A simple caliper technique for the estimation of abdominal fat in live broilers

1. A caliper technique for estimating the amount of abdominal fat in live broilers is described.

2. Sixty‐three male and 47 female broilers sampled at 63 d of age from an unselected control line were used to examine the accuracy of the caliper measure in predicting abdominal fat.

3. Phenotypic correlations between caliper measure and the proportion of abdominal fat were + 0.80, +0.79 and +0.81 in males, females and the heaviest 20% of males respectively.

4. The application of the technique as an indirect means of selecting for decreased abdominal fat in commercial broiler breeding programmes is discussed.     

Factors affecting the hatchability of eggs from broiler breeders

1. Four experiments were carried out on eggs from broiler breeding flocks between 26 and 60 weeks of age. The effects of storage and incubation conditions on hatchability were tested.

2. Collecting eggs hourly rather than five hours after lay slightly reduced hatchability (P<0.10). Pre‐storage fumigation of almost un‐contaminated eggs had no effect on hatchability even after storage for 8 d. Storing eggs in unsealed polythene bags did not affect hatchability of eggs stored for 5 or 8 d.

3. Eggs stored for 2 d hatched better when held at 18 °C than at 15 °C (P<0.05). Eggs stored for 8 d at 15 °C hatched better than eggs stored for 8 d at 18 °C (P< 0.01). Best hatchability was in eggs stored in unsealed polythene bags at a room temperature of 15 °C. When older eggs were allowed 30 to 40 min more in the setter for each day of storage, the decline in hatchability was 0.5 to 0.6 percentage units per day in storage as compared with a decline of 1.2 percentage units per day when eggs of different storage times, up to 8 d, were set simultaneously.

4. Those eggs which showed a weight loss during incubation of near average for their relative humidity (RH) treatment tended to hatch better than others except under conditions of very low RH (0.36), when best hatchability was associated with lower than average weight loss.

5. In eggs from a young flock (28 to 44 weeks of age) hatchability of fertile eggs was depressed by 1 percentage unit with an increase in RH of 0.17, and by 1 percentage unit with each decrease of 0.06 in RH from a control RH of 0.53. In eggs from the same flock between 48 and 60 weeks of age hatchability was depressed by 1 percentage unit with each 0.037 increase in RH from 0.44 to 0.70.

6. Eggs from a young flock (34–49 weeks) hatched significantly better when maintained at 0.82 rather than at 0.66 (P<0.05) or 0.95 (P<0.10) RH during the hatching period from 19 to 21 d of incubation. Eggs from an older flock (51–61 weeks) hatched better at 0.82 and at 0.‐92 than at 0.72 RH during the same period, but the differences were not significant.     

An age-related coagulation disorder associated with experimental infection with infectious bursal disease virus

Specific-pathogen-free White Leghorn chickens were inoculated with a field strain of infectious bursal disease virus. One group (A) was inoculated at 17 days after the chicks were hatched, and the other groups (C and E) were inoculated at posthatch day 42. Blood samples were obtained for determination of clotting times (whole blood recalcification, prothrombin, and activated partial thromboplastin times), virus-neutralizing antibody, and total hemolytic complement. There were significant increases in clotting times for groups C and E at 3 and 5 days after they were inoculated. There were no significant increases in clotting times at 3 days after inoculation in the group A chickens (inoculated at 17 days after hatching). There were no significant decreases in total complement activity in any of these chickens (groups A, C, and E). This study indicates that the mortality and clinical symptoms observed in chickens experimentally infected with infectious bursal disease virus may be associated with a clotting abnormality because it was noted only in chickens that developed severe clinical disease (inoculated at 42 days after hatching) and was not noted in chickens that remained clinically normal (inoculated at 17 days).     

Determination of extractable and non-extractable radioactivity from prairie soils treated with carboxyl- and ring-labelled [14C]2,4-D

Ring- and carboxyl-labelled [¹⁴C]2,4-D were incubated under laboratory conditions, at the 2 g/g level, in a heavy clay, sandy loam, and clay loam at 85% of field capacity and 20 1C. The soils were extracted at regular intervals for 35 days with aqaeous acidic acetonitrile, and analysed for [¹⁴C]2,4-D and possible radioactive degradation products. Following solvent extraction, a portion of the soil residues were combusted in oxygen to determine unextracted radioactivity as [¹⁴C]carbon dioxide. The remaining soil residues were then treated with aqueous sodium hydroxide, and the radioactivity associated with the fulvic and humic soil components determined. In all soils there was a rapid decrease in the amounts of extractable radioacitivity, with only 5% of that applied being recoverable after 35 days. All recoverable radioactivity was attributable to [¹⁴C]2,4-D, and no [¹⁴C]-containing degradation products were observed. This loss of extractable radioactivity was accompanied by an increase in non-extractable radioactivity. Approximately 15% of the applied radioactivity, derived from carboxyl-labelled [¹⁴C]2,4-D, and 30% from the ring-labelled [¹⁴C]2,4-D was associated with the soil in a non-extractable form, after 35 days of incubation. After 35 days, less than 5% of the radioactivity from the carboxyl-labelled herbicide, and less than 10% of the ringlabelled material, was associated with the fulvic components derived from the three soils. Less than 5% of the applied radioactivities were identifiable with any of the humic acid components. It was considered that during the incubation [¹⁴C]2,4-D did not become bound or conjugated to soil components, and that non-extractable radioactivity associated with the three soil types resulted from incorporation of radioactive degradation products, such as [¹⁴C]carbon dioxide, into soil organic matter.     

Absorption and translocation of 14C fosamine by three woody plant species

Absorption and translocation of ¹⁴C fosamine (ethyl hydrogen (aminocarbonyl) phosphonate) and/or fosamine metabolites were monitored in intermediately susceptible seedling black cherry (Prunus serotina Ehrh.) and resistant seedling rhododendron (Rhododendron sp.) and magnolia (Magnolia sp.). The mid two-thirds of the third leaf below the apical bud of each plant was treated with 0·5 μCi ¹⁴C fosamine (carbonyl carbon labelled). Plants were harvested 3, 7 and 14 days following treatment. In black cherry the majority of ¹⁴C absorption and translocation occurred during the second week following treatment, while magnolia and rhododendron translocated and absorbed most of the ¹⁴C within 3 days after treatment. Retention of ¹⁴C in the treated portion of the treated leaf did not differ between species. However, total translocated ¹⁴C was greatest in black cherry, less in magnolia, und minimal in rhododendron. Magnolia translocated ¹⁴C basipetally, while black cherry translocated acropetally, as well as basipetally. Absorpiion et migration de la fosamine ¹⁴C chez trois espèces de plantes ligneuses L'absorptlon et la migration de La ¹⁴C fosamine ((amino carbonyl) phosphonate d'éthyle hydrogène) et/ou de ses métabolites, ont étéétudiées chez des plantules moyennement sensibles de Prunus serotina (Ehrh.) et chez des plantules résistantes de rhododendron (Rhododendron sp.) et de magnolia (Magnolia sp). Les deux tiers moyens de la troisième feuille en-dessous du bourgeon apical de chaque plant ont été traités avec 0.5 Ci ¹⁴C de fosamine (marquée sur le carbone du carbonyl). Les plantes ont été récoltées 3, 7 et 14 jours après le traitement. Chez P. serotina, la plus grande partie de l'absorption et de la migration du ¹⁴C a eu lieu durant la deuxième semaine après le traitement, alors que chez le magnolia et le rhododendron, le maximum d'adsorption et de migration s'est situé dans les trois jours qui ont suivi le traitement. La rétention du ¹⁴C dans la partie traitée n'a pas variè d'une espèce à l'autre. Toutefois, la quantité totale de ¹⁴C qui a migré a été plus grande chez P. serotina, moindre chez le magnolia et minimaie chez le rhododendron. Chez le magnolia, la migration du ¹⁴C s'opere dans le sens basipète, alors que chez le P. serotina. elle s'effectue aussi bien dans le sens acropète que dans le sens basipète. Aufnahme- und Trunstokaiion von ¹⁴C-Fosaminc bei drei Gehölzpflanzen Es wurde die Aufnahme und die Translokation von ¹⁴C Fosamine (O-Äthyl-aminocarbonylphosphonsäure) und/oder seiner Abbauprodukte bei drei Gehölzarten beobachtet. Verwendet wurden Sämlinge der Traubenkirsche (Prunus serotina Ehrh.), die eine mittlere Empfindlichkeit zeigt und Sämlinge des resistenten Rhododendron (Rhododendron sp.) und der ebenfalls resistenten Magnolie (Magnolia sp.). Die mittleren zwei Drittel des dritten Blattes unterhalb der Endknospe wurden bei jeder Pflanze mit 0.5 μCi ¹⁴C-Fosamine (markiert am Carbonylkohlenstoff) behandelt. Die Pflanzen wurden nach 3, 7 und 14 Tagen nach der Behandlung geerntet. Bei der Traubenkirsche wurde während der zweiten Woche am meisten ¹⁴C aufgenommen und transloziert, während dies bei der Magnolie und dem Rhododendron bereits innerhalb der ersten drei Tage der Fall war. Bezüglich der Retention von ¹⁴C in der behandelten Blattfläche unterschieden sich die drei Arten nicht. In der Traubenkirsche wurde aber am meisten ¹⁴C transloziert, weniger in der Magnolie und am wenigsten im Rhododendron. Die Magnolie translozierte das ¹⁴C basipetal, während die Traubenkirsche akropetal wie basipetal translozierte.     

Effect of canopy cover,seeding depth,and soil moisture on emergence of Centaurea maculosa and C. diffusa*

The effects of canopy cover, seeding depth, and soil moisture on emergence of Centaurea maculosa Lam. and C. diffusa Lam. were studied. Canopy cover had no effect on ermergence rate (seedlings/day/100 seeds) of either species. Seeds of both species emerged faster when placed on the soil surface. Emergence rate decreased as seeding depth increased. Both species required more than 55% initial soil moisture to initiate emergence, with 65–70% being optimum. Percentage emergence followed exactly the same trend as emergence rate. C. maculosa had better emergence characteristics over a wider range of conditions than C. diffusa, possibly being some of the reasons for the former having a wider geographical distribution in the United States and Canada.     

Metabolic fate of [14C]endrin in bluegill fish

Bluegill absorbed 85% of 1 ppb of endrin from water within 48 hr under static exposure conditions. The absorbed radiocarbon was eliminated linearly with a half-life of about 4 weeks. Analyses of eliminated radioactivity revealed only conjugated metabolites. 12-anti-Hydroxyendrin and 12-syn-hydroxyendrin were tentatively identified by cochromatography using thin-layer chromatography/autoradiography and gas chromatography. These metabolites were also present as conjugates in the fish organs. Seventy-three percent of the absorbed radioactivity recovered from fish extracts was in the form of unchanged endrin.     

Comparative inhibition of the juvenile hormone esterases from Trichoplusia ni,Tenebrio molitor, and Musca domestica

Twenty-seven compounds were screened as potential inhibitors of juvenile hormone esterases. Of these compounds O-ethyl-S-phenyl phosphoramidothiolate provided the best inhibition for the cabbage looper, Trichoplusia ni (Hubner), and the yellow mealworm, Tenebrio molitor L., while the juvenile hormone esterases of the house fly, Musca domestica L., were best inhibited by a juvenoid carbamate (1-(m-phenoxy-N-ethyl carbamate)-3,7-dimethyl-7-methoxy-2E-octene). The inhibition patterns of T. ni and T. molitor are similar, while those of M. domestica are relatively different. Further studies on the juvenile hormone and α-napthyl acetate esterases of T. ni showed that they could be differentially inhibited. Diisopropyl phosphorofluoridate and an alkyl trifluoromethyl ketone selectively inhibit the hydrolysis of α-naphthyl acetate and juvenile hormone, respectively, while O-ethyl-S-phenyl phosporamidothiolate inhibits both enzymes. The juvenile hormone esterases of T. ni also appear to be unique enzymes that are selective for juvenile-hormone-like molecules. The in vivo inhibition of T. ni juvenile hormone esterases by O-ethyl-S-phenyl phosphoramidothiolate slows the in vivo hydrolysis of juvenile hormone and results in delayed pupation and malformed larvae that resemble larval-pupal intermediates. Thus, the esterases involved in juvenile hormone metabolism appear to be important in juvenile hormone regulation.