An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of BW, feed intake, and the physiological condition of the animal on the loss and amino acid composition of endogenous protein in swine. Ten growing barrows and five multiparous sows were equipped with a T-cannula in the distal ileum for digesta collection. A protein-free diet was fed to all animals. The barrows were given free access to the experimental diet. The sows also were allowed to consume the diet on an ad libitum basis, and digesta were collected during lactation and in the following gestation period. In addition, digesta from the gravid sows were collected after restricting the sows to 2 kg of feed per day. For each animal group, the endogenous losses of protein and amino acids were calculated in relation to DMI, and the amino acid composition of endogenous protein was calculated. The total endogenous gut protein loss at the distal ileum of growing pigs, lactating sows, and gestating sows, given free access to feed, was 12.4, 9.4, and 11.2 g/kg DMI, respectively. These values were not different (P > .10). However, when gestating sows were fed only 2 kg/d, 17.8 g of endogenous protein was lost per kilogram of DMI, which was higher (P < .05) than for any of the other groups. This difference was mainly caused by higher (P < .05) losses of glycine, proline, and serine. There were no differences (P > .05) in amino acid composition of endogenous protein between growing pigs, lactating sows, and gestating sows given free access to feed, but restricted-fed gestating sows had an amino acid composition of endogenous protein that was significantly different from that of the other groups. The results from the experiment showed that age, BW, and the physiological condition of the animal have little or no effect on the amount of endogenous protein and amino acids lost at the distal ileum of hogs if calculated in relation to DMI. Likewise, the amino acid composition was not affected by the BW or physiological condition of the animal. However, DMI had a significant effect on endogenous protein losses in sows as well as on amino acid composition of endogenous protein.

The influence of alternative treatments using fluidextracts of Alternanthera brasiliana, propolis resin and linseed oil on the performance and blood biochemistry of broilers was evaluated. The study was done with five treatments: basal diet (negative control); basal diet + 40 ppm avylamicin and 120 ppm monensin (positive control); basal diet + A. brasiliana extract (180 mL/200 kg of feed); basal diet + propolis extract (200 mL/200 kg of feed) and basal diet + linseed oil (2.5% replacing soybean oil). Propolis and A. brasiliana extracts improved broiler performance from 14 to 21 days, whereas linseed oil had no effect. The findings of this experiment revealed that A. brasiliana and propolis extracts can be used as antimicrobials, but further studies are necessary to find the best concentration in broiler diets

Twelve multiparous sows (PIC Camborough 15; parity >2) were used to investigate the relationship between litter size and day of lactation, and plasma amino acid (AA) arteriovenous differences (A-VD), AA uptake, and plasma flow across the mammary glands. Sows were assigned randomly to one of the following litter sizes: 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, or 14 pigs per litter by cross fostering on d 2 postpartum. All sows were surgically fitted with catheters in the carotid artery and the main mammary vein. Matched arteriovenous blood samples were obtained on d 9, 12, 15, 18, 21, and 24 postpartum. Daily mammary uptake of AA was based on the product of plasma A-VD and daily mammary plasma flow (MPF). Daily MPF was estimated using the Fick method based on lysine conservation across the gland, and daily milk production. For the majority of AA, as litter size increased, A-VD did not increase, except for alanine (P < 0.05, linear and quadratic) and valine (P < 0.1; trend; linear and quadratic). As day of lactation increased, A-VD for the majority of AA increased (P < 0.05, linear and quadratic) except for arginine, lysine, and phenylalanine. As litter size increased, net daily mammary AA uptake increased for all indispensable AA (P = 0.001 to P < 0.05, linear and quadratic), excepting arginine. Milk production increased with increasing litter size (P < 0.001, linear) and with increasing day of lactation (P < 0.05, quadratic). Daily MPF increased (P < 0.05, linear) with increasing litter size, but did not change during the period measured from d 9 to 24. In conclusion, litter size appears to be a major determinant of net mammary AA uptake with daily mammary plasma flow a driving variable, whereas AA A-VD is a function of day of lactation and a major variable in determining net AA uptake with advancement of lactation.

Devido às exigências de alguns importadores, por motivação cultural ou devido a zoonoses recém acontecidas na Europa, tem havido um direcionamento para fabricação de rações vegetais com base em milho e farelo de soja (FS). Esse direcionamento traz conseqüências na produção e por isso, objetivou-se avaliar a resposta de frangos de corte alimentados com dietas contendo farinhas de carne e ossos (FCO) e farinha de vísceras de aves (FV) e dietas contendo milho e FS. As dietas foram calculadas para conterem 3.050 e 3.150 kcal EM/kg de ração nas fases inicial e de crescimento, respectivamente, e com os demais nutrientes calculados para atenderem às exigências das aves. A substituição de ingredientes foi testada variando-se os níveis de proteina nas fases inicial e de crescimento respectivamente, da seguinte forma: 1. Dieta com inclusão de 4% de FCO suína e 3% de FV, calculada por proteína ideal, com 22% (inicial) e 20 % de PB (crescimento); 2. Dieta semelhante à dieta 1, sem farinhas de origem animal, formulada a base de milho e FS, com PB e lisina digestível semelhantes à dieta 1; 3. Dieta semelhante à dieta 2, com 23% (inicial) e 21% de PB (crescimento) e lisina digestível semelhante a dieta 1; 4. Dieta semelhante à dieta 2, com 24% (inicial) e 22% de PB (crescimento) e lisina digestível 6% e 5% superiores à dieta 1. Houve diminuição significativa da matéria seca da cama das aves devido à presença de ingredientes exclusivamente vegetais e aumento do teor de proteína das dietas (P<0,0002), sendo que as fêmeas apresentam maior teor de matéria seca das camas do que os machos (P<0,0003). O desempenho das aves alimentadas com proteína de origem vegetal foi superior ao de dietas contendo proteína animal; porém, em geral, é maior o custo de dietas exclusivamente vegetais. Nas dietas de origem vegetal, a dieta 4, com níveis superiores de aminoácidos, proporcionou melhor desempenho (P<0,0002), não havendo resposta ao aumento apenas da PB. Não houve diferença nos cortes da carcaça devida às fontes protéicas (P>0,05); havendo, porém, maior peso dos pés (P<0,01) nas dietas com menor porcentagem de matéria seca da cama de aviário.

RESUMO -Foi desenvolvido um estudo para determinar em que peso vivo deve se iniciar a restrição alimentar (RA), visando à melhoria do desempenho e da qualidade da carcaça em suínos machos castrados e fêmeas em terminação, alimentados com ração farelada, no período de inverno. Foram comparados quatro tratamentos: T1 -alimentação à vontade (AV) até o abate; T2 -AV até os 90 kg PV e após restrição alimentar (RA) de 10%; T3 -AV até os 75 kg peso e após RA de 10%; T4 -AV até os 60 kg PV e após RA de 10%. O experimento iniciou-se com peso vivo inicial dos animais de 52,58 ± 2,34 kg PV e encerrou-se com o peso de 119,27 ± 1,99 kg PV, quando os animais foram abatidos. A restrição alimentar iniciada em qualquer idade reduziu o ganho de peso diário (GPD), mas não melhorou a conversão alimentar (CA) nem as características de carcaça dos machos castrados. Nas fêmeas, o GPD só foi reduzido naquelas que iniciaram a RA aos 60 kg peso, não havendo melhora da CA e nem da qualidade da carcaça com a RA iniciada em qualquer idade. Portanto, suínos com alto potencial para deposição de carne magra e baixo consumo voluntário de alimento, alimentados com dietas fareladas e contendo níveis adequados de aminoácidos, não respondem à restrição de energia com início entre os 60 e 90 kg PV para melhorar o desempenho e a qualidade da carcaça.Palavras-chave: carcaça, desempenho, fêmeas, machos castrados, manejo alimentar, rendimento de carne Effect of Live Weight at the Beginning of Feed Restriction on the Performance and Carcass Quality in Finishing PigsABSTRACT -This experiment was carried out to determine the best live weight to start the feed restriction (RA) in order to improve the performance and carcass quality of barrows and gilts at the finishing phase, fed with dry feed, in the winter period. Four treatments was compared: T1 -Full fed (AV) until the slaughter time, T2 -AV until 90 kg LW and after that 10% RA; T3 -AV until 75 kg LW and after that 10% RA; T4 -AV until 60 kg LW and after that 10% RA. The study started when animals had 52.58 ± 2.34 kg LW and finished with 119.27 ± 1.99 kg LW, when the animals were slaughtered. The feed restriction started at whatever age reduced the average daily gain (GPD), but feed: gain ratio (F/G) was not improved neither carcass traits of the barrows. In the gilts, RA reduced GPD only in that, which started RA at 60 kg LW and feed: gain was not improved neither carcass traits with RA started at whatever age. Therefore, swine with high potential to lean meat deposition and low feed intake, fed with dry diets, which contain suitable levels of amino acids, do not respond to energy restriction starting between 60 and 90 kg to improve performance and carcass quality.