Unhydrolyzed vegetable sucrose polyester in broiler diets.

Duplicate 42-d broiler studies were conducted in pens with litter on the floor, beginning with 1-d-old chicks obtained from a commercial hatchery. Seven replicate pens, each starting with 12 male and 12 female chicks, received each dietary treatment in a randomized-block design. Dietary treatments comprised 0, 0.5, 1.0, 1.5, 2.0, or 2.5% unhydrolyzed vegetable sucrose polyester (UVSP) added to the starting and finishing diets at the expense of filler. In both studies, up to 2.5% UVSP did not have a significant negative effect on body weights, daily feed intake, feed conversion, or litter moisture. In Experiment 2, average body weights were significantly greater than control for groups that received 0.5, 2.0, or 2.5% UVSP. However, the degree of shank yellowness as measured with a Minolta Chroma-meter was consistently and significantly reduced by 0.5% or more UVSP. Although xanthophyll levels were intentionally lowered somewhat to improve sensitivity (7.9 and 9.6 mg/kg for starter and finished feeds, respectively), it is obvious that the utilization of xanthophyll was reduced somewhat by UVSP. Additional pigment titration trials could provide valuable information about the levels required to overcome this effect.

Sensory and fatty acid profile of eggs from commercial hens fed rendered spent hen meal.

The objective of the study was to determine sensory characteristics and fatty acid profile of eggs from commercial laying hens fed rendered spent hen meal (RSHM). Eggs were collected on a daily basis from Single Comb White Leghorn hens between 43 and 60 wk of age. The hens were fed a layer diet containing either 0, 2.5, 5.0, 7.5, or 10.0% RSHM from 48 to 60 wk in Trial 1, and from 43 to 55 wk in Trial 2. Eggs were evaluated for sensory characteristics and fatty acid profile from hens fed the higher levels of RSHM (i.e., 7.5 and 10.0%). The RSHM treatments had no adverse effects (P > 0.05) on flavor, texture, and overall acceptability of the hard-boiled eggs. Fatty acid profile and total fat content of the eggs were similar for all treatments. Data demonstrated that up to 10% RSHM could be incorporated into the diets of laying hens, without altering the acceptability and fatty acid profile of the eggs produced.

Sodium chloride concentration in drinking water and eggshell quality.

Two experiments with White Leghorn hens (36 and 49 wk old, respectively) were conducted to examine the effects of varying NaCl concentrations provided through drinking water upon eggshell quality. Experiments were of 6 and 5 wk duration, respectively. Seven replicate pens of five individually caged hens received each water treatment. Treatments were the same in both studies and consisted of low-Na (9 ppm) tap water supplemented with 0, 200, 400, 600, or 800 ppm NaCl. Solutions were prepared weekly. All eggs produced were examined visually for shell defects, and egg weight and specific gravity were determined. In the second experiment, eggs from 2 consecutive d were also broken out each week for Haugh Unit determinations. In both studies, hen-day egg production, daily feed and water intake, egg weight, and body weight change over the experimental period were not influenced by any level of waterborne NaCl. Haugh Units were also not affected in Experiment 2. In contrast to other literature reports, visually determined shell defects and egg specific gravity were not adversely affected by NaCl supplementation of layer drinking water.

Sensory and objective characteristics of broiler meat from commercial broilers fed rendered spent hen meal.

The objective of the study was to determine sensory and objective characteristics of broiler breast and thigh meat from commercial broilers fed rendered spent hen meal (RSHM) from hatch to 42 d of age. Breast and thigh muscles from 90, 6-wk-old straight-run broilers (i.e., mixed male and female broilers) fed starter and grower diets consisting of either 0, 8, or 12% RSHM were evaluated for sensory characteristics, instrumental texture, and compositional profiles. The RSHM treatments had no adverse effects (P > 0.05) on juiciness, chicken flavor intensity, tenderness, or compositional profiles for the breast or thigh meats. Off-flavor scores for all treatments were above the threshold value, indicating that the RSHM imparted no off-flavors to the breast and thigh meats. Warner-Bratzler shear measurements were similar (P > 0.05) for breast meat from broilers in all treatments. No shear measurements were conducted for the thigh meat. It was concluded that RSHM can be incorporated into the diets of broilers at levels of up to 12% without causing objectionable sensory characteristics in the cooked broiler meat.

Sensory and objective characteristics of broiler meat from commercial broilers fed rendered whole-hen meal.

The objective of the study was to determine sensory and objective characteristics of chicken breast and thigh meat from commercial broilers fed rendered whole-hen meal (RHM), produced from commercial laying hen mortality losses. Breast and thigh muscles from 90 6-wk-old straight-run broilers fed starter and grower diets consisting of either 0, 8, or 12% RHM, were evaluated for sensory characteristics, instrumental texture and compositional profiles. The RHM treatments had no adverse effects (P > 0.05) on juiciness, chicken flavor intensity, tenderness, or compositional profiles for the breast or thigh meat. Off-flavor scores for all treatments were above the threshold value, indicating that the RHM imparted no off-flavors to the breast and thigh meat. Warner-Bratzler shear measurements were similar (P > 0.05) for breast meat from broilers in all treatments. No shear measurements were conducted for the thigh meat. It was concluded that RHM can be incorporated into the diets of chicks at levels of up to 12% without causing objectionable sensory characteristics in the cooked broiler meat.

Final-week performance of straight-run broilers as affected by early coccidiostat withdrawal followed by increased dietary salt.

Three experiments were conducted to evaluate elevated dietary NaCl levels as a means of offsetting industry-observed reductions of growth, feed intake, and feed efficiency associated with early (35-d) coccidiostat withdrawal. In the first experiment, monensin (100 ppm) was withdrawn and dietary salt levels of 0.33, 0.48, 0.63, 0.78, or 0.93% provided from 35 to 42 d of age. Experiments 2 and 3 involved lasalocid (110 ppm) withdrawal and slat amounts of 0.33, 0.53, 0.73, or 0.93%. In all studies, a positive control of 0.33% salt and the coccidiostat was also given. Monensin withdrawal reduced body weight gain, which was not overcome by slat addition. Feed efficiency during the 1-wk period was improved to the level of the group receiving continued medication by salt amounts of 0.78% or above. In contrast to industry field observations, removal of lasalocid did not reduce body weight gain, feed intake, or water consumption, and elevation of salt levels resulted in no consistent improvements of weight gain, feed intake, or feed conversion. Water intake increased proportionally as salt concentration increased. Elevated salt levels do not appear to be a reliable means of offsetting reduced performance related to early coccidiostat withdrawal, nor were such performance problems demonstrable for lasalocid in these trials.

The performance of commercial broilers when fed various levels of rendered whole-hen meal.

In each of two experiments, approximately 1200 straight-run broiler chicks were fed 0, 4, 8, or 12% rendered whole hen meal (RHM) to determine its effectiveness and acceptability as a nutrient source from hatch to 6 wk of age. Approximately 2,275 kg of commercial laying hen mortality losses were collected, frozen, and stored over a 3-wk period. The birds were rendered at a commercial facility, stabilized, sampled, analyzed, dried, and stored again by freezing. Based on sample analysis and moisture content, diets were computer-formulated to be isocaloric and equivalent in as many nutrients as possible. Fat, fiber, arginine, and tryptophan levels varied slightly within age-related diet groups. The diets were consumed ad libitum from hatch to either 41 (Experiment 1) or 42 (Experiment 2) d. In both experiments, the addition of RHM at any level resulted in equal or greater body weight than that observed with control diets that contained no RHM. The effect of RHM on body weight was not significant in the first experiment; however, it was significant in the second experiment. Feed intake generally increased relative to body weight. Feed intake differences were significant in both studies, but in Experiment 2 did not parallel body weight patterns. Contrasting results were obtained with feed efficiency with control birds being most efficient in one trial and least efficient in the other. Rendered whole-hens were acceptable and highly utilizable as a protein and nutrient substitute in the diets of the commercial broiler. The RHM was found to be pathogen-free upon analysis, with no resulting differences in mortality due to either presence or level of the material.

Calcium supplementation of hen drinking water.

Two experiments with White Leghorn hens (42 and 56 wk old, respectively) examined the effects of calcium supplementation through drinking water in the presence of adequate and inadequate dietary calcium. Each experiment was of 28 d duration with six replicate pens of five individually caged hens in each treatment. Treatments were a combination of either 2.25 or 3.5% dietary calcium coupled with tap water or water supplemented with .2% calcium from calcium lactate. In both studies, specific gravity of eggs was significantly improved when low dietary calcium was supplemented with .2% calcium in the drinking water. Egg production and egg weight were not influenced by waterborne calcium. Daily water intake was reduced by calcium lactate in all cases. Feed consumption was also depressed by waterborne calcium in both studies when 3.5% dietary calcium was given, and in Experiment 1 when 2.25% was fed. Waterborne calcium as calcium lactate was found to be effectively utilized for eggshell quality improvement when dietary sources were inadequate.

The relationship of maximum or intermediate coccidiostat levels to broiler chick water intake.

Two experiments, each consisting of duplicate battery trials, were conducted utilizing day-old broiler chicks for a 21-d experimental period to study the effects of maximum or intermediate levels of several coccidiostats on water consumption and other performance variables. Drug levels given in Experiment 1 were: halofuginone, 2.97 mg/kg; amprolium and ethopabate, .025%; salinomycin, 66 mg/kg; monensin, 121 mg/kg; and lasalocid, 124 mg/kg. In Experiment 2, levels were: amprolium and ethopabate, .02%; salinomycin, 55 mg/kg; monensin, 99 mg/kg; and lasalocid, 110 mg/kg. Both experiments employed unmedicated control groups. Average final body weights, daily feed intake, and feed:body weight were not affected by treatment in either experiment. In Experiment 1, daily water consumption of birds receiving 124 mg/kg lasalocid was elevated significantly (P < .05) over consumption of control birds and those that received halofuginone. Water consumption to body weight and feed ratios were significantly greater for birds fed lasalocid than for any group other than those receiving amprolium. In Experiment 2, daily water intake of groups receiving 110 mg/kg lasalocid was significantly elevated over that of other coccidiostats and controls. This relationship was also present in calculations of water:body weight and water:feed ratios.

Effects of dietary boron supplementation on broilers.

Two experiments were conducted with a total of 432 broiler chicks to investigate the influence of supplementing different amounts of boron to practical corn-soybean meal diets. The birds were housed in batteries and had free access to feed and water. In Experiment 1, 144 1-day-old broiler chicks were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 5, 40, 80, or 120 ppm boron for 21 days. Female body weight was not influenced by the dietary treatments. However, males supplemented with 5 ppm boron were heavier and their tibias resisted more load than the control birds. Overall feed conversion was not influenced by boron. In Experiment 2, 288 1-day-old broiler chicks were fed a basal diet supplemented with 0, 60, 120, 240, or 300 ppm boron for 22 days. Male and female body weights of the 300-ppm group were lower than those of the control birds. Percentage tibia ash was highest with 300 ppm boron. No significant differences were found in intestinal tract weight (grams of intestine per 100 g body weight) among treatments. Boron concentration in the breast muscle and liver increased as dietary concentration of boron increased. Data collected in these two experiments indicated that consumption of diets containing up to 240 ppm boron from hatch to 21 days of age was not detrimental to broiler performance. Data were not conclusive on the need for supplemental boron in broiler diets based on corn and soybean meal.

Broiler chick and laying hen tolerance to sodium hypochlorite in drinking water.

Two broiler and two laying hen experiments were conducted to establish threshold levels for sodium hypochlorite use in poultry drinking water. Both broiler experiments were of 21-days duration, and the first and second hen experiments ran for 8 and 4 wk, respectively. A 5.25% sodium hypochlorite solution was used to provide chloride levels of 0, 10, 100, or 500 ppm in the first broiler study and 0, 150, 200, 250, 300, 350, 400, or 450 ppm in the second study. Comparable sodium levels from sodium bicarbonate were additional treatments in the first broiler experiment. The initial hen study had drinking water treatments of 0, 50, or 100 ppm chloride whereas in the second study, treatments varied from 0 to 70 ppm chloride at 10-ppm intervals. In chick experiments, water intake was reduced by 100 ppm chloride and body weight by 300 ppm. Hen experiments demonstrated the adverse effect level to be 40 ppm for water consumption and 60 ppm for egg production when the application was to pullets producing eggs at a high rate in warm weather. Water consumption of older hens in cooler weather was adversely affected by 50 ppm chloride, but egg production, egg weight, or daily feed intake was not reduced by 100 ppm.

2-Hydroxy-4 (methylthio) butanoic acid as a drinking water supplement for broiler chicks.

Two experiments were conducted to study the effects on chick performance of a commercially available liquid methionine analog [2-hydroxy-4 (methylthio) butanoic acid; HMB] supplied through drinking water. Methionine activities of .025 and .05% were added to drinking water and compared with levels of .03, .06, or .09% included in a low-methionine basal diet from 0 to 21 days of age. Mortality was not significantly altered by any dietary treatment. Neither feed nor water intake was affected adversely by HMB inclusion in drinking water. Only male body weight in Experiment 1 did not respond to HMB feed supplementation. Equivalent levels of total sulfur amino acid intake among water treatments were associated with significantly heavier body weights than the control. In both experiments, body weight and feed efficiency of birds receiving .05% methionine activity as HMB in water were equal or superior to those of groups that received supplemented feed. The results indicate that, under the study conditions, HMB provided in drinking water can be effectively assimilated by broiler chicks, at least through 21 days of age.

Growth and performance of broiler breeders fed bacitracin methylene disalicylate and zinc bacitracin.

Day-old Cobb broiler breeder pullets were randomly allotted into 20 floor pens where they were brooded and reared to 23 wk of age. Eight pens received a control diet containing no growth promotant. The other 12 were fed 55 mg of bacitracin methylene disalicylate/kg of diet. Males were reared separately on the control diet. Pullets were full-fed for the first 8 wk of life, then placed on a skip-a-day program with breeder-recommended feed allocations. At 23 wk of age bird numbers were reduced to 26 females per pen, three males added, and diets changed to the layer regimen. Levels of 0, 27.5, 55, or 110 mg/kg of zinc bacitracin were each assigned to five pens with factorial attention to growing treatment. Layer treatments were continued for 280 days. No significant differences were associated with the feeding of bacitracin methylene disalicylate among body weight or mortality data summarized at 8 and 23 wk. Eight-week feed efficiency was also not affected. In the laying phase, 110 mg/kg of zinc bacitracin significantly improved egg production and fertility over the unsupplemented controls. Hatch of fertile eggs, overall hatchability, and the number of chicks per pen were all significantly improved by 27.5 mg/kg of zinc bacitracin. Higher drug levels supported no additional improvement. Feed efficiency, mortality rate, and final body weight were not significantly influenced by any level of supplementation. No effect of grower treatment upon subsequent layer performance was noted.

Supplementation of broiler drinking water with liquid ammonium polyphosphate.

1. In each of two experiments lasting 21 days a commercially available ammonium polyphosphate solution was provided in the drinking water as the sole source of supplemental phosphorus for day-old chicks housed in batteries. 2. In both experiments, similar daily phosphorus intakes either from dicalcium phosphate in the food or from ammonium polyphosphate in the drinking water supported equivalent responses in body weight gains. The same was true for the tibia ash results in experiment 2. 3. Liquid ammonium polyphosphate, while marketed for addition to diets, appears to be also very effective as a waterborne source of phosphorus for broilers.

Research note: Feeding various levels of ground Sesbania macrocarpa Muhl. seed to bobwhite quail.

Two 28-day experiments were conducted to determine the effects of various levels of ground Sesbania macrocarpa Muhl. seed on mature bobwhite quail. In Experiment 1, S. macrocarpa Muhl. seed levels of 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5% were added to a basal diet at the expense of filler and fed to five replicate groups of six 58-wk-old paired quail (one male and one female). Average daily feed consumption, hen-day egg production, average BW change, mortality, fertility, and hatchability were monitored. Four groups of eight individually caged females, 63 wk of age, were each given a diet containing 0, 2, 4, 6, 8 or 10% ground S. macrocarpa Muhl. seed in Experiment 2. A seventh treatment was added that consisted of 10% ground S. macrocarpa Muhl. from an older seed shipment used previously in work with White Leghorn hens. Increasing S. macrocarpa Muhl. seed levels in Experiment 1 did not cause significant deviations from the control treatment for average daily feed consumption, BW change, hen-day egg production, fertility, total hatchability, or hatchability of fertile eggs. In Experiment 2 neither average daily feed consumption nor hen-day egg production were affected by seed level or source. Quail given the 10% seed level using the older seed shipment had a significantly greater weight loss than the control birds. With the exception of this greater weight loss and in contrast with work involving chickens, dietary levels of ground S. macrocarpa Muhl. seed of up to 10% were acceptable to bobwhite quail.

Energy supplementation of laying hen feed and drinking water.

Duplicate experiments were conducted with White Leghorn pullets (29 and 31 wk old) to determine the influence of sucrose additions to feed or drinking water upon performance and average daily energy intake. Treatments consisted either of 3.06 or 4.58% sucrose in drinking water or of 4.76% sucrose in the feed compared with a control diet containing 2,657 kcal ME/kg. In each experiment, six replicate pens of 5 individually caged hens received feed or water treatments ad libitum for 42 days. Egg production and body weight change were not affected in either experiment by sucrose addition. Feed intake was significantly reduced in association with either level of sucrose in the water. In Experiment 1, egg weights from hens receiving sucrose water were significantly below those of controls, probably because of lowered feed intake. Total energy consumed per gram of body weight was significantly higher in both studies for birds receiving the sucrose water.

Tolerance to ground Sesbania macrocarpa seed by broiler chicks and White Leghorn hens.

Two 21-day experiments using day-old male broiler chicks and a 28-day experiment using 35-wk-old White Leghorn hens were conducted to determine the deleterious effects of ground Sesbania macrocarpa seed in the diet. Seed levels of 0, .10, .25, .50, and 1% were used in both experiments, with a 2% level of inclusion added to Experiment 2. The hens were fed diets containing 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, or 7% seed. In each experiment, four replicate pens of 8 chicks or of 5 hens received each treatment diet. In both chick studies, a seed inclusion of 1% caused a significant reduction in body weight at 21 days of age. Total feed intake was significantly lowered by the inclusion of 1% seed in the first study and by 2% seed in the second study. Feed efficiency, excreta moisture, and mortality were not affected by dietary level of seed in either trial. Seed inclusion at 3% or more depressed the daily feed consumption of the hens; at 6% seed inclusion, egg production was reduced. Egg weight, egg specific gravity, mortality, and body weight change were not affected by treatment. Grains containing sufficient S. macrocarpa seed to produce finished feed with 1 or 3% seed would appear to be detrimental to broiler growth and feed intake by hens, respectively. The blending of such grains with uncontaminated stock could be a possible method of utilizing the contaminated grain.

Response of White Leghorn hens to various dietary levels of Cassia obtusifolia and nutrient fortification as a means of alleviating depressed performance.

Two 28-day experiments with White Leghorn hens were conducted to determine the adverse effect level of ground Cassia obtusifolia seed (coffeeweed) in the diet and to examine the nutrient fortification required to improve depressed performance due to the presence of the seed. In both experiments, five individually caged hens were used for each of the four treatment replications. Treatments for Experiment 1 consisted of a control and six diets with ground C. obtusifolia seed substituted for a filler at levels of 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, and 7%. In Experiment 2, a series of nutritionally fortified (15 to 20% higher nutrient levels) and unfortified diets coupled with seed levels of 0, 4, 6, and 8% for a total of eight treatments was used. Average daily feed intake, hen-day egg production, egg weight, egg specific gravity, and body weight change were determined during each experiment. For Experiment 1, average daily feed consumption was measured every 24 h for the first 3 days. Egg production and feed consumption were significantly reduced by 2% seed in Experiment 1. Within the first 24 h, feed intake was decreased to 37% below that of controls by increasing to the highest seed level. Egg specific gravity dropped significantly below that of controls when hens were fed 5% seed. In Experiment 2, fortification improved feed consumption, hen-day egg production, body weight change, and egg specific gravity over that of birds fed unfortified diets with the same seed level. Finished diets contaminated with 2%, or more, C. obtusifolia seed can cause reduced performance in laying hens, but nutritionally fortifying these diets can help to alleviate depressed performance.

Precipitated bone phosphate in broiler chick diets.

Day-old Cobb x Cobb broiler chicks were housed in battery brooders for 21-day feeding periods during two experiments. Dietary treatments consisted of a corn-soybean starter feed (.37% total; .14% nonphytin phosphorus) supplemented with 0, .05, .10, .15, or .28% phosphorus in the form of dicalcium phosphate, precipitated bone phosphate, or a mixture of soft and precipitated phosphates (each providing 50% of the phosphorus addition). Total dietary calcium was held constant at .90%. Comparable dietary phosphorus from precipitated bone and the soft-precipitated mixture supported body weights statistically equivalent to those of dicalcium phosphate treatments. Tibia ash results at suboptimal phosphorus levels, with one exception, indicated statistically equal utilization from the soft-precipitated combination. Slope-ratio techniques using tibia ash and total nonphytin phosphorus intake established the bioavailability of phosphorus from precipitated bone was 120% when dicalcium phosphate was the standard. The data indicate that precipitated bone phosphate for broilers was fully equivalent in performance to dicalcium phosphate. Providing one-half the supplemental phosphorus from both soft phosphate and precipitated bone seemed to be an acceptable method of meeting practical phosphorus requirements.

Response of broiler chickens to addition of bacitracin methylene disalicylate and roxarsone to diets containing halofuginone.

Studies were conducted at six locations over a 7-yr period to evaluate the response of broiler chickens to bacitracin methylene disalicylate (BMD) and roxarsone in the presence of diets containing 3 ppm halofuginone/kg feed. Treatments consisted of a 2 x 2 factorial arrangement with 0 or 55 mg BMD and 0 or 50 mg roxarsone/kg feed. These additives were fed beginning with day-old chicks and were removed 6 days before termination of the study, which varied in length from 48 to 56 days among locations. Body weights were significantly improved (P less than .05) by the addition of either BMD or roxarsone with a significant interaction (P less than .05) between BMD and roxarsone. Roxarsone improved body weights only in the presence of BMD. Feed utilization was significantly (P less than .05) improved by addition of either BMD or roxarsone, with no interaction between the two products.