ABSTRACT The present experiment was carried out to evaluate the economic viability of supplementing boar diets with organic selenium aiming to increase the number of seminal doses of sexually mature boars. Twelve boars were divided into three groups: control group received 0.3 mg kg−1 Se from sodium selenite (n = 4), inorganic group received 0.5 mg kg−1 Se from sodium selenite (n = 4), and organic group received 0.5 mg kg−1 Se from Sel-PlexTM (Alltech, Inc., n = 4). The experiment was conducted within 10 weeks and analysis was performed fortnightly. No interaction was observed between treatments and weeks for any of the variables analyzed. Boars fed diet supplemented with 0.5 mg kg−1 of organic selenium exhibited a 23% increase in the seminal doses, which resulted in a 37% reduction in the cost of diet per dose produced by boars in this group compared with boars in the inorganic group. It should be pointed out that the total revenue produced by the organic group was 26% higher than the inorganic group. The feeding of organic Se increases the number of seminal doses and reduces the average cost of the diet, demonstrating to be cost-effective.

This work aimed to study the probiotics association in 144 piglets from birth to 62 days old. In lactation, the design was completely randomized with two treatments, CTL, 1 mL of distilled water and ProbA, 5g in 15 ml of distilled water, both orally, and in the nursery in randomized block design, with 2x3 factorial arrangement of treatments, ProbA ProbB: 30g/ton of ProbB in the ration; CTL ProbB: 30g/ton of ProbB in the ration; ProbA ProbA, CTL CTL; ProbA CHA (challenged); CTL CHA. At 35 days of age the animal of the nursery were inoculated with Salmonella typhimurium orally. There was no effect of the parameters evaluated during the maternity. In nursery, the feed conversion was favorable to the ProbA. In the evaluation of fecal score, the challenged group had more diarrhea and increased elimination of S. typhimurium. Results showed the positive action of probiotics when applied at birth by the direct influence on the formation of the intestinal microbiota.

O experimento foi realizado com o objetivo de investigar efeitos zootécnicos e econômicos da associação de probióticos adicionados à dieta de leitões no aleitamento e na creche. Foram utilizados 144 leitões do nascimento até os 62 dias de idade. No aleitamento o delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado com dois tratamentos: Controle e Probiótico A. Na creche, foram blocos casualizados com arranjo fatorial de tratamentos 2x3: Probiótico A e Probiótico B; Controle e Probiótico B; Probiótico A e Probiótico A; Controle e Controle; Probiótico A e animais desafiados; e Controle e animais desafiados. Aos 35 dias de idade 48 animais da creche foram inoculados com Salmonella Typhimurium via oral. Avaliou-se peso médio, consumo médio de ração, o ganho de peso médio e a conversão alimentar. Para a análise econômica, calcularam-se os custos das dietas durante a creche e o desempenho da receita de comercialização dos animais. O consumo de ração utilizado na análise corresponde àquele ocorrido no período total de 21 a 62 dias de idade. Na maternidade não foi observado efeito nos parâmetros avaliados. Na creche, a conversão alimentar foi favorável ao tratamento Probiótico A Probiótico A. Na avaliação econômica o tratamento Controle Probiótico B apresentou menor custo em relação aos demais, podendo, assim, representar uma alternativa satisfatória.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of probiotics association added to piglets diets in lactation and nursery. A total of 144 piglets from birth to 62 days old were raised. The design with two treatments (Control and Probiotic A) was totally randomized in lactation. In the nursery, randomized blocks with factorial arrangement 2x3 were defined: Probiotic A and Probiotic B; Control and Probiotic B; Probiotic A and Probiotic A; Control and Control; Probiotic A with challenged animals; and Control and challenged animals. At 35 days from birth 48 animals of the nursery were orally inoculated with Salmonella Typhimurium. Average weight, feed consumption, average weight gain and feed conversion were assessed. For economic analysis, the costs of diet during the nursery and income of animal's sale were calculated. Feed consumption considered for analysis was the one related to the period of 21 to 62 days of life. No effect was observed on evaluated parameters in the maternity. Positive effect was observed on feed conversion for Probiotic A and Probiotic A treatment in nursery. In economic evaluation, Control and Probiotic B treatment showed lower cost compared to other ones, thus representing a satisfactory alternative.

The effects of phytogenic feed additives on piglet performance and fecal score (FDD), as well as on lipid oxidation of pork meat were evaluated. One hundred and twenty crossbred weaned piglets were randomly assigned to six treatments according to a 2 × 3 factorial design with five replicates per treatment. Factors were: challenge with Salmonella Typhimurium at 35 days of age or no challenge, and three different additives (control (CTR), basal diet; phytogenic feed additives (PHY), basal diet plus 2000 ppm of phytogenic feed additives - Rosmarinus officinalis, Mentha piperita, Lippia sidoides and Porophyllum ruderale; and antimicrobial agent (ATB), basal diet plus 100 ppm of tylosin, 2000 ppm of zinc and colistin sulfate, 30 ppm in the pre-starter basal diet, 10 ppm in the starter basal diet I and II, and 5 ppm in growth and finishing basal diet). Body weight (BW) of the piglets of ATB was greater throughout the experimental period, without any differences detected between CTR and PHY. Nevertheless, from 96 to 106 days of age, the BW of the CTR group was greater than PHY. From 21 to 34 days of age, feed conversion of ATB was lower than CTR; however, PHY showed an intermediate result, which did not differ from either ATB or CTR. Challenged animals reduced feed intake from day 35 to 48 compared with unchallenged animals. Piglet performance and fecal score from 21 to 48 days of age were lower in piglets that received ATB compared with the other treatments. However, from 35 to 48 days of age, the FDD of PHY was lower than CTR. Lipid oxidation was not reduced in treated animals. Antimicrobial agent improved the growth performance of piglets until 63 days of age, and no difference was observed between the treatments from 64 to 131 days of age. Antimicrobial agent reduced FDD; the FDD of PHY was similar to that of ATB after 48 days. None of the treatments affected lipid oxidation of pork meat.

Avaliou-se o efeito da suplementação de vitamina A na dieta sobre as características seminais (volume, motilidade, pH, vigor e concentração espermática, número total de espermatozoides, percentual de espermatozoides vivos e anormalidades morfológicas) de reprodutores suínos no período de um ano (junho de 2004 a junho de 2005). Utilizaram-se dez reprodutores híbridos com 328,5 ± 2,12 dias de idade e 191,0 ± 12,0 kg distribuídos em duas rações, uma controle, com 10.000 UI de vit. A por kg de ração por dia, e outra com 16.000 UI de vit. A, fornecidas na quantidade de 2,5 kg/dia. O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado com medidas repetidas no tempo. Não houve efeito significativo da suplementação de vitamina A na dieta nem de interação com o tempo nas características seminais estudadas. O tempo teve efeito significativo no pH, na concentração espermática, no número total de espermatozoides, no percentual de espermatozoides vivos, nas anormalidades morfológicas, na motilidade e no vigor espermático. Apesar da não-significância da suplementação de vitamina A, foi possível detectar diferenças numéricas no aumento da motilidade e de espermatozoides vivos, bem como na diminuição das anormalidades morfológicas, resultados que indicam ação da vitamina A.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of vitamin A feed supplementation on the following boar semen characteristics: volume, motility, vigor, seminal pH, spermatic concentration, total number of spermatozoa, percentage of living sperm cells and morphologic abnormalities. The experiment was carried out with 10 hybrid boars (328.5 ± 2.12 days of age and 191.0 ± 12.0 kg live weight). The boars were separated into two treatments and fed with two vitamin A levels: control, 10.000 UI/kg feed daily; and vitamin A, 16.000 UI. The boars received 2.5 kg feed daily. A randomized complete design was used with replication measurements in time. There was no significant effect of vitamin A supplementation on the characteristics studied, and nor on the time and treatment interaction. The was significant effect of time on pH, spermatic concentration, total number of spermatozoa, percentage of living sperm cells, morphologic abnormalities, motility and vigor. Although detect significant differences were not detected between both treatments, numerical differences were detected indicating that vitamin A influenced the average increase in motility and the percentage of living sperm cells and the reduction in the percentage of morphologic abnormalities. Data showed support the idea that vitamin A is intimately associated with spermatogenesis.

A inseminação artificial (IA) em suínos é uma técnica cada vez mais utilizada na suinocultura moderna, pois propicia ao suinocultor vantagens quanto ao desempenho dos reprodutores, ao controle dos cruzamentos e à facilidade na introdução de material genético. Objetivando o aperfeiçoamento da técnica de IA, foram avaliadas a acurácia, a precisão e a robustez do Espermiodensímetro (ESPERMIO) e do Espectrofotômetro (ESPECTRO), em comparação à Câmara de Neubauer. Utilizaram-se 142 ejaculados, que revelaram concentrações espermáticas médias (em milhões de sptz/mL) e número médio de doses que poderiam ser produzidas, respectivamente, de 229,1 e 22,6; 185,0 e 18,5; 283,6 e 28,0 para a Câmara de Neubauer, o Espectrofotômetro e o Espermiodensímetro. O viés médio (acurácia) e o desvio-padrão do viés médio (precisão) do ESPECTRO, em comparação à Câmara de Neubauer, foram, respectivamente, de - 44,1 e 52,6, enquanto para o ESPERMIO foram de 54,5 e 44,8 (milhões de sptz/mL). Pode-se inferir que o ESPECTRO tende a subestimar e o ESPERMIO, a superestimar a concentração espermática, em comparação à Câmara de Neubauer. O ESPECTRO foi mais acurado e igualmente preciso que o ESPERMIO. A influência do volume de ejaculado sobre os resultados do ESPERMIO e do ESPECTRO pode ser comprovada pelos resultados de robustez para o volume do ejaculado.

Artificial Insemination (AI) in swines is a rising technique that has been used during the last years at the swine production systems, because it furnish several advantages to the producers just like boar high efficiency, better breeding control and easiness in introducing foreign genetic materials. Accuracy, precision and robustness for ejaculation volume of spermdensimeter (ESPERMIO) and spectrofotometer (ESPECTRO) in relation to the Neubauer Count, designed as the standard technique, were evaluated objectifying higher performance of AI technique. A total of 142 boar ejaculation was used for spermatic concentration measurement by the techniques described above. The average spermatic concentrations (10(6) sptz/mL) and average doses number were, respectively: 229.1 and 22.6, 185.0 and 18.5, 283.6 and 28.0 for Neubauer count, Spectrofotometer and Spermdensimeter. ESPECTRO mean bias (accuracy) and bias standard deviation (precision), in relation to the Neubauer count were, respectively - 44.1 and 52.6, while ESPERMIO were 54.4 and 44.8. Through these results its possible to conclude that ESPECTRO has a tendency to subestimate and ESPERMIO to superestimate the spermatic concentration in relation to the Neubauer Count, and that the ESPECTRO was more accurate and less precise than ESPERMIO. Positive effect of ejaculation volume on accuracy and precision in both techniques (ESPERMIO and ESPECTRO) was confirmed by the robustness results.

Objetivou-se, neste estudo, avaliar e classificar (através de achados de necropsia) as ocorrências de mortes de leitões durante o aleitamento em um sistema intensivo de produção de suínos (SIPS), localizado na região oeste do Estado de São Paulo durante o ano de 2000. Foi verificado que 7,19 % do total de nascidos vivos morreram durante os 24 dias de aleitamento, concentrando a maioria das mortes na 1ª semana de vida, cerca 5,63 %, e independentemente dos meses do ano. As causas mais freqüentes de mortalidade, em relação ao total de nascidos, foram o esmagamento (2,61 %), debilitação (1,45 %), síndrome diarréica (1,10 %) e anomalia genética (0,56%). A distribuição das mortes nos dias após o nascimento variou de maneira similar ao descrito anteriormente, maiores perdas nos primeiros dias de vida devido, principalmente, ao esmagamento, debilitação, síndrome diarréica e anomalia genético. A taxa de natimortos, em relação ao total de nascidos, foi de 5,96 %. Notou-se, ainda, uma tendência de mortalidade por esmagamento nos meses mais quentes do ano, devido, provavelmente, a uma maior permanência dos leitões fora do escamoteador. Medidas de controle direcionadas aos primeiros dias de vida dos leitões devem ser implantadas, a fim de aumentar a eficiência produtiva do SIPS.

Two research was conducted to evaluate and to classify the occurrence of the preweaning losses (based on the postmortem findings) of piglets in an intense swine production system, at the west of São Paulo State during the year 2000. Among total piglets born alive. 7.19 % died during the first 24 suckling days, but most of them (5.63 %) died on the 1st week of life all over the year. The most important causes of losses were overlaying (2.61 %), weakness (1.45 %), diarrhea syndrome (1.10 %), and genetic defects (0.56 %), occurring mainly on the 1st week of life. Stillbirth rate, in relation to total born, was 5.96 %. Evidences indicated higher number of overlaying during the hottest months of the year, caused probably by the longer staying out of the piglet's pen. It was suggested some control measures to reduce the piglets mortality in order to maximize the productive efficiency of the system.

A pesquisa, desenvolvida num sistema de produção de suínos, estudou a efetividade do hormônio luteinizante (LH) na indução das ovulações. Vinte e quatro fêmeas constituíram o grupo controle e trinta e duas receberam a injeção intramuscular de 600 UI de eCG (Novormon 5000®), 24 h após a desmama e 5 mg de LH (Lutropin - V ®), 56 h após a injeção de eCG, caracterizando o grupo tratado. O estro foi observado 2 vezes ao dia, a ovulação detectada por ultra-sonografia transcutânea e taxa de ovulação (TO) determinada por contagem de corpos lúteos. O intervalo desmama-estro (IDE) foi reduzido (P = 0,01) pelo tratamento (87,4 vs 98,5 horas). As ovulações ocorreram entre 32 e 48 h (37,25 ± 3,65) após LH e foi diferente (P < 0,0001) do controle (63,67 ± 20,22, variando de 32 a 104 h). A TO do tratamento foi semelhante (P = 0,2) à do controle (23,16 ± 12,19 vs 20,08 ± 5,19, respectivamente).

The research, developed in a swine production system, examined the effectivity of luteinizing hormone (LH) in ovulation induction. Twenty four sows compose the control group and tirthy two sows received intramuscular aplication of 600 IU of eCG (Novormon 5000®), 24 h after weaning and 5 mg of LH (Lutropin - V ®), 56 h after eCG injection (treated group). Oestrus were observed twice a day, the ovulation detected by transcutaneous ultrasonography and ovulation rate (OR) determined by corpora lutea counting. The weaning-to-estrus interval (WEI) were reduced (P=0,01) by treatment (87,4 vs 98,5 h). The ovulations occured among 32 and 48 h (37,25 ± 3,65) after LH and were diferent (P < 0,0001) of control (63,67 ± 20,22, range: 32 - 104 h). The OR of treatment was similar (P = 0,2) on the control (23,16 ± 12,19 vs 20,08 ± 5,19, respectively).

Duzentas e cinqüenta e quatro matrizes Camborough 22 (PIC®), foram divididas em 3 tratamentos: T 1 (n=60) - 600 UI de eCG após desmama e 5 mg de LH, 72 h após eCG , com única inseminação artificial (IA) (24 h após LH); T 2 (n=95) - mesmo tratamento hormonal do T1, com 2 IA (24 e 32 h após LH); T 3 (n=99) - grupo controle sem tratamento hormonal, com 3 IA. As médias de intervalo desmame-estro (IDE) em T1, T2 e T3 foram de 87,4 ± 3,0 (87 a 111), 87 ± 0 (87) e 99,9 ± 13,6 (63 a 135) horas, respectivamente, sendo reduzidas (P < 0,0001) pelas gonadotrofinas. A duração do estro (DE) foi de 44,3 ± 8,78 (12 a 60), 41,3 ± 9,77 (24 a 60) e 60,1 ± 10,22 (36 a 84) <FONT FACE=Symbol>horas</FONT>, respectivamente para T1, T2 e T3, sendo menor (P < 0,0001) nas fêmeas tratadas. As diferenças no intervalo LH e ovulação (LH-OV) entre o grupo controle (56,1 ± 15,91, variação de 21 a 93 horas) e os grupos tratados (35,7 ± 6,07 em T1 e 35,5 ± 6,06 em T2, com variação de 30 a 42 horas) foram significativas (P < 0,0001). O tamanho de leitegada (TL) foi de 10,6 ± 3,25 (2 a 16) em T1, 11,3 ± 3,0 (4 a 20) em T2 e 11,6 ± 2,74 (4 a 18) leitões em T3, enquanto os mesmos demonstraram número de leitões nascidos vivos (NV) de 9,6 ± 3,14 (2 a 16), 10,5 ± 2,83 (1 a 18) e 10,5 ± 2,73 (4 a 16) leitões. Tanto em TL (P = 0,11) quanto em NV (P = 0,06) não houve diferença. A significante taxa de parição (TP) no T1, T2 e T3 foi, respectivamente, 76,67 %, 88,42 % e 91,92 %, diferindo entre T1 e T3 (P = 0,01). As gonadotrofinas foram efetivas na indução e sincronização das ovulações; o uso de 2 IAs manteve os índices reprodutivos e, embora a IA única não revele significância quanto ao menor valor de TL, há necessidade de serem realizados novos estudos nesta área.

Two hundred fifty four sows Camborough 22 (PIC®), were divided in 3 treatments: T 1 (n=60) - 600 UI of eCG after weaning and 5 mg of LH, after 72 h, with single artificial insemination (AI) (24 h after LH); T 2 (n=95) - same hormonal treatment of T1, with 2 AI (24 and 32 h after LH); T 3 (n=99) - control group, with 3 AI. The averages of weaning-to-estrus interval (WEI) in T1, T2 and T3 were of 87,4 ± 3,0 (87 - 111), 87 ± 0 (87) and 99,9 ± 13,6 (63 - 135) h, respectively, been reduced (P < 0,0001) by gonadotropins. The duration of estrus (DE) were of 44,3 ± 8,78 (12 - 60), 41,3 ± 9,77 (24 - 60) and 60,1 ± 10,22 (36 - 84) h, respectively for T1, T2 and T3, showed lower (P < 0,0001) in treated sows. Fourteen of 155 sows that received gonadotropins (9,03 %) didn't show oestrus. Among these, 10 return to estrus, denote 40% of the total returns. The diferences in LH to ovulation interval (LH-OV) among control group (56,1 ± 15,91, range: 21 - 93 h) and treated groups (35,7 ± 6,07 in T1 and 35,5 ± 6,06 in T2, range: 30 - 42 h) were significant (P < 0,0001). The litter size (LS) were of 10,6 ± 3,25 (2 - 16) in T1, 11,3 ± 3,0 (4 - 20) in T2 and 11,6 ± 2,74 (4 - 18) in T3, while the same demonstred number of piglets born alive (BA) of 9,6 ± 3,14 (2 - 16), 10,5 ± 2,83 (1 - 18) and 10,5 ± 2,73 (4 - 16). In both TL (P = 0,11) and NV (P = 0,06) there weren't any diference. The farrowing rate (FR) in T1, T2 and T3 were, respectively, 76,67 %, 88,42 % and 91,92 %, been diferent between T1 and T3 (P = 0,01). The gonadotropins were effetive in the ovulation induction and synchronization; the use of 2 AI maintained the reproductive index and, however the single AI do not show significance in LS, there is necessity of new reserchs in this area.