No abstract

No abstract

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.

We examined the effects of including sunfl ower cake (SC) associated with an enzyme complex (EC) in the diet of meat quails on nutrient metabolism, performance, carcass characteristics, bone parameters and economic viability. In total, 432 meat quails (7 to 42 days old) were assigned to six treatments in a completely randomised design with 6 replicates with 12 birds each. A 2 × 3 factorial arrangement was adopted (two levels of SC: 10 and 20%; three diet formulation strategies: normal, reduction in the nutrient and energy matrix considering the enzymatic contribution and reduced diet with EC). No interaction effect was observed. The increased levels of SC from 10% to 20% promoted in decrease in the metabolisability coeffi cients of dry matter and gross energy and in the value of AMEn and increased relative weight of gizzard. The addition of EC in diets containing SC allows a better metabolization of nitrogen and energy, equalize to the normal diet. The best breast yield was obtained in the birds fed the reduced diet with EC, in relation to normal diet. The reduced diet and the reduced diet with EC provided the lowest cost of food and the best economic effi ciency index. Up to 20% of the sunfl ower cake can be included in the diet of cut quail, with or without enzyme supplementation. However, the use of the enzyme complex composed of carbohydrases, proteases and phytase can favor the metabolization of nitrogen and energy from the diet containing sunfl ower cake.

The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition and energy value of passion fruit seed cake (PFSC) and to evaluate the inclusion of different levels of PFSC in the diets for quails on growth performance, carcass quality, litter quality, lipid stability of the meat, and economic viability. In the metabolism assay, 108 European quails of 21 days of age were used, being distributed in a completely randomized design with 3 treatments (one reference ration and two test rations with substitution of 20% and 40% of the reference ration by PFSC) and 6 replications of 6 birds each. It was observed that the apparent metabolizable energy corrected by the nitrogen balance (AMEn) determined in the ration with 20% PFSC (3876.17 kcal/kg DM) was higher than in the 40% (3469.00 kcal/kg DM). In the performance assay, 432 European quails from 7 to 42 days of age were used, being distributed in a completely randomized design with 6 treatments, consisting of a control diet and the others with increasing levels of inclusion of passion fruit seed (5, 10, 15, 20, and 25%), and 6 replications of 12 birds. It was observed that the inclusion of PFSC starting from 10% promoted increase FI and FC values, and increasing linear effect of these variables starting from 5% of inclusion. The PFSC did not affect the carcass characteristics and lipid oxidation of the meat. Regarding the litter quality, there was a linear increase in the pH values and worse economic indexes starting from the inclusion of 10% of PFSC. In conclusion, PFSC can be used up to the level of 5% in diets for meat quails from 7 to 42 days of age.