Herbal choline as an alternative to choline chloride in the diet of nursery piglets

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar a substituição da suplementação de cloreto de colina por colina herbal na dieta de leitões na creche. O delineamento experimental foi em blocos ao acaso (peso inicial e sexo) com 80 leitões, em cinco tratamentos, com oito repetições. Os tratamentos consistiram em: controle negativo, dieta basal com suplementação de 300 mg kg-1 de colina via cloreto de colina, dieta basal com suplementação de 600 mg kg-1 de colina via cloreto de colina, dieta basal com suplementação de 100 mg kg-1 de colina herbal e dieta basal com suplementação de 200 mg kg-1 de colina herbal. Dados de desempenho zootécnico, parâmetros sanguíneos e viabilidade econômica foram analisados. A suplementação de colina herbal aumenta o peso corporal e o consumo diário de ração em leitões na creche. A suplementação com 100 mg kg-1 de colina herbal apresenta o maior retorno sobre o investimento. A colina herbal pode ser utilizada como fonte de suplementação de colina na dieta de leitões na creche, para substituir o cloreto de colina.The objective of this work was to evaluate the replacement of choline chloride supplementation by herbal choline in the diet of nursery piglets. The experimental design was randomized complete blocks (initial weight and sex) with 80 piglets, in five treatments, with eight replicates. The treatments consisted of: negative control, basal diet supplemented with 300 mg kg-1 choline via choline chloride, basal diet supplemented with 600 mg kg-1 choline via choline chloride, basal diet supplemented with 100 mg kg-1 herbal choline, and basal diet supplemented with 200 mg kg-1 herbal choline. Zootechnical performance data, blood parameters, and economic viability were analyzed. Herbal choline supplementation increases the body weight and daily feed intake of nursery piglets. The supplementation with 100 mg kg-1 herbal choline presents the highest return on investment. Herbal choline can be used as a source of choline supplementation in the diet of nursery piglets to replace choline chloride

Crude corn oil with high acidity in broiler feed

This study aimed to evaluate crude corn oil with high acidity (CCOHA) as a surrogate for degummed soybean oil (DSO) in broiler diets. The design was completely randomized, with four treatments and ten replicates. Each box contained 40 birds (male), totaling 1600 Cobb Slow birds. Treatments consisted of two sorghum-based diets, one with DSO (SSO) another with CCOHA (SCO), and two corn-based diets, one with DSO (CSO) another with CCOHA (CCO). At 30 days of age, a digestibility test was performed using total excreta collection to determine apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and nitrogen-corrected AME (AMEn) from test rations. At 42 days of age, we evaluated live weight (LW), feed intake (FI), feed conversion (FC), carcass yield (CY), and the yields of breast with bone and skin (BWBS), skinless boneless breast (SBB), thigh (T), drumstick (D), and wing (W), as well as breast centesimal composition. Neither corn nor sorghum-based diets with CCOHA showed differences between AME and AMEn. Both DSO and CCOHA diets showed no differences in LW, FI, FC, carcass and cuts yields when using CCOHA. Regarding breast composition, no differences in dry matter and in the levels of crude protein, fat, and mineral matter were observed. We may conclude that CCOHA had no effect on the performance variables, carcass and cuts yields, and broiler meat quality

Efeito da restrição alimentar sobre o desempenho reprodutivo de galos de corte da linhagem Avian - DOI: 10.4025/actascianimsci.v28i2.643

Feeding restriction is used for breeder broilers in order to limit the gain of corporal weight and to optimize their reproductive performance. It is necessary to moderate the rate of precocious growth through programs of feed restriction. This work aimed to evaluate the effects of feed restriction on the reproductive performance in breeder broilers males. The following treatments were evaluated: T1 = control; T2 = 6 days feeding and 1 day without feeding; T3 = 5 days of feeding and 2 day without feeding. 18 animals of the lineage Avian Farm were used. The parameters evaluated were: corporal weight, testicular weight, seminal characteristics of 6 animals per treatment at the age of 219 days. Randomized complete blocks were used to test the treatments effects. Significant differences were not observed (p > 0.05) among the treatments for corporal weight, testicular weight, mean weight gain, spermatic motility and vigor and total cells number. Spermatic concentrations were lower (p < 0.10) in the animals that received the treatments T1 and T3. The animals of T2 showed higher ( p < 0.05) seminal volume. The program of 6 days feeding and 1 day without feeding can be used in breeder broilers males of the lineage Avian Farm without affecting reproductive performance.Nos reprodutores de frangos de corte, a restrição alimentar é usada para limitar o ganho de peso corporal e otimizar o desempenho reprodutivo. É necessário moderar a taxa de crescimento precoce por meio de programas de restrição alimentar. Este trabalho teve como objetivo avaliar o efeito da utilização da restrição alimentar sobre o desempenho reprodutivo em galos reprodutores de corte. Neste trabalho, foram avaliados os seguintes ratamentos: T1= controle; T2= 6 dias com alimentação e 1 dia sem alimentação; T3 = 5 dias com alimentação e 2 sem alimentação. Foram utilizados 18 animais da linhagem Avian Farm, avaliando-se o peso corporal, o peso gonadal e as características seminais de 6 animais por tratamento aos 219 dias de idade. O delineamento usado foi o de blocos casualizados (DBC). Não foram observadas diferenças (p > 0,05) entre os tratamentos sobre pesos corporal e onadal, motilidade e vigor espermáticos e número total de células. As concentrações espermáticas foram menores (p < 0,10) nos animais que receberam os tratamentos T1 e T3. Os animais do T2 apresentaram maior (p < 0,05) volume seminal. Entre as alterações morfológicas, apenas o número de alterações de cauda apresentou diferenças significativas entre os tratamentos, sendo o maior número observado nos animais que receberam 5 dias com alimentação e 2 dias sem alimentação. A restrição alimentar do tipo 6 dias de alimentação e 1 dia sem alimentação pôde ser utilizada em reprodutores de frangos de corte da linhagem Avian Farm sem afetar o desempenho reprodutivo

Sperm concentration on the intrauterine artificial insemination in swine Concentrações espermáticas na inseminação artificial intra-uterina suína

The aim of this work was to evaluate the efficiency of the intrauterine insemination (IUI) in swine, considering the conception rate, farrowing rate, litter size (alive born pigs). For the IUI, the females had been insemination at 24 and 48 hours after the estrus detection, and the inseminating doses of 500 million, 1 billion, 1.5 billion and 2 billion spermatozoa in 20 mL extender had been used. The procedure of catheter insertion through the cervical canal was successfully performed in 97.9% of the females. The conception rate was 6.3% in the IUI. The farrowing rate in IUI was 87.2% but the farrowing rate was 100% for the sperm concentration of 500 million. Regarding the number of born pigs and alive born pigs observed in females inseminated with IUI, no significant difference was observed (p > 0.05). The concentration of 500 x 10(6) spermatozoa in 20 mL extender in the intrauterine insemination resulted in an optimal reproductive performance.Conduziu-se este estudo, com o objetivo de avaliar a eficiência da inseminação intra-uterina (IIU) em suínos, considerando as taxas de retorno ao estro, aborto, parto, além do tamanho da leitegada (número de leitões nascidos e nascidos vivos). Na IIU, as fêmeas foram inseminadas nos tempos de 24 e 48 horas após a detecção do estro, utilizando-se as concentrações de 500 milhões, 1 bilhão, 1,5 bilhão e 2 bilhões de espermatozóides, em 20mL de diluente. A passagem do cateter de IIU através da cérvix foi possível em 97,9% das fêmeas. Foi realizado diagnóstico de retorno ao estro a partir do 18º dia e diagnóstico de gestação por ultrassonografia transcutânea entre o 28º e 30º dias após a inseminação. A taxa de retorno ao estro foi de 6,3% na IIU. A taxa de parto na IIU foi de 87,2%, sendo a taxa de parto para a concentração de 500 milhões de 100%. Com relação ao número de leitões nascidos totais e nascidos vivos, não houve diferenças, entre as diferentes concentrações espermáticas (P>0,05). A utilização da concentração de 500 x 10(6) espermatozóides em 20mL de diluente, com inseminação intra-uterina, obteve-se um bom desempenho reprodutivo

Intrauterine growth restriction and its impact on intestinal morphophysiology throughout postnatal development in pigs

Abstract Intrauterine growth restriction (IUGR) compromises fetal development, leading to low birth weight, and predisposes to gastrointestinal disorders. Pigs that suffered IUGR present poor postnatal development, resulting in great economic losses to the industry. The small intestine may be involved with impaired development, but studies investigating this issue are still limited. Thus, the present study aimed to investigate small intestine morphofunctional alterations in IUGR pigs throughout the production phases (birth to 150 days). IUGR pigs presented lower body weight from birth to the finishing phase (P < 0.05). Although histomorphometrical parameters were not affected during the pre-weaning period, their commitment was observed specifically in the duodenum of the IUGR group at older ages (P < 0.05). The most detrimental effects on the small intestine, such as deeper duodenum crypts’ depth, lower villus height:crypt depth ratio and absorptive area, increased apoptosis and lower proliferation of the duodenum epithelium were noticed at 70 days of age (P < 0.05). Additionally, IUGR pigs presented the lowest chymotrypsin and amylase activities at 70 and 150 days of age, respectively (P < 0.05). These findings may contribute to the elucidation of morphofunctional disorders of the small intestine in IUGR pigs throughout the different production phases, suggesting that poor postnatal development may be due to intestinal damage

Characterisation of microbial attack on archaeological bone

As part of an EU funded project to investigate the factors influencing bone preservation in the archaeological record, more than 250 bones from 41 archaeological sites in five countries spanning four climatic regions were studied for diagenetic alteration. Sites were selected to cover a range of environmental conditions and archaeological contexts. Microscopic and physical (mercury intrusion porosimetry) analyses of these bones revealed that the majority (68%) had suffered microbial attack. Furthermore, significant differences were found between animal and human bone in both the state of preservation and the type of microbial attack present. These differences in preservation might result from differences in early taphonomy of the bones. © 2003 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved