Effects of cage type on performance, welfare, and microbiological properties of laying hens during the molting period and the second production cycle.

As most of the unenriched cages will soon switch to enriched cages, it is important to characterize all the effects in the laying hens for sustainable production. Laying hens can be used in several production periods by applying molting. The aim of this study was to determine the cage type (unenriched and enriched) on performance, welfare, and microbiological properties of laying hens during the molting period and the second production cycle. Overall, 840 brown laying hybrids were used in the experiment. Laying hens were reared on two different cage types (unenriched cage (UEC) and enriched cage (EC)) in the same poultry house. When the hybrids were 75 weeks old, they were subjected to force molting with whole grain barley. Performance, welfare, microbiological, and serological data of laying hens were obtained from 73 to 107 weeks of age. Egg production, egg weight, feed conversion ratio, breaking strength, albumen and yolk index, Haugh unit, feather condition, and breaking force of femur and metatarsus were better in the post-molting period. However, keel bone deformities and Newcastle disease virus antibody titers are the worst in the post-molting period. Stiffness of femur and metatarsus was increased with period. These results indicate that necessary precautions should be taken against the problems that may occur in the direction of bone and health. During the molting period, hens kept in EC had lower egg production but they returned to egg production at a high rate. EC type had a positive effect on egg production, feed conversion ratio, feather and foot condition, and breaking force of metatarsus.

Comparison of optical coherence tomography angiography and green indocyanine angiography in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy: A prospective study.

PURPOSE: To compare optical coherence tomography angiography (OCTA) and indocyanine green angiography (ICGA) findings in polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) according to polyp type, polyp size and pigment epithelial detachment (PED) size. METHOD: Seventeen patients with PCV were included this study. The participants were divided into two groups according to ICGA images. Participants who had type I PCV formed group 1, and group 2 was comprised of patients with type II PCV. OCTA was performed for all participants. Polyp detection rates with OCTA and factors affecting this detection were assessed. RESULTS: The mean age of all patients was 68.85±4.77 years (group 1 70.4±2.54 years, group 2 67.45±5.93 years). The rate of polyps seen in OCTA images was statistically significantly correlated with polyp type, polyp size, and PED size (r=0.633, p=0.002; r=0.64, P=0.001 and r=0.59, p<0.001, respectively). In group 1, the mean polyp size was 230.8±82.94µm, and the mean PED size was 161.3±73.87µm. In group 1, 10 patients with PCV were detected with ICGA, while only 1 (10%) PCV was detected with OCTA. In group 2, the mean polyp size was 387.90±245.90µm, and the mean PED size was 345.18±276.26µm. In group 2, 11 patients with PCV were detected with ICGA, while 8 (72.7%) of these patients were detected using OCTA. CONCLUSIONS: OCTA showed a greater percentage of detection of type II PCV than type I PCV. Polyp and PED size are important for the detection of PCV using OCTA.

Influence of sepiolite additions to different litter materials on performance and some welfare parameters of broilers and litter characteristics.

The litter quality is an important factor affecting the performance, welfare and carcass quality of the broilers. Depending on the progress of the fattening duration, some materials may be added to the litter in order to keep the pH, moisture and ammonia levels in the litter under control. Sepiolite is a natural material and it has strong absorbing ability to the water. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the effects of sepiolite additions to different litter materials on performance and some welfare parameters of broilers and litter characteristics. A total of 288 1-d-old male broiler chicks (ROSS-308) were used. Birds were randomly allocated to 2 litters (wood shavings and rice hull) and 3 sepiolite groups (0, 25, 50%) with 6 replication, and each pen contains 8 chicks. Fattening performance, IgG, tonic immobility period, feather score, skin injures, breast burns, and footpad burns of broilers were not affected significantly by sepiolite additions to the litter. However, sepiolite addition to the litter can improve litter quality. There was no significant difference between 2 litter materials because both have same color. There were no significant interactions in examined parameters. In conclusion, addition of sepiolite at 25 and 50% levels to litter materials may be used as a litter material in the broiler production without adverse welfare and performance problem.

Production performance, use of nest box, and external appearance of two strains of laying hens kept in conventional and enriched cages.

The aim of this study was to investigate the differences in production performance, use of nest box, and external appearance of 2 strains of laying hens kept in conventional and enriched cages. Lohmann Brown Classic (LB, n=532) and Lohmann LSL Classic (LW, n=532) hens were housed from 16 to 73 wk in either conventional cages or enriched cages. Enriched cages had a nesting area, scratch pad, perch, and nail shortener. Body weight (BW), hen-day egg production, egg weight, feed intake, feed conversion ratio (FCR), cracked and dirty eggs, use of nest box for lay, and external appearance were determined. Laying period influenced the hen-day egg production, egg weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio. Cage type affected the hen-day egg production and feed conversion ratio, while strain affected the egg weight, feed intake, and feed conversion ratio. Laying period×cage type and laying period×strain interactions affected egg production, egg weight, and feed conversion ratio. Both strains preferred to lay in the nest box. Percentages of cracked and dirty eggs of LW hens in enriched cages were higher than that in conventional cages. Most of the dirty eggs laid by both strains were found outside of the nest box. The LW hens laid more dirty eggs than the LB hens. Cage type and cage type×strain interaction were important for total feather score. Final claw length was affected by cage type, strain, and cage type×strain interaction. This study suggests that cage type, strain, and also cage type×strain and period×strain interactions should be considered when alternative housing systems are used.