The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of diets supplemented with plasma and/or yeast extract on performance (daily weight gain [DWG], daily feed intake [DFI] and feed conversion [FC]) and intestinal morphology of piglets from 7 to 63 days of age. A total of 288 piglets aged 7 days and weighing 2.57±0.05 kg were studied. A randomized block design consisting of four experimental diets, six repetitions and 12 piglets per experimental unit was adopted. The pre-starter I (7 to 21 days), pre-starter II (22 to 35 days) and starter I (36 to 49 days) diets were supplemented as follows: control diet (CD): no plasma or yeast extract; plasma (PL) diet: addition of 6%, 4% and 2% plasma; yeast extract (YE) diet: addition of 6%, 4% and 2% yeast extract; plasma + yeast extract (PL+YE) diet: addition of 3%, 2% and 1% plasma and yeast extract each. From 50 to 63 days of age all piglets received the same diet. No difference in performance was observed from 7 to 21 days and from 7 to 28 days of age, whereas DWG was higher from 7 to 35 days in piglets receiving the PL+YE diet (268, 278, 271 and 288 g/day for CD, PL, YE and PL+YE, respectively). From 7 to 49 days and from 7 to 63 days, DWG (330 and 519 g/day, respectively) and DFI (307 and 647 g/day) were higher in animals receiving the PL-YE diet when compared with those consuming CD (DWG: 295 and 486 g/day; DFI: 266 and 594 g/day). No significant differences in intestinal morphology were observed between piglets receiving the different diets. The combination of plasma and yeast extract elevates DWG, but does not affect the intestinal morphology of piglets from 7 to 63 days of age.

Com o objetivo de determinar a exigência de zinco (Zn) para frangos de corte nas fases de crescimento (22 a 42 dias) e terminação (43 a 54 dias), dois experimentos foram conduzidos utilizando-se, respectivamente, 288 e 192 aves, metade machos e metade fêmeas. Elaboraram-se duas dietas basais atendendo às exigências nutricionais das aves nas fases estudadas, com exceção dos níveis de Zn, que foram mantidos com deficiência (13,00 e 12,00 ppm, respectivamente). Em ambos os experimentos, foram avaliados níveis de suplementação de Zn, provenientes do óxido de Zn comercial, resultando em um total de 13,0; 38,0; 63,0; 88,0; 113,0; e 138,0 ppm de Zn na dieta para fase de crescimento e 12,0; 37,0; 62,0; 87,0; 112,0; e 137,0 ppm de Zn para a fase de terminação. As variáveis avaliadas foram: ganho de peso, consumo de ração, conversão alimentar e concentração de Zn no osso, no fígado e no soro. Não houve efeito significativo dos níveis de Zn sobre as características de desempenho. Os níveis desse mineral na dieta influenciaram a concentração de Zn no soro e no osso das aves na fase de crescimento. Observou-se também efeito de sexo e da interação sexo X níveis de Zn na dieta sobre a concentração de Zn no osso. Na fase de terminação, os níveis de Zn da dieta influenciaram as concentrações no fígado, que foram influenciadas pelo sexo, uma vez que os machos apresentaram maior deposição de Zn no osso e no fígado. A exigência de Zn para frangos de corte na fase de crescimento, considerando a concentração de Zn no osso, é de 82,20 ppm para machos e 85,70 ppm para fêmeas. Para a fase de terminação, os níveis de 25 a 30 ppm de Zn, normalmente presentes em dietas à base de milho e farelo de soja, são suficientes para o adequado desenvolvimento das aves.

Two experiments, with 288 and 192 birds, half males and half females, respectively, were carried out to determine the zinc (Zn) requirements for broilers in the growing (from 22 to 42 days) and finishing (from 43 to 54 days) phases. Two basal diets were formulated to meet the birds´ nutritional requirements, except for Zn, that was deficient at the levels of 13.0 and 12.0 ppm, respectively. In both experiments it was evaluated Zn supplementation levels, from a commercial Zn oxide, resulting in a total of 13.0, 38.0, 63.0, 88.0, 113.0 and 138.0 ppm Zn in the diet for the growing phase and 12.0, 37.0, 62.0, 87.0, 112.0 and 137.0 ppm Zn in the finishing phase. Weight gain, feed intake, feed:gain ratio and Zn concentration in the bone, liver and serum were the evaluated variables. There was no significant effect of the Zn levels on the performance traits. There was effect of the Zn levels on the Zn concentration in the serum and in the bone in the growth phase. Sex effect and interaction between sex and levels of Zn in the diet were observed on Zn concentration in the bone. In the finishing phase, there was effect of the Zn levels in the diet on the Zn concentration in the liver and there was sex effect with males presented greater Zn deposition in the bone and in the liver. The Zn requirements for broilers in the growth phase, considering the variable Zn in the bone, is 82.20 ppm for the males and 85.70 ppm for the females. In the finishing phase, levels from 25 to 30 ppm, considered normal for corn and soybean meal diets, were sufficient for adequate bird performance.

Com o objetivo de determinar as exigências nutricionais de zinco para frangos de corte machos e fêmeas na fase inicial (8 a 21 dias), foram utilizadas 384 aves, metade fêmea e metade macho para cada experimento. Foi formulada uma dieta basal atendendo às exigências nutricionais das aves, com exceção do nível de Zn, que permaneceu deficiente no nível de 12 ppm. Os tratamentos consistiram da suplementação de Zn à dieta basal com óxido de zinco nos níveis de 12,0; 37,0; 62,0; 87,0; 112,0 e 137,0 ppm de Zn. As características avaliadas foram: ganho de peso, consumo de ração, conversão alimentar e concentração de Zn no osso, no fígado e no soro. Não houve efeito dos níveis de Zn sobre as características de desempenho e a concentração de Zn no fígado das aves. Houve efeito dos níveis de Zn sobre as concentrações de Zn no soro e no osso. Verificou-se interação entre níveis de zinco e sexo somente para concentração de Zn no osso. As exigências estimadas foram de 86,12 ppm para frangos de corte machos e de 85,70 ppm para fêmeas. Para a concentração de Zn no soro, a exigência estimada foi de 113,55 ppm, entretanto, considerando a importância desse mineral no desenvolvimento ósseo, a exigência de Zn é de 86,12 ppm para frangos de corte machos e de 85,70 ppm para fêmeas de 8 a 21 dias de idade.

Three hundred and eighty four broilers chicks, half males and half females, were used to determine the zinc requirement for broilers in the initial phase (from 8 to 21 days). A basal diet was formulated that meet the nutritional requirements, except for Zn level, which was kept deficient at 12.00 ppm. The treatments consisted of Zn supplementation to the basal diet with Zn oxide, in the levels of 12.0, 37.0, 62.0, 87.0, 112.0 and 137.0 ppm of Zn. The characteristics evaluated were weight gain, feed intake, feed:gain ratio and Zn concentration in the bone, liver and blood serum. There was no effect of Zn levels on performance characteristics and on Zn concentration in liver of birds. There was effect of Zn levels on Zn concentration in serum and bone. Significant interaction between Zn levels and sex was observed only for Zn concentration in bone. The requirement estimations were 86.12 ppm and 85.70 ppm for broilers males and females, respectively, from 8 to 21 days of age. Based on the Zn concentration in the serum, requirement estimated was of 113.55 ppm, however, considering the importance of this mineral in the bone development, requirement of Zn is of 86.12 ppm and 85.70 ppm for male and female broilers from 8 to 21 days of age.