ABSTRACT This study evaluated the behavior of broiler chickens subjected to thermal stress during different periods of the day and age of birds. A total of 180 one-day-old male broiler chicks were allocated to three chambers. Each chamber contained five boxes, with 12 chicks/box. Birds were assigned to a completely randomized design. The birds were filmed, and the images recorded every minute during the two periods: morning (from 08:00 to 09:00 h) and afternoon (from 17:00 to 18:00 h), at 7, 14, and 35 d of age. The frequency of the behavioral category (water intake, feed intake, resting, exploration, and comfort) was determined. Data were subjected to variance analysis for mixed models with rearing temperatures (cold, usual, and hot) and age of birds (7, 14, and 35 d) as subdivided plot, and periods of the day (morning and afternoon) as sub-subdivided plot. Birds at cold and usual temperatures showed higher feed intake than those at hot temperature in the morning. Birds exposed to cold and usual temperatures explored the environment less frequently at 35 d when compared with 14 d. However, chickens at hot temperature showed decreased exploration according to the increase of age. Birds spent more time feeding during the morning, regardless of age and rearing temperature. Also, during this period of the day, chickens spent most of the time exploring the environment. The frequency of feed intake and exploration decreases with the increase of age. The similarity of behavior between chickens reared at cold and usual temperatures may be due to a change in the thermal comfort zone of the birds. It suggests that the real thermal comfort temperature is between the two temperature ranges studied (cold and usual).

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to determine if in ovo feeding with 25(OH)D3 could influence the incubation parameters of bone mineral composition, mineral density, and bone breaking strength in post-hatch broilers. Fertile eggs from Cobb® broiler breeders were either non-injected or injected with 0, 1.2, 2.4, or 3.6 μg of 25(OH)D3/100 μL olive oil at eight days of incubation. The data were subjected to variance analysis using the General Linear Model procedure (GLM) of SAS®. There was a contrast-1 effect (non-injected eggs vs. injected eggs) for tibial bone mineral density and egg mass loss, with higher bone mineral density in non-injected eggs (0.836 mmAl) compared with injected eggs (0.790 mmAl) and lower egg mass loss in non-injected eggs (11.25%) compared with injected eggs (12.10%). Tibial and femur bone mineral density responded quadratically, and injections of 0.47 and 0.68 μg of 25(OH)D3 increased tibia and femur bone mineral density, respectively. Egg mass loss responded quadratically, and 25(OH)D3 injections of 2.21 μg reduced egg mass loss (11.60%). In ovo feeding of 25(OH)D3 can compromise bone mineral density of post-hatch chicken.

RESUMO: Este estudo analisou a eficácia do uso de diferentes níveis de um produto à base de cipermetrina a 6% e citronela a 2%, na produção de frangos de corte e no controle do cascudinho (Alphitobius diaperinus). Um total de 648 pintos de um dia de idade (Cobb®) foram distribuídos em três câmaras com os tratamentos (sem aplicação do produto comercial - controle, e duas concentrações do produto comercial - 2,00 e 3,33g/m2) em oito repetições com 27 aves cada. O produto comercial a base de cipermetrina foi aplicado nas câmaras com um atomizador. A população de cascudinho foi amostrada semanalmente (1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 e 42 dias do experimento) usando armadilhas, em três pontos (frente, meio e fundo) de cada parcela. Foram avaliados o desempenho, rendimentos de carcaça e cortes. Aos 21, 28, 35 e 42 dias do experimento, o número de adultos e larvas de cascudinho foi menor nos grupos de tratamento envolvendo 2,00 e 3,33g/m2 do produto quando comparado ao grupo controle. No primeiro e no 14º dia do estudo, o número de cascudinhos adultos foi menor no grupo tratado com 3,33g/m2 do produto em comparação ao grupo controle, embora os resultados não tenham diferido estatisticamente daqueles obtidos com 2,00g/m2 do produto. A conversão alimentar de 1 a 21 dias de idade foi significativa, com os melhores resultados para essa variável quando aplicado 3,33g do produto por metro quadrado e no tratamento controle. Em conclusão, a aplicação do produto comercial em ambas as concentrações (2,00 e 3,33g/m2) foi eficaz no combate a adultos e larvas de Alphitobius diaperinus e, não influenciou o desempenho.

ABSTRACT: This study analysed the effectiveness of using different levels of a product based on 6% cypermethrin and 2% citronella on broiler production and control the lesser mealworm (Alphitobius diaperinus). A total of 648 one-day-old chicks (Cobb®) which were allocated to one of three treatments (no application of the commercial product - control, and two concentrations of the product 2.00 and 3.33g/m2) in eight replicates with 27 birds each. The commercial product, which was based on cypermethrin was applied in the chambers with an atomizer. The lesser mealworm population was sampled weekly (1, 7, 14, 21, 28, 35 and 42 days of the experiment) using traps, at three points (front, middle and back) inside the pen. The performance, carcass and cut yields were evaluated. At 21, 28, 35 and 42 days of the experiment, the number of lesser mealworm adults and larvae was lower in the treatment groups involving 2.00 and 3.33g/m2 of the product than in the control group. On the first and 14th days of the study, the number of lesser mealworms adults was lower in the group treated with 3.33g/m2 of the product compared to the control group, although the results did not differ statistically from those obtained with 2.00g/m2 of the product. In conclusion, the application of the commercial product at both concentrations (2.00 and 3.33g/m2) was effective in combating Alphitobius diaperinus adults and larvae, and the performance was not influenced by treatments.

ABSTRACT Different levels of glycosaminoglycans (chondroitin sulfate and glucosamine sulfate) and vitamin C were injected in ovo to determine whether additive use influences the incubation parameters and bone characteristics of posthatch chicks. Hatchability was not affected by addition of glycosaminoglycans and vitamin C in ovo. However, chicks that received 4 μg additive showed 2.86% reduction in total mortality when compared with chicks from non-injected eggs. Moreover, tibia area and femur bone mineral density increased in chicks from eggs injected with 2.16 and 6.00 μg of additive, respectively. In ovo feeding with glycosaminoglycans and vitamin C can benefit bone development in embryos and reduce total mortality during the incubation period.

Foram investigados os efeitos da farinha hidrolisada da torta de coco (MCM) e MCM + probiótico Bacillus cereus var. toyoi (TY) sobre o desempenho e morfometria intestinal de frangos de corte . Foram utilizados 1.120 pintos de corte da linhagem Cobb 500, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com quatro tratamentos e dez repetições de 28 aves cada. Os tratamentos foram: (1) controle negativo, (2) controle positivo (avilamicina 10 ppm), (3) 0,1% MCM na dieta controle negativo, (4) 0,1% MCM + 0,05% TY na dieta controle negativo. A melhor conversão alimentar (CA), o peso corporal (PC) e o índice de produtividade (IP) foram obtidos no tratamento com 0,1% MCM + 0,05% TY aos 42 dias de idade. A combinação da farinha hidrolisada da torta de coco com o Bacillus cereus var. toyoi melhorou o desempenho e a morfometria da mucosa do duodeno e do jejuno, quando comparado com os grupos controle negativo, positivo e 0,1 % MCM isoladamente. A combinação do MCM com o TY tem potencial para melhorar a morfologia intestinal, comportando-se como um bom promotor de crescimento com possibilidade de alternativa aos antibióticos.

The effects of mannanase-hydrolyzed copra meal (MCM) and MCM + probiotic Bacillus cereus var. toyoi (TY) on growth performance and gut morphometry of broiler chickens were investigated. A total of 1120-one-day-old Cobb chicks were distributed in a completely randomized design with 4 diet treatment groups. Dietary treatments were (1) negative control; (2) positive control (avilamycin 10 ppm); (3) 0.1% MCM for basal diets (4) 0.1% MCM + 0.05% TY. The best feed conversion ratio (FCR), body weight (BW), productivity index (PI) was obtained with 0.1% MCM + 0.05% TY at 42 days of age. With regard to productivity index, every supplementation group had a better rate when compared to that in negative group. Although 0.1% MCM supplemented alone is worse than positive group, it reveals a significantly better value than when it is combined with 0.1% MCM and 0.05% TY. The combination of mannanase-hydrolyzed copra meal with Bacillus cereus var. toyoi improved broiler performance and duodenum and jejunum mucous morphometry, when compared to the negative, positive and 0.1% MCM alone supplementation groups. The combination of MCM and TY probiotics is capable of improving intestinal morphology by behaving like a good growth promoter, with possibility of being an alternative to antibiotics.