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Effects of Hygromycin B on the Growing and Laying Performance of Chickens
Effects of Hygromycin B on the Growing and Laying Performance of Chickens BAYANI F. LLORICO AND J. H. QUISENBERRY
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas (Received for publication June 8, 1965)
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 1198 commercial inbred cross day-old pullets were randomly divided into six lots. Two lots were fed a basal diet without antibiotics, two were fed the same basal ration plus 8 g./907 kg. of hygromycin B and two other lots received 12 g. of hygromycin, supplied in the form of a commercial supplement called "Hygromix." All lots were brooded for the first 8 weeks on old, re-used floor litter of wood shavings to afford an opportunity for early exposure to intestinal roundworms. The birds were vaccinated for Newcastle at one day intraocularly, four weeks in the water and at 20 weeks intraocularly using the Ba strain. Bronchitis vaccine was given in the water at seven weeks. The birds were vaccinated for fowl pox via the wing web at 8 weeks and again as they were moved to the laying cages. Management and environmental conditions were identical for all lots. The basal diets for the starting, growing and laying periods are given in Tabid. At 8 weeks of age the birds were moved to range pens. The range pens had been in continuous use for the four previous years. They were assigned at random to the three treatments. In each of the six range pens the birds had access to two range shelters 2.74 m. X 3.05 m. but were allowed free access to the range pens surrounding the shelters. Beginning at 8 weeks of age random samples of five birds from each replicate pen of each treatment group were
1565
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H
ELMINTH parasites have been reported by a number of research scientists to produce important economic losses to poultry producers, Graybill and Smith (1920), Ackert and Herrick (1928), Clapham (1937), Graham et al. (1938) and Todd and Hansen (1951). The widespread incidence of helminths in poultry flocks has been reported by Ackert (1927), Roberts (1932), Todd (1946, 1950) and Reid (1956, 1957). Anthelmintic agents of varying degrees of effectiveness have been reported by a number of workers. Among these are nicotine sulfate, Bleeker (1933), Levine (1938); carbon tetrachloride, Ackert and Graham (1935); phenothiazine and nicotine-bentonite, Guthrie and Harwood (1942), Harwood and Guthrie (1944), Jaquette and Wehr (1949); piperazine and its derivatives, Olivier and Hardcastle (1943), Sloan et al. (1954), Shumard and Eveleth (1955), Bradley (1955), HortonSmith and Long (1956), Reid (1957), and Edgar et al. (1957); and antibiotics, Todd (1951), Hansen et al. (1953), Shumard et al. (1958), Frazier (1959), Dixon et al. (1959), Foster et al. (1960) and Latif (1960). Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding continuously eight and twelve grams of hygromycin B per 907 kg. of feed on poultry helminths during the growing period and subsequent laying house performance of inbred cross layers.
1566
B. F. LLORICO AND J. H.
QUISENBEERY
TABLE 1.—Composition of the basal starter, grower and layer rations Ingredients
0/ 7o
38.925 20.000 25.000 4.000 3.500 2.000 2.000 1.500 0.500 2.500 0.075 0.025
Grower 7o
Layer 07 7o
48.750 20.000 15.746 2.000 5.000 2.000 2.000 1.500 0.500 2.500
48.500 20.000 11.250 5.000 3.000 2.000 2.500 5.000 0.250 2.500
0.025
0.025
:
Vitamin mixture supplied the following per pound of feed: 675 gms. 4.540 gms. Dried Fish Solubles 2.270 gms. 2.270 gms. Delactosed Whey 2,270 I.U. 2,270 I.U. Vitamin A 681 I.C.U. Vitamin D 3 681 I.C.U. 2 mg. Riboflavin 2mg. 5 mg. 5 mg. Calcium Pantothenate 12.5 mg. 12.5 mg. Niacin 6 meg. Vitamin B12 6 meg. 227 mg. Choline Chloride 227 mg. 30 mg. 3 Nitro-4-Hydroxy-Phenylarsonic Acid 30 mg. 113.5 mg. Methionine 113.5 mg. Soybean Meal .6798 gms. .6798 gms.
sacrificed and counts of ascarids and heterakids were made. At 20 weeks of age the birds were selected at random from the various treatment groups and moved to laying cages. During the laying phase the birds were separated into two. experiments. The object of Experiment 1 was to compare the laying house performance of birds that had received no hygromycin B during the growing period with those that received eight and twelve grams, respectively, during the growing period but none during the laying period and those that received these levels during both the growing and laying periods. The object of Experiment 2 was to compare the laying house performance of birds receiving no hygromycin B during either the growing or laying periods with those that did not receive it during the growing period but did receive 8 and 12 grams per 907 kg. of feed, respectively, during the laying period only and with
4.540 gms. 2.270 gms. 2,270 I.U. 681 I.C.U. 2mg. 5 mg. 12.5 mg. 6 meg. 227 mg. 30 mg. 2.9510 gms.
those that received these levels continuously during both the growing and laying periods. For each of the laying phase experiments eight replicates of eight birds each for the five treatment groups were used. The birds were exposed to fourteen hours of light daily. The data are reported for twelve, twenty-eight day laying periods, beginning at 23 weeks of age for Experiment 1 and 20 weeks for Experiment 2. The chicks were hatched January 29, 1960. The laying phase of Experiment 1 was from July 8, 1960, to June 7, 1961; for Experiment 2 from June 18, 1960, to May 19, 1961. Analysis of variance and Duncan's multiple range test were used to determine significance between treatment means. Helminth numbers during the growing period were treated both by analysis of variance and Chi-square methods. Mortality differences were tested by the Chi-square method.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at North Dakota State University on May 26, 2015
Ground Milo Ground Corn Soybean Meal (44% Protein) Poultry By-product Meal (55% Protein) Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal Distillers Dried Solubles Phosphorus Supplement (19% Phosphorus) Oyster Shell Flour Salt Vitamin Mix* Sulfaquinoxaline (35% premix) Manganese Sulfate
Starter
1567
HYGROMYCIN IN POULTRY RATIONS TABLE
during the starting and growing pei•iods ons bodyweight, 2.—Effects of feeding Hygromycin B < feed consumption , age at first egg and mortality
Hygromycin B per 907 kg. of feed
Initial No. of birds
Av. 20-wk. body wt. (g.)
Av. Total feed consumption per bird for 20 wks. (kg.)
Age at first egg (days)
No.
%
None: Replication 1 Replication 2 Combined
198 193 391
1,267 1,291 1,279
7.87 7.95 8.08
135.0 138.0 136.5
6 11 17
3.03 5.70 4.35
St.: Replication 1 Replication 2 Combined
198 204 402
1,291 1,257 1,274
7.80 7.74 7.82
132.0 139.0 135.5
5 4 9
2.53 1.96 2.24
12 g.: Replication 1 Replication 2 Combined
202 203 405
1,298 1,288 1,293
7.91 7.79 7.93
133.0 134.0 133.5
4 4 8
1.98 1.97 1.98
A. Growing Period 1. Effects of Hygromycin B on Body Weight, Feed Consumption, Age at First Egg and Mortality. The effects of feeding hygromycin B continuously at 8 g./907 kg. and 12 g./907 kg. on body weight, feed consumption, age at first egg and mortality are given in Table 2. Hygromycin had no significant effect on body weight, feed consumption, age at first egg or mortality. However, feed consumed per bird was slightly less for the hygromycin lots and both age at first egg and mortality declined as the level of hygromycin increased. 2. Effects on Intestinal Parasites. Beginning with the 8th week, five birds from each of the six lots were sacrificed and counts made of the number of ascarids and heterakids. Counts were made every four weeks, at 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks of age. Results of these counts are given in Table 3. Continuous feeding of 12 grams of hygromycin B per 907 kg. of feed significantly reduced the number of parasitized birds at the .01 probability level. Not only was the number of parasitized birds
reduced by the hygromycin but the total number of parasites and the average number per parasitized bird were also reduced. Using the Chi-square method of analysis, each level of hygromycin significantly reduced the total number of parasites below the basal at the .05 level and the 12 g. level reduced the number below the 8 g. level significant at the .01 level of probability (Table 3). In order to show the effects of dietary hygromycin B on the number of parasitized birds and the total number of parasites, as the growing period advanced the counts for 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks are given in Table 3A. The birds were free of ascarids and heterakids at 8 weeks. As the growing period advanced, in general both the number of parasitized birds and the total parasites increased. This was true for the basal birds and those getting 8 g. of hygromycin B per 907 kg. of feed. For the birds receiving 12 g. of hygromycin per 907 kg., both the number of parasitized birds and the total parasites decreased between the 16th and 20th week. This might well be due to a threshold level of effectiveness for the antibiotic and the increased feed consumption between these
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at North Dakota State University on May 26, 2015
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Mortality (0-20 wks.)
1568
B. F. LLORICO AND J. H. QUISENBERRY TABLE 3.—Total parasite counts as ajfected by dietary Hygromycin B Supplementation Parasite counts
Total No. of birds sacrificed
Total No. of birds parasitized
Ascarids
Heterakids
Total
None: Replication 1 Replication 2 Combined
40 40 80
13 15 28 A 1
29 22 51
117 50 167
146 72 218 Aa2
8 Grams: Replication 1 Replication 2 Combined
40 40 80
13 12 25 A
25 24 49
58 65 123
83 89 172 Ab
12 Grams: Replication 1 Replication 2 Combined
40 40 80
1 11 12 B
1 24 25
0 52 52
1 76 77 B
1 Figures with different capital letters differ significantly at the .01 level of probability (Analysis of variance). 2 Figures with different capital letters differ at .01 level of P, small letters at .05 level (Chi-square analysis).
TABLE
3A.—-Parasite
count as ajfected by dietary Hygromycin B supplementation during the growing period No. parasitized birds 1
Total parasite count2
Hygromycin B per 907 kg. of feed
8wks.
12 wks.
16 wks.
20 wks.
8 wks.
12 wks.
16 wks.
20 wks.
None Rep. 1 Rep. 2 Combined
0 0 0
3 5 8
5 5 10
5 5 10
0 0 0
6 13 19
74 14 88
66 45 111
8 Grams Rep. 1 . Rep. 2 Combined
0 0 0
3 3 6
4 3 7
5 5 10
0 0 0
34 10 44
20 20 40
29 59 88
12 Grams Rep. 1 Rep. 2 Combined
0 0 0
0 3 3
0 5 5
1 3 4
0 0 0
0 14 14
0 53 53
1 9 10
1 2
Includes birds with ascarids, heterakids or both. Includes total count of ascarids and heterakids.
periods resulted in sufficient hygromycin in the intestinal tract to reduce significantly the parasite count at the 12 g. level. B. Laying Period Summaries were prepared for the performance data on body weight, egg production, feed efficiency and mortality for twelve, 28-day laying periods for each of the two experiments. Egg production is re-
ported on a hen day basis and all other data are based on the number of surviving birds at the end of the twelve, 28-day periods. The laying period for Experiment 1 started when the birds were 23 weeks of age and for Experiment 2 when they were 20 weeks of age. Independent statistical analyses were made for Experiments 1 and 2. Experiment 1. The data on body
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Hygromycin B per 907 kg. of feed
1569
HYGROMYCIN IN POULTRY RATIONS
TABLE 4.—Experiment 1—Effects of feeding Hygromycin B on laying performance of a commercial inbred cross laying stock. Twelve, 28-day periods, July 8, 1960-June 7, 1961 Hygromycin B per 907 kg. of feed Growing
Laying
None
None None 8g. None 12 g.
12 g. 12 g.
Initial No. Average Average of birds in initial body final body laying weight weight phase (g.) (g.) 64
63* 64 64 64
1,382 1,407 1,398 1,438 1,405
1,848 1,892 1,832 1,864 1,830
Average body weight gain (g-) 466 48S 434 426 425
Average hen day prod.
kg. feed /kg. eggs
Mortality NQ
% 70.32 74.42 72.90 73.56 74,11
A1 B B B B
0.00 6.35 9.38 3.13 6.25
2.59 2.55 2.59 2.55 2.55
weight, hen-day production, feed efficiency and mortality are given in Table 4. Hygromycin had little effect upon body weight either during the growing or the laying periods. In general the 12 g. level during the laying period seemed to depress slightly the gain in body weight (Tables 4 and 5). Hen-day production was significantly improved at the .01 level by the feeding of hygromycin B either during the growing period only or during both the growing and laying periods. Feed efficiency was little affected but tended to be slightly better for the hygromycin-fed lots. Mortality was relatively low for all lots and no significant differences were found between the groups. It is interesting to note that the mortality
was zero in the basal lot birds suggesting that the differences in rate of lay could not be attributed to morbidity and mortality of the control lot. These results of Experiment 1 suggest that perhaps at least part of the beneficial effects of the continuous feeding of hygromycin B may be exerted during the growing period. However, the beneficial effects on egg production seem not to be limited to the growing period as will be seen in Experiment 2. Experiment 2. Body weights, hen-day production, feed efficiencies and mortality are given in Table 5. The laying phase of this experiment started when the birds were 20 weeks of age, as the birds were
TABLE 5.—Experiment 2—Effects of Hygromycin B feeding on laying performance of a commmercial inbred cross laying stock. Twelve, 28-day periods, June 18, 1960—May 19, 1961 Hygromycin B/907 kg. of feed Growing
Laying
None None 8g. None 12 g.
None 12 g. 12 g.
Initial No. of birds in laying phase
Average initial body weight (g.)
Average final body weight (g-)
Average body weight gain (g-)
Average hen day prod.
64 64 63 l 64 632
1,325 1,324 1,307 1,318 1,330
1,889 1,829 1,866 1,779 1,802
564 505 559 461 472
64.72 A3 68.56B 68.81 B 68.82 B 69.67 B
kg. feed /kg. eggs
% 2.89 2.80 2.81 2.81 2.77
Mortality No
% 7.81 3.13 0.00 10.94 6.35
1 One bird was removed from this group because of an early case of cage fatigue and its failure to adapt to cage life. 2 One bird from this group died from injury received from the cage shortly after the start of this experiment. * Means with different capital letters differ significantly at the .01 level of probability.
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* One bird in this group was accidentally killed and removed from the test shortly after the start of the experiment. 1 Means with different capital letters differ significantly at the .01 level of probability.
1570
B. F. LLORICO AND J. H.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
Two experiments were designed to measure the anthelmintic properties of hygromycin B and the effects of continuous feeding during the growing phase only, laying phase only and both phases on laying house performance. A total of 1198 commercial inbred cross pullets were used. Two lots of 200 birds each received no hygromycin, two received 8 g./°07 kg. of feed and two received 12 g./°07 kg. during the growing period. Beginning at 8 weeks a sample of ten birds from each treatment group were sacrificed for ascarid and heterakid counts. Both levels of hygromycin reduced the number of parasitized birds and the total parasite count. Slightly but not significantly less feed was required by the hygromycin-fed birds. Days to first egg and mortality were slightly reduced. Body weights at 20 weeks were approximately the same. Two experiments were set up for the laying phase. In Experiment 1 five treatment groups consisting of 8 replicates of 8 birds each were used. These groups received (1) no hygromycin; (2) 8 g. during
the growing period only; (3) 8 g. during both growing and laying periods; (4) 12 g. during the growing period only and (5) 12 g. during both growing and laying periods. Body weight gain for 12, 28-day periods was slightly depressed by the higher level of hygromycin; hen-day production was significantly increased for all hygromycin fed groups; mortality and feed efficiency were not significantly influenced. In Experiment 2 five treatment groups of 64 birds each were used. These groups received (1) no hygromycin; (2) no hygromycin during the growing period but 8 g./ 907 kg. of feed for the laying period only; (3) 8 g. continuously during growing and laying periods; (4) 12 g. during the laying period only and (5) 12 g. during both growing and laying periods. Again body weight gains were slightly depressed by the 12 g. level of hygromycin. All hygromycin lots produced significantly more eggs than the control group. Feed efficiency was slightly improved and mortality was unaffected. These results are consistent with those previously reported from this laboratory that dietary hygromycin B significantly reduces the poultry helminth population and increases the rate of lay. REFERENCES Ackert, J. E., 1927. Some intestinal worms of chickens and their control. Proc. 3rd World's Poultry Congress, Ottawa, Canada (1927): 333-336. Ackert, J. E., and C. A. Herrick, 1928. Effects of the nematode Ascaridia lineata (Schneider) on growing chickens. J. Parasit. 15: 1-13. Ackert, J. E., and G. L. Graham, 1935. The efficacy of carbon tetrachloride in roundworm control. Poultry Sci. 14: 228-231. Bleeker, W. L., 1933. Nicotine sulfate as a vermifuge for the removal of ascarids from poultry. J. Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc. 83: 645-655. Bradley, R., 1955. Observations on the anthelmintic effect of piperazine citrate in chickens. Vet. Med. 50: 444-447. Clapham, P. A., 1937. On some lesions associated
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just beginning to lay. This, in part, accounts for the lower average hen-day production of these birds as compared with those in Experiment 1. They were also housed in a different cage house from those in Experiment 1. As in Experiment 1 there is a tendency for the body weight gain during the laying phase to be less for the birds receiving 12 g. of hygromycin than for the control birds. Hen-day production was significantly increased by the hygromycin whether it was fed continuously during both the growing and laying periods or whether it was fed only during the laying period. The feed efficiency was slightly improved by the hygromycin but not significantly so. There were no significant differences in mortality.
QUISENBERRY
HYGROMYCIN IN POULTRY RATIONS
1571
JULY 19-21. GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY CONGRESS AND EXHIBITION, AMERICAN POULTRY AND HATCHERY FEDERATION, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. AUGUST 3-10. SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF NUTRITION, HAMBURG, GERMANY
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ment for roundworms of chickens. Poultry Sci. with helminths in birds of economic impor28: 821-825. tance. J. Helm. 15: 49-52. Dixon, J. M., W. A. Johnson and B. A. Tower, Latif, A. M., 1960. Hygromycin B as an anthelmintic and antibiotic for poultry. A Thesis. 1959. Low level feeding of hygromycin B and Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas. phenothiazine NF for the control of Ascaridia galli and Heterakis gallinae in broilers. Poultry Levine, P. P., 1938. The treatment of ascariasis in Sci. 38: 1199. chickens. Cornell Vet. 26: 120-127. Olivier, L., and A. B. Hardcastle, 1943. Removal Edgar, S. A., D. C. Davis and J. A. Frazier, 1957. of cecal worm Heterakis gallinae from chickens The efficacy of some piperazine compounds in by feeding phenothiazine in the mash. Vet. Med. the elimination of helminths from experimen38: 384-387. tally and naturally-infected poultry. Poultry Sci. 36: 495-509. Roberts, F. H. S., 1932. A survey of the helminth parasites of the domestic fowl and domestic Frazier, M. N., 1959. Field trials with hygromycin pigeon in Queensland. Queensland Agr. J. 38: as an anthelmintic in poultry. Avian Diseases, 344-347. 3 : 478-483. Reid, W. M., 1956. Incidence and economic imFoster, R. G., C. B. Ryan, R. D. Turk and J. H. portance of poultry parasites under different Quisenberry, 1960. Continuous feeding of hyecological and geographical situations in Egypt. gromycin as a poultry anthelmintic and its efPoultry Sci. 35: 926-933. fect upon laying house performance. Poultry Sci. 39: 492-499. Reid, W. M., 1957. Incidence of helminth and external parasites in Georgia broilers. Poultry Sci. Graham, R., J. P. Torrey, J. D. Mizelle and V. M. 37: 586-592. Michael, 1938. Internal parasites of poultry. Illinois Agri. Exp. Sta. Cir. 469. pp. 1-51. Shumard, R. F., and D. F. Eveleth, 1955. A preliminary report on the anthelmintic action of Graybill, H. W., and T. Smith, 1920. Production piperazine citrate on Ascaridia galli and Heterof fatal blackhead in turkeys by feeding emakis gallinae in hens. Vet. Med. 50: 203-205. bryonated eggs of Heterakis papulosa. J. Exp. Med. 3 1 : 647-655. Shumard, R. F., R. P. Gregory, D. I. Gard, F. O. Gossett and J. F. Downing, 1958. The anthelGuthrie, J. E., and P. D. Harwood, 1942. The effimintic effectiveness of hygromycin B against cacy of phenothiazine and nicotine-bentonite Ascaridia spp. and Heterakis gallinae in chickfor the removal of H. gallinae and A. galli from ens. Poultry Sci. 37: 1242. chickens. J. Parasit. 28: (suppl.) 24-25. Sloan, J. E. N., P. A. Kingsbury and D. W. Jolly, Hansen, M. F., M. G. Norris and J. E. Ackert, 1954. Preliminary trials with piperazine adipate 1953. The influence of an all plant protein diet as a veterinary anthelmintic. J. Pharmacy supplemented with aureomycin and vitamin B ]5 Pharmacol. 6: 718-724. on the resistance of chicks to A. galli (Schrank). Poultry Sci. 32: 612-617. Todd, A. C , 1946. The nature of helminth infestation in chickens in East Tennessee. Poultry Harwood, P. D., and J. E. Guthrie, 1944. The efSci. 25: 424-432. fect of nicotine-bentonite and of certain physical states upon the efficacy of phenothiazine Todd, A. C., 1951. Effect of antibiotic agents upon against nematodes in fowls. J. Parasit. 30: 143experimental Ascaridia galli infections in chick152. ens. Poultry Sci. 30: 763-766. Todd, A. C , 1950. Worm parasites of Tennessee Horton-Smith, C , and P. L. Long, 1956. The chickens. Univ. Tenn. Agri. Exp. Sta. Bui. 205: anthelmintic effect of three piperazine derivatives on Ascaridia galli. Poultry Sci. 35: 6061-20. 614. Todd, A. C , and M. F. Hansen, 1951. The economic importance of host resistance to helminth Jaquette, D. S., and E. E. Wehr, 1949. Nicotineinfection. Amer. J. Vet. Res. 12: 58-61. bentonite and phenothiazine mixture as treat-
Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas (Received for publication June 8, 1965)
INTRODUCTION
MATERIALS AND METHODS A total of 1198 commercial inbred cross day-old pullets were randomly divided into six lots. Two lots were fed a basal diet without antibiotics, two were fed the same basal ration plus 8 g./907 kg. of hygromycin B and two other lots received 12 g. of hygromycin, supplied in the form of a commercial supplement called "Hygromix." All lots were brooded for the first 8 weeks on old, re-used floor litter of wood shavings to afford an opportunity for early exposure to intestinal roundworms. The birds were vaccinated for Newcastle at one day intraocularly, four weeks in the water and at 20 weeks intraocularly using the Ba strain. Bronchitis vaccine was given in the water at seven weeks. The birds were vaccinated for fowl pox via the wing web at 8 weeks and again as they were moved to the laying cages. Management and environmental conditions were identical for all lots. The basal diets for the starting, growing and laying periods are given in Tabid. At 8 weeks of age the birds were moved to range pens. The range pens had been in continuous use for the four previous years. They were assigned at random to the three treatments. In each of the six range pens the birds had access to two range shelters 2.74 m. X 3.05 m. but were allowed free access to the range pens surrounding the shelters. Beginning at 8 weeks of age random samples of five birds from each replicate pen of each treatment group were
1565
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at North Dakota State University on May 26, 2015
H
ELMINTH parasites have been reported by a number of research scientists to produce important economic losses to poultry producers, Graybill and Smith (1920), Ackert and Herrick (1928), Clapham (1937), Graham et al. (1938) and Todd and Hansen (1951). The widespread incidence of helminths in poultry flocks has been reported by Ackert (1927), Roberts (1932), Todd (1946, 1950) and Reid (1956, 1957). Anthelmintic agents of varying degrees of effectiveness have been reported by a number of workers. Among these are nicotine sulfate, Bleeker (1933), Levine (1938); carbon tetrachloride, Ackert and Graham (1935); phenothiazine and nicotine-bentonite, Guthrie and Harwood (1942), Harwood and Guthrie (1944), Jaquette and Wehr (1949); piperazine and its derivatives, Olivier and Hardcastle (1943), Sloan et al. (1954), Shumard and Eveleth (1955), Bradley (1955), HortonSmith and Long (1956), Reid (1957), and Edgar et al. (1957); and antibiotics, Todd (1951), Hansen et al. (1953), Shumard et al. (1958), Frazier (1959), Dixon et al. (1959), Foster et al. (1960) and Latif (1960). Two experiments were conducted to determine the effects of feeding continuously eight and twelve grams of hygromycin B per 907 kg. of feed on poultry helminths during the growing period and subsequent laying house performance of inbred cross layers.
1566
B. F. LLORICO AND J. H.
QUISENBEERY
TABLE 1.—Composition of the basal starter, grower and layer rations Ingredients
0/ 7o
38.925 20.000 25.000 4.000 3.500 2.000 2.000 1.500 0.500 2.500 0.075 0.025
Grower 7o
Layer 07 7o
48.750 20.000 15.746 2.000 5.000 2.000 2.000 1.500 0.500 2.500
48.500 20.000 11.250 5.000 3.000 2.000 2.500 5.000 0.250 2.500
0.025
0.025
:
Vitamin mixture supplied the following per pound of feed: 675 gms. 4.540 gms. Dried Fish Solubles 2.270 gms. 2.270 gms. Delactosed Whey 2,270 I.U. 2,270 I.U. Vitamin A 681 I.C.U. Vitamin D 3 681 I.C.U. 2 mg. Riboflavin 2mg. 5 mg. 5 mg. Calcium Pantothenate 12.5 mg. 12.5 mg. Niacin 6 meg. Vitamin B12 6 meg. 227 mg. Choline Chloride 227 mg. 30 mg. 3 Nitro-4-Hydroxy-Phenylarsonic Acid 30 mg. 113.5 mg. Methionine 113.5 mg. Soybean Meal .6798 gms. .6798 gms.
sacrificed and counts of ascarids and heterakids were made. At 20 weeks of age the birds were selected at random from the various treatment groups and moved to laying cages. During the laying phase the birds were separated into two. experiments. The object of Experiment 1 was to compare the laying house performance of birds that had received no hygromycin B during the growing period with those that received eight and twelve grams, respectively, during the growing period but none during the laying period and those that received these levels during both the growing and laying periods. The object of Experiment 2 was to compare the laying house performance of birds receiving no hygromycin B during either the growing or laying periods with those that did not receive it during the growing period but did receive 8 and 12 grams per 907 kg. of feed, respectively, during the laying period only and with
4.540 gms. 2.270 gms. 2,270 I.U. 681 I.C.U. 2mg. 5 mg. 12.5 mg. 6 meg. 227 mg. 30 mg. 2.9510 gms.
those that received these levels continuously during both the growing and laying periods. For each of the laying phase experiments eight replicates of eight birds each for the five treatment groups were used. The birds were exposed to fourteen hours of light daily. The data are reported for twelve, twenty-eight day laying periods, beginning at 23 weeks of age for Experiment 1 and 20 weeks for Experiment 2. The chicks were hatched January 29, 1960. The laying phase of Experiment 1 was from July 8, 1960, to June 7, 1961; for Experiment 2 from June 18, 1960, to May 19, 1961. Analysis of variance and Duncan's multiple range test were used to determine significance between treatment means. Helminth numbers during the growing period were treated both by analysis of variance and Chi-square methods. Mortality differences were tested by the Chi-square method.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at North Dakota State University on May 26, 2015
Ground Milo Ground Corn Soybean Meal (44% Protein) Poultry By-product Meal (55% Protein) Dehydrated Alfalfa Meal Distillers Dried Solubles Phosphorus Supplement (19% Phosphorus) Oyster Shell Flour Salt Vitamin Mix* Sulfaquinoxaline (35% premix) Manganese Sulfate
Starter
1567
HYGROMYCIN IN POULTRY RATIONS TABLE
during the starting and growing pei•iods ons bodyweight, 2.—Effects of feeding Hygromycin B < feed consumption , age at first egg and mortality
Hygromycin B per 907 kg. of feed
Initial No. of birds
Av. 20-wk. body wt. (g.)
Av. Total feed consumption per bird for 20 wks. (kg.)
Age at first egg (days)
No.
%
None: Replication 1 Replication 2 Combined
198 193 391
1,267 1,291 1,279
7.87 7.95 8.08
135.0 138.0 136.5
6 11 17
3.03 5.70 4.35
St.: Replication 1 Replication 2 Combined
198 204 402
1,291 1,257 1,274
7.80 7.74 7.82
132.0 139.0 135.5
5 4 9
2.53 1.96 2.24
12 g.: Replication 1 Replication 2 Combined
202 203 405
1,298 1,288 1,293
7.91 7.79 7.93
133.0 134.0 133.5
4 4 8
1.98 1.97 1.98
A. Growing Period 1. Effects of Hygromycin B on Body Weight, Feed Consumption, Age at First Egg and Mortality. The effects of feeding hygromycin B continuously at 8 g./907 kg. and 12 g./907 kg. on body weight, feed consumption, age at first egg and mortality are given in Table 2. Hygromycin had no significant effect on body weight, feed consumption, age at first egg or mortality. However, feed consumed per bird was slightly less for the hygromycin lots and both age at first egg and mortality declined as the level of hygromycin increased. 2. Effects on Intestinal Parasites. Beginning with the 8th week, five birds from each of the six lots were sacrificed and counts made of the number of ascarids and heterakids. Counts were made every four weeks, at 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks of age. Results of these counts are given in Table 3. Continuous feeding of 12 grams of hygromycin B per 907 kg. of feed significantly reduced the number of parasitized birds at the .01 probability level. Not only was the number of parasitized birds
reduced by the hygromycin but the total number of parasites and the average number per parasitized bird were also reduced. Using the Chi-square method of analysis, each level of hygromycin significantly reduced the total number of parasites below the basal at the .05 level and the 12 g. level reduced the number below the 8 g. level significant at the .01 level of probability (Table 3). In order to show the effects of dietary hygromycin B on the number of parasitized birds and the total number of parasites, as the growing period advanced the counts for 8, 12, 16 and 20 weeks are given in Table 3A. The birds were free of ascarids and heterakids at 8 weeks. As the growing period advanced, in general both the number of parasitized birds and the total parasites increased. This was true for the basal birds and those getting 8 g. of hygromycin B per 907 kg. of feed. For the birds receiving 12 g. of hygromycin per 907 kg., both the number of parasitized birds and the total parasites decreased between the 16th and 20th week. This might well be due to a threshold level of effectiveness for the antibiotic and the increased feed consumption between these
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RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Mortality (0-20 wks.)
1568
B. F. LLORICO AND J. H. QUISENBERRY TABLE 3.—Total parasite counts as ajfected by dietary Hygromycin B Supplementation Parasite counts
Total No. of birds sacrificed
Total No. of birds parasitized
Ascarids
Heterakids
Total
None: Replication 1 Replication 2 Combined
40 40 80
13 15 28 A 1
29 22 51
117 50 167
146 72 218 Aa2
8 Grams: Replication 1 Replication 2 Combined
40 40 80
13 12 25 A
25 24 49
58 65 123
83 89 172 Ab
12 Grams: Replication 1 Replication 2 Combined
40 40 80
1 11 12 B
1 24 25
0 52 52
1 76 77 B
1 Figures with different capital letters differ significantly at the .01 level of probability (Analysis of variance). 2 Figures with different capital letters differ at .01 level of P, small letters at .05 level (Chi-square analysis).
TABLE
3A.—-Parasite
count as ajfected by dietary Hygromycin B supplementation during the growing period No. parasitized birds 1
Total parasite count2
Hygromycin B per 907 kg. of feed
8wks.
12 wks.
16 wks.
20 wks.
8 wks.
12 wks.
16 wks.
20 wks.
None Rep. 1 Rep. 2 Combined
0 0 0
3 5 8
5 5 10
5 5 10
0 0 0
6 13 19
74 14 88
66 45 111
8 Grams Rep. 1 . Rep. 2 Combined
0 0 0
3 3 6
4 3 7
5 5 10
0 0 0
34 10 44
20 20 40
29 59 88
12 Grams Rep. 1 Rep. 2 Combined
0 0 0
0 3 3
0 5 5
1 3 4
0 0 0
0 14 14
0 53 53
1 9 10
1 2
Includes birds with ascarids, heterakids or both. Includes total count of ascarids and heterakids.
periods resulted in sufficient hygromycin in the intestinal tract to reduce significantly the parasite count at the 12 g. level. B. Laying Period Summaries were prepared for the performance data on body weight, egg production, feed efficiency and mortality for twelve, 28-day laying periods for each of the two experiments. Egg production is re-
ported on a hen day basis and all other data are based on the number of surviving birds at the end of the twelve, 28-day periods. The laying period for Experiment 1 started when the birds were 23 weeks of age and for Experiment 2 when they were 20 weeks of age. Independent statistical analyses were made for Experiments 1 and 2. Experiment 1. The data on body
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Hygromycin B per 907 kg. of feed
1569
HYGROMYCIN IN POULTRY RATIONS
TABLE 4.—Experiment 1—Effects of feeding Hygromycin B on laying performance of a commercial inbred cross laying stock. Twelve, 28-day periods, July 8, 1960-June 7, 1961 Hygromycin B per 907 kg. of feed Growing
Laying
None
None None 8g. None 12 g.
12 g. 12 g.
Initial No. Average Average of birds in initial body final body laying weight weight phase (g.) (g.) 64
63* 64 64 64
1,382 1,407 1,398 1,438 1,405
1,848 1,892 1,832 1,864 1,830
Average body weight gain (g-) 466 48S 434 426 425
Average hen day prod.
kg. feed /kg. eggs
Mortality NQ
% 70.32 74.42 72.90 73.56 74,11
A1 B B B B
0.00 6.35 9.38 3.13 6.25
2.59 2.55 2.59 2.55 2.55
weight, hen-day production, feed efficiency and mortality are given in Table 4. Hygromycin had little effect upon body weight either during the growing or the laying periods. In general the 12 g. level during the laying period seemed to depress slightly the gain in body weight (Tables 4 and 5). Hen-day production was significantly improved at the .01 level by the feeding of hygromycin B either during the growing period only or during both the growing and laying periods. Feed efficiency was little affected but tended to be slightly better for the hygromycin-fed lots. Mortality was relatively low for all lots and no significant differences were found between the groups. It is interesting to note that the mortality
was zero in the basal lot birds suggesting that the differences in rate of lay could not be attributed to morbidity and mortality of the control lot. These results of Experiment 1 suggest that perhaps at least part of the beneficial effects of the continuous feeding of hygromycin B may be exerted during the growing period. However, the beneficial effects on egg production seem not to be limited to the growing period as will be seen in Experiment 2. Experiment 2. Body weights, hen-day production, feed efficiencies and mortality are given in Table 5. The laying phase of this experiment started when the birds were 20 weeks of age, as the birds were
TABLE 5.—Experiment 2—Effects of Hygromycin B feeding on laying performance of a commmercial inbred cross laying stock. Twelve, 28-day periods, June 18, 1960—May 19, 1961 Hygromycin B/907 kg. of feed Growing
Laying
None None 8g. None 12 g.
None 12 g. 12 g.
Initial No. of birds in laying phase
Average initial body weight (g.)
Average final body weight (g-)
Average body weight gain (g-)
Average hen day prod.
64 64 63 l 64 632
1,325 1,324 1,307 1,318 1,330
1,889 1,829 1,866 1,779 1,802
564 505 559 461 472
64.72 A3 68.56B 68.81 B 68.82 B 69.67 B
kg. feed /kg. eggs
% 2.89 2.80 2.81 2.81 2.77
Mortality No
% 7.81 3.13 0.00 10.94 6.35
1 One bird was removed from this group because of an early case of cage fatigue and its failure to adapt to cage life. 2 One bird from this group died from injury received from the cage shortly after the start of this experiment. * Means with different capital letters differ significantly at the .01 level of probability.
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* One bird in this group was accidentally killed and removed from the test shortly after the start of the experiment. 1 Means with different capital letters differ significantly at the .01 level of probability.
1570
B. F. LLORICO AND J. H.
SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS
Two experiments were designed to measure the anthelmintic properties of hygromycin B and the effects of continuous feeding during the growing phase only, laying phase only and both phases on laying house performance. A total of 1198 commercial inbred cross pullets were used. Two lots of 200 birds each received no hygromycin, two received 8 g./°07 kg. of feed and two received 12 g./°07 kg. during the growing period. Beginning at 8 weeks a sample of ten birds from each treatment group were sacrificed for ascarid and heterakid counts. Both levels of hygromycin reduced the number of parasitized birds and the total parasite count. Slightly but not significantly less feed was required by the hygromycin-fed birds. Days to first egg and mortality were slightly reduced. Body weights at 20 weeks were approximately the same. Two experiments were set up for the laying phase. In Experiment 1 five treatment groups consisting of 8 replicates of 8 birds each were used. These groups received (1) no hygromycin; (2) 8 g. during
the growing period only; (3) 8 g. during both growing and laying periods; (4) 12 g. during the growing period only and (5) 12 g. during both growing and laying periods. Body weight gain for 12, 28-day periods was slightly depressed by the higher level of hygromycin; hen-day production was significantly increased for all hygromycin fed groups; mortality and feed efficiency were not significantly influenced. In Experiment 2 five treatment groups of 64 birds each were used. These groups received (1) no hygromycin; (2) no hygromycin during the growing period but 8 g./ 907 kg. of feed for the laying period only; (3) 8 g. continuously during growing and laying periods; (4) 12 g. during the laying period only and (5) 12 g. during both growing and laying periods. Again body weight gains were slightly depressed by the 12 g. level of hygromycin. All hygromycin lots produced significantly more eggs than the control group. Feed efficiency was slightly improved and mortality was unaffected. These results are consistent with those previously reported from this laboratory that dietary hygromycin B significantly reduces the poultry helminth population and increases the rate of lay. REFERENCES Ackert, J. E., 1927. Some intestinal worms of chickens and their control. Proc. 3rd World's Poultry Congress, Ottawa, Canada (1927): 333-336. Ackert, J. E., and C. A. Herrick, 1928. Effects of the nematode Ascaridia lineata (Schneider) on growing chickens. J. Parasit. 15: 1-13. Ackert, J. E., and G. L. Graham, 1935. The efficacy of carbon tetrachloride in roundworm control. Poultry Sci. 14: 228-231. Bleeker, W. L., 1933. Nicotine sulfate as a vermifuge for the removal of ascarids from poultry. J. Amer. Vet. Med. Assoc. 83: 645-655. Bradley, R., 1955. Observations on the anthelmintic effect of piperazine citrate in chickens. Vet. Med. 50: 444-447. Clapham, P. A., 1937. On some lesions associated
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just beginning to lay. This, in part, accounts for the lower average hen-day production of these birds as compared with those in Experiment 1. They were also housed in a different cage house from those in Experiment 1. As in Experiment 1 there is a tendency for the body weight gain during the laying phase to be less for the birds receiving 12 g. of hygromycin than for the control birds. Hen-day production was significantly increased by the hygromycin whether it was fed continuously during both the growing and laying periods or whether it was fed only during the laying period. The feed efficiency was slightly improved by the hygromycin but not significantly so. There were no significant differences in mortality.
QUISENBERRY
HYGROMYCIN IN POULTRY RATIONS
1571
JULY 19-21. GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY CONGRESS AND EXHIBITION, AMERICAN POULTRY AND HATCHERY FEDERATION, MINNEAPOLIS, MINN. AUGUST 3-10. SEVENTH INTERNATIONAL CONGRESS OF NUTRITION, HAMBURG, GERMANY
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