Journal of Applied Poultry Research最新文献

An experiment was conducted to determine the effects of corn particle size (CPS) on turkey hen poult performance, intestinal permeability (IP), and litter dry matter. A total of 1,584 Hybrid turkey hen poults were raised in floor pens from 0 to 42 d. Poults were fed a crumbled starter 1 and pelleted starter 2 diet. The experiment was a 2 × 2 factorial with CPS in diet phase starter 1 (fine and coarse) and CPS in diet phase starter 2 (fine or coarse), resulting in 4 treatments of 18 replicates of 22 turkeys. Corn was ground using a hammermill with a 4.76 mm screen (581 µm; fine) or a 6.35 mm screen (964 µm; coarse). Pellet quality was determined using pellet durability index (PDI), modified pellet durability index (MPDI), and New Holmen Pellet Tester (NHPT). Body weight and feed intake were measured on D0 and D42. Feed conversion ratio was calculated from 0 to 42 d. Litter dry matter content and IP were measured on D42. Data were analyzed using JMP Pro 16.0 (P ≤ 0.05) and means were separated using Student's t test. Corn particle size did not impact starter 2 pellet quality (PDI, MPDI, and NHPT; P > 0.05). There were no interactions between dietary phase and CPS over 0 to 42 d. Overall, there was a CPS main effect over the starter 1 phase and hens fed coarse corn had decreased FI (P ≤ 0.01) and BW (P ≤ 0.01), however FCR was not affected (P > 0.05). Day 42 IP and litter dry matter content were not influenced by CPS in either diet phase (P > 0.05). These data indicate that coarse corn decreases both FI and BW of turkey hens when fed during starter 1, but had no effects on FCR, IP, and litter dry matter content when fed in starter 2. Although fine ground corn was needed to maximize performance in the starter 1 phase, coarse ground corn may be able to maintain turkey hen performance in the starter 2 phase while reducing milling costs.

Avian influenza viruses (AIV) of the H3N8 subtype pose a significant threat to both the poultry industry and public health. This study aimed to develop and validate a highly specific polyclonal antibody targeting the neuraminidase (NA) protein from a novel H3N8 AIV, which exhibits tri-basic hemagglutinin cleavage sites and shares genetic proximity to recent human isolates. The NA gene of H3N8 AIV was cloned and introduced into E. coli BL21 and Rosetta competent cells to induce the recombinant protein expression. Optimization procedures, including IPTG concentration, time, and temperature, were implemented to enhance protein expression efficiency. Polyclonal antibodies were generated and validated through western blotting, indirect immunofluorescence assay (IFA), and indirect ELISA. As a result, the pET-32a-NA (N8) vector was successfully constructed. The expression of recombinant NA protein with a size of approximately 70 KDa was obtained and then optimized with a final IPTG concentration of 0.6 mM, at 27°C for 14 h. Western blotting and IFA analysis demonstrated that the prepared polyclonal antibody effectively and specifically bound to NA(N8) protein. The titer of the polyclonal antibodies reached 1:409600 by indirect ELISA. These results indicate the potential of these antibodies for the development of detection assays and biological studies required for H3N8 AIVs.

Three experiments were conducted to determine the nutrient availability of extruded and fermented food waste (FW) and subsequent effects on growth performance of broilers. Dining hall food waste was either mixed with soybean meal (SBM) and extruded (CFW) or was fermented for 14 d to create a value-added product (FFW). One-day old male broilers (Ross 708 Byproduct Broiler, Sallisaw, OK) were used in 3 separate 21-d studies to determine AMEn (Exp. 1, n = 300) and apparent ileal digestibility (AID, Exp. 2, n = 240) of CFW and FFW, and their effects on growth performance (Exp. 3, n = 420). Treatments for Exp. 1 and 2 consisted of 1) CFW, 2) conventional SBM (CSBM), 3) extruded SBM (ESBM), 4) SBM + FFW (SFFW). A basal treatment was added to Exp. 1 as a control. Treatments for Exp. 3 consisted of 1) corn/SBM basal, 2) 10% CFW, 3) 30% CFW, 4) 1.5% FFW, 5) 5.5% FFW, 6) basal + commercial astaxanthin, and 7) basal + commercial antibiotic. There were 10 cages per treatment with 6 broilers per cage and balanced by body weight. Data were analyzed using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS vs. 9.4 (Cary, NC). The ESBM had a greater (P < 0.01) AMEn content than CSBM and SFFW whereas CFW was intermediate. Broilers fed CFW and CSBM had increased (P < 0.05) AID of indispensable amino acids compared to SFFW, except Met whereas ESBM was increased (P < 0.05) compared to SFFW with the exception of His, Met, and Try. Broilers fed 1.5% FFW had increased (P < 0.01) feed intake (FI) and BWG compared to those fed the control basal diet. Broilers fed the commercial astaxanthin or 30% CFW had poorer (P < 0.01) FCR compared to those fed the basal control. In conclusion, 2 different forms of food waste successfully served as a nutrient source for broilers. Composite food waste and SFFW had similar AMEn to CSBM while CFW had a similar AID of amino acids to CSBM. Including 30% of CFW reduced FCR of broilers; however, including 5.5% of SFFW increased FI and BWG.

Poultry coccidiosis is a catastrophic parasitic disease and the industry is currently seeking alternative compounds to replace conventional antibiotics. Accordingly, the current study determined the effect of dietary violacein supplementation on growth performance and anticoccidial indices of Eimeria-infected broiler chickens. A total of 336-day-old “Ross 308” broiler chicks were allotted to 6 treatments: that is, positive control (PC), negative control (NC), 1 treatment with salinomycin (6 ppm), and 3 treatments with different violacein concentrations (10, 15, 20 ppm). Experimental coccidiosis was induced in all chickens (except NC) by inoculating 3.2 × 10⁵ sporulated oocysts. The treatment with 15 ppm violacein (VIO 15) significantly improved chicken growth performance compared to PC. Furthermore, significant reductions in lesion score, oocyst per gram of feces (OPG), and oocysts index (OI) were observed in the VIO 15 and the salinomycin treatments compared to other treatments. Violacein was reported as ‘moderately effective’ on Eimeria spp. based on the “anticoccidial index (ACI),” whereas “reduction in lesion score (RLS)” and “percentage anticoccidial activity (POAA)” indices designated its 15 ppm treatment as “highly sensitive” on them. Additionally, VIO 15 downregulated “interleukin-8 (IL-8)” and “interleukin-6 (IL-6)” compared to PC, in both spleen and cecal tonsils. Besides, expression levels of “chemokine C–C motif ligand 2 (CCLi-2),” were reduced in cecal tonsils of VIO 15 broiler chickens compared to PC. Conclusively, dietary violacein supplementation suppressed the deleterious effects of coccidial infection in broiler chickens with improved growth, and its 15 ppm level is recommended for use.

An experiment was conducted to evaluate the effects of essential oils (garlic and cinnamon extracts) and betaine on growth performance and oocyst shedding of 42-day-old male broilers raised on used litter seeded with coccidia oocysts. Treatments included: negative control (NC) a nonsupplemented diet with broilers raised on fresh shavings, positive control (PC) the same nonsupplemented diet with broilers raised on used litter, the same diet formulation with 50 ppm of active salinomycin sodium (Bio-Cox 60;PC+Sal) raised on used litter, or the same diet formulation with 500 ppm of essential oils and 250 ppm of betaine (PC+EO+B) raised on used litter. The PC worsened performance (BW gain; BWG or mortality corrected FCR; FCRm) in comparison to NC and PC+Sal over 0 to 16 and 0 to 29 d (P ≤ 0.05) and 0 to 42 d (P ≤ 0.10). The PC+EO+B increased BWG relative to PC over 0 to 16 and 0 to 29 d (P ≤ 0.05) and from 0 to 42 d (P = 0.07). The PC+EO+B improved FCRm in comparison to PC over 0 to 16 and 0 to 42 d (P ≤ 0.05). The PC+EO+B was similar to NC and PC+Sal for BWG and FCRm across all time periods (P > 0.05). Oocyst counts were lowest in NC, highest in PC, and intermediate in PC+Sal and PC+EO+B for all periods. In conclusion, the reduced performance and increased oocyst shedding in the PC validate a mild coccidiosis infection and the combination of essential oils and betaine were able to ameliorate the negative effects.

This study evaluated the main effects and interactions of 2 ME levels and 3 conditioning temperatures on broiler performance, processing yield, footpad lesions, tibia ash, and nutrient digestibility from 1 to 42 d of age. A total of 1,350 d-old YPM x Ross 708 male broilers were randomly distributed in 54 floor pens and assigned to 6 treatments (9 replicates/treatment). Diets were formulated to contain 2 ME levels (standard energy [SE] and -130 kcal/kg reduced energy [RE]) in all feeding phases. Basal diets for each ME level were manufactured using 3 conditioning temperatures (80, 84, and 88°C). Feed intake (FI), BW, and FCR were determined at 14, 28, 35, and 42 d of age. On d 42, ileal digesta (5 birds/pen) was collected for nutrient digestibility analysis and broilers were processed on d 43. Data were analyzed as a 2 × 3 factorial arrangement using the GLIMMIX procedure of SAS and means separated using Tukey's test. Broilers fed SE had improved FCR (P < 0.05) compared to broilers fed RE in every evaluated period. Performance parameters from 15 to 42 d and processing yields were unaffected (P > 0.05) by conditioning temperatures. Apparent ileal digestibility (AID) of fat and energy was higher (P < 0.05) in broilers fed SE compared to broilers fed RE. Broilers fed diets conditioned to 88°C had lower (P < 0.05) AID of Ca and P compared to broilers fed diets conditioned to 80 and 84°C. Overall, most performance parameters were unaffected by conditioning temperatures, but broilers fed SE diets had improved performance and AID of fat and energy compared to broilers fed RE diets.

The effects of the nutritional characteristics of the diet fed from 18 to 29 wk of age on egg production and the development of the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) were studied in brown egg-laying hens from 18 to 61 wk of age. The experimental design was completely randomized with 4 pre-peak diets that contained 2.68 Mcal AMEn/kg, organized as a 2 × 2 factorial, with the standardized ileal digestible lysine content (DLys, 0.78 vs. 0.86%) and level of crude fiber (CF, 3.40 vs. 4.80%) of the diets as main effects. From 30 to 61 wk of age all hens were fed a common commercial diet with 2.78 Mcal AMEn/kg, 0.71% DLys, and 3.40% CF. Each treatment was replicated 16 times. The composition of the pre-peak diet did not affect hen production, egg quality, or any of the GIT traits studied at any age, except ceca length that was longer at 29 wk of age in hens fed the high CF diet (12.5 vs. 11.5 cm/kg BW; P < 0.05). In summary, an increase in DLys from 0.78 to 0.86% or of CF from 3.40 to 4.80% of the diet fed from 18 to 29 wk of age, did not affect hen production, egg quality, or GIT traits of the hens from 18 to 61 wk of age. The data indicate that pre-peak diets with 2.68 Mcal AMEn/kg, 0.78% DLys, and 3.40 to 4.80% CF are adequate to sustain egg production throughout the whole egg cycle, once the hens were fed a common commercial diet.

Research has indicated that the size of the pellet can be increased beyond the current industrial practice of using 3-4 mm pellets, without negative effects on performance and with improvement in pelleting efficiency as a result. To further elucidate the capacity of broilers for large pellets, a coarse wheat- and maize-based diet ground using either a hammer mill or a roller mill was pelleted using either a 3 mm diameter die or a 5 mm diameter die, and were cut to a length of 6 mm. For the 5 mm diameter die, pellets with a length of 8 and 10 mm were also made. Feeder rate and conditioning temperature were varied to assure similar physical quality among diets. More coarse particles were preserved during pelleting when the die diameter was 5 mm. The diets were fed to male Ross 308 broiler chickens from 10 to 34 d of age. Neither increasing the diameter nor the length of the 5 mm pellets had any negative effect on weight gain between 10 and 16 or 17 and 34 d of age. A feed preference test showed that birds willingly ate particles larger than 4.8 mm even at 16 and 22 d of age. At 29 d of age, they strongly preferred these largest particles. In conclusion, broiler chickens can be given larger pellets than current industrial practice, potentially increasing pelleting capacity and reducing energy consumption, while simultaneously preserving more of the gizzard-stimulating coarse microstructure of the particles constituting the pellet.

Poultry extension programs, which target international audiences, can both be challenging and rewarding. Part of the challenge, for example, is to learn about problems associated with a poultry operation and being able to communicate effective recommendations to management personnel effectively, particularly when there is a language barrier. Benefits from international work include: 1) new ways to look at problems, 2) better understanding of challenges faced by developing communities, 3) learning to present educational materials to those with limited literacy and varying education levels, 4) adapting to challenging situations and learning to use “what's on hand,” 5) working with individuals who have access to limited resources, 6) learning how to work with other cultures and climates, and 7) experience working with audiences who may not speak English. These rewards and benefits far outweigh the time and effort put into the work. The opportunity to work internationally can come from several different approaches, including, professional organizations, religious groups, consulting for private companies, and non-government organizations (NGO) that do international development. One of the easiest to get started with is the John Ogonowski and Doug Bereuter Farmer-to-Farmer Program (F2F), funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). While the program is funded by USAID, it is implemented by several different organizations that recruit individuals with experience in agriculture to volunteer for assignments that support development in the targeted areas. US-based volunteers (citizens or permanent residents) are sent on technical assignments to provide hands-on training. Its main objectives are to increase agricultural sector productivity and profitability, to improve conservation and sustainable use of environmental and natural resources, to expand agricultural sector access to financial services, and to strengthen agricultural sector institutions. In this particular program, you will work with local farmer associations, cooperatives, women's groups, agribusinesses, and educational institutions throughout Africa, Asia, Eastern Europe, Latin American, and the Middle East. Working with international audiences is rewarding, but is not without its challenges.

Fowl adenovirus (FAdV), Avian influenza (AI), and Newcastle disease (ND) are prominent viral infectious diseases that pose a significant threat to the global poultry industry, resulting in substantial economic loss. To mitigate the occurrence of hydropericardium syndrome (HPS), a triple vaccine was developed by combining the nanoparticle-like fibre-2 protein with the inactivated H9N2 AI virus antigen derived from the A/chicken/Shandong/SZ/2008 strain, as well as the inactivated Newcastle disease virus (NDV) antigen obtained from the N7a strain, which was rescued from the NDV strain PLK-N-06. This particular strain was isolated during a chicken outbreak of ND and identified as velogenic. The immunological effect was evaluated by specific pathogen-free chicken challenge test. There was no significant difference in the specific antibody level in specific pathogen-free chickens between the triple vaccine and the monovalent vaccine (P > 0.05), which was significantly higher than that of the control group (P < 0.0001). The protective effect of triple vaccine against the 3 viruses could reach 100% after being challenged. No obvious lesions of FAdV, AI, or ND were observed in the target tissues and organs of the triple vaccine immunization group. Viral shedding test results showed that no three kinds of viruses were detected in larynx and cloaca on the fifth day after challenge. In conclusion, the immune protection effect against the 3 pathogens does not interfere with each other and can provide complete protection. The triple vaccine can be used as a candidate vaccine to prevent chickens from the three kinds of diseases, has high clinical application value, and can produce greater economic benefits.