Effects of cultivar,pelleting and enzyme addition on nutritive value of barley in poultry diets

1. The effect of pelleting process and Trichoderma viride enzymes (TVE) addition on apparent metabolisable energy, corrected for nitrogen balance (AMEn) and on productive value of practical diets containing 40 and 45% of three different barley cultivars and one wheat were studied in poultry.

2. The effect of the pelleting process on AMEn was inconsistent and was dependent on the cereal included and the addition of enzyme.

3. The growth trial showed a significant effect of enzyme addition to pelleted diets over the whole growth period (0 to 42 d). Addition of TVE improved weight gain and food efficiency by 1.3% and 2.9%, respectively and decreased food intake by 1.6% between 0 and 22 d. In the finisher period (23 to 42 d) TVE improved efficiency by 2.8% and reduced food intake by 2.9%.

4. The incidence of sticky droppings was related to the viscosity of barley used, and enzyme supplementation reduced it. Both pelleting and enzyme addition increased dry matter content of excreta.

5. At the end of the experiment, 14 animals per treatment were slaughtered and carcass yield, viscera weight and abdominal fat were determined.     

Variation in plasma cholesterol concentration over time in the domestic fowl

1. Variations in the concentration of plasma cholesterol available to the developing oocyte over a three week period in Gallus domesticus are described.

2. There are small changes in concentration between weeks for individual birds, but no changes between consecutive days within weeks or times within days.

3. It is recommended that future attempts to assess the relationship between variation in blood and yolk cholesterol concentrations estimate blood cholesterol concentration from two samples taken a week apart.     

Comparative responses of genetically lean and fat chickens to lysine,arginine and non‐essential amino acid supply. I. growth and body composition

1. Three experiments were performed to study the effects of amino acid imbalance on the growth of genetically lean (LL) or fat (FL) male chickens from 28 to 42 d of age. In experiment 1, five concentrations of digestible lysine were compared (4.75, 6.75, 7.75, 8.75 and 9.75 g/kg). In experiment 2, four concentrations of digestible arginine were compared (6.53, 7.69, 8.84 and 10.0 g/kg). In experiment 3, three diets were compared: a high‐protein diet (189 g CP/kg), a low‐protein diet containing added essential amino acids (EAA) (144 g CP/kg) and this low‐protein diet supplemented with 40 g/kg of non‐essential amino acids (NEAA) (glutamic acid + aspartic acid).

2. LL birds exhibited a lower growth rate than the FL when the diet was deficient in either lysine or arginine. Plotting weight gain against lysine or arginine intake suggested that most of this effect was caused by variations in food intake.

3. When protein gains (body or total proteins) were plotted against lysine or arginine intake, LL chickens appeared more efficient than FL chickens.

4. Similar growth rates, although slightly lower in FL, were obtained with low‐ and high‐protein diets. However, NEAA supplementation of the low‐protein diet reduced adiposity of LL and did not modify that of FL. Increasing crude protein content (all amino acids) was more effective than NEAA supplementation in decreasing the adiposity of both lines.     

Effects of faba bean tannins on the growth and histological structure of the intestinal tract and liver of chicks and rats

1. Diets containing a freeze‐dried tannin extract from faba beans (Vicia faba L.) at concentrations of 0, 8 and 16 g/kg were fed to growing chicks and rats.

2. Chicks fed on the tannin‐containing diets exhibited a high mortality and significant decreases in body‐weight as well as lower food intakes and higher food intake:weight gain ratios (P<0.01). In rats there was no mortality but the growth and food intake were adversely affected (P< 0.05).

3. Histological changes occurred in the ileal mucosa of chicks. Atrophy and shortening of villi with distortion of their architecture were observed. Similar histological disorders but less pronounced were also found in rats.

4. Histopathology of the liver of both chicks and rats showed an hydropic degeneration of hepatocytes, clearly more severe in the former than in the latter.     

Boric acid-phenolic relationships within the Pinus echinata-Pisolithus tinctorius ectomycorrhizal association

At germination, container-grown shortleaf pine seedlings were inoculated with Pisolithus tinctorius (Pers.) Coker & Couch or left uninoculated, and both groups were fertilized semiweekly with a modified Hoagland's solution supplemented with 0 or 0.4 mM boric acid. After 12, 16 and 24 weeks, seedling root tissue was analyzed for ectomycorrhizal colonization, phenolic concentration and phenoloxidase activity. In addition, phenoloxidase activity was assayed in P. tinctorius that had been cultured in a liquid medium containing boric acid. Inoculation with P. tinctorius increased the root phenolic concentration of 16- and 24-week-old seedlings, and increased root phenoloxidase activity in 12-, 16- and 24-week-old seedlings. Fertilization with boric acid reduced the phenolic concentration of P. tinctorius ectomycorrhizae after 24 weeks. Although boric acid fertilization did not affect the phenoloxidase activity of 12-, 16- and 24-week-old inoculated roots, or that of 16- and 24-week-old uninoculated roots, it increased the phenoloxidase activity of P. tinctorius grown in vitro and 12-week-old uninoculated roots. We conclude that boric acid fertilization influences the phenolic relations of the shortleaf pine-P. tinctorius ectomycorrhizal association, possibly through a boric acid-induced increase in phenoloxidase activity.     

The design and use of a device to detect deer pedicle growth

The design, construction and use of a device to detect changes in deer pedicle volume are described. The device is highly sensitive for detecting the initiation of pedicle growth. Between-sample differences of 170 mm3 in the pedicle volume of live deer were detected (triplicate measurements) using the detector; these correspond to a change in height of the pedicle of at most 0.67 mm. The within sample coefficient of variation was 1.4%. The pedicle growth detector enables more precise measurements to be obtained for identifying the onset of pedicle development to the nearest week than is currently possible with palpation.     

Heterosis, maternal and direct effects for postweaning growth traits and carcass performance in rabbit crosses

SUMMARY: A crossbreeding experiment was carried out in Egypt using a local breed (Baladi Red, BR) and New Zealand White (NZ) to estimate direct heterosis, maternal additive effects and direct sire effects on some growth and carcass traits in rabbits. Data of body weight (at 5, 6, 8, 10, 12 weeks) and daily gains (at intervals of 5-6, 6-8, 8-10, and 10-12 weeks) on 2153 weaned rabbits were collected. Carcass performance at 12 weeks of age (weight and percentages of carcass, giblets, head, fur, blood and viscera) on 213 male rabbits was evaluated. Estimates of coefficients of variation (CV) for most growth and carcass traits were high and ranged from 10.0 to 40.2%. Sire-breed was of considerable importance in the variation of growth traits and some carcass traits, while dam-breed contributed little. Sire-breed × dam-breed interaction affected (P<0.01 or P<0.001) most body weights and gains studied, while it contributed little to the variation of carcass traits. The purebred NZ resulted in rabbits with heavier weights and carcass and with lighter non-edible carcass (blood and viscera) compared to the BR. Heterosis percentages for most growth traits were significant and ranged from 2.5% to 5.0% for body weights and from 0.7% to 9.5% for daily gains. Insignificant positive direct heterosis was observed for most carcass traits. Crossbred rabbits from NZ sires with BR dams were superior to from the reciprocals. Maternal-breed effects on most weights and gains were insignificant, while sire-breed contrasts for some weights and gains proved significant. Postweaning growth and carcass performances of BR-mothered rabbits generally surpassed the NZ mothered, while NZ-sired rabbits were superior at later ages. High edible carcass was observed for BR-sired rabbits, while more non-edible carcass wastes (blood and viscera) for NZ-sired rabbits. Maternal-breed effects appeared to be less important than paternal-breed effects in influencing most weights, gains and carcass traits studied. ZUSAMMENFASSUNG: Heterosis, maternale und direkte Wirkungen bei Wachstums- und Schlachtk?rpermerkmalen in Kaninchenkreuzungen Der Kreuzungsversuch wurde mit lokalen ?gyptischen Rassen (BR) und Neuseeland Wei?en (NZ) zur Sch?tzung direkter Heterosis, maternaler additiver Wirkungen, direkter Vater-Wirkung auf einige Wachstums- und Schlachtk?rpermerkmale von Kaninchen durchgeführt. Angaben über K?rpergewicht (5, 6, 8, 10, 12 Wochen) und Zuwachs (Intervalle 5 bis 6, 6 bis 8, 8 bis 10, 10 bis 12 Wochen) wurden von 2153 abgesetzten Kaninchen gewonnen. Die Schlachtk?rperleistungen bei 12 Wochen Alter (Gewicht und Anteil von Schlachtk?rper, Kopf, Pelz, Blut und Innereien) stammen von 213 m?nnlichen Kaninchen. Sch?tzungen der Variationskoeffizenten (CV) für meiste Wachstums- und Schlachtk?rpermerkmale waren hoch und bewegten sich zwischen 10 und 40,2%. Vaterrasse hatte erheblichen Einflu? auf Unterschiede in Wachstumsrate und einige Schlachtk?rpermerkmale, w?hrend die Mutterrasse weniger beigetragen hat. Interaktion zwischen beiden beeinflu?te die meisten K?rpergewichts- und Zuwacnsleistungen, w?hrend sie wenig zur Variabilit?t der Schlachtk?rpermerkmale beigetragen hat. Reinrassige NZ waren schwerer und hatten weniger nicht nutzbare Schlachtk?rperteile (Blut und Eingeweide) verglichen mit BR. Heterosis-Prozente für die meisten Wachstumsmerkmale waren signifikant und schwankten zwischen 2,5 und 5% für K?rpergewicht, 0,7 bis 9,5% für Zuwachs. Insignifikante positive direkte Heterosis wurde für die meisten Schlachtk?rpermerkmale beobachtet. Kreuzungskaninchen von NZ V?tern waren den reziproken überlegen. Maternale Wirkungen auf meiste Gewichtsmerkmale waren insignifikant, w?hrend Vaterrassenkontraste hierfür signifikant waren. Zuwachs- und Schlachtk?rperleistung von BR ges?ugten Kaninchen haben im allgemeinen die von NZ ges?ugten übertroffen, w?hrend von NZ B?cken gezeugte in sp?teren Altersabschnitten überlegen waren. Hohe Werte für Schlachtk?rper wurden für BR ges?ugte Kaninchen gefunden, w?hrend mehr nicht verzehrbare Abf?lle (Blut und Eingeweide) bei NZ gezeugten vorhanden war. Maternale Rassenwirkungen schienen weniger wichtig als paternale zu sein.