Research was conducted in Sri Lanka to evaluate the feasibility of developing cassava (Manihot esculenta Crantz) leaf meal as an animal feed. In feeding trials with broilers, improvements in performance were observed at 10% inclusion of cassava leaf meal (CLM). High levels (20 and 30%) of CLM depressed gain, feed intake and feed per gain. Weights of spleen and liver (% of body weight) linearly increased with increasing levels of CLM. Carcass pigmentation values favored the CLM-based diets. Dietary additives (methionine, sodium thiosulfate or soybean oil plus methionine) improved the growth of broilers fed 20% CLM diet without, however, having any beneficial effect when added to the basal diet. Gain of broilers tended to decrease with increasing dietary levels of cyanide. Feeding trials with growing pigs showed that CLM can be included up to 26.7% level without any effect on performance. Gain and feed per gain were improved at 13.3% CLM level, whereas marked depressions were noted at 40% CLM level. Results of the balance trials indicated that cassava leaf protein is utilized more efficiently by the pigs, although the nutrients in CLM are not as digestible as those in coconut oil meal. The overall results suggest that bulkiness, low energy content, methionine deficiency and presence of anti-nutritional factors, are the major factors limiting the high level use of CLM in non-ruminant diets. Studies on the processing of CLM revealed that simple drying is sufficient to eliminate almost 90% of the initial cyanide level in the fresh cassava leaves. A combination of chopping and 3-day wilting prior to drying proved most effective in lowering the cyanide level of CLM. Field trials conducted with a short-age cassava variety, MU 22, demonstrated that it is possible to increase cassava leaf dry matter yields by defoliating once during the growing season and to produce within 86% of the normal yield of roots. Two defoliations during the growing season depressed the root crop by more than half. / Ph. D.

Thirteen trials (n=930) were conducted to investigate the supplementation of weanling pigs with high levels of Zn and to compare the availability of Zn from several Zn sources for weanling pigs. In the first four trials, supplementing Zn by injecting Zn acetate either i.m. or i.p. at various times near weaning did not improve postweaning growth performance compared with pigs that were not injected. Additionally, stressing pigs by regrouping and then injecting Zn acetate did not improve growth performance. Serum Zn concentrations were increased in all of the trials by the injection of Zn. In the next five trials, feeding 3,000, 2,000 or 1,000 mg Zn/kg of diet from ZnSO₄, Zn-lysine or Zn-methionine did not improve growth performance immediately after weaning compared with pigs fed diets with 105 mg Zn/kg of diet. Feeding 3,000 mg Zn/kg of diet as ZnO (P < .05) improved growth performance above that of pigs fed 3,000 mg Zn/kg of diet from the other sources, but did not improve growth performance compared to controls. Lower tissue Zn concentrations suggested a lower availability of Zn from ZnO compared with ZnSO₄, Zn-lysine and Zn-methionine. There was little difference in Zn availability among the other sources. In the next three trials, feeding diets with different levels of lysine had little influence on the availability of Zn from Zn-lysine compared to ZnSO₄. Results indicate that Zn from Zn-lysine is not absorbed in conjunction with the lysine component of the complex. Additionally, there were no differences in the availability of Zn from ZnSO₄ compared to Zn-lysine. In the last trial, Zn from ZnO was less available (P < .05) to Zn deficient pigs than ZnSO₄, Zn-lysine or Zn-methionine when rib bone Zn concentration was used as an indicator of Zn availability. In summary, supplementing weanling pigs with high levels of Zn immediately before or after weaning does not appear to improve growth performance. Furthermore, Zn from ZnO is less available to weanling pigs than Zn from ZnSO₄, Zn-lysine or Zn-methionine. / Ph. D.

Thesis (M. Tech. (Agirculture)) -- Central University of Technology, Free State, 2015

Orientador: Urbano dos Santos Ruiz / Co-orientador: Fábio Enrique Lemos Budiño / Banca: Leonardo Susumu Takahashi / Banca: Maria Cristina Thomaz / Resumo: Objetivou-se avaliar dietas com teores crescentes (0%, 3,4%, 6,8% e 10,2%) de farelo de abacaxi na alimentação de leitões desmamados. Foram utilizados 56 leitões, dos 21 aos 63 dias de idade, avaliados quanto aos seguintes parâmetros: desempenho zootécnico; incidência de diarreia; digestibilidades das dietas; excreções nas fezes, totais e por unidade de peso vivo ganho, de matérias seca (MS), mineral (MM) e orgânica (MO), nitrogênio (N) e fósforo (P); morfologia da mucosa intestinal; pesos dos órgãos do trato digestório; tempo de trânsito da digesta; e índices de custos das dietas. As avaliações foram efetuadas em três períodos: I - dos 21 aos 35 dias; II - dos 21 aos 49 dias; III dos 21 aos 63 dias de idade dos leitões. Os animais foram distribuídos em blocos casualizados, de acordo com seus pesos ao início do experimento, com quatro tratamentos e sete repetições. No período II os animais submetidos as dietas com 3,4 e 6,8% de farelo de abacaxi consumiram mais ração (P<0.05), e no período III verificou-se maior ganho de peso (P<0.05) somente dos animais que receberam a dieta com 3,4% de farelo de abacaxi, ambos em relação aos leitões controle. No período III todos os animais que receberam as dietas com adição de farelo de abacaxi apresentaram excreções de MS, MM, MO e N superiores (P<0.05) as dos animais controle. Contudo, as excreções destes componentes nas fezes por unidade de peso vivo ganho no período III, não diferiram (P>0.05) entre os leitões que receberam as dietas sem farelo de abacaxi e os que consumiram a dieta com 3,4% do produto. A adição de farelo de abacaxi as dietas dos leitões diminuiu (P<0.05) as digestibilidades dos nutrientes em todos os períodos e o tempo de trânsito gastrintestinal no período 1. Contudo, não se observou aumentos significativos nos pesos dos órgãos gastrintestinais e danos a estrutura da mucosa intestinal dos animais. A inclusão do farelo de abacaxi em... / Abstract: The aim of this research was to evaluate diets with growing levels of pineapple meal, as a fiber source, in weaned piglets feeding. Fifty six piglets, from 21 to 63 days old, were fed diets composed mainly by corn, soybean meal and dairy products, with the addition of pineapple byproduct in 0%, 3,4%, 6,8% and 10,2%. The parameters evaluated were: growth performance; diarrhea incidence; diets digestibility; excretion in feces, total and per unit of weight gain, of dry (DM), mineral (MM) and organic (OM) matters, nitrogen (N) and phosphorous (P); intestinal mucosa morphology; digestive organs weight; digesta transit time; indices of costs. The trial was divided in three periods: I - from 21 to 35 days; II - from 21 to 49 days; and III - from 21 to 63 days of age. The animals were allotted into a complete randomized design, according with their weight in the beginning of the trial, with four treatments and seven repetitions. In period II the animals fed diets with 3.4 and 6.8% of pineapple meal consumed more feed (P <0.05) than those fed the control diet, and in period III only the animals that received the diet with 3.4% of pineapple presented a higher weight gain (P <0.05) than control piglets. In period III all animals fed diets with added pineapple meal presented higher (P <0.05) excretions of DM, MM, OM and N than the control animals. However, checking the excretions of these components in the feces per unit of live weight gain in period III, it was found that there was no difference (P> 0.05) among the piglets fed diets without pineapple meal and those who consumed the diet with 3.4% of the product. The use of diets with increasing levels of pineapple meal for weanling piglets worsened nutrients digestibility of diets, but no negative effect on the weights of digestive tract organs and intestinal mucosal structure were observed. There were no differences (P> 0.05) in the indices of costs evaluated. Thus, the inclusion of 3.4% of ... / Mestre

Physicochemical properties of different fibrous ingredients were used to determine the influence of feed bulk on voluntary feed intake and gut capacity in weaner and finishing pigs. Physicochemical measures of bulkiness determined on feed ingredients were DM, crude protein (CP), ether extract, ash, water holding capacity (WHC), bulk density, crude fibre (CF), neutral detergent fibre (NDF) and acid detergent fibre (ADF). Among the fibre sources, maize stover had the highest WHC, followed by veld grass, then lucerne hay, maize cob, sunflower husks, groundnut haulms, rice bran and saw dust. The greatest bulk densities (1.4 g DM/ml) were observed in lucerne hay and saw dust, whilst sunflower husk had the lowest (0.7 g DM/ml) (P < 0.001). Rice bran, maize cob and groundnut haulms were the most fermentable fibrous ingredients (P < 0.05). Based on differences in physicochemical properties, six fibres namely lucerne hay, maize cob, maize stover, veld grass, saw dust and sunflower husk were selected and used in formulating fibrous diets fed to growing pigs based on wideness in ranges of their bulk properties. Thirty-one complete diets were formulated by dilution of a conventional weaner feed with increment levels of each fibre source at 0, 80, 160, 240, 320 and 400 g/kg. Each of the diets was offered ad libitum to four of 124 pigs weighing 18.1 (s.d. 1.37) kg body weight, in individual pens, for four weeks. There was a linear decrease in scaled feed intake (SFI) (P < 0.001) as bulk density of the feeds increased. There was a quadratic relationship between SFI and WHC, NDF and ADF, respectively, whereby SFI increased up to a point when it reached its maximum and then started to decrease as bulkiness increased (P < 0.001). By use of the broken stick model, the maximum SFI marking the gut capacity of pigs was attained when WHC = 4.5 ± 1.25 g water/g DM (P< 0.001), NDF = 367 ± 29 g/kg DM (P < 0.001) and ADF = 138 ± 77 g/kg DM (P < 0.01), respectively. The SFI decreased linearly with an increase in bulk density of the feeds (P < 0.001). Four of 84 finishing pigs in individual pens, at 65 (s.d. 1.37) kg body weight were given, ad libitum to each of 21 diets containing graded levels of lucerne, maize cobs, saw dust and sunflower husk. There was a linear decrease in SFI (P < 0.001) as WHC increased. There was a quadratic decrease in SFI as CF (P < 0.001) and NDF (P < 0.01) increased. As CP increased, there was a quadratic increase in SFI (P < 0.01). In weaner pigs, an increase in WHC, NDF, ADF and bulk density constrains feed intake, thereby providing relationships that can be used to predict gut capacity. Conversely, measurements of feed bulk cannot provide relationships with intake that can be used to predict gut capacity in finishing pigs. / Thesis (M.Sc.Agric.)-University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.

Physicochemical properties of fibre-based diets were used to determine the influence of feed bulk on physicochemical properties of digesta within each segment of the gastrointestinal tract and digesta in pigs. In the first experiment, three pigs (14 ± 1.2 kg body weight (BW) were allocated to each of six diets containing maize cob levels at 0, 80, 160, 240, 320 and 400 g/kg DM inclusion levels for four weeks. All pigs were fed ad libitum. They were slaughtered, eviscerated and weights of the gut compartments were recorded, then contents of digesta from each segment were sampled for the determination of water concentration, water holding capacity (WHC) and swelling capacity (SWC). The WHC of digesta in the stomach, ileum and caecum decreased (P < 0.05) with maize cob inclusion level. The SWC in the stomach decreased with the inclusion level of maize cob meal. The SWC of caecal digesta increased with maize cob inclusion (P < 0.05). Physicochemical properties of digesta increased (P < 0.05) from the stomach to ileum then decreased as the digesta moved through the hindgut. In the second experiment, four fibres namely maize cob, lucerne hay, sunflower husk and citrus pulp were used. These fibres were used in formulating diets for finishing pigs. Twenty-one complete diets were formulated by dilution of a conventional feed with increment levels of each fibre source at 0, 80, 160, 240, 320 and 400 g/kg. Each of the diets was offered ad libitum to four of 84 pigs weighing 80.8 ± 8.15 kg body weight, in individual pens, for 30 days. Stomach weights increased linearly with an increase in neutral detergent fibre (NDF) but increased with quadratic functions with an increase in SWC of the diet (P <0.05). An increase in WHC of the fibrous diets increased linearly the WHC of the proximal colon (P <0.01) at a faster rate compared to the WHC of the distal colon (P <0.001). As the SWC of the diets increased, linear increases in SWC of the digesta in the stomach (P <0.01) and caecum (P <0.001) were observed. The WHC of the digesta was negatively correlated to SWC (P < 0.001) in the stomach. Scaled feed intake (SFI) decreased linearly with an increase in SWC of the diet (P < 0.001). There was no relationship between WHC of the diet and SFI (P > 0.05). There was a linear decrease (P < 0.01) in SFI of finishing pigs as the SWC of the digesta. It can be concluded that the swelling capacity of the diets and stomach digesta in stomach are accurate predictors of scaled feed intake. Swelling capacity had great influence in the stomach weights whilst other bulking properties, such as WHC and neutral detergent fibre, affected the weight and digesta properties in the caecum, proximal and distal colon. / M.Sc.Agric. University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 2013.

Made available in DSpace on 2014-06-11T19:33:36Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 0 Previous issue date: 2012-06-01Bitstream added on 2014-06-13T20:27:49Z : No. of bitstreams: 1 gandra_ers_dr_botfmvz.pdf: 231357 bytes, checksum: 92d3c168799da775daa0fbd8f6879a6d (MD5) / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES) / Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) / Objetivou-se estimar o melhor nível de lisina digestível e sua relação com a energia metabolizável em dietas de suínos dos 50 aos 70 kg de peso vivo. Para tanto, foram realizados dois ensaios de desempenho, um com 72 machos castrados e outro com 72 fêmeas, com pesos médios iniciais de 49,75±0,41 kg e de 46,05±0,38 kg, respectivamente. O delineamento experimental usado nestes experimentos foi em blocos ao acaso com seis tratamentos, seis repetições e dois animais por unidade experimental (baia). No final dos experimentos mediu-se área de olho de lombo e espessura de toucinho na 10ª costela, por meio de ultrassonografia, em todos os animais. Também colheu-se sangue para leucograma de quatro animais dentro de cada tratamento, de forma aleatória, totalizando 24 machos castrados e 24 fêmeas, considerando delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, com quatro repetições por sexo e o animal era a unidade experimental. Os tratamentos foram 7,00; 8,00; 9,00; 10,00; 11,00 e 12,00 g de lisina digestível/kg de ração que continham 14,25 MJ de energia metabolizável/kg de ração e, em média, 160,92 g de proteína bruta/kg de ração. Realizou-se também um ensaio de digestibilidade e metabolismo, com 12 machos castrados e 12 fêmeas, em que foram avaliadas quatro dietas (7,00; 9,00; 10,00 e 12,00 g de lisina digestível/kg de ração), com três repetições e um animal por unidade experimental (gaiola). No ensaio de desempenho das fêmeas observou-se aumento linear na conversão alimentar, no consumo de proteína bruta (g/dia) e na eficiência de proteína bruta no período experimental de 0 a 16 dias. No período experimental de 0 a 32 dias observou-se aumento linear no consumo de proteína bruta (g/dia) e na eficiência de proteína bruta, bem como efeito quadrático no ganho de peso relativo (%) e na... / This study aimed to estimate the optimum level of lysine and its relation to metabolizable energy in diets for pigs from 70 to 100 kg live weight. For this, were two performance tests, one with 72 barrows and other with 72 females, with average initial weight 76.86 ± 0.90 kg and 76.92 ± 0.96 kg, respectively, the experimental design was a randomized block with six treatments and six replicates of two animals per experimental unit (pen). At the end the experiments was measured loin eye area and backfat thickness at the 10th rib by means of ultrasound in all animals. Also picked up blood WBC to four animals in each treatment, totaling 24 males castrated and 24 female maturation, being considered the completely randomized design, with four replications for sex and the animal was the experimental unit. After fasting for 12 hours, were chosen at random, 24 castrated males and 24 females (four per treatment), which were sent to slaughter in the abattoir for commercial Ratings and carcass boning. The treatments were 7.00, 8.00, 9.00, 10.00, 11.00 and 12.00 g of lysine per kg diet containing 14.25 MJ of ME per kg feed and on average 155.20 g crude protein per kg feed. In assay digestibility and metabolism were used 12 castrated males and 12 females, with evaluation of four diets (7.00, 8.00, 11.00 and 12.00 g of lysine / kg) with three replicates and one animal per experimental unit (cage). In the performance test females observed linear... (Complete abstract click electronic access below)

Orientador: Maria Cristina Thomaz / Coorientador: Caio Abércio da Silva / Banca: Pedro Henrique Watanabe / Banca: Fábio Enrique Lemos Budiño / Banca: Márcia Rita Fernandes Machado / Banca: Pamela Rodrigues Reina Moreira / Resumo: Foram conduzidos três experimentos para avaliar diferentes fontes de fibras purificadas e seus efeitos em dietas, com níveis proteicos reduzidos, sobre o desempenho e a saúde intestinal de leitões recém-desmamados. No experimento I foram caracterizadas quatro fontes de fibras purificadas, quanto à capacidade de retenção de água, volume de intumescimento, microestrutura e viscosidade. No experimento II foram avaliados o desempenho, a incidência de diarreia e o tempo de trânsito gastrointestinal de 84 leitões desmamados aos 26 dias de idade. No experimento III foram avaliados o pH, o peso relativo de órgãos do trato gastrointestinal, as concentrações de ácidos graxos de cadeia curta e ácido lático, a morfologia e a microbiologia da mucosa intestinal, os escores de lesão, as células em apoptose e mitose, e a imunidade intestinal de 42 leitões desmamados aos 26 dias de idade. Nos experimentos II e III, os animais foram distribuídos em um delineamento em blocos completos casualizados, com seis tratamentos: DC: dieta controle sem redução proteica; DR: DC com redução de quatro pontos percentuais da proteína bruta; DF1, DF2, DF3 e DF4: DR com adição de 2,0% de lignocelulose, celulose, pectina e goma guar, respectivamente. A inclusão de goma guar à dieta resultou em piores (P<0,05) ganho diário de peso e conversão alimentar, assim como no maior (P<0,05) tempo de trânsito gastrointestinal comparado à inclusão de celulose, que apresentou o menor. O peso final dos leitões f... (Resumo completo, clicar acesso eletrônico abaixo) / Abstract: Three trials were conducted to evaluate different purified fibers sources and their effects in diets with reduced protein level on performance and intestinal health of weanling pigs. In trial I were characterized four purified fiber sources as to the water retention capacity, swelling volume, microstructure and viscosity. Performance, incidence of diarrhea and gastrointestinal transit of time of 84 piglets weaned at 26 days of age were evaluated in trial II. In trial III were evaluated pH, the relative organs weight of the gastrointestinal tract, concentrations of fatty acid short chain and lactic acid, the morphology and microbiology of the intestinal mucosa, the lesion scores, the apoptosis and mitotic cells and the intestinal immunity of 42 piglets weaned 26 days old. In both experiments, the animals were distributed in a randomized complete block design, with six treatments: CD: control diet without protein reduction; RD: CD with a reduction of four percent of crude protein; DF1, DF2, DF3 and DF4: RD with addition of 2.0% of lignocellulose, cellulose, pectin and guar gum, respectively. The inclusion of guar gum in the diet resulted in worse (P<0.05) daily gain and feed conversion, as well as the largest (P<0.05) gastrointestinal transit time compared to the inclusion of cellulose, which had the lowest. The final weight of the piglets was lower (P<0.05) with the addition of guar gum compared to the control diet, pectin and lignocellulose. The animals fed cellulose have the lowest (P<0.05) Lactobacillus count and the best (P<0.05) ratio of villus height and crypt depth, not differing from lignocellulose, but with the other evaluated diets. In the duodenum the number of cells in apoptosis was lower (P<0.05) in the animals fed diet with cellulose, the number of cells in mitosis was bigger (P<0.05) with control diet and pectin and the lesion scores ... (Complete abstract click electronic access below) / Doutor

Os objetivos deste trabalho foram determinar o valor nutricional do farelo de canola (FC) com a adição de complexo multienzimático e avaliar a sua utilização em dietas para leitões na fase inicial (15-30 kg). Foram realizados dois experimentos, um de digestibilidade e outro de desempenho. No Experimento I foi conduzido um ensaio de digestibilidade total com 30 leitões machos castrados de linhagem comercial com peso inicial de 15,4±2,32 kg, distribuídos individualmente em gaiolas de metabolismo, em delineamento experimental de blocos inteiramente casualizado, com seis tratamentos, cinco repetições e um animal por unidade experimental. Os tratamentos consistiram de uma Ração Referência (RR) com e sem adição de complexo multienzimático (carboidrases e proteases) e Ração Referência (75%) + Farelo de Canola (25%) sem e com níveis crescentes (150, 240 e 330 ppm) de complexo multienzimático. Os coeficientes de digestibilidade dos nutrientes foram calculados para a obtenção dos nutrientes digestíveis do farelo de canola. O tratamento que apresentou maior valor de ED (3567 kcal/kg) e EM (3320 kcal/kg) na matéria natural para o farelo de canola foi a Ração Referência (75%) + Farelo de Canola (25%) com adição de 240 ppm de complexo multienzimático. No Experimento II foram utilizados 90 leitões de linhagem comercial de alto potencial genético, metade macho castrado e metade fêmea com 13,89±0,27 kg de peso médio inicial e 27,64± 0,9 kg de peso médio final, distribuídos em delineamento experimental em blocos casualizado com quatro níveis crescentes de inclusão de FC (7,5; 15; 22,5 e 30 %) e adição de 240 ppm de complexo multienzimático (carboidrases e protease), nove repetições e dois leitões por unidade experimental. Adicionalmente, foi formulada uma ração testemunha (0 % de inclusão de FC) e adição de 240 ppm de complexo multienzimático. A análise de regressão indicou que houve efeito (P≤0,05) quadrático do nível de inclusão do FC sobre o consumo diário de ração e a conversão alimentar, com melhor valor ao nível de 20% de FC. Os resultados sugerem que é viável a utilização de até 20% de farelo de canola, suplementado com complexo multienzimático na ração, sem prejuízos no desempenho e NUP de leitões na fase inicial. O estudo da viabilidade econômica indicou que a inclusão do farelo de canola suplementado com complexo multienzimático pode reduzir os custos com a alimentação, dependendo da relação de preços entre os ingredientes. / The objectives of this study were to determine the nutritional value of canola meal (CM) with the addition of multienzyme complex and evaluate its use in diets for starting piglets (15-30 kg). Two experiments, a digestibility and other performance were carried out. Experiment I, digestibility assays was carried out with 30 barrow pigs of commercial line with initial weight of 15.4 ± 2.32 kg, allotted individually in metabolism cages in experimental design of randomized blocks with six treatments, five replicates and one animal per experimental unit. The treatments consisted of a Reference Diet (RD) with and without addition of multienzyme complex (carbohydrases and protease) and Reference Diet (75%) + Canola Meal (25%) without and with increasing levels (150, 240 and 330 ppm) multienzyme complex. The nutrient digestibility coefficients were calculated to obtain the digestible nutrients that of canola meal. The treatment that showed higher DE (3567 kcal/kg) and ME (3320 kcal/kg) as fed basis for canola meal was the Reference Diet (75%) + Canola Meal (25%) with addition of 240 ppm multienzyme complex. In Experiment II it was used 90 piglets from a commercial line of high genetic potential, half castrated male and half female with 13.89 ± 0.27 kg initial weight and 27.64 ± 0.9 kg final average weight, over experimental randomized block design with four increasing levels of inclusion of CM (7.5, 15, 22.5 and 30%) and adding 240 ppm of multienzyme complex (carbohydrases and protease), nine replicates and two piglets per experimental unit. In addition, a control diet (0% of CM inclusion) and adding 240 ppm of multienzyme complex has been formulated. Regression analysis indicated that there was effect (P≤0,05) of the FC inclusion level on daily feed intake and feed conversion in the starting phase. The results suggest that it is feasible to use up to 20% of canola meal supplemented with multienzymatic complex in diet without impairing performance and PUN of starting piglets. The study of the economic viability indicated that the inclusion of canola meal supplemented with multienzyme complex can reduce the cost of feed, depending on the price relationship between the ingredients.

CAPES / Os altos custos com a ração na suinocultura é um dos fatores que mais afeta a atividade, além da fase de creche ser uma das fases mais críticas da produção. Frente a isso, os produtores procuram alimentos que garantam a eficiência da produção e a diminuição dos riscos desta fase. O uso de aditivos como as enzimas podem tornar os nutrientes das rações mais digestíveis e melhorar o desempenho zootécnico dos animais. O objetivo do presente trabalho foi avaliar um complexo multienzimático na dieta de leitões na fase inicial (15 a 30 kg). O experimento foi conduzido na Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Campus Dois Vizinhos na Unidade de Ensino e Pesquisa da Suinocultura (UNEP). Foram quatro tratamentos, T1: Controle Negativo + Complexo Multiezimático (CME); T2: Controle Negativo; T3: Controle Positivo + CME e; T4: Controle Positivo. Foram utilizados 80 leitões, sendo 40 machos castrados e 40 fêmeas, de uma linhagem comercial, com peso inicial médio de 16,88kg+2,69kg, alojados em baias de alvenaria. Os animais foram pesados individualmente a cada semana para mensuração do ganho de peso, as rações fornecidas e as sobras foram pesadas para determinação do consumo de ração e conversão alimentar. O delineamento experimental foi de blocos casualizados, num esquema fatorial 2x2, sendo 2 dietas controles (positivo e negativo) e 2 níveis de enzimas adicionados à dieta (0 e 50 g/ton). Os dados de desempenho e parâmetros sanguíneos foram submetidos à análise de variância e os efeitos de tratamento foram comparados através de análise fatorial para avaliar os efeitos do CME. Por meio da média de peso obtida ao final do experimento, foram selecionados 40 animais, sendo dez por tratamento para coleta de 10 mL de sangue para análise de parâmetros sanguíneos. Para avaliação da viabilidade econômica foi levantado o preço das matériasprimas utilizadas para a obtenção dos custos das rações experimentais, a partir deles foi calculado o custo da ração por quilograma de peso vivo ganho, o Índice de Eficiência Econômica (IEE) e o Índice de Custo (IC). Os resultados demonstram que não houve diferença significativa dos tratamentos (P<0,05) sobre as variáveis de desempenho zootécnico e dos parâmetros sanguíneos de leitões na fase inicial. A viabilidade econômica foi melhor em dietas controle negativo suplementadas com CME quando comparadas as demais dietas experimentais. Portanto, podemos concluir que a suplementação de CME em dietas controle negativo não prejudica o desempenho zootécnico e saúde dos animais e reduz o custo de produção. / The high costs of pig breeding are one of the factors that most affect the activity, and the nursery phase is one of the most critical stages of production. Faced with this, producers seek food that ensures the efficiency of production and reduce the risks of this phase. The use of additives such as enzymes can make feed nutrients more digestible and improve animal performance. The objective of the present study was to evaluate a multienzymatic complex in the diet of piglets in the initial phase (15 to 30 kg). The experiment was conducted at the Universidade Tecnológica Federal do Paraná, Campus Dois Vizinhos, at the Swine research and Training Unit (UNEP). There were four treatments, T1: Negative Control + Complex Multiezimatic (CME); T2: Negative Control; T3: Positive Control + CME e; T4: Positive Control. A total of 80 piglets were used, 40 castrated males and 40 females from a commercial line, with a mean initial weight of 16.88 kg + 2.69 kg, housed in masonry bays. The animals were weighed individually each week to measure the weight gain, the rations provided and the leftovers were weighed for determination of feed intake and feed conversion. The experimental design was randomized blocks, in a 2x2 factorial scheme, two control diets (positive and negative) and two levels of enzymes added to the diet (0 and 50 g / t). Performance data and blood parameters were subjected to analysis of variance and treatment effects were compared through factorial analysis to evaluate the effects of CME. By means of the mean weight obtained at the end of the experiment, 40 animals were selected, of which 10 were used to collect 10 mL of blood for analysis of blood parameters. In order to evaluate the economic viability, the raw material used to obtain the experimental feed costs was calculated. The cost of the ration per kilogram of live weight gained, the Economic Efficiency Index (IEE) and the Index Of Cost (CI). The results showed that there was no significant difference of the treatments (P <0.05) on the variables of growth performance and the blood parameters of piglets in the initial phase. The economic viability was better in negative control diets supplemented with CME when compared to the other experimental diets. Therefore, we can conclude that supplementation of CME in negative control diets do not has negative effect on growth performance and health of animals and reduces the cost of production.