G. J. M. M. de Lima

Effect of the wheat level in the diet, of the percentage of germinated grains and physical form of the feed on the performance of broilers

ABSTRACT - The objective of this work was to determine the best level of replacement of corn by wheat with 0 and 9% of germinated grains (GG) in broiler chicken diets. A mashed diet (MD) at the initial phase (0 to 21 days), crumbled diets (CD) at the growing phase (21 to 35 days) and pelleted diets (PD) at the final phase, (35 to 42 days) were used. A randomized block design with five treatments and 12 replicates with 26 birds each at the initial phase and 10 treatments and six replicates of 26 birds at the growing and finishing phases, were used. The treatments were: T1 - Corn and soybean meal based diet (DCSM), T2 and T4 - Replacement of 50% of corn in T1 diet by wheat with 0 and 9% of germinated grains (GG), respectively; T3 and T5 - Replacement of 100% of corn in T1 diet by wheat with 0 and 9% GG, respectively. The use of CD diets from days 21-35 and PD from 35 to 42 days of age increased the body weight (BW), weight gain (WG) and feed:gain ratio (F:G). However, feed:gain ratio was better only with CD from 21 to 35 days. The wheat with up to 9,0% GG could completely replace corn in broiler diets, when compared to DCSM. Among the wheat-soybean meal based diets, the wheat with 0% GG resulted on greater BW, WG and FC than wheat with 9% GG.ABSTRACT - The objective of this work was to determine the best level of replacement of corn by wheat with 0 and 9% of germinated grains (GG) in broiler chicken diets. A mashed diet (MD) at the initial phase (0 to 21 days), crumbled diets (CD) at the growing phase (21 to 35 days) and pelleted diets (PD) at the final phase, (35 to 42 days) were used. A randomized block design with five treatments and 12 replicates with 26 birds each at the initial phase and 10 treatments and six replicates of 26 birds at the growing and finishing phases, were used. The treatments were: T1 - Corn and soybean meal based diet (DCSM), T2 and T4 - Replacement of 50% of corn in T1 diet by wheat with 0 and 9% of germinated grains (GG), respectively; T3 and T5 - Replacement of 100% of corn in T1 diet by wheat with 0 and 9% GG, respectively. The use of CD diets from days 21-35 and PD from 35 to 42 days of age increased the body weight (BW), weight gain (WG) and feed:gain ratio (F:G). However, feed:gain ratio was better only with CD from 21 to 35 days. The wheat with up to 9,0% GG could completely replace corn in broiler diets, when compared to DCSM. Among the wheat-soybean meal based diets, the wheat with 0% GG resulted on greater BW, WG and FC than wheat with 9% GG.

How do season, on-farm fasting interval and lairage period affect swine welfare, carcass and meat quality traits?

This study was carried out in order to determine the effects of different combinations of on-farm fasting intervals (8, 12, 16, 20xa0h) and 1.5xa0h of transport plus lairage periods (1, 3, 6xa0h) at different seasons (summer/winter) on blood stress parameters (cortisol and lactate), stomach content and weight, skin lesion and meat quality in a total of 960 pigs from eight farms. Blood lactate levels were greater in the summer (Pu2009<u20090.001) and stomach content was affected (Pu2009<u20090.05) by season, on-farm fasting interval (Pu2009<u20090.001), lairage time (Pu2009<u20090.0001). Stomach content weight reduces as the total feed withdrawal time increases up to on-farm fasting of 17 and 1xa0h of lairage. Stomach content can be influenced by feed and water in different ways according to treatments. Only 8xa0h of on-farm fasting is not enough to empty stomachs from feed content. However, an on-farm fasting period of 16xa0h or longer can also increase the occurrence of more water in the stomachs. Carcass lesions caused by fighting were greater (Pu2009≤u20090.005) in the winter, mainly after 3 and 6xa0h of lairage (Pu2009≤u20090.005). Loin and ham pHu was lower (Pu2009≤u20090.05) for pigs slaughtered after 6xa0h of lairage during the summer. The application of 12xa0h of on-farm fasting with 6xa0h of lairage seemed to be best combination to reduce stomach content weight (feed and water). In the winter, shorter lairage period can be used to reduce percentage of skin lesions and better pork quality traits in pigs.