The growth of turkeys 2. Body components and allometric relationships

ABSTRACT

1. The relationships between the main components of the body and body protein among males and females of BUT 6 (BUT) and Hybrid Converter (HYB) turkey strains were examined.

2. The weights of breast meat, breast skin, drumstick meat, drumstick skin, thigh meat, thigh skin and wing-plus-skin as well as the head, neck, feet, blood, heart, liver and gizzard were measured at different stages of growth after which all components of each bird were minced together in order to determine the feather-free body protein weight of each bird sampled. Using the weights of the components and the protein content of each bird the allometric relationships between the components and body protein were determined and then compared for each strain x sex combination.

3. By excluding the breast weights at day-old and at 7 d, the remaining points produced an acceptable allometric relationship (R² = 0.992). Thigh weight could be predicted for all strain x sex combinations using one allometric equation, as could drumstick skin weight. Breast and thigh skin weights differed between males and females. Females of the HYB strain exhibited heavier drumstick and wing-plus-skin weights at a given body protein weight than the other three strain x sex combinations. These differences in both the constant term and regression coefficient in the allometric equations between genotypes are probably due to differences in the amount of lipid that is deposited in these tissues.

4. Sexes differed in the allometric relationships for head, feet, heart and liver, while breeds differed in gizzard weight. A common relationship between the four genotypes could be used to predict the weight of blood in the carcass.

5. The allometric equations fitted to the data in this trial enable the accurate prediction of the weights of the different physical components given the weight of body protein.     

Lignite pre-treatment and its effect on bio-stimulative properties of respective lignite humic acids

Humic acids originating from South-Moravian lignite were subjected to a comparative study with the aim to assess the alteration of their physico-chemical properties after various lignite pre-treatments. Physical modification was achieved with two organic acids, such as acetic acid and citric acid and chemical modification by nitric acid and hydrogene peroxide in various concentrations. Elemental analysis, solid-state NMR, GC–MS analysis of polyols and size exclusion chromatography were carried out for chemical–physical characterization of obtained humic acids. Their biological effect, in form of potassium and ammonium humates, was tested on maize (Zea mays) seedlings. In these tests, potassium humates achieved far better overall results than ammonium humates. Results were inter-correlated in order to appraise the influence of humic acids physical and chemical properties on biological activity. Surprisingly, fractions with the lowest molecular size (0–35 kDa) showed no correlation with bioactivity results (Pearson coefficient from 0.05 to −0.4). On the contrary, middle-sized fractions (35–175 kDa) showed highly significant positive correlation (Pearson coefficient up to 0.92) and the highest molecular-size-fractions (275–350 kDa) showed negative correlation (Pearson coefficient up to −0.75). These findings were identical for both potassium and ammonium humates. No connection was found between bioactivity of humates and polyols content which was remarkably high; it reached 150 mg per g of humic acids in the most extreme case of 5% hydrogene peroxide pre-treatment. In the final analysis, the preparation mode bore pivotal responsibility for the control of humic acids biological effect and showed the best results for potassium humates obtained from lignite pre-treated by acetic acid and by 2% hydrogen peroxide.     

Antimicrobial susceptibility of Salmonella isolates recovered from calves with diarrhoea in Australia

OBJECTIVE To identify the common serotypes and antimicrobial resistance patterns of Salmonella spp. associated with diarrhoea in Australian dairy calves under the age of 6 weeks. DESIGN Cross-sectional study. METHODS Faecal samples were collected from outbreaks of diarrhoea in dairy and dairy beef calves less than 6 weeks old. Samples were screened for Salmonella using standard enrichment culture techniques. The antimicrobial susceptibility to 12 commonly used veterinary and human antimicrobials was assessed using the Kirby-Bauer disk diffusion method and the susceptibility profiles of dairy and dairy beef properties were compared using Fisher's exact test. RESULTS Salmonella ser. Dublin, S. ser. Typhimurium and S. ser. Bovismorbificans were the three most common salmonella serotypes isolated. The majority of properties had one serotype. Most of the Salmonella isolates were not resistant to any of the antimicrobials tested. No resistance was seen to amikacin and nalidixic acid, and only one isolate was resistant to ceftiofur or amoxicillin-clavulanic acid. The most common antimicrobial resistance was to streptomycin, ampicillin or combination sulfonamides. Multi-drug resistance was detected in S. ser. Anatum, S. ser. Bovismorbificans, S. ser. Muenster, S. ser. Newport and S. ser. Typhimurium. Isolates from dairy beef properties were more likely to be resistant to ampicillin, kanamycin, neomycin, sulfamethoxazole/trimethoprim and tetracycline (P < 0.05) and were more likely to exhibit multi-drug resistance. CONCLUSION The prevalence of antimicrobial resistance in Salmonella isolates from dairy calves in Australia is low compared with that reported overseas. From a human health perspective, resistance to antimicrobials used in the treatment of human salmonellosis was infrequent.     

Synbiotics suppress the release of lactate dehydrogenase,promote non‐specific immunity and integrity of jejunum mucosa in piglets

The aim of our experiment was to study how synbiotics are able to deal with the problems of post‐weaning piglets. Lactobacillus plantarum – Biocenol^TM LP96 (CCM 7512), Lactobacillus fermentum – Biocenol^TM LF99 (CCM 7514) and flaxseed (rich in n‐3 polyunsaturated fatty acids) were administered to 36 conventional piglets from a problematic breed with confirmed presence of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli and Coronavirus. The experimental piglets were supplied with probiotic cheeses and crushed flax‐seed in the period starting 10 days before weaning and lasting up to 14 days post‐weaning. Piglets in the control group were supplied only control cheese. The impact of such additives on the release of lactate dehydrogenase (LDH; spectroscopic and electrophoretic assay), alteration of immunity (index of metabolic activity), jejunum histology (light microscopy), and health of conventional piglets from a problematic breed (monitoring of hematology, consistency and moisture of feces and body temperature) were examined. We found significant decrease in LDH leakage in the blood serum and tissue extracts, indicating better cell membrane integrity in the individual organs of animals. Probiotics and flaxseed applied together seem to be a good source of nutrients to improve the immune status and the integrity of jejunum mucosa during infection. © 2015 Japanese Society of Animal Science     

Methods of identifying and monitoring transgenic components in food

A methodology is developed for revealing and identifying genetically modified sources (GMSs) in plant raw material and food products obtained from it, which enables routine analyses. For optimization suitable for testing DNA, three methods of isolating it are compared: CTAB method, DNA-BioPro method with Wizard columns, and Silica M method with specific adsorbents. More than 400 food items from different populated areas of the Moscow region are analyzed.