Farinha de mexilhão dourado na alimentação de frangos de corte

Abstract

The aim of this work was to evaluate the addition of golden mussel flour (GMF) in different granulometries in the feed of broiler chickens from 1 to 42 days of age, on performance, bone parameter, serum biochemistry, and gene expression. 900 male broilers of the Cobb® 500 lineage, from 1 to 42 days of age, were used. The birds were distributed in a completely randomized design, with 5 treatments, 10 replicates and 18 birds per experimental unit (EU). The treatments consisted of a control diet (limestone); ration with GMF 299 μm; ration with GMF 375 μm; ration with GMF 436 μm and ration with GMF 551 μm. GMF was provided throughout the experimental period (1 to 42 days of age). At 21 and 40 days of age, one bird per UE was sacrificed to collect the legs (right and left) to assess bone weight, Seedor index, bone densitometry, bone strength, dry matter (MS), mineral matter (MM), calcium (Ca), and phosphorus (P). At 40 days of age, blood was collected, and a bird sacrificed per EU to collect a portion of the small intestine for gene expression analysis. At 42 days of age, two birds per EU were sacrificed for carcass and cuts yield. The data obtained were subjected to analysis of variance and, when significant, regression analysis was used to compare Dunnett's test. At 21 days of age, the birds showed significant differences in performance parameters (P<0.05), body weight gain (GP), and feed conversion (CA), and the use of particle size 551 μm showed worse CA. For bone parameters, the Seedor index at 21 days in tibias showed a significant difference (P<0.05) for the 375 μm particle size. For MS and MM, the evaluated bones showed a significant difference (P<0.05), at 21 days for femurs in the 299 μm and 375 μm grain sizes, with higher content, and in the tibias at 21 days, the 299 μm grain size showed a difference (P<0.05) for MS, and for MM the particle size 551 μm, at 40 days the use of the control treatment presented lower MS content, and the MM of the particle size 436 μm was smaller compared to the other treatments. For Ca in femur at 21 days, there was an effect (P<0.05) for particle sizes 299 μm, 436 μm and 551 μm, where they were inferior to the control treatment, and for P at 40 days of age, a significant effect was observed (P<0.05) for the femur, with a higher concentration in the 375 μm particle size and for the tibia in 299 μm, compared to the control treatment. The replacement of calcitic limestone by GMF in different particle sizes can be carried out in broiler chickens without harming their development and performance in a period of 1 to 42 days.