ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of two cleaning and disinfection programs on broiler performance and on the microbiological status of the facilities. This trial was an observational study of comparative character. Two experiments were conducted, with 960 birds each. Both experiments were carried out in a positive-pressure broiler house. Broilers were distributed in pens equipped with a bell drinker and a tube feeder each. In the first experiment, new wood shavings were used as litter material, and in the second, reused wood shavings were used. Two treatments with16 replicates of 30 birds each were evaluated. The regular treatment consisted of dry and wet organic matter removal, followed by washing. The European treatment consisted of dry organic matter removal, humidification, washing with water under high pressure, detergent application, rinsing, and application of two combined disinfectants: glutaraldehyde 250g/L + formaldehyde 185g/L; p-chlor-m-cresol 210 g/L. Biosecurity measures were adopted during daily management tasks to prevent cross contamination between treatments. The effectiveness of the treatments was evaluated by microbiological analysis performed before and after treatment applications, as well as by broiler performance results. Live performance results were similar between both treatments when broilers were reared on new litter. When reused word-shavings were used as litter material, the European treatment promoted better broiler performance. The European treatment was more effective than the regular treatment in reducing total microbial counts in the facilities when reused wood shavings were used as litter material, and positively influenced broiler performance.

An experiment was carried out with 1200 23-week-old white Dekalb commercial laying hens to investigate production responses, egg quality, and energy utilization of laying hens fed different dietary energy levels at the beginning of lay. Birds were housed and divided in five groups of 240 birds according to dietary apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen (AMEn): 2700 kcal/kg; 2775 kcal/kg; 2850 kcal/kg; 2925 kcal/kg; and 3000 kcal/kg, with six replicates of 40 birds each. Birds were fed the experimental diets based on corn and soybean meal for 17 weeks. Diets were iso-nutritive, except for energy level. Increasing AMEn levels had a negative effect on egg production and egg mass (p≤0.05). AMEn levels did not influence body weight, egg weight, or livability (p>0.05). Increasing AMEn levels increased (p≤0.05) feed intake and AMEn conversion ratio and feed conversion ratio. AMEn intake remained constant, independently of dietary AMEn level (p>0.05). There were no differences in albumen height, yolk total solids content, or egg component percentages (p>0.05). Egg specific weight improved with increasing AMEn levels (p≤0.05). Therefore, the energy level of 2700 kcal/kg of feed may be fed to young laying hens.

This study aimed to evaluate diets supplemented with prebiotic, probiotic and symbiotic as an alternative to antibiotics on the performance and immune response against the virus of Newcastle disease in broiler chickens. 1,400 one-day old male Cobb 500 chicks were raised until 42 days old in a completely randomized design with 2x2+1 factorial scheme with seven replications. The treatments were: diet without supplementation (base diet - BD), BD + prebiotic, BD + probiotic, BD + symbiotic (prebiotic + probiotic), and BD + antibiotic. The parameters evaluated were performance and antibody serum titers against Newcastle disease. No antibiotic effect was observed on performance. The symbiotic provided better results for weight gain and feed:gain ratio until 21 days old than isolated additives. At 28 days old, the broilers fed diets with prebiotic presented better feed: gain ratio. In the same period (28 d-old), there was an antibody production increase against the Newcastle disease virus in the group supplemented with prebiotic. It can be concluded that the utilization of symbiotic in broiler chickens' diets can substitute performance enhancing antibiotics. The inclusion of prebiotic in the diet improves feed: gain ratio at 1-28 days old. The chickens' immune response increases at 28 days against the Newcastle disease virus in the group supplemented with prebiotic.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar as interações e os efeitos da utilização de gordura de abatedouro avícola (gordura de frango) e de óleo de soja com níveis de inclusão de 2 e 4% em dietas para frangos de corte. Foram conduzidos dois experimentos com pintos de corte de um dia de idade, machos, da linhagem Cobb, alojados num delineamento inteiramente ao acaso em esquema fatorial 2x2. No primeiro experimento utilizaram-se 560 aves para avaliar o desempenho e as características de carcaça. No segundo experimento foram alojadas 100 aves para determinar o aproveitamento dos nutrientes e da energia da dieta, e também a atividade de lipase e amilase pancreática. Não houve interações entre as fontes lipídicas e os níveis de inclusão para nenhuma das variáveis analisadas, com exceção do coeficiente de metabolizabilidade da matéria seca (CMMS), que foi maior nas dietas com inclusão de 2% de óleo de soja em relação à gordura de frango. A inclusão de 4% de lipídios na dieta, independente da fonte lipídica, melhorou o coeficiente de metabolizabilidade do extrato etéreo (CMEE) e aumentou o ganho de peso e o consumo de ração das aves. Ainda, na fase inicial, a adição de 4% de lipídios na dieta aumentou a atividade de lipase em relação às dietas com inclusões de 2%, observando-se uma correlação positiva entre o CMEE e a atividade de lipase pancreática. Como conclusão, não há interação entre as fontes lipídicas e os níveis de inclusão estudados, com ressalva para o CMMS. As características de carcaça não são influenciadas por nenhum dos fatores estudados. A adição de 4% de lipídio aumenta a atividade de lipase pancreática e melhora o CMEE, refletindo em maior ganho de peso das aves, indiferentemente da fonte lipídica testada, o que torna a gordura de frango uma boa alternativa ao óleo de soja.

This research aimed to evaluate the interactions and effects of 2 and 4% addition levels of poultry slaughterhouse fat (chicken tallow) and soybean oil in diets for broiler chickens. Two experiments were carried out using one-day-old male Cobb chicks in an entirely random design with a 2x2 factorial scheme. In the first experiment, 560 chicks were used to evaluate performance and carcass characteristics. In the second experiment, 100 chicks were used to determine the nutrient digestibility, dietary energy utilization and the lipase and amylase pancreatic activity. There was no interaction between the fat sources and the addition levels for any of the analyzed variables, except for the digestibility coefficient of dry matter (DCDM), which was higher in diets added with 2% soybean oil when compared to chicken tallow. The addition of 4% fat in the diet, regardless of fat source, improved the digestibility coefficient of ethereal extract (DCEE) and increased weight gain and feed intake. Moreover, in the initial phase, the addition of 4% fat to the diet increased lipase activity when compared to diets with 2% addition, and a positive correlation between DCEE and pancreatic lipase activity was observed. In conclusion, there is no interaction between fat sources and addition levels, except for DCDM. Carcass characteristics are not influenced by any of the studied factors. The addition of 4% fat increases pancreatic lipase activity and improves DCEE, resulting in greater weight gain, regardless of the tested fat source, making chicken tallow a great alternative to soybean oil.

Foram utilizados 504 pintos de linhagem comercial (Ag Ross 308) para frangos de corte de um dia de idade, distribuídos em 12 tratamentos com seis repetições. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi de blocos ao acaso em esquema fatorial 2x2x3, com dois níveis de fósforo disponível (0,45 e 0,34%), dois níveis de fitase (0 e 1200 FTU/kg) e três níveis de proteína bruta (22,5; 20,5 e 18,5%). A porcentagem de cálcio e fósforo nas tíbias foi influenciada significativamente pelos níveis de proteína e de fósforo na dieta com o uso da fitase. Os teores de matéria mineral nas tíbias apresentaram efeito linear com o uso da enzima e efeito quadrático com a ausência dela, apresentando maior valor com o nível de 22,5% de proteína na dieta. Já com os maiores níveis de fósforo houve efeito linear entre os níveis de proteína bruta na dieta e os pesos da matéria mineral nas tíbias, ou seja, quanto maior o nível de proteína, menor o peso da matéria mineral.

504 (five hundred four) 1 day old male chicks from a commercial broiler line (Ag Ross 308) were used, distributed in 12 treatments, with 6 replicates per treatment. The experimental design was casually blocked and treatments were organized in a 2x2x3 factorial arrangement: two available phosphorus levels (0.45 and 0.34%), two phytase inclusion levels (0 and 1200 FTU/kg) and three crude protein levels (22.5; 20.5 and 18.5%). Tibia calcium percentage was influenced by protein and phosphorus levels in the diet, when using phytase. Tibia ash levels showed a linear effect when enzymes were added and showed a quadractic effect without it, and the higher value was observed with 22.5% crude protein in the diet. With higher phosphorus levels a linear effect was observed between crude protein in the diet and tibia ash weights, as a higher protein level had lower tíbia ash weight.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of diets containing different calcium and phytase levels on the nutritional balance of broilers.A total of 108 male AG Ross 308 broilers were used in each of the replicates phases used in the study: starter (1-21 days), grower (29-35 days) and finisher (36-42 days). A completely randomized experimental design in a 3 x 2 factorial arrangement, with three phytase levels (0, 600 or 1200 FTU/kg) and two calcium levels (0.94 and 0.66%; 0.84 and 0.59%; e 0.78 and 0.54% in the starter, grower, and finisher phases, respectively), totaling six treatments with six replicates each.The experimental feeds also contained reduced available phosphorus levels and minimum crude protein level.The method of total excreta collection was applied to determine dry matter, nitrogen, gross energy, calcium, and phosphorus nutritional balance.Reducing dietary calcium levels to 0.66, 0.59, and 0.54%, and using 0.27, 0.22, and 0.20% available phosphorus, 18.50, 17.50, and 16.00% crude protein, and 600 FTU phytase/kg in the diets of the starter, grower, and finisher phases, respectively, allow higher nitrogen, phosphorus, and calcium retention in broilers.During the grower phase, there was positive linear effect of increasing phytase levels in high-calcium diets on AMEn utilization, and the optimal phytase levels for low-calcium diets was 598.71 FTU/kg.In the finisher phase, the best AMEn utilization was obtained with the high-calcium diets.

Avaliou-se nível de lisina digestível para 1050 frangos de corte dos 12 aos 22 dias de idade. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos, sete repetições e 30 aves por unidade experimental. Os tratamentos foram: 1,05; 1,10; 1,15; 1,20 e 1,25% de lisina digestível. Avaliaram-se ganho de peso, consumo de ração, conversão alimentar, composição e deposição de nutrientes corporais. Foram constatados efeitos quadráticos de lisina digestível no consumo de ração e resposta linear ascendente no peso da carcaça. Na composição química da carcaça, houve resposta quadrática do nível de lisina na concentração de proteína. As taxas de deposição proteica, deposição de água, da carcaça e do corpo total tiveram aumento linear em resposta ao acréscimo de lisina na dieta. O aumento da concentração de lisina, todavia, coincidiu com a redução da matéria mineral nas vísceras e sangue e no corpo total. Considerado o desempenho, o nível 1,1% de lisina digestível atendeu às necessidades do frango de corte entre o 12º e o 22º dia de idade. Consideradas a composição química e as taxas de deposição dos nutrientes corporais, a demanda pelo aminoácido digestível torna-se igual ou maior que 1,25%

The lysine level was evaluated for 1,050 male broilers from 12 to 22 days of age. The experimental design was completely randomized with five treatments, seven replications, and 30 birds per experimental unit. The treatments were: 1.05, 1.10, 1.15, 1.20, and 1.25% of digestible lysine. Weight gain, feed intake, feed: gain ratio, body composition, and nutrient deposition were measured. There were quadratic effects of digestible lysine on feed intake and an ascendant linear effect on carcass weight. In the carcass chemical composition, there was a quadratic response of lysine level in protein concentration. The deposition rates in carcass protein, carcass water, and whole body had a linear increase as response to lysine addition to diet. The lysine level increase however coincided with the mineral decrease on blood, offal, and whole body. Basing on performance, the digestible lysine 1.1% level attended the broiler needs from 12 to 22 days of age. On the other hand, considering the chemical composition and the nutrient accretion rates, the need for digestible amino acid was equal or higher than 1.25%

RESUMO Este experimento objetivou avaliar o efeito da suplementação de diferentes níveis isolados e associados de vitamina E (Vit E) (0, 12 e 120 mg/kg) e do zinco (Zn) (0, 40 e 400 mg/kg) na dieta sobre o desempenho de frangos de corte até 42 dias de idade. Foram alojados 1.440 pintos de um dia, em 36 boxes com 40 aves cada (metade de cada sexo). A ração e a água foram fornecidas ad libitum. Os frangos receberam dieta inicial (1 a 21 dias), de crescimento (22 a 35 dias) e final (36 a 42 dias). O delineamento experimental utilizado foi inteiramente casualizado, em fatorial 3 x 3, com 9 tratamentos e 4 repetições. O aumento da suplementação de Zn na dieta dos frangos resultou em melhoria significativa (p < 0,05) no ganho médio de peso vivo nas fases inicial e de crescimento e no período total de criação. O consumo de ração pelos frangos foi influenciado pelos níveis de Zn utilizados em todas as fases e no período total de criação dos frangos, observando-se diminuição da ingestão alimentar nos frangos que receberam 400 mg/kg de Zn, exceto na fase final de criação. Os tratamentos utilizados não influenciaram a conversão alimentar.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the influence of different dietary supplementation levels of vitamin E (Vit E) (0, 12 and 120 mg/kg) and zinc (Zn) (0, 40 and 400 mg/kg) on the performance of broilers during their first 42 days. A total of 1,440 1-day chicks were distributed in 36 floor pens containing 40 birds each (half of each sex). Broilers had free access to feed and water at all time. The broilers were fed start diet (days 1 to 21), growing diet (days 22 to 35) and final diet (days 36 to 42). A completely randomized 3 x 3 factorial design was used, with 9 treatments and 4 replicates. The increase of the supplementation of zinc in the diet of the broilers resulted in significant improvement (p < 0.05) in the average gain of live weight of the chickens in the initial and growth phases and in the total period of raising. The feed consumption for the chickens was influenced by the levels of zinc used in all of the phases and in the total period of raising of the chickens, there being observed a decrease in the feed consumption of the chickens that received 400 mg/kg of Zn, except in the final phase of raising. The treatments studied did not influence the gain feed ratio.

This experiment was designed with the objective of developing a simple, practical, and high repeatability technique for the simultaneous evaluation of the integrity of the plasmatic and acrosomal membranes, as well as funcional mitochondria of domestic fowl spermatozoa using an association of fluorescent probes. Four ejaculates (motility > 80% and abnormal morphology < 10%) from each of six Ross male broiler breeder (n=24) were diluted in TALP sperm medium (25x10(6) spermatozoa/mL) and split into two aliquots, and one of these aliquots was flash frozen in liquid nitrogen and thawed to damage all cellular membranes. Three treatments were prepared from these aliquots, with the following ratios of Fresh semen:Flash frozen semen: 100:0 (T100), 50:50 (T50), and 0:100 (T0). A 150-µL aliquot of diluted semen was placed in a microcentrifuge tube with the addition of 2-µL PI, 2-µL MITO, and 50-µL FITC-PSA, and incubated at 38.5º C/8 min in the dark. An 8-µL sample was placed on a slide, coverslipped, and examined by epifluorescence microscopy. Each sample had 200 cells counted and classified based on the fluorescence emitted by each probe. By regression analysis, plasma membrane integrity, as detected by PI, was determined as: v=4.17+0.82X (R²=0.95). Acrosome integrity, as detected by FITC-PSA, generated the equation: v=4.19+0.84X (R²=0.96). Functional mitochondria was estimated by the equation v=3.20+0.83X (R²=0.96). This is an efficient technique to simultaneously evaluate plasmatic, acrosomal, and mitochondrial membranes in fowl sperm. It is suggested that its application in flow cytometry systems allows this methodology to be applied in large scale.

The humoral immune response of broilers fed diets supplemented with Zinc (Zn) (0, 40, and 400mg/kg) and vitamin E (0, 12, and 120mg/kg), separately or combined, was evaluated. A completely randomized design was used according to a 3x3 factorial arrangement, with nine treatments and four repetitions per treatment. Sexed birds (n=1440) were distributed in 36 boxes with 40 chicks each and reared until 41 days of age. Vaccination against Newcastle Disease (ND) was performed when birds were 14 days old. ELISA and HI tests were used to assess antibody levels before vaccination and at 28, 35 and 41 days of age. The results were analyzed using Proc Mixed from SAS. The interaction between the highest dietary levels of Zn and vitamin E resulted in higher antibody levels in ELISA at 14, 28, 35 and 41 days of age. Increasing levels of Zn and vitamin E supplemented separately in the diets provided greater levels of hemagglutinating antibodies in HI at 14, 28, 35 and 41 days old. The interaction between the highest levels of Zn and vitamin E resulted in greater antibody levels at 41 days of age.

The aim of this study was to compare performance and carcass characteristics of broilers fed diets with different Dietary Electrolyte balances (DEB) during the summer season. A total of 1,280 one-day-old Ross sexed chicks were distributed in 32 experimental units according to a randomized block design in a 4x2 factorial arrangement (4 levels and 2 sexes) and 4 replicates per treatment (40 birds per replicate). Feed program consisted of 3 phases (1-21, 22-42, 43-49 days of age). Experimental diets were formulated based on corn and soybean meal and adjusted to 210, 250, 290 and 330 mEq/kg of Na + K - Cl through the addition of sodium carbonate, potassium carbonate and ammonium chloride. Weekly measurements of body weight gain and feed intake were done, and at 49 days, birds were slaughtered to evaluate the dressing percentage and parts yield. Weight gain during the starter phase increased linearly (p<0.01) as DEB increased. Different DEB levels did not affect feed intake or mortality. Carcass characteristics were not affected by treatments. Dietary electrolytic balance influenced weight gain and feed gain ratio from 1 to 21 days, and best results were observed when diets contained 290 and 330 mEq/kg.

Male broilers were used to evaluate the effects of different energy levels in finisher diets and age of slaughter on performance, production pattern and carcass yield. Experimental design was a 2x3 factorial arrangement: energy level (ME) in the finisher diet (3,200 and 3,600 kcal ME/kg) and age of slaughter (42, 49 and 56 days), resulting in six treatments with four replicates. The finisher diet was fed only in the last week of the growing period. Characteristics evaluated were feed consumption (FC), body weight gain (WG), feed conversion (FC), energy intake (EI), caloric conversion (CC), efficiency production index, production pattern, and carcass yield. The results showed better WG and CC for broilers fed 3,200 kcal ME/kg finisher diet. Broilers slaughtered at 42 and 49 days of age had better performance and higher annual production than broilers slaughtered at 56 days of age. Carcass yield was influenced by slaughter age and better breast yield was seen at 49 and 56 days than at 42 days of age. It was concluded that 3,200 kcal ME/kg induced the best overall performance. Poultry houses were efficiently used when broilers were slaughtered at 42 days of age. Meat:bone ratio was improved for broilers slaughtered at 49 and 56 days of age.

One-day-old male Ross chicks were used in an experiment designed to compare two methionine sources, DL-methionine and methionine hydroxy analogue free acid (MHA-FA), and four different levels: 0.41; 0.47; 0.53; 0.59% (starter diet); 0.35; 0.41; 0.47; 0.53% (grower diet); and 0.30; 0.36; 0.42; 0.48% (finisher diet). One thousand two hundred and eighty chicks were housed in 32 experimental floor-pens (40 birds each) and fed 8 experimental diets based on corn and soybean meal for 47 days. The effects of methionine sources and levels were evaluated by performance data, carcass and cut yields, feather yield and abdominal fat content. Data were analyzed as a completely randomized design in a 2x4 factorial arrangement (2 sources and 4 levels), with 8 treatments and 4 repetitions. Analysis of variance was performed using PROC GLM of SAS©. Data indicated DL-methionine to be more effective in promoting growth than MHA-FA, and weight gain increased numerically in response to increasing levels of methionine in all phases.

Foi estudado, para frangos de corte, mediante a utilização de 3 programas de alimentação (3, 4 e 5 fases de arraçoamento), com níveis nutricionais diferenciados, a ocorrência de ascite , sendo que machos e fêmeas foram criados separadamente durante a época do inverno. Utilizou-se 6 repetições por tratamento, sendo 40 aves por repetição. Avaliou-se o desempenho e a mortalidade (total e por ascite), além de se verificar hipertrofia do ventrículo direito e alteração do hematócrito. Não se obteve diferença significativa apenas para os valores do hematócrito, no entanto, melhores resultados foram atingidos na criação de machos em relação às fêmeas (p<0.05) para peso das aves, consumo de ração e peso dos ventrículos (VD e VT). Obteve-se correlação positiva entre a proporção dos ventrículos e a ocorrência de mortalidade por ascite. Verificou-se também que a mortalidade pela síndrome ascítica foi significativamente maior (p<0.05) nas aves machos recebendo 3 fases alimentares, em um programa alimentar mais energético. Baseando-se nas condições sob as quais foi realizado o experimento, pode-se concluir que programas alimentares mais energéticos predispõem à ocorrência de mortalidade pela síndrome ascítica em aves para corte, especialmente as do sexo masculino.

This experiment was conducted to study the effect of 3 feeding programs (3, 4 and 5 feeding phases) using different nutritional ration levels for broiler chickens on the incidence of ascites, with male and female being reared in separated box during winter. Six replications were used for each treatment, with 40 birds per replication. The performance was evaluated, including mortality (by ascites and total), and right ventricle hypertrophy and change in the hematocrit were also studied. The hematocrit values were not different between treatments (p < 0.05), but higher values (p < 0.05) were verified for males compared to females for: body weight, feed ingestion and ventricles weight (right ventricle, RV and total ventricles, VT). A positive correlation was verified between RV:TV and the incidence of ascites. It was also observed that mortality due to ascites was higher (p < 0.05) for males receiving three feeding programs and fed with more energetic rations. Based on the conditions that the experiment was carried out, the findings suggest that more energetic feeding schedules predispose the mortality by ascites, mainly in male broiler chickens.