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A survey was made of 37 dairy farms in Wirral, mid-Cheshire, mid-Somerset and Dyfed, Wales, to assess the incidence and prevalence of lameness in the cows between May 1989 and September 1991. The incidence was obtained from records made whenever a cow was examined for lameness or received preventive foot-trimming. The mean annual incidence was 54.6 new cases per 100 cows with a range from 10.7 to 170.1 and the mean values during summer and winter were 22.9 and 31.7, respectively. The prevalence of lameness was measured by regular visits at which locomotion was scored on a scale of 1 to 5, and the prevalence of lameness was calculated for each visit as the proportion of cows with scores of 3 or more. The mean annual prevalence over the whole period was 20.6 per cent with a range from 2.0 to 53.9 per cent for the 37 farms. The mean prevalences during summer and winter were 18.6 and 25.0 per cent, respectively. The prevalence measured at a single visit in midsummer or midwinter was significantly correlated with the mean prevalence over the whole corresponding period and may be useful as an assessment of the extent of lameness in a herd and the efficacy of control measures. There was evidence that training farmers to recognise early cases of lameness and request veterinary treatment resulted in a marked reduction in the duration of cases of lameness.

A survey of cubicles and indoor and outdoor walking surfaces on 37 farms served by four veterinary practices in Somerset, Cheshire, Wirral and west Wales was carried out in 1989 to 1991. A study of the space requirements of Friesian/Holstein cows at pasture showed that they required approximately 240 cm x 120 cm lying space and a further 60 cm lunging space for rising. By these standards, 87 per cent of the cubicles were too short and 50 per cent were too wide or too narrow. Over 1500 observations on cows lying down, rising and standing indicated that only 12 per cent of the cubicles permitted real freedom of movement; 91 per cent of top partition rails were judged to be too low and 70 per cent of bottom rails too low or too high. In addition, the kerb was very high in 76 per cent of the cubicles. As a result, 10 per cent of cows appeared moderately or severely restricted when lying down, 33 per cent when rising and 55 per cent when standing. Over 2000 cubicle beds were also studied; 75 per cent had a concrete base and of those, 63 per cent were judged to have too little bedding and 11 per cent next to none. Higher incidences and prevalences of lameness were associated with limited borrowing space (P

Scott and Jensen (1952) reported that the addition of aureomycin to the ration of poults which had not received this supplement prior to 8 weeks of age caused a marked increase in growth. MacGregor et al. (1952) reported that poults fed penicillin after eight weeks showed no stimulus in growth over those not receiving penicillin. The experiments reported here were conducted early in 1952 with the purpose of studying the usefulness of feeding an antibiotic to turkeys in the later growing stages, for effects on feed conversion as well as growth. Approximately 4,000 Beltsville Small White poults were divided into five equal groups of each sex. A random 10 percent sample of each group was weighed and feed conversion calculated at ten day intervals. The diets used were commercial type mash and grain rations. Mash #1 contained 28%; #2, 24%; and #3, 20% protein. All mashes contained approximately 5 grams …

Summary Chicks were fed complete diets containing protein exclusively from soybean meal, either cooked or raw or in combinations, at a total of 20% protein. As little as 5% of raw protein was accompanied by nearly maximal growth retardation due to the tryptic inhibitor in raw soybean meal. The growth inhibition was overcome by adding trypsin to the diet.

SummaryExclusively soybean protein diets, containing varying proportions of raw to cooked soybean meals were fed to young chicks. The growth inhibition associated with raw soybean meal was almost fully developed when one-fourth of the protein of either 20% or 30% protein diets was supplied in the raw form. The results do not fit the concepts of an unavailable essential nutrient or of a toxic component in raw soybean meal. The results are explainable on the basis of an antitrypsin which readily inactivates trypsin but permits the remaining proteolytic system in the digestive tract to function at a lowered degree of efficiency. The further slight inhibition of growth with increased proportions of raw soybean meal is probably an effect of an entirely different nature and may be a manifestation of generally decreased availability of the nutrients in the raw meal.

Summary1. The presence of raw soybean protein in the chick diet was found to develop or accentuate a deficiency of tryptophan in the case of a chick diet marginal in this amino acid. 2. A diet deficient or marginal in arginine and methionine was rendered more acutely deficient when the soybean protein component was present as raw meal. 3. The effects of these accentuated deficiencies on growth were reversed by adding the specific amino acids involved or by heat destruction of the growth inhibitor. 4. These results are in agreement with previous results in the cases of methionine, lysine, arginine and isoleucine.

The well-known improvement in nutritive value of raw soybean protein on heating or methionine supplementation has been reproduced in chick diets containing the soybean antitrypsin, but deficient in lysine, arginine, or isoleucine, by heating to destroy the antitrypsin or by adding the particular amino acid inadequately supplied in the diet. The mechanism of this effect has been shown to be a general one and probably applicable to any indispensable amino acid.

Beltsville Small White tom turkeys were reared on a practical feeding program to 10 weeks of age, then divided into pens of approximately 600 birds each and given a series of pelleted mashes varying in fiber level. The fiber level was changed solely by varying the proportions of milo and barley in a 20% protein practical growing mash. The extremes of this series were 32.5% barley, and 42.0% milo. Similarly reared Beltsville Small White hens from this flock were placed on the same mashes when 12 weeks of age. The turkeys had free access to these mashes and wheat grain at all times. The trial was terminated when the turkeys were 18 weeks of age. The results given in Table 1 show several features of interest. 1. Weight gains of toms and hens were independent of mash fiber levels. 2. The percentage of whole grain in the diets selected by …

The effects of detergents in the diets of growing chickens have been reviewed and further studied by Branion and Hill (1954) and by March, Burdett and Biely (1954). Biely, March and Silvestrini (1954) have reported that an alkyl-aryl sulfonate fed at 0.1% of a basal ration of laying hens promoted better feed efficiency for egg production. In experiments conducted during 1953 with growing Broad Breasted Bronze turkeys on range, two strains of this variety of turkeys were fed a practical diet of mash and wheat grain, ad libitum. Certain of the mashes were supplemented with a commercial sodium alkyl-aryl sulfonate (Oronite D-40). Approximately 235 birds were placed in each group. Results are given in Table 1. Weight gain was improved very slightly in three out of four comparisons. This fact demonstrates, at least, that the detergent had no appreciable toxic effects. Feed conversion was improved in every comparison, particularly in …

A flock of Beltsville Small White turkeys, 12 weeks of age, was divided into 3 equivalent groups of each sex, approximately 300 birds per group. These were kept in pens with shades, and were fed practical diets. Hormone was administered in the usual manner by the subcutaneous injection of pellets containing 15 mg. of diethylstilbestrol, near the back of the head. Treatment at the 15 mg. level unquestionably increased gains and improved feed conversion (Table 1). These effects were applied to a relatively similar degree to both sexes. For example, toms gained 14% more than control toms, while hens gained 12% more than control hens. Treatment at this level proved to be economically advantageous. Apparently, the 30 mg. level was excessive as birds given this dose did very little better than the controls. A second experiment was conducted with 14-week old B.S.W. toms in 3 groups of 50 each and . . .

In a previous report(l) we showed that trypsin (1-300) fed at 0.15% of the diet neutralized most of the effect of the growth inhibitor present when one-fourth of the protein in the diet of the chick was provided as raw soybean meal. This relative amount of raw meal caused practically as much growth inhibition as did higher proportions. It has been indicated that the substance in crude trypsin, which is able to reverse the action of the soybean growth inhibitor in rat diets, is not trypsin but some associated impurity(2). In a critical test of this question we have fed crystalline lyophilized trypsin in chick diets containing raw soybean protein.Methods. The procedure was the same as previously described(l). Chicks were carefully selected for uniform size and vitality and then divided equally into pens of 9 each.Results. The results of 2 experiments are given in Table I. These show a distinct increase in weight gains when the crystalline trypsin was added.Discussion. It is not certain that the amount of tr...

It has recently been reported that crystalline aureomycin will accelerate growth of young turkeys (Stokstad and Jukes, 1950). The pertinent literature was reviewed by these authors. The present studies, which had been completed prior to the appearance of the paper by Stokstad and Jukes, confirm and extend the work cited, inasmuch as similar results were obtained with a different basal diet, different variety of turkeys, and with separate sexes. The basal diet used had the following composition: solvent process soybean meal (48% crude protein) 50, bonemeal 3.7, limestone 1.5, salt 1.0, cottonseed oil 1.0, dl -methionine 0.5, manganese sulfate 0.03, and glucose to complete 100 parts. Vitamin supplements per 100 grams of basal diet were as follows: vitamin A 700 I.U., vitamin D 70 A.O.A.C. chick units, riboflavin 1 mg., niacin 1 mg., thiamin 0.3 mg., choline chloride 100 mg. Broadbreasted Bronze poults were separated as to sex at 1 day . . .

SummaryThe arginine requirement of the chick was estimated in relation to the protein level in the diet, from 15 to 30%. The requirement was found to be approximately 6% of the total protein in the diet, at each level of protein.