Food consumption records for the genetic improvement of income over food costs in laying flocks of white leghorns

1. A study of genetic parameters of egg mass based on the weights of all eggs laid, individual food consumption, body weight and age at first egg was made. Data from three populations differing in average egg weight were available over two production periods, from 20 to 40 and from 40 to 60 weeks of age, respectively.

2. Selection indexes designed to maximise income over food costs (IOFC) were used to evaluate the usefulness of food consumption data for the genetic improvement of laying flocks.

3. Given reliable estimates correlating food consumption to egg mass, body weights and age at first egg it is possible to construct highly efficient selection indexes for genetic improvement of IOFC without the direct use of food consumption data.

4. Selection for genetic gains in egg mass appears to be the most important factor for genetic improvement of IOFC. Correlated increases in egg weight were observed for two of the populations.

5. Body weights showed very small and inconsistent genetic responses under index selection suggesting that a reduction in body weight need not be necessary for more efficient egg production.

6. Indexes which showed greatest genetic improvement also resulted in an increase of food consumption. Thus genetic efficiency in egg laying flocks would be achieved by increasing egg mass through earlier sexual maturity, larger eggs and higher production rates with increased food consumption and only slight, if any, reduction in body size.

7. Estimates of heritabilities and genetic correlations indicate that food consumption measurements can be based on partial records; high heritabilities were found for egg mass and food consumption measurements in both early (20 to 40 weeks) as well as late (40 to 60 weeks) production periods.     

The effect of dietary bacitracin on the incidence of streptococcus faecalis subspecies liquefaciens and related streptococci in the intestines of young chicks

1. A study has been made of changes occurring in the numbers and types of faecal streptococci in the intestines of chicks from hatching to 23 d of age, when fed on a diet containing 50 mg bacitracin/kg.

2. It was found that Streptococcus faecalis sub‐species liquefaciens predominated in chicks prior to feeding and in control birds the organism remained as a significant part of the flora throughout the experiment.

3. Strep. faecalis s.s. liquefaciens was not found after the first week in birds given dietary bacitracin.

4. Although outnumbered initially in the caeca by Strep, faecalis s.s. liquefaciens, other streptococci were present at 10⁶ to 10⁷/g contents from 14 d onwards in both control and bacitracin‐treated birds; these included Strep. faecium biotypes and two other unidentified but related groups.

5. Tests made in vitro showed that Strep. faecalis s.s. liquefaciens was more sensitive to bacitracin than Strep. faecium.

6. The possible effects of Strep. faecalis s.s. liquefaciens on the developing bird are discussed.     

Storage time‐temperature effects on the odour preferences for uncooked chicken parts

1. Whole broilers and separated legs were stored at ‐12 ± 1 °C, —18 ± 1 °C and — 75 ±2 °C (reference group, whole carcasses only), for up to nine months.

2. Legs cut from the whole birds after removal from store, unpacking and thawing, and legs from the portions were compared in odour preference at four times of examination.

3. After only 1 d the odour of the legs stored as parts at —12 °C was less preferred than that of the reference group; this was also true for legs cut from whole birds after 3 months at the same temperature.

4. After 3 months at — 12 °C the odour of the legs stored as parts was less preferred than the odour of legs obtained from whole birds.

5. Storage of legs as parts at —18 °C resulted in a comparatively less preferred odour after 3 months, while the same was true after 9 months for legs cut from the carcasses.     

Skin blackening during the cooking of spent laying fowls

1. Blackening of the skin in factory processed cooked hens has been associated with elevated copper levels.

2. The degree of blackening was not directly related to copper content although the latter level was always higher than in control hens.

3. Simulated factory procedures, using scald water at 53 °C or 60 °C containing 50 mg Cu²⁺/1 and 50 mg C1₂/1, produced blackened skins of varying intensity on cooking.

4. It is suggested that the problem arose from a malfunction of the chlorination plant which produced excessive levels of chlorine and low pH, followed by erosion of copper from water pipes and subsequent interaction of copper and chlorine with the chicken skin.     

Electrophoresis of avian muscle proteins

1. The electrophoretic patterns of water‐soluble proteins of avian muscle showed differences due both to species and to muscle type.

2. Each muscle pattern within a species showed a unique protein band which distinguished that species from other species.     

Feline salmonellosis. A nosocomial outbreak and experimental studies.

An outbreak of S. typhimurium gastroenteritis and septicemia is described in young cats admitted to a veterinary hospital for routine medical and surgical reasons. A morbidity of 32% and a mortality of 61% was observed in the outbreak. Affected cats exhibited oral shedding of the organism and contaminated feed and water dishes may have been the vehicle of spread of infection. Possible detrimental effects of incorrect choice of antibiotic therapy are discussed. Attempts to reproduce the disease in a group of laboratory cats were unsuccessful. Antibody production was poorly correlated with infection in these cats.     

Induction of chicken interferon by avian infectious bronchitis virus.

The ability of nine strains of avian infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) to induce chicken interferon has been investigated using Semliki Forest virus for the tests. The Beaudette, H120 and Connecticut 46 strains induced interferon in the allantoic fluids of embryonated hens' eggs, the highest titre (1 : 30) being associated with Beaudette; but these as well as the Massachusetts M-41 and H52 strains failed to yield interferon in primary monolayer cultures of chick kidney cells as did all nine strains in organ cultures of chick embryo trachea. None of six strains of IBV investigated was susceptible to the inhibitory effects of chicken interferon.     

A complement fixing antigen in the livers of birds infected with an avian leukovirus (erythroblastosis virus).

Extracts of erythroblastosis affected livers from which much of the structural protein had been removed were prepared by acid denaturation. These extracts contained complement fixing "soluble" antigen in a form which was not associated with viral or subviral particles. Ultracentrifugation can be of assistance in separating complement fixation activity from contaminating material in these extracts.