Carnauba (Copernicia prunifera) straw as an alternative bedding material for dairy cows housed in a Compost barn system / [Bagana de carnaúba como material de cama alternativo para vacas leiteiras alojadas em sistema Compost barn]

The replacement of bedding in compost dairy barns (CB) comprises a recurrent management practice, but bedding materials are often not readily available in all regions and the choice of alternative materials is necessary. The objective was to evaluate the thermal attributes of carnauba straw (CS) bedding in compost dairy barn facilities. Environmental monitoring operations were performed at a commercial farm located in Northeast Brazil. Mini weather stations were used to evaluate environmental variables. The THI was evaluated as one of the comfort parameters. Analysis of the spatial distribution of bed surface temperature (BST) in the CB was performed using geostatistical techniques. The cows remained out of the comfort zone according to THI results. The BST indicated satisfactory performance and from the thermal point of view can be used as alternative bedding material in CB facilities. However, it was observed that the CS showed fast biomass degradation compared to conventional materials, widely known. In addition, inadequate temperature values (< 45°C) were found in the deeper of the CS bed, signaling higher risks of pathogenic microbial activity. Additional studies are needed for searching the proper management plans that increase the life span of the bed formed by carnauba straw.(AU)

A reposição de cama na instalação Compost Barn (CB) compreende uma prática recorrente de manejo, porém os materiais de cama muitas vezes não estão facilmente disponíveis em todas as regiões, sendo necessária a adoção de materiais alternativos. Objetivou-se avaliar os atributos térmicos da cama à base de bagana de carnaúba (BC) para instalações CB. Foram realizadas operações de monitoramento ambiental em uma fazenda comercial situada no nordeste do Brasil. Miniestações meteorológicas foram utilizadas para avaliação de variáveis ambientais. O ITU foi avaliado como um dos parâmetros de conforto. A distribuição espacial da temperatura superficial da cama (TSC) no galpão foi analisada usando técnicas da geoestatística. As vacas mantiveram-se fora da zona de conforto, conforme resultados do ITU. A TSC indicou desempenho satisfatório e, do ponto de vista térmico, pode ser utilizada como material alternativo para cama em instalações CB. Entretanto, observou-se que a BC apresentou rápida degradação da biomassa em comparação a materiais convencionais, amplamente conhecidos. Além disso, valores inadequados de temperatura (< 45°C) foram encontrados nas camadas profundas da cama de BC, sinalizando maiores riscos de atividade microbiana patogênica. Estudos adicionais tornam-se necessários para a busca de planos de manejo que aumentem o tempo de vida útil da cama formada por bagana de carnaúba.(AU)

Características produtivas e qualitativas de frangos de corte alimentados com diferentes complexos enzimáticos / Performance and qualitative traits of broilers fed different enzymatic complexes

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of different enzymatic complexes in productive and qualitative traits of broilers. A total of 936 male Hubbard chicks were allocated in a randomized block design with six treatments, six replicates, and 26 birds per plot. The treatments consisted of a positive control, a negative control and the addition of four enzymatic complexes to the rations, with energy devaluation according to the energy matrix of the enzymes. Performance and carcass and meat quality traits were analyzed. The use of the different enzymatic complexes (CE1 and CE2) and their devaluations provided higher feed and energy intake compared to treatments CP, CN, CE3 and CE4, but did not affect weight gain, feed conversion ratio or productive efficiency index, nor did it influence carcass, cut or meat quality traits. It is concluded that the use of enzymatic complexes changes the performance of birds without altering carcass and meat traits.

O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a efetividade de diferentes complexos enzimáticos nas características produtivas e qualitativas em frangos de corte. Foram utilizados 936 pintainhos de corte macho, da linhagem Hubbard, distribuídos em um delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com seis tratamentos, seis repetições e 26 aves por parcela. Os tratamentos consistiram em controle positivo, controle negativo e utilização de quatro complexos enzimáticos utilizados em rações com desvalorização energética de acordo com a matriz energética das enzimas. Foi analisado o desempenho, características de carcaça e qualidade de carne. O uso dos diferentes complexos enzimáticos (CE1 e CE2) e suas desvalorizações proporcionaram maior consumo de ração e de energia em relação aos tratamentos CP, CN, CE3 e CE4, porém isto não refletiu no ganho de peso, conversão alimentar, índice de eficiência produtiva, além das características de carcaça, cortes e qualidade de carne. Conclui-se que a utilização de componentes enzimáticos altera desempenho das aves, sem alterar as características de carcaça e carne.

Características produtivas e qualitativas de frangos de corte alimentados com diferentes complexos enzimáticos / Performance and qualitative traits of broilers fed different enzymatic complexes

The aim of this work was to evaluate the effectiveness of different enzymatic complexes in productive and qualitative traits of broilers. A total of 936 male Hubbard chicks were allocated in a randomized block design with six treatments, six replicates, and 26 birds per plot. The treatments consisted of a positive control, a negative control and the addition of four enzymatic complexes to the rations, with energy devaluation according to the energy matrix of the enzymes. Performance and carcass and meat quality traits were analyzed. The use of the different enzymatic complexes (CE1 and CE2) and their devaluations provided higher feed and energy intake compared to treatments CP, CN, CE3 and CE4, but did not affect weight gain, feed conversion ratio or productive efficiency index, nor did it influence carcass, cut or meat quality traits. It is concluded that the use of enzymatic complexes changes the performance of birds without altering carcass and meat traits.(AU)

O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar a efetividade de diferentes complexos enzimáticos nas características produtivas e qualitativas em frangos de corte. Foram utilizados 936 pintainhos de corte macho, da linhagem Hubbard, distribuídos em um delineamento em blocos ao acaso, com seis tratamentos, seis repetições e 26 aves por parcela. Os tratamentos consistiram em controle positivo, controle negativo e utilização de quatro complexos enzimáticos utilizados em rações com desvalorização energética de acordo com a matriz energética das enzimas. Foi analisado o desempenho, características de carcaça e qualidade de carne. O uso dos diferentes complexos enzimáticos (CE1 e CE2) e suas desvalorizações proporcionaram maior consumo de ração e de energia em relação aos tratamentos CP, CN, CE3 e CE4, porém isto não refletiu no ganho de peso, conversão alimentar, índice de eficiência produtiva, além das características de carcaça, cortes e qualidade de carne. Conclui-se que a utilização de componentes enzimáticos altera desempenho das aves, sem alterar as características de carcaça e carne.(AU)

Características produtivas, carcaça, cortes e resposta imune humoral de frangos de corte alimentados com diferentes fontes de óleo e vitamina E / Productive and humoral immune response of broilers fed with different sources of oil and vitamin E

A adição de óleos na dieta de frangos de corte proporciona muitas vantagens, visto que, dependendo do perfil de ácidos graxos, pode melhorar o desempenho e atuar como estimulante do sistema imune. Assim, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar as características produtivas, o rendimento de carcaça, os cortes e a resposta imune humoral de frangos de corte alimentados com diferentes fontes de óleos e vitamina E. Foram utilizados 312 pintainhos de corte machos da linhagem Cobb com um dia de idade, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com oito repetições compostas de 13 aves por parcela experimental. Os tratamentos experimentais consistiram em óleo de soja, óleo de canola e óleo de canola mais adição de vitamina E. As variáveis analisadas foram ganho de peso, consumo de ração, conversão alimentar, rendimento de carcaça, cortes comerciais e resposta imune humoral. Os resultados obtidos mostram que houve diferença significativa no desempenho somente na fase pré-inicial, quando as aves que receberam o tratamento com óleo de canola e vitamina E apresentaram piores ganhos de peso. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas para as outras variáveis analisadas. Conclui-se que a utilização de diferentes fontes lipídicas associadas ou não à vitamina E não afeta as características produtivas de carcaça, cortes e resposta imune humoral em frangos de corte em relação ao uso de óleo de soja.(AU)

Oil inclusion in poultry diets provides many advantages and according to the fatty acid profile it is possible to achieve performance improvement as well as immune system stimulation. Thus, the study aimed to evaluate productive performance, carcass and cuts yields and also the humoral immune response of broilers consuming diets formulated with different oil sources and vitamin E. A total of 312 one-day old male Cobb was distributed, in a completely randomized design, in three treatments with eight replications of 13 birds. The experimental treatments were the diets that had different oil source as follows: soybean oil, canola oil and canola oils with vitamin E. The analyzed parameters were weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, carcass and cut yields and humoral immune response. For the treatment with canola oil and vitamin E a reduction on weight gain during the pre-starter stage was observed. For the other evaluated parameters, no significant differences were observed. In conclusion, the use of canola oil or canola oil with added vitamin E does not affect the productive performance, carcass and cut yields and humoral immune response in broiler chicken in relation soybean oil use.(AU)

Características produtivas, carcaça, cortes e resposta imune humoral de frangos de corte alimentados com diferentes fontes de óleo e vitamina E / Productive and humoral immune response of broilers fed with different sources of oil and vitamin E

A adição de óleos na dieta de frangos de corte proporciona muitas vantagens, visto que, dependendo do perfil de ácidos graxos, pode melhorar o desempenho e atuar como estimulante do sistema imune. Assim, este estudo teve como objetivo avaliar as características produtivas, o rendimento de carcaça, os cortes e a resposta imune humoral de frangos de corte alimentados com diferentes fontes de óleos e vitamina E. Foram utilizados 312 pintainhos de corte machos da linhagem Cobb com um dia de idade, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com oito repetições compostas de 13 aves por parcela experimental. Os tratamentos experimentais consistiram em óleo de soja, óleo de canola e óleo de canola mais adição de vitamina E. As variáveis analisadas foram ganho de peso, consumo de ração, conversão alimentar, rendimento de carcaça, cortes comerciais e resposta imune humoral. Os resultados obtidos mostram que houve diferença significativa no desempenho somente na fase pré-inicial, quando as aves que receberam o tratamento com óleo de canola e vitamina E apresentaram piores ganhos de peso. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas para as outras variáveis analisadas. Conclui-se que a utilização de diferentes fontes lipídicas associadas ou não à vitamina E não afeta as características produtivas de carcaça, cortes e resposta imune humoral em frangos de corte em relação ao uso de óleo de soja.(AU)

Oil inclusion in poultry diets provides many advantages and according to the fatty acid profile it is possible to achieve performance improvement as well as immune system stimulation. Thus, the study aimed to evaluate productive performance, carcass and cuts yields and also the humoral immune response of broilers consuming diets formulated with different oil sources and vitamin E. A total of 312 one-day old male Cobb was distributed, in a completely randomized design, in three treatments with eight replications of 13 birds. The experimental treatments were the diets that had different oil source as follows: soybean oil, canola oil and canola oils with vitamin E. The analyzed parameters were weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, carcass and cut yields and humoral immune response. For the treatment with canola oil and vitamin E a reduction on weight gain during the pre-starter stage was observed. For the other evaluated parameters, no significant differences were observed. In conclusion, the use of canola oil or canola oil with added vitamin E does not affect the productive performance, carcass and cut yields and humoral immune response in broiler chicken in relation soybean oil use.(AU)

Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of griller-type broilers of four genetic lines

Griller-type chickens are broilers slaughtered between27and 29 days old weighing 1.3 to 1.5 kg and sold as a whole carcasses. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of female broilers of four genetic lines reared for the production of griller-type chickens. A total of 960 broiler chicks was allotted in a randomized block design with four treatments and eight replicates of 30 birds per experimental plot. Each experimental treatment consisted of four different commercial lines, identified as A, B, C and D. The analyzed parameters were weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, livability, production efficiency index, carcass and cut yields, and meat quality according to breast meat color (L*, a*, b*), water-holding capacity (WHC), cooking losses, and shear force. Weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and livability were different (p 0.05) among the lines; however, no differences were observed for the production efficiency index. Results show that lines presented similar performance; however, lines A, B, and C had a better carcass and breast yield, and line A, the best meat quality. Therefore, line A would be the most suitable for the production of griller-type chickens.(AU)

Growth performance, carcass characteristics and meat quality of griller-type broilers of four genetic lines

Griller-type chickens are broilers slaughtered between27and 29 days old weighing 1.3 to 1.5 kg and sold as a whole carcasses. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the growth performance, carcass traits, and meat quality of female broilers of four genetic lines reared for the production of griller-type chickens. A total of 960 broiler chicks was allotted in a randomized block design with four treatments and eight replicates of 30 birds per experimental plot. Each experimental treatment consisted of four different commercial lines, identified as A, B, C and D. The analyzed parameters were weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, livability, production efficiency index, carcass and cut yields, and meat quality according to breast meat color (L*, a*, b*), water-holding capacity (WHC), cooking losses, and shear force. Weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and livability were different (p 0.05) among the lines; however, no differences were observed for the production efficiency index. Results show that lines presented similar performance; however, lines A, B, and C had a better carcass and breast yield, and line A, the best meat quality. Therefore, line A would be the most suitable for the production of griller-type chickens.

Influência das condições térmicas do galpão de espera climatizado na mortalidade pré-abate de frangos de corte / The influence of thermal conditions from an environmentally controlled preslaughter lairage on mortality of broiler chickens

Avaliou-se o efeito das condições ambientais da espera pré-abate na mortalidade de frangos de corte, mantidos em galpão climatizado em um abatedouro comercial. Foram avaliados 215 caminhões de transporte de um abatedouro comercial quanto ao número de aves mortas durante as operações pré-abate e à temperatura retal dos animais em condição de espera no abatedouro. Os dados foram obtidos no galpão de espera climatizado por meio de ventiladores e nebulizadores, em diferentes períodos: manhã, tarde e noite. As variáveis térmicas, distância, tempo de espera e densidade de aves por caixa foram consideradas na análise. Destacaram-se os efeitos da temperatura, da umidade relativa e do tempo de espera na variação tanto do número de aves mortas por caminhão quanto da temperatura retal dos animais. Com relação à interação entre temperatura e umidade relativa interna do galpão de espera, houve eficiência do ambiente climatizado no abatedouro quanto à diminuição do número de aves mortas. A climatização foi mais expressiva na redução do número de aves mortas e da temperatura retal quando a temperatura do galpão de espera estava entre 21 e 24°C, principalmente em condições de umidade relativa interna em torno de 70%. Nessas condições climatizadas, o tempo de espera acima de duas horas proporcionou maior conforto às aves.(AU)

The effect of environment conditions of preslaughter lairage on broiler mortality was assessed in the present study. Daily preslaughter data from 215 broiler flocks were recorded regarding the number of dead chickens during preslaughter operations and rectal temperature of broilers submitted to a lairage environment prior to slaughtering. A holding area at a slaughterhouse with environmental control was assessed. The thermal variables, distance between farms and slaughterhouse, lairage time and density of birds per cage was considered in this analysis. The effect of dry-bulb temperature, relative humidity and lairage time on death before arrival and rectal temperature was highlighted in this assessment. Regarding the interaction between temperature and inside relative humidity, a decrease in preslaughter mortality was observed due to exposure to a controlled environment. The environment control promoted an expressive reduction in dead birds and rectal temperature when the temperature inside the holding area was between 21 and 24 °C, mainly with inside relative humidity around 70%. In these environment control conditions lairage above 2 hours was necessary to reduce the thermal stress of birds.(AU)

Environmental and physiological variables during the catching of broilers

The objective of this study was to determine the critical points of the operation of broiler catching for transport to the processing plant from animal and operational perspectives. During catching, chickens, environmental variables (temperature and relative humidity) were constantly monitored to determine the Enthalpy Comfort Index (IEC). Also, the physiological variable rectal temperature (RT) was monitored as an indicator of stress suffered by the birds during this handling procedure. Bird welfare were evaluated by analyzing their behavior. The bag method was effective to prevent the struggling of birds while being taken from the broiler house to the transport truck, reducing physical injuries and losses during catching.

Environmental and physiological variables during the catching of broilers

The objective of this study was to determine the critical points of the operation of broiler catching for transport to the processing plant from animal and operational perspectives. During catching, chickens, environmental variables (temperature and relative humidity) were constantly monitored to determine the Enthalpy Comfort Index (IEC). Also, the physiological variable rectal temperature (RT) was monitored as an indicator of stress suffered by the birds during this handling procedure. Bird welfare were evaluated by analyzing their behavior. The bag method was effective to prevent the struggling of birds while being taken from the broiler house to the transport truck, reducing physical injuries and losses during catching.(AU)