Quantitation of intestinal D-xylose absorption in normal broilers and in broilers with pale-bird syndrome

A micromethod was used in order to quantitate intestinal D-xylose absorption in young and extremely small birds. This test was performed in broilers collected from two farms from which birds were extremely uneven in body size and were passing poorly digested or undigested feed. A similar syndrome had been seen on all grow-outs during the 6 months before this investigation. Broilers were also collected and tested from three farms where no clinical signs of disease were seen. D-Xylose absorption peaks and curves for normal broilers closely resembled those observed in normal humans. Mean plasma D-xylose concentrations for virus-infected broilers and for broilers with pale-bird syndrome were consistently lower than concentrations for normal broilers (P = 0.009). Reoviruses, small coronavirus-like particles, small round virus particles, and abundant bacterial flagellar fragments were seen in fecal samples from broilers with pale-bird syndrome. Production performance was lowest on farms showing clinical signs of this syndrome.     

转基因成分在肉鸡体内的代谢残留及对生化指标、器官发育的影响

试验选择1日龄AA肉仔鸡720只,随机分成4个处理组,用含有27%(25%)3、6%(34%)的抗草甘膦转基因豆粕日粮和常规豆粕日粮饲喂肉鸡,通过检测其肝脏、肾脏、脾脏、胸肌、腿肌、十二指肠、空肠和回肠的转基因成分,探讨饲料中转基因成分在家禽体内的代谢残留状况,同时研究了抗草甘膦转基因豆粕对肉鸡血清生化指标和器官发育的影响,结果表明,以定性PCR检测的转基因豆粕日粮肉鸡的八种样品(肝脏、肾脏、脾脏、胸肌、腿肌、十二指肠、空肠和回肠)中没有CP4-EPSPS外源基因成分,同时综合分析表明,转基因豆粕对肉鸡的血清生化指标和器官发育没有显著差异,在试验中转基因豆粕没有在肉鸡体内残留,对生化指标和器官发育没有显著差异。     

Comparison of serum biochemical profiles of male broilers with female broilers and White Leghorn chickens.

Male broiler chickens were compared to female broiler chickens and male White Leghorns with respect to a 15-parameter serum biochemical profile at 9, 20, 30 and 42 days of age in order to determine which, if any, of the parameters tested might be useful in the identification of birds susceptible to sudden death syndrome. In comparison to female broilers, male broilers had significantly lower (p less than 0.01) total protein levels at 20 days of age and significantly higher (p less than 0.01) cholesterol levels at 30 days of age. Compared to male White Leghorns, in which sudden death syndrome has not been reported, male broilers had significantly lower (p less than 0.01) levels of cholesterol and creatinine at nine days of age, total protein at 9 and 20 days of age and albumin at 20 days of age and significantly higher (p less than 0.01) levels of potassium at nine days, uric acid at 9, 20 and 30 days, lactate dehydrogenase at 20, 30 and 42 days and cholesterol at 30 days of age.     

Subclinical coccidiosis in broilers and pullets

In the period from 1985 to 1987, 24 broiler crops (12 houses; one integration and 3 farms) and 9 pullet flocks (9 houses, 4 farms) were examined for parasites. Intestinal lesion scores and the number of parasites in the intestinal lumen (semiquantitative estimation) were recorded, and the Eimeria species determined when possible (broilers crops: 3rd and 5th week, pullet flocks 4th, 8th, 12th and 18th week). Additionally, the quantity of parasites in litter or faecal samples was examined in regular intervals. Clues for economic damage were only found in broiler crops with increased numbers of coccidial oocysts per gram litter in the 5th week of the fattening period. Eimeria tenella and E. acervulina were the dominating species in broiler chickens and also pullets, E. maxima oocysts however were only casual findings. No ectoparasites, helminths or other protozoa than Eimeria were observed. With regard to the intestinal lesions and the quantities of parasites in the intestine no significant differences were seen when comparing selected broiler chicks and birds taken at random. In pullet flocks the examination of random samples was the superior method, because only freshly dead bodies, collected in insufficient numbers, were suitable for diagnostics. In 3 broiler crops and one flock of replacement pullets kept on a wired floor no Eimeria were diagnosed.     

肉鸡热应激及营养

随着集约化高密度肉鸡饲养方式的迅速发展 ,工厂化养鸡中的环境问题已成为影响当前养禽业发展的重要因素之一（温书斋等 ,１９９１）。由于环境问题所造成的热应激使越来越多的人关注炎热气候下的肉鸡生产 ,一方面生产者为了追求高的生产水平 ,提高经济效益 ,使得所施加的生产工艺和技术措施严重地背离了禽类在长期进化过程中所形成的对环境条件的需求特点和生理规律 ;另一方面与环境控制相关的禽舍环境温度得不到有效调控 ,从而使大部分气候炎热地区难以抵御高温对家禽生产所带来的环境压力(范石军等 ,１９９６)。禽类同其它哺乳动物一样 ,…     

Neurofibrosarcoma and leiomyosarcoma in slaughterhouse broilers

Two uncommon neoplastic lesions--a neurofibrosarcoma and a leiomyosarcoma--were found in 7-week-old slaughterhouse chickens. Grossly, the neoplasms both appeared as locally extensive, nodular lesions that displaced the mesentery and abdominal viscera. Histologically, these tumors were anaplastic and invasive into the surrounding tissues.     

Stress of transportation for broilers

Transporting birds for two to four hours over distances of up to 224 km (140 miles) induced hyperlipacidaemia and hypoglycaemia while the concentration of plasma cholesterol decreased and then increased significantly. These responses were the same in summer and winter. Body temperature was not affected by the experimental conditions. There was a consistent increase in plasma corticosterone which was greater in winter than in summer.     

肉鸡心电图的研究

对８１例右心室重量／心室总重量（ＲＶ／ＴＶ）比率小于０．２５的肉鸡进行了心电图描记。结果表明：正常肉鸡的心电图，Ⅱ、Ⅲ、ａＶＲ、ａＶＦ导联的波形规则而稳定，其Ｒ波、Ｓ波和Ｔ波易于识别和测定；正常肉鸡中ｒＳ波型多于Ｒｓ波型，并且ｒＳ波型肉鸡Ⅱ、Ⅲ、ａＶＲ、ａＶＦ导联的Ｔ、Ｓ波振幅随ＲＶ／ＴＶ值的增大（ＲＶ／ＴＶ＝０．１３～０．２５）呈上升趋势；心电图可用于肉鸡心扩张的早期诊断     

Twisted legs in broilers

1. The effect of various factors on the incidence of leg abnormalities, with particular reference to twisted leg, in broilers was studied.

2. The incidence of twisted legs was influenced by strain and for males was twice that for females. There was also a higher incidence in cages than on litter with the type of cage floor having an effect: broilers reared on floors of metal wire and perforated sheets had more leg problems than those reared on plastic mats and plastic‐covered wire.

3. Although vitamin and mineral supplementation had no effect on caged broilers, a restriction of metabolisable energy (ME) intake during the first 14 d after hatching halved the frequency of leg abnormalities compared with those fed ad libitum.

4. Studies of cage size and location of water suggested that a lack of exercise increases the incidence of leg abnormalities.     

Folic acid requirements of broilers

1. Dietary folic acid requirements of broilers were studied in three experiments using wheat‐ and maize‐based practical diets. Requirements were assessed on the basis of performance and metabolic criteria.

2. Growth and food conversion efficiencies were optimised with supplements of 1.5 mg folic acid/kg added to basal mash starter diets. The dietary folic acid requirement of broilers was estimated to be in the range of 1.7 to 2.0 mg/kg.

3. Red blood cell phosphoribosylpyrophosphate concentrations and dihydrofolate reductase activites did not show consistent changes over the range of dietary folate concentrations studied but plasma folate concentrations responded markedly to dietary folate supplementation.

4. Adding choline to diets in amounts greater than the normal requirement did not spare the requirement for folic acid.

5. It is suggested that minimum folic acid supplements for pelleted practical diets should be in the order of 2.5 to 3 mg/kg.     

肉鸡日粮中的铬

经 30多年研究表明 ,铬 (Ｃｒ)是哺乳动物和家禽碳水化合物、脂肪代谢不可缺少的必需元素 ,Ｃｒ虽被承认为必需的营养添加剂 ,但各国如ＮＲＣ还没有对畜禽作出日粮Ｃｒ最低需要量推荐值的规定。虽然很可能同其他微量元素一样 ,有机Ｃｒ化合物可能是最有效的生物学形式 ,但尚未最后定论。动物所有组织中都发现有Ｃｒ ,且发现随着年龄增长 ,组织中Ｃｒ含量逐渐降低。除年龄外 ,各种应激状态如妊娠、感染、代谢以及各种物理甚至生理的逆境 ,都可使血清Ｃｒ水平降低 ,而尿中Ｃｒ排出量增加。1　Ｃｒ在代谢中的主要作用研究人员证明 ,三价铬 (Ｃ…     

Fowl cholera in broilers

Pasteurella multocida, the etiologic agent of fowl cholera, was isolated from six broiler flocks in Georgia during summer 1988. The flocks ranged in age from 20 to 46 days, represented four companies, and spanned a distance of 50 miles. Increased mortality and lameness were the clinical signs present in all affected flocks. Bacterial isolation and agar gel precipitation for somatic antigen serotyping revealed that three of the cases were caused by serotype 1,3, two by serotype 3,4, and one by serotype 3. To prove the virulence of these organisms, two isolates were selected to challenge 5-week-old broilers. Mortality and lameness resulted from this challenge, and P. multocida was reisolated.