Alessandro Borges Amorim

Fiber sources in diets for newly weaned piglets

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the effects of purified cellulose, soybean hulls and citrus pulp in the diet of weaned piglets. A total of 72 piglets (36 castrated males and 36 females) weaned at 21 days of age (BW 6.45±0.66 kg) was distributed according to a randomized block design, for evaluation of performance, transit time, diarrhea incidence and blood parameters of piglets which received diets containing different sources of fiber. The experimental diets were: control diet - diet composed of corn, soybean meal and a source of lactose; control + 1.5% purified cellulose; control + 3% soybean hull and control + 9% citrus pulp. The inclusion of purified cellulose, soybean hulls and citrus pulp in diets of weaned piglets did not affect the performance or transit time of diets in the gastrointestinal tract. However, the use of purified cellulose reduced incidence of diarrhea. The use of purified cellulose, soybean hull and citrus pulp in the diet of weaned piglets does not affect performance or gastrointestinal transit time. The addition of purified cellulose promotes a beneficial effect to control the diarrhea in weaned piglets.

Efeito da adição de probiótico em dietas de leitões desmamados sobre as características do sistema digestório e de desempenho

The aims were to evaluate the effects of the addition of different probiotic concentrations (0; 200 and 300 mg/kg of ration) in rations of pigs recently weaned and in different ages of slaughter, on the characteristics of the digesting system and performance. 35 weaned pigs were used, distributed in blocks randomized design in 3x2+1 (three probiotic concentrations x two ages of slaughter + group slaughter to the weaning). Five pigs were slaughter in the weaning day and the others to the 31 and 41 days of age. Were sampled segments of the duodenum and jejunum for counting villous, weighs the pancreas and liver and calculated the yield carcass. For diarrhea incidence and performance, 30 animals were used and the evaluations were accomplished in the following periods: P1 - 0 to 10, P2 - 11 to 20 and Total Period - 0 to 20 days after wean. There was not effect of the probiotic concentrations on the characteristics of the digesting system and the diarrhea incidence, however the weight gain and the feed:gain ratio were affected. The conclusion are: The gain weight and feed:gain ratio of piglets supplemented with 200mg of probiotic/kg of ration was better than the group supplemented with 300mg of probiotic/kg of ration. The different probiotic concentrations added in the piglets rations did not alter the characteristics of the digesting system, being showed alterations just in relation to the slaughter age.

Effect of plasma and/or yeast extract on performance and intestinal morphology of piglets from 7 to 63 days of age

ABSTRACT - The objective of this study was to evaluate the effect of diets supplemented with plasma and/or yeast extract on performance (daily weight gain [DWG], daily feed intake [DFI] and feed conversion [FC]) and intestinal morphology of piglets from 7 to 63 days of age. A total of 288 piglets aged 7 days and weighing 2.57±0.05 kg were studied. A randomized block design consisting of four experimental diets, six repetitions and 12 piglets per experimental unit was adopted. The pre-starter I (7 to 21 days), pre-starter II (22 to 35 days) and starter I (36 to 49 days) diets were supplemented as follows: control diet (CD): no plasma or yeast extract; plasma (PL) diet: addition of 6%, 4% and 2% plasma; yeast extract (YE) diet: addition of 6%, 4% and 2% yeast extract; plasma + yeast extract (PL+YE) diet: addition of 3%, 2% and 1% plasma and yeast extract each. From 50 to 63 days of age all piglets received the same diet. No difference in performance was observed from 7 to 21 days and from 7 to 28 days of age, whereas DWG was higher from 7 to 35 days in piglets receiving the PL+YE diet (268, 278, 271 and 288 g/day for CD, PL, YE and PL+YE, respectively). From 7 to 49 days and from 7 to 63 days, DWG (330 and 519 g/day, respectively) and DFI (307 and 647 g/day) were higher in animals receiving the PL-YE diet when compared with those consuming CD (DWG: 295 and 486 g/day; DFI: 266 and 594 g/day). No significantdifferencesinintestinalmorphologywere observed between piglets receiving the different diets. The combination of plasma and yeast extract elevates DWG, but does not affect the intestinal morphology of piglets from 7 to 63 days of age.Key Words: feed conversion, feed intake, swine, villi, weight gain

Inorganic and organic trace mineral supplementation in weanling pig diets

A study was conducted to evaluate the effects of dietary inorganic and organic trace minerals in two levels of supplementation regarding performance, diarrhea occurrence, hematological parameters, fecal mineral excretion and mineral retention in metacarpals and liver of weanling pigs. Seventy piglets weaned at 21 days of age with an average initial body weight of 6.70 ± 0.38 kg were allotted in five treatments: control diet (no added trace mineral premix); 50% ITMP (control diet with inorganic trace mineral premix supplying only 50% of trace mineral requirements); 50% OTMP (control diet with organic trace mineral premix supplying only 50% of trace mineral requirements); 100% ITMP (control diet with inorganic trace mineral premix supplying 100% of trace mineral requirements); and 100% OTMP (control diet with organic trace mineral premix supplying 100% of trace mineral requirements). Feed intake and daily weight gain were not affected by treatments, however, piglets supplemented by trace minerals presented better gain:feed ratio. No differences were observed at calcium, phosphorus, potassium, magnesium, sodium and sulfur excreted in feces per kilogram of feed intake. Treatments did not affect calcium, phosphorus, magnesium, sulfur and iron content in metacarpals. Trace mineral supplementation, regardless of level and source, improved the performance of piglets.

Avaliação econômica da utilização de diferentes níveis de polpa cítrica com ou sem adição de complexo enzimático nas dietas de suínos

An economic evaluation was done in order to evaluate the effect of the inclusion of 0, 5, 10 and 15% of citrus pulp (PC), with or without the addition of the enzyme complex, on the performance of 72 pigs from 25.71±7.51 to 98.81±10.64kg of body weight. The animals were slaughtered when they reached 98.81kg. The purchase value of the animals and feed costs (R

Uso de maltodextrina e prebiótico em rações de leitões desmamados

) were discounted from the carcass value, including subsidy rates (R

Citrus pulp and enzyme complex for growing and finishing pigs

). A linear increase (P= 0.0190) was observed, while linear reductions were observed for the gross receipts (P=0.0328) and net (P = 0.0013) partials, due to the inclusion of PC in the diet with or without the enzyme complex. Considering the evolution of corn, soybean meal and pig prices during 2008, there were some 12 different scenarios for partial and net income determined and in all of them, linear reductions were observed due to the inclusion of PC in the diet with or without the enzyme complex. The use of PC with or without the addition of the enzyme complex was unable to reduce the costs of feed.

Evaluation of growth performance and gastro-intestinal parameters on the response of weaned piglets to dietary organic acids

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of replacing lactose with maltodextrin and adding fructooligosaccharides (FOSs) to the feed of weaned piglets. The first experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (2 sources of carbohydrates: maltodextrin and lactose in the pre-starter feed and with or without the use of 0.3% FOS in the prestarter and starter feeds) with 7 repetitions in 3 animals. Performance and hematological parameters were evaluated. The second experiment was conducted using a randomized block design with a 2 × 2 × 2 + 1 factorial arrangement (2 sources of carbohydrates: maltodextrin and lactose and with or without the use of 0.3% FOS; 2 slaughter dates: 7 and 14 d post-weaning; and slaughter on the day of weaning) with 8 repetitions in 1 animal. The following parameters were evaluated: pH and relative weight of digestive organs, enzyme activity, and microbial population. In the initial phase, maltodextrin did not compromise performance and could replace lactose with economic benefits; however, it does reduce intake of the pre-starter I feed. Maltodextrin has a prebiotic effect because it reduces the total coliform and E. coli populations in the cecum and reduces the pH of the rectal contents. The use of FOSs is not justified, regardless of whether lactose or maltodextrin is added to the feed.

Growth and Body Composition of Laying Hens under Different Feeding Programs up to 72 Weeks

Objetivou-se avaliar os efeitos de niveis de polpa citrica (PC), com ou sem adicao de um complexo enzimatico nas racoes, sobre o desempenho dos suinos e as caracteristicas de carcaca. Utilizou-se 72 suinos, com 25,71 ± 7,51 e 98,81 ± 10,64kg de pesos inicial e final, respectivamente. As dietas foram formuladas para as fases: 1 - 70 aos 101; 2 - 102 aos 130; 3 - 131 aos 143 dias de idade. Como nao houve redistribuicao dos animais nos blocos no inicio das fases 2 e 3, os dados foram avaliados nos periodos: 1 - 70 aos 101; 2 - 70 aos 130 e 3 - 70 aos 143 dias de idade. A inclusao de ate 15% de PC, com ou sem a adicao do complexo enzimatico nas dietas, diminuiu o consumo diario de racao nos Periodos 1 e 2, e melhorou a conversao alimentar no Periodo 2, porem, os animais apresentaram respostas adaptativas no Periodo 3. O rendimento de carcaca e a relacao gordura/carne diminuiram linearmente, na medida em que aumentaram os niveis de PC, na ausencia do complexo enzimatico. Na presenca do produto, a relacao gordura/carne apresentou comportamento quadratico, e o nivel de 7,78% de PC determinou a menor relacao. A inclusao de ate 15% de PC com ou sem a adicao do complexo enzimatico nas dietas para suinos, nao proporciona diferencas no desempenho e pode ser uma alternativa alimentar, sem afetar as caracteristicas de carcaca.

Relative bioavailability of iron from organic sources for weanling piglets

Two experiments (E) were carried out to evaluate the effects of fumaric acid and an acidifier blend [composed by calcium formate, calcium lactate and medium-chain fatty acids (capric and caprylic)] in piglet diets containing colistin (40 ppm) or halquinol (120 ppm) on performance, diarrhea incidence (E1), organs relative weight, pH values, intestinal morphometry and microbiota (E2). In E1, 192 and E2, 24 piglets weaned at 21-day-old were randomly assigned to blocks with 2x2 factorial arrangement of treatments [absence or presence of fumaric acid x absence or presence of acidifier blend], six replicates of eight (E1) and one piglet per pen (E2). For E1, the treatments were control (CD): no acidifier product + 40 ppm of colistin, FA: fumaric acid in absence of acidifier blend, AB: acidifier blend in absence of fumaric acid and, AF+AB: presence of fumaric acid and acidifier blend. For E2, the pre-starter I diet were used and the same treatments as E1 evaluated. No treatment effects (P>0.05) were observed on performance, diarrhea incidence (E1), gut pH values and duodenum morphometry of piglets (E2). However, the addition of AB increased (P<0.05) large intestine relative weight and, FA addition decreased (P<0.05) pancreas relative weight, jejunum villi height and, total coliform and E. coli counts in cecum. The inclusion of FA and AB in diets containing colistin or halquinol did not improve performance, although FA exerted an inhibitory effect on cecum microbiota.