Detecting reproductive system abnormalities of broiler breeder roosters at different ages.

The objective of this study was to detect the reasons of rooster's fertility decrease at 50 weeks of age. Therefore, the reproductive system of broiler breeder roosters was laparoscopic, macroscopic and histopathology evaluated, and a comparison of the anatomical aspect with the sperm analysis and birds' age was realized. Cobb roosters (n = 59) were distributed into two groups (30 and 50 weeks). Evaluations were performed with laparoscopy, macroscopy and histopathology, and seminal quality, blood serum testosterone concentration and weight were also determined. The old roosters presented smaller testicle size, higher intensity epididymal lithiasis and lower testicle sperm production, compared to the young roosters. The use of the endoscope could easily distinguish a normal-sized testicle than an atrophic one. Four old roosters with severe testicular atrophy did not show spermatogenesis, although three still had sperm in the ejaculate. This would falsely indicate a wrong diagnosis of normal fertility before the testicular atrophy took place. In conclusion, in addition to the weight increase with age, the testicular atrophy and impairment of sperm production seemed to be the main reason to the decrease in the rooster's fertility at 50 weeks of age. Therefore, the use of the laparoscopy as a way to detect the roosters with testicular atrophy before 50 weeks of age and their removal from them flock could be useful as a diagnostic tool to prevent the birds' fertility loss.

Avaliação da suplementação antioxidante na dieta para galos de matrizes pesadas em idade avançada sobre parâmetros reprodutivos / Evaluation of antioxidant supplementation in diet for aging broiler breeder roosters on reproductive parameters

Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos de antioxidantes suplementados às dietas de galos de matrizes pesadas em idade avançada sobre as características reprodutivas. Foram utilizados galos da linhagem Cobb com 47 semanas de idade. Estes foram distribuídos em quatros tratamentos, de acordo com a adição de antioxidante à dieta, sendo: A = grupo controle (sem suplementação antioxidante); B = suplementação de 9ppm de citranaxantina; C = suplementação de 6ppm de cantaxantina e D = 150ppm de vitamina E. Foram avaliadas as características seminais, tais como volume, vigor, motilidade e concentração, a composição de ácidos graxos do sêmen (saturados, insaturados, monoinsaturados, poli-insaturados, ômega 3, ômega 6 e ômega 9) e a correlação entre o peso dos testículos e o peso dos galos. Não foram observados efeitos das substâncias antioxidantes testadas sobre os parâmetros reprodutivos avaliados. Os antioxidantes avaliados não influenciam as respostas reprodutivas de machos reprodutores de matrizes pesadas em idade avançada.(AU)

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of antioxidant supplementation in diets of aging broiler breeder roosters on reproductive characteristics. Cobb roosters were divided into four groups, according to antioxidant addition, where: A = control group (without antioxidant supplementation); B = 9ppm of citranaxanthin; C = 6ppm of canthaxanthin, and D = 150ppm of vitamin E. Seminal characteristics (volume, force, motility and concentration), semen fatty acid composition (saturated, unsaturated, monounsaturated, polyunsaturated, ω3, ω6 and ω9), and the correlation between testis weight with rooster weight were evaluated. No effects of the antioxidants tested were observed. The antioxidants do not influence the reproductive responses of aging male broiler breeder.(AU)

Avaliação da correção da energia pelo balanço de nitrogênio em alimentos para frangos de corte / Evaluation of the energy correction for nitrogen balance in feed for broiler chickens

Com o objetivo de determinar valores de energia metabolizável aparente e de energia metabolizável aparente corrigida pelo balanço de nitrogênio de alimentos para frangos de corte, bem como avaliar os efeitos da correção da energia sobre seu desempenho, foram conduzidos dois experimentos: I) determinação da energia do milho, do farelo de soja, da farinha de carne e ossos, da farinha de vísceras e da farinha de penas, pelo método de coleta total de excretas, utilizando-se 450 pintos de corte com um dia de idade, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, sendo seis tratamentos e cinco repetições; II) desempenho de 960 frangos de corte, distribuídos ao acaso, em cinco tratamentos e seis repetições. As aves que receberam os tratamentos A (matriz energética de acordo com Rostagno et al. (2011)) e E (energia sem correção com ajuste pela idade) apresentaram melhor desempenho, e as aves do tratamento E tiveram melhor conversão alimentar. Portanto, formulações com energia sem correção pelo balanço de nitrogênio e ajustadas pela idade são viáveis tanto sob o ponto de vista zootécnico, quanto econômico.

In order to determine apparent metabolizable energy and apparent metabolizable energy corrected by nitrogen balance of feed ingredients and to evaluate the effects of this correction on performance of broiler chickens, two experiments were conducted: I) energy determination of corn, soybean meal, meat and bone meal, poultry by-products meal and feather meal by total excreta collection method, using 450 chicks randomly distributed in 30 cages, with 6 treatments and 5 replications; II) performance of 960 broilers, distributed in a completely randomized design, with 5 treatments and 6 replications. Birds that received treatments A (energy matrix from literature) and E (energy without correction adjusted by age) showed better performance with the best feed cost, and treatment E had smaller feed conversion ratio. Therefore, the use of formulations based on metabolizable energy adjusted for age and without correction by nitrogen balance is feasible, both from a zootechnical and economic point of view.

Desempenho de frangos de corte alimentados com diferentes níveis de suplementação de vitamina E / Effect of vitamin E supplementation on the performance of broiler chickens

Objetivou-se a avaliação dos efeitos dos níveis de suplementação de vitamina E na ração para frangos de corte sobre o desempenho na fase inicial (um a 21 dias de idade) e de crescimento (21 a 39 dias de idade). Os tratamentos foram definidos pelos níveis de suplementação de vitamina E (DL-α tocoferol). As quantidades adicionadas às rações foram: 10; 30; 50; 75 e 100mg de vitamina E para cada kg de ração. Na fase inicial (experimento I), o menor nível de suplementação de vitamina E mostrou-se superior aos demais, apresentando efeito significativo (P≤0,05) sobre o peso médio aos 21 dias de idade e ganho de peso de um a 21 dias de idade. Na fase de crescimento (experimento II), não houve efeito significativo (P>0,05) dos níveis de suplementação de vitamina E sobre as variáveis estudadas. O nível mínimo de suplementação de vitamina E testado (10mg/kg) é suficiente para atender às exigências dos frangos de corte machos sobre o desempenho.(AU)

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of vitamin E supplementation on the performance of broiler chickens in the initial and growth phase, from one to 21 and 21 to 39 days of age, respectively. Five increasing levels of DL-α tocopherol supplementation (10, 30, 50, 75 and 100mg to each kg of diet) were added to the diet. In the initial phase (experiment I), the lowest vitamin E level was superior by presenting significant effect (P≤0.05) on body weight at 21 days of age and weight gain from one to 21 days old. In the growth phase (experiment II), there was no significant effect (P>0.05) of vitamin E supplementation on the variables studied. The minimum level of vitamin E supplementation tested is sufficient to attend the requirements of male broiler chickens.(AU)

Efeito da protease sobre o coeficiente de metabolizabilidade dos nutrientes em frangos de corte / Effect of protease on the metabolization coefficient of nutrients in broilers

Avaliaram-se os efeitos da protease sobre o coeficiente de metabolizabilidade dos nutrientes em dietas contendo farinha de penas (2,0% na fase inicial e 3,0% na fase de crescimento) para frangos de corte machos, Cobb(r), de um a 32 dias de idade. Foram alojadas 336 aves em gaiolas metálicas equipadas com bandeja para coleta total de excretas. Foi utilizado delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, em arranjo fatorial 2x2 (com e sem adição da enzima protease 0,05% e duas valorizações da matriz nutricional da enzima), sendo sete repetições por tratamento, de 12 aves cada. Observou-se, na fase inicial, maior CMPB (P≤0,05) para as aves que, independentemente da adição de protease, consumiram ração com valorização da matriz nutricional da enzima. Não houve efeito dos tratamentos sobre o CMMS e o CMEE (P>0,05). Na fase de crescimento, houve interação entre os tratamentos para as variáveis CMPB e CMEE. Os frangos alimentados com dieta valorizada sem adição de enzima (controle negativo) apresentaram melhores resultados (P≤0,05) para CMPB e CMEE. Nos tratamentos com enzima, o melhor CMEE (P≤0,05) foi obtido com o tratamento sem valorização da matriz nutricional (over the top). Conclui-se que níveis reduzidos e enzima sem valorização melhoram os coeficientes de metabolizabilidade dos nutrientes na fase adulta de frangos de corte.(AU)

This experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of protease on metabolization coefficient of nutrients, performance and slaughter yield from male Cobb(r) broilers fed diets with feather meal. Two experiments were carried out in a completely randomized design in a 2x2 factorial arrangement - with (0.05%) or without enzyme addition x considering or not the improvement of the nutritional value by protease, with seven replicates per treatment group. In experiment 1 the metabolization coefficient of dry matter (MCDM), crude protein (MCCP) and ether extract (MCEE) in initial (9-12-d-old) and growth (29-32-d-old) phase was evaluated. In the initial phase it was observed that regardless of enzyme addition, broiler chickens fed a diet considering improvement in nutritional value had higher MCCP (P≤0.05). However, MCDM and MCEE were not affected (P>0.05). In the growth phase, there were interactions between treatments for the variables MCCP and MCEE. The birds fed diets considering the improvement in nutritional value without enzyme (negative control) showed better results (P≤0.05) for MCCP and MCEE. In the treatments with enzyme, the best MCEE (P≤0.05) was observed in the treatment not considering the improvement in the nutritional value (over the top). Therefore, considering the improvement in the nutritional value and enzyme without considering the improvement in the nutritional value improves the coefficients of metabolization of nutrients in broiler chickens.(AU)

Efeito do transporte de péletes sobre sua qualidade / Effect of pellets transport on its quality

The objective of this study was to evaluate the quality of pellets from the end of the pelletizer machine until the end of the line feed plate, using two methods of analysis: pellet durability index (PDI) and EMBRAPA pelletizing method (MEP). Furthermore, the effect of the discharging methods at the broiler farm on the physical quality of pellets using MEP as a method of analysis was evaluated. The first phase of the experiment was a randomized block with six treatments: A - pellets at the end of the pelletizer machine; B - pellets inside the truck; C - truck's discharging at the feed silo; D - place inside the warehouse after the feed silo; E - the middle of the feed plate line and F - the end of the feed plate line. The experiment was carried out in seven replicates (blocks). The second phase of the experiment was a randomized block with two treatments: A - smaller discharge opening (for pellets feed); B - bigger discharge opening (for mashed feed). The experiment was performed with twelve replicates (blocks). The discharge of the pellets feed at broilers farm is the point that worsens the pellets quality. The discharge of pellets feed by the truck should be done with the bigger discharge opening. Moreover, MEP showed to be a better method than PDI to evaluate the integrity of the pellets for broiler chickens.(AU)

Equilíbrio ácido-básico de embriões e pintos de corte em momentos críticos da incubação e submetidos a diferentes períodos de transferência para o nascedouro / Acid-base balance of embryos and broiler chicks in critical moments of incubation and submitted to different periods of transfer to the hatcher

Foram analisados os níveis de pCO2, pO2, pH e HCO3 - de embriões e pintos de corte provenientes de matrizes novas e velhas, nos momentos anteriores à bicagem interna e externa da casca e ao nascimento, submetidos a diferentes períodos de transferência para as condições ambientais dos nascedouros. Os tratamentos foram definidos pela idade da matriz (33 e 63 semanas) e pela transferência para o nascedouro (aos 15, 17 e 19 dias). O delineamento experimental foi em parcelas subdivididas, sendo a parcela os três momentos de transferência e a subparcela as duas idades das matrizes. Foram utilizadas seis repetições para cada tratamento, e o embrião ou o pinto foi considerado uma repetição. Os dados normais e homogêneos foram submetidos às análises de variância, e as médias comparadas pelos testes F, de Tukey e SNK. Embriões cujos ovos foram transferidos aos 15 dias para o nascedouro apresentaram melhor equilíbrio ácido-básico durante as fases pré-natal e perinatal. Durante o último terço da incubação, independentemente das diferentes condições ambientais às quais os embriões são submetidos e da idade da matriz, há capacidade de resposta fisiológica que permite uma estabilidade no equilíbrio ácido-básico dos pintos após a eclosão...

We analyzed the levels of pCO2, pO2, pH and HCO3 - in embryos and chicks from young and older breeders, in the moments before internal pipping, external pipping and at hatch and submitted to different periods in the environmental conditions of hatchers. The treatments were defined by breeder age (33 and 63 weeks) and transfer to the hatcher (at 15, 17 and 19 days). The experimental design was split plots with three periods in the hatcher and the plots were the two breeder ages. We used six replicates per treatment and the embryo or chick was considered a repetition. The normal data forms were submitted to analysis of variance and means were compared by F, Tukey and SNK tests. Embryos transferred at 15 days to the hatcher had better acid-base balance during the pre-and perinatal phases. During the last third of incubation, regardless of the different environmental conditions which the embryos are subjected and breeder age, there is physiological responsiveness that allows for stability in acid-base balance of the chicks after hatching...

Efeitos do horário de postura de matrizes pesadas sobre o rendimento de incubação / Effects of oviposition time from broiler breeders on the incubation yield

The effects of oviposition time, which represents different positions of the follicles in a sequence of posture, were studied on egg weight, chick weight, egg weight loss during incubation, hatchability, embryo mortality and infertility . A total of 19, 820 eggs, layed on the same day, from Cobb® broiler breeders aging 46-week-old were used. The eggs were classified according to the oviposition time posture (corresponding to the time of collection) from 8:30 am, 10:30 am, 12:30 pm, 14:30 pm and 16:30 pm, which represented the folowing treatments: 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th and 5th collects, respectively. The experimental design was completely randomized with five treatments and 36 repetitions, and each tray of 96 eggs was considered a repetition. The normal and homogeneous data were submitted to analysis of variance and means compared by Tukey test. The non-normal and non-homogeneous averages were compared by Kruskal-Wallis test. It is concluded that the time of egg laying has influence on egg weight and chick weight, but does not affect hatchability, fertility and embryonic development.

Intra-uterine growth retardation affects birthweight and postnatal development in pigs, impairing muscle accretion, duodenal mucosa morphology and carcass traits.

The present study investigated the occurrence of intra-uterine growth retardation (IUGR) in newborn (n=40) and 150-day-old (n=240) pigs of different birthweight ranges (high, HW: 1.8-2.2kg; low, LW: 0.8-1.2kg) from higher-parity commercial sows and its impact on their subsequent development and carcass traits in a Brazilian commercial production system. HW newborn pigs had heavier organs than LW pigs (P<0.01), and all brain:organ weight ratios were higher (P<0.01) in LW compared with HW offspring, providing strong evidence of IUGR in the LW piglets. HW pigs had higher bodyweights and average daily gain (ADG) in all phases of production (P<0.05), but ADG in the finisher phase was similar in both groups. Additionally, LW newborn and 150-day-old pigs showed a lower percentage of muscle fibres and a higher percentage of connective tissue in the semitendinosus muscle, greater fibre number per mm(2) and a lower height of the duodenal mucosa (P<0.05). On the other hand, HW pigs had higher hot carcass weight, meat content in the carcass and yield of ham, shoulder and belly (P<0.01). Hence, lower-birthweight piglets may suffer from IUGR, which impairs their growth performance, muscle accretion, duodenal mucosa morphology and carcass traits.

Avaliação da qualidade da casca dos ovos provenientes de matrizes pesadas com diferentes idades / Evaluation of eggshell quality from broiler breeder hens with different ages

Foi realizado um estudo sobre qualidade da casca dos ovos incubáveis provenientes de matrizes pesadas com diferentes idades, por meio da avaliação da relação entre peso da casca e peso do ovo e análises de peso específico, espessura, porosidade, resistência e microscopia eletrônica. Os dois tratamentos foram definidos pela idade da matriz, sendo considerados ovos de matrizes novas - 33 semanas - e de matrizes velhas - 63 semanas. Os ovos de matrizes com 33 semanas foram mais leves, e o número de poros por cm² foi menor que o de ovos das aves mais velhas. Ovos de aves com 63 semanas apresentaram menor percentual de casca em relação ao peso do ovo, menor peso específico e menores resistência e espessura da casca. A proporção das membranas da casca em relação à sua espessura total foi maior nas matrizes mais novas. Concluiu-se que ovos de matrizes velhas têm qualidade de casca inferior aos ovos das matrizes novas e que as membranas da casca nos ovos de matrizes novas desempenham papel relevante em sua estrutura.

We conducted a study on eggshell quality from Cobb® broiler breeders at different ages by assessing the relationship between eggshell weight and egg weight and analysis of specific weight, thickness, porosity, strength and electron microscopy. Both treatments were defined by broiler breeder age, considering eggs from young breeders (33 weeks) and eggs from old breeders (63 weeks). It was observed that eggs from breeders at 33 weeks have lower weight and number of pores per cm² compared with eggs from older birds. 63 weeks broiler breeders had lower percentage of eggshell in relation to egg weight, lower specific weight, strength and thickness, when compared with eggs from young breeders. The proportion of shell membranes in relation to its total thickness was significantly higher in young breeders. It was concluded that eggs from older broiler breeders have lower eggshell quality than the young breeders. The shell membranes in young breeder's eggs play a significant role in its structure, making it necessary to focus on this layer in future studies on eggshell quality and their relationship between breeder age and incubation yield.