Assessment of the Last Decades Studies and Developments in Broilers Nutrition

The poultry industry has advanced remarkably over the past 30 years. In particular, broiler production has been the most successful than any other sector in the animal industry. Production standards of broilers have continuously improved over this period, with modern broilers reaching a live average weight of 2.5 kg at 33 – 35 days. Today, under normal conditions, a broiler chicken can gain an average weight of 65 g per day and can attain 1.5 feed conversion ratio (FCR). Genetic selection brought about by breeding companies has played a big part in the improvements of broiler growth, and advances in nutritional management have provided about 10 to 15% of these changes. In conclusion, future broiler nutrition studies are going to be continued on the plane of economic criteria, determination of alternative feedstuffs and their cultivation, production of new feed additives, sustainability, and food or product quality. However, broiler nutrition studies are expected to contain not only pure and applied nutrition but also to answer and to enlighten some discussed issues such as to support animal welfare, consumer health, and ecological equilibrium. In this review, the latest improvements in feed formulation with much attention on metabolizable energy (ME) and crude protein (CP), feeding systems and feed presentation, use of feed additives to enhance feed use and broiler performance are discussed.

Nontraditional Feedstuffs as an Alternative in Poultry Feed

Soybean meal and yellow corn are conventional feedstuffs used as the main ingredients in poultry feeds due to their high nutrients availability. On the other hand, these two feedstuffs are high in demand by other animals (soybean meal) and humans (yellow corn). By the year 2050, the world’s population is expected to increase up to 9.1 billion. Global consumption of poultry products, such as meat or eggs is increasing predominantly in developing countries. Consequently, the global demand for poultry feedstuffs would increase. The availability of feedstuffs for poultry nutrition nowadays is becoming more competitive. Thus, food security, especially in the developing countries, would be threatened. Currently, efforts are being made to use alternative feedstuffs to substitute portion of soybean meal and yellow corn in poultry diets. This chapter discusses the alternative feedstuffs that can be incorporated in poultry feeds. In addition, the nutritive content and availability are examined as well as how to improve the nutritive quality of such nontraditional feedstuffs.

COMPLEXO ENZIMÁTICO EM RAÇÕES DE FRANGO DE CORTE DE LINHAGEM CAIPIRA COM INCLUSÃO DE TORTA DA SEMENTE DE CUPUAÇU (Theobroma grandiflorum)

O objetivo deste estudo foi avaliar os efeitos da suplementação de um complexo enzimático em dietas contendo torta de cupuaçu (TSC) sobre o desempenho, rendimento de carcaça e viabilidade econômica de frangos de corte de linhagem caipira. Foram utilizados 300 frangos da linhagem caipira “pescoço pelado” em delineamento experimental inteiramente casualizado com 6 tratamentos e 5 repetições. Os tratamentos, em arranjo fatorial 3x2, eram constituídos por três níveis de inclusão de TSC (0, 5, 10 %) e dois níveis de enzimas (sem ou com). As enzimas foram fornecidas com a inclusão de 200 g/t de um complexo de xilanase (12.000 u/g) e β-glucanase (2.500 u/g) e 50 g/t de fitase (5.000 FTU/g). Não houve diferença entre os tratamentos no consumo de ração e viabilidade. O ganho de peso diminuiu com o aumento do nível de TSC na dieta, piorando a conversão alimentar. O uso do complexo enzimático não influenciou as variáveis analisadas. O rendimento de carcaça não foi influenciado pela inclusão de TSC e complexo enzimático, porém houve diminuição da gordura abdominal e aumento da moela e intestino com o aumento da inclusão de TSC na dieta. A inclusão de TSC e complexo enzimático na dieta diminuiu a margem bruta relativa (MBR). Portanto, a inclusão de TSC afetou negativamente nas características produtivas das aves, enquanto as enzimas exógenas avaliadas não foram efetivas em compensar os efeitos deletérios da TSC no desempenho e retorno econômico.Palavras-chave: alimentos alternativos, desempenho, enzimas, nutrição animal, rendimento de carcaça. ENZYMATIC COMPLEX IN FREE-RANGE BROILER DIETS WITH INCLUSION OFCUPUAÇU (Theobroma grandiflorum) SEED CAKE ABSTRACT: The purpose of this study was to evaluate with the effects of an enzyme complex supplementation in diets containing cupuaçu seed cake (CSC) on the performance, carcass yield and economic viability of free-range broilers. Three hundred broiler chickens of the ‘Pescoço Pelado’ free-range line were used in a completely randomized experimental design with 6 treatments and 5 replicates. Treatments, in a 3x2 factorial design, consisted of three dietary levels of CSC (0, 5, and 10%) and two enzyme levels (without or with). The enzymes were provided by the inclusion of 200 g/t of a xylanase (12000 u/g) and β-glucanase (2,500 u/g) complex, and by 50 g/t phytase (5000 FTU /g). There was no difference on feed intake and viability. The weight gain decreased as the dietary CSM level increased, worsening feed conversion. The enzyme complex did not affected the analyzed variables. The carcass yield was not affected by the inclusion of CSC and enzyme complex, but decreased abdominal fat, and increased gizzard and intestine with dietary CSC levels increasing. The inclusion of CSC and enzyme complex in the diet reduced the relative gross margin (RGM). Therefore, the inclusion of CSC negatively affected the productive characteristics of free-range broilers, while the enzymes were not effective in compensate the CSC side effects on performance and return.Keywords: alternative feedstuffs, animal nutrition, carcass yield, enzymes, performance.