Effects of Lupin Kernel (Lupinus angustifolius) and Faba Bean (Vicia faba) on Growth Performance and Hepatic Fatty Acid Profiles in Broiler Chicks

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of feeding lupin kernel and faba bean as an alternative to soybean meal on the growth performance, blood profiles, relative organ weight, and hepatic fatty acid composition of broiler chicks. A total of 525, 1-day-old Ross 308 male chicks were randomly assigned into five groups with seven replicates. The treatments consisted of five experimental diets; corn-soybean meal without lupin or faba bean (as control), diets with lupin 5% or 10%, and diets with faba bean 5% or 10%. The body weight (BW) and average daily gain (ADG) were not significantly different among the groups during starter period. However, BW and ADG of chicks fed diets with 10% lupin and faba bean were significantly higher than those of 5% lupin and faba bean during grower period (p<0.01). The feed conversion ratio was significantly lower in the group fed diets with 10% lupin and faba bean than the control during total rearing periods (p<0.001). There were no significant differences in blood profiles among the groups. As for the hepatic fatty acid composition, the levels of total polyunsaturated fatty acids and total ω6 in chicks fed lupin and faba bean were significantly higher than the control. It was suggested that dietary lupin and faba bean could enhance the incorporation of the beneficial fatty acids into liver fraction. In conclusion, supplementation of lupin and faba bean up to 10% can be used as an alternative to soybean meal in broiler diets.(AU)

Effect of Exogenous Emulsifier (Lyso-Phospholipid) Supplementation in the Broiler Diet, on the Feed Intake and Growth Performance During Grower Phase

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of supplementation of an exogenous emulsifier (lyso-phospholipid) in the diet of growing broilers on growth performance and digestibility. A total of 1224 Ross-308 ten day old broiler chicks were distributed into two experimental treatments in such a way that each treatment had twelve replicates with fifty-one birds per replicate. Two experimental diets were formulated with and without emulsifier supplementation according to the nutrition standards of Ross 308. Feed intake and body weight gain of the broilers were measured on a daily basis and feed conversion ratio was also calculated. Nutrient digestibility was determined on the 25th day of age. Analysis of variance under completely randomized design technique was used to analyze the data. Feed intake was increased (p 0.05) by supplementation of emulsifier in the broiler diet on theat 12th, 13th, 21th, 22th, 23th, 24th, and 25th days. Bodyweight gain was not affected (p>0.05) with or without emulsifier supplementation in the broiler diet during 11-25 days of life. However, feed conversion ratio was effected (p 0.05) by emulsifier supplementation and increased from days 21-25th. Nutrient digestibility (dry matter, fat, and crude protein) in the grower phase was decreased (p 0.05) by supplementation of emulsifier in the diet. It can be concluded that supplementation of an exogenous emulsifier in the diet did not show positive effect on the growth performance during the grower phase of broilers, while nutrient digestibility showed adverse effect. Emulsifier supplementation should be tested after 25 days of the life of broilers.(AU)

Effect of Exogenous Emulsifier (Lyso-Phospholipid) Supplementation in the Broiler Diet, on the Feed Intake and Growth Performance During Grower Phase

The objective of this experiment was to investigate the effect of supplementation of an exogenous emulsifier (lyso-phospholipid) in the diet of growing broilers on growth performance and digestibility. A total of 1224 Ross-308 ten day old broiler chicks were distributed into two experimental treatments in such a way that each treatment had twelve replicates with fifty-one birds per replicate. Two experimental diets were formulated with and without emulsifier supplementation according to the nutrition standards of Ross 308. Feed intake and body weight gain of the broilers were measured on a daily basis and feed conversion ratio was also calculated. Nutrient digestibility was determined on the 25th day of age. Analysis of variance under completely randomized design technique was used to analyze the data. Feed intake was increased (p 0.05) by supplementation of emulsifier in the broiler diet on theat 12th, 13th, 21th, 22th, 23th, 24th, and 25th days. Bodyweight gain was not affected (p>0.05) with or without emulsifier supplementation in the broiler diet during 11-25 days of life. However, feed conversion ratio was effected (p 0.05) by emulsifier supplementation and increased from days 21-25th. Nutrient digestibility (dry matter, fat, and crude protein) in the grower phase was decreased (p 0.05) by supplementation of emulsifier in the diet. It can be concluded that supplementation of an exogenous emulsifier in the diet did not show positive effect on the growth performance during the grower phase of broilers, while nutrient digestibility showed adverse effect. Emulsifier supplementation should be tested after 25 days of the life of broilers.

Avaliação do desempenho zootécnico e rendimento de carcaças de diferentes linhagens de frango de corte / Production performance and carcass yield from broiler chickens of different strains

The study was conducted aiming to evaluate three commercial strains of broiler chickens about their production performance and carcass yield up to 42 days of age. Three thousand day-old chicks were alocated in a randomized 3x2 factorial design, with three commercial strains (Ross AP95, Cobb e Hubbard) and two sex, with ten replicates per treatment. The chicks were distributed in 60 metal boxes of 1,58m x 2,61m x 0.7m. At 42 days a bird per box was identified and send to slaughter house, totaling 60 birds, to evaluate the arcass yield. The commercial strains Cobb and Hubbard did not differ for the average weight parameters, gain mean weight, productive efficiency index and daily weight gain, with statistically superior results to the commercial strain Ross. To feed conversion, commercial strain Hubbard showed statistically similar results to the Cobb, which in turn was statistically equal to the commercial strain Ross. For the income of chicken cuts the three commercial strains did not differ. For the yield of thigh, drumstick and abdominal fat there was a significant difference between male and female sex.

O trabalho foi conduzido objetivando-se avaliar o desempenho zootécnico e rendimento de carcaça de três linhagens de frango de corte até 42 dias de idade. Foram utilizados 3000 pintos de um dia de idade, sexados, distribuídos em um delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 3x2 (linhagem x sexo), sendo três linhagens (Ross AP95, Cobb e Hubbard) e dois sexos, com dez repetições por tratamento. Os pintos foram distribuídos em 60 boxes metálicos de 1,58m x 2,61m x 0,7m. Aos 42 dias de idade uma ave por box foi identificada e enviada para o frigorífico, totalizando 60 aves, para avaliação do rendimento de carcaça. As linhagens Cobb e Hubbard não diferiram entre si para os parâmetros peso médio, ganho médio de peso, índice de eficiência produtiva e ganho de peso diário, apresentando resultados estatisticamente superiores aos da linhagem Ross. Para conversão alimentar a linhagem Hubbard apresentou resultado estatisticamente igual ao da linhagem Cobb, que por sua vez foi estatisticamente igual ao da linhagem Ross. Para o rendimento de cortes de frango as três linhagens não diferiram entre si. Houve diferença significativa entre macho e fêmea para rendimento de coxa-sobrecoxa e gordura abdominal.

Avaliação do desempenho zootécnico e rendimento de carcaças de diferentes linhagens de frango de corte / Production performance and carcass yield from broiler chickens of different strains

The study was conducted aiming to evaluate three commercial strains of broiler chickens about their production performance and carcass yield up to 42 days of age. Three thousand day-old chicks were alocated in a randomized 3x2 factorial design, with three commercial strains (Ross AP95, Cobb e Hubbard) and two sex, with ten replicates per treatment. The chicks were distributed in 60 metal boxes of 1,58m x 2,61m x 0.7m. At 42 days a bird per box was identified and send to slaughter house, totaling 60 birds, to evaluate the arcass yield. The commercial strains Cobb and Hubbard did not differ for the average weight parameters, gain mean weight, productive efficiency index and daily weight gain, with statistically superior results to the commercial strain Ross. To feed conversion, commercial strain Hubbard showed statistically similar results to the Cobb, which in turn was statistically equal to the commercial strain Ross. For the income of chicken cuts the three commercial strains did not differ. For the yield of thigh, drumstick and abdominal fat there was a significant difference between male and female sex.(AU)

O trabalho foi conduzido objetivando-se avaliar o desempenho zootécnico e rendimento de carcaça de três linhagens de frango de corte até 42 dias de idade. Foram utilizados 3000 pintos de um dia de idade, sexados, distribuídos em um delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial 3x2 (linhagem x sexo), sendo três linhagens (Ross AP95, Cobb e Hubbard) e dois sexos, com dez repetições por tratamento. Os pintos foram distribuídos em 60 boxes metálicos de 1,58m x 2,61m x 0,7m. Aos 42 dias de idade uma ave por box foi identificada e enviada para o frigorífico, totalizando 60 aves, para avaliação do rendimento de carcaça. As linhagens Cobb e Hubbard não diferiram entre si para os parâmetros peso médio, ganho médio de peso, índice de eficiência produtiva e ganho de peso diário, apresentando resultados estatisticamente superiores aos da linhagem Ross. Para conversão alimentar a linhagem Hubbard apresentou resultado estatisticamente igual ao da linhagem Cobb, que por sua vez foi estatisticamente igual ao da linhagem Ross. Para o rendimento de cortes de frango as três linhagens não diferiram entre si. Houve diferença significativa entre macho e fêmea para rendimento de coxa-sobrecoxa e gordura abdominal.(AU)

The effect of dietary Tarragon (Artemisia Dracunculus) powders in different levels on carcass characteristics and some internal organs weight of broiler chickens

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of Tarragon powder on head, chicken feet, some internal organs and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. One day -old two hundred forty Ross 308 male broilers were randomly allocated into four treatments and six replicates per treatment. At each replicate ten birds were used. All birds at 42 days had ad libitum access to water and feed and were exposed to a 23L:1D lighting program. The diets were set on the basis of corn, soybean and wheat meal, formulated according to the recommendations of the Ross 308 manual (starter days 1-14, grower days 15-37, and finisher days 38-42), and offered as mash. The tarragon plant used in the research was purchased from a vegetable market in Erzurum province in Turkey. Treatments were: base diet (Control), base diet + 0.1% of Tarragon powder (group A), base diet + 0.2% of Tarragon powder (group B), base diet + 0.5% of Tarragon powder (group C). Except for relative wing and head weight, other carcass traits were not significantly affected (p>0.05) by different levels of Tarragon powder. The lowest relative head weight (p<0.001), and the highest relative wing weight (p<0.05) were observed in the control group. The results of this study suggest that the addition of Tarragon powder to broiler diets has no effect on other important carcass traits, except for the head and wing weights of broiler chickens.

The effect of dietary Tarragon (Artemisia Dracunculus) powders in different levels on carcass characteristics and some internal organs weight of broiler chickens

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of different levels of Tarragon powder on head, chicken feet, some internal organs and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. One day -old two hundred forty Ross 308 male broilers were randomly allocated into four treatments and six replicates per treatment. At each replicate ten birds were used. All birds at 42 days had ad libitum access to water and feed and were exposed to a 23L:1D lighting program. The diets were set on the basis of corn, soybean and wheat meal, formulated according to the recommendations of the Ross 308 manual (starter days 1-14, grower days 15-37, and finisher days 38-42), and offered as mash. The tarragon plant used in the research was purchased from a vegetable market in Erzurum province in Turkey. Treatments were: base diet (Control), base diet + 0.1% of Tarragon powder (group A), base diet + 0.2% of Tarragon powder (group B), base diet + 0.5% of Tarragon powder (group C). Except for relative wing and head weight, other carcass traits were not significantly affected (p>0.05) by different levels of Tarragon powder. The lowest relative head weight (p<0.001), and the highest relative wing weight (p<0.05) were observed in the control group. The results of this study suggest that the addition of Tarragon powder to broiler diets has no effect on other important carcass traits, except for the head and wing weights of broiler chickens.(AU)

Effects of multi-carbohydrase and phytase on standardized ileal digestibility of amino acids and apparent metabolizable energy in canola meal fed to broiler chicks.

Two assays were conducted to evaluate nutritive value of canola meal (CM) fed to broiler chicks without or with a multi-carbohydrase (MC) preparation (700 U α-galactosidase, 2,200 U galactomannanase, 30,000 U xylanase, and 22,000 U ß-glucanase per kg of diet) and phytase (Phy, 500 FTU per kg of diet). Assay 1 determined apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD) of nutrients and metabolizable energy (AME) by the difference method. Assay 2 determined apparent ileal digestibility (AID) and standardized ileal digestibility (SID) of amino acids by the index method. Two reference diets (RD) - an 85% corn based and a 5% casein-cornstarch diet fortified with vitamins and minerals - were made for assays 1 and 2, respectively. For each assay, the test diets were made by mixing RD and CM 7:3 wt/wt basis and fed without or with MC or Phy or combination. A total of 245 day-old male broilers (Cobb 500) was allocated to 5 treatments to give 7 replicates (7 birds/cage). The birds were fed a commercial diet from day zero to 10 followed by assay 1 fed from d 11 to 18 and assay 2 fed from d 19 to 21. Excreta samples were collected on d 15 to18, and all birds were slaughtered on d 21 for ileal digesta. There was an interaction (P < 0.05) between MC and Phy on ATTD of DM, N, and P. There was no interaction (P > 0.05) between MC and Phy on AMEn; however, MC and Phy individually improved AMEn retention. Enzymes interacted (P < 0.05) on SID of Arg, His, Leu, Met, Thr, Ala, Asp, Gln, and Gly. In this context, feeding a combination of MC and Phy resulted in higher (P < 0.05) SID of Arg, His, Met, and Thr relative to single activity or control. Both enzymes improved (P < 0.05) SID of Lys independently. The combination of carbohydrase and Phy may be an effective strategy to improve amino acid utilization in CM for poultry.

The effect of Cichorium intybus l. ethanol extraction on the pathological and biomedical indexes of the liver and kidney of broilers reared under heat stress

The use of compounds with antioxidant properties as a source of phelanoeid compounds is highly recommendable in the poultry industry. Therefore, the effect of Cichorium intybus L. herb on pathobiochemical indexes of chicken under heat stress was studied. After exposure to heat stress (from day 21 to day 42 of growth), hydroalcoholic extraction was provided to 270 broiler chicks randomly divided into six groups and placed in two distinct poultry houses (heat stress and normal conditions). The three groups were recipient group of Cichorium intybus L. (1); recipient group of vitamin C (2) and control group (3). The birds in one of the houses were exposed to heat stress conditions (35 °C for 8 hours) for a time period between 22 to 42 days and the birds in the other house were reared under normal conditions (20-22°C) for the same time period. Blood samples collected from the birds showed that Cichorium intybus L. herb caused significant decrease in uric acid, Triglyceride, Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total body clearance factors (CL- factors) and right ventricular failure index (RVF) and significant increase in K+ under heat stress condition (p < 0.05). Vitamin C caused significant decrease in uric acid, ALT, CL- factors and RVF index and significant increase in K+ and Na+ under heat stress condition (p 0.05). A significant decrease in cholesterol and triglyceride in recipient group of Cichorium intybus L was observed compared to the recipient group of vitamin C under heat stress condition (p < 0.05). In a pathologic examination normal observations were in recipient group of Cichorium intybus L and recipient group of vitamin C compared to the control group. According to this study, use of Cichorium intybus L extract and vitamin C in chicken under heat stress induced improvement in liver, kidney activity and fat metabolism.(AU)

The effect of Cichorium intybus l. ethanol extraction on the pathological and biomedical indexes of the liver and kidney of broilers reared under heat stress

The use of compounds with antioxidant properties as a source of phelanoeid compounds is highly recommendable in the poultry industry. Therefore, the effect of Cichorium intybus L. herb on pathobiochemical indexes of chicken under heat stress was studied. After exposure to heat stress (from day 21 to day 42 of growth), hydroalcoholic extraction was provided to 270 broiler chicks randomly divided into six groups and placed in two distinct poultry houses (heat stress and normal conditions). The three groups were recipient group of Cichorium intybus L. (1); recipient group of vitamin C (2) and control group (3). The birds in one of the houses were exposed to heat stress conditions (35 °C for 8 hours) for a time period between 22 to 42 days and the birds in the other house were reared under normal conditions (20-22°C) for the same time period. Blood samples collected from the birds showed that Cichorium intybus L. herb caused significant decrease in uric acid, Triglyceride, Alanine aminotransferase (ALT), total body clearance factors (CL- factors) and right ventricular failure index (RVF) and significant increase in K+ under heat stress condition (p < 0.05). Vitamin C caused significant decrease in uric acid, ALT, CL- factors and RVF index and significant increase in K+ and Na+ under heat stress condition (p 0.05). A significant decrease in cholesterol and triglyceride in recipient group of Cichorium intybus L was observed compared to the recipient group of vitamin C under heat stress condition (p < 0.05). In a pathologic examination normal observations were in recipient group of Cichorium intybus L and recipient group of vitamin C compared to the control group. According to this study, use of Cichorium intybus L extract and vitamin C in chicken under heat stress induced improvement in liver, kidney activity and fat metabolism.

Cytotoxic damage of soybean agglutinin on intestinal epithelial cells of broiler chicks: in vitro protection by Bifidobacterium infantis CRL1395.

Plant lectins, which are proteins/glycoproteins present in a wide range of vegetables, fruits, cereals and beans, are resistant to digestive enzymes and food cooking temperatures. They bind reversibly to specific glycosidic residues expressed on the membrane of intestinal epithelial cells (IEC) and cause anti-nutritional effects in humans and animals. Soybean lectin (SBA) has been detected in poultry diets, and its ability to bind to the intestinal epithelium has been reported. The development of new methods for removing SBA from feeds or to prevent interaction with the intestinal mucosa is of interest. In this study, the in vitro cytotoxicity of SBA on IEC of chicks was demonstrated for the first time. The LD50, assessed after 2 h exposure of IEC to SBA, was 6.13 µg mL(-1) The ability of Bifidobacterium infantis CRL1395 to bind SBA on the bacterial envelope was confirmed, and prevention of IEC cytotoxicity by lectin removal was demonstrated. Safety of B. infantis CRL1395, resistance to gastrointestinal stress and adhesion were also determined. It was concluded that the early administration of B. infantis CRL1395 to chicks would effectively reduce the toxicity of SBA. Besides, it would favour the colonization of the gut with a beneficial microbiota.

Blood lipid components and SREBP-1 gene expression in broiler chickens fed different dietary lipid sources

Background: Liver plays an important role in energy homeostasis. Intense liver diseases are accompanied with lower concentrations of n-3 and n-6 poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). It has been found that n-3 PUFA play importantly protective roles in the liver. There was limited information about the effects of lipid sources on serum lipid components and liver sterol regulatory element binding-1 (SREBP-1) gene expression. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of fish oil, corn oil, olive oil and tallow, respectively, as dietary sources of n-3, n-6, n-9 and saturated fatty acid on serum lipid compound and liver SREBP-1 gene expression in broiler chicks.Materials, Methods & Results: In a completely randomized design, 240 one-day-old broiler chicks were allocated to five dietary treatments, four replicates and 12 chicks per each. Dietary treatments included of: control (diet without lipid supplementation) and diet supplemented with fish oil as a n-3 fatty acid source, corn oil as a n-6 fatty acid source, olive oil as a n-9 fatty acid source and tallow as a saturated fatty acid which were added to diets at 1.5, 3 and 4% in the starter, grower and finisher, respectively. At days 28 and 42 of age, liver tissue was dissected out and samples were placed in liquid nitrogen, also blood samples were collected. The SREBP-1 mRNA expression in liver [...]

Blood lipid components and SREBP-1 gene expression in broiler chickens fed different dietary lipid sources

Background: Liver plays an important role in energy homeostasis. Intense liver diseases are accompanied with lower concentrations of n-3 and n-6 poly unsaturated fatty acids (PUFA). It has been found that n-3 PUFA play importantly protective roles in the liver. There was limited information about the effects of lipid sources on serum lipid components and liver sterol regulatory element binding-1 (SREBP-1) gene expression. Therefore, the aim of this study was to evaluate and compare the effects of fish oil, corn oil, olive oil and tallow, respectively, as dietary sources of n-3, n-6, n-9 and saturated fatty acid on serum lipid compound and liver SREBP-1 gene expression in broiler chicks.Materials, Methods & Results: In a completely randomized design, 240 one-day-old broiler chicks were allocated to five dietary treatments, four replicates and 12 chicks per each. Dietary treatments included of: control (diet without lipid supplementation) and diet supplemented with fish oil as a n-3 fatty acid source, corn oil as a n-6 fatty acid source, olive oil as a n-9 fatty acid source and tallow as a saturated fatty acid which were added to diets at 1.5, 3 and 4% in the starter, grower and finisher, respectively. At days 28 and 42 of age, liver tissue was dissected out and samples were placed in liquid nitrogen, also blood samples were collected. The SREBP-1 mRNA expression in liver [...](AU)

Benefícios na progênie com o uso de vacina oleosa para Salmonella Enteritidis em matrizes pesadas / Progeny benefits by the use of Salmonella enteritidis oily vaccine in broiler breeders

Background: Bacteria of the genus Salmonella spp. are recognized as being one of the most common bacterial causes of foodborne disease. Its presence in chickens and hatching eggs is an important barrier to exports, besides posing a potential risk to human health. Companies producing broiler breeders aim at having excellent quality progeny for good hatching results and for providing healthy chicks. The use of inactivated, oily vaccines is one of the strategies to control Salmonella Enteritidis, by providing protection for broiler breeders. This protection can also benefit the progeny, so giving it some protection on the early period post-hatch. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating the benefits on the progeny of the use of inactivated, oily vaccine for Salmonella Enteritidis in broiler breeders.Materials, Methods & Results: Inactivated, oily Salmonella Enteritidis vaccine was injected in eight, and 19 weeks old breeder birds. Monitoring for Salmonella was performed by the use of drag swabs, two per each house, and 10 cloacal swabs by each poultry house, where each swab represented a pool of three birds sampled. In the hatchery, monitoring for Salmonella was performed on each lot, where each sample consisted of 10 pipped eggs per lot (850 samples) and 10 stillbirth chicks (850 samples), totaling 1.700 samples altogether. From the 850 pipped eggs samples, 1.18% were positive in vaccinated batches while 33.88% were positive in non-vaccinated batches. Regarding the 850 samples of stillbirth chicks, 1.88% were positive in vaccinated batches and 24.70% were positive in non-vaccinated batches. The percentage of Salmonella positive flocks in drag swabs collected from houses with broilers descending from non-vaccinated mothers was 4.38% (502 swabs), while those originated from vaccinated mothers showed a positivity of 1.26% (475 swabs).[...](AU)

Benefícios na progênie com o uso de vacina oleosa para Salmonella Enteritidis em matrizes pesadas / Progeny benefits by the use of Salmonella enteritidis oily vaccine in broiler breeders

Background: Bacteria of the genus Salmonella spp. are recognized as being one of the most common bacterial causes of foodborne disease. Its presence in chickens and hatching eggs is an important barrier to exports, besides posing a potential risk to human health. Companies producing broiler breeders aim at having excellent quality progeny for good hatching results and for providing healthy chicks. The use of inactivated, oily vaccines is one of the strategies to control Salmonella Enteritidis, by providing protection for broiler breeders. This protection can also benefit the progeny, so giving it some protection on the early period post-hatch. Thus, this study aimed at evaluating the benefits on the progeny of the use of inactivated, oily vaccine for Salmonella Enteritidis in broiler breeders.Materials, Methods & Results: Inactivated, oily Salmonella Enteritidis vaccine was injected in eight, and 19 weeks old breeder birds. Monitoring for Salmonella was performed by the use of drag swabs, two per each house, and 10 cloacal swabs by each poultry house, where each swab represented a pool of three birds sampled. In the hatchery, monitoring for Salmonella was performed on each lot, where each sample consisted of 10 pipped eggs per lot (850 samples) and 10 stillbirth chicks (850 samples), totaling 1.700 samples altogether. From the 850 pipped eggs samples, 1.18% were positive in vaccinated batches while 33.88% were positive in non-vaccinated batches. Regarding the 850 samples of stillbirth chicks, 1.88% were positive in vaccinated batches and 24.70% were positive in non-vaccinated batches. The percentage of Salmonella positive flocks in drag swabs collected from houses with broilers descending from non-vaccinated mothers was 4.38% (502 swabs), while those originated from vaccinated mothers showed a positivity of 1.26% (475 swabs).[...]

Objects and food color recognition by chicks / Reconhecimento de cores de objetos e de alimento por pintos

The study of cognitive abilities of newborn broiler chicks using different colors of objects and foods allows to check the level of perception of the animal related to the environment in which the animal finds himself, to understand its ability to retain memory and learning, contributing for the recognition of objects that are around the animal. The objective of this research was to evaluate by preference tests, the ability of perception of broiler chicks in the recognition of objects and foods of different colors. The survey consisted in conditioning of 60 sexed broiler (30 males and 30 females chicks) one-day-old for three days with blue balls and red food colors chosen for having opposed chromaticities. After the conditioning phase, a preference test was performed, in which the animals were placed individually in the center of an arena test with four options: red food, blue food, red balls and blue balls. Latency to the first peck and the number of pecks, the number of sequential pecks the total time the bird in each compartment occupied and the first occupied slot were recorded. According to this study, it was observed that females had a shorter latency period to choose the first compartment to be occupied, remained for a longer period inside the compartments and interacted more with the food or object preference compared to males (Table 1). Chicks took less time for decisi

O artigo não apresenta resumo em português.

Objects and food color recognition by chicks / Reconhecimento de cores de objetos e de alimento por pintos

The study of cognitive abilities of newborn broiler chicks using different colors of objects and foods allows to check the level of perception of the animal related to the environment in which the animal finds himself, to understand its ability to retain memory and learning, contributing for the recognition of objects that are around the animal. The objective of this research was to evaluate by preference tests, the ability of perception of broiler chicks in the recognition of objects and foods of different colors. The survey consisted in conditioning of 60 sexed broiler (30 males and 30 females chicks) one-day-old for three days with blue balls and red food colors chosen for having opposed chromaticities. After the conditioning phase, a preference test was performed, in which the animals were placed individually in the center of an arena test with four options: red food, blue food, red balls and blue balls. Latency to the first peck and the number of pecks, the number of sequential pecks the total time the bird in each compartment occupied and the first occupied slot were recorded. According to this study, it was observed that females had a shorter latency period to choose the first compartment to be occupied, remained for a longer period inside the compartments and interacted more with the food or object preference compared to males (Table 1). Chicks took less time for decisi

O artigo não apresenta resumo em português.

The influence of side-curtain color on broiler chick behavior

Brazilian poultry production is prospering, and negative-pressure broiler houses are increasingly used to improve environmental control. One important issue is the color of the side curtains used in such houses due to the influence of colors on broiler behavior. This study aimed at evaluating the influence of different curtain color on the welfare of 7-day-old broilers, considering luminosity and other environmental parameters. Chicks were housed in three different negative-pressure broiler houses either with black (T1), blue (T2), or yellow (T3) side curtains. House environment (luminosity, dry-bulb temperature, air relative humidity, air velocity, and gas emissions) and the behavior of chicks on day 7 after housing were evaluated in three consecutive flocks in the morning and in the afternoon. Data were submitted to multivariate analysis, Kruskal-Wallis' test, and Pearson's correlation test. Luminosity and ITU were influenced by curtain color, and some of the evaluated behaviors were associated with luminosity or other environmental parameter.(AU)