Effect of the litter material on drinking water quality in broiler production

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Morphological asymmetry and broiler welfare

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Bone mineral density of tibae and femura of broiler breeders: growth, development and production

The aim of this study was to follow-up the physiological variations in the development of the bone tissue, associating them with the egg production curve. This study was carried out in the facilities of the Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia of the UNESP, Botucatu, Brazil. Twenty-three families of Ross broiler breeders were used, each family consisting of 13 females and 1 male, distributed in 23 pens of 5.0m² each. The management was that recommended by the genetic company manual (Agroceres Ross, 2003), with daily feeding until 6th week of age; and birds were fed according to a 5:2 schedule (5 days fed, 2 days of fasting) between 7 and 17 weeks of age, returning to daily feeding starting at 18 weeks of age. Birds did not receive afternoon calcium supplementation. on the fourth week of rearing, 84 females were removed for bone analyses of the right tibia and femur, using optical densitometry in radiographic images technique. These analyses were sequentially carried out in 4, 8, 12, 15, 20, 24, 30, 35, 42, 47, and 52 week-old birds. The egg production curve of the birds was followed-up and associated to bone mineral density results. For bone mineral density evaluation (BMD) birds were divided by weight categories as light, intermediate, or heavy within each data age. BMD values of the tibias were not influenced by weight range, but by the age at collection. on the other hand, interactions were found among femur BMD values and weight and age categories. There was no correlation between eggshell quality and femur BMD. A negative correlation (-0.15) was observed between tibia BMD and eggshell percentage. It was possible to conclude that the egg production has little influence on bone mineral density of the birds probably because there was no need of bone mineral mobilization during the production period, since the observed egg production was below that observed under commercial conditions.

Use of radiograph optical densitometry to monitor bone quality in broiler breeders

This study was carried out at Faculdade de Medicina Veterinária e Zootecnia, Universidade Estadual Paulista, Botucatu, SP, Brazil, and evaluated bone quality in broiler breeders. Twenty-three families of Ross broiler breeders were housed in 5.0-m² pens. The families were comprised of 13 females and one male at the onset of the experimental period. The mean number of females per family was 9.34 at the end of the trial. The feeding program and management followed strain guidelines (Agroceres Ross, 2003). Bone analyses were performed in the right tibia and femur using optical radiographic densitometry at 4, 8, 12, 15, 20, 24, 30, 35, 42, 47 and 52 weeks of rearing. Trap nests were used to collect eggs from the breeders two weeks before and after the evaluation weeks. At each evaluation day, five birds were sacrificed after radiographs were taken and the tibias and femurs were collected to perform the following analyses: fatfree dry matter, ash percentage, bone resistance and Seedor index. Therefore, it was possible to establish correlations between bone quality and eggshell quality. Characteristics of bone quality were highly correlated to each other; on the other hand, there were no correlations between bone quality and external egg quality. In conclusion, there was no effect of egg production on egg quality, possibly because there was no reabsorption of bone minerals.

Quantitative trait loci associated with chemical composition of the chicken carcass

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Quantitative trait loci associated with fatness in a broiler-layer cross

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Resistência à Síndrome Ascítica, Competência Homeotérmica e Níveis de Hsp70 no Coração e Pulmão de Frangos de Corte

Como em outros seres vivos, também nas células das aves ocorre a síntese das proteínas de baixo peso molecular (Hsp), cujo aumento é induzido sob condições de estresse. As Hsps têm um papel importante na manutenção da integridade celular, questiona-se o seu envolvimento no mecanismo de proteção celular de órgãos alvos na ocorrência da síndrome ascítica (SA). Este trabalho objetivou avaliar a temperatura corporal e os níveis da Hsp70 no coração e pulmão de frangos de corte Hubbard (sensível à SA) e caipira de pescoço-pelado (resistente), criados em termoneutralidade (25°C) e frio (16°C) entre 10 e 45 dias de idade. Foram utilizados 192 pintos machos, 96 de cada linhagem. Não houve mortalidade por SA nas aves caipiras. Nas aves Hubbard, a mortalidade devida à SA foi de 4% e 41% em ambiente termoneutro e frio, respectivamente. em ambiente frio, a temperatura corporal das aves Hubbard foi menor que a das caipiras. A temperatura corporal e o nível de Hsp70 do coração das aves Hubbard diminuíram com o aumento da idade, mas não nas aves caipiras, os quais se mantiveram constantes, inclusive a Hsp70 do pulmão. Independente da idade ou da temperatura, o nível de Hsp70 no pulmão das aves caipiras era superior ao das aves Hubbard. em relação às aves Hubbard, as caipiras são homeotérmicas mais competentes e apresentam uma maior indução de Hsp70 nos órgãos primariamente afetados na SA, mas este não parece ser o sistema de proteção contra SA, a qual as aves de pescoço pelado são resistentes.

Mapping quantitative trait loci in Gallus gallus using principal components

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Traceability of animal by product meals in broilers fed sugarcane yeast using stable isotopes

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

Corn texture and particle size in broiler diets

The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of corn texture and the particle size on broiler performance, carcass yield, nutrient digestibility, and digestive organ morphometrics. In Experiment I, 720 male Cobb chicks were distributed in a completely randomized experimental design with a 2 x 3 factorial arrangement, consisting two corn textures (dented and hard) and three corn particle sizes, was applied, with four replicates of 30 birds each. Corn particle size was classified according to geometric mean diameter (GMD) as fine - 0.46 mm; medium - 0.73 mm, and coarse - 0.87 mm. In Experiment II, 120 broiler chicks were used to evaluate corn digestibility during the periods of 16 to 22 days and 35 to 41 days of age, using the method of total excreta collection. In Experiment I, corn particle size influenced body weight, average weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of 21-day-old birds. Corn texture and particle size did not affect the performance of 42-day-old broilers or carcass traits. In Experiment II, there was no influence of corn texture and particle size on digestive organ weights. Dented corn increased nitrogen excretion in the first trial, and hard corn improved dry matter digestibility in the second metabolic trial. Corn with fine particle size promotes better performance of broilers at 21 days of age. Hard corn results in higher dry matter digestibility and lower nitrogen excretion, and consequently higher production factor in 42-day-old broilers.

Identification of Eimeria mitis and Eimeria praecox in broiler feces using polymerase chain reaction

There are few reports concerning the epidemiology of Eimeria praecox and Eimeria mitis in Brazil. In the present experiment, the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to identify these species in 156 samples of broiler chicken feces from several Brazilian states and the Federal District. Oocysts present in feces samples were purified by sodium chloride flotation followed by addition of DNAzol reagent (Invitrogen®) for extraction of genomic DNA. DNA was precipitated and stored following DNAzol reagent manufacture's instructions. The primers and PCR conditions were as described by Schnitzler et al. (1999). In the 156 field samples analyzed by PCR, 70 and 45 were positive for E. praecox and E. mitis, respectively. In this study we have shown that DNA extraction using DNAzol followed by PCR can be a useful tool in epidemiological studies, since it provides fast and reliable detection of Eimeria sp. in field samples.

Evaluation of recycled tiles and OSB ceiling materials in closed broiler house prototypes

This study aimed at evaluating the thermal performance of a modular ceiling system for poultry houses. The reduced- and distorted-scale prototypes used ceiling modules made of reforested wood and were covered with recycled long-life package tiles. The following parameters were measured for 21 days: tile internal surface temperature (ST), globe temperature and humidity index (WBGT), and radiant heat load (RHL). Measurements were made at times of highest heat load (11:00 am, 13:00 pm, and 03:00 pm). Collected data were analyzed by R statistics software. Means were compared by multiple comparison test (Tukey) and linear regression was performed, both at 5% significance level. The results showed that the prototype with the ceiling was more efficient to reduce internal tile surface temperature; however, this was not sufficient to provide a comfortable environment for broilers during the growout. Therefore, other techniques to provide proper cooling are required in addition to the ceiling.

Broiler walking ability and toe asymmetry under harsh rearing conditions

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Broiler litter reutilization applying different composting concepts

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

Effect of broiler chicken age on ileal digestibility of corn germ meal

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)