QUALIDADE DA CARNE DE AVES DA RAÇA RODHE ISLAND RED CRIADAS EM SISTEMA ALTERNATIVO

Objetivou-se caracterizar a qualidade da carne de aves da raça Rodhe Island Red em função da diferença do tipo de corte e sexo. Foram utilizadas 30 aves em delineamento inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial (2 x 2), sendo dois cortes (peito e coxa) e dois sexos, com cinco repetições por tratamento. As aves foram abatidas aos 105 dias para realização das análises físico-químicas, composição centesimal e perfil lipídico do peito e coxa. A coxa apresentou maior média de pH final, teor de vermelho (a*) e força de cisalhamento (FC). Para luminosidade (L*), o peito obteve a maior média e as fêmeas maior média de FC. A coxa apresentou maior teor de extrato etéreo (EE) e umidade. O peito apresentou maior média de ácidos graxos saturados. As fêmeas obtiveram maior quantidade de ?3 e menor relação ?6/?3. Foi observado maior índice de trombogenicidade no peito. A coxa mostrou menor conteúdo de ácidos graxos saturados e menor índice de trombogenicidade. As fêmeas apresentaram maior teor de ?3. O tipo de corte demonstrou maior influência que o sexo sobre os parâmetros estudados e a coxa apresentou melhores aspectos físico-químicos e de perfil lipídico para carne de aves neste sistema de produção relacionados à qualidade de carne desejável pelos consumidores. Palavras-chave: ácido graxo; aterogenicidade; cor; força de cisalhamento; trombogenicidade

Carbohydrase and phytase supplementation in diets for semi-heavy laying hens

This study was conducted in order to evaluate the association of phytase with an enzymatic complex comprised of carbohydrases (&#945;-galactosidase, galactomannan, xylanase and &#946;-glucanase) in nutrition reduction diets for semi-heavy laying hens and its effect on egg performance and egg quality. Four hundred Isa Brown laying hens with 42 to 57 weeks of age were distributed in an entirely random experiment with five treatments and 8 repetitions, during five production periods of 21 days. Variables studied: egg production, feed intake, mean egg weight, feed conversion, Haugh unit, percentage of yolk, egg white and albumen, yolk color, eggshell thickness and specific gravity. There was a significant interaction (p < 0.05) between treatments and experimental periods for feed intake. There were no significant effects (p &gt; 0.05) of treatment on production, egg weight or internal and external egg quality. Treatment effects on feed conversion showed better values for hens fed with the control diet. The levels of nutrient reduction used in the diets with or without enzyme supplementation did not provide good results with regard to feed conversion and feed intake. However, they did not affect the other parameters for egg production and internal and external egg quality

Use of ground sugarcane in diets for free-range broiler chickens

An experiment was conducted using 276 free-range broiler chickens of the Gauchão lineage to evaluate the effect of dietary supplementation with ground sugarcane (GSC) on performance, energy value of the diets, and carcass yield. The animals were assigned to three treatments and four repetitions of 23 animals each in a completely randomized design. The treatments consisted of the on-top inclusion or not of GSC in a balanced diet (BD) (100% BD; 85% BD + 15% GSC, and 70% BD + 30% GSC). The experimental diets were offered from 29 to 85 days of age and feed intake, feed conversion and carcass yield of the chickens were evaluated at the end of the experimental period. A metabolism assay was conducted at 52 days of age to determine apparent metabolizable energy, apparent metabolizable energy corrected for retained nitrogen, and apparent metabolizability coefficients of dry matter (MCDM), crude protein (MCCP), neutral detergent fiber (MCNDF) and ether extract (MCEE). Dietary supplementation with GSC increased feed intake and worsened weight gain with increasing level of inclusion. MCDM, MCNDF and MCEE were higher for chickens receiving 85% BD + 15% GSC when compared to animals fed the control diet (100% BD), except for MCCP which was not influence by supplementation with GSC. Carcass yield, cut yield or organ weight did not differ between diets with and without GSC inclusion, while the weights of pancreas and gizzard were higher in chickens receiving 70% BD + 30% GSC compared to those receiving only BD. The on-top inclusion of GSC in the diet of free-range broiler chickens as a feed alternative is justified up to a level of 15% since it does not affect feed conversion of the animals and improves the utilization of dietary nutrients.</span