This study evaluated the level and length of time of vitamin A supplementation and its effects on carcass and cuts yield, meat quality, and myopathies in 42-day-old broilers. A total of 1,920 birds were divided into 6 groups, and each group received a different level of vitamin A: 0; 6,000; 16,000; 26,000; 36,000 and 46,000 IU/ kg. From d 1 to 21, the treatments were distributed among 16 replicates with 20 birds. From the 22nd d on, 8 repetitions remained with the initial treatment and the others received diets with no vitamin A supplementation. Twelve birds were slaughtered per treatment to evaluate carcass and cuts yield, shear force, cooking loss, water holding capacity, and the presence of substances reactive to thiobarbituric acid. The remaining birds were slaughtered and evaluated in loco for Wooden Breast (WB) and White Striping (WS). Wings weight was affected by vitamin A levels. The duration of the vitamin A supplementation process had effects on the weight of breast, legs with a dorsal portion, and meat color in the yellow intensity (b*). Incidence of WB had higher scores in birds supplemented until 42 d of age. WS showed a quadratic response and a lower response with supplementation of 29,700 IU/ kg. Even for WS, a higher occurrence of the normal score was found in birds supplemented until 21 d of age. Minimal quadratic responses were obtained for normal, moderate, and severe scores, in supplementations of 29,301; 29,959, and 29,827 IU/ kg, respectively. WB had lower occurrence rates in birds supplemented until 21 d of age. Consequently, the severe score was more frequent when supplementation was provided until 42 d of age. The level of vitamin A and the length of time during which this supplementation was provided had influence on cuts yield, meat color and the incidence of WB and WS of the 42-day-old birds.

Two experiments were carried out to determine the nutritional value and to evaluate performance of piglets fed two types of crude glycerine (CG), which were made from vegetable oil (CGS) and a mix of animal fat + % soybean oil (CGA). In experiment I, a digestibility assay was conducted using 32 crossbred piglets (19.20±1.52 kg). The experimental unit consisted of one pig, with a total of four experimental units per diet. The glycerine levels used in the digestibility assay were 4, 8, and 12% of the basal diet (corn + soybean based). The digestible (DE) and metabolizable energy (ME) values of glycerine were estimated by regression of DE and ME intake (kcal/kg) vs. glycerine intake (kg). The values (as-fed basis) of DE and ME (kcal/kg) obtained were: CGS = 5,070 and 4,556; CGA = 5,143 and 4,488, respectively. The results indicate that these two types of glycerine are a highly-available energy source for the feeding of piglets (15-30 kg). In experiment II, 90 piglets (BW = 15.18±0.67 to 30.28±1.68 kg), were allotted in a completely randomized design in 2 × 4 factorial arrangement, with of two types of crude glycerine (CGS and CGA) and four inclusion levels (3, 6, 9, and 12%). Five experimental units (pens with two pigs) were used for each level of crude glycerine, resulting in five replicates per treatment in the diet. Additionally, a control diet containing no glycerine (0%) was formulated. There was no interaction between levels of CG and types of crude glycerine, and the regression analysis indicates no effects of crude glycerine inclusion on performance and plasma variables. The results suggest that it is feasible to use up to 12% of both tyes of crude glycerine (obtained from soybean oil and mixed) in the diet for piglets without impairing performance, in addition to promoting a reduction of about 11% in the cost with feeding

Foram conduzidos dois experimentos com o objetivo de determinar os valores nutricionais das cascas de café melosa (CM) e seca (CS) e avaliar seus níveis de inclusão sobre o desempenho e as características da carcaça de suínos nas fases de crescimento e terminação. As cascas foram moídas em peneiras de 2,5 mm (CM2 e CS2) e 4,0 mm (CM4 e CS4). No experimento I, foram conduzidos dois ensaios de digestibilidade, utilizando 15 suínos machos castrados, com peso inicial de 45,7 ± 4,12 kg e de 77,5 ± 6,28 kg para as fases de crescimento e terminação, respectivamente. Os valores de ED (kcal/kg) para CM2, CM4, CS2 e CS4 foram 2.494, 2.498, 1.236 e 1.345. A CM apresentou valores de energia digestível (ED) superiores à CS; entretanto, a moagem não melhorou os valores de ED. No experimento II, foram utilizados 40 suínos híbridos comerciais com peso inicial de 33,42 ± 0,53 kg e de 59,0 ± 4,17 kg para as fases de crescimento e terminação, respectivamente. Foram avaliados cinco níveis de inclusão (0, 5, 10, 15 e 20%) de CM4. Na fase de crescimento, o consumo diário de ração (CDR) apresentou diferença no último nível de inclusão (20%) quando comparado à ração-testemunha (RT). Foi observada redução linear do ganho diário de peso (GDP) com o aumento dos níveis de inclusão da CM4. A conversão alimentar (CA) foi semelhante entre os níveis de inclusão e a RT. Na fase de terminação, houve redução linear do CDR com o aumento dos níveis de inclusão da CM4. Houve efeito quadrático para o GDP, que foi melhor no nível de inclusão de 8,43%. Os valores de espessura de toucinho dos tratamentos com CM4 foram menores quando comparados à RT nas duas fases. Houve redução linear do peso de carcaça quente e peso de pernil nos níveis de inclusão. O rendimento de carcaça quente piorou com cada nível de inclusão em relação à RT. Os resultados sugerem que a CM pode ser incluída em níveis de até 5,0% na fase de crescimento e 9,5% na fase de terminação, por ser economicamente viável, sem prejudicar o desempenho, além de produzir carcaças mais magras.

Objective: This study was to assess the effects of different doses of an essential oil blend (EOB) on growth performance, diarrhea occurrence (DO), hematological and blood biochemical profile, intestinal morphometry, morphology and microbiology, relative weight and length of organs, digestive content pH, and liver antioxidant status in weaning piglets.Methods: A total of 135 barrows (7.09±0.29 kg body weight) were allotted randomly in a randomized complete block design based on body weight with nine replications and three animals per pen. Dietary treatments were a negative control (NC): basal diet; positive control (PC): NC plus 125 mg performance-enhancing antibiotic (enramycin 8%)/kg diet; NC plus 100 mg EOB/kg diet (EO100); NC plus 200 mg EOB/kg diet (EO200); and NC plus 400 mg EOB/kg diet (EO400). Diarrhea occurrence was monitored daily, and performance at the end of each phase.Results: Gain to feed ratio was greater (p<0.05) in starter II pigs fed EO400 and EO200 than in those fed EO100. Pigs fed EO400 had lower (p<0.05) DO than those fed NC and EO100 in the total period. Pre-starter II pigs fed NC had (p<0.05) lower serum total protein and plasma protein than pigs fed PC. Pigs fed EO100 showed smaller (p<0.05) mean corpuscular volume (MCV) than pigs fed EO400. Starter II pigs fed EO400 had (p<0.05) greater MCV and lower mean corpuscular hemoglobin and erythrocytes than those fed EO100. There was a greater concentration (p<0.05) of band cells for PC, similar to EO400 and EO200. Performance-enhancing antibiotic and EOB to diets increased (p<0.05) liver superoxide dismutase activity.Conclusion: Adding 200 and 400 mg EOB/kg diet decreased DO and was advantageous to hematological and blood biochemical profile and liver antioxidant status without being detrimental to growth performance and gastrointestinal health in nursery pigs.