Influence of the Laying Date on the Fertility and Hatchability of Red-Legged Partridge (Alectoris rufa) Eggs

In several countries, there is a well-developed market for Red-Legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) eggs for incubation. Although Red-Legged partridge eggs produced at game farms are sold with a guaranteed average hatchability, there is a marked seasonal variation in fertility and hatchability. Therefore, an average incubating hatchability value cannot be generalized across the whole breeding season. In this research, the influence that the laying date has upon the fertility and hatchability of incubated eggs and the hatchability of the fertile eggs incubated at a farm of Red-Legged partridge was analyzed. It was found that the laying date did indeed influence the fertility and hatchability of the incubated eggs. Fertility and hatchability were greater in the eggs set in the incubator between mid February and late March than those of the eggs set in late April and early May. Hatchability of fertile eggs was greater in the eggs set in the incubator in mid March and lower in the eggs set in late April. The higher values obtained during the middle of the laying period and the lower ones obtained at the end of the laying period cause the game farms’ need to inform their potential customers of the eggs’ expected hatchability as a function of their laying date.     

Anti-predator behaviour of adult red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) tutors improves the defensive responses of farm-reared broods

1. The aim of this work was to improve natural anti-predator behaviour of farm-reared gamebirds.

2. We evaluated the anti-predator behaviour of reared red-legged partridge Alectoris rufa chicks kept in brooder houses in large groups (>350 chicks), trained and not trained by parent red-legged partridges acting as experienced tutors.

3. The experiment consisted of two conditioned tests (a raptor model and a human) and two control tests, which were conducted during three consecutive phases of life (1–4, 15–17 and 30–32 d after hatching). The motor anti-predator behaviour, its duration, the intensity of response in chicks and alarm calls elicited by adults were recorded.

4. Tutors elicited aerial alarm calls (76% of tests) and showed prolonged crouching (59% of tests) in response to the raptor model whereas uttering the ground alarm call (73% of tests) and showing vigilance behaviour (78% of tests) was the main pattern during the human test.

5. Trained and not trained chicks showed similar motor behaviour in response to the raptor model (crouching) and the human test (escaping), but frequency of strong responses (all chicks responding) from chicks trained with tutors was double that of chicks trained without them, and chicks trained with tutors showed a higher frequency of long responses (41–60 s).

6. This study indicates that anti-predator training programmes before release may improve behaviour of farm-reared partridges which may confer benefits to survival of birds.

     

Plasma chemistry reference values from captive red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa)

1. Haematological and plasma biochemical parameters of 66 captive red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) of both sexes were analysed in order to determine reference values, taking sex and age into account. 2. There were no statistically significant differences in haematocrit, plasma glucose content or creatine kinase activity either with age or between sexes. 3. Plasma cholesterol concentrations showed differences between sexes, whereas the plasma concentrations of urea, uric acid and creatinine were significantly affected by age. 4. Plasma triglyceride and total protein concentrations were affected by both sex and age. 5. A peak at 6 months old in those parameters related to protein metabolism, such as urea, uric acid and creatinine may be related to the end of the growing period and the start of ovulation after moulting.     

Concurrent pulmonary adenocarcinoma and silicate pneumoconiosis in a red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa)

An adult red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) presented with concurrent pulmonary carcinoma and severe silicosis. The animal was submitted to the Veterinary Teaching Hospital of the University of Córdoba (Spain) because of respiratory signs, and it died during clinical examination. At postmortem examination, numerous firm, whitish to yellowish nodules involving the lungs, mainly the right lobe, were found. The histopathologic study revealed numerous peribronchiolar large granulomatous lesions composed of macrophages, which showed abundant cytoplasm containing numerous birefringent crystals identified as silicates by transmission electron microscopy. An epithelial neoplasm showing papillary, acinar, and solid patterns occupied large areas of the pulmonary parenchyma. The histopathologic and immunohistochemical features were consistent with a pulmonary carcinoma. Small tumor nests were often located close to the granulomatous lesions. This is the first report of concurrent pneumoconiosis and pulmonary carcinoma in a nonhuman species.     

Morphology of the Air Sacs (Sacci Pneumatici) in the Rock Partridge (Alectoris graeca)

The aim of the study was to describe the air sacs of the rock partridge. The sacs of 15 adult birds were cast by injection of latex via the trachea and then corroded with 30% KOH at 40 degrees C. The morphology of the sacs was in general similar to that of other avian species described in the literature. There were, however, significant characteristics such as an additional subcutaneous diverticulum of the cranial thoracic sac and a caudally pointing diverticulum of the cervical sac located between the lungs.     

Study of survival, dispersal and home range of autumn-released red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa)

1. On a private property with a stable population of wild red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa) and an appropriate habitat for the survival of the species, reinforcement repopulations were carried out in the months of October and November for two consecutive years using 5- to 6-month-old birds reared on a commercial game farm. 2. Of the 36 released birds, none was still alive by the following spring's breeding period. Mean survival time was 9.4 d in the first year and 7.6 d in the second year. 3. Seventy-two per cent of mortality was attributable to predation, 11% to hunting and 17% to doubtful causes of death, accidents and starvation. 4. Post-release mean dispersion was 377.8 m in the first year and 526.3 m in the second. Mean home range was 7.1 ha in the first year and 5.4 ha in the second. 5. The production systems and handling practices of commercial game farms may have modified some anti-predator ethological patterns and strategies, which might make it more difficult for the birds to adapt and integrate into the wild, resulting in reduced survival due to premature mortality.     

Serologic response of red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) after oral inoculation with Toxoplasma gondii oocysts

Thirty 5-month-old red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) reared in battery were divided into five groups: 4 birds in group A, 14 birds in group B, 4 birds in group C, 4 birds in group D and 4 birds in group E, and were inoculated orally with 10, 50, 10(2), 10(3) and 10(4) oocysts of the OV-51/95 strain of Toxoplasma gondii, respectively. During the experiment, blood samples from all birds were drawn every 3-7 days and at necropsy. Serologic response was measured by the modified agglutination test (MAT) and the latex agglutination test (LAT). One bird from each group was killed at 44, 58, 65 and 72 days after inoculation (DAI). From 72 DAI to the end of the experiment, surviving partridges from group B were killed at weekly intervals. The last partridges were sacrified 100 DAI. MAT was the most sensitive and specific test for detecting T. gondii antibodies in the birds. First positive titers were detected by MAT in all sera on 7 DAI, but titers by LAT did not appear until 13 DAI. Antibody titers detected by MAT on 7 DAI were higher in the partridges with the largest inocula (10(3) or 10(4) oocysts) than those inoculated with 10, 50 or 10(2) oocysts. All surviving birds developed a serologic response to T. gondii, with maximum titers of 512-32,768 in the MAT on 13-17 DAI, and positive titers persisted at least until 100 DAI. To the contrary, LAT reveals only very low antibody titers even in partridges inoculated with the highest dose of T. gondii.     

Learning ability of 1-d-old partridges (Alectoris rufa) from eggs laid by hens fed with different n-3 fatty acid concentrations

1.?The diets of commercial strains of laying partridge are usually lower in polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) and n-3 fatty acids than the diets of wild partridges. The aim of this experiment was to examine the effects of three different PUFA and n-3 concentrations in partridge laying diets.

2.?Offspring learning ability (passive avoidance test of 1-d-old chicks) was used to assess the effect of three different maternal diets (144 chicks were tested for each diet). A negative experience, allowing the bird to peck a bead bathed in a bitter liquid (methyl anthranilate—MA), was used for this purpose. The adults had been fed one of three different diets with n-3 contents of 0·48, 4·04 or 7·60 g/kg.

3.?There was better memory retention in the offspring of adults fed the intermediate n-3 content compared to those fed the lower content. Discrimination ratio (DR) of the latency time toward the wrong (red) bead was less for the lower n-3 content (0·48) than for the middle n-3 PUFA content (0·43). DR of the number of pecks toward the wrong beads was greater for the lower n-3 content (0·51) than for the middle n-3 PUFA content (0·71).

4.?The partridges fed the diet containing the lowest concentration of n-3 and PUFA were unable to express the expected behavioural score (neural embryo development index) given the genetic characteristics of the animals.     

石鸡盲肠嗜银细胞形态结构特征及其分布规律

为了解石鸡盲肠消化生理特点,采用石蜡切片和Grimelius嗜银组织化学染色方法,鉴定石鸡盲肠嗜银细胞及其形态结构和分布规律.结果 表明:石鸡盲肠嗜银细胞呈棕黑色,嗜银细胞多分布于黏膜固有层结缔组织中,也有位于盲肠上皮细胞之间,形态多样,呈近圆形、锥形或长条形.近圆形嗜银细胞有的位于固有层,有的靠近肠腔,分别表现为封闭...     

Electrocardiography of rock partridges (Alectoris graeca) and chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar).

Standard limb, six lead (I, II, III, aVR, aVL, and aVF) electrocardiograms (ECGs) were recorded in 10 awake mature rock partridges (Alectoris graeca) and 10 chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar). Durations and amplitudes of P and T waves and QRS complexes, durations of P-Q and Q-T intervals, and mean heart rates were calculated from the lead II ECGs. All observable P and T waves were negative in aVR and aVL, whereas they were positive in all remaining leads. The most frequent forms of QRS complex were r-s (r-S) and q-r (q-R). A Q wave was observed in all aVR and aVL leads in both species. Chukar partridges had significantly higher amplitudes of P and T waves and QRS complexes than rock partridges. Mean heart rates were 310+/-15 beats/min and 317+/-19 beats/min for chukar partridges and rock partridges, respectively. Mean electrical axes, calculated from leads II and III, were -99+/-6.3 degrees and -95+/-1.7 degrees for chukar partridges and rock partridges, respectively. Clear ECGs were easily obtainable without anesthesia or sedation.     

Pathogenesis and transmissibility of highly (H7N1) and low (H7N9) pathogenic avian influenza virus infection in red-legged partridge (Alectoris rufa)

ABSTRACT: An experimental infection with highly pathogenic avian influenza virus (HPAIV) and low pathogenic avian influenza virus (LPAIV) was carried out in red-legged partridges (Alectoris rufa) in order to study clinical signs, gross and microscopic lesions, and viral distribution in tissues and viral shedding. Birds were infected with a HPAIV subtype H7N1 (A/Chicken/Italy/5093/1999) and a LPAIV subtype H7N9 (A/Anas crecca/Spain/1460/2008). Uninoculated birds were included as contacts in both groups. In HPAIV infected birds, the first clinical signs were observed at 3 dpi, and mortality started at 4 dpi, reaching 100% at 8 dpi. The presence of viral antigen in tissues and viral shedding were confirmed by immunohistochemistry and quantitative real time RT-PCR (qRRT-PCR), respectively, in all birds infected with HPAIV. However, neither clinical signs nor histopathological findings were observed in LPAIV infected partridges. In addition, only short-term viral shedding together with seroconversion was detected in some LPAIV inoculated animals. The present study demonstrates that the red-legged partridge is highly susceptible to the H7N1 HPAIV strain, causing severe disease, mortality and abundant viral shedding and thus contributing to the spread of a potential local outbreak of this virus. In contrast, our results concerning H7N9 LPAIV suggest that the red-legged partridge is not a reservoir species for this virus.     

Effects of animal type (wild vs. domestic) and diet alfalfa level on intake and digestibility of European adult rabbits (Oryctolagus cuniculus)

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of the level of alfalfa in the diet on feed intake and digestibility of two types of rabbits, wild (Oryctolagus cuniculus algirus) vs. domestic (O. cuniculus cuniculus). Ten wild (W; mean LW = 927 g) and 10 domestic (D; mean LW = 4,645 g) adult rabbit does were fed ad libitum two pelleted diets: a control diet (C) with 15% of dehydrated alfalfa hay (as feed basis) and a test diet (A) with 36% of dehydrated alfalfa hay (as feed basis), according to a change‐over design. Wild does dry matter (DM) intake per kg live weight (BW) was 55% higher (p < .001) than the intake of the D ones (58 g vs. 37 g DM per kg BW respectively). However, no difference (p > .05) was found when intake was expressed per kg^0.75 BW (ca. 56 g DM) and tended to be higher (p = .07) in D does when expressed per kg^0.67 BW (62 g vs. 55 g DM). Domestic does showed a higher (p < .05) DM, organic matter, crude energy and neutral detergent fibre digestibility (3; 2; 3; 3 percentage points respectively) than W does. The amount of nutrients and energy digested by D does was lower per kg BW (p < .001), similar per kg^0.75 BW (p > .05) and tended to be higher per kg^0.67 BW (p < .1) than in W does. The diet content of alfalfa did not affect (p > .05) the feed intake nor the diet digestibility. This study suggests that W rabbits exhibit a higher intake per kg BW and a lower digestibility than their D counterparts, which results in similar digestible nutrient and energy intake per kg BW powered to 0.75. The nutritive value of dehydrated alfalfa for rabbits, evaluated through intake and digestibility, seems to be equivalent to their base diets (forage plus concentrate).     

Individual response of growing pigs to sulphur amino acid intake

Two N balance experiments were conducted to study the individual response of growing pigs to limiting amino acid (AA) intake. Series of fifteen diets with increasing concentration of sulphur amino acids (SAA, Expt 1) or methionine in the presence of excess cystine (Expt 2) were fed sequentially to nine pigs during a 15-day experimental period. The concentration of the AA under test ranged from 50% to 140% of the requirement while other essential AA were given in a 25% excess relative to the limiting AA. N retention was related to the limiting AA intake using rectilinear and curvilinear models. In Expt 1, the quadratic-plateau model fitted the individual data significantly better (p = 0.01) than the linear-plateau model. No difference was found between the two models in Expt. 2, presumably due to the sparing effect of excess cystine on methionine utilization. Exponential, saturation kinetics or four-parameter logistic models fitted to data for all pigs showed that their goodness of fit was similar to those of quadratic-plateau or linear-plateau models. Significant differences (p < 0.05) were found between individual plateau values for N retention within each experiment while the slopes of the regression lines did not significantly differ either in Expt 1 (p = 0.07) or Expt 2 (p = 0.45). There was a positive correlation between the slope and plateau values of the linear-plateau model in Expt 1 (r = 0.74, p = 0.02) but no significant correlation was found in Expt 2 (r = -0.48, p = 0.13). Marginal efficiencies of SAA and methionine utilization derived from the linear-plateau model were 0.43 and 0.65 respectively. Based on linear-plateau and quadratic-plateau models, daily requirements of SAA and methionine for a 50 kg pig were estimated to be 13.0 and 5.9 g and 14.3 and 6.1 g respectively.     

内源配体对氨基酸螯合锌吸收的影响

Evans(1975)提出了锌的吸收机制,认为锌必须和胰腺分泌的小分子量蛋白配体(二肽)形成络合物才能被动物吸收。许多研究表明锌不能以离子的形式转运,必须与内源或外源配体形成络合物后,才能被吸收。Seal(1983)、Joerg(1984)、Sandstrom(1985)、Raul(1986)、Scholnerich(1987)等研究表明,组氨酸、色氨酸、脯氨酸、半胱氨酸、天冬氨酸等能促进动物对锌的吸收。关于氨基酸促进锌吸收的机制,研究者多认为,在肠道中,氨基酸和锌可以形成螯合物,使分子内电荷趋于零,易于通过富含阴离子的小肠上皮细胞膜,或通过氨基酸转运系统转运氨基酸螯合锌。本…     

Adenovirus group II-like infection in chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar)

Seven live 5-to-6-wk-old chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar) were examined because of increased lacrimation, swollen eyelids, and increased mortality. Gross lesions consisted of mildly enlarged and mottled white spleens, swollen eyelids with external scab formation, and watery intestinal contents. Microscopically, there were increased numbers of mononuclear phagocytic system cells in the spleen, some of which contained faintly staining basophilic intranuclear inclusion bodies, blepharoconjunctivitis, enteritis associated with coccidia and crop mycosis. Transmission electron microscopy of the spleen revealed icosahedral virus particles 65 to 75 nm in diameter, consistent with the morphology of adenovirus. Three out of seven chukars were positive for hemorrhagic enteritis virus by serology.     

Determination of amino acid digestibility using caecectomised and intact adult cockerels

Four subsamples of meat and bone meal (MBM) were heated (150 degrees C) for 0, 1.5, 3 and 5 h and then incorporated into four individual diets (100 g MBM/kg diet). The diets were precision-fed to 10 caecectomised and 10 intact adult cockerels. The apparent amino acid digestibility (ApAAD) and true amino acid digestibility (TAAD) of the diets were determined by analysis of the excreta. The digestibility coefficients measured using caecectomised birds were lower than those determined with intact birds. Coefficients of digestibility were statistically examined by analysis of variance for the effects of bird type (caecectomised or intact), type of calculation (apparent or true) and diet (heat-treatment) with and without accommodation for individual bird variability. If individual bird variability was not considered in the analysis the bird type X diet interactions (P less than 0.01) included glutamic acid, tyrosine and serine. When individual bird variability was included in the analysis, significant (P less than 0.01) bird type X diet interactions occurred for aspartic acid, serine, glutamic acid, leucine, tyrosine and lysine and the precision of the data was markedly improved. Amino acid digestibility using the precision-feeding procedure is affected by the selection of either intact or caecectomised birds.     

Enteric helminths of juvenile and adult wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) in eastern Kansas

Viscera of 49 wild turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo) collected in the spring of 2001 and 23 wild turkeys collected in the fall and winter of 2001-02 from 12 counties in eastern Kansas were examined for enteric helminths. Four cestode species, two trematode species, one nematode species, and one acanthocephalan species were identified. Two cestode and two trematode species present in the spring sample also were present in the fall and winter sample. Parasite prevalence was similar to previous studies of enteric helminths of wild turkeys except for the low numbers of nematode species and individuals recovered in the present study.