Lohman Strain Research Articles

Effects of Natural Guard Liquid (an Essential Oil-Based Product) on Growth Performance, Hematological Profile, and Antibody Response to Newcastle Disease Virus in Broiler Chickens

Natural guard liquid (NGL) is an immunomodulator consisting of an essential oil blend (lavender oil, eucalyptus oil, and pine oil) that can improve the immunity (IgG) of animals. The objective of this research was to assess the effectiveness of a mixture of NGL comprising of essential oil (eucalyptus, lavender, and pine oil) on growth performance, hematological profile, and antibody titer response to the Newcastle disease virus (NDV) in Lohman strain broiler chickens. A total of 400-day-old unsexed broiler chickens with an average weight of 42.48 ± 2.08 g were randomly distributed into four groups, each comprising two replications with 50 chicks. The control group, T0, received no essential oil, while other treatment groups, T1, T2, and T3, were administered NGL at 80, 100, and 200 ppm, respectively. The mixture was administered in drinking water for 30 days. The animals had received vaccinations at the Hatchery, including active NDV, inactive NDV, and Gumboro. Regular recordings were made for feed consumption, water intake, mortality, and body weight. Blood samples for routine hematological examination (hemoglobin, erythrocytes, packed cell volume, erythrocyte index, leucocytes, and differential leucocytes) and immune parameter (NDV antibody titer) assessment were collected at the onset as well as after 15 and 30 days of treatment. The hemoglobin levels, erythrocytes, total leukocytes, lymphocytes, and Heterophil-lymphocyte index showed significant differences in groups T1 and T2 compared to T0. While the NDV antibody titer showed a significant difference at T2 compared to T0, it was not significantly different at T1 and T3. The best results and performance was indicated in T2 (100 ppm), characterized by body weight (1,839 g), and feed conversion ratio (1.573). The hematological profile in the T2 group included hemoglobin (11.78 g/dL), total erythrocytes (2.82 ×106 u/L), total leukocytes (52.67 ×103 u/L]), and the NDV antibody titer (48 ± 10.20) in the fifth week. In conclusion, the optimum dose of NGL is 100 ppm, which significantly influences growth performance, hematological profile, and antibody titer against NDV. Keywords: Antibody titer, Broiler chicken, Growth performance, Hematological profile, Natural Guard Liquid

The Effect of Papaya Leaf Meal on Broiler Productivity

Feed is one of the factors that greatly affect the productivity of livestock. Livestock productivity can be known from the performance of livestock. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of papaya leaf meal on livestock performance which includes body weight gain, feed consumption and feed conversion. This study used 100 DOC of Lohman strain broilers with four ration treatments which as follows: T1 (ration without papaya leaf meal), T2 (ration with 1.5% papaya leaf meal), T3 (ration with 2.5% papaya leaf meal). The results of this study are the treatment has a significant affect to the body weight gain and feed conversion (P<0.05) but there was no significant affect to the ration consumption (P>0.05). T3 (ration with 2.5% papaya leaf meal) can increase body weight gain up to 274.59±20.26 g/head/day and reduce the feed conversion value up to 1.62±0.10. T3 also can reduce ration consumption up to 435.22±20.80 g/head/day. The conclusion of this study is that giving papaya leaf meals up to 2.5% can increase body weight gain, reduce ration consumption and feed conversion of broilers.

Evaluation Of The Supplementation Of Bitter Melon Flour (Momordica charantia) As A Feed Additive To Physical And Chemical Content Of Broiler Meat

The purpose of this research was to evaluate the supplementation of bitter melon flour as a feed additive on the physical (tenderness and WHC) and chemical (protein and fat content) quality of broiler meat. The material used in this study was a broiler Lohman strain produced by PT. Japfa Comfeed Indonesia Tbk., unsex, and rearing for 35 days. This research method used a field experiment with 6 treatments with 5 replications. Each experimental unit was given basal feed treatment with the addition of antibiotics (Zinc Bacitracin 0.01%) (P0), 0% bitter melon flour (P1), 0.25% bitter melon flour (P2), 0.5% bitter melon flour (P3), 0.75% bitter melon flour (P4), and 1% bitter melon flour (P5). Data were analyzed with Analysis of Variance and continued with Duncan's Multiple Range Test if there were significant differences. The results showed that the addition of bitter melon flour as a feed additive didn't show a significant difference (P&gt;0.05) in tenderness, Water Holding Capacity, protein content, and fat content of broiler meat. The conclusion of this study was that the addition of bitter melon flour as a feed additive showed relatively similar abilities to produce the physical and chemical quality of meat with antibiotics used as a feed additive for broilers.

The impact of Sargassum crassifolium brown seaweed flour with lower salt content in diets on internal organ of broilers

The research aims to determine the effect of Sargassum crassifolium brown seaweed flour in diet,on the internal organs of broiler. Salt content of brown seaweed was decreased by immersion in flowing water for 15 hours. This research used 100 DOC broilers of the Lohman strain. In prestarter (0-1 week of age) period were given commercial diet for adaptation, and at the age of 2 to 6 weeks are given diet containing Sargassum crassifolium brown seaweed flour. The cages used were 20 box cages, and each cage was placed by 5 broilers. The experiment using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 4 different treatments of Sargassum crassifolium brown seaweed flour (0%, 6%, 12% and 18%) in the diet, and each treatment was repeated 5 times. Measurements were percentage of liver, of pancreas, gizzard, small intestine, and small intestine length (cm). The results showed that the inclusion of the brown seaweed Sargassum crassifolium flour in the diet had no significant effect (P&gt;0.05) on percentage of liver, small intestine, and the length of the small intestine, but it had a very significant effect (P&lt;0.01) on percentage of pancreatic and gizzard. Based on the research results, it can be concluded that the brown seaweed Sargassum crassifolium can be given up to a level of 18% in the diet without having a negative effect on the percentage of liver,small intestine and length of the small intestine, and increased the percentage of gizzard and pancreas of broilers.

STUDY THE EFFECT OF STRAIN MEASURES OF POST-RESUSCITATE AGING AND AGE AT SLAUGHTER ON BROILER MEAT QULITY

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationships between broiler strain, slaughter age, and post-chill (PC) aging duration in terms of measurable meat quality parameters. Two hundred fifty Hubbard on one day old chicks classic and two hundred fifty Lohman were bread in a commercial setting. Each strain had half of its broiler chicks slain at 32 days of age and the other half at 42 days of age. A total of 168 bodies (84 Hubbard and 84 Lohman) were selected at random on each day of processing, with each strain being divided into 28 groups and aged for 0, 4, and 24 hours. Each strain had a comparable average weekly body weight. Hubbard strain animals demonstrated greater feed conversion ratios during weeks two and three of life (P≥ 0.05). A bird's age had a significant effect (p≥0.05) on initial pH of the carcass, with birds that were 32 days old having lower pH values (41 days old). Carcass temperature of Lohman’s was higher than Hubbard's at 0h, 2h, and 4h post-PC (p≥0.001). Breast temperature was lower in younger birds throughout all PC assessment intervals (p≥0.001). Stress, age, and aging time had no effect on thaw loss, cook loss, and water holding capacity. Meat of Lohman strain was softer (P≥0.05) than meat of Hubbard strain, and as broiler age and aging time rose, softness also improved. The Hubbard strain produced meat was lighter in color and less red than that of Lohman strain, which came from birds of that darker. It was determined that the breast meat quality features were most affected by strain, slaughter age and PC aging period and that softer fillet could be achieved by maturing for 4 hours before to deboning.

The Effect of Adding Tartaric Acid and Salicylic Acid on the Chemical Composition of Eggs Produced from Lohman Chickens.

This experiment was conducted in the poultry field of the College of Agriculture, University of Diyala, and the Biochemistry Laboratory in the Department of Animal Production to show the effect of using tartaric and salicylic acids on the chemical composition of eggs produced by Lohman chickens raised at high temperatures, in which 210 laying hens of brown Lohman strain were used. Sixty weeks were divided into seven treatments: T1, the control treatment, T2 and T3, in which 0.2% of tartaric and salicylic acid were added to drinking water, respectively, and T4 added to it a mixture of organic acids at a rate of 0.4% to the drinking water, and treatments T5 and T6 were added. It contained 0.2% of tartaric and salicylic acid to the ration, respectively, and T7 was added to the ration of 0.4% of the two organic acids to the diet formulation. At the age of 75 weeks, eggs were taken randomly from the treatments and at a rate of 5 eggs/treatment to know the effect of the treatments on the chemical composition of the eggs produced, and the results of the statistical analysis showed It is proved in Appendix 1 that there was no significant effect (P≥0.05) of the different treatments on the studied traits, which included the percentage of moisture, protein, fat, carbohydrates and ash in each of the whites and yolks. The present study showed that adding tartaric and salicylic acids to water and feed did not significantly affect the quality of eggs produced from Lohman chickens.

The Productive Performance of Three Lines of Laying Hens and Their Crosses During Three Life Stages

This study aimed to compare the productive performance of two local lines chickens (brown and black-feathered chickens) and laying brown Lohman strain and cross-breeding between them for the period from one day to six months old. The birds were divided into seven treatments and the study was on three life stages, the first of (day-8) weeks of age, the second (9-16) weeks and the third (17-24) weeks for the following traits: live body weight, weight gain, feed consumption, feed conversion ratio, and sex maturity, weight of the first egg weight, sexual maturity age, egg production HD%, egg mass, average egg weight for the seven groups. The results showed that there were significant superiority (P<0.05) in the most productive performance for the four ceosses hybrids compared to the pure lines. and it was noted that there was a significant positive correlation coefficient between the weight of The body at the age of six months and the weight of the first egg (0.80), the average egg weight of (0.79) and the weight of the first egg and the average egg production was (0.72) and The average weight of eggs and egg production (0.61).

PENGARUH METODE PEMBERIAN RANSUM PADA SIANG DAN MALAM HARI TERHADAP RESPON FISIOLOGIS AYAM JANTAN TIPE MEDIUM DI KANDANG POSTAL

This study aimed to determine the effect of the method of giving rations during the day and night on the physiological response (respiratory rate, rectal temperature, and heart rate) of medium type roosters in postal cages and to determine the effect of the best day and night ration methods on physiological response of medium type rooster in postal cage. This study used a Completely Randomized Design (CRD), consisting of three treatments with six replications, those were P1: 30% day and 70% night ration; P2: 50% day and 50% night ration; P3: 70% day and 30% night ration. The chicken used was male Lohman strain medium type of 144 chickens. The resulting data were analyzed with variance at 5% level. The results showed that the influence of day and night administration method was not different (P &gt; 0.05) on the frequency of breath (51.73 to 55.27 Times/min), rectal temperature (41.13 to 41.16oC), and heart rate frequency (421.2 to 434.7 times/minute).&#x0D; Keywords: Day and night rationing, Medium type rooster, Physiological response, Postal cage

Pengaruh Pembatasan pakan terhadap performa ayam pedaging strain yang berbeda

THE EFFECT OF FEED RESTRICTION ON THE PERFORMANCE OF BROILERWITH DIFFERENT STRAINS. This study aims to measure the growth performance of broilers with different strains through a feed restriction pattern at the beginning of growth (starter). This study used 72 day-old broilers consisting of 36 Cobb strains and 36 Lohman strains selected from each of them. -each 100 heads to get almost the same body weight obtained successively from PT. Charoen Phokphand and PT. Japfa Comfeed Indonesia. The design used was a completely randomized design (CRD) with a 2x4 factorial pattern with 3 replications. The A factor is the difference in strains (A1 = Lohman, A2 = Cobb), while the B factor is the time of feed restriction (B0 = no feed restriction, B1 = feed restriction starts on day 8, B2 = Feed restriction starts on day 11, B3 = Feed restriction begins On day 14. There were 8 treatment combinations. Feed restriction was carried out as much as 20 percent. The measured variables were feed consumption, body weight gain, and feed conversion. The results of the analysis of variance showed that there was a significant interaction (P &lt;0.05) between the strains different from the start of the feed restriction on feed consumption and body weight gain, while the feed conversion variable did not show a significant interaction (P&gt; 0.05) .Tukey's test results showed that the feed consumption in the combination of Lohman strain treatment with limitation time of 11 days (98.95) is not significantly different (P&gt; 0.05) with the combination of A1B0 (97.52), A2B3 (91.34), but A2B0 (95.36) is significantly different (P &lt;0.05) is higher with all combinations treatment. The results of the analysis of variance showed that there was a significant interaction (P &lt;0.05) between factor A and factor B. The results of the Tukey test showed that the treatment of A1B2 (54.63) was not significantly different (P&gt; 0.05) with A1B1 (51, 70), thus with treatment A2B0 (48.13), treatment A1B0 (49.93) with A2B1 (49.13), A2B3 (49.12), A2B0 (48.13) and A2B2 (47.21) . Lohman strain broiler and 20% restriction with restriction time starting on the eleventh day gave the best performance response. Keywords: Strain, feed restriction, time limitation

PENGARUH METODE PEMBERIAN RANSUM PADA SIANG DAN MALAM HARI TERHADAP PERFORMA AYAM JANTAN TIPE MEDIUM DI KANDANG POSTAL

This study aimed to determine the effect of the percentage of ration during the day and night on the performance of medium type roosters in postal cages. This research was conducted in August- October 2018 in a postal cage, Integrated Laboratory, Faculty of Agriculture, University of Lampung. The experiment was designed in a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) with 3 treatments, namely giving ration 30% at day and 70% at night ration (R1), 50% at day and 50% at night (R2), and 70% at day and 30% at night (R3). All treatments were repeated six times with each replication consisting of 8 chickens, so that the total experimental chickens were 144 chickens. The material used in this study was 2 weeks old of Lohman strain chicken. The results showed a significant effect (P&lt;0.05) between the percentage of giving ration at day and night on ration consumption, but no significant effect (P&gt;0.05) on body weight gain, feed conversion, and income over feed cost ( IOFC). The result also showed that giving ration 30% during the day and 70% at night was the best proportion for feed consumption.&#x0D; &#x0D; Keywords: Medium type rooster, Postal cage, Night, Ration, Day

The effect of early feed restriction on the commercial pieces of two broiler chicken strains

The aim of this research to evaluate the effect of feed restriction (FR) on starter periods of two different broiler strains on commercial meat pieces. The study was conducted on 120 day old chicks with an average body weight of Lohman strain of 44.16 ± 3.72 g and Cobb strain of 45.79 ± 3.95 g. The method was a completely randomized design (CRD) factorial 2x4 with 3 replications. The factor A1 was Lohman, and A2 was Cobb. Factor B was the start of the application of FR as much as 20% for 8 days, namely B0 = without FR, B1 = on day 8, B2 = on day 11, and B3 = on day 14. Feed was given ad libitum before and after FR until day 35. The interaction between treatment affect the carcass (%) and brisket (%). Final body weight (FBW), carcass (%), breasts (%), and wings were affected by strains. FBW, carcass (%) and breast (%) of Lohman strain were higher than Cobb. The wings (%) and brisket (%) of Cobb were higher than Lohman's. The application of FR on the Lohman at starter period was better than Cobb in terms of the percentage of commercial pieces.

PENGARUH PEMBATASAN PAKAN DAN SUMBER SERAT KASAR BERBEDA TERHADAP BOBOT HIDUP, BOBOT KARKAS DAN POTONGAN KOMERSIAL KARKAS AYAM BROILER STRAIN LOHMAN

THE EFFECT OF FEED RESTRICTION AND DIFFERENCE SOURCE OF CRUDE FIBER ON LIVE WEIGT, CARCASS WEIGHT AND COMMERCIAL PIECES OF BROILER WITH LOHMAN STRAIN. The objective of research was to determine the effect of feed restriction and source of different crude fiber on live weight, carcass weigth and commercial pieces of broiler with Lohman strain. The material used was 24 broilers. This research was using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) in Factorial pattern of 2x4 with 3 replications. Feed restrictions were carried out at the age of 21 to 28 days old, after restrictions on broilers were fed commercial ration ad libitum feed until a time periode of 42 days. As a factor A was restricted feeding consisted of without restrictions (A0), and 20 percents restricted ration (A1). A factor B was source of crude fiber consisted of commercial feed (B0), commercial feed with coffee hull meal (B1), commercial feed with rice bran (B2), and commercial feed with coconut pulp (B3). The data analyzed used variance analysis and Tukey test to determine which one of treatment was significantly different from each other. The variables measured were live weight, carcass weight and percentage of commercial pieces consist of breast, thigh, drumstick, wing and brisket. The results showed that the combination treatment of feed restriction and source of crude fiber in feed gave a very significant different effect (P &lt;0.05) on live weigth, carcass weight and commercial pieces of broiler with Lohman strain. The 20 percents restriction feeding with coconut pulp as a source of crude fiber gave best results on live weight, carcass weight, and commercial pieces of broiler with Lohman strain.Keywords: Feed restriction, crude fiber source, broiler commercial pieces

EFEK PEMBATASAN PAKAN DAN SUMBER SERAT KASAR BERBEDA TERHADAP PERFORMA AYAM PEDAGING

EFFECT OF FEED RESTRICTION AND DIFFERENT CRUDE FIBER SOURCES ON THE BORILER PERFORMANCE. The research aim was to determine the performance of Lohman strain broiler were given by food restriction of 20 percent and 10 percent levels of crude fiber from different fiber sources originated from coffee peel, rice bran and coconut pulp. This research was carried out in a poultry house at the Faculty of Animal Husbandry, UNSRAT Manado, during 6 weeks using 48 unsex Lohman strain broilers at 21 days old. The research method was using a Completely Randomized Design (CRD) based on factorial pattern (2x4). Each treatment combination was repeated 3 times. Factor A was a feed restriction consisting of feed without restriction (A0) and restriction of 20% feed for 8 days (A1). Factor B was a source of fiber consisting of control (B0);coffee peel (B1); rice bran (B2) and coconut pulp (B3). In this study, the were 8 treatment combinations of A0B0, A0B1, A0B2, A0B3, A1B0, A1B1, A1B2 and A1B3. Application of feed restriction and source of fiber were applied during days of 21th to day of 28th. The birds were fed commercial feed until 42 days of age. The variables measured were feed consumption, body weight gain and feed conversion. The results showed that the restriction of feed and different fiber sources had a significant effect (P &lt;0.05) on feed consumption, body weight gain and feed conversion. The results of this study can be concluded that the restriction of feed by 20 percent for 8 days with a source of crude fiber originated from coconut pulp in feed gave the best response compared with crude fiber originated from coffee peel and rice bran on the performance of the Lohman strain of broiler.Keywords: Broiler, feed restriction, crude fiber

Effects of Liquid Probiotics (Lactobacillus sp.) on Microflora Balance, Enzyme Activity, Number and Surface Area of the Intestinal Villi of Broiler

The aims of this study were to determine the effects of probiotic liquid as feed additive on productivity, microflora balance, enzym activity, number and surface of intestinal villi of broiler. This study was used experimental method with Completely Randomized Design (CRD) on 144 Day Old Chicks (DOC) Lohman strain, which divided into 4 treatment groups and 6 replications. The treatment was the basal feed without the addition of liquid probiotic (P0); basal feed with 0,2 v/w liquid probiotic (P1); basal feed with 0,4 v/w liquid probiotic (P2) and basal feed with 0,6 v/w liquid probiotic (P3). Liquid probiotic containing composition of Lactobacillus sp. 1,4x10 10 cfu/mLl. Data were analyzed using a CRD followed by the Duncan Multiple Range Test. The results showed that liquid probiotic ( Lactobacillus sp.) as food additive give the significant effect (P 0,05) to protease and lipase activity. It`s showed significant effect (P<0,01) to total plate count (TPC) of lactid acid bacteria, Salmonella sp., Eschericia coli , surface of intestinal villi.. The result were concluded that the higher concentration of liquid probiotics in feed the higher microflora balance, protease and lipase activity, number and surface of intestinal villi. Decreasement of Salmonella sp. and Eschericia coli TPC. As suggestion, a liquid probiotics ( Lactobacillus sp.) 0.6 v/w in feed can produce the higher performance. Keywords: broilers, intestinal characteristics, liquid probiotic

Aflatoxin effect on erythrocyte profile and histopathology of broilers given different additives

The aim of this study was to evaluate erythrocyte profile and microscopic changes effect of AF induces by low level (57.18 ppb) and chronic exposure (34 days) with administration of additive (Lactobacillus plantarum G7 and methionine). Aflatoxin-contaminated corn was prepared by inoculate Aspergillus flavus FNCC 6002 on corn. Total number of 576 broiler Lohman strain (MB202) unsexed DOC were allocated completely randomized into four treatments and 12 replicates, with 12 broiler chicks each. The treatments as follows: T1 = aflatoxin-contaminated diet, T2 = aflatoxin-contaminated diet + 1% of LAB (w/w), T3 = aflatoxin-contaminated diet + 0.8% of methionine (w/w), and T4 = aflatoxin-contaminated diet + 1% of LAB + 0.8% of methionine (w/w). The effect of treatments was evaluated using ANOVA and the difference among mean treatments were analyzed using DMRT. The result showed that administration of additives had no significant effect (P>0.05) on erythrocyte profile, liver, and bursa of Fabricius. The dose of additive in each treatment (T2, T3, T4) were insufficient to reduce adverse effect of chronic aflatoxicosis. It was concluded that the LAB dose for binding AF (57.18%) should be evaluated and the dose for methionine should be reduced for chronic treatment of aflatoxicosis.

Phenamil enhances the adipogenic differentiation of hen preadipocytes.

A study was conducted to examine the effect of phenamil on adipogenic differentiation and expression of key adipogenic transcripts in hen preadipocytes. Preadipocytes were isolated from 20-week old Single Comb White Leghorn hens (Gallas gallus, Lohman strain). The experiment lasted for 48 h and had six treatments. Non-treated control (C) cells, cells treated with dexamethasone, 3-isobutyl-1-methylxanthine, insulin, and oleic acid (DMIOA) (T1), DMIOA + 15 μM phenamil (T2), DMIOA + 30 μM phenamil (T3), 15 μM phenamil alone (T4), and 30 μM phenamil alone (T5). Neutral lipid accumulation and the mRNA expression of key adipogenic transcripts were measured in all treatments and compared. Lipid accumulation was detected in T1, T2, and T3 only. Expression of peroxisome proliferator receptor-activator gamma 2 (PPARγ2), the core enhancer binding protein α (C/EBPα), C/EBPβ, fatty acid binding protein 4 (FABP4), and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) as well as ETS variant 4 (ETV4) and 5 was higher (P < 0.05) in T2, T3, T4, and T5 compared to C. Expression of these transcripts was higher (P < 0.05) in T2 and T3 compared to T4 and T5. The core enhancer binding protein α, C/EBPβ, and FABP4 were highly expressed (P < 0.05) in T1 compared to C. However, the expression of PPARγ2, LPL, and ETV4 and ETV5 was not significantly different. Expression of C/EBPα, C/EBPβ, and FABP4 was higher (P < 0.05) in T2 and T3 compared to T1. Expression of sterol regulatory element binding protein 1 (SREBP1) and leptin receptor (LEPR) was not significantly different among the treatments. In conclusion, phenamil enhances DMIOA-induced adipogenic differentiation of hen preadipocytes but does not induce adipogenesis by itself.

The Effects of Different Levels Chlorell Microalgae on Performance and Immune Response of Laying Hens Under Heat Stress Condition

This study was conducted to determine the effects of different levels microalgae Chlorell sp. on performance of laying hens under heat stress condition. A completely randomized design experiment, with 7 replicates and 6 treatments (9 birds per replicate) was carried out by allotting 378 white Lohman strain laying hens at 65 weeks of age. Six experimental treatments were continual addition of 0, 100, 200, 300,400 ppm microalgae Chlorell and 400 ppm toein to drinking warer were fed to laying hens for 9 weeks. Egg production, egg weight, egg mass output and feed intake were determined. Antibody production against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) also was measured. Data were analyzed by ANOVA using General Linear Models procedure of SAS software and comparison of means were compared using Duncan’s multiple range test. The results of this experiment showed that microalgae Chlorell had no effect on productive performance. Adding microalgae Chlorell to the drinking water improved immune response of laying hens and a more positive effect was observed when 400 ppm added to the water. It is concluded that the addition of microalgae Chlorell to the water drinking of laying hens improved immune response of laying hens.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3126/ijls.v9i2.12058 International Journal of Life Sciences 9 (2) : 2015; 71-74

Seroprevalence of Mycoplasma synoviae and Mycoplasma gallisepticum at Batna Commercial poultry farms in Algeria

Aim: The present study was undertaken to know the seroprevalence of Mycoplasma synoviae (MS) and Mycoplasma gallisepticum (MG) in broiler and layer chickens in the area of Batna, eastern Algeria. This investigation was conducted during the period from 2008 to 2011. Materials and Methods: A total of 505 sera samples were collected and tested by serum plate agglutination (SPA) test using Mycoplasma gallisepticum and Mycoplasma synoviae antigens (Soleil Diagnostic) to detect the presence of antibodies against MS and MG. Results: The overall prevalence of MS and MG infection in the 27 flocks visited in this investigation were recorded as 66.33% and 69.90% respectively. Seroprevalence of MG infection was found significantly (p 0.05) higher in large flocks (76.97%) in comparison to small flocks (63.63%). The highest prevalence (76.59%) of mycoplasmal infection in layer hens was found in Lohman strain. Conclusion: It has been found that MG and MS infections are still important disease problems in poultry farms in Algeria.

THE EFFECT OF DENSITY AND FLOOR TYPES ON PERFORMANCE, PHYSIOLOGICAL STATE AND IMMUNE RESPONSE OF BROILERS

The purpose of this research was to study the effect of density and floor types on performance,physiological state and immune response of broilers. The research involved 368 male broilers of theNew Lohman strain aged 8 days which were raised up to 35 days at different densities and floor types.Floor types consisted of rice hull litter and bamboo slat were used as the main plot; while densities of 7,10, 13 and 16 birds/m2 applied as the sub-plot. The results showed that the final body weight gain of the35-day Lohmann broilers at densities of 7, 10 and 13 birds/m2 were 28.22, 24.43 and 19.27 kgrespectively, compared to 16 birds/m2 at 13.53 kg (P&gt;0.05). Broilers in the bamboo slats floor hadlymph weight at 3.73 g compared to the litter floor at 2.55 g (P&lt;0.05). Also, broilers in the bambooslats had average RHL (0.65) lower than broilers in the litter floor (0.79). It could be concluded thatbamboo slats best being used for broilers up to a density of 13 broilers/m2.

Effects of Strain on Performance, and Age at Slaughter and Duration of Post-chilling Aging on Meat Quality Traits of Broiler

This study was conducted to investigate the effects of strain on broiler performance, and age at slaughter and post- chilling (PC) aging time on meat quality traits. A total of 500 one-day-old chicks (250 Hubbard classic and 250 Lohman) were reared under commercial conditions. Half of the broiler birds from each strain were slaughtered at 32 days and the other half at 42 days old. At each processing day, 168 carcasses were randomly selected (84 Hubbard and 84 Lohman) and divided into groups of 28 carcasses within each strain, and aged for 0, 4 and 24 h after chilling. Average weekly body weight was comparable between strains. Feed conversion ratio was higher (p<0.05) for the Hubbard strain during the second and third week of age. Initial carcass pH was significantly (p<0.05) affected by age where younger birds (32-d-old) had lower pH values than older (41-d-old) birds. Breast temperature was higher (p<0.001) for Lohman than Hubbard at 0, 2 and 4 h of PC. Younger birds had a lower breast temperature (p<0.001) at all measured times of PC. Thaw loss, cook loss and water holding capacity were not significantly affected by strain, age or aging time. Lohman strain had more tender meat (p<0.05) than Hubbard strain, and tenderness was improved with the increase of broiler age and aging time. Meats from Hubbard were lighter and less red than those from Lohman strain where younger birds had darker color. In conclusion, strain, age at slaughter and PC aging duration are critical to breast meat quality characteristics, and 4 h of aging are required before deboning in order to obtain more tender fillets. (Key Words : Broiler Breast Fillets, Age at Slaughter, Strain, Aging Time, Meat Quality)