No abstract

Freshwater fish are an important source of protein, but they also contain other highly nutritive components such as fats. Polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) are essential for normal growth, development and reproduction of vertebrates. The antioxidant role of vitamin E in cell membranes prevents fatty acid and cholesterol oxidation, thereby promoting PUFA and subcellular particle stabilization. The effects of vitamin E supplementation on the quality of Nile tilapia (Oreochromis niloticus) carcass were investigated. The experiments were carried out in an experimental laboratory over 106 d. After sex reversal, 400 early juvenile O. niloticus were tested in a completely randomized experiment with 5 treatments (4 repetitions each), consisting of vitamin E monophosphate supplementation at 0, 50, 100, 150 or 200 mg/kg of a base diet. Treatment diets contained equal amounts of protein and energy. Tilapias supplemented with vitamin E contained arachidonic acid (20:4 x-6; AA) which participates in inflammatory response. Nile tilapia carcasses that received vitamin E at 100 and 150 mg/kg diet had improved carcass quality by increasing the PUFA:SFA ratio and had the highest levels of polyunsaturated fatty acids from the omega-3 (linolenic acid; 18:3 x-3) and omega-6 (linoleic acid; 18:2 x-6) series.

RESUMO -Dois experimentos foram conduzidos para avaliar a digestibilidade da matéria seca, proteína bruta e energia bruta e o desempenho de coelhos alimentados com dietas simplificadas, à base de forragem. No ensaio de digestibilidade, foram utilizados 45 coelhos Nova Zelândia brancos com 1.550 kg de peso inicial e 50 dias de idade distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com 3 dietas e 15 repetições. Foram utilizadas uma dieta-referência e duas dietas simplificadas (uma contendo feno de alfafa e outra contendo feno do terço superior da rama de mandioca). Os coeficientes de digestibilidade da matéria seca, proteína bruta e energia bruta foram de 50,06; 73,29; e 50,59% para a dieta contendo feno de alfafa e de 29,64; 46,96; e 24,52% para dieta simplificada contendo feno de rama de mandioca. No experimento de desempenho, foram utilizados 90 coelhos Nova Zelândia brancos no período de 35 a 70 dias de idade distribuídos em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com as três dietas especificadas e 30 repetições. Os resultados obtidos com as dietas simplificadas no período total do experimento (35 a 70 dias) foram inferiores aos obtidos com a dietareferência, contudo, mais estudos devem ser realizados com dietas simplificadas com o objetivo de se obter máximo aproveitamento da utilização de forragens para o animal. Palavras-chave: feno de alfafa, feno de mandioca, utilização digestivaEffect of the use of simplified diets based on forages on digestibility and performance of New Zealand rabbits ABSTRACT -Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the dry matter, crude protein and gross energy digestibilities and the performance of rabbits fed simplified diets based on forages. In digestibility assay, 45 New Zealand white rabbits with 1,550 kg of initial weight and 50 days old were distributed to a completely randomized design with 3 diets and 15 replications. Three diets were used: a reference-diet and two simplified diets (one with alfalfa hay and other with upper third part of foliage cassava hay). Coefficients of digestibility of dry matter, crude protein and gross energy were 50.06, 73.29 and 50.59% for the diet with alfalfa hay and 29.64, 46.96 and 24.52% for simplified diet with upper third part of foliage cassava hay. In performance experiment, 90 New Zealand white rabbits from 35 to 70 days old were distributed to a completely randomized design with three diets, above specified, and 30 replications. The results obtained with simplified diets in the total experimental period of (35 to 70 days) were lower than those obtained with the referencediet; however, more studies should be conducted with simplified diets to obtain maximum incorporation use of forages for the animal.

RESUMO -Dois experimentos foram conduzidos com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da inclusão de níveis crescentes (1,5; 3,0; 4,5 e 6,0%) de óleo de soja (OS) ou gordura animal (gordura de porco -GA) nas dietas sobre a digestibilidade aparente dos nutrientes e o desempenho de coelhos em crescimento. No ensaio de digestibilidade, foram utilizados 72 coelhos da raça NZB, distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com nove tratamentos e oito repetições. A adição de diferentes níveis de OS ou GA às dietas não influenciou os coeficientes de digestibilidade de MS, MO, PB e EB e a ingestão de MS, mas provocou efeito positivo sobre a digestibilidade do EE e da FDN. Não foi observado efeito da inclusão de OS ou GA sobre a contribuição nutritiva de cecotrofos ou sobre a MS e PB, mas a inclusão de 3 e 6% de GA aumentou a contribuição nutritiva do EE. No experimento de desempenho, foram utilizados 45 coelhos NZB distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com nove tratamentos e cinco repetições. Os animais foram alojados logo após o desmame em gaiolas individuais, onde foram controlados o consumo de ração e o ganho de peso até os 77 dias de idade. Os tratamentos não afetaram significativamente o peso final, o ganho de peso diário, a conversão alimentar, os pesos de carcaça, pele, rins e intestino, mas influenciaram negativamente o consumo médio diário e os pesos de fígado e coração.Palavras-chave: gordura animal, órgãos digestivos, óleo de soja Effects of feeding increasing levels of vegetable oil or animal fat on digestibility, cecotrophy, performance and carcass yield of growing rabbits ABSTRACT -Two assays were conducted to evaluate the effects of feeding increasing dietary levels (1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6%) of soybean oil (SO) or animal fat (pork lard -AF) on nutrient apparent digestibility and performance for growing rabbits. In the digestibility assay, 72 NZB rabbits were assigned to a completely randomized design with nine treatments and eight replicates. No treatment effect on the coefficients of digestibility of DM, OM, CP GE or the DM ingestion was observed, however it was observed positive effect on EE and NDF digestibilities. No effect of increasing dietary levels of SO or AF on cecotrophe nutritional contribution or DM and CP was observed, but the addition of 3 and 6% AF increased EE nutritional contribution. In the performance assay, 45 rabbits NZB were assigned to a completely randomized design with nine treatments and five replicates. The animals were individually caged immediately after weaning, where feed intake and weight gain were controlled up to 77 days old. No significant treatment effect on final weight, daily weight gain, feed: gain ratio and weights of carcass, leather, kidneys or intestine was observed. It was observed negative effect on daily feed intake and weights of liver and heart.

No abstract

The objective was to evaluate the inclusion of macaúba seed cake (MSC) meal in diets for growing rabbits by assessing their growth and slaughtering performance, haematological traits, nutritional contribution of caecotrophs, in vitro digestibility, degradability and fermentation parameters. A total of 88 rabbits were distributed to four groups with 22 animals each and fed diets containing 0, 50, 100 and 150 g/kg of MSC, respectively. The in vitro assays were conducted employing cecum inoculum on the same dietary treatments. The inclusion of MSC yielded a quadratic effect on in vitro dry matter digestibility (p < 0.001). The maximum amount of produced gas was raised linearly with the inclusion of MSC (p = 0.016). MSC linearly reduced several variables as the nutritional contribution of caecotrophs in dry matter (p = 0.017) and crude protein (p = 0.014), live weight at 51 d (p = 0.024), body weight gain (p = 0.039), average daily feed intake (ADFI) (p = 0.001) and feed conversion ratio (FCR) (p = 0.007) in the first period evaluated (30-50 d); furthermore the ADFI and FCR the second (51-72 d) and whole period (30-72 d) (p < 0.001). MSC addition caused a quadratic effect on white blood cells count (p = 0.026) and a linear decrease of eosinophils (p = 0.045). In conclusion, the inclusion of up to 150 g/kg of MSC improves the in vitro digestibility and fermentation potential of the diets, reflecting on the ADFI and FCR of the animals, although adverse effects are observed on the weight of the commercial carcass and nutritive contribution of the caecotrophs.

Aging is a biologic process characterized by progressive damage of structures and functions of organic systems. In gastrointestinal tract, it can involve enteric nervous system, which plays an important role in digestion and absorption of nutrients, causing hastening of intestinal transit thus reducing its absorptive function. Caloric restriction has been used in several studies with the intention of delaying deleterious effects of aging. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of caloric restriction on myenteric neurons of ileum by aging in rats. 30 Wistar rats were grouped as follows: GI (animals aged 6 months fed with normal diet), GII (animals aged 18 months fed with normal diet) and GIII (animals aged 18 months subject to 31% of caloric restriction). The rats of the GI group were euthanized at 6 months of age and after experimental period of 12 months animals of the group GII and GIII were euthanized, the ileum of all groups were collected, measured and processed by NADPH-dp and Acetylcholinesterase. Quantitative analysis of neurons revealed that aging promotes the increasing of myenteric neurons NADPH-dp and reduces Acetylcholinesterase neuronal population. However, in the cellular profile area, were not observed significant differences between the groups. The caloric restriction has been efficient and can be used preventively because it minimizes quantitative changes associated with aging on ileum myenteric plexuses.

-The objectives of this study were to evaluate the digestibility of the nutrients of simplified and semisimplified diets, with and without inclusion of exogenous enzymes and to determine the nutritional value of the fibrous sources.The tested feedstuffs were: alfalfa hay, hay from the upper third of the cassava foliage and cassava leaf meal, using a completely randomized design with 11 diets and 8 repetitions. The treatments were constituted of 1 reference diet, 2 simplified diets and 8 semi-simplified diets (4 enzymatic inclusion). The enzymes used were carbohydrases (alpha-galactosidase, galactomanose, xylanase and beta glucanase) and phytase. It was observed that the digestibility of the nutrients of the diets was influenced by the type of feed studied. Semi-simplified diets presented coefficients inferior to the reference diet and superior to the simplified diets. Exogenous enzymes promoted improvements in the digestibility of the dry matter (DM), organic matter, crude protein and gross energy. It was also observed that great part of the crude protein of the cassava leaf meal complexed, which depreciated the digestibility of diets with high inclusion of this ingredient. The nutritional value of fibrous sources was 1822.7 kcal digestible energy -DE/kgDM and 122,6 g digestible protein -DP/kg DM, for the hay from the upper third of the cassava foliage; 2232.5 kcalDE/kgDM and 155.4 gDP/kgDM for alfalfa hay and 1888.9 kcalDE/kgDM and 73.6 gDP/kgDM for the cassava leaf meal. With the exception of diets with elevated inclusion of cassava leaf meal, the semi-simplified diets presented satisfactory coefficients of digestibility improved by the enzymatic inclusion.