Influence of laying on iron metabolism in quail

Haematological and iron content values for liver, spleen, intestines, blood, ovary and eggs were determined in female quails, from the prelaying state to full laying. A drop in hematocrit, haemoglobin and in the liver stores occurred at the onset of laying (48 to 51 d of age), but these values recovered after 5 to 10 d. The iron lost in eggs (0.3 mg Fe/egg) was responsible for this. An active homeostatic control must be necessary to supply adequate iron for both eggs and blood formation. Quails fed on an iron-deficient diet distributed iron preferentially to the haematopoietic processes, at the expense of the iron content of the eggs and a subsequent reduction of viability.     

Change Trends of Organ Weight Background Data in Sprague Dawley Rats at Different Ages

Organ weight is one of the most sensitive drug toxicity indicators, and its changes often precede morphological changes. So far, no background data about organ weight and its coefficient in SD rats at different weeks of age have been reported in China. The aim of this study was to summarize and analyze the change trends of organ weight and organ weight coefficients in SD rats at different weeks of age. The absolute of the weights of the brain, spleen, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, adrenal glands and testes were increased in male SD rats from 13 to 78 weeks, and the weights of the brain, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys and especially the testes were decreased from 78 to 104 weeks. On the other hand, the absolute weight of the adrenal glands showed an increasing trend from 13 to 104 weeks. The absolute weight of the brain, spleen, heart, lungs, liver, kidneys, adrenal glands and ovaries showed an increasing trend from 13 to 104 weeks. A significant increase was observed in adrenal gland and ovary weights, whereas no obvious change trends were observed for the other organ weights mentioned above. It was surprising that the absolute of weight of the adrenal glands and organ-to-brain and organ-to-body weight ratios in female rats were significantly higher than those in males from 13 to 104 weeks. This study was the first to establish background data for organ weights in SD rats at different weeks of age and their reference ranges in line with the experimental animal status in China and to summarize their summarized their changes trend.     

饲粮铁水平对山麻鸭产蛋性能、蛋品质及肝脏和血液指标的影响

本试验通过研究饲粮铁水平对山麻鸭产蛋性能、蛋品质及肝脏和血液指标的影响,旨在探讨产蛋期(17~30周龄)蛋鸭对饲粮铁的需要量。选用15周龄的山麻鸭432羽,随机分为6个组,每组6个重复,每个重复12羽,单笼饲养。试验蛋鸭饲喂不添加铁的基础饲粮(含铁52.2 mg/kg)2周后,分别在基础饲粮中添加0、15、30、45、60、75 mg/kg的一水合硫酸亚铁(FeSO_4·H_2O),试验饲粮铁水平分别为52.2、67.2、82.2、97.2、112.2和127.2 mg/kg。试验期14周。结果表明:1)产蛋初期(17~18周龄),随着饲粮铁水平的提高,平均蛋重先升高后降低,其中饲粮铁水平为67.2、82.2和97.2 mg/kg组的平均蛋重显著高于112.2 mg/kg组(P0.05)。产蛋高峰期(19~30周龄)和试验全期(17~30周龄),饲粮铁水平对蛋鸭日采食量、产蛋率、平均蛋重、日产蛋重和料蛋比均无显著影响(P0.05)。2)随着饲粮铁水平的提高,蛋黄色泽呈先升高后下降趋势,饲粮铁水平为97.2 mg/kg组蛋黄色泽最高。3)肝脏铁含量随饲粮铁水平的提高而呈上升趋势,其中饲粮铁水平为127.2 mg/kg组的铁含量显著高于52.2 mg/kg组(P0.05)。4)随着饲粮铁水平的提高,肝脏过氧化氢酶(CAT)活性呈先升高后下降趋势,其中饲粮铁水平为67.2 mg/kg组CAT活性显著高于97.2、112.2和127.2 mg/kg组(P0.05)。饲粮铁水平对肝脏琥珀酸脱氢酶(SDH)活性无显著影响(P0.05)。5)血红蛋白浓度和红细胞压积随饲粮铁水平的提高而上升;饲粮铁水平为97.2、112.2和127.2 mg/kg组的血红蛋白浓度显著高于52.2 mg/kg组(P0.05),饲粮铁水平为112.2和127.2 mg/kg组的红细胞压积显著高于52.2 mg/kg组(P0.05)。6)以平均蛋重为指标,通过二次曲线模型的回归方程可获得产蛋初期山麻鸭饲粮适宜铁水平为73.9 mg/kg。综合考虑,建议产蛋初期山麻鸭饲粮铁水平为73.9 mg/kg,产蛋高峰期为52.2 mg/kg。     

饮水型酸化剂对蛋鸡免疫功能及血清、肝脏和肾脏相关生化指标的影响

试验旨在研究饮水型酸化剂对蛋鸡免疫功能及血清、肝脏和肾脏相关生化指标的影响.将1 500只18周龄的蛋鸡随机分为3组,每组5个重复,每个重复100只鸡.对照组全程饮用自来水,试验组A每天自由饮用酸化剂预调水8 h,试验组B隔天自由饮用酸化剂预调水8 h.分别在23、32和43周龄统计各组蛋鸡免疫器官指数,利用试剂盒检测...     

饲粮添加甜菜碱对巴马香猪血常规指标和器官生长的影响

本试验旨在研究饲粮添加甜菜碱对巴马香猪血常规指标及器官生长的影响。选用26头体况相近的妊娠巴马香猪,随机分为2组,其中对照组12头,饲喂基础饲粮;试验组14头,在基础饲粮中添加3.5 kg/t甜菜碱。仔猪28日龄断奶并适应7 d后,每窝选取4头接近平均体重的仔猪,随机分为2组,每组2头,对照组或试验组的每2窝中的2头仔猪合并为1栏。对照组12栏,母猪添加组7栏,均饲喂基础饲粮;母-子猪添加组7栏,在基础饲粮中添加2.5 kg/t甜菜碱。分别于仔猪95和125日龄时,每栏选择接近平均体重的巴马香猪1头,前腔静脉采血,检测血常规指标;处死后分离心脏、肝脏、脾脏、肺脏、肾脏和胃并称重并计算器官指数。结果表明,与对照组相比,母-子猪添加组95日龄时的嗜酸性粒细胞数(EOS)、体重、脾脏重和脾脏指数显著升高(P<0.05),平均血小板体积(MPV)显著降低(P<0.05);125日龄时的嗜碱性粒细胞百分比(BAS%)、体重、心脏重、肝脏重、脾脏重、肾脏重、胃重和肝脏指数显著升高(P<0.05)。与母猪添加组相比,母-子猪添加组95日龄时的体重、心脏重、肝脏重、脾脏重和肾脏重以及125日龄时的心脏重、肝脏重、肾脏重、胃重和肝脏指数显著增加(P<0.05)。由此可见,妊娠巴马香猪及其子代饲粮添加甜菜碱可影响血液中EOS、BAS%和MPV,增加体重,促进器官生长。     

Comparison of the effects of feeding diets supplemented with zinc oxide or zinc acetate on the performance and tissue mineral content of mature female fowls

An experiment is reported in which zinc, as acetate or oxide, was fed to laying hens for 10 weeks at concentrations equivalent to 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 g added Zn/kg diet. Both concentration and form of Zn additive significantly reduced food, water and Zn intakes, egg production and body weight, the acetate having a greater detrimental effect than the oxide at equivalent added Zn inclusion. Zinc acetate depressed the fresh weight/kg body weight of the kidneys, ovary and oviduct to a greater extent than the corresponding oxide treatments. Concentration, but not form of additive, significantly reduced liver and pancreas weights and liver lipid concentration, while spleen and gizzard weights showed increases. Overall, the additives significantly increased the Zn and Fe concentrations of the liver, kidneys, pancreas and gizzard. Zinc concentrations of liver, pancreas and gizzard and Fe concentrations of liver were consistently higher for the acetate-fed birds. Liver, pancreas and gizzard Cu concentrations significantly declined as inclusion rate of Zn increased.     

籽鹅卵巢组织中铁蛋白重链基因和8个新ESTs的定量研究

采用实时定量PCR技术定量检测产蛋前期和产蛋期籽鹅卵巢组织中铁蛋白重链基因(FTH)和8个新ESTs(ODEUG01~ODEUG08)的mRNA表达水平。结果表明:产蛋期籽鹅卵巢组织中FTH和8个新ESTs的相对表达量分别比产蛋前期卵巢组织高13.25、7.68、11.82、14.23、8.25、15.14、9.78、6.48、14.21倍。本研究进一步证实,FTH和8个新ESTs在产蛋期籽鹅卵巢组织中高效表达,FTH和8个新ESTs可能参与籽鹅卵巢功能的调节,并影响籽鹅的产蛋性能。     

肉碱对高产期蛋鸡内脏器官的影响

选用 2 4周龄海兰褐壳蛋鸡分别饲喂添加不同肉碱浓度的日粮 ,试验期 7周 ,测定内脏器官重量 ,内脏器官中肉碱沉积量。试验表明随日粮肉碱浓度的增加 ( 0～ 75mg/kg) ,心脏、肝脏的重量显著下降(P <0 .0 5) ,肝脏、心脏和肾脏中肉碱沉积极显著增加 (P <0 .0 1 ) ,肝脏、心脏和肾脏是肉碱的主要沉积器官。     

Effects of food restriction on blood pressure, heart rate and certain organ weights of the chicken

Experiments were carried out to investigate some of the physiological effects, on chickens, of food restriction at the 70 per cent level from 3 to 21 weeks of age.

Blood pressure and heart rate were depressed after 18 weeks of food restriction, but rose to normal levels after a few weeks of full‐feeding.

Organ weights were measured at the end of the restriction period and at the end of the laying period. The thyroid, adrenal, pituitary, liver, heart, spleen and abdominal fat from the restricted birds weighed less than from the full‐fed birds at the end of the restriction period. The gizzard was increased in size. When the organ weights were adjusted for differences in body size most of the differences between treatments were eliminated. Of the three exceptions, the abdominal fat was less in the restricted birds, whereas the gizzard and pancreas were larger than for the full‐fed birds. By the end of the laying period, only the differences in pancreas weight remained.     

Quantification of reproductive changes and nutrient requirements of broiler breeder pullets at sexual maturity

1. 480 Broiler breeder pullets, kept in individual cages, were subjected to different rates of increase in food allocation during the period 18 to 30 weeks of age. From 80 g food/bird d at the start of the experiment, the 5 treatments comprised linear weekly increments in food allocation to reach a maximum of 150 g/bird d at 21, 23, 25, 27 or 29 weeks of age respectively. 2. Body weight, liver weight, fat pad weight and alimentary tract weight were influenced by the rate of increment in food allocation. 3. Rate of development of the oviduct and the ovary was not influenced by these treatments. 4. Although the amount of fat and protein contained in the liver increased most rapidly on the treatments where 150 g/bird d was attained first, by 25 weeks of age there were no meaningful differences in these two variables between treatments. It is unlikely, therefore, that a high protein intake during this period would allow sufficient protein or energy to be stored in the liver to sustain a higher egg output later in the laying period. 5. It is concluded that the amount of protein required by a broiler breeder pullet for maintenance and for growth during the pre-laying period is about 10 g/bird d.     

Interaction of age,strain, sex and food restriction on plasma creatine kinase activity in turkeys

1. Plasma creatine kinase activity was determined at 4, 8, 12, 16, 20, 24, 28, 38 and 48 weeks of age in male and female traditional turkeys fed ad libitum , in male and female turkeys of a sire-line fed ad libitum or restricted to 0.5 during rearing and subsequently to 0.8 of sex-specific ad libitum -fed body weight, and in sire-line males fed ad libitum to 18 weeks and 0.8 of ad libitum body weight thereafter. 2. Plasma creatine kinase activity was low in traditional turkeys and increased rapidly after 12 weeks of age in males and females of the sire-line of turkeys. 3. Food restriction decreased the activity of plasma creatine kinase. 4. There was no difference in plasma creatine kinase activity between the sexes during rearing. After the onset of lay, the activity in plasma from females decreased at 38 weeks of age and rose dramatically in restricted females at 48 weeks when the birds had ceased laying. 5. The changes in plasma creatine kinase activity in females were associated with concomitant changes in ovarian activity as reflected in altered plasma triglyceride concentrations.     

Effects of exogenous somatotropin on the concentration of minerals in the tissues of growing ram lambs

Ten Suffolk ram lambs (mean BW 14.4 +/- 1.0 kg, 9 wk of age) were used to evaluate the effects of somatotropin (ST) on the concentration of minerals in tissues. Lambs were treated with daily injections of sterile saline (SAL; n = 5) or with bovine pituitary-extracted ST (.1 mg.kg BW-1.d-1; n = 5) for 13 wk. At slaughter at 22 wk of age, the liver, heart, kidneys, brain, spleen, lungs and testes were removed. Tissues were lyophilized, ground and analyzed for minerals. Daily treatment with ST had no influence on Ca, Na, K or the ratio of Na to K in tissues. Although P was lower (P less than .10) in the liver of ST lambs, the concentration of P remained within a normal range for sheep. The concentrations of both Mg (P less than .10) and Fe (P less than .05) were lower in the spleen of ST lambs. Splenic hypertrophy appeared to occur (P = .13) in ST lambs; the total splenic pool of Mg and of Fe did not differ (P greater than .10) between SAL and ST lambs. The concentration of several other minerals were lower in tissues of ST lambs: Cu in kidneys (P less than .10) and liver (P = .12); Zn (P less than .05) in liver, kidneys and lungs; and Mn in liver (P less than .05). By causing a reduction in the concentration of minerals in tissues, ST may increase the possibility of a metabolic insufficiency of a mineral. Exogenous treatment of animals with ST may modify the metabolic requirements for minerals and thereby increase dietary requirements.     

Iron stores of liver, spleen and bone marrow, and serum iron concentrations in female dairy cattle in relationship to age.

Storage iron in spleen, liver and bone marrow of cattle significantly increased after three years of age, reached mximal concentrations at five years and remained constant until nine years of age. Storage iron concentrations were always highest in the spleen. In liver and bone marrow much lower concentrations were found. In contrast to storage iron, serum iron remained relatively constant between one and eight years of age.     

育成期饲粮代谢能水平对开产时如皋黄鸡生长发育的影响

本试验旨在研究8～18周龄饲粮代谢能(ME)水平对8周龄至开产时(20周龄)如皋黄鸡生长性能以及屠体、内脏器官、鸡冠、骨骼、消化道和繁殖器官发育的影响。试验选用8周龄体况良好、体重接近的如皋黄鸡360只,随机分成3组,每组8个重复,每个重复15只鸡。8～18周龄,试验鸡分别饲喂ME水平为10.88、11.30和11.72 MJ·kg^-1、其它营养素水平相同的试验饲粮,18周龄～开产(20周龄),各组试验鸡均饲喂相同营养水平的预产期试验饲粮。试验期12周。结果表明：1)随8～18周龄饲粮ME水平增加,蛋鸡18周龄体重、8～18周龄平均日增重(ADG)和平均日代谢能摄入量(MEi)均显著线性增加(P<0.05),8～18周龄和8～20周龄料重比(F/G)和粗蛋白质转化比(CPCR)均显著线性减小(P<0.05)。2)8～18周龄饲粮ME水平对18和20周龄如皋黄鸡屠体、内脏器官和消化道发育均无显著影响(P>0.05)。3)18周龄蛋鸡胫骨重和胫骨率均随8～18周龄饲粮ME水平增加先减小后增加(P<0.05)。8～18周龄饲粮ME水平对18周龄鸡冠和股骨以及20周龄鸡冠、胫骨和股骨发育均无显著影响(P>0.05)。4)18周龄蛋鸡卵巢基质指数和小黄卵泡指数均随8～18周龄饲粮ME水平增加显著线性增加(P<0.05),8～18周龄饲粮ME水平对18周龄其它繁殖器官以及20周龄各繁殖器官发育均无显著影响(P>0.05)。由此可知,8～18周龄饲粮ME水平为11.72 MJ·kg^-1时,能显著增加18周龄体重和8～18周龄ADG,改善8～18周龄F/G和CPCR,促进卵巢基质和小黄卵泡发育,但饲粮ME水平对开产时(20周龄)蛋鸡生长发育指标均无显著影响。本研究表明,将蛋鸡育成期和预产期结合研究具有更重要的实践意义。     

Lack of effect of body weight of breeder pullets at various ages and the amount of food allocated on their subsequent laying performance

1. Two factorial experiments were carried out with White Rock (Arbor Acres) female pullets, kept in layer cages, to evaluate the relationship between body weight (BW) at different ages and the amount of food allocated (FA) on laying performance. Differences in BW at the beginning of experiments 1 and 2 (12 and 18 weeks of age, respectively) were obtained by segregating pullets raised under the recommended FA into weight groups (WGs): standard (ST), light BW (LBW) and heavy BW (HBW). Each of the 3 WGs was further divided into 2 subgroups, raised either under the recommended FA or a moderately increased FA until 34 weeks of age. The experiments were terminated at approximately 65 weeks of age. 2. Body weight was significantly (P 0.05) affected by WGs until 28 and 60 weeks, and by FA until 56 and 44 weeks of age in experiments 1 and 2, respectively. The increased FA significantly accelerated the age of onset of egg production and increased BW at that time. Neither of these variables was affected by BW at 12 weeks of age. BW at 18 weeks of age did not affect age of sexual maturity, but at that time the BW of the LBW- and the HBW-birds was significantly lower and higher, respectively, than that of the ST-birds. 3. Number of eggs per laying or per housed hen was not affected by the WG and/or FA. The exception was the significant interaction between the 2 factors in their effect on the number of eggs per laying hen observed in experiment 1, in which the increased FA prevented the decline in the HBW-birds. 4. The data suggest that the laying performance of broiler breeder hens segregated according to their weight at 12 or 18 weeks of age, and kept in layer cages is not affected by their weight at these ages, and thereafter. The effects of a moderate increase in FA, and of the interaction between this factor and WGs, on laying performance, are not straightforward.     

Plasma oestrogen and triglyceride concentrations and reproductive characteristics of broiler chickens after ten generations of selection at seven weeks of age for high or low plasma very low density lipoprotein concentration.

1. Day old female chicks from two lines of broilers, selected for high or low plasma concentrations of very low density lipoproteins, were fed ad libitum or restricted until point of lay. All birds were fed ad libitum after laying an egg, and aspects of growth and reproduction were measured to 40 weeks of age. 2. Compared with lean line birds the growth rate of fat line females fed ad libitum declined from 16 weeks of age. 3. Mortality from apparently stress-related causes in ad libitum fed fat line females increased from 16 weeks of age and was 71% overall, compared with 26% in ad libitum fed lean line females. Mortality in the corresponding restricted birds was 20% and 7%, respectively. 4. Few fat line females fed ad libitum commenced lay and those which were restricted during rearing stopped laying after the initiation of ad libitum feeding. Egg productions in lean line birds fed ad libitum or restricted were similar. 5. Fat line females fed ad libitum had few yellow follicles and a high rate of atresia at first egg and between 37 and 39 weeks, as did restricted fat line birds between 37 and 39 weeks of age after being fed ad libitum. 6. Plasma concentrations of oestradiol-17 beta were 5-fold higher in fat compared with lean line females at 35 weeks of age. There was a similar large difference in concentrations of plasma triglyceride which reached 59 mg/ml in fat line females fed ad libitum.     

Effect of feedborne fluorine intoxication on broiler chicks' performance, biochemistry, physiology and pathology.

Feeding broiler chicks on graded levels of fluorine (0, 25, 125, 625 and 3125 ppm F) from NaF for 4 weeks (4-7 weeks of age) resulted in various alterations which depended on the level of contamination. The main changes included poor growth and feed conversion, high mortality rate, disorders of bone formation, decreased relative weights of pituitary, adrenal, heart, liver, spleen, lungs, kidneys and gizzard and changes in intestinal dimensions. Also, the biochemical tests revealed other kinds of physiological disfunction mainly in the form of anaemia (low haematocrit, haemoglobin, total protein, albumin and globulin fractions), intoxication (increased methaemoglobin), nephrotic (raised phosphorus and magnesium) and hepatic (elevated lipoproteins and lowering enzymatic activity) disfunctions. The general observations and postmortem examination confirmed also the biochemical findings which revealed the harmful effect of feedborne-fluorine intoxication in broiler chicks.     

Serological and bacteriological observations on experimental infection with Salmonella hadar in chickens

Over the past 3 years the frequency of Salmonella hadar infections has increased in Belgium in both poultry and humans. Therefore, the course of infection with S. hadar in poultry was investigated. One day-old and 4 week-old specific pathogen-free chickens were orally infected with one of two S. hadar strains, SH1 or SH2. Mortality was 6% (SH1) and 17% (SH2) in birds infected at 1 day-old. Chickens infected at 1 day-old with SH2 showed a mild diarrhoea. The S. hadar faecal excretion in birds infected at 1 day-old remained high throughout the experiment until 12 weeks post-inoculation (pi). Faecal excretion was lower in older birds. Antibodies to S. hadar were observed from 2 weeks pi (SH2, infected at 1 day-old) or 4 weeks pi (SH1, both groups; SH2, chickens infected at 4 weeks of age). The percentage of chickens with antibodies was higher after infection at 1 day-old than after infection at 4 weeks of age. In a second experiment 1 day-old chicks were infected with SH1 and autopsied at regular intervals until 42 days pi. SH1 was isolated from the caeca from 3 h pi onwards and from the liver and spleen from 18 h until 14 days pi. Serous typhlitis and omphalitis were the main lesions. The number of macrophages in the lamina propria of the caecal tonsils was slightly increased from 18 h until 2 weeks pi. In the liver, inflammation was observed in the portal triads and in the sinusoids. This study indicates that infections with S. hadar lead to intense colonisation of the gut and extensive faecal shedding. It may also cause invasive infections in 1 day-old chickens.     

Influence of breed, age and body weight on organ weight in the chicken

Body, liver, heart and spleen weights were measured in 3 different breeds and 2 breed crosses over an age range of 0–8 weeks. Correlation coefficients, linear regression equations, standard deviations of observations around regression lines, and the standard errors of the slopes were calculated to study the effects of age, breed, and body weight on organ weight. The principal findings were:

1. Regardless of breed, organ weight does not change at the same rate as body weight during the first 8 weeks of life.

2. The ratio of liver or heart weight to body weight reaches a peak at about one to two weeks of age and then decreases gradually with age until 8 weeks. Spleen‐body weight ratio, however, increases to about the 3rd week of age after which it remains relatively constant.

3. Significant negative correlations were obtained between body weight and both liver‐ and heart‐body weight ratios; while significant positive correlations were obtained between body weight and spleen‐body weight ratios. The correlation between liver weight and heart weight was found to be higher than that between liver weight and spleen weight or between heart weight and spleen weight.

4. The ratio of organ weight to body weight differed with different breeds. The faster growing breeds had lower ratios of organ weight to body weight and higher correlation coefficients between body weight and organ weight ratios.

5. Regression equations are presented that enable the estimation of organ weights from body weights or from other organ weights in the three different breeds and two breed crosses studied.

     

Uptake and distribution of astaxanthin in several tissues and plasma lipoproteins in male broiler chickens fed a yeast (Phaffia rhodozyma) with a high concentration of astaxanthin

1. The experiments were conducted to evaluate astaxanthin (Ax) uptake in several tissues and plasma lipoproteins of male broiler chickens fed on Phaffia rhodozyma containing a high concentration of Ax. 2. Male broiler chicks (5 weeks of age) fasted for 16h were given 0 or 45 mg Ax as Phaffia rhodozyma through the crop and blood was collected over the following 24 h. Ax appeared in the plasma at 2 h after administration into the crop. Most (more than 70%) of the Ax was contained in the high density lipoprotein (HDL) fraction in the plasma irrespective of blood sampling times and administration procedure of Ax. 3. Male broiler chicks (2 weeks of age) were fed on a diet containing 0, 50 or 100 mg/kg of yeast Ax for 2 weeks. Of the tissues examined, Ax concentration in the small intestine was highest, followed by subcutaneous fat, abdominal fat, spleen, liver, heart, kidney and skin. The lowest concentration was in the muscles. Ax concentration in the small intestine, subcutaneous fat, abdominal fat, liver and skin rose as dietary content increased, but this was not the case for the spleen, heart, kidney and muscles except for M. pecloralis superficialis. 4. Over 50% of Ax deposited in liver tissues was detected in the microsomal fraction and 15% was in the mitochondrial fraction. In muscles, both fractions of mitochondria and sarcoplasmic reticulum contained Ax.