In the way to reduce costs in the poultry production, high densities of birds are adopted in the production systems. Such high densities can lead to an inappropriate environment, compromising the welfare and decreasing the animal performance. In this work we aimed to evaluate the effects of different densities on the productive yield, egg quality and immunological aspects of Japanese quails. It was used 816 Japanese quails, during egg production phase, in a random design, with four treatments (121.43 cm 2 /bird; 106.25 cm 2 /bird; 94.44 cm 2 /bird and 85.00 cm 2 /bird) with six repetitions each. Results indicate density did not interfere on egg quality and all treatments can be considered excellent, once the Haugh Unit was 88.03. Therefore, higher densities decline the yield, decreasing the eggs weight (10.35 g), the laying percentage (88%), egg mass (9.16 g) and the week average feed consumption (157.35 g). IgY values were higher at smaller cage density, suggesting birds in this condition presented better immunological condition, related to welfare and stress factors, all linked to immunoglobulins IgY.

No abstract

Quail egg production has experienced a steep rise in the last decade. Nutrition is the main factor affecting productive potential in the poultry industry, as appropriate nutritional management is necessary to ensure the maintenance of optimal physical conditions, growth and the production of high quality products. Meat and bone meal (MBM) has often been used in the poultry industry as an alternative and cost-effective source of protein in partial replacement of corn and soybean meal. However, there have been no studies to date that have investigated the effect of dietary MBM on the performance of quail or on the costs of production in the starter phase. This is particularly important considering that this phase is characterized by large investments by producers, without immediate economic return. In this study, we investigated whether partial replacement of soybean meal (SBM) by meat and bone meal (MBM) in the diet of Japanese quail during the starter phase is a viable alternative that would maintain or improve their productive and economic performance. Our results show that the inclusion of MBM in the diet of quail reduces feeding costs by up to 6% without impairing productive performance.

This study evaluated the performance, immune response to vaccination, digestive organs, intestinal histomorphometry, and microbiological development in the diet and litter of Isa Brown strains at growing receiving phase alternative additives in the place of antibiotics. Four treatments were arrayed in a completely randomized design: T1) Basal diet without antibiotics, T2) Basal diet with antibiotics, T3) Basal diet with probiotics, and T4) Basal diet without antibiotics and water modified by a photoelectron generator. There were six replications of eight birds each and thus a total of 192 birds. Performance was evaluated for eight weeks and during this period blood samples were collected at 9, 12 and 15 weeks of age for serological evaluation. At the end of the experimental period, 24 birds were euthanized, collecting the intestinal tract and later performing histomorphometry. Microbiological analyses were performed in the experimental diets and in the material of the litter of the boxes. The results obtained were analyzed by analysis of variance and the contrast between treatment means when significant by Tukey’s test. The results indicate that the replacement of antibiotics with T3 or T4 did not interfere negatively (P >0.05) in the performance of the birds, immunological response, viscera analyses and intestinal histomorphometry. In addition, use of T3 and T4 might lead to more rapid decomposition of excreta and reduce antibiotic residue in the soil when the litter is used in crop production.Keywords: dileka, Gallus domesticus, histomorphometry, laying hens, probiotics, serum biochemistry, water

Este experimento foi conduzido em Ribeirão Preto, SP, Brasil e teve como objetivo identificar as características dos pendões dos híbridos convencionais e transgênicos de milho (Zea mays) que influenciam a visitação das abelhas Apis mellifera africanizadas na coleta de pólen. Para isso, uma área foi plantada com um híbrido convencional e seis híbridos transgênicos de milho (Powercore®, YG VT Pro®, Viptera®, Viptera 3®, Optimum Intrasect® e Herculex HR®), o delineamento do experimento foi em blocos casualizados em uma área de 27m x 12m, sendo utilizado 3x3 metros para cada híbrido, com quatro repetições, em duas épocas de plantio. A frequência das abelhas nas flores foi avaliada por meio de contagens das 7h00 às 11h00, cinco minutos em cada horário, com cinco repetições (dias distintos), no período de florescimento da cultura. Os pendões de cada híbrido foram avaliados com relação às características morfológicas (comprimento e largura). Além disso, 10 pendões de cada híbrido foram coletados e o pólen foi recolhido e armazenado para posterior análise da proteína bruta. O florescimento ocorreu em janeiro (1º. Plantio) e em abril de 2014 (2º. Plantio). As abelhas visitaram os pendões, preferencialmente, entre 7h00 e 8h00, para coleta exclusiva de pólen. O híbrido Viptera apresentou o polém com maior teor de proteína bruta, sendo um dos híbridos mais visitados, no segundo plantio, entretanto, as abelhas apresentaram diferenças na preferência nos dois plantios realizados.