Solvent-extracted peanut meal is receiving increased attention as a feed ingredient for poultry. Due to limited availability, levels of inclusion in US broiler diets are generally from 3 to 4%. Because the origin of nutrient values for peanut meal reported in standard tables of nutrient composition is unclear, a study was undertaken to document the nutrient composition of peanut meal samples currently available to the poultry industry. Seventeen samples of peanut meal were obtained during 2003 from commercial sources in the southeastern United States. Each sample was analyzed for proximate composition, TME_n, and mineral composition. Seven representative samples were analyzed for total and available amino acid contents. All values were adjusted to a 90% dry matter basis, this being representative of the meals evaluated in this study. Although considerable variation was noted between sources, a reasonable consistency was observed among samples from each of the 5 suppliers, presumably reflecting modest differences in processing procedure. Nitrogen-corrected metabolizable energy ranged from 2,273 to 3,009 kcal/kg with a mean of 2,664 kcal/kg, whereas CP ranged from 40.1 to 50.9% with a mean of 45.6%. Mean values for fat, fiber, and ash were 2.5, 8.3, and 5.0%, respectively. Total concentration and percentage availability, respectively, of several critical amino acids were: lysine, 1.54% (85); methionine, 0.52% (87); cystine, 0.64% (78); threonine, 1.17% (81); and arginine, 5.04% (90). Average levels of calcium, phosphorus, sodium, and potassium were 0.08, 0.57, 0.01, and 1.22%, respectively. The variation observed among samples strongly indicates that confirmatory analyses should be conducted prior to use of samples from a new supplier.

Although several enzymes have been shown to be beneficial when added to diets based on wheat or barley, few studies have demonstrated consistent response when corn-soybean mealbased diets are treated with enzymes. A study was conducted in which nutritionally adequate diets were fed with or without the addition of 0.1% Avizyme 1500. Avizyme contains xylanase, protease, and amylase activity and is designed to improve the nutritional value of poultry diets based on low-viscosity grains, such as corn and sorghum, and containing significant levels of soybean meal. Each diet was fed to 48 pens of 65 male broilers. Body weights and feed conversions were obtained at 16, 35, 42, and 49 d of age. At 35, 42, and 49 d, five birds per pen were processed to determine dressing percentage and parts yield. Birds fed the diets supplemented with Avizyme had significantly higher body weights at 16, 35, and 49 d as compared to birds fed the unsupplemented diets. Response in feed conversion was inconsistent. Mortality at 16, 35, and 42 d was significantly less among birds fed the diets supplemented with Avizyme. Addition of Avizyme had no consistent effect on dressing percentage or yield of breast, thigh, or wing components. Abdominal fat, expressed as percentage of the carcass, was consistently increased by Avizyme supplementation, the differences being statistically significant at 42 and 49 d. This result suggests that birds fed the diets containing Avizyme obtained a greater amount of net energy from their diets.

Um experimento foi conduzido no Aviário Experimental do Abatedouro São Salvador, Itaberaí - GO, com o objetivo de se avaliarem os parâmetros de desempenho e qualidade de carcaça de quatro linhagens de frangos de corte. Foram avaliados o desempenho (41, 44 e 48 dias) e o rendimento de carcaça (41 e 44 dias) das linhagens Ross, Cobb, Arbor Acres e Avian Farms. O delineamento experimental adotado foi em blocos ao acaso num esquema fatorial 4x2 (linhagens x sexo) com quatro repetições de 63 aves para cada tratamento. Os resultados desse experimento apontaram desempenho e peso de carcaça superiores dos machos quando comparados às fêmeas, contudo nas características de rendimento de carcaça se mostraram semelhantes. A linhagem Ross teve ganho de peso e peso ao abate superiores às demais linhagens aos 44 dias de idade, mas isto não ocorreu nas demais fases. Não houve diferenças entre as linhagens em termos de rendimento de carcaça ou de cortes.

The objective of this study was to evaluate a technique for quantifying eggshell conductance using shell fragments from hatched eggs. Additional objectives were to calculate the correlation between eggshell conductance, porosity, and thickness and correlate these parameters with incubation data. The study design was fully randomized in a 3 × 3 factorial scheme (three egg regions - large end, equator, and narrow end - and three ages of broiler breeders – 29, 35, and 59 weeks). A total of 216 eggs were used, with 24 repetitions for each treatment. Neither conductance nor shell thickness showed any interaction with egg region. Breeder age influenced eggshell conductance, such that it was greatest in eggshells from 59-week breeders (0.323 mg day⁻¹ torr⁻¹), while for 29-week and 35-week breeders, the conductance values found were 0.285 and 0.270 mg day⁻¹ torr⁻¹, respectively. The eggshell thickness was similar in eggs from 29 and 35-week breeders and these were greater than the thickness of eggshells from 59-week breeders. Correlations between mean eggshell conductance and chick body weight and yolk free chick body weight were found significant. There were no correlations between mean eggshell thickness and any of the data evaluated. There were positive correlations between mean eggshell porosity and egg weight loss up to the time of transfer, chick weight, and yolk free body weight. The technique of using eggshell fragments can be used for measuring eggshell conductance. Eggshell porosity is the characteristic that best correlates with incubation parameters.