Performance of Turkeys in Enrichment Environment with Perches and Outdoor Access under Tropical Conditions

Heat stress compromises turkey's productivity and increase mortality mainly in the final stages of growth. This study evaluated the effect of perches and its interaction with outdoor access on turkey performance in high environment temperature humidity index (THI). Turkeys were reared in 1.75 × 5 m indoor floor pens and were fed with a standard commercial diet, offered ad libitum according to the productive phase. All poults were housed indoors until 62 d of age. A free-range area for a replicate of 8.75 m2, with natural shadow, was available from 07:00 to 19:00 h. Final density was 10.33 ± 0.22 kg/m2. The treatments were a combination of a factorial arrangement (2 × 2) with or without perches and, with or without access to the outdoors. From 10:00 and 19:00 THI was above critical level of comfort (heat stress). In indoors turkeys, feed intake (FI) decreased, and water intake increased, panting was observed, and had a significantly lower final body weight (BW) and FI than turkeys allowed outdoors (p<0.05). Perch availability decreased final BW and FI (p<0.05). Differences in weight of breast meat, wings, or thighs between treatments were negligible. In conclusion turkeys with outdoor access from 62 d of age had better performance.(AU)

Phytobiotic Activity of Piper Auritum and Ocimum Basilicum on Avian E. Coli

Natural antimicrobials, known as phytobiotics, are used in bacterial infections. The objective of this study was to evaluatethe phytobiotic activity, in vitro and in vivo, of an extract and an essential oil of Piper auritum and Ocimum basilicum on avian Eschericia coli serotype O2 in broiler chickens experimentally infected. For the in vitro test, extracts at 4, 8, 12 and 16% in water-based solvent or alcohol at 70% were prepared from leaves of both plants. In the essential oils, solvents at 10% were used. A concentration of 1×108 CFU mL-1 of bacteria was seeded and on each sense disc, 25 µL of the extract or essential oil were poured, except on the positive or negative control. The diameter of the inhibition zone (DIZ) of bacterial growth was measured. In the in vivo test, 40 chickens were inoculated, by intratracheal route, with a bacterial suspension of 1 × 108 CFU mL-1. E. col was identified and isolated from the organs; mortality, morbidity and relative weight of the organs were measured, and postmortem lesions and histopathologic findings were observed. A completely randomized design and the Kruskal-Wallis test for data analysis was used. By increasing the concentration of the extract, DIZ was greater; at the time of slaughter, differences in body weight (p 0.05) were found and the majority of lesions were observed in lungs. It is concluded that leave extracts of P. auritum and O. basilicum had phytobiotic activity on E. col serotype O2.(AU)

Phytobiotic Activity of Piper Auritum and Ocimum Basilicum on Avian E. Coli

Natural antimicrobials, known as phytobiotics, are used in bacterial infections. The objective of this study was to evaluatethe phytobiotic activity, in vitro and in vivo, of an extract and an essential oil of Piper auritum and Ocimum basilicum on avian Eschericia coli serotype O2 in broiler chickens experimentally infected. For the in vitro test, extracts at 4, 8, 12 and 16% in water-based solvent or alcohol at 70% were prepared from leaves of both plants. In the essential oils, solvents at 10% were used. A concentration of 1×108 CFU mL-1 of bacteria was seeded and on each sense disc, 25 µL of the extract or essential oil were poured, except on the positive or negative control. The diameter of the inhibition zone (DIZ) of bacterial growth was measured. In the in vivo test, 40 chickens were inoculated, by intratracheal route, with a bacterial suspension of 1 × 108 CFU mL-1. E. col was identified and isolated from the organs; mortality, morbidity and relative weight of the organs were measured, and postmortem lesions and histopathologic findings were observed. A completely randomized design and the Kruskal-Wallis test for data analysis was used. By increasing the concentration of the extract, DIZ was greater; at the time of slaughter, differences in body weight (p 0.05) were found and the majority of lesions were observed in lungs. It is concluded that leave extracts of P. auritum and O. basilicum had phytobiotic activity on E. col serotype O2.