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ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of inclusion of two acidifiers blend (with different protection levels) on the acidification potential in vitro, apparent total tract digestibility of diet nutrients, blood metabolites, and average daily gain of nursery piglets. Two commercial acidifiers blend additives (AC1 and AC2) were evaluated. The acidification potential of the two acidifiers blend added to the diet were tested by buffering capacity and initial pH in vitro. For the evaluation of apparent digestibility of diet nutrients, blood metabolites and average daily gain, two experiments were carried out. The AC2 acidifier had a greater effect on the initial reduction in pH and a lower linear buffering rate of the diet. The use of acidifiers did not improve the nutrient digestibility of the diets and had no effect on the blood metabolite concentrations of urea, total protein, albumin, globulin, and lactate. Although the inclusion of acidifiers in the diets did not affect the apparent total tract digestibility of the diet nutrients the inclusion of the AC2 acidifier at different levels showed a negative quadratic effect on the average daily gain, with the best inclusion level being 0.26%.

ABSTRACT The utilization of antimicrobials in animal production, causes selection of resistant bacteria. The objective of this study was to compare the utilization of alternatives in association with preventive antibiotic therapy in swine feed during the growing and finishing phases. 1,045 animals were used from 60 to 190 days of age and were subjected to six treatments with 16 repetitions as follows: 1) antibiotic free; 2) antibiotics; 3) prebiotic; 4) probiotic; 5) essential oils; and 6) organic acid. Animals were weighted, and clinical history was recorded including mortality and diarrhea. At the abattoir, pneumonia index and gastric ulcers were investigated. The cost for each treatment was discussed. No difference between treatments were observed (P>0.05) regarding feed conversion rate (2.64±0.03), overall average weight gain (107.06±0.9kg), average daily weight gain (856.49±7.7g) and carcass weight (92.4±0.7kg). The application injectable drugs in animals presenting clinical symptoms, represented US$ 0.56/intervention, without difference between the treatments (P>0.05). Furthermore, independently of the treatment, high frequency of pneumonia was observed (>0.90). No difference for the degree of gastric ulcer nor feces consistency were observed (P>0.05). The utilization of antibiotic therapy and alternatives to antibiotics in feed did not produce benefits to the production indices and sanitary performances of the animals.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the variations in the stability and nutrient concentration in concentrates for piglet feeding. Five treatments were established: T1 - Control, standard concentrate formulation (SCF); T2 - PXMore5, SCF with more 5% vitamin-mineral premix (VMP); T3 - PXLess5, SCF with less 5% VMP. All these three treatments used 400kg batches in an INTECNIAL mixer; T4 - FeedMixer, SCF using a 4,000kg batch in an IMOTO mixer; T5 - PremixMixer, SCF using a 1,200kg batch in an MUYANG mixer. For each treatment, bags of 20kg were stored in three storage places for four months where room temperature and relative humidity was recorded daily. The concentration of nutrients was evaluated through centesimal and mineral analysis. The water activity of concentrate was affected by temperature and relative air humidity in different storage places. The greatest variation in concentration of crude protein, mineral residue, copper, zinc, and selenium was due to the PremixMixer treatment. Regarding the guaranteed levels, the critical value was verified only for the chrome concentration.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the reasons of quality deviation of a concentrate from a predefined standard. Five treatments were established: T1 - Control, standard concentrate formulation (SCF); T2 - PXMore5, SCF with more 5% vitamin-mineral premix (VMP); T3 - PXLess5, SCF with less 5% VMP. All three treatments used a 400kg batches in an INTECNIAL mixer; T4 - FeedMixer, SCF using a 4,000kg batch in an IMOTO mixer; T5 - PremixMixer, SCF using a 1,200kg batch in an MUYANG mixer. For each treatment, bags of 20 kg were stored in three storage places for four months. Water activity of concentrate was affected by temperature and air relative humidity in different storage places. Regarding the kind of mixer, the greatest variation in concentration of crude protein, mineral residue, copper, zinc, and selenium was observed in the PremixMixer. Adjustments are imperative in the handling and use procedures of this kind of mixer to meet the quality requirements required in the concentrate production. Analyzing the effect of the mineral-vitamin premix level, no difference could be defined with the evaluated parameters.

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate swine females of different genetic lines submitted to different reproductive management and housing systems during pregnancy on reproductive performance and animal welfare parameters. After artificial insemination protocol, 524 females were divided into two gestation housing systems: PEN1=animals housed in individual stalls during the breeding and after group-housed; PEN32=animals housed in individual stalls from breeding until 32 days of pregnancy and after group-housed. The number of piglets born, and the pregnancy and farrowing rates were evaluated. Welfare parameters related to the pregnancy phase were used. Females who weaned more piglets in the previous farrowing had a higher number of piglets born at the next farrowing. The pregnancy rate was affected by the number of semen doses. The farrowing rate was not influenced by the evaluated parameters, with average value of 91.36%. There was no effect of the gestation housing system and the genetic lines on pregnancy and farrowing rates, with values above 90.0%. The animal welfare indicators showed more compromised parameters in PEN1 system. PEN1 system did not impair the reproductive performance although it presented more compromised animal welfare parameters.

Em um delineamento experimental usando o fatorial 3x2, três crioprotetores internos, glicerol (GLI), etilenoglicol (EG) e dimetilformamida (DMF), e dois externos, gema de ovo (GEMA) e lipoproteína de baixa densidade (LDL), avaliaram-se a motilidade ao descongelamento de GLI-GEMA 53,9±1,96, sendo superior aos demais tratamentos (P0,05) entre os tratamentos EG-GEMA 68,3±1,58, EG-LDL 72,2±2,39 e DMF-GEMA 68,7±1,67 que foram mais altos que os demais (P0,05), mas foram mais elevados que os demais (P

Neste estudo, identificaram-se polipeptídeos associados à integridade da membrana plasmática (IMP) de espermatozóides suínos após o processo de congelamento/descongelamento. Por meio do perfil protéico do plasma seminal em SDS-PAGE, observou-se a presença de nove bandas polipeptídicas com pesos moleculares que variaram de 11,97 a 122,52kDa. Detectou-se que uma banda de 26,58kDa esteve associada à baixa IMP (Polypeptides associate to membrane integrity (MI) of swine spermatozoa submitted to freezing and thawing were identified. The protein profile of seminal plasma analyzed by SDS-PAGE allowed the identification of nine polypeptide bands with molecular weight ranging from 11.97 to 122.52kDa. One 26.58kDa band was associated with reduced MI (

ABSTRACT The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of pST injections on metabolism, testicular size, and sperm characteristics in young boars. Sixty 22-day old piglets were divided into two groups: pST (n=30) and Control (n=30). The pST group was submitted to pST injections (90µg/kg body weight) every three days up to 330 days of age. Blood collections were performed weekly. Testicular weight was measures at 22, 82, 142, 202 and 365 days of age. Libido and fresh semen characteristics were evaluated between 150 and 210 days of age. Semen characteristics were also evaluated during a 72h storage period (15ºC). Testosterone, albumin, and phosphorus blood concentrations were higher in the pST group (P