1,319 research outputs found
Effect of sequential feeding on nitrogen excretion, productivity, and meat quality of broiler chickens
The aim of this trial was to investigate the effect of a 24-h cycle sequential feeding program on nitrogen excretion, incidence of foot pad lesions, productive performance, quality traits, and chemical composition of broiler chicken breast meat. In total, 1,320 one-day-old male Cobb 700 chicks were split into 2 groups of 6 replicates each. From 1 to 10 d of age, all of the chickens received the same prestarter diet (ME 3,058 kcal/kg; CP 226 g/kg). The control group (CON) received 1 of 3 diets for 24-h cycles: starter (ME 3,162 kcal/kg; CP 205 g/kg), grower (ME 3,224 kcal/kg; CP 192 g/kg), and finisher diets (ME 3,242 kcal/kg; CP 184 g/kg) from d 11 to 18, 19 to 38, and 39 to 44 of age, respectively. The sequential feeding group (SF) received the same diets as the CON birds for half of the day, and then low-protein and isoenergetic diets for the remaining half of the day. Birds submitted to the SF program showed better utilization of dietary nitrogen compared with the CON birds (45.0 vs. 46.1% of N excreted/N ingested, respectively; P < 0.05), and consequently the SF birds had lower nitrogen excretion compared with the CON birds (24.8 vs. 25.9 N g/kg of BW, respectively; P < 0.01). The SF birds exhibited a significantly lower incidence (7 vs. 13%) of foot pad lesions and consumed 70 g of feed/bird more than the CON birds. The SF birds also had a significantly higher feed conversion rate compared with that of the CON birds (1.84 vs. 1.78, respectively). The SF breast meat exhibited a significantly lower ultimate pH, a higher cook loss, and a lower lipid content compared with the values found for the CON group. The SF approach in poultry husbandry had positive repercussions on environmental and animal welfare aspects, but adversely affected feed efficiency, and altered some meat traits (mainly pH and cook loss)
welfare of broiler chickens
Broiler chickens have been selected for their rapid growth rate as well as for high carcass yields, with particular regard to the breast, and reared in intensive systems at high stocking density ranging from 30 to 40 kg live weight/m2. These conditions lead to a worsening of the welfare status of birds. In Europe a specific directive for the protection of broiler chickens has been recently approved whereas in Italy there is not yet any regulation. The EU directive lays down minimum rules for the protection of chickens kept for meat production and gives indications on management practices with particular focus on stocking density, light regimen and air quality, training and guidance for people dealing with chickens, as well as monitoring plans for holding and slaughterhouse. In this review the rearing factors influencing the welfare conditions of birds are described and detailed information on the effects of stocking density, light regimen, litter characteristic and air quality (ammonia, carbon dioxide, humidity, dust) are provided. Moreover, the main health implications of poor welfare conditions of the birds, such as contact dermatitis, metabolic, skeletal and muscular disorders are considered. The behavioural repertoire, including scratching, dust bathing, ground pecking, wing flapping, locomotor activity, along with factors that might impair these aspects, are discussed. Lastly, farm animal welfare assessment through physiological and behavioural indicators is described with particular emphasis on the "Unitary Welfare Index," a tool that considers a wide range of indicators, including productive traits, in order to audit and compare the welfare status of chickens kept in different farms
Importance of feed efficiency for sustainable intensification of chicken meat production: implications and role for amino acids, feed enzymes and organic trace minerals
Broiler chicken production is expected to increase significantly in the next decades to satisfy the poultry meat demand of a growing world population. In this scenario, one of the most important challenges for the poultry industry is to enhance bird productivity while remaining economically and environmentally sustainable. Feeding represents the major cost in raising of broiler chickens and has important implications for environmental impact, either directly or indirectly. Therefore, improving broiler capacity in converting ingested feed into body growth, which is generally referredto as feed efficiency (often expressed through the feed conversion ratio), is fundamental to promoting a sustainable intensification of poultry production. In this review, we highlight the importance of feed efficiency improvements in terms of overall sustainability for the broiler chicken production chain. Furthermore, the potential of feed additive-based nutritional strategies, such as the dietary
administration of crystalline amino acids, proteases, phytases and organic minerals, is critically discussed in the light of their role in supporting the sustainable intensification of this crucial livestock sector
CP violation and mass hierarchy at medium baselines in the large theta(13) era
The large value of theta(13) recently measured by rector and accelerator
experiments opens unprecedented opportunities for precision oscillation
physics. In this paper, we reconsider the physics reach of medium baseline
superbeams. For theta(13) ~ 9 degree we show that facilities at medium
baselines -- i.e. L ~ O(1000 km) -- remain optimal for the study of CP
violation in the leptonic sector, although their ultimate precision strongly
depends on experimental systematics. This is demonstrated in particular for
facilities of practical interest in Europe: a CERN to Gran Sasso and CERN to
Phyasalmi nu_mu beam based on the present SPS and on new high power 50 GeV
proton driver. Due to the large value of theta(13), spectral information can be
employed at medium baselines to resolve the sign ambiguity and determine the
neutrino mass hierarchy. However, longer baselines, where matter effects
dominate the nu_mu->nu_e transition, can achieve much stronger sensitivity to
sign(Delta m^2) even at moderate exposures.Comment: 14 pages, 14 figures, version to appear in EPJ
Effects of genotype and age on eggshell cuticle coverage and color profile in modern laying hen strains
none3noThe aim of this research was to investigate the effects of laying hen genotype and age on eggshell cuticle deposition. A total of 4,320 brown eggs were obtained from 3 modern hen strains (A, B, and C), currently used worldwide for commercial egg production, at different intervals of age (20–30, 40–50, and 60–70 wk). Four samplings of 120 randomly collected eggs were carried out for each genotype/interval of age. Eggs were individually weighed and cuticle blue staining was used to assess quality and degree of cuticle coverage. On each egg, the eggshell color profile was assessed before and after staining using the CIE L*a*b* system and these values were used to calculate ΔE*ab. A 4-point scale visual score (VS) system was also applied to estimate the degree of cuticle coverage after staining (0 = no coverage, 1 = partial coverage, 2 = total coverage - low degree, 3 = total coverage - high degree). The effects of genotype and age and their interaction on eggshell color attributes were assessed by means of factorial ANOVA, while omnibus Chi-Square and Chi-squared Automatic Interaction Detector algorithm were applied for the analysis of VS data. Overall, both genotype and age affected the eggshell color profile as well as the degree of cuticle coverage. Hen strain A showed better cuticle deposition in comparison with B and particularly C one, being ΔE*ab values significantly higher. The VS evaluation revealed that eggs with impaired cuticle coverage degree increased with the hen age (23, 34, and 37%, respectively for 20–30, 40–50, and 60–70 wk; P < 0.05). However, a significant interaction between genotype and age was observed: transition from early to late hen age resulted in a significantly different pattern of ΔE*ab changes in each genotype. The classification tree analysis confirmed that the hen genotype has a greater effect than the age on cuticle deposition. In conclusion, considering the importance of the cuticle in table egg production, these results highlight the crucial role exerted by the genotype on eggshell cuticle coverage.openSirri F.; Zampiga M.; Berardinelli A.Sirri F.; Zampiga M.; Berardinelli A
comparison of breast muscle traits and meat quality characteristics in 2 commercial chicken hybrids
Abstract A trial was conducted to compare muscle traits and meat quality characteristics of the pectoralis muscle in 2 chicken commercial hybrids having standard (SBY) and high breast yield (HBY), respectively. A total of 2,124 one-day-old male chicks, equally divided into 2 experimental groups represented by strains (SBY and HBY), were grown using homogenous conditions and fed the same standard diets until reaching live weight of 4.2 kg at 53 and 55 d for the SBY and HBY groups, respectively. Thirty-six birds per each genotype were randomly selected, and their pectoralis major muscles were used to assess meat quality properties (color attributes, pH, drip loss, cook loss, Allo-Kramer shear values after cooking, moisture, proteins, total lipids, and ashes) as well as histological traits (cross-sectional area, frequency of abnormal fibers, and intramuscular fat infiltration). As expected, HBY genotype had higher breast yield (31.0 vs. 30.0%; P ≤ 0.05). Histological evaluations showed that HBY pectoralis muscles had higher cross-sectional fiber area coupled with a dramatically higher (P ≤ 0.001) incidence of abnormal fibers and more abundant infiltration of intramuscular fat. Moreover, histopathological anomalous features such as central nuclei, proliferation of endomysial and perimysial collagen, inflammatory infiltrate, and necrosis of the fibers were also observed. As for meat quality, SBY hybrid showed lower ultimate pH values (5.97 vs. 6.07; P ≤ 0.01), whereas overall color parameters were not affected by genotype. Breast meat from the HBY genotype also exhibited significantly lower ability to retain liquid during refrigerated storage (drip loss, 2.46 vs. 2.06%; P ≤ 0.05) and cooking (26.2 vs. 21.1%; P ≤ 0.05) as well as higher shear-force values (2.59 vs. 2.11 kg/g; P ≤ 0.001). Finally, with regard to chemical composition, significant differences (P ≤ 0.05) were detected in protein (22.8 vs. 23.5%) and lipid (1.65 vs. 1.82%) contents, which were significantly lower in the HBY hybrid, whereas moisture content tended (P = 0.07) to be inferior in the SBY hybrid
Influence of partial and complete caponization on chicken meat quality
Caponization is a surgical technique ad- opted to alter the sexual maturation of male chickens with the aim of improving the quality characteristics of carcass and meat. Under commercial conditions within each flock, about 10% of the birds usually result with incomplete caponization and are called slips. A trial was conducted to compare quality traits of breast and thigh meat from capons (n = 12), slips (n = 12), and cocks (unoperated birds; n = 12) (Hubbard Ă— Golden Comet) reared together and processed at 180 d old un- der commercial conditions. Capons exhibited the high- est (P < 0.01) values of breast and thigh meat lightness and yellowness as well as the lowest values of redness (P < 0.01) compared with cocks and slips. These varia- tions in meat color were related to a lower concentra- tion of heme pigments in both breast and thigh meat from capons. Capons and slips presented lower Allo- Kramer shear values of cooked breast meat (P < 0.05) in comparison with cocks. As for chemical composition, capons showed a higher content of total lipid, choles- terol, and ash both in breast and thigh meat. Total saturated, monounsaturated, and polyunsaturated fatty acids were not strongly affected by caponization. However, capons exhibited a significantly higher (P < 0.01) content of linoleic and linolenic acids as well as a lower content of arachidonic, eicosapentaenoic, do- cosapentaenoic, and docosahexaenoic acids in respect to slips and cocks. Overall, this study indicated that caponization can affect the main meat quality traits with special regards to appearance (color), texture, and composition. Finally, it was found that slips present in- termediate meat quality characteristics between capons and cocks
Variability and interaction of some egg physical and eggshell quality attributes during the entire laying hen cycle
The aim of this study was to investigate the variability and relationships between some egg physical (egg weight, width, length, shape index and surface area) and eggshell parameters (weight and percentage, thickness, breaking strength, L*, a*, and b* values) during the entire laying hen cycle. A total of 8,000 eggs was collected every 5 weeks, from 30 to 81 weeks of hens age (10 samplings of 400 eggs/house), in 2 identical poultry houses equipped with enriched cages. For the statistical analysis, ANOVA, Bivariate Correlation, Principal Component Analysis (PCA) and hierarchical cluster analysis were used. An increase of egg weight, length and eggshell lightness (L*) associated with a reduction of eggshell percentage, breaking strength, and redness (a*) was observed as the hen aged (P10% of eggshell breaking strength and a*. According to the PCA, the highest changes during the laying cycle are related to egg physical parameters (32%) and to eggshell breaking strength, percentage, and thickness (26%). The egg physical parameters appeared to be strongly correlated to each other, whereas a slight correlation between eggshell breaking strength and color attributes were evidenced (-0.231 and 0.289 respectively for L* and a*; P<0.01). Hierarchical cluster analysis, based on principal components of the overall egg attributes is hereby considered, evidenced dissimilarities for eggs laid from peak production up for 39 weeks of hen age from the eggs laid afterwards. The latter group could also be divided into two subgroups, one comprising eggs laid from 44 and 53 weeks of hen age and the other from 58 weeks to the end. In conclusion, the large dataset created in this study allowed to extrapolate some robust information regarding the variability and correlations of the egg physical and eggshell quality attributes throughout the entire laying hen cycle
Fatty acid composition and productive traits of broiler fed diets containing conjugated linoleic acid
Abstract An experiment was carried out to evaluate the transfer of dietary CLA to broiler chicken tissues (breast, drumstick meat, skin, and abdominal fat) and its effect on productive traits and on carcass yields of birds. Cobb 500 females (n=360), divided into three groups, received from 22 d to slaughtering age (47 d) a grower diet supplemented with 2% conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) source containing 60% CLA methyl esters (CLA2) or 4% CLA source (CLA4). The control group had no supplementation. The addition of CLA source to chicken diet decreased the content of monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) (oleic and palmitoleic acids) in breast and drumstick meat. The deposition of CLA in muscles significantly increased as the dietary CLA increased, whereas only little amounts of CLA were detected in the control group. Arachidonic acid (ARA) content was significantly depressed and linearly related to the addition of CLA to the chicken diet. Other non-CLA polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA) were little affected by the dietary CLA supplementation. Saturated fatty acids (myristic and stearic acids) significantly increased about 30% in abdominal fat pad of both treated groups enhancing the firmness of abdominal fat. Productive performances-as well as carcass yields-were similar across dietary treatment of birds
Survey of skin pigmentation of yellow-skinned broiler chickens
ABSTRACT The appearance of whole carcass and skin-on cut-up products is an important attribute that deeply affects the consumer's choice. Skin pigmentation is affected mainly by genetics, concentration and dietary source of pigments, health status of the birds, and scalding-plucking conditions during slaughtering, although other factors might play an important role. Retailers request batches of broiler chicken carcasses characterized by uniform skin pigmentation to be sold as whole carcass or parts. The aim of this study was to evaluate the variability of skin color of yellow-skinned broilers reared under intensive conditions. For the study, a total of 2,300 medium size broiler chickens (2,300 to 2,500 g of live weight) from 23 flocks (100 birds/flock; n = 12 flocks of males and n = 11 flocks of females; n = 12 flocks of Ross 508 and n = 11 flocks of Ross 308) were randomly selected in a single slaughterhouse. The color measurements were carried out on both breast and thigh pterylae as well as on shank skin adopting the L* a* b* system and using a Minolta colorimeter CR 300. The overall range in measured yellowness (b*) was fairly large for all skin color measurement positions. For breast, a mean value of 22.77 (SD = 5.12) was observed, with values ranging from 7.45 to 39.12. Average values of thigh and shank were 20.23 (SD = 5.02; range 1.99 to 37.82) and 53.99 (SD = 8.13; range 24.22 to 78.65), respectively. A higher skin yellowness was observed in females in all body parts as well as in Ross 308. Yellowness values of breast and thigh were significantly correlated (r = 0.85;
- …