The effects of halofuginone and salinomycin, alone and in combination, on live performance and skin characteristics of broilers.

Live performance and skin characteristics of male and female broilers were evaluated under four coccidiostat feed additive programs. Treatments consisted of halofuginone (H) and salinomycin (S), fed either continuously (HH and SS) or in rotational programs (HS and SH) during the starter (1 to 21 d) and grower (22 to 35 d) periods, respectively. An unmedicated withdrawal feed was provided from 36 to 42 d of age. Body weights, feed efficiency, and mortality (by pen) were determined, in addition to skin puncture strength measurements taken at Days 21, 35, and 42 on five birds per pen. At 43 d of age, all birds were processed and individually graded for skin defects. There were no treatment by sex interactions for any variable measured. Male body weights, feed efficiency, and total mortality exceeded those of females (P < .05). Skin puncture strength was reduced at 21 d in the HH and HS groups, at 35 d in the HH and SH groups, and at 42 d in the HH, HS, and SH groups. Thigh sores and scratches were higher for the HH group (P < .05), and thigh skin tears were higher for the HH and HS groups (P < .01). Males had more swollen hock joints and breast blisters than females (P < .001). Females had more thigh skin tears (P < .01) and broken wings (P < .001) than males. Results of the present study demonstrated that halofuginone affected skin strength of broilers, especially when used continuously or only in the starter feed (1 to 21 d).

Chemicals used by the poultry industry.

The safe and effective use of chemicals within the live production phases of the poultry industry requires the implementation of integrated health programs. Chemical programs will vary with regard to phase, intended usage, and method and frequency of application. The term "chemicals" herein presented excludes drugs and non-nutritive feed additives, with primary emphasis on sanitation products (i.e., detergents, disinfectants, sanitizers, deodorizers, descalers, and possible combinations), pesticides (i.e., insecticides and rodenticides), and brief mention of soil litter treatments for environmental management of air quality at the farm level. Chemical usage by phase, location, and frequency of application are summarized. Products that are effective, environmentally and user friendly, and applied within label specification will provide for safe, economical, and long-term success of poultry health programs. Such programs must be supported by management and maintained through education and product stewardship administered cooperatively with chemical suppliers, technical consultants, and end users.

Calcium metabolism in broiler breeder hens. 1. Calcium status of the digestive tract of broiler breeders throughout a 24-hour period.

Dry matter and calcium content of the digestive tract were determined on two groups of broiler breeders during a 24-hr period. The individually caged hens were fed either ad lib or restricted to 122 g of feed during a 4-hr feeding period each day from 0700 to 1100 hr. The hens received artificial light from 0700 to 2300 hr. On Day 14 of the feeding program a total of 100 hens, 10 from each group, were necropsied at selected intervals (0700, 1100, 1900, 2300, 0300 hr), and the contents of the various segments of the digestive tract and feces were collected and analyzed for dry matter and calcium. The calcium analysis also included any endogenous excretions and, therefore, absorption values are apparent. Hens restricted to 122 g feed per day had only 51.7% of the dry matter and 64.2% of the calcium consumed during the 4-hr feeding period remaining in the digestive tract at 1100 hr. By 2300 hr only 20.6% of the feed and 28.1% of the calcium remained. Hens had only approximately 14% (14.2 g) of their total dry matter intake and 16% (.70 g) of the calcium available for absorption from 0300 hr. The ad lib group, with an average intake of 171 g feed per day, had consumed only 26% of their daily feed intake by 1100 hr. Fifty-five percent of the dry matter consumed and 22% of the calcium remained in the digestive tract at 1100 hr. It was concluded that broiler hens restricted to morning feeding do not maintain a constant and equal metering of dry matter or calcium from the crop into the digestive tract throughout a 24-hr period.

Calcium metabolism in broiler breeder hens. 2. The influence of the time of feeding on calcium status of the digestive system and eggshell quality in broiler breeders.

Experiments were conducted to determine the influence of time of dietary calcium intake on eggshell quality in broiler breeder hens. In Experiment 1, 60 hens were randomly divided among three treatment groups. The control group received 155 g feed (3.1% calcium) per day at 0800 hr whereas the morning- (a.m.) and evening-fed (p.m.) treatments received a .42% calcium diet (155 g/bird) and were intubated with 4.2 g calcium at 0800 or 1600 hr, respectively. Egg weight, shell weight, and specific gravity were determined at 3-day intervals for 15 days. In Experiment 2, 150 breeder hens were randomly divided among two treatment groups. They were fed 122 g per hen during a 2.5-hr feeding time at 0700 to 0930 or 1530 to 1800 hr. Eggs were collected for egg weight, shell weight, and specific gravity determinations. At the end of the 5th week, 10 hens from each treatment group were sacrificed at various times throughout a 24-hr period and the contents of each segment of the GI tract and feces were analyzed for moisture, dry matter, and calcium. In Experiment 3, two commercial broiler-breeder houses with 5,000 hens each were used. They were fed 132 g/hen per day at 0530 hr daily with water provided ad lib. The feeding time of one house was moved forward by 2 or 2.5 hr per day until the feeding time was 1600 hr. Eggs were collected for 2 weeks following pretreatment data and values determined for specific gravity. Eggs were also candled at 7 days incubation to determine embryonic mortality and fertility. Hens intubated at 0800 hr with their daily supply of calcium did not maintain shell quality equivalent to controls (Experiment 1). However, hens intubated at 1600 hr had no difficulty maintaining shell quality. Hens fed at 1530 hr had significantly better shell quality during all weeks tested compared to hens fed at 0700 hr (Experiment 2). The p.m.-fed hens had 66.9% more calcium available at 1800 hr (2.07 vs. 1.24 g) compared to a.m.-fed hens. Hens fed at 1600 hr in the commercial houses (Experiment 3) had significantly better eggshell quality (specific gravity) than hens fed at 0530 hr. There was no significant difference in percent embryonic mortality or percent fertility when eggs were candled after 7 days of incubation. It was concluded that p.m.-fed hens had significantly more calcium available during the stages of eggshell calcification. The result was significantly better eggshell quality.

Field trials with an oil emulsion infectious bursal disease vaccine in broiler breeder pullets.

Two independent field trials were undertaken with commercial broiler companies in separate sections of Alabama in order to test the efficacy of an experimental commercially prepared oil emulsion infectious bursal disease (IBD) vaccine in broiler breeder pullets. The IBD vaccine was tested both for safety and the production of neutralizing antibodies in pullets and their progeny as well as its ability to prevent early field exposure to virulent IBD virus (IBDV) in broiler progeny that may lead to immunosuppression resulting in poor performance. The following was demonstrated in both trials: 1) the IBD vaccine had no adverse effect on breeder performance, 2) the IBD antibody titers in breeders peaked at 10 weeks postvaccination (PV) and remained about 1.5 to 4 times higher than nonvaccinated breeders through 25 weeks (PV), 3) 1-day IBDV maternal titers in broilers were related to the parental titers, 4) the IBD vaccination in pullets prevented early infection to field IBDV in progeny as determined by antibody titers and various performance parameters.

Fungus species isolated from commercial hatcheries in Alabama.

Selected locations (incubators, incubator rooms, hatchers, hatcher rooms, chick pools, and egg rooms) in six commercial broiler hatcheries in Alabama were sampled for fungus species over a 12-month period (May 1977-April 1978) by open-plate techniques (cornmeal agar or Sabouraud's dextrose agar). Colonies at each location were counted at 24, 48, and 72-120 hours postexposure. Thirty-five species representing 21 genera were identified. The most prevalent genera were Cladosporium, Penicillium, Aspergillus, Geotrichum, and Fusarium. Aspergillus fumigatus was associated with clinical disease in the baby chick on several occasions, and Cladosporium cladosporioides was the most prevalent species isolated. In general, isolations increased in early spring and summer.