Two field grazing experiments were conducted in New Zealand (NZ) in spring (Experiment 1; November 2008) and autumn (Experiment 2; April 2009) to evaluate the effects of feeding a high sugar perennial ryegrass (HSG; cv. AberDart; derived in the United Kingdom; UK) versus a NZ- derived control grass (cv. Impact) on milk production and estimated nitrogen (N) partitioning within the cow. Areas of both ryegrasses were replicated and sown with or without white clover (cl) (HSG+cl, control+cl, HSG and control). A cross-over design with four 10-day periods was used in each experiment, using 15 Friesian cows per treatment per period in Experiment 1 and 5 cows per treatment per period in Experiment 2. Treatment effects upon pasture botanical and chemical composition, cows’ milk yield and composition, and estimated N partitioning were studied. Nitrogen partitioning was calculated using indirect methods. Herbage concentrations of water soluble carbohydrates (WSC) were lower in autumn than in spring whilst crude protein (CP) concentrations were higher in autumn. Organic matter digestibility (OMD) and metabolisable energy (ME) concentration was similar in both seasons. There were no differences in the concentration of CP, WSC and dry matter (DM) among treatments in Experiment 1. The HSG+cl treatment had the lowest concentrations of neutral detergent fibre (NDF, 417 g/kg DM) and the highest content of ME (12.6 MJ/kg DM) and tended to have the lowest sward dead matter content compared with the other three treatments. In Experiment 2 both HSG treatments showed higher concentrations of WSC (15 g/kg DM) compared with the control, both with and without clover; the concentrations of NDF and acid detergent fibre (ADF) were the lowest for both HSG treatments. In Experiment 1, cows grazing treatments with white clover produced more milk (1.6 kg/day) and more milk solids (MS; 0.16 kg/day) than cows grazing pure ryegrass swards ( P< 0.01), with highest milk yields being from cows grazing the HSG+cl treatment (ryegrass cultivar x white clover interaction P<0.05). No differences in milk production were found in Experiment 2. Estimated urinary N excretion (g/day) was similar for all treatments in both seasons, although N intake differed among treatments. The proportion of N intake excreted in urine or secreted in milk was similar for all treatments in both experiments. Nitrogen output (g/day) in milk was the highest for the HSG+cl treatment in Experiment 1 but no differences were found in Experiment 2. Data were combined from both experiments to study the effects of the herbage CP:WSC ratio upon estimated N partitioning between milk and urine. Mean ratios were 0.72 for spring herbage and 2.27 for autumn herbage. As the amount of WSC increased in the diet relative to the amount of CP (thus a lower CP:WSC ratio) there was a significant increase in the amount of milk N secreted per unit of N intake in spring but not in autumn. The breakpoint in the relationship between the herbage CP:WSC ratio and the nitrogen utilisation efficiency for milk production (NUEm) was 1.32, and the NUEm for that breakpoint was 14 g milk N per 100 g N intake. Ratios below this point were associated with improved efficiency of converting pasture N to milk N; ratios above this point were not correlated with changes in N conversion efficiency. It is concluded that the CP:WSC ratio in perennial ryegrass may be important in the partition of absorbed N into milk or urine. A NZ-selected HSG with a lower CP:WSC ratio is likely to have major benefits for pastoral farming in NZ. In order to be effective, a NZ-derived HSG should substantially increase WSC concentration in autumn pasture (from approximately 100 to 200 g/kg DM) whilst reducing CP content simultaneously (from 240 to 190 g/kg DM). The lower structural fibre and higher milk production for the HSG+cl treatment in both experiments suggest that under NZ conditions, best productive responses to HSG may be obtained in management systems that include white clover.

Five rotational grazing experiments were carried out at Massey University's Riverside farm, in the Wairarapa, on the East Coast of the Southern North Island, New Zealand, to compare the effects of feeding Lotus corniculatus L. (birdsfoot trefoil; cv. Grasslands Goldie) or perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne)/white clover (Trifolium repens) dominant pasture upon sheep year round productivity. These studies also investigated under grazing, seasonal and annual net herbage accumulation rate and seasonal dynamics of undisturbed (i.e. non-grazed) net herbage accumulation rate of L. corniculatus relative to that of grass-dominant pasture. Aspects of in vivo digestibility of dry matter (DMD), organic matter (OMD), digestible organic matter in the dry matter (DOMD) and metabolisable energy (ME) concentration of L. corniculatus at different stages of maturity over the spring, summer and autumn were investigated in three indoor digestion trials. 1. Two field experiments (Chapter 2) were conducted during spring to assess the effects of grazing mixed age undrenched ewes on L. corniculatus (n = 50) or pasture (n = 50) and their lambs (mainly twins) on live weight (LW), wool production, faecal nematode egg count (FEC) and dag score. In Experiment 1 (18 October 2000 to 21 January 2001) and Experiment 2 (3 October 2001 to 2 January 2002) both forages were fed ad libitum. Total condensed tannin (CT) concentration in the diet selected was 24 to 27 g CT/kg DM for L. corniculatus and 1.4 to 1.5 g CT/kg DM for pasture. The LW gain, weaning LW and wool production were consistently greater (P < 0.001) for lambs grazing L. corniculatus, in either Experiment 1 (258 vs. 189 g/day; 36.1 vs. 30.1kg; 1.17 vs. 0.98 kg) and in Experiment 2 (247 vs. 162 g/day; 31.8 vs. 24.1kg; 1.17 vs. 0.81 kg), respectively. Ewe and lamb dag scores were strongly and positively correlated with dag weight (P < 0.001) and generally increased with time in sheep grazing pasture, whilst grazing on L. corniculatus consistently reduced dag score. FEC in ewes grazing pasture showed a post-parturient rise (PPR) following lambing, whilst ewes grazing L. corniculatus had a reduced PPR in FEC. Up to day 70, FEC in lambs grazing L. corniculatus was lower than that for lambs grazing pasture, but between day 70 and the end of both experiments (approximately day 90), FEC in lambs grazing L. corniculatus increased to similar values as for pasture-fed lambs. FEC was not correlated with dag score or dag weight in ewes or lambs grazing pasture, but these indices were weakly and positively correlated in ewes and lambs grazing L. corniculatus, suggesting that lowering FEC on L. corniculatus also reduced dag formation. It was concluded that under dryland farming conditions, the use of L. corniculatus during the spring/early summer lactation period can increase lamb LW and wool production, whilst eliminating the need for pre-lambing anthelmintic drenching and probably reducing the amount of insecticide needed to control flystrike. These effects compared to pasture are probably due to higher digestibilty, higher ME concentration, higher voluntary feed intake (VFI), and to the effect of CT in reducing rumen protein degradability and controlling internal parasites in sheep grazing L. corniculatus. The absence of endophyte in L. corniculatus may have also have contributed to these effects. 2. During 2001 and 2002 (Chapter 3), grazing trials from February to November were conducted for 279 days (Experiments 1) and 285 days (Experiment 2), to compare the effects of grazing shorn mixed age Romney ewes in light condition on L. corniculatus versus pasture during the mating period (9 weeks, Experiment 1) and 11 weeks (Experiment 2). In Experiment 2, the length of time (days) that ewes need to graze L. corniculatus before mating to maximise reproductive performance was also investigated. Common objectives in both Experiments were to measure forage feeding effects on ewe wool production and LW of their lambs at weaning. In Experiment 1, groups of ewes (n = 100) were fed on either L. corniculatus or pasture at a herbage allowance of 1.8 kg green DM/ewe/day for the first three weeks of feeding and increased to ad libitum (2.3 kg green DM/ewe/day) during the mating period for two cycles. In Experiment 2, groups of 75 ewes grazed L. corniculatus for 42, 21, 10 and 0 days before a synchronised oestrus, with pasture being grazed for the balance of the 42 days. All L. corniculatus groups continued grazing L. corniculatus for a further 5 weeks. Feed allowance was initially 2.0 kg green DM/ewe/day, increased to 2.3 kg green DM/ewe/day during the mating period over the two cycles. At the end of L. corniculatus feeding in both experiments the groups were combined and grazed on pasture until weaning. Total CT concentration in the diet selected was 18 to 29 g CT/kg DM for L. corniculatus, with only trace amounts in pasture. In Experiment 1 mating ewes on L. corniculatus compared to pasture increased number of lambs born and lambs weaned per ewe lambing by 16 and 32% units respectively (P < 0.05), due to more multiple and less single births (P = 0.06) and to reduced lamb mortality (P < 0.05) between birth and weaning. In Experiment 2, increasing the numbers of days of grazing L. corniculatus before ovulation (0, 10, 21, 42 days) linearly increased ovulation rate (P < 0.05), lambs born and lamb weaned by up to 16% units, but had no effect upon lamb mortality. Mating ewes on L. corniculatus increased wool production (P < 0.01) and fibre length (P < 0.05) in Experiment 1 but not in Experiment 2. Grazing L. corniculatus had no effect on lamb birth weight and only small positive effects on weaning LW. It was concluded that, under commercial dryland farming conditions, the use of L. corniculatus during the mating season in late summer/autumn can be used to increase reproductive efficiency and wool production, with the largest responses in years with exceptionally dry autumn periods. These effects are probably due to the higher digestibility and ME concentration of L. corniculatus than pasture and to the CT in L. corniculatus reducing rumen protein degradability and leading to greater essential amino acid (EAA) absorption from the small intestine. Effects of forage CT upon the uterine microenvironment at the time of conception, implantation and early foetal growth, need to be investigated in future studies. It is also suggested that effects of mating on L. corniculatus upon lamb mortality between birth and weaning should be further investigated with ewe numbers/treatment increased from 100 to 350. 3. During the summer of 2002/2003, another grazing trial (Chapter 4: 95 days) compared the effects of grazing L. corniculatus and pasture on LW and the dynamics of nematode parasite infection in Suffolk x Romney weaned lambs fed ad libitum. Half of the lambs (n = 30) grazing either L. corniculatus or pasture received oral anthelmintic at the start and at monthly intervals (regular-drenched groups), whilst the remaining 30 lambs in each treatment only received oral anthelmintic when mean faecal nematode egg counts (FECs) exceed 1,000 eggs/g wet faeces (trigger-drenched groups), which occurred on day 58 only for both groups. Trigger and regular-drench lambs grazed separate areas. Total CT concentration in the diet selected was 40 to 31 g CT/kg DM for L. corniculatus, with only trace amounts in pasture. Regular-drenched lambs grazing L. corniculatus had significantly higher LW gain (298 g/day) and carcass weight gain (133 g/day) than all the other groups, whilst trigger-drenched lambs grazing L. corniculatus had significantly greater LW gain (228 g/day) and carcass gain (99 g/day) than regular-drenched (200; 66 g/day) and trigger-drenched (187; 63 g/day) lambs grazing pasture. Carcass fatness was significantly lower for trigger-drenched lambs than for regular-drenched lambs, when fed either L. corniculatus or pasture. Dag score was consistently lower for regular-drenched lambs grazing L. corniculatus than pasture; trigger-drenched lambs showed similar effects up to day 48, with no differences between the two groups thereafter. Regular anthelmintic treatment maintained FECs at low values, while parasitised lambs on L. corniculatus tended to have higher FECs than pasture-fed lambs. Relative to trigger-drenched lambs that grazed pasture, grazing trigger-drenched lambs on L. corniculatus had significantly reduced worm burdens of Haemochus contortus, Teladosargia spp., Nematodirus spp. and Cooperia spp. at slaughter, but greater burdens of Trichostrongylus spp., Chabertia ovina, Oesophagostonum spp. and Trichuris ovis were present in L. corniculatus-fed lambs. It was concluded that grazing L. corniculatus under dryland farming conditions compared to pasture can increase LW gain of weaned lambs, whilst reducing reliance on anthelmintic drenches to control parasites. These effects are probably due to increased protein supply from the action of CT enabling the lambs to have a higher LW gain when carrying a parasite burden, and to L. corniculatus better maintaining its high ME value under drought conditions. Using L. corniculatus to finish weaned lambs without anthelmintic drenches for a seven-week period is proposed. 4. A three-year study (Chapter 5; November 2000 to October 2003) was conducted to compare, under grazing conditions, seasonal and annual grazed net herbage accumulation rate and seasonal dynamics of undisturbed (i.e. non-grazed) net herbage accumulation rate of L. corniculatus relative to grass-dominant pasture. Prediction equations to estimate standing DM in L. corniculatus and pasture from the rising plate meter (RPM) and sward surface height were also generated. L. corniculatus and pasture growing in a moderate fertility and low-pH soil (pH 5.35) accumulated similar total herbage masses (24.3 vs. 24.1 t DM/ha) over the 3-year period, with the DM production being greater for L. corniculatus than for pasture during 2000-2001, producing more DM during summer/autumn drought conditions. The net herbage accumulation rate from undisturbed areas of L. corniculatus and pasture were similar in spring, summer and autumn. Seasonal variation in the calibration regressions fitted to estimate herbage mass of L. corniculatus non-destructively, suggested a combination of destructive and nondestructive methods are needed to assess herbage mass. It was concluded that L. corniculatus has the potential to increase the performance of a pasture-based sheep dryland farming system due to its ability to grow in acidic soils, its tolerance of drought conditions during summer/autumn and its seasonality of feed supply. 5. Three digestion experiments involving cryptorchid weaned lambs were conducted for 14 days over the spring, summer and autumn to determine changes in in vivo digestibility of DM, OM, digestible OM in the DM and ME concentration of L. corniculatus at different stages of maturity. In vivo digestibility samples were then used as standards to investigate if the enzymatic in vitro system of Roughan and Holland (1977) could predict OMD and DOMD of CT-containing L. corniculatus. Digestibility of L. corniculatus declined as it matured, but the rate of decline was much less than occurs for temperate grasses and for white clover. It was concluded that the in vitro enzymatic system of Roughan and Holland (1977) can be used to predict OMD and DOMD of L. corniculatus, provided a standard curve involving in vivo data generated with L. corniculatus is used. Using a standard curve with in vivo data from pasture led to bias which increased at lower OMD values. Reasons for the consistent differences between L. corniculatus and pasture standard curves are discussed, including possible effects of residual bound CT in lowering in vitro digestibility. From this series of experiments, this study is the first to report that relative to conventional perennial ryegrass/white clover, mating ewes on L. corniculatus under grazing conditions may reduce post-natal lamb mortality. It is also the first study to show that grazing sheep on L. corniculatus can maintain productivity during spring and summer with reduced dependence on anthelmintic drench input. It is concluded that whole farm modelling, mechanical harvesting and conservation strategies, selection of L. corniculatus germplasm for creeping-type plants more suited to grazing and the integration of new crops containing secondary compounds, such as chicory, should be considered to support major advances in sustainable dryland sheep farming systems.

A series of grazing experiments was conducted, in the summer/autumn of 2001, 2002 and 2003, to investigate the effects of poplar (Populus spp.) and/or willow (Salix spp.) supplementation, during mating, on ewe production and reproduction when grazing drought pasture. Each experiment involved a rotational grazing system with 300 mixed-age Romney ewes, divided into three groups of 100 ewes each. In each year, all ewes were offered low quality simulated drought pasture, containing more than 60% dead matter, at an allowance sufficient to provide a potential desired intake of 0.70 kg dry matter (DM)/day, for periods of 9 to 12 weeks, including two mating cycles. Mean pre-and post-grazing pasture masses averaged over the three years were 1100 and 600 kg DM/ha. The pasture consumed in all years was typical of pasture available to grazing livestock in a drought; it was high in neutral detergent fibre (NDF; approximately 600 g/kg DM), low in organic matter digestibility (OMD, approximately 0.52) and metabolisable energy (ME; approximately 7.5 MJ/kg DM) and contained approximately 20 g nitrogen (N)/kg DM. The supplementary poplar and willow diets were always superior to drought pasture consumed by the ewes, being higher in OMD (approximately 0.67), ME (approximately 10 MJ/kg DM) and total N (approximately 26 g/kg DM) and lower in NDF (approximately 383 g/kg DM). Tree fodder diets also contained substantial concentrations of the secondary compounds condensed tannin (CT; range 7 to 52 g/kg DM), salicin (approximately 2 g/kg DM) and other phenolic glycosides (approximately 21 g/kg DM), with willow (27 to 52 g/kg DM) containing greater concentrations of CT compared with poplar (7 to 19 g/kg DM). Mean diameter of the tree fodder stem consumed during the series of experiments was approximately 7 mm for poplar and 4 mm for willow with the diameter increasing over the experimental periods in four cases out of live (P<0.05). After the supplementation period, the three groups were joined together and grazed on perennial ryegrass/white clover pasture until the conclusion of each experiment at weaning. In all years, the effect of poplar and/or willow supplementation on ewe live weight (LW) and body condition score (BCS) change; the proportion of lambs (reproductive rate) at pregnancy scanning, lambing, docking and weaning; and wool production and staple length from ewe fleeces with approximately 11 months growth, were measured. Experiment 1 was designed to determine how much poplar fodder needed to be fed to increase ewe production and reproduction over a 71-day supplementation period. The experiment involved a high supplementation group, offered 1.5 kg fresh poplar/ewe/day; a low supplementation group, offered 0.75 kg fresh poplar/ewe/day; and a control group that was offered no tree fodder. Ewes in the high and low treatments lost less LW (-67 and -71 vs. -82 g/day; P<0.05) and BCS (-0.78 and -1.27 vs. -1.31 units; P<0.05) compared with unsupplemented ewes. Reproductive rate was relatively low in the control group (121 lambs born/100 ewes mated), with poplar supplementation increasing ewe reproductive rate by approximately 20% units (P<0.05) and 30% units (P<0.001) for the low and high treatment groups, respectively, at scanning, lambing, docking and weaning. The increase in reproductive rate in supplemented ewes was due to increases in both conception rate (number of ewes pregnant/100 ewes mated) and fecundity (number of lambs born/100 ewes mated). Experiment 2 was designed to determine if production and reproduction varied between ewes fed poplar versus willow at the same rate of supplementation, 1.4 kg fresh forage/ewe/day, for 87 days. Again, reproductive rate was relatively low in the control group (133 lambs born/100 ewes mated), with willow supplementation reducing L.W loss (-86 g/day vs. -103 g/day; P<0.01) and increasing reproductive rate by 15%, 17% 21% and 20% units at ultrasound scanning (P=0.097), lambing (P=0.087), docking (P<0.05) and weaning (P=0.058), respectively. The increase in reproductive rate was due to an increase in fecundity; supplementation did not affect conception rate in this experiment. Unlike the previous experiment, poplar supplementation showed no effect on reproductive rate, despite the increase in DM intake and the apparent reduction in LW loss of 9 g/day (P-0.11). It is likely that severe contamination of the poplar fodder with Melampsora larici-populina, or poplar leaf rust, confounded the results. Building on the results of the first two grazing trials, the next step was to determine the period (days) of tree fodder supplementation necessary to achieve a response in reproductive rate. Experiment 3 involved ewes fed 1.3 kg fresh willow/ewe/day for a 'long' period, 63 days including 6 weeks of mating, and a 'short' period, 31 days including 3 weeks of mating. The mating period commenced on the same day for all groups and lasted for 6 weeks. Willow supplementation for 63 days reduced ewe LW loss (-96 g/day vs. -147 g/day; P<0.05) and BCS (-0.79 VS. -1.09; P<0.05) loss, compared with unsupplemented ewes; however, it did not increase reproductive rate at scanning and lambing. The lack of response in willow-supplemented ewes was likely to be due to toxic concentrations of zearalenone (1.5 mg/kg DM), an oestrogenic mycotoxin, in the drought pasture during mating, which confounded the results by negating any potential benefits due to increased nutrient intakes. Willow supplementation for 63 days did increase reproductive rate at weaning by 13% units, due to a 9% unit (P<0.05) reduction in post-natal lamb mortality, from 17.1 to 8.4%. Supplementation for 31 days did not appear to influence ewe reproduction and production parameters. Overall, the rate of LW loss was greater in Experiment 3 compared with the first two experiments. Seven indoor in vivo digestibility experiments were conducted at the following times; early April 2001 (poplar), February, March and April 2002 (all poplar), and December, March and April 2003 (all willow). Each 14-day trial involved 6 male cryptorchid lambs, individually fed in metabolism cages. The experiments showed that the digestibility of poplar and willow tree fodder declined from late spring to autumn (P<0.05), but that the decline was much smaller than the decline in digestibility of grass-based pastures in New Zealand over the same time period. The experiments also showed that mean ME and digestibilities were generally higher for willow than for poplar. The seven in vivo digestibility coefficients were then used to develop a standard curve for in vitro prediction of in vivo digestibility, this standard was used to analyse all unknown tree fodder samples from the three grazing experiments. Results from the three grazing experiments showed that supplementing ewes grazing drought pasture during mating with poplar and willow tree fodder consistently increased DM intake by 0.25 to 0.33 kg DM/ewe/day for ewes offered 1.3 to 1.5 kg fresh willow or poplar each day and increased calculated total DM intakes from 0.67 to 1.03 kg DM/ewe/day in Experiment 1, from 0.59 to 0.86 kg DM/ewe/day in Experiment 2 and from 0.47 to 0.75 kg DM/ewe/day in Experiment 3. Supplementation also consistently reduced LW loss and loss in BCS and substantially increased lambing rate through increased conception rate and fecundity and reduced post-natal lamb mortality. The effects on LW and BCS gradually declined in the post-treatment period and were no longer evident by commencement of lambing. There was no effect of supplementation on wool production or staple length in any of the experiments. One of the unexpected results of the experiments was an average 34% reduction in post-natal lamb mortality over three years, due to willow/poplar supplementation of ewes during mating. Initial results showed that despite significant increases in fecundity in supplemented ewes in 2001 and 2002, post-natal lamb mortality was not increased. This result, combined with a statistically significant reduction in lamb mortality in Experiment 3 (P<0.05), in the absence of any differences in fecundity between the groups, suggested that tree fodder supplementation during mating may have reduced lamb mortality in all three years, but that the effect was masked by the increase in reproductive rate in the first two experiments. Therefore, data from the three field trials were combined and analysed by adjusting all mortality data to equal birth rank and sex; this showed a significant reduction due to supplementation (P<0.05) with no treatment-year interaction. The increase in ewe production and reproduction in supplemented ewes was likely due to increases in nutrient intake, through increased DM, ME and CP intakes, prior to and during mating and to increased outputs of undegradable dietary protein and microbial protein from the rumen, per unit of crude protein consumed, thus increasing amino acid absorption. An increase in ovulation rate of 1.5 % units/MJ of digestible energy consumed (Smith 1985) should result in increases in ovulation rate due to tree fodder supplementation of only 5 and 4% units in 2001 and 2002, respectively; however, the increases in scanning rate were substantially greater at 41 and 16% units. Therefore, it is possible that the majority of the increase in reproductive rate was due to increased essential amino acid absorption, which is consistent with increases found in ewes mated on CT-containing forages such as Lotus corniculatus (Birdsfoot trefoil). Gross margin analyses using actual data from unsupplemented ewes in each of the three grazing trials compared with Riverside Farm's commercial ewes from the same years showed that drought reduced scanning rates by an average of 22.4% and wool production by 20% and that this reduction decreases sheep production income by approximately $14/ewe. Further analysis showed that almost half the cost ($6/ewe) could be recovered by supplementing ewes with tree fodder in a drought. On a whole farm basis this represents $58/hectare cost benefit due to tree fodder supplementation. Fungal contamination was a significant factor in the results obtained in Experiments 2 and 3. In all years, simulated drought pasture contained metabolites of zearalenone and the trichothecenes nivalenol and deoxy-nivalenol, produced by Fusarium fungi, while in Experiment 2 the poplar was severely contaminated with Melampsora larici-populina, or poplar leaf rust. Zearalenone concentrations in pasture were at their greatest in Experiment 3 and increased to over 2 mg/kg DM during the mating period. This may explain the lack of increase in reproductive rate expected in willow-supplemented ewes in Experiment 3, which was a feature of previous experiments; however, it did not explain the much greater loss in ewe LW in Experiment 3. Nivalenol (NIV) and deoxy-nivalenol (DON) are common trichothecene toxins found in New Zealand pasture and were found in pasture samples from all three experiments, however, the concentration in Experiment 3 was three- to four-fold greater than in previous experiments. Reports have suggested that trichothecenes may be partly responsible for the reduced growth of otherwise healthy livestock grazing dry autumn pasture, often referred to as 'ill thrift'. However, based on evidence from dosing experiments, it is unlikely that the quantities of NIV and DON present in pasture in Experiment 3 accounted for all of the greater LW loss seen in this experiment. This suggests that these toxins are likely to be indicators of other more potent fungal toxins, which have a much bigger impact on livestock health and production. It is likely that fungal toxins contribute more to reduced reproduction in breeding ewes and to ill thrift in young stock grazing dry autumn pastures in East Coast regions than is currently acknowledged

A reduction in voluntary feed intake is a major factor in the lost productivity of grazing lambs infected by gastrointestinal parasites yet the mechanisms involved are poorly understood. Potential pathways involved in parasite-induced feed intake depression were investigated in lambs with minimal previous exposure to parasites and artificially infected by the small intestinal parasite Trichostrongylus colubriformis. Six in vivo experiments were conducted on lambs housed in individual pens or metabolism crates with similar feeding and experimental procedures. In Experiment 1 (Chapter 4) the effect of T. colubriformis infection on short term feed intake in lambs and of some pharmacological agents on feed intake depression were investigated. Prior to and for the duration of infection, lambs were fed once per day and feed intake recorded at regular intervals over the day (8 h). Following the onset of feed intake depression in the infected group (9 weeks after commencing dosing), all animals were treated with an analgesic (codeine phosphate per os), an anti-inflammatory agent (indomethacin per os), a CCK antagonist (L364-718 by subcutaneous injection) or saline (control) in a replicated Latin square design (n = 8). Although the pattern of feed consumption was similar in infected and non-infected lambs, average daily intake was reduced 32 % and short term intake (recorded at 10 minute intervals for the first hour of feeding, 15 minute intervals for the second hour and hourly for the next 6 hours of feeding) reduced 40 % by infection. This identified the key component by which intake was depressed and enabled the use of a short term intake model and short duration of action compounds to identify the pathways involved in intake depression in this sequence of experiments. None of the pharmacological treatments increased intake in the infected group. These results suggest a reduction in the rate of consumption due to reduced hunger signals, rather than change of meal eating patterns, is the major cause of feed intake depression. Specific conclusions about the pathways investigated using the pharmacological agents could not be obtained. Experiment 2 (Chapter 5) was designed to investigate the roles of pain and osmolality on feed intake depression. Digesta samples collected prior to and during parasite infection and before and after feeding had similar osmolalities (240-260 mosmol/l) which indicated that feeding or infection had no effect on osmolality of digesta. Following the onset of feed intake depression in infected animals, all animals were treated in a Latin square design (n = 4) with no treatment, saline, local anaesthetic (xylocaine) or analgesic (codeine phosphate) solution 15 minutes before feeding, by slow injection into the duodenum. There was no effect of these treatments on food intake. In the second part of the experiment, hyperosmotic solutions (mannitol and NaCI) markedly depressed short term intake in non-infected animals, suggesting a role for osmoreceptors in intake regulation. However these effects were not blocked by local anaesthetic so the depressed intake may have resulted from generalised malaise rather than from specific osmoreceptor effects. In Experiment 3 (Chapter 6) the role of peripheral CCK on intake depression was examined by a dose-response study utilising the CCK antagonist, loxiglumide. Intravenous injection of 5, 10 or 20 mg/kg LW of loxiglumide to infected lambs 10-15 minutes before feeding (n = 6) had no effect on feed intake at any of the dose levels. In experiment 4 (Chapter 7) loxiglumide was infused intravenously for 10 minutes (30 mg/kg/h) before feeding and for the first 2 h (10 mg/kg/h) after feed was offered to minimise any effect of the rate of clearance of loxiglumide on the lack of feed intake response. As well, the rate of marker disappearance from the abomasum was recorded in both infected and non-infected animals. Continuous infusion of loxiglumide did not attenuate parasite induced intake depression nor did it have any effect on abomasal emptying. Abomasal volume was reduced by infection (66.3 vs 162 ml) as was the fractional outflow rate (2.2 vs 2.8 ml/min) but these differences were accounted for by the lower level of feed intake in the infected animals. In Experiment 5 (Chapter 8) brotizolam, a benzodiazepine appetite stimulant, thought to act on the hypothalamus, was administered in a dose-response study to infected and non-infected animals (n = 4) immediately prior to feeding or following termination of the first meal (45 minutes after feeding) and the feed intake response recorded. Brotizolam elevated both the short term (0-0.75 h), daily (22 h) intake and all time intervals in the first 5 h after feeding in infected and non-infected animals when administered after the first meal but when administered prior to feeding elevated intake only over the first 6 h of feeding. In both cases the magnitude of the response was greater in infected animals than in non-infected animals. Brotizolam appeared to increase the rate of eating without having a major impact on meal eating patterns when administered before feeding. Where administration was after the first meal, the effect was due to an "extra" meal being consumed. These findings showed that infected animals can respond to central stimulators of intake although the mechanism of the response is not known. Opioids were implicated in intake depression as the rate of intake rather than meal patterns appeared to be the major parameter depressed under parasitism. This was examined in experiment 6 (Chapter 9) where animals (n = 6) were fasted for 26 h or not fasted, then treated with saline (control), brotizolam (intake stimulant) or naloxone (opioid antagonist) immediately prior to feeding. Fasting stimulated feed intake in the short term (100 % increase in 75 min) and over the day (12 % increase) in both infected and non-infected animals. Following fasting, infected animals ate a similar amount of feed to the non-infected, fasted animals and more than the non-infected, non-fasted animals. The signals resulting from a one day fast were sufficient in the short term to override parasite induced mechanisms causing feed intake depression. Naloxone suppressed the intake stimulatory effects of a 26 h fast in both infected and non-infected animals, which supports a role for endogenous opioids as hunger signals. Where animals were not fasted, naloxone reduced intake only in the non-infected animals which suggested endogenous opioid levels may be lower in infected animals than in non-infected animals. In the final experiment (Experiment 7, Chapter 10) the role of central hunger and satiety mechanism were investigated. Infected and non-infected animals (n = 6) were treated with naloxone or saline by intravenous injection, or saline and met-enkephalinamide (an opioid analogue) by intracerebral infusion, or naloxone and the opioid analogue simultaneously to investigate the role of central opioids in feed intake depression. To determine the role of CCK induced satiety signals on feed intake at a central level, loxiglumide and CCK were infused separately and in combination for 30 minutes prior to feeding and for the first 60 minutes of feed on offer, into a lateral cerebral ventricle of the brain of infected and control animals (n = 6). The opioid analogue tended to increase intake in infected animals but the effect was not significant probably because the dose used was too low to elicit a response in sheep. Naloxone depressed intake only in the infected animals, which conflicted with the results of Experiment 4. As a consequence these results were inconclusive because of the single low dose of opioid analogue used and the conflicting naloxone responses. CCK alone depressed intake by 39-52 % only in infected animals and this effect of the 90 minute infusion was evident over the 8 h short term recording period. Loxiglumide attenuated the feed intake depressive effects of CCK in the infected animals to the extent that intake was elevated above control levels. Loxiglumide alone was an intake stimulant in both infected and non-infected animals. Intake was increased over the entire 8 h but mostly in the second hour when intake was increased by 188 % in infected animals and by 16 % in the non-infected animals and resulted in almost continuous eating. These results showed loxiglumide will temporarily block the effect of parasite infection on feed intake in sheep when administered centrally and the fact that it blocked the effects of exogenous CCK on intake indicated that the effect is mediated via CCK receptors. In conclusion GIT parasite infection reduced both short term and daily feed intake apparently by a change in rate of intake rather than any alteration in meal patterns. It was further suggested that anyone of a number of potential peripheral pathways, including changes to osmolality, gut emptying, pain and inflammation of the gut, alone is not involved in anorexia in sofar as the compounds used could block these factors and the results support the idea that intake depression is mediated via a central mechanism. Intake in infected animals responded to a much greater extent when fasting, i.c.v. loxiglumide or brotizolam were employed. Feed intake thus appears to be regulated through the same mechanisms in infected and non-infected animals. The results from compounds affecting the central mechanism suggest central CCK receptors are important in parasite induced anorexia, possibly by changing the onset of satiety or by interacting with endogenous opioids to reduce the rate of feed intake. Secondly reduced endogenous opioids may be causing the reduction in the rate of feed consumption alone or as a result of other interactions. It was concluded that intake in parasitised animals could be increased to that of control animals by employing procedures and compounds thought to act on the hypothalamus.

Diss. (sammanfattning) Uppsala : Sveriges lantbruksuniversitet, 2005. / Härtill 4 uppsatser.

FILGUEIRA, Thales Marcel Bezerra. Uso de subprodutos do arroz na alimentação de codornas do tipo corte. 69 f. : Dissertação (Mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Ceará, Centro de Ciências, Departamento de Zootecnia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zootecnia. Fortaleza-CE, 2012. / Submitted by Eric Santiago (erichhcl@gmail.com) on 2016-08-09T13:58:51Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2012_dis_tmbfilgueira.pdf: 607547 bytes, checksum: 66e151366361f7577732f4a52d190a48 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Nádja Goes (nmoraissoares@gmail.com) on 2016-08-09T14:33:57Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2012_dis_tmbfilgueira.pdf: 607547 bytes, checksum: 66e151366361f7577732f4a52d190a48 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-09T14:33:57Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2012_dis_tmbfilgueira.pdf: 607547 bytes, checksum: 66e151366361f7577732f4a52d190a48 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2012 / In order to evaluate the effects of replacing corn for broken rice (QA) and the inclusion of parboiled rice bran (FIAP) in rations for meat quails, two experiments were conducted in the period 7 to 49 days age. In each trial, 288 quails with seven days of age were distributed in a completely randomized design with six treatments and six replications of eight birds for experimental unit. In the first experiment, was tested the levels of 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 and 100% of replacement corn by broken rice and it was observed that the replacement of corn for broken rice did not significantly influence the performance and carcass characteristics of quails at different stages of creation, neither economic viability. In the second experiment, the treatments were a control diet without the inclusion of FIAP, and the other containing 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25% of FIAP. There was a linear decrease in the apparent digestibility of dry matter (CDMS) and crude energy (CDEB) and a linear increase of apparent metabolizable energy (EMA) and apparent metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen (EMAn) with the inclusion of FIAP in rations, above 5%. Therefore, there was a linear decrease in feed intake and weight gain, without influence in feed conversion, carcass characteristics and parameters of bone quality. Although there was some reduction parameters when FIAP increased above 5%, the performance of birds fed with different levels of FIAP was similar in relation to the control group. Furthermore, the use until 25% of FIAP provided better economic viability. It can be argued that the broken rice can replace corn in the feeding of meat quails at levels up to 100%, while the FIAP can be included in rations in proportions of up to 25% without affecting carcass characteristics. / Com o objetivo de avaliar os efeitos da substituição do milho por quirera de arroz (QA) e da inclusão do farelo integral de arroz parboilizado (FIAP) nas rações de codornas do tipo corte, foram realizados dois experimentos no período de 7 a 49 dias de idade. Em cada experimento, 288 codornas com sete dias de idade foram distribuídas em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com seis tratamentos e seis repetições de oito aves por unidade experimental. No primeiro experimento, foram testados os níveis de 0, 20, 40, 60, 80 e 100% de substituição do milho pela quirera de arroz e observou-se que não houve influencia significativa sobre o desempenho e as características de carcaça das aves, nas diferentes fases de criação, nem tão pouco sobre a viabilidade econômica. No segundo experimento, os tratamentos consistiram de uma ração controle, sem a inclusão de FIAP, e as demais contendo 5, 10, 15, 20 e 25% de FIAP. Houve decréscimo linear nos coeficientes de digestibilidade da matéria seca (CDMS) e energia bruta (CDEB), bem como aumento linear da energia metabolizável aparente (EMA) e energia metabolizável aparente corrigida para nitrogênio (EMAn) com a inclusão do FIAP nas rações, acima de 5%. Observou-se ainda redução linear no consumo de ração e ganho de peso, sem, contudo influenciar na conversão alimentar, características de carcaça e parâmetros de qualidade óssea. Embora tenha ocorrido redução de alguns parâmetros, quando se aumentou o FIAP acima de 5%, não houve prejuízo significativo nos resultados de desempenho das aves alimentadas com os diferentes níveis do FIAP em relação às do grupo controle. O uso de até 25% de FIAP proporcionou a melhor viabilidade econômica. Pode-se afirmar que a quirera de arroz pode substituir o milho na alimentação de codornas de corte em níveis de até 100%, enquanto, o FIAP pode ser incluído nas rações em proporções de até 25%, sem afetar as características de carcaça.

SANTOS, Sueli Freitas dos. Desempenho produtivo e qualidade do leite de cabras leiteiras alimentadas com dietas contendo quatro níveis de casca de mamona. 2008. xviii, 67 f. : Dissertação (Mestrado) - Universidade Federal do Ceará, Centro de Ciências, Departamento de Zootecnia, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Zootecnia. Fortaleza-CE, 2008. / Submitted by Eric Santiago (erichhcl@gmail.com) on 2016-08-10T12:20:56Z No. of bitstreams: 1 2008_dis_sfsantos.pdf: 693369 bytes, checksum: b677dae87c6b609f03bb72d2e2219625 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Nádja Goes (nmoraissoares@gmail.com) on 2016-08-10T15:19:04Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 1 2008_dis_sfsantos.pdf: 693369 bytes, checksum: b677dae87c6b609f03bb72d2e2219625 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2016-08-10T15:19:04Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 2008_dis_sfsantos.pdf: 693369 bytes, checksum: b677dae87c6b609f03bb72d2e2219625 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2008 / To evaluate the productive performance and milk quality of dairy goats fed diets containing four levels of castor bean hulls, this research was carried out at the dairy goat sector of the Embrapa Goats, at Sobral-CE. Eight dairy goats were used, consisting of Anglo-Nubiana breed, averaging 45 kg of body weight and with approximately 60 days of nursing. The animals were housed in metabolism cages and distributed in a latin square 4 x 4 experimental design. The treatments consisted of four levels (0; 33; 67 and 100%, on a dry/fresh matter basis) of Tifton-85 grass hay substitution by castor beans hulls as roughage feed maintaining a roughage: concentrate ratio of 50:50. Each experimental period was 21 days along, divided in 14 days of adaptation and seven days of data collection. The following variables were measured: voluntary feed intake; nutrients apparent digestibility and nitrogen balance, milk production and constitution,density of milk and fatty acid profile. The substitution of Tifton-85 grass hay by castor bean hulls reduced the consumption of: dry matter, crude protein, ether extract, neutral detergent fiber, non-fibrous carbohydrates and total carbohydrates. It was not observed difference among diets digestibility coefficients. There was influence of the treatments on the digestibility coefficients, resulting in a linear reduction in nitrogen intake and excretion (fecal, urinate and milk) rates and in the nitrogen balances, with means of 27.3, 6.95, 7.90, 5.46 and 7.05%, respectively. There was a decrease in milk production,with the last two levels not differing to each other. In relation to the milk chemical composition, there was no effect of the Tifton-85 hay substitution by castor beans hulls on the crude protein, mineral matter, lactose and total dry extract, but there was an increase in fat levels in 67 and 100% substitution, not sufficient to promote changes in milk density, averaging 1.031 g/l. In relation to the effect of the Tifton 85 hay substitution by castor beans hulls on fatty acids concentration, there was no effect on the myristic (C14: 0), linoelaidic (C18: 2n6t) and conjugated linoleic (CLA 9t11) acids levels, (P<0.05), as well as the profile of polyunsaturated and saturated (AGPOL and AGESS) fatty acids. There was no effect of the treatments on unsaturated, short chain, long chain and monounsaturated fatty acids. The substitution of Tifton-85 grass hay by castor bean hulls reduced the aterogenicity index (IA) of the diet. The castor bean hulls can replace up to 33% of the Tifton-85 grass hay in dairy goats diets without causing major reductions in feed intake and digestibility and also without causing any loss in the physical-chemical composition nor in the milk production / Essa pesquisa teve como objetivo de avaliar o desempenho e a qualidade do leite de cabras leiteiras alimentadas com dietas contendo quatro níveis de casca de mamona, a pesquisa foi conduzida no setor de caprinocultura leiteira da Embrapa Caprinos, localizada no município de Sobral – Ce. Foram utilizadas oito fêmeas caprinas, da raça Anglo-Nubiana, com peso médio de 45 kg e com aproximadamente 60 dias de lactação. Os animais foram alojados em gaiolas de metabolismo e distribuídos em um delineamento em quadrado latino 4 x 4. Os tratamentos consistiram de quatro níveis de substituição do feno de capim-tifton 85 pela casca de mamona como alimento volumoso (0; 33; 67 e 100%), mantendo uma relação volumoso:concentrado de 50:50. Cada período experimental teve uma duração de 21 dias, sendo 14 dias de adaptação a dieta e sete dias de coleta de dados. Para avaliação dos efeitos dos tratamentos, foram observadas as seguintes variáveis: consumo voluntário, digestibilidade, balanço de nitrogênio, produção, composição e densidade do leite e perfil de ácidos graxos da gordura do leite. A substituição do feno de capim-tifton 85 pela casca de mamona reduziu o consumo de matéria seca, proteína bruta, extrato etéreo, fibra em detergente neutro, carboidrato não fibroso e carboidratos totais. Não houve diferença entre os coeficientes de digestibilidade das diferentes dietas. Houve influência dos tratamentos sobre os coeficientes, o que resultou em uma redução linear nos coeficientes de consumo de nitrogênio, excreção (fezes, urina e leite) e no balanço de nitrogênio, com médias de 27,3; 6,95; 7,90; 5,46 e 7,05% respectivamente. Houve um decréscimo na produção, sendo que os últimos dois níveis de substituição não diferiram entre si. Em relação à composição química do leite, não houve efeito da substituição do feno de capim-tifton 85 pela casca de mamona sobre os teores de proteína bruta, matéria mineral, lactose e extrato seco total, porém houve aumento do teor de gordura nos níveis 66 e 100% de substituição, porém isso não causou variação na densidade do leite, cuja média foi de 1,031 g/l. Quanto ao efeito da substituição do feno de capim-tifton 85 pela casca de mamona sobre a concentração dos ácidos graxos, houve efeito sobre os teores dos ácidos mirístico (C14:0), linoelaidico (C18:2n6t), linoléico conjugado (CLA 9t11 (P<0,05) e para o perfil de ácidos graxos poliinsaturados e saturados (AGPOL e AGESS). Não houve efeito dos tratamentos sobre ácidos graxos insaturados, cadeia curta, cadeia longa e monoinsaturados. A substituição do feno de capim-tifton 85 pela casca de mamona reduziu o índice de aterogenicidade (IA) da dieta. A casca de mamona pode substituir em até 33% o feno de capim-tifton 85 na dieta de cabras leiteiras sem ocasionar grandes reduções no consumo e digestibilidade, assim como também sem ocasionar qualquer prejuízo na produção e na composição físico-química do leite.

Submitted by Marcos Anselmo (marcos.anselmo@unipampa.edu.br) on 2017-06-05T17:38:31Z No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) ANDRESSA MARIZA RIBEIRO GERALDO.pdf: 730207 bytes, checksum: 5df837babcc118e5f1db740d596c32b6 (MD5) / Approved for entry into archive by Marcos Anselmo (marcos.anselmo@unipampa.edu.br) on 2017-06-05T17:42:09Z (GMT) No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) ANDRESSA MARIZA RIBEIRO GERALDO.pdf: 730207 bytes, checksum: 5df837babcc118e5f1db740d596c32b6 (MD5) / Made available in DSpace on 2017-06-05T17:42:09Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 2 license_rdf: 1232 bytes, checksum: 66e71c371cc565284e70f40736c94386 (MD5) ANDRESSA MARIZA RIBEIRO GERALDO.pdf: 730207 bytes, checksum: 5df837babcc118e5f1db740d596c32b6 (MD5) Previous issue date: 2016-07-21 / O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar o desempenho de carpas capim (Ctenopharyngodon idella) alimentadas com dietas suplementadas com diferentes aditivos no consumo de forragem teosinto (Euchlaena mexicana). O delineamento foi inteiramente casualizado com 4 tratamentos em triplicata, sendo, TCont: dieta controle; TPre: dieta com prebiótico (casca de soja: 5%/Kg de ração); TPro: dieta com probiótico (B. cereus e B. subtilis: 0,5%/Kg de ração) e TSim: dieta com simbiótico (níveis de probiótico e prebiótico juntos). As rações formuladas tinham 30% PB e 3000 kcal/ED/Kg. O período experimental foi de 70 dias nos quais os peixes foram alimentados com 3% PV de ração e forragem ofertada a vontade. Foram avaliados os parâmetros de desempenho zootécnico, conversão alimentar aparente, índices corpóreos, análise centesimal corporal e parâmetros hematológicos. Para análise estatística foi realizada ANOVA com P<0,05 e teste de comparação de médias. Os resultados indicaram que a inclusão de probiótico, prebiótico e simbiótico na concentração usada apresentaram melhor consumo de forragem em relação ao controle, mas não em relação o desempenho zootécnico dos animais. Também, a inclusão dos aditivos proporcionou menor gordura corporal nos animais. Palavras chave: Aquicultura. Bacillus cereus. Bacillus subtilis. Casca de soja. Ctenopharyngodon idella. Nutrição de peixes. / The aim of this study was to evaluate the performance of grass carp (Ctenopharyngodon idella) fed diets supplemented with different additives in the consumption of forage teosinte (Euchlaena mexicana). The experimental design was completely randomized with 4 treatments in triplicate being TCont: control diet; Tpre: prebiotic (soybean hulls: 5%/kg of diet); TPro: Probiotic (B. cereus and B. subtilis: 0.5%/kg of diet) and Tsyn: synbiotic (probiotic and prebiotic levels together). The diets formulated had 30% CP and 3000 kcal / DE / kg. The experimental period was 70 days in which fish were fed 3% BW feed and forage offered ad libitum. It were evaluated the growth performance parameters, aparent feed conversion, corporeal indices, chemical analysis of the boby and hematological parameters. Statistical analysis was performed with ANOVA P <0.05 and mean comparison test. The results may indicate that the addition of probiotic, prebiotic and synbiotic in the concentration used showed better forage intake compared to control, but not over the growth performance of animals. Also, the inclusion of additives provided lower body fat in animals.

Dois experimentos foram conduzidos com o objetivo de identificar a resposta metabólica dos animais consumindo dietas contendo glicerina e verificar o efeito deste ingrediente em alguns parâmetros sanguíneos. No Experimento I foram ultilizados 100 frangos de corte com 20 dias de idade, alojados em gaiolas de metabolismo, distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente aleatorizado, com 5 tratamentos, 4 repetições e 5 aves por gaiola. Os tratamentos consistiram de uma dieta controle, formulada à base de milho e farelo de soja, e outras quatro dietas formuladas com 2,5%, 5,0%, 7,5% e 10,0% de glicerina de biodiesel. A glicerina continha 83,63% de glicerol, 1,83% de sódio e 397 mg/Kg de metanol e foi considerado o valor energético de 3.258 kcal EMAn/kg. As dietas foram isoenergéticas e com valores ajustados dos demais nutrientes. Para os parâmetros sanguíneos (colesterol e triglicerídeos), concentração de glicerol no fígado e peso do fígado não houve efeito significativo (P>0,05) da inclusão de glicerina. A concentração de glicerol no soro das aves consumindo 10% de glicerina aumentou nos primeiros 9 dias de ingestão da dieta (P<0,05), retornando ao nível do controle. No Experimento II, de 1 a 42 dias de idade, foram utlizados 160 frangos de corte, distribuídos em um delineamento inteiramente aleatorizado com 5 tratamentos e 4 repetições. Os tratamentos utilizados foram semelhantes aos descritos no Experimento I. Na primeira fase, grupos de 8 aves foram criadas em gaiolas de metabolismo providas de aquecimento. Na segunda fase, a partir dos 21 dias de idade, as aves foram transferidas de gaiolas e mantidas 4 aves por grupo. As gaiolas eram equipadas com bandeja para coleta de excretas e comedouro e bebedouro tipo calha. Houve um aumento significativo (P<0,05) da ingestão de água pelas aves alimentadas com 7,5% e 10,0% de glicerina no 4° e 8° dias de idade. O consumo de ração aumentou (P<0,05) no 8° e 12° dias de idade das aves nos tratamentos com 2,5% e 7,5% de glicerina e houve redução do consumo com 10,0% de glicerina. A umidade das excretas aumentou (P<0,05) para dietas contendo 5,0%, 7,5% e 10,0% de glicerina no 16° e 20° dias de idade. As diferenças não foram significativas para essas variáveis nas idades. Não houve diferença (P>0,05) para a umidade do conteúdo ileal das aves aos 42 dias. Houve efeito linear (P<0,01) dos níveis de glicerina, aumentando a profundidade de cripta e reduzindo a relação vilo:cripta, sem afetar o comprimento da vilosidade. Níveis elevados de glicerina na ração podem induzir alterações metabólicas em frangos de corte com aumento do glicerol sanguíneo, do consumo de água, da umidade das excretas e da taxa de reposição celular do epitélio intestinal. / Two experiments were conducted with the objective of identifying the metabolic response of chickens fed diets containing glycerin and verify the effect of this ingredient in some blood parameters. In Experiment I, 100 broilers with 20 days of age were housed in metabolism cages and distributed in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments, 4 replications and 5 birds per cage. Treatments consisted of a control diet, based on corn and soybean meal, and four other diets with 2.5%, 5.0%, 7.5% and 10.0% biodiesel glycerin. The glycerin contained 83.63% glycerol, 1.83% sodium and 397 mg/kg of methanol and the metabolizable energy value of 3.258 kcal/kg was considered for formulation. The diets were isoenergetic and with values adjusted for the other nutrientes. For the blood parameters (cholesterol and triglycerides), glycerol concentration in the liver and liver weight there was no significant effect (P>0.05) of inclusion of glycerin. The glycerol concentration in the serum of birds consuming 10% glycerin increased during the first 9 days of ingestion of diet (P<0.05), then returning to the level of the control until 35 d of age. In Experiment II, from 1 to 42 days of age, 160 chicks were distributed in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments and 4 replications. The treatments were similar to those described in Experiment I. In the first phase, groups of 8 birds were raised in heated brooders. In the second phase, from 21 to 42 d of age, the birds were transferred of cages and maintained in groups of 4 birds. The cages were equipped with a tray for excreta collection and trough type feeder and drinker. There was a significant increase (P<0.05) in water intake in birds fed 7.5% and 10.0% of glycerin on the 4th and 8th days. The feed intake increased (P<0.05) on the 8th and 12th daysfor the birds in treatments with 2.5% and 7.5% of glycerin and there was a decrease d consumption with 10.0% glycerin. The moisture of the excreta increased (P<0.05) for diets containing 5.0%, 7.5% and 10.0% glycerin at the 16th and 20th days old. The differences were not significant for these variables at the other ages. There was no difference (P>0.05) for moisture in the ileal contents of birds at 42 days. There was a linear effect (P<0.01) of the levels of glycerin, increasing crypt depth and reducing the ratio villus:crypt ratio, without affecting the length of the villi. High levels of glycerin in the diet may induce metabolic changes in broilers with increase in blood glycerol, water consumption, moisture of the excreta and in the rate of cell replacement in the intestinal epithelium.

Dois experimentos foram conduzidos com o objetivo de avaliar a utilização de dietas com níveis crescentes de glicerina de biodiesel apenas na fase pré-inicial (1 a 7 dias) e apenas na fase final (35 a 42 dias de idade) de frangos de corte, respectivamente. As variáveis analisadas incluíram o desempenho, o rendimento de carcaça e cortes, a retenção de umidade em pintos aos 7 dias, a umidade de cama, a incidência de pododermatite, os níveis plasmáticos de colesterol e triglicerídeos e o custo da ração referente ao ganho de peso. Os tratamentos consistiram de dietas formuladas com 0%, 5% ou 10% de glicerina, sendo isonutritivas e formuladas à base de milho, farelo de soja e óleo de milho. A glicerina usada continha 83,6% de glicerol, 11,2% de água, 1,83% de sódio e 397 mg/kg de metanol, com energia metabolizável estimada de 3258 kcal/kg. No Experimento I, as dietas com glicerina foram fornecidas apenas na fase pré-inicial ou durante todo o ciclo de criação com 1610 aves em um delineamento inteiramente casualizado com 5 tratamentos e 7 repetições. Na primeira semana, as dietas com glicerina promoveram melhora significativa no ganho de peso e na conversão alimentar, sem afetar o consumo de ração e viabilidade. Essa melhora não foi mantida após os 14 dias de idade. Não houve efeito de tratamentos sobre o ganho de peso, consumo de ração e conversão alimentar. Entretanto, houve redução significativa na viabilidade aos 35 dias de idade das aves com 10% de glicerina por todo ciclo, mas não aos 42 dias; ao final do experimento, o índice de eficiência produtiva desse tratamento sofreu redução significativa. A umidade da cama das aves do tratamento com 10% de glicerina por todo ciclo de criação foi mais alta que dos demais a partir dos 21 dias, entretanto a incidência de pododermatite foi mais severa tanto para 5% como para 10% de glicerina por todo ciclo. Os níveis e tempos de fornecimento de glicerina não afetaram o rendimento de carcaça e de cortes ou a gordura abdominal. No experimento II, as dietas experimentais foram fornecidas a 819 frangos apenas na semana final de criação em um experimento inteiramente casualizado com 3 tratamentos e 7 repetições. O desempenho e o custo de ração por kg de ganho de peso não foram afetados pelos tratamentos. Nos Experimentos I e II, as rações contendo glicerina durante todo o ciclo ou apenas na última semana não resultaram em alteração nas concentrações plasmáticas de triglicerídeos e colesterol dos frangos. Dietas contendo 5% ou 10% de glicerina na fase pré-inicial ou 5% de glicerina continuamente não afetam a produtividade de frangos de corte, enquanto o nível de 10% durante todo o ciclo foi prejudicial. Esse mesmo nível de glicerina pode ser usado na dieta dos 35 aos 42 dias de idade sem afetar as aves. / Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of diets with increasing levels of biodiesel glycerin only in pre-starter (1-7 days) and only in the final phase (35-42 days of age) of broilers, respectively. The variables analyzed included the performance, carcass and parts yield, moisture retention in chicks at 7 days, litter moisture, incidence of foot pad dermatitis, plasma levels of cholesterol and triglycerides and diet cost related to weight gain. Treatments were isonutritive diets based on corn, soybean meal and corn oil containing 0, 5 and 10% glycerin. The glycerin used contained 83.6% glycerol, 11.2% water, 1.83% sodium and 397 mg/kg methanol, with estimated metabolizable energy value of 3,258 kcal/kg. In the first experiment, diets with glycerin were provided only in the pre-starter or for the entire growth period with 1610 birds in a completely randomized design with 5 treatments and 7 replications. In the first week, diets with glycerin resulted in significant improvement in weight gain and feed conversion without affecting feed intake and viability. This improvement was not sustained after 14 days of age. There was no effect of treatments on weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion. However, there was a significant reduction in viability at 35 days of age for the birds with 10% glycerin throughout the cycle, but not at 42 days; at the end of the experiment, the productivity index of this treatment was significantly decreased. Litter moisture for the treatment with 10% glycerin throughout the cycle was higher than the for the others from the 21 days, however the incidence of foot pad dermatitis was more severe for both 5% and 10% glycerin treatments for the entire period. The levels and periods of glycerin feeding did not affect carcass and parts yield and abdominal fat. In experiment II, the experimental diets were provided to 819 chickens only in the final week of growth in a completely randomized design with 3 treatments and 7 replications. The performance and feed cost per kg of weight gain were not affected by treatments. In Experiments I and II, the diets containing glycerin throughout the cycle or just in the last week resulted in no change in plasma concentrations of triglycerides and cholesterol of chickens. Diets containing 5% or 10% glycerin in the pre-starter phase or 5% glycerin continually did not affect the productivity of broilers, while the 10% level throughout the cycle was detrimental. This same level of glycerin can be used in the diet from 35 to 42 days without affecting the birds.