ABSTRACT. Regarding the lack of standardized methods for beak trimming to reduce feather pecking in Japanese quail, the present study aimed to compare two ages and 3 methods of beak trimming, evaluating the performance, egg quality and feather pecking. One-day-old Japanese quails (n = 770; 22 birds cage-1), at the initial phase, and 36-day-old (n = 630; 18 birds cage-1), at the production phase, were assigned to a completely randomized design, consisting of 7 treatments with 5 replicates. The treatments were: non-trimmed (NT), cauterization of approximately 1/3 at 14 days-of-age (CAUT 14) and at 28 days-of-age (CAUT 28), moderately trimmed to approximately 1/3 beak at 14 days-of-age (MOD 14) and at 28 days-of-age (MOD 28), severely trimmed to 1/3-1/2 beak at 14 days-of-age (SEV 14) and at 28 days-of-age (SEV 28). Data were analyzed using Minitab®. The results indicated that beak trimming methods applied did not influence the performance and egg quality. Quails subjected to MOD 28 and SEV (14 and 28) presented lower feed conversion per egg mass compared to NT. However, MOD 14 and SEV were more efficient in preventing feather pecking behavior.

ABSTRACT This study evaluated the effects of chromium yeast (Cr yeast) and two apparent metabolizable energy (AME) levels on productive performance, egg quality, and lipid and carbohydrate metabolism in laying hens. A total of 192 Bovans White laying hens at 47 weeks of age were randomly assigned to eight dietary treatments (six replicates each) in a 4 × 2 factorial arrangement: four levels of supplemental Cr (0, 0.2, 0.4, and 0.8 ppm as Cr yeast) and two AME levels (2,780 and 2,900 kcal AME kg−1). No significant effect of Cr yeast supplementation on feed intake, egg weight, egg production, intact eggs, egg mass, feed conversion ratio, or egg quality was observed. Egg quality parameters and Cr content in the yolk were not affected by dietary treatments. Plasma glucose and lipid levels were not influenced by either Cr yeast or AME levels used in this study. However, Cr yeast supplementation improved yolk percentage and hepatic glycogen content. The inclusion of Cr yeast at 0.2 and 0.4 ppm induced the highest hepatic glycogen content with the energy levels 2,900 and 2,780 kcal AME kg−1, respectively. Laying hens fed 2,900 kcal AME kg−1 showed the highest abdominal fat. The results observed in the present study support the hypothesis that the lack of positive effects of Cr yeast supplementation on production performance and egg quality may be related to good management practices, as the birds were not subjected to stressful conditions.

RESUMO. O objetivo foi avaliar o desempenho, peso relativo de órgãos, morfometria, comprimento intestinal e atividade de enzimas pancreáticas de frangos de corte recebendo suplemento neonatal. Foram utilizados 900 pintos de corte da linhagem Cobb 500, alojados em 30 boxes de 2,5 m². Os tratamentos foram divididos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com seis repetições, e consistiram em cinco níveis de inclusão (0,0; 2,5; 5,0; 7,5 e 10 gramas por ave). O suplemento utilizado foi à base de aminoácidos, vitaminas e minerais, o qual foi fornecido no primeiro dia de alojamento sobre a ração. A análise estatística foi realizada utilizando o SAS (2008) e quando significativos desdobrados em regressão polinomial. Em função da inclusão do suplemento neonatal no período de um a sete e de um a 21 dias de idade o consumo de ração apresentou efeito linear e o ganho de peso efeito quadrático. Os pesos relativos da moela e do fígado apresentaram efeito quadrático, e as inclusões de 4,18 e 3,41 gramas/ave proporcionaram os menores pesos respectivamente. A altura das vilosidades do jejuno diminuiu com a suplementação assim como a atividade da lipase pancreática. Conclui-se que a suplementação neonatal beneficiou o desempenho das aves até os 21 dias de idade.

ABSTRACT. The objective was to evaluate the performance, relative organ weight, morphometry, intestinal length and pancreatic enzyme activity of broilers receiving neonatal supplementation. A total of 900 Cobb 500 broiler chicks was housed in 30 boxes of 2.5 m². The treatments were divided in a completely randomized design with six replications, and consisted of five inclusion levels (0.0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5 and 10 grams per bird). The supplement used was based of amino acids, vitamins and minerals, which was provided on the ration on the first day in the housing. Statistical analysis was performed using SAS (2008) and when significant broken down using a polynomial regression. Due to the inclusion of the neonatal supplement in the period from one to seven and one to 21 days of age, the feed intake presented a linear effect and the weight gain, a quadratic effect. The relative weights of the gizzard and liver showed a quadratic effect, and the inclusions of 4.18 and 3.41 grams/bird provided the lowest weights, respectively. The jejunum villi height decreased with supplementation as well as the activity of pancreatic lipase. It can be concluded that neonatal supplementation benefited the performance of birds up to 21 days of age.