ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to investigate the influence of two cleaning and disinfection programs on broiler performance and on the microbiological status of the facilities. This trial was an observational study of comparative character. Two experiments were conducted, with 960 birds each. Both experiments were carried out in a positive-pressure broiler house. Broilers were distributed in pens equipped with a bell drinker and a tube feeder each. In the first experiment, new wood shavings were used as litter material, and in the second, reused wood shavings were used. Two treatments with16 replicates of 30 birds each were evaluated. The regular treatment consisted of dry and wet organic matter removal, followed by washing. The European treatment consisted of dry organic matter removal, humidification, washing with water under high pressure, detergent application, rinsing, and application of two combined disinfectants: glutaraldehyde 250g/L + formaldehyde 185g/L; p-chlor-m-cresol 210 g/L. Biosecurity measures were adopted during daily management tasks to prevent cross contamination between treatments. The effectiveness of the treatments was evaluated by microbiological analysis performed before and after treatment applications, as well as by broiler performance results. Live performance results were similar between both treatments when broilers were reared on new litter. When reused word-shavings were used as litter material, the European treatment promoted better broiler performance. The European treatment was more effective than the regular treatment in reducing total microbial counts in the facilities when reused wood shavings were used as litter material, and positively influenced broiler performance.

This study aimed to evaluate diets supplemented with prebiotic, probiotic and symbiotic as an alternative to antibiotics on the performance and immune response against the virus of Newcastle disease in broiler chickens. 1,400 one-day old male Cobb 500 chicks were raised until 42 days old in a completely randomized design with 2x2+1 factorial scheme with seven replications. The treatments were: diet without supplementation (base diet - BD), BD + prebiotic, BD + probiotic, BD + symbiotic (prebiotic + probiotic), and BD + antibiotic. The parameters evaluated were performance and antibody serum titers against Newcastle disease. No antibiotic effect was observed on performance. The symbiotic provided better results for weight gain and feed:gain ratio until 21 days old than isolated additives. At 28 days old, the broilers fed diets with prebiotic presented better feed: gain ratio. In the same period (28 d-old), there was an antibody production increase against the Newcastle disease virus in the group supplemented with prebiotic. It can be concluded that the utilization of symbiotic in broiler chickens' diets can substitute performance enhancing antibiotics. The inclusion of prebiotic in the diet improves feed: gain ratio at 1-28 days old. The chickens' immune response increases at 28 days against the Newcastle disease virus in the group supplemented with prebiotic.

Este trabalho teve como objetivo definir o melhor nível energético na ração para perdizes na fase de reprodução, avaliando consumo de ração, produção e peso médio dos ovos e conversão alimentar. Os tratamentos foram três rações isoprotéicas (15%PB) com níveis de energia de 2650, 2800 e 2950 kcal EM/kg. Foram utilizadas 24 aves em fase de reprodução da espécie Rynchotus rufescens, com 10 meses de idade. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado, com 3 tratamentos (níveis de energia) e 4 repetições, com um casal por parcela. Os resultados mostraram que não houve diferença significativa para consumo, mas houve efeito significativo positivo do nível de energia sobre o peso médio e a produção dos ovos. A conversão alimentar para os níveis de 2650 e 2800 kcal EM/kg de ração foi melhor em relação ao nível de 2950 kcal EM/ kg de ração. Concluiu-se que os níveis energéticos de 2650 a 2800 kcal EM/kg de ração seriam os recomendáveis para perdizes na fase reprodutiva.

This experiment is aimed to define the best energy levels of ration for partridges during their reproductive phase by evaluating the feed intake, the average of eggs production and weight and feed conversion. Twenty-four Rhynchotus rufescens species, with 10 months of age, were fed with three isoproteic rations (15% crude protein) with different levels of metabolized energy (2,650; 2,800 and 2,950 kcal ME/kg). A completely randomized experimental design with three treatments and four replicates with a couple of birds per experimental unit was used. The results show that there was no significant difference in feed intake, but there was a significant effect of energy level on the mean of eggs weight, egg production and feed conversion for 2,650 and 2,800 kcal ME/kg as compared to the level of 2,950 kcal ME/kg. It was concluded that energy levels from 2,650 to 2,800 kcal ME/kg would be recommendable for partridge during their reproductive phase.