Different calcium sources on the productive performance and bone quality of meat quail / Diferentes fontes de cálcio sob o desempenho produtivo e qualidade óssea de codornas de corte

This study was developed to examine the effect of using charru mussel-, maçunim- and oyster-shell meals as calcium sources on the productive performance, carcass yield and bone parameters of meat quail. A total of 250 one-day-old non-sexed European quail were used. The birds were distributed into five treatments (calcium sources: calcitic lime, calcium carbonate, charru mussel shell meal, maçunim shell meal or oyster shell meal) in a completely randomized design with five replicates and ten birds per experimental unit. Feed intake, weight gain and feed conversion were evaluated from one to 35 days. At 35 days, two birds with the average weight of the plot were slaughtered per plot and used for analysis of carcass yield and bone parameters. There were no significant differences (P > 0.05) in feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion, carcass yield or tibia dry matter content, ash content and strength. The charru mussel-, maçunim- and oyster-shell meals can be used as calcium sources in the diet of European quail without affecting their productive performance, carcass yield or bone mineralization.

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da utilização das farinhas de conchas de sururu, maçunim e ostra como fontes de cálcio sobre o desempenho produtivo, rendimento de carcaça e parâmetros ósseos de codornas de corte. Foram utilizadas 250 codornas europeias, não sexadas, com um dia de idade. As aves foram distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, constituído por cinco fontes de cálcio (calcário calcítico, carbonato de cálcio, farinha de conchas de sururu, farinha de conchas de maçunim e farinha de conchas de ostras), com cinco repetições e dez aves por unidade experimental. Foram avaliados o consumo de ração, ganho de peso e conversão alimentar no período de um a 35 dias. Aos 35 dias, duas aves de peso médio de cada parcela foram abatidas e utilizadas para as análises de rendimento de carcaça e parâmetros ósseos. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas (P > 0,05) para os dados de consumo de ração, ganho de peso, conversão alimentar, rendimento de carcaça, matéria seca, cinzas e resistência óssea de tíbias. As farinhas de conchas de sururu, maçunim e ostra podem ser utilizadas na alimentação de codornas europeias, como fontes de cálcio, sem afetar o desempenho produtivo, rendimento de carcaça e a mineralização óssea das aves.

Different Calcium Levels and Two Limestone Granulometries in the Diet of Laying Hens: Performance and Bone Characteristics

The effect of different calcium levels and two limestone granulometries on performance, egg quality, biometry of digestive organs and bone characteristics of light laying hens were evaluated. A total of 270 laying hens were used during 112 days, distributed in a completely randomized design in a 3 x 2 factorial scheme, with 3 levels of calcium (3.8, 4.0 and 4.2%) and 2 limestone granulometries (0.222 and 1.922 mm), totaling 6 treatments with 5 repetitions each. The parameters evaluated were: feed intake, egg production, egg weight and mass, feed conversion per mass and per dozen eggs, albumen, yolk and shell percentage, specific gravity of eggs and shell thickness. In addition, the relative weight of the heart, proventricle, gizzard, liver, pancreas, intestine weight and length, and bone characteristics were also evaluated. A significant interaction was observed for tibia mineral matter. Egg production was influenced by the limestone granulometry, presenting greater value in the treatments which contained fine granulometry limestone. Higher calcium levels of 4.0 and 4.2% provide greater specific density of eggs. Biometric variables and bone characteristics were not influenced by the treatments. In conclusion, it is recommended to use fine-grained limestone (0.222 mm) and a 4% calcium level in diets for light commercial hens, as they improve performance and quality of eggs, without interfering in biometrics of digestive organs and bone characteristics.(AU)

Addition of calcitic seaweed in the diet of sows positively affects the number of live-born piglets and milk parameters

This study was conducted to assess the effects of maternal dietary calcitic seaweed (CSW) on performance and blood metabolites of sows, and on performance, blood metabolites, intestinal microbiota, and parameters of gastrointestinal tract and bone of litters. On d 21 (post-insemination), non-pregnant sows were removed from the trial, remaining 19 sows in control group (without CSW) and 16 sows receiving CSW. Then, a total of 35 sows were allocated in a randomized block design with two treatments: control diet with calcitic limestone plus dicalcium phosphate (CTL) or CTL plus 0.4% CSW. In gestation, sows were fed twice a day (07:00 and 15:00 h) to reach an intake of 2.5 kg animal−1 day−1 divided into two equal meals. On parturition day, sows were offered only 0.5 kg feed animal−1. Throughout lactation, sows were fed three times a day (≅7 kg animal−1 day−1). All diets were provided as mash. Results suggested that sows fed CTL had litters with lower body weight at birth compared with those fed CSW. Sows fed CSW had 14.28% more live-born piglets and lower stillborns. Piglets from sows fed CSW showed greater calcium concentration on d 14 after birth than those from sows fed CTL. Sows fed CSW showed better milk chemical composition and an increase of 27.16% in milk production compared with those fed CTL. Piglets from sows fed CSW had an increase in cecum content in the Enterobacteriaceae count. This study showed that adding 0.4% CSW in the diet of pregnant and lactating sows as an organic calcium source positively influences the number of live-born piglets and the percentage of stillborns. In addition, milk composition and production are also improved without affecting piglets' biological response.(AU)

Chelated minerals and two limestone particle sizes on production of layers in the second laying cycle / Minerais quelatados e duas granulometrias de calcário sobre a produção de poedeiras em segundo ciclo produtivo

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the performance, egg quality, and bone quality of commercial white-egg layer hens in the second production cycle fed diets containing organic and inorganic minerals and two limestone particle sizes. A total of 215 birds with an average weight of 1.527 ± 0.092 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (two mineral sources and two limestone particle sizes) with six replicates. The following four treatments were tested: T1 = inorganic minerals + 100% fine limestone; T2 = inorganic minerals + 50% fine limestone + 50% coarse limestone; T3 = organic minerals + 100% fine limestone; and T4 = organic minerals+ 50% fine limestone + 50% coarse limestone. No significant interaction occurred between the studied factors for any variable. Egg production, egg mass, bone resistance and bone deformity were higher with organic supplementation. Eggshell weight, percentage of eggshell, and specific gravity were higher in the treatments with the fine+coarse limestone association. In conclusion, organic mineral supplementation improves the performance based on egg production and egg mass. The association between fine and larger-sized limestone improves the external quality of eggs. The use of organic minerals improves the bone quality of birds in the second production cycle.(AU)

Neste experimento objetivou-se de avaliar o desempenho, qualidade dos ovos e qualidade óssea das poedeiras comerciais leves em 2° ciclo de produção, submetidas às dietas contendo minerais orgânicos e inorgânicos e duas granulometrias do calcário. Foram utilizadas 216 aves, com peso médio de 1,527 ± 0,092 kg, distribuídas em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado em um esquema fatorial 2 × 2 (duas fontes de minerais e duas granulometrias do calcário), com seis repetições. Foram empregados quatro tratamentos a seguir: T1 = minerais inorgânicos + 100% de calcário fino; T2 = minerais inorgânicos + 50% de calcário fino + 50% de calcário grosso; T3 = minerais orgânicos + 100% de calcário fino e T4 = minerais orgânicos + 50% de calcário fino + 50 % de calcário grosso. Não houve interação significativa entre os fatores estudados para nenhuma variável. A produção de ovos, massa de ovo, resistência e deformidade óssea foram melhores com a suplementação orgânica. O peso da casca, percentagem da casca e a gravidade específica foram melhores nos tratamentos com a associação do calcário fino + grosso. Concluiu-se que suplementação mineral orgânica melhora o desempenho com base na produção de ovos e massa dos ovos. A utilização da associação do calcário fino com o de maior granulometria melhora a qualidade externa dos ovos. A utilização de minerais orgânicos melhora a qualidade óssea das aves, em 2° ciclo produtivo.(AU)

Chelated minerals and two limestone particle sizes on production of layers in the second laying cycle / Minerais quelatados e duas granulometrias de calcário sobre a produção de poedeiras em segundo ciclo produtivo

The aim of this experiment was to evaluate the performance, egg quality, and bone quality of commercial white-egg layer hens in the second production cycle fed diets containing organic and inorganic minerals and two limestone particle sizes. A total of 215 birds with an average weight of 1.527 ± 0.092 kg were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (two mineral sources and two limestone particle sizes) with six replicates. The following four treatments were tested: T1 = inorganic minerals + 100% fine limestone; T2 = inorganic minerals + 50% fine limestone + 50% coarse limestone; T3 = organic minerals + 100% fine limestone; and T4 = organic minerals+ 50% fine limestone + 50% coarse limestone. No significant interaction occurred between the studied factors for any variable. Egg production, egg mass, bone resistance and bone deformity were higher with organic supplementation. Eggshell weight, percentage of eggshell, and specific gravity were higher in the treatments with the fine+coarse limestone association. In conclusion, organic mineral supplementation improves the performance based on egg production and egg mass. The association between fine and larger-sized limestone improves the external quality of eggs. The use of organic minerals improves the bone quality of birds in the second production cycle.

Neste experimento objetivou-se de avaliar o desempenho, qualidade dos ovos e qualidade óssea das poedeiras comerciais leves em 2° ciclo de produção, submetidas às dietas contendo minerais orgânicos e inorgânicos e duas granulometrias do calcário. Foram utilizadas 216 aves, com peso médio de 1,527 ± 0,092 kg, distribuídas em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado em um esquema fatorial 2 × 2 (duas fontes de minerais e duas granulometrias do calcário), com seis repetições. Foram empregados quatro tratamentos a seguir: T1 = minerais inorgânicos + 100% de calcário fino; T2 = minerais inorgânicos + 50% de calcário fino + 50% de calcário grosso; T3 = minerais orgânicos + 100% de calcário fino e T4 = minerais orgânicos + 50% de calcário fino + 50 % de calcário grosso. Não houve interação significativa entre os fatores estudados para nenhuma variável. A produção de ovos, massa de ovo, resistência e deformidade óssea foram melhores com a suplementação orgânica. O peso da casca, percentagem da casca e a gravidade específica foram melhores nos tratamentos com a associação do calcário fino + grosso. Concluiu-se que suplementação mineral orgânica melhora o desempenho com base na produção de ovos e massa dos ovos. A utilização da associação do calcário fino com o de maior granulometria melhora a qualidade externa dos ovos. A utilização de minerais orgânicos melhora a qualidade óssea das aves, em 2° ciclo produtivo.

Characterization, feasibility and optimization of Agaricus subrufescens growth based on chemical elements on casing layer.

The aim of this study was to analyze yields, biological efficiency, earliness (expressed as days to first harvest), and precociousness and establish models for the mushroom growing according to these parameters. The experiment followed a double factorial design with four sources of calcium (calcitic limestone, calcitic limestone + gypsum, dolomitic limestone and dolomitic limestone + gypsum) and 2 application times (25 days before casing and at the moment of casing), with 4 replicates for each treatment. Different calcium sources influenced differently Agaricus subrufescens production, especially as regards earliness, which showed significantly higher values when dolomitic limestone with gypsum was applied. Yield and biological efficiency were negatively correlated with H + AL, organic matter and Mg amount. Furthermore, earliness was positively correlated with H + Al, organic matter, and the amount of Mg and Fe. Finally, negative correlations were observed between precociousness and the amount of Ca, SB (sum of base), CEC (cation exchange capacity) and V% (percentage of base saturation). The models presented in this work are extremely important for predicting the agronomic performance of Agaricus subrufescens on the basis of chemical analysis provided by the casing soil.