ABSTRACT This study compared the social and feeding behaviour of immunocastrated female pigs using different immunocastration protocols. We used seventy-two gilts from industrial crossbreeding (Agroceres × Topigs) at 15 weeks of age. The pigs were distributed in a randomised design with three treatments. The second dose of the immunocastration vaccine was applied in two groups, six weeks before slaughter (I6) and four weeks before slaughter (I4). A non-immunised group (NI) was used for comparison. Due to the divergence in the time of immunisation between the two groups, an individual comparison of each immunocastrated group with the control group (NI vs. I6 and NI vs. I4) was performed. Social behaviour was analysed through the collection of images by a monitoring camera, and the analysis period was from 6:00 to 18:00 h, with behaviour observed every ten minutes. Feeding behaviour data were collected by the automated FIRE® system. Anti-GnRH immunisation and the different protocols of application did not influence most social and feeding behaviours.

RESUMO: O objetivo deste estudo foi medir o balanço de nitrogênio (N) de suínos alimentados com dietas limitantes em lisina contendo níveis práticos de inclusão de farelo de trigo (FT) ou casca de soja (CS). Foram utilizados 24 suínos machos castrados com peso médio inicial de 57,36±2,01 kg e 72,68±3,24 kg nos experimentos 1 e 2, respectivamente. No experimento 1 os tratamentos foram CT1 - dieta controle, e FT - dieta com inclusão de 15% de FT. No experimento 2 CT2 - dieta controle, e CS - dieta com inclusão de 6% CS. As dietas fibrosas aumentaram (P<0,05) o N fecal em 64,54 e 60,55% em relação a CT1 e CT2, respectivamente. O N urinário foi maior (P<0,05) nos suínos que receberam a dieta FT, mas não foi afetado no experimento com CS. A retenção de N (NRET) foi maior (P<0,05) nos suínos alimentados com a dieta FT, entretanto quando a proporção do NRET foi expressa em relação ao N ingerido (NING) não houve diferença entre os tratamentos (P<0,05). A inclusão de CS não afetou (P<0,05) a NRET quando os resultados foram expressos em termos absolutos ou proporcionais. Em conclusão, a inclusão de níveis práticos de FT ou CS não afeta significativamente o custo metabólico envolvido no metabolismo de N. Entretanto, apenas o FT foi capaz de contribuir para o balanço de N dos suínos, enquanto a quantidade N relativa a adição de CS foi totalmente recuperada nas fezes.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to measure the nitrogen (N) balance of pigs fed with lysine-limiting diets containing practical levels of wheat bran (WB) or soybean hulls (SH). Twelve pigs with average weights of 57.36±2.01 and 72.68±3.24 kg were used in trials 1 and 2, respectively. In trial 1, treatments were CT1 - control diet and WB - diet with inclusion of 15% WB. In trial 2, CT2 - control diet and SH - diet with inclusion of 6% SH. Fibrous diets increased (P<0.05) the fecal N in 63.54 and 60.55% in relation to CT1 and CT2, respectively. The urinary N was higher (P<0.05) in pigs receiving the WB diet, but was not influenced in the trial with SH. The N retention (NRET) was higher (P>0.05) in pigs ingesting the WB diet; although, when the proportion of NRET was expressed relative to N ingested (NING) there was no difference (P>0.05) between treatments. Inclusion of SH did not affect (P>0.05) the NRET when the result was expressed in absolute or proportional terms. In conclusion, inclusion of practical levels of WB and SH does not significantly affect the metabolic costs involved with nitrogen metabolism. However, only WB was able to contribute to the N balance of pigs, while the relative amount of N added by SH was fully recovered in feces.

RESUMO: O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a composição química, a digestibilidade e a energia líquida (EL) da quirera (QR), farelo de arroz estabilizado (FAE) e farelo de arroz parboilizado (FAP) para leitões. Foram realizados dois ensaios de digestibilidade com 12 e 18 suínos machos com pesos iniciais de 8 e 16kg, respectivamente. A coleta fecal total foi realizada usando óxido férrico como marcador fecal. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade da matéria orgânica, proteína e energia bruta (EB) foram maiores (P<0,001) para o QR em comparação com o FAE e FAP. O FAP apresentou energia digestível 2% inferior à da QR e 5% maior que a da FAE. Para QR, o valor médio de EL foi de 3,228kcal/kg de matéria seca (DM), e a diferença entre o valor inferior e o valor superior foi de 311kcal/kg de MS. Os valores médios de EL de FAE e FAP foram de 2.896 e 3.293kcal/kgMS, respectivamente. A diferença entre a energia predita por cada equação atingiu 190kcal/kgMS para FAE e 285kcal/kgMS para FAP. Em conclusão, QR mostrou maiores coeficientes de digestibilidade dos nutrientes, exceto EE e EB, o que pode ser atribuído a diferenças nos processos de produção. Independentemente do tipo de alimento testado, as equações para prever os valores de EL devem ser usadas com cuidado devido a diferenças consideráveis no conteúdo energético.

ABSTRACT: The aim of this study was to determine the chemical composition, digestibility, and net energy (NE) of broken rice (BRR), stabilized rice bran (SRB), and parboiled rice bran (PRB) for piglets. Two digestibility trials were performed with 12 and 18 male pigs with initial weights of 8 and 16kg, respectively. We performed total fecal collection using ferric oxide as fecal marker. The digestibility coefficients of organic matter, crude protein, and gross energy were higher (P<0.001) for the BRR compared to the SRB and PRB. The PRB presented a digestible energy 2% lower than that of BR and 5% higher than that of SRB. For BRR, average NE value was 3,228kcal/kg dry matter (DM), and the difference between the lower and higher value was 311kcal/kg DM. Average NE values of SRB and PRB were 2,896 and 3,293kcal/kgDM, respectively. The difference between the energy predicted by each equation reached 190kcal/kgDM for SRB and 285kcal/kgDM for PRB. In conclusion, BRR showed higher nutrient digestibility coefficients, except for EE and GE, which can be attributed to differences in the production processes. Regardless of the type of feedstuff tested, equations to predict NE values should be used carefully due to considerable differences in energy content.