In ovo feeding of creatine monohydrate increases performances of hatching and development in breeder chicks

The current investigation was conducted to test the potential effects of in ovo feeding of creatine monohydrate (CMH) on hatchability, embryonic mortality, hatching weight, and development of heart and gastrointestinal tract (main organs and regions) of breeder chick embryos. Rhode Island Red fertile eggs were randomly distributed into seven experimental treatments: untreated egg (control), a sterile buffered solution (0.50% NaCl), and five solutions containing increased levels of CMH (0.50, 1.00, 1.50, and 2.00%) + 0.50% NaCl, being separated in four groups/replicates (three with 15 eggs and one with 16 eggs), totaling 61 eggs/treatment and a total of 427 fertile eggs used. All-in ovo injected groups with CMH decreased the hatchability and increased the intermediary embryonic mortality. At hatching, all-in ovo injected groups with CMH also increased the hatching weight and stimulated the development of the heart and the total length of the gastrointestinal tract, especially important organs for digestion of nutrients (yolk sac, pro-ventricle and gizzard) and regions for nutrient absorption (jejunum + ileum and colon + rectum). Conclusively, the in ovo feeding using CMH showed positive impacts on hatching weight and the development of gastrointestinal tract of chicks. However, caused negative impacts on hatchability.

TURNOS DE COLETA E PERÍODOS DE TRANSFERÊNCIA DE OVOS DE MATRIZES SEMIPESADAS SOBRE PROCESSOS DE INCUBAÇÃO ARTIFICIAL

O objetivo deste trabalho foi avaliar o efeito de diferentes turnos de coleta e diferentes períodos de transferência dos ovos de matrizes semipesadas sobre a relação pinto sobre ovo, os rendimentos de incubação, mortalidade embrionária, análise termodinâmica, rendimentos de carcaça e desempenho dos pintos. O delineamento experimental foi inteiramente casualizado em esquema fatorial (3 x 2) constituído de dois fatores: turnos de coleta (ovos coletados pelo turno da manhã- 8:00hs às 12:00hs, pelo turno da tarde- 12:01hs às 18:00hs, e pelo turno da noite 18:01hs às 7:59hs) e diferentes períodos de transferência dos ovos (aos 16 e 19 dias) totalizando seis tratamentos com 35 ovos por tratamento, 210 ao todo, sendo cada ovo considerado uma repetição. Os dados coletados foram submetidos à análise de variância e para medida de comparação das médias estimadas foi aplicado o teste de Tukey à 5% de significância. Foram encontradas diferenças significativas (P<0,05) para peso do ovo e peso do pinto entre turnos de coleta; na perda de peso do ovo entre períodos de transferência e nos rendimentos de incubação, na mortalidade tardia e temperatura da cloaca para ambos os fatores. Concluiu-se, portanto que turnos de coleta e períodos de transferência dos ovos podem influenciar diretamente processos de incubação de ovos de matrizes semipesadas. Os turnos de coleta matutino e vespertino apresentaram melhores resultados de rendimentos de incubação e mortalidade embrionária, com ovos e pintos menores. Ovos transferidos com 16 dias apresentaram melhores resultados de perda de peso do ovo, peso do pinto e rendimentos de incubação.

Powdered coconut water as preservant of semi-heavy cocks semen

SUMMARY This study aimed to evaluate the effect of powered coconut water as preservant of cocks semen in different times. The experimental method was completely randomized, with treatments constituted by different times (1, 5, 10 and 15 minutes) of powered coconut water as preservant of cocks semen (Rhode Island Red lineage with 30-weeks). After collect and use of powered coconut water as preservant, the semen samples were used for inseminated of breeders of same lineage and age (16 per treatment). 280 eggs were collected for evaluation of effects on chicks (70 eggs per treatment). Were evaluated the incubation yields, chick/egg relation and gastrointestinal tract development of chicks. The data collected were submitted for variance analysis and evaluated by Tukey test at 5% of significance. Differences (p<0.05) were observed in incubation yields, chick/egg relation and gastrointestinal tract development, with the exception (p>0.05) of oropharynx + oesophagus length and yolk sac weight. From these results, it was concluded that the powered coconut water can be used as preservation of cocks semen up to 15 minutes. Cells exposed more time to nutrients provided by the powdered coconut water showed eggs and chicks most heavier, and better results in the incubation yields and embryo development.

<b>Brazil nut oil in diets for breeder cocks

 This study aimed to evaluate the inclusion of Brazil nut oil in diets for breeder cocks on performance, semen analyses, biochemical serum profile and testicular morphology. Forty-two Rhode Island Red breeder cocks with 40 weeks of age were used. The experimental design was completely randomized consisting of seven levels of Brazil nut oil (0; 0.30; 0.60; 0.90; 1.20; 1.50 and 1.80%) in the diets. Data collected were evaluated by polynomial regression. Differences (p < 0.05) were detected in feed conversion, semen volume, motility, vigor, pH, swirling and concentration, in which the inclusion of Brazil nut oil in the diets improved the reproductive performance. Differences (p < 0.05) were also detected in the biochemical serum profile (triglycerides, cholesterol and blood pH); the inclusion of Brazil nut oil caused a large increase in blood triglycerides and cholesterol levels, consequently, changing the blood pH. The Brazil nut oil can be used as an energetic additive in diets given to breeder cocks, promoting better reproductive performance, without changing semen and testicular morphology, but altering the biochemical serum profile of the birds.