Proteomic Study of Broiler Plasma Supplemented with Different Levels of Copper and Manganese from Different Sources.

The aim of the present study was to evaluate the differential expression of plasma proteins in broiler chickens supplemented with different sources (sulfates and hydroxychlorides) and levels of copper (15 and 150 mg kg-1) and manganese (80 and 120 mg kg-1). For this, plasma samples from 40 broiler chickens were used, divided into four experimental groups: S15-80 (15 ppm CuSO4 and 80 ppm MnSO4), S150-120 (150 ppm CuSO4 and 120 ppm MnSO4), H15-80 (15 ppm Cu(OH)Cl and 80 ppm Mn(OH)Cl), and H150-120 (150 ppm Cu(OH)Cl and 120 ppm Mn(OH)Cl). From plasma samples obtained from each bird from the same treatment, four pools were made considering 10 birds per group. Plasma proteome fractionation was performed by 2D-PAGE. Concentrations of the studied minerals were also evaluated in both plasma and protein pellet samples. A higher concentration of Cu and Mn was observed in the plasma and protein pellets of groups that received higher mineral supplementation levels compared to those receiving lower levels. Mn concentrations were higher in plasma and protein pellets of the hydroxychloride-supplemented groups than the sulfate-supplemented groups. Analysis of the gels revealed a total of 40 differentially expressed spots among the four treatments. Supplementation with different sources of minerals, particularly at higher levels, resulted in changes in protein regulation, suggesting a potential imbalance in homeostasis.

Pequi Oil (Caryocar brasiliense Camb.) Attenuates the Adverse Effects of Cyclical Heat Stress and Modulates the Oxidative Stress-Related Genes in Broiler Chickens.

The present study was conducted to determine the possible antioxidant protection of pequi oil (PO) against cyclic heat stress in broiler chickens and to highlight the application of PO as a promising additive in broiler feed. A total of 400 one-day-old male broiler chicks (Cobb 500) were randomly assigned to 2 × 5 factorially arranged treatments: two temperature-controlled rooms (thermoneutral-TN or heat stress-HS for 8 h/day) and five dietary PO levels (0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, or 6.0 g/kg diet) for 42 days. Each treatment consisted of eight replicates of five birds. The results showed that HS increased glucose (p = 0.006), triglycerides (p < 0.001), and HDL (p = 0.042) at 21 days and reduced (p = 0.005) serum total cholesterol at 42 days. The results also showed that HS increased the contents of alanine aminotransferase (ALT) and aspartate aminotransferase (AST). In contrast, PO linearly decreased AST (p = 0.048) and ALT (p = 0.020) at 21 and 42 days, respectively. The heterophil-to-lymphocyte ratio in the birds under HS was higher than in those in the TN environment (p = 0.046). Heat stress decreased (p = 0.032) the relative weight of their livers at 21 days. The superoxide dismutase activity increased (p = 0.010) in the HS treatments in comparison to the TN treatments, while the glutathione peroxidase activity in the liver decreased (p < 0.001) at 42 days; however, the activity of catalase had no significant effects. Meanwhile, increasing the dietary PO levels linearly decreased plasma malondialdehyde (p < 0.001) in the birds in the HS environment. In addition, PO reduced (p = 0.027) the expression of Hsp 70 in the liver by 92% when compared to the TN treatment without PO, mainly at the 6.0 g/kg diet level. The expression of Nrf2 was upregulated by 37% (p = 0.049) in response to PO with the 6.0 g/kg diet compared to the HS treatment without PO. In conclusion, PO supplementation alleviated the adverse effects of HS on broilers due to its antioxidant action and modulation of the genes related to oxidative stress, providing insights into its application as a potential feed additive in broiler production.

Sources and levels of copper and manganese supplementation influence performance, carcass traits, meat quality, tissue mineral content, and ileal absorption of broiler chickens.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effects of different levels and sources of Cu and Mn (sulfate or hydroxychloride - H) on growth performance, carcass traits, meat and skin quality, footpad dermatitis severity, litter quality, liver and plasma mineral content, and ileal mineral absorption. A total of 1,920 one-day-old male Cobb 500 broiler chicks were assigned randomly to one of 2 × 3+2 factorially arranged treatments: CuH (15 and 150 ppm) × MnH (40, 80, 120 ppm) + 15 ppm Cu Sulfate with 80 ppm Mn Sulfate (control 1) or 150 ppm Cu Sulfate with 120 ppm Mn sulfate (control 2) for 42 d. Each treatment consisted of 8 replicates of 30 birds. At 42-day-old were slaughtered for carcass yield and meat quality analyses. At 43-day-old, it was determined the apparent ileal absorption of minerals and the concentration of Cu and Mn in the liver and plasma. The resistance and elasticity of the skin, and footpad dermatitis severity were also evaluated. The level 150 ppm CuH improved the FCR compared to the 15 ppm CuH and 15 ppm Cu Sulfate level. Broilers fed diets containing 150 ppm CuH showed higher breast yield compared to those fed diets containing 15 ppm. Breast yield was positively influenced by the inclusion of 40 ppm MnH. There was an interaction between the CuH and the MnH for skin elasticity, and the highest elasticity was found when the supplementation levels were 150 ppm CuH and 40 ppm MnH. High levels of copper decreased the incidence of footpad dermatitis. The hydroxychloride source determined a higher mineral concentration in the liver and plasma and greater apparent ileal absorption of Cu and Mn. In conclusion, dietary supplementation with 150 ppm CuH and 40 or 80 ppm MnH enhance breast yield and improves skin resistance. The inclusion of 150 ppm CuH has the possibility to improve the FCR and decrease leg injuries. Furthermore, the hydroxychloride source seems to be more bioavailable than the sulfate source.

Different dietary electrolyte balance values on performance, egg, and bone quality of Japanese quail (Coturnix Coturnix Japonica) under heat stress.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the productive performance and quality of eggs and bones of Japanese quails that received different dietary electrolyte balance (EB) and were submitted to thermoneutrality or heat stress conditions. Eight hundred Japanese quails of 21 days of age were selected and distributed randomly in two bioclimatic chambers: thermoneutral chamber (23 °C ± 2 °C) and heat-stress chamber (33 °C ± 2 °C). The treatments were in a 2 × 5 factorial arrangement, with two temperatures and five EB levels (165, 215, 265, 315, 365 mEq/kg) with four replicates of 20 birds each. The productive performance and egg quality (in 3 cycles of 21 days) were measured. At 105 days old, the bone quality was evaluated. Data were analyzed by Minitab, and the means were compared by Tukey's test and regression test for levels (P < 0.05). Quails submitted to thermoneutrality showed better performance and egg and bone quality. The highest production rate was the EB level of 265 mEq/kg. Low values of EB (165 and 215 mEq/kg) and high values (365) impaired egg quality, and the ideal was 315 mEq/kg. Lower levels of balance provided poor bone density. In conclusion, the results of this study indicated that heat stress impairs the production and quality of quail eggs and bones. Furthermore, by using intermediate EB levels (265 and 315) mEq/kg, it is possible to improve egg production and egg quality, and using high levels increases bone mineral density.

Effects of Inorganic Zn and Cu Supplementation on Gut Health in Broiler Chickens Challenged With Eimeria spp.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of different levels of inorganic copper and zinc on growth performance, intestinal permeability, intestinal lesion scores, oocyst shedding, antioxidant properties and bone quality in broilers challenged with Eimeria spp. A total of 360 d-old male Cobb broiler chickens were housed in floor cages for 12 days at the Poultry Research Center. At 12 days of age, birds were placed in grower Petersime batteries and distributed in a completely randomized design with 10 birds per cage, six replicates per treatment, and six treatments. There were six corn-soybean meal-based dietary treatments: non-challenged control (NC), challenged control (CC), 100 ppm Cu (100 Cu), 150 ppm Cu (150 Cu), 80 ppm Zn (80 Zn), and 100 ppm Zn (100 Zn). Broilers received the treatment diets for 9 days (12-20d). Birds, except NC, were challenged with Eimeria maxima (50,000 oocysts/bird), Eimeria tenella (50,000 oocysts/bird), and Eimeria acervulina (250,000 oocysts/bird) on 14d. On 20d, the growth performance was recorded, and one bird/cage was used for analysis of intestinal permeability, antioxidant properties and bone quality. Lesion score was recorded at 20 days of age in eight birds/cage. The means were subjected to ANOVA and, when significant, compared by Duncan's test. Intestinal permeability was significantly improved when birds received the 100 Zn diet (P < 0.05). In addition, lesion scores on duodenum were reduced when broilers received diets 150 Cu as compared to CC diet (P < 0.05). However, growth performance was not positively influenced by inclusion of inorganic minerals as compared to the NC diet. Furthermore, activity of superoxide dismutase and bone quality were not affected, whereas glutathione status was improved with mineral supplementation in all groups. This study showed that Cu and Zn supplementation improves intestinal integrity during the Eimeria spp. infection, suggesting that Cu and Zn supplementation would be a potential strategy to reduce detrimental effects of Eimeria infection in broilers.

Thermoregulatory responses of Holstein cows exposed to experimentally induced heat stress.

Heat stress (HS) adversely influences productivity and welfare of dairy cattle. We hypothesized that the thermoregulatory mechanisms vary depending on the exposure time to HS, with a cumulative effect on the adaptive responses and thermal strain of the cow. To identify the effect of HS on adaptive thermoregulatory mechanisms and predictors of caloric balance, Holstein cows were housed in climate chambers and randomly distributed into thermoneutral (TN; n=12) or HS (n=12) treatments for 16 days. Vaginal temperature (VT), rectal temperature (Tre), respiratory rate (RR), heart rate (HR), and dry matter intake (DMI) were measured. The temperature and humidity under TN were 25.9±0.2°C and 73.0±0.8%, respectively, and under HS were 36.3±0.3°C and 60.9±0.9%, respectively. The RR of the HS cows increased immediately after exposure to heat and was higher (76.02±1.70bpm, p<0.001) than in the TN (39.70±0.71bpm). An increase in Tre (39.87±0.07°C in the HS vs. 38.56±0.03°C in the TN, p<0.001) and in VT (39.82±0.10°C in the HS vs. 38.26±0.03°C in the TN, p<0.001) followed the increase in RR. A decrease (p<0.05) in HR occurred in the HS (62.13±0.99bpm) compared with the TN (66.23±0.79bpm); however, the magnitude of the differences was not the same over time. The DMI was lower in HS cows from the third day (8.27±0.33kgd-1 in the HS vs. 14.03±0.29kgd-1 in the TN, p<0.001), and the reduction of DMI was strongly affected (r=-0.65) by changes in the temperature humidity index. The effect of environmental variables from the previous day on physiological parameters and DMI was more important than the immediate effect, and ambient temperature represented the most determinant factor for heat exchange. The difference in the responses to acute and chronic exposure to HS suggests an adaptive response. Thus, intense thermal stress strongly influence thermoregulatory mechanisms and the acclimation process depend critically on heat exposure time.

Analysis of metabolic pools in broilers chicks.

This paper shows the possibility of obtaining new parameters for the mathematical modelling of data on stable isotopes in biological systems and its application in obtaining data on metabolic pools of blood plasma, blood serum, liver and muscle of broilers. This theory states that the modelling of turnover used for studies of isotopic incorporation when the metabolism has a single metabolic pool is feasible by the technique of setting an exponential. However, when the metabolism has more than one metabolic pool, it is necessary to apply the linearization technique, linear regression adjustment and evaluation of the assumptions of regression to obtain the kinetic parameters such as half-life (T1/2) and isotope exchange rate (k). The application of this technique on carbon-13 data from 100 one-day-old chicks, with the change of diet composed of grains of the photosynthetic cycle of plants from C4 to C3, in broilers has enabled the discovery that the liver, blood plasma and blood serum have a single metabolic pool; however, the pectoral muscle has two metabolic pools. For the liver, blood plasma and blood serum, the half-life values were found by the exponential fit being T1/2 = 1.4 days with the rate of exchange of k = 0.502, T1/2 = 2.4 days with k = 0.293 and T1/2 = 2.0 days with k = 0.348, respectively. For the pectoral muscle, after linearization, the half-life values were found for T1/2(1) = 1.7 and T1/2(2) = 3 days, with exchange rates of k1 = 0.405 and k2 = 0.235, representing approximately 66 and 34%, respectively.

Ação trófica de aditivos fitogênicos, glutamina e ácido glutâmico sobre a Bursa de Fabrícius e intestino delgado de frangos de corte / Trophic action of phytogenic additives, glutamine and glutamic acid on Bursa Fabricii and small intestine of broilers

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of phytogenic additives and glutamine plus glutamic acid, associated or not, on histomorphometry of bursa of Fabricius and small intestine, oocyst count and lesion scores, and carbon turnover of duodenal mucosa of broiler chickens infected with Eimeria acervulina. A total of 450 male broiler chickens was distributed into a completely randomized design with six treatments and three replications. Treatments consisted of control diet (CD); CD + coccidiosis vaccine; CD + antibiotic performance enhancers and anticoccidial (APE/AC); CD + glutamine and glutamic acid (Gln/Glu); CD + phytogenic additives (PA); CD + Gln/Glu + PA. Birds on treatment CD + vaccine were vaccinated via drinking water at three days of age against coccidiosis. At 16 days of age all birds of all treatments were inoculated orally and individually with 500,000 oocysts of Eimeria acervulina. There was no treatment effect on lesion score in the intestinal epithelium of birds. The smaller number of excreted oocysts was observed in groups of birds fed diets containing APE/AC and PA. Were observed better results of villus height and crypt depth for duodenum and ileum of birds of treatments containing Gln/Glu at 7 days of age, and Gln/Glu and PA at 21 days of age. Higher percentage of cortical area from bursa follicles was observed in birds fed diets supplemented with Gln/Glu and PA at 7, 14 and 21 days of age. Increased turnover of intestinal mucosa was observed in treatments containing Gln/Glu, indicating acceleration in development and regeneration of damaged tissue. Glutamine plus glutamic acid and phytogenic additives can provide improvements to structure, and thus to intestinal function, as well as to better immune response against the infectious challenges. Phytogenic additives can be used for coccidiosis control of broiler chickens where the use of antibiotic performance enhancers and anticoccidials is prohibited...

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito dos aditivos fitogênicos e da glutamina mais ácido glutâmico, associados ou não, sobre a histomorfometria da Bursa de Fabricius e intestino delgado, sobre contagem de oocistos e escores de lesão e sobre o turnover do carbono da mucosa intestinal de frangos de corte experimentalmente infectadas com Eimeria acervulina. Para isso foram utilizados 450 pintos de corte machos distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualisado, com seis tratamentos e três repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram de dieta controle (DC); DC + Vacina de coccidiose; DC + antibióticos melhoradores de desempenho e anticoccidiano (AMD/AC); DC + glutamina e ácido glutâmico (Gln/Glu); DC + sditivos fitogênicos (AFs); DC + Gln/Glu + AFs. As aves do tratamento DC + Vacina foram vacinadas via água de bebida, aos três dias de idade, contra coccidiose. Aos 16 dias de idade todas as aves de todos os tratamentos foram inoculadas oralmente e individualmente com 500.000 oocistos de Eimeria acervulina. Não houve efeito dos tratamentos para escore de lesão no epitélio intestinal das aves. O menor número de oocistos excretados foi observado nos grupos de aves alimentadas com dieta contendo AMD/AC e AFs. Foram observados melhores resultados para altura das vilosidades e profundidade das criptas do duodeno e ílio das aves dos tratamentos contendo Gln/Glu, aos 7 dias de idade e Gln/Glu e AFs aos 21 dias de idade. Maior porcentagem de área cortical dos folículos bursais foi observada em aves alimentadas com dieta suplementada com Gln/Glu e AFs aos 7, 14 e 21 dias de idade. Maior turnover da mucosa intestinal foi observada em aves dos tratamentos contendo Gln/Glu, indicando aceleração do desenvolvimento e regeneração do tecido lesado. Glutamina mais ácido glutâmico e aditivos fitogênicos podem oferecer melhorias à estrutura e, consequentemente, à função do intestino, bem como melhores condições para resposta imune frente à desafios infecciosos...

Turnover de carbono nos tecidos de frangos de corte em diferentes fases de crescimento / Carbon turnover in poultry tissues at different growth stages

Este trabalho objetivou determinar o turnover do carbono no Pectoralis major, quilha, tíbia e fígado de frangos de corte em seus diferentes períodos de crescimento, utilizando a técnica dos isótopos estáveis. Foram utilizados 216 pintos de corte, machos, Cobb. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado e consistiu de sete tratamentos com dias de substituição das dietas distintos: 0; 7; 14; 21; 28; 35; 42 dias de idade. Para mensurar o turnover do carbono nos tecidos em determinado intervalo de tempo, foi utilizado o modelo sigmoidal de regressão de Boltzmann ou função exponencial do tempo. Os valores de meias-vidas foram: 2,5; 2,8; 2,9; 4,9; 5,1; 5,5 e 6,0 dias para músculo peitoral; 2,7; 2,9; 3,1; 4,6; 5,3; 4,1 e 8,0 dias para quilha; 4,4; 3,6; 5,4; 5,8; 4,3; 5,2 e 6,3 dias para tíbia e 1,3; 1,9; 1,4; 1,5; 1,9; 1,7 e 2,1 dias para fígado, nos tratamentos T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 e T7, respectivamente. Pode-se concluir que a tíbia possui metabolismo lento e pode indicar o sinal isotópico das dietas iniciais da criação dos frangos de corte; e o fígado, metabolismo rápido, indicado para refletir a dieta próxima da fase de avaliação.

The aim of this study was to evaluate carbon turnover on muscle tissue Pectoralis major, keel, tibia and liver of poultry at different life stages using the carbon stable isotopes technique. 216 male chick lings (Cobb) were used. The trial was conduced in a totally random distribution consisting on seven treatments with distinct days for diet substitution (0, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35, 42 days old). Either Boltzmann sigmoid regression or the exponential time function were used in order to measure the carbon isotopic turnover in a specific period of time. The half-life were: 2.5; 2.8; 2.9; 4.9; 5.1; 5.5 e 6.0 day on muscle tissue; 2.7; 2.9; 3.1; 4.6; 5.3; 4.1 e 8.0 day on keel; 4.4; 3.6; 5.4; 5.8; 4.3; 5.2 e 6.3 day on tibia and 1.3; 1.9; 1.4; 1.5; 1.9; 1.7 and 2.1 day on liver, for to treatments T1, T2, T3, T4, T5, T6 e T7 respectively. According to the results of this study, it is possible to conclude that the tibia has slowest metabolism and may indicate the isotopic signature of initial diets of poultry culture. The fast metabolism tissue, liver, is appropriated to reflect the diets fed at closer period of evaluation.

Nucleotídeos na dieta de frangos de corte e seus efeitos sobre taxa de turnover da mucosa intestinal antes e após lesões causadas por coccidiose / Nucleotides in broilers challenged diet and its effects on intestinal mucosa turnover rate before and after injuries caused by coccidiose

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da dieta suplementada com nucleotídeos sobre taxa de turnover da mucosa intestinal de frangos antes e após lesões causadas por coccidiose por meio de análise isotópica, utilizando a variação do carbono-13 em plantas C3 e C4. Foram utilizados 264 pintos submetidos a dois tratamentos: dieta controle e dieta suplementada com 0,07 por cento nucleotídeos. Os pintos possuíam sinais isotópicos em seus tecidos semelhantes ao de ditas C4. Após o alojamento, para avaliar taxa de turnover da mucosa, as aves receberam dietas predominantemente C3. Com 16 dias de idade, 50 por cento das aves de cada tratamento foram inoculadas com oocistos de Eimeria acervulina e, a partir de 21 dias, para avaliar a taxa de turnover após desafio, as aves passaram a receber dieta predominantemente C4. Amostras de mucosa foram analisadas isotopicamente por espectrometria de massa. Na fase inicial, a suplementação com nucleotídeos propiciou aceleração na troca do carbono na mucosa, com meia-vida de 1,06 e 1,01 dias para dieta controle e com nucleotídeos, respectivamente, acelerando o crescimento intestinal. Na fase de 21 a 42 dias de idade, para os grupos não desafiados com coccidiose, as meias-vidas do carbono foram 1,81 e 1,80 dias para dieta controle e com nucleotídeos, respectivamente, não havendo influência dos tratamentos. Porém, nos grupos desafiados, as meias-vidas foram 1,01 dias no grupo controle e 0,75 dias no que recebeu dieta com nucleotídeos, indicando maior turnover da mucosa nesse último grupo. A adição de nucleotídeos promove aceleração no processo de renovação da mucosa intestinal e na regeneração após danos causados por coccidiose.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of nucleotides supplementation diet on the intestinal mucosa turnover rate of broilers before and after injury caused by coccidiosis, through isotopic analysis, using the carbon-13 variation in C³ and C4 plants. It was used 264 chicks under two treatments: control diet and diet supplemented with 0.07 percent nucleotides. The chicks had isotopic signals in their tissues similar to C4 diet. After housing, to assess mucosal turnover rate, the birds were fed with a predominantly C3 diet. At 16 days of age, 50 percent of birds from each treatment were inoculated with Eimeria acervulina oocysts and starting from 21 days, to assess the mucosa turnover rate after challenge, the birds received predominantly C4 diet. Samples of intestinal mucosa were isotopically analyzed by mass spectrometry. In the initial phase, supplementation with nucleotides led acceleration in carbon trading in the mucosa, with half-lives of 1.06 and 1.01 days for control diet and with nucleotides, respectively, accelerating intestinal growth. During the 21 to 42 days of age, for not coccidiosis challenged groups, the carbon half-lives were 1.81 and 1.80 days for control diet and with nucleotides respectively, without any influence of the treatments. However, in the challenged groups, the half-lives were 1.01 days in control group and 0.75 days in group receiving nucleotides diet supplementetion, indicating a higher mucosa turnover rate in the latter group. The addition of nucleotides promotes acceleration in the cell renewal process of intestinal mucosa and in regeneration after damage caused by coccidiosis.

Temperatura e enriquecimento ambiental sobre o bem-estar de coelhos em crescimento / Temperature and environmental enrichment on the welfare of growing rabbits

O efeito da temperatura e o efeito do enriquecimento do piso de gaiola sobre o bem-estar de coelhos em crescimento foram avaliados. Quarenta e oito coelhos do grupo genético Botucatu, desmamados aos 35 dias de idade, foram alojados em Câmara Climática, quatro por gaiola (1,00 x 0,60 x 0,40m), em 12 gaiolas que tinham (ou não) metade do piso coberto com cama de palha. As gaiolas foram instaladas metade em sala com temperatura ambiente e metade em sala resfriada. Os animais tiveram livre acesso à ração balanceada e à água nos dois tipos de piso. Para se avaliar o bem-estar, foram realizadas cinco observações de 24 horas cada, uma por semana, sendo registradas as freqüências dos comportamentos: lúdico, estereotipado, exploratório, cuidados corporais e interação e comparadas entre gaiolas enriquecidas ou não nas duas salas. A média de temperatura e a média de umidade relativa do ar foram: 23,6°C e 78,7 por cento na sala natural e 20,6°C e 71,0 por cento na sala resfriada. O comportamento lúdico foi mais freqüente nas gaiolas enriquecidas (7,6 vs 4,3 por cento sala natural e 7,8 vs 3,8 por cento sala resfriada, P<0,01) e as estereotipias foram mais freqüentes nas gaiolas sem enriquecimento (4,4 vs. 2,7 por cento sala natural e 2,1 vs 1,1 por cento sala resfriada, P>0,01). Coelhos mantidos em temperatura natural preferiram a grade à cama de palha (77,9 vs. 22,1 por cento, P>0,01), enquanto na sala resfriada eles não mostraram preferência em relação ao piso (45,9 vs 54,1 por cento, P=0,41). Em sala resfriada, o enriquecimento com palha favoreceu o bem-estar animal.

The effects of temperature and cage floor enrichment on the welfare of growing rabbits were evaluated. Forty-eight rabbits from the Botucatu genetic group, weaned at 35 days of age were housed in an Environmental Chamber, four per cage (1.00 x 0.60 x 0.40m), in 12 cages that had (or not) half of the floor covered with litter straw. The cages were housed half in a room temperature chamber and half in a refrigerated chamber. Animals had free access to a balanced feed and water in the two types of floor. In order to evaluate welfare, five 24-hour observations were carried out, one per week, to register the frequencies of the following behaviors: ludic, stereotypic, exploratory, self-grooming and interactions, and to compare them between enriched and non-enriched cages from the two chambers. The average temperatures and relative humidities were 23.6°C and 78.7 percent in the room temperature chamber and 20.6°C and 71.0 percent in the refrigerated chamber. The ludic behavior was more frequent in the enriched cages (7.6 vs. 4.3 percent Room Temperature Chamber and 7.8 vs. 3.8 percent Refrigerated Chamber, P<0.01) and the stereotypies in the non-enriched cages (4.4 vs. 2.7 percent Room Temperature Chamber and 2.1 vs 1.1 percent Refrigerated Chamber, P<0.01). Rabbits kept at room temperature preferred the wire net floor over the litter straw (77.9 vs. 22.1 percent, P<0.01), whereas in the refrigerated chamber they did not show preference regarding floor types (45.9 vs. 54.1 percent, P=0.41). In the refrigerated chamber, cage floor enrichment favored animal welfare.

Enzima e simbiótico para frangos criados nos sistemas convencional e alternativo / Enzyme and symbiotic for broilers bred in conventional and alternative systems

O objetivo deste trabalho foi estudar os efeitos da inclusão de enzima e simbiótico nas rações de frangos de corte criados nos sistemas convencional e alternativo sobre o desempenho, rendimento de carcaça, cortes e gordura abdominal e também avaliar economicamente o uso destes aditivos em ambos os sistemas de criação. Foram utilizados 720 pintos machos Cobb, com um dia de idade, distribuídos em um delineamento em blocos casualizados no esquema fatorial 2x3, com dois sistemas de criação: convencional (com promotor de crescimento) e alternativo (sem promotor de crescimento) e três aditivos: sem outro aditivo (SA), com simbiótico (SI) e com enzima + simbiótico (SIE), com 4 repetições de 30 aves cada. Aos 42 dias de idade, o fator de produção (FP) foi menor (P<0,05) para aves SA (324), quando comparadas às tratadas com SI (334) e SIE (337). Aves criadas no sistema convencional apresentaram maior (P<0,05) FP (338), quando comparadas às do sistema de criação alternativo (325). No sistema alternativo, a conversão alimentar foi melhor (P<0,05) para aves SI (1,77), quando comparadas às SIE (1,82) e SA (1,85). O uso de SI e SIE favorece o desempenho dos frangos aos 42 dias de idade e não influencia o rendimento de carcaça, cortes e gordura abdominal, tanto no sistema convencional como no alternativo, sendo que estes aditivos aumentam os custos de produção em ambos os sistemas. O sistema alternativo de criação proporciona maior retorno econômico, apesar do menor fator de produção.

This research was aimed at evaluating the effects of enzyme and symbiotic inclusion in broilers diets bred in conventional and alternative systems on performance, carcass yield, cuts, abdominal fat and economic return these additives in both breeding systems. 720 one-day old male Cobb chicks were distributed in randomized blocks design according to a 2x3 factorial, two breeding systems: conventional (with growth promoter) and alternative (no growth promoter) and three additives: no additive (NA), symbiotic (SY) and symbiotic + enzyme (SYE), with four replicates of 30 broilers each. At 42 days old, the production factor (PF) was lower in NA broiler chickens (324) as broiler chickens supplemented with SY (334) and SYE (337). Broiler bred in conventional system showed higher PF (338) as broilers bred in alternative system (325). In alternative breeding system, the feed conversion was better in SY broilers (1.77) as SYE (1.82) and NA (1.85) broilers. The SY and SYE use improve the performance of broiler chickens at 42 days old and it doesnÆt affect carcass yield, cuts, and abdominal fat, in conventional or alternative system; moreover these additives increase production costs in both systems. Alternative system provide higher economic return, despite of lower production factor.