Abstract We examined the effects of including sunflower cake (SC) associated with an enzyme complex (EC) in the diet of meat quails on nutrient metabolism, performance, carcass characteristics, bone parameters and economic viability. In total, 432 meat quails (7 to 42 days old) were assigned to six treatments in a completely randomised design with 6 replicates with 12 birds each. A 2 × 3 factorial arrangement was adopted (two levels of SC: 10 and 20%; three diet formulation strategies: normal, reduction in the nutrient and energy matrix considering the enzymatic contribution and reduced diet with EC). No interaction effect was observed. The increased levels of SC from 10% to 20% promoted in decrease in the metabolisability coefficients of dry matter and gross energy and in the value of AMEn and increased relative weight of gizzard. The addition of EC in diets containing SC allows a better metabolization of nitrogen and energy, equalize to the normal diet. The best breast yield was obtained in the birds fed the reduced diet with EC, in relation to normal diet. The reduced diet and the reduced diet with EC provided the lowest cost of food and the best economic efficiency index. Up to 20% of the sunflower cake can be included in the diet of cut quail, with or without enzyme supplementation. However, the use of the enzyme complex composed of carbohydrases, proteases and phytase can favor the metabolization of nitrogen and energy from the diet containing sunflower cake.

Abstract Synthetic antioxidants (e.g.butylhydroxytoluene, BHT) are routinely used for to restrict oxidative processes of meat products, but they are implicated as harmful to the health of humans. Therefore natural alternatives, such as plant antioxidants, have been sought as replacements. Plant antioxidants when added to the diet can be incorporated into meat and reduce the need for the addition of synthetic antioxidants during processing. The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of ethanol extracts of mango seeds (EEMS) in the diet of pigs on qualitative parameters and total antioxidant capacity of mortadella produced from these animals. Thirty-two pigs with an average 60 days of age were distributed among four treatments: control=no antioxidant; BHT=200ppm BHT; EEMS200=200ppm of EEMS and EEMS400=400ppm of EEMS. At 145 days of age the animals were slaughtered and loin was removed for the preparation of mortadella, which was analyzed during 90 days of storage at 4°C. A higher content of polyphenolic compounds and, total antioxidant capacity in mortadellas processed with meat of animals which consumed the EEMS400 ration after 60 and 90 days of storage was observed. EEMS polyphenolic antioxidants incorporated into pork through the diet results in an increase of total antioxidant capacity in the processed product.

ABSTRACT Two trials were aimed to evaluate beef tallow in diets with and without emulsifier on performance of pigs at growing-finishing phases. In the first trial, 15 barrows (22.03±0.62 kg) were distributed among three treatments: reference diet; test diet 1 (5% beef tallow) and test diet 2 (10% beef tallow). Beef tallow presented average value of 7130.97 kcal ME/kg. For the performance trail, 30 barrows (24.85±1.18 kg) were distributed among five treatments: T1 - diet with soybean oil and 3230 kcal ME /kg; T2 - diet with beef tallow and 3230 kcal ME/kg; T3 - diet with beef tallow and 3080 kcal ME/kg; T4 - diet with beef tallow, 3080 kcal/kg and 0.1% emulsifier; T5 - diet with beef tallow, 2930 kcal ME/kg and 0.1% emulsifier. Feed conversion was worse in animals fed diet with 3080 kcal ME/kg containing beef tallow and with 2930 kcal ME/kg with beef tallow and emulsifier. For economic availability, animals fed diet with beef tallow and 3230 kcal ME/kg and those fed diet with 3080 kcal ME/kg containing beef tallow and emulsifier, did not differ from animals fed diet with soybean oil, which enables the reduction up to 150 kcal ME/kg be compensated by emulsifier addition.