Abstract To determine the secondary metabolites, quality indicators and organoleptic characteristics of stems meal from Agave fourcroydes (Henequen) grown in Cuba, five henequen stems, of approximately nine years old, were collected. The meal was stored for six months. The following analyzes were performed in triplicate: phytochemical screening , pH, refractive index, density, acidity, water soluble solids, appearance, dissolution capacity, pulverization degree, color, odor, taste and homogeneous capacity. In the ether extract, coumarins predominated and in the ethanolic extract, the flavonoids and anthocyanidins. In the aqueous extract, alkaloids, saponins, flavonoids, mucilages and reducing carbohydrates had little presence. This plant material has a slightly acidic pH (5.18), 1.33 refractive index, 0.31 g/mL of apparent density, 0.76 % acidity and 1.50 0Brix of water soluble solids. The organoleptic characteristics of stems meal from A. fourcroydes showed good physical appearance, partial dissolution capacity, good pulverization, light beige color, pleasant odor, slightly sweet taste and good homogeneity. According to the obtained results, the stems meal from Agave fourcroydes could be used as a nutraceutical product in the farm animals diets.

Resumen Para determinar los metabolitos secundarios, indicadores de calidad y características organolépticas de la harina de tallos de Agave fourcroydes (Henequén) cultivado en Cuba, se recolectaron cinco tallos de henequén, de aproximadamente nueve años. La harina se almacenó durante seis meses. Se realizaron por triplicado los análisis siguientes: tamizaje fitoquímico, pH, índice de refracción, densidad, acidez, sólidos solubles en agua, aspecto, capacidad de disolución, grado de pulverización, color, olor, sabor y capacidad homogénea. En el extracto etéreo, predominaron las coumarinas y en el etanólico, los flavonoides y antocianidinas. En el extracto acuoso, los alcaloides, saponinas, flavonoides, mucílagos y carbohidratos reductores tuvieron poca presencia. Este material vegetal tiene un pH ligeramente ácido (5.18), 1.33 de índice de refracción, 0.31 g/mL de densidad aparente, 0.76 % de acidez y 1.50 0Brix de sólidos solubles en agua. Las características organolépticas de la harina de tallos de A. fourcroydes revelaron buen aspecto físico, capacidad de disolución parcial, buena pulverización, color beige claro, olor agradable, sabor ligeramente dulce y buena homogeneidad. Según los resultados obtenidos, la harina de tallos del Agave fourcroydes se podría probar como un producto nutracéutico en las dietas de los animales de granja.

ABSTRACT To evaluate the effect of diet supplementation with Agave tequilana stem meal on indicators of blood health and blood biochemistry of fattening rabbits, 64 animals of New Zealand x California breed, with 35 days old and for 60 days, were located according to a completely randomized design, with eight repetitions and two animals per repetition. At the end of the experiment, six rabbits were taken per treatment for laboratory analysis. Treatments consisted of a basal diet and three diets with supplements of 0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% of stem meal of A. tequilana. Supplements up to 1.5% did not change the clinical blood indicators (P˃0.05) and all values were within the normal ranges for the category and animal species under study. Also, the daily use of A. tequilana stem meal reduced proportionally (P <0.05) the prepandrial values of urea nitrogen, glucose, total lipids, triacylglycerides, cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein, low density lipoprotein, high lipoprotein density and atherogenic index. In addition, serum creatinine concentration decreased with the 0.5 and 1.5% supplementation (P <0.05) compared to the basal diet and the treatment with 1.0%, although the latter treatments were different among them. This natural product based on A. tequilana stem meal, used as a diet supplement during the productive life of fattening rabbits (95 days), indicated hypoglycemic and lipid-lowering properties, without affecting blood health indicators.

RESUMEN Para evaluar el efecto de la suplementación dietética con harina de tallos de Agave tequilana en los indicadores de salud de la sangre y bioquímica sanguínea de conejos de ceba, se ubicaron 64 animales de la raza nueva Zelanda x California con 35 días de edad durante 60 días, según diseño completamente aleatorizado, con ocho repeticiones y dos animales por repetición, al finalizar el experimento se tomaron seis conejos por tratamiento para los análisis de laboratorio. Los tratamientos consistieron en una dieta basal y tres dietas con suplementaciones de 0.5, 1.0 y 1.5 % de harina de tallo de A. tequilana. Las suplementaciones hasta el 1.5 % no modificaron los indicadores clínicos sanguíneos (P˃0.05) y todos los valores estuvieron dentro de los rangos normales para la categoría y especie animal en estudio. También, el uso cotidiano de harina de tallo de A. tequilana redujo proporcionalmente (P<0.05) los valores prepandriales de nitrógeno ureico, glucosa, lípidos totales, triacilglicéridos, colesterol, lipoproteína de muy baja densidad, lipoproteína de baja densidad, lipoproteína de alta densidad e índice aterogénico. Además, la concentración sérica de creatinina disminuyó con la suplementación de 0.5 y 1.5 % (P<0.05) comparado con la dieta basal y el tratamiento con 1.0 %, aunque estos últimos tratamientos fueron diferentes entre ellos. Este producto natural basado en harina de tallos de A. tequilana usado como suplemento dietético durante la vida productiva del conejo de ceba (95 días) indicó propiedades hipoglucemiantes e hipolipemiantes, sin afectar los indicadores de salud en la sangre.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to determine the effects of dietary supplementation with red algae powder (Chondrus crispus) on the growth performance, carcass traits, lymphoid organ weights and intestinal pH y in broiler chickens. A total of 300 1-day-old B34 line male broiler chickens were randomly allotted to three treatments, four replicates per treatment and 25 birds per replicate. The experimental treatments consisted of a basal diet (T0) and dietary supplementation of 0.30 (T2) and 0.40% (T2) red algae powder. Body weight at 1, 21 and 32 days did not show significant differences (p>0.05) among treatments. At 21 days, T1decreased (p<0.05) the feed intake and feed conversion ratio. However, from 22 to up to 32 days, these productive indicators increased (p<0.05) with the use of the natural product (red algae powder) tested. Meanwhile, T1 improved (p<0.05) the carcass and breast yields and decreased the abdominal fat yield, and T2increased (p<0.05) the relative weights of the bursa of Fabricius and the thymus. The relative weight of the spleen, the other edible parts and the intestinal pH did not change (p>0.05) with the red algae supplementation. The dietary supplementation of 0.30% red algae improved the growth performance (at 21-day-old) and some edible parts; also, the dietary supplementation of 0.40% increased the relative weight of the lymphoid organs, without changing the intestinal pH of broilers.

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to determine the effects of dietary inclusion with linseed and pumpkin seed meals on growth performance, carcass traits and breast meat fatty acids profile of helmeted guinea fowls. A total of 120 meat-type helmeted guinea fowl females of 12 weeks of age were fed with 0 (T0), 100 (T1) and 200 (T2) g/kg of linseed (LM) and pumpkin seed meals (PSM) for 56 days, in a completely randomized design with 10 replicates per treatment and four birds per replicate. The inclusion up to 200 g/kg of LM and PSM did not affect the livability, initial live weight and feed intake (p>0.05). However, final live weight and feed:gain ratio improved significantly (p<0.05). The T1 increased (p<0.05) the carcass yield and the T2 improved the breast weight and weight and yield of leg. Also, these experimental diets did not affect the carcass weight, breast yield and sensory quality of meat (p>0.05). The oleaginous seeds (LM and PSM) decreased (p<0.05) the mystic, palmitic and octadecanoic acids and the w-6/w-3 ratio, as well as increased the linoleic, a-linolenic, eicosapentanoic and docosahexanoic acids (p<0.05), but did not modify the concentration of monounsaturated fatty acids (p>0.05) and the eicosatrienoic and arachidonic acids in breast meat (p<0.05). It is recommended the inclusion of 100 g/kg of LM and PSM to improve the live weight, weight and yield of the edible portions and the essential fatty acids in breast meat of guinea fowl, without affecting the sensory quality of the meat.