RESUMO
The aim of this study was to evaluate the use of a Madagascar cockroach (Gromphadorhina portentosa) meal in the feed of cockatiels (Nymphicus hollandicus) in captivity and its influence on the reproductive characteristics of these birds. Twelve pairs of birds were used during two subsequent reproductive cycles of 130 days each, with time divided into four phases: laying, incubation, rearing of chicks until 30 days of age, and return to the new laying phase. The pairs were divided into two groups: a control group, which received a commercial diet for psittacines + a mixture of seeds, and a test group, which received the same diet as the control group except for the addition of a Madagascar cockroach meal in a ratio of 14 g of commercial food to 1 g of cockroach meal (6.6%). After hatching, chicks remained with their parents until 30 days of age. Subsequently, the chicks were transferred to another room and monitored until the 90th day of life. The inclusion of cockroach meal did not influence (p > 0.05) the intake of commercial food and mixture of seeds during the reproductive phases evaluated, except for feed intake, which was increased relative to control values (p = 0.02) in the return-to-laying phase. Yolk cholesterol content, egg width and egg shape index were increased with the inclusion of the cockroach meal, whereas the number of days to return to the new laying phase was reduced compared to the control (p = 0.02). The number of eggs laid decreased (p < 0.05) with the inclusion of the cockroach meal; however, the percentage of hatching was higher in the test group than in the control group (p < 0.05). No significant effect (p > 0.05) of dietary treatment was observed on the number of viable chicks at 1, 30 and 90 days of age or on the contents of most fatty acids present in the yolk. The findings of this study indicate that a Madagascar cockroach meal can be used as an alternative feedstuff in the diets for cockatiels and can lead to minor improvements in reproductive characteristics when replacing 6.6% of the commercial pelleted diet.
RESUMO
Reproductive tract development during puberty is critical to reproductive performance, and the light is crucial in this process in birds. However, in male quail, there is little information on the effects of types of lamps, more specifically the wavelength emitted. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the effects of types of lamps on the reproductive performance of male Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Two hundred and forty male quail were exposed to six different types of lamp (incandescent, white fluorescent, or blue, white, red or green LED). The experimental design was completely randomized with six treatments and five replicates of one quail. Quail were slaughtered on days 35, 47, 57, 71 and 123 to evaluate the development of testes. On day 117, semen samples were analyzed and fertilized eggs were incubated. Body weight of the quails was influenced (P < 0.01) by lamps only until the 47 days of age. Higher body weight until this age were observed with incandescent, blue and green LED bulbs. Fluorescent and red LED bulbs propitiated (P < 0.05) early testicular development of quails but, at 57 days of age, higher testicular development was obtained (P < 0.01) whit white LED bulbs. Lower testicular development was observed (P < 0.01) at 123 days of age with the red LED. No influence of different types of lamps was observed (P > 0.05) on the quality of semen nor on the fertility rates of quail. It is concluded that lamps can influence the histological reproductive characteristics of male quails, but without influencing the semen quality. Fluorescent bulbs and red LED seem to anticipate the sexual maturity, but the white LED results in higher testicular development at 57 days of age.