ABSTRACT. The layer poultry is an important activity for food production with high biological value. Measuring egg quality has great relevance to ensure safety and quality products for consumers. Thus, the objective was to evaluate the egg physical quality of four laying hen’s strains. Were used 864 eggs from four laying hens’ lines (Hisex Brown®, Hy-Line Brown®, Isa Label®, and Lohmann Brown®). The experimental design was completely randomized composed of four treatments (strains) with nine replications with four eggs each. Egg weight, egg diameter, egg length, specific gravity, yolk, albumen and shell weight and percentage, Haugh units, and shell thickness were evaluated. There was a significant difference for all parameters evaluated. The Hisex Brown® strain showed the best results for egg diameter, egg length, specific weight, albumen height, Haugh units, yolk weight, albumen%, shell weight, shell%, and shell thickness, while the Hy-Line Brown® produced bigger and heavier eggs, and Isa Label® presented the highest yolk%. The Hisex Brown® strain showed the better physical quality of eggs when compared to the other studied lines, the strain being indicated when the objective is to produce eggs with better internal and external quality.

ABSTRACT. The objective of this study was to evaluate productive performance and egg quality of Japanese quails (Cortunix japonica) fed with synthetic and natural pigments. The treatments used were: 0.8% paprika extract (Capsicum annuum), 0.8% marigold flower extract, 4% paprika extract and 4% marigold flower extract and 0.045% synthetic pigment (Canthaxanthin) in feed. A total of 240 Japanese quails at 20 weeks of age were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with five treatments and six replicates, with eight quails per experimental unit (30 experimental units). There was no difference (p > 0.05) for the evaluated parameters, except for yolk color which showed significant difference (p < 0.05) between the treatments used. The inclusion of 0.8% natural pigments in diet of Japanese quails can be used to substitute canthaxathin because it is effective on improving yolk color without affect performance and the quails egg quality.

ABSTRACT. The aim of this research was evaluate the productive performance, egg quality and the endoparasites presence on Carijó laying hens in Cage Free system, fed with two experimental diets, one of them supplemented with fresh banana leaf in natura. It were used 196 laying hens with twenty-four weeks of age, distributed in a completely randomized design with 14 boxes, two experimental diets and seven replicates, by treatment with fourteen birds per experimental unit. The variables analyzed were: feed intake; egg production; egg mass: feed conversion per egg mass; feed conversion per dozen eggs; egg weight; albumen weight; yolk weight; shell weight; yolk percentage; albumen percentage shell percentage; yolk pigmentation and the presence of endoparasites. No influence (p > 0.05) were found, for performance and egg production, in Carijó laying hens fed supplemented with banana leaf in natura. For the treatment with inclusion of banana leaf, yolk pigmentation were superior (p < 0.05) when compared to control diet, producing eggs with more yolks orange color. In respect to endoparasite analysis, there was significant effect (p < 0.05) in the percentage of infections present in excretas. Among the treatments evaluated, the one with banana leaf supplementation reduced in 26.54% the endoparasites presence. The inclusion of banana leaf in the diet of Carijo laying hens does not affect performance and eggs quality and decreases the amount of endoparasites of the genus Strogyloides spp.

ABSTRACT. The objective of this study was to evaluate different inclusion levels of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) from corn in the diet of quails. A total of 210 japanese quails (Coturnix coturnix japonica) were distributed in a completely randomized design of five treatments and six replicates, with seven quails per experimental unit. The treatments used were: control feed; inclusion of 5, 10, 15 and 20% of DDGS. The variables assessed were: feed intake, feed conversion per dozen and egg mass, egg production, egg weight, specific gravity, yolk color and economic analysis. Data were analyzed by regression model and Dunnett’s test at 5% probability. For individual feed intake, laying rate, and feed conversion per egg mass, specific gravity and yolk color by color fan, there was effect caused by inclusion of DDGS (p < 0.05), but the other variables did not show significant difference. By Dunnett’s test, for feed intake, feed conversion per egg mass, specific gravity and digital colorimeter’s L parameter, there was effect (p < 0.05). As for economic analysis, DDGS presented low cost. It can be concluded that DDGS can be used in feed at a 20% level without impairing the performance and quality of quails eggs.

ABSTRACT. The objective was to evaluate the performance, egg quality, thermoregulation, body morphology and behavior of different categories of laying poultry. Two treatments with two genetic groups were used, 50 birds of the Hisex Brown strain and 50 birds of the Black Avifran chicken breed with 55 weeks, distributed in a completely randomized design with 10 replicates and 5 birds in each experimental unit. The variables egg weight, weight and percentage of albumen, yolk and shell, marketable eggs, specific gravity, color b *, egg / poultry production day-1 were not different (p > 0.05) between the two groups. Feed conversion by egg mass and dozen eggs, yolk color, L color, diameter, height, shell color presented a difference (p < 0.05), being higher values for the Black Avifran breed. The Black Chicken Avifran had higher body temperature; however, its performance and the quality of its eggs did not change. Black Chicken Avifran presented higher values in relation to body morphology, and better results in relation to the animal performance, therefore, it was more efficient, since it obtained a lower consumption and production equal to the lineage Hisex Brown, when created in the Cage - Free system.

RESUMO. É de suma importância o ambiente no desempenho de galinhas poedeiras, sendo necessárias técnicas que viabilizem a melhoria dos sistemas de produção e ambiência, proporcionando bem-estar às aves e consequente incremento na qualidade do produto final, o ovo. O objetivo com este trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos do sistema de criação, em piso e gaiola sobre o desempenho e a qualidade dos ovos (interna e externa) de galinhas poedeiras. Foram utilizadas 320 galinhas poedeiras da linhagem Hysex Brown, de 34 a 43 semanas de idade, os dois tratamentos foram distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, piso e gaiola, com 10 repetições cada. As variáveis avaliadas foram: consumo de ração individual, taxa de postura por repetição, conversão alimentar por dúzia de ovos, peso do ovo; peso e participação percentual da casca, da gema e do albúmen, gravidade específica, variação de peso corporal e viabilidade das aves. Pelos resultados foi observado que as aves criadas em piso apresentaram melhores valores de produção de ovos, além da melhor qualidade interna e externa, com maior peso do ovo, gema, albúmen e casca e com menores perdas de ovos. As aves alojadas nas gaiolas, por terem sofrido efeitos negativos do sistema de criação, apresentaram, de maneira geral, resultados inferiores quando comparado ao das aves criadas em piso.

ABSTRACT. The environment is very important for the performance of laying hens; thus, techniques are required to improve production systems, providing better welfare for poultry and consequent increase in the quality of the final product, the egg. This study aimed to evaluate the effects of rearing system, on the floor and in cage, on the performance and egg internal and external quality of laying hens. A total of 320 Hysex Brown laying hens, with 34-43 weeks days of age, was distributed in a completely randomized design, with two treatments, floor and cage, with 10 replicates each. The parameters evaluated were: individual feed intake, egg production per replicate, feed conversion per dozen eggs, egg weight; weight and percentage participation of shell, albumen and yolk, specific gravity, body weight variation and viability of birds. The results show that the birds raised on the floor showed best results as to egg production, besides the best internal and external quality, with greater weight of egg, yolk, albumen, shell and with lower losses of eggs. Because of the negative effects of the cage system, in general, hens presented lower results when compared to results of those raised on the floor.