O objetivo neste trabalho foi estimar as exigências de lisina digestível e de energia metabolizável (EM) para codornas de corte (Coturnix coturnix sp) em crescimento. Foram utilizadas 1.680 codornas de 4 a 35 dias de idade, não-sexadas, em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 4 × 4 (LD = 0,92; 1,12; 1,32 e 1,52% × EM = 2.800; 2.900; 3.000 e 3.100 kcal/kg de ração), totalizando 16 dietas, avaliadas com 3 repetições de 35 codornas por unidade experimental. O aumento dos níveis de lisina digestível na ração provocou aumento linear do peso corporal, do ganho de peso, do consumo de lisina e do rendimento de peito e redução do teor de água nos cortes. Quando houve aumento dos níveis de energia metabolizável na ração, observou-se redução linear no consumo de lisina e aumento do peso corporal e do rendimento de gordura abdominal. O aumento simultâneo dos níveis de lisina e energia metabolizável na ração, no entanto, provocou redução linear no consumo de ração e melhora linear da conversão alimentar no período de 4 a 35 dias, mas aumentou o teor de gordura nos cortes. A exigência nutricional de lisina digestível para máximo crescimento de codornas de corte é maior ou igual a 1,52%. O nível de 2.800 kcal/kg de EM na ração é suficiente para bom desempenho das aves, contudo, para melhor conversão alimentar, são necessário níveis mais elevados.

Sanitary procedures are essential in cattle slaughter processes to minimize microbiological hazards from meat consumption. This study aimed to verify the influence of the pre-slaughter period and the correct execution of the operational sanitary procedure (OSP) for skinning in the breast region on the counts of indicator microorganisms and the occurrence of enteropathogens in the hides and carcasses of cattle. Forty-eight animals were evaluated and divided into 12 clusters, half of which were allowed 13 h of preslaughter rest, while the other half were allowed 23 h of pre-slaughter rest. The presence of microbiological indicators, including Salmonella spp., Listeria spp., and Shiga toxin-producing (STEC), enteropathogenic (EPEC), and enterohemorrhagic (EHEC) Escherichia coli, were evaluated in superficial samples of leather and carcass in which the OSP for skinning of the chest was performed either correctly or incorrectly. There was no significant effect (p > 0.05) of the pre-slaughter period on the counts of total coliforms, E. coli, enterobacteria, and mesophilic aerobics in the hide or carcass, although, in the carcasses, this difference was 93.4% for mesophilic aerobics and enterobacteria in the group of animals subjected to 23 h of rest compared to those subjected to 13 h of rest. Regarding the correct execution of the skinning OSP, there was also no significant effect (p > 0.05) on the indicator quantifications, but in relation to the presence of enteropathogens, it was possible to proportionally identify more EPEC and STEC in carcasses subjected to the wrong OSP, as it was only possible to identify Salmonella spp. and EHEC in carcasses subjected to the wrong OSP. The correct execution of the OSP for skinning incision in the chest region of the animal reduced the microbiological risk of the carcasses for the presence of enteropathogens and facilitated compliance with the microbiological standards for the carcass.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oregano essential oil (OEO) as a replacement for monensin (MON) on performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality in heifers finished either in confinement or on pasture. Thirty-six Nellore heifers (252.44 kg ± 21.80 kg) were distributed in a completely randomised design in a 2 × 2 factorial scheme, with two types of additives and two finishing systems. In both systems, a concentrate at 1.5% of body weight (BW) on a dry matter (DM) basis containing MON (282.2 mg/animal/day) or OEO (300 mg/animal/day) was offered daily. The final BW (FBW) and average daily gain (ADG) were higher in confinement-finished animals than in those finished on pasture (p < 0.01). There was no effect from the finishing system (p ≥ 0.376) or additive (p ≥ 0.057) for hot-carcass weight, hot-carcass yield, subcutaneous fat thickness, or the Longissimus lumborum area. The pH and shear force of the meat did not differ between treatments (p ≥ 0.076). Finishing in confinement resulted in brighter meat than finishing on pasture (p ≤ 0.006). The use of OEO increased the redness of the meat (p ≤ 0.042). Consumer perception (n = 63) of the sensory attributes of aroma, colour, tenderness, flavour and juiciness was not affected by the treatments (p > 0.05). Heifers finished in confinement or on pasture, with the same proportion of concentrate in the diet and the addition of MON or OEO, presented similar characteristics for both the carcass and the meat.

Growth curves are key tools for developing and evaluating new feeding programs. This study aimed to evaluate five nonlinear models (Brody, von Bertalanffy, Gompertz, Logistic, and Richards) to describe growth and understand nutrient deposition dynamics in female Japanese quail from 1 to 36 d of age. A total of 225 quail were reared with ad libitum access to feed and water. Every three d, quail were weighed, and one group was fasted for 12 h and slaughtered to determine body protein, fat, and ash contents. Model accuracy was assessed using R², Akaike (AIC), Bayesian (BIC) information criteria, and the Asymptotic Index (AI), ΔAIC, ΔBIC, and by evaluation of biological plausibility. The Gompertz model best fitted body weight and ash deposition, the Logistic model best described crude protein deposition, and the Richards model was selected for fat deposition. Observed and predicted values showed high agreement, with mean bias within ±0.5 g for all traits except fat (-0.73 g). The predicted maximum daily deposition rates were 4.86 g d^-1 for body weight gain, 1.082 g d^-1 for protein, 1.242 g d^-1 for crude fat, and 0.162 g d^-1 for crude ash. Curve overlap indicated the highest growth rate at 16 d, the peak of protein deposition at 18 d, and continuous fat deposition until 35 d. These findings suggest that current feeding programs should be divided into three phases: 1-18, 19-29, and 30-36 d, optimizing nutrient use, growth efficiency, and productive longevity.

Foram coletados dados de peso do ovo, altura de albúmen, espessura da casca, peso corporal e produção total de ovos aos 90 dias de postura de três linhagens de codornas de postura (Coturnix coturnix japonica) alimentadas com rações contendo 2.900 ou 2.500 kcal de energia metabolizável para verificar a existência da interação genótipo X ambiente. Utilizou-se o programa computacional MTGSAM, que permite inferência bayesiana, usando amostragem de Gibbs, aplicado a um modelo animal, para estimar os componentes de covariâncias, herdabilidade e correlações genéticas entre os dois ambientes. Por meio dos resultados de herdabilidade e correlações genéticas, concluiu-se que houve interação genótipo X ambiente somente para as características altura de albúmen e espessura da casca. As características peso do ovo e peso corporal são passíveis de ganhos genéticos, independentemente do nível de energia da ração, enquanto a produção de ovos tem baixo potencial para ganhos genéticos se a seleção for baseada em recordes parciais.