O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da suplementação com diferentes fontes de metionina sobre o desempenho produtivo e a qualidade da carcaça de codornas europeias (Coturnix coturnix coturnix). Utilizou-se 525 codornas distribuídas em sete tratamentos, com diferentes fontes (DL-metionina, L-metionina e metionina hidroxianáloga - MHA-Ca) e níveis (50 e 100% do requerimento) de metionina, além de um grupo controle sem suplementação. O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado, com cinco repetições por tratamento. O desempenho das aves foi avaliado com base no consumo de ração, ganho de peso, conversão alimentar, rendimento e qualidade da carcaça. Os resultados demonstraram que a suplementação com L-metionina resultou na melhor conversão alimentar, sugerindo maior biodisponibilidade e eficiência na absorção do aminoácido. A DL-metionina apresentou bom desempenho, sendo uma alternativa viável. A MHA-Ca, quando fornecida em 100% do requerimento, favoreceu o ganho de peso e o consumo de ração, embora tenha mostrado menor eficiência alimentar quando fornecida em 50% do requerimento. A escolha da fonte de metionina deve considerar não apenas o desempenho zootécnico, mas também fatores econômicos e de formulação da dieta. A L-metionina foi a fonte mais eficiente, enquanto a DL-metionina se mostrou uma opção intermediária viável. A MHA-Ca pode ser utilizada com sucesso, desde que formulada corretamente para atender às exigências nutricionais das aves. Estudos futuros podem explorar combinações dessas fontes para otimizar a eficiência alimentar e o custo-benefício das dietas.

The evaluation of blood biochemical parameters is an important tool for monitoring the physiological, nutritional, and health status of commercial birds. However, species-specific reference values for laying hens and Japanese quails are still scarce or variable in the literature. The aim of this study was to establish reference values for serum biochemical parameters in these two species. Laying hens (Gallus gallus domesticus) and Japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were kept under standardized rearing conditions and fed a balanced diet according to their nutritional requirements. Blood samples were collected by jugular vein puncture, centrifuged to obtain serum, and analyzed using an automated biochemical analyzer. The following parameters were determined: glucose, triglycerides, cholesterol, uric acid, urea, creatinine, aspartate aminotransferase (AST), alanine aminotransferase (ALT), gamma-glutamyltransferase (GGT), alkaline phosphatase, total proteins, albumin, calcium, and phosphorus. For each variable, measures of central tendency, dispersion, and range were calculated. The results revealed differences between species, with quails showing higher mean levels of glucose and cholesterol, while hens presented higher serum calcium values. It can be concluded that the values established in this study provide a reference basis for clinical, diagnostic, and zootechnical applications, as well as supporting future research in physiology and nutrition of laying birds.

Moderately fermentable dietary fiber, especially when combined with stimbiotic (STB) supplementation, can enhance intestinal health, nutrient utilization, and overall perfor-mance in laying hens, although effects depend on fiber type, level, and diet composition. To investigate this, 1,200 Bovans White laying hens (32 weeks old) were assigned to a 2 × 6 factorial experiment with two levels of supplementation (without or with 0.01% STB) and six dietary fiber treatments: Control (corn–soybean), Wheat–High CF, 75:25 wheat–corn, 50:50 wheat–corn, 25:75 wheat–corn, and Corn–soybean–Low CF. The study spanned five 28-day periods, evaluating productive performance, egg quality, and intestinal morphol-ogy. Dietary fiber levels significantly improved feed intake, egg production, egg mass, feed conversion, and intestinal structure, while STB alone had limited effects. Hens fed 75:25 and 50:50 wheat–corn diets consumed more feed, and the highest egg production and mass were observed in birds receiving Control, 75:25 wheat–corn, and Wheat–High CF diets. Egg quality benefited from the fiber–STB interaction, producing heavier eggs with higher yolk pigmentation, thicker shells, and greater Haugh unit and specific gravity. STB supplementation increased jejunal villus width and absorptive area, whereas fiber type affected ileal morphology. In conclusion, high dietary fiber improves performance, egg quality, and intestinal health in laying hens, and supplementation with 0.01% STB further enhances these effects.

Moderately fermentable dietary fiber (with different crude fiber [CF] levels), especially when combined with stimbiotic (STB) supplementation, can enhance intestinal health, nutrient utilization, and overall performance in laying hens, although effects depend on fiber type, level, and diet composition. To investigate this, 1200 Bovans White laying hens (32 weeks old) were assigned to a 2 × 6 factorial experiment with two levels of supplementation (without or with 0.01% STB) and six dietary fiber treatments: Control (commercial diet), Corn–soybean, 75:25 wheat–corn, 50:50 wheat–corn, 25:75 wheat–corn, and Corn–soybean. The study spanned five 28-day periods, evaluating productive performance, egg quality, and intestinal morphology. Dietary fiber levels significantly improved feed intake (p = 0.0029), egg production (p < 0.0001), egg mass (p < 0.0001), feed conversion (p < 0.0001), and intestinal structure (p ≤ 0.05), while STB alone had limited effects. Hens fed 75:25 and 50:50 wheat–corn diets consumed more feed, and the highest egg production and mass were observed in layers receiving Control, 75:25 wheat–corn, and Corn–soybean diets. Egg quality benefited from the fiber–STB interaction, producing heavier eggs with higher yolk pigmentation (p ≤ 0.05), thicker shells (p ≤ 0.05), and specific gravity (p ≤ 0.05). STB supplementation increased jejunal villus width (p = 0.0001) and absorptive area (p = 0.0063), whereas fiber type affected ileal villus width (p = 0.0025) and absorptive area (p = 0.0156). Fiber–STB interaction influences the duodenum villus width (p = 0.0106), crypt depth (p = 0.0011), villus-to-crypt ratio (p = 0.0058), and absorptive area (p = 0.0086), and ileum villus width (p = 0.0011), crypt depth (p = 0.0058), and absorptive area (p = 0.0086). In conclusion, the use of 0.01% STB in diets with high crude fiber levels (25:75 and 75:25 wheat–corn ratios) improves performance, egg quality, and intestinal health in laying hens.

O artigo aborda a importância dos microminerais, como zinco, cobre e manganês, na nutrição de poedeiras comerciais, destacando a relação entre a carência mineral e suas consequências na produção avícola. A pesquisa é motivada pela constante atualização das exigências nutricionais dos minerais e a relevância de sua biodisponibilidade no trato gastrointestinal dos animais. Os objetivos do estudo incluem revisar a literatura sobre a suplementação mineral em rações e avaliar seu impacto na saúde óssea, produção e qualidade dos ovos. Para alcançar esses objetivos, foi realizada uma busca sistemática de artigos científicos e relatórios técnicos em bases de dados acadêmicas, com foco em estudos que analisaram diferentes fontes de minerais e suas aplicações práticas. A análise revelou que a inter-relação entre a quantidade e a qualidade dos minerais é crucial, pois deficiências nutricionais podem afetar negativamente o desempenho produtivo, enquanto excessos podem comprometer a saúde da ave. Os resultados indicam que a suplementação adequada de microminerais melhora tanto a qualidade da casca quanto a saúde geral das poedeiras, contribuindo para a eficiência produtiva e o bem-estar animal. Em conclusão, a pesquisa evidencia a necessidade de atualizações nas referências nutricionais e a importância da correta avaliação da disponibilidade mineral para otimizar a produção avícola.

We compared five nonlinear models (Brody, von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, logistic, Richards) to describe growth and carcass protein, ash, and fat deposition in Japanese quail (1–36 days). Two hundred and twenty-five females were reared with ad libitum access to feed and water; body weight was recorded every three days, and serial slaughter provided body composition. Models were fitted in SAS (PROC NLIN; Levenberg–Marquardt). Model fit was assessed via coefficient of determination (R²), Akaike (AIC), Bayesian (BIC) information criteria, and Asymptotic Index (AI). All models showed high R² (≥97%). For body weight, Gompertz provided the best information criteria and biologically plausible parameters (inflection 15.7 days). logistic best described protein (lowest AIC/BIC/AI; inflection 17.5 days). For ash, Gompertz balanced fit and parsimony (inflection 15.1 days). The Richards model best captured fat (R² ≈ 0.98; lowest AIC; inflection at 35.6 days), indicating late fat accretion. Protein and ash peaked at 15–18 days of age, followed by rising fat accretion. Gompertz best described body weight and ash, logistic best described protein, and Richards best described fat. These results support a three-phase feeding program (1–18, 19–29, 30–36 days): emphasize amino acids/minerals early; balance diets mid-phase; and moderate energy later.