ABSTRACT This study was conducted to assess the effects of maternal dietary calcitic seaweed (CSW) on performance and blood metabolites of sows, and on performance, blood metabolites, intestinal microbiota, and parameters of gastrointestinal tract and bone of litters. On d 21 (post-insemination), non-pregnant sows were removed from the trial, remaining 19 sows in control group (without CSW) and 16 sows receiving CSW. Then, a total of 35 sows were allocated in a randomized block design with two treatments: control diet with calcitic limestone plus dicalcium phosphate (CTL) or CTL plus 0.4% CSW. In gestation, sows were fed twice a day (07:00 and 15:00 h) to reach an intake of 2.5 kg animal−1 day−1 divided into two equal meals. On parturition day, sows were offered only 0.5 kg feed animal−1. Throughout lactation, sows were fed three times a day (≅7 kg animal−1 day−1). All diets were provided as mash. Results suggested that sows fed CTL had litters with lower body weight at birth compared with those fed CSW. Sows fed CSW had 14.28% more live-born piglets and lower stillborns. Piglets from sows fed CSW showed greater calcium concentration on d 14 after birth than those from sows fed CTL. Sows fed CSW showed better milk chemical composition and an increase of 27.16% in milk production compared with those fed CTL. Piglets from sows fed CSW had an increase in cecum content in the Enterobacteriaceae count. This study showed that adding 0.4% CSW in the diet of pregnant and lactating sows as an organic calcium source positively influences the number of live-born piglets and the percentage of stillborns. In addition, milk composition and production are also improved without affecting piglets’ biological response.

RESUMO O farelo de crambe é um resíduo que tem sido estudado como fonte proteica alternativa ao farelo de soja. O experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar a inclusão do farelo de crambe na alimentação de codornas de corte. Foram utilizadas 390 codornas, distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com cinco tratamentos, seis repetições de 13 aves por parcela. As fases experimentais foram: inicial (8 a 21 dias), crescimento (22 a 35 dias) e total (8 a 35 dias). Os tratamentos consistiram de uma ração testemunha sem o farelo de crambe e os demais pela inclusão da proteína do farelo de crambe em substituição a do farelo de soja nos níveis de 0, 3, 6, 9 e 12%. Avaliou-se o consumo de ração, o ganho de peso e a conversão alimentar. O rendimento de carcaça, cortes e análise de rentabilidade econômica foram avaliados aos 35 dias de idade. Não houve diferença significativa sobre o desempenho das codornas alimentadas com rações em que houve inclusão do farelo de crambe para todas as fases avaliadas. Da mesma forma, em relação às características de carcaça não se observou efeito da inclusão do farelo de crambe nas rações. Portanto, recomenda-se a inclusão do farelo de crambe nas rações de codornas em até 12% do nível de proteína, por não influenciar negativamente no desempenho das aves. Para o estudo da análise de rentabilidade econômica, o tratamento que apresentou o melhor índice foi o de 6% de inclusão da proteína do farelo de crambe.

SUMMARY Crambe meal is a residue that has been studied as an alternative protein source to soybean meal. The experiment was conducted with the objective of evaluating the inclusion of crambe meal in feed of meat type quails. We used 390 quails, distributed in a completely randomized design, with five treatments, six replicates of 13 birds per plot. The experimental phases were: initial (8 to 21 days), growth (22 to 35 days) and total (8 to 35 days of age). Treatments consisted of a control diet without the crambe meal and the others by the inclusion of the crambe meal protein in replacement of soybean meal protein at the levels of 0, 3, 6, 9 and 12%. Feed intake, body weight gain and feed conversion were evaluated. Carcass yield, cuts and economic profitability analysis were evaluated at 35 days of age. There was no significant difference in the performance of quails fed with diets in which crambe meal was included for all phases evaluate. Similarly, in relation to the carcass traits no effect of crambe meal inclusion in the diets. Therefore, the inclusion of crambe meal in diet of quails up to 12% of the protein level is recommended as it does not negatively influence poultry performance. For the study of the economic profitability analysis, the treatment that presented the best index was the 6% of the inclusion of the crambe meal protein.