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Summary This study aimed to investigate the effects of modified-dietary fiber from cassava pulp (M-DFCP), mostly classified as insoluble dietary fiber (IDF), as a feed supplement on productive performance, nutrient digestibility, weight of digestive organs, abdominal fat storage, and cholesterol in meat and blood of broiler chickens. A total of 336 one-day-old male broiler chickens (Ross 308) were allocated to 4 groups in 7 replicate pens with 12 chicks each, based on a completely randomized design. Four dietary treatments composed of control and 3 M-DFCP inclusion levels: 0.5, 1.0, and 1.5%. The results showed that M-DFCP showed no negative effects on growth performance in broiler chickens. The inclusion of M-DFCP in diets at 1.0 to 1.5% had positive effects on increased gizzard weight, reduced gizzard pH, and reduced abdominal fat. The M-DFCP at 1.0% can also increase nutrient digestibility (dry matter, organic matter, and ether extract). In addition, the supplementation of M-DFCP at 1.0 to 1.5% in diets represented lower cholesterol in serum, breast and thigh meats, and liver of broiler chickens. In conclusion, these results indicate that M-DFCP can be used as an IDF source in broiler diets. The inclusion of 1.0% M-DFCP in broiler diet has positive effects on enhancing gizzard function, improving nutrient digestibility, and reducing abdominal fat and cholesterol in chicken meat, blood, and liver.

There are instances where shell eggs may be moved from refrigeration into ambient temperature with high humidity, such as before wash and during transportation. Under these conditions, it is of concern that bacteria on wet eggs can grow and migrate through the shell pores into the egg. Objectives of this experiment were: 1) to compare 3 methods of quantifying condensate on eggs and 2) to quantify condensate on refrigerated shell eggs at 2 temperatures (22°C and 32°C). For objective 1, 270 fresh shell eggs (3 replications, 90 eggs per replication) were stored at 4°C, 60% relative humidity (RH), then placed at 22°C, 60% RH for 1 h. After this time, 30 pre-weighed eggs were randomly selected and weighed. Thirty eggs were thoroughly wiped with pre-weighed paper towels to collect condensate. Thirty eggs were evaluated with a pinless moisture meter for quantifying egg condensate, which was found to be an ineffective method. There was no difference in quantifying egg condensation by egg weight or weight of moisture absorbed on a paper towel (0.2% vs. 0.19% percentage gain mL condensation/egg surface area) (P > 0.05). For objective 2, 104 fresh eggs formed condensation at 2 temperatures (22°C and 32°C, 60% RH). Each egg weight was continuously recorded from the beginning of condensation formation to the point where the egg reached a constant weight. There was a difference found in the time it took for an egg to reach maximum condensation (11 min at 32°C, 17 min at 22°C), as well as completely dry (25 min at 32°C, 34 min at 22°C) between the 2 temperatures (P

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the potential use of dried cassava pulp (DCP) with reference to productive performance, nutrient digestibility, egg quality, egg yolk cholesterol, cecal microbial populations, and volatile fatty acids production in laying hens. In experiment 1, a total of 48 laying hens (Isa Brown) were placed in individual cages and assigned randomly to one of 6 dietary treatment groups consisting of a control and 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25% DCP for 10 d. Feeding laying hens with diets containing up to 20% DCP did not affect the dry matter (DM) and organic matter (OM) digestibility and nitrogen (N) retention (P > 0.05). In experiment 2, a total of 288 laying hens (Isa Brown) were randomly distributed to 6 dietary groups (one control and 5 DCP: 5, 10, 15, 20, and 25%) for 12 wk. The results show that diets containing up to 20% DCP had no significant effects on productive performance or egg quality (P > 0.05). The inclusion of DCP at levels of 20 to 25% showed a positive effect on decreased egg yolk cholesterol (P

SUMMARY Two experiments and 3 field trials were conducted to examine the usefulness of a novel bedding material for rearing Large White commercial turkeys. The control bedding was pine shavings (PS) in both experiments and all trials. The novel bedding, aGroChips (AC), is a chopped paper product made from cotton lint waste, gypsum, and old newsprint following a proprietary paper manufacturing process. In both experiments, hens and toms were reared according to typical industry techniques. In the first experiment, use of AC resulted in significantly (P < 0.05) heavier toms and hens. In the second, the toms brooded and reared on AC were significantly (P < 0.05) heavier than those brooded and reared on PS, whereas toms brooded on one bedding and then reared on the other were intermediate in weight. There were no differences in final cumulative FCR or carcass yield in either experiment. Three field trials were conducted with Large White commercial turkey hens in which the hens were brooded either on PS or AC, with both groups reared on PS. There was a mean increase of 0.2 kg in BW, a decrease (improvement) of 0.03 in FCR, and an increase of 3,200 kg per trial for AC-brooded birds (based on 16,000 hens placed per brooder house). A hard, dry litter crust was observed in the AC houses. With subsequent testing, further changes in the manufacturing process to create a hard, durable pellet may result in a more usable and useful bedding material.

SUMMARY Effect of access to wood shavings and processed paper in the litter bath of modified cages on performance, gizzard activity, plumage condition, and peck damages was studied for layers fed a wheat-based diet. Egg production was similar for all treatments, but birds with access to paper showed higher feed consumption than the control birds and birds with access to wood shavings. This resulted in a corresponding difference (P < 0.05) in feed utilization. A significantly higher AMEn was observed for birds with access to wood shavings than in the control. Consumption of wood shavings and paper from the litter bath was 4 and 11 g/hen per day, respectively. Weights of empty gizzard and gizzard contents were considerably higher for birds with access to wood shavings. The median particle size in the duodenum decreased with access to wood shavings. In contrast, birds with access to paper showed a higher mean particle size in the duodenum.

Inorganic sodium selenite (NaSe; 0.1 and 0.3 ppm) and organic selenium yeast (Sel Plex 50: OR; 0.1 and 0.3 ppm) were provided in the diets of broilers placed on four different litter types: 1) ACR paper (diced recycled low-density fiber paper treated with boric acid, 4.5%), 2) shavings (pine wood shavings), 3) diced/cross-cut news print, or 4) 50% mixture of ACR and shavings, in a 32-pen broiler house with curtain side walls. Subjective body feathering scores ranging from 0 (no feathers) to 5 (best) were determined at 3, 5, and 6 wk of age. In experiment 1, feather scores at 6 wk of age were improved significantly with OR supplementation at 0.3 ppm compare to all other selenium treatments, and in Experiment 2 both levels of OR supplementation were associated with improved feathering compared to NaSe supplementation. ACR paper caused reduced feathering in both experiments, and neither NaSe nor OR were sufficient to overcome the problem. In both experiments, OR was associated with better feathering for broilers on all litters at all ages. Performance parameters such as feed conversion ratios were not affected by selenium source even though feathering, an energetically expensive function, was improved in the OR-fed birds.

Two 46-day floor pen experiments evaluated low- and high- density pelleted newspaper as a broiler litter material. Experiment 1 compared fresh pine sawdust (FPS) to fresh low-density paper (FLP). Experiment 2 compared FPS, fresh low-density paper containing an adhesive (FLPA), and fresh high-density paper (FHP) with the used sawdust (UPS) and used low-density paper (ULP) from Experiment 1. All fresh paper materials were placed in pens at one-half the depth (3.8 cm) of the FPS (7.6 cm). Litter type (sawdust vs. paper), age (fresh vs. used), and paper density (low vs. high) had no effect on 46-day body weight, feed conversion, or mortality. Litter moisture was similar and caking was absent among treatments in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, the FLPA resulted in increased cake formation. Broilers reared on FHP had the lowest incidence of breast blisters in Experiment 2. Both low-(without adhesive) and high-density pelleted newspaper are suitable broiler litter materials when placed at one-half the sawdust litter volume.

A 46 day trial was conducted to evaluate the use of shredded newspaper as a litter material for broilers. Four litter treatments were used: 1) wood shavings (WS), 2) wood shavings mixed with paper (WSP), 3) shavings layered over paper (S/P), and 4) paper layered over shavings (P/S). Litter material had no effect on body weight, feed conversion, mortality, or percent leg problems. Feed consumption during days 39 to 46 was significantly higher for broilers grown on WS and ESP. The incidence of breast blisters was lower for birds in the WS treatment than for birds in the other treatments. Newspaper in combination with wood shavings can be a suitable litter if litter moisture can be controlled.

SUMMARY Poultry may obtain fiber from the feed or from the ingestion of, e.g., fibrous litter materials. In earlier studies, it was shown that insoluble fiber may stimulate digestion and exert a calming effect on laying hens. Fiber may also influence the metabolism of minerals and fat, which might affect egg quality. In this paper, we describe the effects of 2 means of fiber supply on production performance, feather cover, and egg quality in Lohmann Brown (LB) and Lohmann Selected Leghorn (LSL) hens housed in furnished cages between 20 and 60 wk of age. Insoluble fiber was supplied by either including 3% ground straw pellets in the feed or by substituting the saw dust in the litter bath with crumbled straw pellets. Overall, hens were frequently pecking the litter, but litter bath occupation, litter pecking, and litter intake was higher in LB than in LSL. In LB, more crumbled straw pellets were consumed from the litter bath compared with saw dust. Compared with the control, adding straw pellets to the feed reduced egg shell thickness in LB but not in LSL. Otherwise, treatments had no significant effects on production performance, egg quality, or feather cover. Therefore, litter may constitute a significant source of insoluble fiber to laying hens, but notable hybrid differences in the interaction with litter were observed.

Although the transition from cage housing to alternative systems commenced more than 20 yr ago, there is still an ongoing need for information supporting system understanding, system development, and genetic selection. Cannibalism remains one of the largest problems in these housing systems. Furthermore, recent developments in feed prices have increased the price of animal feed, raising production costs of eggs. Replacing feedstuffs with cheaper self-grown crops might be a possible solution to lower feed costs. In Belgium, and more specifically, in the Kempen region, corn is a widely grown crop that is usually used for feeding dairy cows, yet a ground mix of dry corn grains and a small part of the cob, known as corn cob mix (CCM), can also be used as poultry feed. In this paper the effect of the fibrous feed CCM on the prevalence of cannibalism on hens with trimmed and untrimmed beaks is investigated. The results show a positive effect of CCM on mortality; nevertheless, the mortality in the groups of untrimmed hens was very high, indicating the importance of beak trimming. Furthermore, a positive effect of CCM on egg weight was observed.

There is a need to evaluate the position paper and guidelines set forth by the United Egg Producers (Washington, DC) and the American Veterinary Medical Association (Schaumburg, IL) on feeding practices and nutrient levels provided during a molt. This pilot study was undertaken to learn if a complete cessation of lay could be achieved with daily feeding while using an alternate morning and evening feeding schedule. This was an effort to mimic the fast that a bird experiences in a natural setting. The hens were fed the amount they would eat in 4 h during the morning one day and again the evening of the next day. Some hens ceased production in the third week and others in the fourth week, with zero production for all hens occurring during the fifth week. The return to 50% egg production was achieved from wk 7 to 8. Peak egg production occurred from the eleventh to twelfth weeks postmolt, reaching a level only 5 to 6 percentage points below the first cycle. This feeding protocol resulted in complete cessation of lay, allowing for a more uniform and complete restoration of the ovarian and oviductal tissues. This restoration is necessary for an effective economical postmolt period of egg production.

SUMMARY Data are scarce for relative effectiveness of the liquid hydroxy analogue of Met (MHA-FA) relative to DL-Met (DLM) in turkeys. In the current paper, 2 experiments are presented in order to determine the relative effectiveness of liquid MHA-FA. In trial 1, female 1-d-old Hybrid Converter turkeys were fed 13 different corn-soy diets supplemented with graded levels of DLM, diluted DLM (65%), or liquid MHA-FA (0.07, 0.14, 0.21, 0.28%) from d 7 to 50. DLM (65%) treatments can be regarded as an internal standard for the validation of exponential regression analysis. In trial 2, male 1-d-old BUTA Big 6 turkeys were assigned to 63 battery cages for 21 d. Treatments consisted of a basal corn-soy diet and 2 series each containing graded levels of either DLM (0.100, 0.200, 0.300%) or liquid MHA-FA (0.154, 0.308, 0.462%). The ratio between both products at the 3 corresponding inclusion levels was 65% weight/weight. In both trials, basal diets were formulated to be deficient in Met + Cys but adequate in all other nutrients and energy. Exponential regression analysis revealed a relative effectiveness for weight gain and feed conversion of liquid MHA-FA of 68 and 56% vs. DLM in trial 1, respectively, and of 66 and 44% in trial 2, respectively. These findings support the hypothesis of a relative bioeffectiveness of approximately 65% of liquid MHAFA as compared with DLM.

SUMMARY Four trials were conducted to evaluate Bacillus subtilis spores as a direct-fed microbial for improving broiler performance. In trials 1 to 3, straight-run Cobb 500 broiler chicks were grown to 42, 42, and 39 d, respectively, to evaluate diets containing Calsporin (0.05%; contributing spores at 0.003% level), an alternative growth promoter, compared with control basal diets. The additive significantly increased BW in all experiments (average +0.113 lb or +2.90%) and decreased feed conversion ratio in 2/3 trials (average 3 trials −0.027 lb of feed/lb of body weight or −1.46%) without affecting mortality. In trial 4, on new litter with a used litter covering and relatively high stocking density (0.67 ft 2 /bird or 0.0622 m 2 /bird), Ross × Hubbard HiY equal mixed-sex chicks were grown to 49 d of age. On all sides of pens, 34 in. high corrugated paper was used to prevent crossover of test additive but provided minimal ventilation and caused wet litter. Chick quality was substandard due to omphalitis. Bacillus subtilis spores (0.003%) treatment gave best BW and feed conversion results (+0.446 lb or +8.66% and −0.146 lb of feed/lb of body weight or −6.92%) compared with control treatment though not significantly better than bacitracin-methylene disalicylate (BMD) (55 ppm) or Bacillus subtilis spores plus BMD. Mortality was significantly lower in control than the combined additive treatment (in which no culling and large differences in growth increased mortality of weaker chickens). Bacillus subtilis spores improved broiler chicken BW and feed conversion ratio and in a direct comparison successfully replaced BMD.

SUMMARY In Denmark organic production of broilers (chickens for meat production) has expanded since 1996, when only a few farmers produced approximately 6,000 broilers. At that time, the broilers were sold directly to customers. At present, the yearly production is 350,000 broilers, and professionals organize the sale. Organic broiler production should comply with the overall goals for organic farming. This new production system differs from the conventional system due to specified standards. The production period is prolonged because broilers need to be at least 81 d old when slaughtered, and these chickens are genetically programmed to be slower growing with a maximum growth rate of 30 g/d. Additionally, daily access to roughage, organic feed without coccidiostats, and outdoor pasture areas is required. In the present paper the organic production system and data concerning growth, feeding, animal health, and slaughter quality is described based on an investigation conducted on 9 Danish farms in 1998. This investigation is the first of organic broiler production in Denmark.

A popular notion among researchers is that management of animal environments could be improved with the use of physiological data collected in real time. This is a sort of “listen to the patient” approach to climate control. What variables to monitor and just how to use them is the subject of much research. Deep body temperature (DBT) has been pointed out in the literature as a potential indicator of heat stress. In this paper, we describe a number of investigations into the responsiveness and on-line measurability of DBT in commercial broilers. A biotelemetry system monitored DBT responses of broilers to changes in ambient temperature and relative humidity. Birds were less able to maintain their DBT when increases of ambient temperature occurred at faster rates. These results indicate that DBT is quite responsive to changes in the ambient environment. This together with the fact that responses could be measured on-line, make DBT a good stress indicator in poultry.

Light and methionine supplementation for molting hens have been the focus of attention in may different research papers. The present experiments examined the combined effects of additional light prior to molting and methionine supplementation in molt feed on the performance of molted hens. Additional light or methionine supplementation in molt feed had no significant effect on most of the performance criteria observed in the two experiments. However, the did increase feed cost, utility cost, and incidence of body-checked eggs in both experiments. These result give reason to question the efficiency of supplying 24 hr light for 7 days prior to molt and using TSAA levels greater than 0.60% or protein levels greater than 15.90% in molt feed.

Waxy corn sometimes becomes available to the feed industry when its supply exceeds the demand of the wet milling industry. Several research papers in the past have evaluated the feeding value and/or metabolizable energy (ME) of waxy as opposed to normal corn. Unfortunately, several artifacts present in most of these studies complicate an interpretation of published data. True metabolizable energy (TMEn) assays were conducted on three sets of normal and waxy versions of the same corn hybrids. It was confirmed that corn hybrids vary in metabolizable energy. The TMEn of the three normal hybrids used in this study ranged from 3883 to 4024 kcal/kg (dry basis). However, results do not indicate a difference in TMEn of waxy vs. normal corn of the same hybrid. Thus, when formulating poultry rations with waxy corn, there is no reason to make any adjustment in metabolizable energy unless the specific hybrid is known to be low or high in caloric or protein value.

Ideal amino acid ratios for chicks during the early growth period (0 to 21 days) are well documented by empirical evidence, but suggested ratios for older birds are in need of confirmation. Based on best empirical estimates of lysine, SAA, and threonine requirements of broiler chicks during 0 to 21, 21 to 42, and 42 to 56 days of age, together with new knowledge of maintenance contributions to the total requirement for these amino acids, it appear that the ideal ratio of SAA and threonine to lysine may change very little as birds advance in age and weight toward a 56-day market weight. This paper presents regression equations that predict both digestible and total lysine, SAA, and threonine requirements at any age or weight between hatching and 56 days.

Experiments with broiler chickens usually compare the effects of treatments when birds are killed at the same time. However, producers need to know the value of treatments on birds killed at the same weight, since their goal is to produce birds for a certain market. The curve expressing body weight as a function of feed consumption is described very well by a second-order polynomial (quadratic curve). Given an observed body weight and feed intake and a standard curve, it is possible to produce a curve that describes the relationship of body weight to feed consumption for any flock. Once this curve is estimated for a flock, it is possible to estimate the feed consumption (and therefore feed conversion or efficiency) for any weight of bird that could be slaughtered. This paper describes an electronic spreadsheet template for Microsoft Excel that predicts feed efficiency for any weight of broiler based on the observed body weight and feed consumption of a flock. The prediction may be valuable in comparing research results and rewarding contract growers for truly superior performance.

Reported in this paper are factors which can increase differences between experimental group means and/or reduce variation with groups. Factors which affected the precision of research results included sex and body weight distribution with experimental caged flocks; comb type and beak trimming which influenced social rank; dose of chemicals and infectious agents and antigens; and chicken-human relationships. Experimental precision was especially affected when these factors influenced some but not all experimental groups. Increased precision of experimental procedures allows for reducing the numbers of animals and/or observations needed for experiments.

The application of feed restriction in the production of meat-type (broiler) chickens is controversial. Commercial broilers are invariably fed ad libitum. Fisher [1] noted that even a slight restriction of feed intake might affect the final body weight of broiler chickens adversely. Reece et al. [2] also observed that more adverse than favorable results have been achieved. However, recent research [3] shows that broiler performance may be improved by preventing chickens from feeding for short periods of time throughout the day. North [4] found that mature body weights of broiler chickens are not affected provided that feeding is not interrupted for more than 2 hours at a time. The demonstration of catch-up growth in broiler chickens [5, 6, 7, 8] has also raised new possibilities. This paper examines new developments in feed restriction of broilers and evaluates the potential application of short-term feed restriction to broiler chicken production. The mechanisms responsible for catch-up growth, and the factors which influence this phenomenon, are also discussed.