Riboflavin requirements of white Pekin ducks from hatch to 21 d of age

1. A 2 × 8 factorial experiment containing different sexes (female and male) and 8 dietary riboflavin concentrations (1.2, 3.2, 5.2, 7.2, 9.2, 11.2, 13.2 and 15.2 mg/kg) was conducted to evaluate the riboflavin requirements of male and female White Pekin ducks from hatch to 21 d of age.

2. A total of 640 1-d-old Pekin ducks including 320 male and 320 female birds were randomly distributed into 80 wire-floor pens of 8 birds, sexed separately and with each treatment group containing 5 replicate pens. The birds were raised from hatch to 21 d of age. At 21 d of age, the weight gain, feed intake, feed conversion ratio and plasma and liver riboflavin were measured.

3. Growth depression, high mortality and low plasma and liver riboflavin were observed in riboflavin-deficient ducks, and these ill effects could be reduced by increasing dietary riboflavin concentrations. Weight gain, feed intake and riboflavin concentration in plasma and liver increased as dietary riboflavin increased.

4. According to broken-line regression analysis, the riboflavin requirements of modern breed of White Pekin ducks from hatch to 21 d of age for weight gain, feed conversion ratio, plasma riboflavin and liver riboflavin were 3.31, 5.20, 3.85 and 3.91 mg/kg for male and 3.27, 3.33, 3.84 and 3.28 mg/kg for female, respectively. Compared with female birds, more riboflavin was needed by male ducks, which may be because of significantly greater weight gain and liver riboflavin content of male ducks.     

Lysine requirement of growing male Pekin ducks

1. One growth experiment and one balance test were conducted to study the response to increasing levels of dietary lysine supplementation in male Pekin ducks with special reference to the growth periods from 1 to 3 weeks and 4 to 7 weeks of age. 2. Two different low-lysine diets were used as basal diets in both periods. The basal lysine levels were 7.6 g/kg (d 1 to 21) and 6.2 g/kg (d 22 to 49) and the ranges in lysine concentration were 7.6 to 12.6 g/kg (d 1 to 21) and 6.2 to 11.2 g/kg (d 22 to 49). 3. Growth performance, feed conversion efficiency and meat yield increased ( P < 0.05) with increas6 ing lysine concentration (requirement defined as 95% of the asymptote). 4. It is concluded that the dietary lysine concentration should be 0.93 g/MJ nitrogen corrected apparent metabolisable energy (AME N ) (11.7 g/kg) for the starter period (until d 21) and 0.75 g/MJ AME N (10.0 g/kg) for the grower period (from d 22 onwards).     

Application of the wireless electroencephalogram to measure stress in White Pekin ducks

Stress in poultry can produce many undesirable effects on bird health and production performance. The objective of this study was to develop and evaluate a potential measure to assess stress through analysis of brain activity using electroencephalography (EEG). In two experiments, White Pekin ducks were implanted with EEG transmitters and treated with potential stressors in a chamber or in their pens. Electrocardiograms and blood corticosterone levels were collected as standard measures of stress. EEG analysis showed an increase in the relative delta frequency and a decrease in the relative alpha frequency during the treatment period for shock (P < 0.05). EEG analysis of the second experiment showed no differences between time periods for all frequencies for all treatments. Based on these results, EEG is currently not a viable technique for the measurement of acute stress in commercial poultry.     

Effects of ambient temperature on growth performance and carcass traits of male growing White Pekin ducks

ABSTRACT

1. An experiment was conducted to investigate the effects of ambient temperature on growth performance and carcass traits in male growing Pekin ducks from 14 to 42 d of age in order to establish their optimal temperature requirements.

2. A total of 216 14 d old male White Pekin ducks were allocated randomly to six environmentally controlled chambers with ambient temperature set at 20°C, 22°C, 24°C, 26°C, 28°C, and 30°C from 14 to 42 d of age, respectively.

3. As ambient temperature increased from 20°C to 30°C, the body weight and weight gain decreased linearly or quadratically (P < 0.05) and was accompanied by linearly decreasing feed intake (P < 0.05). According to broken-line regression, the upper critical level of ambient temperature during the growing period for body weight, weight gain, and feed conversion ratio were 27.4°C, 27.4°C, and 26.0°C, respectively.

4. The weight of breast meat, leg meat, and abdominal fat decreased linearly or quadratically as ambient temperature increased and declined to a minimum when the temperature increased to 30°C (P < 0.05). The percentage of breast meat and abdominal fat showed a linear or quadratic decreasing response to increasing temperature, but leg meat percentage increased as temperature increased and reached maximum at 30°C (P < 0.05). According to broken-line regression, the upper critical ambient temperatures during the growing period for breast meat weight and percentage were 25.5°C and 25.6°C, respectively.

5. It was concluded that both growth performance and breast meat of growing ducks were sensitive to increasing ambient temperature and this should be kept below the upper critical temperature during the growing period in order to optimise growth performance and carcass traits at market age.     

Effect of different dietary concentrations of inorganic and organic copper on growth performance and lipid metabolism of White Pekin male ducks

1. The effect of different dietary concentrations of inorganic and organic copper on performance and lipid metabolism of White Pekin ducks (WPD) was investigated from 1-49 d of age. A common basal diet was supplemented with 4, 8, 12 and 150?mg/kg of copper (Cu) from inorganic and organic sources to obtain 9 treatments, including 4 concentrations of Cu x two sources, and the unsupplemented control group. Each treatment contained 5 replicates of 9 male ducks each.

2. Supplementation of Cu at 8?mg/kg in inorganic form was adequate for growth of male WPD from 1-56 d of age. Inorganic Cu significantly decreased feed intake and improved feed conversion ratio, compared with the organic form.

3. Plasma Cu significantly increased, while plasma Zn significantly decreased, due to Cu supplementation. Organic Cu showed better efficacy than inorganic for improving liver Cu concentration, Cu excretion and apparent Cu retention.

4. Dietary Cu concentration significantly affected percentage blood and Hgb and abdominal fat deposition. In addition, inorganic Cu increased percentage blood and abdominal fat deposition compared with the organic source.

5. Supplementation of 150?mg/kg of Cu significantly decreased liver and meat lipids, cholesterol, and colour and tenderness of meat; while liver protein and moisture was increased. In addition, dietary 150?mg/kg of Cu supplementation significantly decreased plasma lipids, triglycerides and cholesterol, while increasing plasma AST and ALT.

6. Organic Cu was more potent for decreasing plasma triglycerides than the inorganic source. However, plasma cholesterol was only significantly decreased with the inorganic source of Cu, compared with the unsupplemented control.

7. The organic Cu was safer as a feed additive for WPD, especially at the lower concentrations up to 12?mg; while some mild to moderate changes may be developed at the higher doses, when fed at pharmacological concentrations as a growth promoter.     

Pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine in woodchucks and Pekin ducks

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetics of cyclosporine (Cy) in woodchucks ( Marmota monax ) and Pekin ducks. These data are needed to design rational dosing regimens. Pharmacokinetic parameters were calculated from blood concentration-time data obtained following intravenous (i.v.) administration of 10 mg/kg body weight to woodchucks and Pekin ducks. Whole blood samples were collected in EDTA and assayed using a commercially available radioimmunoassay kit that employs a monoclonal antibody specific for Cy. The blood concentration-time profile best Dtted an open, two-compartmental model in Pekin ducks. Compartmental analysis of data in woodchucks did not adequately describe the data. When non-compartmental pharmacokinetic analysis of the data was performed, the resulting mean (± SD) pharmacokinetic parameters in woodchucks and Pekin ducks, respectively, were as follows: volume of distribution at steady-state, 2.9 (± 0.8) and 2.7 (± 0.2) L/kg; systemic clearance, 10.2 (± 2.8) and 28.6 (± 6.1) mL/kg/min; mean residence time, 4.8 (± 1.1) and 1.6 (± 0.3). These data suggest that Pekin ducks clear Cy at a faster rate than do woodchucks and that a greater dose of Cy should be administered to Pekin ducks in order to achieve adequate immunosuppression.     

Estimate of choline nutritional requirements for chicks from 1 to 21 days of age

Choline is an essential nutrient in poultry diets because it performs various important metabolic functions. The objective of this study was to re‐evaluate the choline requirements of male broiler chickens from 1 to 21 days of age at two levels of methionine. Two assays using 2,160 Cobb^® chickens (1,080 in each assay) were conducted. The study design was completely randomized and consisted of six treatments and six replicates, with 30 animals per experimental unit. The semipurified basal diet was formulated with corn, soya bean meal, soya protein concentrate, starch and sugar, providing 390 mg/kg choline and 0.593% digestible methionine (requirement level) in Assay 1 and a reduction of about one‐quarter in the requirement level of digestible methionine (0.440%) in Assay 2. Choline chloride (62.5%) was added by a supplementation technique to both basal diets to compose crescent levels of choline supplementation (715, 1,040, 1,365, 1,690 and 2,015 mg/kg). The weight gain responses were fitted using quadratic polynomial (QP) and broken‐line (BL) models. The ideal intake of choline (mg/bird.day) was estimated from the first intercept of the QP with the BL plateau (BL + QP). The results showed that the diet with the 25% reduction in digestible methionine limited the maximum weight gain by approximately 10%. The choline requirements of broilers from 1 to 7, 1 to 14 and 1 to 21 days of age were 27,013, 44,458 and 62,535 mg/bird.day, respectively, for the requirement level of digestible methionine and 26,796, 41,820 and 56,578 mg/bird.day for the broilers receiving the diet with the 25% reduction in digestible methionine.     

北京鸭源鹅出血性多瘤病毒的分子检测

鹅出血性多瘤病毒(Goose hemorrhagic polyomavirus,GHPyV)是鹅出血性肾炎肠炎的致病病原,迄今为止,国际上已从鹅、番鸭和半番鸭中检测到GHPyV。为了解北京鸭是否存在GHPyV的感染,本研究从北京、山东、河北、河南等地的北京鸭种鸭场采集肝脾组织样品68份,并用GHPyV特异性PCR进行了检测。结果显示,从5份肝脾组织样品中检出GHPyV的VP1基因。选一株北京鸭源GHPyV(106株)测定了基因组序列。测序结果显示,北京鸭源GHPyV基因组长度为5 254bp,相对于德国鹅源GHPyV毒株Germany 2001,106株基因组在其编码区共有10个碱基位发生突变,但只有2个碱基位的突变引起氨基酸的置换;此外,106株基因组的非编码区存在2个核苷酸的缺失。对不同水禽来源的GHPyV基因组序列进行比较的结果表明,GHPyV的基因组序列具有高度保守性。由于GHPyV可感染鹅、番鸭、半番鸭和北京鸭,表明该病毒具有较广泛的宿主范围。     

Metabolisable energy and amino acid digestibility of high-oil maize, low-phytate maize and low-phytate soybean meal for White Pekin ducks

1. Two experiments were conducted to determine the metabolisable energy and amino acid digestibilities of high-oil maize (HOM), low-phytate maize (LPM) and low-phytate soybean meal (LPSBM) as compared with normal maize (NM) and normal soybean meal (NSBM) using male White Pekin ducks. 2. In the first experiment, the TMEN (kJ/g) value of HOM (16.58) was higher than that of NM (16.05), but that of LPM (16.11) did not differ from those of HOM or NM. The true digestibility coefficients for methionine (0.874, 0.871 or 0.876), lysine (0.805, 0.816 or 0.813) and tryptophan (0.946, 0.959 or 0.960) did not differ among NM, LPM and HOM, respectively. The average true digestibility coefficients for all amino acids in NM, LPM or HOM (0.886, 0.890 or 0.900, respectively) did not differ among the three ingredients. 3. In the second experiment, the TMEN value of LPSBM (12.39) was approximately 8% higher than that of NSBM (11.46). The true digestibility coefficients for most amino acids were higher for LPSBM than for NSBM, except in the case of histidine, cysteine and tyrosine, which were not different. The average true digestibility coefficient for all amino acids in LPSBM (0.945) was higher than in NSBM (0.924). 4. Results of the two experiments indicate that the energy and amino acids in the feed ingredients evaluated were well utilised by ducks and that LPSBM has a higher energy value as well as digestible essential amino acid concentration than NSBM for ducks.     

Prevalence and antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella isolates in Pekin ducks from South Korea

An investigation was carried out to determine the prevalence and antibiotic resistance of Salmonella serotypes at South Korean duck farms. A total of 7119 samples collected from 72 duck farms in five provinces were examined from 2011 to 2012. The overall prevalence of Salmonella serotypes was 43.4% (69/159) in duck flocks from 65.2% (47/72) of the duck farms. Eighty-five strains were isolated from 69 duck flocks. Three serotypes of Salmonella enterica were identified such as S. Typhimurium (39/85), S. Enteritidis (44/85), and S. London (2/85). The prevalence of Salmonella infection decreased significantly in 3-week-old ducks compared to that in 1-week-old ducks (P < 0.05). All isolates except one were resistant to at least one antimicrobial and 27% of the isolates were resistant to 5–16 antimicrobials. Our findings provide baseline information on the degree of Salmonella infection and distribution of Salmonella serotypes in ducks and indicate that ducks should be considered an important source of foodborne pathogens.     

Ultrastructural alterations in the kidneys of Pekin ducks fed methylmercury.

Ultrastructural alterations in the kidneys of Pekin ducks were studied after subchronic exposure to methylmercury chloride. Twenty-four male and twenty-four female Pekin ducks, 12 weeks of age were fed 0.0 (control), 0.5, 5.0 and 15.0 parts per million of MeHgCl, mixed in a mash diet for 12 weeks. Birds were observed for clinical signs daily. Kidneys were fixed in situ by perfusion with 4% glutaraldehyde in 0.05 M phosphate buffer and routinely processed for electron microscopy. Only minor morphological changes were observed in the renal corpuscle of ducks in the 0.5 ppm group. The component cells of the renal corpuscle in the 5.0 and 15.0 ppm groups showed several ultrastructural alterations, including an increase in number and size of lysosomes and vacuoles in podocytes and mild vacuolation in mesangial cells. The juxtaglomerular cells of afferent arterioles had crystallized granules. No significant changes were observed in glomerular basement membrane thickness and width of podocyte pedicels. The proximal tubules of the 5.0 and 15.0 ppm groups showed some microvillar loss and an increase in the number and size of lipid droplets, vacuoles and lysosomal bodies. The distal tubular changes in the 5.0 and 15 ppm groups included electron lucency and vacuolation of cytoplasm as well as occasional mitochondrial swelling. The collecting ducts of 5.0 ppm and 15.0 ppm groups showed varying degrees of degenerative changes in both mucus secretory as well as absorptive cells. These results suggest that subchronic exposure of Pekin ducks to methylmercury chloride causes subtle ultrastructural changes in renal corpuscle and marked ultrastructural changes in proximal tubules and collecting ducts.     

不同季节、不同出栏日龄对樱桃谷鸭蛋氨酸需要量的影响

本研究结合生产实践,采用大群生产试验方法,对标准化饲养的2847栋鸭舍,同源樱桃谷商品肉鸭2925万只,按统一饲养方式和管理程序进行生产试验。试验日粮分为前期（1～19d）、中期（20～29d）和后期（30d～出栏）3个阶段,记录各饲养阶段肉鸭的采食量、增重、死亡率。结果表明：春、夏、秋、冬肉鸭氨基酸需要量的析因模型分别为：春季：METR=0．0050BGW＋0．1818W0．75;夏李：METR：O．0055BGW＋0．1554W0．75;秋季：METR=0．0050BGW＋0．1945W0．75;冬李：METR=0．0038BGW＋0．2651W0．75。春、夏、秋、冬四个季节肉鸭的蛋氨酸维持需要分别为每千克代谢体重0．1818、0．1554、0．1945、0．265lg;肉鸭每增重lg体重需要蛋氨酸为0．005、0．0055、0．005、0．0038g。冬季肉鸭摄入的蛋氨酸用于维持需要的量高于其它季节,以夏季最少,春季与秋季肉鸭用于维持需要的蛋氨酸量相当。而肉鸭冬季用于单位增重所需的蛋氨酸最少,其他季节相近。研究同时表明,不同的出栏日龄肉鸭增重lg所需的蛋氨酸量不同,随着肉鸭出栏日龄的延长,肉鸭每增重1g所需的蛋氨酸的需要量逐渐提高。