A Cross-Sectional Study on the Prevalence of Footpad Dermatitis in Canadian Turkeys

Footpad dermatitis (FPD) can be a prevalent issue in commercial turkey production. This study aimed to identify the bird, housing, and management-related factors associated with the prevalence of FPD in the Canadian turkey flocks. A questionnaire and flock health scoring system were developed and disseminated to ~500 commercial turkey farmers across Canada. Farmers were asked to score FPD on a subset of 30 birds within their flock using a 0–2 scoring scale based on severity. The prevalence of FPD in the flock was calculated as the percentage of affected birds (score 1 or 2). A multivariate linear regression modeling was used to identify the factors associated with the prevalence of FPD. Four variables were included in the final model and accounted for 26.7% of the variation in FPD prevalence among the flocks. FPD prevalence was higher with increasing bird weight (3.6 ± 1.13), higher in flocks bedded with straw (12.1 ± 7.9), higher in flocks where birds were picked up less frequently during daily inspections (11.6 ± 8.10), and higher in flocks that used feed/water additives to reduce litter moisture (20.5 ± 10.59). These findings are a preliminary exploratory assessment of risk factors related to FPD prevalence on Canadian turkey farms. While these findings emphasize the importance of litter management and the stockperson, estimates and P-values from this study should be interpreted with caution. Further, longitudinal studies with the identified variables are required to better determine their influence on FPD.

THE EFFECTIVENESS OF PREBIOTIC HEMIV ON THE BODY OF BROILER CHICKENS

We have studied the effect of the prebiotic hemiv on the organism of broiler chickens. As a result of the studies, the optimal dose of hemiv was established at which the growth of the bird increases, the safety increases, and the feed costs decrease. In this case, the optimal dose of the drug should be considered 0,6 g/kg of body weight. It should be noted that a higher dose (0,9 g/kg) does not give a significant increase in bird weight, and a low dose (0,3 g/kg) is less effective.

Bioavailability of Methionine-Coated Zinc Nanoparticles as a Dietary Supplement Leads to Improved Performance and Bone Strength in Broiler Chicken Production

Recently, nanotechnology has been widely adopted in many fields. The goal of this study was to evaluate the potential for amino acid coated nano minerals as a supplement in broiler feed. Zinc was selected as a model mineral for this test and supplementation of nano zinc, both coated and uncoated was compared with organic and inorganic commercial forms of zinc. A total of 48 pens (8 birds each) were assigned to one of the following dietary treatments: Control, methionine-Zinc chelate (M-Zn), nano zinc oxide (Nano-ZnO), and methionine coated nano zinc oxide (M-Nano-ZnO). All experimental diets were formulated with the same total zinc, methionine, protein, and energy content with just the zinc source as a variable. Bird weight, feed intake and feed conversion ratios were recorded weekly, with three birds culled (sacrificed) at day 21 and day 35 for sampling measures. Ileal digestibility of zinc was determined at day 21 and day 35 using titanium dioxide as an inert marker. Blood serum, liver and spleen samples were collected at day 21 and day 35 and analysed for zinc content via inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). Tibia strength and morphometrics were measured from both legs of three birds per pen at day 21 and day 35. The study was conducted at Nottingham Trent University Poultry Unit, UK. The novel method of producing nano minerals coated with amino acids was successfully tested with zinc and material produced to test in the feeding study. Methionine coated nano zinc oxide supplementation significantly improved bird weight gain and the increased feed intake of broilers compared to an inorganic zinc form. Ileal digestibility was also improved with this methionine-nano zinc. Moreover, this supplementation improved the tibia strength of broilers at the age of 21 days, though this was not observed at day 35. Therefore, M-Nano-ZnO could be used to supplement broilers to improve both performance and digestibility with a limited positive impact on bone strength. The results of the current study suggest that the amino acid coating of nano minerals can improve the digestibility of minerals which may have further implications for the field of mineral nutrition in animal feeds.

Eimeriosis in Poultry: Biology, Spread and Control Measures in the Caspian Sea Region of the Russian Federation

The purpose of the research is determining treatment and protective efficacy of modern drugs at eimeriosis in poultry under production conditions. Materials and methods. The work was carried out in a laboratory for invasion diseases of farm animals and poultry of the Caspian Zonal Scientific Research Veterinary Institute, and in the Republic poultry farms. Using Fulleborn’s method, there were 500 excrement samples from chicken aged 1–3 months and laying hens tested, autopsy of 87 birds carried out, and morphological traits of their structure studied, based on which Eimeria tenella and E. necatrix were differentiated. The treatment and protective efficacy of Eimeterm 2.5% was tested in combination with Enrofloxacin in a dose of 3.0 ml per 1 liter of drinking water within 5–6 days. The drugs were given to floor housed broiler chickens with water to drink, namely, Eimeterm was given for two consecutive days in a dose of 7.0 mg/kg of bird weight (28 ml per 100 kg of bird weight), which is equal to 1 ml of the drug per 1 liter of drinking water within 48 hours, or 3 ml of the drug per 1 liter of drinking water which was given to a bird to drink for 8 hours in a day two consecutive days, and Enrofloxacin in a dose of 3.0 ml per 1 liter of drinking water within 5–6 days as compared to basic drug Amprolium. In another poultry house, test broiler chickens were administered 7.5 g of Amprolium 20% in powder form mixed with 1 kg of feed within 7–8 days. The therapeutic efficacy was evaluated by the results of coproscopic examinations and scrapes from different floor sections. A sample autopsy of chickens was carried out to find any morphological change in the digestive tract and Coccidia; intestinal mucosa swabs were tested using the Darling’s method, which was standardized by N. P. Orlov. The results obtained were processed statistically. Results and discussion. The results of broiler chickens’ cecum examinations revealed a high rate of Eimeria infection. Thus, 20–30 oocysts were found in 55 samples in a single microscope field representing 63.2%. The oocysts referred to four species: Е. tenella, E. maxima and Е. mitis in the cecum and small bowel, and E. accervulina in the duodenum. 100% efficacy of Eimeterm 2.5% and Enrofloxacin when combined with water was confirmed. The mortality rate reduced from 137 to 11 animals per day. The survivability of broiler chickens in the test group in the growing period was 94.3%. The autopsy of broiler chickens showed no Eimeriosis-specific changes in the visceras. The tests of 200 cecum swabs and scatoscopy of 20 excrement samples found no Eimeria oocysts.

The method of trophy assessment of capercaillies

The capercaillie as one of the most important hunting objects in Russia has not yet been included in the list of esti-mated hunting trophies due to the lack of an acceptable assessment methodology. The aim of the work is to develop a method for assessing the trophy advantages of a capercaillie. The objects of the study were morphological indicators which expressed the size and the age of the birds caught. The study involved 39 stuffed animals of capercaillie, 47 carcasses of freshly caught birds and 105 skulls from research collections. Measurement of taxidermy products (stuffed animals and museum carcasses) gives inaccurate information about the fowl caught. It is preferable to use the skull of a male capercaillie as a trophy. In the system of the International Council for the Hunting and Preservation of the Wildlife (CIC) the traditional measurements of the skull are the maximum length and width. In trophy animals, the scull size sufficiently reflects the sum of these indicators, therefore they are chosen for trophy assessment. For capercaillie, the correlation of similar pro-meters with body weight was not so close r = 0.489. In authors’ opinion, the assessment method should include the size of the interorbital space as an addi-tional parameter. This measurement is used in methods for determining the age of capercaillies caught. The formula for scoring is the product of the interorbital space by the sum of the maximum length and width of the skull. The correlation coeffi-cient between the trophy rating by this formula and the bird weight in this study is rm = 0.931, and the trophy rating and age rv = 0.920. The intervals of the final points for awarding the medals are: bronze  55-59.99 points, silver  60-64.99, gold  more than 65 points. This assessment system was successfully tested at two exhibitions of hunting trophies held in the Kirov region in 2017, and was approved by expert commissions.

Rearing, bird type and pre-slaughter transport conditions I. Effect on dead on arrival

The transport of broilers to slaughter normally results in a small percentage of dead on arrival (DoA) but little is known about the effects of flock thinning or bird weight. A multivariable linear model was used to analyse the incidence of DoA over one year in 1,856 flocks of Ross broilers (9,188 shipments). Each flock was categorized according to broiler type (yellow-skinned females and males, white-skinned females and males and roaster females) and thinning (birds transported after thinning, remaining birds after thinning and non-thinned flocks), in addition to transport distance, waiting time, maximum and minimum daily temperatures, precipitation and maximum wind speed. The overall percentage of DoA was 0.187%. The effect of the daily maximum outside temperature on DoA was quadratic with minimum DoA at 21.5ºC. Arrival time to the slaughterhouse and waiting time increased DoA by 0.0044% and 0.0021% for every 60 min increase, respectively. DoA were higher in males (which were heavier than females), and in the flocks that were previously thinned. An interaction between thinning and bird type was found, so that DoA were higher in previously thinned flocks of male broilers and roaster females. Despite the high incidence of thinning and larger bird weight, the percentage of DoA was comparable to previous studies. This research provides one of the largest detailed analyses of DoA in commercial broiler production in the Iberian Peninsula. The models described allow to quantify how increases in temperature, transport distance, waiting time, bird weight and the practise of thinning can all increase broiler mortality.

Providing laying hens in group-housed enriched cages with access to barley silage reduces aggressive and feather-pecking behaviour

Two trials were conducted to study the effect of feeding barley silage on the behaviour and performance of beak-trimmed laying hens. In each trial, 20 hens and 2 roosters were housed in each of eight group-housed enriched cages, with four cages provided a laying hen diet and four cages additionally given free access to barley silage. Egg production and quality, and hen behaviour were assessed throughout the trials (Trial One 20–30 weeks; Trial Two 19–28 weeks). Data were analysed using Proc Mixed of SAS 9.4 and differences were significant when P ≤ 0.05. Silage-fed hens consumed 41 (13.9 g DM) and 50 (13.5 g DM) grams of silage per hen per day in Trials One and Two, respectively, while consuming less layer diet. Birds fed silage spent less time expressing aggressive and feather-pecking behaviours and in nest boxes, and more time feeding than control birds. Egg production, egg quality, and bird weight were not affected by treatment; yolk colour was darker for the silage treatment. Feathering quality was improved in silage-fed birds compared to control birds. It was concluded that providing hens with access to barley silage can improve welfare indicators without negatively affecting the egg production and egg quality.

Assessment of the influence of oligosaccharides isolated from pea seeds on functional quality of quail

An experiment was conducted on mature Pharaoh quail kept in cages with constant access to feed and water. The birds were divided into three feeding groups (two replications) of 48 female and 16 male birds each. Quail of the first group were fed a standard feed, those of group 2 and 3 received feed enriched with oligosaccharides at a dose of 0.4 g and 3 g, respectively. In the course of the experiment the following measurements were taken: bird weight, feed intake, egg laying capacity, egg weight, death rate, egg hatchability. Blood was examined for cholesterol and triglycerides, yolks for the protein and gammaglobulin level. The digestive tract was analysed for bifidobacteria counts. The oligosaccharide-enriched feed reduced the time of maturation, increased egg laying capacity and egg weight, and also decreased the consumption of feed per egg. No clear influence of the oligosaccharide supplementation was found as far as the blood cholesterol and triglyceride content was concerned and gammaglobulin in the eggs. The quail of the groups receiving oligosaccharides had lower bifidobacteria counts in their digestive tracts.