British Poultry Science最新文献

1. In the early stages of incubation, challenges arise in the intelligent recognition of multiple eggs on the incubation tray and in achieving consistent high-throughput detection. To address these issues, a method was proposed using a monochrome camera to capture transillumination images of eggs. This work examined factors affecting image consistency, such as light source intensity, imaging uniformity and egg positioning and developed a correction algorithm for non-uniform light intensity in the captured images.2. On day 0 of incubation, images of the egg tray and fertilised eggs were acquired. After applying median filtering, Laplacian sharpening and fixed-threshold segmentation, the egg regions from the images were extracted. These regions were then converted into labelled images for circular fitting, with the fitted circles contracted inward by 10 pixels to define the target egg region as the template for viability detection.3. Using these template images, egg regions from days 5 to 9 of incubation were extracted and four greyscale features derived; mean, maximum, minimum and standard deviation, and four texture features; energy, correlation, homogeneity and contrast were used as input parameters for classification models using Logistic Regression (LR), Extreme Gradient Boosting (XGBoost), Light Gradient Boosting Machine (LightGBM) and a custom Convolutional Neural Network (CNN).4. The CNN model demonstrated the best performance, achieving 99% accuracy on day 8, with Precision, Recall and F1 scores of 0.99, 1.00 and 0.99 for viable embryos, respectively. For non-viable and infertile eggs, Precision, Recall and F1 scores were 1.00, 0.95 and 0.98, respectively. The optimal detection time was determined to be day 6, with an accuracy of 95%, which was one day earlier than the optimal manual inspection time.5. These findings showed that using a monochrome camera with image processing and classification models could enable high-throughput, early-stage viability detection of fertilised eggs. This can be used as technical support for the development of automated detection systems.

1. This study examined feeding practices that could affect the expression of intestinal calcium transporter gene, tibial mass, eggshell quality and production performance in 25-week-old Hy-Line Brown Laying Hens.2. In this study, 360 healthy 25-week-old Hy-Line Brown laying hens were divided into three treatment groups with 10 replicates of 12 hens per group. The groups were fed as follows: 1) Twice a day, 50% of the standard breeder diet was fed at 8:00 and 15:00 (CFG); 2) Two-thirds of the standard breeder diet was fed at 8:00 and 15:00 (UFG), respectively; 3) Two different diets were fed separately, 50% at 8:00 and 50% at 15:00 (SFG)3. The feed-to-egg ratios of the CFG and SFG groups were significantly higher than those of the UFG group. The eggshell weight of the UFG group was numerically reduced (p > 0.05) compared to the CFG and SFG groups. The papilla, barrier, effective layers and the thickness of the particular eggshell layers were different in each group. The amount of calcium (Ca) and phosphorus (P) in the bones, eggshells and excreta varied by group. According to gene expression analysis, PMCA and CaBP-28K expression in the duodenum and jejunum differed significantly4. The results suggested that segmented feeding may enhance Ca deposition in eggshells, reduce bone Ca loss and improve its utilisation efficiency. This feeding strategy results in enhanced performance in layers and improves eggshell quality.

1. This research explored the potential of hyperspectral imaging (HSI) to predict meat texture and the wooden breast (WB) condition in raw chicken breast fillets, categorised as normal, moderate WB and severe WB. The Meullenet-Owens Razor Shear (MORS) measurement was employed to characterise raw meat texture traits, including force, energy and peak count.2. Significant differences in MORS force, energy and peak count were observed between normal and severe WB fillets. However, no significant differences in these traits were found between normal and moderate WB fillets.3. Partial least square regression (PLSR) models, using the full wavelength range of visible and near-infrared (Vis-NIR) spectra, successfully predicted meat texture traits, with MORS peak counts exhibiting the highest predictive ability (Rp = 0.915 and RMSEp = 2.26). Key wavelengths were identified using the regression coefficient (RC) method, highlighting their significance in characterising meat texture.4. A linear discriminant analysis (LDA) model, incorporating all key wavelengths, achieved accurate predictions of WB severity, with 84.72% in the calibration set and 77.78% in the prediction set. This model demonstrated the potential of HSI in distinguishing WB fillets from normal ones, with an accuracy of 97.22%in the calibration set and 91.67% in the prediction set. Distribution maps generated using key wavelengths visually depicted variations in meat texture traits and WB severity.5. This study underscored the efficacy of HSI technology in predicting meat texture and WB severity in raw chicken breast fillets.

1. Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a technique that promotes gut microbiota diversity and abundance by transplantation of faeces into a recipient's gastrointestinal tract via multiple routes.2. Inulin, a plant polysaccharide, is a natural functional dietary fibre found in a variety of plants, including vegetables and fruits. Inulin can inhibit pathogenic bacterial growth by lowering pH, promote mineral absorption and improve intestinal barrier integrity.3. In this study 90 one-day-old chicks were randomly into three groups; control (CON) group was fed a basic diet; FMT group fed two diets containing 40 ml faecal microbial suspension; and INU group fed a diet containing 1.5% inulin and 40 ml faecal microbial suspension.4. Administering the FMT mixed with inulin effectively reduced blood levels of IL-1β, IL-4 and IL-6, promoted the growth of thymus, bursa of Fabricius and spleen. In addition, it enhanced intestinal barrier function, increased intestinal goblet cells and Paneth cells production, promoted probiotic colonisation and butyrate formation and reduced intestinal inflammation.5. In summary, inulin mixed with FMT promoted the growth of the bursa of Fabricius, thymus and spleen as well as facilitated early growth of chick by promoting intestinal health, reducing inflammation and boosting chick immunity.

1. Chicken ghrelin (GH) plays an important role in regulating growth hormone secretion, immunity and gastrointestinal motility. This study utilised haematoxylin-eosin staining, quantitative reverse transcription PCR and western blotting to examine the effects of high-level ghrelin on the proliferation of small intestinal epithelial cells, intestinal nutrient transport and the mucosal immune barrier in chicks.2. Eighty, 17-d-old layer type chicks were randomly divided into two groups: control (C treated with sterile phosphate buffer) and the ghrelin-treated group (GH; intraperitoneally injected with 0.5 nM GH per 100 g body weight). At 1, 3 and 5 d post-injection, six chicks from each group were randomly selected for sampling of the duodenum and ileum.3. Administering GH reduced the expression of proliferating cell nuclear antigen protein in the duodenum and leucine-rich repeat-containing G protein-coupled receptor 5 mRNA in both the duodenum and ileum. In addition, GH affected villus height and ratio of villus height to crypt (H/C) depth in these sections and fatty acid binding protein 6 expression in the ileum. The relative mRNA levels of oligopeptide transporter 1, solute carrier family 3 member 1, solute carrier family 1 member 1 and solute carrier family 5 member 1 were decreased by GH.4. Birds treated with GH had a decrease in duodenal intraepithelial lymphocytes, Paneth cells and ileal goblet cells. There was a reduction in mucin 2 mRNA in goblet cells and lysozyme C and phospholipaseA2 mRNA in Paneth cells. Additionally, the relative mRNA levels of avian β-defensin 1 (AvBD1), AvBD6 and AvBD7 in the duodenum and ileum decreased with GH administration.5. The GH inhibited proliferation of chicken duodenal epithelial cells and decreased surface area available for intestinal villus absorption. This affected the transport of intestinal amino acids, glucose and bile acids and impaired the function of the mucosal immune barrier in both the duodenum and ileum.

1. This study employed an automated estimation method for quantitatively assessing valuable meat parts in broiler chickens. This involved the segmentation of computed tomography (CT) images through elastic registration, utilising feature and model selection.2. Sixty Tetra HB colour broiler chickens (30 males and 30 females) were randomly selected and examined by CT at 10 weeks of age (live weight: 2560 ± 400 g). The animals were slaughtered, and their breast and thigh muscles were dissected and weighed (thigh and breast weights were 90 ± 19 g and 337 ± 58 g). Multi-atlas registration was used for segmentation, followed by feature extraction (256 features/individual) from the CT images.3. Four different regression analysis techniques (linear, PLS, lasso and ridge) with and without feature selection were applied to the collected data with k-fold cross-validation for estimating the thigh and breast muscle weights. The feature selection produced significantly better results in all cases.4. Among the analysis techniques, lasso and ridge regression performed the best for both muscle groups (thigh and breast muscles). These were as follows: lasso for breast: r² = 0.993, RMSE = 4.87 g; ridge for breast: r² = 0.995, RMSE = 4.03 g; lasso for thigh: r² = 0.976, RMSE = 2.94 g; and ridge for thigh: r² = 0.965, RMSE = 3.53 g.5. The results demonstrated the effectiveness of the automated method, initially tested on rabbits, in accurately estimating valuable meat parts of broiler chickens. The robust performance of the selected regression models underscores the potential for widespread application in poultry production, offering a reliable and efficient means of quantitative assessment.

1. This study assessed the effects of in ovo injection of Marek's disease vaccine (MDV), alone (control) or combined with 1.25 μg of 25-hydroxycholecalciferol (25(OH)D₃), on hatchability, chick quality, performance and bone quality in Cobb 500 broilers. At d 19 of embryo development, eggs were injected with 0.05 ml of MDV or MDV plus 1.25 μg of 25(OH)D₃ into the amniotic fluid following hatchery protocol. Post-hatch, 840, one-day-old male chicks were reared until d 35 of age.2. Hatchability and general chick quality were not affected by the treatments. However, the male chicks that received MDV + 1.25 μg of 25(OH)D₃ presented longer length at flock thinning compared to those that received only MDV. At 35 d of age, broiler performance, gait score and leg deformities (valgus and varus) were not affected.3. Although chicks receiving the MDV + 1.25 μg of 25(OH)D₃ had lower macroscopic tibial dyschondroplasia (TD) scores at 7 d of age compared to those given MDV, this difference was not sustained as they matured. Tibia weight, thickness and length were similar across treatments at all time points. However, the tibiae from chicks in the MDV + 1.25 μg 25(OH)D₃ group demonstrated greater strength on d 1 and 7 but not at later times.4. In conclusion, this study showed that combining 25(OH)D₃ with MDV does not impact hatchability or overall performance but does enhance early bone strength and growth in broiler chicks.

1. Female Chukar partridges (Alectoris chukar) strategically adjust maternal reproductive strategies based on male attractiveness, which can influence both reproductive success and offspring sex ratio.2. In this study, female-choice trials identified preferred and non-preferred males. Using a crossover design, each female was sequentially paired with the preferred and non-preferred males, separated by a two-week physiological reset interval.3. Reproductive parameters, including daily egg production, fertility, hatchability (of both set and fertile eggs), embryonic mortality and the primary and secondary offspring sex ratios, were determined via molecular sexing and abdominal cavity examination.4. Notably, offspring sex ratio did not deviate from 50:50 in preferred-male pairings, whereas females that mated with non-preferred males produced a female-biased sex ratio in both the primary and secondary stages.5. In terms of reproductive performance, females paired with preferred males showed significantly higher fertility (~8%) and hatchability (15.27% and 10.63% for set and fertile eggs, respectively), while egg production and embryonic mortality remained unaffected.6. These findings highlighted the importance of allowing female mate choice to improve productivity in commercial systems, especially where male scarcity is a concern.

1. In recent years, tannin has been used as a natural alternative to antibiotics due to its wide availability, ease of large-scale production and efficient extraction from other plants, compared with foreign additives such as plant essential oils and organic acids.2. Tannins are secondary metabolites widely existing in plants as a natural defence mechanism, which exhibit various bioactivities. In poultry, appropriate addition of tannins can enhance the growth performance and play a positive regulatory role in intestinal health, but inclusion in diets is limited by the bitter taste of tannins. However, 1 g/kg tannin in feed significantly reduced the final body weight of broilers and disrupted normal morphology in the intestinal tract.3. Data indicated that the effect of tannin was significantly influenced by its source and dosage, but these differences need to be confirmed. However, there is data showing tannin regulation of intestinal health in poultry, providing practical ideas on mechanism of action and commercial applications.

1. The nutritional potential of Faba bean (Vicia faba L.) is limited by the presence of phytate, which reduces phosphorus (P) digestibility and the bioavailability of other minerals. This study evaluated the effect of autoclaving and phytase on the P digestibility of broiler chickens.2. Diets were formulated to include faba beans (FB) or autoclaved FB (AFB), with or without 1,000 FYT/kg phytase, in a 2 × 2 factorial arrangement. Broiler chickens were fed a similar starter diet until d 18, after which 256 chickens were weighed and assigned to four diets in a randomised complete block design, with body weight as the blocking factor (eight replicates of eight birds per cage).3. Phytase increased the apparent total tract digestibility of P (p < 0.01), with an interaction between autoclaving and phytase on AID of P (p < 0.01); the AID of P increased to a greater extent when phytase was added to non-autoclaved FB than to autoclaved FB. Additionally, ileal digestible P and retainable P intake increased with phytase supplementation (p < 0.01).