A comparison of different drying techniques for energy and amino acid analyses of poultry excreta

1. Broilers were fed on wheat‐casein or wheat‐soyabean meal diets and the excreta collected after 12 and 24 h. Samples of excreta were freeze dried or dried in a force draught oven at 60 or 80 °C.

2. Drying procedure and collection time significantly influenced the determined energy and nitrogen concentrations of the excreta.

3. Drying excreta in an oven at 60 °G proved at least as effective as freeze drying for the majority of amino acids.     

Pathogenicity of various isolates of Alcaligenes faecalis for broilers

Day-old broilers or specific-pathogen-free chickens were inoculated intranasally with approximately 1 X 10(8) organisms of eight different field isolates of Alcaligenes faecalis. Major differences in the pathogenicity of isolates and their ability to colonize the trachea were found. Only two isolates (Wilson and Lockamy) produced mild clinical signs of respiratory disease ("snicking," dyspnea). The same two also colonized the respiratory tract, especially the trachea, in large numbers; they persisted for 31 days. Of the remaining six isolates, five were also able to colonize the respiratory tract but did so to a lesser degree and less persistently, without causing clinical signs. Only one isolate (CS) was incapable of becoming established in the respiratory tract of chicks after intranasal inoculation.     

A note on the structure and iron‐binding properties of egg‐shell membranes

1. When a solution of ferric ammonium sulphate was added to shell membranes of the domestic fowl, iron infiltrated the mantle (cortex) surrounding the cores of the individual fibres of the membranes.

2. Contraction of warm eggs in ice‐cold colloidal iron caused flooding of pore canals and contamination of the underlying shell membranes with this element.

3. Appreciable contamination of the inner shell membrane with iron persisted for 25 d in infertile eggs stored at 37.5 °C.     

A 31P topical magnetic resonance study of embryonic development in hens' eggs

1. A ³¹P topical magnetic resonance study of whole chicken's eggs in vivo is described.

2. Resonances from adenosine triphosphate, phosphocreatine, inorganic phosphate and phosphorous storage protein were observed. These changed in relative intensity as the embryo developed.

3. No ill effects due to exposure to radiofrequency radiation or magnetic fields were observed.

4. It is concluded that topical magnetic resonance can make a useful contribution to the study of embryonic development in avian eggs.     

Effects of lauryl sulphate on egg‐shell quality in laying hens

1. The effect of feeding the detergent, sodium lauryl sulphate at concentrations up to 10 g/kg diet on egg‐shell quality was examined in laying hens at 24, 36 and 48 weeks of age.

2. Lauryl sulphate at 2.5 g/kg or more in the diet significantly increased shell breaking strength, shell thickness and shell weight at 24 and 36 weeks. In 48‐week‐old hens only shell breaking strength was increased significantly. Egg production and egg weight were not affected significantly by lauryl sulphate.

3. Lauryl sulphate might increase these measures of quality by increasing shell deposition and/or shell elasticity.     

Observations on an outbreak of foot abscess in sheep

An outbreak of ovine interdigital dermatitis and foot abscess in which approximately a third of 300 Perendale ram hoggets had acute lameness was investigated. Both foot infections occurred simultaneously in the flock, and ovine interdigital dermatitis preceded the occurrence of foot abscess in seven instances. It was suggested that the behaviour pattern and sexual activity of the young rams predisposed them to ovine interdigital dermatitis and foot abscess. Although no controlled trials were conducted, the lame sheep responded well following the combined therapeutic measures of dry surroundings, formalin footbathing and selected antibiotic therapy.