Improvement of dietary protein utilisation in chicks by medium chain triglyceride

1. To improve the influence of variation of ME intake, an experiment was carried out using equalised feeding to investigate the comparative effects on protein and energy utilisation in chicks of diets containing medium chain triglyceride (MCT) and long chain triglyceride (LCT). Experimental diets were given at 3 different food intakes, namely, 100, 120 or 147 g/bird/10 d. The diets contained MCT or LCT on an isoenergetic basis. Maize oil and caprylic acid triglyceride respectively, were used as LCT and MCT sources.

2. Body weight gain and food efficiency of chicks significantly increased with the supplement of dietary MCT compared with dietary LCT at all food intakes. Protein retention and the efficiency of protein utilisation (protein retained/protein intake) at all food intakes also significantly increased with dietary MCT, while body fat and fat retention were significantly reduced. Chicks fed the LCT‐supple‐mented diet, on the other hand, had a lower protein retention, but significantly higher fat retention. The value for energy retention and the efficiency of energy utilisation (energy retained/ME intake) were not significantly different between MCT‐ and LCT‐supplemented diets.

3. It was concluded that supplementing MCT to the chick diet would improve body weight gain and protein utilisation while regulating fat deposition compared to the LCT supplemented diet, under equalised feeding conditions.     

Effect of cold stress on performance and immune responses of Bedouin and white leghorn hens

1. Bedouin chickens are kept in deserts mainly for eggs and are well adapted to arid conditions. However, deserts are also characterised by relatively cold winter nights. As a consequence of cold stress there is an involution of lymphoid organs and a depression of immunological function. We compared the performance and immunological responses of Bedouin and White Leghorn hens kept in outdoor pens in the Negev Desert during the winter.

2. Initial mean body mass was similar for the two breeds: 1525 g for Bedouin hens and 1542 g for White Leghorn hens. White Leghorns lost 7–74 g/d, compared with 0.60 g/d for Bedouin hens and produced 0.36 eggs/d, compared with 0.54 eggs/day for Bedouin hens.

3. The heterophil/lymphocyte ratio for Bedouin hens was 0.28, which was lower than the 0.44 for White Leghorn hens. Phagocytic index was higher in Bedouin hens than in White Leghorns. Furthermore, wattle index measured 24, 48 and 72 h after PHA injections and anti‐SRBC antibody titres determined 10 d after challenge were also higher in Bedouin hens than in White Leghorns.

4. We concluded that the Bedouin hens were less stressed by the cold than were the White Leghorn hens.     

Effect of warm drinking water on the performance and immunological responses of broiler breeder hens raised at low air temperatures

1. The effect of warmed drinking water on the performance and immunological responses of broiler breeder hens maintained at low air temperatures (5.0° to 12.9°C) was tested. From 22 weeks of age hens (mean body mass = 2.4 kg) were offered either warm water (27.7°C; WARM; n=24) or tap water (12.7°C; CONR; n=24) twice daily for a total time of 2.5 h or tap water ad libitum (CONA; n = 16). Food was restricted for all hens.

2. Daily water intake in the WARM hens (103 ml/kg) was similar to that of the CONR (93 ml/kg) and CONA hens (106 ml/kg).

3. There were no significant differences in either body mass change or egg production among treatment groups.

4. There was no difference among groups in heterophil/lymphocyte ratios. Similarly, there was no difference among groups in either phagocytic activity or wattle index after phytohaemagglutinin (PHA) injection. Total and IgG antibody titres to SRBC tended to be highest in the WARM hens and these titres were significantly higher than in CONR hens 14 d after challenge.     

Associations between body weight and rectal temperature in turkey poults

1. Associations between body weight and rectal temperature were observed in female turkeys.

2. Turkeys with lower weights between 13 and 30 d of age tended to have higher temperatures.

3. Turkeys with lower weights at 7 d exhibited depressed body temperatures.

4. Higher or lower body temperatures may be associated with poorer performance depending on the time of appearance.