Abstract Industrial egg residue (IER) possesses substantial concentrations of calcium and crude protein. The objective of this study was to measure the digestibility and performance of broilers when IER was added to the feed. Four treatments were tested, which caused increasing replacement of calcitic limestone by IER (0, 35, 70 and 100%) during a 42-day production cycle. First, total bird excreta were collected from broilers with and without IER, and we determined dry matter digestibility, apparent metabolizable energy (AME), calcium, and nitrogen retention. The IER presented 7.5% of crude protein, 31% of calcium, 209 kcal/kg of AME and the digestibility coefficients for dry matter, crude protein, and calcium were calculated at 83.95%, 86.20%, and 67%, respectively. After the digestibility test, the effects of IER on performance, carcass and meat yield were evaluated. No significant differences between the treatments were found in terms of performance (weight gain, feed conversion, consumption, and mortality), and no differences were found in terms of carcass or meat yield. A linear decrease in the percentage of abdominal fat was observed with increasing inclusion of IER in feed. These findings suggest that IER can totally replace limestone (calcium carbonate) in broiler diets.

Abstract Our objective was to determine whether inclusion of industrial egg residue (IER) in the diets of laying hens would replace calcitic limestone without interfering with productive efficiency, egg quality or digestibility. In a first study (Experiment I), we used 30% IER in the diets of laying hens and found that the apparent digestibility coefficients were 51.6%, 42.8%, 51.6% and 17.8% for dry matter, crude protein, calcium and phosphorus, respectively. In the second study (Experiment II), we compared a control diet containing calcitic limestone with four diets containing increasing levels of IER, in proportions of 25%, 50%, 75% and 100%. During the first cycle (day 1–28), there was no difference between treatments in terms of productive performance or egg quality. During the second production cycle (day 29–56), we observed less food consumption by birds that ingested the highest levels of IER (100% substitution) than in controls. During the third cycle (day 57–84), we found that the inclusion of IER negatively affected performance, particularly lower production numbers, lower egg mass and higher feed conversion. Finally, during the third cycle, chickens broke and ingested their eggs shortly after laying. We conclude that the use of industrial egg residue cannot replace limestone in the feed of commercial laying hens, because it reduces performance and affects egg quality.

Abstract This study was aimed to analyze the effects of spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) on the health of post weaning piglets challenged with diets contaminated with aflatoxins and fumonisins. Fifty-six male piglets (7.15 ± 0.61 kg) were allocated in four groups: CTL group received a regular diet; SDPP group received a regular diet and 6% SDPP; MYC group received a diet containing 300 µg/kg aflatoxins and 8,000 µg/kg fumonisins; group MYC+SDPP received 300 µg/kg aflatoxins, 8,000 µg/kg fumonisins and 6% SDPP. The animals that received the experimental diet containing mycotoxins (MYC group) had lower weight gain at the end of the experiment compared to the other treatments. Animals receiving SDPP showed decreased urea levels throughout the experiment (P<0.05). Animals from MYC group presented an increased on reactive oxygen species (ROS) and thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBARS) levels and decreased catalase activity (P<0.05). In contrast, SDPP prevented the increase of ROS and TBARS and stimulated superoxide dismutase activity (P<0.05). In conclusion, diet contaminated with mycotoxins (group MYC) caused subclinical intoxication in the piglets, as observed by the increase on free radical’s production and lipid peroxidation. Conversely, SDPP presented a protective effect, minimizing the effects of oxidative stress caused by aflatoxins and fumonisins ingestion.

RESUMO. Este estudo teve como objetivo analisar o perfil da carne vendida e consumida em Chapecó - SC, Brasil. Foram entrevistados 31 indivíduos responsáveis pelos principais distribuidores, supermercados, mercados de carne, restaurantes e churrascarias. Foi utilizado o método de questionário estruturado, com questões de respostas fechadas e abertas, aplicadas aos responsáveis pelos estabelecimentos anteriormente mapeados com maior representatividade no município, quanto às características relacionadas ao comércio de carne e ao tipo de produto. A partir dos resultados da pesquisa foi possível identificar a falta de informação sobre os atributos e características que norteiam as preferencias na aquisição de uma carne bovina de qualidade. Portanto, torna-se importante a exposição dos conhecimentos, difusão das informações e dos conceitos sobre a produção de carne bovina de qualidade aos comerciantes e consumidores, a fim de contribuir para a melhoria da carne consumida e comercializada nesta região.

ABSTRACT. This study aimed to analyze the profile of beef sold and consumed in Chapecó - SC, Brazil. Were interviewed 31 individuals responsible for the main distributors, supermarkets, meat markets, restaurants and steakhouses. The structured questionnaire method was used, with questions of closed and open answers applied to those responsible for the establishments previously mapped with greater representativeness in the municipality regarding the characteristics related to the meat trade and the type of product. With the results obtained, it was possible to identify the lack of information regarding the attributes and characteristics that direct preferences in the acquisition of a quality beef. Thus, the knowledge exposure, information dissemination and concepts of the production of beef to merchants and consumers becomes important in order to contribute to the improvement of the meat consumed and commercialized in this region.

RESUMO Este trabalho foi realizado para avaliar as características fermentativas e a estabilidade aeróbica das silagens de grãos úmidos de milho: convencional, doce e reidratado. Foi utilizado um delineamento em esquema fatorial 3x3 com três tipos de milho (Fortuna, doce e reidratado) e três tratamentos de inoculação (sem inoculação; com inoculação bacteriana; inoculação bacteriana mais enzimas). Foram avaliados a estabilidade aeróbica (diferença entre temperatura do bulbo seco e temperatura das silagens) e os valores de pH com: 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, 168, 192, 216, 240 e 296 horas de exposição aeróbica. Adicionalmente, foram testados diferentes modelos matemáticos para estimar os valores médios de pH pós abertura. Houve interação (P < 0,05) entre os tratamentos de inoculação e tipos de milho para a estabilidade aeróbica e para pH nas horas 72, 168 e 192 após a abertura dos silos. As silagens de milho doce inoculadas apresentaram melhor estabilidade aeróbica quando comparadas com as demais silagens. Para o pH às 48 horas a silagem de milho doce apresentou os menores valores de pH. O tratamento inoculação mais enzimas para a silagem de milho reidratado reduziu o pH 168. A equação de Richard (1959) foi a que melhor estimou os valores de pH para os tipos de inoculação e para o milho reidratado. Para as silagens de milho fortuna e doce o modelo proposto por Morgan et al. (1975) foi o que melhor ajustou os dados.

SUMMARY This work was carried out to evaluate the fermentation characteristics and aerobic stability, regarding the conventional high moisture corn grain silage (Fortuna variety), the high moisture sweet corn grain silage and the high moisture rehydrated corn silage. Data were statistically analyzed as a 3x3 factorial arrangement in a completely randomized design, and the factors were three types of corn (Fortuna, sweet and rehydrated) and three inoculation treatments (without inoculum, bacterial inoculum and bacterial inoculum plus enzymes). The aerobic stability values were assessed, collecting the temperatures from the room dry bulb and from the silage thermometers, and the pH values, at 0, 24, 48, 72, 96, 168, 192, 216, 240 and 296 hours after aerobic exposition. Additionally, different mathematical models to estimate the mean pH values after opening were tested. Interactions were observed (P<0.05) between types of corns and inoculants for aerobic stability and pH at 72, 168 and 192 hours after opening. Inoculated sweet corn silages presented better aerobic stability after aerobic exposition compared to the other silages. The sweet corn silage presented lowest pH values at 48 hours after opening. The pH values at 168 hours of rehydrated corn silage treated with bacterial inoculum plus enzymes was more acid. Richard’s Equation (1959) was the best tool for the pH estimation when either types of inoculants or rehydrated corn silage were considered. On the other hand, the model proposed by Morgan et al. (1975) was the best equation model to fit the data regarding either Fortuna or sweet corn silages.

A taxa de crescimento de frangos de corte foi triplicada nas últimas décadas. O peso corporal é utilizado como um dos principais critérios de seleção, enquanto que as características de carcaça são essenciais para o mercado. Assim, a indústria avícola busca animais com pesos altos ao abate e excelentes características de carcaça. Contudo, a associação genética entre as características de carcaça e desempenho é desconhecida. Deste modo, foram estabelecidas associações genéticas entre estas características, além das estimativas do progresso genético e as tendências genéticas para uma linhagem comercial de frango de corte. Avaliou-se a idade ideal para a seleção indireta, visando a melhoraria das características de carcaça. Foram utilizadas informações de pesos em diferentes idades e características de carcaça de 128.459 frangos em diferentes idades ao passo que o pedigree dispunha de 132.442 aves. As análises genéticas foram realizadas por meio do software ASReml®, utilizando o método da máxima verossimilhança restrita, sob o modelo animal. As estimativas de herdabilidade variaram de moderadas a altas, sendo indicativo de que estas características podem ter alta resposta à seleção. As correlações genéticas entre as características de desempenho e carcaça variaram de moderadas a altas, indicando a presença de associação genética, ao passo que as tendências genéticas sugerem que a seleção direta está ocorrendo para o peso corporal em diferentes idades. A seleção nas idades 30 e 38 dias deve ser considerada em vez do peso ao abate, uma vez que antecipa a seleção em um período aproximado de 12 dias.

The growth rate of broilers has triplicated in the last decades. The body weight is used as one of the selection criteria whereas the carcass traits are valuable market requirements. Thus, the meat industry like animals with high weights at slaughter and better carcass traits. However, the genetic relation of carcass traits with several body weights is unknown. Therefore, we established genetic associations among performance and carcass traits in a broiler chicken line and estimated genetic gain and trends. We also evaluated what age of selection would lead to a more efficient indirect selection of carcass traits. The data set with information of weights in different ages and carcass traits of 128,459 chickens was used. The pedigree data used contained 132,442 chickens. Genetic analysis were realized using ASREML® software applied a restricted maximum likelihood method. Heritability estimates ranged from moderate to high, which indicates that these traits can have high selection response. Genetic correlations between performance and carcass traits varied from moderate to high, which indicates the presence of a genetic association whereas genetic trends indicated that direct selection is occurring for body weight at different ages. Theselection at 30 and 38 days should be considered instead of the slaughter weight, as it anticipates selection in around 12 days.

Objetivou-se comparar metodologias de referência com a espectroscopia de infravermelho com transformada de Fourier para análises do pH e do ponto de congelamento sob diferentes condições de conservação em amostras de leite bovino cru. Foram coletadas amostras de leite de tanques de expansão em 57 propriedades. Cada amostra foi subdividida em 45 frascos (40 mL), que foram distribuídos de acordo com a temperatura de armazenamento (-20; 7 e 25ºC), a idade da amostra (0, 3, 6 e 9 dias) e os níveis de adição de água (0, 2, 4 e 6%). Foi adicionado bronopol a 44 frascos e um foi mantido sem adição do conservante para controle. O pH e o ponto de congelamento foram determinados pela metodologia de referência (potenciômetro e crioscópio eletrônico, respectivamente) e pela metodologia alternativa por meio do equipamento MilkoScanTM FT+. Os resultados obtidos em cada metodologia nas diferentes condições de conservação das amostras foram avaliados por análise de variância e comparação de médias. A análise de regressão linear foi realizada para avaliar as metodologias (referência e alternativa) quanto aos resultados do ponto de congelamento em função da idade da amostra. O bronopol não alterou as médias de pH, porém reduziu o ponto de congelamento. Foram calculados fatores de correção para eliminar esse efeito nos resultados do ponto de congelamento. As médias de pH em amostras com três dias, mantidas a -20 e 25ºC foram mais baixas que as amostras a 7ºC. A idade da amostra influenciou os resultados de pH quando as amostras foram submetidas a 25ºC. O aumento da temperatura de armazenamento para 25ºC reduziu as médias do ponto de congelamento em amostras sem adição de água e com nove dias de armazenagem. O aumento na idade da amostra a -20 e 7ºC não tem efeito sobre médias do ponto de congelamento. Há forte correlação entre as metodologias em função da idade da amostra para o ponto de congelamento.

The objective of this work was to compare reference methodologies to Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy for analysis of pH and freezing point (FP) under different storage conditions on samples of raw bovine milk. Milk samples were collected from bulk tank milk on 57 farms. Each sample was subdivided into 45 vials (40 mL) which were distributed according to storage temperature (-20ºC, 7ºC and 25ºC), age of the sample (0, 3, 6 and 9 days) and levels of water addition (0, 2, 4 and 6%). Bronopol was added into 44 flasks and one was maintained without addition of preservative for control. Frozen point and pH were determined by the standard methods (thermistor cryoscope and potentiometer, respectively) and by the alternative methodology by using MilkoScanTM FT+. The results from each method, at different conditions of conservation of the samples, were evaluated by analysis of variance and comparison of means. The linear regression analysis was performed to evaluate the methodologies (reference and alternative) for results of the frozen point in function of the age of the sample. Bronopol did not alter pH means, but it reduced frozen point. Correction factors were calculated to eliminate this effect on the results of the frozen point. Means of pH in three-day samples, kept at -20ºC and 25ºC were lower than the samples at 7ºC. The age of the samples affected the results of pH when they were submitted to 25ºC. The increase of storage temperature to 25ºC reduced means of frozen point in samples without addition of water and at nine days of storage. The increase in age of sample at -20ºC and 7ºC does not affect means of frozen point. There is a strong correlation among methodologies in function of age of the sample for frozen point.