ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the inclusion of feather and blood meal (FBM) in broiler pre-starter and starter diets according to the processing method used. Performance, digestibility, and intestinal morphometry of broilers fed diets containing FBM were evaluated in two experiments, in the pre-starter (1-7 d) and starter (8-21 d) phases in a randomized block design with four treatments and five replicates of 12 birds, totaling 20 experimental units per trial. The criteria used for block formation was the battery floor. The meal was processed under different degrees of hydrolysis pressure (2.0 kgf/cm2 for 40 min; 2.5 kgf/cm2 for 30 min; and 3.0 kgf/cm2 for 20 min) and added at 9% to the pre-starter (Experiment I) and starter (Experiment II) diets. In each experiment, 480 male Cobb 500® chicks were allocated to batteries. The following variables were measured: live weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio, and digestibility and retention of dry matter, nitrogen, and ether extract. Performance was not influenced by the dietary inclusion of the ingredient. However, FBM subjected to the highest hydrolysis pressure resulted in the worst overall nutritional balances. The chickens were more susceptible to FBM processing in the pre-starter phase, when the hydrolysis pressure of 2.5 kgf/m2 for 30 min provided the best results. In the starter diet, FBM processed at a hydrolysis pressure of 2.0 kgf/m2 for 40 min provided the best performance results up to 14 days of age, without changing nutrient metabolism. Up to 9% feather and blood meal can be included in broiler pre-starter and starter diets as long as the ingredient processing method is well-known.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a digestibilidade de rações formuladas com sorgo (Sorghum bicolor), ou milheto (Pennisetum glaucum) e adição de um complexo enzimático comercial composto de amilase, carboidrases, proteases e fitase, e o desempenho de frangos de corte. Para avaliação de desempenho, foram alojados 1.800 pintos de corte machos em delineamento em blocos ao acaso, em arranjo fatorial 2x2, com quatro tratamentos (rações com sorgo ou milheto com ou sem adição de complexo enzimático) e cinco repetições com 60 aves por unidade experimental. Nos ensaios de metabolismo realizados dos 10 aos 14 e dos 24 aos 28 dias, foram distribuídos 420 pintos machos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 2x2 (rações com milheto ou sorgo com ou sem adição de complexo enzimático). Os dados foram submetidos à análise de variância e as médias comparadas com o teste F para contrastes ortogonais. Nas rações elaboradas com sorgo, a adição do complexo enzimático proporcionou melhores coeficientes de digestibilidade da gordura e do nitrogênio. A adição de complexo enzimático em rações formuladas com sorgo melhora a conversão alimentar somente na fase inicial de criação dos frangos, enquanto a adição de complexo enzimático não melhora o desempenho de frango nas rações elaboradas com milheto.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the digestibility of sorghum (Sorghum bicolor) or millet (Pennisetum glaucum) diets with the addition of a commercial enzymatic complex formed by amylase, carbohydrases, proteases and phytase, and broiler performance. For performance evaluation, 1,800 male broilers were distributed in a randomized complete block design in a 2x2 factorial arrangement, with four treatments (sorghum or millet diet with or without addition of enzymatic complex), and five replicates of 60 birds per experimental unit. In the metabolism assays carried out at 10 to 14 and 24 to 28 days, 420 male broilers were distributed in a completely randomized block design in a 2x2 factorial arrangement (millet or sorghum diet with or without addition of enzymatic complex). Data were submitted to variance analysis and averages were compared by the F test for orthogonal contrasts. In diets formulated with sorghum, the addition of the enzymatic complex provided better coefficients of digestibility of fat and nitrogen. The addition of the enzymatic complex in diets formulated with sorghum improves feed conversion ratio only in the initial phase of raising broilers, while the addition of the enzymatic complex does not improve broiler performance in diets formulated with pearl millet.

Objetivou-se determinar os melhores níveis de lisina digestível para poedeiras em produção. Avaliaram-se o desempenho, o consumo de nutrientes, o metabolismo, a qualidade de ovos, os parâmetros sanguíneos e o desenvolvimento do aparelho reprodutor de 160 poedeiras Hy-Line W-36 com 25 semanas de idade. As aves foram distribuídas em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro níveis de lisina digestível (600, 700, 800 ou 900 mg de lisina/kg de ração) e quatro repetições, utilizando-se o esquema de parcelas subdivididas na avaliação do balanço de nitrogênio, dos parâmetros sanguíneos e do aparelho reprodutor. Os níveis de lisina da dieta influenciaram os consumos de alimento, proteína e energia, cujo ponto de máximo foi observado no nível de 720 mg de lisina. Para produção de ovos, o melhor nível foi 800 mg de lisina; para conversão alimentar, 900 mg; e, para balanço de nitrogênio, 700 mg. A digestibilidade de extrato etéreo, a qualidade dos ovos, o desenvolvimento do aparelho reprodutor e os parâmetros sanguíneos não foram influenciados pelos níveis de lisina digestível da dieta. Recomendam-se níveis de 700 a 800 mg de lisina digestível para metabolismo e desempenho e 600 mg para qualidade dos ovos e melhor desenvolvimento do aparelho reprodutor.

In this experiment it was aimed to determine the best levels of digestible lysine for laying hens in production period. Performance, nutrients intake, metabolism, egg quality, blood parameters and development of reproductive tract for 160 Hy-Line W-36 hens at 25 weeks of age. Hens were distributed in a completely randomized design with four levels of digestible lysine (600, 700, 800 or 900 mg of Lys/kg) and four replicates by using a split spot scheme was used at evaluation of nitrogen balance, blood parameters and reproductive tract. Lysine levels in the diet affected food, protein and energy intakes whose maximum point was noted at the level of 720 mg of Lysine. For egg production, food conversion, and nitrogen balance, the best levels of lysine was 800 mg, 900 mg, and 700 mg, respectively. The digestibility of ethereal extract, egg quality, development of reproductive tract and blood parameters were not affected by levels of digestible lysine in the diet. It is suggested 700 and 800 mg of digestible lysine for metabolism and performance, respectively, and 600 mg for egg quality and better development of the reproductive trait.