2. Ornithobacterium rhinotracheale is a bacterium associated with respiratory tract infections in poultry. The mechanisms by which O. rhinotracheale causes infection are not known. To date, at least 18 serovars of this bacterium, with or without the ability to agglutinate erythrocytes of chicken and other species, have been identified.
3. The purpose of this work was to evaluate the ability of five references strains, belonging to serovars A, B, C, D and E, to adhere to a culture of primary chicken tracheal cells.
4. Serovars A and B adhered to less than 20% of tracheal cells with no specific adherence pattern. Serovars C, D and E gave adherence values greater than 70%. Serovars C and E showed a diffuse adherence pattern, while serovar D had an aggregated adherence pattern.
5. The adherence ability and pattern could be associated with different pathogenicity mechanisms in the various serovars but more studies are needed to understand the reasons for these differences. 相似文献
2. To investigate whether a S. sofia isolate from a broiler could colonise layers, one-month-old Hyline brown layers were orally inoculated with S. sofia and colonisation was monitored for 2–4 weeks.
3. Overall, 30–40% of the chickens shed S. sofia from the cloaca between 6 and 14 d post-inoculation which then declined to 10% by d 21. Necropsy at 2 weeks post-inoculation revealed 80% of birds harboured S. sofia in the caecum, whilst, by 4 weeks post-infection, no chickens were colonised with S. sofia in the gastrointestinal tract, liver or spleen. Additionally, no aerosol ‘bird to bird’ transfer was evident.
4. This study demonstrated that laying hens can be colonised by broiler-derived S. sofia; however, this colonisation was transient, reaching a peak at 14 d post-inoculation, and was completely cleared by 28 d post-inoculation. The transience of colonisation of S. sofia in layers could be a factor explaining why S. sofia has never been detected when screening for Salmonella serotypes found in Australian laying hens or eggs. 相似文献
2.?The geometric mean for Salmonella was 44 Most Probable Number (MPN)/g for the 20 positive samples. Five samples were between 100 and 1000 MPN/g and one at 105 MPN/g, indicating a range of factors are contributing to these varying loads of this organism in litter.
3.?The geometric mean for Campylobacter was 30 MPN/g for the 10 positive samples, with 7 of these samples being <100 MPN/g. The low prevalence and incidence of Campylobacter were possibly due to the rapid die-off of this organism.
4.?E. coli values were markedly higher than the two key pathogens (geometric mean 2?0 × 105 colony forming units (cfu)/g) with overall values being more or less within the same range across all samples in the trial, suggesting a uniform contribution pattern of these organisms in litter.
5.?Listeria monocytogenes was absent in all samples and this organism appears not to be an issue in litter.
6.?The dominant (70% of the isolates) Salmonella serovar was S. Sofia (a common serovar isolated from chickens in Australia) and was isolated across all regions. Other major serovars were S. Virchow and S. Chester (at 10%) and S. Bovismorbificans and S. Infantis (at 8%) with these serovars demonstrating a spatial distribution across the major regions tested.
7.?There is potential to re-use litter in the environment depending on end use and the support of relevant application practices and guidelines. 相似文献
2. Eighty broilers were randomly divided into two groups. Birds in the control group were fed on maize–soybean-based diets. Birds in the treatment group were provided the same diet supplemented with 2 g/kg BA encapsulated in a vegetable oil matrix.
3. At the end of the trial (d 35), pH, bacterial composition and metabolites were determined in the crop, jejunum, ileum and caecum.
4. Growth performance variables and pH were not significantly different.
5. BA concentration decreased rapidly in the proximal gut. However, the treatment diet showed higher BA in the crop, jejunum, ileum and caecum.
6. Total lactate in the crop and D-lactate in the jejunum was higher in the BA treated group. Caecal total and branched chain fatty acids were decreased due to the treatment.
7. Lactobacilli populations were significantly altered by BA supplementation. A trend for increased lactobacilli was observed in the crop, while it became significant in the jejunum and ileum. Lactobacillus species responded differently to the treatment. Four of 5 measured Lactobacillus species, particularly in the ileum, followed the course observed for total lactobacilli; only Lactobacillus salivarius was not modified.
8. Correlation analysis showed that BA modified the intestinal microbiota. Lactobacilli correlated negatively to all studied clostridial clusters and enterobacteria. Clostridial clusters IV and XIVa were significantly increased in the jejunum, whereas only clostridial cluster XIVa was increased in the caecum.
9. Encapsulated BA modified the intestinal microbiota which can lead to the conclusion, that the main beneficial mode of action of BA in the gut appears to be the enhancement of lactic acid bacteria, which in turn may act as a vanguard against pathogens. 相似文献
2. It was fed at 16 weeks of age to five separate groups (groups 2 to 6) each of 50 to 60 birds.
3. Group 2 was fed on a normal layers’ diet at 23 weeks of age, group 3 at 27 weeks, group 4 at 31 weeks, group 5 at 35 weeks and group 6 at 55 weeks while the control group (group 1) of similar size to groups 2 to 6 was subjected to a normal commercial treatment for laying stock.
4. In all the experimental groups the onset of sexual maturity occurred normally, but only one or two eggs were laid before laying ceased under the influence of the treatment.
5. Laying re‐started when the hens were fed on a normal diet and production rapidly rose to a high level.
6. Groups 1, 2 and 3 differed little in the total number of eggs produced up to 72 weeks of age.
7. In all experimental groups there were fewer very small, small and medium eggs than in the control group.
8. It is suggested that the use of a low‐calcium diet before the onset of lay may have advantages which could be exploited on a commercial scale. 相似文献
2. Challenge with T‐strain IBV decreased body weight and induced kidney hypertrophy and kidney asymmetry.
3. Haematocrit was reduced in birds challenged with the Australian T‐strain IBV and plasma uric acid was elevated in unvaccinated birds exposed to the IBV challenge.
4. Challenge with T‐strain IBV caused significant increases in urinary water losses, accompanied by decreased urine osmolality and increased fractional excretion of sodium, calcium and potassium.
5. Vaccination at 1‐d‐old with Vic S‐strain IBV provided a limited degree of protection against an heterologous challenge with T‐strain IBV at 15 d of age. 相似文献
2. A total of 216 geese were either naturally (114) or artificially (102) hatched and reared in intensive or free-range production systems (4 replicates each) until 18 weeks of age.
3. Weights of naturally hatched goslings (NHG) were significantly higher than artificially hatched goslings (AHG) at 2 weeks (644 vs. 536 g); however, weights of AHG were significantly higher than NHG at both 6 weeks (3245 vs. 3010 g) and 18 weeks (5212 vs. 4353 g).
4. AHG had better feed conversion ratios (FCRs) than NHG (6.21 vs. 6.46 at 18 weeks). Feed consumption of naturally hatched geese was found higher in first 4 weeks when compared to artificially hatched geese and artificially hatched geese consumed more feed than naturally hatched geese after 8 weeks.
5. Production system had insignificant effects on feed consumption, FCRs, viability and mutilation rates.
6. Slipped wings were more frequent in NHG than AHG (8.32% vs. 1.68% at 6 weeks; 23.84% vs. 5.12% between 7 and 18 weeks) and in free-range production when compared to intensive production (17.88% vs. 11.08% over the course of the production period).
7. The study results indicate that both artificially and NHG can be reared in free-range production systems without any loss in performance and in deference to animal welfare. 相似文献
2. Restricted birds were lighter throughout the experiment.
3. Relative adrenal weight tended to be greater in restricted birds but the difference decreased with time.
4. There was no depletion of adrenal cholesterol: from week 5 there was a significantly greater amount in the adrenals of restricted birds.
5. After 1 week of restriction plasma corticosterone concentration was 73% greater than in controls. It decreased progressively, falling within the normal range at 5 weeks.
6. Restricted birds were hypoglycaemic from weeks 2 to 7 and hyper‐lipacidaemic throughout. A negative correlation between plasma glucose and free fatty acids was found. 相似文献
2. Plasma VLDL plus LDL triglyceride concentrations were similar in males and females and only slightly higher in birds fed on the high‐fat diet. Concentrations at 3 weeks were similar to those at 7 weeks.
3. Body fat content was correlated more closely with plasma VLDL plus LDL triglyceride measured at 7 weeks than at 3 weeks.
4. Phenotypic correlations between body fat content and plasma VLDL plus LDL triglyceride concentrations at 7 weeks were 0.47 and 0.43 for males and females respectively fed on the high‐fat diet and 0.70 and 0.60 for males and females fed on the low‐fat diet.
5. Phenotypic correlations between body fat content and measurements with an abdominal caliper were 0.35 and 0.49 in birds fed on the high‐ and low‐fat diets respectively.
6. A possible procedure for selecting for leanness in broiler breeding programmes on the basis of measurements of plasma VLDL plus LDL triglycerides is discussed. 相似文献
2. Heritability estimates of performing FP were 0.05 ± 0.06, 0.14* ± 0.07 and 0.38** ± 0.12 for 6, 38 and 69 weeks respectively for sum of pecks (PECKS) and 0.13* ± 0.07, 0.13* ± 0.07 and 0.35** ±0.12 for sum of bouts (BOUTS).
3. Heritability estimates of receiving FP were not significantly different from 0 except at 6 weeks (0.15* ±0.07 and the average of the 3 age classes (AVG) (0.22** ± 0.09) for PECKS and at 6 weeks (0.15* ±0.07) using BOUTS.
4. Genetic correlations of performing FP among age classes were in general high and significant. This was not the case with receiving FP.
5. Plumage cover at 51 weeks had a negative genetic correlation with performing FP at 69 weeks and AVG, but not with receiving FP. No phenotypic correlations were significant between plumage and FP.
6. Body weight at 51 weeks had a negative genetic correlation with performing FP at AVG.
7. Heritability estimates for performing and receiving FP at 6 weeks correspond to those in the literature. No estimates have previously been reported on feather pecking at 38 weeks or 69 weeks.
8. Selection of birds with no or a very low tendency to perform feather pecking should, on the basis of our results, be feasible. 相似文献
2. Food intake was least when restrictions were started at 3 weeks.
3. Sexual maturity was delayed in proportion to the severity of restriction and resulted in lower percentages of small eggs.
4. Egg numbers decreased as restriction increased.
5. Mortality in restricted groups during rearing and laying was higher.
6. Optimal restriction was apparently intermediate between treatments producing 88 or 76% of ad libitum‐fed body weight. Body weight was so excessively affected by the most severe restriction that total production was adversely affected.
7. Restriction from 3 weeks was more profitable than restriction from 6 or 9 weeks, resulting in lower food cost during rearing and higher total egg production. 相似文献
2. Higher rates of fertility and hatchability of Japanese quail eggs were observed from parents of 10 to 19 weeks of age, with peak fertility and hatchability at 14 and 12 weeks of age, respectively.
3. Sex ratios of 1:2 to 1:5 gave comparable fertility and hatchability results.
4. The hatching performance of quail eggs from cage and deep litter reared breeders was comparable.
5. Fertility and hatchability were directly proportional to the egg weight.
6. Quail egg shell colour, tints and blotches were found to influence hatching performance.
7. Storing quail eggs at 16 ± 2°C and 75 ± 5% relative humidity for more than 4 d reduced hatchability.
8. Hatchability of eggs stored at room temperature was improved if they were sealed in polyethylene bags.
9. Provision of light during the first 14 d of incubation resulted in a photo‐acceleration of about 3.2 h. 相似文献
2. More eggs were produced per hen housed from 30 to 70 weeks in the shallow cages; the difference approached significance.
3. The pattern of feeding activity over the day was significantly more U‐shaped in the shallow cages; this pattern accords more closely with physiological requirements.
4. Feather damage caused by pecking was slightly but significantly more severe in the deep cages at 70 weeks.
5. The proportion of cracked eggs (collected from 60 to 70 weeks) was significantly lower in the shallow cages.
6. The arrangement of the hens was such that within the shallow cages a higher proportion of birds was present in the front half.
7. It is suggested that some of the advantages conferred by the shallow cage may be related to the greater accessibility of the food trough. 相似文献
2. Yolk cholesterol concentration decreases between 20 and 30 weeks of age, and then remains constant until 70 weeks of age. Yolk total lipid concentration increases to a maximum at 40 weeks of age before decreasing to its original value at 60 and 70 weeks of age.
3. Bird means for yolk cholesterol and total lipid concentration are negatively related at 20 weeks of age, and essentially independent for the remainder of the first year of egg production.
4. Variation for yolk cholesterol concentration between 30 and 70 weeks of age appears to be a consequence of differences in the proportion of cholesterol to other lipid components.
5. Uptake of plasma lipoproteins characteristic of the immature bird is likely to be responsible for the high yolk cholesterol concentration at 20 weeks of age. 相似文献
2. Using immunity challenge techniques 17 flocks from 12 to 72 weeks of age showed significantly lower lesion scores for the first three species compared with susceptible control flocks similarly challenged. Only one flock was found to be susceptible to E. tenella. No mortality occurred in the field flocks after challenge while 20 to 60% mortality occurred in the susceptible controls.
3. Partial immunity occurred more frequently in field flocks aged 28 weeks of age or less (62%) than in older flocks (30%). Lesion scores ranged from 0.1 to 2.2 with the former and 0.1 to 0.6 with the latter group.
4. A modification of the immunity challenge method was developed using lesion scores as the major criterion determining immunity. The method permits testing of four species infecting different parts of the digestive tract in one group of birds. 相似文献
2. Expressed per unit body weight, food and metabolisable energy (ME) intake and weight gain decreased between 2 and 3 weeks of age, but remained constant thereafter.
3. No differences were observed between sexes for any variable measured. Efficiency of utilisation of ME for energy retention was only 0.33. This was mainly because the majority of energy was retained as protein tissue.
4. Nitrogen (N) retention (g/d) increased with increasing dietary N intake but when expressed as a proportion of N intake, declined from 0.46 at 2 weeks to 0.33 at 4 weeks. Fat retention increased substantially during week 4.
5. Carcass analyses showed that fat, protein and ash were higher for quail at 5 weeks than at 2 weeks of age. At 5 weeks carcass fat was only 60 g/kg. 相似文献
2. At 8 weeks of age, birds receiving 50 and 75 g sand/kg diet were significantly heavier than those receiving the basal diet and 100 g sand/kg diet.
3. Birds receiving 0 and 100 g sand/kg diet consumed similar quantities of basal diet and yielded similar corrected food:gain ratios.
4. Dietary dilution with sand had no significant effect on mortality, apparent carcase yield, preventriculus weight, gizzard weight and intestinal length. Crop weights were significantly greater in birds given 100 g sand/kg diet to the age of 4 weeks.
5. The litter moisture content was significantly less in pens containing birds receiving 75 or 100 g sand/kg diet after 5 weeks of age. 相似文献
2. Time of day of injection did not modify the response to corticosterone of 3‐week‐old chicks kept under natural daylight nor of 7‐week‐old broilers receiving additional illumination.
3. Pure White Rock chicks and Cornish x White Rock crossbred chicks responded similarly to corticosterone injections at 3 weeks of age.
4. Seven‐week‐old female birds treated with corticosterone had significantly larger abdominal fat pads than similarly treated males.
5. Corticosterone injection was more effective in increasing the proportion of liver fat in 7‐week‐old birds than in 3‐week‐old ?hicks.
6. The increased amount of abdominal and liver fat due to corticosterone injections administered at 3 weeks of age disappeared after 3 weeks, but growth depression was still evident. 相似文献
2. The production of double‐yolked eggs/100 hen d, high during the initial weeks of lay, rapidly declined and disappeared by 30 weeks of age.
3. The frequencies of broken, membranous and soft‐shelled eggs were significantly correlated with each other and with the frequency of multiple daily ovulations indicating a common aetiology for these defective egg types.
4. Double‐yolked eggs were produced by the heavier, earlier‐maturing pullets in the population.
5. Normal egg production in dwarf White Leghorns may be enhanced by reducing the incidence of defective eggs. 相似文献
2. The Na and water contents of skeletal muscles were increased by TA treatment while K was unaltered.
3. The extracellular space expressed as a proportion of starved body weight was unaffected by TA implantation.
4. Plasma or serum concentrations of P, Ca, Mg, Na and K and activities of the enzymes aspartate aminotransferase [EC 2.6.1.1], creatine kinase [EG 2.7.3.2] and γ‐glutamyl transferase [EC 2.3.2.2] were not changed by TA treatment.
5. Packed cell volume was significantly increased by TA implantation after a delay of some 2 to 3 weeks while plasma protein concentrations were immediately decreased for a period of two weeks before nearly normal concentrations were obtained again.
6. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate was decreased by TA treatment, but serum protein electrophoretic pattern was unchanged. 相似文献