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Biomedical subjects

J D Summers

Publications and source records attributed to J D Summers.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Use of single-stage low protein diets for growing Leghorn pullets.

Two experiments were conducted in which growing White Leghorn pullets were fed single-stage 14% CP diets from 0 to 19 weeks. In the first trial, diet treatments were 1) conventional step-down protein, 2) reverse-protein, 3) 14% CP single-stage with methionine and lysine adjusted to 2 and 5% of CP, respectively, 4) as per 3 to 12 weeks followed by 14% CP with no amino acid constraints to 19 weeks. Each treatment was tested with 14 replicated cages each of 11 commercial strain Leghorn pullets. Single-stage 14% CP diets reduced pullet weight to 16 weeks relative to conventionalLy fed birds, although after this time no significant (P greater than .05) effect was observed. Pullets fed the reverse-protein diets were significantly (P less than .01) smaller than birds from all other treatments. During a subsequent 52-week laying period, rearing treatment had no significant effect on egg production, egg weight, shell deformation, feed intake, or Haugh units. A second trial was conducted to note the effect of energy level on the birds' response to low-protein diets. Diets of 14.4% CP were formulated to provide either 2610 or 3164-kcal ME/kg. A third treatment allowed for self-selection of two diets providing concentrated sources fo protein or energy. Each treatment was tested with nine replicate cages of 10 commercial strain White Leghorn pullets. Dietary energy had little effect on pullet development. Although birds offered the low-energy diets consistently consumed more protein, diet had no effect on body weight or carcass composition at 18 weeks. The data indicate that single-stage low-protein diets are suitable for growing pullets to maturity. Compared to a conventional step-down protein program, the single-stage 14% CP diet does not control body weight but does give comparable laying performance, albeit at reduced protein intake during rearing. The simplicity of the program is discussed relative to industry needs.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Effect of dietary protein and energy on broiler carcass composition and efficiency of nutrient utilization.

Day-old broilers were offered diets varying in dietary protein (16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36%) and energy (2600, 2800, 3000, 3200, 3400, 3600 kcal [metabolizable energy] ME/kg) to 49 days of age to determine the effect of alteration in nutrient density on carcass composition and efficiency of nutrient utilization. Abdominal and total carcass fat contents responded similarly to alterations in dietary protein and energy, whether expressed on a percentage or absolute weight basis. However, maximum protein deposition occurred with the 20% crude protein diet, in contrast to the increase in percent carcass protein observed above this level. Although percent carcass protein decreased throughout the energy range tested, absolute carcass protein remained constant regardless of the dietary energy level. Dietary protein exerted similar effects on both absolute and percent carcass moisture. However, an increase in dietary energy resulted in a decrease in percent carcass moisture and an increase in absolute carcass moisture. Protein utilization decreased with each increment of dietary protein but increases in dietary energy resulted in small increases in protein utilization throughout the range tested. Changes in dietary protein and energy resulted in small differences in efficiency of energy utilization. Regression equations derived for carcass composition demonstrated that although diet composition is inadequate as a predictor of carcass parameters, the addition of carcass moisture (%) to the equation improves the reliability of the estimate. Equations for the prediction of nutrient utilization from diet composition are also presented.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Effect of dietary protein and energy on broiler performance and production costs.

Varying levels of dietary protein (16, 20, 24, 28, 32, 36%) and energy (2600, 2800, 3000, 3200, 3400, 3600 kcal [metabolizable energy] ME/kg) were fed in a factorial arrangement to broilers to determine the effect of alteration in nutrient density on performance and economic traits. Body weight and feed efficiency improved with increased dietary protein or energy. However, a significant interaction between protein and energy indicated the importance of a balanced energy: protein ratio to achieve optimum performance. Sex differences in protein requirements were observed for 49-day body weights. Returns over feed costs remained essentially constant, providing a balance between dietary protein and energy was maintained. However, an increase above 28% crude protein or 3400 kcal ME/kg resulted in reduced returns as did excessive quantities of one nutrient relative to the other. Male broilers were able to accommodate a higher level of dietary protein (24%) than female broilers (20%) before returns were reduced. Regression equations were derived for prediction of performance and economic parameters. Reliable estimates were obtained with the inclusion of protein or energy intake in addition to diet composition.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1981

Dietary self-selection and use of reverse-protein diets for developing broiler breeder pullets.

Broiler breeder pullets of a commercial strain were allowed a free-choice of diets providing concentrated sources of protein (46.3% CP, 2487 kcal ME/kg) or energy (8.6% CP, 3218 kcal ME/kg). Three replicate floor pen groups of 22 birds each were compared with control birds consuming a regular diet ad lib. Diet self-selection had no effect on growth rate (P greater than .05), while calculation of nutrient intake indicated a dietary equivalent consumed of some 18% CP 0 to 4 weeks, some 13% CP 4 to 16 weeks, and 17% CP from 16 to 20 weeks. This pattern is discussed relative to previous findings with Leghorn pullets. In a second trial birds were fed a reverse protein program, with the following diets being provided ad lib: 0 to 12 weeks, 12% CP, 3080 kcal ME/kg; 12 to 16 weeks, 16% CP, 2974 kcal ME/kg; and 16 to 20 weeks, 19% CP, 2972 kcal ME/kg. Control birds received a regular feeding program, involving a restricted feeding schedule as recommended by the breeding organization. Each diet was tested with six replicate cages of 10 birds each. Up to 8 weeks-of-age reverse protein fed birds were smaller in body size than conventionally restricted birds. However, after this time, the converse was true.

Animal Nutritional Physiological Phenomena↗
PubMed1980

Dietary salt and pullet development.

White Leghorn pullets were fed corn-soybean meal diets containing .25 (control), .175, or .1% supplemental salt to 20 weeks of age, followed by a regular laying diet to 36 weeks of age. Body weight and feed intake of the growing pullet was significantly reduced with .1% salt compared to other treatments, while in early production these same birds produced fewer eggs compared with birds fed .25% salt during rearing. It is concluded that manipulation of dietary salt levels may be used to delay sexual maturity.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Leg bone abnormalities and histopathology of caged and floor reared broilers fed diets devoid of selected vitamins and minerals.

Summers et al., 1978, described an experiment in which performance and leg conditions of birds fed diets devoid of synthetic biotin, choline, folic acid, manganese, and miacin were observed and recoreded. This is a report on birds from the same experiment. Dyschondroplasia of the tibia was documented and the distal end of each tibia examined histologically. Metatarsal length and condyle depth of the distal tibia were also determined. Metatarsal length was influenced by vitamin deficiencies as well as the type of floor on which binds were raised. The depth of the intercondyle space was affected more by a manganese deficiency than by vitamin deficiencies and, in this case, was greater on plastic and litter as opposed to wire floors. There did not appear to be a correlation between the space depth and slipping of the tendons; however, a large number of birds should be examined to provide more data. Dyschondroplasia was more prevalent in choline deficient birds, particularly those birds raised on litter or plastic floors. Histology changes in relation to nutrient deficiencies were comparable to those reported previously.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Effect of thyroxine and thiouracil additions to diets containing rapeseed meal, on chick growth and carcass composition.

Experiments have been conducted to study the hypothyrotic status of chicks fed rapeseed meal. Protamone supplementation did not correct growth depression due to feeding rapeseed meal although inclusion levels up to 0.1% may have induced a hyperthyrotic condition which in itself leads to a growth depressing effect. Changes in liver and carcass composition were observed when diets containing rapeseed and soybean meal were supplemented with protamone and thiouracil. It is concluded that although birds fed rapeseed meal are abnormal with respect to thyroid metabolism, it is likely that factors other than a simple reduction in serum thyroxine concentration are responsible for the growth depression observed for such birds.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1977

Productive performance and liver lesions in two strains of laying hens receiving two rapeseed meals.

A comparative study was conducted to determine the effect of two varieties of rapeseed meal at 10 and 20% levels in the diet on the productive performance, organ weights and liver lesions of two commercial strains of laying hens. The double-low (Brassica napus 1788) rapeseed meal appeared to be superior to Span meal (Brassica campestris) at the 10% level in maintaining egg production, feed efficiency, thyroid weight and body weight gain. However at the 20% level the productive performance was decreased in all the hens except the thyroid weights in the double-low group. Mortality caused by haemorrhagic liver syndrome was significantly higher among birds fed rapeseed meals than in the controls and was higher in the Span-fed groups than in those receiving the double-low variety. The two strains of birds showed no difference in mortality due to haemorrhagic liver syndrome. It was suggested that the lower level of glucosinolates in the double-low variety was responsible for the superiority of this meal over the Span meal.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1976

Calcium and phosphorus requirements of the laying hen.

Three experiments were conducted; the first studied the influence of pre-laying dietary calcium levels on subsequent hen performance, while in the second and third the influence of various levels of dietary calcium and phosphorus on performance, egg shell quality and calcium and phosphorus retention were investigated. Pre-dietary calcium levels (0.5 and 1.5%) resulted in a significant strain X diet interaction for weight gain up to commencement of lay but did not influence production, feed intake, egg size or sheel quality. Dietary calcium levels varying from 2.5 to 4.0% did not significantly alter the avove parameters during a 140 day laying test. Compared to a non-pelleted control diet, steam pelleting resulted in a significant enhancement in phosphorus availability is judged by higher levels of performance. Percent calcium retention varied with the level of dietary calcium and there was an indication that level of dietary phosphorus influenced calcium retention. Lower levels of dietary phosphorus resulted in egg shells with slightly lower deformation values. Regardless of dietary phosphorus, retention values were quite low. Changing the level of dietary calcium and phosphorus had little or no effect on the retention of phosphorus thus suggesting a relatively constant and low requirement for this nutrient.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1976

Arginine-lysine relationship in rapeseed meal.

A series of experiments was conducted using White Leghorn male chicks to study the arginine-lysine relationship in rapeseed meal (RSM). Semi-purified diets containing 15% protein either from RSM or soybean meal (SBM) were fed. Arginine supplementation completely reversed the growth depression caused by the addition of lysine to RSM diets. Potassium acetate was only partially effective in alleviating the growth depression caused by supplemental lysine, while polyvinyl pyrrolidone significantly reduced chick performance. Tannic acid addition (1.5%) to SBM diets resulted in a severe growth depression which was partially corrected by the supplementation of arginine in the presence of methionine. Supplementation of these amino acids to RSM had a less drastic effect. It is suggested that a portion of the arginine in rapeseed meal may be required for metabolic processes involved in tannic acid excretion.

Acetates↗
PubMed1976

Dietary salt and round heart disease in turkey poults with a note on the minimum level of supplementary salt necessary in corn-soybean diets.

Round heart disease in turkey poults has been associated with high levels of dietary salt and when it occurs in the field recommendations often include a reduction in the level of dietary salt. Poults fed diets containing up to 1.5% salt and 1.5% sodium did not exhibit signs of round heart disease. A high mortality rate occurred with poults fed a salt-free diet. Post-mortem analysis generally revealed enlargement of the kidneys with urates; exudate was present in both abdominal and thoracic air sacs. Growth trials indicated that in order to maintain an optimum feed:body weight gain ratio, corn-soybean diets should contain at least 0.1--0.2% supplemental salt, and at least 0.2--0.3% salt when growth rate is considered. Minimum salt levels could not be reduced further by adjustment of the total dietary sodium:chloride ratio to unity.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1975

A study of thyroid activity in dwarf and non-dwarf female chicks during key physiological states of growth and reproduction.

Thyroid function, as indicated by the maximum percent uptake of iodine-131, was measured in non-dwarf and recessive, sex-linked dwarf White Leghorn female chickens at different ages. The rate of uptake and release of 131-I by the thyroid gland was closely monitored over a period of eight days after the injection of the isotope. No significant differences were observed in thyroid uptake value of dwarf chicks in one-week-old group (approximately equal to 11.5 per cent for each group). At the age of four weeks the maximum uptake was only 5.58 per cent in dwarfs compared to 10.11 per cent in non-dwarf chicks. Potassium thiocyanate treatment caused a significant reduction in the uptake of iodine-131 by the thyroid glands of both 4-week-old dwarf and non-dwarf chicks although there was no difference in the response pattern of either group to the treatment. Dwarf laying-hens had a significantly lower maximum thyroid uptake (1.4 per cent) when compared to non-dwarf laying hens (2.48 per cent). A consistantly slower rate of uptake by the thyroid glands of dwarf chickens was observed for all age groups than equivalent non-dwarfs but there were no apparent differences in the release rates of 131-I by dwarfs when compared to non-dwarfs. No significant differences were observed between the 131-I uptake by the ovaries or eggs of both dwarf and non-dwarf laying hens. A gradual decrease in thyroid activity was observed in both dwarf and non-dwarf chickens with increased age. From this study it was evident that the dwarf bird had significantly lower thyroid activity but with normal organification. The defect in thyroid function in the dwarf bird apparently was not at the level of synthesis but at the level of uptake of iodine.

Age Factors↗
PubMed1975

Thyroid metabolism in the recessive sex-linked dwarf female chicken. 2. Binding of thyroid hormones by serum proteins.

Serum protein profiles were studied together with serum binding sites and capacity for L-thyroxine in dwarf and non-dwarf White Leghorn and White Rock breeds at ages 1 wk., 4 wks. and in laying hens. Serum protein profiles varied with breed, strain and age. The percent gamma-globulin fraction was greater (P less than .05) in dwarf 1 wk. old and laying hens of the White Leghorn breed when compared with the normals. The only difference found in the White Rock breed was a decreased level of albumin in dwarf laying hens. There were no significant differences in the capacity or sites of binding of L-thyroxine to serum proteins although greater amounts of L-thyroxine were bound to globulin fractions in the dwarf. The data were interpreted to suggest that changes in serum protein profiles may have been the result of hypothyroidism at the cellular level but there was no reason to suspect abnormal binding of thyroid hormones to be the cause of that hypothyroidism.

Animals↗
PubMed1975

Thyroid metabolism in the recessive sex-linked dwarf female chicken. 4. The influence of exogenous thyroid hormones on amino acid uptake by plasma and tissues.

The influence of exogenous triiodothyronine (T3) or tetraiodothyronine (T4) on the incorporation of 3H-labelled methionine, alanine and lysine into plasma, liver and kidney was studied in 4 wk. old dwarf and non-dwarf female, White Leghorn chickens. The response to exogenous T3 or T4 of the birds was directly dependent on the dwarf status as well as the tissue and/or amino acid studied. In general, there was a decreased amino acid uptake by dwarfs and T3 and/or T4 depressed amino acid uptake in all combinations studied except for the uptake of lysine by the kidney of the dwarf. In that tissue, T4 administration caused a significant increase in lysine incorporation. The results found probably were due to different tissue amino compositions or rates of synthesis of proteins by dwarf birds when compared to normals and a differential sensitivity of dwarf birds to changed T3/T4 ratios.

Alanine↗
PubMed1975

Thyroid metabolism in the recessive sex-linked dwarf female chicken. 5. Effects of exogenous thyroid hormones on amino acid uptake by eggs.

The incorporation of L-methionine-3H(G) and L-lysine-4,5'3H(n) into egg albumen by dwarf and non-dwarf White Leghorn hens was studied together with the influence of exogenous triiodothyronine (T3) and tetraiodothyronine (T4) on those incorporation patterns. The results were influenced by the amino acid studied and by the strain of bird. The maximum uptake of methionine was a day 1 for the normal and at day 4 for the dwarf which suggested that the dwarf was storing methionine in the tissue first before incorporation into albumen. If the birds were given T3 the maximum for the normal was at day 1 and day 3 for the dwarfs. When T4 was given the maximum uptake was found at day 5 for normals, and at day 2 for dwarfs. In the dwarf, T4 administration essentially corrected the decreased rate uptake of methionine but markedly retarded its uptake by the normal birds. The results for lysine were quite different. The maximum uptake was on day 4 in control, day 3 for T3-treated and day 1 for T4-treated, normal birds. In dwarf birds, the maximum was at day 2 for the control and T4-treated, and day 4 for T3-treated groups. The data were interpreted to suggest strain differences in amino acid uptake patterns due to different rates of synthesis or composition of egg albumen and marked differences in response or recptor sites to thyroid hormones.

Amino Acids↗