ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to assess the effects of liquid delactosed permeate (DLP) alone or mixed as baby feed with a conventional lactose-containing diet for nursery piglets on growth performance, diarrhea occurrence (DO), blood profile, gastrointestinal tract traits, and bacterial population counts. Ninety male hybrid piglets (7.59±0.63 kg) weaned at 25 days old (day 0) were assigned for 35 days in a complete block design based on body weight (BW) to one of three treatments: control diet (CD) containing lactose via whey permeate powder, supplied in mash and dry form, without DLP; supplemented diet (SD): CD + DLP provided in specific feeders and separated from the mash diet; moist diet (MD): CD moistened with DLP in a 1:1 ratio, 10 replicates, and three piglets per pen. Nursery phases were defined as pre-starter I and II (days 0 to 7, and 8 to 21) and starter (day 22 to 35). Piglets fed MD diet had better feed conversion (FCR) compared with those fed CD in the pre-starter I and II and total period. Piglets in pre-starter I fed MD diet had a higher DO compared with those fed CD, whereas piglets fed SD had intermediate results. Piglets in pre-starter II fed SD had a higher total protein concentration than those fed MD, and CD provided intermediate results. Piglets on MD had higher leukocyte concentrations compared with those fed CD, but piglets fed SD had intermediate results. Piglets fed CD or SD diets had higher colonic content pH than those fed MD. Piglets fed SD or MD diets had longer large intestine lengths than animals fed CD. Delactosed permeate improves FCR in piglets in the pre-starter phases and promotes minor changes in other variables; however, a greater DO is observed in the first few days post-weaning.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to assess an alkaline protease supplemented in diets with and without crude protein (CP) reduction on performance, apparent total tract digestibility (ATTD), blood parameters, and carcass and meat traits in growing-finishing pigs. Forty male pigs (26.2±1.2 kg) were randomly allocated into one of five treatments: negative control (NC, 2% and 1% reduction of CP in grower and finisher phases, respectively, no protease); NC150: NC + 150 mg protease kg−1 diet; NC300: NC + 300 mg protease kg−1 diet; PC: positive control (no CP reduction and protease); and PC300: PC + 300 mg protease kg−1 diet, with eight replicates of one pig/pen. Pigs fed NC showed greater average daily feed intake (ADFI) than pigs fed NC300 or PC and lower ADFI compared to pigs fed NC150. Pigs fed PC had lower ADFI than those fed PC300. Greater average daily gain and gain to feed ratio (G:F) were observed in pigs on NC compared with those on NC300 or NC150 and NC300, respectively. Pigs fed PC showed better G:F than pigs fed PC300. Lower coefficients of ATTD (CTTAD) of dry and organic matter (OM), digestible dry matter (DDM), digestible organic matter (DOM), and digestible protein were observed in growing II pigs fed NC compared with pigs fed NC150 or NC300. Pigs fed NC showed a lower DP compared with PC or NC150. Positive control group showed increased digestible protein compared with NC. Finishing II pigs fed NC showed lower DDM, DOM, CTTAD of OM, and gross energy than pigs fed NC150 or NC300. Pigs fed PC showed greater albumin concentration compared with pigs fed PC300 in finishing II. Pigs fed NC and PC300 showed greater luminosity in the l. thoracis muscle than pigs fed PC. A greater color score was evidenced in the l. thoracis in pigs fed PC compared with pigs fed PC300. The dietary supplementation of isolated alkaline protease and CP-reduced diets improves ATTD without supporting pig performance.

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to assess prediction models for production indexes in batches of growing pigs using performance regressors (period of the year and farm size). A database containing 663 records on the performance of pig batches (18.83 ± 4.37 to 111.26 ± 10.59 kg body weight (BW) at housing and finisher, respectively) from a private company was used to assess the following average animal characteristics: initial number of animals (INA), initial BW (IBW), initial age (IA), final BW (FBW), final age (FA), daily feed intake (DFI) and feed conversion ratio (FCR). Data were categorized by period (P) of the year (P1 = Nov to Apr and P2 = May to Oct), and farm size (FS): 0 ≤ INA ≤ 1,000, FS1; 1,001 ≤ INA ≤ 2,000, FS2; 2,001 ≤ INA ≤ 3,000, FS3; and INA > 3,000, FS4. The analysis resulted in representing 58 % of the variance of FCR data. The INA impaired FCR, and having larger pig batches improves FCR and profitability. The FBW prediction errors ranged from 2.47 to 3.38 %. Feed conversion ratio prediction errors ranged from 3.27 to 4.47 %. Based on the joint criteria of non-bias and accuracy, the models for predicting the FBW of growing pig batches have practical value in animal science on account of their accuracy. In addition, increasing the initial number of housed pigs in batches affects the FCR regardless of the period of the year.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to assess the addition of intestinal alkaline phosphatase (IAP) to diets on the count of bacterial populations, pH of digestive organ contents, histopathological description, proinflammatory markers, hepatic glycogen reserve, and diarrhoea incidence of piglets challenged with Escherichia coli. Sixty-four crossbred piglets (7.16±0.28 kg body weight, 25-days-old) were assigned to four treatments in a completely randomised block design: negative control (NC), NC + antibiotic (ANT), NC + 15 mg IAP, or NC + 30 mg IAP kg−1 of diet, eight replications of two piglets per experimental unit. All piglets were orally challenged with 6 mL of a solution containing enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli K88 at 106 CFU mL−1 at 15 days of experimentation. The study lasted for 19 days. At the end of the experimental period, the piglets were slaughtered (six animals per treatment). Enterobacteriaceae in caecum and colon was lower in piglets on 30 mg IAP than with ANT and NC, ANT or 15 mg IAP, respectively. Enterobacteriaceae adhered to the mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) was greater in piglets fed ANT than the other treatments. Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) count in caecum was greater in piglets fed NC and ANT. In MLN, LAB count was greater in ANT and 30 mg IAP-fed piglets compared with 15 mg IAP. Piglets in 30 mg IAP in diet showed a tendency for lowering tissue necrosis compared with NC or ANT. Piglets fed 30 mg IAP showed a reduction in diarrhoea incidence in the pre- and post-challenge compared with 15 mg IAP and all other treatments, respectively. Based on the criteria, addition of 30 mg IAP to diet inhibits Enterobacteriaceae population and suggests a potential effect in mitigating intestinal injuries, as observed in piglets in the NC for some of the parameters investigated.

ABSTRACT This study was conducted to assess the effects of maternal dietary calcitic seaweed (CSW) on performance and blood metabolites of sows, and on performance, blood metabolites, intestinal microbiota, and parameters of gastrointestinal tract and bone of litters. On d 21 (post-insemination), non-pregnant sows were removed from the trial, remaining 19 sows in control group (without CSW) and 16 sows receiving CSW. Then, a total of 35 sows were allocated in a randomized block design with two treatments: control diet with calcitic limestone plus dicalcium phosphate (CTL) or CTL plus 0.4% CSW. In gestation, sows were fed twice a day (07:00 and 15:00 h) to reach an intake of 2.5 kg animal−1 day−1 divided into two equal meals. On parturition day, sows were offered only 0.5 kg feed animal−1. Throughout lactation, sows were fed three times a day (≅7 kg animal−1 day−1). All diets were provided as mash. Results suggested that sows fed CTL had litters with lower body weight at birth compared with those fed CSW. Sows fed CSW had 14.28% more live-born piglets and lower stillborns. Piglets from sows fed CSW showed greater calcium concentration on d 14 after birth than those from sows fed CTL. Sows fed CSW showed better milk chemical composition and an increase of 27.16% in milk production compared with those fed CTL. Piglets from sows fed CSW had an increase in cecum content in the Enterobacteriaceae count. This study showed that adding 0.4% CSW in the diet of pregnant and lactating sows as an organic calcium source positively influences the number of live-born piglets and the percentage of stillborns. In addition, milk composition and production are also improved without affecting piglets’ biological response.

Objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da adição de Saccharomyces cerevisiae nos níveis 0; 0,2; 0,4 e 0,6 g/L, sobre a digestibilidade in vitro da matéria seca (DIVMS), proteína bruta (DIVPB) e fibra em detergente neutro (DIVFDN) em dietas contendo, na MS, 100, 75, 50 e 25% de capim coast-cross. O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado, com esquema fatorial 4x4. O líquido ruminal foi coletado de um bovino canulado e os alimentos foram incubados por meio da técnica dos dois estágios (48 horas + 24 horas), utilizando-se o rúmen artificial. Os dados foram interpretados por análise de variância e estudos de regressão. A elevação da levedura proporcionou aumentos nas DIVMS, DIVPB e DIVFDN em todos os tratamentos, com exceção do nível de 0,6 g/L nas dietas contendo 100, 75 e 50% de volumoso para DIVMS e DIVFDN, e 100 e 75% para DIVPB, as quais apresentaram comportamento quadrático. Concluiu-se que, nas dietas com proporção de volumoso igual ou superior a 50%, a digestibilidade pode ser melhorada com a utilização de levedura até o nível de 0,4 g/L. Nas dietas com mais de 50% de concentrado, a melhora na digestibilidade ocorre linearmente com a elevação do nível de levedura.

The objective of this work was to evaluate the effect of Saccharomyces cerevisiae at levels 0; 0.2; 0.4 and 0.6 g/L on the in vitro digestibility of dry matter (IVDDM), crude protein (IVDCP) and neutral detergent fiber (IVDNDF) in diets containing, in DM, 100, 75, 50 and 25% Cynodon dactylon grass. The experimental design was completely randomized with 4x4 factorial scheme. The rumen fluid was collected from a cannulated cattle and food were incubated by two stages technique (48 hours + 24 hours), in artificial rumen. The data were interpreted by analysis of variance and regression studies. The elevation of the yeast has provided increases in IVDDM, IVDCP and IVDNDF in all treatments, except at the level of 0.6 g/L in the diets containing 100, 75 and 50% roughage for IVDDM and IVDNDF, and 100 and 75% for IVDCP, which presented quadratic behavior. We concluded that in diets with proportion of roughage equal or above 50%, the digestibility can be improved with the use of yeast to the level of 0.4 g/L. In diets with more than 50% of concentrate the improvement in digestibility occurs linearly with increasing levels of yeast.