ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate a technique for quantifying eggshell conductance using shell fragments from hatched eggs. Additional objectives were to calculate the correlation between eggshell conductance, porosity, and thickness and correlate these parameters with incubation data. The study design was fully randomized in a 3 × 3 factorial scheme (three egg regions - large end, equator, and narrow end - and three ages of broiler breeders – 29, 35, and 59 weeks). A total of 216 eggs were used, with 24 repetitions for each treatment. Neither conductance nor shell thickness showed any interaction with egg region. Breeder age influenced eggshell conductance, such that it was greatest in eggshells from 59-week breeders (0.323 mg day−1 torr−1), while for 29-week and 35-week breeders, the conductance values found were 0.285 and 0.270 mg day−1 torr−1, respectively. The eggshell thickness was similar in eggs from 29 and 35-week breeders and these were greater than the thickness of eggshells from 59-week breeders. Correlations between mean eggshell conductance and chick body weight and yolk free chick body weight were found significant. There were no correlations between mean eggshell thickness and any of the data evaluated. There were positive correlations between mean eggshell porosity and egg weight loss up to the time of transfer, chick weight, and yolk free body weight. The technique of using eggshell fragments can be used for measuring eggshell conductance. Eggshell porosity is the characteristic that best correlates with incubation parameters.

ABSTRACT This study was performed to evaluate the effects of the association of different digestible arginine and phytogenic additive dietary levels on performance and health status of brown-egg layers. In this study, a total of 504 33-week-old Hisex Brown layers were distributed into a completely randomized experimental design to a 4 × 3 factorial arrangement (dietary digestible arginine levels: 880, 968, 1056, or 1144 mg/kg of feed × phytogenic additive levels: 0, 100, and 200 mg/kg of feed) with six replicate cages of seven birds per cage. The phytogenic additive was composed of extracts of Baccharis dracunculifolia (40%), Astragalus membranaceus lipopolysaccharides (20%), cinnamon, and grape seed (20%). Feed intake was reduced when diets containing 1056 mg of arginine were supplemented with 100 or 200 mg phytogenic additive per kg. Feed conversion ratio was improved when diets were supplemented with 100 mg of phytogenic additive or with 1056 mg of arginine per kg of feed. Egg mass was increased when diets were supplemented with 1056 mg arginine per kg of feed. Arginine supplementation quadratically increased albumen percentage and reduced yolk percentage. Higher arginine and phytogenic additive levels reduced heterophyl:lymphocyte ratio and blood uric acid, total cholesterol, very-low density lipoprotein, and triglyceride levels. Dietary supplementation of 100 mg of phytogenic additive associated with high arginine levels increased nitric oxide production by peritoneal macrophages and 1056 mg of arginine increased antibodies titers against Newcastle disease virus. Blood and intestinal malonaldehyde levels were reduced when 200 mg of the phytogenic additive was added. Dietary supplementation of 968 mg of arginine or 100 mg of a phytogenic additive (40% Baccharis dracunculifolia, 20% Astragalus membranaceus, 20% cinnamon, and 20% grape seed extracts) per kilogram of diet improves the feed conversion ratio and associated inclusion of 1144 mg of arginine and 100 mg of phytogenic additive per kilogram of diet improves immune responses and health status of brown-egg layers.

The experiment evaluated the influence of isolated or associated phytogenic additives (PA) and organic acids (OA) on nutrient digestibility, performance and carcass characteristics of broiler chickens. Two experiments were conducted in a completely randomized design with a 2 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement of treatments (with or without PA × with or without OA + antibiotic performance enhancer and anticoccidial). In the first experiment, two metabolic tests were conducted to determine the metabolizability coefficients of the nutrients of starter and growth diets. In the second experiment, 2520 one-day-old chicks were housed in 40 experimental units to evaluate the performance and carcass characteristics. The phytogenic additives and organic acids, isolated or associated, improve the nutrient digestibility of the diet and replace the growth- promoting antibiotics. The use of organic acids isolated or associated with phytogenic additives in broiler diets improves broiler performance in comparison with free antibiotic performance enhancer at 42 days of age. Isolated or associated phytogenic additives and organic acids provided better carcass characteristics.

Foram realizados três experimentos para avaliar o efeito de probiótico sobre o desempenho e a saúde intestinal de pintos. No primeiro experimento, foram utilizados 300 ovos embrionados, nos quais foram inoculados água (placebo) ou solução contendo 10 mg de probiótico (Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus casei e Lactobacillus plantarum, 10(6) ufc/g). No segundo experimento, avaliou-se a eficiência do fornecimento de probiótico (Bacillus subtilis) na ração em pintos desafiados com Salmonella Enteritidis no primeiro dia de vida. No terceiro experimento, o probiótico foi inoculado em ovos embrionados e os pintos foram desafiados com Salmonella Enteritidis na eclosão. O delineamento foi em bloco casualizado, nos três experimentos. Foram avaliados desempenho, digestibilidade dos nutrientes da ração e a presença de Salmonella Enteritidis no trato gastrintestinal das aves. No primeiro experimento, o probiótico proporcionou redução da digestibilidade do extrato etéreo da ração. Aves oriundas de ovos inoculados com probiótico apresentaram pior conversão alimentar. No segundo experimento, o probiótico proporcionou redução cecal da Salmonella Enteritidis, a partir da segunda semana de vida. No terceiro experimento, houve interação entre probiótico e desafio, para peso vivo aos 21 dias de idade, sendo que pintos desafiados ao eclodir com Salmonella Enteritidis apresentaram melhores resultados nos grupos que receberem probiótico, via ovo, aos 16 dias de incubação. O probiótico também promoveu a eliminação de Salmonella Enteritidis no papo e no ceco de pintos, aos 7 e 21 dias de idade. A suplementação de probiótico em embriões de frangos de corte favorece o desempenho das aves e evita a colonização do papo e do ceco de pintos desafiados com Salmonella Enteritidis após a eclosão.

Three experiments were carried out to evaluate the effect of probiotic on performance and intestinal health of chicks. It was used in the first experiment 300 fertilized eggs, in which water (placebo) or probiotic solution containing 10 mg of probiotic (Enterococcus faecium, Lactobacillus casei and Lactobacillus plantarum, 10(6)ufc/g) were inoculated. In Experiment 2, it was evaluated the efficiency of probiotic (Bacillus subtilis) supply in the diet for chicks challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis on the first day of age. In the Experiment 3, the probiotic was inoculated in fertilized eggs and the chicks were challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis at hatching. A random block design was used in the three experiments. Performance, digestibility of the feeding nutrients, and the presence of Salmonella Enteritidis in the digestive organs of the chicks were evaluated. In the first experiment, the probiotic provided a reduction of digestibility of the ether extract of the feeding. Birds from probiotic inoculated eggs showed the worst food conversion. In the Experiment 2, the probiotic provided caecum reduction of Salmonella Enteritidis from the second week of life. On the third experiment, there was an interaction among probiotic and challenge for the body weight at 21 days of life, and the chicks challenged to hatch with Salmonella Enteritidis showed best results in the groups that received probiotics, through egg, at 16 days of incubation. The probiotic also promoted the elimination of Salmonella Enteritidis in the crop and in the caecum of the chicks at 7 and 21 days of age. Supplementation of probiotics in embryos of broilers favors the performance of the birds and avoids colonization in the crop and in the caecum of broilers challenged with Salmonella Enteritidis after hatching.

O objetivo do trabalho foi avaliar as alterações tegumentares (morfogênese da pena), em embriões de frangos de corte de linhagens de diferentes padrões de crescimento, obtidos de ovos incubados sob diferentes temperaturas. Os ovos foram obtidos de matrizes das linhagens Cobb 500 e ISA JA57, distribuídos proporcionalmente em três incubadoras. Do primeiro (D1) ao sexto dia (D6) de incubação, utilizou-se uma temperatura padrão (37,8°C). A partir do sétimo dia (D7) e até o momento do nascimento aos 21 dias (D21), uma das incubadoras teve a temperatura reduzida para 36,8°C (fria) e uma outra alterada para 38,8°C (quente). A terceira incubadora foi mantida a 37,8°C (controle). O delineamento adotado foi o inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 3 x 2 (temperatura de incubação e linhagem). A temperatura de incubação e a linhagem não alteraram a densidade dos folículos da pena (número médio de folículos por área de 337,5µm²) nas regiões femural e dorsopélvica dos embriões até os 11 dias (D11). Entretanto, observou-se aumento na densidade folicular na região dorsal dos embriões aos 16 dias (D16) devido ao aumento da temperatura, permanecendo até o momento do nascimento. É possível oncluirque embriões incubados em temperatura acima da recomendada (38,8°C) apresentam uma maior densidade de folículos na região dorsopélvica. Apesar disso, a morfogênese dos folículos permaneceu inalterada.

The objective of this research was to evaluate the tegument modification (feather morphogenesis) in embryos of broiler chicken, of different growth standard breeder lines, obtained from eggs incubated under different temperatures. Eggs of Cobb 500 and ISA JA57 breeders lines, were proportionally distributed in three incubators. From the first (D1) to the sixth day (D6) of incubation, temperature was maintained standard at 37.8°C. From the seventh day (D7) until the moment of the birth on the twenty one days (D21), temperature was reduced to 36.8°C (Cold) in one of the incubators, and in another incubator was increased to 38.8°C (Hot). The temperature in the third incubator was maintained at 37.8°C (Control). It was used a completely randomized design with factorial 3 x 2 (temperature of incubation and breeder lines). Incubation temperature and breeder factor do not modify the follicular density of the feather (average number of follicles per area of 337.5µm²) in the femoral and dorsal tract of until eleven days (D11) embryos. An increase of follicular density in the dorsal region of sixteen days (D16) embryos was observed, because the temperature increased, of the remaining until the moment of birth, demonstrating that embryos incubated above the recommended temperature (38.8°C) present higher follicles density in the dorsal tract. However, follicles morphogenesis remained unaltered.

Estudou-se o empenamento, os níveis hormonais de Triiodotironina (T3) e Tiroxina (T4) e a temperatura corporal de frangos criados em diferentes temperaturas. Foram alojados 180 pintainhos Cobb 500 e 180 pintainhos ISA Label JA57, em temperaturas termoneutra, quente ou fria. O delineamento utilizado foi inteiramente ao acaso, em modelo fatorial 2 x 3 (2 linhagens e 3 temperaturas) com 8 repetições. Houve um aumento das concentrações de T3, nas aves criadas no frio, e uma redução no calor. Também no calor, os frangos ISA Label apresentaram níveis mais altos de T4. As aves Cobb apresentaram uma redução de T4 no calor ou no frio aos 42 dias e no calor aos 21 dias de idade. Houve menor empenamento aos 42 dias, quando os frangos foram criados em alta temperatura e um menor empenamento das aves ISA Label, quando comparadas aos frangos Cobb. As aves criadas no calor apresentaram maior temperatura corporal. Os frangos Cobb apresentaram um aumento na sua temperatura interna, quando criados em ambiente quente. Já os frangos da linhagem ISA Label mantiveram sua temperatura interna, independentemente da temperatura ambiente. É possível concluir que a temperatura ambiente afeta o empenamento dos frangos de corte de linhagens de rápido ganho de peso, que também apresentaram menor tolerância ao calor, demonstrada através de uma maior temperatura corporal e temperatura interna.

Feather growth, plasmatic levels of T3 and T4 and body temperature were evaluated in broiler raised under different temperatures. The two evaluated broiler lines were Cobb-500 and ISA-Label JA57. One hundred and eighty birds of each line were raised under cold, neutral or hot temperatures in a complete randomized design with 3 x 2 factorial scheme (3 temperatures and 2 lines), with 8 repetitions. There was a significant increase in T3 levels of birds raised under cold temperature but, under hot temperature, these levels decresed. Under high temperatures, ISA Label birds showed the higest levels of T4. The Cobb birds showed significant T4 decrease under both, cold and hot temperatures, at 42 days of age; and at 21 days of age this decrease was observed only under hot temperature. There was lower feathering at 42 days of age when birds were raised under hot temperature. ISA Label broilers had a better feather growth than those of Cobb line. Birds raised in a hot environment had higher temperature. Cobb broilers had a significant increase in internal temperature when raised under hot conditions. However ISA Label broilers maintained their body and internal temperature, independently of the raising temperature. It was concluded that environmental temperature affects feathering of broiler chickens from lines selected for fast body weight gain, which also showed low heat tolerance, demonstrated by the higher body and internal temperatures.

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito da temperatura ambiente sobre as características morfométricas das fibras musculares do músculo flexor longo do hálux de frangos de corte alimentados com a mesma quantidade de ração ("pair-feeding"), isolando-se o efeito do consumo voluntário de alimento. Foram utilizados 16 frangos de corte machos, Ross, distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com dois tratamentos (estresse pelo calor e frio), com sete e nove repetições cada, respectivamente. Aos 43 dias de idade, o peso médio das aves estressadas pelo calor (1255 g) foi maior que o das aves estressadas pelo frio em "pair-feeding" (1086 g). O músculo das aves submetidas ao estresse pelo calor e pelo frio apresentou 22,82 e 27,93% de fibras brancas (FG - Fast Glycolytic), 52,76 e 47,67% de intermediárias (FOG - Fast Oxidative Glycolytic) e 24,42 e 24,40% de vermelhas (SO - Slow Oxidative), respectivamente. O diâmetro das fibras FG foi maior no músculo das aves submetidas ao calor (48,69 mm), quando comparado ao das aves submetidas ao frio (37,74 mm). A freqüência e o número dos tipos de fibras no músculo não diferiram entre as aves estressadas pelo calor e pelo frio. O estresse pelo frio associado à limitação no consumo de alimento determinou redução no crescimento e alterou a composição dos tipos de fibras no músculo flexor longo do hálux de frangos de corte, reduzindo o tamanho das fibras do tipo FG e mantendo o tamanho das fibras SO e FOG, as quais apresentam metabolismo oxidativo, associado à maior produção de calor.

This experiment aimed to evaluate the effect of environmental temperature upon the morphometric characteristics of the fiber types in the flexor hallucis longus muscle of broilers in pair-feeding, thus isolating the effect of voluntary feed intake. Sixteen male broiler, Ross, were allotted to a completely randomized design with two treatments (heat stress and cold stress), and seven and nine replications, respectively. Forty-three-day-old heat stressed broilers weighed 1.255 g and those in cold stress, pair-fed, weighed 1.086 g. The birds subjected to heat and cold environmental temperatures showed 22.82 and 27.93% white (FG - Fast Glycolytic), 52.76 and 47.67% intermediate (FOG - Fast Oxidative Glycolytic) and 24.42 and 24.40% red (SO - Slow Oxidative) fibers in the flexor hallucis longus muscle, respectively. The diameter of FG fiber was higher in the muscle of heat stressed birds (48.69 mm), comparing to cold stressed pair-fed ones (37.74 mm). Temperature had no effect on the number and frequency of fibers. The cold stress associated with restricted feed intake depressed growth and reduced the size of FG fibers in the flexor hallucis longus muscle of broilers, but did not affect the size of FOG and SO type fibers, which have higher oxidative metabolism which is associated with heat production.

Como em outros seres vivos, também nas células das aves ocorre a síntese das proteínas de baixo peso molecular (Hsp), cujo aumento é induzido sob condições de estresse. As Hsps têm um papel importante na manutenção da integridade celular, questiona-se o seu envolvimento no mecanismo de proteção celular de órgãos alvos na ocorrência da síndrome ascítica (SA). Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a temperatura corporal e os níveis da Hsp70 no coração e pulmão de frangos de corte Hubbard (sensível à SA) e caipira de pescoço-pelado (resistente), criados em termoneutralidade (25°C) e frio (16°C) entre 10 e 45 dias de idade. Foram utilizados 192 pintos machos, 96 de cada linhagem. Não houve mortalidade por SA nas aves caipiras. Nas aves Hubbard, a mortalidade devida à SA foi de 4% e 41% em ambiente termoneutro e frio, respectivamente. Em ambiente frio, a temperatura corporal das aves Hubbard foi menor que a das caipiras. A temperatura corporal e o nível de Hsp70 do coração das aves Hubbard diminuíram com o aumento da idade, mas não nas aves caipiras, os quais se mantiveram constantes, inclusive a Hsp70 do pulmão. Independente da idade ou da temperatura, o nível de Hsp70 no pulmão das aves caipiras era superior ao das aves Hubbard. Em relação às aves Hubbard, as caipiras são homeotérmicas mais competentes e apresentam uma maior indução de Hsp70 nos órgãos primariamente afetados na SA, mas este não parece ser o sistema de proteção contra SA, a qual as aves de pescoço pelado são resistentes.

Similar to other living animals, the cells of the birds also synthesize small proteins (heat shock protein, Hsp), which increasing levels can be induce by stress. The Hsp have a relevant function in maintaining the integrity of the cell, and we question if they are involved in the mechanism of the cellular protection of target organs affected by ascites syndrome (AS). The objective of this study was to evaluate the body temperature, and the Hsp70 levels in the heart and lungs of broilers Hubbard (sensitive to AS) and naked-neck (resistant), raised under thermo-neutral (25C) or cold (16C) environments between 10 and 45 days of raising. We used 192 male chicks, 96 from each broiler strain. No AS mortality occurred among naked-neck birds, but 4% and 41% of Hubbard broilers submitted, respectively, to thermo-neutral and cold temperatures died due to AS. The body temperatures of cold-exposed-Hubbard-birds were lowers than that of naked-necks. The Hsp70 levels of heart and the body temperature of Hubbard chicks decreased as the age increased, for naked-neck these variables were constant during their lives, including the Hsp70 level in the lung cells. Independently from age or temperature effects, the lung cells of naked-neck birds had higher Hsp70 levels than those of Hubbard chickens. Comparing to Hubbard broilers, the naked-neck birds are more competent homoeothermics, and present superior level of Hsp70 in the organs firstly affected by AS, but it did not seem the system of protection against AS, in which the naked-neck birds are resistant.

O objetivo desta pesquisa foi estudar os efeitos da temperatura ambiente e da restrição alimentar sobre o desempenho e a composição do músculo flexor longo do hálux de frangos de corte. Trezentos e vinte e quatro pintos machos da linhagem Ross, com cinco dias de idade, foram distribuídos em um delineamento em parcelas subdivididas, considerando os tratamentos principais no esquema fatorial 3x3 inteiramente casualizado (três programas de alimentação: ad libitum, restrição precoce - 8 a 14 dias e restrição tardia - 29 a 35 dias; três níveis de temperatura: termoneutra, calor e frio). Os tratamentos secundários foram as idades das aves (seis idades: 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 e 42 dias). Não houve interação entre programa de alimentação e temperatura ou entre programa de alimentação, temperatura e idade para as características de desempenho dos frangos. Independentemente do programa de alimentação, houve efeito de temperatura para peso, ganho de peso, consumo de ração e conversão alimentar. O programa de alimentação afetou o peso e o ganho de peso das aves. Houve interação entre programa de alimentação e idade e entre temperatura e idade para peso vivo ao abate e peso do músculo da perna direita. Estas interações não foram significativas para peso do músculo da perna esquerda, área da secção transversal do músculo e relação peso do músculo/peso vivo ao abate. Conclui-se que a temperatura ambiente afeta o desempenho dos frangos de corte, porém não altera o número, diâmetro e freqüência de fibras musculares no músculo flexor longo do hálux. A restrição alimentar precoce pode ser adotada como prática de manejo, sem que se observem alterações do desempenho na idade de abate e nem na composição das fibras musculares esqueléticas dos frangos de corte.

This experiment aimed to evaluate the effects of environmental temperature and feed restriction on performance and characteristics of fiber types in the flexor hallucis longus muscle of male broilers. Three hundred twenty four five-day-old male chicks were allotted to a split plot design, where the main treatments were three feeding programs (ad libitum, early restriction - 8-14 days; later restriction - 29-35 days) and three environmental temperatures of growth (heat, termoneutral and cold) in a completely randomized factorial 3 x 3 schedule. The secundary treatments were the ages of the birds (7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days). Statistical analyses confirmed no interactions among feeding program x temperature and feeding program x temperature x age on the broiler performance. Independently of the feeding program, the temperature of raising affected final weight, weight gain, feed intake and feed:gain ratio. Feeding program affected broiler final weight and weigth gain. Feeding program x age and temperature x age interactions affected the weights of the body at slaughter and the right leg muscle. These interactions were not significant for left leg muscle weight, cross-sectional right leg muscle area and right leg muscle weight:body weigth ratio. In conclusion, the environmental temperature affected the performance of broiler, but not the number, frequency and size of the myofibers in the flexor hallucis muscle. Early feed restriction can be utilized as management tool without changing the performance at slaughter age and the fiber composition of flexor hallucis longus muscle of male broilers.

Dois mil e quatrocentos pintos de corte foram distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com esquema fatorial 2 x 2 x 2 (sexo, com e sem probiótico, com e sem antibiótico), totalizando oito tratamentos e seis repetições com 50 aves cada uma. Independente da suplementação recebida, os machos sempre foram mais pesados que as fêmeas. Entretanto, a análise de desempenho apresentou maiores peso corporal e ganho de peso para os machos que receberam suplementação de antibiótico, quando comparados aos não-suplementados. Até 42 dias de idade, o uso do antibiótico determinou aumento do consumo de ração, mas não influiu nas demais características de desempenho. No período de 1 a 21 dias e 1 a 42 dias de idade, a suplementação com probiótico influenciou negativamente o peso corporal, ganho de peso e consumo de ração das aves. Houve interação probiótico x antibiótico para rendimento de carcaça das aves, obtendo-se maior rendimento de carcaça com o uso da associação dos produtos na ração. Nenhum dos produtos afetou o rendimento de partes (cabeça, pés, asas, perna, peito e dorso), o rendimento de vísceras (coração, fígado e vísceras não-comestíveis), gordura abdominal e características sensoriais (intensidade de aroma, aroma estranho, sabor, sabor estranho, maciez, suculência, preferência, cor característica e aparência geral) da carne de peito e pernas. No presente estudo, não foram encontrados efeitos benéficos da suplementação de probiótico para frangos de corte.

Two thousand and four hundred broiler chicks were assigned to a completely randomized design in a 2 x 2 x 2 (sex, with and without probiotic, with and without antibiotic) factorial arrangement, totalizing eight treatments and six replicates with 50 birds in each one. Independently of supplementation fed, the males were always heavier than the females. However, the analyses performance showed higher body weight and weight gain for males fed antibiotic when compared to the non supplemented. The use of antibiotic increased feed intake up to 42 days of age, but it did not affect the other characteristics. Probiotic supplementation negatively influenced the body weight, weight gain and feed intake of the broilers from either 1 to 21 or 1 to 42 days of age. There was a probiotic x antibiotic interaction for carcass yield of the broilers, and the highest carcass yield were obtained when the products were associated in the diet. Neither probiotic nor antibiotic affected cut-part yield (head, feet, wings, leg, breast and back), viscera yield (heart, liver and non edible viscera), abdominal fat and sensorial characteristics (intensity of aroma, stranger aroma, flavor, stranger flavor, tenderness, juiciness, acceptability, characteristic color and overall aspect) of breast and leg meats. No beneficial effects of the probiotic supplementation in broiler diets were observed in the present study.