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Food Metabolizability in Normal and Bluecomb Diseased Turkeys1,2
HOMOGRAFT TOLERANCE SELECTION Gleason, R. E., R. C. Fanguy and J. H. Quisenberry, 1963. Genetic and physiological factors affecting skin graft survival in chickens. Poultry Sci. 42: 1272. Hasek, M., F. Knizetova and H. Mervartova, 1966. Syngenetic lines of chickens. I. Inbreeding and selection by means of skin grafts and tests for erythrocyte antigens in C line chickens. Folia Biol. 12: 335-341. Kozelka, A. W., 1932. Integumental grafting as a means of analyzing the factors determining the secondary sexual characters of the Leghorn fowl. J. Exp. Zool. 61: 431-395.
1037
Lapp, W. S., 1964. Embryonic transplants in class Aves. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Toronto. Solomon, J. B., 1962. A sex difference in the splenomegaly syndrome in chick embryos injected with adult spleen cells or blood. Exp. Cell Res. 28: 151-157. Steel, R. G. D., and J. H. Torrie, 1960. Principles and Procedures of Statistics. McGraw-Hill Book Company Inc., New York, pp. 371-372. Zotikov, E. T., V. M. Bundik and A. Puzza, 1960. Some peculiarities of the survival time of skin homografts. Ann. New York Acad. Sci. 87: 166-174.
G. E. DUKE, H. E. DZIUK, O. A. EVANSON AND D. E. NELSON Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Minnesota St. Paid, Minnesota, 55101 (Received for publication February 5, 1970)
the lesions which have been obO Fserved in bluecomb diseased turkeys, most were located in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (Jungherr and Pomeroy, 1965; Adams, 1969). Important alterations in GI function have also been shown to exist. These include a significant decrease in GI propulsive motility (Duke et al., 1969; Dziuk et al., 1969a) and a reduction in the net intestinal absorption of glucose, ions, and water (Duke et al., 1970a). Food placed directly in the crop and upper GI tract by force-feeding was not digested or utilized normally by bluecomb diseased turkeys (Dziuk et al., 1969a). The purpose of the present study was to 1 Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station No. 7172. 2 This study was made possible with support under a grant (0302-4826-44) from the State of Minnesota General Agricultural Research Funds, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, and a grant (428-03590 59409-02) from the University of Minnesota Graduate School.
quantitate the extent of this poor feed conversion and to determine when the decrease in utilization begins during a bluecomb infection. This study was a part of an effort to elucidate GI functional changes resulting from bluecomb and to determine when these changes commence during the course of the disease. METHODS Wrolstad Medium—White turkeys (Moorhouse Hatcheries, Clear Lake, Minnesota), 49 to S3 days old at the start of the trials, were used. They were kept in individual cages in a controlled environment room. The temperature in this room was maintained at 25-27°C., the relative humidity was kept at 40-50%, and a 14-hour photoperiod was maintained automatically. They were acclimated to these conditions for 7-9 days before they were used for experiments. Body weights of the turkeys were determined daily both before and during trials, and mean body weights at the
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on May 29, 2015
Food Metabolizabihty in Normal and Bluecomb Diseased Turkeys1'2
1038
G. E. DUKE, H. E. DZIUK, O. A. EVANSON AND D. E. NELSON
metabolizability = 1
were mixed by weight in a ratio of 2.5 to 1, respectively. This mixture was orally administered to each turkey using a 50 cc. syringe fitted with 14 cm. of polyethylene tubing (I.D. = 5.28 mm., O.D. = 6.86 mm.). An effort was made to give the forcefed group the same daily D.M. intake as the ad libitum group (i.e., about 70 gm./Kg./ turkey each day). The volume given to a bird daily at each feeding was 20 to 30 cc, depending on the weight of the turkey. Each force-fed turkey was fed hourly from 0800 through 1100 a.m. and 1300 through 2000 p.m. resulting in a total of 12 feedings per day. At times during the bluecomb infection period, the crops would not empty normally and force-feedings were given only when further feeding would not severely distend the crop. Bluecomb was induced by the oral inoculation of infectious bluecomb material. Preparation of this material was previously described (Dziuk et al., 1969b). Force-feeding was begun 6 days ( — 6 to — 1) before the inoculation of infectious material. This allowed for 3 days of acclima-
dry wt. of excreta/bird/day D.M. intake/bird/day
The turkeys were randomly allocated to 4 groups, force-fed blue-comb diseased (FFB), ad libitum-fed bluecomb diseased (ALB), force-fed control (FFC), and ad libitum-ied control (ALC). Control and diseased turkeys were kept in separate rooms with separate ventilating systems and separate attendants. At the start of the first trial there were 12 FFB, 12 ALB, 10 FFC and 5 ALC turkeys. In the second trial there were 12 turkeys in each group. The procedures used for force feeding have been previously described (Dziuk et al., 1969a) but will be described briefly below. The ration was ground to a particle size of about 500/t. Water and ground feed
tion and 3 days as a preinfection control period. Data obtained during the first 3 days were excluded from calculations. On the day of infection (day 0) and for 14 days ( + 1 to +14) thereafter force-feeding of 2 groups of turkeys and feces collection from all 4 groups of turkeys was continued. At day +14, the turkeys had either started recovering from the infection or had died and force-feeding was terminated. All turkeys were then switched to ad libitum feeding and collection of excreta was continued for 3 more days. RESULTS Throughout both trials the daily gain in body weight was fairly constant in control
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start of trials varied from 0.861 to 1.007 Kg. Food and water were available ad libitum before trials but some turkeys were force-fed during the trials. The ration was formula number 22 (Mash), Land-O-Lakes Creameries, Inc. of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It had no medication added and contained approximately 22 percent non-animal crude protein, two percent crude fat, and six percent crude fiber. Total dry matter (D.M.) intake was determined for each turkey every day. Since anorexia occurs in many turkeys during bluecomb, forcefeeding was necessary if food utilization was to be studied. Between 0900 and 1000 A.M. each day, all excreta of the previous day were collected from each turkey from a tray under its cage. The excreta were weighed and dried so that the total dry weight of the daily excreta from each turkey could be determined. Information on the total dry excreta weight and D.M. intake was used to calculate daily metabolizability for each turkey using the following formula:
1039
FOOD METABOLIZABILITY TABLE 1.—Average change in body weight {gm./Kg./day) for ad ]ibit\im-fed and force-fed control {ALC and FFC) and ad libitum-/e
Condition of Turkey, Trial 1 ua.y(%) - 3 to - 1 0*
+1 +2
ALC(5)** FFC(10) ALB (12) FFB(12) 33.7 40.7 27.5 33.2 32.2 32.4 31.3 27.0 22.6
34.4 26.0 29.5 51.0 21.2 36.0 26.4 29.6 26.5
34.9 22.4 17.0 29.2 39.3 31.4 29.9 29.4 18.7
33.5 17.3 -24.1 -54.7 -41.3 -18.1 23.4 31.8 43.2
30.1 15.2 50.3 -9.5 -1.6 -11.2 0.6 12.8 19.8
24.8 42.6 24.1 33.1 31.6 23.8 42.2 30.6 3.1
32.1 34.6 -47.5 -71.4 -59.5 -48.8 16.1 30.5 40.3
480.7
-14.2
192.6
539.3
491.9
192.3
135.0
28.3
-0.8
11.3
30.0
27.3
10.7
7.5
* day 0 = day turkeys were inoculated with infectious bluecomb material. ** numbers in parentheses represent the number of turkeys in each group at the start of the trial. $ h l l to + 1 3 for Trial 1. 4$ hl4 to + 1 6 for Trial 1; for the last 3 days all turkeys ate ad I lW—days 0 to + 1 6 for Trial 1.
turkeys, viz. about 30 gm./Kg./day (Table 1). In bluecomb diseased turkeys, however, smaller daily weight gains, or weight losses, occurred during the infection period. The group of ALB turkeys had significant weight losses beginning on day + 1 and persisting through day + 6 in both trials. The FFB turkeys lost weight during days + 3 through + 6 in Trial 1 and during days + 2 through + 6 in Trial 2. Weight gains were less than normal for both ALB and FFB turkeys on days + 7 to + 1 0 in both trials (Table 1). In both trials, both FFC and FFB turkeys had smaller than normal weight gains during the last 3 days of the trial. During these days, force-feeding was terminated and the turkeys appeared to have difficulty adjusting to the ad libitum situation. As with gains in body weight, D.M. intake was rather constant in the control turkeys throughout both trials (Table 2). D.M. intake was significantly reduced during days + 1 to +10 in ALB turkeys in both trials. In FFB turkeys, intake was reduced less than in ALB turkeys, with sig-
nificant reduction occurring only on day + 3 in Trial 1 and on days + 2 and + 3 in Trial 2. D.M. intake was decreased during the last 3 days of each trial (all turkeys were feeding ad libitum) in all turkeys which had previously been force-fed except the FFB group in Trial 2 (Table 2). Feed conversion estimates (gm. eaten/ gm. body weight gained) varied from 2.39 to 2.52 for control turkeys. These values were 2 to 3 times higher in the diseased turkeys (Table 3). Indications were obtained, therefore, from these values that GI tract dysfunction in bluecomb diseased turkeys was highly significant and that, although force-feeding increased D.M. intake during the infection period, it did not improve feed conversion. In the case of the ALB turkeys in Trial 1, a conversion value could not be computed since this group had a net weight loss during the experiment. The percentage of the diet that was metabolizable by control turkeys was relatively constant during both trials. Significantly subnormal metabolizability persisted from day + 1 to about day + 1 0 in ALB
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+3 + 4 to + 6 + 7 to + 1 0 + 11 t o + 1 4 ^ + 15 to 17W Total ave. gm./Kg.iWV' gained, days 0 to + 1 7 504.8 Average gm./Kg./day \)4i> gained, days 0 to 29.7 + 17
ALC(12) FFC(12) ALB (12) FFB(12)
26.6 52.3 41.2 22.6 -34.4 -23.2 11.5 22.1 22.7
1040
G. E. DUKE, H. E. DZIUK, 0. A. EVANSON AND D. E. NELSON TABLE 2.—Average dry mutter intake {gm./Kg./day) for ad libitum-/ei and force-fed control {ALC and FFC) and ad libitum-/«/ and force-fed bluecomb diseased {ALB and FFB) turkeys Condition of Turkey, Trial 1
Condition of Turkey, Trial 2
ALC(5)** FFC(10) ALB(12) FFB(12)
ALC(12) FFC(12) ALB (12) FFB(12)
Day(s) - 3 to - 1 0*
+1 +2 +3 +4 to + 6
69.8 69.2 66.2 66.1 64.0 65.7 79.9 85.3 38.4
80.2 70.9 14.6 0.3 1.9 7.7 43.8 76.3 81.4
77.8 73.2 68.9 66.8 35.7 60.1 73.3 84.3 56.2
80.4 77.4 83.5 74.6 72.2 73.7 71.6 68.8 67.0
72.5 70.1 74.2 72.3 71.2 71.4 71.5 74.4 52.1
77.7 69.0 23.2 5.1 7.5 27.0 57.0 83.4 92.9
72.6 67.8 71.4 45.1 42.6 59.8 65.5 65.1 62.6
1246.5
1153.2
759.2
1139.5
1291.2
1241.8
1026.1
1116.6
73.3
67.8
44.7
67.0
71.7
69.0
57.0
62.0
* day 0 = day turkeys were inoculated with infectious bluecomb material. ** numbers in parentheses represent the number of turkeys in each group at the start of the trial. •A 1-11 to + 1 3 for Trial 1. 4$ 1-14 to + 1 6 for Trial 1; for the last 3 days all turkeys ate ad libitum. ^W—days 0 to + 1 6 for Trial 1.
turkeys (Table 4). They had negative metabolizabilities on days + 2 and + 3 because the weight of their excreta exceeded the weight of their D.M. intake. Apparently, the decrease in their D.M. intake was greater than the consequent decrease in excreta output for these 2 days. Food metabolizability was decreased from day + 3 through day +10 in FFB turkeys in Trial 1 and from day + 2 through day +10 in this group in Trial 2. Negative metabolizabilities were not recorded for FFB turkeys (Table 4).
metabolizability was also about 50% and 80% (Table 4) of normal for these days. Conversely, metabolizability was significantly below normal (36.5% to 45.4%; Table 4) on days + 4 to +10 in the FFB turkeys used in both trials while their D.M. intake was within normal limits. Therefore, bluecomb diseased turkeys appeared to have decreased food metabolizability which did not result simply from a decreased D.M. intake. Their food metabolizability was decreased even when D.M.
DISCUSSION
TABLE 3.—Feed conversion (gm. eaten/gm. body wt. gained) for days 0 to +17 in ad libitum-/#/ and forcefed control {ALC and FFC) and ad libitumfed and force-fed bluecomb diseased {ALB and FFB) turkeys
When control turkeys were switched from force-feeding to ad libitum-feeding (days +15 to +17), their D. M. intake decreased by about 40% in Trial 1 and 25% in Trial 2 (Table 2). Their food metabolizability, however, stayed at acceptably normal levels (55.9% and 59.4%; Table 4). On day + 3 in Trial 1 and on days + 2 and + 3 in Trial 2, D.M. intake of FFB turkeys was about 50% and 80% of normal, respectively (Table 2). Their
Condition of turkey
Trial 1
Trial 2
ALC FFC ALB FFB
2.45 2.40 * 5.92
2.39 2.52 5.34 8.27
* ALB turkeys ate an average of 44.7 gm./Kg./ day; yet, they still lost an average of 0.8 gm./Kg./ day for days 0 to + 1 7 . Therefore, they had a ne'. negative feed conversion.
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+ 7 to 10 + 11 t o + 1 4 / , + 15 to + 1 7 ^ Total ave. gm./Kg. eaten, days 0 to + 17W* Ave. gm./Kg./day eaten, days 0 to + 17W
80.0 74.6 95.9 68.1 76.6 76.7 74.7 69.6 64.4
1041
FOOD METABOLIZABILITY TABLE 4.—Average food metabolizability (%) for ad libitum-/«2 and force-fed control {ALC and, FFC) and ad libitum-/ed and force-fed bluecomb diseased {ALB and FFB) turkeys Condition of Turkey, Trial 1
Condition of Turkey, Trial 2
Day(s) AL C(5)** FFC(10) ALB(12) FFB(12) -3 to-1 0*
+1 +2 +3
+ 4 to + 6 + 7 to + 1 0 + 11 to + 1 4 ^ + 15 to +17iWAve. metabolizability days, 0 to + 1 7
ALC(12) FFC(12) ALB(12) FFB(12)
60.3 68.7 66.6 59.0 57.6 61.4 63.4 58.2 59.3
62.7 61.3 52.4 64.8 64.2 68.9 57.2 58.6 55.9
62.8 64.9 24.0 -19.4^ -27.4 16.4 44.9 57.4 61.0
62.3 66.7 62.5 66.3 25.9 35.7 45.4 57.3 58.2
61.2 61.7 66.1 61.6 63.1 61.9 62.2 61.2 63.6
60.8 58.9 58.3 65.6 58.1 59.2 60.4 56.4 59.4
60.4 61.7 20.4 -9.2 -2.8 36.0 49.5 60.6 64.2
58.9 61.7 62.3 47.7 39.3 36.5 42.8 51.5 66.2
61.2
60.1
36.8
50.6
62.2
59.1
45.1
49.8
intake was normal. This decreased metabolizability was apparently due to a decline in the functional capability of the GI tract during bluecomb. Metabolizability determinations for 1day periods are probably subject to greater variation than determinations made over longer periods. However, the decreases in daily food metabolizability noted in diseased turkeys in this study were greater than any decreases occurring in control turkeys due to normal experimental variation. As reported previously (Dziuk et al., 1969b; Duke et al, 1970b) and as found in the present studies, D.M. intake declined on day + 1 in ALB turkeys. Consequently, daily gains in body weight declined on the same day. In contrast, FFB turkeys had a decline in D.M. intake and daily gain in body weight which began on day + 2 or + 3 in the present study. Propulsive motility in ALB turkeys was previously found to be normal early on day + 1 and was reduced early on day + 2 (Duke et al., 1970b). This propulsive motility was determined by noting the time required for food materials associated with Sl-Cr to
pass through the GI tract and appear in the excreta. Metabolizability of feed, in the present study, was reduced beginning on day + 2 or + 3 in FFB turkeys. However, metabolizability appeared to be reduced on day + 1 in ALB turkeys. This discrepancy in time of onset of reduced metabolizability can be explained in the following statements. On day + 1 in the ALB group, D.M. intake was decreased while D.M. output was normal (due to normal GI motility). An apparent decrease in the calculated daily metabolizability coefficient resulted (Table 4). However, the actual daily metabolizability probably did not decrease until day + 2 or + 3 , as occurred in the FFB group (Table 4) in which a normal D.M. intake was maintained for an additional 1 or 2 days (Table 2). Interpretations were that the onset of GI dysfunction responsible for decreased metabolizability of feed appeared to follow the onset of anorexia caused by bluecomb. Since propulsive motility was reduced on day + 2 (see above) and since turkeys that have died as a result of bluecomb have an
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* day 0 = day turkeys were inoculated with infectious bluecomb material. ** numbers in parentheses represent the number of turkeys in each group at the start of the trial. ^ h l l t o + 1 3 for Trial 1. i/V"—negative metabolizability indicates that, for a given time period, excreta weight exceeded the weight of the D.M. intake. ipM 1-14 to + 1 6 for Trial 1; for the last 3 days, all turkeys ate ad libitum.
1042
G. E. DUKE, H. E. DZIUK, O. A. EVANSON AND D. E. NELSON
SUMMARY
Four groups of turkeys, ad libitum-ied and force-fed controls and ad libitum-ied and force-fed bluecomb diseased, were used in 2 metabolizability trials. Total daily D.M. intake and dry excreta weight, and daily changes in body weight were determined for 3 days (— 3 to — 1) before, and 18 days (0 to +17) after oral inoculation of infectious bluecomb material into the tur-
keys. Following this inoculation, daily D.M. intake, body weight, and food metabolizability were significantly decreased on day + 1 in ad libitum-ied. bluecomb diseased turkeys and on day + 2 or + 3 in force-fed bluecomb diseased turkeys. Similar decreases did not occur in control turkeys. The decrease in food metabolizability was not simply the result of a decrease in D.M. intake. There were some indications that anorexia had occurred before the reduction in GI function had caused the decreased food metabolizability. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The very able help of Miss Lorna Brown, Miss Dianne Overbee, Miss Patricia Schultz, Miss Lorraine Tompkins, Mr. Elliot Nudell and Mr. Larry Tischer was greatly appreciated. We are also grateful for the infectious bluecomb material provided by Dr. Calvert T. Larsen and Mrs. Connie Bissonette of the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Public Health. REFERENCES Adams, N., 1969. Personal communication. Duke, G. E., H. E. Dziuk and L. Hawkins, 1969a. Gastrointestinal transit-times in normal and bluecomb diseased turkeys. Poultry Sci. 48: 835-842. Duke, G. E., H. E. Dziuk and O. A. Evanson, 1969b. Fluxes of ions, glucose, and water in isolated jejunal segments in normal and bluecomb diseased turkeys. Poultry Sci. 48: 2114-2123. Duke, G. E., H. E. Dziuk, O. A. Evanson and E. B. Nudell, 1970. Onset of reduced GI motility in bluecomb diseased turkeys. Poultry Sci. 49: 703-707. Dziuk, H. E., G. E. Duke, O. A. Evanson, D. E. Nelson and P. N. Schultz, 1969a. Force-feeding turkeys during bluecomb disease. Poultry Sci. 48: 843-846. Dziuk, H. E., O. A. Evanson and C. T. Larsen, 1969b. Physiologic Effects of Fasting and Bluecomb in Turkeys. Am. J. Vet. Res. 30: 10451056. Jugherr, E., and B. S. Pomeroy. 1965. Diseases of Poultry, edited by Biester, H. E. and L. H. Schwarte. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa, pp. 857-862.
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empty GI tract, there are data which support the hypothesis that anorexia precedes depression of motility as well. The average daily food metabolizability, D.M. intake, and body weight change for days 0 to +17 were similar for ALB and FFB turkeys in Trial 2. D.M. intake was maintained at nearly normal levels by forcefeeding, but feed conversion was impaired more in FFB turkeys than in ALB. This resulted in a lower total body weight gain. In Trial 1, FFB turkeys gained more weight, had a higher D.M. intake, and had a higher average food metabolizability than ALB turkeys for days 0 to +17. So, while the data of Trial 2 indicate that force-feeding did not benefit the bluecomb diseased turkeys, the data of Trial 1 suggest that it was helpful. In both trials, however, ALB turkeys gained weight more rapidly than FFB turkeys from day + 7 to day +17. From day + 11 to day +17 the ALB turkeys appear to be eating as much or more than the FFB birds. Also, from day +15 to day +17, previously FFB turkeys had difficulty adjusting to ad libitum feeding and had poor D.M. intake and body weight gains. Thus, these experiments indicate, as did those of Dziuk et al. (1969a), that force-feeding probably was not of significant benefit to bluecomb diseased turkeys over longer periods of time. Force-feeding for extended periods of time did not, however, appear to be detrimental to either control or bluecomb diseased turkeys.
1037
Lapp, W. S., 1964. Embryonic transplants in class Aves. M.Sc. Thesis, University of Toronto. Solomon, J. B., 1962. A sex difference in the splenomegaly syndrome in chick embryos injected with adult spleen cells or blood. Exp. Cell Res. 28: 151-157. Steel, R. G. D., and J. H. Torrie, 1960. Principles and Procedures of Statistics. McGraw-Hill Book Company Inc., New York, pp. 371-372. Zotikov, E. T., V. M. Bundik and A. Puzza, 1960. Some peculiarities of the survival time of skin homografts. Ann. New York Acad. Sci. 87: 166-174.
G. E. DUKE, H. E. DZIUK, O. A. EVANSON AND D. E. NELSON Department of Veterinary Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Minnesota St. Paid, Minnesota, 55101 (Received for publication February 5, 1970)
the lesions which have been obO Fserved in bluecomb diseased turkeys, most were located in the gastrointestinal (GI) tract (Jungherr and Pomeroy, 1965; Adams, 1969). Important alterations in GI function have also been shown to exist. These include a significant decrease in GI propulsive motility (Duke et al., 1969; Dziuk et al., 1969a) and a reduction in the net intestinal absorption of glucose, ions, and water (Duke et al., 1970a). Food placed directly in the crop and upper GI tract by force-feeding was not digested or utilized normally by bluecomb diseased turkeys (Dziuk et al., 1969a). The purpose of the present study was to 1 Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station No. 7172. 2 This study was made possible with support under a grant (0302-4826-44) from the State of Minnesota General Agricultural Research Funds, Minnesota Agricultural Experiment Station, and a grant (428-03590 59409-02) from the University of Minnesota Graduate School.
quantitate the extent of this poor feed conversion and to determine when the decrease in utilization begins during a bluecomb infection. This study was a part of an effort to elucidate GI functional changes resulting from bluecomb and to determine when these changes commence during the course of the disease. METHODS Wrolstad Medium—White turkeys (Moorhouse Hatcheries, Clear Lake, Minnesota), 49 to S3 days old at the start of the trials, were used. They were kept in individual cages in a controlled environment room. The temperature in this room was maintained at 25-27°C., the relative humidity was kept at 40-50%, and a 14-hour photoperiod was maintained automatically. They were acclimated to these conditions for 7-9 days before they were used for experiments. Body weights of the turkeys were determined daily both before and during trials, and mean body weights at the
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on May 29, 2015
Food Metabolizabihty in Normal and Bluecomb Diseased Turkeys1'2
1038
G. E. DUKE, H. E. DZIUK, O. A. EVANSON AND D. E. NELSON
metabolizability = 1
were mixed by weight in a ratio of 2.5 to 1, respectively. This mixture was orally administered to each turkey using a 50 cc. syringe fitted with 14 cm. of polyethylene tubing (I.D. = 5.28 mm., O.D. = 6.86 mm.). An effort was made to give the forcefed group the same daily D.M. intake as the ad libitum group (i.e., about 70 gm./Kg./ turkey each day). The volume given to a bird daily at each feeding was 20 to 30 cc, depending on the weight of the turkey. Each force-fed turkey was fed hourly from 0800 through 1100 a.m. and 1300 through 2000 p.m. resulting in a total of 12 feedings per day. At times during the bluecomb infection period, the crops would not empty normally and force-feedings were given only when further feeding would not severely distend the crop. Bluecomb was induced by the oral inoculation of infectious bluecomb material. Preparation of this material was previously described (Dziuk et al., 1969b). Force-feeding was begun 6 days ( — 6 to — 1) before the inoculation of infectious material. This allowed for 3 days of acclima-
dry wt. of excreta/bird/day D.M. intake/bird/day
The turkeys were randomly allocated to 4 groups, force-fed blue-comb diseased (FFB), ad libitum-fed bluecomb diseased (ALB), force-fed control (FFC), and ad libitum-ied control (ALC). Control and diseased turkeys were kept in separate rooms with separate ventilating systems and separate attendants. At the start of the first trial there were 12 FFB, 12 ALB, 10 FFC and 5 ALC turkeys. In the second trial there were 12 turkeys in each group. The procedures used for force feeding have been previously described (Dziuk et al., 1969a) but will be described briefly below. The ration was ground to a particle size of about 500/t. Water and ground feed
tion and 3 days as a preinfection control period. Data obtained during the first 3 days were excluded from calculations. On the day of infection (day 0) and for 14 days ( + 1 to +14) thereafter force-feeding of 2 groups of turkeys and feces collection from all 4 groups of turkeys was continued. At day +14, the turkeys had either started recovering from the infection or had died and force-feeding was terminated. All turkeys were then switched to ad libitum feeding and collection of excreta was continued for 3 more days. RESULTS Throughout both trials the daily gain in body weight was fairly constant in control
Downloaded from http://ps.oxfordjournals.org/ at NERL on May 29, 2015
start of trials varied from 0.861 to 1.007 Kg. Food and water were available ad libitum before trials but some turkeys were force-fed during the trials. The ration was formula number 22 (Mash), Land-O-Lakes Creameries, Inc. of Minneapolis, Minnesota. It had no medication added and contained approximately 22 percent non-animal crude protein, two percent crude fat, and six percent crude fiber. Total dry matter (D.M.) intake was determined for each turkey every day. Since anorexia occurs in many turkeys during bluecomb, forcefeeding was necessary if food utilization was to be studied. Between 0900 and 1000 A.M. each day, all excreta of the previous day were collected from each turkey from a tray under its cage. The excreta were weighed and dried so that the total dry weight of the daily excreta from each turkey could be determined. Information on the total dry excreta weight and D.M. intake was used to calculate daily metabolizability for each turkey using the following formula:
1039
FOOD METABOLIZABILITY TABLE 1.—Average change in body weight {gm./Kg./day) for ad ]ibit\im-fed and force-fed control {ALC and FFC) and ad libitum-/e
Condition of Turkey, Trial 1 ua.y(%) - 3 to - 1 0*
+1 +2
ALC(5)** FFC(10) ALB (12) FFB(12) 33.7 40.7 27.5 33.2 32.2 32.4 31.3 27.0 22.6
34.4 26.0 29.5 51.0 21.2 36.0 26.4 29.6 26.5
34.9 22.4 17.0 29.2 39.3 31.4 29.9 29.4 18.7
33.5 17.3 -24.1 -54.7 -41.3 -18.1 23.4 31.8 43.2
30.1 15.2 50.3 -9.5 -1.6 -11.2 0.6 12.8 19.8
24.8 42.6 24.1 33.1 31.6 23.8 42.2 30.6 3.1
32.1 34.6 -47.5 -71.4 -59.5 -48.8 16.1 30.5 40.3
480.7
-14.2
192.6
539.3
491.9
192.3
135.0
28.3
-0.8
11.3
30.0
27.3
10.7
7.5
* day 0 = day turkeys were inoculated with infectious bluecomb material. ** numbers in parentheses represent the number of turkeys in each group at the start of the trial. $ h l l to + 1 3 for Trial 1. 4$ hl4 to + 1 6 for Trial 1; for the last 3 days all turkeys ate ad I lW—days 0 to + 1 6 for Trial 1.
turkeys, viz. about 30 gm./Kg./day (Table 1). In bluecomb diseased turkeys, however, smaller daily weight gains, or weight losses, occurred during the infection period. The group of ALB turkeys had significant weight losses beginning on day + 1 and persisting through day + 6 in both trials. The FFB turkeys lost weight during days + 3 through + 6 in Trial 1 and during days + 2 through + 6 in Trial 2. Weight gains were less than normal for both ALB and FFB turkeys on days + 7 to + 1 0 in both trials (Table 1). In both trials, both FFC and FFB turkeys had smaller than normal weight gains during the last 3 days of the trial. During these days, force-feeding was terminated and the turkeys appeared to have difficulty adjusting to the ad libitum situation. As with gains in body weight, D.M. intake was rather constant in the control turkeys throughout both trials (Table 2). D.M. intake was significantly reduced during days + 1 to +10 in ALB turkeys in both trials. In FFB turkeys, intake was reduced less than in ALB turkeys, with sig-
nificant reduction occurring only on day + 3 in Trial 1 and on days + 2 and + 3 in Trial 2. D.M. intake was decreased during the last 3 days of each trial (all turkeys were feeding ad libitum) in all turkeys which had previously been force-fed except the FFB group in Trial 2 (Table 2). Feed conversion estimates (gm. eaten/ gm. body weight gained) varied from 2.39 to 2.52 for control turkeys. These values were 2 to 3 times higher in the diseased turkeys (Table 3). Indications were obtained, therefore, from these values that GI tract dysfunction in bluecomb diseased turkeys was highly significant and that, although force-feeding increased D.M. intake during the infection period, it did not improve feed conversion. In the case of the ALB turkeys in Trial 1, a conversion value could not be computed since this group had a net weight loss during the experiment. The percentage of the diet that was metabolizable by control turkeys was relatively constant during both trials. Significantly subnormal metabolizability persisted from day + 1 to about day + 1 0 in ALB
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+3 + 4 to + 6 + 7 to + 1 0 + 11 t o + 1 4 ^ + 15 to 17W Total ave. gm./Kg.iWV' gained, days 0 to + 1 7 504.8 Average gm./Kg./day \)4i> gained, days 0 to 29.7 + 17
ALC(12) FFC(12) ALB (12) FFB(12)
26.6 52.3 41.2 22.6 -34.4 -23.2 11.5 22.1 22.7
1040
G. E. DUKE, H. E. DZIUK, 0. A. EVANSON AND D. E. NELSON TABLE 2.—Average dry mutter intake {gm./Kg./day) for ad libitum-/ei and force-fed control {ALC and FFC) and ad libitum-/«/ and force-fed bluecomb diseased {ALB and FFB) turkeys Condition of Turkey, Trial 1
Condition of Turkey, Trial 2
ALC(5)** FFC(10) ALB(12) FFB(12)
ALC(12) FFC(12) ALB (12) FFB(12)
Day(s) - 3 to - 1 0*
+1 +2 +3 +4 to + 6
69.8 69.2 66.2 66.1 64.0 65.7 79.9 85.3 38.4
80.2 70.9 14.6 0.3 1.9 7.7 43.8 76.3 81.4
77.8 73.2 68.9 66.8 35.7 60.1 73.3 84.3 56.2
80.4 77.4 83.5 74.6 72.2 73.7 71.6 68.8 67.0
72.5 70.1 74.2 72.3 71.2 71.4 71.5 74.4 52.1
77.7 69.0 23.2 5.1 7.5 27.0 57.0 83.4 92.9
72.6 67.8 71.4 45.1 42.6 59.8 65.5 65.1 62.6
1246.5
1153.2
759.2
1139.5
1291.2
1241.8
1026.1
1116.6
73.3
67.8
44.7
67.0
71.7
69.0
57.0
62.0
* day 0 = day turkeys were inoculated with infectious bluecomb material. ** numbers in parentheses represent the number of turkeys in each group at the start of the trial. •A 1-11 to + 1 3 for Trial 1. 4$ 1-14 to + 1 6 for Trial 1; for the last 3 days all turkeys ate ad libitum. ^W—days 0 to + 1 6 for Trial 1.
turkeys (Table 4). They had negative metabolizabilities on days + 2 and + 3 because the weight of their excreta exceeded the weight of their D.M. intake. Apparently, the decrease in their D.M. intake was greater than the consequent decrease in excreta output for these 2 days. Food metabolizability was decreased from day + 3 through day +10 in FFB turkeys in Trial 1 and from day + 2 through day +10 in this group in Trial 2. Negative metabolizabilities were not recorded for FFB turkeys (Table 4).
metabolizability was also about 50% and 80% (Table 4) of normal for these days. Conversely, metabolizability was significantly below normal (36.5% to 45.4%; Table 4) on days + 4 to +10 in the FFB turkeys used in both trials while their D.M. intake was within normal limits. Therefore, bluecomb diseased turkeys appeared to have decreased food metabolizability which did not result simply from a decreased D.M. intake. Their food metabolizability was decreased even when D.M.
DISCUSSION
TABLE 3.—Feed conversion (gm. eaten/gm. body wt. gained) for days 0 to +17 in ad libitum-/#/ and forcefed control {ALC and FFC) and ad libitumfed and force-fed bluecomb diseased {ALB and FFB) turkeys
When control turkeys were switched from force-feeding to ad libitum-feeding (days +15 to +17), their D. M. intake decreased by about 40% in Trial 1 and 25% in Trial 2 (Table 2). Their food metabolizability, however, stayed at acceptably normal levels (55.9% and 59.4%; Table 4). On day + 3 in Trial 1 and on days + 2 and + 3 in Trial 2, D.M. intake of FFB turkeys was about 50% and 80% of normal, respectively (Table 2). Their
Condition of turkey
Trial 1
Trial 2
ALC FFC ALB FFB
2.45 2.40 * 5.92
2.39 2.52 5.34 8.27
* ALB turkeys ate an average of 44.7 gm./Kg./ day; yet, they still lost an average of 0.8 gm./Kg./ day for days 0 to + 1 7 . Therefore, they had a ne'. negative feed conversion.
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+ 7 to 10 + 11 t o + 1 4 / , + 15 to + 1 7 ^ Total ave. gm./Kg. eaten, days 0 to + 17W* Ave. gm./Kg./day eaten, days 0 to + 17W
80.0 74.6 95.9 68.1 76.6 76.7 74.7 69.6 64.4
1041
FOOD METABOLIZABILITY TABLE 4.—Average food metabolizability (%) for ad libitum-/«2 and force-fed control {ALC and, FFC) and ad libitum-/ed and force-fed bluecomb diseased {ALB and FFB) turkeys Condition of Turkey, Trial 1
Condition of Turkey, Trial 2
Day(s) AL C(5)** FFC(10) ALB(12) FFB(12) -3 to-1 0*
+1 +2 +3
+ 4 to + 6 + 7 to + 1 0 + 11 to + 1 4 ^ + 15 to +17iWAve. metabolizability days, 0 to + 1 7
ALC(12) FFC(12) ALB(12) FFB(12)
60.3 68.7 66.6 59.0 57.6 61.4 63.4 58.2 59.3
62.7 61.3 52.4 64.8 64.2 68.9 57.2 58.6 55.9
62.8 64.9 24.0 -19.4^ -27.4 16.4 44.9 57.4 61.0
62.3 66.7 62.5 66.3 25.9 35.7 45.4 57.3 58.2
61.2 61.7 66.1 61.6 63.1 61.9 62.2 61.2 63.6
60.8 58.9 58.3 65.6 58.1 59.2 60.4 56.4 59.4
60.4 61.7 20.4 -9.2 -2.8 36.0 49.5 60.6 64.2
58.9 61.7 62.3 47.7 39.3 36.5 42.8 51.5 66.2
61.2
60.1
36.8
50.6
62.2
59.1
45.1
49.8
intake was normal. This decreased metabolizability was apparently due to a decline in the functional capability of the GI tract during bluecomb. Metabolizability determinations for 1day periods are probably subject to greater variation than determinations made over longer periods. However, the decreases in daily food metabolizability noted in diseased turkeys in this study were greater than any decreases occurring in control turkeys due to normal experimental variation. As reported previously (Dziuk et al., 1969b; Duke et al, 1970b) and as found in the present studies, D.M. intake declined on day + 1 in ALB turkeys. Consequently, daily gains in body weight declined on the same day. In contrast, FFB turkeys had a decline in D.M. intake and daily gain in body weight which began on day + 2 or + 3 in the present study. Propulsive motility in ALB turkeys was previously found to be normal early on day + 1 and was reduced early on day + 2 (Duke et al., 1970b). This propulsive motility was determined by noting the time required for food materials associated with Sl-Cr to
pass through the GI tract and appear in the excreta. Metabolizability of feed, in the present study, was reduced beginning on day + 2 or + 3 in FFB turkeys. However, metabolizability appeared to be reduced on day + 1 in ALB turkeys. This discrepancy in time of onset of reduced metabolizability can be explained in the following statements. On day + 1 in the ALB group, D.M. intake was decreased while D.M. output was normal (due to normal GI motility). An apparent decrease in the calculated daily metabolizability coefficient resulted (Table 4). However, the actual daily metabolizability probably did not decrease until day + 2 or + 3 , as occurred in the FFB group (Table 4) in which a normal D.M. intake was maintained for an additional 1 or 2 days (Table 2). Interpretations were that the onset of GI dysfunction responsible for decreased metabolizability of feed appeared to follow the onset of anorexia caused by bluecomb. Since propulsive motility was reduced on day + 2 (see above) and since turkeys that have died as a result of bluecomb have an
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* day 0 = day turkeys were inoculated with infectious bluecomb material. ** numbers in parentheses represent the number of turkeys in each group at the start of the trial. ^ h l l t o + 1 3 for Trial 1. i/V"—negative metabolizability indicates that, for a given time period, excreta weight exceeded the weight of the D.M. intake. ipM 1-14 to + 1 6 for Trial 1; for the last 3 days, all turkeys ate ad libitum.
1042
G. E. DUKE, H. E. DZIUK, O. A. EVANSON AND D. E. NELSON
SUMMARY
Four groups of turkeys, ad libitum-ied and force-fed controls and ad libitum-ied and force-fed bluecomb diseased, were used in 2 metabolizability trials. Total daily D.M. intake and dry excreta weight, and daily changes in body weight were determined for 3 days (— 3 to — 1) before, and 18 days (0 to +17) after oral inoculation of infectious bluecomb material into the tur-
keys. Following this inoculation, daily D.M. intake, body weight, and food metabolizability were significantly decreased on day + 1 in ad libitum-ied. bluecomb diseased turkeys and on day + 2 or + 3 in force-fed bluecomb diseased turkeys. Similar decreases did not occur in control turkeys. The decrease in food metabolizability was not simply the result of a decrease in D.M. intake. There were some indications that anorexia had occurred before the reduction in GI function had caused the decreased food metabolizability. ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The very able help of Miss Lorna Brown, Miss Dianne Overbee, Miss Patricia Schultz, Miss Lorraine Tompkins, Mr. Elliot Nudell and Mr. Larry Tischer was greatly appreciated. We are also grateful for the infectious bluecomb material provided by Dr. Calvert T. Larsen and Mrs. Connie Bissonette of the Department of Veterinary Microbiology and Public Health. REFERENCES Adams, N., 1969. Personal communication. Duke, G. E., H. E. Dziuk and L. Hawkins, 1969a. Gastrointestinal transit-times in normal and bluecomb diseased turkeys. Poultry Sci. 48: 835-842. Duke, G. E., H. E. Dziuk and O. A. Evanson, 1969b. Fluxes of ions, glucose, and water in isolated jejunal segments in normal and bluecomb diseased turkeys. Poultry Sci. 48: 2114-2123. Duke, G. E., H. E. Dziuk, O. A. Evanson and E. B. Nudell, 1970. Onset of reduced GI motility in bluecomb diseased turkeys. Poultry Sci. 49: 703-707. Dziuk, H. E., G. E. Duke, O. A. Evanson, D. E. Nelson and P. N. Schultz, 1969a. Force-feeding turkeys during bluecomb disease. Poultry Sci. 48: 843-846. Dziuk, H. E., O. A. Evanson and C. T. Larsen, 1969b. Physiologic Effects of Fasting and Bluecomb in Turkeys. Am. J. Vet. Res. 30: 10451056. Jugherr, E., and B. S. Pomeroy. 1965. Diseases of Poultry, edited by Biester, H. E. and L. H. Schwarte. Iowa State University Press, Ames, Iowa, pp. 857-862.
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empty GI tract, there are data which support the hypothesis that anorexia precedes depression of motility as well. The average daily food metabolizability, D.M. intake, and body weight change for days 0 to +17 were similar for ALB and FFB turkeys in Trial 2. D.M. intake was maintained at nearly normal levels by forcefeeding, but feed conversion was impaired more in FFB turkeys than in ALB. This resulted in a lower total body weight gain. In Trial 1, FFB turkeys gained more weight, had a higher D.M. intake, and had a higher average food metabolizability than ALB turkeys for days 0 to +17. So, while the data of Trial 2 indicate that force-feeding did not benefit the bluecomb diseased turkeys, the data of Trial 1 suggest that it was helpful. In both trials, however, ALB turkeys gained weight more rapidly than FFB turkeys from day + 7 to day +17. From day + 11 to day +17 the ALB turkeys appear to be eating as much or more than the FFB birds. Also, from day +15 to day +17, previously FFB turkeys had difficulty adjusting to ad libitum feeding and had poor D.M. intake and body weight gains. Thus, these experiments indicate, as did those of Dziuk et al. (1969a), that force-feeding probably was not of significant benefit to bluecomb diseased turkeys over longer periods of time. Force-feeding for extended periods of time did not, however, appear to be detrimental to either control or bluecomb diseased turkeys.