El objetivo del estudio fue evaluar el efecto de la alimentación húmeda de cerdos en finalización (alimento:agua, 1:1) de una dieta basada en sorgo y harina de soya (15.0% PC, 3,200 kcal EM/kg MS), sobre el comportamiento productivo, composición de la canal y calidad de la carne. Dieciséis cerdos cruzados (York-Landrace x Duroc) de 68.4±2.4 kg de peso fueron alojados individualmente, y asignados a dos tratamientos (n=8 repeticiones por tratamiento): AS, alimentación seca; AH, alimentación húmeda. Alimento fue ofrecido diariamente en dos porciones iguales (0800 y 1500 h) durante cinco semanas. Semanalmente se registraron el peso vivo (PV) y el consumo de alimento individuales, para calcular ganancia diaria de peso (GDP) y eficiencia alimenticia (EA). Se midió la composición de la canal; la calidad de la carne fue medida en muestras de Longissimus dorsi. Cerdos AH tuvieron mayor (P<0.05) PV final (108.4 vs 101.9 kg) y GDP (1.043 vs 0.990 kg/día) que los cerdos AS. Cerdos AS tuvieron menor consumo (semana 5) y EA (semana 3) que los cerdos AH (Interacción Tratamiento x Semana, P<0.05). Cerdos AH tuvieron pesos mayores de pierna, canal caliente y fría (P<0.05). Lomo, costillas, paleta, contenido de proteína, capacidad de retención de agua y pH de la carne fueron similares (P>0.05) entre tratamientos. Valores de dureza, adhesividad, masticabilidad y resistencia fueron menores (P<0.05) en carne de cerdos AH. En conclusión, los cerdos que recibieron alimento húmedo tuvieron mejor comportamiento productivo, composición de la canal y características de la carne que cerdos que recibieron alimento seco.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of feeding finishing pigs either dry (DF) feed (sorghum-soybean meal based diet; 16% CP, 3200 kcal ME/kg) or wet (WF; 1water:1DF) on digestibility, growing performance, carcass composition, and meat eating quality. Sixteen (Yorkshire-Landrace x Duroc) crossbred pigs (68.4 ± 2.4 kg initial BW) were individually housed and randomly assigned (4 barrows and 4 gilts) to the dietary treatments (n = 8) for five weeks. Feed was offered daily in two portions at 0800 and 1500 h. BW and feed intake were measured weekly to calculate ADG, ADFI, and G:F. Digestibility was measured on week 5 after quantitatively collecting fresh feces during 24 h. After slaughtering, carcass measurements were recorded, and chemical composition and eating quality was analyzed in samples of loin taken at 10th to 12th rib. Results were statistically analyzed with SPSS for a completely randomized design with 2 treatments and mean comparisons were performed using Tukey. Digestibility of DM, OM, and energy was greater (P &lt; 0.05) for DF than WF. Final BW (108.4 vs 101.9 kg) and ADG (1.043 vs. 0. 990 kg/d, respectively) was higher (P &lt; 0.05) for WF than DF. DF-fed pigs ate less at week 5 and had less G:F at week 3 than WF-fed pigs (P &lt; 0.05). Hot and cold carcasses and ham were heavier (P &lt; 0.05) in WF-fed pigs. Loin, rib, and shoulder weights were similar between treatments. Dietary treatment had no effect (P &gt; 0.05) on the protein, ash, and carbon content, water retention, and pH of meat. Values of hardness, and chewiness in the meat were lower (P &lt; 0.05) for pigs fed WF. In conclusion, finishing pigs fed WF had better growth performance, and heavier carcasses, but similar meat characteristics relative to pigs fed DF.

This study was conducted to evaluate the effect of a GnRH analogue (Improvac, Zoetis, USA) on growth parameters, and serum concentration of testosterone in male and female pigs fed wet low-protein diets. Nineteen crossbred (York-Landrace x Duroc) pigs with an initial BW of 43.9±2.4 kg were individually housed in pens (1.44 m2) equipped with feeder and nipple water drinker, and randomly assigned to one of three treatments: ICM: immunocastrated males (n = 8); ICF: immunocastrated females (n = 6); and EFE: entire females (n = 5). All animals were fed ad libitum the same grower (44–65 kg BW) 14.4% CP, and finishing (65 kg BW to slaughter) 13.6% CP diets, offered as wet (1:1 water:feed). Immunocastrated pigs received two GnRH analogue doses at 119 and 147 days of age (days 22 and 49 of the experiment, respectively). Body weight, weight gain, feed intake and gain:feed were evaluated in three periods (P) of the experiment: P1 (21 days previous to the first dose); P2 (from the first to second GnRH analogue doses); P3 (21 days after the second analogue dose). Serum concentrations of testosterone were determined in blood samples at days 21, 35, 49, 63, and 70. Results were analyzed in a randomized design, with ANOVA using SPSS. Three contrasts were constructed: C1: ICM vs ICF; C2: ICF vs EFE, and C3: ICM vs EFE. Final body weight was similar among treatments (P &gt;0.05). In P3, weight gain, feed intake, and gain:feed of ICM was higher than EFE (P&lt; 0.05), however results were similar (P &gt;0.05) among treatments for periods P1 and P2. Serum testosterone concentration in ICM was higher (P &lt; 0.01) than ICF and EFE until the second GnRH analogue dose, but similar among treatments (P &gt;0.05) thereafter. In conclusion, immunocastrated males had better growth parameters than entire females, but similar to those of immunocastrated females.

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementing 10% of sorghum grain (SG), soybean meal (SBM) or dried citrus pulp (DCP) upon dry matter digestibility (DMD), organic matter digestibility (OMD), and metabolizable energy content (ME) of diets based on dried leaves of two shrub species (Acacia farnesiana and Acacia rigidula) and one grass (Cenchrus ciliaris) browsed by small ruminants. Twelve experimental diets were elaborated using three forage sources: C. ciliaris, A. farnesiana and A. rigidula and evaluated either alone (0% supplementation) or supplemented with 10% of SG (9.0% CP, 22.3% NDF), SBM (42.8% CP, 16.3% NDF) or DCP (4.9% CP, 19.1% NDF). In vitro DMD (Daisy incubator, ANKOM) at 48 h, and in vitro gas production (GP, in calibrated 100 mL glass syringes) at 24 h, were determined by incubating samples in an inoculum prepared by using rumen liquor of two rumen fistulated sheep and artificial saliva in a 1:4 ratio. OMD and ME content were calculated from the gas production, crude protein, ash, and ether extract content. Data were evaluated according to a 3 x 4 factorial experiment. There were no significant (P &gt; 0.05) forage source x supplement interaction effects. Leaves of A. farnesiana had higher (P &lt; 0.05) DMD (64%), GP (26 mL), ME (1910 kcal ME/kg DM), and OMD (53%) than other forages (mean 47% DMD, 17 mL GP, 1232 kcal ME/kg DM, and 39% DMO). Supplements increased (P &lt; 0.05) DMD (average +8%), but only DCP increased (P &lt; 0.05) the GP (+23%) of evaluated forages. Leaves of A. farnesiana had higher DMD (P &lt; 0.05; 64%). There were no effects (P &gt;0.05) of the 10% added supplements in ME content or DMO. In conclusion, leaves of A. farnesiana and DCP are valuable sources of nutrients and energy for small ruminants in northeastern Mexico.

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of adding 0% (T1), 6% (T2), 12% (T3) and 18% (T4) of a mixture (83% dried citrus pulp (DCP) and 17% eggshell) into a sorghum-soybean meal-limestone based diet for laying quails, on production efficiency and quality of egg. Thirty-two quails were individually housed and randomly assigned (n = 8) to the four experimental diets, during the first 5 week of the laying cycle. Quail LW and feed intake were recorded weekly. Produced eggs were weighed (n = 457) and egg mass production recorded. Proportions of albumen, yolk and shell, egg yolk color, and shell thickness, were determined (n = 55/treatment). On week 5, total excreta of 24 laying quails (n = 6) were collected throughout 96 h, to determine metabolizable utilization of DM, energy, crude protein and ash. Statistical analyses were performed with SPSS® software. Initial and final LW, feed intake and egg production were similar (P &gt;0.05) among treatments. Egg mass was higher (P &lt; 0.05) in T2 than T4. Egg weight of quails fed T1 and T2 was higher than others (P &lt; 0.05). The eggshell of quails fed T2 was thicker (248 vs 236 μm; P &lt; 0.05) than T1. Eggshell proportion of quails fed the mixture was higher (P &lt; 0.05) than in T1 (11.3 vs 10.5%). Yolk proportion of T1 was higher (P &lt; 0.05). The b* parameter was lower (P &lt; 0.05) for T1. Metabolizable utilization of dietary DM (72.1%) and energy (68.8%) of T1 was 13% higher (P &lt; 0.05) than T4, however protein (avg 41.4%) and ash (avg 46.7%) utilization were similar (P &gt; 0.05) among treatments. In conclusion, adding up to 12% of the mixture (83% DCP and 17% eggshell) in quail diets, resulted in similar egg production parameters, and metabolizable utilization of dietary DM, crude protein, energy and ash, however improved thickness of eggshell, compared to the control diet.