Orientador: Hirasilva Borba Alves de Soza / Banca: Vera Fernanda Martins Hossepian de Lima / Banca: Maria Regina Barbieri de Carvalho / Banca: Alexandre Oba / Banca: Ariel Antonio Mendes / Resumo: A busca por alimentos seguros faz da irradiação umas das técnicas de tratamentos de alimentos mais promissoras nos dias atuais, porém, a falta de informações por parte dos consumidores tem sido algo a se destacar. O objetivo do trabalho de pesquisa foi avaliar o efeito da irradiação nas características físicoquímicas, sensoriais e microbiológicas da carne de peito (Pectoralis major) de frangos de corte congelada e armazenada. Foram utilizados 96 bandejas plásticas de polietileno expandido, com aproximadamente 650 gramas de filés por bandeja, das quais 48 bandejas foram recobertas por filme plástico (PVC) e a outra metade (48) foram recobertas por sacolas plásticas e submetidas a vácuo. As bandejas foram submetidas ao congelamento, em túnel por cerca de 9 horas a -36°C e mantidas sob congelamento (-20°C). A irradiação foi realizada em um irradiador comercial de grande porte, por meio de raios gama, provenientes do radioisótopo Cobalto-60 utilizado como fonte, a uma taxa de dose de 4 kGy/h. O delineamento experimental utilizado foi o inteiramente casualizado, com 4 repetições, 24 tratamentos de acordo com um esquema fatorial 2 x 3 x 4, dois tipos de embalagens (filme e vácuo), três doses de radiação (0; 1,5 e 3,0 kGy) e quatro períodos de armazenamento (0, 2, 4 e 6 meses). Os resultados mostram que com a irradiação houve aumentou significativo na oxidação do músculo (TBARS), alterações na cor com aumento na luminosidade e intensidade de vermelho e redução no amarelo. O vácuo promoveu redução nos valores de TBARS, força de cisalhamento,...(Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The search for safety foods makes the irradiation one of the most promising treatments of food, but a lack of information from consumers is something that has to be seen. The aim of this study was to evaluate the radiation effects on physics, chemicals, sensorial and microbiological characteristics of frozen and stored broiler breast meat (Pectoralis major). It was used 96 plastic trays of expanded polyethylene, with approximately 650 grams of filets (breast meat) per tray, 48 trays were covered with plastic film (PVC) and the other half (48 trays) were covered with plastic bags and submitted to vacuum. The trays with the samples were frozen in freezing tunnels for about 9 hours to -36°C and then maintained under freezing temperatures (-20°C). The radiation was accomplished in a commercial reactor, using high-energy gamma radiation, given off by a radioactive source (radioisotope Cobalt-60 - 4 kGy/h).A completely randomized experimental design was used, in a factorial arrangement 2 x 3 x 4 - 2 packing types (plastic film and vacuum), 3 irradiation levels (0; 1,5 e 3,0 kGy) and 4 storage periods (0, 2, 4 e 6 months).The results showed that meat radiation process took to an oxidation increase (TBARS) and to a color alteration, increasing brightness and red values and decreasing the yellow intensity. Vacuum action reduced the TBARS values, shear force, volume and protein of exudates liquid and weight loss during cooking. Radiation reduced the sensorial characteristics, mainly when the radiation level used was 3,0 kGy. However, the use of vacuum was positive, increasing sensorial parameters. The radiation use was effective in the elimination of fecal/totals coliforms, independently of the storage. / Doutor

O Brasil se mantém na posição de maior exportador mundial de carne de frango, e o terceiro em produção, abaixo apenas dos Estados Unidos e da China. O grande avanço na produtividade avícola é devido principalmente ao melhoramento genético. As novas tecnologias na área da genômica animal podem oferecer ferramentas que auxiliam na seleção assistida por marcadores. O presente trabalho teve como objetivo identificar polimorfismos em seis genes (FGFBP1, FGFBP2, CAPN1, CAPN3, MyoG e MSTN) de uma população experimental, validá-los em uma população comercial e realizar a associação dos polimorfismos com características de interesse econômico na avicultura. Para a identificação de polimorfismos foram utilizadas 11 aves (F1) pertencentes à uma população experimental da Embrapa Suínos e Aves, e um polimorfismo de cada gene foi selecionado para a genotipagem em média de 180 animais da geração F2 da população experimental da Embrapa e 311 frangos de corte de uma população comercial através de sondas TaqMan®. SNP 2014G>A (FGFBP1) foi associado com peso eviscerado (PE), e os genótipos do SNP 651G>A (FGFBP2) foram associados com perdas de água por exsudação (EXSU) e teor de vermelho da carne (a*). O polimorfismo g.2554T>C (CAPN1) foi associado com peso vivo aos 35 a 42 dias, peso da coxa, peso do peito, peso da carcaça e luminosidade da carne. O SNP g.15486C>T (CAPN3) foi associado com rendimento da coxa, perdas de água por cozimento da carne e força de cisalhamento da carne. O polimorfismo g.2947A>G (MyoG) foi associado com porcentagem de proteína e cinzas na matéria mineral, porcentagem de cinzas na matéria seca, peso eviscerado, peso de pernas e peso à seleção aos 38 dias. Para o SNP g.324C>T (MSTN) foram observados associações com peso do fígado, conversão alimentar, peso ao abate e peso eviscerado. Os resultados obtidos neste trabalho permitem a indicação dos polimorfismos do tipo SNP, aqui apresentados, como marcadores moleculares, os quais são ferramentas importantes para programas de melhoramento avícola que objetivam seleção de animais geneticamente superiores para características de desempenho, carcaça, desenvolvimento muscular e qualidade de carne. / Brazil is the worlds largest chicken meat exporter, and the third in production, behind the United States and China. The great advance in productivity is due mainly to poultry breeding. New technologies in the field of animal genomics that have provided tools such as marker-assisted selection. This study aimed to identify polymorphisms in six genes (FGFBP1, FGFBP2, CAPN1, CAPN3, MyoG and MSTN) of an experimental population, validate them in a business population and perform the association of polymorphisms with traits of economic interest in poultry. To identify polymorphisms, we used 11 birds (F1) belonging to an experimental population of Embrapa Swine and Poultry, and a polymorphism of each gene was selected for genotyping on average of 180 chickens from an F2 experimental population from Embrapa and 311 broilers from a commercial population using TaqMan® probes. SNP 2014G>A (FGFBP1) was associated with gutted weight (GW), and the genotypes of SNP 651G>A (FGFBP2) were associated with water loss by exudation (EXSU) and meat red content (a*). Polymorphism g.2554T>C (CAPN1) was associated with body weight at 35 to 42 days, thigh weight, breast weight, carcass weight and meat lightness content. The SNP g.15486C>T (CAPN3) was associated with thigh performance, water losses by cooking the meat and meat shear force. Polymorphism g.2947A>G (MyoG) was associated with protein percentage and ash in the mineral matter, ash percentage in dry matter, gutted weight, leg weight and weight to selection for 38 days. The SNP g.324C>T (MSTN) showed associations with liver weight, feed conversion, slaughter weight and gutted weight. The results indicate that the type polymorphisms SNP shown here as molecular markers, which are important tools for breeding programs aimed at poultry selection of genetically superior animals for of performance, carcass, muscle development and meat quality traits.

The objective of this thesis was to evaluate the effect of exogenous enzyme supplementation, phytase and xylanase-glucanase, on AME value of barley in poultry and swine. In the first study, 280 broilers were assigned 1 of 8 treatments. Barley inclusion in the diet resulted in decreased (P < 0.05) performance. There was a treatment × phytase × xylanase-glucanase interaction for dry matter retention with birds fed the corn-SBM-barley diet supplemented with phytase and xylanase-glucanase having higher (P < 0.05) DM retention compared to birds fed corn-SBM-based diet with only xylanase-glucanase supplementation. AME and AMEn of corn-SBM-based diets were greater (P < 0.05) than the corn-SBM-barley-based diets. Energy metabolizability and AMEn of barley significantly increased with xylanase-glucanase supplementation. In the second study, 24 pigs (12 pigs/phase) were assigned to 1 of 4 treatments with xylanase-glucanase and phytase. After a 7-d adaption period, urine and feces were quantitatively collected for 5 d. DE of the barley-based diet supplemented with xylanase-glucanase (3,578 kcal/kg) and phytase and xylanase-glucanase in combination (3,617 kcal/kg) were significantly different. Compared to control diets, exogenous enzymes either significantly improved or had a tendency to improve AME and AMEn value of barley in broilers, but not in growing pigs.

Feed accounts for the highest cost associated in poultry production, with energy-containing feedstuffs being the most expensive portion of the cost of feeding. The increasing demand for poultry meat gives reason to determine accurate apparent metabolizable energy (AME) values for various feedstuff through measuring energy utilization in the birds. The adaptation length of birds fed an experimental diet may affect the determined AME value due to the diet matrix and physiochemical properties of the feedstuff. Therefore, the objective of this thesis was to evaluate a select group of energy-containing feedstuff with different diets and with factors such as coccidia challenge and exogenous enzyme supplementation that may influence the determined AME values in broiler chickens.

Thesis (M.Sc) (Agriculture)--University of Limpopo,2007. / Two experiments were carried out to evaluate the effects of feed restriction during the starter stage and lysine supplementation during realimentation on productivity and carcass characteristics of Ross 308 broiler chickens. In the first experiment, the effects of level and period of feed restriction during the starter period on subsequent productivity were evaluated. A 2 (male and female chickens) x 3 (feeding levels, ad libitum and 75% and 50% of ad libitum) x 3 (restriction periods of 5, 7 and 9 days), factorial arrangement in a Completely Randomized Design was used. The effects interactions were not included in the results because earlier analyses including all the interactions showed that they were not important. Level and period of feed restriction during the starter stage had an effect (P<0.05) on live weight of the chickens at 21 days of age. However, female and male chickens had similar live weights at 21 days of age. Chickens on 75% ad libitum feeding attained complete live weight compensation at the age of 42 days. However, chickens on 50% ad libitum feeding did not ‘catch-up’ with those on ad libitum feeding. Differences due to the period of feed restriction during the starter stage were maintained up to the age of 42 days. Male chickens had higher (P<0.05) live weights at 42 days of age. Abdominal fat pad was not affected (P>0.05) by level and period of feed restriction and sex of chickens at 42 days of age. The second experiment evaluated the effects of feed restriction during the starter stage (14 to 21 days) and levels of lysine supplementation during realimentation (21 to 42 days) on productivity and carcass characteristics of male and female chickens. Feed v restriction affected (P<0.05) live weight of chickens at the age of 21 days and males were heavier (P<0.05) than females at the same age. Chickens on 75% ad libitum feeding attained complete compensation in live weight while those on 50% ad libitum feeding did not. Lysine supplementation during realimentation had no effects (P>0.05) on live weight and carcass characteristics of the chickens at 42 days of age. Male chickens attained higher (P<0.05) live weights than female chickens at 42 days of age. / National Research Foundation

Thesis (MA. Agricultural Management (Animal Production)) -- University of Limpopo, 2014 / This study determined the effect of carrot meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of Arbor acres broiler chickens aged one to six weeks. Experiment I determined the effect of carrot meal supplementation on productivity of Arbor acre broiler chicks aged one to 21 days. Two hundred unsexed Arbor acre broiler chickens were randomly assigned to five treatments with five replicates, each replicate having ten birds. A completely randomized design was used in the first experiment. The treatments were 0 (UA0), 20 (AU20), 50 (AU50), 75 (AU75) or 100 (AU100) g of carrot meal supplementation per kg DM feed. Quadratic equations were used to determine levels of carrot meal supplementation for optimal feed intake, metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of Arbor acre broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Linear equations were used to determine relationships between carrot meal supplementation and productivity variables. Dietary carrot meal supplementation had no (P>0.05) effect on growth rate, live weight and feed conversion ratio of unsexed Arbor acre broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Carrot meal supplementation, however, improved (P<0.05) metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of the chickens. Dietary metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of the chickens were optimized at different carrot meal supplementation levels of 40.5 and 53.57 g/kg DM feed, respectively. No chicken deaths were recorded. Experiment II determined the effect of carrot meal supplementation on productivity and carcass characteristics of female Arbor acre broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. The chickens were randomly allocated to five treatments with five replicates, each having 10 birds, in a completely randomized design. The supplementation levels were 0 (FA0), 20 (FA20), 50 (FA50), 75 (FA75), or 100 (FA100) g of carrot meal per kg DM feed. Quadratic equations were used to determine levels of carrot meal supplementation for optimal feed intake, feed conversion ratio, live weight, metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. Linear equations were used to determine relationships between carrot meal supplementation and production variables. Dietary carrot meal supplementation had no (P>0.05) effect on growth rate, live weight and carcass parts of female Arbor acre broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. Carrot meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) feed intake, feed conversion ratio, metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of Arbor acre broiler chickens aged vi 22 to 42 days. Dietary feed intake, feed conversion ratio, live weight, metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention were optimized at different dietary carrot meal supplementation levels of 52.8, 63.8, 38.0, 42.0 and 44.3 g/kg DM feed, respectively. Dietary carrot meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on tenderness and flavour of female Arbor acre broiler meat. Broiler chickens on diets supplemented with 20, 50 or 100 g of carrot meal per kg DM feed produced meat with better (P<0.05) juiciness values than those of meat from chickens not supplemented with dietary carrot meal and those supplemented with 75 g/kg DM feed. There was a positive relationship between carrot meal supplementation and chicken meat juiciness. It is concluded that carrot meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) metabolisable energy intake and nitrogen retention of unsexed Arbor acre broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. However, carrot meal supplementation had no effect (P>0.05) on growth rate, live weight and feed conversion ratio of unsexed Arbor acre broiler chickens aged one to 21 days. Carrot meal supplementation improved (P<0.05) intake, feed conversion ratio, metabolisable energy and nitrogen retention of female Arbor acre broiler chickens aged 22 to 42 days. However, carrot meal supplementation did not (P>0.05) improve growth rate and live weights of the chickens.

Orientador: Danilo Florentino Pereira / Resumo: O incubatório de ovos tem grande importância na cadeia produtiva, pois éa partir dele que a cadeia produtiva de frango é abastecida. Assim, a ineficiência noincubatório afeta todo o segmento. Foi realizado um experimento com o objetivo deobservar os efeitos da idade da matriz pesada sobre o rendimento de incubação e aperda de calor dos ovos durante o trajeto da sala de incubação até o nascedouro.Foram incubados ovos de matrizes pesadas da linhagem Cobb de três idades: 26,32 e 53 semanas. Esses ovos foram separados em dois tratamentos, sendo T0 otratamento controle, que respeitou os procedimentos adotados normalmente pelaempresa incubadora e T1, que utilizou uma caixa térmica para o transporte dos ovosdurante a transferência. Para ambos os tratamentos a transferência durou cerca de10 minutos em todas as três repetições. Após o nascimento foi realizada a contagemdos pintos nascidos, dos ovos não eclodidos, os cálculos de eclosão eeclodibilidade, a quebra dos ovos não eclodidos para averiguar em qual momento dodesenvolvimento ocorreu mortalidade embrionária, e o peso dos pintos nascidos. Osresultados obtidos mostraram que os ovos de 26 semanas tiveram maiorinfertilidade, o que fez com que a eclosão se apresentasse menor, a eclodibilidade emortalidade não foram diferentes entre as idades. O peso dos pintinhos diferiu nastrês idades mostrando que os pintinhos de matrizes mais velhas são mais pesados.Quanto à perda de calor, os resultados mostrar... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: The incubatory of eggs has great importance in the production chain,since it is the supplier of the production chain. Thus, inefficiency in the incubatoryaffects the entire production chain. An experiment was performed in order to observethe effects of the broiler breeders and the heat loss of the eggs during the transferfrom the hatchery to the hatcher on the yield of the incubation. Eggs from three ages:26, 32 and 53 weeks of Cobb broiler breeders were incubated. These eggs wereseparated into two treatments: T0 as the control treatment, which complied with theprocedures normally adopted by the incubator company and T1 which used a coolerto transport the eggs during the transfer. For both treatments the transfer took about10 minutes in all the three repetitions. After the birth it was made the counting of thehatched chicks, of the unhatched eggs, the calculations of hatching and hatchability,the breaking of the unhatched eggs; all to determine at what time of the developmentthe embryonary mortality took place, and the weight of the hatched chicks. Theresults obtained showed that the eggs of the 26-week breeders had higher infertility,which led to the lower hatching. Hatchability and mortality did not differ between theages. The weight of the chicks differed in the three ages showing that the chicks ofolder breeders were heavier. Regarding the heat loss, the results showed that all theplaces evaluated had temperature and RH out of the recomme... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Mestre

Broiler breeders experience a natural decline in fertility levels as a flock ages. A male management practice such as double interspiking could be applied to counteract this decline. Our objective was to investigate the effects of double interspiking on flock fertility, testosterone concentrations, stress responses, and behavioral responses of broiler breeders in heat stressed environments. Two hundred and eighty-eight broiler breeder pullets and thirty-six broiler breeder roosters (Ross 708) were assigned to three groups at 21 weeks of age (WOA). All three groups were housed in slatted floor pens in which room temperature cycled from 23.8 to 30 C to mimic heat stressed environments. Double interspiking was carried out between two pens at 42 and 52 WOA. Beginning at 32 WOA, eggs were set every two weeks, candled at day 12, and percent fertility calculated. Concentrations of the hormones testosterone and corticosterone (CS) were measured by radioimmunoassays at specific time points in the experiment. Lymphocytes and heterophils were counted in order to calculate heterophil:lymphocyte (H:L) ratios. Behavior was monitored with Panasonic video cameras which recorded video footage using the Noldus MPEG Recorder from 1900 hr to 2100 hr at specific time points. Recordings were analyzed, and frequency of specific behavioral responses of individual (preening, feather ruffling, wing flapping), male-to-male (fighting, pecking, retreating), and male-to-female (attempted and completed mating) behaviors were assessed. The introduction of unfamiliar roosters resulted in a fertility increase (P<0.01) between control and spiked birds after the first interspike and a sustainment of fertility levels after the second interspike. Testosterone concentrations declined (P<0.0001) from 1.95ng/mL to 0.11ng/mL as the birds aged. Corticosterone concentrations differed among bird groups and was elevated (P=.0333) for both groups that were interspiked. H:L ratios were also different among bird groups with all birds housed in the interspiked rooms showing higher ratios. Double interspiking increased the occurrence of male-to-male interactions, but there were no significant differences in male-to-female or individual behaviors. Regardless of treatment, there was a decrease in male-to-female behaviors as the birds aged. Double interspiking does show promise as a tool to increase fertility levels in a broiler breeder flock.

Broiler flocks become frequently asymptomatically contaminated by the enteric bacteria Salmonella sp. and Campylobacter sp. which are human pathogens. Among the strategies developed at farm level to reduce the incidence of these pathogens, some lactic acid bacteria have been shown to be interesting because of their antimicrobial activity and their stimulatory properties on the immune system of poultry. The aim of this thesis was to select bacteria with antagonistic activity against Salmonella or Campylobacter, and to improve their inhibitory effect by the combination with enzymes of polysaccharidase type. The first step of the thesis was an epidemiological study carried out in the Walloon region in order to determine the contamination way of broilers by Campylobacter in free range production. Results showed that the major way of contamination is the open-air range to which the animals have access during the rearing period. A preventive treatment of the open-air range and the straw litter with an antagonistic strain in combination with an enzyme seems thus to be suitable in this case. The second step of the work aimed at the selection of a xylanase for using as a dietary additive in combination with an antagonistic bacterial strain against Salmonella. Four xylanases were studied in vivo for their effect on growth performances of broiler chickens. Diet supplementation with enzyme led to an increased final body weight and daily weight gain (P < 0.05), without difference according to the bacterial or fungal origin of the xylanase. The Belfeed B1100MP xylanase, which is commercialized in he Walloon region, was selected in order to develop a probiotic-xylanase feed additive. The purpose of the third part was to select a bacterial strain with antagonistic activity against Campylobacter for applying on open-air range and broiler litter. An in vitro screening of 12 lactic acid bacteria was realised using a co-culture assay with a growth medium based on straw and dehydrated poultry excreta, supplemented with different cellulase concentrations. Lactobacillus pentosus and Enterococcus faecium showed inhibitory effect against Campylobacter without enzyme which was intensified by cellulose from 200 ppm. Finally, the effect of dietary supplementation with a L. plantarum strain combined with the Belfeed B1100MP (PE treatment) on growth performance, microflora, and faecal Salmonella Typhimurium concentrations, was studied with experimentally infected broiler chickens. The PE diet allowed to partially overcome the negative effects associated with the infection on growth performance and microflora, and to significantly reduce faecal Salmonella concentration.

A series of experiments were conducted to examine protein digestion in the young bird and the physiological changes that affect protein digestion as the bird matures. Trial one determined the effect of age on pH of the gastrointestinal tract. The results showed that the pH of the proventriculus and gizzard decreases with age suggesting that gastric acid secretion increases proportionally with age and this may impact protein digestion. Experiment two examined the effect of age on ileal amino acid (AA) digestibility of feed ingredients. AA digestibility increased from 5 to 21 d and the degree of improvement differed among ingredients and specific AA. This finding coupled with the low AA content of some ingredients demonstrates the importance of using appropriate nutrient digestibility values for young birds when formulating pre-starter and starter diets. Experiment three determined the acid binding capacity (ABC) of feed ingredients and the effect of formulating diets based on ABC on diet ABC, gastrointestinal pH and performance. The research confirmed dramatic differences in ABC among ingredients and that diets could be formulated on the basis of ingredient ABC. However, the range in diet ABC was less than predicted suggesting interactive effects among ingredients. Intestinal pH was reduced however broiler performance was not improved when diets low in ABC were fed. Experiment four examined the effect of diet acidification with HCl on diet ABC, gastrointestinal pH, ileal amino acid digestibility and broiler performance. Improvements in performance and reductions in mortality were observed when broilers were fed acidified diets. Adding acid to diets did not improve AA digestibility and therefore was not the reason for improved performance indicating an alternative mechanism of action. It is concluded that acid production by the proventriculus of young birds is low and increases with age however this does not impact protein digestion. Methods of improving performance of broiler chickens may include diet acidification however this is not the effect of remedying the low acid production by young birds. Therefore, alternative mechanisms are positively affecting broiler performance.