ABSTRACT: This study evaluated the effect of dietary supplementation with glutamine and glutamic acid (Gln+Glu) on performance, intestinal morphometry, and carcass characteristics of broiler quails. Eight hundred birds were used, distributed in an entirely randomized design with 20 birds per experimental unit, and given five treatments (0.0; 0.2; 0.4; 0.6; and 0.8% Gln+Glu supplementation) with eight replicates. At 1-21 days of age, lower (P < 0.05) feed intake at 0.6 and 0.8% Gln+Glu supplementation and lower weight gain at 0.8% Gln+Glu supplementation compared to the control treatment were observed. By regression analysis, excluding the control treatment, there was an increasing linear effect (P < 0.05) for feed intake at 22 to 42 days of age. For intestinal morphometry, Gln+Glu supplementation only favored the villus development of the ileum (P < 0.05), giving it greater height at 0.2, 0.6, and 0.8% supplementation. Carcass characteristics, cuts, and edible viscera of the birds at 42 days were not affected (P > 0.05) by Gln+Glu supplementation levels. Thus, the glutamine and glutamic acid supplementation affected the performance and intestinal morphology of 21-d-old quails, decreasing feed intake and weight gain associated with the improvement of ileum morphology; conversely, performance and carcass characteristics at 42 days were not affected by amino acid supplementation.

RESUMO: Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da suplementação dietética de glutamina e ácido glutâmico (Gln+Glu) sobre o desempenho, a morfometria intestinal e as características de carcaça de codornas de corte. Foram utilizadas 800 aves, distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com cinco tratamentos (0,0; 0,2; 0,4; 0,6 e 0,8% de suplementação de Gln+Glu) e oito repetições com 20 aves por unidade experimental. Na fase de um a 21 dias, constatou-se menor (P < 0,05) consumo de ração aos níveis de 0,6 e 0,8% de Gln+Glu e menor ganho de peso ao nível 0,8% de Gln+Glu em comparação ao tratamento controle; e, pela análise de regressão, excluindo-se o tratamento controle, houve efeito linear crescente (P < 0,05) para consumo de ração na fase 22 a 42 dias de idade. Para morfometria intestinal, a suplementação de Gln+Glu apenas favoreceu o desenvolvimento vilos do íleo (P < 0,05), conferindo-lhe maior altura aos níveis de 0,2; 0,6 e 0,8% de suplementação. As características de carcaça, cortes e vísceras comestíveis das aves aos 42 dias não foram afetadas (P > 0,05) pelos níveis de suplementação de Gln+Glu. Assim, a suplementação de glutamina e ácido glutâmico influenciou o desempenho e a morfometria intestinal de codornas de corte aos 21 dias de idade, promovendo redução do consumo de ração e do ganho, associado ao aumento morfométrico do íleo; por outro lado, o desempenho das aves e as suas características de carcaça aos 42 dias não foram afetados pela suplementação dos aminoácidos.

ABSTRACT. An experiment was carried out to evaluate the requirement of digestible methionine for growing pullets at growth phase (7 to 12 weeks of age). A completely randomized design was distributed in five treatments, six replicates, and 15 pullets per experimental unit. 450 Dekalb White pullets from the 7th weeks of age, with an average initial weight of 313.14 ± 12.49 g were used. Dietary treatments consisted in five diets supplemented with DL-Methionine which resulted in five levels of digestible methionine (0.266, 0.294, 0.322, 0.350, and 0.378 %). Performance, serological blood, histopathology and histomorphometry data were evaluated. Quadratic responses were observed for final live weight (p < 0.0143), weight gain (p < 0.0073), feed conversion ratio (p < 0.0058), glycogen deposition in the liver (p < 0.0001), gamma-glutamyl transferase enzyme activity (p < 0.0008), and villus height (p < 0.0024) with digestible dMet levels. In conclusion, the use of 0.343 % dMet, corresponding to a dMet:dLys ratio 55, is recommended for white-egg pullets from 7 to 12 weeks of age.

ABSTRACT This work aimed to evaluate the performance and egg quality of lightweight laying hens supplemented with a high biological value mineral, carbo-amino-phospho-chelates (CAPC), compared with inorganic minerals (sulfates), at different recommended values. A total of 320 Dekalb White hens, between 53 and 77 weeks of age, were distributed in a completely randomized design into two treatments, 10 replicates of 16 birds each. The treatments consisted of a reference diet formulated according to breed manual recommendations, in which one group was supplemented with a trace mineral source, CAPC (Cu, 8.6; Fe, 43.7; Mn, 56.4; Se, 0.34; and Zn, 43.7 mg/kg) and the other with a sulfate source, using the levels recommended in the breed manual (Cu, 8; Fe, 60; Mn, 70; Se, 0.25; and Zn, 60 mg/kg). There was no effect of trace mineral supplementation on egg production variables, feed conversion ratio by mass or by dozen eggs, and eggs per housed bird. However, there was an increase in feed intake and weight and mass of eggs when birds fed diet supplemented with CAPC. Regarding egg quality, CAPC supplementation increased the albumen weight and percentage, shell weight, thickness, and strength, and Haugh unit. The eggs from birds fed CAPC supplementation showed higher levels of iron and zinc when compared with eggs from birds fed the sulfate source diet. Better quality rates were observed in variables related to shelf life for the group that received CAPC. Trace mineral sources and recommendations in the diets of high genetic potential laying hens need to be reassessed and allow us to conclude that totally replacing the sulfate for different recommendations of CAPC in laying hen diets helps to improve quality characteristics as well as the nutritional value of eggs.

Com o objetivo de avaliar o efeito da redução da proteína bruta (PB) e suplementação de L-glutamato em poedeiras da linhagem Dekalb Brown com 34 semanas de idade, as aves foram distribuídas em seis tratamentos em um delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com oito repetições. A dieta controle continha 17% PB. Os segundo e terceiro tratamentos tinham redução de 1,5 e 3,0 pontos percentuais (pp) de PB em relação à dieta controle, respectivamente. No quarto tratamento, foi adicionada a mesma quantidade de glutamato da dieta controle (2,982%), e nos dois últimos tratamentos foram adicionados 1 e 2 pp de glutamato em relação à dieta controle (3,982 e 4,98%), respectivamente. O tratamento com 15,17% CP + 0,341% L-glutâmico (T4) promoveu maior produção de ovos, e a ração controle apresentou maior peso de ovos do que os outros tratamentos. Não houve efeito significativo sobre as variáveis relativas à qualidade dos ovos. O T4 apresentou valores de nitrogênio excretado semelhante aos demais tratamentos, com menor concentração de ácido úrico que a dieta controle e menor custo na produção. Em conclusão, recomenda-se o tratamento com 15,17% PB + 0,341% de ácido L-glutâmico para poedeiras semipesadas com 34 semanas de idade.

With the objective of evaluating the effect of reducing crude protein (CP) and L-glutamic acid supplementation, Dekalb Brown laying hens with 34 weeks of age. The birds were distributed in six treatments in a completely randomized design, eight replications of eight birds. The control diet contained 17% CP. The second and third treatments had CP reduced by 1.5 and 3.0 percentage points (pp) of CP in relation to the control diet, respectively. In the fourth treatment, was added the same amount of glutamate of the control diet (2.982%), and the last two treatments was added 1 and 2 pp of glutamate in relation to control diet (3.982 and 4.98%), respectively. The treatment with 15.17% CP + 0.341% L-glutamic acid (T4) promoted higher egg production, and the control diet showed greater egg weight than others treatments. There was no significant effect on the variables on quality of eggs. The T4 presented values of excreted nitrogen similar to the others treatments, with lower concentration of uric acid than the control diet and lower cost in the production. In conclusion, it is recommended the treatment with 15.17% CP + 0.341% L-glutamic acid for Brown laying hens with 34 weeks of age.

The objective of this study was to determine the chlorine nutritional requirement of Japanese Quails during the laying phase, based on performance and egg quality parameters. A total of 240 Japanese quails were distributed according to a randomized block design, with five treatments and six replicates, with 8 birds each. The experiment lasted 84 days, divided in four cycles of 21 days each. Treatments consisted of a basal diet formulated to meet the nutritional requirements, except for chlorine, and four supplementation levels with ammonium chloride, generating the levels 0.8; 1.6; 2.4; 3.2 and 4.0 g/kg. The parameters evaluated were: feed intake (g/bird/day), egg production (egg/bird/day), egg weight (g), egg mass (g), egg mass conversion (g/g), conversion per dozen eggs (kg/dz), weight of yolk (g/100 g of egg), albumen (g/100g of egg) and shell (g/100 g of egg), specific gravity (g/cm³) and shell thickness (mm). As a result of this study, feed intake, egg weight, weights of albumen, yolk, shell and specific gravity were not affected by treatments. There was a quadratic behavior for egg production, egg mass, egg mass conversion, conversion per dozen eggs and shell thickness according to the chlorine levels in the diets, with the requirements for those parameters established at 1.54; 1.37; 1.39 and 2.78 g/kg, respectively. The recommendation is 1.39 g/kg of chlorine and 244.22 mEq/kg of electrolyte balance in diets for Japanese quails.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the requirement of digestible tryptophan for white laying hens in the production stage fed diets of different digestible tryptophan:digestible lysine ratios, as well as animal performance and histological alterations in their reproductive and digestive systems. A total of 280 white laying hens at 29 weeks of age were distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments and seven replications with eight birds in each. The treatments consisted of a base feed, formulated with corn, soybean meal and corn gluten meal, and supplemented with the synthetic amino acids L-lysine, DL-methionine, L-threonine, L-isoleucine, L-arginine, and L-valine, so as to meet the nutritional requirements for laying hens, except for digestible tryptophan. The basal diet was supplemented with 0.00; 0.017; 0.035; 0.052; and 0.069 g/kg of L-tryptophan in substitution for corn starch with the objective of reaching the levels of 0.151; 0.167; 0.183; 0.199; and 0.215 g/kg of digestible tryptophan in the feed. For the ratio between digestible amino acids and lysine, the recommendation of Brazilian Tables for Poultry and Swine was followed, except for the digestible tryptophan:digestible lysine ratios, which were 19, 21, 23, 25 and 27 for each treatment. The variation in the digestible tryptophan:digestible lysine ratio promoted changes in performance and in the histological characteristics, improving the results. The digestible tryptophan:digestible lysine ratio of 24.5% in the feed of white laying hens in production stage promotes better animal performance and histological results.

The objective of this study was to estimate the requirements for maintenance and gain of crude protein in Japanese and European quails aged 16-36 days. To determine the maintenance requirements, one experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design with four decreasing feeding levels (100, 75, 50 and 25%) and four replicates per treatment. The method of comparative slaughter was used, through a feeding assay. A total of 352 quails from each strain were housed by supply level in 16 pens measuring 1.0 × 1.5 m, totaling 22 birds per cage under ambient temperature conditions (26±0.5 ºC). To estimate the requirement gains, one experiment was conducted with five groups of quails fed ad libitum and housed under controlled temperature of 18 ºC. All poultry were slaughtered at 16, 21, 26, 31 and 36 days of testing for determination of body composition in protein throughout growth. The requirement for maintenance of the Japanese quail differs from that obtained with the European quail. The protein was retained at the proportion of 32% for European quails and 25% for the Japanese quails. This difference in retention promoted estimate of 0.65 g/g gain in European quails and 0.84 g/g gain in Japanese quails. Quails should be fed diets formulated considering the requirement for protein of each genotype.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the reduction of protein, the formulation of diets and supplementation of an enzyme complex for laying hens. The layers were distributed in a completely randomized 2 × 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, with two levels of crude protein reduction (0.0 and 4.0 g/kg), two kinds of diet formulation (without and with reformulation, considering 75 kcal of metabolizable energy) and two enzyme supplementations (without and with enzyme complex supplementation), totalizing 8 treatments of 8 layers each, with 7 replications, in a total of 448 laying hens at 30 weeks of age. After data analysis, it was found that the enzyme complex supplementation in the diet of layers improves performance, promotes a similar egg quality and improves the bone and intestinal health of the layers.

As exigências nutricionais de codornas diferem das de frangos e de galinhas poedeiras. Igualmente, as exigências de codornas japonesas também são distintas das de codornas europeias. Codornas exigem mais proteína (aminoácidos), menos cálcio na ração e digerem melhor os aminoácidos dos alimentos em comparação e a energia de alimentos fibrosos. Esses animais ainda aproveitam a energia do milho e do farelo de soja na mesma proporção que os frangos. Da mesma forma que os frangos, as codornas exigem mais energia para mantença, quando alojadas no piso, e menos, quando submetidas às altas temperaturas ambiente. Conclui-se que rações formuladas para frangos e galinhas não devem ser usadas na alimentação de codornas europeias e japonesas.

The nutritional requirements differ between quail chickens and laying hens and between Japanese quail and European quails. Quail require more protein (amino acids), less calcium and digest better amino acids of food in comparison with chickens, however, quails digest better energy of food fibrous, but in the same proportion as the chickens from corn and soybean meal. Likewise the chickens, the quail require more energy when on the floor and less when subjected to high ambient temperatures. It is concluded that diets for broiler chickens and should not be used as feed for European quails and Japanese.

The objective was to evaluate the effect of electrolyte balance in diets with reduced protein for semi-weighted Bovans Goldline laying hens in the second production cycle. The design was completely randomized with five treatments and seven replicates of six birds per experimental unit. Treatment 1 consisted of a control diet containing 165.0 g/kg crude protein (CP), formulated with the addition of DL-methionine to meet birds requirements during the experimental period. To compose the treatments 2-5 (BE149, BE167, BE185 and BE203), a basal diet with reduced protein (135.0 g/kg CP) supplemented with synthetic amino acids DL-methionine, L-lysine, L- threonine, L-valine and L-tryptophan was formulated. This basal diet was supplemented with potassium carbonate, to replace the inert, so as to provide four levels of potassium (5.86, 6.56, 7.26 and 7.96 g/kg) corresponding to the electrolyte balance of 171, 149, 167, 185 and 203 meq/kg, respectively. There was increased linear effect for feed intake and decreasing linear effect for albumen weight and yolk percentage and quadratic effect for conversion per dozen and per egg mass. Crude protein is recommended at 135.0g/kg with 6.77 g/kg potassium and electrolyte balance of 172.51meq/kg in the diet of semi-weighted laying hens in the second production cycle.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the potassium requirement for laying Japanese quails. Two hundred and forty quails were distributed in a randomized block design, with five treatments and six replicates, with eight birds each. The treatments consisted of a basal diet deficient in potassium (K) (2.50 g/kg), supplemented with potassium carbonate, to replace the inert, to reach levels of 2.50, 3.50, 4.50, 5.50 and 6.50 (g/kg) of K in the diet. There was a quadratic effect of K levels on feed intake, egg production, egg mass and feed conversion per egg mass and per egg dozen, estimating the requirements of 4.26, 4.41, 4.38, 4.43 and 4.48 (g/kg) of K diet, respectively. There was no significant effect on the levels of K in the diet on egg weight, albumen weight, percentage of yolk or shell and yolk color. However, yolk and shell weights reduced and the albumen percentage increased linearly with increasing levels of K in the diet. Despite the reduction of shell weight, the increased levels of K did not influence the specific gravity and shell thickness. The use of 4.41 g/kg of potassium is recommended in the diet for laying Japanese quails.

This study aimed to estimate the energy requirements for maintenance and gain of Japanese and European quails under growth housed in two rearing systems: floor pens and cages. To determine maintenance requirements, two experiments were conducted with birds housed in cages in environmental chambers (experiment 1) and in floor pens at room temperature conditions (experiment 2). The experimental design was completely randomized with four levels of feed supply (100, 75, 50 and 25%) and four repetitions. Energy requirements for maintenance were estimated by the comparative slaughter method through a feeding trial. In experiment 1, 64 Japanese and European quails per treatment were housed in cages of climatic chambers at 18, 24, and 28 °C, while in experiment 2, 352 quails per treatment were housed in floor pens at room temperature (26 °C). To estimate gain requirements, five slaughters were performed with quails receiving feed ad libitum and housed under controlled temperature of 18 °C (experiment 3). Prediction equations were obtained to estimate requirements for maintenance and gain of energy for the two genotypes of quails. The room temperature and breeding system affected the estimates of energy requirements for maintenance. The genotypes presented different estimates for maintenance and gain. Prediction models should be developed considering the room temperature and quails' genotypes.

The study was conducted to estimate requirements of energy and crude protein for maintenance, weight gain and egg production of Japanese quails in the period of 67 to 107 days of age. Two experiments were performed: one, to determine the requirements for maintenance of protein, and the other, for energy. Experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design with four dietary levels of offer and four replicates of six birds. The diets offered were: ad libitum (100%), 75%, 50%, and 25% consumption ad libitum (below maintenance). The methodology used to estimate the demand for maintenance was the comparative slaughter. For estimation of the requirement for weight gain, eight groups of 15 quails were reared separately, fed ad libitum and housed under 22 ºC controlled temperature. From these poultry, three groups were slaughtered at 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35 and 40 days of the trial. The requirement for egg production was obtained by taking the ratio of energy content, egg protein, efficiency of energy use and protein for egg production. Prediction equations that estimate maintenance requirement, weight gain and egg production in energy and crude protein of Japanese quail include: metabolizable energy (kcal/bird/day) = 92.34*body weight0.75 + 6.23*weight gain + 4.19*egg mass; crude protein (g/bird/day) = 6.71*body weight0.75 + 0.615*weight gain + 0.258*egg mass.

O objetivo neste estudo foi estimar os níveis ótimos de lisina digestível em rações para frangos de corte em crescimento (22 a 35 dias) e terminação (35 a 42 dias) com base na análise econômica da alimentação. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos, cada um com 600 frangos de corte machos da linhagem Cobb 500 distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com cinco tratamentos e seis repetições de 20 aves. Em cada fase, os tratamentos consistiram de níveis crescentes de lisina digestível nas rações. Os dados de conversão alimentar foram submetidos à análise de variância e posteriormente a análises de regressão utilizando-se um modelo não-linear exponencial. Com base nas equações exponenciais ajustadas para cada fase de criação, foram calculadas a variação do custo com alimentação e a margem por kg de ganho de peso. Em cada fase, foi considerado nível ótimo de lisina digestível aquele capaz de proporcionar o menor custo com alimentação e a maior margem por kg de ganho de peso. Considerando o preço da L-lisina HCl (78,5%) de R$ 11,78, os níveis ótimos de lisina digestível nas rações de crescimento e terminação são de 1,150 e 0,980%, respectivamente. Entretanto, se o preço desta fonte cristalina aumentar para R$ 14,13, os níveis ótimos nas rações reduzirão para 1,11 e 0,950%, respectivamente.

The objective of this study was to estimate the optimum digestible lysine levels in diets for broilers on growing (22 to 35 days) and finishing (35 to 42 days) phases, based on economic analysis of food. Two experiments were conducted, each one using 600 Cobb 500 male broilers, distributed in a completely randomized design with five treatments and six replicates of 20 birds. Treatments consisted of increasing digestible lysine levels in the diet. The feed:gain relation data were submitted to ANOVA and to regression analyses using an exponential model. Based on adjusted equations for each phase, the change in food cost and margin per kg of weight gain was calculated. At each phase the optimum lysine level was considered as one to provide the lowest food cost and higher margin per kg of weight gain. Considering the price of L-lysine HCl (78.5%) of R$ 11.78, the optimum lysine levels in diets of growing and finishing poultry were estimated at 1.150 and 0.980% respectively. However, if the price of this source rises to R$ 14.13, the optimum lysine levels in diets will be reduced to 1.11 and 0.950% respectively.

O experimento foi realizado para avaliar o efeito dos níveis de cálcio (Ca) e da granulometria do calcário (GC) para poedeiras comerciais. Foram utilizadas 216 poedeiras da linhagem Dekalb White de 25 a 49 semanas de idade em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3 × 2, composto de três níveis de cálcio (3,92; 4,02 e 4,12%) e duas granulometrias do calcário (fina - 0,60 mm; e grossa - 1,00 mm), que resultaram em seis tratamentos, com seis repetições de seis aves. Não houve efeito significativo dos níveis de cálcio e da granulometria do calcário nem da interação nível de cálcio × granulometria do calcário para o consumo de ração, o peso dos ovos, a gravidade específica, a espessura da casca, a porcentagem de casca, a unidade Haugh, a digestibilidade de cálcio e fósforo e a porcentagem do trato digestório. A produção, massa, conversão por massa e conversão por dúzia de ovos tiveram seus melhores resultados com 4,12% de cálcio na dieta. A porcentagem de moela e o consumo de ração observado às 15 h melhoraram com o aumento na granulometria do calcário de 0,60 para 1,00 mm. Houve efeito da interação entre nível de cálcio e granulometria do calcário para a resistência à quebra da tíbia, a densidade óssea, o comprimento do intestino delgado e o consumo de ração às 6, 9, 12, 18 e 21 h, respectivamente. Recomenda-se a adição de 4,12% de cálcio e calcário na granulometria grossa (1,00 mm) para melhor desempenho de poedeiras comerciais. Mais estudos são necessários para elucidar os mecanismos envolvidos na alteração do comportamento alimentar das poedeiras em resposta às mudanças nos níveis de cálcio e na granulometria do calcário das rações.

This experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of levels of calcium (Ca) and particle size of limestone (LS) for laying hens. It was used 216 Dekalb White laying hens at 25 to 49 weeks of age in a completely randomized design in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, composed of three levels of calcium (3.92, 4.02 and 4.12%) and two particle sizes of limestone (thin - 0.60 mm; and thick - 1.00 mm), resulting in 6 treatments with six replicates of six birds. There was no significant effect of levels of calcium and limestone particle size neither of the interaction calcium × particle size for feed intake, egg weight, specific gravity, shell thickness, shell percentage, Haugh unit, calcium and phosphorus digestibility and percentage of digestive tract. Production, mass, conversion by mass and conversion by egg dozen had their best results with 4.12% of calcium in the diet. Percentage of gizzard and feed intake observed at 3:00 p.m. improved as limestone granulometry improved from 0.60 to 1.00 mm. There was an interaction effect among calcium level and limestone granulometry for breaking strength of tibia, bone density, length of the small intestine and feed intake at 6:00 a.m.; 9:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m. and 9:00 p.m., respectively. It is recommended the addition of 4.12% of calcium and limestone in the thick granulometry (1.00 mm) for a better performance of commercial laying hens. More studies are needed to elucidate the mechanisms involved in the alteration of nutritional behavior of laying hens in response to changes in the levels of calcium and in the granulometry of limestone in the rations.