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1. The object of this research was to investigate the effects of high altitude with supplementary oxygen during the last stage of incubation of broiler eggs laid at low altitude and incubated at low and high altitude. We analysed thyroid hormones and haematological variables. 2. The treatment groups were: low altitude (LA), high altitude with oxygen supplementation in the hatcher (HA-OX) and high altitude non-oxygen-supplemented (HA-NOX). 3. High altitude affected relative egg weight loss and early embryonic mortality. The hatchability of fertile eggs was lower at high than at low altitude. 4. Oxygen supplementation into the hatcher cabinet during the last stage of incubation decreased late embryonic mortality ratio (LEM(1)) and improved survival rates of embryos incubated at high altitude. 5. Eggs incubated at low altitude had a higher hatched chick weight and relative chick weight than those incubated at high altitude. Hatched chick weight and relative chick weight did not change with oxygen supplementation at high altitude. 6. High altitude caused an increase in plasma T(3) and T(4) concentrations as well as in the ratio of T(3):T(4) in embryos. High altitude newly hatched chicks showed a higher T(3):T(4) ratio than low altitude chicks; this ratio decreased with oxygen supplementation at high altitude. Altitude and oxygen supplementation did not affect the mean plasma T(4). 7. Newly-hatched chicks incubated at high altitude showed a higher plasma haematocrit (PCV) than the newly-hatched chicks from eggs incubated at low altitude. High altitude without supplementation increased haemoglobin (Hb), while oxygen supplementation returned the value to low altitude values.

Ipek, A., Karabulut, A., Sahan, U., Canbolat, O. and Yilmaz-Dikmen, B. 2009. Effect of different diets on the behaviour of slow-growing broiler genotype. J. Appl. Anim. Res., 35: 87–90. A total of 420 male day-old-chicks of a slow-growing genetic line (Hubbard ISA Red JA) were used as the trial material. The treatment groups were: Dilute-AL (energy and protein diluted diet fed ad libitum), Dilute-R (restricted energy and protein diluted diet), High-AL (high energy and protein diet fed ad libitum) and High-R (restricted high energy and protein diet). Restricted birds showed a greater percentage of time spot pecking, preening and in feather maintenance and less time resting than birds fed ad libitum but the differences were relatively small.

1. A total of 420 male 1-d-old chicks of a slow-growing genetic line (Hubbard ISA Red JA) were used as the trial material. Two diets that were low in fats and high in cereals, and free from growth promoters and animal protein, and formulated at two energy and protein concentrations, were fed ad libitum or 80% of ad libitum. The birds had access to pasture from 14 d to slaughter at 84 d of age. 2. The treatment groups were: Dilute-AL (energy and protein diluted diet fed ad libitum), Dilute-R (restricted energy and protein diluted diet), High-AL (high energy and protein diet fed ad libitum), High-R (restricted high energy and protein diet). 3. Daily weight gains and feed consumptions were recorded in each replicate. 4. The live weight on d 84 was lowest in the Dilute-R group, whereas the highest live weight was in the High-AL group. The highest feed consumption was found in the Dilute-AL and High-AL groups. The worst feed conversion ratio was determined in the Dilute-AL and Dilute-R groups. The effect of treatments on mortality was not significant. 5. The best feed conversion efficiency was obtained in the feed-restricted group receiving the high energy and protein diet. The results suggest that forage may contribute to the nutrition of slow-growing free range broiler chickens if suitable pasture species are grown.

1. The research was carried out to investigate correlations between breeder age, egg cholesterol content, blood cholesterol level and hatchability of broiler breeders. 2. Egg cholesterol content increased with increased breeder age. The mean yolk cholesterol contents (mg per g yolk) were 10.47 +/- 0.28, 15.34 +/- 0.65 and 15.64 +/- 0.71 mg/g at 28, 45 and 65 weeks of age, respectively. 3. There were positive correlations between yolk weight and yolk cholesterol content (mg/ g yolk) (r = 01.941; P < 0.01) and egg cholesterol content (mg/egg) (r = 0.980; P < 0.01). 4. Negative correlations were found between egg yolk cholesterol content and hatchability of fertile eggs (r = -0.345; P < 0.05), fertility ratio (r = -0.609; P < 0.01) and hatchability of total eggs (r = -0.574; P < 0.01). 5. The mean blood cholesterol levels were 165.1 +/- 11.04, 166.5 +/- 11.97 and 179.5 +/- 11.33 mg/dl at 28, 45 and 65 weeks of age, respectively.