Body Weight Of Birds Research Articles

Modelling Growth Of Dual-purpose Sasso Hens In The Tropics Using Different Algorithms

This study was embarked upon to evaluate body weight (BW) from age (weeks) of Sasso hens in Nasarawa State, Nigeria. A total of one hundred and eight (108) Sasso hens aged 30 weeks were randomly selected from a larger stock kept at the Livestock Farm. Fifty-four of these birds were kept on deep litter while another fifty-four were reared in battery cages. The birds in each system of management were replicated three times with eighteen birds per replicate in a completely randomized design. In both deep litter and battery cage systems, data were collected on weekly body weights of birds from week 31-52 of rearing. Only data from forty (battery cage) and forty-three (deep litter) surviving birds were eventually used for further analyses. Effect of housing system on BW was subjected to T-Test. Phenotypic correlation between body weight (BW) and age of birds was established in both systems of rearing. Linear, Quadratic, Gompertz, Artificial Neural Network (ANN) and the Classification and Regression Tree (CRT) models were used to predict BW from the age (including housing system for CRT model) of birds. There was no significant (P=0.558) difference in the total average weekly BW of birds on deep litter (3.38 ± 0.12 kg) and those in cages (3.37 ± 0.12 kg). The prediction of BW from age was best fitted using the ANN model in both the deep litter (R2 , adjusted R2 , RMSE and significance level were 87.0%, 87.0%, 0.04 and 0.000) and battery cage (R2 , adjusted R2 , RMSE and significance level were 99.0%, 99.0%, 0.01 and 0.000) systems. The CRT model, however, predicted the optimal BW to be greater than 32.5, but not above 47.5 weeks of age with R2 value of 93.4%. The present findings may be exploited in mapping out appropriate management practices geared towards increased production.

Comparative Efficacy of Herbal Methionine (Nutrimethionine) and Synthetic Methionine on the Growth Performance of Broiler Chicken

An experiment was conducted for a period of 42 days to assess the efficacy of herbal methionine (Nutrimethionine) supplementation on the performance of broiler chicken reared on deep litter. A total of 180 day old chicks (Vencobb 400) were divided into one control and three treatment groups, each group with three replicates of 15 birds per replicate. Group I (GI) of birds was kept as control and fed the basal diet without any supplemental Methionine. Group II (GII) of birds was fed the basal diet supplemented with synthetic DL-Methionine @ 100g per quintal. Group III (GIII) of birds were fed the basal diet supplemented with Nutri-Methionine @ 100g per quintal feed in the diet. Group IV (GIV) of birds was fed the basal diet supplemented with 50g Nutrimethionine and 50g DL-Methionine per quintal of feed in the diet. The body weight of birds fed combination of herbal Methionine (Nutrimethionine) and DL-methionine (GIV) was significantly (P< 0.05) higher when compared with the other treatment groups and control group. Also the groups supplemented with DL-methionine and herbal methionine had significantly higher body weights than the control group. Cumulative feed intake was comparable among the groups of birds fed diets supplemented with synthetic Methionine or herbal methionine or both. However, feed intake was significantly (P

Relação treonina: lisina digestíveis na dieta de poedeiras leves de 42 a 58 semanas de idade

RESUMO Este estudo foi realizado para determinar a relação ideal de treonina:lisina digestíveis para poedeiras leves no período de 42 a 58 semanas de idade. Foram utilizadas 240 poedeiras Hy Line W-36 com 42 semanas de idade durante 16 semanas. Os tratamentos foram distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente casualizado, com oito repetições e seis aves por unidade experimental. As dietas experimentais foram formuladas com cinco níveis de treonina digestível (0,461; 0,515; 0,569; 0,622 e 0,676%) proporcionando as cinco relações treonina:lisina digestíveis (60; 67; 74; 81 e 88%) estudadas. As variáveis analisadas foram: produção de ovos; consumo de ração, de lisina e de treonina; massa e peso médio dos ovos; eficiências de utilização da lisina por massa e ovos produzidos; conversões alimentares por massa e dúzia de ovos; pesos médios de: gema, albúmen e de casca; ganho de peso; peso corporal final das aves; e balanço de nitrogênio. As relações treonina:lisina digestíveis na dieta não influenciaram as variáveis analisadas, exceto o consumo de treonina que apresentou efeito linear. A relação ideal de treonina:lisina digestíveis na dieta para galinhas poedeiras leves de 42 a 58 semanas de idade é de 60%, que corresponde ao nível de 0,461% de treonina digestível na dieta e ao consumo diário de treonina digestível de 446mg/ave.

The mathematical simulation of growth and productivity dynamics of cross chickens «Hisex Brown» and «Lohmann Brown»

Feasibility of using T. Bridges, A. Putter and L. von Bertalanffy mathematical models to predict and describe the dynamics of the growth of chickens of different crosses and distribution classes, as well as the use of McMilan mathematical model to predict and describe the egg productivity of chicken was studied. It was established that to predict, describe and analyze the age dynamics of bird body weight the most suitable are T. Bridges and A. Putter models. The accuracy of T. Bridges model is within 85,5-93,8 %. Adequacy of A. Putter model is within 96,0-93,8 % when comparing the actually received and theoretically certain indicators of body weight. T. Bridges model is most suitable to differentiate the two cross chickens, the value of the asymptote (W∞) ranges in 2016,2-2155,5. A. Putter model can most definitely use to differentiate the three classes of distribution of body weight: for « Hisex Brown » coefficient « ρ » is in the range: (-0 , 6156)-(-0 , 6463), while for «Lohmann Brown» it is much lower: (-0 , 7476)-(-0 , 8627). Simulation of laying curve using McMilan model revealed contrast in the standards of its recession and increasing with age of layers. An adequacy of the model ranges in 81,2-81,6 %. « Hisex Brown » cross chickens have a delayed rate of egg production decline after the peak than «Lohmann Brown cross chickens». These mathematical models are important because they accurately describe the dynamics of the growth of chickens of different crosses and distribution classes, as well as their laying (the average percentage of deviation does not exceed 5 % threshold judgment on the validity of the data).

Effect of Artificial Insemination on different production parameter in Hubbard classic broiler parent stock

The experiment was conducted to determine the effect of artificial insemination (AI) on different production parameter in Hubbard Classic Broiler breeder parent stock. A total number of 300 female and 30 male Hubbard Classic broiler breeder parent stock birds were used as experimental animals and parameter recorded are: Health condition and body weight of birds, % of Production, % Hatchability,% Uniformity, grade A chicks, mortality % , hatching egg % &amp; effect of diluents use, birth weight of day old chick (DOC). Significant variation (p&lt;0.01) was observed in number of hatched birds, % of hatchability, production of total no of Grade A chicks, total number of damaged chicks and average chick weight. In the study, hatchability (%), production (%), growth and puberty weight (g) were significantly higher during post insemination compared to pre insemination stage, where as mortality (%) and uniformity (%) were significantly lower in case of post insemination stage. Body weight and uniformity (%) of birds either both sexes were significantly (p&lt;0.01) different in birds at pre insemination stage compared to the birds at insemination. To be mentioned that body weight of birds was negatively correlated to the uniformity. Finally it could be concluded that AI may be better in all the parameters observed in this study than natural mating. So, AI can be practiced in Hubbard Classic broiler breeder parent stock.J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 13(1): 71-77, June 2015

Vitamin C and vitamin E supplementation alleviates oxidative stress induced by dexamethasone and improves fertility of breeder roosters

This study was conducted to determine the effect of supplemental dietary vitamin C (VC) and vitamin E (VE) on improving semen quality and antioxidative status in breeder roosters challenged with dexamethasone (DEX). 120 45-week-old Lveyang black-boned breeder roosters were divided into 5 experimental treatments, including negative group, positive group, and three trial groups, which were fed basal diet supplemented with 300mg/kg VC, 200mg/kg VE, or 300mg/kg VC and 200mg/kg VE (VC+VE). At 49 weeks of age, the positive control and trial groups were subcutaneously injected 3 times every other day with DEX 4 mg/kg body weight, the negative control group was sham injected with saline. At 50 weeks of age, average daily feed intake of birds challenged with DEX significantly increased (P<0.05), however, serum testosterone significantly decreased (P<0.05). Dietary supplementation of VC+VE enhanced serum testosterone and sperm motility remarkably (P<0.05). There were no differences in sperm viability between the DEX-treated groups. During the post-stress recovery period (52 weeks of age), dietary supplementation of VE and VC+VE significantly increased the body weight of birds under oxidative stress (P<0.01). VC, VE, and VC+VE groups had greater sperm viability than control group (P<0.01). Additionally, there was a decrease in the semen plasma malondialdehyde content (P<0.05) of the VC and VC+VE groups, and in the testicular malondialdehyde content (P<0.01) of the VE and VC+VE groups. In summary, VC, VE, especially their combination alleviate the oxidative stress induced by DEX and are favorable for the fertility of breeder roosters.

Effect of supplementation of phytogenic feed additives (powdered vs. encapsulated) on performance and nutrient digestibility in broiler chickens

Inclusion of phytogenic feed additives (PFA) in feed may enhance performance of broilers. Levels of essential oils in powdered form (characterized by menthol and anethole) at 150 mg/kg (P-150) and matrix-encapsulated form (characterized by carvacrol, thymol, and limonene) at 100 mg/kg (ME-100) were supplemented in diet to investigate their effect on performance (trial 1) and apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of nutrients (trial 2) in broilers. A total of 480 1-day-old broilers (Cobb 500) were used in trial 1 and 120 broilers in trial 2. Broilers were distributed in 24 pens with 8 pens per treatment (trial 1) and 6 pens with 2 pens per treatment (trial 2), with 20 birds per pen. Feed and water were offered ad libitum throughout the experimental periods in both trials. In trial 1, body weight of birds at d 42 and overall body weight gain from d 1 to d 42, was higher in treatment ME-100 than birds in control treatment (P = 0.023 and P = 0.024, respectively). Feed efficiency during finisher phase was improved in treatment ME-100 relatively to control and P-150 treatments (P = 0.035). At d 21 in trial 2, the apparent ileal digestibility of crude protein was higher in ME-100 treatment in comparison with control and P-150 treatments (P < 0.001). Apparent ileal absorption (AIA) of phosphorus was higher in ME-100 treatment than control treatment (P = 0.028). AID of cysteine was higher in both phytogenic additive supplemented treatments in comparison with control treatment (P = 0.001). In conclusion, inclusion of a powdered phytogenic additive characterized by menthol and anethole at 150 mg/kg had no effect but only a tendency towards improved performance and AIA of phosphorus, whereas essential oils addition in encapsulated form characterized by caravacol, thymol, and limonene at 100 mg/kg improved performance as well as apparent ileal digestibility of nutrients in broilers, possibly due to improved secretion of digestive enzymes.

The influence of feeding crimped kernel maize silage on broiler production, nutrient digestibility and meat quality

Two experiments were carried out in parallel with male Ross 308 broilers over 37 d. An experiment with a total of 736 broilers was performed to study the effect of dietary inclusion of crimped kernel maize silage (CKMS) on broiler production and meat quality. Another study with 32 broilers was carried out from 21 to 25 d to investigate the inclusion of CKMS on nutrient digestibility.In both trials, 4 dietary treatments were used: wheat-based feed (WBF), maize-based feed (MBF), maize-based feed supplemented with 15% CKMS (CKMS-15) and maize-based feed supplemented with 30% CKMS (CKMS-30).Compared with MBF, the dry matter (DM) intakes of broilers receiving CKMS-15 and CKMS-30, respectively, were numerically 7.5 and 6.2% higher and feed conversion ratio 6 and 12% poorer (significant for 30% CKMS), although there were no significant differences in AME content between the three diets. At 37 d, the body weight of birds receiving 15% CKMS was similar to birds fed with MBF. However, the inclusion of 30% CKMS decreased broiler growth. Dietary supplementation with CKMS significantly reduced the apparent digestibility of phosphorus. The fat digestibility was significantly lower for CKMS-30 than for the other three diets.Broiler mortality decreased significantly when CKMS was added to the diet.The consumption of drinking water was significantly lower in all maize-based diets as compared to WBF and was lowest in broilers fed with CKMS-30.An improved litter quality in terms of DM content and a lower frequency of foot pad lesions was observed with broilers supplemented with both dietary levels of CKMS.The addition of CKMS to maize-based diets increased juiciness, tenderness and crumbliness of the meat.In conclusion, the dietary supplementation of 15% CKMS had no negative effect on broiler growth and positively influenced bird welfare in terms of mortality and foot pad health. Therefore, the addition of 15% CKMS to maize-based diets is considered an advantageous feeding strategy in broiler production.

The body weight of capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus: spatial variability in Northern Eurasia

Published data on the body weight of capercaillie, Tetrao urogallus , from the region mostly situated north of 60° latitude were analyzed. With the addition of new estimates from some points in the species range one can see that the study area is almost exclusively populated by large individuals (cocks ≥ 4.0 kg, hens ≥ 2.0 kg). Taking all the populations included in the analysis as a whole, the body weight of birds changed independently of the geographic latitude and longitude. Apparently, the intra-species taxonomic heterogeneity in the study area was the main source of the spatial variability of body weight. If we remove the influence of the ≪taxonomy≫ factor by excluding the populations chiefly represented by small-size birds, the weight of males demonstrates a significant direct dependence on longitude and latitude, the one of females shows a slight direct correlation with geographical latitude only. These correlations allow interpreting the spatial variability of body weight in accordance with Bergmann's rule (for both sexes) and/or the rule of optimum (for males only). The nature of inter-population changes in the asymmetry of the frequency distributions of male body weight indicates the direction of the resultant effect of all (multidirectional) vectors of natural selection in accordance with these rules.

The effects of dietary dried fruit pomaces on growth performance and gastrointestinal biochemistry of turkey poults.

One-day-old female turkeys were randomly assigned to five dietary treatments and were fed for 15weeks diets containing 5% of cellulose (control, C) or 5% of dried fruit pomaces (apple, black currant, strawberry, seedless strawberry; AP, BCP, SP, SSP respectively). In weeks 11-15 of feeding, all diets were supplemented with 2.5% of linseed oil. The crude fibre content of fruit pomaces ranged from 56.5% in AP to 62.9% in SP. In comparison with AP, berry fruit pomaces (BCP, SP and SSP) were characterised by a higher content of neutral detergent fibre - NDF (41.2% vs. 52.7-59.3%) and lignin (13.24% vs. 21.80-25.56%). A monomer analysis revealed that cellulose was the main non-starch polysaccharide (NSP) in fruit pomaces, whereas their pectin content was low. Polyphenol content was determined at below 6g/kg in AP, at approximately 12g/kg in BCP and SP, and at 32.8g/kg in SSP. There were no significant differences (p>0.05) in final body weight of birds. After 15weeks of feeding fruit pomaces to turkeys, the relative weight of the small intestine with digesta was higher in group AP, and lower in group SSP, as compared to controls. Dietary fruit pomaces decreased the dry matter (DM) concentration and lowered the pH of the small intestinal digesta, except the AP and SSP treatments respectively. In the caeca, significantly reduced concentrations of ammonia or putrefactive short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) upon dietary fruit pomaces were observed. Fruit pomaces did not influence the concentrations or the total pool of short-chain fatty acids, but led to a significant increase in butyric proportion in the SCFA profile at the expense propionate.

Crescimento de genótipos de frangos tipo caipira

RESUMOObjetivou-se com este trabalho comparar o padrão de crescimento, mediante ajustes das respectivas curvas de crescimento por modelos não lineares, bem como estudar o desenvolvimento de cortes de carcaça em relação ao peso da carcaça em diferentes genótipos de frangos tipo caipira. Foram utilizados 840 pintos de um dia, machos, distribuídos em delineamento inteiramente ao acaso, dos seguintes genótipos da linhagem Redbro: Caboclo, Carijó, Colorpak, Gigante Negro, Pesadão Vermelho, Pescoço Pelado e Tricolor. As aves foram alojadas em 28 boxes, sendo 30 aves/boxe, em galpão de alvenaria com acesso a um piquete de 45m², com quatro repetições. O peso corporal individual dos frangos foi medido ao nascer, aos 14, 28, 42, 56, 70 e 84 dias de idade. Para a determinação das curvas de crescimento do peso corporal das aves, os dados coletados foram avaliados por meio dos modelos não lineares: Brody, Gompertz, Logístico, Richards e von Bertalanffy. Foi empregado o PROC NLIN do SAS, utilizando-se o método interativo de Gauss-Newton. Os critérios usados para escolha do modelo de melhor ajuste da curva de crescimento foram o coeficiente de determinação, o desvio padrão assintótico, o desvio médio absoluto dos resíduos e o índice assintótico. As análises para obtenção dos coeficientes alométricos foram realizadas por meio do PROC GLM do SAS para os genótipos Carijó, Colorpak, Pesadão Vermelho, Pescoço Pelado e Tricolor. Foram avaliados os pesos da carcaça, do peito, das coxas, das sobrecoxas, das pernas e das asas das aves abatidas aos 85 dias de idade. Apenas as equações propostas por Gompertz, von Bertalanffy e Logístico atingiram a convergência, e o modelo proposto por von Bertalanffy foi o mais adequado para descrever o crescimento dos genótipos de frangos caipiras. Todos os cortes avaliados apresentaram crescimento tardio em relação ao peso da carcaça em genótipos de frangos tipo caipira.

Relative bioavailability of tribasic zinc sulfate for broilers fed a conventional corn-soybean meal diet

An experiment was carried out to investigate the relative bioavailability of tribasic zinc (Zn) sulfate relative to Zn sulfate for broilers fed a conventional corn-soybean meal diet. A total of 504 1-d-old Arbor Acres commercial male chicks were randomly assigned by body weight of birds to one of seven treatments involving a 2×3 factorial arrangement with three levels of added Zn (30, 60, or 90 mg of Zn kg−1) and two Zn sources (tribasic Zn sulfate and Zn sulfate) plus a control with no added Zn for an experimental phase of 14 d. Plasma Zn, tibia ash Zn, pancreas Zn, and pancreas metallothionein (MT) messenger RNA (mRNA) were analyzed at 6 or 14 d of age post-hatching. The results showed that plasma Zn, tibia ash Zn, pancreas Zn, and pancreas MT mRNA increased linearly (P<0.002) as dietary Zn concentration increased at 6 or 14 d of age. The R2 for a linear model was greater on d 6 than on d 14 for the above 4 responsive criteria, and among these indices, the fitting of the tibia ash Zn concentration was the best (R2=0.99). Therefore, based on slope ratios from the multiple linear regressions of the above 4 indices of the birds at 6 d of age on daily intake of dietary Zn, the bioavailabilities of tribasic Zn sulfate relative to Zn sulfate (100%) were 95.6% (P=0.18), 83.5% (P=0.01), 87.9% (P=0.53), and 75.9% (P=0.38) for the tibia ash Zn, pancreas Zn, plasma Zn, and pancreas MT mRNA, respectively. The results indicated that generally, Zn from tribasic Zn sulfate was as available as Zn from Zn sulfate for broilers.

Replacing corn with pearl millet (raw and sprouted) with and without enzyme in chickens' diet.

An experiment was conducted to compare a commercial corn-soya bean meal diet with a pearl millet (raw and sprouted) diet containing less soya bean meal, alone or in combination with exogenous enzyme, on growth performance and ileal villus development of chicks. Two-hundred-and-forty-one-day-old male broilers (10/pen) were randomly allocated to one of the following dietary treatments: (i) a standard corn-soya bean meal control diet (CTL); (ii) a raw pearl millet-soya bean meal diet (PM); (iii) a sprouted pearl millet-soya bean meal diet (SPM); (iv) CTL + exogenous enzymes (CE); (v) PM + exogenous enzymes (PE); and (vi) SPM + exogenous enzymes (SPE) with four replicate pens/treatment. Body weight of birds at day 21 did not differ between those fed the CTL, and SPM and PE diets. In comparison with feeding broilers the CTL diet, feeding the PE and SPM diets caused significant decrease in feed intake, but with equivalent growth and feed efficiency. However, at day 21, feed conversion ratio did not differ between birds fed the CTL diet and those fed the PM, PE and SPM diets. At day 21, broilers fed the PM and PE diets had longer villi (p<0.05) than those fed the CTL diet. At day 21, villi width was reduced (p<0.05) by raw pearl millet supplementation than CTL diet. It is concluded that, in comparison with corn, broiler diets formulated with sprouted pearl millet or pearl millet with enzyme require less soya bean meal and can be used to improve growth performance traits and villus development.

Effects of outdoor access days on growth performance, carcass yield, meat quality, and lymphoid organ index of a local chicken breed

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of outdoor access days on growth performance, carcass yield, meat quality, and lymphoid organ index of a local chicken breed. In total, 864 twenty one-day-old male Suqin yellow chickens, with similar body weight (536 ± 36g), were selected and raised in indoor floor pens that measured 1.42 × 1.42 m (2 m2, 18 birds/m2) in conventional poultry research houses (36 birds per pen). Two hundred and sixteen birds were allowed outdoor access treatments at 21, 28, 35, and 42 d of age, respectively (access to outdoor for 35, 28, 21, and 14 days, respectively). Each treatment was represented by 6 replicates (pens) containing 36 birds (216 birds per treatment). In the outdoor access treatment, the birds had an outdoor free-range paddock that measured 3 × 8 m (24 m2, 1.5 birds/m2). The body weight of birds at 56 d of age increased linearly with increasing outdoor access days (P < 0.001), but there was no effect of the outdoor access days on the body weight at 42 d of age (P = 0.161). The daily weight gain, daily feed intake, and feed per gain from 21 to 42 d of age were unaffected by outdoor access days (P = 0.401, P = 0.463, P = 0.223, respectively). However, the daily weight gain and daily feed intake from 42 to 56 and from 21 to 56 d of age increased linearly with increasing outdoor access days (P = 0.002, P < 0.001; P = 0.001, P = 0.004; respectively), while the feed per gain tended to decrease linearly from 21 to 56 d of age (P = 0.060). The mortality from 21 to 56 d of age was unaffected by outdoor access days (P = 0.261). At 56 d of age, the breast yield increased linearly with increasing outdoor access days (P < 0.001), while the foot yield decreased linearly (P = 0.016). The light (L*) and red (b*) values of leg meat color increased linearly with increasing outdoor access days (P = 0.032, P = 0.013, respectively). The spleen: the body weight ratio showed a decreasing and then increasing quadratic response to increasing outdoor access days (P = 0.047). The litter moisture content at 42 and 56 d of age increased linearly with increasing outdoor access days (P < 0.001, P = 0.013, respectively). The findings of this study suggest that increasing outdoor access days advantageously affects the body weight, daily weight gain, feed per gain and breast yield as well as the light (L*) and red (b*) values of leg meat color, while decreasing foot yield.

Use of non-antibiotic growth promoter “Grow Power” in commercial broiler diet

An experiment was conducted with 160, day old Cobb 500 broiler chicks to evaluate the effect of supplementation of Grow Power (GP) on the performance of broiler. The dietary treatments were control (D1), Grow Power (D2), Grow Power plus antibiotic (D3) and antibiotic (D4). At 5th week of age, the body weight of birds at different dietary treatments were 938.75, 1105.00, 1136.25, and 985.00g in the diets of D1, D2, D3 and D4, respectively. Body weight gain at 2nd, 3rd and 4th week of age were significantly (P&lt;0.05) higher in GP supplemented group (D2) and GP plus antibiotic group (D3) than that of control (D1) and antibiotic (D4) groups. Feed consumption during the experimental period was 1753.75, 1938.75, 1917.50 and 1774.50g for D1, D2, D3 and D4, respectively. At 2nd and 3rd week of age, feed consumption were significantly (p&lt;0.05) higher in D3 group than the other groups including control. Significantly (P&lt;0.05) better Feed Conversion Ratio (FCR) was found in D3 (2.03) and D2 (2.11) groups compared to D1 (2.31) and D4 (2.28). At 3rd, 4th and 5th week of age, the Performance Index (%) was significantly higher in D2 than D1 and D4. Meat yield parameter of broilers showed significant (P&lt;0.05) differences in dressing weight, feather weight, shank weight, drumstick weight, neck weight, liver weight and viscera weight. Based on the results obtained from the current study it may be concluded that the inclusion of Grow Power @ 50gm/100kg of mixed feed with or without antibiotic improved the growth of commercial broiler including their FCR and therefore, this product may be considered as an alternative of traditional antibiotic in broiler diet.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/bjas.v44i1.23139Bang. J. Anim. Sci. 2014. 44 (1): 33-39

EFFECT OF EVAPORATIVE COOLING SYSTEM ON MICROCLIMATIC CIRCUMSTANCES OF COMMERCIAL CLOSED LAYING-HENS HOUSE UNDER DELTA-ZONE CLIMATIC CONDITIONS

High temperature gradients can markedly affect laying hen's growth development, productivity, health and welfare of the birds. This research work was conducted to investigate the feasibility of using direct evaporative cooling to improve the indoor air conditions in a laying-hens house. In this present study trail, a laying-hens house of 460 m2 floor surface area was tested under climatic conditions of eastern area of coastal Delta, Egypt (latitude angle of 31.05oN, longitude angle of 31.37oE, and mean altitude above sea level of 14 m). Experiments were performed through three summer months of 2014 (from June to August) for laying-hens chickens at 150 days of age. Three different water flow rates (60, 70 and 80 l/min) were examined during the experimental work to determine the best one can be compensated the high air temperature occurred inside the housing. In order to achieve that, different measurements were accomplished in a commercial closed house of laying hens equipped with a complete evaporative cooling system (fan-pad system). Cooling effect (CE), cooling efficiency (η), temperature humidity index (THI), vapor pressure deficit (VPD), rate of heat energy removal from the laying hen's house (Q), total amount of moisture addition to the saturated air after cooling by evaporative process (W) and both of bird's body weight and production egg rate were computed during the experimental period. Experimental data revealed that the evaporative cooling system was able and adequate to keep and maintain the indoor air temperature of laying hens housing at desired level. The obtained results also clarified that the daily average cooling efficiency during June, July and August, was determined as 77.4%, 75.6% and 79.5%, respectively. Accordingly, the indoor dry- bulb temperature lowered between 7.1 - 8.5 °C with 30 – 40% rise in air relative humidity.

A medium density genetic map and QTL for behavioral and production traits in Japanese quail.

BackgroundBehavioral traits such as sociability, emotional reactivity and aggressiveness are major factors in animal adaptation to breeding conditions. In order to investigate the genetic control of these traits as well as their relationships with production traits, a study was undertaken on a large second generation cross (F2) between two lines of Japanese Quail divergently selected on their social reinstatement behavior. All the birds were measured for several social behaviors (social reinstatement, response to social isolation, sexual motivation, aggression), behaviors measuring the emotional reactivity of the birds (reaction to an unknown object, tonic immobility reaction), and production traits (body weight and egg production).ResultsWe report the results of the first genome-wide QTL detection based on a medium density SNP panel obtained from whole genome sequencing of a pool of individuals from each divergent line. A genetic map was constructed using 2145 markers among which 1479 could be positioned on 28 different linkage groups. The sex-averaged linkage map spanned a total of 3057 cM with an average marker spacing of 2.1 cM. With the exception of a few regions, the marker order was the same in Japanese Quail and the chicken, which confirmed a well conserved synteny between the two species. The linkage analyses performed using QTLMAP software revealed a total of 45 QTLs related either to behavioral (23) or production (22) traits. The most numerous QTLs (15) concerned social motivation traits. Interestingly, our results pinpointed putative pleiotropic regions which controlled emotional reactivity and body-weight of birds (on CJA5 and CJA8) or their social motivation and the onset of egg laying (on CJA19).ConclusionThis study identified several QTL regions for social and emotional behaviors in the Quail. Further research will be needed to refine the QTL and confirm or refute the role of candidate genes, which were suggested by bioinformatics analysis. It can be hoped that the identification of genes and polymorphisms related to behavioral traits in the quail will have further applications for other poultry species (especially the chicken) and will contribute to solving animal welfare issues in poultry production.Electronic supplementary materialThe online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12864-014-1210-9) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Effect of a processed soy protein product on growth and gut physiology of broiler chickens

SummaryA 4 × 2 factorial experiment was conducted to investigate the effect of a processed soy protein (PSP) on broiler performance and digestive physiology. Four inclusion levels of PSP (0, 25, 50 or 100 g/kg in either corn or wheat-based diets) were used in the starter diets. Feed intake was significantly lower (P &lt; 0.01) on corn-based diets than those on wheat-based diets at 35 d. Over the first 10 d, chicks on corn-based diets tended (P &lt; 0.09) to have higher body weight (BW) than wheat-based diet chicks. Across the 35 d trial, PSP level showed a strong tendency (P &lt; 0.06) to be related to higher BW in birds, regardless of grain type. Both grain and PSP experimental factors significantly (P &lt; 0.01, and P &lt; 0.001) interacted at an early age, improving BW and feed conversion ratio (FCR) for birds received high PSP on wheat-based diets. Significantly heavier (P &lt; 0.01) small intestine and gizzard + proventriculas weights at an early age, and heavier (P &lt; 0.001) gizzard + proventriculas and pancreas during the grower stage were recorded in birds fed the corn-based diets. At 24 d, pancreatic chymotrypsin amidase and lipase enzymes were significantly (P &lt; 0.01) more active in chickens fed the wheat-based diet. The interaction of PSP level and the type of the grain was significant (P &lt; 0.01) for pancreatic chymotrypsin amidase and lipase as well as jejunal maltase (P &lt; 0.05). Both experimental factors had a significant influence on jejunum histomorphology at 24 d of age (P &lt; 0.001). There was a significant interaction between level of PSP and the type of grain (P &lt; 0.05) resulting in the highest villus surface areas being seen for birds fed the corn-based diet and receiving the medium level of PSP. The trial demonstrated that PSP supplement can be included at between 50 and 100 g/kg of starter diets, depending on the basal diet.

Capon Production – Breeding Stock, Rooster Castration And Rearing Methods, And Meat Quality – A Review

Abstract Over the last decade, there has been an increased consumer interest in niche food products with special aroma and flavour, and rich in nutrients. Poland has a large (19 lines) and valuable collection of laying hens enrolled in the genetic resources conservation programme. Research to date has shown these hen breeds to vary in phenotype, productivity, and biological quality of hatching eggs and meat. A significant problem in using hens for both egg and meat production is that the number of unwanted cockerels increases with increasing intensity of egg production. This problem can be overcome by castration of cockerels. Roosters were sterilized long before Christ, first as a religious ritual and then to increase the body weight of birds. The qualities of capon meat were noticed much later when it turned out to be more delicate, juicy and tender compared to rooster meat. The aim of this paper was to review the literature on capon production, including the effects of castration on the bird’s body and on the quality of meat obtained.

Effects of dietary zinc oxide nanoparticles on growth performance and antioxidative status in broilers.

Broilers in four groups were fed a basal diet supplemented with 60 mg/kg zinc oxide (60-ZnO; control), or 20, 60, or 100 mg/kg ZnO nanoparticles (20-, 60-, and 100-nano-ZnO, respectively). Compared with the controls, after 14 days, birds in the 20- and 60-nano-ZnO groups had significantly greater weight gains and better feed conversion ratios. However, the body weight of birds in the 100-nano-ZnO group was dramatically reduced after 28 days. Relative to the control group, the total antioxidant capability (T-AOC) in serum and liver tissue was significantly higher in the 20-nano-ZnO group at all time points and also significantly higher in the 60- and 100-nano-ZnO groups in serum on days 28 and 35 and in liver tissues on days 21 and 28. Compared with the controls, the activity of copper-zinc superoxide dismutase (Cu-Zn-SOD) was significantly greater in the 60- and 100-nano-ZnO groups in serum on days 28 and 35 and in liver tissues after 21 days. Catalase activity in serum samples was significantly higher in the 20- and 60-nano-ZnO groups relative to the control and 100-nano-ZnO birds, but catalase activity in liver tissue was not affected by different nano-ZnO levels. Malondialdehyde content in serum and liver tissues was significantly reduced in the 20-, 60-, and 100-nano-ZnO groups compared with that in the control group at all time points except day 42. Taken together, our data indicate that appropriate concentration of dietary ZnO nanoparticles improves growth performance and antioxidative capabilities in broilers, and 20 mg/kg nano-ZnO is the optimal concentration.