Nutrient status of crop contents of rural scavenging local chickens in Tanzania

1. A total of 144 chickens purchased from peasants in Morogoro, Tanzania were slaughtered, their crops dissected and the contents analysed. The birds consisted of 48 chickens from each of three climatic zones (warm and wet, warm and dry, cool and wet). Seventy-two chickens were slaughtered in each season, that is short rainy and long rainy season. 2. Cereal grains, bran, green forages, insects/worms and kitchen food wastes were the main crop contents and their composition varied significantly with season and climate. 3. The overall mean chemical compositions (g/kg) of the crop contents were: 430.8 +/- 107.78 dry matter (DM), 104.4 +/- 43.47 crude protein (CP), 61.2 +/- 36.48 ether extract (EE), 58.2 +/- 26.29 crude fibre (CF), 125.4 +/- 58-27 ash, 6.3 +/- 5.19 calcium (Ca) and 3.6 +/- 2.41 phosphorus (P). 4. CP, EE, ash and P contents varied significantly (P<0.05) with season but contents of DM, CF and Ca were not significantly different. 5. CP content was significantly higher (P<0.05) in growers than in adults while the reverse was true for Ca content. Other variables did not differ significantly. 6. Significant differences (P<0.05) in chemical composition were observed among the zones in all parameters except for CP content. 7. The study showed that the chemical composition of feeds eaten by rural scavenging chickens was below the nutritional requirements and varied with season, climate and age of birds.     

Indigenous Muscovy Ducks in Congo Brazzaville. 2. Preliminary observations on indigenous Muscovy ducks reared under moderate inputs in Congolese conditions

To evaluate the potential of the native Muscovy ducks in Congo, a trial was conducted with closed housing, commercial feeding and veterinary care. The characterization included reproductive performance, daily weight gain, live body weight, feed conversion ratio, body live weight productivity, and meat productivity. The experimental genetic stock was bred under natural mating and natural incubation. The number of eggs recorded per female and per clutch was 14.6 ± 3 eggs with 2 clutches per year. The average (±SD) hatchability was 75% ± 3% and the average egg weight was 72 ± 8 g. The sexual dimorphism for body weight appeared after 3 weeks (p < 0.05). The maximum daily weight gain in males reached 55 ± 8 g/day and occurred at 5 weeks, whereas in females it occurred at 4 weeks and reached 35 ± 5 g/day. The carcass yield was 70% ± 5% and 51 ± 8% in males and females, respectively. The meat productivity was 26.7 and 11.5 kg/m² per year in males and females, respectively. From these findings, it can be concluded that the incubation by mother duck is preferred in the small farming duck and that males should be raised for meat and females for egg production. Further studies including local poultry-related issues are needed to optimize the performance of the native Muscovy duck in Congo Brazzaville.     

Assessing the productivity of indigenous chickens in an extensive management system in southern Nyanza, Kenya

The present study was conducted to assess the performance of indigenous chickens under extensive system in southern Nyanza, Kenya. The study was carried out in two phases in Komolorume and Kawere villages in Rongo and Rachuonyo districts, respectively. The first phase was a cross-sectional study in 81 farms selected by cluster sampling to get the overview of the indigenous chicken production. A four-month prospective longitudinal study in 60 farms randomly selected from the previous 81 farms followed. Mean flock sizes per household were 20 and 18 birds in Komolorume and Kawere, respectively. Overall mean flock size was 19 birds ranging from 1to 64. The mean clutch size, egg weight and hatchability were 12 eggs, 48 g and 81% respectively in Komolorume and 10 eggs, 45 g and 70%, respectively, in Kawere. The chick survival rates to the age of eight weeks were 13% and 10% in Komolorume and Kawere, respectively. Mean live weights for cocks and hens were 2096 g and 1599 g in Komolorume and 2071 g and 1482 g in Kawere, respectively. The mean household cock to hen ratio was 2:5 and 2:4 for Komolorume and Kawere, respectively. The mean chick to grower to adult ratio per household was 8: 6:6 in Komolorume and 8:4:6 in Kawere. Clutch sizes and hatchability rates were significantly higher in Komolorume village (P?<?0.5). The productivity of the indigenous chickens was shown to be low compared to that of the improved chickens in other parts of the world.     

Effect of wet feeding on growth performance of broiler chickens in a hot climate

1. The Guinea Savanna in the tropics is characterised by high diurnal temperatures, often beyond the thermo-neutral zone of modern poultry, which imposes heat stress on them. 2. An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of partially (12 h wet mash in the day and 12 h dry mash in the night) or wholly (24 h) feeding wet mash on the growth performance of broiler chickens. 3. Three treatments: dry mash (control), wet mash (day) + dry mash (night) and wet mash (day + night) were tested. At 28 d of age, a total of 120 broiler chickens (Hybro, Netherlands) were randomly divided, using a completely randomised design, into 12 groups of 10 birds, each with mean live weight of approximately 800 g/bird. A maize-soybean based grower mash (200 g CP/kg and 12·5 MJ/kg ME) was fed. The wet mash was prepared daily by addition of 1·3 parts of water to 1 part of dry mash and fed from 28 to 56 d of age. The birds were housed in raised-floor pens. Feed and water were given ad libitum and light provided 24 h. Mean daily room temperature was 28-29°C in the morning and 35-41°C in the afternoon. 4. Mean feed intake of birds fed the wet mash (174 g/day) or wet + dry mash (166 g/day) was higher than that of birds fed the dry mash (152 g/day). Mean live weight gain of birds fed the wet mash (64 g/day) or wet + dry mash (64 g/day) was higher than that of birds fed the dry mash (58 g/day). There were no differences in gain/feed ratios (0·38-0·39) of any of the treatments, neither were there any differences between the feeding of wet mash partly or wholly for all variables. 5. It was concluded that wet feeding, particularly during day-time, had the potential to improve growth performance of broiler chickens in a hot climate.     

Comparative investigations of the feed and nutrient consumption, growth, a nutrient efficiency of broiler chickens under different climatic conditions in Nigeria

Feed intake, growth and blood parameters were studied over 3 years, in 2,300 chickens started either during the cool, dry season or the hot, dry season. From day old to 4 weeks, fed was more efficiently used for growth during the hot, dry season than for the cool, dry season. Using Haemoglobin and Haematocrit as criteria, and on supplementing a practical type ration with copper and iron, it was observed that climatic stress, as distinct from mineral deficiency, plays an important role in the brooding of exotic chickens in the tropics. The importance of this in relation to housing and timing of brooding the chickens by commercial producers was highlighted.     

Purification of chicken carbonic anhydrase isozyme-III (CA-III) and its measurement in White Leghorn chickens

Background

The developmental profile of chicken carbonic anhydrase-III (CA-III) blood levels has not been previously determined or reported. We isolated CA-III from chicken muscle and investigated age-related changes in the levels of CA-III in blood.

Methods

CA-III was purified from chicken muscle. The levels of CA-III in plasma and erythrocytes from 278 female chickens (aged 1-93 weeks) and 68 male chickens (aged 3-59 weeks) were determined by ELISA.

Results

The mean level of CA-III in female chicken erythrocytes (1 week old) was 4.6 μg/g of Hb, and the CA-III level did not change until 16 weeks of age. The level then increased until 63 weeks of age (11.8 μg/g of Hb), decreased to 4.7 μg/g of Hb at 73 weeks of age, and increased again until 93 weeks of age (8.6 μg/g of Hb). The mean level of CA-III in erythrocytes from male chickens (3 weeks old) was 2.4 μg/g of Hb, and this level remained steady until 59 weeks of age. The mean plasma level of CA-III in 1-week-old female chickens was 60 ng/mL, and this level was increased at 3 weeks of age (141 ng/mL) and then remained steady until 80 weeks of age (122 ng/mL). The mean plasma level of CA-III in 3-week-old male chickens was 58 ng/mL, and this level remained steady until 59 weeks of age.

Conclusion

We observed both developmental changes and sex differences in CA-III concentrations in White Leghorn (WL) chicken erythrocytes and plasma. Simple linear regression analysis showed a significant association between the erythrocyte CA-III level and egg-laying rate in WL-chickens 16-63 weeks of age (p < 0.01).     

Effects of factors of nutrition and husbandry on the heat production of rats and broilers. 1. Heat production of growing broiler chicks kept in groups depending on the environmental temperature

In 2 experiments with young broiler chickens, origin Tetra B, heat production was measured in dependence on ambient temperature indirectly and with the gas exchange both over 24 h and in 20-minute periods beginning on their 5th day of live. The chickens, divided into 2 X 2 groups according to sex, were constantly kept in a climatic chamber changed in to a respiration chamber during the 8- or 11-week-long experiments. The maximum variation of the temperature was between 5 and 35 degrees C. In the periods of 24-h measurements over 4 days each, the ambient temperature was changed from day to day in steps of 5 degrees C. Heat production was influenced by the age of the chickens, energy intake and ambient temperature. The results of the measurements at the same age and the same energy intake and a temperature variation between 5 and 35 degrees C can well be described by polynomes of the 3rd degree up to the 8th week of live. The thermoregulatory conditioned heat production per 1 degree C below the critical temperature decreased with the age of the chickens. In the first few weeks of life it was 20 kJ, in the 6th and 7th weeks of life 10-15 kJ and then decreased to 4-5 kJ/kg life weight 0.75.d. degrees C. Based on the temperature of minimal heat production, the heat production of 16- to 30-day-old chickens increased to 60-80% at an ambient temperature of 5 degrees C; the metabolism of chickens older than 7 weeks was only increased by about 20%. For the first 2 weeks 35 degrees C were ascertained as critical temperature, for the 3rd to 6th weeks 30 degrees C and for the 7th and 8th weeks 25 degrees C.     

康县太平鸡早期生长曲线拟合及体重与体尺相关性分析

为研究太平鸡早期生长发育规律,提高品种选育效果,采用Logistic、Von Bertalanffy、Gompertz三种非线性生长模型对其体重进行拟合,并对13周龄的体重与体尺进行相关性分析。结果表明：Gompertz模型对太平鸡0～15周龄体重的拟合效果最佳,拟合所得的太平公、母鸡的拐点周龄分别为7.08周、6.84周,拐点体重分别为572.24 g、482.74 g,成熟体重分别为1 555.34 g、1 312.09 g;13周龄太平鸡体重与体尺之间存在不同程度的相关性,公鸡的体重与体斜长、龙骨长、胫长、胫围、骨盆宽呈极显著正相关（P<0.01）;母鸡的体重与龙骨长、胫长、胫围、胸围、骨盆宽呈极显著正相关（P<0.01）。     

The effects of chronic intermittent noise exposure on broiler chicken performance

Effects of different noise levels (70 or 80 dB) that broilers were exposed to during the entire fattening period and also the effect of the timing of the first exposure to intermittent noise in the course of fattening (day 1 vs. day 7) were monitored. After 7 days of exposure to intermittent noise, experimental chickens already showed a significant decrease in live body weight in comparison with the control group. The difference between the group exposed to intermittent noise at 70 dB and the group exposed to 80 dB levels was not statistically significant, although the mean live body weight of broilers in the latter was lower during the entire fattening period. The chickens exposed to intermittent noise from day 1 of age showed lower mean live weight throughout the fattening period compared to chickens exposed to the same level of intermittent noise only from day 7 of age, although at the end of fattening the difference was statistically significant only in chickens exposed to the higher level of intermittent noise (80 dB).     

贵州黄鸡慢羽系生长曲线拟合研究

试验旨在揭示贵州黄鸡慢羽系生长发育规律。选择100只贵州黄鸡慢羽系（公母鸡各50只），于0、2、4、6、8、10、12、14周龄末称重，分别采用Bertalanffy、Logistic、Gompertz 3种非线性生长曲线模型对贵州黄鸡慢羽系0~14周龄体重变化进行拟合分析。结果表明：3种模型均能很好地拟合其生长曲线，拟合度均在0.99以上，其中Logistic模型在贵州黄鸡慢羽系公鸡、母鸡生长曲线中拟合最好，拟合结果最接近实测体重情况，其公鸡拐点体重为1 550.81 g，拐点周龄为10.42，母鸡拐点体重为976.67 g，拐点周龄为9.14。试验结果初步揭示了贵州黄鸡慢羽系的生长发育规律和各阶段的生长特征，为贵州黄鸡慢羽系选育生产和产业化发展提供了科学依据。     

冬春季暖棚舍饲对母羊体重损失及产羔性能的影响

研究冬春季暖棚舍饲对母羊体重损失及产羔性能的影响。试验分别于2011、2012和2013年冬春季在内蒙古锡林郭勒盟太仆寺旗进行,在当地选用2户临近牧户,每户挑选120只母羊,随机分为2组,分别为传统棚+放牧组(TS,对照)、改造暖棚+舍饲组(WS)。参试母羊夏秋季白天自由放牧,晚上归牧后圈在传统棚内;到冬春季TS组饲养方式不变,WS组舍饲在简易改造暖棚。整个试验期间,2组母羊及其羔羊的补饲饲料组成及饲喂量相同。试验结果表明,WS组母羊体重较TS组高1.6 kg(P=0.004),体重损失较之少22 g/d(P=0.005);母羊体重损失在12-1月份最严重,但经第一年(2011)饲养损失程度显著缓解(P<0.001),体重损失随棚圈积温升高而减少。TS组的年均产羔数、羔羊体重及其日增重均显著低于WS组(P=0.020;P=0.0005;P=0.0001),初生重及日增重随着饲养年份的延后而增加(P<0.001);产羔率、羔羊存活率和双羔率随棚圈积温的升高而增大。以上结果表明,冬春季暖棚舍饲可显著减少母羊越冬体重损失,并提高产羔力,进而提高家庭牧场收入,保护退化草场。更重要的是,冷季舍饲有助于改变牧民的传统养殖观念,从“生存观”转向“生产观”。建议,西北牧区冷季绵羊圈舍适宜积温应高于-40 ℃·d或基本温度高于2 ℃。     

Occurrence of Pasteurella multocida and related species in village free ranging chickens and their animal contacts in Tanzania

Investigation was done to determine the presence of Pasteurella multocida and related species in free ranging chickens and ducks, dogs, cats and pigs in three climatic zones (cool, warm and hot) of rural Morogoro, Tanzania. A total of 153 isolates of P. multocida ssp. multocida and related species were obtained by direct culture on blood agar, selective medium and mouse inoculation. P. multocida ssp. multocida was isolated from 0.7% of chickens and 7% of ducks. In dogs and cats, P. multocida ssp. multocida was isolated from 1 and 68%, respectively. One isolate of Pasteurella gallinarum was isolated from a duck. Other species obtained were; P. multocida ssp. septica, Pasteurella stomatis and taxon 16 from dogs and cats, while Pasteurella dagmatis and Pasteurella canis were found in dogs only. Prevalence of P. multocida ssp. multocida was significantly higher (P<0.01) in ducks of the warm zone (22%) than in ducks of other zones (0%). No significant difference was observed between the prevalence of P. multocida ssp. multocida in chickens of the warm zone (2%) and chickens of the cool and hot zones (0%). Extended phenotypic characterization revealed phenotypic similarities between two isolates from chickens and the duck strains. Mouse inoculation appeared to be more sensitive in detecting P. multocida ssp. multocida than blood agar and selective medium. Direct culture on blood agar recovered most of the isolates from dogs. This study has demonstrated for the first time the presence of P. multocida and related species in the village free ranging chickens, ducks, dogs and cats in Tanzania. Other non-classified Pasteurella spp. were also observed in the study, but further characterization is required before the final classification can be made. This paper reports for the first time the isolation of unclassified Pasteurella from dogs and cats in Africa. The results implies that fowl cholera might be occurring in free ranging poultry, and dogs and cats kept in contact might serve as sources of P. multocida to chickens and ducks. Subsequent applications of molecular techniques to analyse the epidemiological relatedness of clones isolated from different host species is indicated.     

西藏藏鸡生长曲线拟合及分析

为探究西藏藏鸡早期的生长发育规律,本研究采用Logistic、Bertalanffy和Gompertz非线性模型对公、母鸡从出生到24周龄的体重进行拟合分析。结果显示:3种生长曲线模型的拟合度均能达到0.99以上;进一步从统计和生物学意义角度评价3种模型发现,Gompertz模型拟合效果最好;Gompertz方程拟合公鸡和母鸡的生长拐点周龄分别为10.28周和10.65周;公鸡的拐点体重、最大周增重和最大体重分别为577.20、80.81、1569 g,母鸡分别为465.80、55.90、1266.18 g。研究表明3种模型对西藏藏鸡生长曲线的拟合和分析是可行的,可为管理藏鸡生长发育关键点提供参考。     

Effects of chemically or virus-induced immunodepression on response of chickens to avian leukosis virus

The effects of chemically or virus-induced immunodepression on the infection profile (development of viremia and antibody) and shedding of avian leukosis virus (ALV) were studied in progeny chickens of experimental or commercial breeder flocks. Chickens were infected with ALV subgroup A by contact at hatching and by oral inoculation at 4-5 weeks of age. In the first experiment, chickens were inoculated with a virulent strain of infectious bursal disease virus (IBDV) at 1 day or 6 weeks of age. In the second experiment, chickens were neonatally treated with cyclophosphamide (CY), or were inoculated with strain T of reticuloendotheliosis virus (REV) at hatching, or were inoculated with strain JM of Marek's disease virus (MDV) at 2 weeks of age. The infection profile and cloacal shedding of ALV in chickens exposed to ALV and inoculated with immunodepressive viruses or CY were compared with those in hatchmates exposed only to ALV. In two of four chicken lines tested in the first experiment, shedding of ALV, as determined by virological assays of cloacal swabs at 22 weeks of age, was significantly higher in chickens infected with IBDV at 1 day of age than in uninfected hatchmates. The rate of shedding of ALV in one of these two lines was also significantly higher in chickens infected with IBDV at 6 weeks of age than in uninfected chickens. Further, the frequency of ALV-antibody detection at 22 weeks of age was significantly lower in chickens of these two lines infected with IBDV at 1 day of age than in uninfected chickens. In the second experiment, neonatal treatment with CY significantly increased the frequency of viremic chickens of both experimental and commercial flocks. The frequency of ALV-viremic chickens at 22 weeks of age was considerably higher in the REV- and MDV-inoculated groups (54% and 44%, respectively) than in control hatchmates (29%), but only in chickens of the commercial line. These findings suggest that chemically or virus-induced immunodepression may lead to an increase in rates of viremia and shedding of ALV in chickens infected with virus after hatching, especially in certain genetic lines.     

Village Poultry Production Systems in the Central Highlands of Ethiopia

Participatory rural appraisal (PRA), supported by checklists and intensive case studies on individual households, was carried out in three villages at three different altitudes in the central highlands of Ethiopia. The chicken production system in each village is described and the problems are discussed. More than 60% of the families kept chickens, and in most cases the women owned and managed the birds and controlled the cash from the sales. The production systems followed were mainly low-input and small-scale, with 7–10 mature birds per household, reared in the back yards with inadequate housing, feeding and health care. The average egg production per clutch was 15–20, with 3–4 clutches per year. The mean number of eggs set per bird was 12.9±2.2 (n = 160), depending on the size of the bird and season, and the hatching rate was 80.9%±11.1%, range 44%–100% (n = 160). Poultry meat and eggs were generally accepted and appreciated in all three villages. In addition to the small amount of cash income they provide, scavenging chickens have nutritional, cultural and social functions. The flock composition, price of poultry and poultry products, disease outbreaks and hatching of chicks were strongly affected by season. Disease was cited as the most important problem by most of the members of the community, followed by predation, lack of feed, poor housing, insufficient water and parasites. Disease periodically decimated the flocks, and consequently, about 50% of the eggs produced were incubated in order to replace the birds that had died. The major source of loss in the system was the high mortality of chicks (61%) that occurred between hatching and the end of brooding at 8 weeks of age. The system was characterized by no or few inputs and a low output level. The major input was the cost of foundation stock, but after that virtually no cost was involved. The major source of feed for the birds was from the scavenging feed resource base, which comprised table leftovers, small grain supplements and anything edible from the immediate environment.     

Pharmacokinetics of levamisole in broiler breeder chickens

The pharmacokinetics of levamisole was studied in 20 broiler breeder chickens (chickens that give eggs to breed broilers). A single dose of levamisole (40 mg/kg) was administered orally or intravenously to chickens before the onset of egg production, prelay (age = 22 weeks), and repeated at the peak of egg production (age = 32 weeks). A high-pressure liquid chromatographic with ultraviolet detection method (HPLC-UV) was used for quantification of levamisole in plasma. Using compartmental analysis, levamisole followed a three-compartmental open model with mean values of alpha = 0.1224 and 0.4968, beta = 0.01663 and 0.01813, gamma = 0.002 and 0.002/min at the prelay and at the peak of egg production periods, respectively. The mean values for volume of distribution at steady state (V(ss)), determined by compartmental analysis, were significantly different for prelay and peak of egg production (8.358 and 13.581 mL/kg), respectively.     

淮南麻黄鸡20周龄体重对早期产蛋性能的影响

将308只淮南麻黄鸡按照20周龄体重以100g为组距从小到大分为5组,分析各体重组与开产蛋重及产蛋前期产蛋率、蛋重和种蛋合格率之间的关系,以确定淮南麻黄鸡20周龄体重的适宜选择标准.结果表明,20周龄体重与开产蛋重呈正相关,在22～35周龄,第3和4组的产蛋率增幅最大,维持时间较长;第1、2、3和4组蛋重增加比较平稳,第5组平均蛋重比第1、2和3组分别高11.05％、9.72％和8.61％(P＜0.05);第3和4组的平均种蛋合格率较高,第3组的平均种蛋合格率比第1组高5.18％(P＜0.05).总体而言,第3和4组能够提供较多的合格种蛋数,淮南麻黄鸡的20周龄体重宜控制在1241～1 440 g之间.     

Genetic parameter estimates for body weight in local Venda chickens

Genetic parameters were estimated for Venda chicken body weights at hatching, and at 4 weeks, 10 weeks and 21 weeks of age. A single-trait animal model with restricted maximum-likelihood procedures was used. Random effects were additive direct and maternal genetic, common environmental and error. The heritability estimates for direct effects were 0.36, 0.25, 0.41 and 0.22 for hatch, 4 weeks, 10 weeks and 21 weeks, respectively. The maternal effects were estimated at hatch and 4 weeks of age and were not present at later ages. Common environmental effects disappeared with increasing age. There was an antagonistic relationship between direct and maternal effects. The results show potential for genetic improvement of indigenous Venda chickens through selection. Maternal effects should be considered if selection is carried out at early ages.     

北京油鸡快慢羽公鸡鉴定及羽毛发育、生长和繁殖性能的对比分析

试验通过开展快慢羽群体的鉴定,并对比其在羽毛发育、生长和繁殖性能方面的差异,旨在为北京油鸡种鸡选育和科学养殖提供数据支持。选用北京油鸡纯系公鸡,出雏时,按照主翼羽与覆主翼羽的羽长差值将其分为快慢羽亚群,其中快羽包括K1（主翼羽长于覆主翼羽>5 mm）和K2（主翼羽长于覆主翼羽2~5 mm）,慢羽包括M1（主翼羽与覆主翼羽等长或主翼羽长于覆主翼羽<2 mm）和M2（主翼羽短于覆主翼羽）和M3（主翼羽未长出）。1~7日龄每隔1 d测量1次主翼羽与覆主翼羽羽长,7~42日龄每隔1周测量1次;1~8周龄每周测量体重,9~18周龄每隔1周测定体重;10周龄时,观测公鸡全身羽毛发育情况;47周龄时,测定公鸡常规精液品质性状、精子动力学参数、受精率及孵化率。结果显示,快羽公鸡占北京油鸡公鸡总数的11.60%,慢羽占88.40%,慢羽又以M2型为主,有少量M1型和M3型。育雏育成期（1~18周）北京油鸡快慢羽公鸡各周龄体重均无显著差异（P>0.05）。在育雏育成期,慢羽公鸡主翼羽和覆主翼羽生长均慢于快羽公鸡。其10周龄时,背部和腿部羽毛生长完全的鸡的比例仅为44%,且不同类型的慢羽公鸡的比例也不一,其中等长型或微长型慢羽最高,超过90%,未长出型慢羽最低,仅为17%左右。47周龄时快羽鸡和慢羽鸡的常规精液品质无差异,但是快羽公鸡精子直线性显著高于慢羽鸡（P<0.05）,直线速率高于慢羽公鸡（P=0.06）,快羽北京油鸡公鸡受精率显著高于慢羽公鸡（P<0.05）,且入孵蛋孵化率和受精蛋孵化率有高于慢羽公鸡的趋势,但差异不显著（P>0.05）。本研究结果表明,快慢羽北京油鸡公鸡的羽毛生长和繁殖性能有一定差异,需要加强慢羽公鸡羽毛发育缓慢原因和鉴定方法的研究,也需加强慢羽公鸡精液品质选育。     

Age-related effects on motor nerve conduction velocity in chickens.

Compound motor-nerve action potentials evoked by supramaximal stimulation of the proximal and distal aspects of the tibial nerve were evaluated in chickens 1 to 15 weeks old. Motor-nerve conduction velocity increased from a mean of 22.6 m/s at week 1 to a mean of 52.7 m/s at week 15. The increase in conduction velocity was greatest for the first few weeks, and reached a plateau at 10 weeks. Subcutaneous limb temperature, limb length, and proximal latency measurements also increased with age; however, distal latency measurements were not significantly influenced by age. A quadratic equation was calculated to predict mean motor-nerve conduction velocity for maturing chickens.