Non-Linear Models for Growth, Development, and Posture of L-33 White Leghorn Hens, according to Economic Indicators

The Zootechnical Factors established by the main indicators of bioeconomic behavior were determined for the pro-ductive-commercial cycle of L-33 White Leghorn hens in the province of Ciego de Ávila, Cuba. A number of 55 cycles were analyzed for validation of mathematical models between 2002 and 2014; other 18 cycles were studied between 2014 and 2016. Descriptive statistics, generalized mixed models (GLIMMIX), and five-function modelling were used. SAS 9.3 for Windows was also used. The productive cycles were similar to the standard set up for the breed and line in Cuba. Laying was 293 eggs/poultry, with a conversion of 1.40 feed kg/10 eggs, and a cost of $ 0.36 CUP an egg. The starting sheds and year had effects on live weight, tarsus length, uniformity, and daily weight gain up to 175 days. Sexual maturity, conversion, egg production, egg cost, and net income were influenced by farm, whereas each farm´s starting shed and the years, had negative effects on most biological indicators. Low, but significant effects of combined climate variables were observed in the bioeconomic indicators. The Gompertz´s model for growth, and Mc Nally´s for laying, were the best predicting tools for production. Along with GLIMMIX, they will contribute with suitable criteria for better decision making to increase egg production

Modelación de curvas de puesta de los tres últimos años en gallinas White Leghorn en la provincia Ciego de Ávila.

Se utilizaron 15 976 registros de producción de huevos, correspondientes a tres crianzas del 2016 en la provincia Ciego de Ávila. Se caracterizó la curva de puesta en condiciones similares a las propuestas por IIA (2013) en la República de Cuba.  Se muestra la estimación de las curvas de puesta realizadas con  las producciones medias corres-pondientes a tres etapas de 12 meses. Se aplicaron cuatro modelos matemáticos para el ajuste a dicha curva: Mc N a-lly, Wood, Cuadrática logarítmica y lineal hiperbólica. Para la validación se tomaron diferentes criterios estadí sticos: coeficiente de determinación (R2), (R2 A), además del análisis de los residuos entre otros. Para cada período se o b-tuvo la media, desviación estándar DE, error estándar (EE) y coeficiente de variación (CV). La producción de huevos alcanzó valores entre 84,35 y 60,61 % de puesta y el mejor año fue el 2016, mientras que los valores más altos de EE y CV correspondieron al final del periodo de producción, como era de esperar. La bondad de ajuste y discriminación entre los modelos utilizados demostraron un alto criterio de ajuste en los cuatro modelos, pero el mejor fue  Mc Nally (1971) con R2 de 99,60 %, los R2 ajustados con 99,42 %. La expresión Mc Nally, alcanzó los valores más altos de ajuste YM=-2233,62-18583,8*(MES/426)-029,0*(MES/426**2+780,241*log(426/MES)-68,1269*(log(426/MES))*2 y describe mejor la producción huevo de gallinas White Leghorn L33 en las condiciones de Ciego de Ávila.Laying Curve Model of White Leghorn Hens in the Last Three Years in the Province of Ciego de Avila, Cuba.ABSTRACTA number of 15 976 egg production records from three hen batches in Ciego de Avila (2016) were used. The laying curve was characterized in similar conditions to IIA (2013), Republic of Cuba. E stimation of the laying curves made to mean productions from three stages in a year, was presented. Four mathematical models were applied for curve adjustment: McNally, Wood, quadratic logarithmic, and linear hyperbolic. Different statistical criteria were used for validation: determination coefficient (R2), (R2A), as well as residue analysis and others. Mean, standard deviation (SD), standard error (SE), and variation coefficient (VC) were achieved for each period. Egg production accounted for 84.35 and 60.61% of total laying, 2016 was the best year. The highest values of SE and VC were observed at the end of production, as expected. Adjustment and discrimination showed a high adjustment criterion in the four models, but the best values were observed with McNally (1971), in R2 (99.60%), and adjusted R2 (99.42%). McNally reached the highest adjustment values: YM=-2233.62-18583.8* (MONTH/426)-029.0*(MONTH/426**2+780.241*log (426/MONTH)-68.1269*(log  (426/MONTH))*2, and it described the best production of White Leghorn L33 hens in Ciego de Avil

Producción sostenible de carne de ovinos a partir de la harina del fruto y la hoja del árbol del pan (Artocarpus altilis) Sustainable production of sheep meat from the fruit and leaf meal of the breadfruit tree (Artocarpus altilis)

Un total de 27 corderos machos sin castrar, de la raza Pelibuey, en la etapa de crecimiento-ceba, con un peso inicial promedio de 19,5 kg, fueron suplementados a razón de 0 (T1); 12 (T2) y 20 (T3) g de pienso fruta del pan por kilogramo de PV. A los 90 días de la prueba el peso vivo final (T1:25,7; T2:28,2 y T3:29,6 kg) y la ganancia media diaria (T1:67; T2:97 y T3:113 g) se incrementaron significativamente (PA total of 27 uncastrated male lambs, of the Pelibuey breed, in the growing-fattening stage, with an average initial weight of 19,5 kg, were supplemented at a rate of 0 (T1); 12 (T2) and 20 (T3) g of breadfruit feed per kilogram of LW. Ninety days after the beginning of the test the final live weight (T1: 25,7; T2: 28,2 and T3: 29,6 kg) and the mean daily gain (T1: 67; T2:97 and T3: 113 g) increased significantly (P<0,001) as the level of the breadfruit feed increased; the same happened to the carcass weight (T1: 11,8; T2: 13,1 and T3: 14,0 kg), which differed for P<0,01. The economic results showed a significant saving with the alternative diets used, which reduced the production costs. The palatability test did not show differences among the treatments regarding the degree of acceptance, taste and juiciness of the meat. Thus, it was demonstrated that the presence of the breadfruit feed in the diets for sheep, in the concentrations studied, does not alter the organoleptic properties of the meat. The use of this plant in sheep feeding is concluded to be feasible, with which the productive yields and economic incomes increase

Utilización de harina de frutos y hojas del árbol del pan (Artocarpus altilis) en la ceba de conejos Nueva Zelanda Blanco Utilization of fruit and leaf meals from breadfruit tree (Artocarpus altilis) for fattening New Zealand White rabbits

Se utilizaron 36 conejos de la raza Nueva Zelanda Blanco, de 35 días de edad y 506 g de peso vivo, con el objetivo de evaluar el efecto de tres dietas en los indicadores productivos y económicos de los animales durante la ceba. Las dietas consistieron en: 1) pienso comercial más forraje fresco de glycine (Neonotonia wightii), como control; 2) harina de frutos del árbol del pan (Artocarpus altilis) más glycine; y 3) pienso integral compuesto por una mezcla de harina de frutos y hojas del árbol del pan, más vitaminas y minerales. Se realizó un análisis de varianza, según un diseño completamente aleatorizado, con tres tratamientos y cuatro repeticiones. Después de 90 días en ceba, el peso vivo al sacrificio fue de: 2 347, 2 223 y 2 127 g/conejo, respectivamente; la ganancia media, de 20, 19 y 18 g/día; y la viabilidad fue del 100% en todos los tratamientos. Económicamente, el pienso balanceado con harina de frutos y hojas del árbol del pan tuvo una utilidad de 1,05 USD/conejo cebado, el sistema de alimentación con harina de frutos del árbol del pan más follaje de glycine alcanzó utilidades de 0,89 USD/conejo cebado; mientras que el sistema control generó pérdidas económicas, debido a los altos costos de las materias primas que componían el pienso convencional. Se concluye que los sistemas de alimentación alternativos que emplean la harina de frutos y hojas del árbol del pan resultan económica y biológicamente apropiados para los conejos en ceba<br>Thirty-six New Zealand White rabbits, 35 days old and with 506 g of live weight were used, in order to evaluate the effects of three diets on the productive and economic indicators of the animals during fattening. The diets consisted in: 1) commercial concentrate feed plus fresh forage of perennial soybean (Neonotonia wightií), as control; 2) breadfruit (Artocarpus altilis) meal plus perennial soybean and 3) integral concentrate feed composed by a mixture of fruit and leaf meal from the breadfruit tree, plus vitamins and minerals. A variance analysis was used according to a completely randomized design with three treatments and four repetitions. After 90 days of fattening, the live weight at slaughter was 2 347, 2 223 and 2 127 g/rabbit, respectively, the average gain was 20, 19 and 18 g/day and viability was 100% in all treatments. Economically, the concentrate feed balanced with fruit and leaf meal from the breadfruit tree had a profit of US $1,05/fattened rabbit, the feeding system with breadfruit meal plus perennial soybean foliage earned US$0,89/fattened rabbit, while the control system generated economic losses, due to the high costs of raw materials that composed the conventional concentrate feed. It is concluded that alternative feeding systems which use fruit and leaf meal from the breadfruit tree are economically and biologically suitable for fattening rabbit

Inclusion of meal from Artocarpus altilis fruit in diets for pre-fattening pigs

AbstrAct In the Baracoa and Maisí municipalities, Guantánamo province, the bromatological composition of the meal from Artocarpus altilis (breadfruit) fruit and its inclusion in diets for pre-fattening pigs was evaluated. Forty eight Yorkland x Duroc hybrid animals, 33 days old and with 6 kg of live weight as average, were used. The design was completely randomized, of simple classification and with four replications, each of them constituted by three animals. The treatments consisted in: a control in which only concentrate feed, composed by corn and soybean meal, was consumed (T1); inclusion of 10 % meal from A. altilis fruit (MFBT) in the concentrate as substitute of corn (T2); 20 % of MFBT (T3) and 30 % of MFBT (T4). It was found that the meal from A. altilis fruit is a source rich in starch, sucrose, glucose and fructose; in addition, it is very poor in lipids (0,71 %) and has a moderate protein (5,80 %) and fiber content (7,74 %). The tannin and saponin concentrations were high. Equal values of viability (100 %) and intake (34,5 kg) were obtained in all the treatments. Only the diet that included 10 % of the MFBT did not differ significantly with regards to the control in the other evaluated indicators. The economic impact obtained with this diet allowed to save US $23,19 per ton of live weight produced as compared with the control. To include 10 % of the MFBT as maximum limit in the diets for pre-fattening pigs is recommended

Substitution of corn and soybean oil by cassava meal and African palm tree oil in diets of laying hens

Fourty-two White Leghorns laying hens, from the commercial Cuban hybrid L-33, were used for eight weeks during the laying peak (36 to 43 weeks of age), to assess the substitution of corn by cassava root meal (Manihot esculenta Crantz) and the crude soybean oil by crude oil of African palm tree (Elaeis guineensis J.) in the diets of laying hens. Analysis of variance was conducted, according to simple classification design, with three treatments and 14 repetitions (a cage with a hen). The treatments consisted of three diets (1- corn meal + soybean oil; 2- 25 % cassava meal + African palm tree oil; 3- 53 % cassava meal + African palm tree oil), with 15.71 % CP; 3.83 % Ca and 0.36 % P available. The viability was of 100 % in all treatments. No differences were found for laying (92.21, 92.09 and 91.59 %), which surpassed the potential of this hybrid during the laying peak (90 %), conversion (118g feedstuff/egg in the three treatments), egg mass produced (3066, 3114 and 3071 g/bird) and mass conversion (1.99, 1.95 y 1.98 feed consumed/egg mass). The pigmentation of the egg yolk was reduced as the level of cassava meal increased in the diets (6, 4 and 3 at Roche's scale), as well as the cost of the feed consumed in 56 d per hen (2.56, 2.15 and 1.83 USD/bird). The possibility of substituting, totally, corn meal by that of cassava and soybean oil by that of the African palm tree in the diets of laying hens during the laying peak was determined, with positive economic effect and without damaging the productive performance of birds

Consumption Diagnosis of Sweet Cassava in three Municipalities in Cuba

Cassava is an important staple food for human and animal feeding in Cuba. Despite its importance, there is little or nonexistent information to diagnose preferences and frequency of consumption of cassava in that country. In this sense, the present article characterizes the preferences and frequency of consumption of cassava in the municipalities of Plaza de la Revolución-La Habana province, El Salvador–Guantanamo province and San José de Las Lajas–Mayabeque province in Cuba. A survey was conducted through a questionnaire containing twelve closed and two open questions. The sample was determined based on the number of total population of each municipality considering 95% as confidence interval and 5% as error margin. The results were statistically analyzed by calculating the absolute and the relative frequencies of each question. It was observed that the acquisition of cassava in the municipalities of Plaza de la Revolución, El Salvador and San José de las Lajas in Cuba is done by purchase small quantities of fresh cassava for home consumption within one week, due to the extreme perishability of cassava, which limits consumers' ability to store fresh roots at home. The choice of cassava is made based on both skin colour (light brown) and pulp (white) and empirical knowledge about its ease of cooking, and that cassava is mostly consumed in boiled and fried forms up to four times a week in times where there is root market supply with the desirable culinary characteristics (cooking facility), that is, from September to December

Growth Performance, Organ Weights and Some Blood Parameters of Replacement Laying Pullets Fed with Increasing Levels of Wheat Bran

ABSTRACTThis study was conducted to determine the growth performance, organ weights, and selected blood parameters of replacement laying pullets (development phase) fed increasing levels of wheat bran (WB). A total of 240 70-d-old White Leghorn pullets (Hybrid L33) were evaluated for seven weeks. Birds were assigned to three dietary treatments according to a completely randomized design. Treatments consisted of diets containing 100 (T1), 150 (T2), or 200 g/kg (T3) of WB in partial replacement of corn, with 10 replicates per treatment of eight birds per replicate. Birds fed T2 presented higher body weight (p<0.05) compared with T1 and T3 (1112.52 to 1163.35 g). Also, T2 birds presented higher methionine plus cystine intake relative to T1 (0.38 to 0.40 g/bird/day). Likewise, a higher inclusion of WB (200 g/kg) increased crude fiber (2.29 to 2.63 g/bird/day) and crude fat (1.98 to 3.58 g/bird/day) intakes (p<0.05). However, the experimental treatments did not affect the relative weight of the organs or small intestine and cecum length (p>0.05). Serum concentration of triacylglycerols, cholesterol, calcium, phosphorus, hematocrit, or hemoglobin levels were not significantly different (p>0.05) among treatments. These findings indicate a beneficial effect of use of 150 g/kg of wheat bran on the growth performance of pullets during the development phase; however, the inclusion of this cereal up to 200 g/kg had no effect on organ weights and blood parameters