The control of egg production using a low‐sodium diet

Experiments have shown that egg production can be controlled by using a low‐sodium diet. When a diet containing 0.038% sodium was fed to birds prior to point of lay, egg production was severely restricted. When this diet was fed to hens already in lay, production ceased but the subsequent feeding of an adequate diet resulted in rapid re‐attainment of production to a level higher than that of normally‐fed birds. There were also improvements in egg and shell quality. Birds fed on the low‐sodium diet remained in good condition and mortality did not increase.     

Modification of the lipid profile and antioxidant status of the blood plasma of turkey hens fed mixtures with raw or extruded linseed

The aim of the study was to determine the most beneficial proportion of raw linseed in complete feed mixtures for turkey hens on the basis of lipid and redox indicators in the blood. In experiment 1, the turkey hens received the complete mixture with 2%, 4% or 6% linseed. On the basis of the results obtained in experiment 1, we selected the most effective proportion of linseed, which was given to the birds in the group receiving a 4% linseed additive. In experiment 2, the birds were fed mixtures with a 4% addition of raw or extruded linseed. The use of 4% raw linseed was found to improve production effects (improvement of weight gain, and lower feed conversion ratios), while extruded linseed in the diet of turkey hens did not affect growth performance. The use of linseed (4% and 6%) as a feed component for turkey hens led to an increase in indicators of antioxidant potential, that is the total antioxidant potential of the plasma, vitamins E and C, bilirubin and creatinine. A benefit resulting from the use of linseed, particularly in the amounts of 2% and 4% was a marked improvement in lipid indicators in the blood. The reduced percentage of unsaturated fatty acids (n‐3) following the use of extruded linseed resulted in a decrease in lipid peroxidation (lower content of malondialdehyde, superoxide and vitamins C and E in the blood). The most effective dose and form of linseed in the diet of turkey hens is 4% raw linseed.     

Short-term reduction in egg production in laying hens treated with an agonist of GnRH.

1. In two experiments laying hens were treated with an agonist of gonadotrophin releasing hormone (GnRH) to induce a reduction in the secretion of luteinising hormone (LH) and a pause in egg production. 2. In experiment 1, 70-week-old laying hens were either given daily subcutaneous injections of saline for 7 d, offered whole oats for 7 d (nutrient restriction), given daily injections of the GnRH agonist [D-Trp6-Pro9 N-ethyl amide]GnRH for 7 d at 50 micrograms/kg or 100 micrograms/kg or administered 4 biocompatible implants each containing 120 micrograms of the GnRH agonist. 3. Weekly egg production was monitored for 7 weeks and blood samples were taken at weekly intervals and assayed for plasma LH and oestradiol. Egg production was reduced in the birds treated with the agonist (28 to 46% reduction) but not to the same extent as in the birds offered whole oats (92.3% reduction). 4. The treatments also reduced plasma LH and oestradiol in treated hens but again to a greater extent in the birds offered whole oats than the birds treated with the agonist. Egg production and plasma LH and oestradiol increased following the termination of the treatments. 5. The birds fed whole oats suffered a reduction in weight of 16.7% over the treatment period whereas there were increases in the weights of the birds treated with saline, 50 micrograms of GnRH agonist and the implants of GnRH agonist, but no change in birds treated with 100 micrograms of GnRH agonist. 6. The birds fed oats lost feathers over the treatment period but the birds in the other treatment groups suffered no loss. 7. In experiment 2 laying hens were either injected daily with saline or 200 micrograms GnRH agonist and weekly egg production and plasma LH and oestradiol were measured. As egg production was reduced by almost 60% in the birds treated with the agonist but did not completely cease. Reductions in plasma LH and oestradiol were also observed. All variables increased to pretreatment levels once treatment ceased. 8. These data confirm the effects of severely depriving hens of nutrients on egg production and the secretion of LH and oestradiol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)     

Isolation of Salmonella Organisms from Commercial Layer Houses Where the Flocks Were Molted with a Wheat Bran Diet

To develop an alternative method to feed withdrawal for molting layers, 2 flocks consisting of approximately 26,000 commercial laying hens each at 478 (68 wk, flock 1) and 466 (67 wk, flock 2) d of age were reared in an environmentally controlled windowless house and were fed wheat bran (WB) diet. Flock 1 hens were fed WB for 25 d, and flock 2 hens were fed WB for 21 d and then fed a mixture of WB and layer feed (1:1, wt:wt) for the last 4 d of the treatment. After that, the birds in both flocks were fed a normal layer feed. The photoperiod was reduced from 16 to 9 h in both flocks. Most of the birds in both flocks ceased egg production by 10 to 15 d of feeding the WB diets. Egg production in flock 1 gradually increased to 11.4% by 31 to 40 d and 71.4% by 41 to 50 d of the treatment, whereas the egg production in flock 2 hens lagged behind by almost 10 d. The mean egg production from 61 to 140 d exceeded 86% in both flocks. The houses in the farm were naturally contaminated with several serovars of Salmonella, not Enteriditis or Typhimurium. In both flocks with the WB treatment, no marked increase in Salmonella isolation from environmental samples was observed postmolt relative to premolt levels. The study demonstrated that feeding hens WB could be successfully used as an alternative to feed withdrawal to force-rest aging hens while not exacerbating a Salmonella problem in a commercial egg-production setting.     

Investigations on the pathogenicity of Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae in laying hens

Erysipelas was diagnosed in 1998 from 34-wk-old laying hens in a free range flock in Germany. Erysipelothrix rhusiopathiae of serotype 1 was cultured from internal organs of the affected birds. This article describes the pathogenicity of the field isolate of E. rhusiopathiae in experimentally infected specific pathogen-free (SPF) laying hens. Three experiments were performed with SPF chickens inoculated at 17, 27, and 37 wk of age by either intramuscular (IM) or oral route. Inoculated birds were observed for 14 days. The highest mortality rates occurred in older birds, with 100% mortality observed in the 37-wk-old birds inoculated IM, 60% mortality reported in the younger 27-wk-old birds, and no mortality in the 17-wk-old age group. In the orally infected 27-wk-old birds, 40% mortality was detected, whereas no mortality was observed in the oldest birds by the same route. The results of the experiments support the contention that older birds are more sensitive to infection than younger birds and that mortality in laying hens is age related and dependent on the route of infection.     

Effects of an 'enrichment feeder' on behavior and feather conditions of caged laying hens

The objective of this study was to compare the behaviors and feather conditions of caged laying hens fed by two different types of feeders. Seven tennis balls were placed on the feed trough to hide the feed for each of 6 experimental cages (treatment B). The same feed troughs without balls were used for 6 control cages (treatment NB). Forty-eight commercial white leghorn type hens were housed as 4 birds per cage (474 cm² per bird). The experimental period was from 22 to 32 weeks of age. At 28 weeks of age, the hens spent more time feeding in treatment NB (35%) than in B (27%). On the other hand, prefeeding behavior (extension of the neck over the trough or pecking at the balls) occupied more time in B (14%) than in NB (6%). The birds in B spent more time thrusting (thrusting other birds aside and trying to eat) than did the birds in NB (2 vs 0%). At 32 weeks of age, the mean proportion of hens feeding and prefeeding behavior in both treatments was similar to those at 28 weeks of age; however, differences of the behavior between the B and NB were relatively small. Feather damage on a scale of 0 (no damage) to 15 (denuded) increased with age, and the scores in B were less than those in NB at 27 weeks (0.75 vs 1.37), although not at 32 weeks. Egg production in the two treatments was the same, and the type of feeder used did not affect body weight. This device might provide hens with a more attractive environment than the conventional feeders; however, the enrichment feeder might need more improvement for the welfare of caged laying hens.     

Optimal dietary concentration of vitamin E for alleviating the effect of heat stress on egg production in laying hens.

1. The effects of different dietary concentrations of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate) were investigated on laying hens exposed to chronic heat stress at 32 degrees C from 26 to 30 weeks of age. 2. Diets containing 5 dietary concentrations of vitamin E (a control diet containing 10 mg alpha-tocopherol/kg or this diet supplemented to contain 125, 250, 375 and 500 mg alpha-tocopherol/kg) were fed to 335 birds. Half of the birds received the supplemented diets for only 4 weeks before the heat stress period (short supplementation duration, SSD) and were fed on the control diet for a further 12 weeks. The remaining birds were fed on the supplemented diets throughout the experiment, 4 weeks before, 4 weeks during and 8 weeks after the heat stress period (long supplementation duration, LSD). 3. Egg production was significantly higher during (80-6 vs 68.9%, P<0.02) and after (75.3 vs 62.7%, P<0.02) the period of stress in the LSD group fed on the diet containing 250 mg vitamin E/kg compared with the group fed on the control diet. LSD birds given 375 and 500 mg vitamin E/kg also had higher egg production than control birds during heat stress but the differences failed to reach significance (74.6 vs 68.9% and 77.1 vs 68.9% respectively). In the SSD groups, mean egg production of the birds given the diets supplemented with 125 mg vitamin E/kg or more was significantly different from the control group after heat stress (70.3 vs 62.7%, P<0.05). Egg weight and food intake were similar in all the groups. 4. Plasma and liver vitamin E concentrations were proportional to the vitamin E intake before the stress period, dropped during heat stress in the SSD groups but were maintained at concentrations closer to those observed before heat stress in the LSD groups. 5. It is concluded that a dietary supplement of 250 mg vitamin E/kg provided before, during and after heat stress is optimum for alleviating, at least in part, the adverse effects of chronic heat stress in laying hens.     

The effects of lindane on laying hens

Feeding lindane, in capsule form, to laying hens at a rate equivalent to 100 mg/kg food for 1 or 2 weeks had little effect on egg production. Longer periods of feeding resulted in a 20 to 30% decrease in the rate of egg production. When treatment was stopped after 4 weeks, the birds recovered and egg production returned to its original rate within a month. The production of flocks treated for 6 weeks or longer became permanently depressed since some birds went out of lay and failed to resume production when the treatment was terminated. Egg shell thickness, egg and yolk weight and hatchability were not significantly affected by the treatment.     

Serological examination and egg production of progeny of fowl experimentally infected with egg drop syndrome 1976 virus

Following EDS'76 virus (BC14 virus) infection of breeder chickens by the conjunctival route, vertical transmission occurred in the first week after infection. In the progeny which had been infected with EDS'76 virus by the vertical route, increasing haemagglutination inhibiting (HI) titres to BC14 virus and increasing numbers of birds with HI titres were observed from 3 weeks to 15 weeks of age. Sixty-one per cent of the hens and 77 per cent of the cocks had 2 log HI BC14 virus titres exceeding 4 at an age of 15 weeks. Some birds which han been serologically negative throughout the rearing period, seroconverted between 25 and 28 weeks of age. This phenomenon occurred in hens as well as in cocks. Simulation of stress twice during the laying period by injection of corticosteroid hormone did not increase the number of birds serologically positive to EDS'76 virus. EDS'76 was observed in the group of hens that was vertically infected, since egg production was significantly depressed between 28 and 34 weeks of age. Probably this was mainly the results of a production drop in the hens showing serconversion at 27 or 28 weeks of age. In this group of fowl vertically infected with EDs'76 virus, serologically positive birds appeared to be protected for the greater part to BC14 virus challenge at 50 weeks of age, while negative birds seemed to be fully susceptible. Chicks hatched from eggs collected in the third and fourth week after infection of the dams had maternal antibodies. Fertility and hatchability of apparently normally shelled eggs seemed not to be affected after BC14 virus infection of the dams. Intensive contact with contaminated faeces is probably an indispensable condition for lateral transmission of the virus.     

Role of Coccidia in the occurrence of necrotic enteritis of chickens

Clostridium perfringens type A, Eimeria acervulina, and Eimeria necatrix were used to produce necrotic enteritis in chickens. The disease was produced in all groups of birds that received feed contaminated with C. perfringens. Mortality due to necrotic enteritis was highest (53%) in birds infected with E. acervulina before infection with clostridia. There was a significant difference in mortality rates between birds infected with E. acervulina and birds infected with E. necatrix before infection with C. perfringens. Mortality rates also differed significantly between the group infected with E. necatrix and the group that received only feed contaminated with C. perfringens. It was concluded that under field conditions, coccidia can play a significant role in the occurrence of necrotic enteritis when a sufficient number of toxigenic strain of C. perfringens type A is present. The pathological changes induced by clostridia and coccidia are described.     

Feeding Hens During Alternating a.m. and p.m. Time Blocks to Induce Zero Egg Production During the Molt

There is a need to evaluate the position paper and guidelines set forth by the United Egg Producers (Washington, DC) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (Schaumburg, IL) on feeding practices and nutrient levels provided during a molt. This pilot study was undertaken to learn if a complete cessation of lay could be achieved with daily feeding while using an alternate morning and evening feeding schedule. This was an effort to mimic the fast that a bird experiences in a natural setting. The hens were fed the amount they would eat in 4 h during the morning one day and again the evening of the next day. Some hens ceased production in the third week and others in the fourth week, with zero production for all hens occurring during the fifth week. The return to 50% egg production was achieved from wk 7 to 8. Peak egg production occurred from the eleventh to twelfth weeks postmolt, reaching a level only 5 to 6 percentage points below the first cycle. This feeding protocol resulted in complete cessation of lay, allowing for a more uniform and complete restoration of the ovarian and oviductal tissues. This restoration is necessary for an effective economical postmolt period of egg production.     

Influence of temperature during growth on responses of hens to high or low temperatures during lay

1. Commercial pullets were grown at cool (10°‐20°C) or hot (25°‐35°C) temperatures to similar bodyweights at 18 weeks of age. Between 18 and 50 weeks the birds were either kept at the same temperatures as during growth or transferred to the alternate temperature.

2. Birds kept at the cool temperatures throughout life ate most food and gave the best production during lay. Minimum food intake and poorest performance were obtained with birds kept at the hot temperatures throughout life.

3. Performance in the hot environment during lay was improved by rearing birds in the cool environment, the response being related to an increased food intake. Food intake in the cool environment during lay was reduced, with only minor effects on performance, in birds which had been reared in the hot environment.

4. The results of the present study show that production responses during lay are affected by the temperatures experienced by hens during both growth and lay.     

Effect of daily feed intake in laying period on laying performance, egg quality and egg composition of genetically fat and lean lines of chickens

1. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effects of feed intake on laying performance, egg quality and egg composition in a Fat line and a Lean line during the laying period (34 to 54 weeks of age). 2. The experiment was a 2 × 2 factorial design with two dietary intake levels (nutrition recommendation and 75% of recommendation) and two broiler genotypes (Fat line and Lean line). Hens (384 of each line) were randomly divided at 23 weeks of age into 4 treatments, with each treatment represented by 12 replicates of 16 birds each. The experiment started when the rate of lay reached 5% and continued until 54 weeks of age. 3. The results indicated that there was a significant interaction between daily feed intake and genotype on egg production, egg weight, percentage yolk, yolk/albumen ratio and yolk cholesterol content. Fat line hens produced significantly more eggs and had a lower incidence of cracked eggs than the Lean line hens. The reduction in feed intake decreased egg weight and increased egg production, egg-shape index and cholesterol content of yolk significantly.     

Salmonella enteritidis and other Salmonella in laying hens and eggs from flocks with Salmonella in their environment.

Seven Canadian layer flocks with Salmonella enteritidis in their environment were investigated to determine the numbers of hens infected with S. enteritidis, the localization of S. enteritidis in organs of infected hens and the numbers of S. enteritidis-infected eggs produced by two affected flocks. By a microagglutination test (MAT) using S. pullorum antigens, these flocks had more seropositive hens (mean 51.9 +/- 16.9%) than two Salmonella-free flocks (mean 13.0 +/- 4.2%). Culture of tissues of 580 hens (433 seropositive) from the seven flocks detected 26 (4.5%) S. enteritidis-infected hens from two flocks. In one flock, 2/150 hens were infected with S. enteritidis phage type (PT) 8, which was confined to the ceca, and no Salmonella spp. were isolated from 2520 eggs (one day's lay). In the second flock, where 24/150 hens were infected with S. enteritidis PT13, extraintestinal infection was found in nine hens and involved the ovaries and/or oviduct in two hens. Salmonella enteritidis PT13 was isolated from one sample of egg contents and from one sample of cracked shells from among 14,040 eggs (one day's lay) from this flock. The overall prevalence of S. enteritidis-contaminated eggs from the two flocks with infected hens was less than 0.06%. Other Salmonella spp. isolated were S. heidelberg from 58 hens (10%), and S. hadar, S. mbandaka and S. typhimurium from one hen (0.2%) each. The MAT with antigens of S. pullorum had a sensitivity of 81% and a specificity of 24% for detecting S. enteritidis-infected hens.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Influence of high dietary vitamin E supplementation on egg production and plasma characteristics in hens subjected to heat stress

1. The effects of different dietary concentrations of vitamin E (alpha-tocopherol acetate) were investigated in 2 experiments on laying hens exposed to chronic heat stress at 32C. 2. In the first experiment, egg production and plasma concentrations of calcium and egg yolk precursors were measured in 24 hens before, during and after a stress period of one week and fed on diets containing 10 or 500 mg vitamin E/kg. 3. In the second, larger experiment, egg production and food intake were measured in 300 hens housed in 2 temperature-controlled rooms and fed on diets containing 10, 125 or 500 mg vitamin E/kg. Birds in room 1 were stressed from 24 to 28 weeks of age and those in room 2 from 32 to 36 weeks. 4. In experiment 1, egg production and egg weight were significantly higher (72.6 vs 51.2%, P < 0.05 and 66.6 vs 63.1 g, P < 0.005 respectively) during and after the period of stress in the group given 500 mg vitamin E/kg. Plasma concentrations of calcium, vitellogenin (zinc) and VLDL (triglyceride) were also higher in this group. 5. In experiment 2, egg production was significantly higher (65.4 vs 56.2%, P < 0.05) during and after the period of heat stress in birds in room 1 fed on the diet containing 500 mg vitamin E/kg. Egg production was also higher (49.9% vs 44.7%) on this treatment during the stress period in room 2, though the difference was not significant (P < 0.10). Egg weight and food intake were unaffected by treatment in either room. 6. It is concluded that dietary supplementation with extra vitamin E can, at least in part, alleviate the adverse effects of chronic heat stress in laying hens, perhaps by maintaining the supply of egg precursors in plasma.     

The relationship between reproductive activity and blood calcium in the calcium-deficient hen.

1. The dependence of reproductive activity in the laying hen upon adequate calcium intake has been investigated. 2. The response of plasma luteinising hormone concentration in calcium-deficient, as compared with calcium-replete hens, to injections of luteinising hormone releasing hormone and progesterone suggested that the primary site of reproductive dysfunction is the hypothalamus rather than the pituitary gland. 3. Laying hens, when presented with a calcium-deficient diet, ceased to lay as the plasma ionised calcium concentration decreased to less than 1.0 mM, supporting the view that there is a threshold of blood calcium activity below which reproductive activity ceases. 4. Supplementation of the diet with calcium produced an immediate restoration of plasma ionised calcium concentration to normal, despite an interval of a few days before the plasma total calcium returned to normal and egg laying resumed.     

Serological examination and egg production of progeny of fowl experimentally infected with Egg Drop Syndrome 1976 virus

Summary

Following EDS'76 virus (BC14 virus) infection of breeder chickens by the conjunctival route, vertical transmission occurred in the first week after infection. In the progeny which had been infected with EDS'76 virus by the vertical route, increasing haemagglutination inhibiting (HI) litres to BC14 virus and increasing numbers of birds with HI litres were observed from 3 weeks to 15 weeks of age. Sixty‐one per cent of the hens and 77 per cent of the cocks had ²log HI BC14 virus litres exceeding 4 at an age of 15 weeks.

Some birds which had been serologically negative throughout the rearing period, seroconverted between 25 and 28 weeks of age. This phenomenon occurred in hens as well as in cocks. Simulation of stress twice during the laying period by injection of corticosteroid hormone did not increase the number of birds serologically positive to EDS'76 virus.

EDS'76 was observed in the group of hens that was vertically infected, since egg production was significantly depressed between 28 and 34 weeks of age. Probably this was mainly the result of a production drop in the hens showing seroconversion at 27 or 28 weeks of age.

In the group of fowl vertically infected with EDS'76 virus, serologically positive birds appeared to be protected for the greater part to BC14 virus challenge at 50 weeks of age, while negative birds seemed to be fully susceptible. Chicks hatched from eggs collected in the third and fourth week after infection of the dams had maternal antibodies. Fertility and hatchability of apparently normally shelled eggs seemed not to be affected after BC14 virus infection of the dams. Intensive contact with contaminated faeces is probably an indispensable condition for lateral transmission of the virus.     

Anticoccidial efficacy of diclazuril against recent field isolates of Eimeria from commercial poultry farms

The anticoccidial efficacy of diclazuril, a novel anticoccidial agent, was titrated in laboratory experiments using recent field isolates of Eimeria. Fifty tests were conducted with six individual species isolates, and seven tests were done with a mixture of the six species. Results were based on intestinal lesion scores at necropsy, droppings scores, and weight gain. Diclazuril at 0.5 ppm was almost completely effective against E. tenella, E. acervulina, and E. mitis. Prevention of E. brunetti was better at 1.0 ppm than at 0.5 ppm. In birds infected with E. mitis. Prevention of E. brunetti was better at 1.0 ppm than at 0.5 ppm. In birds infected with E. maxima, diclazuril at 0.5-1.5 ppm significantly reduced lesion scores and droppings scores and improved weight gain, although lesions were higher than with other species. Oocyst shedding by E. maxima was almost completely prevented by 0.5-1.5 ppm. Lesion scores and droppings scores caused by E. necatrix or mixed infections were greatly reduced by 0.5 ppm of diclazuril, but 1.0 ppm was necessary to obtain full protection of weight gain. Results suggest that 1.0 ppm of diclazuril best prevents coccidiosis caused by six species of coccidia in chickens.     

Review of induced molting by feed removal and contamination of eggs with Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis

As laying hens age, egg production and quality decreases. Egg producers can impose an induced molt on older hens that results in increased egg productivity and decreased hen mortality compared with non-molted hens of the same age. This review discusses the effect of induced molting by feed removal on immune parameters, Salmonella enterica serovar Enteritidis (SE) invasion and subsequent production of SE-contaminated eggs. Experimental oral infections with SE show molted hens are more susceptible to SE infection and produce more SE-contaminated eggs in the first few weeks post-molt compared with pre-molt egg production. In addition, it appears that molted hens are more likely to disseminate SE into their environment. Molted hens are more susceptible to SE infection by contact exposure to experimentally infected hens; thus, transmission of SE among molted hens could be more rapid than non-molted birds. Histological examination of the gastrointestinal tracts of molted SE-infected hens revealed more frequent and severe intestinal mucosal lesions compared with non-molted SE-infected hens. These data suggest that induced molting by feed deprivation alters the normal asymptomatic host-pathogen relationship. Published data suggest the highest proportion of SE-positive eggs is produced within 1-5 weeks post-molt and decreases sharply by 6-10 weeks and dissipates to the background level for non-molted hens by 11-20 weeks. Appropriate treatment measures of eggs produced in the fist 5 weeks post-molting may decrease the risk of foodborne infections to humans.     

Serological Screening for MHC (B)-Polymorphism in Indigenous Chickens

As part of a series of studies to characterize innate and specific immune responses of indigenous chicken lines, birds from Bolivia and India were screened serologically for MHC class IV (BG) polymorphism by direct haemagglutination using haplotype-specific antisera (B2, B4, B12, B13, B14, B15, B19, B21). The sample consisted of 95 Bolivian indigenous chickens and 119 hens from the four most common North Indian 'back-yard' chicken lines: Yellow Aseel (AP), Kadaknath (KN), frizzled typed (Ff-) and naked neck (NN). Of all chickens tested, the majority were haplotyped as B2, B15, B19 and B21. Of the Bolivian chickens, 89.5% could be haplotyped: 54.9% were homozygous (including 43.3% B15), and 34.6% were heterozygous (including 15.7% B15). B2-like haplotypes were not found among the Bolivian hens, and only 3.2% of these birds showed homozygous B21-like proteins. Of the Indian hens, MHC (BG)-like proteins could be detected in 60.0% of the AP birds, 6.7% of the KN birds; 40.0% of the Ff- birds; and 10.3% of the NN birds. In these lines, a total of 40.1% (AP), 6.7% (KN), 30.1% (Ff-) and 10.3% (NN) were homozygous for the B-haplotype. Only in the AP line (19.9%), and the Ff- line (9.9%) were heterozygous B-haplotypes types found. The B2 haplotype was found in all Indian chicken lines. Most Indian birds have completely unknown haplotypes, indicating a potentially interesting genetic pool. Subgrouping the Bolivian and Indian indigenous hens into monomorphic BG populations revealed individual differences based on the B-types.