In vivo determination of domestic quail (Coturnix japonica) muscle development by ultrasonography as a function of energy levels.

The aim was to evaluate the growth and meat production and some meat quality characteristics of domestic quail (Coturnix japonica) as a function of metabolizable energy (ME) levels in the diet and to adjust predicting equations in ratio to area pectoralis major muscle of the carcass through the ultrasound. Two hundred and seventy mixed sex quail from 7 to 49 days old were distributed in three treatments (7 to 21 days old, diets with 2700; 2900 and 3100 kcal ME/kg; from 21 to 49 days, diets with 2900, 3050 and 3200 kcal of ME/kg), with five replications per treatment. Ultrasonography was performed at 21; 35 and 49 days of age in the pectoralis major muscle to determine prediction equations through multiple linear regression. Feed intake (FI) and feed efficiency (FE) were linearly influenced (P < 0.05) by energy levels in both phases evaluated. Regarding sensory analysis, there was no interference of ME levels on sensory attributes. The equation for predicting breast area was Y = 0.00271*ME + 0.25411*Age-9.58002, R2 = 74.25%. It is concluded that increasing the energy level of the feed from 2700 to 3100 kcal ME/kg reduces FI and improves the FE of quail. The increase in carcass fat from 35 days of age does not harm the physical and sensory characteristics of the meat. The ultrasonography in vivo of the M. pectoralis major, considering the age and energy level of the diet, made it possible to predict the pectoral muscle are a with higher reliability.

Does the metabolizable energy influence the performance, carcass characteristics and biochemical parameters of European quails from 28 to 42 days of age?

This study was conducted to determine the metabolizable energy (ME) requirement for quails (Cortunix cortunix cortunix) from 28 to 42 days of age. Four hundred and twenty quails were distributed in a completely randomized design, with 5 treatments (2950, 3000, 3050, 3100 and 3150 kcal of ME/kg of feed), 7 replicates and 12 birds per experimental unit. Performance, relative weights of organs and viscera, carcass characteristics, meat quality, body composition and blood parameters of the birds were evaluated. There was a reduction in feed intake (ADFI) with the use of 3150 kcal ME/kg (p < 0.01), with a quadratic effect on feed efficiency (p < 0.01), estimating the energy requirement in the 3009.4 kcal ME/kg. The breast yield (BY) and the colour b* had an effect (p < 0.01), with better results for 2950 kcal ME/kg, while the meat texture reduced when the birds were fed with 3150 kcal ME/kg. HDL and LDL showed the quadratic effect (p < 0.01) when ME increased to 3111.6 and 3157.4 kcal/kg respectively. Very low density lipoprotein increased linearly (p < 0.01) in birds that received diets with 3000 kcal ME/kg. We conclude that the use of 3009.4 kcal of ME/kg for European quail meets the nutritional needs and provides an improvement in feed efficiency, without affecting the carcass parameters of the birds. Information regarding the nutritional requirements for European quails is still recent; therefore, it is essential to know the adequate levels of metabolizable energy, an important nutritional component for the maximum productive performance of birds.

Use of palm bran (Nopalea cochenillifera (L.) Salm-Dyck) in partial replacement of concentrate in maintenance equine diets - a pilot study.

Forage palm is extremely suitable as animal fodder due to its high tolerance to the climatic rigors of the semiarid region and its ability to withstand the harsh physical-chemical limitations of poor soils. Thus, in this study, the effects of the partial replacement (0 %, 5 %, 10 % and 15 % replacement) of a molasses- or oat-based commercial concentrate with forage palm bran (FPB) on the acceptability, apparent digestibility and glycemic response of horses at maintenance were evaluated. The ratio of concentrate to roughage (Tifton 85 hay) was 30 : 70 , and the dry matter (DM) intake was 2 % of body weight (BW). For the preference test, 10 barren Mangalarga Marchador mares were used. The experimental diets were offered simultaneously to determine the consumption preference and the intake ratio. For the digestibility test, four mixed-breed geldings were used and were distributed in a Latin square experimental design ( 4 × 4 ). For the glycemic response, blood samples were collected 30 min before and 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 and 240 min after supplying the feed. The preference test indicated that feed containing 0 % and 5 % FPB was preferred by the animals. Nutrient digestibility coefficients did not differ among the experimental diets. Blood glucose was lower at 180 min in the 7.42 % FPB inclusion diet ( R 2 = 0.97 ); this was estimated using the following equation: Y = 115.05 - 2.75 x + 0.19 x 2 . It is concluded that the incorporation of up to 15 % of forage palm bran as a substitute for concentrate in the maintenance diet tested did not negatively influence feed intake, nutrient digestibility or glycemic index; however, inclusion values above 5 % reduced diet acceptability.

The role of cinnamon as a modulator of the expression of genes related to antioxidant activity and lipid metabolism of laying quails.

Since cinnamon has vitamins and minerals in addition to antioxidants compounds in its chemical composition studies have shown the potential of cinnamon supplementation on some important characteristics in the performance of birds. Thus, this study was conducted under the hypothesis that the inclusion of cinnamon in the laying quail diet could influence the performance of the birds through the expression of genes related to antioxidant activity and lipid metabolism. To test this hypothesis, 144 Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica) with an initial age of 18 weeks and average weight of 133g were distributed in a completely randomized design with two treatments: no cinnamon supplementation (NCS-control group) and with supplementation of 9g/kg of cinnamon powder (CPS). The experiment lasted for 84 days. At the end of the experimental period, six animals from each treatment were euthanized by cervical dislocation, blood was collected and organs weighed. Liver tissue was collected for gene expression and biochemical analyses. We observed a significant effect of cinnamon inclusion on the weight of the pancreas (P = 0.0418), intestine (P = 0.0209) and ovary (P = 0.0389). Lower weights of the pancreas and intestine, and a higher ovary weight was observed in birds receiving the CPS diet. Quails fed with cinnamon supplementation also had better feed conversion per egg mass (2.426 g /g, P = 0.0126), and higher triglyceride (1516.60 mg/dL, P = 0.0207), uric acid (7.40 mg/dL, P = 0.0003) and VLDL (300.40 mg/dL, P = 0.0252) contents. A decreased content of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) and lower catalase activity was observed in the liver of quails from the CPS diet (0.086 nmoles/mg PTN, and 2.304 H2O2/min/mg PTN, respectively). Quails from the CPS group presented significantly greater expression of FAS (fatty acid synthase, 36,03 AU), ACC (Acetyl-CoA Carboxylase, 31.33 AU), APOAI (apolipoprotein A-I, 803,9 AU), ESR2 (estrogen receptor 2, 0.73 AU) SOD (superoxide dismutase, 4,933.9 AU) and GPx7 (glutathione peroxidase 7, 9.756 AU) than quails from the control group. These results allow us to suggest that cinnamon powder supplementation in the diet of laying quails can promote balance in the metabolism and better performance through the modulation of antioxidant activity and the expression of genes related to lipid metabolism.

Comportamiento de cerdas lactantes en función del tipo de maternidad en invierno / Effects of farrowing system on behavior of lactating sows in winter / Comportamento de porcas lactantes em função do tipo de maternidade no inverno

Resumo Objetivando-se verificar os efeitos do tipo de maternidade sobre o comportamento de porcas lactantes, alojadas por 28 dias no inverno, foram usadas 27 matrizes distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado com três tratamentos (maternidade convencional com abrigo escamoteador; maternidade convencional com abrigo escamoteador e aquecimento do piso para leitões e maternidade alternativa com acesso a piquetes) e nove repetições. As porcas foram filmadas aos 7, 14, 21 e 27 dias por 24 horas. As porcas mantidas em maternidade com acesso a piquetes permaneceram por mais tempo no comedouro e frequentaram e despenderam mais tempo no bebedouro em relação às matrizes mantidas na maternidade convencional. As matrizes mantidas nas maternidades convencionais permaneceram mais tempo em outras posições do que as matrizes mantidas na maternidade com acesso a piquetes. As porcas submetidas à maternidade alternativa apresentaram melhores parâmetros fisiológicos que as da maternidade convencional. Conclui-se que maternidades alternativas com acesso a piquetes e o aquecimento do piso para leitões proporcionam melhores condições de bem-estar, tanto para porcas como para leitões, quando comparadas a maternidades convencionais.

Resumen El objetivo de esta investigación fue verificar los efectos del tipo de maternidad sobre el comportamiento de cerdas lactantes, las cuales estuvieron alojadas en jaulas por 28 días durante el invierno, se evaluaron 27 matrices distribuidas en un delineamiento completamente al azar con tres tratamientos (maternidad convencional con resguardos para estar abrigados, maternidad convencional con resguardos para estar abrigados con calentamiento del piso para lechones y maternidad alternativa con acceso a potreros) y nueve repeticiones. Las cerdas fueron filmadas a los 7, 14, 21 y 27 días por 24 horas. Las cerdas mantenidas en jaulas de maternidad con acceso a potreros permanecieron por más tiempo en el comedero, con mayor frecuencia y gastaron más tiempo en el bebedero en relación a las cerdas confinadas en jaulas de maternidad convencional. Las cerdas mantenidas en las jaulas de maternidad convencional permanecieron más tiempo en otras posiciones que las matrices mantenidas en la maternidad con acceso a los potreros. Las cerdas sometidas a las jaulas de maternidad alternativa presentaron mejores parámetros fisiológicos que las cerdas evaluadas en jaulas de maternidad convencional. Se concluye que las jaulas de maternidad alternativa con acceso a potreros y calentamiento del piso para lechones proporcionan mejores condiciones de bienestar cuando son comparadas con las jaulas de maternidad convencional, tanto para las cerdas como para los lechones.

Abstract Aiming to evaluate the effects of different housing systems on the behavior of lactating sows during the winter, 27 sows were used in a 28 days trial. The design used was completely randomized, with three treatments (Conventional housing system with piglet; Conventional housing with piglet and with floor heating for piglets, and an alternative housing system with access to an open area) and nine replicates. Each sow had a 24 hours period of recording at days 7, 14, 21 and 27 to evaluate their behavior. Sows kept in the alternative system spent more time at the feeder and drinking water when compared to sows kept in the conventional housing system. Sows kept in conventional housing spent more time in other activities than eating and drinking when compared to the sows in the alternative system. Also, sows in the alternative housing system had better physiological parameters than those of conventional systems. In conclusion, the alternative house system and the conventional one with floor heating for piglets provide increased welfare for sows and for piglets when compared to conventional housing system.