Normal Hens Research Articles

Ovarian responses and serum LH levels after retraction or removal of the oviduct in Japanese quail.

The effects of oviduct removal, oviduct displacement or sham-operation were studied in Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). No significant differences were observed between the treatments for body weight, number of follicles larger than or equal to 6 mm diam., or number of ruptured follicles. Retraction or removal of the oviduct resulted in similar significant increases (P less than 0.05) in ovarian weight, diameter of the largest follicle, and serum LH levels when compared with the controls. Injection of yolk into normal hens did not cause any change. It is suggested that the oviduct normally exerts an inhibitory control on ovary growth without appreciable effect on ovulation rate.

The Influence of Crude Cottonseed Oil in the Feed On the Blood and Egg Yolk Lipoproteins of Laying Hens

Lipovitellin, very low density lipoproteins (VLDL), low density lipoproteins (LDL), high density lipoproteins (HDL), and proteins of d > 1.20 were isolated from blood plasma and egg yolks obtained from hens fed a normal diet or one containing 2.5% of crude cottonseed oil. The amounts and compositions of each fraction were determined. Hen blood plasma and egg yolk VLDL and LDL obtained from hens fed a normal diet contained similar levels of lipid, and the fatty acid compositions of those lipids were, for the most part, similar. The percentages of VLDL and LDL in total lipoproteins were similar for plasma and egg yolk obtained from hens fed the normal diet. Separation of VLDL from LDL was not clear-cut in eggs from hens fed the diet which contained crude cottonseed oil. Lipovitellin, as it is isolated from egg yolk, did not appear to be present in any appreciable amount in hen blood plasma. Hen plasma appeared to contain about 10% of a liproprotein d > 1.20, the lipid of which was similar in fatty acid composition to that of lipovitellin except for palmitic and oleic acids. Lipids of all the different lipoproteins isolated from plasma and egg yolks of hens fed diets which contained 2.5% of crude cottonseed oil contained more stearic acid and less palmitoleic and oleic acids than did those from normal hens. The increased content of stearic acid increased the density of the lipoproteins so that a larger proportion of the lipoproteins were in the LDL and a smaller proportion were in the VLDL than in lipoproteins from normal plasma and eggs.

Effect of Dilauryl Succinate on Reproduction of the Cock and Hen and Preventive Effect of Vitamin E

Fertility of White Leghorn cocks fed a diet containing 12% of dilauryl succinate (LS) for 16 weeks was significantly lower than that of cocks fed the control diet. Little difference in fertility and hatchability of fertile eggs was observed between White Leghorn hens fed the control or LS diets, but the percentage of chicks at hatch, which showed signs of encephalomalacia with lesions on the cerebellum, and the percentage of the hens and offspring having fragile erythrocytes were much higher when LS was fed. Total tocopherol in the plasma of the cocks and hens fed LS and in the eggs laid by the hens fed LS was lower than that in birds fed the control diet, though that of the hens was within the range of plasma tocopherol of normal hens. Offspring of the cocks and hens fed LS died from encephalomalacia earlier than those fed the control diet. These observations with LS feeding were all prevented by oral administration of dl-alpha-tocopheryl acetate. The responses of the cocks and hens to LS were compared with those to linoleic acid in the literature. The direct effect of LS, or more likely of monolauryl succinate, independent of peroxides from unsaturated fatty acids was discussed.

Effect of laying on food and water intake in dwarf and normal hens

1. Irrespective of whether the hen carried the dwarfing gene, dw, food intake on days when there was ovulation and oviposition was higher than on days when there was only oviposition. 2. The “ overconsumption “ in dw hens was greater than in the Dw hens. 3. Food intake and shell thickness were correlated, the relationship being particularly close in dw hens. 4. There was a consistent and positive correlation between food intake and weight of egg laid on the same day in both Dw and dw hens.

Inhibition of multiple ovulation in hypophysectomized hens treated with gonadotrophins

Administration of PMSG or FSH to hypophysectomized hens prevented the multiple ovulation (2-3 ova) induced by an OIH. Inhibition of multiple ovulation did not occur when FSH was injected 1/2-2 hr before the OIH injection. The results are believed to support the theory that withdrawal of FSH stimulation sensitizes a follicle to the OIH in the normal hen.

A Comparison of the Daily Energy Needs of the Normal and Dwarf Broiler Breeder Hen

Feeding trials were conducted to determine optimum daily calorie intake needs for broiler breeder hens of normal and dwarf (dw) genetic lines. Pullets were grown to 24 weeks of age with limited feed intake and placed on one of five series of energy intakes. Series 3 represented a composite of energy intakes suggested by major broiler breeders with Series 1 and 2 representing a slower rate of energy increase and Series 4 and 5 representing more rapid rates. It was found that energy intakes suggested by a composite of the recommendations by the major breeders resulted in performance equal or superior to that of other groups tested. Using prediction equations the maximum daily needs for energy for normal sized hens was 422 M.E. kcal./day, with 418 mg./day of lysine and 380 mg./day of methionine.

Effect of Calcium Propionate on Performance of Laying Hens

Laying hens kept in individual cages were fed a practical diet supplemented with 0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.4, or 0.8% calcium propionate for a six-week period. Rate of egg production, average egg weight, feed consumption, and body weight change during the experiment were not significantly affected by any dietary treatments. Liver weight, moisture content and fat content were also not significantly affected by dietary treatments. The results show that the performance of normal hens is not changed by calcium propionate supplementation.

The effects of exogenous oestrogen and progesterone on laying and nesting behaviour in the hen.

1. It has been shown that if oestrogen and progesterone are given to ovariectomised hens nesting behaviour will occur. Thus if these hormones are given to normal hens the excessive pacing found in some hens before laying might be reduced. 2. Experiments showed that oestrogen produced no noticeable effects and progesterone caused a high incidence of delayed oviposition and abnormal behaviour.

Triploidy and haploid-triploid mosaicism among chick embryos <i>(Gallus domesticus</i><i>)</i>

Homomorphic, chromosomally abnormal roosters were mated to normal hens. The 23 hens produced 67 embryos, including two triploids and a haploid-triploid mosaic at about 26 hours of incubation. Both of the triploid embryos were conceived within a 5-day period. The presence of a single genome of paternal origin with marker chromosomes in each triploid led to the conclusion that these embryos were derived from diploid, ZW-type ova fertilized by haploid, Z-type spermatozoa. The inheritance pattern of the mosaic embryo was clearly due to a spermatozoal origin for the haploid cell line; and one genome of the three in the triploid cell line was paternal. The sec chromosomes were Z/ZZZ, with one Z of each cell line being a translocation product of paternal derivation.

Effect of Environmental Temperature and Dietary Energy on Dwarf and Normal Hens and Normal Roosters

This research was designed to provide information regarding the role of environmental temperature and dietary energy in the control of feed intake.Seven-month-old laying hens were individually caged in two environmental chambers for 18 weeks in Experiment 1. A 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design was used with dwarf and normal stock, 22 and 30° C. environmental temperatures, and two dietary energy levels of 250 and 350 kcal. metabolizable energy (M.E.) per 114 gm. (2193 and 3070 M.E. kcal./kg.) of feed. The high energy diet and also the high environmental temperature decreased the feed intake of dwarf and normal hens. Actual energy intake was not affected by different dietary energy levels but high environmental temperature decreased the actual energy intake in normal and dwarf birds. Egg production was adversely affected by high dietary energy levels, but not by high environmental temperature. Body weight change was negatively affected by high environmental temperature.Experiment 2 was conducted with six-month-old roosters to eliminate the variable of egg production. The study was conducted for 12 weeks in a manner similar to Experiment 1 except that three dietary energy levels were used. The results were found to be in close agreement with Experiment 1, except that no significant difference in body weight change was noted either due to environmental temperature or dietary energy.The results of this research indicate that the thermostatic and chemostatic mechanisms for control of feed intake are operative in chickens and that both have a negative relationship to feed intake.

Comparison of Normal and Dwarf Broiler Breeder Hens

Groups of normal and dwarf breeder hens, having many full and half sibships in common, were compared in the laying period with respect to the following traits: mortality, egg production, ages at 25 and 50% production, feed required to produce a dozen eggs, proportion of eggs suitable for setting, size of eggs layed, fertility, hatchability and chicks produced per hen housed. Weights of eggs and broiler progeny from the two groups of hens were also compared. Dwarf hens required significantly less feed per dozen eggs produced and eggs from dwarf hens were generally smaller. Statistical analysis of the egg weight and body weight data indicated that smaller eggs were responsible for the reduced 56 day weights of female broilers from dwarf hens. It appeared that the normal gene is not completely dominant over the dwarf, tending to cause a 3.5 percent reduction of body weight in heterozygous male broilers from dwarf hens in addition to the influence of smaller egg size.

Maintenance Levels of Protein and Energy and the Effect of Egg Production Upon Feed Consumption of Laying Hens

Hy-Line 934 F pullets 28 weeks old were individually caged and fed nine different 120 g. diets containing all combinations of 10, 13 and 16 g. of protein and 200, 250 and 300 kcal. of metabolizable energy in two experiments. The first experiment included normal and ovariectomized pullets under uncontrolled environmental temperature. The second experiment included normal and progesterone injected pullets under controlled environmental temperature. Feed consumption was measured and the protein and energy intakes were calculated. Both experiments ran for 28 weeks.Average production was 0.189, 0.086 and 0.74 eggs per hen per day for the ovariectomized, progesterone injected and normal hens, respectively. Body weight gain was 0.66, 0.69 and 1.14 g. per hen per day for the respective treatments. Feed intake levels were significantly different at each energy level. There was no significant effect of protein upon feed intake. Egg production for normal and “non-laying” hens increased significantly with each increase in dietary protein.Average protein intakes as low as 6.0 g. per day and energy intakes as low as 144 kcal. M.E. in 50 g. of feed (300 kcal. diets with sand and solka-floc removed) were adequate for hens adjusted to zero egg production. Except for the influence of varied dietary energy levels, these estimates compare reasonably well with calculated projections using partition equations derived by Titus (1928) and Brody et al. (1938).

Volatile Fatty Acids in Contents of Pendulous Crops and Normal Crops of Turkey Hens

Crop fluid content was analyzed from normal and pendulous crop turkey hens for volatile fatty acid content. Analyses were made before and after treatment of pendulous crop hens with a fungicidal agent. The treatment resulted in significant (P < .05) reduction of only acetic acid with no regression of the pendulous crop condition.

Differentiation of male chick oviducts under hormonal stimulation.

Abstract Hybrid chick embryos with a sex-linked marker were treated with estradiol benzoate. After hatching, females and intersexual males were treated with a combination of estradiol benzoate and testosterone enanthate. After 1 wk of treatment, a histological study of their oviduets was made. Oviduels from intersexual males responded to hormonal stimulation by differentiating typical infundibular and albumen-secreting portions. Albumen-secreting glands contained granules with the same characteristies as those previously deseribed in oviducts of normal hens. These results demonstrate that oviduets of intersexual males can complete their differentiation.

The Nature of the Biochemical Lesion in Avian Renal Riboflavinuria: 6. Hormone Induction of the Riboflavin-Binding Protein in Roosters and Young Chicks

INTRODUCTIONTHE experiments reported in this paper are related to the study of the nature of action by the mutant gene which leads to a reduction of acid released riboflavin in the eggs of chickens. Farrell et al. (1969) isolated the specific protein which binds riboflavin in the albumen of eggs produced by homozygous normal (Rd Rd) hens. Furthermore, Farrell et al. (1970b,c) reported evidence for a similar protein in the blood of laying females; a reduced amount of the riboflavin-binding protein (RBP) was found in Rdrd and none in rdrd birds. In the same paper, the induction of this protein in the blood of normal (RdRd) adult males was reported to occur following injection of 17α estradiol dipropionate. None was found in the non-injected and injected males of the rdrd genotype. Hence the increased level of serum riboflavin following administration of estradiol dipropionate reported by Common and Bolton (1946)…

The nature of the biochemical lesion in avian renal riboflavinuria, IV. Comparison of the riboflavin-binding protein from homozygous ( RdRd) and heterozygous ( Rdrd) white leghorn albumen

1. 1. Homogeneous ribofiavin-binding proteins were isolated from the albumen of eggs from homozygous normal ( RdRd) single-comb White Leghorn hens and from a strain of hens heterozygous ( Rdrd) for the recessive riboflavin allele ( rdrd ) using identical DEAE adsorption, ammonium sulphate precipitation, and cellulose separation techniques. Protein recoveries were in the expected ratio of 2( RdRd): 1( Rdrd). The altered ( rdrd) protein was not recovered by use of the methods applicable to eggs of the first two strains. 2. 2. The riboflavin-binding proteins recovered from RdRd and Rdrd eggs were identical in amino-acid composition, peptide finger-print from tryptic and chymotryptic digests, carbohydrate content, electrophoretic mobility, molecular weight and immunogenic specificity to RdRd rabbit antiserum. 3. 3. Evidence was obtained for the existence of a component in the rdrd egg albumen which is weakly antigenic to the RdRd specific antiserum.

Water and Electrolyte Balance Studies of Birds Showing “Wet Droppings”

Water and electrolyte excretion was studied in (a) normal hens; (b) hens producing “wet droppings”; (c) caecectomized birds; (d) male birds given Stilbestrol injections; (e) males and females given Compound 33828 orally. Compound 33828 increased water output and significantly increased calcium excretion. Effects of limiting water intake while “33828” was fed were compatible, as the vasotocin was suppressed or inhibited. Within 25 days after caecectomy, water and electrolyte metabolism had returned to normal: immediately after caecectomy, when birds were not eating, water output increased. With normal hens and hens treated with Pitressin and with normal and Stilbestrol-treated cocks, faecal and water output was related to food intake. Increased water output resulted from increased intake to satisfy post-prandial thirst. Pitressin or Stilbestrol had no effect on sodium or potassium excretion. L’auteur a étudié l’excrétion d’eau et d’électrolytes chez (a) des poules normales; (b) des poules produisant des fientes liquides; (c) des oiseaux ayant subi une caecotomie; (d) des coqs ayant reçu des injections de Stilbestrol; (e) des mâles et des femelles à qui on avait administré oralement le composé 33823. Le composé 33823 augmentait l’excrétion d’eau et accroissait sensiblement celle de calcium. Le fait de limiter l’absorption d’eau quand on administrait le “33828” était compatible, la production de vasotocine étant alors réduite ou supprimée. Dans les 25 jours suivant une caecotomie, le métabolisme eau/électrolytes était de nouveau normal; immédiatement après la caecotomie, lorsque les oiseaux ne mangeaient pas, l’excrétion d’eau augmentait. Chez les poules normales et les poules traitées avec de la Pitressin et chez les coqs normaux et les coqs traités avec du Stilbestrol, la production de matières fécales et d’eau était liée a l’absorption de nourriture. L’excrétion accrue d’eau provenait d’une absorption accrue d’eau pour satisfaire la soif post-prandiale. La Pitressen et le Stilbestrol n’avaient pas d’effet sur l’excrétion de sodium et de potassium. Wasser- und Elektrolytenausscheidung wurde (a) in normalen Hennen studiert, (b) in Hennen, die “nasse Exkremente” ausscheidenten; (c) in Vögeln ohne Zökum; (d) in männlichen Vögeln, denen Stilbestrol gespritzt wurde; (e) in männlichen und weiblichen Tieren, die eine orale Gabe von Substanz 33828 erhalten hatten. Substanz 33828 erhöhte die Wasserausscheidung und in beträchtlichen Mass auch die Absonderung von Kalzium. Das Einschränken der Wasseraufnahme während der Verabreichung von “33828” hatte angemessene Wirkungen, da Vasotocin unterdrückt oder gehemmt wurde. Binnen 25 Tagen nach der Zökumresektion war der Wasser- und Elektrolytstoffwechsel wieder normal; sofort nach der Zökumresektion, während die Vögel nicht frassen, wurde eine erhöhte Wasserausscheidung bemerkt. In normalen Hennen, und Hennen, denen Pitressin verabreicht wurde, sowie in normalen und mit Stilbestrol behandelten Hähnen, stand die Exkrement- und Wasserauscheidung im Verhältnis zur Futteraufnahme. Erhöhte Wasserausscheidung war das Ergebnis einer gesteigerten Aufnahme, um Durst nach der Fütterung zu stillen. Weder Pitressin noch Stilbestrol beeinflussten die Natrium- oder Kaliumausscheidung. Se estudió la excreción de agua y electrólito en (a) las gallinas normales; (b) las gallinas que producen “excrementos humedecidos”; (c) las aves cecectomizadas; (d) aves machos con inyecciones de Stilbestrol; (e) machos y hembras a los cuales se les dio a ingerir el compuesto 33828. El compuesto 33828 aumentó la producción del agua y significantemente aumentó la excreción del calcio. Los efectos de la toma limitativa del agua mientras se ingería el “33828” resultaron compatibles, ya que se eliminó o inhibió la vasotocina. Dentro del período de 25 días después de la cecectomía, el metabolismo del agua y electrólito habían vuelto a lo normal: inmediatamente después de la cecectomía, cuando las aves no comían, la producción del agua aumentó. Con las gallinas normales y las gallinas tratadas con Pitresina y con los gallos normales y tratados con Stilbestrol, la producción del agua y fecal resultó estar relacionada con la toma de alimento. La producción de agua aumentada resultó de la toma aumentada para satisfacer le sed postprandial. Ni la Pitresina ni el Stilbestrol ejercieron efecto alguno en la excreción sódica o potásica.

The nature of the biochemical lesion in avian renal riboflavinuria III. The isolation and characterization of the riboflavin-binding protein from egg albumen

1. 1. An autosomal recessive strain of white leghorn hens produces eggs with an insufficient supply of riboflavin because of the absence of the riboflavin-binding protein similar to that reported by Rhodes, Bennett and Feeney. This protein has now been isolated from the whites of eggs of homozygous normal hens by a sequence of adsorptions and elutions from DE-32 cellulose on CM-23 cellulose under controlled pH and ionic strength. 2. 2. The protein has a molecular weight of 32 000 by sedimentation equilibrium measurements. 3. 3. The protein contains 14% carbohydrate with glucosamine, galactose and mannose as the component sugars. 4. 4. The protein is highly cross-linked with eight disulfide bridges. No free sulfhydryl groups are present. 5. 5. The amino acid composition is reported. 6. 6. Tryptophan and an acidic group with a p K a of approx. 3.8 have been implicated in the riboflavin-binding.

The Effect of Thyroprotein on Growth Rate of Dwarf Pullets

Interest has been growing recently in the use of dwarf pullets for commercial egg production. Such interest stems from the possible saving in feed and housing costs due to the small body size of this bird. The adult body weight of the dwarf is approximately two-thirds that of today’s normal egg production pullet even though the hatching weights of both are the same. Comparatively little work has been done concerning the nutrient requirements for growth and egg production of the dwarf birds. However, from the work that has been reported by Bernier and Arscott (1966) and Arscott and Bernier (1968), it is evident that they consume much less feed, and egg production and egg size are significantly lower than that of normal hens. A study in our laboratory has confirmed the work of the above authors with regards to low egg production and small egg size and attempts to improve…

A phosphorylation site in brain and the delayed neurotoxic effect of some organophosphorus compounds.

1. It is proposed that part of a neurotoxic dose of di-isopropyl phosphorofluoridate will be covalently bound in vivo to a specific component in the brain and spinal cord as the initial biochemical event in the genesis of the lesion. 2. A test system in vitro was devised that removes many di-isopropyl phosphorofluoridate-binding sites and indicates that the specific component may be a protein present in brain at a concentration comparable with that of the cholinesterases. 3. The site was found to be present and capable of binding di-isopropyl phosphorofluoridate in vitro in brain samples taken from either normal hens or those dosed with organophosphorus esterase inhibitors that are not neurotoxic. 4. Very little of the specific binding activity was found in brain samples from hens pre-dosed with a variety of neurotoxic organophosphorus compounds. 5. A solubilized preparation of the active brain component was obtained, suitable for further purification and study.