Impact of different light sources on broiler rearing environment.

Broiler production is highly dependent on the use of artificial light. The light source may affect the effectiveness of housing conditions due to increasing ambient temperature and concentration of noxious gases. This research aimed to evaluate the effects of different bulb types on the thermal, aerial, and acoustic environment of broiler aviaries. The experiment was carried out at a commercial broiler farm in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul State, Brazil. Three aviaries were used, and two flocks of male broilers from Cobb® genetic strain were reared from the first day to slaughter. Each aviary was equipped with a different light source, comprising the adopted treatments (A1 - incandescent light bulb, control; A2 - sodium vapor light bulb; A3 - fluorescent light bulb). The aviaries were divided into nine quadrants, and the environmental data (ambient dry bulb temperature and relative humidity), litter surface temperature, CO2 and NH3 concentrations, and bird sound pressure behavior were recorded in each quadrant. The aviary with incandescent light presented higher air and litter temperatures, and concentration of gases than the other tested alternatives. It also presented higher level of sound pressure in the second week of the growing period; however, from this period up to slaughter, there was no effect of the light source on the results of broiler sound pressure level

Swine Carcass Condemnation in Commercial Slaughterhouses

ABSTRACT Objective. The research was conducted to evaluate the main causes of carcass condemnation, as well as the financial loss caused by it, at a commercial slaughterhouse located in Dourados, MS, Brazil. Materials and methods. The data related to carcass condemnation, for the years 2007 to 2009 was obtained from a commercial slaughterhouse, located in the city of Dourados, MS, Brazil, and turned into a percentage of the total number of animals slaughtered during that period. The most frequent causes of carcass condemnation (total or partial) were grouped into classes (pleurisy + pneumonia; enteritis; arthritis; abscesses; fractures/hematomas + contusions + death). The financial loss by the slaughterhouse was estimated using the condemnation data. Results. The total rate of carcass condemnation was low and tended to stability (<0.45%). The most prevalent causes of condemnation during the study period were abscesses and death in the transport, which together accounted for approximately 40% of all condemnation. The condemnation due to health problems tended to decrease or to be stable over the years. However, the condemnations caused by management problems (abscesses, fractures, contusions and death) showed a significant increase. The average loss to the integrative company according to the carcasses condemnation was exceeding U$1,600,000.00 in the years studied. Conclusions. The main causes of carcass condemnation come from management failure. The annual loss by the company can be invested in the training of manpower in order to reduce the rates of carcass condemnation

Performance and plasma urea nitrogen of immunocastrated males pigs of medium genetic potential

ABSTRACT Objective. A study was carried out to evaluate the performance and the plasma urea nitrogen (PUN) of male pigs of medium genetic potential for lean meat deposition in carcass, which underwent immunocastration. Materials and methods. Forty-five seventy-days old Large White x Landrace crossbred were used. The pigs were distributed in a randomized design in three treatments: castrated males, females and immunocastrated males. Each treatment group was replicated three times with five pigs per replicate. The trial period was of 70 days, divided into phases of growing (70 to 110 days old) and finishing (111 to 140 days old). The pigs were weighed four times: at the beginning of the trial, at the first immunocastration vaccine dose (80 days old), at the second immunocastration vaccine dose (110 days old) and just before slaughter (140 days old). Blood samples were taken on the same day that the animals were weighed. Results. Between 80 and 110 days old, there was an increase in PUN value, only for castrated males and females. No differences were found in weight gain between the studied groups within the periods. Immunocastrated males had lower feed intake than females and these had a lower feed intake than castrated males. To 110 days old, immunocastrated animals showed feed conversion ratio similar to females and better than castrated males. However, after the second dose of the vaccine, feed conversion was similar between groups. Conclusions. The benefits of immunocastration are prominent in animals with low to medium genetic potential. RESUMEN Objetivo. Se realizó un estudio para evaluar el rendimiento y la concentración de urea en plasma (PUN) de los cerdos machos de medio potencial genético de carne magra en la canal sometidos a la inmunocastración. Materiales y métodos. Se utilizaron 45 cerdos de 70 días de edad Landrace x Large White. Los animales se distribuyeron en un diseño completamente al azar con tres tratamientos: machos castrados, hembras y machos inmunocastrados. Cada tratamiento consistió en tres repeticiones, con cinco animales por réplica. El período experimental fue de 70 días, divididos en las etapas de crecimiento (70 a 110 días de edad) y terminación (111 a 140 días de edad). Los cerdos fueron pesados cuatro veces: al inicio del experimento, en la primera dosis de vacuna de inmunocastración (80 días de edad), en la segunda dosis de la vacuna de inmunocastración (110 días de edad) y antes de el sacrificio (140 días de edad). Las muestras de sangre se recogieron en el mismo día en que se pesaron los animales. Resultados. Entre 80 y 110 días de edad, hubo un aumento en la cantidad de PUN, sólo para machos castrados y hembras. No hubo diferencias en la ganancia de peso entre los grupos en ninguno de los períodos estudiados. Machos inmunocastrados tuvieron menor consumo de alimento que las hembras y éstas mostraron un menor consumo que los machos castrados. En 110 días de edad, los animales inmunocastrados mostraron la conversión de alimento similar a las hembras y mejor que los machos castrados. Sin embargo, después de la segunda dosis de la vacuna, la conversión alimenticia fue similar entre los grupos. Conclusiones. Los beneficios de inmunocastración son prominentes en animales con bajo a médio potencial genético.

Sows’ parity and coconut oil postnatal supplement on piglets performance

ABSTRACTObjectives. The study aimed to evaluate the effect of sows’ of different parities and the supplement of coconut oil for piglets, on the development of litter. Materials and methods. A total of 51 sows of different parities and their 642 piglets were used in the trial. Each piglet was weighed and identified at birth in a sequential order. They were randomly distributed in two treatments (CG=control group and TG=test group). TG piglets had the first access to a dosage of 3.0 ml of coconut oil 12 hours after birth, and the second at 36 h after the first. Piglets were weighed at 21 days. In order to analyze the effect of the coconut oil supplement as a function of the weight at birth, piglets were grouped according to their weight (0.600 to 0.900 kg; 1.000 to 1.499kg; 1.500 to 1.999 kg; and 2.000 to 2.499 kg). Results. Sows parity affected the number and weight of born piglets. Sows in 4th, 5th and 7th parity had a larger litter than those from the 2nd parity. Sows from 2nd and 3rd parity had a lower number of piglets but heavier litter. No effect of the coconut oil supplement on neonatal piglets’ performance was found. Conclusions. The coconut meal was neither beneficial to neonatal piglets nor to those with low weight at birth, which usually present low body energy.RESUMENObjetivo. El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el efecto del número de partos y el suplemento de aceite de coco en lechones recien nacidos. Materiales y métodos. Se utilizaron 51 cerdas de diferentes partos y sus 642 lechones. Cada lechón se pesó y se identificó al nacer en orden secuencial. Fueron distribuidos aleatoriamente en dos grupos (CG = control y TG=tratamiento). Lechones TG tenían el primer acceso a una dosis de 3.0 ml de aceite de coco 12 horas después del nacimiento, y el segunda a las 36 h después de la primera. Los lechones fueron pesados a los 21 días. Con el fin de analizar el efecto de los suplementos de aceite de coco con relación al peso al nacer. Los lechones fueron agrupados de acuerdo con su peso (0.600 a 0.900 kg; 1.000 a 1.499 kg; 1.500 a 1.999 kg y 2.000 a 2.499 kg). Resultados. El número de partos afectó el peso y el número de lechones nacidos. Cerdas en cuarto, quinto y séptimo parto, tuvieron una camada mayor que las de segundo parto. Las cerdasde segundo y tercer parto tuvieron menor número de lechones y con peso mayor. No se encontró efectodel suplemento de aceite de coco en el desarrollo de los lechones recién nacidos. Conclusiones. Loaceite de coco no es favorable para los lechones recién nacidos, tampoco para aquellos con el bajopeso al nacer, que normalmente presentan la energía corporal baja

Monochromatic light-emitting diode (LED) source in layers hens during the second production cycle

ABSTRACTLight is an important environmental factor for birds, allowing not only their vision, but also influencing their physiological responses, such as behavioral and reproductive activity. The objective of this experiment was to evaluate the impact of different colors of monochromatic light (LED) sources in laying hens production during the second laying cycle. The study was conducted in an experimental laying house during 70 days. A total of 300 laying hens Isa Brown® genetic strain, aged 95 weeks, in the second laying cycle were used in the study. The artificial light sources used were blue, yellow, green, red and white. The light regimen was continuous illumination of 17 h per day (12 h natural and 5 h artificial) in a daily light regimen of 17L:5D (light: dark). The Latin Square design was adopted with five treatments (five colors) divided into five periods, and five boxes, with six replicates of ten birds in each box. The production and egg quality were evaluated. The different colors of light source did not affect production parameters or egg quality (p > 0.05). The monochromatic light source may be considered as an alternative to artificial lighting in laying hens during the second production cycle