This study was conducted in quails to evaluate the probiotic potential of Pichia pastoris X-33, cultivated in parboiled rice effluent supplemented with biodiesel glycerol or in standard medium Yeast Extract–Peptone–Dextrose (YPD). Forty-days-old female quails were divided into three treatments: T1 (Control) received a basal diet without P. pastoris; T2 (Pichia Effluent) received a basal diet supplemented with P. pastoris grown in parboiled rice effluent and biodiesel glycerol, and T3 (Pichia YPD) received a basal diet supplemented with P. pastoris produced in YPD. The birds were vaccinated against Newcastle Disease (NDV), Avian Infectious Bronchitis (IBV), and Gumboro Disease on days 1 and 28. The following parameters were analyzed: performance, egg quality, humoral immune response to the vaccines, organ weight, and intestinal morphometry. P. pastoris grown in YPD increased egg weight (p < 0.05). The lowest liver weight on day 14 was obtained in Pichia Effluent, whereas both P. pastoris supplemented groups had the lowest duodenum weights on day 14. Besides that, livers and duodenums presented no morphological changes in any of the three treatments. Supplementation of P. pastoris modulated the immune system of the birds, increasing anti-IBV, anti-NDV, and anti-Gumboro antibodies levels compared to the Control (p < 0.05). In conclusion, quail’s immune response was improved by Pichia pastoris X-33, either it was grown in YPD or industrial residues, and the egg weight increased with Pichia pastoris X-33 grown in YPD, thereby demonstrating to be a promising probiotic for poultry.

A study was conducted to compare the endogenous basal losses of phosphorus (EBLP) in pigs fed diets containing gelatin (GEL) or spray-dried porcine plasma (SDPP) as protein sources and to determine the standardized total tract digestibility (STTD) of phosphorus (P) in SDPP. The trial was carried out at the Federal University of Santa Maria, Brazil. Twelve castrated pigs with an initial body weight of 55 kg were individually allotted in metabolic crates during two 12-day periods, each with 7 days of adaptation and 5 days of total fecal collection. The beginning and the end of the collecting periods were determined according to the marker-to-marker approach, using ferric oxide as an indigestible marker. Pigs were submitted to four semi-purified diets, one being a P-free diet with 30% of GEL as the protein source and three were diets with 10%, 20%, and 30% inclusion of SDPP respectively. Data were subjected to analysis of variance and the model included the effects of period, animal and treatments; the results of the three diets with increased levels of SDPP were subjected to linear regression analysis. The intercept of the relation of between ingested P and absorbed P represented the EBLP, while the slope indicated the STTD of P in SDPP. The EBLP means obtained by P-free diet and regression method were compared with the Student t test. The EBLP were 128.95 mg/kg dry matter intake (DMI) and 153.63 mg/kg DMI (standard error = 77.0; p<0.06) using the P-free diet with GEL as the protein source and the regression method, obtained with diets containing increased levels of SDPP, respectively. The apparent digestibility of P was 87.9%, 94.2%, and 92.9% for the treatments containing 10%, 20%, and 30% inclusion of SDPP, respectively. The estimated STTD of P obtained with the linear regression was 97.4%. When the EBLP estimated by the P-free diet was used to corrected the apparent digestibility of P in diets containing SDPP, the STTD of P in SDPP was 96.9%, 98.8%, and 95.9% for 10%, 20%, and 30% SDPP, respectively. Therefore, it can be concluded that SDPP can replace GEL to estimate the endogenous losses of P. In addition, the STTD of P in SDPP estimated with the P-free diet was 97.2% and it was 97.4% by the regression method, utilizing SDPP.

The aim of this study was to determine endogenous losses and true total digestibility of phosphorus (P)

O objetivo do presente estudo foi avaliar os efeitos do uso prolongado de lecitina e óleo ácido de soja sobre a histologia duodenal e qualidade óssea de codornas japonesas na fase de postura. Foram utilizados 192 aves com 54 dias de idade as quais foram alimentadas durante 168 dias (metade da sua vida produtiva) com dietas contendo óleo degomado de soja (ODS) ou óleo acido de soja (OAS) associadas ou não com lecitina bruta de soja (LEC), totalizando 8 tratamentos descritos à seguir: T1 - dieta com 4% OAS; T2 - dieta com 4% OAS e 1% LEC; T3 – dieta com 8% OAS; T4 – dieta com 8% OAS e 1% LEC; T5 – dieta com 4% ODS; T6 - dieta com 4% ODS e 1% LEC; T7 - dieta com 8% ODS; T8 - dieta com 8% ODS e 1% LEC. Ao final do período experimental foram coletadas amostras do duodeno para morfometria de vilos e criptas, e as tíbias para as análises de força, rigidez, flexibilidade e cinzas totais. Foi verificado interação dupla significativa entre tipo de óleo e lecitina para profundidade de cripta (P=0,04). Codornas alimentadas com dietas contendo OAS na presença de LEC apresentaram significativamente menor profundidade de cripta em relação as aves alimentas apenas com OAS. No entanto, quando as aves foram alimentadas com ODS essas diferenças devido a presença de LEC não foram significativas. O nível mais alto de óleo (8%) na dieta e a lecitina (1%) reduziram o conteúdo total de cinzas nas tíbias (P<0,05). Conclui-se que a associação entre lecitina e o óleo ácido de soja foi positiva para a manutenção do tecido intestinal mas não afetou a qualidade óssea das aves.

Context Few studies have been conducted with the Brazilian Embrapa 051 hens to improve the feed conversion rate and control skeletal health in this breed. Aims To determine how different feeding volumes affect the laying rate and bone quality of the Embrapa 051 (E051) strain in comparison with Lohmann Brown (LB). Methods In total, 600 E051 and 200 LB hens were subjected to the following treatments: (1) control (LB fed 100% of their dietary requirements), (2) E051 fed 93% of the control diet, (3) E051 fed 100% of the control diet, and (4) E051 fed 107% of the control diet. Key results Throughout the 37–72 weeks of age, LB hens presented a higher egg production rate than E051 hens (P < 0.05). The bodyweight and egg production rate were lower in E051 when hens received 93% of the E051 control diet. The E051 hens achieved higher values for tibia weight and length and Seedor index than did LB hens (P < 0.05). At Week 40, the E051 hens fed 93% of the control diet presented a greater tibia weight (12.6 vs 11.5 g), length (124.5 vs 118.9 mm) and strength (21.9 vs 15.5 kgf), Seedor index (101.7 vs 96.13), and ash (33.0 vs 29.6%), calcium (11.1 vs 9.8%) and phosphorus (4.9 vs 4.5%) concentrations than did LB hens. However, at 73 weeks of age, the only differences observed in favour of E051 hens fed 93% of the control diet were for tibia weight, tibia length and tibia strength in comparison with LB hens (P < 0.05). Conclusions LB hens showed a higher performance, but lower bone quality than did E051 hens. E051 receiving 7% less feed showed a reduced laying rate but, in contrast, better bone quality. This study showed that the best feeding strategy for Embrapa 051 hens was to use the same feeding volume as recommended for Lohmann Brown hens. Implications Despite E051 hens showing a lower laying rate than that of LB hens, especially when receiving a restricted amount of feed, E051 is an accessible alternative breed with excellent bone quality for free-range systems in Brazil.