Different litter compositions influence broiler chicken locomotion.

Background: Bedding material must absorb moisture, reduce impacts, and allow chicken to express their natural behavior reducing the occurrence of injuries in the footpad and joints, and improving carcass quality and performance. Aims: This study evaluated different bedding materials with different levels of inclusion of dried grass (Zoysia japonica) on the development of lesions in the locomotor system of broiler chickens. Methods: One thousand eight-day-old male chicks of the Cobb 500® were distributed in a completely randomized design with a 3 × 2 factorial scheme: three levels of grass inclusion and two bedding materials (100% wood shavings; 100% rice husks; 25% grass and 75% wood shavings; 25% grass and 75% rice husks; 50% grass and 50% wood shavings; 50% grass and 50% rice husks). The birds at 21, 28, 35, and 42 days of age were evaluated for pododermatitis. Ten birds from each repetition were identified and evaluated weekly from 21 to 42 days for Gait score, latency to lie and leg angle (valgus and varus). At 43 days of age, 60 birds of each treatment were slaughtered and evaluated for femoral degeneration and tibial dyschondroplasia. Results: Different litter compositions did not affect the incidence of lameness, tibial dyschondroplasia and spondylolisthesis. Pododermatitis scores increased after 28 days when including 50% of grass. Conclusion: Age contributes more to the development of locomotion injuries than does bedding material. It is recommended to use inclusions of dried grass only as bedding for young broilers.

Moringa Oleifera: an alternative ingredient to improve the egg quality of Japanese quail / [Moringa oleifera: um ingrediente alternativo na melhora da qualidade de ovos de codornas japonesas]

This study aims to evaluate effects of inclusion of moringa in Japanese quail diets on laying performance, egg quality, blood parameters, serum biochemical profile, and behavior. One hundred and forty-four Japanese quails, approximately 35-d-old, were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments and six replications. Treatments were diet inclusion of 0, 2, 4 and 6% of dried and ground moringa leaves. The inclusion of moringa in diets reduces the quadratic feed intake up to the level of 1.20%, increases weight of eggs with a quadratic behavior up to 3.80%, and linearly increases yolk weight. Yolk color changes with higher levels of inclusion of moringa and resulted in more intense colors. The biochemical profile of quails changed slightly but remains within the normal range. The inclusion of 4% of moringa in diets increases alkaline phosphatase. Regarding cholesterol and triglycerides, diet with 6% moringa inclusion was lower when compared to the others. The behavior of laying quails does not change due to inclusion of moringa in diets. Up to 3.83% of Moringa oleifera can be included in Japanese quail diet to improve egg quality without compromising performance, biochemical profile, blood parameters and behavior.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar a inclusão de Moringa oleifera na dieta de codornas japonesas sobre o desempenho, a qualidade de ovos, os parâmetros sanguíneos, o perfil bioquímico e o comportamento. Foram utilizadas 144 codornas japonesas, com aproximadamente 35 dias de idade, as quais foram distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com quatro tratamentos e seis repetições cada. Foram fornecidas dietas com 0, 2, 4 e 6% de folhas desidratadas e moídas de moringa. A inclusão de moringa nas dietas reduziu quadraticamente o consumo até o nível de 1,2%, aumentou o peso dos ovos com comportamento quadrático até o nível de 3,8% e aumentou linearmente o peso da gema. A coloração da gema se intensificou com maiores inclusões de moringa. O perfil bioquímico sofreu alterações leves, mas não saiu dos padrões normais para codornas. A inclusão de 4% de moringa nas dietas aumentou os níveis de fosfatase alcalina. Já a inclusão de 6% reduziu níveis de colesterol e triglicérides. O comportamento das codornas não se alterou com a inclusão de moringa nas dietas. A inclusão de até 3,83% de Moringa oleifera na dieta de codornas japonesas aumenta a qualidade de ovos sem comprometer o desempenho, o perfil bioquímico, os parâmetros sanguíneos e o comportamento delas.(AU)

Soybean whole-plant ensiled with chitosan and lactic acid bacteria: Microorganism counts, fermentative profile, and total losses.

Chitosan is a biopolymer derived from chitin deacetylation, present in the exoskeleton of crustaceans and insects. Chitosan has been evaluated as rumen modulator and silage additive due to its antimicrobial properties. The objective of this study was to determine the effects of both chitosan and a bacterial additive on microbiological quality, chemical composition, nutrient in vitro degradation, fermentative profile, and total losses of whole-soybean plant silage (SS) harvested at R6 stage. Four treatments in a factorial arrangement were randomly assigned to 40 experimental minisilos as no additives (CON), 8 g/t fresh forage of microbial inoculant (INO; Kera SIL, Kera Nutrição Animal, Bento Gonçalves, Brazil); 5 g/kg of fresh forage chitosan (CHI); and CHI + INO. Microbial inoculant was composed of Lactobacillus plantarum (4.0 × 1010 cfu/g) and Propionibacterium acidipropionici (2.6 × 1010 cfu/g). The CHI and INO alone increased counts of lactic bacteria and anaerobic bacteria and decreased counts of mold and yeast in SS. The CHI or INO alone increased in vitro degradation of dry matter, crude protein, and neutral detergent fiber, and decreased nonfiber carbohydrate content of SS. Chitosan increased NH3-N and lactate concentrations and decreased ethanol concentration in SS. The CHI increased dry matter recovery from SS; INO increased silage aerobic stability. The combination of CHI+INO showed the lowest value of gas losses. In general, the combination of CHI and INO had small positive effects on gas losses of SS; however, both CHI or INO alone improved nutrient in vitro degradation and decreased mold and yeast in SS. Chitosan or INO utilization improves SS quality.

Lisina digestível para frangos de corte machos entre 12 e 22 dias de idade / Digestible lysine for male broilers from 12 to 22 days of age

Avaliou-se nível de lisina digestível para 1050 frangos de corte dos 12 aos 22 dias de idade. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos, sete repetições e 30 aves por unidade experimental. Os tratamentos foram: 1,05; 1,10; 1,15; 1,20 e 1,25 por cento de lisina digestível. Avaliaram-se ganho de peso, consumo de ração, conversão alimentar, composição e deposição de nutrientes corporais. Foram constatados efeitos quadráticos de lisina digestível no consumo de ração e resposta linear ascendente no peso da carcaça. Na composição química da carcaça, houve resposta quadrática do nível de lisina na concentração de proteína. As taxas de deposição proteica, deposição de água, da carcaça e do corpo total tiveram aumento linear em resposta ao acréscimo de lisina na dieta. O aumento da concentração de lisina, todavia, coincidiu com a redução da matéria mineral nas vísceras e sangue e no corpo total. Considerado o desempenho, o nível 1,1 por cento de lisina digestível atendeu às necessidades do frango de corte entre o 12º e o 22º dia de idade. Consideradas a composição química e as taxas de deposição dos nutrientes corporais, a demanda pelo aminoácido digestível torna-se igual ou maior que 1,25 por cento.

The lysine level was evaluated for 1,050 male broilers from 12 to 22 days of age. The experimental design was completely randomized with five treatments, seven replications, and 30 birds per experimental unit. The treatments were: 1.05, 1.10, 1.15, 1.20, and 1.25 percent of digestible lysine. Weight gain, feed intake, feed: gain ratio, body composition, and nutrient deposition were measured. There were quadratic effects of digestible lysine on feed intake and an ascendant linear effect on carcass weight. In the carcass chemical composition, there was a quadratic response of lysine level in protein concentration. The deposition rates in carcass protein, carcass water, and whole body had a linear increase as response to lysine addition to diet. The lysine level increase however coincided with the mineral decrease on blood, offal, and whole body. Basing on performance, the digestible lysine 1.1 percent level attended the broiler needs from 12 to 22 days of age. On the other hand, considering the chemical composition and the nutrient accretion rates, the need for digestible amino acid was equal or higher than 1.25 percent.