Histomonas meleagridis in chickens: attempted transmission in the absence of vectors

The progress and transmission of blackhead disease in chickens was studied in battery cages and floor pens in the absence of vectors. Two-week-old chicks were inoculated intracloacally with Histomonas meleagridis and allowed to commingle with others in floor pens. There was no confirmed transmission of blackhead to other birds in the pen, whether stocked at 10% or 25% with infected birds. A second experiment evaluated the effects of feed restriction of chickens on spread of blackhead within floor pens. Inoculated seeder birds had severe cecal lesions of blackhead at necropsy, regardless of feed restriction. Uninoculated birds did not develop lesions by the time of necropsy at 42 days of age, regardless of whether full-fed or limited by skip-day feeding. Chickens inoculated intracloacally with H. meleagridis and placed in battery cages became infected and had cecal lesions of blackhead, but few liver lesions. Chickens allowed to commingle with the inoculated birds in batteries had no lesions of histomoniasis at necropsy 2 wk postinoculation. Coccidial oocysts from turkeys (Eimeria adenoeides) were inoculated along with H. meleagridis from cultures to test the effects of sporozoite penetration in the ceca on progress of blackhead disease. Histomoniasis was not worsened by the interaction with sporozoites, as shown by unchanged severity of cecal lesions, the number of birds showing liver lesions, or the overall number of positive birds. Overall, blackhead infections showed no inclination to spread from bird to bird under conditions of these studies, in contrast to what has been reported for turkeys. These results suggest that the dynamics of blackhead transmission in chickens differs significantly from that of turkeys, where transmission from bird to bird is rapid and effective in the absence of vectors.     

Polytetrafluoroethylene gas intoxication in broiler chickens

A poultry research facility that housed 2400 Peterson x Hubbard cross broilers (48 pens of 50 chicks each) experienced 4% mortality within 24 hr of chick placement. Mortality started within 4 hr of placement, and within 72 hr, cumulative mortality had reached 52%. Mild dyspnea was the only clinical sign noted in some chicks prior to death. The primary gross lesion noted in the chicks submitted was moderate to severe pulmonary congestion. The lungs of four of these chicks sank in formalin, and blood-tinged fluid was noted in the mouth and nares of two chicks. The microscopic lesions noted in the affected chicks were moderate to severe pulmonary edema and congestion. The diagnosis indicated to the submitter was that pulmonary edema caused by exposure to an unidentified noxious gas caused the death of the chicks. The poultry house environment was tested for sulfur dioxide, oxides of nitrogen, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and volatile organic compounds (as produced by combustion engines); all tests were negative for significant levels of these compounds. A second broiler flock was placed in the same facility and the mortality at 6 wk was 11%, which was greater than the 2.5%-4.7% mortality seen in the previous four flocks on the farm. Further investigation revealed that the only change in management practice in this facility prior to the onset of the severe mortality problem was the replacement of 48 heat lamp bulbs (one for each pen). The new heat lamp bulbs were polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) coated. PTFE gas intoxication has been reported in several exotic avian species, but this intoxication has not been previously reported in a poultry flock.     

Direct lateral transmission of Histomonas meleagridis in turkeys

The lateral transmission of Histomonas meleagridis in turkeys was studied in floor pens without the presence of Heterakis gallinarum. Battery-reared poults (120) were transferred at 2 wk of age to concrete-floored floor pens with fresh pine shavings litter (40/group). One group received no exposure. In other groups, either 10% or 25% of the birds were inoculated per cloaca with cultured H. meleagridis (200,000/bird) and placed in the pens as seeder birds. Inoculated birds died at 10-18 days postinfection (PI) showing typical liver and cecal lesions of histomoniasis. Birds in the high-exposure group died of histomoniasis beginning 16 days PI and continuing to 100% mortality by day 23 PI. Birds in the low-exposure (LE) group died beginning on day 19 PI and continuing through day 31 PI. All but one LE bird alive on day 31 PI had severe liver and cecal lesions of histomoniasis at necropsy. There was no evidence of histomoniasis in unexposed birds. No cecal worms (H. gallinarum) were found at necropsy of dead birds or in unexposed birds at the end of the experiment. Even though H. gallinarum is the only known reservoir for H. meleagridis, these results suggest that lateral transmission of histomoniasis through a flock can occur readily through normal contact between uninfected birds and infected birds and their droppings in the total absence of cecal worms.     

Effects of floor heating and litter quality on the development and severity of foot pad dermatitis in young turkeys

Actions concerning animal health in turkey production are coming more and more to the fore. Litter quality has a great impact on the bird's health and welfare. This study aimed at evaluating the effects of using floor heating, different litter materials, and exposure to litter with a "critical moisture content" of 35% for 16 or 24 hr/day on the severity of foot pad dermatitis (FPD), a widespread disease in fattening turkeys. Four groups of 2-wk-old female turkeys, with 20 birds in each, were reared during 3 wk. All turkeys were fed a commercial pellet diet ad libitum. The first two groups were kept on wood shavings (35% moisture) without and with floor heating. The other two groups were housed on lignocellulose (Soft Cell) of 35% moisture without and with floor heating. In each group, half of the birds were housed for 8 hr/day in adjacent separate boxes where the litter was kept clean and dry throughout the experimental period. Foot pads were assessed weekly for external and at day 35 for histopathologic scoring (scores: 0 = healthy; 7 = ulcer). At day 14 each bird had normal and healthy foot pads. The results indicate that using floor heating resulted in significantly lower FPD scores (0.8 +/- 0.2) compared to groups without floor heating (2.0 +/- 0.8). Using lignocellulose as a litter material resulted in significantly lower histopathologic FPD scores (1.4 +/- 0.7) compared with wood shavings (1.7 +/- 0.8). In all birds housed on dry litter for 8 hr/day, significantly lower FPD scores were found compared to birds housed on wet litter for 24 hr. In conclusion, using floor heating, even with wet litter (35% moisture), independent of the litter type, resulted in reduced severity of FPD compared to those birds housed in pens without using floor heating. Additionally, using lignocellulose as a litter material resulted in lower FPD compared with wood shavings. Keeping litter dry and "warm" could be achieved by using floor heating, which is considered a practical step to enhance animal health and welfare.     

Influence of Temperature on the Arginine and Methionine Requirements of Young Broiler Chicks

Two experiments were conducted with Ross × Ross broiler chicks in battery brooders from 7 to 21 d of age to determine the Arg and Met requirements of young broiler chicks at control (25°C) and warm (35°C) temperatures. In both experiments, 1-d-old broiler chicks were fed a corn and soybean meal based starter diet for 7 d. Six replications (2 replicates in each of 3 rooms per temperature) with 8 chicks each were used for each treatment. In experiment 1, the basal diet was based on corn (34.52%), whey (26.96%), corn gluten meal (16.53%), soybean meal (11.74%), and poultry fat (23% of CP and 3.20 kcal/g of ME_n). Six levels of Arg (0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.3, 0.4, and 0.5%), supplementing the basal diet containing 0.95% Arg, were the dietary treatments. A broken-line linear model was used to estimate chick Arg requirements. Based on body gain and feed conversion ratio (FCR) data, respectively, the Arg requirements of young Ross × Ross broiler chicks raised at 35°C were 1.15 ± 0.03% and 1.13 ± 0.02%, whereas those of chicks at 25°C were 1.26 ± 0.03% and 1.27 ± 0.02%. In experiment 2, the influences of temperature and dietary Arg on the Met requirements of young broiler chicks were investigated. The basal diet was based on corn (53.45%), soybean meal (37.72%), and poultry fat (23% of CP and 3.20 kcal/g of ME). Experiment 2 had a 6 × 2 factorial arrangement, with the basal diet (0.35% Met and 1.52% Arg) supplemented with 6 levels of dietary Met (0, 0.05, 0.1, 0.15, 0.2, or 0.3%) and 2 levels of dietary Arg (0 and 1.0%). When chicks were fed a corn-soybean meal basal diet containing 1.52% Arg, the Met requirements of young Ross × Ross broiler chicks raised at 35°C were 0.43 ± 0.02% and 0.43 ± 0.03%, whereas those of chicks at 25°C was 0.43 ± 0.01% and 0.48 ± 0.03%, based on body gain and FCR data, respectively. When Arg levels were increased to 2.52%, the Met requirement of young Ross × Ross broiler chicks was greater at both temperatures (P < 0.05). The requirements of chicks raised at 35°C were 0.50 ± 0.02% and 0.49 ± 0.02% and at 25°C were 0.59 ± 0.03% and 0.57 ± 0.02%, based on body gain and FCR data, respectively. Temperature and amino acid balance may both affect the amino acid requirements of broilers.     

Exacerbative effect of vitamin A on malabsorption syndrome in chicks

The interaction between malabsorption syndrome (MAS) and dietary vitamins A and D was studied in broiler chicks reared in floor pens for 4 weeks. The chicks were naturally infected with MAS, whereas hatchmates fed the same diets but in a separate facility (battery brooder) did not exhibit signs of MAS and, therefore, were considered controls. MAS significantly reduced body weights, bone ash, serum calcium and phosphorus concentrations, and liver lipids and increased the incidence of skeletal abnormalities (tibial dyschondroplasia and rickets). Rather than ameliorating the effects of MAS, vitamin A caused a further reduction in body weight and bone ash. A possible nutrient interaction between vitamin A and vitamin D or vitamin E in birds with MAS may account for the exacerbative effect of vitamin A.     

Effect of spray-dried bovine serum on intake, health, and growth of broilers housed in different environments

Three experiments utilizing broilers were conducted in different environments to evaluate the effects of Innavax (INX; spray-dried serum) administered in drinking water on broiler performance. In Exp. 1 (1 to 42 d), 252 Ross x Cobb male broilers were assigned randomly to one of six treatments consisting of tap water mixed with 0, 0.25, 0.50, 0.75, 1.0, or 1.25% (wt/wt) INX. Broilers (six broilers per pen; seven pens per treatment) were housed in Petersime battery cages (raised wire flooring) in temperature-controlled rooms. Average daily gain, and feed and water intake (as-fed) were not affected (P > 0.05) by experimental treatments. Feed efficiency tended to improve linearly (P = 0.076) from d 0 to 7 with increasing levels of INX, but was unaffected (P > 0.05) during the remaining periods. In Exp. 2 and 3, 800 Ross x Ross 308 male broilers (400 broilers in each trial; 10 broilers per pen; 10 pens per treatment) in two 21-d experiments were assigned randomly to one of four treatments consisting of tap water mixed with 0, 0.45, 0.90, or 1.35% (wt/wt) INX. Broilers were housed in floor pens containing clean (Exp. 2) or used (Exp. 3) litter. In Exp. 2, intake, ADG, and feed efficiency were linearly improved (P < 0.05) during the first week with increasing levels of INX. During the second week (d 8 to 14), ADG, water intake, and feed efficiency were linearly improved (P < 0.05) with increasing levels of INX. In the third week (d 15 to 21), ADG and feed and water intake were not affected (P > 0.10) by level of INX. Overall (d 0 to 21), ADG, intake, and feed efficiency were linearly improved (P < 0.05) with INX. In Exp. 3, ADG, water intake, and feed efficiency were linearly improved (P < 0.05) during each period. Feed intake was not affected (P > 0.05) by experimental treatment during d 0 to 7, but was linearly increased (P < 0.05) from d 8 to 14 and 15 to 21. The greatest growth response of broilers to INX was observed when broilers were housed in floor pens with used litter, followed by floor pens with clean litter and battery pens. Further research on the relationship between the response to INX and housing conditions seems warranted.     

Effect of dietary nucleotide supplementation on performance and development of the gastrointestinal tract of broilers

1. Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of dietary nucleotide supplementation on broiler performance, and physical and morphological development of the gastrointestinal tract.

2. Experiment 1: A total of 180 one-d-old male chicks were placed in battery brooders in 3?×?6 replicate pens containing 10 chicks each. Chicks were randomly assigned to one of the three dietary treatments; a maize-soyabean meal based diet supplemented with 0, 0·25, and 0·50% Torula yeast RNA (as a source of nucleotides) from 0 to 16?d of age.

3. Experiment 2: A total of 1344 one-d-old male chicks were placed in floor pens and reared on recycled wood shavings (two flocks) under a high stocking density (0·068?m²/bird). Chicks were randomly assigned to one of the 4 dietary treatments (0, 0·25% Torula yeast RNA, 2% and 6% Nupro®) for the starter period (0 to 14?d of age) with 6 replicate pens containing 56 chicks each. All the birds were fed on the same common grower diet with no supplementation of nucleotides from 15 to 32?d of age.

4. Experiment 1: Supplementing the diets with up to 0·50% Torula yeast RNA did not affect broiler performance, or relative intestinal tract weight and length of broilers at any periods measured.

5. Experiment 2: From 0 to 14?d of age, broilers fed on the diets supplemented with 0·25% Torula yeast RNA and 2 and 6% Nupro® were significantly heavier and had improved feed conversion (feed:gain) ratios as compared with the birds fed on the control diet. Supplementing the starter diet only with 2% Nupro® supplementation significantly improved body weight (BW) gain as compared with the control diet over the entire experiment (0 to 32?d of age). Broilers fed on the diets supplemented with 2 and 6% Nupro® from 0 to 14?d of age had better feed conversion (feed:gain) ratios over the entire experiment (0 to 32?d of age) as compared with the birds fed on the control diet, even though the birds were only fed on the diets supplemented with Nupro® from 0 to 14?d of age. The broilers fed on the diets supplemented with 0·25% Torula yeast RNA and 2% Nupro® had higher villus height and an improved villus height-to-crypt depth ratio as compared with birds fed on the control or 6% Nupro® diet at 14?d of age.

6. It is generally assumed that nucleotides are not an essential nutrient; thus there is no need to supplement the diets of broilers reared under normal conditions. However, dietary nucleotide supplementation may be important to maintain maximum growth performance when birds are exposed to stress conditions, such as high stocking density combined with dirty litter.     

Effect of Continuous Multiphase Feeding Schedules on Nitrogen Excretion and Broiler Performance

Two experiments were conducted simultaneously to evaluate the effects of continuous multiphase feeding programs on nitrogen excretion and broiler performance. Birds in both experiments were fed diets based on 1 of 3 unique feeding schedules. One feeding program consisted of an industry-type 4-phase schedule, whereas the remaining treatments consisted of diets that were blended and replaced every 3 d. One of these continuous multiphase feeding programs was based on industry average nutrient compositions, whereas the other feeding program was based on the EFG Broiler Growth Model. In experiment 1, 60 one-day-old male broiler chicks were randomly placed in 30 separate battery brooding pens with 3 unique feeding schedules (10 replicates per treatment). Nitrogen analyses were conducted on broiler excreta and ground, whole birds. Experiment 2 was conducted to evaluate the effects of continuous multiphase feeding programs on broiler performance in floor pens. A total of 540 one-day-old male broiler chicks were placed in 36 pens, yielding 12 replicates of 3 treatments. Continuous multiphase feeding schedules improved BW gain and the feed-to-gain ratio during wk 3 and 4 (experiment 1) and wk 5 and 6 (experiment 2). Nitrogen excretion and retention, however, were unaffected by the different feeding programs.     

Acute toxicity of boric acid and boron tissue residues after chronic exposure in broiler chickens.

The acute oral mean lethal dose of boric acid in 1-day-old chickens was found to be 2.95 +/- 0.35 g/kg of body weight, which classifies this product as only slightly toxic to chickens. One-day-old broiler chicks were housed in floor pens in which litter had been treated with 0, 0.9, 3.6, or 7.2 kg of boric acid per 9.9 m2 of floor space. Boron residue levels in brain, kidney, liver, and white muscle were not statistically elevated following a 15-day exposure period. Boron residue levels in the same types of tissue were not significantly elevated in chicks fed 500 ppm or 1250 ppm boric acid in feed ad libitum for 3 weeks; however, residues were significantly higher in chicks fed 2500 ppm or 5000 ppm boric acid. These data indicate that broilers grown on boric acid-treated litter do not consume enough boric acid to cause elevated boron levels in tissues.     

Ontogeny of behaviour in intact and beak trimmed layer pullets,with special reference to preening

1. The effects of commercial beak trimming on layer pullet behaviour were investigated, with special reference to preening. 2. One-d-old chicks, 96 in all, were housed in 12 litter floor pens, with 8 birds in each, to 20 weeks of age. Approximately one quarter of the beak was trimmed in all birds in half of the pens (BT) at 8 d of age using a hot blade debeaker. The birds in the other pens remained intact (NBT). 3. There was no significant effect of beak trimming on body weight at any age. At the end of the study, upper mandible lengths were shorter in BT birds. 4. Beak trimming had very little effect on behaviour. NBT birds showed more litter-directed behaviour than did BT birds, and BT birds spent more time in preening directed at the preen gland, and at the back while sitting. 5. Feather damage was minimal and there was no difference in mean feather damage scores between treatments at any age. 6. The young age and small amount of beak removed during beak trimming may be at least partly responsible for the lack of effects of beak treatment on behaviour and plumage condition.     

Influence of stocking density on the performance, carcass characteristics and selected welfare indicators of broiler chickens

AIM: To compare the effects of four stocking densities (5, 10, 15 or 20 birds per m2) on the performance, carcass characteristics and selected welfare indicators of broiler chickens. METHODS: A total of 756 day-old male broiler chicks were assigned as six replicates of 13, 25, 38 and 50 birds per pen, to stocking densities of 2,000, 1,000, 667 and 500 cm2 floor space per bird, respectively. The birds were housed in floor pens in an environmentally controlled room. Normal commercial diets were fed ad libitum and fresh water was freely available throughout the 5-week study period. Liveweights of birds and feed intake were recorded at weekly intervals. Data on carcass parameters and welfare indicators (moisture, gait scores, feather scores, breast and hip lesions, and foot pad and hock burns) were obtained on Day 35. Adrenal glands were removed at slaughter, weighed and examined histologically to determine the total proportion of cortical and medullary tissues. RESULTS: During the study, the birds at the lowest density grew faster (p<0.001-0.01) and consumed more (p<0.001- 0.01) feed than those at the other three stocking densities. The liveweight gains and feed intake of birds reared at densities of 10, 15 and 20 birds per m2 were similar (p=0.11-0.83 and p=0.17-0.57, respectively). Stocking density had no influence on the feed/weight gain, mortality or carcass characteristics. No breast or hip lesions were observed in carcasses from any of the groups. The weight and structure of the adrenal glands were similar across all groups although the staining of medullary tissue of birds was most intense in the highest stocking density group. As stocking density increased, so did moisture and gait score, hock and foot pad burn scores, and the feather score was adversely affected. CONCLUSIONS: The data showed that the relationship between stocking density and productivity traits was not linear in nature, in accordance with other studies. Under the conditions of the current study, the performance, mortality and carcass characteristics of broilers grown at densities of 10, 15 and 20 birds per m2 were similar. There were some welfare implications at high population densities as indicated by adverse effects on litter quality, gait scores and the incidence of hock and foot pad burns.     

Influence of stocking density, artificial dusk and group size on the perching behaviour of broilers

1. Perching behaviour of Ross broiler chickens was studied in order to increase the available space at the floor level. Pens (36 m2) were equipped with wooden perches mounted 20 and 33 cm above the litter (5 cm perch length per bird). 2. The influences of stocking density (22 vs 11 birds/m2, experiment 1) and of a 10 min artificial dusk (17 birds/m2, experiment 2) were tested in a 2x2 factorial design (n=4 by treatment) including control pens without perches. In experiment 3, perching behaviour between 2 different group sizes (1020 vs 4590 birds, 17 birds/m2, no replicates) was compared. 3. The percentage of perching birds (PPB) was assessed by scan sampling observations during the 20 to 22 h light period (8 observations per d, 5 d a week, from week 3). In experiment 2, infra-red video recording was performed at the time lights were dimmed and during the dark period. In experiment 1, carcase lesions were noted. In experiment 2, tibia breaking strength of frequently perching birds was compared with controls. Birds were weighed before slaughter and food conversion was calculated. 4. PPB increased with age and density (P<0.01) and was highest at the 22 birds/m2 density during week 6 (mean=10.6%, maximum=13.5%). PPB was not influenced by a 10-min artificial dusk. In experiment 3, PPB was slightly lower during weeks 5 and 6 in the large group size compared to the small group size (6.8% vs 7.9% respectively in week 6). 5. Prevalence of carcase lesions and tibia breaking strengths were unrelated to perch usage. Final body-weights were not influenced by the presence of perches except at the 22 birds/m2 density where males were slightly heavier in the control pens compared with males in pens equipped with perches (2096 g vs 2051 g, P=0.015). Food conversion was independent of the presence of perches.     

Effect of aflatoxin B1 on the efficacy of turkey herpesvirus vaccine against Marek's disease

The effect of feeding aflatoxin B1 (AFB1) (0.5 ppm) was studied in young chicks. The frequency and the severity of gross and microscopic lesions of Marek's disease were significantly higher in those birds which had been vaccinated with turkey herpesvirus (HVI) and birds challenged with Marek's disease virus which had been given AFB1 in the feed than in those given normal feed. The protective efficacy of HVT vaccine, as judged on the basis of gross and histopathological lesions, was 86.1 and 77.3 per cent in normally fed birds in comparison to 37.6 and 8 per cent in AFB1 fed birds.     

The effect of bone choice on quantification of mineralization in broiler chickens up to 6 weeks of age

An experiment was conducted to assess the most appropriate bone type for measuring bone mineralization in male broiler chicks up to 42 d. A total of 72 male broilers were raised in 0.64 m² pens on a litter floor. The study design included 2 dietary treatments (Control and Low) containing differing levels of total phosphorus (7.8 and 4.4 g/kg for Control and Low diets respectively) and calcium (22.7 and 13.1 g/kg for Control and Low diets respectively) with each fed to 6 replicate pens of 6 birds. Each wk, 6 birds per diet were euthanized and leg bones removed to measure ash percentage. Foot, toe, tibia, and femur ash were compared using the mean of both legs from each bird, via t-tests to separate Control and Low diets. At the end of wk 1, diets could not be separated using any of the bone ash measures. From wk 2 to wk 5, both tibia and foot ash differentiated between the Control and Low diets, and tibia continued to show significant differences between the diets into wk 6. Femur ash did not show any dietary differences until wk 3, but then showed significant differences between the diets until wk 6. Toe ash only differentiated between diets at wk 2, and variation both within and between birds was high, particularly with younger birds. These results suggest that bird age has implications when choosing a bone for assessing possible differences in dietary phosphorus and calcium uptake. Femur ash may be more appropriate for showing differences in broilers aged 6 wk and older. Foot ash provides a comparable alternative to tibia ash in birds aged 2 to 5 wk of age, providing a labor- and time-saving alternative.     

Skeletal and tendon lesions of male broiler-breeders reared on elevated slats

Eighty 25-week-old male broiler-breeder chickens were placed in pens with elevated slats for 16 weeks. A similar group of birds was housed on floor pens for comparison. The coxofemoral, stifle, and tibiotarsal joints and their supporting tendons and ligaments were examined grossly. Rearing heavy broiler-breeders on elevated slats did not result in grossly apparent arthritis, tendonitis, or tendon failure. Body weights and shank lengths and diameters were not markedly different. Microscopically, the broiler-breeders reared on slats had a lymphocytic synovitis with synovial cell hyperplasia involving the gastrocnemius and digital flexor tendons. The incidence and severity of the lesion increased with time.     

Dietary essential oils improve the hepatic antioxidative status of broiler chickens

1. A total of 200 male Ross 308 chickens were used to evaluate the effects of a standardised combination of essential oils including 5% carvacrol, 3% cinnamaldehyde and 2% capsicum oleoresin (XT 6930; Pancosma S.A., Geneva, Switzerland) on their performance, hepatic antioxidant concentration and caecal tonsils morphometry.

2. Two diets were offered to broiler chickens from d old to 21 d of age. The control diet (C) was slightly lower in metabolisable energy (12.13 MJ/kg ME) and crude protein (215 g/kg CP) than breeders’ recommendation. The second diet, made as XT 6930, was added on the top of the control diet at 100 mg/kg. Each diet was offered ad libitum to birds housed in one of 10 floor pens in a randomised complete block design. The birds were housed in 20 floor pens, 10 birds in each pen, and were allocated to 10 replicates of the two dietary treatments.

3. The concentration of antioxidants in the liver of the birds was determined using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) at 21 d of age. Birds fed control diet only had lower weight and converted less efficiently feed to gain compared to birds fed essential oils-supplemented diet. Feed consumption was not affected by dietary treatments. The antioxidant data showed that supplemented essential oils improved the hepatic concentration of carotenoids and coenzyme Q₁₀ when fed to broiler chickens. The morphometry of the caecal tonsils of the birds was not influenced by dietary treatments.

4. It can be concluded that that dietary combination of essential oils, including carvacrol, cinnamaldehyde and capsicum oleoresin, improved growth, feed efficiency and the hepatic concentration of carotenoids and coenzyme Q₁₀ when fed to broiler chickens.     

In vivo Tetracycline Labelling as a Measure of Rearing-system Influence on Chicken-bone Dynamics

The objective of this study was to estimate the internal dynamics of leg (tibia) and wing (humerus) bones in light and heavy types of chicken, reared in cages and on the floor. The ratio of floor-to-cage area was 3:1. All chicks were fed a standard broiler mixture (0-4 weeks with 0.9% Ca and 0.7% P; 4–7 weeks with 0.8% Ca and 0.5% P). Each bird was given two intraperitoneal injections of 30 mg/kg of oxy-tetracycline at 2-day intervals.
The results showed no significant differences between floor-and cage-reared birds in tibial-osteon appositional rates. However, there was a significant rearing-system effect on humerus internal dynamics. Seven-week-old light chicks, reared on the floor, had humeri with a higher appositional rate than those reared in the cages.     

Effect of methionine hydroxy analog-free acid on growth performance and chemical composition of liver of broiler chicks fed a corn–soybean based diet from 0 to 6 weeks of age

The experiment was carried out to determine the effects of liquid DL‐methionine hydroxy analog‐free acid (LMA) and dry DL‐methionine (DLM) on growth performance, carcass quality and chemical composition of the livers of broiler chicks during 0–6 weeks of age. Four hundred and fifty male commercial broiler chicks (Ross strain) were used. The chicks were divided into three groups, and each group consisted of six replicates of 25 chicks each. The chicks were kept in floor pens, and water and feed were supplied ad libitum throughout the experiment. Three experimental diets were provided as follows: (i) corn–soybean‐based diet deficient in methionine; (ii) methionine‐deficient corn–soybean‐based diet supplemented with DLM to meet the methionine requirements of broiler chicks; and (iii) methionine‐deficient corn–soybean‐based diet supplemented with LMA (1.25‐fold (w/w) the amount of DLM supplied to the second group, given an assumption that 100 units of liquid LMA can be replaced by 80 units DLM to give similar performance results). During the starter period, the weight gains of chicks fed LMA or DLM were significantly greater than those in chicks receiving the methionine‐deficient diet (P < 0.05), and the addition of LMA significantly improved weight gain compared with the addition of DLM. Adding DLM or LMA significantly improved the feed conversion ratio (FCR) and percentage of uniformity (P < 0.05). No significant differences between the effects of DLM and LMA on these parameters were found. During the grower period (3–6 weeks of age), weight gain, FCR, uniformity and feed intake of chicks that received diet supplemented with DLM or LMA were superior to those of the methionine‐deficient group (P < 0.05). Chicks fed LMA had the same bodyweight gain and uniformity as those fed DLM. However, adding LMA resulted in a significant increase of FCR resulting from excess feed consumption. Outer breast meat yields were significantly improved and abdominal fat was significantly decreased when methionine sources were added (P < 0.05), and adding LMA tended to promote edible meat growth better than did adding DLM. Although no significant effects of methionine sources on the chemical composition of the liver were seen, adding methionine sources tended to increase liver fat content. In conclusion, it seems that the bioefficacy of LMA relative to DLM is not less than 80%. Therefore, chicks fed with diet supplemented with 1.25‐fold (w/w) as much LMA as DLM might exceed requirements for growth performance, while meeting requirements for meat production. Moreover, the relative bioefficacies of LMA and DLM between the starter and grower periods may perhaps be different.     

A comparison of the efficacy against Marek's disease of cell-free and cell-associated turkey herpesvirus vaccine.

One-day-old White Leghorn and broiler chicks with maternal antibody to turkey herpesvirus (HVT) were vaccinated with 300 or 1,000 plaque-forming units (PFU) of cell-free or cell-associated HVT vaccine and challenged with virulent Marek's disease virus (MDV) by contact exposure. Broiler chicks receiving 300 PFU of cell-associated HVT had a 3.3% incidence of MD lesions, whereas only 2.0% of those receiving 1,000 PFU had macroscopic lesions. Broiler chicks vaccinated with 300 PFU of cell-free vaccine had 6.8% gross lesions, and 0.67% of the birds receiving 1,000 PFU had MD lesions. Unvaccinated broiler chickens had a 28.3% incidence of MD lesions. Unvaccinated White Leghorn chickens had a 48.9% incidence of macroscopic lesions, whereas 5.4% of the birds receiving 300 PFU of cell-associated HVT had gross lesions, and 8.3% of the birds vaccinated with 1,000 PFU had lesions. In contrast, 6.7% of the chicks vaccinated with 300 PFU of cell-free HVT had MD lesions, and only 4.0% of those receiving 1,000 PFU of cell-free HVT had macroscopic lesions.