1. The fear levels of broilers arriving from slaughter at 4 commercial processing plants were assessed using tonic immobility (TI) tests. The relative effects of selected variables were also examined.
2. Neither the position of the birds on the lorry, nor their sex, nor the ambient temperature nor the identity of the experimeter exerted any significant effects on tonic immobility reactions.
3. Although the longest and shortest immobility responses followed transportation in the fixed crates and metal modules respectively, system comparisons may be confounded by variations in the birds’ genetic and/or experiential backgrounds.
4. Both journey duration and waiting time before transport bore an unambiguous and positive linear relationship with mean TI duration. The duration of transit was the major factor determining fear levels following both commercial and simulated journeys. 相似文献
1. A pause in egg production was induced in brown‐egg laying hens, aged 68 weeks, by feeding them whole oats for 7 d. Subsequently, these hens, together with control groups, were given laying diets with either 400 or 600 mg/kg iron. The 200 mg/kg of supplemental iron was added in the form of either ferrous sulphate or iron proteinate (chelated iron).
2. The feeding of whole oats halted egg production in 5.7 ±0.22 d and the duration of the pause was 8.3 ±0.78 d.
3. The induction of a pause improved the subsequent rate of egg production, egg output, efficiency of food utilisation, albumen quality, egg specific gravity and shell colour. It also increased food intake and body weight gain but neither egg weight nor the rate of mortality were affected.
4. Neither supplementation of the diet with iron nor its source had any significant effect on laying performance, egg quality or shell colour. 相似文献
1. The effects of feeding two fats with different degrees of saturation on skin tearing, carcase quality and body fat composition were examined in male and female chickens.
2. No differences in growth or efficiency of food utilisation were apparent on feeding the more saturated fat. Skin tearing was slightly reduced and carcase quality slightly improved on feeding the more saturated fat for 28 d.
3. Decreases in linoleic acid content in intra‐abdominal fat were apparent after 14 d feeding the diet containing saturated fat. These decreases were greater after feeding the saturated fat for 28 d. 相似文献
1. This article addresses the current and future role of artificial insemination (AI) in the broiler industry.
2. The application and success of AI programmes in commercial broiler breeder operations are largely dependent on efficient cage management (nutrition, lighting, environment, health programmes) of both males and females.
3. Artificial insemination will remain a viable alternative for the broiler industry, which competes within the economic constraints of least‐cost production. 相似文献
1. The effect of early exposure of heavy breed (HB) chicks to an anti‐oestrogen (tamoxifen—TAM) on later adiposity was studied.
2. TAM administration at the embryonic stage, but not at the day of hatching, reduced adiposity in females but not in males, at 8 to 9 weeks of age. This reduction in adiposity in females minimised or even alleviated the excess of fat in females compared to males. 相似文献
1. Some computer programs for least‐cost diet formulation include a facility for allowing variable diet density. A commonly used approach in such programs has been criticised for not maintaining nutrient proportions.
2. One proposed method of ensuring proportionality among nutrients involves numerous calculations during matrix construction, hampering matrix interpretation and revision.
3. An alternative, more convenient approach is presented and discussed. 相似文献
Fasted Brazilian squirrel monkeys (BrSMs) exhibited slightly higher serum bilirubin levels (0.30±0.05 mg/dl) than others in the fed state (0.13±0.01). The mean liver weight was 50% lower following a 22 h fast. The rate of bile flow was unaffected by fasting and averaged 13.8 l/min/kg and 47.5 l/min/100g liver in six BrSMs. No significant difference in mean bilirubin excretion/min was observed on a body weight basis following fasting. When the mean rate of bilirubin excretion was calculated as a function of liver weight, a two-fold higher rate was present in fasted monkeys, but only at the p=0.06 level of statistical significance. From data collected in this and earlier studies, it would appear that BrSMs represent the best animals studied to date to serve as experimental controls in comparative studies with Bovilian squirrel monkeys which exhibit a Gilbert-like syndrome. 相似文献
Cyclic adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) cocentrations in milk and plasma samples from healthy and mastitic cows were determined by radioi-immunoassay and compared with prostaglandins (PGE2, PGF2 and thromboxane B2 [TXB2]), phospholipids and other relevant parameters in milk and blood. The concentrations of cAMP were about five times higher in plasma (p<0.01) than in milk, whereas the cGMP concentration in milk was three times higher (p<0.01) than that in plasma in both healthy and diseased animals. In mastitic milk, the cAMP and cGMP concentrations were 19% and 65% and in blood plasma 13% and 84% higher respectively than in healthy animals. In milk, cyclic nucleotide concentrations correlated with the markedly elevated cell count and also with the prostaglandin concentration and pH. In blood, cAMP correlated positively with phospholipids and cGMP with reduced glutathione (GSH). These changes are considered to be important in the disease process and, in particular, the increase in cGMP deserves further study. 相似文献
Randomized placebo-controlled crossover studies were carried out in dogs to evaluate how two non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID) might modulate an acute post-traumatic inflammatory reaction. Two "identical" surgical interventions were performed on the forelimbs of each animal with an interval of 28 days, to enable a paired comparison of the inflammatory signs and the wound/bone healing processes. At one operation 8 dogs received 300 mg phenylbutazone twice daily for 8 days starting on the day before surgery, and at the other operation matching placebo tablets were given. In a similar placebo-controlled trial another group of 8 dogs received 5 mg indomethacin twice daily. With phenylbutazone the post-operative swelling was not significantly reduced compared to placebo, but there was less pain and limping. With indomethacin the swelling was somewhat reduced, but there was no consistent difference to placebo in the pain and limping assessments. None of the drugs appeared to distinctly effect the wound or fracture healing, as evaluated by clinical inspection, comparison of radiographs and comparison of bone sections from the sites of surgery. It proved difficult to select an appropriate dosage of indomethacin due to its high potential to induce GI ulceration and bleeding in dogs. In this experimental surgical model with an acute inflammation, neither phenylbutazone nor indomethacin showed impressive anti-inflammatory or analgesic properties. In the same model paracetamol has proved to significantly and more efficiently, reduce both swelling and pain without any noticeable adverse effects, and appears to be a better alternative than the two presently tested NSAID. 相似文献
