Estimating the Impact of Environmental Conditions on Hatching Results Using Multivariable Analysis

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Hatching results are directly related to environmental and biological surroundings, This research study aimed at evaluating the influence of incubation environmental conditions on hatchability and one-day-old chickling quality of five production flocks using multivariable analysis tool. The experiment was carried out in a commercial hatchery located in the state of Sao Paulo Brazil. Environmental variables such as dry, bulb temperature, relative humidity, carbon dioxide concentration, and number of colony forming units of fungi were recorded inside a broiler multi-stage setter, a hatcher after eggs transference, and a chick-processing room. The homogeneity of parameter distribution among quadrants inside the setter, the hatcher, and the chick room was tested using the non-parametric test of Kruskal-Wallis, and the fit analysis was applied. The multivariate analysis was applied using the Main Component Technique in order to identify possible correlations between environmental and production parameters. Three different groups were identified: the first group is represented by temperature, which was positively correlated both with good hatchability and good chick quality; the second group indicates that poor chick quality was positively correlated with air velocity and relative humidity increase. The third group, represented by carbon dioxide concentration and fungi colonies forming units, presented strong positive association with embryo mortality increase.104215222Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq

Impact of lameness on broiler well-being

Various degrees of lameness were compared among male broilers ranging in age from 28 to 49 d that had been randomly selected from a commercial farm. Gait scores were given to the broilers while they walked on a force measurement platform system, and the force exerted by their feet was measured and compared in 2 distinct conditions: with and without administration of an analgesic. Postmortem femoral degenerative lesions were observed, and the femur strength in response to a compression load was measured and compared. Results showed a difference in the peak vertical forces of the right and left feet before and after medication. The researchers also found that as BW increased, the locomotion ability of broilers tended to decrease. After birds received the analgesic, the peak vertical force increased among the more severely lame broilers at 35 to 49 d of age and their walking speed was decreased, indicating that they might have felt pain during locomotion. No difference was found between the femur (right and left) strength in response to a compression load; however, the results showed that femurs of 28-d-old birds were less resistant to compression (P < 0.05) than those of older broilers. The foot force platform was a useful tool for assessing the walking ability of broilers.18343243

Production Indicators and Levels of Corticosterone in Pullets Treated with Beak-Trimming Protocols

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to compare the effects of beak trimming by hot blade or infrared radiation on production indicators and plasma levels of corticosterone in pullets. During the rearing phase, an entirely random delineation was used a 2 x 3 factorial design (two different techniques for beak trimming x 3 strains), a total of six treatments with six repetitions of 20 hens. In the growing phase, the previous treatments were divided into 12, with eight repetitions with seven hens. These treatments were then distributed in a factorial design of 2 x 3 x 2 (two methodologies for beak trimming during rearing phase x three strains x with or without beak trimming at ten weeks of age). In the rearing phase the birds treated by infrared radiation had a lower total consumption and a longer beak length. In the growing phase, the execution of beak trimming at ten weeks of age, led to a lower total consumption and a lower body weight, but a better food conversion, when compared to those hens that did not have beak treatment. Beak trimming at ten weeks did not change the plasmatic levels of corticosterone

Production Indicators and Levels of Corticosterone in Pullets Treated with Beak-Trimming Protocols

<div><p>ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to compare the effects of beak trimming by hot blade or infrared radiation on production indicators and plasma levels of corticosterone in pullets. During the rearing phase, an entirely random delineation was used a 2 x 3 factorial design (two different techniques for beak trimming x 3 strains), a total of six treatments with six repetitions of 20 hens. In the growing phase, the previous treatments were divided into 12, with eight repetitions with seven hens. These treatments were then distributed in a factorial design of 2 x 3 x 2 (two methodologies for beak trimming during rearing phase x three strains x with or without beak trimming at ten weeks of age). In the rearing phase the birds treated by infrared radiation had a lower total consumption and a longer beak length. In the growing phase, the execution of beak trimming at ten weeks of age, led to a lower total consumption and a lower body weight, but a better food conversion, when compared to those hens that did not have beak treatment. Beak trimming at ten weeks did not change the plasmatic levels of corticosterone.</p></div

Use of prebiotics and probiotics of bacterial and yeast origin for free-range broiler chickens

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of probiotics and prebiotics of bacterial and yeast origin on the performance, development of the digestive system, carcass yield and meat quality of free-range broiler chickens. Five hundred and sixty male chicks of the strain ISA S757-N were reared from one to 84 days old. The birds were distributed in four treatments according to a completely randomized block design: T1 = Control, T2 = Probiotics and Prebiotics of bacterial origin, T3 = Probiotics and prebiotics of yeast origin, T4 = Probiotics and prebiotics of bacterial origin + probiotics and prebiotics of yeast origin. There were four repetitions with 35 birds per repetition, and the birds had access to a pasture area after 35 days of age. Characteristics evaluated were performance, development of the digestive system, carcass and parts yield, abdominal fat, breast meat physical measurements (length, width and height) and meat quality parameters (pH from breast and leg meat, cooking loss and shearing force from breast meat). Lower mortality (p<0.05) and higher weight gain from 64 to 77 and 64 to 84 days of age were seen in birds supplemented with probiotics and prebiotics of bacterial origin compared to the non-supplemented birds (control). There were significant differences (p<0.05) among treatments for carcass yield. Birds supplemented with both probiotics and prebiotics of microbial and yeast origin (T4) showed higher carcass yield than control birds. Supplementation with probiotics and prebiotics of bacterial origin (T2) or the supplementation of these together with those of yeast origin (T4) reduced mortality and increased the carcass yield in free-range broiler chickens