Two experimental tests were carried out to evaluate the inclusion of forage cactus meal in diets for rabbits during the growth phase. In the first test 14 male New Zealand red rabbits were used, housed in metal cages, and distributed in a completely randomly design with two treatments and seven replicates with one animal per experimental unit. The digestibility of the nutrients and the digestible energy of the forage cactus meal were determined by the total feces collection method. The forage cactus meal presented 92.24% of DM, 5.63% of CP and 2,347 kcal of DE/kg. In the second test the inclusion of 0, 10, 20 and 30% forage cactus meal in the rabbit diet was tested for productive performance, carcass characteristics, viscera and economic viability. Thus, 40 male rabbits of the New Zealand red breed were used, distributed in metal cages, completely random designed with four treatments, five replicates and two animals per experimental unit. No influence of inclusion levels (P>0.05) on performance variables, housing characteristics or economic viability was observed. The forage cactus meal can be included in up to 30% in the diets of growing rabbits.

This study aimed to evaluate the supplementation of L-glutamine + glutamic acid and/or L-arginine on the productive performance, incidence of diarrhea, intestinal morphological of weaned piglets. Sixty-four 28-day-old weaned piglets were distributed in four treatments: DC -control diet; DG -glutamine diet (1% L-glutamine + glutamic acid); DA -arginine diet (1% L-arginine); and DGA -glutamine + arginine diet (0.5% L-glutamine + glutamic acid and 0.5% L-arginine) with eight replicates and two animals per experimental unit. The addition of 1% L-arginine to the piglet diet improved weight gain and feed conversion over 28 to 35 days of age. In the period of 28 to 49 days of age, supplementation with 1% L-glutamine + glutamic acid increased the animals' weight gain and reduced the incidence of diarrhea. Supplementation with amino acids in combination had a positive effect on the morphometric parameters of the intestinal mucosa compared to the control diet. Supplementation with 1% L-glutamine + glutamic acid increased the number of anti-PCNA + cells and goblet cells. Taken together, our fi ndings suggest that supplementation with L-glutamine + glutamic acid and L-arginine can improve the productive performance and enhance the integrity of the intestinal mucosa of weaned piglets.

Objective: The present study aimed to evaluate the influence of including L-glutamine along with glutamic acid as a supplement in weaned piglets’ diets with and without whey powder.Methods: Two assays were carried out. A total of 40 piglets ([Landrace×Large White]× Pietrain) weaned at 24 days of age with an initial body weight of 6.6±0.6 kg were used in the first assay, and the following parameters were evaluated: growth performance, the incidence of diarrhea, morphometry, intestinal integrity, and hepatic glycogen index. The animals were then blocked into four groups according to different diets: diet all-grain feeding (G); diet all-grain feeding with whey powder (GW); and with vs without 1% supplementation of the commercial product containing L-glutamine and glutamic acid (A or NA). Whey powder was added according to the stage of life, corresponding to 17%, 10%, and 5%, respectively, in order to meet the need for lactose. The animals were evaluated at 24 to 42 days and at 24 to 55 days of age. The nutrient digestibility for the second assay was carried out by using 24 animals with an average weight of 11.49±1.6 kg, and the same diets were tested.Results: The supplementation of L-glutamine + glutamic acid or the addition of whey powder in diets for weaned piglets provided (p<0.05) greater feed intake, greater weight gain and improved feed conversion in the initial period (24 to 42 days age). However, in the whole period (24 to 55 days age) only amino acid supplementation affected (p<0.05) growth performance. There was a positive interaction (p<0.05) between the type of diet and L-glutamine + glutamic acid supplementation on villus height, crypt depth and the villus:crypt ratio in the duodenum. In addition, L-glutamine + glutamic acid supplementation reduced (p<0.05) the crypt depth and improved the villus:crypt ratio in the jejunum. The inclusion of whey powder affected (p<0.05) positively the digestibility coefficients analyzed except mineral matter digestibility coeficients. The supplementation of 1% the commercial product composed of L-glutamine and glutamic acid improved (p<0.05) only the digestibility coefficient of crude protein.Conclusion: These results indicate that supplementation of 1% commercial product containing L-glutamine + glutamic acid in diets for piglets from 24 to 55 days of age, dispenses with the use of whey powder when evaluating growth performance. Amino acid supplementation alone or associated with whey powder affects (p<0.05) positively the indicators of the intestinal integrity.

Objetivou-se com esse estudo caracterizar e definir o perfil socioeconômico do consumidor de carne suína e derivados no município de Irecê, Bahia, Brasil. Para isso, foram entrevistados aleatoriamente 424 moradores de diferentes bairros e estrato social do referido município no período de março a maio de 2022. Gênero, faixa etária, faixa salarial e escolaridade serviram de base para caracterização da população entrevistada, assim como o consumo ou não de carne suína e seus derivados. Os dados obtidos foram tabulados no programa Microsoft Excel® e feita a análise percentual e descritiva dos mesmos. A carne suína se apresenta como sendo a 3ª na preferência de compra de proteína de origem animal pelos participantes da pesquisa (5,7%), depois da carne bovina (46,7%) e carne de aves (44,6%) em primeiro e segundo lugares, respectivamente. A maioria dos entrevistados consomem carne suína e seus derivados (79,3%). A costela o principal corte de preferência dos consumidores (59%). 56,8% dos entrevistados não sabem responder se existe algum benefício à saúde humana pelo consumo da carne suína; embora 71,9% dos entrevistados, considere a carne suína saudável. Dos entrevistados que não consideram a carne suína saudável (28,1%), 33,8% acreditam que a carne suína transmite doenças. 84,2% dos entrevistados afirmaram consumir derivados de carne suína. A linguiça calabresa o derivado de maior preferência (71%). A falta de informação e os mitos atrelados à carne suína ainda demonstram forte relação com o consumo dessa fonte de proteína animal. Assim, é necessário a implantação de campanhas informativas visando esclarecer ao consumidor à relação da sanidade dos animais abatidos e comercializados, a qualidade de produtos e os benefícios do consumo de carne suína para alavancar o setor suinícola da cidade de Irecê-BA e região.

The present study aimed to evaluate the in vitro anthelmintic efficacy of flor-de-seda (Calotropis procera S.W.) and pomegranate (Punica granatum L.) extracts on gastrointestinal nematode eggs of Japanese quails. Stool samples were collected from a herd of 5,000 adult birds raised on the floor at a commercial farm in the state of Ceará, Brazil. The samples were packed in plastic bags, kept refrigerated and transported for laboratory analysis. The eggs were placed in 2.5 ml of the suspension and 2.5 ml of flor-de-seda and pomegranate extracts in concentrations of 50; 25; 12.5; 6.25 and 3.12%. Readings were subsequently taken at 24, 48 and 72 hours. The aqueous pomegranate extract at 25 and 50% was more efficient on the larvae hatching. The flor-de-seda aqueous extract in both concentrations and evaluation periods showed similar action to that of the positive control treatment (Albendazole 10%). The pomegranate and flor-de-seda aqueous extracts have anthelmintic activity on the development of larvae in eggs of the Heterakoidea Superfamily and are therefore presented as an alternative to replace the drugs commonly used to control helminths in Japanese quails.