Effect of strain and nutritional density of the diet on the water-protein ratio, fat and collagen levels in the breast and legs of broilers slaughtered at different ages.

Many requirements are necessary to meet the European Union rules to export poultry, including the amount of physiological water and water-protein ratio (WPR) in carcasses. Therefore, the aim of this study was to identify if strain, nutrition, and age affect the amount of collagen and fat and the WPR in cuts and verify whether the latter meets the international export standards. A total of 3,240 male chicks were housed in a completely randomized design in a 3 × 3 × 5 factorial arrangement, which included 3 nutritional densities (regular, medium, and high), 3 strains (021 Embrapa and 2 commercial strains identified as A and B), and 5 ages. Twelve broilers from each treatment (totaling 540 birds) were slaughtered at 28, 35, 42, 49, and 56 D of age to determine collagen and fat levels and WPR (through the calculation of moisture and protein percentage) in broiler breasts and legs using the near-infrared spectroscopy method. The use of feeds with different nutritional densities presented in this study has no effect on the WPR in the breast and legs of broilers slaughtered between 28 and 56 D of age. However, nutritional density influences liveweight and percentage of fat in the breast and legs. Collagen percentage in the legs decreases with increasing nutritional density. The 021 Embrapa strain cuts present a lower WPR than those of other commercial strains. However, the values found for all strains studied are within the limits of the Europe Union and Brazilian legislations. The liveweight, breast weight, leg weight, and leg fat increases linearly with age. Quite the opposite, water protein ratio, breast fat level, and breast collagen level decrease linearly with age. Leg WPR and leg collagen level are not affected by age. Despite the differences found for strains, nutritional densities and age readers should be aware that these factors may interact with each other depending on the response variable studied.

Effects of feed form and energy levels on growth performance, carcass yield and nutrient digestibility in broilers.

Feed form is well recognized to improve broiler performance, specially by increasing feed intake (FI). However, when different diet energy levels are used, the results differ in the literature. Therefore, this experiment was conducted to evaluate the influence of feed form and dietary metabolizable energy (ME) levels on broiler performance, carcass yield and on the digestibility of DM, CP, starch and gross energy. In total, 1152 male Cobb 500 broilers were evaluated between 35 and 47 days. The birds were distributed according to a completely randomized design in a 2 × 4 factorial arrangement, consisting of two feed forms (mash or pellet) and four ME levels (12.73, 13.06, 13.40 or 13.73 MJ/kg), totaling eight treatments with eight replicates of 18 birds. Broilers fed the lowest ME level presented the lowest weight gain (WG) and worst feed per unit gain (P < 0.01). Metabolizable energy intake increased (P < 0.01) with progressive increments of ME, which, however, did not affect caloric conversion (CC, P > 0.05). Pelleted diets promoted higher FI, WG, ME intake (P < 0.01) and better feed per unit gain and CC (P < 0.05) compared with mash. In mash diets, increasing dietary ME levels promoted a linear increase in WG (P < 0.01) and reduced feed per unit gain (P ≤ 0.05), but did not affect FI (P > 0.05). In pelleted diets, on the other hand, increasing ME levels linearly reduced FI (P < 0.05) and feed per unit gain (P < 0.01). Broilers fed pelleted diets presented higher abdominal fat deposition than those fed mash (P < 0.05). Increasing ME levels reduced the coefficients of ileal apparent digestibility of DM (P < 0.01) and total starch (P < 0.05) but did not affect the digestibility of other evaluated nutrients. The digestibility of all nutrients was lower when pelleted diets were fed compared with mash. Increasing inert material inclusion in the diets at the expense of soybean oil to reduce dietary ME levels promoted higher pellet durability index values (P < 0.05) and the percentage of fines (P < 0.01). Overall, the results suggest that pelleted diets promote better broiler performance because they increase FI, since the digestibility of dietary fractions is reduced. Chickens consuming low-energy pelleted diets may increase FI to compensate for energy deficit. In contrast, broilers fed mash diets may have reached their maximum intake capacity and did not regulate FI by changing feed energy density. When feeding pelleted diets, dietary energy reduction should be considered to reduce feed costs and to improve the carcass quality of broilers.

Impact of birth weight and daily weight gain during suckling on the weight gain of weaning piglets / Impacto do peso ao nascimento e ganho de peso na maternidade sobre o ganho de peso dos leitões na creche

This study evaluated the effect of birth weight and weight gain during the suckling phase on the piglet daily weight gain during the nursery phase (21-61 days of age). Piglets (n= 534) derived from 55 first-parity sows were weighed at birth, weaning, and end of the nursery phase. The data were analyzed according to a completely randomized experimental design, with three classes of birth weight (BW) and two classes of weight gain during the suckling phase (SDWG). High BW and low SDWG piglets were 0.2kg lighter at weaning than low BW and high SDWG animals (P< 0.05). However, at the end of the nursery phase, this situation was inverted, with high BW and low SDWG piglets 2.20kg heavier (P< 0.05). Low BW and high SDWG piglets were heavier at weaning and at the end of the nursery phase than low BW and low SDWG piglets (P< 0.05). At the same time, intermediate and high BW and low and high SDWG piglets presented body weight differences at weaning (P< 0.05), but not at the end of the nursery phase (P< 0.05). Piglets with 1.25 to 2.30kg BW and low weight gain during suckling presented a partial compensatory growth during the nursery phase.(AU)

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito do peso dos leitões ao nascimento e do seu ganho de peso na maternidade sobre seu desempenho na fase de creche (21-61 dias de idade). Quinhentos e trinta e quatro leitões, provenientes de 55 primíparas, foram pesados ao nascimento, no desmame e na saída da creche. Os animais foram distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, em três classes de peso ao nascimento (PN) e duas classes de ganho de peso diário (GPD) na maternidade. Os animais com alto PN e baixo GPD na maternidade desmamaram 0,2kg mais leves que os animais com baixo PN e alto GPD na maternidade (P<0,05). Porém, os animais com alto PN e baixo GPD na maternidade saíram da creche 2,10kg mais pesados (P<0,05). A diferença aos 21 dias entre os dois tratamentos (alto e baixo GPD) com animais de baixo PN foi de 1,18kg e passou para 2,20kg ao final da creche (P<0,05). No caso dos animais com médio e alto PN, a diferença ao desmame era de 1,14 e 1,26kg e passou para 0,90 e 0,70kg na saída da creche (P<0,05), respectivamente. Leitões com peso ao nascimento entre 1,25 e 2,30kg, com baixo ganho de peso diário na maternidade, apresentaram efeito compensatório parcial no ganho de peso diário durante a creche.(AU)

Growth performance, morphometric analysis of the intestinal mucosa and thyroid of broiler fed canola meal / Desempenho e análise morfométrica da mucosa intestinal e da tireoide de frangos de corte alimentados com farelo de canola

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of replacing soybean meal with canola meal in broiler diets on performance, liver histopathology, morphometry of the intestinal mucosa and thyroid. One-day-old Cobb chicks (n=300) were distributed in a completely randomized design, with increasing levels of replacement of soybean meal with canola meal (0, 25, 50, 75 and 100%) and 6 repetitions of 10 birds each. Weight gain decreased linearly (P< 0.05) with increasing levels of inclusion of canola meal, in all stages. Villus height in the duodenum and jejunum linearly decreased (P< 0.05). Follicle diameter and thyroid follicular epithelium height increased linearly with increasing levels of canola meal (P< 0.05). Similarly, there was an increase in relative weight of liver and heart, and liver steatosis in the highest levels of replacement. In conclusion, the replacement of soybean meal with canola meal can reduce performance, adversely affecting the thyroid, liver and the morphometric characteristics in the duodenum and jejunum.(AU)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o efeito da substituição do farelo de soja pelo farelo de canola na dieta de frangos de corte sobre o desempenho, a histopatologia hepática, a morfometria da mucosa intestinal e da tiroide. Foram distribuídos 300 pintos com um dia de idade em um delineamento inteiramente causualizado, com níveis crescentes de substituição do farelo de soja pelo farelo de canola (0, 25, 50, 75 e 100%), 6 repetições com 10 aves cada. O ganho de peso diminuiu linearmente (P< 0,05) com níveis crescentes da substituição, em todas as fases. Assim como, a altura das vilosidades no duodeno e jejuno diminuiu linearmente (P< 0,05) em todas as idades avaliadas. O diâmetro do folículo e a altura do epitélio da tireoide aumentaram linearmente conforme aumentou os níveis de farelo de canola (P< 0,05). Da mesma forma, houve um aumento do peso relativo do fígado e do coração, e aparecimento de esteatose hepática nos níveis mais altos de substituição. Em conclusão, a substituição do farelo de soja pelo farelo de canola pode reduzir o desempenho, afetando negativamente a tireoide, o fígado e as características morfométricas no duodeno e jejuno.(AU)

Growth of suckling piglets in litters standardized by weight.

This study examined the relationship between birth weight and growth performance when suckling piglets were reared in litters standardized by birth weight. Forty-four gilts (Landrace × Large White) due to farrow during the same week were selected. Piglets born to those gilts were individually weighed at birth and cross-fostered to obtain litters with 11 piglets and standardized birth weight (CV, lower than 5%). Based on average birth weight, 4 litter weight classes were established: class 1 (> 1.10 kg to ≤ 1.33 kg), class 2 (> 1.34 kg to ≤ 1.46 kg), class 3 (> 1.47 kg to ≤ 1.57 kg), and class 4 (> 1.58 kg to ≤ 1.88 kg). At 21 d of age, piglets were weighed to determine BW and calculate ADG and weight gain relative to birth weight. A completely randomized experimental design was used with birth weight classes as treatments. At 21 d of age, the average BW of piglets from the heaviest birth weight class (5.67 kg) was greater (P < 0.05) than the lightest class (5.06 kg); however, all classes had the same ADG (P < 0.05). There was a positive correlation (r = 0.184; P < 0.01) between birth weight and weight at 21 d of age, but birth weight was not correlated (r = -0.040; P = 0.37) with ADG during the suckling phase. Therefore, piglet birth weight did not influence weight gain when piglets were reared by sows in litters with standardized birth weight.

The effect of dietary supplementation with 9-cis:12-trans and 10-trans:12-cis conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) for nine months on serum cholesterol, lymphocyte proliferation and polymorphonuclear cells function in Beagle dogs.

Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA), 9-cis:11-trans and 10-trans:12-cis, have been shown to be able to modify some immune cells parameters and plasma lipids in a variety of experiment models. Since lymphocytes and polymorphonuclear cells (PMNC) have a large spectrum functions in the immune response, the knowledge in this field has to be expanded. Beagle dogs were fed a control diet or a CLA supplemented diet for nine months. Blood was collected for biochemical analysis and lymphocyte and PMNC isolation. PMNC were assayed for lysosome content, phagocytic activity and superoxide anion production. A lymphocyte proliferation capacity assay was done. The CLA fed dogs had a 34% reduction in total cholesterol (P < 0.05), 28% in LDL (P < 0.05) and 28% non-HDL-cholesterol (P < 0.05). Neither of the PMNC parameters evaluated demonstrated significant alteration. Lymphocytes from CLA group increased by 45% their mitotic capacity (P < 0.05). Our study demonstrates that CLA can successfully modify the lipid profile of dogs (monogastrics) when fed at reasonable levels, but did not significantly alter inflammatory function as would generally predicted. Further, we had some indication that CLA modulated T cell responsiveness.