Biochemical,physiological and production indices related to fat metabolism in the laying fowl at various stages of physiological development

1. The significance of fat accumulation during physiological development of layers was studied using White Leghorn x Australorp pullets from 12 weeks of age.

2. Liver fat, carcass fat, liver weight and body weight increased markedly at the onset of sexual maturity.

3. Within the liver, the protein to DNA ratio did not alter significantly during development; glycogen was not consistently depleted by egg production.

4. Liver fat content was significantly correlated with carcass fat, liver weight and DNA concentration, and plasma total lipid and cholesterol, independent of stage of development; with body weight, liver protein, moisture, and protein to DNA ratio, excluding the period prior to commencement of sexual maturation; and with plasma phospholipid during lay.

5. Obesity was a feature of faster growing fowls which matured earlier, consumed more, utilised food less efficiently for egg production and produced fewer saleable eggs.     

The effects of meal feeding of calcium,protein and energy on production and calcium status of laying hens

1. Laying birds were allowed free access to a basal diet (treatment 1) or were restricted to either early morning and late afternoon access to the basal diet (treatment 2) or a high‐energy diet in the morning and a high‐protein, high‐calcium diet in the afternoon (treatment 3). The sum of the components fed in treatment 3 was equivalent to the basal diet. These diets were fed for 5 weeks. In the next phase of the experiment, which lasted for 3 weeks, the compositions of the diets for treatments 2 and 3 were altered so that the intakes of dietary components approached those of birds on treatment 1.

2. In both experimental phases birds on treatment 3 produced significantly fewer eggs of smaller mean weight and shell weight. Plasma calcium, inorganic phosphorus concentrations and alkaline phosphatase activity were indicative of decreased calcium status.     

The tryptophan requirement of broiler chicks.

The "available" tryptophan requirements of male and female broiler chicks were determined at 7-d intervals from 0 to 56 d, using a diet-dilution technique. Availability of tryptophan in the diets was estimated by growth assay with chicks. 2. The tryptophan requirements were 2.4 (males) and 2.2 g/kg of diet (female) from 0-7 d, and 1.7 g/kg (males and females) from 7-35 and 35-56 d. The absolute requirement of the chick for tryptophan increased with age and was significantly different for male and female birds. 3. A highly significantly predictive equation relating tryptophan requirement to mean body weight and gain was established.     

Selection for food conversion in broilers: Direct and correlated responses to selection for body‐weight gain,food consumption and food conversion ratio

1. Direct and correlated responses were determined after five generations in four lines of chickens selected either for increased body‐weight gain (line W), for increased food consumption (line F), for decreased food conversion ratio (line E), or at random (line C).

2. Realised heritability estimates calculated after five generations of selection were : 0–37 + 0.04 for weight gain (WG); 0.44 + 0.05 for food consumption (FC); 0.21 + 0.04 for food conversion ratio (FCR).

3. Realised genetic correlation estimates were: WG and FC, +0.71 ±006; WG and FCR, ‐0.40±0.09; FC and FCR, +0.27 + 0.09.

4. Zero‐generation heritability and genetic correlation estimates were greater than the realised estimates, and sex linkage appeared to be important in the expression of all three traits.

5. The genetic correlation between FC and FCR was asymmetrical with considerable positive response in FCR in line F (r_g = +0.79) but negligible response in FC in line E (r_g = —0.01).

6. There was an apparent plateau in response in FCR in line E from the third to the fifth selected generations.     

Mucopolysaccharidosis in a domestic short-haired cat--a disease distinct from that seen in the Siamese cat.

A 10-month-old male domestic short-haired cat was examined because of progressive lameness, a broad face with depressed nasal bridge, small ears, corneal clouding, and multiple bone dysplasia. The cat excreted excessive amounts of glycosaminoglycan (a component of connective tissue) in its urine and had evidence of lysosomal storage of glycosaminoglycans in fibroblasts and neurons. Activity of alpha-L-iduronidase, a lysosomal enzyme involved in glycosaminoglycan degradation, was deficient in cultured fibroblasts and leukocytes. The mucopolysaccharidosis was distinct from that seen in Siamese cats in terms of the pathologic changes and the specific enzyme deficiency.     

Isolation of picornavirus from feces and semen from an infertile bull.

Virus was isolated from semen and fecal samples from a bull with orchitis, testicular degeneration, aspermatogenesis, and loss of libido. Both isolates were classified as picornavirus, bovine enterovirus serotype I, on the basis of physical, chemical, and serologic characteristics. Veterinary practitioners that may suspect viral infection as a cause of bovine infertility should submit both semen and fecal samples for virus isolation and identification.