SummaryThe purpose of this systematic review was to evaluate the evidence that the injection of carbohydrate-based solutions into embryonated eggs improves broiler performance. A literature search was conducted in April 2017 using the keywords broiler, carbohydrate, in ovo, nutrition and poultry. Only papers that involved in ovo carbohydrate injections in poultry were used in this study. After specific selection criteria, 17 papers were selected. The quality scoring system of the selected studies was based on the injection methodology, use of control groups, type of solution injected, period of injection, egg and hens characteristics, number of variables analysed and the statistical design. Among papers, there was no standardised procedure in to inoculate the solutions. Nevertheless, in general, in ovo feeding of carbohydrates decreases the hatch rate, improves the hatch weight, but it does not seem to influence the post-hatch performance of broilers. The inoculation of 75 mg of glucose in the albumen seems to bring better results. Further studies are needed to improve the technical methodology of in ovo injections for commercial use. K E Y W O R D Shatchability, in ovo nutrition, incubation, performance, poultry

1 Recebido para publicação em 05/11/14. Aceito para publicação em 15/06/15. 2 Universidade Federal de Lavras (UFLA), Departamento de Zootecnia, Lavras, MG, Brasil. *Autor correspondente: josimarsantrib@hotmail.com RESUMO: O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar os efeitos da suplementação das enzimas amilase, fitase e protease de formas isoladas e em associação, em dietas para codornas japonesas em postura. Foram utilizadas 300 codornas, distribuídas em um delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com cinco tratamentos e seis repetições de dez aves por unidade experimental. Os tratamentos foram: uma dieta controle e dietas formuladas com a suplementação de 300 ppm de amilase, 300 ppm de protease e 500 FTU/kg de fitase e com a associação de enzimas. Nas fórmulas com inclusão de enzimas houve aplicação de redução na exigência nutricional de um ou mais dos seguintes componentes: proteína, aminoácidos digestíveis, energia, cálcio e fósforo, valorizando o uso das enzimas. As avaliações foram realizadas em quatro períodos de 21 dias cada. Foram avaliados desempenho (produção média de ovos, consumo de ração, peso médio dos ovos e conversão alimentar), qualidade dos ovos (proporção dos constituintes do ovo e peso específico dos ovos) e digestibilidade dos nutrientes da ração (coeficiente de metabolizabilidade aparente da matéria seca e da proteína bruta). Não houve efeito significativo dos tratamentos nas variáveis analisadas (P>0,05), indicando que as enzimas têm efeito benéfico, isoladamente ou em associação, mantendo o desempenho e qualidade dos ovos de codornas japonesas.Palavras-chave: avicultura, coturnicultura, nutrição, qualidade de ovos. SUPPLEMENTATION OF LAYING JAPANESE QUAIL WITH AMYLASE, PHYTASE AND PROTEASEABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of supplementation of diets for laying Japanese quail with amylase, phytase and protease alone or in combination. Threehundred quail were assigned to a completely randomized design consisting of five treatments and six repetitions, with 10 animals per experimental unit. The treatments were: a control diet and diets supplemented with 300 ppm amylase, 300 ppm protease and 500 phytase units (FTU)/ kg and the combination of these enzymes. In the diets containing the enzymes, the nutritional requirements of one or more of the following components were reduced: protein, digestible amino acids, energy, calcium and phosphorus, giving priority to the use of enzymes. The evaluations were performed over four periods of 21 days each. Performance (mean egg production, feed intake, mean egg weight, and feed conversion), egg quality (proportion of egg constituents and specific egg weight), and dietary nutrient digestibility (apparent digestibility coefficient of dry matter and crude protein) were evaluated. There was no significant effect of the treatments on the variables analyzed (P>0.05), indicating that the enzymes, alone or in combination, have beneficial effects, maintaining performance and egg quality of Japanese quail.

The objective of this study was to determine the apparent metabolisable energy corrected for nitrogen balance (AMEn) of some products containing glycerine from soybean oil (GOIL), a mixture of frying oil and lard (GMIX) and a semi-purified process (GSP) in broilers of different ages (10, 20, 30 and 40 days post-hatching), using two methodologies. In trial 1, the basal diets were replaced with 100 g/kg of each studied glycerine product and the diets were supplied ad libitum. Three hundred broilers were used in five replicates, with five, four, three and three animals per cage in each age group, respectively. The AMEn was calculated for each experimental unit. In trial 2, dietary treatments included the addition of glycerine at 0, 40, 80 or 120 g/kg for each crude glycerine product, with 900 broilers in six replicates, using the same number of animals per cage as described in trial 1. Depending on the experimental unit, the feeding was restricted in 88%, 92%, 96% and 100% of estimated intake according to the Cobb guide. The AMEn was determined using linear regression between the feed intake and the AMEn of each diet. In both trials, the total excreta collection method was used. Because of the chemical composition, GMIX was not considered crude glycerine. The mean AMEn values of the products were 20.55 MJ/kg, 15.80 MJ/kg and 15.05 MJ/kg for GMIX, GSP and GOIL, respectively. There was a linear decrease (p < 0.01) in the AMEn values with the increasing age of the broilers. Numerically, it was observed that the AMEn values decreased until 28-30 day post-hatching and then remained constant until the finishing phase. It is concluded that products containing glycerine can be used as an energy source for broilers, but that AMEn values can vary according to age. Younger broilers have a higher capacity of energy utilisation from these feedstuffs.

-This experiment was conducted with the objective of evaluating cysteamine (CS) supplementation in broiler chick diets with different energy density patterns. A total of 980 chicks of the Cobb 500 strain at one day of age were allocated into 28 plots. A completely randomized design in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement, with 7 replications, was adopted. The factors under study were the supplementation (or absence) of cysteamine (60 mg/kg and 80 mg/kg of feed in the starter and growth/finishing phases, respectively) and two patterns of apparent metabolizable energy corrected by nitrogen balance (AMEn) in the diets. The energy levels (Mcal/kg of feed) practiced in pattern 1 were 3.00; 3.10; and 3.20, and for pattern 2, they were 3.05; 3.20; and 3.30 in the starter, growth and finishing phases, respectively. The diets were on the basis of corn and soybean meal with a feeding program with three diets. Feed intake, weight gain, feed conversion, feasibility and carcass yield were evaluated. There was no interaction between the CS supplementation and AME patterns in the diet upon the performance and/or carcass characteristic evaluated. Broilers fed the diet supplemented with CS presented improved feed conversion along the rearing cycle, but feed intake and weight gain were not affected by the supplementation of CS. The highest pattern of energy density (2) provided increased weigh gain in the starter phase of rearing and better feed conversion of the birds over the whole rearing period. The carcass yield was not influenced by the cysteamine supplementation and/or energy levels studied.

The objective was to evaluate the use of prediction equations based on the chemical composition of feedstuffs to estimate the values of apparent metabolisable energy corrected for nitrogen balance (AMEn) of corn and soybean meal for broilers. For performance and carcass characteristics, 1,200 one-d-old birds (male and female) were allotted to a completely randomised factorial 2×8 (two genders and eight experimental diets) with three replicates of each sex with 25 birds. In the metabolism trial, 240 eight-d-old birds were distributed in the same design, but with a split plot in time (age of evaluation) with five, four and three birds per plot, respectively, in stages 8 to 21, 22 to 35, and 36 to 42 d of age. The treatments consisted of the use of six equations systems to predict the AMEn content of feedstuffs, tables of food composition and AMEn values obtained by in vivo assay, totalling eight treatments. Means were compared by Scott-Knott test at 5% probability and a confidence interval of 95% was used to check the fit of the energy values of the diets to the requirements of the birds. As a result of this study, the use of prediction equations resulted in better adjustment to the broiler requirements, resulting in better performance and carcass characteristics compared to the use of tables, however, the use of energy values of feedstuffs obtained by in vivo assay is still the most effective. The best equations were: AMEn = 4,021.8–227.55 Ash (for corn) combined with AMEn = −822.33+69.54 CP-45.26 ADF+90.81 EE (for soybean meal); AMEn = 36.21 CP+85.44 EE+37.26 NFE (nitrogen-free extract) (for corn) combined with AMEn = 37.5 CP+46.39 EE+14.9 NFE (for soybean); and AMEn = 4,164.187+51.006 EE-197.663 Ash-35.689 CF-20.593 NDF (for corn and soybean meal).