Relationships between digestibilities of food components and characteristics of wheats (Triticum aestivum) introduced as the only cereal source in a broiler chicken diet

1. The aim of the experiment was to establish relationships between chemical or physical characteristics of wheats (Triticum aestivum) and digestibilities of food components in broiler chickens fed on wheat-based diets. Twenty-two wheat samples, each differing by their cultivar origin, were included at 550 g/kg in diets offered to male Ross broiler chicks. The other main ingredients were soya bean meal (340 g/kg) and rapeseed oil (68.5 g/kg). Diets were given as pellets. 2. In vitro viscosities of wheats measured as potential applied viscosity (PAV) or real applied viscosity (RAV) varied between 1.91 and 6.03, or between 0.95 and 3.81 ml/g (dry matter basis), respectively. Hardness of wheats varied between 17 (soft) and 95 (very hard), and lipase activity of wheats varied from 1 to 13.6 (relative scale). 3. PAV and RAV values were not significantly correlated with hardness. PAV and RAV values were correlated with (80:20) ethanol:water insoluble, water soluble arabinoxylans (r = 0.961, 0.932, respectively), with the amount of water retained by cell walls (r = 0.656, 0.492, respectively), and with lipase activity (r = 0.600, 0.532, respectively. 4. Hardness was correlated with ash (r = -0.484), nitrogen (r = 0.534), mean particle size of wheat flours (r = 0.631), and specific energy of pelleting (r = -0.574). 5. Wheat diets were evaluated in two assays with 3-week-old chicks, with 11 diets per assay. In each assay, a balance experiment was carried out using the total collection method. Growth performance was also measured during the balance experiment. 6. In vitro viscosity parameters were negatively correlated with diet AMEn (P < 0.05), lipid digestibility (P < 0.05) and, to a lesser extent, protein digestibility (P < 0.05). In vitro viscosity data were positively correlated with food:gain ratio (P < 0.05) and water loss parameters (P < 0.05), and were not significantly (P > 0.05) correlated with starch digestibility. 7. Wheat hardness-related parameters were correlated (P < 0.01) with individual starch digestibility (hardness, proportion of coarse particles in wheat flour, specific energy of pelleting: r = -0.273, -0.305, 0.212, respectively). 8. Wheat lipase activity was negatively correlated with individual lipid (r = -0.179; P < 0.05) and starch (r = -0.225; P < 0.01) digestibilities and with individual diet AMEn (r = -0.266; P < 0.001). Individual diet AMEn values were correlated (r = 0.175) with the values calculated by the EU AMEn prediction equation (Fisher and McNab, 1987). Among the correlations observed between the individual measured AMEn:EU predicted AMEn ratio and wheat parameters (P < 0.05), the correlation obtained with wheat lipase was the highest (r = -0.195). The correlations with lipase could be explained in part by strong correlations between lipase and in vitro viscosity parameters.     

Myxoid leiomyosarcoma of the gizzard in a broiler chicken

A leiomyosarcoma was found in the gizzard of a 57-day-old female broiler chicken weighing 1.8 kg. Grossly, the tumor mass, 13.0 x 8.5 x 10.0 cm, enveloped the gizzard and had a gelatinous appearance due to the rich production of mucin. Miliary metastatic tumors were noted in the liver. Histopathologically, there was marked production of mucus throughout the tumor tissue, and densely or loosely arranged long spindle-shaped leiomyosarcoma cells proliferated. The tumor cells had a low rate of mitosis, showed slight cellular atypia, and, immunohistochemically, were positive for actin, alpha-smooth muscle actin, and desmin. Electron microscopically, various amounts of microfibrils with focal densities, dense patches, and basal plates were observed.     

Pharmacokinetics of sparfloxacin in broiler chicken

1. The pharmacokinetics of sparfloxacin in broiler chicken was investigated following a single intravenous dose of 10 mg/kg and a single oral dose of 20 mg/kg. The pharmacokinetic parameters (AUC(0-24) or C(max)) were integrated with the pharmacodynamic parameter (MIC(90)) to optimize sparfloxacin dosage in chicken. 2. The apparent volume of distribution, total body clearance, mean residence time and elimination half-life following oral administration were 2.411/kg, 4.55 ml/min per kg, 10.54 and 5.94 h, respectively. Oral bioavailability was 61.7%. 3. Sparfloxacin was found to possess clinically useful pharmacokinetic properties. Based on pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic integration an oral dose of 20 mg/kg sparfloxacin for every 24 h might be recommended for a successful clinical effect in chickens.     

Pharmacokinetics of ofloxacin in broiler chicken

Pharmacokinetics of ofloxacin, a fluoroquinolone antimicrobial agent, was determined in broiler chickens after intravenous or oral administration of a single dose (10 mg/kg). Ofloxacin concentrations in plasma were determined using a high-performance liquid chromatography assay. Plasma concentration profiles were analyzed by the noncompartmental method. Elimination half-life and mean residence time of ofloxacin in plasma were 4.46 and 5.48 h after intravenous administration and 5.85 and 7.43 h, respectively, after oral administration. Maximal plasma concentration of 3.65 microg/mL was achieved at 1.25 h after oral administration. Apparent volume of distribution of 1.76 and 2.16 L/kg and total body clearance of 4.96 and 4.5 mL/min/kg were obtained following intravenous and oral administration, respectively. The oral bioavailability of ofloxacin was 110.01%. Ofloxacin was found to be more rapidly absorbed, widely distributed and more quickly eliminated than other fluoroquinolones in broilers. Based on these kinetic parameters, a dosage of 10 mg/kg given orally every 24 h can be recommended for the treatment of bacterial infections with MIC90 < 0.3 microg/mL.     

Sunflower seed meal as a substitute for soybean meal in commercial broiler chicken diets

1. An experiment was conducted to study the possibility of replacing soybean meal (SBM) with sunflower seed meal (SFM) in broiler chick diets. The SBM in broiler starter (317.9 g/kg) and finisher (275.4 g/kg) diets was replaced with SFM at 33, 67 and 100% on an iso-caloric and iso-nitrogenous basis using sunflower oil to balance the energy content of the diets. The metabolisable energy levels used in the diet were considerably less than the recommended levels for broilers. Each experimental diet was fed ad libitum from 2 to 42 d of age to 8 replicates of 5 birds. Parameters studied included amino acid and apparent metabolisable energy contents in food ingredients, body weight, food intake, food efficiency, leg abnormality score, dry matter digestibility, carcase traits, relative weight and length of intestine, fat and protein content in liver and serum biochemical profile. 2. SFM had higher concentrations of calcium, phosphorus, methionine and cystine and lower energy content than SBM. 3. Replacement of SBM with SFM up to 67% in starter and 100% in finisher diets did not affect weight gain. Total and 67% replacement of SBM with SFM depressed food efficiency at 21 and 42 d of age, respectively. Food intake was significantly higher in SFM-based diets than in the SBM reference diet at 21 and 42 d of age, except in groups given SFM100 at 21 d of age. In the latter group, the food intake was similar to that on the SBM reference diet. The digestibility of dry matter decreased with increased levels of SFM in the diet. 4. The relative weights of giblet, liver and abdominal fat, length of intestine, activity of alkaline phosphatase, concentrations of calcium and inorganic phosphorus in serum were not influenced by incorporation of SFM in the broiler diet. 5. The ready to cook yield and liver fat content decreased, while the relative weights of gizzard and intestine and protein content in liver increased, with increasing levels of SFM in the diet. 6. The concentration of HDL cholesterol increased while the concentration of LDL cholesterol decreased with increasing content of SFM (> or =67% of SBM) in diet. The serum protein concentration decreased progressively with increase in dietary SFM. The concentrations of protein and triglycerides in serum were lowest in groups receiving SFM100. 7. Body weight gain was not affected by total replacement of SBM with SFM at 42 d of age. However, considering food efficiency, carcase yields, serum lipid profile and level of supplemental fat in diet, it is concluded that SFM can replace up to two-thirds of soybean, corresponding to inclusion of 345 and 296 g SFM per kg for starter and finisher phases, respectively.     

肉仔鸡饮水量——鸡的一个福利指标

本研究目的是分析商业化生产条件下的肉仔鸡饮水量数据以调查:①所获得的结果与其他研究结果之间的相互关系;②饮水量是否可以被客观地用作肉鸡健康和福利的量度标准;③总饮水量与淘汰水平和接触性皮炎的发病率之间是否存在相互关系?饮水量按"L/羽/c"即每羽肉鸡每个饲养周期(cycle)的平均饮水量)和"L/羽/d"即每羽肉鸡每天的平均饮水量)((的方式表示。为了确定饮水量对垫料湿度的影响,用水量也以"L/m2/c"即每个饲养周期每平方米鸡舍地面的平均用(水量(升))和"L/m2/d"即每天每平方米鸡舍地面所消耗的用水量(升)的方式表示,这两个指标考虑了肉鸡的饲养密度。(结果表明,以"L/m2/c"表示的饮水量可能是一个有益的滞后指标(LagIndicator),而以"L/羽/d"或"L/m2/d"表示的饮水量可能是一种先行指标(LeadIndicator),与肉鸡的健康状况以及饮水量对垫料质量的影响有关;同时表明还应进行更多的研究以确定肉鸡实测的每日饮水量与预期的每日饮水量之间的差异是否与其健康状况(如肠炎、接触性皮炎等)有直接的关系。本试验应该规定以"L/m2/d"方式表示的用水量的阈值,即饮水量达到此水平时会对垫料质量产生一个综合影响。该阈值可能受饲养密度、通风条件和垫料原料吸湿程度的影响,但是该值将向管理员提供一个"触发点"当处于该点时他们需采取行动以便将对空气质量(以氨气浓度的方式表示)的综合影响以及接触性皮炎发病的可,能性降至最低程度。     

日粮苏氨酸和肉鸡生产

苏氨酸是肉鸡的必需氨基酸之一。随着工业生产的晶体苏氨酸越来越普及,人们对苏氨酸在肉鸡生产中应用的兴趣逐渐增长,这方面的科技文章不断见诸于国内外科技杂志中。现有资料显示,苏氨酸对于肉鸡生产具有重要意义。恰当的     

Trace mineral interactions in broiler chicken diets

1.?The aim of the present study was to demonstrate trace mineral interactions among organic copper, iron, manganese and zinc (Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn) in broiler chickens.

2.?Three experiments were conducted using a control diet which was deficient in Cu, Fe, Mn and Zn.

3.?In experiment 1, the control diet, supplemental organic Cu, Fe alone and combined diets, were randomly fed to 4 groups of one-day-old Cobb broilers (each group had 6 replicates of 4 birds).

4.?In experiment 2, the control diet, supplemental organic Mn and Zn alone or combined with Cu, Fe diets and corresponding inorganic combined diet, were randomly fed to 6 groups (each group had 8 replicates of 6 birds).

5.?In experiment 3, the depletion of organic Zn, the depletion of inorganic Zn and normal Zn treatments were carried out in three groups of one-day-old Cobb broilers (each group had 8 replicates of 6 birds).

6.?Adding organic Cu, Fe and Mn alone or combined to Zn deficient diets did not significantly improve bird performance and were mostly excreted. Supplemental organic Zn alone or combined with other elements significantly increased feed intake, body weight gain and tibia bone length. However, supplemental organic Fe alone or combined with Cu significantly increased feed intake but had no obvious effect on body weight gain. The organic Fe supplementation resulted in a wider tibia.

7.?Depletion of organic and inorganic Zn resulted in decreased feed intake, body weight gain and total tibia bone Zn content. Zinc deficiency did not affect the uptake of organic Fe by tibia bone but reduced its total Fe content.

8.?Zinc is the first limiting element among these 4 trace minerals. Adding Mn, Cu and Fe to Zn deficient diets did not stimulate bird performance. Surplus organic Fe and Cu resulted in increased feed intake and increased tibia bone Fe content but did not contribute to bird performance.     

饲粮能量、蛋白质水平对肉鸡肉质的影响

近年来 ,随着肉鸡业中对生长速率和饲料效率的遗传选育 ,肉鸡的生长速度提高了两倍多 ,料肉比达 2∶1。但伴随着生长率的不断提高 ,肉鸡肉质变得粗老 ,缺少风味 ,腹脂沉积增多 ,降低了消费者对肉鸡肉质的满意度 ,也给屠宰加工业增加了除去脂肪的麻烦。生长率不仅受遗传因素的影响 ,还受能量、蛋白质水平 (以下简称能蛋水平 )的影响 (Ｃｈｅｒｒｙ ,1 978;Ｍａｒｏｈ ,1 977)。本文综述了饲粮能蛋水平对肉鸡肉质的影响。1　能蛋水平对肉鸡肉质的影响1 1　直接影响　饲粮能蛋水平影响肉鸡腹脂沉积 ,直接影响肉质。许多研究表明 ,影响脂肪沉积…     

Rice mill feed as a replacement for broiler litter in diets for growing beef cattle

The efficacy of replacing broiler litter with rice mill feed was evaluated in four experiments. In Exp. 1, 40 predominantly Angus steers (initial BW = 277+/-18.2 kg) were fed four dietary treatments for 112 d (five steers per pen; two pens per diet). Dietary treatments (DM basis) were as follows: 1) 47% broiler litter:53% corn; 2) 60% rice mill feed:40% corn; 3) 50% rice mill feed:50% corn; and 4) 40% rice mill feed:60% corn. All diets, along with bermudagrass hay, were fed free choice. Daily gains were faster (P < 0.10) for the 50:50 and 40:60 diets (1.26 and 1.30 kg/d, respectively) than for the broiler litter diet (0.89 kg/d). Daily DMI was less (P < 0.10) by steers consuming rice mill feed-based diets than by those consuming broiler litter-based diets. In Exp. 2, 16 Angus x Charolais steers (initial BW = 277+/-22.7 kg) were fed the same four diets used in Exp. 1 while housed in individual metabolism stalls for determination of nutrient digestibility. Daily DMI was not different (P > 0.10) among diets. Nutrient digestibilities did not differ among diets (P > 0.10). In Exp. 3, 40 Continental cross steers (initial BW = 257+/-21.3 kg) were fed one of four dietary treatments for 112 d (five steers per pen; two pens per diet). On a DM basis, diets were as follows: 1) 47% broiler litter:53% soyhulls; 2) 70% rice mill feed:30% soyhulls; 3) 60% rice mill feed:40% soyhulls; and 4) 50% rice mill feed:50% soyhulls. All diets, along with bermudagrass hay, were fed free choice. Daily gains were less (P < 0.05) for the broiler litter diet than for the 60:40 and 50:50 diets (1.05, 1.16, and 1.28 kg/d, respectively), and steers fed the broiler litter diet consumed less DM than did steers fed the varying rice mill feed-based diets (P < 0.10). In Exp. 4, 16 Angus x Charolais steers (initial BW = 292+/-21.1 kg) were fed the same four diets as in Exp. 3 while housed in individual metabolism stalls for determination of nutrient digestibility. Daily DMI was less (P < 0.01) for the broiler litter diet (5.0 kg/d) than for the 70:30, 60:40, and 50:50 diets (7.8, 7.9, and 7.9 kg/ d, respectively). Digestibilities for DM, OM, and ADF did not differ (P > 0.10) among treatments; however, CP digestibility was greatest (P < 0.10) for the 60:40 diet, and NDF digestibility was least (P < 0.10) for the 70:30 diet. Rice mill feed can be used to replace broiler litter to formulate low-cost diets for stocker calves. Soyhulls and corn can be blended with rice mill feed to produce acceptable backgrounding diets for growing beef calves.     

生姜、胡椒、咖喱叶子粉作为饲料添加剂在肉仔鸡日粮中的应用

将210只商业Veneobb肉用仔鸡称重随机分成7组,每组3个重复,每个重复10只,连续饲喂6周。所有的仔鸡按照企业管理标准．在同样的饲养管理条件下进行饲喂。7个处理组的分组情况如下：T1-对照组;T2—0．2％生姜粉组;T3—0．2％胡椒粉组;T4—0．2％咖喱叶子粉组;T5—0．2％生姜＋0．2％胡椒粉组：T6—0.2％生姜＋0．2％咖喱叶子粉组和T7—0．2％胡椒＋0．2％咖喱叶子粉组。结果表明,6周龄时不同处理组之间的肉仔鸡平均体重差异显著（p〈0．05）;与对照组相比．生姜-咖喱叶子组（T6）和胡椒-咖喱叶子组（T7）饲料消耗量显著高于对照组,差异极显著（p〈0．01）．但是饲料消耗量在处理组之间因为都是等热量和等氮的日粮并无显著差异：T2和T5组饲料成本的平均利润远远高于其他处理组（p〈0．01）;1-6周日龄鸡的屠宰体重、全净膛重、屠宰率、腹脂率、内脏重量在各生姜粉、胡椒粉、咖喱叶子粉添加组之间无显著差异。     

大豆活性肽饲料添加剂对肉仔鸡生产性能的影响

选用180羽健康AA肉仔鸡,随机分成6个处理组,每个处理6个重复,每个重复5羽鸡。A组为空白对照,B组为添加抗生素(黄霉素5mg/kg)试验组,C、D、E、F组分别为添加大豆活性肽0.2%、0.4%、0.6%、0.8%(液态,含活性肽40g/kg)的试验组。试验结果表明:①在生产性能上,大豆活性肽可显著提高肉仔鸡日增重和采食量,在提高屠宰率方面也有一定的作用;②在经济效益上,大豆活性肽可以降低饲料成本,增加毛利润。试验证明,大豆活性肽可以有效应用于肉仔鸡生产中,其最适添加量为0.6%,优于使用抗生素(黄霉素5mg/kg)。     

肉用仔鸡的饲粮铜水平

在不同性别ＡＡ肉仔鸡饲粮中添加不同浓度的铜，通过对肉仔鸡生产性能的观察及某些生化指标的测定，探讨铜在肉仔鸡饲粮中的适宜浓度。结果表明：肉仔鸡全期的体增重不受饲粮铜浓度的影响（Ｐ＞０．０５），饲料效率有高浓度铜（２０９．４ｍｇ／ｋｇ）可减少饲料耗用量的趋势，但统计上差异不显著（Ｐ＞０．０５）。在测定个别组织铜含量和血清学指标中，性别不同、生长阶段不同，肝、肾、毛铜含量差异显著（Ｐ＜０．０１），肌肉铜含量则差异不显著（Ｐ＞０．０５）；血清铜兰蛋白有差异（Ｐ＜０．０５）。     

The radiation pasteurisation of broiler chicken carcasses

Irradiation of standard broiler carcasses within 24 hr. of slaughter with a dose of 0.15 Mrad of gamma radiation was sufficient to give a shelf life of more than six days at 5° C. followed by one day at 15° C. The carcasses were treated and stored in air and remained unchanged in appearance and odour. After cooking, treated and stored carcasses were indistinguishable, when tasted in blind comparison tests, from un‐irradiated material held at —20° C. for the same time. The storage conditions chosen were taken to represent the upper limits of commercial and domestic handling during distribution of unfrozen broiler chicken. The economics of the radiation process are discussed.     

A study on feeding hazelnut kernel oil meal as a protein source for broiler chickens

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effect of substituting different levels of hazelnut kernel oil meal (HKM) for soybean meal (SBM) in diets for broiler. A total of 450 one-day-old female Ross 308 broiler chicks were allocated randomly to three treatment groups of 150 birds each in a randomized design. Each treatment group consisted of five replicates each of 30 chicks. All diets (in mash form) were formulated to meet nutrient concentrations recommended for broilers. The experiment lasted for six weeks. In the experiment, an SBM control (SBM) diet was compared to two HKM diets, replacing 50 (50HKM) and 100% (HKM) of SBM protein, respectively. Body weight gain, feed intake and feed conversion ratio of broilers were adversely affected ( P  < 0.05) by the HKM diets at 42 days of age. Broilers fed 50HKM and HKM had growth performances similar ( P  > 0.05). The carcass yield and abdominal fat pads of birds fed diets with SBM were higher ( P  < 0.05) than those of chicks fed the 50HKM and HKM diets. The edible inner organ weight of chicks fed diets with HKM was the heaviest ( P  < 0.05). It is concluded that SBM cannot be replaced even up to 50% with HKM in commercial broiler diet.     

Evaluation of jojoba meal as a potential supplement in the diet of broiler breeder females during laying.

1. This study was undertaken to investigate whether jojoba meal can be used as a food supplement during the laying period of chickens. 2. The size of eggs laid were smaller and the overall production rate was lower compared to control birds on food without jojoba meal supplementation. Furthermore, both ovary and oviduct weights were lower in jojoba fed birds. 3. This lowering of egg size and production rate was caused by factors present in jojoba which interfere with follicle growth, yolk deposition, progesterone production and the follicular maturation processes, resulting in the ovulation of smaller follicles and a lower ovulation rate.     

Effect of wheat content, fat source and enzyme supplementation on diet metabolisability and broiler performance.

1. A 3x3x2 factorial experiment studied the interactions of fat source (tallow, soya, tallow:soya [2:1] blend), wheat level (700, 350, 0 g/kg) and enzyme inclusion (Avizyme 1300, absent, present) in diets for broilers fed ad libitum in individual cages from 7 to 35d. Bird performance, fat digestibility, viscosity of ileal contents and diet metabolisability (AME) were measured. 2. There were no significant effects of fat source on bird performance. However, there was a significant effect on fat digestibility, which was highest for soya and lowest for tallow. Diet AME content was also significantly affected by fat source and reflected differences in fat digestibility. 3. Dry matter (DM) intake, liveweight gain (LWG) and gain:food were all reduced at 700 g wheat/kg. Viscosity of ileal contents increased with increasing wheat inclusion. 4. There were no significant effects of enzyme on DM intake or LWG but gain:food was improved by 2%. Diet AME content was increased with enzyme addition, the effect being greatest (9%) with tallow at 700 g wheat/kg. 5. Viscosity of ileal contents was reduced and fat digestibility increased with enzyme addition and there were significant wheat enzyme interactions attributable to no differences with zero wheat but marked responses to enzyme at 700 g wheat/kg. 6. The results confirm important interactions between wheat content and fat composition in relation to fat digestibility, AME content and food efficiency.     

Dioxin residues in the edible tissue of broiler chicken

The aim of this study was to determine the contamination of broiler chicken with polychlorinated dibenzodioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs) after feeding either uncontaminated feed or feed contaminated with 1, 2 or 4 ng/kg toxic equivalents (TEQ). The feed was mixed with pure substances of PCDD/Fs to get the intended contamination. Ten groups of seven 1-day-old chickens each were housed in special cages for broiler fattening. The fattening period lasted for 6 weeks. The contaminated feed was given for either 2, 4, or 6 weeks, one group received uncontaminated feed (control group). After slaughtering the edible parts of the chickens breast and leg including the skin were homogenized. Body weight gain and feed conversion (kg feed/kg body weight gain) were in the normal range (final weight 1.98+/-0.07 kg; feed conversion 1.74+/-0.03). One kilogram edible tissue contained an average of 21.2+/-4.1% of the total TEQ-intake in all groups. The PCDD/Fs residues in the edible tissues significantly correlated with the amount of PCDD/Fs-intake (r=0.99; Pearson correlation). There was no decrease in dioxin residues (% of total PCDD/Fs intake) after a 2 or 4 weeks withdrawal period. The results of this trial predict that a threshold value of 2 pg/g chicken fat can be met if the PCDD/Fs content in chicken feed is not higher than 0.4 ng/kg.     

Bacterial osteomyelitis in a 3-week-old broiler chicken associated with Enterococcus hirae

Enterococcus hirae infections are reported to cause growth depression, encephalomalacia, endocarditis, and septicemia in chickens. This report describes osteomyelitis in the proximal femur of a 3-week-old broiler chicken that also suffered from valvular endocarditis and liver necrosis. Histologically, clusters of gram-positive coccoid bacteria were found in many organs, including bone lesions. In tissues from 5 of 6 examined chickens from the same flock, E hirae was isolated in large numbers. To the authors' knowledge, this is the first report of spontaneous bacterial osteomyelitis where E hirae was cultured from bone and where coccoid bacteria consistent with Enterococcus spp were simultaneously demonstrated within bone lesions.