARA crop, with 0.49g/kg) replacing corn, there was no evident effect (p>.05) on performance, carcass yield, as well as on guts and bowel percentage or on the bowel measures. INTRODUÇÃOEmbora a utilização do sorgo na alimentação de aves tenha sido muito pesquisada no Brasil nas décadas de setenta e oitenta, o ...

Dose-dependent positive effects on hatchability and hatchling weight have been attributed to ascorbic acid (AA) when eggs were submitted or not to intermittent heat stress during incubation. Fertile breeder (Cobb®) eggs were used to determine if the pre-incubation injection of AA in ovo affects the incubation and hatchling quality of egg incubated under thermoneutral or intermittent heat stress conditions. Eggs were not injected or injected with 0, 2,4, or 6% AA/100µL water and incubated at continuous thermoneutral (37.5ºC) or hot (39.0ºC) temperature. Eggshell temperature (EST) increased in the second half of the incubation period in all experimental groups. The EST of non-injected eggs and of those injected with water was higher when incubated at 39°C than at 37.5°C, but EST was not different among eggs injected with AA. Egg mass loss and eggshell conductance were higher in the eggs incubated at 39°C than at 37.5°C.Hatchability was lower in the eggs injected with AA. Liver and yolk sac weights were higher, whereas heart and liver weights were lower in hatchlings from eggs incubated at 39°C; however, hatchling weight was not affected by incubation temperature. The results showed that AA doses affected egg conductive heat loss and hatchability, and that they did not minimize the effects of high incubation temperature on liver and heart development.