The use of viscera and bone meal in poultry pre-starter and starter diets and its effects on performance, digestive organ development and digestibility and nutrient retention were evaluated. In the first assay, 280-day-old Avian Cobb® chicks were allotted in four experimental groups with five replicates of 14 birds each, in the pre-starter phase; in the second assay, 280 eight-day-old Avian Cobb 48® chicks were allotted in four experimental groups with five replicates of 12 birds each. The experimental diet consisted of increasing levels of viscera and bone meal: 0% (control diet), 3%, 6% and 9% in pre-starter (Assay 1) and starter (Assay 2) diets, to meet nutritional requirements and feed composition proposed by the Brazilian Tables, all of them isonutritive and isoenergetic. A metabolic assay was developed and the total excreta collection was performed from the 4th to the 7th days in Assay 1 and from the 14th to the 17th days in Assay 2. On these days, one chick per experimental unit, representing the mean body weight of the parcel, was euthanized to perform digestive organ morphometry. Mean body weight was 45.4±0.4 on the 1st day in Assay 1 and 179.5±0.8 at 8 days of age in Assay 2. In Assay 1, a negative linear effect was observed for weight gain. Levels of viscera and bone meal influenced quadratically nitrogen digestibility index (Y = 66.0101 + 0.482425X - 0.0481086X²) and linearly the digestibility of dry matter (Y = 71.7775 - 0.615792X) and ether extract (Y = 78.3678 - 0.309136X). Morphometric measures of digestive organs were not influenced by viscera and bone meal levels. For Assay 2, negative and linear effect was observed for viscera and bone meal levels on weight gain (Y = 551.667 - 5.08341X) and feed intake (Y = 955.961 - 7.48435X). Quadratic effect was observed for ether extract digestibility (Y = 82.557 + 1.12021X - 0.150117X²) and maximum point was obtained at 3.7% viscera and bone meal inclusion for ether extract retention. Mortality was not affected by treatments in either of the assays. Viscera and bone meal can be used at 3 or 4% inclusion in broiler pre-starter and starter diets.

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the performance of broilers fed ration formulated based on digestible amino acids obtained with cecectomized roosters and broilers at different ages. A total of 300 Ag Ross 508 broiler chicks aging one to 21 days was distributed into 30 experimental units of ten broilers each (five birds of each sex) in six batteries of galvanized steel. All diets were based on corn, soybean meal and full-fat corn germ meal, considering the values of diges tible amino acids obtained from 45-week-old roosters and broilers of 21 and 42 days of age. Two rearing phases were adopted, a pre-starter phase (one to seven days) and a starter phase (eight to 21 days). The following performance variables were evaluated: average weight, weight gain, feed intake, feed:gain relation and mortality. Birds were distributed according to a completely randomized design with three forms of determination of digestible amino acids content and ten repetitions of ten birds. The use of digestible amino acids based diets determined for broiler chicks at 21 days of age resulted in better performance of bro ilers in starter phase. The digestible amino acid values of each ingredient can vary according to the age of the birds during the determination procedure.

Two experiments were carried out (pre-starter and starter phases) to evaluate the effect of feather and blood meal on performance, organ development and digestibility and retention of nutrients in broilers. In the first experiment, it was used 280 birds and in experiment 2, it was used 240 birds. The experimental diets were formulated with four levels of feather and blood meal (0%, 2%, 4% and 6%) all of them isonutritive and isoenergetic. A metabolic assay was developed on the 4th and 7th days of age in experiment 1 and on the 14th and 17th days of age in experiment 2. In these periods, one bird per experimental unit was sacrificed for determination of morphometry of the digestive organs. In experiment 1, in which it was evaluated the pre-starter phase, there was a negative linear effect of the levels of feather and blood meal on weight gain and intake in 1-21 day of age period. By using feather and blood meal in the diet, it was observed a linear effect on digestibility coefficient of dry matter, nitrogen and ether extract; there was a quadratic effect on retention of dry matter and nitrogen and linear effect on the retention of ether extract. However, performance of birds in the starter phase (experiment 2) was not affected by levels of feather and blood meal used in the diet. Coefficient of digestibility of dry matter and ether extract and retention of ether extract were affected. In both phases, mortality and morphometric data of digestive organs were not influenced by the levels of meal in the diet. Formulation of diets with up to 6% feather and blood meal for chickens in the pre-starter phase (from 1 to 7 days) is not a good alternative because it worsens performance of birds. However, from the initial phase (from 8 to 21 days), the use of feather and blood meal in the diet is viable. Feather and blood meal can be used at levels 3.0 or 4.0% for broilers in the pre-starter and starter phase.

O experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar o desempenho e a qualidade dos ovos de poedeiras comerciais no segundo ciclo de produção consumindo gérmen integral de milho em substituição ao milho da dieta. O procedimento de muda forçada foi adotado em 250 aves Lohmann LSL durante a 66ª e a 74ª semanas de idade. Na 75ª semana de idade, 192 aves foram uniformizadas pelo peso. O período experimental correspondeu ao intervalo da 78ª a 90ª semana de idade das aves. Foram avaliados quatro níveis de substituição do milho pelo gérmen integral de milho na dieta (0, 25, 50 e 75%). As variáveis avaliadas foram os parâmetros de desempenho e qualidade interna e externa de ovos. O delineamento utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado e os dados foram analisados utilizando-se regressão polinomial. De acordo com os resultados obtidos, a utilização do gérmen integral de milho é recomendável até o nível de 25% de substituição ao milho, o que significa inclusão de 16% de gérmen integral de milho em dietas para poedeiras comerciais no segundo ciclo de produção.

This experiment was carried to evaluate the performance and egg quality of laying hens in the second production cycle consuming whole corn germ in substitution of corn in the diet. The forced molting procedure of 250 Lohmann LSL laying hens was accomplished in the 66th to 74th weeks of age. In 75th week of age, 192 birds were standardized by weight. The experimental period coreresponded to the interval between the 78th and 90th weeks of age of the hens. Four levels were evaluated of replacing corn with corn germ meal in the diets (0, 25, 50 and 75%). The variables assessed were internal and external egg quality and performance. A randomized complete design was used and statistical analyses were performed using polynomial regression analysis. The level recommended was up to 25% of substitution for corn, that means 16% corn germ meal included in diets for molted hens in the second cycle production.

Um experimento foi conduzido com o objetivo de avaliar níveis de energia metabolizável em rações para frangos de corte na fase pré-inicial de crescimento. Foram alojados 280 pintos de 1 dia de idade, linhagem Avian Cobb em baterias aquecidas e distribuídas em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com cinco tratamentos (2.850, 2.950, 3.000, 3.050, 3.150 kcal/kg de EM na ração) e quatro repetições de 14 aves por unidade experimental. Foram medidos os pesos das aves e das rações fornecidas e as sobras nos 1, 4, 7, 10, 14, 18 e 21 dias de idade e as características de desempenho determinadas (ganho de peso médio, consumo de ração e conversão alimentar) nos períodos de 1 a 7 e de 1 a 21 dias de idade. Realizou-se um ensaio de digestibilidade durante a primeira semana entre o quarto e o sétimo dias. Os resultados indicaram que os níveis EM testados influenciaram o desempenho das aves no período de 1 a 21 dias de idade, porém, os menores níveis de EM resultaram nos piores valores de digestibilidade da MS. O menor nível, 2.850 kcal EM/kg, permitiu melhor desempenho de frangos de corte, enquanto o de 3.115 kcal EM/kg promoveu melhor digestibilidade da MS em rações à base de milho e farelo de soja.

This experiment was carried out to evaluate the dietary metabolizable energy levels for broilers in the pre-initial growth phase. A total of 280 Avian × Cobb one day old chicks was allotted to warm cages as a completely randomized design with five treatments (2,850, 2,950, 3,000, 3,050, and 3,150 kcal/kg of ME in the diet) and four replicates of 14 birds per experimental unit. Bird weight and diet and orts weights were measured at 1, 4, 7, 10, 14, 18 and 21days old and the performance characteristics determined (average weight gain, feed intake, feed-to-gain ratio) from 1 to 7 and 1 to 21 days. A digestibility assay was performed during the first week between the 4th and 7th days. The results showed that the evaluated ME levels influenced the performance of the birds from 1 to 21 days old, however, the lowest level of ME resulted in worst DM digestibility values. The lowest levels, 2,850 kcal ME/kg, provided better broiler performance, while the 3,115 kcal ME/kg provided better DM digestibility in corn-soybean based diets.

Dois experimentos foram conduzidos para avaliar o desempenho, o balanço e a retenção de MS, EE e PB e os parâmetros biométricos do trato gastrintestinal de frangos de corte recebendo diferentes níveis de proteína na ração pré-inicial (1 a 7 dias). No experimento 1, 560 pintos Avian Farms foram distribuídos em baterias segundo um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, em esquema fatorial 5 x 2 (cinco níveis de proteína, 18, 20, 22, 24 e 26%, e dois sexos), com dez tratamentos, cada um com quatro repetições de 14 aves. No experimento 2, 1.860 pintos machos e fêmeas Ross foram distribuídos em boxes de 2,0 x 2,5 m, em um delineamento em blocos casualizados, com cinco tratamentos (níveis de proteína, 18, 20, 22, 24 e 26%), cada um com seis repetições de 62 aves. No experimento 1, os níveis crescentes de PB da dieta não afetaram significativamente os dados de desempenho, mas o balanço e a quantidade retida do EE promoveram efeito linear positivo. O balanço de proteína não foi afetado, mas a retenção de proteína apresentou efeito linear positivo. A biometria dos órgãos não foi significativamente influenciada aos quatro dias. Nos períodos seguintes, os níveis crescentes de proteína afetaram positivamente o peso relativo do pâncreas. No experimento 2, observou-se, com base nos resultados de desempenho, que os mais altos níveis de proteína na ração pré-inicial atenderam às necessidades nutricionais das aves.

Two trials were carried out to evaluate performance, balance and retention of EE, DM and CP and biometrical measures of digestive organs of broiler chicks fed different dietary CP levels in the pre-starter period (1 - 7 d). In the first experiment, 560 one-day-old Avian Farms chicks were allotted to a complete randomized design with ten treatments, with a 5 x 2 (protein levels: 18, 20, 22, 24, and 26% x sex) factorial arrangement and four replicates of 14 birds each. In the second experiment, 1,860 one-day-old Ross chicks were assigned to 2.0 x 2.5 m experimental pens. This experiment was analyzed as a complete randomized design, with five treatments (protein level - 18, 20, 22, 24, and 26%) and six replications of 62 birds each. In the first experiment, increasing dietary CP levels in the pre-starter period did not affect performance, but balance and retention of EE had linear and positive effects according to the treatments. No treatment effect on protein balance was observed, but protein retention showed linear and positive effect. No significant differences were observed for biometrical measures on 4th fday of experiment, but increasing CP levels improved the pancreas relative weight. In the experiment 2, it was possible to conclude that the higher protein levels are indicated for better results in performance.