ABSTRACT The effect of using natural growth promoters (NGP) to replace traditional antimicrobials on performance, biometry of digestive and reproductive organs, sexual maturity and bone characteristics of replacement pullets was evaluated; and the relationship between these variables according to the diets was verified. Eight-week-old birds were randomly assigned to a completely randomized design and fed different diets: negative control (without growth promoters); positive control - conventional growth promoter; organic acids (OA); symbiotic (S); essential oil (EO); OA + S; and EO + S. The performance, relative weight of digestive and reproductive organs and length intestines, height and crest length, sternum length, bone quality and sexual maturity of birds were similar (p>0.05) between treatments. The heat map combined with cluster analysis showed a uniform static pattern with the formation of three horizontal groups formed by the treatments: 1) negative control, S and OA + S; 2) positive control and OE and 3) OA and OE + S. A null relationship between the treatments and the variables under study was observed. The principal components analysis revealed an association of variables in three components with 60.55% of variation. NGP can replace traditional promoters, as they do not interfere with performance, biometrics or sexual maturity. Height and length are predictive variables for the development of reproductive organs, especially the oviduct. A similarity was identified through multivariate techniques between symbiotic and organic + symbiotic acids; positive control and essential oils; and organic and symbiotic acids + essential oils.

ABSTRACT The effect of different calcium levels and two limestone granulometries on performance, egg quality, biometry of digestive organs and bone characteristics of light laying hens were evaluated. A total of 270 laying hens were used during 112 days, distributed in a completely randomized design in a 3 x 2 factorial scheme, with 3 levels of calcium (3.8, 4.0 and 4.2%) and 2 limestone granulometries (0.222 and 1.922 mm), totaling 6 treatments with 5 repetitions each. The parameters evaluated were: feed intake, egg production, egg weight and mass, feed conversion per mass and per dozen eggs, albumen, yolk and shell percentage, specific gravity of eggs and shell thickness. In addition, the relative weight of the heart, proventricle, gizzard, liver, pancreas, intestine weight and length, and bone characteristics were also evaluated. A significant interaction was observed for tibia mineral matter. Egg production was influenced by the limestone granulometry, presenting greater value in the treatments which contained fine granulometry limestone. Higher calcium levels of 4.0 and 4.2% provide greater specific density of eggs. Biometric variables and bone characteristics were not influenced by the treatments. In conclusion, it is recommended to use fine-grained limestone (0.222 mm) and a 4% calcium level in diets for light commercial hens, as they improve performance and quality of eggs, without interfering in biometrics of digestive organs and bone characteristics.

ABSTRACT We determined the nutritional and energy compositions of sunflower seed cake (SC) and examined the effects of its inclusion in the diet of meat quail. A metabolism trial was performed employing the total excreta collection method, with 144 quails that were assigned to three treatments (control diet and two test diets in which SC replaced 20 and 40% of the control diet) in a completely randomised design (CRD) with six replicates of eight birds. The values determined of dry matter, crude protein and metabolisable energy were 94.72%, 24.29% and 2,629 kcal/kg, respectively. For the performance trial, 432 quails were assigned to six treatments (dietary inclusion of 0, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% SC) in a CRD with six replicates of 12 birds. The metabolic coefficients of dry matter (MCDM) and gross energy (MCGE) of the diet decreased linearly with increasing SC levels. Compared with the control group, SC inclusion at levels greater than 10% resulted in lower MCDM and MCGE values, whereas SC inclusion at 20 and 25% reduced AMEn. Weight gain, feed conversion and economic viability parameters showed a quadratic response, with the best values obtained at the respective SC levels of 15.5, 14.0, and 15.4%. Gizzard weight increased linearly with the inclusion of SC, whereas bone quality was not affected. Sunflower cake can be used up to 25% in diets of meat quails without compromising their performance. However, the best feed conversion and economic viability are obtained with an SC inclusion level of 15%.

ABSTRACT This study aimed to evaluate productive performance, egg quality, and bone quality of commercial brown-egg layers fed diets containing organic and inorganic minerals and three limestone particle sizes. A total of 288 birds at 64 weeks of age were distributed in a completely randomized design in a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement (two mineral sources and three limestone particle sizes) and eight replicates. The experiment lasted 112 days, divided into four periods. The following treatments were tested: T1 = inorganic minerals + 100% fine limestone; T2 = inorganic minerals + 50% fine limestone + 50% coarse limestone; T3 = inorganic minerals + 100% coarse limestone; T4 = inorganic + organic minerals + 100% fine limestone; T5 = inorganic + organic minerals + 50% fine limestone + 50% coarse limestone; and T6 = inorganic + organic minerals +100% coarse limestone. There was no significant interaction effect between the studied factors on any of the variables. No significant effect of the types of mineral mixes or limestone particle sizes were observed on the performance, egg quality, or bone quality variables evaluated. In conclusion, organic or inorganic minerals associated with limestone in fine, medium, or coarse particle sizes can be used in diets for brown-egg layers without affecting their productive performance, egg quality, or bone quality.

A coleção de germoplasma de arroz da Embrapa consiste aproximadamente de 10.000 acessos. O objetivo desse trabalho foi estabelecer a Coleção Nuclear (CN) dessa coleção utilizando as informações e dados disponíveis sobre seus acessos. A estratégia CN foi introduzida no manejo de recursos genéticos vegetais com o principal objetivo de ampliar e sistematizar o uso desses recursos. Uma CN deve ser selecionada procurando reter a variabilidade genética existente na coleção inteira (CI) com um mínimo de redundância. Os acessos da coleção de arroz foram classificados em três estratos: a) variedades tradicionais do Brasil (VT); b) linhagens/cultivares melhoradas do Brasil (LCM); e c) linhagens/cultivares introduzidas (LCI). As variedades tradicionais foram ainda classificadas segundo o sistema de cultivo (terras altas, várzeas e facultativo). Os três estratos foram representados na Coleção Nuclear, mas ênfase maior foi dada às variedades tradicionais, que constituíram 308 acessos. Os acessos foram alocados para cada sistema de cultivo, proporcionalmente ao produto do logarítmo do número de variedades tradicionais pelo índice de Shannon (medida de diversidade) de cada um deles. A seleção dos acessos foi feita com o auxilio do Sistema de Informação Geográfica (SIG). A CN brasileira de arroz está formada por 550 acessos.

The Rice Germplasm Collection of Embrapa consists of approximately 10,000 accessions. This study aimed to establish a core collection using the currently available information data for those accessions. The strategy Core Collection (CN) was introduced in the management of plant genetic resources with the main purpose of improving the use of these resources. CN should be selected in order to preserve the genetic variability of the whole collection (CI), with minimum redundancy. The accessions within the rice collection were classified into three strata: a) landraces from Brazil (VT); b) breeding materials from Brazil (LCM); and c) introductions (LCI). The landraces were further classified according to crop system (uplands, lowlands and facultative). These three strata were represented in the Core Collection, but more emphasis was considered in representing the landraces, which are represented by 308 accessions. The accessions were allocated, for each crop system, proportionally to the product of the logarithm of the number of landraces by the Shannon Diversity Index (a measure of genetic diversity) within each crop system. Curators and breeders, supported by a Geographical Information System (GIS) made the selection of the accessions. The final Brazilian rice Core Collection consists of 550 accesses.