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Although a number of extension publications and magazine articles state tolerance levels for iron in poultry water supplies, there appears to be a paucity of scientific literature containing supporting data. The standard of 0.3 ppm is often recommended and is based on preventing taste and staining problems for humans. At the other end of the spectrum is a publication that says there is no evidence that iron will cause problems with poultry. Three experiments, each lasting 28 d, were conducted with caged laying hens in an attempt to determine if iron toxicity could be a real problem. Treatment levels for the three studies were, respectively, 0, 0.5, 1, 2, 4, or 8 ppm iron in Experiment 1; 0, 4, 8, 16, or 24 ppm in Experiment 2, and 0, 100, 200, 300, 400, or 500 ppm during Experiment 3 from ferrous sulfate added to drinking water. It appears from these studies that the laying hen’s tolerance for iron in drinking water was somewhere between 24 and 100 ppm and that performance should not be adversely affected by the practical iron levels found in poultry water supplies.

SUMMARY In an effort to gather information about an environmentally acceptable alternative for mortality disposal and utilization, we explored the nutritional acceptability of a rendered product in the diets of White Leghorn hens. Approximately 2,275 kg of commercial laying hen mortalities were collected and frozen over 3 wk. The whole birds were then rendered at a commercial facility, stabilized, dried, and sampled for analysis. Two experiments, each 84 d long, were completed using 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, or 10% of the rendered product in the diet. With the exception of lowered egg weights, rendered layer mortality (RLM) supported comparable or superior performance to controls when used at dietary levels up to 10%.

The objective of the study was to determine sensory and objective characteristics of broiler breast and thigh meat from commercial broilers fed rendered spent hen meal (RSHM) from hatch to 42 d of age. Breast and thigh muscles from 90, 6-wk-old straight-run broilers (i.e., mixed male and female broilers) fed starter and grower diets consisting of either 0, 8, or 12% RSHM were evaluated for sensory characteristics, instrumental texture, and compositional profiles. The RSHM treatments had no adverse effects (P0.05) on juiciness, chicken flavor intensity, tenderness, or compositional profiles for the breast or thigh meats. Off-flavor scores for all treatments were above the threshold value, indicating that the RSHM imparted no off-flavors to the breast and thigh meats. Warner-Bratzler shear measurements were similar (P0.05) for breast meat from broilers in all treatments. No shear measurements were conducted for the thigh meat. It was concluded that RSHM can be incorporated into the diets of broilers at levels of up to 12% without causing objectionable sensory characteristics in the cooked broiler meat.

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate elevated dietary NaCl levels as a means of offsetting industry-observed reductions of growth, feed intake, and feed efficiency associated with early (35-d) coccidiostat withdrawal. In the first experiment, monensin (100 ppm) was withdrawn and dietary salt levels of 0.33, 0.48, 0.63, 0.78, or 0.93% provided from 35 to 42 d of age. Experiments 2 and 3 involved lasalocid (110 ppm) withdrawal and slat amounts of 0.33, 0.53, 0.73, or 0.93%. In all studies, a positive control of 0.33% salt and the coccidiostat was also given. Monensin withdrawal reduced body weight gain, which was not overcome by slat addition. Feed efficiency during the 1-wk period was improved to the level of the group receiving continued medication by salt amounts of 0.78% or above. In contrast to industry field observations, removal of lasalocid did not reduce body weight gain, feed intake, or water consumption, and elevation of salt levels resulted in no consistent improvements of weight gain, feed intake, or feed conversion. Water intake increased proportionally as salt concentration increased. Elevated salt levels do not appear to be a reliable means of offsetting reduced performance related to early coccidiostat withdrawal, nor were such performance problems demonstrable for lasalocid in these trials.

In each of two experiments, approximately 1200 straight-run broiler chicks were fed 0, 4, 8, or 12% rendered whole hen meal (RHM) to determine its effectiveness and acceptability as a nutrient source from hatch to 6 wk of age. Approximately 2,275 kg of commercial laying hen mortality losses were collected, frozen, and stored over a 3-wk period. The birds were rendered at a commercial facility, stabilized, sampled, analyzed, dried, and stored again by freezing. Based on sample analysis and moisture content, diets were computer-formulated to be isocaloric and equivalent in as many nutrients as possible. Fat, fiber, arginine, and tryptophan levels varied slightly within age-related diet groups. The diets were consumed ad libitum from hatch to either 41 (Experiment 1) or 42 (Experiment 2) d. In both experiments, the addition of RHM at any level resulted in equal or greater body weight than that observed with control diets that contained no RHM. The effect of RHM on body weight was not significant in the first experiment; however, it was significant in the second experiment. Feed intake generally increased relative to body weight. Feed intake differences were significant in both studies, but in Experiment 2 did not parallel body weight patterns. Contrasting results were obtained with feed efficiency with control birds being most efficient in one trial and least efficient in the other. Rendered whole-hens were acceptable and highly utilizable as a protein and nutrient substitute in the diets of the commercial broiler. The RHM was found to be pathogen-free upon analysis, with no resulting differences in mortality due to either presence or level of the material.

Two 42-day studies (one cool season and one warm season) were conducted with day-old commercial broiler chicks to evaluate the influence of several coccidiostats on performance, water intake, and litter moisture. Birds were reared in 1.8 m × 3.7 m floor pens with fresh peanut hulls as litter. The following drugs and drug levels comprised the treatments: control (no drugs); halofuginone, 3 mg/kg; salinomycin, 55 mg/kg; salinomycin, 66 mg/kg; monensin, 99 mg/kg; monensin, 121 mg/kg; lasalocid, 110 mg/kg; lasalocid, 124 mg/kg. Treatment did not significantly affect feed conversion or mortality. Birds fed lasalocid at 110 mg/kg and 124 mg/kg consumed significantly more water at 21 and 42 days. Litter moisture for lasalocid groups was higher than for controls at 21 days. However, 42-day litter moisture was not significantly different from controls. Significant treatment by experiment interactions were found for 21-day body weights and for 21- and 42-day feed consumption values, indicating that birds in some treatments performed differently over the two trials.

Egg transport vehicles operating from two locations in Florida were wired with up to thirty sensors gathering ambient temperature data as frequently as 15 sec in order to characterize temperature patterns in both warehouse delivery and store-door delivery settings during the parked and mobile phases. Using the new ambient-air egg storage regulation temperature of 45°F as a benchmark, the seven warehouse runs had the lowest average percentage of time at or below temperature standard. There was also considerable average front to back and side to side variation due to the refrigerated air discharge location. Vertical plan measurement differences were less than 10%. Store-door runs generally had higher compliance rates than warehouse runs, but experienced problems cooling the centerline of the truck, particularly in the front. Due to frequent door openings and the fact that this unit discharged air into the cargo area directly out of the cooling unit, compliance was highest in the front at the sides of the truck and lower toward the rear.

Two experiments were conducted with a total of 432 broiler chicks to investigate the influence of supplementing different amounts of boron to practical corn-soybean meal diets. The birds were housed in batteries and had free access to feed and water. In Experiment 1, 144 1-day-old broiler chicks were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 5, 40, 80, or 120 ppm boron for 21 days. Female body weight was not influenced by the dietary treatments. However, males supplemented with 5 ppm boron were heavier and their tibias resisted more load than the control birds. Overall feed conversion was not influenced by boron. In Experiment 2, 288 1-day-old broiler chicks were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 60, 120, 240, or 300 ppm boron for 22 days. Male and female body weights of the 300-ppm group were lower than those of the control birds. Percentage tibia ash was highest with 300 ppm boron. No significant differences were found in intestinal tract weight (grams of intestine per 100 g body weight) among treatments. Boron concentration in the breast muscle and liver increased as dietary concentration of boron increased. Data collected in these two experiments indicated that consumption of diets containing up to 240 ppm boron from hatch to 21 days of age was not detrimental to broiler performance. Data were not conclusive on the need for supplemental boron in broiler diets based on corn and soybean meal.

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate the use of poultry fat (PF) or yellow grease (YG) when fed to broilers. Experiments 1 and 2 were duplicate, 21-day studies, and Experiment 3 compared the fats over a 42-day period. Treatments for Experiments 1 and 2 consisted of six replicates of eight battery-housed chicks that were fed 5% added fat as all PF, all YG, or PF: YG blends of 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, 60:40, or 50:50. In Experiment 3, five replicate pens of 70 day-old broiler chicks were floor-reared and fed either all PF, all YG, or a 50:50 blend in diets containing 3.0 and 3.5% added fat in starter and finisher diets, respectively. Factored across fat source were two different fat stabilization times: 1) fresh from the rendering plant; and 2) held under feed mill conditions for 7 days. All fat combinations performed comparably in terms of body weight, feed intake, feed conversion, and mortality rate. Fatty acid content and fat quality factors, including 20-h active oxygen method (AOM) determinations, were similar among fat sources. In Experiment 3, no differences were found due to stabilization time. Return over feed cost was not affected by any of the fat and stabilization time treatment combinations. No association was found between bird performance and AOM, suggesting that a better analytical procedure of fat quality was warranted. At levels tested, YG and PF-YG blends were found to be as suitable a feed fat source as PF.

1. In each of two experiments lasting 21 days a commercially available ammonium polyphosphate solution was provided in the drinking water as the sole source of supplemental phosphorus for day‐old broiler chicks housed in batteries. 2. In both experiments, similar daily phosphorus intakes either from dicalcium phosphate in the food or from ammonium polyphosphate in the drinking water supported equivalent responses in body weight gains. The same was true for the tibia ash results in experiment 2. 3. Liquid ammonium polyphosphate, while marketed for addition to diets, appears to be also very effective as a waterborne source of phosphorus for broilers.

Two 21-day experiments using day-old male broiler chicks and a 28-day experiment using 35-wk-old White Leghorn hens were conducted to determine the deleterious effects of ground Sesbania macrocarpa seed in the diet. Seed levels of 0, . 10, .25, .50, and 1% were used in both experiments, with a 2% level of inclusion added to Experiment 2. The hens were fed diets containing 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7% seed. In each experiment, four replicate pens of 8 chicks or of 5 hens received each treatment diet. In both chick studies, a seed inclusion of 1% caused a significant reduction in body weight at 21 days of age. Total feed intake was significantly lowered by the inclusion of 1% seed in the first study and by 2% seed in the second study. Feed efficiency, excreta moisture, and mortality were not affected by dietary level of seed in either trial. Seed inclusion at 3% or more depressed the daily feed consumption of the hens; at 6% seed inclusion, egg production was reduced. Egg weight, egg specific gravity, mortality, and body weight change were not affected by treatment. Grains containing sufficient S. macrocarpa seed to produce finished feed with 1 or 3% seed would appear to be detrimental to broiler growth and feed intake by hens, respectively. The blending of such grains with uncontaminated stock could be a possible method of utilizing the contaminated grain.

The cooling of laying hen drinking water from ambient temperature (approximately 25 to 28 C to 21.1 or 10 C during daylight hours of July to September was investigated over an 8-wk period as a means of improving hot weather performance of hens. Eight replicate groups of five individually caged birds were exposed to each drinking water regimen provided in plastic troughs. Water was chilled by colder water circulated through copper coils. In-house temperatures during the trial reached or exceeded 32.2 C on 57% of the days; the average maximum temperature was 31.9 C. Egg production, dairy feed intake, mortality rate, body weight change, and fecal moisture were not significantly altered from the ambient response by the provision of cooled drinking water. Both egg Haugh unit and specific gravity values were significantly improved by the 21.1 C treatment but egg weights were reduced in association with both cool water treatments. Cooling of laying hen drinking water did not appear to offer a production advantage; however, some benefits may be realized in the areas of egg interior and shell quality with cooling from 28 to 21.1 C.

The objective of the study was to determine sensory characteristics and fatty acid profile of eggs from commercial laying hens fed rendered spent hen meal (RSHM). Eggs were collected on a daily basis from Single Comb White Leghorn hens between 43 and 60 wk of age. The hens were fed a layer diet containing either 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, or 10.0% RSHM from 48 to 60 wk in Trial 1, and from 43 to 55 wk in Trial 2. Eggs were evaluated for sensory characteristics and fatty acid profile from hens fed the higher levels of RSHM (i.e., 7.5 and 10.0%). The RSHM treatments had no adverse effects (P > 0.05) on flavor, texture, and overall acceptability of the hard-boiled eggs. Fatty acid profile and total fat content of the eggs were similar for all treatments. Data demonstrated that up to 10% RSHM could be incorporated into the diets of laying hens, without altering the acceptability and fatty acid profile of the eggs produced.

Duplicate experiments were conducted with White Leghorn pullets (29 and 31 wk old) to determine the influence of sucrose additions to feed or drinking water upon performance and average daily energy intake. Treatments consisted either of 3.06 or 4.58% sucrose in drinking water or of 4.76% sucrose in the feed compared with a control diet containing 2,657 kcal ME/kg. In each experiment, six replicate pens of 5 individually caged hens received feed or water treatments ad libitum for 42 days. Egg production and body weight change were not affected in either experiment by sucrose addition. Feed intake was significantly reduced in association with either level of sucrose in the water. In Experiment 1, egg weights from hens receiving sucrose water were significantly below those of controls, probably because of lowered feed intake. Total energy consumed per gram of body weight was significantly higher in both studies for birds receiving the sucrose water.

Two experiments with White Leghorn hens (36 and 49 wk old, respectively) were conducted to examine the effects of varying NaCl concentrations provided through drinking water upon eggshell quality. Experiments were of 6 and 5 wk duration, respectively. Seven replicate pens of five individually caged hens received each water treatment. Treatments were the same in both studies and consisted of low-Na (9 ppm) tap water supplemented with 0, 200, 400, 600, or 800 ppm NaCl. Solutions were prepared weekly. All eggs produced were examined visually for shell defects, and egg weight and specific gravity were determined. In the second experiment, eggs from 2 consecutive d were also broken out each week for Haugh Unit determinations. In both studies, hen-day egg production, daily feed and water intake, egg weight, and body weight change over the experimental period were not influenced by any level of waterborne NaCl. Haugh Units were also not affected in Experiment 2. In contrast to other literature reports, visually determined shell defects and egg specific gravity were not adversely affected by NaCl supplementation of layer drinking water.

Two experiments with White Leghorn hens (42 and 56 wk old, respectively) examined the effects of calcium supplementation through drinking water in the presence of adequate and inadequate dietary calcium. Each experiment was of 28 d duration with six replicate pens of five individually caged hens in each treatment. Treatments were a combination of either 2.25 or 3.5% dietary calcium coupled with tap water or water supplemented with .2% calcium from calcium lactate. In both studies, specific gravity of eggs was significantly improved when low dietary calcium was supplemented with .2% calcium in the drinking water. Egg production and egg weight were not influenced by waterborne calcium. Daily water intake was reduced by calcium lactate in all cases. Feed consumption was also depressed by waterborne calcium in both studies when 3.5% dietary calcium was given, and in Experiment 1 when 2.25% was fed. Waterborne calcium as calcium lactate was found to be effectively utilized for eggshell quality improvement when dietary sources were inadequate.

Two broiler and two laying hen experiments were conducted to establish threshold levels for sodium hypochlorite use in poultry drinking water. Both broiler experiments were of 21-days duration, and the first and second hen experiments ran for 8 and 4 wk, respectively. A 5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution was used to provide chloride levels of 0, 10, 100, or 500 ppm in the first broiler study and 0, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, or 450 ppm in the second study. Comparable sodium levels from sodium bicarbonate were additional treatments in the first broiler experiment. The initial hen study had drinking water treatments of 0, 50, or 100 ppm chloride whereas in the second study, treatments varied from 0 to 70 ppm chloride at 10-ppm intervals. In chick experiments, water intake was reduced by 100 ppm chloride and body weight by 300 ppm. Hen experiments demonstrated the adverse effect level to be 40 ppm for water consumption and 60 ppm for egg production when the application was to pullets producing eggs at a high rate in warm weather. Water consumption of older hens in cooler weather was adversely affected by 50 ppm chloride, but egg production, egg weight, or daily feed intake was not reduced by 100 ppm.

Two experiments were conducted to study the effects on chick performance of a commercially available liquid methionine analog [2-hydroxy-4 (methylthio) butanoic acid; HMB] supplied through drinking water. Methionine activities of .025 and .05% were added to drinking water and compared with levels of .03, .06, or .09% included in a low-methionine basal diet from 0 to 21 days of age. Mortality was not significantly altered by any dietary treatment. Neither feed nor water intake was affected adversely by HMB inclusion in drinking water. Only male body weight in Experiment 1 did not respond to HMB feed supplementation. Equivalent levels of total sulfur amino acid intake among water treatments were associated with significantly heavier body weights than the control. In both experiments, body weight and feed efficiency of birds receiving .05% methionine activity as HMB in water were equal or superior to those of groups that received supplemented feed. The results indicate that, under the study conditions, HMB provided in drinking water can be effectively assimilated by broiler chicks, at least through 21 days of age.

Day-old Cobb broiler breeder pullets were randomly allotted into 20 floor pens where they were brooded and reared to 23 wk of age. Eight pens received a control diet containing no growth promotant. The other 12 were fed 55 mg of bacitracin methylene disalicylate/kg of diet. Males were reared separately on the control diet. Pullets were full-fed for the first 8 wk of life, then placed on a skip-a-day program with breeder-recommended feed allocations. At 23 wk of age bird numbers were reduced to 26 females per pen, three males added, and diets changed to the layer regimen. Levels of 0, 27.5, 55, or 110 mg/kg of zinc bacitracin were each assigned to five pens with factorial attention to growing treatment. Layer treatments were continued for 280 days. No significant differences were associated with the feeding of bacitracin methylene disalicylate among body weight or mortality data summarized at 8 and 23 wk. Eight-week feed efficiency was also not affected. In the laying phase, 110 mg/kg of zinc bacitracin significantly improved egg production and fertility over the unsupplemented controls. Hatch of fertile eggs, overall hatchability, and the number of chicks per pen were all significantly improved by 27.5 mg/kg of zinc bacitracin. Higher drug levels supported no additional improvement. Feed efficiency, mortality rate, and final body weight were not significantly influenced by any level of supplementation. No effect of grower treatment upon subsequent layer performance was noted.

1. In each of two experiments lasting 21 days a commercially available ammonium polyphosphate solution was provided in the drinking water as the sole source of supplemental phosphorus for day-old chicks housed in batteries. 2. In both experiments, similar daily phosphorus intakes either from dicalcium phosphate in the food or from ammonium polyphosphate in the drinking water supported equivalent responses in body weight gains. The same was true for the tibia ash results in experiment 2. 3. Liquid ammonium polyphosphate, while marketed for addition to diets, appears to be also very effective as a waterborne source of phosphorus for broilers.

Two 28-day experiments were conducted to determine the effects of various levels of ground Sesbania macrocarpa Muhl. seed on mature bobwhite quail. In Experiment 1, S. macrocarpa Muhl. seed levels of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5% were added to a basal diet at the expense of filler and fed to five replicate groups of six 58-wk-old paired quail (one male and one female). Average daily feed consumption, hen-day egg production, average BW change, mortality, fertility, and hatchability were monitored. Four groups of eight individually caged females, 63 wk of age, were each given a diet containing 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10% ground S. macrocarpa Muhl. seed in Experiment 2. A seventh treatment was added that consisted of 10% ground S. macrocarpa Muhl. from an older seed shipment used previously in work with White Leghorn hens. Increasing S. macrocarpa Muhl. seed levels in Experiment 1 did not cause significant deviations from the control treatment for average daily feed consumption, BW change, hen-day egg production, fertility, total hatchability, or hatchability of fertile eggs. In Experiment 2 neither average daily feed consumption nor hen-day egg production were affected by seed level or source. Quail given the 10% seed level using the older seed shipment had a significantly greater weight loss than the control birds. With the exception of this greater weight loss and in contrast with work involving chickens, dietary levels of ground S. macrocarpa Muhl. seed of up to 10% were acceptable to bobwhite quail.

Duplicate experiments were conducted with White Leghorn pullets (29 and 31 wk old) to determine the influence of sucrose additions to feed or drinking water upon performance and average daily energy intake. Treatments consisted either of 3.06 or 4.58% sucrose in drinking water or of 4.76% sucrose in the feed compared with a control diet containing 2,657 kcal ME/kg. In each experiment, six replicate pens of 5 individually caged hens received feed or water treatments ad libitum for 42 days. Egg production and body weight change were not affected in either experiment by sucrose addition. Feed intake was significantly reduced in association with either level of sucrose in the water. In Experiment 1, egg weights from hens receiving sucrose water were significantly below those of controls, probably because of lowered feed intake. Total energy consumed per gram of body weight was significantly higher in both studies for birds receiving the sucrose water.

Broilers were grown to eight weeks of age at three experiment station locations to evaluate the influence of roxarsone and zinc bacitracin in the presence of aklomide. Dietary treatments consisted of a 4 x 4 factorial design in which levels of 0, 25, 50 or 75 ppM of roxarsone were fed with 0, 15, 30 or 60 g./ton of zinc bacitracin. All treatment groups received 0.025% aklomide. Eight-week data indicated that zinc bacitracin alone produced no growth or feed efficiency response at any level of supplementation. Birds receiving roxarsone had significantly higher body weights at eight weeks of age than did birds receiving the control diet. The three levels of roxarsone produced statistically equivalent body weights. A level of 75 ppM roxarsone in the presence of aklomide provided a significant improvement in feed efficiency over that seen for birds receiving either 50 ppM of roxarsone or the unsupplemented control diet. Statistical evaluations indicated that the inclusion of roxarsone and zinc bacitracin in the presence of aklomide did not produce any body weight or feed efficiency interaction. The rate of mortality was not significantly influenced by any of the dietary treatments. 13 references, 4 tables.

Synopsis Three experiments, each of 10 months' duration, were conducted with individually caged midget (Hy‐line) and conventional (Welp, Babcock and Dekalb) laying hens in order to evaluate their performance and sulphur amino acid (SAA) requirements. Eight replicate groups of five birds each were assigned to a dietary treatment in each experiment. Various diets, based on corn and soya, were formulated to provide a range of SAA levels from 0.355 to 0.592%. All diets within an experiment were maintained isocaloric and with equal levels of total phosphorus and calcium. Hen‐day production, daily food intake, food/dozen eggs, egg weights and daily SAA intake were measured. In all three experiments, when SAA requirements were examined as a percentage of the diet, the midget hen was found to have a greater requirement than the conventional strains. However, examination of daily SAA acid intake revealed the reverse situation. In every instance, the average performance of midget hens over all dietary treatments wa...

The Poultry Science Department at the University of Florida has recently acquired video tape equipment in an effort to encourage the use of audio-visuals as a teaching tool. This equipment consists of two separate black and white camera-recorder ensembles, and two 18-inch television monitors. One system is battery powered and completely portable for field use. Tapes may be viewed on standard television sets with an appropriate adapter. Both video and audio may be electronically edited independently. This equipment is presently being utilized to critique scientific papers, to replace or augment field trips and to supplement class and laboratory instruction. In the future, this equipment may be used as a research tool for behavioral studies, in self-instructional programs for basic courses and for the preparation of extension oriented tapes.

In each of two experiments, 480 individually caged White Leghorn hens received dietary treatments of 0.412, 0.470, 0.528 and 0.592% total sulfur amino acids with a concomitant increase in protein levels for a ten-month experimental period. In addition, diets containing 0.470 and 0.528% sulfur amino acids were formulated with the inclusion of one of the following—5% brewers grains, 10% brewers grains, 5% of a brewers grain-yeast mixture (95%–5%) or 10% of the mixture. Cumulative egg production was significantly improved by the addition of 5% dried brewers grains (DBG) to the diet. The inclusion of yeast in diets containing either 5 or 10% DBG resulted in significantly improved egg weights. Feed efficiency and feed consumed per hen per day were not significantly improved by the addition of DBG to any of the diets. The addition of 5% DBG plus yeast did not significantly influence final body weights, however, all other DBG treatments significantly reduced body weight when compared to the unsupplemented diets. These data indicate that the inclusion of up to 10% dried brewers grains in the diet is acceptable to the laying hen if the diet formulation is based on the nutrient composition of DBG.

Two experiments, each of 280 days duration, were conducted with White Leghorn pullets housed in individual laying cages to study the interactive effect of feeding various levels of salt and calcium or phosphorus. A 3 X 3 factorial treatment arrangement was employed between supplemental salt levels of .18, .35, or .70% and total calcium levels of 2.25, 3.5, or 6%. When salt and phosphorus were dietary variables, total salt levels of .18, .35, or 70% were again used in all combinations with .45 or .70% total phosphorus. Six percent calcium was fed with the latter treatment combinations. The interaction of calcium and salt level was found to be significant for egg production. Increasing the salt level through .70% provided consistently significant improvements of egg production, while a calcium level of 3.5% supported statistically improved egg production over either 2.25 or 6.0% calcium. Feed efficiency improved significantly between the .18 and .70% salt level and between 2.25 and 3.50% calcium. Increasing calcium was significantly related to decreasing feed intake at each level of supplementation. In the salt X phosphorus phase of experimentation, .35% salt was associated with a significant improvement of egg production. The interaction of salt and phosphorus was also significant for egg production.

Two experiments with caged egg-type hens and one experiment with broiler breeder hens on litter floors were conducted to determine interactions between dietary calcium and phosphorus as related to hatchability and other production characteristics. Reductions in hatchability of eggs from caged layers caused by suboptimal levels of inorganic phosphorus were partially offset by elevation of the dietary calcium. When phosphorus in the diet of caged layers was supplied entirely from plant sources, elevation of dietary calcium resulted in decreased hatchability and egg production. Hatchability of fertile eggs from broiler breeder hens on litter floors was not significantly affected by dietary calcium levels of 2.25 to 3.50%, or by total phosphorus levels of .31 to 1.42%. Egg production was improved by supplementation of the diet with inorganic phosphorus up to .41% total phosphorus, but it was depressed by further supplementation. Egg specific gravity decreased with increased phosphorus levels and was significantly depressed by high dietary phosphorus (1.42%). Recycling of phosphorus by coprophagy may be a factor affecting dietary phosphorus requirements of hens in litter floor pens.

A 32-week experiment was carried out in floor pens with Cobb X Cobb breeder pullets that were 28 weeks old at initiation. Ten replicate pens, each containing 13 pullets and 2 males, received one of four dietary treatments. These treatments were either an unmedicated feed or 27.5, 55, or 110 mg/kg of bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD). All feeds contained 13.2 mg/kg of hygromycin B. Feed was allocated at a rate of 159 g per day and water was provided continuously. Hen-day egg production was significantly improved by the feeding of 27.5 mg/kg or more of BMD. Egg weights were significantly lower for all groups receiving the drug. Eggs of birds receiving 110 mg/kg were significantly heavier than those produced with 27.5 mg/kg, but neither differed statistically from those of the 55 mg/kg group. Neither final body weight nor overall mortality was significantly related to treatment. Egg fertility was significantly improved by 27.5 mg/kg or more of BMD. Hatchability of fertile eggs was not affected by the drug, but total hatchability was significantly increased through BMD feeding, largely on the strength of improved fertility.

Two, eight-week broiler experiments were conducted in floor pens to study the feeding of either lasalocid (75, 100 or 125 p.p.m.) or monensin (99 or 121 p.p.m.) at three levels of methionine (0, 0.1 or 0.2 percent supplemental) in the presence of roxarsone (50 p.p.m.). Nine day-old chicks of each sex were randomly placed into each pen, with four replicate pens assigned to each of 18 dietary treatments. Group body weights were taken at 28 and 56 days of age for each sex and feed conversion values calculated. At 8 weeks of age, completeness of body feathering over the thigh area of all male birds was visually determined along with percent ready-to-cook yield and abdominal fat scores on selected treatment groups. In a combined analysis of the factorial experiments no significant coccidiostat × methionine interaction was found. Supplementation with 0.10 percent methionine produced a significantly heavier body weight than the unsupplemented diet. Increasing the methionine level by 0.20 percent resulted in a further numerical weight improvement, but did not affect feather scoring. Feed conversion also improved with methionine level; however, ready-to-cook yield and abdominal fat scores were not significantly affected. Feeding of lasalocid levels higher than 75 p.p.m. numerically depressed body weights. Ninety-nine p.p.m. monensin caused a significant weight reduction as compared to the basal diet and all of the lasalocid treatments. Increasing monensin to 121 p.p.m. resulted in a further significant reduction in body weights. No significant differences due to coccidiostat feeding were noted in feed efficiency, body feathering scores, ready-to-cook yield and abdominal fat scores.

Experiments were conducted to test the effect of short-term (2-day) fasting and diurnal heating of the rearing environment on the performance, carcass yield, and behavior of 49-day-old broilers. In Experiment 1, female broilers were used. Birds in the heated environment were exposed to air temperatures that were above 35 C for 1.2 h and above 32 C for 4.7 h/day. Neither heated environment nor fasting alone significantly affected body weight gain, water consumption, or carcass yield parameters. However, the combination of heating and fasting resulted in the greatest reduction of body weight gain. Heating the environment resulted in consistently reduced feed consumption. In Experiment 2, male broilers were used. Heat-stressed birds had rearing environment temperatures above 35 C for 4.4 h and above 32 C for 6.1 h/day. Both heating the environment and fasting resulted in losses in body weight, although the difference for the unheated and fasted group did not differ significantly, from the unheated and fed group. However, full-fed birds that were heat stressed had significant body weight losses when compared with unheated/fed birds. Heating of the environment significantly reduced daytime feed consumption by 67 g/bird. Total feed consumption was significantly affected by both heating and fasting. Treatments affected daytime and overnight water consumption values. Analysis of behavioral data suggested that fasting of birds exposed to high daytime temperatures stimulated behaviors better suited to survival than behaviors of fed birds.

Two experiments were performed with broiler chicks housed in battery brooders to ascertain their response to low levels of dietary sodium, supplied by either sodium chloride or sodium bicarbonate, and to compare the utilization of sodium from the materials. In each experiment, three replicate pens containing seven female day-old chicks were offered each treatment for a 21-day feeding period. Sodium chloride levels of 0, .05, .10, .15, or .20% were a portion of the dietary treatments. Additional groups received the same basal supplemented with .072, .144, or .216% sodium bicarbonate in the first experiment and .072 or .144% during the second, in order to provide sodium levels comparable to those resulting from .05, .10, or .15% sodium chloride. Group body weights, water consumption, feed consumption, and manure moisture served as evaluation criteria. As the level of sodium chloride was increased, body weights, feed and water intake, and manure moisture also increased. In neither experiment were there significant differences between the body weights of birds receiving sodium bicarbonate and those resulting from feeding comparable levels of sodium from sodium chloride. Average daily feed and sodium intake also did not differ statistically between groups receiving comparable sodium from either source. Water intake tended to be somewhat higher for sodium bicarbonate treatments and was significantly so for the .144% sodium bicarbonate treatment of the second experiment. Manure moisture was somewhat variable and did not differ statistically between sources at the same sodium level. It is concluded that the sodium from sodium bicarbonate was utilized in a manner comparable to that from sodium chloride.

Four replicate pens, each containing five individually caged hens received a corn-soy basal diet to which .4, 1, 2, 4, or 6% NaCl was added during two 21-day experiments. An additional bilevel treatment, approximating a reported commercial feed production problem, consisted of 6% NaCl for 7 days followed by .4% NaCl for the remaining 2 weeks. Egg production was significantly reduced by 4 and 6% NaCl in Experiment 1 and by 2, 4, and 6% NaCl in Experiment 2. The switchback treatment (6-.4% NaCl) did not statistically alter overall egg production in either experiment. Daily water consumption increased significantly when more than 1% NaCl was added, and subsequently with each feed addition. When 6% NaCl was fed for 7 days feed intake was quickly suppressed; this caused a rapid increase in water intake. Water intake returned to normal levels before the end of the second week. Daily feed intake was significantly reduced by a continuous feeding of 4% or more NaCl. A 1-week exposure to the 6% treatment suppressed feed intake quickly but intake recovered within one week. In both experiments, only the continuous 6% NaCl feeding regime of Experiment 1 resulted in a significant loss of body weight or a significant reduction of overall egg weight averages. Mortality was not a factor in either experiment. These data indicate that at least 2% NaCl in feed was required before any significant effects were noted, and that laying hens recovered from a 1-week exposure to 6% NaCl in feed within the following week.

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the relative efficiency of dl -methionine and methionine hydroxy analogue-calcium (MHAC) in broiler diets. A corn-soybean diet containing 21% protein and 6% added fat was utilized. It had been previously found that broilers would respond to supplemental levels of methionine up to 0.12% in this diet. In both experiments, seven pens of males and seven pens of females, each containing 17 birds were fed each experimental diet. This resulted in a total of 28 replicate pens receiving each diet. Five experimental diets were fed: basal, 0.04 and 0.08% supplemental dl -methionine, and 0.036 and 0.072% supplemental MHAC. Body weight and feed efficiency were measured at four weeks of age. The MHAC was found to have a 79.1% activity of dl -methionine on a weight gain basis, and 89.3% activity on a feed efficiency basis.

Studies were conducted at six locations over a 7-yr period to evaluate the response of broiler chickens to bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) and roxarsone in the presence of diets containing 3 ppm halofuginone/kg feed. Treatments consisted of a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement with 0 or 55 mg BMD and 0 or 50 mg roxarsone/kg feed. These additives were fed beginning with day-old chicks and were removed 6 days before termination of the study, which varied in length from 48 to 56 days among locations. Body weights were significantly improved (P less than .05) by the addition of either BMD or roxarsone with a significant interaction (P less than .05) between BMD and roxarsone. Roxarsone improved body weights only in the presence of BMD. Feed utilization was significantly (P less than .05) improved by addition of either BMD or roxarsone, with no interaction between the two products.

Dehydrated peanut leaf meal from a rhizoma peanut (Arachis glabrata) was evaluated for pigmentation of egg yolks in comparison with beta-apo-8′-carotenal and two natural pigment sources: yellow corn and alfalfa leaf meal. The effect on yolk color of feeding rhizoma forage peanut and dehydrated leaf meal from the common peanut (A. hypogaea) was also investigated. CIE system values of dominant wavelength (DWL), excitation purity, and luminosity were used for color analysis. The data indicated that xanthophylls in the peanut leaf meals were readily available to the hen for deposition in the egg yolk and that the yolks’ DWL resulting from the feeding of these leaf meals was similar to that observed for Apo-carotenal®. Further, the rhizoma peanut leaf meal supplied an equivalent pigmentation to that supplied by alfalfa and thus could be substituted for this feedstuff on the basis of pigment analysis.

Two 28-day experiments with White Leghorn hens were conducted to determine the adverse effect level of ground Cassia obtusifolia seed (coffeeweed) in the diet and to examine the nutrient fortification required to improve depressed performance due to the presence of the seed. In both experiments, five individually caged hens were used for each of the four treatment replications. Treatments for Experiment 1 consisted of a control and six diets with ground C. obtusifolia seed substituted for a filler at levels of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7%. In Experiment 2, a series of nutritionally fortified (15 to 20% higher nutrient levels) and unfortified diets coupled with seed levels of 0, 4, 6, and 8% for a total of eight treatments was used. Average daily feed intake, hen-day egg production, egg weight, egg specific gravity, and body weight change were determined during each experiment. For Experiment 1, average daily feed consumption was measured every 24 h for the first 3 days. Egg production and feed consumption were significantly reduced by 2% seed in Experiment 1. Within the first 24 h, feed intake was decreased to 37% below that of controls by increasing to the highest seed level. Egg specific gravity dropped significantly below that of controls when hens were fed 5% seed. In Experiment 2, fortification improved feed consumption, hen-day egg production, body weight change, and egg specific gravity over that of birds fed unfortified diets with the same seed level. Finished diets contaminated with 2%, or more, C. obtusifolia seed can cause reduced performance in laying hens, but nutritionally fortifying these diets can help to alleviate depressed performance.

A series of experiments utilizing 13,904 commercial broiler chickens was conducted in Florida, Colorado, Virginia, Mississippi, and Alabama to determine the effect of continuous feeding of graded levels of Flavomycin and 3-Nitro in diets containing Clopidol. The 4 × 4 factorially designed experiments with Flavomycin at 0, 1, 2, and 4 mg./kg. and 3-Nitro at 0, 0.0025, 0.00375, and 0.005% of the diet were replicated three to six times depending on location. All rations contained 0.0125% Clopidol. Both Flavomycin and 3-Nitro significantly improved 8-week body weights in three of the five experiments. In the other two experiments, body weights were numerically but not significantly improved. Flavomycin significantly improved feed efficiency in four of five experiments while 3-Nitro significantly improved efficiency in one of five experiments. The effects of feeding Flavomycin and 3-Nitro together were variably additive and improved response over either drug alone. Flavomycin in combination with 3-Nitro increased 8-week body weights an additional 1.5% over that observed from feeding 3-Nitro alone. Feeding Flavomycin alone was as effective in improving feed efficiency as any combination of the two drugs.

In each of two trials, Cobb color-sexed broilers and a commercial strain of White Leghorn hens were fed diets containing either waste activated sludge (citrus) or yellow corn as the pigment source. Diets were formulated to contain xanthophyll levels of .93, 1.87, 2.81, and 3.74 mg xanthophyll/kg diet from either yellow corn or waste activated sludge (citrus). These xanthophyll levels were supplied by 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, and 10.0% citrus sludge, respectively. Broiler shanks and egg yolks were evaluated colorimetrically for pigmentation. The xanthophyll in citrus sludge was not deposited in either egg yolks or broiler shanks to the same extent as was the xanthophyll present in yellow corn at any of the dietary xanthophyll levels tested. In the broiler studies, it appeared that xanthophyll from citrus sludge was deposited in the shank skin only in extremely small amounts, while in the laying hen studies, there did appear to be sufficient deposition of citrus sludge xanthophyll to provide adequate pigmentation for table eggs. This was partly due to the “more red” xanthophylls from citrus sludge as compared to those obtained from yellow corn.

Day-old Cobb × Cobb broiler chicks were housed in battery brooders for 21-day feeding periods during two experiments. Dietary treatments consisted of a corn-soybean starter feed (.37% total; .14% nonphytin phosphorus) supplemented with 0, .05, .10, .15, or .28% phosphorus in the form of dicalcium phosphate, precipitated bone phosphate, or a mixture of soft and precipitated phosphates (each providing 50% of the phosphorus addition). Total dietary calcium was held constant at .90%. Comparable dietary phosphorus from precipitated bone and the soft-precipitated mixture supported body weights statistically equivalent to those of dicalcium phosphate treatments. Tibia ash results at suboptimal phosphorus levels, with one exception, indicated statistically equal utilization from the soft-precipitated combination. Slope-ratio techniques using tibia ash and total nonphytin phosphorus intake established the bioavailability of phosphorus from precipitated bone was 120% when dicalcium phosphate was the standard. The data indicate that precipitated bone phosphate for broilers was fully equivalent in performance to dicalcium phosphate. Providing one-half the supplemental phosphorus from both soft phosphate and precipitated bone seemed to be an acceptable method of meeting practical phosphorus requirements.

Duplicate experiments, each of 21 days duration, were conducted with day-old broiler-type chicks to study the influence of replacing one-half or all of the normal dietary corn complement with corn grown on soil fertilized with municipal sludge. Neither level of sludge fertilized corn had any adverse effect upon final body weights or daily feed intake. The feed conversion values of Experiment 1 were not significantly influenced by treatment; however, a statistically significant decrease of efficiency was noted for the all-sludge fertilized corn treatment of Experiment 2. In experiments with laying hens, the partial or total substitution of sludge fertilized corn for that produced with commercial fertilizer had no statistically significant effects upon any of the production parameters measured in Experiment 1. In Experiment 2, the 100% sludge fertilized corn treatment was associated with a significant increase in daily feed intake and final body weight. Hatchability parameters and taste panel results for eggs indicated no significant relationship to dietary treatment. Mineral values of liver, kidney, and muscle tissues from hens and broilers were not influenced by dietary treatment.

Day-old color-sexed broiler chicks were used in two experiments of 3 weeks duration to measure the effects of various levels of Chicago sludge and reagent grade minerals upon performance. Levels of 0, 3, or 6% Chicago sludge were substituted, into the basal diet while equivalent nutrient levels were maintained. Four additional treatments in Experiment 1 and five in Experiment 2 contained the amounts of cadmium, chromium, copper, and iron from reagent sources equivalent to the levels of these elements furnished to the diet when 6% sludge was added. A check analysis of the Chicago sludge resulted in the feeding of two iron levels in the second experiment. In Experiment 1, the feeding of 2992 mg/kg of dietary iron or 150 mg/kg chromium from reagent sources resulted in significant body weight depressions. Only the feed intake of the birds receiving the supplemental iron was significantly below that of the control group. In Experiment 2, both iron levels (2993 mg/kg and 2196 mg/kg) significantly depressed body weights and daily feed intake. The inclusion of 6% Chicago sludge had no effect upon bird performance in either experiment. The cadmium and iron treatments of both experiments resulted in elevated liver and kidney levels of these minerals in proportion to their level of supplementation. There was also a trend of increased cadmium levels in the liver and kidney resulting from feeding increased sludge levels; however, the utilization rate from sludge appeared to be only approximately 20%. Two levels of Chicago sludge and various levels of supplemental reagent grade minerals were also fed to caged White Leghorn hens in two experiments. Six dietary treatments were fed for an 84-day period in Experiment 1 and 112 days in the second experiment. Levels of 3.5 and 7% Chicago sludge were substituted into the basal diet. In addition, amounts of cadmium, chromium, or copper equal to those found in the 7% sludge diet were fed as additional treatments using reagent sources. Iron from ferrous sulfate comprised an additional treatment in the second experiment. In the first experiment, hen production criteria were not significantly influenced by any of the dietary treatments. Egg weights and specific gravity were no t significantly influenced by any of the dietary treatments, while daily feed intake was significantly reduced by the iron level fed. Mineral analyses of eggs from the hens of Experiment 1 did not indicate an effect from any of the dietary additions. In contrast, the tissue mineral concentrations found in Experiment 1 indicated that increased mineral stores would result from Chicago sludge and reagent mineral feeding.

MATTERSON et al. (1966) reviewed the literature on the use of distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) in laying hen feeds. These workers also presented data which indicated that DDGS could comprise as much as one-third of the gross protein content of a laying ration, and at the same time replace all of the fish meal, alfalfa, milk by-products, and some of the vitamin supplements (B12 and choline) in the 1962 New England College Conference Laying Ration. It is generally accepted that methionine (sulfur amino acids) is the first limiting amino acid in a corn-soybean meal type diet. Harms et al. (1967) reported that a linear response could be obtained in performance of laying hens by feeding graded levels of methionine from 0.214 to 0.308 percent, with total sulfur amino acid levels of 0.392 and 0.528 percent, respectively. This work was conducted with corn-soybean meal type diets which are very…

RECENT developments in the broiler industry, namely increased labor costs and disease problems, have initiated interest in growing broilers in colony cages and coops. It has been established (Rowland et al., 1968) that caged layers have a lower bone breaking strength than hens on litter in floor pens. This decreased bone strength of caged layers causes down-grading of processed hens which can be of economic significance. Lloyd et al. (1970) reported 22.2 percent bone breakage from broilers grown in plastic coops as compared to 8.6 percent for those grown in floor pens. It has been reported by Trueta (1968) that lack of muscular activity can be a factor in the development of osteoporosis in humans. Rowland and Harms (1970) demonstrated that using pens with wire floors did not decrease either tibia ash or tibia breaking strength; however, breaking strength was decreased for those hens maintained in cages. These workers indicated…

Two experiments, each of ten months duration, were conducted with egg production-type pullets (Kimber and DeKalb) housed in individual laying cages. Yellow corn and degerminated corn basals were employed with phosphorus supplementation from either Curacao Island or dicalcium phosphate to provide total phosphorus levels of 0.50, 0.65 or 0.80%. All diets contained 3.0% calcium with supplemental calcium being supplied from ground limestone. Six replicate groups (five birds each) received each dietary treatment for ten 28-day periods. Hen-day egg production, daily feed intake, feed/dozen eggs, egg weights and mortality were utilized as evaluation criteria. Hens receiving Curacao Island phosphate in a yellow corn basal performed equally as well as birds fed equivalent phosphorus levels supplied by dicalcium phosphate. When the degerminated corn diet was used, feed efficiency, daily feed intake and average egg weights were not significantly influenced by phosphorus source or supplementation level; however, egg production was numerically inferior with all levels of Curacao Island supplementation, and was significantly reduced by the 0.80% total phosphorus level. Mortality was numerically greater at all three levels of Curacao Island phosphate supplementation with the degerminated corn diet.

Synopsis Two experiments were conducted to determine whether previously suggested calcium levels were adequate for use in assaying phosphorus availability from soft phosphate, defluorinated phosphate, and calcium phosphate. Results indicate that the levels were capable of producing maximum growth rate and maximum bone ash. The tibia ash data indicated that all sources of phosphorus were equal in biological availability. However, only defluorinated and calcium phosphate produced maximum growth. No explanation is given for the ability of soft phosphate to produce high bone mineralisation without maximum growth rate.

Two experiments were conducted with Marston Broadwhite turkeys in order to determine the protein requirement of growing turkeys between six and 12 weeks of age. In each experiment eight replicate pens of ten unsexed poults each received a diet containing either 20, 22, 24, or 26 percent protein. All diets were calculated to be isocaloric and to contain equal amounts of calcium and total phosphorus. Body weight gains were significantly improved as the protein level increased to 24 percent. The 26 percent level provided no additional significant or numerical gain response. The 22 percent protein diet afforded a significant reduction in the feed/gain ratio over that resulting from the 20 percent level. Although the 24 percent protein diet again decreased the feed/gain ratio, the reduction was not found to be statistically significant. From these data it would appear that the dietary protein requirement of the Marston Broadwhite turkey was approximately 24 percent with a dietary energy level of 2,988 kilocalories of metabolizable energy per kilogram of diet and a resulting calorie-protein ratio value of 57:1.

THE nutritional interrelationships of calcium, phosphorus and magnesium have long been recognized. Chicco et al. (1967) reported that supplementing a degerminated corn-soybean meal type diet with 2,000 p.p.m. of magnesium improved the performance of chicks when the diet was deficient in calcium. However, when the level of calcium was increased to meet the apparent requirement of the chick, this level of magnesium gave a small reduction in body weight and a significant depression of tibia ash. It is an accepted fact that adverse calcium:phosphorus ratios limit the utilization of phosphorus, especially at suboptimal levels such as those used in phosphorus assay diets. In order to eliminate the possibility of calcium being a limiting factor, ideal calcium levels have been determined for use with various levels of phosphorus supplementation from several different phosphate materials (Harms et al., 1967; Damron and Harms, 1968). Magnesium has been shown to significantly influence performance of…

Two experiments using a total of 1260 broiler-type chicks were conducted to evaluate the use of diluents in phosphorus assays. Two formulations were used with either solka-floc or sand as a diluent and a third formulation had no diluent added. Although the diets without a diluent were more concentrated, the results obtained with them were not significantly higher than those with diluents. The diets containing sand resulted in the most uniform data. Solka-floc appeared to depress growth. Of the formulations studied, sand appears to be desirable in assay work with practical-type diets.