Use of homeopathic products in pigs feed improves the percentage, quality and marbling of meat.

Studies and innovations on alternative feed additives, especially on homeopathic remedies have been highlighted in order to replace or reduce the use of antibiotics in pig production. This paper aimed to assess the addition of homeopathic products in pig diet and their effects on the growth performance, serum metabolites, nutrient and energy digestibility, carcass traits and meat quality. A total of 60 immunocastrated male pigs, weighing on average 30.91 ± 0.95 kg, were distributed in two treatments, 10 replicates and three animals/experimental unit. There was no effect (P≥0.05) of treatment on the growth performance and serum metabolites. The percentage of acid-insoluble ash recovered in the diet was greater (P≤0.01) in diets containing homeopathic products. The apparent digestible energy of diets containing homeopathic products was reduced (P≤0.01) in the growing phase and reduced (P≤0.01) the apparent digestibility coefficients of dry matter, crude protein, soluble neutral and acid detergent fibers, and gross energy in the growing and finishing phases. Pig that received diets with homeopathic products had higher (P≤0.05) amount of meat, percentage of meat and marbling. The use of homeopathic products in diets improves the percentage and quality of meat, as well as the marbling of the pig carcass, maintaining the performance.

Estudo bioclimático das regiões litorânea, agreste e semiárida do estado de Sergipe para a avicultura de corte e postura / Bioclimatic study for broiler production and posture in the of coastal, agreste and semi arid regions of Sergipe state, Brazil

Objetivou-se com o presente trabalho realizar o estudo bioclimático do estado de Sergipe para a avicultura, como forma de definir os limites de aceitabilidade da espécie às condições ambientais prevalecentes nas regiões litorânea, agreste e semiárida do estado. Para isso, foi realizado o levantamento histórico dos valores médios mensais de temperatura e umidade relativa do ar e o cálculo mensal do índice de temperatura e umidade (ITU) das três regiões do estado de Sergipe. Verificou-se que, apesar de suas particularidades climáticas, as regiões litorânea, agreste e semiárida do estado de Sergipe apresentam as melhores condições de conforto térmico para a avicultura de corte e postura apenas durante os meses de junho a setembro; no período seco, nenhuma das regiões apresenta condições de conforto térmico para a atividade avícola; no período chuvoso, apenas a região agreste apresenta condições de conforto para a avicultura de corte; para a avicultura de postura, apenas a região litorânea não apresenta condições de conforto térmico.

This research aimed to carry out a bioclimatic study of Sergipe state to poultry farming, as a way to define the limits of acceptability of the species to the prevailing environmental conditions in coastal, agreste and semi arid regions of the state. For this survey it was conducted a history of the monthly mean values of temperature and relative humidity of the air and the calculation of the monthly index of temperature and humidity (ITU) of the three regions of the state of Sergipe. It was found that despite its special climate, coastal, agreste and semi arid region of Sergipe present the best thermal comfort conditions for the poultry industry and posture only during the months from June to September. In the dry season, no region presents thermal comfort conditions for the poultry activity. Only in the rainy season the region has rugged comfort conditions for the poultry industry. For laying poultry only the coastal region not provides thermal comfort.