ABSTRACT It was investigated if pre-incubation ascorbic acid (AA) injection in fertile eggs incubated at high temperature impacts the performance, the yield of carcass and parts, and the intestine morphology of broilers reared under heat stress. Three thousand Cobb® fertile broiler eggs were randomly distributed according to weight into three incubations treatments (eggs not injected with AA and incubated at 37.5°C; eggs not injected with AA and incubated at 39°C; and eggs injected with 6 µg AA/100 µL water prior to incubation and incubated at 39ºC). The hatched birds were reared at thermoneutral, cold, and hot house temperatures. Broilers reared under hot temperature presented lower feed intake and weight gain than the broilers of the different rearing temperatures. Egg incubation at 39.0 ºC and 39.0 ºC + AA reduced broiler viability. Carcass and cut yields were not influenced by incubation and rearing procedures. Duodenal goblet cell count was lower in broilers from eggs of the treatment 39ºC + AA than in broilers from the other incubation treatments and in broiler rearing in hot temperature. In the jejunum, the goblet cell counts were higher in broilers that were reared under hot than thermoneutral temperatures. The incubation treatment of 39 ºC+AA increased the goblet cell counts in the ileum of broilers reared under cold temperatures. Rearing temperature influenced the duodenal villi counts, which were lower under cold rearing conditions than in the two other rearing temperatures. The results showed that egg incubation at 39°C, independently of ascorbic acid injection, did not produce an effective epigenetic heat adaptation in broilers.

ABSTRACT The aim of the study was to evaluate the effect of dietary grape pomace flour (GPF) inclusion on the performance and egg quality of European quails (Coturnix coturnix coturnix) in lay. One hundred ninety-two (192), 42-day-old quails were distributed in a completely randomized design with four treatments (0, 2, 4 and 6% grape pomace flour inclusion) with six replicates of eight birds each. The performance parameters egg weight (g), average feed intake (g/bird), total feed intake (g/bird), egg production (%) and feed conversion ratio (kg/dozen) were evaluated, as well as egg quality traits Haugh unit, albumen weight (g), yolk weight (g), eggshell thickness (mm), egg specific gravity (g/cm3), and yolk pigmentation. There was no effect (p>0.05) of dietary GPF levels on egg production, feed intake, or feed conversion ratio. Egg weight, albumen weight, and egg specific gravity linearly decreased (p<0.05) as GPM levels increased in the diet. Haugh unit and eggshell thickness were not affected (p>0.05) by the treatments. A quadratic effect (p<0.05) was observed for yolk weight, with an estimated maximal inclusion level of grape pomace flour of 4.18% to obtain the highest yolk weight. A quadratic effect (p<0.05) was also observed on yolk pigmentation, with an estimated minimal level of 3.2% for this parameter. The minimal inclusion of 3.2% of grape pomace flour in quail diets influenced the egg yolk pigmentation, demonstrating its efficiency as a pigmentation additive.

Artificial lighting is one of the most powerful management tools available to commercial layer producers. Artificial light allows anticipating or delaying the beginning of lay, improving egg production, and optimizing feed efficiency. This study aimed at comparing the performance of commercial layers submitted to lighting using different LED colors or conventional incandescent lamps. The study was carried out in a layer house divided in isolated environments in order to prevent any influenced from the neighboring treatments. In total, 360 Isa Brown layers, with an initial age of 56 weeks, were used. The following light sources were used: blue LED, yellow LED, green LED, red LED, white LED, and 40W incandescent light. Birds in all treatment were submitted to a 17-h continuous lighting program, and were fed a corn and soybean meal-based diet. A completely randomized experimental design with subplots was applied, with 24 treatments (six light sources and four periods) of three replicates. Egg production (%) was significantly different (p<0.05) among treatments, with the best results obtained with red LED, white LED, and incandescent light sources. Egg weight, feed intake, and internal egg quality (albumen height, specific gravity, and Haugh units) were not influenced (p>0.05) by light source. It was concluded that the replacement of incandescent light bulbs by white and red LEDs does not cause any negative effect on the egg production of commercial layers.

The objective of this study was to investigate the prevalence of health related symptoms and to analyze the work activities of workers in contracted non-mechanized broiler farms in two regions of the state of Paraná in order to determine possible factors associated to those symptoms. The methods consisted in selecting the houses and the workers, and to apply a questionnaire that included demographic data, questions related to work, the Nordic Questionnaire for Musculoskeletal Symptoms, other symptoms (runny nose, skin itching, throat and eye irritation). In addition, workers were asked if they enjoyed their job, if the supervisor motivated them to work, and if they were afraid to lose their job. Activities were submitted to systematic observations, adapted from Ergonomics, and the loads carried were analyzed and some instruments weighted. The study included 80 workers of both genders between 16 and 59 years, being 40 from each region. There were evidences of low back pain risk in the activities of filling drinkers and washing bell drinkers, with a higher prevalence in region A, where automated systems were less frequently used. The study suggests that mechanized filling of feeders, and the use of nipple drinkers may prevent health problems. It was also found that psychosocial aspects were associated to musculoskeletal symptoms. Promoting better working conditions is essential, as these aspects can affect human behavior at work.