Energy content of select dietary supplemental lipids for broilers,turkeys, and laying hens

Energy is an expensive component of poultry diets with lipids providing a concentrated energy source to meet these needs. Three separate experiments with broilers (15 d of age), turkeys (15 d of age) and laying hens (60 wk of age) were conducted to determine the AME_n content of 10 lipids with varying fatty acid and free fatty acid concentrations and to compare these values to predicted values based on previously published equations. A corn-soybean meal (broilers and turkeys) or corn-soybean meal-distillers dried grains with solubles (layers) control diet was formulated with test diets created by mixing the control diet with 0, 3, 6, or 9% (broilers and turkeys) or 0, 2, 4, and 6% (laying hens) lipid. Experimental diets were fed over a 5-d acclimation period followed by a 48 h total excretion collection period with AME_n of the diets calculated based upon the GE, nitrogen, and titanium dioxide in the feed and excreta samples. The pen-mean AME_n of each diet was regressed on percentage lipid inclusion level using linear regression with the slope of the line representing the AME_n of each lipid source. As expected, the AME_n values varied widely among lipid sources and species, with broilers having a greater AME compared to turkeys and layers. In general, saturated fatty acids (C14:0, C16:0, and C18:0) were negatively correlated to AME_n while unsaturated fatty acids (namely C18:2) were positively correlated to AME_n. Consequently, the unsaturated: saturated ratio, the polyunsaturated fatty acids: saturated and monounsaturated fatty acids ratio, and iodine value tended to be positively related to AME_n. Compared to broilers and turkeys that were able to efficiently utilize energy from corn oil (purified and crude DDGS corn oil) relative to soybean oil, laying hen AME_n values for corn oils were reduced in comparison to soybean oil. These data indicate that energy values of lipid differ widely due to source and appear to differ relative to a particular species.     

Risk factors for Listeria monocytogenes contamination in French laying hens and broiler flocks

The objective of this study was to identify potential risk factors for Listeria monocytogenes contamination in French poultry production. Eighty-four flocks of layer hens kept in cages and 142 broiler flocks were included in this study. For each production type, a questionnaire was submitted to farmers and fecal samples were taken to assess the L. monocytogenes status of the flocks during a single visit to the farm. Two logistic regression models (specific to each production) were used to assess the association between management practices and the risk of L. monocytogenes contamination of the flock. The prevalence of L. monocytogenes-positive flocks was 30.9% (95% CI: 21.0; 40.9) and 31.7% (95% CI: 24.0; 39.4) for cage-layers and broiler flocks, respectively. For layer flocks, the risk of L. monocytogenes contamination was increased when pets were present on the production site. When droppings were evacuated by conveyor belt with deep pit storage, the risk of L. monocytogenes contamination decreased significantly. Feed meal was found to be associated with a higher risk of L. monocytogenes contamination than feed crumb. For broiler flocks, the risk of L. monocytogenes contamination was increased when farmers did not respect the principle of two areas (clean and dirty) at the poultry house entrance. A first disinfection by thermal fogging and the absence of pest control of the poultry house before the arrival of the next flock was found to increase the risk of contamination. When litter was not protected during storage and when farm staff also took care of other broiler chicken houses, the risk of L. monocytogenes contamination increased significantly. In the case of the watering system, nipples with cups were found to decrease the risk of contamination.     

蛋鸡产蛋期饲养技术要点

蛋鸡词养周期较长,一般可分为育雏期、育成期、产蛋期等阶段,其中产蛋期最长,也是蛋鸡养殖盈利的重要时期,现代高产蛋鸡产蛋期鸡只身体负荷大,如果词养技术跟不上会严重影响鸡只健康状况和生产性能。从现实看,蛋鸡从业者饲养管理水平参差不齐,即便是大型规模养殖场,精细化饲养也做得不到位,造成鸡只体况不佳、鸡蛋质量差、产蛋率低等问题,小、散户更为明显。本文结合生产实际,重点从词养、营养供给方面对高产蛋鸡产蛋期词养技术进行了总结归纳。     

Development of furnished cages for laying hens

1. A 3-year trial was carried out of cages for laying hens, occupying a full laying house. The main cage designs used were 5000 cm2 in area, 50 cm high at the rear and furnished with nests and perches. F cages had a front rollaway nest at the side, lined with artificial turf. FD cages also had a dust bath containing sand over the nest. H cages had two nest hollows at the side, one in front of the other. They were compared with conventional cages 2500 cm2 in area and 38 cm high at the rear. 2. Cages were stocked with from 4 to 8 ISA Brown hens per cage, resulting in varied allowances of area, feeder and perch per bird. No birds were beak trimmed. In F and FD cages two further treatments were applied: nests and dust baths were sometimes fitted with gates to exclude birds from dust baths in the morning and from both at night; elevated food troughs, with a lip 33 cm above the cage floor, were compared with standard troughs. 3. Management of the house was generally highly successful, with temperature control achieved by ventilation. Egg production was above breeders' standards and not significantly affected by cage design. More eggs per bird were collected when there were fewer birds per cage but food consumption also then tended to be higher. 4. The number of downgraded eggs was variable, with some tendency for more in furnished cages. Eggs laid in dust baths were often downgraded. Those laid at the back of the cage were frequently dirty because of accumulation of droppings. H nests were unsuccessful, with less than 50% of eggs laid in the nest hollows. However, up to 93% of eggs were laid in front rollaways, and few of these were downgraded. 5. Feather and foot damage were generally less in furnished than in conventional cages, greater where there were more birds per cage. With an elevated food trough there was less feather damage but more overgrowth of claws. In year 2, mortality was greater in cages with more birds. 6. Pre-laying behaviour was mostly settled in front rollaway nests. Dust baths were used more for pecking and scratching than for dust bathing. Comfort behaviour was more frequent in furnished cages than conventional, although still not frequent. Locomotion was strongly affected by number of birds per cage or by space per bird, being reduced by crowding. Most birds perched at night except in one treatment providing only 10.7 cm perch per bird. 7. Behaviour was more unrestricted and varied, and physical condition was better, in furnished than in conventional cages. However, egg production will cost more in furnished cages, partly because more eggs are downgraded. Dust baths must be fitted with gates that the birds cannot open from outside, but gates for nest boxes were found unnecessary. If a low perch is fitted it must be far enough from the back of the cage for birds to walk there. 8. Where there was less space per bird (more birds per cage) than the requirements in the 1999 European Commission Directive on laying hens, there were: fewer eggs per hen, but still above the breeders' target; lower food consumption; more feather and foot damage, but less than in conventional cages; higher mortality in one trial out of three; less freedom of movement. However, the results were still very good even with 8 birds per cage, and support the principle that furnished cages provide an acceptable way of protecting the welfare of laying hens.     

高峰产蛋鸡发生传染性喉气管炎的诊治

邳州市一蛋鸡专业户饲养4000只产蛋高峰期的蛋鸡于今年3月份发生了传染性喉气管炎,畜主认为是慢性呼吸道感染,用阿奇霉素进行治疗,连用4d不见效果,反而病情加重并出现死     

Climatic adaptation of laying hens

Summary Three hundred Warren Isabrown female day old chicks were raised for 18 weeks in 3 distinct artificial climates described as temperate (20°C, 60% RH), hot dry (32°C, 40% RH) and hot humid (32°C, 90% RH). At 18 weeks each group was divided into 3 and re-allocated to 3 similar air-conditioned laying rooms as during the growing period. Different diets were fed to the 3 groups up to 18 weeks. The energy needed in order to produce the same average live body weight at 18 weeks was similar in all the 3 climatic chambers. The effect of treatments in the growing period was not significantly different (P>0·05) for most of the parameters subsequently measured during the laying period. The exception was the body weight gain between 18 and 38 weeks and the food and energy intakes. However, apart from the sexual maturity, all these parameters were negatively influenced (P<0·05) by the effect of hot climates during the laying period irrespective of method of rearing. The results of this study seem to indicate that ambient temperature experienced during the first 18 weeks after hatching has little effect on subsequent productivity and that rearing birds at high ambient temperature does not acclimatise them to these conditions better than rearing them under temperate conditions.

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Adaptacion Climatica De Gallinas Ponedoras

Resumen Se leavantaron 300 pollitas de un día de nacidas, Warren Isabrown, por 18 semanas en 3 climas diferentes; templado (20°C, 60% HR), seco caliente (32°C, 40% HR) y caliente húmedo (32°C, 90% HR). A las 18 semanas cada grupo fue dividido en 3 y re-instalado en 3 cuartos de postura con aire acondicionado durante el período de crecimiento. Los 3 grupos recibieron diferentes dietas hasta las 18 semanas. La energía necesaria para producir el mismo peso promedio a las 18 semanas fue el mismo en las tres cámaras climáticas. El efecto del tratamiento durante el período de crecimiento no fue significativamente diferente (P>0·05) para la mayoría de parámetros medidos subsecuentemente durante el peródo de postura. La excepción fue el aumento en peso corporal entre las 18 y 38 semanas y la energía consumida. Sin embargo, aparte de la madurez sexual, todos los parámetros fueron afectados negativamente (P<0·05) por el efecto de los climas cálidos durante el período de postura, irrespectivamente del manejo. Los resultados de este estudio parecen indicar, que la temperatura ambiente experimentada durante las primeras 18 semanas después del nacimiento, tuvo poco efecto sobre la productividad y que la crianza de aves a temperatura ambiente alta, no las aclimata para esas condiciones mejor que levantandolas bajo un clima templado.

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Adaptation Climatique De La Poule Pondeuse

Resumé Trois cents poussins femelles d'un jour de souche Warren Isabrown ont été élevés jusqu'à l'âge de 18 semaines dans 3 climats artificiels distincts, respectivement tempéré (20°C, 60% HR), chaud sec (32°C, 40% HR) et chaud humide (32°C, 90% HR). A l'âge de 18 semaines chaque lot d'oiseaux a été divisé en trois et réparti à nouveau en 3 cellules de ponte conditionnées de la même façon que les salles de croissance. Différentes rations alimentaires sont nourries aux oiseaux jusqu'à l'âge de 18 semaines. La consommation d'énergie nécessaire pour produire le même poids vif à 18 semaines a été sensiblement égale dans les 3 climats. L'effet des traitements en période de croissance n'a pas été significativement différent (P>0·05) sur la presque totalité des paramètres étudiés en ponte, exception faite du gain de poids vif 18–38 semaines, des ingérés alimentaires et énérgétiques. Par contre, à l'exception de la maturité sexuelle, tous ces paramètres ont à chaque fois été influencés négativement (P<0·05) par les effets des climats chauds en période de ponte, indépendamment du climat d'élevage. Les résultats de cette expérience semblent indiquer que la température expérimentée pendant les 18 premières semaines après l'éclosion a eu peu d'effet sur la productivité ultérieure, et que l'élevage des oiseaux à hautes températures ambiantes ne leur confère pas une meilleure acclimatation à ces mêmes conditions que lorsqu'ils sont élevés en milieux tempérés.

     

The Edinburgh modified gage for laying hens

1. Behaviour, production and welfare of ISA Brown medium hybrids were assessed in 2 trials (each from 20 to 44 weeks of age) of a novel design of cage for laying hens: the Edinburgh Modified Cage (EMC).

2. The EMC was 600 mm wide, 450 mm deep and 450 mm high at the rear; it had a softwood perch and at one side a 250 mm wide nest box (containing litter or artificial turf) with a dust bath direcdy above. It housed 4 birds and provided 675 cm^2/bird in the main cage with an additional 281 cm² /bird in the nest box. The nest box and dust bath had automatically controlled doors which were closed at night. There were 18 EMC; in the first trial these were compared with 6 control cages with perch but without next box or dust bath.

3. Hens spent 32 to 37% of day time on the perch, 5 to 7% in the dust bath and 5 to 6% in the nest. At night 92 to 98% roosted on the perch.

4. Initially only 55 to 70% of eggs were laid in the nest box partly because some eggs were laid before dawn. Once the door was retimed to open 3h before lights‐on the proportion rose to 91 to 96%. Very few eggs were laid in the dust bath. Pre‐laying behaviour lasted longer in treatments with nest boxes (55 to 76min) than in control cages (48min); disturbance was slight in all treatments, but lowest in control cages.

5. Dust baths were well used, with on average 61% of hens dust bathing during a 3‐h afternoon observation period compared with only 17% in control cages. Two birds could use the dust bath simultaneously.

6. It was concluded that although a number of minor design features still required attention the EMC has potential to reduce the disadvantages of conventional cages for welfare while retaining their advantages and has possible commercial application.     

Fluoride tolerance of laying hens

1. One thousand Silver Grey Hyline hens were given drinking water containing 5 concentrations of added sodium fluoride (0, 6, 10, 14 and 20 mg/1) over a 17‐week growth and 57‐week laying period. The natural fluoride content of the water was 0–21 mg/1 during the growing period and 0–29 mg/1 throughout lay.

2. During the rearing phase, efficiency of food utilisation and mortality were not significantly affected by the fluoride concentration of the water. Weight gain and food intake decreased in the 10 and 14 mg/1 fluoride treatments.

3. During the laying period, the fluoride content of the water had a significant effect on egg production, but eggshell breaking strength was not significantly influenced.

4. Post mortem analyses, carried out at the end of lay (74 weeks of age), showed that carcase weight and the fluoride content of the os femur increased significantly as the fluoride concentration in the water increased; the increase in bone fluoride followed a linear pattern.

5. Histopathology showed no evidence of changes in the livers or kidneys; liver weights and breaking strength of the os femur were unaffected by the amount of fluoride consumed.

6. The data showed that under commercial conditions, laying birds can tolerate ingesting 4–453 mg fluoride/day for up to 74 weeks.     

Space needs of laying hens

1. Videotapes of hens under various conditions were used to measure the amount of space used by hens performing common behaviour patterns.

2. When turning, hens used 540 to 1006 cm², when stretching wings 653 to 1118 cm², when wing flapping 860 to 1980 cm², when feather ruffling 676 to 1604 cm², when preening 814 to 1270 cm² and when ground scratching 540 to 1005 cm².

3. All these measurements are above the 450 cm² bird recommended as the minimum space allowance by current EC regulations, which therefore do not ensure adequate hen welfare.     

Different soil media for free-range laying hens

1. A replicated experiment compared bird use, soil structure, grass wear and free-moving nematode populations in 4 different soil media (recycled vegetable compost, 90% recycled vegetable compost and 10% sand, re-used topsoil and sterilised topsoil) all with established grass swards within the range area of a large free-range laying hen unit. 2. The birds initially spent a greater proportion of their time on the two topsoil swards in comparison to the two compost-based swards. However, once the whole flock of hens had prolonged access to the different swards (unfenced areas) there were no significant differences in the number of birds that frequented the different sward types. 3. The two compost-based soil media had 33% fewer nematodes per g of dry soil compared to the two topsoil-based media. However, the rate of loss of grass from the subplots was greater with the two compost-based soil media; this was probably due to the greater porosity of these types of soil media.     

Comparison of the coagulation profile of fatty liver haemorrhagic syndrome-susceptible laying hens and normal laying hens

1. The rate of thrombin generation in plasma from Fatty Liver Haemorrhagic Syndrome-susceptible laying hens (FLHS, UCD-003) is more rapid than in plasma from age-matched normal Single Comb White Leghorn (SCWL) laying hens. 2. The rate of thrombin generation in plasma was determined by measuring the biological activity of the specific coagulation proteins, Factors V, VII, VIII, IX and X. 3. The higher activity of Factors V, VII and X in FLHS-susceptible laying hens compared with normal SCWL hens remained consistent after plasma lipid concentrations were reduced. 4. Analysis of the fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids showed that in normal SCWL laying hens phosphatidylethanolamine contained C18:3n3 whereas it contained C20:3n3 in FLHS-susceptible laying hens. 5. The results suggest that alterations in the composition of the phospholipids that are essential cofactors in the biochemical reactions involved in thrombin generation may be a contributing factor in the development of FLHS.     

Molecular characterization of infectious bronchitis virus strains isolated from the enteric contents of Brazilian laying hens and broilers

Infectious bronchitis virus (IBV) is the causative agent of avian infectious bronchitis, which is characterized by respiratory, reproductive, and renal signs. However, the role of IBV as an enteric pathogen in still controversial. In Brazil, antigenic groups of IBV divergent from the Massachusetts serotype used for vaccination schedules in that country have already been demonstrated. The present study aimed to assess the different genotypes of IBV in Brazilian commercial poultry flocks by partial sequencing of the S1 amino-terminus coding region using enteric contents as samples and examine their relationship with the vaccine serotype currently in use. Samples of enteric contents were taken as pools of five birds from each of 18 poultry farms (17 broiler and one laying farm) from five Brazilian states between 2002 and 2006. Birds were presenting watery diarrhea and poor general condition but were without respiratory, renal, or reproductive signs. Conventional antibacterial and anticoccidial therapies were unsuccessful and, furthermore, all samples proved negative for rotavirus, reovirus, and astrovirus. Eleven IBV samples were isolated in embryonated eggs and resulted in S1 sequences. Phylogenetic analysis showed that these segregated into an exclusive cluster, close to serotype D274, but distant from Massachusetts. Mean amino acid identity amongst these Brazilian strains was 94.07%; amongst these and serotypes D274, 4/91, and Massachusetts, mean amino acid identity was 77.17%, 69.94%, and 68.93%, respectively. In conclusion, the presence of genotype variant strains of IBV in Brazilian poultry flocks has been demonstrated and might be the reason for the unsuccessful control of IBV in Brazil. Furthermore, these results also strengthen the implications of IBV in enteric diseases of poultry.     

蛋鸡产蛋后期的营养调控

蛋鸡产蛋后期精准的营养调控可延缓蛋鸡的衰老,延长产蛋期,提高经济效益.本文从能量、蛋白质、维生素、矿物元素的营养需要等方面对蛋鸡产蛋后期的营养调控进行总结,以期能够对产蛋鸡后期的营养调控提供参考.     

家禽肠道疾病及其预防措施专栏(五) 产蛋母鸡的慢性肠炎

目前处理慢性肠炎的方法,是在不知病因的情况下通过增强母鸡的抵抗力和提高其康复率来控制疾病.这是荷兰两位家禽疾病研究人员的结论.