All-mash Diet Research Articles

PERFORMANCE, CARCASS CHARACTERISTICS, MEAT QUALITY AND PLASMA CONSTITUENTS OF MEAT TYPE DRAKES FED DIETS CONTAINING DIFFERENT LEVELS OF LYSINE WITH OR WITHOUT A MICROBIAL PHYTASE

This experiment was conducted to study growth performance, carcass characteristics, meat quality and plasma constituents of Campbell drakes fed diets containing different levels of lysine with or without a microbial phytase. Basal vegetable duck all-mash diets were fed during the growing (1- 35 d of age), and finishing period (36 - 56 d of age) and were formulated to contain 0.90% and 0.73% lysine (negative control), respectively. These diets were supplemented or not with L-lysine HCl, which resulted in a dietary lysine level of 0.90, 0.95, 1.01 and 1.06% and 0.73, 0.80, 0.87 and 0.94%, during the growing and finishing period, respectively. Furthermore, the diets were fed with or without 600 FTU phytase (Natuphos®) except for those containing 1.06 and 0.94% lysine during the growing and finishing period, respectively (positive control). A lysine level of 1.01/0.87% in the growing/finishing diet significantly increased BWG and improved FCR of drakes by 2.1 and 1.8%, respectively. Phytase significantly increased BWG by 2.1% and 3.5% after feeding the basal diet and 1.01/0.87% lysine, respectively. Also, FCR was significantly improved by 2.2 and 1.8% of groups fed 0.95/0.80, and 1.01/0.87% lysine, respectively. Phytase as an independent variable increased BWG by 1.8, and improved FCR by 1.0%. Lysine and/or phytase did not affect carcass yield, and meat quality treats as well as plasma constituents of drakes. However, lysine level at 0.95/0.80% and 1.01/0.87% significantly decreased abdominal fat deposition compared to either the negative or the positive control. In conclusion, a lysine level of 1.01/0.87% in the growing/finishing diets for drakes is adequate. After phytase supplementation of the basal diet the BWG at a lysine level of 0.90/0.73% were similar to the positive control (1.06/0.94% lysine). However, the best FCR was obtained after feeding diets containing 1.01/0.87% lysine supplemented with phytase.

Selection for sexual male characters and their effects on other fitness related traits in white leghorn chickens

The size and shape of the cockerel comb, ran be regarded as secondary sexual characters or sexual ornaments. Sexual characters are assumed to be costly to express and the expression of a secondary sexual character is suggested to be favourably correlated with the bearer's condition or fitness. The aim of this study was to clarify the effects of selection for male sexual characters, the correlated responses in other male traits and whether selection for sexual characters affects viability. Two selection lines (lines S and H) and a control line was used for 10 generations. Line S was selected for male comb size at 29 weeks of age and from generation six onwards, comb shape (the way the cockerel bear his comb) was added. Line H was selected for high concentration of hyaluronic acid (HA) in the comb at 28 weeks of age. The average number of animals of each sex and;election line was 560 and the randomly mated control line comprised an average of 150 animals of each sex per generation. Traits recorded an analysed were comb size (CS) and body weight (BW) at 29 weeks of age, comb shape (SH) at 32 weeks of age, comb weight (CW) after slaughter and mortality (M). In line S, the genetic and phenotypic trends increased for CS, CW and BW. Both CS and SH are traits involved in the impression of comb size as visualized by females during male choice and by males during male-male competition. With artificial upward selection for the male character CS (line S), CS, CW, BW and M also increased but SH was impaired. When adding SH to the selection criteria in line S, the negative generic trend for SH was changed to positive. As CS approaches its environmental limit, the heritability and genetic progress can be expected to decline. It seems that 10 generations of selection for increased CS is not enough to reach the environmental limit at which CS is expected to stabilize at an optimum size determined by natural selection. (Less)

Effects of a short laying rest on postrest egg production and egg quality

Two factorial trials, each including three commercial laying hybrids, were conducted to study the effects of a short laying rest on postrest performance of hens and on egg quality. A total of 1800 hens laying at 65% on an average (70 wks of age) were subjected to one of the following treatments: no rest (control, C) or feeding only whole-grain barley (WB) or fasting (F, Trial 1 only) until the rate oflay dropped to 0%, after which the birds were returned to the previous all-mash diet. The second laying period was six months. Egg production of the WB and F hens ceased within one week on an average and the birds were out of production for 10 days. Laying intensity during the second production period did not differ significantly between the treatments in each trial, but egg weight and daily egg mass production increased as a result of the rest treatments. The laying rest procedures reduced feed intake, improved feed efficiency and increased live weight significantly. Egg shell and albumen quality traits were significantly better in the laying rest groups than in the controls. Significant differences in performance and egg quality between the hybrids were mainly ascertained in Trial 2. The results suggest that a short laying rest is a feasible means of improving egg quality towards the end of the laying period. It can be accomplished successfully by feeding whole-grain barley.

FEED TEXTURE EFFECTS ON THE PERFORMANCE OF ROASTER CHICKENS

Two experiments were conducted, each experiment involved 1600 day-old Arbor Acre male broiler chickens which were assigned to 20 pens divided into four blocks of five pens each with five feed texture treatments assigned to the pens within each block. The five treatments were (1) All mash — corn and wheat finely ground, (2) All mash — corn and wheat coarsely ground, (3) All mash — corn and wheat very coarsely rolled, (4) same as no. 1 but crumbled or pelleted and (5) same as no. 2 but crumbled or pelleted. Although feed texture had no overall significant (P > 0.05) effect on mortality, mortality was higher among birds fed the crumble-pellet diets compared with those fed the all-mash diets, this higher mortality was due to a higher incidence of Sudden Death Syndrome. Finely and very coarsely ground diets fed as mash resulted in significantly poorer feed conversion at both 21 d (P < 0.001) and 49 d of age (P < 0.01); however, there was no significant (P < 0.05) effect of feed texture on feed conversion at 63 d of age. Body weights were significantly (P < 0.01 to P < 0.001) affected by feed texture at 21, 49 and 63 d of age with the feeding of finely ground mash resulting in the lowest body weights with the heaviest final body weights exhibited by birds fed diets which were either fine or coarse ground mashes which had gone through the crumble and/or pellet process. Feed texture dietary treatments had no effect on the incidence of leg abnormalities. Monetary returns per bird started were significantly (P < 0.05) depressed by the feeding of finely ground mash to chickens while other feed texture treatments were not significantly (P > 0.05) different. Key words: Chicken (roaster), feed texture, ingredient particle size

Factors Affecting Pelleting Response: 1. Influence of Dietary Energy in Broiler Starter Diets

Commercial day-old broiler cockerels were fed to 28 days of age to study the influence of dietary energy level on the effectiveness of the pelletized-crumbled process. Corn-soybean meal-meat protein diets were formulated to contain calculated levels of either 3100, 3150, or 3200 kcal metabolizable energy (ME)/kg of diet and fed in mash or crumbled form in three separate experiments. Dietary energy fed at 3100 to 3200 kcal ME/kg of diet, irrespective of feed form, resulted in no differences in mean body weight and feed consumption. Heavier body weights resulted from feeding a crumbled diet compared to an all-mash diet when the dietary energy level was 3150 kcal ME/kg of diet. Body weights were similar among feed forms when dietary energy levels were 3100 and 3200 kcal ME/kg of diet.The feed:gain was reduced .088, .078, and .042 in diets that contained 3100, 3150, and 3200 kcal ME/kg of diet, respectively, by feeding crumbled pellets as compared to all-mash diets. Toxic factors, such as soybean meal trypsin inhibitor, were not excessive.

EFFECTS OF MASH DIET AND PELLETS UPON DIGESTIVE MOTOR FUNCTIONS IN DOMESTIC HENS AND GUINEA HENS

The changes of gastric and intestinal motilities induced by food restriction and refeeding with pellets instead of an all-mash diet were compared in hens and guinea hens. Smooth muscle electrical activity was recorded in both species, which differed by their degree of domestication and food habits. Six-day fasting reduced gastric activity in both species, a phenomenon paralleled by an increase in intestinal motility and the disappearance of the diurnal cycles of gastro-intestinal activity. Refeeding increased gastric activity and reduced the intestinal activity in hens. By contrast with hens, pellets failed to induce major changes in the guinea hens, despite an increased frequency of gastric spike bursts and inhibition of the orad propagation of the intestinal spike bursts. The results suggest that hens, despite a lower responsiveness to environmental changes, are more sensitive than guinea hens to changes in diet. Key words: Birds, digestive electromyography, diet, physiological rhythms

The Effect of Crumbled and Pelleted Feed on the Incidence of Sudden Death Syndrome Among Male Chicken Broilers

An experiment involving 7200 male broiler chickens was conducted to estimate the effect of feeding crumble-pellet diets on the incidence of Sudden Death Syndrome (SDS). Mortality due to SDS was significantly higher for birds fed a crumble-pellet regimen in its usual form or in a ground form compared with birds fed all-mash diets. Birds fed the crumble-pellet dietary regimen grew more rapidly than those on either the ground crumble-pellet regimen or on all-mash. There was no significant (P=.05) difference in the growth rate of the birds fed the ground crumble-pellet regimen compared with those fed all-mash. It was concluded that the higher incidence of SDS was due to some factor(s) in the pelleting process itself rather the rapid growth resulting from the higher density of pelleted feeds.

Feed Texture Effects on the Performance of Turkey Broilers

An experiment involving 2400 turkey broilers was conducted to compare feeding starter, grower, and finisher diets in the all-mash form or as crumbles and pellets. The effects of pelleted grower and finisher diets containing 0, 7.5, 15, 30, or 60% “fines” were also comparatively evaluated. Lower body weights and poorer feed conversion resulted when birds were fed the allmash diets, but mortality, carcass grades, and monetary returns were not affected significantly (P<.05). Similarly, as levels of fines in pelleted grower and finisher diets increased, feed conversion was adversely affected and body weights tended to be lower, but mortality, carcass grades, and monetary returns were unaffected (P<.05).

The Use of Methanol-Grown Yeast LI-70 in Feeds for Broilers

In 60-day feeding trials, broilers were fed commercial diets in which different amounts of methanol-grown yeast LI-70 replaced fish and soybean meal. In the first trial, all-mash diets containing up to 15% yeast produced growth rates and efficiencies of feed conversion almost equal to those of the soybean meal control and slightly below those of the fish meal control.In the second trial, pelleted diets containing up to 25% yeast were used. For yeast levels up to 15%, growth rates were faster than for the soybean meal control and slightly slower than for the fish meal control. Diets with more than 15% yeast lacked selenium. Diets containing 25% yeast as the sole source of protein but supplemented with .3 ppm selenium produced growth rates and efficiencies of feed conversion equal to those of the controls.

PERFORMANCE OF LAYING HENS FED DIETS CONTAINING GUMS DERIVED FROM TOWER RAPESEED

An experiment was conducted to investigate whether rapeseed gums have any detrimental effect on the performance of laying hens. White leghorn pullets of a commercial strain were fed all-mash diets in which the major source of protein was provided by either soybean meal, rapeseed meal, rapeseed meal + 1.5% rapeseed gums, soybean meal + 1.5% rapeseed gums or soybean meal + 1.5% soybean gums. Each diet was offered to four replicate groups of 12 birds during ten 28-day experimental periods. Dietary treatment had no significant [Formula: see text] effect on feed intake or egg production. Birds fed diets containing rapeseed meal produced significantly [Formula: see text] smaller eggs than those birds receiving soybean meal with no added rapeseed gums. Eggshell quality as measured by shell deformation was significantly [Formula: see text] improved when birds were fed rapeseed meal + rapeseed gums or soybean meal + soybean gums, compared to those birds fed either rapeseed meal, or soybean meal with added rapeseed gums. Rapeseed gums had no significant [Formula: see text] effect on body weight or the incidence of liver hematoma. It is concluded that no deleterious effects accrue from feeding laying birds diets containing rapeseed meal to which has been added 1.5% gums, and that the addition of such gums provides rapeseed processors with a useful pollution-free method for their disposal.

The Influence of Feed Texture on Broiler Performance

Three broiler feeding experiments involving a total of 15,750 broilers were conducted to compare the effects of feed texture especially unsifted versus sifted pellets on broiler performance (weight and feed efficiency). Broiler chicks fed crumbles through the first four weeks of age were significantly heavier and required significantly less feed to produce a unit of body weight than those fed the all-mash diet. From 4 to 8 weeks of age the birds started on crumbles were fed: 1) pellets unsifted, 2) pellets sifted, 3) crumbles, and 4) one-half pellets and one-half crumbles. A detailed comparison between the broilers fed unsifted and sifted pellets revealed that their performances were almost identical. Therefore, the use of unsifted pellets would appear to be more economical for commercial broiler production than the more costly sifted pellets.

Yeast Grown on Hydrocarbon Fractions as a Protein Source in the Diet of Laying Hens

A feeding trial was conducted to determine the effects of feeding yeast grown on high purity alkane fractions to laying hens. The yeast was incorporated in corn-soybean meal type diets at levels of 0, 2.5, 5, 10 and 15%. In addition, a diet with 5% Peruvian fish meal was fed as a positive control. The diets were calculated to be isonitrogenous (16% protein) and isocaloric (2970 M.E. kcal./kg.). All-mash diets were fed ad libitum for 140 days. Rate of egg production and other performance factors were not impaired by the inclusion of the yeast at the levels listed, indicating that this product was suitable for use in nutritionally-balanced diets for laying hens.

Feeding Value of Methanol-Derived Single Cell Protein for Broiler Chicks

Feeding trials were conducted to determine the effects of incorporating a bacterial cell protein product (BCP) produced on methanol substrate into the diet of broiler chicks. The BCP was added to corn-soybean meal type diets at levels of 0, 5, 10 and 15%. In the first trial using all-mash diets, feed consumption and weight gains were reduced as the level of BCP increased. In the second study, pelleting the diets containing the fine, dusty BCP material was effective in improving feed consumption and weight gains. Up to 10% BCP was tolerated without adversely affecting performance when diets were pelleted.

Studies on Raw and Heated Unextracted Soybeans for Layers

CARVER et al. (1946) reported that raw extracted soybeans supported excellent egg production in all-mash diets containing 13 percent protein. Fisher et al. (1957), using soybean protein exclusively in a semipurified diet, stated that raw extracted soybeans, properly supplemented with methionine and vitamin B12, would support equally good egg production as heated soybeans. Later, Griminger and Fisher (1960) concluded that egg production and egg weight could be maintained on a practical diet in which the major source of protein was unextracted raw soybeans. Recently, Saxena et al. (1963, a, b) reported no differences in egg production or pancreas size between hens fed raw extracted soybeans supplemented with methionine and hens fed heated soybeans. In contrast, Hill and Renner (1963) observed a reduction in egg production and metabolizable energy values for raw unextracted soybeans and extracted soybean flakes as compared to heated soybeans and soybean flakes. A comprehensive review of the…

Production, Interior Egg Quality and Some Physiological Effects of Feeding Raw Soybean Meal to Laying Hens

Abstract CARVER et al. (1946) reported excellent egg production by hens fed 13% protein all-mash diet containing either raw or heat-treated soybean meal. Fisher et al. (1957) studied utilization of raw soybean meal as the only source of dietary protein for laying hens and concluded that raw meal properly supplemented with methionine and vitamin B12 supported production equal to that obtained with heated meal. Raw soybean meal has been shown by Saxena et al. (1961) to cause growth inhibition, pancreatic hypertrophy and reduced protein efficiency in the chick. Observations on the influence of raw soybean meal on the pancreas in laying hens have not been reported. The present studies were undertaken to obtain additional information on the effects of feeding raw soybean meal to laying hens, particularly with respect to production, interior egg quality and some physiological aspects. EXPERIMENTAL Forty-eight S. C. White Leghorn hens were randomly distributed in individual wire…

Effects of the Hypocholesteremic Agent SC-11952 on the Laying Hen

Recently, numerous inhibitors of cholesterol synthesis have received considerable attention. Some of these agents are apparently successful, but some, such as triparanol, have serious side effects when given to experimental animals. Nichols et al. (1962) reported that triparanol reduced growth rate in young chickens, and egg weight and egg production in the laying hen. Nelson et al. (1962) and Burgress et al. (1962) reported similar results with laying hens. Aaronson et al. (1962) found that triparanol inhibited the multiplication of certain sterol-synthesizing phytoflagellates and at least one non-sterol-synthesizing ciliate. Following trials with triparanol, it was decided to study another hypocholesteremic compound, SC-119522, to see if it also had undesirable side effects when administered to laying hens.Duplicate pens of eight Rhode Island Red hens per pen were assigned to each treatment and were fed a corn-soy all-mash diet. Experimental treatments were 0, 24, and 60 mg. of SC-11952 per pound …

Yolk Discolorations from Cottonseed Meal When Eggs Were Oiled Before Storage

THE recent reports of Kemmerer et al. (1960) and Frampton et al. (1961) show that the dark discolorations caused by gossypol and appearing in the yolks of stored eggs from layers fed cottonseed meal accompany an increase in the pH of the yolks. This increase in pH is enhanced by another component of cottonseed meal (halphenic acid), which also causes pink whites and salmon-colored yolks.It is common knowledge that there is a loss of CO2 from eggs during storage and that spraying their shells with oil or dipping them in oil will prevent or lessen the loss. This, in turn, should hold the yolks at a lower pH and, thus, lessen the dark discoloration. This paper reports that oiling the shells of fresh eggs does lessen the formation of dark yolk discolorations during their storage. PROCEDUREThe all-mash diets were composed of 66.9 parts hegari, 8.1 mineral and vitamin …

The Value of Soluble and Insoluble Grit in All-Mash and Mash-Grain Rations for Caged Layers

SEVERAL research reports indicate that an increase in egg production occurs when insoluble grit is fed in conjunction with rations containing whole grain (Heuser and Norris, 1946; Balloun and Phillips, 1956; Scott and Heuser, 1957). However Day et al. (1958) obtained a response in egg production in only one of two experiments and although Fuller (1958) observed an increase in egg production it did not prove to be statistically significant.There is less evidence of a need for insoluble grit when all-mash laying rations are fed. MacIntyre and Jenkins (1952) and Fuller (1958) observed no increase in egg production or feed efficiency from feeding grit with all-mash diets, and the improvement noted by Balloun and Phillips (1956) was not as great on an all-mash diet as on a mash-whole grain feeding regime.The question of whether insoluble grit is necessary in the presence of limestone grits such as oyster shell…

Toxic effects produced by pyrimethamine in chickens and their antagonism by folic acid.

PYRIMETHAMINE, a folic acid antagonist, has been shown to potentiate the activity of sulphadimidine and sulphaquinoxaline against caecal coccidiosis in chickens (ref. 1 and Ball, S. J., private communication). During our investigation of this combination, the decreased growth-rate and anaemia observed in Rhode Island × Light Sussex chickens fed for 28 days on an all-mash diet containing 20 p.p.m. of pyrimethamine, appeared to be controlled by a dose of 10 mgm./kgm. folic acid. The mean weight gain over the experimental period is shown in Table 1. Daily erythrocyte counts were made in blood taken from the wing vein (Fig. 1). After 21 days the erythrocyte count, haematocrit and haemoglobin concentration in the heart blood and the total liver iron content of each of the birds were measured (Table 1). Sections of liver, treated with potassium ferrocyanide, were examined for haemosiderosis.

The Effect of Malathion on Egg Quality

ABSTRACT A field report requested information on the effects of Malathion an organic phosphate insecticide, on egg quality. Harding and Quigley (1956) applied Malathion dust to litter at various rates and found that it did not affect hatchability and residues were not detected in eggs. Gaafar and Turk (1956) dusted three-week-old chicks for four successive weeks with this same compound and they found it did not affect feed intake and no signs of toxicity were observed. The literature does not reveal any investigations on the effect of this insecticide on egg quality. Therefore, it appears that information in this area is pertinent before any conclusions can be drawn on test results. Eight pens, each with a total area of 63 sq. ft., were selected for this study, four of which were treated with 4% Malathion. Each pen contained 15 White Leghorn hens on an all-mash diet. The insecticide was carefully applied . . .