The experiment was carried out to determine the optimum inclusion level of dried egg powder (DEGG) in the pre-initial and growing rations of broilers. Male Cobb-500 chicks (n= 1,152) with initial live weight of 43.46 ± 0.23 g were housed in cages of 1,0 × 1,5 m. A completely randomized design with four rations 0, (0.5, 1.0 and 1.5% of DEGG), each one with 18 replications of 16 birds. Isoproteic and isoenergetic rations were used, with 21.9% CP and 2,950 […]

Two experiments were carried out to estimate sodium requirements for brown-eggs laying hens in the late first and during second egg-production cycle. A completely randomized design was used, with seven sodium levels (0.08, 0.13, 0.18, 0.23, 0.28, 0.33 and 0.38%), six replications of six birds in the late first egg-production cycle and five replications of six birds in the second egg-production cycle. In the late first egg-production cycle, sodium levels (SL) had no effect on feed intake (FI), egg weight […]

This experiment was carried out to determine of the values of apparent metabolizable energy (AME) and nitrogen corrected apparent metabolizable energy (AMEn) and to determine of the chemical composition of some feeds. The traditional method of total excreta collection was used with male broilers chickens in the period from 21 to 30 days old and 41 to 50 days old. The birds were distributed to a completely randomized experimental design, with eleven diets, ten with tested feeds and one reference […]

The objective of this study was to determine the true ileal digestibility coefficients of the protein and digestible amino acid of a yeast protein extract using two techniques – diet without protein (DIP) and diet with enzime-hydrolysed casein (CHE) – for the determination of protein amino acid and nitrogen losses. Twelve half-breed barrows were used, with average weight of 35 kg, previously submitted to a surgery for “T” simple cannula implantation. A completely randomized experimental design with three treatments, four […]

The coefficients of apparent (CADP) and true (CTDP) digestibility of phosphorus of eleven plant feed of vegetal origins commonly used in swine feeds were determined in this research. Seventy eight crossbred barrows were distributed to completely randomized experimental design, with a factorial arrangement 2 × 2 × 13 (methodology × phase × treatment) with three replicates per treatment. The digestibility coefficients were evaluated by using simultaneously both methodologies, total fecal collection and fecal marker (Cr2O3), in two production periods, growing […]

Estimates of genetic and phenotypic parameters for performance traits in paternal broiler lineages selected during 12 generations were obtained through mixed models methodology. Data consisting of body weight (P42), breast length (CPeito), largest (Larg1) and smallest (Larg2) breast widths recorded at 42 days of age in approximately 46,000 birds between 1992 and 2003 provided by CNPSA/EMBRAPA were used to estimate (co)variances by REML. The heritability estimates were moderate, ranging from 0.29 to 0.53. Genetic correlations estimates between P42 and CPeito, […]

This study aimed to calculate new accumulated and daily functions based on the Michaelis-Menten equation to estimate the 305-days production of Gir cows using test day milk yields. Data consisted of 7,412 lactation records of 3,416 Gir cows (Bos indicus) collected from 1987 to 2004 in 51 herds assisted by the National Breeding Program of the Dairy Gir, coordinated by the Dairy Cattle National Research Center (EMBRAPA) and the Brazilian Association of Dairy Gir Breeders (ABCGIL). The models included the […]

Livestock genomics is aimed at dissecting the genetic control of variation in economically important trait, such as disease resistance and product yield/quality. Unraveling the genetic control of such complex traits remains very challenging but farm animals are now well placed to bridge the gap between human biology and traditional model species. Livestock species share with model species the benefits of controlled breeding, while their biology is often much closer to that of humans. Livestock genetics can exploit the abundant genetic […]

This study aimed to estimate the genetic diversity among Elephantgrass accessions using molecular markers. DNA samples of 30 accessions were obtained to perform PCR amplification using RAPD technique. Twenty random primers were used to obtain 88 high intensity and reproducible DNA bands (64 were polymorphic and 24 were monomorphic). Accessions were grouped by genetic distance estimates using UPGMA clustering. Genetic distances among Porto Rico, Santa Rita, IJ-7136 cv EMPASC 307; Mineiro and Mineiro Ipeaco accessions were null, suggesting that they […]

Three different models including or not the direct and maternal non-additive effects and the fixed effects of contemporary group, parity order, direct and maternal heterosis and the direct and maternal additive genetic random effects were compared for predicting breeding values for pre-weaning daily gain in a composite cattle population in tropical climate. The analyses were done in two stages: firstly, breed and individual and maternal heterosis effects were estimated and after variances and the heritability were obtained for prediction of […]