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The Effect of Dehydrated Green Feed on Fertility and Hatchability of Eggs from Three Generations of New Hampshire Chickens
EFFECT OF NICARBAZIN ON EGGS
White Rock and White Leghorn pullets and to Hybrid hens laying tinted eggs. Brown and tinted eggs were whitened after 3 days of treatment. Egg production was reduced an average of 8% and egg weight an average of 5% from control levels. Shell thickness and albumen score were unaffected. Considerable variation existed among the three groups of birds in the severity of the production and weight effects, being almost negligible in the Hybrids. Yolk mottling, estimated in the White Leghorns only, reached possibly serious levels in the freshly laid egg of only 1 out of 9 treated birds. REFERENCES Almquist, H. L., 1933. Relation of the candling appearance of eggs to their quality. U. of Colorado, Ag. Exp. Sta., Bull. No. 561. Baker, R. C , F. W. Hill, A. Van Tienhoven and J. H. Bruckner, 1956. Effect of Nicarbazin on egg quality. Poultry Sci. 35: 1132.
591
Brant, A. W. and H. L. Shrader, 1952. How to measure egg I.Q. Bureau of Animal Industry, U. S. Dept. of Ag. McLary, C. F., 1955. The restriction of ooporphyrin deposition on eggs shells by drug feeding. Poultry Sci. 34: 1164-1165. Ott, W. H., A. M. Dickinson and A. C. Peterson, 1956. Studies on the effect of Nicarbazin on reproduction in chickens. Poultry Sci. 35: 1163. Ott, W. H., S. Kuno, C. C. Porter and A. C. Cuckler, 1955. Biological studies of Nicarbazin, a new anticoccidial agent. Poultry Sci. 34: 1215. Polin, D., W. H. Ott and 0 . H. Siegmund, 1956. Observations on mottled egg yolks. Feedstuffs, 28 (23): 18-19. Polin, D., and C. C. Porter, 1956. The effect of Nicarbazin on ooporphyrin and yolk formation. Poultry Sci. 35: 1165. Sherwood, D. H., T. T. Milby and W. A. Higgins, 1956a. The effect of Nicarbazin on reproduction in White Rock breeder hens. Poultry Sci. 35: 1014-1019. Sherwood, D. H., T. T. Milby and H. L. Witz, 1956b. Further studies on effect of Nicarbazin on reproduction of chickens. Poultry Sci. 35: 1171.
The Effect of Dehydrated Green Feed on Fertility and Hatchability of Eggs from Three Generations of New Hampshire Chickens S. P . TOUCHBURN, J . BlELY AND B . MARCH Poultry Nutrition Laboratory,^ The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B. C. (Received for publication Decembei 3, 1956)
H
UNT, Winter and Bethke (1939), studying the riboflavin requirement of the chicken, found that dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal added to the diet of hens in batteries increased the hatchability of fertile eggs to a greater extent than could be accounted for by the riboflavin content. Cravens et al. (1942), working with chickens maintained under practical confinement conditions, reported that alfalfa leaf meal increased hatchability but not fertility. Jacobs et al. (1953), reported f Contribution'Number 94.
that 5.0 percent dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal increased fertility and hatchability when added to the diets of hens in cages. The present experiment was undertaken to study the effect on fertility and hatchability of feeding dehydrated cereal grass and dehydrated alfalfa meals as supplements to a poultry diet composed of natural ingredients. The experimental diets were fed to chickens maintained under practical confinement conditions from time of hatching through a period of egg production. In order to study possible carry over or depletion of factors present
592
S. P . TOUCHBURN, J . J3IELY AND B . MARCH EXPERIMENTAL
in the green feeds, the experiment was continued with two succeeding generations. In the second and third years, progeny of the birds used during the preceding year were treated in the same manner as their respective parents. New Hampshire chickens of a strain known to possess high fertility and hatchability were used in the course of this study. The wheat-soybean oil meal basal diet was calculated to be complete in all the nutrients known to be required for normal growth and reproduction. The dehydrated green feeds were added at the the expense of ground wheat and soybean meal. The protein content was adjusted to be similar in all diets. The experimental diets were fed as follows: (1) basal diet, (2) and (3) 2.5 percent of dehydrated cereal grass and dehydrated alfalfa respectively, (4) and (5) 5.0 percent of dehydrated cereal grass and dehydrated alfalfa respectively.
In May, 1953, 175 day-old pullet chicks per ration were started in replicate lots in battery brooders. A few cockerel chicks were reared along with the pullets. When the chicks were 8 weeks of age the replicated groups were combined according to their treatments into 5 floor pens containing wood-shavings litter. The protein and mineral contents of the diets were reduced slightly at this time and were again modified when the birds were 20 weeks of age. The basal diets and supplements fed during the starting, growing and reproductive periods are reported in Table 1. Records of fertility and hatchability were obtained in 10 hatches during the period from March through June, 1954. Fertility and embryonic mortality were determined by breaking out and examining all eggs which failed to hatch. In May and June, 1954, 200 pullet chicks per group, obtained from the birds
TABLE 1.—Composition of diets Ingredients common to all Diets (premix)
Starter diet/100 lb.
Ground wheat Ground corn Pulverized oats Soybean oil meal Fishmeal Meatmeal Bonemeal Limestone Distillers' dried solubles Iodized salt Feeding oil (2,250A: 300D) Manganese Sulphate Riboflavin
52.25 5.0 5.0 20.0 5.0 5.0 1.0 1.0
—
.5 .25 .0125 .2
95 Diets: Premix Soybean oil meal Ground wheat Dehydrated cereal grass Dehydrated alfalfa
lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb.
61.25 8.0 5.0 12.0 5.0
—
.5 .25 .0125 .2
95 2
95 lb. 1 .5 lb. 3..5 lb.
95
lb. .5 lb. 2.0 lb. 2.5 lb.
100
—
lb. lb. lb. gm. lbs.
95
lb. .5 lb. 2.0 lb.
95
lbs.
95
5 lb.
— —
5.0 lb.
— 100
lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. gm.
4
2.5 lb.
lb.
lb. lb. lb. lb. lb.
3.5 3.5 2.0 .5 .5 .0125 .05
3
— lb.
60.0 8.0 5.0 8.0 4.0
lb. lb.
—
lbs.
Breeder diet/100 lb.
lb. lb. lb. lb. lb.
1.0 2.0
lb. lb. lb. gm.
1
100
Grower diet/100 lb.
lb.
lb.
— — —
5.0 lb.
— 100
95
lb.
100
lb.
DEHYDRATED GREEN FEED AND REPRODUCTION
reported above, were fed diets supplemented in the same manner as those fed their respective parents. The experimental procedure followed was similar to that of the first year with the following exceptions. At 8 weeks of age, the pullets were transferred to duplicated floor pens. Since these pens were smaller than those used previously, the numbers were reduced so that 75 pullets were placed in each pen. Eight cockerels of the same age as the pullets were distributed at random in the pullet pens at this time. Fertility and hatchability were studied in 6 hatches during the period from January through July, 1955. For the third generation, the experimental procedure was similar to that used during the second year of the test. FertilTABLE 2 . --Fertility
593
ity and hatchability were studied in 6 hatches during the period from December, 1955 through May, 1956. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The data on fertility and hatchability of eggs from the three generations of birds are presented in Tables 2 and 3. The figures for the second and third generations represent the combined totals for the duplicate pens. In 1954 approximately 2,300 eggs were set from each pen for a total of 11,683. The number from each treatment in 1955 was 1,200 eggs for a total of 6,093. In 1956 approximately 1,300 eggs were set from each treatment, the total being 6,471. From an examination of Tables 2 and 3, it will be seen that the fertility was very
and hatchability of eggsfrom three generations of New Hampshire chickens Chicks hatched
Ration
1
2
3
4
5
Year
1954 1955 1956
1954 1955 1956
1954 1955 1956
1954 1955 1956
1954 1955 1956
No. eggs
No. fertile
% fertility No.
%of eggs set
%of fertile eggs
2,353 1,006 1,320
2,300 949 1,266
97.7 94.3 95.9
1,977 798 1,096
84.0 79.3 83.0
86.0 84.1 86.6
4,679
4,515
96.5
3,871
82.7
85.7
2,243 1,261 1,381
2,191 1,220 1,340
97.7 96.8 97.0
1,858 1,081 1,215
82.8 85.7 88.0
84.8 88.6 90.8
4,885
4,751
97.3
4,154
85.0
87.4
2,292 1,205 1,314
2,245 1,166 1,279
97.9 96.8 97.3
1,969 978 1,140
85.9 81.2 86.8
87.7 83.9 89.1
4,811
4,690
97.5
4,087
85.0
87.1
2,559 1,249 1,137
2,470 1,213 1,095
96.5 97.1 96.3
2,161 1,062 967
84.4 85.0 85.0
87.5 87.6 88.3
4,945
4,778
96.6
4,190
84.7
87.7
2,236 1,372 1,319
2,193 1,313 1,271
98.1 95.7 96.4
1,923 1,121 1,129
86.0 81.7 85.6
87.7 85.4 88.8
4,927
4,777
97.0
4,173
84.7
87.4
594
S. P . TOUCHBURN, J . BlELY AND B . MARCH
TABLE 3.—Fertility and hatchability of eggs from three generations of New Hampshire chickens Summary: Three year study: 1954, 1955, 1956
Ration
1 2 3 4 5
Fertile; eggs
Total eggs set
4,679 4,885 4,811 4,945 4,927
Chicks hatched
No.
%
No.
%of eggs set
%of fertile eggs
4,515 4,751 4,690 4,778 4,777
96.5 97.3 97.5 96.6 97.0
3,871 4,154 4,087 4,190 4,173
82.7 85.0 85.0 84.7 84.7
85.7 87.4 87.1 87.7 87.4
high in all the groups. The average fertility was 97 percent and was not affected by the diet fed. There was no decline in fertility over the three year experimental period. The hatchability of fertile eggs was also extremely high throughout the experiment regardless of the diet fed. The average hatchability was 85 percent for the birds receiving the basal diet, and approximately 87 percent for the birds receiving the supplemented diets. The hatchability data was subjected to a statistical analysis. The figures used were those for percent hatchability of fertile eggs. In the second generation data, since eggs were set from the replicate pens in only 3 of the 6 hatches, the duplicate percentages were averaged for analysis. This was considered to be justified since, in the analysis of the third generation data, the
differences between replicates were extremely small. The analysis of variance for each year and for the three year totals is presented in Table 4. The differences between hatches was significant at the 1.0 percent level of probability in the second and third years. This was largely attributed to uncontrollable variability in the functioning of the incubators from one hatch to another. No seasonal trend in hatchability was apparent. The difference between treatments was significant at the 5.0 percent probability level in the first and third years but was not significant in the second. Treatments times years interaction was significant at the 5.0 percent level of probability due to a lack of response in the second year. When the three-year data were combined for analysis there was no significant difference between years, hatches, or treatments. These results demonstrate that dehydrated green feeds were not necessary for high fertility and hatchability with a diet composed of natural ingredients and fed to birds kept in confinement on deep litter. Supplementation of the diets with dehydrated green feed, however, had a slight but significant beneficial effect in two of the three years. There were no
TABLE 4.—Analysis of variance of hatchability of eggs from three generations of New Hampshire chickens Treatments
Hatches
Replicates
Years
Treatments Xyears
Error
Year 1
D.F. M.S.
4 26.92*
9 10.59
36 9.40
Year 2
D.F. M.S.
4 15.32
5 40.78**
20 6.29
Year 3
D.F. M.S.
4 31.52*
5 140.40**
Combined Years
D.F. M.S.
4 14.88
19 34.14
* Significant at 5% level. ** Significant at 1% level.
49 12.06
1 6.0 2 6.70
8 22.11*
76 8.43
DEHYDRATED GEEEN FEED AND REPRODUCTION
consistent differences between 2.5 or 5.0 percent of either dehydrated cereal grass or dehydrated alfalfa. These results are not in agreement with those reported by Jacobs et al. (1953) but the experiments are not directly comparable since these workers obtained lower levels of hatchability and in addition, maintained the birds in laying cages. The fact that only a slight improvement in hatchability was obtained in the present study by the addition of green feed may have been due to the inherently high hatchability possessed by the strain of birds used. On the other hand, it was considered possible that bacterial synthesis in the litter may have provided a source of unknown hatchability factors not included in the diet. It is of interest to note that over the three year period of the test there was no decline in fertility and hatchability. In addition, the vigor, viability and productivity of the birds did not decline over the three generations.
595
all diets. Supplementation of the diets with dehydrated green feeds however, had a slight but significant beneficial effect on hatchability in two of the three years. There was no consistent difference between 2.5 or 5.0 percent of either dehydrated cereal grass or dehydrated alfalfa. The fact that only a slight improvement in hatchability was obtained by the addition of dehydrated green feed may have been due to the inherently high hatchability possessed by the strain of birds used. On the other hand, bacterial synthesis in the litter may have provided a source of unknown hatchability factors not present in the diet. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
SUMMARY
This research was started by a grant received from Buckerfields Limited, Vancouver, British Columbia. The authors are greatly indebted to Mr. E. Ward, General Manager of Buckerfields Limited and to Mr. J. K. Clarke, Assistant Manager, for their interest in this project.
Dehydrated cereal grass and dehydrated alfalfa meals have been tested as sources of unidentified fertility and hatchability factors for chickens. Three generations of New Hampshire chickens were fed experimental diets composed of natural ingredients and kept in confinement on deep litter. The average fertility was 97.0 percent and was not affected by the diet. A high level of hatchability was also obtained on
Cravens, W. W., C. E. Holmes, J. G. Halpin and C. A. Elvehjem, 1942. The effect of alfalfa leaf meal and dried cereal grass on egg production and hatchability. Poultry Sci. 21: 301-305. Hunt, C. H., A. R. Winter and R. M. Bethke, 1939. Further studies on the riboflavin requirements of the chicken. Poultry Sci. 18: 330-336. Jacobs, R. L., J. F. Elam, J. H. Quisenberry and J. R. Couch, 1953. Dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal as a source of vitamins and unidentified factors for the mature fowl. Poultry Sci. 32: 812-816.
REFERENCES
NEWS AND NOTES (Continued from page 551) SEPEA NOTES At the tenth annual convention of the Southeastern Poultry and Egg Association held in Atlanta, Ga., on January 28-30, the following officers were elected: President—L. Bagwell, Canton, Georgia;
First Vice-President—P. G. Thomas, Sumter, South Carolina; Second Vice-President—H. Tilford, Jr., Shelbyville, Tennessee; Secretary—J. Tankersley, Gainesville, Georgia; and Treasurer—N. Sanders, Columbia, South Carolina.
(Continued on page 632)
White Rock and White Leghorn pullets and to Hybrid hens laying tinted eggs. Brown and tinted eggs were whitened after 3 days of treatment. Egg production was reduced an average of 8% and egg weight an average of 5% from control levels. Shell thickness and albumen score were unaffected. Considerable variation existed among the three groups of birds in the severity of the production and weight effects, being almost negligible in the Hybrids. Yolk mottling, estimated in the White Leghorns only, reached possibly serious levels in the freshly laid egg of only 1 out of 9 treated birds. REFERENCES Almquist, H. L., 1933. Relation of the candling appearance of eggs to their quality. U. of Colorado, Ag. Exp. Sta., Bull. No. 561. Baker, R. C , F. W. Hill, A. Van Tienhoven and J. H. Bruckner, 1956. Effect of Nicarbazin on egg quality. Poultry Sci. 35: 1132.
591
Brant, A. W. and H. L. Shrader, 1952. How to measure egg I.Q. Bureau of Animal Industry, U. S. Dept. of Ag. McLary, C. F., 1955. The restriction of ooporphyrin deposition on eggs shells by drug feeding. Poultry Sci. 34: 1164-1165. Ott, W. H., A. M. Dickinson and A. C. Peterson, 1956. Studies on the effect of Nicarbazin on reproduction in chickens. Poultry Sci. 35: 1163. Ott, W. H., S. Kuno, C. C. Porter and A. C. Cuckler, 1955. Biological studies of Nicarbazin, a new anticoccidial agent. Poultry Sci. 34: 1215. Polin, D., W. H. Ott and 0 . H. Siegmund, 1956. Observations on mottled egg yolks. Feedstuffs, 28 (23): 18-19. Polin, D., and C. C. Porter, 1956. The effect of Nicarbazin on ooporphyrin and yolk formation. Poultry Sci. 35: 1165. Sherwood, D. H., T. T. Milby and W. A. Higgins, 1956a. The effect of Nicarbazin on reproduction in White Rock breeder hens. Poultry Sci. 35: 1014-1019. Sherwood, D. H., T. T. Milby and H. L. Witz, 1956b. Further studies on effect of Nicarbazin on reproduction of chickens. Poultry Sci. 35: 1171.
The Effect of Dehydrated Green Feed on Fertility and Hatchability of Eggs from Three Generations of New Hampshire Chickens S. P . TOUCHBURN, J . BlELY AND B . MARCH Poultry Nutrition Laboratory,^ The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, B. C. (Received for publication Decembei 3, 1956)
H
UNT, Winter and Bethke (1939), studying the riboflavin requirement of the chicken, found that dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal added to the diet of hens in batteries increased the hatchability of fertile eggs to a greater extent than could be accounted for by the riboflavin content. Cravens et al. (1942), working with chickens maintained under practical confinement conditions, reported that alfalfa leaf meal increased hatchability but not fertility. Jacobs et al. (1953), reported f Contribution'Number 94.
that 5.0 percent dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal increased fertility and hatchability when added to the diets of hens in cages. The present experiment was undertaken to study the effect on fertility and hatchability of feeding dehydrated cereal grass and dehydrated alfalfa meals as supplements to a poultry diet composed of natural ingredients. The experimental diets were fed to chickens maintained under practical confinement conditions from time of hatching through a period of egg production. In order to study possible carry over or depletion of factors present
592
S. P . TOUCHBURN, J . J3IELY AND B . MARCH EXPERIMENTAL
in the green feeds, the experiment was continued with two succeeding generations. In the second and third years, progeny of the birds used during the preceding year were treated in the same manner as their respective parents. New Hampshire chickens of a strain known to possess high fertility and hatchability were used in the course of this study. The wheat-soybean oil meal basal diet was calculated to be complete in all the nutrients known to be required for normal growth and reproduction. The dehydrated green feeds were added at the the expense of ground wheat and soybean meal. The protein content was adjusted to be similar in all diets. The experimental diets were fed as follows: (1) basal diet, (2) and (3) 2.5 percent of dehydrated cereal grass and dehydrated alfalfa respectively, (4) and (5) 5.0 percent of dehydrated cereal grass and dehydrated alfalfa respectively.
In May, 1953, 175 day-old pullet chicks per ration were started in replicate lots in battery brooders. A few cockerel chicks were reared along with the pullets. When the chicks were 8 weeks of age the replicated groups were combined according to their treatments into 5 floor pens containing wood-shavings litter. The protein and mineral contents of the diets were reduced slightly at this time and were again modified when the birds were 20 weeks of age. The basal diets and supplements fed during the starting, growing and reproductive periods are reported in Table 1. Records of fertility and hatchability were obtained in 10 hatches during the period from March through June, 1954. Fertility and embryonic mortality were determined by breaking out and examining all eggs which failed to hatch. In May and June, 1954, 200 pullet chicks per group, obtained from the birds
TABLE 1.—Composition of diets Ingredients common to all Diets (premix)
Starter diet/100 lb.
Ground wheat Ground corn Pulverized oats Soybean oil meal Fishmeal Meatmeal Bonemeal Limestone Distillers' dried solubles Iodized salt Feeding oil (2,250A: 300D) Manganese Sulphate Riboflavin
52.25 5.0 5.0 20.0 5.0 5.0 1.0 1.0
—
.5 .25 .0125 .2
95 Diets: Premix Soybean oil meal Ground wheat Dehydrated cereal grass Dehydrated alfalfa
lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb.
61.25 8.0 5.0 12.0 5.0
—
.5 .25 .0125 .2
95 2
95 lb. 1 .5 lb. 3..5 lb.
95
lb. .5 lb. 2.0 lb. 2.5 lb.
100
—
lb. lb. lb. gm. lbs.
95
lb. .5 lb. 2.0 lb.
95
lbs.
95
5 lb.
— —
5.0 lb.
— 100
lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. lb. gm.
4
2.5 lb.
lb.
lb. lb. lb. lb. lb.
3.5 3.5 2.0 .5 .5 .0125 .05
3
— lb.
60.0 8.0 5.0 8.0 4.0
lb. lb.
—
lbs.
Breeder diet/100 lb.
lb. lb. lb. lb. lb.
1.0 2.0
lb. lb. lb. gm.
1
100
Grower diet/100 lb.
lb.
lb.
— — —
5.0 lb.
— 100
95
lb.
100
lb.
DEHYDRATED GREEN FEED AND REPRODUCTION
reported above, were fed diets supplemented in the same manner as those fed their respective parents. The experimental procedure followed was similar to that of the first year with the following exceptions. At 8 weeks of age, the pullets were transferred to duplicated floor pens. Since these pens were smaller than those used previously, the numbers were reduced so that 75 pullets were placed in each pen. Eight cockerels of the same age as the pullets were distributed at random in the pullet pens at this time. Fertility and hatchability were studied in 6 hatches during the period from January through July, 1955. For the third generation, the experimental procedure was similar to that used during the second year of the test. FertilTABLE 2 . --Fertility
593
ity and hatchability were studied in 6 hatches during the period from December, 1955 through May, 1956. RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
The data on fertility and hatchability of eggs from the three generations of birds are presented in Tables 2 and 3. The figures for the second and third generations represent the combined totals for the duplicate pens. In 1954 approximately 2,300 eggs were set from each pen for a total of 11,683. The number from each treatment in 1955 was 1,200 eggs for a total of 6,093. In 1956 approximately 1,300 eggs were set from each treatment, the total being 6,471. From an examination of Tables 2 and 3, it will be seen that the fertility was very
and hatchability of eggsfrom three generations of New Hampshire chickens Chicks hatched
Ration
1
2
3
4
5
Year
1954 1955 1956
1954 1955 1956
1954 1955 1956
1954 1955 1956
1954 1955 1956
No. eggs
No. fertile
% fertility No.
%of eggs set
%of fertile eggs
2,353 1,006 1,320
2,300 949 1,266
97.7 94.3 95.9
1,977 798 1,096
84.0 79.3 83.0
86.0 84.1 86.6
4,679
4,515
96.5
3,871
82.7
85.7
2,243 1,261 1,381
2,191 1,220 1,340
97.7 96.8 97.0
1,858 1,081 1,215
82.8 85.7 88.0
84.8 88.6 90.8
4,885
4,751
97.3
4,154
85.0
87.4
2,292 1,205 1,314
2,245 1,166 1,279
97.9 96.8 97.3
1,969 978 1,140
85.9 81.2 86.8
87.7 83.9 89.1
4,811
4,690
97.5
4,087
85.0
87.1
2,559 1,249 1,137
2,470 1,213 1,095
96.5 97.1 96.3
2,161 1,062 967
84.4 85.0 85.0
87.5 87.6 88.3
4,945
4,778
96.6
4,190
84.7
87.7
2,236 1,372 1,319
2,193 1,313 1,271
98.1 95.7 96.4
1,923 1,121 1,129
86.0 81.7 85.6
87.7 85.4 88.8
4,927
4,777
97.0
4,173
84.7
87.4
594
S. P . TOUCHBURN, J . BlELY AND B . MARCH
TABLE 3.—Fertility and hatchability of eggs from three generations of New Hampshire chickens Summary: Three year study: 1954, 1955, 1956
Ration
1 2 3 4 5
Fertile; eggs
Total eggs set
4,679 4,885 4,811 4,945 4,927
Chicks hatched
No.
%
No.
%of eggs set
%of fertile eggs
4,515 4,751 4,690 4,778 4,777
96.5 97.3 97.5 96.6 97.0
3,871 4,154 4,087 4,190 4,173
82.7 85.0 85.0 84.7 84.7
85.7 87.4 87.1 87.7 87.4
high in all the groups. The average fertility was 97 percent and was not affected by the diet fed. There was no decline in fertility over the three year experimental period. The hatchability of fertile eggs was also extremely high throughout the experiment regardless of the diet fed. The average hatchability was 85 percent for the birds receiving the basal diet, and approximately 87 percent for the birds receiving the supplemented diets. The hatchability data was subjected to a statistical analysis. The figures used were those for percent hatchability of fertile eggs. In the second generation data, since eggs were set from the replicate pens in only 3 of the 6 hatches, the duplicate percentages were averaged for analysis. This was considered to be justified since, in the analysis of the third generation data, the
differences between replicates were extremely small. The analysis of variance for each year and for the three year totals is presented in Table 4. The differences between hatches was significant at the 1.0 percent level of probability in the second and third years. This was largely attributed to uncontrollable variability in the functioning of the incubators from one hatch to another. No seasonal trend in hatchability was apparent. The difference between treatments was significant at the 5.0 percent probability level in the first and third years but was not significant in the second. Treatments times years interaction was significant at the 5.0 percent level of probability due to a lack of response in the second year. When the three-year data were combined for analysis there was no significant difference between years, hatches, or treatments. These results demonstrate that dehydrated green feeds were not necessary for high fertility and hatchability with a diet composed of natural ingredients and fed to birds kept in confinement on deep litter. Supplementation of the diets with dehydrated green feed, however, had a slight but significant beneficial effect in two of the three years. There were no
TABLE 4.—Analysis of variance of hatchability of eggs from three generations of New Hampshire chickens Treatments
Hatches
Replicates
Years
Treatments Xyears
Error
Year 1
D.F. M.S.
4 26.92*
9 10.59
36 9.40
Year 2
D.F. M.S.
4 15.32
5 40.78**
20 6.29
Year 3
D.F. M.S.
4 31.52*
5 140.40**
Combined Years
D.F. M.S.
4 14.88
19 34.14
* Significant at 5% level. ** Significant at 1% level.
49 12.06
1 6.0 2 6.70
8 22.11*
76 8.43
DEHYDRATED GEEEN FEED AND REPRODUCTION
consistent differences between 2.5 or 5.0 percent of either dehydrated cereal grass or dehydrated alfalfa. These results are not in agreement with those reported by Jacobs et al. (1953) but the experiments are not directly comparable since these workers obtained lower levels of hatchability and in addition, maintained the birds in laying cages. The fact that only a slight improvement in hatchability was obtained in the present study by the addition of green feed may have been due to the inherently high hatchability possessed by the strain of birds used. On the other hand, it was considered possible that bacterial synthesis in the litter may have provided a source of unknown hatchability factors not included in the diet. It is of interest to note that over the three year period of the test there was no decline in fertility and hatchability. In addition, the vigor, viability and productivity of the birds did not decline over the three generations.
595
all diets. Supplementation of the diets with dehydrated green feeds however, had a slight but significant beneficial effect on hatchability in two of the three years. There was no consistent difference between 2.5 or 5.0 percent of either dehydrated cereal grass or dehydrated alfalfa. The fact that only a slight improvement in hatchability was obtained by the addition of dehydrated green feed may have been due to the inherently high hatchability possessed by the strain of birds used. On the other hand, bacterial synthesis in the litter may have provided a source of unknown hatchability factors not present in the diet. ACKNOWLEDGMENT
SUMMARY
This research was started by a grant received from Buckerfields Limited, Vancouver, British Columbia. The authors are greatly indebted to Mr. E. Ward, General Manager of Buckerfields Limited and to Mr. J. K. Clarke, Assistant Manager, for their interest in this project.
Dehydrated cereal grass and dehydrated alfalfa meals have been tested as sources of unidentified fertility and hatchability factors for chickens. Three generations of New Hampshire chickens were fed experimental diets composed of natural ingredients and kept in confinement on deep litter. The average fertility was 97.0 percent and was not affected by the diet. A high level of hatchability was also obtained on
Cravens, W. W., C. E. Holmes, J. G. Halpin and C. A. Elvehjem, 1942. The effect of alfalfa leaf meal and dried cereal grass on egg production and hatchability. Poultry Sci. 21: 301-305. Hunt, C. H., A. R. Winter and R. M. Bethke, 1939. Further studies on the riboflavin requirements of the chicken. Poultry Sci. 18: 330-336. Jacobs, R. L., J. F. Elam, J. H. Quisenberry and J. R. Couch, 1953. Dehydrated alfalfa leaf meal as a source of vitamins and unidentified factors for the mature fowl. Poultry Sci. 32: 812-816.
REFERENCES
NEWS AND NOTES (Continued from page 551) SEPEA NOTES At the tenth annual convention of the Southeastern Poultry and Egg Association held in Atlanta, Ga., on January 28-30, the following officers were elected: President—L. Bagwell, Canton, Georgia;
First Vice-President—P. G. Thomas, Sumter, South Carolina; Second Vice-President—H. Tilford, Jr., Shelbyville, Tennessee; Secretary—J. Tankersley, Gainesville, Georgia; and Treasurer—N. Sanders, Columbia, South Carolina.
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