Bilateral apex pubis distance：a novel index for follicular development and egg laying status in domestic hens (Gallus gallus domesticus)

ABSTRACT

1. Measures of the bilateral apex pubis (BAP) in White Leghorn (WLH) hens aged from 16 to 64 weeks (from the time ovaries were completely undeveloped to senility) were ranked into various groups so the relationship between external traits (BAP distance, comb length, comb height, wattle length, wattle height, body weight) and internal traits (largest ovarian follicle diameter (LFD) and oviduct weight and length) could be determined.

2. Using correlation and regression analysis with data from 16 weeks of age to the onset of lay, measurements of the apex pubis showed a strong correlation with LFD (r = 0.80, P < 0.01) and oviduct weight (r = 0.80, P < 0.01).

3. Multiple comparisons among WLH hens from 16 to 43 weeks of age showed that the BAP distance increased in all groups ranked by LFD or by laying period.

4. In the late laying period (>60 weeks of age), BAP distance showed a significant decrease (P < 0.01) in long-term non-laying hens compared to laying hens.

5. These findings suggest BAP distance can serve as an index for evaluating the onset and probable stages of follicular development during sexual maturation and/or aid in the identification and selection of non-laying hens during reproduction.     

The effects of exogenous xylanase supplementation on the in vivo generation of xylooligosaccharides and monosaccharides in broilers fed a wheat-based diet

ABSTRACT

1. This study quantified xylanase-induced changes in soluble monosaccharides, xylooligosaccharides (XOS) and volatile fatty acid (VFA) contents of the different sections of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and whether these were related to altered bird performance.

2. An in vitro digestion of the wheat-based diet was carried out with the xylanase (Econase XT at 16,000BXU/kg diet) to compare the in vitro and in vivo generation of these XOS and monosaccharides. For the in vivo study, 80 male Ross 508 b roiler chicks were split into two groups fed a wheat-based diet with or without Econase XT (16,000BXU/kg diet) for 21 days.

3. There were no effects of Econase XT inclusion on growth performance characteristics, likely a result of the high-quality wheat diet, the corresponding high performance of the control group (FCR average of 1.45 in controls) and the relatively young age of the birds (from four to 26 days of age).

4. Econase XT supplementation increased the xylotetraose (X₄) content in the colon (P = 0.046, enzyme x GIT section interaction) and the xylose contents in the colon and caeca (P < 0.001, enzyme x GIT section interaction).

5. The trend for increased acetate production in the caeca of Econase XT treated birds (P = 0.062) suggested that the XOS generated were subsequently fermented in the caeca, potentially impacting upon the types of microbiota present.

6. The present study suggested that wheat arabinoxylan degradation was enhanced by xylanase supplementation, which may have increased the production of beneficial volatile fatty acids (VFA) in the caeca, and thereby potentially modulated the caecal microbiome, but without affecting bird performance at this early age.     

Independent and combined effects of Satureja khuzistanica essential oils and acetic acid on prevalence and intensity of fatty liver syndrome in broiler chickens

Two hundred fifty two male Ross 308 broiler chicks were raised to examine the effects of Satureja khuzistanica essential oils (SkEO; 0, 200, 300, 400, 500 and 600 mg/bird/day) administrated via oral gavage and dietary supplementation of acetic acid (AA; 0 or 20 g/kg) in a 6 × 2 factorial fashion using a complete randomized block design with seven replicates of three birds each. In Day 34 of age, liver fat percentage decreased by increasing SkEO levels in a quadratic trend (p < .05). Oral gavag of 200 and 300 mg of SkEO decreased AST activity by 16.67% and 16.94%, respectively, compared with the control birds (p < .05). In Day 38 of age, liver percentage was greater by 0.37% in the birds received 400 mg SkEO than those given 500 mg (p < .05). Liver fat percentage decreased in the birds fed the acidified diet and received 300 and 500 mg SkEO as well as in the birds offered 200 and 400 mg of SkEO and fed non-acidified diet than those received acidified diet with no SkEO administration (p < .05). Prevalence of score zero for hepatocytic vacuolations and necrosis was 80.00% and 42.42% in the birds receiving 600 mg SkEO respectively. Median for relative frequency of scores for hepatocytic vacuolations and hepatocytic necrosis was lesser in the birds received SkEO by oral gavage compared with that of control birds (p < .05). In conclusion, administration of SkEO via oral gavage reduced liver fat in broiler chicken but no consistent dosage could be verified as the effective dosage for all ages concerned. The acidified diet per se showed no evident effect on liver fat at all ages considered. The SkEO × AA interaction exhibited promising but unreliable effects on liver colour score in market age (42 days).     

不同饲养水平对瑶山鸡生产性能和胴体品质的影响

文章旨在研究不同饲养水平对瑶山鸡生产性能和胴体特征的影响。试验将400只平均体重一致的1日龄瑶山鸡随机分为2组,每组4个重复,每个重复50只。2组分别饲喂代谢能水平为3155 Kcal/kg、粗蛋白质水平为225 g/kg的高能高蛋白日粮和代谢能水平为2965 Kcal/kg、粗蛋白质水平为195 g/kg的低能低蛋白日粮。试验共开展10 w。同时将240只产蛋高峰期瑶山鸡随机分为2组,每组4个重复,每个重复30只,饲喂上述日粮4 w,试验结束后收集受精蛋进行孵化。结果:高能高蛋白组种鸡在8和10 w的体重和采食量均显著高于低能低蛋白组(P<0.05),而料重比显著降低(P<0.05)。高能高蛋白组种鸡受精率和孵化率显著高于低能低蛋白组(P<0.05),而残次率、胚胎死亡率和出壳前死亡率显著降低(P<0.05)。1~10 w时高能高蛋白组种鸡体重均显著高于低能低蛋白组(P<0.05),与低能低蛋白组相比,高能高蛋白组屠体重、可食用部分显著升高(P<0.05),腿肌占比显著降低(P<0.05)。结论:中等生长速度的瑶山肉种鸡可以更有效地利用高能量高蛋白(代谢能:3155 Kcal/kg,粗蛋白质:225 g/kg)饲料。     

蛋鸡产蛋期的饲养管理措施

为进一步降低蛋鸡养殖成本、提高养殖效益,天祝县"鸡大肠杆菌病的综合防制研究项目"课题组,针对大肠杆菌综合防控中加强饲养管理环节,以蛋鸡产蛋期目标管理为导向,从转运前准备,到转群后消毒、设备检查、称重、光照控制、免疫、人员管理、饲料控制等各方面,制定了蛋鸡产蛋期饲养管理措施,不仅避免鸡群发生大肠杆菌等疾病,而且可以提高蛋鸡产蛋率,增加蛋鸡养殖效益。     

GDFs基因家族候选基因对崇仁麻鸡生长性状的影响

利用崇仁麻鸡差异性状的重测序结果,将生长分化因子(GDFs)基因家族作为候选基因,筛选与崇仁麻鸡生长性状相关的多态位点。结果发现,GDF-2、GDF-8和GDF-10基因的多态位点对崇仁麻鸡的生长性状有着显著或极显著的影响。单倍型分析结果显示,GDF-2和GDF-10基因的单倍型H3H3为劣势单倍型组合可以选择淘汰。研究结果表明,GDFs基因家族候选基因对崇仁麻鸡的生长性状有一定的影响。     

鸡胚及禽类细胞系在生物医药领域的应用及研究进展

鸡胚因发育过程清楚，长久以来作为基础和应用科学研究领域重要的实验模型，尤其在鸡胚发育早期绒毛尿囊膜阶段，因其血管丰富，是天然的免疫缺陷宿主，是病理学、药理学和肿瘤学等研究领域的理想实验模型。作者简述了发育早期的鸡胚组织结构，并介绍了鸡胚绒毛尿囊膜在肿瘤研究、血管生成、器官移植、烧伤等疾病机理研究中的应用，以及在鸡胚病理模型基础上进行的抗肿瘤药物筛选的应用。重点介绍了鸡胚及禽类细胞系在病毒繁殖和疫苗生产、治疗性蛋白和单抗生产方面的应用研究进展。多种人源病毒、禽源病毒、支原体等可在鸡胚及禽类细胞上增殖，并用于疫苗生产。作者对常用的禽类纤维原细胞和多能干细胞的发展和特点进行了阐述，并总结了商业化的禽类细胞系来源以及部分易感病毒。鸡胚表达系统能够在目的蛋白特定位点产生人源化糖基，减少目的蛋白对人的过敏反应，且禽蛋廉价易得，可作为生产人用单克隆抗体和治疗性蛋白的合适供体。作者介绍了鸡胚及禽类细胞系在生物医药领域应用的最新进展，并对鸡胚作为动物模型在未来的应用进行了展望。     

冰鲜储存对固始鸡肉品质变化的影响

为研究固始鸡肌肉在冰鲜条件下营养成分的变化,将肌肉样品在0~4℃条件下储存不同时间(0、24、48、72、96、120和168 h)。分别测定并比较肌肉中的水分、粗蛋白质、粗脂肪和氨基酸等常规营养指标,以及肌苷酸、肌苷和次黄嘌呤等特质性指标。结果显示:随着保存时间的延长,固始鸡肌肉中的呈味核苷酸和鲜味氨基酸含量发生显著变化;肌苷酸含量与水分含量极显著负相关,与苏氨酸含量显著正相关,与天冬氨酸、谷氨酸、甘氨酸、丙氨酸等四种鲜味氨基酸含量显著正相关。冰鲜时间与固始鸡肌肉的特质性营养品质密切关联,冰鲜保存时间越短,肌肉特质性营养品质越高,建议冰鲜贮存时间在3 d以内,可将肌苷酸作为评价冰鲜固始鸡肌肉新鲜度的主要指标。