Space and density effects on group size preferences in laying hens

1. T‐maze preference tests were used to study group size and space preferences in laying hens kept on deep litter. The first experiment revealed a non‐significant tendency to prefer a larger group (120 hens) in a large space (9 m²) over a smaller group (5 hens) in a small space (1 m³), but when the space was constant and large, a strong preference for the smaller group in a large space emerged.

2. In experiment 2, 5 different group size/space options were tested using a T‐maze and test hens were non‐randomly selected, choosing more aggressive ‘peckers’ and more subordinate ‘receivers’. Chi‐squared tests showed preferences for (1) a larger group (70 over 4 or 0 hens), (2) a larger space (9 m² over 1 m²) and (3) 4 hens rather than an empty space. Although both peckers and receivers preferred the same size companion hen groups, receivers were more consistent in their choice than peckers.

3. The results have important implications for hens in all group sizes and suggest that while smaller group sizes may be important, they need to be combined with sufficient space. Furthermore, the ‘ideal group size’ may differ depending on the individual hen's dominance status.     

Fluoride tolerance of laying hens

1. One thousand Silver Grey Hyline hens were given drinking water containing 5 concentrations of added sodium fluoride (0, 6, 10, 14 and 20 mg/1) over a 17‐week growth and 57‐week laying period. The natural fluoride content of the water was 0–21 mg/1 during the growing period and 0–29 mg/1 throughout lay.

2. During the rearing phase, efficiency of food utilisation and mortality were not significantly affected by the fluoride concentration of the water. Weight gain and food intake decreased in the 10 and 14 mg/1 fluoride treatments.

3. During the laying period, the fluoride content of the water had a significant effect on egg production, but eggshell breaking strength was not significantly influenced.

4. Post mortem analyses, carried out at the end of lay (74 weeks of age), showed that carcase weight and the fluoride content of the os femur increased significantly as the fluoride concentration in the water increased; the increase in bone fluoride followed a linear pattern.

5. Histopathology showed no evidence of changes in the livers or kidneys; liver weights and breaking strength of the os femur were unaffected by the amount of fluoride consumed.

6. The data showed that under commercial conditions, laying birds can tolerate ingesting 4–453 mg fluoride/day for up to 74 weeks.     

Climatic adaptation of laying hens

Summary Three hundred Warren Isabrown female day old chicks were raised for 18 weeks in 3 distinct artificial climates described as temperate (20°C, 60% RH), hot dry (32°C, 40% RH) and hot humid (32°C, 90% RH). At 18 weeks each group was divided into 3 and re-allocated to 3 similar air-conditioned laying rooms as during the growing period. Different diets were fed to the 3 groups up to 18 weeks. The energy needed in order to produce the same average live body weight at 18 weeks was similar in all the 3 climatic chambers. The effect of treatments in the growing period was not significantly different (P>0·05) for most of the parameters subsequently measured during the laying period. The exception was the body weight gain between 18 and 38 weeks and the food and energy intakes. However, apart from the sexual maturity, all these parameters were negatively influenced (P<0·05) by the effect of hot climates during the laying period irrespective of method of rearing. The results of this study seem to indicate that ambient temperature experienced during the first 18 weeks after hatching has little effect on subsequent productivity and that rearing birds at high ambient temperature does not acclimatise them to these conditions better than rearing them under temperate conditions.

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Adaptacion Climatica De Gallinas Ponedoras

Resumen Se leavantaron 300 pollitas de un día de nacidas, Warren Isabrown, por 18 semanas en 3 climas diferentes; templado (20°C, 60% HR), seco caliente (32°C, 40% HR) y caliente húmedo (32°C, 90% HR). A las 18 semanas cada grupo fue dividido en 3 y re-instalado en 3 cuartos de postura con aire acondicionado durante el período de crecimiento. Los 3 grupos recibieron diferentes dietas hasta las 18 semanas. La energía necesaria para producir el mismo peso promedio a las 18 semanas fue el mismo en las tres cámaras climáticas. El efecto del tratamiento durante el período de crecimiento no fue significativamente diferente (P>0·05) para la mayoría de parámetros medidos subsecuentemente durante el peródo de postura. La excepción fue el aumento en peso corporal entre las 18 y 38 semanas y la energía consumida. Sin embargo, aparte de la madurez sexual, todos los parámetros fueron afectados negativamente (P<0·05) por el efecto de los climas cálidos durante el período de postura, irrespectivamente del manejo. Los resultados de este estudio parecen indicar, que la temperatura ambiente experimentada durante las primeras 18 semanas después del nacimiento, tuvo poco efecto sobre la productividad y que la crianza de aves a temperatura ambiente alta, no las aclimata para esas condiciones mejor que levantandolas bajo un clima templado.

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Adaptation Climatique De La Poule Pondeuse

Resumé Trois cents poussins femelles d'un jour de souche Warren Isabrown ont été élevés jusqu'à l'âge de 18 semaines dans 3 climats artificiels distincts, respectivement tempéré (20°C, 60% HR), chaud sec (32°C, 40% HR) et chaud humide (32°C, 90% HR). A l'âge de 18 semaines chaque lot d'oiseaux a été divisé en trois et réparti à nouveau en 3 cellules de ponte conditionnées de la même façon que les salles de croissance. Différentes rations alimentaires sont nourries aux oiseaux jusqu'à l'âge de 18 semaines. La consommation d'énergie nécessaire pour produire le même poids vif à 18 semaines a été sensiblement égale dans les 3 climats. L'effet des traitements en période de croissance n'a pas été significativement différent (P>0·05) sur la presque totalité des paramètres étudiés en ponte, exception faite du gain de poids vif 18–38 semaines, des ingérés alimentaires et énérgétiques. Par contre, à l'exception de la maturité sexuelle, tous ces paramètres ont à chaque fois été influencés négativement (P<0·05) par les effets des climats chauds en période de ponte, indépendamment du climat d'élevage. Les résultats de cette expérience semblent indiquer que la température expérimentée pendant les 18 premières semaines après l'éclosion a eu peu d'effet sur la productivité ultérieure, et que l'élevage des oiseaux à hautes températures ambiantes ne leur confère pas une meilleure acclimatation à ces mêmes conditions que lorsqu'ils sont élevés en milieux tempérés.

     

蛋鸡产蛋后期的营养调控

蛋鸡产蛋后期精准的营养调控可延缓蛋鸡的衰老,延长产蛋期,提高经济效益.本文从能量、蛋白质、维生素、矿物元素的营养需要等方面对蛋鸡产蛋后期的营养调控进行总结,以期能够对产蛋鸡后期的营养调控提供参考.     

"家禽肠道疾病及其预防措施"专栏(五) 产蛋母鸡的慢性肠炎

目前处理慢性肠炎的方法,是在不知病因的情况下通过增强母鸡的抵抗力和提高其康复率来控制疾病.这是荷兰两位家禽疾病研究人员的结论.     

养好产蛋鸡的措施

<正>一、把好13关1.通风关。如夏季天气炎热且降雨较多使鸡舍内潮湿闷热、异味较强,进而为多种病原体及昆虫提供了较好的滋生和繁殖条件,所以夏季应通过搞好通风工作,将鸡舍内的不良气体和多余的水分排出。2.降温关。蛋鸡最佳产蛋温度为18～25℃,最高不超过28℃,超过30℃时产蛋率就会明显下降甚至中暑,所以应通过遮阳减少辐射和通风加快蒸发、制冷,降低鸡舍内温度,有条件的必要时用空调降温。     

蛋鸡产蛋期饲养技术要点

蛋鸡词养周期较长,一般可分为育雏期、育成期、产蛋期等阶段,其中产蛋期最长,也是蛋鸡养殖盈利的重要时期,现代高产蛋鸡产蛋期鸡只身体负荷大,如果词养技术跟不上会严重影响鸡只健康状况和生产性能。从现实看,蛋鸡从业者饲养管理水平参差不齐,即便是大型规模养殖场,精细化饲养也做得不到位,造成鸡只体况不佳、鸡蛋质量差、产蛋率低等问题,小、散户更为明显。本文结合生产实际,重点从词养、营养供给方面对高产蛋鸡产蛋期词养技术进行了总结归纳。     

Comparison of the coagulation profile of fatty liver haemorrhagic syndrome-susceptible laying hens and normal laying hens

1. The rate of thrombin generation in plasma from Fatty Liver Haemorrhagic Syndrome-susceptible laying hens (FLHS, UCD-003) is more rapid than in plasma from age-matched normal Single Comb White Leghorn (SCWL) laying hens. 2. The rate of thrombin generation in plasma was determined by measuring the biological activity of the specific coagulation proteins, Factors V, VII, VIII, IX and X. 3. The higher activity of Factors V, VII and X in FLHS-susceptible laying hens compared with normal SCWL hens remained consistent after plasma lipid concentrations were reduced. 4. Analysis of the fatty acid composition of plasma phospholipids showed that in normal SCWL laying hens phosphatidylethanolamine contained C18:3n3 whereas it contained C20:3n3 in FLHS-susceptible laying hens. 5. The results suggest that alterations in the composition of the phospholipids that are essential cofactors in the biochemical reactions involved in thrombin generation may be a contributing factor in the development of FLHS.     

The correct nutrition of laying hens

合理的营养在现代产蛋母鸡发挥产蛋遗传潜力和蛋品质量上起着一定的作用.此外,每枚鸡蛋的饲料成本占其生产成本的65％～70％.因此,产蛋母鸡的营养方案在决定鸡蛋生产企业的总体利润和成功上非常关键.     

Optimum threonine requirement of laying hens

1. One experiment was conducted with medium weight laying hens to determine their threonine requirement between 28-38 weeks. 2. Two threonine-limiting diets of identical protein quality (summit-dilution) were used and, by dilution, ten protein contents were produced supplying 2.7 to 5.4 g total threonine/kg diet. The diet with the lowest protein was also supplemented with synthetic L-threonine. Each diet was fed to 5 groups of 24 laying hens. 3. The daily threonine requirement of the individual laying hens was estimated by direct methods to be 8.7 mg/g egg output plus 43.49 mg/kg body weight for this experiment. Calculated optimum intakes of threonine for various ratios of costs of input to value of output are tabulated. For example, for a flock of medium weight laying hens producing an average of 50 g daily egg mass, the optimum threonine intake (mg/hen d) varied between 700 and 710 for cost ratios (k-values) varying between 0.002 and 0.001.     

Vitamin E requirements of laying hens

In 5 experiments with 1,296 laying hybrids at the age of 22-73 weeks producing eggs for consumption a varied supplementation of between 0 and 20 mg vitamin E per kg of a semisynthetic ration was tested. The vitamin E content of the basal ration was less than 1 mg per kg feed. The quotas of selenium and unsaturated fatty acids in the feed were taken into consideration. Vitamin E and Se supplements did not influence, feed intake, laying, performance, feed efficiency/100 g egg development of body weight and mortality. The supplementation of 14% vitamin-E-free sunflower oil caused a significant decrease of the laying performance by 15%. There was no relation between the humoral immune reaction and vitamin E supply. The peroxide value of the abdominal fat and the activities of the creatine phosphokinase, the aspartate and alanine amino transferase in the blood serum were not directionally changed by the vitamin E, Se and oil supplements. There were no significant relations between the vitamin E content of the feed and that of the yolk and the yolk sac of the chicken. A vitamin E requirement of less than 1 mg and a requirement norm, including a safety margin, of 5 mg per kg feed was derived from the results for laying hens for egg production. A supplement of synthetic vitamin E to laying hen feed is thus not necessary.     

产蛋母鸡合理的营养方案

产蛋母鸡的合理营养对确保蛋鸡和鸡蛋生产企业获得最佳生产成绩非常重要。