Search

The effects of testosterone propionate (TP) on body weight, tissue percentages of body weight, serum IgM, and rectal temperature (2 h postinjection) of male and female broiler chickens were investigated at 28 and 48 days posthatching. Testosterone propionate was dissolved in sesame oil and was injected at 2 mg/kg of body weight every other day, and controls were treated with sesame oil at similar volume, starting Day 7 posthatching. Administration of TP reduced (P < .05) body weight and percentages of liver, testes, and bursa of Fabricius at 28 and 48 days of age. At 28 and 48 days of age, muscle percentage and comb growth of TP-treated birds increased (P < .05) but ovarian weight was unaffected. Concentrations of IgM in serum of TP-injected birds was unchanged at Day 28, but increased (P < .05) at Day 48. Testosterone propionate did not affect percentages of bone or abdominal fat in either sex. Rectal temperature was depressed (P < .05) by TP treatment in both sexes at both ages.

The effects of zinc methionine product (ZP) supplementation to Single Comb White Leghorn hens on egg production and quality were measured through three consecutive egg laying cycles. During the first and second lay cycles, ZP had minor or nonsignificant effects upon hen performance. During the third lay cycle, a low dietary Ca (.3% Ca) stress of 1 mo duration was encountered. During this low-Ca stress period, hens fed 1 g ZP/kg produced the greatest number of eggs (P less than .05), and during recovery from that low-Ca stress, the hens receiving 2 g ZP/kg produced the most eggs (P less than .05). The ZP appeared to help hens maintain egg size throughout this stress period. The present results indicate that ZP was beneficial to hens during low-Ca stress and during the recovery period following that stress.

Two trials were conducted, each one using 240 Chinese Ringneck pheasant-breeder hens (Phasianus colchicus torquatus) to determine the effects of feeding various levels of brewers' dried grains (BDG) on egg production, fertility, hatchability, and feed consumption. The birds were subjected to natural daylight. Data were collected for 16 wk of egg production (April 1 through July 31). Each of four diets containing 0, 15, 30, or 45% BDG was fed to three pens (19 females and 1 male per pen), beginning 1 wk prior to the onset of lay. The eggs were collected twice daily and were stored at 13 C and were set in incubators every 14 days. The eggs were candled on Day 21 of incubation to determine the number of infertile eggs and dead embryos. The hatch was removed on Day 25. The egg production and fertility from BDG-fed hens did not differ from those of the control hens. The hatchability of fertile eggs was higher (P less than .05) from hens fed diets containing 30 and 45% BDG than from hens fed the control diet. The inclusion of BDG in the diets of pheasant-breeder hens had a favorable influence on the hatchability of eggs.

The objective of this study was to determine energy, methionine, lysine, and protein availability of solids concentrated from brewery process effluent through the Carver-Greenfield process. Analysis of these concentrated solids revealed 30% protein and 23% fat content. A biological evaluation was implemented to determine the availability of energy and protein to poults and to determine possible existence of unidentified growth factors. Sixteen diets were fed to 560 male poults. Five replicate groups of 7 birds each were housed in electrically heated Jamesway batteries. The study utilized Large White male turkeys, fed 0 to 20% levels of the test product (labeled CVS) covering a period from 1 day to 4 weeks of age. The energy value of CVS for poults appeared similar to the TME score of 3.02 kcal/g. Protein utilization was best when CVS was fed at 5% of the diet, and was equal to that of dehulled soybean meal. Five percent CVS substituted for one unidentified growth factor (UGF) source and appeared to have an additive effect with another UGF source. On two treatments, bird body weights averaged nearly 1000 g each at 4 weeks. It was concluded that CVS at up to 10% of the diet performed adequately as a product to provide usable protein and energy for early poult growth.

A roaster was built which used heated granular salt (NaCl) as the heat transfer medium. Rapid and uniform roasting of soybeans was accomplished using such equipment. A 33 factorial experimental design was used to determine the effect of the roasting variables on soybeans. Chicken feeding trials and soybean protein availability measurements were used for evaluation. The best roasting conditions were 272° C. salt bed, 20 sec. contact of salt and soybean, and 120 sec. holding time. These roasting conditions also reduced the soybean moisture. Chicken rations containing soybeans roasted at these conditions produced 41 percent and three percent higher weight gains than a raw soybean diet and a commercial soybean meal diet, respectively, at the end of fourth week. It was concluded that the salt bed roasted soybeans were excellent for chick growth.

Seven hundred parts per million cadmium (Cd) added to a commercial-type ration increased the size of the gastrointestinal tract, kidney and gizzard lining relative to body weight over corresponding measurements in control chickens on the same diet with no cadmium added. Differences in organ color, muscle tonus, cadmium concentration, and zinc concentration were also noted. Elevating the level of cadmium in the diet of 14-34 day old male Leghorn chicks decreased weight gain and feed consumption. More than 400 p.p.m. cadmium in the commercial-type of diet was very toxic. The LD/sub 50/ for two week old Leghorn chicks was calculated to be approximately 565 p.p.m. dietary cadmium under the conditions of this experiment. 9 references, 3 tables.

INTRODUCTION IT IS known that biotin is essential for reproduction and normal embryonic development in avian species (Cravens et al, 1942Cravens et al, 1944). Couch et al. (1948a) placed chicken hens on a low biotin diet and found that hatchability was reduced to zero by the end of the sixth week. The biotin content of deficient eggs was 28 p.p.b. of yolk and 2 p.p.b. for egg white on a wet weight basis. In another experiment, Couch et al. (1948b) demonstrated a failure of embryonic development when the yolk contained SO p.p.b. of biotin. Normal embryonic growth and development were supported by 150 p.p.b. of biotin. In recent studies, Jensen (1967) reported that egg production and hatchability were improved by biotin supplementation in diets of turkey breeder hens. The studies reported herein were conducted to determine the effect of supplemental biotin on reproductive performance of turkey breeder hens and to determine the…

THE nutritive value of the egg is considered to be excellent, particularly when fed in conjunction with other foods. Romanoff and Romanoff (1949) have reviewed the nutritive value of feeding either the whole egg or egg yolk to rats. Rats fed a diet exclusively of raw egg yolk grew well and were able to reproduce. Raw yolk was superior to cooked in promoting rat growth. The cooked whole egg supported much better rat growth than when fed raw. However, Adams (1964) reported that rats fed diets consisting of 100 percent cooked whole egg or cooked yolk had frequent diarrhea and food consumption was low with a resulting reduced growth rate and life span. When the yolk was supplemented with a salt mixture, weight gain, feed efficiency and longevity were greatly enhanced. Green et al. (1959) reported that raw egg yolk, egg lipid and egg protein each improved chick growth when …

A HIGH rate of poult mortality during the first week of brooding has been ascribed frequently to a condition of starvation. Many times the rate of poult mortality due to “starve outs” appears to be directly correlated with delays in shipping or other stress. These stress factors may appear between the time the poult is hatched and the time it is presented with its first opportunity to eat. Studies by Harper and Babcock (1953) demonstrated that the inclusion of penicillin in a poult starter diet decreased mortality from nonspecific causes and had a growth promoting effect. Penicillin in the diet appeared to be more effective than oral injection of penicillin in these studies. Early growth of chickens was improved when they were injected with vitamins during the first two weeks after hatching in a study reported by Jensen et al. (1956). The subcutaneous injection of penicillin plus certain B-complex vitamins…

In order to determine the availability of calcium in limestone processed by a new method, nine hundred day-old male poults were fed diets with varying calcium sources, levels and finenesses (mesh) for twenty-one days. Growth rate and feed efficiency were the criteria used to evaluate the availability of calcium among treatments. Reductions in the percent calcium in the diet produced significant decreases in gain with the coarser grinds of limestone. The birds showing greatest gain were on the 103 mesh (the particles were no larger than 1/1000th of an inch in diameter) at 1.30% calcium level. At the 0.80% and 0.60% calcium levels the poults on the Colorado Lien diets exhibited reduced growth compared to the poults receiving smaller particles; indicating that a reduction in particle size increased calcium availability at these lower dietary calcium levels. It was a general trend with the turkeys on the “mesh” diets that as the dietary calcium level dropped, the feed efficiency also dropped; however, this trend was not followed by the Colorado Lien poults and the CaCO3 birds. The most efficient poults in this experiment were the ones on the 102 mesh diet and the 102 mesh diet at the 1.30% calcium level. The least efficient were on the 102 mesh diet at 0.60% calcium level. In summary it can be stated that the finer grinds of limestone: 1) increased the availability of calcium to the poult, 2) increased the efficiency of the bird at low dietary calcium levels, and 3) produced better weight gains at low diet calcium levels. The coarser grinds increased weight gains and efficiencies at the highest calcium level. It was concluded that fine particle size in a limestone product increased dietary calcium availability to poults and probably reduced the amount of limestone needed in a poult’s diet.

Diets containing 16% protein and 3143 kcal ME/kgin which total diet was replaced by 0, 2.4, 4.8, or 9.1% (by weight) sodium bentonite (SB) were fed to White Pekin ducklings from 0 to 7 weeks of age. At 7 weeks duckling weights of the treatment groups were not significantly different from controls. Feed efficiency was significantly decreased only in the group fed 9.1% SB. The SB was nutritionally equivalent to half an equal weight of control diet when fed as 4.8% of the diet.

INTRODUCTION EARLY poult mortality has been a major concern of the turkey industry. When birds fail to eat, the deaths are due to starvation (starveouts). Prefeeding has been studied and recommended by others (Jensen et al., 1956; Moreng and Settle, 1967; Moreng et al., 1970; and Waldroup and Harris, 1969); however, these studies have not included food slurries made from turkey starter types of diets. The objective of this research was to observe the effect on poult performance when newly hatched poults were given an oral dose of an excellent diet as a slurry mixed with water. Performance from the food slurry treatment was compared to that from oral injection of an antibiotic-vitamin-sugar mixture (AVSM) solution. MATERIALS AND METHODS The experiment included four treatments: 1. an uninjected control 2. oral injection of the food slurry (see Table 1) 3. oral injection of antibiotic-vitamin-sugar mixture (AVSM) (Table 2) 4. oral injection…

To determine the effect of various acids in the diet of chicks, several levels of HNO3, HCl, H2 SO4, and H3 PO4 were fed to mixed sex Indian River broiler chicks. The birds accepted the diets containing up to 0.27M HNO3 (16,500 p.p.m. nitrate) without a significant weight loss; higher levels of nitric acid created reduced weight gain, severe death loss, diarrhea, and evidence of dehydration. The birds responded well to 0.1 M levels of the other three acids, but 0.2 M levels reduced the gain/feed value and weight gain. It may be concluded that up to 0.1 M levels of HCl, HNO3, H2 SO4, and H3 PO4 can be added to a corn-soybean meal type of diet with no apparent detrimental effect to the broiler-type chick.

Day-old male broiler chicks were fed a broiler ration for five weeks to which was added one of the following levels of dl-alpha tocopheryl acetate; 0; 2,000; 4,000; 8,000; 16,000; 32,000, and 64,000 I.U./kg. The chicks fed diets containing 4,000 I.U./kg. or more of vitamin E showed decreased pigmentation in their beaks, feet and shanks, and liver as a percent of body weight was significantly increased. Feeding at least 8,000 I.U./kg of the vitamin significantly reduced chick body weight and resulted in waxy appearing feathers. Dietary inclusion of 16,000 I.U./kg. or more of vitamin E significantly increased feather, spleen, liver, and plasma vitamin E content.

Diets containing 20% of air-dried anaerobically digested Fort Collins sewage sludge were fed to broiler chicks. The diets were balanced in protein and had the same vitamin and mineral supplement. The sludge diets containing approximately 2,500 ME kcal/kg compared to 3,000 ME kcal/kg in the control feed. Birds gained less body weight on sludge diets and liver vitamin A levels were reduced. Extrusion of cord-sludge mixture prior to diet formulations made the diet much poorer for supporting growth, reduced feed efficiency, and lowered liver vitamin A levels. It was concluded that ingestion of the sewage sludge impaired the utilization of vitamin A from the diet.

THE action of rubidium (Rb) on frog heart muscle was shown by Ringer (1884) to be similar to that of potassium (K). Loeb (1920) reported that both Rb and cesium would replace K in solutions for the development of sea urchin eggs. Lazritzke and Szorenyi (1934) have shown that yeast can utilize Rb in place of K. Mitchell et al. (1921) reported hyperirritability and death after two to three weeks of substituting Rb for K in the diets of rats. Heppel and Schmidt (1938) concluded that Rb would replace K for a short time in diets of rats. Follis (1943) observed that rats on K-deficient diets showed improved growth for two to three weeks when 0.5 % rubidium chloride was added, and further found that the addition of Rb to an adequate K diet depressed growth. The myocardial and renal lesions found in K-deficient rats were absent when Rb was…

INTRODUCTION RECENT effort has been devoted to studying possible relationships between vitamin D and certain trace minerals. An interesting interrelationship has been found to exist between zinc and vitamin D. Worker and Migicovsky (1961) reported that vitamin D supplementation significantly increased bone radiozinc after oral administration of zinc-65 to rachitic chicks. If zinc-65 was administered subcutaneously, this effect of vitamin D was not seen. This seemed to indicate that the influence of vitamin D was at the site of absorption. Others have shown that increased dietary calcium, vitamin D3 or both caused an increase in the amount of orally administered zinc-65 that was excreted in the feces of rats (Martin and Patrick, 1961). In chicks, they discovered that the presence of vitamin D3 caused a marked increase in zinc-65 mineralization of the tibia at the 1.0%, but not the 1.6% level of dietary calcium with or without added zinc. Also, …

Several levels of chili powder, curry powder and black pepper were fed to male Arbor-Acre Indian River cross, broiler chicks from 0–4 weeks of age. It was concluded that curry, chili and black pepper powders at 6, 12 and 1.5% or more of diet, respectively, were all detrimental to the growth of broiler-type chicks, when added to a corn-milo-soybean meal type diet. Those spices added no flavoring to the meat.

Two different levels of dehydrated Kentucky bluegrass and dehydrated alfalfa were fed to broiler chicks from 0–4 weeks of age. It was concluded that the chicks fed on a corn-soybean meal diet with the substitutions of dehydrated Kentucky bluegrass, at either the 9 or 20 percent levels of diet, had better growth rates than chicks fed similar levels of dehydrated alfalfa.