Responses to heat stress in commercial and local broiler stocks. 1. Performance traits.

1. This study investigated effects of conditioning at 5 d of age and food restriction during a hot period on responses to prolonged heat stress of two fast (G1 and G2) and one slower-growing (G3) broiler stocks. 2. Chicks from each stock were divided into 3 groups: control, conditioned (chicks exposed to 36 degrees C for 24 h at 5 d of age) and food restricted (during the heat stress food was withdrawn 2 h before the hot period and chicks were fed between 17.00 and 08.00 h). Prolonged heat stress was induced daily from 28 to 49 d by heating until the ambient temperature reached 32 degrees to 35 degrees C between 10.00 and 17.00 h. 3. Body weights, mortality and rectal temperatures were lower and food conversion higher for stock G3 than G1 or G2. 4. Management procedures used in this study improved food conversion and lowered mortality without affecting body weight. Rectal temperatures of the treated groups were similar to those of the controls.     

Effects of dietary amino acid density and metabolizable energy level on the growth and meat yield of summer-reared broilers

The effects of dietary amino acid (AA) density and AME on the growth and meat yield of summer-reared Cobb × Cobb 700 (CCB-700) broilers were evaluated. In addition, the responses of CCB-700 and Cobb × Cobb 500 (CCB-500) broilers to dietary AME levels (with low AA) were compared. All chicks were fed through a starter, grower, finisher, and withdrawal phase program. Grow-out performance, carcass traits, meat yield, and feed cost efficiency were evaluated using 2 separate 2-way ANOVA based on 2 separate 2 × 2 factorial arrangements of treatments. Each group includes 14 replicate pens with 14 chicks/replicate. Mortality was not affected by treatment; however, as compared with birds fed other diets, feeding CCB-700 broilers a low-AME and high-AA density diet decreased feed intake and BW on d 35, 42, and 54, and decreased carcass, breast, wing, front half, and back half weights on d 55. The CCB-500 broilers consumed more feed and gained more weight as compared with CCB-700 broilers at 14, 28, and 35 d of age. However, at 55 d of age, breast weight and wing yield were observed to be higher in the CCB-700 than in the CCB-500 broilers. However, the back half (drumstick and thigh) weights were lower in the CCB-700 than in the CCB-500 broilers. In conclusion, without affecting feed costs, broiler performance and carcass yield were affected by diet in both strains. More specifically, a higher AME diet and lower AA density increased the yield of all cut-up parts, except for legs, in summer-reared CCB-700 chicks.     

Influence of wheat-based diets supplemented with xylanase, bile acid and antibiotics on performance, digestive tract measurements and gut morphology of broilers compared with a maize-based diet

1. The aim of the present study was to compare wheat-based diets supplemented with arabinoxylanase, bile acid and virginiamycin with a maize-based diet in their effects on the performance of broilers. 2. The diets were fed to 5 groups of broilers. Group A received a maize-based diet (control), and groups B, C, D and E were fed on wheat-based diets. Diets C, D and E were supplemented with arabinoxylanase (150 mg/kg), bile acid (500 mg/kg) and virginiamycin (200 mg/kg), respectively. 3. A total of 450 1-d-old Ross 385 chicks were randomly divided into 5 groups, each with three pens as replicates (30 birds per pen). The experimental diets were given for 18 d. On d 18, three chickens from each group were slaughtered by cervical dislocation and the liver weight, and duodenal, jejunal and ileal lengths were measured for length and width of the villi and the height of crypts. 4. Arabinoxylanase, bile acid and virginiamycin supplementation significantly increased feed intake and daily gain but had no significant effect on feed conversion ratio. The liver weight was significantly greater in virginiamycin supplemented chicks as compared with those on the diet containing bile acid. 5. Virginiamycin inclusion increased full and empty caeca weight significantly compared with groups A and D. Group A had the lightest caeca. Significant effects of diets were observed on duodenal, ileal and intestinal length, but jejunal length was not affected by diet. The heights of duodenal and ileal, but not jejunal, villi were significantly affected by the treatments. The lengths of villi in groups B and E were significantly higher than other groups. The mean height of ileal villi in group A was significantly higher than in groups receiving the wheat-based diets. The mean width of duodenal and ileal villi was significantly affected by the ration. The height of crypts in group B was significantly higher than in group E. 6. It could be concluded that supplementation of the wheat-based broiler ration with virginiamycin had significant positive effects on gastrointestinal tract characteristics for absorption. Supplementation with bile acid reduced the weight of liver and caeca and the length of duodenum, jejunum, ileum and in small intestine and the height and width of villi.     

Novel 9-bp indel in visfatin gene and its associations with chicken growth

1. The effects of polymorphisms of the visfatin gene on growth performance, carcase traits, meat quality and serum variables were investigated in an F(2) resource population of Gushi chickens crossed with Anka broilers. 2. A 9-bp ('TAACCTGTG') insertion/deletion in intron10 of the visfatin gene was found and a total of 964 individuals were genotyped in the resource population. Genotypes (II, ID and DD) were identified based on the 9-bp insertion (allele I) or deletion (allele D). The insertion/deletion polymorphism was used for analysing associations of the gene with growth traits, carcase traits and meat quality traits in 414 F(2) chickens. 3. The DD genotype was not detected in those 66 F(1) chickens and the I allelic frequency (0·724-0·879) was obviously higher than the D allelic frequency (0·121-0·276) in the birds of three generations. 4. The 9-bp insertion/deletion was associated with the traits of 8-week shank length, 12-week shank length, 4-week pectoral angle and pancreas weight. The relationships with other traits: body weight, carcase traits, meat quality traits and serum variables, were not significant. 5. It was concluded that allele D (9-bp deletion) of the visfatin gene had a negative effect on skeletal growth.     

Broiler embryo bone development is influenced by incubator temperature,oxygen concentration and eggshell conductance at the plateau stage in oxygen consumption1

1. Four experiments were conducted to evaluate the effects of temperature (TEM) and oxygen (O₂) concentrations during the last 4 d of incubation on bone development. Fertile eggs from two strains were obtained that either exhibited Low or High eggshell conductance (G).

2. Four experimental cabinets provided either four TEM (36, 37, 38 or 39^°C) or four O₂ concentrations (17, 19, 21 or 23% O₂). Data were analysed as a 2 × 2 factorial design. In the fourth experiment, two temperatures (36 and 39^°C), two O₂ concentrations (17 and 23%) and the same Low and High G strains were evaluated in a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial design.

3. Body weights (BW) and residual yolks were obtained, both legs were dissected. Femur, tibia and shank weights, length and thickness were recorded. Relative asymmetry (RA) of each leg section was calculated.

4. The results indicated that elevated TEM during incubation increased RA between the two legs, mainly in the Low G strain. Chickens at the lowest O₂ concentrations had lighter and shorter tibias, lighter shanks, and increased RA of femur length compared to chickens in the 23% O₂. In the fourth experiment no interactions were observed between O₂ and TEM. High TEM depressed BW of Low G broilers, but no significant effect of treatments was observed on BW of High G broilers. Nevertheless, the high TEM or low O₂ independently caused reduced femur and tibia weights and length, shank length and thickness, and both low O₂ and high TEM together increased RA in shank weight.

5. These results suggest that late incubation conditions affect long bone development in broilers.     

Effect of administration of Lactobacillus crispatus,Clostridium lactatifermentans and dietary lactose on the development of the normal microflora and volatile fatty acids in the caeca of broiler chicks

1. Lactobacillus crispatus and Clostridium lactatifermentans, both isolated from the caeca of chickens, grown together in an in vitro model system are able to ferment lactose to acetate and propionate. In this study, the capabilities of these organisms were studied in vivo. 2. The effect on concentrations of volatile fatty acids and lactate, together with the development of some bacterial groups in the caeca of chicks, was studied after oral inoculation with L. crispatus and C. lactatifermentans together with dietary lactose. For this purpose, chicks were divided into 4 groups: (i) control group, (ii) dietary lactose, (iii) L. crispatus and C. lactatifermentans, and (iv) dietary lactose together with L. crispitaus and C. lactatifermentans. 3. In general, concentrations of (undissociated) volatile fatty acids in the caeca were not significantly different in broilers receiving both bacteria and dietary lactose compared with control broilers. Concentrations of lactate in the caeca of 14-d-old broilers treated with any of the three treatments were significantly higher than in the caeca of control broilers. 4. This indicates that L. crispatus or other lactate-producing organisms were responsible for the elevated concentrations of lactic acid. Clostridium lactatifermentans has probably not colonised the caeca sufficiently to ferment this lactate further to acetate and propionate. 5. Numbers of Enterobacteriaceae and enterococci in the caeca of broilers receiving both bacteria and dietary lactose were not different from control broilers. 6. We conclude from these results that under the conditions applied in this study a mixture of L. crispatus and C. lactatifermentans with dietary lactose was able to increase lactate concentrations but was unable to increase concentrates of acetate and propionate in the caeca of broiler chicks.     

桂香鸡胫长、胫围与体重的相关性分析

以3个批次的桂香鸡为研究对象,分析120日龄时桂香鸡的胫长、胫围以及体重之间的相关性。研究结果表明,第3批桂香鸡的120日龄体重和胫围显著高于第1批（P〈0.05）,第2批和第3批桂香鸡的120日龄胫长显著高于第1批（P〈0.05）。相关分析表明,第1批桂香鸡120日龄体重和胫长以及胫围之间存在极显著的相关（P〈0.01）,相关系数分别为0.583和0.623;120日龄胫长和胫围之间存在极显著的相关（P〈0.01）,相关系数为0.369。第2批和第3批数据合并分析表明,桂香鸡120日龄体重和胫长以及胫围之间存在极显著的相关（P〈0.01）,相关系数分别0.605和0.726;120日龄胫长和胫围之间存在极显著的相关（P〈0.01）,相关系数为0.463。研究结果为桂香鸡胫长、胫围与体重性状的选择,尤其是桂香鸡胫长、胫围与体重性状的综合选择提供了参照。     

Performance and physiological variables in broiler chicken lines differing in susceptibility to the ascites syndrome: 1. Changes in blood gases as a function of ambient temperature.

1. Male broilers of 5 genetic stocks (A, B, C, D, E) selected in different ways for fast growth and low food conversion ratio (FCR) and differing in ascites sensitivity were subjected to 2 different ambient temperature step down regimens: high temperature (HT: 33 to 20 degrees C over 33 d) and low temperature (LT: 30 to 15 degrees C over 17 d). 2. Ascites incidence was recorded daily. Food intake and body weight gain were measured weekly and FCR was calculated. Heat production (Hp) was calculated using the comparative slaughter method. At 28 d venous samples were taken for blood gas analysis and haematocrit and relative heart, lung and liver weights were recorded. 3. Populations A and C showed the highest growth rates combined with a low FCR and a higher ascites incidence. A low FCR in these stocks was attributable to low values for Hp. These stocks also had low PO2 and high pCO2 in venous blood at low ambient temperature compared with other stocks. Stock B, which exhibited the slowest growth rate and the highest FCR, was not susceptible to ascites and showed higher Hp and PO2 and pCO2 at low ambient temperature. Populations D and E were intermediate for almost all variables. Heart and lung weights were both increased at LT, while liver weight did not differ between temperature regimes. 4. Our results show that a high haematocrit is not necessarily linked with an increased susceptibility to ascites.     

Delivery routes for probiotics: Effects on broiler performance,intestinal morphology and gut microflora

Four delivery routes, via, feed, water, litter and oral gavage, were examined for their efficacy in delivering a novel probiotic of poultry origin, Lactobacillus johnsonii, to broilers. Seven treatments of 6 replicates each were allocated using 336 one-day-old Cobb broiler chicks. The treatments consisted of a basal diet with the probiotic candidate, L. johnsonii, added to the feed, and three treatments with L. johnsonii added to the drinking water, sprayed on the litter, or gavaged orally. In addition, a positive control treatment received the basal diet supplemented with zinc-bacitracin(Zn B, 50 mg/kg). The probiotic strain of L.johnsonii was detected in the ileum of the chicks for all four delivery routes. However, the addition of L.johnsonii as a probiotic candidate did not improve body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of broiler chickens raised on litter during the 5-week experimental period regardless of the route of administration. The probiotic treatments, regardless of the routes of delivery, affected(P 0.05) the pH of the caecal digesta and tended(P = 0.06) to affect the p H of the ileal digesta on d 7, but the effect disappeared as the birds grew older. All probiotic treatments reduced the number of Enterobacteria in the caeca on d 21, and tended(P 0.054) to reduce it in the ileum and caeca on d 7 and in the ileum on d 21 compared with the controls. The probiotic also tended to increase the number of lactic acid bacteria and lactobacilli in the ileum and caeca on d 7, but this trend was not evident on d 21. The trend appeared most pronounced when the probiotic was delivered orally or via litter. The probiotic also decreased(P 0.05) the population of Clostridium perfringens rapidly from an early age to d 21 in the caeca, leading to a3-fold decrease in the number of C. perfringens between d 7 and 21. It also showed that the probiotic treatment presented the lowest number of C. perfringens in the caeca. Delivery of the probiotic through feed, water and litter increased(P 0.01) the weight of the pancreas on d 21, but the probiotic did not affect other morphometric parameters of the gut. Furthermore, the probiotic did not affect the p H and the concentrations of short chain fatty acids and lactic acid in either the ileum or caeca.     

The feeding of copper sulphate to growing fowls

Two hundred broiler chicks (100 males and 100 females) reared in two batches were divided into two groups. One group in each batch was fed on a basal ration and the other this ration plus 100 p.p.m. of copper for a period of 9 weeks. All chicks were then killed and their intestines examined.

Feeding copper tended to increase slightly the average growth rate of the chicks of both sexes but the results were not significant.

The weights of the small intestine expressed as percentages of body weight were reduced by the copper feeding, the reductions being significant in the male chicks and in the chicks of both sexes considered together. The weights of 1 cm lengths of small intestine were reduced when the copper was fed irrespective of sex, but the results were not significant. On the other hand the caeca weights expressed as a percenta geof body weight were increased in the male chicks and in the chicks of both sexes considered together but were reduced in the female chicks, and the weights of 1 cm lengths of the caeca were increased by the copper feeding in the male chicks, but reduced in the female chicks and in the chicks of both sexes considered together. None of the differences in the caeca weights was significant.     

慢性应激对AA肉鸡生产性能和肉质的影响

 研究三种慢性应激因素包括社会隔离饲养,高密度饲养和频繁干扰饲养对肉鸡生产性能和肉质的影响。分别于饲养期的第6、7、8、9周末早8∶00对所有鸡进行胫长、胫围及体重的测量;于饲养期的第9周末屠宰所有鸡只,测定以下肉质指标：pH值、肉色、滴水损失、剪切力、粗蛋白和粗脂肪含量。试验结果表明：(1)应激因素对肉鸡体重有一定影响。6周龄时各处理组间体重无显著差异,7周龄时频繁干扰组和散放组的肉鸡体重显著高于社会隔离组和高密度组,8周龄时频繁干扰组和散放组的肉鸡体重显著高于高密度组,9周龄时散放组肉鸡体重显著高于其它三组,社会隔离组肉鸡体重显著高于高密度组;应激因素对肉鸡胫围没有影响;应激因素对肉鸡胫长有一定影响。6、7、8周龄时各组间胫长差异不显著,9周龄时散放组胫长显著高于其它三组。(2)应激因素对肉鸡肉质有一定影响。各处理组肉鸡的pH值、剪切力、粗蛋白含量和肉色之间的差异都不显著;社会隔离组的滴水损失显著高于其它三组;散养组肉鸡的粗脂肪含量显著低于其他三组。     

Early-age cold conditioning of broilers: effects of timing and temperature

1. The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of early-age cold conditioning (CC) on performance, ascites mortality, thyroid hormones status and immune response (leucocytes count) of broiler chickens.

2. A total of 336 chicks at 2 and 3?d of age were exposed to 20 or 25°C (for 3 or 6?h) in a 2?×?2?×?2 factorial experiment, while a control group was kept under normal temperature conditions (30°C). Thereafter, both control and cold conditioned birds were reared under standard conditions until 42?d of age.

3. The results showed that performance (weight gain and feed efficiency) was improved by CC at the end of the rearing period. Carcase traits (breast, thigh and abdominal fat percentage) were not affected by different treatments. Heart weight was lower in cold conditioned birds accompanied with lower ascites mortality. Total leucocyte count was higher in CC birds. Higher concentrations of thyroxin (T₄) were found in plasma of treated groups, while triiodothyronine (T₃) to T₄ ratio was decreased.

4. In conclusion, it seems that early age CC improves performance and reduces ascites mortality of broilers through altered thyroid hormones metabolism and leucocyte function. According to the results, the best timing for CC of broilers was 20°C for 6?h at the age of 2?d, and no significant benefit was observed by repeated CC.     

Conditioning time and sodium bentonite affect pellet quality,growth performance,nutrient retention and intestinal morphology of growing broiler chickens

ABSTRACT

1. The present study was conducted to evaluate the effects of conditioning times and processed sodium bentonite (PSB)-based pellet binder (G. Bind?) on pellet quality, performance, small intestine morphology, and nutrient retention in growing broiler chickens (d 11–24).

2. A total of 540, one-day-old male broiler chicks were fed a commercial starter diet (d 1–10). On day 11, birds were assigned to a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement including two conditioning times (2 and 4 min) and three levels of PSB (0, 7.5 and 15 g/kg) with six replicates of 15 chicks each. Feed intake and weight gain were recorded to calculate growth performance. The jejunal segment and excreta samples were collected to determine intestinal morphology and nutrient retention, respectively.

3. Diets produced with 2 min conditioning time and containing 15 g/kg PSB increased (P < 0.05) pellet durability index and hardness. Conditioning time and PSB levels had no significant effect on growth performance. The inclusion of PSB to broilers diet increased (P < 0.05) energy usage of the pelleting machine. Chickens fed the diet conditioned for 2 min and containing 15 g/kg PSB had the lowest (P < 0.05) relative jejunal length. Two minutes conditioning of diets containing 15 g/kg PSB increased (P < 0.05) apparent metabolisable energy retention in broilers.

4. It was concluded that 2 min conditioning of diet containing 15 g/kg PSB improved pellet quality and nutrient retention of broiler chickens, while the main effects of conditioning time and PSB levels were controversial in most evaluated parameters.     

不同钙和非植酸磷水平对快大型黄羽肉鸡生长性能和胫骨性状的影响

【目的】试验旨在研究饲粮钙(Ca)和非植酸磷(NPP)水平对快大型黄羽肉鸡生长性能和胫骨性状的影响。【方法】选取1日龄快大型黄羽公鸡4 050只,随机分为9组,每组6个重复,每个重复75只。采用3(Ca水平)×3(NPP水平)双因素设计,试验期63 d。小鸡阶段(1～21日龄),Ca水平为1.00%、0.90%、0.85%,NPP水平为0.46%、0.38%、0.30%;中鸡阶段(22～42日龄),Ca水平为0.90%、0.75%、0.65%,NPP水平为0.42%、0.35%、0.28%;大鸡阶段(43～63日龄),Ca水平为0.80%、0.70%、0.60%,NPP水平为0.39%、0.31%、0.23%。利用采食量和体增重计算0～21、22～42、43～63和0～63 d料重比。试验第63天,每个重复随机挑选肉鸡2只,屠宰后取胫骨和血清,测定肉鸡胫骨性状和血液Ca、磷(P)水平。【结果】随着饲粮中Ca水平降低,肉鸡生长性能并未出现显著变化(P>0.05)。饲粮中NPP水平降低对整个生长周期肉鸡生长性能没有显著影响(P>0.05)。但在小鸡阶段,NPP水平降低,料重比显...     

飞鸭体尺与屠宰性能测定及其相关性分析

试验测定了8周龄天农飞鸭的体尺与屠宰性能,分析了各指标间的相关性。结果表明,半潜水长、胫长和宰前体重在公母鸭之间存在极显著差异(P＜0.01),体斜长、龙骨长和胫围在公母鸭之间存在显著差异(P＜0.05);屠体重、半净膛重、全净膛重、腿肌重在公母鸭之间存在极显著差异(P＜0.01),瘦肉重在公母鸭之间存在显著差异(P＜0.05)。宰前体重与体尺各指标（胸宽除外）间存在着极显著相关(P＜0.01);试验所测的9个体尺指标均与宰前体重、屠体重、半净膛重、全净膛重之间存在显著(P＜0.05)或极显著(P＜0.01)正相关;宰前体重、屠体重、半净膛重、全净膛重、胸肌重、腿肌重和瘦肉重相互之间呈强相关(P＜0.01),但体重和屠体重却与以上其它重量性状的百分率指标间无明显相关(P＞0.05)。     

Intestinal morphology, brush border and digesta enzyme activities of broilers fed on a diet containing Cu2+-loaded montmorillonite

1. A total of 320 1-d-old Arbor Acres broiler chicks were used to investigate the effect of Cu(2+)-loaded montmorillonite (CM) on the growth performance, intestinal morphology and activities of brush border enzyme in the intestinal mucosa and digestive enzyme in the intestinal digesta of broilers. 2. The chicks were assigned randomly into 4 groups with 80 chicks per treatment. The 4 dietary treatments were: basal diet only (control group), basal diet + 2 g montmorillonite/kg, basal diet + 1 g CM/kg, and basal diet + 2 g CM/kg. The chicks were raised in cages and feed and water were provided ad libitum for a period of 42 d. 3. The addition of CM to the diet of broilers significantly increased body weight and feed efficiency. Similarly, birds receiving montmorillonite had higher feed efficiency than the control after 42 d of feeding. 4. Data on villus height and crypt depth for duodenum, jejunum and ileum indicated that treating the diet of broilers with either CM or montmorillonite improved the mucosal morphology of the small intestine. 5. The presence of CM in the diet of broilers significantly increased the activities of maltase, aminopeptidase N and alkaline phosphatase in small intestinal mucosa. However, the activities of protease, trypsin, chymotrypsin, amylase and lipase in small intestinal digesta of broilers fed on the CM-supplemented diet were slightly higher than control values.     

Effect of the gut Microflora on the size and weight of organs of chicks fed diets of different protein content

1. Germ‐free (GF) and conventional (CV) chicks were reared for 14 d on diets containing 50 (LD), 200 (AD) and 400 (HD) g protein/kg. Food and water were provided ad libitum. The size and weight of the proven‐triculus, gizzard, duodenum, jejunum, ileum, caeca, colon, liver, pancreas, heart, spleen, adrenal glands and kidneys were measured, and liver composition was examined.

2. The absolute and relative (weight/kg body‐weight) weights of the intestine of CV chicks fed AD and HD diets were greater than those of GF chicks. The LD diet did not affect the absolute and relative weights of the duodenum and jejunum.

3. The absolute weight, relative weight and fat content of the liver of GF chicks given LD diet were greater than those of their CV counterparts.

4. The size and weight of some organs are affected by the diet (dietary protein content)‐microflora‐host interaction.

     

Brooding temperatures for chicks acclimated to heat during incubation: effects on post-hatch intestinal development and body weight under heat stress

1.?The objective was to evaluate the effects of brooding temperature on intestinal development, oxidative organ damage, and performance of chicks acclimated to high temperature during incubation. The effects of acclimation and brooding temperatures on slaughter weights of broilers under heat stress were also investigated.

2.?Eggs were incubated at either 37?8°C (INC_Cont) or heat-acclimated at 39?5°C for 6 h daily from d 10 to d 18 of incubation (INC_H). Brooding temperatures at floor level were set at 32, 33?5 and 35°C (Bt₃₂, Bt_33?5, Bt₃₅, respectively) for the first 5 d. The temperature was reduced gradually to 30°C from d 6 to d 10. From 21 to 42 d, broilers from INC_Cont Bt₃₂ and INC_H Bt₃₂ and Bt₃₅ were divided into two groups; half from each group was exposed to daily cyclic higher ambient temperatures, while the other half was reared at control temperature.

3.?INC_H chicks had lower jejunum, but greater liver and residual yolk sac weights than INC_Cont chicks on the day of hatching. Although INC_H chicks from Bt_33?5 and Bt₃₅ had lighter body weights than Bt₃₂ on d 5, no significant differences were observed in the body weight of broilers among treatments at 10 and 21 d.

4.?Similar jejunum protein, alkaline phosphatase, maltase, glutathione, and malondialdehyde contents of chicks from INC_Cont and INC_H suggested that heat acclimation during incubation has no effect on jejunum enzyme activity or oxidative status of chicks.

5.?Taking into account INC_H Bt₃₅ chicks having lower T₃ levels on d 5, lower heterophil/lymphocyte (H/L) ratios and similar weights at 42 d under heat stress compared with control broilers, the results suggested that although higher brooding temperatures had no effect on body weights of INC_H chicks during the brooding period, those broilers may able to cope better with heat stress.     

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.     

Effects of egg weight on the egg quality,chick quality,and broiler performance at the later stages of production (week 60) in broiler breeders

The objective of the present study was to determine the effect of broiler breeder egg weight on egg quality, chick quality, and broiler performance using Hubbard Classic broiler breeder flock. Hatching eggs from a commercial broiler breeder flock (Hubbard classic strain) were obtained at the age of 60 wk and divided into 3 egg-weight categories, namely small, medium, and large. For this purpose, 930 eggs having weights 63.09 ± 0.21, 68.85 ± 0.23, and 74.81 ± 0.11g were divided into 3 egg categories labeled small, medium, and large respectively. We further divided these eggs into 2 categories, eggs for quality parameters and eggs for incubation and posthatch performance parameters. Eggs from the small egg category had greater proportion of the shell weight and more shell strength. Egg weight did not significantly affect the albumen and yolk weight percentage. Egg weight affected the shape index and specific gravity for which lower values were observed for large eggs. Egg weight positively affected the chick weight, chick yield, and chick length (P < 0.05) of both male and female chicks. Results of the body weight gain showed that effect of egg weight on the posthatch performance of chick diminishes with the age of broilers. Egg weight significantly affected the body weight gain of male and female chicks up to 3 wk of age. Egg weights did not significantly affect the feed intake and mortality of broiler. Different egg-weight categories significantly affected the feed conversion ratio of female chicks at wk 2 and 3 of age and did not affect the feed conversion of male and female chicks at the end of wk 5. In conclusion, egg weight positively affected the chick characteristics (e.g., chick weight, chick length) and did not affect the final live body weight, feed conversion ratio, feed intake, and mortality in broilers.