Blood volume increase in salt-induced pulmonary hypertension, heart failure and ascites in broiler and White Leghorn chickens.

In this study we tested the hypothesis that excess dietary salt produces an expansion of extracellular fluid volume which may be associated with pulmonary hypertension-induced right ventricular failure in chickens with rapid growth rates. One-week-old broiler and White Leghorn chickens were given 0.5% salt in their drinking water for three weeks. Saline water had a minimal effect on White Leghorns. The hypothesis appears to be correct since salt-treatment in broilers resulted in up to 30% expansion in blood volume and there was 50% mortality from pulmonary hypertension-induced right ventricular failure and ascites. There was marked (up to 88% in some broilers) right ventricular hypertrophy, an indicator of pulmonary hypertension. There was less left ventricular hypertrophy as shown by an increase in the ratio of the right to total ventricle weight. There was up to 32% decrease in growth rate. There was renal hypertrophy in the salt-treated birds as shown by a higher kidney to body weight ratio.     

Comparison of serum biochemical profiles of male broilers with female broilers and White Leghorn chickens.

Male broiler chickens were compared to female broiler chickens and male White Leghorns with respect to a 15-parameter serum biochemical profile at 9, 20, 30 and 42 days of age in order to determine which, if any, of the parameters tested might be useful in the identification of birds susceptible to sudden death syndrome. In comparison to female broilers, male broilers had significantly lower (p less than 0.01) total protein levels at 20 days of age and significantly higher (p less than 0.01) cholesterol levels at 30 days of age. Compared to male White Leghorns, in which sudden death syndrome has not been reported, male broilers had significantly lower (p less than 0.01) levels of cholesterol and creatinine at nine days of age, total protein at 9 and 20 days of age and albumin at 20 days of age and significantly higher (p less than 0.01) levels of potassium at nine days, uric acid at 9, 20 and 30 days, lactate dehydrogenase at 20, 30 and 42 days and cholesterol at 30 days of age.     

Pathogenesis of rotavirus infection in various age groups of chickens and turkeys: clinical signs and virology

Age-related susceptibility patterns of turkeys, broilers, and specific pathogen-free (SPF) White Leghorn chickens to experimentally induced infection with turkey or chicken rotavirus isolates were compared. The following determinants were evaluated: clinical signs, onset and duration of virus production, viral titers, involvement of intestinal villi in the replication of the virus, and the development of antibodies against the virus. Older turkeys and chickens were more susceptible than were their younger counterparts, turkeys were more susceptible than were broiler and White Leghorn chickens (regardless of age), and broiler chickens were slightly more susceptible than were age-matched White Leghorn chickens. Turkeys developed diarrhea, accompanied by high viral titers within 1 day after inoculation with virus. Viral antigen was found in the epithelial cells of the intestinal villi throughout the intestinal tract and some cells of the cecal tonsils. Antibodies could be detected as early as 4 to 5 days after inoculation. These findings were more pronounced in turkeys inoculated at 112 days of age than in birds inoculated at a younger age. Age-related susceptibility patterns were similar in White Leghorn and broiler chickens. Infection was subclinical in birds less than 56 days old, whereas older birds developed soft feces. Egg production in the White Leghorn chickens decreased after being inoculated with virus at 350 days of age.     

Sodium bicarbonate and potassium bicarbonate supplements for broilers can cause poor performance at high temperatures.

1. Supplements of between 2 and 8 g of sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3)/l in drinking water provided between 21 and 49 d of age to broilers at 31 degrees C increased growth after 35 d of age and food intake after 42 d of age compared to unsupplemented controls. The most consistent responses were observed with 2 g NaHCO3/l. 2. Differences in weekly water intakes with different concentrations of NaHCO3 in the drinking water did not equate with variations in weekly food intake and growth. 3. Unexpected high mortality from dehydration and nephrosis was observed with a 10 g NaHCO3/l supplement. This mortality was associated with major changes in blood acid-base balance and plasma electrolyte concentrations. 4. Dietary supplements of NaHCO3 gave significantly better food conversion and numerically better growth in broilers at 31 degrees C than supplements of potassium bicarbonate (KHCO3) providing similar dietary concentrations of bicarbonate. 5. Supplements of NaHCO3 were more toxic to broiler chickens when supplied in the drinking water than in the diet. This appeared to be related to the intake of sodium and alterations to cellular membrane ionic potential.     

Heterophil functional responses to dietary immunomodulators vary in genetically distinct chicken lines

The effect of dietary supplementation of immunomodulators on in vitro chicken heterophil function was investigated using three diverse genetic lines of chickens (broiler, Fayoumi, and Leghorn). Dietary supplementation with β-glucan, ascorbic acid, and corticosterone was fed from 8 to 11 weeks of age. Heterophil function was evaluated weekly during supplementation using phagocytosis, bacterial killing, and heterophil extracellular traps (HETs)-DNA release. Fayoumis fed the basal diet had significantly higher HETs-DNA release (P=0.002) than Leghorns and broilers. Both genetic line and immunomodulator diet supplementation had significant effects on bacterial killing (line and diet effect: P<0.001) and HETs-DNA release (line: P<0.001; diet: P=0.043). Dietary supplementation with immunomodulators, therefore, shows potential to affect and augment heterophil function in chickens. The current results also suggest the important role of genetics in innate immune responses.     

钠水平及种类对肉鸡生长性能、胴体性状及血清矿物质水平的影响

文章旨在评估日粮钠水平及种类对肉鸡生长性能、胴体性状及血清矿物质水平的影响.试验选择平均初始体重一致的白羽肉仔鸡832只,随机分为8组,每组4个重复,每个重复26只鸡.试验日粮采用4×2因子设计,即日粮钠水平分别为1.5、2.4、3.3和4.2 g/kg,以小苏打和硫酸钠两种形式添加,试验共进行42 d.结果:1～10...     

红景天提取物对高原缺氧条件下肉鸡法氏囊疫苗免疫作用的影响

试验旨在研究红景天提取物对高原缺氧条件下肉鸡接种法氏囊疫苗和绵羊红细胞后产生的特异性抗体水平的影响。随机选取100只1日龄健康AA肉仔鸡,随机分为5组。其中,对照组只饲喂基础日粮,其余4组分别在基础日粮中添加0.10%、0.15%、0.20%和0.40%红景天水提物干粉。每个组取半数鸡只于13日龄腹腔注射接种绵羊红细胞,另一半鸡只于20日龄口服接种法氏囊疫苗。研究发现,免疫接种法氏囊疫苗后2 d和19 d,相比于对照组,0.20%和0.40%红景天处理组显著提高了法氏囊疫苗抗体水平(P<0.05)。在腹腔注射绵羊红细胞后5 d、8 d和12 d时,相比对照组,0.20%和0.40%红景天处理组显著提高了绵羊红细胞抗体水平(P<0.05)。该试验表明红景天提取物可以提高高海拔缺氧条件下肉鸡特异性抗体水平,因此其可能作为高海拔缺氧条件下肉鸡日粮的一种免疫调节性添加剂。     

饲养密度和高蛋白质饲粮代谢能水平对公母分饲肉鸡生长性能和腿部健康的影响

本试验旨在研究饲养密度与高蛋白质(前期23%,后期21%)饲粮代谢能水平对公母分饲肉鸡生长性能和腿部健康的影响。试验采用2(性别)×2(饲养密度)×3(饲粮代谢能水平)三因子完全随机设计,选用1日龄罗斯308(Ross 308)肉鸡公雏1 872只和母雏2 160只,随机分成12个组,每组8个重复。试验设高、低2个饲养密度,以出栏体重计,分别为42[高饲养密度(HSD),16公/m2或18母/m2]和26 kg/m2[低饲养密度(LSD),10公/m2或12母/m2]。试验饲粮分前期(1~21日龄)和后期(22~35日龄)2个阶段配制,饲粮代谢能设高、中、低3个水平,其中,高代谢能(HME)水平饲粮前期和后期的代谢能水平分别为12.81和13.23 MJ/kg,中代谢能(MME)水平饲粮前期和后期的代谢能水平分别为12.18和12.60 MJ/kg,低代谢能(HME)水平饲粮前期和后期的代谢能水平分别为11.55和11.97 MJ/kg。结果表明:1)饲养密度与饲粮代谢能水平对肉鸡的平均日增重和料重比有显著交互作用(P0.05)。1~21日龄时,随着饲粮代谢能水平增加,HSD组平均日增重的增加幅度和料重比的降低幅度均小于LSD组;22~35日龄时结果正好相反。性别与饲养密度对肉鸡的平均日采食量有显著交互作用(P0.05)。随着饲养密度增加,公鸡平均日采食量的降低幅度大于母鸡。2)HSD极显著降低肉鸡的胸肌率(P0.01),母鸡的胸肌率和腹脂率显著高于公鸡(P0.05)。饲粮代谢能水平和饲养密度对肉鸡的腿肌率有显著交互作用(P0.05)。随着饲粮代谢能水平增加,LSD组肉鸡的腿肌率降低,而HSD组基本不变。3)高饲粮代谢能水平极显著降低肉鸡的脚垫损伤评分(P0.01),公鸡的步态评分和脚垫损伤评分显著高于母鸡(P0.05),垫料水分含量显著低于母鸡(P0.05)。饲粮代谢能水平与饲养密度对肉鸡的脚垫损伤评分有显著交互作用(P0.05)。随着饲粮代谢能水平增加,HSD组脚垫损伤评分的降低幅度大于LSD组。以上结果表明,高饲养密度降低肉鸡的平均日增重,增加料重比;35日龄前,公鸡比母鸡的空间需求更高;提高高蛋白质饲粮的代谢能水平可以缓解HSD对肉鸡生长性能和脚垫健康的不利影响。     

Failure of drinking water sanitisation to reduce the incidence of natural salmonella in broiler chickens

The addition of a sanitiser, containing a mixture of organic acids and other approved additives, to water offered to broiler chickens was effective in eliminating salmonella from the drinking water. However, it failed to influence salmonella carriage by the chickens which were still shedding salmonella at market age (seven weeks old).     

Performance of broiler chickens given whey in the food and/or drinking water

1. The effects on food intake and weight gain of offering broiler chickens (2 to 7 weeks of age) dry food, wet food, wet food containing whey, whey as drinking liquid and combinations of two of these were studied in 5 experiments. 2. Wet feed generally improved both weight gain and feed efficiencies significantly. Feeding whey also improved weight gain and feed conversion efficiency, but whey offered as a drinking fluid had an adverse effect on broiler performance. 3. When whey was offered both as drinking liquid and added to the food it had a deleterious effect. 4. When whey was offered from 4 or 6 weeks of age, it had a better effect than when offered from 2 weeks of age. 5. There was better performance when whey in the drinking water was diluted and/or offered on alternate days or half-days. 6. Broilers allowed to choose between wet and dry feed when water was freely available chose mostly dry feed; in the absence of drinking water they chose mostly wet food. Birds offered water and liquid whey avoided whey completely. 7. It is concluded that whey can be used in diets for broiler chickens by incorporating it in the food as long as drinking water is offered ad libitum. Whey may be offered as a drink if the food is mixed with 1.8 times its weight of water but it is better to dilute the whey with an equal volume of water whether it is added to food or given as drink. Good results can also be obtained when undiluted whey is offered alternately with water, either in half-day or full-day periods.     

Effect of dietary electrolyte balance on production, immune response and mineral concentrations of the femur in broilers

The aim of this study was to assess the age-related effects of dietary electrolyte balance (DEB) on the performance, immune response (from day 0 to 42) and macromineral content of femur ash of broilers. The DEB values of the purchased commercial broiler diets were modified with the addition of NH4Cl or NaHCO3 to formulate the diets (DEB 325, 250, 175, 100, 25 and -50 mmol/kg) for this investigation. A total of 396 chickens were divided into 6 treatment groups and fed with the experimental diets for 6 weeks. During the first two weeks of life, DEB did not influence feed intake and body weight gain; however, by the 21st day of age DEB 175 and between 22 and 42 days of age DEB 250 mmol/kg gave significantly better results than the control. DEB did not affect the macromineral concentrations of bone ash. The immune response of broilers on low DEB (< 175 mmol/kg) was faster and more intensive than that of chickens on diets with medium or high DEB (> 175 mmol/kg). It can be concluded that the optimal DEB value required for the best body weight gain is significantly influenced by the age of broilers. Our results call attention to the discrepancy between the decreasing DEB level of commercial broiler diets and the age-related increase of 'electrolyte requirements' of broilers. It is also interesting that DEB may influence not only the performance but also the immune response of broilers.     

Necrotic Enteritis in Broiler Chickens I. A Review of the Literature and the Prevalence of the Disease in Ontario

The available literature on necrotic enteritis in broiler chickens is reviewed.

The records of three poultry diagnostic laboratories in Ontario were examined for the years 1969, 1970 and 1971. During this period 855 (7.7%) of 11,076 consignments of broiler chickens examined were diagnosed as necrotic enteritis. The condition was most common in broilers at three weeks of age, with 66% of all cases occurring in chickens between two and four and one half weeks. The disease occurred throughout the year but it was most common during July, August, September and October. Necrotic enteritis often occurred more than once per year on a farm.

     

Salt poisoning in broiler chickens

The incident occurred on a small, owner-operated broiler unit that used home-mixed feed. Two flocks of broilers, one aged 6 weeks and one aged 6 days, developed signs of watery diarrhoea, thirst and weakness. Over 3 days the mortality increased considerably and many birds were noticed to show laboured breathing. The majority of dead birds had an excess of clear fluid in the pericardial sac, oedematous lungs and pale swollen kidneys. Cystic dilation of the testes was conspicuous in several birds from the younger flock killed at 12 days of age. This lesion is a specific indication of sodium toxicity in young broilers. Histological lesions were those associated with cardiovascular collapse and hypoxia. Liver levels of sodium chloride were 4 g/kg of wet weight. Broiler feed samples contained more than 7% sodium chloride whereas the nutritional specifications were for 0.4%. The rations had been correctly mixed and the problem was traced to a faulty batch of meatmeal that had been contaminated by salt used for curing hides.     

Effect of different non-chloride sodium sources on the performance of heat-stressed broiler chickens

1. One hundred and eighty 1-d-old broiler chicks were used to evaluate the effect upon broiler performance during severely hot summer months of three different sodium salts: sodium bicarbonate (NaHCO3), sodium carbonate (Na2CO3) and sodium sulphate (Na2SO4), in starter and finisher diets having an identical electrolyte balance (DEB) of 250 mEq/kg. 2. The non-chloride sodium salts were added to contribute the same amount of sodium and were substituted at the expense of builder's sand in the basal diets containing common salt (NaCl) as Na and Cl source. 3. Each diet was fed to three experimental units having 15 chicks each until 42 d of age. Severe heat-stress conditions, maintained in the rearing room, were indicated by high average weekly room temperature (minimum 29.3 degrees C; maximum 38.0 degrees C). 4. Diets containing sodium salts gave better body weight gain, feed intake and feed to gain ratio than the control diet. Sodium salts also enhanced water intake as well as water to feed intake ratio. This effect was more pronounced in broilers fed NaHCO3 supplement (with NaCl in the basal diets). 5. The increased water intake resulted in lower body temperature in heat-stressed birds fed NaHCO3 supplemented diet than in birds fed other sodium salts. A lower mortality rate was noted with NaHCO3 (15.15%), Na2CO3 (13.64%) and Na2SO4 (15.15%) supplements than with the control (33.33%) treatment. 6. Better carcase and parts yield were observed in sodium supplemented broilers. Sodium salts reduced the alkalotic pH and enhanced the blood sodium content, which ultimately improved the blood electrolyte balance and overall performance of heat-stressed broilers. 7. Supplementing broiler diets with sodium salts improved the live performance of heat-stressed broilers and better productive performance was noted with NaHCO3 than other sodium supplements.     

Nutritional approaches to ameliorate pulmonary hypertension in broiler chickens

This article reviews recent nutritional approaches for counteracting the development of pulmonary hypertension syndrome (PHS; ascites) in broiler chickens especially when they are reared at high altitudes. High altitudes impose the sustained stress of hypobaric hypoxia, which reduces the availability of atmospheric oxygen to red blood cells passing through the lungs, thereby causing systemic arterial hypoxaemia (undersaturation of haemoglobin with oxygen), pulmonary arterial hypertension and PHS/ascites in susceptible broilers. Proper nutritional strategies are needed to reduce metabolic activity and prevent the development of ascites especially when modern broilers are reared in regions where the existing altitudes limit the availability of atmospheric oxygen. This article also addresses controversies with regard to broiler nutrition in relation to PHS. For example, the catabolism of protein from feed ingredients incurs increased oxygen consumption, suggesting that feeding reduced‐protein diets to broiler chickens may result in reduced PHS incidences. However, experimental and field data indicate that feeding reduced‐protein diets to broilers subjected to hypobaric hypoxia increases the development of PHS. Controversies on the nutrition of unsaturated fat in relation to PHS are also discussed. In conclusion, hypoxia, acidosis, vasoconstriction and enhanced metabolic rate are triggers of PHS. Feeding reduced‐protein diets might promote the susceptibility of broilers to PHS by decreased dietary intake of arginine, decreased uric acid production and increased lipogenesis. Feeding high‐protein diets, dietary arginine supplementation, partial substitution of sodium bicarbonate for sodium chloride, feeding low‐fat diets and effective feed restriction programmes can be considered as nutritional approaches to prevent PHS.     

能量水平对轻重型鸡生长发育,体成分及营养物质利用的影响

试验比较了轻(蛋)、重(肉)型鸡0～10周的生长发育、体成分和营养物质利用率,同时观察了饲粮能量水平对二类型鸡的影响效应。白来航和白洛克公鸡喂以相同蛋白质水平(19％)而不同能量浓度的三个饲粮(能量浓度分别为2.72,2.95和3.16千卡/克)。 采食同样饲粮的情况下,肉鸡具有较快的生长速度(肉鸡体重在10周末是蛋鸡的2.37倍,采食量是1.76倍)和较高的体脂肪(％)(P<0.01)。饲料效率、能量效率和蛋白质利用效率(％)均非常显著地高于蛋鸡(P<0.01),而体蛋白(％)低于蛋鸡(P<0.01)。认为肉鸡生长较快不仅与采食量有关,较高的饲料、能量和蛋白质利用率也是促进快速生长的重要因素。 在三个供饲能量水平下,肉鸡受能量浓度的影响较明显,尤其是高能水平的饲粮。低能水平的饲粮仅对蛋鸡采食量(P<0.05)和肉鸡体蛋白(P<0.01)有作用。较高的饲粮能量水平不仅使肉鸡生长速度加快,体脂肪增高,而且明显改进饲粮能量和蛋白质利用效率(P<0.01)。     

Dietary L-carnitine supplementation enhances the lipopolysaccharide-induced acute phase protein response in broiler chickens

The objective of the present study was to evaluate the potential effects of dietary L-carnitine supplementation on acute phase protein response upon a lipopolysaccharide (LPS) challenge of male broiler chickens receiving a commercial broiler diet supplemented with 15 or 100 mg L-carnitine/kg or an unsupplemented (control) diet from 14 days of age onwards. At 28 days of age, eight chickens per dietary treatment were weighed and subcutaneously injected with 300 microg LPS from E. coli (100 microg LPS/ml saline) or 3 ml saline (unsupplemented group only). During the next 10 days, blood samples were taken repeatedly and analysed for their hemopexin (HX) and alpha-1 acid glycoprotein (AGP) levels. Extra dietary L-carnitine did not affect broiler performance. At day 1 postinjection, plasma HX and AGP levels were significantly increased in all treatment groups. However, the elevations in circulating HX and AGP levels were more pronounced in the L-carnitine supplemented chickens, especially in the 100mg L-carnitine group. It is concluded that extra L-carnitine in the diet of broiler chickens enhances or advances the acute phase protein response. The exact mode of action needs to be elucidated but seems to be consistent with a glucocorticoid mimicking effect.     

蛋鸡和肉鸡下丘脑中生长抑素神经原分布的比较研究

应用免疫组织化学技术显示蛋鸡和肉鸡生长发育过程中下丘脑生长抑素（SS）免疫阳性神经原的分布。研究结果表明两种鸡下丘脑中SS神经原的分布相似，均分布在下丘脑外侧和腹内侧核。下丘脑外侧和腹内侧核的SS神经原可分为两群：中间群和外侧群。通过计数中间群中SS神经原数量发现两种鸡SS神经原数量在生长发育中变化不同。肉鸡在第3周时SS神经原数量最多，于第6周显著减少（P＜0.01)，然后一直维持到第9周。蛋鸡SS神经原数量在第3周时稍增加后于第6周暂时降低（P＜0.05)，然后在第9周时明显增加（P＜0.05)。在发育过程中，肉鸡SS神经原数量的变化比蛋鸡大。尽管肉鸡和蛋鸡SS神经原数量没有明显的性别变化，但公鸡SS神经原的总数比母鸡要高。本实验结果表明蛋鸡和肉鸡下丘脑中SS神经原数量与血浆中GH水平呈负相关，下丘脑中SS神经原数量可以解释蛋鸡和肉鸡血浆中GH水平的差异。     

心钠素在肉鸡腹水综合征发生发展中的作用

大群艾维菌商品代肉鸡从1日龄起用高能日粮常规饲养，以获得自然腹水综合征（ascites syndrome，AS）病例。应用放射免疫分析方法，分别测定了2～6周龄正常组、轻度腹水组、重度腹水组内鸡血浆和5周龄时心、肝、肺、肾等组织心钠素（atrial natriuretic polypeptide,ANP）的含量；用右心导管法测定了平均肺动脉压（mPAP），并用常规方法测定了腹水心脏指数（AHI），同时还对血浆ANP的含量与AHI、mPAP的相关性进行了分析。结果发现，随着日龄的增长，ANP的含量增加，AHI、mPAP也随着发生明显的变化；随腹水程度的加深，mPAP、AHI以及肉鸡血浆、组织ANP的含量均显著（P〈0．05）或极显著（P〈0．01）升高，组织中ANP的含量明显比血浆中的高；另外还发现，不同腹水程度肉鸡血浆ANP含量与5～6周龄时的mPAP、4～5周龄时的AHI相关性显著（P〈0．05）。结果表明，ANP参与了肉鸡AS的发生和发展过程并与肉鸡发生AS的程度有密切关系。     

Contribution of lipoprotein lipase to differences in fatness between broiler and layer-strain chickens

The growth of abdominal fat in chickens from broiler and layer-strains up to 10 weeks of age was measured and compared with changes in plasma very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) concentration and tissue lipoprotein lipase activities. The growth of abdominal fat in broilers was much more rapid than in layer-strain chickens. Plasma VLDL concentrations in the two strains were similar up to 5 weeks of age but thereafter concentrations tended to be higher in broilers. Plasma VLDL concentrations in both strains were much lower than those necessary for maximum lipoprotein lipase activity. The lipoprotein lipase activity of abdominal fat increased much more rapidly in broilers than in layer-strain chickens. In both strains the pattern of its increase relative to body weight was similar to that of abdominal fat. Differences in the lipoprotein lipase activity of abdominal fat between strains were attributed to differences in both activity/adipocyte and number of adipocytes. They were reduced or abolished if activity was expressed relative to tissue weight, or to its content of DNA or protein. The results strongly suggest that the greater lipoprotein lipase activity of the abdominal fat pad in broilers is an important factor in its rapid growth.