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PubMed1995

Proposed mechanisms for the regulation of growth hormone action in poultry: metabolic effects.

Growth hormone (GH) administration to nonruminant red meat animals markedly alters carcass composition so that dramatic reductions in adipose tissue accretion and enhancement of lean tissue growth occur. These repartitioning effects of GH in the pig are reported to reflect antagonism of the lipogenic effect of insulin on adipose tissue, the primary site of fatty acid synthesis in this species, so that glucose disposal and utilization by adipose tissue are markedly reduced, and substrate availability to muscle is increased. In poultry, a significant positive response to GH administration is not consistently achieved, and factors such as posthatch period of development and the pattern of tissue exposure to GH are important determinants of the response to GH enhancement. This may relate to the status of target tissue GH receptors that appear subject to down regulation in the adult chicken. Sensitivity of the bird to the appetite-suppressive effects of GH and interaction between this effect and energy intake have recently been demonstrated and need to be further explored. Growth hormone clearly influences hepatic lipogenesis and net lipid deposition in the broiler chicken. However, future research emphasis on the regulation of GH receptor binding activity and gene expression and their relationship to GH action, as well as on newer components of the GH axis such as GH-binding proteins, will help to clarify controlling mechanisms in poultry.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed1997

Counteracting Fusarium proliferatum toxicity in broiler chicks by supplementing drinking water with Poultry Aid Plus.

To test whether Poultry Aid Plus (PAP, a commercial product for drinking water application) could reduce the stress on broiler chicks caused by Fusarium proliferatum contamination of feed, water (with or without PAP application, according to the manufacturer's instructions), and feed (experimentally infected with F. proliferatum fermented and dried corn culture material, CM) were provided to broiler chicks for 3 wk. Eight treatments consisting of a 2 (with or without PAP in water) x 4 (0, 1, 2, and 4% CM in feed) factorial design were tested in four replicate cages of six chicks each. The diet with 2% CM reduced weight gain by 23%; this reduction was preventable by PAP water application. The diet with 4% CM caused a cumulative mortality of 87.5%, which was reduced by PAP water application to 50%. The population half-life of the chicks on the diet with 4% CM was 6.5 d; this half-life was prolonged to at least 21 d by PAP water application. The PAP application also reduced the relative weight of the small intestine and promoted Lactobacillus colonization of the large intestine regardless of the level of CM in feed. Therefore, water application of PAP can be a prophylactic measure for F. proliferatum toxicity in poultry production.

Animals↗
PubMed1998

Research notes: Prevalence of selected microbial pathogens in processed poultry waste used as dairy cattle feed.

Processed poultry litter intended for dairy cattle feed was collected on 13 dairy ranches in the San Joaquin Valley of California and analyzed for the presence of significant bacterial pathogens associated with clinical disease in cattle or foodborne disease in humans. Litter samples were collected from the surface and interior of the litter piles upon arrival on the dairies and 2 to 4 wk later. Litter samples were cultured for Salmonella, Escherichia coli, Campylobacter, and other bacteria. The temperature of the litter piles was obtained on the surface and interior at each sampling. Dry matter was determined for each sample. No Salmonella, E. coli O157, or Campylobacter was identified (n = 104). Other E. coli strains were found in 8 out of 52 samples on arrival and 4 out of 52 samples at 2 to 4 wk after arrival. Although the surface and interior temperatures of the litter pile were different (23 C vs 50 C, respectively), the mean temperatures did not significantly change with time on the ranches. Average dry matter content did not differ between samples. In conclusion, the pathogens under investigation were not detected in processed poultry litter on these California dairy ranches upon arrival at the dairy or 2 to 4 wk later.

Animal Feed↗
PubMed1998

Poultry industry strategies for control of immunosuppressive diseases.

Immunosuppression has historically cost the poultry industry in increased mortality and in performance factors during rearing. In addition, immunosuppression has had a negative impact on the ability of the poultry industry to process chickens due to associated health problems. Industry strategies for controlling immunosuppression are not consistent between broiler companies. The broiler industry is refining their strategies for controlling immunosuppression based on research and field observations. However, strategies to control immunosuppression are largely based on vaccination programs for broiler breeders and broiler progeny, and management to minimize stress during rearing.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1999

Controlled atmosphere stunning of poultry.

For more than 20 yr Stork PMT has carried out a lot of research into stunning and killing of poultry with electrical and mechanical methods and by applying gas mixtures. For the past 3 yr, research was carried out under the European umbrellas (AIR and EUREKA) together with BOC, The Spelderholt, CIVO, and Bristol University. This research program involved tests on broiler stunning or killing with various gas mixtures. The effect on meat quality, bleeding, and plucking was studied, as well as the use of gas as a humane way of killing broilers. The study of meat quality was based on tenderness tests conducted on the shear force principle, meat color, and drip and cooking losses. The percentage of blood loss in bleeding, blood spots, and the amount of blood in the veins in relation to the gas mixtures and time of hanging were measured. The effect of gas killing on the plucking characteristics was studied by determining the feather release force and product handling. The behavior of the birds, reflexes, the onset of convulsions, electroencephalograms, and evoked responses were studied in relation to the humanness of gas killing. Anoxia generated through argon or a mixture of argon and carbon dioxide or hypercapnic hypoxia seems to be very promising. The tests revealed that meat tenderness and drip losses will improve. The blood spots, especially those on the thighs and breasts caused by stunning and hanging, disappear altogether. It also appeared that animal welfare will be drastically improved. From a technological point of view, broiler killing in a controlled gas atmosphere is considered to be the optimal process. However, successful introduction of the process requires legislative changes and poultry processors must be made aware of its economic benefits.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1999

European perspective on poultry slaughter technology.

The slaughter process as it is presently conducted in Europe is described as well as the EU regulation with respect to handling, transport, stunning, and killing of poultry. Furthermore, a description of new developments in poultry processing is described with special attention to bird handling and stunning.

Abattoirs↗
PubMed1999

Lessons for the poultry industry gleaned from experiences with other commodity species.

Do breeders really know how well or poorly they are managing reproduction? Poultry breeders could benefit from application of proven concepts of reproductive management used to exploit elite mammalian males, via selection for reproductive traits and extensive use of AI. Use of elite males could dramatically increase the impact of genes of economic importance transferred to the producer level. Testes weight has up to a 35-fold range among males within most lines of poultry, as does number of sperm that can be harvested from a male. These observations should not be ignored. Males with small testes will provide few sperm and they should be culled. Similarly, identification and elimination of males whose sperm are likely to have low fertilizing potential should be beneficial. Approaches to maximize harvest of those sperm produced by an elite male and minimize wastage of these valuable cells are emphasized. To this end, semen should be extended to allow insemination of a minimal volume containing just sufficient sperm consistent with the breeder's goal. Presumably, the goal should be obtaining the maximum number of offspring from a unique male or great-grandparent family, while minimizing cost of producing each chick. This goal might not require maximizing "fertility". A 10-fold increase in dissemination of DNA from elite males to the next generation is realistic. Over three generations, this increase equals a 1,000-fold increase in the number of birds with the desirable traits! Appropriate biotechnology is available. Will decision makers evaluate new (to them) approaches and progress into the next millennium using modern technology, when cost-effective, or will they continue to manage reproduction with methods more than 50 yr old? Those who choose the latter path may risk extinction.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed1999

Effective poultry programming in the next century. Innovative applications of distance education: getting into the knowledge marketplace.

The number of internet-based resources for use in poultry science distance education is growing. These new resources present opportunities as well as challenges to land grant university programs and traditions. This article includes an explanation of the emerging field of distance education and offers a rich assortment of web-based resources for poultry scientists.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1999

Agricultural phosphorus, water quality, and poultry production: are they compatible?

With the concentration of poultry production and increase in operation size in several regions of the U.S., more manure is applied to agricultural land. This application of manure has resulted in more P being added than crops require, an accumulation in soil P, and increased potential for P loss in surface runoff. This situation has been exacerbated by manure management being N-based. Increased outputs of P to fresh waters can accelerate eutrophication, which impairs water use and can lead to fish kills and toxic algal blooms. As a result, information is needed on the effect of poultry production on the fate of P in agricultural systems so that compatible production and water quality goals can be met. Overall, these goals will be met by focusing on ways to increase P use-efficiency by attempting to balance inputs of P in feed and fertilizer into a watershed with output in crop and livestock. This will involve refining feed rations, using feed additives to increase P absorption by the animal, moving manure from surplus to deficit areas, finding alternative uses for manure, and targeting conservation practices, such as reduced tillage, buffer strips, and cover crops, to critical areas of P export from a watershed. These critical areas are where high P soils coincide with parts of the landscape where surface runoff and erosion potential is high. Development of management systems that address both production and environmental concerns must consider the socioeconomic and political impacts of any management changes on both rural and urban communities, and of the mechanisms by which change can be achieved in a diverse and dispersed community of land users.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1999

Nutritional approaches to reducing phosphorus excretion by poultry.

Phosphorus is an essential mineral for growing poultry, and the consequences of a failure to provide for adequate quantities of this nutrient are physiologically and economically disastrous. Therefore, nutritionists provide a margin of safety for this mineral in their diets. However, because of growing concerns regarding the potential contribution of P in poultry excreta on eutrophication of surface waters, increasing pressure is being placed to limit the amount of excess P in diets and thus reduce fecal output. In order to significantly reduce fecal P while maintaining economic productivity, the nutritionist must establish and maintain an integrated program of activities, including an effective quality control program for incoming animal protein feeds, selection of P supplements of the highest biological value, use of phytase enzymes, and judicious selection of dietary P levels. Potential benefits of newer isomers of vitamin D and the commercial development of grains with high levels of nonphytate P offer promise in the future. Whatever measures are taken to increase the biological availability of the phytate-bound and nonphytate P portions of the diet, commensurate reductions in overall dietary P content must be made.

Agriculture↗
PubMed1999

Relationship between muscle growth and poultry meat quality.

For a number of years, poultry selection has concentrated on growth velocity in meat lines, producing improvements in growth that have not been without consequence for muscle structure, metabolism, and meat quality. Higher growth rates may induce morphological abnormalities, induce larger fiber diameters and a higher proportion of glycolytic fibers, and a lower proteolytic potential in the muscles. After death, the faster development of rigor mortis increases the likelihood of paler color and reduced water holding capacity and poorer quality of further processed products. Reduced proteolytic potential is likely to increase toughness of poultry meats.

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Comparison of poultry processing equipment surfaces for susceptibility to bacterial attachment and biofilm formation.

During processing of poultry meat products, broiler carcasses come in contact with many solid surfaces. Bacteria from the carcasses can attach to wet equipment surfaces, form biofilms, and provide a source of cross-contamination for subsequent carcasses. In this study an array of common equipment surface materials was compared for susceptibility to bacterial attachment and biofilms. To model mixed microbial populations relevant to poultry processing, samples were taken directly from the processing line and exposed to the surface materials. Whole carcasses were rinsed with phosphate-buffered saline (100 mL), and the rinse was diluted in nutrient broth. Absorbance values (412 nm) of the suspensions at varying dilutions containing test surfaces were compared hourly with controls without test surfaces. The kinetics of bacterial attachment and biofilm formation on test surfaces were determined under the influence of pH, time, and bacterial cell density, and the elemental composition of the surface materials was determined by energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. Our results showed that surfaces vary in affinity for bacterial attachment and biofilm formation. Analysis by spectrophotometry and scanning electron microscopy confirmed that attachment to stainless steel, polyethylene, and belting was not significantly different from controls. Attachment to picker-finger rubber was significantly less than attachment to stainless steel and the other surfaces. In fact, picker-finger rubber inhibits bacterial contamination. An increased understanding of bacterial attachment and biofilm formation will assist in the development of interventions to counteract these processes and, thereby, enhance plant sanitation and pathogen control.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Comparison of electrolyzed oxidizing water with various antimicrobial interventions to reduce Salmonella species on poultry.

Foodborne pathogens in cell suspensions or attached to surfaces can be reduced by electrolyzed oxidizing (EO) water; however, the use of EO water against pathogens associated with poultry has not been explored. In this study, acidic EO water [EO-A; pH 2.6, chlorine (CL) 20 to 50 ppm, and oxidation-reduction potential (ORP) of 1,150 mV], basic EO water (EO-B; pH 11.6, ORP of -795 mV), CL, ozonated water (OZ), acetic acid (AA), or trisodium phosphate (TSP) was applied to broiler carcasses inoculated with Salmonella Typhimurium (ST) and submerged (4 C, 45 min), spray-washed (85 psi, 25 C, 15 s), or subjected to multiple interventions (EO-B spray, immersed in EO-A; AA or TSP spray, immersed in CL). Remaining bacterial populations were determined and compared at Day 0 and 7 of aerobic, refrigerated storage. At Day 0, submersion in TSP and AA reduced ST 1.41 log10, whereas EO-A water reduced ST approximately 0.86 log10. After 7 d of storage, EO-A water, OZ, TSP, and AA reduced ST, with detection only after selective enrichment. Spray-washing treatments with any of the compounds did not reduce ST at Day 0. After 7 d of storage, TSP, AA, and EO-A water reduced ST 2.17, 2.31, and 1.06 log10, respectively. ST was reduced 2.11 log10 immediately following the multiple interventions, 3.81 log10 after 7 d of storage. Although effective against ST, TSP and AA are costly and adversely affect the environment. This study demonstrates that EO water can reduce ST on poultry surfaces following extended refrigerated storage.

Acetic Acid↗
PubMed2002

Evaluation of chemical disinfectants for the elimination of Salmonella biofilms from poultry transport containers.

Containers used in transporting live poultry between production and processing units are a primary source of contamination for processed poultry products. Because disinfection of transport containers (TC) has been difficult to accomplish, it is probable that the choice of appropriate disinfectant and its application are partially or wholly responsible for the failure to adequately eliminate pathogens from TC. Therefore, 13 commercial disinfectants were selected and evaluated for their capacities to destroy Salmonella. The disinfectants were applied in various concentrations on prescribed areas (10 cm diameter circle) of galvanized steel surfaces (representative of TC material) that were artificially contaminated with Salmonella (10(8) cfu/mL) with a mixture of organic material. Likewise, coupons (1.9 cm2) made of the same metallic surfaces and covered with biofilms of Salmonella spp. were tested in the same manner for each disinfectant. Two of the disinfectants completely eliminated Salmonella on the artificially contaminated and biofilm-covered surfaces. These compounds produced logarithmic reductions in Salmonella populations as high as 7.18 within 2 min. One of the two effective disinfectants contained sodium hypochlorite and was effective at a concentration of 0.05% (vol/vol). The other disinfectant was an alkaline peroxide compound and was effective at a concentration of 1% (wt/vol). Evaluation of these two disinfectants under simulated conditions suggested that application under the prescribed regimen could result in effective elimination of Salmonella from TC within a limited period.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Quick tests for the determination of ammonia in poultry litter.

The objective of this work was to test the ability of various available quick tests to determine ammonia concentration of poultry litters. A total of 136 samples was collected from brood chambers of poultry houses. Samples were equally divided between surface samples (top 25 mm) and core samples. Samples were frozen until analysis but received no further processing. Samples were analyzed for ammonia by autoanalyzer (standard) and several quick tests (conductivity, Quantofix N-Volumeter, and Reflectoquant). In addition, samples were analyzed by near-infrared spectroscopy by scanning samples using a large-sample transport device on a FOSS-NIRSystems model 6500 (64 co-added scans from 400 to 2,498 nm). Results showed that, although ammonia could be determined with reasonable accuracy by near-infrared spectroscopy using data in the 1,100 to 2,498 nm spectral range (final calibration R2 of approximately 0.90), none of the quick tests, including near-infrared, worked as well as previously found with dairy manures. The best results were found using the Quantofix or Reflectoquant (R2 of approximately 0.75), and conductivity worked only with the core samples (R2 of approximately 0.75). It is believed that interferences due to the presence of uric acid (spectroscopy, Quantofix, and Reflectoquant) and sodium bisulfate used to treat the litter (conductivity) were the cause of the decreased accuracies as compared to results achieved previously with dairy manures.

Ammonia↗
PubMed2003

The embryonated egg: a practical target for genetic based advances to improve poultry production.

The embryonated avian egg is an attractive target for applying technology-based advances to improve poultry production. There are a number of reasons for this. First, the egg is immobile and can be easily accessed by high-speed automated equipment such as the commercial egg injection system used for vaccination of broilers worldwide. Second, due to successful breeding techniques, the embryonic period now composes 30 to 40% of a broiler's total lifespan, underscoring the importance of this window in the bird production life cycle. Third, the period of incubation involves rapid development from a ball of 40,000 to 60,000 undifferentiated blastodermal cells to a fully formed chick and associated extra-embryonic compartments in 21 d, allowing development of novel approaches for improving poultry production. Some of these novel approaches will be discussed in this paper and include gender discrimination of embryos and the possibility of changing the breeding paradigm through introduction of undifferentiated cells such as avian blastodermal or embryonic stem cells.

Animal Husbandry↗
PubMed2004

Surface disinfection tests with Salmonella and a putative indicator bacterium, mimicking worst-case scenarios in poultry houses.

Surface disinfection studies mimicking worst-case scenarios in badly cleaned poultry houses were made with 3 bacterial isolates (Salmonella enteritidis, Salmonella senftenberg, and Enterococcus faecalis), and 3 1% disinfectant solutions, formaldehyde (F; 24.5% vol/vol), glutaraldehyde/benzalkonium chloride (G; Bio Komplet Plus), and a peroxygen compound (P; Virkon S), with World Health Organization (WHO) standard hard water as a control. Materials (concrete paving stones, steel feed chain links, wooden dowels, and jute egg belts) and organic matter found commonly in poultry houses (feed, fats, egg yolk) were used in the tests. Organic matter inoculated with high numbers of stationary phase cultures was added to materials and dried for 24 h at different temperatures (6, 11, 20, or 30 degrees C), immersed in solutions for set time periods (5, 15, or 30 min), and dried again for 25 h (6, 11, or 30 degrees C). Then, traditional recovery procedures (using 10-fold dilutions until 10(-4), i.e., a most probable number method) were applied. For the 2 Salmonella isolates, the efficacy of the solutions was (in decreasing order): formaldehyde > glutaraldehyde/benzalkonium chloride > peroxygen compound > WHO hard water, except when feed chain links with fats were disinfected using 30 degrees C before and after disinfection, for which the peroxygen compound seemed more effective. Enterococcus faecalis was equally or less susceptible than S. enteritidis and S. senftenberg, indicating its suitability as an indicator bacterium. For the peroxygen compound, S. senftenberg was more susceptible than S. enteritidis in spite of higher minimum inhibitory concentrations to this disinfectant for the former.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Supplementation of coated butyric acid in the feed reduces colonization and shedding of Salmonella in poultry.

Short-chain fatty acids have been widely used as feed additives to control Salmonella in poultry. Data on the use of butyric acid in poultry are lacking. In this study, powder form and coated butyric acid were compared in their ability to reduce Salmonella colonization of ceca and internal organs shortly after infection of young chickens with Salmonella enteritidis. In the first trial, 4 groups of 25 specific pathogen free layer chickens were given feed either supplemented with powder form butyric acid, coated butyric acid, a combination of powder form and coated butyric acid (all groups received a total of 0.63 g of butyric acid/kg) or nonsupplemented feed. The specific pathogen free layer chickens were orally infected with 10(6) cfu of S. enteritidis. Coated butyric acid significantly decreased cecal colonization 3 d post-infection compared with control chickens, and powder form butyric acid had no effect. To study long-term shedding and colonization of Salmonella in broilers given coated butyric acid as feed additive (0.63 g of active product butyric acid/kg), 10 Ross broiler chickens were infected at d 5 with 10(5) cfu of S. enteritidis and housed together with 40 noninfected broilers. A control group received nonsupplemented feed. The group of broilers receiving coated butyric acid had a significantly lower number of broilers shedding Salmonella bacteria, but cecal colonization at slaughter age was equal for both groups. In conclusion, butyric acid decreases cecal colonization shortly after infection, decreases fecal shedding, and as a consequence, decreases environmental contamination by S. enteritidis-infected broilers. However, complete elimination can probably only be achieved with a combined approach using both hygienic measures and different protection measures, as the broilers still carried S. enteritidis bacteria in the ceca at slaughter age, although at enrichment level.

Aging↗