Apparent calcium retention and digestibility coefficients of limestone with different particle sizes in laying hens

Apparent calcium (Ca) retention and digestibility coefficients are affected by limestone particle size in the diet of laying hens. This study aimed to determine the apparent retention and digestibility coefficients of Ca in limestone of different particle sizes in laying hens. The study comprised 288 Lohmann Brown laying hens (50 weeks of age; 1,964 ± 98 g) distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement [three Ca concentrations (10, 20, and 30 g kg-1) × two limestone particle sizes (480 and 1,978 µm)] with eight repetitions per treatment and six birds per experimental unit. The experiment included five days for adaptation and five days for total excreta collection. All birds were slaughtered at the end of the ten days to collect the ileal contents. The total or ileal Ca content was plotted against the Ca of diets concentration using linear regression analysis. The regression line slope represented the apparent retention (CaR) and digestibility coefficients of Ca (CaD) in limestone. There was interaction between Ca concentration in the diet and limestone granulometry on CaD (p = 0.001) and CaR (p < 0.001). The CaD and CaR of fine- and coarse-grained limestone increased linearly with increasing Ca concentrations in the diet. The apparent digestibility coefficients estimated for laying hens fed with fine-grained and coarse-grained limestone were 0.72 and 0.35, respectively. The apparent retention coefficients estimated for laying hens fed fine-grained and coarse-grained limestone were 0.96 and 0.47, respectively.

Effects of microencapsulated carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde on feed digestibility, intestinal mucosa, and biochemical and antioxidant parameters in broilers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of microencapsulated carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde on metabolizable energy, feed digestibility, intestinal morphometric analysis, and antioxidant parameters in broilers. A completely randomized design with five treatments and eight replications of eight broilers (Cobb male) was used, and collections were carried out at 20 and 42 days of age. Carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde concentrations (mg/kg) were: 0 (control), 50, 100, 150, and 200. Carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde improved apparent metabolizable energy but did not change protein and ether extract digestibility. Supplementation increased intestinal villus height and villi:crypt ratio; in which 100 mg/kg produced the greatest villus height. Serum uric acid levels were lower in birds receiving supplementation. Improvement in the activity of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase was observed, while lower uric acid, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and reactive oxygen species levels were observed. Microencapsulated carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde improve apparent metabolizable energy and can be administered in broiler feed without risk to the bird's health. These supplements may serve as alternative products to aid the performance of commercial poultry.

Novos conceitos em nutrição de aves / New concepts in poultry nutrition

A grande evolução da avicultura brasileira e o consequente aumento da produção de resíduos, bem como as exigências impostas pela União Europeia, quanto ao controle da excreção de poluentes, resultam na busca de novos conceitos relativos à nutrição animal. Dentre esses conceitos, destaca-se o uso da proteína ideal, da injeção de nutrientes in ovo, da alimentação dos animais em fases e a suplementação de aditivos como prebióticos, probióticos, enzimas, extratos herbais e minerais orgânicos nas dietas das aves. Várias pesquisas têm sido feitas a fim de comprovar a eficiência dessas práticas de nutrição e muitas delas concluem que a aplicação de estratégias nutricionais tem um significativo potencial de redução da excreção de nutrientes pelos frangos de corte, além de terem ainda, a vantagem de reduzir os custos de produção.(AU)

The great evolution of the Brazilian poultry industry, the consequent increased production of waste and the requirements imposed by the European Union concerning the control of the excretion of pollutants result in the search for new concepts of animal nutrition. Among these concepts, we can mention the use of ideal protein, the injection of nutrients in the egg, the animal nutrition based on phases and supplementation of additives such as prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes, herbal extracts and organic minerals in the diets of birds. Several studies have been conducted to prove the effectiveness of these practices of nutrition and many of them conclude that the application of nutritional strategies have significant potential to reduce nutrient excretion by broiler chickens, and have also the advantage of reducing the production costs.(AU)

Novos conceitos em nutrição de aves / New concepts in poultry nutrition

A grande evolução da avicultura brasileira e o consequente aumento da produção de resíduos, bem como as exigências impostas pela União Europeia, quanto ao controle da excreção de poluentes, resultam na busca de novos conceitos relativos à nutrição animal. Dentre esses conceitos, destaca-se o uso da proteína ideal, da injeção de nutrientes in ovo, da alimentação dos animais em fases e a suplementação de aditivos como prebióticos, probióticos, enzimas, extratos herbais e minerais orgânicos nas dietas das aves. Várias pesquisas têm sido feitas a fim de comprovar a eficiência dessas práticas de nutrição e muitas delas concluem que a aplicação de estratégias nutricionais tem um significativo potencial de redução da excreção de nutrientes pelos frangos de corte, além de terem ainda, a vantagem de reduzir os custos de produção.

The great evolution of the Brazilian poultry industry, the consequent increased production of waste and the requirements imposed by the European Union concerning the control of the excretion of pollutants result in the search for new concepts of animal nutrition. Among these concepts, we can mention the use of ideal protein, the injection of nutrients in the egg, the animal nutrition based on phases and supplementation of additives such as prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes, herbal extracts and organic minerals in the diets of birds. Several studies have been conducted to prove the effectiveness of these practices of nutrition and many of them conclude that the application of nutritional strategies have significant potential to reduce nutrient excretion by broiler chickens, and have also the advantage of reducing the production costs.

A new species of Demidospermus Suriano, 1983 ( Monogenea ) parasite of gills of Auchenipterus osteomystax ( Auchenipteridae ), from the upper Paraná river floodplain, Brazil / Uma nova espécie de Demidospermus Suriano, 1983 parasita de brânquias de Auchenipterus osteomystax da planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná, Brasil

A new species of Demidospermus Suriano, 1983 is described from the gills of Auchenipterus osteomystax Miranda-Ribeiro, 1918 (Auchenipteridae), collected in the upper Paraná river floodplain, Brazil. The gills were removed and preserved in 5% formalin. Later the parasites were removed from the gills with the aid of a stereomicroscope and conserved in 70% alcohol. Some specimens were stained with Gomoris trichrome, dehydrated in absolute alcohol and cleared with faia creosote to observe the internal organs. Other specimens were mounted in Hoyers medium for the study of the sclerotized structures. The present study describes a new monogenetic species, Demidospermus osteomystax n. sp., characterized by: tandem gonads; V-shaped haptoral bars with articulation; sinistral, non-sclerotized vagina; same-size anchors and absence of bulb in the cirrus. (AU)

Uma nova espécie de Demidospermus Suriano, 1983 parasita de brânquias de Auchenipterus osteomystax Miranda-Ribeiro, 1918 (Auchenipteridae) é descrita. Os peixes foram coletados na planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná, Brasil. As brânquias foram removidas e conservadas em formalina 5% e posteriormente os parasitas foram removidos com o auxílio de um esteromicroscópio e conservados em álcool 70%. Alguns espécimes foram corados com Tricômio de Gomori, desidratados em álcool absoluto e clarificados com creosoto de faia para a observação dos órgãos internos. Outros espécimes foram montados em Hoyer para estudo das estruturas esclerotizadas. O presente estudo descreve uma nova espécie de monogenético, Demidospermus osteomystax n. sp., caracterizada pela presença de gônadas em tandem; barras do haptor em forma de V, com articulação; vagina sinistra, não-esclerotizada; ancoras do mesmo tamanho e ausência do bulbo do cirro.(AU)

A new species of Demidospermus Suriano, 1983 ( Monogenea ) parasite of gills of Auchenipterus osteomystax ( Auchenipteridae ), from the upper Paraná river floodplain, Brazil / Uma nova espécie de Demidospermus Suriano, 1983 parasita de brânquias de Auchenipterus osteomystax da planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná, Brasil

A new species of Demidospermus Suriano, 1983 is described from the gills of Auchenipterus osteomystax Miranda-Ribeiro, 1918 (Auchenipteridae), collected in the upper Paraná river floodplain, Brazil. The gills were removed and preserved in 5% formalin. Later the parasites were removed from the gills with the aid of a stereomicroscope and conserved in 70% alcohol. Some specimens were stained with Gomori’s trichrome, dehydrated in absolute alcohol and cleared with faia creosote to observe the internal organs. Other specimens were mounted in Hoyer’s medium for the study of the sclerotized structures. The present study describes a new monogenetic species, Demidospermus osteomystax n. sp., characterized by: tandem gonads; V-shaped haptoral bars with articulation; sinistral, non-sclerotized vagina; same-size anchors and absence of bulb in the cirrus.

Uma nova espécie de Demidospermus Suriano, 1983 parasita de brânquias de Auchenipterus osteomystax Miranda-Ribeiro, 1918 (Auchenipteridae) é descrita. Os peixes foram coletados na planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná, Brasil. As brânquias foram removidas e conservadas em formalina 5% e posteriormente os parasitas foram removidos com o auxílio de um esteromicroscópio e conservados em álcool 70%. Alguns espécimes foram corados com Tricômio de Gomori, desidratados em álcool absoluto e clarificados com creosoto de faia para a observação dos órgãos internos. Outros espécimes foram montados em Hoyer para estudo das estruturas esclerotizadas. O presente estudo descreve uma nova espécie de monogenético, Demidospermus osteomystax n. sp., caracterizada pela presença de gônadas em tandem; barras do haptor em forma de V, com articulação; vagina sinistra, não-esclerotizada; ancoras do mesmo tamanho e ausência do bulbo do cirro.