The objective of this study was to evaluate the use of lead contaminated golden mussel flour (GMF) as a source of calcium for broiler chickens from 14 to 42 days of age and to verify the probable effects on performance, tissue contamination, blood parameters, Pb digestibility, and bone quality. The experiment was conducted in a completely randomized design (DIC), with four levels of Pb contamination (71.33, 147.55, 223.78, and 300 mg kg-1 Pb) in GMF, with five replicates and three birds per experimental unit. Sixty-four-day-old Cobb male broilers housed in metabolism cages were used. GMF was added to rations instead of calcitic limestone. The zootechnical variables were evaluated: feed intake, weight gain, and feed conversion, as well as the digestibility of nutrients. In addition, the serum biochemistry of the birds transaminases, total bilirubin, calcium, and phosphate was studied and the concentration of lead in the tissues and the bone quality of the birds was determined. The tibia was collected for evaluation of bone quality. The levels of Pb contamination in the golden mussel did not change the performance of the birds (P ? 0.05) or the Pb levels in the muscle Pectoralis major, skin, liver, feather, bones, and serum, or the serum levels of ALT, GGT, and total bilirubin, however, there was an effect of Pb levels (P < 0.01) on AST concentrations. Pb levels altered the values (P < 0.01) of the apparent digestible Pb and the coefficient of apparent digestibility of Pb, with an increasing linear effect. There was no effect (P ? 0.05) on bone stiffness, however flexibility and bone strength were altered (P < 0.05). Serum Ca and P concentrations did not show changes (P ? 0.05) due to the use of Pb levels in GMF. In this study, it can be observed that the use of GMF with Pb up to 300 mg kg-1 as a source of Ca in broiler diets does not alter performance, however the use of GMF contaminated with Pb above 73.33 mg kg-1 promotes contamination of the tissues of the animals with Pb, making it impossible to consume the birds. It was concluded that the increase in Pb concentrations in GMF increases the digestibility and metabolism of this metal and causes an increase in the production of AST by the liver. Pb levels in GMF above 214.11 mg kg-1 impair bone strength and flexibility.
The objective of this study was to evaluate the effects of crude glycerin (CG) levels on performance, blood parameters, carcass yield and cuts, carcass chemical composition, and meat quality in broiler chickens. A total of 1,056 birds were randomly distributed into 2 experimental phases. In phase 1 (1–21 D), 6 levels of CG (0, 1, 3, 5, 7, and 9%) were supplemented in the diets, CG was supplemented at the expense of corn. Each CG level consisted of 8 replicates of 22 birds. In phase 2 (22–42 D), the inclusion levels of CG were maintained; however, 4 replicates of each CG level were given a CG-free ration. For this phase, each treatment combination consisted of 4 replicates. The inclusion of 5, 7, and 9% CG provided better weight gain (P < 0.05) than the control treatment (0% CG) during phase 1. The birds that received CG for both phase 1 and 2 (1–42 D) presented body weight gain, lower feed intake, and better feed conversion ratio relative to the group that received CG for only phase 1 (P < 0.05). Birds that received CG in their diet until age 21 D had higher blood levels of cholesterol and alanine aminotransferase than birds that received CG up to 42 D. The level of CG also influenced the protein deposition and the water retention of the carcass. It is concluded that CG can be included in broiler diets up to 9%, without impairing performance, blood parameters, and qualitative attributes of the meat.
The study investigated guanidinoacetic acid (GAA) supplementation with varying dietary digestible arginine (Arg) and glycine+serine (Gly+Ser) concentrations in the starter phase, exploring respective carry-over effects on growth performance, blood chemistry, incidence of pectoral myopathies and proximate composition in broilers. A total of 2,800 one-day-old male broiler chicks were distributed in a central composite design with 2 factors and double experimental mesh, represented by supplementation or omission of 0.6 g per kg of GAA, with a central point represented by 107% of Arg and 147% of Gly+Ser, 4 factorial points (combinations of Arg/Gly+Ser concentrations: 96.4/132.5%; 117.6/132.5%; 96.4/161.5%, and 117.6/132.5%), and 4 axial points (combinations of axial points estimated for Arg and Gly+Ser, with the central points of 92/147%; 122/147%; 107/126.5, and 107/167.5%), totaling 18 treatments, 4 repetitions to factorial and axial points, 24 replicates to the central point, and 25 birds per pen. Feed conversion ratio (FCR) from d 1 to 10 had a linear response (P = 0.009) for the decreasing Arg content and a quadratic response (P = 0.047) for Gly+Ser concentrations. Broilers supplemented GAA had lower FCR compared with nonsupplemented groups from d 1 to 10 (P = 0.048) and d 1 to 42 (P = 0.026). Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) exhibited increasing and decreasing linear effects as a function of Arg (P = 0.008) and Gly+Ser (P = 0.020) concentrations, respectively. Guanidinoacetic acid decreased serum AST (P = 0.028). Guanidinoacetic acid reduced moderate + severe (P = 0.039) and mild (P = 0.015) Wooden Breast scores. The occurrence of normal White Striping increased (P = 0.002), while severe score was reduced (P = 0.029) with GAA supplementation. In conclusion, increased digestible Arg:Lys and 14% and 6% above the recommendations (107% and 147%), respectively, provided improved FCR during the starter phase. Dietary GAA supplementation (0.6 g per kg) improved FCR, reduced severity of breast myopathies and appears to have reduced muscle damage in broilers fed plant-based diets.
The objective of this study was to evaluate combined effects of corn particle size and feed form on performance, carcass characteristics, nutrient digestibility, and gastrointestinal tract development of broilers from 1 to 39 d of age. A total of 1,800 days old, male Cobb 500 broilers were randomly assigned to 9 dietary treatments with 8 replicate pens (25 birds/pen). The experiment consisted of a factorial arrangement of 3 corn particle sizes (750, 1,150, and 1,550 μm) and 3 feed forms (mash, 3- and 4-mm pellets) provided from 1 to 39 d. Titanium dioxide (TiO
The experiment was conducted with the objective of evaluating the effect of metabolizable energy (ME) levels and digestible lysine (DL) levels on the performance of 8-21 days old broiler chicks. Eight hundred and sixty four broiler chicks were used, with average weight of 160 ± 5g, randomly distributed in 48 boxes (experimental unit), experimental unit in a factorial 4x4 with four levels of ME (2,700, 2,825, 2,950, and 3,075 kcal kg -1 ) and four levels of DL (1,080; 1,187; 1,295 and 1,403%) resulting in 16 treatments with three replications. Increases in levels of ME and DL in the diets caused significant interaction (P <0.05) in weight gain and feed conversion. Increasing levels of ME and DL caused significant interaction (P <0.05) for the deposition rate of protein and fat in the carcass. The simultaneous increases of ME and DL in the diet promoted a linear increase (P <0.05) in villus height of the duodenum, jejunum, and villous:crypt ileum. It is recommended the use of 3,075 kcal kg -1 ME and
The experiment was conducted with the objective of evaluating the effect of metabolizable energy (ME) levels and digestible lysine (DL) levels on the performance of 8-21 days old broiler chicks. Eight hundred and sixty four broiler chicks were used, with average weight of 160 ± 5g, randomly distributed in 48 boxes (experimental unit), experimental unit in a factorial 4x4 with four levels of ME (2,700, 2,825, 2,950, and 3,075 kcal kg-1) and four levels of DL (1,080; 1,187; 1,295 and 1,403%) resulting in 16 treatments with three replications. Increases in levels of ME and DL in the diets caused significant interaction (P <0.05) in weight gain and feed conversion. Increasing levels of ME and DL caused significant interaction (P <0.05) for the deposition rate of protein and fat in the carcass. The simultaneous increases of ME and DL in the diet promoted a linear increase (P <0.05) in villus height of the duodenum, jejunum, and villous:crypt ileum. It is recommended the use of 3,075 kcal kg-1 ME and 1,403% of LD for best performance, protein deposition rate, and intestinal morphometric characteristics of 8-21 days old broiler chicks.
The objective of this study was to determine the chemical composition, non-starch polysaccharides (NSP) content, in vitro digestibility of starch, apparent metabolizable energy (AME), nitrogen-corrected AME (AMEn), and apparent and apparent nitrogen-corrected coefficient of metabolizable energy (ACME and ACMEn) of three corn hybrids dried at different temperatures in the diets of broiler chickens. The energetic values were determined by the total collection of excreta method, using broilers from 11 to 21 d, placed in a completely randomized design in [...]