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Evaluation of Various Bird-Resistant and Non-Resistant Varieties of Grain Sorghum for Use in Broiler Diets1
1648
RESEARCH NOTES
sions of the progeny from the inoculated parental population were less than for the uninoculated ones (42.5 vs. 52.2%), these differences were of much smaller magnitude than mortality and not significant. Thus, in a selection program, birds selected for resistance to death, only, might show gross lesions which would condemn them on processing. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to acknowledge
the technical assistance rendered by Mr. C. S. Lovern and Mr. C. E. Ferguson. REFERENCES Cole, R. K., 1968. Studies on genetic resistance to Marek's disease. Avian Dis. 12: 9-28. Eidson, C. S., and S. C. Schmittle, 1968. Studies on acute Marek's disease I. Characteristics of isolate GA in chickens. Avian Dis. 12: 467-476. Hess, C. W., 1962. Randombred populations of the Southern Regional Poultry Breeding Project. World's Poultry Sci. J. 18: 147-152.
B. L. DAMRON,2 G. M. PRINE 3 AND R. H. HARMS2 Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations, Gainesville, Florida 32601 (Received for publication September 9, 1968)
The use of grain sorghums in poultry diets has increased greatly during the past few years. Consumption of the grain in the field by wild birds is a major problem and has prompted the development of several bird-resistant varieties, the majority of these being brown seeded. The fact that bird resistance is attributed to the grain's tannin content has caused concern regarding the efficacy of its use in poultry diets. Chang and Fuller (1964) reported that growth depressions resulting from the feeding of high-tannin grain sorghums were similiar to those produced by equivalent levels of tannic acid. The feeding of grain sorghums high in tannin content resulted in significantly lower body weights, but feed consumption was not decreased. Therefore, it was believed that true tannin toxicity had been demonstrated. Supplementing diets containing grain sorghums of high 1 Florida Agr. Exp. Sta. Journal Series No. 3050. 3 Department of Poultry Science. 3 Department of Agronomy.
and low tannin content with twice the normal supplemental levels of choline and methionine resulted in this toxicity being overcome and both groups having almost equal body weights. However, these increased levels of choline and methionine only partially overcame the growth depression caused by equivalent levels of supplemental tannic acid. Vohra et al. (1966) used higher than normal levels of methionine, choline chloride, betaine hydrochloride, and ornithine in an attempt to offset the effects of tannic acid, but were unable to confirm the results of Chang and Fuller (1964). Vohra et al. (1966) suggested that the effects of tannic acid were not entirely due to depressed feed intake. The reduction of nitrogen retention was also believed to be involved. Extensive trials with both brown and yellow-seeded hybrid grain sorghums have been conducted by Stephenson et al. (1968). They found extreme variability in both brown and yellow-seeded varieties and felt that the effect might be due to differences in nutrient availability.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at New York University on May 14, 2015
EVALUATION OF VARIOUS BIRD-RESISTANT AND NON-RESISTANT VARIETIES OF GRAIN SORGHUM FOR USE IN BROILER DIETS 1
1649
RESEARCH NOTES TABLE 1.—Composition of the basal diet Ingredients Yellow corn Soybean meal (50% protein) Alfalfa meal (20% protein) Ground limestone Defluorinated phosphate Iodized salt Micro-ingredient mix1
% 63.75 31.00 2.50 0.80 1.05 0.40 0.50
1
The studies reported herein were conducted to evaluate three bird-resistant and two non-resistant varieties of grain sorghum in terms of their effect upon feed intake, body weight gain, and feed/gain ratio. PROCEDURE Two successive three-week trials were conducted in finishing batteries with raised wire floors. Five-week old broiler type birds (Vantress X White Plymouth Rock) were utilized in both trials. Three male and three female groups, each containing six birds, were assigned to each of six dietary treatments. The treatments consisted of the substitution of five varieties of grain sorghum for one-half of the yellow corn in the basal diet (Table 1). All varieties used were grown in test plots near Gainesville, Florida, and three of these were determined to be birdresistant. The basal diet was calculated to contain 21.7 percent protein, 3,000 kilocalories of productive energy per kilogram of diet, 0.80 percent calcium and 0.60 percent phosphorus. All grain samples were analyzed for total protein content and the results are shown in Table 2. The birds were group weighed at the end of the trial and feed consumption determined. From these
Treatment Yellow corn basal Bird-go> (11.26% 2 ) Ga-615 1 (12.52%) AKS-6141 (12.47%) Paymaster R-109 (9.75%) Raider B (11.76%) 1 2
conned/Body weight bird-day gain (gms.) 73.3 77.2 76.0 77.4
a b ab b
73.3 a 73.6 a
Feed/ gain
659 652 646 652
2.32 2.45 2.44 2.38
ab c c be
640 659
2.38 be 2.30 a
Bird-resistant varieties. Values in parenthes:s indicate analyzed protein content.
measurements, body weight gain, feed per unit of gain and feed consumed per birdday were calculated. Statistical evaluation of the data by analysis of variance (Snedecor, 1956) revealed no significant treatment X trial interaction; therefore, the data have been combined. Significant differences between treatment means were determined by Duncan's multiple range test (19SS). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The combined results of the two feeding trials are shown in Table 2. The substitution of various varieties of grain sorghum for one-half of the yellow corn in a cornsoybean meal basal diet did not significantly depress feed consumption. In fact, two groups of birds receiving bird-resistant varieties consumed significantly more feed per bird-day than either the control group or the non-resistant varieties. Body weight gains were not significantly affected by any of the treatments. The increased feed consumption noted for the groups receiving bird-resistant varieties is also reflected in the feed required per unit of gain, which was significantly higher for two of the bird-resistant varieties. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS The results of this experiment indicate that the feeding of certain varieties of
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at New York University on May 14, 2015
Supplied per kilogram of diet: 6,600 I.U. vitamin A, 2,200 I.C.U. vitamin D 3 , 2.2 mg menadione, 449 mg. choline chloride, 40 mg. niacin, 4.4 mg. riboflavin, 13.2 mg. pantothenic acid, 22 meg. vitamin B12, 125 mg. ethoxyquin, 20 mg. iron, 2 mg. copper, 198 meg. cobalt, 1.1 mg. iodine, 99 meg. zinc, and 83.6 mg. manganese.
TABLE 2.—Feed consumption, gain, and feed/gain of broilers fed diets in "which one-half of the yellow com was replaced by various varieties of grain sorghum
16S0
RESEARCH NOTES
grain sorghum shown by field testing to be bird-resistant did not depress either feed intake or body weight gain. REFERENCES Chang, S. I., and H. L. Fuller, 1964. Effect of tannin content of grain sorghums on their feeding value for growing chicks. Poultry Sci. 4 3 : 30-35.
Duncan, D. B., 1955. Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics, 11: 1-42. Snedecor, G W., 1956. Statistical Methods, Sth edition, Iowa State College Press, Ames, Iowa. Stephenson, E. L., J. 0. York and D. B. Bragg. 1968. Comparative feeding values of brown and yellow grain sorghum. Feedstuffs, 40(21): 112 and 114. Vohra, P., F. H. Kratzer and M. A. Joslyn, 1966. The growth depressing and toxic effects of tannins to chicks. Poultry Sci. 45: 135-142.
the relations of the College of Agriculture with industry and the coordination of many areas in agriculture, off and on campus. MAINE NOTES Bruce R. Poulton, formerly Head of the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Maine, has been appointed Dean of the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, effective July 1. Dr. Poulton succeeds Dean W. C. Libby, who recently became Vice-President for Public Services. PURDUE NOTES Richard L. Kohls, Professor of Agricultural Economics and Assistant to the Vice-President for Academic Affairs at Purdue University, became Dean of Agriculture, August 1. Dr. Kohls succeeded Dean N. J. Volk, former Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, who returned from retirement last January. FLORIDA NOTES Dr. Robert H. Harms, Chairman, Department of Poultry Science, University of Florida, has been named "Professor of the Year" by the Florida Chapter of Alpha Zeta, national scholastic honorary fraternity. BACK ISSUES OF POULTRY SCIENCE The Editor, • H. D. Branion, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, has the following out-of-stock numbers of Poultry Science available free on request: Volume 19, No. 3, 4, 5 and 6; Volume 20, No. 5 and 6; Volume 25, No. 3 and 5; Volume 27, No. 4; Volume 30, No. 1 and 3 ; Volume 31, No. 3 ; Volume 32, No. 1; Volume 35, No. 3. He also has the following numbers of the Jour-
nal of the American Association of Instructors and Investigators in Poultry Husbandry: Volume 1, No. 2; Volume 3, No. 2; Volume 4, No. 5; and Volume 5, No. 4. He also has the following Abstract Booklets for the listed annual meetings: 21, 25, 38, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 and S3. C.D.A. NOTES Dr. John E. Lancaster, Coordinator, Poultry Diseases Program in the Health of Animals Branch, Canada Department of Agriculture, Ottawa, Ontario, has been awarded the Diploma of Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons of the United Kingdom in recognition of "his meritorious contributions to learning." The Award, one of the highest distinctions the Royal College can bestow on its members, was made in May. Dr. Lancaster's early scientific publications described his work on bovine mastitis. This was followed by a series of investigations into aspects of poultry disease control, especially studies on hatchery sanitation and Newcastle disease. He joined the Canada Department of Agriculture in 1960. He is a member of the Poultry Science Association, British Veterinary Research Club, Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Association of Avian Pathologists. KANSAS NOTES The nation's feed industry, which 15 years ago raised nearly half a million dollars in equipment and funds to establish Kansas State University's pilot feed mill and other feed technology facilities, now is raising funds for an extensive modernization of these facilities.
(continued on page 1735)
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at New York University on May 14, 2015
NEWS AND NOTES (continued from page 1643)
RESEARCH NOTES
sions of the progeny from the inoculated parental population were less than for the uninoculated ones (42.5 vs. 52.2%), these differences were of much smaller magnitude than mortality and not significant. Thus, in a selection program, birds selected for resistance to death, only, might show gross lesions which would condemn them on processing. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors would like to acknowledge
the technical assistance rendered by Mr. C. S. Lovern and Mr. C. E. Ferguson. REFERENCES Cole, R. K., 1968. Studies on genetic resistance to Marek's disease. Avian Dis. 12: 9-28. Eidson, C. S., and S. C. Schmittle, 1968. Studies on acute Marek's disease I. Characteristics of isolate GA in chickens. Avian Dis. 12: 467-476. Hess, C. W., 1962. Randombred populations of the Southern Regional Poultry Breeding Project. World's Poultry Sci. J. 18: 147-152.
B. L. DAMRON,2 G. M. PRINE 3 AND R. H. HARMS2 Florida Agricultural Experiment Stations, Gainesville, Florida 32601 (Received for publication September 9, 1968)
The use of grain sorghums in poultry diets has increased greatly during the past few years. Consumption of the grain in the field by wild birds is a major problem and has prompted the development of several bird-resistant varieties, the majority of these being brown seeded. The fact that bird resistance is attributed to the grain's tannin content has caused concern regarding the efficacy of its use in poultry diets. Chang and Fuller (1964) reported that growth depressions resulting from the feeding of high-tannin grain sorghums were similiar to those produced by equivalent levels of tannic acid. The feeding of grain sorghums high in tannin content resulted in significantly lower body weights, but feed consumption was not decreased. Therefore, it was believed that true tannin toxicity had been demonstrated. Supplementing diets containing grain sorghums of high 1 Florida Agr. Exp. Sta. Journal Series No. 3050. 3 Department of Poultry Science. 3 Department of Agronomy.
and low tannin content with twice the normal supplemental levels of choline and methionine resulted in this toxicity being overcome and both groups having almost equal body weights. However, these increased levels of choline and methionine only partially overcame the growth depression caused by equivalent levels of supplemental tannic acid. Vohra et al. (1966) used higher than normal levels of methionine, choline chloride, betaine hydrochloride, and ornithine in an attempt to offset the effects of tannic acid, but were unable to confirm the results of Chang and Fuller (1964). Vohra et al. (1966) suggested that the effects of tannic acid were not entirely due to depressed feed intake. The reduction of nitrogen retention was also believed to be involved. Extensive trials with both brown and yellow-seeded hybrid grain sorghums have been conducted by Stephenson et al. (1968). They found extreme variability in both brown and yellow-seeded varieties and felt that the effect might be due to differences in nutrient availability.
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at New York University on May 14, 2015
EVALUATION OF VARIOUS BIRD-RESISTANT AND NON-RESISTANT VARIETIES OF GRAIN SORGHUM FOR USE IN BROILER DIETS 1
1649
RESEARCH NOTES TABLE 1.—Composition of the basal diet Ingredients Yellow corn Soybean meal (50% protein) Alfalfa meal (20% protein) Ground limestone Defluorinated phosphate Iodized salt Micro-ingredient mix1
% 63.75 31.00 2.50 0.80 1.05 0.40 0.50
1
The studies reported herein were conducted to evaluate three bird-resistant and two non-resistant varieties of grain sorghum in terms of their effect upon feed intake, body weight gain, and feed/gain ratio. PROCEDURE Two successive three-week trials were conducted in finishing batteries with raised wire floors. Five-week old broiler type birds (Vantress X White Plymouth Rock) were utilized in both trials. Three male and three female groups, each containing six birds, were assigned to each of six dietary treatments. The treatments consisted of the substitution of five varieties of grain sorghum for one-half of the yellow corn in the basal diet (Table 1). All varieties used were grown in test plots near Gainesville, Florida, and three of these were determined to be birdresistant. The basal diet was calculated to contain 21.7 percent protein, 3,000 kilocalories of productive energy per kilogram of diet, 0.80 percent calcium and 0.60 percent phosphorus. All grain samples were analyzed for total protein content and the results are shown in Table 2. The birds were group weighed at the end of the trial and feed consumption determined. From these
Treatment Yellow corn basal Bird-go> (11.26% 2 ) Ga-615 1 (12.52%) AKS-6141 (12.47%) Paymaster R-109 (9.75%) Raider B (11.76%) 1 2
conned/Body weight bird-day gain (gms.) 73.3 77.2 76.0 77.4
a b ab b
73.3 a 73.6 a
Feed/ gain
659 652 646 652
2.32 2.45 2.44 2.38
ab c c be
640 659
2.38 be 2.30 a
Bird-resistant varieties. Values in parenthes:s indicate analyzed protein content.
measurements, body weight gain, feed per unit of gain and feed consumed per birdday were calculated. Statistical evaluation of the data by analysis of variance (Snedecor, 1956) revealed no significant treatment X trial interaction; therefore, the data have been combined. Significant differences between treatment means were determined by Duncan's multiple range test (19SS). RESULTS AND DISCUSSION The combined results of the two feeding trials are shown in Table 2. The substitution of various varieties of grain sorghum for one-half of the yellow corn in a cornsoybean meal basal diet did not significantly depress feed consumption. In fact, two groups of birds receiving bird-resistant varieties consumed significantly more feed per bird-day than either the control group or the non-resistant varieties. Body weight gains were not significantly affected by any of the treatments. The increased feed consumption noted for the groups receiving bird-resistant varieties is also reflected in the feed required per unit of gain, which was significantly higher for two of the bird-resistant varieties. SUMMARY AND CONCLUSIONS The results of this experiment indicate that the feeding of certain varieties of
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at New York University on May 14, 2015
Supplied per kilogram of diet: 6,600 I.U. vitamin A, 2,200 I.C.U. vitamin D 3 , 2.2 mg menadione, 449 mg. choline chloride, 40 mg. niacin, 4.4 mg. riboflavin, 13.2 mg. pantothenic acid, 22 meg. vitamin B12, 125 mg. ethoxyquin, 20 mg. iron, 2 mg. copper, 198 meg. cobalt, 1.1 mg. iodine, 99 meg. zinc, and 83.6 mg. manganese.
TABLE 2.—Feed consumption, gain, and feed/gain of broilers fed diets in "which one-half of the yellow com was replaced by various varieties of grain sorghum
16S0
RESEARCH NOTES
grain sorghum shown by field testing to be bird-resistant did not depress either feed intake or body weight gain. REFERENCES Chang, S. I., and H. L. Fuller, 1964. Effect of tannin content of grain sorghums on their feeding value for growing chicks. Poultry Sci. 4 3 : 30-35.
Duncan, D. B., 1955. Multiple range and multiple F tests. Biometrics, 11: 1-42. Snedecor, G W., 1956. Statistical Methods, Sth edition, Iowa State College Press, Ames, Iowa. Stephenson, E. L., J. 0. York and D. B. Bragg. 1968. Comparative feeding values of brown and yellow grain sorghum. Feedstuffs, 40(21): 112 and 114. Vohra, P., F. H. Kratzer and M. A. Joslyn, 1966. The growth depressing and toxic effects of tannins to chicks. Poultry Sci. 45: 135-142.
the relations of the College of Agriculture with industry and the coordination of many areas in agriculture, off and on campus. MAINE NOTES Bruce R. Poulton, formerly Head of the Department of Animal Sciences at the University of Maine, has been appointed Dean of the College of Life Sciences and Agriculture, effective July 1. Dr. Poulton succeeds Dean W. C. Libby, who recently became Vice-President for Public Services. PURDUE NOTES Richard L. Kohls, Professor of Agricultural Economics and Assistant to the Vice-President for Academic Affairs at Purdue University, became Dean of Agriculture, August 1. Dr. Kohls succeeded Dean N. J. Volk, former Director of the Agricultural Experiment Station, who returned from retirement last January. FLORIDA NOTES Dr. Robert H. Harms, Chairman, Department of Poultry Science, University of Florida, has been named "Professor of the Year" by the Florida Chapter of Alpha Zeta, national scholastic honorary fraternity. BACK ISSUES OF POULTRY SCIENCE The Editor, • H. D. Branion, University of Guelph, Guelph, Ontario, Canada, has the following out-of-stock numbers of Poultry Science available free on request: Volume 19, No. 3, 4, 5 and 6; Volume 20, No. 5 and 6; Volume 25, No. 3 and 5; Volume 27, No. 4; Volume 30, No. 1 and 3 ; Volume 31, No. 3 ; Volume 32, No. 1; Volume 35, No. 3. He also has the following numbers of the Jour-
nal of the American Association of Instructors and Investigators in Poultry Husbandry: Volume 1, No. 2; Volume 3, No. 2; Volume 4, No. 5; and Volume 5, No. 4. He also has the following Abstract Booklets for the listed annual meetings: 21, 25, 38, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52 and S3. C.D.A. NOTES Dr. John E. Lancaster, Coordinator, Poultry Diseases Program in the Health of Animals Branch, Canada Department of Agriculture, Ottawa, Ontario, has been awarded the Diploma of Fellowship of the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons of the United Kingdom in recognition of "his meritorious contributions to learning." The Award, one of the highest distinctions the Royal College can bestow on its members, was made in May. Dr. Lancaster's early scientific publications described his work on bovine mastitis. This was followed by a series of investigations into aspects of poultry disease control, especially studies on hatchery sanitation and Newcastle disease. He joined the Canada Department of Agriculture in 1960. He is a member of the Poultry Science Association, British Veterinary Research Club, Canadian Veterinary Medical Association, and the American Association of Avian Pathologists. KANSAS NOTES The nation's feed industry, which 15 years ago raised nearly half a million dollars in equipment and funds to establish Kansas State University's pilot feed mill and other feed technology facilities, now is raising funds for an extensive modernization of these facilities.
(continued on page 1735)
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at New York University on May 14, 2015
NEWS AND NOTES (continued from page 1643)