The effects of bovine recombinant growth hormone administration on insulin-like growth factor-I and the haemopoietic system in thoroughbred geldings

The effect of intramuscularly administered recombinant bovine growth hormone (rbGH) on insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) and white and red blood cell indices was studied in Thoroughbred geldings. An insulin-like growth factor binding protein (IGFBP)-blocked radioimmunoassay was modified and validated for the measurement of IGF-I in equine blood plasma. Baseline values of IGF-I and blood indices were determined over a 48 h period and then a single dose of 5 microg/kg, 10 microg/kg or 50 microg/kg of rbGH was administered. Insulin-like growth factor-I levels increased in a dose-dependent manner, with the highest values between 12 h and 24 h. The highest dose (50 microg/kg) yielded the greatest IGF-I response with a 90.2+/-10.8% increase at 24 h. White blood cell count increased following the three doses of rbGH with the highest white blood cell count at 12 h after the 50 microg/kg dose. Haemoglobin was significantly increased at 24 h (P< 0.05), when values following doses of 10 microg/kg and 50 microg/kg were significantly greater than after the vehicle or the dose of 5 microg/kg. Red blood cell count was not affected by any of the rbGH doses. These results indicated that rbGH is biologically active in the horse and that rbGH at a dose rate of 10 microg/kg or more could be used therapeutically.     

Cortisone arrests growth but enhances the inductive effect of porcine growth hormone on plasma IGF-I concentrations in female rats

The present study was conducted to determine whether corticosteroids influence the inductive effect of growth hormone (GH) on plasma concentrations of insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I). The first experiment was designed to determine the effects of corticosterone alone on basal concentrations of IGF-I. Rats were treated daily for 4 d with 0, 50, 100, 250, or 500 mg of corticosterone/kg of BW. There was a close positive relationship between the dose of steroid injected and plasma concentrations of corticosterone and a close negative relationship between plasma corticosterone and growth. Plasma concentrations of IGF-I showed a positive relationship to dose and plasma concentrations of corticosterone and a negative relationship to growth rate. In the second experiment, rats were treated daily for 21 d with either porcine growth hormone (10 mg of pGH/kg of BW), pGH plus corticosteroid, or vehicle. The dose of steroid administered was increased every 3 d until the mean weight gain of the group was zero. Animals treated with pGH alone gained significantly more weight than controls. This growth response was not impaired significantly by corticosterone acetate at doses up to 500 mg/kg of BW. The more potent corticosteroid, cortisone, arrested the growth of pGH-treated rats at a dose of 80 mg/kg of BW, however. Plasma concentrations of IGF-I were increased by pGH treatment (57%) and increased further by concurrent cortisone treatment (212%). In summary, corticosteroids increase plasma concentrations of IGF-I and enhance the inductive effect of pGH on this hormone despite their catabolic actions.     

Dietary L-carnitine increases plasma insulin-like growth factor-I concentration in chicks fed a diet with adequate dietary protein level

1. The effect of L-carnitine supplemented into experimental diets with varying dietary protein concentrations (50, 200 and 400 g/kg) on body weight gain and plasma insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) concentration in chicks was examined. 2. Dietary L-carnitine supplementation provided 0, 200, 500 and 1000 mg/kg. Chicks were given the diet ad libitum for 10 d. 3. When L-carnitine was provided as 500 or 1000 mg/kg, body weight gain was significantly improved in birds receiving the 200 and 400 g protein/kg diets. 4. There was an interaction between dietary L-carnitine and protein content on plasma IGF-I concentration. L-carnitine supplementation had little influence on plasma IGF-I concentrations in birds receiving the low protein (50 g/kg) diet. When dietary L-carnitine concentrations were increased from 0 to 1000 mg/kg in the adequate protein (200 g/kg) diet, plasma IGF-I concentrations were also increased. However, when dietary L-carnitine content was more than 500 mg/kg in the 400 g/kg protein group, plasma IGF-I concentration decreased with increasing dietary L-carnitine content. 5. Body weight change correlated significantly with the alteration in plasma IGF-I concentrations in chicks given diets with adequate dietary protein. 6. In conclusion, the improvement in body weight gain caused by dietary L-carnitine supplementation was achieved when chicks were given their dietary protein requirement, which may be partially explained by an increase in plasma IGF-I concentration.     

Effect of low doses of dietary rare earth elements on growth performance of broilers

The present study was designed to investigate effect of dietary rare earth elements (REE), including both organic and inorganic compounds, on growth performance of broilers. In experiment 1, a total of 180 male Ross broiler chicks were allocated to 72 pens with different assignment: four chicks per pen or individually. The following three treatment diets were applied: control, REE‐chlorides at a dose of 40 mg/kg and REE‐citrate at a dose of 70 mg/kg. Each treatment group had 24 pens containing both assignments (12 pens each). In experiment 2, a total of 72 male 3‐day‐old Ross broiler chicks were separated to four groups: control, REE‐chlorides at a dose of 70 mg/kg and REE‐citrate at doses of 70 mg/kg and 100 mg/kg. In experiment 1, dietary REE‐citrate improved body weight gain during the overall period by 5.0% (p < 0.05) while the increase with REE‐chloride was not significant. In experiment 2, growth effects (p < 0.05) were only found in the period from day 21 to slaughter with all REE forms, and feed conversion ratio was improved by 3.4% (p < 0.05) with REE‐citrate. No significant effects of REE were found on chill weight, percentages of breast meat, thigh weight, drumstick weight and wing weight. Concentrations of La and Ce in the liver and muscles were very low, accounting for 0.11–0.76 and 0.02–0.30 mg/kg respectively. There was weak tendency for a dose–response relationship especially in the groups supplemented with REE‐chlorides. The main blood serum biochemical parameters were not significantly affected by REE in the diets. The results suggest that dietary supplementation of low doses of REE‐citrates might improve growth performance of broilers without affecting carcass composition and health of the broilers.     

Dietary thyroid hormone improves growth and muscle protein accumulation of black-boned chickens

1. The objective of the study was to examine the effect of dietary thyroid hormone on performance and muscle protein accumulation of black-boned chickens. 2. A total of 720 1-d-old birds was housed in 24 pens and assigned to 4 diets containing triiodothyronine (T3) at 0, 0.1, 0.3 or 0.5 mg/kg. 3. The trial was split into starter (0 to 4 weeks) and grower (5 to 8 weeks) phases. At the beginning of the grower phase, each pen was split into two; one subgroup was fed basal diet (T3-) and the other continued with T3-added diet (T3+). 4. Dietary T3 at 0.1 mg/kg improved average daily body weight gain until week 6 but retarded it thereafter. However, T3 at 0.5 mg/kg depressed growth throughout the whole period. During weeks 7 to 8, T3 retarded growth, whereas growth recovered when T3 was withdrawn from the diet. 5. Birds fed the diet containing 0.1 mg/kg during weeks 0 to 4 and those receiving basal diet during weeks 5 to 8 showed the greatest thigh muscle growth, but this growth was depressed when they were fed the 0.5 mg/kg diet during weeks 0 to 8. 6. Serum T3 concentration was increased, while thyroxine (T4) concentration was decreased by dietary T3 treatment at 2 weeks old. At 4 weeks old, T3 and T4 concentrations decreased. At 6 and 8 weeks old, among T3-treated groups the serum T3 concentration of the T3- group was higher than that of the T3+ group. 7. In conclusion, dietary T3 improved weight gain and muscle growth of black-boned chickens before week 6, whereas supplementation depressed growth after 6 weeks. Optimum dietary T3 concentrations showed a carry-over effect on both body weight gain and thigh muscle growth.     

Exogenous human growth hormone-releasing factor and ovine somatotropin improve growth performance and composition of gain in lambs

The objectives of this study were 1) to compare intermittent subcutaneous administration of human growth hormone-releasing factor (hGRF) at two doses with a similar regimen of ovine somatotropin (oST) for effects on growth and composition of gain in growing lambs and 2) to determine whether increasing the dietary amino acid availability enhances response to oST or hGRF. Eighty crossbred ewe and wether lambs (25.5 kg live weight) were assigned randomly in pairs to receive four daily injections of excipient, 40 micrograms oST/kg BW, 5 micrograms hGRF/kg BW or 10 micrograms hGRF/kg BW for 42 (n = 80) or 56 (n = 40) d. Doses were adjusted weekly for BW. Mean plasma oST concentrations increased from 2.03 ng/ml prior to treatment to 20.64, 4.80 and 5.45 ng/ml with oST, 5 and 10 micrograms/kg hGRF doses, respectively. Lambs did not become refractory to hGRF. Cumulative gain increased approximately 18% with 7 wk of treatment with oST and the low dose of hGRF (both P less than .01), and feed efficiency improved 21% with oST and 18% with both doses of hGRF (both P less than .05). Carcass lipid accretion rate decreased 22% to 30% (P less than .001), and carcass protein accretion rate increased 30% to 36% (P less than .001) with hGRF and oST treatment, respectively. Addition of fishmeal to the diet at 4% to replace an equal amount of soy protein improved gain 8.5%; it improved efficiency 14.2% (P less than .05) across all treatments, and it significantly enhanced the effects of oST on feed efficiency (interaction P less than .12) and hind leg muscle weights.     

Effect of cysteamine administration on growth and efficiency of food utilisation in chicks

1. Cysteamine hydrochloride, which is a potent inhibitor of somatostatin secretion, was fed to male broiler chicks at dietary inclusion rates of 0, 25, 125, 250, 600, 1200, 1800 and 2400 mg/kg during three separate experiments. 2. Weight gain, food intake and efficiency of food utilisation were measured weekly over a two (experiment 1 and 2) or three-week period (experiment 3) during which chicks were 3 to 10 d old (week 1) to 17 to 24 d old (week 3). 3. Cysteamine hydrochloride included in the food at 1200 and 1800 mg/kg resulted in a significant increase in efficiency of food utilisation, attributable to a significant decrease in food intake. 4. There was no difference in weight gains between chicks in the control group and those receiving 1200 mg/kg. However a significant decrease in weight gain was observed in chicks receiving 1800 mg/kg.     

Effects of dietary corticosterone and trilostane on growth and skeletal muscle protein turnover in broiler cockerels

1. The effects of dietary corticosterone and trilostane, an inhibitor of glucocorticoid synthesis, on: growth, rates of synthesis and breakdown of skeletal muscle protein, and content of abdominal fat were studied in broiler chickens.

2. Dietary corticosterone (5, 10 or 20 mg/kg) depressed body weight gain and increased abdominal fat content in a dose‐dependent manner while dietary trilostane (1.4 or 7.0 mg/kg) had no effect.

3. The rate of protein breakdown in skeletal muscle estimated from N‐methylhistidine excretion was increased in a dose‐dependent manner by dietary corticosterone but it was decreased by trilostane.

4. The rate of skeletal muscle protein synthesis was not affected by corticosterone although it was decreased by trilostane.

5. Plasma corticosterone concentration was increased in a dose‐dependent manner by dietary corticosterone and decreased by treatment with 7 mg trilostane/kg diet.

6. The results indicate that higher concentrations of plasma corticosterone increase protein breakdown in skeletal muscle but do not affect muscle protein synthesis while both the rates of synthesis and breakdown are decreased when plasma corticosterone concentration is reduced.     

Effect of recombinant porcine somatotropin on lactational performance and metabolite patterns in sows and growth of nursing pigs

Sixteen crossbred sows (Yorkshire x Duroc) were used to determine the effect of recombinantly derived porcine somatotropin (pST) on lactational performance and the pattern of plasma metabolites and growth rate of nursing pigs. Daily s.c. injections of either pST (8.22 mg.sow-1.d-1) or excipient were administered at 1000 on d 12 through d 29 of lactation. Jugular cannulas were inserted in three sows/treatment and hourly blood samples were collected on d 11 to 13 and d 28 to 29 of lactation to determine the effect of treatment on plasma concentrations of somatotropin, glucose and nonesterified fatty acids in plasma. Milk production and weight of nursing pigs were determined pretreatment (d 9 and 10) and on d 16, 22 and 28. Milk production of sows receiving pST progressively increased above that of control sows and was 22% greater on d 28. Milk composition was not affected by treatment with pST (P greater than .10), so that the increase in yields of milk fat, lactose and solids paralleled the increases in milk yield. Total milk protein yield tended to be higher in sows receiving pST, but protein yield was greater (P less than .10) only on d 28. Pigs suckling sows treated with pST weighed .34 kg more at the end of the lactation period (P less than .05). Sows receiving pST consumed less feed (P less than .05) during the treatment period, and, as a result, lost more weight (P less than .10) and backfat (P less than .05) than control sows. Average concentrations of plasma somatotropin were elevated approximately 2.5-fold above baseline levels by exogenous pST. No acute alterations in plasma glucose or nonesterified fatty acids were observed in response to pST treatment, however, sows receiving pST had a chronic elevation of plasma glucose on d 29 of lactation.     

Nano-sized Zinc in Broiler Chickens: Effects on Growth Performance,Zinc Concentration in Organs,and Intestinal Morphology

The effects of dietary supplementation of zinc (Zn) sources and concentrations were investigated on growth performance, absorption into tissues, fecal excretion, nutrient retention, and intestinal morphology in broilers fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet. A total of 525 one-day-old chicks (Ross 308) were assigned based on body weight to seven dietary treatments. There were five replicate pens for each treatment and 15 broilers per replicate pen. The dietary treatments included a basal diet (control, without supplementing Zn), and basal diet supplemented with Zn, as inorganic zinc sulfate (ZnS; 110 mg/kg); organic Zn-methionine (ZnM; 110 mg/kg); hot-melt extruded (HME) 25 zinc sulfate (27.5 mg/kg); HME50 zinc sulfate (55 mg/kg); HME75 zinc sulfate (82.5 mg/kg); or HME100 zinc sulfate (110 mg/kg) for 35 days in two phases (d 1–21, phase I and d 22–35, phase II). Bodyweight and feed efficiency of broiler chicks fed diets supplemented with increasing dietary concentrations of HME-Zn improved linearly during the study period (P<0.05). Compared to the control treatment, the ZnS, ZnM, and HME diets increased Zn concentrations in the serum and liver. Inorganic ZnS supply resulted in the highest Zn concentration in excreta. Increasing supplemented Zn content in diets as HME linearly increased Zn concentration in the excreta, serum, liver, and tibia. Broiler chicks fed diets supplemented with increasing concentrations of HME increased villus height (VH; linear and quadratic) of the jejunum and VH of the ileum (linear). Increasing concentrations of dietary Zn supplied as HME resulted in linearly enhanced dry matter, gross energy, and nitrogen retention of broilers on day 21. These results suggest that dietary HME-Zn at a lower level (55 ppm) shows the same growth performance as common ZnSO₄ at 110 ppm.     

Effect of inorganic and organic manganese supplementation on the performance and tissue manganese content of broiler chicks

The effects of dietary levels of manganese (Mn) in inorganic (MnO) and organic (Mn fumarate) forms were evaluated on cockerel chicks. A basal corn-soybean diet with 23 mg/kg Mn was supplemented with levels of 0, 30, 60 and 240 ppm Mn from both Mn sources. Each treatment was replicated in five pens of 10 chicks. The chicks were fed diets ad libitum from 14 to 49 days of age, after which five birds per treatment were sacrificed for pathomorphological examinations and analysis. The treatments did not exert significant effects on the body weight (BW), the feed/gain (F/G) ratio or the mortality rate. According to the necropsy findings, no growth retardation or emaciation occurred in either of the groups and the differences in the average absolute and relative organ weights were not significant (P > 0.05). Tissue analysis indicated that the tibia showed the greatest response to Mn, followed by the liver and kidney. Accumulation in the tibia was higher (P < 0.05) with supplements of 30, 60 and 240 mg/kg from both Mn sources (3.71, 3.78, 4.44, and 3.68, 4.00, 4.36 mg/kg DM, MnO and Mn fumarate, respectively) compared to the control group (3.21 mg/kg). Accumulation in the liver increased significantly (P < 0.05) only with supplements of 60 and 240 ppm independently of the Mn source (12.7, 14.2, and 14.0, 14.9 mg/kg, respectively) compared to the control (9.8 mg/kg). Similarly, kidney tissue Mn was higher (P < 0.05) only with supplements of 60 and 240 ppm (12.8, 12.8, and 13.1, 12.5 mg/kg, respectively) compared to the control (10.2 mg/kg). At the same level of supplementation of the two Mn sources there were no significant differences (P > 0.05) between the Mn concentrations of organs and tissues. Droppings sensitively reflected the intake, whereas blood plasma and feathers showed only the extreme Mn loading.     

黄芩黄酮对肉仔鸡营养物质消化率和生长性能影响

探讨黄芩黄酮对肉用仔鸡主要营养物质代谢率以及生长性能的影响。选择1日龄AA肉仔鸡500只,随机分为5个处理,每个处理5个重复,每个重复20只,分别在基础饲料中添加0、5、10、15和20 mg/kg黄芩提取物黄芩黄酮,试验期为49 d。测定各组营养物质代谢率和生长性能指标。结果表明,在0-3周龄,黄芩黄酮可提高肉仔鸡干物质和表观代谢率,3-7周龄,肉仔鸡干物质和表观代谢率降低;在3-7周龄,粗蛋白和粗脂肪代谢率最高的是20 mg/kg黄芩黄酮添加组,分别比对照组提高4.47%和2.12%,差异不显著(P>0.05);在0-3周龄,黄芩黄酮对钙的代谢影响显著(P<0.05),效果最好的是10 mg/kg黄芩黄酮添加组,比对照组提高17.32%,对磷的代谢影响不显著。10 mg/kg黄芩黄酮添加组可明显提高肉仔鸡49日龄平均体重、平均日增重、并降低料肉比(P>0.05)。由此可知,饲料中添加适量的黄芩黄酮在一定程度上可以提高肉鸡对营养物质的代谢,增加对钙的吸收,降低料肉比,提高生长性能,其中10 mg/kg添加量效果较好。     

Effects of somatostatin immunoneutralization on growth and endocrine parameters in chickens

The effects of somatostatin immunoneutralization on growth rate, growth hormone (GH) secretion and circulating insulin-like growth factor I (IGF-I) concentrations were investigated in chickens through the use of passive and active immunization techniques. Intravenous bolus injection of goat-antisomatostatin stimulated a significant (P less than .05) increase in plasma GH levels for one hour post-injection in four and six week old male broiler chickens. The GH response to an intravenous bolus injection of hGRF44NH2 was similar in the antisomatostatin treated chicks and normal goat serum treated controls. Despite the presence of circulating somatostatin antisera after 28 hours, plasma GH levels were not different between control and antisomatostatin-treated chicks at that time. Continuous administration of somatostatin antisera by Alzet pump over a two-week period resulted in significant (P less than .05) elevations in plasma GH levels at one week post-implantation and in circulating IGF-I concentrations after two weeks of administration. Chicks which developed antibodies against somatostatin following active immunization exhibited a 7.1% increase in growth rate which was associated with a significant decrease in abdominal fat. However, neither GH nor IGF-I concentrations were elevated in the chicks which developed somatostatin antibodies. Thus, the benefits gained from somatostatin immunoneutralization may be exerted through mechanisms other than GH.     

Interrelationships between dietary lysine, sex, and porcine somatotropin administration on growth performance and protein deposition in pigs between 80 and 120 kg live weight

Sixty male and 60 female crossbred pigs were allocated to an experiment to investigate the effects of porcine somatotropin (pST) administration (0 or 6 mg/d) and dietary lysine content on growth performance, tissue deposition, and carcass characteristics over the live weight range of 80 to 120 kg. Pigs receiving pST were given diets containing 6.9, 7.8, 8.8, 9.7, 10.6, or 11.5 g lysine/kg, whereas control pigs received diets containing 4.8, 5.8, 6.9, 7.8, 8.8 or 9.7 g lysine/kg. These dietary levels ranged from 0.40 to 0.70 g available lysine/MJ of DE for pST-treated pigs and from 0.28 to 0.58 g available lysine/MJ of DE for control pigs. Pigs were individually housed in pens, and there were five replicates of each treatment. All diets contained 14.5 MJ of DE/kg and were offered for ad libitum consumption to pigs between 80 and 120 kg live weight. Growth rate increased exponentially and food conversion ratio (FCR) decreased exponentially with increasing levels of lysine. In addition, there was a significant sex x pST interaction such that pST reduced the sex difference in FCR. Growth rate was faster in boars than in gilts and was increased by pST at the higher levels of dietary lysine. Similarly, FCR was lower for boars than for gilts and was decreased by pST at the higher dietary lysine levels. The optimum growth rate and FCR were defined as the lysine level at which growth rate and FCR were 95% and 105%, respectively, of the lysine plateau. The optimum growth rate and FCR were achieved at similar dietary lysine contents and were approximately 0.35 and 0.52 g available lysine/MJ of DE for control and pST-treated pigs, respectively. Protein deposition in the carcass increased exponentially with increasing dietary lysine level, was higher in boars than in gilts, and was increased by pST at the higher dietary lysine contents. Sex had no effect on dietary lysine required to maximize protein deposition. The dietary lysine contents required to ensure 95% of plateau protein deposition of 104 and 153 g/d were 0.39 and 0.55 g available lysine/MJ of DE for control and pST-treated pigs, respectively. The increase in lysine requirement with pST seems to be commensurate with the increase in protein deposition.     

Effect of dietary zinc content and sources on the growth, body zinc deposition and retention, zinc excretion and immune response in chickens.

1. In areas of intensive animal production heavy metals such as zinc (Zn), which is present at high concentrations in poultry excreta in relation to plant requirements, may be at the origin of soil phytotoxicity This study was conducted in order to determine the effect of decreasing dietary Zn content on growth, plasma, tibia and whole body Zn concentrations, immune function, enzyme activity, Zn body retention and Zn concentration in excreta in broilers. 2. Two experiments were carried out using 160 and 80 1-day-old chicks. Broilers received diets with increased Zn contents of 20 to 190 mg/kg. In experiment 1, two sources of zinc methionine were compared to zinc sulphate. 3. A dietary Zn concentration of 45 mg/kg was sufficient to obtain normal broiler performance at 21 d of age. 4. Tibia and plasma Zn concentrations increased linearly with Zn dietary content and reached a plateau at 75 mg/kg, whereas the whole body Zn was saturated when the dietary Zn content was 90 mg/kg. 5. Antibody titres in response to SRBC injection and plasma alkaline phosphatase activity were not affected by dietary zinc concentration. 6. When the dietary Zn content was decreased from 190 to 65 mg/kg, body Zn retention was increased from 8% to 20% and Zn concentration in broiler manure was reduced by 75%. 7. Zn sources had no effect on the parameters measured in this study. 8. A nutritional approach, that is by lowering dietary Zn supplementation may reduce the risks of phytotoxicity in the soil resulting from excessive Zn concentration in manure.     

The effect of an injection of corticotrophin on plasma concentrations of corticosterone,growth hormone and prolactin in two strains of domestic fowl

1. Three‐week‐old Light Sussex (LS) and Rhode Island Red (RIR) chicks were injected with long‐acting corticotrophin (ACTH: 30 IU/kg) and the plasma concentrations of corticosterone, growth hormone (GH) and prolactin were determined over a 6‐h period. Plasma concentrations of corticosterone and growth hormone were also measured after an injection of corticosterone (500 μg/kg).

2. The resting plasma concentration of corticosterone in LS was less than that in RIR birds. The increase elicited by ACTH was smaller in LS but, since it was maintained for longer, the plasma corticosterone response was at least 18% larger than that in RIR birds.

3. Plasma GH concentration was decreased after an injection of ACTH in both strains but the decrease lasted longer in the LS chicks.

4. Plasma prolactin concentration was unaffected by ACTH.

5. After intra‐abdominal injection of corticosterone, plasma GH concentration was depressed in both strains. It is concluded that ACTH‐induced depression of plasma GH and growth is mediated by corticosterone.     

Effects of dietary T3 on growth parameters and hormone levels in normal and sex-linked dwarf chickens

Tri-iodothyronine (T₃) has been administered in the diet, from day of hatch until 8 weeks of age, to sex-linked dwarf and normal chicks of both sexes from a brown-egg slow-growing strain. Feed was supplemented with either 0.1 ppm or 0.5 ppm T₃. A significant genotype by treatment interaction was observed on body weight: the effect of T₃ in males was significantly positive for dwarfs and null for normals, the effect in females was null for dwarfs and significantly negative for normals. Feed efficiency was rather decreased by the treatment in both genotypes. Abdominal fatness was decreased in a dose-dependent manner in both genotypes, while rectal temperature was raised in dwarf chicks only. Plasma T₃ was raised to normal levels in dwarfs receiving 0.1 ppm exogenous T₃, while the 0.5 ppm dose yielded hyperthyroid levels. Plasma GH levels were decreased in a dose-dependent manner by the T₃ treatment, the effect being larger in dwarfs. Surprisingly, plasma IGF-I was unchanged in spite of the GH decrease, whatever the genotype or the sex. It was concluded that exogenous T₃ alone can have a stimulatory effect on growth in dwarfs but can not fully restore a normal growth rate. Both T₃ and IGF-I are important for a normal growth and the relationships between T₃ and IGF-I production should be further investigated in order to better understand the physiological modifications due to the sex-linked dwarf gene.     

葡多酚对肉鸡生产性能和免疫机能的影响

试验旨在探讨日粮中葡多酚对肉鸡生产性能和免疫机能的影响。选用1日龄健康爱拔益加(AA)肉仔鸡公雏鸡240只,随机分配到对照组及试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组4个处理组中,空白对照组饲喂基础日粮(不含葡多酚),试验Ⅰ、Ⅱ、Ⅲ组分别在基础日粮中添加葡多酚7.5、15、22.5 mg/kg,试验期42 d。结果表明,在0~3周龄,试验Ⅲ组采食量最高,生长速度较快;在3~6和0~6周龄,试验Ⅰ组日增重和饲料效率最佳,而试验Ⅱ组略低于对照组。葡多酚对肉仔鸡的免疫器官发育无显著影响,7.5 mg/kg葡多酚有增加肉仔鸡外周血中CD3⁺、CD8⁺、αβ和γδ T细胞数量的潜力。因此,肉仔鸡日粮中添加适量葡多酚可促进生长,调节免疫机能。     

酸枣仁皂甙对热应激肉用仔鸡生产性能、消化道和免疫器官的影响

为探明酸枣仁皂苷对肉仔鸡的抗热应激作用,将225只1日龄AA肉雏仔鸡公母混合随机分成5组,每组3个重复,每重复15只。对照组饲喂基础日粮,处理1～4组在基础饲粮中分别添加0.5,1.0,1.5和2.0 mg/kg的酸枣仁皂苷。1～3周龄采用常规饲养管理,4周龄时开始进行为期1周的(34±1)℃热应激处理。结果:0.5和1.0 mg/kg添加水平极显著提高3周龄肉仔鸡日增重(P<0.01),4个水平的酸枣仁皂苷对热应激肉仔鸡的平均日增重、采食量和饲料转化率均有改善作用,以0.5和1.0 mg/kg添加水平最佳(P<0.01)。饲粮中添加0.5 mg/kg酸枣仁皂苷显著提高热应激肉仔鸡的屠宰率、半净膛率和全净膛率(P<0.05),极显著降低皮下脂肪厚(P<0.01)。酸枣仁皂苷对热应激肉仔鸡的腿比例、腿肌率、胸肌率、腹脂率、腺胃率、肌胃率、脾脏率、十二指肠率、空肠率、回肠率、盲肠率、法氏囊率和胸腺率均无显著影响(P>0.05)。总之,1～3周龄肉仔鸡饲粮中添加酸枣仁皂苷,可提高采食量和日增重;34℃热应激下添加酸枣仁皂苷,可提高平均日增重、采食量和饲料转化率,改善胴体品质;酸枣仁皂苷较理想的添加水平为0.5～1.0 mg/kg。     

Effects of supplemental ascorbic acid on performance, organ weight and plasma cholesterol concentration in broilers treated with propylthiouracil

1. Four experiments were conducted to determine if dietary ascorbic acid (AA) affects body weight gain, food intake, organ weights, plasma cholesterol concentration, and ascorbic acid concentration in the plasma and liver of growing male broilers treated with an antithyroidal agent, propylthiouracil (PTU). 2. In the first experiment, 15 mg AA was administered daily into the crop of chicks fed on a diet supplemented with or without PTU (500 mg/kg). Administration of AA reduced plasma cholesterol concentrations in the PTU-treated chicks. 3. In the other three experiments, chicks were given the basal diet or an AA-containing (3 g/kg) diet supplemented with or without PTU (250 mg or 500 mg/kg). Feeding AA partly prevented the decreases in body weight gain, gain:food ratio and weights of the bursa of Fabricius and thymus in chicks fed on the 250 mg/kg PTU diet, and also prevented the increase in plasma cholesterol concentrations in chicks fed on the PTU diet. 4. These results suggest that AA improves the performance of chicks with experimentally induced hypothyroidism.