ABSTRACT This study evaluated the effects of including Moringa oleifera (moringa) leaf meal on performance, carcass yield and characteristics, and relative organ weights of broilers from 10 to 42 days of age. We distributed 420 male Cobb 500 chicks in a completely randomized design with five treatments and six replicates with 14 birds each. Treatments consisted of five experimental diets in which the moringa leaf meal was included at 0, 1.5, 3.0, 4.5, and 6.0% in the diets. The following performance variables were evaluated: weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion; weights and yields of carcass, carcass traits, organs, and abdominal fat; and feet color. Significant differences between the treatment means were analyzed by Dunnett’s test. The meal inclusion levels did not affect performance, carcass characteristics and yield, or organs weight. However, feet pigmentation increased linearly, and abdominal fat was greater only at the 1.5% level when compared with the control group. Moringa leaf meal can be included in the diet of broilers from 10 to 42 days of age, up to the level of 6%, without compromising performance or carcass yield of these birds.

RESUMO O objetivo deste estudo foi desenvolver uma equação específica para a conversão de valores de pressão (psi) em volume (ml) para o Laboratório de Bromatologia da Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará. Para tanto, avaliou-se a cinética fermentativa ruminal de rações regionais por meio da técnica semiautomática de produção de gases in vitro. Para configurar a equação alvo, amostras de milho moído, farelo de soja, farelo de arroz, capim Mombaça, torta de cupuaçu, resíduos de mandioca e folhas de bananeira foram incubadas e a pressão e os volumes dos gases produzidos durante o processo de fermentação foram medidos em tempos predeterminados e relacionado. Esses dados de volume de gases produzidos foram utilizados para determinar, por meio da aplicação do modelo logístico bicompartimental, os parâmetros cinéticos da fermentação ruminal. A equação encontrada para o laboratório foi V = 0,3757P2 + 1,5972P + 0,2189. Milho moído e resíduo de mandioca apresentaram maior taxa de degradação de carboidratos não fibrosos (0,120 e 0,163% / h respectivamente) e maior volume final de gás (228,91 e 273,17 ml / g de MS, respectivamente). Quanto à taxa de degradação dos carboidratos fibrosos, milho moído (0,023% / h), farelo de arroz (0,023% / h) e resíduo de mandioca (0,021% / h) apresentaram as maiores taxas de degradação. Assim, foi identificada uma equação específica para ser utilizada no Laboratório de Bromatologia da Universidade Federal do Oeste do Pará, de acordo com o método aplicado e a altitude das instalações.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to develop a specific equation for the conversion of pressure values (psi) to volume (ml) for the Laboratory of Bromatology of the Federal University of Western Pará. To this end, the ruminal fermentation kinetics of regional feedstuffs were evaluated using the semi-automatic technique of in-vitro gas production. To set up the targeted equation, samples of ground corn, soybean meal, rice bran, Mombasa grass, cupuassu pie, cassava residues, and banana leaves were incubated and the pressure and volumes of the gases produced during the fermentation process were measured at predetermined times and related. These data on the volume of produced gases were used to determine, by applying the bi-compartmental logistic model, the ruminal fermentation kinetics parameters. The equation found for the laboratory was V = 0.3757P2 + 1.5972P + 0.2189. Ground corn and cassava residue showed a higher degradation rate of non-fibrous carbohydrates (0.120 and 0.163 %/h respectively) and higher final gas volume (228.91 and 273.17 ml/g of DM, respectively). As for the degradation rate of fibrous carbohydrates, ground corn (0.023 %/h), rice bran (0.023 %/h), and cassava residue (0.021 %/h) presented the highest degradation rate. Thus, a specific equation to be used at the Laboratory of Bromatology of the Federal University of Western Pará was identified, according to the method applied and the altitude of the premises. Ruminal fermentation kinetics of cassava residue and rice bran showed the same parameters as corn, which may suggest the possibility of replacing corn in the diet of ruminant animals.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the nutritional and energy compositions of cottonseed meal (CM), with or without enzyme supplementation, for broilers at different ages. A total of 672 male Cobb 500 chickens were distributed into four metabolism and ileal-digestibility trials. The experimental design was completely randomized, with four treatments and six replicates. The following treatments were tested: a corn- and soybean meal-based control diet without enzymes; control diet with enzyme addition; control diet with 25% replaced by CM; and control diet with enzyme addition and 25% replaced by CM. The following variables were investigated: apparent metabolizable energy (AME); nitrogen-corrected AME (AMEn); apparent metabolizability coefficients of dry matter, gross energy, phosphorus, and calcium; apparent ileal digestibility coefficients of dry matter, crude protein, calcium, and phosphorus; and digestible protein of CM. Enzyme supplementation did not affect the energy values of CM. The average values obtained in the pre-starter, starter, grower, and finisher phases were 2,958; 2,554; 1,676, and 1,963 kcal kg-1 for AME and 2,519; 2,282; 1,423, and 1,680 kcal kg-1 for AMEn, respectively. Enzyme addition improves the apparent digestibility coefficients of phosphorus and calcium of cottonseed meal in the grower phase. However, enzyme supplementation does not affect the ileal digestibility coefficients of these ingredients in broilers.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of including whole corn germ (WCG) on the performance; diet metabolizability; yields of carcass, cuts, and offal; and quality of meat of broilers. A total of 648 chicks were assigned to six treatments in a completely randomized design with six replicates, with 18 birds in each. Treatments consisted of a corn- and soybean meal-based control diet (0 g kg−1 WCG) and five test diets including WCG at the levels of 40, 80, 120, 160, and 200 g kg−1. Birds and diets were weighed at each seven days to determine feed intake (FI), body weight gain (BWG), and feed conversion ratio (FCR). The partial collection methodology was employed to determine the apparent metabolizable energy (AME), nitrogen-corrected AME (AMEn), and the apparent metabolizability coefficients of gross energy (AMCGE), dry matter (AMCDM), crude protein (AMCCP), and ether extract (AMCEE) of the diets. In the evaluation of meat quality, we analyzed the pH, cooking losses, shear force, water-holding capacity, color, and peroxide index of the meat. There was a difference for BWG and FCR in the total rearing period (1 to 42 days), for which optimum BWG was estimated as 2921 g/bird, with 118 g kg−1 inclusion of WCG. There was no difference for the AME, AMEn, and AMCCP of the diets, although AMCGE, AMCDM, and AMCEE declined as WCG was included. The increasing levels of WCG did not influence the yields of carcass and cuts or the meat quality. There was an increase in the yield of gizzard and proventriculus. Whole corn germ can be used at low levels in the diet of broilers without compromising their productive rates.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate levels of inclusion of an enzyme complex (EC) in corn- and soybean meal-based diets for laying hens on the digestibility of nutrients and energy. A metabolism trial was conducted using 75 Dekalb Brown laying hens at 26 weeks of age, which were distributed into five treatments with five replicates in a completely randomized design. The ingredients used in the diets received an additional (enriched) 3% methionine, lysine, cysteine, threonine, tryptophan, and metabolizable energy and 33.3% phosphorus. Treatments consisted of diets including 0, 150, 200, 250, or 300 mg.kg‒1 EC. We determined apparent metabolizable energy (AME); nitrogen-corrected AME (AMEn); apparent metabolizability coefficients of dry matter (DMAM), crude protein (CPAM), gross energy (GEAM), and phosphorus (PAM); digestible crude protein (CPD); and intake, retention, and excretion of phosphorus. No effects of EC levels were detected on the metabolizable energy values or digestibility coefficients, except for CPAM, which showed a quadratic response (maximum coefficient at 89.0 mg.kg‒1EC). A quadratic effect was also observed for CPD (minimum at 115 mg.kg‒1 EC), P excretion (maximum at 173.2 mg.kg‒1 EC), and P retention (maximum at 122.4 mg.kg‒1 EC) when EC was used. The use of the EC in corn- and soybean meal-based diets for laying hens improves their ileal digestibility of protein and apparent digestibility of phosphorus. However, EC addition to the diets does not affect AME, AMEn, or their metabolizability coefficients.

ABSTRACT A total of 450 one-day-old male broiler chicks were used to evaluate the effect of the sugarcane yeast on performance, body composition, and development of the intestinal mucosa. The experiment was carried out in a completely randomized design with five treatments and six replicates of 15 birds. Sugarcane yeast was included in the experimental diets at the levels of 0, 12.5, 25.0, 37.5, and 50.0 g kg−1. Body weight, weight gain, feed intake, and feed conversion were determined. At the end of the experiment, four broiler chicks were slaughtered per experimental unit: two were used for evaluation of moisture content, crude protein, fat, and body ash and the other two were used in the collection of small-intestine segments for evaluation of villus height and crypt depth. The increasing yeast levels resulted in a linear increase in feed intake and feed conversion. Inclusion of more than 14.4 g kg−1 yeast resulted in a reduction of body ash content. Villus height and crypt depth in the jejunum showed maximum values at the sugarcane yeast levels of 20.9 and 20.6 g kg−1, respectively. In the ileum, the crypt depth reduction at the level of 25.6 g kg−1 also resulted in an increase in villus:crypt ratio. Yeast inclusion increases feed intake and feed conversion, improves body mineral absorption, and increases villus height in the jejunum and the villus:crypt ratio in the ileum of broiler chicks.