- Email: [email protected]
A Class Participation Project in Poultry Breeding
1202
MILLER, BEARSE, MCCLARY AND CSONKA
and 6, respectively. The assistance of Dr. T. S. Russell in the statistical evaluation of the data is deeply appreciated. The authors also thank Heisdorf and Nelson Farms, Inc., for providing eggs of the R and S strains and the cellular resistant and cellular susceptible four week old chicks. The authors are indebted to R. G. Raymond of Heisdorf and Nelson Farms, Inc., for classification of the cellular resistance and susceptibility to the lymphoid virus subgroups. REFERENCES
A Class Participation Project in Poultry Breeding R. W. H A L L E R AND M. L. STJNDE
Department of Poultry Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 (Received for publication December 27. 1968)
L
ABORATORY sections of introducJ tory poultry courses should be taught in such a way as to be both stimulating and interesting. Student participation can be utilized to a high degree if laboratory sessions are planned accordingly. In a recent attempt to improve undergraduate poultry instruction at the University of Wisconsin, an opportunity was afforded to utilize these principles in the designing of Published with the approval of the Director of the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Madison.
a new laboratory session in poultry breeding geared to the introductory student level. Eggs from at least ten unusual breeds or varieties are purchased every January. The eggs are normally delivered around the middle of February for hatching in early March. Varieties are selected which will demonstrate such factors as different skin colors, feather colors and patterns, and comb types to function as a part of a breed and variety identification exercise which is held during the second laboratory
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on June 19, 2015
Bearse, G. E., 1959. Unpublished data. Bearse, G. E., W. A. Becker and C. M. Hamilton, 1963. Resistance and susceptibility to the avian leukosis complex in chickens. Poultry Sci. 42: 110-121. Burmester, B. R., M. A. Gross, W. G. Walter and A. K. Fontes, 1959. Pathogenicity of a viral strain (RPL 12) causing avian visceral lymphomatosis and related neoplasms. II. Host-virus interrelations affecting response. J. Nat. Cancer Inst. 22: 103-127.
Cole, R. K., 1967. Selection for resistance to Marek's disease by use of the JM virus. Poultry Sci. 46: 1246. Crittenden, L. B., 1968. Avian tumor viruses: Prospects for control. Worlds' Poultry Sci. J. 24: 1836. Hutt, F. B., and R. K. Cole, 1957. Control of leukosis in fowl. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 131:491-495. Kimura, Y., and V. L. Miller, 1962. Mercury determination at the microgram level by a reductionaeration method of concentration. Anal. Chim. Acta, 27:325-331. Miller, V. L., G. E. Bearse, Y. Kimura and E. Csonka, 1959a. Strain differences in mercury retention in chicks. Proc. Soc. Exptl. Biol. Med. 100: 301-303. Miller, V. L., G. E. Bearse and K. E. Hammermeister, 1959b. Mercury retention, a trait of chickens. Poultry Sci. 38: 1037-1039. Miller, V. L., D. V. Larkin, G. E. Bearse and C. M. Hamilton, 1967. The effects of dosage and administration of two mercurials on mercury retention in two strains of chickens. Poultry Sci. 46: 142-146. Sevoian, M., 1968. Variations in susceptibility of three selected strains of chickens to cell suspensions of J M virus. Poultry Sci. 47: 688-689.
CLASS PROJECT
1203
TABLE 1.—Breeds selected for identification laboratory session 1967 Breed and/or variety Buttercup Buff Minorca White Crested Black Polish Black Australorp Egyptian Fayoumi Fowl Speckled Sussex Light Brahma Turken White Wyandotte Barred Plymouth Rock
Character(s) demonstrated Buttercup comb, elongated spangle feathering Mediterranean class—buff colored plumage Crest, V-comb English class—white skin Leukosis resistance, close feathering Speckled feather pattern Asiatic class, feathered shanks, pea comb Gene for naked neck American class, rose comb, yellow skin Barred feather pattern 1968 Mediterranean class, red feather color Hamburg class, spangled feather pattern American class, black shanks, black color Exceptional rose comb Crest, V-comb, mottled pattern, 5 toes, beard, muff Stippled pattern on female Three phases of plumage color Laced pattern, body type Pea comb, close feathering Gold Pencilled pattern
session each year. Since these birds are kept through their second laying year, the varieties ordered are rotated every two years. By using both young and year-old birds, close to 20 different breeds and varieties are available for class work during the identification laboratory session. Table 1 lists the breeds and varieties selected the last two years and the reasons for their selection. In addition to the varieties in Table 1, Golden Sebright bantams are kept for hen feathering, White Silkies for their black skin coloring, and Araucanas for their green egg shell color, muffs, and beards. Several other bantam varieties as well as the standard group of light and heavy breeds are routinely maintained at the station. Using several of these varieties as the parent stock the matings listed in Table 2, selected for the visible phenotypic results that could be expected, were developed. Other varieties could have been utilized if desired. The students worked in pairs, each pair
having its own separate project. The artificial insemination (A.I.) projects created a lot of interest. More A.I. projects are planned for future years. A schedule was set up for further inseminations and the students advised of the time of starting the incubator, candling and transferring. Eggs were saved for a two-week period. These eggs were trayed and put in an incubator on a day other than a class day, but a good student turnout nevertheless developed. The eggs were then candled 9 days later. The students broke put their infertiles and early deads. They again candled at transfer time. During the time eggs were being saved and while incubation was proceeding, the students went to the reference books and to the staff geneticist to determine the probable results of their particular matings. The hatch was pulled during an actual laboratory period on Friday. At this time, the chicks were wing banded and classified as to phenotype and the results summarized. Each pair of students
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on June 19, 2015
Red Leghorn Silver Spangled Hamburg Jersey Black Giant Red Caps Mottled Houdan Rose Comb Brown Leghorn Blue Andalusian White Laced Red Comish Dark Comish Partridge Plymouth Rock
1204
R. W. HALLER AND M. L. SUNDK TABLE 2.—Suggested matings for class projects Expected Phenotypic Results
Cross 1. Light BrahmaXWhite Plymouth Rock 2. Light BrahmaXNew Hampshire 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
discussed their project before the rest of the class and tabulated their data on the blackboard as to numbers set, infertile, Di, D2, transferred, D3, pipped, hatched, % hatch, % hatchability, and % fertile. In the A.I. proj'ects the first year, fertility of 100% was obtained by one team and about 95% by the other team. The various peculiarities of the results of each project were demonstrated to the class by the teams as they discussed their hatches. The students then placed their chicks in an electric battery with feed and water. They checked on their chicks each class period after that as the birds lost their down and baby chick feathers began to appear. At hatching time, the students were offered an opportunity to carry on small research projects with their chicks during the growing period. Two different teams chose to run such trials, one concerned with high and low fiber diets and the other with ultra-high vitamin D 3 levels. This was an indication of interest and enthusiasm since these projects were run independently outside of class. Another student, after the semester was over, prepared a report on the complete results of
No. of toes, feathered shanks, comb type, crest, skin color Naked neck dominance Color masking effects Barred or Columbian Pattern Color ratio
his crossing of White Silkie males with New Hampshire and White Plymouth Rock pullets. His team got 19 different phenotypes from the 57 resulting chicks. Some of the adult stock resulting from a few of the crosses are depicted in Figures 1, 2, and 3. The cockerel in Figure 1 is
FIG. 1. Cockerel homozygous for naked neck gene.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on June 19, 2015
11. 12. 13.
White WyandotteXSingle Comb White Leghorn New HampshireXBlack Australorp New HampshireXBarred Plymouth Rock New HampshireXBuft" Orpington Barred Plymouth RockXNew Hampshire Buff OrpingtonX White Wyandotte Single Comb White Wyandotte White Silkie X Single Comb White Leghorn White Plymouth Rock TurkenX Mottled Ancona Turken White Plymouth Rock X Single Comb White Leghorn White Plymouth RockXNew Hampshire Blue AndalusianX White Splash Andalusian Blue Phase Andalusian Black Phase Andalusian
Pea comb, feathered shanks Feathered shanks, pea comb, gene for silver feather color Rose comb Artificial insemination, fertility results Artificial insemination, sex-linked color Sex-linked rate of feathering Reciprocal cross of sex-linked cross Color dominance
CLASS PROJECT
1205
FIG. 3. Legs and feet of cockerel from White Silkie X White Plymouth Rock cross. Note four toes on right foot, and five on left.
homozygous for the naked neck gene while the one in Figure 2 with the additional tuft of neck feathers is a heterozygote. Figure 3 shows the legs and feet of a cockerel resulting from the White SilkieX White Plymouth Rock cross. The bird's right foot has four toes, while the left has five. Note also the feathered shanks.
Each team collected, incubated, candled, transferred, and hatched the eggs from their particular crosses and wing banded and brooded their resulting chicks. Utilizing genetics reference books coupled with informal discussions with the departmental geneticist, the teams determined the probable phenotypes prior to hatching time. After the hatch was classified, the actual phenotypes were compared with the predicted expectations and the results discussed by the team with the remainder of the class. A project such as this can be extremely useful as well as practical. The students actually become involved in several phases of poultry breeding and rearing. The overall results of this breeding project as measured in both class participation and interest are quite rewarding.
SUMMARY
Teams of students in the Introductory Poultry Science course selected matings from both unusual and common breeds designed to demonstrate the inheritance of such factors as sex linkage, feather patterns, skin color, comb type, number of toes, feathered shanks, or naked necks. Both natural mating and artificial insemination methods were used.
NEWS AND NOTES (Continued from page 1194) remuneration from Latin American or Caribbean institutions for teaching or similar services, or other financing. For further information about any of these programs or application forms, persons studying at American or Canadian Institutions should write to: Foreign Area Fellowship Program, 110 East 59th Street, New York, New York 10022. Applications must be received no later than November 1, 1969.
A similar Program is being offered in the United Kingdom. Applications from persons studying at institutions in the United Kingdom must be received no later than November 15, 1969, on forms to be obtained from: Foreign Area Fellowship Program, 21 Winchester Road, Oxford 0X2 6NA, England. The Foreign Area Fellowship Program is sponsored by The Social Science Research Council and the American Council of Learned Societies with financial support from The Ford Foundation.
{Continued on page 1244)
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on June 19, 2015
FIG. 2. Heterozygote for naked neck gene. Note additional tuft of neck feathers.
MILLER, BEARSE, MCCLARY AND CSONKA
and 6, respectively. The assistance of Dr. T. S. Russell in the statistical evaluation of the data is deeply appreciated. The authors also thank Heisdorf and Nelson Farms, Inc., for providing eggs of the R and S strains and the cellular resistant and cellular susceptible four week old chicks. The authors are indebted to R. G. Raymond of Heisdorf and Nelson Farms, Inc., for classification of the cellular resistance and susceptibility to the lymphoid virus subgroups. REFERENCES
A Class Participation Project in Poultry Breeding R. W. H A L L E R AND M. L. STJNDE
Department of Poultry Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 (Received for publication December 27. 1968)
L
ABORATORY sections of introducJ tory poultry courses should be taught in such a way as to be both stimulating and interesting. Student participation can be utilized to a high degree if laboratory sessions are planned accordingly. In a recent attempt to improve undergraduate poultry instruction at the University of Wisconsin, an opportunity was afforded to utilize these principles in the designing of Published with the approval of the Director of the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Agricultural and Life Sciences, Madison.
a new laboratory session in poultry breeding geared to the introductory student level. Eggs from at least ten unusual breeds or varieties are purchased every January. The eggs are normally delivered around the middle of February for hatching in early March. Varieties are selected which will demonstrate such factors as different skin colors, feather colors and patterns, and comb types to function as a part of a breed and variety identification exercise which is held during the second laboratory
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on June 19, 2015
Bearse, G. E., 1959. Unpublished data. Bearse, G. E., W. A. Becker and C. M. Hamilton, 1963. Resistance and susceptibility to the avian leukosis complex in chickens. Poultry Sci. 42: 110-121. Burmester, B. R., M. A. Gross, W. G. Walter and A. K. Fontes, 1959. Pathogenicity of a viral strain (RPL 12) causing avian visceral lymphomatosis and related neoplasms. II. Host-virus interrelations affecting response. J. Nat. Cancer Inst. 22: 103-127.
Cole, R. K., 1967. Selection for resistance to Marek's disease by use of the JM virus. Poultry Sci. 46: 1246. Crittenden, L. B., 1968. Avian tumor viruses: Prospects for control. Worlds' Poultry Sci. J. 24: 1836. Hutt, F. B., and R. K. Cole, 1957. Control of leukosis in fowl. J. Am. Vet. Med. Assoc. 131:491-495. Kimura, Y., and V. L. Miller, 1962. Mercury determination at the microgram level by a reductionaeration method of concentration. Anal. Chim. Acta, 27:325-331. Miller, V. L., G. E. Bearse, Y. Kimura and E. Csonka, 1959a. Strain differences in mercury retention in chicks. Proc. Soc. Exptl. Biol. Med. 100: 301-303. Miller, V. L., G. E. Bearse and K. E. Hammermeister, 1959b. Mercury retention, a trait of chickens. Poultry Sci. 38: 1037-1039. Miller, V. L., D. V. Larkin, G. E. Bearse and C. M. Hamilton, 1967. The effects of dosage and administration of two mercurials on mercury retention in two strains of chickens. Poultry Sci. 46: 142-146. Sevoian, M., 1968. Variations in susceptibility of three selected strains of chickens to cell suspensions of J M virus. Poultry Sci. 47: 688-689.
CLASS PROJECT
1203
TABLE 1.—Breeds selected for identification laboratory session 1967 Breed and/or variety Buttercup Buff Minorca White Crested Black Polish Black Australorp Egyptian Fayoumi Fowl Speckled Sussex Light Brahma Turken White Wyandotte Barred Plymouth Rock
Character(s) demonstrated Buttercup comb, elongated spangle feathering Mediterranean class—buff colored plumage Crest, V-comb English class—white skin Leukosis resistance, close feathering Speckled feather pattern Asiatic class, feathered shanks, pea comb Gene for naked neck American class, rose comb, yellow skin Barred feather pattern 1968 Mediterranean class, red feather color Hamburg class, spangled feather pattern American class, black shanks, black color Exceptional rose comb Crest, V-comb, mottled pattern, 5 toes, beard, muff Stippled pattern on female Three phases of plumage color Laced pattern, body type Pea comb, close feathering Gold Pencilled pattern
session each year. Since these birds are kept through their second laying year, the varieties ordered are rotated every two years. By using both young and year-old birds, close to 20 different breeds and varieties are available for class work during the identification laboratory session. Table 1 lists the breeds and varieties selected the last two years and the reasons for their selection. In addition to the varieties in Table 1, Golden Sebright bantams are kept for hen feathering, White Silkies for their black skin coloring, and Araucanas for their green egg shell color, muffs, and beards. Several other bantam varieties as well as the standard group of light and heavy breeds are routinely maintained at the station. Using several of these varieties as the parent stock the matings listed in Table 2, selected for the visible phenotypic results that could be expected, were developed. Other varieties could have been utilized if desired. The students worked in pairs, each pair
having its own separate project. The artificial insemination (A.I.) projects created a lot of interest. More A.I. projects are planned for future years. A schedule was set up for further inseminations and the students advised of the time of starting the incubator, candling and transferring. Eggs were saved for a two-week period. These eggs were trayed and put in an incubator on a day other than a class day, but a good student turnout nevertheless developed. The eggs were then candled 9 days later. The students broke put their infertiles and early deads. They again candled at transfer time. During the time eggs were being saved and while incubation was proceeding, the students went to the reference books and to the staff geneticist to determine the probable results of their particular matings. The hatch was pulled during an actual laboratory period on Friday. At this time, the chicks were wing banded and classified as to phenotype and the results summarized. Each pair of students
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on June 19, 2015
Red Leghorn Silver Spangled Hamburg Jersey Black Giant Red Caps Mottled Houdan Rose Comb Brown Leghorn Blue Andalusian White Laced Red Comish Dark Comish Partridge Plymouth Rock
1204
R. W. HALLER AND M. L. SUNDK TABLE 2.—Suggested matings for class projects Expected Phenotypic Results
Cross 1. Light BrahmaXWhite Plymouth Rock 2. Light BrahmaXNew Hampshire 3. 4. 5. 6. 7. 8. 9. 10.
discussed their project before the rest of the class and tabulated their data on the blackboard as to numbers set, infertile, Di, D2, transferred, D3, pipped, hatched, % hatch, % hatchability, and % fertile. In the A.I. proj'ects the first year, fertility of 100% was obtained by one team and about 95% by the other team. The various peculiarities of the results of each project were demonstrated to the class by the teams as they discussed their hatches. The students then placed their chicks in an electric battery with feed and water. They checked on their chicks each class period after that as the birds lost their down and baby chick feathers began to appear. At hatching time, the students were offered an opportunity to carry on small research projects with their chicks during the growing period. Two different teams chose to run such trials, one concerned with high and low fiber diets and the other with ultra-high vitamin D 3 levels. This was an indication of interest and enthusiasm since these projects were run independently outside of class. Another student, after the semester was over, prepared a report on the complete results of
No. of toes, feathered shanks, comb type, crest, skin color Naked neck dominance Color masking effects Barred or Columbian Pattern Color ratio
his crossing of White Silkie males with New Hampshire and White Plymouth Rock pullets. His team got 19 different phenotypes from the 57 resulting chicks. Some of the adult stock resulting from a few of the crosses are depicted in Figures 1, 2, and 3. The cockerel in Figure 1 is
FIG. 1. Cockerel homozygous for naked neck gene.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on June 19, 2015
11. 12. 13.
White WyandotteXSingle Comb White Leghorn New HampshireXBlack Australorp New HampshireXBarred Plymouth Rock New HampshireXBuft" Orpington Barred Plymouth RockXNew Hampshire Buff OrpingtonX White Wyandotte Single Comb White Wyandotte White Silkie X Single Comb White Leghorn White Plymouth Rock TurkenX Mottled Ancona Turken White Plymouth Rock X Single Comb White Leghorn White Plymouth RockXNew Hampshire Blue AndalusianX White Splash Andalusian Blue Phase Andalusian Black Phase Andalusian
Pea comb, feathered shanks Feathered shanks, pea comb, gene for silver feather color Rose comb Artificial insemination, fertility results Artificial insemination, sex-linked color Sex-linked rate of feathering Reciprocal cross of sex-linked cross Color dominance
CLASS PROJECT
1205
FIG. 3. Legs and feet of cockerel from White Silkie X White Plymouth Rock cross. Note four toes on right foot, and five on left.
homozygous for the naked neck gene while the one in Figure 2 with the additional tuft of neck feathers is a heterozygote. Figure 3 shows the legs and feet of a cockerel resulting from the White SilkieX White Plymouth Rock cross. The bird's right foot has four toes, while the left has five. Note also the feathered shanks.
Each team collected, incubated, candled, transferred, and hatched the eggs from their particular crosses and wing banded and brooded their resulting chicks. Utilizing genetics reference books coupled with informal discussions with the departmental geneticist, the teams determined the probable phenotypes prior to hatching time. After the hatch was classified, the actual phenotypes were compared with the predicted expectations and the results discussed by the team with the remainder of the class. A project such as this can be extremely useful as well as practical. The students actually become involved in several phases of poultry breeding and rearing. The overall results of this breeding project as measured in both class participation and interest are quite rewarding.
SUMMARY
Teams of students in the Introductory Poultry Science course selected matings from both unusual and common breeds designed to demonstrate the inheritance of such factors as sex linkage, feather patterns, skin color, comb type, number of toes, feathered shanks, or naked necks. Both natural mating and artificial insemination methods were used.
NEWS AND NOTES (Continued from page 1194) remuneration from Latin American or Caribbean institutions for teaching or similar services, or other financing. For further information about any of these programs or application forms, persons studying at American or Canadian Institutions should write to: Foreign Area Fellowship Program, 110 East 59th Street, New York, New York 10022. Applications must be received no later than November 1, 1969.
A similar Program is being offered in the United Kingdom. Applications from persons studying at institutions in the United Kingdom must be received no later than November 15, 1969, on forms to be obtained from: Foreign Area Fellowship Program, 21 Winchester Road, Oxford 0X2 6NA, England. The Foreign Area Fellowship Program is sponsored by The Social Science Research Council and the American Council of Learned Societies with financial support from The Ford Foundation.
{Continued on page 1244)
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on June 19, 2015
FIG. 2. Heterozygote for naked neck gene. Note additional tuft of neck feathers.