Effect of bird age and storage system on physical properties of eggs from brown laying hens

A total of 108 eggs from a group of 100 brown laying hens housed in standard cages were analyzed. Thirty-six eggs were retired when the hens had 30 week of age, other 36 eggs were retired when the hens had 35 week of age and the remaining 36 eggs were retired five weeks afterwards. Each group of 36 eggs was radomly divided in three groups of 12 eggs. First group was analyzed at once, second group one was kept during one week in the refrigerator (5°C) and third group was kept also one week but on ambient temperature (25°C). Shell color, shell thickness, specific gravity, albumen height and Haugh units wre obtained. The bird age had significant effect on shell color and shell thickness, but the storage system had not influence on such variables. The hen age had not effect on specific gravity, but the storage system affected to this variable. Hen age and storage system had significant influence (P<0.05) on albumen height and Haugh units, and the interaction age × storage system was significant for these variables. The specific gravity had positive relations with shell thickness, yolk color, albumen height and Haugh units. It is concluded that bird age and storage system under high temperatures reduced the egg quality

Métodos alternativos de inducción de muda en ponedoras: efectos sobre la pérdida de peso vivo, la regresión del ovario y del oviducto y los resultados productivos

La producción de huevos disminuye a medida que las ponedoras envejecen. Un método para contrarrestar, al menos parcialmente, esta evolución natural del rendimiento productivo es la muda inducida. El retorno a la puesta de las gallinas tras la muda se debe a un proceso de rejuvenecimiento fisiológico de las aves, relacionado con la regresión del ovario y del oviducto durante la muda, siendo la pérdida de peso corporal decisiva para la regresión de estos órganos. En este trabajo estudiamos los efectos de 3 dietas distintas, utilizadas para inducir la muda (salvado de trigo, cebada y pienso comercial suministrado de forma restringida), sobre la pérdida de peso vivo, sobre la regresión del ovario y del oviducto, y sobre los rendimientos productivos posteriores, en gallinas ponedoras de 2 estirpes comerciales, alojadas con dos densidades diferentes (4 y 6 gallinas, por jaula). Se trabajó con 192 gallinas de cada estirpe, sacrificándose 36 animales (18+18) para poder evaluar la regresión del ovario-oviducto. La estirpe no tuvo influencia significativa sobre el porcentaje de pérdida de peso corporal, aunque sí sobre la pérdida de peso del oviducto y sobre la intensidad de puesta (IP) del segundo ciclo productivo. La menor pérdida de peso se produjo con el salvado y con la cebada, aunque la intensidad de puesta (IP) no varió entre tratamientos, excepto en gallinas ligeras mudadas con salvado de trigo, que alcanzaron una IP significativamente menor. Tampoco tuvo efecto significativo el número de gallinas por jaula sobre la IP, ni sobre la pérdida de peso. Egg production lows according layers get older. Induced moulting is a method to counteract this, at least partially. Production after moulting is due a process of physiologic rejuvenation of birds, connected with ovary and oviduct regression during the moult. Body weight loss is decisive for this process. We studied the effect of three different feed used to induce moulting (wheat bran, barley and restricted layer diet) on body weight loss, ovary and oviduct regression, and performance after moulting. 192 layers of two strains were used, housed in cages with 4 ó 6 birds per cage. 36 layers were euthanized to evaluate the reproductive tissues regression. Strain had not significative influence on body weight loss, but it had on ovary and oviduct weight losses, and on egg production (%) of second cycle of laying. The less body weight loss was in layers moulted with wheat bran and of that with barley. Egg production (%) was not different between treatments. Number of bird per cage had not significative effect on production and body, ovary and oviduct weight losses

Efecto de tres distintos aportes alimenticios restringidos como inductores de la muda en gallinas ponedoras, del mes post-muda y del número de gallinas por jaula sobre la calidad del huevo

En la Unión Europea los métodos de muda en gallinas ponedoras , basados en la supresión de la alimentación sólida a las mismas durante un determinado período, están prohibidos por su negativa incidencia en el bienestar de las aves. Por esta razón, se están estudiando otros sistemas para inducir y realizar la muda que no perjudiquen su bienestar y , paralelamente, que no impliquen un empeoramiento global de la producción de aquéllas, tanto cuantitativa como cualitativamente. En el presente trabajo se han comparado 3 alimentos distintos utilizados para inducir la muda (salvado de trigo , cebada y un pienso comercial suministrado en cantidad restringida) , aplicados a 240 gallinas semi pesadas , de 53 a 73 semanas de edad , alojadas en grupos de 4 y 6 gallinas por jaula. Todas las variables cualitativas estudiadas se vieron afectadas (p<0 , 001) por el mes de puesta tras la muda . El tipo de restricción utilizado tuvo un efecto (p<0,001) en el espesor de cáscara y en su peso específico (mayor con pienso restringido), en el color de yema (menor con salvado) , en la altura del albumen y en las U. Haugh (menor con pienso restringido). El peso del huevo no se vio afectado por el tipo de dieta ingerida durante el proceso, pero sí por el número de gallinas por jaula (p<0,05); tipo de dieta que también influyó (p<0,001) en los parámetros de calidad estudiados, aunque de forma variable en cada caso

Efectos de tres distintos aportes alimenticios restringidos como inductores de la muda en gallinas ponedoras, sobre la pérdida de peso vivo, la regresión de ovario y oviducto y los resultados productivos

La producción de huevos disminuye a medida que las ponedoras envejecen. Un método para contrarrestar, al menos parcialmente, esta evolución natural del rendimiento productivo es la muda inducida. El rendimiento productivo de las gallinas tras la muda se debe a un proceso de rejuvenecimiento fisiológico de las aves, relacionado con la regresión del ovario y del oviducto durante la muda, siendo la pérdida de peso corporal decisiva para la regresión de estos órganos (Brake y Thaxton , 1979). En este trabajo estudiamos los efectos de 3 dietas distintas, utilizadas para inducir la muda (salvado de trigo, cebada y pienso comercial suministrado de forma restringida), sobre la pérdida de peso vivo, sobre la regresión del ovario y del oviducto, y sobre los rendimientos productivos posteriores, en gallinas ponedoras de 2 estirpes comerciales, alojadas con dos densidades diferentes (4 y 6 gallinas, por jaula). Se trabajó con 120 gallinas de cada estirpe, sacrificándose 36 animales (18+18) para poder evaluar la regresión del ovario-oviducto. La menor pérdida de peso se produjo con el salvado y con la cebada, aunque la intensidad de puesta (IP), en las 6 primeras semanas postmuda no varió entre tratamientos, excepto en gallinas ligeras mudadas con salvado de trigo, que alcanzaron una IP significativamente menor . Tampoco tuvo efecto significativo el número de gallinas por jaula sobre la IP, ni sobre la pérdida de peso

Incubação de ovos de codornas japonsesas em diferentes temperaturas: eclodibilidade, tempo de nascimento, peso ao nascer e mortalidade embrionária

A temperatura é o fator mais importante para o desenvolvimento embrionário, a eclodibilidade e o desempenho pós-nascimento de aves. A temperatura ideal é normalmente aquela que permite máxima eclodibilidade. Este trabalho verificou os efeitos de diferentes temperaturas de incubação sobre a eclodibilidade, perda de peso dos ovos, peso ao nascer, tempo de nascimento e mortalidade embrionária de ovos de codornas japonesas. Foram utilizados 800 ovos, divididos em oito grupos experimentais e incubados em diferentes temperaturas (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 e 41ºC).  As demais condições de incubação foram idênticas para todos os grupos, 60±5% de umidade relativa e viragem a cada 2 horas até a transferência para a nascedoura no 15º dia de incubação. A eclodibilidade dos ovos férteis foi maior para os ovos incubados a 37 e 38ºC; 76,6 e 80,7%, respectivamente. Os ovos incubados a 34ºC não eclodiram e os incubados a 35 e 41ºC apresentaram um índice muito baixo de eclodibilidade. As outras temperaturas proporcionaram eclodibilidade entre 50,3 e 57,7%. Os pesos ao nascer foram elevados nos grupos incubados em temperaturas altas (38-41°C) quando comparados aos grupos incubados em temperaturas baixas (35-37°C). Observou-se diferença no tempo de nascimento de acordo com a temperatura de incubação. A diferença de tempo entre o grupo de ovos que eclodiram mais cedo (40°C) e os ovos que eclodiram por último (35°C) foi de 156,3 horas ou 6,5 dias. Os embriões apresentaram-se resistentes a altas temperaturas até 40°C durante o período inicial da incubação, contudo o mesmo não foi observado nos estágios finais de incubação, quando altas temperaturas (39-41°C) aumentaram a mortalidade embrionária.Temperature is the most important factor affecting embryonic development, hatchability and post hatch performance. Optimum incubation temperature is normally defined as that required to achieve maximum hatchability. This work was carried out to verify the effects of different incubation temperatures on hatchability, hatch weight, hatch time and embryonic mortality of Japanese quail eggs. A total of 800 eggs were divided in eight experimental groups that were incubated at different temperatures (34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40 and 41ºC). The other incubation conditions were identical for all groups, 60±5% of relative humidity and egg turning every two hours until transference to the hatchers at 15 days of incubation. The results showed that fertile hatchability was higher for eggs incubated at 37 and 38ºC, 76.6 and 80.7%, respectively. Eggs incubated at 34ºC did not hatch and the ones incubated at 35 and 41ºC showed very poor hatchability. The other temperatures had hatch rates from 50.3 to 57.7%. There were higher hatch weights in eggs incubated at high temperatures (38-41°C) compared to the ones incubated at the lower ones (35-37°C). There was an enormous difference in the hatching time according to the incubation temperature. The difference of time between the groups of eggs that hatched earlier (40°C) compared to the ones the hatcher later (35°C) was 156.3 hours or 6.5 days. Embryos seemed to be resistant to at high temperatures until 40°C at the early period of incubation, however the same was not observed at the later stages of incubation when high temperatures (39-41°C) increased embryonic mortality

Monitoração sorológica para bronquite infecciosa em galinhas de postura comercial no Estado do Ceará

A bronquite infecciosa das galinhas (BIG) é responsável por altas perdas financeiras na indústria avícola brasileira. O objetivo desse estudo foi verificar o comportamento dos títulos de anticorpos específicos para o vírus da bronquite infecciosa em poedeiras comerciais de várias empresas avícolas. Os soros foram coletados de 76 lotes provenientes de oito empresas durante o período de junho de 1998 a junho de 2001 no Estado do Ceará. Entre a primeira e a segunda coleta não houve vacinação. As aves das diversas empresas e lotes receberam o mesmo programa vacinal e foram submetidas a duas coletas de sangue (10 amostras/lote) com um intervalo médio de cinco semanas. Os títulos de anticorpos foram medidos através do teste de ELISA indireto. Para análise dos dados utilizou-se a análise de variância ANOVA e a comparação entre as coletas de sangue o teste t de Student com

EFFECT OF IN OVO VACCINATION PROCEDURES ON JAPANESE QUAIL EMBRYOS (Coturnix japonica) AND INCUBATION PERFORMANCE

This work aimed to evaluate the effects of in ovo vaccination procedures on incubation of Japanese quail eggs. The experiment was carried out in a (4 x 3) factorial design with 12 experimental treatments (4 injection days x 3 injection protocols). The injections were tested on four incubation days: at 0, 5, 10 or 15. On each injection day, the eggs were submitted to one out of three distinct injection procedures: saline injection and Newcastle disease (ND) vaccine plus saline or industrial diluent. The eggs were incubated at 37.5º C and 60% RH. All eggs and hatched quails were weighed. Unhatched eggs were opened to classify embryo mortality. Hatched quails were raised to obtain blood to evaluate antibody response against Newcastle disease virus (NDV). The injection process itself (saline) was not harmful at 10 and 15 days of incubation for Japanese quail eggs; however, in ovo vaccination with live ND vaccine (HB1 strain) is not recommended to fertile quail eggs at any incubation periods due to high levels of embryo mortality and poor post-hatch antibody titers

EFEITO DOS PROCEDIMENTOS DE VACINAÇÃO IN OVO SOBRE EMBRIÕES DE CODORNA JAPONESA (Coturnix japonica) E DESEMPENHO DA INCUBAÇÃO

Esta pesquisa avaliou os efeitos dos procedimentos de vacinação in ovo na incubação artificial de codornas japonesas. Foi realizado um delineamento fatorial 4 x 3 com 12 tratamentos (4 dias de injeção x 3 protocolos de injeção). As injeções foram realizadas nos dias 0, 5, 10 ou 15 de incubação. Em cada um desses dias, os ovos foram injetados com 3 protocolos diferentes: injeção de soro fisiológico e injeção da vacina vírus vivo da doença de Newcastle (DN) com soro fisiológico ou diluente industrial. Os ovos foram incubados a 37,5°C e 60% UR. Todos os ovos e codornas nascidas foram pesados. Os ovos não eclodidos foram submetidos ao embriodiagnóstico. As codornas nascidas foram criadas para coleta de sangue e avaliação de títulos de anticorpos contra o vírus da DN. Os resultados demonstraram que a inoculação em si (soro) não foi prejudicial para os ovos com 10 e 15 dias de incubação. Verificou-se que a vacinação in ovo com o vírus vivo da DN (cepa HB1) não é recomendada para ovos férteis de codorna em nenhuma idade do embrião, devido aos elevados índices de mortalidade embrionária e pouca resposta de anticorpos após o nascimento. PALAVRAS-CHAVE: codorna japonesa; doença de Newcastle; injeção in ovo; ovos; vacinação

Natural Coinfection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli in a feral pigeon (Columba livia)

Background: Rock pigeon (Columba livia) is an exotic and invasive species of the Columbidae family found in several cities around the world, including Brazilian cities, and close to humans. This species is found in large populations often in public locations, where people may have contact. Several studies have demonstrated the isolation of human pathogens from these birds. However, there are scarce studies describing infections by Gram-negative bacteria to which pigeons are susceptible. Therefore, this report aimed to describe a case of natural coinfection of Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli in a feral pigeon.Case: A sick feral pigeon was delivered at the Laboratory of Ornithological Studies, State University of Ceará, Fortaleza, Brazil. Due to poor prognosis, the individual was euthanized with ketamine via intravenous injection and submitted to necropsy, in which samples were collected for microbiological and histopathological procedure. The procedure was performed aseptically and samples were collected from intestine, liver, spleen, heart and lung. Bacterial isolation was performed with culture media selective for Gram negative bacteria and strains were identified biochemically. Histopathological examination was performed with conventional method and slides were stained with hematoxylin and eosin. DNA from E. coli isolates was extracted with simples boiling method and submitted to uniplex conventional polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to diagnose diarrheagenic pathotypes with specific primers for the following genes: aaiC, aatA, eaeA, stx1, stx2, eltB, estA and ipaH. Escherichia coli was isolated from the intestine, liver, spleen and lung, while Pseudomonas aeruginosa was present in liver, spleen and lung. E. coli strains from liver and spleen were positive for the aaiC gene, which is a diagnostic gene for Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli (EAEC) pathotype. Necropsy revealed the presence of several caseous lesions around the head of the bird, cellulitis in the abdominal region, hepatomegaly, splenomegaly, hemorrhagic intestine and pericarditis. Microscopical findings were most intense in liver and lung samples, presenting vascular and inflammatory alterations. Histopathological alterations indicated an acute presentation of the infections and several lesions in different organs, demonstrating the septicemic characteristic of the microorganisms involved in this case.Discussion: Both pathogens in this report were identified mostly in the same organs, which may indicate that there was an association in the pathogenesis. However, the entry routes of infection in this case may have been different, considering that Pseudomonas aeruginosa was not isolated from the intestine. The histopathological findings were not pathognomonic for either pathogen. However, some characteristic lesions were observed, such as cellulitis, which is commonly attributed to Escherichia coli. EAEC strains are human pathogens that cause acute and persistent diarrhea around the world. These microorganisms could be potentially transmitted to humans, as suggested by other studies with feral pigeons and enteric pathogens. However, the absence of reports of pigeon-transmitted diarrheagenic infections in humans may suggest that pigeons are only reservoirs of these pathogens. In addition, as this report demonstrates, these birds may also suffer from these infections. In conclusion, the free-living pigeon presented a natural occurring case of coinfection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and Enteroaggregative Escherichia coli. Both are human opportunistic pathogens, and may have public health implication