A performance trial was conducted with broiler chicks to study the effect of phytase (PHY) supplementation in diets formulated with reduced AME, Ca,

Foram conduzidos três ensaios para avaliar os níveis de energia metabolizável (EM) e a melhor relação energia:proteína (E:P) para aves de corte machos de crescimento lento criadas em semiconfinamento nas fases inicial (1 a 21), de crescimento (22 a 49) e de terminação (50 a 70 dias de idade). em cada ensaio, 400 machos da linhagem ISA Label na fase de criação foram alojados em instalação experimental constituída de 20 piquetes com área coberta de 3,13 m²para alimentação e recolhimento das aves e uma área de pastejo de 72,87 m². O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado com cinco tratamentos e quatro repetições de 20 aves. Os níveis de energia metabolizável fornecidos na ração na fase inicial variaram de 2.600 a 3.200 kcal/kg; na fase de crescimento de 2.700 a 3.300 kcal/kg; e na fase final de 2.800 a 3.400 kcal/kg. A proteína bruta e os demais nutrientes foram mantidos constantes em todas as rações, de acordo com recomendações do NRC (1994) para cada fase. A relação energia:proteína e o nível de energia metabolizável que melhoraram o desempenho e as características da carcaça de frangos de corte ISA Label machos criados em sistema semiconfinado em cada fase estudada foram 128 e 2.750; 147 e 2.850 e 172 e 3.100 kcal de EM/kg nas fases inicial, de crescimento e de terminação, respectivamente.Three trials were conducted to evaluate the metabolizable energy (ME) levels and the energy to protein ratio for slow growth male broilers raised in semi confined system in the starter (1 to 21), grower (22 to 49) and final phase (50 to 70 days old). In each experiment, 400 males ISA Label line in the raising phase were allotted to experimental installation constituted by 20 lots with cover area of 3.13 m² for feeding and gathering of the birds and a pasture area of 72.87m². A completely randomized experimental design was used, with five levels of ME and four replications of 20 birds per experimental unit. The levels of metabolizable energy fed in the ration in the different phases varied in the starter from 2,600 to 3,200 kcal/kg, in the grower from 2,700 to 3,300 kcal/kg and in the final from 2,800 to 3,400 kcal/kg. The crude protein and other nutrients were maintained at the same level in all diets according to the NRC (1994) recommendations, for each phase. The energy to protein ratio and the metabolizable energy that provide the best performance and carcass traits of male broilers ISA Label raised in semi confined system in each phase were: 128 and 2,750, 147 and 2850 and 172 and 3,100 kcal ME/kg of diet in starter, grower and final phases, respectively

The aim of the present study was to assess the effect of adding different turmeric amounts to sorghum-based diets for Japanese quails on animal performance, animal metabolism, yolk colour, egg quality, blood and liver biochemical parameters and sensory attributes of the eggs. The study included 210 egg-laying quails aged 50 days and lasted for 90 days. The study had a completely randomised design with six treatments and five replicates with seven birds per replicate. A control corn-based feed and sorghum-based feeds to which different turmeric levels were added (0%, 0.5%, 1.0%, 1.5% and 2%) were tested. The results showed that the sorghum-based feeds with added turmeric levels did not affect animal performance, metabolisation of protein and ether extract, internal and external quality of eggs, serum biochemical profile, including calcium, phosphorous, protein and liver transaminase enzymes. Blood cholesterol and triglyceride levels decreased when ≥0.5% percentages of turmeric were added to the feed. Yolk colour of the treatments differed significantly from that of the control, but the yolks were considered well suited for consumption. Turmeric reduced the cholesterol and triglyceride levels in egg-laying quails.

The objective of the present study was to evaluate a blend of functional oils (FO) composed of copaiba and garlic essential oils, pepper oleoresin and cashew nut liquid to mitigate the effects of heat stress on productivity, egg quality, organ morphology of the gastrointestinal tract, serum biochemical profile, nutrient metabolism and body temperature of Japanese quail. A completely randomized design was used in a 3 × 2 factorial scheme (without additive; 300 and 500 mg FO/kg of feed x birds raised in a thermal comfort (TC) and heat stress (HS) environment), with 6 replicates of 8 birds per plot. The birds under HS had lower feed intake (P = 0.0000), egg mass (P = 0.0000), laying rate (P = 0.0000) and higher percentage of infertile non-commercial eggs (P = 0.0004), lower head temperature amplitude (P = 0.0000) and higher average of body temperature (P = 0.0312). HS worsened the external and internal quality of the eggs. Birds kept in HS showed higher values of cholesterol (P = 0.0000) and glutamic-pyruvic transaminase (P = 0.0272). The use of 300 and 500 g FO/ton of feed improved the feed conversion (P = 0.0000) and egg mass (P = 0.0000) of the quail bred under HS, respectively, by 8.4 and 7.2% and increased the relative weight of liver (P = 0.0064) and pancreas (P = 0.0492). The use of such additives also provided a higher % of yolk (P = 0.0018) and reduced the percentage of albumen (P = 0.0029) of the eggs produced in TC, in addition to reducing the amplitude of head temperature (P = 0.0484) of birds bred under HS. The breeding of Japanese quail under HS results in negative impacts on the production, physiological and qualitative aspects of the eggs. The use of 300 g/ton of FO in the diet of Japanese quail leads to improvements in feed conversion, increased liver capacity in nutritional metabolism and results in eggs with a higher proportion of yolks, being, therefore, an alternative for feeding quail in a hot climate.

Objective: This study aimed to assess the effect of pelleted and expanded sorghum-based feeds prepared with different moisture levels and particle size of ingredients on metabolizable energy, ileal digestibility of amino acids and broiler performance. Methods: The experiment was performed with 720 male broiler chicks of the Cobb strain, with treatments of six replications, with 15 birds each; they were arranged in a completely randomized design and 2x2x2 factorial scheme (pelleted or expanded feed processing, 0.8% or 1.6% moisture addition in the mixer, and particle size of 650 or 850 microns). Results: Higher pellet quality (pellets, % and pellet durability index [PDI]) was obtained in expanded diets and inclusion of 1.6% moisture. The particle size of 850 microns increased the PDI of final diet. All studied treatments had no significant effect on weight gain and broiler carcass and cut yields. Lower feed conversion occurred for birds fed pelleted feed at 42 d. The highest apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and apparent metabolizable energy corrected to zero nitrogen balance (AMEn) values of feed in the initial rearing phase (10 to 13 days) were observed in birds fed pelleted feed or for feed prepared with 1.6% moisture. The highest ileal digestibility coefficients of amino acids were obtained with the consumption of pelleted feed prepared with a particle size of 650 microns and 1.6% moisture. Conclusion: Pelleted feed prepared with a milling particle size of 650 microns and 1.6% moisture provided increased ileal digestibility of amino acids and AMEn in the starter period. However, the expanded feed improved pellet quality and feed conversion of broilers at 42 days of age. We conclude that factors such as moisture, particle size and processing affect the pellet quality, and therefore should be considered when attempting to optimize broiler performance.

Neste estudo foram avaliados níveis de extrato de Noni sobre a histomorfometria intestinal, metabolismo nutricional, perfil sérico bioquímico e desempenho de frangos de corte. Foi utilizado o delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com seis tratamentos e seis repetições de dez, machos Cobb por tratamento. Os animais avaliados foram distribuídos nos tratamentos com adição à dieta de 150, 300, 450, e 600 ppm de extrato de noni, além do controle negativo e positivo, sem ou com 25 ppm de tilosina, respectivamente. O consumo de ração, ganho de peso, conversão alimentar das aves aos 7, 21 e 35 dias de idade foram avaliados no teste de desempenho. A metabolização de nutrientes foi determinada utilizando o método de coleta total de excretas. Aos 7, 21 e 35 dias de idade, duas aves por repetição foram sacrificadas para coleta de sangue e histomorfometria dos segmentos intestinais. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de regressão, considerando-se modelos lineares e quadráticas para análise de variância. Subsequentemente, os tratamentos com níveis de noni foram comparados com os controles negativos e positivos, utilizando o teste de F para contrastes ortogonais. A inclusão de noni na dieta de extratos vegetais não altera o desempenho, características de carcaça, a biometria do aparelho digestivo, histomorfometria intestinal, e perfil sérico bioquímico, em relação à dieta sem promotor de crescimento. Portanto, embora não seja hepatotóxico, o extrato de noni não melhorou o crescimento em frangos.