Laying Hens: Why Smothering and Not Surviving?-A Literature Review.

The proliferation of rearing systems providing opportunities for birds to engage in natural behaviors can trigger behavioral repertoires that when not manageable compromise animal welfare and the economic viability of the flock. Smothering in laying hens has long been perceived as "natural" or the result of hysteria among birds in the flock. However, the current literature has recognized smothering as an abnormal outcome with the potential to result in significant losses in cage-free poultry systems. Recent studies have specifically aimed to categorize the organization of smothering behavior and highlight its potential causes and consequences. In this study, literature review and bibliographic mapping, drawing on published articles and engagement with poultry farmers through extension and rural technical assistance, were employed. The findings indicate that smothering is a behavior triggered by factors related to the environment in which the laying hens are kept. This study concludes that there is a critical need for more rigorous and detailed research to elucidate the nuances of avian behavioral physiology and assess the impact of production systems on animal welfare and the economic impacts on the flock. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of bird behavior in high-production environments and provides practical insights for the poultry industry.

Advancing Efficiency Sustainability in Poultry Farms through Data Envelopment Analysis in a Brazilian Production System.

The production efficiency factor is widely used to measure the zootechnical performance of a batch of broilers. The unit cost of production brings new elements to improve efficiency evaluation and financial sustainability for this activity in agriculture. This research aims to evaluate the production efficiency level of the crop to maximize the return on investment. This study uses Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) with the computational processing of the SIAD software (Integrated Decision Support System). The variables selected were poultry housing, age at slaughter, feed consumed, mortality, and unit cost. The chosen output variable was the total available weight. The analysis spans 31 decision-making units (DMUs) composed of integrated producers, unveiling a frontier of efficiency delineated by the most exemplary DMUs. Notably, only two DMUs, specifically DMU 4 and DMU 23, approached the threshold of maximum relative efficiency. This research illuminates the critical role of unit cost in enhancing the assessment of production efficiency and financial sustainability within the agriculture environment. By setting benchmarks for efficient management and operational protocols, our findings serve as a cornerstone for improving practices among less efficient DMUs, contributing significantly to the literature on agricultural efficiency and offering actionable insights for the poultry farming sector.

Hazards Associated with the Combined Application of Fungicides and Poultry Litter in Agricultural Areas.

In recent decades, the poultry farming industry has assumed a pivotal role in meeting the global demand for affordable animal proteins. While poultry farming makes a substantial contribution to food security and nutrition, it also presents environmental and public health challenges. The use of poultry litter as fertilizer for agricultural soils raises concerns about the transfer of pathogens and drug-resistant microorganisms from poultry farms to crop production areas. On the other hand, according to the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), fungicides represent the second most used chemical group in agricultural practices. In this context, agricultural soils receive the application of both poultry litter as a fertilizer and fungicides used in agricultural production. This practice can result in fungal contamination of the soil and the development of antifungal resistance. This article explores the necessity of monitoring antifungal resistance, particularly in food production areas with co-application of poultry litter and fungicides. It also highlights the role of fungi in ecosystems, decomposition, and mutualistic plant associations. We call for interdisciplinary research to comprehensively understand fungal resistance to fungicides in the environment. This approach seeks to promote sustainability in the realms of human health, agriculture, and the environment, aligning seamlessly with the One Health concept.

Prevalence and Risk Factors of Eimeria spp. in Broiler Chickens from Pichincha and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas, Ecuador.

Coccidiosis in chickens is a parasitic disease of economic importance for the poultry industry. In Ecuador, there is limited information regarding the prevalence of Eimeria spp. on commercial broiler farms. Therefore, a total of 155 poultry farms in the provinces of Pichincha and Santo Domingo de los Tsáchilas were surveyed. The analysis of fresh fecal samples was conducted to determine the parasitic load of six of the seven chicken Eimeria species (excluding E. mitis) through multiplex PCR. Additionally, an epidemiological survey was performed to assess the risk factors associated with the infection using a multivariable logistic regression model. All samples tested positive for the presence of Eimeria spp., despite the farmers having implemented prophylactic measures, and no clinical coccidiosis cases were recorded. The parasitic load varied between 25 and 69,900 oocyst per gram. The species prevalence was as follows: Eimeria spp. 100%, E. maxima 80.4%, E. acervulina 70.6%, E. praecox 55.4%, E. tenella 53.6%, E. necatrix 52.2%, and E. brunetti 30.8%. The main species combination was E. cervuline, E. maxima, E. necatrix, and E. praecox (23.90%), followed by E. tenella, as a unique species (10.69%), and then E. acervulina, E. maxima, and E. praecox (8.81%). It was observed that farms operated by independent producers had a higher amount of Eimeria spp. and higher probability of the presence of E. brunetti, E. necatrix, E. praecox, and E. tenella. Poultry houses located below 1300 m above sea level were associated with a higher parasitic load and the presence of E. brunetti. Birds younger than 35 days of age and from open-sided poultry houses (with rudimentary environmental control) had a higher probability of presenting E. maxima. Drinking water from wells increased the risk of E. praecox presence. Research aimed at designing control strategies to improve health management on poultry farms in the region would help minimize the impact of coccidiosis.

Sweet potato flour (Ipomoea batatas) as natural antioxidant on carcass yield and meat physicochemical characteristics of Creole chickens of Mexico and Cobb 500.

Antioxidants are considered functional additives against oxidative stress since they avoid nutritional decline in the meat. The main objective of the present study is to evaluate the effect of sweet potato flour (SPF) as a natural antioxidant on carcass yield and physicochemical characteristics of Creole chickens of Mexico (CChM) and Cobb 500 broilers. In total, 210 chickens (105 CChM and 105 Cobb 500 chickens) were randomly assigned to three treatments: 0, 500, and 1000 mg of SPF kg-1 of feed. The Cobb 500 chickens showed higher carcass yield (hot and cold), breast, and breast fillet, whereas the CChM had higher thigh yield (P ≤ 0.05). The yield on the previously mentioned variables was not affected by the inclusion levels of SPF. The initial pH differed because of the effect of the chicken's genotype and the addition of SPF, which was higher on Cobb 500 chicken and on those that were not supplemented with SPF. The birds' skin that consumed SPF presented higher yellowness after 24 h (P ≤ 0.05). CChM manifested a higher dry matter and protein content and a lower content of ash and fat (P ≤ 0.05). In conclusion, Cobb 500 chickens present a higher carcass yield and its components, in addition to a less acid pH; however, CChM offer a higher nutritional contribution, whereas the 500 and 1000 mg addition of SPF increases the skin yellowness, which makes it an alterorganic as a pigment on broiler chicken production.

Assessment of Preference Behavior of Layer Hens under Different Light Colors and Temperature Environments in Long-Time Footage Using a Computer Vision System.

As for all birds, the behavior of chickens is largely determined by environmental conditions. In many production systems, light intensity is low and red feather strains have low contrast with the background, making it impossible to use conventional image segmentation techniques. On the other hand, studies of chicken behavior, even when using video camera resources, depend on human vision to extract the information of interest; and in this case, reduced samples are observed, due to the high cost of time and energy. Our work combined the use of advanced object detection techniques using YOLO v4 architecture to locate chickens in low-quality videos, and we automatically extracted information on the location of birds in more than 648 h of footage. We develop an automated system that allows the chickens to transition among three environments with different illuminations equipped with video cameras to monitor the presence of birds in each compartment, and we automatically count the number of birds in each compartment and determine their preference. Our chicken detection algorithm shows a mean average precision of 99.9%, and a manual inspection of the results showed an accuracy of 98.8%. Behavioral analysis results based on bird unrest index and permanence time indicate that chickens tend to prefer white light and disfavor green light, except in the presence of heat stress when no clear preference can be observed. This study demonstrates the potential of using computer vision techniques with low-resolution, low-cost cameras to monitor chickens in low-light conditions.

Thermal exchanges, physiological responses and productive performance of Guinea Fowl (Numidia meleagris) subjected to different air temperatures.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the thermal exchanges, physiological responses, productive performance and carcass yield of Guinea Fowl confined under thermoneutral conditions and under thermal stress. For the experiment, 96 animals were confined in 8 experimental boxes of 1 m2 of area, each, divided in equal numbers and placed inside two distinct climatic chambers, where the birds were distributed in a completely randomized design, with two treatments (air temperatures of 26 and 32 °C, respectively). For the collection of physiological responses and carcass yield 16 birds were evaluated and for the collection of data on feed and water consumption and productive responses, 48 birds per treatment were evaluated. The environmental variables (air temperature (AT), air relative humidity and wind speed), temperature and humidity index (THI), heat exchanges, physiological responses (respiratory rate, surface temperature, cloacal temperature and eyeball temperature), feed (FC) and water (WC) consumption and production responses (weight gain, feed conversion index and carcass yield) of the birds were evaluated. With the elevation of the AT, it could be noticed that the THI went from a thermal comfort condition to an emergency condition, where the birds lost part of their feathers, increased all physiological responses evaluated, and consequently, reduced by 53.5% the amount of heat dissipated in the sensible form and increased by 82.7% the heat losses in the latent form, increasing also the WC. ATs of up to 32 °C did not significantly affect the productive performance and carcass yield of the guinea fowl.

Zeolite and corn with different compositions in broiler chickens feeding.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the behavior of zeolite against different types of corn in broiler chickens' diets. 1,200 male broiler chickens were assigned to 6 diets in a completely randomized design and a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement, consisting of 2 types of corn (higher or lower mycotoxin contamination) and the inclusion of zeolite (0; 5,000 and 10,000 g ton-1). In the period from d 1 to 21, there was an interaction (P = 0.0040) between types of corn and the inclusion of zeolite for feed conversion ratio (FCR). In the phase from 1 to 42 d, there was an interaction (P = 0.0322) on the serum levels of creatinine (CREA) and digestible gross energy (dGE); corn with lower mycotoxin level contamination (LMLC), caused a reduction in body weight gain (BWG) (P = 0.0046) and increase in the relative weight of abdominal fat (P = 0.0256). Inclusion rates of zeolite promoted an increase in the digestible CP (P = 0.0477) and digestible ash (P < 0.0001), as well as an increase (P < 0.0001) in hot carcass yield (P = 0.0433). The results indicate that the inclusion of zeolite, in the amounts used, did not alter the performance, serum levels, intestinal development and litter quality of the birds at 42 d of age. However, it was responsible for the improvement in the percentage of digestible nutrients (CP, GE, and MM).

Oregano extract (Origanum vulgare) in female broiler chickens of free-range strain raised in the Western Amazon / Extrato de orégano (Origanum vulgare) em frangos de corte fêmeas de linhagem caipira criadas na Amazônia Ocidental

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of oregano extract added to commercial diets on zootechnical performance parameters, carcass yield, immunological conditions, morphometry, and intestinal pH for free-range broiler chickens raised under sanitary challenge conditions. Three hundred chicks of the strain 'Heavy red' were used and distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with five treatments and six replications, totaling 30 experimental units, each consisting of 10 birds. The treatments were: T1: Basal diet without oregano extract (OE); T2: Basal diet with OE (150 mg/kg); T3: Basal diet with OE (250 mg/kg); T4: Basal diet with OE (350 mg/kg); T5: and Basal diet with OE (450 mg/kg). There was a significant effect on feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion, feed efficiency, heterophil/lymphocyte ratio (H/L), and intestinal morphometry. No significant differences were observed in viability, carcass yield, intestinal pH, lymphoid organs, gizzard, heart, and intestine. Oregano extract influenced the liver yield and abdominal fat of broilers. Overall, the inclusion of oregano extract at the level of 350 mg/kg provided better results.(AU)

O objetivo desse trabalho foi avaliar o efeito do extrato de orégano adicionado à ração comercial, considerando os parâmetros de desempenho zootécnico, rendimento de carcaça, condições imunológicas, morfometria e pH intestinal de frangos de corte de linhagem caipira, criados sob condição de desafio sanitário. Foram utilizados 300 pintos da linhagem vermelho pesadão, que foram distribuídos em um delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado - DIC, com cinco tratamentos e seis repetições, totalizando 30 unidades experimentais, constituídas por 10 aves cada. Os tratamentos foram: T1: Ração basal, sem Extrato de Orégano (EO); T2: Ração basal com EO (150 mg/Kg); T3: Ração basal com EO (250 mg/Kg); T4: Ração basal com EO(350 mg/Kg); T5: Ração basal com EO (450 mg/Kg). Houve efeito significativo no consumo de ração, ganho de peso, conversão alimentar, eficiência alimentar, relação heterofilo/linfócito (H/L) e morfometria intestinal. Não foram observadas diferenças significativas na viabilidade, no rendimento de carcaça, no pH intestinal, nos órgãos linfoides, moela, coração e intestino. Promoveu influência no rendimento de fígado e gordura abdominal dos frangos. A inclusão no nível de 350mg/kg proporciona melhores resultados.(AU)

Estimating Chicken Meat Productions of Leader Countries for 2019-2025 Years / Estimando a produção de carne de frango em países líderes para os anos 2019-2025

ABSTRACT: The study predicted chicken meat production in 2019-2025 period for the leading chicken-producing countries with the help of the 1961-2018 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) data since chicken meat consumption is so high worldwide. The USA ranks the first place while Brazil and China take second and third places, respectively. The analysis of the pioneer chicken meat-producing countries indicates that while the portion of the USA in world production decreases, the share, particularly Brazil and China, will approach that of the USA. World chicken meat production, which was 7.56 million tons in 1961, will increase to 139.19 million tons in 2025, and this production per capita is predicted to increase to 17.0 kg in 2025 from 2.4, 5.35, 9.80, and 15.0 kg in 1961, 1981, 2001, and 2018, respectively. Indonesia, Russia, Brazil, Japan, and India will run the highest increases in production. However, the share of countries in chicken meat production will decrease from 61% to 60% in 2019-2025 compared to the 2012-2018 periods. This condition showed that apart from some leading countries, the production will keep a rapid increase in production. The increase in chicken meat production and chicken meat import worldwide will improve human nutrition, especially in developing and underdeveloped countries. Countries that run cost advantages and high-quality life standards in line with technological innovations produce processed chicken products, strengthen animal health, hygiene, and transportation standards, and attach importance to advertising activities that increase consumer demand will be more advantageous in this market.

RESUMO: O estudo visa prever a produção de carne de frango no período de 2019-2025 para os principais países produtores de frango com a ajuda dos dados da Organização para Agricultura e Alimentação (FAO) de 1961-2018, uma vez que o consumo de carne de frango é tão alto emtodo o mundo. Os EUA ocupam o primeiro lugar, enquanto o Brasil e a China ficam com o segundo e o terceiro lugares, respectivamente. A análise dos países pioneiros na produção de carne de frango indica que enquanto a participação dos EUA na produção mundial diminui a participação, principalmente do Brasil e da China, se aproximará da dos EUA. A produção mundial de carne de frango, que era de 7,56 milhões de tonelada sem 1961, aumentará para 139,19 milhões de tonelada sem 2025, e esta produção per capita deve aumentar para 17,0 kg em 2025 de 2,4, 5,35, 9,80 e 15,0 kg em 1961, 1981, 2001 e 2018, respectivamente. Indonésia, Rússia, Brasil, Japão e Índia terão os maiores aumentos de produção. No entanto, a participação dos países na produção de carne de frango cairá de 61% para 60% em 2019-2025 em relação ao período de 2012-2018. Essa condição mostra que, além de alguns países líderes, a produção manterá um rápido aumento da produção. O aumento na produção e importação de carne de frango em todo o mundo melhorará a nutrição humana, especialmente nos países em desenvolvimento e subdesenvolvidos. Os países que possuem vantagens de custo e padrões de vida de alta qualidade alinhados às inovações tecnológicas produzem produtos processados de frango, fortalecemos padrões de saúde, higiene e transporte animal e atribuem importância a atividades de publicidade que aumentem a demanda do consumidor serão mais vantajosas neste mercado.

Estimating Chicken Meat Productions of Leader Countries for 2019-2025 Years / Estimando a produção de carne de frango em países líderes para os anos 2019-2025

The study predicted chicken meat production in 2019-2025 period for the leading chicken-producing countries with the help of the 1961-2018 Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) data since chicken meat consumption is so high worldwide. The USA ranks the first place while Brazil and China take second and third places, respectively. The analysis of the pioneer chicken meat-producing countries indicates that while the portion of the USA in world production decreases, the share, particularly Brazil and China, will approach that of the USA. World chicken meat production, which was 7.56 million tons in 1961, will increase to 139.19 million tons in 2025, and this production per capita is predicted to increase to 17.0 kg in 2025 from 2.4, 5.35, 9.80, and 15.0 kg in 1961, 1981, 2001, and 2018, respectively. Indonesia, Russia, Brazil, Japan, and India will run the highest increases in production. However, the share of countries in chicken meat production will decrease from 61% to 60% in 2019-2025 compared to the 2012-2018 periods. This condition showed that apart from some leading countries, the production will keep a rapid increase in production. The increase in chicken meat production and chicken meat import worldwide will improve human nutrition, especially in developing and underdeveloped countries. Countries that run cost advantages and high-quality life standards in line with technological innovations produce processed chicken products, strengthen animal health, hygiene, and transportation standards, and attach importance to advertising activities that increase consumer demand will be more advantageous in this market.

O estudo visa prever a produção de carne de frango no período de 2019-2025 para os principais países produtores de frango com a ajuda dos dados da Organização para Agricultura e Alimentação (FAO) de 1961-2018, uma vez que o consumo de carne de frango é tão alto emtodo o mundo. Os EUA ocupam o primeiro lugar, enquanto o Brasil e a China ficam com o segundo e o terceiro lugares, respectivamente. A análise dos países pioneiros na produção de carne de frango indica que enquanto a participação dos EUA na produção mundial diminui a participação, principalmente do Brasil e da China, se aproximará da dos EUA. A produção mundial de carne de frango, que era de 7,56 milhões de tonelada sem 1961, aumentará para 139,19 milhões de tonelada sem 2025, e esta produção per capita deve aumentar para 17,0 kg em 2025 de 2,4, 5,35, 9,80 e 15,0 kg em 1961, 1981, 2001 e 2018, respectivamente. Indonésia, Rússia, Brasil, Japão e Índia terão os maiores aumentos de produção. No entanto, a participação dos países na produção de carne de frango cairá de 61% para 60% em 2019-2025 em relação ao período de 2012-2018. Essa condição mostra que, além de alguns países líderes, a produção manterá um rápido aumento da produção. O aumento na produção e importação de carne de frango em todo o mundo melhorará a nutrição humana, especialmente nos países em desenvolvimento e subdesenvolvidos. Os países que possuem vantagens de custo e padrões de vida de alta qualidade alinhados às inovações tecnológicas produzem produtos processados de frango, fortalecemos padrões de saúde, higiene e transporte animal e atribuem importância a atividades de publicidade que aumentem a demanda do consumidor serão mais vantajosas neste mercado.

Salmonella enterica diversity and antimicrobial resistance profile in broiler slaughterhouse by-products.

The aim of this study was to investigate the presence of Salmonella enterica in by­products (feathers, spleen, cecum, and crop) from broiler slaughterhouses as well as to determine the antimicrobial resistance profile of the identified serovars. Forty­four lots of broilers in nine slaughterhouses located in the central­west region of Brazil were evaluated. Samples of spleen, feathers, cecum, and crop were collected in a pool and a total of 1,232 samples were evalueted. These were processed for conventional bacterial isolation and subjected to biochemical and serological tests to identify serovars. The identified serovars were subjected to the antimicrobial susceptibility test, where nine different antimycotics were investigated. Salmonella enterica was identified in 7.1% (87/1,232) of all evaluated samples, mostly in feathers (12.3%) and spleen (8.1%). The most frequent serovars were Schwarzengrund (29.9%), Agona (25.4%), Mbandaka (12.7%) and Anatum (8.1%). Nine serovars showed resistance to at least one antimicrobial, especially serovars Mbandaka, Infantis and Typhimurium. Amoxicillin and tetracycline were not effective in inhibiting at least five and four serovars, respectively.

Nicarbazin Residue in Tissues from Broilers Reared on Reused Litter Conditions.

Nicarbazin (NCZ) is a worldwide used anticoccidial in poultry farming to avoid coccidiosis disease when chickens are reared on conventional poultry litter. If proper dosage and withdrawal time are not followed, the component dinitrocarbanilide (DNC) of NCZ may be present in chicken tissues, therefore posing a risk to consumers if the residues are above 200 µg/kg. Litter reuse is a common and important practice in commercial chicken production. Literature is lacking about the influence of litter reuse on DNC deposition in chicken tissues and its impact on food safety. We aimed to evaluate DNC residues in breast and liver by LC-MS/MS from broilers from an experiment with 10 consecutive flocks during 2 years. The experiment included three treatments containing NCZ in the diet (T1 = 125 mg/kg, 1−21 d; T2 = 125 mg/kg, 1−32 d; T3 = 40 mg/kg, 1−32 d). DNC residues in chicken breast at 21 d in T1 ranged from 648.8−926 µg/kg, at 32 d in T2 and T3 varied, respectively, from 232−667 µg/kg and 52−189 µg/kg. Regarding liver, DNC residues at 21 days in T1 ranged from 11,754−15,281 µg/kg, at 32 days in T2 and T3 varied, respectively, from 10,168−15,021 µg/kg and 2899−4573 µg/kg. When NCZ was withdrawn from feed, DNC residues dropped to

Caracterización de Sistemas de Producción Industrial de Pollo de Engorde en el Departamento de Santander-Colombia / Characterization of Broiler Production Systems in Santander Province-Colombia / Caracterização dos Sistemas deProdução Industrial de Frango de Corte no Departamento de Santander-Colômbia

Resumen Introducción: La producción de pollo de engorde es de gran interés para el departamento de Santander dada su alta participación dentro del PIB pecuario, lo que lo constituye en el principal centro avícola nacional. Es importante conocer las condiciones bajo las cuales se realiza la producción de pollo de engorde e identificar el potencial que tienen estos sistemas de producción. Objetivo: caracterizar los sistemas de producción industrial de pollo de engorde ubicados en el departamento de Santander. Materiales y métodos: Para el desarrollo del trabajo se contó con información proveniente de 79 predios avícolas los cuales se encontraban ubicados en 4 provincias: Metropolitana, Soto, Guanentá y Yariguíes. Se realizó un análisis de clúster y se generó un índice de adopción tecnológica. Resultados: Se encontró que existe variación en la adopción de tecnologías, siendo las más frecuentes las tecnologías blandas. Santander obtuvo un índice de adopción tecnológica bajo. Conclusiones: El sector avícola del departamento de Santander posee un bajo índice de adopción tecnológica, lo cual sugiere la necesidad de evaluar el efecto que esto tiene sobre los resultados productivos con miras al incremento de la productividad a largo plazo en la zona.

Abstract Introduction: Broiler production is of great interest to Santander given its high participation in the livestock GDP of this province, which makes it the main Colombian poultry center. It is important to know the conditions under which broiler production takes place and to identify the potential of these production systems. Objective: To characterize the industrial broiler production systems located in Santander province. Methods: Information from 79 poultry farms located in 4 provinces (Metropolitana, Soto, Guanentá and Yariguíes) was used. A cluster analysis was performed, and a technology adoption index was generated. Results: Variations in technology adoption were observed. The most frequently adopted were soft technologies. The technology adoption rate for the overall province was low. Conclusions: The poultry sector of the department of Santander has a low technology adoption index, which suggests the need to evaluate the effect that this has on the productive results, with a view to increasing productivity in the long term.

Resumo Introdução: A produção de frangos de corte é de grande interesse para o departamento de Santander, devido à sua elevada participação no PIB da pecuária, o que o torna como o principal pólo avícola nacional. É importante conhecer as condições em que ocorre a produção de frangos de corte e identificar o potencial que esses sistemas de produção possuem. Objetivo: Caracterizar os sistemas de produção industrial de frangos de corte localizados no departamento de Santander. Materiais e Métodos: Para o desenvolvimento do trabalho, foram disponibilizadas informações de 79 granjas avícolas localizadas em 4 províncias: Metropolitana, Soto, Guanentá e Yariguíes. Uma análise de cluster foi realizada e um índice de adoção de tecnologia foi gerado. Resultados: Constatou-se que há variação na adoção de tecnologias, sendo as mais frequentes as tecnologias leves. O Santander obteve um baixo índice de adoção de tecnologia. Conclusões: O setor avícola do departamento de Santander tem um baixo índice de adoção tecnológico, o que sugere a necessidade de avaliar o efeito que isso tem nos resultados produtivos, com vistas a aumentar a produtividade no longo prazo.

Effects of dietary electrolyte balance on performance, energy balance, and expression of genes related to acid-basic balance, absorption, and transport of nutrients in broilers.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of dietary electrolyte balance (DEB) levels on performance characteristics (feed intake, FI; body weight gain, BWG; and feed efficiency, FE), energy balance (retained energy, RE; metabolizable energy ingested, MEI; heat production, HP; and energy retention efficiency, ERE), and the expression of genes related to acid-base balance, nutrient absorption, and transport in broilers from 1 to 21 days of age. A total of 245 male Cobb chickens were used in a completely randomized design with five DEB levels (110, 175, 240, 305, and 370 mEq/kg) and seven replicates of seven birds each. The inclusion of DEB levels influenced FE; 110 mEq/kg provided the better values for this characteristic both in the pre-initial phase and in the initial phase but was different only concerning 175 mEq/kg (1-7 days) and 240 mEq/kg (1-21 days). Birds that ingested diets with a level of 240 mEq/kg of DEB had a higher MEI and HP. This DEB level caused a lesser and greater expression of the SLC12A2 gene in the liver and the ATP1A1 gene in the intestine, respectively. On the other hand, the ATP1A1 gene was less expressed in the liver and kidney of broilers supplemented with 370 mEq/kg compared to a level of 110 mEq/kg. In general, a level of 110 mEq/kg DEB in the ration seems to be the most suitable for good performance, energy balance, and gene expression of broilers from 1 to 21 days of age.

Influence of laying hen-systems and ecologic variables on mites of medical and veterinary importance.

The search for improvements in the poultry production chain and for increased egg productivity have grown significantly. However, intensive production with or by using of confinement systems negatively affect the welfare of animals and is favoring the appearance of harmful ectoparasites in production. Due to differences in the existing management systems, (e.g. Californian and cage-free systems) and given the importance of the poultry industry in the international market, the aim of the present study was: (1) to compare mite community between SIG (Intensive system - cage: Californian) and SIF (Intensive system - free: cage free); (2) egg-laying systems to analyze how the abundances of the ectoparasites Dermanyssus gallinae, Megninia ginlgymura, and Ornithonyssus sylviarum are affected by these egg-laying models; (3) to evaluate the association between the functional diversity found in traps, organic matter, and feathers in both systems; and finally, (4) to analyze how abiotic factors (e.g. humidity, temperature at sampling) affect mite community composition inside each model. A total of 860,571 mites were sampled, belonging to 59 taxa from six functional groups. Mite composition in the SIF system was different from the SIG system, while their variations in dispersion homogeneity were quite similar to each other. Although taxonomic composition is different between them, they are quite similar when clustered according to functional diversity. The variables 'humidity' and 'temperature' were not determining factors for the appearance of species. The species that most contributed for distinguishing the models were: M. ginlgymura, Dermatophagoides farinae, D. gallinae, Tyrophagus putrescentiae, O. sylviarum, Blattisocius keegani, Glycyphagus sp., Acotyledon sp., and Cheyletus malaccensis, respectively. Dermanyssus gallinae was strongly associated with the Californian model. Two taxa were highly correlated with cloaca, neck, dorsum, and inner wings; variations in relative air humidity also affected M. ginlgymura and O. sylviarum populations. Organic matter had a high abundance of predatory mites with potential for controlling mites of sanitary importance in the poultry chain.

Condenação de carcaças de frangos de corte por síndrome ascítica em um abatedouro-frigorífico no estado do Espírito Santo, Brasil / Condemnation of poultry carcasses due ascitic syndrome in an abattoir in the state of Espírito Santo, Brazil

A síndrome ascítica, ou síndrome de hipertensão pulmonar, pode ser definida como uma condição patológica caracterizada pelo acúmulo de líquido na cavidade abdominal em virtude da maior velocidade de crescimento e ganho de peso dos frangos, levando a maior necessidade de suprimento de oxigênio para os tecidos, geralmente ocorre a partir da terceira semana de vida da ave. As altas taxas de crescimento e ganho de peso implicaram no aumento da demanda de oxigênio para suprir os tecidos causando falhas na resposta fisiológica em órgãos como o coração e o pulmão. Assim, este trabalho tem como objetivo relatar a frequência de carcaças acometidas de forma parcial ou total pela síndrome ascítica em frangos de corte abatidos em um frigorífico sob inspeção estadual localizado no Estado do Espírito Santo, e estimar o impacto econômico decorrente. Foram inspecionadas 2.067.645 aves, das quais, em 6.855 (0,33%) foram identificadas com esse distúrbio metabólico. Em todas as modalidades as carcaças tiveram o encaminhamento específico de destino, de acordo com a legislação vigente, resultando em uma perda econômica de no mínimo R$19.905,00 (U$ 3,790.06) durante o período aproximado de três meses (período de realização do estudo). Assim, conlui-se que para evitar a recorrência desse problema, deve-se conhecer todos os fatores de risco que podem levar a essa condição patológica, para estabelecer medidas eficazes para seu controle, fazendo com que a avicultura brasileira continue em grande desenvolvimento e que ocorra redução das perdas economicas para essa cadeia produtiva.

Ascitic syndrome, or pulmonary hypertension syndrome, can be defined as a pathological condition characterized by the accumulation of fluid in the abdominal cavity due to the higher growth rate and weight gain of chickens, leading to a greater need for oxygen supply to the tissues, usually occurring from the third week of the bird's life. The high rates of growth and weight gain implied an increase in the demand for oxygen to supply the tissues, causing failures in the physiological response in organs such as the heart and the lungs. Thus, this study aims to report the frequency of carcasses partially or totally affected by ascitic syndrome in broilers slaughtered in an abattoir under state inspection located in the State of Espírito Santo, and to estimate the resulting economic losses. A total of 2,067,645 birds were inspected, of which 6,855 (0.33%) were identified with this metabolic disorder. In all modalities, the carcasses were sent to a specific destination, in accordance with current legislation, resulting in an economic loss of at least U$ 3,790.06 (R$19.905,00) during the period of approximately three months (period of the study). Thus, it is concluded that to avoid this problem, all the risk factors that can lead to this pathological condition must be known, to establish effective measures for its control, making the Brazilian poultry industry able to continue in great development and to reduce the economic losses for this production chain.

Use of different adsorbents in broiler diets naturally contaminated by mycotoxins

This study investigated the effects of adding different adsorbent substances to broilers feed naturally contaminated by mycotoxins. Two hundred and eighty male 1-day-old chicks, Cobb Slow® lineage, were distributed in a randomized block design with 4 treatments, 5 repetitions with 14 birds each. The treatments consisted of: T1-basal feed naturally contaminated with mycotoxins. T2-basal feed + Bentonite, Thistle Extract, Yeast Extract, Vitamin E and Choline. T3-basal feed + Bentonite, Thistle Extract, yeast cell wall and Silymarin. T4-basal feed + Bentonite and Algae extract. Performance (weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion) at 7, 14, 21, 28 days were evaluated. At 28 days, a portion of the jejunum was collected in two birds by replicate to study the intestinal morphology. The relative weight of the gizzard, proventricle and total intestine was evaluated. The data obtained were analyzed using the statistical program SAS (9.3). With the use of any adsorbents studied, the performance and liver weight were improved in all evaluated periods. Thus, the inclusion of adsorbents improves the performance of the broiler chickens when the feed is contaminated by mycotoxins.(AU)

Salmonella Pullorum em criação de galinhas caipiras no Oeste da Bahia, Brasil / Salmonella Pullorum in a free-range chicken farm in Western Bahia, Brazil

Background: Industrial poultry farming has developed progressively in Brazil, conferring the country a prominent position on the national and international scene. Likewise, alternative poultry farming is an important economic activity for small-scale family farmers. However, shortcomings related to sanitary management lead to increased occurrence of avian diseases, such as those caused by Salmonella spp. Despite salmonellosis has been described in industrial establishments, reports in alternative farms are less common, therefore the objective of this study was to describe the occurrence of salmonellosis in free-range chickens in the municipality of Barra, Western Bahia, Brazil. Cases: The poultry farmer reported the occurrence of diarrhoea in his chicken flock since the acquisition of the batch of chicks. Initially, carrying out the medicinal treatment of the birds, there was clinical improvement, however, successive recurrences of clinical signs occurred, such as diarrhoea, apathy, anorexia, and death of some birds. Upon learning about the case, an epidemiological investigation of the flock was carried out, and it was noted that some of the birds were retracted, apathetic, anorexic, and a lot of diarrheic faeces of a yellowish-white appearance were also observed. The entire flock had a history of vaccination against diseases: newcastle disease, infectious bronchitis, gumboro disease, and fowlpox. For better evaluation, five birds were necropsied, enabling the observation that the animals had a good body score. However, the necropsy revealed lesions such as splenomegaly, hepatomegaly, and enteritis in the three birds initially analysed (Animals 1, 2, and 3). The other birds (Animals 4 and 5) were submitted to evaluation for Eimeria sp. oocysts by means of scrapings from the intestinal mucosa, and there were no structures compatible with oocysts. Faecal samples were collected from another six birds in the flock for coproparasitological examination, and the presence of oocysts was not detected. Finally, sera from 20 birds in the flock were collected for the Rapid Serum Agglutination Test (SAR) for the detection anti-Salmonella Pullorum antibodies. Discussion: The diagnosis was based on clinical evaluation, post mortem pathological findings of the necropsied birds, epidemiological data and confirmed with SAR testing, whereby 11 birds were seropositive for Salmonella enterica subspecies enterica serovar Pullorum. The prevalence of S. Pullorum is poorly described in alternative farming. Based on the farmer's report, it is believed that the chicks were purchased already infected, because birds from the same batch, also purchased by neighbouring producers, showed the same clinical signs. The unsatisfactory sanitation in the flock was another factor that may have favoured the persistence of the bacteria, since, the lack of removal of organic matter is a source of nutrients for microorganisms, and this may have favoured the multiplication and maintenance of the bacteria in the down feathers, feed, and water. The elimination of S. Pullorum through the faeces, in addition to the density of the birds, may have led to transmission to the other healthy birds. However, the knowledge and adoption of prophylactic measures in free-range chicken farms is a crucial factor in minimizing the occurrence of outbreaks and thus avoiding a future public Health Problem.

Use of essential oils in the diet of slow-growing broilers and their effects on performance / Uso de óleos essenciais em dietas de frangos de corte de crescimento lento e seus efeitos sobre o desempenho

This study proposes to examine the effect of supplementing the diet of slow-growing broilers with essential oils. A total of 270 one-day-old female chicks of the Pesadão Vermelho line, reared in an intensive system, were allocated to one of three treatments (1: Control, without addition of essential oils; 2: Feed supplemented with cinnamon essential oil; and 3: Feed supplemented with lemongrass essential oil) in a completely randomized design with nine replicates of 10 birds each. Growth performance variables were evaluated at 14, 28, 42, 56, and 70 days, whereas carcass yield, primal cuts, and internal organs were analyzed at 71 days of age. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and differences between means were compared using the Scott-Knott test at 5% probability. Supplementation with lemongrass essential oil improved the live weight of birds at 14, 28, and 42 days, as well as feed conversion and feed efficiency at 42 and 56 days of rearing (P<0.05). The treatments with cinnamon and lemongrass essential oils provided the highest thigh yields (P<0.05). The other evaluated variables did not show statistically significant differences (P>0.05) between treatments.(AU)

O experimento teve como objetivo, avaliar o efeito da suplementação de óleos essenciais nas dietas de frangos de corte de crescimento lento. Foram utilizados 270 pintos de um dia, fêmeas da linhagem Pesadão Vermelho, criados em sistema intensivo. O delineamento experimental foi o inteiramente casualizado (DIC) com três tratamentos (Tratamento 1: Controle, sem adição de óleo essencial; Tratamento 2: Ração suplementada com óleo essencial de canela e Tratamento 3: ração suplementada com óleo essencial de capim-cidreira) e nove repetições de 10 aves cada. Aos 14, 28, 42, 56 e 70 dias foram avaliadas as variáveis de desempenho zootécnico e aos 71 dias o rendimento de carcaça, cortes nobres e órgãos internos. Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e as diferenças entre as médias foram comparadas pelo teste de Scott-Knott a 5% de probabilidade. A suplementação com óleo essencial de capim-cidreira melhorou o peso vivo das aves aos 14, 28 e 42 dias e a conversão e eficiência alimentar aos 42 e 56 dias de criação (P<0,05). Os tratamentos com óleo essencial de canela e de capim-cidreira proporcionaram maior rendimento de sobrecoxa (P<0,05). Em relação as demais variáveis avaliadas, não foram verificadas diferenças estatísticas significativas (P>0,05) para os tratamentos testados.(AU)