The effects of phytogenic feed additives on piglet performance and fecal score (FDD), as well as on lipid oxidation of pork meat were evaluated. One hundred and twenty crossbred weaned piglets were randomly assigned to six treatments according to a 2 × 3 factorial design with five replicates per treatment. Factors were: challenge with Salmonella Typhimurium at 35 days of age or no challenge, and three different additives (control (CTR), basal diet; phytogenic feed additives (PHY), basal diet plus 2000 ppm of phytogenic feed additives - Rosmarinus officinalis, Mentha piperita, Lippia sidoides and Porophyllum ruderale; and antimicrobial agent (ATB), basal diet plus 100 ppm of tylosin, 2000 ppm of zinc and colistin sulfate, 30 ppm in the pre-starter basal diet, 10 ppm in the starter basal diet I and II, and 5 ppm in growth and finishing basal diet). Body weight (BW) of the piglets of ATB was greater throughout the experimental period, without any differences detected between CTR and PHY. Nevertheless, from 96 to 106 days of age, the BW of the CTR group was greater than PHY. From 21 to 34 days of age, feed conversion of ATB was lower than CTR; however, PHY showed an intermediate result, which did not differ from either ATB or CTR. Challenged animals reduced feed intake from day 35 to 48 compared with unchallenged animals. Piglet performance and fecal score from 21 to 48 days of age were lower in piglets that received ATB compared with the other treatments. However, from 35 to 48 days of age, the FDD of PHY was lower than CTR. Lipid oxidation was not reduced in treated animals. Antimicrobial agent improved the growth performance of piglets until 63 days of age, and no difference was observed between the treatments from 64 to 131 days of age. Antimicrobial agent reduced FDD; the FDD of PHY was similar to that of ATB after 48 days. None of the treatments affected lipid oxidation of pork meat.

Os efeitos do peso corporal ou idade e da lisina digestível e energia metabolizável dietéticas sobre a digestibilidade aparente da energia e matéria seca, foram avaliados em leitões após o desmame. Os animais foram desmamados aos 21 dias de idade e distribuídos em dois grupos: 8,68 ± 0,76 kg com 28 dias de idade (desmamados há sete dias); e 12,73 ± 0,99 kg com 35 dias de idade (desmamados há 14 dias). Foram alocados em gaiolas de digestibilidade, em delineamento de blocos ao acaso nos esquemas fatoriais: 2 × 4 composto de duas categorias de peso e quatro níveis de lisina digestível (1,222; 1,305; 1,390; e 1,497%); e 2 × 3 composto por duas categorias de peso e três níveis de energia metabolizável (3.510, 3.700 e 3.830 kcal/kg de ração). A lisina digestível foi avaliada em seis repetições e a energia metabolizável em oito repetições, considerando cada animal uma unidade experimental. Os leitões que apresentavam maior peso corporal e idade foram mais eficientes na retenção do nitrogênio e no balanço energético, comparados aos mais leves e mais novos, sobretudo os que receberam menor concentração de lisina na dieta. O aumento da energia favoreceu a retenção do nitrogênio pelos leitões mais pesados e mais velhos. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade aparente de matéria seca e energia, no entanto, não diferiram entre as categorias de peso. Os leitões mais velhos e com maior peso corporal são mais eficientes na retenção do nitrogênio, contudo essa eficácia dependeu da concentração de energia da dieta. Esse melhor aproveitamento da proteína e energia sugere diferenças nas exigências nutricionais.

The effects of body weight or age and dietary digestible lysine and metabolizable energy on apparent digestibility of energy and dry matter were evaluated in piglets after weaning. The animals were weaned at 21 days of age and distributed in two groups: 8.68 ± 0.76 kg at 28 days of age (weaned 7 days earlier); and 12.73 ± 0.99 kg at 35 days of age (weaned 14 days earlier). The pigs were allotted in digestibility cages in a completely randomized block design with the following factorial arrangements: 2 × 4 composed of two weight categories and four levels of digestible lysine (1.222; 1.305; 1.390 and 1.497%); and 2 × 3 composed of two weight categories and three levels of metabolizable energy (3,510; 3,700 and 3,830 kcal/kg rations). Digestible lysine was evaluated in six replications and metabolizable energy in eight replications and each animal constituted an experimental unit. Piglets with higher body weight and age were more efficient in nitrogen retention and energetic balance, compared to lighter and younger piglets, particularly those given lower concentration of lysine in the diet. The energy increase favored nitrogen retention by the heavier and older piglets. However, coefficients of dry matter and energy apparent digestibility did not differ among weight categories. Older and heavier piglets were more efficient in nitrogen retention, although this efficacy depended on concentration of the energy in the diet. This better use of protein and energy suggest differences on nutritional requirements.

A inseminação artificial (IA) em suínos é uma técnica cada vez mais utilizada na suinocultura moderna, pois propicia ao suinocultor vantagens quanto ao desempenho dos reprodutores, ao controle dos cruzamentos e à facilidade na introdução de material genético. Objetivando o aperfeiçoamento da técnica de IA, foram avaliadas a acurácia, a precisão e a robustez do Espermiodensímetro (ESPERMIO) e do Espectrofotômetro (ESPECTRO), em comparação à Câmara de Neubauer. Utilizaram-se 142 ejaculados, que revelaram concentrações espermáticas médias (em milhões de sptz/mL) e número médio de doses que poderiam ser produzidas, respectivamente, de 229,1 e 22,6; 185,0 e 18,5; 283,6 e 28,0 para a Câmara de Neubauer, o Espectrofotômetro e o Espermiodensímetro. O viés médio (acurácia) e o desvio-padrão do viés médio (precisão) do ESPECTRO, em comparação à Câmara de Neubauer, foram, respectivamente, de - 44,1 e 52,6, enquanto para o ESPERMIO foram de 54,5 e 44,8 (milhões de sptz/mL). Pode-se inferir que o ESPECTRO tende a subestimar e o ESPERMIO, a superestimar a concentração espermática, em comparação à Câmara de Neubauer. O ESPECTRO foi mais acurado e igualmente preciso que o ESPERMIO. A influência do volume de ejaculado sobre os resultados do ESPERMIO e do ESPECTRO pode ser comprovada pelos resultados de robustez para o volume do ejaculado.

Artificial Insemination (AI) in swines is a rising technique that has been used during the last years at the swine production systems, because it furnish several advantages to the producers just like boar high efficiency, better breeding control and easiness in introducing foreign genetic materials. Accuracy, precision and robustness for ejaculation volume of spermdensimeter (ESPERMIO) and spectrofotometer (ESPECTRO) in relation to the Neubauer Count, designed as the standard technique, were evaluated objectifying higher performance of AI technique. A total of 142 boar ejaculation was used for spermatic concentration measurement by the techniques described above. The average spermatic concentrations (10(6) sptz/mL) and average doses number were, respectively: 229.1 and 22.6, 185.0 and 18.5, 283.6 and 28.0 for Neubauer count, Spectrofotometer and Spermdensimeter. ESPECTRO mean bias (accuracy) and bias standard deviation (precision), in relation to the Neubauer count were, respectively - 44.1 and 52.6, while ESPERMIO were 54.4 and 44.8. Through these results its possible to conclude that ESPECTRO has a tendency to subestimate and ESPERMIO to superestimate the spermatic concentration in relation to the Neubauer Count, and that the ESPECTRO was more accurate and less precise than ESPERMIO. Positive effect of ejaculation volume on accuracy and precision in both techniques (ESPERMIO and ESPECTRO) was confirmed by the robustness results.