The isolation and characterization of Campylobacter jejuni bacteriophages from free range and indoor poultry

Six hundred and sixty one samples – primarily fresh chicken faeces – were processed to isolate wild type Campylobacter jejuni bacteriophages, via overlay agar methods using C. jejuni NCTC 12662. The aims of this study were to isolate and purify bacteriophages and then test for their ability to lyse field strains of C. jejuni in vitro. Of all samples processed, 130 were positive for bacteriophages. A distinct difference was observed between samples from different poultry enterprises. No bacteriophages could be isolated from indoor broilers. The majority of bacteriophages were isolated from free range poultry – both broilers and egg layers. Bacteriophages were purified and then selected for characterization based on their ability to produce clear lysis on plaque assay, as opposed to turbid plaques. Two hundred and forty one C. jejuni field isolates were tested for sensitivity to the bacteriophages. Lysis was graded subjectively and any minimal lysis was excluded. Using this system, 59.0% of the C. jejuni isolates showed significant sensitivity to at least one bacteriophage. The sensitivity to individual bacteriophages ranged from 10.0% to 32.5% of the C. jejuni isolates. Five bacteriophages were examined by electron microscopy and determined to belong to the Myoviridae family. The physical size, predicted genetic composition and genome size of the bacteriophages correlated well with other reported Campylobacter bacteriophages. The reasons for the observed difference between indoor broilers and free range poultry is unknown, but are postulated to be due to differences in the Campylobacter population in birds under different rearing conditions.     

湖南省畜禽肿瘤调查研究——Ⅶ. 1985～1987年检出的畜禽肿瘤病例病理报告

1985～1987年,在湖南省各地采得的和送检的病理材料中,共检出畜禽肿瘤30例,经组织学鉴定,共有14种不同类型,其中,恶性肿瘸8种,22例;良性肿瘤6种,8例,本文对上述肺癌分别进行了肉眼和组组学描述。     

Chemical composition and some anti-nutrient content of raw and processed bitter vetch (<Emphasis Type="Italic">Vicia ervilia</Emphasis>) seed for use as feeding stuff in poultry diet

An experiment was conducted to determine chemical composition of raw and treated bitter vetch seed for use in poultry diets. Processing methods were: soaked in water for 12 h, then autoclaved and dried (SA); coarsely ground, soaked in water for 24 h, autoclaved and dried (GSA); coarsely ground, soaked in water for 47 h with exchange of water every 12 h, cooked and dried (GSC); coarsely ground, soaked in solution of 1% acetic acid for 24 h at 60°C and dried (GAA). Raw bitter vetch seed was contained 94.52, 26.56, 0.4, 58.86, 3.38, 5.32, 12.28 and 14.20 percent DM, CP, EE, NFE, Ash, CF, ADF and NDF, respectively. Its GE, AME, AMEn, TME and TMEn values were 18.10, 13.15, 14.38, 14.10 and 14.69 MJ/kg, respectively. Results indicated that bitter vetch is a good source of Fe (340 ppm) and Cu (46.7 ppm). It s amino acid profile was suitable and methionine was the first limiting amino acid when compared with broiler and layer chicks requirements. Its canavanine and tannin content were 0.78 and 6.7 mg/kgDM, respectively. Processing methods improved CP and in some cases AMEn. All processing methods especially GSC resulted in a significant (P < 0.05) reduction in canavanine and tannin.     

Poultry Farmers’ Preference and use of Commercial and Self-compounded Feeds in Oyo Area of Oyo State, Nigeria

This study investigated poultry farmers’ perceptions, preferences, and use of commercially compounded and self-compounded feeds in the Oyo Area of Oyo State, Nigeria. Data were collected from 120 poultry farmers through a structured interview schedule. The study concluded that poultry farmers prefer and use self-compounded feeds (SCF) instead of commercially compounded feeds (CCF) because (a) self-compounded feeds are of better quality than commercially compounded feeds, (b) there are no quality control measures in the poultry feed industry in the Oyo Area, (c) commercially compounded feeds cost more than self-compounded feeds, and (d) farmers choose feed based on the perceived quality of the feed, their technical ability to produce feed by themselves, the cost of CCF, the storability of feed, and the cost and availability of transportation. Based on these findings, it is recommended that interested public and private agencies should organize annual extension workshops and training for poultry farmers in the study area on (a) feed formulation; (b) feed ingredient mixing and compounding; (c) selection of ingredients, mixtures, and additives; and (d) the establishment, operation, and maintenance of feed mills. Farmers should be encouraged to form feed mill cooperative societies. The performance of the Standards Organization of Nigeria (SON) should be monitored and evaluated to ensure its effective oversight of quality standards for agricultural products and inputs such as feeds and feed ingredients. S. O. Apantaku, PhD (Southern Illinois), is an Associate Professor and Head of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. His research interest is in agricultural extension education processes and development, farmers’ decision-making processes, and community and rural development. He is involved in extension work and teaches group dynamics in extension, rural community development and social change, agricultural extension teaching methods and learning processes, public relations in extension, and advanced rural sociology. E. O. A. Oluwalana is a PhD candidate and an Extension Research Fellow with the Agricultural Media Resources and Extension Center, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. Her research interest is in farmers’ micro-credit financing, agro-processing and utilization, and women-in-agriculture. She teaches agribusiness management, cooperatives and agricultural finance and is involved in extension service in the area of women-in-development, agro-processing, and health and environmental issues. O. A. Adepegba is a graduate of the Department of Agricultural Extension and Rural Development, University of Agriculture, Abeokuta, Nigeria. She is presently a postgraduate candidate at the University of Ibadan, Ibadan, Nigeria. She is an Agricultural Extension Officer I with the Oyo West Local Government Council, Oyo State. She is interested in socio-economic issues in poultry production and farmers’ decision-making processes.     

Heritability and genetic correlation estimates for performance,meat quality and quantitative skeletal muscle fiber traits in broiler

Broiler feed efficiency and meat quality are the primary factors considered by the poultry industry. This study was conducted to estimate heritability and genetic correlation coefficients for skeletal muscle fiber number, area and diameter and performance and meat quality traits of Pectoralis major in a single male broiler line. (Co) variance components were estimated by restricted maximum likelihood method, using the software MTDFREML. The numerator relationship matrix was composed by 77,474 individuals. Heritability coefficient estimates ranged from moderate to high for juvenile BW, breast weight, ultrasound record of pectoral muscle, lightness and thawing meat loss. Genetic correlation estimates for performance and skeletal muscle fiber traits indicated that selection for higher breast weight and juvenile BW could reduce muscle fiber number and increase muscle fiber diameter and area, which could prejudice the meat quality of this line. Selection for muscle fiber number and against muscle fiber diameter and area might improve meat water retention ability and tenderness in this broiler line, and selection programs could consider those traits as selection criteria, although this may be costly. We recommend the evaluation of the indirect selection caused by the use of the performance traits as selection criteria especially for juvenile BW and breast weight. Direct, intense selection for both traits might be unfavorable for most of the meat quality traits analyzed, which could lead to losses to both the chicken meat processing industry and consumers.     

山西省鸡致病性大肠杆菌耐药性研究

采用纸片扩散法,对山西省11个地区的138株鸡致病性大肠杆菌用26种抗菌药物进行敏感性测定,结果,138株鸡致病性大肠杆菌对卡那霉素、阿米卡星、磷霉素、头孢唑林、头孢噻肟、头孢曲松等的高敏率为62.3%~83.3%;对氧氟沙星、庆大霉素、多黏菌素B、氟苯尼考的中敏率为50%以上;对26种抗菌药物均产生不同程度的耐药性,如恩诺沙星耐药率为81.2%,多西环素为83.3%,氨苄青霉素为85.5%,阿莫西林为87.0%,罗红霉素为89.1%,复方磺胺为99.2%,利福平为100%。所以,临床首选高敏的药物,慎重使用中敏药物,尽量不用恩诺沙星等高耐药性的药物。     

光照在养鸡生产中的作用

光照在养鸡生产中有着十分重要的作用 ,就光照对性成熟的影响 ,光照在蛋鸡、肉鸡生产中的作用 ,光照强度、光色、光照对免疫的影响进行论述     

我国家禽工厂化养殖技术发展现状与趋势

我国的家禽养殖正在向精准养殖、自动化养殖、绿色养殖等方向逐步迈进。工厂化家禽养殖技术和信息化技术的协同研发和应用是促进家禽养殖行业健康可持续发展的关键,对提升家禽养殖规模化、标准化和智能化水平,提高整体产量与经济效益,促进现代化家禽养殖业的转型升级具有重要意义。本文重点围绕家禽养殖智能装备、智能算法和管控平台3个技术领域,分析了智能养殖舍、环境监测调控、智能饲喂、防疫、巡检以及无害化粪污处理等装备,家禽行为检测、盘点技术、体质量预估和健康状态评估算法,工厂化家禽养殖管控平台的最新研究应用进展以及存在的问题;指出了家禽养殖技术的薄弱环节与发展趋势,并对工厂化家禽养殖的发展和改进提出了建议,为我国现代家禽养殖业绿色高质量转型升级与健康可持续发展提供参考。     

鸡舍纵向通风

该文论述鸡舍纵向通风的机理、实践效果及实现鸡舍纵向通风的技术关键。