The effect of maternal vitamin D source on broiler hatching egg quality,hatchability, and progeny bone mineral density and performance

Vitamin D is involved in calcium metabolism as well as bone and shell quality, and is therefore important to broiler breeders. In this research we investigated the effects of maternal dietary 25-OH vitamin D₃ on broiler breeder egg quality and hatchability, as well as on progeny bone mineral density and performance. In a field study, all hens were fed 3,000 IU of vitamin D₃ (D) per kilogram of complete feed; in addition half of the hens also received 34.5 µg of 25-OH vitamin D₃ per liter in the drinking water (25OHD). Eggs from each treatment group were incubated and hatched; chicks were fed a common diet and grown to 41 d of age. Eggs from hens in the 25OHD treatment had a nearly 30% reduction in early embryo mortality. However, a larger egg size resulted in greater chick BW for the D chicks, although this did not affect broiler production performance. Broilers from the maternal 25OHD treatment had a lower FCR during the grower phase. Unexpectedly, chick plasma 25-OH vitamin D₃ was only greater for the maternal 25OHD treatment at 4 d of age, but not at hatch, 2, 6, 8, 10, 12, or 14 d of age. Maternal vitamin D₃ source did not affect progeny 41-d bone mineral density. Maternal 25-OH vitamin D₃ had a protective effect on the growing embryo, reducing early embryonic mortality, with minimal effects on progeny performance and bone mineral density to processing at 41 d of age. The previously reported effects of 25-OH vitamin D₃ on increasing broiler performance and breast yield seem to be dependent on supplementation of the broiler diet; a carry-over effect of maternal supplementation is insufficient to achieve these effects.     

补充母源性有机硒与蛋氨酸对后代仔鸡腿肉过热味的影响

通过测定后代仔鸡腿肉冷藏期间过热味发生的氧化产物含量变化,探讨母源性有机硒和蛋氨酸补充对后代仔鸡腿肉过热味产生的影响。选用450只52周龄狼山种母鸡随机分成9个处理组,每组5个重复,每个重复10只鸡,分别在玉米-豆粕型基础日粮中添加不同水平的有机硒和蛋氨酸。各处理组有机硒(0.1%)的水平为0.13,0.43和0.73mg/kg,DL-蛋氨酸(99%)的水平为0.32,0.40和0.54mg/kg。饲喂后收集种蛋孵化。每处理组挑选160只健康雏鸡,随机分成5个重复,饲喂相同日粮。13周龄时,从每个重复随机挑选2只仔母鸡,屠宰,取样,测定指示过热味发生的氧化产物含量的变化。研究发现:在过热味发展初期(6h)母源性有机硒和蛋氨酸对总醛、己醛、1-戊醇、2,3-辛二酮和2-戊基-呋喃的含量影响显著,存在互作效应(P0.05);对过热味发展后期(3d)挥发性氧化产物的含量影响不显著。高硒高蛋氨酸组与低硒低蛋氨酸组总醛、己醛和1-戊醇的含量最低,而2,3-辛二酮与2-戊基呋喃的含量最高;两组间各物质含量差异不显著。冷藏时间对各种挥发性氧化产物的含量均有极显著影响(P0.01)。因此,在种母鸡日粮中添加硒和蛋氨酸可防止13周龄仔鸡腿肉过热味的产生。     

鸡脾转移因子对肉鸡免疫应答及防病效果的研究

以肉鸡脾为原料，采用超滤法制备鸡脾转移因子（Transferfactor，TF）。单独使用鸡脾TF以及与疫苗联合使用，比较不同剂量、不同使用时间对肉鸡平均日增重、死亡率、淋巴细胞比率、免疫器官指数、巨噬细胞吞噬指数的影响。结果显示，当鸡群处于健康状况时，使用鸡脾TF对试验结果影响不大，但当鸡群处于非健康状态时，使用鸡脾TF可以改善免疫应答指标，明显提高鸡群的抗病力和日增重。疫苗加TF组与单用疫苗组相比，差异不显著（P〉0．05），但在降低死亡率和促进鸡增重以及提高巨噬细胞吞噬功能方面，疫苗组与对照组差异显著（P〈0．05），疫苗加TF组与对照组差异极显著（P〈0．01）。处于亚健康状态的鸡群使用鸡脾TF可提高机体抗病力，可与疫苗免疫同时使用，临床饮水使用的最佳剂量为0．5mL／只。     

Multilevel analysis of environmental Salmonella prevalences and management practices on 49 broiler breeder farms in four south-eastern States, USA

A two-part serial survey of 49 broiler breeder farms was conducted in four south-eastern states: Arkansas, Alabama, Georgia and North Carolina. Broiler breeder farms from three to five broiler company complexes in each state were visited on two separate occasions to document management practices and perform environmental sampling for Salmonella prevalence estimation. Salmonella was detected in 88% of the broiler breeder houses that were sampled and was identified on all 49 farms enrolled. Many management characteristics were consistent across the different states and companies. Multilevel analysis was used to evaluate management characteristics as risk factors for Salmonella prevalence and to estimate the proportion of variance residing at the different hierarchical sampling levels. Management characteristics associated with increased Salmonella prevalence included treatment of the flock for any disease, having dusty conditions in the house, having dry conditions under the slats and walking through the house more than one time per day to pick-up dead birds. After adjusting for state as a fixed effect, the percentages of variance in Salmonella prevalence occurring at the complex, farm, visit, house and individual sample levels were 5.2%, 6.8%, 11.8%, 2.8% and 73.4%, respectively. The intraclass correlations for samples collected from the same house; for samples from different houses during the same visit; for samples from different visits to the same farm; and for samples from different farms in the same complex were as follows: 0.27, 0.24, 0.12 and 0.05, respectively.     

自拟中药对人工感染IBV雏鸡免疫器官及血清IgG的影响

目的:研究自拟中药方剂对鸡传染性支气管炎的防治效果。方法:首先选取SPF鸡胚测定IBV-M41的ELD50,以确定攻毒剂量。然后将400只19日龄无IB抗体的健康雏鸡随机分为8组,每组50只,分别为预防高(2.0 mL/次)、中(1.0 mL/次)、低(0.5 mL/次)组,治疗高(4.0 mL/次)、中(2.0 mL/次)、低(1.0 mL/次)组,阳性对照组和阴性对照组,19日龄时预防组开始用药,连用5 d。21日龄时除阴性对照组外其余各组均以100 ELD50剂量的IBV-M41人工感染雏鸡。待症状出现24 h后,治疗组开始给药,连用5 d,期间进行临床观察。考察该自拟中药的临床预防及治疗效果,并测定不同处理组不同日龄患病雏鸡免疫器官指数及血清IgG的质量浓度。结果:在用药过程中,自拟复方中药的预防和治疗不同剂量组免疫器官指数与阴性对照组相比差异显著,组间差异不显著;用药疗程结束后,各组间差异不显著。但该中药方剂对不同日龄不同处理组雏鸡血清IgG的质量浓度影响明显,且与阴性、阳性对照组相比差异极显著。结论:该中药方剂对雏鸡法氏囊及脾脏发育有促进作用,且诱生IgG,使其血清含量显著提高,对机体产生免疫保护,从而达到对鸡传染性支气管炎的防治效果。     

川牛膝多糖对鸡血清抗体和血液生化指标的影响

给7日龄仔鸡饲喂400mg/kg的川牛膝多糖,同时设对照组。在14、21和28日龄采颈静脉血,分别检测血清抗体（IgG、IgA、IgM）和血液生化指标（谷丙转氨酶、谷草转氨酶、碱性磷酸酶、钙、白蛋白）。结果显示：川牛膝多糖400mg/kg剂量组与对照组相比,IgG、IgA和IgM差异均显著（0.01〈P≤0.05）,而白蛋白、谷草转氨酶、谷丙转氨酶、碱性磷酸酶、钙的差异均不显著。说明川牛膝多糖可通过提高血清水平来提高机体的免疫能力;同时对机体各项血液生化指标无不良影响,可作为饲料添加剂应用于畜禽业。     

Effects of in ovo feeding of L‐arginine on the development of digestive organs,intestinal function and post‐hatch performance of broiler embryos and hatchlings

This study was to investigate the effects of in ovo feeding (IOF) L‐arginine (Arg) solution on the development of digestive organs, the duodenal mucosa of broiler embryos and hatchlings, and the growth performance of chicks during the first week post‐hatch. A total of 720 fertilized eggs with similar weight were randomly allocated to three groups, consisting of eight replicates of 30 eggs each. Three treatments were arranged as non‐injected control, diluent‐injected (0.75% NaCl solution) group and Arg solution‐injected group containing 1% Arg, dissolved in diluent. At 17.5 days of incubation, 0.6 ml of IOF solution was injected into amniotic fluid of each egg of injected groups. Results showed IOF of Arg solution increased (p < .05) the chick embryo weight at 19 days of incubation; the body weight gain of post‐hatch broilers during 1–7 days; the weights of liver, pancreas, proventriculus and gizzard; the concentrations of duodenal ghrelin, vasoactive intestinal peptide and glucagon‐like peptide 2; and the duodenum mucosal enzyme activities of alkaline phosphatase, maltase, sucrase and inducible nitric oxide synthase of 7‐day‐old post‐hatch broilers compared with other groups. The IOF of Arg solution also increased (p < .05) the villus height (VH) and the ratio of VH to crypt depth (CD) and decreased (p < .05) the CD in duodenum of broiler embryos and post‐hatch hatchlings, except for the CD at 19 days of incubation. In conclusion, IOF of 1% Arg solution into the amnion at 17.5 days of incubation could improve the development of digestive organs, the duodenal morphology, the releasing of gastrointestinal hormones and mucosal enzyme activities of broiler embryos and hatchlings and finally the growth performance of chicks during the first week post‐hatch. Therefore, IOF of appropriate Arg solution could be an effective technology for regulating early nutrition supply and subsequent growth development in poultry industry.     

饲养水平对阿勒泰羊胃肠道发育、瘤胃发酵参数及瘤胃微生物区系的影响

为研究饲养水平对阿勒泰羊胃肠道发育、瘤胃发酵参数、消化酶活性及瘤胃微生物区系的影响,选取月龄相近(3～3.5月龄)、体重均一(19.16±0.54)kg、臀型一致、健康状况良好的阿勒泰母羔羊30只,随机分为3组,每组10只,自由采食60 d后,参照NRC(2007)饲养标准中维持能量(Em)需要,3个组分别按1.5Em...     

Effects of rice feeding and carnitine addition on growth performance and mRNA expression of protein metabolism‐related genes in broiler grower chicks

This study was carried out to evaluate the nutritional effects of rice feeding and carnitine addition to a diet for broiler chicks. Thirty‐six male 10‐day‐old broiler chicks were assigned to one of the following four treatment groups: corn‐based diet (corn group), rice‐based diet (rice group), and each diet with added carnitine (100 ppm). The experimental period was 2 weeks. Rice feeding resulted in significantly higher growth performance (body weight gain and feed efficiency) compared to corn feeding. Carnitine addition also resulted in higher growth performance. Breast muscle and thigh muscle weight (g) were significantly higher in broiler chicks fed rice and those fed diets with added carnitine. Liver mRNA expression of IGF‐I was significantly higher in broiler chicks fed rice compared to those fed corn. There was no significant difference in mRNA expression of muscle atrogin‐1 or liver CPT‐I between broiler chicks fed rice and those fed corn, not between broilers chicks fed diets containing carnitine or not. Overall, these results show that rice feeding and carnitine addition improve the growth performance of broiler chicks by increasing mRNA expression of liver IGF‐I. In addition, carnitine action is not affected by different cereals (corn and rice).     

铜、铁、锌、锰添加量对0～3周龄肉鸡生产性能和免疫器官发育的影响

将960只1日龄艾维茵肉仔鸡随机分为16组,每组4个重复,每重复15只;采用D-最优设计,以基础日粮含量为最低水平,以2倍NRC(1994)推荐量为最高水平,按16种方案添加铜、铁、锌、锰,研究不同添加水平对0～3周龄肉鸡生产和免疫器官发育的影响,以确定0～3周龄肉鸡日粮铜、铁、锌、锰的适宜添加水平。结果表明:不同铜、铁、锌、锰添加水平对0～3周龄肉鸡日增重、耗料量、料肉比、死淘率及免疫器官发育均无显著影响(P>0.05),说明基础日粮中的铜、铁、锌、锰含量能够满足0～3周龄肉鸡生长和免疫器官发育的需要。     

Effects of in ovo injection of chrysin,quercetin and ascorbic acid on hatchability,somatic attributes,hepatic oxidative status and early post‐hatch performance of broiler chicks

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of in ovo injection of chrysin, quercetin and ascorbic acid on hatchability, somatic attributes, hepatic antioxidant status and early post‐hatch growth performance of broiler chicks. Four hundred and eighty embryonated broiler breeder eggs containing live 18‐day‐old embryos were divided into six groups of 80 eggs each. One group remained intact and served as a control group (i), whereas the other five groups were injected with the prepared injection solutions as follows: (ii) 0.05 ml distilled water; (iii) 0.05 ml distilled water containing 6 mg ascorbic acid; (iv) 0.05 ml dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO); (v) 0.05 ml DMSO containing 4.5 mg quercetin; and (vi) 0.05 ml DMSO containing 4.5 mg chrysin. The hatchability rate, hatching weight, residual yolk sac weight, yolk sac‐free body weight, liver weight, hepatic glutathione peroxidase and total superoxide dismutase activities, as well as malondialdehyde concentrations, were not affected by the injected solutions. There were no differences between chicks hatched from the control and in ovo injected eggs in weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio from 0 to 11 days of age. However, the specific contrast performed between the in ovo injected groups and intact eggs revealed that in ovo injection significantly increased hatchability rate (p = .0493). This finding also implies that our injection procedure was harmless. In conclusion, the intra‐egg injection of chrysin, quercetin or ascorbic acid at the injection rates used in this study did not have a significant effect on hatchability, somatic characteristics, early growth performance and hepatic antioxidant status of broiler chicks. However, the overall hatchability was higher in the in ovo injected eggs as compared to non‐injected ones. These findings also confirmed the harmlessness of the procedure developed for in ovo injection in this study.     

Effects of maternal protein supplementation and inclusion of rumen‐protected fat in the finishing diet on nutrient digestibility and expression of intestinal genes in Nellore steers

The study aimed to evaluate nutrient digestibility and intestine gene expression in the progeny from cows supplemented during gestation and fed diets with or without rumen‐protected fat (RPF) in the feedlot. Forty‐eight Nellore steers, averaging 340 kg, were housed in individual pens and allotted in a completely randomized design using a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement (dams nutrition × RPF). Cows' supplementation started after 124 ± 21 days of gestation. The feedlot lasted 135 days and diets had the inclusion of zero or 6% of RPF. Digestibility was evaluated by total feces collection. Steers were slaughtered using the concussion technique and samples of pancreas and small intestine were collected immediately after the slaughter to analyze α‐amylase activity, and the expression of SLC5A1, CD36, and CCK and villi morphometry. Feeding RPF increased nutrients digestibility (p < 0.01). There was no effect of maternal nutrition on digestibility and α‐amylase activity in steers (p > 0.05). Duodenal expression of SLC5A1, CD36, and CCK increased in the progeny from restricted cows. In conclusion, protein restriction during mid to late gestation of dams has long‐term effects on small‐intestine length and on expression of membrane transporters genes in the duodenum of the progeny. However, maternal nutrition does not affect digestibility in the feedlot.     

Effects of correcting missing daily feed intake values on the genetic parameters and estimated breeding values for feeding traits in pigs

Daily feed intake (DFI) is an important consideration for improving feed efficiency, but measurements using electronic feeder systems contain many missing and incorrect values. Therefore, we evaluated three methods for correcting missing DFI data (quadratic, orthogonal polynomial, and locally weighted (Loess) regression equations) and assessed the effects of these missing values on the genetic parameters and the estimated breeding values (EBV) for feeding traits. DFI records were obtained from 1622 Duroc pigs, comprising 902 individuals without missing DFI and 720 individuals with missing DFI. The Loess equation was the most suitable method for correcting the missing DFI values in 5–50% randomly deleted datasets among the three equations. Both variance components and heritability for the average DFI (ADFI) did not change because of the missing DFI proportion and Loess correction. In terms of rank correlation and information criteria, Loess correction improved the accuracy of EBV for ADFI compared to randomly deleted cases. These findings indicate that the Loess equation is useful for correcting missing DFI values for individual pigs and that the correction of missing DFI values could be effective for the estimation of breeding values and genetic improvement using EBV for feeding traits.     

Effects of grass forage species and long‐term period of low quality forage diet feeding on growth performance,nutrient utilization and microbial nitrogen yield in growing wether lambs

Six growing lambs were used to evaluate the feeding value of two forage‐based diets in a long‐term feeding period by measuring body weight (BW) gain, digestibility, nitrogen (N) retention and microbial N (MBN) yield. The animals were fed imported low‐quality timothy hay (TH) with concentrate diet (THD) or imported low‐quality Italian ryegrass straw (IR) with concentrate diet (IRD) for 9 months. The forages were offered at 2% BW, and concentrate was fed at 40% of forage intake. The BW gain averaged 82.6 and 66.2 g/day for THD and IRD, respectively, without showing significant difference. Average forage intake (% BW) was significantly greater for IR than for TH, although it was not affected by feeding periods. The digestibility did not differ between diets or periods. The numerically greater (P = 0.06) ratio of retained N to absorbed N for IRD than that for THD was prominent. Neither diet nor period had significant effect on MBN supply and efficiency of MBN synthesis. The results suggest that the IR‐based diet can be also used for long‐term periods of feeding to growing ruminant animals as a grass hay‐based diet without any detrimental effects on nutrient utilization and growth performance.     

Effects of low and high levels of maternal nutrition consumed for the entirety of gestation on the development of muscle,adipose tissue,bone, and the organs of Wagyu cattle fetuses

This study aimed to investigate the effects of high and low levels of energy intake during the entire gestation period on the skeletal muscle development, organ development, and adipose tissue accumulation in fetuses of Wagyu (Japanese Black) cows, a breed with highly marbled beef. Cows were allocated to a high-nutrition (n = 6) group (fed 120% of the nutritional requirement) or low-nutrition (n = 6) group (fed 60% of the nutritional requirement). The cows were artificially inseminated with semen from the same sire, and the fetuses were removed by cesarean section at 260 ± 8.3 days of fetal age and slaughtered. The whole-body, total muscle, adipose, and bone masses of the fetal half-carcasses were significantly higher in the high-nutrition group than the low-nutrition group (p = 0.0018, 0.009, 0.0004, and 0.0362, respectively). Fifteen of 20 individual muscles, five of six fat depots, nine of 17 organs, and seven of 12 bones that were investigated had significantly higher masses in the high-nutrition group than the low-nutrition group. The crude components and amino acid composition of the longissimus muscle significantly differed between the low- and high-nutrition groups. These data indicate that maternal nutrition during gestation has a marked effect on the muscle, bone, and adipose tissue development of Wagyu cattle fetuses.