ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to determine the effect of birth weight on growth performance, carcass characteristics, and meat quality of immunocastrated male pigs. Seventy-two boars were assigned to three birth weight categories (BiW): light BiW pigs (LP: 0.98±0.083 kg BW; n = 24), normal BiW pigs (NP: 1.42±0.067 kg BW; n = 24), and heavy BiW pigs (HP: 1.85±0.096 kg BW; n = 24). For treatment design, we considered a weight range of two standard deviations (SD) in relation to the average population body weight (from 0.785 to 2.155 kg BW−1). The animals were housed in six pens with 12 animals per pen, with ad libitum access to water and feed throughout the study. In the growing and finishing phases, pigs were immunocastrated with two doses of vaccine at 112 and 161 days of age. The three BiW categories were different up to departure from the nursery (70 days). After this period, there was no difference between NP and HP in terms of BiW. Measurements showed that a low BiW reduced the loin eye area (9.4%), longissimus thoracis muscle depth (7.6%), and meat:fat ratio (21.6%). Backfat thickness (21.5%) and fat area (11.8%) were higher in LP as compared with the NP and HP categories. Light BiW pigs presented a lower weight steak (7.0%) and belly + rib (8.6%) compared with NP and HP, but did not differ within the LP group. Light BiW pigs required a greater lodging time (14 days), generating higher accumulated feed intake to reach the same slaughter BiW as the other categories. Growth performance and carcass characteristics are influenced by the birth weight (BiW) category. Light BiW pigs require more time and feed intake to reach the same slaughter weight. Birth weight has positive effects on meat quality and weight of commercial cuts.

ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to measure the water disappearance in the drinker and the pattern of daily water intake and estimate the amount of water wasted in pig production. The study will also generate information about the daily behaviour of water intake of pigs in the growing and finishing phases. Sixty male pigs with an average initial weight of 44.43 kg subjected to immunocastration were used. Animals received feed and water ad libitum. The animal-performance data, temperature and humidity, and feed and water intake behaviour were collected in real time during the entire experimental period, while water volume consumed was measured daily. The average water disappearance (WD) was 7.98 L, which increased during the studied period, and 29.07% of this corresponds to the estimated water wasted. The daily WD behaviour revealed an increasing pattern throughout the day for growing and finishing periods, with the registered peak at 16:00 and 15:00 h and intake of 6.24 and 9.48 L, respectively. The time spent drinking (TSD) and number of drinker visits (NDV) also showed a peak in the afternoon: 13:00 and 17:00 h for growing and finishing phases, respectively. The TSD was 282.73 and 268.36 s, and the NDV values were 16.13 and 13.84 for growing and finishing phases, respectively. The results demonstrated an increasing pattern during the animal housing period in WD that is proportional to dry matter intake and body weight, and the water wasted represents a significant portion of WD. The daily pattern of WD, TSD, and NDV increase during the total and growing periods, presenting peak activity at 13:00 h. During the finishing phase, TSD and NDV present a pattern similar to the growing phase, but the peak occurs in the last hour of the day.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar efeitos da inclusão de casca de soja em substituição ao feno de alfafa sobre o desempenho, características da carcaça e trato gastrointestinal e parâmetros bioquímicos de coelhos em fase de crescimento. Foram utilizados 30 coelhos da raça Nova Zelândia Branca, divididos igualmente em três tratamentos, compostos pela dieta experimental padrão (sem inclusão de casca de soja); e pelas dietas com 50% e 100% de substituição de alfafa por casca de soja nas respectivas rações experimentais. Concluiu-se que a casca de soja pode ser incluída em dietas para coelhos em crescimento, em substituição ao feno de alfafa em até 100% sem causar danos no desempenho nas características de carcaça e do trato gastrointestinal e parâmetros bioquímicos dos animais, durante a fase de crescimento. Porém, a utilização deste co-produto exige a necessidade de estudos mais aprofundados em virtude da escassez de dados.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of inclusion of soybean hulls in the replacement of alfalfa hay on performance, of growing rabbits. A total of 30 rabbits of New Zealand White kind were divided into three treatments, experimental compounds in the pattern diet (without inclusion of soybean hulls), and the diets with 50% and 100% replacement of alfalfa by soybean hulls in their experimental diets. It was concluded that the soybean hulls can be included on replace of alfafa hulls up 100% in rabbits diets. However, the use of co-product in animal nutrition need more detailed studies because of the paucity of data.

O presente trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar efeitos da inclusão do bagaço de uva em substituição ao feno de alfafa sobre desempenho, rendimento de carcaça e parâmetros morfohistológicos do trato gastrointestinal de coelhos em fase de crescimento. Foram utilizados 30 coelhos da raça Nova Zelândia Branca divididos igualmente em três tratamentos, compostos pela dieta experimental padrão (sem inclusão de bagaço de uva); e pelas dietas com 25% e 50% de substituição de alfafa por bagaço de uva nas respectivas rações experimentais. A inclusão de bagaço de uva causou aumento linear no consumo total de ração e no ganho de peso. A presença em maior proporção dos ácidos graxos essenciais ômega3 e ômega6 nos tratamentos T25BU e T50BU promoveu melhores respostas zootécnicas, uma vez que esses nutrientes agem positivamente no equilíbrio homeostático. Os resultados morfohistológicos demonstraram que a altura das vilosidades intestinais do ceco aumentou com a inclusão de bagaço de uva na dieta, possuindo correlação positiva. A inclusão de bagaço de uva em dietas para coelhos na fase de crescimento altera o desempenho dos animais, aumentando o consumo total de ração e o ganho de peso. Evidenciou-se também que o aumento desse co-produto melhora as características morfológicas das vilosidades intestinais referentes ao ceco.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of inclusion of grape pomace as a replacement for alfalfa hay on performance, carcass yield and morpho hitological parameters of the gastrointestinal tract of rabbits during the growth phase. A total of 30 rabbits of New Zealand White equally divided into three treatments: experimental compounds by standard diet (without inclusion of grape pomace), and the diets with 25% and 50% replacement of alfalfa by grape pomace in the respective experimental diets. The inclusion of grape pomace caused a linear increase in total feed intake and weight gain. The presence in a greater proportion of essential fatty acids in treatment with Omega3 and omega6 T25BU and T50BU best responses promoted husbandry, since these nutrients act positively in the homeostatic equilibrium. The morphohistological results showed that the height of the intestinal villi cecum increased with the inclusion of dietary grape pomace , showing a positive correlation. The inclusion of grape pomace in diets for rabbits in the growth phase alters their performance, increasing the total feed intake and weight gain. It also showed that increasing this co-product improves the morphology of the cecum intestinal villi.