Effects of microencapsulated carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde on feed digestibility, intestinal mucosa, and biochemical and antioxidant parameters in broilers

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of different levels of microencapsulated carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde on metabolizable energy, feed digestibility, intestinal morphometric analysis, and antioxidant parameters in broilers. A completely randomized design with five treatments and eight replications of eight broilers (Cobb male) was used, and collections were carried out at 20 and 42 days of age. Carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde concentrations (mg/kg) were: 0 (control), 50, 100, 150, and 200. Carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde improved apparent metabolizable energy but did not change protein and ether extract digestibility. Supplementation increased intestinal villus height and villi:crypt ratio; in which 100 mg/kg produced the greatest villus height. Serum uric acid levels were lower in birds receiving supplementation. Improvement in the activity of glutathione peroxidase and glutathione-S-transferase was observed, while lower uric acid, thiobarbituric acid reactive substances, and reactive oxygen species levels were observed. Microencapsulated carvacrol and cinnamaldehyde improve apparent metabolizable energy and can be administered in broiler feed without risk to the bird's health. These supplements may serve as alternative products to aid the performance of commercial poultry.

Apparent calcium retention and digestibility coefficients of limestone with different particle sizes in laying hens

Apparent calcium (Ca) retention and digestibility coefficients are affected by limestone particle size in the diet of laying hens. This study aimed to determine the apparent retention and digestibility coefficients of Ca in limestone of different particle sizes in laying hens. The study comprised 288 Lohmann Brown laying hens (50 weeks of age; 1,964 ± 98 g) distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement [three Ca concentrations (10, 20, and 30 g kg-1) × two limestone particle sizes (480 and 1,978 µm)] with eight repetitions per treatment and six birds per experimental unit. The experiment included five days for adaptation and five days for total excreta collection. All birds were slaughtered at the end of the ten days to collect the ileal contents. The total or ileal Ca content was plotted against the Ca of diets concentration using linear regression analysis. The regression line slope represented the apparent retention (CaR) and digestibility coefficients of Ca (CaD) in limestone. There was interaction between Ca concentration in the diet and limestone granulometry on CaD (p = 0.001) and CaR (p < 0.001). The CaD and CaR of fine- and coarse-grained limestone increased linearly with increasing Ca concentrations in the diet. The apparent digestibility coefficients estimated for laying hens fed with fine-grained and coarse-grained limestone were 0.72 and 0.35, respectively. The apparent retention coefficients estimated for laying hens fed fine-grained and coarse-grained limestone were 0.96 and 0.47, respectively.

Evaluation of liquid xylanase and phytase added after broiler feed pelletization

The objective of this study was to evaluate whether the addition of the enzymes phytase and xylanase, isolated or associated, in the liquid form after feed pelletization could improve energy utilization and digestibility of calcium and phosphorus by broiler chickens. Three experiments were performed using 120 birds each, divided into five treatments with eight replicates per group (n = 3), identified as: experiment 1 (xylanase: control, 1000 IU, 1500 IU, 2000 IU, 2500 IU), experiment 2 (phytase: control, 500 FTU, 1000 FTU, 1500 FTU, 2000 FTU), experiment 3 (xylanase + phytase: control, 3000 IU + 500 FTU, 3000 IU + 1000 FTU, 3000 IU + 1500 FTU, 3000 IU + 2000 FTU). Samples for digestibility tests were collected at 14 to 21 days of age. Therefore, the inclusion of liquid phytase and liquid phytase + xylanase after pelletization in broiler diets has become a relevant way to reduce the inclusion of inorganic P, which can reduce the cost of feed and P excretion in the environment. Furthermore, it is an interesting strategy to avoid enzyme denaturation in the pelleting process.(AU)

Ease of Handling and Physiological Parameters of Stress, Carcasses, and Pork Quality of Pigs Handled in Different Group Sizes.

The effect of different group sizes of pigs (3, 5, and 10 pigs) during handling on physiological parameters, carcasses, and pork quality traits at the farm and slaughterhouse were evaluated in 360 pigs from five farms (four repetitions or group/treatment/farms). Data was analyzed as a factorial of 3 × 5 (3 treatments × 5 farms) to check effects of treatments by analysis of variance in ANOVA. Ease of handling decreased as the group size increased. However, time taken in handling was not influenced by the group size (p > 0.10). Moving pigs in groups of five animals reduced effects on blood cortisol levels (p < 0.05). Fighting and handling lesions in the carcasses increased for bigger handling groups (p < 0.05). Pigs handled in groups of three and ten animals had a higher pHu and initial temperature in Longissimus thoracis and Semimembranosus (p < 0.05) and lower drip loss in Semimembranosus (p < 0.05). However, meat quality classifications of the carcasses were not affected by treatments. Based on the results, moving groups of five pigs seems to be the best strategy to improve animal welfare, carcasses and pork quality.

Eucalyptus oil to mitigate heat stress in broilers

The objective of this study was to evaluate performance, hematological parameters, leukocyte counts, and respiratory microbiota of broilers under heat stress receiving eucalyptus oil supplementation. Cobb broilers (n = 1200) were randomly distributed on the first day of life in a factorial arrangement with additional treatment (2 × 2 + 1) with two periods of oil administration via drinking water (daily, from 18 to 35 days of life) and two periods of oil administration via spray (daily, from 18 to 35 days of age) plus a control treatment, consisting of twelve replications, with 20 animals each. The birds were kept in a controlled environment with constant temperature at 32 °C to induce heat stress by infrared heaters. Eucalyptus oil was supplied by drinking water (1 L of oil to 4000 L of water) or by spray applications with a pump (1 L of oil to 200 L of water). Bird weight was recorded at 42 days of age, along with remaining feed, to determine weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion. In addition, one blood sample from each bird repetition was collected for hematological and leucocytic evaluation. To assess respiratory microbiota, a tracheal flushing was performed for bacteria counts. There was no difference in performance, hematological parameters, and leukocyte counts, except hematocrit, which was lower in birds that received eucalyptus oil after 18 days of age. No significant differences were observed in the respiratory microbiota comparing oil-treated and -untreated groups. Although it was not possible to verify statistical difference, the birds that received eucalyptus oil via spray plus spray from 18 days old showed lower bacterial counts and absence of isolation of Gram negatives, while the control group was the one with the highest number of Gram negatives. Therefore, eucalyptus oil can be used for heat-stressed broilers without impairing their development.(AU)

Novos conceitos em nutrição de aves / New concepts in poultry nutrition

A grande evolução da avicultura brasileira e o consequente aumento da produção de resíduos, bem como as exigências impostas pela União Europeia, quanto ao controle da excreção de poluentes, resultam na busca de novos conceitos relativos à nutrição animal. Dentre esses conceitos, destaca-se o uso da proteína ideal, da injeção de nutrientes in ovo, da alimentação dos animais em fases e a suplementação de aditivos como prebióticos, probióticos, enzimas, extratos herbais e minerais orgânicos nas dietas das aves. Várias pesquisas têm sido feitas a fim de comprovar a eficiência dessas práticas de nutrição e muitas delas concluem que a aplicação de estratégias nutricionais tem um significativo potencial de redução da excreção de nutrientes pelos frangos de corte, além de terem ainda, a vantagem de reduzir os custos de produção.

The great evolution of the Brazilian poultry industry, the consequent increased production of waste and the requirements imposed by the European Union concerning the control of the excretion of pollutants result in the search for new concepts of animal nutrition. Among these concepts, we can mention the use of ideal protein, the injection of nutrients in the egg, the animal nutrition based on phases and supplementation of additives such as prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes, herbal extracts and organic minerals in the diets of birds. Several studies have been conducted to prove the effectiveness of these practices of nutrition and many of them conclude that the application of nutritional strategies have significant potential to reduce nutrient excretion by broiler chickens, and have also the advantage of reducing the production costs.

Novos conceitos em nutrição de aves / New concepts in poultry nutrition

A grande evolução da avicultura brasileira e o consequente aumento da produção de resíduos, bem como as exigências impostas pela União Europeia, quanto ao controle da excreção de poluentes, resultam na busca de novos conceitos relativos à nutrição animal. Dentre esses conceitos, destaca-se o uso da proteína ideal, da injeção de nutrientes in ovo, da alimentação dos animais em fases e a suplementação de aditivos como prebióticos, probióticos, enzimas, extratos herbais e minerais orgânicos nas dietas das aves. Várias pesquisas têm sido feitas a fim de comprovar a eficiência dessas práticas de nutrição e muitas delas concluem que a aplicação de estratégias nutricionais tem um significativo potencial de redução da excreção de nutrientes pelos frangos de corte, além de terem ainda, a vantagem de reduzir os custos de produção.(AU)

The great evolution of the Brazilian poultry industry, the consequent increased production of waste and the requirements imposed by the European Union concerning the control of the excretion of pollutants result in the search for new concepts of animal nutrition. Among these concepts, we can mention the use of ideal protein, the injection of nutrients in the egg, the animal nutrition based on phases and supplementation of additives such as prebiotics, probiotics, enzymes, herbal extracts and organic minerals in the diets of birds. Several studies have been conducted to prove the effectiveness of these practices of nutrition and many of them conclude that the application of nutritional strategies have significant potential to reduce nutrient excretion by broiler chickens, and have also the advantage of reducing the production costs.(AU)

A new species of Demidospermus Suriano, 1983 ( Monogenea ) parasite of gills of Auchenipterus osteomystax ( Auchenipteridae ), from the upper Paraná river floodplain, Brazil / Uma nova espécie de Demidospermus Suriano, 1983 parasita de brânquias de Auchenipterus osteomystax da planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná, Brasil

A new species of Demidospermus Suriano, 1983 is described from the gills of Auchenipterus osteomystax Miranda-Ribeiro, 1918 (Auchenipteridae), collected in the upper Paraná river floodplain, Brazil. The gills were removed and preserved in 5% formalin. Later the parasites were removed from the gills with the aid of a stereomicroscope and conserved in 70% alcohol. Some specimens were stained with Gomoris trichrome, dehydrated in absolute alcohol and cleared with faia creosote to observe the internal organs. Other specimens were mounted in Hoyers medium for the study of the sclerotized structures. The present study describes a new monogenetic species, Demidospermus osteomystax n. sp., characterized by: tandem gonads; V-shaped haptoral bars with articulation; sinistral, non-sclerotized vagina; same-size anchors and absence of bulb in the cirrus. (AU)

Uma nova espécie de Demidospermus Suriano, 1983 parasita de brânquias de Auchenipterus osteomystax Miranda-Ribeiro, 1918 (Auchenipteridae) é descrita. Os peixes foram coletados na planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná, Brasil. As brânquias foram removidas e conservadas em formalina 5% e posteriormente os parasitas foram removidos com o auxílio de um esteromicroscópio e conservados em álcool 70%. Alguns espécimes foram corados com Tricômio de Gomori, desidratados em álcool absoluto e clarificados com creosoto de faia para a observação dos órgãos internos. Outros espécimes foram montados em Hoyer para estudo das estruturas esclerotizadas. O presente estudo descreve uma nova espécie de monogenético, Demidospermus osteomystax n. sp., caracterizada pela presença de gônadas em tandem; barras do haptor em forma de V, com articulação; vagina sinistra, não-esclerotizada; ancoras do mesmo tamanho e ausência do bulbo do cirro.(AU)

A new species of Demidospermus Suriano, 1983 ( Monogenea ) parasite of gills of Auchenipterus osteomystax ( Auchenipteridae ), from the upper Paraná river floodplain, Brazil / Uma nova espécie de Demidospermus Suriano, 1983 parasita de brânquias de Auchenipterus osteomystax da planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná, Brasil

A new species of Demidospermus Suriano, 1983 is described from the gills of Auchenipterus osteomystax Miranda-Ribeiro, 1918 (Auchenipteridae), collected in the upper Paraná river floodplain, Brazil. The gills were removed and preserved in 5% formalin. Later the parasites were removed from the gills with the aid of a stereomicroscope and conserved in 70% alcohol. Some specimens were stained with Gomori’s trichrome, dehydrated in absolute alcohol and cleared with faia creosote to observe the internal organs. Other specimens were mounted in Hoyer’s medium for the study of the sclerotized structures. The present study describes a new monogenetic species, Demidospermus osteomystax n. sp., characterized by: tandem gonads; V-shaped haptoral bars with articulation; sinistral, non-sclerotized vagina; same-size anchors and absence of bulb in the cirrus.

Uma nova espécie de Demidospermus Suriano, 1983 parasita de brânquias de Auchenipterus osteomystax Miranda-Ribeiro, 1918 (Auchenipteridae) é descrita. Os peixes foram coletados na planície de inundação do alto rio Paraná, Brasil. As brânquias foram removidas e conservadas em formalina 5% e posteriormente os parasitas foram removidos com o auxílio de um esteromicroscópio e conservados em álcool 70%. Alguns espécimes foram corados com Tricômio de Gomori, desidratados em álcool absoluto e clarificados com creosoto de faia para a observação dos órgãos internos. Outros espécimes foram montados em Hoyer para estudo das estruturas esclerotizadas. O presente estudo descreve uma nova espécie de monogenético, Demidospermus osteomystax n. sp., caracterizada pela presença de gônadas em tandem; barras do haptor em forma de V, com articulação; vagina sinistra, não-esclerotizada; ancoras do mesmo tamanho e ausência do bulbo do cirro.

Exigência de lisina, planos nutricionais e modelos matemáticos na determinação de exigências de frangos de corte / Requirements of lysine, nutritional plans and mathematical models for determination of the requirements of broilers

Dentre os diversos nutrientes que podem interferir no desempenho e na qualidade da carcaça, a lisina parece exercer os efeitos mais pronunciados, pois a suplementação adicional desta melhora o ganho de peso, a conversão alimentar e reduz a gordura abdominal. Tratando-se especificamente de aminoácidos, a deficiência na fase inicial impede a máxima deposição protéica enquanto o excesso no final da fase, além de representar desperdício, gera gasto calórico adicional relativo à excreção destes na forma de ácido úrico. A solução apresentada para este impasse nutricional tem sido a recomendação da adoção de um maior número de dietas durante o ciclo de vida das aves, conhecido como programa de alimentação múltiplo, onde as diferenças entre o exigido e o fornecido são menores. Na formulação das dietas para os programas de alimentação múltiplos, os pesquisadores têm adotado modelos matemáticos desenvolvidos a partir das exigências estabelecidas via experimentos de desempenho ou da curva de crescimento e deposição de proteína das aves. Dentre os modelos matemáticos disponíveis, a equação de Gompertz, é a que melhor descreve o crescimento dos frangos, bem como dos diversos tecidos. O uso de modelos matemáticos para descrever o crescimento das aves permite informação adequada do peso versus idade e minimiza qualquer efeito aleatório causado, por exemplo, pelo ambiente. Predizer a performance das aves submetidas a diferentes condições alimentares e de manejo ou mesmo de diferentes linhagens é uma informação que o uso da equação de Gompertz pode fornecer aos profissionais da área.

Among the different nutrients that can interfere with performance and carcass quality, lysine appears to exert the most pronounced effect, since this additional supplementation improves weight gain, feed conversion and reduces abdominal fat. Specifically about amino acids, the deficiency in the initial phase prevents the maximum proteic deposition while the excess at the end of the phase, beyond it represents waste, it spends additional energy with excretion in the form of uric acid. The solution proposed for this nutritional impasse has been the recommendation of the adoption of a larger number of diets during the life of birds, known as phase-feeding program, where the differences between required and supplied are lower. In formulating the diets for the phase-feeding, researchers have used mathematical models developed from the requirements set by performance experiments or growth curve and deposition of protein in birds. Among the models available, the Gompertz equation is that best describes the growth of chickens and various tissues. The use of mathematical models to describe the growth of birds allows adequate information of weight versus age and minimizes any random effect caused, for example, by the environment. Predict the performance of birds under different feeding conditions and management or even of different strains is information that the use of the Gompertz equation can provide the professionals of the area.