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Effect of DDE, DDT and Calcium on the Performance of Adult Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)1
Effect of DDE, DDT and Calcium on the Performance of Adult Japanese Quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica)1 W . A . ROBSON, 2 * G. H . ARSCOTT* AND I. J. TINSLEY**
Departments of Poultry Science* and Agricultural Chemistry,** Oregon State University, Oregon 97331
Corvallis,
(Received for publication February 16, 1976)
POULTRY SCIENCE 55: 2222-2227, 1976
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
B
ITMAN et al. (1969) reported that Japanese quail fed 100 p.p.m. of 0, p'-and p, p'-DDT for a 45-day experimental period produced eggs with thinner shells and lower calcium content than the controls when all birds received a diet containing 0.56% calcium. In a subsequent report from this same laboratory, using p, p'-DDT and its metabolite p, p'-DDE, Cecil et al. (1971), while noting similar trends, reported less dramatic effects on egg shell thinning with diets containing
1. Technical Paper No. 1493. Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station. Supported in part by US Public Health Service Grant ES00040. This paper was developed in part from a thesis submitted by W.A.R. to the Graduate School, Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the M.S. degree. A portion of this paper was reported at the 60th Annual Meeting of the Poultry Science Association, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 1971. 2. Present address: P.O. Box 5223, Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601.
2.7% calcium during a four month experimental period. These results notwithstanding, it should be noted that Risebrough et al. (1970) indicate that gallinaceous birds in general tend to be more resistant than birds in other orders to decreases in egg shell thickness resulting from exposure to organochlorine compounds. Peakall (1975) provides an upto-date review concerning the role of organic hydrocarbons in avian species. In view of the above reports it was the purpose of these experiments to examine the effects of long term exposure to p, p'-DDE and p, p'-DDT in adult Japanese quail fed diets deficient or adequate in calcium. MATERIALS AND METHODS The care and management of the Japanese quail 3 used in this investigation have been 3. This flock was obtained in 1960 from the Oregon Game Commission, Hermiston, Oregon. We are informed they were originally obtained as mature stock from Oklahoma.
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ABSTRACT Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of DDE, DDT and calcium on performance of quail. The quail received diets containing 0 or 100 p.p.m. of DDE for eight 28-day periods in Exp. 1 and 0, 100 or 300 p.p.m. of DDE or 100 p.p.m. of DDT for six periods in Exp. 2. Diets containing either 0.5 or 3% calcium were used with each pesticide level. No differences in egg shell thickness, cracked eggs, egg production, feed consumption, egg weights, female body weights, fertility or hatchability were obtained from DDE or DDT up to 100 p.p.m. Three hundred p.p.m. of DDE did result in a decrease in female body weights and in fertility on the low calcium diet. Egg shell thickness, cracked eggs, egg production and hatchability were affected by the lower calcium level. Male body weights were adversely affected from 100 p.p.m. or more of DDE. Mortality increased as the level of DDE increased for females, while no effect was observed with DDT. Males appeared more sensitive to 100 p.p.m. of DDE in Exp. 1 and 300 p.p.m. of DDE and 100 p.p.m. of DDT in Exp. 2. Livability and growth of chicks from hens receiving rations containing DDE and DDT were unaffected by maternal treatment. In summary, DDE and DDT were without effect on egg shell quality or most other reproductive factors, but DDE at 300 p.p.m. did exert a detrimental effect on adult body weights, fertility and mortality.
DDE, DDT
The rations used during the experimental period, except for the pesticide employed, 6 are identical to those reported by Reading et al. (1976). Feed and water were available ad libitum. Exp. 1 involved about 400 day-old chicks of mixed sex, while in Exp. 2 approximately 200 chicks were used. In the first experiment only, when the laying trial commenced the treatments for half the population were reversed. Since no interactions were evident between the growing or laying phases, the data during the production phase was combined and summarized for the actual pesticide treatment during the laying period only. In
4. Chemically pure p,p'-DDE: 2,2-bis-(pchlorophenyl)-l,l-dichloroethylene. 5. Chemically pure crystalline 99% + p,p'-DDT: l,l,l,-trichloro-2, 2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethane. 6. DDE or DDT was dissolved in an appropriate quantity of corn oil and stirred on a Fisher thermix unit until all crystals dissolved. Aliquots containing the desired amount of pesticide were then substituted for the corn oil normally used in the diet. Mixes were made as needed in 25 lb. lots using a Hobart Model A20 mixer.
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Exp. 1 males were maintained separately on the different pesticide levels, but only on the low calcium ration, while in Exp. 2 they were housed with the females on both calcium levels. Each treatment in Exp. 1 consisted of four replicates with each replicate containing 12 female quail. In Exp. 2 in which males were housed with females, each of two replicates on each treatment contained 12 birds per replicate. Body weight and feed consumption 7 data were taken at 28-day intervals. Egg production was recorded daily and summarized for 28-day periods. Mortality, while recorded daily, is reported on an accumulative basis and was not averaged by periods. Egg shell thickness was obtained through specific gravity measurements using the procedure described by Arscott and Bernier (1961). For the fertility experiments reported in Exp. 2, the males were housed with females in a ratio of one to one. Eggs were saved for an eight-day period prior to incubation. Fertility was determined by breaking out all unhatched eggs and examining them macroscopically for embryonic development. Hatchability was calculated on the basis of fertile eggs set. The livability trial conducted on Exp. 2 during the fifth period involved starting quail chicks under normal management procedures in which chicks were fed a 28% protein diet containing no pesticide and observing their performance weekly up to six weeks. Statistical analysis of the data, except for mortality, was performed by analysis of variance (Snedecor and Cochran, 1967). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The results of Exp. 1 are summarized in Table 1. Figure 1 shows the effects of DDE
7. In Exp. 2 the feed consumed by males was omitted from the calculation based on feed normally consumed by males.
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described elsewhere (Robson, 1974; and Reading et al., 1976). Two experiments were conducted: the first consisting of eight 28-day production periods involvingOand lOOp.p.m. of DDE 4 and the second, six 28-day periods involving varying levels (0, 100 and 300 p.p.m.) of DDE or 100 p.p.m. of DDT, 5 all on diets either deficient (0.5%) or adequate (3.0%) in calcium content. Both experiments commenced when birds reached 25% egg production. The indicated levels of pesticide, including an unsupplemented control, were fed from one day of age except in Exp. 1 where a level of 50 p.p.m. was used for the first two weeks and was increased to 100 p.p.m. thereafter during the growing period using diets containing an adequate level of calcium (Ca 1.2%). The performance of quail during the pre-production period is reported elsewhere (Robson, 1974).
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2224
W. A. ROBSON, G. H. ARSCOTT AND I . J . TINSLEY
TABLE 1.—Effect
SP. gr.
Cracks
**'
**' %
1.0550 1.0686 1.0544 1.0681
10.0 2.5 14.5 2.5
Treat merit DDE Ca
%
p.p.m. 0 0 100 100
.5 3.01 .5 3.0
of DDE and calcium on performance of adult Japanese quail (Exp. 1) Averages of all periods Feed cons. / day Egg Egg prod. 9 wt. g% g20 41.0 9.8 47.5 20 9.8 38.5 20 10.0 60.0* 22 10.2
Body wt. 9 **' 6
Mortality 9 6
g138 124 134 123
% 114 — 100* —
29 46 56 67
21 — 91 —
9
* 8 *• o 7 >
> 5 o O o
4
it: 3 o 0)
CL 2
en i 10
14
18
22
26 30 Age (weeks)
34
38
42
FIG. 1. Effects of DDE and calcium on the specific gravity of eggs in Experiment 1. Legend: Vat #1 is equivalent to a specific gravity of 1.044 with 0.004 increasing intervals; 0 p.p.m. DDE; , 100; O, 0.5% Ca; # . 3.0% Ca. and calcium level by time on egg shell thinning through specific gravity measurements. This graph clearly shows that the DDE was without effect on egg shell thinning. On the other hand, the 0.5% level of calcium, either in the presence or absence of DDE, markedly reduced egg shell thickness throughout the course of this experiment. As noted in Table
1 this decrease in egg shell thickness proved highly significant (P < .01) and no DDE x Ca interaction was noted. A significant increase (P < .01) in the incidence of cracks was also observed on the low calcium diets with no effects attributable to DDE treatment. Although there was a trend toward de-
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**'Sig. dif. (P < .01) between Ca levels only. *(P < .05). 1. Positive control.
DDE, DDT
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creased egg production on the lower calcium levels, this difference did not prove statistically different from the group receiving no DDE and 3% calcium. On the other hand, the group receiving 100 p.p.m. DDE plus 3% calcium consistently laid significantly more eggs (P < .05) than did all other treatments. Egg weights and feed consumption appeared unaffected by treatments. One hundred p.p.m. of DDE exerted no adverse affect on female body weight; however, those receiving the low calcium diet were significantly heavier (P < .01) than those fed the higher calcium diet. Males receiving 100 p.p.m. of DDE, on the other hand, appeared adversely affected (P < .05) when compared to the unsupplemented control. Female mortality appeared substantially greater with 100 p.p.m. of DDE. It was also greater for the groups fed 3% calcium. Male mortality was markedly greater in the presence of 100 p.p.m. of DDE with a marked increase occurring after the fifth 28-day period. The results for Exp. 2 are summarized in Table 2. The level of 100 and 300 p.p.m. of DDE or 100 p.p.m. of DDT did not result in any reduction in specific gravity; however, birds.fed the low calcium diets laid eggs with significantly thinner (P < .01) egg shells with an average specific gravity of 1.0539 vs. 1.0675. Neither DDE nor DDT at the levels used influenced the percent of cracks obtained while a significant increase (P < .01) was seen with birds fed 0.5% calcium. It may be noted that birds fed 100 p.p.m. of DDT at the 0.5% calcium level had the highest percentage of cracks but did not, however, have the lowest specific gravity. Egg production was not significantly affected by DDE or DDT treatments. While actual egg production was lowest for the birds receiving 300 p.p.m. of DDE and 3% calcium, as was the case in Exp. 1, egg production usually appeared improved in the presence of 3% calcium. No meaningful differences in egg
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2226
W. A. ROBSON, G. H. ARSCOTT AND I. J. TINSLEY
Fertility of eggs was not significantly affected by treatment except for those layers receiving 300 p.p.m. of DDE on the lower calcium level (P < .05) when compared to the control fed no DDE and 3% calcium. This reduced fertility was observed during the first 28-day period and persisted throughout the experiment. Hatchability of fertile eggs was not significantly affected by pesticide treatment but was lower (P < .05) than the control in three out of four instances where 0.5% calcium was involved. In contrast to Exp. 1 female mortality appeared higher only on the low calcium rations with 100 p.p.m. DDE. Mortality was also substantially higher with 300 p.p.m. of DDE. Male mortality was highest with those birds receiving 300 p.p.m.of DDE. The males seemed more sensitive to DDT than DDE when comparisons were made at comparable levels. No differences in livability or growth of progeny from the various treatments were evident. The results of these experiments do not support the view that DDT exerts an adverse affect on egg shell thickness in Japanese quail as reported by Bitman et al. (1969). Further,
these results do not indicate the existence of any interaction between the pesticide(s) or the calcium levels employed. In this regard these results are in agreement with the recent reports of Chang and Stokstad (1975) and Scott et al. (1975) who also were unable to show a detrimental effect from DDE or DDT on egg shell quality in Japanese quail fed calcium levels ranging from 2, 3.5 or 3.7%. It should also be noted in contrast to the reports of others, the findings reported here were of longer duration than most. It is only in connection with the body weight, fertility and mortality data that any negative effects due to DDE or DDT administration were observed. For body weights, males seemed to be more sensitive to DDE administration especially when compared to females receiving the higher calcium level as noted particularly in Exp. 1. In the first experiment involving a larger number of birds, there was a clear-cut indication that females receiving the lower calcium level were significantly heavier than those receiving an adequate level. While this observation was not seen in the second experiment, it might be explained on the basis of the differences in rate of egg production noted between the two calcium levels, as birds in a higher rate of lay, in contrast to non-layers, tend to utilize fat for egg production purposes rather than body fat storage and consequently could be lighter. Likewise the adverse effect on hatchability attributable to the low calcium level is very likely due to incubating eggs with thinner shells. The lower fertility in the presence of 300 p.p.m. DDE on the low calcium treatment is difficult to explain. Arscott et al. (1972) failed to show any adverse effect on male fertility from 100 p.p.m. DDT and up to 200 p.p.m. DDE. This may therefore be a chance observation and needs further study. The mortality data obtained in both experiments, while variable, does provide evidence for some degree of DDE toxicity in either sex. On the other hand, DDT, at
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weights or daily feed consumption were noted. Female body weights appeared unaffected by treatment except for a decrease in both calcium levels where 300 p.p.m. of DDE were involved. When the data, starting with the fifth period, were combined for calcium level a significant reduction (P < .05) in body weights due to DDE was noted. The marked differences between calcium levels noted in Exp. 1 were not evident here except possibly for the DDT treatment and the high DDE level. While no significant differences in average body weights were observed, males receiving 100 p.p.m. of DDE began to lose (P < .05) body weight beginning with the fifth period and with 300 p.p.m. this decrease in body weight was observed beginning with the third period.
DDE, DDT the level u s e d , seemed to affect males but not females. T h e livability experiments involving D D E and D D T certainly do not indicate that a sufficient a m o u n t of the pesticides was carried o v e r t h a t could h a v e had a deleterious affect on livability or growth of progeny not otherwise subjected to pesticide treatment. This is contrary to our findings in connection with a similar report involving dieldrin (Reading et al., 1976).
Arscott, G. H., and P. E. Bernier, 1961. Application of specific gravity to the determination of eggshell thickness. In: Agricultural Science Laboratory Exercises for High School Students. Agricultural Science No. 2, School of Agriculture, Oregon State University. Arscott, G. H., W. A. Robson and I. J. Tinsley, 1972. Effect of DDE and DDT on reproductive performance of adult White Leghorn male chickens. Nutrition Reports International, 6: 307-311. Bitman, J., H. C. Cecil, S. J. Harrison and G. F. Fries, 1969. DDT induces a decrease in eggshell calcium. Nature, 224: 44-46. Cecil, H. C , J. Bitman and S. J. Harrison, 1971. Effects of dietary p, p'-DDT and p, p'-DDE on egg production and egg shell characteristics of
2227
Japanese quail receiving an adequate calcium diet. Poultry Sci. 50: 657-659. Chang, E. S., and E. L. R. Stokstad, 1975. Effect of chlorinated hydrocarbons on the shell gland carbonic anhydrase and eggshell thickness in Japanese quail. Poultry Sci. 54: 3-10. Peakall, D. B., 1975. Physiological effects of chlorinated hydrocarbons on avian species. In: Environmental Dynamics of Pesticides. Edited by R. Haque and V. H. Freed. Plenum Press. N.Y. pp. 343-360. Reading, C. M., G. H. Arscott and I. J. Tinsley, 1976. Effect of dieldrin and calcium on performance of adult Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Poultry Sci. 55: 212-219. Risebrough, R. W., J. Davis and D. W. Anderson, 1970. Effects of various chlorinated hydrocarbons. Jn.Proc. of Symposium. Aug. 18-20, 1969. Oregon State University; Gillett, J. W., Ed. The Biological Impact of Pesticides in the Environment. Environmental Health Science Series # 1 . pp. 40-53. Robson, W. A., 1974. Effects of DDE and DDT on the performance of coturnix quail. Master of Science thesis. Oregon State University. 94 pp. Scott, M. L., J. R. Zimmermann, S. Marinsky, P. A. Mullenhoff, G. L. Rumsey and R. W. Rice, 1975. Effects of PCB's, DDT and mercury compounds upon egg production, hatchability and shell quality in chickens and Japanese quail. Poultry Sci. 54: 350-368. Snedecor.G. W.,andW. G. Cochran, 1967. Statistical Methods. 6th edition. Ames, Iowa State University Press.
NEWS AND NOTES (Continued from page 2200) degrees at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, in 1927 and 1929, respectively. He received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Wisconsin in 1930 and 1933, respectively. He did postdoctoral work in genetics at the University of Wisconsin 1933 to 1934. From 1934 to 1935 he was Hatchery Manager, Swift & Co., Waterloo, Iowa. He joined the faculty of Oklahoma State University, then Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, in 1935. In 1946 he became a Professor at Ohio State University in the Department of Poultry Science. He is also a member of the University's Institute of Genetics and its Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology. From 1951 to 1952 he was a Fulbright Research Scholar in
Edinburgh, Scotland. He was Acting Chairman of the Department of Poultry Science from 1964 to 1965. Dr. Jaap was the recipient of the Gamma Sigma Delta Outstanding Professor Award in 1968, and the Ralston Purina Teaching Award, administered by the Poultry Science Association, in 1970. In 1971 he was decorated by the French Government "Officer de l'Ordre du Merite Agricole." He was made a Fellow of the Poultry Science Association in 1959, and received the Macdougall Award of the World's Poultry Science Association in 1974. He was President of the Poultry Science Association, 1961-1962, and Editor of Poultry Science from 1945 to 1949. He served as Editor of the World's
(Continued on page 2261)
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REFERENCES
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Departments of Poultry Science* and Agricultural Chemistry,** Oregon State University, Oregon 97331
Corvallis,
(Received for publication February 16, 1976)
POULTRY SCIENCE 55: 2222-2227, 1976
REVIEW OF LITERATURE
B
ITMAN et al. (1969) reported that Japanese quail fed 100 p.p.m. of 0, p'-and p, p'-DDT for a 45-day experimental period produced eggs with thinner shells and lower calcium content than the controls when all birds received a diet containing 0.56% calcium. In a subsequent report from this same laboratory, using p, p'-DDT and its metabolite p, p'-DDE, Cecil et al. (1971), while noting similar trends, reported less dramatic effects on egg shell thinning with diets containing
1. Technical Paper No. 1493. Oregon Agricultural Experiment Station. Supported in part by US Public Health Service Grant ES00040. This paper was developed in part from a thesis submitted by W.A.R. to the Graduate School, Oregon State University in partial fulfillment of the M.S. degree. A portion of this paper was reported at the 60th Annual Meeting of the Poultry Science Association, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, Arkansas, 1971. 2. Present address: P.O. Box 5223, Klamath Falls, Oregon 97601.
2.7% calcium during a four month experimental period. These results notwithstanding, it should be noted that Risebrough et al. (1970) indicate that gallinaceous birds in general tend to be more resistant than birds in other orders to decreases in egg shell thickness resulting from exposure to organochlorine compounds. Peakall (1975) provides an upto-date review concerning the role of organic hydrocarbons in avian species. In view of the above reports it was the purpose of these experiments to examine the effects of long term exposure to p, p'-DDE and p, p'-DDT in adult Japanese quail fed diets deficient or adequate in calcium. MATERIALS AND METHODS The care and management of the Japanese quail 3 used in this investigation have been 3. This flock was obtained in 1960 from the Oregon Game Commission, Hermiston, Oregon. We are informed they were originally obtained as mature stock from Oklahoma.
2222
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ABSTRACT Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of DDE, DDT and calcium on performance of quail. The quail received diets containing 0 or 100 p.p.m. of DDE for eight 28-day periods in Exp. 1 and 0, 100 or 300 p.p.m. of DDE or 100 p.p.m. of DDT for six periods in Exp. 2. Diets containing either 0.5 or 3% calcium were used with each pesticide level. No differences in egg shell thickness, cracked eggs, egg production, feed consumption, egg weights, female body weights, fertility or hatchability were obtained from DDE or DDT up to 100 p.p.m. Three hundred p.p.m. of DDE did result in a decrease in female body weights and in fertility on the low calcium diet. Egg shell thickness, cracked eggs, egg production and hatchability were affected by the lower calcium level. Male body weights were adversely affected from 100 p.p.m. or more of DDE. Mortality increased as the level of DDE increased for females, while no effect was observed with DDT. Males appeared more sensitive to 100 p.p.m. of DDE in Exp. 1 and 300 p.p.m. of DDE and 100 p.p.m. of DDT in Exp. 2. Livability and growth of chicks from hens receiving rations containing DDE and DDT were unaffected by maternal treatment. In summary, DDE and DDT were without effect on egg shell quality or most other reproductive factors, but DDE at 300 p.p.m. did exert a detrimental effect on adult body weights, fertility and mortality.
DDE, DDT
The rations used during the experimental period, except for the pesticide employed, 6 are identical to those reported by Reading et al. (1976). Feed and water were available ad libitum. Exp. 1 involved about 400 day-old chicks of mixed sex, while in Exp. 2 approximately 200 chicks were used. In the first experiment only, when the laying trial commenced the treatments for half the population were reversed. Since no interactions were evident between the growing or laying phases, the data during the production phase was combined and summarized for the actual pesticide treatment during the laying period only. In
4. Chemically pure p,p'-DDE: 2,2-bis-(pchlorophenyl)-l,l-dichloroethylene. 5. Chemically pure crystalline 99% + p,p'-DDT: l,l,l,-trichloro-2, 2-bis(p-chlorophenyl) ethane. 6. DDE or DDT was dissolved in an appropriate quantity of corn oil and stirred on a Fisher thermix unit until all crystals dissolved. Aliquots containing the desired amount of pesticide were then substituted for the corn oil normally used in the diet. Mixes were made as needed in 25 lb. lots using a Hobart Model A20 mixer.
2223
Exp. 1 males were maintained separately on the different pesticide levels, but only on the low calcium ration, while in Exp. 2 they were housed with the females on both calcium levels. Each treatment in Exp. 1 consisted of four replicates with each replicate containing 12 female quail. In Exp. 2 in which males were housed with females, each of two replicates on each treatment contained 12 birds per replicate. Body weight and feed consumption 7 data were taken at 28-day intervals. Egg production was recorded daily and summarized for 28-day periods. Mortality, while recorded daily, is reported on an accumulative basis and was not averaged by periods. Egg shell thickness was obtained through specific gravity measurements using the procedure described by Arscott and Bernier (1961). For the fertility experiments reported in Exp. 2, the males were housed with females in a ratio of one to one. Eggs were saved for an eight-day period prior to incubation. Fertility was determined by breaking out all unhatched eggs and examining them macroscopically for embryonic development. Hatchability was calculated on the basis of fertile eggs set. The livability trial conducted on Exp. 2 during the fifth period involved starting quail chicks under normal management procedures in which chicks were fed a 28% protein diet containing no pesticide and observing their performance weekly up to six weeks. Statistical analysis of the data, except for mortality, was performed by analysis of variance (Snedecor and Cochran, 1967). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The results of Exp. 1 are summarized in Table 1. Figure 1 shows the effects of DDE
7. In Exp. 2 the feed consumed by males was omitted from the calculation based on feed normally consumed by males.
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described elsewhere (Robson, 1974; and Reading et al., 1976). Two experiments were conducted: the first consisting of eight 28-day production periods involvingOand lOOp.p.m. of DDE 4 and the second, six 28-day periods involving varying levels (0, 100 and 300 p.p.m.) of DDE or 100 p.p.m. of DDT, 5 all on diets either deficient (0.5%) or adequate (3.0%) in calcium content. Both experiments commenced when birds reached 25% egg production. The indicated levels of pesticide, including an unsupplemented control, were fed from one day of age except in Exp. 1 where a level of 50 p.p.m. was used for the first two weeks and was increased to 100 p.p.m. thereafter during the growing period using diets containing an adequate level of calcium (Ca 1.2%). The performance of quail during the pre-production period is reported elsewhere (Robson, 1974).
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W. A. ROBSON, G. H. ARSCOTT AND I . J . TINSLEY
TABLE 1.—Effect
SP. gr.
Cracks
**'
**' %
1.0550 1.0686 1.0544 1.0681
10.0 2.5 14.5 2.5
Treat merit DDE Ca
%
p.p.m. 0 0 100 100
.5 3.01 .5 3.0
of DDE and calcium on performance of adult Japanese quail (Exp. 1) Averages of all periods Feed cons. / day Egg Egg prod. 9 wt. g% g20 41.0 9.8 47.5 20 9.8 38.5 20 10.0 60.0* 22 10.2
Body wt. 9 **' 6
Mortality 9 6
g138 124 134 123
% 114 — 100* —
29 46 56 67
21 — 91 —
9
* 8 *• o 7 >
> 5 o O o
4
it: 3 o 0)
CL 2
en i 10
14
18
22
26 30 Age (weeks)
34
38
42
FIG. 1. Effects of DDE and calcium on the specific gravity of eggs in Experiment 1. Legend: Vat #1 is equivalent to a specific gravity of 1.044 with 0.004 increasing intervals; 0 p.p.m. DDE; , 100; O, 0.5% Ca; # . 3.0% Ca. and calcium level by time on egg shell thinning through specific gravity measurements. This graph clearly shows that the DDE was without effect on egg shell thinning. On the other hand, the 0.5% level of calcium, either in the presence or absence of DDE, markedly reduced egg shell thickness throughout the course of this experiment. As noted in Table
1 this decrease in egg shell thickness proved highly significant (P < .01) and no DDE x Ca interaction was noted. A significant increase (P < .01) in the incidence of cracks was also observed on the low calcium diets with no effects attributable to DDE treatment. Although there was a trend toward de-
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at New York University on June 21, 2015
**'Sig. dif. (P < .01) between Ca levels only. *(P < .05). 1. Positive control.
DDE, DDT
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creased egg production on the lower calcium levels, this difference did not prove statistically different from the group receiving no DDE and 3% calcium. On the other hand, the group receiving 100 p.p.m. DDE plus 3% calcium consistently laid significantly more eggs (P < .05) than did all other treatments. Egg weights and feed consumption appeared unaffected by treatments. One hundred p.p.m. of DDE exerted no adverse affect on female body weight; however, those receiving the low calcium diet were significantly heavier (P < .01) than those fed the higher calcium diet. Males receiving 100 p.p.m. of DDE, on the other hand, appeared adversely affected (P < .05) when compared to the unsupplemented control. Female mortality appeared substantially greater with 100 p.p.m. of DDE. It was also greater for the groups fed 3% calcium. Male mortality was markedly greater in the presence of 100 p.p.m. of DDE with a marked increase occurring after the fifth 28-day period. The results for Exp. 2 are summarized in Table 2. The level of 100 and 300 p.p.m. of DDE or 100 p.p.m. of DDT did not result in any reduction in specific gravity; however, birds.fed the low calcium diets laid eggs with significantly thinner (P < .01) egg shells with an average specific gravity of 1.0539 vs. 1.0675. Neither DDE nor DDT at the levels used influenced the percent of cracks obtained while a significant increase (P < .01) was seen with birds fed 0.5% calcium. It may be noted that birds fed 100 p.p.m. of DDT at the 0.5% calcium level had the highest percentage of cracks but did not, however, have the lowest specific gravity. Egg production was not significantly affected by DDE or DDT treatments. While actual egg production was lowest for the birds receiving 300 p.p.m. of DDE and 3% calcium, as was the case in Exp. 1, egg production usually appeared improved in the presence of 3% calcium. No meaningful differences in egg
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W. A. ROBSON, G. H. ARSCOTT AND I. J. TINSLEY
Fertility of eggs was not significantly affected by treatment except for those layers receiving 300 p.p.m. of DDE on the lower calcium level (P < .05) when compared to the control fed no DDE and 3% calcium. This reduced fertility was observed during the first 28-day period and persisted throughout the experiment. Hatchability of fertile eggs was not significantly affected by pesticide treatment but was lower (P < .05) than the control in three out of four instances where 0.5% calcium was involved. In contrast to Exp. 1 female mortality appeared higher only on the low calcium rations with 100 p.p.m. DDE. Mortality was also substantially higher with 300 p.p.m. of DDE. Male mortality was highest with those birds receiving 300 p.p.m.of DDE. The males seemed more sensitive to DDT than DDE when comparisons were made at comparable levels. No differences in livability or growth of progeny from the various treatments were evident. The results of these experiments do not support the view that DDT exerts an adverse affect on egg shell thickness in Japanese quail as reported by Bitman et al. (1969). Further,
these results do not indicate the existence of any interaction between the pesticide(s) or the calcium levels employed. In this regard these results are in agreement with the recent reports of Chang and Stokstad (1975) and Scott et al. (1975) who also were unable to show a detrimental effect from DDE or DDT on egg shell quality in Japanese quail fed calcium levels ranging from 2, 3.5 or 3.7%. It should also be noted in contrast to the reports of others, the findings reported here were of longer duration than most. It is only in connection with the body weight, fertility and mortality data that any negative effects due to DDE or DDT administration were observed. For body weights, males seemed to be more sensitive to DDE administration especially when compared to females receiving the higher calcium level as noted particularly in Exp. 1. In the first experiment involving a larger number of birds, there was a clear-cut indication that females receiving the lower calcium level were significantly heavier than those receiving an adequate level. While this observation was not seen in the second experiment, it might be explained on the basis of the differences in rate of egg production noted between the two calcium levels, as birds in a higher rate of lay, in contrast to non-layers, tend to utilize fat for egg production purposes rather than body fat storage and consequently could be lighter. Likewise the adverse effect on hatchability attributable to the low calcium level is very likely due to incubating eggs with thinner shells. The lower fertility in the presence of 300 p.p.m. DDE on the low calcium treatment is difficult to explain. Arscott et al. (1972) failed to show any adverse effect on male fertility from 100 p.p.m. DDT and up to 200 p.p.m. DDE. This may therefore be a chance observation and needs further study. The mortality data obtained in both experiments, while variable, does provide evidence for some degree of DDE toxicity in either sex. On the other hand, DDT, at
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weights or daily feed consumption were noted. Female body weights appeared unaffected by treatment except for a decrease in both calcium levels where 300 p.p.m. of DDE were involved. When the data, starting with the fifth period, were combined for calcium level a significant reduction (P < .05) in body weights due to DDE was noted. The marked differences between calcium levels noted in Exp. 1 were not evident here except possibly for the DDT treatment and the high DDE level. While no significant differences in average body weights were observed, males receiving 100 p.p.m. of DDE began to lose (P < .05) body weight beginning with the fifth period and with 300 p.p.m. this decrease in body weight was observed beginning with the third period.
DDE, DDT the level u s e d , seemed to affect males but not females. T h e livability experiments involving D D E and D D T certainly do not indicate that a sufficient a m o u n t of the pesticides was carried o v e r t h a t could h a v e had a deleterious affect on livability or growth of progeny not otherwise subjected to pesticide treatment. This is contrary to our findings in connection with a similar report involving dieldrin (Reading et al., 1976).
Arscott, G. H., and P. E. Bernier, 1961. Application of specific gravity to the determination of eggshell thickness. In: Agricultural Science Laboratory Exercises for High School Students. Agricultural Science No. 2, School of Agriculture, Oregon State University. Arscott, G. H., W. A. Robson and I. J. Tinsley, 1972. Effect of DDE and DDT on reproductive performance of adult White Leghorn male chickens. Nutrition Reports International, 6: 307-311. Bitman, J., H. C. Cecil, S. J. Harrison and G. F. Fries, 1969. DDT induces a decrease in eggshell calcium. Nature, 224: 44-46. Cecil, H. C , J. Bitman and S. J. Harrison, 1971. Effects of dietary p, p'-DDT and p, p'-DDE on egg production and egg shell characteristics of
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Japanese quail receiving an adequate calcium diet. Poultry Sci. 50: 657-659. Chang, E. S., and E. L. R. Stokstad, 1975. Effect of chlorinated hydrocarbons on the shell gland carbonic anhydrase and eggshell thickness in Japanese quail. Poultry Sci. 54: 3-10. Peakall, D. B., 1975. Physiological effects of chlorinated hydrocarbons on avian species. In: Environmental Dynamics of Pesticides. Edited by R. Haque and V. H. Freed. Plenum Press. N.Y. pp. 343-360. Reading, C. M., G. H. Arscott and I. J. Tinsley, 1976. Effect of dieldrin and calcium on performance of adult Japanese quail (Coturnix coturnix japonica). Poultry Sci. 55: 212-219. Risebrough, R. W., J. Davis and D. W. Anderson, 1970. Effects of various chlorinated hydrocarbons. Jn.Proc. of Symposium. Aug. 18-20, 1969. Oregon State University; Gillett, J. W., Ed. The Biological Impact of Pesticides in the Environment. Environmental Health Science Series # 1 . pp. 40-53. Robson, W. A., 1974. Effects of DDE and DDT on the performance of coturnix quail. Master of Science thesis. Oregon State University. 94 pp. Scott, M. L., J. R. Zimmermann, S. Marinsky, P. A. Mullenhoff, G. L. Rumsey and R. W. Rice, 1975. Effects of PCB's, DDT and mercury compounds upon egg production, hatchability and shell quality in chickens and Japanese quail. Poultry Sci. 54: 350-368. Snedecor.G. W.,andW. G. Cochran, 1967. Statistical Methods. 6th edition. Ames, Iowa State University Press.
NEWS AND NOTES (Continued from page 2200) degrees at the University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, in 1927 and 1929, respectively. He received M.S. and Ph.D. degrees at the University of Wisconsin in 1930 and 1933, respectively. He did postdoctoral work in genetics at the University of Wisconsin 1933 to 1934. From 1934 to 1935 he was Hatchery Manager, Swift & Co., Waterloo, Iowa. He joined the faculty of Oklahoma State University, then Oklahoma Agricultural and Mechanical College, in 1935. In 1946 he became a Professor at Ohio State University in the Department of Poultry Science. He is also a member of the University's Institute of Genetics and its Institute of Nutrition and Food Technology. From 1951 to 1952 he was a Fulbright Research Scholar in
Edinburgh, Scotland. He was Acting Chairman of the Department of Poultry Science from 1964 to 1965. Dr. Jaap was the recipient of the Gamma Sigma Delta Outstanding Professor Award in 1968, and the Ralston Purina Teaching Award, administered by the Poultry Science Association, in 1970. In 1971 he was decorated by the French Government "Officer de l'Ordre du Merite Agricole." He was made a Fellow of the Poultry Science Association in 1959, and received the Macdougall Award of the World's Poultry Science Association in 1974. He was President of the Poultry Science Association, 1961-1962, and Editor of Poultry Science from 1945 to 1949. He served as Editor of the World's
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