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Effect of Environmental Temperature on Healthy Chicks and Chicks Inoculated with Infectious Bronchitis Virus1
1098
C. E. CLARK AND K. SARAKOON
20°C. environment. By contrast, environmental conditions of the males appeared to make little difference in initial fertility rates. REFERENCES
Effect of Environmental Temperature on Healthy Chicks and Chicks Inoculated with Infectious Bronchitis Virus1 R. P. PRINCE, 2 J. H. WHITAKER, 2 R. E. LUGINBUHL 8 AND L. D. MATTERSON" The University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06268 (Received for publication January 27, 1967)
T
HE experiment reported herein was designed to measure the performance of healthy and diseased chickens at temperatures of 12.6°C, 18.2°C. and 23.8°C. Hudson (1931) found that mortality 1 Scientific Contribution No. 252 Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Connecticut, Storrs. This research was supported in part by funds available through regional project NE-8, "Essentials of Poultry Housing in the Northeast."
among chicks infected with bronchitis virus and exposed to 18.2°C. was 60 percent as compared with 32 percent for those groups maintained at 37.7°C. In experiments conducted by Prince et al. (1962a, b, 1967), 4 week old chicks were inoculated with infectious bronchitis virus and subjected to en2
Agricultural Engineering Department. "Animal Diseases Department. 'Poultry Science Department.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Pennsylvania State University on May 25, 2015
Alejandrino, P. L., 1954. The influence of season on the amount and quality of semen produced by the college S.C. White Leghorn roosters. Philipp. Agr. 38: 168-180. Boone, M. A., and T. M. Huston, 1963. Effects of high temperature on semen production and fertility in the domestic fowl. Poultry Sci. 42: 670-676. Clark, C. E., and M. Amin, 1965. The adaptability of chickens to various temperatures. Poultry Sci. 44: 1003-1009. Clark, C. E., H. Nikoopour and C. I. Draper, 1963. Effects of temperature on egg production. Utah Farm and Home Sci. 24: 91. Duncan, D. B., 19SS. Multiple range and multiple F test. Biometrics, 1 1 : 1-42. Funk, E. M., 1935. Factors influencing hatchability in domestic fowl. Missouri Agr. Exp. Sta. Bulletin 314. Heywang, B. W., 1944. Fertility and hatchability when the environmental temperature of chickens is high. Poultry Sci. 23: 334-339.
Huston, T. M., and J. R. Carmon, 1958. Influence of high environmental temperature on fertility and hatchability of eggs of domestic fowl. Physiol. Zool. 3 1 : 232-235. Munro, S. S., 1938. The effect of dilution and density on the fertilizing capacity of fowl sperm suspensions. Canadian J. Res., Sec. D, 16: 281299. Parker, J. E., and B. J. McSpadden, 1943. Seasonal variation in semen production in domestic fowls. Poultry Sci. 22: 142-147. Perek, M., and N. Snapir, 1963. Seasonal variations in semen production of different breeds of cocks and the effect of vitamin C feed supplementation upon the semen of White Rocks. Brit. Poultry Sci. 4 : 19-26. Polge, C , 1951. Artificial insemination in fowl. Proc. Soc. Stud. Fertil. (Camb) No. 2, Lond. Conf., 1950: 16-22. (cited in Animal Breeding Abstracts 2 1 : 465, 1953). Wheeler, N. C , and F. N. Andrews, 1943. The influence of season on semen production in the domestic fowl. Poultry Sci. 22 : 361-367. Wilson, W. O., 1949. High environmental temperatures as affecting the reaction of laying hens to iodized casein. Poultry Sci. 28: 581-592. Wilson, W. O., E. H. McNally and H. Ota, 1957. Temperature and calorimeter study on hens in individual cages. Poultry Sci. 36: 1254-1261.
1099
ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE
sBasMBacaaaEESB3iaE3S3azm!B^^ai^^Miag3s i a ssaaaa T^rraix-i^vs NZSX4
E2 f
0_!
INLET THERMOCOUPLE Location 1,2
Type Temp Diff.
4,6,7,8,9
Dry Bulb
WIRING DIAGRAM
FIG. 1. Schematic diagram of the environmental cabinets and control equipment used in the experiment.
vironmental temperatures ranging from 9.3°C. to 23.8°C. and relative humidities of 52, 70 and 90 percent. Feed consumption was greater at the lower temperatures and weight gain was not significantly affected by temperature or relative humidity. Superior performance in terms of feed consumption and feed efficiency (kg. gain per kg. feed) was observed at the 23.8°C. environment. In a study with healthy chicks during the period from 5 to 10 weeks of age Milligan and Winn (1964) found that weight gain, feed efficiency, feathering, and pigmentation were not affected by constant high humidities at environmental temperatures below 26.8°C. Adams et al. (1961) and Prince et al. (1961) found that feed consumption for healthy chicks during the period from 4 to 8 weeks of age decreased in a linear fashion for environmental temperatures between 7.1°C. and 23.8°C. MATERIALS AND METHODS
The schematic diagram in Figure 1 shows the arrangement of control devices
and pattern of air flow for each of six environmental cabinets used in this experiment. Each cabinet was constructed of plywood and measured 1.83 m. long by 1.22 m. wide and 1.07 m. high providing 2.23 square meters of floor area or 1,115 square centimeters per bird. The floor and door end of the cabinets were made of 1.90 cm. plywood while the sides, top and back were constructed of 0.95 cm. plywood. These thicknesses of plywood provided the necessary structural requirements and the desired heat dissipating qualities. Each cabinet was located in a temperature controlled room 3.05 m. long by 2.44 m. wide by 2.44 m. high. Temperature in this room was maintained from 0.6°C. to 3.3°C. below the cabinet temperature depending upon the age of the chickens. Adjustments were made to maintain an exhaust air temperature of about 0.6°C. above the cabinet entering air temperature. Air entering the cabinet was conditioned to the desired temperature and moisture in a duct located above the cabinet. The duct was fitted with a fan, a preheater, an air
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Pennsylvania State University on May 25, 2015
Ret. duct 1^ Ton
1100
R. P. PRINCE, J. H. WHITAKER, R. E. LUGINBUHL AND L. D. MATTERSON
Sugar cane bagasse litter was spread evenly over the floor of each cabinet to a depth of about l.S cm. and remained undis-
turbed throughout the trial. Water was provided by an automatic float operated container located in the corner near the service door. Twenty-four hour lighting was insured by using two IS watt light bulbs. A practical type starter and broiler ration was mixed on the University poultry farm and sufficient quantity was on hand from one mix for each trial. Separate bulk feed containers and utensils were provided in each room. A staggered schedule of servicing the infected and noninfected groups was used. As a further precaution, boots and a walk through disinfectant were used. The feeder was 1.2 m. long by 15.2 cm. wide providing 2.4 m. of feeding space for 20 birds. Adjustment in the height of the feeder was made periodically to compensate for bird growth. Initial and final bird weight and total feed consumption were obtained for each treatment. From these data and a mortality record, feed efficiency of each treatment was calculated. Statistical analysis of weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency were made according to Federer (1955). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Uniform respiratory signs were evident for the inoculated treatments within 48 hours after inoculation. Birds in all inoculated groups developed infectious bronchitis antibodies. No respiratory signs were evident in the non-infected groups. At the termination of each trial, no respiratory signs were evident in any group, inoculated or not. During the conduct of this experiment the noninfected birds in only one trial became contaminated with infectious bronchitis virus and this trial had to be repeated. In trial 5 the test for bronchitis virus antibodies was positive for the 12.6°C. healthy chick-group even though they never had any respiratory signs. Perfor-
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Pennsylvania State University on May 25, 2015
atomizing type water sprayer, a cooling coil and a final heater. Liquid filled capillary type thermostats with a 0.6°C. OFF-ON differential were used for controls. Dry bulb temperatures were monitored at a number of locations as shown in Figure 1. The preheater, water sprayer and cooling coil were operated such that a relative humidity of 70 percent would be achieved as the air passed the final heater and entered the cabinet. Ventilation rate was maintained at 472 cubic centimeters per second per bird and was regulated by a damper in the duct. Cabinet temperatures of 12.6°C, 18.2°C. and 23.8°C. and two states of health resulting in a 3 X 2 factorial arrangement of six treatments in a 6 X 6 Latin Square design. Six four-week trials were completed between September 1965 and May 1966, in the six environmental cabinets. Two hundred White Plymouth Rock day-old male chicks were obtained from a local hatchery and raised in wire floor, electric heated battery brooders under isolation for four weeks. Chicks for the first four replications were from PPLO positive flocks, while those for the last two were from PPLO negative flocks. At the age of four weeks, one hundred and twenty chicks in the central weight range were selected and assigned to six 20-bird groups. Blood was drawn from 5 chicks not used in the trial at the beginning and 5 chicks within each treatment at the end of each trial. These blood samples were tested for bronchitis virus antibodies. All chicks in three of the groups were inoculated in the eye with one drop containing 105 chicken infective doses of infectious bronchitis virus (Massachusetts type) just prior to being placed into the assigned cabinet at four weeks of age.
ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE
1101
mance of this group in terms of weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency was about normal when compared to the other groups of the same treatment. This trial and treatment was included in the analysis of variance. Average chick weight, after selection at four weeks of age, was 490 gms. Maximum variation from this average for the six trials was ± 5 0 gms. and the treatment variation from the trial average did not exceed ± 2 0 gms. Although the chicks averaged heavier in the Spring than in the Fall, the selection procedure was considered satisfactory and no adjustment in weight gain was made for the analysis variance. The average chick weight at eight weeks of age was 1.S44 kg. and the trial variation was 163 gms. below and 117 gms. above this average. The noninfected chicks gained an average of 69 gms. more per bird than the chicks infected with bronchitis virus as shown in Table 1. This difference due to disease was significant (Table 4). Differences in weight gain due to environmental temperature were not significant. Feed consumption averaged 222 grams per bird lower for the 23.8°C. treatment
TABLE 2.—Average feed consumption of chicks inoculated with infectious bronchitis virus and healthy chicks four to eight weeks of age as affected by environmental temperature, kg.
TABLE 1.—Average weight gain of chicks inoculated with infectious bronchitis virus and healthy chicks four to eight weeks of age as affected by environmental temperature,kg.
TABLE 3.—Average feed efficiency of chicks inoculated with infectious bronchitis virus and healthy chicks as affected by environmental temperature, kg. gain per kg. feed
Infected
12.6
18.2
23.8
1 2 3 4 5 6
0.878 1.009 1.031 1.111 1.083 0.980
0.912 0.992 0.997 1.145 1.105 1.049
0.964 0.963 1.049 1.083 1.031 0.952
1.015
1.033
1.007
Average Noninfected
Average Average
Cabinet temperature (°C.)
Trial No.
1 2 3 4 5 6
Average
1.018
1.003 1.054 1.094 1.100 1.049 1.037
1.087
1.118
1.056
1.087
1.051
1.076
1.031
1.052
12.6
18.2
23.8
1 2 3 4 5 6
2.290 2.608 2.630 2.881 2.869 2.687
2.211 2.642 2.636 2.772 2.767 2.687
2.251 2.455 2.511 2.562 2.528 2.438
2.661
2.619
2.458
2.596 2.924 2.812 3.044 2.988 2.725
2.409 2.925 2.812 2.982 2.840 2.835
2.256 2.653 2.681 2.789 2.630 2.630
2.848
2.800
2.606
2.751
2.754
2.710
2.532
2.665
Average Noninfected
1 2 3 4 5 6
Average Average
2.579
than for the 12.6°C. treatment (Table 2). Infected and noninfected chicks housed at 23.8°C. consumed 203 grams and 242 grams per bird less feed respectively, than chicks housed at 12.6°C. The infected chicks consumed 172 grams less feed per bird than the noninfected chicks. These differences in feed consumption due to disease and differences due to temperature were significant as indicated in Table 4. Table 3 shows the average feed efficiencies for the four-week period. At the 12.6°C. temperature the feed efficiency was
Treatment Infected
1.043 1.088 1.151 1.190 1.151 1.088
1.003 1.051 1.077 1.241 1.139 1.013
Infected
Cabinet temperature (°C.)
Trial No.
Trial No. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Average Noninfected
Average Average
1 2 3 4 5 6
Cabinet temperature (°C.)
Aver-
12.6
18.2
23.8
0.383 0.386 0.392 0.385 0.377 0.364
0.412 0.375 0.378 0.413 0.399 0.390
0.428 0.392 0.417 0.422 0.408 0.390
0.381
0.394
0.410
0.386 0.359 0.383 0.407 0.381 0.371
0.432 0.372 0.409 0.399 0.405 0.384
0.444 0.397 0.408 0.394 0.398 0.394
0.381
0.400
0.406
0.396
0.381
0.397
0.408
0.395
0.395
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Pennsylvania State University on May 25, 2015
Treatment
Treatment
1102
R. P. PRINCE, J. H. WHITAKEE, R. E. LUGINBUHL AND L. D. MATTERSON
TABLE 4.—Analysis of variance of weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency of healthy and diseased chicks four to eight weeks of age Source of variation Trials
5 5 5 2 1 2 20
2.23 0.20 1.12 0.29 4.24 0.09 0.10
Feed Efficiency
Feed consumption
Mean squares
lean squares
23.2** 11.2** 42.4**
xio-»
F-Value
xio-»
18.14 0.94 12.06 16.60 26.85 0.12 0.36
50.4**
0.09 0.01 0.08 0.21 0.00 0.01 0.002
33.5** 4.61** 74.6**
F-Value 4.5** 4.0* 10.5**
* Significant at the 0.05 level. ** Significant at the 0.01 level.
the same for both the infected and noninfected chicks. At the 18.2°C, temperature the noninfected chicks had the best efficiency, while at 23.8°C, the infected chicks showed the best efficiency. These differences due to disease were not significant. Feed efficiency of chicks housed at the 23.8°C. environment was superior to feed efficiencies of chicks housed at 12.6°C. This difference due to temperature amounted to .027 grams per bird and was significant as shown in Table 4. The analysis of variance (Table 4) indicated a significant difference between trials for weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency. These effects may be due to variations in ration ingredients from mix to mix or variations in hatches of chicks even though all chicks were fed the same formula ration and were obtained from the same hatchery. Differences in performance due to cabinets were not significant indicating that the cabinets were uniform in control. Differences in weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency due to disease were consistent at each temperature as evidenced by lack of a remainder effect. Mortality records showed that a total of four chicks died. Three died of the 360 chicks with bronchitis virus and one died of an equal number of noninfected chicks. Records show that three chicks died of the 240 housed in the 12.6°C. environment and
one died of an equal number in the 23.8°C. environment. These figures were not considered significant. No attempt was made to relate variations in relative humidity to weight gain, feed consumption or feed efficiency since the entering air was controlled to 70 percent relative humidity at each temperature. Exhaust relative humidity did increase during the trial due to respiration, the drinking fountain, and moisture build-up in the litter. SUMMARY
For each of six trials, six groups of 20 White Plymouth Rock male chicks were raised in six environmental cabinets. The trials were for the period from four to eight weeks of age. Three of the six 20-bird groups were inoculated with infectious bronchitis at four weeks of age and all treatments subjected to environmental temperatures of 12.6°C, 18.2°C. and 23.8°C. in a 6 X 6 Latin Square design. Weight gained by the noninfected chicks amounted to 69 gms. more per bird than the infected chicks. This was a significant difference. The noninfected chicks consumed 172 gms. more feed per bird than the infected birds and feed consumption was 222 gms. higher for the chicks housed at 12.6°C. than for comparable chicks housed at
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Pennsylvania State University on May 25, 2015
Cabinets Treatments Temperature Disease Remainder Error
Weight gain Degrees of Freedom Mean squares F-Value xio-»
ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Gratitude is expressed to Joseph H. Lucas, Station Biometrician, for assistance in experimental design and analysis of the data. REFERENCES Hudson, C. B., 1931. The influence of environmental temperature on the mortality in chicks
inoculated with the virus of infectious bronchitis. Poultry Sci. 10: 391. Adams, R. L., R. N. Andrews, E. E. Gardiner, W. E. Fontaine and C. W. Carrick, 1962. The effect of environmental temperature on the growth and nutritional requirements of the chick. Poultry Sci. 4 1 : 588-594. Milligan, J. L., and P. N. Winn, 1964. The influence of temperature and humidity on broiler performance in environmental chambers. Poultry Sci. 4 3 : 817-824. Prince, R. P., L. M. Potter and W. W. Irish, 1961. Response of chicks to temperature and ventilation environments. Poultry Sci. 40: 102-108. Prince, R. P., L. D. Matterson, R. E. Luginbuhl and T. Chomiak, 1962a, Effect of ventilation rate on the response of chicks inoculated with infectious bronchitis virus and housed at 49°F. Poultry Sci. 4 1 : 1512-1516. Prince, R. P., L. M. Potter, R. E. Luginbuhl and T. Chomiak, 1962b. Effect of ventilation rate on the performance of chicks inoculated with infectious bronchitis virus. Poultry Sci. 4 1 : 268272. Prince, R. P., J. H. Whitaker, R. E. Luginbuhl and L. D. Matterson, 1967. Response of chickens inoculated with infectious bronchitis virus to temperature and humidity environments. Poultry Sci. 46: 3S-40.
Erythromycin Thiocyanate and the Performance of Laying Hens 1 Department
S. C. NIVAS, M. L. SUNDE AND H. R. BIRD of Poultry Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 (Received for publication January 30, 1967)
R
ELATIVELY little work has been - published on the effects of erythromycin thiocyanate on the performance of laying hens. Potter et al. (1963) conducted an experiment with laying hens over a 44-week laying period. They observed that during the first two 11-week periods, the Published with the approval of the Director of the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Agriculture, Madison. "Supported in part by a grant from Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Illinois.
production of the hens fed a diet with erythromycin thiocyanate (10 gms./ton) was significantly greater than that of the hens fed the same diet without the antibiotic; however, no significant effects were observed over the next two 11-week periods, nor over the entire 44-week period taken as a whole. Mortality differences between antibiotic-treated birds and controls also failed to be significant. Guenthner and Carlson (1964) fed several antibiotics including erythromycin thiocyanate (10
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Pennsylvania State University on May 25, 2015
23.8°C. The differences due both to temperature and disease were significant. Differences in feed efficiency due to environmental temperature were significant, while differences due to disease were not significant. Response of diseased and healthy chicks to the three temperatures was similar and there was no significant difference in performance due to temperature within the diseased or healthy chick samples. This indicates that infected and noninfected chicks perform in a similar manner throughout the range of environmental temperatures tested.
1103
C. E. CLARK AND K. SARAKOON
20°C. environment. By contrast, environmental conditions of the males appeared to make little difference in initial fertility rates. REFERENCES
Effect of Environmental Temperature on Healthy Chicks and Chicks Inoculated with Infectious Bronchitis Virus1 R. P. PRINCE, 2 J. H. WHITAKER, 2 R. E. LUGINBUHL 8 AND L. D. MATTERSON" The University of Connecticut, Storrs, Connecticut 06268 (Received for publication January 27, 1967)
T
HE experiment reported herein was designed to measure the performance of healthy and diseased chickens at temperatures of 12.6°C, 18.2°C. and 23.8°C. Hudson (1931) found that mortality 1 Scientific Contribution No. 252 Agricultural Experiment Station, University of Connecticut, Storrs. This research was supported in part by funds available through regional project NE-8, "Essentials of Poultry Housing in the Northeast."
among chicks infected with bronchitis virus and exposed to 18.2°C. was 60 percent as compared with 32 percent for those groups maintained at 37.7°C. In experiments conducted by Prince et al. (1962a, b, 1967), 4 week old chicks were inoculated with infectious bronchitis virus and subjected to en2
Agricultural Engineering Department. "Animal Diseases Department. 'Poultry Science Department.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Pennsylvania State University on May 25, 2015
Alejandrino, P. L., 1954. The influence of season on the amount and quality of semen produced by the college S.C. White Leghorn roosters. Philipp. Agr. 38: 168-180. Boone, M. A., and T. M. Huston, 1963. Effects of high temperature on semen production and fertility in the domestic fowl. Poultry Sci. 42: 670-676. Clark, C. E., and M. Amin, 1965. The adaptability of chickens to various temperatures. Poultry Sci. 44: 1003-1009. Clark, C. E., H. Nikoopour and C. I. Draper, 1963. Effects of temperature on egg production. Utah Farm and Home Sci. 24: 91. Duncan, D. B., 19SS. Multiple range and multiple F test. Biometrics, 1 1 : 1-42. Funk, E. M., 1935. Factors influencing hatchability in domestic fowl. Missouri Agr. Exp. Sta. Bulletin 314. Heywang, B. W., 1944. Fertility and hatchability when the environmental temperature of chickens is high. Poultry Sci. 23: 334-339.
Huston, T. M., and J. R. Carmon, 1958. Influence of high environmental temperature on fertility and hatchability of eggs of domestic fowl. Physiol. Zool. 3 1 : 232-235. Munro, S. S., 1938. The effect of dilution and density on the fertilizing capacity of fowl sperm suspensions. Canadian J. Res., Sec. D, 16: 281299. Parker, J. E., and B. J. McSpadden, 1943. Seasonal variation in semen production in domestic fowls. Poultry Sci. 22: 142-147. Perek, M., and N. Snapir, 1963. Seasonal variations in semen production of different breeds of cocks and the effect of vitamin C feed supplementation upon the semen of White Rocks. Brit. Poultry Sci. 4 : 19-26. Polge, C , 1951. Artificial insemination in fowl. Proc. Soc. Stud. Fertil. (Camb) No. 2, Lond. Conf., 1950: 16-22. (cited in Animal Breeding Abstracts 2 1 : 465, 1953). Wheeler, N. C , and F. N. Andrews, 1943. The influence of season on semen production in the domestic fowl. Poultry Sci. 22 : 361-367. Wilson, W. O., 1949. High environmental temperatures as affecting the reaction of laying hens to iodized casein. Poultry Sci. 28: 581-592. Wilson, W. O., E. H. McNally and H. Ota, 1957. Temperature and calorimeter study on hens in individual cages. Poultry Sci. 36: 1254-1261.
1099
ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE
sBasMBacaaaEESB3iaE3S3azm!B^^ai^^Miag3s i a ssaaaa T^rraix-i^vs NZSX4
E2 f
0_!
INLET THERMOCOUPLE Location 1,2
Type Temp Diff.
4,6,7,8,9
Dry Bulb
WIRING DIAGRAM
FIG. 1. Schematic diagram of the environmental cabinets and control equipment used in the experiment.
vironmental temperatures ranging from 9.3°C. to 23.8°C. and relative humidities of 52, 70 and 90 percent. Feed consumption was greater at the lower temperatures and weight gain was not significantly affected by temperature or relative humidity. Superior performance in terms of feed consumption and feed efficiency (kg. gain per kg. feed) was observed at the 23.8°C. environment. In a study with healthy chicks during the period from 5 to 10 weeks of age Milligan and Winn (1964) found that weight gain, feed efficiency, feathering, and pigmentation were not affected by constant high humidities at environmental temperatures below 26.8°C. Adams et al. (1961) and Prince et al. (1961) found that feed consumption for healthy chicks during the period from 4 to 8 weeks of age decreased in a linear fashion for environmental temperatures between 7.1°C. and 23.8°C. MATERIALS AND METHODS
The schematic diagram in Figure 1 shows the arrangement of control devices
and pattern of air flow for each of six environmental cabinets used in this experiment. Each cabinet was constructed of plywood and measured 1.83 m. long by 1.22 m. wide and 1.07 m. high providing 2.23 square meters of floor area or 1,115 square centimeters per bird. The floor and door end of the cabinets were made of 1.90 cm. plywood while the sides, top and back were constructed of 0.95 cm. plywood. These thicknesses of plywood provided the necessary structural requirements and the desired heat dissipating qualities. Each cabinet was located in a temperature controlled room 3.05 m. long by 2.44 m. wide by 2.44 m. high. Temperature in this room was maintained from 0.6°C. to 3.3°C. below the cabinet temperature depending upon the age of the chickens. Adjustments were made to maintain an exhaust air temperature of about 0.6°C. above the cabinet entering air temperature. Air entering the cabinet was conditioned to the desired temperature and moisture in a duct located above the cabinet. The duct was fitted with a fan, a preheater, an air
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Pennsylvania State University on May 25, 2015
Ret. duct 1^ Ton
1100
R. P. PRINCE, J. H. WHITAKER, R. E. LUGINBUHL AND L. D. MATTERSON
Sugar cane bagasse litter was spread evenly over the floor of each cabinet to a depth of about l.S cm. and remained undis-
turbed throughout the trial. Water was provided by an automatic float operated container located in the corner near the service door. Twenty-four hour lighting was insured by using two IS watt light bulbs. A practical type starter and broiler ration was mixed on the University poultry farm and sufficient quantity was on hand from one mix for each trial. Separate bulk feed containers and utensils were provided in each room. A staggered schedule of servicing the infected and noninfected groups was used. As a further precaution, boots and a walk through disinfectant were used. The feeder was 1.2 m. long by 15.2 cm. wide providing 2.4 m. of feeding space for 20 birds. Adjustment in the height of the feeder was made periodically to compensate for bird growth. Initial and final bird weight and total feed consumption were obtained for each treatment. From these data and a mortality record, feed efficiency of each treatment was calculated. Statistical analysis of weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency were made according to Federer (1955). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Uniform respiratory signs were evident for the inoculated treatments within 48 hours after inoculation. Birds in all inoculated groups developed infectious bronchitis antibodies. No respiratory signs were evident in the non-infected groups. At the termination of each trial, no respiratory signs were evident in any group, inoculated or not. During the conduct of this experiment the noninfected birds in only one trial became contaminated with infectious bronchitis virus and this trial had to be repeated. In trial 5 the test for bronchitis virus antibodies was positive for the 12.6°C. healthy chick-group even though they never had any respiratory signs. Perfor-
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at Pennsylvania State University on May 25, 2015
atomizing type water sprayer, a cooling coil and a final heater. Liquid filled capillary type thermostats with a 0.6°C. OFF-ON differential were used for controls. Dry bulb temperatures were monitored at a number of locations as shown in Figure 1. The preheater, water sprayer and cooling coil were operated such that a relative humidity of 70 percent would be achieved as the air passed the final heater and entered the cabinet. Ventilation rate was maintained at 472 cubic centimeters per second per bird and was regulated by a damper in the duct. Cabinet temperatures of 12.6°C, 18.2°C. and 23.8°C. and two states of health resulting in a 3 X 2 factorial arrangement of six treatments in a 6 X 6 Latin Square design. Six four-week trials were completed between September 1965 and May 1966, in the six environmental cabinets. Two hundred White Plymouth Rock day-old male chicks were obtained from a local hatchery and raised in wire floor, electric heated battery brooders under isolation for four weeks. Chicks for the first four replications were from PPLO positive flocks, while those for the last two were from PPLO negative flocks. At the age of four weeks, one hundred and twenty chicks in the central weight range were selected and assigned to six 20-bird groups. Blood was drawn from 5 chicks not used in the trial at the beginning and 5 chicks within each treatment at the end of each trial. These blood samples were tested for bronchitis virus antibodies. All chicks in three of the groups were inoculated in the eye with one drop containing 105 chicken infective doses of infectious bronchitis virus (Massachusetts type) just prior to being placed into the assigned cabinet at four weeks of age.
ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE
1101
mance of this group in terms of weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency was about normal when compared to the other groups of the same treatment. This trial and treatment was included in the analysis of variance. Average chick weight, after selection at four weeks of age, was 490 gms. Maximum variation from this average for the six trials was ± 5 0 gms. and the treatment variation from the trial average did not exceed ± 2 0 gms. Although the chicks averaged heavier in the Spring than in the Fall, the selection procedure was considered satisfactory and no adjustment in weight gain was made for the analysis variance. The average chick weight at eight weeks of age was 1.S44 kg. and the trial variation was 163 gms. below and 117 gms. above this average. The noninfected chicks gained an average of 69 gms. more per bird than the chicks infected with bronchitis virus as shown in Table 1. This difference due to disease was significant (Table 4). Differences in weight gain due to environmental temperature were not significant. Feed consumption averaged 222 grams per bird lower for the 23.8°C. treatment
TABLE 2.—Average feed consumption of chicks inoculated with infectious bronchitis virus and healthy chicks four to eight weeks of age as affected by environmental temperature, kg.
TABLE 1.—Average weight gain of chicks inoculated with infectious bronchitis virus and healthy chicks four to eight weeks of age as affected by environmental temperature,kg.
TABLE 3.—Average feed efficiency of chicks inoculated with infectious bronchitis virus and healthy chicks as affected by environmental temperature, kg. gain per kg. feed
Infected
12.6
18.2
23.8
1 2 3 4 5 6
0.878 1.009 1.031 1.111 1.083 0.980
0.912 0.992 0.997 1.145 1.105 1.049
0.964 0.963 1.049 1.083 1.031 0.952
1.015
1.033
1.007
Average Noninfected
Average Average
Cabinet temperature (°C.)
Trial No.
1 2 3 4 5 6
Average
1.018
1.003 1.054 1.094 1.100 1.049 1.037
1.087
1.118
1.056
1.087
1.051
1.076
1.031
1.052
12.6
18.2
23.8
1 2 3 4 5 6
2.290 2.608 2.630 2.881 2.869 2.687
2.211 2.642 2.636 2.772 2.767 2.687
2.251 2.455 2.511 2.562 2.528 2.438
2.661
2.619
2.458
2.596 2.924 2.812 3.044 2.988 2.725
2.409 2.925 2.812 2.982 2.840 2.835
2.256 2.653 2.681 2.789 2.630 2.630
2.848
2.800
2.606
2.751
2.754
2.710
2.532
2.665
Average Noninfected
1 2 3 4 5 6
Average Average
2.579
than for the 12.6°C. treatment (Table 2). Infected and noninfected chicks housed at 23.8°C. consumed 203 grams and 242 grams per bird less feed respectively, than chicks housed at 12.6°C. The infected chicks consumed 172 grams less feed per bird than the noninfected chicks. These differences in feed consumption due to disease and differences due to temperature were significant as indicated in Table 4. Table 3 shows the average feed efficiencies for the four-week period. At the 12.6°C. temperature the feed efficiency was
Treatment Infected
1.043 1.088 1.151 1.190 1.151 1.088
1.003 1.051 1.077 1.241 1.139 1.013
Infected
Cabinet temperature (°C.)
Trial No.
Trial No. 1 2 3 4 5 6
Average Noninfected
Average Average
1 2 3 4 5 6
Cabinet temperature (°C.)
Aver-
12.6
18.2
23.8
0.383 0.386 0.392 0.385 0.377 0.364
0.412 0.375 0.378 0.413 0.399 0.390
0.428 0.392 0.417 0.422 0.408 0.390
0.381
0.394
0.410
0.386 0.359 0.383 0.407 0.381 0.371
0.432 0.372 0.409 0.399 0.405 0.384
0.444 0.397 0.408 0.394 0.398 0.394
0.381
0.400
0.406
0.396
0.381
0.397
0.408
0.395
0.395
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Treatment
Treatment
1102
R. P. PRINCE, J. H. WHITAKEE, R. E. LUGINBUHL AND L. D. MATTERSON
TABLE 4.—Analysis of variance of weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency of healthy and diseased chicks four to eight weeks of age Source of variation Trials
5 5 5 2 1 2 20
2.23 0.20 1.12 0.29 4.24 0.09 0.10
Feed Efficiency
Feed consumption
Mean squares
lean squares
23.2** 11.2** 42.4**
xio-»
F-Value
xio-»
18.14 0.94 12.06 16.60 26.85 0.12 0.36
50.4**
0.09 0.01 0.08 0.21 0.00 0.01 0.002
33.5** 4.61** 74.6**
F-Value 4.5** 4.0* 10.5**
* Significant at the 0.05 level. ** Significant at the 0.01 level.
the same for both the infected and noninfected chicks. At the 18.2°C, temperature the noninfected chicks had the best efficiency, while at 23.8°C, the infected chicks showed the best efficiency. These differences due to disease were not significant. Feed efficiency of chicks housed at the 23.8°C. environment was superior to feed efficiencies of chicks housed at 12.6°C. This difference due to temperature amounted to .027 grams per bird and was significant as shown in Table 4. The analysis of variance (Table 4) indicated a significant difference between trials for weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency. These effects may be due to variations in ration ingredients from mix to mix or variations in hatches of chicks even though all chicks were fed the same formula ration and were obtained from the same hatchery. Differences in performance due to cabinets were not significant indicating that the cabinets were uniform in control. Differences in weight gain, feed consumption and feed efficiency due to disease were consistent at each temperature as evidenced by lack of a remainder effect. Mortality records showed that a total of four chicks died. Three died of the 360 chicks with bronchitis virus and one died of an equal number of noninfected chicks. Records show that three chicks died of the 240 housed in the 12.6°C. environment and
one died of an equal number in the 23.8°C. environment. These figures were not considered significant. No attempt was made to relate variations in relative humidity to weight gain, feed consumption or feed efficiency since the entering air was controlled to 70 percent relative humidity at each temperature. Exhaust relative humidity did increase during the trial due to respiration, the drinking fountain, and moisture build-up in the litter. SUMMARY
For each of six trials, six groups of 20 White Plymouth Rock male chicks were raised in six environmental cabinets. The trials were for the period from four to eight weeks of age. Three of the six 20-bird groups were inoculated with infectious bronchitis at four weeks of age and all treatments subjected to environmental temperatures of 12.6°C, 18.2°C. and 23.8°C. in a 6 X 6 Latin Square design. Weight gained by the noninfected chicks amounted to 69 gms. more per bird than the infected chicks. This was a significant difference. The noninfected chicks consumed 172 gms. more feed per bird than the infected birds and feed consumption was 222 gms. higher for the chicks housed at 12.6°C. than for comparable chicks housed at
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Cabinets Treatments Temperature Disease Remainder Error
Weight gain Degrees of Freedom Mean squares F-Value xio-»
ENVIRONMENTAL TEMPERATURE
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
Gratitude is expressed to Joseph H. Lucas, Station Biometrician, for assistance in experimental design and analysis of the data. REFERENCES Hudson, C. B., 1931. The influence of environmental temperature on the mortality in chicks
inoculated with the virus of infectious bronchitis. Poultry Sci. 10: 391. Adams, R. L., R. N. Andrews, E. E. Gardiner, W. E. Fontaine and C. W. Carrick, 1962. The effect of environmental temperature on the growth and nutritional requirements of the chick. Poultry Sci. 4 1 : 588-594. Milligan, J. L., and P. N. Winn, 1964. The influence of temperature and humidity on broiler performance in environmental chambers. Poultry Sci. 4 3 : 817-824. Prince, R. P., L. M. Potter and W. W. Irish, 1961. Response of chicks to temperature and ventilation environments. Poultry Sci. 40: 102-108. Prince, R. P., L. D. Matterson, R. E. Luginbuhl and T. Chomiak, 1962a, Effect of ventilation rate on the response of chicks inoculated with infectious bronchitis virus and housed at 49°F. Poultry Sci. 4 1 : 1512-1516. Prince, R. P., L. M. Potter, R. E. Luginbuhl and T. Chomiak, 1962b. Effect of ventilation rate on the performance of chicks inoculated with infectious bronchitis virus. Poultry Sci. 4 1 : 268272. Prince, R. P., J. H. Whitaker, R. E. Luginbuhl and L. D. Matterson, 1967. Response of chickens inoculated with infectious bronchitis virus to temperature and humidity environments. Poultry Sci. 46: 3S-40.
Erythromycin Thiocyanate and the Performance of Laying Hens 1 Department
S. C. NIVAS, M. L. SUNDE AND H. R. BIRD of Poultry Science, University of Wisconsin, Madison, Wisconsin 53706 (Received for publication January 30, 1967)
R
ELATIVELY little work has been - published on the effects of erythromycin thiocyanate on the performance of laying hens. Potter et al. (1963) conducted an experiment with laying hens over a 44-week laying period. They observed that during the first two 11-week periods, the Published with the approval of the Director of the Wisconsin Agricultural Experiment Station, College of Agriculture, Madison. "Supported in part by a grant from Abbott Laboratories, North Chicago, Illinois.
production of the hens fed a diet with erythromycin thiocyanate (10 gms./ton) was significantly greater than that of the hens fed the same diet without the antibiotic; however, no significant effects were observed over the next two 11-week periods, nor over the entire 44-week period taken as a whole. Mortality differences between antibiotic-treated birds and controls also failed to be significant. Guenthner and Carlson (1964) fed several antibiotics including erythromycin thiocyanate (10
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23.8°C. The differences due both to temperature and disease were significant. Differences in feed efficiency due to environmental temperature were significant, while differences due to disease were not significant. Response of diseased and healthy chicks to the three temperatures was similar and there was no significant difference in performance due to temperature within the diseased or healthy chick samples. This indicates that infected and noninfected chicks perform in a similar manner throughout the range of environmental temperatures tested.
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