Traits influencing the hatching performance of Japanese quail eggs

1. Japanese quail eggs from moderately heavier sires showed superior fertility; while fertile eggs from moderately heavier dams hatched slightly better than the eggs from lighter dams.

2. Higher rates of fertility and hatchability of Japanese quail eggs were observed from parents of 10 to 19 weeks of age, with peak fertility and hatchability at 14 and 12 weeks of age, respectively.

3. Sex ratios of 1:2 to 1:5 gave comparable fertility and hatchability results.

4. The hatching performance of quail eggs from cage and deep litter reared breeders was comparable.

5. Fertility and hatchability were directly proportional to the egg weight.

6. Quail egg shell colour, tints and blotches were found to influence hatching performance.

7. Storing quail eggs at 16 ± 2°C and 75 ± 5% relative humidity for more than 4 d reduced hatchability.

8. Hatchability of eggs stored at room temperature was improved if they were sealed in polyethylene bags.

9. Provision of light during the first 14 d of incubation resulted in a photo‐acceleration of about 3.2 h.     

Effects of short intermittent lighting on food consumption and performance of dwarf broiler breeders and progeny

1. Two hundred and sixty four dwarf broiler breeder hens were subjected to ad libitum or restricted feeding and to four lighting patterns: 15L (bright light):9D (dark), 15L:9d (dim light), 2L:10d: 1L:11d, (0.5L:3.5d) × 6.

2. Breeder hens fed ad libitum and subjected to either conventional or intermittent lighting ingested respectively, 25 g and 14 to 17 g more than hens restricted to 115 g/d.

3. Body weight was greater in hens fed ad libitum irrespective of the lighting pattern and of the amount of food intake.

4. Persistency of egg production was impaired by intermittent lighting.

5. Ad libitum feeding reduced egg fertility. The decrease was larger in breeder hens on intermittent lighting.

6. Hatchability was increased in hens submitted to the symmetrical lighting pattern (0.5L:3.5d).

7. Egg and chick weights were higher in hens fed ad libitum.

8. Shell index and shell breaking strength increased in restricted hens on the intermittent lighting pattern (0.5L:3.5d) × 6.

9. The best performance was obtained in restricted hens on the conventional lighting pattern.     

Inhibition of adrenal steroidogenesis,food restriction and acclimation to high ambient temperatures in chickens

1. White Plymouth Rock chickens placed under 60% food restriction or ad libitum feeding, with or without metyrapone treatment, from either 4 to 6 (early) or 24 to 26 (late) d of age were exposed to high ambient temperatures (35 ± 2°C) from 36 to 43 d of age.

2. Stress attributable to fasting was not manifested through leucocytic alteration when food‐restricted chicks were supplemented with an adrenal blocking chemical, metyrapone.

3. Provision of metyrapone during the fasting period resulted in inferior compensatory growth during refeeding.

4. Exposure to high temperatures from 36 to 43 d of age did not cause an elevation in the heterophihlymphocyte (H/L) ratios of chicks that had eaten metyrapone‐treated food ad libitum during the neonatal stage.

5. During heat exposure, chicks that had been subjected to early 60% restriction with non‐metyrapone‐treated food had lower H/L ratios and improved resistance to marble spleen disease infection.     

Factors influencing bacterial eggshell contamination in conventional cages,furnished cages and free-range systems for laying hens under commercial conditions

1.?The aim was to assess eggshell contamination in various laying hen-housing systems and to identify factors influencing this contamination.

2.?Fifty-eight laying hen farms in France were studied, including 21 flocks housed in conventional cages, 7 in furnished cages and 30 kept on-floor.

3.?Sixty eggs per flock were analysed to obtain counts of the total mesophilic flora. Data on equipment and hen management were collected.

4.?Mean bacterial count on eggshells tended to be higher in on-floor systems (4·82 ± 0·51 log CFU/eggshell) than in cage systems (4·57 ± 0·58 log CFU/eggshell, P = 0·09).

5.?Contamination increased with age of the hens, airborne dust concentration, manual packing of the eggs, and packing in plastic rather than in recycled-pulp egg-flats.

6.?The effect of the housing system on eggshell contamination, previously described in experimental assays, was confirmed under production conditions.     

Feather pecking behaviour in White Leghorns,a genetic study

1. Genetic variables of feather pecking (FP) behaviour in a 1993 commercial pure line of White Leghorns were estimated at the age of 6, 38 and 69 weeks.

2. Heritability estimates of performing FP were 0.05 ± 0.06, 0.14* ± 0.07 and 0.38** ± 0.12 for 6, 38 and 69 weeks respectively for sum of pecks (PECKS) and 0.13* ± 0.07, 0.13* ± 0.07 and 0.35** ±0.12 for sum of bouts (BOUTS).

3. Heritability estimates of receiving FP were not significantly different from 0 except at 6 weeks (0.15* ±0.07 and the average of the 3 age classes (AVG) (0.22** ± 0.09) for PECKS and at 6 weeks (0.15* ±0.07) using BOUTS.

4. Genetic correlations of performing FP among age classes were in general high and significant. This was not the case with receiving FP.

5. Plumage cover at 51 weeks had a negative genetic correlation with performing FP at 69 weeks and AVG, but not with receiving FP. No phenotypic correlations were significant between plumage and FP.

6. Body weight at 51 weeks had a negative genetic correlation with performing FP at AVG.

7. Heritability estimates for performing and receiving FP at 6 weeks correspond to those in the literature. No estimates have previously been reported on feather pecking at 38 weeks or 69 weeks.

8. Selection of birds with no or a very low tendency to perform feather pecking should, on the basis of our results, be feasible.     

Effect of lighting treatment on the productivity,health, behaviour and sexual maturity of heavy male Turkeys

1. Turkey poults (1620) were used to compare the effects of three lighting programmes on heavy strain males reared to 188 d: constant light (24L:0D, CON); increasing light (6L:18D at 7 d gradually increasing to 20L:4D by 63 d, INC); a pattern identical to INC followed by a decrease in daylength from 84 d to 10L:14D at 112 d (DID).

2. Lighting affected growth pattern but had no effect on body weight at 118 d or overall food to gain ratio.

3. Both INC and DID lighting reduced overall mortality in comparison to CON light primarily because of a reduction in the incidence of skeletal disease and spontaneous cardiomyopathy. INC and DID lighting increased the incidence of cannibalism.

4. Turkeys given INC or DID lighting had a superior ability to walk in comparison to those birds given CON light.

5. INC and DID males stood, ate and drank more frequently, and sat less often than CON turkeys during behavioural observation.

6. There were no lighting effects on carcase composition except that INC and DID birds had heavier keel bones. The ultimate force per cm² (stress) required to break femora was greater for turkeys given INC and DID lighting (P = 0.065).

7. Plasma testosterone concentrations at 117 d were 272.5, 115.2 and 29.5 pg/ml for turkeys given CON, INC and DID lighting, respectively (P= 0.072). Testosterone concentration was not related to growth rate.     

Directional selection for growth at two ambient temperatures in Coturnix coturnix japonica 1

1. Four lines of quail; random‐selected, male‐selected, female‐selected and male‐ and female‐selected lines, were subjected to 37 ± 1.6 °C from 3 to 5 weeks of age while another four lines, similarly selected, were reared at room temperature (15 to 27 °C).

2. Selection for increased growth was practised for two generations using ten females and five males as parents in each line.

3. A significant interaction between time and temperature was observed in the third generation progeny; when exposed to heat stress, the stress‐adapted lines showing a superior growth rate.

4. A sex × temperature interaction was also observed and was due largely to the control females being more sensitive to stress than the males.

5. A cumulative realised heritability estimate of 0.47 ± 0.15 for 5‐week body weight was obtained.     

Long‐term selection for increased egg production 1

1. Results are presented of a closed White Leghorn flock selected for increased egg production over a period of 17 years.

2. During the last 7 years a random breeding sample of the production flock served as a genetic control.

3. Regressions of deviations of the production flock from the control flock on years, were highly significant for age at sexual maturity (‐2.18 d), egg production up to 275 d old (3.04 eggs), egg production to 500 d old (5.04 eggs) and egg weight at 14 months old (October) ( — 0.79 g).

4. The heritability of egg production up to 275 d old declined significantly from 0.35 to 0.19.

5. The realised heritability of egg production up to 275 d old was estimated to be 0.14.

6. The genetic correlation between egg production up to 275 d old and production in the residual part of the year was 0.48.

7. The rate of inbreeding in the production flock was 0.515% per generation and the expected rate of inbreeding in the control flock 0.21% per generation.     

Crossbreeding effects on reproductive traits in two strains of duck (Anas platyrhynchos): Brown Tsaiya and Pekin

1. The reproductive performances of 211 domestic duck females (Anas platyrhynchos) from the pure breeds Brown Tsaiya (Ts) and Pekin (Pk) and their two reciprocal crossbreds were analysed.

2. Differences in the 4 genotypes, additive direct and maternal crossbreeding effects and heterosis were estimated on the following traits: age at first egg, egg production to the ages of 30, 35, 40 and 52 weeks of age, egg weight at 30 weeks of age, and (egg) fertility by artificial insemination with Muscovy drakes’ pooled semen.

3. Egg production up to 52 weeks of age was higher in Ts than in Pk (respectively 214 ± 7 and 150 ± 8 eggs), but not statistically different from that of the reciprocal crossbreds. The ratio of settable eggs to total eggs was nearly 90%, without any difference between genotypes.

4. Average egg weight at the age of 30 weeks was 75 ± 0.9 g for Pk, which was higher than the corresponding values for Ts (62 ± 0.8 g), but not significantly different from the crossbreds.

5. An effect of genotype was found on egg fertility: the Pk strain exhibited the lowest value, 71.3 ±3.1% compared with 75.9 ±2.1% for Ts, 80.6 ± 2.6% for Ts × Pk and 74.6 ± 1.9% for Pk × Ts.

6. Crossbreeding genetic variables showed favourable direct genetic effects for egg production and (egg) fertility in Ts, while Pk had favourable direct genetic effects on egg weight. The Pk genotype had a favourable maternal effect on fertility. Direct heterosis was 34% and 10% for egg production up to 30 and 52 weeks of age respectively, 8.8% for egg weight and 5.4% for (egg) fertility.

7. Crossing Ts with Pk seems profitable for the production of mule ducklings.     

Effects of a higher incubation temperature between embryonic day 9 and 12 on growth and meat quality characteristics of turkeys

1. The study investigated the influence of manipulating incubation temperature for a short period on the post-hatch development up to week 16 in male and female BUT Big 6 turkeys.

2. Eggs were incubated at a control temperature of 37·5°C and 55% RH until d 18 when transferred to a hatcher at 37·5°C and 85% RH. For a 4 d period between embryonic day 9 (ED 9) and 12, eggs were incubated at 38·5°C and 55% RH (HT).

3. Birds were slaughtered at 16 weeks of age to analyse meat quality parameters of the Musculus pectoralis superficialis (MPS).

4. Across both incubation treatments, the turkey males had significantly higher live and breast weights, but lower breast yields than the females. The sex of the animals only influenced the yellowness of the MPS with lower values in the males.

5. Temperature manipulation resulted in significantly decreased live weights of HT birds compared with the control animals across all ages in both sexes. No impact of incubation treatment on meat quality characteristics was found.

6. The results indicate a negative effect of higher incubation temperature on the post-hatch growth, possibly by influencing the mechanisms that regulate the hypertrophic growth of the muscle fibres.     

Polymorphism and expression of insulin-like growth factor 1 (IGF1) gene and its association with growth traits in chicken

1. The objectives of the study were to detect polymorphism in the coding region of the IGF1 gene, explore the expression profile and estimate association with growth traits in indigenous and exotic chickens.

2. A total of 12 haplotypes were found in Cornish, control layer and Aseel breeds of chicken in which the h1 haplotype was most frequent.

3. Nucleotide substitutions among haplotypes were found at 21 positions in the IGF1 gene in which 4 substitutions resulted in non-synonymous mutations in the receptor binding domain of the IGF1 protein.

4. The haplogroup showed a significant effect on body weight at 24 and 42 d of age in the control layer line, body weight at 42 d and daily weight gain between 29 and 42 d in the control broiler line, daily weight gain between 29 and 42 d in Cornish, and body weights at 42 d as well as daily weight gain between 29 and 42 d in Aseel birds.

5. IGF1 expression varied among the breeds during embryonic and post-hatch periods. The expression among the haplogroups varied in different chicken tissues. The effect of haplogroup on myofibre number in pectoral muscle was non-significant, although there was significant variation in numbers between d 1 and d 42, and between broiler and layer lines.

6. It was concluded that the coding region of the IGF1 gene was polymorphic, expressed differentially during the pre-hatch and post-hatch periods, and haplogroups showed significant association with growth traits in chicken.     

Plasma alpha 1‐acid glycoprotein concentration in broilers: Influence of age,sex and injection of escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide

1. The influence of age, sex and injection of Escherichia coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS) on the plasma concentration of alpha‐1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) was determined in broilers using the single radial immunodiffusion method.

2. Plasma AGP concentration increased in the 3 d after hatching, and then stabilised at 240 ± 33 μg/ml up to 14 d of age.

3. No sex‐related differences in plasma AGP concentration were observed up to 6 weeks of age.

4. A single injection of 900 μg LPS per chick resulted in a 5‐fold increase in AGP concentration compared with that in saline‐injected chicks. Multiple injections of LPS (200 μg/chick every 2d for 14d) caused only a 50% increase in AGP concentration.     

The occurrence of giant fibres in different muscles of two chicken genotypes

1. The occurrence of Giant Fibres (GF) in three muscles (Pectoralis major (PM), Iliotibialis lateralis and Semimembranosus) with different types of energy metabolism was studied in slow- and fast-growing chicken strains.

2. A total of 20 one-day-old Leghorn chicks (slow-growing) and 20 broiler (Ross 508) chicks (fast-growing) were reared to 100 and 45 d, respectively.

3. A small percentage of GF was seen in pre rigor muscle samples even at 3 min post mortem in both genotypes and in all muscle types studied.

4. From 3 min to 24 h post mortem GF increased both in Leghorn and broiler chickens but to a different extent according to muscle type and genotype.

5. The highest GF 24 h post mortem value was found in the PM muscles belonging to the fast-growing broiler line.

6. It was concluded that every type of muscle can develop GF, but this phenomenon is more evident in the PM especially in animals selected for increased growth rate.     

Effects of adding yeast cell walls and Yucca schidigera extract to diets of layer chicks

1.?This research was conducted to determine the impact of diet supplementation with yeast cell walls and Yucca schidigera extract on the growth performance, antibody titres, and intestinal tissue histology of layer chicks.

2.?White, 1-d-old, Hy-Line hybrid chicks (n?=?840) were divided into 4 main groups, each comprising 7 replicates of 30 chicks (n?=?210): (1) control; (2) 1000?mg/kg yeast cell walls (YCW) added; (3) 1000?mg/kg Yucca schidigera extract (YE) added; and (4) 500?mg/kg YE?+?500?mg/kg YCW added. The trial lasted 60?d.

3.?Daily weight gain of the chicks was positively affected between d 45-60 in the YE and YCW?+?YE groups compared with the control group.

4.?Overall, feed consumption did not differ between the control and YCW, YE, YCW?+?YE groups during the 60?d study period. Feed efficiency was better in the YE and YCW?+?YE groups than in the control group between d 1-60.

5.?During the 60?d evaluation period, live weight gain, and final live weight were higher in YE and YCW?+?YE groups than in the control group.

6.?Antibody titres against infectious bronchitis and infectious bursal disease did not differ among the 4 treatments, but those for Newcastle disease were higher in the YE?+?YCW groups than in the control, YCW and YE groups on d 45.

7.?There were differences in intestinal histomorphometry between the 4 treatments. The height of the jejunal and ileal villi was greater in the YE and YCW?+?YE groups than in the control and YCW groups

8.?It can be concluded that YCW and YE supplementation for layer chicks is beneficial for growth performance and intestinal histology during the 1-60?d growing period.     

Inheritance of body weight and rate of gain in Japanese quail

1. The effects of hatch date, location and sex on the body weight and rate of gain in Coturnix coturnix japonica were examined.

2. The data conformed to a mixed model and adjustments were made for the fixed effects sex, hatch date and location. Adjustment improved the precision of the estimates by reducing the error variances significantly.

3. Rearing equal numbers of birds from each family at different locations made the interactions negligible.

4. Weight gain was greater if illumination intensity up to 35 d was less.

5. Females were not heavier on the 1st day but were heavier on the 14th and 35th days than males.

6. Variance components and genetic parameters were estimated.     

Photoperiod and seasonal influences on the growth of turkey hens

1. The influence of photoperiod and time of year on the growth of hen turkeys was investigated.

2. Photoperiod treatments consisted of computer simulations of day lengths which occur naturally in the spring and autumn of the year. Both photoperiod treatments were given to hens in the autumn and spring.

3. Data were collected for growth evaluations at 2‐ to 4‐week intervals to 16 weeks of age. No significant season × photoperiod interactions occurred.

4. The spring trial resulted in greater body weights and better food conversions (food/gain) than the autumn trial.

5. Simulated autumn daylengths resulted in greater body weights and improved food efficiency at 16 weeks of age compared with simulated spring daylengths.

6. The pattern of growth (period changes) was influenced by season, but not photoperiod.

7. Season and photoperiod both have important and independent influences on the growth of the turkey hen.     

Weight of internal organs and carcase yield of early food restricted broilers

1. Effects of food restriction on growth rate and relative growth rates of supply organs (liver, heart, lungs and kidneys, digestive tract) and demand organs (breast, back, thighs, abdominal fat) of broiler chickens were studied.

2. Birds were restricted in intake to 50% (group FI 50) or 75% (group FI 75) of ad libitum from 5 to 11 d of age; all birds were fed ad libitum from 12 to 39 d of age.

3. Relative growth rates from 12 to 39 d of age of group FI 50 were higher (P<0.05) than group FI 75 and control group.

4. No significant differences in food conversion ratio, carcase fat and abdominal fat between groups were observed.

5. At 12 d of age, relative weight of the empty digestive tract of group FI 50 was higher (P< 0.05) than that of the control group and group FI 75.

6. The increased weight of the empty digestive tract may have contributed to the ability of the chickens to achieve compensatory growth after the restriction period.     

Effect of oiling on internal quality of eggs stored at 28 and 12°G

1. The effects of spraying linseed oil on naturally clean eggs, subsequently stored for 24 d at 28 °C were studied.

2. Oiling slowed the decline in albumen height (Haugh units) to that which occurred in unoiled eggs stored at 12 °C.

3. Oiling slowed the increase in albumen pH equally at 28 and 12 °C.

4. Oiling markedly decreased the weight loss of eggs stored at either temperature.

5. Oiling and temperature of storage were without effect on the whipping volumes of either albumen or unseparated albumen and yolk.     

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.