ABSTRACT Two studies were carried out to evaluate the effects of levels of soybean meal produced from damaged soybean grains replacing normal soybean meal on in vitro and in situ digestibility of ruminant diets as well as on intake, digestibility, and animal performance of growing/finishing lambs. In trial 1, we evaluated the in vitro digestibility of each soybean meals (normal and damaged), as well as diets containing levels of the damaged replacing the normal (0, 333, 667 and 1,000 g.kg−1) soybean meal on kinetic parameters of in vitro cumulative gas production, in vitro dry matter and crude protein digestibility, in situ rumen-degradable protein, rumen-undegradable protein, and in vitro intestinal digestibility of rumen-undegradable protein. In trial 2, we used 48 growing/finishing lambs to evaluate the effects of damaged soybean meal levels (0, 333, 667, and 1,000 g.kg−1) replacing normal soybean meal in feedlot diets (20:80 roughage:concentrate ratio) on intake and digestibility of nutrients and on animal performance. The damaged soybean meal presented lower values for total gas production and in vitro dry matter digestibility than normal soybean meal. Higher rumen-undegradable protein was estimated for damaged soybean meal than for the normal and consequently lower rumen-degradable protein for damaged compared to normal. Because of the lower rumen-degradable protein, damaged soybean meal promoted lower in vitro ammonium nitrogen (NH3-N) concentrations than the normal in feedlot diets. In the in vivo trial, there were no effects of damaged soybean meal levels in the diets on intake and digestibility of nutrients (dry matter, organic matter, crude protein, and fiber) as well as on total weight gain, average daily gain, carcass yield, or feeding efficiency. Thus, damaged soybean meal can fully replace the normal one in lamb feedlot diets (in up to of 1,000 g.kg−1 of the normal soybean meal) without causing adverse effects on intake and digestibility of nutrients and on animal performance.

ABSTRACT We evaluated the effect of adding proteases in diets of laying hens at peak production on the performance, egg quality, relative weight of digestive organs, and intestinal morphometry. Hy-Line W36 layer hens (390; 28-39 weeks old) were distributed in five treatments, with 13 animals each, with six replicates. The treatments were: control (standard formulation without nutritional reduction or protease inclusion), negative control A - NCA (nutritional reduction according to protease A matrix, without protease), negative control B - NCB (nutritional reduction according to protease B matrix, without protease), NCA + protease A, and NCB + protease B. The experimental period lasted 12 weeks, divided into three cycles of 28 days. Hens subjected to treatments (NCA and NCB) showed a decrease in feed intake. However, the addition of proteases A and B promoted improvement in this trait. The diets NCA and NCB had a negative influence on the production rate of the hens, but the diet supplementation with protease B resulted in significant improvement on egg laying rate. Hens subjected to nutritional reduction presented the worst results regarding mass and conversion by egg mass. However, the addition of enzymes reversed these results. Although the diets did not affect the relative weights of yolk, albumen, eggshell, Haugh unit, and specific gravity of the eggs, a higher eggshell thickness was observed in hens that received NCA, NCB, and NCB + protease B diets. The diets did not influence the relative weights of digestive organs and the small intestine morphometry. Hens fed diets supplemented with A and B have performance recovered in relation to those that received diets with reduced levels of nutrients.

RESUMO: Avaliou-se o efeito da suplementação oral de probióticos em forma líquida em leitões lactentes (2 aos 19 dias de idade), de linhagem pura Large White e cruzamento Landrace e Large White, sobre ganho de peso diário, consumo de ração, incidência de diarreia e características morfo-histológicas da mucosa do intestino delgado, altura, largura e perímetro das vilosidades e profundidade das criptas. Um total de 276 leitões foram distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com arranjo fatorial 2 x 3, com quatro repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram de duas linhagens genéticas, 130 leitões Large White puros e 146 leitões provenientes do cruzamento das raças Landrace e Large White, duas combinações distintas de microrganismos, bactérias probióticas ou combinação de levedura e bactérias probióticas e um grupo controle alimentado com uma dieta basal, sem adição de antibióticos e promotores de crescimento. A suplementação com probióticos aumentou o ganho médio de peso diário de leitões lactentes (P=0,02), independente da linhagem, e não influenciou (P>0,10) o consumo médio diário de ração. O cruzamento das raças Landrace e Large White apresentou maior consumo médio diário de ração (P=0,03). Não houve diferença significativa na incidência de diarreia (P>0,10) entre os tratamentos. A histo-morfometria intestinal não foi significativamente diferente entre as linhagens genéticas (P>0,10). Os leitões que receberam probióticos apresentaram maior altura de vilosidade em duodeno (P=0,01). Concluiu-se que os leitões que receberam probióticos orais melhoraram a histo-morfologia intestinal e o ganho médio diário de peso, independentemente das linhas genéticas. As maiores vilosidades duodenais foram medidas em P2 e P3 (450,37 μm e 435,62 μm, respectivamente) em comparação com o grupo controle P1 (309,25 μm; P = 0,01). Maior ganho de peso médio diário foi obtido em P2 e P3 (259,55 g e 250,50 g, respectivamente) em comparação com P1 (221,9 g; P = 0,02).

ABSTRACT: The effects of the oral supplementation of probiotics on the performance and intestinal histo-morphology of the duodenal, jejunal, and ileal mucosa, comparing with two different genetic lines (purebred Large White or crossbred Large White x Landrace) of suckling piglets were evaluated between 2 and 19 days of age. In total, 276 piglets were distributed according to a completely randomized experimental design in a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement, with four replicates each. Treatments consisted of two genetic lines (130 purebred Large White and 146 crossbred Large White x Landrace piglets), two different probiotic products (probiotic bacteria or a combination of yeast and probiotic bacteria), and a control (basal diet with no addition). Probiotics increased the average daily weight gain (P=0.02), independently of genetic line, but did not influence (P>0.10) average daily feed intake. Crossbred piglets presented higher average daily feed intake (P=0.03) than purebreds. The incidence of diarrhea was not significantly different (P>0.10) among the treatments. Intestinal histo-morphometric parameters were not influenced by genetic lines (P>0.10). However, the piglets fed with the probiotic products exhibited higher duodenal villi compared with the control (P=0.01). In conclusion, piglets that received oral probiotics improved intestinal health and average daily weight gain, independent of the genetic lines. Higher duodenal villus were measured in P2 and P3 (450.37 μm and 435.62 μm, respectively) compared with the control group P1 (309.25 μm; P=0.01). Higher average daily weight gain was obtained in P2 and P3 (259.55 g and 250.50 g, respectively) compared with P1 (221.9 g; P=0.02).

RESUMO A determinação da real exigência de lisina é fundamental, por ser um aminoácido essencial e desempenhar importantes funções no metabolismo dos frangos de corte. Além disto, apresenta-se como segundo aminoácido limitante para frangos de corte alimentados com rações formuladas a base de milho e farelo de soja. O objetivo deste estudo foi determinar a exigência de lisina digestível para frangos de corte machos de menor potencial genético para crescimento em sistema semiconfinado, bem como avaliar os efeitos de diferentes valores de lisina digestível sobre o desempenho e características de carcaça. Foram utilizados 300 frangos de corte, da linhagem comercial EMBRAPA 041, com pesoinicial médio de 987 g. Os frangos foram distribuídos em 20 unidades experimentais em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com cinco tratamentos (0,586; 0,746; 0,906; 1,066 e 1,226% de lisina digestível), quatro repetições e quinze frangos por unidade experimental. Nos dois períodos avaliados, verificaram-se efeito linear dos níveis de lisina digestível sobre a ingestão e eficiência na utilização de lisina, e efeito quadrático sobre peso vivo final, ganho de peso e a conversão alimentar. Verificou-se efeito quadrático sobre os pesos absolutos da carcaça, peito, coxa+sobrecoxa e rendimento da moela. Podem ser recomendadas, respectivamente, para máximo ganho de peso rações com 1,040% e 1,103% de lisina digestível nos períodos de 35 aos 70 e 35 aos 84 dias de idade.

ABSTRACT Determining the actual lysine requirement is crucial as it is an essential amino acid and plays animportant role in the metabolism of broilers. In addition, it is the second limiting amino acid for broilers fed with rations formulated basedon corn and soybean meal. The aim of this study was to determine the digestible lysine requirement for male broilers with lower genetic potential for growth in a semi-confined system as well as to evaluate the effects of different values of digestible lysine on performance and carcass characteristics. A total of 300 broiler chickensfrom a commercial lineage EMBRAPA 041 were used with an average initial weight of 987 g. The broilers were distributed into 20 experimental units in a completely randomized design with five treatments (0.586; 0.746; 0.906; 1.066, and 1.226% digestible lysine), four replicates and 15 broilers per experimental unit.In both periods, there were linear effect of digestible lysine values on the lysine intake and lysine utilization efficiency and quadratic effect on final body weight, weight gain and feed: gain ratio.There was a quadratic effect on the absolute weight of carcasses, breast, thigh + drumstick and income gizzard.For rearing of male broilers with lesser genetic growth potential reared in semi-confinement, rations with 1.040% and 1.103% digestible lysine can be recommended for maximum weight gain in periods from 35 to 70 and 35 to 84 days of age, respectively.

O experimento foi conduzido em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso para avaliar os efeitos da redução de proteína (PB) e da suplementação de aminoácidos essenciais sobre o desempenho e as características de carcaça de frangos de corte machos de linhagem comercial na fase de 1 a 21 dias de idade. Foram utilizados 720 frangos distribuídos em 4 tratamentos e seis repetições com 30 aves cada. Os níveis de PB utilizados foram 230, 210, 190 e 170 g/kg. Houve efeito linear decrescente dos níveis de PB sobre a conversão alimentar, o ganho de peso, o peso final e o consumo. Houve aumento linear dos teores de gordura e matéria seca das carcaças com a redução do conteúdo de proteína da dieta.

A completely randomized experimental design was carried out to evaluate the crude protein reduction of diets and essential amino acids supplementation effects on performance and body composition of male broiler chickens from one to 21 days of age. A total of seven hundred and twenty broiler chickens were used. Birds were alloted in four treatments and six replicates of thirty birds each. The diets crude protein (CP) levels were 230, 210, 190 and 170 g/kg. There was decreasing linear effect of the CP levels on feed:gain ratio, weight gain, the final weight and feed intake. Carcass fat and carcass dry matter increased linearly with protein reduction.

O objetivo deste experimento foi avaliar a digestibilidade da ração de frangos de corte a qual continha ou não antibiótico e probióticos na fase inicial (um a 20 dias) e na fase final (21-40 dias). As aves foram distribuídas em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com quatro tratamentos: Tratamento 1- Dieta Testemunha; Tratamento 2 - Dieta Testemunha + 0,02 % de probiótico 1 (Calsporin 10®), Tratamento 3 - Dieta Testemunha + 2,0% na fase inicial e 0,63% na fase final de probiótico 2 (Estibion aves®); Tratamento 4 - Dieta Testemunha + 0,013% de antibiótico (Bacitracina de Zinco®) e 5 repetições de 10 e 8 aves por unidade experimental por fase, respectivamente. Os pintos foram criados em gaiolas de metabolismo. Os resultados demonstram que a digestibilidade de matéria seca, nitrogênio e energia metabolizável aparente não foi afetada pela suplementação de antibiótico e probióticos na dieta de frangos de corte.

The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the diets digestibility in broiler chickens with and without antibiotic and probiotics, in the initial phase (one to 20 days) and finish phase (21 to 40 days). Chickens distributed in a completely randomized design were used in four treatments: Treatment 1- Control diet; Treatment 2 - Control diet + 0.02% probiotic 1 (Calsporin 10®), Treatment 3 - Control diet + 2.0% initial phase and 0.63% finish phase probiotic 2 (Estibion aves®); Treatment 4 - Control diet + 0.013% of antibiotic (Bacitracina de Zinco®), and five repetitions, with ten and eight birds, respectively, were used in each experimental unit, which were kept in metabolism cages. The results demonstrate that the digestibility of dry matter, nitrogen and apparent metabolized energy were not affected by the supplementation of antibiotic and probiotics in the broiler chickens diet.