An Automated Weighing and Analysis System for Growth and Feed Efficiency Studies

An Automated Weighing and Analysis System for Growth and Feed Efficiency Studies M. W. STUTZ,' D. E. MAYER,' and]. P. GLATZHOFER 2 SDS Biotech Corporation, P.O. Box 348, Painesville, Ohio 44077

(Received for publication February 11, 1983)

INTRODUCTION In recent years, many types of electronic balances and small computers have become available for collecting and analyzing research data. In some instances, the equipment has been combined to develop systems that require little or no hand calculations of the data. Few of these systems, however, have been reported in the literature. Lott et al. (1982) described such an automated weighing system for use in poultry research. They indicated that the system greatly reduced the errors and high labor requirements inherent with conventional methods. This communication describes the development and application of an automated weighing and analysis system for growth and feed efficiency studies. The major objectives were to develop and apply a system that would reduce labor requirements, reduce potential errors, utilize existing equipment, provide easy use methods, and give the desired end use output. MATERIALS AND METHODS The components and functions of the automated weighing and analysis system are detailed in Table 1. Weighings, data entries, and initial cal-

, Animal Health Research Department. Agricultural Chemicals Research Department.

2

49

culations of weight gain, feed consumption, and feed efficiency for 24 pens of chicks were performed with an electronic balance and a desk-top computer. The electronic balance, a Mettler PL 3000, is a top-loading balance with a weigh and tare range of 0 to 3000 g and a readability of .1 g. The balance is connected to the computer via a Hewlett Packard 98033 A BCD interface cable. Interfacing configurations for the interface cable were made available to Hewlett Packard from Mettler. The computer is a Hewlett Packard 9825 S desk-top model with 24 K memory. It is a lightweight and highly portable unit and is placed next to the balance during the weighing operation. Data files and programs for both data acquisition and statistical analyses are accessed by the computer through the integral cassette tape drive. Programmed instructions for the data entries are displayed on a 32 character display panel above the computer keyboard. An actual weighing is performed by placing a chick or feed container with feed on the zero tared balance and depressing the continue key on the computer to initiate the electronic transfer of the weight from the balance to the computer. Circuitry in the balance does not permit data passage to occur until the weight is stable. After the weight is transferred to the computer, it is immediately printed on paper tape by the thermal printer of the computer. This provides both a check for correct data passage and a backup document in case of computer failure.

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ABSTRACT The development and application of an automated weighing and analysis system for growth and feed efficiency studies are described. The system consists of an electronic balance connected, via a BCD interface cable, to a portable desk-top computer. Integral features of the computer are a display, paper tape printer, and a cassette tape drive for programs and data storage, all of which are necessary for efficient data procurement. Twenty-four pens of chicks and the remaining feed can be weighed, with electronic weight transfer to the computer, and a comprehensive output of raw data, calculated results, and statistical analyses can be obtained in approximately 1 hr. No manual data entries or calculations are necessary after weighing has been initiated. The results of a chick growth and feed efficiency experiment are presented. (Key words: computers, electronic balances, automated weights, data calculations, statistical analyses) 1984 Poultry Science 63 :49-54

50

STUTZ ET AL. TABLE L Components and functions of the automated weighing and analysis system

Functions and components

Manufacturer and model number

Weighings, data entries, and calculations Electronic balance

Mettler PL 3000

Desk-top computer

Hewlett Packard 9825 S

BCD cable

Hewlett Packard 98033 A

BCD cable

Hewlett Packard 9825 S Hewlett Packard 9871 A Hewlett Packard 98032 A

Following all data entries, the BCD cable is disconnected from the computer and the computer is connected to a printer. The printer, a Hewlett Packard 9871 A, prints 30 characters per second on a page-size print-out. A Hewlett Packard 98032 A BCD cable is used to interface the computer to the printer. Additional calculations and statistical analyses are performed by the computer from programs and data on the cassette tape. Page-size print-outs of raw data, calculated data, data summaries, and

Weigh and tare range 0-3000 g Readability .1 g Memory, 24 K Display, 32 characters Cassette tape drive, storage 216 K Thermal printer, 16 characters wide Interface balance to compu ter Connectar 50-pin Parallel passage, 16 characters

Characters, 30 per sec Page-size print-out Interface computer to printer Connector 37-pin Parallel 16-bit

statistical analyses are obtained from the printer. The list of programs, data files on cassette tape, and the activities performed are detailed in Table 2. All of the programs were written in HPL (Hewlett Packard Language), which is a version of APL (Advanced Programming Language). The first five programs and three data files relate to weighing, data entry, and calculation functions. The last four programs and two data files relate to calculation, analysis,

TABLE 2. List of programs and data files on cassette tape and activities performed Items Programs "MENU" "CHICKW" "FEEDW" "RANDOM" "WEIGH" "OUTPUT" "EDIT" "SUM" "DUNCAN" Data files 1 and 2 3 4 and 5

Activities

List of programs and branches to desired programs Enter experimental title, date, and starting chick weights Enter initial feed plus container weights Assign chick pen numbers to randomized design Weigh and enter feed wastage, ending feed plus container weights, and final chick weights; enter survival days for mortality Print-out of all raw data and calculations for weight gain, feed consumption, and feed efficiency Capability of editing entries Print-out of summaries of raw and calculated data Statistical analyses and print-out of statistical significances Storage of generated data Tables for randomized designs Tables for statistical analyses

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Calculations, analyses, and print-outs Desk-top computer Printer

Descriptions

51

AUTOMATED WEIGHING AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM

Chick Growth and feeJ Eff iciencv Ex?eriment c-Io. 8211-C r; tu.] y Ended on 6/17/82

Study Begun on G/9/32 Pen No. -------:hick 'Heights

1

2

------- ------

1137.20 179.65 129.15

175.8u lb,).80 178.70 172.50 ld5.80 173.5tl 164.50 164.30 -----1396.40 174.55 124.d5

2940.0

29,10.0

5.0

5.0

1510.9 -----1416.1

-----

------'rota1 i\vg.

wt.

.z\\1q. Gain

---------

Carl,l1egin Bst.,laste Can,8nd

Con3umed Cr1ick Sum 2ood/Chk. F/':;

183.{)O

170.50 175.30 -----1417.90 177.24 126.7'1

------- ------- -------

8.000 177 • 01 1. 37

1450.5

.2940.0 5.0 1436. 7

-------

1484.5 8.00() 185.55 1.50

11 gg. 3

8.000 137.29 1. 4d

4 -----

175.10 173.1<) 130.00

156. J 0 176.20 161.10 175.10 0 -----1U7.70 171.10 120.50 -----2940.0 5.0 1549.1 -----133:5.9 8.000 173.24 1.44

5 -----176.60 163.20 191. 00 191. 90 169.30 167.40 191.20 <)

-----1256.10 171.44 123.94

6

----17').20 106.00 17/.30 173.80 154.50 166.40 176.70 173.50

-----1353.90 169.2t! 113.74

-------

------

2940.0

2940.0 5.0 15tl3.5 -----1191. 5 3.000 173. )4 1.46

5. U

1590.3

------1344.7 7.375 132.33 1.41

FIG. 1. Final body weights and average gain, feed consumption, and feed efficiency calculations for chicks from battery Pens 1 to 6.

and print-out functions. A special activity of the "EDIT" program is that it allows editing of the raw data in case of errors made in entry of data, before statistical analyses. Another special feature is the data file for tables of randomized designs, which allows for selection of a randomized design for an experiment. The "DUNCAN" program was written to analyze the data statistically by analysis of variance and to determine significant differences among treatment means by Duncan's new multiple range test (Duncan, 1955). A feature of the program is that it was written to handle "unequal" as well as "equal" numbers of replicates, or in this case, pens per treatment. The system can handle larger experiments by modifying the programs and utilizing the mass storage on tape. An experiment with up to 120 replicate pens could be evaluated. A chick growth and feed efficiency experiment with 24 pens, initiated with 8 chicks per pen, was conducted. Day-old male broilercross chicks (Hubbard X Hubbard) were started on a nonmedicated practical diet (milled

Laboratory Chick Chow #5065, Ralston Purina Company, St. Louis, MO), grouped on a weight basis at 3 days of age and fed experimental diets for an 8-day period. In this experiment, three replicate groups were fed each of eight experimental diets. The experimental diets consisted of the practical control diet, the diet containing 3% sand and 2% nonnutritive fiber, and the diet substituted with 5% of six polymeric resins. The chicks were maintained in a battery brooder with raised wire floors (Petersime Incubator Company, Gettysburg, OH) and subjected to continuous lighting. Feed and water were supplied ad libitum. The major objective of the chick experiment was to provide data as an example to illustrate the capabilities of the automated weighing and analysis system. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION

The results of the chick growth and feed efficiency experiment, using the automated weighing and analysis system, are presented in four figures containing the computer print-outs.

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191. 00 191. 30 180.20 163.60 191.7'0 176.30 169.20 165.90

3 ----165.50 193.10 In.70 1dd.Ou 162.20

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STUTZ ET AL.

Chick Growth and Feed Sfficiency Experiment No. 8211-C Study Begun on 6/9/82

Study Ended on 6/17/82

FIG. 2. Average final body weight, gain, feed consumption, and feed efficiency of the randomized pens for each treatment.

Figure 1 depicts the individual final body weights and the average gain, feed consumption, and feed efficiency calculations for the chicks in 6 of the 24 pens. Feed consumption was corrected for mortality in a pen by entering the survival days of chicks that died during the experiment. This is illustrated in the results of Figure 1, where one chick died in each of Pens 4 and 5. The average final body weight, gain, feed consumption, and feed efficiency of the randomized pens for each treatment are presented in Figure 2. The results give a ready comparison

of the pen-to-pen variation for the various treatments. Figure 3 demonstrates the summary of gain, feed consumption, and feed efficiency for each treatment. Computed responses for gain and feed efficiency and a computed index score are presented for each treatment relative to the controls. The index score is the average response for both gain and feed efficiency. The standard deviation of the mean for each parameter is also included. Figure 4 depicts the results of the statistical significance of the gains determined by analysis

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I Pen I 8-Day 8-!)=W I J\vq. Feed I I Treatment INo. IAvq wt,q Il\vg. GainIConsu'TIot.1 !:"/G , --------------------1----1---------1---------1--------1-------1 Control, 1 9 I 176.26 1 125.76 I 176.31 I 1.41 I Control, 1 12 I 178.41 1 127.91 I 176.68 1 1.38 1 Control, I 1 1 179.65 1 129.15 1 177.01 1 1.37 I - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - 1 - - - 1--------1-------1,-------1------1 Sand & Fiber, 5% 1 23 1 176.58 1 126.08 1 183.16 1 1.45 1 Sand & Fiber, 5% 1 21 1 172.03 1 121.53 1 183.86 I 1.51 I Sand & Fiber, 5% 1191 180.11 I 129.611 186.831 1.41 1 -----------------1----1---------1---------1--------1------I 3-761,5% 1 17 1 176.9l 1 126.41 1 B1.55 1 1.52 1 3-761,5% 1 3 1 177.24 1 12G.74 1 137.29 1 1.43 1 S-761,5% 1 20 1 177.13 1 126.63 1 190.29 1 1.5G 1 ----------------1----1---------1--------1---------1-------I C-3,5% 1 15 1 178.01 1 127.51 1 188.26 1 1.43 1 C- 3 , 5 % 1 13 1 1 77 • 79 1 12 7. 2 9 1 1 87 • a3 1 1. 4 7 1 C-3,5% 1 2 1 174.55 I 124.05 1 185.56 1 1.50 I ---------------1----1---------1--------1--------1-------I C-I0,5% 1141 175.411 124.91 I 181.961 1.461 C-10, 5% 1 3 I 172.34 I 121.84 1 180.98 I 1.49 1 C-10, 5% I 18 1 179.81 129.31 1 187.80 I 1.45 I -----------------1----1-------- ---------1---------1-------1 A-7, 5% I 4 1 171.10 120.GO 1 173.24 1 1.44 1 A-7, 5% I 6 1 169.24 118.74 1 173.94 1 1.46 1 1\-7, 5% 1 16 1 173.04 122.54 1 179.51 1 1.46 1 -------------------1----1-------- --------1---------1-------1 E5-771, 5% 1 22 1 131.50 131.00 1 182.49 1 1.39 1 85-771, 5% I 7 1 182.68 132.18 1 185.65 1 1.40 1 E5-771,5% 1 24 1 173.56 123.06 1 175.78 1 1.43 1 ------------------1----1------- ---------1---------1-------1 ES-861,5% 1111 176.90 126.401 184.891 1.461 E5-861, 5% 1 5 1 179.44 128.94 1 132.33 1 1.41 1 ES-d61, 5% 1 10 1 180.09 l29.59 1 188.23 1 1.45 1 -----------------1---1------- ---------1--------1-------1

AUTOMATED WEIGHING AND ANALYSIS SYSTEM

5Ur.f-l.I\RY of experiment

,<10.

53

8211-C

FIG. 3. Summary of gain, feed consumption, and feed efficiency for each treatment, computed responses for gain and feed efficiency, and the index score for each treatment relative to the controls. The standard deviation of the mean is included for each parameter.

Experiment 8211-C DNHR 'rreatment: 8 Day Gain,g 95% ----a a a a a ab ab b F =

2.2628

Treatment

------------------

E5-771, 5% E5-861, 5% Control, S-761, 5% C-3, 5% Sand & Fiber, 5% C-I0, 5% A-7, 5% Probe

=

Detectable I 95% - Min. Difference I 99% - Min.

lvean

99%

-------

128.75 128.31 127.61 126.59 126.28 125.74 125.35 120.63

I I I I I I I I

------a ab ab ab ab ab ao b

91. 648264 5.0606 6.9668

Max. f1ax.

5.7185 7.9620

FIG. 4. Statistical significance of gain determined by analysis of variance and Duncan's new multiple range test.

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a-Day Rel I i\vCj. -E'eed I Rel I Treatment 1.l'I.vg. Gainl % IConsumot.1 F/e; I % Indexl --------------------1---------1-------1---------1---------1------- -----1 Control, I 127.6 I I 176.8 I 1.39 I I +/-1 1.711 I .171 .0181 I --------------------1---------1-------1---------1---------1------- -----1 Sand & Fiber, 5% I 125.7 I -1.5 I 184.6 I 1.47 I 5.0 -4 I +/- I 4.05 I 3.2 I 1.94 I .038 I 2.8 2.9 I --------------------1---------1-------1---------1---------1------- -----1 5-761,5% 1 126.6 I - . 8 I la9.7 I 1.50 I 8.1 -4 I +/- I .17 I .1 I 2.23 I f .019 I 1.4 .8 I --------------------1---------1-------1---------1---------1------- -----1 '::;-3, 5% 1 126.3 I -1.0 I 187.0 I 1.43 I 6.8 -4 I +/1.94 I 1.5 I 1.35 I .014 I 1.0 1.2 I -------------------- ---------1-------1---------1---------1------- -----1 C-10, 5% 125.4 I -1.8 I 183.6 I 1.46 I 5.7 -4 I +/3.76 I 2.9 I 3.69 I .018 I 1.3 2.1 I -------------------- ---------1-------1---------1---------1-------1-----1 A-7, 5% 120.6 I -5.5 I 175.6 I 1.46 I 5.0 I -5 I +/1.90 I 1.5 I 3.44 I .016 I 1.2 I .9 1 -------------------- ---------1-------1---------1---------1-------1-----1 85-771, 5% 128.7 I .. 9 I 181.3 I 1.41 I 1.6 I -0 I +/4.96 1 3.9 I 5.04 I .018 I 1.3 I 2.5 I -------------------- ---------1-------1---------1---------1-------1-----1 85-861,5% 128.3 1 '.5 I 185.1 I 1.44 I 4.1 1 -2 I +/1.69 1 1.3 1 2.96 I .026 1 1.9 I 1.4 1 -------------------- ---------1-------1---------1---------1-------1-----1

54

STUTZ ET AL.

directly into research notebooks, hole-punched for notebooks, or inserted into folders for filing. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

The skilled technical assistance of Martha Martin and Sheila Cacyuk is greatly appreciated. REFERENCES Duncan, D. B., 1955. Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics 11: 1-42. Lott, B. D., F. N. Reece, and J. L. McNaughton, 1982. An automated weighing system for use in poultry research. Poultry Sci. 61: 235-238.

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of variance and Duncan's new multiple range test. The F value, probability level, and detectable differences are also presented. In this experiment a response of 4.5% in gain was detectable as statistically significant. This value was obtained by dividing the maximum difference (P< .05) by the mean control value. The advantages of this automated system are that no hand calculations of the data are required and the labor involved in a growth and feed efficiency study is greatly reduced. Two persons can weigh the nearly 200 chicks and the remaining feed, in the experiment described here, and obtain the calculated data and statistical analyses in approximately 1 hr. The page-size print-outs can be pasted or taped