scholarly journals The Influence of a Genetic Change in Egg Production, Body Weight, Fertility or Response to Cold Stress on Semen Yield in the Turkey

1977 ◽  
Vol 56 (2) ◽  
pp. 421-425 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karl E. Nestor
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Cold Stress ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Genetic Change ◽  
Production Body

scholarly journals Warm Perches: A Novel Approach For Reducing Cold Stress Effect on Production, Plasma Hormones, and Immunity in Laying Hens

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jiaying Hu ◽  
Heng Wei Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Cold Stress ◽  
Cold Exposure ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Plasma Levels ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
Laying Hens ◽  
Plasma Concentrations ◽  
Economic Losses ◽  
Stress Effect

Abstract Background: Cold temperature is a common environmental stressor that has a great impact on the poultry industries, inducing pathophysiological stress in birds with profound economic losses. Current methods used for preventing cold stress, such as reducing ventilation and using gas heaters, are facing challenges due to poor indoor air quality and its deleterious effects on bird and caretaker health. The aim of this study was to examine if the novelly designed warmed perch system, as a thermal device, can reduce cold stress-associated adverse effects on laying hens. Methods: Seventy-two 32-week-old DeKalb hens were randomly assigned to 36 cages arranged to 3 banks. The banks were assigned to 1 of 3 treatments: cages with warmed perches (WP; perches with circulating water at 30 oC), air perches (AP, regular perches only) or no perches (NP) for a 21- day trial. The room temperature was set at 10 oC during the entire experimental period. Rectal temperature and body weight were measured from the same bird of each cage at day 1, 8, 15, and 21 during the cold exposure. Egg production was recorded daily. Feed intake, egg and eggshell quality were determined during the 1st and 3rd week of cold stress. Plasma levels of corticosterone, thyroid hormones (3, 3’, 5-triiodothyronine and thyroxine), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-10, were determined at day 1 and 21 post initiation of cold exposure. Results: Compared to both AP and NP hens, WP hens were able to maintain their body temperature without increasing feed intake and losing body weight. The eggs laid by WP hens had thicker eggshell during the 3rd week of cold exposure. Warmed perch hens also had a lower thyroxine conversion rate (3, 3’, 5-triiodothyronine/thyroxine) at day 1, while higher plasma concentrations of IL-6 at day 21. Plasma levels of corticosterone, 3, 3’, 5-triiodothyronine, and IL-10 were not different among treatments. Conclusions: Our results indicate that the warmed perch system can be used as a novel thermal device for preventing cold stress-induced negative effects on hen health and welfare through regulating innate immunity and metabolic hormonal homeostasis.

scholarly journals Effects of Ochratoxin A on Egg Production, Body Weight, and Feed Intake in White Leghorn Hens

1981 ◽  
Vol 60 (6) ◽  
pp. 1145-1148 ◽  
Author(s):  
M.G. PRIOR ◽  
C.S. SISODIA ◽  
J.B. O’NEIL
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Ochratoxin A ◽  
Feed Intake ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
White Leghorn ◽  
Production Body

PERFORMANCE OF DWARF BROILER BREEDERS IN LAYING CAGES AND FLOOR PENS AND OF NORMAL BREEDERS IN FLOOR PENS

1975 ◽  
Vol 55 (4) ◽  
pp. 741-747 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. H. STRAIN ◽  
A. P. PILOSKI
Keyword(s):  
Body Weight ◽  
Egg Production ◽  
General Pattern ◽  
Female Offspring ◽  
Male Offspring ◽  
Production Cycle ◽  
Feed Conversion ◽  
Broiler Breeders ◽  
Feed Costs

Dwarf broiler breeders in single-bird cages (DC), in floor pens (DF) and normal broiler breeders in floor pens (NF) were compared for their own and their offspring’s performance. No differences were observed in rate of egg production at 147–329 days of age between the NF and DF birds (48 vs. 47%) whereas the DC birds laid at the rate of 40%. Hen-housed egg numbers for the same period followed the same general pattern (NF, 81; DF, 82; DC, 70 eggs/bird). DF and DC birds consumed less feed per dozen eggs than the NF birds (3.4 vs. 4.3 kg/doz). Egg weights in the early part of the production cycle were not significantly different among the groups but at 294 days of age the normal birds laid larger eggs than the dwarfs (65 vs. 62 g). Dwarfs in cages reached 50% production earlier than the DF or NF birds. Female offspring from the three groups grew at the same rate and weighed 1.7 kg at 56 days of age but there were significant differences in feed conversion (NF, 2.46; DF, 2.43; DC, 2.53 kg/kg body weight produced). Male offspring had small but not statistically significant differences in body weight at 56 days (NF, 2.16; DF, 2.12; DC, 2.09 kg) or feed conversion (NF, 2.30; DF, 2.29; DC, 2.34 kg/kg body weight). Mortality in the offspring ranged from 2.7 to 9.2% but did not differ significantly. Income over feed costs per broiler started did not differ from the three groups regardless of the meat price – feed price combination considered. However, when profit was computed on a breeder hen basis, the DF females were more profitable than either the NF or DC females.

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