Effect of pelleted feed on the incidence of ascites in broilers reared at low altitudes

A study was conducted to investigate whether the use of pelleted feeds might influence the incidence of ascites in broilers reared at low altitudes (730 meters above sea level). In two trials carried out under commercial conditions, broilers were fed practical-type rations from 1 day to 7 weeks of age, in either mash or pellet form. In both trials, low incidences of ascites (less than 5%) were recorded for broilers receiving feed as pellets. No cases of the syndrome were observed in birds fed mash, either in the field or at the processing plant. These data suggest that the positive relationship between pelleted feeds and incidence of ascites observed at high altitudes also exists at lower elevations.     

膨化颗粒饲料生产新工艺

膨化饲料是由特定设备 (膨化机、熟化机等 ,不同于一般的制粒成型机或者调质设备 )在特定条件下 (高温、高压等条件 )生产出的特殊产品。膨化饲料与普通颗粒饲料相比 ,多了一道膨化过程。它除了具有普通颗粒饲料的优点———适口性好、避免分级、减少浪费等 ,还具有如下优点 :1 )饲料原料经过高温高压处理 ,使淀粉颗粒糊化 (或α化 ) ,同时又使部分蛋白质组织化 ,有利于畜禽的消化吸收 ,提高饲料的消化率和利用率。 2 )糊化度高的淀粉颗粒 ,在饲料组分中起到天然粘结剂的作用 ,提高了颗粒质量 ,颗粒粉化率降低 ,同时更易于运输 ,降低损耗 ,…     

血浆蛋白粉不同时间饲喂对肉鸡免疫功能的影响

选用1日龄AA肉鸡240只,随机分为4个处理,每个处理6个重复,每个重复10只鸡.处理一为基础日粮组,处理二、三、四分别添加2.5%血浆蛋白粉(SDPP)替代基础日粮中部分蛋白饲喂7、14、21 d后,换喂相同日粮直到49 d试验结束.前期饲喂21 d后,从每个处理中选择接近平均体质量健康鸡8只腹腔注射大肠杆菌O_2攻毒.结果表明:(1)前期1～14 d连续添加SDPP生产成绩最好,显著高于处理一(P<0.05).后期和全期以1～21 d添加的生产性能略好,与1～14 d差异不显著.(2)添加SDPP提高了肉鸡Ea、Et、脾脏指数、胸腺指数和法氏囊指数,极显著(P<0.01)提高淋巴细胞转化率.(3)SDPP明显降低内鸡死亡率.结果表明,在1～14 d添加SDPP,可促进内鸡生长,增强免疫功能,前期获得最佳ADG的时间是饲喂1～14 d.该饲喂时间肉鸡抗菌能力最强.     

The response of broilers to the feeding of mash or pelleted diets containing maize of varying particle sizes

1. The effects of maize particle size and steam pelleting on growth and nutrient utilisation were studied with broiler chicks. 2. The presence or absence of 10 microg/kg of 1,25 dihydroxycholecalciferol in diets adequate or deficient in phosphorus was also investigated. Food efficiency was superior with the fine maize diets but calcium retention and phytate phosphorus retention were greatest with the coarse maize diets. Pelleting improved food efficiency and growth in both experiments while phytate phosphorus utilisation was decreased. 3. Addition of 1,25-dihydroxycholecalciferol to the diet increased 16-d body weight, bone ash, plasma dialysable phosphorus and retentions of total phosphorus and phytate phosphorus while decreasing phosphorus deficiency rickets and tibial dyschondroplasia. 4. There were significant interactions between maize particle size and food form. The improvement in calcium retention observed with the coarse maize diets was reduced when the diets were pelleted. When fed as a mash, coarse maize diets resulted in increased plasma dialysable phosphorus levels but when the diet was pelleted this response was eliminated. 5. There was also a significant interaction between particle size and phosphorus concentration in that chicks given diets deficient in phosphorus had improved bone ash when fed coarse maize as compared to fine maize. However, this response was eliminated when the diets were adequate in phosphorus. 6. In one experiment, fine maize diets had higher metabolisable energy values and there was a significant interaction between maize particle size and food form as pelleting improved the metabolisable energy value of coarse maize diets but not fine maize diets. In another experiment only pelleting of the factors studied improved the metabolisable energy value of the diets.     

Effect of pelleted feed on the incidence of gizzard erosion and black vomit in broilers

Mash and pellet broiler feeds were compared for effectiveness. During an 8-week study, pelleted diets were associated with significantly higher mortality and poorer growth, accompanied by black vomit, gizzard erosion, and condemnations due to septicemia.     

血浆蛋白粉对肉鸡生产性能和免疫功能的影响

试验研究不同阶段添加血浆蛋白粉(SDPP)对肉鸡生产性能和免疫功能的影响。选用240只1日龄AA肉鸡,随机分为4个处理,每个处理6个重复,每个重复10只鸡。试验设基础日粮组(对照组)和3个试验组,即添加0.5%SDPP日粮分别饲喂7、14、21d构成3个试验组。而试验后期(22～49d)各处理组饲喂同一基础日粮。试验结果表明:①与对照组相比,饲喂SDPP7d组显著提高前期ADG(P<0.05),极显著提高后期和全期ADG、ADFI(P<0.01);饲喂SDPP14d组极显著提高前期和全期ADG、ADFI(P<0.01),极显著提高后期ADFI(P<0.01);饲喂SDPP21d组极显著提高前期ADG(P<0.01),极显著提高全期ADF(IP<0.01);试验组各个时期F/G差异不显著(P>0.05)。②就全期生产性能看,饲喂SDPP7d组好于其它处理组,但各添加SDPP组间生产性能差异不显著(P>0.05)。③各处理组Ea、Et、淋巴细胞转化率和各免疫器官指数均高于对照组,饲喂SDPP14d组的Et和淋巴细胞转化率分别达到显著和极显著水平。④血浆蛋白粉可提高肉鸡生产性能,并随着饲喂时间的延长有下降的趋势,添加血浆蛋白粉对肉鸡免疫功能有增强的作用。     

Lactation feed disappearance and weaning to estrus interval for sows fed spray-dried plasma

Four experiments involving 265, 410, 894, and 554 sows (Exp. 1 to 4, respectively) were conducted to determine the effect of spray-dried plasma (SDP) at 0 or 0.25% (Exp. 1 and 2) and 0 or 0.50% (Exp. 3 and 4) in lactation diets on average daily feed disappearance (FD), sum of sow BW, fetal and placental loss from d 110 gestation to weaning (SWL), litter size at weaning, litter weight at weaning, and average days from weaning to first estrus (WEI). Experiments 1, 3, and 4 were conducted during summer months, and Exp. 2 was conducted during fall to winter months. Experiment 1 used only parity 1 and parity 2 sows and Exp. 4 used only mature (>2 parities) sows, whereas Exp. 2 and 3 used all parity groups. Sows fed SDP in Exp. 1 had increased (P < 0.01) FD and a tendency for reduced (P = 0.06) SWL and WEI (P = 0.06). Sows fed SDP in Exp. 2 had a tendency for increased (P = 0.09) sow BW at weaning and reduced (P = 0.09) SWL, whereas other variables were not different between diets. Parity 1 and 2 sows fed SDP in Exp. 3 had increased (P < 0.01) FD, but mature sows fed SDP had reduced (P = 0.02) FD. Pig survival and litter size at weaning for all parity groups was not different between diets. The WEI for parity 1 sows fed SDP was reduced (P = 0.02) and tended to be reduced (P = 0.10) for mature sows fed SDP, but was not different between diets for parity 2 sows. More parity 1 sows fed SDP were detected (P = 0.01) in estrus 4 to 6 d after weaning, and fewer were detected (P < 0.01) in estrus 6 d after weaning compared with control parity 1 sows. In Exp. 4, FD was reduced (P < 0.01) for mature sows fed SDP; however, litter weight and average pig BW at weaning was increased (P < 0.01) with more (P < 0.01) marketable pigs (pig BW > 3.6 kg) weaned per litter. Relatively low dietary levels of SDP (0.25 to 0.50%) fed to parity 1 sows farrowed during summer months increased lactation FD and reduced WEI. Mature sows fed SDP during summer months consumed less lactation feed without compromising WEI, but had an increased litter weight, average pig BW, and number of marketable pigs at weaning.     

不同剂量血浆蛋白粉对肉鸡生产性能和免疫功能的影响

本试验选用300只1日龄AA肉鸡,随机分为5个处理,每个处理6个重复,每个重复10只鸡。试验前期(1～21d)5个处理分别饲喂基础日粮、基础日粮+50mg/kg金霉素和含有0.5%、2.5%、5.0%血浆蛋白粉(SDPP)日粮,试验后期(22～49d)各处理组均饲喂基础日粮。结果表明,添加0.5%SDPP极显著提高前期平均日增重(ADG)和平均日采食量(ADFI)(P<0.01);SDPP显著提高后期和全期ADG和ADFI,但后期和全期各处理间F/G差异不显著(P>0.05);0.5%SDPP组肉鸡全期的生产成绩高于2.5%和5.0%SDPP组(P>0.05)。血浆蛋白粉可提高Ea、Et、脾脏指数和胸腺指数(P>0.05);2.5%、5.0%SDPP组淋巴细胞转化率极显著高于对照组(P<0.01),0.5%SDPP组淋巴细胞转化率显著高于对照组(P<0.05);2.5%SDPP组的法氏囊指数显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。     

Growth performance of broilers fed on diets containing processed poultry wastes

1. Broilers were grown on diets containing processed poultry wastes: dehydrated broiler litter, with (DBLA) or without (DBLN) arsenical residues, “in‐house” dried waste (IHDW) and dehydrated layer waste (DLW), all from commercial poultry houses.

2. Wastes were included at 100 g/kg in starter and finisher diets given, in most cases, from 0 to 8 weeks. In formulation the contents of true protein and of experimentally‐determined metabolisable energy values were used to ensure nutritional balance.

3. Body weight at 8 weeks with inclusion of wastes was equivalent to control (DLW) or increased (DBLA, DBLN). The gain: food ratio was reduced by the two layer wastes because of increased food consumption. Litter moisture was increased by the feeding of wastes.     

Circadian serum concentrations of tylosin in broilers after feed or water medication

1. Because tylosin is a time-dependent antibacterial agent, and because feeding and drinking of broilers decreases in late afternoon and ceases in the dark, it was hypothesised that serum concentrations of this drug are greatly reduced during the dark period. 2. The trial was carried out in a commercial poultry house, under standard broiler husbandry conditions, with food and water withdrawn from 22:00 until 07:00 h next morning and exposed to a natural light cycle of 13L:11D. 3. Broilers were given tylosin tartrate, in either feed or water, for 5 d as follows: 100, 200 and 300 ppm in feed, equivalent to 12.6, 25.2 and 37.8 mg/kg/d, respectively; and 200 and 400 mg/l in drinking water, equivalent to 51 to 102 mg/kg/d, respectively. 4. At 07:00 h on d 4, and for the next 40 h, hourly serum samples were obtained and analysed for tylosin by means of a microbiological assay. 5. Day vs night concentrations of tylosin expressed as area under the curve (AUC) in all groups revealed greater values during the day. The highest AUC and AUC(24)/minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) ratio were obtained in the group medicated with 400 mg/l and the corresponding lowest values were found in the group medicated with 100 ppm in feed. 6. In conclusion, tylosin did not reach therapeutic serum concentrations during the dark period, at all dose rates tested when administered in feed or water. A sustained release form of this drug is needed to solve this inadequacy of tylosin medication in broilers.     

Free-choice feeding of broilers at high temperatures

Broilers fed complete diets to 21 but not 44 d of age grew faster with a better efficiency of food utilisation than broilers given a free-choice selection of the cereal and protein components. When finisher diets, varying in metabolisable energy (ME) and amino acid:ME ratios, were fed at high ambient temperatures (25 to 35 degrees C) broilers on the free-choice system selected similar amino acid:ME intake ratios, which were lower than the ratios contained in the complete diets. Differences in broiler performance between 22 and 44 d of age reflected variations in ME rather than amino acid intake.     

The influence of pelleted feed on the response of growing pullets to photoperiods of less than ten hours.

1. An experiment was designed to test the hypothesis that delayed sexual maturity in pullets reared on very short (4 h) constant photoperiods might be partly attributable to limitation of food intake and that offering a pelleted feed might circumvent this effect. 2. The factors investigated were 2 strains (Amber Link and Hyline Brown), 3 photoperiods (4, 7 and 10 h) and 2 forms of food (mash throughout rearing or crumbs from 0 to 4 weeks followed by pellets). All 12 combinations of these factors were tested with 14 replications of 18 pullet chicks allocated to each combination. 3. Mean ages at first egg for 4, 7 and 10 h rearing photoperiods were 189, 184 and 162 d respectively. Pullets given the pelleted diet ate 2% less food to 20 weeks but were 6% heavier at that age. However, the pellet-fed birds were 6 d later in mean age at 50% lay. There was no interaction between form of food and photoperiod in the data for age at first egg. 4. It is concluded that constant short photoperiods during rearing cause delayed sexual maturity entirely due to the effect of light on gonadal development and that limitation of food intake is not a factor in this response.     

冬季如何做好肉仔鸡的饲养管理

随着冬季的来临，温度也随之不断的降低，并且气候也比较干燥。鸡群易受到冷的刺激，导致鸡群生产性能和抵抗力下降，并容易引起呼吸道疾病和肠道疾病，这些将会给家禽饲养管理带来一定的困难。如果不能做到及时处理，轻者会造成仔鸡生长受阻，重者会造成鸡只的死亡，将严重影响经济效益。因此，冬季在家禽饲养的过程中，应注意做好以下几个方面的管理工作。     

Lack of response of laying hens to relative humidity at high ambient temperature

1. The effects of relative humidity (rh=40% to 70%) at high ambient temperature (Ta) on the performance of laying hens at different ages (8 to 10 months, Trial 1; and 16 to 18 months, Trial 2) was evaluated. Laying hens were exposed to 25 degrees C (control) for 3 weeks and thereafter acclimated for 1 week to 35 degrees C and 4 different rh. 2. Body weight declined significantly in young and older hens exposed to 60% or 70% and 70% rh, respectively: Food intake declined with increasing Ta, except in the case of older hens exposed to 60% rh, for which it remained relatively constant. Water consumption, however, increased with increasing Ta but the increase was significant in young hens exposed to 70% rh only. 3. Egg production was not affected by the changes in Ta. However, a decrease in egg production was observed in older hens exposed to 60% rh. 4. Egg weight (EW), shell weight (SW) and shell thickness (ST) were significantly reduced by exposure to elevated Ta, whereas % breakage significantly increased. In young hens, a response to rh was exhibited in ST which was significantly higher in hens exposed to the low rh (40% to 45%) than in those exposed to the highest rh (70% to 75%). 5. It can be concluded that Ta is the main environmental factor affecting young and older laying hens while the effect of rh is minor.     

Energy,protein and limiting amino acid requirements of broilers at very high ambient temperature

1. Twenty one diets were formulated to contain three levels of energy (11.7, 12.5 and 13.4 MJ ME/kg), 4 levels of protein (starter 200, 220, 230 and 250 g, grower 180, 200, 220 and 240 g, and finisher 160, 180, 190 and 210 g/kg) and two concentrations of limiting amino acids (proportion of diet and proportion of protein) in each phase of growth, 0 to 3, 3 to 6 and 6 to 8 weeks of age. Each diet was fed to two pens of 15 broilers.

2. The house temperature ranged from 45°C to 51°C as maximum and 17°C to 22°C as minimum; the relative humidity ranged from 19 to 65.

3. Birds fed low energy (11.7 MJ/kg) and high protein (250, 240, 210 g/kg) diets with the National Research Council (1977) inclusion rates of lysine and sulphur amino acids in starting, growing and finishing phases of growth, attained significantly higher weight gains.

4. High energy, high protein (13.4 MJ/kg, 250, 240, 210 g/kg) diets gave greater efficiencies of food utilisation than low energy, low protein (11.7 MJ/kg, 200, 180, 160 g/kg) diets.     

Supplemental arginine administered in ovo or in the feed reduces the susceptibility of broilers to pulmonary hypertension syndrome

1. Two experiments were conducted to determine if in ovo and in-feed arginine (ARG) supplementation is effective in the prevention of pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS) in broiler chickens reared at high altitude.

2. In Experiment I, a total of 300 fertile eggs were divided into two equal groups. On d 5 of incubation, one group was injected with 0.5 ml of ARG (20 mg/ml) and the other remained untreated and served as controls. After hatching, male chicks (64 chickens per treatment) were selected and given a commercial maize–soyabean meal diet up to 48 d of age.

3. In Experiment II, a total of 128 male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were randomly assigned to two treatments, a control group that were fed on a basal diet that met ARG requirements and the second was fed on the basal diet supplemented with 1.5 g ARG per kg of diet.

4. Cumulative mortality from ascites was recorded in both experiments. Results from Experiment I indicated that in ovo injection of ARG significantly decreased ascites mortality of broilers (18.8 vs. 43.8%). Results from Experiment II showed a similar effect so that ascites mortality in the group that were given Arg supplement was significantly lower than the control (28.1 vs. 43.8%).     

Sex-based responses of plasma creatine kinase in broilers to thermoneutral constant and cyclic high temperatures

1. The plasma creatine kinase (CK) activities of male and female broilers under different temperature regimens were studied to investigate the suitability of plasma CK as an indicator of muscle damage due to heat exposure (HE). 2. This study characterises the responses of plasma CK concentration of Arbor Acres broilers to thermoneutral (TN) constant (22°C) or warm cyclic (WC) temperatures (ranging from 27·9°C to 37·9°C). 3. The daily mean CK of the females tended to be higher than those of the males, and significant differences in plasma CK were observed between the genders during the first 5-d test period, namely 2-d TN constant and 3-d WC temperatures. 4. During a 5-d HE to the WC regimens, CK of both genders fluctuated with HE time but exhibited somewhat different profiles. Specifically, the daily mean CK of the females was significantly higher on d 5 of HE than any other daily means, whereas significant difference in daily CK of the males occurred on d 4 of HE. 5. Repetitive blood sampling over 5 d of HE had significant effects on the plasma CK of the females regardless of the number of repeated bleeding times. 6. Profiles of the plasma CK for each gender during d 1 of HE were similar to those under the TN condition, implying that heat stress affects the range of broiler plasma CK concentration but with a 1-d lag. 7. Plasma CK activities of female and male broilers showed a response to HE. However, both the gender and the time of blood sampling should be taken into account when plasma CK is used as an indicator of HE for market-size broilers.     

Tissue and plasma antioxidant status in response to dietary methionine concentration and source in broilers

This study hypothesized that plasma and tissue antioxidant status of broilers is positively influenced when dietary Met concentrations exceed, and negatively when they go below NRC recommendations. In addition, different Met sources are hypothesized to affect the antioxidant defence system differently. Day‐old male Cobb‐500 broilers (n  = 336) were allotted to seven groups and phase‐fed three wheat–soya bean meal‐based basal diets during days 1‐10, 11‐21 and 22‐35. The basal diets (Met? group, Met + Cys concentration 15% below NRC recommendations) were supplemented with 0.10%, 0.25% or 0.40% Met either as DL ‐Met (DLM ) or DL ‐2‐hydroxy‐4‐(methylthio) butanoic acid (DL ‐HMTBA ) (equimolar comparison). Growth performance and carcass weights were lower in the Met? group compared to the groups whose diets met or exceeded Met requirements. The antioxidant defence system was not influenced by the Met source. However, in the liver, concentrations of glutathione increased with increasing dietary Met concentrations. Tocopherol concentrations in the liver at days 10 and 21 were lower in the Met? group than in the groups supplemented with Met. However, liver concentrations of thiobarbituric acid reactive substances (TBA ‐RS ) and protein carbonyls (PC ) were largely not influenced by dietary Met concentration. Plasma tocopherol concentrations at day 35 were lower, and those of TBA ‐RS and PC at day 35 were higher in Met? group than in the groups fed the Met‐supplemented diets. In jejunum, but not in liver, relative mRNA abundances and activities of superoxide dismutase, catalase and glutathione peroxidase were higher in the Met? group than in the groups fed Met‐supplemented diets. These data indicate that suboptimum supply of Met results in decreased antioxidant concentrations in plasma and body tissues, and increases oxidative stress in the jejunum mucosa. However, supplementation of Met in excess of the requirements (based on NRC ) compared to diets adequate in Met + Cys did not influence the antioxidant defence system.     

Ultrastructural abnormalities in seven-day-old broilers reared at high altitude

Fine structural abnormalities in seven-day-old broilers reared at high altitude are described. Tissue changes were seen in the heart, kidney and lung that resembled those previously reported in four-week-old broilers reared at altitude with an ascitic syndrome. Almost half of the hearts examined had myofibril disorganisation and mitochondrial hyperplasia. Renal changes occurred principally in tubule morphology and the lungs showed capillary congestion as well as engorged parabronchi. Increased levels of cartilaginous and osseous nodules in the lungs of 28-day-old ascitic birds reared at high altitude supported observations from a previous study conducted at low altitude. The observations in this study of seven-day-old chicks, may indicate that the embryo is at greater risk of developing abnormalities following exposure to low oxygen tension.