Paulo Borges Rodrigues

The objective of this study was to evaluate the L-arginine supplemental effects for broilers in the final rearing phase (29 and 42 days), during which they were exposed to heat stress and fed diets with different metabolizable energy levels. Performance, carcass parameters, and physiological and biochemical parameters related to lipid metabolism were evaluated. A completely randomized design was used, in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, corresponding to three metabolizable energy levels (3000, 3150, and 3300 kcal/kg) in diets [...] ABSTRACT The objective of this study was to evaluate the L-arginine supplemental effects for broilers in the final rearing phase (29 and 42 days), during which they were exposed to heat stress and fed diets with different metabolizable energy levels. Performance, carcass parameters, and physiological and biochemical parameters related to lipid metabolism were evaluated. A completely randomized design was used, in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement, corresponding to three metabolizable energy levels (3000, 3150, and 3300 kcal/kg) in diets

The use of waste generated from the processing of human foods in the diet of turtles is an alternative for reducing production costs without compromising the development and sustainability of the animal production system. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the behaviour and acceptance of different food wastes from fruit processing by scorpion mud turtles (Kinosternon scorpioides) in captivity. We used 25 scorpion mud turtles, from which we assessed the acceptance of five different fruit processing wastes: crushed, dried coconut; orange bagasse; crushed pineapple peel; acerola bagasse; and mango bagasse. These treatments had five repetitions each, totaling 25 experimental units. Each unit was composed of one animal, and ten repetitions were performed. The nonparametric analysis of variance, Kruskal‒Wallis test followed by the SNK test (5%), was used to compare the treatments. The phases of feeding behaviour observed in the animals included foraging, approach, olfactory recognition, capture, dilaceration, and ingestion. Neustophagia and head cleaning of the forelimbs after ingestion were observed. In addition, all the residues tested were accepted, with greater acceptability of mango bagasse, orange bagasse, and bagasse acerola. The results revealed 100% survival and no difference (P > 0.05) in weight gain between the experimental groups.

Two experiments were carried with broilers from 29 to 42 days of age for the nutritional evaluation of dietary chia. Thus, the nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) and the apparent metabolizability coefficients of gross energy and ether extract of chia seeds and oil, toasted soybean grain (TSG), and soybean oil were determined in the experiment I, by total excreta collection method, using 120 broilers. Each experimental diet (reference diet [RD] and four diets with the tested feedstuffs) was evaluated [...] ABSTRACT Two experiments were carried with broilers from 29 to 42 days of age for the nutritional evaluation of dietary chia. Thus, the nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) and the apparent metabolizability coefficients of gross energy and ether extract of chia seeds and oil, toasted soybean grain (TSG), and soybean oil were determined in the experiment I, by total excreta collection method, using 120 broilers. Each experimental diet (reference diet [RD] and four diets with the tested feedstuffs) was evaluated

The Thomson Reuters Web of Science is a database that makes it possible to identify patterns and trends in scientific publications, thus allowing a broad understanding of publications in the area of interest. An area that has attracted attention for the statistical community is the Bayesian networks, due to the fact that they present probabilistically promising models of machine learning. The purpose of this was to identify and describe the main categories of Web of Science that include research on Bayesian networks, believing in their potential for the poultry industry, more specifically in the prediction of energy values of feedstuffs. To carry out this research, data were collected from the Thomson Reuters Web of Science database from 1945 to 2018. Through the search it is possible to answer several questions of interest, among them, whether there are publications from Bayesian networks mainly in the animal sciences, more specifically in the formulation of feedstuffs for broilers. The results found confirmed that this area of knowledge is still very recent. The first publications were in 1990 and the main publications are concentrated in computer science, and no research has been found to predict the metabolizable energy of feedstuffs for broilers using this methodology.

Objective: The current study was conducted to evaluate the quality and profile of fatty acid in the breast and thigh, and the performance of broilers fed diets containing seed or oil of chia (Salvia hispanica L.) as a replacement for soybean, in the rearing period from 29 to 42 days of age.Methods: On the 29th day of age, 120 broilers were distributed in four treatments evaluated in five replicates of six birds. The grain or oil of soybean was respectively replaced on a weightto-weight basis in the formulation by the seed or oil of chia, constituting the experimental diets. The roasted whole soybean and chia seed were included in the feed at 16.4%, whereas the soybean and chia oils were included at 2.5%.Results: The dietary chia oil increased the lipid peroxidation in the thigh meat, and the dietary chia seed increased the cooking loss of the thigh. However, for the other physicochemical parameters evaluated and for the proximate composition of the breast and thigh, in general, the inclusion of chia seed or oil in the diet provided similar or better results than those observed when the diets contained soybean oil or roasted whole soybean. With regard to the fatty acid profile and associated parameters, dietary chia increased the concentrations of α-linolenic, eicosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids and reduced the Σω-6:Σω-3 ratio and the atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices of the broiler meat. However, the dietary chia seed worsened the feed conversion ratio.Conclusion: Diet containing 2.5% chia oil supplied to broilers during the period from 29 to 42 days of age improves the feed conversion ratio, increases the deposition of the ω-3 fatty acids in the breast and thigh, in addition to reducing the Σω-6:Σω-3 ratio and the atherogenicity and thrombogenicity indices, thereby resulting in meat with higher nutritional quality.

The objective of this work was to compare the committee neural network (CNN) and weighted multiple linear regression (WMLR) models, in order to estimate the nitrogen-corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) of poultry feedstuffs. The prediction equation was adjusted by using a WMLR model and the meta-analysis principle. The models were compared by considering the correct prediction percentages, based on the classic prediction intervals and on the highest-probability density intervals, and by using a comparison test for proportions. The accuracy of the models was evaluated based on the values of the mean squared error, coefficient of determination, mean absolute deviation, mean absolute percentage error, and bias. Data from metabolic trials were used to compare the selected models. The committee neural network is the model that showed the highest accuracy of prediction, being recommended as the most accurate model to predict AMEn values for energetic concentrate feedstuffs used by the poultry feed industry.

Insects are a valuable source of nutrients for fish, but little is known about their nutritional value for Nile tilapia fingerlings. To evaluate the nutritional value and energy apparent digestibility coefficient (ADC) of five insects for Nile Tilapia male fingerlings, 900 fish were distributed in 18 fiberglass conic tanks, in a completely randomized design, with six dietary treatments (control, Nauphoeta cinerea meal (NCM) (Blattodea), Zophobas morio larvae meal (ZMM) (Coleptera), Gromphadorhina portentosa meal (GPM) (Blattodea), Gryllus assimilis meal (GAM) (Orthoptera) and Tenebrio molitor larvae meal (TMM) (Coleptera)) and three replicates (tanks), each containing 50 fish. The control diet had no insect meal included and the other five treatments comprised 80% commercial diet and 20% test ingredient with 0.1% chromic oxide as an inert marker. TMM presented a higher ADC for dry matter, protein, corrected protein and chitin than to other treatments (p < 0.01). GPM presented the highest ADC for lipids (p < 0.01). In general, the TMM presented better ADC of nutrients and energy and all the insect meals evaluated are potential feed for Nile tilapia fingerlings.

The objective of the current study was to evaluate the effects of three calcium:available phosphorus (Ca:aP) ratios and different supplementation with phytases from different origins on performance and ash, Ca, and P contents in the tibia of broilers. A total of 900 male broilers (22 to 35 days old) were fed ten dietary treatments in a completely randomized design. A 3 × 3 + 1 factorial scheme was used, corresponding to three Ca:aP ratios (4.5:1.0, 6.0:1.0, and 7.5:1.0) and three different supplementations with phytases from different origins (isolated or combined supplementation with bacterial and fungal phytase), plus a control diet. Regardless of the dietary Ca:aP ratio, the isolated use of bacterial phytase provided better feed conversion than the fungal phytase but did not differ from combined supplementation with bacterial and fungal phytase. However, regardless of the supplemented phytase, the 7.5:1.0 Ca:aP ratio decreased the feed conversion. Best results for bone P deposition were observed using diets containing the 4.5:1.0 Ca:aP and fungal phytase or the 4.5:1 and 6.0:1 Ca:aP ratios using the bacterial phytase. In general, when the parameters of feed conversion, bone ash, and P content in tibia are considered together, diets containing a 4.5:1.0 or 6.0:1.0 Ca:aP ratio and 1,500 FTU kg⁻¹ bacterial phytase, or a 4.5:1.0 Ca:aP ratio using fungal phytase and only 1.0 g kg⁻¹ available phosphorus provide better results.

The objective of this work was to determine the apparent ileal digestibility of calcium and phosphorus in broilers fed diets with different phytases and calcium:available phosphorus (Ca:aP) ratios. Two experiments were carried out: one with broilers with 22 to 33 days of age, and the other with broilers with 35 to 42 days. The Ca:aP ratios used were 4.5:1.0, 6.0:1.0, and 7.5:1.0 in the first period, and 3.5:1.0, 5.0:1.0, and 6.5:1.0 in the second. All diets were supplemented with 1,500 units of phytase activity per kilogram of six different sources of microbial phytase. At the end of each experiment, two broilers per replicate were slaughtered to collect the ileal content. In the samples of digested food, the Ca and P contents were determined for later calculation of the apparent ileal digestibility coefficients of these minerals. The Ca:aP ratio influenced the activity of phytases, and the highest digestibility was observed with lower ratios, in both experiments. The phytases that provided greater digestibility coefficients were A, D, and E. In both ages evaluated, the inclusion of phytases in the feed improved the digestibility of Ca and P, which was also affected by the content of calcium and by the phytase source used.