Performance of broiler chicks fed on alkali‐treated neem (Azadirachta indica) kernel cake as a protein supplement

1. An experiment was conducted to evaluate growth and nutrient efficiency of broiler chicks from 3 to 42 d fed on diets containing alkali‐treated neem (Azadirachta indica A. juss) kernel cake (NKC) as a protein supplement in place of peanut meal (PNM).

2. NKC was treated with sodium hydroxide at 10 (ANKC 1) or 20 g (ANKC 2)/kg and incorporated into the test diets at 135 or 300 g/kg to replace 50 (low—L) or 100 (High—H) % of the PNM protein of the reference diet.

3. Despite comparable retentions of dry matter and total carbohydrate on L‐ANKC 1 and 2, fibre on L‐and H‐ANKC 2 and nitrogen, calcium and acid detergent fibre on all experimental diets compared to the retentions of chicks on the reference diet, only the chicks fed L‐ANKG 2 were found to grow and utilise food as well as those on the reference diet.

4. The activities of serum alkaline phosphatase on H‐ANKC 1 and alanine amino transferase on all test diets were depressed (P < 0.05), but the activity of serum aspartate amino transferase, total erythrocyte count and concentration of blood haemoglobin and urea were similar in all chicks.

5. No significant differences were noticed in the qualitative and quantitative characteristics of the meat of chicks fed on the reference diet and on diets incorporating ANKC at the lower concentrations. Feeding ANKC protein did not impart any untoward taste as evaluated in pressure cooked meat by a semitrained panel on a 7 point Hedonic scale.

6. Except for duodenal and jejunal inflammation in chicks on both reference and test diets, all the vital organs were normal, ruling out any adverse affects caused by residual neem bitters.

7. Comparable performance and cost of chicks fed on the reference and L‐ANKC 2 diets, warrants the utilisation of hitherto wasted protein‐rich NKC after alkali treatment in broiler chick diets to spare peanut meal for human consumption in developing countries.     

Effect of dietary protein content on live and carcase performance of heterozygous naked neck and normally feathered broilers

1. An experiment was conducted to determine the effect of different dietary protein contents on the performance of naked neck (Na/na) and normally feathered (na/na) broilers.

2. Chicks from the two genotypes were reared in wire‐floored cages and divided at random into 3 groups. Birds were fed on high protein (HP, 12.99 MJ ME, 238 g crude protein/kg and 12.94 MJ ME, 216 g crude protein/kg from 0 to 3 and 3 to 7 weeks, respectively), medium protein (MP, 12.99 MJ ME, 219 g crude protein/kg and 12.87 MJ ME, 201 g crude protein/kg from 0 to 3 and 3 to 7 weeks), and low protein (LP, 12.94 MJ ME, 205 g crude protein/kg and 12.75 MJ ME, 184 g protein/kg from 0 to 3 and 3 to 7 weeks) diets.

3. The LP diets resulted in a significantly lower daily body weight gain of males from 0 to 3 weeks. Dietary protein content had no effect on body weight gain from 3 to 7 weeks, body weight at 7 weeks, and the food intake of birds. Carcase composition of birds from both genotypes was unaffected by dietary protein.

4. Naked neck birds had significandy higher body weights at 7 weeks. Yields of carcase and breast of Na/na males were significantly higher than those of na/na males. There were no significant differences between females from the two genotypes as regards carcase yield.

5. It was concluded that the dietary protein requirements of naked neck birds were similar to those for normally feathered birds.     

Opinions of veterinarians regarding aggression in different breeds of dogs

Aggression in 108 dog breeds and six crosses was ranked by 185 members of the Companion Animal Society of the New Zealand Veterinary Association. The Rottweiler and German Shepherd were categorised as extremely aggressive and the Akita, Basengi, Chihuahua (long-coated and short-coated), Chow Chow, Cocker Spaniel, Shar pei and Welsh Corgi (Cardigan and Pembroke) were classified as very aggressive. A chi-squared test of data from the twenty most popular breeds showed that significant differences were perceived between the breeds. Cocker Spaniels, Pembroke Welsh Corgis, German Shepherds and Rottweilers were more aggressive than Staffordshire Bull Terriers, Border Collies and Doberman Pinchers, which were more aggressive than Cavalier King Charles Spaniels, Bichon Frise, English Springer Spaniels, German Shorthaired Pointers, Weimaraners, Labrador Retrievers, Golden Retrievers, Newfoundlands, Dalmatians, Boxers, Bulldogs, Bull Mastiffs and Rough Collies.     

Xylazine and a xylazine/fentanyl citrate/azaperone combination in farmed deer. I: dose rate comparison

Six 1-year-old farmed red deer were used to compare physiological and behavioural responses to a range of doses of 5% xylazine with or without the addition of 0.4 mg of fentanyl citrate and 3.2 mg of azaperone per ml. Each deer was randomly assigned to one of six treatments: xylazine alone at 0.4 and 0.6 mg/kg, the xylazinelfentanyl citrate/azaperone combination containing 0.2, 0.4 and 0.6 mg/kg of xylazine, or a sterile water control. Injections were given intramuscularly in the anterior neck, operator blind, on each of 6 sampling days between October and January, such that each deer received all treatments with 9-28 days between each treatment. Measurements included heart rate and respiration rate. A 0-3 scoring system (normal to nil response, respectively) was devised to record sedative responses (body stance, head position, degree of eye closure, palpebral reflex, resistance to movement of the head, response to noise) and analgesic responses to touch and pinching of the ear, and response to a needle prick in the gluteal region. Scores were added to produce a sedation score and analgesia score, respectively, for each treatment. Records were taken immediately prior to injection and thereafter at 5, 14, 25, 35, 60, 90, 120, 150, 180, 210, 240 and 300 minutes. All deer given each dose rate of the xylazine and the xylazine/fentanyl citrate/azaperone combination became recumbent. There was a tendency for the time to recumbency and variation of time to recumbency to be shorter at higher dose rates and with the addition of fentanyl citrate and azaperone to xylazine, particularly with xylazine at 0.4 mg/kg. These trends were not statistically significant (p>0.05). The duration of recumbency was shorter with the low dose of the xylazine/fentanyl trateiazaperone combination (0.2 mg/kg of xylazine) than for the higher doses of xylazine alone or the combination of drugs (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in heart rates or respiration rates between treatments, although all treatments significantly reduced both heart and respiration rates (p<0.01). The sedation scores showed similar peak responses and timing to peak responses (14-25 min) to both drug treatments and all dose rates, but the responses were less persistent for lower doses. The analgesia scores showed a similar pattern, with peak responses 14-35 minutes after administration and more persistence at higher dose rates of both xylazine alone and the xylazine/fentanyl citrate/azaperone combination. This study has shown that most physiological and behavioural responses to a range of doses of xylazine or the xylazine/fentanyl citrate/azaperone combination were statistically similar. However, there was a tendency for recumbency to occur more rapidly and with less variation in timing when the mid-range dose of the drug combination was used, supporting the observation by practitioners that the drug combination results in a more rapid and reliable state of recumbency at a lower dose rate of xylazine.     

Mortality in near‐term ostrich embryos during artificial incubation

1. The ostrich industry in South Africa (and elsewhere) experiences a high rate of embryo mortality during artificial incubation of eggs. Most of this mortality takes place in the last 10–14 d of incubation.

2. We carried out post‐mortem examinations on 111 embryos that died within this period to assess the causes of this mortality.

3. Malpositioning and severe oedema were the predominant symptoms of dead‐in‐shell embryos with 55% being malpositioned and 41% showing severe oedema. Of these, 22 embryos (24%) showed both symptoms. Malpositioning generally results from incorrect setting of the eggs or inadequate turning and oedema was significantly correlated with the amount of water lost from the eggs which in turn was correlated with egg size.

4. Myopathy, gross lesions of internal organs, haemorrhage, bacterial infections and congenital deformities were found in less than 10% of chicks examined for these symptoms.     

Influence of temperature during growth on responses of hens to high or low temperatures during lay

1. Commercial pullets were grown at cool (10°‐20°C) or hot (25°‐35°C) temperatures to similar bodyweights at 18 weeks of age. Between 18 and 50 weeks the birds were either kept at the same temperatures as during growth or transferred to the alternate temperature.

2. Birds kept at the cool temperatures throughout life ate most food and gave the best production during lay. Minimum food intake and poorest performance were obtained with birds kept at the hot temperatures throughout life.

3. Performance in the hot environment during lay was improved by rearing birds in the cool environment, the response being related to an increased food intake. Food intake in the cool environment during lay was reduced, with only minor effects on performance, in birds which had been reared in the hot environment.

4. The results of the present study show that production responses during lay are affected by the temperatures experienced by hens during both growth and lay.