Growth performance of Hubbard × Cobb 500 and Ross × Ross 708 male broilers fed diets varying in apparent metabolizable energy from 14 to 28 days of age

The cost of energy-contributing ingredients has increased over the last several years. Defining minimum dietary energy specifications for broilers is a strategy to mitigate high diet cost. Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of diets with graded concentrations of AME_n fed to Hubbard × Cobb 500 (experiment 1) and Ross × Ross 708 (experiment 2) male broiler chicks from 14 to 28 d of age. Both experiments were identical in experimental procedures with the exception of genetic strain. Broilers were fed a common corn-soybean meal-based starter diet from 1 to 13 d of age. At 14 d of age, dietary treatments were provided with 1 of 6 concentrations of AME_n (3,000, 3,030, 3,060, 3,090, 3,120, and 3,150 kcal/kg). In experiment 1, BW gain, feed intake, and FCR of Hubbard × Cobb 500 broilers decreased linearly with increasing AME_n. Linear broken-line response of FCR was estimated at 3,062 kcal of AME_n/kg based on broken-line methodology. In experiment 2, Ross × Ross 708 broilers did not respond to graded concentrations of energy, as indicated by linear and quadratic regression of BW gain, feed intake, caloric conversion, and FCR data. Therefore, Hubbard × Cobb 500 male broilers respond to AME_n from 14 to 28 d of age and may be fed diets formulated at 3,062 kcal of AME_n/kg without loss of performance. Conversely, growth performance of Ross × Ross 708 male broilers was not affected by varying AME_n (3,000 to 3,150 kcal/kg) from 14 to 28 d of age. In addition, the response to AME_n may not be as pronounced with the modern broiler compared with broilers used in previous research.     

Estimation of the relative bioavailability of inorganic copper sources for chicks using tissue uptake of copper

An experiment was conducted with 208 day-old male Cobb feather-sexed chicks to study tissue accumulation of Cu as an estimate of biological availability of inorganic Cu sources for chicks. Chicks were allotted randomly to dietary treatments that included an unsupplemented basal corn-soybean meal diet (11.1 mg/kg Cu, DM basis) or this basal diet supplemented with 150, 300 or 450 mg/kg Cu either as reagent-grade acetate or feed grade oxide, carbonate or sulfate. Chicks were housed in batteries and allowed ad libitum access to feed and tap water for 21 d. Liver Cu was not affected by dietary Cu from the oxide source, but it increased (P less than .001) with increasing dietary Cu from all other sources. Bone Cu was lower (P less than .05) in chicks fed 150 mg/kg Cu compared to other dietary levels of Cu but was not influenced (P greater than .10) by Cu source. Using the slope-ratio technique from regression of log liver Cu on mean daily Cu intake with Cu from acetate set at 100%, the relative biological availability values were estimated to be 88.5 and 54.3% for sulfate and carbonate, respectively, and oxide was essentially unavailable.     

Single administration of xylitol to newly hatched chicks enhances growth, digestive enzyme activity and immune responses by 12 d of age

1. An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of a single administration of xylitol to newly hatched chicks on growth, digestive enzyme activity and immune responses at 12 d of age. 2. Female broiler chicks (Cobb) were given 0.5 ml of either 20% glucose, 20% xylitol or water alone within 24 h after hatch. Thereafter, all chicks were reared under conventional conditions and given a commercial broiler starter diet until 12 d of age in experiment 1. In experiment 2, they were deprived of feed and water for 24 h and kept at 27 degrees C to mimic transportation stress before given feed and water. 3. Body weights at 5 d of age did not differ among the treatments, but at 12 d of age chicks given 20% xylitol showed greater body weight than those in the other treatment groups. Bursa weight (mg per 100 g body weight) was greater in chicks given xylitol solution than in chicks given glucose solution or water at 5 and 12 d of age. 4. Amylase and chymotrypsin activities in the pancreas of chicks given xylitol solution were higher than in chicks given water or glucose solution at 5 and/or 12 d of age. 5. A single administration of xylitol within 24 h after hatch increased splenocyte proliferation against concanavalin A and pokeweed mitogen, and antibody titres to keyhole limpet haemocyanin (KLH) and Mycobacterium butyricum (Mb) as compared to glucose, administration at 12 d of age, but not as compared to water administration. 6. These results indicated that xylitol may be a functional carbohydrate source to improve growth rate and health and to relieve transportation stress in broiler chicks.     

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.     

A comparison of the effects of different yeast products and antibiotic on broiler performance

1. The objectives of this experiment were to compare the effects of different yeast products, with different nucleotide contents and inclusion rates, on broiler performance and to compare the effects to those observed with an antibiotic growth promoter. 2. Two experiments were carried out over two time replicates, one in individual wire cages and one in group pens. 3. Birds were given a diet based on a commercial formulation, which was split into 7 batches. One batch (C) contained no growth promoter and acted as a negative control, another (AV) contained the antibiotic growth promoter Avilomycin (5 g/tonne) and acted as the positive control. The other batches contained yeast extract 2012 at 100 g/tonne (Y21), yeast extract 2012 at 500 g/tonne (Y25), standard yeast 18 at 100 g/tonne (Y81), standard yeast 18 enriched in nucleotides at 100 g/tonne (Y8N1) and standard yeast 18 enriched in nucleotides at 500 g/tonne (Y8N5). 4. In the penned experiment, 280 Cobb broiler chicks (40 birds/treatment) were randomised to diet and pen position on day of hatch. Birds were fed ad libitum until slaughter at 28 d. Bird performance was monitored during the experimental period. 5. In the individual cage experiment, 63 Cobb broiler chicks (9 birds/treatment) were taken from the pens at 7 d of age and randomised to diet and cage position. Birds were fed ad libitum from d 7 to d 28. A 7-d excreta collection was carried out to determine apparent metabolisable energy (AME) content and nutrient digestibility between d 14 and d 21. Bird intake and weight were monitored weekly during the experimental period. At 28 d the birds were killed and viscosity of jejunal digesta supernatant was determined. 6. In the penned experiment, diet had no significant effect on dry matter intake (DMI), live weight gain (LWG) or gain:feed values during any individual week of the experiment or for the entire experimental period. In the caged experiment, DMI was numerically highest for birds fed Y25 diet over the entire experimental period, however, this only reached significance in the second week. LWG, gain:feed, viscosity of jejunal contents and gizzard weight were not significantly affected by dietary treatment. 7. Diet AV had a significantly higher AME content than diets Y25, Y81, Y8N1 or Y8N5. Also, oil and neutral detergent fibre (NDF) digestibility coefficients were significantly affected by diet treatment.     

Growth performance and carcass characteristics of male broilers fed diets varying in digestible threonine to lysine ratio from 21 to 49 days of age

Two experiments were conducted to ascertain digestible Thr to Lys ratio of male broilers from 21 to 35 d of age (experiment 1) and 35 to 49 d of age (experiment 2) based on growth performance and processing yields. In both experiments, 2 diets (dilution and summit; 3,108 kcal ME/kg and 18.2% CP in experiment 1; 3,163 kcal ME/kg and 17.2% CP in experiment 2) consisting of corn, soybean meal, poultry by-product meal, and peanut meal formulated to be surfeit in limiting amino acids with exception of digestible Lys and Thr were mixed at various proportions to create 8 titration dose-response diets. Digestible Lys was formulated to contain 95% of the requirements from 21 to 35 and 35 to 49 d of age. In each experiment, gradient treatment structure was arranged in a randomized complete block design. Calculated digestible Thr to Lys ratios ranged from 0.512 to 0.806 in approximately increments of 0.040 (1,600 Hubbard × Cobb 500 broilers; experiment 1) and 0.552 to 0.793 in approximately increments of 0.035 (3,000 Ross × Ross 708 broilers; experiment 2). In experiment 1, digestible Thr to Lys ratio for male Hubbard × Cobb 500 broilers was estimated at 0.68 and 0.67 for BW gain and feed conversion from 21 to 35 d of age. In experiment 2, digestible Thr to Lys ratio of Ross × Ross 708 was determined at 0.68 and 0.63 for feed conversion ratio with quadratic and linear broken-line models, respectively. Meat weights and yields were not affected by the dietary treatments in either experiment. These data indicate that a digestible Thr to Lys ratio of 0.68 can optimize growth performance of broilers from 21 to 35 and 35 to 49 d of age.     

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.     

0～21和22～42日龄黄羽肉鸡可消化蛋氨酸需要量的研究

试验一和试验二分别选用1日龄和22日龄岭南黄鸡各2 000只和1 600只,按性别和体重分成10处理组(公、母鸡各5组),每组4重复栏,每栏50(试验一)和40只鸡(试验二)。2个试验均采用5(饲粮蛋氨酸水平)×2(性别)两因子试验设计,试验一和二分别设0.35%、0.40%、0.45%、0.50%和0.55%以及0.30%、0.35%、0.40%、0.45%和0.50%5个饲粮蛋氨酸水平。结果表明:随着饲粮蛋氨酸水平提高,0～21日龄和22～42日龄公、母鸡每日总蛋氨酸摄入量和真可消化蛋氨酸摄入量呈线性或二次曲线升高(P<0.05);0～21日龄公、母鸡的日增重呈二次曲线升高(P<0.05),0～21日龄和22～42日龄公、母鸡的饲料增重比呈二次曲线降低(P<0.05或0.1)。可见,在基础饲粮中添加适量蛋氨酸改善了黄羽肉鸡的生产性能。根据二次回归模型估测黄羽肉鸡获得最佳生产性能95%处的总蛋氨酸需要量和真可消化蛋氨酸需要量,0~21日龄母鸡为0.433%~0.435%和0.404%~0.406%,公鸡为0.445%~0.454%和0.416%~0.425%,22～42日龄母鸡为0.463%和0.437%,公鸡为0.375%和0.349%。     

Effect of age of maternal flock and strain on the incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia in growing chicks.

Two experiments were conducted to study the effects of age of the maternal flock (27 vs. 57 weeks of age at time the eggs were set) and strain of broiler chicks (Cobb 500, Ross, Arbor Acres, and Avian) on the incidence of tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) in broiler cockerels grown to 3 weeks of age. The chicks were fed a corn/soybean meal-based diet containing 3145 kcal metabolizable energy corrected for nitrogen retention (MEn)/kg, 24% protein, and 0.50% available phosphorus. Each treatment was replicated four times with eight chicks per pen. In Expt. 1, chicks from the old parent flock had significantly higher body weights (P < or = 0.05) than those from the young parent flock. There were no significant differences in feed efficiency or incidence of TD. In Expt. 2, body weights, feed efficiency, and TD were unaffected by strain.     

Influence of thermal stimulation during the late phase of incubation on hatching results and post-hatch broiler performance under commercial conditions

1. Two experiments, which differed in breeder age, strain and season, were conducted to study the influence of low-intensity, short-duration thermal stimuli during the late phase of incubation on hatchability and performance. The first experiment conducted in April–June used eggs from Cobb × Ross broiler breeders at 35–41 weeks of age and the second experiment performed in February–April used eggs from Hubbard × Cobb broiler breeders at 49–53 weeks of age.

2. Eggs in the test group had the same physical environment as eggs in the control group except that incubation temperature was increased by 1?C for 2 h/d above the control group from 18 to 20 d of incubation (DI).

3. The results demonstrated that thermal stimulation of 1?C for 2 h/d above control incubation temperature during 18–21DI did not have any adverse effects on hatch and post-hatch performance of broilers.

4. In both experiments, treatment did not significantly alter the secondary sex ratio in hatched chickens, but hatch residue showed that the proportion of unhatched male embryos was significantly lower in the test groups than in the control groups.

5. In the first experiment, thermal stimulation improved feed conversion by 1.82% compared with the control.

     

Potential of chemical regulation of food intake and body weight of broiler breeder chicks

1. Two experiments were performed to evaluate the potential of phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride and monensin sodium as appetite- and weight-control agents for Indian River broiler breeder chicks. 2. In experiment 1, a total of 300 day-old sexed broiler breeder chicks were individually weighed and placed in battery cages. They were randomly assigned to 5 dietary treatments, namely 0, 50, 100, 200 and 400 mg/kg of phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride added to a maize-soyabean meal basal diet. 3. In experiment 2, a total of 400 day-old sexed broiler breeder chicks were randomly assigned to 10 dietary treatments which were a combination of two concentrations of dietary crude protein (200 and 150 g/kg) and 5 different concentrations of added drugs in the diet, namely 0, 500 and 800 mg/kg of phenylpropanolamine hydrochloride and 200 and 300 mg/kg of monensin sodium. 4. Food consumption and body weight gain were significantly reduced by feeding diets containing the drugs but mortality was not significantly affected. Birds showed evidence of increased tolerance, with age, to phenylpropanolamine but not to monensin. 5. Monensin sodium, at high inclusion rates, was found to be a more potent and effective appetite- and growth-depressing agent for broiler breeder chicks than phenylpropanolamine and may have application in broiler breeder production using an ad libitum feeding programme.     

Estimation of Nutrient Equivalency Values of Natuzyme and Its Effects on Broiler Chick Performance

Two experiments were carried out to estimate nutrient equivalency of a commercial multi-enzyme (Natuzyme) and its effects on broiler chick performance. Experiment 1 was carried out using a completely randomized design to evaluate the response of chicks to Natuzyme (with different equivalency values assigned by the producer) in corn-soybean meal-based diets. Dietary treatments 1 and 6 were negative and positive controls, respectively. Diets 2 through 5 were graded levels of nutrient equivalency values of Natuzyme. Each diet was offered to 5 replicates of 16 chicks (n = 480). In experiment 2, a total of 480 male Ross 308 broiler chicks were used in a completely randomized design. Treatment 1 to 4 varied in ME, CP, and nonphytate P content, but in all cases, the ratio between these nutrients remained constant, and treatments 5 to 8 included graded levels of Natuzyme from 0.1 to 0.4 g/kg. Results of experiment 1 show that multi-enzyme supplementation could not restore chick performance to the levels equal to positive control. Equivalency values of Natuzyme for ME, nonphytate P, and CP obtained were 195,180 kcal/kg and 188.45 and 1,170%, respectively. As obtained in the first experiment, performance of chicks in the second experiment showed that Natuzyme did not liberate nutrient equivalency values recommended by the producer for broiler chicks when fed corn-soybean meal-based diets.     

Incubation temperature profiles affect broiler feathering

Two experiments were conducted to assess the effects of incubation temperature profiles, breeder feed restriction programs, and litter conditions on progeny feather follicle (FF) density and skin layer thickness. In the first experiment, Cobb 500 fast feathering breeders were subjected to 2 feed restriction programs during rearing: skip-a-day (SAD) and every-day feeding (EDF). Eggs from each group were incubated according to 2 incubation temperature profiles: standard (S) and early-low late-high (LH). A total of 72 chicks per treatment combination were placed in Petersime cages (6/cage) and sampled for skin in the breast, dorsum, and thigh areas at 22 d. Additional samples were collected from the thigh and measured for epidermal and dermal thickness. For the second experiment, 2,475 eggs from a commercial flock of Cobb 500 fast feathering breeders were subjected to 3 incubation temperature profiles: S, LH, and standard-high (SH). At hatch, 1,260 chickens were placed in floor pens (14/pen) that contained either used litter or new wood shavings. At 28 d of age, 2 chickens per pen were sampled for skin in the breast, dorsum, and thigh areas. In both experiments, FF were counted in 4.5 cm². It was concluded that incubation temperature affected feathering development in both experiments, especially in the breast. This effect may be stronger in progeny from breeders restricted under SAD programs. Moreover, litter conditions impacted FF numbers. These findings may be applied to minimize carcass scratches and improve broiler welfare.     

Supplementation of diets containing pea meal with exogenous enzymes: effects on weight gain,feed conversion,nutrient digestibility and gross morphology of the gastrointestinal tract of growing broiler chicks

1. The potential for the nutritional improvement of pea-based diets by supplementation with a cocktail of exogenous carbohydrases was investigated using growing broiler chicks. 2. Pea meals (grown in the UK) were included in wheat-based diets at 300 g/kg as a partial replacement for an approximately isonitrogenous mixture of wheat and soybean meal. A wheat/soybean meal diet served as a control and each diet was supplemented with a cocktail of alpha-amylase, pectinase and cellulase. The diets were fed to 1-d-old broiler chicks for a period of 21 d. Weight gain and feed conversion were monitored weekly and excreta were collected during the final week in order to determine nutrient digestibility coefficients and metabolisable energy. On d 21, the gastrointestinal (GI) tract was excised and gross morphology measured. 3. Inclusion of pea meal reduced weight gain, feed conversion, nutrient digestibility and also increased the relative sizes of the distal sections of the GI tract. 4. Enzyme addition partially ameliorated the detrimental effects of pea meal inclusion although similar improvements were also noted for birds fed on the control diet. 5. It is concluded that the nutritive value of pea-meal-based diets can be improved by the addition of carbohydrases, and that some pea cultivars show considerable potential as vegetable protein sources for broiler chicks.     

β-羟基-β-甲基丁酸对肉仔鸡生长性能和屠宰性能的影响

选择240只7日龄肉仔鸡按照体重相近原则随机分为5组,每组6个重复,每个重复8只,分别饲喂添加0%、0.01%、0.055%、0.1%、0.145% β-羟基-β-甲基丁酸(HMB)的试验日粮.采用三层笼养,试验期35 d.试验结果表明:(1)不同水平HMB对肉仔鸡生产性能的总体影响不显著.7～21日龄时,与对照组相比,0.145% HMB组内仔鸡料重比降低6.06%(P＞0.05);0.1%和O.145%HMB肥组肉仔鸡死亡率低于对照组水平.22～42日龄时,0.145%HMB组肉仔鸡采食量与对照组相比降低9.94%,各处理组体增重和料重比差异不显著(P＞0.05);7～42日龄时.0.145%HMB组肉仔鸡采食量与对照组相比降低9.03%(P＜0.05),各处理问体增重和料重比无显著差异,但0.145%HMB组肉鸡料重比最小.0.1%和0.145%HMB组肉仔鸡死亡率低于对照组和其他处理组.(2)肉仔鸡的屠宰性能包括屠宰率、半净膛、全净膛率、胸肌率、腿肌率和腹脂率在各处理问无显著差异(P＞0.05),0.145%HMB组肉仔鸡腿肌率较对照组提高3.74%(P＝0.075).可见,在7～42日龄内仔鸡日粮中添加适量的HMB可显著降低肉仔鸡采食量.而体增重和饲料效率无显著变化,并有促进肉仔鸡腿部肌肉生长发育的趋势.     

Effects of supplementation of beta-glucan on the growth performance and immunity in broilers

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the efficacy of beta-glucan on commercial broilers. In experiment 1, one hundred and forty-four broiler chicks were employed in a 2x3 factorial design with cage and open floor housing with three levels of beta-glucan viz. 0%, 0.02% and 0.04%. In experiment 2, ninety-six broilers were used with 4 treatments: No beta-glucan and antibiotic (T1), beta-glucan 0.03% (T2), antibiotic (T3), and beta-glucan 0.03% + antibiotic (T4) for 34 d with 3 replicates of 8 chicks each in both studies. During experiment 1 there was no significant effect of the feeding system or the beta-glucan levels on the performance from 0 to 17 d but during 18-34 days birds housed on the open floor had significantly (p<0.0001) higher weight gain compared with those in cages. In experiment 2, no significant effect was noticed on the weight gains when the effect of beta-glucan, antibiotic or their interaction were tested. The retention of dry matter increased in both experiments with beta-glucan supplementation. The CD8 and TCR 1 cells were significantly higher in the 0.04% beta-glucan group at 42 days as compared with the control. It could be concluded that beta-glucan supplementation was beneficial for broilers.     

早期限饲对肉鸡体内脂质过氧化作用和抗氧化酶活性的影响

采用低温诱发肉鸡腹水综合征(AS)，并观察早期限饲对常温和低温饲养时肉鸡AS的发病率、肉鸡体内脂质过氧化作用和抗氧化酶活性的影响。试验1，限饲处理组肉鸡分别于7～14日龄或7～21日龄每天给料8h，对照组肉鸡全程自由采食。试验2，限饲组肉鸡分别于7～14日龄给予对照组肉鸡前一天饲料消耗量的60％或80％，对照组肉鸡自由采食。试验过程中连续测定肉鸡血浆超氧化物歧化酶(SOD)、谷胱甘肽过氧化物酶(GSH—Px)、丙二醛(MDA)水平和腹水心脏指数(RV／TV值)。结果显示低温显著升高了肉鸡血浆MDA浓度，降低了血浆SOD和GSH—Px的活性；低温饲养肉鸡5～6周龄时的RV／TV值显著升高，AS的发病率显著增加。限饲处理显著降低了肉鸡血浆MDA含量，并且限饲处理肉鸡生长后期血浆中SOD和GSH—Px活性显著高于自由采食组肉鸡。所有的限饲处理均能降低肉鸡AS的发病率，并且早期限饲处理肉鸡42日龄的RV／TV值显著低于非限饲肉鸡。这表明早期限饲能够减轻肉鸡体内脂质过氧化作用，提高机体抗氧化酶的活性，从而降低AS的发病率。     

The effect of high dietary sodium chloride on renal function in chicks.

1. One-day-old male broiler chicks were fed on diets containing 3-8% or 2-7% added NaCl in two experiments lasting 22 and 42 d respectively. 2. Sodium clearance was increased in treated birds in both experiments. No other changes in renal function were observed but an increase in plasma urate in treated birds of the first experiment may indicate some loss of proximal tubular function. 3. Renal function, relative to body weight, diminished slowly with age in control and treated birds but these changes could not be related to the fact that at about 3 weeks of age testicular cysts no longer develop.     

Lack of effect of dietary energy-to-protein ratio and energy concentration on the response of broiler chickens to virginiamycin.

1. Two factorial experiments were carried out with male broiler chicks from 6 to 28 (experiment 1) and from 7 to 49 (experiment 2) d of age to evaluate the combined effect of virginiamycin (VIR), dietary energy concentration, and energy-to-protein (E:P) ratio on performance and the utilisation of dietary nutrients. 2. VIR had no significant effect in either experiment on food intake or weight gain, but significantly improved food efficiency up to 28 d of age (P less than 0.001 and P less than 0.05 in experiments 1 and 2, respectively). 3. VIR consistently and significantly (P less than 0.01) decreased fat excretion, improved fat relative retention and increased dietary AMEn. VIR also significantly (P less than 0.01) increased relative retention of dry matter, while it did not affect nitrogen balance. 4. Neither of the variables of performance and utilisation of dietary nutrients was affected by the interactions between VIR and either dietary E:P ratio or energy concentration. It is concluded, therefore, that the effect of VIR in increasing the utilisation of dietary energy does not depend on the above factors.     

共轭亚油酸对肉仔鸡体组成和肉品品质的影响

本试验旨在探讨日粮添加共轭亚油酸(CLA)对肉仔鸡体组成和肉品品质的影响。240只1日龄肉仔鸡随机分配到4个日粮处理组(0%、0.25%、0.5%和1%CLA),每个处理6个重复,每个重复10只鸡。试验结果表明:42d时,0.5%和1%CLA组肉仔鸡胸肌率显著高于对照组(P<0.05),1%CLA组肉仔鸡42d腿肌率显著高于对照组,肉仔鸡的腹脂率在各处理之间没有显著差异(P>0.05),1%CLA组肉仔鸡胸肌粗蛋白质粗脂肪比显著高于对照组(P<0.05)。0.5%、1%CLA组肉仔鸡胸肌滴水损失和丙二醛(MDA)含量显著降低(P<0.05)。试验结果表明,CLA可改善肉仔鸡屠体性状,增加鸡肉系水力和延长货架存放时间。