The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of vegetable glycerin on performance and egg quality of red-egg layers in the second production cycle. A total of 252 Hy-Line Brown layers weighing 1.919 ± 0.095 kg, at 90 weeks, were used in a completely randomized design with six treatments and seven birds per replication. The experiment lasted 84 days. Treatments consisted of a control diet (no glycerin) and five diets with increasing levels of vegetable glycerin (2, 4, 6, 8, and 10%). The following variables were evaluated: feed intake (g/bird/day); egg production (%); egg weight (g); egg mass (g/bird/day); conversion per egg mass (kg kg) and per dozen eggs (kg/dz); percentages of albumen, yolk, and shell; eggshell thickness (mm); and egg specific gravity. (Y = 67.69 + 54.23X, R 2 = 0.78) and egg mass (Y = 44.84 + 42.87X, R 2 = 0.66) improved linearly with the glycerin levels. A quadratic effect was observed (Y = 114.11 + 336.96 X -3,169.6 X 2 , R 2 = 0.52) on feed intake. In conclusion, glycerin can be used to partially replace corn in diets for layers in the second production cycle at inclusion levels of up to 10%. Key words: Alternative feedstuff. Nutrition. Performance. Egg-laying. ResumoObjetivou-se avaliar os efeitos da glicerina vegetal sobre o desempenho e qualidade dos ovos de poedeiras de ovos vermelhos em segundo ciclo de produção. Foram utilizadas 252 poedeiras Hy-Line Brown, pesando 1,919 ± 0,095 kg com 90 semanas, em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com seis tratamentos e sete aves por repetições. O experimento teve duração de 84 dias. Os tratamentos consistiram em uma dieta controle (sem glicerina), e cinco dietas com níveis de glicerina vegetal (2, 4, 6, 8 e 10%). As variáveis avaliadas foram: consumo de ração (g/ave/dia), produção de ovos (%), peso do ovo (g), massa de ovos (g/ave/dia), conversão por massa de ovos (kg/kg), conversão por dúzia de ovos (kg/dz), percentual de albúmen, gema e casca, espessura de casca (mm) e gravidade específica dos ovos. A produção (Y = 67.69 + 54.23X, R 2 = 0.78) e massa de ovos (Y = 44.84 + 42.87X, R 2 = 0.66) melhoraram linearmente com os níveis de glicerina. Foi observado efeito quadrático (Y = 114.11 + 336.96 X -3.169.6 X 2 , R 2 = 0.52) sobre o consumo de ração. Conclui-se que a glicerina pode ser utilizada em substituição parcial ao milho, nas dietas para poedeiras em segundo ciclo de produção, no nível de até 10% de inclusão. Palavras-chave: Alimento alternativo. Desempenho. Nutrição. Postura.

The aim of this study was to evaluate dietary inclusion of calcium anacardate (CAN) associated or not with citric acid (CA) in late-phase laying hen diets on serum biochemical profile, serum lipid peroxidation (TBARS), enzymatic activity (CAT and SOD) of liver, ovary, magnum and uterus. A total of 432 laying hens with 63 weeks of age were distributed into nine treatments and six replicates. Treatments consisted of: T1 – diet without additives; T2 – diet with 0.25%CAN; T3 – diet with 0.25%CAN + 0.25%CA; T4 – diet with 0.50%CAN; T5 – diet with 0.50%CAN + 0.25%AC; T6 – diet with 0.50%CAN + 0.50%CA; T7 – diet with 0.75%CAN; T8 – diet with 0.75%CAN + 0.25%CA; T9 – diet with 0.75%CAN + 0.50%CA. Lower serum TBARS was observed in birds fed 0.75% CAN and associate with AC (0.50% CAN + 0.50% CA). Dietary inclusion of CAN (0.50% and 0.75%) or associated with CA (0.25% and 0.50%) resulted in lower CAT in the liver and higher enzyme activity in the magnum. SOD activity in magnum was higher in laying hens fed diet without additives and lower values was observed considering increasing level of CAN. Dietary inclusion of CAN (0.75%) and its association with CA (0.50% CAN with 0.50 CA) for late-phase laying hens reduce serum peroxidation. Higher CAT activity was observed in magnum from the level of 0.50% CAN with or without CA. Increasing levels of CAN associated with CA results in lower CAT activity in the liver and SOD activity in reproductive tissues.

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When applied at growing phase, lighting program aims to obtain quails with body weight and physiological maturity suitable for the beginning of laying. This study evaluates lighting programs at growing phase on performance, sexual maturity and egg quality of meat quails (Coturnix coturnix) at laying phase. During the period from 7 to 49 days of age, 300 female meat quails were subjected to three lighting programs (natural, intermittent and continuous), with 5 replicates of 20 birds each. At 49 days of age, 240 quails were transferred to a shed, maintaining the same experimental distribution and submitted to the same conditions. Continuous and intermittent lighting programs at growing resulted in more precocious quails when compared to natural lighting program. Quails submitted to natural lighting program at growing phase presented lower egg production during all periods, not differing for birds submitted to continuous and intermittent programs from the second period (71 to 92 days of age). It is concluded that in equatorial region, the natural lighting program at growing phase increases the age of sexual maturity and impairs the performance of meat quails at laying; in turn, the intermittent lighting program maintains the sexual maturity, performance and quality of eggs at laying phase.

Glycerol fermentation for 1,3-propanediol (1,3-PDO) production was studied in an anaerobic up-flow reactor with biomass attached to silicone support. A mixed microbial culture was activated to perform the biofilm formation and attachment to a silicone hose prior the reactor operation. The reactor was operated over 362 days divided into two phases (P). In P1 and P2, the reactor was continuously fed with pure and crude glycerol, respectively. The operation consisted of increasing the glycerol loading rates (gly-LR). The achieved highest 1,3-PDO average yields were 0.43 mol mol-gly−1 and 0.62 mol mol-gly−1 when applied gly-LR was 18 and 46 g L−1 d−1 in P1 and P2, respectively. A maximum 1,3-PDO productivity of 14.7 g L−1 d−1 was obtained in P2. The higher yields of 1,3-PDO when the feed changed from pure to crude glycerol indicated a change in the microbial community. These results show that the studied system can be very promising and cost-effective for converting crude glycerol into value-added products on large scale even at high loads. Graphical Abstract