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.     

Effect of progesterone on ovulation in the hypophysectomised hen

1. One hundred and seven laying hens were hypophysec‐tomised to clarify the relationship between hypophysectomy and the effect of progesterone (P4) on ovulation.

2. Hens were hypophysectomised at 6 intervals from 4.5 to 11.0 h before the expected time of ovulation. Ovulation occurred in the hens operated on from 4.5 to 7.3 h, but did not take place in birds operated on from 9.2 to 9.8 h before the expected time of ovulation.

3. When a single dose of P4 (2 mg/hen) was injected iv immediately after the removal of the anterior pituitary from 7.5 to 9.8 h before the expected time of ovulation, ovulation was induced. However, the percentage of hens responding decreased in proportion to the lapse of time between the hypophysectomy and the expected time of ovulation. No ovulation was induced in hens which were hypophysectomized and given P4 10.2 to 11.0 h before the expected time of ovulation.

4. It is suggested that ovulation is induced by P4 alone possibly in the absence of preovulatory gonadotrophins and that P4 acts directly on the ovary to induce follicle rupture.     

Bacteria profiles in four coastal areas of East Zealand--coliform bacteria, E. coli and vibriolike organisms (VLO) (author's transl)]

The prevalence of E. coli, coliforms and Vibrio-like-organisms has been studied at four different sites along the east coast of Zealand. High values were registered in sediment taken from the water-line and at a depth of one meter. Generally there exist significant differences between the bacterial counts of water and sediment, and it is obvious that the greatest concentration is in the waterline sediment. The epidemiological and hygienic consequences of these facts are discussed.     

Investigation on the transfer of fleas among small mammals using radioactive phosphorus.

The transfer of fleas Megabothris turbidus, Ctenophthalmus agyrtes, Nosopsyllus fasciatus etc. was investigated by labelling the bank vole (Clethrionomys glareolus Schreb.) with radioactive phosphorus. On the one hand, the process of flea transfer was traced among different individuals of the same host species, and on the other, among different host species (C. glareolus, Apodemus flavicollis Melch.). The investigations revealed that the flea transfer in a rodent nest visited by another host depended partly on the number of fleas present in the nest, partly on the period spent by the new-comer in it. Conversely, the number of fleas transferred in the nest by the newly arrived host depended on the temperature of nest bedding and on the initial nest occupation by other host.     

Histochemistry of gland cells of Eurytrema pancreaticum cercariae.

The cercariae of Eurytrema pancreaticum (Janson, 1889) possess four types of gland cells - proper cystogenic, penetration, ventral and dorsal gland cells. The secretion of ventral and dorsal gland cells is released into the tegument. The proper cystogenic gland cells are the largest and their contents serve for the formation of the cyst wall of metacercariae in the second intermediate host. The secretion of proper cystogenic gland cells contains besides neutral mucosubstances also acid mucosubstances with both carboxyl- and sulphogroups digestible with beta-glucuronidase. The secretion of penetration gland cells contains neutral mucosubstances and proteins with tyrosine, tryptophan and SS groups. The ventral gland cells contain mostly acid mucosubstances with sulphogroups, which are digested with beta-glucuronidase, and proteins with tyrosine, tryptophan and SH groups. The rudimentary dorsal gland cells contain a small amount of acid mucosubstances. The whole tegument of cercariae and the two main collecting canals of the excretory system exhibit a high alkaline phosphatase activity. The nerve ring and the main nerve truncs contain proteins with SH groups and hydrophilic lipids and exhibit a cholinesterase activity. The suckers contain a larger amount of glycogen.