Sorghum is used as a source of energy alternative to corn, however, its low pigments content are considered hindrance to the use of this feedstuff for poultry. The inclusion of annatto seed by-product (ASB) may solve this problem. In this context, the objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of ASB inclusion in diets containing sorghum as the main source of energy on performance, carcass traits, meat color, and economic viability in the production of slow-growth broilers. A total of 420 sexed chicks of the Carijó Pesadão line were distributed in a completely randomized design according to a 2 × 7 factorial arrangement, with three replicates of 10 birds per treatment. Studied factors were two sexes (males and females) and seven diets, wherein one had corn as source of energy and the others contained sorghum plus inclusion of 0, 3, 6, 9, 12, and 15% of ASB. Irrespective of the sex, diets did not affect feed intake (g/bird), feed conversion (g/g), yields (%) of carcass, breast and drumstick+thigh, percentage of abdominal fat, or relative weight of the liver. However, the inclusion of ASB influenced the color parameters of the meat making it more pigmented and improved the economic viability parameters. In diets for slow-growth birds containing sorghum as the main source of energy, ASB can be included up to 15%, and meat pigmentation problems can be reduced with total substitution of corn by sorghum with inclusion of ASB from 3%.Index terms: Alternative feedstuff; weight gain; natural pigment. RESUMOO sorgo é utilizado como fonte de energia alternativa ao milho, no entanto, seu baixo teor de pigmentos é considerado entrave na utilização desse ingrediente para aves. A inclusão do resíduo da semente do urucum (ASB) pode solucionar esse problema. Nesse contexto, objetivou-se avaliar o efeito da inclusão do ASB em rações contendo sorgo como principal fonte de energia sobre o desempenho, características de carcaça, coloração da carne e viabilidade econômica na produção de frangos de corte de crescimento lento. Foram utilizados 420 pintos sexados da linhagem carijó pesadão, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, segundo o esquema fatorial 2 × 7, com 3 repetições de 10 aves por tratamento. Os fatores estudados foram 2 sexos (machos e fêmeas) e 7 rações, sendo uma ração composta por milho como fonte de energia e as demais contendo sorgo e a inclusão de 0; 3; 6; 9; 12; e 15 % do ASB. Independente do sexo, as rações não influenciaram o consumo de ração (g/ave), ganho de peso (g/ave), conversão alimentar (g/g), rendimento (%) de carcaça, peito, coxa+sobrecoxa, porcentagem de gordura abdominal e peso relativo do fígado. Entretanto, a inclusão do ASB influenciou os parâmetros de cor da carne, tornando-a mais pigmentada, e melhorou os parâmetros de viabilidade econômica. Em rações para aves de crescimento lento contendo sorgo como principal fonte de energia, pode-se incluir até 15% do ASB, sendo possível reduzir os problemas de pigmentação da carne, em decorrência da substituição total do milho p...

The aim of the current study was to evaluate the addition of fresh and stored copra meal to the diet of meat quails. Two hundred eighty-seven-day-old male and female quails were distributed in a completely randomized design, with five treatments, in a 2 × 2 + 1factorial arrangement. Two copra meal types (fresh and stored) at inclusion levels of 12.5% and 25%, respectively, were added to a corn-soybean meal-based diet, with seven replicates, of eight quails each. Copra meal acidity index recorded oleic acid percentage increase from 0.47 to 3.03% after six storage months. However, regardless of storage type, its addition to quails' diet resulted in higher values of metabolizable energy, in lower feed intake and better feed conversion than corn-soybean meal diet. Copra meal addition to quails' diet did not affect carcass traits, liver and pancreas relative weight, and bone growth and quality. Although copra meal storage for 180 days resulted in higher free fatty acid content in the provided feed, it can be used fresh or after storage, in diet of meat quails from 7 to 42 days of age up to 25%.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of including annatto seed by-product (ASB) in diets containing sorghum on nutrient utilization, performance and characteristics of the eggs of laying hens. A total of 288 Lohman Brown laying hens, 34 weeks of age, were distributed in completely randomized design with six treatments and six replications of the eight birds each other. The treatments consisted of a diet with corn as an energy source and other with sorghum and inclusion of 0, 25, 45, 65 and 85 g/kg of ASB. Comparing the results, increasing levels of RSU did not affect the metabolizability of nutrients, and utilization the energy of the feed. It was also observed there was no effect on the performance and parameters egg quality, except for yolk color. There was a significant linear increase in yolk colour with inclusion of ASB. We concluded that the annatto seed by-product can be used at levels up to 85 g/kg in laying hen diets containing sorghum as the main source of energy, with the possibility of reducing yolk pigmentation problems, caused by the total substitution of corn by sorghum, with the inclusion of ASB from 25 g/kg.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of Syzygium cumini leaves (SCL) in laying hens diets on productive performance, egg quality and lipid oxidation of yolk. A total of 108 Hysex White laying hens were distributed in a completely randomized design with three treatments and six replicates of six birds each. The treatments consisted of SCL inclusion at dietary levels of 0, 5 and 10 g/kg. There was no significant effect of SCL inclusion on feed intake, laying percentage, weight and egg mass, feed conversion ratio, Haugh units, specific gravity, percentage of yolk, albumen and egg shells and shell thickness. However, the inclusion of SCL significantly influenced the yolk color and yolk lipid oxidation measured by TBARS values. Yolk color increased and TBARS values decreased with the inclusion of SCL. The inclusion of SCL in laying hens diets improves pigmentation and lipid stability of yolk.