[Effect of prolonged concentrate feeding on the digestibility and utilization of feed in weaned lambs]. / Vliianie na produlzhitelnoto kontsentratno khranenie vurkhu smilaemostta i opolzotvoriavaneto na furazhite pri shileta.

Two series of balance experiments were carried out by the end of the 2nd and 4th month with a total of 18 weaned lambs divided into three test groups. In the course of 150 days first group animals were offered daily 1200-1500 g of concentrate pellets for the first and second experiment. The lambs of the second group were given 1200-1500 g of concentrate pellets and 300 g chopped wheat straw, and those of the third group were given 800 and 1050 g each of concentrate pellets, and 540 g and 720 g of pellets of whole maize plant containing 40 per cent. Determined is the digestibility of feedstuffs at the end of the 2nd and 4th month. Studied were the values of pH and the content of ammonia gas and volatile fatty acids, the total acidity, and the count of Infusoria in the rumen content. It was found that continuous feeding of high amounts of concentrates produced a negative effect on the fermentative processes in the rumen, reliably lowering the values of pH, ammonia gas, and the total count of Infusoria and reliably raising the amount of volatile fatty acids and the total acidity of the rumen content. Affected was also the digestibility of crude fibers and mineral nutrients. Lowest digestibility of nutrient matter was shown by lambs fed on rations that included concentrate pellets of whole maize plants. It was demonstrated that the continuous intake of high-concentrate rations in which roughage was chopped to 2 mm particles and the amount of crude fibers was lowered to 5.29; 9.6; and 10.8 per cent of the dry matter led to latent metabolic acidosis. The latter could not prevented by the inclusion of 300 g chopped wheat straw and 540 and 720 g of pellets of whole maize plant.

[Preventive measures in the use of chicken bedding in lamb fattening]. / Izsledvane profilaktichnite problemi pri izkhranvane na pticha torova postelia na agneta za ugoiavane.

Investigations were carried out on the composition and some properties of the manure bedding from poultry-dressing combines as well as of the complete ration offered together with some beding. High variability of the indices was established so far as the nutrient value and the contamination with occasionally pathogenic bacteria (coli, proteus, and others) and moulds were concerned. No obligatorily pathogenic bacteria and mycotoxins were established. The reasons for illness and culling of lambs fattened with such feed were shown to be associated with the status of the urinary system in the first place. The presence of fungi and bacteria in meals of deep bedding from poultry houses and the occasional presence of chemical compounds in the meat of the fattened animals have made necessary further profound studies aimed at completely elucidating their effect on the health of ruminant animals and the quality of the meat obtained.

[Impact on the state of health of lambs fed large amounts of concentrated fodder]. / Otrazhenie na zdravoslovnoto sustoianie pri shileta, khraneni s golemi kolichestva kontsentriran furazh.

Experiments were carried out with a total of 18 male lambs at the age of 5 months, included in three groups. The test period lasted 150 days during which the animals of the first group were fed daily 1200-1500 g each of pelleted concentrates, those of the second group--1200, 1300, and 3000 g of wheat straw, and the lambs of the third one--800 and 1050 g of pelleted concentrates as well as 540-720 g of pelleted whole maize plants. It was found that continuous feeding with high amounts of concentrates produced unfavourable effects on the general status of the experimental animals. Hematologically, there was increase in the hemoglobin level, the erythrocyte count, and the leukocyte count. Biochemically, the calcium-and-phosphorus metabolism was disturbed, there was a drop of the Ca level and a rise of the phosphorus level of the blood. Morphologically, dystrophic and necrotic changes were observed in the liver, kidneys, heart, and forestomach. It was concluded that higher amounts of concentrates in the diet may cause a disease status with severe, generalized symptoms due to their defective, unablanced, and physiologically inappropriate feeding.

[Effect of different amounts of carbamide on the state of health of broilers. I]. / Vliianie na razlichni kolichestva karbamid vurkhu zdravoslovnoto sustaoianie na broileri. I suobshtenie

Three experiments were carried out with a total of 100 broilers each, divided into five groups of 20 birds. The effect was tested of urea on their health status, it being added to a ration that was balanced in terms of protein in progressively rising amounts of 0.3 to 6.0 per cent within the period of from the 20th to the 60th day. It was found that in amounts of 0.3 to 3.0 per cent urea does not lead to any clinical and morphological changes in the organism of the treated birds. At rates of 4.5 and 6.0 per cent, however, there appear disturbances in the alimentary tract, lack of appetite, thirst, diuresis, hyperemia and hypertrophy of the kidneys. The addition of urea in such amounts to the ration raises the content of urea in the organism from 2 to 5 times, and the amount of retained nitrogen (NPN)--as much as twice in the blood.

[Effect of different amounts of carbamide on nitrogen digestibility and metabolism in broilers. II]. / Vliianie na razlichni kolichestva karbamid vurkhu smilaemostta i obmianaya na azota pri broileri. II suobshtenie

Experiments were carried out with one-hundred broiler birds of one and the same age group, breed, and origin, divided into five groups in order to follow up the effect of various amounts of urea on their physiologic state. A balance experiment was conducted to establish the effect of urea on the digestibility of nutrient matter and the metabolism of nitrogen with the use of nine birds per group, divided into three subgroups. Urea was added to a protein-balanced diet from the 20th to the 60th day in the following amounts by groups: I--2 percent; II--4 per cent; III--5 per cent; and IV--6 per cent. It was also found that with the increase of urea in the ration at the rates indicated above there was a progressive rise of both the amount of urea and the nonprotein nitrogen in the blood as well as the amount of nitrogen excreted with the urine. The intake of such amounts of urea lowered the assimilation of nitrogen by 4 to 9 per cent as against its initial level in the ration, and by 7 to 11 per cent--as against the level of digested nitrogen.

[Bacteriological and physicochemical studies of the meat from poultry with acute Marek's disease]. / Bakteriologichni i fiziko-khimichni izsledvaniia na meso ot ptitsi, bolni ot akutna marekova bolest

Studied were bacteriologically a total of 114 birds affected with acute Marek's disease (40 broilers, 44 growing layers, and 30 adult layers) as well as 100 healthy control birds of the same three categories. A chemical analysis was performed of the red and white meat of 20 of the diseased pullets and 20 of the diseased adult layers as well as of 34 of the affected broilers. The investigation included the same numbers of the control birds. Extractions of the sampled meat were studied in terms of catalase number, pH value, and peroxydase activity. It was found that enterobacteria in the viscera of the diseased birds were three to nine times more frequently encountered than in the same organs of the controls. In two cases Salmonella bacteria were also isolated from the affected chickens. In three cases there were enterobacteria in the red musculature of these birds. The meat of the diseased birds had higher water content, higher catalase number and pH value, with lower contents of proteins, fats, and mineral matter. The only exception was the red meat of these birds which had higher content of crude protein as compared with the red meat of the normal birds.