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A 5 x 2 factorial experiment was conducted utilizing Red x Rock sex-linked females. The birds were transferred from the rearing facilities to laying cages at 8, 10, 12, 14 or 16 weeks of age. Two rearing environments, wire or litter, were included at each housing age. Commercial-type starter, grower and layer diets were fed to all birds. There were no significant age at housing differences in egg production, feed consumption, feed efficiency or livability during the laying phase. The birds started on litter exhibited significantly higher egg production, consumed significantly more feed and had significantly greater livability. Feed efficiency was not significantly different between the wire and litter-reared birds.

The amount of α-glucose polymers entering the duodenum of re-entrant cannulated steers was measured. In each of two trials, four steers received 275g or 500g of a high-grain diet every 2h; 16 and 12 total duodenal digesta, 8-h collections were made. The mean flows of digesta were 976 and 1,685 ml/h, and dry matters of duodenal digesta were 4.8 and 5.8% when animals were given 275 and 500g of feed. About 58 to 60% of consumed dry matter was digested and absorbed before reaching the duodenum at both intakes. Glucose in duodenal digesta, as a percentage of that ingested, was 3.6 and 5.2, and total glucose recovered in duodenal digesta per 8-h collection averaged 20 and 40g during low and high feed consumption. If all the glucose (60 g/day) passing to the duodenum during 275g feed intake were absorbed, it would contribute only 9% of the total glucose metabolized by these animals.

Five experiments were conducted to determine how quickly turkey hens in egg production adjusted their feed consumption when confronted with abrupt changes in environmental temperature and dietary energy. It was found that it was necessary to acclimatize the hens to the environmental chambers for seven days prior to beginning the treatments. After acclimatization, 1 to 8 days were necessary to completely adjust feed consumption in the 4.5° C. chamber and 8 to 14 days in the 35° C. chamber. There was no significant difference in feed consumption due to the change in dietary energy level when the hens were acclimatized prior to treatment.

The PCBs tested with caged White Leghorn hens were Aroclors 1221, 1232, 1242, 1248, 1254, 1268, 5542 and BP-6 fed at the 20 p.p.m. level. In addition, 1242, 1248 and 1254 were also fed at the 2 p.p.m. level. None of these pollutants exerted any adverse effects on adult body weight gain, livability, egg weight, egg shell thickness or fertility after 9 weeks of PCB feeding. Egg production was significantly reduced by 1232, 1242, 1248, 1254 and BP-6, all at the 20 p.p.m. level. Feed consumption per hen-day was significantly reduced by 20 p.p.m. 1242, 1248, 1254 and BP-6. Hatchability of fertile eggs was significantly affected by the 20 p.p.m. level of 1232, 1242, 1248 and 1254; the hatchability of eggs laid by hens fed 20 p.p.m. 1248 declined to 1.8% by the 9th week of feeding, as compared with 95% for the control group. Progeny growth was significantly depressed by the feeding of 1232, 1242, 1248, 1254 and BP-6 in the maternal diet; only one PCB (Aroclor 1248) in the maternal diet produced a significant increase in mortality of progeny.

Five experiments were conducted to study the effect of using triticale as replacement of half or all of the grain component in the diet of laying hens and also to study the limitations involved in trying to take full advantage of the high protein content of triticale for use in feeding laying hens. The effect of a high level of rye in the diet of hens on their rate of egg production was also studied. Attempts were also made to correct possible amino acid deficiencies of a laying hen diet containing almost all the protein from triticale. Data were collected on egg production, feed consumption, egg weight and body weight of hens fed the different diets. The results indicate that hens fed triticale at levels up to 85% of the diet produced eggs at rates comparable to those fed control diets. Rye used at a level of 80% in the diet caused a sharp decline in egg production followed by a subsequent partial recovery, seeming to indicate a toxic effect of the diet rather than a nutrient deficiency. Hens receiving diets containing over 80% triticale and low levels of fish or blood meal had production parameters that were fully equal to those of hens receiving more conventional diets. Supplements of lysine, leucine, isoleucine and their combinations failed to improve the low egg production level of hens receiving a diet in which almost all the protein was from triticale.

The effects of a cold environment and growth rate on reproductive efficiency at 60 days of pregnancy were studied in 96 Lacombe gilts. On each of two consecutive years, four Lacombe boars were assigned to 48 gilts for a 42-day breeding period commencing 6 December. The animals were individually housed in a heated piggery (10–15 C) and in outside lots with a wooden cabin for shelter (mean maximum −12 C, mean minimum −22 C). The gilts were fed at a level to provide for minimum growth (0.03 kg/day) and moderate growth (0.36 kg/day). Gilts housed in the piggery were fed 1.5 and 3.0 kg/day, whereas the gilts housed outside had their feed consumption increased by a maximum of 1 kg/day to maintain similar growth rates. The cold environment had no effect on ovulation rate (12.9), fetal survival (71%), fetal weight (106 g), uterine weight (1,486 g) and ovarian weight (14.4 g) as measured at 60 days of pregnancy. The mean weight of the corpora lutea was greater for gilts housed in the outside lots (498 vs. 459 g). Gilts with the moderate growth rate had a greater ovulation rate (13.4 vs. 12.3, P

Diets containing 20% rapeseed meal, 20% full-fat rapeseed, and 3 or 10% rape-seed oil were fed to White Leghorn hens to study their effects on egg quality and hen performance. The 10% rapeseed oil group and the 20% rapeseed group resulted in egg production that was significantly below that of the control corn–soya diet. Feed consumption was reduced with the 20% rapeseed and 20% rapeseed meal diet as well as with the high oil diet. Egg size was reduced by 20% full-fat rapeseed and 10% rapeseed oil. Shell deformation was significantly reduced with 20% dietary rapeseed meal or 20% full-fat rapeseed. Shell thickness, on the other hand, was improved by 3% rapeseed oil but adversely affected by 10% rapeseed oil. Haugh units were improved by 20% full-fat rapeseed or 3% rapeseed oil. A taste panel consistently gave eggs from the 10% oil group a lower score than any of the other treatment groups, but no distinct flavor or odor could be detected. Fat composition values indicated that something in rapeseed, other than the oil, was resulting in a more unsaturated egg yolk fat from hens fed this product.

Studies were conducted with Indian River “Hybro” broiler chicks to characterize the growth promoting properties of an antibiotic fermentation residue (Vigofac) which had shown a greater response with wheat- than corn-base rations. Results confirmed the growth inducing activity of Vigofac, and revealed the activity to be primarily in the extract. It appeared that Vigofac promoted growth primarily by increasing feed consumption. Gross energy analyses of droppings suggested increased utilization of energy on wheat diets but not corn. Vigofac did not influence intestinal, thyroidal or pancreatic weights. Zinc bacitracin was also shown to improve the availability of energy in wheat diets and reduced intestinal weights.

Four groups of five Holstein heifer calves were fed calf starter ad libitum from the 5th through the 16th wk. Diets differed in crude protein (CP) content (9.3, 17.8, and 22.2% CP) and were compared to a 21% CP, high-fat milk replacer (HFMR) during 28-day periods. Voluntary intake was not affected by starter CP content. However, increasing dietary CP content increased gains and feed efficiency. Gains were similar between the high-protein starter and the HFMR. When calves in one group received a different starter each day, voluntary consumption of the low-protein starter was reduced. In the second experiment, the HFMR and a starter containing either 10.6, 15.3, or 22.8% CP were fed to Holstein bull calves from wk 2 through 4. The starters were each fed for 21-day periods to each group of calves after weaning from HFMR. A fourth group received a starter of different CP content each day. A fifth group received only HFMR for the entire period. After the 4th wk, calves fed HFMR consumed less dry matter (DM) but gained weight most rapidly. Average daily gains were increased by the medium- and high- over the low-protein calf starter (P

An experiment was conducted to compare the laying house performance of 7 strains of White Leghorns, housed at two different densities (1 and 2 birds per 8″ × 16″ cage) when fed 7 diets differing in protein and energy levels. The test started with 2366 pullets, and lasted for 336 days. Performance criteria were egg production, egg weight, body weight, feed consumption, mortality and egg quality. There were large real differences among strains in all performance traits. Compared to birds housed 1 per cage, those housed 2 in a cage laid 9% fewer eggs per hen housed, suffered 1.5 times as much mortality, gained 130 g. less weight from 20 to 64 weeks of age, consumed 3% more feed and required 8% more feed per unit weight of eggs produced, but eggs did not differ in size, specific gravity, albumin quality, shell shape or blood spots. Shells were slightly whiter at 225 days of age and rougher at 450 days of age in the 2 bird cages. Protein intake was the dietary factor most closely associated with large effects of diet on gains in body weight, egg production, egg size, feed conversion and albumin height. Average daily crude protein intake of 17 g. for the laying year appeared adequate and there were no significant strain differences in dietary effects. Strains differed markedly in voluntary nutrient intakes but not in sensitivity to the range of dietary protein and energy levels investigated. Housing birds at 2 versus 1 bird per cage reduced egg production and feed conversion significantly more at lower protein intake levels; its effects also differed appreciably among genetic stocks for feed consumption, egg weight and body weight but not for net efficiency of feed conversion.

Feeding trials were conducted to determine the effects of incorporating a bacterial cell protein product (BCP) produced on methanol substrate into the diet of broiler chicks. The BCP was added to corn-soybean meal type diets at levels of 0, 5, 10 and 15%. In the first trial using all-mash diets, feed consumption and weight gains were reduced as the level of BCP increased. In the second study, pelleting the diets containing the fine, dusty BCP material was effective in improving feed consumption and weight gains. Up to 10% BCP was tolerated without adversely affecting performance when diets were pelleted.

Crude bovine growth hormone (GH) initially purified by gel filtration on Sephadex G-100 was subjected to enzymatic hydrolysis with trypsin for 7 minutes. The bovine growth hormone digest (BGHD) was collected by lyophilization, dissolved in avian-Ringer’s solution and injected. Injections were given daily in the m. iliotibialis. Ten-week-old broilers were treated for 2, 4 or 6 weeks with 5 μg., 10 μg., 30 μg. or 50 μg. of BGHD/kg./day. Broilers, 6 weeks of age, were treated for 2 weeks with 50 μg. or 100 μg. BGHD/kg./day. Body weight and feed consumption were measured weekly. Dressed carcasses were ground and samples then taken for protein, fat and water analysis. The analyses were carried out using A.O.A.C. procedures and techniques. Feed conversion was improved significantly (P Analyses indicated carcass protein was increased 6% (P

A study was conducted to determine the effect of feeding a low lysine ration for White Leghorn laying pullets on egg production, feed consumption, egg quality and hatchability. The low lysine ration was mainly composed of yellow corn and corn gluten meal. The levels of protein (16%) and energy (total digestible nutrients 66%) were adequate, but lysine level (0.34%) was suboptimum.Egg production, feed consumption, egg weight, shell thickness and hatchability was significantly reduced by changing corn-soybean meal control ration to the low lysine ration. It was also shown that many of the chickens fed low lysine molted at two weeks after starting the experiment.Egg production, feed efficiency and egg shell thickness of the chickens fed the low lysine ration were partially improved by adding L-lysine-HCl to the ration. It appears that the level or balance of lysine and some other amino acids in the low lysine ration is suboptimum for laying pullets.

Investigations were conducted to study the relationship of calcium to yolk mottling produced by feeding various materials to hens. Layer diets containing 0.0075% nicarbazin or 1.0% Wormal (7.0% dibutyltin dilaurate, 5.5% piperazine, 29.0% phenothiazine and 58.5% inert ingredients) caused severely mottled egg yolks with significantly reduced yolk calcium and increased yolk moisture. Yolk calcium was reduced by about 50% more than could be explained by the increase in yolk moisture. Serum calcium and percent yolk weight (expressed as percent of whole egg) were numerically lowered by both of these treatments; however, they had no effect on egg production, shell weight or feed consumption. It is postulated that calcium plays an important role in mechanisms associated with yolk mottling and increased yolk membrane permeability.

Laboratory rabbits maintained under controlled lighting and fed ad libitum exhibit a weak but consistent diurnal fluctuation in feed intake. There are two major periods of eating; at the beginning and the end of the light period. This results in similar feed consumption for the light and dark periods. Water intake shows a similar diurnal variation to that of feed intake. If the normal lighting cycle is retarded by 6 hours, the animals adjust their diurnal rhythm of feeding behaviour to the new lighting cycle within 8 to 15 days. Comparative studies on rats are included.

The birth weight of a Holstein–Friesian bull calf was positively correlated with the length of the gestation period of the dam. An increase of 1 day in the gestation period resulted in an approximate increase of 1 lb in the birth weight of the calf. Birth weight, in turn, was correlated with body weight of a Holstein–Friesian steer up to 7 months of age, but this correlation disappeared when the animals were 14 months old. When only the calves having birth weights ranging between 87 and 112 lb were considered, this correlation was no longer significant by the time the animals reached 4 months of age. On the other hand, there was no correlation between birth weight and rate of gain at any time after the animals reached 200 lb body weight. Thus, birth weight can be expected to be of some importance when considering veal, but not beef, production.

Mature rats were fed a diet containing 5 μg/g DDT for 14 days. The inclusion of 5% activated carbon with DDT reduced DDT retention (P < 0.01). When DDT feeding was followed by 14 days of activated carbon feeding the retention of DDT was 62.4 for the control and 62.6% for the treated group. Activated carbon had no effect on feed intake but significantly reduced the 14-day weight gains from 10.2 to 3.6 g (P < 0.05). Four of 8 cows previously contaminated with dieldrin, DDD and DDT were fed 1 kg/day activated carbon for 14 days. There were no significant effects on the pesticide concentrations in the milk fat. The activated carbon resulted in nonsignificant reductions in milk (17.8 to 16.3 kg/day) and fat (.84 to .77 kg/day) production. In a second experiment 4 of 8 cows previously contaminated with dieldrin, DDE and DDT were fed 1 kg/day activated carbon for 26 days. The activated carbon had no significant effect on the milk and body fat concentrations of the pesticides. Milk production (20.4 to 18.5 kg/day) and fat production (0.82 to 0.72 kg/day) were reduced (P < 0.05) by the activated carbon. Activated carbon had no effect on feed consumption.

WILSON AND EDWARDS (1955) reported a loss in body-weight and reduced feed intake in pullets deprived of water. Bierer et al. (1965) observed that feed consumption declined in chickens, turkeys, guinea pigs and mice deprived of water, and water consumption declined in feed deprived treatment groups. Gee and Huston (1965a) found that the percent of body-water and plasma-water decreased during feed and water deprivation but that the rate of body-water loss remained constant. The effect of feed and water deprivation on mortality of chickens and turkeys has been investigated by Marion et al. (1956), Fisher et al. (1961), Sunde (1962), Marsden et al. (1964, 1965), Bierer et al. (1965), Gee and Huston (1965b), and Haller and Sunde (1965). In this study, daily observations relative to the effect of feed and water deprivation on water and feed consumption are correlated with body-weight loss and mortality data. MATERIALS AND METHODS Separate groups …

COMPARATIVE studies of the efficiency of utilization of rations for egg production are made difficult by the well known fact that gross efficiency, measured as feed requirement per dozen eggs produced, is markedly affected by rate of production. Because of this relationship relatively small differences in egg production rate, which may be of limited or no significance in themselves, have the effect of masking or magnifying the respective differences between rations in efficiency of feed utilization. Bird and Whitson (1946) were the first to attempt to circumvent this difficulty by comparing the observed rate of feed consumption to that predicted by the Byerly (1941) partition equation on the basis of the observed rate of production, average body weight and weight gains. From the observed and predicted rates of feed consumption, an index of relative efficiency was calculated for each ration under study. Lillie and coworkers (1952), using a similar procedure, …

INTRODUCTION A PREVIOUS report by the authors (1944) indicated that while free choice grain feeding produced a significant loss of egg production and net return per bird over feed cost for Leghorns, there was no significant difference demonstrated for heavy breed layers. It was noted that egg production showed more tendency to decline during periods of hot weather in the pens receiving free choice grain feeding. In the earlier experiment both Parts I and II, the heavy breed layers were hatched January 26 and February 5 respectively; therefore the laying year was terminated in June of each year. The full effect of hot weather at the end of the laying year was not experienced under these conditions while the Leghorns, which were hatched in April, terminated their laying year in the fall and thus felt the full effect of hot weather during the latter part of their laying year. The . . .

SUMMARY1. The growth, feed consumption per unit weight gain, carcass characteristics and some aspects of meat quality were studied in two trials with crosses derived from Landrace (L), Pietrain (P), Hampshire (H) and Large White (LW) breeds.2. In Trial 1, 96 pigs of both pure Landrace and LW(× (L♀ × P♂)♂ origin were studied up to slaughter weights of 64 and 91 kg live weight. In Trial 2, Landrace, LW♀ × (L♀ × P♂)♂ and LW ♂x (P♀x L♂)♂, (H♀ × P♂ × L♂ and (H♀ × P♂)♀ × LW♂ pigs were compared up to 91 kg live weight using 48 pigs of each type.3. All crossbred types showed better economy of production than Landrace when assessed by live-weight gain and feed consumption per unit weight gain. Their carcasses contained greater quantities of lean meat and similar quantities of rind, bone and fat than Landrace at comparable weights, but they exhibited a variable tendency to poorer meat quality. LW × (L × P) and LW × (P × L) carcasses at 91 kg live weight were shorter than Landrace; 4% and 14% of pigs in trials 1 and 2 respectively were less than the currently acceptable length of bacon pigs (775 mm). (H × P) × LW and (H×P)×L carcasses at this weight were much shorter; 34% and 38% respectively were less than 775 mm.

THERE are few published data concerned directly with the nutritive value of distillers’ by-products as a supplement to a chick ration. Insko, Buckner, Martin, and Harms (1937) worked with a distillery slop which originally contained 92 percent moisture. It was made from a mash which contained approximately three times as much corn as other grain. The results of three feeding trials indicated that this distillery slop, fed ad libitum, could be used to advantage to replace a portion or all of the ground yellow corn in the mash fed growing chicks. Allman and Branion (1938), published the first experimental work on the value of distillers’ dried grains in chick rations. They showed that the addition of corn distillers’ dried grains to chick rations improved growth, feather development, and feed consumption. D’Ercole, Esselen, and Fellers (1939) indicated that the distillers’ grains and slop used in their investigation were a good source . . .

EXPERIMENTS conducted by Hudson (1931) with bronchitis virus infected chicks showed that mortality was 60 percent for those group maintained at 66°F. as compared to 32 percent for the 100°F. groups. In an experiment conducted at 75°F. involving infectious bronchitis virus and ventilation rates of ¾ and 2 cfm. per bird, Prince et al. (1962) found that infected chicks four to eight weeks of age gained significantly less weight and consumed significantly less feed than the non-infected groups. Differences in weight gain and feed consumption due to ventilation rate were not significant. Differences in feed efficiency and mortality due to disease and/or ventilation rate were not significant. This experiment was designed to measure the performance of chicks as affected by infection bronchitis virus and ventilation rate. It was conducted in the same manner as the previous one, Prince et al. (1962), except that the temperature on all groups averaged 49°F.

Sixty-three cycling gilts were assigned randomly to be started on treatment on Day 13 of the oestrous cycle. Treatments consisted of the following\p=m-\0,50 and 150 mg of a dithiocarbamoylhydrazine (ICI 33828) and 0, 1000 and 2000 mg of iodinated casein (Protamone) in all combinations administered in 1 \m=.\82kg of feed per day for 10 days. Iodinated casein significantly reduced gain in body weight while ICI 33828 had no significant effect. Only ICI 33828 significantly reduced feed consumption. Both iodinated casein and ICI 33828 at the higher doses significantly lengthened the interval from withdrawal to oestrus. Iodinated casein, a hyperthyroid compound, failed to overcome the apparent hypothyroid effect of ICI 33828 on reproduction in the gilt under the conditions of this experiment.

TODAY the poultryman is faced with a never-ending list of drugs that are placed at his disposal for treating or preventing various poultry diseases. Once the Food and Drug Administration standards for safety have been met and the drug in question has been proven to be effective against a specific pathogen, the compound is made available to the poultryman. Roe and Collins (1943) have set forth a satisfactory procedure for evaluating various drugs for use in preventing various protozoan diseases of poultry. Except for their effect upon growth, feed consumption, mortality and toxicity symptoms, few studies are conducted to evaluate drugs for other properties. Grumbles et al. (1952) observed that egg production, fertility, and hatchability were reduced when 0.1 percent Enheptin-T was fed continuously for 18 weeks to turkeys. The use of Enheptin-A at the same level did not affect these factors. Moore et al. (1954) observed a reduction in …

A 2 × 2 × 2 factorial experiment, involving a total of 400 21-week-old Broad Breasted Bronze turkey males, was undertaken, using two buildings differing in temperature, two lengths of day (9 and 14 hours), and two finishing diets (low and high efficiency). Feed consumption, gain in weight, feed-gain ratio, and carcass score were all higher for the lower temperature location. Ambient temperature differences had a greater effect on the high efficiency diet than on the low efficiency diet. Length of day had no overall effect on the above criteria. Interactions between the low and high efficiency diets, and day length, were demonstrated.

LORENZ (1943) demonstrated that diethylstilbestrol could be used for fattening cockerels when it was implanted subcutaneously. Thayer et al. (1944) reported that feeding estrogens in fattening rations produced high quality, fully fattened market chickens. Thayer et al. (1945) found 3, 4 dianisylhexene-3 to be more efficient for fattening poultry than diethylstilbestrol when fed orally. Levels of 40 to 50 mgs. of dianisylhexene per pound of feed, fed for a 3 to 4 week fattening period, did not appear to affect growth rate but body fat was increased. Improvement in the market quality of birds was noted by Sykes et al. (1945) when the birds were fed diethylstilbestrol up to 12 weeks of age. No consistent difference in feed consumption or feed utilization of the lots was reported by these workers. Glazener and Jull (1946) have shown that diethylstilbestrol fed for a three-week period improved dressing appearance and rate of gain …

THE efficacy of Enheptin (2-amino, 5-nitrothiazole) in the treatment and prevention of blackhead (infectious enterohepatitis) of turkeys has been demonstrated by DeVolt et al. (1951), Jungherr and Winn (1950), and Waletzky et al. (1950), and others. These investigators reported that, except for a short period of retardation in growth due to depressed feed consumption, no toxic effects were noted. At one time blackhead in chickens was considered to be a benign disease and of no economic importance. After vaccination against fowl pox became a common practice, however, a change was noted. It was observed that, though a flock appeared to be in good health at the time of vaccination, heavy losses were suffered from blackhead. These losses usually began ten days to two weeks after vaccination and continued for ten or more days. This sequence of events can be explained by assuming that the chickens were carriers of the blackhead . . .

In a feed preference or acceptability trial 12 dairy calves offered a choice of a complete starter (18% crude protein and 20% ground suncured alfalfa) with 0 or 0.2% monosodium glutamate and weaned at three weeks, consumed more 0.2% glutamate starter each week and cumulatively from three to nine weeks of age than they did starter without glutamate. Differences in weekly starter consumption were significant (P In a growth trial 10 calves weaned at four weeks and fed 0.2% glutamate starter ate slightly, but not significantly (P>0.05), more feed weekly from birth to six weeks than 10 calves fed the same starter without glutamate. Slight differences in starter consumption from birth to four weeks were reflected in less weight loss the week after weaning by calves eating the glutamate ration than by those receiving the control starter. Differences in daily gain and feed efficiency from glutamate in the starter were negligible.

The effects of including soybean oil, sunflower oil, rapeseed oil, or animal tallow in turkey poult starting rations were studied. Male, broad-breasted Bronze poults were used and the fat sources were tested at 5% and 10% of the ration.The inclusion of soybean oil, sunflower oil, or animal tallow in the starting rations stimulated weight gain from 1 day to 6 weeks of age and improved efficiency of feed utilization. However, the addition of rapeseed oil to the ration depressed weight gain as compared to the basal (low-fat) ration. The magnitude of growth depression was directly related to the rapeseed oil content of the ration. The comparative ration metabolizable energy data indicate that dietary energy supplied by rapeseed oil was as available to poults as energy supplied by other fat sources. Poults consuming rations containing 5% or 10% rapeseed oil consumed less feed than did poults consuming all other rations. Decreased feed consumption was apparently responsible for the depressed weight gains of the rapeseed oil-fed birds.

THE use of estrogenic compounds to improve the carcass qualities of young chickens is a rather widespread pactice in the poultry industry today. There is little information in the literature comparing gains, feed efficiency and carcass quality of chickens tested with various types of estrogenic compounds or caponized surgically. The effect of these compounds on birds of various ages has been studied by: Thayer et al. (1944), Lorenz (1945), Sturkie (1946), Issawi et al. (1956), and Moreng et al. (1956a,b). Lorenz (1953 Lorenz (1954) reviewed the literature on the use of estrogenic compounds in the poultry industry. Adams (1955) conducted an experiment in which comparisons of weight and carcass quality were made between surgical capons and diethylstilbestrol pelleted caponettes fed two types of diets. He reported that hormone-pelleted birds were superior to both surgical capons and untreated controls in both weight and carcass quality at 17 weeks of age. Romoser (1956) . . .

DEBEAKING research has amply supported the use of milder forms of debeaking. Removing one-half of the upper or both mandibles just prior to or during egg production has not significantly affected egg production (Morgan, 1957; Bray et al., 1960; Noles et al., 1962). Debeaking one-half of the upper beak has, however, been reported to significantly reduce body weight (Bray et al., 1960) and feed wastage (Bauermann, 1959). Noles et al. (1962) found that feed efficiency was significantly affected by block debeaking one-half, but the effects were completely reversed from one year’s trial to the next; it significantly reduced mortality in one trial but not in the other. Debeaking two-thirds of the upper beak and one-third of the lower beak at 8 weeks of age significantly retarded age at sexual maturity, reduced body weight gains and decreased feed consumption for the first 20 weeks of lay but had no effect on…

Beef heifers of 232 and 205 kg average beginning weight, fed individually in a barn in two separate trials, were assigned at random to the following treatments: (A) basic barley–hay ration containing 3–1 ppm Cu and 25–32 ppm Zn; (B) basic ration supplemented to 11–12 ppm Cu; (C) basic ration supplemented to 63–66 ppm Zn. The Cu-supplemented ration resulted in an increased amount of Cu in the liver (P

INTRODUCTION RESEARCH to determine the effect of environment on growth and feed and water consumption of chickens was started in 1944 at the U. S. Department of Agriculture Research Center at Beltsville, Md. For the purpose of this study three small houses were built within a large air-conditioned room in the fattening laboratory of the Poultry Section. These houses were so constructed and outfitted that it is possible to control environmental factors within them. Optimum environmental temperature has been established for chickens up to 18 days of age. However, the chickens were at all times in a uniform environment, and it was not known whether this was more desirable than one where a hover was used, the hover being at a higher temperature than the rest of the brooder where feed and water were kept. Therefore it was decided to conduct some comparative experiments with other types of brooding now . . .

Summary In a growth experiment with seven calves per starter, the addition of 10% brown grease, 10% hydrogenated cottonseed oil, or 5% of each to calf starters markedly reduced consumption and weight gain. The addition of 10% of each of the fats further reduced weight gains and starter consumption. The simple and partial correlations between starter consumption and weight gains were 0.84 and 0.85, which indicates that a major portion of the reduction in growth was associated with reduced starter intake. In a cafeteria study, each of nine calves significantly preferred the control starter. However, one calf demonstrated a similar decisive preference for the starter with 10% added brown grease. In another cafeteria study with 11 calves, 1% brown grease did not significantly affect palatability of a calf starter.

THE effect of physical environment on the growth and production of the chicken has been investigated extensively in recent years. Adams et al. (1961) found that feed consumption of chicks 4 to 8 and 6 to 10 weeks of age decreased in a linear relationship for environmental temperatures between 7.1°C. and 23.8°C. Weight gain was not affected by these temperatures. Ota and Garver (1958) found that feed consumption of chicks 1 to 56 days of age was greater at 18.2°C. than at 29.3°C. In an experiment with chicks 4 to 8 weeks of age, Prince et al. (1961) found that feed consumption decreased in a linear fashion for environmental temperatures between 7.1°C. and 23.8°C. Differences in weight gain due to environmental temperature were not significant. Siegel and Cole (1958) found no difference in feed consumption or in the 2 week weights of chicks subjected to relative humidities of 57–58 …

Summary In an experiment utilizing 39, three-day-old Holstein and Jersey calves, results indicate that calves can be weaned successfully from milk at 24 days of age. All calves were coaxed to eat starter prior to weaning, and all made acceptable growth rates. The addition of dried skimmilk provided little additional benefit over a vegetable source of protein in the starter of early weaned calves. There was no statistical difference between the starters for calf growth rate, feed consumption, or efficiency values. Calves on Starter I, which contained dried skimmilk, had significantly higher coefficients of apparent digestibility of dry matter, but no significant difference was encountered for crude protein digestibility or TDN values between the starters.

During the last two years the United States Department of Agriculture has received a number of inquiries regarding the nutritive value of different marine products, particularly shrimp “bran,” whole-fish meal, and fish-offal meal, when fed to poultry. The lack of comparative experimental feeding data on these three products made it desirable to conduct a feeding experiment with growing chicks to find out if any differences in growth would be obtained when these products supplied an appreciable part of the total protein of the chick’s diet. From a practical point of view, it seemed best to use diets containing the same percentage of these products, rather than the same percentage of protein derived from them. Accordingly, three pens of baby chicks were started on diets containing 10 per cent shrimp “bran,” 10 per cent menhaden fish meal, and 10 per cent North Atlantic fish meal, respectively, and growth and feed consumption . . .

Calcium and Phosphorus requirements of laying hens seem to change due to their new feeding system, management and improvement of laying ability. Five sorts of diet with graded levels of calcium and phosphorus were given to five groups of hens to elucidate the calcium and phosphorus requirements in the conventional laying mash.The results are as follows.1. No influence of calcium and phosphorus level has been found on body weight, but low calcium and phosphorus diets decreased livability.2. Average feed consumption and feed conversion did not change due to calcium and phosphorus level. But when calcium level was the same, the addition of phosphorus in diet showed advantage.3. The egg production percentage was not different from NRC standard or calcium 3.4% and phosphorus 0.8% level, but in hot climate (July-October) the egg production percentage was lower on NRC level diet than on high calcium and phosphorus diet.4. Percentage of brocken and soft shelled eggs owing to calcium and phosphorus level was not revealed clearly.5. Calcium and phosphorus requiremts in conventional laying mash fitted to NRC feeding standard in this experiment but when calcium and phosphorus contents were higher than NRC standard in hot climate the egg production was improved. From this fact, in hot climate a litle higher than NRC standard level of calcium and phosphorus in laying mash seems desirable for layers.

A KNOWLEDGE of the range in the percentage of protein that can be used satisfactorily in the mash of turkeys fed mash and grain ad libitum is of importance to both the turkey grower and the research worker. The object of this paper is to present an analysis of some data on growth and feed consumption that were obtained with turkeys which were fed ad libitum grain and mashes that contained different percentages of protein varying from approximately 18.5 to 30.0 percent by increments of approximately 2 percent. Funk (1930) found that an all-mash diet containing 20 percent of protein produced satisfactory growth in turkeys reared in semi-confinement from hatching to 24 weeks of age. Brooks (1933) found that male turkeys ate more feed per week than female turkeys but that they required less feed per pound of gain than the females from 18 to 28 weeks of age. Mussehl . . .

INTRODUCTION IT was shown many years ago (Halnan, 1925; Common, 1933) than an increase in skeletal storage of calcium by pullets begins two to three weeks before egg production commences. Common also showed that the amount of calcium stored varied with the level of dietary calcium. Tyler and Wilcox (1942) reported that calcium retention increases approximately two weeks prior to the onset of egg production. The increase in retention leads to the increased skeletal mineral which the pullet later uses as a calcium source (reservoir) for egg shell calcification (Taylor and Moore, 1958). However, it was not reported until recently (Foster, 1968; and Meyer, 1968) that a decrease in feed consumption occurred shortly before and after the first oviposition. Foster (1968) investigated the extent to which the drop in consumption was genetically controlled and what correlation existed between the decrease and such factors as age of first egg, body weight,…

A study evaluated the droppings disposal in layer farm and measures adapted to protect environmental pollution. Data were collected from 20 randomly selected layer farmers by a semi structured personal interview schedule from Sadar upazilla of Mymensingh. The independent variables such as age and gender of farmers, family size educational qualification occupation etc. and the dependent variables such as flock size, age of birds, feed consumption, egg and dropping production, cleaning of dropping etc. were studied. The feed consumption and droppings production/layer/day were 116.54 and 151.65g, respectively. Hen housed egg production was 80.55%. The cost for cleaning, price of droppings and profit on droppings sale/layer/day were Tk 0.01, 0.07 and 0.07 respectively. Half of farmer received maximum earning from droppings in winter. Most of the farmers had single storied house and used ceiling fan. Most of the farmers clean droppings in alternate day in the morning by the male worker using belcha to minimize environmental pollution and half of them used disinfectants. Average time required/day to clean droppings was 83.00 minute. Majority of the farmer consider cleaning of droppings to be a real problem for odour and gas (NH3) emission. Majority farmers stored droppings at high land as an open pit. Average distance between pit and shed was 58.33m. The highest proportion of the farmers used droppings in the crop field by composting while others sold to fisheries. Majority of the respondents opined that feed, droppings, dead birds, medicinal wastes and odour do not cause environmental pollution. Droppings disposal is a real problem for aesthetic, public safety and environmental point of view. Cleaning technique and tools needed to be modernized for efficient and cost effective cleaning. Standard method needed to be introduced for proper treatment and use of droppings to maximize its use and benefit. Keywords: Droppings disposal; Environmental pollution; Caged rearing DOI: 10.3329/jbau.v7i2.4735 J. Bangladesh Agril. Univ. 7(2): 281-290, 2009

SummaryThe effect of hypophysectomy on feed consumption in the rat was determined by two methods. A reduction was observed when operated rats were compared with sham-operated controls, and the feed consumption of the same rats before and after the operation was compared.The two methods indicated that hypophysectomy reduced the mean daily feed intake about 30%: These results are quite similar to the observation that the combined operations of thyroidectomy and adrenalectomy reduced feed intake about 30%, indicating that the lack of thyroxine and corticosterone may be the major hormones concerned in feed intake of those secreted by the pituitary and its target glands.

Hy-Line 934 F pullets 28 weeks old were individually caged and fed nine different 120 g. diets containing all combinations of 10, 13 and 16 g. of protein and 200, 250 and 300 kcal. of metabolizable energy in two experiments. The first experiment included normal and ovariectomized pullets under uncontrolled environmental temperature. The second experiment included normal and progesterone injected pullets under controlled environmental temperature. Feed consumption was measured and the protein and energy intakes were calculated. Both experiments ran for 28 weeks. Average production was 0.189, 0.086 and 0.74 eggs per hen per day for the ovariectomized, progesterone injected and normal hens, respectively. Body weight gain was 0.66, 0.69 and 1.14 g. per hen per day for the respective treatments. Feed intake levels were significantly different at each energy level. There was no significant effect of protein upon feed intake. Egg production for normal and “non-laying” hens increased significantly with each increase in dietary protein. Average protein intakes as low as 6.0 g. per day and energy intakes as low as 144 kcal. M.E. in 50 g. of feed (300 kcal. diets with sand and solka-floc removed) were adequate for hens adjusted to zero egg production. Except for the influence of varied dietary energy levels, these estimates compare reasonably well with calculated projections using partition equations derived by Titus (1928) and Brody et al. (1938).

MARKET turkeys are commonly reared on range from 8 or 10 weeks of age until finished at 24 to 28 weeks of age. Green forages supply quantities of both known and unknown nutrients necessary for optimum growth of turkey poults (Scott, 1951; Scott and Jensen, 1952). These authors suggested that the poult growth promoting factor found in grass juice was at least partially destroyed by drying. Kohler and Graham (1951) in a study with chicks also reported that the growth factor in forage was destroyed by drying the whole plant. Scott et al. (1953), however, reported significant growth responses with chicks fed both sun-cured and dehydrated alfalfa. The role of this factor, in the nutrition of turkeys over 8 weeks of age, is not well known. Darrow and Morgan (1944) reported that range rearing resulted in a saving of 9.1% and 3.1% in the amount of feed consumed respectively by . . .