Effects of stocking density and climate region on performance, immunity, carcass characteristics, blood constitutes, and economical parameters of broiler chickens

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of stocking density and climate region on performance, immunity, carcass characteristics, blood plasma, and economic parameters of the Ross strain of broiler chickens. The effects of four climates (mild and humid, semi-arid, alpine, and hot and dry) and four densities (10, 15, 17, and 20 chicks/m2) were studied as a completely randomized design with 4×4 factorial arrangement of treatments. The results showed that the density had a significant effect on feed intake and feed conversion ratio in the starter period and on body weight gain in the grower and the whole periods of the experiment. Moreover, both climate and density had a significant impact on economic performance (live weight, survival rate, production index, meat production/m2, and profitability). The mild and humid climate and the density of 17 chicks/m2 had the most economic benefit compared with other treatments. The climate type had a significant effect on the relative weights of the breast, wings, neck, proventriculus, and ileum. The effects of climate and density on glucose, triglyceride, very low-density lipoproteins (VLDL), high-density lipoproteins (HDL), LDL/low-density lipoproteins (HDL), total protein and globulin were significant. In addition, the effect of climate on the antibody titer against sheep red blood cells (except for immunoglobulin G on day 28) was significant.(AU)

Incorporation of labeled methionine as a tissue tracer in broiler chickens

The objective of this study was to evaluate the process of L-methionine incorporation in the blood plasma, liver, breast muscle, and abdominal fat of 35- to 59-d-old broiler chickens using the carbon stable isotope (12C and 13C) technique for the estimation of methionine requirements. In this experiment, 51 male broiler chickens orally received a solution of L-[13C1] methionine (92 atm % 13C) at 29 µmol/kg live weight/h for 6 h. Three birds were sacrificed for tissue collection at times 0 h (control), 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168, and 336 h after the administration of the first dose. Tissue L-[13C1] methionine incorporation mass and percentage results were analyzed using Minitab 16 statistical software. Except for abdominal fat, tissue methionine levels gradually increased after the administration of the methionine solution. The calculated half-lives of methionine in the blood plasma, liver, and breast muscle were 2.52, 1.36, and 3.57 h, respectively, suggesting a greater rate of methionine incorporation in the liver, followed by blood plasma and breast muscle. The isotopic dilution showed that 2.81, 4.79, and 23.64% of the administered L-methionine were retained in the blood plasma, liver, and breast muscle, respectively. The methionine requirements of finisher broilers may be estimated using the carbon isotope technique, and approximately 3, 5, and 24% methionine is used for the synthesis of blood plasma, liver, and breast muscle, respectively, at the evaluated dose.

Incorporation of labeled methionine as a tissue tracer in broiler chickens

The objective of this study was to evaluate the process of L-methionine incorporation in the blood plasma, liver, breast muscle, and abdominal fat of 35- to 59-d-old broiler chickens using the carbon stable isotope (12C and 13C) technique for the estimation of methionine requirements. In this experiment, 51 male broiler chickens orally received a solution of L-[13C1] methionine (92 atm % 13C) at 29 µmol/kg live weight/h for 6 h. Three birds were sacrificed for tissue collection at times 0 h (control), 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 12, 24, 48, 72, 96, 120, 144, 168, and 336 h after the administration of the first dose. Tissue L-[13C1] methionine incorporation mass and percentage results were analyzed using Minitab 16 statistical software. Except for abdominal fat, tissue methionine levels gradually increased after the administration of the methionine solution. The calculated half-lives of methionine in the blood plasma, liver, and breast muscle were 2.52, 1.36, and 3.57 h, respectively, suggesting a greater rate of methionine incorporation in the liver, followed by blood plasma and breast muscle. The isotopic dilution showed that 2.81, 4.79, and 23.64% of the administered L-methionine were retained in the blood plasma, liver, and breast muscle, respectively. The methionine requirements of finisher broilers may be estimated using the carbon isotope technique, and approximately 3, 5, and 24% methionine is used for the synthesis of blood plasma, liver, and breast muscle, respectively, at the evaluated dose.(AU)

Do hematologic constituents really increase due to endurance exercise in horses? / O exercício de resistência realmente leva ao aumento dos constituintes sanguíneos em equinos?

The aim of this study was to evaluate the behavior of blood constituents in a group of horses that successfully completed long endurance rides in tropical conditions. Jugular vein puncture was done to collect blood before, during and after rides. Data were analyzed using a mathematic approach, based on the hematocrit and blood volume where the percentual change in plasma volume was used to correct the values of each variable analyzed. Significance was inferred when P<0.05. The proposed mathematical model to assess blood constituents concentrations allowed the observation of a different pattern of the variables behavior, pointing out that the approach followed by the authors could be more sensitive than ones that did not take this routine. In conclusion, the method used in this study enabled to monitor the physiological processes that actually occur during endurance effort in tropical conditions.(AU)

Este estudo objetivou avaliar o comportamento dos componentes do sangue em cavalos que concluiram com êxito provas de enduro em condições tropicais. Punção da veia jugular foi realizada para coletar o sangue antes, durante e após o evento. Os dados foram analisados por meio de uma abordagem matemática, com base no hematócrito e volume de sangue onde a variação percentual no volume plasmático foi utilizada para corrigir os valores de cada variável analisada. O nível de significância adotado foi P<0,05. O modelo matemático proposto para avaliar as concentrações de componentes do sangue permitiu a observação de um padrão diferente no comportamento de várias variáveis plasmáticas, destacando que a abordagem seguida pelos autores é mais sensível do que aquelas que não seguiram este procedimento. Em conclusão, o método utilizado neste estudo permitiu acompanhar os processos fisiológicos que realmente ocorrem durante o esforço de resistência em condições tropicais.(AU)